A redundant and fail-safe blade system of a wind turbine includes at least one blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) and at least two power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′) for controlling the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22). The power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′) are connected to the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) by a switching unit (10) which allows an alternative connection between the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) and any of the power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′). In operation, the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) is controlled by only one of the power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′). If a malfunction of the currently operating power control module (60, 61, 62, 6′) is detected, switching unit (10) provides a connection to the other power control module (60, 61, 62, 6′) to allow an ongoing operation of the wind turbine without an unplanned or forced shut-down.

Wind turbines are commonly used to convert kinetic energy of an air stream into electric energy. An essential part of a wind turbine is the rotor with its rotor blades, which captures the kinetic energy and converts it into rotational energy. The efficiency of uptake of kinetic energy mainly depends on the aerodynamic profile and the pitch angle of the rotor blades. In order to adjust the pitch angle, the rotor blades, which are rotatably mounted to the rotor's hub by a pitch bearing, can be rotated around their longitudinal axis by using a pitch drive.
At very high wind speeds, the power captured from the wind by the rotor may exceed the limits set by the wind turbine's structural strength. Additionally, the generator's allowable maximum power constitutes a limit for the rotor's output power. Further, varying wind speed leads to a non-uniform rotation of the rotor and thereby creating additional non-uniform load. It is therefore a desire to constantly control power capture of the rotor and to maintain the rotor at uniform rotational speed. By far the most effective way is mechanical adjustment of the rotor blades pitch angle. In general, the rotor blades are turned with the aid of actively controlled pitch drives. Typically, each rotor blade has its own pitch drive to allow an individual adjustment of the pitch angle. Consequently, for controlling the pitch drives, a separate power control module is assigned to each pitch drive.
The set-up of a blade pitch control system outlined so far allows an instant reaction to varying wind conditions even during a gust of wind. The proper functioning of the blade pitch control system is essential for safe operation of a wind turbine. It is therefore a desire to ensure a constant and reliable control.

Redundant blade pitch control system for a wind turbine and method for controlling a wind turbine


In the video signals provided by broadcasting media, advertising sections are inserted between normal programs, thus causing interruption. An end portion of the normal program will be repeated before an advertising section ends. The invention determines the continuity of two adjacent frames, to search for frame discontinuity to find out if there is a frame similar to a next given frame. If a similar frame is found to have an advertising frame, an advertisement is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and related system for detecting advertisements in video signals, more particularly, to a method and related system for high efficiency advertising detection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In modern society, one of the main information sources is audio and visual programming provided by either cable or public television broadcasting media. Viewers can obtain news, knowledge, information, or even entertainment programs from the service provided. Because of commercial considerations, broadcasting media usually has advertisements inserted in between programs. Viewers have to suffer with these advertisements when they disrupt normal viewing of programs and waste the viewers' time. If a viewer wants to record a normal program for future viewing, these advertisements will use up the recording medium and hence the viewer is not able to search, manage and retrieve information easily from the recording medium. Current technology lacks of a method and related system for detecting advertisements.

Method and related system for high efficiency advertising detection


The present invention provides a control apparatus including a feed-forward controller configured to perform feed-forward control of a controlled object, the apparatus being configured to obtain a first response data sequence of the controlled object measured by applying a first manipulated variable to the controlled object, and determining, assuming that a second response data sequence of the controlled object to be obtained if a second manipulated variable data sequence, obtained by respectively multiplying the first manipulated variable by gains as variables which can vary with time, is applied to the controlled object, is expressed as a linear combination of the first response data sequence with the gains as coefficients of the liner combination, the gains so that a discrepancy between the second response data sequence and a target data sequence falls within a tolerance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus, a lithography apparatus, and a method of manufacturing an article.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a typical 2-degrees-of-freedom control system. Referring to FIG. 24, a transfer function from an input (target value) r to an output (controlled variable) y is given by:
                    y        =                              (                                          KP                                  1                  +                  KP                                            +                              FP                                  1                  +                  KP                                                      )                              r                                    (        1        )            where the first term on the right side is a feedback (FB) term, and the second term on the right side is a feed-forward (FF) term. The difference between the target value r and the controlled variable y is a control error e, and the 2-degrees-of-freedom control system is intended to set the control error e to zero (bring the control error e close to zero).
Referring to equation (1), as is apparent from y=r for F=1/P, when the transfer function (FF gain) of an FF controller is defined as the inverse function of the transfer function (characteristic) of a controlled object, it is possible to attain an ideal target value response (a reduction in control error). In this manner, highly accurate modeling of the controlled object (highly accurate representation of the controlled object using a transfer function and numerical values) determines the performance of the target value response.
In modeling the controlled object, the controlled object is commonly known to be expressed as a polynomial of a Laplace operator s. As long as the controlled object can be accurately expressed as a polynomial of the Laplace operator s, its inverse function can also be expressed as a polynomial of the Laplace operator s, thus allowing optimum FF control. In the field of moving body control, it has been reported that the target value response is improved by FF of the first-order derivative (velocity) and second-order derivative (acceleration) of the target position (further, FF of the third-order derivative (jerk) and fourth-order derivative of the target position). However, it is difficult to express the characteristic of the controlled object as a polynomial of the Laplace operator s with perfect accuracy. Also, although not only a modeling technique which uses a polynomial of the Laplace operator s, but also various modeling techniques have been attempted earlier, the controlled object cannot be modeled with perfect accuracy in any of these modeling techniques, so it is impossible to prevent modeling errors.
A change in characteristic of the controlled object is one factor of the modeling errors. For example, in moving body control for moving a carrier, the characteristic of the controlled object changes depending on both the weight of a load and the state of a road surface. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-237916 proposes a technique of preparing several models to select an appropriate model based on an actual response, instead of exclusively using one model for the controlled object, to cope with such a change in characteristic of the controlled object.
In a control system typified by a 2-degrees-of-freedom control system, the performance of a target value response depends on the accuracy of modeling the controlled object, as described above. Hence, as the performance required for the control system becomes higher, the controlled object needs to be modeled with a higher accuracy, so a considerable load is imposed on the modeling operation. A reduction in modeling error by the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-237916 is constrained by models prepared in advance.

Control apparatus, lithography apparatus, and method of manufacturing article


The disclosure generally describes methods, software, and systems, including a method for using templates to generate application code. A selection of a template is received from an application development user interface. The template includes a declarative model file describing user interface aspects for declaring customization of applications in an implementation-independent, consistent way, independent of the selected template and a target computer. A metadata file includes information describing the template. Plural template files provide specific syntax suitable for code generation. The template is provided in the user interface using at least development environment plugins. Customization inputs associated with the template are received from the user interface. The customization inputs provide parameters used in the code-generation plugins. Application code is automatically generated for a target computer based on the selected template and the received customization inputs. The generated application code includes at least the code generated from the code-generation plugins.

The present disclosure relates to the generation of code.
Application code developers can use manual and/or automatic ways to develop new application code. Automatic ways of developing application code can include, for example, the user of interactive development environments (IDEs) that provide a user interface for aiding in the code-generation process. Different IDEs exist, e.g., that are offered by different vendors.

Declarative design-time experience platform for code generation


A game ball for throwing has a top hemisphere (12) provided with a plurality of apertures (16) which attract air into a hollow spherical shell (10). The bottom hemisphere (14) is of an imperforate nature, and is provided with a plurality of air channels (20) positioned parallel to and subsequently away from an equatorial line (22). When projected along the plane of the equatorial line (22), the ball will deviate from a normal trajectory in the direction of the axis of the bottom hemisphere (26).

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to game balls, specifically to such balls which are adapted to curve.
2. Description of Prior Art
The game of WIFFLE.RTM. ball, which uses the ball described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,776,139 to Blamey and Mullany (1957), has evolved into tournament structured competitions, which attract the better players of the sport. (WIFFLE.RTM. is a trademark of Wiffle Ball, Inc., Shelton, Conn. Wiffleball, although WIFFLE.RTM. ball able to be used in a small playing area, and safe for participants to use, does not produce the desired professional "ball movement" it claims, unless it is physically altered. This is recognized by uninitiated players who attempt to throw a new WIFFLE.RTM. ball "right out of the box".
Professional WIFFLE.RTM. ball pitchers overcome this problem in a variety of ways, the most common of which is to use sandpaper to scuff or scratch the ball. Others have become more exotic in their approach, by also soaking their WIFFLE.RTM. ball in ice water before using them in competition.
This art of doctoring a Wiffleball places unknowledgeable players at a distinct disadvantage. It also dictates that only older balls, often marked, torn, or out of round, will be able to be used effectively. This greatly hinders the development of the sport, and results in a situation of unfair competition.
The WIFFLE.RTM. ball and others such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,919,422 to Ma (1990), 4,871,169 to Autorino et al. (1989), and 4,128,238 to Newcomb et al. (1978), all rely on the principles of "aerodynamic drag" or wind resistance, which at best, produce marginal results.


