A two-wire serial handshaking communication interface and a method thereof is provided for a transmission of a data bit representative between a first transmitting component and a second transmitting component, wherein the first transmitting component includes a first input/output unit and a second input/output unit and the second transmitting component has a third input/output unit and a fourth input/output unit, wherein the first input/output unit and the second input/output unit transmit a first signal through a first transmitting line electrically connected therebetween and the third input/output unit and the fourth input/output unit transmit a second signal transmitted through a second transmitting line electrically connected therebetween without strict constraint on communication timing.

The microprocessor control units (MCUs) are dominantly adopted as main controlling units in the most electronic products currently so that specific product functions are achieved by mere adjustments of the firmware of the MCU for the expected commercialization.
Taking the cheapest common MCUs into account, they usually bear insufficient input/output pins, whereby there are no exclusive serial communication interfaces supported thereby generally, such as IIC, SPI and UART commonly used for the MCUs. Chances are that there would be more than one MCU and other devices having serial communication interfaces included in a product, such as a memory unit, an LCD driver and an AD converter, to operate with one another for the functions of the product. For the mutual data transmission among these devices, it would be necessary that the general purpose input/output pins of the MCU are electrically connected to the serial communication interfaces of the other devices, wherein the operation process therefor would be written into the firmware of the MCU to simulate the aforesaid standard serial communication interface for the mutual data transmission.
Since the standard serial communication interface is simulated by the firmware, there would be a frequent necessity for real-time services by the MCU to satisfy the requests of communication timing. However, the whole performances of the MCU are always selectively lowered if the communication process and other tasks shall be executed simultaneously when the firmware of the MCU is heavily loaded in real time in a certain occasion. For example, when a task for playing voices is executed by a cheap MCU, the satisfactions for the sampling rate for playing voices would be considered firstly, but when there are necessary external communications to be additionally maintained at the same time, the real time service requests for the above two tasks would be hardly met by the MCU. Generally, there are several limitations to the communication timing and if the requests thereof fail to be met, the data transmissions will fail. On the other hand, when the MCU is heavily loaded to satisfy the two tasks needing real time services at the same time, the priority arrangements for the tasks would be difficult. The quality in voice playing would be sacrificed when the sampling rate therefor is lowered or not executed by original sampling rate for the sake of the real time serial communication requests. Oppositely, there would be errors in communication tasks when the quality for voice playing is necessarily met and the real time requests for serial communications fail to be met correspondingly. Accordingly, the whole functional performance of the MCU is limited.
For breaking the strict limit to the transmission timing of communication tasks, the research and development engineers often design specific serial handshaking transmission communication methods achievable by the MCU firmware with 3 or more than 3 signal lines, wherein there is often an additional busy signal line exclusive for handshaking controlling besides the data signal line and the clock signal line for the serial transmission by 3 lines. Though the strict limit to the transmission timing of communication tasks is broken by the above common method through handshaking controlling protocol, there exist defects thereof as follows: 1. the cost for product fabrication would be increased for expanding the input/output pins by additional circuits for the low priced MCU with insufficient input/output pins when 3 or more than 3 general purpose input/output pins are necessary for the hardware resources of the MCU; 2. there would be low transmission efficiency owing to more inversions for the handshaking controlling states.
Accordingly, to necessarily compensate for the decreased efficiency in the common scheme as abovementioned, there would be a criterion to comply with the requirements that low amount of firmware resources are consumed, there are less input/output pins necessary for the communication transmissions and there is no strict timing limit, when applying the firmware in the low-priced MCU to the serial communication interface. As a result, the present invention is developed for the purpose of improving the above common defects in this art.
In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a two-wire serial handshaking communication interface and a method thereof is provided. The particular design in the present invention not only solves the problems described above, but also is easy to be implemented. Thus, the invention has the utility for the industry.

Two-wire serial handshaking communication interface and method thereof


A polysiloxane composition is provided having the formula ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, can be R.sub.2 or at least one pyrrolidone containing group of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein; R.sub.5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or alkali metal; F, is linear or branched alkylene of 1-12 carbon atoms; n is 0 or 2; n.sup.1 is 0 or 1; n.sup.2 is 0 or 1; and B is --NR.sub.9, sulfur or oxygen, wherein R, is hydrogen or lower alkyl; with the proviso that when n is 0 and n.sup.2 is 1, n.sup.1 is 1, when n is 2 and n.sup.2 is 1, n.sup.1 is 0 or 1 and when n is 2 and n.sup.2 is 0, n.sup.1 is 0;. R.sub.2 is selected from alkyl, aryl and olefinic (vinyl); PA0 R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, are selected from alkyl, aryl, capped or uncapped polyoxyalkylene, alkaryl, aralkylene or alkenyl; PA0 a is an integer from 0 to 50,000; and PA0 b is an integer from 0 to 100.

While carboxyl functional organosilicones are known, they are generally difficult and expensive to prepare and the commercial use thereof has therefore been limited. Heretofore, no convenient method for directly preparing polysiloxanes containing functional carboxylic acid groups is known and indirect routes for their preparation have generally been used, including hydrosilylation of an unsaturated ester followed by hydrolysis, or alternatively, by hydrolysis of nitrile-containing silicone fluids. However, polysiloxanes containing one or more functional groups such as amino groups are well known and readily available and have been used in a variety of commercial applications. Accordingly, the development of a method for readily and more directly preparing polysiloxanes containing one or more functional carboxyl groups would be desirable and it would be particularly advantageous if such method employed readily available materials such as amino functional polysiloxanes for not only preparing carboxyl functional polysiloxanes but a variety of organosilicone derivatives thereof as well, including silicone containing compositions which are readily soluble in a variety of solvents, preferably soluble in water such as silicone-containing phospholipid compositions and the like.
While, as indicated, polysiloxanes containing functional carboxylic acid groups and methods for preparing the same have heretofore been suggested, there is no disclosure or suggestion of the novel carboxyl functional silicone compositions described in copending application Ser. No. 174,660 filed Dec. 28, 1993 and application Ser. No. 298,565 filed Aug. 31, 1994 (now both abandoned) of which the present application is continuation in part or of the novel carboxyl functional silicone compositions of the present invention.

Organosilicone having a carboxyl functional group thereon


A side air bag system for an automotive vehicle includes an inflator mounted to vehicle structure of the automotive vehicle and an air bag operatively connected to the inflator. The side air bag system includes an internal flap disposed within the air bag for inflation by the inflator and for retaining the inflation adjacent an occupant seated in the automotive vehicle.

It is known to provide an inflatable restraint system in a vehicle such as an automotive vehicle to augment protection traditionally afforded vehicle occupants through the use of seat belts. In some automotive vehicles, the inflatable restraint system may be a side air bag system disposed within an occupant compartment in the automotive vehicle in close proximity to either a driver occupant or one or more passenger occupants. Typically, the side air bag system includes a side air bag module attached to a frame of a seat and having an air bag for deployment through an opening in the seat to extend in an occupant compartment of the automotive vehicle. The deployed air bag isolates the occupant from forcefully striking parts on the side of the automotive vehicle as a result of a collision.
It is known to provide an air bag system that provides initial inflated coverage and extended inflated coverage at predetermined locations of the automotive vehicle. An example of such an air bag system is disclosed in co-pending application, U.S. Ser. No. 08/918,833, filed August 1997. This air bag system included an inflator and an air bag cushion having an inflatable transfer portion in fluid communication with the inflator for initial inflation by the inflation gas. The air bag cushion included an inflatable bladder portion in fluid communication with the transfer portion for extended inflation by transfer of inflation gas from the transfer portion. The bladder portion engages the transfer portion to limit the amount of gas further transferred into the bladder portion and to seal the bladder portion such that inflation gas is held in the bladder portion for lengthened and extended inflation of the bladder portion event after deflation of the transfer portion for extended coverage of a pre-selected vehicle location.
Although the above side air bag system has worked well, it is desirable to provide a new side air bag system which removes the internal bladder and retains pressure for extended periods under certain conditions. It is also desirable to provide a side air bag system that is a curtain type head air bag and removes the internal bladder from the air bag to reduce relative complexity, cost and manufacturing operations. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an improved side air bag system for an automotive vehicle.


