A structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a solid electrolytic material disposed between the electrodes which, taken collectively, have sufficient mechanical strength to allow the electrochemical capacitor to be used as a structural component of an article of manufacture is described. The present invention also describes a method of capacitively storing electrical energy and conserving mass and/or volume in a device that includes the steps of: fabricating portions of the structure of a device with high-strength structural electrochemical capacitor that includes at least one pair of electrodes and a body of solid electrolytic material disposed between said electrodes wherein the body of solid electrolytic material accounts for a majority of the mass of a structural element or a majority of the volume of a structural element in the device.

In the design of most devices consideration is given to the final size and weight of a device. For many devices, there is a desire to minimize the size and/or weight of the device, particularly for portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and unmanned vehicles such as drones. Often the energy source for a device, e.g. a battery, a capacitor, an electrochemical capacitor, a fuel cell or a bank of such energy sources, contributes a substantial portion of the size and weight of the portable device. Thus, there it would be desirable to reduce the final size and/or weight of the energy source or bank of energy sources that is included in devices, particularly portable devices.
It has been proposed to reduce the size and weight of portable devices by making various components of such devices multifunctional. The energy source, typically a battery, is often one of the largest or heaviest single components in an electrical device and, thus, is one which would benefit most from being multifunctional. One example of multifunctionality is to add mechanical stiffness or load-carrying capacity to an energy storage device. Attempts have been made to produce multifunctional batteries which contribute to the mechanical strength of a device in which the battery is included in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/594,863 filed on Nov. 9, 2006 titled "Structural Batteries and Components Thereof"; in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/735,999 filed on Nov. 9, 2005 titled "Structural Composite Battery" and in "Design and Processing of Structural Composite Batteries" Proceedings of SAMPE 2007 Baltimore, Md. 3-7 Jun. 2007 by James F. Snyder et al. which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Attempts have also been made to produce multifunctional fuel cells which contribute to the mechanical strength of the device in which the fuel cells are included in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/594,861 filed on Nov. 9, 2006 titled "Structural Fuel Cells and Components Thereof" and in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/735,991 filed on Nov. 9, 2005 titled "Structural Composite Fuel Cell". And, attempts have also been made to produce multifunctional capacitors which contribute to the mechanical strength of the device they supply in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/594,862 filed on Nov. 9, 2006 titled "Structural Capacitors and Components Thereof" and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/735,998 filed on Nov. 9, 2005 titled "Structural Capacitors". It would also be desirable to provide multifuctional electrochemical capacitors that could contribute to the mechanical strength of the device to which they supply energy to reduce the size and/or weight of the device.
Structural electrochemical capacitors would be more (or in addition to) advantageous than structural batteries, structural capacitors and structural fuel cells because electrochemical capacitors can provide higher specific power than batteries or fuel cells and higher specific energy than capacitors (c.f. Ragone plot in FIG. 3 in "What Are Batteries, Fuel Cells and Supercapacitors?" Chem Rev 2004, 104, 4245-4269 by Martin Winter et al.). Electrochemical capacitors are particularly useful to provide rapid charge or discharge capabilities in combination with high specific energy devices such as batteries or fuel cells or energy harvesting devices such as photovoltaics. One useful application is for charge conditioning in which a structural electrochemical capacitor stores energy from other sources for load balancing purposes and provides an appropriate charge routine to a high specific energy device such as a battery. Structural electrochemical capacitors also have potential for long life, theoretically up to millions of charge-discharge cycles, due to the relative absence of electrode swelling and interfacial degradation in comparison to devices such as batteries that may only last for hundreds or perhaps thousands of charge-discharge cycles. Advantageously, structural electrochemical capacitors also have little danger of overcharging, a common problem with batteries.
The structural energy storage devices described herein, structural electrochemical capacitors, contribute both energy storage and mechanical strength to a system or device in which the electrochemical capacitors are incorporated. The mechanical strength is owing to two factors: the design of matted or woven-laminate electrodes based for example on activated carbon fibers, and a resin or polymer electrolyte which impregnates the electrodes. The available energy density may be increased by using carbon fibers with a high surface area achieved through surface treatment or activation. Power densities greater than that obtained from batteries are realized by more rapid capacitive charge storage mechanisms such as arise from the electrical double-layer at the electrode surfaces.
Batteries, capacitors and electrochemical capacitors of the type used for delivery of relatively high levels of power or energy are generally fairly large bulky items, and their size and weight can impose a significant design constraint on systems, particularly portable systems, in which they are included. Heretofore, these size and weight constraints have limited the utility and practicality of particular systems. As will be described in detail herein below, the present invention recognizes that by the appropriate selection of materials, electrochemical capacitors may be manufactured which combine good structural properties such as strength and stiffness together with good electrical properties. Such electrochemical capacitors can be used to form structural elements of systems in which they are incorporated, and hence these electrochemical capacitors are referred to herein as "structural electrochemical capacitors." Since structural electrochemical capacitors function both as capacitive storage devices as well as structural components of systems, the weight and/or size burden imposed upon such systems by the need for capacitive storage is greatly minimized. For example, portions of the air frame of an unmanned aerial vehicle or other vehicle may be fabricated from one or more structural electrochemical capacitors. Hence, the overall weight of the vehicle will be reduced and/or the amount of electrical power carried by the vehicle can be significantly increased. It will be appreciated that similar power/weight/size benefits will be achieved with regard to other devices such as cellular telephones, other communications equipment, computers, microsystems and specialized electronic devices and systems. In such devices, the structural electrochemical capacitors of the present invention can function as circuit boards, housings, casings, protective members and so forth. Further details and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings, discussion and description which follow.

Method for forming a structural electrochemical capacitor

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A metallic shaping plate located in the interior housing of a wireless device is disclosed. The metallic shaping plate may influence a radiation pattern being generated by a horizontal antenna array. The result may be an increase in the gain of the array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to wireless communications and more particularly to changing radio frequency (RF) emission patterns with respect to one or more antenna arrays.
2. Description of the Related Art
In wireless communications systems, there is an ever-increasing demand for higher data throughput and a corresponding drive to reduce interference that can disrupt data communications. For example, a wireless link in an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 network may be susceptible to interference from other access points and stations, other radio transmitting devices, and changes or disturbances in the wireless link environment between an access point and remote receiving node. In some instances, the interference may degrade the wireless link thereby forcing communication at a lower data rate. The interference may, however, be sufficiently strong as to disrupt the wireless link altogether.
One solution is to utilize a diversity antenna scheme. In such a solution, a data source is coupled to two or more physically separated omnidirectional antennas. An access point may select one of the omnidirectional antennas by which to maintain a wireless link. Because of the separation between the omnidirectional antennas, each antenna experiences a different signal environment and corresponding interference level with respect to the wireless link. A switching network couples the data source to whichever of the omnidirectional antennas experiences the least interference in the wireless link.
Notwithstanding, many high-gain antenna environments still encounter—or cause—electromagnetic interference (EMI). This interference may be encountered (or created) with respect to another nearby wireless environments (e.g., between the floors of an office building or hot spots scattered amongst a single room). In some instances, the mere operation of a power supply or electronic equipment—not necessarily an antenna—can create electromagnetic interference.
One solution to combat electromagnetic interference is to utilize shielding in or proximate an antenna enclosure. Shielding a metallic enclosure is imperfect, however, because the conductivity of all metals is finite. Because metallic shields have less than infinite conductivity, part of the field is transmitted across the boundary and supports a current in the metal. The amount of current flow at any depth in the shield and the rate of decay are governed by the conductivity of the metal, its permeability, and the
A gap or seam in a shield will allow electromagnetic fields to radiate through the shield unless the current continuity can be preserved across the gaps. An EMI gasket is, therefore, often used to preserve continuity or current flow in the shield. If a gasket is made of material identical to the walls of the shielded enclosure, the current density in the gasket will be the same. An EMI gasket fails to allow for shaping of RF patterns and gain control as the gasket is implemented to seal openings in an enclosure as to prevent transmission of EMI.


In a brushless motor, during a synchronized operation mode, n kinds of driving waveforms having the first to n-th patterns are sequentially outputted and the outputting of the n-th pattern is followed by cyclically outputting the patterns again in a sequence from the first pattern, thereby generating a rotating magnetic field in an armature winding. Upon transition from the synchronized operation mode to a rotor position detection operation mode, the commutation signal is changed over from the synchronizing signal to a signal based on the rotor position detector signal after the (n-1)th pattern has been outputted and at a timing when the n-th pattern is to be subsequently outputted. Thereby, upon transition from the synchronized operation mode to the rotor position detection operation mode, the commutation signals are linked in a proper sequence so that smooth mode transition becomes possible without the addition of any special ancillary circuit.

