A method in a wireless communication device and an apparatus, such as a wireless communication device, for reporting a channel quality indication to non-serving cells. The device can operate on a shared channel on a serving cell. The device can send a channel quality indicator message on a medium access control layer to multiple candidate cells in an active set of cells. The device can then switch from the serving cell to a new serving cell from the multiple candidate cells based on information in the channel quality indicator message.

1. Field
The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for reporting a channel quality indication to non-serving cells. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to sending a channel quality indicator directly to multiple candidate cells in an active set of cells that can enable fast handover procedure for uplink and downlink High Speed Data Shared transmissions.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, shared channels, such as High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) are being proposed in evolution networks to provide high throughput not only for packet data traffic such as video streaming, file download and web browsing, but also for real-time services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) traffic. Typically a mobile device in a single coverage area, such as not in a potential handover situation, will utilize physical layer control messages to support link adaptation procedures such as Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback signals and quality measurement reports. These physical layer control messages have low latency characteristics that provide for selection of modulation and coding schema adaptive to the mobile radio environment.
In a multiple coverage area, a mobile in soft handover will send a layer 3 measurement report to the serving radio network controller. Non-serving cells will only be aware of an order of the active set from messages relayed by the serving radio network controller. Quality measurement information is only sent to the scheduling/serving cell. Unfortunately, if the best cell is not the scheduling cell, there is no mechanism for switching the scheduling/serving cell without going through the serving radio network controller which is a slow process that results on loss of data transmitted over High Speed Data Shared during handover.
Thus, there is a need for a method in a wireless communication device and an apparatus, such as a wireless communication device, for reporting a channel quality indication to non-serving cells.

Apparatus and method for reporting a channel quality indication to non-serving cells


Provided are pipette tip trays for use in biotechnology applications. In certain embodiments, provided are pipette tip trays having one or more of the following features: (i) lacking an external hinge between the lid and the rack, and (ii) having snap plate fasteners configured to releasably secure a snap plate to a base.

Pipette tips are utilized in a variety of industries that have a requirement for handling fluids, and are used in facilities including medical laboratories and research laboratories, for example. In many instances pipette tips are used in large numbers, and often are utilized for processing many samples and/or adding many reagents to samples, for example.
Pipette tips often are substantially cone-shaped with an aperture at one end that can engage a dispensing device, and another relatively smaller aperture at the other end that can receive and emit fluid. Pipette tips generally are manufactured from a moldable plastic, such as polypropylene, for example. Pipette tips are made in a number of sizes to allow for accurate and reproducible liquid handling for volumes ranging from nanoliters to milliliters.
Pipette tips can be utilized in conjunction with a variety of dispensing devices, including manual dispensers (e.g., pipettors) and automated dispensers. A dispenser is a device that, when attached to the upper end of a pipette tip (the larger opening end), applies negative pressure to acquire fluids, and applies positive pressure to dispense fluids. The lower or distal portion of a dispenser (typically referred to as the barrel or nozzle) is placed in contact with the upper end of the pipette tip and held in place by pressing the barrel or nozzle of the dispenser into the upper end of the pipette tip. The combination then can be used to manipulate liquid samples.
Pipette tips often are shipped, stored and presented to a user or dispenser in trays. A tray often includes a rack and a lid, where the rack includes a base and a plate. The plate, or top, generally includes bores through which pipette tips are inserted partially. A lid sometimes is attached to a rack by a hinge, and a user generally swings the lid open to access pipette tips in the rack for use.


A crash energy absorption member is provided which has excellent crash energy absorbing properties with the ability of repeated buckling in a stable manner, a high average load at the time of collapse, and the maximum load which is within a range which does not break other members.

As is well known, at present, the bodies of many automobiles are monocoque bodies in which a load is supported by the overall body which is integral with a frame in order to achieve both a decrease in weight and high stiffness. The body of an automobile must be able to suppress impairment of the functions of the vehicle at the time of a collision of the vehicle and protect the lives of passengers within a passenger cabin. In order to decrease damage to a passenger cabin by absorbing the energy of impact at the time of a collision of a vehicle and reduce the impact force to the passenger cabin, it is advantageous to preferentially crash spaces other than the passenger cabin, such as the engine compartment or the trunk.
On account of such safety demands, crash energy absorption members which actively absorb impact energy by collapsing when an impact load is applied at the time of a collision are provided in suitable locations, such as at the front, the rear, or the side of a vehicle. Examples of such crash energy absorption members are cross side members, side sills, and rear side members.
In recent years, it has been attempted to increase the safety of vehicles and to reduce repair costs by nearly eliminating damage to vehicles caused by light impacts by mounting a crash energy absorption member referred to as a crash box on the front end of a front side member by a suitable means such as coupling with a mechanical connector or welding. A crash box is a member which absorbs impact energy by preferentially buckling in the axial direction into the shape of a bellows (or accordion) under an impact load which is applied in the axial direction.
Various materials and shapes have thus far been developed for increasing the crash energy absorbing performance of such a crash energy absorption member. The crash energy absorbing performance which is demanded of a crash energy absorption member are, specifically, that it deform into a bellows shape by repeatedly stably buckling in the axial direction when an impact load is applied in the axial direction, that the average load be high at the time of collapse of the crash energy absorption member, and that the maximum reaction force which is generated upon the collapse of the crash energy absorption member be within a range which does not cause damage to other members disposed in the vicinity of the crash energy absorption member.
Up to now, crash energy absorption members which have generally been used have been box-shaped members welded to a backing plate by means of a flange provided on a member having a hat-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape like that disclosed in JP-A 08-128487, for example. In this specification, "flange" means an edge portion which projects outwards from an outline of a transverse cross section.
As a different type, in JP-A 09-277953, a crash energy absorption member is disclosed which decreases the load at the initial stage of a collision and increases the absorbed impact by having a closed cross-sectional structure such that the transverse cross-sectional shape continuously changes from one end towards the other end from a polygon having at least 4 sides to a polygon having a larger number of sides.
JP-A 2003-48569 discloses a crash energy absorption member which has a polygonal closed cross-sectional shape with a partition in its interior.
JP-A 2002-284033 discloses a crash energy absorption member which secures strength by forming a recessed portion with a generally right triangle shape facing towards the interior in a region including each of 4 vertices of a material having a rectangular transverse cross section.
In addition, JP-A 08-108 863 discloses an invention which forms a bead which extends in the axial direction on the side surface of a front side frame having a hat-shaped cross section with a flange in order to suppress bending of the front side frame when an impact load is applied.
However, in any of these existing inventions, a crash energy absorption member cannot be provided which can secure a prescribed amount of shock absorption by stable buckling in the axial direction without leading to an increase in weight due to the addition of a partition or an increase in plate thickness.
The transverse cross-sectional shape of crash energy absorption members used in the bodies of automobiles is in almost all cases flat. Therefore, it is difficult to use a crash energy absorption member having a polygonal transverse cross-sectional shape such as a simple regular polygon as disclosed in JP-A 09-277953. In the invention disclosed in JP-A 09-277953, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the crash energy absorption member gradually changes over approximately its entire length. Therefore, in some positions in the axial direction, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the crash energy absorption member may unavoidably become a shape which is not suitable for stable buckling. Accordingly, when an impact load is applied in the axial direction, that crash energy absorption member cannot stably repeatedly buckle in the axial direction, and it may not deform into a bellows shape.
In the invention disclosed in JP-A 2003-48569, there is the possibility of the strength of the portion in which a partition is provided increasing too much. Therefore, in that invention, buckling may become unstable and the amount of shock absorption may become insufficient. There is also the possibility of the maximum reaction force which is generated in the crash energy absorption member, particularly in the initial stage of collapse, exceeding the strength of other members and of the other members collapsing before the crash energy absorption member collapses. In addition, in that invention, the weight of the crash energy absorption member unavoidably increases by an amount corresponding to the partition provided in its interior. Therefore, that invention is contrary to the trend towards decreasing the weight of vehicle bodies, for which there has been a particularly strong desire in recent years.
In the invention disclosed in IP-A 2002-284033, corner portions which inherently have a high strength undergo further working to provide a recessed portion therein. As a result, the strength of the recessed portions may increase too much. Accordingly, in that invention, in the same manner as in the invention disclosed in P-A 2003-48569, the amount of shock absorption may be insufficient, and other members may collapse before the crash energy absorption member collapses.
In the invention disclosed in JP-A 08-108863, a crash energy absorption member has a hat-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape with a flange. According to that invention, it is thought that it is indeed possible to suppress bending due to an impact load applied thereto. However, according to that invention, when an impact load is applied, it cannot stably collapse in the axial direction into a bellows shape.
An object of the present invention is to provide a crash energy absorption member which can secure a prescribed amount of shock absorption by stably buckling in the axial direction into the shape of a bellows when an impact load is applied thereto without an increase in weight due to the addition of a partition or an increase in plate thickness and without causing bending in the axial direction.