A roll-up door has a plurality of panels and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to ends of the panels for mounting the panels in channels. At least some of the panels are formed of blow-molded thermoplastic material and have a relatively flat outside face and an inside face including ribs that extend longitudinally and transversely on the panel. A reinforced panel of thermoplastic material is made by blow molding a panel with a thermoplastic material to form a relatively flat outside face and a ribbed inside face, and with elongated channels along upper and lower walls thereof. The panel is trimmed while it is still warm to open the channels at one end. While the panel is still warm, reinforcing members are inserted into the elongated channels. The panels can be cooled to shrink the channels onto the reinforcing members.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to roll-up door assemblies. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to blow molded panels for use in roll-up doors. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to molded plastic panels that simulate wood panels and are interchangeable with wood panels in roll-up doors. In still another of its aspects, the invention relates to a roll-up door assembly formed of blow molded plastic panels. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a method of making a blow molded panel for use in a roll-up door assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trailers for use with semi-tractors and trucks, which can be constructed separately from the semi-tractor or truck and attached thereto or constructed integrally with the semi-tractor or truck, have long used roll-up doors at an inside opening of the trailer to control access to an interior of the trailer. Roll-up doors are often preferred over vertically-hinged, outwardly-swinging doors because the roll-up doors operate within the physical space already occupied by the trailer and do not require space beyond the trailer. The roll-up door is moveable between an opened position and a closed position while being maintained entirely within the interior of the trailer, whereas the swinging doors require room along the sides of the trailer to swing from a closed position to an opened position. If the trailers are to be parked side-by-side, the swinging doors must be opened prior to parking the trailer, or the trailers must be parked far enough apart to permit the doors to swing from the closed position to the opened position, both of which are an inconvenience to the operator.
Roll-up doors typically comprise multiple panels, stacked edgewise one atop the other. The adjacent edges are connected together with hinges to form the entire door so that the panels can pivot with respect to each other. The hinges are normally located on or near the adjacent longitudinal edges of the panels. There are generally two main types of hinged structures that can be categorized by the direction in which the panels must be assembled relative to the longitudinal axis of the panels. One hinge structure requires that the panels be slid laterally (in the same direction as the longitudinal axis) to hingedly couple/uncouple the panels. Another structure requires that the panels be moved to transversely or perpendicular to the longitudinal edge to hingedly couple/uncouple the panels.
Each panel usually includes a roller assembly near each of the opposite latitudinal edges. Each roller assembly comprises an axle that rotatably supports a roller or wheel. The axle is mounted to the panel directly or, alternatively, through a hinge positioned adjacent or near the latitudinal edge. The roller is received within a track mounted within the interior of the trailer near the inside opening. As the door is raised from the closed position to the opened position, the rollers travel along the track to move the panels from a vertical position closing the inside opening of the trailer through a 90° curved section to a horizontal position overlying the interior of the trailer and exposing the inside opening of the trailer. The panels rotate relative to each other as needed about their respective hinges. The panels are constrained in their movement by the receipt of the rollers within the track. Thus, the maximum angle of rotation between any two panels can be controlled by the arc of the track.
Roll-up doors have several known problems or disadvantages. Many roll-up doors have panels that are made entirely of solid material, such as wood. The resulting door is exceptionally heavy and requires counter-balancing springs to lift and close the door. The counter-balancing springs reduce the usable volume of the trailer, which is highly undesirable given the great value placed upon usable volume for a trailer. In addition, the panels as well as the counterbalancing spring add to the trailer undesirable weight which adversely affects fuel efficiency and thus profits.
Attempts to address this problem have focused on using lighter weight materials, especially extruded plastics. The resulting extruded panels are relative light in weight, but they often require special or complex hinge systems and special structural stiffening to accommodate the mounting of the roll-up door hardware such as handles and latch assemblies.
Many roll-up doors are often time-consuming to repair. When a roll-up door is damaged, usually the repair is accomplished by merely replacing one of the multiple panels. Unfortunately, some plastic roll-up doors have a panel and hinge configuration that requires the removal of multiple or all of the panels to replace the damaged panel. Panels that have hinges that require the lateral sliding of the panels for assembly further exacerbate the replacement of a single panel in that all of the panels preceding the damaged panel must be removed from the tracks before the damaged panel can be laterally slid and uncoupled from the adjacent panels. However, current wood panel doors do not require a complete disassembly of all panels and can usually be repaired by removing the damaged panel and replacing it with a new wood panel but not with a plastic panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,123 to Vago discloses using blow molded panels formed of polyethylene in garage doors and the like. The panels are mounted in a rigid framework that include horizontal rails spanning the length of the door and connected vertical stile supports which span the height of the door. The horizontal rails protect the top and bottom sides of the panels and the vertical stile supports are hinged together to form the door. The hinges on the sides of the door include rollers movably mountable in tracks of an aluminum door frame. The panels include ribbed configurations on an inside wall for strengthening purposes. Dead air spaces are formed as cavities during blow-molding through the shaping of an outside wall with respect to the inside wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,826,887 to Skov discloses a blow-molded panel for use in a variety of applications, namely in forming storage units. The panel includes lateral slots for enhancing the structural integrity of the panel. The panel also includes a plurality of transverse ribs extending through the lateral slots for additional strengthening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,379 to Beam et al. discloses blow-molding a panel comprising a plurality of depressions in a rear wall that extend to a front wall and that are fused thereto for structural rigidity. The panel is formed by blow molding in a mold cavity formed by the engagement of a first mold plate and a second mold plate. Multiple projections on the second mold plate are used to form the depressions during the molding process. Due to the restriction of the mold cavity by the projections, a plurality of blow needles project through the second mold plate such that air can be blown into each section created by the projections.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,277 to Steed discloses blow molding panels for use in a partition system for outdoor structures such as fences and sheds. The panels include edges with steel reinforcements. The partitions also have patterns on both sides formed by rows and columns of depressions that extend towards or engage an opposing surface. The patterns on both sides of the partitions include one or more depressions and the depressions are generally aligned so that a depression on one side of a panel is aligned with a depression on the other side of the panel. In addition, the patterns on the panels include grooves, and the depressions are formed at the intersection of the grooves. The depressions are integrally formed in the panels are said to be configured to increase the strength of the panels. Because the depressions are formed on both sides of the panel, the opposing sides of the panel may have generally the same pattern.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0209295 to Mower et al. discloses a shed comprising blow-molded panel walls. The walls can include reinforcements to provide greater strength, rigidity, impact resistance, resilience and/or ability to prevent deformation. In order to reinforce the panels, the reinforcements can have different capabilities or characteristics than the panels, such as different strength, resilience, compression and/or tension capabilities that the panels, and the reinforcements may be arranged or configured to maximize the strengths or characteristics of the thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,955,206 to Mullet et al. discloses a sectional door comprising a plurality of panels formed by extrusion. The door can contain reinforcing members in form of tubes, which can be inserted into the panels after the panels are extruded and extended across the entire width of the panels. In addition, the tubes are exposed at both ends and form journals for axles of wheels. U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,362 is in the same family as '206 to Mullet et al. and discloses a similar panel construction.