Provided are a method of detecting a transition area and an apparatus for processing an image using the same. The apparatus includes a line representative value calculator configured to calculate line representative values of an image including a non-image display area, an image display area, and a transition area interposed between the non-image display area and the image display area, and a transition area detector configured to calculate first-order and second-order differentiations of the line representative values, calculate a threshold value of the transition area using first-order and second-order-differentiation-representative-values of a first line group including a plurality of lines in a window including a plurality of lines and first-order and second-order-differentiation-representative-values of a second line group including a plurality of lines, and detect the transition area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of detecting a transition area and an apparatus for processing an image using the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
When image information input to a display device and the display device for displaying the image do not correspond to each other in terms of resolution or an aspect ratio, which is the ratio of the number of horizontal pixels to the number of vertical pixels, an existing image-processing apparatus displays black letterboxes above and below the image displayed on the display device or displays black pillar boxes to the left and right of the image. Also, to display a low-resolution image on a display device having a higher resolution, the existing image-processing apparatus performs upconversion.

Method of detecting transition area and apparatus for processing image using the same


A universal contact assembly for an image intensifier tube wherein the pin socket and flat are both parts of an integrally formed unit. The pin socket has a through hole for accepting a wire lead to be soldered. A method of making a universal contact assembly wherein the pin socket shell and flat are machined from a single piece.

The present invention is in the field of image intensifier tubes, and particularly is directed to an improved contact assembly for an image intensifier tube, and to a method of making such assembly.
Image intensifier tubes are utilized to enhance night time vision without using additional light. These devices have both military and industrial applications. The U.S. military uses image intensifier tubes for viewing and aiming at targets at night that otherwise would not be visible. In addition, image intensifier tubes are used by aviators to enhance night time vision, for providing night vision to people who suffer from night blindness (retinitis pigmentosa) and for photographing astronomical bodies.
Generally, an image intensifier tube includes three main components. These components include a photocathode, a phosphor screen (anode) and a microchannel plate (MCP) disposed between the photocathode and anode. The photocathode is a photoemissive waver that is extremely sensitive to low radiation levels of light in the 580-590 nm spectral ranges. When electromagnetic radiation impinges on the photocathode, the photocathode emits electrons in response.
The MCP is a relatively thin glass plate having input and output planes and an array of microscopic holes through it. An electron impinging on the MCP results in the emission of a number of secondary electrons which, in turn, cause the emission of more secondary electrons. Therefore, each microscopic hole acts as a channel type secondary emission electron multiplier having an electron gain of approximately several hundred. The electron gain is primarily controlled by a potential difference between the input and output planes of the MCP. Consequently, the MCP increases the density of electron emission.
The anode includes an output fiber optic window and a phosphor screen which is formed on a surface of the window. Emitted electrons are accelerated towards the phosphor screen by maintaining the phosphor screen at a higher positive potential than the MCP. The phosphor screen converts the electron emission into an image which is visible to an operator.
For the proper operation of the tube, there must be a potential difference across the MCP, and between the MCP and the screen. These voltages are provided by an external power source, typically a low voltage battery located outside the image intensifier tube and a power supply which is located around the periphery of the tube. The power supply includes an electronic chopper, step up transformer, a rectifier, and a voltage regulator to provide the appropriate voltages.
The image intensifier tube is bounded at one end by a back plate which bears a pair of contact assemblies. Power from the external source is provided to the tube by electrically connecting leads from the source to the contact assemblies. The U.S. Military specifies a particular night vision device as AN/PVS-7A. This device utilizes a contact assembly in the form of a pin socket, and power from the external source is applied via a pin which is inserted in the pin socket. Another U.S. Military specified night vision device is AN/PVS-7B, which uses a contact assembly in the form of a flat. Power is applied from the external source via a spring loaded pin contact which pushes against the flat.
To accommodate both the AN/PVS-7A and AN/PVS-7B specifications, a contact assembly known as a universal assembly has been utilized which has both a pin socket, and a flat at one end of the pin socket extending perpendicular thereto. When the universal assembly is seated in the back plate of an image intensifier tube, contact to the assembly may be made either by a pin inserted in the pin socket or by a spring loaded pin contact pushing against the flat.
The universal contact assembly of the prior art is comprised of two pieces which are soldered together. The first piece is a cylindrical pin socket and the second piece is a flat or xe2x80x9cU-tubexe2x80x9d, which is a flat, elongated piece of metal shaped like an elongated letter xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d. The flat has a hole in it, and the pin socket is inserted in the hole, whereupon the two parts are soldered together. The problem with the prior art structure is that the solder joint is not clean and therefore when the contact assembly is mounted in the back plate of the image intensifier tube, it does not seat squarely, and may move or become loose, adversely affecting tube operation.
Also, in the universal contact assembly of the prior art, the flat is at one end of the pin socket, while at the other end, the exterior surface of the cylindrical pin socket is soldered to a wire leading to the internally located power supply of the image intensifier tube. The wire is held to the pin socket only by solder. Soldering a wire end to a cylindrical rod (the pin socket) is inconvenient to accomplish and may result in breakage of the wires and consequent electrical disconnection during use.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a universal contact assembly for an image intensifier tube is provided wherein the pin socket and flat are both parts of an integrally formed unit. Hence, the junction of the two parts is clean and solder-free, and the contact assembly seats squarely in the back plate, and does not loosen.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the pin socket is provided with a through hole in which a wire lead fed to the power supply may be inserted before soldering. This enables a quicker and more convenient solder operation, since the lead is held in the hole, with less possibility that the connection will be broken over the life of the tube.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, an improved method of making a universal contact assembly is provided.

Integral night vision tube contact assembly and method of making


In packaging 10 comprising three layers of material 14, 16, 18 adhered together, the middle layer 16 has at east one portion 20 removed, defining a void inside the packaging. The three layers are the same size and shape. Partial cut-lines 22 extend width layers through all layers, at the edge of the packaging, to aid opening. A further perforation 32 may be applied to the two outer layers, substantially bridging the gap between the outer cuts. The first layer of the packaging is initially not completely joined to the middle layer, and can be folded back about a fold line 44, to allow insertion of an object before closing. A tapered gap 56 maybe provided in the edge of the middle layer, connecting to the removed portion. One of the outer layers 14, 18 may be provided with a printed, perforated portion, overlying the void space in the middle layer. A method of producing said packaging comprises removing at least a portion from one of three layers, and laminating or bonding the layers together with said altered layer in the middle. The three layers may be provided as a single blank, and folded to position them on top of one another, the blank being pre-cut with the removed portion of the middle layer.

(1) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a premium packaging, in particular a packaging or packaging system for packaging printed promotional items that are used by food suppliers or packagers as inserts for accompanying their food products in the food packaging.
(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
It is common practice to package inserts such as premium items within the packaging of a food product. For example, in the breakfast cereal industry promotional and premium items are often added as an insert with the cereal, typically within the sealed bag that contains the cereal. However, packaging such inserts with food products runs the risk of tainting the flavour, or appearance, e.g. colour, of the food product. This is not only undesirable but may also be unacceptable under food quality regulations. Accordingly, promotional or premium items, or other inserts, currently are wrapped in a food safe packaging in order to keep them separated from the food products. Until recently, this has typically been done by using an oil based film often called a flow-wrap. Flow-wrapping is expensive and can cost the same as the premium item or insert itself. It has the advantage, however, of being available in an odour barrier-form which prevents food from being tainted by any residual odours attributable, for example, to the printing inks. It will also generally be impervious to prevent the inks from running or staining the food.
The flow-wrap typically has a solely functional purpose, although the flow-wrap material can be printed or coloured. Flow-wrap material is not substantial (it is a thin film) and lacks any value-adding merit in its own right, save for its protective function. The invention is designed to achieve this protective function, but in addition to represent something which is attractive, interesting and has a promotional or game-play purpose.
In the snack foods sector, there has been a move towards flow-wrapping premium items in paper, i.e. between two layers of paper. This is substantially cheaper than oil based film. However, it cannot be used for three dimensional items, i.e. items thicker than a nominal thickness. Further, there is a risk of odours or colours passing through the paper to taint the food. However, the risk of tainting the food can be mitigated by using premium inserts which either carry a minimal odour or a good colourfast quality. Alternatively, for example in the case of cereal products, the premium item can be inserted in its paper flow-wrapping into the food packaging between the food wrapper and the cardboard outer packaging.
If attempting to flow-wrap a three dimensional premium item in paper, the paper packaging will typically crease or fold in an unsightly manner upon packaging the premium item. It would therefore be desirable to provide a new packaging or packaging system, and a method of packaging, for premium items for use in the food industry.


A method and apparatus in a selective call receiver (100) choose and load a software driver program (124) into an external computer (302). The apparatus comprises a data interface (118) for coupling with the external computer (302) and a memory (122) containing pre-programmed data comprising a plurality of executable software driver programs (124). The apparatus further comprises a processor (108) coupled to the memory (122) and to the data interface (118) for controlling interactions between the memory (122) and the data interface (118). The method comprises the steps of: coupling (402) the data interface (118) to the external computer (302); receiving (404) in response a signal comprising an identifier from the external computer (302); accessing (406) the memory (122) to locate a software driver program (124) compatible with the external computer (302) identified by the identifier; and transmitting (412) to the external computer (302) the software driver program (124) in response to locating the software driver program (124).

