Disclosed herein is a light-diffusing film for a backlight unit of a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display. Specifically, the current invention provides a light-diffusing film, including a transparent base sheet, a light-diffusing layer, which is laminated on any one surface of the base sheet and includes a light-diffusing resin and light-diffusing particles, and an antiblocking layer, which is laminated on the other surface of the base sheet and includes an antiblocking resin and antiblocking particles, in which the light-diffusing particles satisfy a predetermined relation between a specific surface area and a radius thereof. Accordingly, the light-diffusing film of the current invention can uniformly diffuse light transmitted from a light source lamp positioned at the side surface or back surface of a display device, thus realizing vivid and distinct display images.

The present invention relates, generally, to a light-diffusing film for use in a backlight unit of a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), and more particularly, to a light-diffusing film for displays, which uniformly diffuses light transmitted from a light source lamp positioned at the lateral side or the back surface of a display device, thus realizing vivid and distinct display images.
Recently, LCDs have been applied not only to monitors for notebook computers but also to large monitors for desktop computers and to TV monitors. Accordingly, a backlight unit for use in a light source of such an LCD is increasingly required to have a large size and high luminance.
In the backlight unit, a light-diffusing sheet functions to diffuse light of a light source from either a lateral side or the back surface of a display device to the entire display screen, and also convert it into light able to uniformly move forward through refraction. As such, a backlight process is an indirect lighting process for enhancing brightness of a display screen in a manner such that light originated from the light source of a backlight unit mounted to the back surface of a display device is transferred to the opposite side through a light guide plate and then reflected from a reflection plate, such as a metal deposition plate or an opaque white plate, to allow the light to move forward. Thus, the backlight process is a light emission technique capable of overcoming the problems of a conventional front-light process. As for the backlight process, when the number of light sources of a backlight unit is increased to realize high image brightness, power consumption and heat generation rate are increased. However, maximum light efficiency should be realized using minimum power consumption. In this regard, techniques for transferring light from a light source to a liquid crystal operator using a light-diffusing sheet comprising a base sheet and a light-diffusing layer formed on at least one surface thereof are receiving attention. Accordingly, the light-diffusing sheet requires an efficient design of the light-diffusing layer formed on the base sheet and improvement of the functions thereof depending on such a design.
For instance, Korean Patent Application No. 2004-7016125 discloses a light-diffusing film comprising a transparent film and a light-diffusing layer as a resin film layer having fine surface roughness formed on at least one surface of the transparent film, in which the transparent film includes a thermoplastic resin having a substituted and/or unsubstituted imido group at a side chain thereof, and a thermoplastic resin having a substituted and/or unsubstituted phenyl group and nitrile group. In addition, Korean Patent Application No. 1996-38912 discloses a method of forming a transparent resin layer including organic particles on a transparent plastic sheet for high light efficiency and luminance improvement.
However, such conventional techniques suffer because they have difficulty in actually realizing high luminance and shielding of LCDs, that is, improved total light transmittance and high haze, through only the variation in a combination of the types of the resin and the sizes of the particles applicable in the light-diffusing layer.


A radial arm router table is provided which utilizes a carriage to mount a router. The carriage is moveable along a radial arm to allow the router to cut a groove in a panel placed on the table. A guide arm is pivotally mounted for clamping against the panel to hold it in place during cutting operations. The guide arm also includes a groove within which a guide follower mounted on the carriage travels to stabilize the router near the router bit to ensure that the router bit travels along a straight path.

This invention relates in general to routers and, more particularly, to an apparatus for supporting and clamping a workpiece and for stabilizing and guiding the router as it is being utilized to cut dado and other types of grooves in the workpiece.
During the making of cabinets a variety of dados and other types of grooves must be cut in the various panels of the cabinet to facilitate the joinder of the panels, shelves, kick plate and other cabinet components. A router employing a suitable bit is often used to cut these grooves but it takes a considerable amount of time to mark the location of the grooves and position the straight edge which must be utilized to guide the router along a straight line. While the router is generally suitable for cutting these grooves, care must be exercised during placement of the straight edge so that the bit travels along the desired path. In addition, the router must be held firmly against the straight edge to prevent the bit from wandering as the groove is being cut.
Dado grooves can also be cut using a dado blade mounted on a table saw. A significant disadvantage resulting from the use of such table saw mounted blades is the inability to view the surface being cut. In order to check the progress and alignment of the cut as it is being made, the saw must be turned off and the workpiece removed from the saw at periodic intervals. Moreover, because the dado blades rotate about an axis which can be spaced five to six inches from the cutting edges of the blades, there can be a tendency for the blades to waiver and cut a groove which is misaligned.


A gas density monitoring system for high voltage gas circuit breakers. The gas density monitoring system comprising a gas density device mounted directly on a circuit breaker tank end cover. When the gas density device is fully secured to the tank end cover, the gas density device works in conjunction with a self-sealing valve body to provide a self-sealing, direct pathway between the pressurized tank and a sensing element of the gas density device. This pathway permits the gas density device to sense the circuit breaker tank pressure via an angled port through the tank end cover that limits pressure transients that may result from the normal operation of the circuit breaker. The gas density device contact settings may be verified without removal of the density device from the gas circuit breaker or venting the enclosed gas inside the gas circuit breaker to the atmosphere.

High voltage circuit breakers are used in the transmission and distribution of three phase electrical energy. The circuit breakers operate to physically separate current-carrying contacts in each of the three phases by opening the circuit to prevent the continued flow of current in response to a sensor or protective relay fault or other system disturbance detection on the protected circuit. The circuit breakers include interrupters, which function to open and close current carrying contacts, interrupter operating mechanisms and linkages, arcing control mechanisms and interrupting media, one or more tanks for housing the interrupters, and bushings, which carry the high voltage electrical energy from the protected circuit into and out of the tank(s) (in a dead tank breaker).
The tanks in which the circuit breakers are housed are typically filled with an inert gas, such as, e.g., SF6, which acts as an insulator to control arcing. An electrical arc, which is the result of a circuit breaker opening or closing, can develop across the switch contacts especially the closer the contacts are to closure. The inert gas is preferably maintained at a predetermined density to ensure that the inert gas insulates as designed. Due to possible leaks or system malfunctions, the density of the inert gas must be constantly monitored.
In conventional gas monitoring systems, gas from each of the tanks in a multi-tank circuit breaker system, is typically fed back to a single density monitoring device. If the density falls to an insufficient level, this design makes it difficult to determine which tank is actually experiencing the leak. In addition, the intricate piping system typically needed creates more places for leaks to occur.
In other gas monitoring systems, a gas monitoring device is installed in the vessel wall of each of the tanks. Although individual tank monitoring is enabled, such systems tend to require temperature compensation systems or complex mounting arrangements due to space constraints and suffer from reduced accuracy.
Thus, it is desirable to provide improved systems and methods that facilitate gas density monitoring.

High voltage gas circuit breaker gas density monitoring system

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTS, INC.


A product delivery device includes a receiving tray. The receiving tray includes a bottom plate, a pushing plate, and a shielding plate. The pushing plate is toward the shielding plate, and the shielding plate is rotatably attached to the bottom plate. A product exit is defined in the bottom plate and is covered by the shielding plate. The pushing plate pushes a product onto the shielding plate. The shielding plate rotates to allow the product to drop out of the receiving tray via the product exit.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to product delivery devices, and particularly to a product delivery device in an automatic vending machine.
2. Description of Related Art
Vending machines allow customers to buy products twenty-four hours a day. When the customer purchases a product, a helical element in a cabinet is rotated to push the product out of the cabinet. However, sometimes the product drops out of the cabinet when the cabinet is shaken, and sometimes the product gets stuck in the helical element. Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD.


A moisture responsive system comprising: a thin film polymer layer, wherein the thin film polymer comprises a hydrophilic polymer; and a substrate polymer layer, wherein the substrate polymer comprises a hydrophobic elastomer; wherein the thin film polymer layer is attached to the substrate polymer layer at a bottom surface of the thin film polymer layer and the thin film polymer layer has a top surface opposing the bottom surface is provided. A method of making a moisture responsive system, comprising: applying a thin film polymer layer to a foundation; applying a substrate polymer layer on the thin film polymer layer; curing the substrate polymer layer to form a thin film polymer layer/substrate polymer bilayer; and removing the thin film polymer layer/substrate polymer bilayer from the foundation is provided. A method of using such a moisture responsive system by applying moisture to the moisture responsive system is provided.

