The invention offers a superconducting cable easy to form a twisted structure even when a plurality of cable cores are used and a DC transmission system incorporating the superconducting cable. A superconducting cable 1 has a structure formed by twisting together two types of cable cores (two first cores 2 and one second core 3) having different structures and then housing them in a heat-insulated pipe 7. The first cores 2 each have a first superconducting layer 2a, to be used either as an outward line or for the transmission for a pole in DC transmission, and have no superconducting layer other than the first superconducting layer 2a. The second core 3 has a second superconducting layer 3a, to be used as a return line or neutral line in DC transmission, and has no superconducting layer other than the second superconducting layer 3a. The second superconducting layer 3a has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first superconducting layer 2a.

As an AC superconducting cable, a three-core-twisted-type cable is commonly known that is formed by twisting three cable cores together. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a three-core-twisted-type cable for the three-phase AC use. A superconducting cable 100 has a structure in which three cable cores 102 are twisted together and housed in a heat-insulated pipe 101. The heat-insulated pipe 101 has a dual-pipe structure composed of an outer pipe 101a and an inner pipe 101b, between which a heat-insulating material (not shown) is placed. The space between the outer pipe 101a and the inner pipe 101b is evacuated in vacuum. An anticorrosion covering 104 is provided on the outer circumference of the heat-insulated pipe 101. Each of the cable cores 102 comprises, from the center in the following order, a former 200, a superconducting conductor layer 201, an insulating layer 202, a superconducting shielding layer 203, and a protecting layer 204. A space 103 enclosed by the inner pipe 101b and the cable cores 102 forms a channel for a coolant such as liquid nitrogen.
When AC transmission is performed by using the above-described superconducting cable, not only is AC loss caused due to the inductance but also current at the time of the short circuiting is large, so that the temperature may rise excessively due to the loss at that moment. In contrast to the AC transmission, DC transmission using a superconducting cable not only eliminates the AC loss but also decreases the short circuit current. As a DC superconducting cable, Patent literature 1 has proposed a superconducting cable formed by twisting together three cable cores, each having a superconducting conductor and an insulating layer. In this superconducting cable, each of the cores comprises a superconducting conductor, an insulating layer provided on the outer circumference of the conductor, and a return conductor that is composed of superconducting wires provided on the outer circumference of the insulating layer. Unipolar transmission is performed by using the superconducting conductors as the outward line and the return conductors as a return line.
Patent literature 1: the published Japanese patent application Tokukai 2003-249130.

Superconducting cable and DC transmission system incorporating the superconducting cable


Apparatus and a method for monitoring a percentage of the oxygen saturation in the hemoglobin of blood flowing through a blood vessel. An optical sensor that detects the percentage oxygen saturation in blood is disposed proximate a proximal end of the catheter. A thermistor is disposed adjacent to the distal end of the catheter and it is employed to detect changes in blood temperature that indicate the position of the catheter's distal end in the blood vessel. Indicia or marks visible at intervals on the outer surface of the catheter enable a medical practitioner to determine the length of the catheter that has been introduced into the blood vessel. A strain relief that is flexible and resists stretching extends along the length of the catheter. For flushing the distal end of the catheter, a fluid supply may be connected to a lumen running through the catheter to provide the flushing fluid. A removable guide wire is inserted in the lumen when positioning the distal end of the catheter at a location in the blood vessel and provides enhanced rigidity for this purpose. The catheter may be coated with an anticoagulant such as heparin, to prevent blood from coagulating on the exterior surface of the catheter.

Hemoglobin is a conjugated protein that is present in all red blood cells. Red blood cells have a concave, disc shape with an approximately 10 micrometer diameter, and they commonly exist in blood vessels at densities of about five million red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Also, it is well known that red blood cells both scatter and transmit light incident thereon in amounts that vary as a function of the oxygen content of the hemoglobin in the cells. The differential between absorption of light by oxygenated and non-oxygenated hemoglobin as light is transmitted through red blood cells provides a convenient basis for measuring the oxygen saturation level of the blood flowing in a blood vessel.
In the prior art, optical fiber sensors have been developed to detect and measure the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin present in the bloodstream in relation to all of the hemoglobin present in the red blood flowing through a blood vessel. The oxygen saturation level measurement is performed by utilizing an intravascular catheter that includes transmitting and receiving optical fibers for respectively conducting light to and returning light from an in vivo measurement site. The distal end of the transmitting optical fiber is commonly oriented in a co-planar relationship with the distal end of the receiving optical fiber, at the distal end of the catheter.
Light is both absorbed and back scattered by the red blood cells in the vicinity of the in vivo measurement site, with the amount of absorption varying as a function of the oxygen content of the red blood cell hemoglobin. A portion of the back scattered light enters the receiving optical fiber and is directed to an external photodetector that measures the intensity of the back scattered light. Due to the variation in radiation absorption caused by changes in the oxygen saturation of the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, the total amount of back-scattered radiant energy at the photodetector varies as a function of this oxygen saturation. For a complete description of the use of such an optical fiber sensor in an application for measurement of oxygen saturation in red blood cells, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,248 (Sperinde et al.), which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
One prospective application of an optical fiber sensor of the type described above would be to measure the continuous jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjvO2) of the blood flowing from the brain. If a cerebral (head) injury has reduced the amount of blood flowing into the skull, the brain compensates for the reduced blood flow by absorbing a greater amount of oxygen (reducing the percentage of oxygen saturation) from the available blood. Thus, the measurement of SjvO2 provides an excellent indicator of cerebral hypoxia/ischemia (reduced blood flow to the head), because it is directly linked to the amount of oxygen consumed by the brain from the available flow of blood into the skull.
In the prior art, a relatively small diameter catheter with an optical fiber sensor has been employed in attempts to measure the SjvO2 of blood exiting the head of a patient. Typically, a SjvO2 monitor is coupled to the proximal ends of a pair of optical fibers that extend longitudinally along the length of the catheter. In this prior art system, the distal ends of the optical fibers are disposed along the periphery and at the distal end of the catheter, which is adapted for disposition at a desired point in a blood vessel (vein). However, the accuracy with which SjvO2 has been measured with the prior art sensor has been disappointing. The accuracy of the sensor was found to be inconsistent, since it would at times yield measurements with unacceptable error. It was not clear what the source of the inconsistency and error could be, since the same sensor and catheter was found to provide acceptable results when used to monitor oxygen content in blood flowing through the heart. A discovery of the cause of this problem has led to the present invention.
To partially compensate for the problem, users have employed in vivo calibration of SjvO2 optical fiber sensors. Generally, the calibration is performed as follows: (1) the medical practitioner draws a blood sample through a lumen of a catheter disposed in a blood vessel; (2) a laboratory immediately measures the SjvO2 of the blood sample; (3) the medical practitioner determines the difference or offset between the laboratory's measured SjvO2 value and the SjvO2 value indicated by the optical fiber sensor; and (4) the medical practitioner compensates (increases or decreases) the SjvO2 value indicated by the optical fiber sensor with the offset determined by the calibration. However, since this compensated measurement of SjvO2 is not exact and the accuracy of the prior art SjvO2 sensor has been found to vary over time, frequent laboratory tests must be performed to verify the true SjvO2 value. Additionally, since in vivo calibration is only accurate for a specific location, the calibration must be repeated every time the disposition of the catheter is changed.
Therefore, there is a need for a catheter mounted O2 sensor to solve the problem of providing continuous and accurate percentages of the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin for blood flowing through a small diameter blood vessel, such as the jugular vein. The prior art approach of frequently calibrating such a sensor in vivo clearly does not satisfy this need.


A method for drawing graphics is carried out in a graphics processing and display system. The system has a display unit, a host for generating graphics data defining graphics images to be displayed on the display, a graphics controller for receiving information from the host and controlling graphics to be displayed, a frame buffer memory for storing graphics data, an index register for receiving an index value from the host and a coordinate register for storing a coordinate value which is obtained by the graphics controller. With the method, when a line graphics is draw, only information regarding two coordinates are used in the graphics controller by incrementing the index value by an increase which is specified according to the selected object-type. When a triangle graphics is drawn, only information regarding three coordinates are used in the graphics controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for drawing graphics at high speed in a graphic controller which is used in a multimedia data processing and display system.
The present application is based on Korean Patent Application No. 96-45151 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, graphic controllers having graphics accelerators are capable of drawing a variety of graphics, such as point, line, triangle, rectangle and quadrilateral, which can be implemented in hardware. Each of such graphics requires at most four coordinates which can be represented by four points on screen.
Also, so as to draw each graphics on screen, four write commands and data corresponding thereto must be provided from a host to a graphic controller. This is because each coordinate so designated requires the execution of a write command of data to the controller to draw the graphics on screen.
When drawing graphics on screen, the graphic controller receives four coordinates from the host, but it uses only one coordinate thereof in case of a point, only two coordinates thereof in the case of a line or a rectangle, and only three coordinates in the case of a triangle. Since the graphic controller must then execute command cycles which are caused by unnecessary coordinates, the graphics processing speed is not optimized.
Accordingly, there rises an undesired problem that performance of the graphic controller becomes relatively low.

