Sterilisation apparatus comprising a sterilisation instrument configured to be inserted through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device and a withdrawal device for withdrawing the sterilisation instrument from the instrument channel at a predetermined rate. The sterilisation instrument comprises an elongate probe having a probe tip with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to produce an electric field from received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy. In operation the instrument may disinfect an inner surface of the instrument channel by emitting energy whilst being withdrawn through the channel.

Bacteria are single-celled organisms that are found almost everywhere, exist in large numbers and are capable of dividing and multiplying rapidly. Most bacteria are harmless, but there are three harmful groups; namely: cocci, spirilla, and bacilla. The cocci bacteria are round cells, the spirilla bacteria are coil-shaped cells, and the bacilli bacteria are rod-shaped. The harmful bacteria cause diseases such as tetanus and typhoid.
Viruses can only live and multiply by taking over other cells, i.e. they cannot survive on their own. Viruses cause diseases such as colds, flu, mumps and AIDS. Fungal spores and tiny organisms called protozoa can cause illness.
Such micro-organisms are known to persist in the instrument channel of surgical scopes (such as endoscopes, gastroscopes etc.), and it is desirable to remove these organisms. Sterilisation is an act or process that destroys or eliminates all form of life, especially micro-organisms.
Known methods of sterilising the instrument channels of scopes involve the use cleaning fluids which are flushed through the channel to expel debris. A brush may also be used to scrub the interior. The scope is then disinfected in automatic washing or disinfection units, which may involve the immersion of the scope in potentially harmful chemicals such as glutaraldehyde. Finally, the scope is rinsed thoroughly with water, then alcohol, to remove traces of the disinfectant.
Such known methods are labour-intensive, and are also prone to incomplete or insufficient sterilisation of the instrument channel. The present invention aims to address these issues.

Apparatus for sterilising an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device


A saw apparatus includes a guide bar, a chain driver, and an endless cutting chain trained about the guide bar and the chain driver. The guide bar includes a first chain retention feature along at least a portion of its periphery, and the cutting chain includes a second chain retention feature configured to interact with the first chain retention feature such that movement of the second chain retention feature away from the guide bar is restricted. A timber-working device includes a frame, at least one pair of arms pivotally attached to the frame and configured to be controlled to grasp at least one tree, and the saw apparatus mounted to the frame.

It is known to mount a timber-working head, for example in the form of a harvesting head, to a forestry work machine to perform a number of functions in connection with timber. Such heads may be used to grapple and fell a standing tree and process the felled tree by delimbing, possibly debarking (depending on the configuration of the head), and cutting the stem of the tree into logs of predetermined length using at least one chainsaw.
The endless cutting chain of the saw can be broken during sawing, potentially producing a whipping action which may cause fragments of the chain to be thrown at high speed (referred to in the art as "chain shot"). While a number of measures have been developed to reduce the likelihood of chain shot occurring (for example braking systems, control of chain tension, and guards), it remains highly desirable to further mitigate this issue.
Aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.


A bioactive substance control-releasing resinous composition comprising a resin having main chain and side chains, at least one side chain bearing at the end portion thereof an organic acid moiety having a biological activity, through a metal ester bonding. The resin is hydrolyzed in an ionic atmosphere at a controlled rate to generate a bioactive substance as well as metal ions and is useful in various fields and especially as a resinous vehicle for a coating composition.

Today, various bioactive substances are used in agricultural, medical or other fields, and however, since they are usually employed in larger quantities because of their poor migration to the target, short retention time and easy scattering in air coming from their characteristic properties such as hydrophilic properties hydrophobic properties volatility and the like, fears are always entertained for the safety of such materials, e.g. soil contamination in case of agricultural chemicals, undesired side-effects in case of medicines and the like.
Attempts, therefore, have been made to make a high polymer carrying a bioactive substance, from which the said bioactive substance is released at a controlled rate, thereby attaining the desired effect for a long period of time and obviating the useless, excessive release of the active substance (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 143326/82).
However, in these attempts, the carrying of bioactive substance on the high polymer was relied on a covalent bond, and therefore, for the release of such substance, hydrolysis under a high temperature and a highly acidic or basic atmosphere had always been required, as well as a long reaction time. Since the hydrolysis rate is very low under mild conditions as in human body, soil, sea water and the like and the desired slow releasing at a controlled rate is hardly obtainable with these products, they have never been put to practical use up to the present time.
An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a resin carrying a bioactive substance, from which the said substance is gradually released at a controlled rate through hydrolysis under mild conditions. An additional object of the invention is to provide a resinous composition containing said resin.

Metallic ester acrylic compositions capable of releasing bioactive substance at a controlled rate


A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a pressing member and a sheet member. The fixing belt is arranged rotatably and configured to extend along an axis direction. The pressuring member is arranged rotatably and configured to come into pressure contact with the fixing belt so as to form a fixing nip. The pressing member is configured to press the fixing belt to a side of the pressuring member and configured such that the fixing belt is interposed between the pressing member and the pressuring member. The sheet member is formed in a tubular shape and provided around the pressing member and configured to rotate with rotation of the fixing belt.

The present disclosure relates to a fixing device configured to fix a toner image onto a recording medium and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device.
Conventionally, an electrographic image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine or a printer, includes a fixing device configured to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, such as a sheet. For the fixing device, a belt fixing manner is applied. The belt fixing manner is a manner to form a fixing nip by making a fixing belt and a pressuring member (e.g. a pressuring roller) come into pressure contact with each other.
For example, there is a fixing device including a fixing belt arranged rotatably, a pressuring member configured to come into pressure contact with the fixing belt so as to form a fixing nip, a pressing member configured such that the fixing belt is sandwiched between the pressing member and the pressuring member, and a sheet member provided around the pressing member.
In the fixing device configured as described above, when the fixing belt rotates, the fixing belt slides with respect to the sheet member which is fixedly arranged. According to this, there is a concern that the fixing belt and the sheet member are worn out rapidly and the product lifetime of the fixing belt and the sheet member is shortened.

Fixing device configured to fix a toner image onto a recording medium and image forming apparatus including the same


Systems and methods for modeling a mobile ad hoc wireless network are disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, methods for modeling a mobile ad hoc wireless network for a predetermined geographical area. An exemplary method includes dividing the geographic area into a network grid including a plurality of network grid elements, locating obstacles, if any, to communication between transmission nodes located in at least two different grid elements from the plurality of network grid elements, locating bottlenecks within the plurality of network grid elements, locating network grid elements from the plurality of network grid elements where wireless transmission is unconstricted, determining a transmission flow rate across the bottlenecks, and comparing the transmission flow rate across the bottlenecks to determine if any of the bottlenecks are not real bottlenecks.

1. Field
The present application relates to systems and methods for modeling a mobile ad hoc wireless network.
2. Background Art
A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) includes a collection of mobile nodes that construct a communication network by forwarding data between currently reachable nodes rather than using a fixed infrastructure. In commercial applications, MANETs provide a mechanism to try new services with a smaller investment in infrastructure than wired networks. Providing Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees in MANETs extends the range of possible new services, such as Voice over IP, that can use these networks.
Much research has been conducted and many solutions have been proposed to provide QoS guarantees in wired networks. However, because of the differences between wired and wireless communication and the frequently changing network topology in a mobile environment, current research on flow and access control has focused on finding new solutions for MANETs, rather than directly applying insights from previous work on wired networks. For example, K. Chen, K. Nahrstedt, and N. Vaidya, "The utility of explicit rate-based flow control in mobile ad hoc networks," Proc. 2004 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, Atlanta, Ga., March 2004 provides an alternative protocol design for MANETs. Thus, there is a need for a technique that addresses the problems associated with MANETs using the insights gained from the more stable wired network.

The Trustees of Columbia University in the city of New York


Build material application device (6) for an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2), the build material application device (6) being adapted to apply an amount of build material (3) in a build plane (BP) of a respective apparatus (1), the build material application device (6) comprising: a first build material application element (6a), the first build material application element (6a) being moveably supported in a first motion path (MP1) in which the first build material application element (6a) is moved across the build plane (BP), and in a second motion path (MP2) in which the first build material application element (6a) is not moved across the build plane (BP); a second build material application element (6b), the second build material application element (6b) being moveably supported in a first motion path (MP1) and in a second motion path (MP2).

The invention relates to a build material application device for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, the build material application device being adapted to apply an amount of build material in a build plane of a respective apparatus.
Respective build material devices being adapted to apply an amount of build material in a build plane of an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, e.g. selective laser melting apparatuses or selective electron beam melting apparatuses, are generally known.
Since the efficiency of the build material application process is of great significance for the efficiency of the entire additive manufacturing process, different build material application strategies have been suggested.
One known build material application strategy is to repeatedly move a single build material application element, i.e. a re-coating element, across the build plane of a respective apparatus between a first and a second position; the build material application element moves from the first position across the build plane towards the second position in a specific track of motion, whereby an amount of build material is applied so as to form a first build material layer, and moves back from the second position across the build plane towards the first position in the same track of motion, whereby an amount of build material is applied so as to form a further build material layer.