Method for making a reinforced panel for roll-up door assmelby


Disclosed herein is a tape locking device for tape measures. The tape locking device comprises a locking lever hinged to an upper portion of the wall of the housing in such a way to be rotated frontward and rearward around a hinged joint, and provided with a connecting piece downwardly extending from the locking lever. A cylinder is connected at its first end to a hole formed at the lower portion of the connecting piece, with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder. A wedge-shaped stopper is connected to the second end of the cylinder, and having a desired frictional force. This stopper is elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between the outer circumferential surface of a wound part of the tape around the bobbin and a linear part of the tape led to the slot when releasing the locking lever after drawing a desired length of tape from the slot, so the drawn tape is automatically locked by frictional contact between the stopper surface and the drawn tape surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a tape locking device for tape measures, for locking the tape after unwinding the tape from a bobbin by a desired length, and more particularly, to a tape locking device for tape measures, which includes a stopper connected to the lower portion of a locking lever and provided with a coil spring fitted over the stopper and elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between the part of the tape unwound from a bobbin set in a housing and the part of the tape wound around the bobbin, thus automatically locking the drawn tape after drawing a desired length of the tape, in addition to smoothly retracting the tape into the housing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a tape measure has a housing, a coiled tape connected at its first end to a spring, and wound around a bobbin set in the housing. A tab is attached to the second end of the tape, and positioned outside a slot formed on the lower end of a wall of the housing. The tab is designed to draw the tape from the housing when pulling the tab. On the other hand, the tape is retracted into the housing by an elastic restoring force of the spring when releasing the tab.
Some tape measures with a locking device have been proposed. This locking device prevents the tape from being undesirably retracted into the housing by the elastic restoring force of the spring, even when a pulling force is removed from the tab after drawing out the tape from the housing.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional tape measure provided with a locking device, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional tape measure. As shown in the drawings, the conventional tape measure has a housing 1, a coiled tape 2, and a tab 4. In general, the housing 1 has a U size to be held in a single hand. The coiled tape 2 is connected, at its first end, to a spring (not shown) and wound around a bobbin 3 set in the housing 1. The tab 4 is attached to the second end of the tape 2 for allowing a user to grasp the tape 2 when drawing out the tape from the housing 1 for measuring the length of a desired object. This tab 4 is positioned outside a slot 5 formed on the lower end of a wall of the housing 1.
The tab 4 is downwardly bent to be perpendicular to the bottom of the housing 1, thus preventing the end of the tape 2 attached to the tab 4 from entering the housing 1 through the slot 5 by the restoring force of the spring. In addition, such a bent structure allows the tab 4 to serve as a fixing hook and a contact surface with respect to an end of a measured object.
A locking lever 6 is mounted to the upper portion of the wall where the slot 5 is formed, and locks the drawn tape 2 after drawing out a desired length of tape from the housing 1, while overcoming the spring force of the spring which is applied to the tape 2 to retract the tape 2 into the housing 1.
The locking lever 6 is provided on its back surface with a compression piece 7 which moves up and down along the locking lever 6. The locking operation of the locking lever 6 is as follows. When the locking lever 6 is moved downwardly, the end of the compression piece 7 compresses the portion of the tape 2 led to the slot 5 and locks the tape 2 against its retraction by the restoring force of the spring.
On the other hand, when it is required to retract the locked tape 3 into the housing 1 through the slot 5, the locking lever 6 is moved upwardly so that the compression piece 7 is separated from the locked portion of the tape 2. Then, the drawn tape 2 is retracted into the housing 1 to be rewound around the bobbin 3.
However, such a conventional tape measure has a problem that it is inconvenient to use, since a user must move the locking lever 6 downwards to lock the tape with the drawn tape being grasped, when it is required to lock the drawn tape 2 after drawing a desired length of the tape from the housing 1 by pulling the tab 4 attached to the end of the tape 2. In addition, the conventional tape measure has another problem that the tape may be damaged or scratched, since an excessively strong compressive force is applied to the tape 2 so as to overcome the elastic restoring force of the tape 2.
The conventional tape measure has still another problem that, when the locking lever 6 is restored to its original position so as to retract the drawn tape into the housing, the tape is wound around the bobbin at an excessively high speed by the elasticity of the spring connected to the tape, thus causing a user to be sometimes injured.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape locking device for tape measures, which has a locking lever rotatably hinged to the upper portion of the wall of a housing, and a cylinder connected, at its first end, to the lower portion of the locking lever, and connected, at its second end, to a stopper, provided with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder, whereby the stopper is elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between a wound part of the tape around the bobbin and a linear part of the tape led to the slot when releasing the locking lever after drawing a desired length of tape from the slot, thus automatically locking the drawn tape, in addition to smoothly winding the tape around a bobbin set in the housing when the locking lever is pushed so that the tape is retracted into the housing.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a tape locking device for a tape measure, the tape measure including a housing, a coiled tape connected at its first end to a spring and wound around a bobbin set in the housing, and a tab attached to the second end of the tape for allowing a user to grasp the tape when drawing out the tape, and positioned outside a slot formed on the lower end of a wall of the housing; the tape locking device comprising a locking lever hinged to the upper portion of the wall of the housing in such a way to be rotated frontward and rearward around a hinged joint, and a cylinder connected to the lower portion of a connecting piece downwardly extending from the locking lever, with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder, whereby the stopper having a cone shape and made of rubber is connected to the end of the cylinder, and elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged into the gap between a part of the tape wound around the bobbin and a unwound part of the tape led to the slot.
Preferably, the stopper has a cone shape so as to be brought into contact simultaneously with the outer circumferential surface of the tape wound around the bobbin and the unwound part of the tape led to the slot. And, the stopper is made of a material having a predetermined friction coefficient relative to a smooth tape surface, such as rubber, or synthetic resin.
Further, the stopper is always biased by the coil spring fitted over the cylinder in a direction such that the stopper is brought into contact with both the outer circumferential surface of the tape having a radius which becomes smaller as the tape is drawn out from the housing, and the unwound part of the upper surface of the tape led to the slot.
When releasing the tape after drawing a desired length of tape from the housing, the tape tends to be retracted into the housing by the spring connected to the tape. At this time, the frictional force of the stopper is applied to the tape, such that the tape is locked as it is appropriately drawn. When pushing the locking lever mounted on the upper portion of the housing, the cylinder having the stopper moves toward the front wall of the housing to remove the stopper from the gap between the wound part of the tape and the unwound part of the tape led to the slot, thus accomplishing smooth winding of the tape around the bobbin.


A cam follower having a two-piece composite laser welded configuration is disclosed and comprises a solid and alternatively thin wall tubular base (16) portion formed of mild steel and a thin-disc reaction portion (18) having a hardened, wear resistant outer surface portion (50). The reaction portion is joined to the base portion by laser welding which results in a weld zone (54) comprised of a fusion zone (56) bounded on either side thereof by heat affected zones (58) having relatively narrow transverse thicknesses. A method of laser welding the hardened reaction portion to the mild steel base portion is also disclosed.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to force transmitting members and more particularly to cam followers for use in conjunction with internal combustion engines.
In another aspect the invention relates to a member formed by welding together materials having significantly different carbon and other alloy percentage compositions and also to methods of welding heat treated hardenable members to mild steel members.

Welded article and method of making same


The present disclosure disclouses a start inspection method, apparatus and system applied to an unmanned vehicle. A specific embodiment of the method comprises: acquiring feature information of a bottom area of an unmanned vehicle, in response to receiving a start instruction, the bottom area including a chassis of the unmanned vehicle, ground blocked by the unmanned vehicle and a space between the chassis and the ground; determining whether the acquired feature information matches feature information of the bottom area of the unmanned vehicle collected at a most recent parking; and determining whether there is an object affecting traveling in the bottom area according to a matching result. The embodiment realizes an automatic inspection to the blind zone of the bottom area of the unmanned vehicle when starting the unmanned vehicle and improves the safety performance of the unmanned vehicle.

The unmanned vehicle is a new type of intelligent vehicle, also known as the "wheeled mobile robot." It realizes a fully automatic operation of the vehicle mainly through the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) by precisely controlling and calculating-analyzing the respective parts of the vehicle, and achieves the goal of unmanned driving of the vehicle.
Typically, when starting the vehicle, the driver may survey the surrounding environment and start the vehicle after determining the driving environment is safe. However, this manual inspection method cannot be suitably applied to the unmanned vehicle. Usually the unmanned vehicle is equipped with a sensor at the top and/or on the side of the vehicle for collecting road information during the traveling, but the bottom of the vehicle is still a detection blind zone. Since abnormal condition such as obstruction at the bottom of the vehicle may affect the normal start of the vehicle, failure to detecting the condition at the bottom of the vehicle may result in damage or malfunction upon starting the vehicle, causing security risks.

Start inspection method, apparatus and system applied to unmanned vehicle

Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.


A display device with a position input function includes pixel electrodes arranged at interval, a position detection wire disposed between the adjacent pixel electrodes and included in a layer different from a layer of the pixel electrodes, a position detection electrode forming a capacitance between the position detection electrode and a positional input body to detect an input position and included in a same layer as the position detection wire and connected to the position detection wire, the position detection electrode overlapping the pixel electrodes and divided into divided position detection electrodes by the position detection wire, and a connection part included in a layer different from the layer of the position detection electrode and the position detection wire while having an insulation film therebetween, the connection part including a portion overlapping a portion of each divided position detection electrode and connected to the divided position detection electrodes.

As an example of a display device including a display panel with an in-cell structured touch panel function, the display device described in WO 2016/136271 has been conventionally known. The display panel described in WO 2016/136271 includes a plurality of gate signal lines, a plurality of data signal lines, a plurality of sensor electrode lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes divided into a plurality of groups, and a plurality of common electrodes arranged at the rate of one for the plurality of pixel electrodes included in one group. The plurality of sensor electrode lines overlaps the plurality of data signal lines in a planar view, and the plurality of sensor electrode lines overlap the plurality of common electrodes in a planar view. At least one of the sensor electrode lines is electrically connected to the plurality of common electrodes. At least one each insulation film is formed between the plurality of data signal lines and the plurality of sensor electrode lines, between the plurality of sensor electrode lines and the plurality of common electrodes, and between the plurality of common electrodes and the plurality of pixel electrodes.

