A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, which includes: a reproduced level detector for detecting the level of a reproduced signal and a memory for storing the reproduced level detected by the detector; and when recording a video signal, the signal is recorded and reproduced in advance, and this reproduced level is stored in the memory, so that an amount of emphasis of a detail emphasis circuit in a reproducing system and an amount of equalization of an FM equalizer in the recording system can be controlled in accordance with the stored reproduced level; while when reproducing the video signal, the level of a reproduced FM luminance signal is detected by the reproduced level detector, so that an amount of equalization of an FM equalizer, an amount of cancellation of a line noise canceler, and an amount of cancellation of a noise canceler in a reproducing system can respectively be controlled in accordance with the detected reproduced level; whereby the characteristic of a video tape can be controlled in accordance with the type thereof on an apparatus-wide and integrated basis.

The invention relates to magnetic recording and reproducing apparatuses such as home VTRs in which a luminance signal of a video signal to be recorded is subjected to frequency modulation and then to single-sideband recording.
In home VTRs the frequency band of signals which can be recorded and reproduced is generally narrower than the frequency band of a frequency-modulated (FM) luminance signal of a video signal to be recorded and, as a result, highfrequency components of the upper sideband of this FM signal are neither recorded nor reproduced. It is for this reason that the FM signal takes the form of a single-sideband wave when recorded and involves an amplitude variation when reproduced. If this FM signal is demodulated with its amplitude variation removed by a limiter, the aforesaid high frequencies of its upper sideband can be recovered. This is how the single-sideband recording is performed.
By the way, in the FM signal that has been passed through the limiter, the modulation indices of the high-frequency components of its recovered upper sideband and the low-frequency components of its lower sideband are decreased, and this acts to decrease the level of the FM signal. When this FM signal is demodulated, the energy of the high-frequency components of its demodulated luminance signal becomes smaller than that of its low-frequency components, thereby decreasing the signal level as a whole. To compensate for this decrease of the signal level, the home VTR employs a peaking circuit to boost the high-frequency components of the demodulated luminance signal. This peaking circuit serves to keep the level of the high-frequency components of the demodulated luminance signal as high as that of its low-frequency components.
Further, video tapes for the home VTRs include normal tapes and so-called "high-grade tapes" that exhibit higher performance than the normal tapes. To make the most of the performance of high-grade tapes, the characteristics of a recording or reproducing system of a VTR must be differentiated between high-grade tapes and normal tapes. For example, the following means could be proposed to implement such differentiation.
(1) Controlling the level of emphasis at a detail emphasis circuit in a recording system in which a luminance signal of a video signal is frequency-modulated and then magnetically recorded. The detail emphasis circuit serves to emphasize small-level signal components in the high-frequency components of the luminance signal before frequency modulation; PA1 (2) Controlling the amount of equalization at an FM equalizer which serves to boost the low-frequency components of an FM luminance signal in the recording system in which the luminance signal of a video signal is frequency-modulated and then magnetically recorded; PA1 (3) Controlling the amount of peaking at an FM peaking circuit which serves to boost the high-frequency components of an FM luminance signal before demodulation in a reproducing system in which a reproduced luminance signal is frequency-demodulated; and PA1 (4) Controlling the amount of cancellation at a noise canceller which serves to cancel noise of a demodulated luminance signal in the reproducing system in which a reproduced luminance signal is freguency-demodulated. PA1 (1) To identify the type of a video tape by the level of a reproduced signal, the frequency characteristic of a recording system is adjusted in such a manner that a reproduced level is detected and stored and the frequency characteristic of an FM luminance signal is adjusted in accordance with the stored reproduced level (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 146674/1988); PA1 (2) The amount of compensation for a frequency characteristic is kept unchanged by changing the peaking amount at an FM equalizer in the reproducing system while detecting the envelope of a reproduced FM signal and using this detected output as a control signal, even if the frequency characteristic of a video tape has been changed (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 59287/1988); and PA1 (3) A noise component from an original signal is subtracted by separating high-frequency components in the reproduced luminance signal at which noise tends to concentrate by a filter, i.e., the noise canceller 25 described as being included in the reproducing system, and by further filtering the low-level signal components out by the slice circuit, so that the high-frequency low-level signal is considered as the noise and subtracted from the original signal; that is, PA1 an FM luminance signal reproduced from a video tape is detected using an FM reproducing level detector and the slice level of the slice circuit is decreased with increasing reproduced levels (e.g., in the case of a high-grade tape) (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 14178/1989). PA1 FM luminance signal=A sin.alpha. PA1 low-frequency converted chroma signal=B sin.beta., PA1 then, the above phenomenon on the tape can be expressed as follows. ##EQU1## PA1 FM luminance signal component=A.sup.3 sin.sup.3 .alpha. PA1 Low-frequency converted chroma signal component=B.sup.3 sin.sup.3 .beta. PA1 3A.sup.2 Bsin.sup.2 .alpha..multidot.sin.beta.; 3AB.sup.2 sin.alpha..multidot.sin.beta. will be developed. as follows ##EQU2## Similarly, ##EQU3## PA1 a reproduced level detector for detecting the level of a reproduced signal and a memory for storing the reproduced level detected by the detector; and PA1 when recording a video signal, the signal is recorded and reproduced in advance, and this reproduced level is stored in the memory, so that an amount of emphasis of a detail emphasis circuit in a reproducing system and an amount of equalization of an FM equalizer in the recording system can be controlled in accordance with the stored reproduced level; while PA1 when reproducing the video signal, the level of a reproduced FM luminance signal is detected by the reproduced level detector, so that an amount of equalization of an FM equalizer, an amount of cancellation of a line noise canceller, and an amount of cancellation of a noise canceller in a reproducing system can respectively be controlled in accordance with the detected reproduced level; whereby PA1 the characteristic of a video tape can be controlled in accordance with the type thereof on an apparatus-wide and integrated basis.
The recording and reproducing systems of a home VTR will be outlined next with reference to FIG. 3.
The recording system will be described first. In FIG. 3, an input terminal 1 receives a video signal from a TV receiver or the like (not shown). This video signal is applied to a LPF 2, where a luminance signal is extracted, and the extracted luminance signal is then applied to an AGC 3, which controls the applied signal in such a manner that the level of its synchronizing signal can be kept constant. The video signal fed to the input terminal 1 is also applied to a BPF (not shown), where a chroma signal is extracted, and the extracted chroma signal is then converted into a low-frequency signal at a chroma signal processing circuit (not shown).
The luminance signal which has been through with the AGC 3 is then fed to a detail emphasis circuit 4, where small-level signal components in high-frequency components of the luminance signal are emphasized, and the emphasized signal is then applied to a luminance signal processing circuit 5. In the luminance signal processing circuit 5, the high frequencies are subjected to emphasis and a like process and then applied to a frequency modulator 6. The luminance signal frequency-modulated at the frequency modulator 6 has its low frequencies boosted by an FM equalizer 7, and low frequencies that correspond to the band of the low-frequency converted chroma signal are cut off at a HPF 8. The FM luminance signal which has been passed through the HPF 8 is then applied to a recording amplifier 9, where it is amplified while being mixed with the low-frequency converted chroma signal from the input terminal 10, and the thus processed signal is then supplied to a video head 11 to be magnetically recorded on a video tape 12.
The reproducing system will be described next. A video head 13, though shown separately from the video head 11 for purposes of convenience, is the same as the video head 11. A video signal reproduced from the video head 13 is amplified by a preamplifier 14, and not only a chroma signal that is subjected to low-frequency conversion by a LPF 15 is extracted, but also a luminance signal that is frequency-modulated by a HPF 16 is extracted. The chroma signal which has been through with the LPF 15 is converted into a chroma signal of a subcarrier band by a chroma signal processing circuit 17 and the converted chroma signal is then supplied to a mixing circuit 18.
The luminance signal, which has been passed through the HPF 16 has its high-frequency components (around 5 MHz) boosted by an FM equalizer 19, is kept at a constant level by an FM AGC 20 thereafter, and is then demodulated when applied to a frequency demodulator 21. The luminance signal delivered from the FM demodulator 21 is appropriately processed by a luminance signal processing circuit 22, and has its high-frequency components (2 MHz or more) boosted by a subsequent peaking circuit 23. The luminance signal which has been passed through the peaking circuit 23 is applied to a line noise canceller 24.
As shown in FIG. 4 in detail, the line noise canceller 24 delays a luminance signal fed from an input terminal 27 via the peaking circuit 23 for a single horizontal scanning period (hereinafter referred to simply as "1H") by a 1H delay element 28. The thus delayed luminance signal and the original luminance signal that has not been delayed are subjected to subtraction at a subtractor (which is shown as an adder 29, but acts as a subtractor because its polarity is inverted by the 1H delay element 28). Only a small-level signal which can be deemed as a noise component is extracted from the subtracted signal by a limiter 30, and the level of this small-level signal is attenuated by 1/2 at an attenuator 31. The attenuated signal is then subtracted by a subtractor shown as an adder 32, so that the noise component can be canceled. The luminance signal whose noise component has been canceled is then led to a noise canceller 25 from an output terminal 33.
The noise canceller 25 extracts high-frequency components containing much noise from the luminance signal that has been passed through the line noise canceller 24, and components whose levels are greater than a predetermined level are removed from the high-frequency components by a slice circuit (not shown). The output of the slice circuit is then subtracted from the luminance signal that has been passed through the line noise canceller 24 to cancel the noise.
The luminance signal which has been passed through the noise canceller 25 is applied to the mixing circuit 18 so as to be mixed with the chroma signal, the mixed signal is then delivered to an output terminal 26 and fed to a well known CRT or the like (not shown), so that a reproduced image cam be obtained.
