Provided are a novel organic compound appropriate for emission of blue light and an organic light-emitting device including the organic compound. The organic compound is represented by general formula 1:

Organic light-emitting devices include a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer disposed therebetween. When the pair of electrodes inject electrons and holes into the organic compound layer, a luminous organic compound contained therein generates excitons and emits light as they return to the ground state.
Organic light-emitting devices are also referred to as organic electroluminescent (EL) devices.
PTL 1 discloses IK-12, shown below, as an example of an organic compound constituting a light-emitting layer. This compound has benzo[k]fluoranthene, shown below, as the basic backbone thereof. Benzo[k]fluoranthene itself, that is, unsubstituted benzo[k]fluoranthene, emits light in the ultraviolet region and does not emit visible light. According to Patent Literature 1, IK-12 emits blue light as a result of substitution of the basic backbone with tert-butyl groups. IK-12 has phenyl groups at the 7- and 12-positions thereof and tert-butyl groups at the 2-, 5-, and 9-positions thereof. This inhibits concentration quenching due to molecular aggregation.

IK-12 disclosed in PTL 1 has the basic backbone thereof, namely, benzo[k]fluoranthene, substituted so that it can emit blue light. However, substituents such as tert-butyl groups may impair chemical stability.

Organic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same

Abstract: wherein R1 to R6 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, and an aryl group. The alkyl group and the aryl group are optionally substituted.


The gasifier includes a furnace bed segmented into individual cells, each cell is independently monitored using a ramp temperature probe, and provided with controlled air injection to provide individually controlled burn regions within the gasifier. Gasifier air injection includes tuyere arrays, lances, or both.

Gasification of biomass or other solid fuel is a process whereby air or oxygen is limited in the gasification chamber to achieve thermal degradation of complex materials with only partial combustion of the fuel. This limited air process is referred to as starved air, substoichiometric air, or pyrolysis. The latter, scientifically defined as the thermal degradation of complex material in an inert atmosphere or a vacuum is used herein and conventionally understood in the art to mean starved air or substoichiometric air. The resultant gases from this thermal degradation or gasification are subsequently oxidized in a second unit operation utilizing staged oxidation or staged introduction of air to complete or nearly complete the oxidation, or burn off, process. In application, this gasification and oxidation of fuel often includes a third step in which thermal energy is recovered from the flue gas using a heat recovery device such as a steam boiler or air-to-air heat exchanger. This thermal energy can be used, for example, to generate process steam, electrical power, or as a heat source for commercial applications such as supplying clean hot air to a lumber drying kiln.
It is important to be able to hold air within a gasifier at low (20–40 percent) substoichiometric air percentages. Maintaining low substoichiometric air percentages, specifically the percentage of air required for complete combustion, is critical because this allows the gasifier to maintain temperatures below the melting points of many solids and salts that start to sublimate, vaporize, and/or combust when the temperature gets above approximately 950 degrees F. At temperatures between 1100 and 1300 degrees F. most solids sublimate and go out the stack.
Conventional gasification systems, due to numerous sources of air leakage and/or poor air control, operate at substoichiometric air percentages of 40 to 60 percent. Thus these machines operate at higher temperatures. Operation at higher temperatures is undesirable since such operation leads to loss of ash, increased particulate emissions, and residual solid, and also leads to formation of corrosive slag. Slag is formed when salts are melted within the gasification chamber. Formation of corrosive slag attacks metal components within the gasifier and in downstream equipment, including grates and boiler tubes. When vaporized solids are discharged, a potentially valuable by-product of the process is lost since the ash or residual solids can have value. For example, when poultry litter is gasified, the residual ash is useful as fertilizer feedstock. In precious metal recovery applications, particulate carryover allows gold, silver, platinum, etc. to be discharged to the atmosphere. When coal is gasified, it is important to retain the residual sulfates to prevent acid-producing sulfur from being discharged to the atmosphere. Other conventional designs which attempt to operate at lower temperatures are not able to control the air at such low percentages, resulting in considerable hot-spotting and clinker formation wherever tramp air enters the system.
Fuel pile configuration within a gasifier is very important to achieving uniform gasification. A fuel pile which is peaked in the center causes uneven burning of the pile. A concave fuel pile causes build up and non-gasified fuel at the perimeter of the gasifier. The optimum fuel pile shape is an elliptical to relatively flat contour, and is achieved by careful synchronization of fuel feed with ash removal. Uniform gasification is further promoted when the dome contour mirrors fuel pile shape. However, conventional gasifiers use a circular dome.
Because of the finished size and weight of conventional gasification and oxidizing incinerators, they are constructed on site in a process which involves assembling an outer shell, including dome, sidewalls, furnace bed with grates and other assemblies, and fuel feed mechanism, and lining the unit with refractory brick or "gunning" refractory material on the interior sidewalls of the unit, and so on. This is a costly, labor intensive process. These gasification units tend to have many sources of air leakage, or "tramp air", as a result of this on-site construction. Tramp air is also associated with the use of feed, grate, and ash removal assemblies, especially in cases where these assemblies are moveable.
Conventional gasification systems, incorporating metal components, can operate with some success when burning uniform fuels such as like-sized wood chips. However, these units are not successful in burning non uniform solid fuels. Biomass fuels such as agricultural waste, bitumen, bovine, swine, and poultry manures, poultry carcasses, et cetera, are non-uniform in size, shape, water content, and material. Examples of other solid fuels which are non uniform include coal tailings, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and medical waste. During combustion, non uniform fuels have a tendency to have areas of locally high temperatures, or hot spots. Hot spotting causes warping and failure of metal components, even when these components are provided with cooling mechanisms. Further, competitive metal units deteriorate rapidly if the system is cycled, for example, during start up and shut down. Use of specialized high-temperature metals to compensate for these problems is costly, and not always successful.
Conventional air injection systems, used to aerate the fuel pile within the gasifier, use plenums within the furnace bed and walls where the tuyeres are holes formed in the plenum. Plenums are large enclosed spaces formed below the furnace bed surface. Because of the location of the plenum beneath the fuel pile, the tuyeres tend to clog with ash. Further, changes in air pressure within a conventional gasifier cause ash to be drawn back into the plenum to the point of filling the plenum with ash. Because the plenum is within the furnace bed, maintenance of the conventional air injection systems is difficult and costly. Because the location of air injection is associated with locally higher burn rates and thus locally high temperatures, use of metal as a fabrication material is problematic. Even when provided with cooling mechanisms, metal air injection systems are associated with clinker formation and tend to fail, for example during power failure or when the fuel pile burns down.
Following initial, partial primary combustion within a gasifier, combustion gases are oxidized within a secondary combustion unit. Oxidation is intended to burn off remaining combustibles such as CO, hydrocarbons, and VOCs. Some environmental codes require that oxidation temperatures reach 2200 degrees F. to insure complete burnoff of these compounds. Unfortunately, depending upon the nitrogen content of the fuel and other variables, NOx may begin to form at 1800 degrees F. and increases exponentially with increasing temperature. For purposes of this discussion, the critical NOx formation temperature used is 2200 degrees F.
Modern oxidizers are required to balance complete burnoff of CO, hydrocarbons, and VOCs while minimizing formation of NOx, where the term "complete" is understood to mean "essentially complete" or "nearly complete" with only trace levels of the compound present in the flue gas, the trace levels being far below those levels allowed by code. Non-staging oxidizers reach flame temperatures above 2200 degrees F., form NOx, and are then cooled, thus burning off much of the CO, hydrocarbons, and VOCs but producing flue gas having high levels of NOx. Staged oxidizers exist in the prior art which are intended to achieve a better balance. Lewandowski et al. discuss a two stage oxidizer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,956 for reduction of NOx emissions from waste gas, where water and natural gas are injected into the waste gas to control combustion temperatures, and where there is no physical barrier separating the stages. U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,193 to Shaw et al describes a two zone combustion chamber where catalysts are used to provide efficient combustion. Both these patents require the use of external additives to achieve efficient combustion.
Heat energy recovery from the clean flue gas discharged from the oxidizer can be accomplished using many devices such as turbine systems, boilers, heat exchangers, and external combustion engines. Use of turbine systems in combination with heat exchanger systems are known, but are associated with high equipment costs and require input temperatures significantly lower than that produced by the gasifier/oxidizer system, to prevent damage to metal components. Use of external combustion engines such as Stirling cycle engines having gasification units as their heat energy source have also been previously contemplated. External combustion engines are reliable producers of electrical power at a fraction of the cost of turbine systems. However, firing external combustion engines using gases which are products of combustion has been unsuccessful in practice because of the high levels of particulate found in the flue gas of conventional gasifiers, and because of the low operating temperatures of conventional gasifiers.
There is a need for a pyrolyzing gasifier which can operate at low substoichiometric air percentages (10–30 percent) to maintain internal gasifier temperatures below 1100 degrees F. There is a need for a pyrolyzing gasifier which can tolerate general high temperatures, as well as hot-spotting and clinker formation. There is a need for an oxidizer which can provide complete burnoff of CO, hydrocarbons, and VOCs while forming minimal NOx, and still maintain exit temperatures at code levels. There is a need for a staged oxidizer which can achieve efficient combustion without requiring the use of external additives. There is a need for a reliable and low-cost system for pyrolyzing non uniform solid fuels such as biomass and wastes as a means of energy production. There is a need for a method of pyrolyzing non uniform solid fuels such as biomass, waste coal and bitumen as a means of reducing the volume of unwanted waste material which must be landfilled or otherwise stored. There is a need for a method of pyrolyzing non uniform solid fuels which transforms the fuel into recoverable, useful heat energy and useful ash.

