A liquid crystal display module is provided. The LCD module includes a liquid crystal display body, a base having a first frame, a cover having a second frame for covering the base, a plurality of mounting openings mounted on an outer wall of the second frame, a plurality of indentations positioned at a bottom surface of the second frame, a plurality of protrudent elements mounted on an outer wall of the first frame for being engaged with the plurality of mounting openings so as to secure the engagement between the first frame and the second frame, and a plurality of blocking elements mounted at a bottom surface of the first frame for preventing the bottom surface of the second frame from being pressed over the bottom surface of the first frame.

While the technology is getting developed and the demanding is getting increased, the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor cannot satisfy people's needs anymore owning to the disadvantages of big size, heavy weight, and high power consumption. Especially in the application for the portable, small-sized, and low power-consumption computer, people expect a new type of monitor with small size, light weight, and low power consumption. Under this trend, the liquid crystal display (LCD) is developed. Since the liquid crystal display has numerous advantages, such as the thin and small size, low power consumption, no radiation, flat displaying, and stable images, it has gradually displaced the CRT and become the main stream in the market, especially after the price for the LCD is getting lower in recent years.
Presently, the LCD can be divided into four types according to the driving method for the liquid crystal. They are twisted nematic (TN), super twisted nematic (STN), double layer super twisted nematic (DSTN), and thin film transistor (TFT). Nevertheless, no matter which type is employed, the structure of an LCD module is basically similar. Generally, the thickness of an LCD panel is less than 1 cm for being thin, light and small. The LCD panel is composed of more than 20 materials and elements. Depending on the LCD type, the needed materials could be very different. The structure of an LCD module is like a sandwich that an LCD display, a liquid crystal assembly, and a backlight module are mounted between the upper cover and the lower base. The liquid crystal assembly usually includes a glass substrate, a color filter, a polarizing filter, an alignment layer, and etc. A liquid crystal display body is accomplished by filling the liquid crystal space (smaller than 5×10−6 m) with the liquid crystal.
In order to stabilize the whole LCD structure, the liquid crystal display body is usually assembled between an upper cover and a lower base. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the assembling of an LCD module according to the prior art. The LCD module 10 mainly includes the base 11, the cover 12, and the liquid crystal display body 15. The liquid crystal display body 15 has the essential components including a backlight module, a liquid crystal assembly, a printed circuit board, and a display panel (not shown) so as to perform a display function. The structure of the liquid crystal display body 15 might be altered based on different LCD products and needed functions, i.e. STN-LCD and TFT-LCD have different liquid crystal display bodies. Traditionally, there are plural fixing openings 18 mounted on the base frame 13 of the base 11. On the cover frame 14 of the cover 12, there are plural fixing pieces 17 mounted on the positions corresponding to those of the fixing openings 18. In the beginning of the assembling process, the cover 12 is placed facing upwards. Then the liquid crystal display body 15 having its front side facing downwards is placed on the cover 12. One side of the base 11 is connected with the corresponding side of the cover 12 before the cover 12 covers the liquid crystal display body 15. Consequently, the base frame 13 and the cover frame 14 are connected to each other. Ultimately, the plural fixing pieces 17 are turned into the corresponding plural fixing openings 18 by the clamping tool specific for assembling the LCD module in order to make the plural fixing pieces 17 grappled and engaged with the corresponding plural fixing openings 18. Therefore, the cover frame 14 is fixedly engaged with the base frame 13 by the plural fixing pieces 17. Accordingly, the assembling of the LCD module 10 is achieved.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the outside appearance of the assembled LCD module according to the prior art. Other than accomplished by hand, the process that the plural fixing pieces 17 are turned into the corresponding plural fixing openings 18 by the clamping tool could be accomplished by the particular clamping module (not shown) specific for assembling the LCD module as well. The clamping module provides a force simultaneously pushing and turning the plural fixing pieces 17 so as to complete the assembling process rapidly. Through the clamping module, the production on large scale is attainable.
However, there are several disadvantages existing in the above assembly process. First, in order to maintain the liquid crystal display intact and avoid the liquid crystal display body 15 from damage, the assembling process is proceeded reversely. That is, the whole LCD module 10 is reversed and facing downwards during the assembling process. After the assembling is accomplished, the LCD module 10 is reversed and facing upwards again. In other words, the LCD module 10 has to be moved to another worktable in the production line, which is very inconvenient and costs too much time and manpower. On the other hand, when using the clamping module for mass production, different clamping modules with different sizes must be made according to the sizes of different LCD module 10, which is uneconomic and increases the production costs. Besides, the bending area 175 of the fixing piece 17 is easy to be broken owing to the repeated bending and the excessive applying force, which will seriously affect the structure of the LCD module 10. Furthermore, in the process that the fixing piece 17 is turned into the corresponding fixing opening 18 by the clamping tool, not only the turning angle of the fixing piece 17 is altered every time, but also the depth engaged with the fixing opening 18 of the fixing piece 17 is mostly different every time. Therefore, even though it seems the structure of the LCD module 10 is stabilized by the engagement between the plural fixing piece 17 and the corresponding plural fixing openings 18, the stability of the LCD module 10, in fact, is affected and altered by the engagement stability between the plural fixing piece 17 and the corresponding plural fixing openings 18. In the field of LCD module, in which the structural stability is extremely critical, the quality control for the structural stability of LCD module would be seriously affected.
From the above description, it is known that how to develop an LCD module with a higher structural stability and a simpler assembling process for LCD module so as to lower the production cost and save the assembling time have become a major problem waited to be solved. In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a liquid crystal display module is provided in the invention. The particular design not only solves the inconvenience of the reverse assembling for LCD module, but also simplifies the assembly process without the need for the extra clamping module. Therefore, the needs for lowering the production cost and increasing the structural stability of the LCD module are both achieved. Thus, the invention has the utility for the industry.

Frame for liquid crystal display device provided with protrudent elements and blocking elements being engaged with mounting openings and indentations


The invention provides a plant cell, part, tissue culture or whole plant comprising at least one disrupted KRP gene of the present invention. The present invention also provides methods of increasing weight, size, and/or number of one or more organs, and/or yield of a plant by utilizing the disrupted KRP genes of the present invention. Furthermore, methods of breeding plants to produce new plants having increased weight, size, and/or number of one or more organs, and/or yield are provided. The present invention provides isolated Kinase Inhibitor Protein (KIP) Related Protein (KRP) polynucleotide sequences and isolated KRP polypeptide sequences and methods of their use. Exemplary plants include wheat, rice and soybean.

The most important trait as a target for crop improvement is yield. Efforts to improve crop yields by developing new plant varieties can be divided into two approaches. One is to reduce crop yield losses by breeding or engineering crop varieties with increased resistance to abiotic stress conditions such as drought, cold, or salt or to biotic stress conditions resulting from pests or disease-causing pathogens. While this approach has value, it does not provide fundamentally improved crop yield in the absence of stress conditions and in fact, such resistance may direct plant resources that otherwise would be available for increased yield in the plant. The second approach is to breed or engineer new crop varieties in which the basic yield capacity is increased.
Classical breeding programs have initially produced substantial gains in improved yield in a variety of crops. A commonly experienced pattern though has been substantial gains in yield initially followed by incremental further improvements that become smaller and more difficult to obtain. More recently developed approaches based on molecular biology technologies have in principle offered the potential to achieve substantial improvement in crop yield by altering the timing, location, or level of expression of plant genes or heterologous genes that play a role in plant growth and/or development. Substantial progress has been made over the past twenty years in identifying plant genes and or heterologous genes that have a role in plant growth and/or development. Despite these gains in using molecular approaches, there continues to be a large unmet need for improved agronomic and horticultural plants produced through more conventional plant breeding. Because of the complexity of plant growth regulation and how it relates in the end to yield traits, it is still not obvious which, if any, of particular genes would be clear candidates to improve crop yield through either plant breeding and/or molecular techniques.
KRP proteins belong to a class of cell cycle inhibitors that bind to and inhibit cyclin/CDK kinase complexes. Mutation of conserved residues within KRP family members are expected to modify KRP's ability to function as an inhibitor of cyclin-CDK kinase complexes. Specifically, some mutations in KRP genes would lead to expression of a non-functional KRP cell cycle inhibitor or a cell cycle inhibitor with reduced activity. This loss of or reduced cyclin/CDK kinase inhibitory activity would lead to increased cyclin-CDK kinase activity in cells when normally these cells would have reduced cyclin-CDK activity. This loss of or reduced cyclin/CDK kinase inhibitory activity would lead to increased cell divisions in tissue where the normal wild-type KRP version is expressed. This increased cell division would result in positive agronomic traits such as increased yield, increased weight, size, and/or number of one or more organs, for example, increased seed size, larger plants, larger leaves, larger roots etc. For background on KRP-related technologies, see, for example, WO/2007/016319 and US20070056058, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The present invention identifies new KRP genes and proteins and provides methods for their use in producing improved agronomic and horticultural plants through conventional plant breeding and/or molecular methodologies.