The so-called high-grade tapes are commercially available as video tapes for home VTRs. The high-grade tape can provide not only a high reproducing output from the tape but also a remarkably improved signal-to-noise ratio by its extremely high degree of granulation and loading of magnetic powder.
That is, as shown in a characteristic diagram in FIG. 5, a high-grade tape al exhibits an output level higher than a normal tape b1, with the characteristic that its output level becomes higher especially in a high-frequency range (4 to 6 MHz) than in a low-frequency range (1 to 2 MHz).
When a video signal is recorded/reproduced using the high-grade tape, the levels of components such as the carrier wave, the low-frequency components of the upper sideband, and the high-frequency components of the lower sideband in the reproduced FM signal are boosted, making the levels of components such as the carrier wave, the low-frequency components of the upper sideband, and the high-frequency components of the lower sideband in the reproduced FM signal that has been passed through the limiter 30 higher than in the normal tape. Also, the levels of components such as the high-frequency components of the upper sideband and the low-frequency components of the lower sideband in the reproduced FM signal that has been passed through the limiter 30 become relatively lower than the levels of the low-frequency components of the upper sideband and the high-frequency components of the lower sideband as described before. And this makes the high-frequency signal level of the demodulated luminance signal low with respect to its low-frequency signal level that is maintained at a predetermined level, with this high-frequency signal level being lower than that in the normal tape. When the high-frequency signal level is so low as this, it cannot be adequately compensated for by the peaking circuit 23 if the circuit 23 is set to the normal tape mode.
FIG. 6 shows levels of demodulated video signals for both a high-grade tape a2 and a normal tape b2, indicating that the high-grade tape outputs a lower signal level at high frequencies than the normal tape. It is well known that high-grade tapes produce low reproduced outputs at high frequencies, and this results in blurring reproduced images.
To compensate for the impaired reproduction due to blurred images which are caused by deterioration in the high frequencies of a luminance signal of a recorded/reproduced video signal when operating a home VTR, the detail emphasis circuit 4, which serves to emphasize low-level signal components in high frequencies of a luminance signal to be recorded is provided as described above.
As shown in FIG. 13, the aforesaid detail emphasis circuit 4 is made up of a HPF 78, an amplifier 79, a limiter 80, an attenuator 81, an adder 82, and the like. A luminance signal received at an input terminal 70 from the AGC 3 is subjected to a process so that its high-frequency components are extracted by the HPF 78, and the extracted components are then amplified by the amplifier 79. The amplified high-frequency components are then applied to the limiter 80 so that the small-level signal components are extracted. The high-frequency small-level signal components which have been passed through with the limiter 80 are subjected to level adjustment by the attenuator 81 and to addition thereafter by the adder 82 so as to be added to the luminance signal from the input terminal 70. Then, the thus processed signal is applied to the luminance signal processing circuit 5 via an output terminal 84.
In a VTR having this detail emphasis circuit 4, if it assumed that a high-frequency small-level signal component incorporated in the luminance signal of a video signal to be recorded, i.e., an input detail signal, is such as one shown by b3 in FIG. 15A, then this input detail signal b3 is subjected to emphasis by the detail emphasis circuit 4 in the normal tape mode so that it will become a signal such as shown by b4 in FIG. 15A. When the thus processed input detail signal b4 is recorded/reproduced by a normal tape, and further demodulated, a signal similar to the input detail signal b3 is reproduced as shown by b5 in FIG. 15A.
By the way, if an input detail signal a3 shown in FIG. 15B which is similar to the input detail signal b3 is subjected to emphasis by the detail emphasis circuit 4 in the normal tape mode so that it will be reformed into a signal a4 that is similar to the signal b4, and if this signal a4 is recorded/reproduced using a high-grade tape and further demodulated, then the level of this signal a4 becomes lower than that of the input detail signal a3 as shown by a signal a5 in FIG. 15B. Such decrease in the level of the detail signal results in blurs on reproduced images.
As described above, the amount of emphasis in the conventional detail emphasis circuit is not sufficient to compensate for the blurs on the reproduced images when high-grade tapes are used.
Further, to automatically provide the optimal performance of a video tape in accordance with its type as well as to automatically compensate for deterioration in the characteristic of a video tape in accordance with its type, the following means have heretofore been known.
Incidentally, since the noise canceller 25 at which the slice level remains constant regularly cancels any high-frequency low-level signal components, the original signal components other than the noise may also be canceled. For this reason, it is preferable to set the amount of cancellation to a small value for high-grade tapes in which the signal-to-noise ratio is significantly improved but the high-frequency level of their demodulated luminance signal is decreased.
The line noise canceller shown in FIG. 4 does cancel not only noise components but also small-level signal components (detail signals) to a certain degree, thus causing the level of small-level signals to be decreased.
Further, while there is no attenuation in the level of a luminance signal that is in identical correlation with a luminance signal of 1H before, once there is any deviation from the correlation, the level of the deviating signal is decreased as much as such deviation.
The cases where the correlation is identical and where there is a deviation in the correlation will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A-7E and 8A-8E. Signals X1 to X5 in FIGS. 7A-7E show a case of the identical correlation, where X1 is an original signal; and X2, a signal of 1H before. These signals are in phase. Signal X3 is an output of the adder 29, which is set to level 0; X4, an output of the attenuator 31, which is likewise set to level 0; and X5, an output of the adder 32, producing a signal identical to the original signal shown by X1. Signals Y1 to Y5 show a case where a signal of 1H before is 90.degree. ahead of an original signal, with the original signal and the signal of 1H before being assumed to be such small-level signals as not to be limited by the limiter 30.
Signal Y1 is an original signal, expressed by sin.theta.; Y2, a signal of 1H before, expressed by sin(.theta.+.pi./2), or sin(.theta.+.pi./2)=cos.theta.. Signal Y3 is an output of the adder 29, which is expressed by Y1-Y2=sin.theta.-cos.theta., or sin.theta.-cos.theta.=.sqroot.2 sin(.theta.-.pi./4) in a composite equation. Signal Y4 is an output of the attenuator 31, which is 1/2 the level shown by signal Y3, or .sqroot.2/2 sin(.theta.-.pi./4). Signal Y5 is an output of the adder 32, which is sin.theta.-1/2 {sin.theta.-cos.theta.}=1/2 sin.theta.+1/2 cos.theta., or 1/.sqroot.2 sin(.theta.+.pi./4) in a composite equation.
As described above, the level of the original signal Y1 is decreased by 30% at the stage of the output signal Y5 and the phase of signal Y5 is 45.degree. ahead.
Small-level signals are generally less correlative in terms of line compared with large-amplitude signals. While no images can be recognized with the large amplitude signals having no line-based correlation, the small-level signals can produce recognizable images with no such correlation. For example, in the case of irregularities of human skin, there is no correlation. Signals Z1 to Z5 shown in FIGS. 8A-8E present a case where there is no correlation between an original signal and a signal of 1H before. In FIGS. 8A-8E, signal Z1 is a projecting original signal; Z2, a flat signal of 1H before, these signals having such small-amplitudes as not to be limited by the limiter 30; Z3, an output of the adder 29, which has a projecting waveform identical with the original signal; Z4, an output of the attenuator 31, whose amplitude is 1/2 that of the original signal Z1; and Z5, an output of the adder 32, whose amplitude is 1/2 that of the original signal Z1.
Accordingly, while serving to reduce noise, the line noise canceller 24 also decreases the level of the detail signal to some extent, and if there is a deviation from the correlation between the detail signal and the luminance signal of 1H before, the line noise canceller decreases the level of the detail signal as much as that deviation.
By the way, the aforesaid means have heretofore been known to automatically provide an optimal performance of a video tape in accordance with its type such as a normal tape or a high-grade tape, as well as to automatically compensate for deterioration in the characteristic of a video tape in accordance with its type. However, these means are not successful in effectively providing the optimal performance and compensating for the deterioration in the characteristic in accordance with the type of a video tape.
Let us now take a look at a case where a noise canceller disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 14178/1989 is used.
It is generally known that, when a color video signal is reproduced from a VTR and a luminance signal thereof is demodulated thereafter, an unwanted component of about 1.2 MHz is present in the demodulated luminance signal. The level of this unwanted component is increased with higher level of a reproduced chroma signal, i.e., higher degree of color saturation.
Some reasons why this unwanted component is present will be described. In the case of magnetic recording on a VTR, a recording current is subjected to third order distortion by hysteresis and magnetized as such on the tape.
It is assumed that:
With
FIG. 9 is a spectrum obtained when a signal magnetized on a video tape has been reproduced. Reference character a designates a low-frequency converted chroma signal sin.sup.3 .beta.; b, an unwanted component sin(.alpha.-2); c, an FM luminance signal sin.sup.3 .alpha.; d, an unwanted component sin(.alpha.+2.beta.); and e, f, unwanted components sin(2.alpha.-.beta.), sin(2.alpha.+.beta.), respectively. Among these unwanted components, the high-frequency components e, f produce so small output levels that they can be considered negligible.
In the case where noise of a luminance signal reproduced from a normal tape is to be canceled by the noise canceller whose amount of cancellation is varied in accordance with the level of the reproduced FM luminance signal as described above, the slice level is increased, so that the unwanted components b, d will also be canceled.
However, in the case where noise of a luminance signal reproduced from a high-grade tape is to be canceled and where an image such as an animation whose color saturation is high is to be reproduced, the unwanted components b, d will not be canceled despite the fact that the slice level is small, because these components b, d are comparatively large.
The presence of the unwanted components b, d in a luminance signal causes mesh-like noise to appear over the entire part of a reproduced image, making the image indistinct.
In the case of an image with a low color saturation, the levels of the unwanted components b, d are low even if a luminance signal is derived from a high-grade tape, thereby causing no mesh noise to appear.

Magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus including a switch for selectively supplying a reference signal to the recording unit


Provided are a method and device for detecting arrangement disorder of fibers in a conductive composite material. A coil (7) is disposed at a position at which the coil (7) faces the conductive composite material, and thereby a current can be applied to the conductive composite material. Thus, work or the like for attaching electrodes to the conductive composite material is not required. As a result, the arrangement disorder of the fibers in the conductive composite material can easily be detected. A method for detecting meandering of fibers in a conductive composite material includes a step of disposing a magnetic field sensor (8) at a position at which the magnetic field sensor (8) faces a surface (Sa) of the conductive composite material such that a direction (D) of a magnetosensitive axis is horizontal with the surface (Sa) and is parallel to coil faces (7e). Therefore, the magnetic field sensor (8) measures a magnetic field, and thereby a portion at which the arrangement disorder of the fibers in the conductive composite material is present can be detected.

In conductive composite materials in which a plurality of prepregs obtained by impregnating a conductive fiber fabric, for instance, a carbon fiber fabric, with a thermoset resin or a thermoplastic resin are laminated, arrangement disorder of fibers may occur during production. For example, a method for detecting the arrangement disorder of the fibers in the conductive composite material may include ultrasonic testing (e.g., see Patent Literature 1).

Method for detecting arrangement disorder of fibers in conductive composite material, and device for detecting arrangement disorder of fibers in conductive composite material


A probe assembly and method is disclosed which includes a plurality of sensors for respectively mreasuring predetermined attributes of a fluid. The probe assembly comprises a first sensor for measuring the quantity of the fluid. The first sensor includes a capacitive reference cell and a capacitive product measurement cell, each of the cells being characterized by respective associated capacitances. In particular, the capacitance associated with the capacitive product measurement cell varies in accordance with the quantity of the fluid so that the quantity of the fluid is indicated by the quantitative relationship between the magnitude of the capacitance associated with the capacitive reference cell and the magnitude of the capacitance associated with the capacitive product measurement cell. A second sensor extends coaxially at an extremity of the reference cell and includes a conductive portion to be at least partially immersed in the fluid so that the conductive portion of the second sensor is operable to effectively form a capacitive element with the fluid and with an extraneous conductive element. In this manner the capacitance of the capacitive element is determined by the characteristics of the fluid. A third sensor in the form of a thermistor is disposed in the reference cell for determining the temperature of the fluid. A liquid overflow detection device and method is also disclosed.

As is widely recognized by those with experience in the subject matter of maintaining fuel storage systems, reliable and efficient maintenance and operation of fuel storage systems necessarily involves diligent attention to many parameters that are associated with the fuel that is maintained in storage. The need to monitor the condition of fuel in a storage tank is prevalent to an even greater degree with respect to aviation fuel storage systems for use in private, military or commercial aircraft.
Applicant here perceives that existing approaches to fuel storage maintenance and monitoring systems, while adequate for their contemplated purposes, fall short of realizing the objectives, advantages and capabilities of the invention described herein.
Specifically, what is required is an apparatus and associated method for conveniently and reliably monitoring predetermined parameters of fuel that is stored in a fuel storage system. Among the parameters to be monitored are the quantity of the fuel contained in the storage system, the purity of the fuel or the presence of contaminants in the fuel, and the temperature of the fuel. The apparatus and method to be used to perform these functions should be convenient to install, operate and maintain. The apparatus should be resistent to adverse aspects of the conditions in which it will be called upon to operate, and should be flexible for use with automated systems.

Multi-sensor probe assembly and method for fuel storage system including overflow protection means


A locating structure for a silicon sheet of a motor locator, including a base board, a locator and a rotor. The base board is formed with a central fixing hole in which a bush of the locator is fixedly fitted. A sensing switch is disposed on the base board and has a chip sensing point. A silicon sheet is inlaid in a face of the locator adjacent to the base board. The silicon sheet has several radially projecting pole sections. In addition, the silicon sheet has a group of integrally projecting locating blocks radially opposite to each other. The base board is formed with locating holes respectively corresponding to the locating blocks. When a border of one pole section of the silicon sheet is aimed at the chip sensing point of the sensing switch, the locating blocks are inserted in the locating holes to truly locate the silicon sheet.

A present invention is related to an improved locating structure for a silicon sheet of a motor locator. The locating structure is able to truly locate the silicon sheet and aim the silicon sheet at a chip sensing point of a sensing switch.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a conventional wiperless DC motor. The motor includes a base board 81 formed with a central fixing hole 82. A bush 86 of a locator 85 is fixedly fitted in the fixing hole 82. A silicon sheet 84 is inlaid in each of the top and bottom faces of the locator 85. Each silicon sheet 84 has several pole sections 841. The locator 85 has several downward extending fixing rods 851. The base board 81 has a sensing switch 83 having a chip sensing point 831. The base board 81 has several fixing holes 811 respectively corresponding to the fixing rods 851. The fixing rods 851 are inserted in the fixing holes 811 for locating the locator 85. When located, the edge of one of the pole sections 841 of the silicon sheet 84 is aimed at the chip sensing point 831 of the sensing switch 83. The shaft 871 of a rotor 87 is disposed in the bush 86 of the locator 85. The rotor 87 has an annular permanent magnet 88 fitted around the locator 85. The coil in the locator 85 is controlled by the sensing switch 83 to create magnetic force of different polarities at the pole sections 841 of the silicon sheet 84. Accordingly, the permanent magnet 88 is driven to rotate the rotor 87 for driving a fan (not shown).
In the above structure, the fixing rods 851 are integrally formed in integral injection molding of the locator 85. The cross-section of the fixing rod 851 has small area so that when demolded, the fixing rods 851 tend to bend and deform. As a result, when using the fixing rods 851 to fix the locator 85, the fixing rods 851 are often deflected so that the pole sections 841 of the silicon sheet 84 can be hardly accurately aimed at the chip sensing point 831 of the sensing switch 83. In more serious case, the rotor 87 may be unable to rotate.
Moreover, the fixing rods 851 are integrally formed with the locator 85. Therefore, when the fixing rods 851 are inserted in the fixing holes 811, it is the locator 85 which is directly located, not the silicon sheet 84. In other words, the silicon sheet 84 is indirectly located by the fixing rods 851. Such locating measure tends to cause error of position where the silicon sheet 84 is inlaid in the locator 85. As a result, the silicon sheet 84 can be hardly truly located. In serious case, the rotor 87 may be also unable to rotate.
The sensing switch 83 through the chip sensing point 831 senses the variation of magnetic force of the pole sections 841 of the silicon sheet 84 so as to control turning on/off of the coil in the locator 85. Accordingly, the pole sections 841 of the silicon sheet 84 can create magnetic force of different polarities to drive the rotor 87 for driving the fan. Therefore, it is critical to accurately aim the pole sections of the silicon sheet at the chip sensing point of the sensing switch.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved locating structure for silicon sheet of motor locator. The silicon sheet has a group of integrally projecting locating blocks radially opposite to each other. The base board is formed with locating holes respectively corresponding to the locating blocks. When a border of one pole section of the silicon sheet is aimed at the chip sensing point of the sensing switch, the locating blocks are inserted in the locating holes to truly locate the silicon sheet.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Locating structure for silicon sheet of motor locator


Disclosed are a metal separation plate for a fuel cell stack, which includes protrusion patterns each having an air path opened in a short-side direction or protrusion patterns each having an air path of which one side is opened and the other side is closed, and can not only improve cooling performance and stack performance without a separate cooling plate mounted therein, and but also improve humidification performance of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) by blocking moisture leaking from the inside of the closed air paths, and a fuel cell stack having the same.