Pyrolyzing gasification system and method of use


An improvement in submarine gel electrophoresis apparatus is provided for performing electrophoresis at elevated voltages. A compartmental device is introduced into a conventional submarine gel apparatus to compartmentalize a buffer so that the buffer functions as a potent coolant but without generating massive heat during electrophoresis, which enables the submarine gel electrophoresis to be performed at higher voltages.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention is generally related to devices in submarine gel electrophoresis and is particularly directed to improvements of conventional submarine gel apparatus for decreasing temperature in gel matrix so that higher voltage can be applied in electrophoresis.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Gel electrophoresis is one of the most commonly utilized tools in biomedical researches and industries. In gel electrophoresis, a sample of mixed biomolecules is applied into sample wells of a gel matrix, a buffer conducts an electric field from a pair of electrodes to the gel matrix, and the components in the sample migrate across the gel matrix. Different components migrate at different speed so that they can be separated from each other in electrophoresis. The migration rate is directly related to the voltage of the electric field applied. Higher voltage generates higher migration rate under given condition.
Agarose gel is one of the most popularly used gel matrix. An agarose gel matrix is formed from an agarose gel solution by a decrease of temperature. The formed agarose gel matrix is readily reversible to solution format whenever the temperature rises to a certain point. The properties of agarose gel matrix are significantly altered when the temperature changes due to the nature of the gel forming mechanism. Thus, it is critical for agarose gel electrophoresis to maintain the gel matrix at low temperature.
Conventional submarine gel electrophoresis is the most commonly used format for agarose gel due to its simplicity in manipulation. The gel matrix is usually immersed completely in a buffer. A typical feature of this format is that electric current travels from one electrode to another electrode via both a gel pathway through the gel matrix and a buffer pathway through the buffer around the gel matrix. The electric current in buffer pathway has no function for the migration of samples but generates unwanted massive heat, which severely prevents heat transfer from the gel matrix to the buffer. The voltage applied to submarine gel electrophoresis is, therefore, limited within low level range in order to maintain the gel matrix at low temperature.
The existence of a buffer pathway around gel matrix results in disadvantages:
(1) The electrophoresis has to be a slow process because the voltage applied must be limited within low level range to avoid generating excess heat which will otherwise distort the gel matrix. PA1 (2) A strong buffering capacity is required for maintaining PH balance under the heavy electric current condition. PA1 (1) The buffer is frequently disposed after each electrophoresis because it requires extra labor to separate buffer from water after electrophoresis. The buffer should be, otherwise, reusable for several times due to the elimination of the buffer pathway in Chen's device. The buffer reuse has extraordinary meaning for environment protection because there are usually some extremely hazard chemicals, such as Ethidium Bromide, mixed in the buffer. PA1 (2) In practice, electrophoresis may be, sometimes, stopped halfway for a brief view or manipulation of the gel matrix and then resumed to completion. A new buffer, in this case, is needed to add to the device, which generates more waste and extra operations. PA1 1. It provides the capacity of using the same buffer many times, the buffer life time in the present invention is significantly longer than that in conventional submarine gel devices, which is a meaningful contribution for environment protection. PA1 2. It provides the convenience of gel viewing and manipulation during electrophoresis without buffer change, which reduces buffer waste and user's operation.
These disadvantages are long-felt problems. Attempts have been made for pursuing improvement of the conventional submarine gel electrophoresis.
Audeh, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,814, teaches a submarine gel device having a gas collecting means and a conduit for eliminating the requirement of having a strong buffering capacity in buffer system. But Audeh fails to recognize the basis of the requirement. A buffer pathway is inherited in his device. Thus, Audeh fails to accelerated the slow process of electrophoresis.
Hoefer, 1994 Catalog of Hoefer Scientific Instruments at page 30, teaches a submarine gel device having a coolant mixture in base chamber for accelerating the slow process of electrophoresis. Hoefer, However, also fails to recognize the basis of those disadvantages. A buffer pathway is still inherited in his device, which indicates that his acceleration is only a limited improvement.
Fairfield, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,981, teaches a device for high speed gel electrophoresis. Fairfield recognizes the basis of those disadvantages so that the buffer pathway is removed from his device. But, Fairfield fails to find a correct solution to establish his improvement. To reach his high speed, Fairfield sacrifices the most attractive advantage of submarine gel electrophoresis, the simplicity, and replaces it with a series of delicate requirements, a series of complicate manipulations, a series of time-consuming steps, and a series of risk of failure. The extra time required for operating his device is much longer than the time saved by his device. Fairfield's device is, therefore, practically infeasible for most routine applications.
Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,806, teaches a device to reach high speed submarine gel electrophoresis. Chen has recognized the basis of those disadvantages and achieved his high speed with a simple strategy, using water to replace buffer. Chen's device, however, generates new concerns and limitations:
A device being able to reach high speed in submarine gel electrophoresis but without negative impact at other aspects remains unsolved and is highly desirable.

Compartmental device for high speed submarine gel electrophoresis


Systems and methods are provided for maintaining performance of an integrated circuit at a reduced power. The systems and methods employ a performance monitor that generates a signal indicative of at least one performance characteristic of at least a portion of a critical path associated with the integrated circuit. The system further comprises a supply control that adjusts a supply voltage of the integrated circuit to maintain performance at a reduced power based on the signal. A temperature adjustment component can be provided to adjust the signal to compensate for temperature offsets associated with performance of the performance monitor relative to performance of the critical path over different operating temperatures. A performance measurement of the performance monitor can be determined based on the concurrent triggering of the performance monitor and the critical path.

Performance monitoring circuits are employed to model actual performance of integrated circuits. For example, a ring oscillator circuit can be fabricated on a core of an integrated circuit, such that the ring oscillator is subjected to the same processing, operating and environmental conditions of the integrated circuit. The ring oscillator output frequency can be designed to be a function of the performance of a critical path of the integrated circuit. Therefore, the output frequency of the ring oscillator will change with changes in performance of the integrated circuit. Additionally, the ring oscillator output frequency can model performance degradation of the integrated circuit, since the integrated circuit and the ring oscillator are formed from transistors, which through use degrade in performance over time.
Recently, there has been a growing demand for semiconductor chips with larger density, higher performance and increased chip functionality to meet the continued demand for portable electronic devices. This demand has been partially met with the recent advance in deep sub-micron Complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. However, there is also a continuous demand for devices that provide the increased performance but at a reduced power. Therefore, with the employment of submicron CMOS processes to provide the higher performance, it is also desirable to minimize leakage of these transistor devices to minimize power consumption. Therefore, it is important to tailor device operation so a minimum desired performance is maintained, while keeping leakage to a minimum. One method for achieving this is to model the performance of the integrated circuit to the performance of a ring oscillator, and adjusting the supply voltage of the integrated circuit to a minimum operating level to maintain the desired performance of the integrated circuit based on an output frequency of the ring oscillator.

Systems and methods for maintaining performance at a reduced power


A remote controlled extension cord. The extension cord has a wire attached to a plug with an integrated base. The base serves to cradle a remote control, which is used to turn power on/off to the extensions on the cord. The remote control can snap inside the base and can be easily pushed out. The base thereby serves as a convenient storage for the remote control in order to discourage the remote from getting misplaced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present inventive concept relates to an extension cord with an integrated remote control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Remote control power cords are known in the art. For example, see West, U.S. Pat. No. D411,169. One disadvantage to this type of device is that it may be easy for the user to lose the remote control.
What is needed is a remote control extension cord which has a mechanism to discourage the loss of the remote unit.

Remote controlled extension cord with embedded housing for a remote control


A windshield for a motorcycle, which when compared to other, earlier windshields, having a more upright profile and which also has a larger radius of curvature when viewed from the top, and a greater width towards the top as opposed to a shield having a tapering profile with a narrower portion at the top.

