A videographics/video game fabricating system includes a multiprocessor based game processor console which includes a main central processing unit (CPU) which controls editing operations and operating system task execution and a game CPU for executing the model video game which is loaded into a pluggable RAM cartridge. The model video game provides a starting point from which a user can readily create an original video game including desired aspects of the model software. The system includes security features to prevent unauthorized use and copying of proprietary data and program software files. The security features include a unique ID card for insertion into the system console having stored ID DATA corresponding to matching ID DATA associated with certain files stored on floppy disks. In addition, the ID card and a game cartridge may include customized security circuits that authenticate one another.

Current-day dedicated home or commercial video game devices do not permit users to copy the video games and thereby protect the valuable copyrights and other proprietary rights that manufacturers and video game publishers own in their video games. Wide spread unauthorized copying of video games is believed to have substantially contributed to the crash of the home video game industry in the United States in the early 1980's and, even today, seriously dilutes the sales of video games in many countries. Home video game console manufacturers since the early 1980s have incorporated security measures to prevent easy copying of home video games and the use of unlicensed video games, especially home video game cartridges. An example of a home video game security system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,635, assigned to Nintendo Co. Ltd. and used in conjunction with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
In the prior art, a rudimentary attempt has been made to permit a user to modify, in limited respects, the intended manner in which a video game program operates. In this product, a game changing device is physically inserted into a conventional video game cartridge which in turn is coupled to a microprocessor based video game console. The game changing device includes a read-only memory (ROM) storing codes likely to be changed during the course of a game. The device monitors the video game microprocessor's address and data bus and transmits to the microprocessor a replacement code if there is a match with expected values. The replacement code modifies game play characteristics such as the number of lives of a character, the number of missiles which may be fired, etc. The user has no control over a game editing process with this product and has no ability to radically change game play in the manner that is practically realizable in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, game play can only be changed to permit operations and graphic displays originally contemplated within the realm of possible operations by the game programmer. However, in this prior art device, video games cannot be copied and thus the device does not permit an unauthorized user to make illegal copies of a video game.
Professional video game designers have heretofore had access to game program authoring tools to aid in designing original video games. These authoring tools do permit a professional designer to copy video games. However, these authoring tools are not widely available to general game player users and are generally too complicated for typical game player users to use. Accordingly, general game player users do not often copy illegally video games using these professional authoring tools.
In such programming authoring systems, considerable program designer activity is often required to modify a game under development in even very simple respects. For example, changes that are made to characters in a game are typically first made in an original character array, specified by the artist who formulated the character images. Any change made to characters must then be saved as a new file and transferred to, for example, a program debugging module which introduces the change into the game program under development. Changing the graphics of a game under development even with respect to relatively simple modifications typically involves a complex process of recompiling, reloading and displaying the modification. While a wide variety of sophisticated changes may be made to a game program being authored under the control of conventional authoring programs, such modifications require a high degree of programming sophistication and knowledge of game programming techniques.
In accordance with the present invention, unique video games may be simply created by authorized users ranging from a relatively unsophisticated elementary school students to sophisticated game developers. A unique hardware and software platform enables authorized users to create and copy original games by selecting icons which access more detailed editor screens permitting the user to directly change a wide variety of game display characteristics concerning moving objects and game backgrounds. In addition, a unique authorization system using user identification cards restricts access to the hardware and software platform to prevent unauthorized access and copying of video games and video game software.
Model software containing a model game from a desired genre of games is loaded into a video game RAM cassette and operating system software is loaded into a system RAM via a floppy disk. The present invention permits the user to initiate model game play, stop the game at any desired game screen to initiate a "system break" editing session during which a system window for enabling control over a wide variety of editing features is superimposed on the game screen. The user then selects a moving object or background scene for modification. If, for example, the user selects a moving object, then the moving object selected is identified by a unit number which is associated with a wide range of game play related characteristics. Once the moving object is selected, further icons are displayed permitting the user to completely change the object's character dot pattern for one or more of the poses associated with the object, animation features related to the object, the responses associated with detected game play conditions associated with the object, the collection of statuses associated with each object, the pattern of the object's movement, the sound associated with the pattern of the objects movement and a wide variety of additional game play related characteristics. The screen background may be likewise modified by accessing a stage window permitting the entire background map, the music associated with the background and a wide variety of additional background related features to be edited.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses a multiprocessor based game processor console which includes a main central processing unit (CPU) controlling editing operations and operating system task execution and a game CPU for executing the model video game that is loaded into a pluggable RAM cartridge. The model video game provides a starting point from which a user can readily create an original video game using desired aspects of the model game. The model video game can be readily modified by user-created data to such an extent it appears to be a completely new game. The system permits a user to modify any of the game's moving objects, background screens, music or sound effects.
The main CPU and game CPU cooperate in the game execution and editorial process such that an editing screen generated by the main CPU is superimposed on a game screen generated by the program executing CPU. The game processing console includes ports connected to a wide variety of peripheral devices including a standard television set, keyboard, game hand controllers, mouse, modem board, an interface board for coupling the game processor to a personal computer system, floppy disk drive, an external RAM game cartridge and a user's ID card.
The system employs a dual security system in that a personal identification card (ID card) and a game cartridge both have embedded security custom integrated circuits (CICs) that work in cooperation with the model game software or user created software to permit game play and/or game authoring. The ID card is a personalized card having a CIC and a memory storing a unique identification data corresponding to a single authorized user and user configuration data (config.sys), such as mouse speed, mouse button double click interval, interval for keyboard key repeat and English/Japanese mode, for the operating system executed by the main CPU. The identification data in the ID card is compared by the main CPU to identification data stored on the floppy-disk containing the model game software program. If the comparison of identification data shows that the ID card corresponds to the floppy-disk, then the main CPU allows the user to activate, e.g., log-on, the personal computer functions (main CPU) of the game processor. To actually play a video game requires that the video game portion of the game processor (game CPU) be activated by confirming that an authorized game cartridge is inserted in the console.
The game cartridge also includes a security circuit, e.g. custom integrated circuit (CIC), that executes an authentication program in cooperation with a similar CIC included in the console. Such CICs and authentication techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,655. Assuming that the game CPU authenticates the game cartridge, then the game CPU permits the user to play video games. When an authorized cartridge, and an ID card with a corresponding floppy disk are all inserted in the game processor console, the console becomes fully activated and permits the authorized user to play, edit and create video games.
Once this authorized user creates edited games, then the cartridge loaded with the edited games may be played by any user having the cartridge and either a game processor or other compatible video game console, such as the SNES video game console. The other user may not edit the already-edited game, however. The dual ID card and cartridge authentication system sets up different levels of access to the game processor console and video game software such that any user with an authentic game cartridge may play the game on that cartridge but only one or a limited group of users with an appropriate ID card and the game software stored on a corresponding floppy disk may copy or edit the game.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Security systems and methods for a videographics and authentication game/program fabricating device


A refrigerating method and system using compressed, filtered, dehumidified, turbo expanded and re-circulated air for the enclosed refrigerated environment. Compressed air passes via a series of moisture-removal devices (12, 24, 32), dust filter (52), heat exchanger (60), turbine expander (65), impeller fan (92), vacuum refrigeration chamber (70) and muffler (98).

This invention relates to subzero refrigeration and cooling systems using compressed air as a coolant instead of environment-damaging and expensive systems using freon, liquid nitrogen, ammonia or other substances.
The inventor was experimenting with the air-based refrigerating devices for more than thirty years. This honing and fine tuning process has resulted in the present invention. The prior art is replete with refrigeration devices employing air for heat transfer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,845 by Kirschner et al. discloses a refrigeration device with compressed and turbo expanded air based on a venturi-like ejector circulating the refrigerant within the refrigeration chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,867 by Warner disclosed an air cycle refrigeration system for aircraft cabins including a sink and circulation heat exchangers for melting ice in the exhaust air and exhaust air from the system""s turbine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,116 by Grassi at al. disclosed an open loop, air refrigerant, heat pump process for a food freezer employing cold expander discharge to cool air feed to the expander prior to suing this portion as a regeneration gas for adsorbent-containing drier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,775 by Defrancesco disclosed an air-conditioning system with a filter of compressed air coming from a heater and passing through a second re-heater downstream of the filter and upstream of the turbine for maximizing efficiency of the turbine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,672 by Foerster et al. revealed a refrigeration apparatus and method in which compressed air is subjected to isothermal compression in a water-injected screwtype compressor with subsequent adiabatic and isentropic expansion in a high-speed turbine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,093 by Jonqueres disclosed an air cycle system using a re-heater condensing water vapor extracted from compressed air and then cooled by a sub-cooler heat exchanger and re-heated in the re-heater condenser before its expansion in a turbine for enclosure conditioning.
However, none of the prior art references known to the inventor discloses the present invention shown and described herein.
A novel system and method employing compressed air as primary refrigerant dramatically reduces exploitation cost, increases efficiency and produces pollution-free discharge in contradistinction with existing systems using freon, liquid nitrogen or other chemical substances. Compressed air travels through three dehumidifying steps including a passage through a pre-cooler for initial dehumidification, moisture separator, and dryers regenerated by independent heaters or system exhaust air drying off the moisture-absorbing material. Then, the air travels through a dust filter, turbine expander, refrigeration chamber with a sinusoidal path channel, impeller fan, heat exchanger and a noise-attenuating muffler. The unique design resolves technical problems previously preventing mass production of noise-free and inexpensive air-based refrigeration systems.


