A stand for holding a camera or a microphone, includes a cylindrical tube unit having an inner wall surface defining an axially extending post-receiving chamber to telescopically receive a post therein. A positioning element is fixed on the tube unit. First, second and third support legs have upper portions sleeved on an outer wall surface of the tube unit. The second and third support legs are rotatable relative to the tube unit in such a manner that the second and third support legs can be stacked below the first support leg when the stand is in a storage position and that the first, second and third support legs engage the positioning element and are angularly spaced apart from one another when the stand is disposed at a position of use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stand, more particularly to a foldable stand with rotatable support legs for a camera or microphone.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional stand for a camera or microphone generally includes a base, a camera-holding post, and a plurality of support legs. The base generally has an upper base portion defining an axially extending post-receiving chamber, and a lower base portion. The post has a lower post portion telescopically inserted into the post-receiving chamber. The support legs extend downwardly and inclinedly from the lower base portion so as to be disposed on a ground surface when the stand is in use.
One drawback of the aforesaid conventional stand resides in that the support legs are not rotatable relative to the base, thereby limiting the utility range of the conventional stand.
The object of this invention is to provide a stand for a camera or microphone that is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to the invention, a foldable stand for a camera or microphone includes a cylindrical tube unit, a post, a locking device, a positioning element, and first, second and third support legs. The tube unit has an inner wall surface defining an axially extending post-receiving chamber therein, and an outer wall surface. The post is telescopically inserted into the post-receiving chamber so as to be movable relative to the tube unit in an axial direction, and has an upper post section that extends outwardly from the post-receiving chamber. The locking device is mounted on the tube unit for locking the post relative to the tube unit so as to expose a desired length of the upper post section outwardly from the post-receiving chamber. The positioning element is fixed on the tube unit, and has an inner wall confronting and spaced apart from the outer wall surface of the tube unit to define a gap therebetween. The first, second and third support legs are disposed around the tube unit. Each of the support legs has a lower portion adapted to be disposed on. a ground surface, and an upper portion sleeved on the outer wall surface of the tube unit. The upper portions of the first, second and third support legs are vertically aligned along the length of the tube unit. The upper portion of the third support leg is inserted through the gap, and is sleeved rotatably on the outer wall surface of the tube unit in such a manner that the third support leg is rotatable relative to the tube unit. The lower portion of the third support leg is turned to the positioning element while the upper portion of the third support leg releasably engages the positioning element when the stand is disposed at a position of use. The upper portion of the third support leg disengages from the positioning element while the lower portion of the third support leg is turned away from the positioning element when the stand is disposed at a storage position. A tongue-and-groove device is provided for releasably retaining the upper portion of the third support leg on the positioning element when the stand is disposed at the position of use.

Foldable stand with rotatable legs for camera or microphone


A plasma processing method includes providing a substrate in a processing chamber, the substrate having a surface, and generating a plasma in the processing chamber. The plasma provides at least two regions that exhibit different plasma densities. The method includes exposing at least some of the surface to both of the at least two regions. Exposing the surface to both of the at least two regions may include rotating the plasma and may cyclically expose the surface to the plasma density differences. Exposing to both of the at least two regions may modify a composition and/or structure of the surface. The plasma may include a plasmoid characterized by a steady state plasma wave providing multiple plasma density lobes uniformly distributed about an axis of symmetry and providing plasma between the lobes exhibiting lower plasma densities. Depositing the layer can include ALD and exposure may remove an ALD precursor ligand.

The use of plasma in deposition and etch processes constitutes a well known technology and uses a wide variety of process parameters to adapt to a variety of applications. "Plasmoids" constitute a long-observed phenomenon that can occur under certain plasma generation conditions. Plasmoids have been described as a plasma space charge instability that breaks up the preferred homogeneous discharge of a plasma into regions of varying plasma density. Plasmoids can have a variety of shapes, sizes, densities, and lifetimes. Even though the occurrence of plasmoids is known, they are not well studied and appear to offer little, if any, application to plasma deposition or etch processes or other types of plasma processing. It would be an advantage to further investigate possible plasma processing applications for plasmoids.

Plasma processing, deposition, and ALD methods


An oil system for an outboard motor is disclosed. The oil system has a pump disposed in an oil reservoir. The oil reservoir is attached to an engine of the outboard motor. The oil reservoir is preferably sized according to engine size to hold an average year's supply of oil.

The present invention relates generally to outboard motors, and more particularly, to an oil distribution system mounted to an engine of an outboard motor.
Two-stroke, or two-cycle engines, have the advantage of not having an oil sump as is required in four-stroke engines and, therefore, do not require frequent oil changes. Further, there are significant weight savings in two-stroke engines, and the modern two-stroke engines, such as that used in the EVINRUDE outboard motor, are highly fuel efficient and have extremely low emission characteristics.
Older two-stroke engines required that the oil be manually mixed with the gas before placed in a fuel tank for the engine. Many newer engines use an internal automated mixing technique that injects oil into the gas. Other newer engines incorporate oil injection systems that directly inject oil into the engine. The oil injection systems have an oil tank or reservoir containing a quantity of oil for use in the injection system. The oil tank, however, is usually located remotely, such as in a boat, which is sometimes inconvenient and requires an oil line and electrical connection extending between the boat and the engine. Further, such systems typically require a lift pump in or near the remote tank in addition to a pressure pump at the engine.
It would therefore be desirable to have an engine oil distribution system capable of being completely enclosed about the motor.


Carbon nanotubes, which in several embodiments are mixed with particles, organic materials, non-organic materials, or solvents, are deposited on a substrate to form a cold cathode. The deposition of the carbon nanotube mixture is performed using an ink jet printing process.

Carbon nanotubes have been used by many for field emission applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) come in two families, single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-wall nanotubes (MWNTs). Both materials are long (11-10,000 microns) and thin (0.001-0.1 microns in diameter). This high aspect ratio and the fact that they are semiconducting or metallic makes them ideal candidates for field emission applications. The field emission from these materials is further improved if the CNT fibers are aligned in parallel to the applied electrical field. Also desired is an inexpensive way of applying the CNT material onto suitable substrate materials at low temperature and aligning these materials using methods that are suitable for large-scale manufacturing.