The present invention relates to motorcycle windshields, and in particular, windshields which are designed to be used with riders who are seated generally upright on their motorcycles. Thus, the shield of the invention is not one which is primarily designed to be used with riders that are in the so-called crotch-rocket position, although the principles do apply. Basically, shields of the present invention have the object of moving windshield-caused turbulence farther from the rider's normal position. Hence, the ride is much more quiet and smoother than before.
The windshields of the present invention are primarily relatively upright, as befits a touring rider, and are surprisingly a bit wider across their upper portion, and preferably somewhat less wide below this area. These shields are made to increase rider comfort, not to reduce drag.
Moreover, the windshields of the present invention are formed with a critical curvature when viewed from the top. Still further, such windshields are preferably made from a windshield material which, in addition to other attributes, has a high index of refraction, such as polycarbonate. It has been found that windshields of the polycarbonate type are much more rugged, and provide a better optical result under most conditions, than motorcycle windshields which are made from Lucite™ or Plexiglas™, or in other words, an acrylic or polyacrylate windshield.
As motorcycle windshields have become larger, instead of becoming less curved when viewed from the top, they are becoming more curved, and thus they would tend to have a smaller radius of curvature. This trend has continued throughout the evolution of modern windshields, as such windshields are designed in pursuit of reduced aerodynamic drag.
When viewed from the side, such windshields have tended, in the apparent interest of better airflow and streamlining, to be raked more toward the rear, or less upright. When viewed from the front, such windshields almost invariably have started with the widest portion near the bottom, or the point at which they approach or join the handlebars, with the edges tapering towards each other and toward the top of the shield.
Consequently, such shields have not been, although arguably somewhat more streamlined, as comfortable as they might be, for the normally positioned rider or for the normally positioned rider and passenger. The wind flowing over such shields, particularly in the 50 to 90 mile per hour (MPH) regime, wherein most touring motorcycles are operated most often by the vast majority of riders, passes over and around the shield and gives rise to what is sometimes known as the von Karmann effect, or the air flow is said to give rise to a von Karmann Vortex or Von Karmann Vortices.
Such airflow, when viewed from the front of the cycle, generally spins in a clockwise or counterclockwise pattern, and such swirling flow impinges on the rider, and especially his ears, with a resultant loud noise and/or buffeting around his or her helmet. This is the normal position of the rider as he cruises along. This sensation or turbulence and noise is very uncomfortable, but is regarded by many riders are just an annoyance or discomfort to be tolerated. Furthermore, in an unrelated aspect, such riders are frequently glancing somewhat sideways through the viewing area of the shield, and they may be, for example, in this pursuit, looking for the edge markers on the road, or may be attempting to view speed limit or directional signs or the like.
In such case, the refractive index of the polycarbonate material, is such that the view is distorted when the shield is more sharply curved. This creates a false or even dangerous impression for the rider. Consequently, viewing through a sharply curved shield having a large index of refraction presents a distorted or misleading image, which is much more the case with the polycarbonate windshields than with the acrylic shields. However, as pointed out, particularly because of their durability, the polycarbonate shields are much more desirable.
Another aspect of prior art shields has been the tendency of larger touring motorcycles to have semi-retractable windshields, that is, windshields which in use travel a vertical distance of from two to six inches. An ideal windshield would be one which maintains good performance in any of its adjustable positions. This adjustability, however, does not successfully address the problem of buffeting and noisemaking.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide touring windshields which create greatly reduced noise and annoying air turbulence to the touring rider.
Another object of the invention is to provide windshields which, when viewed from the front, have an equal, a larger or wider extent toward the top of the shield, rather than a more narrow extent.
A still further object is to provide a windshield which has less curvature, i.e., a larger radius of curvature when viewed from the top than that of previous touring shields.
A still further object is to provide a shield which has a relatively constant radius of such curvature when viewed from the top.
A further object is to provide a motorcycle windshield which, when viewed from the side, has a somewhat more upright aspect, or is less inclined from the vertical than prior shields.
A still further object is to provide a windshield which may have an up and down adjustment of two to six inches, and which is therefore highly suitable for the rider of a touring-type motorcycle, with such adjustment having little effect on the windshield, provided the rider's head is properly positioned.
A further object of the invention is to provide a shield which will cause the so-called von Karmann vortices to be moved further back and sideways, and thus out of the way of the normally positioned rider, and which will therefore in turn be much more comfortable for such riders and passengers.
A further object is to provide a greatly improved replacement windshield for cycles with stock design windshields.
Another object of the present invention is to create a much less noisy environment for the rider, particularly for touring riders and passengers traveling at a rate between 50 miles per hour and 90 miles per hour.
A further object of the invention is to provide a shield having a unique shape in three dimensions.
A further object is to provide a more comfortable windshield in use, and especially a shield for touring motorcycles.


An electronic console with a system for indicating the motion power having one large indicating area with light color change and one setting/comparing area. Judging from the change of light color in the indicating area, the observer (operator himself and other related persons) can easily acquire the relevant information of the current dynamic status of this exercise apparatus or the current physical status of the operator. Meanwhile, in the setting mode, the user can define a specific light color of the LED in this setting/comparing area to make a simple visual comparison with the light color in the indicating area to judge whether the current exercise or physical status of the user corresponds to that of the “setting color”.

1. Fields of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronic console with a system for indicating the motion power, and more particularly, to a specific electronic console which mainly employs more than one group of lighting areas to enable the observer in a simplest way to acquire the current exercise status and physical status of the operator. Those lighting areas can give out diverse lighting colors and provide the operator with optimal instant reference/comparison information in taking physical exercise or undergoing a training course.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The so-called electronic console here means particularly a type of a gauge that is installed in one exercise apparatus (such as treadmill, spinner bike). It consists of a circuit board with a microprocessor, physical status monitoring units (such as heartbeat monitoring units) and electronic circuits in connection with a main exercise apparatus to detect its dynamic status (dynamic information, such as rotating speed, time, exercise quantity and exercise resistance). Therefore, the user can manipulate the operation of this exercise apparatus with a power control button, parameter setting buttons and other control buttons. Also, the user can read the equipment's operation status and operator's physical status which are indicated on the console to acquire information about his current exercise and physical status.
In a word, with the conventional basic design of electronic console, the observers (including the operator, the trainer or the health attendant nearby) can only acquire the current exercise and physical status of the operator by approaching to the equipment and reading the indicating parameter items on the console carefully. However, this brings the operators much inconvenience.

Electronic console with a system for indicating the motion power


The present invention discloses a novel ferroelectric transistor design using a resistive oxide film in place of the gate dielectric. By replacing the gate dielectric with a resistive oxide film, and by optimizing the value of the film resistance, the bottom gate of the ferroelectric layer is electrically connected to the silicon substrate, eliminating the trapped charge effect and resulting in the improvement of the memory retention characteristics. The resistive oxide film is preferably a doped conductive oxide in which a conductive oxide is doped with an impurity species. The doped conductive oxide is most preferred to be In2O3 with the dopant species being hafnium oxide, zirconium oxide, lanthanum oxide, or aluminum oxide.

