Disclosed herein is a color display apparatus using a one-panel diffractive-type optical modulator. The color display apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, an illumination lens system, a diffractive-type optical modulator, a filter system, and a projection system. The light sources simultaneously emit the light beams of corresponding wavelengths. The illumination lens system allows respective light beams to be converted into linear parallel light. The diffractive-type optical modulator forms diffractive light by diffracting incident light when the locations of at least two neighboring reflection parts vary to a predetermined distance by an actuating means. The filter system allows diffractive light having a desired diffractive order for respective wavelengths to pass therethrough when diffractive light having a plurality of diffractive orders for the respective wavelengths enters from the diffractive-type optical modulator. The projection system generates an image on a target object by scanning diffractive light filtered by the filter system on the target object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a color display apparatus and, more particularly, to a color display apparatus using a one-panel diffractive-type optical modulator that is capable of forming diffractive light for incident light having a plurality of wavelengths using a single optical modulation device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of micro technology, so-called micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices and small-sized equipment in which the MEMS devices are assembled have attracted significant attention.
A MEMS device is a device in which an actuation body which is formed on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate or a glass substrate, in a micro-structure form and configured to output mechanical actuation force, and a semiconductor Integrated Circuit (IC) that is configured to control the actuation body are electrically and mechanically combined. The MEMS device is basically characterized in that the actuation body having a mechanical structure is a part of the device, and the operation of the actuation body is electrically performed using Coulomb's force between electrodes.
FIG. 1 is a view showing the construction of a Grating Light Valve (GLV) device that Silicon Light Machine (SLM) Inc. has developed as a light intensity conversion device for a laser display, that is, an optical modulator.
The GLV device 21, as shown in FIG. 1, is configured such that a common substrate-side electrode 23 is formed on an insulation substrate 22, such as a glass substrate, a plurality of beams 24, for example, six beams 241, 242, 243, 244, 245 and 246 in the present invention, that cross the common substrate-side electrode 23, are installed in a bridge form, and are arranged in parallel.
The beams 24, each of which is formed of a bridge member 25 and a combined reflective layer and actuation-side electrode 26 mounted on the bridge member 25, are parts that are collectively called ribbons.
When minute voltage is applied between the substrate-side electrode 23 and the combined reflective layer and actuation-side electrodes 26, the beams 24 approach the substrate-side electrode 23 due to the above-described electrostatic phenomenon. In contrast, when the application of voltage is stopped, the beams 24 move away from the substrate-side electrode 23 and are restored to their original positions.
The GLV device 21 alternately varies the heights of the combined reflective layer and actuation-side electrodes 26 due to the approach and separation operation of the plurality of beams 24 with respect to the substrate-side electrode 23 (that is, the approach and separation operation of alternate beams), and modulates the intensity of light reflected from the actuation-side electrode 26 using the diffraction of light (one light spot is irradiated for all of the six beams 24).
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of a conventional one-panel optical apparatus using a GLV device as an optical modulation device to which a MEMS device is applied, or using a piezoelectric diffractive-type optical modulator.
Referring to FIG. 2A, the conventional one-panel optical apparatus includes a light source system 50, a light condensing unit 52, an illumination lens system 54, a flat-type color wheel 57, a GLV device 58, a Fourier filter system 59, a projection system 62, and a screen 65.
The light source system 51 is formed of a plurality of light sources 51a to 51c, and the light-condensing unit 52 is formed of a single reflective mirror 53a and a plurality of dichroic mirrors 53b and 53c.
The plurality of light sources 51a to 51c includes, for example, a Red (R) light source 51a, a Green (G) light source 51b, and a Blue (B) light source 51c. The light condensing unit 52 condenses a blue-colored light, a green-colored light and a red-colored light using the single reflective mirror 53a and a plurality of dichroic mirrors, so that a multi-beam is formed, therefore a single illumination system is constructed.
Subsequently, the illumination lens system 54 converts the condensed multi-beam into a linear parallel light beam, and causes the linear parallel light to enter into the GLV device 58 through the flat-type color wheel 57.
In more detail, the flat-type color wheel 57 includes color filters that allow only light beams of the multi-beam corresponding to respective colors to pass therethrough, a coupler to which the color filters are attached, and a motor that is attached to the coupler and configured to generate rotational force. The flat-type color wheel 57 sequentially separates the colors of light beam from each other as the coupler and the color filters attached to the coupler in a flat form rotate according to the rotational velocity of the motor.
When a linear parallel light having a single wavelength enters from the flat-type color wheel 57, the GLV device 58 forms diffractive light by performing optical modulation on the linear parallel light having the corresponding wavelength for the entering time, and causes the formed diffractive light to be incident on the Fourier filter system 59.
It is preferred that the Fourier filter system 59 be composed of a Fourier lens 60 and a dichroic filter 61. The Fourier filter system 59 separates the diffractive light according to order and passes only desired orders of diffractive light therethrough.
Meanwhile, the projection system 62 includes a scanner 63 and a projection lens 64, and projects the entering diffractive light onto the screen 65.
FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of a conventional three-panel optical apparatus using a GLV device as an optical modulation device to which a MEMS device is applied, or using a piezoelectric diffractive-type optical modulator. In the present example, a case where the optical apparatus is applied to a laser display is described
The laser display 51 related to the present example is used as, for example, a large-sized screen projector and, in particular, a digital image projector or the image projection apparatus of a computer.
The laser display 51, as shown in FIG. 2B, include laser light sources 52R, 52G and 52B, respectively provided with R, G and B colors, mirrors 54R, 54G and 54B respectively installed on the optical axes of the laser light sources, color illumination optical systems (lens group) 56R, 56G and 56B, and GVL devices 58R, 58G and 58B.
The laser light sources 52R, 52G and 52B, for example, emit an R laser beam (having a wavelength of 642 nm and an optical output of about 3 W), a G laser beam (having a wavelength of 532 nm and an optical output of about 2 W), and a B laser beam (having a wavelength of 457 nm and an optical output of about 1.5 W), respectively.
Furthermore, the laser display 51 includes a color synthesizing filter 60 for synthesizing the R, G and B laser beams whose intensities of light are respectively modulated by the GVL devices 58R, 58G and 58B, a spatial filter 62, a diffuser 64, a mirror 66, a Galvano-scanner 68, a projection optical system (lens group) 70, and a screen 72. The color synthesizing filter 60 includes, for example, a dichroic mirror.
In the laser display 51 of the present example, RGB laser beams emitted from the laser light sources 52R, 52G and 52B respectively pass through the mirrors 54R, 54G and 54B, and are respectively incident on the GVL devices 58R, 58G and 58B of the color illumination optical systems 56R, 56G and 56B. The laser beams are color-separated video signals, and are input to the GVL devices 58R, 58G and 58B in a synchronized manner.
Furthermore, the respective laser beams are diffracted by the GVL devices 58R, 58G and 58B, thus being spatially modulated. These tri-color diffractive light beams are synthesized by the color synthesizing filter 60 and then only signal components are extracted by the spatial filter 62.
Thereafter, the RGB video signals experience a decrease in the laser spectrum thereof by the diffuser 64, are emitted on a space by the Galvano-scanner 68 that is synchronized with video signals through the mirror 66, and are projected in full-color image form onto the screen 72 by the projection optical system 70.
Meanwhile, as described above, the one-panel-type optical apparatus has a simple structure, reduces cost, and enables the realization of the optical system. However, the one-panel-type optical apparatus is problematic in that the optical modulator used requires operation velocity three times faster than that of an existing modulator and, therefore, the life span thereof is reduced by ⅓. Furthermore, the one-panel-type optical apparatus is problematic in that light efficiency is lowered because a color wheel is necessary.
Furthermore, the three-panel-type optical apparatus is problematic in that the optical systems thereof are complicated and the cost thereof increases because optical modulators are provided so as to correspond to respective colors of laser light sources.

Color display apparatus using one panel diffractive-type optical modulator


A wafer level fabricated integrated circuit package having an air gap formed between the integrated circuit die of the package and a flexible circuit film located over and conductively attached to the die though raised interconnects formed on the die is described. The flexible circuit film further includes routing conductors that connect inner landings on the bottom surface of the flexible circuit film with outer landings on the top surface of the flexible circuit film. The outer landings are offset a horizontal distance from the inner landings. In some embodiments, contact bumps are formed on the outer landings of the flexible circuit film layer for use in connecting the package to other substrates. The wafer level chip scale package provides a highly compliant connection between the die and any other substrate that the die is attached to.

