An electronic timepiece device including an electronic processing unit determining first, geolocation parameters and second parameters concerning the current legal standard time, and establishing local horizontal coordinates of the Sun from predetermined calculation rules stored in a memory of the electronic processing unit. The device also has a dial equipped with a casing enclosing all or part of the electronic processing unit and equipped with a display system displaying at least one indicator hand having an orientation that varies over time such that the angle formed between the indicator hand and a first fixed reference axis of the dial is equal, at each instant, to the azimuth of the Sun established by the processing unit, and a time scale calculated by the electronic processing unit and displayed at the periphery of the dial in the form of a plurality of time points positioned, with respect to the first fixed reference axis, as a function of the azimuth of the Sun respectively at the times of which the time points are representative. Thus the indicator needle simultaneously indicates, at each instant, a representation of the relative directions of the Sun and of the cardinal point of the culmination of the Sun and the current legal time.

Such a timepiece device may for example be in the form of a watch. By matchD, it should be understood a timepiece with a sufficiently small size to be worn on the body in contrast with large timepieces such as astronomical clocks. In particular, it may consist of a watch provided with a bracelet allowing it to be worn on the wrist.
Besides the legal time in the current place where the watch is located, the indication of astronomical information is sought by some clockmakers. These may consist of the position of celestial bodies in the solar system at the current date relative to the Earth and relative to the constellations of the zodiac, or the phases of the Moon, the equation of time or even sometimes the times of sunrise and sunset.
A watch that at least partially addresses this need is the mechanical wristwatch from the company Ulysse Nardin S. A., known under the trade name «Planetarium Copernicus».
This mechanical watch includes a planetarium which permanently indicates the positions, viewed from the north pole of the ecliptic, the Sun, the Moon and five planets other than Earth, relative to the latter and to the zodiac. But these positions do not correspond to the reality of the solar system at least because of the non-compliance with the dimensions of the orbits and therefore have no scientific character. The watch also indicates the phases of the Moon and the current date.
To be able to mechanically carry out such functions, the Ulysse Nardin watch is provided with an extremely complex, very compact and with a good accuracy mechanism which makes it a very expensive watch.
On the other hand, given the number of displayed information, reading this information is not always easy and although it has been sought to reduce the bulk as much as possible, this watch is nevertheless significantly larger than a classic wristwatch.
In order to address these problems, a wristwatch has already been proposed, disclosed in the document EP-A1-0949549. This watch comprises in particular an hour pointer and a minute pointer that move above a dial which carries at its periphery a graduation in hours and minutes and inside the latter the symbols of the twelve signs of the zodiac. This watch also comprises a rotating bezel carrying the symbols of the planets of the solar system. When the user wishes to know the position relative to the constellations of the zodiac of a planet in the solar system, he turns the bezel until the symbol of the celestial body that interests him is at 12 o'clock and then he presses on a control rod. At this moment, the minute pointer moves to come to place itself in the position where it simultaneously indicates the zodiac sign in which the considered celestial body is located and the approximate position of the latter inside said zodiac sign, by using the twelve signs of the zodiac and the hour and minute graduation of the dial of the watch. When desired, the user can repeat the same operations for one or several other celestial bodies.
A major drawback of this watch is that it cannot provide information that enables its user to find the position of the celestial body in the sky in a simple and rapid manner. Indeed, this watch only provides an indication of the position of a given celestial body relative to the constellations of the zodiac. If the user then wants to see the considered celestial body in the sky, he must first locate the constellation of the zodiac that has been designated to him by the watch. This supposes that the user is able to recognize the aggregates of stars corresponding to the different constellations, which is not within the reach of any user.
To enable a user to know at any time, whenever he wishes, what is the position of a celestial body in the sky and to be able to easily locate the position of this body in the sky without requiring special knowledge in astronomy, the document EP-A1-1498790 describes an astronomical watch comprising means for selecting a celestial body and means for determining the position of the celestial body in the sky and indicate this position by display means. The watch comprises a rotary dial on which a sky map is represented. The pointers have a shape such that their intersection allows designating any point on the sky map represented on the dial, the particular point being indicated by controlling the displacement of the hour and minute pointers.
Unlike the Ulysse Nardin watch, the astronomical watches described in the document EP-A1-0949549 and in the document EP-A1-1498790 have the advantage of being at least partially electronic by being provided with a processing unit containing a processor and associated to a data memory in which are stored all the parameters concerning the zodiac and the relative movements of the celestial bodies relative to the Earth, the calculations to be performed by the processor to determine the positions of the celestial bodies by using parameters corresponding to an algorithm performed by the processor. This allows lowering the price and bulk of such astronomical watches in comparison with mechanical watches.
Nonetheless, these astronomical watches remain complex and reading is not easy. On the other hand, it has the drawback of having to select the celestial body to be displayed before carrying out a selective display of this celestial body alone. These operations must be repeated for all of the celestial bodies that one wishes to see displayed, which is impractical. In addition, such sequential celestial bodies displays do not allow providing an instantaneous global representation of the celestial dome.
The document CH658763 describes a mechanism providing a representation of the starry sky and allowing providing information on the position of the main celestial bodies and on certain astronomical phenomena. While this solution certainly allows providing a global representation of the entirety of the celestial dome at the current time, it is once again based on a very complex and bulky mechanism, which is also expensive.
On the other hand, all the astronomical watches previously described are intended for reading information in a specific place and are erroneous in the rest of the world. This implies that one should know the situation of the user and build a movement specific to this place. Some watches require initialization of the position of the pointers and of the dial and require the user to enter the time of the place where he is located.
Finally, they are all based on the principle of entering the legal time via a standard time graduation where 12 o'clock is located in the upper portion of the dial. This has the drawback, for the user, that the dial is completely dissociated from the real aspect of the sky, which is not very instinctive. It is actually a kind of mechanical prowess rather than an astronomical object.
Moreover, the document EP-A2-1611489 describes a timing device comprising a first external dial regularly graduated in twenty-four hours traversed by a pointer rotating regularly, also in twenty-four hours to indicate the legal time on the first dial, and a second internal dial partially graduated in supposedly solar hours, the mean solar time being indicated by said pointer; the first and second dials being adjustable relative to each other.
Nonetheless, the timing device described in the document EP-A2-1611489 does not take into account the equation of time, which implies a manual adjustment at all times. In addition, it does not take into account neither the longitude of the place where the device is located, nor its latitude, which has the consequence of increasing the difference between the alleged direction of the Sun and that of the time pointer. As a result, this timing device is rudimentary and inaccurate. In any case, this timing device does not allow for any scientific approach.

Electronic timepiece device indicating the time and the azimuth of the sun by means of a single indicator hand


A cost-effective and manufacturable method for producing ROM integrated circuits with closely-spaced self-aligned conductive lines, on the order of 0.3 micrometers apart, is described. Parallel, conductive semiconductor device structures are formed in a semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate. A first conductive polysilicon layer is formed over the insulating layer. The first conductive polysilicon layer is patterned to form first polysilicon conductor lines which are parallel to each other, and orthogonal to the parallel, conductive semiconductor device structures. A first silicon oxide layer is formed on and between the first polysilicon conductor lines. The first silicon oxide layer is anisotropically etched to produce sidewall structures on the first polysilicon conductor lines. A second silicon oxide layer is formed on and between the first polysilicon conductor lines. A second conductive polysilicon layer is formed over the first polysilicon conductor lines and in openings between the first polysilicon conductor lines. The second conductive polysilicon layer is etched back to form second polysilicon conductor lines, parallel to, between and self-aligned with the first polysilicon conductor lines, and separated from the first polysilicon conductor lines by width of the sidewall structures.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ROM (Read Only Memory) manufacturing techniques, and more particularly to the formation of closely spaced self-aligned word lines for use in ROM integrated circuits.
(2) Description of the Related Art
ROM devices are well known and widely used in the computer technology. In general, a ROM device is an array of MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) arranged in columns and rows where selected MOSFETs are rendered permanently conductive, or non-conductive, depending on the type of transistor. The ability to set the conductive state of each MOSFET provides a means for storing binary information. In a ROM device, this information is maintained even when power is removed from the circuit.
A typical ROM structure is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. A ROM device consists basically of a plurality of parallel, closely spaced, line regions 12, called "bit lines" formed of a heavily doped impurity in a semiconductor substrate 10 having an opposite type background impurity. An insulating layer 14 overlies the substrate 10. A plurality of parallel closely spaced conductive lines 16, called "word lines", arranged orthogonally to the line regions 12, are provided on the surface of the substrate 10 on layer 14. Suitable insulating layers 18 and 20 provide insulation for the lines 16. There is also provided a metallurgy layer (not shown) that operatively connects the line regions 12, and conductive lines 16 to suitable circuitry to address and interrogate the device array, which is well known in the art.
It can be seen that at the intersection of a word line 16 and a pair of bit lines 12, there is provided an MOSFET. The spaced line regions 12 are the source and drain, the conductive line 16 is the gate electrode, and the layer 14 is the gate insulation layer. Selected MOSFETs can be made permanently conductive by implanting, and activating by an annealing step, a region 22, of an impurity of an opposite type as lines 12, between adjacent lines 12 and beneath the conductive line 16. The regions 22 are called code implants and are placed in the substrate to encode specific binary information.
As the capacity of ROM devices has continued to increase, cell size and other critical dimensions must continually be reduced. One means of increasing the ROM capacity is to increase the density of the conductive lines in the ROM device. However, the line width and spacing between lines is limited by lithographic resolution.
Researchers in the integrated circuit field generally have used the sidewall technology to form smaller spaces than normally available through lithography for various purposes. Examples of this type of application are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,305 to J.K. Brighton, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,136 to A. Ravaglia.
However, in the read only memory field researchers have used two layer polysilicon structures to make more densely packed memories, such as described in Y. Naruke U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,896. While these have been successful, it is clear that a single layer, closely spaced technology would provide advantages over the two layer structures. One single layer method is disclosed by Hsue in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,853. One advantage of the single layer structure is in the increased planarity of the surface compared to the planarity of a two layered structure. Other advantages are cost effectiveness and process simplicity. Also, characterization of the ROM can be achieved in a single code implant rather than two separate implant steps.

