Polyethylene blend compositions suitable for rotomolding, rotomolded articles, and processes for rotomolding articles are provided. The polyethylene compositions include a first polyethylene having a melt index of 0.4 to 3.0 g/10 min and a density of from 0.910 to 0.930 g/cm3; and a second polyethylene having a melt index of 10 to 30 g/10 min and a density of 0.945 to 0.975 g/cm3. The composition has a density of from 0.930 to 0.955 g/cm3 and a melt index of 1.5 to 12 g/10 min, and the first and second polyethylenes differ in density by from 0.030 to 0.048 g/cm3. These compositions exhibit improved physical properties, such as Environmental Stress Crack Resistance and Izod Impact Strength. Articles produced from the compositions may also exhibit improved impact resistance properties, enhanced ductile break properties, and improved deflection resistance, which represents a combination of creep and fatigue resistance.

Rotational molding or rotational casting, more commonly known as rotomolding, is widely used for molding hollow articles, and can be used to mold both small and large containers, such as tanks of typically 19 L to 57,000 L. Such rotomolded tanks are utilized in agricultural, chemical and recreational vehicle industries. Rotomolded containers are used for packaging and material handling, particularly as container articles for fluids or solids. Rotational molding is also used for portable toilets, instrument and battery cases, light globes, vacuum cleaner and scrubber housings, toys, and garbage containers. The process is relatively less expensive and easy to use for polymer processing than other known means and has been increasing in use.
To rotomold a part, polymeric resin, usually in powder form, is charged inside a mold shell, which is then, typically, rotated on two axes and heated to cause the melting resin to adhere to the inside of the mold. After sufficient heating time, the mold is moved to a cooling chamber, and after cooling, the molded part is removed to begin another molding cycle. More detailed discussion of rotomolding may be found in Modem Plastics Encyclopedia, 1990, pp. 317-318, and in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, pp. 659-670, J. Wiley & Sons, 1990.
Rotational molding primarily uses polyolefin resins, with thermoplastic polymers of ethylene being principally used. Key properties for rotomolded parts include appearance, and especially in the case of containers, resistance to puncture or rupture, chemical resistance and for extended periods of usefulness, resistance to environmental stress cracking. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) with a density of about 0.900 to about 0.925 g/cm3, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with a density of about 0.926 to about 0.940 g/cm3, and high density polyethylene (HDPE) with a density of about 0.940 to about 0.960 g/cm3 are used in rotomolding applications. LLDPE is said to be preferred for its excellent low temperature impact strength and good environmental stress crack resistance ("ESCR").
Compositions of polyethylene resins have been proposed to improve physical properties, including impact strength, environmental stress crack resistance, and chemical resistance. U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,238 describes blends for extrusion processing, injection molding and films where a combination of two ethylene-α-olefin copolymers with different densities, intrinsic viscosities and number of short chain branching per 1,000 carbon atoms is attributed with such physical properties. U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,873 describes ethylene polymer blends of a high molecular weight ethylene polymer, preferably a copolymer, and a low molecular weight ethylene polymer, preferably an ethylene homopolymer, for improved film properties and environmental stress crack resistance useful in the manufacture of film or in blow molding techniques, the production of pipes and wire coating. EP 0 423 962 describes ethylene polymer compositions particularly suitable for gas pipes said to have improved environmental stress cracking resistance comprising two or more kinds of ethylene polymers different in average molecular weight, at least one of which is a high molecular weight ethylene polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 4.5 to 10.0 dl/g in decalin at 135° C. and a density of 0.910 to 0.930 g/cm3 and another of which is a low molecular weight ethylene polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.5 to 2.0 dl/g, as determined for the first polymer, and a density of 0.938 to 0.970 g/cm3.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,902 describes blends of linear polyethylenes for injection and rotational molding said to have reduced crystallization times with improved impact strength and ESCR. The blends comprise: (a) a first polymer having a density of from 0.85 to 0.95 g/cm3 and an MI of 1 to 200 g/10 min and (b) a second polymer having a density of 0.015 to 0.15 g/cm3 greater than the density of the first polymer and an MI differing by no more that 50% from the MI of the first polymer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,775 describes polyethylene blends said to have a balance of properties for processing by any of the known thermoplastic processes, specifically including improved environmental stress crack resistance. These compositions have: (a) low molecular weight ethylene resins made using a chromium oxide based catalyst and having a density at least 0.955 g/cm3 and melt index (MI) between 25 and 400 g/10 min and (b) high molecular weight ethylene copolymer resins with a density not higher than 0.955 g/cm3 and a high load melt index (HLMI) between 0.1 and 50 g/10 min.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,631 describes linear interpolymer polyethylene blends having narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn≦3) and/or composition distribution (CDBI) less than 50%, where the blends are generally free of fractions having higher molecular weight and lower average comonomer contents than other blend components. Improved properties for films, fibers, coatings, and molded articles are attributed to these blends. In one example, a first component is an ethylene-butene copolymer with a density of 0.9042 g/cm3, Mw/Mn of 2.3, and an MI of 4.0 dg/min and a second component is an HDPE with a density of 0.9552 g/cm3, Mw/Mn of 2.8, and an MI of 5.0 dg/min. The blend is said to have improved tear strength characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,270 describes thermoplastic compositions said to be especially suited to rotomolding applications comprising: (a) a majority component that may be an ethylene interpolymer having a density greater than 0.915 g/cm3 and preferably a melt index of from about 2 to 500 g/10 min and (b) an impact additive that may be an ethylene interpolymer having a density less than 0.915 g/cm3 and melt index preferably greater than 0.05 g/10 min and less than 100 g/10 min. Improved physical properties as ascribed to these compositions include improved impact strength and good ESCR.
There is a continuing need for polyethylene-based compositions of improved environmental stress crack resistance and impact strength, particularly for those that are suitable for rotomolding applications.

Polyethylene compositions for rotational molding


A coupling structure for a tandem motor includes two bearing sleeves formed with grooves thereon, a connector and elastic fasteners. The connector has a first end and an opposed second end, and each of the first end and second end is formed with at least one groove. A first elastic fastener is fit into the groove of the connector at the first end and received in the groove formed on one of the two bearing sleeve, and a second elastic fastener is fit into the groove of the connector at the second end and received in the grooves formed on the other bearing sleeve.

A. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a coupling structure for a tandem motor and, more particularly, to a coupling structure including an elastic fastener fit in the tandem motor.
B. Description of the Related Art
When several fans are combined to generate a large amount of air quantity, the method for directly connecting separate fan housings is generally considered. However, this may need a lot of connection pieces and corresponding joints, making the assembling process complicated and resulting in a high cost. In addition, the reliability of the joints tends to decay because of the continuous vibration, and the connection strength of the whole assembly is deteriorated as a result.


A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid includes a monolithic metal including substrate having a substantially planar top side, wherein the metallic comprising substrate includes s a relatively thick boss near a center of the substrate and a thinned sensing portion that is elastically deformable and pressure-sensitive positioned radially outward from the boss. At least one dielectric layer is on the top side of the substrate. A plurality of piezoresistors are on the dielectric layer, wherein the piezoresistors are positioned over the thinned diaphragm portion. At least one overglaze layer is over the conductor layer that provides apertures for electrically contacting the plurality of piezoresistors. A sensing system includes a housing including at least a first port for coupling to a fluid for measurement of a pressure of the fluid and at least one sensor in the housing including a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the invention.

Pressure transducers can measure the pressure differential between two adjacent volumes. The respective volumes can contain a fluid, such as a liquid or gas, with each volume's fluid being at a pressure. The pressure differential is the difference in pressure between the fluids in the adjacent volumes. Conventional pressure transducers often employ one or more silicon strain sensors in proximity to a silicon diaphragm. The diaphragm separates the two volumes and the pressure differential causes the diaphragm to flex. The flexure can be sensed as strain by the strain sensors and the signal from the strain signal interpreted as a measurement of the pressure differential. The fluid pressure in one of the volumes can be set to a known pressure quantity such that the measurement can be interpreted as an absolute pressure measurement.
Some fluids can dissolve, corrode, or otherwise interact with silicon and its corresponding die attach adhesive and/or bonding agent. Special precautions must be taken to prevent such fluids from contacting the silicon strain sensors or the silicon diaphragm. As such, these systems have limited applications. Systems and methods for sensing pressure in harsh environments are needed.