Abstract: It is a crash energy absorption member which preferably has a transverse cross-sectional shape of an octagon and which is intended for absorbing impact energy by buckling in the lengthwise direction into a shape of bellows when it receives an impact load. With respect to at least one side forming the transverse cross-sectional shape, when the angle formed by the two sides which adjoin the opposing ends of the one side is α, the relationship between the length L1 of the one side and the distance L2 between the two furthest ends of the two sides interposing the one side satisfies the following equation:0<L1/L2<1/{2×sin(α/2)+1}.


A Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometer includes substantially parallel first and second reflecting surfaces spaced apart by an optical gap between the first and second reflecting surfaces. The FP interferometer also has a mechanism for controlling the optical gap. The mechanism includes a plurality of electrostatic control plates. Each electrostatic control plate has a fixed control-plate area. Each control plate is adapted to control the optical gap by application of a control-plate voltage. The control-plate areas are related by integral ratios.

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) are systems which are typically developed using thin film technology and include both electrical and micro-mechanical components. MEMS devices are used in a variety of applications such as optical display systems, pressure sensors, flow sensors, and charge-control actuators. MEMS devices of some types use electrostatic force or energy to move or monitor the movement of micro-mechanical electrodes, which can store charge. In one type of MEMS device, to achieve a desired result, a gap distance between electrodes is controlled by balancing an electrostatic force and a mechanical restoring force.
MEMS devices designed to perform optical functions have been developed using a variety of approaches. According to one approach, a deformable deflective membrane is positioned over an electrode and is electrostatically attracted to the electrode. Other approaches use flaps or beams of silicon or aluminum, which form a top conducting layer. For such optical applications, the conducting layer is reflective while the deflective membrane is deformed using electrostatic force to direct light which is incident upon the conducting layer.
More specifically, MEMS of a type called optical interference devices produce colors based on the precise spacing of a pixel plate relative to lower (and possibly upper) plates. This spacing may be the result of a balance of two forces: electro-static attraction based on voltage and charge on the plates, and a spring constant of one or more "support structures" maintaining the position of the pixel plate away from the electrostatically charged plate. One known approach for controlling the gap distance is to apply a continuous control voltage to the electrodes, where the control voltage is increased to decrease the gap distance, and vice-versa. However, precise gap distance control may be affected by several factors, including variations in the operating temperatures experienced by the interference device, the voltage applied to the interference device, material variations between support structures and other system variations.
One known method of calibrating an interferometer device is to use analog control circuitry to produce a continuously variable voltage, which is applied to the pixel plate and the electrostatically charged plate of the interferometer device, e.g., a bottom plate. Calibration of the applied voltages corresponding to various colors is done using a color sensor that uses color filters and corresponding photosensors to find the colors of the reflected light.

Interferometer calibration methods and apparatus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A trailer jack stand for supporting a trailer comprising: a pedestal stand, where stand attaches to a trailer jack, said stand includes a top connecting section and a pivoting section; a center mount pin, where the mount pin attaches the stand to the jack through the top connecting section; a locking pin, where the locking pin secures the mount pin into place; a platform, where the platform attaches to the bottom of the pivoting section; and a spring assembly, where the spring assembly includes a top pivot pin extending from the top connecting section, a stand pin extending from the pivoting section and a spring attached between the pivot pin and stand pin. The pivoting section is capable of pivoting between a retracted position and an extended position, where in the extended position the stand supports the trailer.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a trailer jack kickstand that may be utilized to support a trailer frame for leveling and support purposes.
2. Description of Related Art
Trailers are used to transport equipments, vehicles, cargo and other items where the trailer is hitched to a truck or a similar moving vehicle. The trailer itself is configured and formed to accommodate the cargo or equipment that is being transported. The trailers were hitched to a rear-mounting pin on a vehicle known as a hitch and secured in place for transport. The trailer stand provides a means to suspend or support an unhitched portion of the trailer. The trailer usually includes wheels on each side and a hitch attachment at the front portion or tongue of the trailer. Many trailers include a jack attachment that connects to the frame to support the front portion while hitching and unhitching a vehicle. The jack provides movement vertically to position the trailer in a suitable position over the hitch and allows the user to center the trailer upon the hitch of the vehicle. When unhitched from the vehicle the jack is usually extended in order to contact the ground surface area under the trailer to support the front end thereof.
The jack provides the vertical movement of the trailer and usually includes a telescoping base that meets the ground or allows for the insertion of a stand or platform to support the jack in an extended position. The platform stand provides a means to stabilize the jack in its extended position and to support the trailer when unhitched from the vehicle. Examples of a trailer jack stand include U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,610 which discloses a jack stand or support for a trailer jack having a vertically extending housing and an extendable plunger telescopically contained by the end of the jack housing including an upright member mounted on a flat base. The jack stand disclosed in the '610 patent pivots into a position to provide support for the tongue of the trailer. U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0236577 discloses a dual mode jack foot designed for attachment to the base of commercially available trailer jacks. The jack foot of the '577 patent application pivots into position to provide a support mechanism when deployed.