A fishing rod case formed from an elongated, cylindrical tube with opposed open ends is divided into longitudinal segments, by a continuous hinge and a cut offset therefrom. The cut has a tongue and a groove extending fully along opposing edges thereof for mating when the tube is closed about the hinge. Straps mounted on an exterior surface of the tube hold the tube in this closed condition. When so mated, the tongue and groove cannot disengage even if pressure is placed on the tube surface. Resiliently compressible retainers are arranged in spaced apart opposing pairs within the tube. Each of the retainers is contoured to fit snugly in its respective tube segment. An upper portion of the retainer extends beyond the diametric dividing plane. Each retainer has several slits therein longitudinally aligned with the tube and with corresponding ones of the slits in corresponding ones of the pairs of segments. The slits extend from the upper portion of the retainer toward the base portion to axes somewhat symmetrically disposed within the tube. A segment of the upper portions of each of the retainers proximate the hinge is reduced so that the slits are distorted away from the hinge when the tongue and groove are in the mated condition. This enhances the firm grip on the rods by the retainer. A pair of end caps are secured by straps over the ends of the tube when the tongue and groove are in the mated condition.

This invention relates generally to carrying cases and more particularly concerns cases suitable for carrying several fishing rods at the same
A number of elongate cylindrical carrying cases have been devised for carrying fishing rods and the like which open only at either or both ends of the case and therefore require insertion of the rod in a longitudinal fashion into the tube. While such cases may be adequate for single rods, insertion of multiple rods in this manner results in damage to the rod tips, shafts and eyelets during the packing process and further makes it virtually impossible to secure each rod or rod segment in isolation from other rods or rod segments within the tube.
Several cases have been designed which open along a longitudinal axis of the case. These cases all incorporate hinges spaced apart on or extending fully along one side of the case and two or three spaced apart latches opposite the hinges for securing the case in a closed condition. These cases are generally unsatisfactory because in transport pressure on the cylinder at points between the latches causes the relatively weak edges of the cylinder to bend and misalign or even crush, resulting not only in damage to the case but often to its contents. Furthermore, while some of these cases do provide snaps or clamps to secure the rod or rod segments in place, the clamps presently used are often ineffective in maintaining the isolated relationship of the rods or rod segments during the ordinary jostling and abuse of transport. In addition, the rod clamps are fixed within the case so as to make it difficult to accommodate rods of different eyelet spacing. Moreover, the clamps themselves have sharp edges, are relatively rigid and do not firmly nestle the rod shaft with the result that eventually the shafts are scratched and worn by the clamps. Furthermore, since these cases are reliant on the strength and resiliency of the case material itself to resist the distortion and crushing above referred to, they are generally heavier and bulkier than desired for ease in carrying and transport. Then, too, the hinges and latches of these cases are independent elements fastened to the case and therefore are weak points in the structure relatively easily susceptible to damage and destruction.
In addition, aside from the inadequacies of the cases themselves, because of the hinge spacing requirements, latch spacing requirements, end closure design and fixed internal rod clamping apparata used in known cases, cases accommodating differing lengths of rods and eyelet spacings must each be made in their own unique assembly process, thus increasing the time and cost of manufacture.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a fishing rod case which will secure a plurality of fishing rods in isolated relationship from one another. It is also an object of this invention to provide a fishing rod case which, while it opens along a longitudinal axis thereof, is not readily susceptible to distortion or crushing along its edges. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fishing rod case employing retainers readily relocatable within the case to accommodate rods of differing size and eyelet spacing. Still another object of this invention is to provide a fishing rod case having retainers which lock the rod in a stored condition without rigid or sharp surfaces coming in contact with the rod shaft or eyelets. A further object of this invention is to provide a fishing rod case consisting of a longitudinal cylinder, a full length hinge and edge connectors of unitary construction, preferably formed in a single extrusion process, and thus minimize weaknesses in the device. It is also an object of this invention to provide a fishing rod case that can be readily manufactured in a variety of lengths to accommodate many lengths of rods.


An image pickup apparatus a includes a VCM configured to move relative positions of an image sensor and a light beam such that a movement amount of a frame period is a non-integer multiple of a pixel pitch, a microcomputer configured to cause the image sensor to perform exposures a plurality of times during the movement of the relative positions and acquire a plurality of image data, and a combination processing section configured to generate high-resolution combined image data from the acquired plurality of image data. The VCM sets the movement of the relative positions during the exposures in a same moving direction and a same movement amount in each of the exposures of the plurality of times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, an image pickup method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for performing a pixel shift to generate high-resolution combined image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been proposed a technique for combining a plurality of image data, which are acquired by performing a pixel shift with a movement amount that is a non-integer multiple of a pixel pitch, and generating high-resolution combined image data.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H6-225317 describes a technique for shifting an image sensor of a Bayer array in a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, or an oblique direction by 0.5 pixel or one pixel at a time to perform four or eight times of photographing and combining obtained four or eight images to thereby generate an image having double resolution in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.
Such a technique for combining images of a plurality of frames to obtain one high-resolution image is based on the premise that an object does not move while the images of the plurality of frames are photographed. Therefore, conventionally, photographing is performed in a procedure for, when exposure in one pixel shift position ends, performing capturing of an image, when the capturing of the image ends, performing a shift to a next pixel shift position (the pixel shift is referred to as "shift" as well), and, when the shift ends, starting next exposure. A photographing time required for the pixel shift photographing in this case is represented as follows:(exposure time+image capturing time+pixel shift time)×number of photographed images

Image pickup apparatus, image pickup method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program


A photoresist composition for manufacturing a color filter, the photoresist composition includes a first red colorant and a yellow colorant represented by Chemical Formula 1,

1. Field
This disclosure relates to a photoresist composition for manufacturing a color filter and a display substrate. Additionally this disclosure relates to a photoresist composition for manufacturing a color filter used for a display apparatus and a display substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a display apparatus includes a display panel displaying an image using light and a light providing assembly providing the light to the display panel. The display panel includes a planarity of pixel cells, a switching element, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and a color filter. The display panel may use a liquid crystal as a display element.
A white light provided to the display panel from the light providing assembly passes through a liquid crystal layer including the liquid crystal and the color filter so that the display panel displays a color image generated from a variable color mixture of light. For example, the display panel includes a red color filter ("R"), a green color filter ("G") and a blue color filter ("B"), and three color lights, which are converted by the color filters of the display panel are mixed to represent various colors.
A pigment as a colorant representing a color has been used in each of the color filters. However, recently, a dye is used with the pigment in order to improve the brightness. Although a hybrid type colorant including the pigment and the dye is used, the brightness is marginally improved. In order to solve the above problem, a dye having a high luminance may be used to maximize the brightness while excluding the pigment.
When the colorant includes only the dye, an entire brightness may be improved. However, a black brightness is increased so that the contrast ratio is undesirably decreased. Thus, there remains a need for an improved colorant.

Photoresist composition for forming a color filter and display substrate

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a C1 to C10 alkyl group,

Abstract: wherein A1, A2, A3, and A4 each independently represent a C1 to C10 alkyl group, —CN, —PO3H2, —C(O)OH, or a hydrogen atom, m is an integer of 1 to 10, and optionally wherein at least one —CH2— of R1 and R2 if present is independently replaced with —O—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, or —OC(O)—.


A running tight having preconfigured compression zones with integrated structure patterns is provided herein. The compression zones may have differing compression forces where zones having a higher compression force are located at the thigh area and calf area of the tight, and zones having a lower compression force are located at the waist area and knee area of the tight. The integrated structure patterns modify the compression forces of the zones in the areas where the patterns are located in order to further customize the compressive properties of the running tight.