Media isolated pressure transducer having boss comprising single metal diaphragm


A contact structure includes a lower conductive pattern disposed on a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate. The lower conductive layer has a concave region at a predetermined region of a top surface thereof. An embedding conductive layer fills the concave region. The top surface of the embedding conductive layer is placed at least as high as the height of the flat top surface of the lower conductive pattern. A mold layer is disposed to cover the semiconductor substrate, the lower conductive pattern and the embedding conductive layer. An upper conductive pattern is arranged in an intaglio pattern. The intaglio pattern is disposed in the mold layer to expose a predetermined region of the embedding conductive layer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same and, more particularly, to a contact structure of semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Generally, interconnections of semiconductor devices may be formed in a stacking-structure, which is advantageous to high-intensity devices. Interlayer dielectric layers are formed between multi-layer interconnections, which are stacked vertically. Each interlayer dielectric layer insulates corresponding lower and upper interconnections. The lower and upper interconnections may be electrically connected to each other depending on the application. The lower and upper interconnections are electrically connected to each other using a contact technique, in which a contact hole penetrating the interlayer dielectric layer is disposed between the lower and upper interconnections. A contact plug or a portion of the upper interconnection may be filled in the contact hole.
As semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, the line width of interconnections and the diameter of contact holes are reduced. Therefore, operation speeds of semiconductor devices are decreased due to increasing resistances of the interconnections or a contact resistance between the lower and upper interconnections. Presently, there is much research being conducted to solve theses problems.
Aluminum is commonly used to form interconnects. Recently, copper interconnections have been suggested to reduce resistances of the interconnections because they have a lower resistivity value in comparison with aluminum interconnections.
FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for fabricating semiconductor devices having a conventional copper interconnection.
Referring to FIG 1, a lower interlayer dielectric layer 2 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1. A lower interconnection 3 is formed in the lower interlayer dielectric layer 2. The lower interlayer dielectric layer 2 is formed of silicon oxide and the lower interconnection 3 is formed of copper. The lower interconnection 3 is formed in a groove in the lower interlayer dielectric layer 2. A barrier layer (not shown) can be disposed between the lower interconnection 3 and the lower interlayer dielectric layer 2. A silicon nitride layer 4 and an upper interlayer dielectric layer 5 are sequentially formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 including the lower interconnection 3.
The upper interlayer dielectric layer 5 and the silicon nitride layer 4 are successively patterned to form a contact hole 6 exposing a predetermined region of the lower interconnection 3. A high-resistance copper compound 7 may be formed on the lower interconnection 3 exposed at the contact hole 6. The high-resistance copper compound 7 can be formed by native oxidizing the exposed lower interconnection 3. Accordingly, the high-resistance copper compound 7 can be isotropically formed from a surface of the lower interconnection 3 exposed at the contact hole 6. As a result, the top area of the high-resistance copper compound 7 is larger than an area exposed by the contact hole 6. Furthermore, the high-resistance copper compound 7 may further include an etching by-product. The etching by-product may be formed during formation of the contact hole 6.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, contact resistance is increased due to the high-resistance copper compound 7. Therefore, the high-resistance copper compound 7 is completely removed by performing a post-treatment process at the semiconductor substrate 1 including the high-resistance copper compound 7. As a result, a concave region 8 is formed in position of the high-resistance copper compound 7. Depending on the configuration of the high-resistance copper compound 7, edges of the concave region 8 can be placed under the silicon nitride layer 4.
A contact plug 9 filling, the contact hole 6 is formed. The contact plug 9 may be formed of a stacked barrier layer (not shown) and a copper layer. At this time, a void 10 may occur at the edge of the concave region 8 placed under the silicon nitride layer 4. Therefore, the contact plug 9 may not completely fill the concave region 8.
Consequently, resistance between the contact plug 9 and the lower interconnection 3 is increased due to the void 10. Furthermore, reliability of semiconductor devices having the void 10 is degraded.

Contact structure of semiconductor devices and method of fabricating the same


A display for holding objects includes a base having a recess, a projection extending from the base and into the recess, and a sleeve disposed about the projection to hold a portion of an object in the recess between the sleeve and the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to displays and, more particularly, to a display for displaying objects such as jewelry.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide displays for objects such as jewelry. One example of such a display is used for holding a ring. Typically, the display has a base with a cylindrical projection extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle in the form of a finger. The ring is disposed on the finger such that the finger extends through the ring until the outer diameter of the finger increases to cause an interference fit with the inner diameter of the ring. Although these displays have worked well, there is a need in the art to provide a display for holding an object of jewelry such as a ring.


A printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate making unit, at least one first engaging member, a first regulating member, a second engaging member, and a second regulating member. The plate cylinder is rotatably supported by a frame and has an outer surface on which a plate is mounted. The plate making unit is supported to be movable between an operative position where plate making is performed and a wait position to escape from the operative position. The first engaging member is fixed to one of the frame and the plate making unit. The first regulating member is fixed to the other of the frame and the plate making unit to engage with the first engaging member, and the first regulating member has a recess extending in an axial direction of the plate cylinder. The second engaging member is fixed to one of the frame and the plate making unit, and the second regulating member is fixed to the other of the frame and the plate making unit to engage with the second engaging member. The second regulating member has a recess extending in a vertical direction.

The present invention relates to a printing press with a plate making unit for performing plate making for a plate mounted on a plate cylinder in a printing unit.
Generally, when performing plate making for a plate, it is required to increase the efficiency of plate making operation and to eliminate the space where a plate making unit is to be installed. Hence, in recent years, a plate making unit independent of the printing press is not provided, but a plate making unit added to the printing press itself performs plate making directly on the printing press. More specifically, a plate before plate making is mounted on a plate cylinder in a printing unit, and the plate making unit is moved to abut its head against the plate cylinder. Subsequently, the plate cylinder is rotated, and simultaneously the head is moved in the axial direction of the plate cylinder, thereby performing plate making for the plate. When the plate is to be supplied/removed or maintenance is to be performed, the plate making unit is separated from the printing unit.
In the conventional printing press described above, the plate making unit is temporarily moved at a position separate from the printing unit in order to perform maintenance or the like, and is moved at a position where plate making is to be performed again after maintenance completion. When the plate making unit is moved after maintenance completion, the position of the head greatly depends on the positioning precision of the plate making unit with respect to the printing unit. Poor head positioning precision greatly affects plate making precision and printing precision.
When the plate making unit is provided to each of a plurality of printing units, poor positioning precision affects the register accuracy of each ink color. In this case, an operator must perform the complicated, skilled operation of adjusting the positions of the plate cylinders in the printing units for the purpose of registration. This increases the load of the operator and requires the long preparation time, thereby reducing the productivity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing press in which the productivity is improved and the plate making precision and printing precision are improved.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a printing press comprising a plate cylinder which is rotatably supported by a frame and has an outer surface on which a plate is mounted, a plate making unit supported to be movable between an operative position where plate making is performed and a wait position to escape from the operative position, at least one first engaging member fixed to one of the frame and the plate making unit, a first regulating member fixed to the other of the frame and the plate making unit to engage with the first engaging member, the first regulating member having a recess extending in an axial direction of the plate cylinder, a second engaging member fixed to one of the frame and the plate making unit, and a second regulating member fixed to the other of the frame and the plate making unit to engage with the second engaging member, the second regulating member having a recess extending in a vertical direction.

Printing press having movable plate making unit


A system for providing information through a metal wall employs a device adapted to be arranged on one side of the metal wall and a magnetic-permeability element, provided at, near or connected to the device. The magnetic-permeability element is based on a material having a relative magnetic permeability of at least 2000. The disclosure also provides use of said system. The use may involve the step of optimizing the magnetic-permeability element using equivalent inductive mass (EIm). The system can for example be used to magnetically sense the location of a cable present on the outside of a wellbore tubular using a magnetic orienting tool that is located within the wellbore tubular.