Surface instability, such as wrinkles, commonly occurs in various materials with a wide scope of dimensions. In nature, the skin of human fingers, which consists of an epidermis and a dermis layer, becomes wrinkled after prolonged exposure to water, while a flat skin surface returns as dried. Moreover, the aged face skin becomes thinner and less elastic due to dehydration, leading to the formation of wrinkles, creases, and lines, and cosmetic surgery can remove these unwanted aging signs by restoring the skin's thickness and elasticity. The skin wrinkle dynamics (such as reversibility and stability) can be modified by external stimuli, and are affected by the skin's structure and properties. There remains a need for materials that change their optical qualities upon various combinations and sequences of exposure to moisture and drying conditions.

Moisture responsive materials, methods of making and methods of use


A liquid ejection head includes a plurality of liquid ejection units, each including a plate-like piezoelectric element, a first substrate and a second substrate laid one on the other in this order, the units being laid one on the other. The first substrate defines a plurality of pressure chambers for storing liquid, each of the pressure chambers communicating with an ejection port for ejecting liquid. At least either the first substrate or the second substrate defines a first liquid chamber, the first liquid chamber being either one of a feed chamber for feeding liquid to the pressure chambers and a recovery chamber for recovering liquid from the pressure chambers. The second substrate defines a second liquid chamber, the second liquid chamber being the other one of the feed chamber and the recovery chamber.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection device for ejecting liquid. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flow channel arrangement that can be used for liquid ejection heads realized by employing piezoelectric elements.
Description of the Related Art
Liquid ejection devices for recording images on recording mediums by ejecting liquid such as ink are generally equipped with a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid. Liquid ejection heads realized by employing piezoelectric elements for the liquid ejection mechanism thereof are known. A liquid ejection head of this type is designed so as to expand/contract its pressure chambers by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric elements, which operate as components of the pressure chambers, in order to produce a pressure change in the pressure chambers. As a result of the pressure change, the liquid in each of the pressure chambers is ejected from the ejection port formed at an end of the pressure chamber. Known liquid ejection heads that include piezoelectric elements include so-called bend-mode liquid ejection heads. A bend-mode liquid ejection head includes plate-shaped piezoelectric bodies, each of which is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes and a diaphragm is rigidly secured to one of the electrodes. Liquid is ejected from the liquid ejection head by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric bodies between the related electrodes so as to expand/contract the piezoelectric bodies in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the voltage is applied and thereby deforming the diaphragm in an out-of-plane direction (the thickness direction of the plate-shaped piezoelectric bodies). A bend-mode liquid ejection head can deform the diaphragms that form part of the walls of the pressure chambers only by applying a small voltage and hence requires only a low drive voltage.
So-called edge-shooters are known as a type of pressure chambers for forming liquid ejection heads. An edge-shooter has an ejection port formed at one of the longitudinal ends of a pressure chamber and liquid is ejected in a direction running in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber. Japanese Patent No. 5212627 discloses a liquid ejection head in which edge-shooter type pressure chambers are two-dimensionally arranged in planes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pressure chambers. The liquid ejection performance of a liquid ejection head is improved by increasing the extent to which each of the pressure chambers of the head can change its volume as a result of deformation of the diaphragm related to pressure chamber. Since pressure chambers having a large length in the longitudinal direction thereof can be realized with ease in a liquid ejection head including edge-shooter type pressure chambers, it is possible for such a liquid ejection head to secure a large area for the plate-shaped diaphragms thereof so as to allow each of the pressure chambers to change its volume to a large extent. For this reason, pressure chambers can be two-dimensionally densely arranged in an edge-shooter type liquid ejection head without damaging the liquid ejection performance of the head.
There has been an increasing demand in recent years for recording apparatus for commercial applications such as print-on-demand type recording apparatus in response to the commercial demand that has also been observed in recent years for forming high resolution and high quality images. However, it is difficult for a liquid ejection head disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5212627 to remove the air bubbles that have intruded into or otherwise appear in any of the pressure chambers thereof. When air bubbles stagnantly remain in a pressure chamber, the pressure change in the pressure chamber for ejecting liquid is absorbed by the air bubbles remaining there, so that a desired volume of ejected liquid and a desired liquid ejection velocity may not be achieved for the pressure chamber, and such a situation may end up with a serious problem that the pressure chamber can no longer eject liquid. If a pressure chamber cannot eject liquid for a certain period of time, the viscosity of the liquid located at and near the ejection port of the pressure chamber increases to give rise to a clogged ejection port there. Then, a problem of degraded ejection performance and defective ejection can take place.
In view of the above-identified problem, it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejection head including piezoelectric elements that can effectively remove the air bubbles in any of the pressure chambers thereof and suppress any possible increase of liquid viscosity at and near the ejection ports.

Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection device


Provided is an image sensor that may reduce the number of external terminals for downsizing of a chip, generate a write signal (RE) of a Y address with one pulse, and employ an external circuit having the same configuration as that of the conventional example. The image sensor uses an X-Y address scanning system in a pixel element matrix, and includes: a register latch that sets a Y address for selection of a row according to a write signal; a Y address register that decodes a Y address data from the register latch to output a Y address signal for selection of the row in the pixel element matrix; and an X address control unit that generates an X address signal for selection of a column. The register latch brings the Y address register into a disenable state so as to cause the Y address register not to output the Y address signal at timing at which the write signal is input to the Y address register, and brings the Y address register into an enable state so as to cause the Y address register to output the Y address signal at timing at which the input of the write signal is completed and the Y address data is written into the Y address register.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensor for outputting pixel data imaged by an X-Y address scanning system in chronological order from each of pixel elements arranged in matrix.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a system in which pixel data is sequentially read from each of pixel elements in an image sensor, there has been generally employed an X-Y address scanning system in which positions in an X-direction and a Y-direction are sequentially designated on a pixel element basis by address scanning circuits for the X-direction and the Y-direction to read the pixel data from each of the pixel elements in chronological order (for example, refer to JP 2003-87660 A).
As a basic operation, while a Y address is set, an X address is sequentially incremented. When image data of all the X addresses for the set Y address has been read, the Y address is incremented to sequentially read the image data from the pixel elements.
However, in the conventional image sensor disclosed in JP 2003-87660 A and so on, the X address is incremented when a clock is input, where the Y address is read from is set, and therefore it is necessary to set the Y address according to a write signal. When the Y address is set, it is necessary to enable writing into the Y address and to disenable the writing into the Y address upon completion of the writing.
Conventional examples of the image sensor using the X-Y address scanning system include a circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of an image sensor of FIG. 4.
When the write signal RE is input to the image sensor during a disenable period (period of "L" level) where no Y address scanning enable signal is input to the image sensor from an external terminal, a Y address is written into a register latch 100 from a data bus. Then, Y address signals YA1 to YA4 resulting from decoding the Y addresses are set in a Y address register 101 according to the write signal RE, but none of those signals are output at this time.
Then, the Y address register 101 outputs, to a pixel element matrix 103, any one of the Y address signals YA1 to YA4, that is, a Y address signal corresponding to the Y address at, for example, "H" level during an enable period (period of "H" level) where the Y address scanning enable signal is input. The Y address does not change even if the write signal RE is input to the image sensor during the period during which the Y address scanning enable signal is input thereto.
The Y address scanning enable signal is input to the image sensor, and an X address control unit 102 increments the X address, and outputs, to the pixel element matrix 103, any one of X address signals XA1 to XA4, that is, an X address signal corresponding to the X address at, for example, "H" level at timing at which the X address scanning enable signal synchronous with an internal clock is sequentially input thereto.
Then, pixel data is read from a pixel element selected from an X pixel element matrix according to the Y address signal and the X address signal.
However, in the case of the image sensor illustrated in FIG. 4, the external terminal for inputting the Y address scanning enable signal is required, and provision of the external terminal inhibits a reduction in the size of an image sensor chip.
On the other hand, another conventional example of the image sensor using the X-Y address scanning system is a circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of an image sensor of FIG. 6. A circuit of FIG. 6 is configured to generate the Y address scanning enable signal with the aid of an internal circuit according to the write signal RE, without provision of the external terminal for inputting the Y address scanning enable signal. A register latch 200 brings the Y address scanning enable signal that is output to a Y address register 201 into a disenable state at a falling edge of a first write signal RE1.
As a result, the Y address register 201 does not output any one of Y address signals YA1 to YA4 obtained by decoding the Y addresses input from the register latch 200.
Subsequently, the register latch 200 holds the Y address input from the data bus in response to a falling edge of a second write signal RE2, and outputs the held Y address to the Y address register 201.
Then, the register latch 200 brings the Y address scanning enable signal into an enable state at a falling edge of a third write signal RE3.
As a result, the Y address register 201 decodes the Y address input from the register latch 200, and resultantly outputs any one of the Y address signals YA1 to YA4, and selects any one of rows of the pixel elements in a pixel element matrix 203. Further, an X address control unit 202 selects any one of columns of the pixel elements in the pixel element matrix 203 as in the circuit of FIG. 4. As a result, any one of the pixel elements in the pixel element matrix 203 is selected to read pixel data therefrom.
However, in the case of the image sensor illustrated in FIG. 6, no external terminal for inputting the Y address scanning enable signal is required, but it is necessary to generate the write signals RE by three pulses (a plurality of pulses) with respect to one writing of Y address. As a result, the image sensor suffers from a defect that an external circuit for generating the write signal RE is complicated in configuration, and the circuit scale becomes larger.


