Overload protecting operation is performed by controlling the current peak value of a switching device 1 through the use of a comparator 8, a NAND circuit 5, and so on according to variations in feedback current being input to a feedback signal control circuit 11, internally setting the overcurrent protection of switching device 1 through the use of a clamp circuit 12, charging a capacitor 34 when having fallen below a specified current smaller than current required for the overcurrent protection for a fixed time period, and detecting rise in voltage VOL at the capacitor 34 to a constant voltage to stop switching operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply unit having an overload protecting function and an overcurrent protecting function and to a semiconductor device used for the switching power supply unit.
2. Background Art
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of an example of conventional switching power supply units. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 130 denotes a semiconductor device for controlling the switching power supply. The semiconductor device 130 includes a switching device 101 and its control circuit.
The semiconductor device 130 is provided with the input terminal (DRAIN) of the switching device 101, an auxiliary power supply voltage input terminal (VCC), an internal circuit power supply terminal (VDD), a feedback signal input terminal (FB), the output terminal of the switching device 101, and the GND terminal (GND) of the control circuit as external input terminals.
Reference numeral 102 is a regulator which supplies the internal circuit power supply of the semiconductor device 130. The regulator is provided with a switch 102A, which flows a starting current into VCC, and a switch 102B which supplies the current from VCC to VDD.
Reference numeral 103 denotes a start-up constant current source which supplies a start-up circuit current. The constant current source supplies the starting current to VCC via the switch 102A during start up.
Reference numeral 107 denotes a start-up and shut-down circuit which controls the start up and the shut down of the semiconductor device 130. The start-up and shut-down circuit detects voltage at VCC and outputs a signal which stops the switching operation of the switching device 101 to a NAND circuit 105 when voltage at VDD is below a constant voltage.
Reference numeral 106 denotes a drain current detection circuit which detects a current flowing into the switching device 101 through the detection of the on voltage at the switching device 101 generated by the product of the current flowing into the switching device 101 and the on resistance of the switching device 101 and which converts the detected current value of the switching device 101 to a voltage signal to output the voltage signal to a comparator 108 according to the current value of the switching device 101.
Reference numeral 111 denotes a feedback signal control circuit which converts a current signal inputted to the FB terminal to a voltage signal to output the signal to the comparator 108. The comparator 108 outputs a signal to the reset terminal of a RS flip-flop circuit 110 when the output signal from the feedback signal control circuit 111 becomes equal to the output signal from the drain current detection circuit 106.
Reference numeral 112 denotes a clamp circuit which determines the maximum value of the output signal of the feedback signal control circuit 111. Since the clamp circuit 112 determines the maximum value of the current flowing into the switching device 101, the clamp circuit 112 has the function of protecting the switching device 101 from overcurrent and limits the maximum value of the primary drain current, which limits a maximum power to be supplied to a secondary load and determines an overload protection level.
Reference numeral 109 denotes an oscillation circuit, which outputs a maximum duty-cycle signal 109A, which determines the maximum duty cycle of the switching device, 101, and a clock signal 109B which determines the oscillation frequency of the switching device 101. The maximum duty-cycle signal 109A is input to the NAND circuit 105, and the clock signal 109B is input to the set terminal of the RS flip-flop circuit 110.
The output signal of the start-up and shut-down circuit 107, the maximum duty-cycle signal 109A, and an output signal of the RS flip-flop circuit 110 are input to the NAND circuit 105. The output signal of the NAND circuit 105 is input to a gate drive circuit 104 to control the switching operation of the switching device 101.
Reference numeral 140 denotes a transformer, which has a primary winding 140A, a secondary winding 140B, and a primary auxiliary winding 140C.
A rectifying-smoothing circuit composed of a diode 131 and a capacitor 132 is connected to the primary auxiliary winding 140C and is used as the auxiliary power supply section of the semiconductor device 130 used for input to VCC.
Reference numeral 133 denotes a capacitor for stabilizing VDD.
Reference numeral 135 denotes a control signal transmission circuit which transmits a control signal from the secondary side to the primary side and which is composed of a phototransistor 135A and a photodiode 135B. The collector of the phototransistor 135A is connected to FB, and the emitter of the phototransistor 135A is connected to GND.
A rectifying-smoothing circuit composed of a diode 150 and a capacitor 151 is connected to the secondary winding 140B and is further connected to the photodiode 135B, a secondary control circuit 158, and a load 157.
The secondary control circuit 158 includes a shunt regulator 152, resistors 154, 155, and 156, and a capacitor 153, supplies a voltage divided by the resistors 154 and 155 for detecting secondary output voltage VO to the reference terminal of the shunt regulator 152, and controls a current which flows into the photodiode 135B connected to the cathode of the shunt regulator so as to keep the secondary output voltage VO constant.
The operation of the switching power supply unit having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 9 is a time chart of the operation waveform of each section shown in FIG. 8.
In FIG. 8, a direct-current voltage VIN formed by rectifying and smoothing commercial alternating-current power supply voltage, for instance, is supplied to the input terminal. VIN is applied to the DRAIN terminal of the semiconductor device 130 via the primary winding 140A of the transformer 140. Then, a starting current formed at the start-up constant current source 103 flows to charge the capacitor 132 connected to VCC via the switch 102A of the regulator 102, thereby the voltage at VCC is raised. Besides, since the switch 102B of the regulator 102 operates so as to make the voltage at VDD constant, the capacitor 133 connected to VDD via the switch 102B is charged by part of the starting current, thereby the voltage at VDD is also raised.
When the voltage at VCC rises to reach a starting voltage set at the start-up and shut-down circuit 107, the switching operation of the switching device 101 is started, following which energy is supplied to each winding of the transformer 140, so that current flows into the secondary winding 140B and the primary auxiliary winding 140C.
The current flowing through the secondary winding 140B is rectified by the diode 150 and smoothed by the capacitor 151 into a direct-current power, so that the power is supplied to the load 157. The output voltage VO rises gradually through the switching operation repeated. When the output voltage VO reaches a voltage set by the output voltage detecting resistors 154 and 155, the current which flows into the photodiode 135B is increased by a signal from the secondary control circuit 158.
Then, a current flowing into the phototransistor 135A increases, and a current flowing out of the terminal FB also increases.
When the FB terminal current IFB increases, a voltage VFBO inputted to the comparator 108 decreases, so that the drain current IDS flowing into the switching device 101 becomes small. As a result, the output voltage VO is stabilized by such an application of negative feedback.
The current flowing into the primary auxiliary winding 140 is rectified by the diode 131 and smoothed by the capacitor 132. Moreover, the current is utilized as an auxiliary power for the semiconductor device 130 to be supplied to the VCC terminal. When once the voltage at VCC reaches the starting voltage, the switch 102A of the regulator 102 is turned OFF, so that the current of the semiconductor device after the starting is supplied from the primary auxiliary winding 140C. Since the polarity of the primary auxiliary winding 140C is the same as that of the secondary winding 140B, the voltage at VCC is proportional to the output voltage VO.
When the output current IO flowing into the load 157 decreases after the stabilization of the output voltage VO, the feedback current IFB increases, the voltage VFBO inputted to the comparator 108 decreases, and the drain current flowing into the switching device 101 becomes small.
Also, when the output current IO flowing into the load 157 increases, the feedback current IFB decreases, the voltage VFBO inputted to the comparator 108 rises, and the drain current flowing into the switching device 101 becomes large as IO increases. When VFBO increases and then reaches a voltage defined by the clamp circuit 112, the overcurrent protecting function is performed, and the drain current is clamped by a constant current ILIMIT.
As described above, the maximum value of the primary drain current is fixed, so that a maximum power suppliable to the secondary load is limited. However, there come up problems that when the maximum power limited under peak load is applied using ILIMIT, the power is too high as the overload protection level under normal load, and when ILIMIT is applied as the overload protection level under normal load, power cannot be sufficiently supplied to the load under peak load.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of another conventional switching power supply unit having an overload protecting function as a power supply. FIG. 10 is different from FIG. 8 in that an output current detection resistor 159, an overcurrent detection circuit 160, an overcurrent signal transmission circuit 136 are provided. In FIG. 10, when an output current IO exceeds a constant value, the current flowing into a photodiode 136B increases, and then the current flows from a power supply voltage terminal VDD into GND via a phototransistor 136A. Thereafter, the voltage at the VDD terminal decreases, a stop signal is output from a start-up and shut-down circuit 107, the switching operation of a switching device 101 stops, and the overload protecting function operates as the power supply, so that it becomes possible to realize the overload protecting function as the power supply when its drain current is smaller than ILIMIT. That is, when a time delay is provided for the detection at the overcurrent detection circuit 160, the protection against the peak load can be gained by ILIMIT, and the overload protection during normal operation can be gained by the drain current smaller than ILIMIT. In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, however, the element count increases inevitably.
As conventional techniques of varying an overcurrent detection level according to load variations, there have been methods for performing overcurrent protecting operation through the provisions of an overcurrent detecting system commensurate-with maximum rated loads and of another overcurrent detecting system commensurate with loads lower than the maximum rated loads. For instance, the configurations are described in JP-A No. 6-38518.
Generally, it is necessary for switching power supply units to have a protective function under overload. When a peak load condition is imposed as a load condition, it is desired that the overload protection level under normal load be set in a manner that the protective function is activated under overload but not activated under peak load. Because of this, protective functions commensurate with loads are generally provided.
Furthermore, to cope with such a provision, it becomes necessary to take additional measures such as the stop of the primary switching operation through the detection of the secondary output current, so that there also come up problems of increases in production cost and element count and of complex power supply circuit configuration.

