A twist mop comprises a pole, fibers connected to the pole, and a movable collar connected to both the fibers and the pole, so that the collar is movable in an axial and radial direction about the pole, where radial movement of the collar pulls taut the fibers. The mop comprises an upper spline is connected to the pole, a pawl connected to the collar, to allow the collar to move in a radial direction clockwise or counterclockwise about the upper spline. The collar has a radial step to engage the pawl. The pawl is shaped to flex toward the radial step both when the collar axially traverses the pole and when the collar twists in a first direction, around the upper spline. The pawl being shaped to bias towards the upper spline while the collar turns in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, around the upper spline.

In the field of cleaning it is well known that cleaning floors is often difficult to accomplish while conserving water and detergents, while also insuring that the subject floor adequately cleaned. Typically, floors are mopped using various types of conventional mop heads, the mop head being immersed in a volume of water and soap. Several gallons of water and a proportional amount of detergent are used to clean the floor. After the mop is immersed into the water and detergent, a portion of the liquid is squeezed from the mop head and the mop is then wiped across the floor to be cleaned. This leaves the floor wet for a period of time. After the mop head becomes soiled, or after the cleaning fluids have been used up, the mop head needs to be rinsed in the volume of water and detergent, and the process is repeated.
Wringer mops are well known in the art for augmenting the experience of rinsing the mop head. In some types of wringer mops, two operating rods on the exterior of the mop handle are used to pull the mop head through sets of wringer rollers to expel fluid from the sponge of the mop head. In other types of wringer mops, a single operating rod extends through the hollow handle of the mop to connect to the mop head. These types of mops generally include a ring insert placed within the handle to limit lateral movement of the rod within the handle. These mops have the problem in that they have a complicated design and, accordingly, are more fragile to use.
One example of a prior art mop, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,728 to Facca, discloses a self-wringing ratchet mop. The '728 patent discloses a wall defining at least one pawl. Another example of a prior art mop, U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,869, to Libman, discloses a wringer mop. The '869 patent discloses a pawl on a ring that is resiliently fixed the handle, and a series of elongated ribs (spline) on a movable collar.
A problem with the arrangements of the above patents is that the pawl projections are incapable of flexing with the movement of the collar over the handle. Over time, the pawl projections suffer extensive shearing and are rendered useless.
Another example of a prior art mop, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,163, to Morad, discloses a Quick Squeezing Wringable Mop. The '163 patent discloses a complex spring biased pawl, and an annular tie for connecting mop fibers to the collar. The complexity of the spring biased pawl and the intricate mounting of the pawl to the collar adversely affects manufacturing cost and time. The annual ties are brittle and have poor restraining qualities, causing the loss of necessary mop fibers.
Other examples of prior art mops include U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,514,051 and 1,520,500 to Jumonville, each disclosing a Mop. The patents teach a pole that holds one end of mop fibers and a handle that holds the other end of the mop fibers. The patents teach turning the handle about the pole to twist and wring the mop fibers.
The patents disclose a ratchet on the pole and a cylindrical button on the handle. The button is located within a slot. The slot has enough room to allow the button to move towards and away from the ratchet. When the button engages a peak in the ratchet contour, the button is pushed outwardly, away from the ratchet. Otherwise, the button is supposed to bias towards the ratchet so that the button and handle are allowed to advance in a singular direction. Accordingly, the mop fibers advance in a single direction to assist in the wringing process.
The 500' patent discloses a nail for controlling the maximum motion of the button in the handle. The 051' patent discloses manufacturing the button so that the inward portion has a lager diameter than the outer portion, thereby controlling the maximum motion of the button.
Both Jumonville inventions suffer from a fatal defect. Both inventions are disclosed as being made of metal. Accordingly, the metal button of both patents would move freely within the slot of the metal handle, unless biased by some means. However, neither patent discloses this bias means.
According to the disclosure of each Jumonville patent, the button in each handle would freely move outwardly from contacting the ratchet. This motion renders the handle incapable of being restrained from unintentionally unwinding the mop fibers. This motion would result from both of the contours of the ratchet, and the effect of gravity due to the normal use of the mop. Accordingly, both Jumonville patents are not described so that one skilled in the art can make and use the invention, and the patents are fatally invalid.
In comparison with the Jumonville patents, the present invention discloses a spline around the pole of the mop, rather than the ratchet of Jumonville. The present invention discloses a shaped pawl within the handle, rather than the cylindrical button. In the present invention, the pawl snuggly connects the pole of the handle, rather than fitting within a slot and being able to move towards and away from the spline.
The pawl flexes as it moves over the maximum spline contours, rather than moving away from the spline. As the pawl flexes, it absorbs energy. As the pawl rotationally advances over the spline, it advances towards lower contours. At the lower contours, the pawl flexes inwardly, towards the lower contours, and releases the stored energy, rather than requiring a means to bias the pawl against the spline. Accordingly, the pawl and handle are allowed to advance in a singular direction. As a result, the mop fibers advance in a single direction to assist in the wringing process.
According to the above analysis, Jumonville is not an enabling reference over the present invention. Furthermore, Jumonville teaches away from the present invention by requiring an extra means for biasing the button against the ratchet. In contrast, the pawl and spline in the present invention are capable of mutual engagement independent of any further biasing means.


