A belt-type one-way clutch is arranged so that a case is assembled with a flat pulley so as to rotate around the central axis of the flat pulley, and that a flat belt is looped between a working surface of a rocking member supported for rocking motion by a shaft member held at both ends in shaft bores of the case and a working surface of the flat pulley, and that the rocking plate biased from a leaf spring presses one span of the flat belt to place an initial tension on the flat belt. Both the ends of the shaft member are held in the shaft bores of the case via respective bushes to suppress stress. Accordingly, larger torque can be transmitted despite use of aluminum alloy as material of the case.

This invention relates to a one-way clutch of simple construction and low cost for which no high precision is required.
As for example disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2869062, there is known a simple one-way clutch for low torque transmission in which is applied the principle of a two-shaft belt power transmission mechanism for transmitting torque between two shafts by way of a belt looped therebetween.
This clutch includes a first rotation member of flat pulley shape that is coupled to either one of the drive and driven sides, and a second rotation member that is assembled rotatably with the first rotation member and coupled to the other of the drive and driven sides. Radially outside of the first rotation member is disposed a shaft member which is in parallel with the rotation axis of both the rotation members, and both ends of the shaft member are pressed into corresponding shaft bores provided in the second rotation member, respectively. A rocking member of substantially arcuate cross section is supported for rocking motion on the shaft member. A belt is looped between the outer periphery of the rocking member and the outer periphery of the first rotation member so that it creates two spans therebetween. On the other hand, attached to the second rotation member is a biasing means for tending to radially inwardly press one end of the rocking member in a circumferential direction thereof, whereby the other end of the rocking member in the circumferential direction radially outwardly presses one span of the belt to place an initial tension on the belt.
When torque is input to the clutch in a direction to relatively rotate both the rotation members such that the span pressed by the biasing means will provide a slack-side span, the belt tension is maintained or increased and therefore the torque is transmitted between the first and second rotation members via the belt. In contrast, when torque is input to the clutch in a direction to relatively rotate both the rotation members such that the span pressed by the biasing means will provide a tight-side span, the belt tension is reduced so that the belt slips on at least one of the outer peripheries of both the rocking member and the first rotation member, which blocks torque transmission.
While a typical conventional one-way clutch is a precision machinery component in which a plurality of intermediate members are arranged for establishing and blocking torque transmission between inner and outer rings and a spring member is provided for urging each of the intermediate members in a direction to allow for torque transmission, the belt-type one-way clutch as described above needs no highly precise parts and has a simplified construction. Therefore, the belt-type one-way clutch has the advantage of being manufactured at low cost.
Further, when excessively large torque is input to the clutch, the belt can be broken to block further torque transmission. This also offers the advantage of low cost in that there is no need for the clutch to additionally include a torque limiter. In addition, the belt-type one-way clutch is also economically advantageous in that even if the belt has been broken, the clutch can be used again by replacing the broken belt with new one.
Meanwhile, since the belt-type one-way clutch originally has a simpler construction as compared with the typical one-way clutch, it can only necessarily transmit relatively small torque. In terms of its use, however, there is a strong demand for such a clutch that transmits as large torque as possible even if it is for low torque transmission.
In order to increase the magnitude of transmittable torque of the belt-type one-way clutch, the following several measures have been required:
1) to enhance the tensile strength of the belt;
2) to enhance the strength of the rocking member receiving pressure due to a belt tension with a smaller area than the first rotation member; and
3) to enhance the strength of the shaft member which supports the rocking member thereon.
Further, as a user side demand, weight reduction is also strongly needed in addition to rise in transmittable torque magnitude. In this respect, making the second rotation member from aluminum alloy has yet been taken as a measure.
Problem to be Solved
However, the above-described one-way clutch has a problem in that load placed on the shaft member is concentrated at the shaft bores of the second rotation member in which both ends of the shaft member are held so that excessively large stress will be produced at the shaft bores.
In particular, if the second rotation member is made from aluminum alloy for weight reduction, the problem resulting from excessively large stress will outstandingly appear.
In view of the foregoing problem, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a belt-type one-way clutch which applies the principle of a two-shaft belt power transmission mechanism and which can increase the magnitude of transmittable torque while avoiding constraints placed due to the use of aluminum alloy as material of the second rotation member for its weight reduction by suppressing stress produced due to load of the shaft member being concentrated at shaft bores of the second rotation member which held respective ends of the shaft member in order to increase the magnitude of transmittable torque.
To solve the foregoing problem, the present invention takes the following solutions.
A first solution of the invention is a one-way clutch comprising: a first rotation member that has a working surface of circular cross section formed in an outer periphery thereof and is coupled to one of drive and driven sides; a second rotation member that is assembled with the first rotation member so as to rotate around the central axis of the working surface of the first rotation member and is coupled to the other of the drive and driven sides; a shaft member that is disposed radially outside of the working surface of the first rotation member to extend in parallel with the central axis of the working surface and is held at both ends thereof by the second rotation member; a rocking member that is placed radially outside of the working surface of the first rotation member, has a working surface of arcuate cross section formed in an outer periphery thereof and is supported for rocking motion on the shaft member; a friction member that is looped between both the working surfaces of the first rotation member and the rocking member to create two spans between the first rotation member and the rocking member; and a biasing member for tending to rotate the rocking member around the axis of the shaft member so that the rocking member presses one of the spans of the friction member, wherein both the ends of the shaft member are held by the second rotation member through respective support members that each cover side and end surfaces or at least the side surface of the corresponding end of the shaft member.
According to this solution, when the tension of the friction member is increased due to torque input to the one-way clutch, the load placed on the rocking member will be correspondingly increased and concentrated at holding portions of the second rotation member which hold both the ends of the shaft member. In this case, each of the support members, which is interposed between the corresponding end of the shaft member and the corresponding holding portion of the second rotation member, disperses the load so that stress produced within the holding portion of the second rotation member due to the load concentration can be suppressed to a low level. This avoids the situation that the stress as described above deforms the holding portion of the second rotation member to involve a mal-operation of the one-way clutch.
A second solution of the invention is based on the first solution, wherein the second rotation member is made from aluminum alloy. According to this solution, the second rotation member made from aluminum alloy can be reduced in weight as compared with the conventional second rotation member made from steel for example. Further, in the case of using the second rotation member made from aluminum alloy poorer in strength than the steel-made one, the support members can particularly effectively obviate deformation of the holding portion of the second rotation member.
A third solution of the invention is based on the first solution, wherein the second rotation member has shaft bores for respectively holding both the ends of the shaft member, and the support members are pressed into the respective shaft bores. Further, a fourth solution of the invention is based on the first solution, wherein the second rotation member is made by die casting, and the support members are insert molded in the second rotation member. In these manners, the effects of the first solution can be specifically implemented.
A fifth solution of the invention is based on the fourth solution, wherein the second rotation member is formed of a first half placed on one side in an axial direction with respect to an imaginary plane which is in the middle of the shaft member and orthogonal to the shaft member, and a second half placed on the other side in the axial direction with respect to the imaginary plane and molded using the same die as used for the first half.
According to this solution, the second rotation member is constituted by two halves bonded in its axial direction and the two halves are molded using the same die. Therefore, the cost for molding of the second rotation member can be reduced as compared with the case of using different dies to mold two halves.
A sixth solution of the invention is based on the first solution, wherein the rocking member is made by forging. In this manner, the forged rocking member has higher strength than that of other rocking members made by casting for example, which contributes to transmission of larger torque of the one-way clutch and enhances durability thereof.
A seventh solution of the invention is based on the first solution, wherein the working surface of the first rotation member is machined.
According to this solution, since machining treatment is applied to the working surface of the first rotation member, the frictional force developed between the first rotation member and the friction member can be suppressed to a low level. This provides smooth sliding between the working surface of the first rotation member and the friction member and suppresses abrasion of the friction member by a reduction of the frictional force.
Effects of the Invention
In the first solution of the present invention, the one-way clutch is arranged so that the second rotation member is rotatably assembled with the first rotation member, the friction member is looped between the working surface of the rocking member supported for rocking motion by the shaft member held at both ends by the second rotation member and the working surface of the first rotation member, and the rocking member biased by the biasing member presses one span of the friction member to place an initial tension on the friction member, wherein both the ends of the shaft member are held by the second rotation member through the support members that each cover at least the side surface of the corresponding end of the shaft member. Therefore, load of the shaft member which would be concentrated at the holding portions of the second rotation member which hold both the ends of the shaft member is dispersed so that stress produced within the holding portions can be suppressed to a low level. This increases the magnitude of transmittable torque while avoiding constraints placed on the one-way clutch by reducing the weight of the second rotation member through replacement of material used.
According to the second solution of the invention, since the second rotation member is made from aluminum alloy, the second rotation member can be reduced in weight and concurrently the effects of the first solution can be obtained to a full extent.
According to the third solution of the invention, when the second rotation member has shaft bores for respectively holding both the ends of the shaft member, the support members as described above are pressed into the shaft bores, respectively. Therefore, the effects of the first solution can properly be obtained.
According to the fourth solution of the invention, when the second rotation member is made by die casting, the support members are insert molded in the second rotation member. Therefore, the same effects as exhibited by the third solution can be obtained.
According to the fifth solution of the invention, since the second rotation member is formed of a first half placed on one side with respect to its axial direction and a second half which is placed on the other side and molded using the same die as used for the first half, i.e., these two halves are formed using the same die, the cost for molding of the second rotation member can be reduced.
According to the sixth solution of the invention, since the rocking member is made by forging, its strength can be enhanced, which contributes to transmission of larger torque and enhancement in durability of the one-way clutch.
According to the seventh solution of the invention, since the working surface of the first rotation member is machined, the frictional force between the working surface of the first rotation member and the friction member can be reduced. This provides smooth blockage of torque transmission due to slide between the working surface of the first rotation member and the friction member and suppresses abrasion of the friction member that may be induced by such slide.


