A supported catalyst for the polymerization of olefins, especially ethylene, has at least two catalyst components having different propagation and/or termination constants. Each catalyst component must have at least one phosphinimine ligand. The polymer produced according to this invention has a broad molecular weight distribution. Catalysts according to this invention have a very surprising and desirable hydrogen response.

This invention relates to catalysts for the preparation of polyethylene having a broad molecular weight distribution.
It is well known that linear polyethylene may be prepared by the polymerization of ethylene (optionally with one or more olefins or diolefins such as butene, hexene, octene or hexadiene) using a xe2x80x9cZieglerxe2x80x9d catalyst system which comprises a transition metal compound (such as a titanium halide or a vanadium halide and an aluminum alkyl). Polyethylene produced in this manner, particularly xe2x80x9clinear low density polyethylenexe2x80x9d, is in widespread commercial use. However, the conventional linear low density polyethylene (xe2x80x9clldpexe2x80x9d) made with Ziegler catalysts suffers from a number of deficiencies. Most notably, conventional lldpe is a heterogeneous product which contains a small fraction of low molecular weight wax and a comparatively large amount of very high molecular weight homopolymer. The heterogeneous nature of these polymers generally detracts from the physical properties made from them.
Accordingly, a great deal of effort has been directed towards the preparation of xe2x80x9chomogeneousxe2x80x9d lldpe resins which mitigate this problem. In particular, it is now well known to those skilled in the art that so-called xe2x80x9cmetallocenexe2x80x9d catalysts may be used to produce homogeneous lldpe resin. These homogeneous resins are, however, not without problems. Most notably, these homogeneous resins typically have a narrow molecular weight distribution and are difficult to xe2x80x9cprocessxe2x80x9d or convert into finished polyethylene products. Thus, efforts to improve the processability of homogeneous polyethylene resin by broadening the molecular weight distribution have been made and are disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,530,914; 4,701,432; 4,935,474; 4,937,299; 5,124,418 and 5,183,867.
In copending and commonly assigned patent applications there are disclosed certain phosphinimine catalysts which may be used to produce homogeneous polyethylene.
The present invention provides a catalyst system for the (co)polymerization of ethylene to polyethylene having a broad molecular weight distribution, said catalyst system comprising:
a) at least two different mono or di-phosphinimine catalysts;
b) at least one cocatalyst; and
c) a particulate support.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that said two different mono or di-phosphinimine catalysts must have different propagation and/or termination constants in order to produce a polymer having a broad molecular weight distribution.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cmono-phosphinimine catalystxe2x80x9d refers to a catalyst having a single phosphinimine ligand and xe2x80x9cdi-phosphinimine catalystxe2x80x9d refers to a catalyst having two phosphinimine ligands.
It is required that at least two different catalysts be employed. The differences may be achieved, for example, by the use of different transition metals, different cyclopentadienyl ligands, different phosphinimine ligands or combinations thereof.
It is preferred that each of at least two phosphinimine catalysts used in this invention is defined by the formula:
(Cp)mM(Pl)n(L)q
wherein Pl is a phosphinimine ligand (see section 1.1 below); Cp is a cyclopentadienyl-type ligand (section 1.2 below); L is a monoanionic activatable ligand (section 1.3 below); m is a metal selected from Ti, Hf and Zr; and
wherein m is 0 or 1; n is 1 or 2; and m+n+q=the valence of the metal m.
The two phosphinimine catalysts must be different as further described in the Examples.
The most preferred catalysts are those in which the metal is 4 valent. For example, a catalyst may be a cyclopentadienyl (phosphinimine) complex of titanium, zirconium, or hafnium having two additional, monoanionic ligands. It is particularly preferred that each catalyst contains one phosphinimine ligand, one cyclopentadienyl ligand and two chloride or alkyl ligands.
1.1 Phosphinimine Ligand
Each catalyst must contain at least one phosphinimine ligand which is covalently bonded to the metal. Phosphinimine ligands are defined by the formula:
wherein each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, C1-20 hydrocarbyl radicals which are unsubstituted by or further substituted by a halogen atom, a C1-8 alkoxy radical, a C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, an amido radical, a silyl radical of the formula:
xe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94(R2)3
wherein each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C1-8 alkyl or alkoxy radical, C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radicals, and a germanyl radical of the formula:
Gexe2x80x94(R2)3
wherein R2 is as defined above.
The preferred phosphinimines are those in which each R1 is a hydrocarbyl radical. A particularly preferred phosphinimine is tri-(tertiary butyl) phosphinimine (i.e. where each R1 is a tertiary butyl group).
1.2 Cyclopentadienyl Ligands
As used herein, the term cyclopentadienyl-type ligand is meant to convey its conventional meaning, namely a ligand having a five carbon ring which is bonded to the metal via eta-5 bonding. Thus, the term xe2x80x9ccyclopentadienyl-typexe2x80x9d includes unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted cyclopentadienyl, unsubstituted indenyl, substituted indenyl, unsubstituted fluorenyl and substituted fluorenyl. An exemplary list of substituents for a cyclopentadienyl ligand includes the group consisting of C1-10 hydrocarbyl radical (which hydrocarbyl substituents are unsubstituted or further substituted); a halogen atom, C1-8 alkoxy radical, a C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical; an amido radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by up to two C1-8 alkyl radicals; a phosphido radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by up to two C1-8 alkyl radicals; silyl radicals of the formula xe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94(R)3 wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C1-8 alkyl or alkoxy radical C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radicals; germanyl radicals of the formula Gexe2x80x94(R)3 wherein R is as defined directly above.
1.3 Activatable Ligand
The term xe2x80x9cactivatable ligandxe2x80x9d refers to a ligand which may be activated by a cocatalyst, (or xe2x80x9cactivatorxe2x80x9d), to facilitate olefin polymerization. Exemplary activatable ligands are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-10 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-10 alkoxy radical, a C5-10 aryl oxide radical; each of which said hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, and aryl oxide radicals may be unsubstituted by or further substituted by a halogen atom, a C1-8 alkyl radical, a C1-8 alkoxy radical, a C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, an amido radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by up to two C1-8 alkyl radicals; a phosphido radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by up to two C1-8 alkyl radicals.
The number of activatable ligands depends upon the valency of the metal and the valency of the activatable ligand. The preferred first catalyst metals are group 4 metals in their highest oxidation state (i.e. 4+) and the preferred activatable ligands are monoanionic (such as a halidexe2x80x94especially chloride or an alkylxe2x80x94especially methyl). Thus, the preferred first catalyst contains a phosphinimine ligand, a cyclopentadienyl ligand and two chloride (or methyl) ligands bonded to the group 4 metal. In some instances, the metal of the first catalyst component may not be in the highest oxidation state. For example, a titanium (III) component would contain only one activatable ligand. Also, it is permitted to use a dianionic activatable ligand although this is not preferred.
2. Description of Cocatalyst
The catalyst components described in part 1 above are used in combination with at least one cocatalyst (or xe2x80x9cactivatorxe2x80x9d) to form an active catalyst system for olefin polymerization as described in more detail in sections 2.1 and 2.2 below.
2.1 Alumoxanes
The alumoxane may be of the formula:
(R4)2AlO(R4AlO)mAl(R4)2
wherein each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of C1-20 hydrocarbyl radicals and m is from 0 to 50, preferably R4 is a C1-4 alkyl radical and m is from 5 to 30. Methylalumoxane (or xe2x80x9cMAOxe2x80x9d) in which each R is methyl is the preferred alumoxane.
Alumoxanes are well known as cocatalysts, particularly for metallocene-type catalysts. Alumoxanes are also readily available articles of commerce.
The use of an alumoxane cocatalyst generally requires a molar ratio of aluminum to the transition metal in the catalyst from 20:1 to 1000:1. Preferred ratios are from 50:1 to 250:1.
2.2 xe2x80x9cIonic Activatorsxe2x80x9d Cocatalysts
So-called xe2x80x9cionic activatorsxe2x80x9d are also well known for metallocene catalysts. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,401 (Hlatky and Turner) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,380 (Stevens and Neithamer).
Whilst not wishing to be bound by any theory, it is thought by those skilled in the art that xe2x80x9cionic activatorsxe2x80x9d initially cause the abstraction of one or more of the activatable ligands in a manner which ionizes the catalyst into a cation, then provides a bulky, labile, non-coordinating anion which stabilizes the catalyst in a cationic form. The bulky, non-coordinating anion permits olefin polymerization to proceed at the cationic catalyst center (presumably because the non-coordinating anion is sufficiently labile to be displaced by monomer which coordinates to the catalyst). Preferred ionic activators are boron-containing ionic activators described in (i)xe2x80x94(iii) below:
(i) compounds of the formula [R5]+ [B(R7)4]xe2x88x92 wherein B is a boron atom, R5 is an aromatic hydrocarbyl (e.g. triphenyl methyl cation) and each R7 is independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted with from 3 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of a fluorine atom, a C1-4 alkyl or alkoxy radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by a fluorine atom; and a silyl radical of the formula xe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94(R9)3; wherein each R9 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a C1-4 alkyl radical; and
(ii) compounds of the formula [(R8)tZH]+[B(R7)4]xe2x88x92 wherein B is a boron atom, H is a hydrogen atom, Z is a nitrogen atom or phosphorus atom, t is 2 or 3 and R8 is selected from the group consisting of C1-8 alkyl radicals, a phenyl radical which is unsubstituted or substituted by up to three C1-4 alkyl radicals, or one R8 taken together with the nitrogen atom may form an anilinium radical and R7 is as defined above; and
(iii) compounds of the formula B(R7)3 wherein R7 is as defined above.
In the above compounds preferably R7 is a pentafluorophenyl radical, and R5 is a triphenylmethyl cation, Z is a nitrogen atom and R8 is a C1-4 alkyl radical or R8 taken together with the nitrogen atom forms an anilinium radical which is substituted by two C1-4 alkyl radicals.
The xe2x80x9cionic activatorxe2x80x9d may abstract one or more activatable ligands so as to ionize the catalyst center into a cation but not to covalently bond with the catalyst and to provide sufficient distance between the catalyst and the ionizing activator to permit a polymerizable olefin to enter the resulting active site.
Examples of ionic activators include:
triethylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
tripropylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
trimethylammonium tetra(p-tolyl)boron,
trimethylammonium tetra(o-tolyl)boron,
tributylammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron,
tripropylammonium tetra(o,p-dimethylphenyl)boron,
tributylammonium tetra(m,m-dimethylphenyl)boron,
