Disclosed is a method for administering a communication channel between two host components of a mobile NFC device. The method includes a step of updating the whitelist of a first host component, then a step of notifying the update to a second authorised host component. The notifying step informs the second host component of the status of the whitelist of the first host component in order to prevent the transmission of requests to create a communication channel which would then be rejected. Also disclosed is a mobile NFC device.

A person skilled in the art knows that an NFC mobile device comprises a wireless radiofrequency communication NFC integrated circuit with a short range, of around a few centimeters, in order to operate secure services, for example authorizing use of a service, payment, transport, etc. It is provided that the NFC integrated circuit, also called CLF (for 'contactless front end') component, communicates with a plurality of electronic components that are situated within the NFC mobile device, for example a UICC (for 'universal integrated circuit card') card or else an embedded secure element of eSE type, or else externally, for example with an external contactless reader, or else also with elements that are added to the NFC mobile device, for example an additional memory card, in order to operate the secure services. It is necessary to govern communications between these electronic components.
To this end, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, ETSI, has provided the technical specification ETSI TS 102 622, the latest version (V12.1.0) dating from October 2014. The technical specification describes the logic interface that authorizes NFC applications to operate in one or more electronic components, called host components, of the NFC mobile device. This host control interface architecture is called 'host controller interface'. More precisely, a host component may be for example an embedded secure element of eSE type, a SIM (for 'subscriber identification module') card for identification on a mobile telephony network, or a baseband component of the NFC device. A host controller, hosted in the CLF component, is provided in order to administer communication channels between the host components.
Said ETSI technical specification implements a communication architecture that is organized so that the host controller administers a white list for each of the host components. A white list of a host component is intended to identify the other host components that are authorized to create a communication channel to it.
A communication channel is defined in said ETSI technical specification as being a logic link between two logic gates of different host components for conveying events, commands and responses that contain data for operating a service. A gate is a logic input point that makes it possible to access the services provided by a host component.
In particular, the protocol for creating a communication channel requires the target host component to register an authorized host component, which is responsible for creating the channel, in the white list of the target host component. If a host component responsible for a communication channel creation request to a target host component for this communication channel is not registered in the white list of the target host component, the communication channel creation request is rejected by the host controller.
FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a conventional method as defined in said ETSI technical specification for administering a communication channel between a host component A and a host component B. The host controller HC administers the white lists WLA and WLB, respectively, of each of the host components A and B. In the initial phase, the white lists are empty. In a first step E11, the host component A transmits, to the host controller HC, a communication channel creation request for the host component B. As the white list WLB of the host B does not contain the identifier of the host A, the host controller rejects the creation request in a step E12. In the situation of FIG. 1, steps E11 and E12 are repeated twice and result in new rejections. In a step E13, the host component B updates its white list by registering the identifier of the host component A, HAID, in its white list WLB, thus authorizing the host component A to be able to create a communication channel to it. The host controller HC then sends, in step E14, a confirmation of the taking into account of the registration of the host component A in the white list WLB of the host component B. In a step E15, a new attempt to create a communication channel between A and B is transmitted, by way of a new request, by the host component A to the host controller HC. The controller HC verifies that the white list WLB of the host component B contains the identifier of the host component A and then assigns an available channel identifier to the communication channel creation request. In a step E16, the host controller HC notifies the host component B of the communication channel creation request transmitted by the host component A, along with the chosen channel identifier. In step E17, the host component B returns, to the host controller HC, a confirmation of acceptance of creation of the communication channel with the proposed channel identifier. In a step E18, the host controller HC notifies the host component A of the creation of the communication channel with the host component B, along with the identifier that has been assigned thereto.
The communication channel creation requests by the host responsible for these attempts are therefore initiated without the latter knowing whether or not it is registered in the white list of the target host component. Multiple communication channel creation attempts will therefore be rejected before the initiating host component is registered in the white list of the target host component. This has the result of needlessly generating traffic, occupying the bandwidth and resources of the host controller, and also of consuming power.

Method for administering a communication channel between two host components of a mobile NFC device


A method is provided for manufacturing a QFN type semiconductor integrated circuit device using a multi-device lead frame having a tie bar for tying external end portions of plural leads, wherein sealing resin filled between an outer periphery of a mold cavity and the tie bar is removed by a laser and thereafter a surface treatment such as solder plating is performed.

The present invention relates to a technique effective in its application to a packaging technique in a method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device (or a semiconductor device).
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-214237 (Patent Literature 1) there is disclosed a technique wherein, in a packaging process for a resin-sealed package with less external leads like, for example, a discrete transistor, resin burrs on the leads are removed by a simple burr discriminating method using a laser and a water jet, followed by solder plating.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-102510 (Patent Literature 2) there is disclosed a technique wherein, in a packaging process for a resin-sealed package such as an IC package, tie bars are cut after resin sealing and resin burrs remaining between leads are removed using a CO2 laser, followed by solder plating.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-299400 (Patent Literature 3) there is disclosed a technique wherein, in connection with a non-leaded flat package, a sealing material present between leads is removed by a punching die and exposed leads are covered with metal coating by plating for enhancing the solder adherability, in order to prevent a short-circuit between leads at the time of packaging.    [Patent Literature 1]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-214237    [Patent Literature 2]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-102510    [Patent Literature 3]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-299400

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device


A temperature control system for a battery in an energy storage system is disclosed. In one aspect, the temperature control system includes a circuit configured to determine that the temperature of the battery has been maintained below a normal operation temperature for a predetermined duration. The circuit is further configured to alternatingly repeat charging and discharging operations using a winding in a primary side of an inverter to generate reactive current to flow in opposite directions through the battery until the temperature of the battery is restored to the normal operation temperature.

1. Field
The disclosed technology relates to a temperature control system and a temperature control method of a battery in an energy storage system.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Interest in renewable energy and cooperative storage systems continues to grow for both economic and environmental reasons. Renewable energy can take on various forms, including solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, among others. Various factors, including increasing gasoline prices and changes in the global climate have fueled much research and development in various aspects of renewable energy. One such aspect is energy storage systems.
An energy storage system generally includes a storage unit in the form of a battery. The energy storage system can be part of an interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers called an electrical grid. As part of a grid, the energy storage system will store electrical energy when production exceeds consumption, and will supply the stored energy at a later point in time when consumption exceeds production.
Batteries provided in energy storage systems are implemented in the form of rechargeable secondary batteries. Because batteries utilize electrochemical reactions, whose reaction rates often depend exponentially on temperature, maintaining the temperature at which the battery operates can have a large impact on the generated power. For example, a battery that operates at a low temperature (e.g., −20° C. or less) can generate as little as 16% of the power that would otherwise be generated if the battery was operated at a normal operating temperature. In order to prevent power generation from falling at low operating temperatures, various methods have been proposed to maintain the battery temperature within its normal operating temperature. For example, heat generated through dissipation of energy in a resistive load outside of the battery has been employed as one way of maintaining operating temperature. Heat generation via a resistive load has certain drawbacks, for example, including excessive heat which can lead to fire hazard. Therefore, there is a need for a battery temperature control system that does not rely on external resistive heating.

System and method of battery temperature control


An electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip distribution unit including a reel cradle for holding a reel of the connector strip and a roller for rotating the reel of the connector strip to unwind the connector strip from the reel. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip feed unit including a feeding device configured to index the connector strip through a feed track in successive feed strokes. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a connector strip notching unit including a notching device configured to cut notches in the connector strip at designated locations. The electrical connector assembling machine includes a contact loading unit loading contacts into the connector strip and an electrical connector separating unit for separating the electrical connector from the connector strip.

The subject matter herein relates generally to machines for manufacturing electrical connectors.
Machines are known for assembling electrical connectors. For example, some known machines are used to load contacts into a connector housing. Manufacture and assembly of individual connectors is time consuming and expensive. For example, individually loading the contacts into the connector housing is time consuming. Conventional machines are typically designed to manufacture one particular electrical connector arrangement. Changeover of the machine to manufacture a different type of electrical connector is time consuming and involves replacement of many components of the machine.
A need remains for a machine for efficiently and reliably manufacturing electrical connectors.

