A motor vehicle seat with a ventilating device comprises (a) a ventilating insert (5) that is placed into a recess on the side of an upholstery core facing a seated person, (b) an air-permeable upholstery layer covering the side of the ventilating insert facing the seated person, and (c) a ventilator (12), at least partially inserted into an indentation in the side of the upholstery core facing the seated person, that sucks in the air from partial areas of the seating surface and provides it to those partial areas. At least a portion of the air flow between the ventilator and the upholstery covering occurs via an air-distribution layer (10) of the ventilating insert (5).

The present invention relates to a seat for a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, with a ventilating device for seat comfort.
Such a vehicle seat with a ventilating device comprises a ventilating insert located within a recess on the side of an upholstery core facing a person sitting in the seat. The one side of the ventilating insert facing toward the seated person is covered by the upholstery covering of the seating surface that is air-permeable, for example in the form of an air-permeable fabric or a perforated leather cover. A ventilator is provided that is at least partially inserted into an indentation in the side of the upholstery core facing the seated person. In order to ventilate the seating surface, this ventilator sucks in air from partial areas of the seating surface and provides air to partial areas of the seating surface. For this, at least a portion of the air flow between the ventilator and upholstery covering passes via an air-distribution layer of the ventilating insert.
A automobile seat with a ventilating device of this type is known, for example, from DE 10 2012 006 074 A1. The automobile seat described therein comprises a tub portion formed as a closed shell, into which upholstery is inserted, that is provided with an air-distribution layer facing the seated person that is covered by an air-permeable covering. The air-distribution layer possesses a uniform texture across its entire surface. The air-distribution layer is provided with air, flowing via flow channels in the upholstery, by means of a ventilator mounted on the underside of the upholstery, also within the tub portion. The distribution chamber mounted between the ventilator and the air-flow channels to distribute the air to the air-flow channels is limited on its underside by the floor of the tub portion. These air-flow channels extend through the upholstery and/or upholstery layer from the underside to the upper side. While the two outer areas are provided with air via the air-flow channels, air is sucked out from the central portion of the air-distribution layer by means of the ventilator. Air-flow direction from the ventilator may be reversed so that air is provided to the central portion of the seating surface by means of the ventilator and the air-distribution layer while air is sucked in via the outer area of the air-distribution layer and thus of the seating surface. The figures in this reference show that, due to the arrangement and structure of the air-distribution layer and of the channels within the upholstery, air is partially guided such that it is provided by the ventilator on the one side and is directly sucked out of the air-distribution layer without flowing out through the seating surface, namely in the manner of a circulating system, when the surface facing the seated person is completely covered.
DE 10 2012 011 398 A1 discloses a vehicle seat with a shell or tub-shaped supporting structure into which an upholstery element is inserted whose upper side is covered with an air-permeable covering. An air-distribution layer is located below the seat cover which, in turn, is covered on its side facing the upholstery covering by an optional comfort layer, that may be formed of perforated or reticulated foam, for example. An upholstery component is located below the air-distribution layer.
Air-flow channels extend through this upholstery component perpendicular to the seating surface. A ventilator is mounted in a central portion of the upholstery elements, and/or of the upholstery component, that sucks in air via the seat cover and the comfort layer, passing this air below the upholstery component, via an air-distribution chamber formed partially by the floor of the tub-shaped supporting structure, to the air-flow channels in the upholstery component. From there, the air is passed via the air-distribution layer to the aperture in the comfort layer, from which the air exits from the seat cover.


A computer-implemented method for single-action photo and video messaging includes simultaneously displaying both a live feed representing visual data captured by a video recording device and a plurality of contact icons, each contact icon associated with one or more destinations to which media data can be sent. A single action is received from a user selecting one of the plurality of the displayed contact icons. In response to the user's single action and not based on any subsequent input from the user, the following steps are carried out automatically: capturing visual data from the video recording device, and sending, to the one or more destinations associated with the selected contact icon, the captured visual data.

In traditional electronic communication and messaging platforms, invoking the use of photos and videos requires multiple steps and user interactions. One widely used model includes the user picking a contact or conversation, creating the message, and then sending the message to the chosen contact. In another widely used model, the user creates a message in media (photo or video), then edits the message, and then selects the recipients from a list of contacts. Moreover, capturing the photo or video usually requires a confirmation message or notification to be sent to both the sender and the receiver. These multi-step procedures reduce speed and spontaneity for the sender.
There is a need for a messaging application that enables users to send a photo or video to a chosen contact with one direct and simple user interaction.


Disposable pant like garments are disclosed. Pant like garments of the present invention generally comprise a main absorbent portion and a pair of side portions. One or more sections of the pant-like garments are provided with one or more cohesive areas which allow for cohesive fastening and refastening of portions of the garment. The cohesives chosen may have the same properties or may be of the selective adhesive type. Pant like garments may be provided with cohesive fasteners and not other types of refastening means. In other variations, cohesive fasteners may be supplemented with one or more frangible bonds. Also disclosed are side portions having cohesive areas which may be converted in use from an abutting facing relationship to an overlapping facing relationship. Multiple cohesive areas of varying types for providing differential bond properties during use are also disclosed.

Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers for infants and small children and adult incontinence products have long been known in the art. These articles are designed to absorb and contain body exudates such as urine and fecal matter. Ideally these products fit snugly and prevent leakage of exudates.
Typically, conventional diaper products for infants and small children have included a front waist portion, and a rear waist portion which are releasably connected about the hips of the wearer during use by fasteners such as adhesive tape fasteners or hook and loop type fasteners. Commonly such diapers were put on by laying the baby on its back, positioning the diaper between the baby's legs and fastening the fasteners about the waist.
More recently, there have been several prior art disposable absorbent articles of the so called "pants" type. These are articles designed to absorb and contain body exudates which are typically in a closed waist configuration and which are designed to be pulled up over the hips of the wearer into position around the waist and between the legs. This pulling up of such articles may be accomplished by a caregiver, by the wearer (such as a child) alone, or by the wearer with assistance from a caregiver. Typically, such pants type articles have a stretchable portion, such as a stretchable side area which expands to allows the article to be pulled over the hips and then retracts somewhat to provide a conforming fit of the article. Often such pants type articles are provided with a seamed area, such as seamed sides. The seams of such articles may be broken, such as by tearing, for removal of the article. A variation of the pants type articles are absorbent articles which are provided in a closed waist (or "pants") configuration and which can be pulled over the hips of the wearer into place about the waist. These articles are also provided, however, with a refastenable seamed area, such as refastenable side seams. A hook and loop fastener is one example of a refastenable seam which is known in the art used in conjunction with a pants type absorbent article for babies or young children.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,526, although not the first to do so, describes a pant like garment having pre-fastened hook and loop type fasteners at the side of the article. PCT Patent application WO 00/37016 discloses articles with primary and secondary fasteners where at least one of the fasteners are mechanical in nature. U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,287 discloses a refastenable primary fastener with passive side bonds located inwardly of said primary fasteners. The primary fasteners are mechanical in nature.
While some pants type absorbent articles with refastenable features have enjoyed some commercial success, use of currently available diaper fastening systems has drawbacks in this context. For example, the use of adhesives as part of a diaper fastening system has the drawbacks that adhesive may stick to itself or stick to portions of the article where such sticking is not desired. Other locations of undesired sticking may include skin, hair, etc. Mechanical fasteners, such as a hook and loop fasteners also have drawbacks. For example, hook type fasteners also may have a tendency to attach to undesired locations such as clothing, carpet, or the wearer (even if no sticking takes place, hooks may irritate the wearer's skin). Additionally, hooks and loops may prove challenging to integrate into a pant form with appropriate peel forces. If peel forces are too low, then children may have a tendency to remove the absorbent article when such removal is undesired. Other potential drawback of conventional mechanical fasteners is that many require an area without stretch properties in the overall article. This creates somewhat of a design paradox if stretch is generally desired in the side area of the product, but the mechanical fastener (such as a hook and loop) which is also to be placed on the side must be placed in an area without stretch properties. The compromise made is typically to limit the size of the hook and loop fastening area which results in a lack of versatility of the product and can lead to compromise on either the desired fastener strength properties or the stretch properties of the side portion of the article.
Another problem often associated with mechanical type fasteners is that they can tend to become damaged during the high speed operations required for commercially viable manufacture of pant like disposable garments. For example, hooks tend to get damaged during manufacture, and other mechanical type fasteners such as buttons, tab and slots, or the like can also become damaged, torn, or otherwise impacted by the challenges of high speed handling.
The articles of the present invention provide pants type disposable garments which overcome the drawbacks associated with mechanical type fasteners and also avoiding the problems seen with conventional adhesive fasteners. By employing various types of selective adhesive fastening techniques either alone or in combination with fastening techniques, the articles described herein offer improved versatility, fit, refastening performance over those previously known in the art. These and other advantages of the articles of the present invention will become apparent in light of the description below.