Identification and the use of KRP mutants in plants


Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging communications which each represent a respective combination of data and clock signaling. In an embodiment, encoder logic generates a first signal pair, including encoding a first differential data signal pair with a first clock signal of a differential clock signal pair. The encoder logic further generates a second signal pair, including encoding a second differential data signal pair with a second clock signal of the same differential clock signal pair. In another embodiment, decoder logic receives and decodes the first signal pair and the second signal pair, wherein the decoding generates the first differential data signal pair, the second differential data signal pair and a clock signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of data communications, and more particularly, to the transmission of combined clock and data signals.
2. Background Art
There are a variety of conventional systems and methods for transmitting data between a transmitter and a receiver. One important aspect of all communication systems is to maximize the bandwidth provided by available channels. Unfortunately, most systems include a variety of control signals that must be sent between the transmitter and the receiver to ensure proper operation, and maintain synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver.
To facilitate such synchronization, various communication methods provide for transmission of a clock signal in parallel with data signals. Most such schemes provide a single line or channel dedicated for the transmission of the clock signal and other signal lines or channels dedicated for the transmission of data. Recent techniques and mechanisms have been introduced to improve bandwidth utilization by combining a single-ended clock signal with a data signal. However, as successive generations of data communication standards continue to trend toward connectors which have fewer contacts (e.g. pins, pads, balls, sockets, etc.) and support higher frequency signaling, it is expected that the marginal improvements provided by such techniques and mechanisms will be insufficient for future communication requirements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus, system and method for providing clock and data signaling


In a method of manufacturing a hollow blade for a turbomachine in which a plurality of primary sheet-like parts having anti-diffusion coatings in predefined areas are assembled face to face and diffusion welded together before being deformed to shape by pressurized gas and superplastic forming. The assembly, before being diffusion welded together, is subjected to a preheating treatment in an oven to remove the binder from the anti-diffusion coatings, and then, without moving the assembly, the interior of the assembly is evacuated while simultaneously progressively increasing the temperature at a rate V to a value T to produce a permanent plastic deformation of the parts, the interior of the assembly then being maintained in vacuo at the temperature T while an isostatic pressure is applied to the exterior of the assembly so as to produce a compacting of the anti-diffusion material and a prewelding of the facing areas which are not coated with the anti-diffusion material.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a hollow blade for a turbomachine in which a plurality of primary sheet-like parts are assembled face to face and diffusion welded together in predetermined areas before being deformed to shape by pressurized gas and superplastic forming.
2. Discussion of the Background
The advantages of using large-chord blades in turbomachines are particularly apparent in the case of the fan rotor blades of bypass jet engines. Such blades must withstand severe operating conditions and, in particular, must have mechanical properties enabling them to withstand satisfactorily vibrations and impacts from foreign bodies. Also, the requirement for adequate blade tip speeds has stimulated efforts to reduce the weight of the blades, which aim can be achieved in particular by the use of hollow blades.
EP-A-0700738 describes a process for the manufacture of a hollow turbomachine blade, particularly a large-chord blade for a fan rotor, which process generally comprises the following steps:
a) defining the flat form of the primary sheet-like or substantially planar parts of the blade using CADCAM and digital simulation techniques; PA1 b) die-forging the primary parts of the blade in a press; PA1 c) machining the primary parts; PA1 d) depositing diffusion barriers on at least one of the primary parts according to a predefined pattern; PA1 e) assembling the primary parts and hot diffusion welding them together under isostatic pressure; PA1 f) pressurized gas inflation and superplastic forming of the welded assembly; and, PA1 g) final machining of the assembly. PA1 a) defining the flat form of the primary sheet-like parts of the blade by CADCAM and digital simulation techniques; PA1 b) die-forging the primary parts of the blade in a press; PA1 c) machining the primary parts; PA1 d) depositing diffusion barriers on at least one of the primary parts according to a predefined pattern; PA1 e) assembling the primary parts and hot diffusion welding them together under isostatic pressure; PA1 f) hot shaping the welded assembly by elongation of the fibres; PA1 g) hot forming a feed duct followed by unsticking of the primary parts in the regions coated with an anti-diffusion material; PA1 h) pressurized gas inflation and superplastic forming of the assembly; and, PA1 i) final machining of the assembly.
French Patent Application No. 9607329 describes such a process in which the assembly can be shaped by a twisting operation without risk of causing buckling undulations along the neutral fiber by carrying out a preliminary step of elongating the fibers distributed on either side of the neutral fibre.
French Patent No. 2739045 and French Patent Application No. 9610194 describe such a process in which, in view of the compaction of the primary parts in the regions of the diffusion barriers during the welding step, an operation to unstick the primary parts in these regions is carried out before performance of step (f). The unsticking step is achieved by hot forming a feed duct in a zone where the assembly has communicating passages between cavities. The cavities are therefore fed evenly and simultaneously, and the deformation rates can be controlled right from the start of the inflation cycle of step (f), thus ensuring the regularity and shape of the stiffeners. This results in a process with the following general operating sequence of steps:
In step (d) of this process it is known to deposit the anti-diffusion material by a silk-screen process. Embodiments are described in detail in French Patent Application No. 2739045. FIG. 1 illustrates a stage in the process when used to manufacture a hollow blade for a turbomachine fan from three primary parts defining an extrados skin 11, a central plate 12 and an intrados skin 13, at least two surfaces having been coated with an anti-diffusion material following a predefined pattern. In the stage shown in FIG. 2 the primary parts 11, 12, 13 have been assembled to form an assembly 14 using two centring pins 15, 16, and the assembly has been welded around its periphery in a neutral atmosphere in order not to contaminate the surfaces of the part. Before complete closure of the assembly by the peripheral welding, one or more tubes, such as 17 and 18, are added so as to communicate with the inner regions coated with the anti-diffusion material. At this stage the assembly is ready for diffusion welding which, in the case of a TA6V or TAD4E type titanium alloy, is performed at a temperature above 880.degree. C. However, as described in the aforesaid French Patent Application NO. 2739045, it is often necessary to carry out a preheating, treatment of the anti-diffusion material before the diffusion-welding step because the organic binders which are included in anti-diffusion materials, and which are needed to carry the material and ensure mechanical retention of the deposit on the coated surfaces, must be removed in order to ensure intimate contact between the surfaces and in order not to pollute the contacting surfaces when the temperature rises to above 500.degree. C. for diffusion welding. The binders are completely eliminated by thermal breakdown between 200 and 400.degree. C. and the gases evolved are removed by a flow of an inert gas, for example argon, or by pumping. During this operation the particles of the anti-diffusion material become very mobile since the mechanical bonds provided by the binder are completely broken down, and the assembly therefore requires very careful handling to ensure that there is no migration of particles to the uncoated areas.

Method of manufacturing a hollow blade for a turbomachine

Societe Nationale d'etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "Snecma"


Cutting device for cutting a reinforcing ply (N) formed of a set of portions of thread, of given length, coated in a rubber compound, laid parallel to one another and making a given theoretical angle (a) with the longitudinal direction of the ply, characterized in that it includes a first element able, without proceeding to cut the said ply (N), to estimate the actual angle of the threads with the longitudinal direction (XX′) of the device and a second element able to cut the ply (N) at the actual angle (a+da) estimated by the first element.

These reinforcing plies come in the form of a set of portions of thread, of given length, coated in a rubber compound, laid parallel to one another and making a given angle with the longitudinal direction of the ply.
During the tire-building operation it is necessary to cut portions of ply the length of which is tailored to the circumference of the form intended to accept this component. Hence, upstream of the tire-building machine, there is a cutting means able to separate a portion of ply off from the continuous strip of ply, by cutting through the bridge of rubber compound between two adjacent threads.
As a general rule, this cutting means moves along a straight support the orientation of which corresponds to a theoretical angle formed by the threads with the longitudinal direction.
However, it is found to be the case that the actual angle of the threads with the longitudinal direction differs by one or two degrees of angle from the theoretical angle that the creation of the ply sought to achieve.
It therefore follows that the cutting means penetrating the space between two threads and following a path corresponding to the theoretical angle strikes the threads transversely and causes the ply to become deformed or damaged.
Hence, cutters known as floating cutters have been developed, these being supported by an articulated frame and able to move freely in a direction perpendicular to the direction for support. The threads adjacent to the cutting line are then used to guide the cutter transversely to its direction of travel. This device is described by way of example in publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,123.
Alternatively, publication JP 3 251 440 describes a device comprising a measurement unit formed of magnetic means to control the transverse deviation of the cutter, but this means is suited only to plies formed of metal reinforcing threads.
However, where there is a desire to cut plies containing threads of small diameter and low rigidity, it is found that the threads no longer act as guides because of their poor mechanical integrity. Indeed, for the device known from the prior art to work correctly, it is necessary for the threads to be able to withstand the transverse force needed to cause the transverse movement of the cutting means. Further, it is found that the greater the force applied to the cutter in order for it to be capable of producing the desired effect, namely of cutting the ply, the greater this transverse force becomes. This phenomenon is particularly keenly felt when the cutting means is cutting through the two transverse ends of the ply, and lifting or folding of the ply in this region is not uncommon.

