The present invention relates to a clock phase detecting circuit and a clock regenerating circuit each arranged in a receiving unit of multiplex radio equipment. The receiving unit of the multiplex radio equipment includes an identifying circuit for identifying a signal obtained by demodulating a multilevel orthogonal modulation signal; a clock regenerating circuit for regenerating a signal identification clock for the identifying circuit to supply the clock to the identifying circuit; an equalizing circuit for subjecting the signal obtained by demodulating a multilevel orthogonal modulation signal to an equalizing process. A clock phase detecting unit detects the phase component of the signal identification clock based on signals input to or output from the equalizing circuit and then supplies the phase component to the clock regenerating circuit. The phase component of a signal identification clock can be certainly detected and accurately adjusted so that the signal identification clock can be regenerated with high accuracy.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock phase detecting circuit and a clock regenerating circuit each arranged in the receiving unit in multiplex radio equipment.
Generally, the clock regenerating circuit which is used in the receiving unit of multiplex radio equipment is called a BTR (Bit Timing Recovery) circuit. The clock regenerating circuit usually regenerates a clock component based on a signal obtained by demodulating a multilevel orthogonal modulation signal obtained through PSK (Phase Shift Keying) or QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) and then supplies it as an operation timing signal for an identifier (e.g. an A/D converter) that mainly identifies received data (signal).
The clock which is regenerated in the clock regenerating circuit must be agreed in phase with a demodulated signal level identifying timing (when the so-called eye-pattern is most opened). However, a change in trunk state due to temperature changes may cause a deviation in phase of a clock pulse.
Hence both a clock phase detecting circuit that can detect a phase deviation with high accuracy and a clock regenerating circuit that adjusts accurately a deviation in phase of the clock detected by the clock phase detecting circuit and then supplies signal identification clocks with high accuracy have been requested.
2) Description of the Related Art
FIG. 60 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a clock regenerating circuit arranged in the receiving unit of a general multiplex radio equipment. Referring to FIG. 60, numeral 71 represents an orthogonal detecting unit; 72 and 73 represent A/D converters; 74 represents a transversal equalizer; and 75 represents a clock regenerating circuit.
The orthogonal detecting unit 71 detects a signal (IF (intermediate frequency) signal) obtained by demodulating a multilevel orthogonal modulation signal due to PSK or QAM and then produces two kinds of baseband signals (an Ich signal and a Qch signal) with a different angle of 90.degree. in phase from each other. As shown in FIG. 60, the orthogonal detecting unit 71 is formed of hybrids (H) 711 and 712, phase detectors 713 and 714, roll-off filters 715 and 716; and a local oscillating unit 717.
In the detecting unit 71, the hybrid 711 splits the IF signal input into two components and then sends respectively to the phase detectors 713 and 714. At this time, the local oscillating unit 717 supplies a carrier regenerating signal synchronized in phase with a carrier wave to the hybrid 712. The hybrid 712 splits the carrier regenerating signal into two signal waves with phases different from each other by 90.degree.: one being output to the phase detector 713 and the other being output to the phase detector 714.
As a result, the phase detectors 713 and 714 receive base band signals (an Ich signal and a Qch signal) having phases different from each other by 90.degree.. The A/D converter (identifying unit) 72 receives the Ich signal via the roll-off filter 715 to perform an A/D conversion (signal identification). The A/D converter (identifying unit) 73 receives the Qch signal via the roll-off filter 716 to perform an A/D conversion (signal identification). Thus digital demodulated signals with phases different from each other by 90.degree. are obtained.
The A/D converter 72 converts the Ich signal from the orthogonal detecting unit 71 to a digital demodulated signal by A/D converting at a predetermined signal level. The A/D converter 73 converts the Qch signal from the orthogonal detecting unit 71 to a digital demodulated signal by A/D converting at a predetermined signal level. The transversal equalizer 74 equalizes each the digital demodulated signals from the A/D converters 72 and 73.
The clock regenerating circuit 75 regenerates A/D conversion clocks, of which the timing at which the A/ID converters 72 and 73 execute an A/D conversion (the so-called eye pattern in fully opened state) matches the phase, from a received signal to be detected by the orthogonal detecting unit 71 and then supplies them respectively to the A/D converters 72 and 73. The clock regenerating circuit 75 is formed of a square detecting unit 76, a filer 77, and a PLL circuit 78. The PLL circuit 78 is formed of a phase detector (PD) 79, a loop filter 80, an amplifier 81, and an oscillating unit 82.
The square detecting unit 76 subjects a signal to be detected by the orthogonal detecting unit 71 to a square detection. The filter 77 filters the output of the square detecting unit 76.
In the PLL circuit 78, the phase detector 79 phase-compares the signal square-detected by the square detecting unit 76 and input through the filter 77 with the A/D conversion clocks output from the oscillating unit 82 for the A/D converters 72 and 73 and then feedbacks the result as a control signal to the oscillating unit 82 via the loop filter 80 and the amplifier 81. As a result, the clock (an A/D conversion clock) following the phase of a signal to be detected by the orthogonal detecting unit 71 can be obtained.
In the clock regenerating circuit 75 having the above-configuration, the A/D conversion clocks for the A/D converters 72 and 73 following the phase in which the eye pattern of a received signal is most opened are regenerated from the signal to be detected by the orthogonal detecting unit 71 and then sent to the A/D converters 72 and 73, respectively. Then each of the A/D converters 72 and 73 can regenerate the receive signal data through an accurate digitalizing process.
The clock regenerating circuit 83 proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (Tokukaisyo) No. 63-215235, as shown in FIG. 61, is formed of a phase deviation detecting unit 831, a infinite phase shifter 832, and an oscillating unit 833. Numeral 81 represents a demodulating unit which demodulates a received signal and 82 represents a data regenerating unit that regenerates a demodulated signal (data) from the demodulating unit. The data regenerating unit 82 consists of an equalizer (EQL) 821 that subjects a demodulated signal to an equalizing process and an identifier (A/D converter) that identifies and encodes (digitalizes) the level of the demodulated signal processed by the equalizer.
In the clock regenerating circuit 83, the phase deviation detecting unit 831 monitors the output signal from the identifier 822 and then detects the deviation between the signal phase of the most suitable identifying timing in the identifier with the phase of the clock (CLK). The infinite phase shifter 832 provides a phase shift to the signal with a fixed frequency from the oscillating unit 833.
In the clock regenerating circuit 83 with the above-mentioned structure, the phase deviation detecting unit 831 detects a change in phase deviation appeared between the timing to be identified by the identifier 822 and the clock (CLK) supplied as an operation timing of the identifier 822, and the infinite phase shifter 832 phase-shifts the output of the oscillating unit 833 synchronous with the change in the phase deviation. Thus the phase deviation is canceled so that the clock matched with the phase of the identification timing can be regenerated certainly.
However, the clock regenerating circuit 75 shown in FIG. 60 regenerates an A/D conversion clock each for the A/D converters 72 and 73 from a signal to be detected by the orthogonal detecting unit 71, or an analog signal, thus tending to be frequently influenced by the trunk status due to temperature changes or the like. As a result, there is a problem in that the A/D conversion timing of each of the A/D converters 72 and 73 can not be agreed with high accuracy with the most suitable timing in which the eye pattern of a received signal is most opened.
As described above, regenerating the A/D conversion clocks from an analog signal leads to the clock regenerating circuit 75 in an analog configuration, as shown in FIG. 60. Hence, there is a problem in that the analog configuration results in a large circuit scale in addition to a large number of manual adjustments.
On the other hand, in the clock regenerating circuit 83 shown in FIG. 61, the phase deviation detecting unit 831 detects a change in phase deviation and the infinite phase shifter 832 phase-shifts the output of the oscillating unit 833 in synchronism with the phase deviation change. Thus the clock agreed with the phase of the identification timing can be certainly regenerated by canceling the phase deviation. However, the phase deviation detecting unit 831 detects a phase deviation with insufficient accuracy rather than high accuracy. Hence there is a problem in that the operation timing of the identifier 822 cannot be completely agreed with the most suitable timing in which the eye-pattern of a received signal is most opened.