Disclosed herein are graphene coatings characterized by a porous, three-dimensional, spherical structure having a hollow core, along with methods for forming such graphene coatings on glasses, glass-ceramics, ceramics, and crystalline materials. Such coatings can be further coated with organic or inorganic layers and are useful in chemical and electronic applications.

Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon material that has the potential to be useful in a wide variety of applications due to its desirable properties. Graphene has chemically stability, mechanical strength, and flexibility, while possessing a high optical transmittance and electrical conductivity. Certain applications, such as displays and photovoltaics, require transparent conductive films. Graphene can potentially replace currently used conductive oxide films, e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO) in such applications. However, while graphene possesses a large number of properties that make it particularly attractive in such applications, it currently is only primarily used in research as methods for forming, processing, and working with the material continue to advance. Additionally, one limitation that graphene has is that because it is a monolayer, it is a two-dimensional structure with essentially no thickness. This can be an issue particularly where the substrates and materials the graphene is interacting with are thick and/or rough. In such situations, the two-dimensional nature of the graphene may be disadvantageous. Accordingly, it is desirable to obtain three-dimensional graphene structures that retain the advantages of graphene sheets. However, until now, has been difficult to obtain materials with these properties.

Transparent substrates comprising three-dimensional porous conductive graphene films and methods for making the same

INSTITUCIÓ CATALANA DE RECERCA I ESTUDIS AVANÇATS (ICREA)


Systems for converting aldose sugars to ketose sugars and separating and/or concentrating these sugars using differences in the sugars' abilities to bind to specific affinity ligands are described.

Mixed sugar streams, particularly those containing both C5 and C6 sugars, result from hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Following hydrolysis, these sugars mainly exist in the aldose form. However, ketose isomers of these sugars are typically more amenable to further conversion to useful products and fuels. For example, furans, which form precursors for polymers and hydrocarbon fuels (that could replace gasoline) can be made more easily from the ketose sugars than aldose isomers, and similarly, ethanol can be produced by native yeast through the fermentation the C5 sugar xylose only in its keto-isomer (xylulose) form. As a result, the sugars contained in biomass hydrolysate may need to be converted to their ketose form to facilitate their chemical conversion. The necessary isomerization of aldose to ketose can be achieved by enzymatic (glucose/xylose isomerase (XI)) or chemical (solid acid/base) catalysis. However, the reaction generally favors the aldose form of the sugar and, at equilibrium, only a small portion of the sugar is in the ketose form.
It would be useful to have a system for providing an efficient aldose-ketose transformation and/or separation of C5 and C6 sugars from biomass materials.

Aldose-ketose transformation for separation and/or chemical conversion of C6 and C5 sugars from biomass materials


A method of connecting a manganese steel part to another carbon steel part including the steps of depositing an austeno-ferritic stainless steel at the end of a carbon steel part and welding the latter provided at its end with the deposit to a manganese steel part, the method being applicable to assembling a rail to a common crossing railway track part.

The present invention relates generally to a method of connection of a manganese steel part to one or several carbon steel parts.
The invention is in particular applicable in the railway field for the connection of a manganese steel track part forming a common crossing to at least one carbon steel rail. These track parts are made from a steel containing 12-14% by weight of manganese.
It is known to connect a manganese steel part to another carbon steel part through the medium of an insert or of an intermediate element with the same cross-section as the parts to be assembled.
This insert is an austenitic or austeno-ferritic steel part and is obtained through molding or through casing.
Such a method however requires the use of a shaped insert the making and implementing of which are expensive.
Moreover the fact of welding the insert to a carbon steel part by a pocket or flash weld provides upon each weld a substantial bead or seam which has to be mechanically removed thereby leading to major stresses of metallurgical and economical character hence to a serious inconvenience.
Although resulting in consequences of less importance the same formation of a bead or seam is found when welding the insert to the manganese steel part still in the case of pocket or flash welding.
Moreover the parts thus connected may exhibit brittling phases in the transition zones of the welds thus made.
At last such a method of connection through the agency of a shaped insert involves relatively substantial manipulation time and power consumption.

