A computer-implemented method in a computer for importing data from an import database to a target database. The method includes displaying a plurality of import items associated with one of the plurality of import records in an import window of a display screen of the computer. The plurality of import items represent at least one of the plurality of import data fields and the plurality of import headers associated with the one of the plurality of import records. There is further included displaying a target window in the display screen, thereby causing the target window to appear simultaneously with the import window in the display screen. The target window includes a plurality of target data fields corresponding to a plurality of target headers and substantially resembles one of a window employed for manual data entry of records and a window employed for data display for the database management program. The method further includes moving an import item of the plurality of import items in the import window to a position in the target window. The position corresponds to a target item of a target record of the target database, the target item representing a target data field if the item represents one of the plurality of import data fields. The target item represents a target header if the item represents one of the plurality of import headers.

The present invention relates to database management programs. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods therefor that permit, in an efficient and highly intuitive manner, data stored in a first database format to be imported into a second database having a different data format.
Database management programs and data structures therefor are known. There are currently existing many different database management programs, many of which employ different formats in organizing their data. For ease of discussion, the discussion below is made with reference to a particular type of database management program known as personal information manager (PIM), although the techniques disclosed herein may be applied to any type of database program that organizes its data into records and record fields.
In the current art, when a user wishes to switch from one personal information manager program to another personal information manager program, he or she may wish to import data that has been created and in use in the old personal information manager program into the new personal information manager program. Import is generally preferred over manual data entry, since import is a computer-implemented process and is substantially more efficient, as well as less tedious, than manual data entry.
To facilitate discussion, FIG. 1A illustrates a screen shot of a prior art import screen, representing the mechanism by which the user of a prior art personal information manager program (in this case, ACT! by Symantec of Cupertino, Calif.) may employ to import data created in a previous personal information manager program into ACT! In prior art import window 102, there are shown a list of import data fields 104 and a list of target headers 106. List of import data fields 104 represents the list of data items in one of the import records of the import database, typically (but not necessarily) the first record. List of target headers 106 represents the list of target data headers present in a target record of the target database, e.g., ACT! in this case.
By mapping individual import data fields in list of import data fields 104 to individual target headers in list of target headers 106, the user can specify via prior art import window 102 the relationship between a given piece of import data in the import record and a target header in the target record. For example, the user may specify that the phone number 214-555-9665 in list of import data fields 104 should correspond to the "Fax Phone" target header in list of target headers 106, and telephone number 214-555-9876 in list of import data fields 104 should correspond to target header "Phone" in list of target headers 106.
To ease the task of importing data, some import data fields in list of import data fields 104 may be matched by default with some target headers in list of target headers 106. For these default matches, the user may either accept them or specify a different mapping between the import data field and the target header in the target record. By so specifying, the default match is overridden.
In prior art import window 102, the "MAP TO" mechanism 108 represents the mechanism by which the user of prior art import window 102 may specify a custom match between a given import data field and a target header in the target database of the ACT! program. To illustrate the operation of this "MAP TO" mechanism, import data field "Corporate Image Products" in prior art import window 102 is shown mapped by default to target header "Company" of list of target headers 106. If the user wishes to map this import data field to a different target header, e.g., target header "Contact" in list of target headers 106, he may first select this import data field for operation by, for example, clicking on this import data field to highlight it. The highlighting is shown in FIG. 1A. The user may then activate the "MAP TO" button 108 to bring up another window to permit the user to choose a different match for the selected import data item "Corporate Image Products".
FIG. 1B illustrates a map field window 150, representing the window through which the user may specify a different association between import data field "Corporate Image Products" and another target header of list of target headers 106 of FIG. 1A. Via map field window 150, the user may click on target header "Contact" to specify to the ACT! program that import data field "Corporate Image Products" should be mapped to header "Contact" for this target record. Further, the user also implies, through this custom match, that import data fields analogous to this import data item "Corporate Image Products" in subsequent import records should be mapped to target header "Contact."
Although the prior art import process permits, through a combination of default and custom matches, data created in one database management program to be imported into another database management program, there are many disadvantages. For example, it is not always intuitive to a novice user how to perform a custom match between an import data field and a target header. In other words, the relationship between prior art import window 102 and map field window 150 is not always intuitively clear.
Further, the prior art import process in ACT! is relatively inefficient since the user is forced to focus on one import data field at a time, and must bring up a custom map field window similar to map field window 150 whenever a change in mapping needs to be made. Additionally, map field window 150 is given without context and in many cases, it is not known from looking at map field window 150 whether a particular target header shown in map field window 150 has already been mapped with another import data field, and therefore unavailable for mapping.
Further, prior art import window 102 and map field window 150 do not provide the user with a familiar visual context. For example, prior art import window 102 and list of target headers 106 have a different layout than the window employed for manual data entry in ACT!. This is a disadvantage since the window employed for manual entry typically represents the window most frequently employed in interacting with the database program and is therefore most familiar to users. In forcing the user to employ a window having a different layout to import data, the prior art does not gain leverage from the user's familiarity with the window the user is already familiar with, e.g., the window employed for manual data entry.
In addition, the lack of visual context makes it difficult for the user to make mapping decisions with regards to certain target headers. For example, target header "Last Results" in list of target headers 106 lacks visual context when it is displayed in the format of prior art import window 102 since, for example, the user has no information regarding the relationship between this target header and other target headers in the target record. Accordingly, the user may experience difficulties in trying to decide which import data field in list of import data fields 104 should be mapped to this target header.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired improved techniques for importing data stored in an import database format into a target database management program having a different format. Among other usability improvements, the improved techniques preferably permit the user to perform data import in an intuitive and efficient manner while leveraging the user's familiarity with other windows of the target database management program.

Methods for importing data between database management programs


There is provided a metal/ceramic bonding substrate having improved reliability to heat cycles, and a method for producing the same. In a metal/ceramic bonding substrate 10 wherein a circuit forming metal plate 14 is bonded to one side of a ceramic substrate 12 and a radiating metal base plate 16 is bonded to the other side thereof, at least part of the ceramic substrate 12 is embedded in the metal base plate 16. The ceramic substrate 12 is arranged substantially in parallel to the metal base member 16.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a metal/ceramic bonding substrate and a method for producing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a metal/ceramic bonding substrate wherein a circuit forming metal plate is bonded to one side of a ceramic substrate and a radiating metal base plate is bonded to the other side thereof, and a method for producing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, as an insulating substrate for a power module for controlling heavy-current for electric vehicles, electric railcars, machine tools and so forth, there is used a metal/ceramic bonding substrate wherein a metal circuit plate is bonded to a ceramic substrate and a flat-plate-shaped radiating metal base plate is bonded to the other side thereof (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-76551).
However, the reliability of conventional metal/ceramic bonding substrates to heat cycles is not always sufficient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Metal/ceramic bonding substrate and method for producing same


