A lift attached to a truck has a tail gate supported by at least one hydraulic lift and at least one tilt cylinder for respectively lifting the tail gate as a whole and rotating it for opening and closing. A control system for moving such a tail gate up and down as a whole and rotating it to open and close it is provided with a power unit including a hydraulic pump, an electric motor for the hydraulic pump, and a plurality of valves for selectably allowing or not allowing transport of a hydraulic liquid by the hydraulic pump into the hydraulic cylinders, a sensor for measuring the pressure inside the hydraulic pump, external switches, and a controller which includes a CPU, a timer and a semiconductor switch and serves to calculate on real time the speed of the tail gate from signals from the sensor and the timer. The position of the tail gate is accurately determined therefrom and the tail gate is gradually started, accelerated and decelerated to prevent damage to its cargo.

This invention relates to the control of a freight lift of the kind attached to a back part of a freight truck for transporting freight up into and down from the truck. More particularly, the invention relates to a mechanism and a method for controlling the upward and downward translational motion of its freight-receiving table (herein referred to as "the tail gate").
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a lift of the type related to this invention, attached to a back part of a freight truck. Such a lift generally makes use of a mechanism comprising a plurality of lift cylinders for moving the tail gate up and down translationally as a whole and a plurality of tilt cylinders for rotating it around a horizontal axis between its opened and closed positions.
FIG. 3 shows a portion of a gate-lifting mechanism 30 of such a lift, comprising a tail gate 31, a lift cylinder 32 with a piston, a main arm 36 and an attachment bracket 38. One end of the lift cylinder 32 is axially connected to the main arm 36 around a pin 34, the other end being axially attached to the attachment bracket 38. Similarly, one end of the main arm is axially connected to the tail gate 31 around a pin 33, the other end being axially attached to the attachment bracket 38 around a pin 35. The attachment bracket 38 is welded to the chassis 37 of the truck.
The lifting motion (both upward and downward) of the tail gate 31 as a whole is effected by a parallelogram link mechanism formed by pins 33, 33', 35 and 35'. Although not shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity, a tilt cylinder for causing the tail gate 31 to rotate (or tilt) around the pin 33 is axially supported between the pins 33' and 35'. While the tail gate 31 is being lifted up and down, the tilt cylinder keeps its length constant and serves, together with the main arm 36, as a part of a parallel link. When the tail gate 31 is lifted up as a whole (as opposed to being lifted up by rotating around the pin 33), a hydraulic liquid (referred to as "the oil") is introduced from a hydraulic pump into one of the oil chambers inside the lift cylinder 32, causing its piston to be extended outward, such that the tail gate 31 is lifted gradually from the position (b) to the position (a) indicated in FIG. 3 while maintaining the parallel link. When the tail gate 31 is lowered as a whole, the oil inside the oil chamber of the lift cylinder 32 is returned to the hydraulic pump, causing the pressure inside the cylinder to drop. The piston of the lift cylinder 32 is thereby returned to its original position, and the tail gate 31 moves down from the position (a) to the position (b), again by maintaining the parallel link. In summary, the up-and-down lifting motion of the gate-lifting mechanism 30 is effected by the reciprocating motion of the piston of the lift cylinder 32.
This operation of the lift cylinder 32, as described above, is controlled by a hydraulic pump, a power unit which may include an electric motor for driving this hydraulic pump as well as solenoid valves, and an electrical control system.
With a prior art lift of this type, an accurate control of its up-and-down motion was difficult because the speed of motion of the tail gate was significantly affected by the load thereon. As a result, the motion of the tail gate was abrupt, starting and stopping with a jerk, causing damage to the cargo being transported thereon. When the tail gate is lowered, furthermore, it tended to hit the ground with a large force which would damage the tail gate itself, affecting adversely the useful lifetime of the equipment.
In addition, a prior art lift of this type had to be operated manually when the tail gate was to be stopped in the middle of its trajectory. This means that the motion of the tail gate had to be started and stopped many times until it reaches a desired height. It also goes without saying that abrupt starting and stopping of the tail gate are not desirable practice from the point of view of safety to the workers.


An ESD protection circuit with a diode string coupled to a diode-isolated, gate-grounded NMOS ESD device. A method of forming an ESD protection circuit with a diode string coupled to a diode-isolated, gate-grounded NMOS ESD device.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a continuing problem in the design, manufacture, and utilization of integrated circuits (ICs). A major source of ESD exposure to ICs is from the human body (described by the "Human Body Model", HBM). In this situation, a packaged IC acquires a charge when it is held by a human who is electrostatically charged (e.g. from walking across a carpet). A charge of about 0.6 uC may be induced on a body capacitance of 100 pF, for example, leading to an electrostatic potential of 4 kV or more and discharge peak currents of several amperes to the IC for approximately 100 ns. A second source of ESD exposure is from charged metallic objects (described by the "Machine Model", MM), which is characterized by a greater capacitance, lower internal resistance and transients that have significantly faster rise times and higher peak current levels than a HBM ESD source. A third source of ESD exposure is due to the discharge of stored charge on the integrated circuit itself (described by the "Charged Device Model", CDM), to ground with rise times of less than 500 ps. The current flow during CDM is in the opposite direction than from the HBM and MM ESD sources. Thus, an ESD device must provide protection from discharges both to and from the IC.
During an ESD event, ESD current is typically discharged between one or more of the IC pins and another object such as a human body, a metal object, or ground. When ESD current flows through vulnerable circuitry in the IC, the circuitry may be destroyed. Many conventional ESD protection techniques employ peripheral circuits to carry the ESD currents from the pins of the IC to ground by providing a low impedance path that bypasses more vulnerable circuits in the IC chip. In this way the ESD currents flow through the protection circuitry rather than through the more vulnerable circuits in the chip.

ESD protection using diode-isolated gate-grounded nMOS with diode string


The present invention relates to an electrical socket with rotatable socket core. It comprises a cover having at least one opening; a base plate; an electrode bracket having at least one opening which is disposed in between the cover and the base plate; and at least one socket core that is rotatable in one full circle which passes through the opening of the cover and is disposed inside the openings of the electrode bracket, wherein a plurality of apertures is disposed longitudinally inside the socket core. While inserting, if there is insufficient space, the space limitation can be overcome by rotating and changing the angle of the socket core appropriately and the plug can be successfully inserted into the socket.

The present invention relates to an electrical socket and more particularly pertains to an electrical socket with a flexible rotatable position for plug insertion and which is convenient for use within a small narrow space.
With the continuous developments of science and technology, electricity becomes an indispensable part of people's live and work. A variety of electrical sockets for industrial or domestic use have been developed for convenient use of electricity, thereby increasing production efficiency and living quality. However, when an electrical socket is used, if the space surrounding the socket is small and narrow, incidents of having insufficient space for plug insertion will commonly arise. This causes enormous inconvenience to people's live and work.
The inventor of the present invention disclosed a rotatable socket in a Chinese patent application (Application No.: 200420072276.2). The major construction of the socket is that a plurality of rotatable electrically conductive contact blades parallel to one another is disposed in layers inside the socket core. The rotatable electrically conductive contact blades are provided with apertures which correspond to pins of a plug for their insertion. The outer edges of the rotatable electrically conductive contact blades are connected in a sliding manner to connecting spring pieces which are fixed to the inside of the housing of the socket. The fixed connecting spring pieces can be connected to the electricity source conducting wires. When pins of a plug are inserted correspondingly into the apertures of the rotatable electrically conductive contact blades inside the socket, by rotating the plug the rotatable electrically conductive contact blades can be actuated to rotate in relation to the fixed connecting spring pieces, thereby attaining the rotation of the socket core. Although such construction attains the effect of rotating the plug, it is complicated in structure. It requires a high level of processing precision for parts. Assembling is also difficult. The pins and the apertures of the contact blades are vulnerable to wear. The life span and the safety performance of the socket are affected adversely.