If a repeater supervisory control (SV), a pre-emphasis automatic adjustment (PE), a receiving side threshold value automatic adjustment (Vth), a transmitting side dispersion compensation value setting (VDC(T)), and a receiving side dispersion compensation value setting (VDC(R)) are executed for an optical main signal, these controls are executed in the above described priority order. Accordingly, if the controls are independently executed, or if two or more controls simultaneously occur, a control with a higher priority is executed. In this way, a transmission quality of an optical signal is prevented from being badly influenced as a result that the controls are simultaneously executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal controlling apparatus and method in a WDM optical communications system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the speed and the capacity of an apparatus that makes a long-haul international communication like an optical submarine terminal apparatus have been increasing rather quickly with WDM technology. Accompanying this phenomenon, the demand for some control functions for maintaining a main signal characteristic has been growing. The first one is a supervisory control function of a submarine repeater or gain equalizer, which is installed on a submarine transmission line. The second one is an automatic pre-emphasis control function for making wavelength characteristics uniform. The third one is an automatic threshold value control function for adjusting an identifing voltage/phase, which shifts with fluctuations of a Q value of a transmission line or fluctuations of a temperature of a receiver, to an optimum value. The fourth one is an automatic dispersion compensation function for compensating for wavelength dispersion with a variable device. These control functions include a function for performing control at the start-up of an apparatus, a function for periodically performing control during operations, and the like. With these controls, however, the level of a main signal is varied or modulated. Therefore, if the individual controls are performed at the same time, a signal characteristic can possibly be degraded in a transient manner, leading to an occurrence of an error.
FIG. 1 exemplifies the configuration of a conventional WDM optical submarine terminal apparatus.
This figure shows an opposed connection between a station A (terminal station 10) and a station B (terminal station 11). Firstly, a TRIB (TRIButary) unit 12 of the station A is, what is called, a transponder unit, and a functioning unit that performs a signal process for one wavelength. Accordingly, TRIB units 12 the number of which is equal to the number of wavelengths are arranged in the terminal station 10 in the WDM system. However, FIG. 1 shows only the TRIB unit 12 for one wavelength. To a TXF (transmitter unit) 18, a SDH signal, etc. from a land is input. The TXF 18 once opt-electrically converts the signal, etc., adds a Reed-Solomon code for error correction, electro-optically converts the signal, and outputs the signal. Then, a CHA (CHannel Amplifier) unit 17 at the next stage amplifies the optical signal from the TXF 10 to a predetermined level. Then, the signal enters a DCF (Dispersion Compensation Fiber) 50, where pre wavelength dispersion compensation is performed for this signal. A TPA (Transmitting Pre-emphasis Amplifier) 16 at the next stage has a pre-emphasis function for adjusting the level of an optical signal after being amplified so that the characteristic of each wavelength (each channel) becomes flat after being transmitted. The above described TRIB units 12 are arranged by the number of wavelengths to be multiplexed, and wavelengths output from the TRIB units 12 are multiplexed by a WDM unit 30, and transmitted to a submarine transmission line.
On the submarine transmission line, optical amplification repeaters 31-1 and 31-2 are inserted. Also gain equalizers 31-3 and 31-4 for equalizing the gain of each wavelength are inserted depending on the number of multiplexed wavelengths or a transmission distance.
The above described signal is received and wavelength-demultiplexed by a WDM unit 32 of the station B (terminal station 11). After post dispersion compensation is made for a signal having each demultiplexed wavelength by a DCF 33, it is amplified by a CHA unit 34 similar to the transmitting side, and input to a RXF (receiver unit) 35. The RXF 35 opt-electrically converts the received signal, demodulates the Reed-Solomon code for error correction, makes error correction, electro-optically converts the signal into a SDH signal, and transmits the signal to a land transmission line.
The above description is the flow of a main signal. MPTRs (Management Processors for TRibutary) 23 and 41 within the TRIB units 12 and 14 warn, supervise, and control the respective units. COM units 13 and 15 interface with the MPTRs 23 and 41 within the TRIB units 12 and 14, and supervise and control the whole of the terminal apparatuses. Additionally, the COM units 13 and 15 are connected to CTs (Craft Terminals) 29 having GUI and 47, and SSEs (System Supervisory Equipments) 18 and 46.
Each of the COM units 13 and 15 is arranged for all of wavelengths, and a signal from the MPTR 23 or 41 of the TRIB unit 12 or 14 for each wavelength is passed to a SMP (System Management Processor) 27 or 45 via a SIP (Signal Interface Processor) 24 or 42 of the COM unit 13 or 15. To the SMPs 27 and 45, PCPs (Pre-emphasis Control Processors) 25 and 43, and RSPs (Repeater Supervisory Processors) 26 and 44 are connected in addition to the SSEs 28 and 46, and the CTs 29 and 47.
Conventionally, a supervisory control of a submarine repeater/gain equalizer, and a pre-emphasis automatic control are normally implemented as controls of a main signal.
With a method of the supervisory control of a submarine repeater/gain equalizer, a supervisory control command is first transmitted from the SSE 28 or 46, or the CT 29 or 47 to the SMP 27 or 45. The SMP 27 or 45 transfers the command to the RSP 26 or 44, which then transmits the command to the WDM unit 30 or 32. The WDM unit 30 or 32 superposes the received command signal on a signal after being wavelength-multiplexed, and transmits the signal. Commands include a control command for varying the output level of a repeater, and a monitor command for monitoring an input/output level, a pump LD current (an electric current controlling a pump light source), etc. Any of the commands are superposed in the same manner. Normally, a modulation frequency is a low frequency of approximately 150 kHz, and its modulation factor is approximately 5%, which exerts less influence on a main signal.
With a method of the pre-emphasis automatic control, an optimum pre-emphasis setting value of each wavelength is calculated and set by monitoring the number of error corrections of each wavelength on a receiving side of an opposed station.
If a pre-emphasis control command is issued from the SSE 46 (CT 47) of the station B (terminal station 11), the MPTR 41 of the station B (terminal station 11) receives the number of error corrections of the TRIB unit 12 of the station A (terminal station 10) (the number of error corrections is obtained by the RXF 20). Specifically, the number of error corrections made by the RXF 20 of the station A (terminal station 10) is transmitted to the MPTR 23 of the station A (terminal station 10), and its information is obtained by a FOI (FEC Overhead Interface) 19. The FOI 19 inserts this information in an overhead for error correction. Then, this signal is transmitted from the TXF 18 of the station A as a main signal. In the station B (terminal station 11), the information of the number of error corrections of the station A from the signal received by the RXF 35 is transmitted to the MPTR 41 via the FOI 36.
The COM unit 15 of the station B obtains the number of error corrections of the opposed station from the MPTR 41 of a TRIB unit 14 for each wavelength. The information of the number of error corrections is obtained by the PCP 43. The PCP 43 converts the number of error corrections into a Q value for each wavelength, and calculates for each wavelength a pre-emphasis setting which equalizes Q values of wavelengths as much as possible. Then, the calculated value is set in a TPA 40 of each of the TRIB units 14, and a Q value is recalculated. Here, if the Q values of the wavelengths are not equal, the PCP 43 recalculates and resets the Q values. This routine is repeated by several times, so that a difference among the Q values of the wavelengths is gradually converged, and the Q values are finally settled into an optimum value. Here, the pre-emphasis automatic control is completed.
The SSE 28 and the CT 29 of the terminal station 10 are connected to the SSE 46 and the CT 47 of the terminal station 11 via an electric transmission line different from the optical transmission line so that they can exchange information required for the supervisory control of a main signal. Typically, this electric transmission line is an electric line having a transmission rate of 2 Mbps.
Recently, the demand for adopting the following control functions in addition to the above described two controls has been arising due to an increase in the number of wavelengths, speed-up of a transmission rate, etc.    an automatic adjustment function for amplitude and phase threshold values of a receiver    an automatic adjustment function for a dispersion compensation amount
The former function is demanded, since there is a concern such that an ability originally delivered as an error correction function cannot be fully implemented due to Q value fluctuations of a transmission line or fluctuations of a device temperature, which is caused by an increase in the number of wavelengths or an improvement in a transmission rate, etc. This is because a threshold value in an amplitude direction and that in a phase direction are shifted, when a received waveform is reproduced by a receiver. Accordingly, these threshold values must be automatically adjusted to optimum points with an external trigger.
Additionally, the latter function is demanded, since there are difficulties in a fine adjustment of a dispersion compensation amount and the downsizing of a device with the use of a DCF (Disperson Compensation Fiber). This is because a rather large installment area is required for dispersion compensation that is conventionally made with the DCF whose dispersion compensation amount is fixed. Accordingly, there is a demand for possessing a function that can vary a dispersion compensation amount according to a voltage value with the use of a VIPA (Virtually Imaged Phased Array) device that has been developed recently. Therefore, a function for automatically adjusting the dispersion compensation value with an external trigger becomes necessary.
Fundamentally, these control functions superpose a supervisory signal on a main signal, and vary a main signal level, a threshold value or a dispersion compensation value, etc. Therefore, if these controls are executed at the same time, a signal characteristic can possibly exceed a tolerable range, leading to a degradation and danger.

Main signal controlling apparatus and method in a WDM optical communications system


An article is provided that includes a core including a plurality of triangular core members. Two or more edges of each triangular core member are each attached to respective edges of other triangular core members in the plurality of triangular core members by respective hinges in a plurality of hinges. Each hinge in the plurality of hinges joins respective edges of a respective pair of substantially adjacent triangular core members in the plurality of triangular core members, is of a length to provide an offset between the pair of triangular core members, has a thickness less than thicknesses of the pair of triangular core members, and is integrally connected to the pair of triangular core members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protective equipment and in particular to protective guards for extremities such as shins to be worn while engaging in sports activities.
2. Description of Related Art
Shin guards are widely used in amateur and professional soccer to protect players' lower legs and shins from impact with other players. In soccer, since players advance the soccer ball through kicking, players are frequently kicked in the shin and lower leg by other players. Without adequate protection, the risk of injury is high.
Existing shin guards provide some protection for the shins of soccer players, but the guards are typically bulky and uncomfortable. The existing shin guards are typically a single piece of rigid plastic and are secured to the shin and lower leg using straps or special sleeves. While the existing shin guards are manufactured in different sizes, obtaining a "custom" fit is almost impossible, and the shin guards often protrude outward from each side of the player's leg. The lack of custom sizing available with existing shin guards makes them less comfortable to wear, and the guards could under some circumstances impede the movement of the player. Finally, a guard that does not fit properly also fails to provide maximum impact protection to the player.
A need exists, therefore, for a protective guard that provides a customized fit to a person's leg or other body part. A protective guard is further needed that is easily adjustable to extremities of different sizes and shapes so that a minimum number of sizes can be manufactured. Finally, a protective guard is needed that is easy to manufacture and is comfortable to wear during extended periods of exertion.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A complex band-pass filter. The complex band-pass filter includes a band-pass filter coupled to a voltage source. The band-pass filter includes a first plurality of transconductors that receives a first voltage, where the first voltage controls the center frequency of the band-pass filter. The band-pass filter also includes a second plurality of transconductors, wherein the second plurality of transconductors receives a second voltage, where the second voltage controls the bandwidth of the band-pass filter. According to the system disclosed herein, the complex band-pass filter has automatic frequency tuning against process variations, a programmable center frequency, and a programmable bandwidth. Providing programmability to the center frequency (Fc) and bandwidth (BW) offers an alternative for multi-protected standards with different channels (Fc changes) and for time acquisition improvements (BS changes).

Band-pass filters are well known. Band-pass filters are commonly used in communication systems, where high-frequency signals are down converted and often demodulated into low frequency signals. A well-suited architecture is typically chosen depending on the input bandwidth, adjacent channels, and requested sensitivity and selectivity of the system implementing the band-pass filter.
Most band-pass filters are made from conventional transconductors, which typically include differential pairs of transistors, and these band-pass filters are often tuned with a high-impedance bias voltage. Some other filters are tuned with a low-impedance source. For example, filters using the Nauta transconductor are tuned by changing their supply voltage.
Process variations of transconductors are well-known problems. However, conventional solutions for filters tuned with a low-impedance source have not been implemented to adequately address process variations.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system for providing an improved band-pass filter. The present invention addresses such a need.


