A signal conditioner comprising a receiving part, a transmitting part, and a power supply part, wherein the main functions of these components are digitalized and common circuit elements are used for different functions. Signal conditions may be of several different types, each of which is a hardware which can accommodate various transmitters and actuators.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a signal conditioner used for a control apparatus which controls industrial processes, such as encountered in oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, steel making, paper making, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In such industrial processes, raw materials are processed and fuels are used, and parameters, such as temperature, flow rate, pressure, liquid level, etc, at various locations in the plant, are measured with sensors. Actuators, such as valves, ancillary to the plant are controlled so that the parameters are held within appropriate ranges. This is important where manufactured products need to be of uniform quality. In order to provide such control, a control system consisting of mainly one or more computers has enjoyed wide acceptance.
FIG. 24 depicts locations of signal conditioners in the control system described above. The term "signal conditioner" is another term for "signal converter". FIG. 24 shows a signal conditioner 4 for receiving signals, and another signal conditioner 5 for transmitting signals. The roles of these signal conditioners are as follows. Receiving signal conditioner 4 receives the output signal SA from a transmitter 6 and arithmetically processes it to convert to a form which can be easily treated by control unit 1, consisting mainly of a computer. Transmitting signal conditioner 5 converts a control signal from control unit 1 into a signal SB, which is adapted for long distance transmission, for example, into a current signal of 4 to 20 mA shown in FIG. 6.
In the field of process control, signal SA, obtained by measurement, and signal SB for controlling an acutator 7, are normally used. The currents of these signals normally lie in the range of from 4 to 20 mA, wherein 4 mA represents 0%, and 20 mA represents 100%. For example, when signal SA of 4 mA is produced, due to measurement, it follows that the measured quantity, such as pressure, is 0. When the produced signal SA is 20 mA, then the measured quantity, such as pressure, gives a full scale reading of 100%. If signal SB for controlling the actuator is 4 mA, then the valve is fully closed. If signal SB is 20 mA, then the valve is fully opened. The reason 0% is represented by 4 mA, rather than 0 mA is to distinguish from the case when transmission line is broken and produces a current of 0 mA. Generally, a signal of 4 to 20 mA can be regarded as a low frequency signal which varies slowly with the processed amount or with the amount to which the acutator is controlled.
The conventional signal conditions are now described with reference to FIG. 24. Transmitter 6 is mounted inside a tube located in the process control system. For example, transmitter 6 measures the pressure of a liquid contained in the tube, and converts the value of the pressure into analog electrical signal SA. Receiving signal conditioner 4 arithmetically processes analog signal SA, introduced from transmitter 6, to convert the signal into a form which can be easily treated by control unit 1. The output signal from conditioner 4 is converted into digital form by an analog to digital converter (called "ADC") 2 and supplied to control unit 1.
Two examples of the arithmetic operations performed by receiving signal conditioner 4 on the analog signal, are as follows. Where transmitter 6 measures a pressure, the transmitter converts the measured pressure value into electrical signal SA, for example, of 4 to 20 mA. Only digital coded signals (hereinafter referred to as "digital signals") are intelligible to control unit 1 consisting principally of a computer. The analog signal, of 4 to 20 MA, is not intelligible to control unit 1. Generally, a voltage signal of 0 to 5 V should be applied to ADC 2. If an electric current of 4 to 20 mA is applied to ADC 2, ADC 2 cannot convert the current into digital form. Thus, receiving signal conditioner 4 arithmetically processes its input analog signal, or the current signal SA of 4 to 20 mA, into a voltage signal of 1 to 5 V.
Where transmitter 6 is a temperature transmitter using a thermocouple sensor, it produces a thermoelectromotive force of several millivolts as signal SA. Since this force is a minute voltage, converter 2 is unable to convert accurately the input signal into digital form. Also, the amplitude of the thermoelectromotive force does not have a linear relation to temperature, and signal SA does not of itself directly represent the temperature. Receiving signal conditioner 4 amplifies the thermoelectromotive force introduced from the thermocouple to an appropriate level which then can be operated on by converter 2. Then, signal SA, or the thermoelectromotive force, is converted into a signal which has a linear relation to the temperature. This process is known as linearizing.
Control unit 1 performs arithmetic operations according to the measured value supplied thereto via receiving signal conditioner 4, to appropriately control the process. The obtained digitally coded signal is applied to digital to analog (labelled "DAC") converter 3, where the signal is converted into analog form. The resulting analog signal is fed to transmitting signal conditioner 5, which then arithmetically process the analog signal to convert it into transmitted signal SB of 4 to 20 mA. This signal controls actuator 7, such as a valve, to control the flow rate to an appropriate value.
Receiving signal conditioner 4 is equipped with a power supply, not shown. In particular, transmitter 6 generally needs a supply of electric power, for example, of 24 volts, to be operated. Transmitting signal conditioner 4 is also equipped with electric power supply, not shown.
The conventional signal conditioners have the following disadvantages.
1. Many different kinds of system subcomponents must be used. Specifically, various different kinds of transmitters 6 and actuators 7 are required in order to suitably control the process. For example, needed would be transmitters for measuring temperature, transmitters for measuring flow rates, and transmitters for measuring pressure, which different transmitters are connected to different locations in a plant carrying out the process. The values obtained by the individual measurements are converted into their respective output signals taking different forms, e.g. a voltage of millivolts, a current of 4 to 20 mA. and a current of 10 to 50 mA. Thus, in order to convert the various analog signals into the same kind of signal, for example, a voltage of 1 to 5 volts, after these analog signals are arithmetically processed as mentioned above, a plurality of receiving signal conditioners 4, respectively suited for the individual signal forms of the outputs from the transmitters, are required to be prepared
In addition, one transmitter needs a DC power supply of 24 volts. Another transmitter needs a power supply of 12 volts. A further transmitter requires a constant current of 4 mA, etc. As a result, the number of combinations of various power supplies and various output forms becomes exorbitant. Also, it is necessary that the number of receiving signal conditioners 4 be identical with the combinations. Also, a considerable number of different kinds of transmitting signal conditioners 5 are required to be prepared because the control signals, applied from control unit 1, are matched to the signal forms respectively required by the connected actuators 7. That is, with the prior art, the various receiving signal conditioners 4 and the various transmitting signal conditioners 5 must be prepared separately.
2. Prior art signal conditioners lack flexibility and cannot be easily modified. In the field of process control, specifications are subject to change. However, if input conditions or output conditions for a circuit that processes an analog input signal are modified, the design of the circuit must be changed or some components must be replaced to accommodate the modification. That is, prior art signal conditioners 4 or 5 are not flexible as regards circuit modifications. For this reason, whenever the input conditions or output conditions are varied, dedicated hardware devices must be prepared. Thus, these prior art arrangements cannot rapidly cope with modifications of specifications.
3. Prior art signal conditioners are not adapted to be fabricated into integrated circuits (IC). Also, since a large number of components are involved, miniaturization cannot be realized. In the past, the analog signal, which was obtained by measurement and supplied from transmitter 6 or from control unit 1, was arithmetically processed to convert the input signal into a desired signal. Although analog ICs which perform arithmetic operations on analog signals exist, input resistors, feedback resistors, capacitors, and other external components connected thereto are needed. Thus, it is impossible to substantially reduce the number of components. Accordingly, few advantages are obtained even if they are fabricated in the form of ICs. In this way, the prior art signal conditioners which perform arithmetic operations on analog signals are not adopted to be manufactured in the form of an IC.
4. Prior art signal conditioners cannot appropriately be adapted to be transmitters or actuators having communication function. In recent years, there has been increased demand for transmitters and actuators having communication functions for providing more adequate process control.
A transmitter having communication functions is now described. An ordinary transmitter measures temperature, flow rate, pressure, liquid level, or the like, and converts the measured quantity into a low frequency signal of 4 to 20 mA. A transmitter having communication function carries the information, e.g. the measuring range of the transmitter, sent from the process control system, by modulated wave. This modulated wave is sent to control unit 1 together with the low frequency by use of multiplexing transmission technique. That is, the transmitter has an intelligence function. The modulation can be effected by frequency modulation, frequency shift keying (referred to as "FSK"), or other methods.
To accommodate a transmitter producing a signal that carries multiplexed communication information, receiving signal conditioner 4 must be equipped with a demodulator. Similarly, transmitting signal conditioner 5 must have a modulator to accommodate itself to an actuator capable of receiving signals carrying multiplexed communication information. As described above in heading 1, numerous kinds of system subcomponents must be provided. In addition, where combinations of transmitters and actuators, each of which may or may not be capable of multiplexing communication information, are taken into account, the number of kinds of signal conditioners is large. Hence, the prior art arrangements are not suited for industrial use.