A vision-assist device may include at least one image sensor for generating image data corresponding to an environment, a user input device for receiving user input regarding one or more physical characteristics of a user, and a processor. The processor may be programmed to receive the image data from the at least one image sensor, receive the user input from the user input device, and adjust an alignment of the at least one image sensor based on the received image data and the user input. Methods for aligning an image sensor are also provided.

Blind or visually impaired persons may utilize a computer-based aid device to provide information, such as navigation instructions or information regarding the user's environment. Such aid devices may include one or more image sensors to provide image data to the aid device. However, the orientation of the image sensors may be affected by the physical characteristics of the user. For example, the image sensors may capture different image data when the aid device is worn by a short, thin user as compared to when the aid device is worn by a tall, heavy user. The image sensors may miss objects or may not be able to accurately detect objects using object recognition algorithms. Therefore, the alignment of the image sensor may need to be altered depending on the physical characteristics of the user.
Accordingly, a need exists for methods and apparatuses to adjust alignment of an image sensor based on the physical characteristics of a user.

Aligning vision-assist device cameras based on physical characteristics of a user

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA. INC.


Embodiments of the present invention relate to approaches to effectively let noise on a head slider bonded to a silicon substrate of a microactuator, escape to the ground. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a microactuator bonded to a gimbal tongue. The microactuator comprises a piezoelectric element and a movable part for moving in response to expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element. The motion of the movable part causes a head slider to slightly move. The microactuator further comprises a conductive path including an impurity-containing silicon layer formed on the silicon substrate. The conductive path transmits electric charge of the head slider to a suspension. The conductivity of the impurity-containing silicon layer is lower than the one of the silicon substrate so that the noise charge of the head slider may escape to the suspension.

Disk drive devices using various kinds of recording disks, such as optical disks, magneto-optical disks, flexible magnetic disks, and the like, have been known in the art. In particular, hard disk drives (HDDs) have been widely used as storage devices of computers and have been one of indispensable storage devices for current computer systems. Moreover, the HDDs have found widespread application to moving image recording/reproducing apparatuses, car navigation systems, cellular phones, and the like in addition to the computers, due to their outstanding characteristics.
A magnetic disk used in a HDD has multiple concentric data tracks and servo tracks. Each data track includes a plurality of data sectors containing user data recorded thereon. Each servo track has address information. The servo track consists of a plurality of servo data arranged discretely in the circumferential direction, and one or more data sectors are recorded between servo data. A head element portion accesses a desired data sector in accordance with address information in the servo data to write data to and retrieve data from the data sector.
The head element portion is formed on a slider; the slider is bonded to a suspension of an actuator. The assembly of the actuator and the head slider is called a head stack assembly (HSA) and the assembly of the suspension and the head slider is called a head gimbal assembly (HGA). Pressure caused by air viscosity between an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider facing a magnetic disk and the spinning magnetic disk balances pressure toward the magnetic disk added by the suspension so that the head slider flies over the magnetic disk with a specific gap. The actuator pivots about a pivotal shaft to move the head slider to a target track and position it onto the track.
As a track per inch (TPI) in the magnetic disk increases, improvement in positioning accuracy of head slider has been required. However, driving the actuator with a voice coil motor (VCM) has found a limit in the positioning accuracy. Therefore, an approach has been proposed that mounts a compact actuator (microactuator) on a tip end of the actuator to achieve a finer positioning (for example, refer to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/044698).
A magnetic disk is charged by external electromagnetic waves or noise generated by a spindle motor. Since the magnetic disk and a head slider have capacitance therebetween, electric charge is induced to the head slider at a high frequency. In order to avoid a head element portion from being damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD) from the head slider, it is necessary that the slider body of the head slider be grounded. If the head slider is bonded to a microactuator, it is necessary that the head slider be grounded through the microactuator (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-247027).

Microactuator, head gimbal assembly, and disk drive device

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


To increase channel capacity, mobile phone carriers have deployed speech coders, such as Advanced MultiBand Excitation coding (AMBE), in networks to reduce the bit rate of each call. One undesired consequence of employing such speech coders is that the voice quality can be much worse as compared to higher bit-rate speech coders. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention performs voice quality enhancement transparently within a network by detecting use of a coder applying rate reduction to a speech signal and known to have an adverse effect on a coded speech signal. Upon detection of the use of such coder, the coded speech signal is corrected based on components introduced into the coded speech signal due to the rate reduction. As a result of applying the voice quality enhancement, adverse effects of speech coders can be reduced, while maintaining high quality voice signals.

In an effort to increase channel capacity, mobile phone carriers have deployed speech coders, such as Advanced MultiBand Excitation (AMBE) coding, in the network to reduce the bit rate of each call. One undesired consequence of employing such speech coders is that the voice quality can be much worse as compared to higher bit-rate speech coders. In particular, AMBE speech coding has shown to produce a spectral imbalance overemphasizing high frequency spectral content. This imbalance produces a "thinness" of the lower frequency speech content and excessive high-frequency sibilance sounds. The network contains Voice Quality Enhancement equipment which can improve these effects, but unfortunately, the telephone networks do not employ any type of signaling to indicate the form of speech coding employed.

Method and apparatus for low bit rate speech coding detection


A co-axial wear adjuster and wear sensor for a brake caliper includes a sleeve having an external tooth form engageable with a toothed adjustment wheel of a brake tappet. The sleeve rotates with the tappet and is threaded to engage a relatively non-rotatable, but axially movable, bolt. A wear sensor is partly within the sleeve and has a plunger operably engaged with the bolt. The bolt may be tubular to carry a screw-threaded head whereby a position of the plunger may be set.