Switching power supply unit and semiconductor device for switching power supply

Abstract: By achieving the overload protection under normal load and the overcurrent protection against peak load in a single switching power supply unit, problems such as the complexity of the unit and an increase in the element count of the control circuit are solved.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In an axial fan, a case (40) accommodating the fan motor stator (50) is anchored into a bearing retainer (10), in which ball bearings (20, 21) as a bearing unit are accommodated, along a bulge part (13) formed on the lower end portion thereof. The case (40) extends heading axially downward, wherein there is no diametrical overlap between the ball bearings (20, 21) and the stator (50). Since only the bulge part (13) of the bearing retainer (10) is fixed to the case (40), heat arising from the stator (50) is thermally conveyed via the case (40) only to the bulge part (13). The fact that the thermal conveyance zone is minimal enables unrestrained curtailment of heat transmitted to the ball bearings (20, 21). As a result the axial fan can be designed for prolonged bearing lifespan.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to axial fans (given simply to be "motors" hereinafter), in particular to axial-fan motor structures involving 10,000 rpm and faster high-speed rotation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Owing to improvements in the processing speed of integrated circuits employed in server computers, the amount of heat emission from servers themselves has been on the rise in recent years. Thus, securing the airflow volume necessary in order stably to cool server-computer integrated circuits has become a critical requirement demanded of server-cooling fan motors. Consequently, there has been an urgently felt need to improve the revs of fan motors.
Nevertheless, improving the motor revs entails the problem of heat emission from the motor itself increasing. That is, the goal of raising the revs in a motor gives rise to the necessity of passing greater current to the motor's stator, and this turns out to cause the stator to emit heat. In conventional motor structures, because the positional relationship between the motor stator and bearing unit is one in which they are radially opposed across a bearing retainer, heat from the stator gets transmitted to the bearing unit via the bearing retainer. On that account, the bearing unit is subjected, more than is necessary, to the influences of the heat produced by the stator, which has led to the problem of the bearing lifespan consequently being shortened. Moreover, the bearing unit is continually subjected to strong rotational impact due to the increase in motor revs. The rotational impact causes the bearing(s) itself to emit heat, shortening the bearing lifespan all the more.
In that raising the motor revs also makes the motor's magnetic-pole switching more frequent, the vibrations produced when the magnetic poles are switching turn out be a serious problem.


A conveyor transport apparatus comprises a main portable conveyor and a secondary conveyor releasably attached to the main conveyor frame. An actuator is operable to move the secondary conveyor from a ground position where the secondary conveyor is supported on the ground, to a transport position where the secondary conveyor is raised above the ground. The apparatus may be configured so that the secondary conveyor is supported on the ground and attached to the main conveyor when the main conveyor is in a raised position and the secondary conveyor is raised above the ground when the main conveyor is in a lowered position. The main conveyor can be attached to a towing vehicle for transport of the apparatus.

This invention is in the field of portable conveyors and in particular the transport of such conveyors from one location to another.
Portable conveyors generally comprise a conveyor body mounted on a frame. Most commonly the frame is adjustable, allowing the upper discharge end of the conveyor body to be raised or lowered to a desired location while the lower input end is at rest on the ground or the like. An actuator such as an extensible cylinder or winch is commonly employed to manipulate the adjustable frame and raise the conveyor body, and may be manually operated or powered by hydraulics, electricity, or the like.
The adjustable frame is commonly a scissor type where the actuator changes the angle between pivotally connected upper and lower elevating members to elevate the conveyor body. Also common is an adjustable frame where a sliding frame member adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor body is moved along the lower surface of the main conveyor body to change the angle. Although these are most common, other adjustable frames can be used as well.
The frame is mounted on wheels, and is commonly towed by a hitch attached at the intake end of the main conveyor body. When towed the discharge end of the conveyor body is lowered to improve stability. Both belt and auger portable conveyors are common.
Such portable conveyors are commonly used in pairs for first conveying material from a truck or the like to an accessible location where a second larger conveyor can be placed to convey the material to the desired delivery location. For example, a small transfer conveyor is used to receive grain from a hopper trailer, which is inaccessible to most conveyors. The transfer conveyor carries the grain to a main conveyor which carries it into a bin or the like. Other examples could include a situation where packages are carried on a belt conveyor from a truck or the like.
Such pairs of conveyors have the advantage of being more versatile than a single conveyor unit that could be configured to do the same job. Each separate conveyor of the pair can be used individually for different purposes, or with a different conveyor as a pair for the same or similar purposes.
A disadvantage however appears where it is desired to move the pair to a remote location. Two towing vehicles are required, or where the configuration allows, one may be towed behind the other. A small transfer conveyor may be supported for movement along the ground on skids or on small wheels not suitable for towing, requiring loading on a truck or the like for transport.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for transporting two portable conveyors as a single unit towed by a single towing vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such an apparatus wherein a secondary conveyor can be maneuvered adjacent to a main conveyor when the main conveyor is in a raised position and releasably attached thereto such that when the main conveyor is moved to a lowered position, the secondary conveyor is raised above the ground.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of transporting a main and secondary conveyor together as a unit.
The invention provides, in one aspect, a main conveyor comprising a main conveyor body including a lower main input end and an upper main discharge end; a frame supporting the main conveyor body; wheels supporting the frame for movement of the main conveyor along the ground; and a hitch at the main input end for attachment of a towing vehicle; a secondary conveyor comprising a lower secondary input end and an upper secondary discharge end, and a support for movement along the ground, the secondary conveyor releasably attached to the frame; an actuator operable to move the secondary conveyor from a ground position where the secondary conveyor is supported on the ground, to a transport position where the secondary conveyor is raised above the ground.
The invention provides, in a second aspect, a conveyor transport apparatus comprising a main conveyor comprising a main conveyor body including a lower main input end and an upper main discharge end; an adjustable frame supporting the main conveyor body such that the vertical position of the main discharge end can be adjusted from a raised position to a lowered position; an actuator attached to the adjustable frame and operable to move the main discharge end from the raised position to the lowered position; wheels supporting the frame for movement of the main conveyor along the ground; and a hitch at the main input end for attachment of a towing vehicle; and a secondary conveyor comprising a lower secondary input end and an upper secondary discharge end, and a support for movement along the ground, the secondary conveyor releasably attached to the adjustable frame such that the secondary conveyor is supported on the ground when the main conveyor is in the raised position and the secondary conveyor is raised above the ground when the main conveyor is in the lowered position.
The invention provides, in a third aspect, a method of transporting a main conveyor and secondary conveyor wherein the main conveyor comprises a main conveyor body including an main input end and a main discharge end; a frame supporting the main conveyor body; wheels supporting the frame for movement of the main conveyor along the ground; and a hitch at the main input end for attachment of a towing vehicle; and wherein the secondary conveyor comprises a support for movement thereof along the ground; the method comprising the following steps: moving the secondary conveyor into a position between the main discharge end and the wheels; releasably attaching the secondary conveyor to the adjustable frame; activating an actuator attached to the main conveyor to move the secondary conveyor upwards, with respect to the main conveyor, to a transport position where the secondary conveyor is above the ground; and attaching a towing vehicle to the hitch.
The apparatus and method allow for transporting two portable conveyors as a single unit towed by a single towing vehicle.
The apparatus and method may conveniently utilize the existing raising and lowering mechanism of a main conveyor to raise a secondary conveyor from the ground so that the two can be towed as a unit.