A wheeled exercise apparatus has at least two resistance bands. A first and second axle each have a wheel assembly rotatably connected at an opposite end thereof. The axles are connected at each of the opposite ends by at least one of the resistance bands so that the apparatus operates in a rolling extending and collapsing motion within an elastic region. A pedal assembly is axially connected to the second axle. The pedal/foot supporting assembly is capable of supporting and securing both feet of the person so that the person is capable of exerting stress when griping the first axle with the person's hands and pushing against the second axle with the person's feet while exercising in a substantially prone position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wheeled exercise devices. In particular, it relates to a wheeled exercise device capable of adjustable resistance and locomotion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wheeled exercise devices are known for use in exercising different muscle groups of the upper body and torso in a prone position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,866, to Mattox discloses a wheeled exercise device which employs a central wheel rotatably mounted on an axle. A pair of handgrips is telescopically mounted on the axle ends. A length of elastic tubing is telescopically connected mounted to the opposite ends of the axle. A pair of foot pads is adjustably mounted on the elastic tubing. The pads may be moved to different points along the length of the tubing to accommodate users of different size and strength. The user kneels or stands on the pads, grips the hand grips, and rolls the wheel and axle forward, away from, the pads until the user is in the prone position. Thereafter, the user rolls the axle wand wheel backward, until the starting position is reached.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,476 to Wang et. al. describes a physical exercising apparatus which includes a first transverse frame bar having a longitudinal center through hole, a second transverse frame bar, two wheels respectively mounted on wheel holders for supporting the second transverse frame bar on the floor, and a single elastic cord member inserted through the longitudinal center through hole on the first transverse frame bar and connected between the wheel holders for stretching by the user when the user holds the first transverse frame bar in place and moves the second transverse frame bar relative to the first transverse frame bar.
While the foregoing exercise devices offer some utility, the devices are limited in use for outward extension of the handle portion against the resistance of the elastic tubing. Thus, such devices are limited in capability for use in exercising the muscle groups of the lower torso and legs and aerobic conditioning. In addition, such devices are mostly incapable of achieving high degrees of resistance. Thus, what is needed is an exercise apparatus which uses a pair of wheeled straight axle members connected at the opposite ends thereof by one or more resistance bands so that when exercising in the prone position the user is capable of exercising both the upper and lower muscle groups and enhancing aerobic conditioning. The present invention satisfies these needs.


A method and apparatus for removing contaminants, including hydrocarbon and metal, from contaminated particulate material, such as gravel, soil, and the like. Initially, contaminants are removed by contact with water at a temperature higher than a melting temperature of the contaminants to remove them by melting. The removed contaminants are then subjected to specific gravity separation in water and filtration, including ion exchange and activated carbon filtration.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing contaminants, including hydrocarbons and metal, from contaminated particulate material, such as gravel, soil and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In various industrial environments, particularly those where material beneficiation and chemical processing may be involved, it is common for the soil at the industrial site to become contaminated. These contaminants typically may include hydrocarbons and metals, with lead being one of the most common and hazardous metal contaminants. It is desirable, therefore, to have a practice for decontaminating particulate materials, particularly soil and gravel. The system for achieving this should be adaptable for use in various industrial sites and capable of removing a wide range of contaminants.

Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from particulate material


A non-volatile memory array for an FPGA comprises a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns and divided into a plurality of row segments. The source of each non-volatile memory transistor in each segment is coupled together to a common source line. A column segment line is associated with each segment of the array, and is coupled to the drains of each non-volatile memory transistor in the segment. A segment select transistor is coupled between each column segment line and its associated column line, and a high-voltage driver transistor is coupled to each column line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to field-programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to FPGA devices using Flash memory for programming, and to an efficient segmentation of Flash memory for FPGA applications.
2. The Prior Art
Arrays of flash memory cells for use in FPGA applications are known, and include a plurality of rows and columns of non-volatile memory cells disposed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns Each memory cell includes a floating-gate programming transistor and a floating-gate switch transistor sharing its floating gate with that of the programming transistor. A row line is electrically connected to the control gates of each first and second floating-gate transistor in its row. The arrays are divided into a plurality of segments that each include a plurality of rows of memory cells in which the sources of the floating-gate programming transistors in each column are connected to a separate segment source-column line. All of the segment source-column lines are connected to a common source line through source-segment select transistors all controlled by a global read line. The drains of the floating-gate programming transistors in each column of each segment are connected to a segment drain-column line. A master column line is associated with each column in the array. A segment-select transistor is connected between its segment drain-column line and its master column line and is controlled by a segment-select line to connect the segment drain-column line to the master column line. For writing, the segment source lines are connected to the segment drain lines through write transistors controlled by a global write-mode line. Such arrays are found, for example, in products sold under the name "ProASIC3" by Actel Corporation of Mountain View, Calif.

Non-volatile memory array having drain-side segmentation for an FPGA device


A press-talk trunk is a communication system receives press-talk signals from voice terminals having press-talk switches. In one aspect of the invention, the press-talk trunk is scanned by a central controller that selects an active press-talk signal and sets up a corresponding 1.times.N voice communication path among the terminals. In another aspect of the invention, the press-talk truck itself selects an active press-talk signal and notifies the central controller by means of an interrupt. In yet another aspect of the invention, the press-talk trunk also receives voice signals from all the terminals, selects a voice signal from a terminal having an active press-talk signal, and sends that voice signal back to all the other terminals. In still another aspect of the invention, two or more press-talk trunks are cascaded.

This invention relates to a communication system enabling N people to use a switching system such as a private branch exchange for 1.times.N communication (N being an integer greater than two).
The modern private branch exchange is a digital electronic device comprising a time-division switch and a central controller. The central controller can be programmed to implement a variety of services besides what is technically referred to as "plain old telephone service" (POTS). One of these additional services is a 1.times.N communication service known, for example, as announcement or broadcast service. This service can be utilized for communication among employees of a department store, hotel, hospital, or other organization.
A prior-art 1.times.N communication scheme employs standard extension telephone sets coupled to a private branch exchange, either by wires or by wireless links. Information designating N of these extension telephone sets as a broadcast group is stored in a memory of the central controller. When a person at one of these N extension telephone sets wishes to make an announcement to the people in the broadcast group, he picks up the handset and performs a series of special operations, such as momentarily depressing the hook switch then dialing a special service code. The central controller responds by setting up a circuit in the private branch exchange that allows the person's voice to be heard at the rest of the N extension telephone sets in the group. At the end of the announcement, the person performs another special operation to release the circuit. If another person at one of the N extension telephone sets wants to reply to the announcement, he can do so by a similar series of operations.
One disadvantage of this prior-art scheme is that the numerous special operations required make it difficult and inconvenient to use. Each time a person wishes to speak, for instance, he must enter a special service code.
Another disadvantage is that the central controller must execute a special service program each time the service code is entered. This extra load reduces the ability of the private branch exchange to handle normal telephone traffic, leading to problems such as long call setup delays.

1.times.N communication system for private branch exchange


A method for manufacturing the high strength steel sheet having excellent formability includes hot-rolling a steel slab having a chemical composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.03% or more and 0.35% or less, Si: 0.5% or more and 3.0% or less, Mn: 3.5% or more and 10.0% or less, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.01% or less, N: 0.008% or less and the balance comprising Fe and inevitable impurities, coiling the hot-rolled steel sheet at a temperature range of the Ar1 transformation point to the Ar1 transformation point+(the Ar3 transformation point−the Ar1 transformation point)/2, cooling the coiled steel sheet down to 200° C. or lower, heating and holding the cooled steel sheet at a temperature range of the Ac1 transformation point−200° C. to the Ac1 transformation point for 30 minutes or more, pickling the heated steel sheet, cold-rolling the pickled steel sheet under the condition that the rolling reduction is 20% or more, and heating and holding the cold-rolled steel sheet at a temperature range of the Ac1 transformation point to the Ac1 transformation point+(the Ac3 transformation point−the Ac1 transformation point)/2 for 30 seconds or more.

Nowadays, improvement of the fuel efficiency of automobiles is an important issue from the viewpoint of conservation of the global environment. Therefore, there is an active trend toward decreasing the weight of automobile bodies by increasing the strength of the material of automobile bodies so as to decrease the thickness of the material. However, since an increase in the strength of a steel sheet is accompanied by a decrease in the formability thereof, it is desired at present that a material having high strength and high formability be developed. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses that a high strength-formability balance is achieved by performing heat treatment on high Mn steel under conditions for a ferrite-austenite dual phase. In addition, in Patent Literature 2, local ductility is improved by providing high Mn steel with a microstructure which is formed in such a way that a microstructure including bainite and martensite that is formed by hot rolling is changed by annealing and tempering so as to form fine retained austenite, and further by tempering so as to form tempered bainite or tempered martensite. However, in Patent Literature 1, since consideration is not given to improvement of formability by utilizing the concentration of Mn in untransformed austenite, there is a room for improvement of formability. In addition, in Patent Literature 2, since the microstructure includes a large amount of bainite or martensite which is tempered at a high temperature, it is difficult to achieve high strength, and, since the amount of retained austenite is limited in order to improve local ductility, there is an insufficient total elongation.