This invention relates generally to a wear adjuster of a disc brake, particularly to an air actuated a disc brake.
Disc brakes, as are well known, include a rotor and a brake caliper which straddles the rotor and can be actuated to apply a braking force to the rotor via opposed brake pads. In commercial vehicles, air actuation is almost universal, and an air actuator is provided at each vehicle wheel to actuate the brake caliper mechanically via a lever.
It is not generally practicable to arrange the actuating mechanism at an outboard side of the rotor, and thus the relevant components are always located at an inboard side. Particularly with vehicles having smaller wheels, such inboard mounting is rather space consuming so that design freedom of suspension and steering components may be compromised. Furthermore, the provision of additional features, such as wear sensors, may be problematic.
In one conventional design, the actuating mechanism includes an inboard tappet operable to directly apply an inboard brake pad, an automatic wear adjuster at one side of the tappet, a manual wear adjuster at the other side of the tappet, and a wear sensor having an electrical output indicative of brake pad and rotor wear. In addition to physically locating these components in the brake caliper, each component must also be sealed against moisture and dirt to avoid corrosion and/or seizure.
EP-A-1596092, in the name of the present applicant, proposes a rotary wear indicator mounted on a manual wear adjuster mechanism that has a visual output for giving an indication of pad wear to a mechanic. The wear indicator is removed for de-adjustment of the adjuster mechanism (for example, to replace worn brake pads) and must be re-set upon replacement.
What is required is a wear adjuster/wear indicator which is adapted for replacement or adjustment of brake pads without requiring re-setting or calibrating.

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited


Provided are a method, system, and program for archiving files. A hierarchical file system having directories is provided. An archival retention policy is associated with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a method, system, and program for archiving files.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organizations may need to retain and archive electronic files (where a file comprises a document, record, or any other data structure storing code or data that may be represented in a hierarchical file system) in storage for an extended period of time due to internal corporate requirements or external regulatory or legal requirements. For instance, government regulators may require that certain files remain archived for a minimum period of time. Companies in regulated industries, such as securities and financial organizations, defense contractors, etc., may be required to archive certain documents. Further, government agencies may also be required to archive files. Yet further, organizations subject to a government proceeding, such as litigation, may also be subject to a file retention policy. An organization may also archive documents for backup and storage, and versioning. A storage system often includes some archival software to manage the archival of files at different locations that are retained according to a policy. Such archival software may maintain a database of archived files. Use of the archival software may require significant user training and management, as well as a stand alone application program. Archival software typically features customized graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and application program interfaces (APIs) to interface with the operating system to perform archival related operations.
One archival data storage technology referred to as WORM (for write once, read many) involves archiving data to a storage media, such as optical disks, that can only be written to once. One disadvantage of using optical disks is that their access rates are slow, especially when the disks are maintained in an auto-changer that needs to mechanically access a disk from a slot and insert the accessed disk into a disk drive to access.
To avoid some of the drawbacks of using optical disks, some archival system vendors are using inexpensive hard disk drives as the medium for archiving data. The hard disk drive storage system is sold bundled with software to expose the storage as a proprietary archive utility, requiring custom interfaces and application program interfaces to use the archival features.

Method, system and program for archiving files

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of assigning a connection identifier for an asynchronous transfer mode switching system, includes the steps of: (a) analyzing a parameter transmitted in a VPI allocation request if it is received, analyzing the number of connections and the number of VPI used in SIM, and confirming whether a VPI desired to be used in VPI allocation request if the input parameter is normal and connection is available; (b) changing the usage state of VPI assigned to a VPI management table if the VPI is designated and this is in no use, increasing the number of VPI and the number of VPI assigned in the connection identifier management table, indicating a VPI assigned, or selecting a VPI in no use in SIM if the VPI is not designated with reference to the VPI management table, and changing the usage state of the VPI assigned in the VPI management table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of assigning connection identifiers for virtual path connection (VPC) and virtual channel connection (VCC) in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).
2. Discussion of Related Art
Connection identifiers (VPI/VCI) are used to discriminate the connection between a subscriber and networks in an ATM switching system. Subscriber interfacing includes digital signal level 1 European (DS1E) supporting 2.048 Mbps, digital signal level 3 (DS3) supporting 44.736 Mbps, synchronous transport module 1 (STM1) supporting 155 Mbps, and STM4 supporting 622 Mbps.
According to the type of subscriber link connected in subscriber interface module (SIM), one subscriber link is interfaced in SIM for STM1, 3 for DS3, and 72 for DS1E. In ITU-T Q.2931 recommending interfacing between the subscriber and network for wideband service, the range of VPI for every subscriber interface is regulated to be within 0-255, the range of VCI inside the VP within 32-65535.
An existing N-ISDN switching system allows a limited number of channels inside the physical link between the subscriber and network. For instance, 2B+D interface has two channels transmitting user data so that only if they are discriminated is the subscriber data easily distinguished. Therefore, interfacing between subscriber and network is simply performed so that channel number allocation is managed only by indicating one being in use.
In B-ISDN switching system employing ATM, information for multiple connections is multiplexed because the broadband offered by one physical link is above 155 Mbps. Here, a connection identifier for discriminating user information is used, whose range is eight bits for VPI, and 16 bits for VCI.
In the ATM switching system, the range of connection identifiers available is wide so that it is almost impossible to indicate whether it is used or not, for every subscriber link. For this reason, contrary to the conventional method, the identifier cannot be limited to a predetermined range of values between subscriber and network when the subscriber link is installed.

Method of assigning connection identifier in asynchronous transfer mode switching system

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Provided herein are methods and compositions related to non-human animals that express exogenous Terminal Deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT).

Non-human animals, particularly mice and rats, have proven to be a valuable source of therapeutic antibodies and potentially could serve as a source of other antigen binding molecules. A high level of antigen receptor diversity in such non-human animals increases the likelihood that an antigen binding molecule having desirable therapeutic properties will be generated following immunization. Accordingly, there is a need for genetically engineered non-human animals that have increased antigen receptor diversity to improve production of therapeutic antigen binding molecules.

Non-human animals expressing exogenous terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase


A cathode of a solid-oxide fuel cell includes a first ionic conducting layer, a second layer deposited over the first layer and formed from a mixed ionic and electronic conductor layer including an oxygen ion conducting phase, and a third layer deposited over the second layer and formed from a mixed ionic and electronic conductor layer. A sintering aid and pore formers are added to the second layer and the third layer to establish ionic, electronic, and gas diffusion paths that are contiguous. By adjusting the microstructure of the second and the third layer, a high performance low resistance cathode is formed that bonds well to the electrolyte, is highly electro-catalytic, and has a relatively low overall resistance. By using inexpensive and readily available substances as sintering aid and as pore formers, a low-cost cathode is provided.

Fuel cells, which generate electric current by the electrochemical combination of hydrogen and oxygen, are well known. In one form of such a fuel cell, an anodic layer and a cathodic layer are separated by an electrolyte formed of a ceramic solid oxide. Such a fuel cell is known in the art as a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). SOFC systems derive electrical power through a high-efficiency conversion process from a variety of fuels including natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, ethanol, and other hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen, either pure or reformed from hydrocarbons, is flowed along the outer surface of the anode and diffuses into the anode. Oxygen, typically from air, is flowed along the outer surface of the cathode and diffuses into the cathode.
Each O2 molecule is split and reduced to two O−2 anions catalytically at the cathode/electrolyte interface. The oxygen anions diffuse through the electrolyte and combine with four hydrogen ions at the anode/electrolyte interface to form two molecules of water. The anode and the cathode are connected externally through a load to complete the circuit whereby electrons are transferred from the anode to the cathode.
When hydrogen as a feed stock for the fuel cell is derived by "reforming" hydrocarbons, such as from gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, or methane, in the presence of limited oxygen, the reformate gas produced includes CO which is converted to CO2 at the anode/electrolyte interface. Since a single fuel cell is capable of generating a relatively small amount of voltage and wattage, in practice, it is known to stack a plurality of fuel cells together in electrical series.
Present anode supported SOFC technology uses a dense ceramic solid electrolyte membrane, for example yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), over which a cathode electrode consisting of an ionic conducting layer and a porous catalyst, such as a mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC), is deposited. The cathode material is predominantly an electronic conductor with some ionic conductivity. At the cathode, oxygen is reduced and the ionic species pass through the electrolyte membrane to the anode where a fuel is oxidized to produce power. The resistance of the cathode, ohmic and polarization, plays a major role in the overall cell resistance and, therefore, can greatly affect electrochemical performance of the cell.
One prior art approach to decrease the cathode resistance (polarization) is to add a doped (Sm, Gd, Nd, Y, etc.) ceria based ionic conducting phase to the mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) material. While such cathodes may have an initially lower polarization resistance, the polarization resistance increases at elevated cell temperatures as low as about 800° C. In addition, such cathodes are structurally weak and tend to delaminate under certain conditions.
Another prior art approach is to modify the geometry of the cathode to a three layer configuration that includes an ionic conductor layer, a dual phase layer including the mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) material and ionic conducting material, and a mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) layer. Such a fuel cell is still susceptible to delamination and the power performance is not improved.
Therefore, cathodes of current solid oxide fuel cells have a high resistance (ohmic and polarization) and, thus, a relatively low power output due to poor adhesion, low ionic conductivity, and an insufficient microstructure of the cathode. Poor adhesion may result in the delamination of the cathode from the electrolyte surface, which may lead to a drastic reduction in output power and even cell failure.
What is needed in the art is a cathode of a solid oxide fuel cell with improved bonding to the electrolyte, that is highly electrocatalytic, and that is porous with contiguous electronic, ionic, and gas diffusion paths.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a cathode for a solid-oxide fuel cell that enables significant improvement of the power density of such fuel cell and that has an improved durability.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for low-temperature bonding of refractory ceramic layers.