Connector loading assembly for electrical connector assembling machine


A communication system, which includes a microelectronics chip including a power distribution network; a transmitter operatively configured to generate a communication signal and provide the communication signal to the power distribution network; and a receiver operatively configured to receive the communication signal from the power distribution network. A method is also provided for transmitting a communication signal via a power distribution network of a microelectronics chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of integrated circuit communications systems. In particular, the present invention is directed to communication systems and methods using a microelectronics power distribution network.
2. Background of the Invention
As the density of integrated circuits, number of functions, and the need for supervisory control for chip characteristics such as power and heat, increases, the need exists to exploit every communication channel available on the die or chip. This has traditionally been done by running more wires and increasing the number of layers of metal on a die. Studies have shown that as the number of layers increase, the actual routability of these new wires plateaus because of the inability to create vias to other metal layers due to the density of existing wires and vias.
The use of radio transmission of information from one location on the chip to another has been investigated as an additional communication avenue. Also the use of light transmission through the oxide layers has been explored.
The use of communications over alternating current macro utility lines has been used for many years. For example, power line companies have used communications over power lines to read electric meters, and consumers have used home control systems, such as the X10 system, to switch lights using 110 volt power lines throughout the home. However, the use of a microelectronics power distribution network for communication has heretofore not been examined or implemented.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,129 to Smither describes data transmission over a line carrying alternating current power. U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,344 to Larson describes a frequency shift key (FSK) carrier communication system for transmitting and receiving data on electric utility lines, particularly for communication with electric utility meters and vending machines. U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,005 to Furukawa et al. describes power line communication systems employing relay stations, particularly for use with large refrigerated container carriers and communication with the refrigerated containers over electrical lines. U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,377 to Sacca et al. describes a power supply with coupling for using the AC power line to communicate digital data from within a digital device, such as a computer. The prior uses of power line communication deal only with transmissions over utility and house level alternating current power lines, and do not address the particular difficulties inherent to power distribution networks of microelectronics chips or communications over direct current power lines.
The power systems of a microelectronics chip are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in power and to the noise carried on that power. In addition the power systems are susceptible to interferences produced by the integrated circuits of the chip itself. Merely keeping the power balance correct for the circuits of the chip is in itself a difficult task. The introduction of additional signals onto the power distribution network makes it more difficult to achieve this balance. The power environment of a microelectronics chip differs widely from the more robust utility and household power lines previously used to transfer information. Typical microelectronics chips work with power that ranges from 0.7 volts (V) to 5 V, which is in comparison to the far greater voltages of utility and household power lines. Although future voltages on microelectronic chips may be higher, the current trend is toward lower voltages. Additionally, utility and household power lines have far greater voltages than present or projected voltages of power distribution networks on microelectronic chips, even if the voltages on microelectronic chips were to go higher. Utility and household power lines have much greater levels of power noise than do power distribution networks of microelectronics chips allowing them to carry additional interference more readily. It is far more difficult a task to place an additional signal on the power distribution network of a microelectronics chip without disrupting the overall noise tolerance of the chip or the power bus driving the chip.
Accordingly, there is a need for new communications avenues on microelectronics chips that can take advantage of the pre-existing power distribution network on the chip itself.

Communication systems and methods using microelectronics power distribution network

International Business Machines Corporation


An ion implantation apparatus according to an embodiment includes an ion implantation unit, a position detection unit, a charge supply unit, a current value detection unit, and a determination unit. The ion implantation unit scans the surface of a substrate with an ion beam containing positively charged ions and implants the ions into the substrate. The position detection unit detects the scan position of the ion beam on the substrate. The charge supply unit generates a plasma, emits electrons contained in the plasma, and supplies the electrons to the substrate. The current value detection unit detects a current value that changes in accordance with the amount of electrons emitted by the charge supply unit. The determination unit determines the charge build-up state of the substrate based on a change in the current value, the change being accompanied by a change in the scan position.

There is conventionally an ion implantation apparatus that implants desired ions into a substrate of a semiconductor wafer on which a semiconductor apparatus is formed, and the like by irradiating the substrate with an ion beam. The ion implantation apparatus generally implants positively charged ions into the substrate. Hence, there may occur what is called charge-up where excessive positive charge is built up by the implanted ions on the surface of the substrate. Such charge-up of the substrate may become a cause of damage to a semiconductor device formed on the substrate.
Hence, there is an ion implantation apparatus that electrically neutralizes the positively charged surface of the substrate by generating a plasma by a plasma generation unit and supplying electrons in the plasma, together with ions, to the substrate.
However, the known ion implantation apparatus having the plasma generation unit has a problem that it is difficult to accurately determine whether or not electrons are being supplied normally from the plasma generation unit to the substrate.

Ion implantation apparatus and method of determining state of ion implantation apparatus


The disclosed invention relates to an antenna configuration that is configured to tune the frequency of transmission without using filters. The antenna configuration comprises a tunable multi-feed antenna configured to wirelessly transmit electromagnetic radiation. A signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of signals that collectively correspond to a signal to be transmitted. The plurality of signals have a phase shift or amplitude difference therebetween. The plurality of signals are provided to a plurality of antenna feeds connected to different spatial locations of the tunable multi-feed antenna. The values of the phase shift and/or amplitude difference define an antenna reflection coefficient that controls the frequency characteristics that the tunable multi-feed antenna operates at, such that by varying the phase shift and or amplitude difference, the frequency characteristics can be selectively adjusted.

Multi-band transceivers are widely used in many modern wireless communication devices (e.g., cell phones, wireless sensors, PDAs, etc.). Multi-band transceivers are able to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation at a variety of different frequencies. For example, a dual-band mobile phone is able to transmit and receive signals at two frequencies, a quad-band mobile phone is able to transmit and receive signals at four frequencies, etc.
Operation at more than one frequency is important in modern mobile communication devices. For example, different wireless standards (e.g., GSM, TMDA, CMDA, etc.) are used in different locations around the world, such that the use of a tunable antenna allows for a cell phone to communicate over multiple wireless standards. Furthermore, even the same wireless standards may use different frequencies within a region or more than one frequency within a region. For example, within a GSM network, different regions may operate on different bands. For example, in the United States a GSM network uses two bands (e.g., 850 MHz or 1900 MH), while Europe uses two other bands.

Antenna tuning via multi-feed transceiver architecture


A method for providing accurate temperature sensing of a substrate utilizing the PN junction of a transistor formed on the substrate is described.

A typical approach to measuring temperatures is to utilize a PN diode junction as a temperature sensor. In integrated circuit applications, the PN junction is typically provided by using a bipolar transistor integrated into the substrate.
In investigating the properties of PN junction temperature sensors, I have determined that certain inaccuracies result from the standard methodology utilized to sense temperatures of substrates of microprocessors.


Featured is an injectable intraocular lens system including an insertion and injection device and an injectable intraocular lens. In its broadest aspects, the injectable intraocular lens is a deflated flexible bag that is disposed within the insertion and injection device prior to insertion into the eye. In use a portion of the insertion and injection device is inserted into the eye and the flexible bag is deployed out from an aperture in the inserted portion into the eye. Following deployment, the insertion and injection device injects an optical medium, such as a liquid, into the interior of the flexible bag, thereby inflating the bag. In an illustrative embodiment, the amount of medium being injected is selected so that the inflated bag provides the desired corrective power to the intraocular lens so formed. Following injection of the medium, the interconnection between the insertion and injection device and the interior of the flexible bag is broken and a seal is formed so as to keep the medium within the flexible bag interior.