Ferroelectric materials are composed of many randomly-distributed permanently polarized regions. Under the presence of an electric field, the regions with a polarization component in the direction of the electric field grow at the expense of the non-aligned regions so that a net polarization can result. If the electric field decreases, the polarization also decreases but at a slower rate so that even when the electric field becomes zero, a remnant polarization remains. A negative coercive field is required to bring the polarization to zero. This hysteresis behavior of a ferroelectric material is the basis of ferroelectric nonvolatile memory devices.
Currently there are two types of ferroelectric nonvolatile memory devices: ferroelectric capacitor which uses a transistor to detect the polarization of a ferroelectric capacitor, and ferroelectric transistor which detects a change in the transistor conductance caused by the polarization of a ferroelectric gate material. The ferroelectric transistor is much more advantageous than the ferroelectric capacitor due to the smaller surface area which enables higher density memory chip, and the non-destructive readout which significantly reduces the fatigue problem.
The ferroelectric transistor is typically a ferroelectric-gate-controlled semiconductor field-effect transistor (FET), which employs a ferroelectric film in the gate stack of the FET, and in which a proper polarization of the ferroelectric film can create an inversion layer in the channel region of the transistor. The basic ferroelectric-gate controlled field-effect transistor is a metal-ferroelectric silicon (MFS) FET. The term MFS represents the layers in the gate stack of the ferroelectric transistor. Thus the gate stack of the MFS transistor consists of a metal (M) gate electrode disposed on a ferroelectric (F) gate dielectric on the silicon (S) channel of the transistor. FIG. 1 shows the schematic of an n-channel MFS transistor. A ferroelectric film 12 is formed as a gate insulating film on a p-type silicon substrate 13, together with source 14 and drain 15 regions having a high concentration of n-type impurity ions. A metal gate electrode 11 is formed over the ferroelectric film 12. The MFS transistor is isolated by the isolation trenches 16.
However, effective transistor operation of the above MFS transistor is difficult to achieve due to the requirement of the ferroelectric/silicon interface. When a ferroelectric film is deposited directly on the silicon substrate, metals and oxygen from the ferroelectric layer may diffuse into the ferroelectric-silicon interface, creating interface trapped charges which affect the polarization of the ferroelectric film, and overall may make the operation of the ferroelectric transistor unstable. Further, since the thermal expansion coefficient and lattice structure of a ferroelectric film is not compatible with silicon, it is very difficult to form a high-quality ferroelectric film with a clean interface directly on the silicon substrate.
To address the drawbacks posed by the direct ferroelectric/silicon interface, a gate dielectric can be inserted between the ferroelectric film and the silicon substrate. The ferroelectric transistor is then called metal-ferroelectric-oxide (or insulator) silicon (MFOS or MFIS) FET. FIG. 2A shows a MFOS memory transistor using a gate oxide layer 27 formed between the silicon substrate 13 and the ferroelectric film 12. Alternatively, a metal floating gate layer 28 can be added between the ferroelectric film 12 and the gate oxide layer 27 as shown in FIG. 2B for a metal-ferroelectric-metal-oxide (or insulator) silicon (MFMOS or MFMIS) transistor. A suitable conducting material (e.g. Pt or Ir) is normally selected for the floating gate 28 to allow the deposition of the ferroelectric thin film and to prevent diffusion of the ferroelectric material into the gate dielectric and the channel. The floating gate layer 28 is also called bottom electrode, or bottom gate, in reference to the other gate electrode 11, called top electrode, or top gate.
Such gate stack structures (metal-ferroelectric-oxide gate stack or metal-ferroelectric-metal-oxide gate stack) overcome the surface interface and surface state issues of a ferroelectric layer in contact with the silicon substrate. However, they incorporate other difficulties such as higher operation voltage and trapped charges in the bottom floating gate layer. The operation voltage of these transistors is higher than the ferroelectric layer programming voltage by an amount of the voltage across the gate dielectric. And when there is a voltage applied across the ferroelectric thin film, there will be current flow in the gate stack, and charges would be trapped in this floating electrode. The trapped charges may neutralize the polarization charges at the interface of the bottom electrode and the ferroelectric film and could shorten the memory retention time of this structure.
Various prior designs have been disclosed to compensate for the trapped charges in the floating bottom electrode. One of the prior art design to reduce the trapped charges in the lower electrode is the formation of a Schottky diode such as a metal-ferroelectric-metal silicon (MFMS) device disclosed in Nakao et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,182, entitled "Nonvolatile semiconductor memory utilizing a ferroelectric film". A Schottky barrier is formed between the bottom metal electrode of the gate unit (or a very shallow junction layer) and the silicon substrate. The Schottky ferroelectric gate memory transistor requires a space between the bottom electrode and the source and drain region or a very shallow n-channel under the gate, therefore the drive current of the Schottky ferroelectric gate memory transistor can be relatively low. Hsu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,608, entittled "One transistor ferroelectric memory cell and method of making the same", and its continuations and divisions (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,962,884; 6,117,691; 6,018,171; 5,942,776; 5,932,904; 6,146,904; 6,011,285; 6,531,325), hereby incorporated by reference, disclose a distance between 50 to 300 nm from the bottom metal electrode to the source and drain to reduce the possible high leakage current due to the increased field intensity at the metal edge of the Schottky diode because of the sharp edge at the periphery of the metal contact. Alternatively, Willer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,273, entittled "Ferroelectric transistor and method for fabricating it", discloses a recess of the source and drain below the surface of the semiconductor surface in a Schottky ferroelectric gate memory transistor.
Another design to reduce the trapped charges in the lower electrode is to provide a conduction path for the lower electrode. Black et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,381, entitled "Ferroelectric memory transistor with resistively coupled floating gate" discloses an integrated resistor in the form of a spacer between the bottom floating gate electrode and the source/drain to remove the trapped charges. Moise et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,655 and its continuation U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,499, entitled "Ferroelectric transistors using thin film semiconductor gate electrodes" disclose an external resistor connecting the lower electrode to ground to drain the trapped charges. This additional resistor ensures that the potential of the floating gate will approach that of the source/drain region after a certain delay time, but this could affect the high speed switching characteristic of the ferroelectric memory. Yoo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,442, entitled "Ferroelectric memory using leakage current and multi-numerical system ferroelectric memory" discloses a leakage gate dielectric to remove the trapped charges through the silicon channel. The leakage current is generated by a Schottky emission or a Frankel-Poole emission or Fowler-Nordheim tunneling to reduce the bound charges in the bottom metal electrode.

Ferroelectric transistor gate stack with resistance-modified conductive oxide


Systems and methods for optical switching of time-varying traffic, including generating fixed-length bursts using one or more Optical Edge Nodes (OENs). The bursts are temporarily stored in electrical buffers located at the OENs, wherein the electrical buffers include one or more burst queues, and one burst queue is allocated for each of one or more destination OENs. The OENs are interconnected using one or more Optical Switching Nodes (OSNs). A control protocol is implemented to establish and remove soft reservations using at least one of the OENs and OSNs, optical channels are reserved for a duration long enough to transmit one or more data bursts, the duration being selected independently for each of the one or more burst queues, the control protocol gives precedence to avoiding disrupting of any existing soft reservations when reserving resources; and the soft reservations are capable of being reused until overridden.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to optical burst switching, and more particularly, to lossless and low-delay optical burst switching using soft reservations and opportunistic transmission.
Description of the Related Art
The rapid growth of internet traffic triggered by the emergence of new application, services, networking, paradigms and means of user connectivity is imposing ever-increasing demands on the network core. Despite the high-capacity offered by existing optical network backbones adopting wavelength division multiplexing WDM), it is evident that novel advances are required in order to keep up with the simultaneous increase in volume, diversity and dynamicity of traffic demands. Current optical core networks largely follow the traditional circuit switching approach for handling optical network resources. Under this paradigm optical circuits are formed, whereby resources (i.e. wavelengths) are reserved until explicitly torn down. The advantage of this approach is guaranteed performance, but this is achieved only under the premise of gross overprovisioning. Moreover, bursty traffic patterns cannot be handled by existing systems and methods, since resources are reserved for a connection even if there is no data actually transmitted—while other connections throughout the network might be in need of additional resources. The end result is poor network utilization and an inadequacy to support emerging services.
Several years ago, the Optical Burst Switching (OBS) concept was proposed for WDM optical networks in order to address the aforementioned issues. The main premise of OBS is the separation of control from data: A dedicated control channel (λ0) is reserved network-wide for carrying the so-call Burst Header Packets (BHPs). At the edge of the network, data traffic (e.g. coming from an IP router) is aggregated at an Optical Edge Node (OEN). Once a burst (e.g., consisting of a large number of packers) is assembled, the OEN creates a BHP carrying all necessary information to reserve the resources for the upcoming burst across all intermediate Optical Switching Nodes (OSN). The latter are basically optical cross-connects (OXCs) which also comprise a controller handling BHPs and performing burst scheduling based on the information extracted from them, with the help of a local scheduling log indicating already reserved resources for upcoming bursts.
In other words, the BHPs follow the same path that the actual burst will do and try to reserve resources in advance at each core node for a limited, duration, sufficient to receive and forward the burst. OBS manages to eliminate the need for buffering at intermediate core nodes (i.e. OSN), since reservations are made in advance for each burst. The latter is transmitted following a predetermined offset time after the BHP departure (enough to account for the BHP Optical-Electrical-Optical (O-E-O) conversions and electrical processing) and can then travel all-optically across the optical network. However, currently, OBS presently includes the very significant drawback of extreme burst loss even at a low network load.

Lossless and low-delay optical burst switching using soft reservations and opportunistic transmission


A system and method is provided for detection of a human body fall event. The fall detection system (100, 200) includes a monitoring unit (102, 202), including a plurality of accelerometers (106, 206), a processor (108, 208) and a wireless transmitter (110, 210). The plurality of accelerometers (106, 206) provide acceleration measurements to the processor (108, 208), the measurements describing the current acceleration of the person wearing the monitoring unit (102, 202) in all directions. The processor (108, 208) receives the acceleration measurements and compares the acceleration measurements to a value range to determine if the wearer is currently experiencing a fall event. The processor (108, 208) generates a signal in response to the detection of a fall event and the transmitter (110, 210) transmits the signal to a remote signal receiver (104, 204). The system and method can further detect non-movement in the wearer of the monitoring unit (102, 202) subsequent to the fall event to detect an unconscious wearer.

Falls in individuals are recognized as a major health and welfare issue in the elderly, infirmed, or disabled population and with regard to community helpers, such as firefighters, police, or the like. Monitoring falls in the elderly has been recognized as a growing problem due in part to our aging population. In many instances, continuous monitoring of these individuals is necessary to render aid when needed, and prevent further major health issues that result from a fall. Research has shown there is a direct correlation between major health issues and the amount of time an individual remains in a fall position. Current monitoring devices for the elderly, infirmed, or disabled are typically in the form of a device that requires user input, such as push button activation, to alert the monitor that a fall event or other emergency has occurred. The problem with this type of monitoring device is that many times the individual being monitored is not in a condition to activate the control, such as when a fall has occurred and the individual is rendered unconscious.
In addition, monitoring of police and firefighters when entering dangerous situations, is needed. Similar to falls in the elderly, infirmed or disabled, falls by firefighters and police when in danger require monitoring without user input to activate an alarm. For example, many instances of falls of firefighters occur when entering a building and the firefighter is overwhelmed by smoke due to smoke inhalation that results in unconsciousness. A firefighter might fall when struck by falling debris. In addition, falls from ladders, etc. and subsequent injury may occur where no one else is present at the time of the fall. As stated above, the activation of a monitoring device, such as pushing a button, requires the fallen individual to be conscious. As was the case previously, this requirement presents a problem when the fallen individual is unconscious or otherwise unable to activate the device.
Detecting the occurrence of falls and the status of the individual post-fall is needed in a device that is accurate and convenient. Unfortunately, prior methods for detecting a fall have required the individual seeking help to activate a control that submits an alert to the monitoring person or entity. Thus, what is needed is an improved system and method for detecting when a person falls down that is reliable and efficient and does not require user activation.