Method of connecting a manganese steel part to another carbon steel part and assembly thus obtained


A peripheral projection, display screen system including (a) a display screen having a rear side and a diagonal dimension, (b) an image-projection source coupled to a peripheral of the system and disposed at a defined, image-projection system depth rearwardly of the screen's rear side, (c) an optical path structure operatively interposed and optically coupling the source and the rear side of the screen, coupling the image from the source to the screen's rear side, and within the mentioned, defined image-projection system depth, a displayable image projected by the source, and (d) system geometry structure organizing the screen, the source, and the optical path structure, whereby the depth ratio of the diagonal dimension of the screen to the image-projection depth is equal to or more than 10:1.

This invention relates to a peripheral projection system. More particularly, it relates to a peripheral projection system which is generally upright, and which utilizes a high-resolution laser color projection source. The color projection source may comprise three lasers with appropriate output optics. The peripheral projection system may include the projection source, or alternatively it may be coupled to receive the output of the projection source through the periphery of the peripheral projection system. The output of the color projection source, or "image" is thereafter subjected to a unique optical path structure which vertically folds the image several times within a thin region of space, referred to herein as an image-projection depth region, that lies behind a display screen for displaying the image. The optical path structure includes a "downstream" turning screen which, through an optical diffuser structure, directs the image toward the rear side of the display screen. The nominal plane of the image-projection depth region may substantially parallel that of the display screen.
The invention further comprises what is referred to herein as a system geometry structure—including a periphery including a supporting frame structure—on which components are mounted. The supporting frame structure defines a large ratio of diagonal screen measure to depth (or "depth ratio") of preferably at least 10:1.
The invention thus fits well into that realm of current screen-display system technology which takes aim at providing large-surface-area, but extremely thin, image-display systems of the types typically used, for example, in television and computer-display applications.
The various features and advantages which are offered by the invention, including those just mentioned above, and beyond, will become more fully appreciated as the detailed description of the invention which follows below is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. With respect to these drawing figures, it should be noted at the outset that the herein-illustrated, cooperative components of the system of the invention, and the organization of those components, are not necessarily drawn to scale.


A cool air feeding system that senses a temperature of each part of a refrigerator compartment, compares the sensed temperature with a reference temperature, determines which part is to be cooled, and redistributes cool air to better cool a part of the refrigeration having a greater need to be cooled. Cool air redistribution is achieved using a single value having multiple openings. Such a valve can take the form of cylindrical manifold and a corresponding cylindrical, unitary-body flow distributor, for example.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cool air feeding system for refrigerators and, more particularly, to a system which feeds cool air to a refrigerator compartment using a duct or the like.
2. Discussion of Related Art
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional cool air feeding system for refrigerators has a duct 2 installed on the rear wall of a refrigerator compartment. The inner space of the refrigerator compartment is divided into top, intermediate and lowest sections a, b and c by shelves. The refrigerator compartment has a plurality of cool air exhaling openings 3 for exhaling cool air to the top, intermediate and lowest sections respectively.
When operating the refrigerator, the cool air inhaled into the duct 2 from the freezer compartment is fed to the refrigerator compartment through the cool air exhaling openings 3 all having the same shape and size. But, since the same quantity of cool air is always fed to each part of the refrigerator compartment, if the foods stored in each shelf are not distributed equally and the kind and temperature of foods are different one another, disproportion in temperature is generated.
More cool air should be fed into the parts storing more foods and/or high temperature foods than into the other parts. But, in the conventional refrigerator, only a given quantity of cool air is fed into each part so that the foods stored may be over-cooled or under-cooled.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conventional cool air feeding system may have a fan(not shown) for forcibly ventilating cool air into the freezer compartment 21, a duct and a plurality of shelves 23 installed on the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 22 to guide and feed cool air into the refrigerator compartment.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the duct 24 has a cool air inlet 25 for inhaling cool air and a cool air exhaling openings 26 for exhaling the inhaled cool air to the refrigerator compartment. Cool air exhaling openings 26 are also installed on a control box 27 disposed on the front part of the duct to thereby communicate with the cool air exhaling openings of the duct.
Therefore, the cool air inhaled in the cool air inlet 25 of the duct 24 is exhaled through the cool air exhaling openings 26 to each shelf 23 installed in the refrigerator compartment 22 to thereby cool the foods put on the shelf.
But, since the cool air exhaling openings 26 for exhaling cool air into the refrigerator compartment 26 are always fixed on the predetermined positions, they result in disproportion in temperature on each shelf 23. The parts of each shelf 23 in the vicinity of the cool air exhaling openings 26 are over-cooled so that the foods stored therein may freeze. On the contrary, the parts far away from the cool air exhaling openings 26 are not cooled so that the foods stored therein may spoil.
Also, disproportion in the temperature distribution increases power consumption.
FIGS. 4 to 7 show another example of the conventional cool air feeding system. The cool air feeding system, different from the one illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, extends into the lower side of the shelf. FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the reference numeral 31 designates a main body, 32 a freezer compartment, 33 a refrigerator compartment, 34 a vegetable box, 35 a freezer compartment door and 36 a refrigerator compartment door. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cool air feeding system includes a duct 41 installed on the rear of the refrigerator compartment 33, a plurality of cool air exhaling openings 41a formed on the duct, the cool air exhaling openings being spaced apart from one another, guide grooves 33a each formed on the inner side walls of the refrigerator compartment 33, and shelves 42 slidably combined with the guide grooves to distribute the cool air exhaled through the cool air exhaling openings 41a into the refrigerator compartment 33. Multi-story shelves 42 are displacably installed in the refrigerator compartment 33.
The shelf 42 includes a base 43 formed like a plate to support the stores on its upper surface, a duct 44 fixed on the central portion of the lower surface of the base 43 back and forth, a plurality of cool air exhaling openings 44a formed on the lower and lateral sides of the duct 44, and a cool air inhaling guide 45 formed on the rear end of the duct 44 to be thereby connected to the cool air exhaling openings 41a of the shelf 42. The duct 44 is fixed on the base 43 using the methods of adhering, interference fitting and high-frequency welding.
Therefore, when the shelf is pushed into the guide groove 43a formed on the inner lateral sides of the refrigerator compartment 33, the cool air inhaling guide 45 of the shelf 42 is connected to the cool air exhaling openings 41a of the duct 41. The cool air descended along the duct 41 is inhaled into the duct 44 through the cool air inhaling guide 45 of the shelf 42. The cool air inhaled moves along the duct 44 and exhales through the cool air exhaling openings 44a formed on the lower and lateral sides of the duct 44.
However, since the cool air feeding system like above has a structure that the duct 44 is fixed on the central portion of the lower surface of the shelf 42, the exhaling direction of the cool air towards the cool air exhaling openings 44a is limited. As a result, the foods stored in the edge of the refrigerator compartment or in the door can not be effectively cooled.