Method and apparatus for drawing graphics in a graphics controller of a multimedia data processing and display system


A dishwasher includes a washing container and an upper basket located in an upper region of the washing container for accommodating items to be washed. The upper basket has a floor wall and a side wall that circumferentially bounds the floor wall and projects upward. The upper basket has a static first partial region and a second partial region that is translationally displaceable between at least two positions relative to the first partial region and in parallel relation to the floor wall. The second partial region contains a section of the floor wall and exposes an opening in the floor wall in at least one of the two positions.

The invention relates to a dishwasher having an adjustable upper basket.
A dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, has a washing container which is as a rule cuboidal and has on its front side a door opening that can be closed by means of a front door. Position indicators such as "above", "below", or "at the front" refer to the operating position of the dishwasher when installed ready for operation. Located in the washing container's upper region is an upper basket and in its lower region as a rule a lower basket. Items to be washed, for example pots and pans, items of crockery, and cutlery, are put into the lower and upper basket. The maximum vertical clearance available for crockery in the lower basket is limited in terms of available height by the upper basket or, as the case may be, the floor wall on its base. A customary maximum size for a plate that can be placed vertically in a dishwasher is today about 33-35 cm. Problems arise when items that are taller or, as the case may be, larger, such as for, instance, baking trays, deep pots and pans, or oversized plates such as pizza or serving plates are to be washed. It is known how to lay such items flat across the lower basket. Space for other items requiring to be washed will then be wasted. It is alternatively known how to use a baking-tray spray known from, for example, DE 297 12 895 U1. It is alternatively known how to remove the upper basket in its entirety from the washing container, with said basket's then no longer being available for loading with additional items to be washed.
Known from DE 200 19 480 U1 is a dishwasher which instead of an upper basket has in the washing container's upper region for example two racks that can be folded against the washing container's wall. It is here possible, for example, to fold one rack down to provide a kind of upper basket on which items to be washed can be placed. The other rack can be folded up. The freed-up space in the washing container's upper region will then be available for particularly large items requiring to be washed which can be placed in the corresponding region of the lower basket.
Alternatively an upper basket for a dishwasher is known from US 2010/0314977 A1. A portion of the floor wall can be swiveled along with a portion of the side wall to create a gap in a partial region of the upper basket. Large items requiring to be washed that are located in the lower basket can then again project into the freed-up gap from below. The remainder of the upper basket will be available for the use of items requiring to be washed.
The aim of the present invention is to allow oversized items of crockery and/or household or, as the case may be, cooking utensils to be washed in a dishwasher simultaneously with the customary amount of daily crockery without having to accept a major limitation in the upper and lower basket's overall functionality.

Dishwasher having an adjustable upper basket


A composite ball is formed with wound filament in a winding machine by winding the filament on a core, which can be permanent and form part of the finished ball. Alternatively, the core can be temporary. When winding is completed, the wound body is removed from the winding machine, an exterior of the wound body is finished, and the wound body is cured. When the core is permanent, at least a portion of the core is removed from the winding machine along with the wound body so any excess of the permanent core can be removed. The temporary core, however, is removed from the wound body, and the void is filled with filler material.

Balls are used in wellbores for a number of purposes. For example, balls may be deployed to operate various downhole tools, such as packers, cross-over tools, valves, etc. In a particular example, different-sized balls 10 as shown in FIG. 1 may be deployed to open sliding sleeves on a tubing string to perform treatment operations at various zones of the wellbore.
The balls 10 can be composed of a number of suitable materials 16 and may be subjected to various types of conditions (pressures, temperatures, fluid compositions, etc.). Aluminum balls are used in some applications, while composite balls are used in others. Some balls may even be composed of dissolvable materials so that the balls degrade in the wellbore environment overtime when exposed to temperatures, fluids, or other conditions.
In plug and perforation operations, a ball 10 is deployed downhole to close the fluid passage in a bridge plug so fracture treatment can be applied through perforations in casing. This can be repeated multiple times up the borehole as perforations are made in the casing and lower zones are sealed off by bridge plugs. Once operations are complete, all of the bridge plugs and balls 10 in the casing are milled out.
In a facture operation, balls 10 having successively increasing sizes are deployed downhole to actuate sliding sleeves on a tubing string. Thus, a smaller ball 12 is deployed downhole to open a sliding sleeve and close off fluid communication further downhole on the tubing string before a lager ball 14 is deployed to open another sliding sleeve further uphole. The configuration of ball sizes and seats ensures that a deployed ball 10 having a particular diameter engages a particular seat configured in one of the sliding sleeves so pressure applied behind the seated ball can open the sleeve.
With a ball 10 seated in the open sleeve, increased tubing pressure and treatment fluid are diverted out of the open sleeve to treat the surrounding zone in the wellbore. Once operations are complete, the multiple balls 10 in the sliding sleeves can be floated to the surface, and any balls 10 remaining downhole may be milled out.
As can be seen in both of the above examples, the balls 10 used downhole in some applications are preferably composed of a millable material, such as a composite material, which can be ground to pieces during milling operations. Yet, to operate properly, the composite balls need to withstand high fracture pressures and need to maintain their shape engaging the seats under such pressures. If the ball deforms or fails, then the fluid seal it provides with the seat will be compromised and make the fracture treatment ineffective.
As the industry progresses, higher pressures are being used downhole, and more and more treatment zones are being used downhole in a given wellbore. Existing composite fracturing ball technology is approaching a pressure and temperature limitation beyond which composite balls become less effective. Conventional manufacturing methods mold each ball from the desired material 16 or machine each ball to the appropriate form from a blank of the desired material 16. Both of these methods have limitations as to what strength the balls 10 can achieve.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.


A method of performing an automatic focusing procedure is used with a digital image capturing device. The method includes the steps of: executing an image capturing procedure; activating a pre-control signal by a processor; activating a control signal by a timing generator; executing an automatic focusing procedure; clearing the pre-control signal and the control signal immediately after the automatic focusing procedure is executed; and executing an exposure procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic focusing procedure and, more particularly, to a fast automatic focusing procedure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In today's technology, digital image capturing devices are extremely popular devices, and users are demanding increasingly better performance from digital image capturing devices. In general, when the user uses the digital image capturing device to take a picture, an automatic focusing procedure is typically first performed. However, in the prior art technology, the automatic focusing procedure requires a predetermined time period for the focusing motor in the digital image capturing device to operate before taking the picture. The digital image capturing device must store the predetermined operational time parameter of the focusing motor in advance, and this recorded operational time parameter is a fixed value that cannot be changed. Additionally, a buffer period may be added to the predetermined time period to account for delays caused by the mechanism or software. As a result, the entire operating time of the digital image capturing device may be relatively long, and the recorded operations-related data occupies memory.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method for performing automatic focusing and a related digital image capturing device to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Method of performing automatic focus and a related digital image capturing device


An exercise dumbbell includes a handle member and weight plates maintained in spaced relationship at opposite ends thereof. Knobs on the handle member have contoured bearing surfaces that bear against respective selector members to alternatively hold the selector members in weight engaging positions and disengaged positions.

Past efforts have led to various inventions directed toward adjustable weight exercise devices. Some examples of such efforts in the field of free weights are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,785 to Speyer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,198 to Hettick, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,034 to Shields; U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,463 to Shields; U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,064 to Olson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,762 to Towley, III et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,350 to Krull; U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,442 to Krull; U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,481 to Krull; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,097 to Krull. Despite these advances in the field of weight lifting equipment, room for continued improvement remains with respect to selecting different combinations of weight for exercise purposes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An LED lighting circuit where the configuration of the connection of two or more LEDs are changed from parallel to series through the use of solid state switches depending on whether the voltage level from an AC source measured by a voltage detector exceeds the sum of the forward voltages of the LEDs. Also, a method of activating LEDs in an LED array lighting apparatus involving applying a rectified alternating current to two or more LEDs, each LED having a forward bias voltage; comparing the rectified alternating current to the sum of the forward bias voltages of the two or more LEDs; and changing the circuit configuration of the two or more LEDs between a parallel connection and a series connection with respect to the rectified alternating current depending on whether the rectified alternating current exceeds the sum of the forward bias voltages of the two or more LEDs.