Method of making 0.6 micrometer word line pitch ROM cell by 0.6 micrometer technology


A crosslinked polymer or polymer fine particles which can be obtained through copolymerization of at least a macromonomer having a polyethylene glycol segment, a comonomer having tertiary amine groups in its side chains and a crosslinking agent are provided. Said crosslinked polymer can be provided in the form of polymer nano- or micro-spheres; and also as conjugate nano- or micro-spheres with their core parts fixing or encapsulating metal or semiconductor ultrafine particles.

Copolymers provided by a part of the present inventors, for example, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(dialkylaminoethyl methacrylate) form polymer micelle via an anionically charged polymer, and hence they are useful as carriers for anionically charged drug (cf. e.g., patent reference 1 and non-patent reference 1). They also can contribute to stabilize dispersions of colloidal gold or semiconductor fine particles, and can provide gold- or semiconductor-fixing (or encapsulating) polymer particles useful as markers or quantum dots in biological assay systems (cf. e.g., patent reference 2).
It is also known that poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives, in which poly(dialkylaminoethyl methacrylate) segment in above block copolymers is replaced with terminal mercapto groups, can be conveniently used for stabilizing dispersions of ultrafine particles of gold and semiconductors (see, for example, said patent references 2, 3 and 4 and non-patent reference 1). Furthermore, fine particles of a polymer having poly (oxyalkylene) segment, which are formed of a (meth)acrylic ester and styrene and are capable of encapsulating ultrafine inorganic particles serviceable as a marker in the polymer latex particles, are known to be stable in aqueous media and capable of suppressing non-specific adsorption of protein onto said latex particle surfaces (cf. patent reference 5). A part of the present inventors have also provided heterotelecheric polymers represented by, for example, a formula,
and copolymers of above polymers used as macromonomers, with styrene, (meth)acrylic acid or esters or amides thereof (cf. patent reference 6). These copolymers are a kind of graft polymers having PEG chains as branch polymers and, in addition to their functions achievable as graft polymers per se, can form conjugates with various biomolecules via aldehyde (O═CH—) groups at one of their terminals. They, therefore, are interesting as a biocompatible material.

Crosslinked polymers, fine polymer particle, and process for producing these


A high voltage PMOS device having an improved breakdown voltage is achieved. An asymmetrical high voltage integrated circuit structure comprises a gate electrode on a substrate and source and drain regions within the substrate on either side and adjacent to the gate electrode wherein the source region is encompassed by an n-well. A symmetrical high voltage integrated circuit structure comprises a gate electrode on a substrate, source and drain regions within the substrate on either side and adjacent to the gate electrode, and an n-well in the substrate underlying the gate electrode. The n-well in both structures shifts the breakdown point from the silicon surface to the bottom of the source or drain regions.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is directed to a method of fabricating a high voltage PMOS device and more particularly to a method of fabricating a high voltage PMOS device having n-type source side doping in the manufacture of integrated circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
High voltage PMOS (HVPMOS) devices have a high breakdown voltage. There are two major challenges with HVPMOS devices. One is that the process window is not large enough. The overlay between the P-well and the active area must be at least 0.6 μm. Another challenge is in achieving a high enough breakdown voltage, for example, as much as 40 volts for a p-substrate wafer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,855 to Gauffer et al describes a high voltage device having source and drain within an n-well and a p-field extension below the drain. U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,591 to Haken shows a high voltage device having both a source and a drain within a p-well and within an n-tank. U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,211 to Kalnitsky et al discloses a CMOS device having both low voltage and high voltage transistors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,658 to Beasom teaches tuning an n-well to form a drift region. There is an overlay between the n-well and p-well regions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,171 to Disney shows a high voltage PMOS device where everything in formed in an n-well. This patent also shows a high voltage NMOS device having the drain in an n-well and the source outside of the n-well. U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,674 to Yang discloses n-wells within p-wells. The source is in one n-well and the drain is in a second n-well. U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,457 to Noguchi shows a high voltage PMOS device having the drain in a p-well and the source in an n-well formed in the bottom surface of a p-well.

High voltage device embedded non-volatile memory cell and fabrication method

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


A process for the preparation of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes where cationic cure is conducted against liners and substrates with low moisture content and in an environment where moisture ingress during cure is prevented.

Radiation curable adhesives which cure by free radical mechanisms have gained wide acceptance in a number of product assembly applications. Cationic curing systems enjoy several advantages over free radical systems. First, cure is not instantaneous and thus the possibility exists to irradiate the sample and then make the bond. This feature obviates the need for one substrate being radiation transparent, which many are not. Secondly, since there is no termination mechanism other than neutralization of the active acid catalyst by impurities, the cure proceeds into the "dark" (i.e. non-irradiated) regions of the sample. Thus, if impurities are minimized the entire adhesive sample will eventually cure as long as one part of it is irradiated. Consequently thick films are readily cured at low dose (fast production speeds).
Most cationic systems use cycloaliphatic epoxide monomers or vinyl ethers. Kraton Polymers™ recently developed a system based on epoxidized block copolymers, with the epoxy groups residing almost exclusively in the polyisoprene blocks. These systems enabled highly flexible and even pressure sensitive radiation cured adhesives based on cationic cure chemistry. However, these systems have not gained commercial acceptance in part because cure has not been reproducible.
A need remains for a cationic curable PSA that can produce tapes of consistent quality in a production environment. The current invention addresses this need.

Process for making pressure sensitive adhesive tapes from cationic cure adhesives


Ion source devices with controlled superposition of electrostatic and gas flow fields to effect rapid collisional cooling with improved ion collection and collimation, analytical apparatus comprising such ion source devices, and methods for use are presented.

The sensitivity of an ion analytical instrument, such as a mass spectrometer, depends in part upon the efficiency with which the coupled ion source generates ions from the analytical sample and then delivers those ions to the instrument for analysis.
Efficiency of delivery can be compromised by fragmentation, or decay, of molecular ions prior to analysis. In-source and post-source ion decay is of particular relevance in laser desorption ionization sources, due to the high energies imparted by the laser pulse, and in orthogonal extraction geometries, which require that ions survive at least 2–3 msec before analysis.
One solution to ion fragmentation is to effect collisional cooling of ions before analysis.
Collisional cooling in the first quadrupole ion guide of an orthogonal extraction QqTOF mass spectrometer has been described, both with an electrospray ion source and a laser desorption ionization (LDI) source. See, e.g., WO 99/30351 and Loboda et al., Rapid Communic. Mass Spectrom. 14:1047–1057 (2000).
Collisional cooling earlier in the ion trajectory, within the ion source itself, has also been described.
WO 00/77822, for example, describes a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source having a static pressure in the range of 0.1 to 10 torr; the rapid in-source collisional cooling is said to improve the stability of the produced ions. EP 0964427 describes a static ambient pressure MALDI apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,280 (Baykut) describes a MALDI source in which a gas pulse is introduced exactly at the point of laser desorption in synchrony with the laser pulse; the transient pressure increase is said to effect immediate in-source collisional cooling. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2003/0098413 (Weinberger et al.) describes a laser desorption ionization source in which cooling gas is introduced at the laser-interrogated surface of the LDI probe. In contrast to the device of Baykut, in which the gas introduced at the laser desorption probe surface is in free communication with a subsequent multipole ion guide, the laser desorption probe in Weinberger et al. is communicably segregated from the first multipole ion guide of the analytical instrument.
Although collisional cooling is reported to improve ion stability in each of these various devices, the gas flow fields are nonoptimal through most parts of these devices, compromising the collection, collimation and output of ions.
In the high pressure MALDI sources, for example, gas resting statically in front of the sample, with no means present for facilitating momentum transfer, can lead to ion loss. In devices in which gas is dynamically introduced at the probe surface, gas introduction is effected through asymmetrically arranged channels, giving rise to asymmetrical collisional forces. And in devices in which ions are injected essentially immediately into RF multipoles, with collisional cooling to be effected within the multipole, most ions are exposed to very high electric field strengths, giving rise to additional initial heating.
Thus, there is a need in the art for ion sources, particularly laser desorption ionization sources, that both effect rapid collisional cooling and in which the gas flow fields are configured throughout the device to optimize ion delivery to an ion analytical instrument to which the source is operably coupled.