Usually, a brushless motor needs a detector for detecting the position of magnetic poles of a rotor of the motor. However, for example, in the case where it is difficult to use the pole position detector, there is employed a method in which the pole position detector is omitted and a commutation signal of the motor is generated on the basis of a voltage signal induced in an armature winding. This method will now be explained.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the construction of the conventional brushless motor operating apparatus. Reference numeral 1 designates a DC power source and numeral 2 designates a semiconductor switching element group which is composed of six transistors U to Z and six diodes connected in inverse parallel with the transistors. Numeral 3 designates a brushless motor which is composed of a three-phase connected armature winding 4 and a magnet rotor 5. Numeral 6 designates rotor position detection means which is composed of three filters 61 to 63 and a group 64 of comparators. Numeral 7 designates commutation signal generation means which performs a logical operation on rotor position detection signals 6U, 6V and 6W as outputs of the rotor position detection means to generate commutation signals 7U to 7Z of the transistors in the semiconductor switching element group 2.
With the above construction, in a rotor position detection operation mode in which a voltage signal induced in the armature winding 4 is detected and the brushless motor 3 is operated by a commutation signal generated on the basis of a rotor position detection signal obtained through conversion of the voltage signal by the rotor position detection means 6, the commutation signal generation means 7 receives rotor position detection signals 6U to 6W as shown in FIG. 2 and performs a logical operation thereon to generate commutation signals 7U to 7Z. The transistors in the semiconductor switching element group 2 are switched by those commutation signals, thereby causing the brushless motor to continuously generate a rotational torque.
On the other hand, during a time when the brushless motor 3 is stopped, no induced voltage is generated. Upon activation, therefore, commutation signals 7U to 7Z as shown in FIG. 2 are applied at a low frequency to forcibly rotate the brushless motor 3 at a low speed. By this rotation, induced voltages are generated in the armature winding 4. The induced voltages are converted by the rotor position detection means 6 to obtain rotor position detection signals 6U to 6W as shown in FIG. 2. The above operation mode is a synchronized operation mode. At the point of time when such rotor position detection signals have been settled in the synchronized operation mode, a signal source for the commutation signals 7U to 7Z is changed over to the rotor position detection signals 6U to 6W, thereby making transition to the rotor position detection operation mode.
In the above construction, there is well known a hard ware for the commutation signal generation means 7 which generates the commutation signals 7U to 7Z from the position detection signals 6U to 6W through the logical operation.
In the case where a microcomputer is used as the commutation signal generation means 7, there can be considered a method in which in the rotor position detection operation mode the microcomputer always monitors the rotor position detection signals 6U to 6W and generates the commutation signals 7U to 7Z in accordance with the (High or Low) levels of the rotor position detection signals. In this method, the monitoring of the levels of the rotor position detection signals is made even in the case where transition from the synchronized operation mode to the rotor position detection operation mode is made. Therefore, smooth transition is possible without specifically taking the timing of transition into consideration.
However, in the above method, the microcomputer must sample frequently the rotor position detection signals. Accordingly, the greater part of the control capacity of the microcomputer is used for the driving of the brushless motor and hence another control or a control for an equipment using the brushless motor is restricted.
Also, if the number of times of sampling is decreased in order to make the other control, an error in phase of the commutation signal is generated.
To solve the above problem in this method, there can be considered a method of taking to consideration the rise and fall edges of the rotor position detection signals. Namely, as shown in FIG. 3, the first to sixth patterns exist as output patterns of the commutation signals 7U to 7Z corresponding to the edge change-over of the rotor position detection signals 6U to 6W and these patterns are outputted in a sequence from the first pattern.
For example, when the rise of the rotor position detection signal 6U is detected at a timing a, commutation signals are outputted with the first pattern. Thereafter, when the edge of the rotor position detection signal 6W is detected at a timing b, the pattern of commutation signals is changed over to the second pattern. Subsequently, the edge of 6V, the rise of 6U, the edge of 6W and the edge of 6V occur at timings c, d, e and f, respectively, and the third to sixth patterns are sequentially outputted as the patterns of commutation signals, respectively. After the outputting of the sixth pattern, the first pattern is outputted again at the rise of 6U and the similar operation is repeated. In this method, it suffices that the microcomputer handles only the edges of the rotor position detection signals as interruption signals. The microcomputer can make another control during the other time. Therefore, the utility efficiency of the microcomputer is greatly improved.
In the above method, however, since the edges of the rotor position detection signals 6U to 6W and the sequence of the commutation signals 7U to 7Z are uniquely determined, the smooth driving of the motor is not possible unless the output sequence of the first to sixth patterns is strictly kept. Especially, there is a problem that if the rotor position detection signals and the commutation signals are linked in a proper sequence at a timing of transition from the synchronized operation mode to the rotor position detection operation mode, smooth transition is impossible.

Brushless motor operating method and apparatus


A panel instrument to be mounted in a panel board, including: a main body having an outside dimension applicable to a first and a second panel instrument size standards; a display provided on one end of the main body and having an area that occupies a part of a front face of the panel board and is applicable to the first panel instrument size standard; a front panel mounted on a front face of the display; and a rear panel for holding the display with the front panel, wherein the rear panel has: first mounting holes that are provided on one diagonal line of the rear panel and correspond to a mounting hole standard applicable to the second panel instrument size standard; and second mounting holes that are provided on the other diagonal line and correspond to a mounting hole standard applicable to a third panel instrument size standard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panel instrument that is applicable to a plurality of panel instrument size standards.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are standards related to a mounting structure of the panel instrument, such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) standard, DIN (Deutsche Industrie Normen) standard and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard. The following documents are related arts of the panel instrument: "PR201 Electric Power Monitor", General Specifications, issued by YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, No. GS77C01C01-01, October 2005, 4th Edition, P8; "UZ005 Electric Power Monitor", General Specifications, issued by YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, No. GS77C01U01-01, October 2005, 4th Edition, P8; A website of Electro Industries/Gauge Tech, "HOT NEWS PRODUCT/SHARK100" to "DOWNLOADS/SHARK100DIMENSIONS (pdf)", "Searched on Nov. 9, 2005", Internet <URL:http://www.electroind.com/pdf/SharkDim.pdf>.
FIGS. 4A-4E are explanatory diagrams of a configuration of the related art example, in which the panel instrument "PR201 Type Electric Power Monitor" disclosed in "PR201 Electric Power Monitor", General Specifications, issued by YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, No. GS77C01C01-01, October 2005, 4th Edition, P8, is attached to a panel based on the JIS standard. FIG. 4A is a front elevation of the panel instrument; FIG. 4B is a side elevation; FIG. 4C is a top plan view; FIG. 4D is a back elevation; and FIG. 4E is a panel cutout diagram.
The panel instrument has a front-face panel occupying size (size that occupies a part of front face of a panel) of 110×110 mm. The panel cutout is a circular hole having a diameter of 101 mm for inserting a body of the panel instrument, and a pitch of mounting holes for mounting the front-face panel of the panel instrument is 90 mm in the orthogonal X-Y direction. These values respectively satisfy a size standard of the JIS standard of C1103-1984:KW3a type.
FIGS. 5A-5E are explanatory diagrams of a configuration of the related art example, in which the panel instrument "UZ005 Type Electric Power Monitor" disclosed in "UZ005 Electric Power Monitor", General Specifications, issued by YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, No. GS77C01U01-01, October 2005, 4th Edition, P8, is attached to a panel based on the DIN standard. FIG. 5A is a front elevation of the panel instrument; FIG. 5B is a side elevation; FIG. 5C is a top plan view; FIG. 5D is a back elevation; and FIG. 5E is a panel cutout diagram.
The panel instrument has a front-face panel occupying size of 96×96 mm. The panel cutout has a rectangular hole of 92 mm, and satisfies a size standard of the DIN standard of DIN 43 700: a square of 96 mm.
FIGS. 6A-6D are explanatory diagrams of a configuration of another related art example, in which the panel instrument "SHARK100" disclosed in the website of Electro Industries/Gauge Tech, "HOT NEWS PRODUCT/SHARK100" to "DOWNLOADS/SHARK100DIMENSIONS (pdf)", "Searched on Nov. 9, 2005", Internet <URL:http://www.electroind.com/pdf/SharkDim.pdf> is attached to a panel based on the ANSI standard. FIG. 6A is a front elevation of the panel instrument; FIG. 6B is a side elevation; FIG. 6C is a back elevation; and FIG. 6D is a panel cutout diagram.
The panel instrument has a front-face panel occupying size of 123.19×123.19 mm. The panel cutout is a circular hole having a diameter of 101 mm for inserting the body of the panel instrument, and a pitch of mounting holes for mounting the front-face panel of the panel instrument is 85.85 mm in the orthogonal X-Y direction. These values respectively satisfy the size standards of the ANSI standard of ANSI C39. 1:4″ Round Form.
For these panel instruments of the related arts, individual casings are prepared for the individual standards such as the JIS standard, the DIN standard and the ANSI standard.
In this case, a plurality of kinds of casings has to be prepared so as to correspond to the various standards. This may make it necessary to make initial investments for the molds of the casings, etc., and to design printed boards to be placed in the casings according to the individual casings.
At the time of distribution, the preparations for the stocks of the panel instruments according to the various standards have to be made, which increases the cost.
In the related art example of FIGS. 6A-6D, moreover, a trunk section of the casing is formed to conform to the round hole of the ANSI standard and the square hole of the DIN standard. However, the front-face panel section having a display section to be arranged in the front face of the panel conforms only to the ANSI standard (a square of 110 mm). Therefore, compatibility with the panel instrument of the DIN standard (a square of 96 mm) cannot be obtained, and the panel instrument of the ANSI standard may not be able to be replaced with the panel instrument of the DIN standard.


A method and apparatus for detecting a living body, an electronic device and a storage medium include: performing target object detection on a first image captured by a first image sensor in a binocular camera apparatus to obtain a first target region, and performing the target object detection on a second image captured by a second image sensor in the binocular camera apparatus to obtain a second target region; obtaining key point depth information of a target object according to the first target region and the second target region; and determining, based on the key point depth information of the target object, whether the target object is a living body.

Living-body detection is an important issue in the field of information security. How to determine whether an object to be detected is from an image of a real living body or of a fake object is an important research topic in living-body detection technologies. Conventional living-body detection technologies include interactive solutions and solutions in combination with external information. The interactive solutions have high requirements for a system, are complex in implementation, and provide poor user experience. While the solutions in combination with external information have low accuracy, it is easy to fake an object.

Method and apparatus for detecting living body, electronic device, and storage medium

BEIJING SENSETIME TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD


A flux concentrator made of a high permeability material is enclosed in a semiconductor package with a magnetic sensing integrated circuit to improve the uniformity and magnitude of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor.