Running is a high-impact sport that imparts significant muscle vibration to the large muscle groups in the legs—namely the muscle groups in the thigh area and the calf area—when the runner's foot strikes the ground. Some consequences of this may include small micro-tears in the muscle groups and/or swelling, both of which may lead to muscle fatigue, edema, soreness, and a possible decrease in athletic performance. Traditional running apparel is generally configured to have moisture-management properties and to be lightweight, breathable, and non-constricting. However, traditional running apparel largely fails to address the problems noted above.

Running tight with preconfigured compression zones and integrated structure patterns


An improved control method for a solenoid-operated hydraulic actuator for deactivating an engine valve mechanism characterizes the dynamic response of the mechanism based on a lumped parameter model of the solenoid, the hydraulic sub-system, and a locking pin mechanism actuated by a control pressure developed by the hydraulic sub-system. In response to a mode change request, constituent delay times associated with the solenoid, the hydraulic sub-system, and the locking pin mechanism are determined and summed to form an estimate of the overall delay time required to complete the requested cylinder deactivation. The solenoid activation is then scheduled based on the estimated delay time and a window of opportunity in the engine cycle for cylinder deactivation.

The present invention is directed to selective deactivation of specified cylinders of an internal combustion engine with a solenoid activated hydraulic actuator that disables intake and exhaust valve lifters, and more particularly to a model-based method of controlling the actuator based on an estimation of the actuator response time.
It is known that fuel economy improvements may be achieved in multi-cylinder internal combustion engines by deactivating selected cylinders during specified engine operating conditions. For example, General Motors Corporation produced engines for 1980 Cadillac vehicles capable of operation with four, six or eight cylinders, depending on engine speed and load. In mechanizing a cylinder deactivation system in an engine with cam-driven valve lifters, the valve lifters for the intake and exhaust valves of a cylinder capable of being deactivated are equipped with solenoid activated hydraulic actuators that when activated, prevent the valves from opening.
In operation, the valve deactivation hardware is actuated in response to a command to deactivate the respective valves, and the actuation must be completed within a given window of opportunity relative to the respective cylinder combustion cycle. In a typical system, for example, the intake and exhaust valves for a cylinder to be deactivated are locked in a closed state during the combustion/power stroke, and prior to the exhaust stroke. To reliably carry out such a method, the controller must have a reasonably accurate estimation of the dynamic response time of the deactivation hardware. However, it is difficult to accurately calibrate or estimate the dynamic response time since it can vary significantly due to variations in the fluid source pressure, temperature, system voltage, and so on. Accordingly, what is needed is a control method based on a more accurate estimation of the overall response time of cylinder deactivation.
The present invention is directed to an improved control method in which the dynamic response of a solenoid-operated hydraulic actuator for deactivating an engine valve mechanism is characterized using a lumped parameter model of the solenoid, the hydraulic sub-system, and a locking pin mechanism actuated by a control pressure developed by the hydraulic sub-system. In response to a mode change request, constituent delay times associated with the solenoid, the hydraulic sub-system, and the locking pin mechanism are determined and summed to form an estimate of the overall delay time required to complete the requested cylinder deactivation. The solenoid activation is then scheduled based on the estimated delay time and a window of opportunity in the engine cycle for cylinder deactivation.

Model-based control of a solenoid-operated hydraulic actuator for engine cylinder deactivation


A latent heat storage means arranged to be thermally charged by radiator water in a motor vehicle uses 1,12-diaminododecane as the storage medium.

The invention relates to a latent heat storage means adapted to store heat from the radiator of a motor vehicle in which it is mounted so that the radiator water may flow along a flow path and an with enclosure, separated from the latter by a heat exchanger surface, for the heat exchange medium.
A proposal has already been made to store the waste heat of IC engines in motor vehicles in heat storage means so that thermal energy is available for defrosting, for heating the driver's cab or car interior and/or heating up the engine and thus increasing the comfort of the driver and the working life of the engine. Furthermore, the fuel consumption and the emission of pollutants may both be reduced.
In the case of application to private cars it is more particularly necessary for the space requirement and the weight to be taken into account. Owing to the high storage capacity for a relatively low overall size the use of latent heat storage means is looked upon as being highly suitable for private cars.
As regards the selection of the heat storage medium care must be taken to see that the phase transition temperature comes within the desired range and it may be subjected without decomposition to the maximum temperature of the heat vehicle, in this case the radiator water. Furthermore it has to have a sufficient energy storage density in terms of the volume and mass. Materials which have an aggressive effect on the materials used for the construction of the storage means are unsuitable for heat storage.
So far materials suggested for use in automobiles and capable of yielding satisfactory results have been inorganic materials such as sodium hydroxide, in which case it is then necessary to use a material resistant, such as stainless steel, to the medium for containing it. Aluminum, which would otherwise be advantageous for the housing, may not be utilized, since it is attacked by the storage medium.
If water is used for charging the heat storage means, it is not possible to fully exclude the possibility of storage medium making its way into the radiator cooling circuit owing to leaks. Even indirect charging of the heat storage means via a secondary circuit heated by a heat exchanger is not able to fully eliminate this danger, apart from the fact the space requirement, the weight and the costs of the secondary circuit are a disadvantage.
In view of the ever increasing use of light metal alloys for the construction of modern engines it is necessary to exclude any possibility of corrosive materials, more particularly those which would attack aluminum, silicon and alloys thereof, finding their way into the cooling water cooling circuit.

Latent heat storage means adapted to store heat from the radiator of a motor vehicle


A body frame structure forming a side part of an automobile includes an outer panel, an inner panel that forms a closed space elongated in a first direction between the inner panel and the outer panel, a metal outer R/F disposed within the closed space, a resin R/F disposed within the closed space, and a foam disposed within the closed space. The closed space includes a three-layer structure including the outer R/F, the resin R/F, and the foam filling a space between the outer R/F and the resin R/F.

A side part of an automobile includes frames such as pillars extending in the height direction of the automobile and rails extending in the forward-rearward or lateral direction of the automobile. These pillars and rails each typically include an inner panel and an outer panel facing the inner panel to form a closed space between the outer panel and the inner panel. The entire pillar or rail thus has a hollow structure.
The pillar and the rail include, within an inner space (closed space), metal members for reinforcing the pillar and the rail. Patent Document 1 (JP 2007-326376 A), for example, discloses a pillar structure including metal reinforcements within a closed space.
FIG. 9 illustrates a pillar structure disclosed in Patent Document 1. As illustrated in FIG. 9, this pillar structure includes an outer panel 12 and an inner panel 14 that together form a closed section. This closed section includes an outer reinforcement (hereinafter abbreviated as an "outer R/F"; this abbreviation similarly applies to other members) 16 along the outer panel 12 and an inner R/F 18 along the inner panel 14. This pillar structure further includes an auxiliary R/F 40 along the outer R/F 16. The auxiliary R/F 40 is typically made of a metal, similar to the outer R/F 16 and the inner R/F 18.


The present specification relates to a method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane for a solid oxide fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane for a solid oxide fuel cell, a solid oxide fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell module including the solid oxide fuel cell.

With recent predictions about the exhaustion of existing energy resources such as petroleum and coal, interests in alternative energy capable of replacing these have been growing. As one of such alternative energy, fuel cells have received attention with advantages of being highly efficient, not emitting pollutants such as NOx and SOx, and having sufficient fuel to use.
Fuel cells are a power generating system converting chemical reaction energy of fuel and oxidizer to electric energy, and hydrogen, methanol and hydrocarbon such as butane are used as the fuel, and oxygen is typically used as the oxidizer.
Fuel cells include polymer electrolyte-type fuel cells (PEMFC), direct methanol-type fuel cells (DMFC), phosphoric acid-type fuel cells (PAFC), alkaline-type fuel cells (AFC), molten carbonate-type fuel cells (MCFC), solid oxide-type fuel cells (SOFC) and the like.
Among these, solid oxide-type fuel cells have high energy conversion efficiency, and interests on the solid oxide-type fuel cells are high.
The solid oxide-type fuel cell is formed with an electrolyte membrane, and a fuel electrode (anode) and an air electrode (cathode) formed on both surfaces of this electrolyte membrane. When referring to FIG. 1 showing a principle of electricity generation of a solid oxide-type fuel cell, air is electrochemically reduced in an air electrode to produce oxygen ions, and the produced oxygen ions are transferred to a fuel electrode through an electrolyte membrane. In the fuel electrode, fuel such as hydrogen, methanol and hydrocarbon such as butane is injected, and the fuel releases electrons while bonding to the oxygen ions and electrochemically oxidized to produce water. Through such a reaction, electrons migrate to an external circuit.