Ion source with controlled superposition of electrostatic and gas flow fields


A needle retraction device for removing a needle from a patient. The needle retraction device comprising a housing having an exterior wall which defines an interior compartment. A slidable member, having a pair of spaced apart movable legs separated from one another by an elongate slot, is located within the interior compartment. The pair of spaced apart movable legs are also spaced from a remainder of the slidable member by a cavity or area which is sized to receive needle therein. The slidable member is movable from a first position, in which the pair of spaced apart movable legs are located outside of the interior compartment of the needle retraction device for receiving a needle, and a second retracted position, in which the pair of spaced apart movable legs along with a supported needle, are completely retracted inside the interior compartment of the housing to prevent an inadvertent needle stick.

The risk of cross-contamination and infection from needle sticks are well documented in the associated literature. These include the contraction of life threatening HIV virus, several strains of hepatitis and other blood and body fluid borne diseases.
Surgically implanted vascular access ports have been used by the medical community for many years. They are a means of allowing for the easy removal of blood for laboratory testing along with providing for the repeated infusion of medication with as little discomfort to the patient as possible. These ports are placed in the chest of the patient, with a catheter extending into a blood vessel.
The port is typically constructed of biocompatible metal with a thick elastomeric membrane septum that is positioned under the surface of the skin, but accessible to needle penetration. The septum makes it possible for a needle to penetrate the port to an inner septum chamber for the infusion of a drug through the needle into the port, followed by the needle's removal without leakage from the port. The purpose of the port is to allow for easy drug delivery without excess needle sticks to the patient, however, the thickness of the port's septum increases the potential of an inadvertent needle stick to the patient or care giver during the withdrawal of the needle from the port.
The type of needle used with the vascular ports are termed Huber angled needles. These needles are unique in that they contain a ninety degree bend halfway along the needle shaft and include handling/ securing wings located immediately adjacent the bend. The bend in the needle shaft allows the handling/securing wings to be secured to the skin of the patient with tape while the port is in use. These needles are also noncoring, which means that they are able to penetrate cleanly into the vascular port, much like a knife, but upon removal from the port, the port's septum closes completely. This is a very important feature with regard to leakage from the septum and also allows the septum to be accessed well over 1,000 times without damage to the septum.
To remove the needle, the care giver typically places his/her first and middle fingers on the port to support it. The fingers must be positioned on each side of the needle shaft to properly support the needle. Downward pressure must be supplied by the fingers during the needle's removal to stabilize the port. Care must be given, because excess drag from the needle's removal can cause the implanted catheter to disconnect from the port or pull the catheter out of the vessel. The other hand is used to remove the needle by grasping its handling/securing wings and using considerable upward force to remove the needle from the patient. The care giver, when removing the needle, may inadvertently counter this force by thrusting the needle back in the direction of the port at the hand stabilizing the port, which can lead to a needle stick to either the patient or the care giver.
The prior art discloses several attempts at addressing the needle stick problem. However, none of the proposed solutions are user friendly or low in cost. The Madore device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,612, discloses a device with two convex shaped prongs arranged in a "V" shape that are attached to a handle. With this device, the needle must be carried to a sharps disposal device with the potential for needle sticks occurring during the needle's placement in the device. In addition, the Madore device is preferably made of stainless steel, which would necessitate its resterilization between use, making the device labor intensive and expensive.
The Thompson device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,092, discloses a cylindrical shaped hollow bodied device that is open with flaps, at one end, and contains a slot in the other, where the tips of a hemostat are placed through the slot to grasp and remove the needle. Upon grasping the needle with the hemostat tips, downward pressure is placed on the top of the cylinder, the needle is forced upward into the hollow body with the flaps preventing the needle from leaving the container. The Thompson device is awkward to use, the hemostat is difficult to manipulate through the slot in the top of the container and the device is relatively expensive.
The Doyle Extractor by Safetech International, Inc. (patent pending), is a device that utilizes a disposable reverse hemostat type design, with the tips apart when the handles are together. The tips have slots in them to accommodate the needle. This device does not address the problem of needle containment once the needle is removed or the possibility of inadvertent needle sticks. Also, the potential for blood aerosol occurring is increased.
Although the prior art has attempted to accommodate all potential problems that can occur with the use of the Huber needles with vascular ports, improvements are still necessary. As the number of blood-borne diseases increases, the safety of all concerned increases. A device that is both cost effective and safe to both the patient and care giver is needed in the health-care industry of today.

Needle removal and containment device and method of using same


Method and devices for performing chromatographic pattern analysis determine chromatographic variability due to a plurality of sources without requiring identification or characterization of peaks or other chromatographic features, receives data indicative of a standard chromatogram and a first sample chromatogram generated from a first mixture by a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) device and data indicative of a plurality of additional sample chromatograms generated by the HPLC device from a plurality of different mixtures. The method and devices generate from the standard chromatogram, a plurality of sets of chromatographic variability data, each set being indicative of a different effect of the chromatographic variability of the HPLC. The standard chromatogram is modified as a function of the variability data, and a residual value, indicative of a difference between the modified standard chromatograms and the first sample chromatogram is generated. Residual values are generated for the additional sample chromatograms and are used to determine differences between the corresponding mixtures and the first mixture.

Chromatography is a technique widely used in the analysis of multi-component substances. In chromatography, a liquid or gas, of known or unknown composition, is injected into a chromatograph which generates a chromatogram in the form of a two dimensional graph in which absorptivity of the injected liquid, or conductivity of the injected gas or some other physical response is plotted against time. The absorptivity of the liquid or conductivity of the gas with respect to time as it passes through the chromatograph is indicative of the composition of the liquid or gaseous mixture.
Common uses of chromatography include quality control, in which manufactured substances are analyzed to verify the composition, and qualitative and quantitative analysis in which chromatograms derived from unknown substances are generated to analyze and determine the composition of the substance. In a quality control application, a chromatogram of a known and desired substance is generated and compared to the chromatogram of the manufactured substance. In qualitative and quantitative analysis applications, one or more chromatograms are generated of the unknown substance in an attempt to identify the components or quantify the amounts of each of the components of the substance.
In either of the above applications, the chromatogram(s) must be analyzed to determine similarities or differences with other chromatograms. Typically, such analysis requires analysis and comparison of the peaks, including the retention time, height and area of peaks between one chromatogram with those of another. In order to perform such a comparison, a method of identifying the peaks to be compared must be developed and optimized, and then a method to compare the peaks and other above identified aspects of the chromatograms must be developed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is one such technique and is referred to by G. Malmquist and R. Danielsson in a paper entitled "Alignment of Chromatographic Profiles for Principal Component Analysis: A Prerequisite for Fingerprinting Methods", Journal of Chromatography A, 687 (1994) 71-88. As described by Malmquist and Danielsson, retention times of selected peaks are used to align corresponding chromatograms. Once they are aligned, the absorbances are themselves compared. Another technique is described by J. P. Mason et al. in an article entitled "A Novel Algorithm for Chromatogram Matching in Qualitative Analysis", Journal of High Resolution (hromatography, v. 15, pp. 539-547 (August 1992) which describes an automated chromatographic matching technique which compares only peak heights, areas and retention times.
Chromatographic analysis must also take into account variability introduced by the chromatograph such as baseline drift, retention time wander and concentration change. Such variations of the chromatograph are manifested as variations in the chromatograms generated by the chromatograph and further complicate the analysis by requiring the analysis to take into account those several variations. In the above referenced paper by Malmquist and Danielsson, a technique is described for compensating for chromatographic variability in the context of enhancing chromatographic analysis by PCA.
Known techniques for chromatographic analysis such as described by Malmquist and Danielsson and Mason et al. typically require the steps described above of specifying a method of identifying peaks to be compared, specifying a method of comparing the various aspects of the peaks, and then actually performing the comparisons, while taking into account the effects of chromatographic variability. Although computerized techniques such as those described by Mason are helpful in performing such tasks, many known techniques continue to be time consuming, sometimes tedious and require the skills of highly trained personnel.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a computation devices or systems for chromatographic analysis which compensate for chromatographic variability and which perform chromatographic analysis without requiring the characterization of peaks or other chromatographic features as required by known techniques.

