A variable speed, reversible transmission that utilizes two gerotor pumps for variable controlling the speed of the output shaft or axle. A rotatable input member connectable to a drive source drives first and second epicyclic gear trains, which drive the two pumps. As the fluid flow through each pump is variably restricted, the epicyclic gears associated therewith revolve about the input member, causing a worm gear intermediate the input member and the output member to variably rotate in a forward or reverse direction. The worm gear transmits rotational power from the input member to the output member in response to the fluid flow restriction through each pump. The present invention also provides for the two pumps comprising a modular pump unit and a system of transmissions employing a common modular pump assembly. Further, the present invention provides engine/transaxle modules in which the engine is mounted on the transaxle housing, and a self-propelled lawn and garden implement having a drive source which includes a variable speed transmission or transaxle which utilizes a pump for variable controlling the speed of its output shaft or axle.

Small variable speed machines, such as lawn mowers, lawn and garden tractors, snow throwers, tillers and the like, include a drive source, such as an internal combustion engine, which is used to provide power for rotatably driving an axle which is coupled to wheels which are to be rotatably driven. Most typically, the drive source operates at a single, rotary mechanical speed. Yet, for practical reasons, the axle needs to be able to be rotatably driven at a variety of forward, reverse, and/or neutral speeds. Accordingly, such vehicles may incorporate a transaxle which is used to convert the single speed, rotary mechanical motion of the energy source into a variety of output speeds.
Generally, a transaxle comprises a transaxle input shaft which is operationally coupled to the drive source, a transaxle output shaft, e.g., an axle, which is operationally coupled to the elements, e.g., wheels, which are to be rotatably driven, and transaxle componentry which operationally couples the transaxle input shaft to the transaxle output shaft. It is the transaxle componentry which converts the single speed, rotary mechanical motion received from the drive source into a variety of output speeds for rotatably driving the output shaft.
A variety of forms of transaxle componentry have been known in the art. For example, one embodiment of a transaxle which has been known in the art incorporates a clutch pedal and a gear shifting mechanism which are used to adjust the speed of the output shaft. Such transaxles require that the clutch be depressed in order to accomplish a change in direction and/or speed. In some instances, complete stopping may be required before a direction or speed change can be accomplished.
As an improvement to clutch controlled transaxles, various types of clutchless, variable speed transaxles have been developed which control output speed through a single lever. In a typical mode of operation, the lever is moved forward to move the vehicle in the forward direction or pulled backward to move the vehicle in the reverse direction. The farther forward or backward the lever is displaced, the faster the vehicle travels in the corresponding direction.
One form of variable speed transaxle now in use includes hydrostatic componentry in which a variable fluid drive transfers variable speed rotary motion to the output shaft through a mechanical gear train. Although reliable, such transmissions tend to be relatively heavy and large in size, require greater amounts of horsepower to operate which would otherwise be available for mower or other implement operation, and are relatively expensive to manufacture and install due to complex componentry.
Another form of transaxle includes friction drive componentry in which a traction wheel engages a drive disk. The traction wheel is moved radially across the center of rotation of the drive disk to vary output speed and/or direction. Such componentry, however, is unable to transfer large amounts of torque and therefore tends to slip within certain speed and/or load ranges. Moreover, such systems may require frequent servicing due to a lack of reliability.
Clutchless transaxles which control output speed entirely through mechanical means have also been proposed. A representative embodiment of this form of transaxle is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,256 (Von Kaler). This transaxle uses dual drive power input shafts for connection to a drive power source. The dual input shafts are parallel, rotate in the same direction, and are coupled to a planetary gear system incorporating a sun gear, planet gears, and a ring gear. The relative rotational speeds between the two input shafts cause the planet gears to revolve clockwise, counterclockwise, or remain motionless relative to the axis of the sun gear. The speed of revolution of the planet gears is transferred to the output shaft through an output gear assembly to which the planet gears are coupled. Thus, varying the relative rotational speed of the two input shafts is used to control the revolution speed and direction of the planet gears, and hence the rotational speed and direction of the output shaft.
The transaxle of U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,256 thus provides a variable speed transaxle in which dual transaxle input shafts are coupled to the transaxle output shaft by a mechanical drive train incorporating a planetary gear system. Such a transaxle offers the potential for highly efficient power transfer from the input shafts to the output shaft. Nonetheless, the need to always drive two different input shafts may adversely affect the maximum efficiency which could be achieved by the transaxle. Further, the transaxle uses mechanical means to provide a braking action for controlling engine speed, which increases the weight and mechanical complexity of the transaxle.
Different types of pumps may be incorporated into vehicle drive systems. One known type of pump includes an externally toothed pinion gear connected to its input shaft, and the pinion gear meshes with an epicyclic gear mechanism. As the fluid path through the pump changes, the rotation speed of the pinion gear and epicyclic gear mechanism changes. However, incorporation of this separate pump into a transaxle may increase the complexity and manufacturing costs of such a transaxle, and further may frustrate attempts to provide a sufficiently compact and conveniently sized transaxle for certain applications.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a reliable, simple, economic, relatively compact, clutchless, rugged, durable, variable speed transaxle which provides forward/neutral operation or forward/neutral/reverse operation.

Variable speed transmission and transaxle


The present invention provides a differential pressure body suit with external support against body suit migration. In its preferred embodiment, such body suit may comprise a close-fitting, multi-layered suit sealed against a mammal's skin to contain the differential pressure, or a looser-fitting suit that bends at the mammal's joints with minimal force. External support means include either fixed or movable mechanical supports attached to the body suit, extraordinary air pressure levels for making the body suit rigid, or exoskeletons attached to the body suit, or a counter-force suspension cable adjustment system. A cyclic control system can turn the differential pressure condition within the body suit on and off on a selective basis to accommodate the movement of the legs of the mammal. This differential pressure body suit provides a portable and convenient system for, e.g., rehabilitating a skeletal joint injury or training the mammal for injury prevention or athletic performance or fat burning. The pressurization reduces the weight of the body to greater or lesser extents, and offloads the weight to the ground through the external support means.