Embodiments of the present application provide wireless communication method and device, which can obtaining a determination of a signal quality of a cell according to a measurement result of at least one synchronization signal block of a plurality of synchronization signal blocks transmitted in the cell, thereby realizing a judgment of the signal quality of the cell in a 5G system. The method includes: performing, by a terminal device, measurement on at least one synchronization signal block of a plurality of synchronization signal blocks transmitted in a first cell; determining, by the terminal device, a signal quality corresponding to the first cell according to a measurement result.

In a long term evolution (LTE) system, a terminal device can perform measurement on a reference signal transmitted by a base station to obtain a signal quality of a cell.
The terminal device can determine whether to trigger cell handover according to the signal quality of the cell.
In a future 5th generation (5G) system, how to judge the signal quality of a cell is an urgent problem to be solved.

Wireless communication method and device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


In order to provide a vehicle door controlling apparatus, which even when the vehicle starts to move while doors of the vehicle are in closed operation, performs insertion detection accurately without reducing the sensitivity of insertion detection. In the present invention, speed adjustment is performed by an applied voltage and a vehicle door is driven by a motor by voltage driving. The speed during the movement of the vehicle door is detected by Hall elements, and the door speed during the movement of the vehicle door is obtained from the detected signal. A controller having an insertion detection function controls the door speed to be the predetermined target door speed. In this case, the controller detects stoppage or driving of the vehicle, and when the state of the vehicle is in the driving state while the vehicle door is in closing operation, the voltage applied to the motor is increased compared to the stop state.

1. Field of the Inventions
[Technical Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a vehicle door controlling apparatus for controlling the opening and closing of the door installed in a vehicle using a controlling unit, and more specifically, relates to the vehicle door controlling apparatus for performing a detection of insertion when a insertion occurs by the vehicle door that is opened or closed by an opening operation or closing operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional vehicle, it is known that an apparatus automatically opens and closes an entrance for getting on and off installed in a vehicle body by driving a door (sliding door) that quite freely opens and closes using a driving source (e.g., a motor), so that passengers can get on and off a vehicle. Such kind of related art is, for instance disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application laid-open publication No. 10(1998)-169313.
In a vehicle shown in the above related art, while a sliding door drives to be closed by a driving source, when the vehicle starts to drive from a stop state, driving of the sliding door is continuously performed, but the release of the detecting function of insertion and the criterion of determination (determination threshold value) is strict.


A masking film comprises a light-shielding peelable layer which is provided on a transparent support and comprises a polymer binder comprising a vinyl chloride resin, a rubberlike resin and a thermoplastic resin having OH groups and being compatible with the rubberlike resin and the vinyl chloride resin, wherein the polymer binder comprises a mixed nitrile rubber of a nitrile rubber having an acrylonitrile content of about 33% by weight and a Mooney viscosity of about 50 to 90 and another nitrile rubber either having an acrylonitrile content of about 28 to 32% by weight and a Mooney viscosity of about 35 to 70 or having an acrylonitrile content of about 33% by weight and a Mooney viscosity of about 35 to 50. The masking film simultaneously exhibits appropriate flexibility, good pick-up property, peelability and anti-blocking property of the light-shielding peelable layer and is stable against degradation of these properties with time.

The present invention relates to a masking film mainly used in a photo-mechanical process or the like, wherein desired patterns are cut out from a light-shielding peelable layer of the film and unwanted portions are peeled off to form transparent images of the desired patterns.
As masking films used in the photo-mechanical process and the like, those having a light-shielding peelable layer provided on a transparent support are widely known. Such a light-shielding peelable layer requires various properties. Specifically, it should have good physical properties as a coated layer, good pick-up property (i.e., its edges should be easy to pick up from the transparent support), good peelability and anti-blocking property, and high stability of these properties with time.
A known masking film attempting to satisfy these requirements comprises a binder component of the light-shielding peelable layer consisting of a vinyl chloride resin such as vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymers and vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate /maleic acid copolymers and a nitrile rubber having an acrylonitrile content of 19 to 51% by weight and a Mooney viscosity of 50 to 90.
However, this masking film does not provide all of the required properties. Further, it was found that, regardless of how the properties of the resin and the rubber were changed and/or how the weight ratio of the resin and the rubber was strictly controlled in such a masking film, the various required properties could not be obtained simultaneously. In other words, the above required properties cannot simultaneously obtained by using only one kind of the rubber with a vinyl chloride resin.
Under these circumstances, there has also been proposed a masking film comprising a binder component consisting of a vinyl chloride resin and a mixed nitrile rubber comprising one nitrile rubber having an acrylonitrile content of about 27% by weight and another nitrile rubber having an acrylonitrile content of about 33% by weight in a mixing ratio of 2:1 to 1:1 by weight (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication KOKAI! No. 1-207753).
The use of the nitrile rubber having an acrylonitrile content of about 27% by weight in addition to one having a content of about 33% by weight does in fact increase adhesion of the light-shielding peelable layer. However, these nitrile rubbers in the mixing ratio mentioned above are likely to unduly increase the adhesion and hence markedly degrade the pick-up property and peelability of the light-shielding peelable layer. On the other hand, if the amount of the nitrile rubbers contained in the binder relative to the resin is decreased to reduce the adhesion of the peelable layer, the properties of the coated layers are likely to degrade with time.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide masking films which can simultaneously satisfy the above-mentioned requirements, which have not been simultaneously satisfied by any conventional masking film, namely, appropriate flexibility, good pick-up property, peelability and anti-blocking property of the light-shielding peelable layer, and stability against degradation of these properties with time.

Masking films containing light shielding peelable layer utilizing nitrile resins


Improvements relating to wind turbine blade manufacture 5 A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The method involves providing a blade shell having an inner surface defining a mounting region and positioning a web in the mounting region. One or more web restraining devices are used to secure the position of the web in the mounting region. Each restraining device has a first portion attached to the web and a second portion attached to the inner surface of the blade shell. The 10 restraining devices are configured to prevent movement of the web in a first plane substantially parallel to the mounting region and to permit movement of the web in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the mounting region. The method further comprises moving the web in the second plane away from the mounting region and performing one or more preparatory operations on the mounting region with the web 15 moved away from the mounting region. The web is then repositioned in the mounting region by moving the web in the second plane back towards the mounting region.

Modern wind turbine blades typically comprise a hollow shell made up of two half-shells bonded together along leading and trailing edges of the shells. One or more longitudinally-extending shear webs are provided within the internal cavity of the blade. A shear web comprises a web panel disposed between upper and lower mounting flanges. The mounting flanges are bonded respectively to opposed inner surfaces of the two half-shells.
In order to bond a shear web to a half shell, a line of adhesive is typically applied to the inner surface of the half shell in a predefined shear web mounting region. The shear web is then lifted and positioned on top of the adhesive. Once the adhesive has been deposited, the shear web must be rapidly positioned before the adhesive begins to cure.
It is important that the shear webs are bonded to the half shells in precise locations according to the design specification of the wind turbine blade. An assembly jig is typically used to align and support the shear web during the bonding process. The assembly jig is capable of moving the shear web rapidly and accurately into the required position after the adhesive has been deposited.
Whilst assembly jigs work well to support the shear web and produce consistent results, they have several drawbacks. Firstly, such jigs are expensive to produce and purchase. Secondly, the jigs are complex assemblies to install and configure, resulting in long lead times. Thirdly, the jigs are bespoke for a particular blade type, and it is generally not possible to use the same jig for different types or sizes of blade. Fourthly, in view of its large size, the jig occupies a significant portion of the floor space in the blade factory, where space is always at a premium.
It is therefore desirable to seek alternative manufacturing techniques that do not rely on assembly jigs for supporting the shear web during the manufacturing process.
Against this background the present invention has been made.


An apparatus for a wind resistant fastener for fastening a roof structure of a building to an upstanding exterior wall comprising a substantially vertical securing mechanism disposed adjacent to the wall to serve as an auxiliary fastener between the roof structure and the wall. Two primary preferred embodiments which may be employed separately or together include continuous vertical batten strips disposed on the wall and extending to the roof structure and the foundation, and a high tensile strength wall covering connecting the roof structure, the wall and the foundation.

