A battery control system for controlling the connection of a plurality of batteries to a load is provided. The system comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of controllers. Each switch is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller is operatively coupled to one of the switches. Each controller is operative to cause one of the switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller has an input and an output for communicating with another controller wherein the controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the loads

The present invention relates to the field of power management systems. In particular, the present invention relates to power management systems for back-up power sources.
In the telecommunications industry, telecommunication loads are normally provided with DC power by an AC to DC converter. To ensure that telecommunication services are not interrupted when there is an AC power outage, battery strings are typically employed as back-up power sources. These battery back-up systems usually comprise multiple battery strings that are connected in parallel. In these back-up systems, each battery string is responsible for meeting a fractional portion of the load power demands.
It is often desirable to disconnect the battery string from the load, for example, for maintenance purposes or to replace the battery string. As a result, multiple battery strings may be disconnected at the same time.
There are many disadvantages, however, to allowing multiple battery strings to be simultaneously disconnected. First, if too many battery strings are disconnected at the same time, the Uninterruptable Power System (xe2x80x9cUPSxe2x80x9d) may not operate safely. When multiple battery strings are used, each battery string is responsible for meeting a fractional portion of the load current demand. In view of this, the cabling and connectors used to couple the battery strings to the power bus are selected to safely handle the expected current to be supplied by the battery strings. If multiple battery strings are disconnected from the power bus, the remaining batteries must provide increased current to meet the load demands.
For example, if the load demand is 4000 Amperes and there are 8 battery strings connected in parallel to provide power to the load during A.C. power outages, each battery string is responsible for providing 500 Amperes. If one battery string is disconnected, then the remaining batteries must now provide 571 Amperes. But if four battery strings are disconnected, the remaining batteries must provide 1000 Amperes.
The increased current levels supplied by the remaining batteries may surpass the level at which the cabling and connectors connected thereto can safely conduct current. The cabling and connectors could be sized larger to handle increased current levels, but this potential solution may needlessly increase the cost and installation complexities when in most instances the increased capacity is not be needed. Also, when multiple battery strings are simultaneously disconnected, the increased load demand on the remaining battery strings will decrease the length of time the remaining battery strings can provide power.
Therefore, there remains a need for a system that limits the number of battery strings that may be disconnected from the load to ensure that the battery back-up system can safely deliver power when needed.
The present invention meets the foregoing needs by providing a system that limits the number of battery strings that can be disconnected at a power plant at a given time.
The system groups battery strings into one or more rings wherein the number of batteries within a ring that can be disconnected is limited. One or more controllers are provided for each ring that cooperate with the other controllers within the ring to limit the number of batteries that may be disconnected from the load at a given time.
The present invention provides many advantages over the presently known power management systems. Not all of these advantages are simultaneously required to practice the invention as claimed, and the following list is merely illustrative of the types of benefits that may be provided, alone or in combination, by the present invention. These advantages include: (1) limiting the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load at one time; (2) preventing accidental disconnection of battery strings; (3) a lockout/tagout feature that prevents accidental reconnection during maintenance; (4) allowing a single controller to be removed from the ring without affecting the other controllers; (5) allowing multiple rings to be established within large power systems; and (6) providing an emergency disconnection feature to disconnect all battery strings in an emergency situation when all DC power must be removed.
In accordance with the present invention, a battery control system for controlling the connection of a plurality of batteries to a load is provided. The system comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of controllers. Each switch is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller is operatively coupled to one of the switches. Each controller is operative to cause one of the switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller has an input and an output for communicating with other controllers wherein the controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
An UPS system having a plurality of batteries for providing backup power to a load is provided that comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of controllers. Each switch is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller is operatively coupled to one of the switches. Each controller is operative to cause one of the switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller has an input and an output for communicating with other controllers wherein the controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
A power plant for providing power to a load is provided. The power plant comprises a source of AC power, an AC to DC power converter for converting the AC power to DC power and for supplying the DC power to the load, and an UPS system for providing backup DC power to the load, the UPS system comprising a plurality of batteries. The power plant further comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of controllers. Each switch is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller is operatively coupled to one of the switches. Each controller is operative to cause one of the switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller has an input and an output for communicating with other controllers wherein the controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for using data keyframes. In one aspect, a method includes storing a data keyframe transmitted as part of a live streaming broadcast; receiving a request from a client to join the live streaming broadcast in-progress; determining that the stored data keyframe was transmitted before the request from the client was received; transmitting the stored data keyframe to the client; and distributing streaming content associated with the live streaming broadcast to the client. Further, the data keyframe can be generated by a publisher of the live streaming broadcast. Distributing streaming content further can include storing a plurality of data keyframes transmitted as part of the live streaming broadcast and transmitting the plurality of stored data keyframes to the client before distributing streaming content associated with the live streaming broadcast to the client.

The present disclosure relates to associating one or more data keyframes with a streaming broadcast, and to systems and methods for storing and distributing data keyframes to one or more subscribers of a streaming broadcast.
In the past, transferring large files over a computer network could be a lengthy and unreliable process. Instead, large files, such as files containing audio or video data, typically were downloaded from a server and a local copy was created by the receiving client system. The local copy of the file was then available for use by the client system, such as for playback of media content. Alternatively, large files were distributed to users on portable storage media, such as compact disc ("CD") or digital versatile disc ("DVD").
In the more recent past, increased network bandwidth and computers with greater processing power made it practical to stream content from a server to a client. Further, standardized communication protocols were developed for use by streaming applications. Additionally, the content being streamed could be adapted to comply with the requirements of a communication path, such as through use of variable encoding parameters and/or scalable image resolution.
A client system can subscribe to a streaming broadcast by submitting a request to a streaming server from which the streaming broadcast is available. For example, a user of the client system can view a web page associated with the streaming server and select a link corresponding to the desired streaming broadcast. Once the streaming broadcast has been initiated, packets of data representing the streaming content are distributed to the subscribing client over a broadcast network. The streaming content can include audio, video, data, or any combination thereof. Further, the streaming content can be accessed at the client system as the data packets are received from the streaming server. For example, playback of streaming media content can begin at a subscribing client without waiting for the entire file to be downloaded. Typically, playback of streaming media can begin after only a small percentage of the streaming media content has been stored locally (or "buffered") by the client.
Further, a streaming broadcast can be a live broadcast or a pre-recorded broadcast. In a live broadcast, content is distributed by a streaming server to one or more subscribing clients while the information for the stream is being published to the server. For example, similar to live television, a video presentation of a live event can be captured and published to a streaming server as the event is taking place. As such, the streaming content corresponding to the live event can be presented at a subscribing client in real-time or in near real-time. A live broadcast further can be captured and stored at a streaming server in order to generate a file that can be rebroadcast at a later time.
In a pre-recorded broadcast, information associated with one or more files is provided to a streaming server as content for the streaming broadcast. Information included in the pre-recorded broadcast is not being captured and published to the streaming server during the broadcast. Similar to a live broadcast, however, a pre-recorded broadcast allows a subscribing client to begin accessing the streaming content without first downloading the one or more files being streamed. For example, a streamed file, such as a recording of a previous live broadcast, can be presented at a subscribing client system as content associated with the streamed file is received. In order to reduce the risk of disruptions, a portion of the streamed content can be buffered by the subscribing client before playback is initiated. A pre-recorded broadcast can begin at a scheduled time or on-demand in response to a request by a subscribing client.
Data for a streaming file can be stored sequentially in segments corresponding to the order in which the content will be accessed, such as by frame. For example, image data and audio data corresponding to a particular frame of a video sequence can be stored sequentially in a file such that it precedes data corresponding to a temporally subsequent frame of the same video sequence. Thus, a subscribing client can receive all of the data required to render a frame of the video sequence before it receives data associated with one or more successive frames.
Additionally, because the data required to render a frame of streaming content at a subscribing client is temporally ordered, a subscribing client can join a streaming broadcast that already is in progress. For example, a subscribing client can join a live streaming broadcast of a baseball game at any point during the game. The subscribing client thus will be able to access audio and/or video content associated with the live streaming broadcast from the present point in the game without first having to access content from an earlier portion of the game. Additionally, the subscribing client can subsequently request to access content associated with an earlier portion of a streaming broadcast that was joined in-progress, such as by requesting to access a recorded version of the previously streamed broadcast that is stored in a file.