Pant-like disposable garment having improved fastener systems


A method of producing electrode active materials includes generating a source material of titanium (Ti) and a source material of iron (Fe) from an ilmenite, and performing a operation to the source material of Fe and the source material of Ti. The operation includes determining a content of Fe or Ti in the source material of Fe or Ti, preparing an intermediate mixture having the source material of Fe or Ti and other required source materials, ball-milling and drying the intermediate mixture, and sintering the intermediate mixture to form the electrode active materials.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the present invention. The subject matter discussed in the background of the invention section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background of the invention section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background of the invention section or associated with the subject matter of the background of the invention section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background of the invention section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in the background of the invention section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
In current power industry, cheap, long-lasting ways are required to store the excess energy produced by power plants. The energy can be stored in the form of intermittent power from renewable and cleaner energy sources, such as solar and wind farms. Unfortunately, the batteries available for grid-level storage are either too expensive or lack of thousands of cycles needed to make them cost-effective.
Lead-acid battery is one of the secondary batteries or rechargeable batteries. However, the lead-acid battery has the problems of, such as, significant negative impact on the environment, sulfation, low density and low cycle life.
Recent advances in battery development have promoted lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology. With its high thermal stability, LFP is suitable for high-rate charge-discharge applications in both vehicles and power tools.
Another alternative battery option is the aqueous electrolyte battery such as aqueous sodium/potassium battery, which is environment friendly and can be fabricated in simple way. Aqueous system batteries have significantly higher rate than non-aqueous electrolyte system batteries due to the high conductivity of the aqueous system. Comparing with the non-aqueous electrolyte system, which requires a much more complicated design with high surface area current collectors, very thin roll-coated electrodes, and a large-area polymer separator, the aqueous electrolyte allows for use of much thicker electrode, much less expensive separator and current collector materials. Additionally, the aqueous system can be assembled in an open-air environment instead of a moisture-free fabrication environment which is required by non-aqueous system, resulting in a significantly low cost for producing the aqueous system. The advantages of using aqueous system lie in that compounds of abundant elements such as sodium compounds are used in electrode materials and electrolytes to replace the compounds of lithium. Further, water is used in electrolyte in the aqueous system to replace the expensive non-aqueous solvent. Sodium/potassium aqueous battery technology may be a prominent device to replace the lead-acid battery. The lower energy density of the aqueous battery is an acceptable trade-off for lower cost, longer cycle life, less hazardous battery chemistry and no significant negative impact to the environment because it contains no hazardous materials, no corrosive acids, no noxious fumes.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the battery industry to provide simple and cost effective manufacturing process for producing electrode active materials.

Methods of making low cost electrode active materials for secondary batteries from ilmenite


A subscriber to a video service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In an embodiment, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are recommended by reviewers. Such reviewers may be individuals or panels or institutions to which some credibility may be attached—a trusted source. After selecting a reviewer, the subscriber is made aware of the programs recommended by the selected reviewer.

Customers (a/k/a "subscribers") of modem cable or television (TV) satellite services are familiar with the concept of an on-screen programming guide or an interactive program guide (IPG). These program guides allow a subscriber to display, sort and search TV programming that is playing on the channels available to the subscriber. Typically, when a subscriber accesses the program guide, the programs on at that moment are displayed. The user can generally scroll forward in time to see what is playing later in the day, on the next day, and further ahead in time. A typical program guide allows a subscriber to display programming up to two weeks into the future.
Today's television services provide hundreds of channels to choose programming content from, including movies and pay-per-view events. In the future, it is expected there will be thousands of channels. In order to make selections when faced with such a multitude of options, a subscriber may go to a magazine, newspaper or website to see what TV programs and movies are recommended. Depending upon their preferences, subscribers may rely upon specific sources for recommendations which have established a level of credibility with subscribers, thus these sources become "trusted sources" to a subscriber. However, there presently is not a way to see what their trusted sources have recommended while a subscriber is perusing the on-screen program guide.

On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations


A system for identifying visitors using a closed-circuit television camera to generate image data by reading images of visitors and a microphone to convert the sound waves received from visitors into electric waves. A door-bell button has a call-bell function available for when a visitor calls and as well as a switch function for operating a computer while the computer is in a hibernation state. The computer system controls and stores the signals and image data from the CCTV camera, the microphone, and the call-bell button while a monitor which displays the image data. This system identifies visitors by storing the visitor's image sensed from an identification device while the owner a user is absent and reconfirms after by using a general purpose home computers; the system has a hibernation function and is inexpensive.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for identifying visitors more particularly, to a system for storing the visitor's image as sensed by an identification device while the owner of the premises is absent and subsequently reconfirming, the identity of the image by using a general purpose home computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, using computers enable not only factories and laboratories but also family homes to automate. Contemporary designs for home automation systems typically identify visitors and control electric home appliances by using a communication apparatus. For example, there are systems for controlling the temperature automatically according to a preset temperature in summer and in winter, preparing dinner before returning home, opening the door automatically in response to the host's face and fingerprint, and identifying the coming and going of visitors.
An earlier design of a system for identifying visitors includes a CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera for outputting image data by reading images of visitors, a monitor for displaying the image data outputted from the CCTV camera and the image storing device for storing image data for identifying visitors. The CCTV camera includes a CCD (charge coupled device) for receiving the visitors image and for generating data according to the brightness of the light, and a driving circuit for processing the image signal received from the CCD and in order to provide data to the monitor or the image memory. In this type of design, the CCD receives the visitor's image and outputs an electrical signal according to the brightness of the light, the driving circuit receives the image from the CCD and transmits the image to the monitor, and the image data is displayed on the screen of the monitor, and the image storing device can replay data whenever required by the user.
I have found that with the designs of contemporary systems, the owners use the image storing device to stores and process the images of visitors through the CCTV camera in order to identify visitors while the user is absent from the premises.
The earlier image storing systems require their own place of installation and were relatively expensive. Also, the earlier systems stored and processed an image continuously during regular hours. So, there are problems that the power consumption is large and the image storing device searches from beginning to end when identifying visitors again.
One example of contemporary practice, Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,604 for System And Method For Picture Interphone Using Camcorder And TV, discloses a typical prior art arrangement using a TV monitor and a camcorder. The prior art device requires an expensive image storing device (that is--the camcorder) and further requires that the user search the video tape in sequence from the beginning to the end in order to identify the visitors. On the other hand, the present invention only requires a general purpose home computer having a multi-media function and a CCTV camera. The present invention does not use expensive equipment and enables the owner to perform the function of editing and identifying data easily and without the necessity of resorting to reviewing an entire video tape.

System for identifying visitors using CCTV camera and home computer


In some implementations, a method includes causing a display of a portion of a data presentation within a view in a graphical interface, where different portions of the data presentation are displayable. The method includes determining at least one current state of the device, and causing a display of one or more information areas within the view based on the current state, including determining a display mode from available display modes for each of the information areas. The available display modes include independent and dependent display modes, where the independent display mode causes an information area to be displayed within the view regardless of the displayed portion of the data presentation, and the dependent display mode causes the information area to be associated with one or more locations in the data presentation and displayed within the view based on an associated location being in the view.

Graphical interfaces are used to display information by computer systems of all types, and on various size display screens. In some graphical interfaces used for application programs, a window is displayed with selectable controls at the top of the window and a main display view that displays a data presentation, such as a document, web page, or other data. The main display view used to display the data presentation can also display active controls which are selectable by a user to activate functions of the graphical interface, application program, or data. For example, some web pages can include their own toolbars or other areas providing user-selectable functions or displaying dynamic information which is more specialized and pertinent to the web page than general web browser toolbars or interfaces.