Vertebrate animals feature a flexible, bony skeletal framework that provides the body shape, protects vital organs, and enables the body to move. The human skeleton comprises approximately 206 separate bones. These bones meet at joints, the majority of which are freely movable. The skeleton also contains cartilage for elasticity, and muscular ligaments consisting of strong strips of fibrous connective tissue for holding the bones together at their joints.
The femur, fibula, tibia, and metatarsal bones of the legs and feet support the body and therefore bear its weight. Muscles associated with the ilium, pubis, ischium, patella, tarsal, and phalanges bones provide the necessary bending of the hips, knees, ankles, and toes that are essential for humans to walk, run, climb, and engage in other locomotion activities.
Likewise, the humerus, ulna and radius bones and metacarpal and phalanges bones form the arms and hands, respectively. Muscles associated with the clavicle, scapula, and carpals enable the arm to bend or flex at the shoulder or elbow, and the hand to flex at the wrist and fingers, which is useful for lifting, carrying, and manipulating objects.
Over time, body bones or joints can become damaged. Bones fracture; ligaments tear; cartilage deteriorates. Such damage may result from the aging process, manifested by arthritis, osteoporosis, and slips and falls. But injuries are also caused by sports activities. For example, recreational and competitive running is enjoyed by some 37 million Americans with 25% of them suffering from running injuries annually. Meanwhile, 57 million Americans bicycle for recreational or transportation purposes. In addition to bodily injuries caused by falls, prolonged bicycling can result in groin discomfort or numbness. This medical injury is caused by the horn of the bicycle saddle creating pressure points that can occlude the arteries and veins that supply blood flow to the genitals. Within the 1999-2004 time period, 21 publications within multiple medical specialties (e.g., sexual medicine, urology, neurology, cardiology, biomedical engineering, sports medicine and emergency medicine) established a clear relationship between bicycle riding and erectile dysfunction ("ED").
A number of different approaches have been taken within the industry and the medical community for preventing or treating these injuries. Exoskeletons entail external support systems made from strong materials like metal or plastic composite fibers shaped for supporting proper posture of the human body. Honda Motor Co. has employed "walking assist devices" for its automotive factory workers to support bodyweight for reducing the load on assembly line workers' legs while they walk, move up and down stairs, and engage a semi-crouching position throughout a work shift. The U.S. military has experimented with exoskeletons for its soldiers to enable them to carry heavy equipment packs and weapons. However, the body must be connected to the exoskeleton at the limbs and other parts by means of straps and other mechanical attachment devices. The exoskeleton's motor must be regulated by various sensors and controls, and driven by hydraulics, pneumatics, springs, or other motorized mechanical systems. These can be cumbersome and expensive systems that do not necessarily reduce the stress on the body caused by gravity.
Athletes and older people suffering from joint injuries have rehabilitated in pools and water tanks. The buoyant property of the water provides an upwardly-directed force to the body that lightens the load otherwise directed to the joints. However, these types of systems are not portable, since the person is confined to the pool or water tank. Moreover, pools or water tanks may be unavailable or expensive to install.
Another approach is provided by a harness system exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,828 issued to Martin et al. Consisting of an overhead frame to which is connected a raiseable body harness, such a system supports a portion of a person's body weight as he, e.g., walks or runs on a treadmill in order to diminish downward forces on the body joints. But the straps and attachment devices create localized pressure points and stresses on the body, and restrict the range of motion of the body and its limbs. Such a mechanical weight off-loading system may also lack portability.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") has developed a system that utilizes differential air pressure to provide a uniform "lift" to the body to assist the exercise process. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,339 issued to Whalen et al. The differential pressure is applied to the lower half of the person's body that is sealed within a fixed chamber to create a force that partially counteracts the gravitational force on the body. A treadmill contained within the sealed chamber allows the person to exercise. However, this Whalen system requires a large, immobile pressure chamber containing a treadmill. Such a system is expensive and requires cumbersome entry and exit by the person. It will not enable the person any other means of exercise besides the treadmill.
Pressurized bodysuits have also been used within the industry for several different applications. For example, U.S. Published Application 2002/0116741 filed by Young discloses a bodysuit with integral supports and internal air bladders that are filled with pressurized air. This air pressure exerts force against the muscles of a person wearing the suit to tone them during daily activities. U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,195 issued to Wang illustrates exercise shorts with buckled belts, air bags, and a vibrator that directs pulses of pressurized air to the body to work off fat and lift the hips. U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,366 issued to Feather teaches exercise pants from which air is evacuated, so that the pants cling to the body of an exerciser to cause sweating, thereby leading to weight loss.
The U.S. military has also employed pressurized suits of various designs for protecting fighter pilots from debilitating external G-forces. Due to rapid changes in speed and direction, the fighter pilot's body undergoes very high accelerations. This normally forces the pilot's oxygen-laden blood away from the portion of the circulatory system between the heart, lungs and brain, pooling instead toward the blood vessels of the lower extremities. As a result, the pilot can lose situational awareness and spatial orientation. A pilot's bodysuit pressurized against the blood vessels of the legs can force the oxygen-laden blood back to the head and torso of the pilot. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,762,047 issued to Flagg et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,686 issued to Krutz, Jr. et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,916 issued to Mah et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,465 issued to Savage et al. discloses a pants bodysuit made from metal or polymer "memory material" that is heated by electrical current to form around the body, and then cooled to apply pressure for treating this G-forces phenomenon.
Pressurized bodysuits have been used previously for other purposes, such as splinting leg fractures, stopping bleeding from wounds, treating shock, and supporting the posture of partially paralyzed patients. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,711 issued to Hatton; U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,712 issued to Morel; U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,039 issued to Gottfried; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,310 issue to Dyson-Cartwell et al. Bodysuits can also have air between the suit and the body evacuated by vacuum to draw the suit into close contact with the body. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,114 issued to Feather; U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,109 issued to Thornton; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,047 issued to Tripp, Jr. See also U.S. Published Application 2006/0135889 filed by Egli.
Such pressurized body suits have not previously been used to rehabilitate skeletal joint injuries or minimize conditions that cause erectile dysfunction. Moreover, they have typically been used only in stationary situations like a sitting pilot due to the problem of air pressure forcing the body suit off the lower torso. In some applications like weight-loss patients, suspender straps have been required to overcome this downwards migration of the bodysuit pants.
Thus, a pressurized bodysuit that can be used to apply localized differential pressure to a lower or upper body part for injury rehabilitation or minimization, coupled with an external support or pressure condition control system would be beneficial, particularly due to its portable nature. Such a pressurized body suit system could be worn by a patient, athlete, or other person within a variety of settings to perform a variety of different functions.
Ambulatory assist devices such as walkers, rollators, are used to assist elderly or physically-impaired people undergoing rehabilitation, or people suffering from gait and balance problems due to strokes, Parkinson's and other neurological disorders. These devices are used to provide balance and some measure of body weight support often by the person using their arms and hands. Use of these devices requires the disabled person raise himself from a sitting position to a standing position in order to use the device to ambulate. However, physically impaired people often lack the strength and or balance in order to raise themselves from a sitting to a standing position without assistance. This prevents people from independently using ambulatory assist devices. Also providing personnel for assistance entails additional costs for rehabilitation institutions or in providing home care. Walkers that incorporate a means for assisting a seated person to stand are commercially available or otherwise known in the art. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,363,931 which provides lifting arms to assist in standing. One commercially available device is "The New Lift Walker" available from newliftwalker.com. It incorporates a harness and arm supports and a pneumatic lift device to assist in raising a person from a seated to a standing position. These devices generally lack having a body weight support capability. Instead the person is able to provide some body weight support using their arms and hands as supports. Some mobility assist devices utilize a harness to provide body weight support. However harness systems have the drawbacks we have described earlier. There is a need for improved mobility assist devices that provide both improved means of body weight support and a means for assisting a person to raise himself from a seated to a standing position. The wheeled support aid with lift mechanism may utilize electric or pneumatic power sources or both.
Training of gait and balance with body weight support (BWS) is a promising rehabilitation technique. The current body weight support method utilizes an overhead harness support mechanism for which commercial systems are available. One harness system is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,828 issued to Martin et al. Consisting of an overhead frame to which is connected a raiseable body harness, such a system supports a portion of a person's body weight as he, e.g., walks or rims on a treadmill in order to diminish downward forces on the body joints. Harnesses for body weight support attach upper torso and the pulling force on the body is directly upwards. This restricts the natural position of the body during running and walking to a forward leaning position. Because harness systems pull the upper body directly upwards from the chest they are can provide too much stability for balance training. Another issue with the harness based body weight support is that the harness supporting the subject decreases the need for natural associated postural adjustments (APAs) that are required for independent gait. The main site for an active control of balance during gait is the step-to step mediolateral placement of the foot. When supported by a harness during BWS training any mediolateral movement is restricted by a medially directed reaction force component that will help stabilize the body in the frontal plane and decrease or even eliminate the need for APAs making gait and balance training less effective. Further the straps and attachment devices create localized pressure points and stresses on the body, and restrict the range of motion of the body and its limbs. In particular the straps around the thighs and groin interfere with the back and forth rotation of the legs.
An new alternative to a harness based body weight support is a close fitting differential pressure suit is described in this application and in U.S. Patent Application [US 2010/0000547, PCT/US2009/003535, EP 09762926.5]. A differential pressure body suit with external support against body suit migration is provided by the invention. In its preferred embodiment, such body suit may comprise a close-fitting, multi-layered suit sealed against a person's skin to contain the differential pressure, or a looser-fitting space suit that bends at the joints with minimal force. External support means include either fixed or movable mechanical supports attached to the body suit, extraordinary air pressure levels for making the body suit rigid, or exoskeletons attached to the body suit. This differential pressure body suit provides a portable and convenient system for rehabilitating a skeletal joint injury or training for injury prevention or athletic performance. The pressurization reduces the weight of the body to greater or lesser extents, and offloads the weight to the ground through the external support means. The body suit is flexible and has joints that can flex with minimal force even under pressure.
In either harness based approaches or partial pressure differential pressure suit means are required for attaching the harness, pressure suit or other attaching means to the mechanism that provides the counter-force body weight support. Harness systems use ropes straps and or cables to attach the harness system to the overhead counter-weight system. A natural walking or running gait consists of body movements or rotations about various axes of the body. It is important that the connecting system not unduly restrict these movements. There is a need for body weight support systems that do not restrict natural body movements.

Suspension and body attachment system and differential pressure suit for body weight support devices


A system and method for operating an engine is disclosed. The system and method includes performing multiple ignitions during a single engine cycle. According to one embodiment, a first ignition takes place during a first stroke in the cycle and a second ignition takes place during a second stroke in the cycle. The system and method may further include performing multiple injections during the engine cycle.

Direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engines offer opportunities in reducing CO2 emissions and improving fuel economy. With potential for reduced pumping losses and improved thermal efficiency, the DISI engines, such as those capable of stratified charge combustion, can deliver improved fuel economy and with reduced emissions. Further, the additional degree of freedom in fuel delivery time in DISI engines can provide a mechanism for controlling exhaust temperature, such as during engine starting. On the other hand, DISI engines may generate higher feed-gas hydrocarbon emissions compared to conventional Port Fuel Injection (PFI) engines for both warmed-up steady state and cold start transient conditions.
In one particular approach using a DISI engine, a double injection may be combined with retarded spark timing to increase heat delivery during an engine start. In this way, more heat can be delivered to the catalyst and therefore shorten the catalyst light-off time and improve after treatment efficiency.
However, the inventors have recognized that the benefits from combining double injection with retarded spark timing are usually achieved at the expense of additional fuel economy and increased feed-gas hydrocarbon emissions. Thus, in some examples, even when using double injection with retarded spark, emission may still increase beyond a regulated value.
Thus, in one approach, a method for operating an engine having a four-stroke cycle including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke, is provided. The method comprises: performing multiple ignitions during a single cycle, wherein a first ignition takes place during a first stroke in the cycle and a second ignition takes place during a second stroke in the cycle. Such operation may be performed during an engine cold start, for example, along with multiple injections (e.g., one injection during the first stroke and one during the second stroke), to increase exhaust gas heat while lowering emissions. In this way, it is possible to provide improved cold start up protocols that allow for the exploitation of the benefits of the DISI engines while minimizing emissions and optimizing system performance. Further, it is possible to improve engine robustness to low quality fuel during engine cold start performance.
In another approach, a method for optimizing port oxidation in an engine having a four-stroke cycle, including an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke, and an exhaust stroke is provided. The method comprises: performing a first pattern of multiple injections and at least one ignition during a first cycle; and performing a second pattern of multiple injections and multiple ignitions during a second cycle; where the first and second patterns are different.
In this way, appropriate ignition and injection modes can be selected for different operating conditions to improve operation overall across a plurality of different conditions. For example, in some cases, it may be desirable to burn as much fuel as possible in the cylinder, while in other cases it may be desirable to generate exothermic heat in the exhaust via excess reductants in the exhaust.

Controlled port oxidation of direct injection spark ignition engines


A game machine for giving more enjoyment to a player by using a timing instruction image for guiding the player to an evaluated timing. In the game machine for allowing the player to perform a game operation using a controller in time with game music, in order to give guidance to the player about when to execute the game operation, a first timing instruction image (reference arrow mark (48L)) is displayed on a display screen, and a second timing instruction image (special timing guide arrow mark (43)) gradually approaching the first timing instruction image is displayed on the display screen according to timing data stored in timing data storage means. Timing of the game operation executed by the player is compared with timing represented by the timing data stored in the timing data storage manes, the game operation executed by the player is evaluated, and a display position trajectory of the second timing instruction image on the display screen is changed depending on a result of the evaluation.

In most music games in which a player enjoys executing game operation via a controller in time with game music, two types of timing instruction image are displayed on a game screen, and one of the images gradually approaches the other. Such music games are designed to cause at least one of two types of timing instruction image to approach the other in time with game music and in accordance with timing data which is created in advance. The gradual reduction in relative distance between those two types of timing instruction image informs a player of the impending arrival of a time to execute game operation. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a game machine for the music game of this type configured as a competing-type game.
[Patent Document 1] JP 3566195 B

Game machine, game control method, and information storage medium


An applicator for the correction of clerical errors or a writing tool such as a ball-point pen or the like is disclosed wherein a tip containing a rotary element, the rotary element being biased into contact with an inward front-end edge of the tip by a coil spring, is connected through a ferrule holder to an ink tank containing a solid-liquid separable ink. The ink is discharged and transferred onto a writing paper by moving the rotary element inwardly from the front-end of the tip against the bias of the coil spring. A support piece is disposed within the ferrule holder, the support piece being an integrally molded piece including a cylindrical portion disposed within the ferrule holder in close contact with the inner surface of the ferrule holder, a plurality of support arms inclined in a generally conical shape gradually from a front-end opening edge of the cylindrical portion toward the front, and a spring bearing portion supported contiguously to the front ends of the support arms and concentrically toward the front. When the writing tool is left standing with its pen point facing up, the solid-liquid separable ink staying in both tip and ferrule holder returns quickly to the ink tank through large, open ink flow ports at an opening area at least from the rear end of the spring bearing portion to the front-end opening edge of the cylindrical portion in the space between adjacent support arms of the support piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a writing tool and more particularly to an applicator for the correction of clerical errors or to a writing tool such as a ball-point pen wherein a tip containing a rotary element, the rotary element being biased forward into contact with an inward front-end edge of the tip by means of a coil spring, is connected with an ink tank through a ferrule holder. The ink tank containing a solid-liquid separable ink and an agitation member, and when the applicator or the writing tool is to be used, the rotary element retracts from the inward front-end against the coil spring, allowing the ink to be discharged and transferred onto a writing paper.
2. Description of Background Information
According to a conventional writing tool of this type, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a tip 21 containing a rotary element 22 inside its front end, the rotary element 22 being biased forward into contact with an inward front-end edge 21-1 of the tip by means of a coiled spring 20, is connected with the front end of an ink tank 24 through a ferrule holder 23. The rotary element 22 retracts away from the inward front-end edge 21-1 of the tip 21 against the coiled spring 20, whereby a solid-liquid separable ink 25 which has been fed from the ink tank 24 into the tip 21 through the ferrule holder 23 is discharged and transferred onto a writing paper or the like through a front-end opening of the tip formed by the retreat of the rotary element (this construction is known, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Nos. HEI 5-51480, 5-58362, 5-76568, 6-7984 and 6-7985).
The solid-liquid separable ink has the property that when left standing for a long time, the solid component of the ink is precipitated and agglomerated to form a cake. Therefore, when the writing tool is to be left standing for a long time after use, it is necessary that the ink residue in both ferrule holder and tip should return quickly into the ink tank. Otherwise, the solid component of the ink would begin to precipitate, with agglomeration of the precipitated solid component and formation of a cake. This may result in that the motion of the coiled spring and that of the rotary element are prevented completely by the cake. In other words, the opening/closing function of a valve mechanism constituted by both the inward front-end edge of the tip and the rotary element is lost completely by the cake, with the result that the writing tool eventually becomes unemployable and is compelled to be discarded.
In the above conventional writing tool, however, the sectional area of the ink flow path from the ferrule holder 23 to the tip 21 is narrow and the ink 25 resists flow, so even if the writing tool after use is left standing with its pen point facing up, the ink 25 remaining in both tip 21 and ferrule holder 23 is unable to return completely into the ink tank 24. Consequently, with the lapse of time, the ink 25 separates into solids and liquid and the solid component begins to precipitate, with agglomeration and formation of a cake within the tip 21 and the ferrule holder 23. Thus, in the conventional writing tool containing a solid-liquid separable ink in the ink tank, the cake formed by such precipitation and agglomeration of the solid component of the ink frequently gives rise to problems, and a remedial measure has been desired.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a writing tool wherein the residue of ink in both the tip and ferrule holder returns quickly into an ink tank by turning the pen point upward after use. It is another object of the present invention to provide a writing tool wherein a coiled spring for biasing a rotary element forward can be mounted easily so as to exert a constant biasing force continually on the rotary element.


The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for determining an intra-frame prediction mode of a current video block. The method includes determining, in an image area including a to-be-coded current video block, reference modes of the current video block based on a plurality of intra-frame prediction modes of a plurality of second video blocks, the image area being in an area defined by an adjacent coding unit (CU) and a father CU corresponding to the current video block in a video frame or slice including the current video block; determining an alternative prediction mode set from preset intra-frame prediction modes, the alternative prediction mode set comprising a plurality of alternative prediction modes, including the reference modes; and determining, in the alternative prediction mode set, a prediction mode having optimal intra-frame prediction coding performance on the current video block as an intra-frame prediction mode of the current video block.

A digital video capability may be incorporated into a wide variety of apparatuses, such as a digital television, a digital live system, a wireless broadcasting system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet computer, an ebook reader, a digital camera, a digital recording apparatus, a digital media player, a video game apparatus, a video game console, a cellular or satellite radio telephone, a smartphone, a video conference apparatus, a video stream apparatus, and another similar apparatus. An apparatus having the digital video capability implements a video compression technology, such as technologies described in standards defined by standards of MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ITU-TH.263, ITU-TH.264, MPEG-4 Part 10: advanced video coding (AVC), and high efficiency video coding (HEVC) and extension parts of the standards. The apparatus having the digital video capability may transmit, receive, code, decode, and/or store digital video information more efficiently by implementing such video compression technologies.