With current emphasis on increased circuit density and decreased integrated circuit package footprints, process engineers attempt to design increasingly smaller and more dense integrated circuit packages. A current outgrowth of this emphasis is the chip scale package. Typically, a chip scale package has an overall package dimension that is relatively close to that of the integrated circuit die, or chip, that is enclosed within the package. Generally, chip scale packages are manufactured either using individual chips that have been singulated from a wafer, or in wafer form and then the individual chip scale packages are singulated from the wafer. The latter type of chip scale package is referred to as a wafer level chip scale package.
One example of a wafer level chip scale package is a surface mount die, such as a flip chip package. Surface mount dice typically have input/output contacts, such as solder bumps, that are located on the active side of the die.
FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic side view of a conventional flip chip package. Typically, the flip chip package 100 includes a die 102 having a plurality of conventionally fabricated integrated circuit structures, such as transistors, etc. (not shown). The top surface of the die 102 includes contact pads 104 which provide for conductive interconnection to the integrated circuit structures of the die 102. Contact bumps 106, such as solder bumps, are conventionally formed on the contact pads 104 to allow for interconnection of the package to other substrates. The bottom surface of the die 102 is conventionally left bare. Typically, a plurality of flip chip packages 100 are formed on the surface of an integrated circuit wafer (not shown). After fabrication of the flip chip packages, the wafer is singulated into individual flip chip packages 100, for example, by laser cutting or sawing. The individual flip chips may then be inverted and attached to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board.
In attaching the flip chip to the substrate, the contact bumps are typically aligned and electrically coupled to an associated board contact of the substrate, for example, by a reflow process, which forms a solder joint. In this way, a high density of input/output pads are provided within a small package footprint as the contact pads are over the die itself. A disadvantage of this design is that stresses introduced on the contact bumps may damage the flip chip package.
FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic side view of a conventional flip chip package attached to a substrate. Typically, the die 102 of the flip chip package 100 and the substrate 110 are formed from different materials that may have substantially different coefficients of thermal expansion. When the flip chip contact bumps 106 are attached to the contact pads 108 of the substrate 110 and power is applied, the resultant heat dissipates in the die 102 and the substrate 110 causing each to expand and contract in different amounts. This causes the contact bumps 106, which are on the contact pads 104 of the die 102, to move relative to the contact pads 108 of the substrate 110.
As the solder joint in this design is a relatively rigid joint structure, the relative movement can deform and stress the contact bumps 106 and may ultimately result in damage to the flip chip package 100, for example, solder joint fatigue. Further, the stresses on the contact bumps 106 may push the contact bumps 106 into the underlying layers that form the die 102 and cause craters within the die 102. Additionally, the stresses may cause the contact bumps 106 to tear open.
To mitigate the effects of the stresses, an underfill layer 112 is typically injected between the substrate 110 and the flip chip package 100 and around the contact bumps 106 of the flip chip package 100. The underfill layer 112 helps to reduce the stress effects of the differential thermal expansion between the die 102 and the substrate 110 and to improve the reliability of the package. However, the addition of the underfill layer 112 results in an extra processing step and increased associated costs, thus impacting overall production costs and production yield. Additionally, as the contact bumps 106 and underfill layer 112 are rigidly attached to the die 102, the package 100 still retains some stress-related problems which can be transferred to and damage the die 102.
Further, the design of the package 100 restrains both the arrangement of the contact bumps 106 and the arrangement of the contact pads 108 of a substrate to the arrangement of the contact pads 104 on the die 102. Thus, this design tends to limit the packaging to use with smaller die sizes/pin counts, for example, 3×3 mm size/28–40 leads.
In an attempt to relieve the contact restraints, another design, further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,546 to Igarashi et al., utilizes an auxiliary wiring plate over the die on which external contacts for connecting to a substrate can be formed and surrounds the die and the space between the die and the auxiliary wiring plate with a resin. The auxiliary wiring plate may have contacts differently located on each side to provide more flexibility in locating the external contacts. This package, however, is not manufactured at the wafer level, and instead, the package is formed using individual chips singulated from a wafer.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of an example of a semiconductor package 200 utilizing an auxiliary wiring plate with external contacts formed on the wiring plate and resin interposed between the wiring plate and the die. The semiconductor package 200 includes an integrated circuit die 202, an auxiliary wiring plate 204, and a resin layer 206 sealing the space between the die 202 and the auxiliary wiring plate 204. The die 202 typically includes a plurality of conventionally fabricated integrated circuit structures. The top surface of the die 202 includes contacts 208, which provide interconnection to the integrated circuit structures of the die 202. The auxiliary wiring plate 204 includes an inner electrode 210 coupled with the contacts 208 of the die 202, an outer electrode 212 located at a different position from the back position of the inner electrode 210, a routing conductor 214 extended between both electrodes 210 and 212, and insulating layers 216 and 218 formed on both surfaces of the routing conductor 214.
According to one method, the package 200 can be made using the tape-automated bonding technique in which the auxiliary wiring plate 204, including the inner and outer electrodes 210 and 212 with routing conductors 214, is initially fabricated. Then the contacts 208 of the die 202 are connected to the inner electrode 210 and the insulating support film 216 and the die 202 are sealed with resin to form the package 200. The film carrier tape is then punched out to define the periphery of the die 202.
Another design, further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,220 to Gilleo et al., attempts to mitigate the stresses received at the die by utilizing a less rigid underfill layer and a flexible wiring layer over the underfill layer on which external contacts for connecting to a substrate can be formed. The compliance in the interposer layer and in the conductive polymer are utilized to permit relative movement of the connections on the dielectric substrate wiring layer to the die contacts to mitigate the stress caused by differential thermal expansion. Again, however, this package is not manufactured at the wafer level, and instead, the package is formed using individual chips singulated from a wafer.
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of an example of a semiconductor package 300 utilizing a compliant interposer layer and flexible wiring layer. The semiconductor package 300 includes a die 302, a compliant interposer layer 304, and a dielectric substrate wiring layer 306. The die 302 typically includes a plurality of conventionally fabricated integrated circuit structures. The top surface of the die 302 includes contacts 308, which provide interconnection to the integrated circuit structures of the die 302. The compliant interposer layer 304 has conductive columns 310 that are aligned with and provide conductive interconnection to the contacts 308. The dielectric substrate wiring layer 306 is typically a flexible, film circuit element. The dielectric substrate wiring layer 306 has a bottom surface which includes bond pads 312 interconnected to bond pads 314 on the top surface on which conductive contacts 316, such as solder balls, may be formed to allow connection to another substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The dielectric substrate wiring layer 306 is attached to the compliant interposer layer 304 such that the bond pads 312 are aligned and attached with the corresponding conductive column 310. According to one method, the package is made on the dielectric substrate wiring layer 306 and then attached to the die 302 using heat and pressure.
Consequently, there is a need for a wafer level fabricated chip scale integrated circuit package design that can further decouple the stresses between the package and other substrates to which it is attached, and can provide flexibility in the arrangement of the package contacts to other substrates.


In a thick materials pump with paired, preferably parallel, feed cylinders, which alternatingly deliver and intake, and with a slide, which pivots on the axis of a central channel and, for each pair of feed cylinders, connects, by way of a branch channel, the given feed cylinder with a fixed feed conduit connecting to the central channel, while, simultaneously and by means of a sealing control surface provided on the inner wall of the slide housing for each branch channel receiving the thick material and provided with an aperture for each branch channel, closing a second branch channel of the slide and freeing the intake feed cylinder, while identical pressures are developed in the branch channels of equal length, the invention is characterized by the facts that the branch channels (7, 8) are essentially aligned and, in each case, form a right angle with the central channel (9), and that the sealing control surfaces (18, 20) on the slide housing (21) are cylindrically arched.