Clock phase detecting circuit and clock regenerating circuit each arranged in receiving unit of multiplex radio equipment


A device for the precise and accurate potentiometric pH measurements in situ. Embodiments of a potentiometric device according to the invention consist of one or more glass pH-sensitive electrodes connected to a potentiometer. A key feature of the device is that, rather than being calibrated conventionally with buffers, it can be calibrated with an in situ device that measures pH spectrophotometrically. Spectrophotometric pH measurements obtained via sulfonephthalein absorbance measurements are inherently calibrated (do not require buffers). Thus, devices according to the invention allow for continuous potentiometric pH measurements with occasional spectrophotometric calibrations. The spectrophotometric calibration device consists of a spectrophotometer with associated pumps for combining a sulfonephthalein pH indicator with the aqueous medium whose pH is to be measured. The device will record potentiometric pH measurements for an extended period of time until the spectrophotometric device is autonomously activated for another calibration. In this manner precise and accurate pH measurements can be obtained continuously in the environment, and the low energy expenditure of the potentiometric device provides excellent endurance. Also provided is a method and associated devices for spectrophotometrically determining the salinity of an aqueous medium.

Solution pH is widely conceptualized as a master variable in the regulation of natural aqueous systems. It is a key feature in descriptive models of carbonate system chemistry, trace metal speciation and bioavailability, oxidation-reduction equilibria and kinetics, biologically induced carbon system transformations, and the aqueous interactions and transformations of minerals. Rising levels of atmospheric CO2 are leading to ocean acidification. The response of seawater and freshwaters to acidification processes has created a need for autonomous global monitoring of ocean water and fresh water pH. The importance of pH in investigations of terrestrial and oceanic biogeochemistry has necessitated improvements in not only the quality of measurements (precision and accuracy), but also the spatial and temporal resolution of measurements in the field. Potentiometric devices are rarely used for in situ environmental pH measurements because in situ buffer calibrations are problematic. Spectrophotometric devices have been developed for in situ environmental measurements but the endurance and measurement frequency of spectrophotometric devices is relatively low due to high power requirements and the limited longevity of lamps. Achieving meaningful spatial and temporal measurements in the field mandates the introduction of robust measurement devices capable of accurate and precise measurements over extended timeframes.

Device for in situ calibrated potentiometric pH measurements


A microcontroller unit (3) measures and records a radiation exposure dose obtained from a detection output of a radiation detection unit (2), and when the radiation exposure dose or dose rate exceeds a predetermined threshold, issues a warning to the user by lighting or blinking a LED (4). The LED (4) is placed opposite a light-emitting/receiving element (62) of an electrical non-contact input device (6) provided on a display device (5), and is also used to transmit and receive recorded radiation dose data and a command or data transmitted from the non-contact input device (6). According to such a configuration, a portable radiation dosimeter that is compact and can manage the radiation exposure dose for a long term without placing a burden on the wearer can be realized.

In recent years, radioactive materials have spread across wide areas due to accidents of nuclear power plants, and not only have areas around the power plants been affected but also areas with a high level of radiation dose have been generated as hot spots. Thus, the influence of radiation exposure on residents in the neighboring areas is concerned.
From such circumstances, it is strongly demanded that not only the radiation doses of the neighboring areas or work areas to be decontaminated be measured and monitored, but also a radiation exposure sensor be provided on the human body to measure the level of radiation exposure of the human body through his/her whole-day activities for a long term so that the measured data can be used to decontaminate the neighboring areas or avoid radiation exposure of individuals.
As the simplest means for measuring the radiation exposure dose, there is known a film badge dosimeter that uses a chemical change of a substance that occurs upon incidence of radiation on the substance. Further, an electronic radiation dosimeter has also been used that counts pulse signals of radiation using a Geiger-Mueller counter and a diode, which is a semiconductor element, or using a scintillator and a photodiode, and displays the radiation dose by multiplying the count number by a scale factor.
The film badge dosimeter can only measure the cumulative value of the radiation exposure dose from the time the dosimeter is worn, and thus cannot measure how much and when a measured object was exposed to radiation or cannot accurately identify a place with a high radiation dose.
Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 below each propose a wrist-mount or clip-mount portable radiation dosimeter that includes a radiation detection unit having silicon semiconductor elements, a microcomputer, a display unit such as a LCD, and the like.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


Flame resistant fabrics are disclosed. In one embodiment, a flame resistant fabric includes a plurality of flame resistant body yarns that form a body of the fabric, and a plurality of relatively tough yarns provided in discrete positions within the fabric body, wherein the relatively tough yarns do not protrude beyond an outer surface of the fabric body so as to reduce the susceptibility of the relatively tough yarns to abrasion.

Several occupations require the individual to be exposed to extreme heat and/or flames. To avoid being injured while working in such conditions, these individuals typically wear protective garments constructed of special flame resistant materials designed to protect them from both heat and flame.
To cite an example, firefighters typically wear protective garments commonly referred to in the industry as turnout gear. Such turnout gear normally comprises various garments including, for instance, coveralls, trousers, and jackets. These garments usually include several layers of material including, for example, an outer shell that protects the wearer from flames, a moisture barrier that prevents the ingress of water into the garment, and a thermal barrier that insulates the wearer from the extreme heat.
Turnout gear outer shells typically comprise woven fabrics formed of one or more types of flame resistant fibers. In addition to shielding the wearer from flames, the outer shells of firefighter turnout gear further provide abrasion resistance. In that the outer shell must withstand flame, excessive heat, and abrasion, it must be constructed of a flame resistant material that is both strong and durable. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides guidelines as to the strength a fabric must have in order to be used in the construction of outer shells. According to NFPA 1971, 2000 edition, the fabric must exhibit a tensile strength of at least 140 pounds (lbs.) in the warp and filling directions, and a trapezoidal tear strength of at least 22 lbs. in the warp and filling directions. The NFPA provides detailed guidelines as to the manner in which testing is to be conducted to determine both tensile strength and tear strength.
As is known in the art, the strength of fabrics, including flame resistant fabrics, can be increased by incorporating high strength yarns in the body of the fabric. For instance, a grid pattern of these high strength yarns can be incorporated into the fabric body to produce what is commonly referred to in the art as a rip-stop fabric. Normally, the high strength yarns comprise relatively heavy weight yarns. With such construction, the resultant fabric will exhibit greater tensile strength. In addition, rips that would normally propagate through the fabric may be halted by the provision of the high strength yarns, thereby increasing the tear strength of the fabric.
Although the provision of high strength yarns in the fabric body can increase both tensile strength and tear strength, rip-stop fabrics can be susceptible to abrasion. The reason for this is that the high strength yarns typically protrude beyond the surface of the fabric body so as to be more susceptible to snagging or otherwise being abraded during fabric use. Such abrasion susceptibility is disadvantageous in that it affects the long term durability of the garment constructed of the fabric and can reduce both the strength and the thermal resistance of the garment.
In view of the above, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a fabric that provides the increased strength that is achieved when high strength yarns are incorporated into the fabric body, but that does not suffer from the abrasion drawbacks commonly encountered with rip-stop fabrics.