Intra-frame coding method and apparatus, frame coder, and frame coding system

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for cooling. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a lightweight, compact, reliable, and efficient cooling system. The subject system can provide heat stress relief to individuals operating under, for example, hazardous conditions, or in elevated temperatures, while wearing protective clothing. The subject invention also relates to a condenser for transferring heat from a refrigerant to an external fluid in thermal contact with the condenser. The subject condenser can have a heat transfer surface and can be designed for an external fluid, such as air, to flow across the heat transfer surface and allow the transfer of heat from heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In a specific embodiment, the flow of the external fluid is parallel to the heat transfer surface. In another specific embodiment, the heat transfer surface can incorporate surface enhancements which enhance the transfer of heat from the heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In another specific embodiment, an outer layer can be positioned above the heat transfer surface to create a volume between the heat transfer surface and the outer layer through which the external fluid can flow.

The subject invention relates to microclimate cooling, and a miniature cooling system that can be used for any purpose that requires a compact cooling system. Such applications include, but are not limited to, microelectronics cooling such as computer processors and laser diodes, personal cooling systems, and portable cooling systems.
Clothing that protects soldiers, first responders, and other emergency personnel from chemical, biological, nuclear, and/or other similar threats can subject the individuals to heat stress. Certain hazardous environments can require the use of PPE (personal protective ensembles) with level A protection, which can place the working individual in an encapsulating micro-environment. These PPE can significantly diminish the ability of the body to reject heat to the external environment, leading to symptoms ranging from muscular weakness, dizziness and physical discomfort to more severe, life-threatening conditions such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. In any case, the operational performance of the personnel wearing PPE can become severely impaired. The use of an auxiliary, portable microclimate cooling system can mitigate these effects, eliminate heat stress casualties, and reduce water consumption. At the present time, the efforts to develop a microclimate system have been limited to existing design concepts and use of a large number of commercial off-the-shelf components. The subject microclimate system can incorporate miniaturization and MEMS technology, in order to provide performance that cannot be matched simply by using smaller versions of currently available designs.
An effective compact cooling system (Holtzapple and Allen, 1983) should preferably satisfy the dual requirements of a high coefficient of performance and a light and compact design. One example of an effective and useful microclimate system preferably would be able to remove at least 120 W of heat while consuming no more than 50 W of electrical power for at least about 4 hours of operation. This would suggest that for this particular example the microclimate system would have a coefficient of performance, or heat removal to power input ratio, of 2.4. In conventional designs, the requirements of a high coefficient of performance and a light and compact design typically work against each other.
Current cooling methods, such as thermo-electric cooling and traditional refrigeration cycles, have a high coefficient of performance and efficient design size within certain cooling ranges. While thermo-electric coolers have a coefficient of performance close to 1.0 and a very small volumetric design relative to the cooling capacity when operating in the 10 to 100 watt range, the coefficient of performance of commercially available thermo-electric devices tend be at or below 0.6 when applied to higher cooling capacities. In personal or portable cooling units heat removal rates of this range are inadequate. An alternative to mitigating the lack of performance and increase cooling capacity would be to use more units in series or parallel, thus increasing the overall size and weight of the cooling unit to beyond the limits of portable, microclimate dimensions.
Commercially available refrigeration cycles also have difficulties in satisfying the heat load requirements of microclimate and portable systems while maintaining a light and compact design. Commercially available unit designs are typically optimized for operation above a minimum cooling load of 500 watts, which is too much or unnecessary for microclimate systems. At or above this minimum cooling load refrigeration cycles exhibit a high coefficient of performance of almost never less than two and increases significantly with increasing heat load designs. Furthermore, the size and weight relative to the cooling capacity also decrease with increasing heat load designs. Application of these units to microclimate systems however is difficult due to the large size and weight of such units when scaling down to lower cooling ranges that are suitable for microclimate systems. It is extremely difficult to find a commercially available compressor alone which is smaller than 1 liter and weighs less than several pounds, and which is rated for a cooling load near or below 500 watts. The cycle would then need additional components such a condenser and evaporator to become effective.
Accordingly, there is need for a cooling system having a high coefficient of performance and a light compact design.

Method and apparatus for highly efficient compact vapor compression cooling


Provided are a method and a system for a massage apparatus-based user information transaction. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for a massage apparatus-based user information transaction includes the steps of: inquiring whether a user gives prior-consent to provision of user information to the outside; if the user gives prior consent to the provision of user information to the outside, collecting, from the massage apparatus, user information including the user's biometric information, and storing same; providing the stored user information to a third party company server; calculating an amount of money to be paid to the user in accordance with the provision of the user information to the outside; and paying the calculated amount of money to the relevant user's account.

While the importance of data as the core resources of the fourth industrial revolution is being highlighted, the problem of information protection that individuals who are information subjects are alienated has emerged.
For example, companies arbitrarily use personal information for marketing online or make gains even by selling personal information to other companies, but individuals do not benefit from their personal information at all.
However, in the coming era, individuals are being able to provide entire personal information including records of Internet transactions to organizations and get paid for the personal information.
In Japan, the "information bank," which is a data broker collecting and providing personal information to companies, was launched. In Europe, the idea of "data as labor," which requires that each individual receive compensation for data provided by himself or herself, is spreading.
While leading global information technology (IT) companies arouse controversy over personal data breaches, personal data sales to third parties, etc., the movement to see that the ownership of personal information belongs to individuals is becoming a new global trend.
The Japanese government proposed a bill which allows the use of personal information so that big data of customers may help companies to discover new businesses. The Japanese government decided to introduce the information bank which manages and administers data between individuals and companies.
About 1000 customers of the information bank select, write, and store information that can be provided to third parties, such as purchase histories, location information, and health information, through a smart phone application, and when the companies make public the types of data required by the companies, the purposes of use, etc., the information bank enables the customers to determine whether to provide their personal information. The information bank contracts with companies which require personal information for product development, market analysis, etc., such as travel agencies and health food companies, and then sells information that customers agreed to provide. The customers receive information charge or a promotion service in return for the information.

Method and system for massage apparatus-based user information transaction


This invention provides an antibody which specifically binds to hLH.beta.cf without cross-reacting with hLH, hLH.beta. or hCG.beta.cf. In an embodiment, the monoclonal antibody is designated B505. In a further embodiment, the hybridoma cell line producing the monoclonal antibody B 505 is designated ATCC Accession No.12000. This invention provides different uses of the antibodies. Finally, this invention provides a method for determining the amount of hLH.beta.cf or hLH.beta.cf-related molecule in a sample.