High strength steel sheet having excellent formability and method for manufacturing the same


An engine decompressor includes a decompressor pin provided through a pin hole on the surface of a valve cam, a decompressor pin operating shaft in an oil passage provided in a valve cam shaft of the valve cam for vertically moving the decompressor pin by its rotation, a fly weight rotatable by rotation of the valve cam shaft so as to rotate the decompressor pin operating shaft, and a thrust receiving plate separate from the fly weight for restricting the axial movement of the decompressor pin operating shaft in the oil passage. The engine decompressor is capable of operating a decompressor mechanism normally even if the lubricating oil increases in pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a decompressor and a vehicle, and in particular, it relates to an improvement in a decompressor of the type having a decompressor pin operating shaft in an oil passage provided in a valve cam shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Decompressors of engines force exhaust valves to open slightly in the process of compression at engine start-up or at engine stopping, thereby reducing the cranking torque of the engine to improve engine start-up performance. In other words, the decompressor releases a portion of compressed gas from a combustion chamber by slightly opening exhaust valves in the process of compression, thereby reducing cranking torque. Also, the decompressor slightly opens exhaust valves to reduce cranking torque during engine starting. The provision of such a decompressor to an engine allows an engine starter motor to be decreased in size and a battery for driving the starter motor to be reduced in capacity.
The patent document JP-A-2001-173421 discloses a structure of an engine decompressor, in which a valve cam has a pin hole on the surface, through which a decompressor pin is provided. A decompressor pin operating shaft is disposed in an oil passage provided in a valve cam shaft. The decompressor pin moves vertically with the rotation of the decompressor pin operating shaft. The decompressor pin operating shaft is rotated by a fly weight that rotates against the biasing force of a return spring, according to the rotation speed of the valve cam shaft. With the decompressor, when the fly weight rotates as the rotation speed of the valve cam shaft increases, the decompressor pin, whose head projects to the surface of the valve cam during engine stopping, extends into the deep pin hole thus achieving the above described decompressing function.
The decompressor disclosed in JP-A-2001-173421 has a decompressor pin operating shaft in an oil passage, thus allowing a smooth decompressing operation in normal environments, so that it may be advantageous. However, under very low temperatures, the viscosity of lubricating oil becomes extremely high, and the pressure of the lubricating oil significantly increases. In that case, the decompressor pin operating shaft is pushed axially in the valve cam shaft to bring the end surface into contact with another member, thus preventing smooth rotation of the decompressor pin operating shaft. Particularly, the fly weight is journaled at its rim, and the biasing force of the return spring is a relatively small value to operate the fly weight normally at a low rotation speed. Accordingly, when the decompressor pin operating shaft is pushed strongly against the center of the fly weight, even the motion of the fly weight may be locked.


A recreational equipment junction box for tubular recreational equipment is disclosed. The junction box is a one-piece molded thin-walled enclosure having a plurality of spaced and opposed sides. At least one side of the enclosure is provided with a closed wall within a tubular ring section of predetermined dimension. The closed wall is capable of being partially removed for receiving a window or capable of being entirely removed for receiving a complementary shaped tube within the tubular ring section for connection to the enclosure. The junction box facilitates the transition of movement in four possible directions, while also enhancing the use of transparent windows in one or more locations as may be desired.

The present invention relates to an improved recreational equipment junction box, and more particularly, to a one-piece molded enclosure which facilitates the transition of moving in up to four directions, as well as the use of windows and transitional movement in a lesser number of directions, all in a simplified and easy-to-use construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,165 discloses a recreational equipment junction box for use with tubular recreational play equipment. Such tubular play equipment enables children to move or crawl through elongated tubes and enclosures for a fun play experience. Junction boxes of this type have alleviated the problem associated with children turning the corner or passing one another in the tubular structure. One, two, or three tubes may be attached to the junction box in a variety of angular relationships, enabling the junction box to facilitate movement of children in and through corner areas or other constricted locations. Thus, the conjunction box serves as a useful transitional space or even as an end destination in an enclosed path. Additionally, such junction boxes are conducive to the installation of windows as well as being adaptable to the installation of simulated equipment such as a vehicle cockpit or the like, to enhance the play experience of children.
While the junction box shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,165 has and will continue to serve as a useful transitional component, there has been a need to create a four way junction including one tube extending at a slope, that is, into or out of a climb. There has also been a need to reduce the number of parts required to create the various options afforded by the junction box, including the use of one or more transparent windows or tubes, as may be desired. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to improve the features afforded by the junction box shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,165, as will be further understood by the discussion that follows.


A motor control device includes a control and computation unit, a compensation signal generation unit, an adder, and a drive unit. The control and computation unit is configured to perform computation processing based on a detected rotational position of a motor and a positional instruction, and to generate a first torque instruction signal to be used to drive the motor. The compensation signal generation unit is configured to generate a torque compensation signal to be used to compensate the first torque instruction signal. The adder is configured to add the torque compensation signal to the first torque instruction signal, and to output an acquired signal as a second torque instruction signal. The drive unit is configured to generate a drive signal to be used to power-drive winding wires of the motor based on the second torque instruction signal. The compensation signal generation unit is further configured to generate a torque compensation signal that switches to a torque compensation value having a predetermined value at a switching timing based on a timing when a rotation direction of the motor inverts.

Industry-use, FA servo motors are often utilized in processing machines having a plurality of axes. To allow such a processing machine to follow a positional instruction sent from a higher controller so that servo motors linked to each other in two axes or three axes operate together at improved processing accuracy, for example, accuracy in trajectory in a linked operation is important.
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of a result of measurement on magnitude of trajectory deviation on two axes, i.e., axis X and axis Y, and showing trajectory accuracy when a conventional motor control device caused the two axes to each render a circular trajectory. As illustrated in the view, the trajectory locally and significantly deviated from a circle at positions where each quadrant switches. Such a phenomenon is generally referred to as quadrant projection. Major possible causes of quadrant projection are as follows. A rotation direction of a servo motor first inverts at a position at which a quadrant switches. A direction of machine friction to occur inverts accordingly. Due to this inversion, a polarity of load torque on the servo motor inverts. A delay in response occurs accordingly in the servo motor. That is, it is conceivable that a deviation between a positional instruction sent from a higher controller and a rotational position of the servo motor increases at a position at which a quadrant switches due to the delay in response.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a motor control system including conventional motor control device 90. In FIG. 15, motor control device 90 power-drives motor 60. Motor 60 is attached with encoder 69. Encoder 69 is configured to output signal Pd indicative of a rotational position of motor 60. Motor 60 and encoder 69 are structurally integrated to configure a servo motor.
In motor control device 90, control and computation unit 12 accepts positional instruction signal Pr sent externally and signal Pd that is indicative of a rotational position and that is sent from encoder 69. In control and computation unit 12, control and computation processing takes place. Control and computation unit 12 then outputs signal Tq1 corresponding to a torque instruction. Inversion detection unit 332 detects that a polarity of a speed instruction signal representing signal Pr/dt acquired by differentiating positional instruction signal Pr has inverted, and outputs inversion detection signal Rv indicative of the polarity of the speed instruction signal. Switch 51 follows inversion detection signal Rv to perform switching between torque compensation value Val9 and value Val9 acquired by inverting a polarity of torque compensation value Val9 with positive/negative inversion unit 91, and outputs a switched value as torque compensation signal Cmp9. Adder 14 adds torque compensation signal Cmp9 and torque instruction signal Tq1 output from control and computation unit 12, and outputs a newly acquired signal as torque instruction signal Tq92. Drive unit 15 follows torque instruction signal Tq92 output from adder 14 to drive motor 60.
Operation when axis X and axis Y are driven by using two pairs of a conventional servo motor and motor control device 90 configured as described above, and when positional instruction signal Pr is provided so that circular trajectories are rendered will now be described.
FIG. 16 is a waveform chart illustrating signal waveforms of units of conventional motor control device 90, i.e., signal waveforms of the units of motor control device 90 on one of the axes. In FIG. 16, the waveform chart is separated into (a) to (d), and waveforms of signal Pr/dt, friction torque, inversion detection signal Rv, and torque compensation signal Cmp9 are illustrated in a descending order. In FIG. 16, signal Pr/dt represents a signal acquired by differentiating positional instruction signal Pr entered into motor control device 90, and corresponds to a speed instruction. As a polarity inverts at points of time t0, t2, t4, and t6, a rotation direction of motor 60 inverts. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a polarity of friction torque in the machine then significantly inverts.
Inversion detection signal Rv output from inversion detection unit 332 represents, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a signal that inverts at points of time t0, t2, t4, and t6. Torque compensation signal Cmp9 output from switch 51 accordingly changes, as illustrated in FIG. 16.
With the motor control device having a conventional configuration, as described above, torque compensation signal Cmp9 acts so as to compensate a significant change in friction torque at timings at which a quadrant switches, as illustrated in FIG. 16. As a result, the above described action suppresses quadrant projection in magnitude (e.g., see PTL 1).

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A pump case of an electric pump is constructed by coupling a first pressed member formed with a cylindrical part for holding a first rolling ball bearing rotatably supporting a rotary shaft, and a second pressed member formed with a recess for receiving an inner rotor provided at a tip end of the rotary shaft to each other. Because the first pressed member and the second pressed member are formed by deep-drawing work, it is possible to achieve simplification of the structure and reduction of the cost, as compared with the pump case which has been produced from an aluminum die casting or the like, as in the related art.