Flame resistant fabrics having increased strength and abrasion resistance


Disclosed are a method and system for determining and controlling power of an optical transmitter of an optical network unit (ONU) for a time and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (TWDM-PON). The system includes an RSSI collector configured to collect received signal strength indication (RSSI) information from upstream optical signals received from the ONUs connected to optical line terminal (OLT) ports, an ONU power level determiner configured to gather the pieces of RSSI information about the ONUs from the RSSI collector, and to determine power of optical transmitters of the ONUs based on the gathered information, and a power mode controller configured to receive power mode setting information of the optical transmitters of the ONUs from the ONU power level determiner, and to generate a physical layer operation and maintenance (PLOAM) message to control power modes of the ONUs based on the received power mode setting information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a passive optical network (PON), and more particularly, to a method and system for determining and controlling output power of an optical transmitter of an optical network unit (ONU) in a time and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network (TWDM-PON).
2. Discussion of Related Art
With the development of optical communication technologies and a rapid increase in the demand on Internet services, fundamental researches on optical network have been conducted since the early 2000s. As a result, broadband networks, such as Fiber To The Home (FTTH) and Fiber To The Office (FTTO), have emerged and become common, in which the broadband network directly connects a base station or a central office (CO) to a subscriber using optical fibers.
In addition, numerous researches have been recently conducted on technologies of the next generation high-speed and high-capacity optical network to cope with an explosive increase in traffic according to proliferation of mobile IP terminals, such as a smart phone or a table computer, commercialization of IPTV services, and proliferation of multimedia broadcasting/streaming services over the Internet.
As a method of effectively providing services to more subscribers based on limited network resources, a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) method and a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) method have been applied to the optical network technology. In addition, many researches have been conducted on an optical network using a hybrid method to which the TDM method and the WDM method are applied together.
Among them, by using a time and wavelength division multiplexing (TWDM) optical network technology belonging to the hybrid method to which the TDM method and the WDM method are applied together, a consistent demand on extension of a network bandwidth may be satisfied, and a communication capacity and the number of subscribers may be easily increased while a high-speed communication service is provided to a large number of subscribers. Accordingly, a great amount of researches have been conducted on the TWDM optical network technology serving as a candidate for the next generation optical network following the 10G-passive optical network technology.
Meanwhile, according to the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization sector (ITU-T) for standardization of optical networks, a TWDM PON technology and a point-to-point WDM technology are selected as primary technologies of the NG-PON2 (40-Gigabit-capable passive optical networks), and standardization thereof is in progress.

Method and system for determining and controlling power of optical transmitter of optical network unit for time and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A display device includes: a pixel array including pixel circuits arranged in a matrix, each pixel circuit having a light emitting element, a drive transistor, and a storage capacitor storing a threshold voltage of the transistor and an inputted signal value; and a threshold correction operation means for performing a threshold correction operation plural times, which allows the storage capacitor to store the threshold voltage by applying a drive voltage to the transistor in a state where a gate potential of the transistor is fixed in a reference potential before giving the signal value to the storage capacitor. The threshold correction operation is started in a state where the gate potential is made a correction acceleration potential higher than the reference potential only at the threshold correction operation of the first half in the plural threshold correction operations, then, returns the gate potential to the reference potential to be fixed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display device including a pixel array in which pixel circuits are arranged in a matrix state and a display drive method thereof, and relates to, for example, a display device using an organic electroluminescence element (organic EL element) as a light emitting element.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image display device in which an organic EL element is used in a pixel is developed, for example as shown in JP-2003-255856 and JP-2003-271095 (Patent Documents 2 and 3). Since the organic EL element is a self-luminous element, it has advantages such that visibility of images is higher than, for example, a liquid crystal display, a backlight is not necessary and response speed is high. The luminance level (tone) of each light emitting element can be controlled by a value of current flowing therein (so-called current-control type).
The organic EL display has a passive matrix type and an active matrix type as a drive method in the same manner as the liquid crystal display. The former has problems such that it is difficult to realize a large-sized as well as high-definition display though it has a simple configuration, therefore, the active-matrix type display device is vigorously developed at present. The display device of this type controls electric current flowing in the light emitting element in each pixel circuit by an active element (commonly, a thin film transistor: TFT) provided inside the pixel circuit.


An artificial ligament is provided having an elongate body and two ends, with a loop being provided at least one of the ends and a loop liner being provided within the loop. A kit of artificial ligaments is also provided with each ligament in the kit having a different fixed length. Also provided are methods for determining a length of artificial ligament to be used within a prosthetic knee joint, selecting a ligament from a range or kit of ligaments, and implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising an artificial ligament.

The statements in this section merely provide a background to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Prosthetic knee joints replace one or more of the articulate surfaces of a patient's knee joint, and are employed to improve the strength and/or mobility of the joint or reduce pain of the patient. Sections of the bones being replaced may be diseased, injured, deteriorated or some combination of the three.
In many cases the surgeon performing knee replacement surgery will take steps to preserve the ligaments of the knee which connect the bones of the knee across the joint. In some cases the ligaments themselves may be diseased or damaged, or the resection necessary to remove diseased portions of the bones may disrupt the integrity of the ligaments. If the ligaments are removed as part of the surgery and cannot be reattached, a prosthetic knee joint is required which places greater constraints on the movement of the knee joint. This can be achieved through the use of an artificial knee ligament joining the two sides of the joint.
In one proposed artificial knee joint, artificial ligaments are attached to the prosthetic components by looping or tying the ends of the ligament over bosses or bollards provided on the prosthetic components. As the knee joint moves, the ligament is able to articulate around the body of the bollard as required. Whilst this articulation of the ligament prevents the ligament from being bent or kinked, over time the loops of the ligament can become worn.
Artificial knee ligaments are not required to be tensioned when installed, however it is undesirable for ligaments to be excessively long or loose as this could reduce the stability of the joint. For similar reasons, it is not desirable for an artificial ligament to be flexible. In one possible surgical procedure, both prosthetic components are first implanted before alternative length ligaments are offered up by the surgeon and one can be selected which the surgeon judges will have suitably laxity when fitted. In order to fit the ligament, the knee must be overflexed to provide the necessary access to the ligament fixings on each side of the joint. This also has the effect of separating the bones of the knee and hence excess force is required to attach the ligament. A device may be required to pull or lever the ligament onto a fixing and there is a significant risk of damaging the artificial ligament in the process.
In order to avoid this excessive manipulation of the knee joint and potential damage to the ligament, artificial ligaments have been designed with loops which are formed at the operative site, allowing the length of a ligament to be adjusted subsequently to its attachment to both sides of the joint.
WO 2011/1502538 discloses a prosthetic knee joint assembly with an artificial ligament link. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.
It is speculated that ligaments with preformed loops are still more reliable with less chance of becoming loose or failing after implantation. Hence, using a ligament with fixed loops is desirable in some cases.
The present disclosure relates to a method for implanting an artificial ligament of fixed length without requiring the knee joint to be overflexed, or excessive force being applied to the ligament. An artificial ligament particularly suited for this use is also provided.

