A self-terminating rapid process for controlled growth of platinum or platinum alloy monolayer films from a K2PtCl4—NaCl—NaBr electrolyte. Using the present process, platinum deposition may be quenched at potentials just negative of proton reduction by an alteration of the double layer structure induced by a saturated surface coverage of underpotential deposited hydrogen. The surface may be reactivated for platinum deposition by stepping the potential to more positive values where underpotential deposited hydrogen is oxidized and fresh sites for absorption of platinum chloride become available. Periodic pulsing of the potential enables sequential deposition of two dimensional platinum layers to fabricate films of desired thickness relevant to a range of advanced technologies, from catalysis to magnetics and electronics.

Field of Invention
The present disclosure relates to electrochemical deposition and, more particularly, to self-terminating growth of platinum by electrochemical deposition.
Description of Related Art
Platinum has been used as a key constituent in a number of heterogeneous catalysts. However, because platinum is expensive, its use in the development of alternative energy conversion systems—such as low temperature fuel cells—has been somewhat limited. In the meantime, strategies are being explored to minimize platinum loadings, while also enhancing catalyst performance. The strategies range from alloying to nanoscale engineering of core-shell and related architectures that may involve spontaneous processes such as dealloying and segregation to form platinum-rich surface layers.
Deposition of two-dimensional (2-D) platinum layers is of interest in areas such as thin film electronics, magnetic materials, electrocatalysts, and catalytically active barrier coating for corrosion management. Such two-dimensional deposition is non-trivial because the step-edge barrier to interlayer transport results in roughening or three-dimensional mound formation. The chemical and electronic nature of the Pt films may also be a function of its roughness, thickness and the underlying substrate.
In situ scanning tunnel microscopy (STM) has been used to analyze platinum electrodeposition. When platinum is electrodeposited onto gold at moderate overpotentials, STM reveals how the metal nucleation and growth proceeds on gold. More particularly, STM shows that this nucleation and growth proceeds by formation of three-dimensional clusters at defect sites on single crystal surfaces. At small overpotentials, smooth platinum monolayers may be electrodeposited on gold with a long growth time, e.g., two thousand (2,000) seconds. X-ray scattering may be used to confirm this smoothness. Voltammetric studies may show a potential-dependent transition between two-dimensional islands versus three-dimensional multilayer growth. However, only partial platinum monolayer coverage may be obtained in the two-dimensional growth regime.
There is a need for a process for electrodepositing a platinum monolayer that results in better coverage in the two-dimensional growth regime.
To address these difficulties, surface limited place exchange reactions are being explored. Galvanic displacement of an underpotential deposited metal monolayer, e.g., copper, may occur by the desired platinum group metal, with the exchange resulting in a sub-monolayer coverage of the noble metal. The process may be repeated to form multiple layers using a variant, electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy. This process may require an exchange of electrolytes and some care to control the trapping of less noble metal as a minor alloying constituent within the film. There is a need for a deposition process that addresses these shortcomings.
In addition, a drawback of some prior art underpotential deposition (upd) reactions is that many of such reactions may be reversed. These reversals make it difficult to control deposition processes, especially when considering sub-nanometer scale films. To avoid the reversibility issues, irreversible processes like vapor phase deposition of thin films at low temperatures may be used. Robust additive fabrication schemes may facilitate these irreversible processes. However, a shortcoming of this approach is that kinetic factors may constrain the quality of the resulting films.
There remains a need for a process for depositing high coverage ultrathin (monolayer thick) platinum films and alloys thereof, so that kinetic factors do not constrain the quality of the resulting films.

Self-terminating growth of platinum by electrochemical deposition

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce (NIST)


An inspection device for monitoring bottles includes a lighting unit, a color-sensitive camera, and a control-and-evaluation unit. The lighting unit is arranged above a transport path of bottles to be examined and has a light-source circuit-board having light sources that emit light having a light-source color. The control-and-evaluation unit changes the light-source color to a bottle color that is determined in a region of a mouth of a bottle.

Bottles or similar containers can be used for liquids, e.g. for beverages. The containers can be made of a transparent or translucent material, for example of glass, or of a translucent plastic, e.g. PET. Glass bottles, in particular, can have different colorings with, for example, brown and green but also blue bottle colors mentioned only as examples. The bottles, or similar containers are guided, when empty, preferably after they have been cleaned, on a transporter past the inspection device. It is known that bottles can also be closed with so-called crown caps or other oxidizable capping elements. In that regard, it is possible that the crown cap will have oxidized and thus that rust from the crown cap, or from another oxidizable capping element, will be deposited in the mouth region of the bottle. If the inspection device detects deposited rust, although the empty bottle has passed the cleaning device, the bottle concerned is rejected from the bottle flow, at a suitable location, and either destroyed or re-enters the bottle flow before the cleaning system.
Normally, the lighting unit emits a light of the same spectrum, thus in the same color, which is why the inspection device does not always achieve a reliable inspection result for bottles of different colors. Hence, it is possible for a bottle that has rust to be mistakenly classified as a good bottle, even though the bottle should have been separated out due to the existing contamination. If such a bottle enters the further production process, this can lead to unproductive downtime, as the filled product, from a hygienic perspective, will not be perfect due to the possible contact with the contamination. If such a bottle reaches the consumer, the maker of the product, or the system manufacturer, can furthermore suffer substantial damage.


The invention relates to hard sided luggage shells and other containers manufactured using vacuum forming or pressure forming of thermoplastics. A process for making shells and containers with integrally molded frames is disclosed, and products made by the method. A method of manufacturing differential pressure formed containers with framed openings, but without the need to attach a separate frame element to the molded shell. A process also is disclosed for reducing the undesirable stretching of shell material that occurs during differential pressure forming, particularly the thinning of corner portions of the shell or container. The process of the invention more efficiently utilizes the thermoplastic material by moving material from otherwise offal portions into the molded product. An improved method for severing the offal material from the final product is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to vacuum formed and pressure formed products and processes, particularly hard sided luggage.
2. Background Art
Hard sided luggage usually consists of two shells, commonly called a lid shell and a base shell. Each shell typically is made from a sheet of thermoplastic material that has been molded in the shape of a container. The shell frequently is shaped as a rectangular box with rounded corners whose open side is defined by a peripheral edge. The peripheral edges of the two shells substantially correspond to one another, so that the lid shell may be placed, concave side down, upon the base shell with its concave side up, so that the respective edges are aligned and/or in contact. So arranged, the shells may then be connected by hinges and releasable latches, as known in the art, to define a container with an accessible interior space.
A principal objective in hard sided luggage making is to provide a case that is at once both lightweight and strong. Besides being puncture-proof and unbreakable, a hard sided case of ideal strength also resists gross deformation of its overall shape due to external torsional or flexural forces. While some minor flexibility is desirable in a hard sided case, an advantage of hard sided luggage should be its rigidity--the ability to withstand forces without undue amounts of twisting or bending. Twisting of any type of luggage can jeopardize the luggage contents, and may also damage hinges and promote latch failure.
Shells incorporated in hard sided luggage are normally molded using one of two manufacturing processes. Injection molding involves the injection, under pressure, of molten thermoplastic resin, typically polypropylene, into massive steel molds to form substantially complete shells including integral frame and attachment points for wheels, handles, etc. The nature of injection molding processes and machinery limit somewhat the ultimate configuration of the molded item. Injection molding also requires the use of very high pressure systems, which can be expensive to acquire and maintain, and which may limit product variety and rapid product modification.
The other main process, commonly called "vacuum forming," involves forcing a heated sheet of thermoplastic against a male or female mold. The driving force is provided by a pressure differential, so that a difference in air pressure on opposite sides of the sheet causes the sheet to move against the mold. Strictly speaking, "vacuum forming" refers to the creation of a "negative," or reduced pressure in the volume between the sheet and the mold, thereby pulling or "sucking" the sheet up to the mold. Alternatively, "pressure molding" involves the creation of a volume of "positive," or elevated pressure on the side of the sheet opposite from the mold, thereby blowing or pushing the sheet to the mold. Moreover, pressure molding and vacuum molding can and frequently are simultaneously performed within a single apparatus, and such combined processes sometimes are generically referred to as "vacuum molding." Unless the specific terms "vacuum forming" or "pressure forming" are used, this disclosure shall use the generic term "pressure differential forming," meaning vacuum forming alone, pressure forming alone, or a combination of the two processes.
In differential pressure forming, after the pliable heated sheet has conformed to the shape of the mold surface, it is removed from the mold. The three dimensional shaped shells are then trimmed to proper size and to eliminate edge sections (sometimes called offal or selvage portions) needed for the process but not forming a part of the final product. Conventionally, in order for the resulting formed case to have adequate rigidity, the formed shell is riveted or stapled to a separate frame component--commonly a metal frame extruded from aluminum or magnesium alloys. Hinges are attached to the frames, and other hardware and lining elements are then attached to form the completed case.
A disadvantage of the standard differential pressure forming processes for making luggage is the need for the separate frame component to be attached to the shell. A typical differential pressure formed shell, alone, is relatively crush proof and puncture proof, has flexible strength yielding to stress, and is subject to both plastic and elastic deformation when subjected to any considerable loading. The frame, on the other hand, is light and strong, but comparatively inflexible. The stiffness of the frame and the flexibility of the shell do not compliment each other, especially at the local stress points where the shell and the frame are riveted or stapled together. At these points of elevated stress, rivets or staples are prone to pull through or tear the thermoplastic shell. Also, the magnesium and aluminum frames add expense to the manufacture of the case; the frame itself usually requires a number of finishing steps because it is a principal aesthetic feature of the completed article of luggage. Also, the frame is typically used to hide the raw edge of the trimmed formed shell.
Another problem frequently encountered in conventional vacuum-forming container manufacturing processes is undesirable thinning in the walls of the finished product, particularly near corners and edges. This poses serious disadvantages to container strength, since corners and edges tend to be the portions of the container subject to elevated impact and bending stresses.
Still another problem encountered in the present art is the limitations that are imposed upon the shape of the final product by the need to remove the finished product from the mold. The finished product is simply pulled straightaway from the mold once the thermoplastic has cooled. In order for this separation to be accomplished without cutting the molded product, the mold must be shaped to provide that no part of the molded product interlocks with the mold itself; if a standard vacuum mold surface has substantial projections or depressions into which product material is forced, a the product will interlock with the mold to prevent the product from being pulled away from the mold in the direction of attempted separation. Unfortunately in the present art, this limitation on the shape of the mold has hindered container design, including the design of integrally framed luggage shells.
Luggage shells have also been manufactured using blow molding and rotational molding processes. Blow molding and rotational molding have a variety of limitations in luggage applications. For example, blow molding and rotational molding processes have poor thickness control, resulting in thin spots in walls. These prior art processes are also limited as to the shapes and compositions of the products produced, and do not permit ready lining or finishing of interior surfaces.
Thus a need remains for a luggage product manufactured using the comparatively simple and inexpensive pressure differential molding process, but which overcomes the disadvantages of present products and improves upon the manufacturing process. Against this background, the present invention was developed.