A fuel cell refers to a device that electrochemically generates electricity using hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. More specifically, the fuel cell converts hydrogen and air, which are continuously supplied from outside, into electrical energy and thermal energy through an electrochemical reaction.
Such a fuel cell generates power using an oxidation reaction in an anode and a reduction reaction in a cathode. At this time, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including a catalyst layer and a polymer electrolyte membrane is used in order to promote oxidation and reduction reactions, the catalyst layer including platinum or a platinum-ruthenium alloy. A conductive separator is coupled to both ends of the MEA so as to form a cell structure.
Since a unit cell of the fuel cell has a low voltage, the practical utility thereof is inevitably low. Thus, several or several hundred unit cells are generally stacked and used. When unit cells are stacked, a metal separation plate serves to electrically connect the respective unit cells and separate a reaction gas.
A general metal separation plate for a fuel cell includes a reaction gas channel and a cooling water channel, which are formed in the center of a rectangular metal plate, and a gasket surrounding the reaction gas channel and the cooling water channel. The reaction gas channel and the cooling water channel may be collectively referred to as a channel part. Typically, the reaction gas channel is formed through a stamping process which is performed from the front surface to the rear surface of the metal plate, and the cooling water channel is formed by utilizing an area between the reaction gas channels protruding from the rear surface of the metal plate. According to the structure of the channel part, a reaction gas may flow on the front surface of the metal plate, and cooling water may flow on the rear surface of the metal plate. For this reason, the front surface of the metal plate may be referred to as a reaction gas flowing surface, and the rear surface of the metal plate may be referred to as a cooling water flowing surface.
The metal separation plate has a water-cooled structure in which cooling water introduced into a cooling water introduction manifold at one side of the channel part cools heat while passing through the cooling water channel, the heat being generated by an activation loss, reduction reaction in the anode, and Joule heating, during operation of the fuel cell. The cooling water having passed through the cooling process is discharged to the outside of the metal separation plate through a cooling water discharge manifold at the other side of the channel part.
In the case of the water-cooled metal separation plate, cooling water must be continuously supplied to the metal separation plate in order to cool the heat generated during the operation of the fuel cell. In this case, the water-cooled metal separation plate requires a pump for supplying cooling water, a deionizer, a heat exchanger and the like, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost of a fuel cell system. On the other hand, an air-cooled metal separation plate has an effect of reducing the manufacturing cost of a fuel cell system.
However, the air-cooled metal separation plate has a total of two cathode layers which include a cathode separation plate for supplying air and a cooling plate for securing a space in the vertical direction to smoothly supply air, the cooling plate serving as a cooling fin. In this case, since the cooling plate is additionally required, the entire volume and manufacturing cost of a fuel cell stack are inevitably increased.
The related art of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-2003-0042633 published on Jun. 2, 2003, and provides a fuel cell stack which includes a cooling plate having an air-cooled structure and stacked between unit cells.

Metal separation plate for fuel cell stack and fuel cell stack having the same


A hybrid structure of multi-layer substrates comprises a first multi-layer substrate and a second multi-layer substrate. The first multi-layer substrate stacks up first metal layers, first dielectric layers alternately and has VIAs. A border district of a first metal layer connects with a border district of the corresponding first dielectric layer. The border districts are separated from adjacent first metal layers and adjacent first dielectric layers. The second multi-layer substrate stacks up second metal layers and second dielectric layers alternately. A border district of a second metal layer connects with a border district of the corresponding second dielectric layer. The border districts are separated from adjacent second metal layers and adjacent second dielectric layers. The VIAs are located at the border districts of the first dielectric layers and each VIA has electric conductor therein to connect one first metal layer with one second metal layer.

Miniaturization for all electronic productions is an unavoidable trend in this modern world. While the scales of the semiconductor chips continuously get smaller, the scale of the related technology for packaging needs to be microminiaturized to follow the scale of the semiconductor chip is also unavoidable. Today, because the integration of integrated circuits has been greatly increased, using a multi-layer substrate to package different kinds of chip devices is necessary to integrate different kinds of functions to obtain a high performance integration system consequentially. For example, an integration system may comprise many kinds of chip devices, such as a logic circuit component, a memory, an analog component, an optoelectronic component, a microelectric mechanical component or a luminous component. Generally, the kinds of chip devices need to connect with each other through one shared package substrate (such as a mainboard) according to prior arts. That is, if one chip device can be connected to another chip device directly, the integration of package can be increased to microminiaturize the whole system further. A Stacked Chip Scale Package (SCSP) is proposed to package several chips nowadays, is called a 3D-package. However, such a 3D-package concept is limited in a rigid system package.
For meeting the variety of modern electronic production, a flexible multi-layer substrate or a non-flat substrate can be used for high density package. According to prior arts, the connection for two independent multi-layer substrates is established through connectors or through one shared package substrate. Therefore, for corresponding to a flexible or irregular package to increase integration complexity and reducing package volume, even applying for a System-In-Package, connection becomes a great topic and a challenge for the package technology today.
Therefore, development of a hybrid structure of multi-layer substrates and manufacture method thereof to connect different kinds of chip devices directly without a shared package substrate, this will reduce the package volume of the whole system to increase the package integration and to provide a flexible package. Accordingly, microminiaturization of whole system can be achieved.

Hybrid structure of multi-layer substrates and manufacture method thereof


Upper and lower relatively rotatable members are provided with the upper member angularly displaceable relative to the lower member about an upstanding axis. The upper member includes first front and rear portions disposed forward and rearward of the axis and a seat amount is supported and projects upwardly from the upper member. A seat support member including second front and rear portions overlying the first front and rear portions is provided and is pivotally attached to the mount for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis adjacent the upstanding axis. The seat support member may support a seat therefrom with the front and rear portions of the seat overlying the second front and rear upper member portions and expansion springs are connected and extend between the first and second front portions yieldingly resisting upward movement of the second front portion relative to the first front portion. Vertically adjustable upwardly facing abutment structure is carried by the first front portion and abuttingly engageable by the second front portion to limit downward swinging of the latter relative to the first front portion.

Various forms of rocker assemblies for swivelly and rockingingly supporting a seat structure from a base heretofore have been provided. Examples of these forms of previously known assemblies as well as other similar assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,362,042, 1,437,848, 2,132,291, 2,339,953, 3,070,342, 3,547,393, 3,840,205, 3,881,713 and 4,025,020.
However, these previously known forms of rocker assemblies and similar structures are, for the most part, complex in nature, expensive to produce and troublesome in operation. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved form of rocker assembly for swivelly and rockingly supporting a seat from a base.


This invention relates to the preparation of, and a device for using, a permanently deformed sulfonated halopolymer article. A flexible and non-brittle flange may be formed from at least one end of a hollow perfluorosulfonic acid membrane in one aspect of the invention. The flanged membrane is particularly useful for quick attachment and detachment to various instrumentation used for pervaporation. In addition, by packing the membrane with a means for increasing radial diffusion of fluid within the membrane, pervaporation efficiency may be increased.