A method for displaying icons layouts in different resolutions where data representing a layout is preserved for a particular resolution and is later used to display another layout at the same resolution. The data indicates positions of icons in the layout, contains identifiers that identify particular icons, and contains coordinate positions of icons in the layout and may be preserved in various formats or preserved in various data structures. The data structure may comprise a bitmap and icon list. In some embodiments, a layout at a current resolution is produced using a previous layout at a previous resolution and at least two different mapping functions. Icons from the previous layout are mapped to the current layout where icons in an overlapping area between the current layout and the previous layout are mapped with a first mapping function and outside icons are mapped with a second mapping function.

Icons can be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) at different resolution settings. The resolution level of a display is expressed as a matrix or array of pixels where standard resolution settings include 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×870, 1600×1200, etc. For example, the resolution of 1024×768 indicates a pixel array of 1024 columns and 768 rows of pixels.
Typically, when a user changes between resolutions, the placement of icons in the GUI from the initial resolution to the changed resolution is not intuitive so that icons in the changed resolution do not appear where the user expects. An example of the typical placement of icons between an initial resolution to a changed resolution is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a first icon layout 105 is shown in a first resolution of a display, the first layout 105 having icons "A," "B," "C," "D," E," and "F" 110 and 115. After the user changes the resolution setting of the display from the first resolution to a second resolution, a second icon layout 140 is shown in the second resolution, the second layout 140 also having icons "A," "B," "C," "D," E," and "F" 110 and 115 of the first layout 105.
Note that in the example of FIG. 1, the resolution has been changed from a higher resolution (first resolution) to a lower resolution (second resolution) so that the first layout 105 is larger than the second layout 140 (i.e., the first layout is a pixel array with more columns and rows of pixels than the second layout). A boundary 120 of the second layout or resolution in comparison to the first layout or resolution is indicated by a dashed boundary line in the first layout 105.
Inside icons 110 within the boundary 120 (such as icons "A," "B," "C," and "F") can be easily mapped from the first layout to the second layout, for example, using a one-to-one mapping function that places the icons in the same position in the second layout. Typically, however, outside icons 115 (such as icons "E" and "D") outside the boundary 120 are placed in the first available space in the second layout which causes such outside icons 115 to be placed in a position that is not intuitive to the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, outside icon "D" is positioned in the lower right corner of the first layout but is placed in the upper right corner (the first available position) of the second layout.
After the user changes the resolution setting of the display back to the first resolution, a third icon layout 150 is shown in the first resolution. As the resolution has been changed from a lower resolution (second resolution) to a higher resolution (first resolution), the third layout 150 is larger than the second layout 140. As such, all icons 110 and 115 of the second layout 140 can be mapped from the second layout to the third layout using a one-to-one mapping function. Note, however, that when the user returns to the first resolution, the third layout does not contain icons in the same position as they were in the first layout at the same first resolution. For example, the outside icons "E" and "D" are in different positions in the first and third layouts even though both layouts are in the same resolution.
As such, there is a need for a method of displaying icons layouts in different resolutions where the placement of the icons between different layouts in different resolutions is more intuitive.

Displaying icon layouts in different resolutions


A seating arrangement includes a base, a seat mounted to the base, the seat having a width extending from a first side to a second side and a length extending in a forward direction from a rear side to a front side. The seating arrangement further includes a backrest positioned adjacent the rear side of the seat. The seating arrangement further includes a cushion length adjustment (CLA) coupled to the seat at the front side. The CLA has a width bisected by a centerline. A first side of the CLA is at least partially defined by a first curved surface extending downward in the forward direction and extending downward toward the base away from the centerline. A second side of the CLA is at least partially defined by a second curved surface extending downward in the forward direction and extending downward toward the base away from the centerline.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle seats and more particularly relates to seats for agricultural equipment such as cotton harvesters and combine harvesters.
Agricultural equipment includes powered machinery capable of transporting, cultivating, planting, fertilizing, irrigating, sorting, harvesting, and other operations in the agriculture industry. Some equipment is driven (e.g., towed) by field vehicles such as tractors, for example planters and seeders. Other agricultural equipment includes a motor, transmission, and operator cabin such that the equipment is self-driven or self-propelled (i.e., does not require a tractor for towing), for example cotton harvesters and combine harvesters.
Features and parameters of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.


An arrangement for use in a utility meter includes a non-volatile memory and an RF transceiver. The non-volatile memory has a first and a second port, the first port configured to obtain commodity consumption data. The radio frequency (RF) transceiver is configured to receive and RF signal from an external source and obtain energy from the RF signal and provide the energy to a bias voltage input of the non-volatile memory. The RF transceiver is further operable to perform a data transfer operation responsive to the received RF signal, the data transfer operation including a transfer of meter-related data between the non-volatile memory and the RF transceiver using the second port of the non-volatile memory.

Utility meters are devices the measure the consumption or flow of a commodity, such as gas, water or electricity. Traditionally, utility meters measured the consumption of a commodity by a facility, for example, a residence, factory, or commercial establishment. Other utility meters may measure the flow of a commodity out of a facility such as a power generation plant or a distribution network.
In general, however, utility meters measure commodity consumption and retain the commodity consumption data for use by the utility service provider. Commodity consumption data may include the quantity electrical energy consumed or the volume of gas or water consumed. The utility service provider uses the commodity consumption data to perform its billing function, among other things.
Many types of meters, including in particular electricity meters, employ electronic circuits to obtain and record consumption data. Electricity meters using such electronic circuits typically digital current and voltage signals, and then perform algebraic operations on the digitized signals to obtain energy consumption data. The energy consumption data is typically then displayed on a digital display.
Power for the electronic circuit is derived from the power lines being measured. As a result, no "external" source of power is necessary. Moreover, in the event of a power interruption, the resultant lack of power to the electronic circuit is inconsequential because there typically is no power consumption to measure. Accordingly, the model of an electricity meter that employs electronic measurement circuits that are powered by the mains power lines has been widely adopted.
One advantage of the use of electronic meters is that higher level data processing functions may be readily incorporated into the meter. For example, a single meter platform may readily be adapted to perform time-of-use metering, demand metering, or other types of metering with a simple software adjustment. Moreover, a single meter platform may readily be adapted for installation into various types of electrical wiring configurations (three wire delta, four wire delta, three wire wye and four wire wye) through the use of software changes.
To this end, meters typically include the facility to receive meter program data (e.g. program parameters) externally after the manufacture of the meter. For example, many meters include optical port through which meter parameters and meter calibration data may be externally loaded into the meter. In such meters, a non-volatile memory such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory ("EEPROM") is used to store the programmed values. Non-volatile memory is employed to ensure that the programmed data remains within the meter after power is removed from the meter for shipment to the customer.
The advantage of using adjustable program parameters stored in EEPROM in the meter is that the manufacturer may produce a single meter that is adaptable to large numbers of various customer configurations. As a result, large numbers of different meters need not be inventoried. Instead, one type of meter is inventoried, and then may be programmed to suit customer orders as they are received.
While the above-described process facilitates configuration of many meter features and operations after manufacture of the meter is substantially complete, it nevertheless requires significant time and equipment. In particular, storing operational parameters into the meter requires that electrical power be available in the meter in order to carry out the programming task. Thus, for example, if several meters must be "programmed" to fulfill a specific customer request, all of the meters must be connected to electrical power as well as to the programming device.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus that further facilitates configuration of a meter that requires a reduced amount of time and equipment. Such a method and apparatus would ultimately provide greater flexibility and/or less cost in configuring meters for different applications.

Utility meter with external signal-powered transceiver


A bearing element for receiving a stabilizer on a vehicle may include a first elastomer body and a second elastomer body that are of half-shell-shaped design and that are arranged on one another so as to form a receiving passage. The receiving passage may receive a stabilizer rod of the stabilizer. The first and second elastomer bodies can be pressed onto and cohesively attached to the stabilizer rod of the stabilizer such that the stabilizer rod extends through the receiving passage. Further, the inner contour of the receiving passage may be configured so as to deviate from a circular contour.