Ligament fixing and a method of attaching a ligament


Novel thermoplastic polymer alloys adopted for easy conversion, e.g., by injection molding or extrusion techniques, into useful shaped articles having improved mechanical properties, for example, high impact strengths, include a polyamide, e.g., nylon 6 or nylon 12, a thermoplastic elastomer, e.g., ABS, MBS or EPDM, and a polyetheramide, advantageously a polyetheresteramide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel thermoplastic polymer blends, and, more especially, to certain polyamide/polyetheramide/thermoplastic elastomer alloys which are easily molded or extruded into useful shaped articles having enhanced impact strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shaped articles comprised of polyamides, whether molded or extruded, are widely used for numerous applications requiring excellent mechanical properties, notably a very high impact strength.
As the requirements in this respect have been steadily increasing, various means have been proposed to this art to improve impact strength. Particularly representative of such means is the addition to polyamides of certain polymers which are clearly elastomeric in nature.
Exemplary of such impact modified polymers, the following are representative:
(a) Copolymers, whether or not graft polymers and whether or not crosslinked, based essentially on butadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,134,746, 3,218,371, 3,267,175, 4,381,371);
(b) Copolymers based on monoolefins, more particularly on ethylene and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl acetate, and the like (DE-AS 19,08,468, 27,13,537, British Patent No. 998,439, U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,846, published Japanese application No. 15.5318);
(c) Copolymers of ethylene, propylene and diene, designated EPDM, the diene in most cases being 1,3-butadiene or isoprene NL 83.02602, Stamicarbon; KUNSTSTOFFE, 75, 3, p. 160 (1985)!;
(d) Copolymers, whether or not graft polymers and whether or not crosslinked, based essentially on methyl methacrylate, butadiene and styrene (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,668,274, 3,796,771, 3,984,497, published Japanese application No. 76.87138);
(e) Mixtures of polyolefins, copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile (DE-OS 27,34,693);
(f) Chlorinated polyethylene elastomers (U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,404);
(g) Nitrile rubbers, such term designating essentially copolymers of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene with acrylonitrile (EP 131,113 A).

Thermoplastic polyamide/-polyetheramide/elastomer alloys having improved mechanical properties