Cool air feeding system for refrigerator


Compounds and compositions for modulating the activity of p38 kinases are provided, including p38α and p38β kinase. Methods for treating, preventing or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a p38 kinase mediated disease or disorder are also provided.

A large number of cytokines participate in the inflammatory response, including IL-1, IL6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Overproduction of cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α are implicated in a wide variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, endotoxin shock, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and congestive heart failure, among others [Henry et al., Drugs Fut., 24:1345-1354 (1999); Salituro et al., Curr. Med. Chem., 6:807-823 (1999)]. Evidence in human patients indicates that protein antagonists of cytokines are effective in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, such as, for example, monoclonal antibody to TNF-α (Remicade) [Rankin et al., Br. J Rheumatol., 34:334-342 (1995)], and soluble TNF-α receptor-Fc fusion protein (Etanercept) [Moreland et al., 25 Ann. Intern. Med., 130:478-486 (1999)].
The biosynthesis of TNF-α occurs in many cell types in response to an external stimulus, such as, for example, a mitogen, an infectious organism, or trauma. Important mediators of TNF-α production are the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, and in particular, p38 kinases. These kinases are activated in response to various stress stimuli, including but not limited to proinflammatory cytokines, endotoxin, ultraviolet light, and osmotic shock. Activation of p38 requires dual phosphorylation by upstream MAP kinase kinases (MKK3 and MKK6) on threonine and tyrosine within a Thr-Gly-Tyr motif characteristic of p38 isozymes.
There are four known isoforms of p38, i.e., p38α, p38β, p38γ, and p38δ. The α and β isoforms are expressed in inflammatory cells and are key modulators of TNF-α production. Inhibiting the p38α and β enzymes in cells results in reduced levels of TNF-α expression. Also, administering inhibitors of p38α and β in animal models of inflammatory disease has proven that such inhibitors are effective in treating those diseases. Accordingly, the p38 enzymes serve an important role in inflammatory processes mediated by IL-1 and TNF-α. Compounds that reportedly inhibit p38 kinase and cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α for use in treating inflammatory diseases are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,277,989 and 6,130,235 to Scios, Inc; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,147,080 and 5,945,418 to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,251,914, 5,977,103 and 5,658,903 to Smith-Kline Beecham Corp.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,932,576 and 6,087,496 to G.D. Searle & Co.; WO 00/56738 and WO 01/27089 to Astra Zeneca; WO 01/34605 to Johnson & Johnson; WO 00/12497 (quinazoline derivatives as p38 kinase inhibitors); WO 00/56738 (pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives for the same purpose); WO 00/12497 (discusses the relationship between p38 kinase inhibitors); and WO 00/12074 (piperazine and piperidine compounds useful as p38 inhibitors).
Pyrrolotriazine compounds useful as tyrosine kinase inhibitors are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/573,829 filed May 18, 2000, assigned to Bristol-Myers Squibb. In addition, pyrrolotriazine kinase inhibitors are disclosed in WO 02/40486, assigned to Bristol-Myers Squibb. Other applications disclosing p38 kinase inhibitors include: WO 03/032970, WO 03/033482, W003/032971, WO 03/032986, WO 03/032980, WO 03/032987, WO 03/033483, WO 03/033457 and WO 03/032972 are incorporated into this application. Each of the patent applications, patents, and publications referred to herein is incorporated herein by reference.