Display of information areas in a view of a graphical interface


An image forming apparatus, which executes, after an image forming operation is stopped, a cleaning operation in which toner that remains on an intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a photosensitive drum and is removed by a cleaning blade while the image forming apparatus causes the intermediate transfer belt to move for circulation, causes a charging roller or a laser scanner to change the surface potential of the photosensitive drum such that the toner to be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the photosensitive drum is part of the toner that is to remain on the intermediate transfer belt, when the cleaning operation is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses that form an image by primary-transferring a toner image, which is a developer image formed on a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, referred to as a photosensitive drum), to an intermediate transfer member and by further secondary-transferring the primary-transferred toner image to a recording material (recording medium) are in practical use.
In obtaining a good image from an image forming apparatus which uses an intermediate transfer member, it is important to remove secondary transfer residual toner (residual toner), which remains on the intermediate transfer member and is untransferred from the intermediate transfer member to the recording material at the secondary transfer, from the intermediate transfer member before the next primary transfer is started.
Conventionally, the secondary transfer residual toner of the previous printing is removed by a cleaning method, which uses rubbing, before the primary transfer. According to the rubbing method, the toner is removed by a fur brush or a blade. The fur brush or the blade is provided at a position downstream of a secondary transfer unit of the intermediate transfer member and upstream of a primary transfer unit, in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer member.
If the cleaning method using the rubbing method is used, since the surface of the intermediate transfer member is scraped, the surface of the intermediate transfer member may be deteriorated or the toner may be easily fused and adhered to the intermediate transfer member. Further, since a dedicated container for collecting the removed secondary transfer residual toner is necessary, the image forming apparatus needs to have an extra space for the container. Thus, in recent years, a charging cleaning method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-50167 has been used to solve such a problem. According to the charging cleaning method, secondary transfer residual toner on an intermediate transfer member is collected in a cleaning device of a photosensitive drum.
Further, according to the charging cleaning method, the secondary transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer member is charged opposite in polarity to the charging potential of the photosensitive drum by a charging unit provided downstream of a secondary transfer position in the rotational direction of intermediate transfer member and upstream of a primary transfer position. Thus, the secondary transfer residual toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum at the primary transfer portion.
The toner transferred to the photosensitive drum is collected by the cleaning device of the photosensitive drum. A common cleaning device of the photosensitive drum includes a cleaning blade (cleaning unit) which contacts the photosensitive drum and a waste toner container where the toner scraped from the photosensitive drum by the cleaning blade is collected.
According to the charging cleaning method, since the charging unit does not need to strongly contact and scrape the intermediate transfer member, deterioration of the surface of the intermediate transfer member and toner fusion to the intermediate transfer member can be prevented compared to the cleaning method employing the rubbing. Further, since the residual toner collected after the cleaning operation is collected in a waste toner container of the cartridge, it is not necessary to prepare a container dedicated for storing the collected residual toner. This contributes to reducing the size and cost of the image forming apparatus.
However, according to the charging cleaning method, if the cleaning blade of the photosensitive drum is to clean a large amount of toner to be received especially when the image forming apparatus is recovered from a paper jam during high quality printing in a low temperature environment, a defective image may be formed due to poor cleaning. According to the charging cleaning method, since the residual toner is charged to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the photosensitive drum, the residual toner tends to strongly adhere to the photosensitive drum due to static electric charge. If the cleaning blade is to scrape a large amount of such toner, the cleaning blade may be deformed and the toner may slip through the cleaning blade.


A portable computer includes a computer body and a handle mounted detachably to the computer body. The computer body has a housing and an internal power unit mounted in the housing. The handle includes a handle casing, a pair of spaced and opposite arm members extending symmetrically from said handle casing and being mounted detachably and pivotally to said housing, a battery unit mounted in the handle casing, and an electrical connecting unit for connecting the battery unit to the internal power unit when the arm members are mounted to the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a portable computer, more particularly to a portable computer with a detachable handle which has a battery unit mounted therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable computer, such as a notebook computer or a laptop computer, has a relatively small volume and occupies a relatively small space. Generally, the portable computer has a main electric power unit which is mounted in a computer body thereof. Since only a main electric power unit is provided, the electrical energy developed to do work is limited, thereby resulting in a relatively short operating time. If an auxiliary electric power unit is mounted to the computer body of the portable computer in order to provide additional electrical energy, the volume of the computer body should be increased, thus creating an adverse effect to the occupied space of the portable computer.

Portable computer with a detachable handle including a battery


A medication container has a tubular container body with an upper open end, a cap detachably securable to the upper end of the container body by clockwise rotation relative thereto and removable from the container body by counter clockwise rotation relative thereto, and a cap liner within the cap and having a peripheral portion engageable with the upper end of the container body to close the upper end. The cap liner having an upwardly extending wall and the cap having a downwardly extending wall adjacent the upwardly extending wall of the cap liner. The cap and the cap liner have inter-engaging mechanism provided on the downwardly extending wall of the cap and the upwardly extending wall of the cap liner to prevent rotational movement therebetween when the cap is rotated in one direction relative to the container body and permit relative movement therebetween when the cap is rotated in an opposite direction relative to the container body. The cap and the cap liner have indicia which indicated the next dosage time when the cap is rotated in the opposite direction.

It is known to provide medication containers with mechanism operated by opening and/or closure to indicate the time the next dosage of medication is to be taken, such information being especially useful for seniors with failing memories as well as of course for others. Although medication containers with mechanism of this kind are known, the known mechanisms have not been particularly commercially successful.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a medication container which has an improved mechanism operated by opening and/or closure to indicate the next dosage time.


A dental cast scanning apparatus is comprised of a base; a single-tooth cast rotating device having a detachable and rotatable first cast-holding jig; a full-teeth cast rotating device having a detachable and rotatable second cast-holding jig; a scanning unit having a scanning probe, an elevator, and a slide rail mounted on the base, for slidable movement along the slide rail; and two swing drivers connected with the single-tooth and full-teeth cast rotating devices. Accordingly, the first and second cast-holding jigs can be driven to swing and rotate with respect to the scanning probe for a predetermined angle to cause efficient and effective scanning outcome.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the technology of manufacturing artificial teeth, and more particularly, to a dental cast scanning apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
During the operation of a conventional scanning apparatus for creating three-dimensional (3D) models, scan a workpiece to access all of information relating to the workpiece and then proceed to positioning and integration of the information by software to construct a complete 3D model.
As known, the operation of the conventional scanning apparatus is usually done by manual turning or rotating the workpiece, or by placing the workpiece on a jig to manually rotate the jig. However, there are many variables for such manual operation, such as human errors; for example, the deviation of angle that the workpiece is placed, may be incurred by the manual operation to further result in insufficient information while scanning to require more scanning times to further lengthen the overall scanning time and to increase the degree of the complexity of the follow-up process executed by the software, thereby causing not only uneasy control of the quality of the manufacturing process but also inconsistency of the manufacturing process and further making it difficult to do the personnel training for one company.


Efficient Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) for use with internal combustion engines is provided by a system including a fluidic pump, such as a Coanda effect pump. The fluidic pump has a primary air inlet receiving pressurized air from a source such as the pressure tank of a truck air brake system which operates at a pressure sufficient to provide high energy air. The pumped fluid inlet is connected to the exhaust gas manifold to receive the exhaust gas for recirculation and the outlet of the fluidic pump is connected to the inlet manifold of the engine downstream of the charge air boosting system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to the field of internal combustion engine exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) for emissions improvement. More particularly, the invention provides an EGR system employing a fluidic pump receiving high energy primary air from a secondary pressure source for pumping of recirculated exhaust gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
EGR is a known method for reducing the NOX emissions in internal combustion engines. For effective use, an EGR system must overcome the adverse pressure gradient created by a positive pressure gradient across the engine. Various approaches to implementing EGR have included pumping of a portion of the exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold. Pumping has been accomplished by introducing the exhaust gas into the compression inlet of a conventional turbocharger or supercharger present on the engine or, alternatively, providing a separate compressor receiving the exhaust gas and pressurizing it to a suitable pressure for insertion into the charge air downstream of the charge air boosting system on the engine.
Exhaust gases typically are corrosive or abrasive reducing desirability of introducing recirculated exhaust gas into the normal charge air boosting system due to damage or fouling of compressor or cooler components. Employing a separate compressor allows special configuration of the component to withstand the exhaust gas effects, however, such devices tend to be relatively expensive and reliability remains an issue.
Alternative designs for EGR incorporate fluidic pumping devices for obtaining pressurization of the recirculated exhaust gas flow. Use of the dynamic head of the exhaust gas stream for primary flow in such devices has typically been employed. The limited energy differential available for pressure amplification of the exhaust gas to be recirculated limits the effective capability of such devices. However, fluidic pumping avoids the cost and complexity of mechanical compression and components for such designs can be designed for robust tolerance to the exhaust gas effects.
It is therefore, desirable to provide a fluidic pumping system for EGR which incorporates a primary pumping gas flow with sufficient energy to provide the desired pressure amplification at flow rates sufficient to achieve recirculation of the exhaust gas at practical levels downstream of charge air boosting systems on the engine to avoid contamination of those systems.