Method and device for measuring the ply angle prior to cutting

COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ESTABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN


A circuit for interconnecting electrical components in a stacked arrangement by the use of connector elements in which a substantially continuous bus is formed by the connector elements and the components to conduct signals between the components in the arrangement. The circuit and arrangement include identifier circuitry for automatically assigning an identifier to each electrical component in the stack and terminating circuitry for selectively establishing terminating connections between a terminal electrical component of the stack and the substantially continuous signal bus. The identifier circuitry and the terminating circuitry can be implemented by programmable array logic located in each electrical component.

In a communications network, large numbers of components such as computers, workstations, or file servers, are electrically connected by a communication network technology such as ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), fiber distributed data interface (FDDI), a technology known as TP-PMD (a copper-wire derivative of FDDI), and a networking technology known as 100 VG-AnyLAN, which uses an access method called demand priority access method (DPAM). An ethernet or other communication network typically includes a hub which is connected to the of components by communication cables, and which allows the computers, workstations, or file servers to exchange data signals. Data signals sent from a transmitting component to a receiving component are transmitted to the hub and repeated at the hub for transmission to the receiving component. The hub enables multiple computers, workstations, or file servers to share resources in a variety of applications. These applications include client-server database systems, in which a back-end database "engine" handles queries from multiple client front-ends running on desktop personal computers. The volume of data carried over the communication network escalates considerably as new users, new applications software, and more powerful computers or workstations are added to the network. As the volume of data carried over the network increases toward the maximum capacity, the data transfer rate through the hub and communication cables decreases, causing delays in computer applications and severely reducing the effectiveness of the network. Further, as the number of users associated with a network increases, more access ports are needed. To alleviate this problem, it is highly desirable to increase the capacity and/or the speed of the network.
A typical network hub includes one or more devices for routing data transfers between a number of ports (e.g., 12) in a workgroup. Each port may be assigned to one or more individual users or one or more individual computers, workstations, or servers. To increase the number of ports available to a workgroup, multiple hubs may be connected. Hub connections are typically achieved by uplink cables, such as unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables, shielded twisted pair (STP) cables, or fiber optic cabling. In large, complex networks, a significant number of cables may be required. Cables present significant design limitations. For example, the total length of cable between hub units in a high-speed (e.g., 100 megabits per second) network must be less than 205 meters, and the total length of cable from a hub unit to a computer or other component must be less than 100 meters. Further, cables cause signal delay which can contribute to delays in network applications; thus, longer cables cause increased delay. In addition, signal reflection occurs at cable termination or connection points; thus, an increased number of cables causes increased delay. The reflected signals at the cable termination points contribute to signal degradation and inhibit network performance.
When a group of network hubs are connected together to increase the capacity of a network, each hub in the arrangement must typically be assigned a unique identifier to allow for proper arbitration and communication of signals between the network hubs and the network devices connected to the network hubs. The unique identifiers are typically assigned using software or through the use of DIP switches, both of which require input from a network administrator. Terminating connections are typically required at the first and last network hubs in the arrangement to allow the signals on the connecting cables to propagate and to prevent signal reflection.
Accordingly, it would be desirable for a communication network hub or other arrangement of electrical components to be easily set up and expanded without the concerns of signal reflection, propagation delay, identification assignment, and poor propagation of signals between hubs or network devices.


The aircraft includes a free wing freely pivotally supported about a spanwise axis for flight in a free wing mode and lockable in selected predetermined, fixed angles of incidence with respect to a fuselage for flight in a fixed wing mode. The predetermined angle of incidence in the fixed wing flight mode is selected to provide sufficient lift for flying the aircraft at low speeds as necessary for takeoff and landing. The aircraft can be converted in flight between the free wing or conventional fixed wing aircraft flight modes. A control system is provided for selectively enabling or disabling the elevators on the horizontal stabilizer and the wing flaps.

The present invention generally relates to an aircraft having a wing free for rotation about a spanwise axis to maintain a constant angle of attack with the relative wind. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wing which is lockable and unlockable relative to the fuselage to selectively enable free rotation of the wing about the spanwise axis, and hence flight in a free wing mode, and fixation of the wing to the fuselage at a predetermined angle of incidence, and hence flight in a conventional fixed wing mode.
A free wing or "freewing" is a wing attached to an aircraft fuselage in a manner such that the wing is freely pivotable about its spanwise axis forward of its aerodynamic center. This arrangement enables the wing to have an angle of attack which is determined solely by aerodynamic forces, and therefore, subject only to aerodynamic pitching moments imposed by wing lift and drag. Rotation of the wing, without pilot intervention, induced by positive or negative vertical wind gusts striking the wing causes the angle of incidence or pitch between the wing and the aircraft fuselage to vary so that the wing presents a constant angle of attack to the relative wind enabling the aircraft to be essentially stall-free during flight.
Among other advantages realized when employing a freewing are increased resistance to stalls, increased C.G. (Center of Gravity) range, alleviation of gust loads, e.g. on the order of a 4:1 reduction, which translates to an increase in passenger comfort of up to 4,000% greater than conventional fixed wing aircraft, extension of the payload capability due to the ability to reduce the structural weight of the aircraft, and the ability to utilize a smaller engine with a lower fuel requirement, thus increasing the flight range of the aircraft.
Recognizing the advantages associated with freewings, numerous attempts have been made to adapt the concept of the freewing to conventional aircraft, particularly in the field of general aviation. However, as discussed below, the freewing concept has only been successfully applied to light or very light aircraft.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,368, issued to the present inventor is directed to an ultra-light aircraft wherein a hang cage is suspended from a collapsible Rogallo type wing by a main hinge assembly. The wing includes a longitudinal keel of light-weight tubular construction, leading edge members, and a cross brace. A flexible lifting panel is secured along and between these members to establish a lifting surface. The hinge is clamped to the keel permitting free rotation of the wing about a spanwise axis extending longitudinally through the cross brace.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,043, also issued to the present inventor, is directed to an ultra-light aircraft of light-weight construction which includes a freely rotating rigid wing from which a hang cage is suspended by a main hinge assembly
Although the freewing concept has been successfully applied to ultra-light aircraft by the present inventor and to a light plane water-borne aircraft, the application of the freewing concept to conventional aircraft, particularly in the field of general aviation, has not been successfully achieved due to the fact that not only is drag increased as a consequence of the flap deflection needed to properly vary the coefficient of lift of the wing, but in addition, deploying flaps on a freewing can induce instability of the wing by changing the pitching moment of the airfoil from a positive value, needed for stable freewing flight, to a negative value. This characteristic of freewings becomes particularly significant when an aircraft is on final approach and/or during takeoff, as can readily be appreciated by those familiar with the handling of aircraft in flight.
Aircraft such as ultra-lights can ignore the problem associated with low wing lift coefficient, because they are inherently so low wing loaded that they can fly at speeds slow enough to take off and land safely. However, without some method of inducing a freewing into higher lift coefficients than possible in the pure freewing, larger size freewing aircraft are not easily attainable.
Solutions proposed and explored in NASA-funded studies include (i) using leading edge slats instead of trailing edge flaps and (ii) using a freewing free-trimmer, a device resembling a canard surface protruding from the wing ahead of the leading edge, supported by booms, as well as an alternative version of the freewing free-trimmer, in which the control surfaces were moved from the canard position to a trailing edge location.
The proposed use of leading edge slats was determined to be structurally over-complicated and otherwise did not provide the required lift coefficient additive. The proposed use of a freewing free-trimmer was the subject of two further NASA-funded studies. In one of these further studies, NASA CR-2946, Analytical Study of a Free-Wing/Free-Trimmer Concept (1978), it was found that while there was some additional lift force possible with aft mounted trimmers, they required additional mass penalty to balance the freewing about its hinge line. Moreover, it was found that while forward mounted (canard) trimmers would themselves serve as the required counterweight, they also counteracted the gust alleviation qualities of the freewing to the extent that such a freewing would provide an even rougher ride in turbulence than its conventional counterpart, thus destroying one of the desired benefits of the freewing.
A number of U.S. patents involving freewing and freewing-like designs have issued. For example, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 18,181 to Stelzer discloses a type of freewing which includes a means to provide elastic shock absorption.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,469 to Spratt, builder of the aforementioned aircraft, discloses a freewing type aircraft in which the pitch of the wing is controlled by the pilot through control stick 46 or control wing 31. In operation, control rods 42 and 43 impart a torque about the wing hinges such that the wing assumes a higher angle of attack while still remaining largely free to rotate in response to gusts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,180 to Wolowicz discloses a freewing aircraft which incorporates a trimmable free stabilizer comprising a floating canard mounted on a strut rigidly connected to the freewing.
The present invention involves a revolutionary new approach to the problem of how to incorporate the freewing concept to aircraft of any size.