A simple construction of a bearing element of the type of interest here is presented in DE 10 2010 054 503 A1. The bearing element serves for receiving a stabilizer on a vehicle and comprises elastomer bodies referred to as rubber bearings, wherein it can be seen that the two elastomer bodies do not need to be of the same shape as one another in order to form the generic bearing element. The lower elastomer body, which adjoins the motor vehicle component, has a cross-sectional shape which differs from an upper elastomer body. However, the half-shell-shaped inner regions of the two elastomer bodies form a circular inner contour through which the stabilizer rod extends. The two elastomer bodies are held by a receiving means in the form of a clamp. To press the elastomer bodies onto the stabilizer rod, use is generally made of a tool which comprises a receiving means for receiving the elastomer bodies or which itself forms said receiving means, wherein the receiving means may also be formed by a clamp which serves for the subsequent fastening of the bearing element to a motor vehicle component. Here, the joining direction is perpendicular to the parting plane between the two elastomer bodies.
A further exemplary embodiment of a bearing element is presented in DE 10 2009 011 818 A1. The presented bearing element comprises two elastomer bodies which, for pressing onto the stabilizer rod, are inserted into two so-called receptacles. The receptacles form molding tools with an inner contour into which the elastomer bodies, referred to as polymer bodies, are inserted by way of their outer contour. The inner contour of the receptacles is in this case adapted to the outer contour of the elastomer bodies, wherein the outer contour comprises elevations, for example for preventing rotation of the elastomer bodies in the clamp during the later operation of the bearing elements.
The bearing elements are designed to receive the stabilizer on a vehicle, and the stabilizer serves for the roll stabilization of the vehicle. The stabilizer comprises a stabilizer rod, wherein stabilizers are also known which are constructed from multiple stabilizer rods. The stabilizer rod is in this case normally connected to a motor vehicle component, for example the vehicle frame, by means of the elastomer bodies and connectors fixed over said elastomer bodies. Here, the prior art involves the cohesive connection of the elastomer bodies to the stabilizer rod. To produce said cohesive connection, use is made, for example, of adhesives or adhesion promoters. The reaction of the adhesive or adhesion promoter with the elastomer body and with the normally coated stabilizer rod may be influenced for example by pressure, time and temperature. It is a disadvantage that, commonly, there is no defined, in particular uniform pressure distribution over the entire contact area between the surface of the stabilizer rod and the elastomer bodies, such that the adhesion promoter situated in between is subjected to a varying pressure over the circumference. It is also the case that the adhesive, in a still-flowable phase, is squeezed out of partial regions between the stabilizer rod and the elastomer bodies. The stabilizer rod commonly comprises a circular cross section at least at the seat points of the bearing elements, wherein the inner contour of the elastomer bodies also comprises a circular contour for forming the receiving passage. A result of this problem is that, owing to an uneven or at least disadvantageous pressure distribution, the adhesion between the elastomer bodies and the stabilizer rod is not uniform over the full circumference, and as a result, a failure of the connection can preferentially occur at locations of relatively poor adhesion.

Bearing element and method for producing a stabilizer of a vehicle

ThyssenKrupp Federo und Stabilisatoren GmbH


An apparatus and method for adjusting a vehicle seat having a backrest and a seat base by moving the backrest and seat base at the same time to one of a normal position and a loading position. A transmission that may include a drive is provided and may further include a lock mechanism coupled to the vehicle seat.

The invention relates to a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a backrest, a seat part and a seat base, the backrest being able to be set into a first position and into a second position by being pivotable relative to the seat part about a first rotary spindle arranged essentially transversely with respect to the main seating direction, and the seat base being able to be set into a third position and into a fourth position by being pivotable relative to the seat part about a second rotary spindle arranged essentially transversely with respect to the main seating direction.
Vehicle seats of this type are known in general and serve, for example, to enlarge the loading area of a motor vehicle. A disadvantage of the known solutions is that a user generally has a plurality of awkward operations in order to change the seat position, i.e., on the one hand, to enlarge the loading area and, on the other hand, to reverse the seat adjustment again, for example for normal transportation of individuals.
Thus, there is a need for a vehicle seat, particularly a rear seat of a motor vehicle, that the vehicle seat can be set rapidly and with few maneuvers or just with one maneuver from its loading position into its normal position and vice versa.

Vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a folding back rest and a foldable seat base and method


A splint which preferably gives support, proper neutral positioning of the wrist and which allows freedom of motion for activities.

Prior art splints are not suitable for maximally treating carpal tunnel and tendinitis at the wrist. Prior art splints are not correct physiologically to treat these hand and wrist disorders effectively. Most prior art splints place the wrist and an extended or cock up position. Others are either too rigid or do not offer enough support.
It may be advantageous to provide a splint and a method of manufacturing a splint, that is more effective in treatment of carpal tunnel and tendonitis in the wrist, that may be physiologic, may be customizable to fit a user like a glove, and/or that may be customized to the wearer's hand and wrist to facilitate healing and recovery from injuries or disorders.

Splint configured to provide support, gentle massage, and frictional heat during use and method of manufacture


Disclosed is to reduce an amount of memory required for a difference bit map corresponding to a storage extent of large capacity. A difference bit map 27 is made into multi-tiers. A difference is expressed by a bit 321 of an entry 320 of a second tier. An entry 310 of a first tier is provided with a pointer 311 to the entry of the second tier and a representative bit 313, and the entry 320 of the second tier is made unnecessary when all values of the corresponding bits 321 are equal to a value of the representative bit 313.

The present invention relates to a storage apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly relates to a difference bit map management method, storage apparatus, and information processing system for recording a difference between volumes in the storage apparatus.
In the past, as to a method for managing a difference between volumes in a storage apparatus by using a bit map, the storage apparatus has a bit map on an internal memory and, a host processor has specified which one is a block having been written after an acquisition of a snapshot for performing an acquisition of difference data with respect to a certain volume as disclosed in the patent reference 1, for example. Furthermore, each bit in the bit map thereof had a correspondence of 1:1 to the block according to the patent reference 1.
In addition, in a method for managing a cache memory in this storage apparatus by using a directory, a cache directory (a directory to manage the cache memory) had information for controlling an area on the cache memory.
[Patent reference 1] U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,794 Specifications
However, in the bit map management method described in the above-mentioned patent reference 1, it is necessary to prepare a memory area for a bit map to record a difference, which manages renewal with respect to data stored in a logical volume at a certain time point (hereinafter, referred to as "difference bit map") in the storage apparatus to the extent proportional to a size of a volume intended to record the difference. Due to this reason, there has been such an inconvenience that the more the total amount of volumes intended to record the difference increases, the more the memory becomes necessary.

Difference bit map management method, storage apparatus, and information processing system


