A fuel injection assembly for use in a turbine engine is provided. The fuel injection assembly includes a plurality of tube assemblies, wherein each of the tube assemblies includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. Each tube assembly includes a plurality of tubes that extend from the upstream portion to the downstream portion or from the upstream portion through the downstream portion. At least one injection system is coupled to at least one tube assembly of the plurality of tube assemblies. The injection system includes a fluid supply member that extends from a fluid source to the downstream portion of the tube assembly. The fluid supply member includes a first end portion located in the downstream portion of the tube assembly, wherein the first end portion has at least one first opening for channeling fluid through the tube assembly to facilitate reducing a temperature therein.

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to turbine engines and, more particularly, to a fuel injection assembly for use in a turbine engine.
At least some known turbine engines are used in cogeneration facilities and power plants. Such engines may have high specific work and power per unit mass flow requirements. To increase the operating efficiency, at least some known turbine engines, such as gas turbine engines, operate with increased combustion temperatures. In at least some known gas turbine engines, engine efficiency increases as combustion gas temperatures increase.
However, operating with higher temperatures may also increase the generation of polluting emissions, such as oxides of nitrogen (NOX). In an attempt to reduce the generation of such emissions, at least some known turbine engines include improved combustion system designs. For example, many combustion systems may use premixing technology that includes tube assemblies or micro-mixers that facilitate mixing substances, such as diluents, gases, and/or air with fuel to generate a fuel mixture for combustion.
However, the benefits of such combustion systems may be limited. Each tube assembly or micro-mixer has a substantially large recirculation region within its center area or large blockage area. More specifically, the combustion product that is recirculating in the center area interacts with the combustible mixture within each of the tubes in the tube assemblies that are located within the center area. As a result, the temperature within the recirculation region is substantially higher than other areas of the tube assembly or micro-mixer. The high temperature results in a reduced margin of a flashback and/or a flameholding in the tubes that are located in the recirculation region. Increased temperatures may also increase the wear of the combustor and its associated components, and/or may shorten the useful life of the combustion system.

Fuel injection assembly for use in turbine engines and method of assembling same


Various graphical displays for plant process operators are provided which combine aspects of alarm priority and alarm age to assist operators in making better choices in responding to alarms. The disclosed graphical displays provide improved contextual information about specific alarms and the relationships with other alarms in the same control module, equipment module, etc. Hierarchically organized presentations of active alarms and alarm age profiles are also provided to assist operators in evaluating causes of “alarm floods” in chain reactions within complex process environments. Various types of alarm or display alerts are also provided for improved monitoring of processed conditions and changes in process controls.

Process control systems are widely used in factories and/or plants in which products are manufactured or processes are controlled (e.g., chemical manufacturing, power plant control, etc.) Process control systems are also used in the harvesting of natural resources such as, for example, oil and gas drilling and handling processes, etc. Virtually any manufacturing process, resource harvesting process, including agriculture, can be automated through the application of one or more process control systems.
The manner in which process control systems are implemented has evolved over the years. Older generations of process control systems were typically implemented using dedicated, centralized hardware. However, modem process control systems are typically implemented using a highly distributed network of workstations, intelligent controllers, smart field devices, and the like, some or all of which may perform a portion of an overall process control strategy or scheme. In particular, most modern process control systems include smart field devices and other process control components that are communicatively coupled to each other and/or to one or more controllers via one or more digital data busses. Of course, many of these modern process control systems may also include non-smart field devices such as, for example, 4-20 milliamp (MA) devices, 0-10 volts direct current (VDC) devices, etc., which are typically directly coupled to controllers as opposed to a shared digital data bus or the like.
In any event, field devices include, for example, input devices (e.g., devices such as sensors that provide status signals that are indicative of process control parameters such as, for example, temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.), as well as control operators or actuators that perform actions in response to commands received from controllers and/or other field devices. For example, a controller may send signals to a valve to increase pressure or flow, to a heater or chiller to change a temperature, to a mixer to agitate ingredients in a process control system, etc.
Obviously, in a complicated process system, a large number of different field devices are transmitting data which eventually is presented at an operator's workstation. Further, all of the field devices either directly present "alarms" to an operator's workstation or the signals transmitted by the field devices are interpreted by software which results in an alarm being sent to an operator's workstation. An operator may receive a large number of alarms during a typical shift. Because most process systems are configured so that alarms are sent in advance of the need for a corrective action as opposed to after a serious problem has been created. Therefore, because an operator may receive a large number of "preemptive" alarms during a shift, operators are often in need of ways to prioritize the alarms received at their workstations. Thus, there is a need for graphical interface software that enables operators to prioritize alarms and make choices in responding to alarms when the number of alarms being received at the operator's workstation is excessive and there are too many to be handled at once.
Another problem associated with currently available user interfaces for process control systems is the lack of contextual information about a specific alarm when the alarm is presented at the user interface or monitor. Specifically, typical systems include an alarm banner disposed at the bottom of the screen whereby all of the information about the physical plant component and the alarm, including the date and time are presented on a single line. As a result, limited information is provided to the operator at a first glance. The operator must then manipulate the screen to receive additional information and make a judgment as to what appropriate action is needed and at what time (i.e., now or later). It would be helpful to provide an operator with improved information about a specific alarm that includes which other active alarms are present in the same control module, equipment module or operator unit. In short, there is a need for improved alarm contextual information which provides operators with additional information regarding other active alarms thereby enabling operators to better understand individual alarms in context of other active alarms.
Another problem associated with alarm signals of process control systems is, simply put, organization. Specifically, due to the large number of field devices sending alarm signals, an operator can be overwhelmed with the sheer number of alarm signals. This situation is commonly referred to as a "alarm flood." The cause of an alarm flood may be a chain reaction of problems occurring within a system. To better evaluate and take corrective action when an alarm flood is occurring, there is a need for improved organization of multiple alarms wherein the alarms are organized hierarchically with age profiles so that an operator can more easily determine the cause of the alarm flood in the "leading edge" of the alarm flood.
Another problem confronted with operators of complex systems involves the number of alarms received and the ability to anticipate problems before they occur. Specifically, there is a need for operators to provide themselves with "display alerts" that would provide operators with specific information used to augment the alarm systems currently available. Specifically, such display alerts could be shift or session specific and could provide tactical alert information enabling an operator to anticipate problems. Such tactical display alerts could also provide one-time operational targets or help the operator ensure that the expected control system response is being achieved.

User configurable alarms and alarm trending for process control system


In a display device including, a display area having a plurality of organic EL devices on a substrate; a peripheral area having a driving circuit for the organic EL devices and surrounding the display area on the substrate; and an organic insulating film covering at least the driving circuit, the organic insulating film has a separating groove which divides itself into the inner part and outer part at the periphery of the display area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and particularly relates to a display device suitable for the application to an organic EL display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic EL device containing an organic material, electroluminescence (called EL hereinafter), is now popular as a light-emitting device, which can emit high intensity light through low-voltage direct-current driving. However, in such a device including organic EL devices (that is, an organic EL display device), moisture may deteriorate an organic layer of the device, which may lower the intensity of emitted light in each of the devices and/or may cause unstable light emission.
Conventionally as shown in FIG. 6, the organic EL devices on the substrate 101 are sealed by a cover member 102 and a sealant 103. Also, a rigid carbon film may be further provided at the outside of the sealant 103. Thus, the organic EL devices on the substrate 101 can be shielded from the outside, especially from moisture and oxygen which may cause the oxidization of the organic EL devices and prompt the deterioration of the devices (see Patent Document 1 below).
In FIG. 7, the cover member 102 is bonded via an adhesive 105 onto a device side 101a of the substrate 101 having organic EL devices and/or a circuit.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-93576

Display device with improved moisture prevention


A pipe fitting facilitates joining of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. The fitting has a HDPE body. A ring-shaped PVC insert is positioned within an inner surface of the body at one opening of the body. An inner surface of the PVC insert is threaded so that a PVC pipe that has a threaded outer surface can be screwed into the PVC insert. A compression ring is installed over the outer surface of a portion of the body that surrounds the PVC insert. Prior to installation, the inner diameter of the compression ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the portion of the body that surrounds the PVC insert. For this reason, when the compression ring is installed, the compression ring compresses the portion of the body that surrounds the PVC insert, holding the PVC insert within the body.