Typically, for alternating current ("AC") powered lights, the use of LEDs requires a current limiting device to regulate the current through the LEDs and maintain a constant light output. FIG. 1 is a schematic of a conventional AC LED circuit. The LEDs can be driven directly by the AC power source, for example, a 90 VAC to 135 VAC or 207 VAC to 253 VAC source. In this example, LED strings D1 and D2 are connected in parallel with reverse connections so that only one of the LEDs is biased on during each half cycle. Although schematically only one LED is shown, it is known that the LEDs may he a string or array of LEDs.
The operation of the circuit of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. Source voltage 202 is a sinusoidal wave form having a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle. During the positive half cycle, LED string D2 is reverse biased and when source voltage 202 exceeds the forward voltage of LED string D1, LED string D1 conducts and emits light during the time shows in area 204. During the negative half cycle of scarce voltage 202, LED string D1 is reverse biased and when source voltage 202 exceeds the forward voltage of LED String D2, LED string D2 conducts and emits light during the time shown in area 206. In this example, the forward voltages of LED strings D1 and D2 are equal and resistors R1 and R2 limit the current through the LED strings D1 and D2 linearly. However, the sinusoidal AC line voltage turns off the LED strings at a rate of double the line frequency. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the LED string on-time is about 40%.
FIG. 3 shows the schematic of an LED string powered by a rectified AC voltage with a linear current source regulating the LED current. AC power source 302 provides a sinusoidal input to bridge rectifier 304. The rectified voltage is then applied to power current source 306 and to forward bias LED string 308. LED string 308 is forward biased only when the output of bridge rectifier 304 exceeds the sum of the forward voltages of LED string 308. FIG. 4 shows a graphical depiction of rectified voltage 402 and the on time for LED string 308 shown by the high signals of curve 404. Similar to the circuit of FIG. 1, this circuit turns off the LED string at a rate of double the line frequency. The LED string on-time is about 40 to 50%.
To retain the simple design of linear mode power supplies for LED arrays while improving the efficiency and reducing light off-time, manufacturers have come up with the idea of powering only part of the LED string when the source voltage is not high enough to turn on the whole LED string. FIG. 5 shows an example of a linear LED driver to drive three LED strings. AC power 502 applies AC power, which is rectified by bridge rectifier circuit 504. Integrated circuit 506, in this example the commercially available integrated circuit AIC6600, contains a voltage detector that is used to control the turning on and turning off of the LED strings based on the detected voltage level of input voltage. At lower input voltage levels, integrated circuit 506 activates main LED string 508 and does not activate LED strings 510 and 512. At higher voltage levels, integrated circuit 506 turns on main LED string 508 and LED strings 510 and 512. This is shown in the graph of FIG. 6 which shows rectified voltage 602 compared with the on-time for the LED strings. During the initial rise in rectified voltage 602, when the voltage level does not exceed the forward voltage of main LED string 508, none of the LED strings are active as indicated by segment 604. When rectified voltage 602 exceeds the forward voltage of main LED string 508, main LED string 508 is powered as indicated by segment 606, with LED strings 510 and 512 being off. When rectified voltage 602 exceeds a second threshold level, main string 508 and LED string 510 are active as indicated by segment 608. When rectified voltage 602 exceeds a third threshold level, main LED string 508, LED string 510 and USD string 512 are active as indicated by segment 610. The number of LEDs in the LED strings is dependent on the voltage level of the AC power source. It can be seen that the LED on-time is increased to 85% with the circuit in FIG. 5. However the usage of LED strings is not even, LED Main String 508 is turned on more often than LED strings 510 and 512, which may cause a difference in the lifetimes of the LED strings.
Therefore, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

AC LED array configuration switching circuit triggered by source voltage level


An improved spa vacuum for removing debris from the bottom of a spa or hot tub includes a removable lower assembly which includes a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a filter housing having three stacked filter elements. The spa vacuum also has a removable nozzle having rounded side edges. A compression fitting connects a telescoping pole to an upper chamber cap of a debris chamber. The telescoping pole may be removed from the debris chamber if damaged or for purposes of packaging and shipping.

Spas which typically reside below ground, and hot tubs which typically reside above ground, are popular recreational feature in many homes. These devices include a system for filtering and heating the water. However, unlike their swimming pool counter part, spas and hot tubs are usually not equipped with a bottom cleaning system such as a manual or automatic vacuum. As such, over time debris can collect at the bottom of the spa or hot tub. Since the spa and hot tub do not have a vacuum system, the removal of such debris can be both troublesome and time consuming. Small, portable vacuums have been developed to solve this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,980 discloses a device for selectively cleaning debris from the bottom of a liquid pool. The device has a chamber having a water intake tube having an inlet end and extends through the lower end of the chamber and terminates in an outlet end which has a one-way valve mounted thereon. The lower end of the chamber has an opening for dumping water from the chamber. A valve is provided for blocking the opening by the water pressure of the pool and a filtering means is provided for filtering debris from the water before being dumped through the opening. An ambient air intake tube is connected to the upper end of the chamber and has an opening whereby ambient air can be trapped in the chamber by the operator.


In a high frequency flip chip package process of a polymer substrate and a structure thereof, the structure is a one-layer structure packaged by a high frequency flip chip package process to overcome the shortcomings of a conventional two-layer structure packaged by the high frequency flip chip package process. The conventional structure not only incurs additional insertion loss and return loss in its high frequency characteristic, but also brings out a reliability issue. Thus, the manufacturing process of a ceramic substrate in the conventional structure still has the disadvantages of a poor yield rate and a high cost.

As the semiconductor industry advances rapidly, present electronic products tend to be designed with a small size, a light weight and a variety of functions, and package processes tend to be developed with a larger number of inputs/outputs and a smaller interval, so as to provide electronic components with a more stable signal transmission channel and a better heat dissipating path, while protecting the internal electronic components from being affected by external environments. Regardless of traditional electronic products, light emitting diodes (LEDs), mobile phones or other high-frequency wireless communication products, a package process plays an important role.
At present, the package process traditionally used in the semiconductor industry is a wire bonding process. As an operating frequency becomes increasingly higher, a lager parasitic effect results, and thus the wire bonding package has faced its bottleneck, and the two-layer high frequency flip chip package process is considered as a package process with the most potential.
With reference to FIG. 1 for a structure of the so-called two-layer high frequency flip package, a bump 24 is provided for connecting a chip 25 with a ceramic substrate 23 (which is the first-layer package), and then a ball grid array (BGA) 22 is used for connecting the ceramic substrate 23 with a polymer substrate 21 (which is the second-layer package), so as to complete a two-layer high frequency flip package structure 2.
However, the conventional two-layer high frequency flip chip package process and its structure 2 have the following drawbacks:
1. The conventional two-layer high frequency flip chip package process goes through two-layer package, and the high-frequency characteristics of the manufactured high frequency flip chip package structure 2 bring out additional insertion loss and return loss.
2. The conventional high frequency flip chip package process uses the two-layer package, and thus the package incurs a high cost and a complicated manufacturing process.
3. Since the polymer substrate 21 of the high frequency flip package structure 2 comes with a larger coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), therefore there is a reliability issue.
4. The manufacturing process of the ceramic substrate 23 in the high frequency flip package structure 2 still has the issues of a low yield rate and a high cost.
In summation of the aforementioned drawbacks, the conventional two-layer high frequency flip chip package process still has many issues that require further improvements.

High frequency flip chip package process of polymer substrate and structure thereof


A press roll apparatus temporarily or finally bonds two glass sheets with an adhesive intermediate film sandwiched therebetween to manufacture a laminated glass. The press roll apparatus has a plurality of drive roll units each having a pair of upper and lower presser rolls operatively coupled to a drive source and rotatable thereby for pressing the glass sheets therebetween, and a plurality of free roll units each having a pair of upper and lower presser rolls freely rotatable for pressing the glass sheets therebetween. The drive roll units and the free roll units are housed in a frame and vertically positionally adjustably supported by the frame, the frame having a pair of horizontal shafts projecting outwardly. The frame is supported on a support frame by the horizontal shafts for angular movement about the horizontal shafts, the support frame having a pair of horizontally spaced vertical support columns. A pair of vertically movable members is vertically movably supported by the support columns, respectively. The horizontal shafts are tiltably supported by the vertically movable members for angular movement within a vertical plane containing axes of the horizontal shafts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a press roll apparatus for pressing two glass sheets toward each other with an intermediate film sandwiched as an adhesive layer therebetween, so that the glass sheets can be temporarily bonded to each other by the intermediary film.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Laminated glass for use as automobile front windshields is manufactured by a press roll apparatus which presses two glass sheets toward each other with an intermediate film as of polyvinyl butyral sandwiched therebetween, thus temporarily bonding the two glass sheets After the two glass sheets are temporarily bonded to each other, they are finally bonded in an autoclave.
One known press roll apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,713 (corresponding to Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 63-65624).
The disclosed press roll apparatus has a plurality of drive and free roll units that can independently move vertically, but fail to swing as a whole in directions perpendicular to the direction in which two glass sheets are inserted.
The free roll units have presser rolls which are swingable in directions normal to the direction in which two glass sheets are fed, so that the presser rolls can follow the shape of the glass sheets. The drive roll units also have presser rolls that are not swingable because of gears used to transmit drive power to the presser rolls Therefore, it has been difficult for the prior press roll apparatus to bond glass sheets of complex shape to each other.
The drive power is transmitted to only one of the presser rolls of each of the drive roll units to prevent undue forces from being imposed on the glass sheets as they are fed through the drive roll units However, the presser rolls of the drive roll units tend to slip against the glass sheets.