In many processes, two or more liquids come into contact with one another. Azeotropes of these liquids may form and simple separation methods are often inadequate to completely separate the liquids. This can cause significant problems in a variety of chemical or measurement processes. For example, the presence of water can cause: interferences associated with measurements using infrared (IR) or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; increases in corrosion rates in metalst or deactivation of catalysts in manufacturing processes. Certain portions of conventional processes, such as product recovery and reactant or solvent recycling, require separation of the liquids. Some separation methods commonly used are distillation, the use of dessicants, and the use of molecular sieves. However, these and other separation methods often have limited efficiency, require complex and costly equipment, or involve several processing steps.
Pervaporation, a process of selective permeation through a membrane and subsequent evaporation, is quite popular for use in separating and purifying liquids and gases. The recent surge in membrane technology has resulted in the availability of numerous polymer materials with an assortment of transport properties. Some of the more frequently used materials are sulfonated halopolymers, or metal salts thereof. A common sulfonated halopolymer is a polymer of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA). Examples of such polymers, and methods of preparing such polymers, can be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. that are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,282,875; 3,560,568; 4,025,405; 4,116,888; 4,123,336; 4,126,588; 4,178,218; 4,209,635; 4,270,996; 4,329,435; 4,330,654; 4,337,137; 4,337,211; 4,340,680; 4,357,218; 4,358,412; 4,358,545; 4,417,969; 4,462,877; 4,470,889; and 4,478,695. See also T. D. Sierke, "Perfluorinated ionomer Membranes", ACS Symposium Series No. 180, pp. 386-88 (1982). For a discussion of the most commonly preferred embodiments of PFSA polymers, See De Veilis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,977, col. 5, lines 1-36 (incorporated herein by reference).
Pervaporation devices, which are based on the selective permeation of mixture components through permselective membranes, have been developed and modified for use in many different applications. For purposes of this invention, "pervaporation device" and "permeation device" are used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Skarstrom et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,558), for example, disclose a process and apparatus for separating selected or key components from mixed fluid feeds using a PFSA membrane. They employ a combination of pressure and concentration gradients in a continuous process to achieve this purpose. More specifically, they create both a pressure difference and a composition difference between two counter-currently flowing fluid streams separated by the walls of a hollow PFSA membrane. These pressure and composition differences are also referred to as pressure gradients and concentration gradients. They act as driving forces to induce select or permeable fluid components of the feed to flow from a high pressure region that contains feed, through semi-permeable walls of the PFSA membrane to a low pressure region that contains either reflux, purge fluid, or both, thereby substantially removing selected permeable fluid components from the feed.
Another pervaporation method and device are disclosed by De Vellis et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,977, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. A mixture comprising one or more polar liquids and one or more non-polar liquids is placed in contact with one side of a membrane comprising a polymer of a PFSA, or metal salt thereof. On the other side of the membrane, conditions are provided such that polar liquids which have permeated through the membrane are carried away from the membrane. This is done by providing either a desiccant, a vacuum and purge gas, or both. Both the non-polar liquids and the fluid desiccant containing the permeated polar liquids are then separately removed from the vicinity of the membrane. Although this method and device function well, it would still be desirable to increase their efficiency.
In relation to a liquid chromatography method and apparatus, Stevens et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,004) disclose an improved flow-through reactor in which the improvement comprises a combination of a packing means and a membrane. They teach that packing an ion exchange membrane or membrane channel, used for ion chromatography, with inert or charged ion exchange beads increases overall suppressor efficiency. They use "suppressor efficiency" to refer specifically to the efficiency of reactions that are distinctive to ion chromatography. In these reactionst an electrolyte eluent is converted to a weakly ionized form in order to sensitively detect sample ions in a low conductive background. They attribute the increase in efficiency to the mixing action of the packing on ionic solute as it flows through the membrane channels, resulting in a reduction in laminar flow of the solute. See col. 7, lines 17-34 (incorporated herein by reference).
In order for an apparatus to properly function as a pervaporation device, though, the membrane must be effectively sealed to the device. Several means of sealing the membranes to pervaporation devices are known. For example, Skarstrom et al., col. 13, lines 20-44, use headers, end seals, and clamps. These sealing components are typically constructed of non-membrane materials such as epoxy resinst polyamide, silicone (siloxane polymers), polyethylene, polypropylene, butyl rubbery neoprene, polyester, or fluorocarbon polymers. De Veilis et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,977), col. 12, lines 45-50, adhesively pot a PFSA membrane into two lipped epoxy tubesheets. The lip on each one of the potted epoxy tubesheets allows the formation of a seal with a casing face plate. For examples of potting materials, see De Veilis et al., col. 14, lines 44-51, and James C. Davis and Dennis P. Petersony "Hollow Fiber Postcolumn Reactor for Liquid Chromatography," 57 Anal. Chem. 770 (1985). Other means of sealing include friction fit slip seals and swell seals wherein, typically, an end of the membrane is forced or swelled over a piece of the device.
There are, however, many problems associated with the above described sealing means. For example, many pervaporation device seals cannot withstand pressures suitable for effective permeation process conditions. The seals can also restrict effective flow of the fluid through the membrane. This is especially apparent when a sealing means component that is composed of a material different from the membrane (hereinafter referred to as a non-membrane component) interacts chemically with a solvent. Upon chemical interaction of a solvent and a non-membrane component, the component may swell and eventually rupture the membrane. Sealing means of this type are prone to leaking and typically last only a short time. In addition, many pervaporation device seals are incapable of being changed or modified quickly. It would be desirable to have a sealing means that substantially reduces these above-described problems.
A possible method of sealing a membrane to a pervaporation device would be to permanently and functionally deform the membrane into its desired sealing position with the device. An example of this would be a membrane that is permanently flanged and then functionally fitted to the device. This would not require the solvent-exposed use of non-membrane sealing components. It would also eliminate the use of potting materials. However, attempts to seal sulfonated halopolymer membranes by permanently forming them into their desirable positions have been unsuccessful. Sulfonated halopolymers are generally considered to be incapable of being effectively deformed to a permanent shape because of their elastic properties at room temperature and because thermal decomposition begins before the sulfonated halopolymers become fluid enough for deformation at an elevated temperature. See R. B. Moore et al., "Barriers to Flow in Semicrystalline Ionomers," 75 J. Membrane Sci. 8 (1992).

Permanent deformation and use of sulfonated halopolymer articles


A camera lens is provided. The camera lens includes, in sequence from an object side to an image side: a first lens having a negative refractive power; a second lens having a positive refractive power, an object-side surface of the second lens being configured as a convex surface, and an image-side surface of the second lens being configured as a convex surface; a third lens having a negative refractive; a fourth lens having a refractive power; a fifth lens having a positive refractive power, an image-side surface of the fifth lens being configured as a convex surface; a sixth lens having a negative refractive power, an image-side surface of the sixth lens being configured as a concave surface.

In recent years, with developments of science and technology, portable electronic products are rising gradually, and especially the portable electronic product with a camera function is more popular with people. More and more kinds of image acquisition devices are developed gradually, and a camera lens which may be applied to the image acquisition devices in various imaging fields is more popular in the market. A photosensitive element in a common optical system generally includes nothing more than a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). With progresses of a semiconductor process technology, the optical system trends to have a higher resolution, a pixel size of the photosensitive element becomes smaller and smaller, and a requirement for imaging quality of the matched optical system becomes higher and higher.


A method and apparatus for the automated assembly of sleeves onto the body of the garment. In the present invention, the garment body is placed on a first fixture resembling a mannequin. The sleeves are placed inside facing out on a second conical fixture. Automatically, each sleeve is positioned and sewn onto the garment body and the finished garment is removed from the first fixture. Through the use of sensors, each sleeve is precisely and consistently sewn to the garment body. The result is a high quality garment produced at a lower cost.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling textile items. Specifically, the invention is exemplified in the assembly of sleeve portions on to the body of a garment.
In the current state of the art, the assembly of sleeves onto T-shirts accounts for approximately 50% of the labor cost involved in producing the garment. The sleeves and the body of the garment are produced manually and in a final step the sleeves are manually attached to the body of the garment. In comparison to other operations performed in the industry, a relatively high level of skill is required to attach the sleeves to the garment.
In the prior art method of T-shirt manufacture, the sleeves are pre-fabricated from flat patterns into tubes with the inside facing out and having a finished edge and an unfinished edge. The garment body may be produced from a flat pattern or woven into a tube. The latter is preferred because it results in less waste fabric. The resultant garment body includes a neck opening and shoulder openings. In preparation for attachment of sleeves to the shoulder openings, the garment body is arranged to be right side out.
Typically, the worker (assembler) will align the edge of the sleeve with the edge of the shoulder opening and then manually present the aligned edges to a sewing machine and sew the sleeve to the body of the garment. Typically, the sewing machine used will trim the edges and stitch them together to produce a finished seam.
The prior art method of attaching sleeves to garment bodies requires a relatively high level of skilled labor and is very labor intensive. The cost of finished product is relatively high yet there is still room for improvement in both the level of quality and the level of consistency of the product.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of assembling garments.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of assembling garments which is more accurate and reduces waste.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which performs the improved method of assembling garments.
Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Method and apparatus for assembling garments

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratories, Inc.