Pipes made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) are used in a wide variety of settings. For instance, PVC pipes are frequently used in irrigation systems for lawns and golf courses. Pipes made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) may be used in similar settings. Because of their use in similar settings, situations arise in which there is a need to connect PVC pipes to HDPE pipes. However, due to the characteristics of HDPE and PVC, HDPE pipes cannot easily be chemically welded to PVC pipes. Furthermore, manufacturers of HDPE pipes generally recommend against using threaded connections on HDPE pipes. Moreover, threaded joints between HDPE pipes and PVC pipes tend to exhibit poor pressure resistance. In other words, a HDPE pipe and a PVC pipe connected with a threaded joint tend to separate when internal pressure is too high.
In accordance with one solution to this problem, a cylindrical metal insert is forced into a neck of an HDPE pipe. As the metal insert is forced into the neck of the HDPE pipe, the metal insert exerts outward radial force. Reciprocally, the neck of the HDPE pipe exerts inward radial force on the metal insert. The inward radial force keeps the metal insert from moving relative to the neck of the HDPE pipe after the metal insert is installed. The inner surface of the metal insert is threaded such that a PVC pipe can be threaded into the metal insert.

Fitting to connect a polyvinyl chloride pipe and a polyethylene pipe


An electronic counter is provided for electrical digital pulses including a counter chain comprising idential flip-flop cells to be controlled by way of a counting input by means of pulses to be counted. By means of each counting pulse given to the counting input, at least one change of the operating state of the first flip-flop cell occurs into the respectively other operating state and in which, in addition, upon a second change of the operating state of the individual flip-flop cells of the counter chain, a simultaneous change of the operating state of at least one flip-flop cell, subsequently connected to the flip-flop cell concerned or, respectively, a resetting of the operating states of all flip-flop cells of the counter chain is provided into an initial state corresponding to the counter reading ZERO. A respective transfer element is provided between two successive flip-flop cells of the counter change, which transfer element determines the counting direction and is provided with a control input to be charged by control signals. Control inputs of the transfer elements which are identical to one another are connected in common to a system which supplies the control signals. The transfer element is provided by means of transistors connected between the outputs of a flip-flop cell and the inputs of the subsequent flip-flop cell, the control electrodes of the transistors being charged by the control signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic counter for electric digital pulses having a counter chain which is to be controlled by way of pulses applied to a counting input and consisting of flip-flop cells which are identical to one another, and more particularly to a counter in which at least one change of the operating state of a first flip-flop cell into the respectively other operating state occurs in response to each counting pulse and in which, moreover, at every second change of the operating state of the individual flip-flop cells a simultaneous change of the operating state of at least one of the subsequently connected flip-flop cells occurs.
The invention also relates to a counter of the type set forth above in which a resetting of the operating states of all flip-flop cells of the counter is provided to reset the counter to ZERO, and a transfer circuit is provided between two successive flip-flop cells to determine the counting direction and includes a control input for receiving control signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Counters of the general type set forth above are known in the art as asychronous forward-backward counters and are described, for example, by Dieter Ulrich in his book Grundlagen der Digital-Elektronik und Digitalen Rechentechnik, Second Edition, Munich, 1975, p. 176. In this prior counter, the transfer circuit consists of an interconnection of a plurality of simple logic gates, by means of which the two outputs of a flip-flop cell and the two inputs of the subsequently connected flip-flop cell assigned thereto are connected with one another and which, in turn, is provided with an additional control input. For example, the transfer circuit can be embodied as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
A disadvantage of such a construction of the transfer circuit, however, is that a representation in monolithically integrated counters require a great deal of space on the semiconductor chip and, moreover, notably increases the energy consumption of the counter.

Electronic counter for electrical digital pulses


A fan blade damper system includes a fan disk integrally connected to a disk post. A retainer is fastened to the disk post and is molded to retain a damper block. The top portion of the damper block is shaped to make frictional contact with the underside of the platform of a fan blade, the underside of the platform being the region of the fan blade which experiences the highest platform vibratory amplitude when the fan blade is rotated. The damper block is thus mounted in a statically determinant fashion. The rotation of the fan blade produces centrifugal forces which produce reactionary forces in the damper block and retainer such that a maximum damping force amplitude is reacted to the fan disk.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to damping mechanisms for reducing vibratory stress levels in rotating blades of such engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a damping mechanism which is mounted in a statically determinant fashion to insure a full damping load is transmitted to the blade platform. The damper is located in a region of the blade which experiences the highest platform vibratory amplitude, this vibratory amplitude being produced as a result of the centrifugal forces produced during the rotation of the blade. As a result of the statically determinant fashion by which the damper is mounted, the high vibratory amplitude experienced by the blade platform is reacted by the fan disk to which the damper is connected via a retainer mechanism.


A pressure assisted park servo assembly for an automatic transmission includes a servo or spool valve which receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from various sources including two solenoid valves and transmission ports. The servo valve controls two flows of pressurized hydraulic fluid to a servo assembly to place the transmission in or release it from park. The improved park servo assembly exhibits enhanced operating speed.

In previous automatic transmissions having an electronic transmission range shift (ETRS) feature, electro-hydraulic solenoid/valves (solenoids) have been used to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic servo that rotates the manual shaft to release and place the vehicle transmission in park. Particularly in cold environments, the time necessary for the hydraulic servo to return the transmission to park after such a shift command, though not long, may be viewed as less than optimal. Accordingly, it has been determined that improvements in return to park actuators for automatic transmissions are desirable.


A driving slope of a disengaging member of a terminal removing jig is pushed into a gap between an electric contact portion of a metal terminal and a disengaging free end part of a cantilever-like flexible engagement portion of a connector housing so that the engagement part of the flexible engagement portion is pushed up. The jig is then pushed inward further so that a butting surface of a pushing member of the jig is put into contact with the front end of the electric contact portion of the terminal to move it back out of the connector housing. Therefore, it is possible to dispense with pulling out a metal terminal from a connector housing with a hand, to make it easier to remove the terminal from the housing out of it.

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting wire harnesses provided in an automotive vehicle or the like, and more particularly, to method and device for removing a metal terminal retained in a housing of the connector therefrom.
FIG. 8 shows a male connector housing a, a female metal terminal b, and a conventional jig c for removing the terminal from the housing. The connector housing a includes a flexible engagement portion a2 projecting forward as a cantilever into a terminal chamber a1 of the housing, and a stopper a3 provided at the front end of the housing. The metal terminal b includes a female electric contact portion b1 at the front end of the terminal, and an electric wire connecting portion b2 at the rear end of the terminal. An electric wire d is coupled to the terminal b. The jig c includes a holding portion c1, and a pushing-up portion c3 extending from the holding portion and having a sharp-edged end part c2 whose height gradually decreases toward the front end of the pushing-up portion. As shown in FIG. 9, the metal terminal b is fixedly supported in the terminal chamber a1 of the connector housing a in such a manner that the electric contact portion b1 of the terminal is engaged at the front end of the portion with the stopper a3 of the connector housing and engaged at the shoulders of the rear end of the contact portion with the engagement part a4 of the flexible engagement portion a2 of the connector housing. To remove the metal terminal b from the connector housing a, the housing is held with a hand, and the jig c is held at the holding portion c1 thereof with another hand and inserted into the terminal chamber a1 of the housing from the front end thereof so that the sharp-edged end part c2 of the pushing-up portion c3 of the jig is pushed into the gap between the inner surface of the bottom part of the electric contact portion b1 of the terminal and the bottom of the engagement part a4 of the engagement portion a2 of the housing to move the engagement portion to disengage it from the terminal. After that, the hand holding jig c is moved to hold the connector housing a as well as the jig, and the other hand is moved off the housing and caused to pull the electric wire d to remove the terminal b from the housing. This conventional art was disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. Sho. 59-36863.
In the conventional art, three steps of operation, which are supporting the connector housing a, manipulating the jig c and pulling the electric wire d away from the connector housing, need to be done by both the hands. For that reason, it is relatively troublesome to remove the metal terminal b from the connector housing a. This is a problem. Further, the flexible engagement portion a2 of the housing a is likely to be damaged by the jig c. This is also a problem.


An aromatic cruising speed controller for an automotive vehicle adjusts the throttle valve of the engine to perform the constant speed cruising control of the vehicle. A running resistance detector unit 18 calculates the running resistance R from the output torque T of the engine, the vehicle acceleration .alpha., and the engine set-up condition including the gear ratio G. During the transient period immediately after the cruising control is commenced or resumed, the torque T0 of the engine which is necessary for attaining the target vehicle speed V0 is determined from the running resistance R, the gear ratio G, and the target throttle position is determined on the basis of this torque T0. Under the steady state, on the other hand, the throttle position is controlled in accordance with the proportional plus integral control method, such that the deviation .DELTA.V of the vehicle speed V from the target vehicle speed V0 is reduced to zero. The drop or the overshoot of the vehicle speed during the transient period is thus suppressed. Alternatively, the proportional and the integral control gains of the throttle position are varied in accordance with the variation of the running resistance R. The response delay and the hunting of the vehicle speed under the uphill/downhill driving condition can thus be suppressed.

