A roof edging system for providing a functional and aesthetically pleasing appearance of a periphery of a building roof is provided. The system includes a rail positioned about an upper perimeter of a building. The rail is also constructed to sealingly engage a roofing membrane placed about the roof that is free of perforations. A cover or fascia engages the rail and is secured to the rail without fasteners. Such a construction provides a roof edging system, which can be quickly secured to a building and provides an exterior surface.

Many types of buildings have flat roofs with exposed roof edges that must be sealed in order to prevent water from leaking into the interior of the building. The roofs on buildings of this type generally include fully adhered or mechanically attached single ply roofs or built up or modified roof systems, among others. In order to effectively seal the roofs of these buildings, many different roof edging systems, such as fascias and copings, have been developed which cooperate with a roofing membrane placed over the roof to prevent water from entering a building between the membrane and the remainder of the building.
Known roof edging systems generally include a rail constructed to be attached to the building structure, a counter-flashing constructed to sealingly connect the roofing membrane and the rail, and a fascia member constructed to be positioned over the rail. Frequently, the rail and fascia includes hook and tab members so that the fascia can be snap-fit connected to the rail. Fasteners and splice plates secure the ends of adjacent sections of fascia to the rail. Understandably, such multi-component roof edging systems are relatively complex and require installation by skilled technicians in order to ensure an aesthetic and properly functioning roof edge. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a simplified and less labor intensive roof edging system.
Another consideration to such roof edging systems is the engagement of the fascia with the adjoining roof edging system structure. That is, due in part to the roof edging systems' exposure to the elements, it is necessary to ensure that the fascia is securely and sealingly attached to the underlying roof edging system. Failure to securely connect the fascia to the roof edging system could result in unexpected removal of the fascia from the roof edging system during windy conditions. Furthermore, as the roof edging system seals a perimeter of the building to which it is attached, it is also desirable to provide a non-perforated fascia member to prevent the passage of moisture therethrough.
An additional consideration to roof edging system construction is the operability of the roof edging system with a variety of roof deck membrane configurations. That is, there are a variety of widely accepted roof membrane configurations. The roof membrane is commonly a single or multiple plies of a rubber-type and/or tar-type material that is laid across the roof of the structure. Joints in the roof membrane are sealed and the perimeter of the roof membrane is sealed about the perimeter of the structure by the roof edging system. Rather than providing a roof edging system tailored to a specific roof membrane, it is also desirable to provide a multifunctional roof edging system that is operable with a plurality of roof membrane configurations.


An evaporative compact high intensity cooler (ECHIC) for transferring heat from a heat source along a heat conduction surface of the heat source with a two-phase coolant, comprises a flow passage labyrinth of flow passages with short conduction paths interrupted by coolant columns that all radiate from at least one coolant supply passage and offer the coolant expanding volume as the coolant evaporates due to absorbing heat within the flow passages from the heat conduction surface to maintain nearly isobaric conditions for the coolant to maintain relatively constant temperature throughout the ECHIC as it absorbs heat from the heat source and limit boundary layer formation within the flow passages to improve heat transfer.

Very high heat dissipations occur in high power electronic devices such as high-energy laser and the high power microwave devices. Surface heat fluxes for laser diodes are approximately 100 to 500 w/cm2. Microwave interaction and collector cavity heat fluxes can reach 1000 to 2000 w/cm2 respectively. High power electronics such as converters, inverters and motor drives typically have devices that generate heat fluxes of 10 to 40 w/cm2 at the device level and even higher at the die level. High power CPU packages for high performance computers will dissipate as much as 100 w/cm2 over a footprint of a few square centimeters. All of these devices must operate within acceptable temperature ranges regardless of their heat dissipation. Such devices also demand good surface isothermality for optimum device performance. Where the ultimate heat sink is at a temperature level that is too high for direct or cascaded loop cooling, rejection of device waste heat to the heat sink requires thermal pumping to a higher temperature level. An efficient refrigeration system is a vapour cycle wherein an evaporator absorbs heat at a lower temperature and a loop condenser rejects it at a higher temperature. Vapour cycle systems offer two advantages in thermal control at the evaporator. First, pressure level may control temperature due to the pressure-temperature relationship of the saturated vapour. Second, vapour cycle systems exhibit better heat source isothermality than single-phase systems because the coolant changes temperature with heat addition in such systems, such as with the compact high intensity cooler (CHIC) described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,952 to Downing. Given these and other advantages of two-phase heat absorption, a high performance evaporator must be capable of accepting high heat fluxes and providing nearly constant temperature heat rejection over the device footprint. Additionally, the thermal resistance of the device should be small, thereby reducing the required lift of the refrigeration system. The evaporator should be capable of evaporating the coolant to high outlet qualities without high pressure drops that would penalise the cycle. Vapour specific volumes are in the range of 140 to 1000 times larger than their liquids. To manage flow velocities and thereby pressure losses during the large changes in volumetric flow a flow structure with and expanding flow area is required. Flow velocities should remain large enough to maintain shear control, however. These conditions serve to maintain annular flow and wet wall conditions capable of withstanding high heat fluxes to high outlet qualities.
Some high energy systems that have short duty cycles make expendable coolants an attractive solution to energy management. In this case, stored liquid coolant may evaporate in the evaporator and then vent in an open cycle arrangement. The desired features of an evaporator for this open cycle system are identical to the closed cycle heat absorber.

Evaporative compact high intensity cooler


A phase-locked loop circuit comprising a received data counter for counting received clock signals reproduced according to sent data count values output from a transmitter, a subtracter for subtracting the output of the received data counter from an entered sent data count value, first and second attenuators for attenuating the output of the subtracter, an integrator for integrating the output of the second attenuator, an adder for adding the output of the first attenuator to the output of the integrator, a converter for converting the output of the adder into the corresponding voltage signal, and a voltage control oscillator that is controlled by the output of the converter and outputs a received clock signal to be supplied to the received data counter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase-locked loop (hereinafter referred to as the "PLL") circuit used in a receiver to reproduce clock signals synchronized with a transmitter in a communications system, in particular, to a PLL circuit for reproducing clocks from time data sent at random temporal intervals.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a typical means for reproducing clocks synchronized with a transmitter in a receiver in a communications system, a PLL method is used which reproduces clocks by demodulating, in the receiver, temporal data modulated and superposed on sent signals in the transmitter. The PLL method is, for example, described in document ITU-T (recommendation H.220.0).
Particularly, when digital signals are used to transmit data between a transmitter and a receiver, a digital signal processing type PLL (hereinafter referred to as the "DPLL") method is applied which converts analog phase data into the corresponding digital data, then performs digital signal processing for clock reproduction. The DPLL method is, for example, described in a document, "Response of an All Digital Phase-locked Loop" (Joseph Garodnick, et al, IEEE TRANS. COMM. Vol. COM-22, No. 6, June 1974, pp751-764).
The above phase-locked loop methods based on prior art including DPPL are accompanied by the problem that they cannot control phase fluctuation (jitters) that occurs in the vicinity of a sampling frequency. This means that an asynchronous communications network cannot be used as a communications network for connecting a transmitter and a receiver. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 where a transmitter and a receiver are connected via an ATM (async transfer mode) communications network 94, time data is read in the transmitter at random intervals from a timer counter 91 that counts time according to clocks with frequency fs (Hz) from a send reference clock source (OSC) 92, and sent to the ATM communications network 94 as time data 93. The time data 93 is read from the timer counter 91 at certain random intervals within Ts seconds, and its value (height) indicates elapsed time T from the previous reading.
The receiver receives time data 93 as received time data 95 via the ATM communications network 94. And clocks are reproduced by a PLL circuit 96. The time when received time data 95 arrives is varied by cell delay variation (hereinafter referred to as "CDV") in the ATM communications network 94.
Now that time data is expressed as 2 .pi.fs.multidot.nT, CDV in the ATM communications network 94 appears as phase fluctuation (jitters) 97. The past DPLL circuit based on prior art cannot control such phase fluctuation and, thus, causes signal quality deterioration. An async communications network cannot, therefore, be used as a communications network for connecting a transmitter and a receiver.
It is well known that a second-order PLL circuit has been developed which can implement control over same P--P value jitters. Also, a third-order PLL circuit that can reduce system pull-in time very much has been designed successfully. But, the past third-order PLL circuit that uses a dual integrator as the filter suffers the problem that it is not stable against high jitters.

Phase-locked loop circuit for reproducing clock signals synchronized with transmitter in receiver


A recording disk storage apparatus includes a saddle shaped and sized to fit over a support object, such as a computer component. There is a case connectible to the saddle which has an interior cavity shaped and sized to receive a plurality of recording disks. Preferably the case is releasably connected to the saddle. There may be a strap extendable below the support object to retain the saddle on the support object.