Low-temperature bonding of refractory ceramic layers


The present disclosure relates to the field of optical lenses, and provides a lens module. The lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens disposed at an object side of the lens barrel, and a fixing part for pressing the lens against the lens barrel from an object side of the lens. The fixing part includes an inner wall surface enclosing a receiving space, in which the lens and an end of the lens barrel adjacent to an object side are received. The inner wall surface includes an abutting portion abutting against the lens, and a non-abutting portion spaced apart from the lens. Glue is filled between the abutting portion and the lens. The lens module provided by the present disclosure has a relatively higher reliability.

In recent years, with development of technologies, a lens module is becoming smaller and smaller. In addition to electronic devices such as digital cameras, tablet computers, cellphones, etc., vehicles are also equipped with lens modules, which are referred to as vehicle-mounted lens module. The vehicle-mounted lens module generally includes a lens barrel, a lens, and other components.
The inventors have found the following problems in the prior art: the vehicle-mounted lens module, when subjected to external forces caused by vibration, friction, and collision, has a poor reliability. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the reliability of the vehicle-mounted lens module.


Ink-jet system includes an ink channel between an ink reservoir and a nozzle. A pressurizing device is arranged adjacent to the ink channel for generating in the ink liquid an acoustic pressure wave propagating in the ink channel, so that an ink droplet is expelled from the nozzle. The ink channel has a substantially rectangular cross section and a depth d which is larger than the height of the nozzle, such that energy losses due to reflection of the acoustic wave at the transition from the ink channel to the nozzle are minimized. The pressurizing device includes a first electromechanical transducer with a plate-like expansible member having a height H in the direction of the depth of the ink channel such that the ratio H/d is smaller than the ratio between the respective elastic modules of the expansible member and the ink liquid. At least one second electromechanical transducer is arranged at said ink channel and is energized to create a pressure bias in the ink volume before the same is pressurized by the first transducer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ink-jet system which includes an ink channel disposed between an ink reservoir and a nozzle. A pressurizing device is arranged adjacent to the ink channel for generating in the ink liquid an acoustic pressure wave propagating in the ink channel, so that an ink droplet is expelled from the nozzle.
2. Description of Background Art
Ink-jet systems are used as printheads in ink-jet printers. A drop-on demand ink-jet system of the type indicated above is disclosed, for example, in EP-A1-0 402-172. In this system, the ink channel is formed in a substrate which is sandwiched between a bottom plate and a cover plate such that the top and bottom surfaces of the ink channel are formed by the cover plate and the bottom plate, respectively. The ink channel has a constant depth which is identical to the height of the nozzle, but has a larger width than the nozzle and is tapered at its front end so that its width is gradually reduced to that of the nozzle. The pressurizing device comprises a plate-like piezoelectric element which is disposed underneath the bottom plate within the area of the ink channel. The piezoelectric element is supported on a rigid support plate and has its top end face directly engaged with the bottom plate of the ink channel. When an electric voltage is applied to the electrodes of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric material expands in a vertical direction, and the elastic bottom plate is flexed inwardly of the ink channel, so that an ink droplet is expelled from the nozzle.
In a practical print head for high-speed and high-resolution printing, a plurality of ink-jet systems are integrated on a common substrate. In order to achieve objectives such as large-scale integration, a high maximum frequency of drop generation and the like, the ink-jet systems should be made as compact as possible. On the other hand, the ink jet systems should be operable with moderate voltages and must nevertheless be capable of providing a sufficient energy for creating droplets of a suitable size and accelerating them to a suitable speed so that the droplets may be deposited on the recording medium with high accuracy. It is therefore desirable to optimize the efficiency, with which the mechanical energy provided by the piezoelectric element is converted into kinetic energy of the droplet.
The total energy efficiency depends largely on the following two factors: (1) the efficiency with which the mechanical energy of the piezoelectric element is converted into energy of an acoustic wave propagating in the ink liquid and (2) the efficiency with which the acoustic energy is conferred to the droplet created at the nozzle.
The first factor is determined by the ratio between the thickness of the piezoelectric element and the depth of the ink channel. Ideally, this ratio should not be much smaller than the ratio between the elastic modules of the piezoelectric material and the ink liquid. Since the piezoelectric material generally has a comparatively large elastic module and, on the other hand, the thickness of this element is limited by practical constraints, this factor requires a rather small depth of the ink channel.
The second factor depends on the ratio between the sectional areas of the nozzle and the ink channel. Ideally, this ratio should be so selected that an optimal "impedance match" is provided for the acoustic wave, in order to avoid energy losses by reflection of the acoustic wave. Since the cross-section of the nozzle is determined by the desired size of the droplets and the width of the ink channel should not be made too large, a comparatively large depth of the ink channel would be desirable in view of this factor.
Thus, when the depth of the ink channel is determined, a compromise between the two above-mentioned factors must be made, with the result that the total energy efficiency remains rather poor.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol. 26, No. 10B, March 1984, discloses a different type of ink-jet system in which the ink channel is defined in the interior of a tubular piezoelectric element. The outer circumferential surface of the tubular piezoelectric element is surrounded by a plurality of discrete annular conducting bands which serve as energizing electrodes, so that a plurality of piezoelectric transducers are formed which are distributed over the length of the ink channel. If the excitation of each transducer is timed properly, a pressure wave travelling towards the nozzle in the ink channel will build up its energy as it passes under each transducer.
However, an ink-jet system of this type is difficult to manufacture, and it is particularly difficult to integrate a plurality of ink-jet systems of this type into a multiple-nozzle printhead for high-speed and high-resolution printing. In addition, since the plurality of conducting bands of each piezoelectric element in each individual ink-jet system must be energized separately, a complicated control logic is required, and the wiring system needed for applying the appropriate voltages to the individual conducting bands becomes very complex when the number of nozzles in the integrated printhead is increased.

Acoustic pressure wave propagating ink-system


An integrated energy metering system having an energy meter including a voltage ADC for sensing voltage, a current ADC for sensing current, a microcontroller; a first memory device for storing program data for the energy meter; and a plurality of circuit blocks; a voltage monitor for monitoring a primary power supply; a power supply switch circuit for selectively applying one of the primary and auxiliary power supplies to the energy meter; and a system controller responsive to the voltage monitor for operating the switch circuit to apply the auxiliary power supply when the primary power supply voltage decreases below a predetermined level and gating the power to a first class of circuit blocks in the energy meter and applying power continuously to a second class of circuit blocks.