The splice enclosure of this invention provides an environmentally safe means for splicing, or joining together, two or more fiber optic cables. This particular enclosure is designed to handle re-entry for possible future splicing of cables not currently active, the addition of more cables or servicing of the existing cables. Further, the enclosure can be mounted to a support structure via mounting plates and fasteners or can be banded to the support structure. The enclosure includes a weather and impact resistant casing and a covered drawer that can be easily removed from the casing and taken to an area wherein splicing can be conducted. The drawer includes a splice tray retaining area that can accommodate several splice trays at a time. Further, the drawer includes a buffer tube storage area where stored buffer tubes will not exceed desired bend radius. Compared to existing splice enclosures, this invention exhibits a higher fiber count capacity, weighs and costs less to manufacture, is more corrosion and ballistic resistant, accommodates larger diameter cables and may be pressurized for environmental sealability.

Fiber optic cables are widely used for data transmission. These cables are suspended from support structures such as existing high tension electrical towers. Often these fiber optic cables need to be spliced during initial installation to connect different cable runs, and once in operation, for adding additional cable runs, rerouting, maintenance or repair. It is important that this splicing does not interrupt the total data transmission of the cables involved. Because each of these fiber optic cables typically carry hundreds of thousands of different transmission lines via individual fibers, a complete disruption of the cable continuity is not acceptable when access to, for instance, a single fiber is desired. Thus, access must be provided to the individual transmission lines or fibers to implement a new splice at a portion of a fiber optic cable without totally disrupting the continuity of all the associated bundled fibers.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,007,701 ('701 patent) and 5,479,554 ('554 patent) both disclose a splice closure apparatus in which a rigid, cylindrical and weather impervious outer structure is open at both ends. A pair of end caps each include an elastomeric sealing material sandwiched between a pair of rigid plates. At least one of the end caps has openings for the passage of cables into the interior of the closure where an anchoring member is positioned to receive the cable ends and secure a splice. The elastomeric sealing material in each end cap is compressed against the sides of the outer cylinder by the plates on either side when a number of through bolts are tightened, thus forming a weather tight seal between each end cap and the cylinder wall. In addition, in each end cap with cable openings, the elastomeric material is simultaneously urged tightly against the cables, thus also forming a weather tight seal between the end cap and the cables. While use of the elastomeric sealing material is suitable under typical weather conditions, it often is not suitable under extreme weather conditions. After exposure to extreme cold or hot temperature, the elastomeric material loses its ability to contract and expand properly. Other disadvantages to existing splice enclosures include a lack of ease of splicing together adjoining cables or cable connections.
There is a need for a splice enclosure that includes plentiful fiber unit storage, large fiber space capacity and can accommodate various types and sizes of cables. Further, a splice enclosure is needed that is easy to use and that minimizes disturbance to previously spliced cables contained within the device when additional spliced cable are added or existing spliced cables are serviced.


A connector with a lock mechanism has a connector main body in which are mounted electric contacts, a shield member for covering the connector main body and a connecting portion between the electric contacts and a cable, a casing for enclosing the connector main body and the shield member; and a lock mechanism for locking or unlocking a connection of the connector to a mating connector. The lock mechanism is made up of a flexible lock piece one end of which is connected to the shield member; a pair of lock release slide plates which are slidable along upper and lower main surfaces of the casing; and slide members which slide inside the casing by sliding of the slide plates so as to release the locking by the lock piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector with a lock mechanism, which is built or assembled in an electronic data processing equipment, communication equipment, or the like, and in which the lock mechanism operates to lock or unlock the connector when it is connected to, or disconnected from, a mating connector.
2. Description of Related Art
There is conventionally known a cable connector (hereinafter simply called a connector) with a lock mechanism which locks the connection when the connector is connected to, or plugged into, a mating connector and which releases the locked condition when the connector is plugged out of the mating connector.
When a plurality of connectors each with a lock mechanism are connected to a back connector of a PC (personal computer) card while the connectors are disposed in close proximity to each other, there is a disadvantage in that they cannot be positioned too close to each other in case the lock mechanism is disposed on the right and left sides as seen in the direction of plugging in of each connector because a space for the manipulation of the lock mechanism must be secured.

Honda Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tsushin Kogyo Co. Ltd.


A combination retractable saw and knife utility tool is disclosed that can be actuated and used by a person using only one hand. The tool has a lock to assure that an extended knife blade or saw blade will remain extended until the user of the tool releases the lock. A person may use one hand to hold, steady and manipulate a work piece that needs to be cut and/or sawed, while their other hand is used to hold and implement the combination knife and saw utility tool. The person may release the tool lock, retract one blade and extend another blade using only one hand.

In the prior art there are a wide variety of tools that provide blades in which the blade is either folding or retractable. Some of these tools furnish a saw blade which is enclosed into a handle when not in use and extends out of the handle in a manner similar to a pocket knife when the tool is to be used as a saw. Some tools provide that the blade can be opened to several different positions.
Other tools that are commercially available provide blades that retract within a handle such as is found in utility knives. In these tools the blade retracts into a hollow portion of the handle when not in use and extends out of the handle when it is to be used as a knife. All of these tools are very handy for the worker. However, a worker who has need of a saw and a knife must typically carry two separate tools in their tool pouch. Carrying both of these tools along with assorted screwdrivers, hammers and other tools requires considerable room in a tool pouch and room in the tool pouch is limited.
Thus, there is a need for a compact, durable tool which can provide a worker with a combination utility tool which includes both a saw blade and a knife blade and enables the worker to saw or cut with the same tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,614 is one attempt at solving this need in the prior art. A knife blade and a saw blade are contained within a common handle of a tool. The knife blade is a standard utility knife blade, commonly available anywhere, used in prior art retractable blade utility knives. The knife blade extends longitudinally from the end of the tool handle alike other utility knives. The saw blade also extends longitudinally from the end of the tool handle. However, the saw blade is a custom blade that is not commonly obtainable anywhere. More importantly, the use of this tool requires the use of two hands. While the tool is held in one hand a lock and unlock cap 28 at one end of the tool must be turned counter-clockwise with the other hand to loosen blade 10 in order to either move the saw blade to an extended operable position or to retract it inside the tool handle. At either extreme the lock and unlock cap 28 must be turned clockwise with the other hand to lock the saw blade in that position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,387 teaches a single tool having both a knife blade and a saw blade. The knife blade is a convention utility knife blade that extends longitudinally from one end of an elongated tool handle by manually sliding an actuator button on the side of the tool. This is a one hand operation. However, the use of the saw blade is a two hand operation. While the tool is being held in one hand a second hand must be used to pull the saw blade from within a slot in the side of the tool handle alike a folding pocket knife. The saw blade pivots out of the slot to be aligned with the elongated tool handle. There is no provision for replacing the saw blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,173 teaches a combination retractable saw and knife tool that is alike that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,614 and requires a two hand operation. While the tool is held in one hand a lock and unlock cap 28 at one end of the tool must be turned counter-clockwise with the other hand to loosen blade 10 in order to either move the saw blade to an extended operable position or to retract it inside the tool handle. At either extreme the lock and unlock cap 28 must be turned clockwise by the other hand to lock the saw blade in that position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,996 teaches a combination retractable saw and knife device. This device also requires a two hand operation. There is a two part handle each comprising a saw blade housing and the two housings are pivotably connected at one end. A saw blade is mounted inside each housing and the blades are extended from the end of each housing/handle. Hacksaw blade 28 is deployed for use from inside its handle housing 48 by turning a knob 29 counter-clockwise to free the blade and extend it from its handle housing. Knob 29 is then used to lock blade 28 in its extended position. This two handed operation is repeated to retract hacksaw blade 28 inside its handle housing and lock it therein. A wood saw blade 31 is mounted inside the other handle housing 58 using a pair of spring loaded displaceable slides 34 and 35 having catches 36 and 37. The catches are received in notches 42 and 43 or 40 and 41 depending on whether blade 31 is extended from its handle housing or is retracted therein. Both of these blades require two hands to operate. For the hacksaw blade 28 the handle must be held with one hand while the other hand is use to turn knob 29, extract blade 28 and retighten knob 29. For the wood saw blade 31 the handle must be held with one hand while the other hand is used to squeeze catches 36 and 37 to release them from notches 42 and 43 and then to pull wood saw blade 31 from the handle.
A person who is working with or installing drywall/wallboard or other materials very often needs one hand to steady a piece of material to be cut while their other hand is used to cut the material. Therefore, a tool that requires two hands to operate is not practical. Thus, there is a continuing need for a new and improved combination drywall utility tool with knife and saw blades which addresses the unique problems associated with cutting and shaping drywall to be fastened to a support wall. More particularly, there is a need for a combination drywall knife and saw utility tool that can be actuated and used by a person using only one hand. The knife blade or saw blade can be easily extended, used, unlocked and retracted all using one hand. This leaves the person's other hand free to hold, steady and manipulate a piece of drywall while it is being cut.
Along and through one side of a prior art utility knife is a slot through which protrudes, and along which travels an actuator button. A person holding and using a prior art utility knife typically uses their thumb to first depress the actuator button and then move it along the slot through the side of the tool to expose the knife blade. When the actuator button is released the exposed knife blade is supposed to remain in its exposed position. However, too often during use the actuator button is inadvertently pressed and the knife blade retracts when the operator does not want it to. In addition, the actuator buttons have an integral spring that too often gets weak with use and being clogged up with material after continued use of the knife. When this happens the actuator button does not adequately perform its function of locking a knife blade in its extended position. Thus, there is also a need in art for a way to assure that an extended knife blade will remain locked in an extended position and will not inadvertently retract while in use.