This invention relates to a roof strapping system to aid in securing a roof to a house comprising at least one high tensile strength batten strip disposed adjacent to an exterior wall of a house having a lower end engaged to the foundation (including the slab, if any) and an upper end engaged to the roof structure (i.e. top plate of the wall and/or roof rafter). Batten strips of a polymeric material may require a covering to shield the same from ultra-violet rays. The roof strapping system further comprises a high tensile strength, fire retardant interior wall covering having a bottom edge suitably connected to the floor structure (i.e. anchor bolts) and having a top edge suitably connected to the roof structure.
The invention relates to two means for keeping a roof in place during a hurricane or other high wind situations. One means relates to an external roof strapping system (a preferred embodiment of which is a high tensile strength batten strip of a polymeric material requiring a covering to shield the same from ultra-violet rays) with one end engaged to the foundation/slab and an upper end engaged to the roof structure (i.e. top plate of the wall and/or roof rafter). The second means is a high tensile strength, fire retardant interior wall covering, i.e. a super strong wall paper that extends beyond the wall and is suitably connected to the floor structure and to the roof structure
Alternative technology is available in the form of U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,786 issued on Jul. 23, 1996 to Lozier et.al. discloses a hurricane-resisting building roof structure tie-down comprising a plurality of straps, a plurality of anchors secured to the foundation in pairs, on opposite sides of the building, and tie-down strap guides on the bridge of the roof between related anchors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,483 issued in 1993 discloses an upstanding reinforcing tie bar between exposed end of the roof rafter and building.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,916, shows a prefabricated house construction employing a vertical metal post extending from the foundation which utilizes a slotted tension bolt to attach to the horizontal roof girder.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,712 uses a high strength interior wall that is insulated and fire retardant but does not provide a roof holding restraint.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,540 issued in 1971 discloses prefabricated laminated insulated wall panels.
Some of the drawbacks to these designs are that each teaches exposed structures which affect the aesthetics f the building. Moreover, none of the foregoing inventions is designed to provide auxiliary fastening strength to the existing roof connection.
To alleviate this problem, and others which will become apparent from the disclosure which follows, the present invention conveniently provides an apparatus that may be incorporated into a new building or as a building modification. Still other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure that follows.
The citation of the foregoing publications is not an admission that any particular publication constitutes prior art, or that any publication alone or in conjunction with others, renders unpatentable any pending claim of the present application. None of the cited publications is believed to detract from the patentability of the claimed invention.


A composite composition for electrochemical cell electrode applications, the composition comprising multiple solid particles, wherein (a) a solid particle is composed of graphene platelets dispersed in or bonded by a first matrix or binder material, wherein the graphene platelets are not obtained from graphitization of the first binder or matrix material; (b) the graphene platelets have a length or width in the range of 10 nm to 10 μm; (c) the multiple solid particles are bonded by a second binder material; and (d) the first or second binder material is selected from a polymer, polymeric carbon, amorphous carbon, metal, glass, ceramic, oxide, organic material, or a combination thereof. For a lithium ion battery anode application, the first binder or matrix material is preferably amorphous carbon or polymeric carbon. Such a composite composition provides a high anode capacity and good cycling response. For a supercapacitor electrode application, the solid particles preferably have meso-scale pores therein to accommodate electrolyte.