Recording disks of various types are used for storing computer data as well as for other information such as sound or video recordings. A computer user or audiophile may own scores or even hundreds of such recording disks. Organizing these disks and storing them conveniently has been an ongoing problem. Many types of storage cabinets and containers have been devised. However not all of these make the recording disks readily available when they are desired.
For example, a computer user may Lave a very limited space available at a workstation with essentially no room for a storage cabinet or the like. Most computers Lave only a single player for each type of replaceable, recording disks, such as CDROMs. During a work day, the user may have to change disks many times. This often leads to a cluttered working surface with scattered CDROM jewel cases scattered thereon.
It would be desirable to provide an improved storage apparatus for recording disks which would allow computer users to store and organize many different recording disks without the need for a significant space for a conventional storage cabinet.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved recording disk storage apparatus' which can be used in conjunction with an existing support object, such as a computer component, like a computer tower or monitor.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved recording disk storage apparatus which is simple in construction and economical to produce and sell.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved recording disk storage apparatus which can be readily moved when desired.


An organic EL device includes a pair of electrodes, a light emitter layer obtained by mixing a hole transporting material made of a tertiary amine compound, an electron transporting material and a light emitting additive. The tertiary amine compound constituting the hole transporting material has only one oxidation potential as measured by the cyclic voltammetry. A difference in ionization potential between the hole transporting material and electron transporting material of the light emitter layer is 0.35 eV or greater.

As being self-luminescent, organic EL devices have excellent visibility. They can be driven at a voltage as low as several volts to tens of volts so that the weight of the device including a driving circuit can be reduced. Such characteristics make it possible to use them as a thin film display, illumination and back light. Rich color variation is also one characteristic of organic EL devices.
In particular, organic EL devices are promising as displays to be mounted on vehicles owing to their wide viewing angle, high contrast and low-temperature operation. Their industrialization has however been impeded by severe quality standards for vehicles because they have problems peculiar to them such as lowering in brightness and low heat resistance.
For improving the brightness lifetime, a method of using a light emitter layer formed by mixing a hole transporting material and an electron transporting material as a host and a light emitting additive as a dopant has conventionally been proposed (refer to JP 8-48656A).
According to the investigation by the present inventors, however, it has been confirmed that some materials employed as the hole transporting material have not enough heat resistance and by the exposure to high temperature circumstances, for example, at 100° C., dark spots appear clearly, resulting in lowered brightness.
Various hole injecting and/or transporting materials have conventionally been disclosed as a host of a light emitter layer (refer to JP 2000-156290A, International Publication No. 98/8360 and JP 8-48974A). Some of them are materials having a high glass transition point for improving high-temperature durability. More specifically, materials having, in the molecule thereof, at least three triphenylamines in order to have a glass transition point of 100° C. or greater are proposed.


A method of recommending one or more solutions to a performance issue may include receiving operations information associated with a print production environment, determining one or more performance metrics associated with the print production environment based on at least a portion of the received operations information, and determining whether a performance issue associated with the print production environment exists based on one or more of the performance metrics. The method may include, in response to determining that a performance issue exists, identifying a cause of the performance issue, identifying a different configuration of production devices for the print production environment, running a simulation on the different configuration using historical job information associated with the print production environment to determine whether the different configuration mitigates the performance issue, and in response to determining that the different configuration mitigates the performance issue, recommending the different configuration to a user.

Typically, operators of production environments, such as print shops for example, make decisions concerning purchasing, leasing and/or upgrading production resources when they realize they are not able to meet service level agreements or other obligations. Often, such a decision is made in an ad hoc manner and, as such, is usually not the most beneficial long term decision for the operator.

Methods and systems for recommending solutions to performance issues in a print production environment


An electronic visual food probe for viewing the interior of a body of food being cooked. The probe has a food-safe, heat resistant and elongated stem designed for insertion into the body of food. A thermally insulated cavity formed in one end of the stem has a window that allows light into and out of the cavity. A light source illuminates the interior of the food exposed to the window. An electronic image sensor receives the light reflected from the interior surfaces of the food proximate the window and generates an elongated color image of the reflected light. An electronic display system receives the elongated color image from the image sensor and displays it on an electronic display for viewing.

This invention relates generally to an electronic apparatus to facilitate the viewing of a sliver or length of a portion of food such as, for example, the visual sampling of the interior of a piece of cooked meat, and more particularly to a novel electronic probe that generates a substantially accurate visual image of the coloration of an interior sliver or length within a piece of cooked meat in a single scan for determination of sufficient level of cooking.
It is often desirable when cooking or grilling foods, and in particular when grilling meats, to determine whether the meat has been cooked sufficiently in the interior or body of the meat being cooked. One well-recognized method to determine the extent to which the interior or body of a piece of meat has been cooked is to measure or monitor the internal temperature of the item. This may entail a simple temperature measurement at a single location in the body of the piece of meat, or may be more complex, such as for example obtaining multiple temperature measurements and/or monitoring at one or multiple locations in the body of the piece of meat and/or at various depths in the body or interior of the piece of meat. It is also often desirable to determine the interior temperatures while the meat is still being cooked. That is, it is often desirable to be able to measure the meat's interior temperature without removing the food meat from its cooking environment, such as an oven or grill.
Not surprisingly, a wide variety of devices exist in the art that can determine the temperature of a piece of cooked meat. These devices may comprise a single or multiple temperature probes coupled with analog or digital readouts or displays, and may operate on mechanical or electronic principles, and can incorporate other various features such as for example, a separate probe and temperature display, rechargeable batteries, an elongated handle or grip, or a backlight display. However, temperature probes do not provide the ability to visually scan the interior of the cooked piece of meat.
Often, in addition to determining the interior temperature of a cooked piece of meat, it is desirable to examine the coloration of the interior of the meat to more accurately ascertain the distribution of the degree of cooking the piece of meat has attained. This has traditionally been accomplished by slicing into the meat while still in the cooking environment with a knife or other utensil to open the meat's interior for a visual inspection, or first removing the piece of meat from the cooking environment and then slicing into the meat with a knife or other utensil to open the meat's interior to view. Of course, cutting and viewing the meat while still in its cooking environment is difficult and uncomfortable at the least, and potentially dangerous at the worst in exposing the person cooking the meat to extremely high heat, searing heated metal, and open flames. In addition, this traditional technique has the undesirable result of marring the meat prior to presentation and consumption. Further, whether in the cooking environment or after being removed from the cooking environment, slicing or cutting the meat exposes those portions of the meat to the low temperature environment prematurely, which results in discoloration and less appeal, and can lead to the determination that additional cuts or slices or cooking may be warranted.
It would therefore be desirable to have a device or apparatus that can readily and accurately discern and display the coloration of the interior of a cooked or cooking piece of meat (or a body of some food type other than meat) without requiring that the meat (or a body of some food type other than meat) be sliced open for visual inspection. In addition, it would be further desirable for such a device to be able to quickly and accurately discern and display the coloration of the interior of a cooked or cooking piece of meat (or a body of some food type other than meat) without removing the meat (or a body of some food type other than meat) from the cooking environment. As will become evident in this disclosure, the present invention provides such benefits over the existing art.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.


The present invention provides a non-asphaltic peel-and-stick roofing membrane for quicker and easier installation to a roof substrate, as well as a method of manufacturing the membrane.

A single-ply building membrane is a membrane typically applied in the field using a one layer membrane material (either homogeneous or composite) rather than multiple layers built-up. These membranes have been widely used on low slope roofing and other applications. The membrane can comprise one or more layers, have a top and bottom surface, and may include a reinforcing scrim or stabilizing material. The scrim is typically of a woven, nonwoven, or knitted fabric composed of continuous or discontinuous strands of material used for reinforcing or strengthening membranes.
These single-ply membranes typically comprise base (bottom) and cap (top) polyolefin-based sheets (layers) with a fiber reinforcement scrim (middle) sandwiched between the other two layers. The scrim is generally the strongest layer in the composite. Other materials from which the membranes may be formed, include but are not limited to, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE or CSM), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), and ethylene propylene diene polymer (EPDM).
Current non-asphaltic roll membranes which are self adhering, such as those based on TPO and PVC membrane, require cleaning of side laps areas. Often this is followed by a solvent-based priming step. Both the cleaning step and the priming step together significantly slow down the installation of these self-adhering products.
The side lap is the continuous longitudinal overlap of neighboring like materials. Presently, side lap preparation requires the application of cleaners or primers on to the side lap of the membrane by brushing and/or rolling. Additionally, many primers and cleaners are caustic and can irritate or burn the roofer's hands and skin.