A device providing an inertially stabilized laser beam as an optical reference. The device consists of a base and a small stabilized optical platform that emits the laser beam. The platform connects to the base through a mechanical flexure that allows relative motion in two axes. High-bandwidth angular rate sensors affixed to the platform measure platform motion in inertial space. Linear displacement sensors measure relative motion between base and platform. A closed-loop control system accepts these sensor measurements and command actuators that null the sensed platform motions, maintaining the optical platform fixed in inertial space. The digital controller implements a Sensor Blending Kalman Filter that blends high frequency signals from the platform with low frequency signals from a DC sensor (gyroscope) external to this device but affixed to the common base. The controller enables both stabilization of the laser beam and commanded pointing of the beam in inertial space.

The present invention relates generally to electro-optical systems, and more specifically, to systems that require line of sight pointing and stabilization.
Precision optical instruments mounted on mobile platforms need to point accurately and reject disturbances to the line of sight. At sub-microradian levels of accuracy, significant disturbances to the line of sight originate within the optical system itself. To sample and correct for these errors requires the creation of an optical reference in inertial space, similar to a fixed star. Such a reference allows detection and correction of internal jitter sources along the optical train, and this "virtual star" supports both increased pointing accuracy and line of sight stabilization requirements.
A previously developed system approach developed by the assignee of the present invention is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/828,483, entitled "Optical Line-of-Sight Pointing and Stabilization System." That system includes a set of primary optics and relay optics that can be used to receive an image or transmit a laser. An inertially stable reference laser beam is injected into the primary optics and transmit the same beam path as the received image or transmitted laser. A jitter rejection mirror is located in the path of the optical system near the point at which an image is viewed or at which a laser originates in a laser pointing system. The jitter rejection mirror is displaced in a direction to oppose any change in the apparent position of the inertially stable reference laser beam.
For the purpose of jitter suppression, the Optical Inertial Reference Unit serves as an inertially stable platform on which a reference laser is mounted. This means that the reference laser beam leaves the Optical Inertial Reference Unit platform with minimal jitter induced by the host structure. Therefore it behaves as a "virtual star." The reference laser beam samples the optical train jitter between the optical inertial reference unit and the auto-alignment sensor. The auto-alignment system uses an optical position sensor to sense the relative angle of the reference laser with respect to its boresight position. The sensed position is sampled, scaled, and compensated to send torque commands to the fast steering mirror. This digital alignment servo loop continuously seeks to hold the light of the virtual star on the null position of the alignment position sensor. This greatly attenuates the jitter in the optical train. Since the instrument beam paths (imaging and propagating) are common to that of reference laser, their jitter is also reduced.
The Optical Inertial Reference Unit platform also provides an inertial pointing reference. Once the sensors are initialized and calibrated in inertial space, they maintain knowledge of their attitude in that space. The Optical Inertial Reference Unit reference beam can then be commanded to point in any direction in that space. With the IRU platform mounted on the primary mirror, the angle between the IRU stable platform and its base can be used as an error signal to drive the primary mirror gimbals. This moves the line of sight of the optical system to desired pointing.
A previously developed inertial reference unit approach developed by the assignee of the present invention is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/173,627 entitled "Optical Inertial Reference Generator." That approach described a stabilized laser source as an optical line of sight reference.
The assignee of the present invention has reduced the Optical Inertial Reference Generator to the practice for two applications that differ primarily in performance. The first reduction to practice is an Optical Inertial Reference Unit for a NASA scientific program with a performance goal of 150 nanoradian root mean square residual beam jitter. The second reduction to practice, for a defense application, has a far more stringent 20 nanoradian residual beam jitter performance goal. The present invention embodies key advances in the state of the art to enable these compact high-performance applications.
Historically, it has been customary to mount a low-frequency (DC) sensor, for example a gyroscope, on a stabilized platform to provide feedback. This is undesirable for several reasons: (1) current technologies for high-accuracy low-drift-rate DC sensors result in large and massive sensors; these large heavy sensors necessitate increased size and weight of the platform which limits control bandwidth, (2) high-accuracy low-drift-rate DC sensors attached to the platform introduce asymmetries to the moments of inertia which further complicate the controls, (3) since high-performance DC sensors are expensive system components, it is costly and redundant to mount a DC sensor on the platform when another source of DC signals is already available within the system, and (4) some DC sensors impart reaction disturbances into the platform, thereby reducing stabilization performance or complicating the controls. The present invention removes the low-frequency DC sensor from the platform and implements an innovative Sensor Blending Kalman Filter to incorporate low-frequency signals from off-platform into the platform control loop. This innovation results in smaller size, lower weight, lower power, lower cost, more benign platform jitter, and better residual jitter performance.
In addition, the historic state of the art for stabilized platforms did not consider the use of redundant symmetrically arranged sensors and alignment of platform center of mass, center of rotation, and center of force application. The current invention embodies an innovative use of symmetry and redundant sensors to suppress unwanted moments, lower the drive requirements, and improve stabilization performance.
Two key components of the preferred embodiment of the present invention have been previously disclosed by the assignee of the present invention. First, a previously developed high-bandwidth angular rate sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,351, entitled "Magnetohydrodynamic Angular Rate Sensor for Measuring Large Angular Rates." Second, a previously developed high-precision linear displacement sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,053, entitled "E/U Core Linear Variable Differential Transformer." These two low-noise high-bandwidth sensors enable the preferred embodiment of the present invention to achieve very high optical reference beam stability.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a compact optical reference unit with kilohertz bandwidth sub-microradian pointing and jitter control.

Optical inertial reference unit for kilohertz bandwidth submicroradian optical pointing and jitter control


Wireless headphones operated by a storage battery and having a connector socket for the insertion of a charge plug of an electric connection into a power pack. The headphones further have at least one miniature loudspeaker, audio electronics, a reception part, and charging electronics to monitor the charging process of the storage battery. In order to be able to use the headphones even with a dead storage battery, a socket is provided for the insertion of a signal plug of an electrical connection with an audio device for the transmission of signals. The audio electronics conduct only the signals received via the signal plug to the loudspeakers when the signal plug is inserted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless headphones operated by at least one storage battery and having a connector socket to insert a charge plug of an electric connection to a power pack. The headphones further have at least one miniature loudspeaker, audio electronics, and a reception part, as well as charging electronics for the monitoring the charging process of the storage battery. Such headphones are more and more frequently used not only to increase the level of carrying comfort and to extend the range of the audio reception area, but also as an accessory for television sets, units for speaking in open areas, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Independent of whether the storage cell is designed as a single part or multiple parts, the following description sometimes uses the singular and sometimes the plural for better readability, without this representing a limitation. Likewise, sometimes "at least one miniature loudspeaker" is used, since there are applications in which only one such loudspeaker is present, even if in most cases at least two loudspeakers are present.
With wireless headphones, the transfer of information takes place by radio waves or infrared beams. Batteries or storage/rechargeable batteries are provided in the headphones for operating the receiver and the miniaturized loudspeakers in the headphone earpieces. Storage batteries have become increasingly popular for use in wireless headphones, and the use of conventional batteries has become rare. In order to be able to undertake the charging of the storage batteries, without having to take them out of the headphones, a corresponding socket is provided, into which the plug of a power pack can be inserted, which thus charges the storage batteries. Usually, suitable electronics are provided in the headphones for evaluating the charge state of the storage batteries. The electronics also control or end the charging process if the storage batteries have been charged to the limit of their capacity.
For various reasons, for example, universal usage possibility or use even with dead or defective storage batteries, it is desirable to be able to operate such headphones even with a conventional cable, by means of which the loudspeakers are provided directly with the audio signals in sufficient strength to drive the speakers.

Wireless headphones with connector socket


The safety device includes an opening/closing cover which isolates a takeout part and an accommodating part of a component feeder unit from each other and which has a sensor for detecting a closed state. The component feeder unit includes the component accommodating part, a feed-out part and the takeout part, and sensors for transmission through voids common to the plurality of set component feeder units. Upon a detection by any one of the sensors during the operation of the machine, the machine is halted. For replacement of the component feeder units, a changeover switch is pressed, by which the detecting function is paused for a specified time period. Thus, a safety device which allows the component feeder units to be replaced even during the operation of the machine can be obtained.