The description of the prior art will be primarily based on the list of references presented at the end of this section. Since the present invention is primarily related to the lithium ion battery and supercapacitor, the discussion on the prior art will be divided into two parts:
Part A. Secondary Battery (Particularly, Lithium Ion Battery)
Concerns over the safety of earlier lithium secondary batteries led to the development of lithium ion secondary batteries, in which pure lithium metal sheet or film was replaced by carbonaceous materials as an anode. There are three fundamentally distinct types of carbonaceous anode materials: (a) graphite, (b) amorphous carbon, and (c) graphitized carbon.
The first type of carbonaceous material includes primarily natural graphite and synthetic graphite (or artificial graphite, such as highly oriented pyrolitic graphite, HOPG) that can be intercalated with lithium and the resulting graphite intercalation compound (GIC) may be expressed as LixC6, where x is typically less than 1. In order to minimize the loss in energy density due to the replacement of lithium metal with the GIC, x in LixC6 must be maximized and the irreversible capacity loss Qir in the first charge of the battery must be minimized. The maximum amount of lithium that can be reversibly intercalated into the interstices between graphene planes of a perfect graphite crystal is generally believed to occur in a graphite intercalation compound represented by LixC6 (x=1), corresponding to a theoretical specific capacity of 372 mAh/g.
Carbon anodes can have a long cycle life due to the presence of a protective surface-electrolyte interface layer (SEI), which results from the reaction between lithium and the electrolyte (or between lithium and the anode surface/edge atoms or functional groups) during the first several charge-discharge cycles. The lithium in this reaction comes from some of the lithium ions originally intended for the charge transfer purpose. As the SEI is formed, the lithium ions become part of the inert SEI layer and become irreversible, i.e. they can no longer be the active element for charge transfer. Therefore, it is desirable to use a minimum amount of lithium for the formation of an effective SEI layer. In addition to SEI formation, Qir has been attributed to graphite exfoliation caused by electrolyte/solvent co-intercalation and other side reactions [Refs. 1-4].
The second type of anode carbonaceous material is amorphous carbon, which contains no or very little micro- or nano-crystallites. This type includes the so-called "soft carbon" and "hard carbon." The soft carbon is a carbon material that can be readily graphitized at a temperature of 2,500° C. or higher. The hard carbon is a carbon material that cannot be graphitized even at a temperature higher than 2,500° C. In actuality, however, the so-called "amorphous carbons" commonly used as anode active materials are typically not purely amorphous, but contain some small amount of micro- or nano-crystallites. A crystallite is composed of a small number of graphene sheets (basal planes) that are stacked and bonded together by weak van der Waals forces. The number of graphene sheets varies between one and several hundreds, giving rise to a c-directional dimension (thickness Lc) of typically 0.34 nm to 100 nm. The length or width (La) of these crystallites is typically between tens of nanometers to microns.
Among this class of carbon materials, soft and hard carbons made by low-temperature pyrolysis (550-1,000° C.) exhibit a reversible capacity of 400-800 mAh/g in the 0-2.5 V range [Refs. 1-3]. Dahn et al. have made the so-called house-of-cards carbonaceous material with enhanced capacities approaching 700 mAh/g [Refs. 1,2]. Tarascon's research group obtained enhanced capacities of up to 700 mAh/g by milling graphite, coke, or carbon fibers [Ref. 3]. Dahn et al. explained the origin of the extra capacity with the assumption that in disordered carbon containing some dispersed graphene sheets (referred to as house-of-cards materials), lithium ions are adsorbed on two sides of a single graphene sheet [Refs. 1,2]. It was also proposed that Li readily bonded to a proton-passivated carbon, resulting in a series of edge-oriented Li—C—H bonds. This provides an additional source of Li+ in some disordered carbons [Ref. 5]. Other researchers suggested the formation of Li metal mono-layers on the outer graphene sheets [Ref. 6] of graphite nano-crystallites. The amorphous carbons of Dahn et al. were prepared by pyrolyzing epoxy resins and may be more correctly referred to as polymeric carbons. Polymeric carbon-based anode materials were also studied by Zhang, et al. [Ref. 16] and Liu, et al. [Ref. 17].
The following mechanisms for the extra capacity over the theoretical value of 372 mAh/g have been proposed [Ref. 4]: (i) lithium can occupy nearest neighbor sites; (ii) insertion of lithium species into nano-scaled cavities; (iii) lithium may be adsorbed on both sides of single layer sheets in very disordered carbons containing large fractions of single graphene sheets (like the structure of a house of cards) [Refs. 1,2]; (iv) correlation of H/C ratio with excess capacity led to a suggestion that lithium may be bound somehow in the vicinity of the hydrogen atoms (possible formation of multi-layers of lithium on the external graphene planes of each crystallite in disordered carbons) [Ref. 6]; and (vi) accommodation of lithium in the zigzag and armchair sites [Ref. 4].
Despite exhibiting a high capacity, an amorphous carbon has a low electrical conductivity (high charge transfer resistance) and, hence, resulting in a high polarization or internal power loss. Conventional amorphous carbon-based anode materials also tend to give rise to a high irreversible capacity.
The third type of anode carbonaceous material, graphitized carbon, includes meso-carbon microbeads (MCMBs) and graphitized carbon fibers (or, simply, graphite fibers). MCMBs are usually obtained from a petroleum heavy oil or pitch, coal tar pitch, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon material. When such a precursor pitch material is carbonized by heat treatment at 400° to 500°, micro-crystals called mesophase micro-spheres are formed in a non-crystalline pitch matrix. These mesophase micro-spheres, after being isolated from the pitch matrix (pitch matrix being soluble in selected solvents), are often referred to as meso-carbon microbeads (MCMBs). The MCMBs may be subjected to a further heat treatment at a temperature in the range of 500° C. and 3,000° C. In order to obtain a stably reversible capacity in an anode, commercially available MCMBs are obtained from heat-treating mesophase carbon spheres at a temperature typically above 2,000° C. and more typically above 2,500° C. for an extended period of time. Graphitized carbons have several drawbacks:                (1) Due to such time-consuming and energy-intensive procedures, MCMBs have been extremely expensive. Likewise, the production of all types of graphite fibers (vapor-grown, rayon-based, pitch based, and polyacrylonitrile-based) is also tedious and energy-intensive and the products are very expensive.        (2) The production of meso-carbon microbeads having a very small diameter, particularly 5 μm or less has been difficult. When the concentration of optically anisotropic small spheres (meso-phase spheres) increases, the small spheres tend to coalesce and precipitate to produce bulk mesophase and separation of small spheres becomes difficult. This is likely the reason why MCMBs with bead size less than 5 μm are not commercially available. Smaller anode active material particles are essential to high-rate capacity of a lithium ion battery.        (3) Furthermore, both MCMBs and graphite fibers give rise to an anode capacity of typically lower than 350 mAh/g and more typically lower than 320 mAh/g.
Therefore, an urgent need exists for a carbon/graphite-based anode material that has the following highly desirable features: low cost, mass-producibility, high reversible capacity, low irreversible capacity, small particle sizes (for high-rate capacity), compatibility with commonly used electrolytes, and long charge-discharge cycle life.
Part B. Supercapacitor
Electrochemical capacitors (ECs), also known as ultracapacitors or supercapacitors, are being considered for uses in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) where they can supplement a battery used in an electric car to provide bursts of power needed for rapid acceleration, the biggest technical hurdle to making battery-powered cars commercially viable. A battery would still be used for cruising, but supercapacitors (with their ability to release energy much more quickly than batteries) would kick in whenever the car needs to accelerate for merging, passing, emergency maneuvers, and hill climbing. The EC must also store sufficient energy to provide an acceptable driving range. To be cost- and weight-effective compared to additional battery capacity they must combine adequate specific energy and specific power with long cycle life, and meet cost targets as well. Specifically, it must store about 400 Wh of energy, be able to deliver about 40 kW of power for about 10 seconds, and provide high cycle-life (>100,000 cycles).
ECs are also gaining acceptance in the electronics industry as system designers become familiar with their attributes and benefits. ECs were originally developed to provide large bursts of driving energy for orbital lasers. In complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory backup applications, for instance, a one-Farad EC having a volume of only one-half cubic inch can replace nickel-cadmium or lithium batteries and provide backup power for months. For a given applied voltage, the stored energy in an EC associated with a given charge is half that storable in a corresponding battery system for passage of the same charge. Nevertheless, ECs are extremely attractive power sources. Compared with batteries, they require no maintenance, offer much higher cycle-life, require a very simple charging circuit, experience no "memory effect," and are generally much safer. Physical rather than chemical energy storage is the key reason for their safe operation and extraordinarily high cycle-life. Perhaps most importantly, capacitors offer higher power density than batteries.
The high volumetric capacitance density of an EC (10 to 100 times greater than conventional capacitors) derives from using porous electrodes to create a large effective "plate area" and from storing energy in the diffuse double layer. This double layer, created naturally at a solid-electrolyte interface when voltage is imposed, has a thickness of only about 1-2 nm, thus forming an extremely small effective "plate separation." In some ECs, stored energy is further augmented by pseudo-capacitance effects, occurring again at the solid-electrolyte interface due to electrochemical phenomena such as the redox charge transfer. The double layer capacitor is based on a high surface area electrode material, such as activated carbon, immersed in an electrolyte. A polarized double layer is formed at electrode-electrolyte interfaces providing high capacitance.
Experience with ECs based on activated carbon electrodes shows that the experimentally measured capacitance is always much lower than the geometrical capacitance calculated from the measured surface area and the width of the dipole layer. For very high surface area carbons, typically only about ten percent of the "theoretical" capacitance was observed. This disappointing performance is believed to be related to the presence of micro-pores and ascribed to inaccessibility of some pores by the electrolyte, wetting deficiencies, and/or the inability of a double layer to form successfully in pores in which the oppositely charged surfaces are less than about 2 nm apart. In activated carbons, depending on the source of the carbon and the heat treatment temperature, a surprisingly high amount of surface can be in the form of such inaccessible micro-pores.
It would be desirable to produce an EC that exhibits greater geometrical capacitance using a carbon based electrode having a high accessible surface area, high porosity, and reduced or no micro-pores. It would be further advantageous to develop carbon-based nano-structures that are conducive to the occurrence of pseudo-capacitance effects such as the redox charge transfer.
In this context, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are of great interest. CNTs are nanometer-scale sized tube-shaped molecules having the structure of a graphite molecule rolled into a rube. A nanotube can be single-walled or multi-walled, dependent upon conditions of preparation. Carbon nanotubes typically are electrically conductive and mechanically strong and stiff along their length. Nanotubes typically also have a relatively high aspect ratio (length/diameter ratio). Due to these properties, the use of CNTs as reinforcements in composite materials for both structural and functional applications would be advantageous. In particular, CNTs are being studied for electrochemical supercapacitor electrodes due to their unique properties and structure, which include high surface area, high conductivity, and chemical stability. Capacitance values from 20 to 180 F/g have been reported, depending on CNT purity and electrolyte, as well as on specimen treatment such as CO2 physical activation, KOH chemical activation, or exposure to nitric acid, fluorine, or ammonia plasma. Carbon nano-fibers (CNFs) and graphitic nano-fibers (GNFs), two thicker-diameter cousins of CNTs, have also been investigated as potential EC electrode materials.
Conducting polymers, such as polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene, and their derivatives, are also common electrode materials for supercapacitors. The modification of CNTs with conducting polymers is one way to increase the capacitance of the composite resulting from redox contribution of the conducting polymers. In the CNT/conducting polymer composite, CNTs are electron acceptors while the conducting polymer serves as an electron donor. A charge transfer complex is formed between CNTs in their ground state and aniline monomer. A number of studies on CNT/conducting polymer composites for electrochemical capacitor applications have been reported: e.g., [Refs. 21-28] are related to CNT-, CNF-, or GNF-based EC electrodes.
However, there are several drawbacks associated with carbon nano-tubes or nano-fibers for EC electrode applications. First, both nano-tubes and nano-fibers are extremely expensive. Second, both materials tend to form a tangled mess resembling a hairball, which is difficult to work with. For CNTs, the interior surface is not accessible by electrolyte and, hence, not capable of developing double-layer charges. These and other difficulties have limited efforts toward commercialization of supercapacitors containing nano-tube or nano-fiber based electrodes.
As a less expensive material, macroscopic scale flexible graphite sheet has been used in an integrated electrode/current collector for EC applications, wherein the flexible graphite sheet is used as a substrate to support thereon an electrode active material (e.g., activated carbon particles) [Refs. 29-31]. Actually, these carbon particles are embedded on the surface or into the bulk of a flexible graphite sheet. The "flexible graphite" is typically obtained by first treating natural graphite particles with an intercalating agent (intercalant) that penetrates into the inter-planar spacings of the graphite crystals to form a graphite intercalated compound (GIC). The GIC is then exposed to a thermal shock, up to a temperature of typically 800-1,100° C. to expand the intercalated particles by typically 80-300 times in the direction perpendicular to the graphene layers (basal planes) of a graphite crystal structure. The resulting expanded or exfoliated graphite particles are vermiform in appearance and are, therefore, commonly referred to as graphite worms. Hereinafter, the term "exfoliated graphite" will be used interchangeably with the term "expanded graphite." The worms may be re-compressed together into flexible sheets which can be formed and cut into various shapes. These thin sheets (foils or films) are commonly referred to as flexible graphite. Flexible graphite can be wound up on a drum to form a roll of thin film, just like a roll of thin plastic film or paper. The flexibility or compressibility of flexible graphite or exfoliated graphite enables the hard solid carbon particles to be embedded into the flexible graphite sheet when solid carbon particles and exfoliated graphite are combined and calendared, roll-pressed, or embossed together. However, such a combined electrode/current collector as disclosed in [Refs. 29-31] has several major shortcomings:    (1) The exfoliated graphite or flexible graphite sheet cited in these patents is a passive material that is used solely as a substrate or binder material to hold the electrode active material together for forming an integral member (electrode/current collector). The flexible graphite or exfoliated graphite itself is not used as an electrode active material, i.e., it does not provide the diffuse double layer charges and, hence, does not contribute to the double layer capacitance.    (2) In order for a flexible graphite sheet or exfoliated graphite particles to hold activated carbon particles together, the total amount of exfoliated graphite must be at least 50% by volume or more. Individual graphite particles are a solid, not a liquid adhesive. Although exfoliated graphite particles themselves can be re-compressed together to form a cohered body, the resulting flexible graphite sheet is normally very fragile. When a large amount of exfoliated graphite is used, the relative proportion of the electrode active material (the material that actually contributes to double layer capacitance) is small. Consequently, the effective energy density of the resulting supercapacitor is significantly curtailed.    (3) By embedding activated carbon particles into a flexible graphite sheet or mixing activated carbon particles with exfoliated graphite particles, one tends to seal off the pores of activated carbon particles that have surface openings supposedly functioning to accommodate the liquid electrolyte. Mixing or embedding significantly reduces the amount of carbon particle pores that are designed to be accessible by liquid electrolyte, thereby reducing the effective electrolyte-electrode interface areas where double layer charges can be formed.    (4) The activated carbon particles utilized by Reynolds, et al. [Refs. 9-11] were typically in the range of 600 μm and 900 μm. They were too big to penetrate the inter-layer spaces (<2.8 nm within an inter-planar spacing of 0.335 nm) between two graphene planes of un-expanded graphite crystallites. They were also too big to penetrate the space (typically <10 μm) between graphite flakes (each flake comprising a multiplicity of graphene sheets bonded by van der Waal's forces). With a maximum average expansion ratio of 300, the original inter-planar spacing of 0.335 nm would become at most 100 nm on average. In rare cases, there could be some pores as large as 10 μm, but these pores are still too small to accept activated solid carbon particles. In actuality, the activated carbon particles are simply squeezed by and held in place between clusters of expanded graphite flakes. Of course, such a configuration is advantageous in that it provides a substrate with good electrical conductivity and this substrate functions as a current collector as well.
Instead of trying to develop much lower-cost processes for making CNTs, the applicants and co-workers have worked diligently to develop alternative nano-scaled carbon materials that exhibit comparable properties, but are more readily available and at much lower costs. This development work has led to the discovery of processes for producing individual nano-scaled graphite planes (individual graphene sheets) and stacks of multiple nano-scaled graphene sheets, which are collectively called nano-sized graphene plates (NGPs). The structures of these materials may be best visualized by making a longitudinal scission on the single-wall or multi-wall of a nano-tube along its tube axis direction and then flattening up the resulting sheet or plate. In practice, NGPs are obtained from a precursor material, such as minute graphite particles, using a low-cost process, but not via flattening of CNTs. One of the cost-effective processes is exfoliation of graphite to produce graphite worms of loosely connected flakes, followed by separation of these flakes into isolated (unconnected) graphene platelets using mechanical means (air jet milling, rotating-blade shearing, etc). These nano materials could potentially become cost-effective substitutes for CNTs or other types of nano-rods for various scientific and engineering applications. These diligent efforts have led to the following patent applications [Refs. 32-40]:
For instance, Jang, et al. [Ref. 33] disclosed a process to readily produce NGPs in large quantities. The process includes the following procedures: (1) providing a graphite powder containing fine graphite particles preferably with at least one dimension smaller than 200 μm (most preferably smaller than 1 μm); (2) exfoliating the graphite crystallites in these particles in such a manner that at least two graphene planes are fully separated from each other, and (3) mechanical attrition (e.g., ball milling) of the exfoliated particles to become nano-scaled, resulting in the formation of NGPs with platelet thickness smaller than 100 nm. The starting powder type and size, exfoliation conditions (e.g., intercalation chemical type and concentration, temperature cycles, and the mechanical attrition conditions (e.g., ball milling time and intensity)) can be varied to generate, by design, various NGP materials with a wide range of graphene plate thickness, width and length values. We have successfully prepared NGPs with an average length in the range of 1 to 20 μm). However, the length or width can be smaller than 500 nm and, in several cases, smaller than 100 nm. Ball milling is known to be an effective process for mass-producing ultra-fine powder particles. The processing ease and the wide property ranges that can be achieved with NGP materials make them promising candidates for many important engineering applications. The electronic, thermal and mechanical properties of NGP materials are expected to be comparable to those of carbon nano-tubes; but NGPs will be available at much lower costs and in larger quantities.
After an extensive and in-depth study of the electrochemical response of NGPs and their composites, we have found that a certain class of meso-porous composites containing NGPs as electrode ingredients exhibit superior charge double layer-type supercapacitance and redox charge transfer-type pseudo-capacitance. Some preferred compositions were described in an earlier application [40]. These electrode materials were made by simply bonding NGPs together with a binder material to form a flat sheet, layer, or plate as an electrode.
By contrast, the present invention provides a graphene nanocomposite composition that is made first by combining NGPs with a first binder or matrix material to form micron-sized solid particles using, for instance, an atomization or aerosol formation technique. These nanocomposite solid particles are substantially spherical or ellipsoidal in shape and are of approximately 1-20 μm in size (preferably smaller than 5 μm in diameter or long axis). Preferably, these particles (e.g., with NGPs bonded by a polymer, coal tar pitch, or meso-phase pitch) are then subjected to a carbonization treatment to convert the binder material to an amorphous carbon. In many cases, this carbonization also produces micro- or meso-pores in the binder material phase. The resulting nanocomposite particles are now composed of NGPs bonded by a carbon phase. These nanocomposite solid particles are then bonded together with a second binder material (e.g., styrene-butadiene rubber, SBR, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), PTFE, or poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF). Surprisingly, these nanocomposites are superior to the already outstanding meso-porous composites invented by us earlier [Ref. 40]. These nanocomposite particles are also superior to carbon black or activated carbon particles when used as an electrode active material for a supercapacitor.
In addition, these nanocomposite particles are superior to meso-carbon micro-beads (MCMBs), conventional fine graphite particles, and conventional graphite spherules when used as an anode active material for a lithium ion battery. For lithium ion battery anode applications, the NGP-containing solid particles do not have to be porous. They can be relatively pore-free solid particles. The presently invented solid nanocomposite particles can be readily mass-produced and are of low cost. Solid particles can be readily made to be smaller than 5 μm if the NGPs chosen are smaller than 2 or 3 μm in size, which are readily available. When used as an anode active material, they exhibit a high reversible capacity, a low irreversible capacity, good compatibility with commonly used electrolytes (no graphite layer exfoliation phenomenon), and a long charge-discharge cycle life.
The present invention provides electrodes for both high-performance lithium ion battery and supercapacitor electrodes. No known prior art graphite or carbon materials are so versatile in electrochemical cell applications.