Non-asphaltic peel and stick roofing product for faster installation


A data processing device uses a processor such as a central processing unit and a special-purpose hardware circuit, such as an accelerator for accelerating the software operation using the operation program of the processor by replacing the software operation partially by the hardware. A practical application of this processor arrangement is found in mobile communication terminal devices including a digital cellular portable telephone in which a digital signal processor of a mobile communication terminal device operates in association with an accelerator for accelerating specific signal processings such as waveform equalization. The processor provides input data to the accelerator and the results of operation by the accelerator are output to a register or memory based on a cycle of operation to be read periodically by the processor. When the processor operates in association with the accelerator and is interrupted, the data output to the memory of the accelerator cannot be read by the processor and a clock control circuit is used for stopping the internal clock signal of the accelerator for stopping its operation. This avoids the potential for the operation of the accelerator to overwrite the output stored in the output register of the accelerator before it is read by the processor. The processor cannot read the output register of the accelerator while it processes an interrupt or when it loses ownership of the bus connecting the processor to the accelerator.

A processor, represented by a general-purpose microprocessor, a microcomputer or a DSP, can process data according to an operation program. A DSP is a processor which is specialized in digital signal processing. For example, the operation of a mobile communication terminal device is roughly divided into digital signal processings such as speech encoding/decoding, and modulation/demodulation and a communication protocol processing. Because of the property of the digital signal processing, the former is suitably realized by special-purpose hardware or a programmable DSP. Meanwhile, the latter communication protocol processing is so complicated that it is more suitably realized by software using a high-level language such as the C language. Based on this fact, there has been proposed a method in which the speech encoding/decoding, the channel encoding/decoding, and the modulating/demodulating of the base band processings of a mobile communication terminal device are realized by a DSP whereas the communication protocol processing is realized by a general-purpose microprocessor.
At present, many mobile communication terminal devices are so constructed as to include two processors, i.e., a DSP and a general-purpose microprocessor, as has been described hereinbefore. Meanwhile, a processor (hereinafter referred to also as an integrated processor), in which a DSP and a general-purpose microprocessor are integrated, has been manufactured to realize a mobile communication terminal device. Such an integrated processor is represented by the product SH-DSP (SH7410) made by Hitachi Ltd. This integrated processor can execute an operation while performing the read of a program and the transfer of two data simultaneously, so that it is suitable for digital signal processings such as speech encoding/decoding, channel encoding/decoding and waveform equalization.
Even when a DSP, a general-purpose microprocessor and an integrated processor are employed, however, the digital signal processings such as speed encoding/decoding, channel encoding/decoding and waveform equalization are realized as the processings depending exclusively upon the software over the DSP or the integrated processor. The contents of the processings depending exclusively upon the software vary according to the contents of the operation program but are not expected to cope with the high speed operation sufficiently as the quantity of processings increases. For example, the construction of a mobile communication terminal device is mainly for realizing existing speech communication service. Fast data service is expected to become the main stay in the mobile communication systems of the next generation. For fast data service, more data has to be transmitted than that of the existing case of only speech transmission. Thus, as the signal processing increase in proportion to the amount of transmission this imposes a heavy burden on the mobile communication terminal device. This signal processing includes waveform equalization and channel decoding. In the existing speech transmission service, such processing is performed by software with a programmable processor such as a DSP mounted in a terminal device. However, the processing ability of the processor is not sufficient for coping with fast data service expected to be required of the next generation mobile communication terminal devices.

Data processing device having accelerator for digital signal processing


The invention generally relates to methods of forming vinyl(thio)carbamates and more particularly to a vinylchloroformate-free method of synthesizing (N-vinyloxycarbonyl)-3-aminopropyltris(trimethylsiloxysilane).

The invention generally relates to methods of forming vinyl or allyl(thio)carbamates and more particularly to a vinylchloroformate-free method of synthesizing (N-vinyloxycarbonyl)-3-aminopropyltris(trimethylsiloxysilane).
Two of the key monomers used in the production of hydrogel contact lenses are (N-vinyloxycarbonyl)-3-aminopropyltris(trimethylsiloxysilane) (RD325) and vinylcarbamate-capped polydimethylsiloxane (RD352). The current synthesis of RD325 consists of reacting vinylchloroformate (VCF) with aminopropyltris(trimethylsiloxysilane). The current synthesis of RD352 involves a triflic acid catalyzed ring opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane with a vinyl carbamate butyl-capped tetramethyldisiloxane (V2). V2 is prepared by the reaction of VCF with 1,3-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane. Both syntheses are relatively straightforward and result in a high yield of product. A significant drawback, however, of both reactions is that the monomer VCF is used.
Vinylchloroformate is a monomer used in various applications such as, for example, the making of contact lenses. Currently, it is believed that this compound is only available via a multi-step synthesis typically involving the use of phosgene and organomercury intermediates. These intermediates are undesirable in that they present heightened environmental concerns.
Alternative methods for making vinyl carbamates have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,862 discloses a multistep method for making a vinyl carbamate that does not necessitate the use of phosgene and organomercury intermediates. However, additional methods of making vinyl or allyl(thio)carbamates that do not require the use of phosgene and organomercury intermediates and are relatively straightforward are still needed.
The present invention addresses the above shortcomings and provides methods for making vinyl or allyl(thio)carbamates that do not necessitate the use of phosgene and organomercury intermediates. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making a vinyl or allyl(thio)carbamate siloxy compound represented by the formula (I):(CH2═CH(CH2)b-Y—C(O)N)xR1  (I)wherein x is 0 0r 1, b is 0 or 1, Y is O or S and R1 is an organic siloxy containing radical.
Preferably R1 is a mono-functional organic siloxy containing radical having the formula
or a di-functional organic siloxy containing radical having the formula
wherein R2 is alkyl, alkyl ether or haloalkyl and n is 1-150. It should be recognized that the N-propyltris(trimethylsiloxysilane) radical and the difunctional radical are simply preferred embodiments. For example, when the alkyl portion of this radical is present it may be from 1 to 20 carbons in length and the methyl groups present on the mono- or di-functional siloxy containing radical may be partially or completely substituted with, for example, fluorine atoms or a fluorinated side chain radical. Such variations in the initial reactants are within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the compound represented by formula (I) is a trisiloxysilane vinylcarbamate in which instance b is 0, Y is O and R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted trisiloxysilane group. Alternatively, the compound represented by formula (I) is a vinyl or allyl (thio)carbamate-capped polysiloxane.
The method comprises:    (a) reacting a compound represented by formula (II):CH2═CH(CH2)bOSi(CH3)3  (II)wherein b is 0 or 1,with a compound represented by formula (III):(Y═C═N—(CH2)m)x—R1  (III)wherein x is 0 or 1, Y is O or S, m is 0 to 20 and R1 is an organic siloxy containing radical to form the compound of formula (I):(CH2═CH(CH2)bYC(O)N)xR1  (I)wherein x is 0 or 1, b is 0 or 1, Y is O or S and R1 is a mono- or di-functional organic siloxy containing radical.

Vinylchloroformate-free synthesis of vinyl and allyl(thio) carbamates


The present invention provides a sanitary dispensing system including an elongate member configured to be secured to a door, a dispensing device secured to the elongate member, the dispensing device configured for dispensing hand cleansing materials, and a receptacle device secured to the elongate member and configured for receiving hand cleansing materials.

Public locations, such as bathrooms, waiting rooms, petting zoos, cafeterias, doctors offices, and the like, may be breeding grounds for germs, such as bacteria and viruses, and therefore may be locations that increase the spread of contagious diseases. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a system that facilitates the reduction of the spread of germs and increases the likelihood that individuals visiting these locations will cleanse their hands and properly dispose of used cleansing materials.


A fastener is disclosed for attaching first and second members. The fastener includes a longitudinal shaft portion having first and second segments each having a cross-sectional shape substantially conforming to the peripheral shape of first and second openings formed in the respective members. The longitudinal length of each segment substantially conforms to the depth of said first and second openings. A cap member is formed at a first end of the shaft portion adjacent and outside the first segment. The cap member is larger than the periphery of the first opening. A spacer member is formed on the shaft portion between the first and second segments. This spacer member has an outer periphery larger than the first and second openings to inhibit passage therethrough so as to secure the first member on the first segment of the shaft portion between the cap member and the spacer member. The fastener also includes an abutment member positioned on the second end of the shaft portion outside of the second segment. The abutment member has an outer periphery larger than the second opening to inhibit passage of the abutment member therethrough, thereby securing the second member on the second segment of the shaft portion of the fastener. The spacer member and abutment member each have at least one slot formed therein to permit circumferential compression so as to allow passage of the spacer member and the abutment member through the first and second openings, respectively.