An internal vent system contains a pressure sensing orifice located in a carburetor main bore or an auxiliary bore. In one embodiment, this orifice is moved thereby sensing different combinations of total and static pressure of the moving gas stream in which it is located. In another embodiment, the orifice is fixed with a moveable restrictor which changes the gas flow velocity across the orifice and thus changes the pressure sensed by the orifice. The pressure in this orifice establishes the average reference pressure for a float bowl carburetor or a wet diaphragm carburetor, and hence establishes the fuel flow through the carburetor. This adjustable vent is effective in changing fuel delivery over a wide range of engine operating conditions, and is able to minimize the need for changing high speed jets or mid-range calibrations due to changing atmospheric conditions or other operating parameters. The vent movement can be manual or automatic. One such vent of this invention can be used to vent and regulate multiple carburetors, providing lower cost and easier installation and adjustment. This vent is easily adaptable to existing conventional carburetors.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to a fuel regulating assembly used in carburetors for internal combustion engines, using a moveable member to affect a change in pressure in an internal vent system.
2. Description of Prior Art
Carburetors operate using air pressure differences acting to force a fuel into a bore of the carburetor, and hence to an engine. This fuel flow is through one or more metering orifices. Modern carburetors use multiple systems or circuits to provide the proper fuel/air ratio required for all engine operating parameters. These systems provide a balance between economy and power, enabling maximum power to be delivered by the engine upon demand, but maximum economy whenever possible.
Two basic elements determine the fuel flow in any of these various circuits. The first element is the physical size of the fuel metering orifice, and to a lesser extent, connecting passageways which comprise the particular fuel circuit. The metering orifice is usually sized to be considerably smaller than the other parts of the fuel delivery system, and for the purpose of analyzing fuel delivery, it can be assumed that the metering orifice constitutes the entire fuel delivery system. The second element is the pressure difference existing across the fuel delivery system, or essentially, the pressure existing across the metering orifice.
The pressure difference acting across the fuel metering orifice in its most basic configuration consists of the pressure existing on the fuel in the fuel chamber of the carburetor, less the pressure existing in the carburetor bore where the outlet of the fuel delivery system is located, less the head pressure of the fuel. The pressure existing on the fuel in the fuel chamber is controlled by an average reference pressure established by a vent. If the vent is entirely external to the carburetor and its air induction passage, the venting is called external, and atmospheric pressure is the average reference pressure used for the carburetor. If the vent communicates with a region of the bore or other area of the air induction passage, for instance the air cleaner, this venting is called internal. In this case, the average reference pressure used for the carburetor will be slightly less than atmospheric, depending on the location of the pressure sensing end of the vent. Both types of venting, internal and external, are well known in the art.
The pressure existing in the carburetor bore and other parts of the air induction system, and hence existing at the outlet of the fuel delivery system, is determined by engine operating conditions, the position of a throttle valve, a variable venturi if so equipped, and the shape and cross sectional area of the carburetor bore. As a gas, or in this case air, is moving at a velocity, the pressure measured by a pressure sensing orifice with its surface parallel to this flow will be lower in regions where the velocity is greater. This is called the Bernoulli effect. Therefore, as engine speed is increased and the carburetor throttle is opened, air velocity in the bore increases, and pressures perpendicular to the wall of the bore decrease. Also, the bore is normally shaped so that there is a region having a decreasing cross sectional area, called a converging section. The portion having the smallest cross sectional area is called the throat, and air speed will be highest in this region. The converging section and throat comprise the venturi; most carburetors have a venturi with fixed dimensions, but some carburetors have a venturi with operably variable dimensions. It is in the throat that a high speed fuel delivery orifice is usually located. The surface of this fuel delivery orifice is usually parallel to the air flow, or in other words perpendicular to a radius of the bore. Locating the fuel delivery orifice in the throat perpendicular to a bore radius gives the maximum fuel flow possible for a given orifice, bore design, and engine operating condition.
The fuel head pressure is simply the pressure required to raise the fuel against gravity a height equivalent to the difference between the level of the fuel delivery orifice in the bore and the level of the fuel in the fuel chamber. It is important that this level be controlled for uniform operation of the carburetor.
Many circuits, bleed systems, accelerator pumps, and other contrivances have been developed over years of carburetor use which modify to some extent this basic operating principle to shape the fuel delivery flow curve as a function of engine operating conditions, but in all carburetors this is the basic underlying operation. As can be seen by the above discussion, to assure the desired operation of the carburetor, the level of fuel in the carburetor, the pressure on the fuel, the size of the fuel metering orifices, and the size and shape of the bore, must be designed in accordance with overall operating parameters.
There are two basic types of carburetors, float bowl carburetors and wet diaphragm carburetors. In a typical float bowl type carburetor, fuel flows from a larger fuel tank into the float bowl of the carburetor, the level of fuel in the float bowl being determined by a float-actuated valve. This system is well known in the prior art and is discussed in my co-pending application number 08/664,187 filed on Jun. 14, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,928. This fuel level, as discussed above, is important in determining overall carburetor performance. In this case, the venting system used, whether internal, external, or a combination of both, determines the pressure existing in the air occupying the space above the fuel internal to the carburetor. This pressure may contain pressure pulses due to fuel inlet valve instability or due to pressure pulses in the carburetor bore, but the average of this pressure is one parameter which determines average carburetor fuel delivery.
In a typical wet diaphragm type carburetor, fuel flows under pressure from the larger fuel tank to the carburetor, and the pressure internal to the carburetor is controlled by a diaphragm-operated valve. This is also discussed in Ser. No. 08/664,187. In this case, there is no fuel level specifically, as there is no void internal to the carburetor; it is completely filled with fuel. In this type carburetor, the dry side of the diaphragm, or the side of the diaphragm opposite the side in contact with the fuel, is housed in a chamber which is either internally or externally vented. The average pressure of this chamber, while not being the actual pressure existing on the fuel internal to the carburetor, is the average reference pressure which determines the fuel pressure internal to the carburetor. This average reference pressure exists on the dry side of the diaphragm, while the fuel pressure internal to the carburetor exists on the wet side of the diaphragm. The movement of this diaphragm positions the moveable member of an inlet valve, and hence regulates the average fuel pressure in the carburetor and therefore helps determine average carburetor fuel delivery.
Internal venting can cause unwanted increases in fuel delivery at certain engine speeds. This is believed to be caused by pressure pulsations in the inlet manifold to the carburetor as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,814,392 to Boyd et al (1974), and 5,273,008 to Ditter (1993). U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,392 to Boyd discusses the use of a winding maze in the internal vent passage. This winding maze is claimed to reduce the erratic nature of fuel flow at a critical engine speed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,008 to Ditter discusses the use of a primary internal vent with a small external vent to bleed off some of the vacuum. This is claimed to improve the fuel flow consistency by effectively "decoupling" or isolating the carburetor reference pressure from the induction tract pressure pulsations.
Internal venting is also claimed to be a cure for erratic fuel delivery caused by pressure pulsations in the carburetor bore by closely coupling the carburetor reference pressure to these bore pressure pulsations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,905 to Woody et al (1992) describes how a fixed Pitot tube (defined as a pressure sensing tube with an open end facing directly into a moving stream of gas) can be used in an internal vent system to reduce pulsations in the fuel delivery by balancing an instantaneous change in reference pressure against the bore pulsation. It is even described how a fixed predetermined spatial relationship between the location of the Pitot tube and the outlet of the fuel delivery system can be used to modify the phase relationship of the carburetor reference pressure to the bore pressure waves at the location of the fuel outlet. The bore pressure sensing device is always described as a Pitot tube, hence this device is a total pressure sensing device. As such, it essentially has no ability to change the magnitude of the average carburetor reference pressure with subsequent modification of average fuel flow. Also, the invention has no adjustment mechanism which could be used to tune the carburetor for changes in atmospheric conditions or engine operating parameters.
Prior art has discussed the use of internal vents to regulate the flow of fuel to an engine. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,799,585 to Ensign (1931), 1,785,681 to Goudard (1926), 1,740,917 to Beck (1926), and U.S. Pat. No. 1,851,711 to Linga (1932) use an internal vent orifice in the carburetor bore which has its pressure affected by the throttle position. All of these devices are complex and add considerably to the cost of machining the carburetor. Except for U.S. Pat. No. 1,740,917 to Beck, they are not externally adjustable, and consequently are not usable to change fuel flow necessitated by a change in atmospheric conditions, for instance. They only change the shape of the fuel flow versus engine demand curve, and for any fixed set of operating conditions, the fuel flow is determined and not adjustable. U.S. Pat. No. 1,740,917 to Beck uses an internal vent positioned adjacent the throttle, and uses an adjustable (throttled) external vent to provide an external adjustment of the fuel flow.
Changes in atmospheric conditions, such as temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and elevation, all of which determine the relative air density, have a considerable affect on the fuel delivery requirements of the engine. Changes in relative air density, without a corresponding change in carburetor tuning, result in engine loss of power or a waste of fuel. For instance, a snowmobile engine, which has carburetors tuned or jetted for proper operation at -20 degree Fahrenheit, will run overly rich and get the "blubbers" when run at +40 degrees Fahrenheit, unless the carburetor has the main jets changed to lean the mixture. In extreme cases, the mid-range operation of the carburetor must also be modified by moving or replacing a needle which affects the effective size of the fuel delivery orifice at part-throttle positions. The main jets, of necessity, are located near the bottom of the float bowl, and the changing of these jets is time consuming and results in loss of fuel. Repositioning or changing the mid-range needles is also time consuming and requires partial disassembly of the carburetor. Some carburetors have external mixture screws which adjust an opening in a fuel feed port which parallels the main jet. These systems are expensive to manufacture, and each carburetor must have its own adjustment system. Also these systems work by changing the effective size of the fuel delivery orifice, and not by changing the pressure acting to move the fuel through the fuel delivery system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,198 to Bostelman (1990) describes a carburetor altitude compensation system using a combination of vents to regulate the fuel flow through the carburetors. In this system, an aneroid bellows is used to position a valve (choke), which changes the relative pressure effect of two orifices. One orifice is in the venturi region of the carburetor bore, and hence provides a vacuum to the float bowl which tends to decrease the flow of fuel. The other orifice is connected to a region of essentially atmospheric pressure, for instance the air cleaner, and tends to establish the float bowl pressure at atmospheric pressure, at which maximum fuel flow will occur. The valve is located in the high (atmospheric) pressure vent line and it "throttles" the flow of air through the high pressure line. As the valve moves toward the closed position, the increased throttling reduces the effect of the high pressure line relative to the low pressure line, lowering the pressure in the vent system. The consequent reduction in float bowl pressure results in a reduction of fuel flow through the carburetor. This system, like the adjustment in U.S. Pat. No. 1,740,917 to Beck, establishes a pressure by balancing two series orifices, one orifice being variably throttled. This is a tricky business considering the low pressure differentials existing in the carburetor system. Also, a throttling operation, such as used in these systems, is thermodynamically different than the essentially isentropic gas flow existing in a venturi. It is desirable to change fuel flow as uniformly as possible over the largest range of engine operating conditions. This uniformity is more readily accomplished using similar thermodynamic principles in the fuel delivery system and in the regulating system. Systems operating on a similar principle using valves and thermodynamic throttling are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,660,525 to Mesman (1987), 4,574,755 to Sato et al (1986), 4,376,738 to Reinmuth (1983), 3,968,189 to Bier (1976), 3,789,812 to Berry et al (1974), and 3,730,157 to Gerhold (1973). All of these systems use a valve of some nature, usually of a needle type or a sliding type, which is usually operably closed to create an effective valve opening small compared to the area of the conduits to which it is attached, and perform a throttling operation to reduce the total pressure after passing the valve.
It is important to note that the fuel regulation systems using a valve in conjunction with a fixed orifice, or a valve in conjunction with another valve, use the throttling effect of the valve(s) to establish an intermediate pressure between two different pressure sources. A throttling operation is thermodynamically defined as an operation in which entropy is not constant; a throttling operation is not isentropic. Another property of a throttling operation is that total pressure is not constant, but is lower after the throttling has occurred. This reduction in total pressure is then used to modify the average reference pressure of the carburetor, and hence modify fuel flow.
Carburetors also have various components such as the above mentioned needles moving with the throttle valve to change the effective size of the fuel delivery orifice, pilot circuits to provide a transition from the low speed circuit to the high speed circuit, accelerator pumps to provide additional fuel during rapid acceleration, power jet circuits to provide additional fuel under full power operation, and variable venturis. All of these components and systems provide shaping of the fuel delivery as a function of engine operating conditions. These systems again are expensive to manufacture, and in many cases, are not externally adjustable, but require carburetor disassembly for their adjustment.