Ink jet application for carbon nanotubes


An ink manifold is integrally formed with an elastomeric channel plate by a two-step injection molding process. The manifold can include posts for attachment to a heat sink upon which is secured a heater plate containing a plurality of heater elements which are located in corresponding channels of the elastomeric channel plate. The elastomeric channel plate eliminates the need to secure the channel plate to the manifold and heater plate using adhesives.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to ink jet printheads, and in particular to ink jet printheads having an ink manifold and channel plate, and to methods of making manifolds and channel plates for ink jet printheads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally speaking, drop-on-demand ink jet printing systems can be divided into two types. The type using a piezoelectric transducer to produce a pressure pulse that expels a droplet from a nozzle or the type using thermal energy to produce a vapor bubble in an ink-filled channel that expels a droplet. This latter type is referred to as thermal ink jet printing or bubble ink jet printing. In existing thermal ink jet printing, the printhead comprises one or more ink filled channels, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 to Ayata et al, (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) communicating with a relatively small ink supply chamber at one end and having an opening at the opposite end, referred to as a nozzle. A thermal energy generator, usually a resistor, is located in the channels near the nozzle a predetermined distance therefrom. The resistors are individually addressed with a current pulse to momentarily vaporize the ink and form a bubble which expels an ink droplet. As the bubble grows, the ink bulges from the nozzle and is contained by the surface tension of the ink as a meniscus. As the bubble begins to collapse, the ink still in the channel between the nozzle and bubble starts to move towards the collapsing bubble, causing a volumetric contraction of the ink at the nozzle and resulting in the separating of the bulging ink as a droplet. The acceleration of the ink out of the nozzle while the bubble is growing provides the momentum and velocity of the droplet in a substantially straight line direction towards a recording medium, such as paper.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359, a thermal ink jet printer is disclosed having one or more ink-filled channels which are replenished by capillary action. A meniscus is formed at each nozzle to prevent ink from weeping therefrom. A resistor or heater is located in each channel at a predetermined distance from the nozzles. Current pulses representative of data signals are applied to the resistor to momentarily vaporize the ink in contact therewith and form a bubble for each current pulse. Ink droplets are expelled from each nozzle by the growth of the bubbles which causes a quantity of ink to bulge from the nozzle and break off into a droplet at the beginning of the bubble collapse. The current pulses are shaped to prevent the meniscus from breaking up and receding too far into the channels after each droplet is expelled. Various embodiments of linear arrays of thermal ink jet devices are shown such as those having staggered linear arrays attached to the top and bottom of a heat sinking substrate and those having different colored inks for multicolored printing. In one embodiment, a resistor is located in the center of a relatively short channel having nozzles at both end thereof. Another passageway is connected to the open-ended channel and is perpendicular thereto to form a T-shaped structure. Ink is replenished to the open-ended channel from the passageway by capillary action. Thus, when a bubble is formed in the open-ended channel, two different recording mediums may be printed simultaneously.
One preferred technique for fabricating thermal ink jet printheads is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,572 to Hawkins et al (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). Each printhead is composed of two parts aligned and bonded together. One part (known as a heater plate) is a substantially flat substrate which contains on the surface thereof a linear array of heating elements and addressing electrodes, and the second part (known as a channel plate) is a substrate having at least one recess anisotropically etched therein to serve as an ink supply reservoir when the two parts are bonded together. A linear array of parallel grooves are formed in the second part, so that one end of the grooves communicate with the reservoir recess and the other ends are open for use as ink droplet expelling nozzles. Many printheads can be made simultaneously by producing a plurality of sets of heating element arrays (heater plates) with their addressing electrodes on a silicon wafer and by placing alignment marks thereon at predetermined locations. A corresponding plurality of sets of channels and associated reservoirs (channel plates) are produced in a second silicon wafer and, in one embodiment, alignment openings are etched thereon at predetermined locations. The two wafers are aligned via the alignment openings and alignment marks, then bonded together and diced into many separate printhead modules. A number of printhead modules can be fixedly mounted in a pagewidth configuration which confronts a moving recording medium for pagewidth printing. Alternatively, individual printhead modules can be used to form carriage type printheads as shown in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,572.
These printheads are typically mounted on a heat sink so that the heater plate is in physical contact with the heat sink. The individual addressing electrodes are then wire bonded to corresponding electrodes in a printed wire board (see FIGS. 2-4 of U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,572). An ink manifold is typically sealed to a surface of the channel plate opposite from the surface containing the channels so that ink contained in an ink supply can be supplied to the reservoir in the channel plate through the ink manifold.
These ink manifolds can be made from a hard plastic material by a one step injection molding process.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional process for fabricating thermal ink jet printheads such as the printhead shown in FIG. 2. A hard plastic manifold 18 is injection molded (S1) and heater and channel plates 12, 15, respectively are fabricated in silicon wafers (S2, S3). The heater and channel wafers are infrared aligned and an epoxy 13 is used to adhesively bond channel plates 15 of the channel wafer to heater plates 12 of the heater wafer to form a wafer assembly (S4, S5, S6). The wafer assembly is diced into many individual printhead modules 17 by using a dicing blade, the wafer assembly is ultrasonically cleaned, and then individual printhead modules 17 are separated from the diced wafer assembly (S7-S9). For more details on this fabrication process see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,357 to Campanelli et al.
After the nozzle-containing front face of each printhead module is coated with a hydrophobic substance, the adhesive bonding each channel plate to each corresponding heater plate is totally cured (S10). Printhead modules 17 can then be used to make either a carriage type or a full-width thermal ink jet printhead. A full-width thermal ink jet printhead is formed as either a butted array or a staggered array of individual printhead modules, while only one diced printhead module is required to form a carriage type printhead (although plural printhead modules can be stacked to improve resolution or provide for multiple colors in carriage-type printheads as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,491 to Rezanka).
As shown in FIG. 2, printhead module 17 (shown with its subparts) is bonded to manifold 18 and heat sink 16 to complete the fabrication of the thermal ink jet printhead. An adhesive 14, such as, for example, silver epoxy, is applied to heat sink 16, and the printhead module 17 is bonded to heat sink 16 by curing adhesive 14 (S11-S13). A printed wire board (PWB) is applied to the heat sink (S14), and is wire-bonded to the addressing electrodes of the heater plate (S15). Finally, manifold 18 is sealed to printhead module 17 by using, for example, an RTV sealant 19, and manifold 18 is then secured to heat sink 16, also with epoxy (S16-S18).
The above fabrication method is disadvantageous because: (1) precise alignment and dicing of the wafer assembly is difficult; (2) the use of adhesive 13 to bond channel plate 15 to heater plate 12 increases the likelihood that the channels will become clogged by the adhesive during fabrication; and (3) the total process is time consuming and cost inefficient due to the numerous fabrication steps, and careful adhesion application process involved.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,461, to Piatt discloses a top shooter printhead of a carriage type. A print cartridge comprises a base member having an opening and a heater/electrode access slit. The base member can be formed of molded plastic and can include ink channeling structures extending from the opening to the slit. By virtue of its material composition, the base member provides easy attachment of other components that cooperate to form the print cartridge. An ink supply housing is attached to the base member by bonding or mechanically coupling its opening to the base member. Further, a cover member is bonded to a face of the base member opposite from the ink supply housing. The cover member can be formed of molded plastic and have nozzle-defining apertures therein. Alternatively, the cover can be molded as part of the base member, and a separate orifice plate can be attached to the base member opposite to the slit. The heater/electrode can be secured into the slit, for example, by epoxy bonding, with heating elements approximately flush with the inner surface of the base member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,073 to Hanson discloses a top shooter printhead for insertion into a cartridge. A plastic header is made from an injection molding process, and includes a central ink storage region for receiving ink and feeding the ink into an elongated slot of a thin film resistor substrate. The elongated slot serves as an ink intake port for providing ink to a plurality of ink reservoirs and to corresponding ink injection orifices in an orifice plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,012 to Quella et al. discloses a side shooter printhead of an ink jet printer. An ink jet chamber is manufactured by an injection molding method. The ink channel and the discharge openings, i.e., nozzles, are manufactured by a multilayer structure composed of a plurality of individual photoplastic films.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,787 to Sato et al. discloses the construction of a liquid jet recording device. The liquid jet recording device comprises a plurality of grooves formed in a liquid feeding path plate at positions corresponding to each of a plurality of heat generating elements contained on a heater plate; and a plurality of grooves formed in a liquid discharge path plate at positions corresponding to the grooves. The plates for the liquid feeding path and liquid discharge path may be made of glass, ceramics and, depending on the circumstances, various plastics having heat resistant properties. A manifold is also provided for supplying ink to the grooves in the liquid discharge path plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,777 to Matsumoto discloses a side shooter printhead of a liquid jet recording apparatus. A liquid jet section comprises a base plate of Fotoceram in which an orifice, a liquid path and an air vent are etched; and a stainless steel top plate having an etched opening in which the energy generating element is to be mounted. The base plate, top plate and the energy generating element are assembled into a unit by the use of any suitable adhesive. A box-like member defines a liquid chamber and is closed at its top opening by a closure which may be injection molded from a thermoplastic resin and adhesively bonded to the top opening. The liquid jet section is then assembled into the box-like member to form a recording head.
None of the above U.S. patents discloses a thermal ink jet printhead having an elastomer channel plate, or injection molding a channel plate into a manifold. Further, none of the above U.S. patents discloses a heater plate and a channel plate assembled to each other without the use of adhesive to secure the channel plate to the heater plate.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/789,490 to Anikara Rangappan filed Nov. 8, 1991, now abandoned, and entitled "A Method of Manufacturing Page Wide Thermal Ink-Jet Heads" discloses full-width channel plates formed by injection molding techniques. The channel plates are molded from ceramic "Green Tape" or a hard plastic molding material such as polysulfone.

Process for making an ink manifold having elastomer channel plate for ink jet printhead


A vehicle passenger seat active occupant restraint provides for absorbing energy from a passenger during sudden deceleration of a vehicle. The torso belt portion of a three-point restraint system is anchored using a spring and a displacement limiting linkage at the opposite end from its point of connection to the lap portion of the belt. During deceleration energy is transferred from the restrained occupant to the spring up to the displacement limit.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to passenger seat occupant restraints and more particularly to an energy absorbing restraint.
2. Description of the Problem
Three point seat belt systems have long been used in automobiles. Three point seat belt systems combine a lap belt with a single upper torso belt crossing a person's chest from over one shoulder to a point of connection with the lap belt on the other side of the wearer's body, usually adjacent the location of a buckle located low on, or along side of, the seat.
Designers of school buses face certain difficulties in providing three point seat belts in buses. First, United States' federal regulations for passive restraints (i.e. those effective with respect to passengers whether wearing a seat belt or not) require that the rear side of a seat provide an impact barrier that bends or deforms upon impact by passengers sitting behind that seat. These requirements are codified at 49 CFR Sect. 571.222 (FMVSS 222).
The code specifies a passive restraint system for passengers, but does not require active restraints such as a two-point lap belt or three point lap/torso combination system. The passive restraint system requirements in effect provide that a compartment exist which contains an unbuckled passenger in the event of sudden deceleration. This has been met by making the back of the seat in front of a potentially unbuckled passenger into a deformable impact cushion. Although two point belt systems are offered on buses, designers need to consider three-point seat belts where requested by local or State governments, or by action groups. Although these belts are not required, when installed they too are subject to federal regulations. These requirements provide that the belts be installed in such a way as to limit a buckled passengers forward movement. The pertinent sections of the federal code are 49 CFR Sects. 571.209 and 210 (FMVSS 209 and FMVSS 210).
The conflict in requirements arises from the need to deal both with restrained and unrestrained passengers simultaneously. In a rapid deceleration event a passenger in a forward seat may be buckled in while a passenger in the seat immediately aft from the buckled in passenger may not be buckled in. With the aft passenger being spaced from the back of the forward seat, the initial response of the restraint systems occurs as a reaction to the buckled passenger moving forward in his seat and thereby applying tension on the buckled seat belt and at its attachment point to the seat frame. This can result in the belt pulling on the seat back in the forward direction and possibly reducing the strength of the seat back to meet a rear impact by the rear seat passenger. The reduction in seat back strength due to the pull on the three-point seat belt, which meets the FMVSS 210 requirement, may reduce the ability of the seat back to meet the FMVSS 222 requirements.
Recent school bus seat designs have been developed that involve a movable inner seat for the mounting of the three point seat belts and a separate seat back portion for the absorption of the impact of an unbuckled passenger. The movable inner seat was inserted into a recess within an outer, positionally fixed, but deformable, seat back. The outer seat back is then designed to deform in order to comply with FMVSS 222. Such a design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,123,388, and 6,485,098. The concept of a seat inserted within a seat was also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,352 for an aircraft ejection seat.