A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates; and a transverse electric field generating electrode capable of being driven in a matrix driving manner which is provided on at least one of the pair of substrates and is connected to external control means. Each of the pair of substrates is provided with alignment means for aligning liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer so that the liquid crystal layer has spontaneous polarization generally parallel to a surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a matrix driving type transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device of a novel display mode. More particularly, the present invention relates to a matrix driving type transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device of a novel display mode using a nematic liquid crystal material which is oriented by an alignment treatment so as to have spontaneous polarization.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device has been conventionally known. The transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer containing a nematic liquid crystal material oriented parallel to the substrate surface, whereby the device is driven by an applied transverse electric field and by utilizing dielectric anisotropy of the nematic liquid crystal material (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-160878).
The transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device has problems such as a low aperture ratio and a low response speed. Referring to FIGS. 10A to 10D, the configuration of a conventional transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device and the problems associated therewith will be described.
The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of substrates 203 and 203, transverse electric field electrodes 201 and 202 both of which are provided on one of the substrates, alignment films 204 and 204 each provided on one of the substrates on the liquid crystal layer side thereof, and a liquid crystal layer 210 as a display medium. The liquid crystal display device further includes polarizers 206 and 206 provided external to the liquid crystal panel. In the conventional transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device, in the absence of an applied voltage, liquid crystal molecules 205 contained in the liquid crystal layer 210 are not twisted between the pair of substrates 203 and 203 but are oriented generally parallel to the substrate 203, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10C. Each of the substrates is provided with the polarizer 206 in such a manner that the direction of a polarization axis 209 of one polarizer 206 is identical to the direction of a molecular axis 208 of the liquid crystal molecules 205 while the direction of a polarization axis 209 of the other polarizer 206 is orthogonal to the direction of the molecular axis 208 of the liquid crystal molecules 205. For example, in the liquid crystal display device of the above-identified publication, the optical axis of linearly-polarized light which has passed through a polarizer provided on a lower substrate (hereinafter, referred to as the "lower polarizer"), i.e., the transmission axis of the lower polarizer, is identical to the molecular axis of the liquid crystal molecules. Therefore, there is no birefringence generated by the liquid crystal layer. As a result, the linearly-polarized light coming from the lower side of the liquid crystal panel reaches another polarizer provided on an upper substrate (hereinafter, referred to as the "upper polarizer") without becoming elliptically-polarized light or changing the direction of its optical axis, whereby the linearly-polarized light is blocked by the upper polarizer.
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10D, when an electric field E is applied in a direction 207 which is at a certain angle with respect to the molecular axis direction 208 of the liquid crystal molecules 205 and is generally parallel to the substrate surface, due to the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules 205, the liquid crystal molecules 205 rotate in a plane parallel to the substrate surface so that the minor axis thereof is orthogonal to the line of electric force. As a result, the optical axis of the linearly-polarized light which has passed through the lower polarizer is shifted with respect to that of the liquid crystal molecules, whereby the light coming from the lower side of the liquid crystal panel passes through the upper polarizer.
The aperture ratio of the conventional transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device is low because the liquid crystal molecules are driven based upon the dielectric anisotropy. In order to maximize the transmission in the conventional liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal molecules therein must be rotated by 45.degree.. The field strength required for rotating the liquid crystal molecules may vary depending upon the dielectric anisotropy and the elastic constant of the liquid crystal molecules, and the like, but is about 1 V/.mu.m for a commonly-employed liquid crystal material. When a liquid crystal display device having an ordinary pixel size is produced using an ordinary liquid crystal material, the short side of a pixel is about 80 .mu.m long. Accordingly, a driving voltage of about 80 V is required to be applied between the transverse electric field electrodes 201 and 202. However, such a driving voltage, as high as about 80 V, is not practical for an ordinary matrix driving type liquid crystal display device. Therefore, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, an additional electrode (not shown) needs to be provided between the electrodes 201 and 202 in FIGS. 10A to 10D in order to reduce the interval between two electrodes and thus the driving voltage required therebetween. As a result, the additional electrode creates an additional light-blocking portion, thereby lowering the aperture ratio of the liquid crystal display device.
A high contrast display is not easily achieved in the conventional transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device due to the configuration thereof. As described above, in order to block light in the absence of an applied voltage, the direction of the polarization axis of one polarizer (e.g., the transmission axis of the lower polarizer) needs to be identical to the molecular axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules while the direction of the polarization axis of the other polarizer (e.g., the transmission axis of the upper polarizer) needs to be orthogonal to the molecular axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules. For example, if the polarization axis of the lower polarizer is not identical to the molecular axis of the liquid crystal molecules, linearly-polarized light which has passed through the lower polarizer becomes elliptically-polarized light due to the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer, and thus passes through the upper polarizer. Therefore, in order to achieve a high contrast display, it is necessary for the direction of the alignment treatment (e.g., rubbing treatment) for the upper substrate to be precisely identical to that for the lower substrate, for the direction of the alignment treatment to be precisely identical to the polarization axis direction of one of the polarizers, and for the direction of the alignment treatment to be precisely orthogonal to the polarization axis direction of the polarizer. However, when actually producing a liquid crystal display device, it is very difficult to precisely arrange these components as described above. Accordingly, it is very difficult to achieve a high contrast display with the conventional transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device. Moreover, the productivity of the manufacturing process of such a liquid crystal display device is very low due to the precise arrangement of the components being required.
The response speed is low in the conventional liquid crystal display device for the following reason. The response speed can be generally classified into two factors, i.e., one factor associated with an increase in the applied voltage and one factor associated with a decrease in the applied voltage. The factor which is of particular importance in the conventional liquid crystal display device is the one associated with a decrease in the applied voltage. In the conventional liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal molecules are driven based upon the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules. In particular, when a voltage is applied and the field strength thus increases, the liquid crystal molecules are driven with a driving force provided by the electric field acting upon the liquid crystal molecules which have dielectric anisotropy. This response is relatively fast. However, when application of voltage is stopped and the field strength thus decreases, the movement of the liquid crystal molecules is caused only by the restoring force of the elastic liquid crystal molecules (since no driving force is provided by the electric field). As a result, the response speed when the field strength decreases is considerably lower than that when the field strength increases, whereby the total response speed of the liquid crystal display device is relatively low.
As described above, there is a need for a transverse electric field type liquid crystal display device with the pixel size and driving voltage being in a practical range, and having a high aperture ratio, a high contrast (i.e., a high transmission), and a high response speed.


Apparatus and methods for diverting objects to a second path from a first path. Some embodiments include an articulatable diverting member coupled to an endless loop placed at an oblique angle above the first path of the conveyor. The diverting members are selectively placed in either a retracted position or an extended position based on sensory knowledge of the particular objects passing underneath the endless member. In the extended position, the diverting members contact the particular objects and slide them to the second path. In the retracted position, the conveyed objects pass underneath the diverting member.

It is often necessary to sort objects being conveyed on a conveyor. The sorting may be necessitated by downstream events (such as too little or too much product at a subsequent station), by the need to separate objects based on their identity (which can be indicated by a bar code), for separation of objects based on their final destination, or for other reasons. Further, the objects may be conveyed in an irregular pattern, with irregular spacing or irregular product orientation. For any or all of these reasons, or for other reasons, it may be desirable to quickly determine which specific objects in a group of objects are to be diverted from one conveying path to another conveying path, and to accomplish that diversion without affecting the non-selected objects.
The various embodiments of the invention shown and described herein provide novel and unobvious ways to divert products from one conveyor path to another conveyor path.


An isolation platform for use with an entertainment system component having a plinth for supporting the entertainment system component and a granular vibration absorption medium for dissipating mechanical vibrations. The granular vibration absorption medium is in communication with the plinth for isolating the entertainment system component from mechanical vibrations. A base structure is provided for containing the granular vibration absorption medium. The isolation platform functions to isolate the entertainment system component from mechanical vibrations to prevent degradation of performance of the entertainment system component. The base structure includes a plurality of shock-absorbing support feet for absorbing mechanical vibrations. A gap is located between the plinth and the base structure for minimizing the transfer of mechanical vibrations between the plinth and the base structure. The gap is filled with the granular vibration absorption medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to isolation platforms. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for isolation platforms of the type which dissipate mechanical vibrations in home and professional entertainment component equipment.
While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of isolation equipment, much attention has been directed toward minimizing the mechanical vibrations to which entertainment system components are subjected. Thus, an important objective of isolation equipment is to prevent the mechanical vibrations inherent in many devices from contaminating the performance capability of electronic and mechanical components. Examples of entertainment system components include electronic devices such as compact disk players, laser disk players, synthesizers, amplifiers, speakers, phonographs and the like. Mechanical components might include the moving elements of certain of the above mentioned electronic devices, for example, the spinning optical-video disk of the laser disk player or an antique cylinder phonograph.
In order to minimize the degradation of performance of an entertainment system component, it is necessary to dissipate the mechanical vibrations which are generated both internal and external to the entertainment system component. Mechanical vibrations generated by the entertainment system component include, for example, the inertial vibrations generated by the spinning 12" diameter optical-video disk of the laser disk player. External mechanical vibrations are continuously directed toward the entertainment system component from a myriad of sources including, for example, passing foot traffic. Therefore, a continuing problem is the necessity to dissipate both the internally and externally generated mechanical vibrations. Other associated problems include the need to minimize the transmission of mechanical vibrations generated internally by system components, such as speakers, through adjacent floors and walls. Further, stabilizing cabinet structures which house system components is desirable in order to minimize transmission of the mechanical vibrations to the cabinet and adjacent structures.
A solution to these problems has been evasive. For example, employing materials having shock-absorbing properties such as rubber, plastic or spring mounts provides only limited dissipating capability. This is the case because the material must also function as a mount to support the system component and therefore, must be of moderate density. Another example includes the use of cone-shaped mechanical diodes. The broad base of the diode is placed adjacent to the component for transmitting internally generated vibrations through the cone and out the narrow base. Externally generated mechanical vibrations can not pass through the narrow base to the system component, thus providing some protection. However, the mechanical diode can only transmit energy, not dissipate it and thus is only moderately effective.
Other examples of attempts to eliminate mechanical vibrations in entertainment system components include the use of mass loading devices, aerial suspension techniques, component clamping devices and anti-vibration weights. Mass loading devices utilize, for example, plates comprised of lead or a combination of lead, steel or medium density fiber board. The mass loading device is placed beneath the entertainment system component to absorb mechanical vibrations. The high density plates, particularly those alloyed with steel tend not to dissipate the mechanical vibrations. Aerial suspension of system components from overhead structures have been employed in an attempt to avoid vibration problems. Suspended system components exhibit a certain level of inconvenience and do not necessarily provide isolation from internally and externally generated mechanical vibrations. Further, fine tuning of the aerial suspension mechanism is required to avoid the spring properties of the suspension lines from interfering with the dominate mechanical resonant frequency structure of the system component.
The effect of the chassis clamping device is to alter the dominate resonant frequency of the system component. However, the mechanical vibrations are not prevented or dissipated and are therefore, transmitted into and out of the entertainment system component. Thus, this device provides the entertainment system component with little protection. Anti-vibration weights are placed on top of the entertainment system component for controlling chassis vibration. However, externally generated mechanical vibrations are permitted to enter subjecting the system component to potential damage. Unfortunately, the problems associated with dissipation of mechanical vibrations generated both internal and external to the entertainment system component continue to exist without a viable solution.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improvement in isolation equipment for isolating an entertainment system component from mechanical vibrations to prevent degradation of performance of the system component.