Display device with position input function


An exemplary power conversion system comprises an MPPT unit, a DC bus, a power converter, and a converter controller. The MPPT unit receives a feedback current signal and a feedback voltage signal from a power source and generates an MPPT reference signal based at least in part on the feedback current and voltage signals. The DC bus receives DC power from the power source. The power converter converts the DC power on the DC bus to AC power. The converter controller receives the MPPT reference signal from the MPPT unit and an output power feedback signal measured at an output of the power converter; generates control signals for AC power regulation and maximum power extraction based at least in part on the MPPT reference signal and the output power feedback signal; and sends the control signals to the power converter.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to power conversion systems and methods for converting and providing electrical power to feed an electrical system and, more particularly, to power conversion systems and methods with improved maximum power point tracking capability.
Renewable power, such as solar power generated by solar power generation systems, is becoming a larger source of energy throughout the world. A typical solar power generation system includes one or more photovoltaic arrays (PV arrays) having multiple interconnected solar cells. The solar cells of the PV arrays convert solar energy into DC power. In order to interface the output of the PV arrays to a power grid, a solar power converter is typically used to change the DC power from the PV arrays into AC power to feed a power grid.
Various solar power converter configurations exist for converting the DC power output from PV arrays into AC power. One implementation of a solar power converter has two stages including a DC-DC converter stage and a DC-AC converter stage. The DC-DC converter controls the flow of DC power from the PV arrays onto a DC bus. The DC-AC converter stage converts the DC power supplied to the DC bus into AC power that can be output to the power grid. Existing solar power converters further utilize power converter controller to regulate the DC-DC converter and the DC-AC converter to compensate for various system variables, such as DC bus voltage and AC grid voltage and frequency.
Due to inherent non-linear characteristics solar power sources, it is not easy to accurately predict the optimum operating point of solar power sources. Thus, almost all existing solar power converter controls are configured with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) function to ensure maximum power is extracted from the solar power source during the solar power generation process. The MPPT function may be achieved by implementing one of a variety of MPPT algorithms such as perturbation and observation (P&O) algorithms and incremental conductance algorithms, for example. When the solar power conversion system is connected to a power grid, implementing such conventional MPPT algorithms have some limitations. One challenge is that a power imbalance may occur at the DC bus from the MPPT output power being larger than the line side output power. Thus, over-voltage problems will be present at the DC bus if the power conversion system is not able to respond quickly to deal with the additional power generated from the power source. The power imbalance challenge may become severe when the power conversion system is connected to a weak power grid which may have large variations of voltage and frequency.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide systems and methods to address the above-mentioned problems.

Maximum power point tracking for power conversion system and method thereof


The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for failure recovery in a network system, wherein a linked list is created, where each network node knows the network address of its neighbor node in at least one direction, wherein each network node sends a beacon to its neighbor node and has its neighbor node acknowledge receipt of the beacon, and wherein a network node checks with a switch device the port status of a port to which a neighbor node that has failed is connected in order to identify a replacement node.

Automation and lighting systems make use of communication networks. Over the past years, numerous types of networks have been proposed and are being used. The task of configuring devices and networks to achieve the needs of the specific installation is known as commissioning. In its broadest sense, commissioning encompasses a wide range of tasks, including a survey of the radio and physical environment, the placement of devices, configuration of parameters, application binding, optimization of network and device parameters, and testing and verification of correct operation. Often, non- and semi-technical issues need to be considered, including the skills and workflow practices of the installer, ease of identification and accessibility of devices, and interoperability and coexistence with other wireless or wired systems. The commissioning process involves a number of steps, namely finding and joining or creating a network, establishing a security association, discovering device(s) and service(s), and establishing a control relationship (sometimes referred to as finding and binding).
In communication networks, a node can be a connection point, a redistribution point or a communication endpoint (some terminal equipment). The definition of a node depends on the network and protocol layer referred to. A physical network node is an active electronic device that is attached to a network, and is capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding information over a communications channel.
Typically there are two types of logical topology structures in lighting control systems. One is a centralized system which has a central device or controller, so called "master" or "area controller" that manages the communication between a controller and an actuator and monitors the system health. The other one is a distributed architecture, where the controller directly communicates with the actuator and health monitoring is realized by regular inspection of office management staff.
When a node (e.g. a light or sensor or the like) breaks down in a network system, normally the node needs to be replaced and re-commissioned since the new node does not contain or know the configuration data and settings that are needed for correct operation of the node within the wider network system. In the distributed architecture without the central controller, detection of luminaire failure and recovery after replacement is difficult as there is no central device that monitors the various lighting devices and can commission a replacement device automatically.
In patent application US 20130262937, a method is shown that enables a network node to check if a different node in its network system has broken down by using a heartbeat mechanism in combination with data from the subnet manager within a switch.

Adaptive recovery from node failures in a network system


According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a sealing resin layer containing an inorganic filler so as to seal a semiconductor chip, removing a portion of the surface of the sealing resin layer by dry etching such that a portion of the inorganic filler is exposed, and forming a shield layer so as to cover at least the sealing resin layer.

A semiconductor device for a communication device uses a structure in which the surface of a sealing resin layer is covered with a shield layer in order to suppress electromagnetic disturbance such as electromagnetic interference (EMI). In order to obtain a sufficient shielding effect by the above described structure, it is preferable to electrically connect the shield layer to a ground wire, thereby releasing electromagnetic wave noise to the outside through the ground wire.
In the semiconductor device, in terms of reliability, it is preferable to improve adhesion between the shield layer and the sealing resin layer. Also, in terms of the shielding effect, it is preferable that the electric resistivity between the shield layer and the ground wire be low. In order to improve adhesion between the shield layer and the sealing resin layer, for example, a structure having a buffer layer (a base layer) formed of stainless steel (such as SUS 304) is being studied. However, the electric resistivity of stainless steel is about 72×10−8 Ωm, which is higher than, for example, the electric resistivity of a shield layer using copper or silver.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device


An information playback apparatus is provided, which can provide a sound which sounds natural by controlling an abrupt change in a tempo in the case of random access playback. When a cue point is registered, audio data which makes seamless playback possible is stored into a cue point memory, and further, the beat density of a playback sound being played when the cue point is registered is measured and stored. When the cue point is specified to start random access playback later, a ratio of the beat density (α×DBPM) of a playback sound being played when the cue point is specified and the beat density (DBPMreg) stored in advance is found. Then, the random access playback is started after the beat density of a playback sound to be played after random access playback is started is corrected to be equal to the beat density when a start of the random access playback is specified.