The present invention relates to an electric pump which is driven by a motor.
Recently, for the purpose of reducing loads on the environment, attention has been paid to an electric vehicle which is driven by outputs of a motor, and a hybrid vehicle which is driven by outputs of an engine and a motor. These vehicles are so constructed that a pump for transmission and the like which has been conventionally driven by an engine may be driven by an electric motor, because the engine is not mounted or not always actuated even though the engine is mounted. As the electric pump of this type, an electric pump in which a rotor of a trochoid pump is rotated by an electric motor has been known, as disclosed in JP-A-2005-337025
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a structure of the conventional electric pump of this type. The electric pump includes a motor portion 60 for driving a rotary shaft 61, and a pump section 70 composed of a pump case 71 and a pump plate 72. The pump case 71 is formed with a through hole 71a for passing the rotary shaft 61 therethrough. In addition, a holding portion 71b for holding a bearing member 62 which rotatably holds the rotary shaft 61 is formed on one side surface of the pump case 71, and a recess 71c for receiving an inner rotor 63 which is provided at a tip end of the rotary shaft 61 is formed on the other side face of the pump case 71. The pump plate 72 is arranged so as to cover the recess 71c of the pump case 71. When the rotary shaft 61 is driven to rotate by the motor portion 60, the inner rotor is rotated in the recess 71c, whereby oil introduced into the recess 71c is compressed, and the oil is supplied from the electric pump under pressure. In this manner, in the hybrid vehicle or the like, the pump is constructed by substituting an electric motor for a drive source for the rotor in the trochoid pump which has been conventionally driven by an engine.
By the way, the pump case 71 constituting the electric pump as described above has been produced by mechanical work with high precision from an aluminum die casting or a cast product as material, for the purpose of preventing leakage of liquid from the recess 71c and for the purpose of supporting the rotary shaft 61 accurately. For this reason, the pump case has become complicated in structure and high cost, and therefore, it has been desired to simplify the structure and reduce the cost. Moreover, among the electric pumps as described above, there are some pumps in which high pressure is required, such as the pump for transmission, and there are some other pumps which are used in a low pressure region, such as the electric pump for cooling the motor in the hybrid vehicle or the like. In the electric pumps which are used in the low pressure region, use of the pump case having high precision as described above is beyond a required level of sealing performance or so. Therefore, it has been particularly desired to simplify the structure of the pump case and reduce the cost.

Electric pump with coupled pressed members


A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a p-type conductive region formed at the semiconductor substrate and including a p-type impurity, and a passivation film formed on the p-type conductive region and including aluminum oxide. The passivation film has a thickness of 7 to 17 Å.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to a solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a solar cell having an improved structure and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as existing energy resources such as petroleum and coal are running out, interest in alternative energy sources is increasing. In particular, solar cells, which directly convert solar energy into electric energy, are receiving much attention as a next-generation alternative energy source.
In a solar cell, for photoelectric conversion, conductive type regions and electrodes electrically connected thereto may be formed at a semiconductor substrate. In addition, to enhance the characteristics of the solar cell, a passivation film that passivates the conductive type regions, an anti-reflective film, and the like are formed.
In a conventional solar cell, however, the passivation film may be easily deformed or damaged in a process of forming the passivation film or in subsequent processes. Thus, passivation effects may be deteriorated and, accordingly, the characteristics of the solar cell may be deteriorated.

Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same


A single ended dual port memory cell is described. A bit of data received from one of the first and second ports can be stored. Each of the first and second ports can simultaneously detect the stored bit.. A method of reading the contents of a dual port memory cell which has a Beta Ratio less than 1.5 is also described. A wordline is associated with a selected port of the memory cell. The wordline is coupled to a gate device of the memory cell for controlling communication between the memory cell and a bitline. The gate device has a first conductance at a first wordline voltage and a second conductance at a second wordline voltage. The second conductance is less than the first conductance. A port of the cell is selected by applying a select voltage to the associated wordline. The select voltage is approximately the same as the second wordline voltage. The cell contents are then retrieved from the bitline.

A typical random access memory (RAM) architecture consists of an array of memory cells. Each cell can store one bit of information. The array is arranged as rows and columns of memory cells. Each row is also referred to as a wordline. Each column is also referred to as a bitline. A memory device containing such an array with 2.sup.m rows and 2.sup.n columns can store 2.sup.m.n bits of information. If fabrication of such an array requires one unit of area, then the memory cell density for such an array is 2.sup.m.n cells per unit area.
In systems which require memory devices, storage capacity and operational speed of the memory are important attributes. From a system throughput standpoint, the accessibility of the memory device is another important attribute. Storage capacity refers to the amount of data that a memory device can store. Operational speed refers to the speed at which the memory device can store or retrieve data. Accessibility is largely dependent upon the architecture of the system. Generally, the system throughput increases when more than one system device can directly access the memory device. The system throughput is generally further increased when more than one device can simultaneously access the memory.
Since a memory device typically contains one or more arrays of memory cells, the storage capability of a memory device is largely dependent upon the size of a memory cell. The size of a cell given a fixed number of components will change as fabrication technology evolves. However, any reduction in the size of a memory cell will permit fabrication of memory devices containing an increased density of memory cells. A reduction in cell area will permit an increase in an array's cell density by a factor approaching the reduction factor.
Thus, for example, a cell which uses 40% of the area of another cell will have a reduction factor of 2.5. Therefore, an array of the smaller cells may have a cell density approaching 2.5 times that of an array of the larger cells.
Storage capacity is directly related to cell density. Given a fixed unit of area for an array of memory cells, a reduction factor of 2.5 will permit memory devices constructed with the smaller cells to have up to 2.5 times the storage capacity of memory devices constructed with the larger cells.
System access speed can often be dramatically increased through the use of a dual port memory architecture. A dual port memory has two access ports so that more than one system device may directly access the memory. A single port memory permits direct coupling to only one system device such that other system devices must contend for the port in order to gain access to the memory. By permitting direct coupling to more than one system device, overall system performance is usually enhanced since a dual port architecture decreases the contention for access to a port of the memory.
Examples of memory devices utilizing a dual port memory architecture include dual port static random access memories (SRAMs) and first-in-first-out ("FIFO") buffers. An integrated circuit dual port memory device may include an array of dual port memory cells. One such prior art dual port cell is illustrated in FIG. 1.
Traditional dual port memory cells suffer from a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage of the prior art dual port memory cell is that the layout size of such a cell is approximately 2-2.5 times the size of a single port cell constructed using the same fabrication technology. Another disadvantage of the prior art dual port memory cell is that a pair of bitlines are required for each port due to the differential nature of the cell.
Another method of achieving the effect of a dual port memory device in practice is to use an array of single port memory cells inside the dual port memory device. Such a prior art single port memory cell is illustrated in FIG. 2. In this example, the ports of the memory device are multiplexed before gaining access to the memory array. Thus two devices are contending for access at the device level as opposed to at the level of a memory cell in the array.
One disadvantage of using multiplexed single port memory cells is that the multiplexing circuitry uses space which could otherwise be utilized to construct more memory cells. In addition, the multiplexing function for accessing a single port cell is slower than the direct access method using a dual port memory cell. This typically results in a slower operational speed for the memory device. The slower operational speed of the memory tends to negatively affect the throughput of the entire system if memory accesses are frequently requested.


A circular knitting machine, comprising a footing with a rotatable, vertical needle cylinder, axial slots on the outer lateral surface of the needle cylinder, that accommodate each a needle, a sub-needle arranged below each needle in a corresponding axial slot connected bilaterally to the needle and having a radial heel, the sub-needle being oscillatable on a radial plane of the needle cylinder, sub-needle actuation cams, for producing movement of the sub-needle along the axial slot to actuate the overlying needle.

The field of circular knitting machine has always felt the need to reduce as much as possible the height of the needle cylinder so as to reduce its inertia, in order to be able to increase its rotation rate and therefore increase correspondingly the productivity of these machines.
However, this need clashes with an equally important need, which is versatility, i.e., the possibility to produce on a same machine various kinds of knitting process, the execution of which often entails increasing even considerably the complexity of the needle actuation system, increasing the space occupation entailed by the installation of several accessories around the needle cylinder, which inevitably force an increase in the height of the needle cylinder, which in practice constitutes the only dimensional variable that allows design freedom.
Furthermore, in circular knitting machines there has always been the need to improve the quality level of the manufactured articles. In recent years, this need, has increased, also because continuous improvements have, allowed these machines to produce items that increasingly approximate finished items, reducing and in some times eliminating the use of subsequent processes.
Furthermore, in needle actuation systems of machines of this type it has been noted that in any kind of knitting process the heel of the needles always engages the lowering cams, i.e., the cams that lower the needle into the needle cylinder after engaging the yarn at a drop or feed of the machine, even when the corresponding needle is excluded from knitting at a drop. This engagement with the lowering cams produces unwanted movements of the needle, and if the needle is holding previously formed knitting these movements can alter or even break the stitches, inevitably penalizing the quality of the product.