System and method for human body fall detection


Embodiments of the present disclosure describe systems, devices, and methods for grantless uplink transmissions in cellular networks. Various embodiments may include a detailed physical layer design for grantless uplink transmissions. In particular, various embodiments may include, for grantless uplink transmissions, enhanced mechanisms; transmission schemes; repeated transmissions; demodulation reference signal (DM-RS); power control mechanisms; and interference control mechanisms. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Machine-type communication (MTC) is a promising and emerging technology to enable a ubiquitous computing environment towards the concept of "Internet of Things (IoT)." Potential MTC-based applications include smart metering, healthcare monitoring, remote security surveillance, intelligent transportation systems, etc. Existing mobile broadband networks were designed to optimize performance mainly for human types of communications and thus are not designed or optimized to address the MTC-related issues.

Methods and apparatuses for machine-type communications in cellular networks


Methods of producing an intraocular lens include introducing a solution into a lens forming enclosure, wherein the solution comprises discrete crosslinkable units of a size small enough to provide an optically clear solution while contributing to a high refractive index of at least 1.3, performing crosslinking between the units of the solution, and thereby forming a solid lens in the enclosure, optionally under a forming pressure.

When an ophthalmic surgeon operates on a cataract (s)he replaces the defective natural lens with a small artificial lens, an IOL. In order to remove the natural, cataractous lens, as well as to prepare for the introduction of the IOL, an incision must be made into the eye. For many years most of the IOLs were made of poly(methylmethacrylate), a material with good optical characteristics and compatibility with tissues in the eye. A disadvantage of PMMA is, however, that it is a very rigid material and the incision must be made big enough, at least 5–6 mm, for implantation of the lens. With improved devices for removal of the natural lens by phacoemulsification, requiring only a rather small incision, there was a need for lenses with deformable optics. This intended property can be achieved, for instance, by making lenses which are foldable or can be dried to a reduced size, but which swells to its original shape in the eye. Various silicone or hydrogel based lenses have been suggested and in some cases also commercialized. In such small incision surgery an opening of only 3–4 mm is required.
The implantation of lenses of the types mentioned above necessitates the patient using spectacle correction for reading. More recently, to overcome this limitation of the conventional IOL, increasing attention has been given to refractive, as well as diffractive, bifocal or multifocal lenses. The use of such lenses is increasing slowly, but as they introduce an optical deficiency in patients, a reduced perception of contrast, which becomes more acute in twilight, their widespread application may be limited.
Even with the mentioned types of improved implantable IOLs, available on the market, there is still a desire to obtain a lens for which is required an even smaller incision and which behaves like the natural lens in the eye, i.e. to be accommodating, with a focal point which is regulated by action of the ciliary muscle in the eye. In order to allow for a really small incision it would be necessary to form the lens inside the eye from a solution which is injected into the capsular bag or into a balloon placed inside the bag. Lenses formed from an injected solution of monomers have already been suggested in the literature and are based on a technique in which the natural lens is removed and, after cleaning of the capsular bag, a polymerizable composition is injected into the bag, whereupon the solution is polymerized, e.g. after initiation by light of suitable wavelength, using the form of the capsular bag as the mold. Thin walled inflatable balloons of silicone rubber have also been developed which can be inserted into the capsular bag and filled with the desired polymer system.
Most researchers of the development of the accommodative re-fill lens have used silicone based systems for filling the capsular bag, either in the form of silicone oils or low temperature vulcanizing (LTV) silicone elastomers. Such systems suffer from disadvantages in the context of re-fill lens formation: the dimethyl silicones have a restricted refractive index (1.40), LTVs cure slowly, up to 12 hours may be needed to complete their setting and their slow setting may result in material leakage out of the capsular bag through the surgical incision. In order to overcome this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,542 discloses such a silicon based injected system which is partially cured by heat in the vicinity of the injection hole of the capsular bag to effect a first sealing effect. It is a further complication that the high viscosities of some silicone oils and intermediates make their air-bubble free injection very difficult.
Hettlich et al (German J Ophthalmol (1992) 1 p. 346–349) were among the first to propose the use of photopolymerization of a monomer system as an alternative approach to setting the material within the capsular bag. He pointed to the clinical success of blue light photocurable resins for dental applications and explored the use of such systems as injectible materials for filling capsular bags. The systems used by Hettlich et al. were effective in demonstrating the efficacy of blue light photocurable resins for filling capsular bags. Another example of an injectible system is described in EP 414219, in which the liquid composition comprises a difunctional acrylate and or methacrylate ester and a photoinitiator activatable by light of wavelength 400–500 nm. By choosing an initiator of such high wavelength the presence of a UV absorber, which is desired to be present in the final lens in order to protect the retina from damage, does not create a problem.
Unfortunately, the in vivo polymerizable systems described so far do not solve all the problems involved with this interesting and potentially very useful concept, as e.g. leakage of monomers and initiator from the bag into the surrounding parts of the eye between injection and polymerization might occur. With increasing polymerization time such leakage might be substantial and cause serious complications. Another disadvantage observed in systems of the type described above is shrinkage of the material during polymerization with the formation of a lens which does not completely fill up the capsular bag. Further, the systems used have formed materials with moduli too high to allow accommodative processes. The natural lens of the eye is a material with extremely low modulus, in the general range 1–5 kPa, which can be compared to glassy plastics with a modulus of six orders of magnitude greater. PMMA as mentioned above has a value around 3000 MPa.
It would consequently be highly desirable to be able to obtain an ophthalmically acceptable solution which could be injected into the capsular bag of the eye with a conventional cannula after the natural lens has been surgically removed and that such a solution could be subjected to a process that would result in the production of an intraocular lens capable of functionally replace the natural lens, while avoiding the above-mentioned problems. In particular, such a solution must be water based and in a simple manner capable of being reacted into a gel formed solid lens material. It has earlier been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,840 how to produce contact lenses from a water soluble crosslinkable pre-polymer. The production involves a photoinitiator which is activated by UV-light to produce crosslinking reaction to the gel formed lens material. In this publication it is not considered how to inject a water based solution into the capsular bag for lens production and arrive with a lens of a suitable modulus.
It is obvious that several technical problems remain before a method of producing an intraocular lens from injecting a water based aqueous solution directly into the capsular bag can be accomplished in a sufficiently safe and reproductive manner. As earlier mentioned, it would be preferable to start from a material that is already polymerized in order to avoid free monomers, although an aqueous solution of sufficiently low viscosity to be injected through standard syringe equipment must be used for the purpose of minimizing the incision of the capsular bag.
It is also a requirement that the material should have a suitably high refractive index to generate a lens with sufficient optic power and quality and the material shall be able to be cured in a controlled manner by visible light to a lens product with sufficiently low elasticity (modulus) resembling that of the natural lens. Consequently, it is a further requirement to involve a photoinitiator, capable of inducing a curing reaction of the material in aqueous solution which is substantially free from clinical hazards.
The present invention aims to solve the mentioned problems by providing novel methods of producing intraocular lenses and an aqueous solution serving as an injectible starting material for the production.


A method and apparatus for providing a welding output is disclosed. The apparatus includes a an ac generator having a field winding, a welding output winding and an electronic field controller connected to the field winding. The controller receives a current feedback signal and a voltage feedback signal, and shapes the output curve in response to the desired output command signals. According to one embodiment the controller also receives a field current feedback signal. The controller may shape the output curves to emulate a DC generator, for example by causing the welding output V-A curves to have multiple breakpoints, and/or a substantially preset slope over a welding range wherein the preset slope does not vary over the output current range of the power supply. Also, the slope of the V-A output curve below the welding range may be different than the slope in the welding range. An auxiliary output winding having a substantially constant voltage may be provided on the generator and the generator may be either single or three phase.