This invention relates to automatic cruising speed controllers for automotive vehicles, by which the speed of the vehicle is automatically controlled to a target cruising speed in response to control switches such as the set-up switch and the resume switch. In particular, this invention relates to the automatic cruising speed controllers for automotive vehicles, by which the vehicle speed is controlled quickly to the target speed upon driver's operation of a control switch, such that the transient drop or overshoot of the vehicle speed is effectively suppressed. Further, this invention relates to the automatic cruising speed controllers for automotive vehicles, by which the hunting of the vehicle speed and the delay of the response resulting from the smaller than the normal or the larger than normal running resistance of the vehicle are effectively suppressed.
Automatic cruising speed controllers for automotive vehicles are well known by which the target cruising vehicle speed is set by means of a set-up switch, and, upon operation of a resume switch immediately after the acceleration or the deceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle speed is again automatically controlled to the target cruising speed.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent (Kokai) No. 62-299436 discloses an automatic cruising speed controller by which the vehicle speed is controlled to a constant target speed by driving the throttle actuator coupled to the throttle valve, independently of the accelerator pedal operated by the driver of the vehicle. The control is performed in response to the vehicle speed signal and the control switches such as the target vehicle speed set-up switch.
However, in the case of the above conventional device, the throttle actuator is driven in response to the deviation of the actual vehicle speed from the target speed, or in response to the variation of the acceleration, and no special control is performed during the transient period immediately after the operation of the control switches. Namely, even during the transient period immediately after the operation of the control switches, the adjustment of the throttle valve begins only after the deviation of the actual vehicle speed from the target speed, or the variation of the acceleration, is detected. Thus, as shown at (a) in FIG. 13, during the transient period immediately after the set-up time t0, the vehicle speed V first drops deeply below the target speed V0, and returns thereto after a lapse of a substantial length of time. The stable vehicle speed is established thereafter. Further, as shown at (b) in FIG. 13, a substantial length of time elapses before the throttle position (opening degree) A is stabilized to the throttle position A0 corresponding to the target cruising speed V0. The overshoot of the throttle position (opening degree) A immediately after the set-up time t0 gives rise to an abrupt variation of the acceleration of the vehicle, which gives the driver an uncomfortable feeling. Similar problem arises when the constant speed cruising is temporarily suspended upon emergency braking, etc., and the cruising at the previous constant target speed V0 is resumed thereafter.
The conventional automatic cruising speed controller thus has the following disadvantage. Since the target throttle position (opening degree) of the throttle valve is adjusted in response to the deviation of the actual vehicle speed from the target speed, or in response to the variation of the acceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle speed drops or overshoots during the transient period immediately after the set-up of the target vehicle speed or immediately after the cruising control is resumed. This gives the driver an uncomfortable feeling of deceleration and acceleration.
Further, according to the conventional automatic cruising speed controller, the control gain is set at a constant level corresponding to the flat land driving condition, even when the vehicle is running uphill or downhill. Thus, the conventional automatic cruising speed controller has the following further disadvantage. When the vehicle is running uphill, the control gain is set at a value smaller than the optimum level. As a result, the response is delayed. On the other hand, when the vehicle is running downhill, the control gain is set at a too great value, such that the hunting of the vehicle speed may result. In both cases, the driver's comfort is disturbed.

Automatic cruising speed controller for an automotive vehicle


A sealing sheet (10) assembly bondable to a construction surface comprising (a) an upper layer (14) of a first substance, the upper layer being selected fluid impermeable; and (b) a lower flexible layer (16) of a second substance, the lower flexible layer being bondable to the construction surface. The upper layer and the lower flexible layer are at least partially attached to one another, wherein a combination of the upper layer, the lower layer and the attachment or the partial attachment of the layers to one another are selected such that tensile forces resulting from constructional movements acting upon the sealing sheet result in a local detachment or relative displacement of the upper layer and the lower flexible layer, thereby the ability of the lower flexible layer of transmitting the forces onto the upper layer is remarkably reduced, resulting in improved service of the sealing cover as a whole. The attachment is selected such that a spread of a leakage between the layers via a tear formed in the upper layer is locally restricted.