A clock synchronization circuit includes a multi-phase clock generator to generate a plurality of delayed clocks, each delayed clock having a unique delay with regard to a source clock. The clock synchronization circuit further includes a selection circuit that selects one of the delayed clocks according to a phase error to form a local clock driven into a local clock path and received at the clock synchronization circuit as a received local clock. The selection circuit determines the phase error by comparing the received local clock to a reference clock.

Modern ASICs such as a system-on-a-chip (SOC) integrate many functions into a single chip. To address the increased complexity in modern designs, the system clock is often split into several local clock domains. By splitting the system clock in this fashion, the loading on the global clock is reduced, which in turn reduces the insertion delay and clock jitter. The local circuits receiving the local clocks thus benefit from reduced uncertainty due to the reduced jitter and are more robust over process and temperature variations.
Although multiple clock domains are thus an attractive alternative as compared to using a single global clock, the local clocks must still be phase aligned with the global clock. A conventional technique to keep multiple clocks in phase alignment involves the use of phase-locked loops (PLLs). But the synchronization from a PLL is typically slow due to their low bandwidth. For example, the lock time for a conventional PLL to align one clock with another is on the order of tens or hundreds of micro seconds. In addition, each additional clock domain requires another PLL such that N clock domains require (N−1) PLLs. The use of such a multiplicity of PLLs as the number N of clock domains is increased requires excessive die area and leads to high power consumption.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved clock synchronization techniques and circuits.


The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a semiconductor process chamber wherein a contaminant purge system is utilized which has a first end connected in fluid communication with a conduit connecting between a pressure sensor and a manifold, and a second end connected in fluid communication with an exhaust system such that a purge gas carries contaminant particles from the conduit to the exhaust system and away from the process chamber.

In semiconductor processing, a large percentage of the yield losses can be attributed to contaminations by particles and films of various nature. The contaminants may be organic or inorganic particles, films formed of polymeric bases, or other ionic based materials. The particles or films can be generated as a byproduct in the reaction of reactant gases, by the surrounding environment, by the processing equipment or by the handling of manufacturing personnel. Some contaminants are particles or films generated from condensed organic vapors, solvent residues, photoresist or metal oxide compounds.
Typical problems and the detrimental effects caused by particle or film contaminants are the poor adhesion of deposited layers, or the poor etching of the underlying material. The electrical properties and the stability of devices built on the semiconductor substrate may also be seriously affected by ionic based contaminants. The various forms of contaminants therefore not only reduce the product yield but also degrades the reliability of the devices built. For instance, contaminant particles can cause a device to fail by improperly defined patterns, by creating unpredictable surface topography, by inducing leakage current through insulating layer, or otherwise reducing the device lifetime. It is generally recognized that a particle contaminant that exceeds one-fifth to one-half of a minimum feature size on a device has the potential of causing a fatal defect, i.e. a defect that causes a device to fail completely. A defect of smaller size may also be fatal if it falls in a critical area, for instance, a particle contaminant in the gate oxide layer of a transistor. In modern high density devices, such as a dynamic random access memory chip, the maximum allowable number of particle contaminants per unit area of the device must be reduced accordingly in order to maintain an acceptable yield and reliability.
A typical low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) system can be carried out in an apparatus as that shown in FIG. 1.
Referring initially to FIG. 1 wherein a conventional chemical vapor deposition system 10 is shown. The chemical vapor deposition method has been widely used in the deposition of silicon nitride films on semiconductor substrates. In this method, a gas containing the structural elements of the film material to be formed is fed into a chamber, followed by heating the gas mixture to induce a chemical reaction to deposit the desired film on the semiconductor substrate. In a conventional CVD method, a silicon nitride film can be deposited by a chemical reaction between silane (SiH.sub.4) and ammonia (NH.sub.3) at the atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 700.degree..about.900.degree. C., or by a mixture of dichlorosilane (SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2) and ammonia at a reduced pressure and at a temperature of 700.degree..about.800.degree. C.
As shown in FIG. 1, reactant gases of dichlorosilane 12 and ammonia 14, each carried by a carrier gas of nitrogen, are fed into the process chamber 18 through the inner tubes 40. The reaction gases are mixed at the bottom portion of inner tubes 40. Manifold 16 provides inlets and outlets for the gases and is used as a pedestal support for the inner tubes 40 and the outer tubes 24. The process chamber 18 is first evacuated by vacuum pump 20 prior to the reaction. A purge gas of nitrogen 22 is then used to fill the process chamber 18 and to drive out any residual gas left from the previous deposition cycle. A cold trap 26 maintained at sub-ambient temperature, e.g., approximately 12.degree..about.18.degree. C. is used in the vacuum line to trap particles that cannot be pumped away. The manifold 16 is provided with a pressure sensor 28 which is connected via a conduit 30 to the manifold 16 at a pressure port 32. A main valve 34 and a sub-valve 36, as well as pressure switches 42 and 44 are provided in the vacuum evacuation line for controlling the fluid flow. A vent line 48 is connected to the vacuum evacuation line between the two pressure switches 42 and 44 for venting spent reactant gases through control valves 52 and 54 to the exhaust vent 56. The switch 42 can be a 760 Torr pressure switch, while the switch 44 can be a 800 Torr pressure switch. When the pressure in chamber 18 reaches atmospheric pressure, switch 42 sends a signal to trigger a solenoid valve to open control valve 52 so that gas can vent from the chamber. Pressure switch 44 is a backup switch which acts in case of a malfunction of switch 42. This prevents process chamber 18 from being damaged by excessive gas pressure. For instance, switch 44 sends a signal to open control valve (or air valve) 54 when chamber pressure reaches 800 Torr.
After the reactant gases of SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2 and NH.sub.3 are mixed in the inner tube 40, the gas mixture is flown into the process chamber 18 to deposit silicon nitride films on wafers held in a wafer boat. (Not shown). It has been observed that during the reaction between SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2 and NH.sub.3, a reaction byproduct of NH.sub.4 Cl in a white power form, is produced. The ammonium chloride powder is frequently trapped in the conduit 30 at near the pressure port 32 that is connected to the pressure sensor 28. The white powdery residue deposited at the pressure port 32 and in the conduit 30 is very difficult to remove due to the fact that there is no purge gas flowing through either the port or the conduit. The accumulation of ammonium chloride powder at the port and in the conduit creates a serious contamination problem in the process chamber 18. During a silicon nitride film deposition cycle, the ammonium chloride particles may enter into the chamber and contaminate a substrate surface that is to be deposited with silicon nitride films. The purge gas of nitrogen 22 is directly flown into the process chamber 18 at outlet 24 and also from 12 and 14 as carrier gas for the reactant gas which then exits the chamber at outlet 38. The purge gas 22, 12 and 14 therefore cannot effectively purge the area of the pressure port 32 and the conduit 30 and to carry away the contaminant particles of ammonium chloride. In order to correct this problem, the process chamber 18 has to be shut down after a predetermined number of deposition cycles such that the conduit 30 (frequently in a bellow form) may be detached from pressure port 32 and be cleaned in a wet acid process. This creates downtime in the deposition equipment and leads to reduced product yield.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a semiconductor processing chamber that does not have the drawbacks and shortcomings of prior art methods and apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a semiconductor processing chamber that only requires a minimum modification to the existing processing equipment.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a semiconductor processing chamber that does not require the use of additional chemicals or gases.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a semiconductor processing chamber that utilizes existing purge gas to purge out contaminating particles.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a semiconductor processing chamber by connecting a purge system between a conduit connecting a pressure sensing device to a manifold and the exhaust system of the processing chamber such that contaminant particles can be carried away from the processing chamber.