Exhaust gas recirculation system employing a fluidic pump


A polarization conversion element is equipped with an element main body having a light incident surface and a light emission surface that are generally in parallel with each other, and a phase difference plate bonded to the light emission surface of the element main body. The element main body includes a plurality of light-transmissive substrates that are sequentially bonded at a predetermined angle with respect to the light emission surface, polarization separating films and reflection films that are alternately provided between the plurality of light-transmissive substrates, and adhesive layers formed between the plurality of light-transmissive substrates, respectively. The adhesive layers are each formed from ultraviolet light curing adhesive to a thickness between 5 μm and 10 μm.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to polarization conversion elements, polarization conversion units, projection apparatuses, and methods for manufacturing polarization conversion elements.
2. Related Art
Typically, a polarization conversion element that convers light of a light source into one type of polarized light is incorporated in a projection apparatus such as a projector. The polarization conversion element includes an element main body having a plurality of light-transmissive members with polarization separating films and reflection films alternately provided therebetween, and adhesive layers that are formed with adhesive between the plural light-transmissive members. Phase difference plates are selectively disposed on a light emission surface of the element main body (see, for example, JP-A-2000-298212 and Japanese Patent 3309846).
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, in fabricating the polarization conversion element described above, first, light-transmissive plate members with polarization separating films 91 and reflection films 92 formed thereon, and light-transmissive plate members without the aforementioned films formed thereon are alternately laminated with adhesive layers 93. The thickness of each of the adhesive layers 93 may reach, for example, about 20 μm. A laminate body of the laminated members is cut at a predetermined angle with respect to a surface of the laminated body to obtain an element main body. Then, cut surfaces of the element main body 95 are polished to form a light incident surface 951 and a light emission surface 952. Then, a phase difference plate 97 is bonded to the element main body 95 through a bonding layer 96.
However, for example, when the polarization conversion element described in JP-A-2000-298212 and Japanese Patent 3309846 is fabricated using adhesive of related art, the adhesive layer 93 would become thick as the adhesive has high viscosity. When the laminate body having such thick adhesive layers 93 is cut, strain would be generated at end sections of the adhesive layers 93. When the cut surfaces are polished with the strain being present, corner sections 981 of the light-transmissive members 98 near the adhesive layers 93 would be carved, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
For example, if the bonding layer 96 is formed by a plasma polymerization method described, for example, in JP-A-2010-113056, some problems would arise. For example, a gap may be generated at the bonding layer 96 such that the phase difference plate 97 would likely be separated, and air bubbles may be formed in the bonding layer 96 such that its light transmissivity would be lowered. Also, if the phase difference plate 97 is bonded to the light emission surface 952A by adhesive, the area through which light is effectively transmitted becomes smaller because the corner sections 981 of the light-transmissive member 98 are cut near the adhesive layers 91.

Polarization conversion element, polarization conversion unit, projection apparatus, and method for manufacturing polarization conversion element having a thin ultraviolet light curing adhesive layer


A device for counting the number of rotations of an object in a system, in which a storage means carries counting data designed to represent the number of rotations counted. The counting data is used for conditionally resetting the storage means if and only if two separate conditions are fulfilled, where at least of one of the conditions is the reception of information from an external device, thereby insuring that the counting data represents the number of rotations counted from a predetermined time.

Electronic devices are now being used more and more frequently to monitor mechanical systems, for example to track the operation thereof.
In this line of thinking, devices are used to count the rotations of an object mobile about an axis, for example, such as a wheel of a vehicle, for example to track wear of the tire on that wheel.
A solution of this kind is described in PCT published patent application no. WO 2004/110793, for example.
In such electronic devices, the number of rotations of the object is stored in the form of counting information, for example in a memory of the device.
However practical it may be, the monitoring function of this solution (in particular. correct tracking of the mechanical system) is based on the accuracy of the stored counting information and is therefore vulnerable if there is any risk of that information becoming corrupted, for example by a fraudster attempting to reduce (or even to reset) the number of turns stored by the device.
French patent application no. FR 2 678 729 discloses an odometer for automobile vehicles with means for conditionally resetting it. In this document, the conditions for resetting are defined inside the device, and are therefore fixed, which rules out all flexibility of use.

Electronic device for counting and storing the number of rotations of an object and the number of counter resets


A projection module and a terminal are provided. The projection module includes a base, a housing, a first light source, a second light source and an optical element. The housing is disposed on the base, and defines an accommodating cavity together with the base. The first light source is disposed on the base and arranged in the accommodating cavity. The second light source is disposed on the base and arranged in the accommodating cavity. The optical element is disposed on the housing and includes a diffraction area and a diffusion area. The first light source aligns with the diffraction area, the second light source aligns with the diffusion area, the diffraction area is configured to diffract light passing through the diffraction area, and the diffusion area is configured to diffuse light passing through the diffusion area.

A mobile phone may have an unlocking function by using a structured light. In this case, the mobile phone is usually provided with a structured light projector and a floodlight, respectively. The structured light projector is configured to project the structured light during 3D imaging, and the floodlight is configured to project the supplemental light during 2D imaging. Both the structured light projector and the floodlight need to work during the unlocking with the structured light. However, the structured light projector and the floodlight are usually two separate modules, thus resulting in the low integration level, and occupying the mounting space in the mobile phone.

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A container is configured for selectively dispensing a personal care product. The container includes a body, a drive apparatus, and an elevator. The body at least partially defines a product chamber and a distal opening. The elevator is disposed within the product chamber. Rotation of the drive apparatus results in axial movement of the elevator within the product chamber.