A method for forming cathodes for use in field emission devices using nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is disclosed. The CNT layer comprises the electron emitting material on the surface of the cathode. Using the methods of the present invention, the density of the deposited CNTs may be modulated by forming emitter islands on the surface of the cathode. The size and distribution of the CNT emitter islands serve to optimize the field emission properties of the resulting CNT layer. In one embodiment, the CNT emitter islands are formed using a screen-printing deposition method. The present invention may be practiced without further process steps after deposition which activate or align the carbon nanotubes for field emission.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are excellent cold cathode materials for field emission applications such as flat panel displays, microwave sources, x-ray tubes, etc. for very stable and low voltage operation with long lifetime because of their high aspect ratio, electrical conductivity, and outstanding chemical inertness (Zvi Yaniv, "The status of the carbon electron emitting films for display and microelectronic applications," The International Display Manufacturing Conference, Jan. 29-31, 2002, Seoul, Korea). CNTs can be grown on catalyst-supported substrates by arc discharge, laser ablation and other techniques at high temperatures up to 1200-1300° C. Aligned CNTs, deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), may have good field emission properties because they have higher geometric field enhancement. But the CVD process is not necessarily suited for depositing CNTs over large areas because it is very difficult to achieve high uniformity of process conditions across large substrate areas as required for display applications. CVD growth of CNTs also requires a high process temperature (over 500° C.), eliminating the use of low-cost substrates such as soda-lime glass.
A simpler process is to collect the CNT powders and deposit them uniformly onto a selective area of the substrate. CNTs can be printed through a mesh screen if they are mixed with a binder, epoxy, etc. (D. S. Chung, W. B. Choi, J. H. Kang et al., "Field emission from 4.5 in. single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotube films," J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B18(2), 1054-1058 (2000)). They can be sprayed onto the substrates if mixed with a solvent such as IPA, acetone, or water (D. S. Mao, R. L. Fink, G. Monty et al., "New CNT composites for FEDs that do not require activation," Proceedings of the Ninth International Display Workshops, Hiroshima, Japan, p. 1415, Dec. 4-6, 2002). Special surface treatments, so called "activation" processes, are then often needed to achieve low electric field emission and high emission site density of the CNT cathodes. A taping process can enhance the field emission properties of the carbon nanotubes (Yu-Yang Chang, Jyh-Rong Sheu, Cheng-Chung Lee, "Method of improving field emission efficiency for fabricating carbon nanotube field emitters," U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,221). In this method, an adhesive tape is closely attached on the CNT cathode surface and then it is removed. As a result of taping, some carbon nanotubes will be vertically oriented, and the poorly bonded CNT portions will be removed. Possibly some adhesive residue will remain behind on the top of the carbon nanotube layer. The organic residue on the cathode surface after the taping activation process may emit residual, undesirable gases in the sealed glass display envelope during field emission operation. Also, uniformly activating the substrate over a large area remains difficult. For example, many display applications may require 40 inch-100 inch diagonal plates.
Although a portion of the CNTs may vertically align after the taping process, which has been considered a key factor in improving the field emission properties of the CNT cathodes, in fact some CNT material is removed by the adhesive layer of the tape. Researchers have found that the field emission properties of the CNTs are diminished if the CNTs are very dense (Jean-Marc Bonard, Nicolas Weiss, Hannes Kind et al., "Tuning the field emission properties of patterned carbon nanotube films," Advanced Materials 13, 184-188 (2001)). An electric field shielding effect occurs when the CNTs are very close to each other, preventing CNTs from emitting electrons. Enhanced field emission properties of CNTs mixed with particles have been obtained because the CNTs were separated with each other by the particles (Dongsheng Mao, Richard Lee Fink, Zvi Yaniv, "Enhanced field emission from carbon nanotubes mixed with particles," U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,127). In that patent, researchers obtained good field emission results without an activation process, such as taping, after the deposition of the CNT mixture. In earlier studies using carbon film as a cold cathode, a patterned carbon film was observed having much better field emission properties than a continuous carbon film (Zhidan Li Tolt, Zvi Yaniv, Richard Lee Fink, "Surface treatment process used in growing a carbon film," U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,023). Another activation process involves using an optimized soft rubber roller to remove the contaminants covering the CNTs (Yong C. Kim, K. H. Sohn, Y. Mo. Cho, and Eun H. Yoo, "Vertical alignment of printed carbon nanotubes by multiple field emission cycles," Appl. Phys. Lett 84, 5350-5352 (2004)). During that process, a portion of the CNT was also removed, and the field emission properties of the CNTs were improved. Alignment of CNTs after the rubbing process was not observed, but alignment was observed after an electric field was applied to the CNT coating. This indicates that the alignment of the CNTs on the cathode is not a required material property for improved field emission characteristics.
In view of these findings in the related art, there is a need for a low-temperature method to produce a CNT cathode layer such that the CNTs are not too densely deposited on the surface, thereby inhibiting electron emission. With an optimized spatial distribution of the CNT material, the post-deposition activation process may be eliminated, thereby saving significant cost and effort in the manufacture of the resulting field emission display apparatus.

Enhanced electron field emission from carbon nanotubes without activation


A piston assembly, which may be part of a concentric slave cylinder for use in an automatic transmission, is provided. The piston assembly includes a piston and a piston cylinder disposed adjacent to the piston and having portions forming a receiving slot. A piston guide is attached to the piston. The piston guide has a main body portion and an alignment protrusion extending from the main body portion. The alignment protrusion is disposed in the receiving slot of the piston cylinder. The alignment protrusion includes a main alignment portion and a spring lever. The spring lever is separated from the main alignment portion by a gap. Compressible material is disposed in the gap.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
In many modern automotive transmissions, especially dual clutch transmissions (DCT's), a plurality of hydraulic actuators (operators) carry out commands that provide both a desired shift and shift sequence. In order to control such operators and confirm the attainment of a desired position, it is common practice to employ plural state or proportional linear position sensors that, in the former case, provide, for example, a signal that changes from a first state to a second state when a particular operator position has been achieved and, in the latter case, provide a signal that varies linearly (proportionally) between a first actuator position and a second actuator position. The proportional sensors generate data that indicates when multiple distinct actuator positions have been achieved and provide the real time position of the actuator during translation and, if differentiated, the speed of the actuator.
In a typical magnetic field linear sensor assembly, a permanent magnet is mounted to a translating component such as the actuator piston, the output shaft or an associated shift rail and the magnetic sensor, which is stationary, is secured in proximate, sensing relationship with the permanent magnet to a housing, flange, web or other stationary transmission component. Translation of the permanent magnet thus varies the magnetic field strength sensed by the sensor and, with proper conditioning, scaling and software, the position of the actuator and associated shift components can be determined.
A concentric slave cylinder assembly having concentric piston rings is often used to actuate two clutches that are located near each other, such as in a DCT that have two input shafts, wherein each input shaft provides a subset of the available gear ratios. Each input shaft is selectively coupled to an engine by the use of one of these clutches. The pistons are designed to travel linearly. The linear travel of each piston is sensed by a sensor assembly, as described above, to measure the stroke of each piston. However, any non-linear movement is also sensed by such sensors and may be result in an inaccurate measurement of the piston position. When the piston position is inaccurately measured, clutch apply pressure is erroneously adjusted, which may result in shift flares or firm shift applies. Accordingly, more accurate measurement of piston stroke is desired.


A work space assembly for use by a pair of people where the pair of people include first and second persons, the system providing each of the first and second persons with a private space and also providing a shared space to be shared by the pair of people during collaboration, the assembly comprising an enclosure wall having first and second distal wall edges that are within an opening plane, the enclosure wall forming a station space including one open side between the distal edges, a rear portion of the enclosure wall spaced a station depth from the opening plane, the enclosure wall having an enclosure height of at least forty-eight inches, divider components including a table top having a table top length dimension between first and second oppositely facing ends and a table height of between 44 and 55 inches and wherein, divider components are positioned with the table top length dimension substantially perpendicular to the rear portion of the enclosure wall and extending therefrom toward the opening plane, the divider components together partitioning the station space into first and second subspaces.