Method and apparatus for preventing particle contamination in a process chamber


An inner-rotor-type motor includes a housing, a stator, a rotor and a bearing seat. The stator is received in an assembly space of the housing. The rotor is rotatably positioned in the housing via a bearing and extends through a through-hole of the stator. The bearing seat includes a socket having a first recess and a second recess and couples to the assembly opening of the assembly space. A stopper is at least a part of the upper wall of the socket and arranged between the first recess and the second recess. The bearing can pass through an end of the socket and be positioned in the first recess, while a circuit board can pass through another end of the socket and be positioned in the second recess. Accordingly, the assembly is simplified, and the assembly convenience is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inner-rotor-type motor and, more particularly, to an inner-rotor-type motor with a bearing seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional inner-rotor-type motor 8 having a bottom for a bearing seat 9 to mount on. The inner-rotor-type motor 8 substantially includes a housing 81, a stator 82 and a rotor 83. The housing 81 has a compartment 810, an upper opening 811 and a lower opening 812. The upper opening 811 and the lower opening 812 communicate with the top and bottom of the compartment 810 respectively. The stator 82 with a through-hole 821 is mounted in the compartment 810. The through-hole 821 has two ends in the form of openings communicating with the upper opening 811 and the lower opening 812 in alignment. The rotor 83 has a shaft 831 arranged along an axle thereof. The rotor 83 is rotatably coupled to housing 81 through the bearing 84, with the shaft 831 being received in the through-hole 821 of the stator 82 and extending through the upper opening 811.
Referring to FIG. 2, the bearing seat 9 is mounted in the lower opening 812 of the housing 81. The bearing seat 9 includes a socket 91 and a base 92. The socket 91 is coupled to the lower opening 812 of the housing 81. The socket 91 has a first recess 911, a second recess 912 and a plurality of apertures 913. The first recess 911 is formed on a side of the second recess 912 and communicating with the second recess 912, with the inner diameter of the first recess 911 being smaller than that of the second recess 912. The first recess 911 is for receiving the bearing 84, and the second recess 912 is for receiving a circuit board 85. Moreover, the first recess 911 forms an opening 914 on a top of the socket 91, and the second recess 912 forms an opening 915 on a bottom of the socket 91. The shaft 831 has an end extending through the opening 914 into the first recess 911 and coupling to the bearing 84 received in the first recess 911. The apertures 913 are formed on the top of the socket 91, communicate with the second recess 912 for wires of the stator 82 to extend through the apertures 913 into the second recess 912, and are electrically connected to the circuit board 85. The base 92 covers the opening 915 on the bottom of the socket 91 in alignment.
In general, for preventing the bearing 84 in the first recess 911 from falling into the through-hole 821 of the stator 82, the opening 914 on the top of the bearing seat 9 narrows inwards to form a shoulder 916 for cooperating with a fastener 86 to restrict the bearing 84 in the first recess 911. However, forming the shoulder 916 decreases the inner diameter of the opening 914, so the bearing 84 and circuit board 85 in the first recess 911 and the second recess 912 can be arranged only by sequentially passing through the opening 915 on the bottom of the socket 91. Besides, the apertures 913 are formed on the top of the socket 91, so the wires need to pass through the apertures 913 for entering the second recess 912, thus causes causing assembly inconvenience.
With the trend toward miniaturization of the motor sizes, the conventional inner-rotor-type motor diminishes accordingly and the first recess 911 is barely enough to receive the bearing 84, so mounting the fastener 86 on the end of the shaft 831 in the first recess 911 is not easy in assembly, thus increasing the assembly difficulties. Hence, there is a need for an improvement over the conventional inner-rotor-type motor.

Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.


A method of and apparatus for constructing a control system and a control system created thereby which is based on a finite state machine with constant code (FSMcc). An input preprocessor module normalizes input signals as required by the FSMcc logical processing unit. An output postprocessor module changes the normalized finite state machine outputs to real signals required by the controlled process or apparatus. The input preprocessor allows for a different finite state machine required for an application to be executed by the same constant code contained in the FSMcc microcode storage. An application logic table for the FSMcc is constructed using a specific organization of data representing application logic conditions. This organization allows the entire application logic to be expressed in a table of a technically feasible size. The size of the FSMcc application logic table memory is greatly reduced. The symbolic application logic table is build in a simplified form using implied AND and OR logical operators. This symbolic application table is directly converted into the FSMcc application logic table.

In this specification reference is made to the following publications:
1. Davis A.M.: "A Comparison of Techniques for the Specification of External System Behavior". Communications of the ACM, September 1988, Vol.31, No.9, pp.1098-1115.
2. Clare C.R.: Designing Logic System Using State Machine. McGraw-Hill, 1973.
3. Kohavi Z.: Switching and Finite Automata Theory. McGraw-Hill, 1978.
4. Hatley D.J., Pirbhai I.A.: Strategies for Real-Time System Specification. Dorset House Publishing, New York, 1988.
and to:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,179: Multirate Real Time Control System Code Generator. Larry L. Lehman, et al.
The majority of computer control systems require programming for each application. The process of programming is error-prone and requires testing of implemented logic and the correctness of program statements which express this logic. The pure logic of the application is deeply buried in the program code. There is no known way to isolate the logic design from peculiarities of the programming language and its data representation.
An alternative to systems which are programmed are systems which are specified. The advantages of control systems which are specified in comparison to systems which are programmed are well known and summarized e.g. in reference 1 by Davis. As taught in reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,179 a control system can be built using subroutines describing standard control blocks. The subroutines are then linked together into the control system. Another approach is based on table driven finite state machines which are specified. This is suitable for systems intended for applications characterized by a high number of control decisions.
As shown in reference 1 by Davis for the table approach, boolean tables grow exponentially with the number of input and states. Because of this well known growth phenomena, a table driven approach has been limited to rather simple applications. Typically, only selected subsystems of a complex system are implemented as table driven finite state machines.
Input signals come to a control system from different analog and digital sensors. The signals are often of different natures: some are digital, others are analog. The digital signals are two-valued (boolean) or multivalued (numbers). The analog signals in their original form are of no use in a digital control system. Only some specific values of an analog signal are relevant for control purposes. A table driven state machine can process digital information only. Therefore, the use of table driven systems was limited to applications where input has a standard boolean form. This view is presented in reference 2 by Clare. Prior approaches were always limited by exponential growth of memory size.

Method of and apparatus for constructing a control system and control system created thereby


A common rail injector having an injector housing having a fuel supply line which communicates with a central high-pressure fuel source outside the injector housing and with a pressure chamber inside the injector housing, from which pressure chamber, as a function of the position of a 3/2-way control valve, fuel subjected to high pressure is injected. The 3/2 way control valve, includes a valve piston, movable back and forth in the injector housing between a position of repose and an injection position, which piston is coupled hydraulically with a piezoelectric actuator that is subjected to the pressure from the high-pressure fuel source.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a common rail injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having an injector housing, which has a fuel supply line which communicates with a central high-pressure fuel source outside the injector housing and with a pressure chamber inside the injector housing, from which pressure chamber, as a function of the position of a control valve, especially a 3/2-way valve, fuel subjected to high pressure is injected.
2. Prior Art
From German Published Patent Application DE 102 29 415 A1, a pressure-boosted fuel injector is known, which is supplied with fuel at high pressure via a high-pressure reservoir. From the interior of the high-pressure reservoir, a supply line leads to a pressure booster, which is integrated into the fuel injector. The pressure booster is enclosed by an injector body of the fuel injector. The fuel injector further includes a metering valve, which is embodied as a 3/2-way valve. The metering valve can be embodied as a solenoid or can be actuated via a piezoelectric actuator. The metering valve can also be embodied as a servo valve or as a direct-switching valve. The control of known common rail injectors is usually done with servo valves or solenoids, which are expensive and tolerance-sensitive.
The object of the invention is to create a common rail injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having an injector housing, which has a fuel supply line which communicates with a central high-pressure fuel source outside the injector housing and with a pressure chamber inside the injector housing, from which pressure chamber, as a function of the position of a control valve, especially a 3/2-way valve, fuel subjected to high pressure is injected, which can be produced inexpensively and also functions reliably even at high pressures.