For the majority of last 100 years, energy metering has been almost exclusively performed using electromechanical meters. These meters are easily identified by a large spinning disk in their center rotating at a rate proportional to the rate of energy usage (power). The basic function of these traditional meters is that an electromechanical transducer generates a rotational force in response to the magnitude of voltage and current passing through the sensors. This force then rotates a mechanical counter that is used to store and display the net energy used by the household or business for which the meter is used. Drawbacks to the electromechanical meter include limited accuracy (1%-2%) and limited functionality.
Solid-state energy meters employ integrated circuit (IC) technology in order to accurately measure voltage and current which are then used to determine energy usage. While the solid-state meters have provided higher accuracy than the electromechanical meters since they were first developed, they were not always cost-competitive. However over the last decade, solid-state meters have ramped in volume resulting in a significant reduction in cost. The pricing of a solid-state meter is now the same or less than the electromechanical variants while providing many more features.
Solid-state energy meters have, along with the cost benefits and improved accuracy relative to electromechanical versions, several valuable additional features. Since the data is almost always stored digitally in a solid-state meter, the energy meter's data can be broadcast or accessed remotely with a modem using wireless, power-line carrier, or phone-line communication. This provides a large benefit to utilities both for "reading" meters and for diagnostic purposes. Another feature available with solid-state energy meters is the ability to charge different usage rates based on time of day (multi-tariff). This allows utilities to set energy costs higher during peak demand, thereby encouraging users to conserve energy during these times. This saves money for both the utility and the user.
A common requirement for solid-stage energy meters is that they keep (real) time in order to provide multi-tariff (time-of-day) billing. As a result, when this requirement is in place, the meter must have a means of operating when power is lost from the main supply; thus a battery backup is required. The battery backup is also required if the meter must be read when the (main) power is down, either using an LCD display (common to solid-state meters) or using a modem.
The cost of a battery is related to its energy storage capacity; the larger the energy stored, the higher the cost. To minimize the added cost to the meter, the power used by the meter when running from the battery must be minimized to enable a smaller, less expensive battery to be used.


A method and apparatus for controlling a fluid flow valve with a linear control loop such that the error signal utilized to actuate a variable rate controller for moving a valve control element or for controlling another valve control parameter is the same for a given control parameter change regardless of the current control parameter value or the current or desired fluid flow through the valve. A non-delayed indication of current fluid flow is also generated.

There are many applications where a valve is provided in a gas or liquid (collectively referred to as a "fluid") flow path to control the flow of the fluid. One such application is in the ducting of a fume hood where the valve may be in the form of a damper controlling airflow through the hood. An example of such a system is shown in FIG. 1 and is described later. The fume hood system of FIG. 1 is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,553 entitled "Fume Hood Controller" issued Nov. 17, 1987.
In many prior art systems of this type, airflow through the valve or damper is monitored by an airflow sensor which may by a stand-alone device. A closed loop control is then provided to modulate the valve damper as required in response to outputs from the airflow sensor.
An inherent limitation on such systems is that they have a slow response time. This is because there is some time delay between a change in damper/valve position and the resulting change in airflow being sensed by the sensor. It also takes the sensor some time to sense the new airflow, convey such information to the control and for the control to then make an appropriate adjustment. Such devices are also subject to overshoot and undershoot errors which, as a minimum, increase response time in reaching a desired airflow and may result in a desired airflow not being achievable.
An improvement on such devices in appropriate applications is the use of a Venturi valve. In such valves, airflow is controlled by a cone shaped element positioned in and movable in the valve's orifice to vary the size of an annular-shaped fluid flow path formed in the orifice. Due to the shape of the cone and that of the orifice, the pressure drop across the valve's orifice can be measured by the force exerted on the cone by the difference between the static pressures directly in front of and behind the cone caused by the increased air velocity behind the cone. This effect is similar to the lift force created on a wing by the higher velocity and lower pressure appearing over the top of the wing. The Venturi valve uses this force to act upon a variable rate spring located inside the cone which connects the cone to the valve's shaft. The purpose of this spring is to provide a pressure compensating action such that, for a given position of the valve's shaft, the flow rate of the valve is constant or independent of pressure changes over some range of pressure drops across the valve (such as from 0.6" wc to 3.0" wc).
The result of the Venturi valve's cone and spring pressure compensating action is that there is a specific and fixed relationship or characteristic between the valve's shaft position and the fluid flow through the valve. To the extent that this characteristic is not predetermined for a given valve, it may be empirically determined for the valve in a given application by performing an initial calibration procedure. Once the characteristic is known, all that is required to achieve a desired airflow is to move the valve shaft to the appropriate position for such airflow. Thus, with such a valve, speed of response is limited only by the ability of control electronics to move the shaft to a new position. Accuracy is limited only by the accuracy of the calibration data, the accuracy of the control electronics and the effectiveness of the valve's variable rate spring and cone assembly in compensating for pressure differences. The elimination of the air flow feedback loop also eliminates the potential overshoot and undershoot problem of the prior approach.
Venturi valves of the type described above are currently controlled by comparing the actual flow, determined either by measurement or by operating on the valve shaft position with the valve characteristic, with a signal indicative of desired fluid flow and utilizing the resulting error signal to operate the valve actuator. The problem with such a control is that it is nonlinear, having a different gain for different fluid flows and valve shaft positions. However, since it is desirable for the valve to move quickly when it has large distances to travel so as to achieve rapid response time, while slowing down as the valve approaches the position for the desired flow so as to avoid overshoot, this nonlinearity makes it difficult to achieve the desired control characteristics for all shaft positions. In particular, if the response time is adjusted to avoid overshoot when the valve shaft moves for only a small distance to achieve a desired fluid flow change, the valve responds too slowly in regions where large shaft movements are required to achieve the same fluid flow change; while if the shaft speed is adjusted to achieve reasonable response time in the latter regions, overshoot occurs. Valve controls of this type therefore suffer from instability, less than optimal response time, and inherent overshoot and undershoot problems. Problems of this type may also exist in other types of valves having a control parameter other than shaft position controlling fluid flow.
Further, some valve systems of this type are currently digitally controlled, and may use a microprocessor. While digital control offers enhanced flexibility of design, digital circuits are also more complicated to design, to install and to maintain, particularly for relatively unsophisticated electricians. Further, a digital or microprocessor controlled system is normally slightly slower than a comparable analog system which may result in variation or errors in the length of modulating pulses to, for example, a pneumatic valve controller used for the valve. Such variations are another potential cause of overshoot or undershoot in valve control.
Finally, it is desirable to have an indication of actual fluid flow in some applications of such valves which may be used as a feedback signal for certain system control functions. However, as indicated above, a sensor in the flow path has an inherent time delay. A means for providing such a feedback indication which is not time delayed is therefore required.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for the linear control of valve position, and in particular, for the control of a Venturi-type valve, so that optimum control rates may be selected for repositioning of the valve shaft which rates are appropriate regardless of current or final shaft position. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to permit the valve shaft to be moved at a higher rate when the valve shaft has greater distances to travel, thus optimizing valve response time, while permitting the rate of travel of the valve shaft to be slowed when the valve is near its desired end position so as to avoid overshoot or undershoot problems and avoid potential instability. Another object of this invention is to provide a simple analog implementation for achieving the above objects. Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a non delayed indication of current fluid flow which may be utilized for feedback or other system functions.

Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid flow valve


A receiver in the present disclosure includes: a first input end, N first output ends, N baseband signal recovery modules, and a multiple-input multiple-output equalization module. Each baseband signal recovery module includes two second output ends; one second output end of each baseband signal recovery module is configured to output a baseband signal; and the other second output end is configured to output data enabling control information. The multiple-input multiple-output equalization module is configured to: control, based on N pieces of data enabling control information, a time sequence of N baseband signals entering the multiple-input multiple-output equalization module for equalization filtering processing, and perform equalization filtering processing on the N baseband signals by using N transmitters as references to obtain recovered data of the N transmitters. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, asynchronous multi-transmitter data is received.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a multipoint-to-point communications technology that develops based on a spread spectrum communications technology. A principle of the CDMA technology is based on a spreading code technology. That is, information data of a particular signal bandwidth that should be transmitted is modulated by using a high-speed spreading code whose bandwidth is far greater than the signal bandwidth, so that the bandwidth of the original information data is spread, and the original information data is modulated by using a carrier and sent out. A receiving end uses a completely identical spreading code, cooperation processing is performed on the spreading code and a received wideband signal, and the wideband signal is converted into a narrowband signal of the original information data, that is, despread, to implement information communication. Information data of CDMA multiuser signals is spread by using different spreading codes and occupies a same band, and the spreading codes are orthogonal to each other. In this way, it is ensured that no mutual interference is caused to information data transmission in a same band between users. Clock synchronization is one of key technologies and difficult problems of a CDMA system. A non-synchronous clock causes incomplete orthogonality of the spreading codes of the users and causes multi-access interference. In a commercial wireless CDMA communications system, a clock synchronization protocol is usually used, to ensure synchronous clock-based transmission between multi-users and avoid multi-access interference.
However, in a current optical fiber communications system, a transmission mode in which various points perform accessing at asynchronous clocks is usually used, an existing synchronous CDMA receiver DSP architecture cannot be applied to an asynchronous-clock CDMA system, and an existing point-to-point coherent optical communications receiver DSP architecture cannot be applied to the asynchronous-clock CDMA system either.