The present invention relates to a sealing sheet assembly and to methods of making and using same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sheet assembly useful in water and/or gas proofing a surface of a construction which may find uses in various construction and civil engineering applications including, but not limited to, water-proofing constructional surfaces, e.g., roofs, cabins, walls and underground foundation waterproofing, fluid-proofing fluid reservoirs, waterproofing underwater containers, e.g., submarines, and fluid-proofing containers under internal or external pressure, e.g., aircrafts and spacecrafts.
Most particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-layer flexible polymeric sealing sheet bondable to a construction surface, which is less damageable by strains and movements inflicted upon it by the construction surface as compared with the prior art, such that desired sealing capabilities are maintained even under conditions such as massive cracks formation, fissures and/or structural spaces formation within the surface.
The term xe2x80x9cconstruction surfacexe2x80x9d as used herein refers to any surface which is expected to be water or fluid impermeable.
Flexible sheet-like membranes and laminates (referred to herein as xe2x80x9csheetsxe2x80x9d) are frequently used for waterproofing by applying one or more layers of same onto a protected surface. Such sheets are made of a variety of materials, such as, but not limited to, coal tar, bitumen and synthetic polymers, which are formed as sheet-like substances of desired sealing properties. Material and substance properties should meet the requirements of any particular structure, building, authority, climate, chemical and physical environment, required durability, cost effectiveness and the like.
The trend towards irregular roof surfaces, such as, but not limited to, folded plates, hyperbolic paraboloids, domes and barrel shells, has increased the use of plastics or synthetic rubber thermoplastic polymer elastomers as roof coatings. Their advantages include light weight, shape adaptability, good heat reflectivity and high elasticity at moderate temperatures.
Prior art sheets are typically made of thick, flexible and strong materials to prevent their rupture during use. They are either bonded or laid non-bonded over the protected surface.
Bonding is advantageous because lateral massive spread (flood) of water in case of a tear in the sheet is prevented, however, bonding is disadvantageous because, as further detailed below, rapture of the bonded sheet due to cracks formation in the protected surface is readily occurring.
As a result, in many cases a preferred solution for roofing is to lay a loose water-proof sheet, which is not bonded to the surface. This solution is designed to free the membrane from all sorts of stresses caused by sheer and tensile forces resulting from the substrate as a result of thermal and constructive stresses. These forces express themselves often by demonstrating cracks, spaces and fissures which are in widening and shrinking motion (usually cyclic) through the cross-section of the roof or through the walls of the construction.
This motion exhibits a change in the cracks width that tends to increase as a function of many physical factors: e.g., thermal changes or age of the building/construction. In new constructions or after a short period of physical and chemical activities to which the construction is exposed, cracks might appear as a result of climate changes; day and night cycles; extreme changes in temperature; erosion and corrosion of constructive materials; changes in humidity; mistakes in engineering; earth movements; different values of thermal modules of expansion; shrinkage and inflating as a result of vapour pressure, etc.
Often these movements of the construction substrate do not appear in cycles, but expressed as continuous widening of the cracks and spaces or of the expansion joint that are designed to reduce such stresses.
The disadvantages of this concept are that the sheet is subject to elevation and flapping caused by storm wind. Unsolved disadvantage is flooding extensive areas of the protected surface under the sheet, even in the event of a single tiny tear in the sheet. Thus, loose laying is advantageous because the sheet is mostly not affected by cracks formation, however, it is disadvantageous since if a tear should occur massive lateral spread of water is experienced.
Examples of prior art sheets include (i) ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) sheets, which accept about 250%-450% elongation and are typically used at thicknesses ranging between 0.8-1.5 millimeters, mostly in a non-bonded free floating sheet, protected from wind effects by a layer of gravel or concrete placed thereon; (ii) reinforced bitumen sheets, 4-5 millimeters thick, bonded to the surface, which accept 30%-120% elongation and have tensile strength of about 30-80 Kg/5 centimeters; and (iii) plasticized, textile reinforced poly vinyl chloride (PVC) sheets, which accept about 15-25% elongation, 1-2 millimeters thick, having a tensile strength of about 100-160 Kg/5 centimeters, applied mostly as non-bonded free floating sheets, protected from wind elevation by screws or alternatively as bonded sheets being fully bonded to the construction surface.
To illustrate the cracks formation effect upon a protective sheet, consider a crack in a covered surface which grows from 0.05 millimeters in width at the time of application to 3 millimeters thereafter. This represents a 6,000% increase in width. A prior-art, flexible roofing sheet, firmly bonded to the working surface will usually tear under such conditions, causing failure of its sealing properties.
Therefore, wherever massive cracking or strong movement is expected, thicker and/or free-floating (non-bonded) sheets are preferably employed.
In large constructions, thermal and constructive stresses cause tremendous movements, e.g., between constructive roofing elements. In extreme, but quite frequent cases, massive and quick forming cracks, which demonstrate expansion in ranges of thousands percents per hour, cycling on a daily basis, combine shearing action with abrasion upon the sealing sheet. No bonded prior art sheet can withstand these forces without tearing.
When a lower zone of the sheet cross section reaches its maximal elongation ability, rupturing tends to climb along the cross-section, even as a result of smaller changes in stress. Often, a rupture tends to enlarge itself through the whole thickness of the sheet, even without any additional tensile or shear stresses, causing a failure of the sheet.
The use of a strong sealing material will commonly be of no help due to the forceful structural tension.
The cost of a thick monolayer (2.5-4 mm thick) with high and lasting elongation ability (e.g., above 300% after 10-15 years of aging) characterized by chemical and mechanical resistance properties is rather excessive. Such a sheet may provide very good values of bridging ability above small and medium cracks. But, even a 4 mm thick elastic sheet, bonded to the substrate, will not withstand massive movements associated with crack or space formation and/or joints-expansion. When the lower zone of the membrane cross section comes to its maximal elongation ability it ruptures. The rupture tends to progress along the cross-section to the upper surface of the sheet. Most often, the rupture tends to enlarge itself through the whole width of the sheet, even without any additional tensile or shear stresses applied thereto, causing a failure of the coating in the most critic location in the construction, where there is a crack.
Lateral tear resistance of polymeric sheets is not in direct proportion to their thickness. Once an initiation of a long and deep tear is experienced, soon thereafter a total local breaking of the sheet occurs.
Elastic polymers characterized in high elongationability cannot be efficiently reinforced. In such conditions, elastomers and thermoplastic polymers forming a sheet show high values of creeping and fatigue, expressed by decreasing in breaking strengths and other mechanical characteristics that typically cause fast progression of a rupture therethrough. Thermosetic polymers express similar characteristic of failure and fatigue, although their creeping values are usually negligible.
Although the thickness of an elastic thick monolayer sheet provides a large distance between the shear activities generated by the working substrate and the upper surface of the sealing sheet, this costly distance lacks enough shear resistance so as to provide efficient protection to the outer surface of the sheet.
The use of a very elastic, too thin, sheets shows poor bridging ability above massive cracks as a result of the missing thickness and the low abrasion and impact resistance.
The use of infirm bonding of the sheet to the protected surface in many cases demonstrates high frequency of sheet separation as a result of vapour pressure characterizing porosive constructions. Large areas of separation between the sheet and the substrate caused by accumulating shear forces gathered from very large bonded areas along with the disability to control the adhesion strengths to stay inside the narrow margin under temperature changes and aging, cause breaking or too large released areas of the sheet.
Many commercial roof and wall sealing sheets are known.
Chemseal Co., Tel-Aviv, Israel, distributes a two-part sealing compound under the trade name xe2x80x9cELASTOSEALxe2x80x9d. This material is based on polysulphides and on a synthetic rubber Thiokol, which are mixed together and harden into a protective sheet within about two hours after laying. This sealant is however intended to resist various chemicals, as well as water, and is therefore priced higher as compared with other roofing sheets.
Chemiprod, Kibbutz Tel Yitzchak, Israel, distributes a liquid synthetic rubber for roof and wall sealing under the trade name xe2x80x9cLIGOxe2x80x9d, made with a long durability of high elongation to provide waterproofing upon cracked substrate.
South African Surface Coatings, Cape Town, South Africa, distributes a plastic sealant under the trade name xe2x80x9cPOLAROOFxe2x80x9d. This is a trowel-applied material having a 1.28 density when wet and requires two coats and a curing time of 3-7 days.
Both xe2x80x9cLIGOxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cPOLAROOFxe2x80x9d are used in thicknesses usually under one millimeters and provide limited ability to overcome major cracks even when thickness is doubled.
Combined layers of different plastics are used to prevent evaporation from water reservoirs. The tearing forces on such floating covers are distributed. These sheets are not configured to be bonded to any surface.
In the past, sealing units incorporating foamed polyurethane or foamed polystyrene have been used because of their thermal properties. However, these materials have an elongation of only about 5% and therefore cannot resist significant compressive deformation This lack of spring-back properties renders these materials inferior for roofing purposes since they are damaged if someone treads thereon. For example, IL Pat. No. 19514 to Allied Chemical Corporation teaches a roof insulation comprising a board-like core of rigid urethane foam, wherein waterproof layers cover each face of the core. This insulation is proposed in thicknesses ranging from 0.6 centimeters to 10 centimeters and has the disadvantage of lacking flexibility to adapt itself to irregular roof shapes or to absorb thermally induced movements in the structure to which it is attached, since urethane is a rigid material of negligible elasticity.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a sealing sheet devoid of the above limitations.
According to the present invention there is provided a sealing sheet assembly which can be used to provide a fluid-proof cover for construction surfaces.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a sealing sheet assembly bondable to a construction surface comprising (a) an upper layer of a first substance, the upper layer being selected fluid impermeable; and (b) a lower flexible layer of a second substance, the lower flexible layer being bondable to the construction surface, the upper layer and the lower flexible layer being at least partially attached to one another; wherein a combination of the upper layer, the lower layer and the at least partial attachment of the layers to one another are selected such that tensile forces resulting from constructional movements acting upon the sealing sheet, result in a local detachment or relative displacement of the upper layer and the lower flexible layer, thereby an ability of the lower flexible layer of transmitting the forces onto the upper layer is remarkably reduced, resulting in improved service of the sealing cover as a whole, the attachment is selected such that a spread of a leakage between the layers via a tear formed in the upper layer is locally restricted.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the combination of the upper layer, the lower layer and the attachments or partial attachment of the layers to one another are selected such that peeling forces acting to separate the layers of the sealing sheet, result in a detachment of the upper layer and the lower flexible layer, such that the upper layer remains substantially undamaged.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the lower layer is capable of at least 200% elongation, preferably it is elastic, however it can also be plastic.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the attachment is capable of at least 200% elongation, preferably it is elastic, however it can also be plastic.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the attachment or the partial attachment includes a formation of closed cells between the layers.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the closed cells having an average area of 1 square millimeter to 100 square centimeters per cell.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the upper layer has a given breaking strength, and the lower flexible layer has a breaking strength at least 60% lower than the given breaking strength of the upper layer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the upper layer has a given breaking strength, and the attachment between the layers has a breaking strength at least 30% lower than the given breaking strength of the upper layer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the breaking strength of the lower flexible layer is at least 80% lower than the given breaking strength of the upper layer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the upper layer has a given thickness, and the lower flexible layer has a thickness at least 65% lower than the given thickness of the upper layer. The thickness of the lower layer is optimally selected between 0.05 millimeters and 0.25 millimeters.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments zones which serve for attaching the upper layer and the lower flexible layer encompass about 1% to about 25% of a total area of the sealing sheet assembly, whereas the closed cells encompass about 99% to about 75%, respectively, of the total area.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the zones are arranged in crossing or tangential stripes.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the stripes have a width ranging between 0.1 millimeters and 15 millimeters.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the stripes are substantially linear stripes.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the stripes follow a wave pattern, e.g., sinusoidal pattern, broken line pattern or circles.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the upper layer includes a reinforcing structure (e.g., various woven and non-woven cloths, screens, gauze or free fibers made of materials such as, but not limited to, polyester, glass, polyamide, nylon and carbon fibers) embedded therein.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the reinforcing structure protrudes from a lower surface of the upper layer to form ridges thereon which serve for effecting the partial attachment.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments attaching the upper layer and the lower flexible layer to one another to form the closed cells therebetween is effected via an adhesive.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the adhesive is a self adhered pressure sensitive adhesive.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments is attaching the upper layer and the lower flexible layer to one another to form the closed cells therebetween is effected via welding.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments attaching the upper layer and the lower flexible layer to one another to form the closed cells therebetween is effected via a thermoplastic adhesive screen.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the sealing sheet assembly further comprising a cloth material attached underneath the lower flexible layer and forms a part thereof, the cloth material is bondable to the construction surface.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the sealing sheet further comprising a laminate placed between the upper and lower flexible layers for restricting migration of plasticizers from the upper layer to the lower flexible layer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the laminate is substantially fully attached to the upper layer, whereby the closed cells are formed between the laminate and the lower flexible layer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the laminate is attached to the lower flexible layer, whereby the closed cells are formed between the laminate and the upper layer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the second substance is selected such that the lower flexible layer restricts migration of plasticizers from the upper layer to the construction surface.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the lower flexible layer is a foamed substance.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments, a lower surface of the upper layer or an upper surface of the lower layer is formed with ridges which serve for effecting the partial attachment and the formation of closed cells.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the upper layer and the lower flexible layer being substantially fully attached to one another via a week attachment.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the upper layer and the lower flexible layer being further attached to one another sporadically via a stronger attachment.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the weak attachment is effected by an approach selected from the group consisting of weak welding and a use of a weak adhesive.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the weak attachment is effected by an approach selected from the group consisting of weak welding and a use of a weak, preferably water repellent, adhesive, the stronger attachment is effected by an approach selected from the group consisting of stronger welding and a use of a stronger adhesive.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-layer unit designated for being bonded onto a surface of a construction and thereby sealing the surface of the construction and comprising (a) an upper sealing flexible layer having at least it""s outer part protected against chemical and physical environmental influence; and (b) a lower layer bonded to the upper layer, the lower layer being elastic, closed cell, foamed polymeric material having a module of elasticity significantly lower than that of the upper layer and having tensile strength significantly lower than that of the upper layer, the material having an elongation at break of at least 25% in a designated temperature range, and a gas volume in a range of 65% to 99% of it""s total volume. Alternatively, the lower layer is a flexible plastic non-polymeric material, such as, but not limited to, bitumen, modified bitumen rubber, etc. Yet alternatively, the lower layer is a flexible elastic non-polymeric material. Wherein, if the upper layer is thermoplastic or thermosetic, and further wherein if the lower layer has a thickness of above about 2 mm, or if the upper layer is of bitumen, then, the upper and lower layers are selected such that if the tensile strength of the upper layer, according to it""s definition in ASTM Standard D-751, method A (which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein), is expressed in units of Newton per 50 mm width, and the tensile strength of the lower layer, according to it""s definition in Din Standard 53571 (which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein), is expressed in units of Newton per 1 mm squared, then, the ratio between the tensile strength of the upper layer and the tensile strength of the lower layer is greater than 200, whereas, if the upper layer is thermoplastic or thermosetic, and further wherein if the lower layer has a thickness of below about 2 mm, then, the lower and upper layers are selected such that a ratio of the tensile strengths of the upper and lower layers, when expressed in the units, respectively, is greater than 1000.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a multi-layer unit for bonding onto a surface of a construction mainly a roof deck. According this embodiment of the present invention, the lower and upper layers are selected such that (i) if the tensile strengths of the upper layer according to it""s the standard is below 70 kg to 5 cm, than the lower is selected having a density lower than 60 kg per cubic meter, preferablyxe2x80x94less than 30 kg per cubic meter; (ii) if the tensile strength of the upper layer is below 170 kg to 5 cm, then the lower is selected having a density lower than 70 kg per cubic meter, preferably less than 40 kg per cubic meter ; (iii) if the tensile strength of the upper layer is below 250 kg to 5 cm, then the lower is selected having a density lower than 100 kg per cubic meter preferably less than 50 kg per cubic meter; (iv) if the tensile strength of the upper layer is 350-200 kg to 5 cm (mainly for civil engineering uses) than the lower is selected having a density lower than 160 kg per cubic meter preferably less than 50-70 kg per cubic meter; and (v) if the tensile strength of the upper layer is above 350 kg to 5 cm, then the lower is selected having a density lower than 350 kg per cubic meter. Those density values of the lower layer are for providing a better stress dampening mechanism, that will ensure detachment of the upper layer from the substrate wherever high stresses are transmitted as a result of movements of the substrate in the vicinity of cracks, spaces, fissures and expansion joints in the construction. The detachment will occur by rupture that will develop through the cross section of the lower layer.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-layer unit for bonding onto a surface of a construction and thereby sealing the surface of the construction comprising (a) an upper sealing flexible layer having at least it""s outer part protected against chemical and physical influence; and (b) a lower layer bonded to the upper layer, the lower layer being elastic, closed cell, foamed polymeric material; wherein bonding the upper and lower layers is effected by an adhesive or welding, such that non-bonded closed cells are formed between the upper and lower layers.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a sealing unit to a surface of a construction featuring rough nicrostructure, the method is for fluidproofing the construction, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a sealing unit featuring an elastic, foamed, polymeric lower layer and an upper layer bonded thereto, the lower layer featuring a compression-deflection properties; (b) spreading an adhesive over the surface, the lower layer or both; (c) placing the sealing unit over the surface such that the lower layer faces the surface; and (d) applying pressure over the sealing unit; wherein the compression-deflection properties of the lower layer and the pressure are selected such that the lower layer penetrates into the microstructure of the surface, to thereby form a substantially continuous contact therebetween, so as to improve bonding of the sealing unit to the surface, while reducing adhesive quantities required therefor.
The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a sealing sheet assembly which is more durable as compared with prior art sheets although it is bounded to the protected surface, such that when it tears, no uncontrolled massive flood is experienced.