Provided is a die roll for manufacturing softgels, a softgel, and methods for producing a softgel. The die roll includes a die roll surface and a pocket defined therein. The pocket includes a floor, an interior sidewall surface, a chamfer, and an exterior sidewall surface. The floor is recessed relative to the die roll surface and the interior sidewall surface is connected to the floor and extends above the die roll surface to the chamfer. The pocket also includes a landing surface that is elevated from the die role surface and connects the chamfer to the exterior sidewall surface of the pocket. The landing surface includes a taper (such that the landing surface tapers inwardly towards the pocket floor) and a radius (such that the landing surface is not flat). Also provided is a softgel having a trailing edge thickness that is at least about 40% the thickness of the softgel wall thickness.

Softgels, such as softgel capsules, are formed by a variety or processes, including a rotary die encapsulation process. In the traditional rotary die process, encapsulation machines form two flexible gelatin sheets or ribbons, which are synchronously guided over rollers and fed to and between two dies. For example, a left and right ribbon each pass over rollers that feed the ribbons to (and between) two mated die rolls. The die rolls, whose surface architecture determines the size and shape of the resultant softgels, cut the softgel shells from the ribbons as the ribbons roll between the die rolls. A positive displacement pump simultaneously delivers the fill material into a heated wedge that sits between the rotary dies. The pump injects fill material, such as a liquid fill material, into the die cavities between ribbons just before the die rolls cut the ribbons and seals the two cut halves of the ribbon together to form a softgel. The softgels are then dried and allowed to harden.
While the rotary die manufacturing process is sufficient for making rounded or oblong softgels, using this process to manufacture shapes other than rounded or oblong forms has proven challenging. This is principally because the seam thickness where two halves of the softgel shells come together varies greatly. More particularly, the regions of gelatin ribbons that first enter die rolls form a leading edge on the resultant softgel, whereas the regions of the gelatin ribbons that follow behind form a trailing edge on the resultant softgel. Typically, the seam thickness at the trailing edge is only a small fraction of the wall thickness of the softgel. For example, the seam thickness of the trailing edge can be as little as 20% as thick as the wall thickness of the softgel. Hence, the thin seam thickness at the trailing edge cannot, for example, withstand certain manufacturing processes, such as those that seek to produce certain softgel shapes. Additionally, the thin seam at the trailing edge leads to breakage of softgel during handling of the product and leakage of the fill material. The thin seam thickness at the trailing edge can also be problematic for rounded or oblong softgels, such as during the manufacturing process and shipment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for the manufacture of softgels