The "radio modem," i.e., a selective call receiver having a data interface for communicating with an external computer, is well known in the art. An example is the NewsStream.TM. Advanced Data Receiver manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill. This radio modem is intended for use with computers having an RS-232 port and a telecommunications program that supports a popular file transfer protocol called "XMODEM." Coupling the data interface of the conventional radio modem with such a computer allows the computer to receive information transmitted by radio and addressed to the radio modem and to store the received information in a file. Additional file access or other software is required when a user then wishes to examine or work with the information in the file.
While the conventional radio modem provides an excellent method of receiving information in a portable computer, the application software available for most portable computers does little beyond displaying information received and perhaps doing a name or telephone number look-up based on information received through the radio modem. Application software for providing vertical services that are custom tailored to the needs of various users is becoming available, but at a relatively slow pace.
An obstacle to development of vertical application software for the conventional radio modem is the lack of a consistent, high-level application interface that will remain unchanged from one brand of external computer to the next and from one model of radio modem to the next. This lack of consistency occurs because the conventional radio modem requires the application program to provide low-level drivers that are unique to each type of external computer. The low-level drivers also necessarily must be changed in response to subsequent changes in the design of the radio modem, e.g., changing from a serial data link to a parallel link between the radio modem and the external computer, or modifying low-level proprietary commands in the radio modem to add new features.
Thus, what is needed is a way of providing a consistent interface between the application software and the radio modem to facilitate the development of new and more powerful application software to support vertical services. A radio modem is needed that expands the functionality between the application software and the radio modem and that provides a consistent application programming interface from one type of external computer to the next. A radio modem that contains built-in application programs custom tailored to support a variety of user requirements is also needed.

Method and apparatus for loading a software program from a radio modem into an external computer


In a method for manufacturing a lead frame, a predetermined pattern is formed on a matrix 10 by a resist, an electro-deposition portion is provided in a cavity formed in the resist patterns 12, and the electrodeposition pattern 13 is separated from the matrix 10. The resist pattern is formed on the matrix 10 so that a cavity portion 17 connecting a plurality of cavity 16 ends for inner lead formation can be included in the resist pattern, and an electro-deposition portion is provided into the cavity portion 17 so that the electro-deposition pattern 13 can be formed into a configuration in which the tip ends of the inner leads 22 are connected by a connecting piece 21, and the electro-deposition pattern 13 is separated from the matrix 10 while the tip ends of the inner leads 22 are connected by the connecting piece 21.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lead frame adapted to be used for a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, lead frames for use in semiconductor devices are manufactured by punching or etching metallic materials.
However, in the case of punching or etching, the minimum processing width is approximately the same as the material thickness so that the processing range is limited, and there is a limit to forming a fine pattern from a material of a predetermined thickness.
On the other hand, as well known, there is provided a method for manufacturing lead frames by means of electro-forming (disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 48-39867).
This known electro-forming process is shown in FIGS. 7(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), and will be described below: A resist 11 is coated or adhered on a matrix 10 made of conductive material such as stainless steel, as shown in FIG. 7(a); pattern printing is conducted, as shown in FIG. 7(b); developing is conducted so as to form a resist pattern 12, as shown in FIG. 7(c); when this resist pattern is used as a mask, an electro-deposition pattern 13 is formed on the matrix 10 by means of plating, as shown in FIG. 7(d); the resist pattern 12 is removed; and further the electro-deposition pattern 13 is separated from the matrix 10, as shown in FIG. 7(e).
Next, the electro-deposition pattern 13 is subjected to necessary plating. In this way, a lead frame is manufactured.
In some cases, after the resist pattern 12 has been removed from the matrix 10, a surface of the electro-deposition pattern 13 is ground so that the thickness of the electro-deposition pattern 13 can be made uniform.
According to this electro-forming process, a lead frame having a very fine pattern, the section of which is rectangular, can be accurately manufactured.
In the above manufacturing process of lead frames, the following problems may be encountered: When the electro-deposition pattern 13 is separated from the matrix 10 in the electro-forming process, the electro-deposition pattern 13 may be deformed. Also, the electro-deposition pattern 13 may be deformed in the processes conducted after electro-forming, for example, in the process of plating. Further, in the case where the electro-deposition pattern 13 is ground, the electrodeposition pattern 13 tends to be deformed. Such a deformation of the electro-deposition pattern 13 may become substantial when the pattern is fine.
Also, if the inner lead pattern becomes finer, the resist pattern 12 for the mask must become finer and, therefore, the electro-deposition pattern 13 must be developed in such narrow recesses of the resist pattern 12. When electro-forming is conducted, hydrogen is generated due to a negative pole reaction. If the resist pattern 12 is narrow as mentioned above, the hydrogen particles in small bubbles will be attached to the inner walls of the resist pattern 12 because the plating liquid does not flow smoothly. Therefore, a good plated film is not formed, since small pits or holes are formed in the electro-deposition pattern 13.

Lead frame and method for manufacturing same


An air seed meter for an agricultural planter includes a vacuum cover which has a central opening which exposes the central portion of the seed disc to the exterior. The central opening of the vacuum cover is centered on a location offset from the axis of rotation of the seed disc. This reduces disc wear at the disc-vacuum cover interface, and renders the disc more accessible for self-cleaning, visual inspection and verification of the proper disc. Openings in the central, open portion of the disc, the back wall of the seed housing and the side wall of the seed housing cooperate to equalize the air pressure in the seed reservoir to atmospheric pressure and reduce or eliminate reverse air currents in the discharge chute. An adjustable brush with three separate stations cooperates with an edge-release, beveled disc to apply a progressively more forceful singulation force to eliminate duplicate seeds.

Air seed meters have been known in the art for some time. One current commercial air seed meter uses an enclosure for the disc having a first housing section forming a reservoir for the seeds and receiving and enclosing the seed side of the disc, and a second housing section, connected to the first housing section for contacting and enclosing the vacuum side of the disc. The second housing section forms a vacuum chamber, in the case of an air meter employing suction to secure the seeds to the disc.
In most cases, two housing sections form the overall meter casing, are in the form of flat, circular end walls (i.e. disc-shaped) with generally cylindrical side walls. The housing sections or halves are mounted with the centers of the end plates concentric with the axis of rotation of the disc. Moreover, in prior art meters, for the most part, a seal is formed between the vacuum cover and the seed disc.
The seed disc is driven typically for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. As the disc, having spaced seed apertures located circumferentially about the disc, is rotated through the seed reservoir, seeds are picked up and attached to an aperture by means of a pressure differential between the seed reservoir and the vacuum chamber. The seeds are held to the disc by the pressure difference as they pass through the seed reservoir. The seed is passed to a discharge area which, typically, is located adjacent a downwardly facing chute formed as a tangential channel in the meter housing.
In prior art air seed meters which seek to establish a seal between the vacuum housing and the rotating disc, the seal extends around the periphery of the portion of the vacuum housing which forms the actual vacuum chamber. That is, a portion of the vacuum chamber typically is devoted, in prior art devices, to a point for releasing the seeds sequentially into the discharge chute. This is done, in some cases, by having the seeds pass into a region adjacent the discharge chute. The "vacuum" (i.e. lower pressure) side of the disc, as it passes adjacent the discharge chute, naturally is exposed to air pressure near, but not always at atmospheric levels.
There are some difficulties associated with such arrangements. First, it is desirable to establish atmospheric pressure at the actual point of discharge. For example, the higher the air pressure differential across the seed disc at the moment of discharge, the less would be the tendency to release the seed at the same location accurately. Any variation in the pressure differential across the seed disc at the intended point of release, will create variances in the spacing of the seeds upon discharge and deposit into the seed furrow. According to these structures, it became necessary, in some cases, to create an elaborate sealing mechanism which defined only the boundary of the vacuum chamber and excluded the region of release adjacent the discharge chute.
Still further problems existed in that a "chimney effect" may be created in the discharge chutes of some existing meters. By this it is meant that as seed is routed to the release point in the discharge chute, it will be appreciated that the reservoir side of the seed disc is at approximately atmospheric pressure; and if measures are not taken, the interior of the seed reservoir may be at a slightly sub-atmospheric pressure. This also increases the likelihood that air is drawn up the discharge chute (i.e. if the reservoir is at a pressure even slightly below atmospheric), resulting in a "chimney effect" or updraft of air in the discharge chute and requiring compensation. The chimney effect not only reduces the reliability of accurate seed release, and therefore spacing, but depending upon the velocity of air flowing in a reverse direction in the seed discharge chute, it might alter the discharge flight path of the seed, thereby further affecting the fall time (and ultimate spacing) of seeds.
Some prior art seed discs which use recesses or "cells" in the surface of the disc to capture and seat seeds experience another source of possible inconsistent or unequal seed spacing upon delivery to the furrow. Specifically where the seed is required to move axially of the disc (i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation) to release, there is an increased tendency for the seed to strike the wall of the discharge chute and to ricochet off the walls of the chute and to be delayed in release from the cell. This effect creates variation in the length of seed travel (and thus variations in delivery time) from release to deposit, and thus results in inconsistency in seed spacing in the furrow.
Other seed discs, which do not have recesses or depressions in the seed disc for retaining seeds, require the use an auxiliary device, some shaped like a spider with wire legs, to agitate and bring the seeds in the reservoir up to the speed of the disc to facilitate seating of the seeds on the disc.
Another difficulty with such prior art air meters as described above, is that for the most part, the seal between the disc and the vacuum housing is generally a circular path centered on the axis of rotation of the disc and located at the perimeter of the disc. In such structures, the portion of the disc engaging the circular seal tends to create a narrow annular region of engagement between the seal member and the disc or seal, thus creating a narrow band of wear on the disc. This wear "ring" creating wear on the disc or seal, results in a variance between the surface of the disc which was attempted to be sealed and the contact surface of the seal, thus reducing the effectiveness of some seals.
Moreover, such prior art structures rendered it difficult to clear the interior of the vacuum chamber as well as the exterior from fine particles, dust, dirt and chips or broken segments of seeds that may have cracked (collectively referred to as "debris" or "fines"). Such particles could pass through or obstruct the apertures in a seed recess and may even accumulate between contacting surfaces where it was difficult, due to the nature of some prior devices, to clear the debris. Some prior art devices, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,418, created tiny slots between a seal of the vacuum housing and the disc so that air could flow across the seal through the groove in the adjacent surface of the disc between the contact surfaces to clear the disc and seal surface of fine particles. However, the cross section of such slots tended to reduce, with diminished clearing effect, as the sealing member wore into the surface of the disc, thereby reducing the dimensions in and effectiveness of the clearing passageways.