Carburetor internal vent and fuel regulation assembly


This invention relates to polyisocyanates which are partially or completely blocked with 3,5-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazole, to heat curable, one-component coating compositions containing these blocked polyisocyanates and to the resulting coatings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to new blocked polyisocyanates, to their use in one-component polyurethane coating compositions which can be stoved at comparatively low temperatures of 120.degree. to 140.degree. C. and which exhibit very low thermal yellowing, and to the resulting coatings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multi-layer coatings in which the top coat is a glossy clear coating based on blocked polyisocyanates and organic polyhydroxyl compounds, for example polyhydroxy polyacrylates, are becoming increasingly important, particularly for coating automobiles, due to their excellent properties.
Polyisocyanates which are suitable for this application i) have to be crosslinkable at a maximum stoving temperature of 140.degree. C., ii) have to exhibit a degree of thermal yellowing during the stoving operation which is very slight or preferably does not occur at all, iii) have to have a viscosity as a concentrated organic solution which is sufficiently low for "high solid" applications, and iv) have to be based on inexpensive raw materials.
Polyisocyanates blocked with triazoles and pyrazoles are particularly suitable for stoving lacquers which exhibit a low degree of thermal yellowing. The polyisocyanates blocked with 1,2,4-triazole according to EP-A 0,004,571, which are particularly suitable as crosslinking agents for powder coating compositions, are essentially unsuitable for use in solvent-containing coating compositions because their solutions in organic solvents are relatively highly viscous and are often unstable due to the tendency of the blocked polyisocyanates to crystallize.
According to EP-A 0,682,051, this crystallization tendency can be suppressed by the use of a blocking agent mixture containing 1,2,4-triazole and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole; however, this mixed blocking procedure constitutes an additional production cost.
US-A 3,721,645 discloses 1,2,4-triazoles, including 3-ethyl-1,2,4-triazole amongst others, as stabilizing additives for polyurethane (PUR) melt-casting compositions. The production of polyisocyanates, in which the NCO groups are blocked with 3,5-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazole, is not disclosed.
An object of the present invention is to develop blocked polyisocyanates which satisfy the previously discussed requirements regarding low stoving temperatures, only slight thermal or no thermal yellowing, low viscosity in concentrated organic solutions, and the use of readily obtainable, inexpensive raw materials for their synthesis.
It has now surprisingly been found that these objectives may be achieved with the polyisocyanates according to the invention in which the isocyanate groups are blocked with 3,5-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazole.

Polyisocyanates blocked with 3,5-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazole


An electronic device is provided, which includes a display module, a computer module, and a frame. The display module includes a first magnetic element. The computer module includes a second magnetic element. A magnetic attraction element is positioned corresponding to the first and the second magnetic elements and is movably disposed in the frame. A magnetic force produced between the magnetic attraction element and the second magnetic element is varied according to the positioning angle of the supporting frame relative to the computer module. When the positioning angle is greater than a threshold value, the magnetic force is large enough to attract the magnetic attraction element so as to release the display module to move relative to the frame.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device using magnetic force to limit a movement between two elements.
Description of the Related Art
Since notebook computers have the same functions as common desktop computers, and with their light, thin design that allows users to carry them conveniently, these notebook computers have become an indispensable tool for some users. As the price for notebook computers is constantly falling, some users have even directly replaced their desktop computers with a notebook.
A notebook computer generally has a host and a display module (for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD)) adapted to be opened from or closed to the host, and the display module may have a touch input function. To allow the user to comfortably perform touch operations on the display, the display module in some notebook computers is not directly pivoted to the host but is connected to the host through a frame, so that the display module can be rotated or the display module can be removed from the host.
In today's electronic devices, complicated structures are used to fixed the position of the display module relative to the host, and these structures can cause an increase in the manufacturing cost as they are not easy to manufacture.


Carbohydrate substituted phosphites of Formula I ##STR1## where A is a carbohydrate residue are effective stabilizers for polymers processed at elevated temperatures and subject to thermal or oxidative degradation.

Phosphites have long been used as stabilizers for organic materials subject to oxidative or thermal degradation. Particularly valuable for this purpose are the substituted aryl phosphites.
Non-carbohydrate diaryl or dialkyl substituted 2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro[5.5]undecane; compounds are known and have been found to be useful as polymer stabilizers. Typical of such materials are 3,9-di-n-octadecyloxy-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro[5.5]undecane; 3,9-bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphospha spiro[5.5]undecane; and 3,9-bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro[5.5 ]undecane.
A carbohydrate derivative of dibenzo[d,g][22.214.171.124]dioxathiaphosphocin is described in Sulfur Letters, 9, 39 (1989), but no utility for said carbohydrate compound is disclosed or suggested.
The instant carbohydrate compounds are new as are the stabilized compositions containing said compounds.

3,9-carbohydrate substituted 2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro(5.5)undecane phosphite stabilizers


A computer system operation method for allowing a user to work on interrelated documents includes forming groups of software tools. Different groups of software tools are used to perform different tasks on documents in a software system. Documents in the software system have different document types. The document types are functionally associated with the different groups of software tools. The method monitors a user""s selection of a second group of software tools, when the user is using a first workbench to work on data contained in a first document. The method invokes a second document, upon the user""s selection of a second group of software tools. The second document is of a document type that is associated with the second workbench.