Press roll apparatus for manufacturing laminated glass


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media deliver a variety of personalized information to a member of an association. In embodiments, information intended for delivery to a member, with or without request by the member, may be delivered via a television transmission, a telematic transmission to a vehicle, or a read-only memory. A password or biometric may be used to authenticate the intended viewer of the delivered information prior to displaying it.

Currently, organizations, associations, and institutions of all types send information to their members in a variety of ways. In general, most such information is sent by U.S. Postal Service mailings. This may be somewhat reliable, but it is relatively slow, requiring several days in transit, and it requires the use of vehicles, thus contributing to fuel consumption, increased traffic, and ultimately, global warming.
In addition, much information sent by organizations is of a very general nature, so it is not tailored to the member and is often discarded by the member before reading it.
Moreover, information requested by an individual from an organization is sometimes confidential, but it is often delivered in a non-confidential way, such as by telephone, email, and regular mail.
Thus, systems and methods are needed that address the shortcomings of the prior art.

Systems and methods to deliver information to a member


A pre-injection sample sequencing subsystem for laboratory apparatus which includes a chromatograph with a column includes a circular tray with a plurality of concentric arrays of physical locations for storing sample vials in radially extending linear arrays, and a plurality of virtual locations that are extensions of the linear arrays. Each of the physical and virtual locations are individually addressable by a controller for a robot on the tray such that pre-injection sample processing modules may be attached to the tray, located at one or more of the virtual locations. A sequencing method optimizes transfer of samples contained in the vials between their respective physical storage location and the pre-injection processing modules.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of analytical instrumentation and methods which are useful in chemistry (e.g., spectroscopy and chromatography), and more particularly to laboratory systems as well as subsystems and methods for use with such laboratory systems, including methods for sequencing a plurality of samples through gas or liquid chromatographs, mass spectrometers and the like.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
In the field of chromatography, there are several known systems, subsystems and methods which have been utilized to optimize laboratory analysis of samples with a gas or liquid chromatograph, "PyTechnology.TM." systems, manufactured by Zymark Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass., are illustrative of such systems, subsystems and methods.
As is known, "PyTechnology.TM." systems incorporate a core system which includes a Zymate II laboratory robot (and controller) that is attached to a central locating plate, around which all other "PySections" are located. The central locating plate is divided into forty-eight sectors, and the hardware for each "PySection" (e.g., a dispenser or a centrifuge) is mounted on a wedge-shaped platform which occupies one or more of the forty-eight sectors.
Illustrative references which describe the robot used in "PyTechnology.TM." systems are: U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,241; U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,044; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,684; each of which was invented by Hutchins et al., is assigned to Zymark Corporation, and is incorporated herein by reference.
A user of such "PyTechnology.TM." systems "teaches" or programs the controller of the desired position for each "PySection", and such positions are automatically stored in the controller as additional "PySections" are added. Once a "PySection" has been put into place, the robot is able to automatically access all working positions on that "PySection" without any additional teaching or programming by the user.
Illustrative references which describe the robot controller used in "PyTechnology.TM." systems are: U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,764; U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,151; U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,755; and, U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,494; each of which (with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,764 by Hutchins et al.) was invented by Buote, is assigned to Zymark Corporation, and is incorporated herein by reference.
While many prior art laboratory systems, such as the aforedescribed "PyTechnology.TM." system of Zymark Corporation, are capable of integration with a gas or liquid chromatographs, they are nevertheless deficient in several aspects. For example, Zymark's "GC Inject PySection" operates with an HP7673A automatic injector, HP5890A gas chromatograph, and HP3392A integrator, each of which is manufactured by Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif., but lacks the compactness of size which is necessary to ensure quick transfers of samples.
Zymark's "LC Inject PySection" also provides direct injection of prepared samples into an HPLC (i.e., high-performance liquid chromatograph), but it requires that the HPLC be located near the Zymark system which is not within reach of the robot. Furthermore, like many other prior art laboratory systems, the "PyTechnology.TM." system utilizes a robot which suffers from the disadvantage of having to be taught.

Pre-injection chromatographic sample sequencer


An information processing apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit controls transmission of an inducement frame for causing another communication device to transmit a transmission suppression period reduction frame for reducing a transmission suppression period. In addition, the control unit controls transmission of the transmission suppression period reduction frame on the basis of the inducement frame in a case where the control unit receives the inducement frame. Transmission suppression periods set in other information processing apparatuses are equally reduced to eliminate inequality in using wireless resources.

In the past, in a system has been used in an information processing apparatus that uses wireless communication to exchange information (frames), a transmission suppression period for avoiding a collision is set in the communication of the frames between a plurality of information processing apparatuses. For example, an information processing apparatus has been proposed, the information processing apparatus configured to multiplex a plurality of frames by adding opposite direction permission information for permitting frame communication in the opposite direction to each of the plurality of frames and configured to transmit and receive data to and from an information processing apparatus that has received the frame (for example, see PTL 1). In the related art, when the frame provided with the opposite direction permission information is transmitted, the transmission suppression period is set for another information processing apparatus not involved in the transmission and reception of data.

Information processing apparatus, communication system, information processing method, and program


Bus logic couples plural master logic units with plural slave logic units to enable data transfers. Each master unit performs an address transfer which, when received by a specified slave unit, causes a data transfer between that master unit and said specified slave unit. Each slave unit must complete a data transfer prior to performing any further data transfers. A slave unit performs data transfers in an order which differs from that in which associated address transfers were received by that slave unit. In response to an adress transfer, the bus logic couples a master unit with a slave unit to enable a data transfer. The bus logic determines whether propagation of an address transfer may cause a deadlock situation where data transfers can not take place between affected master and slave units and, if so, to prevent propagating that address transfer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for avoiding bus deadlock and, in particular, to bus logic, an apparatus and a method for preventing bus deadlock situations occurring.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The problem of bus deadlock is known. A bus deadlock will typically occur when the configuration of the bus prevents logic units coupled thereto from performing or completing data transfers. When the deadlock occurs it is often very difficult to restore the bus to a normal operating state. Therefore, when deadlock occurs it is generally required that the configuration of the bus is reset, which will also typically impact on the configuration and operation of logic units coupled thereto. Hence, these logic units may also need to be reset to enable the required data transfers to be performed or completed. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that bus deadlock can have a devastating impact on the performance of a data processing apparatus.
A known bus arrangement which can exhibit deadlock is shown in FIG. 1. In this arrangement there are two master logic units (master 1 and master 2) which can initiate data transfers with either of two slave logic units (slave A and slave B). Bus interconnect 10 comprises a number of multiplexers 50, 80 and demultiplexers 70, 60. The multiplexers 50, 80 are controlled by an associated FIFO 55, 85 which ensures that read data is returned to the master in the same order as the read addresses were issued. The demultiplexers 70, 60 are controlled by an associated decoder 65, 75 which selects the correct destination based on an identifier which accompanies the read data.
In many situations, this arrangement satisfactory enables data transfers to be performed between the masters and slaves, as required. However, a situation can occur when the bus interconnect 10 is configured such that a deadlock occurs. Such a deadlock manifests when no data transfers can occur because each data transfer is dependent on another, and none of those data transfers can complete.
To illustrate a simple deadlock consider the following sequence of data transfers: firstly, master 1 sends a read address to slave A, indicating that it requires read data; then master 1 sends a read address to slave B. The interconnect must ensure that the data is returned to the master in the correct order, from slave A then slave B. Before any data is transmitted, master 2 sends a read address to slave B, then one to slave A. Once again, the interconnect must ensure that the read data is returned in the address order, slave B then slave A. At this point, the interconnect has the state indicated in FIG. 1 with FIFOs 55 and 85 driving the read data multiplexors 50 and 80 to select the correct slave for that master.
Whilst it would be appreciated that in the normal course of events the bus interconnect 10 will enable the data transfers to occur in the required sequence, a problem exists in that it is often the case that at least one of the slaves is operable to reorder the sequence in which data is to be returned. This reordering of the returned data can occur for many different reasons. For example, if the slave is processing multiple data requests and an earlier data request is to a slow memory whilst a later request is to a faster memory, then it may be that the slave is able to provide the data for the later request prior to the early request. Such reordering of data can result in a deadlock occurring.
To illustrate how this can result in a deadlock, consider for example that slave A is able to reorder read data and provides the data requested by master 2 before the data requested by master 1. However, multiplexer 80 is currently configured to receive data from Slave B, which is trying to send data to Master 1, which in turn needs data from Slave A. Accordingly, none of the data transfers can occur and the bus interconnect 10 is said to be in a deadlock state. As mentioned above, one known technique to overcome this problem is to reset the configuration of the bus interconnect 10. However, it will be appreciated that even for this simple arrangement, resetting the bus interconnect 10 is a significant task since many data transfers may be queued and it may not be clear which event caused the deadlock to occur. Hence, such deadlock situations are normally resolved by way of a hard reset of the bus interconnect 10, and of the associated masters and slaves. It will appreciated that such resetting is undesirable since it can significantly impact on the performance of the overall system and may be potentially disastrous in any safety critical applications.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved technique for performing data transfers over a bus which prevents bus deadlock situations occurring.