School bus passenger seat with energy absorbing occupant restraint

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC


An amorphous polylactic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight in the range of about 35,000 to 180,000 is described. The polylactic acid polymer composition can be hammer milled without cryogenics result in the form of particles wherein 90% of the particles have particle size of about 250 μm or less and the material has a glass transition temperature of between about 55° C. to about 58° C. and a relative viscosity of about 1.45 to about 1.95 centipoise. The polymer composition can be used to form an aqueous suspension. The material is ideally suited for use in preparing particleboard. A method is disclosed for preparing such polylactic acid polymers. The method involves obtaining an amorphous polylactic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight of between about 115,000 to about 180,000. Treating the polylactic acid polymer to reduce the molecular weight to between about 35,000 to 45,000 such that it has a glass transition temperature of between about 55° C. and 58° C. and a relative viscosity of about 1.45 to about 1.95. Material can be formed into particles in a commercial hammer mill with bypass such that 90% of the initial mass results in the particles which can pass thru a sieve having a pore size of about 250 μm. During particle board formation the temperature of around 140-140 C being reached to optimally activate the adhesive; Bond strengths and throughput rates of resulting particle boards can be controlled thereafter, with variable combination of particle sizes, adhesive loading and initial moisture content.

Natural adhesives such as animal glues, fish glues, vegetable glues and casein (the main protein in milk) are generally set upon solvent preparation and offer low strength and are susceptible to moisture and mold. Their use is mainly for joining low strength materials.
Elastomer adhesives such as natural rubbers, neoprene, acrylonitride budadiene, butyl/rubber adhesives, styrene butadiene rubber adhesives, polyurethane adhesives, polysulfide rubber adhesives, and silicone rubber adhesives are based on natural and synthetic rubbers set by solvent evaporation or heat curing; they have relatively low strength and suffer from creep and therefore are not usually used for stressed joints. More typically, they are used for flexible bonding of plastics and rubbers.
Thermoplastic adhesives such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylates, polyester acrylics, acrylic solvent cement, cyanoacrylates (superglue), silicone resins, polyamides and acrylic acid diesters have low/medium strength and may suffer from creep and attack from water but not from oils.
Thermoset adhesives such as urea formaldehyde (UF), phenol formaldehyde (PF) resins, phenolic neoprene, polyesters, polyamides and epoxy resins set as a result of the buildup of rigid molecular chains with cross-linking under various conditions of temperature and moisture.
Toughened rubber modified adhesives include small rubber-like particles dispersed throughout a glassy matrix are resistant to crack propagation and have been applied to acrylic and epoxy-based adhesives.
The general performance characteristics of these adhesives in terms of shear strength and range of operating temperatures are summarized in the table below.
TABLE 1Properties of conventional adhesivesShearOperatingstrength (MPa)temperature (C.)Adhesive TypeMin.Max.Min.Max.Rubber0.353.5−20150PVA (white glue)1.46.9Cyanoacrylate6.913.880Anaerpbo6.913.8200Polyurethane6.917.2−200150Rubber modified13.824.1−4090epoxyEpoxy10.327.8200Polyamide13.827.6350Rubber modified20.741.4180epoxyNote:1 MPa = 10 bar about 147 psi;1,000 psi = about 6.9 MPa
The strength of adhesives is dependent on how well the adhesive has bonded to the surface of a material (i.e., substrate), as well as on the cohesive strength of the adhesive itself. Virtually all of the listed compositions emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and they require set times ranging from tens of minutes to days, and the operating temperatures are generally below 150° C. to 200° C.
One area where novel adhesives are needed is in the area of particle board manufacture. Examples of boards in use today include laminate flooring. Laminate flooring can be prepared by coating an adhesive onto wood particles or floors at high temperature, followed by molding and hot-pressing. Since the laminate flooring can be subjected to complicated machining and the like, the laminate flooring is widely used for interior finishing or overall furniture products. New adhesives are needed that can be used in the manufacture of particle boards.
Currently the adhesive used to make particle boards is mainly urea-formaldehyde resin or a melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin. These adhesives exhibit good adhesion and are low-priced but the adhesive can irritate the eyes, nose and skin, as well as causing atopic diseases and bronchial asthma even after curing, and gradually emits formaldehyde, which can cause cancer when inhaled for a long time. In addition, excess melamine intake can result in formation of kidney stones in humans. Further, melamine, urea, formaldehyde and the like, which are prepared from fossil resources can be subject to price appreciation as fossil resources become depleted. Moreover, their production is associated with the emission large amounts of greenhouse gases and they consume a large amount of energy to prepare. During particle board manufacturing the use of urea formaldehyde adhesives requires use of scavengers and VOC relief equipment which can lead to industrial safety, handling and cost issues. Lastly, they are known to emit a variety of toxic substances such as endocrine disruptors, toxic gases and the like, when incinerated.
New adhesives are needed that have improved fatigue behavior and reduced stress concentration zones. They should be easy to use, allowing for high through put and have sealing capability such that the adhesive joint can seal joined materials from moisture and air. In addition, they should not melt or otherwise modify the substrates they are intended to join, they should be amenable to use in joining a broad range of substrates including aluminum substrates and they should be of minimal density.

Methods and compositions for preparing particle boards


A device for feeding and observing flying animals comprising a hat, a support mounted on the hat and extending outward from the hat, and a feeder mounted on the support. When flying animals feed from the feeders, a person wearing the hat may observe them from a short distance. The device may comprise a helmet with three poles mounted on it and extending outward from the helmet, and a feeder hanging from each of the poles. A variety of flying animals, including butterflies, hummingbirds, and other small birds, may be observed with the device.

Traditionally, bird feeders hang from trees or other supports. For example, hummingbirds have been fed by hanging nectar feeders on a stand or from a tree. A number of other bird feeders holding seeds or other kinds of bird food are well known. Most bird feeders are relatively stationary once they have been installed at a particular location. Moving the feeder to a different position will involve finding a proper stand or tree branch to hang the feeder from.
Hummingbirds and other small birds are enjoyable to observe from a very close distance in order to get a good view of the birds. The ideal place for mounting a bird feeder may not always present the best place for the observer to stand or sit and watch the birds. Persons with a sincere and deep-rooted interest in birds often share an urge to be as close to the birds as possible when observing them.
Much of the above applies just as well to other flying animals, such as other kinds of birds or, for example, butterflies. The person interested in watching these animals feed has previously had to bring a chair or equivalent to a suitable location where the animals are expected to feed. The difficulties in obtaining closeness and the restrained mobility are obstacles hindering the person from practicing the hobby or profession of animal observation.
There is a need for a feeding and observation device for flying animals which provides the user with improved mobility as well as close-up observation of the birds.

Wearable device for feeding and observing birds and other flying animals


Disclosed are systems, pseudolite transmitters, receivers, and methods of using the same to navigate. An airborne pseudolite transmitter transmits a first spread spectrum signal indicative of a first fixed location spaced apart from a current actual position of the transmitter. The airborne pseudolite transmitter also transmits a corrections signal indicative of a vector error correction between the first fixed location and the current actual position of the transmitter. A receiver receiving the first spread spectrum signal and the corrections signal calculates its location in response thereto.