The field of the invention is work space divider systems and more specifically partition systems that divide space into sub-spaces that are useable by two people to facilitate collaborative activity wherein the sub-spaces also include locations for private and more public activity.
Office designers have known for a long time that collaborative activity is extremely important to facilitate innovation and creative thinking—as the saying goes, two heads are better than one. In this regard, when groups of people interact as a team and share ideas, one person's ideas often act as a catalyst for the other team member's ideas and vice versa, such that final combined work products are far superior to the work product that a single person could muster in seclusion. For instance, when working on a new ad campaign, an exemplary team of five diverse people may feed off each others ideas and tentatively decide on a campaign theme and various general aspects of the campaign by drawing on each others experiences.
Despite the advantages of collaborative work, office designers also know that there are times when people need and appreciate at least some degree of privacy and personal space in order to perform certain employment and personal tasks. Thus, for instance, after the exemplary five person advertising team decides on a campaign theme and some general campaign details, the team assign different aspects of the campaign to different team members for further development. Here, to help members focus on the aspects that they are responsible for, each person on the team may want a private or at least semiprivate space to help physically block out distractions and protect ideas as they are developed.
As another instance, even while at work, many people perform at least some personal business from time to time such as paying bills, corresponding with friends via e-mail, booking vacations, searching for information on the Internet, eating lunch, reading the newspaper or a magazine, etc. Often people feel more secure tending to personal tasks if they are in an environment that provides at least some level of privacy.
In many cases people use computers to attend to personal business, to organize their thoughts and to test out new thoughts and ideas by expressing those ideas on a display screen. Thus, in many cases, required privacy simply amounts to a space wherein the only person that can readily view a display screen unimpeded is the person using the associated computer.
Knowing that both collaboration and privacy are important in office design and being constrained by overall office space, office designers are now developing office spaces that foster collaborative activities while still offering at least some level of privacy when desired. To this end, many offices now include open office plans wherein large office spaces are divided into smaller, generally standard sized, individual workspaces by partition walls that extend from a floor surface to a height (e.g., between 60 and 72 inches) that impedes a standing person of ordinary height from peering over from one side to the other. Hereinafter the typical height of a wall that impedes a standing person of ordinary height from peering over will be referred to as a "full height" wall unless indicated otherwise.
The full height walls provide at least some privacy for a person within a workspace but still allows the person to at least verbally communicate over the top thereof with a person in an adjacent workspace thereby facilitating at least some degree of collaboration. In addition, in the case of many partition systems, the access openings into the separate workspaces are left open thereby further facilitating interaction among persons that share a general area within the larger office space.
To provide support for office equipment and a work surface for writing, spreading out documents, etc., most workspaces include desk height credenzas (e.g., 24-32 inches) along the partition walls that provide top surfaces comfortably useable by a person sitting in a chair adjacent one of the credenzas. To provide the most work surface possible within a workspace, most systems include credenzas along each wall that separates one workspace from an adjacent workspace. Here, one or more "private" spaces within a standard sized workspace usually exist where a computer display screen is positionable such that views of the screen from outside the workspace are at least impeded.
In at least some cases partition systems have been designed with "partial height walls" (e.g., 42 inches) between adjacent workspaces so that persons in adjacent workspaces can make eye contact when at least one of the persons is standing but that still impedes a person that is sitting in one workspace from peering into the other workspace. Here, where first and second people are sitting in adjacent workspaces, neither of the people can see what the other person is doing but, for instance, when the first person wants to collaborate with the second person, the first person can just stand up to make eye contact with the second person. Where people can view each other while communicating, visual cues (e.g., facial expressions, posture, etc.) enhance communication effectiveness and hence collaboration.
Another office design technique that facilitates collaboration is to provide common areas or conference rooms for teams of people that include comfortable furniture, writing surfaces and collaborative tools such as display screens, writing boards, conferencing equipment, etc. Often open offices will include collaborative spaces interspersed throughout so that persons within the vicinity thereof have easy access thereto.
Yet another office design technique that has been used to foster communication is to provide a horizontal "standing height" surface (e.g., 42 inches) along the top of a partition wall in a reception area so that a person that approaches a receptionist located within the workspace is provided with a comfortable surface on which to place documents, to use as a writing surface, etc., while communicating with the receptionist. Here, a credenza or the like having a height lower than the height of the counter surface is typically provided on the workspace side of the counter surface and a display screen and keyboard are positioned on the credenza with the rear surface of the screen facing the standing height surface for use by a sitting or standing receptionist. Thus, the receptionist and a visitor have their own separate surfaces on which to perform tasks and the receptionist's display screen is hidden from viewing by a visitor located adjacent the standing height surface.
Still one other collaborative configurations include a desk height surface (e.g., 24-32 inches) either between adjacent workspaces or along an outer wall of a workspace that is common with a public space (e.g., a walkway between workspaces). Here, persons in adjacent workspaces or first and second persons in a workspace and in a public space, respectively, can collaborate around the desk surface while seated. In some cases desk surfaces positioned to facilitate collaboration include at least one rounded edge so that several persons can collaborate thereat.
While each of the configurations and design techniques described above has several advantages, unfortunately each of the configurations and techniques suffer form one or more shortcomings. First, it has been recognized that while two heads may be better than one, in fact, two heads may also be better than three, four or more heads, when it comes to collaborative activities. In this regard, it has been observed that whenever three or more persons collaborate on a project, usually a sub-set of the collaborators that are relatively more extroverted will lead the project and more freely share their ideas while the more introverted collaborators will simply follow the lead without making their ideas known. However, if one of the more introverted collaborators is paired with just one other person to collaborate on the same project, it has been observed that the introvert much more freely. Because most people communicate relatively freely in pairs we can assume that most people want to express their ideas.
While it is unclear why some persons tend to communicate more freely in pairs than in larger groups, it is believed that some people are relatively uncomfortable testing new ideas with other people in groups where a majority viewpoint is possible and likely. Here, for example, on one hand, where three people collaborate and two opinions are expressed, more often than not at least two people will share one opinion resulting in a majority. On the other hand, when two people collaborate, no majority is possible when a difference of opinion occurs—the worst that can happen is that the two people disagree. When faced with the possibility of simple disagreement people tend to express their ideas more freely than when faced with potentially having come up with, and having to defend, a minority position.
In addition, some people are relatively uncomfortable testing new ideas with other people in groups where it is difficult to obtain visual feedback. To this end it has been recognized that, because a person can only closely observe one other person at a time, a person can more readily perceive visual queues from one person than from people in larger groups during communication. For this reason, a person can gauge how test ideas are being perceived more readily in a pair than they can in larger groups. Where an idea is expressed and visual queues indicate a misunderstanding or clear disagreement, the ideas can be re-articulated or speedily dropped to avoid embarrassment.
Moreover, it is believed that, in general, people are more critical of ideas when in a group including three or more people than when working with only one other person. In this regard, people that have the same view point tend to feed off each others ideas and take comfort in the fact that their opinion is validated by someone else. When a person believes that her opinion has been validated by others, that person tends to become more critical of other opinions which adversely affects the collaborative process.
While some of the configurations and techniques described above can be used to facilitate communication between two people, none of the configurations or techniques is optimal. To this end, an optimal space for two person collaboration should include a space that is physically separate from a larger office space and is at least somewhat private for use by the two people, that includes a shared space or common work surface that is readily available for spontaneous use and where shared information can be maintained for long periods (e.g., several days or weeks), where the two people can, when desired, see each other during communication and where each of the two people has at least some private space for attending to personal or non-collaborative tasks. In addition, it would be advantageous if the space characteristics described above could be accomplished in a space that is similar to the space required to provide two standard sized workstations using existing partition systems so that additional office space would not be required.
Where full height (e.g., 60-72 inches) partition walls separate adjacent workspaces, communication between people in adjacent workspaces is difficult at best because the partition walls typically muffle sound to some extent and visual queues may be completely blocked. In addition, where people attempt to communicate over a full height wall confidentiality is usually lost as other people in the vicinity of the wall can usually hear any conversation. Moreover, full height wall configurations do not provide a common work surface that is readily available for spontaneous collaboration and where shared information can be maintained for long periods.
While conference rooms can be used by two people to confidentially collaborate and usually include a table that can be used as a common surface, conference rooms are usually reserved on a relatively formal basis which is not conducive to spontaneous collaborative activity. In addition, typically conference rooms are used for relatively small periods of time (e.g., a few hours) at the end of which shared information has to be removed. Whenever information has to be removed form a space continuity of thought is broken and overall creativity often suffers. Moreover, permanent conference rooms are costly, especially when not in use and are usually designed for use by more than two people so that when a pair of people are using a conference room the space is usually underutilized.
Where partition wall heights are reduced to partial height (e.g., a standing height), while a first person standing on one side of the wall can have a line of sight to and can communicate with a second person either standing or sitting on the other side of the wall, where a credenza or desk surface is located on one or both sides of the wall the first and second people are usually separated by several feet (e.g., the combined credenza widths). Here, as in the case of the full height walls, because of the space that separates the first and second people, communication over the credenzas and wall does not feel confidential and free/unencumbered collaboration tends to be minimal at best. In addition, partial height walls alone do not provide a surface on which two people can share ideas and on which information can be maintained for long periods.
Similarly, where a standing height surface is provided over a receptionist's desk as part of a receptionist workspace configuration or is provided over credenzas on either side of a partial height wall, a first person on one side of the standing height surface is separated from a second person on the other side of the surface by at least the width of the desk or credenzas and communication is hampered.
In addition, the standing height surface is not particularly useful as a common surface by people on opposite sides thereof. In the case of the receptionist workspace configuration, the receptionist typically uses the receptionist's desk top while a visitor uses the standing height surface and it is inconvenient for either the receptionist to use the standing height surface or for the visitor to use the receptionist's desk top.
In the case of a standing height surface above credenzas on either side of a wall that separates workspaces, while items can be placed on the standing height surface, the standing height surface is not very useful as a work surface for collaborative activities as a person on either side of the standing height surface would have to lean over one of the credenzas there below in order to access the standing height surface—an uncomfortable position at best.
In the case of a desk height table provided between first and second adjacent workspaces, while first and second people in the adjacent spaces can confidentially and comfortably collaborate at the common table while seated on chairs, the desk height table leaves the workspaces generally open to each other which substantially reduces the possibilities of configuring private sub-spaces within the workspaces. To this end, when a desk height table is provided between adjacent workspaces, the table does not block the line of sight of a seated person in one of the workspaces into the other workspace. Thus, even when seated within one of the workspaces, a person is not in a private space.
One other design feature for facilitating collaboration between two people has been to support a display screen above a desk surface on a sliding and rotating carriage such that the front surface of the screen is moveable to different positions and can be viewed by people on opposite sides of a desk. In these cases the supporting structures that facilitate sliding and rotating usually have several shortcomings. First, in some cases, the supporting structures include one or several components that reside above the desk top surface that impede use of the desk top. Where supporting structure components reside above the desk top the resulting configurations are also aesthetically unappealing.
Second, in other known cases where supporting structure is at least in part disposed below a desk top, the supporting structure extends downward from an undersurface of the desktop and impedes placement of legs there below. The solution in these cases has been to either mount the supporting structure below a lateral edge of the desk surface so that the display screen is laterally disposed with respect to a person using the desk or to provide a desk where the supporting structure is offset from a front edge of the desk (i.e., the edge adjacent the person using the desk) sufficiently that the when legs are placed under the desk, the legs will not contact the supporting structure. Thus, designs of display screen supporting structure have limited the overall options available for office space designers.
Thus, it would be advantageous to have a partition system for two people that defines a space that is physically separate from a larger office space and is at least somewhat private for use by the two people, that includes a shared or common work surface that is readily available for spontaneous use and where shared information can be maintained for long periods (e.g., several days or weeks), where the two people can, when desired, see each other during communication and where each of the two people has at least some private space for attending to personal or non-collaborative tasks. It would also be advantageous if the partition system provided at least some public space for interaction with persons outside each of the workspaces. Moreover, it would be advantageous if all of the advantages described above could be accomplished in a space similar to the space required for existing partition systems to support two people. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if a sliding support assembly were available that could support a display screen or other workspace accessories from a desk or other work surface where the support structure components are at least substantially disposed within a desk or other work surface member such that private and common or public surface configurations previously impractical could be designed.