Combination retractable knife and saw utility tool


A semiconductor substrate with electronic circuitry (e.g., a transmitter or receiver) formed thereon and including interconnects. A ferrite disk bonded to the substrate so as to interact with the interconnects, when the ferrite disk is activated by a substantially constant magnetic field thereacross, to provide frequency selectivity within the electronic circuitry. A permanent magnet positioned adjacent to the ferrite disk to provide a substantially constant magnetic field across the ferrite disk so that the magnetic field produces resonance in the ferrite disk.

Because filters generally require some type of tuned circuit to provide frequency selectivity, it is very difficult and costly to incorporate filters into integrated circuits, or circuits on semiconductor chips. For example, a standard approach to realizing multi-octave tunable filters is to place tiny ferrite resonators in a magnetic field generated by a solenoid. The size and weight of these filters are primarily determined by the solenoid. The ferrite resonators are spheres which are mounted on rods for ease of handling and orientation. As such, the filters are bulky and very expensive. These structures are definitely not something to be considered for portable applications, such as paging, cellular telephones, etc.
Single crystal yttrium iron garnet (YIG) or gallium-substituted YIG (GaYIG) are magnetic insulators which resonate at a microwave frequency when magnetized by a suitable direct magnetic field. A unique feature of this resonance is that for a spherical YIG configuration, the resonant frequency is only related to the direct magnetic field and not to its dimensions. The basic ferrimagnetic resonance phenomenon can be explained in terms of spinning electrons which create a net magnetic moment in each molecule of a YIG crystal. This electron precession may be used to couple two orthogonal circuits at a microwave signal frequency equal to that of the precession. Using this phenomenon, current controlled tunable microwave filters have been constructed. Multi-octave tuning is in fact readily achieved with such resonators in the 500 MHz to 40 GHz range.
The unloaded Q-factor of these resonators is related to the magnetic and dielectric dissipation (loss tangents) within the YIG material. These losses are fortunately very low. Unloaded Q-factors of the order of 10,000 are realizable using highly polished YIG spheres. Such a value of unloaded Q-factor is indeed nearly as good as that obtainable using conventional waveguide cavities.
The low frequency limit of a YIG resonator is established by the fact that as the frequency is reduced the direct magnetic field required for ferrimagnetic resonance becomes insufficient to align all the magnetic dipoles within the crystal. In this instance, each dipole exhibits a separate resonance absorption, even in the absence of a direct magnetic field. The frequency at which this type of loss first occurs is determined by the magnetization and shape demagnetization of the YIG resonator. The magnetization is reduced through substitution of iron in the YIG crystal with a non-magnetic element such as gallium (GaYIG). Although the linewidth of the GaYIG described is not as good as that of pure YIG, satisfactory operation (using a sphere) is possible at frequencies as low as 360 MHz.
YIG resonators exhibit non-linear microwave losses (limiting) at large signal levels due to the transfer of energy from the uniform mode of magnetization to the so-called spin wave modes. In the usual YIG filter arrangement, first and second order instabilities under perpendicular pumping must be considered separately. In the first order instability (coincidence limiting), the frequency of the pump is twice that of the spinwave mode, whereas, in the second order instability (premature decline limiting), the two frequencies are equal. Coincidence limiting is frequency selective and occurs over a well-defined frequency interval defined by ##EQU1## where: y=the gyromagnetic ratio
equal to 2,21*E5 (rad/s)(A/m), PA1 M.sub.0 =the magnetization, PA1 .omega.=the radian frequency, PA1 N.sub.t =transverse demagnetization factor, and PA1 .mu..sub.0 =the free space permeability.
For pure YIG spheres (N.sub.t =1/3) the frequency interval for coincidence limiting lies between 1,660 and 3,320 MHz. The threshold power for coincidence limiting is particularly low and occurs at power levels between -15 dBm and -20 dBm. The critical magnetic field is mainly determined by the uniform and spinwave linewidths and the magnetization of the garnet material. To operate a spherical resonator outside of coincidence limiting a lower ferrite magnetization is necessary. Lower ferrite magnetization means lower Q-factor.
The maximum volume of a YIG sphere is fixed by the excitation of higher order magnetostatic modes within the YIG resonator. The minimum volume is set by the degradation of the unloaded Q-factor due to scattering of the uniform mode into so-called spinwaves via surface irregularities. YIG spheres normally have radii between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm.
A solid is said to be in the crystalline state if its constituent atoms or groups of atoms are arranged in an angular, periodic array. In a magnetic single crystal the magnetization tends to be directed along certain definite crystallographic axes which, accordingly, are called directions of easy magnetization; the directions along which it is most difficult to magnetize the crystal are called hard directions. Experimentally, it is found that it requires the expenditure of a certain amount of energy to magnetize a single crystal to saturation in a hard direction. The difference between this energy and that required to saturate the crystal along a direction of easy magnetization is known as the anisotropy energy.
Magnetic anisotropy energy modifies Kittel's resonance condition and so this quantity must be recalculated. Since the crystalline energy is dependent upon the orientation of the crystal, the resonant frequency will be dependent upon its orientation in the external direct magnetic field. It is therefore, essential, in a multi-resonator filter to make provisions to align all of the resonators along the same crystallographic axis. It appears from experiments that in most cases the crystal anisotropy is very dependent upon temperature. Consequently, the reasons for mounting the spheres on individual rods, for tweaking purposes, so that the crystal can be oriented in the magnetic field so that temperature effects can be minimized.
Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide ferrite resonators that are small enough to be used in portable devices and especially in portable communication devices.
Accordingly, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved ferrite resonators which are small enough to be used in portable communications devices.
Further, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved ferrite resonators which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
It is a still further purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved ferrite resonators which are relatively easy to manufacture and to incorporate into high quantity production.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide new and improved ferrite resonators which allow filters and the like to be integrated into associated circuits on a single chip.

Ferrite-semiconductor resonator and filter


A method of cleaning a process chamber includes following steps. A plurality of process films and a plurality of non-process films are alternately formed on an interior surface of the process chamber. A cleaning operation is performed to remove the plurality of process films and the plurality of non-process films from the interior surface of the process chamber.