A pixel suitable for constant current operation of an active matrix type EL display device. The pixel comprises a first switch of which one terminal is connected to a source signal line whereas another terminal is connected to a current-voltage conversion element, a second switch of which one terminal is connected to the current-voltage conversion element whereas another terminal is connected to a voltage storage means and a voltage-current conversion element, a pixel electrode which is connected to the current-voltage conversion element and the voltage-current conversion element, and a third switch of which one terminal is connected to the pixel electrode whereas another terminal is connected to the power source line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device and more particularly to a light-emitting device using a thin film transistor formed over a transparent substrate such as glass or plastic. In addition, the invention relates to an electronic equipment using the light-emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, with the advance of the communication technology, mobile phones have been widely used. In the future, transmission of moving images and a larger volume of information is expected. On the other hand, through reduction in weight of personal computers, those adapted for mobile communication have been produced. Information equipment called PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) originated in electronic notebooks has also been produced in large quantities and widely used. In addition, with the development of display devices and the like, the majority of portable information equipment are equipped with a flat panel display, and a television set using a flat panel display has been taken the place of a conventional CRT television set.
Moreover, according to recent technologies, an active matrix display device tends to be used as a display device for the above electronic equipment.
In the active matrix display device, a thin film transistor (hereafter a TFT) is arranged in each pixel and a display screen is controlled by the TFT. Compared to a passive matrix display device, such an active matrix display device has advantages in that it achieves high definition and high image quality, and it can be used for moving images. Therefore, it is expected that the mainstream of display devices for portable information equipment will shift from a passive matrix type to an active matrix type.
FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration of a pixel portion for an active matrix light-emitting device. In each pixel, a gate electrode of a switching TFT 1201 is connected to a gate signal line (G1 to Gy) for inputting selection signals from a gate signal line driver circuit. One of a source region and a drain region of the switching TFT 1201 is connected to a source signal line (S1 to Sx) for inputting signals from a source signal line driver circuit whereas the other thereof is connected to a gate electrode of a TFT 1202 for driving a light-emitting element 1204 and one electrode of a capacitor 1203. The other electrode of the capacitor 1203 is connected to a power source supply line (V1 to Vx). One of a source region and a drain region of the TFT 1202 for driving the light-emitting element 1204 is connected to the power source supply line whereas the other thereof is connected to one electrode of the light-emitting element 1204.
The light-emitting element 1204 has an anode, a cathode, and a light-emitting layer provided between the anode and the cathode. In the case where the anode of the light-emitting element 1204 is connected to the source or drain region of the TFT 1202 for driving the light-emitting element 1204, the anode corresponds to a pixel electrode whereas the cathode corresponds to a counter electrode. Instead, in the case where the cathode of the light-emitting element 1204 is connected to the source or drain region of the TFT 1202 for driving the light-emitting element 1204, the cathode corresponds to a pixel electrode whereas the anode corresponds to a counter electrode.
Note that a potential of the counter electrode is called a counter potential and a power source for providing the counter potential to the counter electrode is called a counter power source in this specification. A potential difference between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode corresponds to a drive voltage, which is applied to the light-emitting element 1204.
In such a configuration of a pixel, the amount of current flowing into a light-emitting element is easily varied depending on characteristic variations of TFTs and the characteristic variations of TFTs directly leads to display variations. Thus, a current programming method has been developed, in which a signal current is inputted to a pixel instead of a signal voltage (e.g. see Document 1).
FIG. 6 illustrates a conventional current-input type pixel using a current programming method. Description is made on FIG. 6 below. The pixel shown in FIG. 6 comprises a source signal line 601, a gate signal line 602, a power source supply line 610, switching TFTs 603 and 604, a current-voltage conversion TFT 605, a voltage-current conversion TFT 606, a storage capacitor 607, a pixel electrode 608, and a light-emitting element 609.
An operation thereof is described below. In a current programming, the gate signal line 602 is selected to turn ON the switching TFTs 603 and 604. When the switching TFTs 603 and 604 are turned ON, signal currents are supplied from the source signal line 601 through the switching TFTs 603 and 604 to charge the current-voltage conversion TFT 605, a gate terminal of the voltage-current conversion TFT 606, and the storage capacitor 607. Consequently, the current-voltage conversion TFT 605 and the voltage-current conversion TFT 606 are both turned ON, and currents flow from drain terminals to source terminals thereof. The currents flow to the light-emitting element 609 through the pixel electrode 608.
Subsequently, in a non-current programming, the gate signal line 602 is not selected to turn OFF the switching TFTs 603 and 604. Accordingly, the drain terminal of the current-voltage conversion TFT 605 is in the floating state, therefore, no current flows to the current-voltage conversion TFT 605. However, the gate terminal of the voltage-current conversion TFT 606 has the potential stored by the storage capacitor 607 and currents are kept flowing to the voltage-current conversion TFT 606. Consequently, the light-emitting element 609 keeps emitting light.
When the current-voltage conversion TFT 605 and the voltage-current conversion TFT 606 have uniform characteristics, the same amount of current flows into the respective TFTs. Therefore, display variations as is in the conventional one shown in FIG. 12 do not occur easily (see Document 2).
[Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-147659.
[Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-162254.
In such a pixel configuration, however, in a current programming, a current enough larger than a current during light emission must be supplied from source signal lines to a pixel portion. The reason is that the source signal line has large parasitic capacitance and the parasitic capacitance must be charged and discharged until a necessary potential is obtained.
Therefore, a current flows through the source signal line 601, the switching TFT 603, the current-voltage conversion TFT 605, and the light-emitting element 609 in this order in a current programming. Accordingly, the light-emitting element 609 emits light by the current during the current programming. This light emission results in the light emission that is not proper light emission after the current programming, and luminance that is not proper required luminance occurs, thus an accurate gray scale has not been achieved.

Light emitting device and electronic equipment using the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A heat exchanger having a pair of header pipes each of which includes a U-shaped wall and a front wall connected thereto to define a hollow portion. The front wall has a plurality of arc-shaped portions and plane portions each of which is disposed between adjacent arc-shaped portions in the longitudinal direction of the header pipe. Each of the plane portions are provided with an elongated hole therethrough. A plurality of fluid tubes are disposed between the header pipes in fluid communication therewith via the elongated holes. A plurality of corrugated fins are disposed between the opposed outer surfaces of the fluid tubes. Thus, the pressure loss of refrigerant in the heat exchanger is very low.

One prior art embodiment of a heat exchanger as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-112065 is shown in FIGS. 1-3. As shown in the figures, condenser 50 includes a plurality of adjacent, essentially flat tubes 51 having an oval cross-section and open ends which allow refrigerant fluid to flow therethrough. A plurality of corrugated fin units 52 are disposed between adjacent tubes 51. Flat tubes 51 and fin units 52 jointly form heat exchange region 100. Cylindrical header pipes 53 and 54 are disposed perpendicular to flat tubes 51 and may have, for example, a clad construction. The diameter and length of header pipes 53 and 54 are substantially equal to the thickness and height, respectively, of heat exchange region 100. Accordingly, header pipes 53 and 54 protrude only negligibly relative to heat exchange region 100 when the heat exchanger structure is assembled.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of header pipes 53 and 54 includes outer tube 60 and inner tube 61. Outer tube 60 is preferably made of aluminum. Inner tube 61, made of a metal material, is brazed to the inner surface of outer tube 60. Outer tube 60 has a plurality of slots 62 disposed therethrough. Flat tubes 51 are fixedly connected to header pipes 53 and 54 and are disposed in slots 62 so that the open ends of flat tubes 51 communicate with the hollow interiors of header pipes 53 and 54. Inner tube 61 includes a plurality of portions 63 which define openings corresponding to slots 62. Portions 63 are brazed to the ends of flat tubes 51 and ensure that tubes 51 are hermetically sealed within header pipes 53 and 54 when the tubes are inserted in slots 62.
In operation, compressed refrigerant gas from an external compressor coupled to inlet union joint assembly 531 flows through the joint and into the upper cavity of header pipe 53. In header pipe 53, the refrigerant is distributed so that a portion of the gas flows through each of flat tubes 51 which is disposed above the location of partition wall 532, and into an upper portion of the upper cavity of header pipe 54. Thereafter, the refrigerant in the upper portion of the upper cavity of header pipe 54 flows downwardly into a lower portion of the upper cavity of header pipe 54. The refrigerant is distributed therein so that a portion of the refrigerant flows through each of flat tubes 51 disposed below the location of partition wall 532 and above the location of partition wall 542, and into an upper portion of the lower cavity of header pipe 53. The refrigerant in the upper portion of the lower cavity of header pipe 53 then flows downwardly into a lower portion of the lower cavity. At this point, the refrigerant is again distributed so that a portion of the refrigerant flows through each of flat tubes 51 disposed below the location of partition wall 542, and into the lower cavity of header pipe 54. As the refrigerant gas sequentially flows through flat tubes 51, heat from the refrigerant gas is exchanged with the atmospheric air flowing through corrugated fin units 52. The condensed liquid refrigerant in the lower cavity of header pipe 54 flows out of the cavity through outlet union joint assembly 541 and into an external receiver coupled to the joint assembly.
Another prior art embodiment of a heat exchanger as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,385 is shown in FIG. 4. Each header pipe 53 and 54 has a plurality of slots 62 along one of its surfaces for receiving open ends of flat tubes 51. The surface portions of the header pipe between the slots 62 are shaped as outwardly extending convex domes 70 as shown in the FIG. 4.
In both of the above embodiments, open ends of flat tubes 51 extend considerably into the interiors of header pipes 53 and 54. Since the refrigerant introduced through inlet union joint assembly 531 flows in the longitudinal direction of header pipes 53 and 54, (i.e., perpendicular to flat tubes 51) the flow direction of the refrigerant has to turn suddenly to the open ends of flat tubes 51 to travel therethrough.
Accordingly, vortexes as shown by arrows A occur adjacent to the open ends of flat tubes 51. As a result, the pressure loss of the condenser is increased. In addition, according to the occurrence of vortexes, the flow speed of the refrigerant is reduced thereby necessitating the use of an excess volume of the refrigerant in the condenser.