Recently, applicants isolated an hLH beta core fragment (hLH.beta.cf) from human pituitaries. This molecule is homologous to the hCG beta core fragment (hCG.beta.cf), which may be a marker of normal pregnancy, Down syndrome, and certain cancers. Applicants now report antibodies to the hLH.beta.cf, four of which have been applied in sensitive immunoradiometric assays for urinary measurements. One of the antibodies recognizes an epitope on the hLH.beta.cf, which is not present on the hCG.beta.cf, hLH, or hLH,. This specific hLH.beta.cf antibody acts cooperatively with other newly-developed antibodies reported here to produce an assay with a sensitivity of 1 fmol/ml of hLH.beta.cf. The specificity of these new IRMA systems will make it possible to measure the hLH.beta.cf in urine in the presence of hLH, hLH beta, or the hCG.beta.cf. Although the hLH.beta.cf used to develop specific antibodies was purified from pituitaries, the assays developed recognize this metabolite in urine. Measurements of heterodimeric hLH as compared to hLH.beta.cf in the urine of cycling women indicated that the concentration of hLH.beta.cf rose as high as 6-7 times the concentration of hLH starting a day after the midcycle surge. The new measuring systems allow the precise quantitation of this hLH metabolite in urine.
Understanding of the metabolites of the gonadotropins excreted into urine may help to distinguish between healthy and abnormal physiological states. For example, the hCG .beta. core fragment (hCG.beta.cf) is present at high levels in the urine of normal pregnant women (Kato et al., 1988) but, also, occurs abnormally in the urine of nonpregnant patients with a variety of malignancies (O'Connor et al., 1988, Cole et al., 1988a,1988b,1990). Applicants and others have observed a beta core fragment of hLH (hLH.beta.cf) in the urine of normally cycling women shortly after the hLH midcycle surge (Neven et al., 1993) and in the urine of postmenopausal women (Iles et al., 1992). Both the hCG and hLH fragments have analogous structures (Birken et al., 1993) but, it has not been possible to measure one of the fragments in the presence of the other. For example, the utility of the hCG.beta.cf molecule as a marker of malignancies in postmenopausal women has been compromised by the cross-reactions of antibodies elicited to the hCG.beta.cf with a molecule of similar structure and size (presumably the homologous fragment of hLH) excreted by normal postmenopausal women in their urine. Consequently, the high threshold measurement compromised the ability of hCG.beta.cf to serve as a cancer marker in this important patient population. Applicants had earlier suggested the hypothesis that, if it were possible to distinguish an hLH.beta.cf from an hCG.beta.cf, a preponderance of the former might be indicative of the normal state while a major mole fraction of the hCG fragment may be associated with malignancy (Birken et al., 1993). Immunological analysis of the hLH.beta.cf in normal cycling women, as compared with infertile patients, may identify a metabolic marker associated with an abnormal state (mean ovulatory cycles, polycystic ovarian disease). For these reasons, applicants have developed a series of antibodies to the hLH.beta.cf, which was isolated from a pituitary extract but, as reported here, can also be used to measure such a molecule in urine.
Although antibodies to the hCG.beta.cf could be used to extract the hLH-associated core materials from normal postmenopausal women, it was difficult to generate sufficient material to even characterize the structure of the molecule present in urine. Instead, applicants were able to successfully isolate an hLH.beta.cf from human pituitary extracts(Birken et al., 1993). Using this material, applicants now report the development and characterization of immunometric measurement systems to quantitate the pituitary hLHb core fragment in urine. These assays will now make it possible to evaluate the metabolism of hLH in both pre and postmenopausal women and to possibly distinguish between normal and abnormal physiological states.

Antibodies specific for hLH .beta. core fragment

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


An image developer using a one-component developer, Including a developing roller visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearer with a pulverized toner; and a feed roller feeding the pulverized toner to the developing roller while contacting thereto, wherein the pulverized toner includes a parent toner; a wax; and an external additive comprising an additive having a number-average particle diameter of from 20 to 60 nm and adhering to the surface of the parent toner at an adherence strength of from 50 to 70%, and wherein the following relationships (1) to (3) are satisfied:4.70<Log10 R<5.70  (1)8.00<Log10 Z<10.70  (2)−6.25*Log10 R+37.5<Log10 Z<−6.25*Log10 R+45.6  (3)wherein R represents a resistivity of the developing roller and Z represents an impedance of the pulverized toner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image developer suing a one-component developer, and more particularly to an image developer using a one-component developer developing an electrostatic latent image with a thin toner layer formed on a developing roller by pressing a toner thereon with a regulation blade.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventional electrophotographic image forming methods include charging the surface of an image bearer (photoreceptor), irradiating the surface thereof to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, developing the electrostatic latent image with a colored toner to form a toner image thereon, transferring the toner image onto a receiving material such as a transfer paper, and fixing the toner image thereon.
Dry developing methods used in electrophotographic image forming methods and electrostatic recording methods include a method of using a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, and a method of using a one-component developer not including a carrier. The former stably produces good images, but is difficult to produce constant-quality images for long periods because the carrier is easy to deteriorate and a mixing ratio of the toner to the carrier (toner concentration) is easy to vary. In addition, image forming apparatuses using the two-component developer are difficult to maintain and downsize. Therefore, the latter method of using the one-component developer is drawing attention.
The method of using the one-component developer typically feeds a toner (developer) with at least one toner transfer member and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearer with the toner. An amount of the toner on the toner transfer member is regulated by a toner layer thickness regulator located facing the toner transfer member, and the toner is charged when passing therethrough. Specific examples of thereof include various members such as a regulation blade. The regulation blade (a pressure member) is located facing the toner transfer member and presses the toner thereon to regulate the thickness of the toner layer. In addition, a roller instead of the blade is also widely used.
In the one-component developing method, the toner which has not been used in a developing area on the toner transfer member (a developing roller) is scraped by a toner feed member feeding a toner while contacting the toner transfer member, and is fed into a toner hopper again. However, when the adherence of the toner to the developing roller is large, the scrapability, i.e., the resettability deteriorates. Therefore, the toner on the developing roller increases, resulting in inability of stably charging and transferring the toner of the developing roller.
In order to solve this problem, various improvements are made to decrease the adherence between the developing roller and the toner.
Japanese published unexamined application No. 2006-99036 discloses an image developer regulating the resistivity of a developing roller to have good resettability. However, a relationship between the roller resistivity and an impedance of a toner is not regulated, charging and resetting are not well balanced, resulting in production of unstable-quality images.
Since a toner receives and leaves a charge contacting various members in image forming processes such as a stirring process, the measurement of a toner impedance against an AC voltage enables measurement of electrical properties of the toner moving the toner in an image forming apparatus. Particularly, in order to improve the resettability, the control of the impedance against an AC voltage is indispensable for production of stable-quality images because the electrical properties of a toner from the measurement of the toner impedance largely contribute thereto.
Japanese published unexamined application No. 2001-51495 discloses an image developer including a developing roller preferably having a resistivity of from 10×102 to 10×108. However, a relationship between the roller resistivity and an impedance of a toner is not regulated, charging and resetting are not well balanced, resulting in production of unstable-quality images as it is in the above-mentioned Japanese published unexamined application No. 2006-99036.
Further, Japanese published unexamined application No. 10-319709 discloses an image developer, wherein charging and resetting are not well balanced, either.
Furthermore, since adherence of an external additive to a parent toner has not conventionally regulated, a non-electrostatic adherence of a toner to a developing roller has not been controlled, resulting in occasional insufficient resettability of the toner. An external additive easily fixable on a parent toner and difficult to bury therein is necessary to control the non-electrostatic adherence of a toner so as to have stable resettability including durability.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for an image developer using one-component developer producing images not having uneven image density due to poor toner resettability and producing stable-quality images.

Image developer using one-component developer


A system for forming all variants of hamburger steaks, without being dedicated to a single variant, from a mass of meat comprises a mold including at least one cavity for forming hamburger steak, a channel for supplying the meat mass to the mold, and an element for forming an interface between the channel for supplying the meat mass and the mold. The element for forming an interface includes a pipe length having a first end connected to an outlet of the channel for supplying the meat mass and an opposite second end connected to an inlet of the mold, a grinding plate, and edges for holding the grinding plate in a cross section of the pipe length, the edges for holding the grinding plate being discretely distributed along the pipe length.

Currently, there are several variants of ground meat pieces which are differentiated by their presentation and their consistency, despite a general form of an oval or round patty. In particular, in the case of a steak called "butcher style", the hamburger meat fibres are arranged randomly in the volume of the patty forming the steak. In the case of a steak called "homemade-style", the hamburger meat fibres are all parallel against each other and positioned perpendicularly to a plane of the patty.
In order to make ground meat pieces according to either of the variants, systems for forming ground meat pieces are used. Such systems are, for example, defined in document WO2004/002229. As partially illustrated in FIG. 1, they include a base 1 including a supply pump, a hopper 11 receiving a mass of meat to be formed. The pump being connected to an outlet of the hopper, it supplies, via a supply channel, one or more inlets of a forming mould 12, here in the form of a cylindrical mould. The ground meat pieces thus formed by the mould 12 are then arranged on an output conveyor 13 for later packaging. Today, in order to make different variants of ground meat pieces, it is necessary to have a production chain dedicated to each one of the variants, in other words, to have a dedicated system for forming ground meat pieces, a system dedicated to a variant of ground meat pieces that are not able to make other variants. This involves, for a developer, to provide as many production lines as variants of ground meat pieces. This has the disadvantage of multiplying systems for forming ground meat pieces and increasing the occupied areas in the place of production.

System and method for forming hamburger steaks


Double-action clinching includes establishing a first layer on a second layer, and securing the layers between a tool's punch and clinching punch. First layer has less ductility than second layer, and clinching punch diameter is smaller than punch diameter. Layers are secured so: a tool support receives a portion of a second layer surface; clinching punch, slidably positioned in the support, is adjacent another portion of the second layer surface; and punch, positioned opposed to clinching punch, is adjacent a portion of a first layer surface. Pressing the punch into the first layer surface portion forms an aperture through the first layer. Pressing the clinching punch, in a direction opposite to the punch pressing, into the other portion of the second layer surface forces portion(s) of the second layer into the aperture, and forms a micro-interlocking flush-back joint between an aperture side wall and the second layer portion(s).