The invention pertains to a thick materials pump in keeping with the preamble of claim 1.
The thick materials to be conveyed by the pump of the invention can be of varied composition, while, as a general rule, the given thick material being conveyed represents a mixture of different materials. Generally, these are mushy masses with a more or less great proportion of water, e.g., sewage sludges, mortars, or the like. In particular, the invention pertains to pumps for concrete, by means of which the liquefied mixture consisting essentially of sand, cement, additives, and water must be pumped over relatively great distances and differences in height.
The thick materials pump of the invention operates with feed cylinders, in which the pistons move back and forth and, during the backward stroke, load the cylinder with the thick material usually drawn in through the slide housing from a filling container, while, during the forward stroke, the slide forces the thick material into a feed conduit affixed to the frame. In keeping with the invention, two feed cylinders always work in tandem in such a way that one of the cylinders is being filled while the other is being emptied into the feed conduit, so that the intake and delivery strokes of the two pistons overlap. Accordingly, the invention can be adapted to more than a single pair of cylinders when a temporally closer overlapping of the feed strokes is desired.
Regulation of the feed and intake flow is accomplished by the slide, which has a branch channel for each feed cylinder, which, during the feed stroke, communicatively connects the cylinder with a central channel leading to the feed conduit, while the slide simultaneously frees the aperture of the cylinder with the intake piston, so that the incoming thick material flows past the slide and into said cylinder. As a general rule, when the thick materials pump has more than one pair of feed cylinders, additional branch channels must be provided for each added feed cylinder. The invention is described in greater detail below in terms of its preferred embodiment form, which is designed as a two-cylinder pump for thick materials.
It must be initially pointed out, however, that in all embodiments of the thick materials pump of the invention the openings of the branch channels in the slide, which communicate with their respective cylinders, must seal against the wall of a slide housing, so that, on the one hand, the flow of thick material under the pressure of the feed piston does not completely or even partially spill into the intake cylinder during its filling with thick material, and on the other hand, the thick material cannot flow back into the filling container during the intake. Consequently, a certain sequence of the movements of the slide must be synchronized with the movements of the pistons in the cylinders, which is also a part of the invention, just as is the possibility, in the case of many thick materials pumps of this type, of feeding the thick material from the feed conduit into the slide housing communicating with the filling container by reversing the sequence.
These general features described above characterize thick materials pumps, which are generally expected to be capable, with simple construction and despite their complicated method of operation and their stresses during the feed operation, especially over great delivery distances and heights, of operating without excessive disruption due to wear or failure of functionally essential components and, particularly, of providing continuous feeding of the thick materials to the maximum extent possible. This problem is fundamental to the invention.
A pump for thick materials of the type described in the introduction is known (German Patent (OLS) No. 2,721,678), which has a slide in the form of a V-shaped, bifurcated pipe, in which the branch channels from the tines of a fork and the longitudinal axis of the central tube is the geometrical axis, on which the slide pivots when the pump is in operation. The forked tube is then formed by the separation of the parallel or aligned feed cylinders in the embodiment form of a two-cylinder pump for thick materials. The bifurcated design of the slide is also suitable for four-cylinder pumps for thick materials, while the pairs of feed cylinders must then be aligned and two cylinders must act simultaneously as delivery cylinders. Regardless of the number of feed cylinders, the free ends of the branch channels are curved, while, in the embodiment as a two-cylinder pump for thick materials, one opening of one of the two cylinders always closes against one of the two sealing control surfaces, while the other provides the connection with the feed cylinder. Accordingly, these sealing control surfaces are flat and therefor located at the base of a filling container.
The stresses on the slide are disproportionately great during operation and intensify with increasing feed length and height. This is due to the reaction forces developed in the slide during the feeding of the thick material. With each stroke of a feed piston the two openings of the branch channels are subjected to the feed pressure. From the feed pressure and the areas of the interior cross section of the branch channels, reaction forces develop in both branch channels, which cause the slide to lift away from the sealing control surface and the aperture of the feed cylinder. It is true that these forces are partially compensated by forces developed from the interior cross-sectional area of the central channel and the feed-channel pressure. This is the force that must be overcome by the feeding. Consequently, there remains considerably residual force, which produces a rift at the openings of the branch channels, which cannot be tolerated if the aforementioned short circuiting of the feed flows is to be avoided. This dictates disproportionately heavy bearings for the pivoting slide and the shaft powering the slide. Nevertheless, premature wear of these essential components cannot be ruled out.
The fundamental objective of the invention is avoidance of these shortcomings and attainment of results, which favorably affect the problem cited in the introduction.

Thick materials pump with paired, preferably parallel feed cylinders which alternatingly deliver and intake


A lock actuator assembly for a steering lock and ignition assembly has a two position knob for operating an ignition switch of a vehicle and for operating a steering lock mechanism of the vehicle. The knob is retained within a housing by a latch device until authorization by an authorization system is provided to the latch device. When authorization is received, the latch device releases the knob from the housing so that the steering lock mechanism can unlock the steering shaft and the ignition switch can be operated to start the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a lock actuator assembly for a steering lock and ignition system which can be used with a system which indirectly activates an ignition assembly such as by a user identification and authorization system. The lock actuator assembly does not use a conventional mechanical key. In particular, the lock actuator assembly has a two position knob for operating a conventional ignition switch and steering lock mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art lock actuators for steering lock and ignition systems are well known and use a conventional mechanical key. U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,067 shows one example of a steering shaft and ignition system having a conventional key lock actuator assembly.
In this conventional key system, the user of the vehicle must carry a conventional metal key which enables him to operate the ignition switch as well as unlock other devices such as the vehicle doors, the glove box, and the trunk. If the key is lost or stolen, the user will not have access to the vehicle. If the owner's key operates all the vehicle locks, and the owner then gives his key to a third party such as a driver or valet, that person will have access to all the vehicle locks. Furthermore, if the driver gives his key to a non-driver such as a child, so that the non-driver can enter the vehicle, the non-driver can then insert the key into the ignition, start the vehicle and drive the vehicle.
Thus, the prior art systems require the carrying of a key which can be lost, misplaced or damaged. Furthermore, the prior art systems do not identify a particular person and therefore provide a level of access or authorization to the person who possesses the key.

Lock actuator assembly for a steering lock and ignition system


An optical demultiplexer, having an angular dispersion generator followed by an angular amplifier. The angular dispersion generator disperses an incident optical signal into a plurality of channels. While traveling through the angular dispersion amplifier, the channels with incident angles larger than a critical angle are internally totally reflected, and the channels with incident angles smaller than the critical angle are partly reflected, and partly transmitting into an ambient medium. The transmitting part of the channels are thus further dispersed and demultiplexed.

The present invention relates generally to an optical demultiplexer. More particularly, the invention relates an optical demultiplexer which comprises an angular dispersion generator and an angular dispersion amplifier. Such optical demultiplexer provides a basis for robust designs of multi-channel optical communication receiver, spectrum analyzer, switch and router.
Signal multiplexing is a very important function in optical communication. To increase the system bandwidth, it is common to propagate a number of channels with different optical characteristics over the same carrier such as an optical fiber or a waveguide. The channel multiplexed in the signal are then separated to be routed into individual destinations. Currently, the commonly applied multiplexing technique includes multiplexing various wavelength channels as one signal to be transmitted over a carrier. The conventional dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technologies are found to be based on: (1) thin-film dielectric devices; (2) diffraction gratings; (3) planar array waveguides; (4) fiber-based devices with Bragg gratings or interferometric structures; and (5) interleave technologies. The current technology limit is near 50 GHz.
Limitations in application of the multiplexing/demultiplexing conventional technologies include the difficulty in distinguishing the channels after being demultiplexed, signal loss during demultiplexing, temperature sensitivity that causes demultiplexing inaccuracy, and complexity in fabrication.

Angular dispersion amplification method and apparatus for optical demultiplexing


The present invention provides nucleic acid molecules comprising the EAAT2 promoter, as well as screening assays useful for identifying compounds which modulate the activity of the EAAT2 promoter, and methods of treating neurological disorders comprising administration of EAAT2 promoter modulators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention features the EAAT2 promoter and uses thereof. In one aspect, the invention relates to novel nucleic acid molecules comprising the EAAT2 promoter. In a related aspect, the invention provides methods for identifying, analyzing, and using the polynucleotides. Further provided are screening methods for detecting therapeutic compounds with capacity to treat neurological disorders.
2. Background
Neurological disorders can significantly impact the central nervous system (CNS) and motor neuron units. For example, certain neurological disorders of the CNS are known to adversely affect the brain and associated structures. Neurological disorders affecting motor neuron units have been grouped into motor neuron diseases and peripheral neuropathies. See generally Kandel, E. R. et al; (1991) in Principles of Neuroscience, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, Conn.; and Rowland, L. P. (ed.) (1982) in Human Motor Neuron Diseases, New York, Raven Press.
An illustrative motor neuron disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS has been reported to be a chronic neuromuscular disorder having recognized clinical manifestations. For example, it has been suggested that degeneration of cortical and spinal/bulbar motor neurons may play a key role in the disorder. ALS is nearly always fatal. About 95% of all ALS cases are sporadic, with many of the remaining cases showing autosomal dominant inheritance. See e.g., Kuncl R. W. et al., (1992) Motor Neuron Diseases in Diseases of the Nervous System, Asbury et al. eds. (Philadelphia W. B. Saunders) pp. 1179-1208; Brown, R. H., (1996) Amer. Neurol. 30:145; Siddique, T. and Deng., H. X. (1996) Hum. Mol. Genetics 5:1465).
Specific CNS disorders have been also described. In particular, some have been attributed to cholinergic, dopaminergic, adrenergic, serotonergic deficiencies or combinations thereof. CNS disorders of severe impact include pre-senile dementia (sometimes referred to as Alzheimer's disease (AD) or early-onset Alzheimer's disease), senile dementia (dementia of the Alzheimer's type), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD, sometimes referenced as Huntington's chorea). Such CNS disorders are well-represented in the human population. See generally; Gusella, J. F. et al. (1983) Nature 306: 234; Borlauer. W. and Jprmuloewoca. P. (eds.) (1976); Adv. in Parkinsonism: Biochemistry, Physiology, Treatment. Fifth International Symposium on Parkinson's Disease (Vienna) Basel: Roche; and references cited therein.
Significant attention has been directed towards understanding the etiology of motor neuron diseases. For example, abnormal levels of certain excitotoxic neurotransmitters have been reported to adversely contribute to many motor neuron diseases. In particular, glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is recognized to have a critical role in ALS. See e.g., Rothstein J. D. et al., (1990) Ann. Neurol. 28: 18.; Rothstein J. D. et al. (1992) N. Engl. Med. 326: 1464; Rothstein J. D. et al. (1993) PNAS (USA) 90: 6591; and Lacomblez, L. et al., (1996) Lancet 347: 1179.
There has been substantial efforts towards understanding mechanisms for reducing glutamate levels in the nervous system. For example, high-affinity, sodium-dependent glutamate transport is one reported means of inactivating glutamate. In particular, astrocytic excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) proteins are believed to have substantial functions in that inactivation. See e.g., Rothstein J. D. et al. (1994) Neuron 28: 18; Rothstein J. D. et al., (1995) Ann. Neurol. 38: 78, and references cited therein.
In particular, investigations have suggested that EAAT2 is a predominant glutamate transporter. More particularly, certain antisense knockdown studies have been reported to demonstrate that EAAT2 loss can lead to excitotoxic neuronal degeneration and progressive motor impairment. Studies of ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders have related impaired glutamate transport to loss of the EAAT2 protein. In particular, up to 60% to 70% of the sporadic ALS patients examined have a 30% to 95% loss of the EAAT2 protein. See e.g., Haugeto et al., supra; Rothstein J. D., et al., (1996) Neuron 16: 675; Bristol, L. A. and Rothstein, J. D. (1996) Ann. Neurol. 39: 676.
There have been attempts to treat or prevent neurological disorders of the CNS and the motor neuron units. However, most existing therapies do not always stem the development or severity of the disorders in afflicted patients. See e.g., Rowell, (1987) Adv. Behav. Biol. 31: 191; Rinne, et al. Brain Res. (1991) 54: 167; U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,076 to Berliner; Yurek, D. M. (1990) Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 13: 415, and Rowland et al. supra.
Accordingly, there is a need in the field for effective therapies for treating neurological disorders.