Cataract is a common ailment effecting the human eyes, especially the eyes of older people, and can lead to blindness. Removal of the clouded biological lens material (i.e., the natural lens) from the capsule of the lens of the affected eye will restore light perception (see also FIG. 1). Full rehabilitation, however, requires that the refractive power of the natural lens be replaced by some other means because the light rays no longer are focused on the retina when the natural lens is removed. Consequently, cataract extraction is a common ophthalmic surgical procedure performed in the United States in which the natural lenses is replaced with a prosthetic optical device such as corrective eye glasses, contact lens and/or intraocular lens, so useful vision can be restored to the operated eye.
In the somewhat distant past, the replacement of the refractive power of the natural lens was achieved by the use of corrective eyeglasses or contact lens. The eyeglasses and contacts, however, have limitations in such an application. Corrective eyeglasses, however, being located in front of the normal position of the human lens, can produce magnification that distorts the shape of viewed objects. Contact lenses cause less magnification and distortion, however, very old and very young patients frequently find handling and wearing these small lenses difficult.
As a result of these limitations, the treatment of cataracts has developed to include the implantation of an artificial lens, typically called an intraocular lens, in the eye to mimic the function of the original natural lens. With implanted intraocular lenses, there is little or no magnification or distortion. Also, there is no need to remove the intraocular lens from the eye or otherwise handle the lens. Generally, intraocular lenses provide good visual acuity at all times, even at night.
Intraocular lenses have definite advantages in terms of vision and convenience over the other methods of aphakic correction. Intraocular lens implantation surgery, however, is more traumatic than simple cataract extraction alone. The additional handling of the cornea and manipulation inside the anterior chamber during lens implantation add to the amount of trauma to the eye. Extreme care must be exercise to limit trauma to the cornea, structures of the anterior chamber, and other structures. In this microfine surgery uncommon agility on the part of even a skilled surgeon often is required. Space limitations in the eye, the required size of the lens once implanted, and considerable manipulations of the lenses during implantation by the surgeon can result in traumatic damage to the corneal endothelium and very often rupture of the posterior capsule by the novice. Damage to the corneal endothelium and rupture of the posterior capsule are complications considered serious.
Initially, the intraocular lens was a relatively rigid lens requiring a 7–8 mm incision to be made in the conjunctiva and sclera just outside the cornea so that the patient's lens can be removed and replaced with an implant intraocular lens. Incision length is dictated more by the size of the intraocular lens to be implanted than by the requirement of removing the patient's natural lens. For example, since the development of the phacoemulsification technique, the patient's natural lens can be removed using an ultrasonic instrument that requires a corneal incision of about 2–3 mm which is much smaller than is needed to insert a rigid intraocular lens.
Efforts to minimize overall intraocular lens size of the rigid lens, and hence reduce trauma, have concentrated on collapsing or folding haptic prior to insertion. Haptics, also called loops or feet, emanate from the lenses and are intended to support and fix the intraocular lens in the eye. Some attempts have been made to reduce the size of the central lenticular portion of intraocular lenses prior to insertion. Silicon lenses which can be folded and gel-type lenses which absorb intraocular fluid and subsequently expand do address the surgical trauma problem. Nevertheless, the incision required for these lenses, although less than the 7–8 mm length for solid intraocular lenses, is relatively large, about 4 mm in length.
A major concern of ophthalmic surgeons is choosing the correct refractive power for lenses. Patients risk additional surgery for lens removal and replacement if the choice of lens refractive power is too much in error. A risk commonly shared in the use of solid, silicon, and gel-type lenses is additional surgery since it is the only alternative for changing a refractive power too much in error. This concern about additional surgery and selecting refractive power becomes of particular concern when dealing with young patients because a rigid lens of the correct refractive power when implanted may not later correctly focus light entering the eye and passing to the retina due to the changing in the size and shape of the eyeball in very young patients as they mature.
As a result, other types of intraocular lens and delivery systems have been developed in which the lens is inserted into the eye in a deflated condition and following such insertion the lens is then inflated or expanded by injecting a liquid, gas or other material into a cavity within the lens. With these other types of intraocular lens, the lens is disposed at least in major part within some sort of insertion device and is forced out of the insertion device using a fluid or rigid member that essentially pushes or ejects the lens from the insertion device.
Also, with these types of intraocular lens one or more separate conduits, cannulas or tubules are provided that interconnects the interior cavity to an external source of the liquid, gas or other material to be injected. Thus, following, such ejection of the lens from the insertion device, the lens is inflated or expanded by flowing the liquid, gas or other material through the one or more conduits or tubules into the cavity. After inflation is completed, the connection with the external source is broken and the surgeon pushes the conduit(s) or tubule(s) attached to the lens into a portion of the eye in which the lens is located. It also must be located so that it does not occlude visual acuity. While such lens and delivery systems have been developed for purposes of reducing the size of the incision required for insertion of the lens, there have arisen complex lens folding issues and haptic breakage concerns. Illustration and description of such lens and/or delivery systems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,822,360; 4,693,717; 4,685,921; 4,619,662; 4,585,457 and 4,373,218.
It thus would be desirable to provide a new and novel intraocular lens system as well as related devices and intraocular lens, so as to minimize haptic breakage and concerns with lens manipulation within the lens capsule. It would be particularly desirable to provide such systems, devices, lens and methods related thereto whereby such insertion can be achieved while using minimally sized incisions as in comparison to that for prior art techniques and lens. It also would be desirable to provide such a lens that provides a mechanism for selectively adjusting the refractive power of the lens by means of regulating the material being injected. It also would be yet more desirable to provide such a lens whereby the refractive power can be adjusted following implantation at a later time during the life of the patient to compensate for changing conditions of the eye. Such lens, insertion devices and systems preferably would be simple in construction than prior art devices, lens and systems and such methods would not be unduly complex as compared to prior art methods.

Injectable bag intraocular lens system, inserting device for use therewith, method for inserting an injectable bag intraocular lens within a human eye, methods for treating aphakia and system kits


A keyboard includes a keyboard base, a membrane circuit substrate, and a press key set having a plurality of press keys. Each of the press keys includes: a keycap, a linkage assembly including intersecting first and second link levers, and a first pivot mechanism to interconnect pivotally the first and second link levers, and an elastic element. The first pivot mechanism includes: a female element having a first opening formed in one of upper and lower surfaces of the first link lever; and a flexible male element outwardly protruding from a lateral surface of the second link lever. The male and female elements are configured such that after the male element is elastically deformed to be pressed into the female element via the first opening, the male element is restored to its original form to be limited in the female element.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a keyboard, a linkage assembly set for coupling a plurality of keycaps to a keyboard base of a keyboard, and a method of assembling the keyboard.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional keyboard includes a keyboard base 11, a membrane circuit substrate 12 disposed on the keyboard base 11, an elastic sheet 13 disposed on the membrane circuit substrate 12, and a press key set (not shown) having a plurality of press keys 1 disposed on the elastic sheet 13. Each of the press keys 1 includes a keycap 15, a linkage assembly 16, and an elastic element 17.
In each of the press keys 1, the linkage assembly 16 is disposed under the keycap 15 and includes intersecting first and second link levers 161, 162, and a pivot mechanism to interconnect pivotally the first and second link levers 161, 162. The first and second link levers 161, 162 respectively define upper and lower ends 165, 167, 166, 168. By connecting pivotally and respectively the upper ends 165, 166 of the first and second link levers 161, 162 to the keycap 15, and by connecting pivotally and respectively the lower ends 167, 168 of the first and second link levers 161, 162 to the keyboard base 11, the keycap 15 is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the keyboard base 11 by means of the linkage assembly 16.
In each of the press keys 1, the elastic element 17 is connected to the elastic sheet 13, passes upwardly through the linkage assembly 16, is connected to the keycap 15, and contacts the membrane circuit substrate 12 when the keycap 15 is pressed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pivot mechanism includes: a female element 163 having a first opening in a lateral surface of the first link lever 161; and a male element 164 outwardly protruding from a lateral surface of the second link lever 162. Typically, the first and second link levers 161, 162 of each of the press keys 1 are respectively in a form of a frame with a hollow portion therein. Assembling one linkage assembly 16 inevitably is conducted by spreading apart the frame of the first link lever 161 for permitting the frame of the second link lever 162 to be inserted into the hollow portion of the first link lever 161, followed by releasing the frame of the first link lever 161 to let the male element 164 of the second link lever 162 to be sidewardly pressed into the female element 163 of the first link lever 161.
Therefore, it is necessary to assemble all of the linkage assemblies 16 one by one in the conventional keyboard. Furthermore, mounting the linkage assemblies 16 onto an assembly of the keyboard base 11, the membrane circuit substrate 12, and the elastic sheet 13 are also conducted one by one.

Keyboard, linkage assembly set, and method of assembling a keyboard


An antimicrobial glass tablet that releases silver ions when brought into direct contact with water, containing: Ag2O within the range of above 5% by weight but less than 10% by weight, ZnO below 10% by weight, P2O5, CaO, K2O, Al2O3, and MgO.

Conventionally, for preventing propagation of bacteria or mold in water stored in a water storage tank or a drain pan of an air conditioner or the like, an antimicrobial glass exhibiting an antimicrobial effect by releasing silver ions into water when brought into direct contact with water has been broadly used.
Furthermore, for the antimicrobial glass used for such application, a predetermined elution amount of silver ions needs to be maintained over a long period of time, and thus various modifications, for example, the composition or size of the antimicrobial glass is modified to a predetermined range or a pH fluctuation of water is suppressed by using in combination plural antimicrobial glasses with different properties, have been made to satisfy such needs (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
Specifically, disclosed in Patent Document 1 is, as a soluble glass containing at least one element selected from metallic ions of Ag+, Cu+, Cu2+, and Zn2+, a glass water treatment material characterized in that it has right hexahedral, cubic, flat, or spherical three-dimensional shape and its largest diameter is 10 mm or more and its composition has weight ratios of (RO+R2O)/P2O5=0.4 to 1.2 and R2O/(RO+R2O3)=0 to 10, the dissolution speed (A) at an initial stage (a period corresponding to initial 20% of the time period from start of dissolution to dissolution of the entire amount, the same shall apply hereinafter) and the dissolution speed (B) at a final stage (on contrary to the initial period, it indicates a period corresponding to final 20%, the same shall apply hereinafter) have a relationship of B/A≥⅓, and the content of the metallic ions is 0.005 to 5% by weight.
Furthermore, disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a mixed antimicrobial glass for an air conditioning system, exhibiting an antimicrobial effect by releasing silver ions therefrom in the air conditioning, including an antimicrobial glass exhibiting an alkaline property when dissolved and an antimicrobial glass exhibiting an acid property when dissolved, an elution amount of silver ions, which is measured under a prescribed measurement condition, of the antimicrobial glass exhibiting an alkaline property, and an elution amount of silver ions, which is measured under a prescribed measurement condition, of the antimicrobial glass exhibiting an acid property are respectively values within the range of 0.005 to 1 mg/(g·1 liter·24 Hrs·30° C.), a blending amount of the antimicrobial glass exhibiting an alkaline property to 100 parts by weight of the antimicrobial glass exhibiting an acid property is a value within the range of 10 to 120 parts by weight, and the total elution amount of silver ions measured under the prescribed measurement condition is a value within the range of 0.01 to 5 mg/(g·1 liter·24 Hrs·30° C.)
In Patent Document 2, there is also a description suggesting that the antimicrobial glass exhibiting an acid property when dissolved preferably has the composition in which it contains Ag2O, MgO, K2O, ZnO and P2O5 as a raw material, and when the total amount is 100% by weight, the content of Ag2O has a value within the range of above 5% by weight but less than 10% by weight, the content of MgO has a value within the range of 3 to 10% by weight, the content of K2O has a value within the range of 5 to 20% by weight, the content of ZnO has a value within the range of 10 to 25% by weight, and the content of P2O5 has a value within the range of 55 to 75% by weight, and when the total amount is less than 100% by weight, other glass components (for example, alkali metal oxide, alkali earth metal oxide, CeO2, Al2O3, CoO, or the like) are contained, as a residual component, within the range of 0.1 to 37% by weight.