A motor-vehicle wheel structure comprises a wheel rim and a wheel disk having a circumferential border bent and welded within the rim, and a central portion bearing a circumferential series of holes for engagement of bolts for fixing the wheel to the wheel support. The central portion is connected to the circumferential border of the disk by an intermediate annular portion having in cross section an arched configuration projecting outwards. Welded on the outer face of the wheel disk is an auxiliary disk having a substantially plane conformation, the outer border of which is welded to the main disk substantially in a position corresponding to the apex of the aforesaid projecting annular portion. The auxiliary disk integrates tubular columns that project from the inner face of the auxiliary disk and have their ends welded to the central portion of the main disk so that they are co-axial to the holes for the fixing bolts.

The present invention relates to the metal structures of a motor-vehicle wheel, of the type comprising a wheel rim and a wheel disk having a circumferential border bent and welded within the rim, the disk moreover having a central portion with a circumferential series of holes for engagement of bolts for fixing the wheel to a wheel support, said central portion of the wheel disk being radiused with the aforesaid outer circumferential border by an intermediate annular portion of the wheel disk having, in cross section, an arched conformation, projecting outwards.
The problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a wheel structure that will be able to reduce to the minimum the deformations and vibrations to which the wheel is subject as it rolls on the ground, with consequent reduction of the level of noise that is perceived inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
Studies and experiments conducted by the present applicant have shown that an increase of the static and dynamic stiffness of the structure of the wheel can contribute considerably to the acoustic comfort inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. From this standpoint, wheels made of light alloy in general enable an optimal result to be obtained, since they are considerably stiffer than wheels made of steel plate, but present the drawback of a relatively high cost.

Motor-vehicle wheel structure having a main disk and an auxiliary disk


A disc with a temporary defect management information area and a defect management area includes a defect management area that is present in at least one of a lead-in area, a lead-out area, and an outer area, a temporary defect information area which is formed in the data area and in which temporary defect information is recorded, and a temporary defect management information area which is present in at least one of the lead-in area, and the lead-out area. Accordingly, it is possible to record user data in a recordable disc, especially, a write-once disc, while performing defect management thereon, thereby enabling efficient use of a defect management area having a limited recording capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disc defect management, and more particularly, to a disc in which a temporary defect management information area and a temporary management area are formed, and a method and apparatus for managing a defect in such a disc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Defect management is performed to allow a user to rewrite user data of a portion of a user data area in which a defect occurs in a new portion of the user data area of a disc, thereby compensating for a loss in data caused by the defect. In general, defect management is performed using linear replacement or slipping replacement methods. In the linear replacement method, a user data area in which a defect occurs is replaced with a spare data area having no defects. In the slipping replacement method, a user data area having a defect is slipped to use the next user data area having no defects.
Both linear replacement and slipping replacement methods are applicable only to discs such as a DVD-RAM/RW on which data can be repeatedly recorded and recording can be performed using a random access method. In other words, the conventional linear replacement and slipping replacement methods cannot be applied to write-once discs on which recording is allowed only once. In general, the presence of defects in a disc is checked by recording data on the disc and confirming whether the data can be recorded on the disc. However, once the data is recorded on a write-once disc, it is impossible to overwrite new data and manage defects therein.
Meanwhile, after the development of CD-R and DVD-R, a high-density write-once disc having a recording capacity of several dozen of GB has been introduced. This type of disc can be used as a backup disc since it is not expensive and allows random access, which enables fast reading operations. However, defect management is not available for write-once discs. Therefore, a backup operation is discontinued when a defective area (i.e., an area where a defect occurs) is detected during the backup operation because defect management on a write-once disc cannot be performed.
In general, the backup operation is performed when a system is not frequently used. Thus, backup operations are often performed at night when a system manager does not operate the system. In this case, it is more likely that the backup operation will be stopped because a defective area of a write-once disc is detected and the backup operation for the system will therefore not be performed in a reliable manner.

Disc with temporary disc definition structure (TDDS) and temporary defect list (TDFL), and method of and apparatus for managing defect in the same


An exemplary embodiment discloses a light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit including an LED driving module configured to provide a first driving voltage to an LED light emitting module including a first LED group to an n-th LED group, n is an integer which is equal to or larger than 2, and sequentially drive the first LED group to the n-th LED group depending on a voltage level of the first driving voltage and a second driving voltage providing module configured to store some of the first driving voltage and selectively provide a second driving voltage to some of the LED groups other than at least the first LED group to an m-th LED group among the LED groups in a Vfm compensation section, 1≦m≦n−1, according to a control of the LED driving module.

Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to an LED driving circuit for continuously driving an LED, an LED lighting device including the same, and a driving method. More particularly, exemplary embodiments relate to an LED driving circuit for continuously driving an LED capable of compensating for an optical output of LED lighting using an energy chargeable/dischargeable element and/or circuit, an LED lighting device including the same, and a driving method.
Discussion of the Background
LED driving is generally based on a DC driving type. The DC driving type has to include an AC-DC converter such as an SMPS. The power converter causes problems of increasing manufacturing costs of lighting fittings, making it difficult to miniaturizing the lighting fittings, reducing energy efficiency of the lighting fittings, and shortening a life of the lighting fittings due to a short life of the power converter.
To solve the problems of the foregoing DC driving type, an AC driving type for an LED has been proposed. However, in the case of a circuit based on the technology, a power factor may be reduced due to a mismatch between an input voltage and a current output from the LED and a flicker phenomenon that a user recognizes flickering of lighting due to a long non-emission section of the LED may occur.
To solve the problems of the foregoing AC driving type for an LED, a sequential driving type for an AC LED has been proposed. According to the sequential driving type for an AC LED, under the situation that the input voltage is increased over time, a first LED first starts to emit light at Vf1, a second LED is connected to the first LED in series to start to emit light at Vf2 which is a voltage higher than the Vf1, and a third LED is connected to the second LED and the first LED in series to start to emit light at Vf3 which is a voltage higher than the Vf2. In addition, under the situation that the input voltage is decreased over time, the third LED first stops emitting the light at the Vf3, the second LED stops emitting light at the Vf2, and the first LED finally stops emitting light at the Vf1, such that an LED driving current is designed to be approximate to the input voltage. According to the AC LED sequential driving type, the LED driving current is converged like an AC input voltage, and as a result a power factor may be improved. However, the flicker phenomenon still occurs in the non-emission section in which the input voltage does not reach the Vf1 and a light emitting time for each LED light emitting module is different to make optical characteristics of the lighting fittings non-uniform.
Meanwhile, to solve the problem of the AC LED sequential driving type as described above, various technologies to remove a non-emission section using a smoothing capacitor, a power factor correction circuit, etc., have been proposed. However, according to the foregoing technologies, a total harmonic distortion (THD) may be rather worse due to device characteristics in which a current is suddenly increased at timing when the smoothing capacitor starts to perform the charging. Further, since the smoothing capacitor needs to maintain a voltage which is equal to or more than at least Vf3 in order to drive all the LEDs in the non-emission section, the smoothing capacitor requires high capacitance. As a result, the smoothing capacitor is expensive and it is difficult to miniaturize the LED lighting fitting.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept, and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

LED driving circuit for continuously driving LED, LED lighting device comprising same and driving method


A magnetic field measurement system includes at least one magnetometer; and at least one flux concentrator made of a high magnetic permeability material and configured to receive magnetic field signals from a source, to concentrate the magnetic field signals or reorient the magnetic field signals in a preselected direction, and to direct the concentrated or reoriented magnetic field signals toward at least one of the at least one magnetometer. In addition to, or as an alternative to, the flux concentrator, the system can include a passive shield made of the high magnetic permeability material. The system may also include active shielding.

In the nervous system, neurons propagate signals via action potentials. These are brief electric currents which flow down the length of a neuron causing chemical transmitters to be released at a synapse. The time-varying electrical current within the neuron generates a magnetic field, which propagates through the human body. Magnetoencephalography (MEG), the measurement of magnetic fields generated by the brain, is one method for observing these neural signals.
Existing systems for observing or measuring MEG typically utilize Superconductive Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) or collections of discrete Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs). In this disclosure the OPM is primarily considered because the SQUID system requires cryogenic cooling, which is prohibitively costly and bulky and requires a lot of maintenance which preclude their use in mobile or wearable devices.
Optical magnetometry can include the use of optical methods to measure a magnetic field with very high accuracy—on the order of 1×10−15 Tesla. Of particular interest for their high-sensitivity, OPMs can be used in optical magnetometry to measure weak magnetic fields. In at least some embodiments, the OPM has an alkali vapor gas cell that contains alkali metal atoms in a combination of gas, liquid, or solid states (depending on temperature). The gas cell may contain a quenching gas, buffer gas, or specialized antirelaxation coatings or any combination thereof. The size of the gas cells can vary from a fraction of a millimeter up to several centimeters.