Graphene nanocomposites for electrochemical cell electrodes


A fault isolating device for use in a microgrid disconnected from a main power grid includes a voltage meter for detecting a voltage anomaly indicative of an electrical fault, a timer for establishing a time window that begins and ends a predetermined time after a voltage anomaly is detected, a switch that is opened at the start of the time window, and a microcontroller that determines whether to leave the switch open to isolate a faulted portion of the microgrid or to close the switch. A plurality of fault isolating devices can be distributed throughout a microgrid to isolate a faulted branch or faulted branches of an islanded microgrid without interfering with normal fuse operation when the microgrid is connected to the main power grid.

A microgrid is a localized power grid that integrates renewable and/or non-renewable energy sources, and optionally mechanical or chemical energy storage sources into an electrical installation that can operate either connected with a main wide-area power grid or in an off-grid mode disconnected from the main wide-area power grid. Microgrids are often used at large institutions, such as college campuses and military installations, to provide greater flexibility in the management of energy and to enhance power reliability and resilience.
Modern microgrids increasingly utilize inverter based renewable sources, such as photovoltaic cells, solar panels and wind turbines. In many cases a microgrid may be operated disconnected from a wide-area distribution grid, with a majority of the energy sources being inverter based. In such case, fuses commonly used to isolate a faulted phase may not perform their function when the current is too low to melt the fuse.
Known methods and devices for locating and isolating electrical faults in a microgrid are both complex and unproven. Currently there is not any simple, reliable and inexpensive methods or apparatuses available to locate and isolate electrical faults in a microgrid having inverter-based sources while the microgrid is operating off-line (i.e., disconnected from a main wide-area power grid) without interfering with the use of conventional fuses when the microgrid is connected to the main power grid.