According to the well-known Hall effect, if a magnetic field is applied along a z-axis to a bar that carries a current along an x-axis, an electric field is produced along a y-axis. The electric field is proportional to the magnetic field and current density. The electric field can be sensed and used to determine the magnitude of the magnetic field or at least to determine when there is a significant change in the magnetic field.
A Hall cell is a sensor that utilizes the Hall effect. The Hall cell has a current-carrying bar and leads coupled across the bar for providing a signal that indicates the electric field. Such sensors can be integrated into an integrated circuit (IC) chip and packaged along with other circuitry.
A magnetic field between a magnet and a device made of a ferrous material can vary depending on a distance between the magnet and the device. Consequently, a sensor with one or more Hall cells can be used to sense distance or a change in distance when positioned between the magnet and the device. One known use for such a sensor is as a gear-tooth sensor for sensing a tooth or notch in a moving body; e.g., the body can be a cam shaft of an automobile, in which case the sensor can sense ignition timing. Such a sensor is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,463.
To improve sensing, a flux concentrator can be mounted between a sensor and a permanent magnet, as shown in the incorporated patent. However, a manufacturer of the sensor can only recommend that a customer do so if desired. In particular sensing systems, it may be difficult to provide such a flux concentrator in a useful position, and even with such a concentrator, there are gaps between the concentrator and sensing circuitry because of the width of the packaged sensor. Such gaps reduce the efficiency of the concentrator.
It is known that there is a leadframe with a paddle and leads made of alloy 42, a material with a permeability of 4,500 at B=20 gauss to a maximum of 70,000 Gausses/Oersteds. Such a leadframe would be undesirable for use with a magnetic sensor, however, because the leads of the leadframe would tend to divert the magnetic field away from the sensing circuitry.

Packaged integrated circuit with magnetic flux concentrator


A method of offloading data is provided by a UE. The UE receives data from a macro cell base station over an MC-RB while an E-RAB between the macro cell base station and a gateway is established. The UE receives a first connection reconfiguration message from the macro cell base station after the E-RAB between a small cell base station and the gateway is established, and establishes an SC-RB according to the first connection reconfiguration message. Next, the UE receives a second connection reconfiguration message from the macro cell base station after a path between the macro cell base station and the gateway is switched to a path between the small cell base station and the gateway, and data for the MC-RB are exhausted on the macro cell base station. Then, the UE releases the MC-RB and switches to the SC-RB.

(a) Field
The described technology generally relates to a data offloading method.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication system provides various schemes for accommodating increased data. A scheme expanding the coverage by down-sizing and concentrating cells is one of the schemes. In this scheme, it is difficult to control the interference and the handover frequently occurs. In addition, because a time or location at which or in which data occur is varied, constructing fixed cells increases capital expenditure (CAPEX).
Data offloading schemes are suggested to solve the data traffic problem. Particularly, a small cell offloading scheme attaching a small cell to a macro cell and allowing traffics of the macro cell to flow in the small cell is being developed.
Flowing user's data traffics in the small cell means that the user does not perform a conventional inter-cell handover. Therefore, the small cell offloading scheme requires a new handover that offloads data traffics of the user to the small cell.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A sheet-fed scanner with selectively variable document feed-in and feed-out positions is provided. The sheet-fed scanner includes conventional scanning means for performing a scanning process on a document; conventional diving means for driving the document through the scanning process, a base plate; a main body for accommodating the scanning means and the driving means therein, the main body, being mounted on the base plate and having at least a base side, a first inclined side, and a second inclined side; and a passage formed between the base plate and the main body for guiding the document through the scanning process. By resting the sheet-fed scanner on various sides of the main body, the user can feed the document from various positions: when resting on the base plate, the passage is horizontally oriented, allowing a horizontal feed-in and feed-out of the document; when resting on the first inclined side, the passage is inclined in such a manner that allows an inclined top feed-in and bottom feed-out of the document; and when resting on the second inclined side of the main body, the passage is inclined in such a manner that allows an inclined bottom feed-in and top feed-out of the document. Moreover, the main body can be shaped in either a pentagonal or trapezoidal cross section so as to elevate either the feed-in and feed-out positions for either inclined or horizontal feed-in and feed-out.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to scanners, and more particularly, to a sheet-fed scanner which allows the user to selectively arrange the feed-in and feed-out position in accordance with the user's preference.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional sheet-fed scanners typically include a base which allows the document that is to be scanned by the scanner to be fed into the scanning position along either a horizontal path or an inclined path. For a scanner of the horizontal feed-in and feed-out type, a suitable amount of space should be provided on the rear side (the feed-out side) of the scanner so that the feed-out of the scanned document will not be impeded, for example, by the wall. For a scanner of the inclined feed-in and feed-out type, a suitable amount of space should be provided on the top side and bottom side of the scanner so that the feed-in and feed-out of the sheets will not be impeded. These requirements, however, will cause the scanners to occupy a relatively large amount of office space. Although the sheet-fed scanners have the advantage of having a smaller size than conventional flatbed scanners, the foregoing drawback will offset this advantage.
Moreover, conventional sheet-fed scanners can only allow the user to feed the sheets from a fixed feed-in position only, either a horizontal feed-in or an inclined feed-in. Those users who prefer to use inclined feed-in from the top and feed-out from the bottom may not like using scanners of the horizontal feed-in and feed-out type. There exists, therefore, a need for a new sheet-fed scanner which allows the user to selectively arrange the feed-in and feed-out position in accordance with the user's preference.

Sheet-fed scanner with selectively variable document feed-in and feed-out positions


A system and a method are disclosed for providing a low drop out circuit that can efficiently and correctly handle a wide range of input voltages. A power supply control circuit is provided for a low drop out circuit that comprises an operational amplifier that is coupled to a low drop out transistor. A switcher circuit provides one of a plurality of operating voltages to the low drop out transistor. The power supply control circuit provides a value of an operating voltage to the operational amplifier that enables the operational amplifier to operate the low drop out transistor in a manner that prevents the low drop out transistor from being out of control.

The telecommunications industry continually attempts to improve the transmitter circuitry in wireless communication systems. Power amplifier (PA) circuitry is a major component of a transmitter of a wireless communication device. Power amplifier (PA) circuitry provides the power for transmitting a signal (including data modulated and carried by the signal) so that a base station or a receiver can receive the signal.
Power amplifier (PA) circuitry uses a large amount of power. The power amplifier (PA) module is one of the most power consuming components of a wireless communication device. Therefore it is very desirable to provide power amplifier (PA) circuitry that is power efficient.
One method for improving power amplifier (PA) efficiency is to use a drain/collector modulation technique. In the drain/collector modulation technique a non-linear high efficiency power amplifier can be used (e.g., a class C power amplifier) instead of a linear low efficiency power amplifier (e.g., a class A amplifier). The power control of the power amplifier (PA) circuitry is achieved by adjusting the power amplifier (PA) power supply VCC. A high efficiency power supply combined with a high efficiency power amplifier (PA) (with constant bias) would be ideal.
In prior art power amplifier (PA) modules in GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) telecommunication devices such as RF3110 (manufactured by RFMD) and TQM7M4014 (manufactured by Triquint), the power amplifier (PA) power supply VCC is from a linear regulator or "low drop out" (LDO) circuit. An LDO circuit can have a high efficiency when the value of its output voltage (VCC) is near the value of its input voltage (VBATT). But an LDO circuit will have a very low efficiency when its output voltage (VCC) is very low compared with its input voltage (VBATT).
The maximum efficiency for an LDO circuit is the ratio of the output voltage VCC to the input voltage VBATT. That is, the maximum efficiency is given by the ratio VCC/VBATT. For example, the maximum efficiency for an LDO in a typical GSM handset with an output voltage of nine tenths volts (VCC=0.9 volts) and an input voltage of three and six tenths volts (VBATT=3.6 volts) is twenty five percent (25%).
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a first prior art power supply control circuit 100. Power supply control circuit 100 comprises a low drop out (LDO) circuit 110. Low drop out (LDO) circuit 110 comprises an operational amplifier 120 that receives a VRAMP signal on its inverting input. A feedback voltage signal VFB is provided to the non-inverting input of operational amplifier 120. The operating voltage for low drop out (LDO) circuit 110 is provided by a voltage source VBATT.
The output of operational amplifier 120 is provided to a gate of a PMOS transistor 140. The source of PMOS transistor 140 is coupled to the operating voltage VBATT. The drain of PMOS transistor 140 is coupled to a first end of a first resistor 150. The second end of first resistor 150 is coupled to a first end of a second resistor 160. The second end of second resistor 160 is coupled to ground. The feedback voltage signal VFB is obtained from a node between the first resistor 150 and the second resistor 160.
The output of low drop out (LDO) circuit 110 is the power supply voltage VCC. A capacitor 170 is coupled between the output of the low drop out (LDO) circuit and ground. The power supply voltage VCC is provided to radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) 130. Radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) 130 amplifies an RF input signal (RFIN) to generate an amplified RF output signal (RFOUT).
One method for increasing the efficiency of the power amplifier (PA) power supply VCC is to use a switching regulator. A switching regulator is able to adjust the value of the operating voltage (designated VSWITCHER) that is provided to a low drop out circuit. FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a second prior art power supply control circuit 200 that comprises a switching regulator 210 (designated "switcher 210"). Switcher 210 has a first input that receives a peak value of voltage (designated VPEAK) and a second input that receives an enable signal (designated EN).
The low drop out circuit 110 in FIG. 2 has the same structure as the low drop out circuit 110 shown in FIG. 1. However, the operation of the low drop out circuit 110 in FIG. 2 no longer has a single value of operating voltage VBATT. Instead, switcher 210 provides a wide dynamic range of operating voltages VSWITCHER to the low drop out circuit 110. For example, the value of the operating voltage VSWITCHER may be chosen in a range from about four hundred millivolts (400 mV) to about four and eight tenths volts (4.8 V).
There are some problems, however, that are associated with prior art power supply control circuits of the type that operate with a switcher 210. For example, assume that the power supply for the LDO control amplifier 120 is provided from the operating voltage VBATT (as shown in FIG. 2).
First, when the value of the operating voltage VSWITCHER for the LDO PMOS transistor 140 is greater than the sum of the operating voltage VBATT and the threshold voltage VTP of the LDO PMOS transistor 140, then the LDO PMOS transistor 140 will be in an "on" condition all of the time. The LDO circuit 110 will be out of control in this case.
Second, when the value of the operating voltage VSWITCHER for the LDO PMOS transistor 140 is less than the threshold voltage VTP of the LDO PMOS transistor 140, then the LDO PMOS transistor 140 will be in an "off" condition all of the time. The LDO circuit 110 will also be out of control in this case.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system and method that is capable of providing an improved architecture for a power supply control circuit and a low drop out (LDO) circuit that avoids these deficiencies of the prior art circuitry.