A microseismic method of determining the position of a downhole receiver (4) making use of received signals from events (21, 22) at least two known locations using the equivalent of a Thales circle construction from two or more pairs of events.

In microseismic monitoring the seismic energy is generated through so-called local microseismic events either naturally occurring in the formation or caused by human activity or intervention. The events include seismic events caused by fracturing operations, by very small sources injected for example with wellbore fluids, or background events illuminating the area of interest.
Apart from the problem of detecting the often faint microseismic events, their interpretation is difficult as neither in microseismics the source location nor the source signature or characteristics are known a priori. However knowledge of these parameters is essential to deduce further reservoir parameters knowledge of which would improve reservoir control. If the precise location of the source or event which caused a seismic wave is required for the further processing and interpretation of the recorded signals or data, then such location has to be inferred from the recordings.
A specific field within the area of passive seismic monitoring is the monitoring of hydraulic fracturing operations. To improve production or storage capacity of underground reservoirs, the operators often perform a procedure known as hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing operations are for example commonly performed in formations where oil or gas cannot be easily or economically extracted from the earth.
A hydraulic fracturing operation includes the steps of pumping through a borehole large amounts of fluid to induce cracks in the earth, thereby creating pathways via which the oil and gas can flow more readily than prior to the fracturing. After a crack is generated, sand or some other proppant material is commonly injected into the crack, such that a crack is kept open even after release of the applied pressure. The particulate proppant provides a conductive pathway for the oil and gas to flow through the newly formed fracture into the main wellbore.
In the field of hydraulic fracturing monitoring (HFM) and in the general field of microseismic monitoring, usually arrivals of P- and/or S-waves are registered from a single or more vertical monitoring arrays. The measurements are then evaluated to determine or constraining for example the event depth and distance from the monitoring array. The polarization of the P waves can be used to determine the vertical plane in which the source is located. The vertical plane is often reduced to a single direction known as azimuth of the source or back-azimuth of the source. Currently, the microseismic events are usually located with the back-azimuth derived from P waves with distance and depth constrained by the timing of arrivals of P- and S-waves.
However, the hydraulic fracturing process and other microseismic events are difficult to monitor, since they are typically thousands of feet below the surface of the earth. Furthermore, in cases where the receivers for the microseismic survey are located inside wellbores additional uncertainties arise which are part of the background to this invention.
Details of known microseismic monitoring methods can be found for example in for example the following publications:    Maxwell S. C., Urbancic T. I., Falls S. D., Zinno R.: "Real-time microseismic mapping of hydraulic fractures in Carthage", Texas, 70th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 1449-1452 (2000);    Moriya, H., K. Nagano and H. Niitsuma: "Precise source location of AE doublets by spectral matrix analysis of the triaxial hodogram", Geophysics, 59, 36-45 (1994);    Pearson, C: "The relationship between microseismicity and high pore pressures during hydraulic stimulation experiments in low permeability granitic rocks", Journ. Of Geophys Res. 86 (B9), 7855-7864 (1981);    Phillips W. S., T. D. Fairbanks, J. T. Rutledge, D. W. Anderson: Induced microearthquake patterns and oil-producing fracture systems in the Austin chalk. Tectonophysics, 289, pp. 153-169 (1998); and    Rutledge, J. T. and Phillips, W. S. (2003): Hydraulic stimulation of natural fractures as revealed by induced microearthquakes, Carthage Cotton Valley gas field, east Texas. Geophysics, 68, 441-452.
Referring no more specifically to the background and object of the present invention, it should be appreciated that for most purposes microseismic event monitoring requires accurate knowledge of the receiver locations and orientations. If the receivers are placed in a borehole, these locations are generally derived from (i) cable depth and (ii) deviation surveys, i.e., the measurements of the borehole inclination and azimuth. The cable depth is generally well accessible from surface measurements on the deployment cable though uncertainty of the true cable length may arise from various sources such as cable stretching due to temperature, weight, etc. However, well deviation surveys are either (i) unknown in which case the well is assumed to be vertical, (ii) partially unknown such that inclination is known but not the azimuth, or (iii) poorly defined (e.g., by having positions and orientations only coarsely sampled or missing survey points or similar errors in the existing data set of a well.
Any error in the assumptions relating to the position of sensors or receivers can create significant errors in the locations of the microseismic events. This statement has been confirmed for example in:    Bulant P., Eisner L., Ivan P{hacek over (s)}en{hacek over (c)}ík and Joël Le Calvez: "Borehole Deviation Surveys Are Necessary for Hydraulic Fracture Monitoring", SPE abstract 102788 (2006).
Thus, the conclusion can be drawn that for nearly vertical wells the lack of the deviation surveys significantly affects horizontal position of the monitoring array, while the uncertainty in the vertical position is usually a lesser problem in the data evaluation.
In the light of the above, the present invention seeks new methods for determining the position of subterranean receivers, particularly to reduce the uncertainty about the azimuth of such positions.


Transmitters or other devices coupled to transmission links may be required to detect the presence of receivers (or other devices) on the links before starting signal transmission. Methods and apparatus are provided for a transmitter to detect the presence of a receiver on a link. The detection relies on measuring changes in the electrical characteristics of the link at the output of the transmitter. Changes in capacitive or other loading at the transmitter output, caused by the coupling of a link and receiver to the transmitter, may be estimated by determining the rise time of a signal at the transmitter output. The rise time may be estimated in response to applying a common-mode voltage step at the transmitter output, for example. The transmitter may be able to determine the presence of a receiver on the link from changes in rise-time. Increasing transmitter output impedance, or measuring common-mode driver rise time, may increase the accuracy of the detection process.

This invention relates to the detection of receivers by transmitters coupled to a transmission link. A transmitter coupled to a link may be required to detect whether a receiver is coupled to the link before starting transmission on the link. The detection may serve a variety of purposes, including reducing extraneous transmissions which may increase transmitter power consumption or the production of electromagnetic interference, for example. The detection may also be required by new transmission protocols, such as the PCI-Express standard.
The receiver detection may be based on measuring changes in the electrical characteristics of the link when a receiver is coupled or not coupled to the link. These characteristics may be measured from the output of the transmitter, and may include the input impedance of the link. While the presence of a receiver on the link may change the characteristics of the link, the changes may be relatively small and difficult to measure. Furthermore, variations in the electrical characteristics of the link, such as variations in link resistance (or impedance) and capacitance, may make it harder to detect changes due exclusively to the presence of a receiver. Similarly, variations in the electrical characteristics of the receiver, such as receiver input impedance, may complicate detection. Finally, variations in the receiver detection circuitry in the transmitter may compromise the accuracy of the detection process. These variations may include variations in power supply level, transmitter output impedance, as well as parasitic capacitances or impedances of transmitter output leads, comparator offset, and other factors that may affect the accuracy and function of the detection circuitry and methods. A further challenge is posed by low power supply levels, such as 1.2V supplies, which limit the voltage range useable for receiver detection.
Receiver detection circuitry and methods that are less sensitive to variations in transmitter, link, and receiver characteristics, may improve the accuracy of receiver detection.

Method and apparatus for detection of devices on a transmission link


Electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to incorporate image information into an EPG generated at a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives an image associated with a program, processes the received image into a rich media EPG image, receives program presentation schedule information that specifies a presentation schedule of a plurality of programs, wherein the program is one of the plurality of programs scheduled for presentation, associates an identifier with the rich media EPG image and the program, and generates a rich media EPG schedule based upon the received program presentation schedule information and the identifier.