Method and apparatus for locating faults in an islanded microgrid


The present invention addresses the need to improve the yields of viral vectors when grown in cell culture systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of low-medium perfusion rates in an attached cell culture system provides for improved yields. In other embodiments, the inventors have shown that there is improved Ad-p53 production cells grown in serum-free conditions, and in particular in serum-free suspension culture. Also important to the increase of yields is the use of detergent lysis. Combination of these aspects of the invention permits purification of virus by a single chromatography step that results in purified virus of the same quality as preparations from double CsCl banding using an ultracentrifuge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of cell culture and virus production. More particularly, it concerns improved methods for the culturing of mammalian cells, infection of those cells with adenovirus and the production of infectious adenovirus particles therefrom.
2. Description of Related Art
Adenoviral vectors, which carry transgenes that can be transcribed and translated to express therapeutic proteins, are currently being evaluated in the clinic for the treatment of a variety of cancer indications, including lung and head and neck cancers. As the clinical trials progress, the demand for clinical grade adenoviral vectors is increasing dramatically. The projected annual demand for a 300 patient clinical trial could reach approximately 1.08×1016 viral particles.
Traditionally, adenoviruses are produced in commercially available tissue culture flasks, "cellfactories," or RB. Virus infected cells are harvested and subjected to multiple freeze-thaws to release the viruses from the cells in the form of crude cell lysate. The produced crude cell lysate (CCL) is then purified by multiple CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation steps. The typically reported virus yield from 100 single tray cellfactories is about 1×1014 viral particles. Clearly, it becomes unfeasible to produce the required amount of virus using this traditional process. New scaleable and validatable production and purification processes have to be developed to meet the increasing demand.
The purification throughput of CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation is so limited that it cannot meet the demand for adenoviral vectors for gene therapy applications. Therefore, in order to achieve large scale adenoviral vector production, purification methods other than CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation have to be developed. Reports on the chromatographic purification of viruses are very limited, despite the wide application of chromatography for the purification of recombinant proteins. Size exclusion, ion exchange and affinity chromatography have been evaluated for the purification of retroviruses, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and plant viruses with varying degrees of success (Crooks, et al., 1990; Aboud, et al., 1982; McGrath et al., 1978, Smith and Lee, 1978; O'Neil and Balkovic, 1993). Even less research has been done on the chromatographic purification of adenovirus. This lack of research activity may be partially attributable to the existence of the effective, albeit non-scalable, CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation purification method for adenoviruses.
Recently, Huyghe et al. (1996) reported adenoviral vector purification using ion exchange chromatography in conjunction with metal chelate affinity chromatography. Virus purity similar to that from CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation was reported. Unfortunately, only 23% of virus was recovered after the double column purification process. Process factors that contribute to this low virus recovery are the freeze/thaw step utilized by the authors to lyse cells in order to release the virus from the cells and the two column purification procedure.
Clearly, there is a demand for an effective and scaleable method of adenoviral vector production that will result in a high yield of product to meet the ever increasing demand for such products. Recently Blanche et al in WO 98/00524, based on U.S. Ser. No. 60/026,667, describe adenoviral production methods that are useful as descriptive art. PCT publication No. WO 98/00524 and U.S. Ser. No. 60/026,667 are specifically herein incorporated by reference for their description of techniques for production and purification of recombinant adenovirus.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for the production and purification of adenoviral vectors


The present invention in one embodiment provides a method of forming an electrode that includes the steps of providing at least one metal stud in a layer of an interlevel dielectric material; forming a pillar of a first dielectric material atop the at least one metal stud; depositing an electrically conductive material atop the layer of the interlevel dielectric material and an exterior surface of the pillar, wherein a portion of the electrically conductive material is in electrical communication with the at least one metal stud; forming a layer of a second dielectric material atop the electrically conductive material and the substrate; and planarizing the layer of the second dielectric material to expose an upper surface of the electrically conductive material.

In semiconductor and memory device applications, an electrode is a conductor through which electric current is passed. An electrode may be composed of a metal, such as copper, tungsten, silver, lead, or zinc. An electrode may also be in the form of a nonmetallic conductor including a semiconducting material, such as doped polysilicon.
Phase change memory (PCM) devices store data using a phase change material, such as, for example, a chalcogenide alloy, that transforms into a crystalline state or an amorphous state. An electrode may provide a current through the PCM device to produce heat that effectuates phase changes in the PCM between the crystalline and the amorphous phases. Each state of the phase change material has different resistance characteristics. Specifically, the phase change material in the crystalline state has low resistance and the phase change material in the amorphous state has high resistance. The crystalline state is typically referred to as a "set state" having a logic level "0", and the amorphous state is typically referred to as a "reset state" having a logic level "1".

International Business Machines Corporation


A container is provided that has a compartment for storing an air-activated material for heating contents. The compartment is formed between a first web of material and a second web of material. The first web includes a first film layer laminated to a second film layer. A portion of the first film layer of the first web can be separated from the second film layer to reveal openings in the first film layer that allow air to enter the compartment. When the air contacts the air-activated material to activate the material, an exothermic reaction takes place that serves to produce heat, such as to heat the contents of the container. Prior to separation of the first and second film layers, the container is designed to allow ingress of oxygen into the compartment at a rate less than approximately 3 cc per 100 in2 per 24 hrs. at 23° C.

The present disclosure relates to containers with self-contained heating capability, such as for heating contents of the container prior to consumption.
Products such as Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs), other food products, medical supplies, and cosmetics often require, or are enhanced by, the application of some heat to the product, such as to allow the product to be consumed properly or, at the very least, to allow for a more pleasant consumer experience. At the same time, consumers don't always have access to heating appliances, such as stoves, ovens, and microwave ovens. Campers in the wilderness, soldiers and military personnel in the field, and others who are removed from modern conveniences, for example, may have a need to use pre-packaged products that require heating, but may have difficulty finding a way to quickly and effectively heat such products.

Container having self-contained heater material


Embodiments of the present invention provide a timing synchronization apparatus and method for multi-carrier modulation signals. Wherein the apparatus includes: a predicting unit configured to denoise delay of symbols received before a currently received symbol, and to predict delay of the currently received symbol or of a symbol received after the currently received symbol according to the denoised symbol delay and a sampling clock frequency offset; and a timing synchronization unit configured to perform timing synchronization according to a predicted value of the delay of the currently received symbol or of the symbol received after the currently received symbol. With the apparatus and method, a signal to noise ratio of multi-carrier modulation signals may be effectively improved, and an effect of a timing error on a communication system may be lowered, thereby improving performance of the communication system.

Currently, multi-carrier modulation is widely used in the field of communications, which may be achieved by multiple technical means, such as discrete multi-tone (DMT) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), etc. The multi-carrier modulation employs multiple subcarrier signals, and divides a data stream into several sub-data streams, so that the sub-data streams have much less transmission bit rates, and the data are used to modulate several subcarriers, respectively. Multi-carrier modulation signals are characterized in a relatively low subcarrier data transmission rate and a relatively long code element period. At present, fast Fourier transform (FFT) is an effective way of achieving multi-carrier modulation.
Multi-carrier modulation signals are relatively sensitive to a timing error, which will bring inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-channel interference (ICI) to the multi-carrier modulation signals, and degrade signal quality. Hence, timing synchronization needs to be performed to the multi-carrier modulation signals. Wherein, the timing synchronization of the multi-carrier modulation signals includes symbol synchronization (or frame synchronization) and sampling clock recovery. An object of the symbol synchronization is to find a correct FFT window, and an object of the sampling clock recovery is to align a clock of a receiver with a clock of a transmitter, including offset and jitter of clock frequencies.
It should be noted that the above description of the background art is merely provided for clear and complete explanation of the present invention and for easy understanding by those skilled in the art. And it should not be understood that the above technical solution is known to those skilled in the art as it is described in the background art of the present invention.