A cutoff adjustment method of a CRT using a Hi-Gm tube is proposed as well as a problem that luminance of a display screen is changed by a fluctuation of a Gm voltage to be applied to a Gm electrode in relation to fluctuations of currents flowing into the Gm electrode and a G2 electrode is solved. On this occasion, the cutoff adjustment method of the Hi-Gm tube sets such that a Gm voltage value of a Gm electrode voltage source and a black level bias voltage value applied to a cathode for displaying a black level agree with each other. Further, the CRT display device having the Hi-Gm tube is constituted such that it is provided with a voltage detection circuit in an output side of the Gm electrode voltage source for measuring a fluctuation of an output voltage from the Gm electrode voltage source to keep the Gm voltage constant by a feedback from the voltage detection circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to CRT display devices and, more particularly, to a CRT display device having a Hi-Gm tube which is capable of obtaining an ordinary intensity of current under a low drive voltage.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a constitution of a conventional CRT display device. In FIG. 6, reference characters 17, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18 and 19 denote a CRT, a cathode, a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode, a G3 electrode, an anode, a video cathode amplifier, a cathode bias voltage source, a video input, an adjustment input, a flyback transformer and a resistor, respectively. An electron gun which irradiates an electron beam on a phosphor screen comprises the cathode 2, the G1 electrode 3, the G2 electrode 4 and the G3 electrode 6. The cathode 2 is provided with cathodes for red, green and blue each of which emits the beam for hitting the phosphor screen of red, green and blue.
Next, FIG. 6 is explained below. The video signal input 11 is inversely amplified by a video cathode amplifier 9 and then capacitor-coupled. The thus capacitor-coupled input is applied with the cathode bias voltage in accordance with the adjustment input 13 by the cathode bias voltage source 10 and then inputted to the cathode 2. On the other hand, the anode 7 is applied with a high voltage of about 25 kV which has been boosted by the flyback transformer 18. This high voltage of the anode 7 of the CRT 17 (hereinafter referred to as CRT anode high voltage) is created by boosting and then rectifying a horizontal retrace pulse generated by a horizontal deflection output circuit. The G2 electrode 4 is applied with a voltage of about 700 V to about 1000 V generated by dividing the voltage of about 25 kV, which has been boosted by the flyback transformer 18, by the resistor 19. In the conventional CRT display device, since it is characteristic that a current does not flow in the G2 electrode 4, the resistor 19 for dividing the high voltage is about 100 Mxcexa9.
Under a condition that the voltage to be applied to the cathode 2 (hereinafter also referred to as cathode voltage) is changed while respective voltages to be applied to the G1 electrode 3, the G2 electrode 4, the G3 electrode 6 and the anode 7 are held to be constant, when the cathode voltage becomes lower than a specified level, the electron beams emitted from the cathode 2 start flowing in a direction of a screen. The resultant flow of the electron beams from the cathode 2 in the direction of the screen is called as a beam current. The state in which the beam current is flowing shows that the beam hits the phosphor screen comprising phosphors of red, green and blue thereby allowing the screen to light. When the beam current flows in volume, the electron beam which reaches the phosphor screen is increased in number so that luminance of the screen is enhanced. In contrast, when the beam current is scarcely flowing, the luminance of the screen is decreased whereupon a video to be displayed on the screen turns to be dark. A display level of the image in which a dark screen starts lighting is called a black level. A voltage which is applied to the cathode 2 so as to display the black level is called as a black level bias voltage or a cutoff voltage.
In the conventional CRT display device, processing of adjusting the black level bias voltage called as a cutoff adjustment is performed by adjusting the cathode bias voltage to be applied to the cathode 2. A black level bias voltage value of the cathode has a variance ,for example, between 80 VDC and 110 VDC in each of the electron guns (cathodes) for R (red), G (green) and B (blue) depending on production process of the CRT. Unless such variance is corrected, a specified black color can not be displayed on the screen. The cutoff adjustment is an adjustment which allows a point in which the beam starts lighting and the black level of the video signal to agree with each other and also a processing operation which is performed for allowing the cutoff voltage of each of electron guns for R, G and B to agree with the black level of each signal so as to correctly represent a black portion and a dark portion of an image. Specifically, a coarse adjustment is first performed by adjusting a G2 electrode voltage such that a point in which the beam starts lighting to some extent is adjusted (or the G2 electrode voltage is fixed). The black level bias voltage value to be applied to each of cathodes for R, G and B is next adjusted thereby allowing the video on the screen of the CRT (hereinafter also referred to as CRT screen) and the luminance of the black color to agree with each other.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 224618/1999 discloses a high-luminance CRT (hereinafter also referred to as Hi-Gm tube) in which a modulation electrode (hereinafter referred to as Gm electrode) is further provided between the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a constitution of the Hi-Gm tube. In FIG. 7, reference characters 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 denotes a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode, a G3 electrode, a cathode, an electron emissive material provided on a surface of the cathode and the newly provided Gm electrode, respectively. Electrodes after the G3 electrode and the constitution as a whole are the same as those of a conventional electron gun.
FIG. 8 illustrates a potential distribution on a rotation symmetry axis in the proximity of the cathode of the Hi-Gm tube. In FIG. 8, the abscissa axis and the ordinate axis show a position (distance) (mm) from the cathode 23 and potential (V), respectively. Reference characters 26, 27 and 28 shown in FIG. 8 denote potential (electric field), a region in which the Gm electrode exists and an area in which the potential is low, respectively. Further, a dashed line shown in FIG. 8 shows potential of the cathode 23, that is, the cathode bias voltage. In the Hi-Gm tube, the Gm electrode 25 is disposed in the region shown by the reference character 27 which lies in about 0.5 mm inclusive of its vicinity far from the cathode 23. The potential 26 of the region 27 in which the Gm electrode 25 is disposed is determined by setting a direct-current voltage (DC potential) of the Gm electrode 25 at a specified voltage value, for example, 80 V. When the cathode voltage (dashed-lined portion) is changed while the Gm electrode voltage is fixed at 80 V, a quantity of the electrons which proceeds in the direction of the screen can be controlled. That is, when the potential of the cathode shown by the dashed line becomes smaller than the potential (electric field), the electrons flow whereas, when the potential of the cathode becomes larger, the electrons do not flow. It should be noted that the potential (electric field) is changed as the voltage to be applied to the Gm electrode 25 is changed.
As shown in FIG. 8, in a side of the Gm electrode 25 facing the cathode 23, electrons always exist in volume in an operating area of the cathode. Moreover, potential gradient after passing through the Gm electrode 25 is about one digit larger than that between the cathode and the G1 electrode of a conventional type. That is, the electrons which have passed in the proximity of the Gm electrode 25 do not suffer from an influence of a space charge effect whereupon many of them can proceed in the direction of the screen. Therefore, the current flowing in the direction of the screen depends on a quantity of electrons which can pass through a position where the Gm electrode 25 exists and whose potential is the lowest. By the reason described above, the same beam current as a conventional one is allowed to flow by half or less the conventional potential difference of the cathode 23. In other words, when the potential difference is the same as conventional, twice or more the conventional beam current is allowed to flow.
FIG. 9 shows a relation of each current vs cathode voltage of a Hi-Gm tube. In FIG. 9, reference characters 29, 30, 31 and 32 are a cathode current, a beam current, a G2 electrode current and a Gm electrode current, respectively. Voltage values of electrodes shown in FIG. 9 are set such that a G1 electrode voltage, a G2 electrode voltage, a Gm electrode voltage and a G3 electrode voltage are 0 V, 500 V, 80 V and 5.5 kV, respectively. As shown in FIG. 9, the more the cathode voltage is lowered, the more the beam current 30 flows thereby increasing the luminance of the screen. Further, the Gm electrode current 32 or the G2 electrode current 31 also flow in proportion to the beam current 30. Furthermore, it is also shown that, even when the beam current 30 does not flow at the time the cathode voltage is 80 V , the cathode current 29 flows into the G2 electrode. That is, it is understood that the difference between the cathode current 29 and the beam current 30 shown in FIG. 9 is equal to a sum of currents flowing in the G2 electrode and the Gm electrode.
In a case of the CRT display device using the Hi-Gm tube as described above, the Gm electrode is newly added to the conventional electron gun. In such display device using the Hi-Gm tube, it is necessary to additionally take a cutoff adjustment method using the Gm electrode potential into consideration.
Since the Hi-Gm tube allows the current twice or more as large as the conventional one to flow by the same cathode voltage amplitude as the conventional one and, moreover, sensitivity of the region in which the beam starts lighting is large, the luminance visually fluctuates to a great extent as the Gm voltage fluctuates. For example, when the potential of the Gm electrode is decreased, the point in which the beam starts lighting is decreased; that is, the black level on the screen is lowered whereupon the black color appears to be subsided. To contrast, when the potential of the Gm electrode is increased, the point in which the beam starts lighting is heighten whereupon the black color appears to be stood up like a noise.
As shown in FIG. 9, when electrons flow in the direction of the screen, that is, when the beam current flows, the current flows into the Gm electrode of the Hi-Gm tube and the beam current fluctuates in accordance with the luminance. On an occasion as described above, there exists a possibility that, when the current flowing into the Gm electrode fluctuates, a voltage source for applying a voltage to the Gm electrode allows an output voltage (Gm electrode voltage) thereof to fluctuate by being influenced by the resultant current fluctuation. There exists a problem that, when the Gm electrode voltage which the voltage source applies to the Gm electrode fluctuates, a level in which three beams start lighting relatively fluctuates whereupon a color temperature change and a luminance shift (change) may be brought about in a black color side. To solve the above-described problem, in the CRT display device using the Hi-Gm tube which is capable of allowing a large beam current to flow by a little potential difference, needed is the voltage source for keeping a supply voltage thereof to be applied to the Gm electrode to be constant, irrespective of the fluctuation of the current flowing into the Gm electrode caused by the luminance change.
Further, the current flows into the G2 electrode of the Hi-Gm tube in the same way as in the Gm electrode even when the electrons flow in the direction of the screen. Furthermore, the current value fluctuates in accordance with the luminance in the same way as in the Gm electrode. When the Hi-Gm tube is used, a current of 0.1 mA to 0.9 mA flows in the G2 electrode in a steady state whereupon, in a conventional method of dividing the voltage boosted by the flyback transformer by a resistor, a potential drop by the resistor becomes large. Moreover, an anode voltage and a focus voltage also fluctuate. When the G2 electrode voltage fluctuates, the beam current which is the current of electrons in the direction of the screen fluctuates and, accordingly, the luminance changes. Furthermore, when the G2 electrode voltage fluctuates, focus characteristics are affected to some extent. Therefore, needed is the voltage source which keeps the supply voltage thereof to be applied to the G2 electrode to be constant, irrespective of the fluctuation of the current flowing into the G2 electrode caused by the luminance change.
In the CRT display device using the Hi-Gm tube, twice or more the beam current is allowed to flow by providing a conventional cathode amplitude but, since the current flows also into the G2 electrode and the Gm electrode and, further, the current changes in accordance with the luminance, the cathode bias voltage source which is capable of allowing more than severalfold current to flow is needed. When an overcurrent which exceeds the capacity of the cathode bias voltage source flows thereinto via G2 electrode, there exists a problem that, not only output amplitude of the cathode bias voltage source is decreased, but also frequency characteristics are deteriorated thereby aggravating a video quality.
The present invention has been achieved in order to solve the above-described problems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a CRT display device which executes a cutoff adjustment in view of characteristics of a Hi-Gm tube. A second object of the present invention is to provide a CRT display device, comprising a voltage source that keeps a voltage to be applied to a Gm electrode to be constant, irrespective of a fluctuation of a current flowing into the electrode, which solves a problem that a color temperature change and a luminance change of a displayed video are brought about by a fluctuation of a Gm electrode voltage. A third object of the present invention is to provide a CRT display device, comprising a voltage source that keeps a voltage to be applied to a Gm electrode to be constant irrespective of a fluctuation of a current flowing into the electrode, which solves a problem that a luminance fluctuation is brought about by a fluctuation of a G2 electrode voltage. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a CRT display device which solves a problem that, when an over-current flows into a cathode bias voltage source via G2 electrode, not only an output amplitude of the cathode bias voltage source is lowered, but also frequency characteristics are deteriorated thereby aggravating a video quality. Further, a fifth object of the present invention is to propose a cutoff adjustment method of a Hi-Gm tube.
A CRT display device according to the present invention comprises a CRT including an electron gun having a cathode for each of red, green and blue which emits a quantity of electrons in accordance with an applied voltage in a direction of a phosphor screen in which phosphors of red, green and blue are disposed, a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode and a G3 electrode each of which is provided in said direction of the phosphor screen from said cathode and forms an electric field by being applied with a specified voltage, and a modulation electrode which is disposed between the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode and which changes the electric field formed by each of the G1 electrode, the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode in accordance with an applied voltage, a modulation electrode voltage source which applies a voltage having a predetermined, specified voltage value to the modulation electrode, and a cathode voltage source which sets a voltage value such that it becomes the same as a modulation electrode voltage value to be applied to the modulation electrode by the modulation electrode voltage source and, further, applies a black level bias voltage value that is determined by a cutoff adjustment which finely adjusts the voltage value for the cathode for each of red, green and blue such that a black color of a displayed video when a video signal is in a black level agrees with a specified black color to the cathode when the video signal is in the black level.
A CRT display device according to the present invention comprises a CRT capable of allowing a great number of electrons to flow with a small cathode amplitude in a direction of a phosphor screen, including an electron gun having cathodes each of which emits a quantity of electrons in accordance with an applied voltage in the direction of the phosphor screen, a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode and a G3 electrode each of which is provided in the direction of the phosphor screen from the cathodes and forms an electric field by being applied with a specified voltage, and a modulation electrode which is disposed between the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode and which changes the electric field formed by each of the G1 electrode, the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode in accordance with an applied voltage, a modulation electrode voltage source which applies a voltage having a predetermined, specified voltage value to the modulation electrode, and a cathode bias voltage source which applies a voltage according to a video signal inputted from outside to the cathodes, irrespective of existence of electrons flowing into the G2 electrode and a Gm electrode among electrons which are emitted and proceed in the direction of the phosphor screen.
A CRT display device according to the present invention comprises a CRT capable of allowing a great number of electrons to flow in a direction of a phosphor screen with a small cathode amplitude, including an electron gun having cathodes each of which emits a quantity of electrons in accordance with an applied voltage in the direction of the phosphor screen, a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode, a G3 electrode and an anode electrode each of which is provided in the direction of the phosphor screen from the cathodes and forms an electric field by being applied with a specified voltage, and a modulation electrode which is disposed between the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode and changes the electric field formed by each of the G1 electrode, the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode in accordance with an applied voltage, an anode electrode voltage source for applying a specified voltage to the anode electrode, a G2 electrode voltage source which applies a voltage having a predetermined, specified voltage value to the G2 electrode, irrespective of existence of electrons flowing into the G2 electrode among electrons which are emitted from the cathodes and proceed in the direction of the phosphor screen, and a cathode bias voltage source which applies a voltage in accordance with a video signal inputted from outside to the cathodes, irrespective of existence of electrons flowing into the G2 electrode and a Gm electrode among electrons which are emitted from the cathodes and proceed in the direction of the phosphor screen.
A cutoff adjusting method according to the present invention is capable of being executed in a CRT display device including an electron gun having cathodes for red, green and blue each of which emits a quantity of electrons in accordance with an applied voltage in a direction of a phosphor screen provided with phosphors of red, green and blue, a G1 electrode, a G2 electrode and a G3 electrode each of which is provided in the direction of the phosphor screen from each of the cathodes and forms an electric field by being applied with a specified voltage, and a modulation electrode which is disposed between the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode and changes the electric field formed by each of the G1 electrode, the G2 electrode and the G3 electrode in accordance with the applied voltage, for allowing a black level of a video signal to be inputted to the cathodes for red, green and blue to agree with a black level bias voltage applied to the cathodes for red, green and blue such that electrons from the cathodes do not reach the phosphor screen, wherein the cutoff adjustment method comprises the steps of determining a modulation electrode voltage value to be applied to the modulation electrode such that it becomes a specified voltage value, setting a black level bias voltage value to be inputted to the cathodes for red, green and blue such that it becomes the same as the voltage value determined in the step of determining said modulation electrode voltage value, when the video signal of red, green and blue to be inputted to the cathodes for red, green and blue is at the black level, and finely adjusting the black level bias voltage value for each of the cathodes for red, green and blue such that a displayed image to be represented on a display screen of the CRT display device becomes a predetermined, specified black color, when the black level bias voltage is inputted to the cathodes for red, green and blue.