The transmission type liquid crystal display device of this invention includes: gate lines; source lines; and switching elements each arranged near a crossing of each gate line and each source line, a gate electrode of each switching element being connected to the gate line, a source electrode of the switching element being connected to the source line, and a drain electrode of the switching element being connected to a pixel electrode for applying a voltage to a liquid crystal layer, wherein an interlayer insulating film formed of a fluoric resin with high transparency is provided above the switching element, the gate line, and the source line, and wherein the pixel electrode formed of a transparent conductive film is provided on the interlayer insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission type liquid crystal display device which includes switching elements such as thin film transistors (hereinafter, referred to as "TFTs") as addressing elements and is used for displays of computers, TV sets, and the like, and a method for fabricating such a transmission type liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of a conventional transmission type liquid crystal display device provided with an active matrix substrate.
Referring to FIG. 16, the active matrix substrate includes a plurality of pixel electrodes 1 arranged in a matrix and TFTs 2 used as switching elements connected to the respective pixel electrodes 1. Gate electrodes of the TFTs 2 are connected to gate lines 3 for supplying a scanning (gate) signal, so that the gate signal can be input into the gate electrodes to control the driving of the TFTs 2. Source electrodes of the TFTs 2 are connected to source lines 4 for supplying an image (data) signal, so that the data signal can be input into the corresponding pixel electrodes 1 via the TFTs 2 when the TFTs 2 are being driven. The gate lines 3 and the source lines 4 run adjacent to the pixel electrodes 1 and are arranged in a matrix to cross each other. Drain electrodes of the TFTs 2 are connected to the respective pixel electrodes 1 and storage capacitors 5. Counter electrodes of the storage capacitors 5 are connected to common lines 6. The storage capacitor 5 is used for holding a voltage applied to a liquid crystal layer. The storage capacitor is provided in parallel to a liquid crystal capacitor which includes the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pixel electrode provided on an active matrix substrate and a counter electrode provided on a counter substrate.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a one-TFT portion of the active matrix substrate of the conventional liquid crystal display device.
Referring to FIG. 17, a gate electrode 12 connected to the gate line 3 shown in FIG. 16 is formed on a transparent insulating substrate 11. A gate insulating film 13 is formed covering the gate electrode 12. A semiconductor layer 14 is formed on the gate insulating film 13 so as to overlap the gate electrode 12 via the gate insulating film 13, and a channel protection layer 15 is formed on the center of the semiconductor layer 14. n.sup.+ -Si layers as a source electrode 16a and a drain electrode 16b are formed covering the end portions of the channel protection layer 15 and portions of the semiconductor layer 14, so that they are separated from each other at the top of the channel protection layer 15. A metal layer 17a which is to be the source line 4 shown in FIG. 16 is formed to overlap the source electrode 16a as one of the n.sup.+ -Si layers. A metal layer 17b is formed to overlap the drain electrode 16b as the other n.sup.+ -Si layer so as to connect the drain electrode 16b and the pixel electrode 1. An interlayer insulating film 18 is formed covering the TFT 2, the gate line 3, and the source line 4.
A transparent conductive film is formed on the interlayer insulating film 18 to constitute the pixel electrode 1. The transparent conductive film is connected to the metal layer 17b which is in contact with the drain electrode 16b of the TFT 2 via a contact hole 19 formed through the interlayer insulating film 18.
Thus, since the interlayer insulating film 18 is formed between the pixel electrode 1 and the underlying layers including the gate and source lines 3 and 4, it is possible for the pixel electrode 1 to overlap the lines 3 and 4. Such a structure is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 58-172685, for example. With this structure, the aperture ratio improves and, since the electric field generated by the lines 3 and 4 is shielded, the occurrence of disclination can be minimized.
Conventionally, the interlayer insulating film 18 is formed by depositing an inorganic material such as silicon nitride (SiN) to a thickness of about 500 nm by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
The above conventional liquid crystal display device has disadvantages as follows.
When a transparent insulating film made of SiN.sub.x, SiO.sub.2, TaO.sub.x, and the like is formed on the interlayer insulating film 18 by CVD or sputtering, the surface of the film directly reflects the surface profile of the underlying film, i.e., the interlayer insulating film 18. Therefore, when the pixel electrode 1 is formed on the transparent insulating film, steps of 100 to 200 nm, in general, will be formed on the pixel electrode 1 if the underlying film has steps, causing disturbance in the orientation of liquid crystal molecules.
The other disadvantage is as follows. When the pixel electrode 1 overlaps the gate line 3 and the source line 4 via the interlayer insulating film 18, the capacitances between the pixel electrode 1 and the gate line 3 and between the pixel electrode 1 and the source line 4 increase. In particular, when an inorganic film made of silicon nitride and the like is used as the interlayer insulating film 18, the dielectric constant of such a material is as high as 8 and, since the film is formed by CVD, the thickness of the resultant film is as small as about 500 nm. With such a thin interlayer insulating film, the capacitances between the pixel electrode 1 and the lines 3 and 4 are large. This causes the following problems (1) and (2). Incidentally, in order to obtain a thicker inorganic film made of silicon nitride and the like, an undesirably long time is required in the aspect of the fabrication process.
(1) When the pixel electrode 1 overlaps the source line 4, the capacitance between the pixel electrode 1 and the source line 4 becomes large. This increases the signal transmittance, and thus a data signal held in the pixel electrode 1 during a holding period fluctuates depending on the potential thereof. As a result, the effective voltage applied to the liquid crystal in the pixel varies, causing, in particular, vertical crosstalk toward a pixel adjacent in the vertical direction in the actual display.
In order to reduce the influence of the capacitance between the pixel electrode 1 and the source line 4 appearing on the display, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-230422 proposes a driving method where the polarity of a data signal to be supplied to the pixels is inverted every source line. This driving method is effective for a black-and-white display panel where the displays (i.e., data signals) of adjacent pixels are highly correlated with each other. However, it is not effective for a color display panel for normal notebook type personal computers and the like where pixel electrodes are arranged in a vertical stripe shape (in color display, a square pixel is divided into three vertically long rectangular picture elements representing R, G, and B, forming a vertical stripe shape). The display color of pixels connected to one source line is different from that of pixels connected to an adjacent source line. Accordingly, the proposed driving method of inverting the polarity of the data signal every source line is not effective in reducing crosstalk for the general color display, though it is effective for the black-and-white display.
(2) When the pixel electrode 1 overlaps the gate line 3 for driving the pixel, the capacitance between the pixel electrode 1 and the gate line 3 becomes large, increasing the feedthrough of the write voltage to the pixel due to a switching signal for controlling the TFT 2.

Liquid crystal display device with thick interlayer insulating film under pixel electrode


Nucleic acids containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and therapeutic utilities based on their ability to stimulate an immune response and to redirect a Th2 response to a Th1 response in a subject are disclosed.