Timing synchronization apparatus and method for multi-carrier modulation signals


A differential mechanism 3 is contained and supported at inside of a bell housing 7 integrally provided to a transmission case 11 of a transmission 9 to constitute a common lubrication environment. A limited slip differential mechanism 5 for limiting differential movement of the differential mechanism 3 is made to be selectively attachable to outside of the bell housing 7. The limited slip differential mechanism 5 is not restricted by a size of the bell housing 7, the sufficient limited slip differential mechanism 5 can be provided, and an interchangeability of presence/absence of the limited slip differential mechanism 5 can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power transmitting apparatus including a differential mechanism.
2. Related Art
JP-A-10-019108 discloses a power transmitting apparatus including a differential mechanism provided with a limited slip differential mechanism. According to the power transmitting apparatus, since both of the differential mechanism and the limited slip differential mechanism are arranged at inside of a differential case, the power transmitting apparatus tends to be large-sized as a whole.
Therefore, it is difficult to provide the limited slip differential mechanism having a sufficient performance in a limited space, for example, an inside of a so-to-speak bell housing integrally provided to a transmission case or the like where the limited slip differential mechanism is arranged as a front differential mechanism.
Further, when the bell housing is designed to be small in conformity with a size of a normal differential mechanism which is not provided with the limited slip differential mechanism for light-weighted formation of a vehicle or the like, there poses a problem that a differential mechanism including the limited slip differential mechanism cannot be arranged and an interchangeability is lost.
That is, in the conventional art, since both of the differential mechanism and the limited slip differential mechanism are arranged at inside of the differential case, it is difficult to arrange the limited slip differential mechanism having the sufficient performance within the limited space of the housing. Further, when the housing is designed in conformity with a size of a normal differential mechanism which is not provided with the limited slip differential mechanism, the differential mechanism including the limited slip differential mechanism cannot be arranged and an interchangeability is lost.


A planet carrier assembly has a plurality of pinion gears rotatably mounted on pinion pins, each pin having a slot formed thereon. A locator ring is assembled onto the pinion pins and rotated in a manner such that the locator ring engages the slots in the pinion pins and a plurality of tabs and protuberances engage complementary components formed on a housing member of the planet carrier assembly. The locator ring ensures both axial and rotational positioning of the pinion pins within the planet carrier housing.

Planet carrier assemblies that are used in planetary gear transmissions have a carrier or case in which a plurality of pinion gears are rotatably mounted on pinion pins. It is preferable that the pinion pins be secured from movement in the planet carrier both axially and rotatably.
One method of securing the pinion pins in the planet carrier is the process of staking. Staking requires relatively high pressing forces to be used to reshape the outer surface of the pinion pin into an interference with the planet carrier. This high pressing force can result in some distortion to the carrier thereby leading to undesirable noise within the planetary system. Since the pinion gears are normally mounted on needle bearings on the pinion pins, very low friction forces are present to cause rotation of the pinion pins.
Another process for retaining the pinion pins within the carrier is welding, which of course applies some heat to the carrier and pin during the welding process. However, this process is effective in preventing pin movement relative to the carrier housing or case.
A further method is the use of locking rings, which surround each pinion pin and thereby prevents axial movement. However, the locking rings do not necessarily prevent rotational movement relative to the case.

Pinion pin securement apparatus for a planetary carrier assembly


An access port for performing surgery transvaginally is provided. The access port includes an elongated flexible member having proximal and distal ends and a central portion therebetween, and a retention mechanism formed on the distal end of the elongated member. The retention mechanism includes a first configuration for inserting the distal end of the elongated member within an opening and a second configuration for selectively securing the elongated member within an opening. Also provided is a method of performing a transvaginal surgery. The method includes providing an access port including a retention mechanism configured to selectively retain the access port within the vagina of a patient, forming an incision in the wall of the vagina into the abdomen of the patient, inserting a distal end of the access port into the vagina and through the incision, and activating the retention mechanism to secure the distal end of the access port within the abdominal cavity of the patient.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to transvaginal surgery. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for use in transvaginal surgery for accessing the abdominal cavity.
2. Background of Related Art
Today, many surgical procedures are performed through small incisions in the skin, as compared to the larger incisions typically required in traditional procedures, in an effort to reduce both trauma to the patient and recovery time. Generally, such procedures are referred to as "endoscopic", unless performed on the patient's abdomen, in which case the procedure is referred to as "laparoscopic". Throughout the present disclosure, the terms endoscopic and laparoscopic may be used interchangeably. Additionally, surgical procedures may be performed though a naturally occurring orifice, e.g., anus or vagina. Collectively, these are surgical procedures are generally referred to as minimally invasive.
In a continuing effort to minimize scarring and reduce recovery time, many laparoscopic procedures are being performed through a single incision. Ports for use in single incision surgery are known, one of which is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The port includes multiple lumen such that a surgeon may simultaneously insert multiple devices through the port and manipulate them within the abdominal cavity.
Although scarring is significantly reduced using the single incision procedures, a visible scar may remain. To eliminate the possibility of visible scarring the abdominal cavity may be accessed through the vagina of a female patient. Rigid tubular ports configured for use in traditional single incision surgery may require a sealing system and/or may include edges that could damage delicate internal organs. Additionally, due to the substantial length required to access the abdominal cavity through the vagina, manipulation and triangulation of surgical devices inserted through these ports may be difficult.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a port configured for transvaginally accessing the abdominal cavity.

Apparatus and method for transvaginal surgery


A nosepiece assembly, such as a two-piece locator assembly. The assembly is selectively mountable on a tool housing in coaxial relation with a driven tool attachment. The locator assembly includes a mounting sleeve having a plurality of tabs that can be snapped into a circumferential groove on the tool housing to thereafter releasably restrain axial movement of the sleeve relative to the tool housing. The locator assembly and the tool housing also include cam members that are arranged to provide axial movement to the locator assembly when a rotational force is applied to the mounting sleeve. This arrangement permits the locator assembly to be easily and quickly snapped on and off the tool housing with one hand while allowing an improved attachment means to provide stability to the locator assembly when in a supported position.

The invention relates to power tools and, more particularly, to a nosepiece assembly, such as a locator assembly, which is supported on the power tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,260 illustrates a power tool including a nosepiece assembly, such as a locator assembly to control the depth to which screws are driven into a workpiece. In this assembly, a locator is threaded into a collar that can be snapped onto the nose portion of a tool housing. Thereafter, the locator is non-rotatably mounted on the tool housing via cooperating keys and keyways on the tool housing and the locator, respectively. Also, indexing fingers on the collar engage complementary bumps on the tool housing to maintain the collar in a predetermined angular position relative to the housing so as to maintain a desired depth setting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,704 shows another example of a nosepiece assembly, such as a locator assembly. In this assembly, a two-piece locator assembly is selectively mountable on a tool housing in coaxial relation with a driven tool attachment. The locator assembly includes a mounting sleeve having an internal annular flange that can be snapped over a retaining ring on the tool housing to thereafter releasably restrain axial movement of the sleeve relative to the tool housing. A detent arrangement between the tool housing and the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve relative to the tool housing after the sleeve has been snapped thereon.
In some prior art nosepiece assemblies, in connecting the nosepiece assembly to the power tool, the attaching structure provides such a tight engagement between the assembly and the tool housing that removal of the assembly by hand is difficult or impossible. The operator must apply a significant axial force to the assembly to remove it from the tool housing.
In some other prior art devices, the attaching structure provides a loose engagement between the assembly and the tool housing which, while easier to remove, provides less stability of the assembly on the tool housing. This may result in vibration or rattling of the assembly on the power tool and noise during operation of the power tool.
The apparatus and method of the present invention alleviates the problems with the above-described assemblies and prior art devices. The present invention provides a nosepiece assembly including attaching structure, which provides a sufficient attaching force to stabilize the nosepiece assembly on a power tool, and structure for overcoming the attaching force to assist an operator in easily removing the nosepiece assembly from the power tool.
The present invention provides a power tool including an improved nosepiece assembly, such as a locator assembly, which can be easily and quickly removed from and replaced on the power tool with one hand and a simple twist-off or pop-off action without disturbing a previously-set depth setting. The assembly includes snap-fit restricting structure for mounting the assembly on the tool housing and structure for overcoming the axial restricting force to release the locator assembly from the tool. The snap-fit restricting structure and the overcoming structure cooperate to permit the assembly to be snapped onto and popped off of the power tool while preventing the depth setting of the tool bit from being unintentionally or inadvertently changed.
More specifically, the invention provides a two-piece nosepiece or locator assembly that is selectively mountable on a tool housing in coaxial relation with a driven tool attachment. The locator assembly includes a mounting sleeve having a plurality of tabs that can be snapped into a circumferential groove on the tool housing to thereafter releasably restrain axial movement of the sleeve relative to the tool housing. The locator assembly and the tool housing also include cam members that are arranged to provide axial movement to the locator assembly when a rotational force is applied to the mounting sleeve. This arrangement permits the locator assembly to be easily and quickly snapped on and off the tool housing with one hand while allowing an improved attachment means to provide stability to the locator assembly when in a supported position.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.