System and method for providing a low drop out circuit for a wide range of input voltages


An address detection circuit includes a correction signal generator that generates a plurality of timing correction signals based on an ADIP (Address In Pre-groove) signal that is read out from a wobble of an optical disk, the timing correction signals having different cycles with each other, a correction signal selector that selects one of the timing correction signals generated by the correction signal generator and outputs the selected signal, and a timing corrector that outputs a data address detected based on a data signal that is read out from a data track of the optical disk at a timing in accordance with the timing correction signal transmitted from the correction signal selector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an address detection circuit and an address detection method.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to execute reading and writing of data on an optical disk with high accuracy, it is required to detect a position on the optical disk with high accuracy. To detect the position on the optical disk, address information that indicates the position on the optical disk needs to be read out from the optical disk itself.
A method of storing the address information in the optical disk includes (1) a method of modulating wobbles meandering along with a data track, and (2) a method of writing address information on a data track. The position on the optical disk can be detected by reading out the address information stored in the optical disk.
In the optical disk, a spiral data track is formed beforehand. The data track is formed by the extension of convex and concave parts formed in the optical disk. More specifically, the data track is formed on a bottom surface of the concave part and/or an upper surface of the convex part. The wobbles are formed by modulating edges of the convex part along with an extending direction of the convex part.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-50469 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 1), Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-85749 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 2), and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-329329 (hereinafter referred to as patent document 3) each discloses a technique of obtaining an address from an optical disk.
The patent document 1 discloses an address detection method which prevents an interruption of a processing caused by an error such as offtrack when a synchronized state of an address becomes unstable due to a state of recording data. The patent document 2 discloses a technique of providing a reproducing apparatus with high reliability of address information of an ADIP. The patent document 3 discloses a technique for reliably detecting a synchronization mark even when user data is recorded in a recording region through a random shift and for reliably reproducing the user data in accordance with the detected synchronization mark.
By the way, in order to detect the address information that indicates the position on the optical disk in a short time, the address may be detected from a signal that is read out from the data written in the data track (hereinafter referred to as data signal). However, data stored in the data track may be stored in a position that is widely apart from a basis position that indicates recording start/end positions or the like of the data that is set in advance in the optical disk. When the address is detected based on such a data, the recording data may be rewritten in a position that is widely apart from the basis position unless any correction processing is carried out. If the data is repeatedly rewritten under such condition, there may be occurred a phenomenon such as gap or overwriting of the recorded data, which may deteriorate the recording quality in the optical disk.
This problem may be addressed by correcting a timing of acquiring the address. However, as the deviation amount of the data with respect to the basis position is uncertain, it may not be possible to deal with the deviation of the data even when the address is detected with an offset by a certain period.
Note that, it may be achieved to suppress degradation of the recording quality of the optical disk by detecting the address from the ADIP (Address In Pre-groove) signal which is readout from a wobble formed in the optical disk, because the timing can be obtained in accordance with the aforementioned basis position. However, in this case, relatively long time is required to detect the address information. As a result, detection of the position on the optical disk in a short time may be inhibited.

Address detection circuit and address detection method


A DLL circuit comprising: delay circuits which output first and second delayed clock signals obtained by delaying the reference clock signal by a delay times selected according to control signals; an interpolation circuit which interpolates a phase difference between the delayed clock signals to output an internal clock signal; an output circuit which generates a predetermined signal; a dummy output circuit which has the same transmission characteristics as the output circuit and outputs a feedback clock signal having the same phase as the predetermined signal; a phase comparison circuit which compares phases of the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal; delay control circuits which controls the control signals in a direction where both phases are equal; wherein the delay time of the second delayed clock signal is larger than the first delayed clock signal by an amount equivalent to one cycle of the reference clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit, and particularly relates to a DLL circuit which generates an internal signal having a predetermined time difference relative to an external clock signal and a semiconductor device (for example, a synchronous type semiconductor device) having this DLL circuit.
2. Related Art
Recently, DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate—Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is widely known as a high speed synchronous type semiconductor memory device. When read operation is performed in the DDR-SDRAM, each edge timing of a DQ signal being input/output data and a DQS signal for determining a timing to capture input/output data needs to be controlled to have an accurate phase relationship with an external reference clock. Therefore, a DLL circuit for generating the DQS and DQ signals by phase control based on the reference clock signal (for example, see JP-2003-91331).
A general DLL circuit used in the conventional synchronous type semiconductor memory device has, for example, a configuration shown in FIG. 10. In the DLL circuit shown in FIG. 10, the external reference clock signal CLK is input to a delay circuit 102 through an input circuit 101 and delayed by a delay time according to a control signal C supplied from a delay control circuit 104. A signal D from the delay circuit 102 is input to a DQ output circuit 107 and a DQS output circuit 108 as an internal clock signal CLK0 through a buffer D. The DQ signal is generated by the DQ output circuit 107 and the DQS signal is generated by the output circuit 108, so as to be output to the outside. Meanwhile, the internal clock signal CLK0 is also input to a dummy output circuit 106 having the same transmission characteristics as the DQ output circuit 107 and the DQS output circuit 108, and a feedback clock signal RCLK having the same phase as the DQ and DQS signals is output. In a phase comparison circuit 103, phases of the reference clock signal CLK and the feedback clock signal RCLK are compared, and the delay control circuit 104 is controlled in a direction where both phases are equal. Such a configuration allows to obtain the DQ and DQS signals which maintain stable synchronization with the reference clock signal CLK.
However, the reference clock signal CLK input to the DLL circuit from the outside does not always have a normal waveform, and jitter is assumed to occur at a certain timing. FIG. 11 shows operation waveforms of the DLL circuit of FIG. 10 in a state in which jitter occurs in the reference clock signal CLK. As shown in FIG. 11, arising timing of the reference clock signal CLK delays at fourth cycle by time A, so that cycle-to-cycle jitter occurs in which the period deviates between a predetermined cycle and a subsequent cycle. Under the influence thereof, the delay of the same time n is transmitted on rising timings of the signal D1, the internal clock signal CLK0, the DQS and DQ signals. Therefore, it is a problem that size of an effective window used for capturing input/output data is reduced by an amount of the time Δ, and correspondingly, the possibility of data latching failure increases.