An improved mechanism for securing a parison molding cone atop the plunger shaft of a glass container-moulding machine. A one piece collar is secured to the head of the shaft by a bayonet tongue-and-groove assembly. The collar has a crenulated inwardly projecting flange around its upper rim. The base of the molding cone has an outwardly projecting crenulated flange around its lower rim. The flanges of each part are shaped and dimensioned to mesh together, thus allowing the flanged part of the base to be inserted into the top section on the collar then rotated into a locking position. Two spring-loaded locking members mounted into the collar engage recesses in the flange of the molding cone in order to prevent rotation of the molding cone away from its engaged position. A locking pin located in a vertical channel in the collar when forced down by the cone engages a recess or groove in the shaft and is locked there permanently by the cone while it remains in its engaged position. This positive means of locking; keeps the collar which is subjected to millions of cycles of high impact stresses, from rotating to an unsafe position during the hot and severe vibratory glass molding operations.. Large cooling air passages are embodied in the collar that permit more efficient discharge of hot air from the core of the molding cone.

This invention relates to quick release mechanisms, and more specifically to adaptor collars used to releasably secure a tool at the end of a handle or shaft that can operate reliably in a vibratory and hot environment.
Such a mechanism is used in glass container molding machines to mount on a plunger shaft, a generally bottle-shaped form used to penetrate a molten glass ingot and pre-shape it into a parison, which is then inflated into a mold cavity. The surface deterioration imposed upon the form by the repeated impact on the molten glass requires its frequent replacement. That replacement must be accomplished quickly in order to minimize the interruption of the chain manufacturing pace of the apparatus. Furthermore, the form must be replaced while it still remains a very high degree of temperature.
A split adaptor collar has been used to secure the form on its supporting shaft. The two halves of the collar encircle the grooved head of the shaft and the grooved base of the form. The two halves are usually held in place by friction without any need for any type of complex or hard-to-manipulate fastener. This type of mechanism allows quick dismounting for the form with minimum manipulation.
However, due to the relatively unsecured and unstable mounting, the two halves of the collar tend to separate during the thrusting movement of the form into the molten glass ingot, and to rub against the walls of the surrounding guiding cylinder. Due to this abrasive action, small metal particles split away from the cylinder wall and penetrate the molten glass causing weakness points in some of the glass containers.
In some later devices the split collar which was used to secure the plunger to the head of the shaft has been replaced by a solid collar or sleeve as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,240 Kozora. A spring-biased bayonet-type interconnection between the sleeve and the plunger, allows for quick removal and replacement of the plunger. The sleeve itself is secured to the head of the shaft by screws. However, the intense shocks and vibrations to which such an assembly is subjected during parison-forming operations tends to overcome the spring pressure which locks the bayonet connector, and to loosen the screws that secure the sleeve to the shaft. None of the prior art securing devices known to the inventor is able to reliably prevent spontaneous disengagement of the plunger in such a demanding environment. Other pin devices that secure collars to shafts etc., and cited as prior art e.g. Davis ('998), Caquellin et al ('815), Fedderson et al ('778), Jamison ('658) and Davis ('191) rely purely on spring bias means of retention. Thus far locking devices that depend entirely on spring retention for engagement have not proved to withstand the severe operating conditions, that these particular collars are subjected to in the harsh environment peculiar to the glass industry.
In some of the above cited prior arts, external tools or manual manipulation must be employed for disengaging the pins. The prevailing limited access in a hot enclosure renders these approaches unworkable.
Because of the fact that no satisfactory mechanism thus far has proved to operate reliably in the severe environmental conditions that exist, there is a very real need for a more efficient and reliable mechanism between the components of parison-forming plunger assemblies in the glass industry.

Plunger assembly for forming glass containers


A cascade orificial resistive device for throttling fluid flow which minies acoustic noise and internal vibrations is described herein. The device has a hollow body defining a fluid passageway, a plurality of perforated plates mounted within the passageway, a fixed end ring adjacent one end of the perforated plates, and a threadable end ring adjacent an opposite end of the perforated plates to place the plates in compression. Each of the perforated plates is a single piece molded plate having an integral outer ring and an integrally formed center keying mechanism as well as a plurality of orifices. The keying mechanism formed on each plate is designed so that adjacent ones of the plates have their orifices misaligned. In this manner, a pressure drop across each plate is created and the fluid flow through the device is throttled. The device of the present invention has utility in a number of onboard marine vessel systems wherein reduced acoustic noise and internal vibrations are particularly desirable.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a device for throttling a flow of fluid and more particularly to a single piece plate to be used within said device. The flow throttling device may be used with a variety of onboard marine vessel systems including torpedoes, missiles and countermeasure tube systems.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A cascade orificial resistive device (CORD) is a device which throttles pressurized water down to an acceptable flow rate. A cord utilizes a series of perforated plates passing the flow through the plate so as to create an incremental pressure drop across each plate. CORDS are currently used in numerous locations onboard marines vessels for the purpose of quieting flow by reducing flow rates.
Currently, all CORDS are similarly designed. FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a typical CORD construction. As shown therein, prior art CORDS have a metallic body 10 with an end ring 12 welded to the body and a metallic plate assembly assembled within the body 10 adjacent the ring 12. The plate assembly consists of a threaded rod 14, a plurality of perforated plates 16 positioned on the rod and separated from each other and from body 10 by spacer rings 18 and intermediate nuts 20 and washers 22. The assembly is clamped within the body 10 by a threaded end ring 24 on the inlet side 26 of the CORD.
The number of internal parts for a typical 30 plate CORD assembly manufactured in this fashion is 152. Each one of these 152 parts is a non-standard part and must be accurately machined. The perforated plates have a designed hole pattern which does not correspond to standard perforated plate. The spacer rings have close tolerance outside diameters and machine grooves on both sides. Even the nuts are individually machined to insure that their faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the center line.
Assembly is very critical to the performance of a standard CORD. For proper operation, all adjacent plates must have misaligned orifice holes in them. Currently, that is achieved by utilizing two differently designed plates. The center hole on each of these plates is keyed to the threaded rod. An assembler must alternate plates to maintain hole misalignment. Further difficulties with the standard system is that close tolerance machining is required to insure precise fitment of the various CORD components. When the components are precisely fitted together, resonances can be avoided. One of the difficulties, however, with the prior art systems, are that plates in the bolted assembly are often not tightly connected together. As a result, vibrations tend to occur during the flow. The metal to metal vibration which occurs can excite the wall of the CORD body and create both structureborne and liquidborne noise.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An X address buffer for generating an internal address signal by capturing an X address signal input from an address terminal is brought into an operating state before an external control clock is input. A redundancy address comparator for detecting a match/mismatch signal by comparing the generated internal address signal with a stored X-system defective address is used as a static circuit. Thereby, the redundancy address comparator starting operation is accelerated and as a result, acceleration of the reading operation is achieved.

The present invention relates to a dynamic RAM (Random Access Memory), particularly to a technique effectively used as a defect relief technique for a synchronous DRAM.
A redundant circuit of a dynamic RAM is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 64-76597/1989, 4-286798/1992, 7-282597/1995, 7-105697/1995, and 9-128993/1997.
A dynamic RAM provided with a defect relief circuit for switching a defective word line to a redundant word line determines whether an input address signal indicates a defective address. When an access is to a defective word line, the selecting operation on the normal circuit side is inhibited so as to select a redundant word line. Therefore, the time taken to select a normal word line having no defect is wasted. The same holds true for the case where a word line having no detect is selected, because a decision that the address signal is not indicative of a defective address is necessary in accordance with the comparison result of the defective address as a condition of the selecting operation of the normal word line.