In one embodiment, a receiver of the invention has a detector coupled to a digital processor. The detector is adapted to mix the received PSK signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal having a time-varying phase offset with respect to the carrier frequency of the PSK signal to produce a digital measure of the PSK signal. The digital processor is adapted to: (i) estimate a frequency offset between the carrier frequency of the PSK signal and the LO signal; (ii) remove from an angular component of the digital measure a component corresponding to the frequency offset to generate a frequency-offset-adjusted signal; (iii) for each time slot of the PSK signal, estimate the phase of a respective PSK constellation symbol based on an angular component of the frequency-offset-adjusted signal and an angular component of a recursive function; (iv) estimate a phase differential for a PSK-symbol transition based on two consecutive phase estimates; (v) map each estimated phase differential onto a phase increment corresponding to a symbol transition in the PSK constellation; and (vi) recover a data sequence encoded in the PSK signal based on the mapping results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication equipment and, more specifically, to equipment for coherent detection of phase-shift-keying (PSK) signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Delivery of multimedia services (e.g., telephony, digital video, and data) that is implemented using optical phase-shift keying (PSK) signals has certain advantages, e.g., over that implemented using conventional electrical analog or digital signals. More specifically, some of the advantages are: the ability to carry various/multiple multimedia services over the same optical communication channel; the ability to maintain a selected bit-error rate (BER) with relatively low carrier-to-noise ratios; relatively high tolerance to nonlinear signal distortions; and relatively high spectral efficiency and transmission capacity. As a result, cable companies are upgrading their hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) networks to improve/create a fully interactive, bidirectional optical network that can carry optical multimedia signals into and out of homes. It is projected that, in the near future, high-definition television (HDTV) signals are likely to be delivered substantially exclusively over optical communication channels.
A typical coherent optical PSK receiver detects the received optical communication signal by mixing it with a local oscillator (LO) signal and processing the mixing results to determine the phase of the communication signal in each time slot, thereby recovering the encoded data. To enable this phase determination, the LO signal is typically phase-locked to the carrier wavelength of the communication signal using an optical phase-lock loop (PLL). More specifically, the PLL is configured to track the frequency and phase of the carrier wavelength and provide a feedback signal to the LO source, based on which feedback signal the LO source achieves and maintains the phase-lock.
Unfortunately, suitable coherent optical receivers are typically relatively difficult to design and/or relatively expensive to build. For example, a conventional, relatively inexpensive laser source might produce an optical signal that has a relatively large linewidth. If that laser source is used in a coherent optical receiver as an LO source, then its relatively large linewidth might produce a phase uncertainty/noise that can make the optical phase-lock between the LO and communication signals difficult to achieve and/or maintain. As a result, coherent optical receivers are often designed to have specially constructed laser sources and/or relatively complex optical PLLs, both of which can drive up the receiver cost by a substantial amount.

Recursive phase estimation for a phase-shift-keying receiver


An apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a belt arranged to move in a predetermined path includes a first roll arranged to support a portion of the belt passing thereover. The first roll has first and second ends. A first centering assembly for the belt is located adjacent the first roll. The first centering assembly includes a first rotating member located adjacent a first end of the first roll and a second rotating member located adjacent a second end of the first roll. The first and second rotating members urge the belt to an equilibrium position on the first roll. In one embodiment, the first and second rotating members are rollers which may either be tapered or crowned. In a second embodiment, the rotating members are driven rollers which rotate towards each other. In a third embodiment, the two rotating members are endless tracking belts which rotate towards each other.

The present invention relates to a belt supporting and tracking apparatus. More particularly, it relates to an improved apparatus for controlling the lateral movement of a belt from its predetermined path.
The invention is particularly suited for use in an electronic device such as an electrostatographic printing machine. However, it should be appreciated that the apparatus could also be used in many other types of machines which utilize a moving belt.
In electrostatographic printing apparatus commonly in use today, a photoconductive insulating member is typically charged to a uniform potential and thereafter exposed to a light image of an original document to be reproduced. The exposure discharges the photoconductive insulating surface in exposed or background areas and creates an electrostatic latent image on the member which corresponds to the image contained within the original document. Alternatively, a light beam may be modulated and used to selectively discharge portions of the charged photoconductive surface to record the desired information thereon. Typically, such a system employs a laser beam. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive insulating surface is made visible by developing the image with developer powder referred to in the art as toner. Most development systems employ developer which comprises both charged carrier particles and charged toner particles which triboelectrically adhere to the carrier particles. During development, the toner particles are attracted from the carrier particles by the charged pattern of the image areas of the photoconductive insulating area to form a powder image on the photoconductive area. This toner image may be subsequently transferred to a support surface such as copy paper to which it may be permanently affixed by heating or by the application of pressure.
Many commercial applications of the above process employ a photoconductive insulating member in the form of a belt which is supported about a predetermined path past a plurality of processing stations to ultimately form a reproduced image on copy paper. The location of the latent image recorded on the photoconductive belt must be precisely defined in order to have the various processing stations acting thereon optimize copy quality. To this end, it is critical that the lateral alignment of the photoconductive belt be controlled within prescribed tolerances. Only in this manner will a photoconductive belt move through a predetermined path so that the processing stations disposed thereabout will be located precisely relative to the latent image recorded thereon. Lateral movement of the photoconductive belt is particularly a problem in connection with color copiers where the precise tracking of the belt is mandatory for acceptable copy quality.
When considering control of the lateral movement of the belt, it is well known that if the belt were perfectly constructed and entrained about perfectly cylindrical rollers mounted and secured in an exactly parallel relationship with one another, there would be no lateral movement of the belt. In actual practice, however, this is not feasible. Due to the imperfections in the system's geometry, the belt velocity vector is not normal to the roller axis of the rotation, and the belt will move laterally relative to a roller until reaching a kinematically stable position.
Existing methods of controlling the lateral movement of a belt comprise servo systems, crowned rollers and flanged rollers. Servo systems use steering rollers to maintain lateral control of the belt. While they generally apply less stress to the sides of the belt than do crowned rollers and flanged rollers, servo systems are frequently rather complex and costly. Crowned and flanged rollers while being inexpensive, frequently produce high local stresses resulting in damage to the edges of the belt.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved edge guide system for belt tracking which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.


A imaging based dataform reader utilizes a method of compensating for image offset between consecutive image fields comprising an interlaced image frame. The method includes determination of a disparity vector corresponding to the direction and magnitude of the offset between portions of successive fields. The disparity vector is determined by trial matching feature recognition data for a template area of a second image field to feature recognition data for a reference area of a first image field. The second field feature recognition data is trial matched to first field data at a plurality of offsets typical of hand jittering. The offset position providing the best feature match between the first and second fields is used to derive a disparity vector. The disparity vector is then applied to provide enhanced decoding by use of first field image data and registration-corrected second field image data. Feature recognition is achieved by use of digital filter value sets which may be adapted for recognition of horizontal, vertical or curved feature transitions.