Sealing sheet assembly for construction surfaces and methods of making and applying same


A navigation apparatus for a vehicle that registers a place of departure, a destination, and a route traveled by the vehicle and determines whether an input place of departure and input destination are respectively substantially the same as a place of departure and destination of a registered route. The navigation apparatus reads out a portion of a particular registered route from registered route information, the particular registered route having substantially the same place of departure and destination as the respective input place of departure and input destination, and the portion of the particular registered route being that portion of the particular registered route within a predetermined layer of map data which has been organized into layers. The navigation apparatus performs route guidance based on a the read out route.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle navigation apparatus and programs that control vehicle navigation apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional navigation apparatus, when a place of departure (or the current position), and a destination are input, search data, such as road data, are read out and a route search is performed based on preset search logic, for example, the shortest traveling distance, or preference for a particular road type. When a user selects one of the routes that are returned by a search, the user is guided by visual signals and/or audio signals along the selected route until the user reaches the destination.
In some cases, however, a route returned by a search based only on search logic and search data as described above may not be a route that the user prefers. Therefore, conventional navigation apparatus accumulate driving data and predict a user's preferences, such as a road or roads that the user prefers, and search for a route accordingly. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-292251 describes a navigation apparatus that stores the number of times that a user has passed certain intersections and searches for a route by giving preference to routes containing intersections that the user frequently passes. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-16991 describes another navigation apparatus that registers traveling circumstances such as a width of road, a kind of road, or traveling speed and predicts a user's preferences based on the registered traveling circumstances.

Navigation apparatus for a vehicle and program


There is provided a recording apparatus that can easily set a state in which liquid accommodation units are filled with a liquid for recording while suppressing increases in an installation area. A recording apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto sheets of paper, a discharge unit in which a discharge opening that includes a discharge region at which the sheets of paper, on which recording was performed by the liquid ejecting head, are discharged, is formed, and liquid accommodation units that are capable of accommodating the liquid that is supplied to the liquid ejecting head, in an apparatus main body, in which the liquid accommodation units are provided with injection openings through which it is possible to inject ink into the liquid accommodation units, which are provided in a positions that are below the discharge unit in a perpendicular direction (−Z direction) and overlaps with the discharge unit in the perpendicular direction.