Global navigational satellite systems (GNSS) are known and include the global positioning system (GPS) and the Russian global orbiting navigational satellite system (GLONASS). GNSS-based navigational systems are used for navigation and positioning applications. In a GPS navigational system, GPS receivers receive satellite positioning signals from a set of up to 32 satellites deployed in 12-hour orbits about earth and dispersed in six orbital planes at an altitude of 10,900 nautical miles. Each GPS satellite continuously transmits two spread spectrum, L-band signals: an L1 signal having a frequency f1 of 1575.42 MHz, and an L2 signal having a frequency f2 of 1227.6 MHz. The L1 signal from each satellite is modulated by two pseudo-random codes, the coarse acquisition (C/A) code and the P-code. The P-code is normally encrypted, with the encrypted version of the P-code referred to as the Y-code. The L2 signal from each satellite is modulated by the Y-code. The C/A code is available for non-military uses, while the P-code (Y-code) is reserved for military uses.
Conventional GPS navigational systems determine positions by timing how long it takes the coded radio GPS signal to reach the receiver from a particular satellite (e.g., the travel time). The receiver generates a set of codes identical to those codes (e.g., the P-code or the C/A-code) transmitted by the satellites. To calculate the travel time, the receiver determines how far it has to shift its own codes to match the codes transmitted by the satellites. The determined travel times for each satellite are multiplied by the speed of light to determine the distances from the satellites to the receiver.
By receiving GPS signals from four or more satellites, a receiver unit can accurately determine its position in three dimensions (e.g., longitude, latitude, and altitude). A conventional GPS receiver typically utilizes the fourth satellite to accommodate a timing offset between the clocks in the receiver and the clocks in the satellites. The GPS signals also include a 50 bit per second data stream or data message which is superimposed on the C/A and P-codes. Once the receiver has matched its code to the code in the GPS signal from a particular satellite, the receiver can decipher the data message. The data message can include navigational data related to the position of the satellite, including geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) parameters. Additionally, the data message can include accurate time data, ephemeris data, and data related to the health status of the satellite. The GPS satellites utilize code division multiple access techniques so satellite signals do not interfere with each other. GLONASS navigational systems operate similarly to GPS navigational systems and utilize frequency division multiple access (FDMA) techniques so satellite signals do not interfere with each other.
GNSS navigational systems have tremendous benefits over other positioning and navigational systems because these systems do not rely upon visual, magnetic or other points of reference. However, conventional GNSS navigational systems can experience blackout areas or regions when GNSS satellites are not within line-of-sight of the receiver. Further, GNSS systems are susceptible to jamming by higher power signals.
Conventional ground based pseudo-satellite (pseudolite or PL) navigation systems are based on a fixed location, for each pseudolite transmitter, that does not vary with time. Attempts to expand a ground based pseudolite (GPL) system by substituting an airborne pseudolite (APL) transmitter for a GPL transmitter result in highly inaccurate navigation solutions. Airborne pseudolite systems which attempt to broadcast the changing position of the APL transmitter likely require a unique pseudolite downlink signal structure. The requirements for a new downlink data structure result in significant development requirements for the receiver and added complexity in the pseudolite.


Disclosed is a device for separating a propulsion system from a missile, the device including a locking unit configured to fix a propulsion system to a missile, a string disposed to cross a rear portion of the propulsion system to be broken by heat of the propulsion system, and an unlocking unit configured to unlock the missile by the broken string, whereby the number of additional components of an unlocking system can be reduced as many as possible so as to simplify the configuration of the apparatus, resulting in guaranteeing an enhanced performance of the missile, an easy assembly of the missile, and a reduction of a fabricating cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to missile separation devices and more particularly to the device which separate a propulsion system from a missile.
2. Description of the Background Art
A missile is manufactured to be separated into plural stages for an efficient flying toward a designated point. A variety of separating devices for separating the stages of the missile have been developed. In particular, a missile system with a launcher requires a separation of a coupling system for connecting the missile when the missile is ejected in its launching direction.
Commonly-used typical separation mechanisms include a mechanism in which two stages of a missile are coupled by bolts and explosives mounted in the bolts are exploded at a preset time, thus to break the bolts for separation (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,648,321 or 5,400,713), a band cutter adapting explosive bolts (U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,858), and the like. Such self-explosive pyrotechnic devices have been well known as opportunely performing the stage-separation of the missile at a process of launching a missile.
However, a considerable impact may occur upon the cutting operation and accordingly a great impact loading may be applied to components near the pyrotechnic device, thereby standing a chance of causing vital problems in precision components or optical systems. As one example, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is required for preventing the detonation of a weapon due to electromagnetic waves generated at the time of explosion. Also, even if the pyrotechnic device is very reliable, it is difficult to perform an electric test to a system of the pyrotechnic device once being installed, due to the dangerousness of electric or electromagnetic signals by which the pyrotechnic device can be detonated.
Next, in order to receive power required for the detonation of the pyrotechnic device, a battery overload may occur or battery capacity should be increased.
Furthermore, a technical solution is required for sufficiently protecting the pyrotechnic devices from an easily corroded environment, e.g., from moisture. In order to overcome such drawbacks, various schemes or devices have been proposed, including a method using a gas generator (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,171,663 or 5,253,587), a parallelogram structure (U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,931), a device using wire or metallic foil as an electric fuse (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,426), a device using a heating mechanism and complex cable (U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,122), and the like. However, such schemes and devices should be provided with separate equipment and even increase a minimum section area of a missile, resulting in the generation of drag, causing a degradation of performance of a missile or an increase in a fabricating cost. Furthermore, a system using a wire or metallic foil should be configured such that all of the wires and metallic foils are connected to an electric circuit, respectively, which makes the structure complicated, thereby lowering productivity and reliability of the system.