Differential pressure formed luggage with molded integrated frame


An apparatus is provided for measuring a gas within a semiconductor thin film process. The apparatus includes an optical resonator disposed within an environment of the thin-film process, a tunable laser that excites the optical resonator at a characteristic frequency of the gas and a detector that detects an energy within the resonator.

Control of an environment in the processing of semiconductors is very important. Typically, semiconductors are fabricated from wafers within a processing chamber. One or more diffusion steps may be followed (or preceded) by masking steps to define semiconductor fabrication sites on a wafer. Once fabrication sites have been defined, the process may be repeated any number of times depending upon the complexity of the fabricated device.
Once semiconductor devices have been created at the defined sites, a set of connections may be formed at the defined sites. Connections may be formed by any number of masking, deposition and etching steps.
At each step of the fabrication process, different reactive materials may be used. Usually the reactive materials are in the form of gases.
In order to provide a consistent semiconductor product, the diffusion, deposition and etching processes must be reliably controlled usually through the precise control of the reactive gases. Typically, this is accomplished by controlling the flow of the reactive materials into the processing chamber.
In semiconductor thin film processing, it is very important to know the precise gas composition within the processing chamber. Conventionally, this is accomplished primarily by flow controls, but flow control alone does not identify the proportions of reactant gas present within the processing chamber especially when there are other gases present, such as carrier gases or background gases. Accordingly, a need exits for a better method of measuring gas content, especially in a process environment involving a multitude of gases.

Cavity ring-down spectrometer for semiconductor processing


A communication relay having a large number of free-flying, self-powered miniature spacecraft (10M) that cooperate to form a large antenna array with sufficient aperture and gain to focus transmit and receive beams much more accurately than in conventional satellite communication relays. The miniature spacecraft, or microsatellites, fly in a single constellation (10) but are allowed to drift in relative position because no rigid structure is provided to restrain their relative movement. Operation as a large phased-array antenna system is achieved by providing for accurate measurements of the microsatellite positions in real time. In one disclosed form of the array, a control satellite (20) conditions the microsatellites (10M) to form receive and transmit beams in desired directions. Received uplink signals are transmitted over communication crosslinks (42) to the control satellite (20), which forwards signals back to the microsatellites after conditioning them to form a transmit beam when forwarding the signals on as a downlink, transmission. A constellation (10) of microsatellites of the type disclosed may also be used as a deep-space communication relay, or as a radio-telescope.

This invention relates generally to communication in space and, more particularly, to communication systems using orbiting satellites to receive or transmit communication signals. Although there are a number of applications of the present invention, it will be best understood in the context of a space-borne communications relay linking a potentially large number of terrestrial terminals. Typically, such a relay includes an orbiting satellite with a large antenna system that can be physically or electronically directed toward selected terminals on the earth's surface. A communication from one terminal to another is directed up to the relay, which retransmits the communication toward the intended receiving terminal.
The antennas on communications relays are generally not large enough to direct transmissions to small regions of the earth's surface, or to communicate with transceivers of very low power. Typically, a relay antenna provides global coverage of practically the entire surface as viewed from the relay, and transceivers of moderate to high power must be used. Each transmission has to be allocated a separate frequency band to avoid interference between transmissions on overlapping frequency bands. The capacity of communication systems of this type would be greatly increased if larger antennas could be employed, because the theoretical gain of an antenna, and its ability to form a less, divergent beam, increases as the square of the antenna diameter. Unfortunately, the mass of a required antenna supporting structure also increases roughly as the square of the diameter. An antenna system of large mass burdens the launch vehicle needed to place the relay in orbit, and adds to the difficulty of controlling the relay once in orbit.
The performance of a large space-borne antenna is limited not only by the overall physical dimensions, but also by the ability to precisely control the locations of physical features of the antenna, such as reflector surfaces and feed elements. Larger antennas are more difficult to control and are more likely to have imperfections in their surface geometry. Any attempt to overcome these difficulties usually results in adding even more mass to the overall structure.
There is, therefore, a significant need for a communications relay that overcomes these problems and provides an antenna system having a large diameter and high gain, but without the usual penalty of increased mass. If a suitably large diameter and high antenna gain can be provided, the communication system can be designed around a frequency plan in which frequency bands are reused in transmissions that are angularly separated from each other. The resultant communication system would, therefore, be able to handle much larger volumes of message traffic within a given overall frequency allocation. In addition, a high antenna gain would permit the use of very small, low-power transceivers on the ground. The present invention achieves these and other objectives, as will become apparent from the following summary and more detailed description.


A laser theodolite is provided which comprises a telescope (6), a focusing lens (10) and a reticle (12) provided in the telescope, a polarization beam splitter (13') provided on an optical axis (O) between the focusing lens and the reticle for reflecting a laser beam (S1) in a direction of collimation, and a laser-beam light source portion (16) for emitting the laser light toward the polarization beam splitter (13'). The laser-beam light source portion (16) and the reticle (12) are conjugate with respect to the polarization beam splitter (13').

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a laser theodolite capable of emitting a laser beam in a direction of collimation.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical structure such as that shown in FIG. 1 is known as a laser theodolite. An objective lens 50, a focusing lens 51, a reticle 52, and an eyepiece 53 are provided within the lens barrel of the telescope of the laser theodolite. Also, there is provided a half mirror 54 between the focusing lens 51 and the reticle 52. With this arrangement, a laser beam from a helium-neon laser light source 55 is reflected in a direction of collimation. Furthermore, a movable laser-beam focusing lens 56, a total reflecting mirror 57, and a movable laser-beam focusing lens 58 are provided between the helium-neon laser light source 55 and the half mirror 54. If the movable lenses 56 and 58 are moved in the optical axis direction, a laser beam from the helium-neon laser light source 55 is focused at position Q and a real image is formed. A lens 59 is provided between the movable lens 58 and the half mirror 54. The focal distance of the lens 59 is longer than the distance from the position of the lens 59 to the position Q. The virtual image Q' at the position Q which is formed by the lens 59 and the reticle 52 are conjugate with respect to the half mirror 54.
However, in this conventional laser theodolite, the half mirror 54 reflects part of the laser beam in a direction of collimation and transmits the remaining part from the essential nature of the half mirror 54. Also, the half mirror 54 reflects part of collimated light, which is incident from a collimation point existing in the direction of collimation toward the collimating system of the telescope, and at the same time, transmits the remaining part. Because of the existence of the half mirror 54, part of the collimated light is reflected and the visual field becomes dark, and consequently, this conventional laser theodolite has the disadvantage that the surveying operation is difficult to perform accurately and quickly. Also, when the laser beam from the helium-neon laser light source 55 is reflected in the direction of collimation by the half mirror 54, part of the laser beam is transmitted through the half mirror 54. For this reason, the light quantity of the laser beam which is reflected toward the collimation point by the half mirror 54 is reduced. Similarly, part of the reflected laser beam from the collimation point is reflected by the half mirror 54, and the reflected laser beam which is transmitted toward the reticle 52 is reduced in quantity. Consequently, there is the disadvantage that the reflected laser beam from the collimation point is also difficult to collimate. Furthermore, the laser beam, transmitted in the direction of collimation without being reflected by the half mirror 54, becomes a ghost image easily. For example, in the case where visual laser light with red color is employed, the conventional laser theodolite has the disadvantage that the entire visual field looks reddish.