It is well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art that electrical components and devices, by their operation, generate heat and are, by their nature, susceptible to damage by the elevated temperatures. Frequently, specific devices are provided with heat sinks, such as heat-conductive fins, to remove unwanted heat by radiation, conduction and convection to the environment.
Space limitations in the drive towards miniaturization have resulted in smaller space allowances for electronic components used in, for example, data processing equipment and peripherals, especially desk top and portable units. The electronic equipment is typically packaged in a cabinet or enclosure which protects the devices but frequently provides minimal room within for convection cooling. To provide air circulation, the cabinets, an arrangement known as "hard-mounting." The fans are generally known as "muffin fans" and typically comprise a propeller rotatably mounted within a frame on a hub containing the prime mover. Holes are typically disposed in the four corners of the frame for receiving bolts which secure the fan to a panel on the cabinet.
Hard-mounting can result in the vibrational excitation of the cabinet at one-per-revolution and blade-pass frequencies, and their respective harmonics, of the fan during operation as well as at the power line frequency and its harmonics. This structure-borne component of noise can be most undesirable for particular locations, such as when the electronic cabinets are within an office, and especially when several such fans are operating. Naturally, it is desirable to provide work and social environments which are free of unwanted acoustic noise. In normally quiet environments, such as law offices, banks, libraries and such, acoustic noise which emanates from the cooling fans used in computers and other business equipment can be quite annoying.
The noise which emanates from cooling fans originates from two very different causes: mechanical/electromagnetic forces or stresses and aerodynamic forces or pressures. Aerodynamic noises are caused by unsteady airflow in the vicinity of the fan. The unsteadiness results from discreet blades cutting through the air stream, from turbulence caused by sufficiently rapid flow of air over fluid boundaries such as fan rotor, fan case, fan motor, fan struts, and from other causes. Aerodynamic noise originates in the fluid at or near a fluid/solid boundary and is immediately radiated into the surrounding fluid, which is generally air. The sound energy continues to propagate through the fluid, reaching the exterior of the product, either directly (through fluid-borne paths entirely) or indirectly, transmitting through panels, covers, and the like, to the exterior. In the environments under consideration, aerodynamic noise typically is the least important.
Mechanical noise originates in the mechanical vibration of the fan, caused by unsteady electromagnetic forces, unsteady bearing forces, to some degree unsteady electromagnetic forces, unsteady bearing forces, to some degree unsteady aerodynamic forces, and other causes. This vibratory energy propagates through solid structures as audio frequency vibration (also known as structure-borne sound) and is only radiated into the surrounding fluid at fluid/solid interfaces. From there, it travels as fluid-borne sound to the exterior of the product, either directly (through fluid-borne pass entirely) or indirectly, transmitting through panels, covers, and the like to the exterior. In the absence of damping or vibration isolation, the mechanically or electromagnetically induced vibration propagates from its origin (in the fan) throughout the fan and to the supporting structure. A large area is energized by the vibration and, consequently, a large area radiates sound in the manner of a sounding or resonating board.
Mechanically induced noise from cooling fans used in computer and business equipment is generally controlled by isolating the fan vibrationally from its supporting structure. A typical prior art device is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,718 to Lotz, entitled "Acoustic Noise Control For Fans." As shown and described in Lotz, a standard muffin fan as commonly used for cooling in electronic equipment has mounting holes through which bolts are passed. The bolts, in turn, pass through rubber isolation grommets in the mounting hole surrounding a cooling opening in the side of the equipment case to be fastened by nuts. The rubber grommet fits within the mounting hole and includes flanged portions which extend above and below the equipment case so as to isolate the fan vibrationally from its support structure and the bolt from the fan case and thus reduces unwanted mechanically induced noise. Other prior art systems are also described in Lotz.
The use of cylindrical isolators (such as grommets) to reduce mechanically induced noise is widely accepted in the electronics industry. However, the use of the cylindrical isolators also requires the use of bolts which must pass through the fan case, the isolators, and the support structure or cabinet panel where they are ultimately fastened by nuts, resulting in numerous and complicated manufacturing steps. This manufacturing process often proves costly and cumbersome.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an acoustic isolation fastener which provides a reduction in mechanically induced noise and a method for attaching planar members using such a fastener which is simple and cost effective.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a resilient one-piece acoustic isolation fastener which can be used to fasten a device, such as a fan or a blower, to a surface on which the device is mounted.
A further object of the invention is to provide a resilient one-piece acoustic isolation fastener which can be used to fasten a small cooling device, such as a muffin fan, to a support surface, without the need for separate mounting bolts.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a method for attaching a device, such as a fan or blower, to a surface which is simple and cost-effective.

Acoustic isolation fastener and method for attachment


This invention provides moisture stable tuftstring carpet assemblies. The pile surface structure comprises a moisture stable backing substrate, a plurality of elongated pile articles each comprising an elongated, moisture stable support strand having bonded thereto a plurality of "U" shaped bundles of multifilament yarn. The pile articles are bonded to the backing substrate. Different backing substrates and support strands may be used.

Conventional tufted carpets are made by passing a flexible woven primary backing through a tufting machine having a large array of needles that force the carpet multifilament yarn through the backing where the yarn is restrained by a large array of hooks before the needles are retracted. There may be about 1400 needles across a 12-foot width. The backing must accommodate needle penetration without damage. The backing is then advanced a short distance (about 1/10" for a popular high quality tuft density), and the needles are reinserted through the backing to form the next series of yarn tufts. A large array of cutters may be employed in conjunction with the hooks to cut the tuft loop inserted through the backing to produce a cut-pile carpet. For loop-pile carpets, the tuft loops are not cut. Friction holds the tufts in the backing after the needle has moved to the next position.
However, this friction is insufficient to hold the tufts in place during use as a carpet, so an adhesive is applied in liberal quantities to embed all the filaments in the base of the tuft on the underside of the primary backing (needle entry side). This prevents the pullout of tufts or individual filaments during use. To assist in stabilizing, stiffening, strengthening, and protecting the tuft base from abrasion, a secondary backing is attached to the underside of the tufted primary backing. The secondary backing may be attached by the same adhesive layer or by the application of more adhesive. To save on costs, an inexpensive latex adhesive is most often used. The secondary backing must resist damage during shipping, handling and installation.
One problem with the above-described conventional carpets is their heavy structure. As a result, these carpets can be difficult to install and, after a useful life, are difficult to recycle since many different polymers are used in their construction. Nylon tufts, latex adhesive, polypropylene primary backing, and polypropylene secondary backing are commonly used. These materials are difficult to separate for polymer recovery; latex and nylon polymers are not compatible for recycle. This has resulted in millions of pounds of waste carpet being dumped in landfills each year.
Predominantly nylon ("all-nylon") carpets have been suggested in the past. However, nylon polymer useful for backings in such carpets have a moisture sensitivity that causes as much as 4% to 10% changes in the dimensions of the carpet in response to changes in the humidity from very moist to very dry depending somewhat on the temperature. These problems of moisture and thermal stability have not been adequately addressed in the past, so a carpet with a backing structure that would constantly lay flat in use was not possible. Moisture changes common in residential use can result in large buckles in carpets where the carpet is restrained in movement by contact with walls (in wall-to-wall installations), or frictionally held by heavy furniture or spaced attachment to floors. In particular, moisture variations from near 0% RH to near 100% RH at elevated household temperatures are a concern to the stability of carpets in residential use.
Lightweight carpet constructions have been suggested, but they have relied on the bulk application of adhesives that are messy to handle in the manufacturing process and are difficult to recycle with the nylon polymer commonly used for the yarn tufts. The machines suggested for such lightweight construction were cumbersome to set up and operate as they handled an entire carpet width of materials in a continuous coupled process. They also usually required discrete yarn supplies to feed the process and so required expensive yarn restocking at intervals or frequent stoppages to replace individual bobbins as they randomly ran out.
There is a need for a carpet construction that is lightweight, dimensionally stable in use, and can be recycled easily to produce useful polymers. There is a need for an "all-nylon" carpet that is stable to moisture and temperature changes in use. There is a need for a simple inexpensive method of making such carpets. The present invention provides such carpets.


A card connector for connecting an electronic card with an electronic device is disclosed. The connector comprises a base member and a metal cover (10), which define a receptacle for receiving at least partially the electronic card therein. The connector further comprises an ejection mechanism for ejecting the electronic card, at least in part, from the receptacle. The ejector mechanism comprises: a cam portion (60) which provides a cam path; a cam follower (50); and a resilient supporter (40) which supporter supports the cam follower (50) to allow the cam follower (50) to travel along the cam path. The ejection mechanism is formed integrally with the metal cover (10). Instead, the cam portion (60) may be formed integrally with the base member.