Electronic program guides (EPGs) are commonly used to present programming viewing choices that may be selected by a viewer of a media device, such as a television or the like. Supplemental information, such as images, may also be presented on the EPG. However, communicating such image data, even in reduced size, significantly increases the amount of time and/or bandwidth for the media device to acquire the EPG information. Accordingly, there is a need to provide improved communication methods and image data management methods for images that are integrated into an EPG.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus, systems and methods for rich media electronic program guides


A method of producing a functional device comprising an electrode layer provided as an upper layer of a layer containing an organic material, the layer being as a functional layer, wherein a step of patterning the electrode layer comprises a high speed etching step of etching the electrode layer at a rate of 10 nm/min or more.

This application is based on Japanese patent application JP 2004-209902, filed on Jul. 16, 2004, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference, the same as if set forth at length.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a functional device and a method for the production thereof and a solid-state image pickup device and a method for the production thereof and more particularly to a photoelectric conversion element comprising a photoelectric conversion layer containing an organic material and a light-transmitting electrode stacked on the photoelectric conversion layer and a solid-state image pickup device comprising such a photoelectric conversion element and a method for the production thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prototype device of a photoelectric conversion layer stacked type solid-state image pickup device is, for example, one described in JP-A-58-103165. This solid-state image pickup device is constructed such that three layers of photosensitive layers are stacked on a semiconductor substrate; and respective red (R), green (G) and blue (B) electric signals as detected in the respective photosensitive layers are read out by a MOS circuit formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Though the solid-state image pickup device having such a construction was proposed in the past, a CCD type image sensor and a CMOS type image sensor in which a number of light receiving parts (photodiodes) are integrated in a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate and respective red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color filters are stacked on the respective light receiving parts have extremely progressed. At present, an image sensor having several millions light receiving parts (pixels) integrated on one chip has been mounted in a digital still camera.
However, with respect to the CCD type image sensor or CMOS type image sensor, the technical progress reaches the vicinity to limits, and the size of the light receiving region (opening) of one light receiving part is about 2 μm and becomes closed to the order of a wavelength of incident light, resulting in facing a problem that the production yield is poor.
Further, an upper limit of the quantity of photoelectric charges to be accumulated in one miniaturized light receiving part is low as about 3,000 in terms of the number of electrons, so that it becomes difficult to express 256 gradations. For this reason, it is difficult to expect to realize more properties in the image quality and sensitivity by the related art CCD type or CMOS type image sensors.
Then, as a solid-state image pickup device for solving these problems, the structure of the solid-state image pickup device as proposed in JP-A-58-103165 is given a second look, and image sensors as described in Japanese Patent No. 3,405,099 and JP-A-2002-83946 are newly proposed.
The image sensor as described in Japanese Patent No. 3,405,099 is constructed such that an ultra-fine particle of silicon is dispersed in a medium to form a photoelectric conversion layer; three layers of plural photoelectric conversion layers having a varied particle size of the ultra-fine particle are stacked on a semiconductor substrate; and electric signals are generated in the respective photoelectric conversion layers corresponding to the respective light receiving quantities of red, green and blue colors.
This applies also to the image sensor disclosed in JP-A-2002-83946. This image sensor comprises three nanosilicon layers composed of particles having different particle diameters stacked on a semiconductor substrate. This image sensor is arranged such that red, green and blue electric signals detected by the respective nanosilicon layer are read out by storage diodes formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
In order to stack a photoelectric conversion layer having such a configuration on a semiconductor substrate, two light-transmitting electrodes are stacked with the respective photoelectric conversion layer provided interposed therebetween. This light-transmitting electrode may need to be patterned as necessary. As ordinary methods of patterning a light-transmitting electrode there have been proposed methods disclosed in JP-A-2000-150466 and JP-A-2000-150467.
For the sake of putting a photoelectric conversion layer stacked type solid-state image pickup device into practical use, it is necessary to solve a problem on what materials are to be used for forming a photoelectric conversion layer. In the related art technologies as described in Japanese Patent No. 3,405,099 and JP-A-2002-83946, the photoelectric conversion layer is made of an ultra-fine particle of silicon or constructed of a nano-silicon layer. However, more actually, it may be said to be preferable that the photoelectric conversion layer is made of an existing material, for example, an organic material such as organic semiconductors.
However, there arises a problem that when a photoelectric conversion layer containing an organic material and a light-transmitting electrode are stacked on a semiconductor substrate and the light-transmitting electrode is then subjected to patterning according to the method disclosed in JP-A-2000-150466 and JP-A-2000-150467, the resulting photoelectric conversion layer exhibits deteriorated photoelectric conversion characteristics, making it impossible to take images having a high resolution.

Functional device and method for producing the same, and image pickup device and method for producing the same


An image memory used for processing signals from a camera can be released within a short period of time. Specifically, when all of the image data are transmitted to a buffer memory, a control circuit in a camera relinquishes processing control of an imaging circuit, an encode buffer memory, a frame memory, an image codec and an IC card interface circuit, so that these sections are released when the communication circuit initiates communication with the exterior.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image input apparatus that can transmit input images, a control method therefore, and a storage medium on which a control program for the image input apparatus is stored.
2. Related Background Art
A conventional digital camera merely records image signals, obtained by a photographing operation, on a storage medium appropriate for the camera being used. Recently, however, not only are digital image data being compressed and recorded internally by cameras, but as needed, image data are transmitted externally by using communication means incorporated in the cameras. Furthermore, in addition to communication means being installed, provision has been made for the mounting in cameras of communication cards, similar in shape to memory cards, that permit the implementation of modem and various other communication functions.
An example of this type of camera has already been disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 9-83930.
However, in this prior art, when an image recorded by a digital camera is to be transmitted externally using communication means provided by an added media card or permanently installed in the camera, the communication means reads the image directly from internal memory. Therefore, if the communication means, such as a modem or a radio transmitter, has a low transmission speed, an extended time is required to retrieve and transmit images stored in the camera memory, and during the transmission process, no new images can be added since the performance of the photographing process is inhibited.
In addition, when the transmission of image data must be repeated because the connection to a communication line is lost or the quality of the transmission afforded by the line is deteriorated, the image data must be retransmitted, from the beginning, and all other camera operations are inhibited until the retransmission has been completed. Further, the electricity required for the transmission of the same data is simply wasted.

Image input apparatus that can transmit input image


A valve includes an actuation assembly including a drive device that generates a driving force, a needle shaft connected, at one end thereof, to the drive device to receive the driving force from the drive device and perform linear motion, a needle nut that is coupled to the drive device and that has an empty space through which the needle shaft passes, so as to guide the linear motion of the needle shaft, and a valve disc coupled to an opposite end of the needle shaft, a body is coupled with the actuation assembly and that has a valve opening inside, the valve opening being selectively opened or closed as the valve disc, which is inserted into the body in which water flows, performs linear motion, and a clip that fixes the body and the actuation assembly such that the body and the actuation assembly are not separated from each other.

A valve for water flow control is a component disposed to control water flow in a water-heating device such as a boiler. The water flow control valve may regulate the flow rate of water flowing therein, by making a physical change in response to an electrical control signal.
The valve may be implemented by a coupling of various components, rather than being integrally formed. The components need to be firmly coupled to maintain water tightness of the valve because water flows through the valve.
However, counterpart objects may be coupled to the valve at right angles, or the valve and the counterpart objects may be densely disposed in the narrow water-heating device, and therefore when the inside of the valve has to be checked for inspection or management of the valve, the valve may not be easily assembled or disassembled due to a deficiency in space in the water-heating device and interference by other fixed components.
Meanwhile, the water flow control valve, which regulates the flow rate of water to meet a hot-water temperature set in the water-heating device, has to be able to approximately linearly control water flow for predictable control. In a case where a flow-rate change is nonlinear, flow rates have to be measured for changes of various conditions, such a differential-pressure change, a valve angle change, and the like, and thereafter have to be reflected in control logic. In contrast, in a case where a flow-rate change is linear, the number of conditions required for design of control logic and the number of flow-rate data may be significantly reduced.


A method of projecting a template on a workpiece provides a measurement system for determining a location of a workpiece and a laser projector for projecting a laser template. A feature on the workpiece having geometric significance is identified. A physical location of the feature in a three dimensional coordinate system is determined and compared to a theoretical location of the feature on computer model of the workpiece. A template correlated to the feature is selected. The projection of the template onto the workpiece relative to the feature is optimized by correlating alignment of the physical location of the feature with the computer model of the feature. The template is projected onto the workpiece based upon the optimized projection for directing work to be performed on the workpiece.