A cap intended to be mounted on a container includes a base, a lid with a stopper, structure articulating the lid with respect to the base, with a hinge, a structure for locking the lid on the base, and structure for unlocking the locking structure.

The present invention relates to the capping of a container, particularly of the one-use or disposable type, the internal volume of which may contain contents or a filling, particularly a filling capable of flowing, for example liquid, fluid or pasty contents.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a cap intended to be mounted on a container as previously defined, particularly in a sealed manner with respect to the contents of the container.
The invention also relates to a container comprising or incorporating such a cap, empty or full, that is to say in the latter case filled with or containing contents as defined previously.
The present invention relates most specifically to caps allowing concomitantly, both the grasping of the container with which it is associated, using one hand, and the complete opening of the cap, using a digit of the same hand, for example the thumb, specifically to gain direct access for the user's mouth to the neck of the container.

Container cap with locking/unlocking mechanism that propels lid to open position

Abstract: The lid is arranged to resist any relative movement between the lid and the base and to store mechanical energy by plastic deformation of at least one of the lid and the base and the unlocking structure is arranged in the form of a detent allowing the stored mechanical energy to be released in order to propel the lid to the open position.


A split ring for use in assembling a bearing retainer onto a roll. The split ring helps keep a mounting jack in compression with the bearing retainer as the mounting jack compresses the bearing retainer onto the roll. In some embodiments, the split ring includes a plurality of apertures that are each configured to receive a drive mechanism that helps collapse the mounting jack to allow for removal of the split ring and the mounting jack once the bearing retainer is assembled onto the roll.

Rolling is a metal forming process in which stock sheets or strips are passed through at least one pair of rolls. Some rolling mills include backup rolls that provide rigid support to the work rolls and therefore allow the diameter of the work rolls to be reduced. Each roll includes one or more bearings to reduce friction as the roll rotates. The bearings can be housed in a bearing retainer or chock. In some cases, a jack or other drive mechanism is used to compress the bearing retainer onto the roll as the roll is assembled or serviced. To keep the jack in compression with the bearing retainer, a split ring is sometimes positioned between the jack and the end of the roll. The split ring acts as a back stop and maintains compression between the jack and the bearing retainer as the bearing retainer is assembled onto the roll.
However, it is typically difficult and very labor intensive to collapse the jack and remove the split ring from the assembly once the jack has been extended. In some instances, crowbars are manually wedged between the jack and the split ring to release the pressure between the jack and the split ring and force the jack to collapse and allow for removal of the split ring. In one particular example, two crowbars are wedged between the split ring and the jack and two workers manually apply force to the crowbars to collapse the jack. Due to the forces involved, along with slick flooring in a typical rolling mill, additional operators are needed to stabilize those operating the crowbars to reduce the risk of slipping and injury. Overall, the process is dangerous, time consuming, labor intensive, and inefficient.

Split ring and method of using improved split ring to assemble a roll


This disclosure relates to genetically engineered microorganisms for treating or reducing the risk of bacterial infections or dysbiosis, and further discloses methods of making and using such microorganisms.

The CDC estimates that every year, more than 2 million people acquire multi-drug-resistant infections, resulting in over 23,000 related deaths (Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013|Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance CDC.). Medical complications related to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a major issue in modern healthcare due to the resulting increase in morbidity, mortality, length of hospitalization, and related healthcare costs (Medina and Pieper (2016) Tackling Threats and Future Problems of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria, in How to Overcome the Antibiotic Crisis. Stadler and Dersch, Eds., pp 3-33. Springer International Publishing). Enterobacteriaceae spp. are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and include opportunistic pathogens Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp., Fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella spp., adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (Ng et al., (2013) Microbiota-liberated host sugars facilitate post-antibiotic expansion of enteric pathogens, Nature 502, 96-99.); (Winter et al., (2013) Host-derived nitrate boosts growth of E. coli in the inflamed gut, Science 339, 708-711.). According to the CDC, drug-resistant Salmonella spp. are responsible for more than 100,000 infections, while their non-resistant counterparts already account for 1.2 million infections and 450 deaths in the US every year (Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013|Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance|CDC.). Thus, there is pressing need to develop novel therapeutics that selectively kill pathogenic bacteria, reduce infection rates (and duration of infection), and curb the emergence of new drug-resistance mechanisms.

Genetically engineered microorganisms and methods of use


This invention relates to an improved dehydrator for vegetables, fruits, or the like and in particular to one including: a heating device including a base having a frame in which is mounted an impeller, a fixing plate arranged on the base by screws and having an outlet, a motor mounted on the fixing plate and drivingly connected with the impeller, a cylindrical seat fitted in the outlet of the fixing plate, a heater fitted within the cylindrical seat, a cover installed on the base and having a packing and a top plate, the packing being mounted on the cylindrical seat in such way that there is a clearance therebetween; a receiving device composed of a plurality of circular containers which are mounted on the cover in order; and a regulating device including a circular disc mounted on the circular containers at the uppermost position, and a top cover, the circular disc having a center hole and a plurality of perforations, the top cover being formed with a plurality of slots so that the top cover may be turned to selectively align the slots with perforations of the circular disc.

It is found that the prior art dehydrator on the market has the following drawbacks:
1. The heat is concentrated at the place near the heater and so it is necessary to extend the heating time in order to dehydrate the vegetables, fruits, or the like distant from the heater thereby wasting electricity.
2. As the heat cannot be evenly spread around the dehydrator, the vegetables, fruits, or the like disposed near the heater will be better dehydrated than those far from the heater hence making it impossible to control the quality.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dehydrator for vegetables, fruits, or the like which may obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Dehydrator for vegetables, fruits, or the like


A device for determining the effect of pulsed primary magnetic fields on an organism has a measuring pick-up for secondary magnetic field signals generated by the organism in response to the primary magnetic fields. An evaluation circuit for the secondary magnetic field signals is provided. The evaluation circuit has a first memory device with a memory unit. The evaluation circuit has a control device. The control device includes a device for processing sequential secondary magnetic field signals such that the sequential secondary magnetic field signals are combined to a cumulative signal in the memory unit. The cumulative signal is used as an output signal of the evaluation circuit.

The present invention concerns a device for determining the effect of pulsed magnetic fields on an organism.
Pulsating magnetic fields affecting an organism are, for example, of particular interest with regard to the transport of ions from intracorporeal fluids into and through the vessel walls and membranes of organisms which surround these fluids. Devices for this purpose have been described, for example, in German published document 42 21 739 A1. This laid open document also describes devices for determining the effect of such magnetic fields. For this purpose, the organism is either subjected to an approximately sinusoidal signal in the frequency range of 100 kHz during the pulse intervals, and the corresponding received signal is picked up by a measurement coil, or the measurement coil is used with a suppression circuit to pick up the secondary field signal which is induced in the measurement coil following each impulse in the primary magnetic field by means of the secondary and transient magnetic field arising within the organism.
The present invention concerns a further development of such a device, with the aim of increasing the amount of information conveyed by the measurement results.

Device for detecting secondary magnetic fields induced in an organism by pulsed magnetic fields


A push-button actuated system for an ATV transmission such as those used on a Honda 300 where a DC motor is connected to a cable linkage, which in turn is connected to the gear change pedal now used to upshift and downshift gears of a semi-automatic transmission. The cable linkage is arranged so that a clockwise rotation of the DC motor causes a cable to pull upwardly on the gear change pedal. A counterclockwise rotation of the DC motor causes the cable linkage to pull downwardly on the pedal. Variations do away with the pedal and cause rotation of the operative transmission shaft in the same manner as the pedal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the means for operating a vehicle transmission and, more particularly, to a push-button actuation system for an ATV transmission which is simple, reliable and rugged.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are several brands of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) on the market today. Some of these vehicles include automatic transmissions, but others, such as the Honda Four Trax 300, have semi-automatic type transmissions. These are generally comprised of three major elements: a clutch which separates the engine from the driving wheels during gear shifting; a centrifugal mechanism which disengages the engine from the driving wheels so as to enable a complete stop of the ATV while in gear; and a gear engagement mechanism which allows sequential shifting. To shift gears, a driver must lift up on a gear change pedal to cause an upshift and press down on the pedal to cause a downshift.
At certain times, under certain conditions or for people with certain disabilities, it is difficult or impossible for a driver to manipulate the pedal. For example, in uneven terrain a driver may have difficulty in locating the toe of his/her shoe under the pedal because ground clearance is insufficient. For the same reason there may be difficulty in depressing the pedal. As another example, after a long day of driving an ATV, fatigue makes it physically difficult to continue shifting the transmission. Also, individuals with leg disabilities are unable to operate semi-automatic ATV transmissions if they are unable to move their legs.
The use of a gear change pedal also raises safety problems. Use of the pedal is awkward. Stability also is a question. An operator is more stable when he/she has his/her feet firmly placed on stationary pads or bars. When one foot must also be used for shifting, a driver's balance is adversely affected.
Prior attempts to solve these problems have yielded automatic transmissions but these are relatively complex, expensive and not as reliable as a semi-automatic transmission. Thus, an optimal system has yet to be produced.