A cleaning system for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus for air flow control for maintaining optimum cleaning efficiency. The cleaning system includes a fan for producing an air flow to entrain residual marking particles and other debris. The fan has a filter and a variable speed blower associated therewith. A pressure transducer is associated with the filter for measuring the pressure drop across the filter, and generates a signal corresponding to the pressure drop measured by the pressure transducer. Responsive to the signal from the pressure transducer, the speed of the blower is regulated to maintain a desired optimum efficiency air flow through the filter. Of course, the speed of the blower can be quantified such that at a certain threshold speed an appropriate warning may be provided that the filter is no longer operating efficiently and needs to be cleaned or replaced.

The present invention relates in general to air flow control within a reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to an air flow control for maintaining the optimum efficiency of the cleaning system of an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus.
In typical commercial electrostatographic reproduction apparatus (copier/duplicators, printers, or the like), a latent image charge pattern is formed on a uniformly charged charge-retentive or photo-conductive member having dielectric characteristics (hereinafter referred to as the dielectric support member). Pigmented marking particles are attracted to the latent image charge pattern to develop such image on the dielectric support member. A receiver member, such as a sheet of paper, transparency or other medium, is then brought into contact with the dielectric support member, and an electric field applied to transfer the marking particle developed image to the receiver member from the dielectric support member. After transfer, the receiver member bearing the transferred image is transported away from the dielectric support member, and the image is fixed (fused) to the receiver member by heat and pressure to form a permanent reproduction thereon.
The pigmented marking particles used to develop latent image charge patterns are formed of a resinous powder generally referred to as toner. In transferring the toner to the receiver sheet, because of the nature of the particulate toner material, it is virtually impossible to make a complete transfer. If the residual toner material (and other debris) is not removed from the dielectric support member prior to reuse of the member to form subsequent images, such subsequent images formed on the member will be degraded (e.g., they will contain considerable undesirable background). Moreover, the toner material may scatter throughout the reproduction apparatus to contaminate its internal structure, thus adversely effecting its over-all operation. Accordingly, such reproduction apparatus generally include a device for cleaning residual particulate toner material (and other debris) from the dielectric support member immediately after transfer of image from the dielectric support member to the receiver member.
A typical system for cleaning the dielectric support member of a reproduction apparatus includes a rotating brush contacting the image bearing surface of the dielectric support. A vacuum atmosphere surrounds the brush and draws residual toner material and debris swept up by the brush through a filter arrangement. Over time, the filter becomes loaded with toner material and debris, and the cleaning efficiency of the system decreases. Eventually, the material captured by the filter may be blown out into the reproduction apparatus or its surrounding work space creating a hazardous condition for the machine, its operator, and the surrounding environment. One mechanism for preventing blow out is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,861 (issued Jul. 11, 1978, in the name of Abel). Such mechanism provides for monitoring the cleaning apparatus of the reproduction apparatus and sensing an overload to shut down the reproduction apparatus.
The above described blow out preventing mechanism includes a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), placed in the exhaust path of the cleaning apparatus downstream of the filter thereof and an optical sensor positioned to view the light source. As the filter becomes loaded, particulate material permeates the filter and becomes entrained in the air flow through the exhaust path. The optical sensor produces a signal dependent upon the amount of light reaching the optical sensor. Through a comparator circuit, based upon the signal produced by the optical sensor, the concentration of particulate material in the exhaust path can be determined. At a given set point, a signal may be produced indicative of a particular concentration of toner material in the cleaning apparatus exhaust. Such signal may then be used to trigger an appropriate alarm and/or shut down the reproduction apparatus. While such mechanism is effective in preventing the blow out condition, it does not enable the cleaning apparatus to be controlled in a manner which can account for the loss in cleaning efficiency of the system less than a complete failure of the cleaning apparatus.

Air flow control for cleaning system for reproduction apparatus


A method, an optical node, and an optical network include a power controller configured to bring channels in-service in parallel over multiple cascaded optical nodes quickly, efficiently, and in a non-service affecting manner. The method, node, and network utilize multiple states of a control loop that maintains a stable response in downstream optical nodes as channels are added in parallel. Further, the power controller is configured to operate independently alleviating dependencies on other power controllers and removing the need for coordination between power controllers. The method, node, and network provide efficient turn up of dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) services which is critical to optical layer functionality including optical layer restoration.

As optical networks have evolved, network deployments have moved from point-to-point configurations to interconnected mesh architectures with various reconfigurable components contained therein. The interconnected mesh architectures can be formed with various reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) or other types of optical nodes. In an exemplary implementation, a ROADM can include a wavelength selective switch (WSS) and the process of adding a channel to each ROADM can include opening an associated pixel on the WSS. Of course, other implementations can be used for ROADMs. As optical node flexibility increases and the interconnected mesh architectures expand, channel addition becomes problematic especially over optical networks with multiple cascaded optical nodes. These challenges are further increased as different channels can have different A-Z paths through the network with various channels traversing different paths and multiple cascaded optical nodes. Thus, optical node and network flexibility leads to interconnection complexity.
First, to turn up a wavelength, conventional systems and methods can utilize a procedure by opening pixels in the WSS in multiple cascaded ROADM sections simultaneously or in quick sequence. However opening up pixels (or any other type of enabling scheme) without any sort of control may create significant overshoot on the wavelength being launched into the fiber, and further may insert non-linear interference to neighboring in-service wavelengths. Adding a large number of wavelengths on top of low-count in-service ones can also create significant DC power offset on the in-service wavelengths that could be traffic impacting as well.
Alternatively, conventional systems and methods can include turning up wavelengths in sequence over multiple optical nodes while setting actuator values dynamically in each optical node site in non-service affecting way following the completion of add action in upstream optical nodes. This is a sequential approach versus the aforementioned parallel approach. Few constraints have to be respected in that regard: (1) a controller in each optical node has to run in a close-loop fashion getting an updated optical power reading from an associated optical power monitor (OPM), (2) the delay between consecutive close loop controller iterations are limited by the associated OPM's scanning time to report the wavelength power and the actuator's attenuation settling time, and (3) while setting attenuation in each actuator, it has to maintain the target launch power into the fiber, or need to achieve the power of the already in-service wavelengths of similar transmitter type into the fiber. Such controlled sequential method ensures proper power settings for each section, and mitigates any impact to currently deployed channels. Plant related drifts and aging effects (e.g. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based WSS pixel drifts, and pixel offsets due to aging) adds another dimension into this problem due to which the pixel or the actuators cannot be open at the target attenuation in a single step. The actuator needs to be opened at a lower attenuation setting than the target actuator settings. Otherwise an overshoot can appear while adding the new channel to the fiber that may cause non-linear interference to the neighboring wavelengths.
Hence in order to respect and overcome all these constraints, conventional systems and methods take few iterations of each WSS to achieve the power target before the wavelength shows up in-service. However due to sequential operation and timing allocation for each WSS in an optical node site, the overall service turn up time for a wavelength over multiple cascaded optical nodes becomes very much significant especially in the case layer 0 (optical layer) restoration schemes. In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to have systems and methods for faster channel additions over multiple cascaded optical nodes utilizing a parallel technique while addressing the aforementioned constraints.