Circular knitting machine, particularly of the medium-diameter type, with improved needle actuation


A voice communication apparatus is provided. The voice communication apparatus includes a control unit, a hand-held voice transceiver, a position status detector, a first switch and a one-way signal transmitter. The position status detector generates status information by detecting a position status of the hand-held voice transceiver. The first switch turns on or cuts off a connection path between the hand-held voice transceiver and the control unit according to the status information. The one-way signal transmitter is coupled between the position status detector and the control unit, and transmits the status information to the control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a voice communication apparatus, and more particularly to a voice communication apparatus that may prevent eavesdropping activities.
2. Description of Related Art
With advancement of Internet technique, a type of Internet phone that enables communication through the Internet is launched. Currently, in the known technical fields, the voice channels provided by the Internet phone can be roughly categorized into three types including the handset, earphone, and hand-free. Generally speaking, a processor necessary for executing a software program to change the value of a register in a voice chip for the Internet phone to turn off the channel. However, in the Net-generation, a hacker or someone with bad intentions usually takes advantage of a virus program or backdoor program to open the voice channel that is initially closed when the Internet phone is not operating to invade people's privacy or steal trade secrets via eavesdropping. For that reason, how to configure a mechanism on the Internet phones for preventing eavesdropping becomes an urgent issue for designers in the field.


A substrate processing system includes a first, movable surface tension gradient device, a dicing device and a system controller. The first, movable surface tension gradient device is capable of supporting a first process within a first meniscus. The first meniscus being supported between the first surface tension gradient device and a first surface of the substrate. The first movable surface tension gradient device capable of being moved relative to the first surface of the substrate. The dicing device is oriented to a desired dicing location. The desired dicing location being encompassed by the meniscus. The system controller is coupled to the dicing device and the surface tension gradient device. The system controller includes a process recipe. A method for dicing a substrate is also described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to dicing substrates, and more particularly, to methods and systems for simultaneously cleaning and dicing substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits are formed through many processes applied sequentially to a semiconductor wafer or substrate. Typically multiple integrated circuits are formed on a single substrate. Each of the integrated circuits is confined to an area referred to as a die or an integrated circuit die. Typically a small region of unused space remains between the integrated circuit dies within which no devices required by the integrated circuits are formed. This unused space is typically referred to as the scribe channel. The dies are separated by cutting the substrate through the scribe channel after the multiple integrated circuit dies are formed. Separating the dies is referred to as dicing or die singulation.
The substrate can be diced using several different approaches. On approach is with an abrasive circular saw that grinds through the substrate along the scribe channel. Another approach is by scoring the substrate with a sharp or abrasive tool along the scribe channels and then breaking the substrate along the score lines drawn. Yet another approach is to cut or score the substrate with a laser. The dicing process can be a partial dicing, where the substrate is not cut all the way through. Alternatively, dicing can be full dicing, where the substrate is cut all the way through.
One laser technology used for dicing the substrate can be referred to as a water-jet-guided laser such as may be available from Synova SA of Ecublens, Switzerland. Synova's water-jet guided laser directs a stream (i.e., jet) of water along the scribe channel on the surface of the substrate and focuses a laser at the point where the water jet meets the surface of the substrate. The water jet can also encompass the laser light. As the laser light cuts (either fully or partially) into the substrate, the water jet carries away any dicing by-products (i.e., swarf) such as particles. Further, the water from the water jet tends to spread out over the surrounding surface of the substrate and thereby somewhat limit or at least reduce the adhesion of the particles to the surrounding surface of the substrate.
Unfortunately, the water-jet-guided laser is a wet process and the resulting dies must then be thoroughly cleaned of any particle contamination. Both front side (the side of the die with the integrated circuit formed thereon) and the back side (the side opposite the front side) of each and every die must be cleaned. After the front and back sides of each of the dies are cleaned, both the front and back sides of the dies must also be dried. This cleaning and drying process requires additional processing and handling of the dies after the dicing. During this additional processing and handling the dies can be damaged and/or process problems can occur. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a system and method of dicing integrated circuits without the need of a subsequent cleaning and drying process.

System method and apparatus for dry-in, dry-out, low defect laser dicing using proximity technology


A fluid swivel is described, of the type which includes a ring-shaped outer structure (12, FIG. 2 ) that rotates about a ring-shaped inner structure (14), and which form an annular chamber (18) between them and a pair of gap passages (24, 26) between them which are sealed by pressure seals (30, 32). The outer structure includes a body (70) forming part of the annular chamber and a seal ring (72) mounted on an end of the body and abutting one side of the pressure seal. The seal ring is axially shiftable on the end of the body, so that when the body expands radially as a result of high pressure fluid being introduced into the annular chamber, the seal ring does not have to expand a similar amount and therefore does not have to cause a large increase in the width of the extrusion gap (62) at the downstream end of the pressure seal. A centering mechanism (110) urges the seal ring to remain substantially centered on the body, and can be formed by a ring of compressible material lying between shoulders (120, 122, FIG. 3 ) respectively on the body and on the seal ring, or can be formed by leaf spring portions (154, FIG. 5 ) of one of the parts. Registers (180, 182) on the seal ring and on the body can engage each other to assure concentricity when the body has expanded a predetermined amount under a predetermined high pressure of at least 50 atmospheres in the annular chamber.

Fluid swivels are commonly used in offshore installations to transfer gas and oil between a fixed underwater pipeline and a tanker that may drift around the installation. A typical fluid swivel includes ring-shaped inner and outer walls, or structures, forming an annular chamber between them, and forming a pair of gap passages extending from opposite sides of the chamber to the environment. A pressure seal is placed along each gap passage. A common type of pressure seal is a radial seal with opposite sides that press against radially spaced surfaces as one structure (e.g. the outer structure) slowly rotates about the other one. Although face seals are sometimes used which seal against axially-spaced surfaces, radial seals are often preferred because they commonly result in fewer separate parts that are easier to machine, and because fluid swivels with radial seals are generally easier to design.
The radial pressure seal has an upstream side exposed to the same pressure as that which exists in the annular chamber, and has a downstream side which is generally at ambient pressure (one atmosphere). Where fluid in the annular chamber is at moderate to high pressure, there is a tendency for the pressure seal to extrude into the portion of the gap passage lying immediately downstream of the pressure seal, which can be referred to as the "extrusion gap". To avoid extrusion, the extrusion gap is made as narrow as possible.
When high pressure fluid lies in the annular chamber formed between the inner and outer structures, the outer structure tends to slightly increase in diameter, while the inner structure tends to slightly decrease in diameter. Thus, the high pressure fluid tends to separate the inner and outer structures, which increases the thickness of the gap passage, including the extrusion gap. Any increase in thickness of the extrusion gap can result in a significant decrease in the life of the pressure seal. It may be noted that it is possible to orient the extrusion gap so it extends radially, but this can complicate construction of the fluid swivel. A fluid swivel that used radial seals and which was designed to hold high pressure fluid (at at least 50 atmospheres), which minimized changes in the width of the extrusion gap which lies immediately downstream of a pressure seal, would be of considerable value.


Integrated circuits with tungsten components having a smooth surface and methods for producing such integrated circuits are provided. A method of producing the integrated circuits includes forming a nucleation layer overlying a substrate and within a cavity, where the nucleation layer includes tungsten. A nucleation layer thickness is reduced, and a fill layer if formed overlying the nucleation layer.

Integrated circuits utilize tungsten components as a conductive material for several different types of structures, such as transistor gates and contacts. Tungsten is typically formed by depositing a nucleation layer, and then depositing additional tungsten over the nucleation layer. The tungsten crystallizes to form a plurality of grains in the nucleation layer, and the additional tungsten grows and expands on the grains from the nucleation layer. The grains rapidly fill narrow cavities, but the fill process is much slower for wide cavities where the grains do not grow together from opposite sides. Continuing the tungsten deposition process to fill the wide cavities produces excessive overburden for the narrow cavities.
Excess deposited tungsten is typically removed by chemical mechanical planarization, and tungsten in the wide cavities is removed more rapidly than in the narrow cavities because it is more accessible to the planarization process. To further complicate the matter, the tungsten may be etched following the planarization process, and the tungsten etch rate in the wide cavities is faster than the tungsten etch rate in the narrow cavities. In some examples, 30% of manufactured integrated circuits suffer from over-etching due to large tungsten losses in wide cavities. The tungsten grains produce a rough surface, similar to sand paper, with different grains extending to different heights at the surface. The planarization process can impact individual grains and break them loose from the tungsten material, so gaps are formed. The removed grain then exposes the sides of adjacent grains to increased abrasive action, so large sections of tungsten are often removed during the planarization process.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide integrated circuits with tungsten components having smaller grains and a smoother surface and methods for producing such integrated circuits, such that there are fewer gaps from tungsten grains removed during planarization. In addition, it is desirable to provide methods for producing integrated circuits with smaller grains of tungsten so the tungsten is deposited at a more consistent rate in wide and narrow channels. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present embodiment will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Method for producing integrated circuit with smaller grains of tungsten


An indirect fluorescent lighting fixture with a self-contained curved reflector is enclosed in a square housing that fits into an inverted T-bar grid cell of a suspended ceiling in place of 2'.times.2' ceiling tile, or it can be permanently mounted in a wall or ceiling. A centrally located fluorescent tube, extending between two opposite sides of the enclosure, is enclosed from view by a U shaped shield. The reflector, disposed above the tube directing light downwardly into a targeted room region, can be made with a single concave curvature for narrower "spotlight" applications or with a dual concave curvature for wider field applications. The reflector is held in place in a self-stressed condition between a pair of end channels such that its shape can be controlled by varying its length. The illumination pattern can be controlled and modified by a combination of shaping the reflector's curvature and selection of its reflective surface properties. An embodiment made with a dual concave curvature reflector surfaced with small ramp ridges provides wide angle coverage free of high angle glare, enabling uniform coverage of large areas with multiple optimally spaced fixtures.