Improvements in the dimensional accuracy of a manufacturing process are an objective of every manufacturing facility. Statistical quality control has made use of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) with a focus on various datums or relevant features of a workpiece. Rather than attempting to achieve dimensional accuracy of an entire workpiece, statistical quality control now focuses primarily on dimensional accuracy of various datums and relevant features of a workpiece.
Many large workpieces, such as, for example, components of heavy manufacturing equipment, require manual operations to assemble and apply various elements to the workpiece. Presently, most manufacturing facilities make use of physical templates to direct an operator to the location of the workpiece requiring a manufacturing operation be performed. However, physical templates fail to accurately locate multiple datums or relevant features on a workpiece when more than one surface or feature of the workpiece does not accurately reflect a computer model of the workpiece from which a physical template has been designed.
Furthermore, physical templates for use with large workpieces are large, cumbersome and heavy making the templates difficult, and sometimes dangerous, to move into and out of a manufacturing workspace. Still further, physical templates must be replaced or reworked when a workpiece has been modified or redesigned. This is expensive, time consuming, and known to cause delays when implementing new product designs.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method of locating a template upon a workpiece that is not geometrically accurate relative to a computer model of the workpiece and aligning the template with relevant features or datums corresponding to a GD&T plan for manufacturing the workpiece.

Laser projection system using variable part alignment


An inking arrangement for printing presses comprises an ink fountain member having at least one fountain-forming face for forming an ink fountain, an ink fountain roller defining an ink channel together with the fountain member and having an outer peripheral surface to be inked through the channel, a plurality of rollers for supplying the ink applied to the peripheral surface of the fountain roller to a printing portion, and a cleaning tank disposed below the fountain member. The cleaning tank is provided with a cleaning blade at least alternatively shiftable to a cleaning position in which the blade is pressed against the peripheral surface of the fountain roller, or to a stand-by position in which the blade is away from the fountain roller. The ink applied to the peripheral surface of the fountain roller through the channel is scraped off by the blade in the cleaning position and collected in the tank.

The present invention relates to inking arrangements for printing presses.
Usual printing presses have an ink fountain roller disposed close to an ink fountain member forming an ink fountain, from which ink is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the fountain roller, then transferred by a vibrating roller to an ink distributing roller and further supplied to the printing surface via a plurality of other ink distributing rollers.
The ink fountain member, which is usually in the form of a plate, and the fountain roller define an ink channel, through which the ink in the fountain is applied to the otuer peripheral surface of the fountain roller.
With the printing press described, the kind of ink to be used is changed depending on the print to be made. In such a case, completion of the preceding printing operation is followed by a procedure for replacing the ink within the fountain by the one to be used for the subsequent printing operation. This replacement procedure includes collection of the old ink from inside the fountain and cleaning of the fountain member and the rollers.
With the conventional printing press, the vibrating roller and the ink distributing rollers are automatically cleaned by so-called inker cleaning, whereas the fountain roller and the fountain member are difficult to clean automatically and are therefore cleaned manually in the following manner. After the preceding printing operation has been completed, the old ink remaining in the fountain is removed by manual work with the fountain roller at rest, and the portions of the fountain roller and the fountain member in contact with the ink are manually cleaned. Accordingly, the old ink is cumbersome to collect, and the fountain member and the fountain roller need to be cleaned by hand, necessitating similarly cumbersome work. Since it is only after these components have been cleaned that new ink can be placed into the fountain, the replacement is a time-consuming procedure and requires a long period of time before starting the next printing operation.
There are also cases wherein the size (width) of the ink channel is altered depending on the print to be produced by the printing machine. In such a case, the size of the ink channel is adjusted conventionally by varying the position or angle of the fountain member, but the adjustment is also cumbersome.
Furthermore it is desired with the printing press to adjust the width of the ink fountain in accordance with the width of the printing surface, whereas this is generally difficult.


A method for pre-filling a hemodialysis apparatus includes providing a hemodialysis apparatus comprising a pre-filling liquid source which supplies a pre-filling liquid, a dialyzer, a dialysate side, a blood side. The dialysate side comprises a dialysate chamber, a dialysate pump to pump the pre-filling liquid to the dialysate chamber, and a waste pump to pump the pre-filling liquid away from the dialysate chamber. The blood side comprises an arterial line, a blood pump, a blood chamber of the dialyzer, and a venous line. A pressure sensor is arranged on the dialysate side or on the blood side. The arterial line and the venous line are pre-filled with the pre-filling liquid via the dialysate pump. A blood-side fluid pressure is continuously determined via the pressure sensor during the pre-filling. The pre-filling is stopped when the blood-side fluid pressure determined by the pressure sensor exceeds or falls below a defined limit pressure.

A hemodialysis apparatus comprises a dialysate side and a blood side. The dialysate side includes a dialysate source supplying the dialysate, either in the form of dialysate water mixed with additives by the hemodialysis apparatus or in the form of a dialysis supply. The dialysate chamber of a dialyzer with a membrane and a dialysate pump pumping the dialysate from the dialysate source to the dialysate chamber are further included on the dialysate side. Finally, a waste pump is provided on the dialysate side between the dialysate chamber and a waste tank or a waste discharge. The blood side includes the blood chamber of the dialyzer as well as a venous line and an arterial line which are connected to a respective one of the two ends of the dialyzer blood chamber.
A pre-filling liquid source is further provided which supplies the pre-filling liquid for pre-filling the venous and arterial lines. The pre-filling liquid source can be formed by the dialysate source, but may basically also be a separate pre-filling liquid source, for example, a bag containing a saline solution.
Prior to applying the venous and arterial lines or the respective cannulas to a patient, the two blood-side lines are pre-filled with pre-filling liquid, as is described, for example, in DE 196 55 224 B4. The introduction of the pre-filling liquid can be supported by a pump, for example, by the dialysate pump, which generally is configured as a displacement pump in the form of a peristaltic hose pump. There is therefore an inherent risk that, during the pre-filling, the fluid pressure in the venous and/or the arterial line increases to an extent, for example, because of a kinked line, that unallowable overpressures occur or the relevant line can be damaged and thereby become leaky. If the leak initially goes unnoticed, the effort in preparing the dialysis can increase substantially.

Method for pre-filling a hemodialysis apparatus


There is provided an indoor/outdoor tabletop grill appliance which uses quartz halogen tubes as radiant heating elements to provide cooking functionality combined with the aesthetics of the outdoor grilling experience. The invention provides the advantage of various forms of cooking that also speed up the cooking process: direct heat on the food item from the quartz halogen tubes, heat reflected back from the inner surfaces of the grilling chamber and onto the food item, convection heat directed about the food item due to the grilling chamber configuration and directed heat from the slotted platen this in contact with the food item received from the halogen tubes.

The invention described herein relates generally to table top grills for indoor or outdoor use.
Various types of cooking apparatus are known including barbeques, and gas and electric tabletop grilling appliances. Some indoor tabletop grills have a natural gas burner or electric heating element positioned under a grilling sheet. In some models, an exhaust system is provided adjacent (e.g., above or behind the grill) to exhaust the combustion gasses and smoke emanating from foods being cooked. These indoor barbeques or tabletop grilling appliances have several disadvantages including a connection to a pressurized propane tank or canister; a noisy exhaust system that may be needed to vent out the smoke; difficulty in accurately controlling electric heating elements when it comes to cooking temperature; and weight and lack of portability for some models.
Existing tabletop models use electric resistance heating placed under a platen or a corrugated cooking surface which makes it difficult to clean since other food particles and grease may collect while the food item is cooking. Such cooking appliances attempt to simulate the taste and look of barbequed food but have not been very successful. There is a need for a tabletop cooking grill appliance that addresses the shortcomings of the market.