Push button actuation system for ATV transmission


Timing phase information is extracted from a power spectrum of a received signal whose amplitude is modulated per frame or sub-frame, and timing phase synchronization of the received signal is performed with the timing phase information. Also, a vector signal of the power spectrum is generated, the vector signal is multiplied by another vector signal to be rotated, a sign decision of the rotated vector signal is performed, a result of the sign decision is integrated to be outputted as the timing phase information, and a vector conversion is performed to the integrated value to be fed back as the other vector signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for time equalization, and in particular to a method and an apparatus for time equalization employed in modems or the like used at the time of a superfast data transmission with metallic wires.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, modems have been used for transmitting data with telephone lines, leased lines, private metallic wires, or the like, while in recent years, enhanced speed has been in demand for the processing of modem.
As a technical field where such modems are used, e.g. a power-line carrier communication can be mentioned. This power-line carrier communication includes an extremely large amount of random noises (white noises) from household electrical appliances such as an inverter, which blocks practical utilization of a high-speed data communication.
As recent countermeasures for such noises, a DMT (Discrete MultiTone) system and an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system have been proposed. These DMT system and OFDM system adopt a multicarrier (multichannel) modulation system, that is a technology which avoids a signal from passing through a carrier band rich in noises. However, the multicarrier causes a group delay, as shown in FIG. 12B, in a transmission line on route, even if signals of channels are simultaneously transmitted from a transmission side as shown in FIG. 12A. As a result, arrival times of the channels on a time axis are different from each other on a reception side, as shown in FIG. 12C. For this reason, an inter-channel interference on a time axis arises on the reception side.
Namely, since low-speed square waves are transmitted in the DMT system or the OFDM system as shown in FIGS. 13A-13C, a normal transmission signal (tone) can be obtained, as shown in FIG. 13B, in a stable part of the square wave. However, in a variable part of the square wave, unnecessary bands of each channel have a waveform attenuating at a function of sinx/x as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13C.
Thus, in a line characteristic where the group delay arises, the signals of the channels interfere with each other on a time axis, and the inter-channel interference is avoided only in a flat part of the line characteristic.
On one hand, if a time corresponding to the interference part (i.e. time corresponding to a variable time of the square wave) is masked as a guard time GT as shown in FIGS. 13A-13C, it becomes possible to avoid the inter-channel interference. However, data transmission is disabled for this guard time GT, which makes a high-speed transmission difficult.
Accordingly, equalization between channels on a time axis is necessary in order to solve such a problem of a line group delay.
On the other hand, even in the same apparatus, the static characteristic greatly differs depending on ON/OFF state of power. In household electrical appliances such as a television using a switching power, two transfer functions A (or C) and B (or D) are alternately switched over every 120 Hz (in case a used frequency is 60 Hz) depending on whether the voltage is equal to or less than or more than a fixed value as shown in FIG. 14A. Namely, the transfer functions are switched over 240 times per second.
Thus, if the transfer function varies, a frequency characteristic (amplitude/phase) is divided into a solid line indicating the transfer functions A and C and a dotted line indicating the transfer functions B and D, as shown in FIG. 14B, both being greatly different from each other. Such a variation of the phase characteristic also includes the variation on a time axis.
Accordingly, since a high-speed followup performance is required for the transmission line in a modem or the like used for the power-line carrier communication, not only the high-speed equalization on a time axis as mentioned above, but also equalization on a frequency axis is required. If the equalization on a time axis is performed, it will contribute to the equalization on the frequency axis.
FIG. 15 shows a prior art for realizing the above-mentioned equalization on a time axis and a frequency axis. This prior art is composed of a time equalizer 1, a guard time remover 2, a DMT distributor 3 by an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) calculation, a frequency equalizer (FEQ) 4, a determining portion (DEC) 5, and a code inverter 6, all being connected in series.
In this arrangement, the time equalizer 1 performs the equalization on a time axis to the received signal, and then the guard time remover 2 removes the guard time added on the transmission side. Furthermore, the DMT distributor 3 performs the FFT. Then, the frequency equalizer 4 performs the equalizations of the carrier amplitude and the carrier phase, and the determining portion 5 determines the code. Then, the code inverter 6 performs the code conversion such as Natural (N)/Gray (G) code conversion, a parallel (P)/serial (S) conversion, and descramble (DSCR) to obtain the received data RD.
In such a prior art, a special training signal is required in order to perform pull-in on a time axis at the time equalizer 1. This training signal requires a long time, and complicated processing for this training.
Namely, since a high-speed followup performance is required for the line characteristic which varies every 120 Hz, as mentioned above, at a multi point of 1:n, it is not possible to provide a long training time at each point, so that simple processing is required.

Method and apparatus for time equalization


A composite structure having an embedded sensing system is provided, along with corresponding systems and methods for monitoring the health of a composite structure. The composite structure includes composite material and an optical fiber disposed within the composite material. The optical fiber includes a plurality of quantum dots for enhancing its non-linear optical properties. The quantum dots may be disposed in the core, in the cladding and/or on the surface of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is configured to support propagation of the signals and to be sensitive to a defect within the composite material. The quantum dots create a non-linear effect, such as a second order effect, in response to the defect in the composite material. Based upon the detection and analysis of the signals including the non-linear effect created by the quantum dots, a defect within the composite material may be detected.

Composite structures are structures consisting of two or more components often with some imparted order which are utilized in a wide variety of applications. For example, air vehicles, such as aircraft, spacecraft or the like, may utilize composite structures in order to take advantage of the benefits attributable to the increased strength-to-weight ratio offered by composite materials. Other applications that may include composite structures include other types of vehicles, such as automobiles, marine vehicles, bicycles and the like, as well as a wide variety of other structures, such as buildings, bridges, etc. Composite structures may also be produced and used with additional functionalities including altered thermal, electrical, acoustical, or mechanical properties by suitably modifying the materials used, the structure itself, or the process used to produce the structure.
Composite structures may be fabricated in various manners designed to impart a predetermined order to a plurality of elements dispersed within a resin or other mostly continuous medium, e.g, polymer, glass, or cement. Typically, a composite structure includes a plurality of structural fibers, such as glass fibers or other elements including carbon fibers, metalized carbon fibers, metal or polymer sheets, carbon or polymer veils, pre-impregnated composite sheets, woven sheets of fibers, matts of random or organized fibers, metal or polymer meshes, embedded in a resin matrix. The resin matrix may be any one of many thermoplastic or thermoset polymer combinations, adhesives or other bonding materials, or cement. Once the composite structure has been laid up, such as by placing a plurality of composite plies one upon another or by laying a plurality of composite tows one beside another, in a manner so as to have the desired shape or woven into a predetermined two dimensional (2D) or three dimensional (3D) structure, the composite structure may be cured, melted or bonded in one or more processing steps.
While composite structures offer a number of advantages, composite structures may occasionally have various anomalies, such as delamination between composite plies, waviness within the composite plies or marcelling in which a composite tow rolls at least partially on top of itself so as to create an inner swirl within the composite structure. While some of these anomalies may be detected from a visual inspection of the composite structure, a number of the anomalies may reside within the interior of the composite structure so as not to be detected during a visual inspection of the composite structure. As such, a variety of inspection techniques utilizing, for example, x-rays, ultrasonic signals or the like have been developed in order to interrogate the interior of a composite structure. While these inspection techniques may detect a number of anomalies, such as ply delaminations, other anomalies that may be created by the misorientation or misplacement of the structural fibers within the resin of a composite structure may present more of a challenge from a detection standpoint.
In this regard, the plurality of structural fibers or other elements within a composite structure generally extends in a predefined direction with the physical properties of the composite structure depending, at least in part, upon the directionality of the structural fibers or other elements. In some instances, however, the structural fibers or other elements within a composite structure may assume a different and an unintended orientation or position which may cause the physical properties of the composite structure to also be different. For example, the structural fibers or other included elements that extend proximate a resin-rich area may migrate or move toward or into the resin-rich area, thereby deviating from their intended orientation. The unintended orientation or position of the structural fibers may be the result of gravity, hydrostatic pressure, chemical or boiling action or mechanical action. Since this deviation in the orientation or position of the structural fibers or other elements may impact the physical properties of the composite structure, it would be desirable to detect such deviations in the orientation or position of the structural fibers or other elements as well as to detect other defects in the composite structure in a reliable manner such that appropriate repairs could be made, if so desired.