In the related art, as a kind of recording apparatus, an ink jet type printer that performs recording (printing) by ejecting ink, as an example of a liquid, from a liquid ejecting head onto a target such as a sheet of paper, is known. Further, in a case of performing a comparatively large amount of printing in such a printer, there is a demand for stable supply of ink to the liquid ejecting head in a continuous manner. Therefore, a configuration that supplies ink from ink tanks (liquid accommodation units), the ink accommodation capacity of which is relatively large, to the liquid ejecting head through liquid supply tubes, has been suggested (for example, refer to PTL 1). In addition, in this kind of printer, maintenance such as cleaning that discharges ink from a liquid ejecting head using suction, and flushing that discharges ink from the liquid ejecting head using forced ejection are performed in order to eject ink stably from the liquid ejecting head. In addition, during so-called borderless printing that records (prints) on an end unit of a target, ink is also spouted and flung out to a region that juts out from an end unit of a target. Therefore, an ink absorbing material that absorbs the flung out ink is arranged in a recording apparatus (for example, refer to PTL 2).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode package, and more specifically to a method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode package that does not need an additional color conversion frit heat-treatment process and cutting process after bonding between the color conversion frit and a light-emitting diode chip. To this end, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode package characterized in that the present invention comprises: a color conversion frit formation step for forming a color conversion frit in which phosphor is included on a substrate; a color conversion frit transcription step for transcribing the color conversion frit formed on the substrate from the substrate to a transcription film; and a color conversion frit bonding step for bonding the color conversion frit transcribed on the transcription film onto a light-emitting diode package.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a light-emitting diode (LED) package. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of fabricating an LED package that does not require an additional heat treatment or cutting process on a color conversion frit after bonding the color conversion frit to an LED chip.
Description of Related Art
A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device formed of a compound such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) to emit light in response to an electrical current applied thereto. The LED uses a p-n junction semiconductor structure into which minority carriers, such as electrons or holes, are injected, such that light is generated by the recombination of electrons and holes.
The characteristics of LEDs include low power consumption, a relatively long lifespan, the ability to be mounted in cramped spaces, and strong resistance to vibrations. While LEDs are used in display devices and the backlight units of display devices, studies into applying LEDs to general lighting devices have been recently undertaken. In addition to monochromatic LEDs, such as red, blue, or green LEDs, white LEDs have also come onto the market. In particular, a sharp increase in demand for white LEDs is expected, since white LEDs can be applied to vehicle lighting devices and general lighting apparatuses.
In the field of LED technology, white light is commonly generated using two main methods. The first method to generate white light includes disposing monochromatic LEDs, such as red, green, and blue LEDs, adjacently to each other such that various colors of light emitted by the monochromatic LEDs are mixed. However, color tones may change depending on the environment in which such devices are used, since individual monochromatic LEDs have different thermal or temporal characteristics. In particular, color stains may occur, making it difficult to uniformly mix different colors of light. The second method to generate white light includes applying a fluorescent material to surfaces of an LED and mixing a portion of light initially emitted by the LED and secondary light wavelength-converted by the fluorescent material. For example, a fluorescent material generating yellowish-green or yellow light may be used as a light excitation source on a blue LED, whereby white light can be produced by mixing blue light emitted by the blue LED and yellowish-green or yellow excitation light from the fluorescent material. At present, the second method of realizing white light utilizing a blue LED and a fluorescent material is generally used.
The fluorescent material for producing white light in cooperation with the blue LED chip can be used mixed with a frit. In the related art, in order to directly bond the mixture of the frit and the fluorescent material to the LED chip, the mixture of the frit and the fluorescent material has been formed into a paste, followed by coating the LED chip with the mixture of the frit and the fluorescent material and subsequent sintering. However, the sintering temperature is commonly 500° C. or above, and the LED chip that is thermally stable at 200° C. or below cannot withstand such a sintering temperature. That is, sintering the mixture of the frit and the fluorescent material at such a temperature will degrade LED chips, which is problematic. In addition, a heat treatment, such as sintering, performed after the operation of coating the LED chip with the mixture of the frit and the fluorescent material may cause a problem. For example, a base substrate, i.e. a GaN substrate, on which a plurality of LEDs is formed, may be warped. When a GaN substrate is warped in this manner, none of the plurality of LED chips formed on the GaN substrate can be used. Although a fluorescent mixture able to be sintered at a low temperature may be used in order to overcome the degradation problem, other problems, such as peeling or fracturing, may occur in the process of cutting the plurality of LED chips.

Method for manufacturing light-emitting diode package


An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes a signal processing unit, an indicator calculating unit, a storage unit and a controller. The signal processing unit generates, based on a reflection wave signal of an ultrasonic wave that is transmitted into a subject, strain information about a strain of a tissue that is pressured and released in the subject in chronological order. The indicator calculating unit calculates an indicator of a state of pressure and release to the tissue at generation of the strain information. The storage unit stores a time phase at generation of the strain information and the indicator at generation of the strain information in an associated manner. The controller extracts a candidate time phase being a time phase of a candidate based on the indicator associated with each of the time phase.

In recent years, as a diagnostic imaging technique using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, elastography that visualizes the hardness of a living tissue has been in practical use. In elastography, for example, a stress is applied to a surface of a living tissue by applying and releasing pressure to the tissue with vibration of an ultrasound probe by an operator, and information about strain of the tissue in a living body caused by the stress is calculated from reflected wave data, as harness information.
To calculate information about strain of a tissue (hereinafter, "strain information") in such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, detection of a displacement of the tissue or a moving velocity of the tissue is required. As a method of calculating strain information, a method in which a displacement of a tissue between adjacent frames is detected based on cross-correlation of reception radio frequency (RF) signals of ultrasonic waves, a method in which a moving velocity of a tissue is detected by Doppler method, and a method in which these two methods are combined have been used.
Moreover, provision of reference information to an observer by displaying the reference information has been practiced for an operator to judge whether the strain information calculated by the method is appropriate. The reference information indicates whether pressure and release to a living tissue has been appropriately performed. For example, a method in which a waveform where the vertical axis indicates a mean moving velocity of a tissue in a frame calculated from reception data and the horizontal axis indicates elapsed time is displayed as the reference information has been known.
However, even by referring to the reference information described above, it has been difficult for an operator to properly determine a frame of which time is the appropriate strain information.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image processing method


A method of determining room occupancy of a room in a facility having an indoor positioning system with wireless access point fingerprints each correlated to a location in the facility. The method may include receiving a request from a computing device for a room occupancy assessment associated with the room. It may further include obtaining location data that correlates to the locations of wireless devices associated with one or more people from the indoor positioning system and determining based on the location data whether the room is occupied. The determination of whether the room is occupied is then sent to the computing device.

Indoor positioning systems are useful for determining device location within buildings. One type of indoor positioning system is based on wireless access point fingerprinting. A common indoor wireless network is a WiFi network based on the IEEE 802.11 standard. An indoor positioning system stores "fingerprints" of expected wireless access point signal associated with various points or location in the facility.
Meeting room allocation, scheduling and occupancy often relies upon a meeting organizer to correctly book the meeting room via a scheduling application and to faithfully adhere to start and end times. Many times people may use a meeting room without pre-booking the room via the scheduling system, or a pre-booked meeting may run late. Someone that has a subsequent booking of the meeting room may be unsure of whether the meeting room is occupied and whether he or she should possibly interrupt the meeting. If the meeting room is not equipped with a dedicated room occupancy sensor, e.g. a motion sensor, temperature sensor, or pressure sensor, for example, designed to detect the actual presence of a person, then someone outside the room may be unaware of whether the room is actually occupied.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

Indoor positioning systems and meeting room occupancy


An electric circuit board module includes a substrate with electric components mounted on one side thereof and electrodes provided on the other side thereof for the electric connection with the mounted electrical components. The electric circuit board module further includes conductor columns adhered to the electrodes and an adhesion layer provided on the other side of the substrate and around the conductor columns such that the conductor columns extrude from the adhesion layer by a predetermined length. By pressing the electric circuit board module against a separate circuit board to mount thereon, the electric components are electrically connected with electrodes of the sperate circuit board through conductor columns. Since conductor columns are made of a resinous paste with metallic powders dispersed therein, no heating operation as required in conventional module using a solder flow is necessary, resulting in that electric components are kept from the degradation caused by the heat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric circuit board module for mounting various kinds of electric components such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuit (IC) devices, hybrid IC devices, and substrates on an electric circuit board and, more particularly, to a multi-layer circuit board including plural electric circuits with those electric components mounted thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, electric components such as registers, capacitors, IC devices, hybrid IC devices, and substrates are mounted on the electric circuit board mainly by one of the following two methods. The first method is a flow soldering in which the electric circuit board substrate with electric components adhered at the predetermined position thereof is moved over a flowing wave of molten solder to solder the electronic components. The second method is a reflow soldering in which the heat is applied to the electric circuit board substrate, which is coated with a soldering paste at the predetermined positions and has electric components mounted thereon, to form a joint by reflowing the solder.
As demands for the down-sizing and cost reduction of the electronic devices, the high integration of the electric components mounted on an electric circuit board has become increasingly important, resulting in the smaller electric components and the electric circuit board with electrodes at a fine pitch such as 150 .mu.m. However, the previous two methods have soldering errors such as a short circuit caused by a solder bridge and an incomplete joint caused by a solder ball, when applied for soldering such smaller electric components on the electric circuit board with fine pitch electrode.
Especially in the reflow soldering, since the soldering paste easily degrades due to oxidization of the metallic components included therein, it is difficult to obtain the fine soldering paste good for printing on such fine-pitch-electrode circuit boards. Furthermore, both in the flow and reflow soldering methods, since the soldering paste shall be heated up to a high temperature for making molten solder, electric components joined by the soldering are affected significantly by the heat, causing the degradation of the electric components. The joints between electric components and the circuit board are unreliable.

Surface mounting module for an electric circuit board

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A load/store pipeline in a computer processor for loading data to registers and storing data from the registers has a cache memory within the pipeline for storing data. The pipeline includes buffers which support multiple outstanding read request misses. Data from out of the pipeline is obtained independently of the operation of the pipeline, this data corresponding to the request misses. The cache memory can then be filled with the requested for data. The provision of a cache memory within the pipeline, and the buffers for supporting the cache memory, speed up loading operations for the computer processor.