In the practice of operating oil and gas wells, it is not uncommon to deploy one or more cable systems alongside a casing. Such cable systems can include hydraulic cables, electrical cables, and/or fiber optic cables. Such cables may provide power and/or communication (p/c) capabilities between surface and downhole locations.
The use of, in particular, fiber optic (FO) sensors in downhole applications is increasing. In particular, optical fibers that can serve as distributed temperature sensors (DTS), distributed chemical sensors (DCS), or distributed acoustic sensors (DAS), and, if provided with Bragg gratings or the like, as discrete sensors capable of measuring various downhole parameters. In each case, light signals from a light source are transmitted into one end of the cable and are transmitted and through the cable. Signals that have passed through the cable are received at receiver and analyzed in microprocessor. The receiver may be at the same end of the cable as the light source, in which case the received signals have been reflected within the cable, or may be at the opposite end of the cable. In any case, the received signals contain information about the state of the cable along its length, which information can be processed to provide the afore-mentioned information about the environment in which the cable is located.
In cases where it is desired to obtain information about a borehole, an optical fiber must be positioned in the borehole. For example, it may be desirable to use DTS to assess the efficacy of individual perforations in the well. Because the optical fiber needs to be deployed along the length of the region of interest, which may be thousands of meters of borehole, it is practical to attach the cable to the outside of tubing that is placed in the hole. In many instances, the cable is attached to the outside of the casing, so that it is in close proximity within the borehole.
When a fiber optic cable system, or other type of cable system, is arranged on the outside of the casing, oriented perforating of casing may become important if the cable system is present at the level of the planned perforations. In some instances, a current practice for deployment of fiber optic sensor cables may entail the addition of one or more wire ropes that run parallel and adjacent to the fiber optic cable. Both the ropes and the cable may be secured to the outside of the tubing by clamps such as, for example clamps and protectors or with stainless steel bands and buckles and rigid centralizers. Such equipment is well known in the art and is available from, among others, Cannon Services Ltd. of Stafford, Tex. The wire ropes are preferably ferromagnetic (i.e. electromagnetically conductive), so that they can serve as markers for determining the azimuthal location of the optical fiber and subsequently orienting the perforating guns away from the fiber cable. These wire ropes may be on the order of 1 to 2 cm diameter so as to provide sufficient surface area and mass for the electromagnetic sensors to locate. Because of their size, the use of wire ropes can require costly "upsizing" of the wellbore in order to accommodate the added diameter. Besides necessitating a larger borehole, the wire ropes are susceptible to being pushed aside when run through tight spots or doglegs in the wellbore. Wire ropes that have been dislodged from their original position are less effective, both for locating the fiber optic cable and for protecting the optical cable from damage.
US-2015/0041117 and US-2016/0290835 disclose a system wherein an optical fiber is provided with two metal strips. The azimuthal location of the fiber optic cable system may be established from inside the casing by detecting magnetic flux signals. The strips can be detected by an electromagnetic metal detector from inside the well tubular to reveal the azimuthal location of the fiber optic cable. The metal strips can be made of an electrically conductive or ferromagnetic material such as steel, nickel, iron, cobalt, and alloys thereof.
However, such cable designs and installation configurations can require extensive mapping with a magnetic orienting tool (MOT), in order to achieve the required accuracy with respect to the location of the cable. The MOT, which is typically wireline run tool, may have to be stopped several times per joint of pipe for several pipe joints to locate the cable and build a cable location map with sufficient reliability.
Hence it is desirable to provide an improved system and method for magnetically determining the azimuthal position of a cable, for example a cable comprising an optical fiber, deployed on the outside of a tubular. Such improved system may need fewer measurement locations and/or determine the azimuth of the cable location with less uncertainty.

Cable system for downhole use and method of perforating a wellbore tubular


A cylinder liner is provided that includes a cylinder bore capable of housing a piston, a top end having an annular flange, a first cylindrical section, a second cylindrical section, and an annular ridge that separates the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section. When employed in an a liner bore of an engine bock, the cylinder liner provides for two channels that allow for coolant to be supplied to the cylinder liner.

Internal combustion engines are typically liquid-cooled. A conventional coolant system for an internal combustion engine may include a coolant pump that pumps coolant into coolant passages of the engine. In certain internal combustion engines, replaceable cylinder liners define the cylinders and, in part, the combustion chambers of the engine.
During combustion, an internal combustion engine may generate an immense amount of heat. In certain engines, a coolant passage is provided between and around the cylinder liners. Coolant may be directed through the coolant passage to cool the liners and carry heat energy away from the cylinders. Heat energy, however, is unevenly distributed in each cylinder liner since the top portion of each cylinder liner, where combustion takes place, experiences higher temperatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,443,768 to Berghian et al. discloses an engine cylinder liner having a primary cooling gallery and a secondary cooling gallery about an upper portion of the cylinder liner. The secondary cooling gallery has an undulating configuration that is indicated to substantially increase contact surface of the coolant in the secondary cooling gallery.

Internal combustion engine with dual-channel cylinder liner cooling


A container such as a drinking cup includes an inner wall defining a space and an outer wall that preferably includes portions that are translucent and preferably transparent. A thermal mass is provided between the inner and outer walls and has a decorative pattern that is visually discernible through the outer wall. The thermal mass preferably includes a gel material that will not freeze at the normal operating temperature of a household freezer. The gel material includes a multiplicity of globules that preferably have a median diameter that is within a preferred sizing range. The decorative pattern is preferably created by the provision of a colorant material that is introduced within the interstitial space defined between the gel globules.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to articles for holding and maintaining beverages in a chilled state, and particularly concerns an improved chilled beverage container that is visually appealing, safe and durable.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Consumers often prefer to drink beverages such as juice, water and soft drinks in a chilled condition. Typically, such beverages are stored in a cooled area such as a refrigerator or ice chest in order to maintain the desired temperature for consumption. However, once they are removed from storage such beverages tend to heat up quickly, particularly outdoors on warm days.
Several well-established solutions have been advanced for keeping beverages cool for extended periods of time. For example, external insulating sleeves that are fabricated from a foamed rubber or plastic material are well known for keeping beverages that are stored in cans cool. In addition, a number of containers have been proposed that include a fluid or gel disposed in a chamber within the container that is designed to freeze when placed in a household freezer. When taken out of the freezer and filled with a beverage, such containers will prolong the period of time that the beverage is kept chilled. However, the durability and safety of such containers is questionable because expansion of the volume of the liquid or gel when it freezes and subsequent contraction when it melts places a great deal of mechanical stress on the container. Such thermal cyclic expansion and contraction could ultimately breach the chamber in which the liquid or gel is stored, which would be undesirable.
In addition, conventional containers that include a freezable thermal mass are typically bulky and not very visually appealing.
A need exists for a chilled beverage container that is more visually appealing, safer and more durable than conventional freezable chilled beverage containers.


The present invention relates to an integrated circuit for a temperature compensated crystal oscillator having an external crystal. The integrated circuit comprises a temperature compensation having one fixed or at least two selectable 3rd and/or 4th and/or 5th and/or higher order temperature compensation functions for at least one specific type of external crystal. The temperature compensation can be calibrated at one temperature, in other words without use of temperature variation, by means of an external voltage or current source overdriving a respective temperature-dependent voltage or current supplied from an internal temperature sensor to the temperature compensation.

Crystal oscillators (XO) are widely used in electronics as highly stable and accurate frequency sources. In a voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) the nominal oscillation frequency is adjustable in response to a voltage control input. The frequency accuracy of the crystal oscillators is affected by many variables, some of which are temperature, aging, drive level, retrace and vibration. As illustrated in FIG. 1, normal quartz crystal has quite large temperature variations, which depend on the cutting angle of the crystal.
At many applications the requirements for the maximum temperature variations are much tighter than this variation, and therefore various temperature compensation methods have been developed. One way to achieve frequency stability is to thermally isolate the crystal and oscillator circuitry from ambient temperatures excursions. In an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) the crystal and other temperature sensitive components are in a stable oven (a small usually metallic, insulated enclosure) provided with a heating element and a control mechanism to regulate the amount of heat applied thereby maintaining a constant elevated temperature. However, the OCXOs have disadvantages, such as the space required for the oven.
A temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) and a voltage controlled temperature compensated crystal oscillator (VCTCXO) typically contain a temperature compensation circuit to sense the ambient temperature and control the crystal frequency in order to prevent the frequency drift over the temperature range.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, normal quartz crystal has quite large temperature variations, which depend on the cutting angle of the crystal. The problem is that present manufacturing methods of the TCXO modules require temperature variations for accurate temperature compensation result. Temperature variations requires expensive ovens, which increases the manufacturing time and costs of the TCXO modules. In the TCXO modules the temperature compensation function is implemented with an integrated circuit or discrete components, which typically have quite large manufacturing tolerances. This means that the TCXO module has to be measured at several temperatures to get the correct settings for the perfect compensation result.

Temperature compensated crystal oscillator


The invention relates to a connection arrangement of hollow steel sections as support elements which are interconnected using a joint connection, the connection being subject to axial pressure. According to the invention, the joint connection is designed as a detachable, form-fitting plug-in connection.

The invention relates to a connection arrangement of hollow steel sections which are subject to axial pressure.
Hollow steel sections which are subject to axial pressure are for example used in framework constructions, which are used inter alia as roof structures for pre fabricated carrier systems and are known from DE 10 2006 010 951 A1.
The support system for roof constructions made of steel which is shown here which is also offered under the name "PREON"®, is characterized in particular by its variability in the adjustment to different span widths. This variability is realized through a standardization and modulization of the construction and only requires one type static.
Such support systems for framework constructions are composed of different interconnected support elements which are configured as hollow sections, and which are subjected to tensile stresses, pressure stresses or bending stresses in accordance with the stress exerted on them. These support sections are configured as upper chord or respectively, lower chord and diagonal beams of different lengths, which are subsequently interconnected via joint connections.
The length of the individual support elements is limited for shipping or also production technical reasons, so that in order to produce the lengths which are required for producing the framework constructions, the support elements have to be connected to multiple lengths from case to case.
The joint connections of the support elements are realized by means of head plate connections, which are usually produced by welding and by means of mechanical connection elements, such as screws or rivets.
These connection techniques require a high effort and are expensive and are not required in connections which are exclusively subjected to axial pressure, and are therefore uneconomical.