The present invention relates to a component mounting machine comprising a safety device thereof for securing operators"" safety in component mounting machines for mounting components on objects to be mounted, such as boards.
In recent years, component mounting machines have been required to assure a high level of safety for operators, as typified by E.C. standards. As prior art of the safety device for component mounting machines, there have hitherto been known, for example, those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 showing appearance views of mounting machines. The prior art safety devices for component mounting machines mentioned above are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 8 shows a conventional component mounting machine having a taped component feed section that can feed taped pickup-target components one by one, and a tray feed section that feeds components arrayed on trays. The mounting machine includes a safety device which is provided for use primarily in Japan.
In FIG. 8, denoted by reference numeral 101 is a side cover of the mounting machine, having an opening 101a for a board transfer unit 102 that transfers and positions the board. There is at the opposite side face a similar cover. Inside the covers, although not shown, a nozzle unit for vacuum-picking up components, an up-and-down drive shaft for moving the nozzle unit up and down, a component transfer head on which the nozzle unit is mounted, and an X-Y robot unit for positioning the component transfer head back and forth, right and left, are driven by a control unit at high speed in order to mount components onto, the board.
Numeral 103 denotes a tray component feed section 103 with a cover. Numeral 104 denotes a taped component feed section. In this taped component feed section 104, 105 is a component feeder unit platform, which allows a plurality of component feeder units (not shown) to be set thereon. Denoted by 106 is a cover that covers above the component feeder units, preventing the operator from putting the hand to the inside of the cover from above the component feeder units. Denoted by 107 is a safety fence, showing the operator a safety region. The nozzle unit sucks and takes out a component from the component feeder units set on the platform 105. In this case, when replacement of one of the component feeder units due to an exhaustion of the components in the component feeder unit is required, the platform 105 is moved in a direction of arrow A. This region is a region the nozzle unit cannot reach, allowing the operator to perform the replacement work safely while the mounting machine continues operating.
As another prior art example, FIG. 9 shows a conventional safety device for component mounting machines, which device meets primarily European safety standards. Its difference from the prior art example of FIG. 8 is that the component feed section of the component feeder units is all covered with covers 110, 111. In this case, as in the mounting machine shown in FIG. 8, when replacement of one of the component feeder units is required, it has been conventional practice that the covers 110, 111, or 112 are opened, causing the machine operation to be halted. Upon completion of the replacement work, the cover(s) are closed, causing the machine to begin operation again.
However, the constitutions shown above have had the following issues.
Referencing first the mounting machine of FIG. 8, as described above, when replacement of the component feeder unit is required, the platform 105 is moved in the direction of arrow A. In this case, however, with the opening 107 defined between the platform 105 and the component feeder unit, if the operator has put the hand in the opening 107 beyond the safety fence 106, the operator""s safety would be impaired.
The other mounting machine of FIG. 9 has had an issue that because the whole machine including the whole of the component feeder units is covered with the covers, the mounting machine is increased in size, causing an increased installation area of the mounting machine as a whole.
There has been another issue that because opening the cover causes the machine to halt for assurance of the safety, it is impossible, for example, to verify the operating state of the component feeder units while opening the cover, which inevitably makes it impossible to replace the component feeder unit while the machine is kept operating.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a component mounting machine which is capable of solving the above-described issues and which allows the whole machine including the whole of the component feeder units not to be covered with cover(s). Thus, the mounting machine does not need to be increased in size, and an increased installation area of the mounting machine as a whole is not necessary, without impairing the worker""s safety.
In accomplishing these and other aspects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine which comprises a component feeder unit, a component feed section, a nozzle unit, a robot unit, a control unit, and an opening/closing cover.
The component feeder unit has a component accommodating part for accommodating components, a feed-out part for feeding the accommodated components one by one, and a component takeout part enabled to take out the fed components. The component feed section has a plurality of the component feeder units is set thereon. The nozzle unit takes out the component from the component feed section and mounts the component onto an object to be mounted, and the component accommodating part is set outside a movable range of the nozzle unit. The robot unit drives the nozzle unit, and the control unit controls operations of the nozzle unit and robot unit. The opening/closing cover shuts off (isolates) the component takeout part and the component accommodating part from each other in its close state, and includes an upper cover for swinging on a fulcrum of a machine upper portion, a sub-cover for swinging on a fulcrum of a front end portion of the upper cover, and a guide mechanism for regulating operation of the sub-cover. The guide mechanism regulates movement of the sub-cover when the sub-cover moves together with the upper cover so that the sub-cover does not interfere with a movable part of the nozzle unit. When the component feeder unit is set on the component feed section and the sub-cover is moved to a closed position, the component takeout part of the component feeder unit is covered with the sub-cover while the component accommodating part of the component feeder unit is exposed. Thus, the movable part of the nozzle unit and the component accommodating part of the component feeder unit are isolated so that there is no space through which a foreign object such as the operator""s hand can enter to the movable part of the nozzle unit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to the first aspect, further comprising an opening/closing cover sensor for detecting the closed state of the opening/closing cover, and a detection sensor for detecting that an operator""s hand etc. enters the component feed section. The control unit stops an operation of the component mounting machine when the opening/closing cover sensor detects that the opening/closing cover is not in the closed state thereof or when the detection sensor detects that the operator""s hand etc. enters the component feed section.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to the second aspect, wherein the detection sensor is a sensor for passing detection light through voids common to the plurality of set component feeder units, and for detecting that the operator""s hand etc. enters the component feed section due to the detection light being blocked when the operator""s hand etc. enters the common voids.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to the second aspect, wherein the detection sensor comprises an up/down sensor and a presence/absence sensor. The up/down sensor passes detection light in an up-and-down direction in the component feeder units set in the component feed section, and detects that the operator""s hand etc. enters the component feed section due to blockage of the detection light by the entered operator""s hand etc. The presence/absence sensor detects the presence of the component feeder unit. The control unit turns the up/down sensor on when the presence/absence sensor is turned off, turns the up/down sensor off when the presence/absence sensor is turned on, and stops the operation of the component mounting machine when the up/down sensor detects that the operator""s hand etc. has entered the component feed section.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to the second aspect, wherein the detection sensor comprises a sensor for detecting that the operator""s hand etc. has entered the component feed section by tilting a barshaped detection member down with the entered operator""s hand etc. The detection member is tilted down while the component feeder unit is set in the component feed section, and is raised while the component feeder unit is removed so as to detect the entered operator""s hand etc.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the component feed part has a platform which allows a plurality of the component feeder units to be set thereon, the platform being stationary only during component feed operation.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the component feeder unit feeds taped components one by one.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component mounting machine according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a changeover switch, wherein pressing the changeover switch causes a detecting function of the detection sensor for a specified time period, allowing the component feeder unit to be replaced with another during this time period during an operation of the component mounting machine.

Component mounting machine and safety device thereof

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A power on and off testing device includes a control module, a switch module, an alternating current and direct current converter module, an input module, and a detecting module. The switch module is connected to an alternating current source. The alternating current and direct current converter module is connected to a motherboard of a computer. The input module is connected to the control module to input testing references to the control module. The detecting module is connected between the control module and the motherboard. The detecting module detects a power status of the motherboard and sends the power status to the control module. The control module controls the switch module to be switched on according to the power status after receiving the testing references, thereby controlling the alternating current source to supply power to the motherboard.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to a power on and off testing device and method.
2. Description of Related Art
Testing power supplies of computers is an important step in producing computers. A common method for testing the power supply is to manually press the button of the power supply, which is inefficient.
Thus, there is room for improvement within the art.

Power on and off testing device and method

ShenZhen Goldsun Network Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.