Conventional deodorant and antiperspirant containers use an elevator/screw system to dispense product, in what is commonly referred to as a "swivel-up" configuration. Such a container is typically equipped with an elevator, disposed within a body of the container, and having a screw in threaded engagement with the elevator. A knob is accessible on the bottom of the exterior of the container, for use by a consumer to rotate the screw. During use, the knob is turned by the consumer to rotate the screw and move the elevator towards the top of the container, thus pushing up the product.
One method of manufacturing and filling swivel-up type containers is known as an open bottom fill process. In accordance with this method, an annular side wall having an oval or circular cross-section is provided, and a removable cap, of the same cross-section, is provided on the top of the side wall. The cap has a smooth concave inner surface which is adapted to function as a mold in forming the top of the product or, alternatively, a foil or other factory seal is provided for that purpose. The product, in its molten or liquid state, is poured into the product chamber from the bottom of the side wall. While the product is still in a molten or liquid form within the product chamber, a base, to which an elevator/screw system has previously been movably coupled, is attached to the bottom of the side wall through use of adhesives, welding or otherwise. The product and container are then allowed to cool, whereby the product takes on a desired shape. The present inventors have recognized, however, that attachment of the base to the bottom of the side wall in this manner results in excessive piece parts, manufacturing complexity and cost, and presents a visible seam or witness line where the base is welded or adhered to the bottom of the side wall, that is aesthetically displeasing to consumers.
Another method of manufacturing and filling swivel-up type containers is known as a closed bottom fill process. In accordance with this method, an annular side wall having an oval or circular cross-section is provided. A base is formed as a unitary structure with a bottom end of the side wall and defines an opening. An elevator is inserted through a top opening defined by the side wall, and a screw is inserted through the opening in the base and into threaded engagement with the elevator. A removable cap is provided on the top of the side wall. The cap has a smooth concave inner surface which is adapted to function as a mold in forming the top of the product or, alternatively, a foil or other factory seal is provided for that purpose. The product, in its molten or liquid state, is poured into the product chamber through one or more opening(s) in a knob of an elevator/screw system, with a plug then optionally being inserted into the knob to block the opening(s). The product and container are then allowed to cool, whereby the product takes on a desired shape. The present inventors have recognized, however, that pouring of product through one or more openings in a knob of an elevator/screw system can result in filling inefficiencies and disadvantages, such as excessive turbulence and splashing of product within the product chamber. Additionally, the present inventors have recognized that, unlike the open bottom fill process described above and the top fill process described below, this closed bottom fill process requires the knob of an elevator/screw system to provide a flow area that is sufficient to accommodate the pouring of product into the product chamber, i.e., an open configuration, thus preventing use of certain knob configurations that might otherwise provide ergonomic, aesthetic, efficiency, and/or other advantages. Furthermore, the present inventors have recognized that this closed bottom fill process is not effective for use with less viscous products (e.g., soft solid type products as described below), due to a tendency of the less viscous products to leak from the container, through the opening(s) in the knob, during use of the container by a consumer to dispense product onto the skin. Accordingly, the present inventors have recognized that less viscous products would conventionally require either the open bottom fill process described above or the top fill process described below.
Another method of manufacturing and filling swivel-up type containers is known as the fill/invert or top fill process. This method involves a container having an oval or circular cross-section, but with a closed bottom already having an elevator/screw system attached. The product is poured into the container from the top, and the top of the container is then sealed by a cap having a smooth concave inner surface for molding the end of the product. The container is then inverted so that some of the molten or liquid product flows from the bottom of the container to the top of the container, to fill the volume intermediate the original fill line and the cap. The container is kept in this position during cooling. An advantage of the top fill process over the open bottom fill process, is that the container of the top fill process does not have a seam that presents a witness line, as discussed above. Another advantage of the top fill process over the open bottom fill process, is that the container of the top fill process can better seal the product within the container to prevent evaporation of the product during storage of the container.
The inventors have recognized a need for greater flexibility in the design and manufacture of a "swivel-up" container. For example, the inventors have recognized a need for a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-manufacture container, that does not provide any witness line, that provides flexibility in design of the knob, that can be filled using any of a plurality of fill processes and with a variety of different products, and that can facilitate multiple sealing and elevator configurations. For example, the inventors have recognized a need for a container that can be filled either using a closed bottom fill process or an open bottom fill process. As another example, the inventors have recognized a need for a container that can be filled using either a bottom fill process (closed and/or open) or a top fill process.

Containers for dispensing personal care product


A switched reluctance apparatus and method of operating the same. The apparatus has an inner stator having a plurality of poles, a rotor disposed radially outward of the inner stator and having a plurality of segments serving as poles, and an outer stator disposed radially outward of the rotor and having a plurality of poles. A respective winding is disposed between every pair of adjacent poles of either stator. The apparatus operates with a plurality of separately excitable phases, a given phase being excited by energizing the windings corresponding to the given phase. Excitation of a given phase causes induction of magnetic fluxes traversing a region substantially confined to the region of the stators and rotor segments corresponding to the given phase, and causes a substantial amount of flux to enter rotor segments not in the radial direction but perpendicular to the radial direction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to switched reluctance apparatuses, and more particularly to switched reluctance apparatuses having alternative structural geometries, such as a double stator configuration, that optimize the distribution of magnetic flux.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional switched reluctance machines feature a rugged structure, robust performance in harsh ambient conditions, and low manufacturing cost. However, the majority of the electromagnetic forces generated by a conventional switched reluctance machine does not contribute to useful work, and a significant proportion of these forces generates undesirable vibrations that have been identified as a major drawback for such machines. Thus, limited torque density and energy conversion efficiency, among other characteristics, of conventional switched reluctance machines has limited their industrial applicability. Accordingly, there is a need for switched reluctance machines in which a higher proportion of the electromagnetic forces generated contributes to motion.

Double stator switched reluctance apparatus

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


An image communication system includes a coaxial cable having first and second ends. A monitor station is coupled to the first end and a camera is coupled to the second end. The monitor station provides power to the camera through the cable, while the cable is also used to carry communication signals transmitted by the camera to the monitor station. The image communication system includes a first active inductor coupled to the first end and a second active inductor coupled to the second end. A current-compensation circuit may also be provided.

A video or other image communication system typically includes at least one monitor station and at least one camera that is located remotely from the monitor station. A communication link, such as a coaxial cable, may be used to couple the monitor station to the camera.
It can be difficult to effectively and efficiently provide power to the camera in such image communication systems.


A full-duplex User Terminal Panel (UTP) including one or more User Terminal Modules (UTM) having a plurality of Tx antenna elements. Each of the Tx antenna elements spaced apart from one another by a distance dTx. The full-duplex UTP further includes a plurality of Rx antenna elements. Each of the Rx antenna elements are spaced apart from one another by a distance dRx. Furthermore, the Tx antenna elements may be spaced according to a Tx lattice dTx, such that the Tx lattice dTx spacing arrangement provides grating lobe-free scanning in an elevation plane at a Tx frequency range. The Rx antenna elements are spaced according to an Rx lattice dRx, such that the Rx lattice dRx spacing arrangement provides grating lobe-free scanning in an elevation plane at a Rx frequency range.

The wireless revolution has resulted in ever-increasing demands on our limited wireless spectrum. Enabling full-duplex satellite communications from a single panel for transmitting and receiving, as compared to dual aperture full-duplex or half-duplex panels, promises to improve the use of the limited wireless spectrum, and increase satellite communications throughput while maintaining the same antenna footprint. As used herein, the term single-panel full-duplex describes simultaneous data transmission and reception from a single aperture. In other words, a full-duplex single-panel antenna system is capable of simultaneous bi-directional data transmissions from the same physical aperture. Dual-panel full-duplex antenna system is capable of simultaneous bi-directional data transmissions from two separate apertures: Tx aperture and Rx aperture. Half-duplex devices can only transmit in one direction at a time, where data can move in two directions, but not at the same time. Furthermore, scanning a beam for a range of elevation angles introduces different geometrical requirements for Tx and Rx portions of the antenna element lattice (grid). Meeting the performance requirements of radiating in the Tx and Rx frequency ranges as well as permitting the scanning in both Tx and Rx frequencies enables a reliable operation of full-duplex communication.
When in receive mode, a single-panel full-duplex antenna system's G/T is one of the most important figures of merit. G is the gain of the antenna system and T is the system noise temperature. The higher the G/T, the better the sensitivity of the system.
When in transmit mode, a single-panel full-duplex antenna system's effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) is one of the most important figures of merit. EIRP is the total power in watts (or dBW, dBm, etc.) equivalent to an amount of power that has to be radiated by a (theoretical) isotropic antenna to give the same radiation intensity. EIRP is specified and measured in the direction of the antenna's main beam and helps in determining the number of antenna elements required, given a certain radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) conducted output power.
Polarization of an antenna system in a given direction is defined as the polarization of the wave transmitted or radiated by the antenna system. Polarization of a radiated wave is defined as the property of an electromagnetic (EM) wave describing the time-varying direction and relative magnitude of the electric field vector; specifically the figure traced as a function of time by the end point of the field vector at a fixed location in space, and the sense in which it is traced, as observed along the direction of propagation. Common polarizations used are circular polarization (CP) and linear polarization (LP). Examples of CP are: right-hand CP (RHCP), and left-hand CP (LHCP); wherein RHCP and LHCP are orthogonal polarizations. Examples of LP are: vertical LP and horizontal LP; wherein vertical LP and horizontal LP are orthogonal polarizations. For a receiving antenna to be able to capture the entire radiation incident on it from a transmitting antenna, the radiation and receiving antenna must have the same polarization.
Polarization control is the ability to change the polarization of the antenna system through control of an RF signal (amplitude and phase) of two or more RFIC channels connected to an antenna element through two or more antenna ports of the antenna element Other means of polarization control may include the use of an RF switch.
Fixed LP and CP may be implemented through the use of a single antenna port connected to a single RFIC channel. Other fixed CP may be implemented through connecting two antenna ports to a single RFIC channel through a microwave circuit such as a 90 degrees hybrid (or quadrature hybrid), ring hybrid. Wilkinson power divider, or a T-junction power divider.
Scanning an antenna beam is when the main beam of an antenna can be adjusted to point in a desirable direction, such as an Elevation angle of 45 degrees. By controlling the phases at the individual antenna element level through an RFIC, one can steer the beam of a phased array antenna such as the beam of a Tx antenna and/or an Rx antenna of a full-duplex single-panel. Typical applications require a scanning range in the elevation plane, as an example an Elevation range of 50 degree, starting with an Elevation angle of 90 degrees (directly above, or pointing to sky) to an Elevation angle of 40 degrees. Furthermore, it is assumed that the scanning range covers a full Azimuth range of 0 degrees to 360 degrees.