In the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices, various device features such as insulation layers, metallization layers, passivation layers, etc., are formed on a semiconductor substrate. It is known that the quality of an IC device fabricated is a function of the processes in which these features are formed. The yield of an IC fabrication process, which in turn is a function of the quality of the device fabricated and a function of the cleanliness of the manufacturing environment in which the IC device is processed.
The ever increasing trend of miniaturization of semiconductor IC devices requires more stringent control of the cleanliness in the fabrication process and the process chamber in which the process is conducted. In recent years, contamination caused by particles or films has been reduced by the improvements made in the quality of clean rooms and by the increasing utilization of automated equipment which are designed to minimize exposure to human operators. However, even though contaminants from external sources have been reduced, various contaminating particles and films are still generated inside the process chamber during the processing of semiconductor wafers. Therefore, attention has been drawn to an effective chamber cleaning method.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Hydrogen or carbon monoxide in a carrier of nitrogen or steam is passed over a devitalized catalyst/carbonate or bicarbonate absorber which has absorbed or adsorbed nitrates and nitrites from engine exhaust to restore the carbonate form and regenerate the devitalized catalyst/absorber for reuse.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a process for the regeneration of the devitalized catalyst/absorber after extended exposure to pollutants in the combustion gases of engines.
2. Related Information
Turbine power plants are becoming the standard for generating electricity because they are so efficient compared to any other form of power manufacture. Turbine power plants that burn methane to produce power for residents and manufacturing facilities in cities also produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide as pollutants. It is highly desirable to reduce or eliminate these pollutants so that the air is not contaminated as a result of power production.
Over the years, as the technology improved, the level of permitted pollution has been decreased. Initially, the permitted level of pollution by power plants for nitrogen oxides (NOx), which includes nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2), was less than 100 parts-per-million (ppm) and the level of carbon monoxide (CO) was less than 100 ppm. Later, the requirements were made more stringent and it was necessary to reduce the NOx to less than 25 ppm and the CO today is still permitted at any amount less than 100 ppm. Using current technology, the output levels of NOx can be reduced to the range of 5 to 9 ppm plus slippage resulting from the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology described below.
The only prior technology which is currently available to obtain the 5 to 9 ppm NOx levels is called selective catalytic reduction in which ammonia is mixed with the flue gas and then passed over a catalyst which selectively combines the nitrogen oxides and ammonia to eliminate a major portion of the NOx. One problem with the selective catalytic reduction is than, as a practical matter, it is only capable of reducing the NOx to the range of 5 to 9 ppm. Another problem, referred to as slippage, is that the ammonia injected into the system to react with the NOx slips past the catalyst without conversion and is ejected from the system in its native form, which is hazardous to the environment in its own right.
There have been other technologies for reduction of pollution which have been advanced, such as overwatering in the combustor, and these also have the potential to reduce the NOx pollution, but none of them reduce the NOx to levels much less than 5 to 9 ppm.
In our co-pending application Ser. No. 08/066,361 filed on May 24, 1993, which is incorporated herein in its entirety, we described a pollution reduction process and apparatus in which the pollutants from a turbine gas stream including NO and CO in the gas stream are first oxidized to corresponding NO.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, and then the NO.sub.2 is absorbed on an absorption bed.
In our co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,558 which is incorporated herein in its entirety, a catalyst/absorber is described comprising an oxidation catalyst specie selected from platinum, palladium, rhodium, cobalt, nickel, iron, copper, molybdenum or combinations thereof disposed on a high surface area support, said catalytic component being intimately and entirely coated with an absorber material selected from a hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate or mixture thereof of an alkali or alkaline earth or mixtures thereof. For example a support with an alumina washcoat disposed thereover, a platinum catalyst disposed on the washcoat, and with an alkali or alkaline earth carbonate or bicarbonate coating thereon, the carbonate coating being lithium, sodium, potassium or calcium carbonate. This application also discloses a process for treating exhaust streams in which the stream is contacted with the catalyst/absorber which oxidizes the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen dioxide; oxidizes the carbon monoxides to carbon dioxide; and oxidizes the sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) to sulfur trioxide (SO.sub.3). This oxidation occurs at temperatures in the range of 150.degree. to about 750.degree. F., and more preferably in the range of 175.degree. to 400.degree. F., and most preferably in the range of 200.degree. to 365.degree. F. The space velocity (GHSV) of the exhaust gas may be in the range of 5,000 to 50,000 hr.sup.-1. The same catalyst/absorber has a second function of absorbing the oxidized pollutants at the same temperatures so that the resultant exhaust gas stream is substantially free of harmful pollutants.
When the catalyst/absorber ceases to be effective, and specifically, when the level of pollutants emanating from the apparatus after contact with the catalyst/absorber increases beyond an acceptable level, the absorber can be replaced, and the used absorber should then be recharged to an effective status again. One method of regenerating the catalyst is to remove the spent (saturated or partially saturated) carbonate from the catalyst/absorber and replace the spent carbonate with fresh unreacted carbonate, for example, dissolving the absorber, generally potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate, from the absorber/catalyst to remove the absorber from the catalyst, and then replacing the absorber on the catalyst with fresh absorber. The nitrates and nitrites are then separated from the unreacted carbonate in the dissolved absorber so the unreacted carbonate can be reused. However this process would most likely require removal of the catalyst/absorber from the exhaust system and create large quantities of liquid waste streams to dispose of.
It would be desirable to provide a system for regenerating the absorber, rather than removing it, which is easier, simpler, faster, less labor intensive and less expensive than those systems known in the prior art.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the regeneration of the catalyst/absorber may be carried out in situ. It is a further advantage of the present invention that it is carried out without liquid reagents. It is a feature of the present invention that the by-products of the regeneration are easily disposed of. It is a particular feature of the invention that the gases used in the regeneration are low cost and readily available.


A method for forming a sealed floating roof for a storage tank is disclosed. A plurality of roof panels are positioned adjacent to one another such that respective depressions of adjacent roof panels disposed adjacent to one another form a walled trough at interconnections of the plurality of roof panels. A self-propelled automatic welder is positioned and guided within the walled trough to make a weld joint at the walled trough, and thus forming the sealed floating roof.

The invention pertains to sealed floating roofs for storage tanks.
Above ground storage tanks are frequently used to store hydrocarbon fluids. Because the stored fluid is volatile, the storage tank is often equipped with a floating roof itself sometimes under a fixed roof. The floating roof floats on the stored fluid and moves up and down with the fluid level. Floating roofs greatly reduce fluid evaporation, preventing loss of the stored fluid and reducing pollution due to hydrocarbon evaporation into the atmosphere.
Additionally, it is desirable to provide floating roofs that are full-contact roofs, allowing the roof structure to be in direct contact with the fluid surface. Such roofs do not allow an air gap between the bottom of the roof surface and contained fluid. When air gaps exist, they allow an evaporation zone over the top of the fluid that increases the risk of leakage around the floating roof structure. However, full contact floating roofs must be tightly sealed to prevent direct vapor leakage or evaporation through small gaps in the roof structure. Such leakage or evaporative losses can create unwanted pollution as well as the economic loss of stored product.
However, typical floating roofs are large and must be assembled on site. The structure typically comprises a framework of segments that are assembled to form and open lattice, and a plurality of roof panels or sheets that are then attached to the framework to form the upper surface of the roof. Roof panels or sheets are typically attached by bolting them in place, and sometimes sealed with sealants that are generally known in the industry.
Such construction can prevent the desired sealing effectiveness of the roof from being achieved. Sealants can degrade over time due to environmental conditions, and may be attacked by contact with the stored fluid or by vapors. Bolted connections are not vapor tight. Effecting repairs can require draining the storage tank, resulting in lost revenue, and may require workers to operate in a hazardous environment. Accordingly it is desirable to provide a seal between the roof panels and the framework that is highly resistant to degradation over time, and that will provide a strong, durable roof over its life expectancy.
One possible approach is to weld the edges of the roof panels to the framework, so that every seam between the roof panels and the framework is permanently sealed. However, if welding were to be done by hand, the large size of the typical floating roof would require a large expenditure of man hours, and the work would often have to be done in an extremely uncomfortable environment.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a floating roof, especially one intended for full contact, with welded construction so that the roof panels are welded to the framework. It is further desirable to accomplish this welding with an automatic welder.