The present invention broadly comprises a torque converter including a turbine and a one-way clutch rotationally connected to said turbine and an output hub for said converter. The one-way clutch rotationally disconnects the hub and the turbine when the hub receives torque from an input transmission shaft. In some aspects, the one-way clutch is a ratchet clutch. The converter can include a torque converter clutch to lock a cover and the turbine. In some aspects, the converter includes a torque converter clutch to connect a cover, the one-way clutch, and the hub and the torque converter clutch transmits torque from the hub to the cover to start a drive unit connected to the cover. The converter can include a damper element rotationally connected to the torque converter clutch and the turbine, one-way clutch, or hub. The one-way clutch is rated to operate under multiplied drive unit torque.

Certain operating conditions may cause the output hub for a torque converter in a vehicle to rotate faster than the turbine for the converter. For example, in coasting mode, engine braking mode, and regeneration mode for a hybrid vehicle, the hub rotates faster than the turbine. The hub and turbine are rotationally connected and the hub causes the turbine to rotate, which unfortunately, causes the torque converter to operate in what can be thought of as a "reverse" mode. In the coasting, engine braking, or regeneration modes, the drive unit for the vehicle is typically idling or even shut off, such that the drive unit is providing nominal torque to the pump. The rotation of the turbine reverses the typical fluid flow patterns in the converter and the turbine "pumps" fluid to the pump. This operation of the turbine is undesirable since the rotation of the turbine heats the oil in the turbine, resulting in excessive heat losses, and in some cases, even damage to the torque converter.
Also, in some modes, such as regeneration mode in a hybrid vehicle, it is desirable, if not necessary, to prevent rotation of the internal combustion engine. Unfortunately, although the "reverse" mode noted above is inefficient, rotating the turbine can transfer some torque to the pump and subsequently to the internal combustion engine. It is known to use clutches or gear arrangements in the transmission to disconnect the input shaft from the torque associated with the regeneration mode, however, such measures increase the cost and complexity of the transmission.
In some cases a direct "reverse" linkage between the vehicle transmission and the vehicle drive unit is desirable. For example, in an engine braking mode, the transmission is linked to the engine to use the inertia of the engine to slow down the transmission and wheels connected to the transmission. In a typical torque converter, the above linkage would be effected by the "reverse" mode noted above, with its attendant disadvantages, such as excessive heat losses.
Thus, there is a long-felt need for a means of controlling the rotational engagement of a turbine and an output hub in a torque converter. Specifically, there is a long-felt need for a means of enabling a transmission input shaft in a torque converter to receive torque downstream from the torque, converter without rotating the turbine in the converter or a means of rotationally disconnecting a turbine and a hub in a torque converter when the hub rotates faster than the turbine.

Torque converter with turbine one-way clutch

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing one or more optical engine packages, each optical engine package comprising a silicon photonic die. The method includes receiving a substrate comprising a package portion and a cutting area adjacent to the package portion, assembling the optical engine package on the substrate such that an edge-coupled waveguide of the silicon photonic die overlaps a boundary between the cutting area and the package portion, and cutting the optical engine package and the substrate in the cutting area to expose the edge-coupled waveguide for optical coupling thereof to an optical fiber core.

An optical engine is a multi-chip module (MCM) that may include one or more silicon photonic dies that are electrically coupled to one or more silicon electronic dies. An optical engine may be packaged onto a single unifying substrate to facilitate its use as a single multi-chip module.
Known methods of packaging optical engines involve packaging optical engines one at a time. A known packaging method includes the steps of: placing one or more silicon photonic dies and one or more silicon electronic dies in close proximity to one another on a substrate; creating electrical interconnects between the one or more silicon photonic dies and the one or more silicon electronic dies; attaching an optical fiber core to each of the silicon photonic dies; and encapsulating the substrate, the one or more silicon photonic dies, the one or more silicon electronic dies, and the electrical interconnects to create an optical engine package. Encapsulation also protects the electrical interconnects from damage and potential electrical shorting.
Silicon photonics were developed to take advantage of the scalable manufacturing offered by silicon wafer processing. While standard silicon wafer processing can effectively produce optical components for optical engines, the back-end assembly process is unsuitable for forming packages using these silicon-based optical components because the step of attaching an optical fiber core to the silicon photonic dies before encapsulation renders a resulting partially completed multi-chip module incompatible with standard assembly processing flows.
Improvements in methods of assembling and packaging optical engines are therefore desirable.

Method for manufacturing optical engine packages and apparatus from which optical engine packages are manufactured

Microsemi Storage Solutions (U.S.), Inc.


A printed circuit includes a first track, a second track, and at least one insulating layer extending between the first track and the second track. The printed circuit further includes a first through assembly of at least one first plated through hole and a second through assembly of at least one second plated through hole. Each first plated through hole and each second plated through hole connect together the first track and the second track by extending through the insulating layer. The first through assembly and the second through assembly respectively form a first branch and a second branch of a current divider bridge.

A flux gate current sensor makes use of the property of a magnetic material forming a magnetic core whereby it saturates from a certain level of magnetic excitation. With reference to FIG. 1, for an increasing magnetic field H, the slope of the transfer function between magnetic field H and magnetic flux density B decreases greatly from a so-called "saturation" value of the magnetic core. The saturation value, In FIG. 1, corresponds to the ranges ΔH and ΔB.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a conventional flux gate current sensor 1 for measuring a current Im flowing in a conductor, a square wave signal generator 2 applies a square wave excitation voltage Vex to the terminals of an excitation winding 3 wound around a magnetic core 4. The excitation current Iex flowing in the excitation winding 3 is measured by a measurement module 5. A peak detector 6 connected to the measurement module 5 supplies two items of information: the saturation level and the difference between the peak currents of the excitation current Iex. The saturation level serves to servocontrol the amplitude of the excitation voltage Vex. The difference between the peak currents of the excitation current Iex serves to estimate the current Im that is to be measured, and it acts via a voltage-to-current converter 7 to servocontrol the amplitude of a demagnetization current that flows in a demagnetization winding 8 and that serves to compensate the magnetic flux produced in the magnetic core 4 by the current Im that is to be measured.
Flux gate current sensors are preferred in certain applications. This applies in particular to measuring a current flowing in a cut-off member of the solid-state power controller (SSPC) type for user equipment, or else to measuring a current flowing in an energy converter member of the power electronic module (PEM) type connected to a phase of a motor. When the current Im that is to be measured is large, a major difficulty arises.
The demagnetization current, which serves to compensate the magnetic flux produced in the magnetic core 4 by the current Im that is to be measured, must also be very large. The value of the demagnetization current must be equal to the value of the current Im that is to be measured divided by the transformation ratio of the transformer having as its primary winding of the conductor in which the current Im that is to be measured flows and having as its secondary winding the demagnetization winding 8.
However, the number of turns of the demagnetization winding 8 is limited by its size and by the resulting inductance. The greater the inductance, the more the rate of change of the demagnetization current is limited, and thus the more the bandwidth of the flux gate current sensor 1 is limited. Thus, increasing the number of turns of the demagnetization winding 8 does not constitute a pertinent solution.
Directly increasing the demagnetization current that is generated does not constitute a pertinent solution either. Specifically, this increase would require a very large demagnetization voltage to be produced, which is difficult to achieve with standard components.

Printed circuit board incorporating a current divider bridge


Disclosed herein is the identification of a new therapeutic target, an upstream target, the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC), for arresting mitosis and inhibiting cell growth and proliferation. Achieving mitotic arrest involves the interaction of two proteins with the γTuRC of the MTOC: Kinesin-14 or a Tail peptide of Kinesin-14 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and an antagonist capable of disarming the function of the BimC domain of Kinesin-5. Methods and compositions for screening for Kinesin-5 BimC antagonists are also disclosed.

Cancer is a ubiquitous disease of unregulated cell proliferation that can lead to tumor formation and systemic metastatic seeding of cancerous growth at new physical sites. In all cancers, the targeting of microtubule spindle assembly has been shown to be an effective anti-proliferative therapy and enhances patient survival giving rise to perhaps the most potent class of anti-cancer therapeutic drugs available: those that lead to genomic instability and growth arrest by targeting the mitotic spindle, which is crucial for genetic fidelity during cell division. Mitotic spindle protein (MSP) drugs that have been developed for cancers include those that target the dynamic behavior of the microtubules (such as paclitaxel) or the bipolar organization of microtubules such as blocking microtubule binding of the Kinesin-5 motor domain (for example, Ispinisib or Monastrol.)
Anti-MSPs are proven, powerful anti-cancer reagents, yet the current portfolio of MSP drugs approved or in the pipeline is insufficient in terms of the structural and functional complexity of the mitotic spindle. What is needed, therefore, are agents with the ability to act upstream of other anti-MSP cancer therapies, which would eliminate cancer cell access to typical mitotic recovery mechanisms and reduce or block drug resistant lines from developing, either alone or in combination with other anti-MSPs.