A reproducing apparatus for reproducing plural types of optical discs comprising: a comparator for digitizing a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of a first optical disc which is to be reproduced under a first optical condition defined by a first reproducing reference under a second optical condition defined by a second reproducing reference applied to reproduction of a second optical disc having a recording density higher than that of the first optical disc, the comparing operation of the reproduced signal with a reference voltage different from that defined by the first reproducing reference; and a pulse length correction circuit for correcting a pulse length of a digital signal outputted from the comparator such that the pulse length of the digital signal is equal to another pulse length which would be obtained by digitizing another reproduced signal using the reference voltage defined by the first reproducing reference, the another reproduce signal being obtained by reproducing the first optical disc in accordance with the first reproducing reference.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a reproducing apparatus for plural types of optical discs whose recording densities are different from each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When information is recorded on an information recording medium as a digital data, recording is carried out such that the digital signal indicative of the information is modulated as digital data by a specific modulation method selected from various types of modulating methods. In this respect, if the information recording medium is an optical disc, the situation is the same as that of the above-mentioned case. For, example, in an optical disc which is known as a compact disc (CD), recording and reproducing are carried out by modulation using a modulation method (EFM) such that eight data bits are enlarged to fourteen channel bits. In the CD for which the above-mentioned EFM is adopted, digital data is formed on the surface of the CD by a bit train of a modulated signal including nine types of bit lengths which are successively set to either one between the modulated signal of bit length (pulse length or pulse width ) 3 T corresponding to the minimum interval Tmin between bits and a bit length of 11 T corresponding to the maximum interval Tmax between bits.
In the above-mentioned recording/reproducing method, digital data including nine types of bit lengths which are successively set to either one between the modulated signal of the shortest bit length 3 T and a longest bit length of 11 T is recorded on the optical disc (CD) as an array of pits. Reproducing (reading out) the information recorded in accordance with the condition of pits arranged on the CD is carried out by projecting and focusing a reproducing light beam (read out light) having a specific wavelength 870 nm) on a CD through a condenser lens (objective lens) with a specific numerical aperture (NA=0.45). When the recorded information from the above-mentioned CD is reproduced, the reproducing light is projected on the array of pits provided on the signal plane of the CD such that a portion of a beam waist of the reproducing light condensed by the condenser lens positions on a signal plane of the CD, i.e., the signal plane of the CD positions at a focus point of the condenser lens. In -this condition, a reproduced signal is obtained by photoelectric conversion of the reproduced light, reflected and diffracted from the signal plane of the CD in this condition.
The above-mentioned reproduced signal, i.e., the reproduced signal obtained in the condition that a light spot having a given diameter is focused onto the signal plane of the CD so positioned at the focus point of the condenser lens, is supplied to a comparator to which a voltage value which is about half of an amplitude of the reproduced signal is applied as a comparator reference voltage (threshold voltage) in order to perform demodulation operation. This causes demodulation of digital data which comprises the bit train of a modulated signal including nine types of bit lengths which are successively set to either one between the modulated signal of bit length (pulse length or pulse width) 3 T corresponding to the minimum interval Tmin between bits and a bit length of 11 T corresponding to the maximum interval Tmax between bits.
Then, to demodulate, with high fidelity, the digital data recorded in the condition that various conditions specified in the specification of the CD are satisfied, it is necessary for demodulation that: as mentioned above, the reproducing light (read out light) having a specific wavelength (780 nm) through -a condenser lens (objective lens) with a specific numerical aperture (NA=0.45) is focused on a CD; and the reproducing light is projected and focused on the array of pits provided on the signal plane of the CD such that a portion of a beam waist of the reproducing light condensed by a condenser lens positions on a signal plane of the CD, in other words, the signal plane of the CD positions at a focus point of the condenser lens. In this condition, in order to demodulate, the reproduced signal obtained from a photodetector is applied to the comparator to which the voltage value which is about half of an amplitude of the reproduced signal is applied. For example, if the wavelength of the reproducing light or the numerical aperture of the condenser lens used in the reproduction apparatus deviates from the values specified in the specification of the CD or a voltage value of the reference voltage (threshold voltage) of the comparator used for demodulation of the reproduction signal deviates over the tolerance from the voltage value which is about half of the amplitude of the reproduce signal, it may be happen that the digital data comprising the bit train of the modulated signal including nine types of bit lengths which are successively set between the modulated signal of bit length (pulse length or pulse width) 3 T corresponding to the minimum interval Tmin between bits and a bit length of 11 T corresponding to the maximum interval Tmax between bits, cannot be demodulated correctly. Thus, for example, the modulated signal of 3 T bit length corresponding the shortest interval Tmin between bits, which is recorded on the CD may be demodulated as a modulated signal having a bit length other than a bit length of 3 T.
In the reproducing apparatus of the CD, as the modulated signal of the bit length of 3 T corresponding to the shortest interval Tmin between bits should be demodulated as a demodulated signal of 3 T bit length for example, in order to obtain the demodulated signal having the same bit length as that recorded on the CD. Thus, the reproducing light beam (read out light) having the specific wavelength (780 nm) through a condenser lens with the specific numerical aperture (NA=0.45) is focused on a CD; a reproduced signal is obtained in the condition that a light spot with a given diameter is focused on the array of pits provided on the signal plane of the CD; and the reproduced signal is applied to the comparator to which a voltage value (threshold voltage) which is about half of an amplitude of the reproduced signal is applied in order to perform demodulation operation.
Then, in order to correctly demodulate the modulated signal recorded on the optical disc on which information is recorded as the array of pits formed on the signal plane of the optical disc, as clearly described in the above description of the CD mentioned as an example, it is necessary that the diameter of spot of the reproducing light to be used on reproducing of the information signal recorded on the optical disc ranges in the specific values specified in correspondence with the size and form of the pit; and that the comparator reference voltage (threshold voltage) used for demodulating the reproduced signal is the voltage value of about half of the amplitude of the reproduced signal, etc.
For the reasons mentioned above, as a reproducing apparatus for plural types of optical discs capable of correct demodulation of the information signal recorded on plural types of optical discs having different recording densities, the reproducing apparatus needs different structures in either or both of a light source of the reproducing light and the condenser lens used, that is, such reproducing apparatus requires different optical heads having light sources of the reproducing light capable of emitting light having different wavelengths and condenser lenses having different numerical apertures respectively.
Then, put the above-mentioned point will be more specifically as follows:
Because the size of the pit formed on the signal plane of the optical disc becomes smaller with the higher the recording density generally in the case that the recording density is increased but the rotational speed of the optical disc is remained constant, in the reproducing apparatus for obtaining the reproduced signal using diffraction phenomenon of the reproducing light reflected at pits by projecting and focusing the reproducing light onto the signal plane, the spot of the reproducing light having a diameter with a given relation according to an width of the pit in the radial direction of the optical disc to be reproduced is projected and focused onto the signal plane of the optical disc.
Moreover, conditions of array of pits formed on the signal plane of the optical disc are different from each other in accordance with the recording density of the optical disc though recording/reproducing is performed for modulation of digital data by the same modulating method for example. In the case that optical discs having different recording densities are used and driven at different rotational speeds, the pit of an optical disc having a higher recording density has pits whose width is smaller than that of an optical disc having a lower recording density. As mentioned, conditions of pit arrays formed on the signal planes of optical discs are different from each other with recording densities of optical discs.
Then, because the condition of the light diffraction at the pit portion is totally different naturally if pits are read out with the spot having the same wavelength and the same diameter in the case that the sizes of pits of optical discs are different with each other, it is clear that the reproduced signals outputted from the photodetectors are different from each other.
In order to resolve the above-mentioned problem that the diffraction state of light produced by pits changes with change in relation between the width of the pit and the diameter of the spot used for reading out the pit, it may be considered that a cross-sectional area of the reproducing light on the signal plane of the optical disc is changed with change in condition of condensing of the reproducing light. However, wave front of the reproducing light at the signal plane of the optical disc is disturbed because a cross section of the reproducing light projected onto the signal plane of the optical disc is not the beam waist portion. Therefore, though cross section of the reproducing light at the signal plane of the optical disc is changed in accordance with the above-mentioned resolution method, that is, though the diameter of the reproducing light at the signal plane of the optical disc is formed to have the specific diameter, the reproduced signal cannot be reproduced correctly from the optical disc. Therefore, as a reproducing apparatus for producing plural types of optical discs capable of correct demodulation of the information signal recorded on plural optical discs having different recording densities, the reproducing apparatus needs different read heads in either or both of a light source of the reproducing light and the condenser lens used in the structure of the reproducing apparatus.
However, because it is undesirable that in one reproducing apparatus, different read heads are provided for respective types of optical discs having different recording densities, it was considered that a reproducing apparatus used for an optical disc, having a specification that a diameter of a spot of the reproduced light projected on the signal plane of the optical disc in focus on reproducing is smallest was tried to be used for reproducing other type optical discs in common.
However, it is obvious that a correctly demodulated signal cannot be obtained though the voltage value of about half of the amplitude of the reproduce signal as the comparator reference voltage (threshold voltage) on demodulation of the reproduced signal is used unless a spot of the reproducing light having a diameter with a given relation according to an width of the pit on the optical disc is projected onto the signal plane of the optical disc in the reproducing apparatus for obtaining a reproduced signal using diffraction phenomenon of reproducing light coming from pits by projecting the reproducing light onto the signal plane. Further, there is also a problem that it is possible that the comparator reference voltage (threshold voltage) cannot be set which is necessary for demodulation of the reproduced signal to obtain a correct demodulated signal. Therefore, a resolution to these problems is required.
The above-mentioned point will be described more specifically. It is assumed that one of plural optical discs having different recording densities is a CD wherein reproducing light of 780 nm wavelength and a condenser lens of 0.45 numerical aperture as mentioned above are used. Also it is assumed that another optical disc capable of higher recording density than the CD is reproduced using light of 670 nm wavelength as reproducing light and a condenser lens of 0.50 numerical aperture. When a reproducing apparatus using the reproducing light of 670 nm wavelength and the condenser lens of 0.50 numerical aperture, i.e., a reproducing apparatus for reproducing the optical disc having a recording density which is higher than that of the CD reproduces a CD, the reproduced signal from the reproducing apparatus has an eye pattern shown in FIG. 5.
Then, in the case that the reproduced signal as shown in FIG. 5 is supplied to the comparator to which the voltage value of about half of the amplitude of the reproduced signal as a comparator reference voltage (threshold voltage) for demodulation operation, that is, in the case that a comparator reference signal (threshold voltage) of the line S--S shown in FIG. 5 is used to demodulate, the digital data comprising the bit train of the modulated signal including nine types of bit lengths which are successively set to either one between the modulated signal of bit length (pulse length or pulse width) 3 T corresponding to the minimum interval Tmin between bits and a bit length of 11 T corresponding to the maximum interval Tmax between bits, cannot be demodulated correctly. In FIG. 5, a comparator reference voltage (threshold voltage) capable of correct demodulation of the digital data comprising the bit train of the modulated signal including nine types of bit lengths which are successively set to either one between the modulated signal of bit length (pulse length or pulse width) 3 T corresponding to the minimum interval Tmin between bits and a bit length of 11 T corresponding to the maximum interval Tmax between bits is a voltage shown by the line A--A in FIG. 5 when the reproduced signal is that one shown in FIG. 5. As clearly shown by the waveform of the reproduced signal in FIG. 5, a stable demodulated signal cannot be obtained at the line A--A. Therefore, the reproducing apparatus used for the optical disc defined by a specification such that a diameter of the reproducing light projected onto the signal plane of the optical disc in focus in the reproducing modes smallest cannot be used for other types of optical discs having different recording densities in common.

Binarization apparatus for reproduced signal in reproduction apparatus of optical disc