Method of forming a welded full contact floating roof for a storage tank


A vertical structured Light Emitting Diode (LED) array using wafer level bonding. The process bonds two or more LED arrays vertically to produce light mixing in a small footprint. The vertically bonded LED array contains through substrate vias and a plurality of metal posts coated with solder to form an internal cavity between the LED layers. This LED array structure is intrinsically hermetically sealed.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to light emitting diode (LED) arrays, specifically high intensity LED arrays, to be used as a solid state light (SSL) source.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Currently, a white SSL source using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor power chips with a phosphor coating can generate 50-100 lumens per watt at the device level, and deliver 35-70 lumens per watt as a light source. Individual units, up to a 30-40 W range, have been produced since 2005 with a maximum light flux approaching 1400 lumens.
One approach for producing high intensity LED sources has been to group many LEDs in an array form. U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,405 to Y. Shakuda shows a linear LED chip array arranged as a print head. U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,987 to G. Staufert shows a two dimensional LED array in a luminous panel. Lamina Ceramics of Westampton, N.J. produced a flat panel of 50 LED assemblies, each powered at 28 W that reached 1400 W with a light flux output of 28,000 lumens. (LED Magazine, October 2005). This was a demo unit that never made it to production. These examples show that arrays of individual LED devices in a simple tile arrangement can be combined to create a high intensity kilo-lumen (KL) light source. However, because of the low efficiency (20-30 lumens per watt) of the individual LED sources, these panels tend to be bulky, heavy, and produce excessive heat. These elements pose serious problems at higher wattages. To understand these problems, it is necessary to explain how a LED creates white light.
The most common means to obtain white light in a LED is to mix blue and yellow light. FIG. 1 shows an emission of white light using a prior art blue LED combined with a yellow phosphor, described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,791,119 to Slater, Jr. et al. The process is as follows: a YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) phosphor 1 is formed on the top of a blue LED 2 having an InGaN/GaN structure. In this structure, a current is injected from a lead frame 3 with a reflector cup 4 through a conductor 5 to the LED chip 2, which activates and emits blue light. The remaining current flows out to another lead frame 6. The blue light in turn excites the YAG phosphor, which emits a yellow fluorescence light. The mixture of the blue emission from the LED chip and the yellow emission from the phosphor results in a multidirectional white emission. An epoxy lens 7 improves the external emission efficiency of the white light.
So, to obtain a white light source panel having a large area, it is necessary to use a large number of LED chips. In FIG. 2, a series of three LED chips 2b, 2c, 2d are shown. In this structure, current is injected from a lead wire 6b through a connector post 5b to the LED chip 2b, which activates and emits blue light. The current flows through wire 3b and conductor post 5c to activate LED chip 2c. The current continues to flow through wire 3c and conductor post 5d to activate LED chip 2d. The remaining current continues to flow out to lead wire 3d. For the prior art design shown in FIG. 2, the driving circuit becomes complicated and the fabrication cost becomes high. Moreover, it is difficult to use a large number of prior art LEDs to provide a white light panel having uniformly distributed light emission. Further, while a thin lighting panel is preferred, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thickness and lateral dimension of the panel become large because of the thermal management requirement.
The biggest problem with a high intensity LED array is difficulty of thermal (and consequently power) control. At high wattages, LED junction temperature can limit luminosity, since light emission decreases dramatically as junction temperature increases. To reduce the junction temperature, it is necessary to provide a shorter heat conduction path between the LED junction and the metallic back plane and use high thermal conductivity materials as substrates or heat sinks. The package for an LED array light source may contain a bulky heat sink and cooling fan to keep the junction temperature in its working range, which is typically around 125° C.
Two methods of solving these intensity limiting problems exist: the matrix and flip chip approaches. The matrix approach uses many lower power LEDs to generate the needed light intensity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,721 to R. T. Huang et al. mentions a method of manufacturing an Active Matrix LED at a wafer level with GaAs, SiC, sapphire, and amorphous silicon. U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,676 to T. Takayama describes a method of using thin film strips of InGaN and GaN to form a mosaic of LED junctions for an effective flat panel source. An intrinsic difficulty in these approaches is that the parallel circuitry requires a high current density. So to minimize junction temperature rise, the size of the LED matrix is limited.
The best thermal management method for an LED array employs flip-chip bonding of LEDs to a ceramic sub-mount. U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,035 to Bhat et als describes a multi-chip LED semiconductor approach that bonds multiple LEDs to a sub-mount wafer using this flip-chip method. U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,877 to Chen et al. describes an LED power package using another flip-chip bonding method. U.S. Pat. No. 7,170,100 to Erchak et al. describes packaging for an LED array using various flip chip sub-mount designs. The total number of chips that can be bonded is limited to 4-6 by the practicality of applying phosphor, bonding the epoxy lens, etc. Therefore, using a 6-chip packaging as an example, the maximum luminous intensity achievable is 600 lumens with a LED device efficiency of 100 lumens per watt.
Development of an LED array which has a small footprint and yet has effective heat dissipation represents a great improvement in the field of LED manufacture and satisfies a long felt need of the lighting engineer.

Vertically structured LED array light source


Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.