The operations of many modern processors are pipelined so as to improve the speed of the processor. Thus, a second load operation will enter a load/store pipeline before a first operation will pass completely through the pipeline. Typically, a cache memory which loads data to a register or stores data from the register is outside of the load/store pipeline. When an operation is passing through the load/store pipeline, the cache memory will be accessed. If the proper data is in the cache memory at the correct address, a hit is returned, and the data is loaded to the registers and the pipelining of operation continues. When requested data is not in the cache memory, a miss is returned and the data must be fetched from the main memory over an external bus. Until the miss is serviced such that the data is retrieved from main memory and loaded to the cache, the pipeline is stalled. Since a retrieval from main memory can be relatively slow compared to the pipeline operation, if there are many cache misses, the load/store operation will be dominated by the servicing of those misses. This loses the performance advantages sought by pipelining.
Vector processors are designed to operate on arrays of information in an extremely fast manner. These vector processors typically include a vector register file that is a data store, which is coupled to arithmetic units which operate on the data stored in the vector register file. Data is loaded into the vector register file from a memory, such as a cache memory. The cache memory can also receive and store data from the vector register file. The cache memory itself receives data from a large, main memory, which is typically coupled by a bus to the vector processor. When data is to be loaded into the vector register file, a load/store pipeline accesses the cache memory for the data elements and sends them over a bus to the vector register file.
Scalar processors in which instructions are pipelined would also benefit from the use of a cache which is integral to the pipeline. Again, the problem of multiple cache misses can cause the pipeline to be dominated by the servicing of those misses.

Pipeline utilizing an integral cache for transferring data to and from a register


A basic housing for a fluid flow monitoring assembly comprising a sensing leakproof elongate hollow body formed from a non-magnetic, metallic material and pivotally mounting internally of same a vane assembly that at one end includes a vane adapted to be inserted into a fluid flow of piping, with the vane assembly being spring biased to pivot oppositely of the direction of fluid flow, about its pivot mounting, for zero or reduced fluid flow conditions, and at its other end including a permanent magnet for electrically actuating a switch mechanism; such elongate sensing body defines an open end through which the vane projects and closed a end adjacent the magnet, which elongate body adjustably mounts crosswise thereof at its closed end within the permeability of the magnet for set point adjustment purposes a novel flow switch assembly comprising a plastic housing that is also leakproof and potably mounts in hermetically sealed relation a commercially available reed type off-on switch in electrical circuit arrangement with lead wires having ends that extend from one end of such flow switch assembly, for connection in optional electrical circuiting of a variety of types, which flow switch assembly is in field adjustable and can be set so the reed switch is Normally Open or Normally Closed, with the switch assembly housing including both indicia and flanging for setting the same precisely at such Normally Open or Normally Closed positions; the switch assembly is also arranged for full removal from the unit basic housing for inspection or replacement without the need to shut down the equipment to which the monitor assembly is applied.

This invention relates to a flow switch assembly for fluid flow switch monitoring devices, and more generally, the invention relates to a monitor device for monitoring fluid flow (both liquids and gases) in piping in which device a vane is to be inserted in the fluid flow for monitoring purposes and is moved by the force of the fluid flow, with the resulting motion being magnetically transformed into an electrical signal; in accordance with the invention, the electrical signal is provided by a novel switch assembly that includes an elongate housing formed from a suitable plastic non-magnetic material in which a reed switch is hermetically sealed in electrical circuit arrangement with lead wires having exteriorly exposed ends for connection in electrical circuiting of a variety of types, with the switch assembly being in field adjustable with respect to the monitoring device sensing body whereby the monitor assembly as a whole can be set so that the electrical switching provided is either Normally Closed (NC) or Normally Open (NO), with the switch assembly housing including both flanging and indicia for positively setting same relative to the monitoring device sensing body precisely at such Normally Open or Normally Closed positions.
Fluid flow monitors are commonly employed for application to piping for monitoring the conveying liquids and gases to equipment operated thereby. An example is the PSR Flowmonitor (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,092, granted Aug. 2, 1989) offered by the German firm known in the industry as Kobold, which German firm has what apparently is an American subsidiary, Kobold Instruments, Inc., of Pittsburg, Pa. Units of this type involve an elongate sensing body which houses a spring biased rocking vane assembly (called a "paddle"), which sensing body in use is suitably connected to the piping so that the vane portion (of the rockable vane assembly carried thereby) that projects from the open end of the elongate sensing body is disposed within the path of movement of the piping flowing fluid medium, with the vane assembly swinging about a center to move a switch activating magnet carried by such vane assembly within its sensing body; the portion of the sensing body exterior of the piping has a closed end exterior of the piping, adjacent the movement path of the magnet, in which is adjustably mounted a switch assembly of the conventional reed type that includes a elongatge plastic housing that mounts in hermetically sealed relation the reed switch involved in electrical circuit arrangement with lead wires that have externally disposed ends for incorporation in electrical circuiting of a type where an electrical switch function is required once a specific fluid flow is achieved. The PSR device can be set to operate as either a Normally Open (NO) or a Normally Closed (NC) switch function, by moving the reed switch housing, which thus provides adjustable "switch point".
Applicant has found in testing the Kobold PSR Unit has found that while such unit is adjustably arranged to nominally provide adjustable "switch point", the only indication for such adjustment that is available for such unit is in the form of a pair of small arrows applied to the exterior of the switch assembly housing, each indicating a Normally Open or Normally Closed switch function location of the switch assembly housing with respect to the monitor sensing body; Applicant has found, in this connection, that the arrow arrangement involved in connection with the Kobold PSR Unit does not provide the preciseness needed for this type of instrument, considering, for example, the off-hand manner in which, as a practical matter, instruments of this type are often in field set by those not really skilled in this art. Thus, the small arrows provided on such Kobold monitors leave room for individual interpretation and possible location error as there is no positive physical indication that the reed switch assembly has been located accurately to function as desired.
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a fluid flow switch monitoring assembly of the type indicated wherein the reed switch assembly, as mounted for adjustment laterally of the instrument sensing body, provides a positive physical indication that such switch assembly is properly located with respect to the instrument sensing body to provide the switch function desired.
A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid flow switch monitoring assembly of the type indicated wherein the reed switch assembly is formed to provide stops that engage the instrument's sensing body to provide a positive physical indication that the switch assembly is properly located with respect to the instrument's sensing body to provide the switch function desired.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a fluid flow switch monitoring assembly of the type indicated wherein the switch assembly is of the reed switch type, and the reed switch itself is precisely located within the switch assembly at the desired position for providing the Normally Closed (NC) switch function, and the switch assembly exterior is formed with projecting flanges that act as stops that on adjustment engage the instrument sensing body to provide a positive physical indication that the switch assembly of the present invention is properly located with respect to the instrument's sensing body to provide the switch function desired.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a fluid flow monitor of the type indicated wherein the reed switch that is employed in connection with the switch assembly is on the side of the switch assembly that is to be closest to the level of movement of the unit sensing body magnet, with the opposing side of such switch assembly being provided with indicia for positively indicating the position of the switch assembly relative to the unit sensing body for its Normally Closed (NC) switching function, or its Normally Open (NO) switching function, as are respectively provided by the indicated stop flanges.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a generally improved fluid flow switch monitoring assembly of the type indicated, which is surprisingly compact, solidly built, and leakproof as to the flow sensing body and switch assembly housing, and that is arranged to be in field calibrated to trigger on rising or falling flow rates (at the option of the installer), that is inexpensive of manufacture, that is easily calibrated and maintained, that is designed for long term trouble free service in critical operations, and is readily removed for inspection or replacement without shutting down the pipeline in which it is mounted.
Further in accordance with the invention, another important object is the provision of a novel but simple method of positively adjusting and setting at the desired switch point the unit switch assembly with regard to its sensing body.
In accordance with the present invention, a fluid flow switch monitoring device is provided, for application to piping for conveying liquids and gases to equipment operated thereby, comprising a sensing body to which is adjustably applied a fluid flow switch monitoring assembly that is arranged in accordance with the present invention. The monitoring device sensing body is formed from a non-magnetic material, such as brass, to define a bore or cavity extending longitudinally thereof that is open at one end thereof and is closed at the other end thereof, with the monitoring device sensing body cross mounting at its closed end an elongate off-on switch assembly for adjustment movement thereof laterally of the unit's sensing body, and with the sensing body having pivotally mounted within its bore or cavity, for pivotal movement in coplanar relation to the direction of fluid flow through the piping, a swing lever control device in the form of a vane assembly that includes at one end of same a vane projecting from the sensing body open and a permanent magnet adjacent to the other end that is disposed to the unit's sensing body closed end for effecting by magnetic action the activation of the switch device, with the basic unit including spring means mounted within the unit's sensing body for resiliently opposing such pivotal action, and with the basic unit involved including means for clamping the unit's switch device into fixed position relation with respect to the unit sensing body; pursuant to the present inventio, the unit switch assembly comprises an elongate housing formed from a suitable plastic non-magnetic material, that is shaped to define an elongate bore intermediate the ends of such housing, with a commercially available reed switch being potably mounted in the switch assembly housing bore in electrical circuit arrangement with lead wires extending from one end of the switch assembly housing, with the reed switch itself being disposed on the side of the switch housing that has a level which is closest to the path of movement of the basic unit magnet on pivotal movement of the vane assembly forming the unit lever control device (such side of the switch assembly housing hereinafter being referred to as the "switch side" ); with the switch assembly housing defining first and second stop means disposed one on either side of the basic unit sensing body for engagement with the basic unit sensing body when the basic unit's switch assembly is to be positioned to provide the normal closed (NC) or Normally Open (NO) functions of the reed switch (that is mounted within the switch assembly housing), with the positioning of the indicated reed switch within the switch assembly housing being such that the reed switch is disposed longitudinally of said housing to have its Normally Closed (NC) function when the switch assembly housing first mentioned stop means physically engages the unit sensing body, and with the switch assembly housing having the side of same that is opposite of its said switch side, bearing indicia indicating such Normally Closed (NC) and Normally Open (NO) functions and corresponding to the location of said first and second stop means. Such indicia is applied to an elongate label attached to the side of the switch assembly housing that is oppposite of its "switch side", for serving to indicate when the switch assembly is disposed with respect to the unit sensing body to be positioned at one of the aformentioned switch function providing positions; the unit sensing body at its closed end is slotted thereacross in parallelism with the direction of the fluid flow that is to be monitored for slidably receiving the switch assembly housing, with the "switch side" of said switch assembly housing being disposed in the indicated slot at said critical level. The fluid flow switch monitoring device of the present invention also includes a cap and a set of screw elements for clamping the switch assembly housing at the position relative to the unit sensing body that will provide the switch function desired (which is thus an option of the installer of the basic sensing device involved).