DLL circuit and semiconductor device having the same


A dual ligand sol-gel sorbent and method of manufacture is provided herein. The dual ligand sol-gel sorbent provides superior enrichment effects through simultaneous exploitation of superhydrophobicity of one of the ligands and the ability of the other ligand to undergo π-π interaction with hydrophobic aromatic analytes. Sorbent performance is enhanced both in terms of analyte enrichment and sorbent stability, such as pH stability and solvent stability.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a solvent-free, environmentally benign sample preparation technique. (R. P. Belardi, J. B. Pawliszyn, The application of chemically modified fused silica fibers in the extraction of organics from water matrix samples and their rapid transfer to capillary columns, Water Qual. Res. J. Can., 24 (1989) 179-191). Compared with traditional extraction techniques, SPME provides a number of advantages such as complete elimination of organic solvents as extraction media, simplicity in operation, versatility, cost effectiveness, possibility of in vitro as well as in vivo sampling. The ease in coupling of SPME devices to modern analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, MS, ICP-MS, SFC, CE and CEC have greatly helped SPME in gaining increased popularity. (H. Kataoka, H. L. Lord, J. Pawliszyn, Applications of solid-phase microextraction in food analysis, J. Chromatogr. A, 880 (2000) 35-62; R. Eisert, J. Pawliszyn, Automated in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography, Anal. Chem., 69 (1997) 3140-3147; Z. Y. Wang, C. H. Xiao, C. Y. Wu, H. M. Han, High-performance polyethylene glycol-coated solid-phase microextraction fibers using sol-gel technology, J. Chromatogr. A, 893 (2000) 157-168; X. G. Yang, T. Peppard, Solid-phase microextraction for flavor analysis, J. Agric. Food Chem., 42 (1994) 1925-1930; W. Hou, Y. Tian, T. Liao, Y. Huang, Z. Tang, Y. Wu, Y. Duan, Development of the mass spectral fingerprint by headspace-solid-phase microextraction-mass spectrometry and chemometric methods for rapid quality control of flavoring essence, Microchem. J., 128 (2016) 75-83; B. Chen, H. Peng, F. Zheng, B. Hu, M. He, W. Zhao, D. Pang, Immunoaffinity monolithic capillary microextraction coupled with ICP-MS for immunoassay with quantum dot labels, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 25 (2010) 1674-1681; E. Lesellier, Extraction and analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by solid phase micro-extraction/supercritical fluid chromatography (SPME/SFC), Analusis, 27 (1999) 363-368; H. Fang, M. Liu, Z. Zeng, Solid-phase microextraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis to determine ephedrine derivatives in water and urine using a sol-gel derived butyl methacrylate/silicone fiber, Talanta, 68 (2006) 979-986; B. Lin, M.-M. Zheng, S.-C. Ng, Y.-Q. Feng, Development of in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to pressure-assisted CEC and its application to the analysis of propranolol enantiomers in human urine, Electrophoresis, 28 (2007) 2771-2780). Development of new sorbent coatings have also significantly contributed to this progress. (M. Saraji, N. Mehrafza, Polysiloxane coated steel fibers for solid-phase microextraction of chlorobenzenes, Microchim. Acta, 182 (2015) 841-848; M. O. Aziz-Zanjani, A. Mehdinia, A review on procedures for the preparation of coatings for solid phase microextraction, Microchim. Acta, 181 (2014) 1169-1190; M. Tian, R. Cheng, J. Ye, X. Liu, Q. Jia, Preparation and evaluation of ionic liquid-calixarene solid-phase microextraction fibres for the determination of triazines in fruit and vegetable samples, Food Chem., 145 (2014) 28-33; J. F. Zhou, C. Ma, S. Zhou, P. L. Ma, F. R. Chen, Y. Qi, H. X. Chen, Preparation, evaluation and application of molecularly imprinted solid-phase microextraction monolith for selective extraction of pirimicarb in tomato and pear, J. Chromatogr. A, 1217 (2010) 7478-7483; Y. L. Hu, Y. Y. Wang, X. G. Chen, Y. F. Hu, G. K. Li, A novel molecularly imprinted solid-phase microextraction fiber coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for analysis of trace estrogens in fishery samples, Talanta, 80 (2010) 2099-2105).
Traditional fiber SPME employs a syringe-like device in which the plunger is connected to a small-diameter fiber with a sorbent coating on its end segment. (Kataoka 2000). In the extraction process, a sorption-desorption equilibrium is established between the sorbent coating on the fiber and the sample matrix. Once this extraction equilibrium has been established, the extracted analytes are transferred to the analytical instrument, typically through desorption (for example, thermal desorption in the injector of a GC system). (S. L. Chong, D. X. Wang, J. D. Hayes, B. W. Wilhite, A. Malik, Sol-gel coating technology for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction fibers of enhanced thermal stability, Anal. Chem., 69 (1997) 3889-3898). However, transferring the extracted analytes to liquid-phase separation systems (e.g., HPLC, CE, etc.) may require complicated sample transfer interfaces. (K. Jinno, M. Taniguchi, M. Hayashida, Solid phase micro extraction coupled with semi-microcolumn high performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of benzodiazepines in human urine, J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal., 17 (1998) 1081-1091).
Even though fiber SPME has gained significant popularity, its operation using conventionally created coatings still faces some inherent disadvantages mainly due to the lack of chemical bonds between the coated extraction medium and the fiber surface. (S. S. Segro, A. Malik, Solvent-resistant sol-gel polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane coating for on-line hyphenation of capillary microextraction with high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 1205 (2008) 26-35; S. S. Segro, A. Malik, Sol-gel methyl coating in capillary microextraction hyphenated on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography—Counterintuitive extraction behavior for polar analytes, J. Chromatogr. A, 1200 (2008) 62-71; S. S. Segro, A. Malik, High-temperature solvent stability of sol-gel germania triblock polymer coatings in capillary microextraction on-line coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 1217 (2010) 5746-5752; S. S. Segro, M. P. Tran, S. Kesani, A. Alhendal, E. B. Turner, A. Malik, Sol-gel microextraction phases for sample preconcentration in chromatographic analysis, J. Sep. Sci., 33 (2010) 3075-3096; H. Kataoka, Automated sample preparation using in-tube solid-phase microextraction and its application—a review, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 373 (2002) 31-45). As a result, conventionally prepared SPME coatings are not able to provide exceptional thermal- and solvent stability, and this sometimes puts limitations on their analytical potential when used in hyphenation with GC or HPLC. (Chong 1997; S. S. Segro, J. Triplett, A. Malik, Sol-Gel Germania Triblock Polymer Coatings of Exceptional pH Stability in Capillary Microextraction Online-Coupled to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anal. Chem., 82 (2010) 4107-4113).
In order to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of traditional SPME coatings, the inventors developed sol-gel coatings for fiber SPME as well as capillary microextraction (CME) (also known as in-tube SPME). In sol-gel SPME (both in fiber and capillary formats), the surface of the fused silica substrate (fiber or capillary) are coated with sol-gel extraction media. (Chong 1997; S. Bigham, J. Medlar, A. Kabir, C. Shende, A. Alli, A. Malik, Sol-gel capillary microextraction, Anal. Chem., 74 (2002) 752-761). The silanol groups on the fused silica surface get chemically bonded to the sol-gel coating via condensation reaction during evolution of the latter from sol solution. Such chemically anchored sol-gel sorbents are characterized by enhanced thermal stability that opens new possibilities to widen the analytical scope of CME-GC by allowing effective desorption of higher-boiling analytes extracted by the coating. (Eisert 1997; A. Kabir, C. Hamlet, A. Malik, Parts per quadrillion level ultra-trace determination of polar and nonpolar compounds via solvent-free capillary microextraction on surface-bonded sol-gel polytetrahydrofuran coating and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection, J. Chromatogr. A, 1047 (2004) 1-13; A. Kabir, C. Hamlet, K. Soo Yoo, G. R. Newkome, A. Malik, Capillary microextraction on sol-gel dendrimer coatings, J. Chromatogr. A, 1034 (2004) 1-11).
Sol-gel prepared SPME fibers with thermal stability up to 400° C. have been reported which indicates that the sol-gel prepared fibers have superior thermal stability over conventionally prepared SPME fibers. (X. Li, Z. Zeng, J. Zhou, High thermal-stable sol-gel-coated calix [4] arene fiber for solid-phase microextraction of chlorophenols, Anal. Chim. Acta, 509 (2004) 27-37). By comparison, conventionally prepared SPME fibers are characterized an upper temperature limit of ≤340° C. Similarly, such chemical anchorage provides the sol-gel coatings with excellent solvent stability in CME-HPLC applications. (S. S. Segro, A. Malik, Solvent-resistant sol-gel polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane coating for on-line hyphenation of capillary microextraction with high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 1205 (2008) 26-35; S. S. Segro, A. Malik, Sol-gel methyl coating in capillary microextraction hyphenated on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography—Counterintuitive extraction behavior for polar analytes, J. Chromatogr. A, 1200 (2008) 62-71; S. S. Segro, A. Malik, High-temperature solvent stability of sol-gel germania triblock polymer coatings in capillary microextraction on-line coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 1217 (2010) 5746-5752; S. S. Segro, J. Triplett, A. Malik, Sol-Gel Germania Triblock Polymer Coatings of Exceptional pH Stability in Capillary Microextraction Online-Coupled to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anal. Chem., 82 (2010) 4107-4113; S. S. Segro, A. Malik, Sol-gel coatings with covalently attached methyl, octyl, and octadecyl ligands for capillary microextraction. Effects of alkyl chain length and sol-gel precursor concentration on extraction behavior, J. Chromatogr. A, 1216 (2009) 7677-7686).
Exceptional thermal and solvent stabilities offered by sol-gel sorbents led to the development of a compositionally diverse array of sol-gel coatings both for fiber SPME and CME, providing enhanced selectivity and thermal stability in microextraction coupled to GC. These included silica-based microextraction media with organic ligands such as chemically bonded (or intercalated/encapsulated/entrapped) dendrimer, poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS), poly(dimethyldiphenylsiloxane) (PDMDPS), cyano-PDMS, ionic liquids, crown ethers, calixarenes, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) carbon nanotubes and graphenes. (A. Kabir, C. Hamlet, K. Soo Yoo, G. R. Newkome, A. Malik, Capillary microextraction on sol-gel dendrimer coatings, J. Chromatogr. A, 1034 (2004) 1-11; G. R. Newkome, K. S. Yoo, A. Kabir, A. Malik, Synthesis of benzyl-terminated dendrons for use in high-resolution capillary gas chromatography, Tetrahedron Lett., 42 (2001) 7537-7541; S. Bigham, J. Medlar, A. Kabir, C. Shende, A. Alli, A. Malik, Sol-gel capillary microextraction, Anal. Chem., 74 (2002) 752-761; S. Kulkarni, L. Fang, K. Alhooshani, A. Malik, Sol-gel immobilized cyano-polydimethylsiloxane coating for capillary microextraction of aqueous trace analytes ranging from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to free fatty acids, J. Chromatogr. A, 1124 (2006) 205-216; A. M. Shearrow, S. Bhansali, A. Malik, Ionic liquid-mediated bis[(3-methyldimethoxysilyl)propyl] polypropylene oxide-based polar sol-gel coatings for capillary microextraction, J. Chromatogr. A, 1216 (2009) 6349-6355; A. M. Shearrow, G. A. Harris, L. Fang, P. K. Sekhar, L. T. Nguyen, E. B. Turner, S. Bhansali, A. Malik, Ionic liquid-mediated sol-gel coatings for capillary microextraction, J. Chromatogr. A, 1216 (2009) 5449-5458; X. Zhou, X. Shao, J.-j. Shu, M.-m. Liu, H.-l. Liu, X.-h. Feng, F. Liu, Thermally stable ionic liquid-based sol-gel coating for ultrasonic extraction-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography determination of phthalate esters in agricultural plastic films, Talanta, 89 (2012) 129-135; L. Yun, High extraction efficiency solid-phase microextraction fibers coated with open crown ether stationary phase using sol-gel technique, Anal. Chim. Acta, 486 (2003) 63-72; X. Zhou, P.-f. Xie, J. Wang, B.-b. Zhang, M.-m. Liu, H.-l. Liu, X.-h. Feng, Preparation and characterization of novel crown ether functionalized ionic liquid-based solid-phase microextraction coatings by sol-gel technology, J. Chromatogr. A, 1218 (2011) 3571-3580; X. Li, Z. Zeng, S. Gao, H. Li, Preparation and characteristics of sol-gel-coated calix [4] arene fiber for solid-phase microextraction, J. Chromatogr. A, 1023 (2004) 15-25; J.-W. Li, Y.-L. Wang, S. Yan, X.-J. Li, S.-Y. Pan, Molecularly imprinted calixarene fiber for solid-phase microextraction of four organophosphorous pesticides in fruits, Food Chem., 192 (2016) 260-267; M. M. Moein, M. Javanbakht, M. Karimi, B. Akbari-Adergani, M. Abdel-Rehim, Three-phase molecularly imprinted sol-gel based hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for enrichment and selective determination of a tentative lung cancer biomarker, J. Chromatogr. B, 995 (2015) 38-45; A. Sarafraz-Yazdi, N. Razavi, Application of molecularly-imprinted polymers in solid-phase microextraction techniques, Trac-Trend Anal. Chem., 73 (2015) 81-90; Y.-L. Wang, Y.-L. Gao, P.-P. Wang, H. Shang, S.-Y. Pan, X.-J. Li, Sol-gel molecularly imprinted polymer for selective solid phase microextraction of organophosphorous pesticides, Talanta, 115 (2013) 920-927; H. Bagheri, Z. Ayazi, A. Aghakhani, A novel needle trap sorbent based on carbon nanotube-sol-gel for microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aquatic media, Anal. Chim. Acta, 683 (2011) 212-220; A. Sarafraz-Yazdi, A. Amiri, G. Rounaghi, H. E. Hosseini, A novel solid-phase microextraction using coated fiber based sol-gel technique using poly (ethylene glycol) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes for determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene in water samples with gas chromatography-flam ionization detector, J. Chromatogr. A, 1218 (2011) 5757-5764; Z. Tang, Y. Liu, Y. Duan, Development of solid-phase microextraction fibers based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for pre-concentration and analysis of alkanes in human breath, J. Chromatogr. A, 1425 (2015) 34-41).
Non-silica sol-gel microextraction sorbents in the form of titania-, zirconia-, and germania-based coatings were also developed for use in conjunction with GC. Additionally, non-silica based sol-gel systems (e.g., titania-, zirconia-, and germania-based sol-gel coatings) were developed to provide sorbents with exceptional pH stability. (S. S. Segro, A. Malik, High-temperature solvent stability of sol-gel germania triblock polymer coatings in capillary microextraction on-line coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 1217 (2010) 5746-5752; S. S. Segro, J. Triplett, A. Malik, Sol-Gel Germania Triblock Polymer Coatings of Exceptional pH Stability in Capillary Microextraction Online-Coupled to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anal. Chem., 82 (2010) 4107-4113; T.-Y. Kim, K. Alhooshani, A. Kabir, D. P. Fries, A. Malik, High pH-resistant, surface-bonded sol-gel titania hybrid organic-inorganic coating for effective on-line hyphenation of capillary microextraction (in-tube solid-phase microextraction) with high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 1047 (2004) 165-174; K. Alhooshani, T.-Y. Kim, A. Kabir, A. Malik, Sol-gel approach to in situ creation of high pH-resistant surface-bonded organic-inorganic hybrid zirconia coating for capillary microextraction (in-tube SPME), J. Chromatogr. A, 1062 (2005) 1-14; L. Fang, S. Kulkarni, K. Alhooshani, A. Malik, Germania-based, sol-gel hybrid organic-inorganic coatings for capillary microextraction and gas chromatography, Anal. Chem., 79 (2007) 9441-9451).
The composition and structure of the organic ligand play important roles in the microextraction process since microextraction is based on molecular level analyte-sorbent interactions that are dependent on structural and compositional aspects of these interacting partners. Thus, nonpolar hydrophobic analytes can be effectively extracted via hydrophobic interaction with a nonpolar ligand on the sorbent. Similarly, enhanced extraction selectivity toward aromatic analytes can be achieved through π-π interaction with aromatic group-containing ligands on microextraction sorbents. (H. Kataoka, Automated sample preparation using in-tube solid-phase microextraction and its application—a review, Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 373 (2002) 31-45; A. Kabir, K. G. Furton, A. Malik, Innovations in sol-gel microextraction phases for solvent-free sample preparation in analytical chemistry, Trac-Trend Anal. Chem., 45 (2013) 197-218; D. Marchand, K. Croes, J. Dolan, L. Snyder, R. Henry, K. Kallury, S. Waite, P. Carr, Column selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography: VIII. Phenylalkyl and fluoro-substituted columns, J. Chromatogr. A, 1062 (2005) 65-78).
Perfluorinated aliphatic chains possess exceptionally high hydrophobicity (superhydrophobicity) compared with their non-fluorinated counterparts (CF2- to CH2-hydrophobicity ratio is 1.7). (E. Blanco, A. Gonzalez-Perez, J. M. Ruso, R. Pedrido, G. Prieto, F. Sarmiento, A comparative study of the physicochemical properties of perfluorinated and hydrogenated amphiphiles, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 288 (2005) 247-260; F. Petit, I. Lliopoulos, R. Audebert, Hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes with perfluorinated or hydrogenated side alkyl chains. Comparison of the associating behavior, J. Chim. Phys. PCB, 93 (1996) 887-898). Apart from microextraction, the ultrahigh hydrophobicity inherent in perfluoroalkyl groups has been advantageously used to create superhydrophobic materials. (Y. Gao, Y. Huang, S. Feng, G. Gu, F.-L. Qing, Novel superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic PFPE-modified silica nanocomposite, J. Mater. Sci., 45 (2010) 460-466). Sol-gel sorbents that simultaneously contain two ligands—one representing a highly hydrophobic perfluorinated aliphatic chain and the other containing a phenyl group (with the ability to provide π-π interaction) can be expected to provide enhanced extraction capability for both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons as their nonpolar derivatives.
The inventors report the synthesis of sol-gel coatings designed to provide a combination of enhanced hydrophobic- and π-π interactions, and present a systematic evaluation of their analytical performances in CME. The inventors are the first to use dual-ligand containing silica- and germania-based sol-gel sorbents in CME-GC. Microextraction performances of the sol-gel sorbents with varying ligand concentration were investigated using aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and alkylbenzenes (containing both aliphatic and aromatic parts in their molecules) as test probes. Additionally, the inventors explored the effects of the inorganic component of these sorbents (silica and germania) on microextraction behavior.