Lighting fixtures utilizing fluorescent tubes are well known and find widespread usage in all kinds of residential, industrial, commercial and institutional environments, and can be categorized as direct or indirect. "Direct lighting" fixtures, which heavily predominate, direct light downwardly from above, often passing through some form of diffuser to reduce glare and soften harshness, but otherwise travelling directly from the fluorescent tubes to the targeted area in a single straight line path. "Indirect lighting" fixtures are made and/or arranged to shield room occupants from the direct light of the tube, while illuminating a targeted area with reflected light; thus instead of reaching the targeted area via a single straight line path, the path becomes folded as the light is redirected by one or more reflective surfaces. Indirect lighting fixtures can be further subdivided into two main categories:
(1) external reflection fixtures which rely on white or other light-colored room surfaces, typically white ceilings, as the principal reflecting surface. Usually the main housing is a compact elongated enclosed rectangular box containing associated wiring, connectors, ballasts and/or transformers, etc. The fixture is mounted with the fluorescent tube on top, directing light upwardly to the ceiling region, while some form of baffle shields room occupants from direct view of the tube(s). Such fixtures may utilize the small amount of auxiliary reflection available from the top side of the housing beneath the tube by making it white or otherwise reflective. Additional auxiliary reflection may be picked up by the addition of side wings, which can also serve as shielding baffles;
(2) internal reflection indirect fixtures wherein substantially all reflection occurs within the fixture by means of a built-in shaped reflector, preferably made with a specially curved mirror surface, constructed and arranged to project light in a pattern of required uniformity in a targeted area with the fixture installed at a designated room location. A fixture of this category can be beneficially recessed in a selected wall or ceiling location to accomplish the desired illumination. The internal reflection category is advantageous over the external reflection category in eliminating dependency on the efficiency and color of the ceiling, and in enabling control of the illumination pattern.
When utilized in ceiling arrays, light fixtures are generally arranged in an array that yields a grid pattern of (ideally) square or rectangular illumination zones that overlap in a manner to provide acceptably uniform overall illumination. It is also important to suppress the escape of light from the fixtures at high angles from vertical that tend to cause annoying glare from the fixtures as perceived by room occupants. The compromise dictated by these two conflicting requirements becomes more critical with lower ceiling height, e.g. 8 or 10 ft.
A useful definition for the illumination boundary of a fixture is the half-power point where the intensity, i.e. candlepower, falls off to half as related to regions of maximum intensity, since at a reference horizontal targeted plane, e.g. floor or desktops, ideal overlapping from an adjacent fixture at the boundary would restore the intensity to full value. Thus the pattern of light divergence from the fixture can be defined as two angles from vertical, one, referred to as "0.degree." or "parallel", being taken at half power in a first vertical plane through the main lamp axis, the other, "90.degree." or "perpendicular" being taken at half power in a second vertical plane perpendicular to the lamp axis.
To optimally satisfy the two conflicting requirements described above for low ceilings, it has been found that the half power angle should be made at least about 45.degree. to minimize the number of fixtures required but should be held below about 55.degree. to minimize glare.

Recessed indirect fluorescent light fixture with flexible reflector


To provide a security lighting apparatus of a kind capable of easily optimizing the timing at which an alert is carried out, when a human body is detected by a human body detector 1 during the time zone determined by a time zone setting device (19), an alert is issued to an intruder entering within any one of detection zones (A1 to A4) and, accordingly, the timing at which the alert is initiated during the time zone can be easily and properly set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a security lighting apparatus of a kind capable of emitting a blinking light (hereinafter referred to as a "flashing light") within a detection area outside a building such as, for example, a dwelling house or a factory for alert against an intruder, in the event that during the nighttime an unauthorized entry of the intruder into the detection area is detected. More particularly, the present invention relates to optimization of the timing at which the flashing light is triggered on or off.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The security system has been well known, in which in the event that an unauthorized entry of a human being is detected during the nighttime within the detection area outside a building such as, for example, a dwelling house or a factory, a security light is turned on continuously for a predetermined length of time, or a flashing light, i.e., a mode of lighting in which lighting and extinction are cyclically repeated, is triggered at the intruder at late night for alert purpose. By way of example, the Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Publication No. 7-29691 discloses the use of a timer, which is activated in response to detection of an intruder and to switch from the continuous lighting for illumination purpose to the flashing for alert purpose depending on the set-up of the timer. Also, depending on the time period in the nighttime after sunset, the continuous lighting and the flashing can be manually selected one at a time.
With the security lighting apparatus, it is generally considered important to set the timing at which the flashing is initiated at night, depending on change of status of return of a house resident from his or her outing and/or neighboring road conditions. If the flashing starts too early, the flashing intended for the purpose of alert a potential intruder would be unpleasant and/or obnoxious for non-intruders, for example, house residents. On the other hand, if the flashing starts too late, the alert effect of the flashing would not be brought about.
The prior art security lighting apparatus of the kind disclosed in the above mentioned publication is so designed and so constructed that in the event of detection of a human being, the flashing is carried out according to the schedule preset in the timer regardless of whether the human being is an intruder or whether he or she is a non-intruder. Accordingly, where the human being so detected is a non-intruder such as, for example, a house resident, it often occurs that when meeting with the flashing, the non-intruder will feel annoying.
Considering that the hour of sunrise and the hour of sunset vary depending on the season and/or the geographic conditions of the building, the timing at which the flashing is to be initiated generally varies as well. In the case where the security lighting apparatus has a capability of manually selecting one of the continuous lighting and the flashing, setting of the initiating timing at which the security lighting apparatus is activated, i.e., the continuous lighting or the flashing is initiated, based on the length of time passed subsequent to the sunset would require the house resident to ascertain the hour of sunset on a case-by-case basis and, hence, this is indeed complicated and cumbersome.
Also, since the continuous lighting taking place before sunset and the flashing taking place before sunrise serve no purpose since the ambience is light-filled, the initiating timing and the terminating timing have to be properly set and, therefore, complicated and cumbersome procedures are required to accomplish the proper setting of the initiating and terminating timings in consideration of the change required for each season.


An electronic connector terminal and its method of formation comprising a terminal base material 2 formed from a thin metal plate including and a high cost metal plating layer 17, which covers the terminal base material 2. The terminal base material 2 is preferably formed by punching from the thin plate and includes an outer peripheral edge or lateral part 4 having at least one contact 6, and planer parts 5 defined by front and back surfaces of the punched-out piece. The high cost metal plating layer 17 on the planer parts 5 has a lesser thickness than the thickness of a high cost metal plating layer 17 on the lateral part 4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic connector terminal, and more particularly to an electronic connector terminal produced by punching a thin metal plate in a desired shape followed by plating with Au or other high cost metals.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic connector terminal is generally formed by punching a thin plate of electrically conductive material into a predetermined shape. Such an electronic connector terminal usually comprises planar parts defined by front and back faces of a punched out piece and peripheral or lateral parts formed by the punching of the thin plate. Generally the electronic connector terminal is categorized into two kinds of terminals; one is a terminal disposed such that the planar part of the thin plate includes a connection to a connector housing when inserted therein, and another is a terminal disposed such that the peripheral or lateral part includes a connection to the connector housing when inserted therein. The terminal, which is configured to have the connection point on the lateral part has advantages in that the terminal is easier to maintain a required contact pressure than the terminal configured to have a connection point on the lateral part and in which the terminal can be disposed in a narrow pitch.
Generally, an electronic connector terminal is applied with plating on predetermined surfaces of the terminal so as to prevent degradation of connecter performance due to oxidation during long usage thereby enhancing electrical conductivity. Conventionally, in the terminal configured to have the electronic connection on the lateral part, the electronic plating is provided on the entire surface of the terminal. Therefore, there is a disadvantage relating to the large amounts of gold (Au) or other high cost metals used for plating the required surfaces, thereby significantly increasing the product cost thereof.
With respect to the above noted disadvantages, the terminal with plating only on the connection point of the lateral part has been proposed. For example, a method comprising the following steps has been proposed in Japanese Patent (Laid-Open) No. Showa 49-114796 and the steps are:
stacking a plurality of connector terminals; and
plating thereon such that unnecessary plating layers can not be deposited on planar parts of a fork-shaped spring.
The planar part may be oxidized during long term usage and the connector performance thereof may be degraded even though the planar part is not subjected to circumstances which cause oxidation as is the lateral part. With respect to this problem, a contact element having a planar part covered with an insulation film has been proposed in Japanese Utility Model (Laid-Open) No. Heisei 5-90834. This contact element is formed by masking the part on which the insulator film is not deposited, and thereafter, dipping the contact in a fluorine-system resin solution to form the insulation film thereon.
However, the above process requires a masking step in which the contact including the plating layer must be masked after the Au plating of the contact portion. This is followed by dipping in the fluorine-system resin solution thereby increasing product costs because additional production processes are required and process steps are increased resulting in an expenditure of time and effort as well as requiring masking materials and the fluorine-system resin solution.
The inventor herein has proposed, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/796,624 filed on Mar. 9, 2004, an electric terminal having Au plating of different thickness in the major plane and the lateral plane.
Even in light of the above described techniques, there is still a significant need for an electronic terminal which is produced easily and inexpensively by reducing the amount of high cost metals necessary for plating without requiring additional production processes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic connector terminal, a method for plating, and a terminal stack