The present invention is generally directed to the control of a generator driven welding power supply, and more particularly directed toward a method and apparatus for electronically controlling the volt-ampere (V-A) output characteristics of a generator driven welding power supply.
Welding power supplies may be driven either by a DC generator or an AC generator (also called an alternator-rectifier). An AC generator generally includes, in addition to an alternator, a reactor followed by rectifiers to provide a DC output. AC driven welding power supplies are, generally, constant current type machines and the output volt-ampere characteristic of an AC driven welding power supply typically has a very steep slope. That is, the output current is nearly constant over a varying range of output voltage. Thus, welding power supplies that are driven by an AC reactor generator are particularly suited for welding applications requiring an approximately constant current output (such as flat plate welding). However, to significantly change the current output a different tap on the reactor must be provided (and selected by the user. This is both costly and inconvenient.
AC reactor generators are less suited for some applications. For example, when welding pipes the welder often needs to control the temperature of the welding puddle. For example, the welding puddle is cooled to prevent dripping, or heated to prevent the electrode from sticking in the welding puddle when holding a tight arc. This control is typically performed by varying the distance of the electrode from the workpiece. The nearly constant current characteristic of an AC machine does not easily allow such control because current does not vary with arc length (and arc voltage).
Also, it is useful in pipe welding applications to provide a set of output V-A curves having a single open circuit output voltage, then having a sloping characteristic down to a predetermined voltage level, then having a vertical characteristic (i.e., constant current) over a range of output voltages, and then again having a sloping characteristic to provide high output current for short circuit (i.e., tight arc) conditions. Accordingly, a generator driven welding power supply having output V-A curves with multiple breakpoints or multiple slopes is desirable. Preferably, the shape of the output curves can be electronically altered and optimized for other welding applications, such as TIG, GMAW, and FCAW.
It is important to be able to control the output in welding power supplies using feedback. One AC generator welding power supply includes a field control current feedback. That is, the field current was compared to a field current set point, and adjusted in response to deviations therefrom. However, this did not necessarily mean that the output weld current was maintained at the desired level. Another feedback control for constant voltage operation was providing the output voltage as feedback to the field current control. In this manner the field current could be adjusted to maintain a constant output voltage. However, neither scheme provides for output current control. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a generator driven welding power supply that utilizes both output current feedback and output voltage feedback to electronically control the field current.
DC generators, in contrast, have a V-A output characteristic that is linear in nature. That is, the slope of the output V-A curve is constant such that as output voltage decreases, output current increases, i.e., DC machines provide a "droop" in the V-A curve. Thus, a welder using a DC driven welding power supply can easily control the temperature of the welding puddle by varying the distance of the electrode from the workpiece. When the electrode is pulled back, the arc (output) voltage increases while the output current decreases. When the electrode is in close proximity to the workpiece, the arc voltage decreases (short circuit condition) while the output current increases. The output characteristics of DC driven welding supplies are therefore more optimally suited for applications requiring more accurate control of the welding arc current (such as pipe welding).
Prior art DC generators may also include a series compound field winding. The compound field winding may add or subtract from the field to control the output of the generator. Multiple taps on the compound winding allow for range selection. This design is costly in that an additional field winding is required.
Welding power supplies driven by either DC or AC generators have disadvantages. For example, DC generators are generally more expense and difficult to manufacture than AC generators. In addition, both DC and AC driven welding power supplies generally include costly components, such as a rheostat and a range switch for selecting the maximum output current and slope of the V-A curve, respectively. The AC driven power supply also includes a costly tapped reactor. Thus, it is desirable to provide a method of controlling the output V-A characteristic of welding power supplies that eliminates the disadvantages associated with manufacturing DC generators, as well as the need for a rheostat, range switch, and tapped reactor.
In addition to controlling the output V-A characteristic, there is a need for a welding power having a fast transient response. A fast transient response is desirable because the welding puddle has a short thermal time constant and will thus chill if the output current of the welding power supply does not respond quickly to changes in arc length. A chilled puddle will cause the electrode to stick, creating undesirable inclusions in the weld. The transient response of a DC driven welding supply is quicker than the transient response of an AC reactor generator, providing the user with fast changes in output current when varying the distance of the electrode from the workpiece. Thus, DC driven welding supplies are better suited for applications requiring quicker control of welding arc current. A need therefore exists for a welding power supply combining the V-A characteristic and transient response of a DC driven supply with the cost-savings attainable with an AC driven supply.
Another disadvantage of existing welding power supplies supplied by either a DC or AC generator is that neither method provides optimal control of the open circuit output voltage. An AC driven welding power supply has no inherent open circuit output voltage. A DC driven supply has an open circuit output voltage that drifts as the operating temperature of the supply changes, and that varies widely as the rheostat is adjusted from a minimum to maximum setting. An uncontrolled or variable open circuit output voltage has the undesirable feature of providing an inconsistent starting characteristic. For example, if the open circuit voltage is too low the arc may be difficult to start. A need thus exists for a welding power supply capable of providing and maintaining a stable open circuit output voltage.
Many generator driven welding power supplies provide a 110 volt auxiliary power source. Such power sources are used for hand tools, lights, etc. Because the devices powered by the auxiliary power are designed to operate using line current, it is desirable to provide a "flat" V-A curve, i.e., a constant voltage, regardless of the current draw. This is in direct contrast to the output desirable for many welding application. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a generator driven welding power supply that provides a droop in the welding output, but a flat auxiliary output.
It is further desirable to provide a welding power supply having an output V-A characteristic that can be optimally shaped and controlled for a variety of welding applications, including both constant current applications (e.g., SMAW pipe welding, stick welding) or constant voltage applications (e.g., MIG, flux core). Such a design would, optimally, replace the rheostat, range switch, and tapped reactor of existing designs with a printed circuit board and a single control knob and an inductor. In addition, it would preferably include provisions for a fast transient response and a constant, stable open circuit output voltage. Further, the control method would hopefully be able to be used in a variety of welding power supplies, including DC generators, single-phase AC generators, or a multiple-phase AC generators driven by an engine.

Method and apparatus for electronically controlling the output of an engine driven generator welding power supply


To detect whether a closed-loop's voltage is out of range, a voltage detector includes first and second transistors that deliver first and second currents respectively to first and second high impedance nodes. The voltage detector further includes third and fourth transistors that draw third and fourth currents respectively from the first and second nodes. The first and second currents are scaled replicas of a current flowing through a current source of a voltage-to-current converter that converts the close-loop's voltage to a current and supplies a first voltage to the first and second transistors. The third and fourth currents are scaled replicas of a different current flowing through a current mirror of the voltage-to-current converter and that supplies a second voltage to the third and fourth transistors.