Systems and methods for channel additions over multiple cascaded optical nodes


An elastic shaft joint is constituted of a joint member, a shaft member being fitted in a shaft of the joint member, and an elastic bush having a cylindrical inner sleeve fitted and fixed on the joint member, a cylindrical elastic member fixed on an outside surface of the inner sleeve, and a cylindrical outer sleeve fixed on an outside surface of the elastic member, for elastic torque transmission between the joint member and the shaft member, wherein the outer sleeve is fixed on the shaft member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elastic shaft joint used for a steering apparatus of an automobile and a method of forming an elastic bush thereof, and particularly to a technique for effectively absorbing displacement in the axial direction while securing comparatively high torsional rigidity.
2. Related Background Art
A steering apparatus of an automobile and the like generally comprises a steering wheel for a driver's steering, a steering gear for shifting the direction of dirigible wheels and a steering shaft for connecting the steering wheel and the steering gear. In such a steering apparatus, since the steering gear is rarely located on the axial center line of the steering wheel, a plurality of steering shafts connected by a universal joint are normally used. Such a universal joint for steering shafts is generally a Cardan joint in which a cross piece (joint cross) is movably mounted between a pair of joint elements, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,928.
Recently, an elastic shaft joint with an elastic member of synthetic rubber or the like has been proposed in order to reduce transmission of kickback from the road surface to the steering wheel. In this type of elastic shaft joint, one joint element of a Cardan joint is separated into a joint member (yoke) and a shaft member (shaft), and an elastic ring of synthetic rubber, etc. is mounted between the yoke and the shaft. In order to prevent damage to the elastic ring and to enhance durability thereof, the yoke and the shaft are provided with stopper portions to limit more than a predetermined amount of relative rotation.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-329033 and Japanese Patent Application No. 11-324100 disclose an elastic shaft joint (first conventional device) wherein a comparatively shorter elastic bush is mounted between a yoke and a shaft. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-229086 discloses an elastic shaft joint (second conventional device) wherein a pair of flat plate type elastic members is mounted between a yoke and a shaft. Further, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 4-69283 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-200382 disclose an elastic shaft joint (third conventional device) wherein a comparatively longer elastic bush is mounted between a yoke and a shaft. Also, Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. 59-29147 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-159418 disclose an elastic shaft joint (fourth conventional device) wherein two sets of elastic bushes are mounted separately away from each other between a cylindrical yoke and a cylindrical shaft. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-19054 discloses an elastic shaft joint (fifth conventional device) wherein an elastic member is disposed slidably in the axial direction in a corrugated cylindrical outer sleeve fitted on a yoke, and the outer sleeve is fixed to a shaft.
However, the above-mentioned elastic shaft joints have various properties and malfunctions caused by the properties. In the first conventional device, since only one shorter elastic bush is utilized, even though comparatively small force acts on the yoke and the shaft, the angle between the yoke and the shaft is easily changed, i.e., the yoke and the shaft are easily inclined to each other. Also, in the second conventional device, since the elastic members are not disposed circumferentially, the yoke and the shaft are easily inclined to each other in predetermined directions similarly to the first conventional device. Further, in the third conventional device, the longer elastic bush is utilized, so that the torsional rigidity can be kept comparatively high, but displacement of the yoke and the shaft becomes difficult in the axial direction. Further, in the fourth conventional device, the diameter of the elastic bushes is reduced. Therefore, when the strength of the elastic members is raised to secure the torsional rigidity, displacement of the yoke and the shaft becomes difficult in the axial direction. Furthermore, in the fifth conventional device, in order to slide the outer sleeve and the elastic member smoothly without looseness, high accuracy is required to form the outer sleeve and the elastic member. In addition, the yoke and the shaft are easily inclined similarly to the first and second conventional devices.
In the first, second and fifth conventional devices, due to easy inclination of the elastic shaft joint, when a driver turns a steering wheel from right to left, it is difficult to have torque transmitted to a steering gear, resulting in bad response of the steering system lacking in feeling of rigidity. In addition, excessive inclination of the elastic shaft joint causes large tensile and compressive deformation of the elastic member, leading to shortening of the lifetime of the device. Furthermore, in the third conventional device, preferable results can be obtained in respect to torsional rigidity and nonoccurrence of easy inclination. However, due to the difficult displacement in the axial direction, vibration from the steering gear is transmitted to the steering wheel and noise tends to be generated.
On the other hand, in the fifth conventional device, as the two sets of elastic bushes are provided away from each other in the axial direction, the inclination of the yoke and the shaft can be nearly neglected. However, the elastic bushes are disposed in the cylindrical yoke, so that when the diameter of the elastic bushes is increased, the weight of the device increases largely. On the other hand, when the diameter of the elastic bushes is kept small and a material with high strength is used for the elastic members, stability of response in steering is improved, but displacement in the axial direction is difficult, similar to the third conventional device.


An image display apparatus includes laser light sources, a light combining section that combines laser light from the laser light sources, and an optical scanner that deflects drawing laser light from the light combining section for two-dimensional scanning. The optical axes of the laser light outputted from the laser light sources and directed toward the optical scanner are present in the same plane. Further, the optical scanner has a light reflection surface configured to be perpendicular to the plane when the optical scanner is not driven. The optical scanner deflects the drawing laser light reflected off the light reflection surface for two-dimensional scanning by causing the light reflection surface to swing within the plane and in the direction perpendicular to the plane.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and a head-mounted display.
2. Related Art
One known image display apparatus for displaying an image on a screen includes a light source and an optical scanner that deflects light from the light source for two-dimensional scanning (see JP-A-2011-154344, for example).
The image display apparatus described in JP-A-2011-154344 includes three semiconductor lasers, a beam supplying section including a coupling lens corresponding to each of the semiconductor lasers, dichroic mirrors, and a collector lens, and a beam deflecting section that deflects a beam outputted from the beam supplying section for two-dimensional scanning. A light reflection surface of a reflection mirror provided in the beam deflecting section is parallel to the optical axis of the beam emitted from each of the semiconductor lasers and disposed in a position shifted from the optical axis in the thickness direction of an enclosure. A flat mirror is therefore provided between the beam supplying section and the beam deflecting section, and the beam outputted from the beam supplying section is reflected off the flat mirror in the thickness direction of the enclosure and is then incident on the reflection mirror of the beam deflecting section.
In the image display apparatus described in JP-A-2011-154344, the thickness (size) of the enclosure can be reduced because the reflection surface of the reflection mirror is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the enclosure, but the number of parts increases because an extra member, such as the flat mirror for reflecting the beam in the thickness direction, is required. Unfortunately, this disadvantageously results in an increase in the number of steps required to assemble the apparatus.

Image display apparatus and head-mounted display


The invention relates to a vehicle with a folding system, and is applicable to the field of foldable scooter-type vehicles.

The folding system, for such a vehicle, of course makes it possible to reduce its bulk for storage thereof, but also to carry it easily.
Scooter-type vehicles are known, such as the vehicle described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,097, comprising a chassis connected to a pivot steering assembly around a pivot axis, so that the vehicle can assume a first usage configuration, making it possible to move the vehicle and its user, and in a second, folded configuration in which the chassis is brought against the pivot steering assembly.
Folding is therefore an essential function that is obtained by allowing the chassis to pivot relative to the steering assembly.
This pivoting must of course be prohibited in the usage configuration, in particular to prevent folding during movement.
In devices like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,097, the pivoting can be locked or unlocked mechanically by a relatively complex system, as for example described in FIGS. 2 to 6 of that document.
More generally, solutions are known aiming to block the pivoting, which are based on the use of a locking or unlocking lever with a tightening lever to reduce the play, a spring latch with a position indexing finger, or a gripping wheel to block pivoting.
The problem posed by all of these solutions is that they are not intuitive and easy to implement, in particular because they require several actions by the user generally involving several parts of the body: the user must, for instance, lower himself, unlock the system by hand, fold the vehicle, lock the system, stand up, etc.
Moreover, most of the time these solutions require finding the "neutral" position of the locking system so as to be able to actuate it. This requires eliminating the stresses exerted on the locking system, such as the weight of the steering assembly or the weight of the chassis.
Moreover, upon use, such solutions tend to acquire play. To resolve that problem, it is possible to attach tightening systems. But such systems still further complicate the implementation of the folding and unfolding of the vehicle.