Dynamic RAM provided with a defect relief circuit


Disclosed is a bulb socket structure for an onboard interior lighting system, in which: a bulb attachment hole 12 to which a wedge base bulb 21 is attached is formed in a resin-made housing 10 constituting the onboard interior lighting system; and power supply terminals 15 configured to contact, and conduct electricity to, terminals of a base 21b arranged under a bulb part 21a of the wedge base bulb when the base is inserted into the inside of the bulb attachment hole are provided in the inside of the bulb attachment hole. In the bulb socket structure, a spacer 30 is provided to the bulb attachment hole 12. The spacer is includes a supporting cylindrical part 31 capable of supporting the bulb part 21a of the wedge base bulb from its outer periphery. The spacer is capable of causing the power supply terminals 15 to contact the respective terminals of the base part while protecting the power supply terminals. Guiding slopes 35 configured to guide the base 21b to a right position in the inside of the bulb attachment hole 12 while the base is being inserted to the bulb attachment hole are provided to the inside of the supporting cylindrical part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bulb socket structure for an onboard interior lighting system provided to a ceiling of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view showing a conventional model of bulb socket structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 7-254466 (Patent Document 1). FIG. 2 is a front view of a chief section of the conventional model of bulb socket structure. This conventional model of bulb socket structure is of a type to which a wedge base bulb 120 is attached. This model of bulb socket structure includes: a resin-made socket main body 100 (equivalent to a housing); and paired power supply terminals 110, 110 fixed to the inside of a bulb attachment hole 101 of the socket main body 100. This bulb socket structure enables a base 122 of the wedge base bulb 120 to be attached to the paired power supply terminals 110, 110.
Each power supply terminal 110 includes: a base plate 111 fitted into a fitting groove 102 of the socket main body 100; paired holding pieces 112, 112 folded upright from the base plate 111; and paired restricting protrusions 113, 113 folded upright from the base plate 111. The proximal end sides of the respective paired holding pieces 112, 112 are fixed to the base plate 111. The distal end sides of the paired holding pieces 112, 112 are free ends, respectively. A portion between the proximal end and the free end of one holding piece 112 and a portion between the proximal end and the free end of the other holding piece 112 are both bent inward in such a way as to come closer to each other. The restricting protrusions 113, 113 restrict excessive deformations of the holding pieces 112, 112, respectively.
The wedge base bulb (hereinafter referred to as a "bulb") 120 includes: a bulb part 121 having a filament housed therein; and the base 122 which is flat in shape, and which is formed integrally with the bulb part 121 at the lower portion of the bulb part 121. Concave parts 123 are symmetrically formed in the base 122. When the inward-bent portions of the paired holding pieces 112, 112 of each power supply terminal 110 engage with the concave parts 123, electricity is conducted between the terminals of the base 122 and the power supply terminals 110, 110 through their contacts. In addition, a columnar part 124 is provided in the center portion of the base 122 in its width direction.
When the bulb 120 is attached to this bulb socket structure, the bulb 120 is inserted into the bulb attachment hole 101 in the socket main body 100 with the base 122 facing the bulb attachment hole 101. Once the bulb 120 is inserted in the bulb attachment hole 101, the extremity of the base 122 abuts onto the inner surfaces of the distal ends of the paired holding pieces 112, 112 of each power supply terminal 110, respectively. When the bulb 120 is inserted further into the bulb attachment hole 101 from this position, the free end sides of the paired holding pieces 112, 112 deform in directions in which the free ends of the paired holding pieces 112, 112 are separated away from each other. This deformation allows the base 122 of the bulb 120 to be inserted into the interstice between the paired holding pieces 112, 112 beyond the inward-bent portions of the paired holding pieces 112, 112. When the base 122 of the bulb 120 is inserted to a location sufficiently deep so that the concave parts 123, 123 of the base 122 reach the inward-bent portions of the holding pieces 112, 112, the holding pieces 112, 112 return to their initial positions while deforming in directions in which the holding pieces 112, 112 thereof come closer to each other. Thus, the inward-bent portion of each holding piece 112 is fitted into and engaged with its corresponding concave part 123 of the base 122. Thereby, the bulb 120 finishes being attached to the bulb socket structure, and the base 122 of the bulb 120 is held by the paired holding pieces 112, 112 of each power supply terminal 110 with their forces produced due to return from the deformation.
An onboard interior lighting system disclosed in another issue of Japanese Patent Gazette which carries Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-245795 (Patent Document 2) has been known as a conventional model of lighting system using a wedge base bulb as a light source. This onboard interior lighting system has a functional section which is provided on the exterior side of a ceiling board of a vehicle. A bulb socket structure to which a bulb is designed to be attached diagonally is provided to a resin-made housing constituting the main body of the functional section.
In the case of the bulb socket structures described in each patent document, it is likely that the base of the bulb may collide against the power supply terminals in the bulb attachment hole when the wedge base bulb is inserted into the bulb attachment hole, and that the power supply terminals may be accordingly deformed. In particular in the case of the bulb socket structure for the lighting system disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the bulb is designed to be attached to the bulb socket structure obliquely to the functional section main body, the power supply terminals tend to be deformed by the base if the wedge base bulb is inserted into the bulb attachment hole at a wrong angle.
In the case of each conventional model of bulb socket structure, the bulb is designed to be held by the holding pieces of each power supply terminal with their spring forces (forces produced due to return from deformation) only. For this reason, after the bulb is inserted into and detached from the holding pieces of each power supply terminal repeatedly, the spring forces of the holding pieces of each power supply terminal decrease, and the holding forces of the holding pieces thereof accordingly reduces. As a result, the bulb tends to be loose and shaky in the holding pieces thereof. Once the bulb becomes loose and shaky in the holding pieces thereof, the bulb contacts the power supply terminals 110 in a wrong condition, and the shake of the bulb causes abnormal noises. These are problems with the conventional model of bulb socket structure.

Bulb socket structure for onboard interior lighting system


A liquid crystal display device includes LEDs, a liquid crystal panel 11, a chassis, a frame 13, positioning ribs 23, and step portions 30. The liquid crystal panel 11 is configured to display using light from the LEDs. The chassis is arranged on an opposite side of the liquid crystal panel 11 from a display surface that is for display. The frame 13 is arranged on the display surface side of the liquid crystal panel 11. The frame 13 holds at least the liquid crystal panel 11 and the LEDs with the chassis such that the liquid crystal panel 11 and the LEDs are sandwiched between the frame 13 and the chassis. The positioning rib 23 having a block-like shape projects from the frame 13 toward the chassis and includes a peripheral surface opposite a peripheral surface of the liquid crystal panel 11 for positioning the liquid crystal panel 11 relative to the display surface direction. The step portion 30 projects from a portion of a distal end surface of the positioning rib 23 toward the chassis so as to form a step. The step portion 30 includes a peripheral surface (the inner surface 30a) opposite the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal panel 11. The peripheral surface of the step portion 30 is on the same plane with the peripheral surface of the positioning rib 23 (the inner surface 23a) which is opposite the peripheral surface of the liquid crystal panel 11.

A liquid crystal display device such as a liquid crystal television device requires a backlight unit as a separately provided lighting device because a liquid crystal panel, which is a display panel, does not emit light itself. The backlight unit in such a liquid crystal display device is generally classified into either a direct type or an edge-light type according to a mechanism thereof. It is considered that an edge-light type backlight unit is more preferable for further reduction of the thickness of the liquid crystal display device. The display panel such as an above-described liquid crystal panel is usually arranged in front of the backlight unit on a display side while edges thereof are held by a frame or a frame-like member. A liquid crystal display device including such a frame-like member is disclosed in Patent Document 1.


An electronic device may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. The radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may transmit signals for the antenna structures that pass through electrical components such as switches. Harmonics of the transmitted signals may be generated as the signals pass through the electrical components. To reduce interference that might otherwise adversely affect sensitive receiver circuitry in the electronic device, adjustable filter circuitry may be interposed between the electrical components and the antenna structures. Control signals may adjust the adjustable circuitry in real time during operation of an electronic device to ensure that transmitted signals can pass through the adjustable filter circuitry while blocking the harmonic signals.

This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to antennas for electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry.
Electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. For example, electronic devices may use long-range wireless communications circuitry such as cellular telephone circuitry to communicate using cellular telephone bands. Electronic devices may use short-range wireless communications circuitry such as wireless local area network communications circuitry to handle communications with nearby equipment. Electronic devices may also be provided with satellite navigation system receivers and other wireless circuitry.
To satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to implement wireless communications circuitry such as antenna components using compact structures. At the same time, it may be desirable to support multiple communications bands to support a variety of desired services. Switches may be incorporated into devices for supporting the use of multiple antennas.
Switches and other components can exhibit non-linear behaviors. When radio-frequency signals are transmitted through these components, signal harmonics can be produced. These harmonics can cause interference for sensitive receivers.
To reduce the impact of harmonic interference, static low pass filters are sometimes coupled to the output of a switch. The low pass filters can help filter out aggressors such as harmonics that are produced by the non-linear behavior of a switch before these aggressors cause interference for victims such as sensitive wireless receivers in other communications bands. This type of low pass filter arrangement may, however, be of little or no use in many operating scenarios. For example, a low pass filter will not be able to protect circuitry such as a wireless local area network receiver at 2.4 GHz from interference at 2.4 GHz without disrupting cellular telephone traffic at frequencies above 2.4 GHz.