According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a correction level calculating unit that calculates a correction level, which is the input light level necessary to meet an optical signal-to-noise ratio at the maximum level of an optical noise signal; a loss-of-light detection threshold-value setting unit that compares the correction level with an initial threshold value to set a loss-of-light detection threshold value used in detection of any loss of light on the basis of the comparison result; and a loss-of-light detecting unit that compares the level of an input optical signal with the loss-of-light detection threshold value to determine that any loss of light is caused if the level of the input optical signal is lower than the loss-of-light detection threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to loss-of-light detecting apparatuses and, more particularly, to a loss-of-light detecting apparatus detecting any loss of light.
2. Description of the Related Art
A basic architecture for optical transmission called Optical Transport Network (OTN) according to International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization sector (ITU-T) recommendations is used as an optical core network and development of the OTN has been advanced in recent years. In the OTN based on Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical transmission, not only signals in telephone services but also signals in Internet Protocol (IP) or Ethernet® services can be processed.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a typical WDM apparatus. The WDM apparatus 50 includes a transponder unit 51 and a WDM unit 52 at the transmission side and includes a WDM unit 53 and a transponder unit 54 at the reception side.
The transponder unit 51 includes transponders 51-1 to 51-n corresponding to n-number channels. The WDM unit 52 includes an optical multiplexer 52a and a WDM post-amplifier 52b. The WDM unit 53 includes an optical demultiplexer 53a and a WDM pre-amplifier 53b. The transponder unit 54 includes transponders 54-1 to 54-n corresponding to n-number channels. Typically, arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) are used in the optical multiplexer 52a and the optical demultiplexer 53a, and Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) are used as the amplifiers.
The transponders 51-1 to 51-n each receive an optical signal transmitted from a client and convert the optical signals into signals within a waveband appropriate for the WDM (wideband to narrowband conversion of the wavelengths). The optical multiplexer 52a multiplexes the signals of the multiple wavelengths resulting from the wavelength conversion to generate a WDM signal. The WDM post-amplifier 52b amplifies the WDM signal and supplies the amplified WDM signal to a network 5 through an optical fiber transmission path F.
The WDM pre-amplifier 53b receives the WDM signal transmitted from the network 5 through the optical fiber transmission path F and amplifies the received WDM signal, The optical demultiplexer 53a performs wavelength filtering to demultiplex the amplified WDM signal into an optical signal of each wavelength and outputs the optical signals. The transponders 54-1 to 54-n each receive the optical signal of each wavelength, convert the received optical signals into the signals of the original wavelengths (narrowband to wideband conversion of the wavelengths), and transmit the signals to the client.
The transponders 54-1 to 54-n each includes an optical amplifier and a dispersion compensator (not shown). The optical signal demultiplexed by the optical demultiplexer 53a is amplified by the optical amplifier in each of the transponders 54-1 to 54-n. The dispersion compensator in each of the transponders 54-1 to 54-n compensates for wavelength dispersion caused on the optical fiber transmission path F. The wavelength conversion is performed after the dispersion compensation.
In addition, the transponders 54-1 to 54-n each detect any loss of light on the basis of the power of the input optical signal. If any loss of light is caused, the transponders 54-1 to 54-n each perform shutdown control of the optical amplifier. For example, when the transponders 54-1 to 54-n use variable dispersion compensators, the transponders 54-1 to 54-n stop the dispersion compensation operation.
FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary spectrum of optical signals. Referring to FIG. 17, the wavelength increases from left to right. An exemplary spectrum of an optical signal that passes through the optical fiber transmission path F and that is demultiplexed by the optical demultiplexer 53a and is supplied to the transponder unit 54 is illustrated in FIG. 17. The level of the optical signal flowing through the optical fiber transmission path F is raised by amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light. The ASE light typically has wavelength dependence. As shown in FIG. 17, the level of the ASE light is not constant in the waveform amplification area (1,560 to 1,630 nm in the lower band) of the EDFA and continuously decreases rightward, that is, continuously decreases toward the longer wavelengths.
Accordingly, even if the level of the optical signals transmitted from the transponders 51-1 to 51-n is constant, the power of the ASE light in the optical signals amplified by the EDFAs on the transmission path is not constant for different wavelengths. Consequently, the power of the optical signals supplied to the transponders 54-1 to 54-n through the optical demultiplexer 53a is not constant for different wavelengths even if the power of the main signal component in the optical signal of each channel is constant.
FIG. 1B is a conceptual diagram of the reception capacity of a transponder. The reception capacity of a transponder is determined by the power of the input optical signal (the input light power) and the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). The OSNR is a ratio between the level of the optical signal and the level of the ASE light.
Since a channel CH2 has a sufficient input light power and the OSNR reference value of the channel CH2 is met (the level of the main signal component (data component) is higher than that of the ASE light component to an extent where the OSNR reference value is met), it is possible for the transponder to recognize data through the channel CH2. Since a channel CH1 has a sufficient input light power but the OSNR reference value of the channel CH1 is not met because the level of the ASE noise component is considerably higher than that of the main signal component, it is not possible for the transponder to recognize data through the channel CH1. Since a channel CH3 has an input light power lower than those of the channels CH2 and CH1 but the OSNR reference value of the channel CH3 is met, it is possible for the transponder to recognize data through the channel CH3.
The OSNR is determined by, for example, the frequency of the optical signal, the modulation method adopted in the apparatus, and the reception performance of the apparatus. When an Out of Band-Forward Error Correction (OOB-FEC) function is used to perform non return-to-zero modulation to a 10-Gbps optical signal, the OSNR is normally equal to about 15 dB. If the transmission bit rate is increased from 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps, the OSNR reference value is increased by about 6 dB.
The transponder can receive the optical signal if the input optical signal meets the conditions of the input light power and the OSNR, as described above. However, since it is determined whether the optical signal is received only on the basis of the input light power in the loss of light detecting function of transponders in related art, the transponders cannot detect any loss of light even if the loss of light is caused as in the channel CH1 and possibly erroneously recognize that the optical signal is normally received.


A device comprising a three-dimensional polymeric element and an electronic element integrated with the polymeric element is disclosed. The electronic element is made up of one or more electrode(s) each individually connectable to a measuring device and/or a controller, and each independently having a thin electrically-isolating layer deposited thereon such that the electrode is exposed to an environment surrounding the electrode at one or more pre-determined locations over the electrode. The device can include cells and/or tissue and/or a therapeutically active agent incorporated within the polymeric material. Processes of fabricating the device, systems for operating the device and methods utilizing same are also disclosed.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to tissue engineering and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to an electronic scaffold, engineered tissue made therefrom and uses thereof.
About 8 million people in the United States suffer from a myocardial infarction (MI) during their lifetime, with about 800,000 new cases occurring each year. However, despite is prevalence, conventional therapies of MI remain limited by the inability of the myocardium to regenerate after injury and the shortage of donor organs that are available for transplantation. MI therefore continues to be a degenerative disease with a peak of cell death occurring at the onset of the infarction and also continuing thereafter. Cell-based therapies or tissue engineering approaches have been recognized as viable approaches to improve healing after a MI and restore the function of cardiac tissue.
Cardiac tissue engineering (CTE) has emerged as a promising treatment for replacing the scar tissue formed after myocardial infarction. Engineered cardiac patches to replace scar tissue after myocardial infarction can be produced by seeding cardiac cells within porous three dimensional ("3D") biomaterials, which provide mechanical support while cells organize into a functioning tissue.
Improving the viability, ultrastructural morphology and functionality of engineered cardiac tissue has been addressed by growing cell constructs in advanced bioreactors providing high mass transfer or exposing the tissues to electrical (Radisic, M et al. Pro. Na. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 18129-18134 (2004)) and mechanical cues (Zimmermann, W. H., et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002); Dvir, et al. Tissue Eng. 13, 2185-2193 (2007)). Scaffold structural and mechanical properties can be improved by microfabrication processes that provide controllable stiffness and anisotropy (Engelmayr, G. C., et al. Nature Mat. 7, 1003-1010 (2008)).
WO 2012/194208 discloses incorporating electrically conductive nanowires within scaffolds, to enhance tissue growth, bridge the electrically resistant pore walls and improve electrical communication between adjacent cardiac cell bundles.
WO 2013/109642 discloses a nanofiber structure featuring a basketweave configuration, which is made by electrospinning a biodegradable polymer and weaving strips of the electrospun nanofibers.
Dvir et al., 2011, Nature nanotechnology 6, 720-725, teaches embedding of gold nanowires within the pore walls of macroporous alginate scaffolds to increase the spatial and overall conductivity of the matrix. When cardiac cells were cultured in these nanowired scaffolds they exhibited increased expression of contractile and electrical coupling proteins.
You et al, 2011, Nano letters 11, 3643-3648 teaches cardiomyocytes cultured in hybrid hydrogel scaffolds based on spherical gold NPs, homogeneously distributed throughout a polymeric gel. The cells exhibited increased expression of connexin 43, a protein located between cardiac cells, responsible for electrical signal transfer. Additional background art includes Tian et al., Nature Materials, Vol. 11, November 2012, pp. 986-994; Fleischer et al., Biotechnology and Bioengineering Volume 111, Issue 6, pages 1246-1257, June 2014; WO 2005/007233; PCT/IL2014/050445; Prabhakaran et al., 2011, Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology 11, 3039-3057; Whelove et al., 2011, J Biomed Mater Res Part B 2011:99B:142-149; Karni et al., Nano letters, 2012, 12(10), 5403-5406; Shan-hui Hsu Biomacromolecules 2008, 9, 241-248; Prabhakaran et al., 2012, Biopolymers Volume 97, 7, pages 529-538; Fleischer et al., Biomaterials, 2013, 34(34), 8599-8606; and U.S. Patent Application having Publication No. 20100106233.
Currently known methodologies of CTE are limited by the inability to monitor and control the engineered tissue's performance after transplantation.