Connection arrangement from hollow steel sections which are subject to axial pressure


A photoelectric conversion element comprising a pair of electrodes containing therebetween a compound represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2):

In recent years, extensive studies have been made to utilize the sunlight which is unlimited and generates no toxic substances. Examples of the practical application of sunlight which is a clean energy source, at present, include inorganic solar cells for a residential application such as single crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and indium-copper selenide.
However, one of the disadvantages of these inorganic solar cells is that, for example, in the case of a silicon solar cell, very high purity silicon is required, in which, naturally, the purification process is complicated and numerous processes are included, resulting in a high manufacturing cost.
On the other hand, many solar cells utilizing an organic material have also been proposed. Examples of an organic solar cell include: (i) a Schottky-type photoelectric conversion element in which a p-type organic semiconductor and a metal having a small work function are connected; and (ii) a hetero-connection type photoelectric conversion element, in which a p-type organic semiconductor and an n-type inorganic semiconductor are connected or a p-type organic semiconductor and an electron accepting organic compound are connected. Organic semiconductors utilized in such an organic solar cell include, for example, a synthetic dye or a pigment such as chlorophyll and perylene; and a conductive polymer material such as polyacetylene, and complex materials thereof. These materials are made into thin film, by such as a vacuum evaporation method, a casting method or a dipping method, which constitutes a battery material. The organic material has advantages, for example, a low cost and easy application to a larger area; however, there are also problems, for example, conversion efficiency as low as not more than 1% in many materials; and poor durability.
In such a situation, a solar cell exhibiting excellent characteristics has been reported by Dr. Gratzel et al., Switzerland (for example, refer to Non-Patent Document 1). The proposed cell is a compound sensitized solar cell, and is a wet type solar cell utilizing titanium oxide porous thin film, which is spectrally sensitized by a ruthenium complex, as a working electrode. Advantages of this method are that (i) a low priced oxide semiconductor such as titanium oxide can be used and the purification up to a high purity of this material is not required, resulting in attaining a low cost; and that (ii) usable light covers a broad visible light region, which enables efficient conversion of sunlight to electricity, since sunlight is rich in a visible light component.
On the contrary, since a ruthenium complex having a resource limitation is utilized, supply of a ruthenium complex is uncertain when this solar cell is utilized in practice. Further, this ruthenium complex is expensive and has a problem of stability in aging, however, this problem will be overcome if the material can be changed into a low priced and stable organic compound.
It has been disclosed that an element having high photoelectric conversion efficiency can be obtained when a compound having a triphenylamine structure is utilized (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). However, it has been found that these compounds have problems, for example, a relatively low adsorptive property to titanium oxide, not very high sensitizing effect and not fully sufficient durability.
Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Application Publication Open to Public Inspection No. (hereinafter, referred to as JP-A No.) 2005-123033
Non-Patent Document 1 B. O'Regan and M. Gratzel, Nature, 353, 737

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Photoelectric conversion element and solar cell

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A hydrostatic-mechanical transmission with a radial piston motor (1) which has a crankshaft (2) that drives a spur gear (7) and the crankshaft (2) is rotatably mounted at three bearing points (12, 13, 14).

DE 10 2004 023 631 A1 discloses a hydrostatic-mechanical transmission with a radial piston motor with a crankshaft, the crankshaft driving a spur gear which is actively connected with another spur gear and powers the drive output.
Transmissions of this type are used for example in working machines such as wheel loaders.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hydrostatic-mechanical transmission with improved efficiency.


The invention relates to a regulating device, in particular a motor vehicle parking brake with a regulating unit having a power-operated drive. To provide a regulating device which enables simple cable balancing, it is proposed that a hollow shaft be moved against a torsionally resistant stop as a function of the spring force of an elastic element, when the parking brake is released. The axial position of the stop thus ensures that an adequate cable bias force is always present.

The invention relates to a regulating device, in particular a motor vehicle parking brake with a regulating unit comprising a power-operated drive.
During the operation of a parking brake, it is necessary to adjust the length of the brake cable, due to wear of the brake shoes for example or the settling behavior of the brake cable for example. This is to avoid essentially unnecessary cable travel when the brake cable is tightened so that said brake cable can be tightened in a quick and reliable fashion.
Mechanical adjustment devices are known from the prior art, which are mostly integrated into the force flow of the brake pull cable as a type of "mechanical series connection". The fundamental concept behind these types of adjustment devices is based on two teeth interlocking with each other and transmitting the cable force. As soon as the teeth are no longer interlocking with each other, the force flow is interrupted. Generally one of the teeth is designed as a rack and the other tooth as a latch. In this way, the latch engages in a specific tooth on the rack depending on wear.
With power-actuated parking brakes, electromotive parking brakes with a spindle drive for example, the adjustment takes place by means of path measurement in conjunction with corresponding control of the drive. The disadvantage with this is that path measurement and control of the drive require relatively expensive and error-prone components.

Regulating device for a motor vehicle parking brake


A communication hole (55) is provided in a pickup base (51). A laser light source (61) is provided at an end of the communication hole (55). A grating (71) is provided at another end of the communication hole (55). The communication hole (55) is provided with a heat radiation path (81) which connects the inside of the communication hole (55) with the outside of the pickup base (51). Heat generated from the laser light source (61) is radiated from the heat radiation path (81).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pickup device which, for example, writes or reads data into or from an optical recording medium.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been a known pickup device which writes or reads data into or from an optical recording medium, e.g., optical disks such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a CD (Compact Disk), and the like.
The pickup device is constituted by including a laser light source as a light source which irradiates a light beam onto an optical disk, a grating as an optical element provided in the middle of an optical path extending toward the optical disk from the laser light source, and a pickup base on which the laser light source and the grating are mounted.
The pickup base is provided with a communication hole. The communication hole has, at an end, a light source attachment for attaching the laser light source, and an optical element attachment for attaching an optical element such as a grating or the like is provided at another end of the pickup base. The laser light source is attached to the light source attachment, and the grating is attached to the optical element attachment. The laser light source and the grating are provided to be coaxial with each other.
Provided on the pickup base are a beam splitter which reflects laser light emitted from the laser light source toward the optical disk, a lens which converges laser light, and an optical element such as a light detector which detects reflection light from the optical disk.
The grating, for example, serves to diffract the laser beam from the laser light source and split the light beam into one main beam and two sub-beams. The sub-beams split by the grating are irradiated at a predetermined angle onto data tracks of the optical disk. The reflection light thereof is detected by the optical detector of the pickup device. Based on a detection signal from the optical detector, tracking adjustment or the like is performed on the main beam.
The laser light source generates heat when it irradiates laser light. When the laser light source and the grating are thus respectively provided at one end and another end of the communication hole, however, the heat generated from the laser light source easily accumulates in the communication hole, so that the temperature of the laser light source increases. As the temperature of the laser light source increases, a problem arises in that the characteristics of the laser light source deteriorate or the lifetime thereof is shortened.
It is considered that, to radiate the heat of the laser light source, the pickup base may be formed of metal material having a good heat transmission characteristic, and a heat-radiating plate may be provided for the laser light source. In recent years, however, the pickup base has been made of synthetic resin owing to demands for cost reduction. In addition, laser light sources, which are compatible with both of the DVD and CD or write data onto optical disks, have come to be used. The amount of heat generated from these laser light sources is so large that the heat-radiating plate is not enough to achieve sufficient heat radiation for these laser light sources.

Pickup device having a heat-radiation path


A vehicle data analysis apparatus analyzes vehicle data that indicates chronological change of a vehicle state. The vehicle data analysis apparatus is provided with a computing unit and a recognition unit. The computing unit is configured to make obvious data fluctuation accompanying the development, in the vehicle data, of mechanical or control-related fault in a vehicle control system. The recognition unit is configured to recognize the vehicle data to be considered during vehicle fault diagnosis on the basis of a result of computation by the computing unit.