Electronic device having adaptive filter circuitry for blocking interference between wireless transceivers


The present invention discloses an integral LED component which integrates LED epitaxial structure electrodes and interconnects with a package substrate together and an integral manufacturing process thereof. The integral LED component can be made with multiple epitaxial structures or with just a single epitaxial structure. The integral LED component can be mounted into a hollow carrier. And by having support by the hollow carrier, the package substrate can be mounted and contacted with a heat conductive or a dissipation device. The integral LED component is fabricated by wafer level process and cut from the wafer as an independent component. By different manufacturing process, the integral LED component can be made as Vertical LED structure or Lateral LED structure.

In the LED industry, the manufacturing process of LED chips and the packaging process of LED are independent processes. The LED lighting unit still needs to be cut and tested to form a final chip product no matter what substrate is used in LED epitaxial process. The form of LED chip is usually designed as a rectangular figure due to the consideration of operability in the cutting process despite the LED chip is vertical structure or lateral structure, wire bonding process or flip-chip process. Then, the rectangular LED chip is mounted on a submount by die bonding and welded onto a PCB by method of SMT to form an LED package unit. The LED package unit can also be formed by mounting the chip on a PCB directly (COB method). The package PCB then needs to be mounted and contacted with a heat conductive or a dissipation device to solve the heat dissipation problem, and the heat due to electrical current in the epitaxial structures needs to be dissipated by heat conduction from the substrates to the heat dissipation devices. However, if the electric power or power density is too high, the heat resistance can make the temperature of the LED too high which lowers the life time and optical properties of the LED.
Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams illustrating LED chips, LED package and heat dissipation in the prior art. An LED chip 1 is composed of an epitaxial structure 10 and a carrier substrate 11. The LED chip 1 is tested, cut from a wafer, and then packaged to form an LED unit. As shown in FIG. 1A, an LED package unit is formed by mounting the LED chip 1 on a submount 12 with die bonding, wire bonding and phosphor coating processes. In actual application, the LED unit with the submount 12 still needs to be mounted onto a heat conductive PCB, the PCB 13 then is mounted and contacted with a heat dissipation device 14. Another application requirement for high power illumination, as shown in FIG. 1B, an LED package unit is formed by mounting the LED chip 1 on a heat conductive PCB directly (COB, Chip-on-Board). The COB unit is mounted and contacted with a heat dissipation device 14. However, in the prior art of FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B, the manufacturing process for the LED chip 1 and the packaging process of LED are independent processes.
Generally speaking, there are two types of the structures for LED chips, lateral types and vertical types. The lateral type is forming LED epitaxial structures and electrodes on an epitaxial wafer, where the epitaxial wafer needs to go through a thinning process to become a carrier substrate for epitaxial structures and then be cut into LED chips. The vertical type is transfering LED epitaxial structures from an epitaxial wafer to a carrier wafer, where the carrier wafer still needs to go through a thinning process and form electrodes, and then be cut into LED chips. It does not matter whether the LED chip is a lateral type or a vertical type, the LED chips still need an added package substrate to that goes through die bonding, wire bonding and phosphor coating processes to connect an external power and a heat dissipation device. For the demand of high power density, high luminous flux, high working life and low cost, the prior art of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B still have some limits.

LED component by integrating epitaxial structure and package substrate together and method of manufacturing the same


A depth camera includes a sensor unit receiving a reflected light and in response thereto outputting an electrical sensing signal; and a synchronization information calculation unit calculating a performance index with reference to the sensing signal, and with reference to the performance index, generating synchronization information for synchronizing a demodulation clock for sensing the received reflected light. The sensor unit adjusts the frequency and/or phase of the demodulation clock with reference to the synchronization information.

The present inventive concept herein relates to image sensors, and more particularly, to a depth camera for obtaining a three dimensional image and a method of synchronizing the depth camera.
As image processing technology develops, an interest in the field of modeling an object in a three-dimensional image is becoming great. Modeling an object in a three-dimensional image can be applied to a virtual reality movie and to a computer graphic of a video game. Thus, an image modeled in three dimensions is expected to be applied to various fields.
Three-dimensional image information includes geometry information and color information. The geometry information can be obtained using a depth image. The depth image can be directly obtained using filming equipment such as a depth camera. The depth image can also be indirectly obtained using an image process which is a computer vision technology, without using a depth camera.
In the method of obtaining the depth image using the depth camera, a method of measuring a time taken until an emitted light returns after it is reflected by an object is widely used. The time is referred to as "time of flight (ToF)". To realize a three dimensional image in a more realistic angle, a multi-ToF method using a plurality of depth cameras is needed. To realize a three dimensional image using a plurality of depth cameras, synchronization of the plurality of depth cameras becomes an important issue. A trigger for initialization is periodically applied to a plurality of depth cameras to perform synchronization. However, in this method, a frame rate of the three-dimensional image is reduced and a deviation may occur in synchronization because of a distance difference between a host providing a trigger and the cameras. If using emitting lights having different frequencies or pulse widths, a depth error may increase due to interference between the depth cameras.
Thus, to obtain a three-dimensional image having high resolution and high performance in a multi-ToF method, a technology that can perform efficient synchronization of the depth cameras is needed.

Depth camera, multi-depth camera system and method of synchronizing the same


An IR detector array (10) wherein a metal contact pad (20) makes contact to an underlying radiation detector through one or more thin, electrically conductive stripes (20a). The striped pad contact shape is used in conjunction with a highly absorptive and opaque coating (18) that is interposed between a bottom surface of the contact pad and a top surface of the radiation detector. The highly absorptive coating serves to mask the bottom surface of the metal contact pad from any radiation that would impinge thereon and be reflected. As a result, stray or unabsorbed radiation reaching to a region of the contact pad encounters only the relatively small target presented by the edge of the one or more thin electrically conductive stripes. Furthermore, the one or more thin stripes are aligned with respect to a radiation scan axis and/or rotation axis so as to further minimize the width of the contact edge presented to the unabsorbed radiation, thereby further reducing the probability of an unwanted reflection occurring.

IR radiation detectors provide an electrical output which is a measure of incident IR radiation. One particularly useful IR detector is a photovoltaic (PV) detector fabricated from Group II-VI radiation absorbing semiconductor material, such as mercury-cadmium-telluride (HgCdTe). HgCdTe detectors are typically fabricated as linear and two-dimensional arrays. Generally, a transparent substrate supports a radiation absorbing semiconductor layer having a first electrical conductivity, and a second semiconductor layer of opposite electrical conductivity forms a p-n junction with the first layer. The array may be differentiated into a plurality of p-n junctions by selectively etching the semiconductor material, resulting in the formation of a plurality of upstanding "mesa" structures, each of which contains a radiation detecting element, or pixel. The array typically includes a layer of passivation applied to an outer surface so as to reduce surface states and resulting noise signals that detrimentally affect the operation of the p-n junction. An anti-reflection (AR) coating may also be applied over the passivation layer to reduce reflections of incident radiation. Each of the radiation detecting elements includes a contact, normally provided in the form of one or more square or round metal pads. The contact pad(s) provides electrical contact for external read-out circuitry, typically via an indium "bump" interconnect, to the p-n junction. If radiation enters the array through the bottom surface of the substrate, that is, the surface opposite to the surface that supports the radiation absorbing semiconductor layer, the array is referred to as a "backside-illuminated" array.
It is conventional practice to scan incident radiation over the array, particularly linear arrays, with a rotating mirror or the like. The direction of the scanned radiation is referred to as a scan axis, and a cross-scan axis is defined to be an axis perpendicular to the scan axis. It is also conventional practice to tilt or rotate the detector array about an axis such that a radiation receiving surface of the array is inclined at an angle to incident radiation. This rotation of the array may be accomplished for both scanned and unscanned, or "staring", detector arrays
A problem that is presented during the use of such detector arrays results from reflection of radiation from the edges of the contact pads, mesa sidewall surfaces, and the like. This reflected radiation is radiation that first passes unabsorbed through the substrate, the radiation absorbing semiconductor layer, and the overlying layer of opposite conductivity. This unabsorbed radiation eventually encounters the array "top-side" edges and features and is reflected therefrom back through the body of the array. If the reflected radiation is not absorbed during the second pass through the array, the radiation emerges from the bottom surface of the substrate and may propagate back into space. This propagating radiation signal is often referred to as a "light signature".
It has been determined that one significant contributor to the light signature is the reflection from the contact pad surfaces and edges. This is due to the less than optimum shape and size, so far as minimizing reflections, that are presented by the round or square pad geometries of conventional radiation detectors.
A disadvantage of reducing the size of contact pad structures is that less than an optimal amount of area of the contact pad may contact the underlying detector. This results in poor contact resistance characteristics. This problem becomes especially apparent if it is desired to reduce the area of the square or round contact pads so as to reduce the reflected light signature. That is, as the contact pad area is reduced the contact resistance is generally increased.
What is thus an object of the invention to provide is a radiation detector having a contact pad geometry that, in combination with an adjacent radiation absorptive layer, minimizes the contact pad contribution to the light signature, while also reducing contact pad resistance.