In a wavelength modulation spectroscopy method and system the light of a tunable light source is modulated with a frequency f0, while the wavelength is swept over an interaction feature of a sample to be measured. The light of the light source is passed to a sample for interacting and thereafter detected and demodulated at a higher harmonic Nf0.

In wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) the wavelength and the intensity of the light of a tunable light source, usually a continuously tunable laser such as a diode laser, is modulated with a frequency f0, while the wavelength is swept over an interaction feature of a sample to be measured, for example a molecular absorption line in a gas sample. As the light interacts with the sample, for example propagates through a gas sample, wavelength dependent interaction such as absorption converts some of the wavelength modulation into an intensity modulation of the light. Thus, the light will have an overtone spectrum generated by the interaction process, the harmonic content of the spectrum being dependent on the interaction feature, for example the width and shape of the molecular absorption line in the gas and the etalons in the system. When the light then impinges onto a measuring detector, for example a photodiode, the measuring detector output contains AC components at the modulation frequency f0 and its higher harmonics Nf0 (N=2, 3, 4, etc.). Demodulating the measuring detector output at one of said higher harmonics Nf0 shifts the measurement from frequencies near DC, where the light source is noisy, into a higher frequency range, where the noise is lower, thus improving the measurement sensitivity.
In difficult measurement conditions, however, the light may be further modulated by a time dependence of the optical transmission of the system. An example are in-situ measurements of trace gas constituents in combustion environments, where varying dust loads, high temperature, gas turbulence etc. modulate the light in the kHz range.

Wavelength modulation spectroscopy method and system

Abstract: To suppress effects of fluctuations of the optical transmission of the system on the measurement, originating from varying dust loads, high temperature, gas turbulence etc. in the measurement path (3), a burst signal in form of an envelope modulated pilot tone is added to the modulation of the light (1) of the light source (2) synchronously with the wavelength sweeps at a wavelength outside the interaction feature of the sample. The injected burst signal is at the detection frequency Nf0, where N≧2, and is detected together with the measured spectrum from the sample and act as absorption normal, which the spectrum can be calibrated against.


Conductivity-selective lateral etching of III-nitride materials is described. Methods and structures for making vertical cavity surface emitting lasers with distributed Bragg reflectors via electrochemical etching are described. Layer-selective, lateral electrochemical etching of multi-layer stacks is employed to form semiconductor/air DBR structures adjacent active multiple quantum well regions of the lasers. The electrochemical etching techniques are suitable for high-volume production of lasers and other III-nitride devices, such as lasers, HEMT transistors, power transistors, MEMs structures, and LEDs.

Technical Field
The technology relates to methods and structures for performing etching of sacrificial layers of III-nitride material. The etching techniques may be used for micro- and nano-fabrication of integrated devices, such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) based on III-nitride semiconductor material. The VCSELs may include air/semiconductor, distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structures formed adjacent to the VCSEL using lateral, electrochemical etching techniques.
Discussion of the Related Art
The etching of semiconductor materials is an important technique that is used in microfabrication processes. Various kinds of etching recipes have been developed for many materials used in semiconductor manufacturing. For example, Si and certain oxides may be routinely etched using dry (e.g., reactive-ion etching) or wet chemical etching techniques that yield desired etch rates and etch morphologies. III-nitride materials have recently emerged as attractive materials for semiconductor manufacturing, however these materials can be chemically inert to standard wet etchants.
Some attractive applications for III-nitride materials include micro-photonic devices, such as LEDs and lasers. Some existing methods of making III-nitride VCSELs involve forming structures that comprise alternating layers of AlGaN/GaN or AlInN/GaN. However, these structures are difficult to produce and do not exhibit high refractive index contrast between the alternating layers. Accordingly, to obtain a suitable reflectivity for a laser cavity, the number of layers must be increased (e.g., to about 40) making the overall cavity thick. Additionally, it is difficult to match the cavity mode with an active layer emission wavelength. Another approach to making a VCSEL with a DBR structure is to form dielectric DBRs at two ends of the cavity using layer lift-off techniques. However, this approach is complex to implement and suffers from low yield during manufacture.
As InGaN light emitting diodes (LEDs) gradually approach technological maturity in performance for blue/green emissions, microcavity based LEDs (resonant-cavity LED, RCLED) and laser diodes (vertical-cavity surfaceemitting laser, VCSEL) become appealing alternatives that may offer advantages in enhancing radiative recombination rates, improving beam directionality, and possibly reducing the cost in manufacturing due to their planar configuration.
The encasing of the optical active region into a cavity of a few wavelengths may be done using distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) with minimum absorption and high reflectivity. For nitride-based emitters, top p-side DBRs may be prepared by depositing dielectric, quarter-wavelength stacks as a last step of device fabrication. The bottom (n-side) DBRs may be implemented using either dielectric stacks or epitaxially grown (Ga,Al,In)N/GaN periodic heterostructures. However, challenges still exist in both approaches toward ultimate manufacturability. The dielectric approach can require complicated thin-film lift-off and wafer bonding in order to expose the n-type GaN. For epitaxial DBRs, 20 to 40 pairs of heterostructures are needed for good peak reflectance (above 95%) due to the small contrast of refractive indices. Such a thick DBR structure causes a narrow stopband (<50 nm), creates issues in stress management on the device, and reduces the benefit of the Purcell effect.
Semiconductor/air structures have been pursued using a photo-assisted electrochemical (PEC) etch where mirrority-holes are photo-generated and confined in narrower-bandgap sacrificial layers to facilitate selective etching. Also, selective chemical etching has been identified for the AlInN/GaN system. The membrane structures prepared by the two techniques generally suffer from etched surface roughness that contributes to scattering losses in the optical devices. The maximum reflectance in the blue/green range from GaN/air DBRs, prepared by either PEC or selective wet etching, has not exceeded 75%.

Lateral electrochemical etching of III-nitride materials for microfabrication


A method of estimating position of a borehole includes: disposing an acoustic sensor in a first borehole in an earth formation, the acoustic sensor including a plurality of measurement locations disposed along a length of the first borehole; drilling a portion of a second borehole in the earth formation using a drilling assembly; taking distributed acoustic measurement data over a time period during the drilling by the plurality of measurement locations, the acoustic measurement data based at least in part due to an acoustic signal generated by the drilling assembly and detected by the plurality of measurement locations; processing the measurement data to estimate a distance between the drilling assembly and the acoustic sensor; and controlling directional parameters of the drilling based on the distance.

Some multiple borehole systems, particularly those that include deviated or horizontal portions, typically require some form of monitoring to avoid intersecting the boreholes. For example, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) systems include an injection borehole that provides a heat source (e.g., steam) for heating bitumen and/or heavy oil, and a recovery borehole to collect and produce the bitumen and/or heavy oil. The boreholes are typically maintained generally parallel at a selected distance from one another. Thus, monitoring or detection should be employed to allow for accurate directional drilling of the boreholes.