Method for manufacturing electrolyte membrane for solid oxide fuel cell, electrolyte membrane for solid oxide fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, and fuel cell module


A system and method for replacing equipment at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a subsea stripper installed proximate a subsea borehole. The system has a conveyance for delivering a BHA into the subsea borehole. The system has a subsea stripper having a central bore for passing the conveyance and the BHA therethrough, and at least one actuator connected to the subsea stripper for actuating a packer whereby the wellbore is sealed. The system has at least one replaceable seal assembly for installation within the stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has at least one packer extendable within the subsea stripper to form a seal thereabout and at least one locator sleeve for positioning the seal assembly in an install position within the subsea stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has a frangible member for connecting the seal assembly to the conveyance prior to deployment in the subsea stripper.

The present invention relates to techniques for replacing equipment at a wellsite. More specifically, the invention relates to techniques for replacing equipment, such as blowout preventers (BOPs), strippers, and/or components thereof used, for example, in subsea applications.
Oilfield operations are typically performed to locate and gather valuable downhole fluids. Oil rigs are positioned at wellsites, and downhole tools, such as drilling tools, are deployed into the ground to reach subsurface reservoirs. Many oilfield operations occur in the sea, or ocean. Subsea oilfield operations typically require the wellhead and other wellsite equipment to be located on the seabed, while an oil platform or vessel may be located at the water's surface. The wellsite equipment located at the seabed may comprise equipment, such as blow out preventers (BOPs), strippers, control devices, supporting tubing injectors, tubing reels, wireline units, or other subsea equipment.
In sub-sea oil and gas operations, there is often a need for a pressure barrier for moving conveyances, such as a slickline or coiled tubing. The stripper may act as a seal, or pressure barrier, that the conveyance is run through. As the coiled tubing is fed through the stripper, the stripper may seal the outer surface of the coiled tubing, thereby preventing sea water from entering the well, and/or wellbore fluids from leaving the wellbore inadvertently. The BOP may act as a safety device designed to 'seal in' large pressure surges in the wellbore. The BOP may have rams that automatically shut thereby closing and sealing in the wellbore.
The subsea equipment may become damaged over the life of the drilling operations. In some cases, the subsea equipment may be repaired and/or replaced by subsea divers, and/or brought to the surface by the diver. Techniques for performing repairs and/or replacement of certain wellsite equipment are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,741,296; 6,484,808; 5,961,094; 6,012,528; and 6,113,061 and U.S. Publication Nos. 2008/0185153; 2008/0185152; and 2009/0152817, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.
Despite the development of techniques for replacing BOP and/or stripper components, there remains a need to provide advanced techniques for performing replacement operations.

Wellsite equipment replacement system and method for using same


Described herein are technologies to facilitate computed tomographic techniques to help identifying chemical species during plasma processing of a substrate (e.g., semiconductor wafer) using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). More particularly, the technology described herein uses topographic techniques to spatially resolves emissions and absorptions in at least two-dimension space above the substrate during the plasma processing (e.g., etching) of the substrate. With some implementations utilize optical detectors positioned along multiple axes (e.g., two or more) to receive incident incoming optical spectra from the plasma chamber during the plasma processing (e.g., etching) of the substrate. Because of the multi-axes arrangement, the incident incoming optical spectra form an intersecting grid.

Often, the production of semiconductor devices, displays, photovoltaics, etc. involves, for example, plasma etching. Plasma etching is a form of plasma processing of semiconductor material and is often used to fabricate integrated circuits. Plasma etching typically involves the generation of a glow discharge (i.e., plasma) by application of radio-frequency or microwave power in means familiar to one skilled in the art. Ions, neutral and exited atoms from the plasma are applied to the wafer.
During the process, the plasma generates volatile etch products from the chemical reactions between the elements of the material etched and the reactive species generated by the plasma.
In plasma processing, the chemistry of the plasma strongly affects the processing rate. This is particularly true about the local chemistry of the plasma. The local chemistry of the plasma is the local concentrations of various chemical species in the plasma environment proximate the substrate being processed. Certain species, particularly transient chemical species, such as radicals have a great influence on the plasma processing outcome. It is known that elevated local concentrations of these species can produce areas of faster or slower processing, which may lead to inconsistencies in the production and ultimately in the devices being produced.
The chemistry of a plasma process is controlled in a direct or indirect manner through the control of a large number of process variables. Examples of such variables includes one or more RF or microwave powers supplied to excite the plasma, the gas flows and kinds of gases supplied to the plasma processing chamber, the pressure in the plasma processing chamber, the type of substrate being processed, the pumping speed delivered to the plasma processing chamber, and many more.
Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) has proven itself as a useful tool for process development and monitoring in plasma processing. In OES, the presence and concentrations of certain chemical species of particular interest, such as radicals, is deduced from acquired optical (i.e. light) emission spectra of the plasma, wherein the intensities of certain spectral lines and ratios thereof correlate to the concentrations of chemical species.
OES is usually done by acquiring optical emission spectra from a single elongated volume (i.e., "ray") within the plasma that is inside the plasma processing chamber. The collection of the optical emission signals inherently results in averaging of the plasma optical emission spectra along the length of this elongated volume and thus all the information about local variations of the plasma optical emission spectra. As a result, all local variations of chemical species concentrations are generally lost.
The Detailed Description references the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.

Computed tomography using intersecting views of plasma using optical emission spectroscopy during plasma processing


A machine for machining workpieces of wood or plastic material has at least one longitudinal profiling unit with at least one longitudinal profiling spindle. At least one advancing unit is provided for moving a workpiece past the at least one longitudinal profiling unit. The advancing unit has upper clamping jaws arranged above the workpiece and lower clamping jaws arranged below the workpiece such that at least some of the upper clamping jaws are staggered relative to the lower clamping jaws, when viewed in a plan view onto the advancing unit. A small free space is provided between the upper and lower clamping jaws, when viewed in a plan view. During transfer between the machining processes, the workpieces remain clamped at all times so that precise machining is ensured.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a machine for machining workpieces of wood, plastic material or the like, comprising at least one longitudinal profiling unit which has at least one longitudinal profiling spindle, past which the workpiece can be moved by means of at least one advancing unit and which has clamping jaws. The invention also relates to a method for machining such workpieces, wherein the workpieces are clamped in at least one advancing unit and transported together with it through the machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
With such machines workpieces are machined from which window and door frames as well as wings of windows are produced. In the longitudinal profiling unit the workpieces are profiled along their longitudinal sides. For transporting the workpieces through the longitudinal profiling unit, advancing rollers are provided which are suspended from a support and rotatably driven. These advancing rollers press onto the workpieces which are supported on tabletops on which they are transported through the machine by means of the advancing rollers. The advancing rollers are subject to wear and soiling so that the transport of the workpieces is impaired. Moreover, the transport of short workpieces presents problems.

Machine and method for machining workpieces of wood, plastic material or the like


In order to minimize the sliding friction between the locking parts that is, between the pawl and the rotary latch of a motor vehicle lock, it is advantageous if, during the production process, the different latch surfaces of both locking parts are provided with a stamping contour having straight grooves and with a stamping contour characterized in that the provided grooves are oblique. Said oblique grooves of the latch surface on the pawl are placed in the position indicated in figure such that the entire pawl is twisted about the longitudinal axis thereof. Also, at least two overlapping points are provided between the straight grooves and the oblique grooves such that both of the locking parts come into mutual contact reducing the friction.

The invention relates to a method for producing the locking parts catch and pawl of a motor vehicle door lock, in which the catch and pawl have been stamped resulting in vertical or near vertical edges with corresponding ratchet surfaces on the pawl and catch and which have then been covered by a coating except for the ratchet surface. The invention also refers to a motor vehicle door latch with a catch and a pawl locking the catch when the motor vehicle door latch is closed, with both locking parts containing corresponding ratchet surfaces on the vertical edges created during stamping and a coating not covering the ratchet surfaces.
In general, so-called creaking noises than can be generated during driving of a vehicle between the hanger arms and the catch, are reduced by either applying a surface structure reducing the sliding friction to the hanger arms or also the catch in the area in which these come into contact with each other. In the prior art disclosed in DE 10 2010 009 141 A1 grooves or respective webs are applied to the hanger arms in the contact area that run obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the hanger arm. These aim to reduce said creaking. These solutions do, however, not take into consideration that during the actual production of the hanger arms and, in particular, of the locking parts, catch and pawl, a surface favoring creaking exists on the corresponding ratchet surface. During stamping channels and grooves are created on the edge surfaces which can engage with each other in particular when the pawl is pivoted away.