Method for receiving asynchronous-clock multi-transmitter data, and receiver


Self-ligating orthodontic brackets include a marking system for identifying which tooth or subset of teeth a specific bracket within a set of non-identical brackets pertains and/or for assisting in aligning a bracket on a tooth. The bracket includes a temporarily visible mark that is visible during placement of the bracket onto a tooth but which does not remain visible during long term use of the orthodontic bracket to straighten teeth. The marking may be removable or it may be hidden during use of the bracket to straighten teeth. The orthodontic brackets are advantageously included within a set or kit intended for placement onto the teeth of a patient. They advantageously include a ligation cover selectively movable between an open, non-ligating position relative to an arch wire slot in a bracket base and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to orthodontic brackets for use in orthodontic therapy. More particularly, the invention relates to orthodontic brackets that include one or more temporarily visible markings that facilitate placement of an orthodontic bracket on a tooth of a patient.
2. The Relevant Technology
Orthodontic brackets used for correcting dental malocclusions basically consist of a bracket base that includes one or more arch wire slots for holding one or more orthodontic arch wires therein. Customarily, an arch wire is held within the arch wire slot by ligatures. More recently, self-ligating brackets have been developed that eliminate ligatures. Self-ligating brackets may include a ligation cover associated with the bracket base that closes over and secures the arch wire within the arch wire slot.
In the practice of orthodontics, in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment, individualized brackets are matched to each particular tooth, such that a bracket optimized for a particular tooth is generally different from a bracket optimized for another tooth. Because of the brackets' small size and similar appearance, confusion, frustration, and incorrect placement can result. Moreover, placement of the bracket in the correct orientation on the tooth can also be challenging.
What is needed in the art is an orthodontic bracket that includes temporarily visible features that permit an orthodontist or dental practitioner to match the bracket to a particular tooth or teeth of a patient to which it pertains and/or to properly align the bracket on a tooth.

Orthodontic brackets with temporarily visible marking features


A system for constructing a load bearing surface includes a plurality of modular ground covering panels. Along at least one first side edge of each of the panels, the lower surface projects beyond the upper surface to define a lower peripheral tab. Along at least one second side edge of each of the panels, the upper surface projects beyond the lower surface to define an upper peripheral tab. The lower peripheral tab of one of the panels and the upper peripheral tab of another one of the panels overlappingly engage so that the upper surfaces of the panels are in adjoining relation to form the load bearing surface. A connector assembly includes a first connection element fixed to the lower peripheral tab, and a second connection element that releasably fastens the upper peripheral tab to the first connection element to secure the panels together.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,257 describes a reusable mat system for the construction of load bearing surfaces, such as temporary roadways and equipment support surfaces, over unstable or unsubstantial terrain, comprising durable, interlocking individual mats which can be quickly and easily installed in a single application, and which can thereafter be easily removed and stored until needed again. The individual mats interlock on all sides to form stable and continuous load bearing surfaces, and exhibit favorable traction characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,183 describes a road mat that includes a body having a first end, a second end, a first face and a second face. A first coupling is positioned at the first end has an outwardly extending portion extending outwardly from the first end adjacent to the second face, an angled portion extending from a remote end of the outwardly extending portion toward but not past the first face, and an inwardly extending retaining lip extending from a remote end of the angled portion back toward the first end. A second coupling is positioned at the second end is similarly configured with an outwardly extending portion extending outwardly from the second end adjacent to the first face, an angled portion and an inwardly extending retaining lip. The retaining lip of the second coupling engages the retaining lip of the first coupling preventing separation.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,374 describes a portable overlapping secured mat system with uniformly sized plastic mats joined together to form structural support surface for use by persons or equipment. The mats' edges have recessed upper and lower lips with finger projections extending from the upper lips sized to fit into holes of adjacent mats' lower lips securing the mats together when the front edge of the finger projections are moved into a recesses of the back wall of the hole.

Connector assembly for modular ground covering panels


An illumination fiber optic ribbon includes optically-transmissive fibers which are adjacent to each other. At least two of the optically-transmissive fibers are twisted together to form a twisted segment. Where the two optically-transmissive fibers are not twisted forms a non-twisted segment. The twisted segments and non-twisted segments alternate along the length of the ribbon. Bends are disposed along the twisted segment and are formed by twisting adjacent optically-transmissive fibers. A light source is connected to one or both ends of the optically-transmissive fibers. The light source emits a light flux into the ribbon so that light emits from the bends in the twisted segment.

Fiber optic cable is often used to transmit light in the longitudinal direction of the cable from one end of the cable to the other end. Fiber optic cables can also be made to transmit light radially away. Such radial light transmission is often used for area lighting, such as around swimming pools, walkways, signs, safety lighting, or decorative accent lighting. Fiber optic cables are often used instead of electrical cables because fiber optic cables require only one light source and the light source's electrical power can be at a distant location.
Such fiber optic cables use special methods of manufacture, such as inclusion of actinically-sensitive dyes or other light-scattering materials to enhance the radial transmission of light. Other approaches avoid special manufacturing methods by bundling a large number of individual fibers together or by bundling groups of wound fibers together. The bundling is not cost efficient and wastes emitted light since light from central fibers is blocked by outer fibers.
Additionally, known fiber optic cables do not provide a simple and efficient mechanism for connecting the fibers to a light source so that the maximum amount of light is sent into the cable and not reflected back to the light source or refracted away from the cable. Cable installers must unwind the cable and laboriously connect individual fibers to the light source. Additionally, known cables do not provide an efficient way to sever the cable to a desired length and then provide a labor-saving way to connect the severed end to a light source so that the maximum amount of light is accepted into the cable.


A washer nozzle provided in a wiper blade has a first ejection hole ejecting a first washer fluid, and a second ejection hole ejecting a second washer fluid. A first ejection axis, which is a center line of a first ejection port angle of the first ejection hole, is define. A second ejection axis, which is a center line of a second ejection port angle of the second ejection hole, is defined. The washer nozzle is structured such that the first ejection axis and the second ejection axis intersect with each other as seen from a width direction of the wiper blade.

The present invention relates to a wiper blade and a vehicle wiper that are structured so as to wipe a target surface to be wiped of a vehicle windshield and further supply a washer fluid to the target surface.
A vehicle wiper disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 54-180541 has a wiper blade wiping dirt on a target surface to be wiped of a vehicle windshield, and a washer device supplying washer fluid to the target surface. In order to properly supply the washer fluid to the target surface, a rigid piping having a plurality of ejection holes is installed to an outer side of a wiper blade in such a manner as to extend along a longitudinal direction of the wiper blade while being party bent. The washer fluid is ejected toward the target surface from the ejection holes. An ejecting direction of the washer fluid from the ejection hole positioned in a bent portion of the piping is directed in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade.
In recent years, in order to improve the appearance of the vehicle wiper and secure a good driver's visibility, the height of the wiper blade from the target surface tends to be reduced, that is, the distance of the wiper blade from the target surface tends to be set small. However, if the height of the wiper blade of the publication mentioned above is made small, the piping comes close to the target surface, and an interval between the target surface and the ejection hole is reduced. Accordingly, the spread of the washer fluid ejected from each of the ejection holes so as to be received by the target surface is reduced. In this case, in order to supply the washer fluid to the target surface over a wide range in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, it is considered to increase the number of the ejection holes, however, this structure causes a complication of the washer fluid. Particularly, since the ejection hole in the center in the longitudinal direction of the piping of the document mentioned above ejects the washer fluid substantially directly downward, the washer fluid ejected from the ejection hole is hard to be spread, and a region of the ejection fluid received by the target surface, that is, a fluid receiving area is hard to be spread. In other words, if the height of the wiper blade is made small, there is a risk of increasing a gap between the fluid receiving area of the washer fluid ejected from the ejection hole in the center in the longitudinal direction of the piping and the fluid receiving area of the washer fluid ejected from the ejection hole in the bent portion, that is. Such a gap is referred to as a fluid non-receiving area.