Geosteering boreholes using distributed acoustic sensing


A garment hanging system comprises a sheet, which has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. The fastening members may comprise hook and loop fasteners that are configured to engage one another. The sheet may be secured to a clothes hanger by folding a portion of the sheet over the horizontal member of the hanger and securing the first fastening member to the second fastening member. Alternatively, a hanger hook may be integrated into the sheet. The sheet also includes several hook members, which may be provided on one or both sides of the sheet. The hook members may be used to hang a plurality of garments from the sheet. For instance, the straps of a camisole may be hung from each pair of hook members. A single clothes hanger or hook may thus be used to support several camisoles simultaneously, in a vertically staggered arrangement.

Various types of garments have been hung in various ways over the years. The way in which a garment is hung may be based on a variety of factors, such as the configuration of the garment itself and the location in which the garment will be hung. While some systems and methods may be suitable for hanging certain types of garments, such systems and methods may not be ideal for hanging other types of garments. While a variety of systems and methods have been made and used for hanging garments, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor has made or used the invention recited in the appended claims.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. To the extent that specific dimensions are shown in the accompanying drawings, such dimensions should be regarded as merely illustrative and not limiting in any way. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that such dimensions may be varied in any suitable way.


An air conditioning device for a vehicle seat, comprising at least one air distribution module (1) having at least one air distribution chamber which is open on the top side (4) opposite the carrier layer (6), and wherein the carrier layer (6) has at least one extension section (12) which projects beyond the part of the carrier layer that is not covered by the bottom side of the insert and can be used for mounting a fan, a fan housing or a fan bracket on the air distribution module (1), by at least surface parts of the extension section (12) surrounding at least partially the fan and/or a fan housing and/or the fan bracket. The extension section (12), or a respective tab (13) as part of the extension section (12), is provided with at least one adhesive layer (18) on its top and/or bottom side.

The present invention relates to an air conditioning device for a vehicle seat.
Such an air conditioning device includes at least one air distribution module having at least one air distribution chamber. The air distribution chamber is delimited at least at a part of its outer circumference by an insert having a top and a bottom side. The air distribution chamber is delimited by a carrier layer on that side that is correlated to the bottom side of the insert. The carrier layer is connected to the bottom side of the insert at least via a partial surface. An air supply opening is provided to supply air to the air distribution chamber.
EP 2 826 663 A1 describes an air-conditioning device for a vehicle seat that includes a spacer material, which forms at least a part of an air distribution chamber. The spacer material is covered on top by a top layer. An air-impermeable bottom layer is arranged on the bottom side of the spacer material opposite the top layer. The top layer and the bottom layer are connected around the outer circumference of the spacer material. Also provided are an air supply opening to the air distribution chamber and air outlet openings in the top layer for discharging air from the air distribution chamber. The top layer and the bottom layer are interconnected at least around the outer circumference via a frame-shaped insert.
US 2007/0277313 A1 describes an air-conditioned seat. This seat comprises a seat cushion through which a plurality of flow passages extends from the top side thereof to the bottom side thereof. A support element is arranged at the bottom side of the seat cushion. Air is distributed to the flow passages via a distribution chamber and guided to the seat surface. The support element is in direct contact with the bottom side of the seat cushion. The air distribution chamber is formed by a recess in the seat cushion.

Air distribution chamber for a vehicle seat


An assembly, and an associated method, by which to place a telephonic station in virtual residency in a telephonic network. The virtually-resident telephonic station is coupled to a packet data network, such as the Internet backbone. The virtually-resident telephonic station has packet network address determined by the location of its connection to the packet data network. An index, formed by an indexer, is maintained at a proxy server embodied at the packet data network. When a call is placed by a calling station for connection with the virtually-resident telephonic station, the call is routed to the packet data network, and the index is accessed to ascertain the address of the virtually-resident telephonic station. When the address is ascertained, the call is routed to the virtually-resident telephonic station, and the call connection is completed.

Communication of data is an endemic part of modern society. And, access to communication systems through which to communicate data pursuant to effectuation of communication services is a practical necessity for many. A telephonic communication system is exemplary of a type of communication system that has been widely employed and is regularly utilized by many through which to effectuate communications.
When installed and made operational, a telephonic communication system provides for the telephonic communication of voice, as well as non-voice, data. Networks of telephonic communication systems have been installed throughout significant portions of the populated portions of the world. Users of such telephonic communication systems communicate telephonically therethrough through the use of telephonic, or other communication, stations that are connected to the telephonic networks. Through appropriate interconnection of separate telephonic networks, telephonic communications are effectuable between telephonic stations positioned at disparate locations by way of the interconnected, telephonic networks.
Conventional telephonic networks are predicated upon circuit-switched communication techniques. That is to say, conventional telephonic networks create circuit-switched connections between telephonic stations between which communication services are to be effectuated. Once circuit-switched connections are formed there between, dedicated, i.e., circuit-switched, channels are allocated to the telephonic stations by which to communicate data therebetween. For so long as a circuit-switched connection is maintained, telephonic communications between the telephonic stations is permitted. However, the connection is maintained irrespective of the amount, or regularity, of the communication of data therebetween. Data forming telephonic communications might only be intermittently communicated between the telephonic stations to which the dedicated connection is provided. As a result, the communication capacities of communication systems that utilize circuit-switched connections oftentimes underutilize the communication capacities of the communication channels formed pursuant to such connections. In other words, use of circuit-switched connections sometimes inefficiently utilizes the communication capacity of a telephonic network.
In contrast, communication schemes that provide for shared-channel communications generally are better able to utilize the communication capacity of a communication system, such as a telephonic communication system. Shared channels are utilized in packet-based communication systems. In a packet-based communication system, packet-formatted data is communicated. Packet-formatted data can be communicated during discrete intervals. And, the same channel can be utilized to communicate packet-formatted data, transmitted during separate time periods to effectuate communication services pursuant to separate communication sessions. In contrast to conventional, circuit-switched communication schemes, a communication system that utilizes packet-switched communication schemes are able more efficiently to utilize the communication capacity allocated to a communication system.
The packet-formatted data is formatted pursuant to a selected formatting protocol. Various packet formatting protocols have been promulgated and standardized. One protocol scheme, referred to as the Internet protocol (IP), or IP protocol, is a formatting scheme that is regularly utilized in many communication systems. Communication devices and apparatus are constructed to format and send, to receive, to transport, and to operate upon, IP-formatted data.
Packet-based, communication schemes are utilized in communication effectuated by way of the Internet backbone. Communications effectuable by way of the Internet backbone include voice, non-voice, as well as multimedia communication services through the communication of packet-formatted data using packet-switched connections.
The Internet backbone is representative of a packet data network or "fabric" through which packet-switched channels are formed. The Internet, or other packet data network is coexistent with conventional, circuit-switched telephonic networks, i.e., "legacy" networks. Circuit-switched, e.g., TDM (time division multiplexed) telephonic networks are connected to packet data networks by way of devices referred to as gateways. The gateways form gateways to the packet data network from telephonic networks and vice versa. Protocol translations, as well as other operations, for instance, voice encoding operations, are performed by the gateways.
In addition to more efficient utilization of communication resource allocations, the use of IP-based, and other, packet-switched communication schemes in packet data networks provide other advantages, including improved adaptability and flexibility of configuration and reconfiguration.
Telephonic access to a telephonic station that is moved, to be placed in another location of a packet data network, is relatively easily effectuated. In contrast, in a circuit-switched communication system, corresponding access is not as easily effectuated. Conventionally, subscription to a call forwarding service, or purchase of a toll-free number, or lease of an FX line is required. Call forwarding might result in a large toll bill to a customer for whom the call is forwarded. Additionally, local phone service charges might also be incurred. A toll free number is also relatively expensive. And, if a local presence is intended, use of a toll free number would be contradictory to such a goal. And, use of an FX line is also relatively expensive and is implementable over only a short distance, e.g., a few miles.
Due to the co-existence of both the legacy networks and the packet data networks, a possibility exists that some of the advantages inherent of a packet data network might also be advantageously utilized in conjunction with a legacy network.
If, for instance, the ease of adaptability of changing locations at which a telephonic station of a packet data network can be applied in some manner to facilitate cost-effective routing of calls in a legacy network coupled to a packet data network, improved communication services could be provided to the legacy network.
It is light of this background information related to telephonic communication networks that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Assembly, and associated method, for telephonic call connection with a virtually-resident telephonic station