The invention is a pneumatic impact hammer in which the vibrations created in the motor portion of the tool are substantially reduced prior to reaching the tool's handle portion. The motor portion is allowed to move relative to the tool's handle portion and is located within a handle-attached cylindrical housing. Low-friction plastic bearings are located between the motor portion and the surrounding housing. The cycling valve that controls the reciprocating movement of the tool's piston is attached to the motor and receives air from a flexible air inlet tube that is slidably engaged to the motor and is secured to the tool's handle portion.

A pneumatic tool such as an air hammer normally comprises three combined sections. The first section includes the tool s air inlet and usually also includes a handle for the manual manipulation of the tool. The tool's second section contains the air-powered motor. The third section of the tool comprises a retainer that removably secures a bit/work-contacting implement to a distal end of the tool.
To operate the tool, a user grasps the tool's handle and then actuates a trigger mechanism that causes a valve to allow pressurized air to flow to the tool's motor. In the case of a pneumatic hammer, the air-powered motor includes an elongated cylinder that houses a piston. The acceleration forces associated with the pressurized air that cause the reciprocating movement of the piston, also cause movement (vibration) of the cylinder and attached handle generally at a frequency of 20 to 40 cycles per second.
Furthermore, when the piston contacts the working implement, a large impact occurs which also creates a strong vibration which is transferred through the tool. The impact induced vibration commonly excites other components of the tool so that they vibrate at their natural frequencies which frequencies are generally higher than the fundamental operating frequency of the tool which may be termed impacts or blows per minute. Since the tool operates at a relatively high speed, the operator often finds the strong and seemingly continuous vibrations which are not only uncomfortable but tiring.
In the past, a large number of inventors have tried to create pneumatic tools in which the severity of the transmitted vibrations are reduced. The modified tools normally include some form of spring or air cushion that functions to absorb the created vibrations before they can be transmitted to the operator. To the extent that any of these versions are effective in reducing vibration, they generally do so at only the higher frequencies which are the vibrations created due to impact and thus do not isolate the vibrations at the tool components fundamental frequencies. Also, the prior art tools are usually quite complicated, expensive to produce and have a less than optimum durability.


A guiding device for a carrier braiding machine is mounted on a cover of the machine and comprises a center guide member and an outer guide member. The transfer plates are located between the center guide member and the outer guide member and the inner and outer guide members limit the support plates of the carrier so that the eccentric force cannot push the carrier away from the transfer plates. The contact between the support plates of the carrier and the guide members also reduces the torque and sped of the carrier so that the carrier is protected.

A conventional braiding machine 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and generally includes base 11 with a plurality of gears 13 received therein and each gear 13 includes a shaft connected thereto, and a cover 12 which is mounted onto the base 11 and the shafts of the gears 13 extend through holes in the cover 12. The shafts of the gears respectively connected to a transfer plate 14 and each transfer plate 14 includes a plurality of notches 141. A carrier 15 is rotatably located on the cover 12 and includes a support mechanism 152 on a side of the shaft 151 of the carrier 15 and a weaving mechanism 153 on the other side of the shaft 151. The support mechanism 152 includes two support plates 154 which are located on the upper and bottom surface of the transfer plates 14. The gears 13 drive the transfer plates 14 to rotate so that the carrier 15 is driven to rotate around the transfer plates 14. However, due to the high speed of rotation of the transfer plates 14, the carriers 15 which are applied by an eccentric force have a tendency to fly out from the transfer plates 14. There is no other object provided to prevent the carriers 15 from flying away from the transfer plates 14 so that the gears 13 have to be set at a slower speed and eventually the efficiency of braiding is lowered. The support plates 154 of the carrier 15 grind the transfer plates 14 when the carrier 15 is applied by an eccentric force and the friction generates a torque to cause the shaft 151 damaged.
The present invention intends to provide a guiding device for retaining the movement of the support plates on the carrier so that the carrier can be operated at high speed without the worry of the eccentric force.

Carrier braiding machine with guiding device


In a client/server environment, a rule-based system for the provision of complex navigational logic in an application comprises a Navigation Analysis Vehicle ("NAV") and a Matrix Analysis Package ("MAP"). The MAP facilitates creation of navigation rules for linkage with the rest of the application. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the NAV communicates navigational instructions to a user interface for the display and the take-down of screens and also communicates with other processes such as editors and data manipulators. After the navigation rules are created, those rules are then applied to provide navigational logic for the user interface for the processing the user interface screens. MAP creates the navigation rules in a user-friendly, C-like language and parses them into ANSI-standard C language for linkage with other processes that control the user interface.

Significant advances in presentation technologies have occurred in recent years. Workstations with sophisticated user interfaces--long the sole domain of engineers and scientists--now are finding application in the broader marketplace.
New presentation software and standardization efforts have bolstered this migration to a larger commercial environment. X-Windows software from MIT and its X-Consortium are illustrative of such development. The combination of X-Windows with other standards, such as OSF/Motif, UNIX and C, has allowed application developers a new freedom from many platform issues and has enhanced the efficiency in the creation of user interfaces (UIs).
In spite of such strides in efficiency and much continuing work in X-Windows, one of the most time consuming tasks in creating working UIs has received little or no attention--the development of software to control the screens a user sees and the sequence with which those screens are presented. Throughout this disclosure, this type of software is referred to as navigational logic.
Currently, the only mechanism provided within X-Windows and many other environments to accomplish navigation is through what are generically referred to as "callback" routines. That mechanism provides a means of linking the processing of a function to an X-Event such as a button push or the filling in of a field on the screen.
With callback functions it is possible to achieve certain navigational goals. For example, a callback might be executed from a button press in the current screen which unmaps that screen and presents another subsequent screen. The approach has value, but it becomes cumbersome when the navigational logic is more complex than simple screen-to-screen traversal.

Rule-based system for the provision of complex navigational logic


The invention relates to a hand-held device for transferring a film of, for example, adhesive, covering, or colored material onto a substrate. The device has a housing accommodating a film supply and an application member longitudinally projecting from the housing. Film extends from the supply at the lower longitudinal side of the application member facing the substrate during the mode of operation to an application edge of the application member running transversely at the front end. The application member is composed of two application member portions movable relative to each other. In order to enhance the movability of the hand-held device, the relative movement is limited by motion stops provided as an integral part at the application member portions.

A hand-held device of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,840, corresponding to EP 0 719 723 B1. In this previously known hand-held device, a longish application member is supported to be pivotable around its longitudinal axis and is centered in the middle by spring forces with respect to pivotable movements opposing each other. Thereby, the application member can adapt to the substrate by means of rotation in case that the application member is placed on the substrate in an oblique fashion. In the absence of pressure, the application member turns automatically into its rotational central position due to the present restoring elastic force. In addition, the application member comprises in its longitudinal portion extending outside the housing of the hand-held device guiding webs protruding upwards and downwards at both sides, between which a backing tape carrying the film is guided. In front of the guiding webs, the application member has a cross-sectional reduction on both sides in the form of lateral recesses. The purpose of said cross-sectional reduction is not described.
Another hand-held with a movable application member can also be derived from U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,076, corresponding to DE 3 638 722 A. The longish application member of this patent comprises a cross-sectional reduction in the form of the body of a wasp in addition to its elastically yielding arrangement. Thereby, the front portion of the application member is elastically bendable in a transverse direction and suspended in a pendulous fashion.
What can be derived from U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,074, corresponding to EP 0 313 719 B1, is a hand-held device whose application member is movable upwards from a lower starting position against an elastic spring force against a stop at the housing. Thereby, the application member is resilient to the top by the pressure effective in this case when the application member is placed onto the substrate, and it is spring-mounted against sudden overload.

Hand-held device for applying a film of adhesive, covering or colored material onto a substrate


An aircraft passenger seat including a seat base frame, a seatback and a seat bottom configured to horizontally translate relative to the seat base frame, a first actuator arranged to drive seat translation, and a second actuator arranged to drive seatback recline, the dual actuators working in parallel to increase the speed of horizontal translation and combine the recline function into one continuous motion.