tributylammonium tetra(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)boron,
tributylammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron,
tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetra(o-tolyl)boron,
N,N-dimethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron,
N,N-diethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron,
N,N-diethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)n-butylboron,
N,N-2,4,6-pentamethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron,
di-(isopropyl)ammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron,
dicyclohexylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
triphenylphosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
tri(methylphenyl)phosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron,
tropilliur tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate,
triphenylmethylium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate,
benzene(diazonium)tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate,
tropillium phenyltrispentafluorophenyl borate,
triphenylmethylium phenyltrispentafluorophenyl borate,
benzene(diazonium)phenyltrispentafluorophenyl borate,
tropillium tetrakis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate,
triphenylmethylium tetrakis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate,
benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate,
tropillium tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate,
benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate,
tropillium tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate,
triphenylmethylium tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate,
benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate,
tropillium tetrakis(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)borate,
triphenylmethylium tetrakis(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, and
benzene(diazonium)tetrakis(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)borate.
Readily commercially available ionic activators include: N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, and trispentafluorophenyl borane.
Heterogeneous Catalysts
The catalysts of this invention are used in a particulate or heterogeneous form. It is also highly preferred that the catalyst does not cause reactor fouling. The art of preparing heterogeneous catalysts which do not lead to reactor fouling is not adequately understood, though it is generally accepted that the catalytic material should be very well anchored to the support so as to reduce the incidence of fouling resulting from the deposition of catalyst or cocatalyst which has dissociated from the support.
In general, heterogeneous catalysts may be grouped into three main categories:
3.1. xe2x80x9cUnsupportedxe2x80x9d Alumoxane/Catalyst Mixtures
These catalysts may be easily prepared by evaporating the solvent or diluent from a liquid mixture of an alumoxane and the two catalyst components. The resulting product is a solid at room temperature due to the comparatively high molecular weight of the alumoxane. Thus, the alumoxane forms the support. This may be done xe2x80x9cin-situxe2x80x9d (i.e. in the reactor) by spraying the alumoxane and catalysts into the reactor.
There are two disadvantages to using alumoxane as the support. The first is cost: alumoxanes are comparatively expensivexe2x80x94and the alumoxane is used as an expensive xe2x80x9csupportxe2x80x9d material). The second is xe2x80x9creaction continuity/foulingxe2x80x9d (i.e. the alumoxane may partially melt under polymerization conditions, leading to reactor instability/fouling).
3.2. Conventional Supported Catalysts
Supported catalysts are conventionally prepared by depositing the catalyst components and a cocatalyst on a very porous metal oxide support such as silica or alumina. The catalyst and cocatalyst are substantially contained within the pore structure of the metal oxide particle. This means that a comparatively large metal oxide particle is used (typically particle size of from 40 to 80 microns). The preparation of this type of supported catalyst is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,561 (Welborn, to Exxon).
Metal oxides, especially silica or alumina, are preferred support materials. Other supports known to those skilled in the art include polymers (such as polyolefins or polystyrene-co-divinyl benzene), zeolites and ceramics.
3.3. Filled/Spray Dried Catalysts
This method of catalyst preparation is also well known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,310; 5,674,795 and 5,672,669 (all to Union Carbide) teach the preparation of a heterogeneous catalyst by spray drying a mixture which contains a metallocene catalyst, an alumoxane cocatalyst and a xe2x80x9cfillerxe2x80x9d which is characterized by having a very small particle size (less than one micron) and by being unreactive with the catalyst and cocatalyst. The examples illustrate the use of very fine particle size xe2x80x9cfumedxe2x80x9d silica which has been treated to reduce the concentration of surface hydroxyls. The resulting catalysts exhibit good productivity. Moreover, they offer the potential to provide a catalyst which is not prone to xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d (as the catalyst may be evenly distributed, at low concentration, throughout the heterogeneous matrix). However, these catalysts suffer from the potential disadvantage of being very friable because they are prepared with a fine, xe2x80x9cinertxe2x80x9d filler material which does not react with/anchor to the catalyst or cocatalyst.
Friable catalyst particles lead to the formation of xe2x80x9cfinesxe2x80x9d in the polyethylene product, and may also aggravate reactor fouling problems.
An alternative approach is the preparation of spray dried catalysts using a hydrotalcite as a xe2x80x9creactivexe2x80x9d filler (as opposed to the unreactive filler described in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. to Union Carbide). This method of catalyst preparation is described in more detail in a commonly assigned patent application. Either approach is suitable for use with the catalysts of this invention.
4. Polymerization Processes
The catalysts of this invention are suitable for use in any conventional olefin polymerization process, such as the so-called xe2x80x9cgas phasexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cslurryxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9chigh pressurexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9csolutionxe2x80x9d polymerization processes.
The polymerization process according to this invention uses ethylene and may include other monomers which are copolymerizable therewith such as other alpha olefins (having from three to ten carbon atoms, preferably butene, hexene or octene) and, under certain conditions, dienes such as hexadiene isomers, vinyl aromatic monomers such as styrene or cyclic olefin monomers such as norbomene.
The present invention may also be used to prepare elastomeric co- and terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and optionally one or more diene monomers. Generally, such elastomeric polymers will contain about 50 to abut 75 weight % ethylene, preferably about 50 to 60 weight % ethylene and correspondingly from 50 to 25% of propylene. A portion of the monomers, typically the propylene monomer, may be replaced by a conjugated diolefin. The diolefin may be present in amounts up to 10 weight % of the polymer although typically is present in amounts from about 3 to 5 weight %. The resulting polymer may have a composition comprising from 40 to 75 weight % of ethylene, from 50 to 15 weight % of propylene and up to 10 weight % of a diene monomer to provide 100 weight % of the polymer. Preferred but not limiting examples of the dienes are dicyclopentadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, 5-methylene-2-norbornene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbomene and 5-vinyl-2-norbornene. Particularly preferred dienes are 5-ethylidene-2-norbomene and 1,4-hexadiene.
The polyethylene polymers which may be prepared in accordance with the present invention typically comprise not less than 60, preferably not less than 70 weight % of ethylene and the balance one or more C4-10 alpha olefins, preferably selected from the group consisting of 1 -butene, 1-hexene and 1-octene. The polyethylene prepared in accordance with the present invention may be linear low density polyethylene having density from about 0.910 to 0.935 g/cc. The present invention might also be useful to prepare polyethylene having a density below 0.910 g/ccxe2x80x94the so-called very low and ultra low density polyethylenes.
The catalyst of this invention is preferably used in a slurry polymerization process or a gas phase polymerization process.
The typical slurry polymerization process uses total reactor pressures of up to about 50 bars and reactor temperature of up to about 200xc2x0 C. The process employs a liquid medium (e.g. an aromatic such as toluene or an alkane such as hexane, propane or isobutane) in which the polymerization takes place. This results in a suspension of solid polymer particles in the medium. Loop reactors are widely used in slurry processes. Detailed descriptions of slurry polymerization processes are widely reported in the open and patent literature.
In general, a fluidized bed gas phase polymerization reactor employs a xe2x80x9cbedxe2x80x9d of polymer and catalyst which is fluidized by a flow of monomer which is at least partially gaseous. Heat is generated by the enthalpy of polymerization of the monomer flowing through the bed. Unreacted monomer exits the fluidized bed and is contacted with a cooling system to remove this heat. The cooled monomer is then re-circulated through the polymerization zone together with xe2x80x9cmake-upxe2x80x9d monomer to replace that which was polymerized on the previous pass. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the xe2x80x9cfluidizedxe2x80x9d nature of the polymerization bed helps to evenly distribute/mix the heat of reaction and thereby minimize the formation of localized temperature gradients (or xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d). Nonetheless, it is essential that the heat of reaction be properly removed so as to avoid softening or melting of the polymer (and the resultant-and highly undesirablexe2x80x94xe2x80x9creactor chunksxe2x80x9d). The obvious way to maintain good mixing and cooling is to have a very high monomer flow through the bed. However, extremely high monomer flow causes undesirable polymer entrainment.
An alternative (and preferable) approach to high monomer flow is the use of an inert condensable fluid which will boil in the fluidized bed (when exposed to the enthalpy of polymerization), then exit the fluidized bed as a gas, then come into contact with a cooling element which condenses the inert fluid. The condensed, cooled fluid is then returned to the polymerization zone and the boiling/condensing cycle is repeated.
The above-described use of a condensable fluid additive in a gas phase polymerization is often referred to by those skilled in the art as xe2x80x9ccondensed mode operationxe2x80x9d and is described in additional detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,399 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,749. As noted in the ""399 reference, it is permissible to use alkanes such as butane, pentanes or hexanes as the condensable fluid and the amount of such condensed fluid preferably does not exceed about 20 weight per cent of the gas phase.
Other reaction conditions for the polymerization of ethylene which are reported in the ""399 reference are:
Preferred Polymerization Temperatures: about 75xc2x0 C. to about 115xc2x0 C. (with the lower temperatures being preferred for lower melting copolymersxe2x80x94especially those having densities of less than 0.915 g/ccxe2x80x94and the higher temperatures being preferred for higher density copolymers and homopolymers); and
Pressure: up to about 1000 psi (with a preferred range of from about 100 to 350 psi for olefin polymerization).
The ""399 reference teaches that the fluidized bed process is well adapted for the preparation of polyethylene but further notes that other monomers may be employedxe2x80x94as is the case in the process of this invention.