Generally, in operation tests or the like for various vehicle devices mounted in a vehicle, the state of the vehicle is subject to diagnosis based on vehicle data that indicates time-series changes, such as the amount of control, obtained through programs performed by each of the vehicle control devices. For such a diagnosis, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1, a vehicle data analysis apparatus is known that carries out analysis by using model data obtained when the vehicle is in a normal state. Specifically, this vehicle data analysis apparatus registers, as model data, vehicle data obtained in advance for running conditions of the vehicle, such as the running speed of the vehicle, road gradient, or when using an air conditioner. To subject a state of the vehicle to diagnosis, a vehicle dataset including an abnormal portion resulting from an abnormality in the vehicle is identified through comparing a dataset obtained when the vehicle is in a normal state, which is used as the model dataset, with a vehicle dataset obtained from the vehicle control device for analysis. The vehicle dataset is thus identified, and this identified vehicle dataset is used to, for example, discover the cause of an abnormality in the state of the vehicle.

Vehicle data analysis apparatus, vehicle data analysis method, and defect diagnosis apparatus


A completely light-shielding packaging material for a photosensitive material obtained on laminating two sorts of separately molded light shielding thermoplastic resin films of different properties on the photosensitive material side and on its outer side via an adhesive layer. The outer thermoplastic resin film is a polypropylene-based resin film at least containing a light-shielding material and a homopolypropylene resin or an .alpha.-olefin containing polypropylene-based resin and having a Young's modulus in the longitudinal direction of 150 to 600 kg/mm.sup.2 and a thickness of 15 to 80 .mu.m. The inner thermoplastic resin film is a polyolefin-based resin film at least containing a light-shielding material, an ethylene copolymer resin and a polyolefin resin, and having a Young's modulus in the longitudinal direction of not higher than 120 kg/mm.sup.2 and a thickness of 20 to 150 .mu.m. This material has physical strength, heat-sealing performance, and amenability to bag making. Light-shielding bag for photosensitive material is produced.

For packaging photosensitive materials, that is a variety of materials whose commercial value is lost on exposure to light, a packaging material which completely shields the light is used. The properties required of the packaging material include non-impaired photographic properties of the photosensitive materials, light-shielding properties, moisture-proofness, physical strength, such as fracture strength, tearing strength, impact breakage strength or Gerbotester strength, heat-sealing properties, such as heat-sealing strength, chronological heat-sealing strength or hot sealing strength, and anti-static properties. The following publications have been issued in this technical field.
A packaging bag employing a laminated film having a metal layer and having a polyolefin (PO)-based resin layer including a PET layer/adhesive layer/aluminum foil/light-shielding material and a non-ionic anti-static agent, as viewed from the outer side, with an optical density of not less than 7.5 (packaging bag for a photosensitive material disclosed in JP Patent Kokoku JP-B-63-26697).
A packaging film having a light-shielding L-LDPE resin film layer containing not less than 50 wt % of an L-LDPE resin and not less than 1 wt % of a light-shielding material(JP-Patent Kokoku JP-B-2-2700 for a film for packaging a photosensitive material). A laminated film formed by laminating an L-LDPE resin film layer substantially containing no light-shielding material and a completely light-shielding flexible sheet (JP Patent Kokoku JP-B2-2701 for a packaging material for a photosensitive material). A packaging material for a photosensitive material formed by laminating, via an adhesive layer, a polypropylene resin film layer on an innermost L-LDPE film layer containing not less than 40 wt % of L-LDPE resin, carbon black and a fatty acid amide-based lubricant (JP Patent Kokoku JP-B-5-40889 for a packaging material for a photosensitive material).

Completely light-shielding packaging material for photosensitive material and package using same


A valve is presented comprising a valve body defining a chamber, a valve stem extending into said chamber, a disk attached to the valve stem, a discrete annular seat movably disposed in the chamber, a resilient ring disposed in the chamber adjacent the annular seat, and a retainer fixed in the chamber on a side of the seat opposite from the ring, wherein the ring exercises a bias on the seat in a direction toward the disk, urging the seat into engagement with the disk. The invention further contemplates a method for making the valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to globe valves and is directed more particularly to a globe valve for high pressure power plant drain service, providing improved seat sealing and longer valve life.
2. Description of the Prior Art
High pressure drain valves in power plants operate under very severe conditions. The valves are subject to high pressure blowdown of steam that often is abrasive because of the presence in the steam of moisture droplets and solid particulates. Further, the valves operate with fluid medium typically of very high temperatures, on the order of 660.degree. F. in the case of saturated steam and 1020.degree. F. in the case of superheated stream. Pressures of 2300 psig, or thereabouts, are common, and pressures of 3800 psig, or more, are encountered in some super critical steam power plants. Such valves historically have been forged steel globe valves with integral hard-faced metal seats. In the operation of such valves, extreme variations in temperature often lead to "cooling" of the disk and valve stem, resulting in contraction of the stem. Such contraction often causes the disk to part from the seat, permitting fluid to bleed through the valve.
Further, in high temperature service, stress-relaxation of stems in closed valves may produce a loss of stem compression and similar bleeding past the seat.
Still further, when the seating surfaces have become damaged over time, the valves have simply been replaced. Periodic replacement of such valves generally has been an accepted requirement by high pressure steam power plant operators.
More recently, there have appeared globe valves having replaceable metal or ceramic disks and seats. However, experience has shown that replacement of an original disk and seat assembly with a new disk and seat assembly sometimes leads to diminution of sealing performance.
Accordingly, there is a need for a globe valve for use in high pressure steam power plant drain environments, which valves are provided with a facility for providing in the disk and seat, close and secure sealing, even with thermal contraction or stress relaxation of the valve stem. A further need exists for such valves having improved disks and seats, the disks and seats being formed of harder, more durable, metals or ceramics separately from the valve, and inserted into the valve during initial assembly, all in an economical manner. A still further need is for a globe valve as described above, the valve being adapted to receive replacement disks and seats, with the sealing performance of replacement disks and seats equaling the sealing performance of the original disk and seat.


A thread mill that is to be moved along a helical interpolation path while being rotated about an axis of the thread mill in a rotating direction, for forming a thread in a circumferential surface of a workpiece. The thread mill includes a cylindrical main body having (a) at least one spiral flute formed in an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical main body, and (b) at least one cutting edge each provided by a rear-side one of widthwise opposite edges, as viewed in the rotating direction, of a corresponding one of the at least one spiral flute. Each of the at least one spiral flute extends in a direction opposite to the rotating direction as viewed in a direction away from a proximal end of the cylindrical main body toward a distal end of the cylindrical main body. Also disclosed is a method of forming the thread by using the thread mill.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a thread mill for forming an external or internal thread in an outer or inner circumferential surface of a workpiece, and more particularly to such a thread mill that is capable of forming the thread without undesirable debris or burrs being left on the threaded circumferential surface.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As a kind of tool for forming an internal thread in an inner circumferential surface of a hole previously formed in a workpiece, there is known a thread mill including a cylindrical main body having annular protrusions formed on its outer circumferential surface. Each of the annular protrusions has a profile of each ridge of the internal thread that is to be formed, and extends in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body without extending in an axial direction of the cylindrical main body for providing no lead. The cylindrical main body has flutes formed in the circumferential surface, so that each of the annular protrusion is divided by the flutes into a plurality of portions. The thread mill is attached to a machining center or other machine tool having numerically controlled three or more axes, and is moved along a helical interpolation path within the formed hole while being rotated about its axis, for machining or forming the internal thread in the circumferential surface of the formed hole, with cutting edges each provided by a rear-side one of widthwise opposite edges of a corresponding one of the flutes. An example of such a thread mill is disclosed in JP-S63-200916A (publication of unexamined Japanese Patent Application laid open in 1988). This thread mill disclosed in the Japanese publication has, in addition to the cutting edges for forming an internal thread, cutting edges provided in an axially distal end portion of a fluted main body and cutting edges provided in an axially proximal end portion of the fluted main body. The cutting edges provided in the axially distal end portion serve to form a hole having an inner circumferential surface in which the internal thread is to be formed, while the cutting edges provided in the axially proximal end portion serve to form a beveled surface in an opening edge of the hole.
In a conventional thread mill such as the thread mill disclosed in the above identified Japanese publication, each of the flutes or cutting edges twists in the same direction as a rotating direction of the tool. That is, the conventional thread mill is a right-hand cutting tool in which each flute or cutting edge twists in a clockwise direction as seen from its shank, so that chips are evacuated toward the shank when an internal thread is cut by the thread mill rotated about its axis in the clockwise direction. However, in such a conventional thread mill, a portion of each cutting edge adjacent to a rear-side (i.e., shank-side) one of flanks (hereinafter simply referred to as "rear flank") of each annular protrusion provides a negative rake rather than a positive rake, namely, provides a rake angle that is obtuse rather than acute. Therefore, the portion of each cutting edge adjacent to the rear flank of each annular protrusion cannot exhibit a satisfactory cutting performance, resulting in burrs left in an entrance opening of the hole or a chamfered portion of the formed internal thread, or burrs partially removed from the chamfered portion of the internal thread. The burrs left in the chamfered portion of the internal thread is problematic, particularly, where the thread mill has annular protrusions each having a profile configured to cut each thread ridge including its crest, namely, where the burrs are unlikely to be left in each crest in a complete thread portion of the internal thread.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing, by way of example, burrs left in an internal thread, which was formed by using a thread mill which has a multiplicity of annular protrusions having a major diameter of 9.5 mm and a pitch of 1.25 mm (φ9.5 mm×P 1.25), under a cutting condition as specified below. This thread mill has right-hand spiral flutes each twists by a helix angle of 15° in a clockwise direction, which corresponds to a rotating direction of the tool as seen from its shank. FIG. 4A shows a burr left in an entrance opening of a hole or a chamfered portion of the internal thread, while FIG. 4B shows a moustache-like burr partially removed from the chamfered portion of the internal thread. Such a burr remaining in the chamfered portion of the internal thread could impede engagement of the internal thread with an external thread.
Cutting Condition
    Material of workpiece: SS400    Diameter of prepared hole: φ10.8 mm    Amount of chamfering opening edge of prepared hole: C 1.5    Size of internal thread: M12×P 1.25    Cutting fluid: Water soluble coolant    Used machine: Horizontal machining center