Portable data collection devices are widely used in manufacturing, service and package delivery industries to perform a variety of on-site data collection activities. Such portable data collection devices often include integrated dataform readers adapted to read bar code and/or matrix dataforms affixed to products, product packaging and/or containers in warehouses, retail stores, shipping terminals, etc. for inventory control, tracking, production control and expediting, quality assurance and other purposes. Various bar code dataform readers have been proposed for portable data collection devices including laser scanners and one dimensional (1D) charge coupled device (CCD) imaging assemblies, both of which are capable of reading 1D bar code dataforms, that is, bar codes consisting of a single row of alternating black or dark colored bars and white or light colored bars or spaces of varying widths. Both of these types of dataform readers are also capable of reading a "stacked" two dimensional (2D) bar code dataform such as PDF417, which has row indicator patterns utilized by the dataform reader for vertical synchronization.
A two dimensional (2D) charge coupled device (CCD) imaging based dataform reader has been proposed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/544,618, filed Oct. 18, 1995 and entitled "Extended Working Range Dataform Reader Including Fuzzy Logic Image Control Circuitry". The 2D dataform reader disclosed in application Serial No. 08/544,618, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference, includes an imaging assembly having a two dimensional CCD array of photosensors. The imaging assembly is adapted to read 1D and 2D bar code dataforms (e.g., PDF417, Supercode, etc.) with and without vertical synchronization row indicator patterns as well as matrix dataforms (e.g., MaxiCode, Data Matrix, Code 1, etc.) which do not include vertical synchronization patterns. Photosensors or photodiodes of the photosensor array correspond to pixels constituting a captured image frame and the two terms will be interchangeably used throughout. Two dimensional and matrix dataforms are suitable for encoding greater quantities of data than 1D bar code dataforms.
The 2D dataform reader disclosed in application Ser. No. 08/544,618 utilizes an open loop feedback control system including fuzzy logic circuitry to determine proper exposure time and gain parameters for a camera assembly. The camera assembly includes an optic assembly for focusing reflected light from a target 1D, 2D or matrix dataform in a field of view of the optic assembly onto the 2D photosensor array. At the end of an exposure period, photosensor charges or voltage magnitudes are read out and converted to gray scale values. A magnitude of a photosensor's gray scale value is proportional to the intensity of reflected light incident on the photosensor over the exposure period, i.e., a photosensor receiving reflected light from a black portion of a target bar code dataform will have a lower voltage magnitude and a corresponding lower gray scale value than a photosensor receiving reflected light from a white portion of the target bar code dataform.
Cell extraction circuitry of the dataform reader analyzes the stored gray scale values associated with a captured image frame and generates binary cell values (0,1) for each pixel position. The result is a binary pattern which is representative of the pattern of dark and light bars of the original target dataform. Dataform reader decoding circuitry then decodes the cell extraction circuitry pattern of cell values to decode the encoded data in the target bar code dataform.
Two dimensional CCD imaging dataform readers operate to television or other interlaced video signal standards whereby image values for a single image frame are provided in the format of two successive interlaced fields of image values. Thus, for a single frame, a first field of the frame is generated by a readout of photosensor voltage magnitudes in every other horizontal line of photosensors in the 2D photosensor array (e.g., horizontal lines 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. of the photosensor array) at the end of a first exposure period. At the end of the next exposure period, a second field of the frame is generated by a readout of photosensor voltage magnitudes from photosensors in the remaining rows of photosensors (e.g., horizontal lines 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. of the photosensor array).
In a video image displayed for human viewing on a television screen, for example, movement of the image is expected and the human eye accommodates displacement of image portions from field to field and frame to frame. However, in imaging based dataform readers, movement or jittering of the dataform reader by an operator's hand during a dataform reading session will cause the location of the target dataform projected onto the 2D photosensor array to move. This is referred to as image displacement or offset between successive fields comprising an image frame. Such movement of the dataform image with respect to the photosensor array during a readout of successive fields will result in an inconsistency or lack of registration between the fields when the fields are interlaced to generate a representation of the captured frame. Such lack of registration may make it impossible for the decoding circuitry of the dataform to decode the pattern of binary cell values generated by the cell extraction circuitry from the gray scale values representing a captured frame stored in memory.
At present, dataform readers utilizing video-type imaging assembly configurations and 2D CCD photosensor arrays, cell extraction and decoding circuitry typically use only a single field to extract and decode an imaged dataform. The result is operation with only one-half of the resolution which the CCD imaging assembly is inherently capable of providing. Operation with half resolution obviously restricts operation to decoding of dataforms with less complexity and detail than could be decoded with full or frame-level resolution. Since the element density, that is, the number of black and white bars per unit area, of a 2D bar code dataform is much greater than the element density of a 1D bar code dataform, operation with half resolution is especially disadvantageous with respect to reading 2D bar code dataforms and matrix dataform, which also exhibit a high element density.
Objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide a new and improved dataform reader having enhanced frame-level resolution while operating with image data subject to registration errors between image fields as a result of image displacement or offset between fields.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a dataform reader having improved decoding ability utilizing image data of a second image field to supplement decoding of a target dataform imaged in a first image field by one or more of:
(a) use of second field image data to decode portions of a dataform not satisfactorily decoded by use of the first field image data; PA1 (b) decoding of both first and second fields of image data and using decoded portions of second field image data to supplement dataform portions not satisfactorily decoded by use of the first field image data; PA1 (c) use of first and second field image data to determine the magnitude or direction, or both, of one or more disparity vectors representative of an image offset between data of the two fields, the disparity vector values being usable to correct offset errors during decoding of a dataform; and PA1 (d) use of disparity vector horizontal and vertical component values to enable combined use of image data of first and second fields, or actual combination of such image data into a registered frame of image data, for decoding a dataform. PA1 (a) select a reference area centered in a first image field; PA1 (b) select a template area centered in a second image field, the template area being smaller than the reference area by X pixels in width and Y pixels in height; and PA1 (c) select a matrix area of template pixel positions within the template area; PA1 d) determine the horizontal component, dx, of the disparity vector, d; and PA1 e) determine the vertical component, dy, of the disparity vector, d. PA1 a) determine feature values, FV.sub.m, for each pixel position in the matrix area as follows: PA1 b) determine feature values, FV.sub.r, for each pixel position in the reference area as follows: PA1 c) at each of the (X+1).times.(Y+1) trial matching positions at which the template area can be trial matched to the reference area, calculate a composite score, CS, for the trial match by multiplying each pixel position feature value from the matrix area by the corresponding matched pixel position feature value of the reference area and summing the multiplied feature values; PA1 d) for each horizontal trial matching position, X.sub.i, calculate a total composite score, TCS, by summing the composite scores, CS, for the corresponding column of Y+1 trial matching positions; PA1 e) the horizontal component, dx, of the disparity vector, d, is equal to the horizontal offset of the horizontal trial matching position having the highest positive total composite score, TCS. PA1 a) determine feature values, FV.sub.m, for each pixel position in the matrix area as follows: PA1 b) determine feature values, FV.sub.r, for each pixel position in the reference area as follows: PA1 c) at each of the (X+1).times.(Y+1) trial matching positions at which the template area can be trial matched to the reference area, calculate a composite score, CS, for the trial match by multiplying each pixel position feature value from the matrix area by the corresponding matched pixel position feature value of the reference area and summing the multiplied feature values; PA1 d) for each vertical trial matching position, Y.sub.i, calculate a total composite score, TCS, by summing the composite scores, CS, for the corresponding row of X+1 trial matching positions; PA1 e) the vertical component, dy, of the disparity vector, d, is equal to the vertical offset of the vertical trial matching position having the highest positive total composite score, TCS.

Dataform reader utilizing hand jittering compensation method


The wrist-stabilization system includes an inflatable bladder having a plurality of channels in intercommunication one with the other and an inlet for inflating the channels. A glove or a wristband positions the bladder on a user's upper extremity such that substantially equal portions of the channels lie above and below the wrist joint to inhibit wrist joint motion in flexion and extension and assist in maintaining the lateral sides of the hand and forearm in the lateral plane. A manually-actuatable inflation/deflation device is secured to the glove, wristband or bladder and coupled to the bladder whereby the bladder can be manually inflated and deflated.

Many sports can be categorized by the intended use of one or both hands. Hand action in sports, however, cannot be discussed without describing the range of wrist joint motion, stability and flexibility to achieve the desired hand action. It will also be appreciated that two-handed sports, such as golf, baseball, hockey and others, have significantly different wrist and hand position requirements as compared with essentially one-handed sports, such as bowling and horseshoes, and the throwing sports, e.g., baseball and football. Proper hand/wrist action is a requirement in many different sports, whether they are one or two-handed hitting sports or one-handed tossing sports and is a function of the particular requirements for each sport.
The wrist joint, through tendon/muscle interactions in the forearm, allows the hand to move in five directions extension, flexion, abduction, adduction and circumduction. The vertical axis in two-handed hitting sports is referred to by a line formed through the thumb as it points upwardly. The horizontal axis is established 90.degree. to the vertical axis. The control of the speed of motion of the hand along the horizontal axis relative to the forearm is critical in sports that place a premium on directional control, e.g., golf, tennis, baseball batting (known collectively as hitting sports). Many factors are involved to properly strike the ball in each such sport. For example, the shape, speed, size and weight of the ball being struck, as well as the shape of the sport implement used to strike the ball, determine whether the stroke is successful. Upon analysis, however, hitting sports have two very common factors which determine the success or lack of success of properly striking the ball: the rate of speed of the ball at launch and its controlled placement upon launch, i.e., direction of launch. A powerful, well-timed stroke requires extreme athletic skill in hand/wrist action coordination. In hitting sports, such as baseball, where the ball is in motion when struck, hand/eye coordination is essential. Hand/eye coordination is not as essential in hitting sports where the ball is stationary when struck. In these latter sports, such as in golf, it is desirable to permit the angle of the striking implement surface relative to the horizontal plane to control the launch angle of the ball. Launch trajectory of the ball is controlled by the angle of approach of the hitting surface to the stationary ball. Ball rotation is critical in certain sports to control flight or path along surface, such as bowling. Such rotation may be achieved by rotation of the hand relative to the forearm. For example, polar rotation of the ball toward or away from the thrower occurs as a result of a palm-down or palm-up release position, respectively. A palm-to-the-side hand release position produces a hook or a slice. Thus, controlled wrist movement in extension, flexion, abduction, adduction and circumduction is essential in many sports to achieve desired ball control.
The wrist joint allows the hand to move relative to the forearm by the use of muscles and tendons in the forearm. Ligaments gives the wrist joint stability. The larger the joint area and the greater the range of motion of the extremities attached to the joint, the less effective is the stabilizing value of the ligaments, in contrast to the muscles and tendons. Thus, muscles and tendons become the key components, particularly in sports where substantial immobility of the wrist joint in certain directions is critical to properly strike an object ball. Various types of stabilizers and splints for the different joints of the human anatomy, particularly those used repetitively for sports activity, have been designed to stabilize such joints.
In the case of the wrist joint, the five involved motions in extension, flexion, abduction, adduction and circumduction are limited differently than in other joints. For example, left and right motion of the hand about a vertical axis from an anatomically neutral position is generally limited to about 45.degree., while abduction and adduction are limited to approximately 5.degree. and 15.degree., respectively. It will be appreciated that the anatomical neutral position of the hand relative to the forearm has 0.degree. flexion, adduction, abduction and circumduction, and 15.degree. extension. A sports-neutral position, however, for most hitting sports, requires an angle of 0.degree. in all movement directions. In certain sports, for example, golf, it is essential to maintain the sports-neutral position at least in flexion and extension before, on impact, and after impact with the ball. In anatomical terms, the radius and ulna should therefore lie in a plane generally parallel to a plane through the carpals or along the dorsal side of the hand. For a proper impact position in golf, that plane through the leading hand must also be parallel to the leading edge of the club. In two-handed hitting sports such as golf, the hand action or hand release is defined as a change (for a righthanded individual) of the left hand from pronation to supination and a change from supination to pronation by the trailing right hand. Thus, it is essential to maintain the sports-neutral position for the lead hand in flexion and extension, i.e., 0.degree., throughout the hitting motion. Absent substantial muscle and tendon development, which few obtain in their chosen sport, the necessary control of the hand and wrist action necessary to produce proper repetitive athletic skilled motion is elusive.