Composite structure having an embedded sensing system


The current invention provides a remote caregiver support system which allows caregivers to provide informal care to care receivers. The systems of the current invention comprise a caregiver system and a care receiver system operating on personal computers. Each system is linked by a communications network. Preferably, the communications network is a high speed internet connection. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for delivering informal care to a care receiver remotely located from the caregiver. In the methods of the current invention, the caregiver accesses a remote caregiver support system and interacts with the care receiver providing text reminders and other informal care necessary to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of the care receiver.

Older adults, including individuals in early stages of Alzheimer's and other chronic conditions, are frequently capable of living independent lives provided that an adequate support system exists to meet their informal care needs. Family members typically assume the responsibility for providing such support and supervision. Unfortunately, given the time consuming nature of caregiving, some caregivers may not be able to provide the care required, especially long-distance caregivers. As a result, some care receivers may move prematurely into assisted living or other costly supported living arrangements. Caregivers frequently travel an hour or more to provide the support required by their loved ones. Currently, about 7,000,000 Americans are classified as long-distance caregivers for their older relatives with an average travel time of four hours.
As used herein, the term "informal care" refers to the provision of active support, social interaction and protective supervision by a caregiver to a care receiver. For example, the term caregiver refers to an individual such as a family member, relative, friend or a professional in-home care provider who provides assistance to an older adult or individual suffering from a chronic condition, i.e., the care receiver. As the caregiver role evolves and turns into a major time-consuming responsibility, the continual stress can create personal, health and financial hardships.
In 2004, studies estimated there are 44.4 million American caregivers. While these services are generally unpaid, their value has been estimated to be approximately $257,000,000,000 annually. Clearly, informal care provided by family caregivers is the underpinning of long-term care in the United States. As such there is a need for a system that provides a cost effective caregiver intervention alternative that meets the needs of the caregivers, especially long-distance caregivers, and permits a caregiver to provide the necessary informal care to a care receiver.

Internet-based informal care delivery system


A safety ladder cage system is of a fabricated construction to reduce the time and expertise to provide a safety cage to one side of a scaffold system access ladder. The safety cage system is divided into two components each of which can be carried by a worker to the appropriate point and loosely hung from a ladder rung or the ladder uprights. The worker is then free to accurately position the safety cage component to one side of the ladder. The second component is then brought into position and attached to the opposite side of the ladder in a similar manner. The components are then attached to each other along vertical securing edges outwardly spaced from and generally centered on the ladder. Each component preferably includes its own captured connector for engaging the opposite component.

Ladders are commonly used to access raised work platforms associated with scaffolding systems. Generally, once the ladder exceeds a certain height from the ground, a safety structure must be provided about the ladder to provide protection for a user and to act as a safety cage behind a user such that he cannot fall rearwardly off the ladder without being restricted by the safety cage.
Scaffolding systems have designed a number of approaches for providing a safety structure to one side of the ladder to protect the worker. On many construction sites, workers fabricate an enclosed structure by means of a series of vertical elements extending in a parallel manner to the ladder with a series of horizontal components attached to the scaffolding and the vertical elements. In this way, it is possible for the worker to use the verticals and horizontals of the scaffolding system to fabricate a safety structure to one side of the ladder. These structures are certainly satisfactory in providing the required safety structure to one side of the ladder, however, they are costly to assemble and in many cases, are over designed. With scaffolding systems, there is a substantial cost to initially assemble the system and a lower cost associated with taking the system down. Therefore, there is a high cost component in assembling onsite fabricated ladder cages as they are all done by hand and have a substantial labour component. In designing these systems, care is required to make sure the system components are easy to install and are of a weight which is easily carried by a worker. Obviously, the assembly of these safety structures can be at a substantial height and could expose the worker to a substantial risk.
The present invention provides an effective structure and method for assembling a safety cage to one side of a scaffold ladder.


After a Group III-V compound semiconductor layer, to which a p-type dopant has been introduced, has been formed over a substrate, the compound semiconductor layer is annealed. In the stage of heating the compound semiconductor layer, atoms, deactivating the p-type dopant, are eliminated from the compound semiconductor layer by creating a temperature gradient in the compound semiconductor layer.

The present invention relates to a method for forming a Group III-V compound semiconductor layer, which is used for a light-emitting element that emits light in a short wavelength range covering violet to ultraviolet wavelengths.
Recently, a light-emitting element for emitting light in the short wavelength range covering the violet to ultraviolet wavelengths is in higher and higher demand as a light source for a next-generation high-density optical disk. Particularly, a Group III-V compound semiconductor layer that contains gallium nitride (GaN) as a main component has been vigorous researched and developed.
A Group III-V compound semiconductor layer, deposited by a metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) process and containing gallium nitride as a main component, is supposed to have its resistance reduced by introducing a p-type dopant thereto. However, hydrogen atoms bond to the p-type dopant when the layer is passivated with hydrogen, thereby unintentionally deactivating the p-type dopant. For this reason, it is difficult to reduce the resistance of the p-type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer.
In view of this, a countermeasure process was proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 5-183189. Specifically, in this process a p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer is deposited on a substrate and then annealed at a temperature of 500° C. or more in an ambient containing substantially no hydrogen, thereby ejecting hydrogen from the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer and activating the p-type dopant. In this manner, the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer should have its resistance reduced.
Further, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 5-183189, if the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer is annealed in this manner, the resistivity of the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer can be reduced to somewhere between 1×106 Ω·cm and several Ω·cm.
However, the present inventors were confronted with a fact that it was impossible to reduce the resistivity of the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer to about 1×106 Ω·cm to several Ω·cm as intended even if the p-type gallium nitride semiconductor layer was annealed at a temperature of 500° C. or more in an ambient containing substantially no hydrogen.

Formation method for semiconductor layer

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An image forming apparatus which insures stable image transfer at all times with no regard to aging and environment. An electrometer is located in close proximity to and opposite to a transfer region where an image carrier and a transfer medium face each other. A voltage to be applied to an electrode which applies a transfe voltage to the transfer medium is controlled in response to the output of the electrometer such that the electric field in the transfer region remains constant.

The present invention relates to a laser printer, copier, facsimile transceiver or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus and, more particularly, to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the type having a transfer medium in the form of, for example, a transfer belt.
Conventional image forming apparatuses include one which transfers a toner image from an image carrier to a transfer medium, e.g., a transfer belt by generating an electric field between the image carrier and the belt and then transfers it to a paper sheet or similar transfer material. A prerequisite with this type of apparatus which transfers a toner by an electrostatic force is that an electric field for transfer having a certain value be stably developed in a transfer region. In practice, however, the resistance of the transfer medium changes due to aging and environmental conditions since it is formed of a resistor. To eliminate this problem, the transfer belt may be implemented as an insulating belt, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 57364/1985. In this case, the potential of the belt is measured before and after image transfer while transferring means (e.g. transfer charger) is so controlled as to maintain the belt potential constant.
The insulating belt scheme stated above stabilizes image transfer overcoming changes in the electrical characteristics of the transfer medium by controlling the transferring means. However, since the location for measuring the belt potential is remote from the transfer region, the potential deposited on the belt in the transfer region will have been attenuated to some degree when measured by, for example, an electrometer located downstream of the transfer region. In an ordinary condition, the attenuation does not vary beyond a certain range and, therefore, has only to be estimated. However, as the surface of the transfer medium adsorbs moisture in a humid environment, for example, the attenuation increases due to leaks and other similar causes and, in addition, changes with the degree of moisture adsorption. In such a condition, it is extremely difficult to execute accurate control over the transferring means. In light of this, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus which uses a transfer medium in the form of a belt having a resistance of about 10.sup.9 ohms in order to guarantee a sufficient nip width for transfer and to generate an electric field for transfer efficiency. In this type of apparatus, the image carrier is disposed between a plurality of electrodes which apply transfer voltages to the belt. The transfer voltages from the electrodes generate an electric field in the transfer region where the image carrier and transfer medium, i.e., belt contact each other.
However, by examining a relation between the transfer voltage to be applied to each electrode and the transfer efficiency, it was found that an optimal transfer voltage is not achievable even with the above-described type of apparatus due to aging and environmental factors although it is optimal at first. Specifically, despite that the same transfer voltage is applied to the transfer medium, the same electric field cannot be developed in the transfer region where the transfer medium contacts the image carrier, for the following reasons:
(1) A toner melts and sticks fast to the surface of the transfer medium as the apparatus is repetitively operated; and
(2) The resistance of the transfer medium changes due to the influence of ambient conditions (especially humidity).
Moreover, the above occurrences are observed not only over the entire transfer medium but also in limited part of the transfer medium. Specifically, when carbon or similar resistance control agent used to regulate the transfer medium to the above-mentioned particular resistance is dispersed nonuniformily, a current flows in some part and does not flow in some other part. Then, the deterioration of the transfer medium due to aging is not uniform, aggravating the local scattering. The resulting image would suffer from noticeable irregularity.