The present invention relates generally to an aircraft passenger seat, and more particularly, to an aircraft passenger seat including a first actuator for seat translation and a second actuator for seatback recline, the dual actuators working in parallel to increase the speed of translation and combine the recline function into one continuous motion.
Conventional aircraft seats are typically configured to recline during flight to enhance comfort. Premium and luxury class seats may be configured to achieve a sleeping position in which the seatback reclines to horizontal to form a flat bed with the seat bottom. In conventional seat recline mechanisms, the seatback and the seat pan pivot to adjust the angles therebetween, but do not translate relative to the floor. As a result, the relationship between the seatback angle and seat pan angle is limited, and such seats require more room aft of the seat to accommodate for the reclining seat back.
As airline carriers strive to include more features, amenities and adjustability into seats, what is needed is a new seat recline mechanism in which the relationship between the angles of the seat pan and seatback is better adjustable and controllable, and the speed with which the seat reclines is increased.

Aircraft seat employing dual actuators for seat translaton and seat recline


A linear drive mechanism includes a cable wound on a motor-driven cable drum for accurately displacing a driven member in a linear direction relative to a housing, the driven member being adapted to carry the connecting head of a laser processing system, or the like. The ends of the cable are connected with the driven member and with the housing, respectively, the cable being tensioned to frictionally retain the cable turns on the cable drum, and to effect accurate positioning of the driven member with a low wear rate and without play or backlash.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a linear drive mechanism for accurately driving a driven member, such as a holder for the operating head of a laser processing system, in a given linear direction, characterized by the use of motor-driven cable means for connecting the driven member relative to a housing within which it is slidably mounted.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Various types of linear drive mechanisms have been proposed in the prior art for converting rotary motion of an object--such as the output shaft of an electric hydraulic or pneumatic motor--to linear motion for driving a member in a given linear direction. Previously it has been proposed to use threaded spindles or pinion-gear and rack arrangements to effect the desired rotary to linear conversion, which arrangements possess the drawback of having moving parts that move against one another, thereby resulting in undesirable wear of the components. Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances must be taken into account, thereby affecting the accuracy of the linear displacement of the driven member.
It has been proposed in the patented prior art to utilize flexible cables or bands for connecting a rotary driving member with a linearly displaceable driven member, as shown, for example, by the Hasler U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,722, the Blount British patent No. 2,088,987, the Kolb German Off. No. 2,431,881, and the Jakob European application No. 672,844.
The present invention was developed to provide an improved linear drive mechanism that is particularly suitable for accurately driving a driven member--such as the holder for the connection head of a laser processing system--in a linear direction relative to a housing within which it is mounted.

Linear drive mechanism including a cable


An eye rinsing device including a flask that contains an eye rinsing liquid and that is sealed by a closure element that projects up from the future opening of the flask. The flask includes an eye cup and is adapted to co-act with a flask holder. The eye cup is situated around the closure element and a sleeve surrounds the eye cup. The sleeve is non-rotatably affixed in the closure element. After the flask has been opened, by twisting the sleeve relative to the flask, it is difficult to return the flask to the holder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an eye rinsing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of different eye cleansing devices which include flasks containing eye rinsing liquid for use in acute circumstances and even in other circumstances are known to the art. These flasks are often placed in a holder and removed therefrom when needed, wherein certain flasks are opened as they are taken from the holder. Such flasks are often equipped with an eye cup into which liquid runs from the flask.
A known flask hangs vertically from a protective bar or strip, although, in this case, the eye cup is exposed to impure and contaminated air. The flask can be removed whole from the holder, in the reverse manner in which it is inserted into the holder. However, the flask is opened when removed from the holder in the manner intended.
However, it is desirable in the case of such flasks that the eye cup and its immediate surroundings are free from contaminants, so that no contaminants will enter the user's eye when using the eye rinse.
It is also desired that the flask will open automatically and be ready for use as it is taken from the holder, and that the flask can be opened with a simple hand manipulation when not located in a holder.
Thirdly, it is also desired that the flask can be returned to the holder only with difficulty; this because of possible contamination of the contents of an open flask later used to rinse the eyes of the user.
It is also desired that the flask will not be theft attractive, which is the case when an unopened flask can be removed from the holder and taken home, for instance.
Flasks constructed in accordance with known technology do not satisfy all of these desiderata at the same time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus for providing a distance to empty of a green vehicle includes a motor. A battery provides a driving voltage to the motor and includes a plurality of cells. A motor controller is configured to control driving and a torque of the motor. A battery manager is configured to control charge and discharge of the battery. A vehicle controller is configured to integratedly control the motor controller and the battery manager according to a state of the vehicle through a network. The vehicle controller calculates a first distance to empty (DTE) by using a past fuel efficiency, calculates a second DTE by using designated route driving information, and calculates a final DTE by using the first DTE and the second DTE.

Recently, global environmental contamination has become a serious issue, and thus, use of clean energy is becoming more and more important. Particularly, air pollution in major cities has become severe, and vehicle exhaust gas is one of main causes of the air pollution.
A green vehicle has been developed and operated in order to reduce such exhaust gas and to improve fuel efficiency.
The green vehicle is a future car that discharges little or no exhaust gas. The green vehicle includes a pure electric vehicle driven using power of an electric motor, a hybrid vehicle driven using combined power from a motor and an engine, or a fuel cell vehicle driven via power from an electric motor operated by electricity generated within a fuel cell.
A high-voltage battery as an electric power source for driving a motor, a converter, etc. is mounted in such a green vehicle.
The green vehicle monitors the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the battery to estimate a temperature of the battery and a degree of degradation of the battery including a state of charge (SOC) of the battery. Accordingly, it is important to manage the battery state so as to maintain a predetermined level or higher.
One of the reasons for managing the battery state as described above is to monitor the SOC of the battery in real time to inform a driver of a distance to empty (DTE) corresponding to remaining capacity of the battery during driving.
In internal combustion engine vehicles, the driver is informed of the DTE estimated from the current fuel state. Similarly, in green vehicles, a remaining DTE corresponding to a remaining capacity of the battery is estimated from a current remaining capacity of the battery. This DTE may then be displayed on an instrument cluster or the like.
The conventional method for calculating the DTE calculates based on information regarding a traffic situation, a road slope, and an average vehicle speed. But in the prior art, when an event such as route correction, route deviation, addition of a stopover, change of destination, route cancellation, etc., occurs in designated route driving information, a changed DTE may not be provided to the driver.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Apparatus and method for providing distance to empty of green vehicle


An electrophotographic toner comprising toner particles having adhered on the surface thereof a polymer comprising a monomer unit derived from a fluorine-containing vinyl monomer represented by formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## wherein X represents --COO--, --OCO--, --O--, or a p-phenylene group; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; m represents an integer of from 1 to 7; n represents an integer of from 1 to 19; o and p each represent an integer of from 0 to 7; and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom.. The toner exhibits satisfactory charging stability against the environment or mechanical forces while having a narrow charge distribution. It can be prepared with a wide choice of materials and without requiring any special reaction apparatus.