Microtubule organizing center (MTOC)-inactivating peptides

THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK


The invention is a new device that will improve the radio link quality for low power wireless devices. An example application is for low power, miniaturized wireless sensor nodes that are statically deployed in a slowly varying environment or that have limited mobility. The device is a reconfigurable antenna that is novel in that it operates with very low (zero-order) energy in contrast to existing system that required both significant computational and DC power.

Current technologies for adaptive (i.e. smart) antennas are targeted towards systems that have moderate to large amount of computational and energy resources (e.g., cellular base stations and radar systems). However, wireless sensor networks are constrained in both aspects and as such current smart antenna designs are not appropriate for these systems. Current wireless sensors currently employ antennas that are passive and thus have fixed performance. For example, typical sensor nodes utilize omni-directional designs to ensure signal reception regardless of orientation.

Zero-order energy smart antenna and repeater


A light detecting apparatus receives input light branched and output by a branching device, to calculate transmittance and reflectivity from the input light, acquires a wavelength corresponding to the calculated transmittance and reflectivity to calculate a gain value corresponding to input light intensity, acquires a driving current value corresponding to a calculated gain value and an acquired wavelength, and outputs an acquired driving current value.

In an optical communication network, conventionally, to improve minimum sensitivity of an optical receiver, there is a method that an input optical signal is amplified by arranging an optical preamplifier at a previous stage of the optical receiver. Specifically, to expand an input dynamic range of a light receiving system, the optical preamplifier is used by automatic level control (ALC), which constantly controls an output level with respect to an input, so that constant optical power is input to an optical receiver at a subsequent stage.
As an optical amplifier used for cases including a light receiving system, an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is generally used. However, because the EDFA pumps a fiber bundle having a restriction in a folding radius, its downsizing has been difficult. Further, with the EDFA, it has been also difficult to realize high-speed ALC such that the ALC is performed for every burst signal.
Recently,-therefore, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), which can be manufactured by the same equipment and process as those of a semiconductor laser, and can realize downsizing, low consumption power, low cost, and high-speed ALC, has attracted attention. Further, various techniques for realizing high-speed ALC capable of responding to the burst signal using the SOA as the optical preamplifier to perform feed-forward control have been disclosed (for example, see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-179233).
According to these conventional techniques, however, when signal light of a different wavelength or different light intensity is input, there is a problem that the signal light cannot be amplified at high speed and with constant optical output.
In the conventional techniques, because an optical gain value of the SOA is different depending on the wavelength, an optical filter having an inverse characteristic to the wavelength characteristic is arranged at a previous stage of the SOA, thereby compensating wavelength dependency. In the conventional techniques, an input optical signal of the optical preamplifier is branched to detect a power of the input optical signal, and a driving current of the SOA is controlled so that a detected value matches a reference voltage, thereby controlling the optical output of the SOA to a constant value.
However, as depicted in FIG. 8, because the wavelength characteristic of the optical gain of the SOA changes according to the driving current, it is difficult to compensate the wavelength characteristic of the SOA over the whole driving current only by arranging the optical filter having a fixed wavelength characteristic at a previous stage of the SOA. As a result, according to the conventional techniques, when the signal light of a different wavelength and light intensity is input to the SOA, the signal light cannot be amplified at high speed and with the constant optical output. FIG. 8 depicts change in the wavelength characteristic due to the driving current of the SOA output optical power.

Light detecting apparatus and output light intensity controller


Water soluble cellulose acetoacetates prepared by contacting a cellulose material with diketene, an alkyl acetoacetate, 2,2,6-trimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxin-4-one or a mixture thereof in a solvent system comprising lithium chloride plus a carboxamide. Compositions containing the cellulose acetoacetates and, optionally, a crosslinking agent are useful for coatings applications.

Acetoacetylated polymers are of intense current interest. Incorporation of acetoacetate groups into polymers generally affords several benefits, including reduction of solution viscosity (valuable in coatings applications) and introduction of a handle (the acetoacetate group) for ready polymer crosslinking. The crosslinking chemistry of the acetoacetate group is rich and growing. These attributes make acetoacetylated polymers of particular interest in thermoset coatings applications.
Polymers with affinity for water are also currently of great interest. Water soluble polymers can be used to change the rheology of aqueous solutions, and so find many industrial applications, for example in the food industry as thickeners, in the oilfield industry as suspension aids, in the pharmaceutical industry as excipients, and in the coatings industry as film formers.
Cellulose is a readily available, naturally occurring polymer, whose derivatives are highly valued in coatings applications as well as the other industrial applications cited above. It is clear, therefore, that the ability to efficiently acetoacetylate cellulose might afford products of commercial interest. In particular, if water soluble products could be made in this way, materials of great interest in industry might result.
There is relatively little literature on the acetoacetylation of cellulose. P. J. Wiezevich and A. H. Gleason (U.S. Pat. No. 2,103,505, 1937) taught a method of acetoacetylation with diketene (which they incorrectly called "cyclobutane 1,3-dione") which they applied to cotton linters in one of their examples. They claimed cellulose acetoacetate by reaction of diketene with cotton linters employing "an acid esterification catalyst", but gave no supporting details about either the method or the product.
H. Staudinger and T. Eicher (Makromol. Chem., 1953, 10, 261-279) teach complete acetoacetylation of cellulose employing a heterogeneous system of regenerated cellulose in acetic acid with sodium acetate catalyst, and diketene as acetoacetylating reagent. They obtained a product with a degree of substitution ("DS") per anhydroglucose unit ("AGU") of 3.0, as measured by elemental analysis. The product was soluble in acetic acid and acetone, and insoluble in water.
V. H. Reblin expanded upon these results (Chimia, 1968, 22, 230-233). He treated cotton with diketene, according to the method of Staudinger and Eicher. This gave a partially acetoacetylated cotton, still water insoluble, which was subjected to crosslinking with aliphatic diamines. Reblin found that the crosslinking gave bis(enamine) linkages, and dramatically decreased the tensile strength of the cotton. The crosslinks could be hydrolyzed with dilute acids.
None of these prior art teachings allow direct, homogeneous acetoacetylation of cellulose to the desired DS. None of them give evidence of preparing a homogeneously substituted CAA with DS/AGU less than 3.0. Nothing known in the prior art teaches preparation of a water soluble cellulose acetoacetate. Nothing known in the prior art teaches acetoacetylation of cellulose in the absence of acid or base catalysis.
Most of the known cellulose solvents are unsuitable for reactions in which cellulosic hydroxyls serve as nucleophiles. The solvent systems recently introduced by C. L. McCormick (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,278,790, 1981) and A. F. Turbak, A. El Kafrawy, F. W. Snyder, Jr., and A. B. Auerbach (U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,252, 1981) are exceptions in that they do permit certain such reactions. McCormick and Turbak et al. have taught that cellulose may be dissolved in solutions of lithium chloride in either N,N dimethylacetamide or 1-methyl -2-pyrrolidinone. McCormick has, further taught (U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,790; Polymer, 1987, 28, 2317-2323) that electrophilic reagents may be added to these cellulose solutions to derivatize cellulose. McCormick has prepared cellulose acetate, methyl cellulose, cellulose carbamate, and other derivatives (but not CAA) in this way.
There is, therefore, a need for a process by which CAA of the desired degree of substitution may be prepared directly from cellulose. It is desirable that cellulose be reacted in solution, to assure homogeneous substitution along the polymer chains. The process should be economical and amenable to scale up to industrial production. It would be desirable to have available from this process a CAA of the correct composition, such that it would have good solubility in water.