Materials may be secured together using many different methods, including, for example, hot clinching and friction stir spot welding. Hot clinching techniques often result in the thermal expansion of the materials, while friction stir spot welding often results in brittle phase formation when joining different materials (e.g., aluminum and magnesium). Other clinching techniques may require the precise alignment of the clinching tool with particular features of the materials to be clinched and/or may result in the splitting or cracking of the clinch button.


A hose lock apparatus for a vacuum clean that provides easy attachment and detachment of a hose to and from an air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body, is disclosed. The hose lock apparatus includes a hose clamp in a form of a hollow cylinder and engaged with an end of the hose therein. The hose clamp further includes a locking protrusion along an outer circumference. The hose lock apparatus includes an air inlet portion which is configured at the vacuum-cleaner body to receive an end of the hose clamp. The air inlet portion includes an insertion hole for guiding the locking protrusion towards an inserting direction, and a seating groove connected to the insertion hole to receive the locking protrusion when the hose clamp is rotated by a predetermined number of degrees. When the hose clamp is attached to the air inlet, a cleaning work with the hose is enabled.

A typical vacuum cleaner creates a partial vacuum by rotating an impeller in its body and entraining air. The vacuum cleaner includes a flexible hose connected to its body to provide a passage for air and dust from select areas. Particularly, an upright-type vacuum cleaner, which is one variant type of vacuum cleaners, generally has a hose at an air inlet at the rear portion of the body which is connected to an auxiliary brush to conveniently clean crevices such as stairs or corners of the room.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of the upright-type vacuum cleaner with a hose for the auxiliary suction brush at the rear end of the body. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a hose lock apparatus for vacuum cleaners according to the conventional art for locking the hose to the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body.
The hose lock apparatus 10 for conventional vacuum cleaners includes a hose clamp 12 locked at an end of a hose 3, a clamp holder 14 secured at the vacuum cleaner body 1, and a clamp connector 16 fixing the hose clamp 12 to prevent separation from the clamp holder 14. The hose clamp 12 is configured in the form of an angular pipe of 90 degrees and includes the hose 3 locked at an end. The other end of the hose clamp 12 is inserted in the clamp holder 14, configured to connect to the air inlet provided at the vacuum cleaner body, and has a locking means to lock the clamp connector 16 at the outer side.
The clamp holder 14 includes a hole 15 in the middle to receive the other end of the hose clamp 12, and two locking holes around the hole 15. The clamp holder 14 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1 by connecting two screws 18 through two locking holes. The clamp connector 16 locks the hose clamp 12 to prevent separation from the clamp holder 14, and is locked at the hose clamp 12 by the lock apparatus at the other end of the hose clamp 12.
The process for attaching the hose lock apparatus 10 with the above construction to the vacuum cleaner body 1 is described below.
First, the hose 3 is engaged to one end of the hose clamp 12. The clamp holder 14 is inserted into the other end of the hose clamp 12, and the clamp connecter 16 is fitted over the other end of the hose clamp 12, thereby locking the clamp holder 14 in the hose clamp 12. The clamp holder 14 is attached to the vacuum cleaner body 1 by inserting two screws 18 into the locking hole of the clamp holder 14, and inserting the other end of the hose clamp 12 into the air inlet provided at the vacuum cleaner body 1. Since the hose clamp 12 is locked in an end of the hose 3 and is not separable from the clamp holder 14, the hose 3 can be securely locked with the air vacuum cleaner body 1. Furthermore, a cleaning work using hose 3 can be done through the hose 3 connected in the air inlet of the vacuum cleaner body 1 by the hose clamp 12.
As described above, a conventional air vacuum cleaner cleans with the hose 3 by attaching the hose 3 to the vacuum cleaner body 1 via the hose lock apparatus 10.
Since the hose lock apparatus 10 requires a user to lock the clamp holder 14 in the hose clamp 12, and securing the clamp holder 14 with two screws 18 to the air vacuum cleaner body 1, it is inconvenient for the user to assemble the hose 3 to the air vacuum cleaner body 1. In addition, when the hose 3 is blocked by foreign substances, the two screws 18 must be unscrewed, the clamp holder 14 has to be disassembled, and the hose 3 is separated from the vacuum cleaner body 1 to remove the foreign substances from the hose 3. Thus, it is inconvenient to remove the foreign substances. Particularly, production cost of the hose lock apparatus for vacuum cleaners according to the conventional art is relatively high because the hose lock apparatus requires three discrete parts 12, 14 and 16.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.


A manufacturing method of an arrayed substrate is disclosed, in which ion-doping is performed by using photoresist as a barrier layer instead of using a gate electrode, which process can reduces the short channel effect that is caused by diffusion of doped ions toward a channel region, and meanwhile decrease the coupling capacitance between the gate electrode and the source-drain electrodes, thereby improving the performance of the prepared TFT.

Thin film transistors (TFTs) can be divided into polycrystalline silicon (P-Si) TFTs and amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFTs, and the difference between these kinds lies in the characteristics of an active layer. The P-Si crystalline structure within a grain is ordered and directional, so the carrier mobility therein is 200-300 times faster than that in amorphous silicon, in which the crystalline structure is arranged disordered. P-Si products mainly include two types of products: high-temperature Poly-Silicon (HTPS) and low-temperature Poly-Silicon (LTPS), and these two types can basically be divided depending on the crystallization temperature higher or lower than 600 degrees Celsius.
LTPS technology is the a new generation of manufacturing process of a TFT display, which mainly uses processes such as excimer laser annealing (ELA), metal induced crystallization (MIC) or solid phase crystallization (SPC) to convert an a-Si thin film into a P-Si thin film layer. A display using LTPS TFTs as driving elements has a faster response, a higher resolution, and thus has a better picture display quality. In the formation of the peripheral circuit of a display device, the LTPS technology can be used to reduce amount of the integrated circuits (IC), and thus simplify the periphery of the display device, so as to realize a narrow-frame technology.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional LTPS TFT array substrate comprises from bottom to top: a glass substrate 101, a buffer layer 102, a channel region 103, a gate insulating layer 105, a gate electrode 106, source-drain electrodes 104, an interlayer insulating layer 107, a passivation layer 108, a pixel electrode layer 109 and a pixel electrode insulating protective layer 110. The pixel electrode insulating protective layer 110 is applicable for LTPS AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode), but if the product is an LTPS LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), then it may not comprise such layer. The traditional preparation process of an LIPS TFT array substrate is a 7-Mask process, which may comprise the following processes. Each mask is used in one patterning process.
A first mask (P-Si Mask): a pattern for both a TFT source-drain region and a channel region is formed.
Firstly, on the glass substrate 101, a SiNx/SiO2 buffer layer 102 is formed, then a layer of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film is deposited on the buffer layer 102, and through an LTPS crystallization method (such as ELA, MIC, SPC or the like), the amorphous silicon thin film is converted into a polycrystalline silicon thin film. Then, a photoresist layer is coated on the Poly-Silicon thin film; with the first Mask, the photoresist layer is exposed corresponding to an active layer pattern, and after exposure, it is developed to obtain a photoresist pattern; then, by using the photoresist pattern, the Poly-Silicon thin film is etched, and after removing the remaining photoresist, the channel region 103 is thus obtained.
A second mask (gate-metal-layer Mask): the gate electrode pattern 106 and the gate line pattern (not illustrated) are formed.
On the basis of the pattern formed with the first Mask, a gate insulating layer thin film 105 and a gate metal layer thin film are deposited, and the gate insulating layer thin film 105 may be of SiO2/SiNx; then, the gate metal layer thin film is coated thereon with photoresist, and with the second Mask, the photoresist layer is exposed; after developing, etching, photoresist-removing, the gate electrode pattern 106 and the gate line pattern are formed.
On the basis of the pattern formed with the second Mask, with the gate electrode pattern above the channel region pattern 103 as an ion-doping barrier layer, ion-doping is performed with respect to the source-drain region, as illustrated in FIG. 2-1. After ion-doping, an ion-doped region 111 is formed in the source-drain region. By ion-doping, the original regularly-crystallized Poly-Silicon crystal lattice is destroyed; in order to repair the Poly-Silicon crystal lattice, the Poly-Silicon layer should undergo an annealing treatment. The annealing treatment functions for restructuring Poly-Silicon crystal lattice and diffusing dopant-ions, as illustrated in FIG. 2-2. In the annealing process, dopant-ions will diffuse in the direction of the channel region 103 (illustrated by the arrows), as illustrated in FIG. 2-3.
A third Mask (gate insulating layer via-hole (GI Hole) Mask): contact holes for Poly-Silicon in the source-drain region and the source-drain electrodes are formed.
On the pattern after the complete of the second Mask, an interlayer insulating layer 107 is formed; then, the interlayer insulating layer 107 is coated thereon with photoresist, and with the third Mask, the photoresist layer is exposed corresponding to the source-drain electrode via-holes; after exposure, a development process and then an etching process are conducted, and at last the photoresist is removed.
The fourth mask (source-drain metal layer Mask): the source-drain electrode pattern 104 and the data line pattern (not illustrated) are formed.
On the basis of the pattern formed with the third mask, a source-drain metal layer thin film is deposited; then, the metal layer thin film is coated thereon with photoresist, and with the fourth mask, the photoresist layer undergoes exposure, development, etching, photoresist-removing; in this way, the formation of the source-drain electrode pattern 104 and the data line pattern is completed.
A fifth Mask (passivation layer via-hole (PVX Hole) Mask): bridge-holes for bridging the source-drain electrode pattern 104 are formed.
On the basis of the pattern formed with the fourth Mask, a passivation layer 108 is deposited; with the fifth mask, passivation layer via-holes are formed on the passivation layer 108.
A sixth Mask (pixel electrode Mask): the pixel electrode pattern 109 is formed.
On the basis of the pattern formed with the fifth Mask, a pixel electrode layer thin film is deposited; with the sixth Mask, it undergoes exposure, development, etching and photoresist-removing, thereby forming the pixel electrode pattern 109.
A seventh Mask (pixel electrode edge protection layer Mask): the pixel edge protective layer pattern is formed.
On the basis of the pattern formed with the sixth Mask, a protective layer thin film is deposited; with the seventh Mask, an exposure process is conducted, and then a development process, an etching process and a photoresist-removing process are conducted, thereby forming the pixel edge protective layer pattern. This mask is applicable for the preparation of an LTPS AMOLED; but if it is an LTPS LCD, then it is not necessary to use this mask in the preparation process for the corresponding patterning process.
In the above-described conventional manufacturing process of an LTPS TFT array substrate, by using the gate electrode as a barrier layer for ion-doping with respect to the source-drain region, the doped ions are adjacent to the channel region. In the Poly-Silicon annealing process, the doped ions partially diffuse toward the channel region, thereby decreasing the effective length of the channel region (the shortest distance between the source-drain regions). This not only makes the short channel effect of the channel region obvious, but also increases the coupling capacitance between the gate and source-drain, thereby degrading the TFT performance. In addition, such structure that the gate electrode and the gate line, also the source-drain electrode and the data line, exist respectively in two different layers, makes the preparation process complex.