JP-A 2004-281100 discloses a connector of this type. The disclosed connector has an ejection mechanism which is referred to as a push-push type ejection mechanism, a two-stage ejection mechanism or a double click ejection mechanism. The ejection mechanism comprises a slider, a spring and a cam follower, which are individual parts. The slider is formed with a cam recess which has typically a heart-like shape. The spring urges the slider rearwards, while the slider is pushed forwards by an inserted card. The cam follower projects into the cam recess. The combination of the cam follower and the cam recess locks the slider in a forward position upon the slider is pushed forwards for the first time. When the slider is pushed forwards from its locking position for the second time, the ejection mechanism releases the slider to move it rearwards by using the spring's force so that the inserted card is also ejected rearwards.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


Provided are a method of preparing a fuel cell and a membrane electrode assembly prepared by the method. The method includes preparing a substrate, forming a buffer layer having a single crystalline structure on the substrate, forming a proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane on the buffer layer, forming a first electrode on one surface of the proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane, etching the substrate, and forming a second electrode on the opposite surface of the one surface of the electrolyte membrane. Thus, the method of preparing a fuel cell can improve ion conductivity of an electrolyte membrane at a low temperature and a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell prepared by the method can improve ion conductivity at a low temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a fuel cell including a proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane and a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell prepared by the method, and more particularly, to a method of preparing a fuel cell including a proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane with improved low temperature ion conductivity and a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell prepared by the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as portable electronic devices and wireless communication devices become popularized, more research into fuel cells as a portable power supply device and a clean energy source is being conducted.
Fuel cells are power generation systems in which chemical energy is converted into electrical energy through electrochemical reaction of fuel gas such as hydrogen or methanol with an oxidant such as oxygen or air.
Fuel cells are classified into phosphoric acid fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, alkali fuel cells, etc. according to the type of electrolyte used. Although theses fuel cells operate based on the same principle, they use different types of fuel, operational temperatures, catalysts, electrolytes, or the like.
Meanwhile, area specific resistance (ASR) of an electrolyte membrane follows the relation represented by Formula I with a thickness of the electrolyte membrane t and an absolute temperature T. Thus, in order to decrease resistance of the electrolyte membrane during the operation of the fuel cell, the thickness of the thin film t need be decreased or the operational temperature T need be increased to increase ion conductivity (σ).ASR[Ω*cm2]=t/σ(T)  Equation 1
where, temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity follows the Arrhenius relation represented by Equation 2 below.σ(T)*T=σ0*exp(−Ea/kT)  Equation 2
where, σ0 is a constant, k is Boltzmann constant, and Ea is activation energy.
Meanwhile, the solid oxide electrolyte has been used at a high temperature of 600° C. or higher since it has low ionic conductivity at a low temperature compared with other electrolytes such as polymer electrolyte. However, when the fuel cell is used at a high temperature, problems such as a long time to reach a high temperature, thermal expansion due to extreme temperature difference between operation and nonoperation and damage caused by the thermal expansion, reduction in durability of fuel cell material at a high temperature, and necessity of insulation due to difference between external and internal temperatures may occur.
ASR of commercialized fuel cells is about 0.1 Ω*cm2, and preferably not higher than 1.0 Ω*cm2. When a Nafion® polymer electrolyte is used, σ=0.1 S/cm at 80° C. Thus, when t=0.01 cm, ASR is 0.1 (0.01/0.1=0.1).
Meanwhile, according to FIG. 1 (K D Kreuer, Annu. Rev. Mater. Res., 33 (2003) 333), proton conductivity of BaY0.2Zr0.8O3-δ at 80° C. is 10−4.7=2.0*10−5 S/cm. In order to obtain a desired ASR (ASR=1.0 Ω*cm2), t needs to be 200 nm (t=ASR*σ=1.0×2.0×10−5=2.0*10−5 cm=200 nm). Thus, the electrolyte membrane needs to be formed as a thin film with a sub-micron thickness. Since the sub-micron thin film cannot be formed by a conventional ceramic process using powder, methods such as RF sputtering, magnetron sputtering, sol-gel spin coating, pulsed laser deposition and chemical vapor deposition are required to prepare a thin ceramic film.
In the preparation of a thin film, the solid oxide forms granular structure which has nano- to micro-meter grain size according to the processing conditions. Mostly, ion conductivity in grain boundaries is far less than that in bulk particles.
For example, FIG. 2 shows difference of proton conductivity of Y:BaZrO3 (BYZ in the following sentences) according to micro structures.
Referring to FIG. 2, the proton conductivity of an electrolyte membrane formed on a silicon substrate using pulsed laser deposition is about 500 times lower than that of a single crystalline bulk-structured electrolyte at 60° C. (2.38*10−8 S/cm vs. 1.34*10−5 S/cm).
The electrolyte membrane has such a low proton conductivity (σ) since the electrolyte membrane formed on a substrate using a solid oxide electrolyte material has a polycrystalline structure as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the proton conductivity (σ) is decreased since grain boundaries of the solid oxide electrolyte material act as barrier to the ion conduction in the electrolyte membrane having the polycrystalline structure. In FIG. 3, ions are conducted in the direction indicated by arrows.
ASR of 50 nm thick electrolyte membrane formed of solid oxide electrolyte with such a low ionic conductivity (σ) (i.e., 2.38*10−8 S/cm) will be 210 Ω*cm2 (50 nm/2.38*10−8 S/cm=50*10−7 cm/2.38*10−8 S/cm=210 Ω*cm2). Accordingly, the use of the electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell will result in excess resistance loss, which will prohibit any meaningful power generation. In order to decrease the ASR to a desired level, t needs to be 2.4 Å according to the equation ASR=t/σ(T) (t=1.0*2.38*10−8 cm=2.38*10−8 cm=2.38*10−1 nm=2.4 Å). However, since this value is less than a lattice constant of BYZ (4.19 Å), such a membrane cannot be formed. Accordingly, a fuel cell operating at a low temperature can be prepared only if ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane formed by a thin film process can reach the same level of ion conductivity obtained in a bulk material.

Method of preparing fuel cell comprising proton conducting solid perovskite electrolyte membrane with improved low temperature ion conductivity, and membrane electrode assembly of fuel cell prepared by the method

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A method of erasing a split gate flash memory cell is provided, which can be used in the operation of a split gate flash memory cell to increase the number of its rewritable cycles. The improvement is remarkable especially for flash memory cells while its floating gate channel length is under a 0.4 .mu.m-feature size. The erasing method includes the steps of: (i) applying a negative voltage to the control gate and applying a positive voltage to the drain to form a forward electrical field between the drain and the control gate; and (ii) applying a positive voltage to the source to reduce a voltage difference between the drain and the source, so that electrons in the floating gate are discharged under the effect of the forward electrical field generated by the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect, and hot holes can be reduced and prevented from accumulating in a tunnel oxide between the floating gate and the drain, thereby erasing the split-gate flash memory cell, and increasing the number of rewritable cycles for the flash memory cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for erasing a memory, and more particularly to a method for erasing a split-gate flash memory.
2. Description of Prior Art
During the operating process of conventional flash memory cells, electrons are normally pulled out of the floating gate by the Fowler-Nordhelm tunneling effect. Referring to FIG. 1, when erasing, the source terminal 10 remains floating or grounded according to the requirements of the circuit. A voltage of -12 volts is applied to the control gate 12. A voltage of 5 volts is applied to the drain 14. Thus the electrons in the floating gate 16 are discharged by the electrical field effect according to Fowler-Nordhelm tunneling effect. The holes gain energy and become hot holes due to the electrical field generated by the voltage difference between the control gate 12 and the drain 14, thus increasing the probability of capturing holes in the oxide layer.
Moreover, the intensity of the lateral electrical field increases since the channel becomes relatively short as the flash memory cell is shrunk. Consequently, the hot holes have a significant effect when the channel length is shorter than 0.8 .mu.m, resulting in an inferior erasing efficiency. A split gate flash memory cell also having a short channel effect, for example when the channel length of floating gate is under 0.35 .mu.m, is easily damaged since the probability of forming hot holes is markedly increased by the lateral electrical field while erasing.
Flash memory is widely used in notebook computers, digital cameras and digital mobile telephones, etc., due to its low power consumption and rapid access. However, the number of rewritable cycles for a flash memory must be increased for further applications. At present, the number of rewritable cycles for each flash memory is about 10,000. A 1000,000-cycle flash memory is needed to fabricate a desired silicon disk driver.
The reason that the flash memory can not be erased any more after several-thousand times of rewriting is that a large amount of hot holes are captured in the tunnel oxide while erasing, and the electrical field produced by the hot holes reduces the erasing efficiency. To reduce the hot hole trap formed during erasure, the energy that the holes gained while being accelerated by the electrical field must be effectively reduced.
Conventionally, a split gate flash memory is programmed by source side injection, such as the manner disclosed in "A new flash-erase EEPROM cell with a sidewall select-gate on its source side," Technical Digest of IEEE Electron Device Meeting 1988, by Naruka et al. Refer to FIG. 2, in which the programming is performed at the source side, that is, the source 10 is grounded, a voltage of 12 volts is applied to the control gate 12, a voltage of 5 volts is applied to the drain 14, and a voltage of 1.8 volts is applied to the select gate 18, thus the electrons can be injected from the source side into the floating gate 16. Conversely, the flash memory is erased by the Fowler-Nordhelm tunneling effect at the drain side. As described above, the rewritable cycle of the flash memory cell can be reduced because the amount of hot holes being captured increases.
Further, during the period of erasure, the holes produced by band-to-band tunneling current are accelerated by the lateral electrical field and become hot holes. The hot holes are attracted by the negative voltage applied to the control gate and then move upwardly to collide with the oxide layer and form many hole traps in the oxide. The electrical field produced by the holes stimulated in the oxide layer will block the electrical field formed between the drain and the control gate. Accordingly, the electrons in the floating gate can not be discharged effectively even when a positive voltage and a negative voltage are applied to the drain and the control gate, respectively. This results in a reduction of the number of rewritable cycles for a memory cell.