A human-powered vehicle includes a folding front axle with front wheels, at least one rear wheel, and rear castors. The vehicle may stand upright on the castors and the rear wheel in order to reduce the parking area. The vehicle driver reciprocates a manual lever to drive the rear wheel through a roller chain which runs from the lever to a tensioning means through a free-wheel hub on a rear wheel shaft. The driver's feet are used to steer by pushing against the front axle assembly. The front axle assembly has two half-axles and a central member to which they are hinged. The assembly is locked into a rigid configuration for running the vehicle, and when unlocked, the half-axles and the central member fold up into the shape of an "N" to reduce the axle length. The combination of standing upright and folded axle make the parked "footprint" very small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle having a foldable front wheel shaft and, more particularly, to a vehicle having a foldable front wheel shaft which is human-powered and can also be used as a shopping cart.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Three-wheeled bicycles, four-wheeled carts with treadle drives, and similar human-powered vehicles are used in many cities and resort areas for both transportation and exercise. These three- and four-wheeled vehicles are suitable for carrying a light load as well as carrying the driver. They are stable even when stopped or driven slowly, so that people who can not drive a regular two-wheeled bicycle can use them.
However, such conventional human-powered vehicles are relatively large, typically covering a ground area of from 1.0 to 2.5 square meters, as measured by the vertical projection of the vehicle onto the ground. If many such vehicles need to be parked at a resort, school, hospital, or other places, a large parking lot must be provided for them.
Ordinary two-wheeled bicycles also occupy a large space, i.e. 1.0 to 2.0 square meters or more, when parked. Providing parking for conventional bicycles can also be a problem where large numbers of bicyclists gather.

Treadle-type vehicle having a foldable front wheel shaft


The present invention provides a novel method for softlining rehabilitation of pipe conduits in which the lining hose comprises an inner layer of resin-absorbing material and an outer layer which is a disintegrable coating. The outer layer initially allows for soaking the resin-absorbing material with resin, but disintegrates during installation so that the resin can contact the interior surface of the pipe conduit and provide an improved rehabilitation method. The present invention further provides a novel lining hose for use in softlining rehabilitation.

The present invention relates to a method of restoring or rehabilitating a pipe conduit. More particularly the method relates to softlining sewer rehabilitation.
Various methods of softlining a pipe conduit which is buried underground are known. Generally speaking, such methods involve the use of a flexible lining hose which is subsequently converted into a rigid liner by use of curable resins. The flexible lining hose (hence the term softlining) generally has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe conduit to be repaired. The lining hose frequently includes layers of resin-absorbing material and an essentially impermeable coating as the outermost layer. The resin-absorbing layer is soaked with an appropriate resin prior to introduction of the liner into the pipe conduit. The lining hose is introduced into the pipe conduit in a collapsed state and subsequently is shaped using a variety of means to conform the liner to the shape of the pipe conduit.
One method of this kind is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,063. This method employs a flexible lining hose with impermeable inner and outer layers of plastic with felt sandwiched between the plastic layers. In this method, bonding of the lining hose with the interior surface of the pipe conduit cannot take place due to the barrier created by the impermeable outermost layer of the lining hose. As a result leaky locations in the pipe conduit such as cracks, fissures, and damaged pipe connections are not sealed. This results in ground water penetrating into and collecting in the annular space between the liner and the pipe conduit. Further, securing the lining in the pipe conduit cannot be achieved in this construction because no bonding of the liner with the pipe conduit is possible. As a result the longevity of the rehabilitation is limited due to the corrosive effects of water in the annular spaces and the movement of the lining within the pipe conduit. Although a new liner has been installed, the pipe is not rehabilitated in effect because water continues to infiltrate. Another problem is encountered with this construction when the lateral lines which have been blocked off by the newly installed liner get reconnected. Because the installed liner is not secured, it may move in the axial direction while the cuts are being made or thereafter, and the reconnection lines cannot be adequately sealed at the joint. Leaky connections result and again the longevity of the liner is impaired.
Another softlining method is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,211 in which a lining hose is everted into the existing pipe conduit. In this method the lining hose is introduced into the interior of the pipe by turning one end region over and by causing the turned over region to gradually advance through the interior of the pipe conduit. During eversion the liner is turned inside-out so that the resin-soaked layer which was originally the inner layer of the lining hose is gradually turned to become the outermost layer of the lining hose. As it is everted, the liner is expanded by fluid which is used to turn the liner inside-out. Upon expansion of the reversed liner, the resin-soaked layer contacts and bonds the liner to the pipe conduit. Relatively high forces are needed to accomplish eversion of the resin-impregnated lining hose. Performing this eversion method frequently results in the formation of folds or creases in the lining hose which cannot be prevented. The shapes of folds and creases are stabilized when the resin cures or hardens. Such folds or creases adversely affect the flow-through cross-sectional area of the pipe; promote the formation of deposits in the new line; and prevent uniform contact of the lining hose to the wall of the existing pipe. When such folds or creases are formed, they must usually be removed by a milling apparatus or such similar techniques which result in increased costs.
Another softlining rehabilitation method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,562. In that patent the lining hose is comprised of an inner resin-absorbing layer and an impermeable outer layer which is perforated after impregnation with resin. In this method the plurality of flow through openings formed in the outer layer of the lining hose allow the resin to migrate from the inner layer to the pipe conduit surface, thereby bonding the liner to the wall of the existing pipe.
In performing these methods of softlining rehabilitation, it is desirable to have the resin fully impregnate the resin-absorbing layer of the lining hose. The resin-absorbing layer of the lining hose serves as a carrier for the resin which ultimately rigidifies and rehabilitates the pipe conduit. Impregnation is accomplished typically by evacuating air from the interstitial spaces of a resin-absorbing material such as felt. Evacuation of the air allows resin to fill the voids in the material. Various methods of performing impregnation using vacuum are known to those skilled in the art.
In performing vacuum impregnation generally, a vacuum pump is attached to one end of the lining hose or attached at various points along the lining hose. Upon creating a partial vacuum inside the lining hose, the resin is injected and pulled by the vacuum into the interstitial spaces of the resin-absorbing layer and down the length of the lining hose. To evacuate air from the resin-absorbing layer in any case, an outer layer of the lining hose must be essentially impermeable to fluids. Traditionally lining hoses have been constructed with an outermost layer or coating of plastic such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride and other similar inert plastic materials. These plastics provide an essentially impermeable barrier on the outside of the lining hose and readily allow the creation of a partial vacuum inside the lining hose.
Although an essentially impermeable outer layer is needed to perform vacuum impregnation, it is not desirable to have an outer impermeable barrier against the existing pipe as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,063. If the outer impermeable layer of the lining hose lies directly against the pipe to create a barrier between the resin and the pipe conduit, the purpose of rehabilitation is somewhat defeated. If the resin is placed against the wall of the existing pipe using the eversion process shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,211 other problems are encountered. The lining hose is traumatized during eversion because of the very high stresses needed to evert the resin-impregnated liner. Additionally, the lining hose is stretched and sometimes damaged due to the stresses encountered during eversion. Stretching of the liner leads to the formation of folds and creases and their associated problems discussed above.
The present invention provides a method for softlining rehabilitation in which a liner can be impregnated using vacuum and subsequently bonds to the pipe conduit without the disadvantages of the eversion methods. The present invention also provides a novel lining hose for use in softlining sewer rehabilitation.

Method of softlining sewer rehabilitation