An antenna suitable for use as a phased array antenna of a radar system. The antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements, and a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) configured to form a feed network to couple energy from a plurality of inputs to the radiating elements. The feed network includes over-moded waveguide couplers configured so energy propagates through an over-moded section in multiple modes, TE10 and TE20 modes for example. The feed network also defines sub-arrays configured such that half of the radiators of a sub-group are shared with an adjacent sub-group of an adjacent sub-array, i.e. the sub-arrays are configured to have 50% overlap. Preferably, the feed-network is formed about a single layer of substrate material.

Radar systems often require an antenna with many elements to provide the required gain, beam-width, etc. Electronic scanning or digital beam-forming using an array of antenna elements or radiating elements is known, but is often undesirably costly to implement since phase control modules and/or receivers for each radiating element are typically required. For limited scan, a phased array antenna may be formed by grouping the radiating elements into sub-arrays. This reduces the number of phase control modules/receivers required, but undesirably leads to grating lobes. Grating lobes can be mitigated by appropriately increasing the number of radiating elements in each sub-array to narrow the sub-array pattern in a manner that does not increase the spacing between the sub-arrays. This requires the sub-arrays to be overlapped, that is, elements shared between sub-arrays. However, acceptable grating lobe suppression is difficult to achieve for limited scan antennas that use sub-arrays. U.S. Pat. No. 7,868,828 entitled PARTIALLY OVERLAPPED SUB-ARRAY ANTENNA, issued Jan. 11, 2011 to Shi et al. describes an antenna with sub-arrays that overlap one-fourth or twenty five percent (25%) of the radiation elements, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Antenna with fifty percent overlapped subarrays


A semiconductor device includes a data bus inversion (DBI) decision unit suitable for deciding whether a DBI operation mode is performed, based on a read data, and generating a DBI decision signal corresponding to a result of the decision; an output control unit suitable for generating an arrangement control signal in which a delay amount of time for the decision is reflected, in a DBI operation mode; a data synchronization unit suitable for synchronizing the read data with the arrangement control signal and output the synchronized read data and inverted signals of the synchronized read data, in the DBI operation mode; and a data output unit suitable for selectively outputting the synchronized read data and the inverted signals of the synchronized read data, to an external in response to the DBI decision signal, the arrangement control signal and an output control signal, in the DBI operation mode.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device for supporting a data bus inversion operation mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices including a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) may support a data bus inversion (DBI) operation mode to reduce current consumption generated in data transmission.
For example, in the DBI operation mode, a semiconductor device inverts and transmits a data when the number of bits with a logic low level is greater than that of bits with a logic high level in the data. This is because an amount of current consumption for transmission of a bit with a logic low level is greater than that of a bit with a logic high level when transmission lines for the data transmission are terminated to a source voltage VDDQ.
The data inversion makes the number of bits with a logic low level to be less than a half of the number of total bits of the data when the data is transmitted through the transmission lines.
The semiconductor device may be desirable to delay command and data by a delay time caused in determining the DBI. Such delaying of the command and data guarantees operation reliability of the semiconductor device by compensating for data transmission timing in the DBI operation mode.


A weatherproof cover for protecting electrical receptacles from the harsh elements of weather is disclosed herein. This novel weatherproof cover is operable while the electrical receptacle is in use and includes a weatherproof switch that controls power to the receptacle such that when the receptacle cover of the weatherproof cover is closed after the insertion of an electrical appliance plug, the weatherproof switch can be selected to the ON position to provide power to the receptacle. Power can be subsequently removed or disconnected from the receptacle by simply selecting the OFF position of the switch. Thus, the weatherproof cover protects the receptacle from damage “While-In-Use” and provides a disconnect switch to control power to the receptacle without having to open the receptacle cover.

Electrical receptacles provide a convenient means of supplying electrical power to electrical devices or appliances. In particular, outdoor lighting, yard equipment, recreation equipment, and the like make use of an electrical distribution system through access of these electrical receptacles located in the exterior walls of building structures such as homes and commercial buildings.
Specifically, in a typical electrical power installation, an electrical receptacle is connected to electrical conductors and then the receptacle is inserted into an electrical junction box. Exposure of electrical conductors to water and moisture deteriorates these conductors, therefore these electrical receptacles located in the exterior walls of the building structure must be protected from the elements of weather. Moreover, in certain regions where there is either extreme heat or extreme cold, damage to other components incorporated within the electrical receptacle may occur.
A first approach is to shield the electrical receptacle from the damaging effects of weather by using a weather-resistant outdoor electrical receptacle cover. Specifically, to prevent exposure of the electrical conductors to exterior elements, the receptacle cover is mounted over the receptacle. These weather-resistant covers are used in conjunction with electrical boxes or other housings to protectively enclose a variety of electrical devices. As a result, ready access to exterior electrical receptacles and protection from moisture and weather is available.
The usual weatherproof cover assembly also includes one or more doors or lids hinged to the cover plate to protect the electrical fixture mounted in the associated box from the weather when the fixture is not in use. In some cases, a single door protects an entire fixture; and, in other cases, each aperture of the electrical receptacle has its own cover such that one receptacle of an outlet can be in use while the other outlet receptacle is protected from the weather by an overlying cover.
The drawback of this approach is that when the receptacle is in use, the weather-resistant cover is open and, thereby, not effective in protecting the receptacle against damaging weather conditions. In practice, the receptacle is used by opening the weatherproof receptacle cover and inserting a plug into the receptacle. However, the weatherproof cover remains open while the receptacle is in use which may reduce the effectiveness of the cover in protecting the receptacle from the harsh environment. As such, most prior outdoor cover assemblies are at a disadvantage in that they provide protection against the weather only when the associated electrical fixtures are not in use—when the cover plate doors are closed. As soon as the cover doors are swung open to provide access to the associated electrical device, these fixtures are exposed to the elements and, thereby, become vulnerable to damage.
Accordingly, there is a series of weather-resistant cover assemblies which protect the associated electrical devices, usually electrical receptacles, from the weather when the fixtures are in use. These weather-resistant cover assemblies that provide protection while the electrical receptacle is in use are desirable since it is sometimes preferred to leave certain outdoor appliances plugged into an outdoor outlet for extended periods of time. Examples of such appliances include outdoor lighting such as spotlights. Even when an appliance is not intended to be left plugged in for an extended period of time, it is also sometimes preferred to provide weather resistant protection for the appliance plug during use. These known assemblies which can protect receptacles during use have hinged lids or doors which are deep enough to provide clearance for a plug or plugs plugged into the electrical receptacle being protected by the cover assembly. These assemblies also include openings for accommodating the electrical cords terminated by the plug or plugs, which openings are located at the bottoms of the assemblies so that the openings do not admit rainwater.
In cases, however, where there are opposing surfaces such as a pavement or a wall near the electrical receptacle, where, for example, rainwater can bounce off and enter the opening, the weatherproof cover will be rendered ineffective. In addition, if the electrical receptacle is a horizontally aligned electrical receptacle, the bottom opening for the appliance cord is no longer oriented downward creating a greater likelihood that water, moisture or other substances will enter the protected area. Accordingly, such covers would be unsuitable for protecting horizontally aligned electrical receptacles.
Moreover, in the aforementioned select case where it is preferred to leave certain outdoor appliances plugged into an outdoor outlet for extended periods of time, it may be desirable that the appliance plug be stabilized or locked in place. Particularly, when, for example, windy weather conditions are present, the wind may dislodge the appliance plug and, in turn, possibly damage the receptacle terminals by increasing contact distortion and, thereby, increasing the risk of loose contacts. In addition, some appliances may be damaged by a surge of current if the appliance plug is removed before the appliance has been properly prepared for powering down. Presently, there are no weatherproof covers available that provide the necessary features to secure the appliance plug in the electrical receptacle. Given these two scenarios, there is a need for a weatherproof cover having a locking mechanism to protect against unintentional removal of the plug from the electrical receptacle.
Furthermore, in the case where it is preferred to leave certain outdoor appliances plugged into an outdoor outlet for extended periods of time, it may be desirable to disable the power supplied to the appliance without removal of the appliance plug. Conventional weatherproof covers, however, provide consistent power at all times to an appliance in contact with the electrical receptacle. Thus, there is also a need for a weatherproof cover having a control unit that enables and disables the power provided to the electrical receptacle.
In summary, weatherproof covers designed to date are flawed in that they do not completely protect an electrical receptacle regardless of whether the electrical receptacle is in use or not. The conventional weatherproof cover only protects an electrical receptacle while the electrical receptacle is not in use. Other covers that provide protection while the electrical receptacle is in use leave enough space or a gap for a plug to be inserted into the electrical receptacle which enables the cover to shield both the plug and the electrical receptacle. Water, however, may seep underneath this particular type of cover as water bounces off opposing surfaces situated near the electrical receptacle, making these covers ineffective.
Thus, a need exists for a weatherproof cover for an electrical receptacle that is enabled to close completely when the receptacle is in use. Further, there is a need for a weatherproof cover that is enabled to stabilize or lock an appliance plug in position. Moreover, there is a need for a weatherproof cover that includes a power enabling and disabling feature that disables the power supplied to the appliance without removal of the appliance plug.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.