Vehicle, for example of the scooter type, with folding system

Abstract: The vehicle comprises a chassis (1) able to support a user and a steering assembly (2, 3, 4) comprising at least one steering column (2), the vehicle being able to assume a usage configuration and a folded configuration.

Abstract: The chassis is connected to the steering assembly around at least one pivot axis (6), and has a first support (1a) intended to support the user that extends towards the steering assembly in a front portion beyond the pivot axis, so that pressing on the front portion makes it possible to go from the usage configuration to the folded configuration by pivoting around the pivot axis.

Abstract: The vehicle comprises also an unlocking means (7) able to cooperate with the steering assembly (2, 3, 4) to lock or unlock the pivoting, the unlocking means (7) being arranged at the front portion of the support part.


A blower assembly including a blower housing having a side wall with a first portion extending from the initial cutoff through an angle of at least 45° or more, the first portion having a radius which is substantially constant or which increases at a relatively small rate. The side wall additionally includes a second portion, extending from the end of the first portion to the outlet, which forms a continuous curve with the first portion and has an increasing radius which is increasing at a larger rate and has a rate of increase that is also increasing with housing angle. The shape of the side wall allows a reduction in the overall size of the blower housing for a given size of impeller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air moving devices and, in particular, to centrifugal blowers which include impellers or fan wheels having forward curved blades that are used, for example, in modern gas furnace draft inducer applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
In high efficiency furnaces, standard chimney air-draw effects are not sufficient to assure the required air flow through the furnace heat exchangers, and therefore, modern high efficiency furnaces utilize draft inducer blowers to provide sufficient air flow through the heat exchangers of the furnace. These types of draft inducer blowers typically include impellers or fan wheels having forward curved blades. The impeller is rotated in a scroll shaped blower housing to draw an air flow through the housing. This, in turn, draws an air flow through the heat exchanger. Similarly, in other applications where air flow is produced by a centrifugal blower having forward curved blades, the ability of the blower to efficiently generate sufficient air flow and pressure are important. Also, in many applications in which centrifugal blowers are used, such as furnace draft inducers, for example, space is at a premium so minimization of the size of the blower is desired.
Centrifugal blowers convert static air pressure into velocity air pressure in the blower housing. Pressure conversion is accomplished in the blower housing as the cross section available for passage of the air flow expands around the periphery of the impeller from the cutoff to the outlet. FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a typical prior art blower housing and impeller, and a graph showing the dimensional relationship of the impeller periphery IP and the scroll shaped length of the blower housing side wall SS. As shown in FIG. 1, the increase in cross section in the scroll portion of the blower housing around the impeller is proportional to the developed length of the impeller periphery. In particular, the angle between the developed scroll surface SS and the impeller periphery IP is called the expansion angle which, as shown in FIG. 1, is 7°. The impeller diameter and the expansion angle determine the overall width dimensions W1-W1 and W2-W2of the scroll length of the blower housing.
The effect of expansion angle on blower performance is shown in the pressure-flow curves in FIG. 2. The curves in FIG. 2 represent blower housing side walls having expansion angles of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 degrees. Flow rate increases significantly with increases in expansion angle at any constant static pressure between free flow (zero static pressure) at the bottom of each pressure-flow curve and the knee of the curve at the top. For example, at a static pressure of 30% of maximum, the air flow rate is only 40% of maximum for a 4° expansion angle but is 90% for a 10° expansion angle.
Expansion angle also effects performance of the blower in a particular system. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the impeller in a blower housing having an 8° expansion angle delivers about 73% of the free flow air rate at operating point A on the given system resistance curve. If the expansion angle of the blower housing is increased to 10°, for a constant expansion angle scroll housing air delivery of the same impeller is increased to about 83% of free flow air at operating point B.
Although greater expansion angles improve blower performance, the relative amount of improvement gradually diminishes, and the size of the blower housing with respect to the diameter of the impeller becomes too large for space constraints in applications in which the blower is used. This is mostly due to the volume between the impeller periphery and the blower housing side wall too great to allow the high velocity stream coming off of the impeller to impact the air volume in the scroll. For example, if either of the overall width dimensions W1-W1 or W2-W2 of the blower housing is too large for the space available for the blower housing, a blower housing having a smaller expansion angle may be selected. Then, if the resulting reduction in air flow rate is not acceptable, a compromise must be made in either blower size or air performance.
One known blower assembly 10 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This assembly 10 generally includes a blower housing 12 having a top wall or end wall 14 and a side wall 16 extending from top wall 14. The side wall 16 includes a flange 18 by which a cover member (not shown) may be secured to the side wall 16 such as by crimping or welding. The cover member typically includes a circular inlet opening (not shown). A motor 20 is attached to top wall 14 of blower housing 12 via suitable fasteners (not shown). An impeller 22 is attached to output shaft 24 of motor 20 and is positioned within the interior of blower housing 12. The impeller 22 is a "fan wheel," "squirrel cage" or "sirocco" type impeller, including a plurality of blades 26 which are curved forward with respect to the direction of air flow, indicated by arrow 28. Side wall 16 of blower housing 12 is generally curved or scrolled as described below, and defines a rectangular air outlet opening 30 to which a typical discharge structure (not shown) may be attached, for example, for connection to a circular discharge pipe via suitable clamps and/or fasteners. Cutoff 32 is defined by the end of the scroll shaped side wall 16 adjacent outlet opening 30.
As shown in FIG. 4, the output shaft 24 of the motor 20 and the center of impeller 22 are coaxial and disposed at a center point CP. Side wall 16 of blower housing 12 is scrolled such that its radius R1, defined from center point CP to wall 16, continuously increases in length from cutoff 32 in a radial direction center point CP with respect to the direction of rotation of impeller 22 and the air flow direction along arrow 28. Thus, radius R1 has a minimum length at cutoff 32 and a maximum length adjacent the end of the outlet opening 30 which is the cutoff 32.
In this manner, the side wall 16 of blower housing 12 is shaped to provide the blower housing 12 with a constantly expanding internal area between the impeller 22 and the side wall 16 around impeller 22 from the cutoff 32 toward the outlet opening 30 in order to allow constant expansion of the air flow area from impeller 22 toward outlet 30. However, in view of the considerations discussed above, the expansion angle of the blower housing 12 is typically only about 6° or less in order to minimize the overall width dimensions W1-W1 and W2-W2 of the blower housing.
What is needed is a blower housing which is an improvement over the foregoing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Systems and methods are provided for authenticating mobile payments from a customer account to a merchant. The systems and methods may include a financial service provider receiving a request to authorize an electronic transaction at a point-of-sale. A financial service provider server computer may verify that the customer is present at the point-of-sale using received location data. An image having distorted text such as a captcha may be transmitted to a device at the point-of-sale, and the customer may read the captcha aloud. A voice sample of the customer may be sent to the financial service provider for comparison to stored voice recordings, to verify that the customer's voice sample is authentic if the voice matches a previously generated voice recording for the account. If the voice sample is authentic, the financial service provider may authorize the mobile payment.

Electronic payment methods are gaining popularity as an alternative to cash and credit cards. Mobile devices, such as smartphones, can store and transmit information necessary for electronic payments without the need for physical cards or currency that are easily misplaced or stolen. A mobile device can potentially store information for many payment accounts in a "digital wallet." Slowly but surely, digital wallets are becoming alternatives to cash and card-filled physical wallets.
Many merchants now accept electronic payments at the point-of-sale. Most point-of-sale electronic payment systems use a near field communication (NFC) chip, which is a short-range communication device that transfers a customer's account information wirelessly from the customer's mobile device digital wallet to a merchant computer. Other point-of-sale systems use a third party intermediary, such as PayPal™, to conduct electronic transactions between a customer and merchant.
Despite their growing popularity, mobile electronic payments raise many new concerns. At the forefront of these concerns is security: customers and their financial institutions need to ensure that electronic payments are authentic and properly authorized. Furthermore, the risk of identity theft increases when account information is transmitted wirelessly and subject to interception. To address these concerns, authentication steps are required at the point-of-sale.
Current authentication systems require the customer to perform many cumbersome steps at the point-of-sale, such as taking pictures of barcodes, and typing usernames, passwords, and PINs. Customers often are forced to complete these tasks while other customers are waiting in line. The complexity and inconvenience of these systems discourage customers from using electronic payments.
In view of these authentication concerns, and the shortcomings of current systems, a convenient and reliable way to authenticate mobile electronic payments is desired.