A method of transmitting a cell between the ATM layer and the physical layer is provided for the ATM matching system, which includes the physical layer divided into a specified number of uniform physical device groups multiplexly polled by the ATM layer. The method comprises the steps of multiplexly polling the physical device groups by the ATM layer, transmitting an enable signal to the polled device upon receipt of a state signal from the physical layer, transmitting the cell to the physical layer, checking the multiplexed polling of the ATM layer by the physical layer, writing a physical port number into the cell with transmitting a state signal to the ATM layer upon receipt of the multiplexed polling, and transmitting the cell to the ATM layer upon receipt of an enable signal from the ATM layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for transmitting cells between the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) layer and the physical layer in the ATM protocol, and a method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the ATM protocol structure is defined by extending the conventional N-ISDN (Narrowband Integrated Services Digital Network) protocol structure according to the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) layer model. Each layer provides inherent functional services with the help of the next lower layer""s services. The ATM protocol structure fundamentally consists of physical layer, ATM layer, ATM adaptation layer (AAL), and higher layer. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,606 to Jeff Prince et al. entitled Method And Apparatus For Transmitting Cells Across An ATM Switch Bus, incorporated herein by reference.
The physical layer further includes physical medium sublayer (PM) and transmission convergence sublayer (TC), providing the transmission resources for carrying ATM cells. The ATM layer provides the ATM communication regardless of transmission system, performing multiple partitioning of cells, selection of a virtual channel and path and generation and deletion of cell headers. The AAL divides information into uniform lengths adapted to construct cells between the ATM layer and higher layer. In this case, it also serves to absorb the accompanying quantization effect, compensate for cell losses and errors due to transmission error or excess, and shield the inherent operation of the ATM layer from the higher layer.
The cell format between the low speed ATM board assembly (LSAA) and low speed physical layer board assembly (LSPA) of the presently developed ATM ESS switch matching has a dummy header of 3 bytes. Namely, the cell transmission system between the ATM layer and physical layer in the conventional low speed subscriber""s board employs a proprietary cell format as shown in FIG. 1. This conventional cell format consists of a proprietary dummy header of 3 bytes, a header field of 5 bytes, and an information field of 48 bytes. The header field and information field as defined in the standard cell includes generic flow control (GFC) region, virtual path identifier (VPI) region, virtual channel identifier (VCI) region, payload type (PT) region, header error control (HEC) region, and cell loss priority (CLP) region. Namely, the above cell format has the proprietary field of 3 bytes compared to the cell format proposed by the ATM forum.
In addition, the procedure for transmitting a cell from LSAA to LSPA is the kind of broadcast employing the multiplexer, which requires each board to check the board bit map of 16 bits to determine whether the received cell belongs to itself, and to transmit the cell through the corresponding port determined by checking the link number if it belongs to the board. On the contrary, the procedure for transmitting a cell from LSPA to LSAA is the kind of direct status that the cell is transmitted in response to an enable signal after the Clav (Cell Available) signal is transmitted to the ATM layer with a header of 3 bytes attached to the cell of 53 bytes. Hence, such system suffers the following drawbacks:
First, the proprietary cell format not defined by the ATM forum makes it impossible to use commercially available parts, and difficult to export the technological product. In addition, there must be used the complex cell format with a large overhead. Second, the cell transmission is carried out by a hybrid procedure which consists of the broadcast method employing the multiplexer (MUX) from LSAA to LSPA and the direct status indication method from LSPA to LSAA.
Besides, the multiplexing polling of the UTOPIA (Universal Test and Operation Physical Interface for ATM) level 2 is based on 31 ports, which are divided into eight (8) groups respectively polled. This is not suitable for the matching module supporting 64 ports.
An example of another method and apparatus for processing cells in an ATM communication system is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,631 to Paul V. Bergantino et al. entitled Asynchronous Transfer Mode Cell Processing System With Multiple Cell Source Multiplexing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for transmitting cells between the ATM layer and physical layer by employing the standard cell format.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for transmitting cells between the ATM layer and physical layer, where the physical layer is divided into uniform groups multiplexly polled by the ATM layer.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for transmitting cells between the ATM protocol layers according to the ATM standard.
According to the present invention, a method of transmitting a cell between the ATM layer and the physical layer is provided for the ATM matching system, which includes the physical layer divided into a specified number of uniform physical device groups multiplexly polled by the ATM layer. The method comprises the steps of multiplexly polling the physical device groups by the ATM layer, transmitting an enable signal to the polled device upon receipt of a state signal from the physical layer, transmitting the cell to the physical layer, checking the multiplexed polling of the ATM layer by the physical layer, writing a physical port number into the cell with transmitting a state signal to the ATM layer upon receipt of the multiplexed polling, and transmitting the cell to the ATM layer upon receipt of an enable signal from the ATM layer.
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the drawings attached only by of example.

Apparatus for transmitting cells between ATM layer and physical layer and method therefor


An electrochemical fuel cell system adapted for maintaining the efficient production of electrical power. The system comprises a fuel supply containing a hydrogen rich gaseous fuel for delivery to a fuel cell. A fuel supply conduit connects the fuel supply and the fuel cell for delivering a fuel stream of the hydrogen rich gaseous fuel to the fuel cell. An impurity sensor is carried by the fuel supply conduit for detecting impurities in the fuel stream prior to the impurities entering the fuel cell. A heating mechanism is provided in communication with the impurity sensor being operatively associated with the fuel cell for changing the temperature of the fuel cell. The heating mechanism raises the temperature of the fuel cell from a normal operating temperature to an elevated operating temperature when the impurity sensor detects impurities in the fuel stream to prevent the impurities from interfering with fuel cell efficiency.

As the power needs of society increase and with the depletion of fossil fuels, there is a need for power services that provide clean efficient power. Such needs exist both for mobile applications such as the automotive industry and stationary applications as powering manufacturing facilities or commercial enterprises. To meet these needs, electrochemical fuel cells have been developed to convert the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy thereby providing a clean and efficient source of electrical power. Generally, a fuel cell includes a pair of electrodes arranged across an electrolyte, wherein the surface of one electrode is exposed to hydrogen or a hydrogen rich gaseous fuel, and the surface of the other electrode is exposed to an oxygen-containing oxidizing gas, typically air. Inside the fuel cell, hydrogen rich gas from the fuel source reacts electrochemically at a first electrode (anode) and is converted into protons and electrons by a catalyst. When converted, the protons move through an electrolyte to a second electrode (cathode) that also includes a catalyst. The catalyst induces oxygen from an air supply to combine with the hydrogen protons and electrons to form water, which is expelled from the fuel cell as vapor. The involvement of hydrogen and oxygen in the two reactions, one releasing electrons and the other consuming them, yields electrical energy across the anode and cathode by way of an external circuit, thereby generating electrical power.
Many electrochemical fuel cells employ a membrane electrode assembly ("MEA") in which the intermediate electrolyte comprises a solid polymer electrolyte or ion-exchange membrane disposed between two porous electrically conductive electrode layers (the anode and the cathode). At the anode, the fuel (H2) is directed through a porous layer of the anode where it can be oxidized by the electrocatalyst to produce protons and electrons from the hydrogen rich fuel. The protons migrate through the polymer electrolyte membrane toward the cathode electrocatalyst to bind with the oxygen and separated electrons from the hydrogen. Once across the polymer electrolyte membrane, the oxidant (O2) enters through the porous cathode to react with the protons and electrons on the cathode electrocatalyst to form water. The electrons travel from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, which produces an electrical current.
The basic reaction for powering a hydrogen based fuel cell is as follows:

A process known as reforming produces hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels such as methanol or gasoline. Unfortunately, the stream of fuel produced by a reformer contains impurities that inhibit the desired electrochemical reaction within the fuel cell. These impurities are absorbed chemically or physically on the surface of the anode electrocatalyst and prevent H2 from bonding to active electrocatalyst sites on the anode where it can be broken down into its protons and electrons. By disrupting the anode reaction, the number of electrons traveling from anode to cathode is reduced and the efficiency of the fuel cell is detrimentally affected. Impurities in the fuel stream that reduce the efficiency are known as electrocatalyst "poisons" and their effect on fuel cells is known as "electrocatalyst poisoning." Electrocatalyst poisoning results in reduced fuel cell performance thereby reducing the voltage output of the fuel cell for a given current density.
Reformate fuel streams derived from hydrocarbons such as methanol (CH3OH) contain high concentrations of H2 and are well suited to fuel the electrochemical fuel cell. However, such fuels also contain electrocatalyst poisons such as carbon monoxide (CO) that exist in relatively small quantities in the fuel stream used to supply hydrogen rich gas to the fuel cell. The basic reactions for using methanol fuel to provide a hydrogen rich gas through a reformer for the fuel cell is shown as follows:

However, the above reactions do not practically result in the conversion of 100% of the carbon monoxide to CO2 and causes this impurity to enter the fuel cell. In fact, most reformers typically produce hydrogen gas containing up to 1% carbon monoxide. Additional steps can be taken to further reduce the carbon monoxide levels to around 10-100 ppm, but under normal operation of the reformer, there are transients that may cause the carbon monoxide levels to exceed the set points of normal operation for the reformer and the fuel cell. Even minute amounts of carbon monoxide can cause substantial degradation of the fuel cell performance. To reduce the effects of poisoning on the anode electrocatalyst by impurities like carbon monoxide created by the incomplete reaction of trace amounts of carbon monoxide from the above equation, it is possible to pre-treat the fuel supply stream prior to it entering the fuel cell. However, these pretreatment methods for fuel streams cannot effectively remove 100% of the carbon monoxide or other impurities that interfere with fuel cell efficiency. Even trace amounts of 10 ppm can result in electrocatalyst poisoning and cause a substantial reduction in fuel cell performance. Increasing the temperature of a fuel cell can reduce the ability of impurities to bond with the electrocatalyst. However, maintaining the fuel cell at a higher temperature reduces the operational life of the fuel cell by damaging the MEA and results in a reduction of the overall efficiency and useful life of the fuel cell. It should be noted that while carbon monoxide is used in the above discussion, other impurities such as H2S, NH3, or other elements or compounds also degrade the performance of fuel cells at both the anode and cathode sides of the cell. It is to be understood that impurities can also interfere with the cathode that can include impurities in the air added to the cathode. For example, hydrocarbons can exist in the air in close proximity to a combustion engine or in the air as a hydrocarbon fuel station. Accordingly, the ability to reduce electrocatalyst poisoning of a fuel cell at both the anode and cathode is a problem to which significant attention should be directed.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to manipulate the temperature of a fuel cell to reduce the ability of impurities in the fuel cell fuel stream to bind with active electrocatalyst sites.
It is another object of the present invention to manipulate the temperature of the fuel cell to reduce the effect of impurities while reducing deterioration of the membrane electrode assembly.