Weatherproof cover and disconnect switch


The present invention relates to methods, a user equipment and a communication network node for efficiently utilizing radio resources in a communication system comprising said communication network node (15) serving cells (19) between which one or more user equipment (18) is moving. When a user equipment (18) detects a power shortage situation it is arranged to transmit a report, such as a scheduling information signalling, triggered by the power shortage situation, whereby the communication network node is allowed to take a pre-determined action regarding the available radio resources.

In release 6 of the 3GPP WCDMA specifications, the support for high speed packet data in the uplink has been improved with a new uplink transport channel, Enhanced Dedicated Transport Channel (E-DCH). The E-DCH supports higher data rates, Node B HARQ with soft combining and a fast Node B scheduling.
With the new scheduling functionality, the Node B can limit the maximum rate that a UE may use by issuing "grants" to the UE. However, as the Node B is not aware of the detailed buffer status or the available power in the UE, the final rate selection resides in the UE. The system and functionality description for the Enhanced uplink describes the mechanism for the rate selection in the UE. Basically the UE should use the minimum rate selected among the issued grant, "system granted rate" or "UE evaluated maximum rate based on power consumptions".
When the UE is limited by its own maximum Tx power, it has to evaluate which rate it can support (the UE does this evaluation all the time in order to find out whether it is power or grant limited) in order not to end up in a power shortage situation. With a power shortage situation is meant that the UE does not have enough power to transmit a selected transport format, E-TFC, with the intended power. This means that the UE has overestimated the rate, that can be supported and the transport block is transmitted with lower power than what is configured. As a consequence the probability that the transmission cannot be detect correctly is increased and additional transmissions may be needed.
When the UE starts to experience power shortage, the long term (and preferred) solution is to change the used E-TFC so that the available power is enough for a proper transmission. This action takes some TTIs to accomplish. During this execution time, the UE starts to temporarily reduce the power allocation to the Enhanced data channel (E-DPDCH).
The UE rate selection (E-TFC selection) is based on the power used for the control channel (DPCCH) together with power offset values for each existing transport format (E-TFC), i.e. βed. Based on the DPCCH power and βed's, the UE evaluates which E-TFC it can support. The intermediate temporal power reduction is carried out by reducing the βed factor on slot basis.
For the UE to request resources from the Node B(s), scheduling requests are transmitted in the uplink in the form of Scheduling Information (SI) and Happy Bit. The SI will be transmitted for the logical channels configured so that reporting has to be made, while the Happy Bit always should be included in the E-DPCCH, whenever the E-DPCCH is transmitted.
The SI is located at the end of the MAC-e PDU and is used to provide the serving Node B with a better view of the amount of system resources needed by the UE and the amount of resources the UE actually can make use of.
The UE includes the following in the Scheduling Information: 'Logical channel ID of the highest priority channel with data in buffer (HLID, 4 bits)'; 'Total E-DCH Buffer Status (TEBS, 5 bits), 'Highest priority Logical channel Buffer Status' (HLBS, 4 bits); and 'UE Power Headroom (UPH, 5 bits)', i.e. this field indicates the ratio of the maximum UE transmission power and the corresponding DPCCH code power.
The reported UE transmission power headroom measurement result shall be an estimate of the average value of the UE transmission power headroom over a 100 ms period.
According to current procedures, the SI will be reported to the Node B following some criterion. In the case where the UE is not allowed to transmit scheduled data (because it has no serving grant available or it has received an absolute grant preventing it from transmitting in any process) and it has scheduled data to send on a logical channel for which SI must be reported the serving E-DCH RLS in a MAC-e PDU:                Periodic reporting to protect against NACK-to-ACK misinterpretation;        Scheduling information could be sent alone, or with non-scheduled data, if such exist;        Scheduling information will also be triggered if higher priority data arrives in buffer.
From a "not wasting system resources" point of view, the scenario where the UE is allowed to transmit scheduled data and has scheduled data to send on a logical channel for which SI must be reported but do not have enough power left, is important to handle.
Using today's solution for selecting when a SI (UPH information) should be triggered, there is no mechanism that takes the UE's power situation into consideration, nor it is possible for the UE to decide when to inform the system (Node B) about the current situation.
Not having this information, the Node B cannot have updated information on the local power demand (interference situation), and risks to waste system capacity. For example, during the temporary power reduction of the E-DPDCH, retransmission(s) will trigger repeated increases of the SIR-target through the Outer-Loop Power Control (OLPC), thus wasting capacity and end-user throughput. Additionally, the Node B might give grant to a UE that cannot make use of it.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A hydraulic tensioner having a pre-loaded spring at the upper end of the piston to reduce the peak operating loads in a timing chain system. The spring member is located between the primary piston and an upper secondary piston.

The present invention is directed to a hydraulic tensioner having a pre-loaded spring, or force limiting spring, contacting the upper end of the piston to reduce the peak operating loads in a timing chain system.
Hydraulic tensioners are typically used as a control device for a chain drive system in an automobile timing system. Generally, it is important to impart and maintain a certain degree of tension to the chain to prevent noises or slippage. Prevention of slippage is especially important in the case of a chain driven camshaft in an internal combustion engine because slippage may alter the camshaft timing by several degrees, possibly causing damage. The tension in the chain may vary greatly due to the wide variation in the temperature and the linear thermal expansion among the various parts of the engine. Camshaft and crankshaft induced torsional vibrations cause chain tension to vary considerably. This tension variation results in chain elongation. Moreover, wear to the chain components during prolonged use can produce a decrease in the tension of the chain.
A hydraulic tensioner is used to take up the slack in the chain or belt that connects the camshafts to the crankshaft of the engine timing system. A typical hydraulic tensioner is comprised of a housing having a bore, a fluid chamber defined by the bore, and a hollow piston biased in a protruding direction from the bore by a spring. A check valve is also included in the hydraulic tensioner to permit fluid flow from a source of pressurized fluid into the fluid chamber, while preventing back flow in the reverse direction. The force of the chain against the piston in an inward direction is balanced by the resistance force of the fluid and force of the spring in an outward direction.
When the piston tends to move in the reverse direction, the check valve closes to restrict outflow of fluid from the chamber. Only a small clearance between the piston and the housing wall permits some fluid to escape, thereby allowing the piston to retract. In such a fashion, the tensioner achieves a so-called no-return function.
However, a potential problem with hydraulic tensioners is that the no-return function may present difficulties in accommodating tension spikes or surges in the chain. When a timing device operates at its resonant frequency, the chain load increases significantly. The small clearance between the piston and the housing wall is not sufficient to quickly release the hydraulic fluid in the chamber to accommodate the sudden overload of the chain.
One example of a tensioner that addresses this problem is described in Suzuki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,927. Suzuki discloses a hydraulic ball-type check valve tensioner having a piston slidably fitted into a chamber and biased by a spring in a protruding direction. This tensioner includes a relief valve having a sleeve slidably fitted in an auxiliary chamber in communication with the first chamber, with a spring biasing the sleeve into a depressed position to block a discharge part. Oil in the first chamber flows into the auxiliary chamber to force the sleeve against the biasing spring action to unblock the discharge port. Unfortunately, this relief valve may be slow to open and close due to high mass and subject to variable friction between the sleeve and auxiliary chamber wall. This may vary the pressure at which the relief valve operates.
Another example of a hydraulic tensioner that addresses the problem of overload is described in Mittermeier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,103. Mittermeier discloses a hydraulic tensioner having a piston slidably fitted into a chamber and biased by a spring in a protruding direction. This tensioner includes a relief valve in a bore at the protruding end of the piston. This relief valve is a spring-biased ball type valve with the spring set against a threaded throttle plug capping the bore. Oil in the first chamber forces the ball open, upon reaching a set high pressure, and flows into the bore past the throttle plug threads to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, this relief valve may be slow to release large displacements of oil because of the restricted path past the threads and resultant back-pressure build up against the ball.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tensioner, which can maintain a substantially constant tensioning force. A pre-loaded spring device eliminates the need for an expensive pressure relief valve. A pre-loaded spring device also eliminates expensive wear face materials used in timing systems and especially in extraordinary strong timing chains used in systems with high resonance loads.