Magnetic field shaping components for magnetic field measurement systems and methods for making and using


A bathroom sink with an upper basin substantially at waist level, a lower basin substantially at foot or knee level or between foot and knee levels, and a diverter that diverts a flow of water from the upper basin to the lower basin. The diverter may be next to a first faucet mounted to the first basin, on a side of the upper basin, or on a stand connecting the upper basin to the lower basin. One or more additional faucets may also be mounted to the lower basin. A pair of driers may be mounted to the lower basin. A control panel may be mounted to the upper basin so that a controller can control the flow of water based on a water meter or a timer, log water usage and/or other information in association with a user ID, and/or display an instructional video.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to a bathroom sink with at least two basins, and more specifically, to a bathroom sink with at least two basins, where one basin is at foot or knee level or between foot and knee levels.
2. Description of the Related Art
The "background" description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
Conventional bathroom sinks are neither comfortable nor safe to be used by a user for washing their feet as a user has to lift their feet to the basin level.

Bathroom washing apparatus with plural basins and integrated waterflow features


A TV receiving module and a display apparatus and a TV receiving system using the same, wherein the TV receiving module is small in size and is detachably mounted outside or inside of the display apparatus. The TV receiving module is adapted to select and receive a TV signal of a desired broadcast from among TV signals inputted from a TV broadcast receiving antenna or cable, and provide the received TV signal. A detachable connector unit includes a first connector installed in the TV receiving module for receiving external power and an external control signal and providing the TV signal received by the TV receiving module externally, and a second connector detachably coupled with the first connector. The display apparatus is connected to the TV receiving module via the second connector of the detachable connector unit to provide the external power and external control signal to the TV receiving module, receive the TV signal from the TV receiving module and output video and audio signals of the received TV signal. The display apparatus may be an LCD monitor or a PDP TV receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television (referred to hereinafter as TV) receiving system using a display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, a plasma display panel (PDP) TV receiver or etc., and more particularly to a TV receiving module and a display apparatus and a TV receiving system using the same, wherein the TV receiving module is small in size and is detachably mounted outside or inside of the display apparatus, and the display apparatus supplies desired power to the TV receiving module and controls a TV receiving operation and a display operation at one time through a simple operation such as a one-touch operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general terms, people must purchase TV sets to watch TV broadcasts. Because TV sets are becoming increasingly expensive, there have recently been proposed schemes capable of replacing TV sets, such as a method of watching TV broadcasts using computers. One example of such schemes is a method using a TV receiving card and monitor of a computer and another example is a method using a set-top box and a monitor.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional TV receiving apparatus using a computer system. As shown in this drawing, the conventional TV receiving apparatus comprises a TV card installed in a computer body 11 and connected to an antenna for receiving and processing a desired TV broadcast signal, and a computer monitor 12 for outputting a TV picture from the TV card.
However, the above-mentioned conventional TV receiving apparatus using the computer system has a disadvantage in that it is necessary to install the TV card in the computer body, resulting in a relatively high start-up price for the watching of TV broadcasts. Further, the conventional TV receiving apparatus is inconvenient to use for TV watching in that a long time is needed for booting the computer prior to TV watching.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional TV receiving apparatus using a set-top box. As shown in this drawing, the conventional TV receiving apparatus comprises a set-top box for TV reception 21 including a power supply for supplying self-power, a display panel for displaying a receiving channel and an operating state and a TV reception processor, and a monitor 22 for outputting a TV signal from the set-top box 21 for TV reception. The monitor 22 includes an internal or external speaker for outputting sound.
However, the above-mentioned conventional TV receiving apparatus using the set-top box is disadvantageous in that the TV receiving set-top box must include the power supply which supplies the self-power and the display panel which displays the receiving channel and operating state, besides the TV reception processor, thereby causing a considerable increase in size. In this connection, the TV receiving set-top box cannot be detachably and directly coupled with a computer monitor, such as an LCD monitor, and must occupy a separate space for its use.
In addition to the above problem of size, a great cost is required in manufacturing such a conventional set-top box for TV reception, thereby reducing the competitiveness thereof in the market place.

Television receiving module and display apparatus and television receiving system using the same


A compound having the general formula shown below:

Oligonucleotides are often modified or labeled with reporter moieties such as quenchers, fluorophores, biotin, etc. These labeled oligonucleotides can provide information regarding binding and other biological phenomena, the structure of DNA, the association of macromolecules, and the size and mobility of protein and DNA complexes.
Several attachment chemistries are currently used for modifying oligonucleotides. For example, primary amino groups are widely used to attach modifiers, reporter moieties or labels to an oligonucleotide. In addition, they can be used to attach an oligonucleotide to a solid surface.
Stable Schiff base linkers have been used for the synthesis of labeled oligonucleotides. (Dey & Sheppard (2001) Org. Lett. Vol. 3, 25:3983-3986, which is incorporated herein by reference). The methods have been limited to the post-synthetic attachment of labels, and the proposed methods have not been commercially viable alternatives to standard synthesis approaches. Previously described post-synthetic methods permit the incorporation of only a single type of reporter moiety or multiple copies of the same reporter moiety into an oligonucleotide.
Labeled oligonucleotides have a wide variety of useful applications. For example, light quenching processes that rely on the interaction of a fluorophore and quencher as their spatial relationship changes can be used in convenient processes for detecting and/or identifying oligonucleotides and other biological phenomena. In one such method, the change in fluorescence of a fluorophore or quencher can be monitored as two oligonucleotides (one containing a fluorophore and one containing a quencher) hybridize to each other. The hybridization can be detected without intervening purification steps that separate unhybridized from hybridized oligonucleotides. Currently, quencher groups are commonly placed at the end of a probe sequence while the fluorophore is placed at the opposite end, solely for ease of synthesis. However, in some applications, such as real-time PCR, dual-labeled probes are more effective when the labels are placed closer to each other.
Perhaps the most common mechanism of fluorescent quenching is fluorescent resonance energy transfer ("FRET"). For FRET to occur, a fluorophore and a fluorescent quencher must be within a suitable distance for the quencher to absorb energy from the donor. In addition, there must be overlap between the emission spectrum of the fluorescent donor and the absorbance spectrum of the quencher. This requirement complicates the design of probes that utilize FRET because not all potential quencher/fluorophore pairs can be used. For example, the quencher known as BHQ-1, which absorbs light in the wavelength range of about 520-550 nm, can quench the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophore, fluorescein, which fluoresces maximally at about 520 nm. In contrast, the quencher BHQ-3, which absorbs light in the wavelength range of about 650-700 nm would be almost completely ineffective at quenching the fluorescence of fluorescein through FRET but would be quite effective at quenching the fluorescence of the fluorophore known as Cy5 which fluoresces at about 670 nm.
Oligonucleotides labeled with fluorophores and quenchers can also be used to monitor the kinetics of PCR amplification. For example, a PCR reaction is performed using oligonucleotides designed to hybridize to the 3′ side ("downstream") of an amplification primer so that the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity of a polymerase digests the 5′ end of the probe, cleaving off one of the dyes. The fluorescence intensity of the sample increases and can be monitored as the probe is digested during the course of amplification.
Similar oligonucleotide compositions may be used in other molecular/cellular biology and diagnostic assays, such as end-point PCR, in situ hybridizations, in vivo DNA and RNA species detection, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) analysis, enzyme assays, and in vivo and in vitro whole cell assays.

Compounds and methods for labeling oligonucleotides

Abstract: where R1-6 are independently selected from the group consisting of an electron withdrawing group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, hydrogen, a heteroaryl group, and a five or six member ring structure formed from the R1 and R2 pair, the R3 and R4 pair, the R4 and R5 pair, or the R5 and R6 pair; R7 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and Y is a nucleophile.


A pressure control valve is disclosed comprising a valve tappet (1) guided in a valve housing (3) and accommodating a compression spring (4), with a valve closure member (10) on one end of the valve tappet (1) and mating with a valve seat (9) establishing a connection between a pressure supply port (11) that emanates from a pressure fluid source and a pressure return channels (12) once the pressure attains a specific preset desired valve. In order to diminish noise, at least one friction element (2) is engagement with the valve tappet (1) movable to abut on radial friction surfaces of the valve housing (3) and/or the valve tappet (1).

The present invention relates to a pressure control valve, in particular for the pressure fluid control in slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems.
Conventional pressure control valves for the flow control of fluids in slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems are in wide use.
Pressure control valves are known, such as described in patent application P 39 30 757.3 for example, which have a valve tappet guided in a valve housing acted upon by a compression spring. The valve tappet end remote from the compression spring is formed as a spherical closure cooperating with a valve seat in order to interrupt the pressure fluid connection between the fluid supply and return in a leak-free manner when the valve is in its closed position.
In order to diminish the occurrence of noise and particularly the solid-borne sound during the stroke movement of the valve tappet, axially extending recesses are arranged unsymmetrically around the periphery of the valve tappet which bring about a radial pressure force resultant depending on the rate of flow and thereby an attenuation of the vibration. To manufacture such a shaped valve tappet, however, additional sophisticated machining steps are required.
It is therefore an object of this invention to improve upon a pressure control valve of the type referred to in such a manner as to achieve a major reduction in noise during the valve control phase with simple cost-efficient means, while the operational reliability is safeguarded at the same time.