The present invention relates to an information playback apparatus for playing back information recorded in an information recording medium, such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and an MD (Mini Disc), and more particularly to an information playback apparatus capable of performing random access playback to start playback from an arbitrary portion.
The present application claims priority from Japanese Application No. 2001-321802, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
As a conventional information playback apparatus for playing back information recorded in an information recording medium, such as a CD, a DVD, and an MD, there is known a type furnished with a random access playback function.
The random access playback function is a function to start information playback by searching a position called a cue point. For example, when the user or the like registers a recording position (address) of desired information as a cue point in advance and specifies the cue point during playback later, he/she can automatically jump to the position of the cue point from a position currently being played back and start information playback from the jumped position.
Besides the random access playback function, a conventional information playback apparatus may be furnished with an editing function for editing information, such as music, recorded in an information recording medium when it is played back, so that a sound at a tempo different from the original music or the like is played. Hence, when the user or the like plays back information, such as music, by using the editing function, he/she can produce various sound effects.
To be more specific, an information playback apparatus furnished with the random access playback function and the editing function is provided with a disc-like rotatable manipulation member called a jog dial. When the user or the like manipulates the jog dial to rotate at a desired speed, a tempo of a playback sound is changed in response to a rotational speed of the jog dial, whereby sound effects at a tempo different from the original music or the like recorded in a CD, a DVD, etc. can be produced.
In other words, it is known that by forcedly rotating the turntable of an analog record player, on which is placed an analog record, such as an LP, at the number of revolutions (rotational speed) different from the normal number of revolutions while the analog record is being played, the moving speed (running speed) of the stylus moving in the recording grooves of the analog record is changed, thereby producing a sound at a tempo different from the originally played back music or the like. For example, it is known that if an analog record having recorded slow-tempo music is played forcedly at a higher number of revolutions than the normal number of revolutions, music is played as if it were up-tempo music.
The jog dial is provided to the conventional information playback apparatus to attain the same phenomenon as with the analog record player.
The jog dial is provided as an equivalent to the turntable of the analog record player, and when the user or the like changes the rotational speed of the jog dial by hand, he/she can produce the same sound effects produced when forcedly changing the moving speed of the stylus with respect to an analog record, that is, sound effects at a tempo different from the original music or the like.
Further, the user or the like can achieve complicated and sophisticated editing by making full use of the random access playback function and the editing function. He/she can perform editing in various manners by, for example, producing sound effects at different tempos by manipulating the jog dial while a given portion of music is being played, then manipulating the jog dial further while music is being played from a desired portion by the random access playback function, whereby he/she can produce sound effects by playing the desired portion at different tempos.
As has been described, the conventional information playback apparatus furnished with the random access playback function and the editing function is provided with multiple functions, so that it can be used not only as a music player, but also as an electronic musical instrument.
However, the conventional information playback apparatus furnished with the random access playback function and the editing function has a problem that when access is made to a cue point position different from a given portion of music currently being played and playback is continued, a discontinuous sound is played at the beginning of the random access playback.
To be more concrete, as shown in FIG. 8(a), in a case where music recorded in an information recording medium, such as a CD or a DVD, is composed of a slow-tempo portion (a portion at a slow tempo) and an up-tempo portion (a portion at a fast tempo), if the up-tempo portion is registered as a cue point (register an address ADR2) in advance, and the cue point is specified at a given time point tc (a time point corresponding to an address ADR1) while the slow-tempo portion is being played back, information playback is continued by jumping from the address ADR1 to the address ADR2.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 8(b), a tempo of the music played before the time point tc is slow and fast after the time point tc, which poses a problem that a discontinuous harsh sound is played at the time point tc.
Also, when the cue point is specified, there may be a time delay until the pickup serving as information readout means moves to the address ADR2, which poses a problem that a harsh sound is played or so-called cut-off of a sound occurs.
Further, in the case of an information recording medium having recorded slow-tempo music and up-tempo music, when the slow-tempo music currently being played is switched to the up-tempo music registered as a cue point in advance, there also arises a problem that a discontinuous harsh sound is played or cut-off of a sound occurs.
When such a harsh sound is played or cut-off of a sound occurs, there arises an inconvenience as follows. That is, the conventional information playback apparatus is used in a discotheque or the like, where a manipulator called a disc jockey creates an enjoyable mood for those who are dancing to the music by instantly performing rap music or the like with the random access playback function and the editing function. However, if the aforementioned harsh sound is played or cut-off of a sound occurs when access is made to the start position of the information playback by the random access playback function, there arises an inconvenience that the disc jockey cannot provide enjoyable dance music which sounds natural.


An electrode assembly and a rechargeable battery including the same, the electrode assembly including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the separator are spiral-wound in a jelly-roll structure, the first electrode includes at least two first uncoated regions separated from each other and a first tab coupled to one of the first uncoated regions and a second tab coupled to another of the first uncoated regions, the first tab and the second tab protruding from one side of the jelly-roll structure, the first tab is disposed near a center of the jelly-roll structure and the second tab is disposed near an outer circumference of the jelly-roll structure, and a width of the first tab is smaller than a width of the second tab.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an electrode assembly and a rechargeable battery including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rechargeable batteries may be charged and discharged, unlike primary batteries that cannot be charged. Small capacity rechargeable batteries maybe used for small portable electronic devices e.g., mobile phones, laptop computers, and camcorders. Large capacity batteries may be used as power sources for, e.g., driving motors of hybrid vehicles, etc.
In general, the rechargeable battery may include an electrode assembly made of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween. The electrode assembly may have a stacked structure in which the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are sequentially deposited, or a jelly-roll structure in which the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are spiral-wound, according to the use and the object thereof.
The electrode assembly of the jelly-roll structure may be accommodated in a case of, e.g., a cylindrical type, a prismatic type, a pouch type, etc. A cross-section of the electrode assembly of the jelly-roll structure may be, e.g., circular or oval, and may include electrode tabs respectively coupled to the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A multi-tab including a plurality of electrode tabs may be used, as the demand for high power rechargeable batteries has recently increased.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Electrode assembly and rechargeable battery including the same


The present disclosure relates to a sealing device 20 for a control rod 17, passing through an aperture 15c in a wall 15, wherein the control rod 17 is connected between an actuator 13, placed on one side of the wall, and a controlled entity 9a, placed on the other side of the wall, such that the actuator can control the controlled entity with motion of the control rod. The sealing device 20 includes a packing box 37 through which the control rod 17 passes and a seal 41 which provides a sealing function between the control rod 17 and the packing box 37. The packing box 37 is moveable with the control rod 17 in relation to the wall 15. Wall aperture 15c is sized to allow movement of the control rod 17 within aperture 15c. A flexible member 39 surrounds a portion of control rod 17 and extends between the packing box 37 and the wall 15, in a gastight communication with each. As such, the subject sealing device allows movement of the control rod without compromising the sealing function efficiency thereof.

Sealing devices are typically used in applications, where there is a pressure difference on opposite sides of a wall, to reduce or eliminate an undesired gas flow through any apertures in the wall. One such application is in a fabric filter system, where the wall may delimit a filter plenary space. The filter plenary space contains hot, chemically aggressive gases at low pressure. If cold ambient air leaks into the filter plenary space, the interior gas temperature falls, possibly causing the interior gas to condense. Interior gas condensation is undesirable since often it tends to cause excessive corrosion. Therefore, seals or sealing devices used to prevent or reduce leakage of ambient air should be gastight. At the same time, the seal/sealing device may need to allow for a certain flexibility, since control of the controlled entity may require various movements of the control rod. Allowing for such movement makes sealing devices relatively complex and expensive, while compromising the sealing efficiency to some extent.
One option to solve this problem would be to make the control rod flexible or articulated to reduce or eliminate the need for sealing device flexibility. However, such a modification would render the control rod and the use of the control rod to control the controlled entity relatively more complex and costly.


A method and system for performing cell load control in a mobile radio network using diversity connections between base stations is described, wherein the efficiency of the resource management in the radio network is improved by transmitting an external message containing a load information of a cell to a radio network controller not serving this cell. The transmission may be performed in response to a corresponding request transmitted by the radio network controller to another radio network controller which serves the corresponding radio cell. When the radio network controller has received the load information of the cell controlled by the other radio network controller, it may use the load information for deciding on a load status of the radio cell. Thereby, the resource management of radio network is more efficient and the load is maintained balanced among different cells, wherein a possible situation of cell congestion and high interference is avoided. Moreover, the active set management efficiency is improved, resulting in a higher connection quality, since the decision algorithm to change the active set is faster and more efficient.

In a radio access network of a WCDMA system, a soft handover is an essential feature which, allows an efficient use of the capacity which can be offered by network. In a soft handover state, one mobile station (MS) is connected using a plurality of radio cells contained in its active set (AS) as a resource. The MS monitors levels of received signals broadcasted from neighboring base stations, compares them to a set of thresholds, and reports the measurement of neighbor cells to a radio network controller (RNC) controlling this specific MS, i.e. a Serving RNC (SRNC), and, using this information, the SRNC may transmit a command to the MS to add a new radio cell to its active set, delete a radio cell, replace one or more radio cells, perform an interfrequency handover, and so on. The active set is defined as a set of base stations from which the same user information is sent, simultaneously demodulated and coherently combined.
However, a problem arises when the new or "candidate" cell to be added to the active set is not controlled by the SRNC (such a cell is referred to as "drift cell"), because the load or congestion status of that cell is not available at the SRNC.
Another problem arises when the drift cell is already in the active set, i.e. radio cells which are actively used in the present connection of the MS (inter RCN soft handover). Also in this case, the load status of the drift cell is not known to the SRNC and cannot be considered when the SRNC decides on the execution of a handover, i.e. a handover for traffic reasons is not possible.
A simple solution to the above problems is that the SRNC ignores the load status of the drift cell, and the load status is not used in the decision to add this drift cell to the respective set of the MS. In contrast thereto, the load status of the cells controlled by the SRNC is available and can be used by a handover algorithm performed in the SRNC. When the SRNC decides to add the drift cell to the active set solely on the basis of the measurement report, it transmits a dedicated message (branch addition request) to the so-called Drift RNC (DRNC) controlling the drift cell, wherein the DRNC decides whether to accept or reject the addition of the new cell on the basis of the cell load status (admission control procedure).
However, the load of the drift cell cannot be checked by the SRNC, even if the cell is in the active set of the MS controlled by the SRNC Thus, the radio resource management (RRM) algorithm such as a handover control algorithm of the SRNC cannot be used in an efficient manner, because the load of the drift cell is not known. This leads to the following specific problems:
1) The SRNC may decide to add the drift cell to the active set even if the load of the cell is high and some other radio cells of less load could have been selected. Accordingly, the SRNC sends a branch addition message to the DRNC which may accept the new cell, wherein the increased load of the accepted radio cell may cause an increased interference such that the distribution of the load in the network is not balanced. Otherwise, the DRNC may refuse the new radio cell (branch), wherein the SRNC decides on the following step in accordance with its control algorithms, which causes a delay due to the external signaling between the SRNC and the DRNC. In a worst case scenario, the SRNC may try a view moments later to add the same radio cell to the active set to another or even the same MS.
2) The load of a drift cell already included in the active set of the MS may increase. Since the drift cell is not controlled by the SRNC, the SRNC is not aware of the load increase, which may lead to an unbalanced network. Moreover, the load of the cell may increase to such an extend that the cell reaches a congestion state, and the branch is lost or deleted by the DRNC. Thereby, the quality of the connection may decrease.
3) The SRNC may request to add a drift cell which is not available due to a congestion Status or a hardware failure to the active set of the controlled MS. Again, this might lead to a decrease in the quality of the connection.