Method and devices for chromatographic pattern analysis employing chromatographic variability characterization


A projectile trap is provided having three groups of suspended polyurethane sheets. The polyurethane sheets are processed so as to have high cut and tear resistance properties and low rebound properties. The hardness of the polyurethane sheets increases from the first group of sheets at the front of the bullet trap, which are first contacted by a bullet, to the third group of polyurethane sheets at the rear of the bullet trap. The polyurethane sheets are suspended in the bullet trap by a keying arrangement which ensures that individual polyurethane sheets of a particular group may only be placed at specific locations in the bullet trap.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to projectile traps, and in particular to portable traps for target practice to catch and collect spent bullets. More specifically, the invention relates to bullet traps to capture bullets fired from either handguns or rifles at a distance of between 20 to 50 feet from the bullet trap.
2. Description of Related Art
Bullet traps are typically used to capture bullets fired indoors or in enclosed spaces. The bullet traps previously available have generally been large and complicated devices and therefore have been expensive. These bullet traps were often so large and heavy that they required permanent installation. Examples of some prior art bullet traps are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,992,001; 3,197,207; 4,470,604; and 4,458,901. Thus, it has been difficult for individuals, small police departments and other small organizations to obtain proper equipment for target practice.
In many cases, the limited use that such equipment would receive simply does not justify the cost or the space required to erect a bullet trap. Conventional bullet traps have also tended to produce undesirable lead dust. Conventional bullet traps are also fairly noisy. Finally, bullets fired into conventional bullet traps have on occasion become lost and unrecoverable.
Thus, a portable, relatively lightweight, relatively quiet, bullet trap for indoor use which generates less lead dust and from which more bullets are recoverable is needed.


In a communication system which is composed of portable personal communication terminals, a base station for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from each of the personal communication terminals and an exchange connected to the base station, each of the personal communication terminals is provided with a storage means for storing communication control information for controlling the communication state of the personal communication terminal, and the exchange is provided with a storage means for updating the communication control information of each of the personal communication terminals and storing the updated information. Each of the personal communication terminals transmits the communication control information together with identification data to the exchange through the base station at the time of communication, the exchange compares the communication control information received with the communication control information stored in correspondence with the personal communication terminal, and when they agree, the communication is permitted, while the communication is inhibited when they do not agree, thereby preventing the unjust use of the personal terminal.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of preventing unjust use of a personal communication terminal and, more particularly, to a method of preventing unjust use of a personal communication terminal in a communication system which is composed of portable personal communication terminals, a base station for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from each of the personal communication terminals and an exchange which is connected to the base station.
A personal handy phone system is a new telephone service which enables a slave phone (personal communication terminal) of a cordless digital telephone to be carried out so as to use the personal communication terminal at a given place. FIG. 10 shows the structure of a personal handy phone system. In FIG. 10, the reference numeral 1.sub.11, 1.sub.12, . . . , 1.sub.2 . . . represent portable personal communication terminals, 2.sub.1 to 2.sub.N base stations (BS) which are provided in public telephone boxes or the like so as to transmit and receive a signal to and from the personal communication terminals, and 3 an exchange which is connected to the base stations.
Each of the personal communication terminals 1.sub.11, 1.sub.12, . . . , 1.sub.2 . . . constantly compares the positional information which is supplied from the corresponding base station 2.sub.1 to 2.sub.N with the positional information which it holds, and if it is not the same, the corresponding personal communication terminal stores the newly received positional information and transmits the terminal ID to the exchange 3 through the base station so as to register the position. At the time of calling, if the user of the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 inputs the telephone number of a called party, the base station 2.sub.1 designates the communication channel and connects the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 with the exchange 3. Thereafter, the exchange 3 executes the call setting process between the exchange 3 and the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 through the base station 2.sub.1, and connects the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 with the terminal of the called party. At the time of reception of call, the exchange 3 obtains a base station in a zone to which the terminal of the called party belongs on the basis of the telephone number of the called party and the registered positional information which is stored by a position registering process, and informs the base station of the reception of the call. On the basis of the information about the reception of the call, the base station calls the terminal of the called party, designates the communication channel, and connects the exchange 3 with the personal communication terminal.
It is expected that such a personal handy phone system will come into wide use and various kinds of terminals will be developed in the future. It is then necessary to guard against the unjust use of a terminal. For this purpose, it is necessary to incorporate an unjust use checking mechanism, namely, an "identification mechanism" into a newly developed terminal.
In a conventional personal handy phone system, the exchange 3 is provided with a data base for "cryptographic keys" and ascertains whether or not the corresponding terminal is justly used by starting a identification process with respect to the terminal at the time of calling, reception and position registration.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the identification process at the time of calling. As shown in FIG. 10, identification types 4a and cryptographic keys 4b are registered in the memory 3a of the exchange 3 in correspondence with the terminal IDs of the service subscribers. The terminal ID 5a and the cryptographic key 5b are registered in the ROM of each personal communication terminal.
(1) When the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 calls by inputting the phone number of a called party, it transmits a SET UP message to the exchange 3 through the base station 2.sub.1. (2) The exchange 3 obtains the identification type 4a and the cryptographic key 4b corresponding to the calling terminal ID which are included in the SET UP message, and creates random numbers on the basis of the identification type 4a and the cryptographic key 4b. (3) The exchange 3 transmits the random numbers to the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11. (4) When the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 receives the random numbers, it enciphers the random numbers by using the cryptographic key 5b it holds, (5) and transmits the cryptogram to the exchange 3. (6) In parallel with this operation, the exchange 3 enciphers the random numbers by using the cryptographic key 4b, and (7) compares the cryptogram obtained with the cryptogram received from the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11. (8) If the cryptograms are not coincident, the exchange 3 regards the call as a call from a noncontractor and rejects communication, (9) while if the cryptograms are coincident, the exchange 3 transmits call reception approval to the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11, and continues the calling processing so as to connect the personal communication terminal 1.sub.11 with the terminal of the called party.
By starting this identification process, it is possible to prevent the unjust use of the service by a noncontractor. However, if the contents of the ROM of a personal communication terminal of a real contractor are copied by a mala fide third party and the copied ROM is mounted on a personal communication terminal which is not contracted, it is possible to freely call from the unjust terminal. In this case, communication from the unjust terminal is freely possible and the owner of the personal communication terminal of the original ROM (real contractor) is naturally charged for the communication until the owner of the personal communication terminal perceives the existence of an unjust user of the terminal from the bill charging him too much for the actual calls and takes a measure such as a change in the cryptographic key.
Such a problem of unjust use is also encountered in a mobile communication system such as a car telephone system and a portable telephone system. To solve this problem, the following method of preventing the unjust use of a mobile communication system is proposed (U.S. Ser. No. 08/398,217, application date Mar. 2, 1995), the mobile communication system being composed of a mobile network which includes a mobile communication exchange office, a plurality of base control stations connected to the mobile communication exchange office and a plurality of base stations controlled by the corresponding base control stations, and a plurality of mobile stations each of which exists in a radio zone of the predetermined base station so as to transmit and receive control data for calling processing and a communication signal to and from the corresponding base station through a control channel and a communication channel, respectively.
The mobile network counts the number of calls from a mobile station in a predetermined time of period, stores the number in correspondence with the ID of the mobile station, and periodically reports the number of received calls to the respective mobile stations. Each of the mobile station counts and stores the number of calls which have been requested in a predetermined period of time, and when the number of received calls is reported from the mobile network, the mobile station compares the number of received calls with the stored number of calls which have been requested and reports the agreement/disagreement to the mobile network. If the mobile network receives the report of disagreement, it thereafter stops receiving a call from the corresponding mobile station. In this manner, it is possible to prevent the unjust use of a mobile terminal provided in the mobile station even if the contents of the ROM of the mobile terminal of a real contractor are copied by a mala fide third party. However, this method of preventing unjust use under the control of the mobile network has the following problems.
(1) Each of the mobile stations is required to have a function of identifying the number of received calls which is sent from the mobile network, a function of comparing the number of received calls with the number of calls which have been requested, and a function of reporting the agreement/disagreement to the mobile network. Therefore, each mobile station has a complicated structure and becomes expensive.
Personal communication is a communication system which attaches much importance to a small size, a light weight and a low cost of a personal communication terminal. It is therefore necessary to provide as little service function as possible for a personal communication terminal. However, the proposed method of preventing unjust use requires the above-described functions, which makes the structure complicated and raises the cost.
(2) In the proposed method of preventing the unjust use of a mobile terminal, when the mobile network finds an unjust mobile station having a predetermined ID, it thereafter stops receiving the request for call from the mobile station having the ID. According to this method, a procedure for restoring the calling function to the real mobile station is complicated and calling is impossible for a long time during the procedure.
(3) In the proposed method of preventing the unjust use of a mobile terminal, since the mobile network periodically reports the number of received calls, the number of received calls is also open to an unjust mobile terminal. There is therefore a risk of the unjust use of the open information.
(4) Since the mobile network must periodically report the number of received calls to each of a multiplicity of mobile stations and execute predetermined processing when the agreement/disagreement is reported, the load of the mobile network increases.