Hydraulic tensioner with force limiting tensioner spring


A toner cartridge used with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an outer circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum, a toner supplying roller that supplies toner onto the developing roller, a main chamber that stores the toner, a guide member that is disposed under the toner supplying roller to receive the toner and to guide the toner toward the developing roller, a toner recovery chamber that is formed under the guide member to form a space where the toner remaining on the guide member, which is not supplied to the developing roller, can accumulate, a recovery roller that rotates in the toner recovery chamber to return the toner in the toner recovery chamber to the main chamber, and a toner blocking film that is installed on a lower portion of the guide member to prevent the toner from directly leaking to the toner recovery chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a toner cartridge used with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a toner cartridge used with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which includes a unit to effectively recover toner from a developing roller and a toner supplying roller.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a dry type color laser printer, is an apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive substance, develops the image using powder toner, and transfers the developed image on a sheet of paper through a predetermined transferring medium to form the image on the paper. The image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge as a developing unit, which is disposed to access the photosensitive substance and contains dry toner, to develop the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive substance.
Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 2001-255727 discloses a developing apparatus including a developing roller, and a toner cartridge that supplies toner to the developing apparatus. The toner cartridge is vertically disposed to supply the toner to a toner chamber in the developing apparatus. Thus, a printer including the above developing apparatus requires a large vertical volume.
In a dry type color printer having a compact structure, a toner cartridge is formed in a horizontal direction as a developing unit, thus requiring a structure, in which toner cartridges of a plurality of colors are vertically stacked.

Toner cartridge used with electrophotographic image forming apparatus


 Methods and apparatus to coordinate multiple access point scheduling and transmission disclosed. An example apparatus includes transmit first instructions to a first station and a second station to perform a signal measurement protocol; responsive to obtaining a first primary association from the first station and a secondary association or a second primary association from the second station, transmit second instructions to the first station to provide first directional information and the second station to provide second directional information; a processor to, when the first directional information corresponds to a first value within a threshold range of a second value corresponding to the second directional information, group the first station and the second station; and the interface to transmit information corresponding to the group to a server to schedule communications between a first and second access point and the first station and the second station.

Many locations provide Wi-Fi to connect Wi-Fi enabled devices to networks such as the Internet. Wi-Fi enabled devices include personal computers, video-game consoles, mobile phones and devices, digital cameras, tablets, smart televisions, digital audio players, etc. Wi-Fi allows the Wi-Fi enabled devices to wirelessly access the Internet via a wireless local area network (WLAN). To provide Wi-Fi connectivity to a device, a Wi-Fi access point transmits a radio frequency Wi-Fi signal to the Wi-Fi enabled device within the access point (e.g., a hotspot) signal range. Wi-Fi is implemented using a set of media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications (e.g., such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol).
The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.

Methods, systems, and apparatus to coordinate multiple access point scheduling and transmission


This disclosure relates to a cell-placeable variable-frequency digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) that consumes approximately the same current in a fast process corner as in the case of a slow process corner. By modulating the effective channel length of transistors in inverters, a fast process DCO may be slowed down to a desired frequency at nearly the same current consumption as that of a slow process DCO.

Process variations, such as mask errors in lithography and die fabrication, occur during manufacturing one batch of chips and another batch of chips, resulting in overdoping or underdoping of the components in that batch. When a batch is overdoped, it produces transistors with more current capacity because it has more carriers. These are called strong transistors because they can sink more current than the designer desired. On the other hand, an underdoped batch may result in weaker transistors because they may sink less current than the design anticipated.
"Process corner" refers to a set of conditions related to manufacturing process of an integrated circuit. Several process corners are possible, including, fast process corner, slow process corner, n-fast/p-slow corner and p-fast/n-slow corner. The transistors in a fast process corner are strong, that is, they sink more current than the design anticipated. A fast process corner produces a highest acceptable transconductance value for a transistor of a given size. On the other hand, in a slow process corner, the transistors are weak and sink less current than anticipated, and the transistors of a given size have the lowest acceptable transconductance value. In an n-fast/p-slow process corner, the N-MOS transistors sink more current than the designer anticipated, while the P-MOS transistors sink less current than expected by the design. Similarly, in a p-fast/n-slow process corner, the N-MOS sink relatively less current, while the P-MOS transistors sink relatively more current than was anticipated by the circuit design.
In a PLL, if the output frequency of a controlled oscillator (CO) is plotted against input control voltage across different corner, each corner may appear at a different slope representing different gain. But the goal is to deliver the necessary frequency range across all process corners. To achieve this result, a circuit must have more gain than optimal, that is, more gain than would be needed if process variations were not an issue. Alternatively, the power in a fast process corner may have to be reduced to nearly the same as in a slow process corner. In general, a designer configures the circuit with more gain to ensure that the full frequency range is delivered even in case of a slow process corner. A PLL so designed must operate in a stable manner in case of a fast process corner where a DCO may have more gain than the optimal solution.
One method of managing process variations is to add capacitive loads between stages and thereby creating a number of stages. Another method is to use a parallel path to change drive strength of stages. Other methods require a bias generator block but that complicates the design. Moreover, starting up a DCO with bias generator block may take time unless the bias block was always turned on, but this may not be suitable for applications where power consumption must be kept low when the DCO is stopped. All other methods, therefore, may achieve the desired frequency control, but inefficient as to power consumption or have poor starting characteristics. Accordingly there is identified a need for an improvement in the art.