Method and system for improving the performance of a fuel cell


An omnidirectional camera comprises a camera mounting frame of cylindrical hollow body, a plurality of horizontal camera units, each of which is provided on a horizontal plane orthogonal to a center line of the camera mounting frame and adapted to acquire an image in a horizontal direction. A vertical camera unit is provided so as to coincide with the center line of the camera mounting frame and adapted to acquire an image in a zenith direction. A ring-like GPS antenna is provided so as to surround the vertical camera unit.

The present invention relates to an omnidirectional camera which takes images of an omnidirectional landscape by a plurality of cameras and which measures a position where images are taken.
In recent years, with spread of a navigation system, not only a positional information as an information of an electronic map but also an image information of a target, a building, a construction, and a landscape around a road or the like are required. Therefore, a measurement for acquiring a positional data as a map information is carried out by using a GPS (Global Positioning System) and, at the same time, an image data is acquired by using an omnidirectional camera.
In recent years, there has been developed a data collection system in which a GPS is mounted in a movable vehicle such as a vehicle, a camera or a laser surveying device (a laser scanner) is mounted, a three-dimensional data of a construction or a building in urban space is collected and images are also collected, and this data collection system is made good use of the preparation of a map data to be used for car navigation and other purposes.
However, in a case of a conventional system, a GPS antenna and a camera are independently provided, there is a problem corresponding to an arrangement of the GPS antenna.
For example, in a case where the GPS antenna is provided near and above the camera, this arrangement is ideal for receiving a GPS signal, but the GPS antenna itself is reflected in the camera which takes images in a zenith direction, which obstructs a photographing of a landscape behind the GPS antenna.
In the case described above, since the GPS antenna is positioned near the camera and a relative positional displacement hardly occurs, a relative positional relationship can be calculated based on an initial design value, but the positional relationship between both the GPS antenna and the camera is apt to vary due to an error caused at a time of an installation.
In a case where the GPS antenna is provided above the camera via a pole at a position apart from the camera, there is no problem in receiving the GPS signal, but the GPS antenna and the pole supporting the GPS antenna are reflected in the camera, which obstructs a viewing field.
Also, in a case where the GPS antenna is provided below the camera at a position apart from the camera, since the GPS antenna is positioned below the system, components and devices, e.g. a camera and others may be an obstacle at a time of receiving a GPS signal.
Further, in the case described above, the GPS antenna is separated from the camera, and the GPS antenna and the camera are individually installed at the time of the installation. Therefore, a displacement occurs due to an installation error every time. Accordingly, a distance between the GPS antenna and the camera is measured every time the installation is carried out, and then a relative positional relationship is calculated based on a position of the GPS antenna on a photographed image. Therefore, a positional relationship between the GPS antenna and the camera is apt to vary due to a measurement error of a distance between the GPS antenna and the camera or a measurement error of the GPS antenna position on an image and so on.
Further, in a position measurement by using the GPS, in a case where the receiving of the GPS signal is interrupted because of a state of being in a shade of a building or a mountain or the like, a self-position cannot be determined. Therefore, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is mounted, and the position measurement using the IMU is carried out while the position measurement cannot be carried out by using the GPS. In this case, the IMU is installed at a position apart from the camera. For example, the IMU is installed at a position that is several tens of centimeters apart from the camera.
Also, in a case where the omnidirectional camera is mounted on a ceiling portion of a vehicle and a map data is acquired, when the vehicle with the camera decelerates, the vehicle tilts forward at a pitch angle corresponding to an acceleration around pitch center as a center and when the vehicle turns, e.g. in a counterclockwise direction, the vehicle tilts toward a right side at a roll angle corresponding to the acceleration around roll center as a center. Therefore, in a case where the pitch center or the roll center is provided in a lower portion of the vehicle and the camera and the IMU are disposed at positions apart from each other, when the vehicle accelerates/decelerates or turns, the IMU receives an acceleration different from an acceleration of the camera, and there is a problem that an accurate position of the camera cannot be determined.
It is noted that JP-A-2010-38822 discloses an omnidirectional camera with a GPS and a spatial data collection device that prevent deviation of a reference position of a GPS antenna and a reference position of an image and enable acquisition of images in all directions except an upper direction even when the reference position of the GPS antenna is adjusted to coincide with the image reference position of the camera and a direction of a vehicle changes or the vehicle is inclined.


A magneto-optical disk comprises a substrate and at least a magneto-optical recording layer provided on the substrate. A moisture barrier layer constituted of a fluorine resin is provided on the surface of the substrate on the side opposite to the substrate surface on which the magneto-optical recording layer is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magneto-optical disk for large-capacity information storage or the like. This invention particularly relates to an improvement of the structure of a magneto-optical disk.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Among magneto-optical recording media, magneto-optical disks have attracted particular attention for enabling easy erasing and rerecording.
A magneto-optical disk is composed of a substrate, a magneto-optical recording layer for recording signals thereon and a protective layer constituted of a dielectric layer for protecting the magneto-optical recording layer, which layers are sequentially overlaid on the substrate. In general, signal recording and read-out are effected by irradiating recording light or reading light onto the magneto-optical recording layer through the substrate, which is constituted of a transparent plastic material.
The plastic material which constitutes the substrate absorbs ambient moisture and expands. Therefore, a stress imbalance arises in the plane of the substrate at the boundary between the substrate and the protective layer or the like having a small coefficient of moisture-absorption expansion. As a result, the magneto-optical recording layer or the protective layer cracks or separates from the substrate, and the quality of the performance of the recording medium deteriorates.
In order to eliminate the aforesaid problem, a novel magneto-optical disk has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 61(1986)-3336 and 62(1987)-20156. The disclosed magneto-optical disk is characterized by having a protective layer, which is constituted of an organic substance having high moisture barrier characteristics such as poly-para-xylylene or its derivatives or polyvinylidene chloride, on the outward side of the substrate, thereby preventing the substrate, from absorbing moisture.
However, to form a protective layer constituted of poly-para-xylylene or its derivative, a dimer of poly-para-xylylene is sublimated and decomposed into poly-para-xylylene monomers, and the monomers are then deposited onto the substrate. Therefore, from a practical point of view dense protective layers for blocking moisture cannot be mass-produced in an acceptable period of time because of the slow rate of deposition (approximately 1.mu./hour).
On the other hand, polyvinylidene chloride is classified into a solvent-soluble type and an aqueous dispersion type. When a protective layer is formed by use of the solvent-soluble type of polyvinylidene chloride, a problem arises in that substrates constituted of polycarbonate or acrylic materials (for example, PMMA) are corroded by the solvent used for dissolution of the polyvinylidene chloride. When a protective layer is formed by use of the aqueous dispersion type of polyvinylidene chloride, a problem arises in that the protective layer, which is formed by coating, whitens unless the substrate and the coating composition for the formation of the protective layer are heated. Also, a protective layer formed by coating readily cracks, depending on the concentration of the coating composition.
Also, forming a protective layer of a silicone resin, which is an organic substance having high moisture barrier characteristics, has been considered. However, when silicone resin is employed, a thermal cure process (at 120.degree. C. to 150.degree. C.) is required for condensation with dehydration during formation of the siloxane bonds, and productivity decreases because of the thermal cure process.
Further, it has been considered to constitute a moisture barrier layer of an ultraviolet-curing resin or an electron radiation curing resin.
When using an ultraviolet-curing resin, equipment for irradiating ultraviolet rays is required, and an additional process is necessary for curing resin.
When using an electron radiation curing resin, equipment for irradiating the electron beam is required, an additional process is necessary for curing resin, and productivity decreases.


A circuit for reducing inrush current generated during startup of a switching power supply, which includes a reference voltage generator, an error amplifier, an oscillator, a sawtooth wave generator, a PWM comparator, an overshoot comparator, an AND gate, a R-S flip-flop, a power MOS switch, and a rectifying and filtering circuit. A division voltage outputted from the rectifying and filtering circuit is fed to the error amplifier.