An arrowhead for a target and hunting arrow that includes a plurality of pivoting sharpened blades having actuating tips that move from a closed folded position to an open and extended position as the arrowhead penetrates the target or game. The blades increase the cutting action of the arrowhead and prevent the arrowhead from passing through the target or game. Each blade can be of the same geometrical configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to projectiles, such as arrows usable with large game bows, having heads with a plurality of expandable blades.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional arrows have arrowheads with one or more fixed blades. The cutting ability of these arrows is limited, which often results in a superficial wound or a wound causing the hunted game to slowly bleed to death or suffer. Also, conventional arrows have a tendency to pass through the game or other target without expending all their kinetic energy, resulting in lost arrows and lost game. The term "game" refers to wild animals, fowl and fish.
Advancements in bow technology and the introduction of graphite or carbon fiber arrows have dramatically increased the speed at which it is possible to deliver an arrow. Conventional arrowheads with protruding blades become inaccurate at these higher speeds because of the effects of air on the exposed blades. This leads to inaccurate placement of the arrow and an increase in unrecovered and wounded animals. In an effort to make these "winged" arrowheads more accurate at higher speed, manufacturers have been reducing the cutting diameter of the average conventional broadhead. This has resulted in a greater percentage of arrows that pass through game completely and continue on for some distance. The result is that a lot of the additional potential cutting energy generated by the new high performance bows is not efficiently utilized for cutting. There is a need for an arrowhead that flies accurately at high speed yet delivers at the same time a large cutting diameter to dispatch game cleanly and quickly and take advantage of the increased energy of today's bows.
Prior hunting arrowheads have been provided with deployable blades. For example, the Pucketts Bloodtrailer U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,063 and the Delucia U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,443 describe arrowheads which are deployed by engagement of a plunger mechanism. These heads do not penetrate game well because of the mechanics of blade opening and the necessary blunt profile of the plunger tip and the accommodating bodies. They are structurally weaker because of the hollow body design. A further objection to these heads is that they don't provide any additionally cut size relative to conventional broadheads. Necessary lightweight construction requires that most hunting arrowheads are made of aluminum material, which is malleable. The blades on these designs use the body of the arrowhead as a stop, but the blades readily cut through the malleable aluminum of the arrowhead body on impact with something hard such as bone. This leads to malfunction of the arrowhead on game and more lost game, and it renders the arrowhead useless.
Prior arrowheads have been provided, with movable cutting blade structure that cooperates with one or more fixed blades to cut game or a target. For example, B. H. Steinbacher, U.S. Pat. No. 2,568,417, discloses an arrowhead assembly having fixed blades and a pair of pivoting blades located between the fixed blades. The pivoting blades move in a rearward direction to an open position when the arrowhead enters the game or target. Additional hunting arrows having expandable cutting blades are shown by E. P. Cox in U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,657 and R. S. Vocal in U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,529.
Another representative patent is by Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,709, issued on Feb. 25, 1992, entitled "Arrowhead With Extendable Blades," the same inventor as this patent application.
The present invention also enhances the Johnson '709 patent. What is provided is an aerodynamically designed retractable-blade arrowhead with offset blades and a sturdier backstop made of steel or like material that does not significantly increase the overall weight of the arrowhead, and that is, further, replaceable so that the arrowhead may be reusable. A backstop that will stop rearward movement of the blades even when striking the toughest bones is provided to prevent the blades from pivoting past the desired stopping points so that the cutting diameter does not become reduced.
All other deployable-blade arrowheads have blades held in slots that form a plane that contains the centerline of the arrowhead. In this configuration the slot depth is limited by the center axis of the arrowhead and it is not possible to contain three or more blades generally within the arrowhead body (at the same distance back from the tip) without significantly increasing the arrowhead width or excessive structural weakening. Arrowheads with stationary offset blades are described in Kosbab, U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,330, but there is no known deployable-blade arrowhead with blades held in slots which are offset relative to the central axis of the arrowhead.
This design feature of the present invention allows sufficient slot depth to accommodate as many as six blades generally within the arrowhead body without excessively compromising its strength. Furthermore, it causes the arrowhead to twistingly penetrate game, and with a spinning arrow, drag and turbulence from exposed blade portions is reduced and blade opening is quickened. The arrow rotation during flight is enhanced due to air flow over the shaft body imparting forces upon the exposed portions of the blade and triangular actuating tip.


A method and system for monitoring the quality of a phosphate coating on a metal surface having a large surface area. The method comprises applying a current or potential between the metal surface and one or more counter electrodes while they are in the phosphating solution and superimposing a constant ac signal thereon. An ac impedance spectra is obtained by measuring the ac potential between the metal substrate and one or more reference electrodes located between the counter electrode and the substrate. The ac impedance spectra provide an indication of defects in the phosphate coating even when the defects are located within a relatively small region of the total surface area of the metal surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the phosphating of metal surfaces having large areas wherein a layer of insoluble metal phosphate crystals is applied to the metal surface. More particularly, the present invention involves a non-intrusive method for monitoring and measuring the quality of such phosphate coatings during the phosphating process.
2. Description of Related Art
The treatment of metal surfaces to provide a coating of insoluble metal phosphate crystals is known as phosphating. The phosphate crystals strongly adhere to the metal surface and provide corrosion resistance and protection. Phosphate coatings are commonly used on metals as an excellent base for lacquer and paint finishes. Phosphating is commonly used in the automotive and appliance industries to provide both a paint base and corrosion resistance to metal surfaces prior to painting. Phosphating has also been used commonly in a wide variety of other industries to protect zinc, aluminum, cadmium, magnesium and their alloys.
The phosphating process usually involves dipping the metal surface into a tank containing a phosphating solution. Phosphating processes based on spraying the metal surface with phosphating solution are also commonly used. In order for the phosphate coating to provide desired corrosion resistance, it is important that the entire metal surface be covered with a uniform and unbroken layer of phosphate. Further, it is important that the quality of the phosphate coating be such that the phosphate crystals strongly adhere to the base metal and also provide a suitable surface finish to which lacquers and paints will bond.
Monitoring the quality of the phosphate coating presents many problems. These problems become especially critical when large metallic surfaces, such as car bodies and appliances, are inspected for the quality of phosphate coating. Phosphate quality is frequently not uniform over large manufactured metal surfaces. This lack of uniformity can be caused by many factors unrelated to the chemistry of the phosphate bath. Some of these factors are: non-uniform surface properties of the metal itself, non-uniform retention of drawing compounds over formed metal bodies, oil seepages from welded seams, non-uniform removal of heat scale, non-uniform cleaning of the metal, etc.
Because of the diverse causes and localized nature of problems associated with coating quality, the quality of the coating cannot be assessed by sample coupons. Non-destructive on-line quality monitoring is desirable. However, non-destructive methods such as X-ray fluorescence used on-line do not monitor the entire metal body and cannot therefore identify the location of smaller, localized quality defects on large surfaces.
Three important physical criteria of phosphate quality are coating weight, coating crystal size (or the relationship of crystal size and porosity) and coating composition (as exemplified in the technical literature by p-ratio). It would be desirable to provide a method and system for accurately monitoring the quality of phosphate coatings of large, complex industrial metal shapes and connected parts which is on-line, can detect and identify the location of localized defects as well as overall quality, and can measure coating weight, coating porosity or crystal size, and coating composition. Such an on-line monitoring method would eliminate many of the disadvantages associated with the present techniques.

Method and system for monitoring quality of phosphate coating


A fuel injection valve includes a valve needle passing through the valve opening to the valve closing body arranged on the spray outlet end. A closing spring prestresses the valve needle in a direction opposite its opening direction aimed in the direction of spraying, so that the valve closing body is in contact with the valve seat on the spray outlet end when the fuel injection valve is closed. The armature is kept engaged and in contact with the valve needle by means of a bearing spring which acts in the direction of opening by means of a connecting piece arranged between the armature and the valve needle. The connecting piece includes a suitable insulation element for providing insulation against high voltage.

European Patent Application No. 0 661 446 descibes a fuel injection valve with an integrated spark plug for direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and igniting the fuel injected into the combustion chamber. The fuel injection valve includes a valve body having a valve opening surrounded by a valve seat on the spray outlet end and sealed by a valve closing body when the solenoid is not energized, the closing body being is arranged on a valve needle extending through the interior of the valve body. The valve needle can be operated electromagnetically by means of a solenoid acting on an armature to open the fuel injection valve. The valve seat and the valve closing body are arranged on the inside of the valve opening on the inlet end, and the valve body is shaped on the spray outlet end into a central starting electrode surrounded by a pot-type counter-electrode. High voltage is supplied from the end of the fuel injection valve opposite the spray outlet end to the central starting electrode over the valve body, the valve needle and an axial extension which is connected to the valve needle over a restoring spring. The armature surrounds the inlet end of the valve needle in a ring and is insulated from the valve needle by an insulation body. Fuel is delivered through an outer ring channel opening into the inlet end of the valve body.
A disadvantage of this conventional fuel injection valve with an integrated spark plug is that the insulation body arranged between the armature and the valve body is exposed to tensile stress when the fuel injection valve is opened, and therefore a corresponding form-fitting connection between the armature and the insulation body on the one hand and the insulation body and the valve needle on the other hand must be provided.
Furthermore, the insulation body has a relatively complex shape in order to surround the valve needle and the restoring spring on all sides outside the valve body to insulate them. Since ceramic materials, which are relatively brittle and therefore are difficult to process, are generally used for high-voltage insulation, it is relatively expensive to produce the relatively complex shape of the insulation body provided between the armature and the valve needle and the other insulation body needed for high-voltage insulation. Furthermore, ceramic materials have a tendency to show premature fatigue when exposed to tensile stress for extended periods.
Another fuel injection valve with an integrated spark plug is described in European Patent Application No. 0 632 198. With this conventional fuel injection valve, electric insulation is not provided between the valve needle and the armature connected to the valve needle or between the armature and a magnet core that is opposite the armature and can be energized by a solenoid. Instead, an insulation body arranged between the valve body and the casing is lengthened so that it surrounds the magnet core radially toward the solenoid and thus prevents a high-voltage sparkover to the solenoid. However, this design does not permit the development of a closed magnetic flux circuit of ferromagnetic material. Therefore, relatively high solenoid currents are needed to operate the fuel injection valve to adequately magnetize the magnet core passing through the solenoid.