Method for producing motor vehicle locks with a twisted locking part edge


A low pass filter (LPF) is provided that smoothes and significantly slows any change in its input voltage. The capacitance of the LPF is provided by an NMOS transistor having its source and drain tied to ground. The resistance of the LPF is provided by a plurality of series-connected PMOS transistors. The gates of the PMOS transistors are coupled to ground and therefore these transistors are conducting. The PMOS transistors are fabricated in a floating well. Therefore, the LPF eliminates any capacitive coupling between a voltage supply and the well. Thus, any variation in the supply voltage fails to affect adversely the functioning of the PMOS transistors. Thus, the LPF of the present invention can advantageously smooth and significantly slow any change in its input voltage. In one embodiment, the input voltage is a reference voltage. In this manner, a voltage regulator, which receives the filtered reference voltage from the LPF, in turn provides a significantly more constant regulated voltage to the internal circuits of the IC. Thus, the present invention advantageously minimizes the possibility of a malfunction in a digital system due to a variation in the regulated voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low pass filter, and in particular to a low pass filter used to smooth variations in a voltage provided to a voltage regulator.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Voltage regulators are well known in the art of integrated circuits (ICs). A voltage regulator is a device that takes an input voltage and conditions it to provide a better-controlled output voltage. This conditioning is important, particularly if the input voltage fluctuates. Specifically, a voltage regulator is often used to ensure that a relatively constant regulated voltage is provided to the voltage-sensitive internal circuits of the IC.
Some of these circuits are especially sensitive to variations in the regulated voltage. One such circuit is the delay locked loop (DLL) in the Virtex(trademark) field programmable gate array (FPGA) sold by Xilinx, Inc. DLLs are used in digital systems to minimize clock skew. DLLs typically use delay elements to synchronize the active edges of a reference clock signal in one part of the system with a feedback clock signal from a second part of the system. A detailed description of the Virtex DLL is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/102,740, entitled xe2x80x9cDelay Lock Loop With Clock Phase Shifterxe2x80x9d, filed on Jun. 22, 1998 and incorporated by reference herein.
An abrupt change in the regulated voltage to a DLL would contribute to DLL output jitter, or possibly loss of lock, both of which are highly undesirable. Specifically, any clock skew not corrected by the DLL can cause a digital system to malfunction. Therefore, a need arises for a way to minimize abrupt changes in the regulated voltage provided by the voltage regulator.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a low pass filter (LPF) is provided between a reference voltage circuit and the voltage regulator. The LPF smoothes and significantly slows any change in the reference voltage, which in turn eliminates any abrupt change in the regulated voltage. Thus, the present invention advantageously minimizes the possibility of a malfunction in a digital system due to a variation in the regulated voltage.
The LPF of the present invention includes a circuit having both a resistance and a capacitance. In one embodiment, the resistance (R) of the LPF is provided by a plurality of series-connected PMOS transistors. In another embodiment, a single PMOS transistor is used. In either embodiment, the gate of each PMOS transistor is coupled to ground and therefore each PMOS transistor is conducting. In this configuration and with appropriate sizing, the PMOS transistor(s) will form a large resistor. The capacitance (C) of the LPF is provided by an NMOS transistor having its source and drain tied to ground. In this configuration, the NMOS transistor forms a capacitor. The NMOS transistor is coupled to the PMOS transistor(s) to form the RC circuit which implements the LPF.
Of importance, each PMOS transistor in the LPF of the present invention is fabricated in a floating well. Therefore, the LPF of the present invention eliminates any capacitive coupling between a voltage supply and the well. In this manner, any variation in the supply voltage fails to affect adversely the output voltage of the LPF. Thus, the LPF of the present invention can advantageously smooth and significantly slow any change in the reference voltage. The voltage regulator, which receives the filtered reference voltage, in turn provides a significantly more constant regulated voltage to the internal circuits of the IC.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the source and drain terminals of a bypass transistor are coupled to either side of the series-connected PMOS transistors. During power-up, this bypass transistor is turned on, thereby allowing the voltage regulator to see immediately the reference voltage. After power-up is completed, the bypass transistor is turned off, thereby ensuring that the LPF filters the reference voltage.


Turbine buckets include a pressure side, a suction side opposite the pressure side, and a bucket squealer tip attached to the pressure side and the suction side. The bucket squealer tip includes a plurality of high hot hardness shroud-cutting deposits deposited on its exterior surface that have a hardness of at least about 1100 kg mm−2 and a melting temperature of at least about 1500° C.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbine buckets and, more specifically, to turbine buckets with high hot hardness shroud-cutting deposits.
In a gas turbine engine, air is pressurized in a compressor and mixed with fuel in a combustor for generating hot combustion gases. Energy is extracted from the gases in a high pressure turbine (HPT), which powers the compressor, and in a low pressure turbine (LPT), which powers an external shaft for marine and industrial applications, or powers a fan in a turbofan aircraft engine application.
One factor relevant to the efficiency of the gas turbine engine is the sealing arrangements between rotating and stationary components. For example, seals may be provided between the various stages of rotating components, such as turbine buckets, and corresponding stationary structures, such as housings or shrouds within which the rotating components turn. The efficiency and performance of gas and steam turbines may be affected by clearances between bucket squealer tip (e.g., blade tips or tip caps) and the stationary shrouds. Generally, the closer the stationary component surrounds the tips of the rotating component(s), the greater is the efficiency of the turbomachinery.
However, the clearance dimensions between the turbine bucket squealer tip and the shroud may vary during various operating modes of the turbine engine. One reason for this is the dissimilar thermal growth within the engine between the bucket squealer tips of the turbine bucket and the shroud surrounding them. In such a case, the high temperature of the working fluid may cause a thermal discrepancy between the shroud and the rotor blades, wherein the shroud is at a lower temperature than the turbine buckets. The time interval until the thermal equivalence between the shroud and the turbine buckets is restored may be referred to as the transient period. Furthermore, the clearance between the shroud and the turbine buckets can decrease during this transient period as the components reach their steady state conditions and dimensions and cause the interfacing surfaces to rub.
Seals on the stationary shroud surface can include a material designed to be wearable or abradable with respect to the turbine buckets rubbing against them. In such a system, during the transient period, the bucket squealer tip contacts or rubs against the shroud, causing the shroud material to abrade or flake off. This may reduce wear to the rotating elements and provide reduced clearances (thereby increasing sealing) compared to a non-abradable system. However, these sealing systems may still subject turbine buckets to various rubbing forces that may affect the original material on its bucket squealer tip.
Accordingly, alternative turbine buckets would be welcome in the art.

Turbine buckets with high hot hardness shroud-cutting deposits


The disclosed hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission has a main pressure valve to control main pressure produce by a pump, a manually operated slide valve to select a transmission condition, and electromagnetically operable valve arrangements receiving main pressure from the manual slide valve and by which the various main pressure levels are adjustable at corresponding transmission shift elements. At least one of the electromagnetic valve arrangements has a slide valve and an electromagnetic valve capable of being influenced by a control unit and at least one face of the slide valve is capable of being acted on by pressure.

This invention relates to hydraulic control systems for automatic transmissions.
German Offenlegungsschrift No. 29 01 051 discloses a hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission in which electromagnetically operable pressure-control valves with flow-proportioning response are provided for the actuation of shift elements. In this way it is possible to use an electronic control device with a low cost transmission to control shifting into the forward or reverse or neutral transmission condition, depending upon the position of the pressure control valves. In its basic concept, the operation of transmission shift elements by electromagnetically operable valves in response to a central control unit is advantageous. When put into practice, however, the embodiment described in Offenlegungsschrift No. 29 01 051 would require an unreasonably large size for the hydraulic control system.

Hydraulic control for shift elements of an automatic transmission


A working vehicle includes: a vehicle body; and a boom; a bucket; a boom driving unit including a boom cylinder; a bucket driving unit configured to swing the bucket; a boom-bottom pressure sensor configured to detect a boom-bottom pressure of the boom cylinder; and a working equipment controller configured to control at least one of a lift motion of the boom and a tilt motion of the bucket. The bucket includes an inclined portion. The working equipment controller controls the lift motion or the tilt motion by comparing a threshold set in accordance with an inclination angle of the inclined portion with the boom-bottom pressure.

A working vehicle is provided with working equipment for loading, for instance, soil and sand or crushed rocks onto a dump truck or the like. Such a working vehicle may be a wheel loader. The wheel loader is a bucket-equipped vehicle configured to travel using tires. In order to reduce a burden on an operator in performing an excavation work using the wheel loader, a motion of the bucket may be automatically controlled to excavate (see, for instance, Patent Literature 1).
In the automatic excavation control disclosed in Patent Literature 1, when a bottom pressure, which is a pressure of a hydraulic oil supplied to a boom hydraulic cylinder, a driving speed of the working vehicle and a boom angle satisfy auto lift start conditions, an auto lift control of a boom is started. Similarly, when the bottom pressure of the boom hydraulic cylinder and the driving speed of the working vehicle satisfy auto tilt start conditions, an auto tilt control of the bucket is started.