This invention provides a method and apparatus for analyzing the propagation of optical fields between arbitrarily oriented planes using full scalar diffraction theory. One aspect of the invention allows propagation between tilted planes. A second aspect allows propagation between offset planes. To analyze the propagation of an input optical field from a first plane to a second plane, the input field in the spatial domain is Fourier transformed to obtain the plane wave distribution in the spatial frequency domain. Within the spatial frequency domain the field is propagated from the first plane to the second plane by first multiplying the plane wave distribution by the spatial frequency domain phase accumulation between the first and second planes, and then converting the plane wave distribution from the coordinate system of the first plane to that of the second plane. Finally, the propagated plane wave distribution is inverse Fourier transformed to obtain the propagated optical field. This propagation sequence forms the building block for a numerical method to analyze optical systems using full scalar diffraction theory. To analyze optical systems, the input field is propagated from the plane of the source to the plane of the first optical element and the propagated optical field is multiplied by the transmittance function of the optical element. This invention further includes tolerance analysis of each parameter that affects the image quality and coupling efficiency of the optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing the propagation of an optical field between planes that are tilted or offset with respect to each other, and to analysis of optical systems having elements in tilted or offset planes.
2. Background of the Invention
Today, in modeling, the effect of diffraction on the optical field becomes more and more important as the demand for more accurate models increases. Commercial software in general takes two different approaches in dealing with diffraction. Some commercial software takes a geometrical optics approach and takes diffraction into account only artificially by imposing the Frounhoffer diffraction pattern of the pupil on the plane of interest. Some other programs can propagate scalar fields using the Fresnel diffraction approximation. Between parallel planes such programs can use Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques, but when it comes to propagation between tilted planes they resort to numerical integration. Numerical integration for two dimensional problems, depending on the window size, can be very time consuming as compared to a Fourier transform approach.
With the advance of integrated optical systems there is a need to propagate fields between tilted planes, since planes containing the optical elements are defined by the crystal structures in which these integrated optical systems are made. As is the case in silicon based optical integrated circuit technology, most crystal structures can be etched efficiently only in certain crystal directions, and these direction are not necessarily orthogonal to the optical axis of the system. Another reason to have tilted planes in an optical system is to distribute the refractive power of the plane between the optical element and the tilted surface.
Thus it is clear that there is a need to propagate optical fields between tilted planes using scalar diffraction theory both rapidly and accurately. The Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral is as accurate as one can get for a scalar treatment. The problem with the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral is that when the input and output planes are tilted with respect to each other, one has had to resort to numerical integration since there has not been a way known to use Fourier transform techniques to speed up the calculation.
The problem of tilted planes has been previously treated. Ganci [S. Ganci, Eur. J. Phys. 2:158 (1981)] looked at the specific problem in which a plane wave, tilted with respect to a plane containing a slit, was diffracted onto another plane parallel to the slit plane under the Frounhoffer approximation. Later Patorski [K. Patorski, Optica Acta 30, 673(1983)] further calculated the Frounhoffer intensity pattern of the tilted slit plane on a plane that was perpendicular to the initial plane wave propagation direction. Rabal, Bolognini and Sicre's paper [H. J. Rabal, N. Bolognini, E. E. Sicre, Optica Acta 32, 1309 (1985)] generalized the previously mentioned work and concluded that the intensity pattern due to Frounhoffer diffraction from a tilted plane onto another plane perpendicular to initial beam propagation direction can be calculated by taking the Fourier transform of the tilted plane transmission function in its own coordinate system.
The first paper that addressed the question of finding the diffraction pattern of a tilted plane under the Fresnel approximation came from Leseberg and Frere [D. Leseberg and C. Frere, Applied Optics 27, 3020 (1988)]. Essentially, Leseberg and Frere showed that approach taken by Rabal et al. can be generalized by taking the Fourier transform of the tilted plane phase function times the quadratic phase factor only at spatial frequency components that have a special relation to the spatial coordinates in the output plane, as expressed by Rabal et al. Later Frere and Leseberg suggested another formulation [C. Frere and D. Leseberg, Applied Optics 28, 2422 (1989)] to approximate diffraction patterns of off-axis tilted objects. Finally Tommasi and Bianco proposed a technique [T. Tommasi and B. Bianco, Optics Letters 17, 556 (1992)] to find the relation between the plane wave spectrum of the same field with respect to two coordinate systems only rotated with respect each other, and they used this approach to calculate the computer generated holograms of off-axis objects [T. Tommasi and B. Bianco, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A. 10, 299 (1993)]. Bianco and Tommasi also applied their approach to model space variant optical interconnects [B. Bianco, T. Tommasi, Applied Optics 34, 7573 (1995)].

Optical field propagation between tilted or offset planes


A NAND flash memory achieves low read latency and avoidance of inadvertent programming and program disturb so that the random access and initial page read speeds of the NAND flash memory are generally comparable to that of a NOR flash memory, while preserving the higher memory density and lower power operation characteristics of traditional NAND flash memory relative to NOR flash memory. The reduction in latency is achieved by a NAND memory array architecture which employs a small NAND string, a dual plane interleaved memory architecture, a partitioned NAND array, selectively coupled local bit lines per each global bit line, and a counter-biasing mechanism to avoid inadvertent programming and program disturb.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital memory devices and operation thereof, and more particularly to a NAND flash memory array architecture having low read latency and low program disturb.
2. Description of Related Art
NAND flash memory is popular for data storage. The cost versus density advantage of single level cell ("SLC") NAND flash memory in densities of 512 Megabits and higher is largely due to the inherently smaller memory cell size used in SLC NAND flash technology.
NAND flash memory is also becoming popular for a variety of applications beyond data storage due to various techniques which have been developed to adapt NAND flash memory to such applications. Unfortunately, NAND flash memory tends to have a lengthy read latency time, which limits the usefulness of NAND flash memory in applications requiring random data access and short sequential and continuous page reads.


A method for manufacturing hollow shafts having end portions of greater wall thickness and at least one intermediate portion of reduced wall thickness, from a tube having constant wall thickness. The method includes providing a mandrel having diameters stepped over its length, with a first longitudinal section having a smallest diameter and at least one further longitudinal section having a further larger diameter. Reducing the external diameter of a first portion of the tube over the first longitudinal section of the mandrel to produce the first end portion. Reducing the external diameter of a middle portion of the tube over the at least one further longitudinal section of the mandrel to produce the at least one intermediate portion. Reducing the external diameter of a further portion of the tube over the first longitudinal section of the mandrel to produce the second end portion.

A method of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,091. In this case, a first end portion of the tube is reduced freely in external diameter in a matrix without internal support, a middle tube portion having lesser wall thickness and larger external diameter is manufactured by stretching over an internal mandrel of constant diameter, and a second end portion of the tube is manufactured through reduction in external diameter in a matrix in the opposite drawing direction or through hammering without internal support.
A method of the type cited, in which a first portion of a tube is reduced over a calibration mandrel which is introduced from the tube end discussed, and in which an intermediate portion of the tube is reduced over a stretching mandrel, which is introduced from the other tube end, is known from DE 35 06 220 A1. The second end portion of the tube is reduced over the calibration mandrel again after changeover of the tube. The stretching mandrel comprises two longitudinal sections of different diameters having a conical transition area.

Reducing tubes over a stepped mandrel to manufacture tubular shafts having an undercut in one operation


An engine cover for a vehicle includes a frame extending generally about the perimeter of the cover and adapted for mounting to an engine of the vehicle, and a skin extending across and secured to the frame. In one embodiment, the frame is made of a moulded plastic material and the skin is a stamped metal, such as aluminum. In another embodiment, the skin comprises multiple sections each secured to the frame so that one or more sections may be modified to alter the appearance of the cover and/or location of service items, such as an oil fill cap or dip stick for different applications while minimizing the number of components that need modification. A method for covering an engine according to the present invention includes securing at least one engine cover skin to an engine cover frame and securing the frame to an engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cover for a vehicle engine.
2. Background Art
The engine compartment of a vehicle presents various challenges for vehicle engineers and designers in providing functionality, serviceability, and aesthetics in a relatively small space. Consideration must also be given to manufacturing and assembly costs in addition to weight, which ultimately impacts fuel economy, to deliver a competitive product. An engine cover may be used to enhance the overall appearance of the engine compartment and may also reduce engine noise transmission.
Various prior art engine covers provide a cast or molded cover with a solid, generally rectangular surface that extends across the engine cylinders, such as disclosed in US 2005/0217634 A1, for example. Modifications to this type of cover to change the appearance or to accommodate engines with different service item locations typically require significant tooling costs. The present inventor has also recognized that the thickness of the solid surface of a conventional engine cover required to provide a desired structural integrity may add unnecessary weight to the vehicle.


First and second containers arranged for securement relative to one another about a hinge for the storage of first and second matrix of disposal cylinders is provided, wherein each cylinder includes a frangible interconnection between an adjacent cylinder of an adjacent matrix, wherein each cylinder includes a fluid impermeable rigid side wall and floor having a polymeric top wall arranged to receive and secure a syringe needle therewithin to secure the syringe and needle and permit disposal of individual of said cylinders along with the associated syringe to provide destruction of frangible interconnection between adjacent cylinders.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to syringe and needle disposal structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved syringe needle disposal apparatus wherein the same is directed to the sanitary and safe disposal of syringe needles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The advent of communicable and contagious diseases, particularly such as AIDS, in use and transmission of such diseases by syringes requires the safe disposal of such needles.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by permitting the storage of matrix of disposable cylinders, with each cylinder having a bactericide and associated frangible interconnection relative to adjacent cylinders to permit the removal of individual cylinders for their subsequent disposal and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Contaminated needle disposal system and device