Training of a model is performed to minimize expected loss under noise (ELUN) while maintaining differential privacy. Noise is added to weights of a machine learning model as random samples drawn from a noise distribution, the noise being added in accordance with a privacy budget. The ELUN is minimized by using a loss function that anticipates noise added to the weights of the machine learning model, to find a point in the parameter space for which loss is robust to the noise in the weights. The addition of noise and the minimization of the ELUN are iterated until the weights converge and optimization constraints are satisfied. The model is utilized on arbitrary inputs while protecting the privacy of training data used to train the model.

As machine learning has become ubiquitous even in privacy-sensitive domains, recent research has demonstrated concrete privacy threats, as well as explored robust privacy defenses, most notably differential privacy. When machine learning algorithms are applied to private training data, the resulting models might unwittingly leak information about that data through either their behavior or the details of their structure and parameters.

Private model utility by minimizing expected loss under noise


The nitride semiconductor laser device has a counter electrode structure where contact resistance is reduced and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The nitride semiconductor laser device comprises a nitride semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface. A nitride semiconductor layer is stacked on the first main surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate. A ridge-shaped stripe is formed in the nitride semiconductor layer, and a resonance surface forms an optical waveguide in the direction perpendicular to the length of the ridge-shaped stripe. A first region having a crystal growth facet in the (0001) plane and a second region on the first main surface or the second main surface are provided. Further, a recess is formed in the second region of the first main surface and/or the second main surface. A ridge-shape stripe is formed over the first main surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor laser made of a nitride semiconductor (InaAlbGa1-a-bN, 0≦a, 0≦b, a+b≦1), and particularly to a nitride semiconductor laser device formed with a good resonant surface that is reproducible by way of a cleavage process and has an excellent lifetime and mass productivity.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, small size, lightweight, high reliability, and a high output properties have been required for nitride semiconductor laser devices, and they are used as a light source for an optical disc such as a DVD and a light source for medical equipment. Various research has been conducted on nitride semiconductor laser devices.
For example, as a practical laser device, a nitride semiconductor laser device capable of continuous-wave oscillation of more than 10,000 hours at room temperature is described in Japan Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 37 (1998), pp. L309-L312, Part 2, No. 3B, Mar. 15, 1998. According to this article, the nitride semiconductor laser device is obtained by the following procedures. First, a nitride semiconductor substrate made of GaN is selectively grown on a sapphire substrate. A plurality of nitride semiconductor layers comprising a laser device structure are stacked on the nitride semiconductor substrate. Then, the sapphire substrate is removed and a resonator is formed by a cleavage process. This nitride semiconductor laser device has a ridge stripe. The ridge stripe is formed by partially etching from a p-side contact layer made of p-GaN to a p-side cladding layer of a super lattice structure. The super lattice structure made of p-Al0.14Ga0.86N/GaN disposes a p-electrode on the stripe, and a resonance surface is formed by the cleavage process.
However, many defects may occur in a wafer of the laser device described above, such as poor reproducibility upon cleavage or a poor lifetime thought to be caused by deterioration due to insufficient heat dissipation. The cause is thought to be that even when the foreign substrate made of a different material from the nitride semiconductor layer is removed, the cleavage surfaces of the nitride semiconductor substrate and the nitride semiconductor are not completely the same. Therefore, chipping off and crushing occur in the top layer of the stripe ridge by the impact generated when the resonance surface is formed by cleavage. There have been other problems with the construction of the nitride semiconductor laser device. These problems include that the width of the ridge is small compared with the chip size of the nitride semiconductor laser device so that the damage tends to concentrate in the ridge. Also, the deterioration of the ridge progresses due to oscillation as a laser device even if the damage such as chipping off was not seen when cleaving, and consequently, the laser device is incapable of long hours of continuous-wave oscillation.
In addition, a large chip size is required when the p-electrode and the n-electrode are disposed on the same surface of a wafer. However, the chip size can be reduced by fabricating a laser device with a counter electrode structure where the n-electrode is disposed on the rear surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate. As a result, the number of chips formed in a wafer can be greatly increased. However, a nitride semiconductor laser device having the n-electrode with good ohmic features on the rear surface of the substrate has not been achieved.

Nitride semiconductor laser device and method of manufacturing the nitride semiconductor laser device


A method for modifying the surface of finely divided particles, such as pigments and fillers, or of glass fibers is described. The method utilizes organopolysiloxane with epoxy and long-chain alkyl groups linked over carbon atoms to silicon atoms.

It is well known in the art to improve the properties of pigments and fillers by applying organosilicon compounds on their surfaces. Such a coating process is intended to facilitate the incorporation and dispersion of pigments or fillers in lacquers, dispersion paints, plastics, toners, building materials, enamels, etc. In addition, the agglomeration of pigments and fillers during storage and processing is avoided by such a coating procedure with organosilicon compounds. It is furthermore desirable to reduce the accumulation of dust during the storage of pigments and fillers.
This state of the art is summarized in EP-A-0 373 426 (A2). EP-A-0 373 426 describes inorganic paint and magnetic pigments containing at least 0.1 percent by weight and at most 5 percent by weight of one or several polyorganosiloxanes, which have a viscosity of 100 to 100,000 mPa.times.sec and a relative molecular weight of 500 to 500,000, do not contain any reactive or cross-linking groups, and contain at least one Si-alkyl and/or Si-aryl group with 9 to 25 carbon atoms per molecule, these groups being present in the polyorganosiloxane in an amount up to 7 to 70 percent by weight and the remaining organic groups in the polyorganosiloxane having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
Admittedly, the organosilicon compounds named in the aforementioned EP-A-0 373 426 are suitable in many cases for coating dye pigments. However, they frequently fail in the case of fillers, such as magnesium or aluminum oxides or their oxide hydrates. Frequently, a better dispersibility of the coated particles and a better adhesion of the coating to the surface of the particles are also desired.
The British Patent GB 2,244,489 claims a filler which is provided with a coating of cross-linked silicone elastomers linked chemically to the surface of the inorganic core. It is evident from the examples cited there that, to begin with, highly cross linked silicone elastomers with a plurality of reactive SiOH groups (also referred to as "rubbery reactive silicones") are synthesized first. These are then applied on the inorganic filler and must be cured on this filler for 4 hours at 250.degree. C. The silicone elastomer is the product of a cross-linking reaction between a "multifunctionally terminated" polysiloxane and a silane cross-linking agent. These coating materials are cross linked elastomers intended to improve mechanical properties, such as the extensibility and tenacity, of filled polymers.
The present invention is concerned with the technical problem of finding organosilicon compounds, which are suitable as universally as possible for coating finely divided particles of various types, particularly also of fillers. Moreover, the coated particles should have good application properties, such as an improved dispersibility and improved compatibility in organic media, such as lacquers, plastics, mineral oils, synthetic oils, vegetable oils or plasticizers. The coating shall adhere well to the surfaces of the particles so that permanence of the properties is ensured.
EP-A-0 373 426 teaches that the organopolysiloxane should be free of reactive groups. Surprisingly, it was found that the organopolysiloxanes show improved properties as coating materials on pigments and fillers especially when, in departure from the teachings of EP-A-0 373 426, groups which have a certain, graded reactivity, are linked in the siloxane molecule to silicon atoms.

Method for modifying the surface of finely divided particles by the application of organofunctional polysiloxanes


One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, query input from at least one user, wherein the query input comprises at least one entity; accessing, using a processor, contextual history data associated with the at least one user; determining, using the contextual history data, a contextual association for the at least one entity; and generating output associated with the contextual association for the at least one entity. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Information handling devices ("devices"), for example smart phones, tablet devices, laptop computers, personal computers, and the like, are capable of receiving query input from a user and subsequently generating results associated with that input. For example, a device can receive query input when a user is providing input to a search engine, interacting with a digital assistant, providing commands to the device or an application on the device, and the like. Oftentimes, the query input may contain a term, such as a proper noun (e.g., related to a person, place, thing, etc.), that may have numerous connotations.

Contextual associations for entity queries


Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to improve selection of medical treatment. An example apparatus includes a user interface to receive health information for a patient and a data analyzer to access historical patient information stored in a database, and determine a condition based on comparing historical patient information stored in a database to the health information for the patient. The example apparatus includes a machine learning engine to recommend a treatment plan, including: a data analytic algorithm server to determine success rates of the treatment plan for the condition; and a model generator to generate a patient model, wherein the patient model predicts effects of the treatment plan. The example apparatus includes a communications interface to facilitate scheduling an appointment with a clinician. The example apparatus includes the user interface to receive health tracking information from the patient indicative of the treatment plan effectiveness and store the health tracking information.