During arc welding, optical radiation emitted from an arc is detected by means of a photoelectric device, and an electric detection signal from the photoelectric device is used for controlling the travel of a suction hood along a weld line so that the weld fumes may be exhausted through the suction hood and to insure that the weld metal zone is always covered by the suction hood.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in a process and apparatus for exhausting fumes produced by arc welding.
Generally, during welding, there is an emission from molten welding flux, filler metal, base metal, etc. held at a high temperature, of micro-fine particles of iron, manganese, silicon and other harmful metal oxides (fumes in a narrow sense), as well as the emission of harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides gas, carbon monoxide gas or the like and other gases such as carbon dioxide gas (hereinafter these are generally called "weld fumes"). Therefore, to preserve the welder's health itis desirable to remove these weld fumes caused by the welding, and in the case of welding within a narrow compartment, the necessity of the removal of fumes is especially large.
Heretofore, as a means for exhausting weld fumes there are known apparatus in which a fume suction hood is provided in association with a welding protector which was held in the welder's hands during use and connected directly or via a connector to the latter and the hood was connected through a flexible tube to a bag filter provided separately, known apparatus in which a fume suction hood having various shapes designed so as to conform to configurations of bodies to be welded is disposed at a predetermined position such that the hood may surround a welding zone and the hood is connected to a fume processor (either of a fixed type or of a movable type) such as a bag filter or the like provided separately through one or more flexible tubes, and known apparatus modified from the second apparatus above in which the suction hood is mounted on an electrode holder or assembled integrally therewith.
However, the above-described respective weld fume exhausting means in the prior art have the following problems. The first apparatus has a problem in that since a suction hood is provided in association with a welding protector, a burden on a welder is increased; while the second apparatus can mitigate the increase of the burden on the welder because the suction hood is disposed so as to surround the welding zone, the second type of apparatus provided with a small suction hood and a fixed type fume processor has a problem in that each time the welding position is displaced, both the suction hood and the fume processing machine must be displaced; an apparatus provided with a large suction hood and a movable type fume processor has a problem in that a lot of labor is required for the reconnection of the flexible tubes resulting in a poor workability, and the apparatus is inevitably large-sized and hence cannot be used within a narrow compartment.
Furthermore, the third apparatus has a problem in that since the weight of the electrode holder is increased, the apparatus cannot be used in manual welding, and even if such a welding torch associated with a suction hood were to be mounted in a fully automatic welding machine, the apparatus is large-sized and thus could not be used within a narrow compartment.

Process and apparatus for exhausting fumes produced by arc welding


An electrical charging system 10 which is adapted for use in combination with an automotive vehicle. System 10 includes a conventional controller or control module 12, an alternator 14, a pair of electrical charge storage devices or batteries 16, 18, an electrical switch or relay 24, and a voltage regulating device or regulator 28. System 10 selectively charges batteries 16 and 18 in an efficient and cost-effective manner without compromising the integrity of system 10.

A typical vehicle electrical charging system includes one or more batteries which store and supply electrical power and energy to vehicle's various electrical components and accessories, and an alternator which provides electrical power to the vehicle and which charges the one or more batteries.
One type of electrical charging system, commonly referred to as a dual voltage type electrical system, includes a pair of batteries which have different electrical output voltages (e.g. 12 volts and 36 volts) and which increase the efficiency of the system. One drawback associated with these types of electrical charging systems is that additional or different components are required to charge both of the batteries without compromising the integrity of the system. Particularly, additional components are required to allow the batteries to be charged while continuing to provide voltage to their respective busses.
Efforts have been made to utilize a DC--DC converter to allow the alternator to simultaneously charge the batteries without compromising the integrity of the system. Other attempts have been made which utilize a dual output alternator or a pair of alternators to charge the batteries. While each of these proposed charging systems allow the batteries to be simultaneously charged while continuing to supply power to their respective busses, these systems are relatively expensive to implement and require special packaging constraints. For example and without limitation, DC--DC converters are relatively expensive, large and difficult to install within existing vehicle platforms. Furthermore, DC--DC converters generate an undesirable amount of electromagnetic noise which can interfere with the operation of other electronic components and devices within the vehicle. Dual output alternators and dual alternator systems further require additional electronic and mechanical components which unnecessarily complicate these systems. Moreover, each of these prior systems requires additional charging controllers or control systems which actively maintain the integrity and reliability of these systems.
There is therefore a need for a new and improved electrical charging system which overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of prior systems and which includes a pair of batteries and an alternator that selectively and efficiently charges the pair of batteries.


A thermionic electric converter is disclosed wherein an externally located heat source causes electrons to be boiled off an electron emissive surface interiorly positioned on one end wall of an evacuated cylindrical chamber. The electrons are electrically focused and accelerated through the interior of an air core induction coil located within a transverse magnetic field, and subsequently are collected on the other end wall of the chamber functioning as a collecting plate. The EMF generated in the induction coil by action of the transiting electron stream interacting with the transverse magnetic field is applied to an external circuit to perform work, thereby implementing a direct heat energy to electrical energy conversion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of converting heat energy directly to electrical energy, and more particularly to apparatus having a thermionic source of electrons, which electrons subsequently produce currents in an induction coil for energizing externally connected loads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, there have been known thermionic converters such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,519,854 and 3,328,611 (both to the inventor of the present invention) which disclose apparatus and methods for the direct conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,854 there is described a converter using a Hall effect techniques as the output current collection means. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,854 teaching is of interest in that it uses as its source of electrons a stream boiled off of an emissive cathode surface and accelerated towards an anode positioned beyond the Hall effect transducer. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,611, a spherically configured thermionic converter is disclosed wherein a spherical, emissive cathode is supplied with heat (from several alternate sources including a self-contained fuel combustion section) thereby emitting electrons to a concentrically positioned, spherical anode under the influence of a control member having a high positive potential thereon.
While the above two illustrative examples of prior art thermionic converters teach apparatus for accomplishing the desired direct conversions, and while a good deal of additional inventive effort has been directed to the practical and theoretical problems associated with such conversion means, it is clear that there continues to be a need for improved devices and methods for direct thermal/electric converters.