CRT display device and cutoff adjustment method


A controller based network, where data from a plurality of nodes is placed onto the network in a scheduled predetermined order during a network update interval. The data transmitted onto the network being collected following the issuance of a data collection start signal issued in accordance with a timer, whereby the issuance of the data collection start signal can be varied within the network update interval. The collected data being transmitted onto the network upon the issuance of a data transmission signal.

This application pertains to the art of data transmission and more particularly data transmission for a controller based network. The invention is particularly applicable to a controller based network where data representing the status of events and devices is collected and periodically transmitted on to and from the network during scheduled time periods. The transmitted data is used in the generation of control commands for the monitored events and devices. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applications for use in a variety of control systems transmitting data on a scheduled periodic basis.
Controller based networks employ sensors to monitor a wide range of events and devices and their associated physical characteristics including changes in pressure, flow, strain, temperature, time and state changes, among others. The data gathered by the sensors is placed onto the controller based network and provided to the controller, which analyzes the data and generates an appropriate output. The output can cause switches and valves to open and/or close, turn motors and pumps on and/or off, transmit additional data, or cause a temperature to increase and/or decrease, among other numerous and varied actions. By considering the manner in which data acquired by a sensor is transmitted onto a controller based network, existing networks can be divided into categories. A first of which is known as a Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) network. When data for this network is acquired, there is an immediate attempt to place the data onto the network, with a number of nodes attempting to access the network at the same time raising the possibility of data collision. If data acquired by a sensor cannot be immediately placed on the network, it is queued in a buffer while attempts to gain access are made. In an attempt to avoid these collisions, complex algorithms are employed which prioritize data and judge competing contentions. Therefore, a CSMA network is a "free-for-all" type system where it is not possible to predict when data from a particular node will gain access to the network.
Another category of network, based on the manner of data transmission, and to which the subject invention is directed, is a scheduled controller based network where data access to the network is performed at periodic scheduled times. In this type of network data is transmitted in a predetermined order during a network update interval (NUI). Data from a node follows data from a preceding node such that there is no attempt to access the network prior to conclusion of transmission of data from a proceeding scheduled node. By this arrangement, data collisions occurring during contention for access to the network are avoided. Though access is controlled, the network update time (NUT) for an individual node can vary. Particularly, the transmission time of data from a specific node will vary within set parameters, however, the order in which data from the nodes is transmitted is accomplished according to a preset schedule.
Existing networks of the second category have a characteristic of being conservative in determining when data is collected for a scheduled transmission to the network. This conservative approach is beneficial since attempting to collect data at too late a point in a network update interval (NUI) can result in there not being sufficient time to complete data collection before data is to be transmitted, requiring the data to wait for a next NUI. Thus, data may not be transmitted at all, or older than desired data may be transmitted, this also creates data jitter by disrupting the periodic deterministic nature of the data.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a scheduled controller based network A as discussed above. Sensors 10a-10n acquire data that is input to adapter 12, which is an input/output device. An adapter of the type shown in FIG. 1 has the capability of concentrating a plurality of inputs and outputs to and from sensors 10a-10n. Adapter 12 may be one of Allen Bradley Corporation's 1771 family of adapters used in Allen Bradley Corporation's controller based networks such as the ControlNet network. ControlNet is a trademark of Allen Bradley Corporation. It is to be appreciated that while adapter 12 is used in this embodiment, other input/output devices which acquire sensed data may also be used.
Adapter 12 transmits the collected data onto network A. Controller 14, which operates program 16, uses the received data to determine the status of events or devices which are controlled by network A. Based on the received data, controller 14 transmits a command to adapter 18, which then provides the command to actuators 20a-20n used to adjust the operation of the events or devices controlled by network A.
As an example of the operation of network A, actuation of a switch (not shown) is sensed by sensor 10a. This data is input into a digital input card (not shown), and is transmitted onto network A through adapter 12. The data is passed to controller 14 which uses this information to generate a command to turn off a pump (not shown) by actuator 20a.
Controller 14 may be one of Allen Bradley Corporation's PLC-5/C series of controllers, however, it is to be appreciated that other controllers may also be used.
FIG. 2 illustrates the flow of data within network A of FIG. 1, including the scheduled periodic transmission of data and data collection. Two constant ten (10) millisecond network update intervals (NUIs) 30, 31 are shown in the figure. At the beginning of the first network update interval (NUI) 30 a tone 32 indicates the start of a periodic interval for communication (PIC). Following tone 32, transmission of data begins, with nodes 0-4 34.sub.0-4 scheduled for transmission. Nodes 0-4 34.sub.0-4 correspond to the devices, etc. monitored by sensors 10a-10n. The node transmission time during the first network update interval 30 is slightly longer than 3 milliseconds. Upon completion of data transmission by the fourth node 34.sub.4, an interrupt 37 is issued by controller 14 of FIG. 1. Interrupt 37 also doubles as a data collection start (DCS) signal. Therefore, issuing of interrupt 37 signifies not only that the scheduled data transmission of nodes 0-4 34.sub.0-4 has been completed, but also that collection of data for the next scheduled transmission during network update interval 31 is to begin. Interrupt 37 may be considered to be a fixed signal in that controller 14 is configured to issue interrupt 37 substantially immediately following the end of data transmission.
Thereafter, when tone 32 is again issued, transmission of data from nodes 0-4 34.sub.0-4 again takes place and the same procedure is repeated upon the issuance of interrupt, data collection start (DCS) signal, 37.
As illustrated by FIG. 2, while there may be a variability in the data transmission time such as from slightly more than 3 milliseconds during the first NUI 30 to slightly more than 0.5 milliseconds for data transmission during the second NUI 31, the transmissions from the nodes occur in a scheduled predetermined order, avoiding conflicts and arbitration problems between the data from the nodes.
Existing networks are considered conservative in data collection since data collection starts substantially immediately following the end of data transmission thereby leaving a maximum time for data collection prior the next tone 32. This conservative approach is beneficial in that it avoids having insufficient time to form data transmission packets needed for data transmission. However, a drawback which exists due to this early data acquisition is the possibility that data from a location which has already been read may be updated with more recent information. In this case, older than desired data may be sent during data transmission. Also, if data is missed and not sent during a first NUI, the time until the data is sent during a next NUI is extended, thereby causing data jitter.
It has been determined to be desirable to provide a timer in the scheduled controller based network to allow for issuing of a time variable data collection signal which indicates the beginning of data collection. The present invention, therefore, contemplates using a time variable data collection start signal to build a frame of scheduled transmission packets just before they are needed for transmission.