A number of toners having on the surface thereof a fluorine-containing compound have been proposed for obtaining improved developing characteristics. For example, JP-A-58-66950 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") discloses a capsule toner having an organic fluorine compound on the surface of capsules; JP-A-59-181358 discloses a capsule toner having a fluorine resin on the surface of capsules; JP-A-60-126657 discloses a capsule toner whose outer shell is formed by interfacial polymerization of a fluorine-containing compound; JP-A-61-120160 discloses a technique of imparting chargeability to toner particles which comprises reacting a fluorine-containing alcohol with a carboxyl group or an isocyanate group present on the outer shell of the particles; and JP-A-63-177145, JP-A-63-177147 and JP-A-63-177148 disclose a capsule toner having formed on the outer shell thereof a high-molecular chain by graft polymerization of a compound having a fluorine atom as a charge control group.
However, none of these toners proposed to date is sufficiently satisfactory due to the respective disadvantage described below.
The toner disclosed in JP-A-58-66950 has dependence of chargeability on the environmental condition, particularly humidity because the organic fluorine compound present on the capsule surface contains not only a fluorine-containing hydrophobic group but a hydrophilic group.
The fluorine resin disclosed in JP-A-59-181358 is a homo- or copolymer having a structure like a hydrocarbon with its hydrogen atom displaced with a fluorine atom and therefore has poor adhesion to the outer shell and easily releases therefrom.
When the technique of JP-A-60-126657 is followed, one encounters with difficulty in obtaining both mechanical properties of the outer shell and chargeability of the toner as a whole from the same outer shell-forming material. In other words, there is involved the problem of narrow choice of materials in the production.
According to the invention disclosed in JP-A-61-120160 where an outer shell is formed by interfacial polymerization, since either a carboxyl group or an isocyanate group is a functional group participating in interfacial polymerization, it is difficult to make such a group present on the surface of the outer shell. Further, since the reaction between this functional group and an alcohol does not sufficiently proceed in an aqueous solution, there is no means but to use an organic solvent. As a result, an apparatus for solvent recovery is required, and the equipment should be proof against explosion, which incur cost.
In JP-A-63-177145, JP-A-63-177147, and JP-A-63-177148, vinyl fluoride is the only example given as a grafting monomer containing a fluorine atom. Moreover, vinyl fluoride is gaseous at room temperature and requires a special reaction apparatus to be grafted to the capsule surface.
Apart from the use of a fluorine-containing compound, it has been proposed to maintain charging stability of a toner by using a metal complex salt, etc. However, it is difficult to control dispersibility of a metal complex salt in a toner composition. Besides, most of metal complex salts are inapplicable to color toners because of their own color.
Having studied on negative chargeability of microcapsule toners, the inventors previously proposed to adhere a polymer comprising a specific fluorine-containing vinyl monomer to the capsule surface (JP-A-3-220561). However, the capsule toner having a fluorine-containing polymer on the surface thereof as disclosed in JP-A-3-220561 proved to undergo deterioration in electrophotographic image quality. This is because core-forming fine particles of low electrical resistance, such as a magnetic powder, carbon black and a pigment, are completely covered with an insulating capsule wall and the fluorine-containing polymer is also insulating so that charge exchange among capsule toner particles is hindered, resulting in broadening of charge distribution.
In addition, the conventional capsule toners have insufficient cleaning properties and they tend to remain unremoved from a photoreceptor under a low temperature and low humidity condition. In general, a toner having a capsule structure is required to have improved cleaning properties so as to clean a photoreceptor without imposing a large stress on the toner particles. In this connection, the conventional capsule toners were insufficient.

Electrophotographic toner and process for producing the same


A breathing apparatus, including a mask and a neck component. The mask is adapted to substantially surround at least the mouth or nostrils of a user. The neck component is attached to said mask, and adapted to substantially surround the back of the neck of said user. The neck component includes a flow generator to receive unfiltered air from a surrounding environment, filter said unfiltered air, and, provide filtered air to said mask. The breathing apparatus has a ‘low profile’ appearance and is adapted to sit comfortably about the neck of the user.

The present invention relates to a breathing apparatus, and in particular to a low profile powered air purifying respirator. The present invention also relates to a respirator mask, and a respirator system which has a low profile design, which is comfortable and easy to wear about the neck of a user, which is aesthetically pleasing due to its compact construction and low profile appearance, and, which is effective and efficient to operate in a variety of applications, including everyday applications, on worksites and industrial situations.


In a method of forming a phase-change memory unit, a conductive layer is formed on a substrate having a trench. The conductive layer is planarized until the substrate is exposed to form a first electrode. A spacer partially covering the first electrode is formed. A phase-change material layer is formed on the first electrode and the second spacer. A second electrode is formed on the phase-change material layer. Reset/set currents of the phase-change memory unit may be reduced and deterioration of the phase-change material layer may be reduced and/or prevented.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to methods of forming phase-change memory units, methods of manufacturing phase-change memory devices using the same and phase-change memory devices manufactured using the same. More particularly, example embodiments relate to phase-change memory units having an improved electrode structure, methods of manufacturing phase-change memory devices using the same and phase-change memory devices manufactured using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, data is stored in a cell of a phase-change memory (PRAM) device using a resistance difference between an amorphous state and a crystalline state of a phase-change material layer including a chalcogenide material. That is, data "0" or "1" are stored in the cell of the PRAM device using a reversible phase change of the phase-change material layer including the chalcogenide material, which may occur according to the amplitude and wavelength of a pulse applied to the phase-change material layer. For example, a reset current needed to change the phase-change material layer from a crystalline state into an amorphous state and a set current needed to change the phase-change material layer from the amorphous state into the crystalline state may flow from a transistor or a diode through a lower electrode to the phase-change material layer, thereby changing the phase of the phase-change material layer.
A phase change of the phase-change material layer may be due to Joule's heat, which is generated as reset/set currents flow through a lower electrode. In order to effectively transfer heat generated using low reset/set currents, it may be desirable to attempt to prevent heat from diffusing into other regions excluding the phase-change material layer, and a contact area between the phase-change material layer and the electrode may be decreased.
Various lower electrode structures have been developed. For example, a structure including a cylindrical conductive contact as a heat generator may be provided on the lower electrode. However, the cylindrical conductive contact is formed by an etching process so that the cylindrical conductive contact may not have a desirable area due to resolution limits of a photolithography process used to form the contact.
The phase-change material layer formed on the cylindrical contact may be patterned by an etching process, such as a photolithography process, and thus the phase-change material layer may be deteriorated by damage generated during the etching process.

Methods of forming phase-change memory units, and methods of manufacturing phase-change memory devices using the same


A method of handover prediction for a mobile device comprises receiving wireless communication service from a first access point; detecting a change in fingerprint data relating to available access points; correlating recent history data of a series of fingerprint data with history data comprised by a history database; determining, in response to the correlation and by using the fingerprint data and the history data, a second access point; and triggering a handover from the first access point to the second access point. The method may further comprise determining fingerprint data relating to available access points; comparing the fingerprint data to known fingerprint data of a fingerprint database; updating the fingerprint database in response to the comparison revealing new fingerprint data; and storing history data of series of fingerprint data reflecting earlier movement of a user to a history database. Identifying unavailable access points and notifying a disconnection to the mobile user.

Today's mobile apparatuses provide wide variety of services using plurality of radio networks. Typically, users of the mobile apparatuses use the services in various circumstances, also when moving around. When moving around using the mobile apparatus with an active service requiring a data connection to a radio network, a problem of a limited radio signal operating range may exist.
Achieving disruption free connectivity with radio technologies that are not designed for mobility may be troublesome. For example, non-cellular radio technologies such as Wi-Fi may not have a centralized radio network controller to provide handovers between access points. For example walking ten meters may change Wi-Fi reception from excellent to very poor. Handovers are normally done based on signal strength but Wi-Fi reception changes too rapidly and unexpectedly to allow this. For example, walking with an ongoing Skype (IP) call with a Wi-Fi connection is very risky as the call might be dropped at any time. This problem is especially difficult in cases where the handover is not performed between two commonly managed Wi-Fi access points.

Method and apparatus for triggering handover between access points based on gathered history data of series of access points


Data transmission system comprising a data transmitter (1) including:. swept frame display means (2), and PA1 a generator of composite video signals (20, 22) to control the operation of said swept frame display means (2); and. a portable information detection device (7) for receiving said transmitted data by said data transmitter (1).. The data transmitter (1) further comprises means (23) for modulating at least one of the elementary signals constituting said composite video signals with the data to be transmitted, and said information detection device (7) further comprises any inductive antenna (44, 45) for detecting said modulated elementary signal.