Thread mill having flute twisting in direction opposite to rotating direction


An apparatus for automatically correcting an earth magnetic field for a monitor includes: a peripheral magnetic field sensing unit for sensing a variation in a magnetic field and generating a corresponding frequency; a frequency producing unit for arithmetically operating the frequency generated from the peripheral magnetic field sensing unit and producing frequencies corresponding to each direction, a correction amount computing unit for computing each correction amount corresponding to the frequencies of each direction produced by the frequency producing unit; and a deflection correction unit for correcting a deflection error of the monitor as much as the corrected amount in the correction amount computing unit. By having such construction, a screen is automatically corrected by sensing a peripheral magnetic field with a small memory capacity, thereby attaining users"" convenience in correcting an earth magnetic field and maintaining an optimum picture quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a correction of earth magnetic field for a monitor of a computer, and more particularly, to an apparatus for automatically correcting an earth magnetic field for a monitor by which a correction of an earth magnetic field is automatically performed to thereby obtain a highly improved picture quality with distinct colors and an improved screen centering.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, a magnetic field in a space is represented by a three dimensional vector, which affects a deflection of a monitor of a computer.
Accordingly, if a direction of the monitor is changed or the monitor is moved to other area, a peripheral magnetic field is changed, causing a damage to the picture quality of the monitor.
In order to resolve such a problem, some techniques for correcting an earth magnetic field has been proposed, which guarantees a distinct picture quality of the monitor
Of those are a Korean patent publication No. 96-16849 and a Korean Laid Open No. 95-24598.
First, one of conventional arts, the patent publication No. 96-16849 discloses an apparatus for correcting an earth magnetic field including: a standby power supply unit 11 for outputting a constant voltage Vcc as power is supplied; a remote controller 20 for setting an operation state of a TV system and selecting an earth magnetic field correction mode; a remote-controller receiving unit 19 for receiving a transmission signal of the remote-controller 20; a pre-amplifier 18 for amplifying the output signal from the remote-controller receiving unit 19 to a predetermined level; a microprocessor 15 for decoding the output signal from the pre-amplifier 18 and outputting an on-screen display indicating a compass direction of a corresponding mode for setting a correction mode and a signal for controlling the corresponding mode when the earth magnetic field correction function is selected, upon receipt of the output Vcc from the standby power supply unit 1; a chroma unit 16 for indicating the compass direction according to the setting of the correction mode of the CPT (color picture tube) upon receipt of the output signal from the microprocessor 15; a current switching unit 14 for switching on and switching off a current flow of a device coil 12 according to a relay drive signal S1 of the microprocessor 15; and an earth magnetic field correction unit 17 for controlling the direction and the strength of the current according to mode signals S3-S5 of the microprocessor 15 to minimize influence of the earth magnetic field.
The current switching unit 14 includes a transistor Q1 and a relay RY1.
The earth magnetic field correction unit 17 includes transistors Q7 and Q8 of which an emitter is grounded through resistances R10 and R13 and a base is connected to output terminals S3 and S5 of the microprocessor 15 through resistances R11 and R14, a transistor Q2 of which an emitter is grounded and a base is connected to an output terminal S4 of the microprocessor 15 through a resistance R2, transistors Q3, Q4, Q5 and Q6 of which each base is commonly connected to a terminal at one end of each resistance R3 and R4 and each emitter is commonly connected and an earth magnetic field correction coil L2 and a condensor Cl are respectively connected between the contact points, transistors Q3 and Q5 of which collectors are commonly connected and its contact point is connected to a voltage B+through a resistance R7 and the collector of the transistor Q7 and a terminal at other end of the resistance R3 are commonly connected through the resistance R9, and a collector of the transistor Q8 is connected to a terminal at the other end of the resistance R4 and its contact point is connected to the voltage B+through the resistance R12, and transistors Q4 and Q6 of which collectors are commonly connected and its contact point is grounded through a resistance R5, a resistance R6 is connected to the collector of the transistor Q2 through a resistance R6.
The remote-controller 20 includes a compass to identify a direction of the TV position, for the purpose of correcting the earth magnetic field.
The operational process of the apparatus for correcting an earth magnetic field in accordance with the conventional art will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 4.
First, when the power is ON, the standby power supply unit 11 outputs the constant voltage Vcc to the input terminal S2 of the microprocessor 15, and accordingly, the microprocessor 15 in a standby state checks the output signal of the pre-amplifier 18.
At this time, when the power key is in an OFF-state, the microprocessor 15 outputs the relay drive signal S1 to the current switching unit 14 to turn off the transistor Q1 to thereby turn off the relay RY1, and also outputs the earth magnetic field correction signals S3-S5 of low voltage to maintain OFF-state of the system.
And, when a power key is inputted from the remote-controller by the user, the transmission signal of the remote-controller 20 is received by the remote-controller receiving unit 19, and the received signal is amplified by the preamplifier 18 to a predetermined level and then outputted to the microprocessor 15.
Upon receipt of the output signal from the pre-amplifier 18, when the microprocessor 15 discriminates the input of the power supply key by decoding and outputs the relay drive signal S1 to the current switching unit 14, the transistor Q1 is turned on to drive the relay RY1, according to which the contact points xe2x80x98axe2x80x99 and xe2x80x98bxe2x80x99 are connected and power is supplied to the power supply unit 13, so that the device coil 12 controls the current flow.
In other words, when the power is ON, a current flows through a thermister TH and the coil L1 of the device coil 12, and as time goes by, since a resistance value is increased according to temperature characteristics of the thermister TH, and thus, few current flows through the coil L1, the magnetic field of the monitor is degaussed.
Meanwhile, when the power is ON, the microprocessor 15 discriminates whether or not the earth magnetic field correction key was selected. In this respect, if there is no key selection, it returns to the initial step of the operation, while if the earth magnetic field correction key is selected by the remote-controller 20 by the user, the microprocessor 15 senses the key input through the remote-control receiving unit 19 and the pre-amplifier 18 and performs decoding. The microprocessor discriminates the selection of the earth magnetic field correction function by this decoding.
As the microprocessor 15 discriminates the selection of the earth magnetic field correction function by decoding the output signal from the preamplifier 18, it outputs a compass direction indication signal OSD to the chroma unit 16. Then, an on-screen display is displayed on a CPT (color picture tube) screen, and the user selects a corresponding key of the remote-controller 20 after ascertaining a direction of the TV position by using the compass attached on the remote-controller 20, so that a mode corresponding to the direction of the TV set position can be set by shifting the earth magnetic field correction mode one step by one step.
That is, as the user presses down the earth magnetic field correction mode setting key of the remote-controller 20 after ascertaining the direction of the TV position, the microprocessor 15 outputs the on-screen display signal OSD of the corresponding mode to the chroma unit 16, so that the on-screen display according to each mode is sequentially displayed on the screen of the CPT In this respect, at the time when the on-screen display identical to the direction of the TV position as identified by the compass attached on the remote-controller 20 is displayed, the user selects a set key to set a corresponding mode.
For example, if the TV set is turned aside 30xc2x0 (xe2x80x98Axe2x80x99 direction) from a standard direction, the earth magnetic field setting an on-screen display direction is set to be xe2x80x98Axe2x80x99 direction after the earth magnetic field correction mode is selected.
When the setting of the earth magnetic field correction mode is completed, the microprocessor 15 outputs the earth magnetic field correction signals S3, S4 and S5 according to the corresponding modes as set, to the earth magnetic field correction unit 17.
In detail, in case that the direction of the TV set position is identified as a standard direction and xe2x80x98Mode0xe2x80x99 is selected, since the microprocessor 15 outputs only earth magnetic field correction signals S3 and S5 of high voltage to the earth magnetic field correction unit 17, the transistors Q7 and Q8 are turned on while the transistors Q3 and Q5 are turned off. Then, since the current does not flow through the earth magnetic field correction coil L2, earth magnetic field correction is not performed.
Meanwhile, in case that the direction of the TV set position is identified as xe2x80x98Axe2x80x99 direction and xe2x80x98Modelxe2x80x99 is selected, since the microprocessor 15 outputs only the earth magnetic field correction signal S3 of high voltage, the transistors Q4, Q5 and Q7 of the earth magnetic field correction unit 17 are turned on, so that a little current flows in the xe2x80x98Axe2x80x99 direction (that is, B+xe2x86x92R7xe2x86x92Q5xe2x86x92L2xe2x86x92Q3xe2x86x92R5), thereby correcting the degaussed state.
If the earth magnetic field correction mode is changed to be set by xe2x80x98Mode2xe2x80x99 from xe2x80x98Mode1xe2x80x99, the direction of the TV set position is identified as a xe2x80x98Cxe2x80x99 direction, so that the microprocessor 15 outputs the earth magnetic field correction signals S3 and S4 of high voltage. Then, the transistors Q2, Q4, Q5 and Q7 of the earth magnetic field correction unit 17 are turned on, so that the current flowing through the resistance R5 also flows through the resistance R5 and the transistor Q2, thereby increasing the amount of the current (the flow of current: B+xe2x86x92R7xe2x86x92Q5xe2x86x92L2xe2x86x92Q4xe2x86x92R6xe2x86x92Q2).
If the earth magnetic field correction mode is set by xe2x80x98Mode3xe2x80x99, the direction of the TV set position is identified as the xe2x80x98Cxe2x80x99 direction, so that the microprocessor 15 outputs the earth magnetic field correction signals S4 and S5 of high voltage. Then the transistors Q2 and Q8 are turned on, and thus, the transistors Q3 and Q6 are accordingly turned on, according to which a large amount of current flows in the xe2x80x98Bxe2x80x99 direction (B+xe2x86x92R7xe2x86x92Q3xe2x86x92L2xe2x86x92Q6xe2x86x92R6xe2x86x92Q2), thereby correcting the degaussed state.
If the earth magnetic field correction mode is set by xe2x80x98Mode4xe2x80x99, the direction of the TV set position is identified as a xe2x80x98Dxe2x80x99 direction, so that the microprocessor 15 outputs only the earth magnetic field correction signal S5 of high voltage. Then, the transistor Q8 of the earth magnetic field correction unit 17 is turned on and the transistors Q3 and Q6 are accordingly turned on, so that a little current flows in the xe2x80x98B; direction (B+xe2x86x92R7xe2x86x92Q3xe2x86x92L2xe2x86x92Q6xe2x86x92R5)
The state of the earth magnetic field correction unit 17 at the time when the microprocessor 15 outputs the earth magnetic field correction signals S3-S5 according to setting of the earth magnetic field correction mode is shown in FIG. 3.
That is, in this example of the conventional art, the earth magnetic field correction mode is selected depending on the direction of the TV set position, and according to which when a corresponding mode is set, the earth magnetic field is automatically corrected, thereby providing images of distinct colors.
Meanwhile, as another example of a conventional art shown in FIG. 5, the Korean Laid Open No. 95-24598 discloses a deflection correction apparatus of a cathode ray tube which includes a correction amount determining unit 110 having correction amount signals corresponding to each direction and outputting each correction amount signal; a direction sensing and selecting unit 120 for sensing a direction of the cathode ray tube and selectively outputting one of correction amount signals inputted from the correction amount determining unit 110 according to the sensing result; and a deflection correction unit 130 for correcting a deflection of the cathode ray tube according to the correction amount signal outputted from the direction sensing and selecting unit 120.
The direction sensing and selecting unit 120 includes a direction sensor for outputting a sensing result signal; and an output selecting switch for selectively outputting the correction amount signal of the correction amount determining unit 110 according to the sensing result signal.
The operation of the a deflection correction apparatus of a cathode ray tube according to the conventional art will now be described.
First, correction amount signals according to each direction are stored in the correction amount determining unit 110 at the time when the monitor is fabricated.
When an earth magnetic field correcting mode is set at the time when the monitor is placed, the direction sensor of the direction sensing and selecting unit 120 senses the direction of the cathode ray tube, and the output selecting switch selects a signal corresponding to the sensing result amount correction amount signals outputted from the correction amount determining unit 110 and then outputs it to the deflection correction unit 130.
Then, the deflection correction unit 130 corrects the deflection of the cathode ray tube corresponding to the correction amount signal selectively outputted from the direction sensing and selecting unit 120, thereby providing a good quality of distinct color image.
However, as to the former conventional technique as described above, since the direction of the area for the placement of the monitor is to be first identified by the compass and then the earth magnetic field correction mode is selected corresponding to the direction as identified, many correction mode data need to be stored for correcting the earth magnetic field precisely, resulting in that it requires a large memory which inevitably causes an increase of a unit cost of production.
Also, as to the latter conventional technique as described above, since the earth magnetic field is different in each area, it has the same problem as that of the former conventional technique to correct the earth magnetic field for each area.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically correcting an earth magnetic field for a monitor in which a screen is automatically corrected by sensing a peripheral magnetic field with a small memory capacity, thereby attaining users"" convenience in correcting an earth magnetic field and maintaining an optimum picture quality.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposed of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an apparatus for automatically correcting an earth magnetic field for a monitor including: a peripheral magnetic field sensing unit for sensing a variation of a magnetic field and generating a corresponding frequency; a frequency producing unit for arithmetically operating the frequency generated from the peripheral magnetic field sensing unit and producing frequencies of each direction; a correction amount computing unit for computing each correction amount corresponding to each frequency of each direction produced by the frequency producing unit; and a deflection correction unit for correcting a deflection error of the monitor as much as the corrected amount in the correction amount computing unit.
The correction amount computing unit converts the frequency of the frequency producing unit to a magnetic field value according to a pre-stored frequency-magnetic correlative equation, and compares it with a pre-set reference magnetic field value to thereby compute a correction amount corresponding to a difference thereof.
The correction amount computing unit includes a microprocessor having a programmable memory in which a frequency-magnetic field correlative equation and a magnetic field-screen change correlative equation are stored to correct a tile, a vertical position, a horizontal position and a purity landing, and a storing unit (EEPROM) for storing an initial screen data and a reference magnetic field value of each direction.
There is also provided a method for automatically correcting an earth magnetic field for a monitor including the steps of: setting reference magnetic field values corresponding to three axes of X, Y and Z; measuring a magnetic field of the directions of the three axes; discriminating whether or not the reference magnetic field value in the reference magnetic field value setting step and the measured magnetic field in the magnetic field measuring step are identical to each other; maintaining a tilt, a vertical position, a horizontal position and a purity if the reference magnetic field value and the measured magnetic field in the discriminating step are identical; and determining a correction amount by using a predetermined equation and correcting a tile, a vertical position, a horizontal position and a purity if the reference magnetic field value and the measured magnetic field value in the discriminating step are not identical.