A method of manufacturing a velvet plush article includes the steps of: weaving a greige cloth by interweaving face yarns and backing yarns, wherein the face yarns are selected from single-ply bright trilobal yarns and two-ply yarns and the backing yarns are selected from FDY or DTY yarn; pre-processing the greige cloth by brushing, first setting, singeing and second setting the greige cloth sequentially; dyeing and/or printing the greige cloth; and finishing the greige cloth by softening, drying, brushing, stentering, heat-setting, singeing, shearing and final heat-setting the greige cloth. Accordingly, a velvet plush article having superior smoothness and softness for providing a superior touch and feel comfort is achieved. The velvet plush article may be a velvet plush throw or blanket, or a velvet plush cloth for further processing.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to velvet plush, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing velvet plush throw which utilizes synthetic fiber to produce a particularly soft and smooth velvet plush throw.
2. Description of Related Arts
Velvet plush has a generally soft and smooth texture and is a very popular material used in textiles. Velvet plush throws, blankets, and similar plush textiles are in popular use because they are very smooth and soft. However, the cost to manufacture a velvet plush throw, blanket or the like is very high. Conversely, efforts to manufacture velvet plush throws and blankets at more reasonable cost have resulted in lower quality articles. Materials such as silk, cashmere, mohair, linen and cotton are traditionally used for manufacturing velvet plush. Velvet plush articles produced from silk are especially soft and smooth. Silk, however, is a very expense raw material and is, therefore, less desirable when seeking to contain manufacturing costs. On the other hand, synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon are more reasonable in price, but the quality of a velvet plush cloth made with polyester or nylon is relatively low.
The conventional method for manufacturing a tufted surface involves needling and adding the tufted pile onto a backing, but this technique does not produce a smooth and soft tufted surface of high quality having an evenly distributed pile layer.
There is, thus, no practical cost-effective method in the prior art for the manufacture of a high quality velvet plush throw.

Method of manufacturing velvet plush and article thereof


A magnetic disk apparatus has a heater for heating a head incorporated in the magnetic disk apparatus, an atmospheric pressure detector for detecting a change in atmospheric pressure in the magnetic disk apparatus, and an adjuster for adjusting a thermal dose supplied to the head by the heater according to the change in atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure detector.

The present application describes a magnetic disk apparatus and a magnetic disk apparatus control method for storing information onto a recording medium with magnetic head.
The magnetic disk apparatus writes information onto the magnetic medium with the magnetic head. The magnetic head is lifted over the medium by airflow generated by spinning of the medium.
Generally, outputs from the magnetic head increase and the magnetic properties of the magnetic head improve. Recently, the clearance between the magnetic head and the medium has been decreasing on the order of several nanometers to increase recording density.
Current magnetic disk apparatuses have a dynamic flying height (DFH) control system. The DFH control system controls the clearance between the magnetic head and the magnetic medium. The DFH control system controls the clearance by expanding the magnetic head element with a current supplied to a heating circuit embedded in the magnetic head. Refer FIG. 24, [Under normal atmospheric pressure] and [Supplied heating]
While the magnetic properties improve as the clearance between the head and the medium decreases, the occurrence of head crashes may rise due to infinitesimal projections on the medium. In particular, when an atmospheric pressure decreases, a lift generated by the airflow decreases and therefore the occurrence of head crashes with the magnetic medium may increase. When the head crashes occur, data write and read may interfere with each other, or take more time. In a worst-case scenario, the magnetic head or the magnetic medium may be damaged. Refer to FIG. 24, [Under reduced atmospheric pressure].
Thus, such failures may be prevented by sensing a decrease of the atmospheric pressure.
Generally, outputs from the magnetic head increase and automatic gain control (AGC) gain decreases when the flying height of the magnetic head decreases. Owing to this characteristic, changes of the flying height are detected by monitoring the AGC gain.
However, the clearance between the magnetic head element and the magnetic medium does not always decrease, depending on a design of a magnetic head slider or a suspension when the atmospheric pressure decreases. Furthermore, the AGC gain changes depending on a temperature so that the sensing the change of the atmospheric pressure accurately is difficult. In short, the outputs of the magnetic head do not always increase when the atmospheric pressure decreases. Thus, the change in atmospheric pressure may not be detected accurately with AGC gain alone.

Magnetic disk apparatus and magnetic disk apparatus control method


An injection molding machine estimates a check valve wear amount, making it possible to predict a check valve use limit. At start of injection, the check valve is at a position advanced a stroke S0 with respect to a screw position (a position of a check seat that contacts the check valve and closes a resin flow channel). As the screw advances, the check valve retreats and closes when the screw moves a distance X0. When the check valve is worn ΔS (S1=S0+ΔS), it closes when the screw moves X1. Since the check valve stroke and the distance the screw moves until the check valve closes are proportional, S0/X0=S1/X1=a. Therefore, ΔS=aX1−S0, and the wear amount ΔS can be obtained by detecting the check valve closing position X1 and using this position X1 and the known stroke S0. The closing position is detected from the peak value of rotational force acting on the screw. Once the wear amount is obtained, the check valve use limit can be predicted from an allowable value of wear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection molding machine, and more particularly to an injection molding machine that detects, displays, and predicts a wear amount or a closing stroke of a check valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
An in-line screw type injection molding machine has a check valve unit on a screw tip to prevent backflow of resin while the screw advances.
Resin that is melted during a metering stage is accumulated in front of the screw inside a heated barrel. Injection and pressure holding stages are begun, the screw advances, and the accumulated resin is injected into a mold and fills the interior of the mold. During a time period extending from the start of injection to a time when a check valve closes a resin flow channel, the resin flows back from the front of the check valve toward the rear. The amount of this backflow affects the amount of resin filling the mold, and therefore affects the quality of the molded article.
As the injection molding machine continues to be used over a long period of time, the check valve begins to wear due to corrosion caused by the resin and by friction during rotation of the screw. As a result, the backflow amount changes, affecting the quality of the molded article.
Consequently, a variety of methods for detecting check valve wear and resin backflow amounts are known.
For example, methods are known that detect the backflow amount based on the distance over which the screw advances during pressure holding (JP62-3916A) or on the speed with which the screw advances during pressure holding (JP01-281912A) and generate a warning when the detected backflow amount exceeds a predetermined value so as to prevent defective molding, detect wear on the check valve, and the like.
In addition, a method is known that takes advantage of the fact that, once resin backflow occurs when the screw is advanced, a force equivalent to a backflow resin pressure (that is, an injection pressure force) pushes against flights of the screw. This force is divided into a force exerted in the axial direction of the screw (a force that pushes backwards) and a force exerted in the direction of rotation of the screw (a force that causes the screw to rotate in the reverse direction of the direction in which the screw rotates during metering). Therefore, the resin backflow causes a screw rotational force equivalent to the injection pressure force to be exerted on the screw, and once this screw rotational force exceeds a predetermined value it is determined that there is something wrong with the check valve, in the form of wear, damage, or the like (see, for example, JP01-168421A).
In the background art described above, the methods for detecting check valve wear involve detecting the resin backflow amount or the like and outputting an alarm when that backflow amount equals or exceeds a predetermined value. However, check valve wear proceeds gradually, and therefore, at the stage when an alarm is given, the injection molding machine has already formed large quantities of defective molded articles, which is undesirable. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to grasp the extent of wear on the check valve, and take the necessary steps to cope with the situation by ascertaining that the check valve has reached its use limit, before the alarm is given.

Injection molding machine having a check valve closing position determining device