Dual ligand sol-gel sorbent combining superhydrophobicity and π-π interaction


A jack apparatus has a main jack body defined by telescopically engaged outer and inner tubes, a selectively positionable clamp assembly positioned along the jack body for selective engagement with the object to which a force is to be applied, and a drive assembly located on and within the jack body. In a further related aspect a retainer is configured for being mounted on the object to be moved or lifted and for positively engaging a receiver on the clamp assembly so as to effectively lock the jack to the object being lifted such as a vehicle for safe and effective operation.

The subject of this patent application relates generally to tools, and more particularly to a jack configured for multiple uses.
The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference any and all patents and published patent applications cited or referred to in this application, to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
By way of background, a wide array of manual and power tools have been developed over the years to solve problems or enable work. Most such tools are effectively based on one or more of the known "simple machines" such as "levers" and "ramps" (or "inclined planes" or "wedges") in order to gain a mechanical advantage or force multiplication effect so as to do work that would otherwise not be possible or do so more effectively or efficiently. Screws, gears, pulleys, and other such force converters or multipliers have often been incorporated in such tools as well. When it comes to force multiplication in the context of lifting, or the application of force against an object so as to lift or move it, a variety of lifts or jacks have been proposed in the art for various purposes.
A "jack" is generally understood to be a mechanical device used to lift heavy loads or to apply great force. Jacks can take many forms, ranging from a "scissor jack" to a "house jack" to a "floor jack" to a "farm jack." Fundamentally, jacks work on the principle of force multiplication, most commonly based on a screw, hence the family of "screw jacks" in various forms and suited to particular contexts and thus designed and rated for different degrees of loading and lifting, based on which names such as "car jack" or "house jack" were derived, for example. Among the traditional screw jacks, they may be manually driven as by a lever bar, socket tool or driver, or the like, or electromechanically driven as by a motor. And of course motors can be powered through a variety of means, including electrical power (A/C or D/C). Such screw or mechanical jacks are often preferred as being stronger and/or more reliable than air or even hydraulic jacks.
Though a variety of screw jacks are known, and even those that are powered or motorized (or include a motor with or without additional gearing or drive train or transmission components) so as to selectively turn the jack's screw to apply a force against an object, relative to such traditional screw and scissor type jacks as might be used to lift a vehicle, what has still been needed and heretofore unavailable is such a jack that is relatively compact or low profile and light yet powerful, that is or may be battery-powered, that is simple and versatile in use and even storage, that allows for multiple, easily adjustable lift points or means, including in some contexts positive engagement with the vehicle to prevent unwanted jack movement or slipping, that adapts to the terrain on which it is used and has sufficient travel to accommodate variance in both vehicle and terrain, and/or that can even be repurposed for breaching and other functions. Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary.

Multi-purpose jack apparatus and method of use


A mixed signal delay locked loop characterization technique for automatically characterizing a mixed signal delay locked loop is provided. The technique tests the mixed signal delay locked loop using a top-down approach in order to ensure the robustness of the mixed signal delay locked loop. Top-level testing involves testing the performance of the mixed signal delay locked loop in different process corners, and the results obtained from the top-level testing are then used to test sub-components of the mixed signal delay locked loop.