Antenna lattice with unequal spacing for single-panel full-duplex satellite user terminals


An inertial navigation system includes a navigation component, such as an inertial measurement unit, a processor in communication with the navigation component, and a filter embedded in computer code implemented within the processor. The filter includes a model of the navigation component, and one or more parameters of the model are configured after startup of the inertial navigation system based upon performance characteristics of the individual navigation component included in the inertial navigation system.

Navigation systems, such as an inertial navigation system (INS), can be found on a wide variety of mobile objects, such as, for example, commercial aircraft, military aircraft, weapons systems, and vehicles such as automobiles, railcars including locomotives, and marine vessels. Such navigation systems typically include a number of components, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a global positioning system (GPS), which generate navigation data and communicate with a navigation processor.
Many navigation systems also include a filter, such as a Kalman filter, which can compare the output of one navigation component, such as an IMU, with that of other navigation components, such as a GPS, to ensure that the components are functioning properly and to improve the overall accuracy of the navigation system. Such a filter often includes embedded models of the navigation components within the system. These models provide the filter with an indication of the characteristics and accuracy of the navigation components.
The component models embedded in a filter are often generalized, meaning that a single model is typically intended to represent the characteristics of an entire family of similar components. In many cases, such generalized models can dramatically limit the performance of the filter. Accordingly, a need exists for a way to adopt more specific models of navigation components within a filter.

Navigation component modeling system and method


An electrical connector is provided for detecting a terminal holder's projecting from a connector housing easily. The electrical connector includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing having a hood for receiving the first connector housing, and the terminal holder. The terminal holder is provided with an engagement groove which abuts on the hood when the first connector housing is engaged with the second connector housing by mistake. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the first connector housing having the terminal incompletely inserted therein from engaging with the second connector housing.

The present invention relates to an electrical connector with detecting means which, in case that one or more terminals are incompletely inserted into terminal accommodating chamber in an connector housing, prevents the connector housing from being engaged with another connector housing.
In general, this kind of electrical connector comprises a male connector housing, a female connector housing for accommodating the male connector housing therein, and a terminal holder to be engaged in the male connector housing.
In operation of the general electrical connector, the terminal holder is firstly inserted into an insertion hole formed in the male connector housing. Then, the inserted terminal holder is temporarily fixed in the male connector housing by an engagement of a temporary engagement projection formed on the terminal holder with a temporary engagement part formed on the male connector housing. Next, under the temporary engagement condition, normally, a plurality of female terminals are inserted into terminal accommodating chambers formed in the male connector housing and secured therein. Thereafter, the terminal holder is further depressed and formally engaged in the male connector housing by an engagement of a formal engagement projection of the terminal holder with a formal engagement part of the male connector housing. Subsequently, the male connector housing is engaged with the female connector housing, whereby the female terminals in the male connector housing can be electrically connected with the male terminals inserted into the female connector housing, finally.
In the conventional connector, however, since the male connector housing includes a great number of terminal accommodating chambers into which the corresponding female terminals are to be inserted, there is a possibility that the female terminals completely and incompletely inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers exist together in the male connector housing. Then, due to a difficulty for a worker to distinguish respective conditions of the female terminals in the terminal accommodating chambers from the outside, if the terminal holder is depressed into the insertion hole by mistake, only one side of the terminal holder may be formally engaged in the male connector housing, depending on the position of the female terminal inserted imperfectly. Or again, the other side of the terminal holder may project from the insertion hole in spite that the terminal holder is accommodated in the insertion hole. Under such a condition, when the male connector housing is forcibly engaged with the female connector housing by mistake, the terminal holder is stuffed into the insertion hole by a hood projecting from the female connector housing, so that the male connector housing may be fitted into the female connector housing under an undesirable condition.


A system and method for providing user mobility handling in a network telephony system is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a register request from a network entity on a first domain and modifying a user identifier in the register request. A registration database is preferably updated with the modified user identifier. The modified register request is transmitted via a network to a network entity on a second domain. An authentication process preferably takes place between the network entity on the first domain and the network entity on the second domain. If successful, a confirmation is received via the network from the network entity on the second domain. Various embodiments of the invention may, for example, allow a user typically located in a home domain to temporarily move to a visiting domain, while maintaining the user's home domain user identifier. Preferred embodiments utilize the Session Initiation Protocol.

As the quality of network telephony systems has improved, there has been a migration of users from the traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to network telephony systems. With the proliferation of the Internet, Internet telephony has enabled distantly located users to communicate with one another using data protocols underlying the Internet. For example, the IP (Internet Protocol) suite along with various signaling protocols has made IP telephony a popular form of network telephony.
The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol that may be used to assist with call set-up, management, and teardown. Other signaling protocols, such as the ITU-T H.323, MEGACO, and MGCP protocols, may also be used to implement various signaling functions. While these network telephony systems have provided advantages in cost and flexibility, certain challenges have arisen. In particular, network telephony systems are expected to enable users to easily move from one IP network to another.
One aspect of user mobility is to keep a call (or other session) connected while a user is moving from one domain to another. This first aspect is being addressed by efforts underlying the Mobile I.P. protocol, which is described in Perkins, C., "IP Mobility," Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request-For-Comments (RFC) 2002, October 1995, incorporated by reference herein.
Another aspect of user mobility is enabling a user to make and/or receive calls (or more generally to initiate and/or participate in a session) when the user moves from one domain to another without changing the user's identity. RFC 2002 does not adequately address this second aspect, nor does SIP or other signaling protocols.
Thus, a need exists for user mobility handling in a network telephony system.

System and method for providing user mobility handling in a network telephony system


A printed circuit board providing high reliability using a packaging of high capacity semiconductor chip, a semiconductor package, and a card and a system using the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a semiconductor chip mounted on the first surface of the substrate, at least one land disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and whose circumference includes a plurality of first group arcs, a mask layer covering the second surface of the substrate and including at least one opening that exposes the at least one land, and at least one external terminal disposed on the at least one land, wherein a portion of the at least one land is covered by the mask layer, and a sidewall of another portion of the at least one land is exposed by the at least one opening, and the circumference of the at least one opening includes a plurality of second group arcs, and a radius of the outermost arc from among the plurality of first group arcs is equal to a radius of the outermost arc from among the plurality of second group arcs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a printed circuit board to mount a semiconductor chip, a semiconductor package, and a card apparatus and a system using the semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
For high performance and portable convenience, an electronic product is miniaturized with high capacity. Accordingly, in a semiconductor package used in such electronic product, the size of a substrate should be reduced while disposing more external terminals on the substrate. For example, a ball grid array (BGA) type semiconductor package may be suitable to a miniaturized high performance product.
In such BGA type semiconductor package, the external terminals may be adhered to lands disposed on the back surface of the substrate. For example, in the case of a solder mask defined (SMD) type semiconductor package, the boundaries of the lands are covered by a solder mask layer, and the external terminals are adhered to the top surface of the exposed lands. Alternatively, in the case of a non-solder mask defined (NSMD) type semiconductor package, the boundaries of the lands are exposed by the solder mask layer, and the external terminals are adhered not only to the boundaries of the lands but also to wiring lines.
However, reliability of a conventional SMD or NSMD type semiconductor package is a problem.
FIG. 14 is a photo for describing adhesion reliability of an external terminal in a conventional SMD type semiconductor package. The top of the photo is the SMD type semiconductor package. Referring to FIG. 14, in the case of the SMD type semiconductor package, a crack 40 may be generated near an area where an external terminal 25 and a land 30 are adhered after a solder joint reliability (SJR) test. Accordingly, the adhesion reliability between the external terminal 25 and the land 30 may deteriorate.
FIG. 15 is a photo for describing reliability of an external terminal in a conventional NSMD type semiconductor package. Referring to FIG. 15, in the case of the NSMD type semiconductor package, a crack 45 may be generated in a wiring line 60. Such crack 45 may be generated in an interface area 50 of an external terminal (not shown) covering a land 30. Moreover in the case of the NSMD type semiconductor package, the density of the external terminal decreases since the adhering area of the external terminal increases, and the wiring line 60 is difficult to be densely disposed. Accordingly, advantages and disadvantages of the SMD type and NSMD type semiconductor packages should be suitably harmonized.