In a powder module (111), a free-wheeling diode (1A), an IGBH (1B), and a capacitor (20) for smoothing direct current are disposed directly on a surface (2BS) of a conductive heat sink (2B) with through holes (2BH). The rear electrodes of the free-wheeling diode (1A), the IGBT (1B), and the capacitor (20) are bonded to the heat sink (2B) for example with solder, whereby the diode (1A), the IGBT (1B), and the capacitor (20) are electrically connected with the heat sink (2B). The front electrodes of the diodes (1A), the IGBT (1B), and the capacitor (20) are connected with each other for example by wires (7). In the heat sink (2B), a cooling medium flows through the through holes (2BH). Such a configuration allows miniaturization of the power module and improves the cooling performance and reliability of the power module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power modules and especially to techniques for improving cooling performance of power modules.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 34 is a schematic external view of a first conventional power module 101P. In the power module 101P, a copper base plate 9P is disposed through a heat-conducting grease (not shown) over a radiating fin or heat sink 2AP, and an insulating substrate 5P is disposed on the base plate 9P. On the insulating substrate 5P, there are disposed a free-wheeling diode 1AP (hereinafter also referred to as xe2x80x9cdiodexe2x80x9d) and an insulated gate bipolar transistor 1BP (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cIGBTxe2x80x9d).
In the conventional power module 101P, copper foils 6P are placed on both main surfaces of the insulating substrate 5P. The base plate 9P and the copper foil 6P are bonded together with solder, and the diode 1AP and the IGBT 1BT are soldered onto the copper foil 6P. An electrode 3P is provided through an insulating layer 4P over the radiating fin 2AP. Then, predetermined electrical connections are made by wires 7P. The construction including the radiating fin 2AP, the diode 1AP, the IGBT 1BP, and the like is housed in a case (not shown).
The electrode 3P is connected to a bus bar or wiring 91P which extends toward the outside of the case. Outside the case, a current transformer 92P for current detection is attached to the bus bar 91P. Further, a cylindrical capacitor 8P for smoothing direct current is provided outside the case independently of the radiating fin 2P and the like (the connection with the case is omitted in the figure).
FIG. 35 is a schematic external view of a second conventional power module 102P. The power module 102P has no base plate 9P as above described, wherein the insulating substrate 5P is disposed through a heat-conducting grease over the radiating fin 2AP. The power module 102P is in all other aspects identical to the above-mentioned power module 101P.
FIG. 36 is a schematic external view of a third conventional power module 103P. The power module 103P is a so-called power transducer. In the power module 103P, all the diodes 1AP and IGBTs 1BP are disposed on the insulating substrates 5P. A heat sink 2BP of the power module 103P has through holes 2BHP therethrough passing a cooling medium. The power module 103P is in all other aspects identical to the above-mentioned power module 101P.
The conventional power modules 101P, 102P, and 103P have the following problems.
First is low temperature reliability during operation. More specifically, when the thermal expansion coefficient of the heat sink 2AP or 2BP differs from those of the diode(s) 1AP and the IGBT(s) 1BP, thermal stresses responsive to a temperature difference from the freezing point of solder will occur at the solder joints as above described. There is thus a problem of occurrence and progress of cracking at the solder joints through a heat cycle (or temperature cycle) in the use (or operation) of the power module 101P, 102P, 103P and/or a heat cycle by repetitions of start and halt of the power module. Such cracking at the solder joints reduces the longevity of the power module.
To reduce the above thermal stresses, it is contemplated for example to increase solder thickness (e.g., 300 xcexcm or more). However, such increased thickness of solder increases thermal resistance between the heat sink 2AP or 2BP and the diode(s) 1AP and the like. This brings up another problem that the size of the heat sink 2AP or 2BP must be increased.
Further, in the conventional power modules 101P, 102P, and 103P, the distribution of temperature in the insulating substrate(s) 5P, the base plate 9P, and the like due to heat generation in the diode(s) 1AP and the like causes warps or winding in the insulating substrate(s) 5P and the like. When the temperature difference is great, clearance is created between the radiating fin 2AP, 2BP and the base plate 9P and the like. Thus, there is a problem of reduced heat transfer because the heat-conducting grease cannot completely fill in the space between the radiating fin 2AP, 2BP and the insulating substrate(s) 5P or the base plate 9P (due to the incoming air). Another problem is that the occurrence or progress of cracking at the solder joints, described above, may be encouraged. The formation of clearance thus results in deterioration in the reliability of the power module.
To prevent the formation of clearance, it is contemplated for example to make the temperature distribution uniform throughout the insulating substrate(s) 5P and the like, or to increase the rigidity of the insulating substrate(s) 5P and the like by increasing the thickness of the substrate(s) 5P and the like. However, such increased thickness increases thermal resistance between the heat sink 2AP, 2BP and the insulating substrate(s) 5P or the like. This brings up, as has been described, another problem that the size of the heat sink 2AP, 2BP must be increased.
Further, when the diode(s) 1AP and the IGBT(s) 1BP produce a large quantity of heat, the amount of current must be limited in order to ensure reliability since the characteristics of the elements vary with increasing temperature.
Secondly, each of the conventional power modules 101P, 102P, and 103P as a whole is large in size since the current transformer 92P and the cylindrical capacitor 8P are provided independently outside the case for such a module. Besides, the current transformer 92P has the property of becoming large when current to be measured has a large DC component, and also the current transformer 92P makes measurements with errors (about 5%) due to its characteristics changes caused by heat generation.
Thirdly, in the power module 103P, the distances from each of the power semiconductor devices, such as the diode 1AP or the IGBT 1BP, to the electrode 61P connected to the low potential side of the power transducer and to the electrode 62P connected to the high potential side vary according to where that power semiconductor device is located. This causes variations in the inductance of the wiring or wires 7P from one power semiconductor device to another, thereby causing variations in output voltage.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a power module comprising: a heat sink; a first power semiconductor device disposed directly on the heat sink; and a capacitor disposed directly on the heat sink.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the power module of the first aspect, the heat sink has a plurality of surfaces; and the first power semiconductor device and the capacitor are disposed on different ones of the surfaces of the heat sink.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the power module of the first or second aspect, the heat sink has a passage of a cooling medium.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the power module of either of the first through third aspects, the heat sink has conductivity; and an electrode of the first power semiconductor device and an electrode of the capacitor are directly bonded to the heat sink.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the power module of the fourth aspect further comprises: an insulating substrate disposed on the heat sink; and a second power semiconductor device disposed through the insulating substrate over the heat sink.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the power module of the fourth aspect further comprises: another heat sink; and a second power semiconductor device disposed directly on the another heat sink.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the power module of the sixth aspect, the another heat sink has conductivity; and an electrode of the second power semiconductor device is directly bonded to the another heat sink. The power module further comprises: an insulating member for insulating the another heat sink from the heat sink and the electrode of the capacitor.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the power module of the seventh aspect further comprises: a conductive member disposed on the insulating member; and a flexible wire connected to the conductive member for providing an electrical connection between the first power semiconductor device and the second power semiconductor device.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is directed to a power module comprising: a capacitor; and a first semiconductor device disposed directly on an electrode of the capacitor.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the power module of the ninth aspect, the electrode of the capacitor has a passage of a cooling medium.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the power module of the ninth aspect further comprises: an insulating substrate disposed on the electrode of the capacitor; and a second power semiconductor device disposed through the insulating substrate over the electrode of the capacitor.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the power module of either of the fifth through eighth and eleventh aspects, the first power semiconductor device and the second power semiconductor device are electrically connected with each other; the first power semiconductor device forms a lower arm of a power transducer; and the second power semiconductor device forms an upper arm of the power transducer.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the power module of the twelfth aspect further comprises: a plurality of arms of the power transducer, including the upper arm and the lower arm; and a coaxial line protruding through a surface on which the first or second power semiconductor device is disposed, the coaxial line including a first electrode for supplying a first voltage to the first power semiconductor device of each of the lower arms and a second electrode for supplying a second voltage to the second power semiconductor device of each of the upper arms, wherein the plurality of arms are angularly spaced at regular intervals about the coaxial line.
A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is directed to a power module comprising: a plurality of heat sinks each having a passage of a cooling medium; a plurality of power semiconductor devices disposed on the heat sinks; and a casing having space and being capable of housing the plurality of heat sinks, wherein the plurality of heat sinks are arranged within the space of the casing, leaving a clearance therebetween, whereby continuous space including the clearance and the passages is formed within the space of the casing.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the power module of the fourteenth aspect, the passages of the heat sinks pass an insulative cooling medium.
In accordance with the first aspect, both the first power semiconductor device and the capacitor are directly disposed on the heat sink. The power module can thus be made lighter and smaller than conventional power modules wherein those components are provided independently. Further, the heat radiating action of the heat sink inhibits not only heat generation in the first power semiconductor device but also the temperature rise in the capacitor. This allows miniaturization of the capacitor, a reduction in inductance, and an increase in longevity.
Disposing both the first power semiconductor device and the capacitor directly on the heat sink also reduces the length of wiring between both of them shorter than that in the aforementioned conventional power modules. Thus, circuit inductance can be reduced. This reduces overshoot voltage at a switching operation of the first power semiconductor device, resulting in a reduction in withstand voltage and loss of the first power semiconductor device. The above short wiring length also reduces the occurrence of electromagnetic noise can be reduced.
Accordingly, a compact, lightweight, and highly reliable power module can be provided.
In accordance with the second aspect, the first power semiconductor device and the capacitor are disposed on different surfaces of the heat sink. This allows a further reduction in the size and weight of the power module as compared with the case of disposing both of them on the same surface. Further, less interference occurs between heat radiation in the first power semiconductor device and that in the capacitor, which improves heat radiating performance of the power module.
In accordance with the third aspect, passing a cooling medium through the passage in the heat sink further improves the cooling capability of the heat sink.
In accordance with the fourth aspect, the heat sink having conductivity can be used as an electrode. This reduces the number of components such as wires on the heat sink and processes related to the formation of such components.
Further, the electrodes of both the first power semiconductor device and the capacitor are directly bonded to the heat sink. That is, the first power semiconductor device and the capacitor are electrically connected with each other through the heat sink. In this case, the electrical connection between both the electrodes becomes shorter than in the case where both the electrodes are connected by wiring or the like. A resultant reduction in circuit inductance leads to a considerable reduction in the aforementioned overshoot voltage and the like.
In accordance with the fifth aspect, the second power semiconductor device is disposed through the insulating substrate over the heat sink. This makes it possible to dispose power semiconductor devices of different potentials together on a conductive heat sink in the formation of the circuit.
In accordance with the sixth aspect, the power module further comprises the second power semiconductor device disposed on another heat sink. The combination of the first and second power semiconductor devices simplifies circuit configuration.
In accordance with the seventh aspect, another conductive heat sink is insulated from the above-mentioned conductive heat sink and the electrode of the capacitor by the insulating member. The first and second power semiconductor devices can thus be set at different potentials without the use of any insulating substrate. This allows a reduction in the number of components by the number of insulating substrates. Further, since the construction including the first power semiconductor device and one heat sink and the construction including the second power semiconductor device and another heat sink are broadly equivalent, the manufacturing cost of the power module as a whole can be reduced. This results in the provision of a low-cost power module.
In accordance with the eighth aspect, when providing an electrical connection between the first and second power semiconductor devices, the flexible wire uses, as a relay or junction point, the conductive member disposed on the insulating member. This inhibits a deflection or the slack of the wire as compared with the case where those power semiconductor devices are directly connected by the flexible wire without the use of the above conductive member. As a result, short circuits due to the slack of the wire can be prevented.
In accordance with the ninth aspect, the first power semiconductor device is disposed directly on the electrode of the capacitor. The power module can thus be lighter and smaller than the conventional power modules wherein both components are provided independently. Further, since the electrode of the capacitor is used as a heat sink, the heat radiating action of the heat sink inhibits not only heat generation in the first power semiconductor device but also the temperature rise in the capacitor.
Disposing the first power semiconductor device on the electrode of the capacitor also makes the electrical connection between both of them considerably shorter than that in the aforementioned conventional power modules. Thus, circuit inductance can be reduced. This reduces overshoot voltage at a switching operation of the first power semiconductor device, resulting in a reduction in withstand voltage and loss of the first power semiconductor device. The above short wiring length also reduces the occurrence of electromagnetic noise.
Accordingly, a compact, lightweight, and highly reliable power module can be provided.
In accordance with the tenth aspect, passing a cooling medium through the passage in the electrode of the capacitor further improves the cooling capability of the power module.
In accordance with the eleventh aspect, the second power semiconductor device is disposed through the insulating substrate over the electrode of the capacitor. This makes it possible to dispose power semiconductor devices of different potentials together over the electrode of the capacitor in the formation of the circuit.
In accordance with the twelfth aspect, a highly reliable power transducer can be provided.
In accordance with the thirteenth aspect, the plurality of arms of the power transducer are angularly spaced at regular intervals about the coaxial line. Thus, the wiring between each arm and the first and second electrodes can be installed in a similar manner. This reduces variations in the output from each arm and variations in the first voltage, thereby offering considerable resistance to malfunctions.
In accordance with the fourteenth aspect, the plurality of heat sinks form continuous space including clearances and the passages in the heat sinks, within the space of the casing. At this time, the cooling medium passes through the passages in the heat sinks faster than when passing through the clearances. This improves the cooling capability of the heat sinks. On the other hand, when the cooling medium passes through the clearances, pressure loss is smaller than when the cooling medium passes through the passages. Thus, higher cooling performance can be achieved with smaller pressure loss.
In accordance with the fifteenth aspect, since an insulative cooling medium passes through the passages of the heat sinks, the power semiconductor devices can be isolated from each other without the use of any insulating substrate even if they are directly disposed on the conductive heat sinks. This allows a reduction in the number of components by the number of insulating substrates. Further, since the constructions each including the power semiconductor device and the heat sink are broadly equivalent, the manufacturing cost of the power module as a whole can be reduced. This results in the provision of a low-cost power module.
The aforementioned power semiconductor devices, which are insulated from each other, can be disposed directly on the conductive heat sinks. This improves heat radiating performance of the power module, thereby improving the reliability of the power module.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact, lightweight, and highly reliable power module.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A telemetry system is presented for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device in a manner which reduces the power requirements of the implantable device by duty cycling its RF circuitry. A wakeup scheme for the implantable device is provided in which the external device transmits a data segment containing a repeating sequence of special wakeup characters and a device ID in order to establish a communications session with the implantable device. The wakeup scheme may be designed to operate using multiple communications channels.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs), including cardiac rhythm management devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators, typically have the capability to communicate data with an external device (ED) via a radio-frequency telemetry link. One such external device is an external programmer used to program the operating parameters of an implanted medical device. For example, the pacing mode and other operating characteristics of a pacemaker are typically modified after implantation in this manner. Modern implantable devices also include the capability for bidirectional communication so that information can be transmitted to the programmer from the implanted device. Among the data that may typically be telemetered from an implantable device are various operating parameters and physiological data, the latter either collected in real-time or stored from previous monitoring operations.
External programmers are commonly configured to communicate with an IMD over an inductive link. Coil antennas in the external programmer and the IMD are inductively coupled so that data can be transmitted by modulating a carrier waveform which corresponds to the resonant frequency of the two coupled coils. An inductive link is a short-range communications channel requiring that the coil antenna of the external device be in close proximity to the IMD, typically within a few inches. Other types of telemetry systems may utilize far-field radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation to enable communications between an IMD and an ED over a wireless medium. Such long-range RF telemetry allows the IMD to communicate with an ED, such as an external programmer or remote monitor, without the need for close proximity.
In order for a substantial portion of the energy delivered to an antenna to be emitted as far-field radiation, the wavelength of the driving signal should not be very much larger than the length of the antenna. Far-field radio-frequency communications with an antenna of a size suitable for use in an implantable device therefore requires a carrier in the frequency range of between a few hundred MHz to a few GHz. Active transmitters and receivers for this frequency range require special RF components (typically including SiGe or GaAs semiconductor devices) that consume a significant amount of power (typically tens of milliwatts). Implantable medical devices, however, are powered by a battery contained within the housing of the device that can only supply a limited amount of continuous power before it fails. When the battery fails in an implantable device, it must be replaced which necessitates a re-implantation procedure. Power conservation is thus an important design objective in wireless telemetry systems for implantable medical devices.
It is also common in clinical settings for there to be multiple implantable and/or external devices present in an area so that communication over the wireless medium is possible between the multiple devices. Access to the medium among the multiple devices must be controlled in this situation in order for a communications session between any pair of devices to be established. It would also be desirable for there to be the possibility of multiple communications sessions between different devices occurring concurrently. Providing a means by which communications may be rapidly established with an IND in this environment within the constraints imposed by power conservation considerations, however, is problematic. Also, in either the home or the clinic, there are external sources of RF energy which may interfere with communication between the ED and IND, and this problem must also be dealt with.