System using a variable timer to optimally adjust issuing a start data collection signal at near the beginning of data transmission signal


A device for retrieving an object such as a golf ball. The retriever comprises a handle, a stationary member or loop that is rigidly attached to the handle, a reactive member or loop that is pivotally attached to the stationary member and a spring for biasing the reactive member substantially perpendicular to the stationary member. A locking clip is attached to the stationary member and is rotatable between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position, the clip restrains the reactive member in a position substantially parallel to the stationary member so that the retriever can be stored without the reactive member rotating into the perpendicular position.

Golf ball retrievers are commonly used to recover small objects (e.g., golf balls) that are difficult to otherwise reach. For example, when a golf ball is directed into a body of water (e.g., a pond or lake), a golf ball retriever may be used to reach into the water and recover the golf ball. Existing designs, such as the golf ball retriever disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,926, which is hereby incorporated by reference, provide a telescoping handle that is compact when not in use and extendable to the desired length during use. The distal end of the telescoping handle includes two circular members—a reactive member and a stationary member—that are connected via pivot pins and move relative to one another via a spring. Initially, the reactive member and the stationary member are aligned in parallel. When the spring contacts a golf ball, it causes the reactive member to rotate relative to the stationary member, thereby surrounding the golf ball between the two members.
While helpful in recovering golf balls, existing golf ball retriever designs may be limited. For instance, the connection between the reactive member and the spring is known to break and the pivot pins on which the reactive member rotates create a binding joint. Accordingly, there is a need for improved devices and methods to address the above mentioned deficiencies. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to these and other considerations.


A stable polyol pre-mix composition comprises a blowing agent, a polyol, a surfactant, and a catalyst composition comprising an oxygen-containing amine catalyst and a metallic salt. The oxygen-containing amine catalyst may be, for example, one or more of an alkanol amine, an ether amine, or a morpholine group-containing compound such as, for example, 2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethanol or N,N,N′-trimethylaminoethyl-ethanolamine. The metallic salt may be, for example, alkali earth carboxylates, alkali carboxylates, and carboxylates of metals selected form the group consisting of zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), tin (Sn), cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), chromium (Cr), scandium (Sc), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba).

The Montreal Protocol for the protection of the ozone layer mandated the phase-out of the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Materials more "friendly" to the ozone layer, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), e.g., HFC-134a, replaced chlorofluorocarbons. The latter compounds have proven to be green house gases, causing global warming, and were regulated by the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. The emerging replacement materials, hydrofluoropropenes, were shown to be environmentally acceptable, i.e., they have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and acceptable low global warming potential (GWP).
Currently used blowing agents for thermoset foams include HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, HFC-365mfc, which have relatively high global warming potential, and hydrocarbons such as pentane isomers, which are flammable and have low energy efficiency. Therefore, new alternative blowing agents are being sought. Halogenated hydroolefinic materials such as hydrofluoropropenes and/or hydrochlorofluoropropenes have generated interest as replacements for HFCs. The inherent chemical instability of these materials in the lower atmosphere provides for a low global warming potential and zero or near zero ozone depletion properties desired.
It is convenient in many applications to provide the components for polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams in pre-blended formulations. Most typically, the foam formulation is pre-blended into two components. The polyisocyanate and optional isocyanate compatible raw materials comprise the first component, commonly referred to as the "A-" side component. A polyol or mixture of polyols, surfactant, catalyst, blowing agent, and other isocyanate reactive and non-reactive components comprise the second component, commonly referred to as the "B-" side component. Accordingly, polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are readily prepared by bringing together the A- and B-side components either by hand mix for small preparations and, preferably, machine mix techniques to form blocks, slabs, laminates, pour-in-place panels and other items, spray applied foams, froths, and the like.
Two-component systems, however, have been found to have reduced shelf-life of the B-side composition, especially those systems which use certain hydrohaloolefins such as HFO-1234ze and HCFO-1233zd. Normally when a foam is produced by bringing together the A and B side components, a good foam is obtained. However, if the polyol pre-mix composition is aged prior to treatment with the polyisocyanate, the foams are of lower quality and may even collapse during the formation of the foam. The poor foam structure is attributed to the reaction of certain catalysts with certain hydrohaloolefins, including HFO-1234ze and HCFO-1233zd, which results in the partial decomposition of the blowing agent and, subsequently, the undesirable modification of the polymeric silicone surfactants.
One way to overcome this problem, for example, is by separating the blowing agent, surfactant, and catalyst, and introducing them using a separate stream from the "A-" or "B-" side components. However, a preferred solution would not require such reformulation or process change. A more favorable method may be to utilize a catalyst that has a lower reactivity towards certain blowing agents. The commonly used catalysts for polyurethane chemistry can be classified into two broad categories: amine compounds and organometallic complexes. Amine catalysts are generally selected based on whether they drive: the gel catalysis (or polymerization) reaction, in which polyfunctional isocyanates react with polyols to form polyurethane, or the blow catalysis (or gas-producing) reaction, in which the isocyanate reacts with water to form polyurea and carbon dioxide. Amine catalysts can also drive the isocyanate trimerization reaction. Since some amine catalysts will drive all three reactions to some extent, they are often selected based on how much they favor one reaction over another.
For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0099274 utilizes sterically hindered amines that have low reactivity with hydrohaloolefins. However, sterically hindered amines are known to be gelling catalysts. Gelling catalysts are typically tertiary amines characterized in that they have higher selectivity for catalyzing the gelling or urethane reaction to the blowing or urea reaction. These catalysts are expected to perform poorly in systems containing high concentrations of water because of their inability to activate water towards isocyanate. Accordingly, these sterically hindered amines have good functionality as gelling catalysts, but perform poorly when employed as blow catalysts. Thus, in order to maintain the reactivity necessary in the blow catalysis reaction, the amount of sterically hindered catalyst used has to be increased. Additionally, since typically used amine catalysts are not chemically bonded to the polymer, the catalysts will eventually leave the polymer as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which may cause adverse health effects. Accordingly, the increased use of sterically hindered amines is not environmentally desirable. Thus, a method for stabilizing thermosetting foam blends, the resulting stable pre-mix blend formulations, and the environmentally-friendly polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams having good foam structure remain highly desirable.

Stability of polyurethane polyol blends containing halogenated olefin blowing agents


A method and article for increasing the opening/reading rate of mail and thus adding value to advertising by mail. A coupon value is embedded within a machine readable code of an information based indicia used as postage evidence on each piece of a mailing. The amount of the coupon and type of coupon can be determined by the customer creating the mailing. The information based indicia is digitally signed prior to printing, allowing a redeeming vendor to verify the authenticity of a coupon, preventing fraud and changing of data within the information based indicia. In addition, the customer originating the mailing may obtain marketing information such as mailing date, type of products purchased, after the coupon is redeemed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to adding value to mail pieces such as envelopes and postcards containing or bearing advertising material or retail information sent to retail customers. This invention particularly relates to embedding discount coupon values within evidence of U.S. postage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, many advertisers mail coupons or marketing materials contained within an envelope. Many recipients of these envelopes throw them away without ever opening the envelopes. Other retailers utilize postcards as coupons. However, even if a recipient does not throw away the postcard and instead redeems it, the issuer of the coupon has no way of tracking which recipient redeemed the coupon, how long after the coupon was mailed it was redeemed, or whether the coupon is genuine or counterfeit.
Thus, there is a need to provide a way for retailers to add value to envelopes to encourage recipients to open and/or keep the envelopes. In addition, there is a need to provide the retailers with a way to obtain information about the recipients who redeem the mailings.