Printed circuit board, semiconductor package, card apparatus, and system


A system and method for interconnecting analog legacy stores to both legacy and modern aircraft. One aspect of the invention provides for a dual mode launcher having a first interface for interfacing with a modern aircraft and a second interface for interfacing with a legacy aircraft. Either the first or the second interface is connected to the aircraft depending on the hardware platform supported by the aircraft. Signals received from either interface are converted to digital and placed on a digital input/output bus and converted to analog for use by the store. Likewise, signals transmitted by the store to the aircraft are converted to digital and placed on the digital input/output bus for transmission to the aircraft. The signals are further acted upon depending upon which interface is connected to the dual mode launcher assembly. The dual mode launcher provides seamless operation of the store interface regardless of which type of aircraft is equipped to carry the analog store.

Until recently, an aircraft and the stores which it carried were typically developed independently of each other or were developed exclusively for each other. This practice usually resulted in unique aircraft/store electrical interconnection requirements, the general proliferation of overall store interface designs, low levels of interoperability, and costly aircraft modifications to achieve required store utilization flexibility. Trends in store technology toward more complex store functions requiring increasing amounts of avionics data and control information from aircraft systems were predicted to lead to a multitude of aircraft/store interfacing problems.
In late 2003, the U.S. Department of Defense promulgated MIL-STD-1760 revision D (hereinafter referred to MIL-STD-1760). The stated goal of MIL-STD-1760 is to develop aircraft that are compatible with a wide variety of stores and stores that are compatible with a wide variety of aircraft. MIL-STD-1760 accomplishes this goal by defining a standard electrical (and fiber optic) interconnection system for aircrafts and stores. This interconnection system is based on the use of a standard connector, a standard signal set and a standard serial digital interface for control, monitor, and release of stores.
Newly produced tactical aircraft are internally wired with the MIL-STD-1553 databus for coupling to the MIL-STD-1760 standard weapons interface. Modern smart weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) are designed to communicate with the aircraft via such interface to obtain control, monitor and release information from the aircraft in order to carry out mission critical operations.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of legacy stores in use today are not properly equipped to interface with the MIL-STD-1760 interface of modern tactical aircraft. One such legacy store is the Maverick family of missiles. Maverick missiles are one of the most versatile, precision strike missiles of all time. The Maverick's versatility, is in part, due to its ability to be fired from a number of aircraft against a variety of targets such as field fortifications, bunkers, hangarettes, tanks, armored personnel carriers, parked aircraft, radar or missile sites, port facilities, and ships, including high-speed patrol craft. Maverick's versatility is further enhanced by its guidance capabilities, which include a combination of TV, laser, and infrared guidance systems that allow for strategic operations to be conducted in day and night operations in a variety of atmospheric conditions.
Since the Maverick missile was developed during the early to mid-1970's, before the onslaught of digital electronics, Mavericks, like many legacy stores, are based on an analog system that requires extensive wiring, unique dedicated hardware and software, and specialty video processing circuitry in the host aircraft to fully integrate the store to the aircraft. Thus, a shortcoming associated with analog stores is that some type of interface is needed to enable the analog store to be used in connection with modern aircraft, while at the same time maintaining legacy store compatibility with legacy aircraft.
In view of the aforementioned shortcomings associated with the interface between legacy stores and modern aircraft, there is a strong need in the art for a dual interface between legacy stores and aircraft to overcome the problems set forth above. Moreover, there is a strong need in the art to maintain legacy store compatibility with legacy aircraft.


A method of continuously casting metal strip, as well as an apparatus for carrying out the process, wherein the process includes the steps of: providing a pair of casting rolls operating at a selected rotational speed and the two casting rolls being spaced apart from each other at a pre-selected distance; introducing molten metal between the two casting rolls; monitoring the separation force exerted on the two casting rolls by the molten metal, and adjusting the rotational speed of the two casting rolls in response to the magnitude of the separation force wherein the rotational speed of the two rolls is reduced when the separation force is below a lower value and the rotational speed of the two rolls is increased when the separation force is above an upper value; and processing the strip by removing any shape defects therein.

This invention is related to metal working machinery and processes, and more particularly, to improvements in an apparatus for the, as well as the process of, continuous roll casting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In this regard, Sir Henry Bessemer first conceived the concept of continuous roll metal casting in the year 1853. Since then there have been a number of developments in continuous roll metal casting technology.
One such area of development pertains to a hot rolling casting process. In the hot rolling casting process, molten metal is fed into the bite between a pair of counter-rotating cooled rolls wherein solidification is initiated when the metal contacts the rolls. Solidification prior to the roll nip, or point of minimum clearance between the rolls, causes the metal to be deformed, or hot rolled, prior to exiting the rolls as a solidified sheet.
While the hot rolling casting process has provided a number of benefits, there remains a desire to improve upon such a process in a number of ways. One such area of improvement concerns the number of steps that have been necessary to produce a steel coil using the hot rolling casting method. Heretofore, the typical hot rolling process comprised the steps of: (1) casting of the molten metal, (2) hot rolling the cast material into sheet, (3) pickling the hot rolled sheet so as to remove surface skin, (4) cold rolling the pickled sheet, (5) cleaning the cold rolled sheet, (6) annealing the cleaned cold rolled sheet and, (7) remove shape defects of the rolled sheet. As can be appreciated, each process step adds an expense to the overall cost of production. Hence, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would not need as many steps as heretofore required with known twin roll casting process. More specifically, it would be highly desirable to provide such an improved apparatus and process that eliminates the steps of cold rolling, cleaning and annealing.
Another area of improvement concerns the ability to produce a cast metal strip that exits the casting rolls wherein the cast metal strip exhibits a consistent and predetermined thickness. It would thus be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would produce a cast metal strip exiting the casting rolls that exhibits a consistent and predetermined thickness.
In the hot rolling casting process it is important to provide an apparatus, as well as a process, that results in the least number of (or essentially completely eliminates the) physical defects in the hot rolled strip. After the hot rolled strip has been pickled and the skin removed and the skin passed so as to provide a cold rolled-like finish, the roll is being wound around a precision mandrel and simultaneously submitted to reversed bends as to elongate 80% of the grain of the steel. The Precision (deflection free) mandrel then detects the part of the strip with shorter grains and elongate the shorter grain portion of the strip so that all grains are of equal lengths. During the winding process, the metal strip is subjected to high tension as well as being simultaneously subjected to reverse bends. Any defects in the strip while being subjected to this process can result in certain undesirable conditions. Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would produce a metal strip that exhibits a consistent thickness and shape.
For example, if there is any non-uniformity in the strip thickness or unequal length in the grains of the strip as the material is being subjected to reverse bending to a predetermined amount and then wound around the mandrel, tension forces are exerted on the strip. If the magnitude of the tension forces on the strip exceeds the yield strength of the material of the strip as it is being subjected to the reverse bends, then the shorter grains of the strip will elongate to the same length as all the other grains, and this will result in a strip that is free of defects. It can thus be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would monitor and control the elongation of the strip so that the entire cross section of the strip is elongated by a given preset amount thereby eliminating all shape defects wherein the strip does not exhibit defective conditions.
Another example of defects heretofore found in strip steel is edge waves. More specifically, this edge wave condition is caused because the grains on the edges of the strip are longer (or thinner) than the grains on the center of the strip so that the grains in the center of the strip are thicker. As the material is wound about the precision drum and simultaneously being subjected to reverse bends so that the built-up of the layers causes the tension on the thicker part of the strip (i.e., the center of the strip) to be higher than the tension on the thinner part of the strip (i.e., the edge portions).
Keeping in mind that the tension is assisted by the reverse bending rolls, as the winding process continues the tension on the thicker strip becomes greater than what the entire cross section of the strip can withstand so that the thicker part of the cross section elongates the short grains, as it tries to travel at a higher peripheral speed than the thinner part, is first elongated and then the elongation extends toward the edges of the strip until the total cross section of the strip is elongated and monitored to insure that all grains are of equal length. It can thus be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would monitor and control the elongation of the strip so as to essentially eliminate the condition of edge waves.
As still another example of defects heretofore found in steel strip there is the condition known as center buckle or oil can or cross bow. These defects are caused because the grains on the middle part of the strip are longer (thinner) than the grains on the edges of the strip (thicker). As the material is subjected to reverse bends so that 80% of the cross section of the grains are elongated and then wound about the precision drum, the shorter grains are subjected to higher tension and are elongated so that all grains are of equal length.
Keeping in mind the assistance provided by the reverse bending rolls, the tension on the strip is greater than what the entire cross section of the strip can withstand, the thicker part of the cross section, as it tries to travel at a higher peripheral speed than the thinner part, is first elongated and then the elongation extends, beginning at the edges of the strip and then moving toward the center of the strip, until the total cross section of the strip is elongated. It can thus be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would monitor and control the elongation of the strip so as to essentially eliminate the condition of center buckle or oil can or cross bow.
As yet another example of defects heretofore known in steel strip is the condition known as camber. The condition of camber is caused because the grains of one edge of the strip is longer (thinner) than the grains of the opposite edge of the strip. The edge of the strip where the grains are shorter (thicker), as the material is wound about the precision drum, the built-up of the layers causes the tension on the side of the shorter grains of the strip to be higher than the tension on the longer edge of the strip.
Keeping in mind the assistance provided by the reverse bending rolls, the shorter (thicker) edge of the strip is elongated first. Then the elongation of the strip, progressively move from the thicker to the thinner edge of the strip until the entire cross section of the strip is elongated a predetermined amount. It can thus be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and process for the continuous roll casting of metals that would monitor and control the elongation of the strip so as to essentially eliminate the condition of camber.