Computer systems can store data and information in data files or data sets, often referred to as documents. Documents may be stored temporarily in the computer""s memory (e.g. RAM, ROM) while the computer is operating, or may be stored more permanently on a physical medium (e.g. a hard disk or a floppy-disk) from which they may be retrieved for use with the computer. Documents can store a variety of data types including image files, presentations, text documents, databases, sound files, and spreadsheets.
Data in a document can be created, accessed, and modified by a software application. Different applications may be associated with different document types and may include software tools to create, edit, or modify data in the associated document type. For example, a user may create a text document with a word processing application, such as Microsoft Word(copyright), and may use tools, such as those found in the Microsoft Word xe2x80x9cFilexe2x80x9d pull-down menu (e.g. the xe2x80x9cnew,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9csave,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cprintxe2x80x9d tools), to create, store, and print the text document. Similarly, a user may create a spreadsheet document with a spreadsheet application, such as Microsoft Excel(copyright), and may use mathematical function tools to analyze data in the spreadsheet document and may use graphing tools to graphically present data contained in the spreadsheet document. The appearance and utility of the text and spreadsheet documents is determined by tools in the associated word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Generally, when a user works on a document using the tools of an associated application, only documents of the type associated with the chosen application may be created or modified. For example, when using a word processing program only text documents may be created and modified, and when using a spreadsheet program only spreadsheet documents may be worked on. Thus, application functionality may conform to a document-centric model. A document-centric model of applications suggests a user understanding that certain applications are limited to certain document types and vice-versa.
A document-centric application model can be restrictive to the user when the user wishes to perform multiple tasks that require multiple applications and, therefore, the use of multiple document types. For example, if a user is using one application to work on a document and perform a task, but wishes to perform a related but different task that requires different tools, the user must use tools from a second application. The use of a second application may entail exiting the current document, opening a second document of a type compatible with the second application and performing the desired task in the second document. The user may store the results of the two applications in two documents of different document types.
When documents are independently stored, working on one document in one application does not automatically recall the other related document. Rather, recalling the other related document requires using a different application to retrieve the related document. Thus, the user may need to manually maintain a cataloging system to remember that the two different documents contain related data and information.
Document embedding may be used as an alternative to separate storage of related documents. Embedding may be supported by an operating system or a software application. For example, in a Microsoft Windows 95/98(trademark) implementation, object linking and embedding (OLE) technology is often used to enable the importation and embedding of a secondary document into a primary document. Nevertheless, this requires a user using a primary program first to correctly determine the secondary document type to be imported, second to open such a document, third to insert into the secondary document the data he wants to work on, fourth to use the secondary program to edit the secondary document, and fifth to import the second document into the primary document. This is a long and cumbersome process. Thus, for example, a user may use a word processing application to create a text document and a spreadsheet application to create or modify a spreadsheet document that may be imported into and stored in a text document, but the processing is not user-friendly.
When a user uses a primary software application to work on a document of a particular type associated with the software application, the user may create an object embedded within the document, which may be edited with the tools of a secondary application that is not associated with the particular document type. An object in an application environment may be a discrete element of a document, for example, a spreadsheet, a graphic, or a piece of text. Graphical space is allocated in the document for the object, and the object is stored as part of the document. A user""s selection of an object contained within a document may activate a secondary application to edit the data contained in the object. For example, when using Microsoft Word(copyright) to work on a text document, a user may create a spreadsheet object in the text document and edit the spreadsheet with the Microsoft Excel(copyright) tools. Selection of the spreadsheet object in the Words(copyright) document may activate the Excels(copyright) tools to edit the spreadsheet. When objects conforming to one document type are embedded in a document of a different type, however, only one document type is created. The single document stores the results of the multiple different applications that conform to different document types. As a consequence, in the example described above, the text and the spreadsheet work would be stored in a text document because the user had been using a word processing program as the primary application. In a group work environment in which multiple users need access to multiple documents on a computer, storing the results of many different tasks in a single document may restrict access and productivity. It may have the effect of making fewer documents simultaneously available to the users, or of forcing users with expertise and experience in using different applications to all use the same document with their applications.
The functional relationship between applications and document types and the document-centric application model is further demonstrated by the way applications and document types are used by standard operating systems (e.g. Microsoft NT, Microsoft Windows). An application is opened, i.e. initialized and displayed on a computer display so that the user may begin working with the application, by typing an instruction at a command line of the operating system or by clicking with a mouse on an icon representing the application. When the application is opened it may display a window, in which a document may be displayed and worked on with the tools of the application. Normally when an application is opened it automatically displays in a window of the computer display a document of a type that is associated with the application. The document may be one that was previously created and then stored on the computer or it may be a new, blank document that the user may modify with the application""s software tools and then save. Thus, opening an application with the operating system may automatically open a document of the type associated with the application.
Similarly, opening a document with operation system software functionality, for example by clicking on the document""s icon, may automatically trigger the opening of an application that is functionally associated with the document type being opened. Thus, the document type and the associated software application are fundamentally linked.
Software tools can be collected into task-oriented functional groups known as workbenchs. Workbenches may be created, for example, to perform the different tasks of editing text, designing parts, assembling parts into a machine or device, and analyzing the stresses on a part of a machine or device. Moreover, workbenches may be functionally associated with, and used to work on, particular document types. A document type may be associated with a workbench if the workbench can perform its task in the document.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computer system operation method for allowing a user to work on documents. The method includes using a set of hierarchically interrelated workbenches. Hierarchically interrelated sets of documents are also used by the software method, and each document has a document type associated with at least one of the workbenches. Furthermore, at least one document is invoked when a user selects a workbench. A document is invoked when either a new document is created or when an existing document on the computer system is retrieved.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. Different workbenches may include different software tools of a software system, and the user may determine which tools of the software system are included in each workbench. The documents created when the user selects a workbench may be of document types determined by the user""s selection of the particular workbench from the set of workbenches. The computer system operation method may be a CAD/CAM/CAE software system.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer system operation method for allowing a user to work on interrelated documents. The method includes monitoring a user""s selection of a second workbench, when the user is using a first workbench to work on data contained in a first document; and creating a second document, upon the user""s selection of a second workbench, when the second document is of a document type that is associated with the second workbench.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The first and second workbenches may include different software tools of a software system, and the user may determine which tools of the software system are included in each workbench. Furthermore, the document type of the first document may differ from the document type of the second document. In addition, the second document may be of a document type determined by the user""s selection of the second workbench. Upon creation of the second document, referencing data may be generated and stored in the first document, where the data reference all or part of the data in the second document. Alternatively, upon creation of the second document, referencing data may be generated and stored in the second document, where the data reference all or part of the data in the first document.
Additional embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. One or more objects representative of data contained in one or more documents may be displayed in a first window of a computer display, and a second window of the computer display may be activated upon the user""s selection of an object from one of the documents displayed in the first window. One or more objects representative of data contained in one or more documents may be displayed in a first window of a computer display, and a second window of the computer display may be activated upon the user""s selection of a workbench. The software operation method may be a CAD/CAM/CAE software system.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method of operating a CAD/CAM/CAE computer system containing a plurality of software tools. Each of said software tools is used by a user to perform one or more particular actions as part of the user""s use of the software system. The method includes organizing the plurality of software tools into a plurality of workbenches, each workbench including a different subset of software tools generally required by the user to perform a specific task. The method further includes defining a hierarchy among the workbenches, in which the hierarchy includes at least one reference from at least one workbench to at least one other workbench. The method additionally includes storing a record of the hierarchy on the computer system. The method further includes using a workbench to work on a document that is one of a several predetermined document types, and where the document is of a document type associated with the workbench being used.
In one embodiment of the invention, one or more workbenches are used to work on one or more documents, where each workbench is associated with at least one document type of several possible document types, and each document has a document type. A list of available workbenches is displayed to the user and the entry of a command by the user is monitored. If the command entered by the user indicates the selection of a workbench a new document may be created, where the type of the new document is associated with the selected workbench. But if the command entered by the user indicates the selection of an existing document, the existing document is retrieved and displaying to the user in the context of a workbench associated with the existing document""s type.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, including instructions for causing a computer to create a set of hierarchically interrelated workbenches and a set of hierarchically interrelated documents. Each document is of a document type that is associated with at least one of said workbenches and at least one document is created when a user selects a workbench associated with the document""s type.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features, a computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, including instructions for causing a computer to monitor a user""s selection of a second workbench to use, when the user is using a first workbench to work on data contained in a first document, and to create a second document, upon the user""s selection of a second workbench, when the second document is of a document type that is associated with the second workbench.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, including instructions for operating a CAD/CAM/CAE computer software system containing a plurality of software tools. Each of said software tools may be used by a user to perform one or more particular actions as part of the user""s use of the software system. The computer program includes instructions to organize the plurality of software tools into a plurality of workbenches, where each workbench contains a different subset of the plurality of software tools, and each different workbench includes the software tools generally required by the user to perform a specific task. The computer program includes instructions to define a hierarchy among the workbenches, where the hierarchy includes at least one reference from at least one workbench to at least one other workbench. The computer program stores a record of the hierarchy on the computer system. The computer program includes further instructions to use a workbench to work on a document, where the document is of a document type associated with the workbench.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The computer program may include instructions to use one or more workbenches to work on one or more documents, each workbench being associated with at least one document type of a plurality of predetermined document types, and each document having a document type. The computer program may include instructions to display to the user a list of available workbenches, and to monitor the entry of a command by the user. A new document may be created if the command entered by the user indicates the selection of a workbench, the type of said new document being a document type associated with said workbench. If the command entered by the user indicates the selection of an existing document, the existing document may be retrieved and displayed to the user in the context of a workbench associated with the existing document""s type.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for using a software system to control the creation and storage of documents. The apparatus includes an electronic digital computer system for operation with the software system; means for storing documents; means for creating a set of hierarchically interrelated workbenches; means for creating a set of hierarchically interrelated documents, where each document comprises a document type associated with at least one workbenches and where at least one document is created when a user selects a workbench associated with the document""s type; and
In general, in another aspect, the invention features, an apparatus for using a software system to control the creation and storage of documents. The apparatus includes an electronic digital computer system for operation with the software system; means for storing documents; means of monitoring a user""s selection of a second workbench to use, when the user is using a first workbench to work on data contained in a first document; means of creating a second document, upon the user""s selection of a second workbench, where the second document is of a document type that is associated with the second workbench.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features, an apparatus for using a CAD/CAM/CAE software system containing a plurality of software tools, in which the software tools may be used by a user to perform one or more particular actions as part of the user""s use of the software system. The apparatus includes an electronic digital computer system for operation with the software system; means of organizing the software tools into a plurality of workbenches, where each workbench includes a different subset of software tools and each subset includes the software tools generally required by the user to perform a specific task; means of defining a hierarchy among the workbenches, where the hierarchy includes at least one reference from at least one workbench to at least one other workbench; means of storing the hierarchy on the computer system; and means of using a workbench to work on document, where the document has a document type that associated with the workbench used.
In one embodiment, the invention includes means of using one or more workbenches to work on one or more documents, where each document has a document type and each workbench is associated with at least one document type; means of displaying to the user a list of available workbenches; means of monitoring the entry of a command by the user; means of creating a new document if the command entered by the user indicates the selection of a workbench, where the document type of the new document is a document type associated with the selected workbench; means of retrieving an existing document if the command entered by the user indicates the selection of an existing document; and means of displaying the existing document to the user in the context of a workbench associated with the document type of said existing document.
The advantages of the invention include one or more of the following. The workbench environment facilitates the management and organization of documents and objects as the user of a software system performs different tasks on documents within the software system. In the workbench environment the software system automatically takes care of creating the necessary documents, and using the existing content and data, as the user switches between different tasks.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the claims.