Voice recognition to authenticate a mobile payment


A structural component, especially a shielding component, has structural parts (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) at least in part differently configured with respect to their surface extent and/or the directional pattern. At least one structural part (10) of a first type is provided with a curvature and with a longitudinal orientation. Structural parts (12) of a second type at least in part follow that curvature. Since the structural part (10) of the first type is designed as a shell and since the structural parts (12) of the second type are combined in pairs into groups (20, 22) and extend transversely to the longitudinal orientation of the structural part (10) of the first type, the edge area is strengthened by an additional structural part. The additional structural part is an integral component of the shielding body and does not need mounting-bracket parts positioned on the edge side.

While heat development, for example, of a high-economy, performance-optimized diesel engine, can be very low on the cylinder crankshaft housing, this low heat development in no way applies to "hot zones" such as in manifolds, turbochargers, catalytic converters, etc. Due to the more and more compact construction of engines, components not thermally "compatible" are increasingly being in close proximity to one another. Accordingly, it is necessary to protect thermal engine components against bordering, heat-sensitive assemblies, such as sensors, fuel lines, pressure cells, body parts, etc. using so-called shielding components, such as heat shields. The situation is also exacerbated by the compact structure in that the high packing density of the assemblies constricts the cooling air flow in the engine compartment. Noise abatement measures can also contribute to this situation. For example, plastic bottom plates designed to reduce the emission of noise from the engine compartment to the roadway, under certain circumstances can produce effective insulation with which heat is enclosed in the engine compartment. Catalytic converters, due to their phased high surface temperature, are considered to be among the heat sources necessitating the use of protective shield barriers. One typical example of this situation is construction measures, such as positioning the catalytic converter close by on the manifold. This design principle performs the function of rapid heat-up of the catalytic converter, and thus, of reducing emissions in the cold start phase, and shifts a major source of heat into the engine compartment where numerous assemblies are crowded in a tight space. Certainly one reason for the growing importance of shielding components, such as heat shields, is the trend toward use of thermoplastics. The light and economical materials with their exceptional moldability are rapidly becoming common in the engine compartment, but require special attention with respect to ambient temperatures at the application site relative to other thermal engine parts ("New materials and development tools for heat protection", in MTZ 12/2001, Vol. 72, pp. 1044 ff).
DE 102 47 641 B3 discloses a generic structural component, especially in the form of a noise-damping shielding component, as a component of a motor vehicle. To improve acoustic insulation in the known structural component, the pertinent shielding component has a shielding body with a base edge as a structural part of a first type which can be fixed on the edge side by angular bracket legs within the engine compartment on stationary parts there, and which shields thermal engine components relative to heat-sensitive components.
The shielding body, as a structural part of the first type, is configured overall, viewed in cross section, as an angle, and has a symmetrical structure in this respect. The angled middle area undergoes transition on the edge side into areas of greater curvature that join bridge-like terminations extending in a straight line. On the respective two opposing edge areas, the angular brackets are mounted subsequently as fixing means. In the known solution, the shielding body has two layers of sheet metal, between which an acoustically insulating and/or heat insulating layer extends. To fix the sheet metal cover layers to one another, flanging is used in which the free flange edge of one cover layer superficially encompasses the edge area of the other cover layer. To reduce weight, the shielding body is made of aluminum or some other lightweight metal.
The known solution is used preferably for shielding a clutch between the gearbox flange and the universal shaft against solid-borne noise originating from the transmission and against the continuing influence of temperature radiation of the exhaust pipe extending adjacent to it. In tests, a reduction of acoustic emission in the known solution by 3 dB was achieved. To achieve the pertinent shielding action, along the middle area of the first structural part in the form of a shielding body, other structural parts of a second type extend in the form of bead-shaped longitudinal and transverse ribs over the outer side of the shielding body. It is characteristic of this known structuring that the longitudinal ribs extending over the entire length of the shielding body and positioned in the longitudinal orientation of the structural part of the first type are adjoined by transverse ribs which are integrally molded on, which form a type of nub structure and which in an alternating sequence fit adjacently into the intermediate spaces between the two respective transverse ribs of an adjacent longitudinal rib. The edge areas which are bent off more dramatically to the outside with the connecting brackets are conversely kept free of the ribs. With regard to the interrupted transverse rib structure of the known solution, it can be expected that in this respect stiffness and strength are reduced. Furthermore, at the transition point to the connecting brackets, stiffening of the shielding body is obtained only by the bent bracket legs which largely define the connection geometry, in this instance of the structural component, on the stationary engine or chassis components. In this way, the possible applications of the known structural component are limited. The connecting brackets with their bent bracket legs and eye connecting points for the penetration of a fastener (screw) require installation space and increase the weight for the known solution.

Structural component, in particular a lubricating component


A combination linear spring clip and capturing guide retains a reflector to a ceiling lighting fixture, which has a mounting frame secured in a ceiling, wherein the mounting frame includes an opening to accommodate the reflector. One or more capturing guides are mounted on an upper surface of the mounting frame surrounding the opening. Each capturing guide extends radially from a center of the opening. Respective springs are linearly slidable within the respective capturing guides, with a portion of each spring extending out of each capturing guide. Each linear spring clip engages an outer surface of the light fixture reflector to secure it in place, allowing the mounting of reflectors of varying size.

Recessed lighting fixtures are typically pushed into a steel mounting frame that is situated on the topside of the ceiling which is most often made of gypsum board or acoustical tile. The most common way of retaining the reflector so that its flange is in contact with the bottom (exposed) side of the ceiling panel is by use of what is known in the lighting industry as "roto-clips". An example of these is defined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,154 of Capostagno et al. where they are variously referred as "resilient reflector support members", "spring retainer members", and "mounting assemblies". An earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,822 of Chan describes inclined gripping teeth which permit removal of the reflector by rotation of the reflector in the direction of the downward incline thereby causing the reflector to be cammed downward. This feature is also used in the roto-clips.
The existing retaining means for lighting reflectors have several shortcomings. Although the possibility of more than two arms is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,154 of Capostagno et al., roto-clips typically have two arms, a short arm and a longer arm. Either can be swung into a position of contact with the reflector, but only two positions are offered. Oriented with the longer arm inward (toward reflector), they may apply excessive pressure against the reflector; with the shorter arm inward, insufficient pressure may be applied. Additionally, the point of contact of the end of the roto-clip is typically ½″ above the topside of the mounting frame. While such elevation may grip reflectors having near vertical walls at their point of contact, reflectors that rapidly taper inward are susceptible to inferior grip or even loss of grip due to the low angle of presentation at the contact point. Roto-clips are typically riveted onto the mounting frame, a method permitting rotation but with substantial friction. However, the rivet mounting hole position dictates the pressure that either the long or short spring arm will exert against the reflector. Thus, unless there are multiple rivet holes allowing the roto-clip to be riveted nearer or farther away from the edge of the hole in the mounting frame, the design can only accommodate a slightly larger or smaller reflector than was originally intended. Note also that multiple rivet holes require experimentation and are prone to assembly errors. The time required to rivet the four roto-clips is another shortcoming; a supply of rivets and a riveting tool must also be at hand. Depending on the pressure exerted by the roto-clips, it can be difficult to remove the reflector. Because of the discrete projections of roto-clips, the reflector can only be mounted with a single level of eccentricity relative to the large hole in the mounting frame. By rotating two adjacent roto-clips with the longer leg extending inward, and the other two adjacent roto-clips with the shorter leg extending inward, a level of eccentricity is afforded, but possibly at the expense of appropriate retentive pressure on the reflector. Increased variability in offset positioning is desirable if there is a need to further offset the reflector to permit its flange to conceal larger blemishes in the ceiling panel adjacent to the hole that may have arisen while the hole was being cut.

Linear spring clip for securing lighting reflectors or housings into mounting frames


A glass-plate working apparatus 1 includes: a supporting device 7 for supporting a glass plate 6 from a glass plate carrying-in section 2; a main cutter head device 9 for forming a main cut line 8 for bend-breaking on the glass plate 6 supported by the supporting device 7; a maincutter-head moving device 10 for relatively moving the main cutter head device 9; bend-breaking head devices 13 and 14 for forming edge cut lines 11 for bend-breaking on the glass plate 6 and for pressing the glass plate 6 to bend-break the glass plate 6; and bend-breaking head moving devices 15 and 16 for moving the bend-breaking head devices 13 and 14.