A double lock T-handle is disclosed having a tray which includes an inwardly dished handle receiving area, a second recessed handle receiving region, and a recessed padlock receiving depression. The tray further includes a lock cylinder casing having a locking cylinder and a shaft cylinder casing having a shaft. The lock cylinder functions as a first lock and a padlock functions as a second lock for the double lock T-handle. The T-handle includes a locking shoulder and a fracturable throat section which deters forced breakage of the T-handle and undesirable opening of a locked door.

Latch assemblies with handles have been known. In the past, latch assemblies have been lockable through the use of an internal lock cylinder to prevent the undesirable rotation at the handle. Latch assemblies are frequently manipulated between a locked and/or an unlocked position. In general, the unlocked position is representative of the handle being rotated where the attached door may be opened with one hand. Generally, for a right handed individual the handle is rotated in a clockwise direction for opening of a door. Latches are generally formed of a single locking component. Frequently a need exists for added locking features such as the use of a padlock.
Secondary locks such as padlocks are frequently inadequate, absent, and/or difficult to incorporate into an existing latch assembly. A need exists for a double locking latch mechanism which is easily adaptable for varying applications. In the past, latching assemblies having handles have not included designated handle fracture locations to anticipate forced breakage. A need exists for a latch assembly having a handle having a designated fracture point which maintains a locking position following attempted forced breakage. A need also exists for a handle having a designated fracture point between the handle and the locking cylinder on the throat section of the handle where the handle remains locked following breakage to prevent undesired access into a compartment.


An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including a housing defining a chamber for storing a supply of developer material including toner; a dispensing system for dispensing toner of a first color and toner of a second color into said housing; an air system for fuildizing and mixing toner of said first color and toner of said second color; a donor member, spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting toner on the surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface, said donor member includes an electrode array on the outer surface thereof, said array including a plurality of spaced apart electrodes extending substantial across width of the surface of the donor member; and a multi-phase voltage source operatively coupled to said electrode array, the phase being shifted with respect to each other such as to create an electrodynamic wave pattern for moving toner particles to and from a development zone.

Generally, the process of electrophotographic printing includes charging a photoconductive member to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive surface is exposed to a light image from either a scanning laser bean or an original document being reproduced. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive surface, the latent image is developed. Two component and single component developer materials are commonly used for development. A typical two component developer comprises magnetic carrier granules having toner particles adhering triboelectrically thereto. A single component developer material typically comprises toner particles. Toner particles are attracted to the latent image forming a toner powder image on the photoconductive surface, the toner powder image is subsequently transferred to a copy sheet, and finally, the toner powder image is heated to permanently fuse it to the copy sheet in image configuration.
The electrophotographic marking process given above can be modified to produce color images. One color electrophotographic marking process, called image on image processing, superimposes toner powder images of different color toners onto the photoreceptor prior to the transfer of the composite toner powder image onto the substrate. While image on image process is beneficial, it has several problems. For example, when recharging the photoreceptor in preparation for creating another color toner powder image it is important to level the voltages between the previously toned and the untoned areas of the photoreceptor.
In the application of the toner to the latent electrostatic images contained on the charge-retentive surface, it is necessary to transport the toner from a developer housing to the surface. A basic limitation of conventional xerographic development systems, including both magnetic brush and single component, is the inability to deliver toner (i.e. charged pigment) to the latent images without creating large adhesive forces between the toner and the conveyor, which transport the toner to latent images. As will be appreciated, large fluctuation (i.e. noise) in the adhesive forces that cause the pigment to tenaciously adhere to the carrier severely limit the sensitivity of the developer system thereby necessitating higher contrast voltages forming the images. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce such noise particularly in connection with latent images formed by contrasting voltages.
In order to minimize the creation of such fluctuation in adhesive forces, there is provided, in the preferred embodiment of the invention a toner conveyor including means for generating traveling electrostatic waves which can move the toner about the surface of the conveyor with minimal contact therewith.
Traveling waves have been employed for transporting toner particles in a development system, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,179 to Schmidlin, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In that patent, the traveling wave is generated by alternating voltages of three or more phases applied to a linear array of conductors placed abut the outer periphery of the conveyor. The force F for moving the toner about the conveyor is equal QE t where Q is the charge on the toner and E t is the tangential field supplied by a multi-phase AC voltage applied to the array of conductors.
In that Patent, toner is presented to the conveyor by means of a magnetic brush, which is rotated in the same direction as the traveling wave. This gives an initial velocity to the toner particles, which enables toner having a much lower charge to be propelled by the wave. Typical approaches in the past have used a magnetic brush to load toner to the traveling wave grid. These approaches will mechanically wear the traveling wave device at the loading zone (grinding at a stationary loading zone on the grid). These approaches are also limited in the amount of toner they expose to stripping because the magnetic brush tips tend to be sparse for large brush spacing and the stripping field on the traveling wave grid decreases exponentially with distance from the grid surface. The methods to increase the amount of toner loaded to the grid (with the magnetic brush in this mode) include speeding up the magnetic roll, decreasing the spacing, increasing the loading zone length, and increasing the number of rolls. These methods all will result in increased wear on the grid.
Fluidized beds have been used to provide a means for storing, mixing and transporting toner in certain single component development systems and loading onto developer rolls. Efficient means for fluidizing toner and charging the particles within the fluidized bed are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,106 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,100, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In these disclosures, corona devices are embedded in the fluidized toner for simultaneous toner charging and deposition onto a receiver roll. While the development system as described has been found satisfactory in some development applications, it leaves something to be desired in the way in applications requiring the blending of two or more dry powder toners to achieve custom color development. Also, it has been found in the above systems that there are frequently disturbances to the flow in the fluidized bed associated with charged particles in the high electric fields surrounding corona devices immersed in the reservoir. Also, wire contamination present a reliability issue.
Triboelectric charging (contact electrification) of dry toners is a standard method used to electrically charge toner particles for development of latent electrostatic images. An alternate method to charge toners is via ion bombardment (Ion Charging) which offers many advantages, especially in applications to custom color where "in-situ" toner mixing is advantageous.
Triboelectric charging of colored toners requires different additives dependent on toner color to achieve stable charging whereas ion charging of toners offers the advantage of charging toner particles based mainly on their size, independent of their intrinsic composition and surface structure. Triboelectric charging of toners also can create localized patches of charge on the toner particles which can lead to strong adhesion of these toners to various surfaces requiring special measures to remove them in the development, transfer and cleaning steps in the xerographic process. In the ion charging process, charged ions bombarding the toner particles are driven by the net field around the particles which tends to uniformly charge the toner, helping to decrease adhesion of these toners to donor or photoreceptor surfaces. One method to charge toner via ion bombardment involves fluidizing the toner and charging it using corona generation in close proximity to this fluidized bed.
Typical approaches in the past have used a magnetic brush to load toner to the traveling wave grid. These approaches will mechanically wear the traveling wave device at the loading zone (grinding at a stationary loading zone on the grid).
These approaches are also limited in the amount of toner they expose to stripping because the magnetic brush tips tend to be sparse for large brush spacing and the stripping field on the traveling wave grid decreases exponentially with distance from the grid surface. The methods to increase the amount of toner loaded to the grid (with the magnetic brush in this mode) include speeding up the magnetic roll, decreasing the spacing, increasing the loading zone length, and increasing the number of rolls. These methods all will result in increased wear on the grid.
At the development zone there are a number of issues which need to be addressed. When toner is presented to a latent electrostatic image in the development zone it is necessary to control the toner cloud height and speed at the entrance to the development zone. High quality development requires that the toner cloud be in a state which will enable it to be captured by fine details of the latent electrostatic image, the field lines of which are very local to the imaging surface. Toner transporting at too high a velocity or too close to the transport grid will not be developed to the image. The way we accomplish high quality development for mechanical donor roll powder cloud systems is to apply an AC field between the donor and the photoreceptor backplane to move the toner cloud closer to the image (donor AC).
However, noting the issues above the achievement of high reliability and simple, economic manufacturability of the system continue to present problems.