Method for erasing split-gate flash memory

Worldwide Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.


An image display apparatus includes an envelope which has a front substrate and a rear substrate opposed to each other and individually having peripheral edge portions sealed together. A sealed portion is sealed by a sealing member. the sealing member has electrical conductivity and melts when supplied with current. After the sealing member in the sealed portion is supplied with current and melted during manufacture, the current supply is stopped to cool and solidify the sealing member, whereupon the respective peripheral edge portions of the front substrate and the rear substrate are selected together.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image display apparatus having a flat shape, and more particularly, to an image display apparatus provided with a number of electron emitting elements in a vacuum envelope and a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for the image display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various flat display apparatuses have been developed as a next generation of lightweight, thin image display apparatuses to replace cathode-ray tubes (hereinafter referred to as CRT). These flat display apparatuses include a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD), plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as PDP), field emission display (hereinafter referred to as FED), surface-conduction electron emission display (hereinafter referred to as SED), etc. In the LCD, the intensity of light is controlled by utilizing the orientation of a liquid crystal. In the PDP, phosphors are caused to glow by ultraviolet rays that are produced by plasma discharge. In the FED, phosphors are caused to glow by electron beams that are emitted from field-emission electron emitting elements. In the SED, phosphors are caused to glow by electron beams that are emitted from surface-conduction electron emitting elements.
In general, the FED or SED, for example, has a front substrate and a rear substrate that are opposed to each other with a given gap between them. These substrates have their respective peripheral portions bonded together by means of a sidewall in the form of a rectangular frame, thereby constituting a vacuum envelope. A phosphor screen is formed on the inner surface of the front substrate. A number of electron emitting elements (hereinafter referred to as emitters) for use as sources of electron emission for exciting the phosphors to luminescence are provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate. In order to support atmospheric load that acts on the front substrate and the rear substrate, a plurality of support members are arranged between the substrates. The potential on the rear substrate side is substantially equal to the earth potential, and an anode voltage Va is applied to the phosphor screen. Electron beams that are emitted from the emitters are applied to red, green, and blue phosphors that constitute the phosphor screen, whereupon the phosphor layers are caused to glow, thereby displaying an image.
According to the FED or SED constructed in this manner, the thickness of the apparatus can be reduced to several millimeters. Therefore, the FED or SED can be made thinner and lighter in weight than a CRT that is used as a display of an existing TV set or computer.
In the FED or SED described above, moreover, a high vacuum must be formed in the envelope. Also in the PDP, the envelope must be evacuated before it is loaded with discharge gas.
As means for evacuating the envelope, there is a method in which the front substrate, rear substrate, and sidewall that constitute the envelope are heated and joined together by a suitable sealing material in the atmosphere. After the envelope is then exhausted through an exhaust pipe that is attached to the front or rear substrate, in this method, the exhaust pipe is vacuum-sealed. In the case of a flat envelope, however, the exhaust through the exhaust pipe is very slow, and the attainable degree of vacuum is low. Thus, the mass-productivity and properties are not reliable.
In another method, the front substrate and the rear substrate that constitute the envelope may be finally assembled in a vacuum tank. In this method, the front substrate and the rear substrate that are first brought into the vacuum tank are fully heated in advance. This is done in order to reduce the gas discharge from the inner wall of the envelope that constitutes the principal cause of lowering of the degree of vacuum. When the front substrate and the rear substrate are then cooled so that the degree of vacuum in the vacuum tank is fully improved, a getter film for improving and maintaining the degree of vacuum of the envelope is formed on the phosphor screen. Thereafter, the front substrate and the rear substrate are heated again to a temperature high enough to melt the sealing material. The front substrate and the rear substrate are combined together in a predetermined position as they are cooled so that the sealing material is solidified.
For the vacuum envelope constructed by this method, a sealing process doubles as a vacuum-sealing process. Besides, a lot of time that is required by the exhaust through the exhaust pipe can be saved, and a high degree of vacuum can be obtained.
In this assembly in a vacuum, however, processing in the sealing process involves various operations, such as heating, position alignment, and cooling, and the front substrate and the rear substrate must be kept in the predetermined position for a long period of time before the sealing material is melted and solidified. Since the front substrate and the rear substrate undergo thermal expansion as they are heated and cooled in the sealing operation, moreover, the alignment accuracy easily lowers. Thus, the sealing operation entails problems on productivity and properties.

Method of manufacturing an image display apparatus by supplying current to seal the image display apparatus


Provided are a mobile device and an operation method of the mobile device. The operation method controlled by a central processing unit of the mobile device includes, in response to an initialization request with respect to a memory device of the mobile device, setting a first type area of the memory device, which is not initialized as a first value, and processing an operation command with respect to the first type area.

The inventive concept relates to a mobile device and an operation method thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile device and an operation method thereof which are capable of reducing power consumption or improving operation performance.
With requests for downsizing and high-performance of mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablet personal computers, and wearable devices, power consumption and memory bandwidths have become an issue in mobile devices.

Mobile device and operation method thereof


An operational amplifier circuit in a display apparatus which is fast-acting to prevent voltage overshoot comprises a pre-operational amplifier module, an output operational amplifier module, and an output module. Driving current from the pre-operational amplifier module is the basis of the output operational amplifier module generating a dynamic bias voltage to the output module. The output operational amplifier module detects the dynamic bias voltage and adjusts the bias voltage to be level with a specified voltage based on at least one control voltage. When the dynamic bias voltage is less than the specified voltage, the output operational amplifier module pulls up the bias voltage and when the bias voltage is larger than the specified voltage, the output operational amplifier module pulls down the bias voltage. The pull up and pull down speeds are proportional to the at least one control voltage.

An electronic device able to display pictures can comprise a plurality of scan lines parallel with each other and a plurality of data lines parallel with each other. The scan lines are intersected with the data lines, and pixel units are defined at cross points of the scan lines and the data lines. A gate driver provides scan signals to the scan lines, and a data driver provides data signals to the data lines. The data driver includes an output operational amplifier circuit for charging or discharging a load end. If inner currents of the operational amplifier cannot recover immediately, a rapid charging or discharging operation will generate a voltage overshoot.
There is room for improvement in the art.

Operational amplifier circuit and display apparatus with operational amplifier circuit for avoiding voltage overshoot


The centrifugal turbo-compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing (3); a drive shaft (6) having a longitudinal axis and rotatably arranged within the hermetic casing (3); a compression stage including an impeller (17) connected to the drive shaft (6); a gas suction inlet (42); and a gas flow path (P) fluidly connected to the gas suction inlet (42) and configured to supply the compression stage with a gas flow. The gas flow path (P) includes a relaxation chamber (46) at least partially surrounding the drive shaft (6), the gas suction inlet (42) emerging substantially radially into the relaxation chamber (46); and a plurality of inlet flow guide channels (51) fluidly connected to the relaxation chamber (46) and angularly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft (6), the inlet flow guide channels (51) extending radially towards the drive shaft (6) and being axially offset from the gas suction inlet (42) and the relaxation chamber (46).