A pressure-sensitive wrist pad placeable in front of a keyboard or other input device associated with a computer, the pad serving to warn an operator when in the course of operating the keyboard, the wrists of his hands do not then hover above the pad but rest on the pad and therefore give rise to dorsiflexion and possible repetitive strain injury. To this end, the pad incorporates in its structure a switch which is caused to close only when wrist pressure is exerted thereon, the closed switch acting to apply power to a warning device generating an audible, visible or vibratory warning signal. This signal acts to induce the operator to assume a proper wrist position hovering above the pad thereby avoiding dorsiflexion. The pressure-sensitive switch is preferably formed by a membrane covering the pad, the membrane being composed of a flexible foam plastic core layer having an array of openings therein sandwiched between plastic facing films on each of whose inner surfaces is printed an electrically-conductive grid. The grids constitute the movable contacts of the switch which is closed when wrist pressure applied to the membrane compresses the foam plastic layer to bring the grids in contact with each other through the openings in the layer.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to wrist pads associated with a keyboard or other computer input device, and more particularly to a wrist pad which incorporates a pressure-sensitive switch and serves to generate a warning signal when a wrist of the operator whose hand manipulates the input device applies pressure thereto.
2. Status of Prior Art
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is defined in the text "Repetitive Strain Injury--A Computer Users' Guide" whose principal author is Dr. Emil Pascarelli, as a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). This disorder stems from prolonged repetitive, forceful or awkward hand movements. When these hand movements are accompanied by poor posture as well as a heavy workload, the stage is then set for RSI, a serious injury that can cause pain, weakness, numbness or impairment of motor control.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, RSI accounts for about 60 percent of all job-related injuries. The concern of the present invention is with RSI resulting from the manual operation of an input device associated with a computer, such as a keyboard or a mouse.
A computer keyboard functions to enter alpha-numerical data into the computer. A mouse is a hand-held, button-operated input device which when rolled along a flat surface, then directs a cursor to move correspondingly about a computer screen, thereby allowing the operator to select particular operations or manipulate text and graphics. It is predicted that in the year 2000, three quarters of all jobs in the United States will probably require the use of a computer. It is for this reason that public schools throughout the country are now teaching students how to operate computers. It is an almost universal practice among computer users, when operating a keyboard or mouse, to rest the wrists of the hands on the edge of the work surface on which the input device is placed, or on a cushioned wrist pad in front of the keyboard or mouse.
Wrist supporting pads for computer operators give rise to dorsiflexion. Dorsiflexion refers to a hand bending upwardly at the wrist. Continual dorsiflexion which takes place when typing with the wrist resting on a wrist pad is a recognized major cause of RSI. Most computer guides therefore instruct operators to assume a proper typing posture by having the wrists float above the wrist pad and to rest the wrists only while not typing. But while this wrist posture is recommended by computer guides, no means have heretofore been available to facilitate proper wrist posture.
The 1995 patent to Hart U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,349 discloses a wrist rest formed by a cloth sack filled with rice. This sack is engaged by the wrist of an operator typing on a computer keyboard to relieve the physical stress occasioned by this activity. The 1994 patent to Martin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,067 discloses a cushioned pad for supporting the wrist of a computer mouse operator. In both of these patents, dorsiflexion takes place, and these wrist rests with continued use are therefore likely to give rise to RSI.
The 1989 U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,642 to Brown calls attention to musculoskeletal pain resulting from RSI and its serious consequences. Brown provides a monitoring device for detecting muscle strain which might lead to RSI. This monitoring device supplies the worker with biofeedback, serving to induce the worker to try out different work methods and thereby determine which one of these methods produces the least amount of tension. But Brown fails to recognize the role of proper wrist posture in operating a computer input device, and he discloses no means to induce a worker to maintain a proper wrist posture.
The 1994 Daneshvar U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,018 illustrates a soft pad for a computer keyboard adapted to support the palm or wrist of the operator. As previously noted, a pad on which an operator rests his wrists as he types on a keyboard with his hands result in dorsiflexion, and this may in time lead to repetitive strain injury.
Conner in his 1992 U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,630 provides a pad for a computer mouse which serves to elevate the wrist of the operator to reduce stress on the tendons controlling the wrist and hand. But as pointed out above, the ideal posture for the wrist of the user of a computer input device is one in which the wrist floats or hovers above a wrist pad, and makes no contact therewith. This is not achieved by the Conner pad.
Inasmuch as the invention resides in a pressure-sensitive wrist pad for use with a computer input device to provide a warning signal only when the wrist of an operator presses against the pad, of prior art background interest is the 1989 patent to Sugarman U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,620. This patent discloses a warning system that includes pressure sensors to sense the pressure of a foot against a cast and to provide a warning signal when this pressure reaches a dangerous level. The 1985 Kress U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,930 provides pressure sensors for measuring the pressure between the skin and a rest surface, which pressure, if excessive, may cause ulcers.

Pressure-sensitive wrist pad useable with a computer input device


A sensor system has an AlN substrate, a W layer on the substrate, a signal source adapted to apply an electrical actuating signal to the W layer, and a sensor adapted to sense the response of the W layer. The W layer can comprise a thin film, with various types of optional protective layers over the film. Applications include sensing temperature, fluid flow rates, fluid levels, pressure and chemical environments. For a planar heater, the W layer comprises a plurality of conductive strands distributed on the substrate, with the strands generally parallel and serpentine shaped for a rectangular substrate, and extending along respective lines of longitude that merge at opposite poles of the substrate for a circular substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sensing systems suitable for high temperature applications, and more particularly to the use of tungsten on an AlN substrate as a sensing and/or heating element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Improvements are continually sought in the capabilities of various types of sensing and planar heating systems, such as systems for sensing temperature, fluid flow rates and levels, pressure and gaseous environments, self-sensing planar heaters and fast, uniform heaters. The characteristics sought to be enhanced include faster response time, greater sensitivity, higher temperature capability and low drift.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Stable high temperature sensor system with tungsten on AlN


A nano solid liquid H2O concentrate and method, the concentrate containing molecules of H2O each encapsulating a composite nano particle including selected nutrient particles of nano scale, the composite particles each having a size generally within a range of 12 and 16 nanometers, a bond between the composite particles and respective interior and/or exterior layers of the H2O molecule being stabilized and sealed.

Conventional nutritional supplements span a broad range of delivery systems, ranging from liquid-based nutritional concoctions and oral vitamins to processing additives for nutritional enrichment of food and beverages, and even skin patches. Regardless of the system for delivery, however, the objective is the same, namely, to provide bioactive molecules that promote health and well-being, and generally make the user feel energized and "good". While traditional supplements and methods have been found useful, the time needed to dissolve some water soluble nutritional compounds, such as vitamin B complex and vitamin C, and the hydrophobic or water-insoluble nature of other nutritional compounds such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and various anti-oxidants, has long presented a technological challenge to nutritional delivery in the food and nutraceutical engineering industry.
Concurrently, there is a growing public awareness for healthy nourishment that includes daily amounts, or dosages set according to USDA minimum daily nutritional requirements, of required micronutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants. Since many nutritional compounds are also sensitive to oxidation, and other degradation mechanisms, there is, along with the interest in enriching foods and drinks with health promoting compounds, a trend to exclude potentially harmful compounds, eliminate ingestion of unnecessary vitamins, as well as other substances and additives characteristic of conventional nutritional supplements.
Enrichment of food and beverages with sensitive hydrophobic nutraceuticals have been found challenging for several reasons. First, some nutraceuticals have relatively poor or delayed solubility in water, which necessitates the use of a surface active agent (surfactant). Second, the resulting surfactant-hydrophobic nutraceutical and associated nano vehicle, or nano capsule, must be colloidally stable in the target product environment (e.g., temp, pH, ionic strength) during production and to ensure extended shelf life of the product. Third, hydrophobic nutraceutical-loaded nanoparticles must be as small as possible to minimize the effect on turbidity (visible light scattering). Fourth, if the hydrophobic nutraceutical is sensitive to oxidation, the vehicle should confer protection to retard degradation during product shelf life. Last, materials composing the vehicle and procedures of its formation must be generally recognized as safe for consumption.
With the advent of nano technology, various attempts have been made to improve nutraceutical delivery through nano sized structures. For instance, a polypeptide (e.g., including a dietary supplement) has been formulated by encapsulation in a nano-structure, such as a nanotubule or a nano-capsule.
Other attempts include encapsulation of flavors and active ingredients in hydrophobic nanospheres, in water sensitive microspheres, or in both the nano and microsphere. The encapsulation of different flavors or active agents in the various components of the system, such as nanospheres and microspheres, provides flavor transition (change in flavor character) during the use of the products. Controlled release of the flavors and/or active ingredients comprise solid hydrophobic nanospheres encapsulated in a moisture sensitive microsphere. Such nanospheres are not individually coated by the moisture sensitive microspheres matrix, but are homogenously dispersed in the water sensitive microsphere matrix. Various flavors and active ingredients are be incorporated in the hydrophobic nanosphere matrix, in the water sensitive microsphere matrix, or in both the nano and micro spheres matrices. While providing nano encapsulated compositions in this manner for introduction to any beverage product, e.g., water, soft drinks, juice, milk, tea and coffee, as clear solution, has been found useful, the method has been found complex and difficult to practice and the product therefore expensive to produce.
Further attempts include use of covalently bonded protein-polysaccharides conjugates for nano encapsulation of hydrophobic nutraceuticals. The particles so formed are small enough that, when mixed with a liquid, a clear and transparent solution is obtained. Alternatively, protein (or peptide)-polysaccharide (or oligosaccharide) conjugates are used as nano capsular vehicles for nanoencapsulation of biologically active compounds, particularly nutraceuticals. The protein-polysaccharides conjugates protect both hydrophobic (i.e., water insoluble) and hydrophilic (i.e., water soluble) nutraceuticals, to provide a composition which, when added to a beverage, disperses so as to provide a clear or transparent solution. While beneficial in some contexts, this delivery system has been found to not only have stability issues, but also requires expensive additives and ingredients, with the result of extensive undesirable or unnecessary chemicals being ingested into the user's body.
A stable nutraceutical composition and method are, therefore, desired that not only provide key nutrients and ingredients, but are also makes them readily available, affordable, and manufacturable, and in concentrations that are highly effective for improving the overall health, comfort, vitality, well being, strength and stamina of users. Also desired is a tasteless, colorless and odorless nutraceutical composition that fully and stably disperses in aqueous media for use in food and beverage compositions and the like.

Molecular particle superior delivery system


A method comprises forming a gate stack comprising a polysilicon layer, a metal layer and a polysilicon layer over a gate dielectric and substrate. The metal layer is buried inside the gate stack to alloy the silicon and metal at the bottom of the gate. The gate stack is then etched to form a gate. A silicidation is then performed to form a silicide at the bottom of the gate. Optionally, a second metal layer may be formed on top of the gate stack. As such, during silicidation, a silicide may be formed at the top of the gate.