Pressure control valve slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems


This invention relates to a process of exploding tobacco stems to improve smoke quality, and more particularly to a process of exploding the cells of tobacco stems with high pressure saturated steam, followed by rapid depressurization and quenching, in order to reduce negative contributors to smoke quality and to form favorable flavor compounds.

It has been generally known for years that treating fibrous vegetable substances with pressurized steam will contribute to the breakdown of the fibers. In addition, steam treatment has been used in conjunction with chemical additives, usually some form of ammonia and alkaline materials, to also modify tobacco properties. For example, one long expired patent, U.S. Pat. No. 42,319 to Jacob S. Storer (1864), teaches treating the fibrous part of plants (such as, straw, grasses, leaves, or stems of plants having long staple or woody fibers) with chemicals (such as, potash, soda, soda ash, ammonia, lime or salts) and by mediation of steam, dissolve out undesirable compounds that would impair the material's quality or color. U.S. Pat. No. 2,032,437 to Richter (1936) teaches a process whereby fiber is liberated from wood or other raw cellulosic material by the chemical action of a digester liquid, such as a sulfite or acid sulfite cooking liquor, while under confinement. U.S. Pat. No. 2,964,518 to Snyder (1960) teaches a process in which woody materials are subjected to the action of ammonia and steam at pressures in the range of 600 to 1250 PSIG and temperatures of about 250.degree. to 300.degree. C. for up to 90 minutes to separate the fibrous and ligneous portions of the material.
It is also generally known in the tobacco processing art to use steam and chemicals as a means for forming flavor compounds in tobacco. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,646 to Lilly, Jr., et al. (1986) teaches reacting ammonia with non-burley tobacco containing natural sugars, in a pressure controlled system heated to temperatures of 80.degree. to 150.degree. C. in order to impart burley-like smoke flavor characteristics, yet retain substantially all volatile tobacco components. Several other patents are known that relate to processes for treating tobacco to form flavor compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,994 to Denier et al. (1987) teaches treating, drying and expanding tobacco by applying an ammonia source to the tobacco, then treating the ammoniated tobacco with steam for a preselected time, with the result being improved flavor quality and fill value of the tobacco. U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,375 to Denier et al. (1988) teaches introducing moistened tobacco into a containing zone, introducing an ammonia source, and heating the contained zone to bring the tobacco to a preselected temperature to produce flavor compounds in the tobacco. U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,884 to Denier et al. (1989) teaches contacting the tobacco with citrus pectin, invert sugar, or diammonium phosphate, or a combination thereof, introducing the moistened tobacco into a containing zone along with an ammonium source, and heating the containing zone to bring the tobacco to a preselected temperature to produce flavor compounds in the tobacco.
In the main, the past tobacco treating art has utilized various combinations of steam, ammonia or chemicals in treating tobacco materials in order to form flavor compounds or to break down the lignin and cellulose in wood products to form by-products useful in manufacturing other goods.

Process for steam explosion of tobacco stem


The invention provides a photographic element comprising a silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a cyan dye-forming coupler having the formula: wherein R.sub.3 represents a methyl or ethyl group; R.sub.4 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms; R.sub.5 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing 4 or more carbon atoms; X represents a chloro or fluoro group; Y represents a substituent group and n represents an integer from 0 to 4, provided that if n is 2 or more, then two Y groups may be joined together to form a ring; and Z represents hydrogen or a group capable of being split off by oxidized color developer. The dye formed by the coupler upon conventional processing with a p-phenylenediamine developer exhibits improved stability.

In recent years, a great deal of study has been conducted to improve dye-forming couplers for silver halide photosensitive materials. While many significant advances have been reported, the best couplers available today still have serious deficiencies. In particular, improving the stability of the image dyes derived from cyan couplers has proven to be very difficult.
The couplers commonly used to form cyan image dyes in color films and papers are generally of three types: amides of 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid as represented by formula (I) and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,313,138; 4,208,210; 5,283,163; 5,380,638; 5,476,757; and 5,457,020; 2,5-diacylaminophenols as described by formula (II) and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,369,929; 2,895,826; 3,466,622; 3,758,308; 3,864,366; 3,880,661; 3,996,253; and 4,333,999; and 2-acylaminophenols as described by formula (III) and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,367,531; 2,369,929; 2,423,730; 2,801,171; 3,772,002; 3,998,642; and 4,560,630. These types of couplers can be used either by being incorporated in the photographic silver halide emulsion layers or externally in the processing baths. In the former case the couplers must have ballast substituents built into the molecule to prevent the couplers from migrating from one layer to another. ##STR1##
In each of the formulas (I), (II) and (III), R.sub.1 represents an alkyl, aryl or arylamino substituent and Z represents a hydrogen atom or a group which is split off during the coupling, reaction ("coupling-off group"). In (II), R.sub.2 represents an alkyl or aryl substituent, usually an alkyl group substituted at the alpha position by an aryloxy group. In (III), R.sub.3 represents an alkyl group, usually methyl or ethyl, and X represents a halogen atom, usually chlorine or fluorine.
Although the couplers of formulas (I) and (II) have been used extensively in color photographic film products, the dyes derived from each of the three types suffer from various deficiencies that make them unsatisfactory for use in color photographic papers. The couplers of Formula (III) are commonly used in color photographic papers, but they nevertheless have serious shortcomings that will impose limitations on their use in future paper products that will have much more stringent requirements.
Couplers of Formula (I) yield image dyes that have poor stability to heat, humidity, light, and ferrous ions that are present in the bleaching solution. Furthermore, the absorption spectra of their image dyes are too bathochromically shifted (that is, shifted too far toward the long wavelength portion of the spectrum) to be useful in color photographic paper, and the dyes have an unacceptable side absorption in the short wavelength portion of the spectrum.
The image dyes derived from couplers of the 2,5-diacylaminophenol Formula (II) have excellent stability to heat and humidity, but they have poor stability to light. Furthermore, while the short-wavelength side absorption of these dyes is sharper-cutting than in the case of formulas (I) and (II) the hues of the dyes are too hypsochromically shifted (that is, shifted too far toward the short wavelength portion of the spectrum) if R.sub.1 is alkyl or aryl, and too bathochromically shifted (toward longer wavelengths) if R.sub.1 is arylamino, to be useful in color photographic paper.
The couplers of the 2-acylaminophenol Formula (III), more specifically those of Formula (IV), are used in nearly all commercially available color photographic papers. The couplers of this type that have been commercially used may be divided into two groups according to the substituent group R.sub.3. When R.sub.3 is a methyl group, the image dyes have excellent light stability but suffer from insufficient stability to heat and humidity to meet the requirements of modern products; on the other hand, when R.sub.3 is an ethyl group, the stability to heat and humidity is greatly improved but light stability is unsatisfactory. Even when R.sub.3 is an ethyl group, the stability to heat and humidity is not good enough to satisfy the stringent requirements of future color papers. ##STR2##
Examples of these couplers are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,970 and in EP 554,027 but none of the R.sub.4 /R.sub.5 substituent combinations disclosed provides satisfactory results.
A problem to be solved is to provide a color photographic element containing a silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a cyan dye forming coupler that forms a more stable dye than heretofore obtainable.

Photographic elements containing specified cyan dye-forming couplers for improved heat and light stability


A transmitter system can have a higher power transmitter and a lower power that are configured to transmit a pair of unbalanced radio frequency beams to a target so as to produce a difference frequency in the target. The difference frequency can disrupt operation of a device, such as a weapon. The difference frequency can provide a radar return. The use of a higher power transmitter and a lower power transmitter reduces costs, size, and weight as compared to the use of two higher power transmitters.

Non-linear radar (NLR) systems are known. NLR systems use two or more collimated, millimeter wave beams having frequencies that are separated by a difference frequency (Δf). The difference frequency is usually, although not always, located in the microwave (centimeter wave) range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Such collimated beams interact when they are brought together. For example, the collimated beams can be brought together at a distant target. Non-linear electrical components such as diodes, transistors, integrated circuits, and detectors, as well as surfaces or structures that have non-linear electrical characteristics (such as due to corrosion, rust, or oxidation) facilitate interaction of the two beams. This interaction causes the production of a difference frequency and harmonics thereof.
By choosing the appropriate Δf value or values, it is possible to interact with electronic circuits associated with the target. Such interaction can, for example, interfere with the normal operation of the electronic circuits.
The interaction can occur in various degrees. For example, a mild interaction can cause temporary interference with certain selected functions of the target. More violent interaction can result in the permanent destruction of the target or of its key components or systems.
Most commonly, the level of interaction with the target is determined by the power density delivered to the target. The level of interaction is also determined by how effectively target resonances can be taken advantage of at the target. There is a wide variety of different types of resonances, from electrical resonances created by circuit components, e.g., lumped circuit elements, to electromagnetic resonances produced at microwave frequencies by such structures as cavities, boxes, and instrument cases.
The difference frequency Δf can be re-radiated by the target. This re-radiated radio frequency energy can define a radar return that can be used to determine the presence of a device and/or determine the location thereof.