Integrated toner transport/toner charging device


A semiconductor device is fabricated by placing a semiconductor chip in a lead frame which has no die pad. Electrodes of the chip are connected by bonding wires to respective lead fingers. Additionally, the lead frame has movement restricting fingers which limit horizontal movement of the chip within the lead frame during injection of resin into a mold surrounding the chip. Furthermore, the mold has horizontal movement restricting projections to limit vertical movement of the chip within the mold cavity. The restriction on horizontal and vertical movement of the chip reduces the risk of the bonding wires being broken or short circuited during the resin injection process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to packaging of semiconductor chips, and in particular various aspects of the present invention relate to a packaged semiconductor device, a combination of a semiconductor chip and a lead frame therefor, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and a mold for molding a resin package around an assembly of a semiconductor chip and a plurality of lead fingers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a number of known manners of manufacturing a semiconductor device, in which a semiconductor chip is sealed in a resin package. FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings shows a known "die pad" construction in which a chip c is bonded to a die-pad a by a bonding material d, such as a silver paste or a gold-silicon eutectic alloy. The die-pad a is connected to a peripheral portion of a lead frame by connecting fingers a'. A plurality of lead fingers b project from the peripheral portion of the lead frame, and each lead finger b is connected to a respective electrode of the chip c by a respective bonding wire e. The chip c, die-pad a, bonding wires e and inner ends of the fingers a', b are then placed in a molding die and sealed in a resin package.
Another known "chip-on-lead" type of construction is shown in FIG. 5. In this case, an insulator f, such as a polyimide sheet, is placed on the inner ends of lead fingers b, a semiconductor chip c is placed on the insulator f and the electrodes of the semiconductor chip c are connected to respective inner ends of the lead fingers b by respective bonding wires e. Again, the assembly is then sealed in a resin package.
A further known "lead-on-chip" type of construction is shown in FIG. 6. In this case, a surface of a semiconductor chip c, excluding the electrodes thereon, is covered with an insulator f, lead fingers b are placed on the insulator f, and the lead fingers b are connected to respective electrodes by respective bonding wires e. Once again, the assembly is then sealed in a resin package.
Lastly, FIG. 7 shows a known "directly connected" form of construction, in which electrode pads g of a semiconductor chip c project upwardly from the upper surface of the chip c, and the inner ends of lead fingers b are directly connected to the electrode pads g. The assembly is then sealed in a resin package.
It is desirable that the height of the semiconductor device is as small as possible. However, in the die pad construction described above, the thickness of the die pad a and bonding material d add to the height of the package. In the chip-on-lead and lead-on-chip forms of construction described above, the thickness of the insulators f and the lead fingers b add to the height of the package. In the directly connected form of construction described above, the thickness of the lead fingers b and the height of the electrode pads g add to the overall height of the semiconductor package. Also, the die pad construction suffers from the problem that thermal stress is induced in the device due to differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the die pad a, the semiconductor chip c and the resin of the package, which can cause a breakdown in bonding between the chip c and the die pad a, between the die pad a and the resin package, or between the chip c and the resin package.


Systems and methods are described herein for performing mispointing correction operations that can provide accurate pointing of an antenna towards a satellite, while also satisfying interference requirements with other satellites. As a result, the mispointing correction operations described herein can improve resource efficiency of communication systems using such antennas and help ensure compliance with interference requirements of other satellites.

The present disclosure relates generally to satellite communications, and more specifically to systems and methods for accurate antenna pointing in satellite communications while avoiding excessive interference with one or more non-target satellites.
An Earth-based antenna terminal for communication with a satellite typically has high antenna gain and a narrow beam pointed at the satellite, because of the large distance to the satellite and to avoid interference with other satellites. Mobile antenna terminals can include a positioner to maintain pointing (or tracking) of the beam of the antenna at the satellite during movement.
Pointing error (or misalignment) between the boresight direction of maximum gain of the beam and the actual direction of the satellite can have a detrimental effect on the quality of the link between the antenna and the satellite. Small misalignment may be compensated for by reducing a modulation and coding rate of signals communicated between the antenna and the satellite. However, to maintain a given data rate (e.g., bits-per-second (bps)), this approach may increase system resource usage and thus result in inefficient use of the resources. Pointing error can also make it more challenging to ensure compliance with interference requirements with other satellites that are imposed by regulatory agencies (e.g., FCC, ITU, etc.) and/or a coordination agreement with operators of the other satellites.
The pointing error may increase with time due to various factors such as drift of a sensor (e.g., an inertial reference unit (IRU)) associated with mobile antenna terminal, structural deflections caused by movement and other disturbances, etc. In order to correct this pointing error, the mobile antenna terminal may occasionally perform a signal-based mispointing correction operation such as steptrack, conical scan and similar methods. The mispointing correction operation can include moving the beam of the antenna in an attempt to determine the direction at which a signal metric (e.g., signal strength) of a signal communicated with satellite is maximized.

Methods and systems for performing antenna pointing while mitigating interference with a nearby satellite


In the case of a single circular knitting machine consisting of a central rotatable needle cylinder (Z), around which a sinker ring (PR) comprising sinkers (P) as well as stationary cam systems (S) are arranged, which act on the needles (1), which are in each case assigned to the sinkers (P) and which can be moved vertically up and down, so as to replace the pitches, which hit one another rigidly, with a sinker grid system, which is flexible per se, which is automatically oriented in the needle gaps, a rocker (44) comprising an upper and a lower control bump (45) being provided in each case on the end of the sinkers (P), which is spaced apart from the needle, the sinker ring (PR), at the end below the sinkers (P), which is spaced apart from the needle, is embodied as a pivot point projection (40) comprising pivot point slits (41), in which the sinkers (P) are accommodated with their pivot inlet (43) so that they are capable of being tilted and the sinkers (P) being are laterally fixed in the needle gaps with sliding noses (47) at the end, which is spaced apart from the needle, transport the last knitting loops to the needle shaft (1) behind the needle latches in response to the knitting loop formation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a single circular knitting machine, consisting of a central rotatable needle cylinder (Z), around which a sinker ring (PR), which rotates simultaneously, comprising sinkers (P) as well as stationary cam systems (S), which act on the needles (1), which are in each case assigned to the sinkers (P) and which can be moved vertically up and down.
2. Background of the Invention
The current state of knowledge is as follows.
Single circular knitting machines are an important branch in the use of knitting machines. Over decades, a structural design has thereby established itself, which has since not been questioned anymore. The basic elements of all of the single circular knitting machines, which are available today, are the central needle cylinder comprising the needle slots for the latch needles arranged on the periphery, of an invention from the year 1852. In response to the knitting loop formation process, the needles are moved back and forth by means of control bases, which stick out of the periphery, via control curves in sector cam systems, which are arranged side by side on the periphery. When pushing the latch needles forward, the last knitting loop, which is located in the hook, must open the latch and must overcome the increasing interior latch surface, so that it reaches the needle shaft behind the latch. A sinker ring, which is connected to the cylinder and which comprises sinkers arranged in horizontal slots, the pitch of which is staggered relative to the needles, ensures that the knitted fabric is thereby not lifted off the upper cylinder edge (=cast-off edge). The movements of the sinkers must be accurately coordinated with those of the needles. This is carried out in a laborious manner by means of a sinker cam plate, which is stationary in the space above the sinker ring and to which the sector-like sinker cams are fastened on the bottom, said sinker cams move the sinkers, which are also provided with control bases, back and forth when they are rotated past in operative connection with the needles. An adjusting possibility, which is not easily accessible, is thereby necessary in the sinker cams.
The enumeration makes it clear that many different courses of movement and functions take place simultaneously within a very small space of the knitting loop formation and that the stationary control systems, which are necessary for this, must be available. The demands on the accuracy have been increased extremely due to the needle pitches, which become finer and finer, so that fewer and fewer manufacturers can meet them, that is, a selection of only a few, who remain and who rule the market, is created. To alleviate the demands on accuracy, which meet in a confined space, the pitches of the cylinder and of the sinker ring, which meet directly, are particularly difficult.

Simplified single-knit circular knitting machine


An information processing system includes a memory, an external storage having a user's area and a system area, and a logging unit collecting communication information in the system. The information processing system further has a unit that receives a network logging activation instruction, and determines whether memory dump information at the point system freezing occurred exists in the system area or not, a unit that copies the network logging file to the system area if the conditions are satisfied, and a unit that writes the communication information stored and maintained in the memory dump information to the copied network logging file.

1. Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to a field of a network logging technology in an information processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The term "network logging" means collecting packets or data, including data running between a circuit driver and an application in an information processing system, and circuit input/output data. Networking logging is also called "trace." Network logging is executed for examination or inspection periodically or when any inappropriateness takes place.
FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of network logging. When receiving a network logging activation instruction from a user, an information processing system 500 initiates a network logging process. At this time, a network logging file 521 in which collected information is written is designated as a parameter for the network logging activation instruction. In the example of FIG. 8, file "a" is designated as the parameter.
The network logging file 521 stored in the user's area 520 of a disk, e.g., file "a" in FIG. 8, which is designated by the network logging activation instruction, is initialized. The user's area 520 is an area in the disk that may be basically used by any user or any application.
Thereafter, the network management information 511 and communication information 512 are stored and maintained in a system memory 510. Here, the network management information 511 is information for the overall management of the network logging, such as information for designating the network logging file 521 to which the collected information is written, a NEXT pointer representing the writing location of the network logging file 521, etc. The communication information 512 is information on communication packets collected by the network logging.
The communication information 512 stored in the system memory 510 is written to the network logging file 521 stored in the user's area 520 at a time point when a certain amount of communication information 512 has been accumulated in the system memory 510. At this time, taking processing performance into consideration, the network logging file 521 remains open during the network logging without being closed whenever the communication information 512 is written to the network logging file 521.
When receiving a network logging ending instruction, the information processing system 500 writes the final network management information 511 and the last communication information 521 remaining in the system memory 510 to the network logging file 521 and then closes the network logging file 521. The network logging file 521 thus acquired may be stored in other media as well as referred to.
In addition, there are prior art documents that disclose technologies associated with network logging, for example, patent document 1, patent document 2, and patent document 3. The patent document 1 discloses a technology of outputting log information of a communication path stored in a memory to an external memory device upon occurrence of a fault in the communication path. The patent document 2 discloses a technology of pausing update of log information stored in a memory upon occurrence of any fault. The patent document 3 discloses a technology of saving log information adjacent to the location where an error took place to a file corresponding to the content of the error at the time of occurrence of the error.
However, none of the patent documents 1 to 3 disclose any technology that automatically restores the network logging file being written upon occurrence of system freezing, or that restores the network logging information remaining in the memory upon occurrence of system freezing.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 02-101556
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-003252
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-312205

Information processing system and network logging information processing method


A method of transmitting a signal in a base station is provided. The method includes filtering a signal to be transmitted through a filter, power amplifying the filtered signal to generate nonlinear harmonic components corresponding to a first frequency band and a second frequency band, separating the nonlinear harmonic components according to the first frequency band and the second frequency band such that nonlinear harmonic components corresponding to the first frequency band passes through a first frequency band duplexer and nonlinear harmonic components corresponding to the second frequency band passes through a second frequency band duplexer, and transmitting the separated nonlinear harmonic components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication system and a method for implementing a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) transmission method in the mobile communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for implementing an MIMO transmission in a mobile communication system by configuring a transmitter, a transmitter antenna, and a receiver antenna into a single device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) transmission method refers to a smart antenna technique for increasing a wireless communication capacity. Specifically, MIMO transmission methods use multiple antennas on a base station and a terminal. Further, according to MIMI transmission methods, wireless communication capacity is increased in proportion to the number of antennas employed. Generally, in the MIMO transmission method, the base station indicates a transmission terminal and the terminal indicates a receiver terminal. When M number of antennas are installed in the base station and N number of antennas are installed in the terminal in order to implement an MIMO technology, an average transmission capacity of data transmission is increased by min(M, N).
In a mobile communication system, removal of spatial interference is important in order to allow effective dynamic frequency allocation between cells. Also, a spatial interference processing between Access Points (APs) is important due to an increase in a number of APs communicating in mobile communication systems. A method for spatial interference processing may include a method of dynamically or position adaptively decreasing a frequency recycle ratio. However, such method causes a loss of a frequency resource. When using the MIMO transmission method for the spatial interference processing, data can be transmitted without frequency loss.
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a base station for transmitting data in a communication system using a MIMO transmission method according to the related art. Herein, it is assumed that the base station uses the MIMO transmission method to transmit and receive a signal through two antennas.
Referring to FIG. 1, a signal transmission path in the base station is described.
A signal processing unit 110 generates signals based on data to be transmitted through each antenna and simultaneously transmits the signals to respective filters 113, 123, 133, and 143. First, a signal processing path through an antenna 1, 119, will be described.
A signal corresponding to data to be transmitted is passed to the first filter 113 through the signal processing unit 110. The first filter 113 transmits a signal to be transmitted to a first pulse amplitude modulator 115. The first pulse amplitude modulator 115 amplifies the signal at a maximum power so that, when the signal is emitted from the antenna, an electromagnetic wave corresponding to the signal may reach a desired destination. A duplexer 117 passes only a signal to be transmitted through the antenna such that the signal is emitted through the antenna 1, 119.
A path in which a signal transmitted from a terminal is received by the base station through the antenna 1, 119, is described. A signal received through the antenna 1, 119, passes through the first duplexer 117 to be transmitted to a low noise amplifier 120. A signal amplified by the low noise amplifier 120 is filtered by the filter 123 and is transmitted to the signal processing unit 110.
A signal transmitting and receiving path through an antenna 2, 139, is configured substantially the same as a signal transmitting and receiving path through the antenna 1, 119. However, a difference exists in the filters 113, 123, 133, and 143, the pulse amplitude modulators 115 and 135, the duplexers 117 and 137, and the low noise amplifiers 120 and 140 of the base station that are respectively provided for each antenna and for each transmission and receiving means.
The signal processing unit 110 process signals received through the antenna 1, 119, and the antenna 2, 139, to generate one datum.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method of transmitting a signal in a communication system using a MIMO transmission method according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2, a signal transmitted through a transmitter antenna 1, 210a, is transmitted to a receiver antenna 1, 230a and to a receiver antenna 2, 230b. Also, a signal transmitted through a transmitter antenna 2, 210b, is transmitted to the receiver antenna 1, 230a, and to the receiver antenna 2, 230b.
However, in base stations using MIMI transmission methods according to the related art, respective base stations and terminals need to be configured with a plurality of antennas, thus being subject to spatial limitations. Also, configuring the respective base stations and terminals to include the plurality of the antennas incurs a high cost.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for implementing an MIMO transmission in a mobile communication system by configuring a transmitter, a transmitter antenna, and a receiver antenna into a single device.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Mobile communication system and method for transmitting/receiving signal thereof


A magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer and a backing layer respectively on surfaces of a non-magnetic support which are opposite to each other, and a coating material for forming the backing layer. The backing layer is formed from the coating material containing a fatty acid salt having 5 to 11 carbon atoms with therefor a transition metal, a dispersant, a binder, and a filler. The backing layer provides improved properties, such as increased durability, smoothness of surface, electric conductivity, and light shielding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium, and a coating material having excellent storage stability for forming a backing layer of a magnetic recording medium. The backing layer has excellent durability, surface smoothness, light shielding, and electric conductivity.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In magnetic recording media, such as video tape of high grades, distal audio tape, and tape for computers, a backing layer is generally formed on a surface of a supporter opposite to a surface having a magnetic layer. The backing layer must provide running stability, prevent therefor generation of static electricity, and shield light so as to detect the end of the tape. A desired filler such as carbon black is usually dispersed in the backing layer to provide electric conductivity and shield light.
While recording density has been increasing in recent years and smoothness of a magnetic layer has been improved, improvement in smoothness of its backing layer is increasingly necessary. When durability and smoothness of the backing layer are insufficient, uneveness of the backing layer is transferred to the magnetic layer, and thus problems such as drop-out and decrease in its SN ratio arise.
While magnetic tape has been made thinner in recent years, improvement in electric conductivity and light shielding of the backing layer are also increasingly necessary. In order to obtain therefor sufficient durability, smoothness of surface, electric conductivity, and light shielding of the backing layer, a filler such as carbon black having a relatively small particle size must be dispersed at a higher concentration with a higher degree of dispersion. However, carbon black having a smaller particle size generally has a larger specific surface area, higher oil absorption, and is difficult to disperse. Furthermore, a coating material prepared by dispersing such carbon black shows poor coating properties due to increased viscosity after long-term storage because of inferior storage stability. Re-aggregation of the filler, such as carbon black, in the coating material also takes place and has an adverse effect on smoothness of the surface of the backing layer.
Improvement in dispersion and stability of a coating material has been attempted by using a resin having a polar group, such as a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, or the like. However, sufficient smoothness of a coating layer and sufficient stability of a coating material have not been achieved yet.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 60(1985)-229227, use of a copper salt of a fatty acid having 12 or more carbon atoms was attempted for improving the running property of a coating layer. However, it was found that Young's modulus of the coating layer decreased under the conditions of high temperature and high humidity, and durability of the coating layer deteriorated.
The present invention provides a solution for the problems described above.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording medium comprising a backing layer having excellent durability and smoothness of the surface thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording medium which comprises a backing layer having excellent electric conductivity and light shielding and which has an excellent magnetic property as a whole.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coating material for forming a backing layer which is suitable for producing a magnetic recording medium such as described above and has improved dispersion of a filler and storage stability.

Magnetic recording medium having a backcoat layer containing a transition metal fatty acid salt