Apparatus for automatically correcting for earth magnetic field effects on a monitor


A TFT includes a substrate, a transparent semiconductor layer on the substrate, the transparent semiconductor layer including zinc oxide and exhibiting a surface roughness of about 1.3 nm or less, a gate electrode on the transparent semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode and the transparent semiconductor layer, the gate insulting layer insulating the gate electrode from the transparent semiconductor layer, and source and drain electrodes on the substrate, the source and drain electrodes being in contact with the transparent semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate to a thin film transistor (TFT), to a method of fabricating the same, and to a flat panel display (FPD) device having the same. More particularly, example embodiments relate to a TFT having improved characteristics, to a method of fabricating the same, and to a FPD having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advent of a highly developed information-oriented society, demands for, e.g., personal computers, car navigation systems, personal digital assistances (PDAs), data communication devices or combination products thereof, are increasing. Such products may require FPD devices with, e.g., good visibility, wide viewing angle characteristics, fast response time, and so forth, for displaying information.
A conventional FPD device, e.g., an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and so forth, may include a TFT as a switching device for driving a pixel in the FPD. A conventional TFT may include a gate electrode on a semiconductor layer, and source/drain electrodes. The semiconductor layer of the conventional TFT, however, may be formed of an opaque material, e.g., amorphous or crystalline silicon. Thus, when a TFT with opaque components is used as a switching device in a FPD device, e.g., an OLED display device, there may be a limit to an increase in width of a channel of the TFT due to the characteristics of the opaque semiconductor layer. A limited channel width of the conventional TFT may limit current flow therethrough and may require high voltage application, thereby increasing power consumption in the FPD, e.g., deteriorating an OLED in an OLED display device and increasing power consumption thereof.