Referring to FIG. 1, a circuit for PWM boost switching power supply is shown and comprises: a reference voltage generator 1, an error amplifier 2, an oscillator 3, a sawtooth wave generator 4, a PWM comparator 5, a R-S flip-flop 6, a power MOS switch 7, and a rectifying and filtering circuit consisted of inducer 8, diode 9, capacitor 10, and resistors 11, 12.
The output voltage V0 at startup of the switching power supply is zero, and at this moment the whole loop is not stable. A reference voltage FB-vref generated by the reference voltage generator 1 is transmitted from point D to the terminal "+" of the error amplifier 2, while the terminal "−" of the error amplifier 2 is inputted with the feedback voltage from the division point C of the output voltage V0. Due to the output voltage V0 at startup of the switching power supply is zero, the output of the error amplifier 2 will be high. And then the output of the error amplifier 2 will be inputted to the terminal "−" of PWM comparator 5 so as to be compared with the output of the sawtooth wave generator 4, as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows the waveforms outputted from the oscillator 3, the sawtooth wave generator 4, the PWM comparator 5, and the R-S flip-flop 6 (the waveforms at the points A, E, G, B of FIG. 1), and the output waveform F of the error amplifier 2 is shown in comparison to the output waveform (of point E) outputted from the sawtooth generator 4. When the waveform (at point F) outputted from the error amplifier 2 is higher than the waveform (of point E) outputted from the sawtooth wave generator 4, the voltage outputted from the PWM comparator 5 (of point G) is zero. Once the waveform outputted from the error amplifier 2 is lower than that of the sawtooth generator 4, the PWM comparator 5 will output a square wave. The waveform outputted from the R-S flip-flop 6 (at point B) is opposite to the waveform at point G, and the square wave outputted from the PWM comparator 5 will trigger the terminal "R" of the R-S flip-flop 6 to enable the output voltage of the R-S flip-flop 6 to be zero. When the voltage outputted from the PWM comparator 5 is zero, the oscillator 3 will trigger the terminal "S" of the R-S flip-flop 6, so that the voltage outputted from the R-S flip-flop 6 will be high. The high voltage outputted by the R-S flip-flop 6 will turn on the power MOS switch 7 through point B (as shown in FIG. 1), so as to charge the capacitor 10, and consequently the output voltage V0 will be increased. After the voltage from the division point C of the output voltage V0 (as shown in FIG. 1) is fedback to the error amplifier 2, the output of the error amplifier 2 will be reduced. Despite the reduction of the output of the error amplifier 2, the oscillator 3 will output signals periodically, making the R-S flip-flop 6 generate output pulse, as the arrow indicated in FIG. 2. The output pulse enables the capacitor 6 to be recharged, leading to an overshoot of the output voltage V0, as indicated by the "before-modification line" in FIG. 3. As a result, an inrush current will be caused and will damage the circuit.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Circuit for reducing inrush current generated during startup of a switching power supply


A conveyor oven is described. The conveyor oven includes a frame made of load-bearing structural members. The conveyor oven has a modular construction, with the structural members defining a rectangular prism. Blocks of insulation are placed in the frame openings, and a flexible insulating material, such as a multi-layer insulating textile, is used to cover joints between adjacent modules. Along the length of the conveyor oven, idler rollers that support the conveyor belt have ends that penetrate the sides of the oven and are supported such that the rollers can shift as the oven expands and contracts without creating openings for heat or air leakage. Air flow within the oven is managed using sets of adjustable baffle plates above and below the conveyor belt.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the invention relates to ovens and furnaces, and more particularly, to conveyor ovens.
2. Description of Related Art
Conveyor ovens are industrial ovens that are used in manufacturing processes. A typical conveyor oven includes an insulated, heated enclosure. Within the enclosure, a driven conveyor belt moves material from one end of the oven to the other. Conveyor ovens may be long, and they may have any number of "zones" that are maintained at different elevated temperatures. The temperature of the oven, the speed of the conveyor belt, the speed of air flowing within the conveyor oven, and the relative humidity of the air are usually regulated so that when the material emerges from the other end of the conveyor oven, a predefined heating process has been completed. Conveyor ovens are used to heat a wide variety of materials and products, ranging from foodstuffs to plastic films.
Because conveyor ovens are often very long, they are usually modular in construction—several modules may be connected together to form the complete oven. The joints between modules in a conveyor oven may, for example, be constructed with a tongue-and-groove approach, in which a protruding part of one module fits into a corresponding recess in the adjacent module to form a cohesive whole. Adjacent modules are often welded together, leaving some small distance between modules to allow for thermal expansion. The walls of a typical oven are constructed of layers of sheet metal with interspersed insulation.
Conveyor ovens often have a number of issues, some common to all heated enclosures and some specific. For one, thermal expansion, thermal stresses, fatigue, and fracture are all common issues. The issue of thermal expansion in a conveyor oven can be exacerbated by the fact that a typical oven includes components like idler rollers which rotate and support the belt, and which must remain free to rotate as the oven heats and expands.
Heat leakage is also a problem in conveyor ovens. Heat may escape through openings in the oven, and cold air from the surroundings may enter. Some of the heat loss may be through radiation, although these ovens typically have positive and/or negative pressure gradients that can push hot air out or pull cold air in. In many cases, a conveyor oven may have a positive pressure gradient at one point and a negative pressure gradient at another point, potentially exacerbating the problem. In fact, because of the size of a typical conveyor oven and the consequent number of potential leakage or trouble spots, even identifying the source of any leakage or loss can be a considerable undertaking. Moreover, within the oven itself, air and heat flows can also be an issue, and it can be difficult to maintain the desired temperature near the belt as the hot air circulates around the oven.
Aside from thermal issues, the mechanical strength of a typical oven can present some limitations. Because conveyor ovens are typically made of layers of sheet metal and insulation, there may or may not be sufficient mechanical strength to install secondary equipment within the oven.


Methods, computer program products, computer systems, and the like, which protect messages in an electronic messaging system, are disclosed. The methods, computer program products, computer systems, and the like include detecting an occurrence of an event, and, in response to the detecting the occurrence of the event, scanning a message. The occurrence of the event indicates that the message should be scanned. The message includes recipient information, which identifies a recipient of the message, and is stored in a message store. The message has been received at a message destination associated with the recipient. The scanning uses a malware definition. The scanning is performed prior to the message being retrieved from the message store in response to a request by the recipient to retrieve the message from the message store. The event is other than the request by the recipient to retrieve the message from the message store.

Electronic messaging systems (including, e.g., electronic mail (email) systems, instant messaging systems, text messaging systems, and other such messaging systems) have become ubiquitous in both the commercial and private spheres, and have changed the way businesses and individuals communicate with one another, allowing users to quickly and easily exchange information. For example, an individual can easily send and receive text messages, emails, or the like, using one of any number of computing devices, including personal computing devices (e.g., so-called "smart phones," tablet devices, and the like), laptop computers, desktop computers, and the like, as well as larger computing systems (e.g., availing themselves of access to server systems, cloud-based systems, and the like). In a business setting, an employee can draft an electronic document, attach that document to an electronic message, and send the message (including the attached document) to other employees, allowing those employees to access the document at their convenience, without having to obtain a physical copy of the document.
As businesses and individuals increase their usage of electronic forms of communication, however, new problems have begun to arise. For example, the increasing use of email, over both the Internet and private networks, increases the exposure of individual users and operations to malicious disruption. One such problem is the possibility of malware attacks by way of such electronic messaging systems. For example, email-borne malware outbreaks have occurred with some frequency, spreading across the globe in a matter of hours, at times. Some degree of protection can be achieved by scanning emails and their attachments for malware while the emails are being conveyed through the network (e.g., the Internet) and/or upon receipt. Typically, the scanning of emails during their transport is done on a centralized basis (e.g., by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and/or others who operate email gateways). Scanning can also be performed at an end user's machine, upon the receipt of a given email and prior to storage thereof (and ultimately, access thereto by the intended recipient).
However, even with the scanning of emails during transport and upon receipt, there is still a problem with regard to new malware. For example, it is possible for new malware to be released onto the Internet, and begin infecting computers before a new malware definition (containing information allowing identification of the new malware) can be promulgated. In such a scenario, a given email message may contain the new malware, which would then go undetected as the given email message (and new malware) was conveyed to the intended recipient, regardless of having been scanned during transport and upon receipt (as a result of the (old) malware definition being used). Thus, there exists a window of vulnerability in such messaging systems, in which the period of time between when the last malware definition was made available, and a new such malware definition is made available. In such scenarios, then, messaging systems lack protection from new malware introduced during such periods. Thus, even leaving aside the question of how a new virus might first be detected, and whether or not the given message was scanned during transport or receipt with a given malware definition, there remains the need for functionality that protects messaging systems in such situations.

Method and system for protection of messages in an electronic messaging system