Image forming apparatus with transfer medium and electrometer positioned opposite the transfer region


A powder laundry detergent has improved solubility in the laundering solution and improved dispensability by incorporating an acidulant that, in its acid form, is sparingly soluble in water and, in its salt form, is soluble in water. In particular, the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably no greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. A method of improving the solubility of a powder detergent includes admixing an acidulant in the powder detergent where the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to powder detergent compositions that have improved solubility in the laundering solution. More particularly, it relates to the addition of an acidulant to improve the solubility of powder detergent compositions in the laundering solution. The present invention also relates to the addition of an acidulant to improve the dissolution of those detergent compositions used in washing machines having a detergent-dispenser.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Granular laundry detergents containing admixed sodium carbonate are known to exhibit poor solubility under certain conditions. This poor solubility can cause clumps of detergent, which appear as solid white masses remaining in the washing machine and on washed clothes. Such clumps usually occur when the detergent is placed in a pile in the washing machine, particularly during cold water washes and/or when the order of addition to the washing machine is laundry detergent first, clothes second, and water last. The clumps may also occur when the powdered detergent is trapped within the folds or pockets of the fabrics to-be-washed, particularly in machines that do not provide for adequate agitation. It is believed that one contributor to this solubility problem is caused by hydration of the sodium carbonate and/or particle bridging resulting in a poorly soluble mass before the granular detergent can be dispersed and solubilized in the laundering solution.
Another problem exists when the laundry detergent contains high levels of nonionic surfactant. When such a detergent is added to the wash water, particularly when the temperature of the wash water is cool, the nonionic surfactant does not immediately solubilize. Instead, the surfactant may tend to gel resulting in a sticky mass which may deposit on the fabric before sufficient wash water is present to solubilize the nonionic surfactant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,250 to Morgan et al. discloses that the addition of low levels of hydrophobic amorphous silicate material to granular laundry detergents containing admixed sodium carbonate improves their solubility in the laundering solution and eliminates or reduces the problem of clumps remaining in the washing machine and on washed clothes. The hydrophobic amorphous silicate material acts as an anti-caking agent and flow aid. The detergent is prepared by spray drying aqueous crutcher mixes of the surfactant and additives together with a premix containing sodium carbonate and hydrophobic amorphous silicate material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,476 to Pancheri et al. discloses that spray dried granular laundry detergents having admixed sodium carbonate can achieve improved solubility in the laundering solution by incorporating citric acid. They report that they believe that the citric acid rapidly reacts with the sodium carbonate in the laundering solution to release carbon dioxide and helps to disperse the detergent and minimize the formation of insoluble clumps. The use of citric acid, in this manner, however, may not be desirable because a substantial portion of the citric acid may become neutralized to sodium citrate during storage. It is believed that the citric acid, which is hydroscopic, will absorb the free water present in the powder detergent formulation as well as in the atmosphere and become neutralized. The neutralization causes an unwanted increase in detergent particle size, powder lumps in the box, and loss of the desired effervescent effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,758 to Ichii et al. discloses bubbling bathing preparations preferably in the form of a tablet that contain fumaric acid and a carbonate together with carboxymethyl cellulose or an alkali metal salt or polyethylene glycol and less than 0.1% of a nonionic surface active agent. They also disclose that other organic acids may be used, for example, citric, tartaric, malic, malonic, pyridone carboxylic, succinic, adipic, phosphoric, and their salts.
A particular problem arises with the use of high density laundry detergent powders, i.e., those with bulk densities of 650 g/l or greater. Denser powders such as those of 800 g/l or higher are even more problematic. While these powders provide consumers the benefit of concentration and lower dosages, the processes required to produce high densities leave little or no void space in the detergent powder. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,924 describes a process that reduces the intraparticle porosity so that the void space is substantially decreased. These highly concentrated powders, however, can prove difficult to dissolve since the powder has little or no free space to allow the entry of water necessary for dissolution. This, in turn, can result in the powder forming localized areas of relation which remain undissolved at the end of the wash cycle and contribute to residue. As a result, they are more susceptible to the cold water clumping problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,806 to Pepe et al. describes high density laundry detergent compositions having a bulk density of 650 g/l or greater and intraparticle porosities of about 25% or less. They report that acceptable solubility and dispersion is achieved by including a C.sub.2-4 alkylene oxide condensation product as a solubility aid. The process of making the described detergent composition includes preparing a base powder by mixing water plus detergent components in a slurry and spray drying the slurry. Consequently, the described process does not offer an improvement to the known disadvantages of spray drying. In addition, the compositions are those with high density but low porosity.
As a result, the amount of surfactant that can be effectively loaded is restricted. Moreover, without the solubility aid it is likely that the detergent would not be effectively dissolved or dispersed.
Another problem that exists with the use of higher density powder detergents is that they are not completely dispensed when used in automatic washing machines or those types of washing machines that are prevalent in Europe. In those machines, water enters the dispenser which is charged with the powder detergent and flushes the powder into the wash liquor. If the water does not flush out the entire amount of powder, the powder, when it solidifies, can form relatively large clumps that can eventually block the dispenser and/or feed pipe from the dispenser to the washing compartment of the machine. This wastes detergent and produces a lower level of cleaning. It also requires the user to clean out the dispenser and/or feed line, preferably after each wash cycle.
This problem is more prevalent with higher density powders, particularly in non-phosphate, zeolite-containing products and at low wash temperatures, including cold-water washes, and at low water pressure and/or water flow rates. While the phenomenon is not fully understood, solubilization of at least a portion of the powder detergent to form a pasty or syrupy consistency slurry before the powder has been washed out of the dispenser into the wash liquor appears to be a contributing factor.

Powder detergent composition having improved solubility


Polishing pads are provided that include a substrate for a polishing pad and a plurality of spaced apart members on the substrate and protruding from the substrate. The plurality of members include at least one abrasive layer and at least one chemical additive layer. Related methods of fabricating polishing pads are also provided herein.

Fabrication of integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, microprocessors, and the like, commonly involves the use of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove materials from a wafer surface and/or to planarize the surface of the wafer before building up additional structures. Generally, CMP involves rubbing the surface of the wafer against a polishing pad made of a resilient material, such as polyurethane, in the presence of a chemical slurry to remove material, such as a metallization layer, deposited on the wafer surface.
Several different types of CMP machines have been developed. One type of CMP machine uses a disk-shaped polishing pad that is affixed to a fixed or rotating polisher. An example of such a machine is illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the machine includes a polishing pad 12 affixed to a polisher 10 and a wafer 22 supported by a carrier 20. The carrier 20 typically rotates the wafer 22 and presses the rotating wafer's surface against the polishing pad 12. The polisher 10 may or may not rotate. A slurry 41 may be supplied between a wafer 22 and the polishing pad 12 from an external slurry supply device 40. The slurry 41 functions as a chemical polishing abrasive for use in the CMP process. The slurry 41 may be supplied from the external slurry supply device 40 through a supply nozzle 60 while the wafer 22 is pressed and rotated on the polishing pad 12. Generally, the supply nozzle 60 extends to a central portion of the polishing pad 12 and slurry 41 is pumped through the supply nozzle using the pump 42.
Furthermore, chemicals 31 and deionized water 51 may also be supplied to the polishing pad 12 by an external chemical supply device 30 and the external deionized water supply device 50, respectively, through the supply nozzle 60 using first and second pumps 32 and 52, respectively. The slurry 41, chemicals 31 and deionized water 51 may be mixed at a certain point and supplied to the polishing pad 12. The polishing pad 12 may include grooves and the mixture of slurry 41, chemicals 31 and deionized water 51 may be provided in the grooves of the polishing pad 12. Accordingly, the mixture of the slurry 41, chemicals 31 and deionized water 51 may be used to polish the wafer 22 as the wafer is pressed and rotated on the surface of polishing pad 12 during the CMP process.
As discussed above, the polishing pad 12 may have surface features, such as grooves, that can aid distribution of slurry across the surface of the wafer, as shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,873 to Tsai et al. CMP machines that impress a spinning wafer against a belt-type polishing pad, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,936 to Jensen et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,579 to Jensen et al.
Conventional polishing devices, for example, device 90 of FIG. 1, use external supply devices 30, 40 and 50 for supplying one or more of chemicals 31, a slurry 41 and deionized water 51. The presence of these additional devices may require more space to operate the polishing device so that a CMP process can be performed. Furthermore, some conventional polishing devices receive the slurry through a first supply line and the chemicals through a second supply line. Providing the slurry and the chemicals through different supply lines may add an additional level of difficulty, as process conditions may vary depending on a mix ratio of slurry and chemicals.

Polishing pads including slurry and chemicals thereon and methods of fabricating the same