Thin film transistor, method of fabricating a thin film transistor and flat panel display device having the same


A biodegradable interference screw for directly affixing a transplant to a bone, the interference screw being provided with at least one longitudinal groove designed to co-act with a tool for insertion of and if necessary, removal of the interference screw from an opening provided in the bone to receive both the transplant and the interference screw.

The invention relates to a screw for medical purposes having a screw body with a head portion and a following shaft portion having an outer threading. The screw is provided with a recess on which a tool can be applied for turning the screw. The invention further relates to a tool for driving such a screw.
Such screws are disclosed in OP-Journal 14 (1998,) pages 278-284 "Biodegradierbare Interferenzschrauben in der Kreuzbandchirurgie", A. Weiler et al., Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, N.Y.
Interference screws have the purpose of anchoring a tendon or a ligament transplant to a bone. A channel is drilled into the bone in which the transplant is to be inserted. The screw is driven into the intermediate space between the transplant and an inner wall of the channel, so that the transplant is then clamped between the screw and the inner channel wall.
Considerable forces arise in such a tendon or a ligament, for example the cruciate ligaments in a knee joint, so that the clamping force must be correspondingly high to ensure a reliable anchoring. The screw is therefore provided with an outer threading which penetrates into the bone material at the inner side of the bore channel. At the same time, the outer threading engages with the transplant to be anchored.
Other fields of application for screws exist for the interconnection of materials. A central opening is provided in the head for rotating the screw, in which a tool can be placed, for example a corresponding screw driver. Since considerable forces are exerted on the screw, especially at the last few turns before the final seating, this opening is provided not only in the head region, for driving means engaging at the head, but extends centrally and axially far into the shaft region. The forces from the tool are then not only transferred to the head but are distributed over larger regions of the screw body. This is done especially to prevent the head from being sheared off from the rest of the screw body, especially for the last turns before the final seating.
It is known to produce such screws of metals, in particular titanium, however screws of biodegradable material have also found wider application. It has been found that biodegradable screws made of suitable materials have the same high initial anchoring strength as metal screws. However, considerable difficulties arise when driving the screws.
If the central opening has the form of a hexagon, into which a tool in the form of a hex head socket wrench is inserted, the danger exists, especially for biodegradable materials, that the hexagonal contour is destroyed and the tool then turns without frictional connection. For this reason, attempts have been made to select other cross-sectional forms of the central opening, which allow a greater surface contact with the tool. For example, FIG. 3 of the above-mentioned publication in the OP-Journal shows such cross-sections, in the form of a cross or a turbine. The tendency is to produce a relatively large and branched central opening, so that only a relatively thin wall remains for the screw body.
This has the disadvantage, especially for small and thin screws with very thin walls that the twist resistance is no longer sufficient to withstand the high forces applied when driving in the screw. This tendency of increasingly larger central openings also leads to the screw body having a relatively large central hollow volume. This has a disadvantage, especially for biodegradable screws that when the thin wall of the biodegradable body is biologically degraded after a relatively short time, a large hollow space results. With this, a sufficient clamping force is no longer present to hold the tendon or ligament transplant in place.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above problems and to provide a screw which can reliably receive high driving forces even for smaller and thinner constructions, without being deformed or damaged.

Biodegradable interference screw and tool for attaching a transplant to a bone


To predictively determine the occurrence of rear wheel lifting before actual lifting of a rear wheel occurs and enable control of brake force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system and in particular to the improvement of controllability with respect to rear wheel lifting.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, it has been well known that, in two-wheeled motor vehicles, the larger the ratio between the height of the center of gravity of the vehicle and the inter-axial distance between the front and rear wheels is, the easier it is for the phenomenon of so-called lifting of the rear wheel to occur. Additionally, various coping technologies have been proposed with respect to such rear wheel lifting. For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3,416,819, there is disclosed a technology that detects rear wheel lifting on the basis of various conditions such as vehicle deceleration and a drop in the velocity of the rear wheel and adjusts the brake force of the brake.
Further, as disclosed in JP-A-2002-29403, there is disclosed a technology that enables more rapid detection of rear wheel lifting on the basis of a pseudo vehicle body deceleration.
However, in the aforementioned technologies, although the techniques for determining rear wheel lifting are different, the times when lifting of the rear wheel is determined and a detection signal is obtained in both are basically after actual lifting of the rear wheel has occurred.
Additionally, control of brake force for controlling lifting of the rear wheel is executed after the determination result of rear wheel lifting and after a detection signal has been obtained, so there is the problem that a situation where a temporal delay to a certain extent basically cannot be avoided until the effect of control appears.
Related application serial No. 12/161,370, filed Jul. 18, 2008, currently pending; 12/162,223, filed Jul. 25, 2008, currently pending; 12/162,220, filed Jul. 25, 2008, currently pending; and 12/162,626, filed Jul. 30, 2008, currently pending, are directed to similar subject matter. The '370 application is directed to a two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system which enables a more rapid and reliable securement of safety with respect to rear wheel lifting; the '223 application is directed to a two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system that can reliably control and prevent rear wheel lifting caused by an abrupt brake operation; the '220 application is directed to a two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system that can prevent a so-called no-brake state; and the '626 application is directed to a two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system for securement of high safety with respect to rear wheel lifting by reducing a pressure increase gradient of a wheel cylinder pressure of the front wheel immediately after rear wheel lifting.

Abstract: Vehicle body deceleration is computed on the basis of wheel velocities obtained by wheel velocity sensors 45 and 46 (S102), and when it is determined that that computed value exceeds a predetermined value K1 (S104), then the pressure of a front wheel cylinder 3 is reduced by a predetermined pressure and held at that reduced pressure (S106), and when it is determined that vehicle body deceleration has fallen below a value that is, for example, lower by a predetermined value α than the predetermined value K1 (S108), then the state of holding of the pressure of the front wheel cylinder 3 is released (S110) and brake control returns to normal brake control.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


Data storage systems and methods for storing data are described herein. The storage system includes at least two data storage nodes for storing portions of a distributed hash table and related data. After a first node attempts to complete a write request at a second node and is unable to complete the request, the first node ceases responses to interactions from other nodes. Once the first node's failure to respond has caused a sufficient number of nodes to cease responding, the nodes enter a service mode to resolve the live lock. While in live lock, the nodes determine the oldest, unfulfilled request using a system-wide logical timestamp associated with write requests. Once the oldest request is determined, a removal vote to remove the non-responsive node from the group is initiated and, if other nodes agree, the non-responsive node is removed from the group of nodes.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to data stored in a data storage system and an improved architecture and method for storing data to and retrieving data from a data storage system made up of a large number of nodes and reliant upon a distributed hash table.
2. Description of the Related Art
A file system is used to store and organize computer data stored as electronic files. File systems allow files to be found, read, deleted, and otherwise accessed. File systems store files on one or more storage devices. File systems store files on storage media such as hard disk drives and solid-state storage devices.
Various applications may store large numbers of documents, images, audio, videos and other data as objects using a distributed data storage system in which data is stored in multiple locations.
Distributed hash tables (DHT or, plural, DHTs) are decentralized systems that enable information, such as computer data, to be stored within a group of servers. When file access is requested, a hashing function is used to point the request to a particular location (or locations) within the group of servers. In order to ensure that individual data sets remain available within the group of servers, prior art systems have enforced a blocking system in which data elements may not be written to when others are in the process of accessing those data elements.
When one of the servers fails, the DHT may point a request to a non-existent server within the group of servers. The pointers or other references must be updated once a determination is made that a server has failed.
For example, CHORD and ETNA DHT systems maintain a so-called key successor relationship with one other server local to that server. When the primary server fails, the key successor server, typically within one Internet "hop" away, fills the gap and is the next server looked-to by the system when using the CHORD or ETNA DHT. This approach has the unfortunate result of failing when a portion of the network serving the server and its key successor server goes down. While the servers may both have the appropriate data sets, they are inaccessible. Other portions of the network of the group of servers, if available, must be accessed in order to find the data sets. In addition, utilizing a key successor relationship results in placing the rectification load on the single key successor rather than distributing the load associated with rectification throughout the system.
Spreading the data around throughout the group of servers ensures that a single failure or localized failure is much less likely to result in a situation in which the system must stop access and/or writes to the data sets in order to recover. However, the distributed nature of the data in these systems introduce other problems, such as determining when one or more of a plurality of the servers is unavailable.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.

Handling failed transaction peers in a distributed hash table