A buffered body fluid expander solution, in which the buffer is a physiologically acceptable buffer that is not an inorganic phosphate buffer, comprises calcium ions and magnesium ions at a concentration ratio of 5:1 to 1:1. The solutions are useful for the manufacture of medicaments and blood volume expanders, for treating hypovolemia or for treating the loss of extracellular and interstitial fluid in subjects suffering with burns, for treating respiratory and/or metabolic acidosis in a subject, for perfusion of the abdominal cavity during peritoneal dialysis of a subject with acute renal failure or an acute toxicity condition, for preventing and/or ameliorating reperfusion injury, and for delivering a therapeutic, test and/or synergistic agent to a subject, including a biological agent, such as at least one stem cell, peptide or genomic derived protein.

Loss of blood volume, also known as hypovolemia, can result, for example, from a number of causes including physical injury, surgery, internal haemorrhaging or burns. Hypovolemia can also be induced by the intake of drugs such as diuretics and vasodilators.
A significant loss of blood volume resulting from hypovolemia can be fatal unless treated rapidly. Such blood loss leads to a drop in blood pressure and a reduction in the necessary supply of blood (and with it oxygen) to essential organs and tissues. Consequently hypovolemia can result in ischemia, multiple organ failure, kidney damage, brain damage, and ultimately death.
Hypovolemia is treated by perfusing the subject with crystalloid or colloidal fluids as a substitute for blood lost following hemorrhagic incidents. These fluid substitutes act to expand blood volume, bring about rehydration and normalise blood pressure.
Examples of currently known blood substitutes or blood volume expanders include lactated Ringer's solution, Hartmann's solution, HES (hydroxylethyl starch) and isotonic saline (sodium chloride) (Chiara et al.; Crit Care Med. 2003; 31(7):1915-22; Rhee et al.; J. Trauma. 1998; 44(2): 313-319; Jernigan et al.; Am Surg. 2004; 70(12):1094-8; Via et al.; J. Trauma. 2001; 50:1076-82).
Despite their ability to restore blood volume, the current blood volume expanders are ineffective at preventing a severe and often fatal condition known as reperfusion injury. This phenomenon is observed in subjects who have suffered from severe hypovolemia and manifests itself in the form of damage to essential organs (such as lungs, kidneys, liver, etc). The deleterious effects of reperfusion injury are usually observed between 1 to 3 days following perfusion with blood volume expanders.

Body fluid expanders comprising N-substituted aminosulfonic acid buffers


An organic EL display formed by welding a lid body and a substrate is arranged in a recessed surface of a cabinet; and at least two cushions are arranged between a bottom surface of the recessed surface and the substrate, the cushions being spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the cabinet. A friction reducing layer, which friction with the substrate of the organic EL display is small, is formed on the cushion, and the substrate is slidable on the cushion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device equipped with a display, specifically, to a mobile terminal device configured by attaching a thin organic EL display.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mobile telephone serving as a mobile terminal device (1) previously disclosed by the applicant. A cabinet (2) equipped with a display (5) is arranged on a supporting box (7) to be slidable in a direction of an arrow D. Operation buttons (70) (70) are arranged on the supporting box (7), so that the device (1) can be operated at an open position in which the operation buttons (70) (70) are exposed.
A device equipped with an organic EL display (5) is disclosed for the display (5) in recent years in view of beauty, thinness, and the like of an image. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along a perpendicular plane including line A-A. A first recessed surface (20) is formed on an upper surface of the cabinet (2), and a second recessed surface (21) is formed in the first recessed surface (20). At the open position of the cabinet (2), an upper surface end (71) of the supporting box (7) is positioned on a lower side of the display (5), and a rear wall (22) of the cabinet (2) comes into contact with the upper surface end (71) of the supporting box (7).
A transparent cover (4) called a screen made from reinforced glass is attached to the first recessed surface (20), and the organic EL display (5) is fixed to the lower surface of the transparent cover (4) with an adhesive called SVR (Super View Resin). The organic EL display (5) is arranged in the second recessed surface (21).
One sheet of cushion (3) is arranged between the lower surface of the organic EL display (5) and a bottom surface of the second recessed surface (21), and the cushion (3) is attached to both the lower surface of the organic EL display (5) and the upper surface of the rear wall (22). The cushion (3) extends over the entire longitudinal direction of the display (5).
As shown enlarged in FIG. 7, the organic EL display (5) is formed by covering a glass lid body (52), which is formed with a recessed portion (51) at the lower surface, on a glass substrate (50), and glass welding (53) the peripheral edge portion of the lid body (52). The glass (53) for welding has a lower melting point than the glass configuring the lid body (52) and the substrate (50).
A back electrode (54) serving as a cathode is vapor deposited on the substrate (50), and an electron-injection layer, an electron transport layer, a light emission layer, a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer, and an anode (all of which are not shown) positioned in the recessed portion (51) are formed thereon. An interior of the recessed portion (51) is filled with inactive gas to prevent oxidation of the back electrode (54). If the back electrode (54) is oxidized, an image cannot be correctly displayed, and thus the peripheral edge portion of the substrate (50) and the lid body (52) need to be strongly welded (53) to maintain a sealed state so that air does not flow in from the welded portion (53).
It is found, however, that the following points in the above-described mobile terminal device need to be improved.
As shown in FIG. 6, when a downward force is applied to a distal end of the cabinet (2) by a hand of a user at the open position, a bending moment M generates with the end (71) of the supporting box (7) as a center. This bending moment M may cause the rear wall (22) to deflect with a projecting surface facing upward. The cushion (3) is attached to both the lower surface of the organic EL display (5) and the upper surface of the rear wall (22), and is arranged over the entire longitudinal direction of the display (5), and thus the deflection of the rear wall (22) transmits to the cushion (3) as is thereby deflecting the entire cushion (3). Such deflection is transmitted to the organic EL display (5), whereby a force of detaching the welding of the substrate (50) and the lid body (52) of the organic EL display (5) acts. The welded portion (53) thereby detaches, air flows into the recessed portion (51), and an image may not be correctly displayed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of maintaining a sealed state of the organic EL display (5) and correctly displaying an image even if a bending moment M is applied on the cabinet (2).