A sheet accommodating device including: a tray configured to accommodate a sheet; and a pressing member configured to press the sheet accommodated in the tray, wherein the pressing member includes a guide portion configured to guide, where the sheet accommodated in the tray is transferred, the transferred sheet toward a downstream side in a sheet transferring direction in which the sheet is transferred.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet accommodating device and an image recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is conventionally known a sheet accommodating device including a pressing member attached to a tray cover configured to open and close an opening of a tray which accommodates recording sheets in a state that the recording sheets are stacked on each other. The pressing member presses the recording sheets in the tray in a state in which the tray cover closes the opening of the tray.
Relating to the sheet accommodating device of this type, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-244995 discloses a sheet-supply tray 20. This sheet-supply tray 20 includes a tray body 21 which accommodates recording sheets P, and a tray cover 24 which is openably and closably attached to the tray body 21 and which can close a sheet loaded opening 23 of the tray body 21. Further, on the tray cover 24, there are provided a pair of plate springs 35, 35 which bias the recording sheets P accommodated in the tray body 21 toward a bottom plate 21a of the tray body 21.
Further, there is conventionally known an image recording apparatus in which a recording sheet is accommodated in a tray in a state in which the recording sheet is held by and interposed between a pair of side guides erected in the tray, and the recording sheet is contacted with a sheet-supply roller, so that an image is recorded on the recording sheet supplied by the sheet-supply roller.
Relating to the image recording apparatus of this type, Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3092370 discloses an ink-jet printer for a one-sided recording operation, including a movable sheet guide 15 and a fixed sheet guide 11 which hold, therebetween, a recording sheet 16 accommodated in a sheet accommodating portion 8, and the recording sheet 16 accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 8 is supplied by the sheet-supply roller 12, and an image is recorded on one of surfaces of the supplied recording sheet 16. Further, in this ink-jet printer for the one-sided recording operation, a projecting portion 15e is integrally formed in a sheet guide face 15c of the movable sheet guide 15 facing to the fixed sheet guide 11. The projecting portion 15e projects from the sheet guide face 15c toward the fixed sheet guide 11.
Thus, in this ink-jet printer for the one-sided recording operation, where the recording sheet 16 accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 8 is transferred in a direction in which the recording sheet 16 is supplied (a direction indicated by arrow A) in order to record the image on the recording sheet 16, the recording sheet 16 can be guided toward the fixed sheet guide 11 by being brought into abutting contact with the projecting portion 15e.

Sheet accommodating device and image recording apparatus with a translating pressing member attached to a rotating tray cover


A system comprising a scheduler, a first core, and a second core. The scheduler may be configured to prioritize a plurality of input/output (IO) requests. The first core may be configured to process one of the plurality of IO requests based on the prioritizing of the plurality of IO requests. The second core may be configured to process a different one of the plurality of IO requests based on the prioritizing of the plurality of IO requests.

Conventional controllers in storage arrays implement uni-processor systems with input/output (IO) requests scheduled one at a time in a queue. Conventional systems do not implement parallel IO execution. Performance is limited since the IO queue has to wait for the previous operation to complete.
It would be desirable to implement a controller that handles multiple IO threads in parallel.

System for handling parallel input/output threads with cache coherency in a multi-core based storage array


The present invention discloses a system for controlling at least one residential property in a plurality of connected residential networks. The system comprises a remote control unit arranged to control residential properties, which remote control unit via the Internet is in connection with an access network, which is provided and supported by a telecommunications operator. Each connected residential network is divided into an open branch containing content terminals, such as a personal computer and an interactive information terminal. Furthermore the system includes a service gateway arranged in a secure branch of the residential network, the secure branch is provided with sub-controller means, each of which is in bi-directional connection with at least one sensor, the sub-controller means being adapted to activate various residential properties, measurement values from the sensors are transmitted via the sub-controller means to the service gateway, where they are compiled, and the service gateway is controlled by the remote control unit in a way that measurement values from different sensors are combined.

In homes and office buildings of today, many facilities and functions are controlled and maintained by electronics and automated management systems. Those control systems applies not only to traditionally used climate control, remote controlled curtains and air flow regulation systems, but nowadays also to security applications, such as locking devices and alarm systems, electric lighting and kitchen appliances to mention only a few of the many possibilities.
Several management systems have been proposed for handling and controlling residential functions, both in people's homes and in office buildings. One of the proposed service gateway systems is disclosed in the international patent application WO 99/65192, which is a multi-service gateway and communication platform for connectivity based systems. A residential platform and control system is described, intended to simultaneously control and regulate a large number of residential services. Due to the large number and variation of implemented residential services managed by the mentioned service gateway system, the complexity related to developing such a single gateway hosting a large number of services shall not be under-estimated. A service gateway system like the one in the above-mentioned international patent application must be unconditionally adapted to, and meet all standards involved in each application area. Sometimes various services and standards are difficult or even impossible to combine, like for instance how to keep the right balance between protection of high-security applications such as alarm and energy control, and simultaneously managing medium-security entertainment applications such as gaming and news services.
Another difficulty for the developer or manufacturer of residential management systems are safety requirements from several involved public authorities, including fire departments and insurance companies. Unless all the requirements from each involved public authority and institution are met, the developed management system will not be approved by the authorities and institutions for public use in large scale, even though it may be very promising.
However, consideration to all requirements that a residential management system is confronted with, inevitably makes the system expensive. Moreover, it might even be too complicated to build a general system which meets requirements on different markets. Thus, large volume production may not even be possible, which is an absolute prerequisite for reaching an attractive price on the market.
Hence, there is a need for a simplified technique leading towards less costly residential management systems for controlling and handling residential services, primarily provided in people's homes.

Method and system for control and maintenance of residential service networks


An apparatus (100) including a pixel diffuser for a stretchable display is disclosed. The apparatus may include an elastic viewable display (110) that is stretched in a first viewable display area configuration and contracted in a second viewable display area configuration. The apparatus can also include a plurality of addressable picture elements (120 and 125) disposed on the elastic viewable display, an optical barrier (132) between each of the plurality of addressable picture elements, and an elastic diffuser (140) optically coupled to the plurality of addressable picture elements on the elastic viewable display. The apparatus can also include an electrical interface (150) coupled to the elastic viewable display.

1. Field
The present disclosure is directed to displays. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus including a light diffuser for a visual interface having configurable viewing areas suitable for use in portable electronics devices.
2. Introduction
Presently, portable electronic devices including cellular telephone handsets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld gaming devices, and laptop computers, among other devices, have become increasingly popular, particularly in mobile societies. Consumer demand for portability however is often at odds with a competing desire for large display interfaces, since small devices severely constrain the size of the display that may be incorporated into such devices. For example, a user may desire to have a large display, but a large display decreases the portability of such devices.
Some have endeavored to address competing demands for small form-factors and large display areas. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,095,387 entitled "Display Expansion Method and Apparatus" discloses an expandable display having multiple folding sections in a handheld computing device, wherein the display is expandable upon unfolding the multiple display sections. Another embodiment includes a retractable e-paper display screen that is supported by a folding panel that may be expanded. The '387 Patent also teaches reformatting displayed image based on the configuration of the display to maintain a constant display resolution regardless of the configuration of the display.
As an alternative to a foldable display and an e-paper display, a stretchable display could provide both for portability and for a large display. For example, a user could expand the display to increase the viewing size and could contract the display for portability. Unfortunately, a stretchable display may have a drawback in that as the display is stretched, gaps between picture elements may become more apparent, thus creating a screen door-type image. Thus, when the space between picture elements is increased, the image quality degrades as the display is stretched. This increases the ease of viewing the gaps and associated elements in the gaps between pixels and increases the screen door effect.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus including a light diffuser for a stretchable display that spreads light throughout an entire pixel area regardless as to whether the display has been stretched or not and associated elements in the gaps between pixels in the stretchable display.

Light diffuser for a stretchable display


In a first aspect, a method is provided that includes the steps of (1) receiving a circuit design having a plurality of latches; and (2) allowing one or more latches of the circuit design to be locally treated as exhibiting latch transparency during modeling of the timing behavior of the circuit design. Numerous other aspects are provided.