Digitally controlled oscillator for reduced power over process variations


A multi-beam optical head includes a plurality of light sources for emitting a plurality of light beams. An optical system for irradiating the light beams onto the recording surface of a recording medium is included and receives the light beams reflected from the recording medium. The optical system includes a reflecting mirror for directing the light beams emitted from the light sources toward the recording medium; a photodetector for detecting the light beams received by the optical system and for generating electric signals based on the detected light beams; and rotational controller for controlling the reflecting mirror to rotate around an axis which is perpendicular to the recording surface by an amount determined based on the electric signals. The reflecting mirror positions the light beams on tracks on the recording surface of the recording medium. The tracks are tracks on which information is recorded from which the information is reproduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-beam optical head for recording information on a recording medium and/or for reproducing information from the recording medium, by using a plurality of light beams.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, such as a magneto-optic disk apparatus, has been utilized for an optical file and an external memory device of a computer, because it has a large storage capacity.
In recent years, using the optical information recording and reproducing apparatus as a memory device in a motion picture system, such as a high-definition TV, has been largely required. In the motion picture system, the memory device needs to have a higher data transmission rate. In order to transmit data at a higher rate, a method for recording the information on a plurality of tracks at one time or for reproducing the information recorded on the tracks in parallel is proposed. In this method, a plurality of light beams are irradiated onto a predetermined number of tracks of the recording medium, and then the information is recorded on and/or reproduced from the irradiated tracks. Hereinafter, the optical information recording and reproducing apparatus using a plurality of light beams is referred to as "a multi-beam optical head."
FIG. 6 schematically shows an exemplary configuration of a conventional multi-beam optical head which is used for a magneto-optic disk. This conventional multi-beam optical head includes three laser diodes as light-emitting devices. The three laser diodes are arranged in a line within a light source 1. As shown in FIG. 6, three light beams emitted from the three laser diodes are collimated by a collimator lens 2, and then enter a shaping prism 3. The shaping prism 3 transforms the distribution of light intensity of each of the three collimated light beams into an approximately round-shaped one. The shaped beams pass through a beam splitter 4 and an image rotatory prism 6 in this order. Then, after being reflected by a reflecting mirror 7 toward a recording medium 5, the shaped beams are converged onto the recording medium 5 by an objective lens 8. In this way, three beams are irradiated onto the recording medium 5 at one time to form three light spots.
A beam spot line constituted by the three light beams irradiated onto the recording medium 5 can be rotated around a rotation axis by rotating the image rotatory prism 6 around this rotation axis by means of a controller (not shown). The rotation axis is parallel to the optical axis of the three light beams.
On the other hand, the three light beams reflected by the recording medium 5 are collimated by the objective lens 8 again; reflected by the reflecting mirror 7; and passed through the image rotatory prism 6 so as to be incident on the beam splitter 4. The reflected light beams are separated from the beams being directed toward the recording medium 5 by the beam splitter 4. Thereafter, each of the beams is split by a Wollaston prism 9 into three light beams having respectively different directions of polarization. Furthermore, the split light beams are directed through a spot lens 10 and a cylindrical lens 11 to a photodetector 12 so as to be optically detected by the photodetector 12.
Based on the detection signal output from the photodetector 12 for detecting these split light beams, a focusing error signal and a tracking error signal are generated in a signal processing circuit (not shown) by an astigmatic method and a push-pull method, respectively.
In accordance with the focus error signal, the position of the objective lens 8 in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium 5 is controlled so as to form focal points on the medium 5. On the other hand, the tracking error signal is used for controlling a positional relationship between the beam spots and the predetermined tracks. The deviation of the three beam spots from the predetermined tracks may occur due to the exchange of the recording medium 5 or the like. In this case, a beam spot line including the beam spots is rotated by rotating the prism 6 based on the tracking error signal so that all of the beam spots are precisely positioned on the predetermined tracks. FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which two spots deviate from the corresponding tracks. In FIG. 7, a beam spot line including three beam spots are at an angle of .DELTA..theta..sub.3 with the predetermined tracks. By rotating the prism 6, the beam spot line is rotated to be at an angle of .DELTA..theta..sub.2 with the predetermined tracks, as shown in FIG. 8, so that all of the three beam spots are precisely positioned on the predetermined tracks.
As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus using multiple beams, the image rotatory prism 6 is required for precisely positioning the beam spots on the predetermined tracks on the recording medium 5, whereas the image rotatory prism 6 is not necessary for an optical head using only one beam. Therefore, the weight of the optical head using multiple beams becomes disadvantageously heavy and the necessary cost increases.
The operation of the image rotatory prism 6 will be described. If the image rotatory prism 6 is rotated around the axis AB parallel to the base of the prism 6 as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 9A, then the light beams, e.g., three beams which converged to form three beam spots .alpha., .beta. and .gamma. on the recording medium 5, as shown in FIG. 9C, are rotated so that the beam spots .alpha., .beta. and .gamma. are displaced to the beam spots .alpha.', .beta.' (=.beta.) and .gamma.' around the center spot .beta. as shown in FIG. 9B. In this case, it is essential that the respective beams are parallel to the rotation axis AB and a central one of the light beams coincides with the rotation axis AB.
On the other hand, if the light beams are not parallel to the rotation axis AB, or the central beam does not coincide with the rotation axis AB, the center beam spot .beta. may be displaced to the different spot .beta.", as shown in FIG. 9D. As a result, all of the beam spots .alpha., .beta. and .gamma. are moved to the spots .alpha.", .beta." and .gamma." by rotation.
Therefore, in the multi-beam optical head including the image rotatory prism 6, the above-mentioned control of the positional relationship between the beam spot line consisting of the beam spots and the predetermined tracks can be performed only when the rotation axis AB of the prism 6 is in parallel to the prism 6 itself and the central beam coincides with the rotation axis AB. This makes the arrangement of optical devices in the multi-beam optical head complicated. Also, optical adjustment of the optical devices is made more difficult because the adjustment must be performed with precision. As a result, the weight of whole optical head increases.


A winding apparatus for winding a web material onto an empty core and into a roll, having a winding drum for guiding the web material supported on a first side, and cutting device for cross-cutting the web material prior to winding of it onto an empty core. The winding apparatus has air nozzles for ejecting compressed air onto the first side of the web material near a free end of the web material. By ejecting a gas, which preferably could be compressed air, onto the free end of the web, the free end is blown towards the empty core which is rotated. When the free end of the web material comes into contact with the rotating empty core, due to the ejected gas/air, the web will easily be “caught” by the rotating empty core, even without tape or adhesive, and a smooth new roll of web material wound.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a winding apparatus suitable for winding a web material, comprising a first and a second side and a free end, onto an empty core and into a roll, the winding apparatus comprising a winding drum for guiding the web material by supporting it on the first side, and further comprises cutting means for cross-cutting the web material prior to it being wound onto an empty core. The winding apparatus also comprises means for moving the empty core from a first position to a second position comprising a set of retainer arms for carrying and moving the core from the first position to the second position near the periphery of the winding drum while web material is being wound onto the core, and for carrying at least one roller that is arranged to lift the web material from the winding drum, during winding, prior to cross-cutting said web material along said roller and thus creating said free end of web material.
Description of Related Art
It is well known to wind different types of webs, e.g., plastic foil or film, paper and other types onto a center roll—a core—made from, e.g., metal, plastic or paper. Also, a core bar, a winding shaft or the like can be used, but in the following text the term "core" will be used as a common term for all the different types of cores and shafts. Such winding processes are performed with high speed, and when one roll is full, the web has to be cut and guided to a new and empty core. In order to attach the web to the core, it is common to add an adhesive to the surface of the roll, for example, either as a hot melt adhesive or preferably as a tape that is attached to the cores and also has an adhesive side facing the web that has to be wound. Web material will typically be wound onto a core during production, and e.g., plastic foil or film will be produced using an extruder and the foil or film will be wound immediately after it leaves the extruder. However, it is common to cut the foil or film into specific widths prior to winding it.
Hot melt or other types of adhesives have a number of drawbacks that make alternative solutions attractive. First of all, it can be difficult to control the hot melt and often the hot melt adhesive will/can be absorbed into the web, and then, several layers of the web material are glued together so as to be of no use, and therefore, must be considered as waste. This is also a known problem when using other types of adhesive. Further, a foil or film that has been glued to the core can block the equipment where the web is being unwound since, if the web sticks to the core, the web might burst which might lead to the equipment being jammed or even damaged by several layers of web material and adhesive being pulled into the equipment.
Another solution that is very common is to add an adhesive tape—often a polypropylene tape—to the core. It is then possible to attach the web to the core when winding the web onto the core, but the tape solution also offers a number of drawbacks. When a roll of web material is empty, the tape can have a tendency to be so strong that the web is broken or torn, thus exerting some unwanted forces onto the equipment. Further, the tape on the core tends to be pulled off from the core and to continue into the apparatus where the web material is processed. This is highly unwanted as the tape may easily damage or require the machinery to be stopped for either cleaning or repair. The tape is, as mentioned, normally made from polypropylene and is not recyclable unlike the paper core and this is another drawback. The tape also has the drawback that the innermost of the layers on the core often will be irregular or even bumpy due to the thickness of the tape. The tape can even have an overall influence on the regularity of the complete roll. If, e.g., a roll of thin plastic film does not have a very even and circular shape, the complete roll can only be sold as a second grade roll, which of course has a negative impact on the price. Adding the tape to a typical paper core is further time consuming and, as a consequence, also expensive.
It is thus very important to be able to wind web material onto a core without the need for adding tape to the core and preferably without use of any other processes that will prevent the web from being unwound until the very last centimeter and without creating a huge amount of waste, and especially waste which is not recyclable.
None of the above known solutions address the above problems, and so far the problem might have been realized, but no solution is given.

Winding apparatus for winding a web into a roll


A system for monitoring maintenance information in a hydroelectric power generation facility comprises sensors coupled to a controller. The sensors detect actual levels of operating parameters for a desired operating period at an operating condition. The detected parameters include a stressor capable of affecting a life span, or mean time between failures, of the turbine or one of its components. The controller determines the amount of the life span used up. A method for monitoring maintenance information in a power generation facility includes the steps of monitoring levels of operating parameters including a stressor for a desired operating period at an operating condition. The stressor affects the life span of the turbine or one of its components, and the amount of the life span used up over the operating period is calculated. A method for monitoring losses in a hydroelectric power generation facility operating to satisfy environmental constraints involves storing predetermined reference signals representative of desired turbine efficiencies over a range of operating levels in a memory circuit. Current levels of operating parameters are sensed while the facility is operating to satisfy the environmental constraints. A sensed parameter signal representative of a current turbine efficiency is generated from the sensed levels of operating parameters. The generated parameter signal is compared to the predetermined reference signals to determine an environmental efficiency loss signal.