Mobile terminal device equipped with display


A nonvolatile storage device is provided with a nonvolatile main storage memory whose erase size is larger than a cluster size, and a buffer, i.e. a nonvolatile auxiliary storage memory. At the time of writing data in the memory, the data is temporarily stored in the buffer, then, a plurality of data in the buffer are collectively taken out to be stored in the main storage memory. Data in an original block is saved in a write block in the main storage memory. Thus, the data can be written in the main storage memory at a high speed.

Demands of the nonvolatile storage device including a nonvolatile main storage memory capable of rewriting widely spread mainly in the semiconductor memory card. Such semiconductor memory cards include various types, and as one of them, there is a SD memory card (registered trademark). This SD memory card includes a flash memory as a nonvolatile main storage memory, and has a memory controller for controlling it. The memory controller is configured to perform read-write control on the flash memory in response to read-write instructions from an access device such as a digital still camera, a body of a PC (personal computer).
Now consider a case where such the SD memory card is attached to the access device of the personal computer etc., and the personal computer assumes it as a removable disk, controls it with a FAT file system, and thereby accesses the data.
Originally, the FAT file system is a system whereby data reading and writing are instructed in units of clusters which are minimum write units of data using a file allocation table (FAT) when recording a file and data in a recording device.
Among recording devices, recording devices of a magnetic recording type, such as a hard disk or a flexible disk, are characterized in that a cluster size and an erase size are identical, realizing a mechanism which enables erasing and overwriting of data for every specified cluster. Because of this, the FAT file system is a file management system that is very convenient for the recording devices of the magnetic recording type.
On the other hand, in flash memories of a NAND type and of an AND type that constitute the SD memory card, conventionally the cluster size and the erase size (a size of a physical block) are identical, and, for example, 16 k bytes. Therefore, even when data in the SD memory card is managed by using the FAT file system, no problem takes place because it does not differ largely from the recording devices of the magnetic recording type.
In recent years, however, with a need for enlarging a capacity of the flash memory, a flash memory whose physical block size, i.e., the erase size is larger than or equal to 128 k bytes becomes the mainstream. As is well known, such large-capacity flash memory is a device characterized in that the erase size is larger than the cluster size (for example, 16 k bytes) and an overwriting in units of clusters is impossible.
Assume that data of one cluster is rewritten in the SD memory card composed of such large-capacity flash memory. Particularly, assumed is a case where "data needing to be rewritten" and "non-rewritten data not needing to be rewritten" exist in a one physical block of the SD memory card.
In this case, "data rewriting of only one cluster in the physical block" that is required by the FAT file system side cannot be done simply. Because of this, the SD memory card receiving a rewrite instruction temporarily saves the non-rewritten data in another physical block once, and then the new data is written in the other physical block in which the non-rewritten data has been saved.
Such a technique of rewrite processing is disclosed in, for example, Patent document 1.
The nonvolatile storage device disclosed in this document employs a method whereby, when a part in a physical block storing old data is rewritten with new data, the non-rewritten data is copied (saved) in another physical block from the physical block. Such a technique of rewriting will be referred to as a "rewriting technique on the premise of saving data" in the present specification.
An outline procedure of this "rewriting technique on the premise of saving data" is as follows. Usually, in the physical block on the flash memory, sectors are arranged in a logical order, namely sequentially from a lower address side (from a small address value) of the physical block so that logical sector numbers align 0, 1, . . . . Data writing by the rewriting technique on the premise of saving data is performed as follows:
(i) a step for receiving a logical address specified by an access device;
(ii) a step for converting the logical address into a physical address on the main storage memory;
(iii) a step for, when only a part of the data stored in the physical block is rewritten with new data, copying the old data that is not changed (non-rewritten data) in a already erased physical block that exists separately from the physical block;
(iv) a step for writing new data in the already erased physical block in which the old data was copied;
(v) a step for allocating the physical block in which the old data has been recorded to an unused physical block; and
(vi) a step for erasing the contents of the old physical block.
As is clear from the above explanation, since the "rewriting technique on the premise of saving data" is such that un-rewritten data is temporarily saved in another physical block although it is the rewriting of one cluster, subsequently new data is written in the physical block, and the physical block previously being used is erased, the technique is complicated and time-consuming processing.
As a technique whereby a counter measure is devised to such a problem, Patent document 2 discloses the technique, for example.
Flash memory that employs this technique is free from a restriction where a sector arrangement order in the physical block should be a logical order and is so configured that the data may be written in a received order of write commands from the lower order page of the physical block. Moreover, a recording state is controlled by indicating whether valid data is written in each page in which each sector is written or whether the data is invalid because of old data. Hereafter, this management technique will be referred to as an "additional writing type rewriting technique".
By the additional writing type rewriting, since no saving processing of the data takes place each time the access device issues a command of the data writing, writing itself is performed at a relatively high speed, however, a garbage correction is required at a certain timing. The garbage collection is processing where only valid sectors are selected from the predetermined block and are written in another block that is already erased, and the block that becomes invalid is erased.
Patent documents 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-263894
Patent documents 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-27924