Continuous roll casting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals


A multi-functional shroud/arc tube support or clip (40a) for a high intensity discharge lamp (10). The support (40a) has one end (42) formed to engage a shroud (20). The one end (42) is formed as an arcuate member (43). A middle portion (44) is formed of separated, depending legs (46, 48) defining a space (50) therebetween for clasping the substantially rectangular pinch seal (52) of a quartz arc tube (14). The central section (53) is formed to clasp the cylindrical capillary (54) of a ceramic arc tube (14a). The central section (53) comprises the bight of a pair of U-shaped legs and the bights are provided with opposing, substantially hemi-cylindrical concavities (53a).

Metal halide arc discharge lamps are frequently employed in commercial usage because of their high luminous efficacy and long life. A typical metal halide arc discharge lamp includes a quartz or fused silica arc tube that is hermetically sealed within a borosilicate glass outer envelope. The arc tube, itself hermetically sealed, has tungsten electrodes sealed into opposite ends and contains a fill material including mercury, metal halide additives and a rare gas to facilitate starting. In some cases, particularly in high wattage lamps, the outer envelope is filled with nitrogen or another inert gas at less than atmospheric pressure. In other cases, particularly in low wattage lamps, the outer envelope is evacuated.
Another type of metal halide lamp uses a ceramic arc tube having a more or less bulbous body with cylindrical capillaries projecting therefrom. The capillaries contain the electrode feed-throughs.
It has been found desirable to provide metal halide arc discharge lamps of either type with a shroud that comprises a generally cylindrical, light-transmissive member, such as quartz, that is able to withstand high operating temperatures. The arc tube and the shroud are coaxially mounted within the lamp envelope with the arc tube located within the shroud. Preferably, the shroud is a tube that is open at both ends. In other cases, the shroud is open on one end and has a domed configuration on the other end. Shrouds for metal halide arc discharge lamps are disclosed in U.S. Pat, No. 4,499,396 issued Feb. 12, 1985 to Fohl et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,989 issued Apr. 8, 1986 to Fohl et al. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,274 issued Jul. 28, 1981 to Bechard et al.
The shroud has several beneficial effects on lamp operation. In lamps with a gas-filled outer envelope, the shroud reduces convective heat losses from the arc tube and thereby improves the luminous output and the color temperature of the lamp. In lamps with an evacuated outer envelope, the shroud helps to equalize the temperature of the arc tube. In addition, the shroud effectively reduces sodium losses and improves the maintenance of phosphor efficiency in metal halide lamps having a phosphor coating on the inside surface of the outer envelope. Finally, the shroud improves the safety of the lamp by acting as a containment device in the event that the arc tube shatters.
Specially designed clips mount the arc tube and the shroud within the outer envelope. In the past it has been necessary to utilize different clip designs for quartz arc tubes, which have a more or less rectangular pinch -seal at the ends and the ceramic type, which have cylindrical capillaries terminating the arc tube.
It would be an advance in the art if a single clip could provide support for either type of arc tube, since such a clip would substantially reduce inventory and parts requirements.

Shroud holder for quartz and ceramic arc tubes


Thermoplastic welding is an emerging technology targeted at significantly reducing the manufacturing cost of aerospace structure by eliminating fasteners and the touch labor associated with fasteners to prepare, install, and inspect the assemblies. Quality welds are highly dependent upon achieving appropriate temperatures everywhere along the bond line. The present invention is a system that evaluates the quality of the welds involving inputting an EM pulse to the embedded susceptor and listening to the acoustic response that the pulse generates to determine weld quality from the sound.

Composite materials lend themselves to bonded structures better than to fastened ones. Bonded composites have received limited use in critical aerospace structures, however, because the bonds can vary in strength or stiffness even if they have no discrete bond line defects (disbonds, porosity, voids, cracking, etc.). Traditional nondestructive inspection methods rely upon quantifying these defects to predict the flightworthiness of the structure, but are unable to ascertain the cohesiveness of the bond at any location if defects are absent. Nondestructive identification of low strength bonds and regions of "kissing unbonds" (bonds of near zero strength) remains a significant goal solved only in a few specific bonded applications where the results of shear or tensile tests have been correlated to a particular NDE signal feature. Modified pulse-echo ultrasonic testing (UT) has been successful in finding the discrete defects (voids, delaminations, porosity), but not "kissing unbonds" and low strength bonds. Infrared thermography, shearography, eddy current, and various high and low frequency ultrasonic methods have also been unsuccessful in discerning bond quality in thermoplastic welds.
The present invention provides a nondestructive method for testing bond quality using an electromagnetic (EM) pulse to induce vibrations in the embedded susceptor and an acoustic receiver to listen to and to record the induced vibrations. Analysis of the received vibration signal discriminates bond quality.

Nondestructive evaluation of composite bonds, especially thermoplastic induction welds

The Boeing Company, P.O. Box 3707, M/S 13-08


This invention provides compounds of formulas (I), (II), (III), and (IV) as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of inhibiting, treating, or abrogating a poxvirus infection in a subject using the compounds or compositions.

Smallpox can be considered the most deadly of all human infectious diseases, having killed hundreds of millions over the course of history. In 1980, smallpox became the only known human infectious disease to have been completely eradicated through a vaccination campaign conducted by the World Health Organization. However, illicit and surreptitious stocks of the virus pose a bioterrorism threat to the current population (Longini, et al. Int. J. Infec. Dis. 2007, 11, 98-108), the vast majority of whom have never been vaccinated due to its general discontinuance since 1980. In addition, the vaccine is contraindicated for the immune compromised segment of the population that has expanded in more recent times with the advent of AIDS and transplant recipients. In the event of a smallpox outbreak, the timing required to develop immunity by vaccination might not be sufficient for a large portion of the population. Therefore, effective therapeutics are needed to safeguard the largely immunologically naïve human population by providing immediate protection.

THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA


Vehicle suspension systems are described herein. An example apparatus includes a cam pivotably coupled to a rear axle. The example apparatus also includes a first tie rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the cam and a second end pivotably coupled to a steering knuckle. The example apparatus also includes a second tie rod having a first end pivotably coupled to the cam outboard relative to the first end of the first tie rod and a second end coupled to a steering actuator.

Ackermann steering geometry enables mechanically linked steerable wheels to move together simultaneously during turning and steering movements. However, in some instances, space constraints of a vehicle suspension prevent desired Ackermann geometry between steering components, thereby resulting in less than desired Ackermann (e.g., negative Ackermann) and reducing vehicle maneuverability, handling and/or performance. For example, solid axles with rear wheel steering capability often generate negative rear wheel Ackermann due to various components (e.g., driveshaft package, brake package, etc.) that interfere with a desired mounting location of rear wheel steering components.

Wheel steering apparatus to generate positive ackermann