Currently, metal gate electrodes are being investigated to replace polysilicon gate electrodes in today's ever shrinking and changing semiconductor devices. Traditionally, a polysilicon gate electrode with an overlying silicide was used for the gate electrodes in CMOS devices. However, as device feature size continues to shrink, poly depletion becomes a serious issue when using polysilicon gate electrodes. The polysilicon gate electrodes may be replaced with metal gate electrodes in order to solve problems of polysilicon-depletion effects and boron penetration when forming semiconductor device features.
Recently, silicided metal gates have been utilized in semiconductor device components, such as gates. Typically, in forming silicided gates, polysilicon is deposited over a gate dielectric. Then, a metal is deposited over the polysilicon and reacted to completely consume the polysilicon resulting in a fully silicided metal gate, in lieu of a deposited metal gate. The silicided metal gate provides a metal gate with the least perturbation to the conventional process and avoids contamination issues. Furthermore, polysilicon doping has been shown to affect the work function of the silicided metal gates.
According to the conventional process, the gates and other semiconductor components such as moats must be silicided at the same time. However, for fully silicided gates, the gates and other components cannot be silicided simultaneously because the fully silicided gate will require a different metal or different deposition thickness than other components.

Method of forming silicided gates using buried metal layers


The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus capable of suctioning a liquid from a container by using a vacuum. Simultaneously, the vacuum draws a second liquid from a separate source to fill a reservoir which forms part of the apparatus. Once the first liquid is drawn and the reservoir is filled with the second liquid, vacuum is disengaged by releasing a normally open vacuum control. Further disengaging of a normally closed reservoir control allows the second liquid to drain from the reservoir into the now empty container which formerly contained the first liquid. Use of this apparatus significantly eases the task of changing liquid culture mediums since the operator can now accomplish the task in essentially one step thereby minimizing potential contamination to the second liquid, the culture, and the environment.

The present invention relates to the field of biological cellular cultures. More particularly, it relates to a novel apparatus and method for changing a liquid culture medium used to cultivate cell cultures with a new medium.
Changing culture medium is a routine and heavy job of isolated cell culture, and needs to be performed every other day. Traditionally, the procedures of changing culture medium include at least two separate steps:
1) Aspiration or removal of the old medium from a culture vessel by means of vacuum suction or pipetting; a process of dipping an open-ended tube into the liquid medium, and withdrawing the tube and liquid within the tube from the medium for disposal. PA1 2) Addition of new medium to the culture vessels using another tool, usually a pipette, to transfer medium from a liquid container to the culture vessels.
Generally, the process for the conventional operation of changing medium is described below. If using a vacuum means; aspirate the old medium, change the tool, draw the new medium, and release the new medium to the culture vessels. If pipetting; draw the old medium, dispose of it, draw new medium, and release the new medium to the culture vessels. The operator may or may not change pipettes to isolate the new medium from potential intermixing of residue from the old medium contained within the pipette.
These procedures involve many actions, multiple pauses, frequent opening of culture vessels and medium containers. Furthermore the potential exists for the prolonged exposure of cultured cells to air, particularly when a large volume of medium or a large number of vessels need to be changed. Therefore, the process is time consuming in the least and potentially harmful to the cultured cells due to their prolonged exposure to air as well as significantly increasing the risk of contamination due to the repetitive actions necessary.

Method and apparatus for liquid medium exchange


An adjustable cap has a crown portion shaped for fitting over the crown of a wearer's head, with the rear part of the crown portion formed of a stretchable material. A two part peripheral band is secured around the lower peripheral edge of the crown portion on the inside of the cap. The first, front part of the band is of a moisture absorbent, non-stretch material, and the second, rear part extending across the rear of the crown portion is of a stretchable material. The rear part of the band stretches to adjust the size of the peripheral opening to fit wearer's of differing head sizes.

This invention relates generally to hats or caps, and is particularly concerned with a cap or hat which is adjustable in size to fit wearers having different head sizes.
Adjustable caps are known which have an opening at the rear of the crown portion, with straps extending from opposite sides of the opening. One of the straps has a plurality of spaced openings, while the other cap has spaced studs which can be inserted through any selected pair of openings in order to adjust the size of the cap. Fitting such caps to a wearer's head can be inconvenient, since the cap must first be tried, then removed to adjust the straps, and subsequently re-fitted as necessary until the most comfortable fit is achieved.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,615,415 of Beckerman and 5,715,540 of Cho, an alternative arrangement is described in which a peripheral band extending around the entire periphery of the base opening of the cap is formed of a stretchable or elasticated material. This will automatically adjust to fit the wearer's head as the cap is pulled down over the crown of the head. The fabric forming the band is of a uniaxially stretchable material.


L-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate derivatives having a substituent on the benzene ring, represented by the following formula (1):

L-glutamate is a excitatory neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system of mammals, and it is known not only to induce rapid neurotransmission between synapses but also to be involved on a higher level in the complex physiological processes of memory and learning. Excitatory neurotransmission between synapses begins with release of glutamate from the presynapse, and fades with rapid glutamate uptake from the synaptic cleft by high-affinity glutamate transporters found in nerve endings and glial cells (Attwell, D. and Nicholls, D., TIPS 68-74, 1991).
Reduced sodium-dependent glutamate uptake activity in portions of patient brains has been reported in several genetic neurodegenerative diseases (Rothstein, J. D. et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 326, 1464-1468, 1992). For this reason, activation and inhibition of glutamate transporter function are becoming objects of focus in connection with such diseases.
In initial steps of research, study of glutamate transporters was carried out primarily using synaptosomes prepared from brain tissue or membrane specimens from the kidney and small intestine. Later, after cloning of sodium-dependent high-affinity glutamate transporter cDNA in 1992, research was conducted from a molecular biological perspective (Pines, G. et al., Nature 360, 464-467, 1992; Storck, T. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 10955-10959, 1992; Kanai, Y. et al., Nature 360, 467-471, 1992). In 1994, the human glutamate transporter gene was cloned and five subtypes, EAAT1 to EAAT5, were categorized (Arriza, J. L. et al., J. Neurosci. 14, 5559-5569; Fairman, W. A. et al., Nature, 375, 599-603, 1995; Arriza, J. L. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 4155-4160, 1997).
However, given the low homology of glutamate transporter protein with other neurotransmitter transporters and the difficulty of inferring transmembrane regions based on hydrophobisity, there is still disagreement regarding the 3-dimensional structure and substrate recognition site structure (Grunewald, M. et al., Neuron 21, 623-632, 1998; , Seal, R. P. et al., Neuron 25, 695-706, 2000).
In light of these circumstances, it is desirable to develop various glutamate transporter inhibitors, and especially inhibitors that function as blockers, toward elucidation of the relationship between the glutamate transporter family and neuropathic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as epilepsy, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease.
As a result of investigation for glutamate uptake inhibitors using synaptosomes according to the prior art, compounds such as threo-β-hydroxyaspartate and CCG-III [(2S,1′S,2′R)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine], t-2,4-PDC (trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid) and the like have hitherto been identified as glutamate uptake inhibitors, and these are themselves taken up as substrates by transporters and thus act as inhibitors that competitively inhibit glutamate uptake.
The glutamate uptake inhibitors such as kainic acid and dihydrokainic acid were demonstrated by electrophysiological studies to be blockers that inhibit glutamate uptake without themselves being taken up. It was further shown that these compounds act only on EAAT2 (GLT-1 type) of the five EAAT subtypes (Arriza, J. L. et al., J. Neurosci. 14, 5559-5569, 1994). Nevertheless, these compounds have also exhibited strong excitatory effects on ion-channel glutamate receptors.
The present inventors have reported that β-hydroxyaspartate derivatives having substituents at the β-position exhibit an uptake-inhibiting effect for all of the five EAAT subtypes (Lebrun, B. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272, 20336-20339, 1997; Shimamoto, K. et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 53, 195-201, 1998; Shigeri, Y. et al., J. Neurochem. 79, 297-302, 2001). Among them, it was found that compounds with bulky substituents at the β-position act as blockers for all of the subtypes, inhibiting not only uptake of glutamate but also heteroexchange-based glutamate efflux and sodium ion influx (Chatton, J-Y. et al., Brain Res. 893, 46-52, 2001). In particular, L-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate (L-TBOA), because of its powerful blocking effect and its lower affinity for glutamate receptor compared to existing inhibitors, has become a standard substance used in glutamate transporter research.

β-benzyloxyaspartate derivatives with amino group on benzene ring

Abstract: wherein R is hydrogen, a linear or branched lower aliphatic acyl group with the acyl portion optionally substituted, an alicyclic acyl group, an aromatic acyl group with a substituent on the aromatic ring, an amino acid-derived group or a biotin derivative-derived group,having an amino substituent on the benzene ring, and salts thereof, which can easily bind to affinity column chromatography carriers as ligands of glutamate transporter proteins.


A method of aligning optical-fibers, including: holding a sheath of an optical-fiber ribbon cord using an optical-fiber holder so that distal ends of optical fibers extending from the sheath are located above grooves of a groove stage; arranging an optical-fiber guide on one side of the sheath, as the sheath is held by the optical-fiber holder, on a first side of the optical-fiber holder, wherein the optical-fiber guide has oblique portions adjacent to transverse sides of the sheath; moving the optical-fiber guide in a first direction toward the sheath so that at least one of the oblique portions aligns the sheath to the transverse center of the optical fiber guides; and moving the optical-fiber guide in a direction opposite the first direction to align the optical-fibers into the grooves of the groove stage.