A circuit simulation tool may be used to determine a delay to logic transitions on one or more outputs of a proposed circuit design based on a delay from logic transitions on one or more inputs of the proposed circuit design. For example, a circuit simulation tool may determine a delay to logic transitions on one or more outputs of each component (e.g., logic device) included in the circuit design based on a delay from logic transitions on one or more inputs of the component. Thereby, the overall response of the circuit may be determined.
For complicated circuit designs, simulation of the exact behavior of each component within a circuit may be time consuming and in some cases prohibitive. Accordingly, static timing tools which model the timing behavior of a circuit and/or each component included in the circuit rather than the overall response of each circuit component have been developed. For example, static timing tools may be used to determine when one or more signals should be inputted by a portion of a circuit design, when one or more signals will be outputted from a portion of the circuit design, or other timing behavior of the circuit design.
An important aspect of successfully supporting circuit design using a static timing tool is accurately modeling the timing behavior of a latch, such as a master/slave latch. In many circuit designs, latches are used to divide logic included in a circuit design into paths of equal length which are bounded by the latches. Accordingly, any static timing model of such a circuit should accurately model the timing behavior of the latches employed by the circuit.
When implemented in hardware, latches included in high-performance applications generally exhibit latch transparency; a condition that allows a latch to operate properly even when data arrives at an input of the latch after a leading edge of a clock pulse that is used to launch data from the latch. Latch transparency may relax certain timing constraints of a circuit design, and should be modeled by a timing tool to provide a circuit designer greater flexibility. Unfortunately, latch transparency is not efficiently modeled using conventional timing tool techniques because such modeling is computationally expensive and a timing report created by the timing tool is difficult to interpret, for example, by a designer.
One conventional technique for modeling the behavior of a circuit in a timing tool treats each latch in the circuit as non-transparent. In a non-transparent latch (e.g., master/slave latch), data typically is captured by a first latch in the master/slave latch with a trailing edge of a capture clock signal, and is launched out of a second latch in the master/slave latch with a leading edge of a launch clock signal. Accordingly, when latch transparency is ignored, a timing tool must ensure that (1) data arrives at the first latch before a trailing edge of a capture clock signal which is used to capture data with the first latch; and (2) data arrives at the second latch before a leading edge of a launch clock signal which is used to launch data from the second latch. Although the above static timing model is easy to implement and does not require a static timing tool to perform a large amount of computation, such an approach places artificial timing constraints on a circuit design that may result in degraded circuit performance and that would not be present if latch transparency was considered. A non-optimal circuit design may result.
In another conventional technique for modeling the behavior of a circuit in a timing tool, every latch in the modeled circuit is treated as transparent. When every latch is treated as transparent, greater design flexibility is provided. However, a timing tool that treats all latches as transparent must determine the worst-case cycle time due to constraints imposed by all possible paths of a circuit design to ensure that signals reach their destinations as required by the circuit design. As such a large and in many cases unnecessary amount of computation is required to employ such a timing model.
Accordingly, additional methods for modeling latch transparency would be desirable.

International Business Machines Corporation


The total running time of an original multi-channel program signal is altered to generate a time-shortened (or time-lengthened) program signal. The original program signal may be thought of subdividable into a sequence of program signal portions, each program signal portion being further subdividable into a sequence of signal windows. Differencing circuitry determines, for each program siganl portion, a difference value indicative of a best differnce match between an initial signal window in that signal portion and subsequent signal windows in that signal portion in accordance with a predefined criterion. Removal circuitry then deletes from the original multi-channel program signal a multi-window segment of that signal portion, the deleted segment beginning with the initial signal window and ending with the subsequent signal window that generated the best difference match.

It is known in the art to reduce the running time of a broadcast program signal by removing segments of the signal from the program in a manner that minimizes the impact on the viewer. For example, an apparatus sold commercially under the name "the TIME MACHINE" is available from Prime Image, Inc. of San Jose, Calif., for accomplishing this result. The Time Machine is sold primarily for use in the television industry and is particularly suited to reducing the running time of audio-visual programs to create additional commercial time. The TIME MACHINE removes redundant video signal from a broadcast signal by identifying and removing video segments in which there is little or no relative motion. The TIME MACHINE also removes corresponding audio signal by identifying appropriate "splice points" in the audio signal while keeping the audio signal within an acceptable synchronization of the corresponding video signal.
While the video signal reduction techniques utilized in the TIME MACHINE are quite advanced, the audio signal reduction technique is relatively rudimentary. For example, while the audio component of a program may be in two or more channels, the TIME MACHINE reduces the audio signal by analyzing only one channel of the stereo signal. (Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,784, titled "Pitch Change with Glitch Minimizer," also analyzes only a single audio channel, and does not appear to even consider how to analyze and process multi-channel signals.) When the TIME MACHINE identifies signal suitable for removal in the one audio channel being analyzed, it removes corresponding material in the other audio channel with complete disregard for its audio content. This almost certainly would not be acceptable when the audio is contained in a large number of channels, such as in high-definition television (HDTV) which has six channel surround sound. Furthermore, even for the one audio channel that is analyzed, the algorithm employed by the TIME MACHINE for analyzing this channel is fairly static and cannot adapt to changing conditions in the audio signal.

Multi-channel audio processing system with real-time program duration alteration


An improved tensioner mechanism for a tiedown assembly, the mechanism including a handle latch which automatically locks the handle to the body of the mechanism once the handle is moved to the closed/engaged position. The handle latch provides enhanced resistance to environmental conditions, and improved positive locking capability.

The present invention relates to the transportation of cargo and, more particularly, to an improved tensioner mechanism for a tiedown assembly.
The transportation of cargo requires securing systems and devices that ensure that such cargo remains safely stowed and stationary during transit. Tiedown assemblies are used to secure an item of cargo to the deck of the transportation vehicle. One commonly used tiedown assembly includes: i) a chain assembly; and ii) a tensioner assembly. The chain assembly includes a length of chain having a hook at one end. The tensioner assembly includes a tensioner mechanism, a shock mitigator, and a hook. During operation, the hooks of the chain and tensioner assembly are secured to a fitting on the cargo item and to the deck of the vehicle, respectively. The chain is then passed through the tensioner mechanism. The handle of the tensioner mechanism is then closed to retain the chain in a tensioned state. The typical prior art chain assembly includes a sliding latch located about a portion of the handle. After the handle is closed, the sliding latch is then manually moved by the operator to the locked position, thereby preventing inadvertent release of the handle.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the need to manually slide the existing prior art latch to the locked position following closing of the handle necessitates an additional operator step. It will also be recognized that the operational performance of a sliding latch may be affected by environmental conditions such as wear, abuse, corrosion and temperature.
There is therefore a need in the art for a tiedown assembly which facilitates usage in the field by employing a handle latch which automatically locks such handle once the handle is moved to the closed/engaged position. There is a further need in the art for a tiedown assembly having a handle latch which provides enhanced resistance to environmental conditions such as wear, abuse, corrosion and temperature, and improved "positive locking" capability.

Tensioner mechanism for tiedown assembly


An adjustable clip-on base for installing an LED support into a lighting enclosure includes a support clip portion for removably attaching the adjustable clip-on base onto the LED support. The adjustable clip-on based also includes a mating structure portion configured for mating with the lighting enclosure to mount the LED support into the lighting enclosure. The support clip being is positionable on the LED support over a range of positions to alter the distance that the mating structure portion extends from the end of the LED support so that the combined length of the adjustable clip-on base and the LED support can be adjusted to fit in the lighting enclosure.

Fluorescent lights are low pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamps that use fluorescence to produce visible light. An electric current in the gas excites mercury vapor which produces short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a light-emitting phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb to glow. Incandescent lights are electrical lights which produce light with a wire filament heated to a high temperature by an electric current passing through it until it glows.
Fluorescent lights are often used as back lighting for signs and are also found in residences, such as in kitchens, basements, or garages, in schools and in businesses because the electrical power cost savings when using fluorescent lamps tend to be significant when compared to incandescent light use. However, recent developments in light emitting diode (LED) technology have made LEDs more efficient and cheaper to use than either fluorescent or incandescent lights. LEDs are a type of solid-state lighting, using a semiconductor to convert electricity directly into light. LEDs have many advantages over incandescent light sources and fluorescent light sources including lower energy consumption, longer lifetimes, emitting an intended color without using any color filters, higher shock resistance, smaller size, and faster switching. LEDs are also more environmentally friendly in disposal after use than fluorescent lights since they do not contain mercury, a hazardous chemical.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,222,005 for "Method and assembly for replacing fluorescent lights" to the inventors of the present application describes a method for retrofitting LEDs into a fluorescent light cabinet. One described method entails accurately cutting a material, such as square aluminum tubing, to a specific length to form an LED support. LEDs are attached to the support material, and end caps, which are designed to fit into the existing fluorescent light fixtures or into a hole in the cabinet, are placed on the ends of the LED support. The assembly is installed into the fixtures or a hole in the light cabinet. If the material is cut too short, the end caps will not sufficiently engage the fluorescent light fixtures, and the LED assembly will fall out of the cabinet when elevated wind gust shake the cabinet. If the LED support material is cut too short the LED support cannot be installed due to the length of material. If the LED support material is cut too short the support material must be thrown away and causes financial loss to companies around the world. If the material is cut too long, the LED assembly will not fit in the cabinet.
Since manufacturers employees continue to make mistakes when cutting the LED support material, it would be extremely advantageous to enable the installation of LED lights to replace fluorescent lights in pre-existing light fixtures while reducing the precision required in cutting the LED support to length.