Memory controller, nonvolatile storage device, nonvolatile storage system, and data writing method


A photonic integrated circuit including first and second opto-electronic devices that are fabricated on a semiconductor wafer having an epitaxial layer stack including an n-type indium phosphide-based contact layer that is provided with at least one selectively p-type doped tubular-shaped region for providing an electrical barrier between respective n-type contact regions of the first and second opto-electronic devices that are optically interconnected by a passive optical waveguide that is fabricated in a non-intentionally doped waveguide layer including indium gallium arsenide phosphide, the non-intentionally doped waveguide layer being arranged on top of the n-type contact layer, wherein a first portion of the at least one selectively p-type doped tubular-shaped region is arranged underneath the passive optical waveguide between the first and second opto-electronic devices. An opto-electronic system including the photonic integrated circuit.

Modern photonic integrated circuits (PICs) become increasingly complex because of the increasing number of optical and electrical functions that are integrated on a single photonic chip. The most versatile technology platform for PICs uses semiconductor wafers comprising indium phosphide-based (InP) materials. InP-based technology offers the possibility to integrate both active components, e.g. light-generating and/or light-absorbing opto-electronic devices, and passive components, e.g. light-guiding and/or light-switching opto-electronic devices, into one PIC on a single photonic chip.
An exemplary PIC known in the art comprises for example light-generating, light-absorbing and light-switching components that are optically interconnected by passive optical waveguides. Each of the light-generating, light-absorbing and light-switching components requires n-type ohmic metal contacts and/or p-type ohmic metal contacts to their respective n-type doped or p-type doped contact regions. A disadvantage of such a PIC known in the art is that reduction of its footprint is limited because electrical isolation between the n-type doped contact regions of the different light-generating, light-absorbing and light-switching components is insufficient when these components are arranged too close together. This is caused by the fact that despite the possibility to etch away surplus n-type doped InP-based semiconductor material between the individual opto-electronic devices to increase the electrical isolation between their respective n-type doped contact regions, it is not possible to remove the n-type doped InP-based semiconductor material underneath the passive optical waveguides that are arranged to optically interconnect the individual opto-electronic devices. Another disadvantage of such a PIC known in the art in which the surplus n-type doped InP-based semiconductor material between the individual opto-electronic devices has been etched away to increase the electrical isolation between the respective n-type doped contact regions of the individual opto-electronic devices is that the aforementioned etching step adds additional topology to the surface of the photonic chip comprising the PIC. The additional surface topology can have negative effects on for example subsequent lithography steps during processing of the photonic chip.
Based on the above, there is a need to provide a PIC having improved electrical isolation between n-type doped contact regions of its different opto-electronic devices that are optically interconnected by a passive optical waveguide without interfering with the optical light path provided by the passive optical waveguide to enable further footprint reduction of photonic chips.