The invention relates to a method of aligning optical-fibers. According to this method, an optical-fiber holder hold a sheath of an optical-fiber, the ends of bare optical-fibers exposed from the sheath are received and aligned in a groove of a groove stage provided inner side than the optical-fiber holder and aligned. This invention also relates to an optical-fiber alignment device and an optical-fiber fusion splicer using the method of aligning optical-fibers.
A related optical-fiber fusion splicer includes an optical-fiber alignment device and fusion splicer means. The sheaths of ends of four-wire optical-fiber ribbon cords as a pair of optical-fibers are removed to expose bare optical-fibers. The optical-fiber alignment device includes a groove stage for aligning the bare optical-fibers so that the opposite sides of the bare optical-fibers are abutted against each other. The groove stage includes opposed V-grooves as grooves formed on the surface of a portion of the groove stage. The optical-fiber alignment device includes a pair of optical-fiber holders which respectively hold the sheaths of the pair of optical-fiber ribbon cords. The optical-fiber holders are positioned on an optical-fiber holding stage to hold the sheaths.
When the bare optical-fibers of the pair of optical-fiber ribbon cords are mounted on the predetermined V-grooves, an operator manually moves the optical-fiber holders which holds the sheath of the optical-fiber ribbon cords, and aligns (positions) the bare optical-fibers into the predetermined V-grooves. When the optical-fiber holder is used, the operator moves the optical-fiber holders with his/her one hand so that all of the bare optical-fibers are received in the respective V-grooves. When they are to be positioned, the operator operates a clamp lever using the other hand to clamp the optical-fiber holder.
The optical-fiber holder has a bottom surface with a recess. The optical-fiber holding stage has an upper surface with a projection functioning as a mounting surface on which the optical-fiber holder is to be mounted. The two projecting and recessed fitting portions have a gap therebetween. The gap allows the optical-fiber holder to move, and to precisely position the bare optical-fibers in the V-grooves.
Another optical-fiber fusion splicer includes V-grooves. The slits as many as the V-grooves projecting higher than the V-grooves are fixed to the rear side of the V-grooves. The slits and the V-grooves are aligned with each other. Therefore, if the bare optical-fibers are inserted into the slits, the bare optical-fibers are guided by the slits to be arrayed parallel to each other and thus, the bare optical-fibers are received in the V-grooves as they are (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S59-2013).
In the former fusion splicer of the optical-fiber ribbon cord, the extremely narrow gap and width of the V-groove makes it very difficult for an operator to manually position the bare optical-fiber to the V-groove while visually checking this state.
When the optical-fiber holder is to be clamped, the optical-fiber holder is moved to cause the bare optical-fiber to come out from the predetermined V-groove in some cases. This causes variations in operational speed according to differences in skill of operators.
In the latter optical-fiber fusion splicer, when the respective bare optical-fibers are to be inserted into the slits, it is troublesome to manually position the bare optical-fiber and the slit to each other. When the bare optical-fibers are to be inserted or pulled out, the fixed slits necessarily move parallel to the bare optical-fibers, and the operator needs pay attention, thus rendering the operation difficult.

Method of aligning optical-fibers, optical-fiber alignment device, and optical-fiber fusion splicer


The present invention provides an integrated migration environment which assists in migration of software systems. The invention further provides an object oriented framework through which the tool can be extended to handle additional languages and platforms. A system and method is provided for the identification of migration issues and subsequent modification of the software system. The system and method can be deployed over the web for quick installation and is executable on multiple platforms. The invention provides a means to migrate software systems from any source platform to any target platform.

Software programs are written for many different operating systems and hardware platforms. Often, there is a need to make a software program written on one platform ("source platform") run on a different platform ("target platform"). The software program written for the source platform might not work on the target platform as there can be difference between the two platforms. These differences can be due to a variety of factors, such as hardware architecture differences, operating environment differences, etc. Also, as software products undergo continuous development, application programs written for older version can become incompatible with newer versions. The process of achieving a transfer from the source platform to the target platform is referred to herein as "migration".
One particular known environment where migration can be desired, and where migration can encounter the foregoing problems, is where the target platform has a Solaris Operating Environment. For example, the source platform might be an earlier version of Solaris, or one of the Unix variants (HP-UX, AIX etc.) or completely separate platform, such as Windows NT. Most often, during the migration process, the programming language remains the same, but code that compiled flawlessly on the source platform has errors or incompatibilities when that same code is compiled on the target platform. Any incompatibilities between the source and target platform are referred to herein as "issues". The issues can include, for example, hardware dependencies, operating system application program interface ("API") call incompatibilities or build environment incompatibilities. The existing, manual migration process involves detecting these issues between the source and target platform and then resolving them in order to make the software system work on Solaris Operating Environment.
As will now be understood by those of skill in the art, the migration process has a number of challenges to solve. Software systems to be migrated can range from a few thousand lines of code to several million lines of code. Yet the current, manual migration process requires quick identification of migration issues without extensive knowledge of the overall software system. Furthermore, it is usually desired to carry out the migration process in short period of time—especially when compared to accepted time frames for program maintenance. Software maintenance is continuous effort while migration is a one-time effort, usually performed under time constraints. Furthermore, the process of manual migration can be hampered because the software to be migrated may be old and include minimal or no documentation. In general, migration is carried out by people who are unlikely to be the original creator or maintainer of the software, therefore adding time and complexity to the process of manual migration. Manual migration of software typically requires the professional conducting the manual migration to have knowledge of both the source and target platform and, in addition, to know all the issues that exist between the two platforms. Such resources are expensive and not readily available.
Another problem with manual migration is knowing whether the software program to be migrated from the source platform is actually complete—i.e. whether the entire software program has been provided to the person conducting the migration—thus requiring the person conducting the migration to detect missing pieces of the system. Doing this task manually can be error prone and costly.
Yet another problem with manual migration is the lack of a database of issues that are known to exist between the source and target platforms. Such a database has to be built over a period of time by capturing the issues encountered through various migration projects, but which are typically only compiled in a manual fashion.
Attempts have been made to use existing maintenance and reverse engineering tools to automate the migration of software between platforms, but generally these tools provide unsatisfactory and/or somewhat deficient results. In general, such prior art tools are not geared specifically to the problem of migration of software, but rather towards the more general area of software maintenance and reverse engineering. Further, these tools do not include databases of known issues, or the means to gradually build such databases. Further, such prior art tools generally lack built-in means to detect migration issues, and there is generally no overall framework for easily plugging in different parsers and analyzers to use with different source languages
Certain other prior art tools are targeted towards the more specific problem of migration from a specific source platform to specific target platform, but lack general flexibility to migrate between a plurality of different source platforms and/or a plurality of different target platforms. In general, prior art tools are geared towards reverse engineering or program maintenance. One of the aims of such tools is building high level models for the software systems in order to assist in program understanding and are generally built for continuous maintenance. Prior art tools are generally not geared towards migration of software within a short time frame. Many prior art tools run on only a specific platform and require significant initial setup time. Still other prior art tools lack robust parsers capable of parsing incomplete source code from the source platform, and provide poor or no facilities to record the differences detected during a migration process in order to assist in future migration.

System and method for migration of software


An example valve includes: a first port configured to be fluidly coupled to an actuator; a second port configured to be fluidly coupled to a reservoir; a third port configured to provide an output pilot fluid signal and receive an input pilot fluid signal; a fourth port configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of fluid; a pilot poppet configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at the first port and configured to be subjected to a second fluid force of the input pilot fluid signal; a solenoid actuator sleeve that is axially movable between an unactuated state and an actuated state; and at least one setting spring configured to apply a biasing force on the pilot poppet.

A meter-in valve can be configured to control fluid flow to an actuator in a hydraulic system in such a manner that there is a restriction in the amount of fluid flowing to the actuator. The meter-in valve can be actuated electrically, mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or manually.
Counterbalance valves are hydraulic valves configured to hold and control negative or gravitational loads. They may be configured to operate, for example, in applications that involve the control of suspended loads, such as mechanical joints, lifting applications, extensible movable bridge, winches, etc.
In some applications, the counterbalance valve, which may also be referred to as an overcenter valve, can be used as a safety device that prevents an actuator from moving if a failure occurs (e.g., a hose burst) or could be used as a load-holding valve (e.g., on a boom cylinder of a mobile machinery). The counterbalance valve allows cavitation-free load lowering, preventing the actuator from overrunning when pulled by the load (gravitational load).
An actuator that has two chambers can have one or more meter-in valves to control fluid flow to the chambers and counterbalance valves that control fluid flow out of the chambers. Additional valves (e.g., check valves) are typically added to perform additional functionalities in a hydraulic system.
Such a hydraulic system can involve many hydraulic connections between the different valves. Also, the valves can be placed in a manifold that includes complex fluid passages and ports to connect the various valves in the hydraulic system. It may thus be desirable to have a valve that reduces complexity and cost of the hydraulic system.

Proportional flow control and counterbalance valve having single seat configuration