The present invention relates generally to monitoring and control of the operation of a hydroelectric power generation facility. In particular, the invention relates to a technique for continuous evaluation of hydraulic performance costs and facility maintenance costs associated with operation of a turbine power generating installation in terms useful to operations, engineering and management personnel.
Various control and monitoring systems have been proposed and are currently available for regulating operation of hydroelectric power production facilities. Such systems are typically dedicated to a particular facet of plant operation, or may more broadly group a number of control systems into a centralized control scheme. It is also known in the art of hydroelectric plant management to determine certain optimal or desired levels of operation, such as gate and blade positions of a Kaplan-type turbine, that are believed to be the best attainable levels for maximizing hydraulic efficiency given the plant technology, environmental constraints and so forth. However, it is also common that a particular facility may not be capable of continuously maintaining the desired levels of key operating parameters. For example, equipment and maintenance requirements, weather conditions, upstream and downstream water management schemes and many other constraints may restrict operation to other than the desired levels. In addition, operation at conditions other than those determined to provide the best hydraulic efficiency may be permitted to exist and continue due to a failure to appreciate the magnitude of the actual or opportunity costs of such operation.
While operations, engineering and management personnel may generally be aware in such situations that the facility is being operated at inefficient levels, except for commonly assigned and co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/700,314, filed Aug. 18, 1996, heretofore known control systems have not provided sufficiently informative feedback relating to the actual performance costs of such operation. In particular, known hydroelectric plant control systems do not quantify inefficient hydraulic operation in economic terms that are readily meaningful to plant personnel. Consequently, correction of such inefficient operation may be delayed unnecessarily, causing the facility to incur unnecessary real or opportunity costs.
The above-identified U.S. application Ser. No. 08/700,314 discloses an improved system for monitoring and evaluating operation of a hydroelectric power generation facility by providing a realistic and continuous estimate of economic costs associated with operating the facility at other than the conditions desired for optimum hydraulic efficiency. The cost evaluation system is capable of comparing current operating conditions to predetermined or identified optimal conditions, and informing plant personnel in real-time of the economic costs of continued operation at current conditions. In addition, the monitoring system is capable of isolating the cost influence of various operating parameters independently, as well as tracking performance and accumulated performance costs, thereby allowing plant personnel to address particular facets of operation independently.
It is also generally known that operational efficiency can be affected by operating a turbine in a mode designed to satisfy environmental constraints. By way of example, hydroelectric power installations including features designed to satisfy environmental constraints by enhancing dissolved oxygen levels in the water flowing through the turbines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,740 (issued Oct. 20, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,130 (issued Mar. 09, 1999), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,657 (issued Apr. 27, 1999). Operating these turbines to enhance the dissolved oxygen level typically causes a loss of hydraulic efficiency in the facility, even though the turbines may each be operating with the gate opening and/or blade positions thought to provide optimal hydraulic efficiency. Although plant personnel may be aware that operation of the turbines to satisfy environmental constraints is resulting in hydraulic efficiency losses, the heretofore known control systems failed to provide sufficient information as to the cost of satisfying such environmental constraints in meaningful economic terms.
In addition to above-described increased operational costs resulting from hydraulic inefficiencies during turbine operation, another cost associated with turbine operation is maintenance cost. In general, turbine components as well as the turbines themselves have expected life spans that are shorter than the anticipated life span of the overall hydro installation, and thus such components and/or units must be periodically maintained and/or replaced. Rehabilitating or replacing turbine components or units typically involves substantial costs in term of both parts and labor as well as lost opportunity cost if the turbine must be shut down for the repair. This problem can be exacerbated if the turbine facility is operated under conditions that produce particularly severe stressors (e.g., excessive vibration or cavitation) known to adversely affect turbine components and result in excessive wear. That is, experience has shown that how the turbine is operated typically has a larger impact on the life of the turbine and its components than any other factor.
As with the heretofore known control systems for monitoring the costs of inefficient hydraulic operation, such control systems also have not provided plant personnel with sufficient information to know how much of the overall life of the turbine or its component is being xe2x80x9cused upxe2x80x9d or accelerated by operation under the current conditions, or the maintenance costs associated with such operation. Accordingly, correction of the conditions causing the stressful or undesirable operation may be delayed unnecessarily, causing the facility to incur real or opportunity costs due to costly, frequent or unnecessary maintenance.
Although theoretical in nature and not heretofore applied to the hydro turbine art, Rabinowicz et al. (1970) has applied a concept known as cumulative damage theory to accelerated life testing of mechanical and electromechanical systems including bearings, light bulbs, electric motors, and electric tools. Cumulative damage theory, which was originally developed in conjunction with fatigue testing of metals (Palmgren, 1924; Miner, 1945; Brook and Parry, 1969), holds that the life of a fatigue specimen, over a wide range of stresses, follows a relationship of this form:
xe2x80x83Life=A"sgr"(xe2x88x92B)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1);
where A is a constant of proportionality, "sgr" is the level of stress in the specimen under test, and B is a numerical constant. The results of Rabinowicz et al. suggest that cumulative damage theory is widely applicable to complex, real-world situations where the precise laws and mechanisms of deterioration are not explicitly known. The ability to evaluate the expected life of equipment under varying conditions would have enormous value in the hydro turbine art because it would allow the economic assessment and optimization of operational parameters and the cost-effective performance of condition-based, and operations-based, maintenance.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved system for monitoring and evaluating operation of a hydroelectric power generation facility that provides a realistic and continuous estimate of performance costs associated with operating the facility to satisfy environmental constraints. Moreover, there is a need for a monitoring system capable of estimating how much of the facility""s or its components"" expected life spans are being used up by continued operation under the current conditions, as well as the maintenance costs associated with such operation. Further, there is a need for a monitoring system capable of isolating the expected life and cost influences of various operating parameters independently, and of tracking present and accumulated life used up as well as maintenance costs associated with the various parameters, thereby allowing plant management to address particular facets of operation independently.
The present invention, featuring a novel technique for utilizing and presenting results from the continuous monitoring of operations for a hydroelectric power generating facility, is designed to respond to these needs. The technique may be adapted to new facilities or may be retrofitted to existing plants, typically without the need for downtime or additional instrumentation.
Thus, the invention features a method for monitoring maintenance-related information in a hydroelectric power generation facility including at least one turbine having turbine components. In accordance with the method, at least one operating parameter is monitored for a desired operating period at an operating condition. The at least one monitored parameter includes a stressor capable of affecting a life span, or mean time between failures, of the turbine or one of its components. In addition, the amount of the life span of the component or turbine used up over the operating period by operating at the operating condition subject to the stressor is calculated. The current, real-time value of the maintenance cost per unit time is also calculated.
The present invention also features a system for monitoring maintenance-related information in a hydroelectric power generation facility including at least one turbine having turbine components. The system comprises at least one sensor coupled to a controller. The at least one sensor is situated in the facility to detect actual levels of at least one operating parameter for a desired operating period at an operating condition. The at least one detected parameter includes a stressor capable of affecting a life span, or mean time between failures, of the turbine or one of its components. The controller is configured to determine the amount of the life span used up at the operating condition subject to the stressor for the operating period.
The invention also features a method for monitoring and evaluating losses in a hydroelectric power generation facility resulting from operating the facility to satisfy environmental constraints. In accordance with the method, a set of predetermined reference signals representative of desired turbine efficiencies over a range of operating levels are stored in a memory circuit. In addition, current levels of operating parameters are sensed while the facility is operating to satisfy the environmental constraints. A sensed parameter signal representative of a current turbine efficiency is then generated from the sensed levels of operating parameters. The generated parameter signal is compared to the predetermined reference signals to determine an environmental efficiency loss signal.
These and other benefits and features of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, presented in connection with the following drawings in which like reference numerals identify like elements throughout.

Method and apparatus for monitoring hydroelectric facility maintenance and environmental costs


When a Landolt ring optotype is presented in a visual acuity testing unit, an examinee answers a position of a slit of the optotype through an operation of a joystick lever or the like. If an examinee gives a right answer within a standard time at a first presentation of optotype, examination at a higher visual acuity grade is executed by presenting a smaller Landolt ring optotype. In case of a right answer over the standard time, reexamination at the same visual acuity grade is executed twice at the most. If a right answer is given at least once, examination at a higher visual acuity grade is executed. In case of a wrong answer within the standard time at a first presentation of optotype, reexamination at the same visual acuity is executed only once. If the right answer is given at this reexamination, examination at a higher visual acuity grade is executed. Reexamination is thus executed, so that the result of the examination is correct. In addition, the examination time can be shortened since necessary number of times of reexaminations is minimum.