Adjustable clip-on base for LED assembly


A method for controlling a wind turbine having twist bend coupled rotor blades on a rotor mechanically coupled to a generator includes determining a speed of a rotor blade tip of the wind turbine, measuring a current twist distribution and current blade loading, and adjusting a torque of a generator to change the speed of the rotor blade tip to thereby increase an energy capture power coefficient of the wind turbine.

This invention relates generally to wind turbines, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for increasing energy capture and for controlling twist angles of blades resulting from passive twist bend coupling.
Recently, wind turbines have received increased attention as environmentally safe and relatively inexpensive alternative energy sources. With this growing interest, considerable efforts have been made to develop wind turbines that are reliable and efficient.
Generally, a wind turbine includes a rotor having multiple blades. The rotor is mounted within a housing or nacelle, which is positioned on top of a truss or tubular tower. Utility grade wind turbines (i.e., wind turbines designed to provide electrical power to a utility grid) can have large rotors (e.g., 30 or more meters in diameter). Blades on these rotors transform wind energy into a rotational torque or force that drives one or more generators, rotationally coupled to the rotor through a gearbox. The gearbox steps up the inherently low rotational speed of the turbine rotor for the generator to efficiently convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, which is fed into a utility grid.
Studies have shown benefits of passive pitch control of rotor blades (i.e., twist-bend coupling, or TBC) to attenuate extreme blade loads. Within a twist-bend coupled section of a rotor blade that is made of laminate material, the laminates of the blade undergo shear fatigue resulting from continuous passive pitching. This fatigue presents a risk to TBC technologies. However, very little, if any, research has been devoted to the study of how laminates used in the manufacturing of rotor blades respond to shear axis fatigue.
At least one known wind turbine utilizes torsionally stiff blades without twist-bend coupled blades. Only a single tip speed ratio (i.e., rotation rate divided by wind speed) is tracked and used to maintain a maximum power coefficient. More specifically, rotor speed rises with wind speed in such a manner as to maintain an optimized or nearly optimized tip speed ratio over a certain period of time. Tip speed ratio is known in the industry and is generally a limiting factor in blade rotational design. This limit results from aerodynamic noise.
At least one known wind turbine uses twist-bend-coupled blades that passively pitch to feather a relatively small amount when loaded by aerodynamic loads. Particularly in response to strong wind gusts, this passive pitch tends to balance out asymmetric loads across the rotor disk and reduces system fatigue damage. However, due to passive pitching of the TBC, energy capture below rated wind speed is reduced slightly compared to a non-coupled blade with an identical aerodynamic envelope. More specifically, optimum pitch setting for maximum energy capture varies with wind speed. To partially compensate for the loss of energy capture, at least one known configuration provides a pre-twist (i.e., a twist bias built into the rotor blades), but this bias is most effective at only one wind speed. Energy loss still occurs at other wind speeds. However, pre-twist in the TBC section mitigates power loss at below-power rated wind speeds.
For large-scale wind turbines, rotor blades require pitch actuation at the blade root to actively adjust the pitch angle or angle-of-attack of the rotor blade. However, during operation, fine pitching of the outboard section of the rotor blade can be achieved through passive pitching by means of a Twist-Bend Coupling (TBC). Passive pitching of a several degrees is achieved in the TBC by means of blade construction and specifically due to laminates orientation and lay-up. For example, in the TBC section the fiber matt material is orientated to allow the blade to passively pitch under specific loading conditions. This pitching reduces aerodynamic lift by passively pitching slightly towards a feathered position and therefore reduces blade loading. TBC is a feature that has been shown to reduce the demand on the active pitch mechanism, which is typically located at the root of the rotor blade. Thus passive TBC can reduce pitching power requirements and associated fatigue and damage to the active pitch axis system, located near the blade root.

Methods and apparatus for twist bend coupled (TCB) wind turbine blades


A keypad assembly having three-dimensional patterns includes a bottom layer, a light-guiding plate, a pattern layer, a coating layer and a surface layer. The light-guiding plate is overlapped on the bottom layer. The pattern layer is provided on the light-guiding plate. A plurality of three-dimensional patterns is provided on the pattern layer. The coating layer is coated on the upper surface of the pattern layer. The surface layer is overlapped on the coating layer. The surface layer is formed with a plurality of keycaps to correspond to the three-dimensional patterns. Via the above arrangement, patterns such as characters, symbols or icons can be displayed in the keycaps in a three-dimensional manner, thereby increasing recognition and visual effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keypad assembly, and in particular to a keypad assembly having three-dimensional patterns.
2. Description of Prior Art
With the progress and development of technology, modern consumers request electronic products such as mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), ultra-micro personal computer (UMPC) to be designed in a more personalized and delicate manner. However, these electronic products can be only operated via keys so as to transmit signals from a user to the electronic products or vice versa. Moreover, the user requests the keys of the electronic product to be varied continuously. Therefore, it is an important issue for the manufacturers of keys to develop keys of more competitiveness to satisfy the request of modern people.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-340059 discloses a conventional keypad assembly. As shown in FIG. 1, the keypad assembly includes a bottom layer 10a, a pattern layer 12a, a surface layer 14a and a colored light-transmitting film 17a. The front surface of the pattern layer 12a is provided with three-dimensional patterns 121a. The surface layer 14a is provided with troughs to correspond to the three-dimensional patterns 121a and the surface layer 14a is overlapped on the front surface of the pattern layer 12a. The back surface of the pattern layer 12a is printed with the colored light-transmitting film 17a. The bottom layer 10a is adhered to the underside of the light-transmitting film 17a. With the above arrangement, a keypad assembly can be achieved.
Further, Japanese Patent publication No. 2000-331554 discloses another kind of keypad assembly. The difference between this patent reference and the above-mentioned Patent Publication No. 2000-340059 lies in that troughs having three-dimensional patterns are formed in the surface layer, and the inner surface of the trough is coated with the light-transmitting colored film, so that the three-dimensional patterns can be seen in the surface layer. Although the above-mentioned keypad assembly has an effect of displaying the three-dimensional patterns, it can be only applied to a relative small keycap or single keycap because no light-guiding plate is provided. Therefore, for a keypad assembly having a large operating area, the conventional keypad assembly cannot satisfy this requirement for use. Further, Patent Publication No. 2000-340059 is only printed on the top surface of the three-dimensional patterns. Therefore, the whole shape of the three-dimensional pattern cannot be displayed sufficiently, and thus the recognition and aesthetic feeling thereof are not good.
Further, China Patent Publication No. CN2544299Y discloses another keypad assembly, which includes a surface layer, a first pattern layer, a refracting layer and a second pattern layer. The surface layer is a light-transmitting body. The first pattern layer is an opaque body that is overlapped with the surface layer. The first pattern layer is provided with first patterns formed by hollowed portions. The refracting layer is a translucent body that is located below the surface layer and the first pattern layer. The underside of the refracting layer is formed with a back surface. The second pattern layer is an opaque body that is attached to the back surface of the refracting layer. The second pattern layer is provided with second patterns formed by hollowed portions. The light emitted by light-emitting elements is projected toward the surface layer from the underside of the second pattern layer, so that the first and second patterns can be displayed on the surface layer, thereby achieving a multiple displaying effect. Although the above-mentioned keypad assembly has a multiple displaying effect, it relies on the fact that the first and second patterns are formed on the first and second pattern layer respectively. As a result, the total thickness of the key would be large and thus increasing the weight thereof. Therefore, it is not suitable for the electronic products that tend to be produced toward more and more compact. Further, the light-emitting element is formed underneath the second pattern layer, increasing the total height. As a result, the thickness of the electronic product cannot be reduced sufficiently. Moreover, the refracting layer is a translucent body, so that the recognition and aesthetic feeling of the displayed second pattern are not good.

Keypad assembly having three-dimensional patterns