Fuel injection valve with integrated spark plug


A helmet 1 with a visor formed by integrally joining the preliminarily injection-molded visor 5 to a cap body 3, wherein an opening end edge 9 formed on the cap body is joined to the outer side of a joining wall 17 formed on the visor 5, and the joining wall 17 is held by the opening end edge 9 and a tongue-shaped part 31 formed on the inside of the cap body 3. The joined faces of the visor 5 and the cap body 3 are joined to each other by fusing, an intruding engagement part intruded in a through hole 22 formed in the joining wall 17 is formed at the opening end edge of the cap body 3, and the joining portion of the visor and the cap body is formed in annular shapes.

For a helmet with a visor used as a safety cap at, e.g., a building site, a civil engineering construction site, or the like, to widen an upper visual field, a helmet with a transparent visor has been proposed (e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 298469: see Patent Document 1).
In the helmet 100 with a visor disclosed in the Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 11, a transparent visor 102 is integrally joined to a front bottom of a cap body 101. To increase strength of a joining portion of the cap body 101 and the visor 102, a plurality of engagement pieces 103 are formed in the joining portion of the visor 102, and a locking part 104 which is a notched part is formed between the engagement pieces 103. Further, thin outer edges 106 are formed in outer peripheries of both ends 105 of the visor 102.
For joining of the cap body 101 and the visor 102, first, the visor 102 is inserted to be set in an injection mold for injection-molding the cap body 101. Then, when the cap body 101 is injection-molded, the cap body 101 and the visor 102 are integrally joined to each other.
As described above, when the cap body 101 and the visor 102 are integrated, in the cap body 101, projections 107 are formed to sandwich both ends 105 of the visor 102 from upper and lower sides.
For the safety cap (helmet), for example, polycarbonate is used as a material because of its high mechanical strength and high heat resistance. Conventionally, the visor and the cap body have integrally been injection-molded. When the visor is configured to be transparent and the cap body is configured to be opaque, as described in the Patent Document 1, after the visor is preliminarily injection-molded, this visor is inserted to be set in the injection mold for injection-molding the cap body. Then, when the cap body is injection-molded, the visor and the cap body are integrally joined to each other.
In the injection molding, a fused resin is injected for molding in a cavity of the injection mold. In this case, when flowing front ends of the resin divided in the cavity merge with each other again, a resin temperature is lowered to inhibit complete integration. Thus, a thin weld line (weld mark) is formed. As can be understood from this, a temperature of the flowing front end of the resin in the cavity is low.
The visor of the helmet as the safety cap is thin, and the injection-molded cap body is also thin. Accordingly, even when the front end of the flowing resin during the injection-molding of the cap body comes into contact with a joining surface of the ends of the visor set as an insert in the mold, it is difficult to integrally and firmly joint the visor and the cap body to each other by sufficiently fusing the joining surface of the visor.
According to the Patent Document 1, the locking part of the notched shape is formed between the engagement pieces of the visor, and a locking hole is formed in the engagement piece. When the cap body is injection-molded, by setting a fitted state where the engagement piece of the visor is buried in the resin of the cap body or the resin of the cap body is intruded into the locking part/locking hole, the visor and the cap body are mechanically integrated.
Thus, the conventional configuration has problems as follows. That is, when there is a tendency that an external force is applied to the visor to concentrate stress in the joining portion of the visor and the cap body thereby causing deformation, the visor is easily peeled off from the cap body. As it is necessary in configuration to form the locking part, the locking hole or the like in the mold for injection-molding the visor, the configuration of the mold becomes complex.


A machine axle housing includes a central body having an oil reservoir and a pair of axle legs. The central body includes a ring gear, an oil channel, and oil port for conveying oil through an oil conduit to each leg. Machine brakes within the central body include at least one disc rotatably adapted to centrifugally move oil radially outwardly of the brakes. A second oil channel collects oil from the disc, and a passageway extends from the second oil channel back to the central body to return oil from the legs back to the central body. The ring gear, first oil channel and first oil conduit define a first oil lubrication sub-system for moving oil from the central body to right and left legs, and the disc, second oil channel, and passageway define a second oil lubrication sub-system for moving oil from the legs back to the central body.

Axle housings of machines used in earth moving, construction, material handling, mining, and the like, are partially filled with oil for lubricating meshing gears and bearings contained in the housings. It is desirable to have a film of oil between meshing gear teeth in order to avoid degradation due to friction and resultant heat that can occur in contact areas of the teeth. Among other things, excessive heat may induce micro-welding between surfaces of the gear teeth which can lead to premature structural failure of the teeth.
Each axle housing typically contains a beveled toothed gear set such as a ring gear and a pinion gear. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the teeth of the pinion gear mesh with the teeth of the ring gear, and that an output shaft of the transmission of a machine typically powers rotation of the pinion gear. The rotating pinion gear drives the ring gear and transfers power, through the rotating ring gear and differential case, to the wheels of the machine. The gear ratio of the pinion gear to the ring gear typically creates a reduction of the input speed from the transmission and an increase in torque applied to the wheels of the machine.
Generally, the axle housing is filled with enough oil to ensure that gear teeth, including those of the ring and pinion gears, are lubricated. Thus, a larger gear disposed generally vertically within the axle housing (such as the ring gear), which may require a lower fill level of oil in the axle housing, has to rotate through a much deeper oil fill level in order to ensure that other gears (for example, those with smaller diameters and/or those positioned horizontally) as well as the bearings are adequately lubricated by so-called "splash and spray oil". As such, the oil flow around a large gear, such as the ring gear, is often rendered undesirably turbulent due to depth of oil in which the gear must rotate. The input power required to overcome resistance of the oil to movement of the gear(s) may be referred to as "churning loss" or "parasitic loss." A churning loss is associated with increased fuel usage as more input power must be applied to compensate for the churning loss.
In addition, the axle housing must be filled with enough oil to lubricate componentry disposed in either end of the axle housing, and particularly within the legs of the axle housing. When, for example, the machine is operating on an incline, the oil in the axle housing tends to flow downhill toward the axle housing leg that is lowest on the incline. This flow pattern may in some instances increase the churning of the oil, or may decrease availability of oil for lubrication of componentry disposed in an opposite leg housing positioned higher on the incline. Neither has a beneficial outcome.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,712 to Dewald, et al., issued Feb. 12, 2002 is an example of prior art related to oil associated with differential axle drives. Dewald et al. discloses a lubrication arrangement in which brake lubricating oil is split into bifurcated cooling channels which flow in two different directions, one outwardly toward the wheels, and the other inwardly toward the differential case. Disadvantageously, the approach of Dewald et al. does not lend itself to an integrated oil circulation system within an axle housing. A better design might more effectively return the oil to the central body of an axle housing, to better establish predetermined desirable flows of oil throughout the entire axle housing. Thus, among other things, a unidirectional return oil passageway might improve oil flow from the inclined end of the axle housing when the axle housing is tilted, such as when on a hill by way of example. Because of the nature of hydrostatic forces, an enhanced return flow from the inclined end can actually facilitate an enhanced supply of oil to the inclined end.

Machine axle housing with integrated oil circulation system


A circuit may include a phase detector circuit, a charge pump circuit, a delay circuit, and a multiplexer circuit. The phase detector circuit may be configured to output a comparison signal based on a comparison of a phase of an inversion of a first clock signal and a phase of a multiplexer signal. The charge pump may be configured to integrate the comparison signal and to output a control voltage based on the integration of the comparison signal. The delay circuit may be configured to receive a second clock signal, to delay the second clock signal based on the control voltage, and to output the delayed second clock signal. The second clock signal may be a divided version of the first clock signal. The multiplexer circuit may be configured to output the multiplexer signal based on the delayed second clock signal.

Data serializers may be commonly found in various electronic devices. The function of a data serializer is to convert parallel data into a corresponding stream of serial data. Data serializers are sometimes used in integrated circuit devices where data may be coupled to or from an electronic device at a significantly faster rate than the data may be processed within the device. For example, in integrated memory devices, data may be coupled to or from a memory device at a rate that may be significantly faster than the rate at which the data may be serially processed in the memory device. In these cases, for example, read data may be provided by an array of memory cells in the memory device as a large number of parallel digits (e.g., bits), which are converted to a corresponding stream of serial data and output through a serial data port.
Although the design parameters of serializers may vary for different applications, two design parameters that may be considered for serializers are power consumption and operating speed. Operating speed may be important to allow read data to be transmitted from a memory device with a high data bandwidth. Low power consumption may be important in various applications, such as where a serializer is used in a battery-powered electronic system, such as a laptop computer, tablet, or other mobile device.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.