System and method for enabling communications with implantable medical devices


A definite length transfer adhesive dispenser is described. The dispenser provides a convenient, hand held device that repeatedly provides a definite length of adhesive. The dispenser may be used to provide a spot of adhesive in a scrapbook or photo album. An adhesive for use with the dispenser is also described.

"Transfer Adhesive" as used herein is defined as an adhesive which is originally carried by a liner or backing and which is subsequently separated from the liner and adhered to a substrate.
The art is replete with hand-held transfer adhesive dispensers which dispense an indefinite length of transfer adhesive. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,718,971 and 4,891,090 are examples of such indefinite length dispensers.
Indefinite length transfer adhesive dispensers have a variety of uses. For example, such dispensers may be used to place adhesive on a page in a scrapbook or photo album so that a photograph or other memorabilia may be adhered to the page.
Generally, indefinite length transfer adhesive dispensers comprise a supply reel and tape roller, and a trigger. To operate the dispenser, the trigger is actuated and the dispenser is pressed against a substrate and then drawn across the substrate. Trigger operated dispensers are difficult to use for some operators as a number of coordinated movements are necessary to apply the adhesive to the substrate.
In some uses of transfer adhesive, such as adhering a photo or other memorabilia to a page in a scrapbook or photo album, it is desirable to use only a relatively small "spot" or definite length of adhesive. With indefinite length adhesive dispensers, some users find it difficult to judge the amount of adhesive being applied to a surface and as a result may waste some of the adhesive, or may require repeated applications of the adhesive to the substrate.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,765,992 and 4,255,218 describe methods and apparatus for applying an adhesive strip to an envelope. Such mechanisms are complex mechanisms and are large relative to a hand held dispenser.

Definite length transfer adhesive dispenser

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A system, apparatus, and method for introducing services into a Push to Talk (PTT) environment. Requests for services are generated and transmitted via requesting PTT clients. The request is received at a PTT server, which forwards the request to a PTT application server recognized by the PTT server as another PTT client. The requested service is performed at the PTT application server, and a result is generated in response. The result is transmitted from the PTT application server to the requesting PTT client by way of the PTT server.