Conventionally, in a conventional glass-plate working apparatus of this type, a glass-plate carrying-in section and a main cut-line forming section in proximity to the glass-plate carrying-in section are disposed. In this main cut-line forming section, a given main cut line for bend-breaking is formed on unworked plate glass, and then the unworked plate glass on which the main cut line for bend-breaking has been formed is transported to a glass plate bend-breaking section which is disposed in proximity to the main cut-line forming section. In the glass plate bend-breaking section, an edge cut line is formed on the unworked plate glass on which the main cut line has been formed. Subsequently, the unworked plate glass on which the main cut line and the edge cut line have been formed is subjected to bend-breaking. The bend-broken edge of the bend-broken glass plate is ground in a glass plate peripheral-edge grinding section which is disposed in proximity to the glass-plate bend-breaking section.
With the conventional glass-plate working apparatus described above, since the main cut-line forming section and the glass plate bend-breaking section are provided, the installation space of the apparatus becomes large. In addition, a plurality of stages of transporting the unworked plate glass, including the transportation of the unworked plate glass from the glass plate carrying-in section to the main cut-line forming section and the transportation of the unworked plate glass from the main cut-line forming section to the glass plate bend-breaking section, are required. For this reason, the conventional glass-plate working apparatus has various problems ascribable to the transportation, such as a decline in productivity due to the transport time, and the problem of a positioning error between the placement of the glass plate on the main cut-line forming section and the placement of the glass plate on the glass plate bend-breaking section.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and its object is to provide a glass-plate working apparatus which is capable of overcoming the above-described problems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a glass-plate working apparatus which is capable of fabricating glass plates of given configurations with high productivity.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a glass-plate working apparatus which is capable of forming a main cut line and an edge cut line, as desired, and of working glass plates having aimed configurations with high accuracy.


A method includes depositing an etch stop layer over a non-insulator structure and a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer; etching the dielectric layer to form a first hole in the dielectric layer; deepening the first hole into the etch stop layer such that the non-insulator structure is exposed at a bottom of the deepened hole; after the non-insulator structure is exposed, performing a cleaning operation to remove etch byproducts from the deepened first hole, wherein the cleaning operation results in lateral recesses laterally extending from a bottom portion of the deepened first hole into the etch stop layer; depositing a first diffusion barrier layer into the deepened first hole until the lateral recesses are overfilled; depositing a second diffusion barrier layer over the first diffusion barrier layer; and depositing one or more conductive layers over the second diffusion barrier layer.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth in the past several decades. Technological advances in semiconductor materials and design have produced increasingly smaller and more complex circuits. These material and design advances have been made possible as the technologies related to processing and manufacturing have also undergone technical advances. As a size of the smallest component has decreased, numerous challenges have risen. For example, interconnection of conductive lines and associated dielectric materials that facilitate wiring between the transistors and other devices play a role in IC performance improvement.

Method of forming interconnection structure

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A flow-guiding member unit used for assembling a flow-guiding member comprising pluralities of vanes, an outer platform and an inner platform, the unit comprising an integral body member comprising one vane portion, an outer platform portion, and an inner platform portion, a first elastic member attached to a step of the outer platform portion, and a second elastic member attached to a step of the inner platform portion, the body member being formed by the thermal compression of sheet-molding compounds or fiber-reinforced resin pellets, and the first and second elastic members being made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

Flow-guiding members for gas turbine engines, etc. are widely used for aircrafts, electric generators, etc. For instance, gas turbine engines for aircrafts are provided with stator vanes acting to guide the introduced air to rotor vanes and working as outlet guide vanes for guiding a bypass flow. The stator vanes are generally made of metal materials such as titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, stainless steel, etc. The metal stator vanes are produced by forming pluralities of vanes by casting, forging, pressing, etc., and bonding each vane to a casing called a platform by welding or brazing, etc.
However, the above conventional production methods need machining, finishing, coating, etc. after the formation of vanes, resulting in a large number of working steps and difficulty in working of small complicated parts. In addition, the flow-guiding members made of metal materials are disadvantageously heavy and expensive.
Much attention has recently been paid to flow-guiding members made of composite resin materials, because they are light in weight and have satisfactory mechanical strength. A flow-guiding member made of a composite resin material generally has a structure in which among elements constituting the flow-guiding member, only vanes are changed from a metal to the composite resin material. It is produced by bonding units obtained by forming prepregs, etc. to supports one by one by an adhesive, etc., and winding a tape around the assembled units to fix them. However, inevitable dimensional errors of parts make it difficult to assemble the units to a uniform shape by such production method, resulting in difficulty in fixing the units at desired positions, and needing additional steps of winding a tape to fix the units. In addition, even when only one unit is damaged, the entire assembly should inevitably be exchanged because the units are undetachably assembled.
In such circumstances, the inventors previously proposed a flow-guiding member unit having an integral structure comprising one vane, an outer platform piece, and an inner platform piece, which is constituted by (a) a core comprising a web portion constituting the vane, and flanges integrally connected to both ends of the web portion to constitute the outer platform piece and the inner platform piece, and (b) a skin layer covering the core, the skin layer being made of a thermosetting resin having rubber or rubber elasticity (JP2003-214400A). To produce this flow-guiding member unit, for instance, a prepreg laminate is heat-pressed, charged into a die together with a liquid thermosetting resin, and the resin is cured.
Because the flow-guiding member unit having a skin layer made of a thermosetting resin has enough elasticity, it can be formed into a flow-guiding member without needing to wind a tape around it. Accordingly, when the flow-guiding member formed by the flow-guiding member units produced by this method are damaged, only damaged units can be exchanged to new ones. However, to produce flow-guiding member units having excellent mechanical strength, the prepreg laminate should be formed by cutting the prepregs to predetermined shapes and laminating them, with the directions of fibers taken into consideration. This operation requires such high skills that only skilled artisans can produce the laminate, taking an extremely long period of time and a high cost.

Flow-guiding member unit and its production method


A fiber tray is provided for installing fiber optic cable and other types of cable that are vulnerable to performance losses if a certain minimum bend radius is not maintained. The fiber tray allows a user to create a subassembly that maintains bend radius control while easing assembly. The construction of the fiber tray also minimizes the depth of the tray and gives freedom to the user to vary the routing patterns of the cable so that a component that is attached to the end of the cable can be located at a predetermined spot on the tray.

Fiber optic cables and other cables such as CAT5 cable require that users do not bend them pass a certain amount, otherwise performance losses will be induced. This characteristic of a cable is referred to as the minimum bend radius. For example, the minimum bend radius for CAT5 cable is one inch and it is 50 mm for SMF-28 fiber optic cable when light waves having a wavelength of 1550 nm are passing through it. Any network or test instrument using these types of cable needs to maintain these minimum bend radii, otherwise the performance of the network or test instrument will be compromised. Maintaining bend radius control can be difficult, especially when fiber optic cable is routed within the interior of a small housing for a fiber optic test instrument. None of the previous methods for routing fiber optic cable in a test instrument have been successful for a number of reasons.
One previous method of routing fiber optic cable in a test instrument has been to wind the fiber into the bottom of one half of the housing of the test instrument and try to maintain bend radius control by hand. The cable is then taped into place. This method has several disadvantages. First, some assemblers are not knowledgeable about fiber optics and fail to understand the importance of maintaining bend radius control. Second, even knowledgeable and experienced assemblers will occasionally violate minimum bend radius because of the considerable amount of dexterity necessary to maintain bend radius control. Third, repeatedly taping the cable leads to microbends that reduce the optical power transmitted in the fiber to any bulkhead or connector. Finally, this method requires that the optical components be mounted to a circuit board. Minimum bend radius is often exceeded due to the transition from the bottom of the housing of the test instrument to the printed circuit board that is necessary during the process of connection of the fiber to the optical components. All of these problems lead to undesirable performance losses in the fiber and test instrument.
Another method that has been used to route fiber optic cable in a test instrument is to use fiber clips or routing channels. The disadvantage that these components have is that they typically only allow for one path for which the cable to follow. Given the variance in the length of cable used, this meant that optical components and splices would not be found in the desired location. This caused the assembler to bend the fiber in an effort to make the components fit into the available space. Another drawback is that these commercially available components were too tall to fit into a small housing, which limited their use.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide bend radius control for cabling in a test instrument that allows the user to easily assemble the test instrument, locate optical components in the desired location, and minimize the space that the management of the cabling takes up in the test instrument.


In some embodiments, a memory transaction is received that was sent over an unordered interconnect. A determination is made as to whether an address conflict exists between the memory transaction and another memory transaction. If the address conflict exists the memory transaction is forwarded only after waiting until the conflict is resolved. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Memory Reliability Availability and Serviceability (Memory RAS) features can include features such as memory mirroring, memory sparing, memory RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), etc. Memory RAS features are increasingly becoming more important in various computer related market segments such as server market segments, including low end server market segments. Memory RAS features help server application availability by providing mechanisms to recover and/or reconstruct memory data without bringing the system down in cases where erroneous data is supplied by the memory devices. Such memory RAS features need to be enabled in server platforms without severely impacting the performance of the system.
Memory RAS features have been implemented in systems using centralized memory where a centralized memory controller coordinates all access to the memory and centralized decision making occurs. However, it would be advantageous to have memory RAS features provided in distributed memory systems using distributed logic and/or distributed decision making where point-to-point scalable coherent interconnects connect various processing nodes and multiple memory controllers are able to cooperate using message control. However, such a system poses unique challenges that have not previously been addressed.

Performing memory RAS operations over a point-to-point interconnect