The present invention relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly to detection of a control voltage in a closed loop circuit, such as a phase locked or delay locked loop.
The increasing speed with which multiple types of data, such as text, audio and video, are transported over existing communication networks has brought to the fore the reliability with which such data transportation is carried out. In accordance with one conventional method, to ensure reliable data transfer, the data is first encoded with a reference clock signal at the transmitting end of the network to generate a composite signal. Thereafter, the composite signal is transmitted over the network to the receiving end. At the receiving end, the data and clock signals are recovered from the composite signal to ensure that the data and clock signals remain synchronous with respect to each other.
The clock and data recovery is typically carried out, for example, by a delay locked loop or a phase locked loop. In operation, a phase locked loop maintains a fixed relationship between the phase and frequency of the signal it receives and those of the signal it generates. FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a conventional phase locked loop (PLL) 10 adapted to maintain a fixed relationship between the phase and frequency of signal CLK and signal Ref_Clk. PLL 10 includes, among other components, phase detector 12, charge pump 14, loop filter 16 and voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 18. The extracted clock signal Clk is supplied at the output terminal of VCO 18. Once in a locked state, the phase and frequency of signal Clk generated by PLL 10 is locked to those of signal Ref_Clk received by PLL 10. The operation of PLL 10 is described further below.
Phase detector 12 receives signals Ref_Clk and Clk, and in response, generates signal A that corresponds to the difference between the phases of these two signals. Charge pump 14 receives signal A and in response generates and delivers to node B a current signal whose duration varies depending on the magnitude of signal A. Loop filter 16 filters out the high frequency components of signal I and delivers a filtered-out voltage signal to VCO 18.
If signal Ref_Clk leads signal Clk in phase—indicating that the VCO is running relatively slowly—signal A causes charge pump 14 to increase its output current until VCO 18 achieves an oscillation frequency at which signal Clk is frequency-locked and phase-locked with signal Ref_Clk. If, on the other hand, signal Ref_Clk lags signal Clk in phase—indicating that the VCO is running relatively fast—signal A causes charge pump 14 to reduce its output current until VCO 18 achieves an oscillation frequency at which signal Clk is frequency-locked and phase-locked with signal Ref_Clk. Signal Clk is considered to be locked to signal Vref if its frequency is within a predetermined frequency range of signal Ref_Clk. Signal Clk is considered to be out-of-lock with signal Ref_Clk if its frequency is outside the predetermined frequency range of signal Ref_Clk.
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of another conventional PLL 30 that includes, among other components, phase/frequency detector 32, charge pump 34, loop filter 36, voltage to current (VTI) converter 38, current controlled oscillator (ICO) 40, and out-of-range voltage detection circuitry 42. In PLL 30, voltage Vcont is generated by charge pump 34. Out-of-range voltage detection circuitry 42 is adapted to detect whether voltage Vcont is within a range defined by voltage Vbg. Determination of voltage Vcont provides insight into the loop dynamics, enables control of the loop voltage, and allows PLL 30 to be calibrated. In response, voltage detection circuitry 42 generates voltage signals Vcom1 and Vcom2. VTI converter 38, using voltage Vref, converts the voltage Vcont to a current I, and delivers this current to ICO 40.
FIG. 3 is a transistor schematic diagram of VTI circuit 38, as known in the prior art. VTI circuit 38 is shown as including a differential amplifier formed by NMOS transistors 120, 122 and resistor 118, current source 200, current mirrors 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, and biasing transistor 106. Assume current source 200, which is a cascade current source generates a current of 2I that flows through PMOS transistors 102, 104. Current mirrors 205, 220, and 225 mirror this current, and therefore, a current of 2I also flows through PMOS transistors 108, 128, and 130. Part of the current 2I mirrored in transistor 128 flows through PMOS transistor 124—shown as current I+DI—the remainder of this current flows through transistor 120—shown as current I−DI. Similarly, part of the current 21 mirrored in transistor 130 flows through PMOS transistor 126—shown as current I−DI—the remainder of this current flows through transistor 122—shown as current I+DI. Because the same current flows through both PMOS transistor 124 and NMOS 132, a current of I+DI flows through transistor 132. Moreover, because the same current flows through NMOS transistors 132, and 134, a current of I+DI flows through transistor 134.
NMOS transistors 114, and 116 are scaled relative to NMOS transistor 112, such that each conduct a current of I. If voltage Vcont is greater than voltage Vref, more current, e.g., I+DI flows through transistor 122 and less current, e.g., I−DI flows through transistor 120. Similarly, if voltage Vcont is smaller than voltage Vref, more current flows through transistor 120 and less current flows through transistor 122. Because the current through transistors 114 and 116 is adapted to be I, a current of DI flows through resistor 118 and transistor 116. It is understood that depending on the relative sizes of voltages Vcont and Vref, shown current DI may have a positive or a negative value. The difference 2DI between current I−DI flowing through transistor 126 and current of I+DI flowing through transistor 134, flows to terminal Icntl if current DI is negative, or from terminal Icntl if DI is positive. Therefore, the difference between voltages Vcont and Vref, results in change in the current 2DI flowing into or out of terminal Icntl.
FIG. 4 shows the change in the current flowing through terminal Icntl as a function of the difference between voltages Vcnt and Vref. The current flow through terminal Icnt varies linearly as a function of the difference between voltages Vcnt and Vref, so long as this voltage difference is between ±Vd. A constant current of 2I flows through this terminal if the magnitude of the difference between voltages Vcnt and Vref exceeds Vd.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of voltage detection circuitry 42, as known in the prior art. Band-gap voltage generator 52 generates reference voltage Vbg that is applied to positive input terminal Inp of operational amplifier (op-amp) 54. The output voltage of op-amp 54 is applied to the gate terminal of PMOS transistor 60. Upper boundary voltage Vcom_hi is applied to the positive input terminal Inp of voltage comparator 66, and lower boundary voltage Vcom_lo is applied to the positive input terminal Inp of voltage comparator 68. Voltage signal Vcont is applied to the negative input terminals Inn of both voltage comparators 66 and 68. If voltage Vcont is greater than voltage Vcom_hi, output signals Vcom1 and Vcom2 make a high-to-low transition. If voltage Vcont is smaller than voltage Vcom_lo, output signals Vcom1 and Vcom2 make a low-to-high transition. If voltage Vcont is between voltages Vcom_lo and Vcom_hi, output signal Vcom1 remains high and output signal Vcom2 remains low.
As seen from FIG. 5, out-of-range detection circuitry 42 requires, among other components, one op-amp, two voltage comparators, as well as a band-gap circuit. Therefore, out-of-range detection circuitry 42 is relatively large, i.e., consumes a relatively large semiconductor surface area, and also consumes a relatively large power.


A semiconductor memory device and a method for accessing the same are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device comprises a memory transistor, a first control transistor and a second control transistor, wherein a source electrode and a gate electrode of the first control transistor are coupled to a first bit line and a first word line respectively, a drain electrode and a gate electrode of the second control transistor are coupled to a second word line and a second bit line respectively, a gate electrode of the memory transistor is coupled to a drain electrode of the first control transistor, a drain electrode of the memory transistor is coupled to a source electrode of the second control transistor, and a source electrode of the memory transistor is coupled to ground, and wherein the memory transistor exhibits a gate electrode-controlled memory characteristic. The semiconductor memory device increases integration level and decreases refresh frequency.

In a memory cell having a two-transistors/one-capacitor (2T/1C) configuration, the capacitor C stores charges representative of logic "1" or logic "0", and the first control transistor Q1 and the second control transistor Q2 perform reading operation and writing operation, respectively.
Because 2T/1C memory device stores data in the capacitor, it should be refreshed at a time interval and can only be used as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). A refresh period of the 2T/1C memory cell should be smaller than a retention time of the capacitor. Due to the periodical refresh of the 2T/1C memory cell, the memory has a complex controller circuit and has a large power dissipation.
In the 2T/1C memory cell, it is necessary for the capacitor to have large capacitance so as to provide a retention time as long as possible, which, however, increases occupied area of the memory cell and decreases integration level of the memory.
Thus, it is still desirable to develop a memory cell without a capacitor.

Semiconductor memory device and method for accessing the same

Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Acasemy of Sciences


The present disclosure relates to a valve assembly suitable for use on a pressure washer pump. The valve assembly includes an unloader valve having an inlet port sized and configured to be connected directly to the pressure washer pump. The unloader valve also includes an outlet port sized and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a release mechanism. The unloader valve further includes a bypass port sized and configured to be placed in fluid communication with the pressure washer pump. Finally, the valve assembly also includes a thermal relief valve connected directly to the unloader valve at a location generally opposite from the bypass port.

A prior art pressure washer is designated as 50 in FIG. 3. The pressure washer 50 includes a positive displacement pressure washer pump 160 having at least four ports, two of which are designated as 162 and 164, and two of which are opposite the ports 162 and 164 but not visible in FIG. 3.
An unloader valve 100 is placed in fluid communication with the pump 160 via two of the four ports. The unloader valve 100 has an inlet port 112, an outlet port 114, and a by-pass port 116. The outlet port 114 is placed in fluid communication with a spray gun or other release mechanism (not shown).
The inlet port 112 is placed in fluid communication with the pump port opposite the port 162. In particular, a first elbow fitting 67 is connected to the inlet port 112, a second elbow fitting 67 is connected to the pump port, and a nipple 68 is interconnected between the two elbow fittings 67.
The by-pass port 116 is placed in fluid communication with the pump port 164. In particular, a hose barb 187 is interconnected between the by-pass port 116 and one end of a by-pass hose 76; another hose barb 187 is interconnected between an opposite end of the by-pass hose 76 and an inlet fitting 180; and an opposite end of the inlet fitting 180 is threaded into the pump port 164. Each end of the by-pass hose 76 is secured to a respective hose barb 187 by means of a hose clamp 178. An inlet filter 188 is disposed within the inlet fitting 180.
When the pump 160 is running and the spray gun is in use (the trigger is pulled), water flows into the inlet port 112 on the unloader valve 100 and out the outlet port 114. When the pump 160 is running and the spray gun is not in use (the trigger is released), water flows into the inlet port 112 on the unloader valve 100 and out the by-pass port 116. An adjustment knob 118 allows a user to adjust the amount of pressure in the water that is available to the spray gun.
A pop-off valve 120 is placed in fluid communication with the pump 160 via the port 162. In particular, one end of the pop-off valve 120 is threaded into the port 162. If water pressure exceeds a maximum threshold level, the pop-off valve 120 discharges water from the system. In this respect, the pop-off valve 120 is designed to be the weak link in the system from the standpoint of pressure.
A thermal relief valve 130 is placed in fluid communication with the pump 160 via the port opposite the port 164. In particular, one end of the thermal relief valve 130 is threaded into the port. If water temperature exceeds a maximum threshold level, which is more likely to happen when the pump runs too long in the by-pass mode, the thermal relief valve 130 discharges water from the system. In this respect, the thermal relief valve 130 is designed to be the weak link in the system from the standpoint of temperature.
The prior art pressure washer 50 is satisfactory in many respects but still leaves room for improvement. For example, numerous pieces of hardware are necessary to interconnect the various ports and valves. Also, this prior art system 50 uses all four of the ports on the pump 160.


An connector includes a terminated cable, a connector body defining a cylindrical terminal cavity configured to receive the terminated cable, and a cable seal axially surrounding a portion of the terminated cable. The cable seal defines a compliant primary sealing ring that is in compressive contact with an inner wall of the terminal cavity. The cable seal further defines an extended sleeve. The connector also includes a seal retainer that is inserted within a distal end of the terminal cavity and axially surrounds at least a portion of the extended sleeve. An inner surface of the seal retainer is proximate at least a portion of the extended sleeve and an outer surface of the seal retainer is proximate the inner wall of the terminal cavity.