A level shift circuit for shifting levels of a pair of binary input signals having a first voltage range to produce a pair of binary output signals having a second voltage range includes a first circuit to shift a level of a first one of the binary input signals thereby to produce a first signal having the second voltage range, a second circuit to shift a level of a second one of the binary input signals thereby to produce a second signal having the second voltage range, and a timing adjustment circuit to produce the binary output signals by adjusting a pulse width thereof in response to the first and second signals such that the pulse width is equal to a time interval from when one of the first and second circuits stops level shift operation to when another one of the first and second circuits stops level shift operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to level shift circuits, and particularly relates to a level shift circuit that receives a pair of input signals having two complementary levels with signal amplitudes ranging between a first predetermined positive-side power supply voltage and a predetermined negative-side power supply voltage, and produces a pair of output signals having two complementary levels by level-shifting the received signals to signals having amplitudes ranging between a second predetermined positive-side power supply voltage larger than the first predetermined positive-side power supply voltage and the predetermined negative-side power supply voltage
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of a level shift apparatus including a related-art level shift circuit.
The level shift apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 6 receives a signal output from an internal circuit 102 that operates by use of a first predetermined positive-side power supply voltage VDD1 (e.g., 1.2 V) as a power supply. The level shift apparatus 101 generates a pair of signals by level-shifting the received signal and a signal having a signal level inverse to the signal level of the received signal for provision to an external circuit 103 that operates by use of a second positive-side power supply voltage VDD2 (e.g., 3.3 V) as a power supply. As shown in FIG. 6, the level shift apparatus 101 includes an inverter circuit 104 operating by use of the first positive-side power supply voltage VDD1 as a power supply as does the internal circuit 102, and also includes a level shift circuit 105 operating by use of the second positive-side power supply voltage VDD2 as a power supply as does the external circuit 103. The level shift circuit 105 includes a level shift circuit unit 106 and a waveform shaping circuit unit 107. The level shift circuit unit 106 receives a signal INA output from the internal circuit 102, and also receives a signal INB having a signal level inverse to the signal level of the signal INA. The level shift circuit unit 106 shifts the levels of the received signals INA and INB to produce signals OUTA1 and OUTB1. The waveform shaping circuit unit 107 shapes the waveforms of the signals OUTA1 and OUTB1 output from the level shift circuit unit 106, thereby outputting signals OUTA and OUTB to the external circuit 103.
In FIG. 6, as the signal INA having a LOW level is supplied from the internal circuit 102, the signal INB output from the inverter circuit 104 becomes a HIGH level. As the LOW-level signal INA and the HIGH-level signal INB are supplied to the level shift circuit unit 106, a P-channel-type MOS transistor (hereinafter referred to as "PMOS transistor") P104 and N-channel-type MOS transistor (hereinafter referred to as "NMOS transistor") N103 are turned off, and a NMOS transistor N102 and PMOS transistor P105 are turned on. In response to the turning-on of the NMOS transistor N102, a PMOS transistor P103 is turned on, so that the output signal OUTA and output signal OUTB are set to LOW level and HIGH level, respectively.
When the signal INA changes from the LOW level to the HIGH level, the signal INB output from the inverter circuit 104 changes from the HIGH level to the LOW level. As the HIGH-level signal INA and the LOW-level signal INB are supplied to the level shift circuit unit 106, the NMOS transistor N102 and the PMOS transistor P105 are turned off, and the NMOS transistor N103 and PMOS transistor P104 are turned on. In response to the turning-on of the NMOS transistor N103, a joint point between the PMOS transistor P105 and the NMOS transistor N103 is set to a LOW voltage level, so that the output signal OUTB1 is changed to the LOW level, and, also, the PMOS transistor P102 is turned on. As the PMOS transistor 102 is turned on, a joint point between the PMOS transistor P104 and the NMOS transistor N102 is set to a HIGH voltage level since the PMOS transistor P104 is already in the turned-on state. This results in the output signal OUTA1 being set to the HIGH level.
As the signal INA changes from the HIGH level to the LOW level, the signal INB output from the inverter circuit 104 changes from the LOW level to the HIGH level. As the LOW-level signal INA and the HIGH-level signal INB are supplied to the level shift circuit unit 106, the PMOS transistor P104 and NMOS transistor N103 are turned off, and the NMOS transistor N102 and PMOS transistor P105 are turned on. In response to the turning-on of the NMOS transistor N102, a joint point between the PMOS transistor P104 and the NMOS transistor N102 is set to a LOW voltage level, so that the output signal OUTA is changed to the LOW level, and, also, the PMOS transistor P103 is turned on. As the PMOS transistor 103 is turned on, a joint point between the PMOS transistor P105 and the NMOS transistor N103 is set to a HIGH voltage level since the PMOS transistor P103 is already in the turned-on state. This results in the output signal OUTB being set to the HIGH level.
There are also related-art level shift apparatuses in which the level shift circuit has a second level shift circuit unit added thereto, which operates by use of a third positive-side power supply voltage VDD3 as a power supply higher than the first positive-side power supply voltage VDD1 and lower than the second positive-side power supply voltage VDD2 (see Patent Document 1, for example) FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of such related-art level shift circuit. As shown in FIG. 7, a second level shift circuit unit 202 provided in the level shift circuit 105 has the same configuration as the level shift circuit unit 106. In this level shift apparatus 201, the second level shift circuit unit 202 receives signals having an amplitude Am1 ranging between the first positive-side power supply voltage VDD1 and a negative-side power supply voltage as they are supplied from the internal circuit (not shown) and the inverter circuit 104. The second level shift circuit unit 202 converts these received signals into signals having an amplitude Am2 ranging between the third positive-side power supply voltage VDD3 and the negative-side power supply voltage where the third positive-side power supply voltage VDD3 is lower than the second positive-side power supply voltage VDD2. After this, the level shift circuit unit 106 converts the signals having the amplitude Am2 into signal having an amplitude Am3 ranging between the second positive-side power supply voltage VDD2 and the negative-side power supply voltage for provision to the external circuit (not shown).
Further, related-art level shift circuits used in level shift apparatuses include a type as shown in FIG. 8 (see Patent Document 2, for example) In this type, input nodes IN1 and IN2 receive the input signals INA and INB, respectively, which have amplitude ranging between the first positive-side power supply voltage VDD1 and the negative-side power supply voltage, and output nodes OUT1 and OUT2 output the output signals OUTA and OUTB, respectively, which have amplitude ranging between the second positive-side power supply voltage VDD2 and the negative-side power supply voltage. A level shift circuit unit is provided with these nodes IN1, IN2, OUT1, and OUT2, and includes NMOS transistors N301 and N302 and PMOS transistors P305 and P306. A current mirror circuit unit is provided to charge the output nodes OUT1 and OUT2, and includes PMOS transistors P301 through P304. Further, a switch circuit unit is provided to drive the current mirror circuit unit during an interval from the reversal of the input signals INA and INB to the reversal of the output signals OUTA and OUTB, and includes NMOS transistors N303 through N306.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-148913
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-76882
FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the level shift apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 6. The level shift circuit unit 106 produces the signals OUTA and OUTB having the HIGH level if the received signals OUTA1 and OUTB1 have voltages larger than a predetermined threshold, and produces the signals OUTA and OUTB having the LOW level if the received signals OUTA1 and OUTB1 have voltages lower than or equal to the predetermined threshold.
As shown in FIG. 9, the input signal INA input from the internal circuit 102 into the level shift circuit 105 and the input signal INB input from the inverter circuit 104 into the level shift circuit 105 are complementary signals that have signal levels complementary to each other. The duty cycle of the input signals INA and INB is 50%. The output signals OUTA1 and OUTB1 output from the level shift circuit unit 106, however, are provided such that one of the output signals changes to the HIGH level after the other changes to the LOW level, resulting in the former having a slow signal rise. Consequently, the signals OUTA and OUTB made by shaping the waveform of the output signals OUTA1 and OUTB1 are not provided as complementary signals, having different duty cycles and phases than the input signals INA and INB. Accordingly, the related-art level shift circuit has a problem (first problem) in that the duty cycle and phase differ between the input signals INA and INB and the output signals OUTA and OUTB.
Further, if a difference between the power supply voltages VDD1 and VDD2 is large as in the case of 1.2 V and 3.3 V in FIG. 6, in order for the level shift circuit 105 to operate properly, the on-resistance of each of the NMOS transistors N102 and N103 provided in the level shift circuit unit 106 must be smaller than a sum of the on-resistances of the PMOS transistors that are connected in series to each of the NMOS transistors N102 and N103. If the NMOS transistor N102, PMOS transistor P104, and PMOS transistor P102 have on-resistances Rn1, Rp1, and Rp2, respectively, the condition Rn1<Rp1+Rp2 must be satisfied. In order to satisfy this condition, each of the NMOS transistors N102 and N103 needs to be so designed as to have an extremely large device size, or each of the PMOS transistors P102 through P105 needs to be so designed as to have an extremely small device size. The former design strategy results in the size of the level shift circuit 105 being extremely large, and the latter design strategy results in the speed of voltage-level conversion by the level shift circuit 105 being extremely slow. This is a second problem of the related-art level shift circuit.
As shown in FIG. 7, the level shift circuit 105 of the level shift apparatus 201 may be provided with the second level shift circuit unit 202 that operates by use of the power supply voltage VDD3 as a power supply. This provision makes it possible to reduce a voltage difference between the input signals and the output signals for each of the level shift circuit units 106 and 202. As a result, it is possible to allow the level shift circuit 105 to operate properly without changing the device size of each of the transistors provided in the level shift circuit 105. The use of such a level shift circuit 105, however, necessitates the new power supply voltage VDD3. Also, the two output signals of each of the level shift circuit units 106 and 202 are provided such that one of the output signals changes to the HIGH level after the other changes to the LOW level, resulting in a slow signal rise. This creates a difference between the rise time and fall time of the output signals, so that both the duty cycle and the phase differ between the input signals into the level shift circuit 105 and the output signals from the level shift circuit 105. In order to obviate this, the speed of signal-level conversion at each of the level shift circuit units 106 and 202 needs to be increased. Namely, a ratio of the device size of the PMOS transistors to the device size of the NMOS transistors in each of the level shift circuit units 106 and 202 needs to be increased. Thus, the second problem cannot be overcome after all. In other words, it is impossible to obviate the first problem and the second problem simultaneously with respect to the level shift circuit 105.
The level shift circuit 105 shown in FIG. 8 can overcome the second problem whilst it is a single circuit. Even if this level shift circuit 105 is used, however, one of the output signals OUTA1 and OUTB1 changes to the HIGH level after the other changes to the LOW level. As a result, the output signal OUTA1 and OUTA2 and the signals obtained by shaping the waveforms of these signals are not complementary signals, having different duty cycles and phases that the inputs signals INA and INB. Namely, the use of the level shift circuit 105 shown in FIG. 8 cannot obviate the first problem and the second problem at the same time.
Accordingly, there is a need for a level shift circuit that can properly operate even when a voltage difference between input signals and output signals is large, and that can maintain the same duty cycle and phase between the input signals and the output signals.