Array substrate, display device and manufacturing method thereof


A fracture surface treatment method of a fractured ductile metal part for treating fracture surfaces 51a and 52a of the ductile metal part 50, said fracture surfaces 51a and 52a being fracture surfaces obtained by a fracturing operation of fitting halved mandrel portions into a penetrative bore of the ductile metal part having the penetrative bore and driving a wedge in between the halved mandrel portions, said fracture surface treatment method holding said fractured ductile metal part 50 in a state where said fracture surfaces 51a and 52a are separated from each other so as to keep a certain space between them, applying a specified vibration to at least one of said fractured ductile metal part portions in a direction intersecting the direction of fracture and removing fracture powder 59 stuck on said fracture surfaces 51a and 52a, and thereby enabling the optimum face fitting operation in case of fitting again the fracture surfaces of the fractured ductile metal part to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fracture surface treatment method and a fracture surface treatment apparatus for treating fracture surfaces made by tension-fracturing a ductile metal part such as a connecting rod or the like for example, and a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of a ductile metal part being fractured and having its fracture surfaces treated.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a case of tension-fracturing a ductile metal part, and recombining together the halved part portions into a single product to be used. As an example of such parts, a connecting rod known as one of car parts is mentioned. And as a method for separating a larger end portion of a connecting rod into two parts, namely, rod and cap portions, there is a so-called fracture splitting (FS) method. An example of such an FS method applies a pre-load to a mandrel by pressing a wedge against the mandrel and then applies a dynamic load to it and thereby fractures a connecting rod (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-66,998 for example).
Further, there is also known a fracture surface treatment method for treating fracture surfaces of such a fractured connecting rod. Concretely, for example, there is known a fracture surface treatment method for removing material particles (fracture powder) from fracture surfaces in case of separating members such as a connecting rod, a bearing, an annular enclosure and the like by fracture (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-512,522 for example).
In addition to this, there is also known a fracture surface treatment method for making it easy to separate the recombined connecting rod obtained by recombining and machining a fractured connecting rod into a connecting rod main body portion and a bearing cap portion, and thereby improving the assembly-operability in assembling them into an engine (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-74,067 for example).
A fracture surface treatment method of a fractured connecting rod described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-512,522 is a treatment method for removing particles having no or little adhesiveness (hereinafter, referred to as fracture powder) from fracture surfaces, and operates a controller and thereby makes a cylinder reciprocate.
Concretely, this method reciprocates the cap of a connecting rod by reciprocating the piston of a cylinder. And the method removes fracture powder from fracture surfaces by adjusting the range of this reciprocation so that the cap comes slightly into contact with the fracture surface of the connecting rod during the reciprocation of the cap.
However, since in such a fracture surface treatment method of a connecting rod the direction of vibration of the cap coincides with the direction of fracture of the connecting rod and such vibration that the cap comes slightly into contact with the fracture surface of the connecting rod is applied, a part of fracture powder is stripped off but the remaining part is firmly stuck onto the fracture surface by such a touching operation, and it is thought to have a bad influence on the face fitting operation of fracturing surfaces after that.
On the other hand, a fracture surface treatment method of a connecting rod described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-512,522 is a method for making it easy to separate the recombined connecting rod obtained by recombining and machining a fractured connecting rod into a connecting rode main body portion and a bearing cap portion. Concretely, this method repeats three or more times an operation of applying and releasing a load to and from the connecting rod main body portion having the separated bearing cap portion attached to it before machining the recombined connecting rod obtained by recombining together the connecting rod main body portion and the bearing cap portion after fracture-separating the bearing cap portion from the connecting rod main body. However, performing only such an operation of pressing the fracture surfaces against each other makes part of fracture powder adhere firmly to the fracture surface of the connecting rod and it is thought to have a bad influence on the face fitting operation of the fracture surfaces after that.

Method and apparatus for removing fracture powder from fracture surfaces of a ductile metal part