The present invention concerns a data transmission system comprising a data transmitter and a portable information detection device for receiving the data transmitted by the data transmitter. In particular, the invention concerns such a data transmission system in which the data transmitter includes swept frame display means and a generator composite video signals for controlling the operation of the swept frame display means.
The present invention may be used in the field of the transmission of data from a computer, including a swept frame monitor, and a watch receiver, the invention being described hereafter in relation to this exemplary application to which it is nevertheless not limited.
Data transmission systems such as defined hereabove are already known. Patent application WO 95/15057 in the name of Timex Corporation, for example, describes a system for the transmission of data from a computer to a watch receiver. The monitor is equipped with a video signal generator which effectuates a swept frame of the screen. The data is transmitted to the watch receiver by modulating the luminosity of the screen during the frame sweeping so as to generate light pulses corresponding to the binary information of the data. The watch receiver includes a photo detector fixed on its case for detecting the transmitted light pulses.
However, such a system has a number of inconveniences. Firstly, the photo detector requires a precise orientation with respect to the screen of the swept frame monitor to be able to detect the transmitted light pulses. Such a system also requires the placement of a supplementary element on the exterior surface of the watch receiver, namely the photodetector. This often poses problems during the conception of the wrist watch, taking its small dimensions.
Another problem is related to the fact that the data transmission takes place by a variation in the luminosity of the screen of the monitor. This transmission is likely to be perceptible and thus troublesome to the user.
In addition, the luminosity of the screen may be varied by the user on most monitors available commercially. Due to this fact, the correct transmission of the data by variation of this luminosity is not always achieved by such this system.
Thus, an aim of the present invention is to supply a data transmission system of the type defined hereabove which overcomes or ameliorates the inconveniences of the prior art.
Moreover, an aim of the invention is to supply such a data transmission system whose realisation is simple, viable and not cumbersome.
In addition, an aim of the invention is to supply such a data transmission system whose realisation requires only a minimal number of elements.

Portable device using inductive antenna to receive data transmitted via modulating vertical or horizonal line synchronization signals of a swept frame video display monitor


The use of lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) as an additive in a lithium secondary battery provides improved battery performance such as long life and high capacity retention after high temperature storage.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a field of nonaqueous electrolytic solutions and a secondary battery using the same. More particularly, this invention pertains to nonaqueous electrolytic solutions that comprise (a) one or more solvents; (b) one or more ionic salts; and (c) one or more additives. The present invention pertains to secondary batteries comprising such nonaqueous electrolytic solutions, and particularly to methods of making nonaqueous electrolytic solutions with a salt additive for use in lithium and lithium ion rechargeable batteries.
2. Description of Related Art
State-of-the-art lithium ion rechargeable (i.e., secondary) batteries commonly use graphite for the anode. In such battery systems, ethylene carbonate (EC) must be used as one of the co-solvents in order to form a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) which is beneficial to the cell performance.
However, EC has a high melting point, (ca. 36-39° C.), which limits the performance of lithium and lithium ion batteries in low temperature applications. The addition of a large amount of low viscosity, low melt point co-solvents such as linear carbonates and carboxylate esters can improve cell performance at low temperatures. Unfortunately, such co-solvents have low boiling points and are very flammable, which present problems in high-temperature applications and safety issues.
To that end, propylene carbonate (PC) has been used to fully or partially replace EC to minimize the need for other co-solvents in the electrolytic solutions because PC remains liquid over a wide temperature window (−55° C. to 240° C.). However LiPF6—PC based electrolytic solutions are not compatible with graphite anode in lithium ion rechargeable batteries due to the exfoliation of graphite structure by PC intercalation.
In many cases, certain vinyl compounds such as vinylene carbonate (VC) and vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC) have been used as additives in electrolytic solutions to help produce the SEI layer. Unfortunately, such vinyl additives can only be used up to about 3% because they decompose at the cathode when present in excess. Further, at relatively high temperatures (e.g., above 50° C.), more components in electrolytic solutions will decompose at the surface of anode material during charging and deposit at the anode. The thickness of the SEI layer increases with time, thus increasing the resistance of the SEI layer and the resistance of charge-transfer process which leads to the increase of total internal resistance of the battery and the battery performance deteriorates. Hence, there is room for improvement in the selection of an electrolyte for use in secondary batteries.


A method for compensating a Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) in an image sensor, the method includes receiving, by processing circuitry, at least one analog signal from an active pixels sensor (APS) array, the at least one analog signal including power supply noise, combining, by the processing circuitry, amplified power supply noise with at least one ramp signal to obtain combined power supply noise, and compensating, by the processing circuitry, the PSRR of the APS array by cancelling the power supply noise of the at least one analog signal using the combined power supply noise.

In general, an image sensor (for example: complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors) convert optical signals/light energy into electrical signals. The image sensor includes an active pixel sensor (APS) array comprising a plurality of pixels and a read-out circuit comprising an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). Each pixel of the APS array includes a photoelectric conversion element. The photoelectric conversion element collects free charge carriers generated by absorbing energy like light energy and converts the collected free charge carriers into an electrical energy/analog signal, wherein the analog signal may be voltage or current, corresponding to the respective quantity of collected free charge carriers. The read-out circuit reads the analog signal from each pixel of the APS array and converts the analog signal into a digital signal (by performing an analog to digital conversion). The ADC of the read-out circuit performs the analog to digital conversion by comparing the analog signal of the pixel with a ramp signal using a comparator. The ADC begins counting using a counter from a time point at which the comparator starts comparing the analog signal with the ramp signal and adopts the counting value as the digital signal when the ramp signal reaches the analog signal. The digital signal is used to generate an image corresponding to the amount of detected light energy.
In the image sensor, the analog signal output by the pixel of the APS array may include noise corresponding to the noise received from an external power supply (hereinafter referred to as power supply noise). A PSRR is the capability of the APS array in suppressing the power supply noise received from the external power supply. The PSRR of the APS array causes horizontal noise (HN), which may affect a quality of the generated image. In conventional approaches, the read-out circuit compensates the PSRR, when the PSRR of the APS array is low ((˜12 dB). However, the PSRR may be further reduced (for example; less than 8 dB), when the APS array involves the pixels of a sub-micrometer range. In such a scenario, the read-out circuit may not be able to compensate the degraded PSRR. Thus, in the conventional approaches, the read-out circuit may have a limitation on the lowest PSRR of the APS array that it may correct, without affecting the performance of the image sensor.

Methods and systems for increasing PSRR compensation range in an image sensor


Various battery packs are presented for use with twenty volt (20 V) power tools. In some embodiments, one or more lithium-ion battery cells of the battery packs are received by a handle of the power tool.

Lithium ion battery packs for power tools include several cylindrical, lithium ion battery cells. Each cylindrical cell typically produces 3.6-4.0 volts. More specifically, such cells typically provide 3.6 volts during use and 4.0 volts when fully charged. Marketing departments may label battery packs using such lithium ion cells with voltages between 3.6-4.0 volts or multiples thereof depending on the number of cells in series. Lithium ion battery packs for portable power tools typically include either three lithium ion cells or five lithium ion cells (or multiples thereof in parallel). The three cell packs generally provide 10.8-12.0 volts and are commonly referred to as 12 volt packs. The five cell packs generally provide 18-20 volts are commonly referred to as 20 volt packs. Power tools using the 12 volt packs have the advantage of being lighter and more compact. Conversely, power tools using the 20 volt packs are more powerful.
Limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches should become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application.

Portable power tool, battery pack, and cell configurations for same


A mounting device typically used for mounting line-of-site equipment, that allows easy, steady, and incremental rotation of the device in the vertical axis, and 360° rotation in the horizontal axis, while also allowing rotation and tilt of the mounted equipment.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to mounting devices for use with equipment having line-of-sight requirements, such as, for example, optical and electronic equipment, and more particularly, for use with cameras, spotting scopes, camcorders, binoculars, or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Mounting devices for cameras and other optical and electronic equipment allow the camera, or other equipment, to be moved into various positions and secured in order to hold the camera, or other equipment, steady for good, clear photos or accurate measurements. A variety of devices are available, such as single ball mounts, double ball mounts, post and arm ball mounts, segmented arm mounts, and multiple clamp devices
Single ball mounts can be used to rotate a camera 360° and tilt it to various degrees. A single ball mount may also have a clamping device that holds the ball in a socket on one end and a support post on the other end, which allows the clamp to swing through 180° while the ball rotatable 360°. While single ball units operate smoothly and rotate a full 360°, they have a restricted tilt motion.
A double ball mount may incorporate adjustable locking arms or clamps between the balls, which allows both balls to move independently and allows the camera to be moved and locked into various positions. Double ball devices can be moved into almost any position, but they cannot be easily adjusted while in use (i.e., when a camera is mounted) since both balls are generally free at the same time making precision adjustments difficult.
Post and arm ball mounts allow the ball to rotate freely, but the arm can only rotate in one axis and not swivel. Segmented arms allow for adjustments in multiple positions, but do not lock securely when in the desired position. Multiple clamp devices allow for adjustments in many positions, but are not lightweight or portable enough to easily carry and use in the field.