DNA Binds to Cell Membranes and is Internalized
In the 1970's, several investigators reported the binding of high molecular weight DNA to cell membranes (Lerner, R. A., W. Meinke, and D. A. Goldstein. 1971. "Membrane-associated DNA in the cytoplasm of diploid human lymphocytes". Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 68:1212; Agrawal, S. K., R. W. Wagner, P. K. McAllister, and B. Rosenberg. 1975. "Cell-surface-associated nucleic acid in tumorigenic cells made visible with platinum-pyrimidine complexes by electron microscopy". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 72:928). In 1985, Bennett et al. presented the first evidence that DNA binding to lymphocytes is similar to a ligand receptor interaction: binding is saturable, competitive, and leads to DNA endocytosis and degradation into oligonucleotides (Bennett, R. M., G. T. Gabor, and M. M. Merritt. 1985. "DNA binding to human leukocytes. Evidence for a receptor-mediated association, internalization, and degradation of DNA". J. Clin. Invest. 76:2182). Like DNA, oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) are able to enter cells in a saturable, sequence independent, and temperature and energy dependent fashion (reviewed in Jaroszewski, J. W., and J. S. Cohen. 1991. "Cellular uptake of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides". Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 6:235; Akhtar, S., Y. Shoji, and R. L. Juliano. 1992. "Pharmaceutical aspects of the biological stability and membrane transport characteristics of antisense oligonucleotides". In: Gene Regulation: Biology of Antisense RNA and DNA. R. P. Erickson, and J. G. Izant, eds. Raven Press, Ltd. New York, pp. 133; and Zhao, Q., T. Waldschmidt, E. Fisher, C. J. Herrera, and A. M. Krieg., 1994. "Stage specific oligonucleotide uptake in murine bone marrow B cell precursors". Blood, 84:3660). No receptor for DNA or ODN uptake has yet been cloned, and it is not yet clear whether ODN binding and cell uptake occurs through the same or a different mechanism from that of high molecular weight DNA.
Lymphocyte ODN uptake has been shown to be regulated by cell activation. Spleen cells stimulated with the B cell mitogen LPS had dramatically enhanced ODN uptake in the B cell population, while spleen cells treated with the T cell mitogen Con A showed enhanced ODN uptake by T but not B cells (Krieg, A. M., F. Gmelig-Meyling, M. F. Gourley, W. J. Kisch, L. A. Chrisey, and A. D. Steinberg. 1991. "Uptake of oligodeoxyribonucleotides by lymphoid cells is heterogeneous and inducible". Antisense Research and Development 1:161).

Immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecules

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


In order to obviate the necessity for providing a complete channel of electronics for each transducer of an array incorporated into a real-time ultrasonic imaging system, all system transducers are disposed in apparent series with a single inductor as to direct current. Charging resistors permit each transducer to slowly capacitively charge to a predetermined voltage under static conditions. When a switching transistor disposed in series with a given transducer is placed in the conducting state, the transducer rapidly discharges and mechanically deflects to introduce an ultrasonic pulse into an object. While the switching transistor remains conductive, the inductor and transducer are in parallel circuit as to echo signals returning to the transducer. When the switching transistor is rendered non-conductive, the transducer again charges capacitively in anticipation of a succeeding cycle. All echo signals sensed are amplified by a single preamplifier and applied to a display which is sweep coordinated with the sequence of transducer energization.

This invention relates to real-time ultrasonic interrogating systems, and, more particularly, to circuitry for exciting a transducer and for receiving echos in an ultrasonic interrogating system which is for example useful in the biological investigation arts.
A system environment in which the circuitry of the present invention has found significant utility is described in my copending patent application Ser. No. 389,958, for "Ultrasonic Cross-Sectional Imaging System", filed Aug. 20, 1973, and assigned to a common assignee herewith, now Pat. No. 3,881,466. The ultrasonic imaging system disclosed therein is characterized by the use of an array of relatively narrow transducers which are excited in groups according to a predetermined sequence in order to achieve improved resolution by an overlapping ultrasonic scanning pattern.
The most advanced known prior art real-time ultrasonic imaging system for carrying out biological investigations is disclosed in an article by Bom et al, published in the November, 1971, issue of "Bio-Medical Engineering", pages 500-503, 508, and entitled "Ultrasonic Viewer for Cross-Sectional Analyses of Moving Cardiac Structures". The Bom et al apparatus utilizes a linear array of twenty relatively large transducers excited sequentially on an individual basis. Twenty power transistors and twenty preamplifiers are necessary to achieve transducer excitation and echo detection, and the electronic circuits and transducers are coupled by twenty separate coaxial cables. Each transducer is connected in parallel with a tuning inductor, which must be provided to damp unwanted low frequency cross-mode vibrations.
There are two basic disadvantages to the prior art apparatus as exemplified by the Bom et al system. First, the inordinate inherent clumsiness and unreliability are a serious drawback. Second, the necessity for providing twenty complete discrete electronic channels exhibiting high performance characteristics inevitably results in undesirably high costs. The present invention is directed to overcoming both these disadvantages while further affording superior performance.

Ultrasonic interrogating system and exciter-detector circuit therefor

Advanced Diagnostic Research Corporation


A droplet separator pack having at least two elongate lamella droplet separator profiles is described. Retaining strips that have a planar front and rear face and side faces adapted to the curved shape of the lamella droplet separator profiles are arranged between the lamella droplet separator profiles at at least one end thereof. The retaining strips include latching connection means for clipping together wherein the corresponding lamella droplet separator profiles are clipped together between adjacent retaining strips. In this manner droplet separator packs can be assembled in a simple manner at the place of installation.

Such a droplet separator pack is known. Such a pack includes a plurality of elongate lamella droplet separator profiles arranged parallel to one another that are connected by means of end walls extending perpendicularly to the profiles so that a corresponding pack results. The lamella droplet separator profiles themselves are curved in cross-section so that a gas stream passing the droplet separator pack (the spaces between the individual profiles) is deflected on its flow path whereby the droplets entrained in the gas stream are separated at the profiles. Such lamella droplet separator profiles are known.
Such droplet separator packs are mounted against one another in order to cover corresponding flow channels, for instance in flue gas desulphurization installations. In this case, the respective end walls are used for the installation of the packs on corresponding support structures or at adjacent droplet separator packs. For example, the end wall arranged at the edge of the flow channel is supported at a support structure while the end wall pointing to the middle of the flow path is connected to the end wall of an adjacent droplet separator pack or is also supported on a support structure. Such an installation is known.
Furthermore, it is known to manufacture such droplet separator packs by welding the individual lamella droplet separator profiles to continuous end walls extending perpendicularly to the profiles. The packs provided with the end walls are transported in this condition to the place of installation and are mounted there, i.e. are fixed at the corresponding support structures or at other droplet separator packs.
It is known to design such droplet separator packs for horizontally arranged droplet separators (so-called flat separators) or for roof-shaped or V-shaped droplet separators. With the droplet separator packs for flat separators the end walls extend perpendicularly to the lamella droplet separator profiles while they define with the profiles an angle deviating from 90° with roof-shaped or V-shaped separators. For example, with a roof-shaped separator two adjacent droplet separator packs with opposite inclination form a separator wherein the two adjacent end walls of the two packs are fixed at one another while the respective other end walls are supported on or at support structures. With a V-shaped separator a corresponding construction is used wherein here the packs are inclined in a V-shaped manner. Corresponding constructions are present with a flat separator wherein in this case the profiles extend horizontally.
Such droplet separator packs consisting of a plurality of individual separator profiles that are connected through end walls have certain disadvantages with respect to their transport since they require a lot of space.

Droplet separator pack having latchable retaining strips


A character recognition device includes a ruled line extracting unit supplied with image information to be recognized and operated for extracting ruled line coordinates from the image information, a character recognizing unit for recognizing characters from the region excluding frame lines extracted by the ruled line extracting unit, and a recognition result outputting unit for outputting character codes together with ruled line codes from the results obtained by the ruled line extracting unit and the character recognizing unit.

This invention relates to a character reader for recognizing printed characters, and more specifically to a system for recognizing printed characters from images including ruled lines and then generating character codes, and to a system for forming tables by controlling positions and types of ruled lines forming them.
Recently, with advances in computers and databases, various kinds of character recognition systems have been realized which utilize an image reader to read printed characters, recognize them as characters and symbols thereof, and then encode them for storing in a memory.
With such a system, the position of a ruled line may be erroneously recognized and the recognition results may be output without and adjustment, causing display misplacement or breaks in ruled lines or frame lines. This occurs because the number and width of characters are different in each row and column of the table. Therefore, a technology is required for recognizing ruled lines as well as characters. To meet this requirement, it is necessary to determine the position and type of a ruled line of a table according to the recognition result of characters and tables, and then to appropriately form a table by preventing misplaced frame lines, etc.
With the increasing world-wide use of word processors, most office work now involves preparation of documents with a lot of tables. In forming a large or complicated table, the operation of pre-setting the positions of vertical and horizontal frame lines is often troublesome to the operator. Therefore, it is preferable to complete a table by determining the number and size of items in it according to a series of inputted character codes and then automatically determining the positions of its vertical and horizontal lines.