A conventional automatic visual acuity testing device which has been proposed shows optotypes to an examinee and automatically tests a visual acuity of the examinee (see Japanese patent application (publication No. H09-1187423, for instance).
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing appearances of a conventional structure of such an automatic visual acuity testing device. A reference numeral 200 is an optotype portion for showing an optotype, such as a Landolt ring, which is inside a housing 201, and a reference numeral 202 is a test window through which an examinee looks into the optotype portion 200, and a reference numeral 203 is a joystick lever to be operated by an examinee for inputting results of recognition of the optotypes. This kind of the automatic visual acuity testing device has such a structure that input of judgment results of optotypes by an examinee through an operation of the joystick lever 203 in a state that the examinees looks into the optotype portion 200 through the test window 202 causes output of tested results through a printer
When suffering from an ophthalmic disease, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, it is known that a person has a narrow visual field or a lacked visual field. For these reasons, visual field devices having various structures have been proposed as devices for finding such diseases (see Japanese patent application the publication number of which is 2002-272685).
FIG. 14 is a typical view showing a structure of a conventional visual field device. In FIG. 14, a reference numeral 400 denotes a projection optical system for projecting stimuli A, and a reference numeral 401 denotes a visual field dome in the shape of a semi-sphere for projecting stimuli. And, a reference numeral 403 is a response switch to be operated by an examinee.
When starting the visual field device in such a state that an examinee fixates a fixation point inside the visual field dome 401, the projection optical system 400 successively displays stimuli A at various positions of the visual field dome 401. An examinee operates the response switch 403 when perceiving the stimulus A, but does not operate when not perceiving. The visual field of an examinee can be measured from displayed positions of the stimuli A.
When an examinee can not immediately perceive too small optotype in the above-mentioned automatic visual acuity testing device, the examinee may operate the joystick lever 203 after taking a longer time, hesitating to respond. In addition, an examinee may give a wrong answer due to error operation of the joystick lever 203 even if the examinee fully recognizes the optotype. Problems remain if the visual acuity is determined only by right or wrong answer of the result of perception of optotype in such cases.
Generally, an examinee immediately operates the response switch 403 when clearly perceiving the stimulus A and slowly operates the response switch 403, hesitating to answer when faintly perceiving the stimulus in the above-mentioned visual field device. A conventional device measures a visual field without considering a time till the operation of the response switch 403, so that proceeding of the examination is not effective.
The object of the invention is to provide a visual acuity testing device for accurately testing a visual acuity, and a visual acuity testing equipment with the visual acuity testing devices.
Besides, the object of the invention is to provide a visual field device for effectively testing a visual field.

Ophthalmic testing unit and ophthalmic testing equipment


A process for manufacturing an electronic device having an HV MOS transistor with a low multiplication coefficient and a high threshold in a non-implanted area of the substrate, this area having the same conductivity type and the same doping level as the substrate. The transistor is obtained by forming, over the non-implanted substrate area, a first gate region of semiconductor material having the same doping type as the non-implanted substrate area; and forming, inside the non-implanted substrate area, first source and drain regions of a second conductivity type, arranged at the sides of the first gate region. At the same time, a dual-gate HV MOS transistor is formed, the source and drain regions of which are housed in a tub formed in the substrate and having the first conductivity type, but at a higher concentration than the non-implanted substrate area. It is moreover possible to form a nonvolatile memory cell simultaneously in a second tub of the substrate of semiconductor material.

The present invention pertains to a process for manufacturing electronic devices comprising high voltage MOS transistors, and an electronic device thus obtained.
Many electronic devices currently present on the market use both NMOS and PMOS high voltage transistors (hereinafter referred to as HV transistors) of the dualgate type (i.e., having the gate region doped with doping ionic species of the same type used for the source and drain regions) and of the drain-extension type. In these manufacturing processes, in order to achieve lengths of the channels of the HV transistors of less than 0.5 xcexcm it is necessary to appropriately increase the doping of the substrate so as to prevent undesired effects, such as punchthrough, i.e., the undesired electrical connection between two regions having different potentials. For this reason, the region designed to house these transistors is enriched with doping ions that may confer on the region the same conductivity type as the substrate, forming a well (or tub) that has a doping level greater than the substrate.
In many devices it is, however, also indispensable to have HV transistors with a low multiplication coefficient (i.e., with a low ratio between the current flowing in the drain region and the current flowing in the substrate) and with a low body effect (i.e., a reduced increase in the threshold voltage of the transistor when the substrate biasing voltage increases), which features require a low doping of the substrate.
A commonly adopted solution to this problem is that of suitably shaping the masks so as to form so-called xe2x80x9cNO-TUBxe2x80x9d HV transistors formed directly in the substrate, instead of in the well or tub.
Since these transistors have a low multiplication coefficient but also a low threshold voltage, they can be used only with appropriate circuit designs to prevent unacceptable parasitic currents. On the other hand, such designs lead to an undesired complication of the circuitry associated to the HV transistors.
The disclosed embodiment of the present invention provides a new process for manufacturing electronic devices comprising HV transistors with a low multiplication coefficient, a low body effect, and a high threshold.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, a process for manufacturing electronic devices comprising HV transistors includes providing a substrate of semiconductor material with a first area having a first conductivity type and a first doping level; forming a first gate region of semiconductor material of the first transistor on the first area of the substrate; and forming in the first area of the substrate, first source and drain regions of a second conductivity type, at the sides of the gate regions, and doping the first gate region with doping species determining the first conductivity type.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing process includes the step of forming a second high voltage MOS transistor in a second area of the substrate and the step of forming the second high voltage transistor includes: Forming, in the second area of the substrate, a first tub having the first conductivity type and a doping level higher than the first area of the substrate; forming a second gate region having the second conductivity type over the first tub; and forming in the first tub source and drain regions of the second conductivity laterally to the second gate region.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the forming of the first source and drain regions and forming of the second source and drain regions is performed simultaneously.

Process for manufacturing electronic devices comprising high voltage MOS transistors, and electronic device thus obtained


A sound source reproducing device which communicates with an electronic device providing images and original sound may be provided. The sound source reproducing device includes: an interface which receives position information of at least one virtual object included in the image and the original sound from the electronic device; and a controller which generates virtual speaker position information corresponding to the position information of the at least one virtual object received from the interface, and converts the original sound received from the interface into a sound source signal for a plurality of speakers on the basis of the virtual speaker position information.

Augmented reality (AR) that is the latest technology trend in various fields such as broadcast, education, medical treatment, manufacture, publication, game, etc., is a derivative of virtual reality and combines real world and virtual world. According to the virtual reality, a real world environment is built into the virtual world by means of a computer environment and people are immersed in the virtual reality, thereby implementing interaction between human and computers. According to the augmented reality, additional information generated by using a computer model is projected on and interacted with real world information, so that people can more realistically experience a variety of digital information about the real world
In such an augment reality or virtual reality, a sound source as well as 3D images can be reproduced.
However, according to a sound source system that is implemented in a conventional virtual reality or augment reality, there is a disadvantage in that it is difficult to determine the correct position of the sound source. In this case, since only the feeling of the position of the sound source is transmitted, there is a requirement that the correct position of the reproduced sound source is determined and provided to a user.
Also, when the reproduced sound source is intended to be listened to by wearing a head mount display (HMD), a sound source reproducing device mounted within the HMD makes the HMD heavier and the user feel uncomfortable. Therefore, for the purpose of solving such a problem, the sound source needs to be reproduced through a plurality of speakers located outside the HMD.

Sound reproduction apparatus for reproducing virtual speaker based on image information


A curved liquid crystal display panel is disclosed. The curved liquid crystal display panel includes a color filter substrate and an array substrate disposed corresponding to the color filter substrate. The array substrate has pixel electrodes disposed thereon. Each of the pixel electrodes has a first side and a second side. A length of the first side is greater than a length of the second side, and a curved direction of the curved liquid crystal display panel is the same as an extending direction of the first side. In the present invention, the curved direction of the curved liquid crystal display panel is arranged to be the same as a long side of each of the pixel electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a display field, and more particularly to a curved liquid crystal display panel and a curved liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of Prior Art
With the development of technology, curved liquid crystal display devices appear. The curved liquid crystal display devices have better visual experience effect, and thus they are widely utilized. Currently, in a manufacturing process of a curved liquid crystal display device, a display device with a flat structure is manufactured firstly. Then, the curved liquid crystal display device is produced by curving the display device with the flat structure.
A conventional curved liquid crystal display device comprises a curved color filter substrate 11, a curved array substrate 12, and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the curved color filter 11 and the array substrate 12. Specific structures of the curved color filter substrate 11 and the curved array substrate 12 are shown in the upper part of FIG. 1.
As shown in the lower part of FIG. 1, a black matrix 112 and color filter photoresists 111 are disposed on the curved color filter substrate 11. The curved array substrate 12 is disposed corresponding to the curved color filter substrate 11 and has pixel electrodes 121 and data lines 122 disposed thereon.
In a flat state, the pixel electrodes 121 of the curved array substrate 12 are disposed corresponding to the color filter photoresists 111 of the curved color filter substrate 11. However, the color filter substrate 11 misaligns with the array substrate 12 during a curved process.
When a curved extent is large, the curved color filter substrate 11 moves relatively to the array substrate 12. The color filter photoresists 111 in a curved position misalign with the pixel electrodes in a corresponding position, and thus a color shift phenomenon occurs. When display device is further curved, a displacement between the color filter substrate 11 and the array substrate 12 is increasing. Two adjacent ones of the color filter photoresists 111 might be shifted to the data lines 122. Since an electric field near the data lines 122 drives liquid crystals to rotate, the light leakage phenomenon occurs.
Consequently, there is a need to provide a curved liquid crystal display panel and a curved liquid crystal display device for solving the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.

Curved liquid crystal display panel and curved liquid crystal display device

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.