An edible emulsion is disclosed having a fat content of less than 5 weight %. An edible fat or oil component is dispersed in an aqueous phase with a two-component emulsifier system comprising a primary emulsifier which acts to stabilise the emulsion and a secondary emulsifier which works in synergy with the fat or oil component to impart a desirable texture and structure to the finished product.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an edible emulsion having a much lower fat content than conventional emulsions, and to a method of making it. Such emulsions may for example be used for spreads to be used as alternatives for butter or margarine. Other possible uses include salad dressings to be used instead of mayonnaise or salad cream, and low fat desserts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional edible emulsions typically comprise a fat or oil phase dispersed in an aqueous phase, although other emulsions are known in which the fat or oil comprises the continuous phase and has the aqueous phase dispersed in it. The typical fat contents in conventional water-continuous emulsions ranges from about 80% down to 40%, and although it is in some cases regarded as desirable to reduce the fat content, it has been found difficult to produce a satisfactory emulsion having a fat content much below 20-25% since the fat or oil phase is necessary to impart the required flavour and texture.
Conventional edible emulsions of the type to which the invention relates generally include a small quantity of an emulsifier and well as protein or other dairy components, gelling agents, stabilizers, flavouring, colouring etc. Some typical compositions are disclosed in EP-A-463688, which discloses plastic edible emulsions in which the oil or fat component is dispersed in a continuous aqueous phase. Although the claimed range is 5 to 21 wt. %, the exemplified compositions contain 19.6 wt. % of palm mid-fraction as the fat component.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an edible emulsion containing less than 5% by weight of oil or fat component.
According to the present invention this object is achieved by a low fat edible emulsion wherein less than 5 wt. % of fat or oil component is dispersed in water, together with a sufficient quantity of an emulsifier to impart the texture and flavour required of such an emulsion. It has been found that the emulsifier can work in synergy with the fat or oil component to impart a desirable texture and structure to the finished product with good spreading properties so that it resembles a product with a much higher fat content.
The edible emulsion of the invention comprises an aqueous dispersion of an edible fat or oil component and an emulsifier system. The fat or oil component is present in an amount less than 5 wt. %, based on the total emulsion, and the emulsifier system is a two-component or multi-component system which comprises a primary emulsifier comprising one or more components selected from proteins, skim milk powder, polysorbates, Datem, Citrem, sucrose esters, octenyl succinic acid (OSA) starches and gum arabic, acting to stabilise the emulsion, and a secondary emulsifier comprising one or more components selected from mono- and diglycerides, polysorbates, polyglycerol esters, organic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, propylene glycol esters, stearyl lactylates, lecithin and sucrose fatty acid esters.
The aqueous phase of the composition may for example contain minor quantities of milk or other dairy components, bulking agents, gelling agents, starches and stabilizers. The oil phase comprises oils or fats which are edible and of the type generally used in the food industry.
Minor ingredients such as salt, phosphates, citrates, colouring, flavouring, vitamins, preservatives and food acids are also desirable components of the edible emulsions of the invention.
The secondary emulsifier is chosen from a group that is capable of creating this desirable texture and structure. These include mono- and diglycerides, polysorbates, polyglycerol esters, organic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, propylene glycol esters, stearyl lactylates, lecithin and sucrose fatty acid esters. Especially useful are those emulsifiers which are prepared from unsaturated or partially unsaturated fats. The secondary emulsifier can be added as part of the fat or oil phase and by careful selection of the emulsifier type and grade, it can also be included as part of the aqueous phase.
While the inventors do not wish to be bound by any particular theory, the secondary emulsifier is believed to function by partly destabilising the oil in water emulsion to create a substantially semi-solid plastic matrix. The emulsion preferably contains from 0.2 to 2 wt. % of this secondary emulsifier.
Fats and oils can be selected from any suitable vegetable, animal or dairy source and include oils, hydrogenated and unhydrogenated fat as well as fractionated fats. The fat content is preferably at least 2 wt. %.
The oil in water emulsion is made by emulsifying the fat phase such that a dispersion of small uniform oil droplets is formed. This emulsification process can be enhanced by the use of a high pressure homogeniser, colloid mill, Silverson mixer or similar equipment together with the presence of the primary emulsifier. This agent has a function which is different from that of the aforementioned secondary emulsifier in that its primary role is to create a stable oil in water emulsion and is selected from proteins, especially caseinate and whey protein, skim milk powder and other materials which act as oil in water emulsifiers and include, but are not limited to, polysorbates, Datem, Citrem, sucrose esters, OSA starches and gum arabic. Certain emulsifiers, which include polysorbates, are multifunctional and provide the necessary oil in water emulsification. However, paradoxically they can also act to create a de-stabilisation of this emulsion. The total content of such emulsifying agents is preferably from 0.1 to 10 wt. %. Homogenization preferably takes place at a pressure of 2 to 50 MPa (20 to 500 bar), more preferably 5 to 20 MPa (50 to 200 bar).
The components which may be present in the aqueous phase include bulking agents such as maltodextrin, dairy proteins, inulin and polydextrose which are used together with thickeners and gelling agents. Thickeners include, but are not limited to, LBG, guar, xanthan alginate, Konjac, starches (native and modified), CMC, MCC. A typical composition may contain a total of 0.5 to 3 wt. % of these components.
Typical gelling agents include, but are not limited to, gelatin, carrageenan, alginate, pectin, gel forming starches or synergistic combinations of gums selected by those skilled in the art. The aqueous phase can be of a gelled nature or have enough viscosity to provide the body and structure into which the destabilised oil droplets is contained. The total content of these components is preferably 0.5 to 5 wt. %.
Heat treatment of the emulsion is desirable to confer microbiological stability to the product and for products which have a pH value of more than about 4 they are preferably heated to at least 80xc2x0 C. and preferably above 85xc2x0 C. A plate heat exchanger or scrape surface heat exchanger is suitable for this purpose. The product may be filled hot or cold. After filling the products are preferably stored under refrigeration.
The following formulations are shown to illustrate the invention:


A uniform coating is provided using surface features. Multiple ridges or other shapes are fabricated near an area of interest to allow for uniform coating in between the ridges. Areas at either ends of the ridges are left open to allow for excess pooling of photoresist liquid and to aid in obtaining uniform coating. The photoresist liquid or other coating fluid is applied to the sample and spun dry. A soft-bake process is performed to evaporate remaining solvents. An element, such as a diffractive, refractive, or reflective grating structure, is then formed in the area of interest using the uniform photoresist coating.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to applying coatings to substrates and, in particular, to using a spin application to dry a coating on the substrate. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and program for using surface features to provide a uniform thickness of coatings on a substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical holographic exposures require a very thin coating of photoresist (e.g. about 800 angstroms) on a surface to record submicron lines and spaces. On planar surfaces, a coating of a desired thickness is typically obtained by adjusting the viscosity of the photoresist and spinning the sample at moderate speeds (e.g. 3500 rpm), with the photoresist freshly applied, for a set time (e.g. about 30 seconds). As the spinning of the sample begins, centrifugal force moves the excess liquid photoresist to the edge and off the sample, evaporating some of the solvents in the photoresist and leaving a coating of the solids, contained in the photoresist on the surface of the sample. This coating process is typically completed with a soft-bake to evaporate the remaining solvents.
In the case of non-planar samples, a combination of centrifugal force, surface tension forces, and features rising out of the plane of the sample surface results in a non-uniform coating across the sample. Generally, at the onset of spinning, photoresist moves outward from the center of the sample and encounters a feature rising above the plane of the surface. The photoresist accumulates at the rise of the feature, leaving a thick coating at the rise of the feature and then leaving a thin coating after the fall of the feature. Rotational forces and surface tensions that are present on the surface complicate the non-uniformity created by this process.
A photoresist may be used to form a feature or component on the surface of the sample. In some applications, a non-uniform photoresist coating may result in an unreliable performance of the resulting component. More particularly, fabrication of a diffraction, refraction, or reflection grating structures for Light Amplification by the Simulated Emission of Radiation (laser) may be adversely affected by an uneven coating. To make an accurate and effective grating, a uniform photoresist coating must be formed in the area of interest. Non-uniform photoresist coating may also affect other fabrication processes, such as grayscale masks.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide coating thickness control to ensure uniform distribution of photoresist using a spin coating process.