Information based indicia discount coupon


The present invention relates to an imaging lens with an number in the range 4.0, configured from two lenses, with a short lens optical length, and with sufficiently high image contrast so that sharp images are obtained. The imaging lens is configured by positioning, order from an object side to an image side, an aperture diaphragm, diaphragm, and a second lens, satisfying the following first lens, a second conditions. The first lens and second lens are both meniscus-shaped with convex surface facing the positive refractive power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging lens, and in particular to an imaging lens suitable for mounting in a portable telephone, image input device for a personal computer, digital camera, surveillance CCD camera, inspection device, or similar equipment, which uses a CCD or CMOS device as an imaging component.
2. Description of Related Art
In the above-described imaging lens, it is necessary that the optical length, defined as the distance from the incidence plane on the object side of the imaging lens to the image plane (image-forming surface of the CCD or similar), be short. That is, in the design of the imaging lens, measures must be taken to reduce insofar as possible the ratio of the optical length to the combined focal length of the imaging lens. Hereafter, an imaging lens with a short optical length, that is, the ratio of the optical length to the focal length of which is small, may be called a "compact" lens.
Taking a portable telephone as an example, the optical length must at least be made shorter than the thickness of the portable telephone unit. On the other hand, it is preferable that the back focus, defined as the distance from the emission plane on the image side of the imaging lens to the image plane, be as long as possible. That is, in the design of the imaging lens, measures should be taken to increase insofar as possible the ratio of the back focus to the combined focal length of the imaging lens. This is due to the need to insert filters, cover glass, and other components between the imaging lens and the image plane.
In addition to the above, it is of course required that the various aberrations of an imaging lens are corrected to amounts sufficiently small that distortion of the image formed by this imaging lens is not recognized by visual perception, and sufficiently small as to satisfy the requirements of the integration density of the imaging components (also called "pixels"). That is, the various aberrations must be corrected satisfactorily; below, an image for which various aberrations are satisfactorily corrected may be called a "satisfactory image".
As stated below, imaging lenses with a two-component configuration have been disclosed which are appropriate for use in image equipment employing a CCD, CMOS device or other solid-state image pickup component, of which portable computers and videophones are representative. In addition to obtaining satisfactory images, such lenses are all designed for small size and light weight.
Of these, as a first lens, an infrared lens has been disclosed with a two-component configuration comprising two meniscus lenses (a first lens and a second lens), designed for low cost and for reduced weight, which is compact and has adequate image-forming performance for practical use. (See for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-75203.)
However, such an infrared lens has a broad interval D between the first lens and second lens, so that as a result the optical length is necessarily long, and design of a sufficiently compact lens system is difficult. The ratio D/f of the interval D between the first and second lenses to the focal length f of the entire system (the combined focal length of the two-component lens system) is at least 0.8. Consequently, the ratio of the optical length to the focal length of the entire system is large at approximately 1.5 (the value for the lens in Embodiment 6, with the smallest value, is 1.4236), so that the optical length of such lenses is long.
As a second two-component lens, an anamorphic attachment lens has been disclosed (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-81568), in which an image of the object is focused with different vertical and horizontal magnifications by one afocal lens comprising cylindrical surfaces both of which have refractive power only in the same direction and have radii of curvature with the same sign, and which can project images more slim or more thick than the actual object. Such an anamorphic attachment lens is positioned and used on the object side of a still camera lens system in particular.
However, while the anamorphic attachment lens is a lens system configured as a two-component lens, the surface shapes of the component lenses of the anamorphic attachment lens are not spherical, as in the case of ordinary lenses, but are cylindrical surfaces. Hence the basic configuration differs from that of the imaging lens of the present invention.
As a third two-component lens, an objective lens for recording and reproduction of information on optical information recording media a large operating distance for which is secured has been disclosed, in which a lens group having two components with positive refractive power has a large NA (numerical aperture) of 0.85, and which is appropriate for incorporation into optical pickup devices with light source wavelengths of 500 nm or below, with chromatic aberration corrected satisfactorily (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-167187). And, as fourth through sixth two-component lenses, objective lenses for high-performance, small-size optical pickups, having a large numerical aperture and long working distance, have been disclosed (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-5026, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-5027, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-5055).
However, these objective lenses are designed with a small NA, for the purpose of using the objective lens to focus parallel rays into as small an area as possible on the information recording surface; the imaging lenses of the present invention are inherently different in concept from these. Consequently the values of the focal lengths, back focuses, and optical lengths of each of the two lenses making up the lens system, and the interval between lenses, are different from the imaging lenses of the present invention. Whereas a numerical aperture of 0.85 or higher, converted into an F-number, yields a value of 1 or below, the F-number of an imaging lens of the present invention (Fno) is in the range 2.0<Fno<4.0, for a very bright lens.
As indexes representing the brightness of a lens (or lens system), in order to distinguish between the numerical aperture (NA) represented by the product n·sin(u) of the object-side refractive index n and the angle u subtended by the radius of the entrance pupil, and the F-number represented as the ratio f/Din of the lens focal length f to the diameter of the entrance pupil Din, in this specification a value representing the numerical aperture will be denoted by NA, and a value representing the F-number will be denoted by Fno. These two variables are, in approximation, reciprocals of each other.
As the seventh two-component lens, a bright, compact infrared lens is disclosed (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-295052), in which comparatively inexpensive material is used, costs are reduced, and the effects of unwanted orders of diffracted light, which are a disadvantage of diffraction gratings, are eliminated. Of the two component lenses of this infrared lens, a diffraction grating is formed on the concave surface of a meniscus lens positioned on the object side. Hence the components are completely different, and the lens system completely different, from an imaging lens of the present invention, which does not employ a diffraction grating as a component.
As the eighth two-component lens, an image-forming lens is disclosed comprising a front-group lens having positive refractive power, an aperture, and a rear-group lens, with Fno=4, a half-image angle of approximately 24°, with aberrations satisfactorily corrected, and appropriate for image pickup in fax equipment and similar (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-181379).
However, this image-forming lens system has a short back focus, so that insertion of a filter or similar between lenses and image plane to block infrared light is difficult. The ratio bf/f of the back focus bf to the focal length f of the entire system (the combined focal length of the two-component lens system) is at most 0.38 (Embodiment 5).
As the ninth through 11th two-component lenses, imaging lenses are disclosed comprising an image-forming lens (first lens) and corrective lens (second lens) (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-66094, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-66095, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-66096).
However, these imaging lenses have a configuration in which the thickness of the image-forming lens on the optical axis is large. Consequently the refractive index tends to be distributed unevenly when configuring the lens, and image distortion and similar occur due to such uneven distribution of the refractive index, so that in some cases the image quality which should result from lens design cannot be obtained.
As the 12th two-component lens, an imaging lens with comparatively small image dimensions, and which in particular enables performance appropriate to mounting in small-size image pickup equipment, is disclosed (see for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-4620). This imaging lens is configured by positioning, in order from the object side, an aperture diaphragm, a first lens, and a second lens. That is, a configuration is employed in which a diaphragm is not provided between the first and second lens. Consequently flare cannot be eliminated adequately, and consequently there are limits to the ability to raise the contrast of the image and obtain sharp images.
Further, the ratio d/f of the optical length d to the focal length f for the entire system (the combined focal length of the two-component lens system) exceeds 1.3, except for the imaging lens disclosed as Embodiment 9. That is, in this design the optical length is long, and compactness cannot be completely attained. On the other hand, the ratio d/f of the optical length d to the focal length f for the entire system of the imaging lens disclosed as Embodiment 9 is 1.137; but the ratio D2/f of the interval D2 between the first and second lenses to the focal length f of the entire system for this imaging lens is extremely small, at 0.11. Consequently in this configuration, a diaphragm could not easily be inserted as a second diaphragm between the first and second lenses.
However, in order to accommodate the more compact designs of portable telephone units, image input equipment for personal computers and other equipment, it is desirable that the optical length of the imaging lens mounted in such equipment be short, and in addition it is required that satisfactory images be captured.
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging lens, the F-number of which is in the range 2.0 to 4.0, configured with only two component lenses, with a short lens optical length, and capable of obtaining satisfactory images. In addition, a further object is to provide an imaging lens in which, by providing a diaphragm between the first lens and second lens to adequately eliminate flare, image contrast can be increased sufficiently that sharp images can be obtained.
A further object is to be provide an imaging lens which achieves low costs and light weight by using plastic material for all the lenses (two lenses) making up the imaging lens. Here, a "plastic material" is a polymer material which can be molded to form a lens by plastic deformation using heat or pressure, or both, and which is transparent to visible light.


A method for operating a field-effect transistor having a source terminal, a drain terminal, a gate terminal, a drift region and a dielectric region adjoining the drift region, is provided. The method includes: connecting at least one of the drain terminal and the source terminal to a load; applying a sequence of voltage pulses between the gate terminal and the source terminal to repetitively switch the field-effect transistor such that the field-effect transistor is driven in an avalanche mode between the voltage pulses, during the avalanche mode avalanche multiplication occurring in the drift region close to the dielectric region; and applying at least one relaxation pulse to the field-effect transistor to reduce an accumulation of charges in the dielectric region due to hot charge carriers generated in the avalanche mode. Further, a field-effect transistor and a circuit configuration including the field-effect transistor are provided.