Method and system for preventing unjust use of personal communication terminal

c/o Fujitsu Communication Systems Limited, 9-18, Shinyokohama 3-chome, Kohoku-ku


A method of fabricating a device including imprinting a mold having a protrusion against a substrate having a resist layer such that the protrusion engages the resist layer. The mold further has a mask member positioned generally adjacent the resist layer. Radiation energy is then transmitted through the mold and into the resist layer; however, the mask member substantially prevents transmission of the radiation energy therethrough, thereby defining an unexposed area in the resist layer. Once the mold is removed from the substrate, which consequently forms a first feature from nanoimprinting, the unexposed area of resist layer is removed through dissolving in a developer solution.

Nano-patterning is an essential part of nanotechnology research and is used to fabricate nanostructures to harness their unique properties. However, in order for nano-device and nanostructure fabrication to have significant practical value, a low-cost and high-throughput nano-patterning technique is needed. Among many new emerging lithography techniques that are aimed at addressing this issue, nanoimprinting techniques are regarded as one of the most promising.
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nano-scale lithography technique where a surface relief pattern on a hard mold is physically imprinted into a thermal plastic polymer film at elevated temperature and pressure. Nanoimprint lithography has attracted more and more attention in both research and commercial applications due to its potential application in nano-scale patterning. It is often desirable because of its sub-10 nm resolution and simple equipment setup requirements. Nanoimprint lithography is further a relatively simple process that has high throughput, thus enabling low-cost, large-scale patterning of nano-structures.
Although nanoimprint lithography has proved to be very successful in nano-patterning, especially in replicating nano-scale features with uniform sizes, it still suffers from several limitations as a flexible lithographic technique. A preferred lithographic technique should be capable of producing both large and small features in various combinations and distributions, which is a typical requirement in micro- and nano-fabrication processes. For example, in the case of imprint lithography (such as nanoimprint lithography), mold features on the mold are physically pressed into a polymer. Larger features on the mold must displace more polymer material over larger distances. Thus, patterns with large features are much more difficult to imprint than smaller features (also known as nano-patterns). Furthermore, defects or pattern failures in the form of incomplete pattern transfer can occur due to the high viscosity of the polymer melt and the mold pattern complexity.
On the other hand and separate from nanoimprint lithography, photolithography is a well-developed process and has been pushed towards its limit to maintain its role in future microelectronic fabrication. In most cases, the cost of these next generation photolithography systems is prohibitive, except for large-scale production runs.
The present invention combines the processing steps of nanoimprint lithography and photolithography to provide a new technique that provides many new advantages. That is, the present invention enables patterning of both large-scale and sub-micron size structures in a single step. With many advantages, the present invention may be used in the fabrication of a wide range of nano-scale electronic, photonic, and biological devices where patterns of various sizes and densities are needed.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Combined nanoimprinting and photolithography for micro and nano devices fabrication

The Regents of the University of Michigan


A thermally loaded component has at least one cooling passage for the flow of a cooling fluid passing through it. In the region of a bend, at least one diverter device for the integral capturing of the flow of the cooling fluid is provided within the cooling passage. The diverter device comprises, over the height of the cooling passage, two diverter parts which are spaced apart from one another. The diverter maybe cast with a notch therein so that during cooling, the diverter breaks into separated portions proximate the notch.

An increase in the efficiency of a thermal power machine, e.g. a gas turbine, is directly dependent on an increase in the working temperature of the thermally loaded components and therefore, in the case of a gas turbine, on the combustion gas temperature of the combustion chamber and the turbine which follows it. Despite improvements in materials which are able to withstand high temperatures, cooling technology also needs to be improved in order to keep the materials temperature within a safe range when thermally loaded components of this type are in operation. Cooling passages are used for this purpose and have to be fed with cooling fluid, for example from the compressor. It is attempted in this context to achieve the maximum possible cooling effect combined with the minimum possible losses in power of the overall system. For this purpose, specific improved heat-transfer techniques, such as for example fins in the cooling passages, are used.
GB 2 165 315 has disclosed blades or vanes in which cooling fluid is passed from the trailing-edge region of the blade or vane to the leading-edge region via cooling passages formed by partition walls and is then blown out via openings in the head of the blade or vane. To sufficiently cool the trailing-edge region of the blade or vane, air is blown out of the trailing edge of the blade or vane. Diverter blades are provided in order to divert the cooling fluid into the cooling passages.
In general terms, cooling passages which in many instances run substantially parallel and which are connected via diverter passages are used in thermally loaded components, e.g. blades or vanes of turbines. These diverter passages are configured in such a way that the pressure loss involved in the diversion is minimal and the heat transfer is as homogeneous as possible, in order to avoid local hot zones. To achieve this, in many cases diverter blades are arranged in the region of the diverter passages. However, these diverter blades are very fragile and are difficult to produce by casting, even in the case of large components, such as for example large blades or vanes of stationary gas turbines. By way of example, during cooling of the casting following the casting operation, stresses may form in the casting, since the inner parts, which are of relatively small dimensions, and the outer parts have different cooling rates. In some cases, these stresses may cause cracks to occur in the inner structures, with the result that the casting cannot be used. If the defects are not noticed, the casting may break in use and may then, for example in the case of blades or vanes, cause damage to further blades or vanes and the turbine.
Cooling of turbine blades is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,631 or from U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,343.


A liquid discharging apparatus includes: a liquid discharge head including plural nozzle rows each arrayed with plural nozzles and discharging liquid droplets onto a workpiece by a multi-pass method using n recording passes (n is an integer of 3 or more); and a head drive section that controls driving of n nozzle groups corresponding to the n recording passes in each of the nozzle rows with a discharge duty upper limit specific to each nozzle group, and for a pair of nozzle groups adjacent across the nozzle rows, when controlling driving of one of the nozzle groups with a discharge duty upper limit being the maximum discharge duty upper limit of one nozzle row containing the one nozzle group, controls driving of the other nozzle group with a discharge duty upper limit that is not the maximum discharge duty upper limit of another nozzle row containing the other nozzle group.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid discharging apparatus that discharges a liquid onto a workpiece, and to a liquid discharge method thereof.
2. Related Art
Hitherto, an ink jet recording apparatus (liquid discharging apparatus) that includes a recording head and a recording controller is known. The recording head includes plural ejection orifice (discharge opening) groups that are each arrayed with plural ejection orifices that eject ink onto a recording medium by a double pass method using two recoding passes. The recording controller controls, out of two groups in each ejection orifice group that correspond to the two recording passes, driving of one group with a different recording ratio (thinning ratio) to another group, and, when controlling driving of one group with a high recording ratio from two groups adjacent across the ejection orifice groups, controls the driving of the other group with a low recording ratio. Such an ink jet recording apparatus suppresses generation of an air current from the recording medium toward the ejection orifice face during ejection by avoiding driving of two groups that are adjacent to each other across the ejection orifice groups with a high ejection duty at the same time as each other, thereby suppressing adhesion of ink mist to the ejection orifice face (see JP-A-2005-186610).
However, there has been no consideration hitherto in ink jet recording apparatuses of dividing each of the ejection orifice groups into three or more groups, and controlling driving of the three or more groups.

Liquid discharging apparatus and liquid discharge method


A combination weighing machine includes a plurality of cups (20) into which articles (21) are put, a weigher (62) for measuring the sum weights of cup (20) and the articles (21) in the cups (20), or measuring the weights of the articles (21) while the articles (21) are held in the cups (20), a retention conveyor (63) for receiving from the weigher (62) and causing to wait the plurality of cups (20) containing articles (21) of which weights have been measured by the weigher (62), combination computing means for combining respective weight values developed by the measurement by the weigher (62) in various ways, and selecting articles (21) forming a combination of articles the sum weight of which is within a predetermined weight range, and a transfer conveyor (66) for conveying the cups (20) containing the articles (21) which form the combination selected by the combination computing means to a discharge position where the articles (21) forming the selected combination are discharged.