Level shift circuit having timing adjustment circuit for maintaining duty ratio


A watch that advantageously allows an athlete, such as a runner, to conveniently and instantly calculate a pace at which a distance was traveled. The watch includes a chronographic process and a pace calculation process. In order to determine a pace, the athlete enters the travel distance into the pace calculation process. The athlete then initiates a count by the chronographic process when he or she starts traveling the designated distance. When the athlete finishes traveling the designated distance, he or she stops the count, so that the chronographic process measures the total elapsed time required to travel the designated distance. The pace calculation process then obtains the total elapsed time from the chronographic process, and divides the designated travel distance by the total elapsed time to calculate the pace at which the distance was traveled.

In order to measure their performance in a quantifiable manner, athletes will often measure various time parameters corresponding to their travel over a distance. For example, a runner may measure the total elapsed time required to run a distance, the elapsed time required to run a segment of the distance, and/or the average time required to run equal segments of the distance. Likewise, cyclists, ice skaters, sailors, hikers, swimmers, skiers, and other athletes may desire to measure the total elapsed time required to run a distance, the elapsed time required to run a segment of the distance, and/or the average time required to run equal segments of the distance.
To address the needs of such athletes, some watchmakers manufacture watches that include a chronograph. A chronograph measures and records time periods, and thus permits an athlete to measure the total amount of time elapsed while traveling a desired distance. An athlete can start the chronograph counting when he or she begins traveling the distance, and stop the chronograph counting when he or she has completed traveling the distance. The time counted on the chronograph is the total amount of time that elapsed while the distance was traveled.
Some watches include chronographs that also allow a user to measure individual subsets of the overall time period without stopping or resetting the count. These time segments are sometimes referred to as "split" times. Thus, chronographs that measure split times allow a runner to additionally record the amount of time that has elapsed at any point during the run. For example, a runner may want to measure the total time he or she takes to run four laps around a track. If a runner also measures a split time at the completion of each lap, the first split time will be the total time required to run the first lap, the second split time will be the total time required to run both the first lap and the second lap, and the third split time will be the total time required to run all of the first three laps.
Still further, some watches include a second chronograph that allows a user to initiate one or more additional counts without resetting the count of the primary chronograph. Using this feature with the above example, a runner can measure the time elapsed to run around any single lap without resetting the count for the total elapsed time required to complete all four laps. With some watches, the second chronograph is configured to reset when the runner measures a split time with the primary chronograph. This allows a runner to conveniently measure the time difference between one split time and its subsequent split time. These individual time measurements are sometimes referred to as "lap" times.
Another particularly useful time parameter many athletes measure is the pace or speed at which they travel a selected distance. Measuring a pace allows an athlete to accurately determine whether or not he or she is traveling faster or slower than a desired speed. A runner may wish to have this information in order to, for example, determine whether his or her current pace will allow him or her to be competitive in a race, burn a desired number of calories for a run of a set time, or be able to complete a run in an allotted time. Unfortunately, however, even watches with chronographs do not allow an athlete to easily measure the pace of travel over a particular distance. Instead, a user must manually calculate the pace using the total elapsed time of travel provided by the chronograph. In order to immediately determine a pace, an athlete must either carry a calculator or pen and paper to make the calculation, which is cumbersome. Alternately, the athlete must record the total elapsed time counted by the chronograph, and calculate the pace later. Accordingly, it would be desirable to allow an athlete to conveniently calculate a pace immediately after traveling a distance.


The present invention provides a simplified method for analyzing a structure of glycoprotein capable of conducting a peptide sequence analysis, a sugar chain sequence analysis, and an analysis of a sugar chain binding site accurately and rapidly using a mass spectrometer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for analyzing a structure of glycoprotein or glycopeptide using a mass spectrometer capable of executing a second or higher order MS analysis.
2. Disclosure of the Related Art
For analyzing a structure of a glycoprotein or a glycopeptide, it is necessary to acquire information about (i) peptide sequence, (ii) sugar chain sequence, and (iii) sugar chain binding site.
In a method for analyzing a glycoprotein or a glycopeptide, sugar chains are separated from the glycoprotein or the glycopeptide (hereinafter, simply referred to as "glycoprotein") in an enzymatic or chemical manner and then the resultant protein or peptide (hereinafter, simply referred to as "protein") and sugar chains are separately analyzed. For such analysis, a mass spectrometer is used in these days. In mass spectrometry, a post-source decay (PSD) function and a collision induced dissociation (CID) function are utilized. These functions will give important structure information for sugar chains and fragments of a peptide.
As a method for separately analyzing proteins and sugar chains, for example, the following manner is exemplified. First, a glycoprotein obtained by two dimensional electrophoresis or a variety of chromatography is fragmented into peptides or glycopeptides with a protease, and further separated into sugar chains and peptides by glycanase digestion or β-dissociation. Then the resultant peptides are chemically tagged at an amino acid residue to mark the binding site of sugar chain, and then sequencing analysis of peptides and identification of sugar chain binding site are conducted by a peptide mass finger printing (PMF) based on MS analysis or by an MS/MS analysis based on the CID and PSD functions with a mass spectrometer. On the other hand, as to the sugar chains, a sequencing analysis of sugar chains is conducted by MS and MS/MS analyses using a mass spectrometer, by a multi-dimensional mapping using a HPLC, or by a sequential digestion with glycosidase.
Also an attempt is made to directly analyze a structure of glycoprotein in its native form without separating sugar chains as above described. For achieving this, an MSn analysis by a mass spectrometer is utilized. A Fourier transformation ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FTICR-MS) is known as a mass spectrometer that enables mass spectrometric analysis of glycoprotein. In such a mass spectrometer, an electron capture dissociation (ECD) function and an infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) function that were recently developed are specifically used. The ECD function gives information about sugar chain binding site and molecular weight of sugar chain because it can cut only a peptide backbone without destroying sugar chains. The IRMPD function gives sequence information of sugar chain because it can cut only sugar chains without cutting a peptide backbone. Therefore, a peptide sequencing analysis, a sugar chain sequencing analysis, and an analysis of sugar chain binding site with a FTICR-MS is conducted by combining these two functions.

Method for analyzing structure of glycoprotein


An automatic dimming vehicle mirror system includes an automatic dimming mirror assembly having automatic dimming circuitry. The automatic dimming circuitry includes a mirror control and at least a first silicon-based photo sensor and a second silicon-based photo sensor. The first silicon-based photo sensor is sensitive to both visible light and infrared light. The second silicon-based photo sensor is sensitive principally to infrared light. The mirror control distinguishes headlamp sources from non-headlamp sources by a ratio of a signal indicative of light detected by the first photo sensor to a signal indicative of light detected by the second photo sensor.

The present invention is directed to a vehicular rearview mirror system and, in particular, a vehicular rearview mirror system in which an electro-optic reflective element assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a drive signal.
It is known for a mirror control to be responsive to an output of a vehicle control. For example, it is known to cause the reflectance level of an electro-optic reflective element to be forced into a high reflectance level when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. An example of such a system is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,093 issued to Schierbeek et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The circuit that established the reflectance level of the reflective element monitors a switch or circuit that is actuated by the vehicle gearshift and which provides an indication that the gearshift is placed in reverse gear. In some vehicles, the reverse-gear indication has a protocol in which the indication changes from a low voltage level to a high voltage level when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. In other vehicles, the protocol is that the reverse-gear indication changes from a high level to a low voltage level when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. It is desirable to be able to install the same vehicle rearview mirror system in various vehicles irrespective of the protocol of the reverse-gear indication signal. The protocol, also known as a handshake, is the relationship between the reverse-gear indication signals when the vehicle is in reverse gear verses when it is not in reverse gear.