Semiconductor transistors, in particular field-effect controlled switching devices such as a Junction Field-effect Transistor (JFET), a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-effect Transistor (MOSFET) and an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) have been used for various applications including but not limited to use as switches in power supplies and power converters, electric cars, air-conditioners, and even stereo systems.
Improvement of reliability and robustness of semiconductor devices is an ongoing aim in the development of semiconductor device and particularly power semiconductor devices. Hot charge carriers generated during an avalanche breakdown may result in shifting of device parameters. Repetitive avalanche breakdowns may even result in premature device failure. Therefore, the properties of the semiconductor device during an avalanche breakdown influence the reliability and are subject for further developments. Furthermore, repetitive avalanche breakdowns frequently occur in demanding applications such as driving an inductive load and can render a device useless.
Accordingly, there is a need to improve field-effect semiconductor transistors and operating field-effect semiconductor transistors, respectively.

Method for operating field-effect transistor, field-effect transistor and circuit configuration


This patent relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an insulating layer formed in a semiconductor substrate, trenches formed within the insulating layer, silicon layers formed within the trenches, gates formed on the silicon layers, and junctions formed in the silicon layers at both sides of the gates.

A semiconductor device may include a cell region and a peripheral region. A plurality of memory cells for storing data may be formed in the cell region. The peripheral region may include a plurality of transistors. In particular, a voltage applied to the transistors of the peripheral region may be higher than a voltage applied to the memory cells of the cell region. Thus, the transistors of the peripheral region may have an isolation characteristic greater than a well of the cell region. A transistor having a deep Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) and a wide well structure is provided. However, the deep STI and wide well structure make it difficult to form a photoresist pattern during a pattering process.
Generally, a semiconductor device having a Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) structure may be fabricated in a semiconductor substrate to improve the isolation characteristic of the device. The SOI substrate includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer, and a silicon layer formed on the insulating layer. The transistors formed on the SOI substrate may have an improved isolation characteristic, a latch-up free property, and a low junction capacity of a source/drain junction. In particular, a complete depletion type SOI transistor enables low power consumption and a high-speed operation, may be driven at a low voltage.
However, the silicon layer formed on the insulating layer may have micro defects, such as grain boundaries and micro twins, thus it is not suitable to form the transistors of a micro pattern such as memory cell.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


A machine (144) for crimping terminals onto conductors, is disclosed which automatically compensate for different conductor density and terminal sizes for maintaining a desired crimp height for each different combination of sizes. The machine (144) includes a compensating unit (146) that is interposed within the drive mechanism to automatically alter an otherwise fixed distance (162) in the drive mechanism. The compensating unit (146), when combined with the ram, includes a pair of opposed resilient beams (158, 160) that deflect when sufficient axial loading is applied to the ram during the crimping operation. This deflection results in the altering of the fixed distance (162) and, therefore, the altering of the shut height (164) of the machine (144).

Terminal crimping machines for attaching terminal to magnet wire in the manufacturing of coils for motors and other similar equipment typically have a crimp height adjustment mechanism that is infinitely adjustable. This is used to achieve a particular desired crimp height for each of the large variety of wire number and size combinations that are typical in the industry. For example, any number of different sizes of magnet wires may be terminated in a given terminal, some of these terminations requiring solid wire or stranded wire leads extending therefrom. The adjustments needed to provide the variety of different crimp heights are tedious to make and require the services of a highly skilled operator, and in some cases involving the calculation of the circular mill area (CMA) of the conductors being terminated. In a production environment, where different size conductors and different numbers of conductors are frequently terminated, such adjustments can result in the expenditure of a significant amount of time. These adjustments are usually held to a minimum by arbitrarily selecting ranges of terminal and conductor sizes that will be run for a given crimp height setting. This is, of course, a compromise in that only one particular combination of terminal and conductor in each range will have the correct crimp height setting. Further, in some applications it is often desirable to use the same size and type terminal for all terminations independent of the number and size of the conductors, thereby requiring a relatively large range of adjustment for the varying desired crimp height.
What is needed is a terminal crimping machine having the capability to automatically provide the correct crimp height for each different terminal and conductor combination, independent of variations in the physical size of the terminal or the density of the conductors positioned in the crimping barrel of the terminal.

Machine having crimp height compensation


A security label with a sheet material having a first major surface. An adhesive layer containing an identifier medium is coated on the first major surface. A barrier medium is selectively applied on an exposed surface of the adhesive layer for at least partially blocking diffusion of the identifier medium from the adhesive layer into a substrate. A release liner may be provided that extends substantially over the exposed surface of the adhesive layer. A method of preparing the security label includes applying a barrier medium in the form of an identifier pattern to a low energy surface material. The low energy surface material is laminated to a security label having an adhesive layer containing an identifier medium. When the low energy surface material is removed from the adhesive layer, the barrier medium substantially transfers to the adhesive layer to block diffusion of the identifier medium into a substrate.

Stolen and counterfeit replacement parts, particularly for automobiles, cost legitimate manufacturers billions of dollars in lost sales each year. Counterfeit and stolen articles can be extremely difficult to identify. The ability to track the ownership or verify the authenticity of an article throughout the distribution chain has become more important than ever.
Simple printed labels containing an identifier can be easily counterfeited. Manufacturing products with embossed or permanently formed identifiers can be extremely expensive.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,987,287 and 5,151,572 issued to Jack disclose use of a laser light beam to selectively cut or vaporize the adhesive and the label stock to form a stencil template containing an identifier. The adhesive contains an etchant or UV fluorescent dye. The etchant etches the substrate or the fluorescent dye diffuses into the substrate, leaving a negative fluorescent dye footprint of the identifier on a substrate. Using of a laser beam to cut a stencil, however, may weaken the label stock. Additionally, the required laser equipment may be cost prohibitive for some applications and is not particularly convenient for most users.
German Patent No. DE 38 13 303 discloses a self adhesive label and printing process in which an ink that contains a non-volatile thinner is printed onto carrier foil. The carrier foil containing the ink is adhered to the self adhesive label. The ink is absorbed from the carrier foil by the adhesive. When the self adhesive label is placed on a substrate, the non volatile thinner diffuses over time into the surface of the substrate, leaving traces in the substrate.

Security label with diffusing indentifier medium and method of making same

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A tempered hot water delivery system configured to prevent or reduce colonisation of Legionella bacteria in tempered water delivered from the system to one or more outlets in a facility. The system comprises: a thermostatic mixing valve comprising; a hot water inlet for connection to a supply of hot water at a temperature of at least 60° C., a cold water inlet for connection to a supply of cold water, a tempered water outlet for supplying tempered water obtained from mixing the supplied hot water and cold water to provide tempered water at a temperature of between 36° C. to about 53° C. to at least one tempered water outlet of a facility, a recirculating inlet for connection to a recirculating water line circuit; and a recirculating water line circuit comprising a circulating return line connected to a circulating return outlet from the facility and to a water inlet feed line for connection to an inlet of a water heater and storage tank for providing the supply of hot water, the recirculating water line circuit further comprising a thermostatic element configured to introduce hot water to the recirculating water line circuit to maintain the temperature of water in the recirculating water line circuit during periods of little or no draw-off.

Throughout Australia and countries worldwide there is a requirement for facilities, such as hospitals, medical clinics, aged care facilities, childcare facilities, and mental health facilities, to provide tempered hot water (sometimes referred to as "warm water") for the purpose of reducing the risk of scalding and burns attributed to high temperature hot water. The requirements are outlined in AS/NZ3500.
This requirement for tempered water (whilst reducing the likelihood of scalding) provides the ideal temperature for the colonisation of Legionella bacteria, the causative agent for Legionellosis or Legionnaires disease. When water containing Legionella is aerosolised through processes such as showering, there is a risk that it can be inhaled and Legionellosis can be the result.
The provision of safe and reliable hot, tempered and cold water obviously becomes paramount when addressing this requirement.
Existing systems available across the globe for the provision of tempered water are generally warm water systems (where delivered water is heated from ambient to circa 45° C.) or systems with multiple thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) which deliver tempered water to up to six sanitary fixtures (basins, showers and the like). More recent designs have tended toward 'point of contact' TMVs requiring one at each outlet. These systems have various shortcomings and inherent problems, either from inadequacies of current technology, overly complicated system designs, prohibitive system costs, difficult installation parameters or poorly managed maintenance procedures.
There is thus a need to provide a solution that can overcome most of, or all of these existing issues whilst providing safer delivery of tempered water and sanitised chilled water.

Hot, tempered, and cold water delivery systems