As shown in FIG. 36 which is a partially simplified cross-sectional view, a prior art combination weighing machine includes a cone-shaped distributing table 1 onto which articles 2 to be weighed are supplied. The distributing table 1 distributes the articles 2 outward of the outer periphery of the table 1 by centrifugal force, for example. The articles 2 moved outward of the periphery of the distributing table 1 are fed to a plurality of straight feeders 3 disposed along the outer periphery of the distributing table 1. The straight feeders 3 transport the articles 2 successively outward. The articles 2 discharged from a distal end of each straight feeder 3 drop into a supply hopper 4 disposed beneath the distal end of the feeder 3. The articles 2 in the hoppers 4 are then fed to weighing hoppers 5 which are disposed beneath respective ones of the supply hoppers 4. The articles in each weighing hopper 5 are then weighed by a weight detector 6 which supports that weighing hopper 5. After the articles 2 are weighed, a gate 7 inside each weighing hopper 5 is opened and the weighed articles are fed to a memory hopper 8 disposed beneath the weighing hopper 5. When the weighing hoppers 5 are emptied, other articles are supplied to the weighing hoppers 5 in a manner similar to the one described above. The measured weights of weighed articles in the respective weighing hoppers 5 and the measured weights of weighed articles in the respective memory hoppers 8 are arithmetically combined and processed, and the combination of measured weights which is equal or nearest in weight to a predetermined weight is selected. The articles corresponding to the selected weight are discharged from the weighing hopper 5 and the memory hopper 8. The discharged article 2 are fed to a collection hopper 11 via an individual chute 9 and a collecting chute 10, where they are fed to a packaging machine 12.
Usually, the prior art combination weighing machine shown in FIG. 36 requires at least ten to fourteen weighing hoppers 5, although the number depends on a required measuring precision. These ten to fourteen weighing hoppers 5 are disposed beneath the distal ends of the respective ones of ten to fourteen straight feeders 3. Then, the diameter D (see FIG. 36) of a circle on which the weighing hoppers 5 are disposed is relatively large. For feeding articles selected for combination to the packaging machine 12, the selected articles must be gathered to one location above the packaging machine 12. Therefore the selected articles are fed to the single collection hopper 11. Accordingly, the diameter D of the prior art combination weighing machine is relatively large as shown in FIG. 36, and the length R of the path from the respective weighing hoppers 5 to the collection hopper 11, too, is long accordingly.
For weighing articles which are sticky or adhesive, if the length R of the path 13 is long, amounts of articles sticking to inside walls of the individual chutes 9 and collecting chute 10 which together form the path 13 increase, which results in lowering of the weighing precision of the combination weighing machine.
With the combination machine shown in FIG. 36, the use of the memory hoppers 8 increases the number of weighed articles which can be combined, which can improve the combination weighing precision. However, with this machine, because weighed articles 2 in the weighing hoppers 5 must be removed into the memory hoppers 8, a larger amount of articles, when they are sticky or adhesive, will adhere to the weighing hoppers 5 and the memory hoppers 8, which degrade the combination weighing precision. Then, for sticky or adhesive articles, it sometimes become impossible to use the memory hoppers 8 in order to maintain a desired weighing precision.
In order to maintain a desired weighing precision without using the memory hoppers 8, the number of the weighing hoppers 5 may be increased. However, with an increased number of weighing hoppers 5, the diameter D shown in FIG. 36 increases and, accordingly, the length R of the path 13 also increases. Therefore there is a limitation on the number of the weighing hoppers 5 which can be increased. Furthermore, the use of a larger number of weighing hoppers 5 undesirably increases not only the cost but also the size of the weighing machine.
In the combination weighing machine shown in FIG. 36, articles in one weighing hopper 5 or articles in one memory hopper 8 beneath the weighing hopper 5 are selected for combination, the articles in the weighing hopper 5 are discharged and the weighing hopper 5 becomes empty. Then, another articles are fed to the empty weighing hopper 5 for weighing. Accordingly, as long as articles in a weighing hopper 5 or in a memory hopper 8 beneath that weighing hopper 5 are not selected for combination and, therefore, not discharged, the weighing by that weighing hopper 5 is interrupted and, therefore, no further articles can be weighed. There are always a plural number of such weighing hoppers 5 that discontinue weighing during the operation of the combination weighing machine. Thus, the efficiency of the plural weighing hoppers 5 as a whole is undesirably low.
Another problem in the combination weighing machine shown in FIG. 36 is that since articles selected for combination are discharged from the weighing hoppers 5 or the memory hoppers 8 and transported along the inner walls of the individual chutes 9 and the inner walls of the collecting chute 10 to the packaging machine 12, it will take a relatively long time for the articles, in particular, sticky or adhesive articles to move along the path 13, and, hence, it will take a long time for the weighed articles to be packaged in the packaging machine 12.
One object of the present invention is to provide a combination weighing machine which can combination-weigh adhesive or sticky articles with an improved weighing precision, which can provide improved operating efficiency for weighing hoppers, and which has improved weighing speed. Another object is to provide a compact combination weighing machine which has a relatively small size.

Combination weighing method and combination balance


A propane gas distribution system according to the present invention substantially enhances safety by providing a gas lockout device within the enclosure containing the distribution lines to the propane appliances for closing off a gas distribution line in response to either a sensed low pressure level or a sensed high pressure level. The closure member within the lockout device is biased closed, but is normally prevented from closing by a stop member which in turn is held in position until the unsafe low pressure or unsafe high pressure condition exists. A security control member is utilized for restricting the re-opening of the lockout device to select personnel, which typically would be a propane company representative. According to the method of the present invention, gas from the high pressure source is regulated and output to a low pressure gas distribution line. The gas pressure within the distribution line is sensed, and the gas line is automatically closed in response to a sensed low pressure level or a high sensed high pressure level. The gas distribution line is normally prevented from closing when gas pressure is above the low pressure level and below the high pressure level.

The propane industry has long been plagued with the knowledge that a residential propane distribution system could inadvertently release the combustible gas into the customer's house. If fortunate, this releasing event occurred when no one was home, and the fire or explosion which results from this gas release then only destroys the structure and personal possessions of the family. If unfortunate, the explosion is triggered by or associated with the re-entry of the individual into the gas-filled house, and the simple act of switching on a light results in horror, pain, and possibly death to the returning individuals. The propane industry offers relatively cost-efficient fuel to many homeowners who prefer to live in rural surroundings which are not supplied by a community gas distribution system. Accordingly, refillable propane tanks supplied by delivery trucks ideally meet the needs of many people throughout the world. Terrifying accounts of home explosions due to propane gas, however, have had a significant affect on the industry. Individuals sometimes select more costly and less convenient means of heating their homes or supplying energy to home appliances because of the risks associated with propane, as discussed further below.
There are numerous reasons why the need for improved safety systems to distribute propane or other combustible gases has not previously been satisfied. Partially because individuals do not always follow safety instructions or think about the consequences of their actions, many have felt that these risks could never be significantly reduced. Various actions and circumstances, only some of which are described below, can cause the inadvertent release of propane gas into a home. In one instance, the homeowner's backyard gas storage tank has run low on fuel, so that the pilot lights for the furnace and gas consuming appliances are extinguished. If the propane tank is then refilled while the owner is at work or otherwise absent from the home, the newly supplied gas is released un-burned into the house. The homeowner may subsequently return to his house and turn on a light, which causes a spark and explosion.
In another situation, a duplex tenant may vacate his side of the building with his propane tank empty, so that his appliance shutoff valve for supplying propane to the clothes dryer is left open, although no gas is escaping. The landlord or new tenant decides to refill the propane tank, which results in an open gas line into the building. The gas escapes into the adjoining duplex, injuring parties having no involvement in the explosion.
In other cases, the gas regulator is positioned adjacent the propane tank, and a line extends a substantial distance from the tank to the house, business, or other dwelling. Water in the line freezes, thereby cutting off the supply to the gas appliances. Later that day the ice blockage in the line thaws due to warming outdoor temperatures, and gas thereafter flows to the appliances with extinguished pilots, resulting in the same safety hazard.
In still another instance, the gas regulator to a house fails to serve its intended purpose of reducing gas pressure to the residential furnace and appliances, possibly because its vent port has become plugged with ice, wasps nests, or other debris. If the gas regulator fails, the high pressure flow of gas to the appliance typically extinguishes the pilot, and the high pressure gas is released to quickly fill a home, and may cause either an explosion or asphyxiation of sleeping individuals. Alternatively, the gas appliance may have an operable shut-off valve responsive to a burning pilot in order to maintain the supply of gas to the appliance, and this valve desirably thus closes when the pilot blows out. The fittings in the line between the regulator and the appliance are not capable of sealing against this higher pressure, however, so that gas leaking from these fittings nevertheless releases hazardous gas into the dwelling.
Fisher has marketed various safety shut-off devices, Types 5256-5259. Rockwell has marketed regulators with a low pressure cut-off, and shut-off valves designed for overpressure protection, for underpressure protection, or for both underpressure and overpressure protection. These devices have not, however, alleviated the problems discussed above, and improved systems, equipment, and techniques are required to lessen the risk of combustible gas usage throughout the world.
The present invention thus fills a need which has long existed. While the techniques of this invention unfortunately will not prevent all accidents involving the distribution or use of propane and other combustible gases, it will significantly reduce many of those risks which are today causing tremendous losses to both life and property.


An inexpensive and efficient tunable electromagnetic filter is disclosed, having a wide range of tunable frequencies, comprising a holder with a number of filters mounted on the holder. The frequency of the filter is altered by moving the holder relative to a beam striking the holder so that one of the filters is filtering the beam. The frequency to be filtered may be easily and quickly changed, without altering the structure of the filter. In one embodiment the tunable filter is a disk rotatable by a motor with a number of fixed frequency filters mounted around the periphery of the disk. The filter is surrounded by four fibers providing and receiving beams, as with known add-drop filters.