A photomask cleaner includes a clamp assembly using clamping plates with an elastic buffer device for clamping a photomask to be cleaned positively, a displacement mechanism for moving the clamp assembly among workstations subject to a predetermined track, a cleaning unit installed in one workstation for cleaning the photomask carried by the clamp assembly, and an air dryer installed in one workstation for drying the well-cleaned photomask carried.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and more particularly, to a photomask cleaner, which cleans the photomask automatically and, which holds the photomask positively for cleaning and will not release the photomask in case of a power failure during the cleaning operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the world entered the 21st century, the digital era begins to change human life. Digitalized high-tech products such as computer, digital TV, digital audio and video apparatus, building control system and many other digitalized products have been continuously developed to bring convenience to people. These high-tech products commonly use an IC chip for operation control. Therefore, some people asserted that IC chip is a mother of the industry. An IC chip is a miniaturized electronic circuit consisting of semiconductor devices and passive components. IC chips are fabricated with a photomask in clean environment in a layer process, which includes imaging, deposition and etching process steps. The plant and equipments for the fabrication of IC chips or wafers are quite expensive. The yield rate determines the profitability of a wafer foundry. Therefore, every semiconductor supplier is trying hard to improve their yield rate.
Contamination of photomask is an important factor that affects the yield rate of the fabrication of wafers. If particles appear on a photomask, the use of this contaminated photomask in semiconductor lithography will cause wafer defects. In order to keep a photomask clean, a pellicle will be used above the photomask to protect the photomask against particles. The pellicle is supported on a frame and spaced above the photomask at a distance to collect particles.
Before delivery to the client or the performance of a lithography process, the photomask must be scanned to check the pattern. In case of a defect, the pellicle must be removed from the photomask, and then the photomask must be cleaned in an acid trough. During the cleaning operation, SPM solution is used to remove big organic molecules, and SCI solutions is used to remove small organic molecules and particles. Thereafter, deionized water is used to remove residual cleaning solution from the photomask. After cleaning, a new pellicle is placed on the well-cleaned photomask. Because a pellicle is an expensive device. Removing a contaminated pellicle from a photomask and replacing a photomask with a new pellicle greatly increases the photomask using cost. Further, the glue used in a photomask is generally prepared from esters (RCOOR)x, for example, polyacrylate. When a photomask is dipped in SPM solution, (RCOOR)x is dehydrated into gel-like (RCOOR)x that floats on water but not soluble in water. Dehydrolysis of (RCOOR)x may cause defects on the pattern of the photomask. Therefore, a photomask must be thrown away when cleaned three times. Because a photomask is quite expensive and cannot be used repeatedly for more many times, the cost of photomask utilization is high.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a way that solve the aforesaid problem.


An elevator door control apparatus includes at least one door safety device for detecting whether elevator doors are safe; an elevator control circuit for outputting a door-open/close command; and a door control circuit for controlling the opening/closing of doors on the basis of a door-open/close command issued from the elevator control circuit and for outputting a door reversal request to the elevator control circuit on the basis of the operation signal of the door safety device, wherein the door control circuit outputs a door reversal request to the elevator control circuit upon reception of the operation signal of the door safety device while the doors are being closed on the basis of a door-close command from the elevator control circuit, switches the door speed command pattern to a brake pattern from the door-close command speed pattern and thereafter switches the door speed command pattern from the brake pattern to the door-open command speed pattern when the door-open command is received from the elevator control circuit instead of the door-close command.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elevator door control apparatus which is capable of quickly reversing the direction (opening/closing) in which elevator doors are moving when door-open buttons or door safety devices, such as safety switches, are operated, thereby increasing passenger safety.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional elevator door control apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-123088. In FIG. 4, a microcomputer 2 (hereinafter referred to as a main computer) for controlling an elevator, disposed within a control panel 1, is connected to a door control circuit 4 through a control cable 3. The door control circuit 4 includes a microcomputer 5 (hereinafter referred to as a door computer) for controlling doors, a motor control circuit 6 and a motor drive circuit 7. A door motor 8 for opening/closing a pair of doors 14, a pulley 9 for a speed reducer, a rotor 10 and a belt 11 are disposed in the upper section of an elevator car 17. The pair of doors 14 are connected to the belt 11 via connection sections 12 and 13, respectively. A SHOE switch 15 and a door-open button 16 inside the car 17 are electrically connected to the main computer 2 and the door computer 5 through the control cable 3. The car 17 is moved upward and downward by a traction machine 19 through a rope 18 while being balanced by a counterweight 20.
Referring now to the timing chart of FIG. 5, the operation of the above-described apparatus of the prior art will be explained. The cycle of the timing at which signals are received by the main computer 2 is set at 40 ms, and the cycle of the timing at which signals are received by the door computer 5 is set at 10 ms.
It will now be assumed that the door motor 8 is being driven by the door computer 5 to close the doors 14 because the door computer 5 has received a command for closing the doors 14 from the main computer 2. Under this condition, if a signal for discontinuing the door-close operation is generated from the SHOE switch 15 or the door-open button 16 during the period of 10 ms from time T2 to T4, the door computer 5 can receive this signal at timing T3. In contrast, the main computer 2 cannot receive this signal because signal input timings T1 and T5 do not exist between times T2 and T4, during which period the stop signal is generated. Therefore, the state in which the door-close command signal is output to the doors by the main computer 2 does not change.
However, since, as described above, the door computer 5 can receive a signal for discontinuing the operation of closing the doors 14, the door computer 5, in response to this signal, immediately issues a command for stopping the operation of closing the doors 14 to the motor control circuit 6, causing the door motor 8 to be stopped by means of the motor drive circuit 7. As a result, the speed of the operation of closing the doors 14 is reduced during the period from time T3 to T4 and the doors 14 stop. The door computer 5 receives a command from the main computer 2 at timing T6 after the doors 14 are placed in a stopped condition for a predetermined time, and controls the opening/closing of the doors 14 in accordance with this command.
On the other hand, since the main computer 2 cannot receive signals from the door-open button 16 or the SHOE switch 15, and the state of the main computer 2 in which the door-close command is output is unchanged, the door computer 5 receives this command at timing T6 and immediately issues a command for closing the doors 14 to the motor control circuit 6 in order to control the driving of the door motor 8. As a result, the doors 14 are accelerated in a direction in which the doors 14 are closed from timing T6, and are thus closed.
If input timing of the main computer 2 exists in the period during which a signal for discontinuing the operation of closing the door 14 is generated, the doors 14 are discontinued by the same sequence as described above and then reversed to the direction which the doors 14 are opened.
In the conventional elevator door control apparatus described above, operation signals of a SHOE switch (a door safety device) or the like are received by both the main computer 2 and the door computer 5, the door computer 5 stops the operation of the doors 14 by itself while the computation by the main computer 2 is delayed. That is, the doors 14 are temporarily operated irrespective of the command of the main computer 2. For this reason, there is a problem described below.
For example, if, after the operation of a door fully-close switch for detecting the fully-closed condition of a door is confirmed, a brake of an elevator is released and the elevator is activated, the activation of the elevator is delayed by the operation time of the brake. For this reason, an elevator is provided which has a position switch for detecting that a door is positioned near a fully-closed position, the brake beginning to be released in accordance with the operation of the position switch, and the elevator being activated by the operation of the door fully-close switch. In this case, if a safety device, such as a SHOE switch, is operated or erroneously operated when the door which is being closed is positioned between the position switch and the door fully-close switch, and the door is stopped by the door computer 5, the door fully-close switch is not operated. Therefore, an extremely dangerous condition arises in which the brake is released by the operation of the position switch in spite of the fact that the elevator cannot be activated. Thus, there is a problem as regards safety.
In addition, there is another problem in that the number of control cables 3 corresponding to the number of safety devices is required to input operation signals of the safety device to both the main computer 2 and the door computer 5, thus increasing the cost of the apparatus.


The invention relates to a clothes rack for keeping garments, bags and other such objects. The clothes rack comprises a locking bow (1) arranged to move with respect to a fastening frame (4) by means of a power unit (7) and moving elements connected thereto, and to press the objects to be kept against the fastening frame (4), whereby the objects cannot be stolen from between the locking bow (1) and the fastening frame (4). The self-locking moving elements that are designed to hold the locking bow (1) in its locking position although et power unit (7) is switched off prevent the locking bow (1) from being unauthorizedly unlocked.