The present invention relates generally to the field of acoustics, and in particular to transducers, to communication and power transmission using vibrations, and to taking sensor readings in deep wells.
The present invention includes improvements on the inventor's own previous work as described in International Patent Application PCT/US2013/056143 (published as WO2014/035785), U.S. Patent Application 61/693,366, and U.S. Patent Application 61/693,370, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, and which are intended for use with the present improvement and invention. These references disclose systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy, typically through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate. Typically the wedges will be acrylic and the substrate a metal. Each wedge has an angled transducer which is used to produce angled longitudinal waves which, upon reaching a substrate interface, produce shear waves (predominantly radial shear waves) in the substrate. Intermediate launch angles between upper and a lower critical angles are selected so that the longitudinal waves become shear waves on reaching the substrate. The shear waves propagate down the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves in the substrate transition back to longitudinal waves on reaching the second acoustic wedge, and they are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer.
A transducer is a device that converts a signal in one form of energy to another form of energy. This can include electrical energy, mechanical energy, electromagnetic and light energy, chemical energy, acoustic energy, and thermal energy, among others. While the term "transducer" often refers to a sensor or a detector, any device which converts energy can be considered a transducer.
Transducers are often used in measuring instruments. A sensor is used to detect a parameter in one form and report it in another form of energy, typically as an electrical signal. For example, a pressure sensor might detect pressure—a mechanical form of energy—and convert it to electricity for display for transmission, recording, and/or as a power source. A vibration powered generator is a type of transducer that converts kinetic energy derived from ambient vibration to electrical energy.
A transducer can also be an actuator which accepts energy and produces movement, such as vibrational energy or acoustic energy. The energy supplied to an actuator might be electrical or mechanical, such as pneumatic or hydraulic energy. An electric motor and a loudspeaker are both actuators, converting electrical energy into motion for different purposes.
Some transducers have multiple functions, both detecting and creating action. For example, an ultrasonic transducer may switch back and forth many times a second between acting as an actuator to produce ultrasonic waves, and acting as a sensor to detect ultrasonic waves and converting them into electrical signals. Analogously, rotating a DC electric motor's rotor will produce electricity, and voice-coil speakers can also function as microphones.
Piezoelectric materials can be used as transducers to harvest even low levels of mechanical energy and convert them into electrical energy. This energy can be suitable for powering wireless sensors, low power microprocessors, or charging batteries. A piezoelectric sensor or transducer is a device that uses a piezoelectric effect to measure pressure, acceleration, strain, or force by converting those physical energies into an electrical charge. The piezoelectric effect is a reversible process in that materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect (generation of an electrical charge as a result of an applied mechanical force) also exhibit the reverse piezoelectric effect (generating a mechanical movement when exposed to an electrical charge or field). Thus, piezoelectric transducers can also work in reverse, turning electrical energy into physical vibrational energy and vice versa. Piezoelectric transducers have the dual advantages of working using low energy levels, and a small physical size. Ultrasonic transducers may be piezoelectric transducers, applying ultrasound waves into a body, and also receiving a returned wave from the body and converting it into an electrical signal.
Ultrasonic transducers have been implemented with great success as sensors. U.S. Pat. No. 8,210,046 teaches a damper for an ultrasonic transducer mounted on a wedge body. Ultrasonic probes having phased array transducers inject acoustic waves into an object under test at an oblique angle to inspect the test object for flaws or defects. When the oblique angle is larger than the first critical angle, according to Snell's Law, the longitudinal waves will disappear, and only the newly converted shear waves will propagate in the object under test. A wedge with an angle larger than the first critical angle is usually attached to the transducer to generate shear waves in objects under test. Shear wave ultrasonic probes typically have a wedge body connected to the ultrasonic transducers on an angled surface relative to the wedge body surface that will contact an object under test, and a damping wedge fit over the front side of the wedge body opposite the transducers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,150 describes an apparatus for gathering information about the earth surrounding a borehole using the device inside the borehole. Acoustic transducers are mounted at an angle with regard to the wall of the borehole wall or axis, and the traducers are mounted in a fluid coupling medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,767 teaches an ultrasonic metering device having two ultrasonic transducers mounted on wedges on opposite sides of the thickness of a pipe to measure the flow of fluid through that section of pipe.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0027379, by Saulnier et al., discloses an apparatus for communicating information across a solid wall having one or two outside ultrasonic transducers coupled to an outside surface of the wall and connected to a carrier generator for sending an ultrasonic carrier signal into the wall and for receiving an output information signal from the wall.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0045974, issued to Patel, discloses a downhole wireless communication method and system for a completed wellbore having a mother bore and two or more lateral branches, wherein at least one of the lateral branches is not electrically or hydraulically wet connected to the mother bore.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,496, issued to Bau et al., discloses a torsional wave fluid sensor and system. FIG. 10 illustrates a system employing a round pipe 260 and transducers 255, 256 with wedge blocks 257, 258 clamped to a pair of shoes 261, 262 that provide a flat face to hold transducers at the correct angle to launch obliquely refracted waves into the fluid. Flow in pipes is interrogated using waves in the pipe wall.
European Patent Application EP 0080789, by Tiede, discloses a wedge mounted acoustic emission sensor provided for continuously monitoring the stability of structural elements, such as bridges or buildings, by sensing the surface wave acoustic emissions in those structures, while rejecting acoustic emissions from sources outside the region of interest.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,741, issued to Murdoch, discloses producing and detecting ultrasonic beams of transverse/shear wave motion. A piezoelectric element is mounted on a wedge 11, which is disposed on first surface of a wedge 16. The second surface of the wedge 16 is placed in contact with surface of an object or specimen.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,400, issued to Lynnworth, discloses ultrasonic testing methods that employ Rayleigh waves to determine surface characteristic of a test specimen, Lamb waves that are a combination of longitudinal and shear wave components within a relatively thin plate of material, and Love waves in a coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,210,046, issued to Luo et al., discloses a composition for acoustic damping used for in damping wedges for ultrasonic probes.
Chinese Patent No. 101126741, issued to Ping et al., discloses longitudinal wave detection of a critical refraction component of tangential stress within a component auxiliary device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,602, issued to Lynnworth, discloses ultrasonic flow measurement systems and particularly to wedges or buffer rods used to couple a transducer to a pipe or conduit wall for effecting a fluid measurement. The waveguide couples ultrasonic energy from a source on one side of a fluid-bounding wall, such as a conduit, into fluid on the other side of the wall.
In drilling and oil well operations, it is often necessary to communicate information (such as sensor data) along a drill pipe string. A drill pipe string consists of connected segments of piping. Often, portions of the well and drill string are not directly accessible via a direct electrical connection. For example, there may be segments that are disjointed and sealed off from each other, making electrical connection between the segments impossible. Since it is desirable to obtain data from deep within wells, passage of the data through these obstacles is a significant issue.
Transducers have been applied for communication between one another along oil wells and other boreholes. U.S. Patent 2001/0205080 describes communicating along a borehole by placing transducers on the borehole tubing, and sending acoustical signals between the transducers along the tubing itself. The receiver transducer operates on battery power. U.S. Patent No. 2011/0176387 describes a bi-directional acoustic telemetry system for communicating data and control signals between modems along a tubing. The systems includes a communication channel defined by the tubing material using a transducer at each model. There is still a need for improved systems, however.
Accordingly, one method and arrangement for powering, controlling, and communicating with sensors at a distance uses acoustic wave energy. The arrangement comprises a transmission arrangement comprising an acoustic signal generator, a receiving arraignment comprising an acoustic signal receiver, a least one sensor which is electrically coupled to the signal receiver, and a waveguide spanning between and engaged to the signal generator and the signal receiver. An acoustical wave preferably comprising a control signal can be generated with the signal generator, the acoustical wave preferably having sufficient strength to provide operating power to the sensor. The acoustical wave is transmitted from the signal generator to the signal receiver through the waveguide. The acoustical wave is received at the signal receiver, and converted into an electrical current optionally comprising a converted control signal. Preferably the electrical current is also used to power a sensor, communication device and/or other devices in the vicinity of the receiving arrangement. A control signal can simultaneously or alternatively be transmitted by the above method, such as by modulating the acoustic wave.
Transmitting and receiving arrangements can comprise piezoelectric transducers, where the signal generator piezoelectric transducer generates an acoustical wave comprising a control signal in response to electrical current applied to it. The signal receiver piezoelectric transducer then receives at least part of the acoustical wave, and converts at least a portion of the received acoustical wave into an electrical current which is then used to power and/or control the sensor. The sensor is not limited to any one sensor, and may detect pressure, temperature, vibrations, sounds, light, or other conditions.
It is possible to power one or more sensors exclusively using electricity generated by the signal receiver piezoelectric transducer, particularly sensors with low power requirements.
In one useful configuration, the transmission arrangement is above ground, while the receiving arraignment and a sensor are below ground, such as in a mine, well, tunnel, or shaft. Waves transmitted from the signal generator to the signal receiver through the waveguide can be used to power and control the sensor below ground. Waves in the reverse direction can transmit sensor data or other data back to the same transmission arrangement, or to a different arrangement provided for that purpose.
Waves can be modulated in a variety of known ways to create the control signal. In a preferred embodiment a continuous wave for transmitting power is selectively modulated when it is desired to send signals or information in addition to or instead of operating power.
A method of transmitting at least one of power and signals along a substrate using angle beam probes can include:
providing a transmitting acoustic wedge and a receiving acoustic wedge spaced apart on a substrate and coupled to the substrate at respective interfaces;
wherein each acoustic wedge comprises a transition wedge and a transducer comprising a transducer face, wherein the transducer is coupled to the transition wedge, and wherein a transducer face of each transducer is normal to an angle θ with regard to the substrate at the respective interface;
wherein, in some arrangements: the transducer face of the transmitting transducer of the transmitting acoustic wedge is normal to an angle θ1 with respect to the respective interface with the substrate, the angle θ1 in some embodiments between first and second critical angles such that longitudinal waves produced by the transmitting transducer are substantially converted into shear waves in the substrate;
in some arrangements the method further comprising producing longitudinal waves at angle θ1 at the transmitting transducer;
in some arrangements, the longitudinal waves producing substantially only shear waves in the substrate, and the shear waves propagating through the substrate until reaching the interface between the substrate and the receiving acoustic wedge;
in some arrangements, energy from the shear waves providing acoustical wave energy which reaches the receiving transducer of the receiving acoustic wedge; and
the receiving transducer converting at least a portion of said acoustical wave energy into electrical energy.
In alternative arrangements, shear waves created by angled longitudinal waves can be used to send power and/or signals down the length of a substrate such as a steel pipe in an oil well.
A transmitting acoustic wedge and a receiving acoustic wedge can be provided spaced apart on a substrate and coupled to the substrate at respective interfaces. In one embodiment each acoustic wedge comprises a transition wedge and a transducer comprising a transducer face. The transducer is coupled to the transition wedge, and a transducer face of each transducer is normal to an angle θ with regard to the substrate at the respective interface. A preferably planar transducer face of the transmitting transducer of the transmitting acoustic wedge is normal to an angle θ1 with respect to the respective interface with the substrate, the angle θ1 being between first and second critical angles such that longitudinal waves produced by the transmitting transducer are substantially converted into shear waves in the substrate.
One method further includes producing longitudinal waves at angle θ1 at the transmitting transducer. The longitudinal waves produce only or substantially only shear waves in the substrate, and the shear waves propagate through the substrate until reaching the interface between the substrate and the receiving acoustic wedge. Energy from the shear waves provides acoustical wave energy which reaches the receiving transducer of the receiving acoustic wedge, and the receiving transducer converts at least a portion of said acoustical wave energy into electrical energy. The energy can be used to transmit power and/or signals to sensors or other electronics. This is particularly useful for sensors and electronics deep underground.
In some arrangements, most or all of the shear wave energy which reaches the receiving acoustic wedge converts back to longitudinal waves at the receiving acoustic wedge. The receiving transducer of the receiving acoustic wedge then receives at least a portion of the longitudinal waves and converts at least a portion of said longitudinal waves into electrical energy.
In previously known arrangements, the substrate comprises metal(s) such as steel, and the transition wedges are acrylic. The substrate may be a metal pipe, such as in an oil well.
In some arrangements, wedge, transducer, and substrate methods and apparatus can also be used to send signals in the reverse direction from the receiving acoustic wedge to the transmitting acoustic wedge. The step of sending signals in the reverse direction comprises the receiving transducer generating waves at an angle with respect to the respective interface with the substrate, the angle being between first and second critical angles, and the waves propagating through the substrate to the receiving acoustic wedge.
In another arrangement, the transition wedge of the transmitting acoustic wedge includes a generally slanted edge which is normal to an angle θ1 with respect to the respective interface with the substrate. Typically a flat or planer face of a transducer is fixed to the slanted edge so that the transducer face is oriented in the same direction, i.e. on the same plane, as the slanted edge. In practice, the orientation of the transducer will often be selected by selecting a proper angle for the slanted edge. Thus, preferably, the slanted edge is normal to an angle θ1 is between first and second critical angles such that longitudinal waves produced by the transmitting transducer are substantially converted into shear waves in the substrate.
Though the substrate may be a large item with a large surface area and varied shape, the angle of the substrate where the respective acoustic wedges and transducers are located is a key angle of concern in selecting longitudinal wave angles. Typically this will be the angle at an interface between each acoustic wedge and the substrate.
Proper angles for launching longitudinal waves to produce shear waves in a substrate can be determined using Snell's law. The angle θ1 between first and second critical angles can be the longitudinal wave launch angle θ1Longitudinal. Thus, the method of the invention can include the step of determining θ1Longitudinal using the relationship:
      arcsin              (                        V                      1                        Longitudinal                                    V                      2                        Longitudinal                              )        <      θ          1            Longitudinal        <      arcsin              (                        V                      1                        Longitudinal                                    V                      2                        Shear                              )
wherein V1Longitudinal is the longitudinal wave speed in the transition wedge, V2Longitudinal is the longitudinal wave speed in the substrate, and V2Shear is the shear wave speed of the substrate. This is a method for determining the angle and orientation of the transducers and/or slanted edges supporting the transducers.
Longitudinal wave are waves where the displacement of the medium is in the same direction as, or the opposite direction to, the direction of travel of the wave. Mechanical longitudinal waves are also called compression waves, because they produce compression and rarefaction when traveling through a medium.
A shear or transverse wave is a moving wave that consists of oscillations occurring perpendicular (i.e. at right angles) to the direction of energy transfer. If a shear wave is moving in the positive x-direction, its oscillations are in up and down in the y-z plane. With transverse waves in matter, the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. A ripple in a pond or a wave on a string are examples of transverse waves.