Advances in communication infrastructures and protocols have turned standard computing devices into valuable communication tools. Computers communicate with each other, and with other electronic devices, over networks ranging from Local Area Networks (LANs) to wide reaching Global Area Networks (GANs) such as the Internet. Other electronic devices have experienced similar transformations, such as mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Today, these wireless devices are being used for a variety of different types of communication. For example, current and anticipated mobile phone technologies have transformed these wireless devices into powerful communication tools capable of communicating voice, data, images, video, and other multimedia content. Mobile phones, at one time solely a mobile voice communication tool, now often include network communication capabilities such as e-mail, Internet access, etc. With the integration of wireless and landline network infrastructures, a multitude of new services are arising, and various information types can be conveniently communicated between wireless and/or landline terminals.
One such new service is the "Push to Talk" (PTT) service, also commonly referred to as the "Push to Talk over Cellular" (PoC). The PTT service provides a direct one-to-one and one-to-many voice communication service in mobile networks. It is considered to have an "always on" connection, where half-duplex communication can be initiated to both individuals and talk groups simply with the push of a button on the PTT client device. To the user, operation is similar to the traditional "walkie talkie," but clearly more powerful in the ability to designate and select individual recipients and group recipients of the communication. And, by using cellular access and radio resources, PTT communications has a virtually global reach.
Call connection with PTT service is almost instantaneous. One-way communications are initiated by a user, while the designated recipient(s) listens at the other end. PTT calls are generally connected without the recipient(s) answering, and they are typically received through the built-in loudspeaker on the receiving device. PTT service uses cellular access and radio resources more efficiently than circuit-switched cellular services, as network resources are reserved only one-way for the duration of the talk "spurts" instead of two-way for an entire call session.
Notwithstanding all of the benefits of a PTT system, there are limitations. For example, its real-time, half-duplex speech communication inherently has limitations, such as the inability to carry out simultaneous two-way communication. Due largely to such inherent limitations, PTT systems are generally not expected to provide other services beyond its intended half-duplex voice communication.
However, PTT is a platform that may support other functions beyond just the spontaneous voice communication that it is intended for. For example, a PTT system may be a suitable platform for games or other such services. Unfortunately, current PTT platforms do not provide a way to support such services, as games or other services may require various supporting features that are not currently available in PTT systems.
Accordingly, there is a need in the communications industry for a manner of utilizing PTT systems for services beyond their traditional real-time speech communication, and to provide a manner of supporting such services by providing the various features required to make these services practical in PTT systems.

System and method for providing support services in push to talk communication platforms


Method and apparatus for examining subcutaneous tissues inside organs of the body. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing an optic probe positioning assembly comprising a solid needle and a hollow tube, the solid needle being sheathed inside the hollow tube; (b) subcutaneously inserting the positioning assembly into a tissue sample to be examined; (c) removing the solid needle from the tissue sample, leaving the hollow tube in place in the tissue; (d) then, inserting an optic probe through the hollow tube into proximity with the tissue sample; (e) optically determining the condition of the tissue sample using the optic probe; (f) after the optically determining step, removing the optic probe from the hollow tube; (g) then, inserting a biopsy needle into the hollow tube; (h) then, excising at least a portion of the tissue sample; and (i) then, removing the biopsy needle and the excised tissue sample from the hollow tube.

The present invention relates to the examination of tissues for indications of disease therein.
Breast, ovarian and cervical cancers are serious diseases that affect over 193,000 women per year. Hence, early detection and treatment of such cancers are important. It is well known that mammographic screening is a key tool in the early detection of breast cancers and that the early detection of breast cancer can reduce the likelihood of death caused by breast cancer. One limitation to the utility of mammography is that benign and malignant lesions oftentimes have similar morphology and are difficult to distinguish based solely on the results of a mammogram. Ovarian cancers are hard to diagnose. Consequently, biopsy is often the only certain way to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors. Biopsy is a surgical procedure performed in a hospital and, hence, is tedious, time-consuming, and expensive. Moreover, most biopsied tumors are found to be benign. Consequently, it is often difficult to determine whether the correct specimen is being biopsied unless the specimen includes a visible lesion.
Therefore, there is clearly a need for a real-time technique for examining tissues and organs in situ without first requiring that a biopsy be performed thereon to correctly identify particular tissues of interest within an organ or on the surface of mucosa.
Optical spectroscopy may play an important role in such an examination technique and may be used to monitor tissue changes before, during and after chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. For example, native fluorescence spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy offer new possible methods for detection and characterization of physical, chemical and structural changes in diseased tissue, for either in vivo or in vitro applications of the mucosa layers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,398 to Alfano et al., which issued Jul. 21, 1992 and which is incorporated herein by reference, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for distinguishing cancerous tumors and tissue from benign tumors and tissue or normal tissue using native fluorescence. The mucosa tissue surface to be examined is excited with a beam of monochromatic light at 300 nanometers (nm). The intensity of the native fluorescence emitted from the tissue is measured at, for example, 340 and 440 nm. The ratio of the two intensities is then calculated and used as a basis for determining if the tissue is cancerous as opposed to benign or normal. The patent is based on the discovery that when tissue is excited with monochromatic light at 300 nm, the native fluorescence spectrum over the region from about 320 nm to 600 nm is substantially different for cancerous tissue than for benign tumors and tissue or normal tissue.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,410 to Alfano et al., which issued Nov. 16, 1993 and which is incorporated herein by reference, there is disclosed a method for determining if a tissue is a malignant tumor tissue, a benign tumor tissue, or a normal or benign tissue. The method is based on the discovery that, when irradiated with a beam of infrared, monochromatic light, malignant tumor tissue, benign tumor tissue, and normal or benign tissue produce distinguishable Raman spectra. For human breast tissue, some salient differences in the respective Raman spectra are the presence of four Raman bands at a Raman shift of about 1078, 1300, 1445 and 1651 cm.sup.-1 for normal or benign tissue, the presence of three Raman bands at a Raman shift of about 1240, 1445 and 1659 cm.sup.-1 for benign tumor tissue, and the presence of two Raman bands at a Raman shift of about 445 and 1651 cm.sup.-1 for malignant tumor tissue. In addition, it was discovered that for human breast tissue the ratio of intensities of the Raman bands at a Raman shift of about 1445 and 1659 cm.sup.-1 is about 1.25 for normal or benign tissue, about 0.93 for benign tumor tissue, and about 0.87 for malignant tumor tissue.
The above-described methods rely on emissions from the surfaces of photoexcited mucosa.

Method and apparatus for in vivo examination of subcutaneous tissues inside an organ of a body using optical spectroscopy

The Research Foundation of City College of New York


A yaw braking assembly of a wind turbine is presented. Accordingly, the yaw braking assembly includes a bedplate support frame having an annular flange defining a plurality of recesses formed into a lower-most annular surface of the annular flange and extending at least partially through an axial thickness of the annular flange. Each of the plurality recesses define an open exterior circumferential side. The yaw braking assembly also includes a plurality of brake pads which are positioned within the plurality of recesses and configured to engage at least one race of an adjacent yaw bearing. The yaw braking assembly further includes a plurality of actuators for driving the plurality of brake pads to engage the yaw bearing.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, a generator, a gearbox, a nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The nacelle includes a rotor assembly coupled to the gearbox and to the generator. The rotor assembly and the gearbox are mounted on a bedplate support frame located within the nacelle. The one or more rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy and the electrical energy may be transmitted to a converter and/or a transformer housed within the tower and subsequently deployed to a utility grid. Modern wind power generation systems typically take the form of a wind farm having multiple such wind turbine generators that are operable to supply power to a transmission system providing power to an electrical grid.
In order to efficiently produce electrical energy, it is typically desirable for the nacelle of the wind turbine to be oriented in aerodynamic alignment with the winds acting on the wind turbine. This is generally accomplished by rotating the nacelle relative to the tower. However, once aerodynamic alignment is achieved, additional rotation of the nacelle relative to the tower must be resisted. The resistance to additional rotation is typically provided via a yaw braking system.
The yaw braking systems of modern wind turbines are typically cylindrical in nature and are inserted through the bedplate support frame. The yaw braking systems typically utilize the top surface of the yaw bearing as the braking friction surface and the bedplate support frame as the mounting structure for the braking load actuating unit. However, this configuration has several known drawbacks. For example, during the braking of the nacelle, loads in sheer, axial, torque, and moment directions are generated and can be transferred to the internal components of the actuation unit, causing damage. Additionally, the circular nature of the brake pads often facilitates the spinning of the brake pads during actuation. It is common for the spinning of the brake pads to result in a decreased braking effectiveness, pad-edge cracking, loosening, and actuator component wear/damage. Additionally, due to the likelihood of spinning, the incorporation of wear sensors into the brake pads has proven quite problematic, which leads to brake pad servicing on a schedule, rather than when necessitated by actual conditions. Further, because the yaw braking systems are typically inserted through the bedplate support frame, servicing of the brake pads requires the disassembly of the yaw braking system in order to remove and access the brake pads.
Thus, the art is continuously seeking new and improved systems to control the yawing rotation of the nacelle of a wind turbine. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a yaw braking assembly which overcomes the drawbacks of the previous yaw braking assemblies.