An apparatus and a method for applying a tape on a belt-like member which is being fed continuously are disclosed in which a new tape loaded as a spare is delivered when the tape is depleted so as to continue the operation of applying the tape, so that the tape can be continuously stuck on the belt-like member by using several tapes while eliminating the necessity of stopping the operation of applying the tape onto the belt-like member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for continuously applying a tape. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for continuously applying, for example, a double-coated tape with a separation sheet for use to secure freshness-keeping agents or desiccating agents on packing bags or the covers of packing containers for accommodating foods such as confections, delicacies, Chinese noodles, hams, salami, sausages and boiled rice to the freshness-keeping agents, the desiccating agents or a belt-like film for use to form the cover of the packing container.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, a freshness-keeping agent or a desiccating agent has been accommodated in a small bag which has usually and simply been accommodated in a container together with a food. Since the conventional freshness-keeping agent or the like has not been secured to the container, there arises a problem in that the consumers may be mislead to recognize the freshness-keeping agent as a food or places and cooks the freshness-keeping agent with the food on a frying pan or the like.
Accordingly, a method has been studied and employed in which a bag, which accommodates the freshness-keeping agent or the like, is secured to the packing bag or the container.
As a conventional method of securing the freshness-keeping agent or the like, a method in which heat sealing is utilized, a method in which a hot-melt material is used and a method in which a double-coated tape is employed have been widely used. The securing method arranged to use the double-coated tape comprises steps of: automatically supplying a series of bag members formed by continuously connecting the small bags for accommodating the freshness-keeping agent or the like; continuously applying the double-coated tape on the series of bag members; sectioning the series of bag members on which the double-coated tape has been applied and which accommodates the freshness-keeping agent or the like into each bag unit in synchronization with an apparatus to manufacture the packing bags or the packing containers; and respectively securing the thus obtained small bags to the packing bags or the inside portions of the packing containers. In this method, the double-coated tape having a predetermined width is wound around a reel by a predetermined length.
Hence, when a coil of the double-coated tape has been depleted, the following operations must be performed: the operation of the apparatus for applying the double-coated tape is stopped; the reel from which the double-coated tape has been completely depleted is changed for another reel to which a new double-coated tape is wound; and the double-coated tape is set to the commencement state in which the new double-coated tape wound around the reel can be applied on a continuous series of bags arranged in a belt-like configuration.
With the method in which the double-coated tape is used as described above, the operation of the apparatus for applying tape must be stopped whenever the double-coated tape wound around one reel has been depleted, and therefore all of the operations of the apparatus and the process of packing the foods must be stopped as well as stopping the apparatus for applying the tape. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency has been excessively deteriorated and stopping the apparatus raises various problems.

Apparatus for applying tape and method therefor


Printing of information with a distinct tactile feel can be accomplished by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing includes the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing standard size marking particles; and in areas of the formed print image, forming raised information by printing at least a first raised image and a second raised image. The print and raised images are fixing on the receiver member. The raised images are applied using toner particles having diameters substantially larger than the diameters standard size toner particles used for applying the print image.

One common method for printing images on a receiver member is referred to as electrography. In a particular implementation of this method, known as electrophotography, an electrostatic image is formed on a dielectric member by uniformly charging the dielectric member and then discharging selected areas of the uniform charge to yield an image-wise electrostatic charge pattern. Such discharge is typically accomplished by exposing the uniformly charged dielectric member to actinic radiation provided by selectively activating particular light sources in an LED array or a laser device directed at the dielectric member. After the image-wise charge pattern is formed, the pigmented (or in some instances, non-pigmented) toner particles are given a charge, substantially opposite the charge pattern on the dielectric member and brought into the vicinity of the dielectric member so as to be attracted to the image-wise charge pattern to develop such pattern into a visible image.
Thereafter, a suitable receiver member, sometimes simply referred to as a receiver, (e.g., a cut sheet of plain bond paper) or an intermediate transfer member, sometimes simply referred to as an intermediate, (e.g. a compliant or non-compliant roller or web) is brought into juxtaposition with the marking particle developed image-wise charge pattern on the dielectric member. A suitable electric field is applied to transfer the marking particles to the receiver member in the image-wise pattern to form the desired print image on the receiver or intermediate transfer member. In the case of an intermediate transfer member, a secondary transfer step is performed whereby a second suitable electric field is applied to transfer the marking particles from the intermediate receiver member to the receiver member. The receiver member is then removed from its operative association with the dielectric member and the marking particle print image is permanently fixed to the receiver member typically using heat, and/or pressure. Multiple layers or marking materials can be overlaid on one receiver, for example layers of different color particles can be overlaid on one receiver member to form a multi-color print image on the receiver member after fixing.
In the earlier days of electrographic printing, the marking particles were relatively large (e.g., on the order of 10-15 μm). As a result the print image had a tendency to exhibit a relief (variably raised surface) appearance. Under most circumstances, the relief appearance was considered an objectionable artifact in the print image. In order to improve image quality, and to reduce relief appearance, over the years, smaller marking particles (e.g., on the order of less than 8 μm) have been formulated and are more commonly used today.

Selective printing of raised information using electrography


A light-emitting diode (LED) includes a first type semiconductor layer, a second type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a dielectric layer and an electrode. The active layer disposed between the first type semiconductor layer and the second type semiconductor layer. The active layer has at least one threading dislocation therein. The dielectric layer is disposed on the second type semiconductor layer. The dielectric layer has at least one first opening therein to expose a part of the second type semiconductor layer. The vertical projection of the threading dislocation on the dielectric layer is separated from the first opening. The electrode partially disposed on the dielectric layer and electrically coupled with the exposed part of the second type semiconductor layer through the opening.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
2. Description of Related Art
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor light-emitting devices which convert electric current into light energy. As light sources, LEDs have advantages including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, smaller size, and faster switching, and hence conventional lighting, such as incandescent lighting, is gradually replaced by LEDs.
However, the luminous efficiency of LEDs may be affected by some factors. One of the factors is the amount of threading dislocating defects existing in the LED structure. Typically, threading dislocating defects arise in efforts to epitaxially grow one kind of crystalline material on a substrate of a different kind of material. Because of different crystalline lattice constants and different coefficients of thermal expansion of the two materials, lattice mismatch between the two materials creates stress during material deposition that generates threading dislocating defects while fabricating LED devices. Such threading dislocating defects in the emitting areas of LED devices may reduce luminous efficiency, especially when LEDs proceed to microscale.


A magnetic writer includes a write element and an oscillation device disposed adjacent to the write element. The first oscillation device includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer having a magnetization vector including a component perpendicular to a major plane of the first magnetic layer. The first nonmagnetic layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first oscillation device generates a high-frequency oscillation field when a current is directed perpendicular to the major plane of the first magnetic layer.

The present invention relates to magnetic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a magnetic device that employs a high frequency oscillating field.
Two general techniques for magnetically recording information on a storage medium include longitudinal recording and perpendicular recording. In longitudinal recording, the direction of the magnetization in a plane of the storage medium is altered in a manner to store information. In perpendicular recording, the magnetization of the storage medium is altered in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the medium. With the magnetization direction perpendicular to the plane of the medium as opposed to parallel with the plane, information can be stored at higher density.
There has been an ongoing effort to increase the bit densities in magnetic recording. Bit density refers to the number of bits that can be written to the storage medium in a given length, area, or volume. The size of such a flux transition is related to the size and focus of a magnetic write field generated by a magnetic head. One traditional type of magnetic head is known as an inductive head, which uses a current passed through a coil of wire. This causes a magnetic field to be generated at the pole tip or tips of the head that is used to write data to the magnetic medium.
There is also an ongoing effort to use magnetic storage media that have a high coercivity. This type of media requires stronger and a more focused write field to impress a flux reversal. One approach to providing a stronger write field is to incorporate a device adjacent to the tip of the write pole that produces a magnetic field to reduce the coercivity of the magnetic medium near the write pole. This allows data to be written to the high coercivity medium with a lower magnetic field from the write pole. However, many current designs of such write assist devices consume high levels of power to generate the assist field, and the frequency of the assist field produced by these write assist devices is not easily controlled.

High frequency field assisted write device