The invention relates to a clothes rack for keeping garments, bags and other necessary objects, which clothes rack comprises a frame, and a movable locking part for connecting and/or locking the objects to the clothes rack, and means for moving the locking part, which is a locking bow. arranged to be movable with respect to the fastening frame.
A cloakroom in public buildings, restaurants, companies and other such premises can either be a manned cloakroom or an unguarded self-service type of cloakroom. For cost reasons, however, it is not feasible in most places to organize a guarded cloakroom service. It is always risky to leave particularly valuable clothes, such as leather jackets and fur coats, in an unguarded clothes rack. Nevertheless, losing even less valuable garments is also harmful to the owner. Since garments are increasingly being stolen, many communities, institutions and companies have started paying more attention to cloakroom services, because their public image includes the idea of them being responsible for keeping their customers"" property intact. Hence, a need for a lockable self-service clothes rack exists. On the other hand, renting the safety clothes racks, as they could be called, offers athletic clubs, societies and the like a great opportunity to raise funds. Those who own the safety clothes racks then fit them in the customer""s premises, thereby enabling the customer to improve the customer service and safety while those who rent the clothes rack can raise money to finance their activities.
A structural solution for the lockable clothes rack comprises a frame, a hanger attached to the frame and a wire, metal string, chain or other such locking part attached to the frame from its first end, and further, a lock device for locking the free end of the locking part. By means of such a clothes rack, a piece of clothing with an opening of any kind can be locked in such a manner that the locking part is slid through the opening, for example through an opening formed by a coat sleeve or a bag handle, and subsequently, the free end of the locking part is locked by means of the lock device such that the locked object cannot be unauthorizedly removed from the clothes rack. A disadvantage presented by the lockable clothes rack is, however, that only objects with said opening can be fastened thereto. In practice, it is thus impossible to lock headgear, gloves, scarves and the like to the clothes rack. A further disadvantage is that to use such a clothes rack solution which requires the sliding the locking part is time-consuming and difficult, which means that the clothes rack will not be actually used, at least not in the designed manner. The most serious disadvantage is, however, that the apparatus cannot guarantee sufficiently safe cloakroom services since the locking part, most often the wire, metal string or chain, can quite easily, quickly and silently be cut using wire cutters, for example, after which the locked object can be stolen from the clothes rack.
Furthermore, CH 470 570 discloses a lockable and collapsible clothes hanger comprising hinged suspension arms that can be inserted into coat sleeves and spread and locked such that the garment cannot be unauthorizedly removed from the hanger. The frame of the clothes hanger further comprises a lockable pressing part equipped with serrated clamps between which the garment can be clamped and locked. However, the clothes hanger is rather difficult and slow to use. In addition, the pressing part disclosed in said publication with its serrated clamps is rather rough on the garment to be fastened, thereby easily causing damage to clothes made of fine material in particular.
DE 26 05 831 discloses a clothes rack with a lockable suspension hook comprising a ball head hook in the lower part and a cupped hook in the upper part, which is turnable with respect to its hinges and which can be locked in a locking position wherein the cup of the cup-head hook of the upper part is pressed against the ball surface of the ball head hook of the lower part such that a garment hanging on the lower part hook by its suspension loop or other such part cannot be unauthorizedly taken. Such clothes racks based on locking the garments by their suspension loops, however, suffer from the disadvantage that the garments can easily be stolen therefrom by cutting the suspension loop or the like without, however, substantially damaging the stolen garment. Moreover, the suspension loop can be easily mended.
FI 83803 discloses a lockable clothes and bag hanger wherein garments are locked between clamping jaws and a bag can be hung by its strap from a loop part formed by the hanger. The hanger comprises a movable jaw and a screw mechanism whereby the movable jaw is pressed against a fixed jaw. The pressing, as well as the unpressing, can be carried out by rotating a handwheel, provided that the lock cylinder pins are opened by using a key. Such an apparatus, however, suffers from the disadvantage that, since the upper jaw is turnable with respect to its hinges, the hanger can rather easily be unlocked by wrenching the turnable jaw and the fixed jaw apart from each other with a suitable bar, for example, in which case the jaws are no longer able to clamp and lock the garment. This procedure can be carried out very quickly and silently. The use of the apparatus is also restricted by the fact that when the thickness of the garments to be locked varies significantly, it can be distressingly slow to lock the garments by rotating the handwheel.
An object of the invention is to provide a clothes rack which is reliable, simple and quick to use and suitable for keeping garments, bags and other objects safely in the clothes rack.
The clothes rack of the invention is characterized in that a power unit is connected to the fastening frame, which power unit is arranged to convey the locking bow into a locking position by means of moving elements.
A substantial idea underlying the invention is that locking objects to a clothes rack is carried out by means of a locking bow arranged to be movable with respect to a fastening frame and arranged to press the objects against the fastening frame such that they cannot be removed from the clothes rack unathorizedly. Furthermore, it is substantial that a power unit is arranged in the clothes rack for moving the locking bow, the power unit causing the locking bow to move between an unlocking position and a locking position, and further, generating a sufficient force to press the locking bow. Furthermore, a substantial idea underlying a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the locking bow is arranged to press an object to be locked against a substantially planar counter surface, in which case to move the locking bow in the lateral direction does not substantially affect the locking of the object. It is a further substantial idea of a second preferred embodiment of the invention that the moving apparatus is designed to be capable of keeping the locking bow in the locking position even while the power unit is switched off. An idea of a third embodiment of the invention is that the power unit is an electric motor and that the moving apparatus included in the clothes rack comprises a screw arranged to be rotated by the motor and a matching nut attached to the locking bow. A substantial idea of a fourth embodiment of the invention is that the moving elements comprise a self-locking toothed wheel for rotating the power unit and a self-locking toothed bar connected to the locking bow from its first end. An idea of another embodiment is that the moving elements comprise a thin drive belt arranged to be rolled by the power unit, which belt is supported at suitable intervals in order to prevent the belt from bending, the first end of the belt being connected to the locking bow.
An advantage provided by the invention is that it is suitable for locking garments, bags, etc. of all kinds. In principle, everything that can be at least to some extent pressed locally can be locked using the apparatus of the invention. Hence, the apparatus of the invention is versatile and safer than most prior art devices. The clothes rack of the invention is easy and quick to use, which means that in practice it is actually used; no risk that it would not be used exists. Automatic functions increase the user-friendliness. A further advantage is provided by the small size, particularly by the fact that the clothes rack requires crucially less space in the lateral direction than the prior art clothes rack solutions do. Consequently, many more clothes racks of the invention can be arranged in a given space than the known clothes racks. Hence, the apparatus of the invention saves space much more efficiently. Furthermore, the advantageous appearance and interesting operating principle of the apparatus combine to make the apparatus desirable and widely used. A still further advantage is that, thanks to its structure and operating principle, the apparatus is highly thiefproof. The power unit and the moving elements are well protected, the locking bow is made of firm material and the entire apparatus is rigidly fastened. A further advantage is that the pressing force of the locking does not depend on the user or the operating life of the apparatus since the apparatus is automatically locked and does not contain springs that become increasingly ineffective with time. The clothes rack of the invention further has the advantage that various electric functions can be connected to the operation of the clothes rack in a simple manner. Such functions include occupied/unoccupied detectors and burglar alarms.


The disclosure includes a safety method for the lifting and/or transporting of a common load using a plurality of cranes, comprising the steps: determining of possible damage incidents for movement vectors of the cranes; activation of an alarm function if predetermined movement vectors result in damage incidents and/or limitation of the movement vectors used for the control of the cranes to those movement vectors which do not result in damage incidents in any of the cranes. Furthermore, a corresponding control method as well as a safety system and a control system are provided.

The present application relates to a safety and control method for the lifting and/or transporting of a common load using a plurality of cranes. Up to now, such a lifting or transport process for large, heavy or complex loads, in which a plurality of cranes have to be used, has usually been carried out through a supervisor. In this process, each of the cranes involved is controlled by a crane operator, with the supervisor coordinating all the involved crane operators. This naturally produces a number of error potential factors, not least also because the individual crane operators do not have an overview of the total situation and because problems of understanding and communication can lead to errors. Such a process is also not very effective since the required coordination through the supervisor only allows very slow working.
Independently of the problems due to misunderstandings, however, the further problem is also produced that the safety systems of the individual cranes are not sufficient for such a common lift or transport of a load. This is primarily due to the fact that damage incidents at a crane such as an overload or a collision can be caused not only by the movement of the crane itself, but also by the movement of the other cranes. The known overload safety devices of the individual cranes, which only prevent movements of each individual crane which would damage that crane, cannot also take account of damage incidents at other cranes. The situation is the same with anti-collision systems which likewise only take account of the movements of the crane itself and at best permit static disturbance objects. The movement procedures with a plurality of cranes are also much more complex than with only one crane.