This invention relates to an electromagnetic filter whose frequency may be quickly and easily altered.
Electromagnetic filters may filter a stream of electromagnetic energy by separating certain frequencies from the stream and/or by adding certain frequencies to the stream. For example, an optical filter may subtract a band of frequencies from a beam of light containing multiple frequencies of light. Such filters may be used in communication networks transmitting information using beams of electromagnetic information.
A communication network transports information from a source to a destination. The source and destination may be in close proximity, such as in an office environment, or thousands of miles apart, such as in a long-distance telephone system. The information, which may be, for example, computer data, voice transmissions, or video programming, known as xe2x80x9ctrafficxe2x80x9d, usually enters and leaves a network at nodes, and is transported through the network via links and nodes. Nodes, sometimes termed offices, are devices or structures that direct traffic into, out of, and through the network. Links connect nodes and transmit data between nodes.
Modem communication networks may transmit information in digital form by light waves using links of optical fiber cable. Multiple wavelengths of light may be transmitted on one optical fiber line, each wavelength carrying a separate channel of information. One wavelength of light may carry 2.5 gigabits of information per second in one direction, and current optical fiber lines may carry 16 wavelengths at the same time. Data may be sent in two directions at the same time on one link. A network using optical fiber cable carrying multiple wavelengths is called a wavelength division multiplexed (xe2x80x9cWDMxe2x80x9d) optical network.
The wavelength and the frequency of electromagnetic radiation are related in a fixed manner; thus electromagnetic energy and filters for electromagnetic energy may be characterized using both measures interchangeably.
Specific wavelengths carried on an optical fiber line may be added to the line or dropped (i.e., removed) from the line using an add/drop filter. Such a filter accepts as an input an optical fiber line transmitting a beam of electromagnetic energy carrying multiple frequencies, including the xe2x80x9ctargetxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctunedxe2x80x9d frequency for which the filter is tuned (the frequency at which the filter operates, or the frequency centered in the band of frequencies at which the filter operates). The filter selects the frequency for which the filter is tuned (the xe2x80x9cdrop frequencyxe2x80x9d) from the beam on the optical fiber line and provides two outputs to two optical fiber output lines. A first optical fiber output line receives the original beam from the input optical fiber line, with the tuned frequency removed, and a second optical fiber output line receives the drop frequency, separated from the original beam. The filter may accept as an input an optical fiber line carrying a frequency to be added (xe2x80x9cadd frequencyxe2x80x9d), which corresponds in frequency to the drop frequency. In such a case the first output line receives the original beam with the add frequency replacing the drop frequency. It is not necessary that the drop frequency exist in the original beam: the filter may be used to add a frequency, add a frequency and drop a frequency, or drop a frequency.
When used herein, a frequency may include a range of frequencies covering a bandwidth (a range of frequencies covering a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum). When used herein, a frequency or wavelength may refer to a beam, or a component of a beam, containing a frequency or a band of frequencies surrounding a certain frequency. A data signal or channel may be carried on a band of frequencies surrounding a certain frequency. A multiple frequency beam is a beam of electromagnetic energy containing different channels which use different frequencies.
The frequencies added and dropped from a line may carry data. Frequencies may be dropped because a node requires access to the portion of the data carried on the optical fiber beam. A frequency may be added after a node alters the information on the frequency, which was dropped, or if the frequency does not exist on the beam. A node may need to add, subtract, monitor or modify data on one or more frequencies on a beam carried on a fiber, and may need to add or drop more than one frequency. Typically, one filter is used for each frequency for which access is desired. Filters may be used to multiplex multiple frequencies of data onto one optical fiber line. Filters are used to selectively add (multiplex) or drop (demultiplex) frequencies from a fiber.
When used herein, xe2x80x9cmultiplexingxe2x80x9d may include demultiplexing, and xe2x80x9cmultiplexerxe2x80x9d may include a device having demultiplexing capabilities. A filter adding and/or removing a wavelength of light from a link may be termed a multiplexer, an add/drop filter, or an add/drop multiplexer (xe2x80x9cADMxe2x80x9d). At each node one ADM is required for add/drop capability for each of the multiple wavelengths that may be carried on an optical fiber cable.
One known network is organized as a mesh. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a simplified portion of a mesh network. Referring to FIG. 1, mesh network 300 comprises nodes (e.g. nodes 304, 306, 308 and 310) connected by links (e.g. links 305, 307, and 309) transmitting traffic between nodes. For example, nodes 304 and 306 are connected by, and may transmit traffic via, link 305. For clarity, not all nodes and links in FIG. 1 are identified with reference numerals. Each node in network 300 may access some or all of the frequencies carried by the links to which it is connected. An add/drop filter is required at a node if traffic is to be added or dropped from a link on a certain frequency.
Typically, a node may add, drop and reroute traffic which originates or terminates at that node in order to allow customers connecting to that node access to that traffic or to route traffic to other nodes. For example, a customer connecting to node 310 may transmit traffic to a customer connecting to node 304 via links 309 and 305 and node 306, using a certain frequency. In such a case, both nodes 310 and 304 require add/drop filters tuned to that frequency. At some point the traffic on the frequency may need to be rerouted to flow to node 308 rather than 304; in such a case node 306 requires an add/drop filter to be able to access the frequency and, using equipment such as a cross connect, route the frequency to link 307 and node 308.
Networks employing architectures other than mesh configurations are also known. Ring networks, for example, interconnect nodes, using links, in a circular fashion to form rings. Multiple rings may be interconnected to form a network.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a simplified portion of a ring network. Referring to FIG. 2, network 330 includes nodes 332, 334, 336, 338 and 340. Nodes are connected by links 331, 333, 335, 337, and 339. Nodes may use add/drop filters to add or drop a frequency from a line. For example, node 332 may send data to node 336 using a frequency of 2xc2x71014 Hz via links 331 and 333 and node 334. Node 336 receives a beam of light on link 333 which contains multiple frequencies, including 2xc2x71014 Hz, and transmits most of those frequencies unaltered on to link 335. Node 336 also receives a beam of light containing multiple frequencies on link 335 and transmits most or all of those frequencies unaltered on link 333.
To access data sent by node 332, node 336 uses an add/drop filter tuned to a target frequency of 2xc2x71014 Hz. The filter removes electromagnetic radiation at or near a frequency of 2xc2x71014 Hz (the xe2x80x9cdroppedxe2x80x9d frequency) from link 333; all other surrounding frequencies are unaltered by the filter and node 336, and are placed on link 335. Node 336 may accept the data sent on the dropped frequency and transmit this data to, for example, customers serviced by network 300. Node 336 may add data to the frequency or alter the data on the frequency and use the filter to add this altered data stream, as a beam at frequency 2xc2x71014 Hz, to the beam for transmission on line 335. Frequencies other than the dropped frequency exist which may be filtered by the filter; however, such frequencies exist some distance away on the electromagnetic spectrum from the dropped frequency and are typically not included with the frequencies applied to the filter. Thus the filter accesses all frequencies surrounding the target band of frequencies; the target frequency is the frequency to which the filter is tuned.
It is sometimes desirable to reconfigure a network and reconfigure the frequencies that nodes are able to access by altering the frequencies added and dropped by filters. This may be desirable for a number of reasons. For example, in network 300, node 336, accessing a first frequency sent by node 332, may instead need to communicate with node 334 by accessing a second frequency, sent by node 334. Traffic patterns in a network may have to be rerouted due to, for example, the failure of a link or node, an increase in traffic, or the addition of equipment. This rerouting may require nodes to access different frequencies.
Optical add/drop filters typically are manufactured to operate on one frequency. Some existing optical add/drop filters have a capacity to have the frequencies on which they operate altered, and are thus considered xe2x80x9ctunablexe2x80x9d; however, such filters typically are not tunable over a wide variety of frequencies. Furthermore such filters may be expensive and inefficient, and may have a wider bandwidth than is desired.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a tunable filter. Referring to FIG. 3, tunable filter 370 alters its frequency by altering the angle at which the beam of light strikes the filter. Such a filter operates over a limited range of frequencies, is inefficient, and, as the angle of incidence increases, the amount of light energy lost to the filter increases and the bandwidth decreases. Tunable filter 370 comprises a mount 372, rotatable around an axis 373; a filter 374, adding and dropping signals at a certain frequency at a given angle of incidence; an in fiber 376, adding a signal on a single frequency; an in lens 378; a drop fiber 380, receiving a dropped signal on a single frequency; a drop lens 382; an input fiber 384, providing a multiple frequency beam as input to tunable filter 370; an input lens 386; an output fiber 390, accepting a multiple frequency optical beam altered by tunable filter 370; and an output lens 392. Lenses serve to focus the beam when the beam travels between the fiber and free space.
A beam is input to tunable filter 370 by input fiber 384 and strikes filter 374. The beam comprises multiple frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. Tunable filter 370 is designed so that, for a light beam striking filter 374 at an angle xcex8, a certain frequency of electromagnetic radiation (the tuned frequency) passes through filter 374 and frequencies surrounding the tuned frequency are reflected by filter 374. In such a manner one frequency, the tuned frequency, passes through filter 374 and mount 372 to be received by drop fiber 380; the signal received by drop fiber 380 is the dropped signal. Frequencies surrounding the tuned frequency output by in fiber 376 are reflected off filter 374 at angle xcex8 and are received by output fiber 390. In fiber 376 may output a light beam at the tuned frequency; such a light beam passes through filter 374 and becomes part of the beam accepted by output fiber 390. Drop fiber 380 and output fiber 390 are moved in proportion to the change in the angle. The frequency filtered by tunable filter 370 may be altered by rotating filter 374 around axis 373 to alter xcex8. As xcex8 increases, the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by filter 374 increases, as does the bandwidth of filter 374. Such a decrease in the efficiency of tunable filter 370 and increase in the bandwidth of tunable filter 370 is not desirable. The range of frequencies to which the filter may be tuned is narrow. Furthermore, that fibers must be moved proportionally with the filter makes such a tunable filter difficult to implement.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multiplexing/demultiplexing filter 400 for accessing multiple frequencies. Referring to FIG. 4, filter 400 includes clear holder 401, on which is mounted filters 402, 404, 406 and 408, each of which allows a band of frequencies to pass through and reflect all other frequencies; fibers 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420, each either inputting a signal to or receiving a signal from multiplexing/demultiplexing filter 400, and each of which has attached one of lenses 422, 424, 426, 428, 430 and 432. Each of filters 402-408 filters a different frequency by allowing that frequency to pass through and reflecting other frequencies.
Multiplexing/demultiplexing filter 400 may act as a demultiplexer. In such a case a multiple frequency signal is input by fiber 410. At each of filters 402-408, one frequency is dropped and passes through the filter to one of fibers 412-420; the remaining frequencies are reflected to another of filters 402-408. Filter 408 reflects the last frequency to be dropped to fiber 420. Multiplexing/demultiplexing filter 400 may also act as a multiplexer. In such a case a signal on one frequency is input by each of fibers 412-420. Each of filters 402-408 allows the frequency input by its corresponding fiber to pass through the filter and to be combined with the multifrequency signal being generated; each such filter reflects all other frequencies in the multifrequency signal being generated. For example, filter 406 allows the frequency provided by fiber 416 to pass through filter 406; filter 406 reflects the frequencies provided to filter 406 by filter 408 and by fiber 418. In such a manner a multifrequency signal is generated and provided to fiber 410.
Multiplexing/demultiplexing filter 400 separates out multiple frequencies at the same time or combines multiple frequencies at the same time; such a system is expensive in that each frequency to be added or dropped requires its own fiber/lens/filter set. The expense of the equipment associated with each frequency to be added or dropped from multiplexing/demultiplexing filter 400 limits the number of frequencies which may be filtered. Furthermore, when demultiplexing, such a filter separates all frequencies on a fiber; it is often desirable only to access one of the multiple frequencies on a line. Thus, in such a system, the frequencies which are not to be removed must be recombined and placed back on the line.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a system which allows an optical filter to operate over a wide range of multiple frequencies, with a minimum of equipment costs, and a maximum of efficiency. It is desirable to have a tunable filter with a narrow bandwidth. Such a filter should be tunable easily and quickly, without the need to alter equipment or to physically assemble or disassemble equipment.
An inexpensive and efficient tunable electromagnetic filter is disclosed, having a wide range of tunable frequencies, comprising a holder with a number of filters mounted on the holder. The frequency of the filter is altered by moving the holder relative to a beam striking the holder so that one of the filters is filtering the beam. The frequency to be filtered may be easily and quickly changed, without altering the structure of the filter. In one embodiment, the tunable filter is a disk rotatable by a motor with a number of fixed frequency filters mounted around the periphery of the disk. The filter is surrounded by four fibers providing and receiving beams, as with known add-drop filters.


Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure provide a display system that integrates a mechanical indicator assembly in an overlapping manner with one or more displays in an instrument panel. An instrument panel may include a mechanical indicator assembly including a pointer configured to rotate about an axis and thereby define an area swept by the pointer, a transparent display, a housing configured to support the mechanical indicator assembly and the transparent display overlaying the mechanical indicator assembly, and a control system configured to display, on the transparent display, content including text and/or graphics.

There has been increased efforts to provide displays that can display objects in three-dimensions. For example, stereo displays convey depth information by displaying offset images that are displayed separately to the left and right eye. When an observer views these planar images they are combined in the brain to give a perception of depth. However, such systems are complex and require increased resolution and processor computation power to provide a realistic perception of the displayed objects.
Multi-component displays including multiple display screens in a stacked arrangement have been developed to display real depth. Each display screen may display its own image to provide visual depth due to the physical displacement of the display screens. For example, multi-display systems are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2015/0323805 and 2016/0012630, the disclosures of which are both hereby incorporated herein by reference. However, such systems may be too complex and expensive for some applications.


Sacrificial inserts for use in gas turbine engines to reduce friction and wear damage between compressor fan blades and the fan rotors are disclosed. The consumable metallic shims have low friction and reduce fretting and galling on fan blade roots and fan rotor dovetail slots thereby increasing their operating lives, as well as reduce engine noise and improve engine efficiency. The electroformed, compliant, multi-purpose shims may have variable thickness and, when positioned between the blade dovetail root and the rotor disk dovetail slot, prevent movement and slippage between air foil blades and the rotor.

Gas turbine engines compress air to about seventeen times the atmospheric pressure using multiple compressor stages. Each compressor stage comprises a plurality of rotor blades mounted on the circumference of the rotor wheel. Compressor and turbine blade speeds keep increasing in gas turbine engines due to the reduced number of highly loaded stages employed in modern designs. When the fan turns at low speeds, e.g., by wind action with the engine off, the fan blade does not generate sufficient centrifugal loading to prevent rocking of the fan blade root in the rotor root slot due to the loose fit between the two components. The relative movement between the root section of the fan blade and the corresponding blade root slot on the rotor typically causes fretting wear and/or galling in the contact areas on both components. Some materials systems, such as one titanium part contacting another titanium part, as commonly used in fan blades and rotors of jet engines are particularly susceptible to such damage. To extend the service life, shims have traditionally been inserted between the root section of fan blades and their respective blade slots in the rotor fan hub of turbofan engines.
A number of approaches to reduce the wear between the root section of the fan blade and the corresponding blade root slot on the rotor have been disclosed in the prior art:
Herzner et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,243 (1992) describes a turbine blade wear protection system comprising metallic shims attached to the dovetail of turbine or compressor blades. The shim reduces frictionally induced wear damage to the rotor. The multi-component shims are interposed between the blade dovetail root and the disk dovetail slot so that they do not readily slip relative to the root or rotor, however, they do slip relative to each other. The "multilayer shim" comprises at least two separate components which can move relative to each other, i.e., the two layers are not attached to each other. The individual layers can optionally be reinforced or contain a coating. The shims are designed to confine fretting to the consumable portions of shim, and therefore the disk dovetail slot and the mating blade dovetails are not subject to surface degradation with corresponding reduction in fatigue capability. The anti-fretting layer is made of a material that does not induce fretting or other type of fatigue damage in titanium and titanium alloys, e.g., phosphor bronze, optionally heat treated to provide at least 12% elongation and a tensile strength of at least 80,000 psi. Other suitable materials include copper-nickel alloys, aluminum-bronze alloys and copper-beryllium alloys.
Kolodziej et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,835 (2002) describes a compliant shim for use between the root of a gas turbine fan blade and a dovetail groove in a gas turbine rotor disk to reduce fretting there between. The compliant shim has first and second slots for engaging tabs extending from the fan blade root. The slots and tabs cooperate to hold the shim in place during engine operation. Shims are made of a cobalt alloy and are heat treated in air to form a thin oxidation layer on their outer surface.
Li et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 10,519,788 (2019) describes a composite airfoil, formed of a polymeric matrix composite, a ceramic matrix composite, or carbon based materials, comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge, a pressure side and a suction side extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a tip at a radial outer end of the airfoil, a shank at a radial inner end of the airfoil, a dovetail connected to the shank. Disposed between the dovetail and the shank are a metal patch, a wear strip and a shim. The metal patch may be of constant thickness or varying thickness and can be formed of a single material or two materials and may have a soft side and a hard side. Materials suitable for use as metal patch include various sheet metals such as stainless steel, titanium, Inconel and other known materials suitable for use in a gas turbine engine environment. The optional wear strip provides a low friction coating. Shims are made of steel, Ti or its alloys, or Cu or its alloys. Shims can also be bi-metallic having a first material coated with a second material such as a steel or steel alloy coated with a copper or copper alloy on one or more sides to provide a relatively hard material on one side and a relatively soft material on the opposite side.
Barnett et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,871,297 (2014) describes a method of applying a nanocrystalline coating to a gas turbine engine component. The method comprises the steps of applying an intermediate bond coat to at least a portion of the component, and then applying the nanocrystalline coating, e.g., made of Ni, Cu, Co—P, Co, Cr, Fe, Mo, Ti, W, and Zr, to at least the portion of the component overtop of the intermediate bond coat. The component may include, for example, a blade of which a dovetail portion of the blade root is protected by applying the intermediate bond coat and the nanocrystalline coating thereto.

Gas turbine blade and rotor wear-protection system