As known, a double-stage centrifugal turbo-compressor notably includes:                a hermetic casing,        a drive shaft rotatably arranged within the hermetic casing and extending along a longitudinal axis,        a first impeller and a second impeller connected to the drive shaft, the first and second impellers being arranged in a back-to-back configuration,        a gas suction inlet extending tangentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, and        an inlet distributor configured to supply the first impeller with a gas flow, the inlet distributor having an annular disc shape and surrounding the drive shaft, the inlet distributor including inlet flow guide members angularly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and partially defining inlet flow guide channels fluidly connected to the gas suction inlet and extending radially towards the drive shaft.
During operation, a gas flow, flowing out the gas suction inlet, comes tangentially into an annular chamber internally defined by the inlet distributor, and then flows around an outer surface of the inlet distributor before entering the inlet flow guide channels and flowing radially through the inlet flow guide channels. The gas flow coming out the respective inlet flow guide channels is then axially supplied to the first impeller.
Due to said configuration of the gas suction inlet and the inlet distributor, the various gas flows flowing through the various inlet flow guide channels are not uniform and homogeneous, which induces a lot of flow distortions through the inlet distributor and a non-homogeneous flow distribution along a circumferential direction at the fluid inlet of the first impeller.
Such a non-homogeneous flow distribution induces a flow variation seen by each impeller blade over its rotation, and thus strongly impacts the surge limit of the compressor and the compressor efficiency.

Centrifugal turbo-compressor having a gas flow path including a relaxation chamber


A video display device includes a laser beam source module including a laser beam source emitting a laser beam and a laser beam source drive unit supplying power to the laser beam source, and an image generation unit generating a desired display image from the laser beam. The laser beam source module includes a substrate having the placed laser beam source and improved thermal conductivity, a temperature measurement member measuring a temperature of the substrate, a temperature adjustment member contacting the substrate and adjusting the temperature of the substrate, a circuit substrate electrically connecting the temperature measurement member and the laser beam source. Moreover, the circuit substrate is disposed on a rear surface opposite to a placement surface on which the laser beam source is placed, the temperature measurement member is mounted on the circuit substrate, and a portion of the temperature measurement member is connected to the substrate.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a video display device using a laser beam, and particularly, relates to a video display device which has improved radiation stability of the laser beam and is visually confirmed with a stable display image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a laser beam is applied to a wide range of fields such as an optical recording device, a measuring instrument, a printer, a medical instrument, a business machine, or the like which uses characteristics such as a small size, high efficiency, or high directivity. Particularly, recently, a video display device, which radiates the laser beam from the laser beam source to a projection surface such as a screen or a wall using the laser light source and displays an image, is generally known. When the laser beam source is applied to the video display device, it is necessary to stably display a display image which is visually confirmed by an observer, and thus, a stable radiation of the laser beam source is important. Particularly, in the laser beam source, self heat generation is increased according to the radiation of the laser beam, and in most cases, a change in the temperature of the laser beam source due to the heat generation generates instability of the radiation.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-117849 suggests a device including a configuration which suppresses the change of the temperature due to the heat generation, in, a light source module 910 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. In related art, FIGS. 12A and 12B are views illustrating an object detection device which detects an object inside a target region based on a state of a reflected light when light is projected to a target region, FIG. 12A is a view showing configurations of a light source module 910 and a light receiving module 920 which are configurations of an optical unit in an information acquisition device of an object detection device, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional configuration view showing the details of the light source module 910.
The light source module 910 and the light receiving module 920 shown in FIG. 12A are disposed on a long chassis 830 laterally in an X axis direction. The chassis 830 is a plate shape member, which is configured of a metal having high thermal conductivity, and has a function, which radiates heat of components (here, light source module 910 and light receiving module 920) disposed on the chassis 830. Moreover, the light source module 910 shown in FIG. 12B is configured to include a laser beam source 911 including a semiconductor laser, a laser holder 916 holding a laser beam source 911, a temperature conditioning element 912 disposed to be adjacent to the laser holder 916, a temperature sensor 913 disposed to contact a side surface of the laser holder 916, a projection lens 914 projecting the laser beam outside the cover 915 over the entire target region, and a wiring 917 connected to a terminal 911t of the laser beam source 911 and a circuit substrate 801. The temperature conditioning element 912 uses a thermoelectric element such as a Peltier element, adjusts the temperature of the laser beam source 911 by heating or cooling the laser beam source 911 from information of the temperature sensor 913, and causes a wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source 911 to be maintained at an optimal wavelength.
However, in the related art, since the temperature sensor 913 is disposed to contact the side surface of the laser holder 916, the temperature sensor indirectly detects the temperature of the laser beam source 911 (CAN) via the laser holder 916. Accordingly, in the configuration, an error occurs between an actual temperature of the laser beam source 911 and the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 913. FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 913 and a wavelength of the laser beam according to the laser beam source 911 in the related art. As shown in FIG. 13, in the laser beam source 911 of the related art, an error occurs between the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 913 and the actual temperature of the laser beam source 911, and thus, due to the error, an error occurs in the wavelength of the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source 911. In general, when the laser beam is applied to the video display device, due to the error of the wavelength, instability occurs on a display image visually confirmed by an observer, and thus, in order to suppress the error of the wavelength of the laser beam, correct temperature management is needed.
Moreover, in the laser holder 916 of the related art, it is described that the thermal conductivity is performed by only the member having the thermal conductivity, and thus, if the thermal conductivity is not favorable, a time lag occurs between the actual temperature of the laser beam source 911 and the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 913. In general, when the laser beam is applied to the video display device, due to time lag, instability occurs on a display image visually confirmed by an observer, and thus, in order to suppress the time lag of the wavelength of the laser beam, a method having improved responsiveness needs.
On the other hand, if the temperature sensor 913 is disposed in the vicinity of the laser beam source 911, the temperature error or the time lag is decreased. However, in this case, there is a problem in that it is not easy to electrically connect the temperature sensor 913 and the circuit substrate 801 to each other. Actually, in the related art, the connection between the temperature sensor 913 disposed to contact the side surface of the laser holder 916 and the circuit substrate 801 is not disclosed, and thus, it is described that the connection method is not easily performed.


An osteogenic composition is prepared by a process including the steps of subjecting demineralized bone to an extraction medium to produce an insoluble extraction product and a soluble extraction product, separating the insoluble extraction product and the soluble extraction product, drying the soluble extraction product to remove all or substantially all of the moisture in the soluble extraction product, and combining the dried soluble extraction product of step c) with demineralized bone particles. Preferably, the process does not involve heating.

Various compositions have been used to repair damaged tissues. Compositions are available to provide a scaffold to support new bone growth and/or to provide factors that induce new bone growth. Demineralized bone particles (also referred to as demineralized bone matrix or DBM) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are two materials that have been used to enhance bone growth. For example, Jefferies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,370) discloses tissue repair compositions containing DBM, BMPs, or both in a reconstituted collagen matrix. Glowacki et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,750) discloses aqueous compositions of DBM and reconstituted collagen fibers.
DBM is generally composed of particles of bone tissue that have been specially treated, generally by soaking in acid, to remove their mineral content. The resulting DBM is composed mainly of highly cross-linked collagen. The remaining non-collagenous proteins include proteins such as TGF-β, PDGF, osteopontin, osteonectin, BMPs, and others. BMPs are a group of proteins categorized in the transforming growth factor beta super-family of proteins. To date, several BMPs have been isolated and associated with the bone healing process. BMPs can be isolated from bone as a mixture of proteins or produced individually through recombinant gene technology.
DBM may be used directly in bone repair compositions. See, e.g., Jefferies, supra; Glowacki et al., supra. However, in such compositions, the tissue repair factors are trapped within the highly cross-linked collagen network of the DBM. It is believed that the BMPs and other embedded tissue repair factors are slowly released as the collagen component of DBM is degraded. Therefore, the potential effectiveness of the tissue repair factors within the DBM is hindered. An alternative to slow release is to isolate the tissue repair factors from the DBM. Isolated and purified connective tissue repair factors have been used in bone repair compositions, but extraction, purification, and mixture with a dispersion medium or incorporation into a delivery vehicle requires multiple steps.
There is a need in the art for additional tissue repair compositions that employ tissue repair factors that are substantially freed of the cross-linked DBM collagen network and that do not require complicated extraction and purification steps.