As shown in FIG. 1, a typical computer system 10 has, among other components, a microprocessor 12, one or more forms of memory 14, integrated circuits 16 having specific functionalities, and peripheral computer resources (not shown), e.g., monitor, keyboard, software programs, etc. These components communicate with one another via communication paths 19, e.g., wires, buses, etc., to accomplish the various tasks of the computer system 10.
In order to properly accomplish such tasks, the computer system 10 relies on the basis of time to coordinate its various operations. To that end, a crystal oscillator 18 generates a system clock signal (referred to and known in the art as "reference clock" and shown in FIG. 1 as SYS_CLK) to various parts of the computer system 10. Modern microprocessors and other integrated circuits, however, are typically capable of operating at frequencies significantly higher than the system clock, and thus, it becomes important to ensure that operations involving the microprocessor 12 and the other components of the computer system 10 use a proper and accurate reference of time.
Accordingly, as the frequencies of modern computers continue to increase, the need to rapidly transmit data between circuit interfaces also increases. To accurately receive data, a clock signal is often transmitted to help recover data transmitted to a receiving circuit by some transmitting circuit. The clock signal determines when the data should be sampled by the receiving circuit. In some cases, the clock signal may change state at the beginning of the time the data is valid. However, this is typically undesirable because the receiving circuit operates better when the clock signal is detected during the middle of the time the data is valid. In other cases, the clock signal may degrade as it propagates from its transmission point. Such degradation may result from process, voltage, and/or temperature variations that directly or indirectly affect the clock signal. To guard against the adverse effects of poor and inaccurate clock signal transmission, a delay locked loop ("DLL") is commonly used to generate a copy of the clock signal at a fixed phase shift with respect to the original clock signal.
FIG. 2 shows a portion of a typical computer system in which a DLL 30 is used. In FIG. 2, data 32 is transmitted from a transmitting circuit 34 to a receiving circuit 36. To aid in the recovery of the data 32 by the receiving circuit 36, a clock signal 38 is transmitted along with the data 32. To ensure that the data 32 is properly latched by the receiving circuit 36, the DLL 30 (which in FIG. 2 is shown as being part of the receiving circuit 36) regenerates the clock signal 38 to a valid voltage level and creates a phase shifted version of the clock signal 38. Accordingly, the use of the DLL 30 in this fashion ensures (1) that the data 32 is properly latched by triggering the receiving circuit 36 at a point in time in which the data 32 is valid and (2) that the clock signal 38 is buffered by the receiving circuit 36.
FIG. 3 shows a typical DLL 40. A reference clock signal, ref_clk 42, serves as an input to a phase detector 44 and a voltage-controlled delay line 46 that has a plurality of delay elements 48. An output clock signal, out_clk 50, from the voltage-controlled delay line 46 serves as an output of the DLL 40 and as a second input to the phase detector 44. The phase detector 44 compares the phase offsets between the reference clock 42 and the output clock 50 and, in turn, generates pulses on UP and DOWN signals 52 and 54 to a charge pump 56. Depending on the UP and DOWN signals 52 and 54, the charge pump 56 adds or removes charge from a filter capacitor 58 using a control voltage signal Vctrl 60. The control voltage signal 60 is then used by a bias generator 62 to produce bias voltages Vcp and Vcn 64 and 66 that control the delay of the delay elements 48 in the voltage-controlled delay line 46. Thus, the DLL 40 is used to maintain a fixed phase relationship between its input clock signal and its output clock signal.
As mentioned above, as the need for and proliferation of DLLs continues to increase with increasing processor speeds, DLL accuracy and functionality is becoming a significant and important concern for circuit designers and the like.

Mixed signal delay locked loop characterization engine


A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a recording head, an ink cartridge, which contains the ink therein, an ink cartridge storage to store the ink cartridge, an ink conveyer tube, which connects the recording head and the ink cartridge to convey the ink, and a maintenance system having an aspirator to aspirate the ink to be drawn in the recording head and the ink conveyer tube and a cap to cover a nozzle surface of the recording head, and a releasing system, which is arranged in the ink conveyer tube to switch an open state and a closed state. The releasing system is arranged in a position higher than a position of the ink cartridge so that the releasing system and the ink cartridge have a predetermined water head difference therebetween.

1. Technical Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to a printing apparatus, specifically to a printing apparatus to print in ink containing solid component, which may be deposited in the ink, and concentration gradient may occur therein.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, an inkjet printer to form an image in white ink, in addition to the other colored inks (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), has been suggested. The white ink generally contains oxidized titanium and therefore has specifically higher density of colorant with respect to densities of colorants in the other colored inks. Further, a particle size of the white colorant is larger. Therefore, the colorant in the white ink can be easily deposited inside an ink tube.
Accordingly, the densities of the white ink may vary within the tube, and troubles such as irregular ejection of the ink from an inkjet head, insufficient flow of the ink flow to the inkjet head, or uneven densities of the color in a formed image can be caused due to the uneven distribution of the ink within the tube.
Therefore, an inkjet printer with white ink is generally provided with a mechanism to prevent deposition of the colorant in the white ink. For example, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2004-009685 discloses an inkjet printer having an ink path, in which ink inside an ink cartridge is circulated so that the ink is stirred and smoothly conveyed.
For another example, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2003-39690 discloses an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer having an stirrer equipment and a vibrator equipment to periodically stir the ink therein.


An apparatus for spin casting lenses includes a rotatable tube, the rotatable tube defining a longitudinal cavity, wherein the longitudinal cavity is configured to receive molds. According to one exemplary embodiment, the rotatable tube is made of metal and includes a plurality of apertures configured to permit the transmission of actinic radiation.