Vehicle rearview mirror system with protocol detection


Embodiments of the present invention provide a spring loaded attachment mechanism for attaching a camera to a camera support or base. In one embodiment, a camera attachment apparatus comprises an attachment socket connected to a camera, the attachment socket including an aperture extending in a longitudinal direction and a pair of cutouts disposed laterally on opposite sides of the attachment socket; a spring having a pair of spring arms disposed respectively at the pair of cutouts on opposite sides of the attachment socket; and an attachment pin including a post having a longitudinal axis and configured to be inserted into the aperture of the attachment socket along the longitudinal direction, the post including a pair of seats disposed on opposite sides of the post to receive the pair of spring arms of the spring via the pair of cutouts of the attachment socket.

This invention relates to devices for supporting a camera such as a video camera or a CCD (charge coupled device) camera and, more particularly, to a spring loaded attachment mechanism for supporting a camera or a base for the camera.
Cameras that mount on adjustable stands need a simple, highly reliable attachment mechanism. The mechanism preferably provides easy attachment while also being sturdy enough to prevent unintended detachment. Currently available mechanisms either have light attachment forces but are too easy to accidentally detach, or are robust enough to reliably stay affixed but require high attachment forces. In addition, many of the current mechanisms have nonobvious keying features that make proper attachment more difficult. Moreover, many of the current mechanisms are not backwards compatible with standard camera tripod attachment pins.

Spring loaded attachment mechanism for camera and base


A partition apparatus or system having one or more panels each releasably fixed with respect to a hinge element. The hinge element has at least one hinge leaf, each with an outer edge. Each hinge leaf has at least one opening, preferably multiple openings, extending from the outer edge in a direction inward toward the hinge pin. The panel at least partially defines a slot. A male connector is mounted within the slot. The hinge leaf can be inserted within the slot so that the male connector engages within the opening of the hinge leaf. The opening of the hinge leaf can be shaped so that the hinge element is releasably fixed with respect to the panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a partition apparatus having a hinge element with a hinge leaf that can be concealed by a panel of the partition apparatus. This invention also relates to a hinge apparatus having a hinge leaf that can be inserted into a slot within a panel and moved with respect to the panel, to fix a position of the hinge with respect to the panel. This invention also relates to a hinge apparatus that can be used to set a position of a panel, such as a door panel, when the partition apparatus is in an open condition.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional partition apparatuses or systems often include panels connected with respect to each other to form an enclosure. The enclosures can be used to enclose a toilet facility, a shower facility or another area or space.
Conventional partition systems use external hardware, such as brackets, hinges and other external components, to connect the panels with respect to each other.
Also with conventional partition systems, the doors can remain closed when the enclosed space is unoccupied.
There is an apparent need to provide a partition apparatus that can be easily assembled in the field, particularly without tools. There is also a need to provide a partition apparatus that conceals attachment hardware, for an aesthetically pleasing appearance.


A fastener constructed of a receptacle enclosure shell (10), a frame structure (30) containing flexible beams (34, 35), and a plunger insert (50), is disclosed. The flexible beams (34, 35) contain transverse fins (36, 37) for releasably engaging internal salient ridges (16, 17) extending from within transverse walls (25, 26) of a main cavity (21) defined within receptacle enclosure shell (10) . The receptacle enclosure shell (10), also includes a notched end wall (14) for slidably retaining plunger insert (50). plunger insert (50) has forked fingers (52, 53) that are internally constrained within main cavity (21) of receptacle enclosure shell (10), and are directed towards transverse fins (36, 37) of flexible beams (34, 35), heretofore inserted into receptacle enclosure shell (10). plunger insert (50) also contains a slidable shaft (54) Which extends out through notched end wall (14) of receptacle enclosure shell (10), and at its outermost extremity, projects a boss (56). When an inwardly directed force is applied to boss (56), forked fingers (52, 53) of rigid plunger insert (50) contained within main cavity (21) of receptacle enclosure shell (10) ram transverse fins (36, 37) of flexible beams (34, 35) , causing the displacement of flexible beams (34, 35) , and the disengagement of transverse fins (36, 37) from internal salient ridges (16, 17) of receptacle enclosure shell (10), thereby releasing frame structure (30).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to mechanical fasteners, and specifically to an easily releasable slide action latch that can be applied to discreet objects to achieve disconnectable retention.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mechanical latches represent a method of releasably engaging and holding or otherwise joining or assembling objects such as panels, enclosures, belts, fabric, or other similar, discreet objects. A wide variety of special-purpose fasteners are currently employed in the industry for quick-operating, repeated access applications.
As a specific example, to which no limitation is intended, currently in use for fastening chin-straps on to football helmets is a snap-ring, button type fastener. This widely used conventional fastener is fixed to a chin-strap by being threaded through two parallel slots on a rectangular frame and then typically contains a cylindrical grooved insert that's been riveted to a side of the rectangular frame. The grooved insert houses a retaining ring that is used to clasp the head of a peg or bolt previously fixed to the side of the helmet. Helmet chin-straps are first snapped on to one side of the helmet, passed along the jaw where it cups the wearer's chin, and then snapped on to the other side of the helmet. Typically constructed of heavy fabric, the straps will not tear or separate, even when subjected to high tensile loads.
While the simplicity of a snap-ring fastener design for chin-straps lends itself well to quick-application and release, it also tends to inadvertently "pop" open during high-impact collisions, a common occurrence in football. The snap-ring mechanism does not isolate external forces frequently generated by either a pull on the helmet chin-strap, or a direct or near impact to the snap-ring section. A tug on the loose end of the strap by another player's hand or arm, or a collision along the side of the helmet, can easily generate enough force to disengage the retention ring from the head of the peg. An unsecured helmet can then swivel uncontrollably about the wearer's head, creating a serious safety risk. Additionally, the head-on collisions common in American football, continuously generate impact forces within the face-guard bars fixed to the front face of a helmet. On a secure helmet, these impact forces are transferred to the shell of the helmet, and are ultimately absorbed by the player's head and neck, through a pull reaction produced by a properly fastened chin-strap. The front rim of the helmet, swiveling down and smacking the bridge of the nose, after a direct face-guard collision, is a painful, all too frequent consequence of a football helmet whose chin-strap fastener has inadvertently popped open. Evidence to the certainty of this problem can be seen by noting a centrally located rubber bumper along the front face of a majority of helmet's, representing an effort by manufacturer's to attenuate this common nose injury. Further evidence to the questionable reliability of a button type, snap-ring fastener mechanism, is noted by the prevalent trend toward use of helmet's containing double fasteners on each side, and frequent witnessing of a completely loose helmet rolling along the playing field after a particular aggressive scrimmage play.
Downey, under U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,679 (1985), attempts to introduce a more secure helmet strap fastener system. The reference patent discloses a complex to manufacture helmet fastener, whose disengagement consists of simultaneous, inwardly directed pressure into two opposing transverse openings of a unitary body member. This unitary body member, critical for operation, is not permanently secured to any other component, and could easily be removed from the scene. Manufacture of this unitary body member using conventional injection molding techniques would be very difficult, due to an arrangement requiring longitudinal and transverse openings in conjunction with flexible side latches. Designing deflection behavior for the first latching member so that it remains securely retained in the unitary body member, while a second latching member properly engages it, also poses significant engineering challenges.
Other alternative fasteners are depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,150,464 (1979), 4,809,409 (1989) and 684,497. Tracey, under U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,464 (1979), defines a buckle using a pair of opposing transverse locking slots in a system very similar to Downey. Release of the buckle also requires simultaneous inwardly directed pressure into two opposing transverse openings. Davies, under U.S. Pat. No. 684,497 (1901), illustrates a fastener using dual spring actuated hooks which engage internal projections on a stationary socket. Release of this system requires a similar, simultaneous inwardly directed lateral pressure along sides of the fasteners legs in order to compress a centrally placed spring. Van Riesen, under U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,409 (1989), describes a belt lock requiring a minimum of six pieces, containing a readily exposed transverse release mechanism. The plunger releasable latch fastener of this invention introduces a system requiring only one singular, simple yet reliable, longitudinal, in-line release action. Prior Art on a variety of quick-operating fasteners is referenced in Basics Design Engineering, Machine Design magazine, June 1991, pgs. 1075-1089. While obvious to those skilled in the art that some of the more rugged, complex latching mechanisms commonly available in the industry will withstand heavy impact applications, they are generally much more difficult to fasten and release.
In summary, review of Quick-Operating Mechanical fasteners heretofore known as prior art, does not readily disclose a system having combined attributes of:
a--reliable, high-impact mechanical shock resistance, PA0 b--design for simplicity of manufacture, and PA0 c--extreme ease of application and removal, PA0 a--To provide a disconnectable closure which requires only a simple, singular, unidirectional application of force to disengage. PA0 b--To provide a disconnectable closure which requires only one flexing spring member. PA0 c--To provide a disconnectable closure which requires a minimum of parts, and is of a design facilitating inexpensive manufacture. PA0 d--To provide a disconnectable closure which reliably resists intense, direct mechanical impact. PA0 e--To provide a disconnectable closure which can, within context of a specific embodiment, be applied to conventional football helmets without requiring any additional modification, due to being footprint compatible with snap-ring, button type fasteners in current use.
in a manner that improves upon the noted limitations of button-type, snap-ring fasteners. Securing a chin-strap to a football helmet, being a specific example wherein one such type fastener is currently employed and noticeably found wanting.