Cable-to-cable and cable-to-device sealed electrical connectors are subject to performance issues caused by vibration, motion, and routing of large, heavy, stiff cables (e.g. cables with a cross section greater than 6 mm2). Cable seals used in electrical connectors for large cross section cables can lose sealing compression when cables are moved or routed away extreme angles. Prior art connectors have incorporated plastic retainers which limit cable motion at the cable seal. However, these retainers fit loosely on the cable insulation in order to accommodate various sizes of cable. These loose fitting retainers allow cable vibration to be readily transmitted into the electrical connector terminal causing electrical contact fretting corrosion and/or wear, leading to failure of that electrical connection. Additionally, the prior art connectors usually include an extended connector body terminal tower in order to fully capture the cable seal within its length and allow for insertion of a loose fitting seal/cable retainer. Water from the environment can collect in the terminal tower in the spaces between the seal and the end of the terminal tower. This water can then leak past the seal and cause corrosion of the terminal or cause damage to the connector if the water freezes.
Typically, a loose plastic retainer is used to limit cable motion to maintain sealing performance, but vibration performance is poor, and water can pool in the connector terminal cavity causing cable seal failure. Other previous solutions have included cable seals with insert molded plastic stiffeners, these seals are very expensive, while providing strain relief and vibration dampening of the cable, they do not completely block water pooling in the terminal cavity.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

Sealed connector with an extended seal sleeve and an anti-water pooling retainer


The present invention relates to a method for controlling a laundry treatment apparatus which automatically removes and discharges foreign substances collected in a filter net provided on an air circulation path. A laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an outer tub; an inner tub disposed inside the outer tub; an air circulation path of which the start end is connected to the side surface of the outer tub, and which includes a section which upwardly extends from the upper side to the lower side; a water drain path which is connected to the lower surface of the outer tub so as to guide water inside the outer tub to be drained to the outside; a filter part having a filter net which is disposed to traverse the upwardly extending section of the air circulation path; and a nozzle arrangement part in which a plurality of nozzles, for spraying cleaning water to the filter net from the lower side of the filter part, are arranged. A method for controlling the laundry treatment apparatus comprises: a water supplying step of supplying wash water into the outer tube; a laundry washing step for washing or rinsing laundry in the inner tub by using the wash water; and a water draining step of controlling the wash water to be drained through the water drain path while controlling the cleaning water to be sprayed through the plurality of nozzles and be drained through the water drain path.

In general, a laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, an outer tub disposed inside the cabinet, and an inner tub rotatably disposed inside the outer tub.
A laundry treatment apparatus capable of drying laundry supplies heated air (hot wind) to laundry. A dry system is classified into an exhaust type dry system for exhausting air to the outside, a circulation type dry system for adjusting a temperature and humidity of the air to resupply the adjusted air to laundry, and a hybrid type dry system for exhausting some of the air and resupplying remaining air to laundry according to how to treat air having increased humidity by making contact with the laundry.
A laundry treatment apparatus including the circulation type dry system or the hybrid type dry system includes a circulation path for guiding at least some of air inside the outer tub to flow out of the outer tub and be resupplied to the outer tub.
Foreign substances separated from laundry are included in air moving through the circulation path. In particular, if the inner tub is rotated during a drying stroke, friction occurs in the laundry so that an amount of the foreign substances is further increased. In this case, the foreign substances adhere to a temperature and humidity controller included in the circulation path so that failure of the temperature and humidity controller may occur or the efficiency may be deteriorated, and foreign substances in air resupplied into the outer tub may adhere to the laundry.
In order to solve the above problems, the related art provides a filter disposed on the circulation path to filter out the foreign substances. The filter includes a filter net and the filter net functions to collect foreign substances. The relater art includes a nozzle for spraying cleaning water to automatically remove the foreign substances collected in the filter net.

Method for controlling laundry treatment apparatus


A door mechanism for a transportation container having a material receiving opening extending through a surface of the transportation container is disclosed. The door mechanism includes at least one substantially rigid door element to removably cover at least a portion of the material receiving opening of the transportation container. Further, the door mechanism includes at least one latching mechanism in operable communication with the door element for securing the door element over the material receiving opening and against at least a portion of an adjacent surface surrounding the material receiving opening. A transportation container is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to door mechanisms for transportation containers that are adapted to contain various materials for storage and transport, and, in particular, to a door mechanism for a transportation container having a material receiving opening extending through a surface of the transportation container.
2. Description of Related Art
Containers and transportation containers are used in various applications in the industries to temporarily store and contain materials prior to ultimate disposition. For example, many such transportation containers are used to hold garbage, waste material, refuse, discarded material, etc. Once the material is collected in the container, a vehicle, such as a truck, transports the container to a disposal location.
These transportation containers come in many shapes and sizes. Further, these containers can be movable on wheels and "staged" on the ground surface, thus requiring a vehicle to lift or tow the container. In order to appropriately house the material inside of the container, the container is typically a box-like structure with multiple sides, at least one of which is used to place the material therein. Various containers for carrying and/or transporting material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,415 to Hopkins et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,523 to Galbreath et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,267 to Friesen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,616 to Schmidt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,301 to Pickler; U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,016 to Crenshaw; U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,049 to Kovash et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,794 to Calhoun et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,672 to Alson; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,153 to Petzitillo, Jr. et al.
The containers and boxes disclosed in the above-listed patents have several drawbacks. Many of these containers employ complicated and highly mechanical latching mechanisms, which are both expensive and difficult to operate and maintain. Further, many of these containers and boxes use door structures that either comprise the entire surface of a side of the container and/or remain physically attached to the container, at least at the hinge point. Still further, most of the mechanical doors are located in a different or difficult loading or material receiving area.
Presently, in transporting certain materials, pre-existing boxes or transportation containers have a material receiving opening extending through a surface, typically the rear surface, of the container. Further, these openings do not include any sort of door or containment means for retaining the waste or material in the container inner area. Therefore, according to the prior art, a tarpaulin or other soft material is strapped over the material receiving opening using multiple straps attached to multiple loops, which are, in turn, fixed to the container. This manner of containing the material in the container also has drawbacks. Soft pliant materials have a short life in such a rugged application. In addition, using the straps together with the material to prevent the material from exiting the container has failed consistently in application during transport. Such material lost during transport is not only undesirable, but may pose serious environmental and safety risks on the traversing infrastructure and roadways.


The invention provides a melt-processable conductive fluorothermoplastic composition comprising three components. The first component is at least one melt-processable, thermoplastic fluoropolymer component having its interpolymerized units derived from (i) at least 50 wt % of TFE, and (ii) one or more ethylenically-unsaturated monomers represented by the formulas (a) CF2═CF—Rf, (b) CF2═CF—O—Rf′, and (c) CH2═CR2. The thermoplastic fluoropolymer component is substantially free of interpolymerized units derived from VDF. The second component is from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of a hydrocarbon polymer, and the third component is from about 1 to about 20 weight percent of conductive filler. The invention also provides a method for making fluorothermoplastic compositions and shaped articles comprising a conductive fluorothermoplastic composition.

Fluoropolymers are often used for their desirable properties, such as low surface tension, high thermal stability, and high resistance to chemicals, oils, and/or solvents.
Examples of fluoropolymers include copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene with one or more fluorinated monomers such as hexafluoropropylene or perfluoropropyl vinyl ether, and/or non-fluorinated monomers such as ethylene or propylene.
Often it is desirable that the fluoropolymer have a lower electrical resistance or even be electrically conductive. Fluoropolymers are typically made more electrically conductive by adding electrically conductive fillers (e.g., carbon black, carbon fibers, etc.). However, the addition of such fillers has certain negative effects on the properties of the fluoropolymers. For example, while adding conductive fillers desirably enhances the electrically conductivity of the fluoropolymer, it also often undesirably reduces the melt processabililty of the fluoropolymer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Described is a technology by which movement of a shared network device (e.g., a printer or storage device) to a different network machine triggers an automatic reconfiguration of the device and/or the network machines, so that those machines remain able to share that device. Configuration data may be pushed to the network machines, pulled by the network machines, and/or provided to a server by which the network machines may access the confirmation data. Reconfiguration may include creating a system user account and modifying the permissions associated with the device so that the other machine has access permission to use the device via the created account.

At present, many homes and businesses have a small network of computer systems (machines) with various peripheral devices coupled to the computer systems. A network administrator can configure the peripheral devices for sharing, e.g., through shares, a one computer system can print or read/write data via a printer or disk that is physically coupled to another computer system.
However, a problem with the current method of device sharing arises when such a peripheral device is moved to a different machine. When this happens, the user needs to reconfigure all of the machines in the network that need to use the shared device, based on its new location. This task becomes more difficult as the number of machines increases; indeed, configuring the device is often very cumbersome, sometimes requiring the installation of drivers for a printer or storage device on the machine to which the device is moved, and requiring reconfiguration of other machines in the network for some devices. Further, this is becoming a common problem because many types of peripheral devices are highly portable, e.g., typically requiring only power and a USB or IEEE 1394 interface (e.g., FireWire or I.link) coupling to move to a new machine.

Automatic detection and reconfiguration of devices