Flow switch assembly for fluid flow monitoring


The invention is an optical apparatus and method of fabrication wherein an optical device such as a semiconductor laser includes a grating and a waveguide optically coupled to the grating. At least a portion of the waveguide coupled to the grating has a width which varies along the length of the waveguide in such a manner as to broaden the spectral line width of light output from the device. The width can be varied according to linear, sinusoidal or saw-tooth functions. A broadened line width permits pumping of a Raman amplifier at a high power without inducing any significant Brillouin Scattering.

This invention relates to optical devices such as semiconductor lasers.
Optical Networks are currently of great interest primarily due to their ability to carry a large amount of information. Particularly significant are Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Systems which carry several wavelengths in a single optical fiber. Important components of such systems are Raman fiber amplifiers, which allow long-haul transmission of the signal light without regeneration. These amplifiers operate by pumping of charge carriers in the fiber with pump lasers to cause amplification of the signal light. For systems carrying several channels, more pump power and wider signal gain bandwidth are needed. A key feature of Raman amplification is the ability to increase the gain bandwidth by adding pump power at different wavelengths. Therefore, lasers which can emit light at several selected wavelengths, such as Distributed Feedback Lasers (DFB) are attractive for use in pumping Raman amplifiers.
One of the problems associated with Raman amplifiers is the onset of Stimulated Brillion Scattering (SBS) which generates noise and can reflect a significant fraction of the pump power intended to travel down the fiber. The threshold power at which such scattering occurs is a function of the line width of the pump light. Unfortunately, the line width of a typical DFB laser is small (usually less than 1 MHz), which results in a threshold of only about 1 mW. This severely limits the maximum pump power which can be used for Raman Amplifiers. The line width of the laser may be increased by applying an RF modulation. However, this approach is fairly complex and requires additional space for an RF generator.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a semiconductor laser with a broadened line width. It is also desirable to have single mode emission from the laser so that the light can be coupled into a single mode fiber.
The invention in accordance with one aspect is an optical device which includes a grating and a waveguide coupled to the grating. The width of the waveguide varies along the length of the waveguide over at least a portion of the waveguide coupled to the grating in such a manner as to broaden the spectral line width of light from the device. In one embodiment, the width is varied according to a sinusoidal function.
In accordance with another aspect, the invention is an optical amplifier and a semiconductor laser coupled to the amplifier. The semiconductor laser includes a grating and a waveguide coupled to the grating. The width of the waveguide varies along the length of the waveguide over at least a portion of the waveguide coupled to the grating in such a manner as to broaden the spectral line width of light from the device. In one embodiment, the width is varied according to a sinusoidal function.
In accordance with another aspect, the invention is a method for forming an optical device which includes the step of forming a grating and a waveguide coupled to the grating and having a length and width over a semiconductor substrate such that the width of the waveguide varies along the length of the waveguide over at least a portion of the waveguide coupled to the grating in such a manner as to broaden the spectral line width of light output from the device region.

Optical device with increased spectral width


An image-pickup apparatus is operable in a first mirror driving mode where a motor rotates a mirror cam member in a first direction so as to move a mirror at a first speed and is operable in a second mirror driving mode where the motor rotates the mirror cam member in as second direction so as to move the mirror at a second speed slower than the first speed. When start of taking an image is instructed, a light emitting member starts a pre-flush operation before the mirror cam member starts to rotate in a case where the image-pickup apparatus operates in the first mirror driving mode, and the light emitting member starts the pre-flash operation after the mirror cam member starts to rotate in a case where the image-pickup apparatus operates in the second mirror driving mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-pickup apparatus having a light emitting member operating flash operation for taking an image and pre-flash operation for deciding amount of luminescence of the flash operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A quick return mirror (hereinafter, referred to as a "mirror") reciprocating between a position where the mirror comes into light path and a position where the mirror retracts from the light path is formed on a single-lens reflex camera of an image-pickup apparatus.
The mirror leads the light flux to an optical finder at a mirror-down position where the mirror comes into the light path and leads the light flux to an image-pickup element at a mirror-up position where the mirror retracts from the light path.
In a mirror-up operation due to talking a picture, the collision sound is generated since the mirror collides with a positioning member formed on a mirror-up end.
Therefore, changing of driving speed of the mirror is proposed so as to reduce the collision sound generated at driving of the mirror.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-175920, an image-pickup apparatus having a first driving mechanism of a mirror by rotating a motor in a first direction and a second driving mechanism of the mirror by rotating the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction at the mirror-up operation is disclosed. Then, when the motor is rotated in the second direction, the collision sound at the mirror-up is decreased since the motor is driven at a speed slower than a speed in the case where the motor rotates in the first direction. That is to say, the image-pickup apparatus is capable of changing the driving speed of the mirror by switching a normal shooting mode where the motor is rotated in the first direction and a silent sound shooting mode where the motor is rotated in the second direction.
However, a release time lag in the silent sound shooting mode of the image-pickup apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-175920 is longer since the driving speed of the mirror is slower so as to decrease the collision sound at the mirror-up.
Photometry operation is operated by operating a pre-flash operation after pushing a release button when taking an image used a strobe shooting. Therefore, in the silent sound shooting mode, images of closing one's eyes increase since interval between the pre-flash operation and flesh operation for exposure is longer and objects reflexively close their eyes by the pre-flash operation.

Image-pickup apparatus and image-pickup system having light emitting member


A reinforcing structure of a latch of an auxiliary lock includes a lock tongue set having a lock tongue provided with at least one flat surface. A reinforcing plate is fixed in the gap between the flat surface of the lock tongue and the housing, so that the housing may withstand and support a larger external impact force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforcing structure of a latch of an auxiliary lock, wherein the housing of the latch of the auxiliary lock has a larger strength, and may withstand and support a larger external impact force.
2. Description of the Related Art
The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in the applicant Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 139733, entitled mproved Structure of a Latch of a Auxiliary Lock. In such an improved structure, the lock tongue of the housing is directly combined with one end of a drawing plate. The other end of the drawing plate is provided with two drive teeth and a positioning tooth, so that the arm of the rotatable drive seat may be inserted between the two drive teeth, to press the drawing plate and the lock tongue to act.
The housing of the latch of the auxiliary lock may be punched by a metallic plate, or made of a zinc alloy. If the housing of the latch of the auxiliary lock is made of a zinc alloy, the strength of the zinc alloy is not large enough, so that the zinc alloy cannot efficiently withstand the external impact force. Thus, the safety of the latch is not sufficient.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing structure of a latch of an auxiliary lock, wherein the housing of the latch of the auxiliary lock has a larger strength, and may withstand and support a larger external impact force, and has a better safety.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a reinforcing structure of a latch of an auxiliary lock including a lock tongue set having a lock tongue provided with at least one flat surface. A reinforcing plate is fixed in the gap between the flat surface of the lock tongue and the housing, so that the housing may withstand and support a larger external impact force.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Reinforcing structure of a latch of an auxiliary lock