Patients, after being diagnosed with a condition, are prescribed a treatment by a clinician. In some examples, treatment requires administration by medical professionals over several hospital visits. For example, some conditions require medical treatment to extend over several months. Often, the choice of treatment is made by the clinician based on their experience.
The figures are not to scale.

Patient healthcare interaction device and methods for implementing the same


A refrigeration system is disclosed in which temperature regulation and energy efficiency are improved. Each compartment to be cooled is provided with a variable speed fan, the speed of which is controlled dependent on that compartment's temperature, the temperature required of that compartment, and the difference between required and actual temperatures for any other compartments. The temperatures are monitored continually and fan speeds altered so that the compartment furthest from its required temperature receives the most cooling (highest fan speed). An alternative embodiment is also disclosed wherein the speed of one compartment's fan is fixed and the other varied.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to refrigeration equipment and in particular, though not solely, to apparatus for controlling the cooling of refrigeration systems and control systems used therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Temperature control system used in some early refrigerators simply comprised a thermostat which ensured tat the compressor turned off when it required temperature was reached within the refrigerator. While this simple style of controller may have been sufficient in a single compartment refrigerator, it is not suitable in multiple compartment/multiple temperature zone cooling systems.
In a two compartment refrigerator/freezer, the temperatures of the two compartments are required to be maintained at selected but different temperatures. In order to accomplish this with a single evaporator, valves have been used to control the flow of cooling air to the various compartments from the evaporator so that each compartment receives sufficient cooling. An example of this type of system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,787 assigned to Whirlpool Corporation. However, it is well known that this type of cooling system usually results in tie temperatures of the various compartments following each other or "tracking". An example of this behaviour is when a load of groceries are placed in the refrigerator or product compartment of a refrigerator/freezer. The compressor will be called upon to do more work on the refrigerant to lower the temperature of the evaporator so that cold air may be introduced to the product compartment to cool the new groceries. Accordingly, any air fed to the freezer compartment (either it is required because the temperature of the freezer compartment temporarily drops below its set temperature or due to "back pressure" from air flowing into the product compartment) will likely be at a temperature below the temperature required of the freezer compartment (which is already at its required temperature) and thus the freezer will be over cooled. The converse is also true when warm items are placed in the freezer compartment resulting in the product compartment being over cooled. In addition, prior multiple compartment cooling devices have not attempted to minimise energy consumption by ensuring that required compartment temperatures are reached at substantially the same time, allowing the compressor to only ever be used to cool both compartments at once and then to be turned off.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cooling device which will at least go some way towards overcoming the above disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention consists in a cooling device comprising:
refrigeration plant means including condenser means, evaporator means and energisable compressor means,
compartments to be maintained at selected temperatures, a first of said compartments to be maintained at a first selected temperature and a second of said compartments to be maintained at a second selected temperature, each of said compartments having an inlet and an outlet,
an evaporator air flow passageway means which houses and is thereby cooled by said evaporator means,
air flow regulating means for each said one compartment, a first air flow regulating means provided to regulate air flow in said first compartment and a second air flow regulating means to regulate air flow in said second compartment, said air flow regulating means regulating the amount of cooling supplied to each of said compartments,
air flow supply passageways connecting the respective inlets of each of said compartments to said evaporator air flow passageway to allow air flow to said compartments,
air flow return passageways connecting the respective outlets of each of said compartments to said evaporator air flow passageway to allow air to flow from said compartments,
temperature sensing means in each of said compartments,
control means which receives input from each said temperature sensing means and outputs control signals to each said air flow regulating means to regulate the air flow generated by each said air flow regulating means in accordance with programmed instructions so that the temperature in each of said compartments reach their respective selected temperatures at substantially the same time.
In a second aspect, the invention consists in a method of operating a cooling device having
refrigeration plant means including condenser means, evaporator means and energisable compressor means,
two compartments to be maintained at selected temperatures, a first of said compartments to be maintained at a first selected temperature and a second of said compartments to be maintained at a second selected temperature, each of said compartments having an inlet and an outlet,
an evaporator air flow passageway means which houses and is thereby cooled by said evaporator means,
air flow regulating means for each said compartment, a first air flow regulating means provided to regulate air flow in said first compartment and a second air flow regulating means to regulate air flow in said second compartment, said air flow regulating means regulating the amount of cooling supplied to each of said air flow supply passageways connecting the respective inlets of each of said compartments to said evaporator air flow passageway to allow air to flow to said compartments,
air flow return passageways connecting the respective outlets of each of said compartments to said evaporator air flow passageway to allow air flow from said compartments,
temperature sensing means in each of said compartments, and
control means which receives input from each said temperature sensing means and outputs control signals to each said air flow regulating means to regulate the air flow generated by each said air flow regulating means in accordance with programmed instructions so that the temperature in each of said compartments reach their respective selected temperatures at substantially the same time, said programmed instructions comprising the steps of:
i) sensing the temperatures in each of said compartments,
ii) calculating, for each said compartment, a difference temperature value between the sensed temperature in that compartment and that compartment's selected temperature,
iii) determining the amount of regulation required by each said air flow regulating means in order that each of said compartments will substantially reach their selected temperatures at the same time,
iv) operating each said air flow regulating means at the determined amount of regulation,
v) repeating steps (i) to (v) until each compartment has reached its selected temperature, and
vi) de-energising said energisable compressor means and reducing the amount of regulation of each said air flow regulating means to zero.

Refrigeration system and method of control


A power spray washing machine includes an enclosed wash cabinet positioned above a wash holding tank and a rinse holding tank. Openings are provided through a floor of the wash cabinet directly into the wash and rinse tanks, respectively. Vertical plug valves are associated with each opening to open and close the openings and control the flow of fluids therethrough. Each valve includes a first valve head moveable between a closed position in direct contact with and closing the opening and an open position out of contact with and uncovering the opening. The valve heads retain no fluid between the floor of the wash cabinet and the holding tanks when the valve head is in the closed position. By this arrangement, cross contamination of solutions between the wash and rinse holding tanks is minimized or eliminated.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to enclosed industrial washing machines and, more particularly, to liquid or solution drain systems for power spray parts washing machines.
2. Background Of The Invention
The use of water-based power spray parts cleaning or washing machines is well known in the industry. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,634,735; 2,653,617; 2,808,064; 2,994,329; 3,452,763; 3,916,937; 4,073,663; and 4,739,782. In one known arrangement, a single chamber parts washing machine includes an enclosed wash cabinet having an access opening, closed by a moveable door, and one or more liquid or solution holding tanks located beneath the wash cabinet. The holding tanks can hold various washing and rinsing solutions, which may contain biodegradable detergents, rust inhibitors or the like, as desired by the particular cleaning process. The tanks generally also heat the liquid solutions contained therein. A pressurized supply of the solution is carried from a holding tank to a distribution header, including a plurality of spraying nozzles, located within the wash cabinet. The parts to be cleaned are generally positioned in a rotating holding tray and a desired liquid or solution is sprayed on the parts under high pressure. After a washing solution has been sprayed on the parts, the solution is returned to a wash holding tank for recirculation. After the parts have been washed, it is often necessary to rinse the parts. Then it becomes necessary to divert a rinsing solution either to a separate rinse holding tank beneath the wash cabinet, for recirculation, or to an outside drain as may be required by the process.
In the known arrangements for washing parts and for collecting the wash and/or rinse solutions for reuse, openings are provided in the floor of the wash cabinet and standard valving and conduits are used to collect the fluids and direct them to the appropriate solution holding tank or to an outside drain. In view of the large liquid flows involved in such a parts spray washing operation, it has been necessary to use large collection pipes which, in turn, necessitate the use of large control valves. Not only does a large control valve take considerable room in the machine, but such a valve also requires an expensive actuator for its operation. In addition, a quantity of the particular solution is collected in the piping between the control valve and the openings in the floor of the wash cabinet. When the system switches the path of the return solution flow from one holding tank to another, the remaining fluid in the piping above the valve from the previous solution process will be diverted into a different solution holding tank. Although cross contamination of the other holding tank from this excess fluid may not be substantial for any single switching operation, most parts washing machines repeatedly perform this switch over from one tank to another with the same solutions in the holding tanks. In a typical repeated switching between wash and rinse cycles, this cross contamination from the fluid collecting in the pipe ahead of the valve can build up over time and cause serious contamination problems in the separate rinse and wash solution holding tanks.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drain system for a power spray parts washing machine which eliminates or minimizes the cross contamination between the solution holding tanks when switching between the tanks. It is also an object of the present invention to eliminate such cross contamination of the solutions in an arrangement which is simple to use, easy to manufacture, reliable and inexpensive.

Drain separation system for power spray parts washing machine