Document and task coordination system for a computer


In a process for the electrolytic deposition of metal on one side of a strip, preferably a steel strip which forms the cathode, the section (7) of the strip to be coated is guided through a gap between two parallel anodes (3,4) which are insoluble in the electrolyte (6). A voltage can be applied to the anodes (3,4) independently of each other. One of the two anodes is subdivided perpendicular to the direction of motion of the strip into several sections (41, 42, 43, 44) electrically insulated from each other. Voltages are selectively and independently applied to the anode sections to prevent the side of the strip facing the anode sections from being permanently coated and to prevent passivation of the anode sections.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a device and process for electrolytic deposition of metals on one or both sides of strips which form the cathode, preferably steel strips.
2. The Prior Art
In horizontal or vertical galvanic systems of this type, the deposition of metals from the electrolyte takes place on strips which form the cathode, which pass through two anodes which are parallel to one another and insoluble. An electrical charge, generally rectified, is applied to the two anodes, so that the metallic precipitation on the strip passing through takes place under the known suitable conditions. Such a system is known, for example, from DE-OS 35 10 592. Such and similar devices are also used, however, for one-sided coating of the strip passing through. One of the two parallel anodes is then removed from the device. Since systems generally have several pairs of anodes arranged one after the other, through which the strip passes, this results in long setup times of the system for one-sided coating. In addition, it is frequently found that in spite of the absence of the removed anode, partial coating takes place on the side of the strip which is not supposed to be coated.
Attempts have also already been made, in order to avoid such setup times, to have no current or voltage applied to one of the two anodes in each case. In operation, however, it turns out that in such a case, a disruptive metal precipitation on the anode takes place, both on the side of the strip which is not supposed to be coated, and in the lower anode region. Depending on the anode material, e.g. in the case of iridium dioxide coated anodes, this causes the surface to be passivated in the lower region and therefore to become unusable. The explanation must obviously be seen in the fact that a voltage drop from the entry point to the exit point of the segment of the strip to be coated takes place, so that potential differences between the anode, which actually has no current applied to it, and the strip segment opposite it occur, which are obviously sufficient to trigger deposition processes in the direction of the anode and/or the strip.
It has therefore already been proposed that the current-free anode be insulated from the strip segment by intermediate placement of an insulation, for example a thin plastic sheet. However, it is frequently not possible to place such insulation sheets in the very narrow gap between the strip and the anode. Furthermore, such a measure also requires significant setup times when switching from two-side coating operation to one-sided coating operation and vice versa.

Device for electrolytic deposition of metals on one or both sides of strips


A method of testing the cleanability of polymerized sublimate outgassed from a lithography material during a thermal heating process including; placing a wafer on a wafer hotplate inside a chamber with the wafer being covered by a lithography material; placing a target, having a starting composition, above the wafer in the chamber; heating the wafer using the wafer hotplate in an attempt to outgas a sublimate, where the sublimate condenses on the target; forming a polymerized sublimate on the target; and applying organic solvents to the target to determine the cleanability of the polymerized sublimate.

The present invention relates to the field of characterizing condensable compounds outgassed from organic films during heating; more specifically, an apparatus and a method for characterizing the cleanability of polymerized sublimate.
In the field of semiconductor manufacturing, lithography thermal heating processes may be used to cure organic films. The lithography process may include UV lithography, extreme UV (EUV) lithography, and electron-beam (e-beam) lithography. All organic materials used in lithography processes (such as photoresists, optical planarization materials, and anti-reflective coatings) outgas condensable compounds during post-apply bake and other thermal processes. The condensable compounds can subsequently condense on processing equipment surfaces.

Cleanability assessment of sublimate from lithography materials


A content delivery system which comprises a delivery server and multiple terminal devices, the delivery server delivering content, the multiple terminal devices receiving delivery of the content, in the content delivery system connection between the delivery server and the terminal devices and connection between the terminal devices being made by radio, in the content delivery system the terminal devices being connected in multiple stages, wherein the delivery server instructs a terminal device which has received delivery of the content and which is connected to an other terminal device at the next stage to deliver content possessed by a self terminal device to the other terminal device, and wherein the instructed terminal device delivers content possessed by the self terminal device to the other terminal device and notifies the delivery result to the delivery server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content delivery system that delivers content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, techniques such as signboards, posters, bulletin boards, showcases, and the distribution of handbills or pamphlets have been used as methods of displaying information to the general public. However, where substances such as printed literature or exhibits are involved, it has been difficult to achieve a change to content in a short time. In order to solve this problem, it has been proposed to change signboards, posters, or bulletin boards throughout town for display apparatuses to display according to the advertisement technique used in broadcasting, and in these years a market which is collectively referred to by the term "digital signage" is beginning to be formed. By means of the digital signage, information display can be effectively performed in the form of a product advertisement, a notice, a news report, information delivery, publicity, or so on in commercial facilities, downtown, public institutions, or so on, where many and unspecified people are expected to come and go.
As to the way to update content, while with some products, content is rewritten manually with use of a USB memory or an SD card, products which can deal with delivery via a network for the purpose of labor saving and instant updating are coming out. Further, products have come out which utilize radio such as WiMAX or WLAN in order to reduce the cost of laying network lines or relocating a network when changing layout (Non Patent Literature 1: Digital Signage White Paper 2011 by Digital Signage Consortium, Jun. 8, 2011, First Edition). Meanwhile, as to the radio technology, as a technology for extending communication distance to improve usability, multi-hop communication technology wherein terminals themselves perform relay, represented by ZigBee (registered trademark) or the like, has been being put into practical use.
For example, where digital signage terminals are installed in sales space in retail stores to perform advertisement, in order to use WLAN technology wherein terminals directly connect to a content delivery server that is an access point, digital signage terminals need to be installed within the communication range of the content delivery server. Accordingly, by combining it with the multi-hop communication technology, installation in places where direct connection cannot be made is enabled, and merits such as communication continuation due to path redundancy or the like can be enjoyed. By using this connection configuration to deliver content and schedule to be displayed to each digital signage terminal, the simplification of installation can be achieved.