Coating thickness control using surface features


Polymer mixtures made from two different polymer components and exhibiting LCST behavior are provided for use in applications which require temperature-dependent light permeability. The polymer mixtures P are made from:. P1: from 98 to 2% by weight of poly-.alpha.-methylstyrene (PAMs); and PA1 P2: from 2 to 98% by weight of polyvinyl methyl ether (PVMe).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polymer mixtures comprised of poly-.alpha.-methylstyrene and polyvinyl methyl ether which exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior.
2. Description of the Background
Mixtures of polyvinyl methyl ether (PVMe) and polystyrene are among the best-studied "polymer blend" systems. They are frequently referred to as illustrations of the physical chemical model for explaining LCST behavior (see Nishi, T., et al., 1975 Macromolecules, 8 227; Kirk-Othmer, 1982, "Encyclopedia of chemical technology", Third Ed., "Vol 18, pub John Wiley, 443447; Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 1992, 5th Ed., Vol. 21A, pub. VCH, pp. 273-304). However, thus far, miscible (compatible) polymer systems are the exception. As noted in Ullmann's, ibid., Vol. 20A, 653:
"Plastic blends are usually immiscible because the combinatorial entropy of mixing is too small (high molar masses) and the enthalpy charges on mixing are often positive. Miscibility is observed for three types of systems:
1) Chemically similar systems, e.g. polystyrene-poly(o-chlorostyrene), showing both LCST and UCST. PA2 2) Systems having specific interactions between different components, e.g. polystyrene-poly(vinyl methyl ether); these systems show only LCST. PA2 3) Systems consisting of oligomers, e.g. oligo(ethylene oxide)-oligo (propylene oxide); these systems possess only UCST."
The existence of homogeneous, compatible polymer mixtures is demonstrated by, among other things, the occurrence of the phenomenon of LCST. The LCST phenomenon, which has a theoretical basis, consists of the fact that the miscibility of two nonidentical polymers decreases with increasing temperature. The LCST is thus experimentally determinable (see Olabisi, O., Robeson, L. M., and Shaw, M. T., "Polymer-polymer miscibility" pub Academic Press).
Neutron scattering and light scattering experiments have been used in the study of compatible polymer systems. (See Fischer, E. W., 1987 Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 79 73-86, Chem.Abstr., 107, (20):176911q).
In the mid-1980s, technical applications of the LCST behavior of compatible polymer mixtures were proposed. EP 0,177,063 (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,595) employs such compatible polymer mixtures for recording, storing, and displaying optically readable information on a support. Optically detectable transitions from one phase into another under the influence of thermal energy (or energy forms directly convertible into thermal energy).
EP 0,181,485 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,506) provides window panel systems having temperature-dependent light permeability which are made of plastics. These window panel systems consist of a polymer mixture formed from at least two different polymer components and displaying an LCST<150.degree. C. At temperatures below the LCST the mixtures exhibit a single phase, transparent mixture, while above the LCST the polymer components undergo demixing or phase separation. The indices of refraction of the polymer components must be different to provide the temperature dependant light-permeability effects.
The above European patents provide extensive information on, such details as rules for selection, preferred polymer combinations and technical application guidelines.
Nonetheless, the possible technical applications of the LCST phenomenon remain unexploited because of the basic constraints of incompatibility and unpredictability of properties in individual cases. For example, in contrast to polystyrene, poly-p-methylstyrene has been found to be completely incompatible with PVMe.
While the above-noted European patent applications disclose compatible polymer systems along with numerous application possibilities which are quite advantageous, the systems disclosed are still deficient in that there is no single embodiment which can optimally cover all of the application areas and desired temperature ranges. Further, in order to technically exploit these polymer systems not only must the LCST behavior be a reversible process, but the polymers themselves must meet criteria which are somewhat restrictive. In particular, in the area of thermotropic window panes (EP 0,181,485), and in the area of the recording, storage, and display of optically readable information (EP 0,101,485), sharp phase transitions within the shortest possible time are very desirable (EP 0,177,063).

Polymer mixtures with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior


The present invention is directed to a one-touch label-dispensing device for dispensing labels marked with time information, such as the month, day and year, that can be attached or integrated into the panel of a refrigerator so that labels automatically marked and dispensed can be used to mark food items placed in the refrigerator and/or cabinets. The present invention is also directed to a one-touch label-dispensing device for dispensing labels that can be equipped with a recording device for recording audible and text messages, such as e-mails, to be played back at a later time.

Time indicating labels may be used in food manufacturing industries to identify food freshness. It has long been known to manufacturers and distributors that the shelf life of perishable goods such as foodstuffs is a function of both the time and the temperature at which such goods are stored. Most perishable items purchased in a home or restaurant is stored in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. However, although most manufacturers do have a date of expiration on the food items, often this date is many times longer than the average household would like to keep the item in the refrigerator. That is, freshness of an item is not only a function of when preservatives in a product become ineffective but is also a function of the conditions in which the items are stored, and the length of time the product has been opened.
For example, an item that expires 1 year from a given date but is opened shortly after being produced would not be as fresh as the same item opened months after being produced. As stated above, manufactures often print expiration dates on products but often these dates get smeared, rubbed off or are illegible. In addition, the date of manufacturing is only half the information necessary to determine if a product in the refrigerator is fresh or not. The other piece of information that is needed is when the item was purchased, opened or placed in the refrigerator. The greater the time gap between the time the item is opened and the expiration date of the item, the less fresh the item may be. Thus, often items need to be replaced way before the manufactures expiration date of the product. For example, Items such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and the like are not used everyday and can remain in refrigerator for months after opening but still not be out of date. Placing a label printed with the date the item was opened/or placed in the refrigerator would provide additional information to determine freshness of that item.
Although markers can be used for this purpose, they often rub off of the item, look messy and are not usually readably available when needed. Rolls of stickers can be placed near or on the refrigerator but these stickers would have to written on, peeled from their backing and placed on the item. Assuming that the labels can be found when needed, this is often a time consuming process and looks no better than using a marker. Finding a writing utensil when needed is usually also a problem. Thus, this system is no better than using a marker.
Accordingly, there is a need for a one-touch refrigerator labeling system that prints date labels, peels the labels from its backing material and dispenses the ready to be used printed label to the user in a matter of seconds. The present invention herein overcomes the shortcomings of the devices available on the market today and satisfies this market need. The present invention is further described in the sections below.

Label producing message center and personal shopping device


A sliding adjuster includes a base housing with a slide positioned at least partially therein. The base housing includes mounting tabs so that the adjuster can be secured to the back of a headlamp assembly support frame. The base housing includes channels along its sides in which rails extending from the slide are disposed. A ball stud extends from the slide, the ball of which is engaged in a reflector within the headlamp assembly such that axial movement of the ball stud causes movement of the reflector. Movement of the slide is caused by rotation of an adjustment screw that is threaded into the slide but held in axial position with respect to the base housing. The adjuster may include a vehicle headlamp aiming device (“VHAD”) if required for the particular application.

In traditional sealed beam style headlamps, the lamp's aim is adjusted by rotating one or more screws that hold the frame of the lamp to the vehicle. Such adjustment is made from the front of the vehicle by inserting a screwdriver or the like between the lamp frame and the vehicle trim and turning the screws to alter the orientation of the lamp and effectuate the desired adjustment. As the design of motor vehicles has evolved, headlamps have continually been reconfigured to improve the aerodynamics and styling of the front end of the vehicle. Modem headlamps are designed so that their lenses follow the contour of the vehicle to provide an aerodynamically efficient exterior surface. Adjustment of these headlamps must still be performed in order to provide an optimal beam of light and to prevent the aiming of light beams toward oncoming vehicles. Such adjustment is made by moving a reflector within the lamp assembly so that light is directed in the desired manner. Automotive manufacturers' demand for aerodynamically efficient headlamp designs has lead to modular designs where the headlamp adjustment mechanism is located within the interior of the engine compartment and positioned such that adjustment can be easily performed without removing any trim pieces. Thus, the constraints of the installation area and the demands of the automobile manufacturers for aerodynamic headlamp designs dictate the location from which adjustment must be made.
There are many adjuster devices designed for use in connection with aerodynamic headlight designs including, among others, the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,707,133 and 5,214,971 to Burton, the inventor of the present invention. Modem automotive headlamp assemblies typically include several basic parts: a support frame, a reflector, a lens, a bulb, and one or more adjusters. The support frame houses the reflector and the bulb on a pivotable mounting to allow the aim of the light to be adjusted using the adjusters and provides a mounting surface for attaching adjusters. The lens seals the front of the support frame to protect it from the elements assailing the front end of the vehicle and provides an aerodynamic shape and attractive appearance. The reflector mounts on one fixed ball joint and is adjustable horizontally and vertically using adjusters that interface with the reflector through moving ball joints. The moving ball joints are moved by actuating the adjusters connected to the moving ball joints by a ball stud. Geared angle style adjusters, such as the ones disclosed in the referenced Burton patents, are often used to adjust the aim of the headlamp. However, such devices are designed to allow adjustment of the headlamp from a location behind the assembly, typically from within the engine compartment and immediately behind and above the lamp assembly. Accordingly, such devices cannot be effectively used in vehicles where the area immediately behind and above the lamp assembly is not accessible. One such vehicle design is shown in FIG. 14. In that design, the vehicle fender 20 covers the headlamp assembly 22 rendering the area behind and above the assembly substantially inaccessible without removal of the fender 20 of the vehicle. The area below the headlamp assembly 22 is similarly inaccessible because of the bumper 21 and other vehicle components. Thus, existing geared angle style headlamp adjusters have not been found to be effective for use in such vehicle designs.
Conventionally in a vehicle such as the one shown in FIG. 14, a sealed beam style headlamp is used. However, due to consumer and vehicle manufacturer styling preferences and performance objectives, it is desirable to use a reflector style headlamp in such vehicles. The conventional method for adjusting sealed beam lamps cannot be used to adjust a reflector style lamp and the area immediately above and behind the lamp is inaccessible such that a conventional geared angle style adjuster cannot be used. Accordingly, a need exists for a headlamp adjuster which can be used in connection with a vehicle design where the area behind and above the lamp assembly is substantially inaccessible and the use of a reflector style lamp is desired.