In recent decades, contact lenses have become a preferential alternative to other eyesight correction methods. Due to their increased popularity, it has become mandatory that contact lenses be manufactured on a large scale in order to meet consumer demand. Further, these lenses are required to be precision manufactured with low tolerances in order to provide a suitable and effective corrective lens.
Spin casting has been utilized as a method of producing contact lenses. However, traditional spin casting methods are disadvantageous for several reasons as will be discussed below, and have not readily been employed in the mass-production of contact lenses.
To begin, the polymerization casting of axially symmetrical articles, such as contact lenses, may be performed by using a spin casting process. In this process, a controlled quantity of a polymerizable liquid is placed into an open mold, which is then rotated about its vertical axis at a rotational speed sufficient to produce a centrifugal force that causes a radially outward displacement of the polymerizable liquid. By maintaining a controlled rotation rate, the centrifugal force caused by the rotation will cause the polymerizable liquid to adopt a generally concave shape. Once the polymerizable liquid has attained an equilibrium shape, polymerization of the liquid can be effected by any suitable means, such as heat or exposure to actinic radiation (i.e. ultraviolet light) so as to produce a solid polymeric contact lens.
The open mold used in a spin casting process is typically characterized by an outer cylindrical wall and a mold comprising an exposed concave molding cavity. The shape of the molding cavity will typically define the shape of the front surface of the finished contact lens, and may contain such desired elements as lenticulating curves, toric curves, non-spherical curves and other such features or shapes aimed at interacting with the eye, its optical processes, or eyelids in a predetermined manner.
The shape factor of the posterior or back surface of the lens is determined predominantly by the angular speed of rotation, as well as other factors such as the surface tension of the polymerizable liquid, and the acceleration due to gravity.
The polymerizable liquid utilized in the spin casting process is typically one in which the polymerization reaction can be triggered by an external factor such as heat or actinic radiation (i.e. ultraviolet light), and is therefore most commonly utilized in connection with a system that undergoes a free radical polymerization reaction. Typically these systems will include a monomer, or mixture of monomers based on acrylic or methacrylic acid, along with a free radial polymerization initiator. However, pre-polymerized materials such as solvent-based materials may also be applied in a spin casting system.
To avoid the inhibiting effects of atmospheric oxygen during the polymerization process, the molds and polymerizable liquid are maintained, at least initially, in an inert gas atmosphere of, for example, nitrogen or argon. The use of an external trigger for the polymerization allows for the polymerizable liquid to attain its equilibrium shape under rotation prior to the onset of polymerization, and also to allow time for any oxygen present within the mold or dissolved in the polymerizable liquid to diffuse away from the polymerizable liquid.
During the actual mass production of contact lenses, the individual molds can be arranged in a carousel or in a vertical stack configuration. The carousel arrangement is rather complex and quite large with respect to the size of the molds. It requires that each mold be individually rotated on its own separate vertical axis. It is reported that the carousel arrangement suffers from the disadvantages of requiring excess inert gas to eliminate the inhibiting effect of oxygen (in the ambient environment) present during the polymerization reaction. The use of excess inert gas during the polymerization of the monomeric reactants causes the entrainment of monomer in the form of vapors and the subsequent deposition and/or polymerization of the monomer on the surrounding objects, and, in particular, the equipment utilized by the system. Further information is set forth in Method of Centrifugally Casting Thin Edged Corneal Contact Lenses, U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,545 to Otto Wichterle (filed Oct. 24, 1963) (issued May 2, 1972), the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In the vertical stack arrangement a rotatable polymerization tube having an internal, generally circular, cross-sectional geometry is adapted to receive, at one end of the tube, a plurality of generally circular molds which become seated to one another in the tube, each mold containing the polymerizable liquid reactants in their individual mold cavities. The polymerization tube, or rotatable tube, can be manufactured so that its internal diameter generally matches the external diameter of the individual molds so as to provide an interference fit. More preferably, the rotatable tube can contain ridges or similar features so as to facilitate a multiple point contact with the individual molds. This latter arrangement allows for the molds to rotate with the rotatable tube, and also to allow for the passage of inert gas through the rotatable tube and past the individual molds. Suitable prior art designs for the rotatable tube are disclosed in Device and Method for Centrifugally Casting Articles, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,138 to David L. Rawlings et al. (filed May 2, 1983) (issued May 14, 1985) (hereinafter "'138 Patent").
One typical prior art arrangement for the production of lenses by spin casting is that taught by the '138 Patent. In this design, monomer dosed molds are fed, one by one, into the top of a rotatable tube comprising two zones, a conditioning zone and a polymerization zone. Typically the rotatable tube contains a plurality of dosed molds, so that the rotatable tube is essentially full of molds. As each new mold is introduced into the rotatable tube conditioning zone, a fully cured mold is ejected from the bottom of the polymerization zone.
By this means, the number of molds within the rotatable tube remains constant, with individual molds progressing slowly through first the conditioning zone, and then the polymerization zone. This arrangement allows the polymerizable liquid within each mold to attain its equilibrium meniscus shape before entering the polymerization zone, wherein polymerization may be initiated. This arrangement, while allowing for the continuous curing of contact lenses, is not without its issues.
Predominant among these issues is line clearance. Contact lenses are produced with a range of differing parameters, most notably the sphere power. A typical power range for a contact lens offered for sale will be at least +4.00 diopters to −8.00 diopters, in 0.25 diopter steps, which represents 49 individual designs, or stock keeping units (SKU). In order to switch production from one SKU to a second SKU, it is necessary to clear all partially and fully polymerized product from the rotatable tube, since to change SKU it is necessary to either change the mold design and/or the rotational speed of the rotatable tube.
Typically this line clearance is achieved by adding mold blanks (for instance empty molds, or cylindrical plugs) into the top of the rotatable tube in place of the dosed molds, and continuing the spinning process until all the product is ejected from the polymerization zone. Once the required changes to effect the change of SKU have been completed, dosed molds can again be added one by one into the rotatable tube, with the mold blanks being ejected from the bottom of the polymerization zone until all the blanks have been cleared. This line clearance naturally can take some time, and essentially represents a period of reduced productivity.
The problems of line clearance are compounded when toric lenses are manufactured. Toric lenses are used to correct those who have an optical defect called astigmatism. Astigmatism causes blurred vision due to the inability of the optics of the eye to focus a point object into a sharp focused image on the retina. This may be due to an irregular or toric curvature of the cornea or lens. With a toric lens, a typical power range would be with sphere powers over the range +4.00 diopters to −8.00 diopters, in 0.25 diopter steps, with at least 1 cylinder power offered in at least 6 axes, representing 294 individual SKU's.
Line clearance presents further problems if a temporary line stoppage is necessary. Should a manufacturing parameter deviation create a temporary line interruption, the full line must be cleared prior to trouble shooting or restarting. The very nature of a continuous flow system dictates that molds can only be ejected or reintroduced at a standard part rate. The larger or longer the line, the longer clearance time will be required.
The problems of line clearance can be removed if the spinning process is run as a batch or semi batch process. In this process, the rotatable tube is initially filled with dosed molds in one operation. The rotatable tube is then rotated at the desired rotation speed in order to allow the polymerization mixture contained within each mold to attain its equilibrium shape. Then polymerization is initiated by exposure to a preferred means of radiation. Ultraviolet polymerization is strongly preferred in batch processing as it allows almost instantaneous switching from zero exposure to full exposure, whereas a thermal initiation would require both heat-up and cool-down periods. The overall lens production cycle in a batch spin casting process will therefore require less time, and, consequently, be more efficient when using ultraviolet polymerization.
However, in order to utilize ultraviolet initiation in spin casting, the rotatable tubes are limited to being constructed from a material transparent to the passage of ultraviolet light. Further, the material used in the construction of the rotatable tubes must not be subject to the deleterious effects of prolonged ultraviolet exposure which may cause, for example, discoloration or mechanical degradation. For this reason, most rotatable tubes are made from glass.
While glass is an efficient material for use in spin casting in terms of UV transmissibility, the spin tube must also be able to both present an accurate and straight inner bore for the molds and must spin around its own vertical axis with minimal run out of polymerizable liquid and minimal vibration within the system. To achieve these objectives utilizing a glass rotatable tube is not without its challenges. Firstly, glass is not conducive to accurate machining. In order to accurately form the inner bore of the rotatable tube, a hot blank glass rod must be drawn onto a metal former. See, e.g., Method of Forming Precision Bore Glass Tubing, U.S. Pat. No. 2,458,934 to Everett Samuel James (filed Nov. 22, 1941) (issued Jan. 11, 1949). This process is tedious and time consuming, and may produce a tube having an inner bore that contains flaws or is otherwise imprecise.
Secondly, the glass rotatable tube must be mounted accurately into bearings at the top and bottom of the tube. Typically this is achieved by grinding a taper onto either end of the tube. Once the tube has been provided with tapers, the tube may be mounted into the bearings. The bearings must also be provided with a means for adjusting the rotatable tube so that the axis of rotation is exactly along the centerline of the inner bore (i.e. to eliminate "run-out").
Further, since glass is susceptible to brittle failure, it cannot be exposed to high tensile stresses such that the bearing mountings should not exert undue compressive force, or any excess shear forces while adjusting run-out. This precludes the use of pre-loaded high-speed bearings and typically necessitates frequent tube alignment adjustments during manufacturing.
Still further, glass tubes are susceptible to variational influences and may exhibit some lack of continuity from the top to the bottom of the tube during the spinning process. A certain amount of transient flexure may adversely affect the accuracy of individual lenses being spun within the tube. Potential inhomogeneity within the glass itself may also contribute to varying and disparate amounts of ultraviolet light reaching the mold parts within the tube. If this were to occur through the vertical axis of the tube, certain mold parts within the tube may receive a variable level of UV radiation with possible deleterious effects.
Finally, when utilizing the prior art glass tubes in a spin casting system, the glass tubes are subject to undesirable vibrations. These vibrations in the glass tube are due to the inability to maintain a sufficiently rigid connection between the glass tube and the bearing mountings. Vibrations within a system utilizing a glass tube may generate a product that lacks sufficient precision (e.g. a contact lens with undesirable imperfections or defects).
What is needed is an apparatus, a system, and a method of mass-producing contact lenses via spin casting that overcomes the above-mentioned failings of prior art systems.

Systems and methods for the production of contact lenses


An electrical actuator system, especially for adjustable articles of furniture, comprising at least one electric actuator for bringing about the adjustment, a mains based power supply and possibly also rechargeable batteries, a control unit and a hand (10) control with at least one key (17) of a transparent material and/or an area of transparent material surrounding the key. Inside the hand control (10) is a light source located in connection with the transparent material (16). A control of the light source is embodied so that the light source always emits a basic lighting and by touch, movement or activation of a key, the light source is brought to emit an actual operating lighting of the keys.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical actuator system, especially for use with adjustable articles of furniture, which includes at least one electric actuator for bringing about the adjustment, a mains based power supply and possibly also rechargeable batteries, a control unit and a hand control with at least one key of a transparent material and/or an area surrounding the key which is of a transparent material, and a light source located inside the hand control in conjunction with the transparent material.
2. The Prior Art
With electrically adjustable articles of furniture there is a particular complex of problems when it comes to hand controls with background lighting, as it often occurs that the article of furniture is not constantly connected to mains power supply. Intensified price incentive, the background lighting has, for that reason, typically been left out.
Hand controls with lighting for background lighting of the keys are known cf. for instance DE 195 29 962 C2 Dietmar Koch (OKIN). Unlike hand controls with constant background lighting of the keys, this publication DE 195 29 962 C2 discloses a hand control where the light is normally off and is not switched on until the moment when the hand control is used. The light can be switched on as a result of the operation of a key, alternatively by touch, as it is equipped with a touch sensor, and finally, alternatively, when the hand control is moved, as a movement sensor is built in.
Hand controls with constant lighting are easier to locate in the dark; on the other hand the light may also appear annoying. The hand control also requires a constant energy supply of a certain size in order to light up the keys. The other type of hand controls where the light is not switched on until the hand control is activated has the disadvantage of being difficult to locate in the dark.
The object of the invention is to provide a hand control with improved user properties and which is not so energy demanding.


There is provided a system and method for displaying a traffic output synchronized with an automation output, the system including a display, a memory storing a user interface, and a processor configured to receive the traffic output, receive the automation output, synchronize the traffic output with the automation output, and display the traffic output synchronized with the automation output using the user interface on the display. The processor is further configured to advance each of the traffic output and the automation output being displayed by the user interface in real-time. Furthermore, the processor is further configured to update the traffic output being displayed by the user interface based on feedback from the automation output. The updating including marking each element in the traffic output as being aired correctly or not being aired correctly.

A typical Broadcast Operations Center relies on several sources of information to provide an overview of activities related to content distribution, routing, and playback to air channels. One source of information is the output of a Broadcast Traffic System, which is used to view the specific elements intended for broadcast. A separate source of information is the output of an Automation System, which details which elements are actually being played to air. Typically, the output of the Broadcast Traffic System is printed to paper (the Broadcast Logs) and given to authorized users.
However, many problems can occur in a Broadcast Operations Center that operates in such a fashion. For example, it is often important to compare the traffic output of the Broadcast Traffic System with the automation output of the Automation System to make sure every element of the traffic output is aired correctly. In such an example, in order to ensure that every element airs correctly, a user has to check each element in the traffic output with each element in the automation output, which is a very manual effort and can take a considerable amount of time and effort. For another example, when changes are made to the Broadcast Traffic System after the Log is printed it requires a user to reprint numerous copies of the new traffic output and distribute those copies to authorized users and is again checked against the automation system to ensure changes have been correctly applied.
Another separate and manual function of a Broadcast Center is capturing, investigating and reporting broadcast channel/feed related information, problems and discrepancies for each broadcast day.