Method and apparatus for acoustical power transfer and communication using steel wedges


A driver apparatus for a differential bus is provided, having a first transistor and a fourth transistor which are connected in order to drive the bus to a dominant state, and a second transistor and a third transistor which are connected in order to drive the bus to a recessive state. The driver apparatus also comprises a collision detection circuit which is set up to detect a collision state on the bus on the basis of measurements of currents through at least one transistor of the first, second, third and fourth transistors.

Buses are in widespread use in order to connect different components of a system to one another, with the result that the components can interchange data. The components connected to the bus are referred to as bus subscribers below. In this case, driver apparatuses are used to drive the bus to different states, in particular different current and/or voltage levels, in order to transmit data. In the case of CSMA/CR buses (carrier sense multiple access/collision resolution), collisions may occur if a plurality of components connected to the bus simultaneously drive the bus in order to transmit data. An example of such a CSMA/CR bus is the CAN bus (controller area network) which is in widespread use in automobile applications, for example. Another example is the RS232 bus.
In the conventional CAN bus, a driver apparatus actively drives a so-called dominant state, which represents a bit value of 0, in such a manner that a voltage difference is produced between two lines of the CAN bus. In a so-called recessive state, which represents a bit value of 1, a voltage difference between the lines of the bus conventionally changes to virtually 0 V without active driving via a resistor which connects the lines. If, during this conventional approach, a driver apparatus of one bus subscriber drives the bus to a dominant state, while the driver apparatus of another bus subscriber is passively switched to a recessive state, the dominant state dominates and the bus overall assumes the dominant state with a voltage difference between the bus lines.
In this conventional approach, so-called ringing, that is to say oscillations on the bus which can interfere with communication, can occur during the transition from the dominant state to the recessive state. In order to suppress this ringing, approaches to also actively drive the recessive state or at least actively drive a transition from the dominant state to the recessive state are pursued. However, this may be problematic with respect to collisions if one bus subscriber actively drives the bus to the dominant state and another bus subscriber simultaneously actively drives the bus to the recessive state.

Driver apparatus for a differential bus and corresponding method


A spiral drill and a method to manufacture a spiral drill with two indexable inserts at different distances from the center line and two coolant channels, where the coolant channels (23,24) run parallel to the center line within the shank part, and where the spiral part has been twisted while heated to form spirally curved coolant channels (17,18), and where exit channels at the tip have been drilled after twisting, and where the exit openings (21,2) are located at different distances from the center line.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to spiral drills with indexable inserts.
2. Discussion of related art
Spiral drills comprise a spiral part with cutting edges at a tip end, and a shank part which to at least some extent is bounded by cylindrical surfaces. With spiral drills for metal drilling it is of great importance that no chips are packed in the spiral flutes, since even a small counter pressure from adhering chips will seriously disturb the chip formation and lead to greatly increased feed and cutting forces, as well as slower feed rate.
To facilitate the chip flow through the spiral flutes these should be made with a spacious cross section shaped to avoid pressing the chips against the wall of the hole. It is also suitable to supply liquid through coolant channels to openings near the cutting edges, which facilitates chip formation and lowers friction in the flutes. In order not to lower the torsion stiffness or give an undesirable coupling between axial force and torsion angle, the drill can be made with two spiral coolant channels as shown in the patents SE 335 111 and DE 33 04 277, located between the flutes in the ribs where they are least detrimental to the strength and stiffness. Those patents show how a drill can be made from a such a spiral part joined to a separately made shank part with different location of coolant channels.
It is also known through patent SE 194 706 to make drills with indexable carbide inserts in pockets on a steel body, where it has been made possible to utilize a limited number of insert sizes for a large number of drill diameters by using two or more unsymmetrically located inserts, one of which is a center insert close to the center line of the drill and one of which is a peripheral insert close to the periphery of the drill.

Spiral drill with coolant channels and method to manufacture a spiral drill


A method and apparatus for extracting information from human speech are dislosed. A speech signal is received into a bank of bandpass filters and the instantaneous amplitude modulation and frequency modulation of each harmonic in the speech waveform is determined. A logarithm of the instantaneous frequency of the speech fundamental frequency is determined, for example, by computing a weighted average of the frequency modulations of the harmonics. An output signal is formed having the logarithm of the frequency of the thus determined speech fundamental and the logarithms of the amplitude modulation for the ten lowest frequency speech harmonics and/or the speech envelope.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for extracting the information content of audio signals, in particular audio signals associated with human speech.
2. Related Art
Conventional devices for extracting the information content from human speech are plagued with difficulties. Such devices, which include voice activated machines, computers and typewriters, typically seek to recognize, understand and/or respond to spoken language. Speech compressors seek to minimize the number of data bits required to encode digitized speech in order to minimize the cost of transmitting such speech over digital communication links. Hearing-aids seek to augment the hearing impaired's ability to extract information from speech and thus better understand conversations. Numerous other speech interpreting or responsive devices also exist.
As disclosed herein, the difficulties encountered by these devices and their resulting poor performance stem from the fact that they incorporate principles of operation that are wholly unlike the operating principles of the human ear. Since such devices fail to incorporate an information extraction principle similar to that found in the ear, they are incapable of extracting and representing speech information in an efficient manner.
Chappell in "Filter Technique Offers Advantages for Instantaneous Frequency Measurement" published in Microwave System News and Communications Technology, June, 1986, discloses the basic concept of channelized filter discriminators or ratio detectors. Chappell applies the technique to measuring the frequency of individual radar pulses rather than speech and does not address measurement of combination of harmonics for frequency diversity processing. In addition, Chappell uses butterworth filters with a non-linear frequency discriminator curve rather than Gaussian filters, as is disclosed herein, with a perfectly linear discriminator curve or Gaussian/exact log discriminator curve.
Morlet, et al., in "Wavelet Propagation and Sampling Theory" published in Geophysics in 1982, discloses a filter bank with Gaussian filters equally spaced along a logarithmic frequency axis. The system is applied to seismic waves, rather than speech and does not address the measurement and combination of harmonics for frequency diversity processing.
Hartman in "Hearing a Mistuned Harmonic in an Otherwise Periodic Complex Tone", published in 1990 in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, and in Chapter 21 of Auditory Function "Pitch Perception and the Segregation and Integration of Auditory Entities" describes the abilities of the auditory system to recognize and distinguish different sounds, but not how this is accomplished. The use a frequency discrimination process to measure harmonic frequencies and "pitch meter" that fits harmonic templates to resolve frequency components using conventional spectral analysis, is also disclosed. However, none of these references can account for observed functional behavior of the human ear. In addition, none of the references discloses that the ear is primarily a modulation detector rather than a general purpose sound detector, speech modulation uses a hybrid AM/FM signaling scheme with frequency diversity via harmonically related carriers. The reasons why ones perception of pitch is logarithmic is that proper FM demodulation of harmonics requires band pass filters with band widths proportional to their center frequencies in a logarithmic relationship. Finally, there is no disclosure of a ratio detector.
Information encoded in signals can be extracted in numerous ways. Usually, the optimal way to extract information from signals is to employ the same approach used for encoding the information. The human ear does not appear to employ conventional data processing methods of extracting information from sound signals, such as methods using Fourier coefficients, Wavelet transform coefficients, linear prediction coefficients or other common techniques dependent on measurements of the sound signals themselves.
Human speech typically contains only about 100 bits of information per second of speech. Yet, when speech is digitized at an 8,000 sample/second rate, the Nyquist limit for telephone (toll) quality speech, with a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter, nearly 100,000 bits of data are obtained each second. Therefore, it should be possible to compress speech data by factors of up to 1000, in order to reduce the number of data bits, and still preserve all of the information. Despite intense research over many decades, the best compression factors achieved for telephone quality speech are only about 20, such as that obtained by the 4800 bits/second code-excited linear prediction (CELP) technique. Worse still, speech compression techniques with high compression factors are extremely complex and require a great deal of computing in order to implement them.
The difficulties encountered in attempting to produce machines to compress or otherwise process speech signals is a direct result of a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" type of problem associated with audio perception. Information from speech cannot be extracted unless it is first known how the information is encoded within speech signals. On the other hand, understanding how the information is encoded is difficult if there is no practical means for recovering it. This situation has not significantly changed in more than one hundred years, since Herman von Helmholtz tried, and failed, to explain how human hearing functions in terms of "resonators". Since that time, many theories of audio perception have been published, but none of them can account for most of the observed, perceptual behavior of the auditory system. As a direct result of this lack of theoretical understanding, no machines have ever been built that perform in a manner remotely similar to the ear.
Thus, conventional approaches are often inaccurate and inefficient. The invention disclosed herein solves these problems by employing techniques more compatible with the operation of the human auditory system.