Tissue repair compositions and methods for their manufacture and use


A system for processing images includes an image file subsystem providing a source signal representing an input image; a color transformation subsystem coupled to the image file subsystem and accepting as input the source signal and producing a target signal therefrom, and an image forming subsystem coupled to the color transformation subsystem and forming a physical manifestation of the input image in response to the target signal, the color transformation subsystem being configured to establish a memory "cube" area representative of possible source signals, to define a sub-cube portion of the memory area as representative of the source signal; to determine possible target signals corresponding to the sub-cube portion; and to determine the target signal responsive to the possible target signals. If interpolation is found to be accurate for a mini-cube portion of the sub-cube, truncation or interpolation are used to derive the target signal; otherwise, the target signal is determined directly.

This invention relates generally to image-forming systems and processes, and specifically to systems and processes involving the transformation of color image signals from one form into another.
Modern imaging systems used in the pre-press, printing, computer graphics, and related industries make extensive use of color image information. This information is sometimes derived from scanning photographs and other "hardcopy" images, and is in other instances obtained directly from a computer-generated graphics file.
Various sources of color images produce digital data files in which color is specified in various ways. Furthermore, different types of output devices, for instance computer monitors, color ink-jet and laser printers, and imagesetters, are designed to operate using various different standards for defining colors.
One common component of an image-forming system is a page description language interpreter, for instance as produced by Adobe Systems Incorporated for interpretation of the PostScript.RTM. page description language. One function of apparatus employing such interpreters is to accept, as input, signals corresponding to imaging commands written in a page description language and to produce, as output, signals recognizable by an imaging engine, such as a laser print engine of a conventional color laser printer. Further pertinent background is presented in the POSTSCRIPT LANGUAGE REFERENCE MANUAL, SECOND EDITION, Adobe Systems Inc., pp. 176-192, 295-302(Addison-Wesley 1990), the contents of which are reference.
In performing the transformation from input to output in such apparatus, it is often necessary to convert signals representing a color from one format to another format. Such formats are sometimes referred to as color spaces. For example, a color produced by a computer graphics workstation may initially be specified as separate Red, Green, and Blue values in an "RGB" color space. For printing of a corresponding image, it may be necessary to transform a color signal from the RGB color space to, for example, the "CMYK" color space for printing using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (or "Key") colorants. Intermediate color signal transformations also are often called for in order to provide certain benefits, such as the ability to work with a number of different image source devices and image forming devices.
Two general approaches are conventionally used for such color space transformation. In one approach, a mathematical relationship between the input color space and the output color space is determined, and a computer program is implemented to compute output color space signal values from any given set of input color space signal values.
A second approach is to use a conventional "look-up table" stored in computer memory that, for particular values of input color space signals, provides corresponding values of output color space signals. In some instances, more possible inputs exist than would be practical to provide as look-up table inputs. "Sparse" look-up tables, with interpolation for in-between values, are typically used in such cases.
The processing required to perform such color space transformations using conventional techniques is computationally intensive and requires a relatively large amount of computer memory, which in turn requires the use of more expensive equipment to perform such processing.
It would be desirable for an image processing system to process color transformations in a manner that is more efficient than possible with the known techniques. No known solution adequately addresses the need for a simple, flexible, inexpensive system and process for color transformations.

Color imaging system and process with high-speed rendering


A central elastomeric web, having concave sides to accommodate an individual's groin area, includes the central web to provide a plurality of tether webs extending longitudinally beyond the central web, with each tether web including a latch fastener for securement to a perimeter portion of an individual's shirt in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to shirt hold-down structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved shirt hold-down device wherein the same is arranged to secure an individual's shirt relative to an individual's waist and groin area.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art shirt hold-down devices are available in the prior art and U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,659 to Campbell indicates the use of a shirt hold-down device for use by an infant arranged to secure the infant's shirt relative to the diaper area.
The instant invention is arranged to employ a shirt hold-down device utilizing a unique fastening structure permitting a combination of a plurality of fabrics relative to shirt usage as an improvement over prior art structure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


Techniques and methods for training and/or using a machine learned model that identifies unsafe events. For instance, computing device(s) may receive input data, such as vehicle data generated by one or more vehicles and/or simulation data representing a simulated environment. The computing device(s) may then analyze features represented by the input data using one or more criteria in order to identify potential unsafe events represented by the input data. Additionally, the computing device(s) may receive ground truth data classifying the identified events as unsafe events or safe events. The computing device(s) may then train the machine learned model using at least the input data representing the unsafe events and the classifications. Next, when the computing device(s) and/or vehicles receive input data, the computing device(s) and/or vehicles may use the machine learned model to determine if the input data represents unsafe events.

Autonomous vehicles may navigate along routes. For example, when the autonomous vehicles receive requests to travel to destination locations, the autonomous vehicles may navigate along routes from the current locations of the autonomous vehicles to a pickup location to pick up a passenger and/or from the pickup location to the destination locations. While navigating, the autonomous vehicles may encounter other objects in the environment which could cause unsafe events, such as near collisions with the autonomous vehicle. Such unsafe events may cause the autonomous vehicles to take one or more actions in order to avoid the collisions.


A helical braider for constructing a triaxially braided tubular member in which the angle formed by primary fiber relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member can be controlled independently of the corresponding angles formed by the remaining fibers. The helical braider includes a winder that applies a primary fiber at a selected winding rate and a braider that applies two helical fibers at a selected spin rate. The winder can include a winder motor and a winding station rotatable around the mandrel, while the braider can include a braider motor and a braiding station independently rotatable around the mandrel.

This invention relates generally to the field of machinery for applying fibers to a shaft and more particularly to a machine for application of triaxially braided fibers to a shaft.
Both recreational and industrial activities employ tubular shaped shafts formed of fibers embedded in a matrix. Hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, golf clubs, and ski poles can all be formed of tubular shafts formed of fibers embedded in matrix. Variations in the mechanical properties of the shaft can be achieved by varying the manner in which the fibers are woven together as a function of their location on the shaft, such as varying the fiber angle along the length of the shaft. Spoolable tubing utilized in industrial activities, such as oil well operations, can also be formed of fibers embedded in a matrix. Such spoolable tubing can be unspooled into an oil well and then spooled onto a reel for transportation to another oil well. Spoolable tubing extends down into the depths of the well for delivering liquids and for working over the interior surface of the well.
One method for manufacturing tubular shafts containing reinforcing fibers employs a technique wherein a mandrel is passed through a braider that applies fibers around the mandrel. For instance, Shobert, U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,497, discloses a reinforced plastic rod formed by passing a mandrel through a braiding machine which applies an axially oriented fiber along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The braiding machine also applies two helically oriented fibers around the mandrel. The angles traced by the two helically oriented fibers are determined by the interaction between the rotation of the braiding machine relative to the mandrel and the translational velocity of the mandrel as it passes through the braiding machine.
Other methods known in the art for manufacturing tubular shafts having reinforcing fibers employ a technique wherein a mandrel passes through various stations that apply fibers around the mandrel. For example, the mandrel is passed through a winding machine that applies an axial fiber and is then passed through a spinning braiding station that applies two helically oriented fibers. If desired, the axially oriented fiber applied by the winding machine can also be made to follow a helical path by rotating the mandrel relative to the winding machine as it passes through the winding machine. This process can be repeated to form additional layers, referred to in the industry as "plies", by passing the mandrel through additional pairs of winding machines and braiding stations.
It is apparent in the foregoing technique that the angle of the helix along which the axial, or primary, fibers are lain cannot readily be controlled independently of the angle of the helices along which the two helically oriented fibers are lain. This is because when the mandrel is rotated to adjust the spin rate of the braiding station, the winding rate of the winding station is changed, and vice versa.
As indicated above, in some applications, it is desirable to vary the mechanical properties of the shaft along its length by varying the angle of the primary fibers and the helically oriented fibers along the shaft's length. This requires the continuous adjustment of the braiding station's spin rate and the mandrel's rotation rate as the mandrel translates along its longitudinal axis. As a practical matter, continuous adjustment of this nature is difficult to achieve accurately enough for precise placement of the three fibers because of transients associated with any complex mechanical system.
A further disadvantage of some prior art techniques is manifested when more than one ply having cross-braided fibers is to be applied and where the primary fibers on each ply are to follow different helical paths. Since the mandrel is a rigid body, it is not possible to simultaneously rotate it at one rate to form the helical path in one ply and to rotate it at a different rate to form the helical path in another ply.
In some applications, it may be impractical to rotate the mandrel at all. For example, the mandrel could be too long to rotate easily or the mandrel may be extruded continuously through a die.
An object of the invention to provide an apparatus for applying a triaxial braid in which the pitch of the priority fiber can be controlled independently of the pitch of the helically oriented fibers.