A rotary pump includes a stator housing and a rotor. The stator housing preferably has an oblong inner surface. The rotor, which is disposed in the stator housing, preferably has a substantially circular outer surface within which a plurality of vane slots are defined. A first chamber is defined between a first half of the oblong inner surface and the outer surface of the rotor. Similarly, a second chamber is defined between a second half of the oblong inner surface, diametrically opposite the first half, and the outer surface of the rotor. Resting within each of the plurality of vane slots is a corresponding sliding vane. A first inlet port and a first outlet port each provide access to the first chamber. Similarly, a second inlet port and a second outlet port each provide access to the second chamber. At least one of the vanes separates each of the first inlet port, the first outlet port, the second inlet port and the second outlet port from one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to pumps, and more particularly to positive-displacement rotary pumps.
2. Description of the Related Art
Positive displacement pumps displace a known quantity of liquid with each revolution of the pumping elements (e.g., vanes). Positive displacement pumps displace liquid or gas by creating a space between the pumping elements and trapping the liquid or gas within the space. Rotation of the pumping elements then reduces the volume of the space and moves the liquid out of the pump. A rotary vane pump is an example of a positive-displacement pump.
Rotary vane pumps operate through the action of a number of rotating vanes or blades. A conventional rotary vane pump includes a rotor assembly eccentrically positioned within a pumping chamber. The number of vanes are spaced around the rotor to divide the pumping chamber into a series of cavities. As the rotor rotates, these cavities rotate around the pumping chamber continually changing in volume due to movement of the vanes and the eccentric alignment of the rotor and pumping chamber. An inlet communicates with the pumping chamber on the side of the pump where the volume of the cavities expand. Similarly, an outlet communicates with the pumping chamber on the side of the pump where the volume of the cavities contract. As each cavity expands, a partial vacuum is created to draw fluid into the pump through the inlet. As the cavity contracts, the pressure within the cavity increases forcing the fluid out of the pump through the outlet. This expansion and contraction process continues for each cavity to provide a continuous pumping action.
There is a desire to improve upon the currently available rotary pumps. For example, there is a desire to reduce the cost of manufacturing rotary pumps while maintaining (and possible increasing) the vacuum level produced by a pump of specific dimensions. There is also the desire to increase the volume of fluid that can be displaced during a period of time by a pump of specific dimensions (i.e., without increasing the overall dimensions of the pump). Further, there is the desire to simplify the manufacturing and assembly required for producing rotary pumps.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention is a business intelligence within an adaptive searching system. The searching system uses a business intelligence engine for communicating with a corporate database associated with a business enterprise and a consumer. The business intelligence engine compiles data about the consumer and any transaction conducted by the consumer with the business enterprise. A transaction monitor for monitors the transactions conducted by the consumer with the business enterprise. Rules are determined by a business process and rules engine derived from the data. The business intelligence engine analyzes the data to provide a personalized communication message to the consumer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to search services. Specifically, the present invention relates to an advanced search algorithm utilizing business intelligence.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although advances have been made in search services provided over the Internet, there has been a lack of capability in processing both structured and unstructured data. Applicant's co-pending application (serial number unassigned-"Soogoor I") discloses an advanced search algorithm using a novel hypercube architecture. The searching algorithm provides a heuristic approach whereby message passing ants search a hypercube architecture in response to a search query. An advanced business intelligence is needed which provides the capability of integrating corporate databases with the enhanced new searching algorithm within a hypercube topology environment of Soogoor.
Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have a searching algorithm integrated with a business intelligence to provide a variety of services to a consumer and a business enterprise. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a system and method.

Advanced search algorithm with integrated business intelligence


A method and apparatus are disclosed for isolating a selected switching connection, within a switch matrix. The switching connection is isolated by forming two shunt stubs, or equivalent lumped circuits, each having an electrical length such that the input impedance of the shunt stub is high. The shunt stubs are formed on the appropriate input and output signal lines of the switch matrix on the side distant from the side of the input and output lines preferred for the propagation of the signal. The switch matrix may be constructed within and on a glass substrate.

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Switching high speed optical signals can require a switching matrix that is capable of switching broad bandwidth signals that can have both a very high upper cutoff frequency, i.e., 40 GHz and higher, and a very low cutoff frequency, i.e., 100 KHz or lower. In addition, the switch matrix must be able to maintain the signal fidelity over the entire frequency range. To maintain the necessary fidelity, a switch must be properly matched to minimize the mismatch reflections that will occur over the frequency range, and particularly at the higher frequencies.
Typically, isolation switches have been placed in series with the signal switching devices. The isolation switches have a low xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d resistance and a high xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d resistance. The isolation switches closest to the signal switching device, on the side away from the signal propagation path are switched off to isolate the signal switching device. However, the isolation switches typically have high parasitic reactances that, although ignored at lower frequencies, adversely impact the performance of the switch matrix at high frequencies and lead to generation of amplitude, phase, and delay distortions that can cause serious deterioration in bit error rates for high speed data channels.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a switch matrix that provides for isolating and matching of the input signals across a very broad bandwidth.
A method and apparatus are disclosed for isolating a selected switching connection, within a switch matrix. The switching connection is isolated by forming two shunt stubs, or lumped circuit equivalents, each having an electrical length such that the input impedance of the shunt stub is high. The shunt stubs are formed on the appropriate input and output signal lines of the switch matrix on the opposite side of the input and output lines from the preferred direction for the propagation of the switched signal. It will be shown in subsequent sections of this disclosure that the use of the shunt stub architecture facilitates simplified biasing of the active isolation devices, provides for broadband isolation of the selected signal transmission path, and, together with appropriate spacing of the matrix transmission lines, minimizes the effects of the parasitic reactances of the active signal and isolation switching devices.
In particular, in one embodiment, a switch matrix is disclosed having a plurality of input and output signal lines. Each of the input signal lines has a signal input end and a non-input signal end and each of the output signal lines has a signal output end and a non-output signal end. The switching matrix switches a broadband signal of interest (having a center frequency) between a an input signal line and a signal output line using one of a plurality of signal switches. Each one of the plurality of signal switches is coupled to a single input signal line and a single output signal line. Accordingly, when a selected signal switch is activated, the signal of interest is coupled between the selected input signal line and the selected output signal line.
The switch matrix further includes a plurality of first isolation switches, each of which is associated with a single signal switch. Each of the plurality of first isolation switches are coupled to one of the plurality of output signal lines associated with the single signal switch. The isolation switch is further coupled to ground forming a tuning stub when it is activated. The length of the tuning stub is determined by the spaced apart distance each isolation switch is disposed from the single signal switch. Thus, when the first isolation switch is activated, the portion of the output line between the associated signal switch and the isolation switch forms the tuning stub of the first predetermined length. Preferably, the first predetermined length is equal to a predetermined electrical length of transmission line that is one quarter wavelength and the center frequency of the signal of interest.
The switching matrix also includes a plurality of second isolation switches, each of which is associated with a single signal switch. Each of the second plurality of isolation switches is coupled to one of the plurality of input signal lines associated with the single signal switch. Each of the plurality of isolation switches is further coupled to ground forming a tuning stub. The length of the tuning stub is determined by the spaced apart distance each isolation switch is disposed from the associated signal switch. Thus, when a second isolation switch is activated, the portion of the input line between the associated signal switch and the isolation switch forms the tuning stub of the second predetermined length. Preferably, the second predetermined length is equal to a predetermined electrical length of transmission line that is one quarter wavelength and the center frequency of the signal of interest.
In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of signal switches and the first and second isolation switches are a plurality of semiconductor switching elements, and are selected from the group of switching diodes, thryristors, and transistors. In particular, the plurality of switching diodes are a plurality of PIN diodes, the plurality of transistors are a plurality of bipolar junction transistors, the plurality of transistors are a plurality of field effect transistors.
In another aspect of the present invention, the first and second predetermined electrical length is an odd integer multiple of the quarter-wavelength of the signal of interest. In particular, the first and second predetermined electrical distances are one-quarter wavelength of the signal of interest.
In another embodiment, the first and second stub are provided for by a plurality of lumped circuit elements that provide the same impedance transforming function as the stub. In particular, the lumped circuit is a pi-section that includes an inductor coupled to a capacitor at each end, and where each of the capacitors are further coupled to ground. Alternatively, a pi-section can be formed that includes a capacitor coupled to an inductor at each end, and where each of the inductors are further coupled to ground. The use of lumped elements facilitates size matrix reduction relative to the distributed transmission line counterpart.
Other forms, features and aspects of the above-described methods and system are described in the detailed description that follows.

Matched broadband switch matrix with active diode isolation


An ergonomic horse/animal feeder adapted for receiving a lower portion and jaw of two or more horse heads in a natural headset. The feeder is angular in shape and includes a horizontal bottom, a backside, an ergonomic feed front side, a first side and an opposite second side. A curved lip is disposed around a top of the angular sides. The backside is angled upwardly and outwardly from the horizontal bottom in a range of 60 to less than 90 degrees from the horizontal. A lower portion of the feed front side of the feeder is angled upwardly in a range of 60 to less than 90 degrees from the horizontal. An upper portion of the feed front side is angled upwardly and outwardly in a range of 30 to 60 degrees from the horizontal. This upward and outward angle of the feed front side allows the lower portion of the horse's head and jaw to be received inside the feeder for feeding in the natural headset.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a feed bucket for animals and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a feed bucket designed as an ergonomic, angular-shaped feed bucket providing a natural head set for receiving a lower portion of a horse head inside the bucket. The invention can also include additional embodiments wherein the bucket is enlarged into an animal feeder for one or more animals and having a ergonomic, angular-shape.
(b) Discussion of Prior Art
Heretofore, there have been a number of patented horse and animal feeding apparatus providing improvements over a standard round feed bucket or a feed trough. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,222 to Cooke, U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,799 to Jordan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,930 to Olsen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,544 to Popelier and Des. 287,771 to Kimble disclose a variety of horse feeders and related feed devices. None of the above mentioned prior art animal feeders described the unique features, structure and function of the subject ergonomic feed bucket as described herein for feeding animals and in particular a horse.

Ergonomic angular-shaped horse-animal feeder