A condensing device and a thermal module using same are disclosed. The condensing device includes a hollow main body having a first inlet, a first outlet, and a flow-guiding zone. In the flow-guiding zone, there is provided a plurality of spaced flow-guiding members to define at least one flow passage therebetween. The at least one flow passage is communicable at two opposite ends with the first inlet and the first outlet. The thermal module is formed by connecting the first inlet and the first outlet of the condensing device to a second outlet and a second inlet of a heat-absorption unit, respectively, via two separate heat-transfer units. With the flow-guiding zone provided in the condensing device, it is able to accelerate the vapor-liquid circulation in the condensing device to thereby provide upgraded heat transfer efficiency.

Due to the quick development in the electronic and semiconductor industrial fields, the progress in the process technology and the trends in market demands, various electronic devices have been designed to have compact volume and low weight. While the currently available electronic devices are gradually reduced in size, they actually have constantly increased functions and computing ability. For example, among other information electronic products, the most popular notebook computers and desktop computers all include many electronic components that generate heat during actual operation thereof. Particularly, the central processing unit (CPU) would generate the largest part of heat in the computer. Currently, a heat sink composed of radiating fins and a cooling fan is often used to provide heat dissipation function and plays an important role in protecting the CPU against accumulated heat, so that the CPU can be maintained at a normal working temperature to provide its intended functions. In brief, the CPU heat sink has become a highly important component in the present information electronic industry.
In recent years, water-cooling technique has been widely applied to personal computers for heat dissipation. With the water-cooling technique, the radiating fins occupying a large space are omitted, and heat generated by the heat source in an electronic system is collected by a working liquid; and then, a heat exchanger exchanges the collected heat with ambient air. Since the pipeline included in a water-cooling system for delivering the working liquid is length changeable according to actual need, the heat exchanger can be flexibly located at different places. That is, the heat exchanger, i.e. a radiating fin assembly, can be freely designed without being restricted by the space available for mounting it. However, the water-cooling system requires a pump for driving the working liquid to flow through the pipeline, and a water reservoir for storing the working liquid. Therefore, the water-cooling system is subject to some risks, such as the reliability of the pump and leakage of the pipeline.
Therefore, heat pipe is still the currently most frequently used technique in heat transfer, and radiating fins are still needed to exchange the heat transferred via the heat pipe with the ambient air. In some cases, the heat pipe and other heat dissipation elements are internally provided with a micro structure to enable increased heat dissipation efficiency. Meanwhile, other means are also tried to minimize the power consumption of the CPU in order to reduce the heat generated by the CPU.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional loop-type thermal module 8. As shown, the thermal module 8 includes a heat-absorption element 81 having an outlet 811 and an inlet 812, and being filled with a working fluid 84; a condensing element 82 including a plurality of radiating fins 821; and a pipeline 83 connecting the condensing element 82 to the heat-absorption element 81 to form a heat-transfer loop.
The pipeline 83 includes a first section 831, a second section 832, and a third section 833. The first section 831 is extended between the outlet 811 of the heat-absorption element 81 and the condensing element 82; the second section 832 is bent to extend through the condensing element 82 several times; and the third section 833 is extended between the condensing element 832 and the inlet 812 of the heat-absorption element 81. It is noted the pipeline 83 including the first, second and third sections 831, 832, 833 is an integrally formed pipeline.
The heat-absorption element 81 is in contact with at least one heat-generating element 9 for absorbing heat generated by the element 9. The working fluid 84 in the heat-absorption element 81 is heated by the absorbed heat to change from liquid phase into vapor phase. The vapor-phase working fluid 84 flows out of the heat-absorption element 81 via the outlet 811 and flows through the first section 831 of the pipeline 83 to carry and transfer the absorbed heat to the condensing element 82. When the vapor-phase working fluid 84 flows through the second section 832 of the pipeline 83 that winds through the condensing element 82, the heat carried by the vapor-phase working fluid 84 is absorbed by the condensing element 82. The heat absorbed by the condensing element 82 is then radiated into the ambient air and dissipated, and the vapor-phase working fluid 84 flowed through the second section 832 is cooled and condensed into liquid phase again. The liquid-phase working fluid 84 keeps flowing through the second and the third section 832, 833 of the pipeline 83 back to the heat-absorption element 81 for the next cycle of vapor-liquid circulation.
After changing from vapor phase into liquid phase in the second section 832 of the pipeline 83, the working fluid 84 slowly flows back to the heat-absorption element 81 simply under the action of the gravity force. Thus, areas at middle, rear and bent portions of the second section 832 form ineffective areas that are little helpful in increasing the flow-back efficiency of the working fluid 84.
Therefore, the conventional thermal module 8 has the following disadvantages: (1) providing only low heat transfer effect; (2) forming areas of ineffective heat transfer; and (3) requiring high manufacturing cost.

Condensing device and thermal module using same


A double side welding method used for producing a differential gear for welding a weld part to join a ring gear fitted on a gear case from both sides. The method uses welding distortion caused by welding to improve product accuracy. The method includes welding from both sides of a weld part where a first member and a second member, which are the objects being joined, face each other. The method is performed by first welding, which is performed from one side, and second welding, which is performed from the other opposite side from that first welding. Heat quantity adjustment, that adjusts the quantity of heat input to the weld part for the second welding, is performed after the first welding, and is carried out such that an amount of welding distortion that is the objective arises.

Conventionally, when a ring gear is to be joined to a gear case of a differential gear, bolts are used to fasten them. However, such bolt fastening would cause problems with an increase in weight due to the weight of bolts and the weight of flanges placed to overlap each other, and further with an increase in machining cost due to the necessity of tapping process and hole-forming process.
Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below disclose other joining methods. Patent Document 1 discloses a joining method in which a gear case and a ring gear constituting a differential gear are placed to overlap one on the other, and a soldering material is interposed on their joint surfaces to join them. To be concrete, in this joining method, while the ring gear is pressed against the gear case, a current is applied to electrodes placed in contact with the gear case and the ring gear, and heat generated by contact resistance between the joint surfaces melts and diffuses the soldering material. Patent Document 2 discloses a laser welding performed by placing an outer peripheral end portion of a flange member in contact with an inner periphery of a ring gear. Specifically, the ring gear is fitted on the flange member and a laser beam is irradiated to a weld part, which corresponds to their peripheral surfaces contacting with each other, from both sides in an axial direction of the ring gear.


Disclosed is a four-pin AC parallel connector and a male and a female thereof. The male is composed of a male body, a four-pin male conductor, a retainer, an inner housing, a sleeve, an outer housing and an AC four-pin lead; and the female is composed of a female body, an inner housing, a sleeve, an outer housing, an AC four-pin lead and a four-pin female conductor. The four-pin AC parallel connector and the male and the female thereof of the invention is simple in mounting and dismounting operations, small in volumes and good in sealing property, the working stability is improved, and the service lives are prolonged.

Existing connectors generally refer to connection units between various electronic components, and are mainly used for connecting and transmitting electronic signals between a single-chip circuit board and a circuit board and between a circuit board and a case. Currently, there are more than ten thousand types of connectors, which can be used in many aspects, such as computers, communication devices, televisions, aviation and other industrial products. Moreover, the connectors can be divided into circular connectors, angular connectors and connectors for printed wiring according to shapes, and can be divided into those for military use, communication, information, people's livelihood and aviation according to applications.
At present, these connectors whose connection carrier interfaces require opposite plug are often exposed in harsh environments for outdoor use, the common connectors whose connection carrier interfaces require opposite plug are just connected by chips, the structures thereof cannot be completely clamped, so that they will drop during use, resulting in poor connection, instability and short service lives; another type of connectors whose connection carrier interfaces require opposite plug need to be covered in a third party container after being connected to ensure the long-term service life of 25 years, the third party container is not conducive to the operation of random plug disconnection after being covered, and the volume is relatively huge, thereby indirectly increasing the cost of the product itself.

Four-pin AC parallel connector and male and female thereof