Photonic integrated circuit having improved electrical isolation between n-type contacts


There is provided a three-axes pedestal for stabilizing the pointing of a mobile tracking antenna. The pedestal comprises a base support with an azimuth axis support having a centerline defining a first axis or azimuth axis, and a first frame being rotatably mounted on the azimuth axis support to rotate about the first axis, where the first frame may hold at least part of a first horizontal linear bearing assembly. The pedestal further comprises a second frame with a lower frame part, which may be slidably interconnected to the first frame via the first horizontal linear bearing assembly. The first linear bearing assembly may include dampers or suspension members for dampening linear slide movement of the second frame along the first linear bearing assembly and thereby for dampening the relative movement of the second frame to the first frame. The pedestal also comprises a third frame interconnected to an upper part of the second frame, where the third frame holds a cross-elevation axis support with a centerline defining a second axis or cross-elevation axis. Furthermore, the pedestal comprises a fourth frame being rotatably mounted on the cross-elevation axis support of the third frame to rotate about the second axis, where the fourth frame holds an elevation axis support with a centerline defining a third axis or elevation axis. The pedestal also comprises a fifth frame supporting the tracking antenna, which fifth frame is rotatably mounted on the elevation axis support of the fourth frame to rotate about the third axis. The upper part of the second frame may hold a second linear bearing assembly, with the third frame being interconnected to the second frame via the second linear bearing assembly, and with the second linear bearing assembly providing a direction of linear slide movement and an axis of rotation for the third frame, thereby providing an axis of rotation for the second axis in a plane perpendicular to the direction of linear slide movement provided by the second linear bearing assembly.

The invention is especially suitable for use aboard ship wherein an antenna is operated to track a transmitting station, such as a communications satellite, notwithstanding roll, pitch, yaw, and turn motions of a ship at sea.
Antennas used in shipboard satellite communication terminals typically are highly directive. For such antennas to operate effectively they must be pointed continuously and accurately in the direction toward the satellite.
When a ship changes its geographical position, or when the satellite changes its position in orbit, and when the ship rolls, pitches, yaws and turns, an antenna mounted on the ship will tend to become misdirected. In addition to these disturbances the antenna will be subjected to other environmental stresses such as shocks caused by wave pounding. All of these effects must be compensated for so that the antenna pointing can be accurately directed and maintained in such direction.
Cost, compactness in size and lightness in weight are of paramount importance for antenna pedestals used on ships. Small ships and boats which operate in rough seas routinely experience roll amplitudes of +/−35 degrees or more, pitch amplitudes of +/−15 degrees, and repetitive wave pounding shocks of 5 g's or more. Antenna pedestals which are compact and light yet rugged are highly desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,521 discloses a three-axes pedestal for a tracking antenna. While this pedestal is quite effective, additional stabilization may be necessary, for example, during extremely rough seas and gale force winds.
U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2010/0149059 discloses an improved three-axes pedestal for a tracking antenna. This pedestal includes horizontal and vertical vibration isolation components to better isolate the antenna from vibration and shock received by the base of the pedestal. However, the servo systems required to control the angular position of the antenna mounted on this pedestal is rather complex and sensitive to imperfect balance, bearing friction and imposed vibration and shock.
It would therefore be useful to provide an improved pedestal for a tracking antenna having shock and vibration isolation components allowing the position of the tracking antenna to be controlled by relatively simple servo systems and by use of simple stepper motors and a servo mechanism that is much less sensitive to imperfect balance, bearing friction and imposed vibration and shock.


The invention provides a thin film semiconductor element and a method of manufacturing the same to achieve lowering the resistance of gate electrodes, lowering the capacitance of source electrodes, and enhancing etching characteristics. The thin film semiconductor element can include a semiconductor film provided on a substrate, source and drain electrodes connected to the semiconductor film, and a gate electrode provided on the semiconductor film with an insulating film interposed therebetween. The film thickness of the source and drain electrodes can be smaller than the film thickness of the gate electrode.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a thin film semiconductor element and a method of manufacturing the same
2. Description of Related Art
In active matrix substrates constituting electro-optical devices, such as liquid crystal display devices, thin film transistors (TFTs) have been used as switching elements. According to recent trend, patterning wiring lines finely for a TFT circuit accompanied with the narrow pixel pitch in a liquid crystal display device, or lowering TFT driving power accompanied with making the substrate large are required.
From the point of view, it has been considered to adopt a low resistance metal as a material for wiring lines or electrodes, such as gate electrodes or source and drain electrodes, in the TFT circuit. Particularly, it has been suggested that an aluminum-based material is used as the low resistance metal. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-20345.
As a material for Al electrodes (wiring lines), Al alloys added with a few atom percent of Cu (copper), Nd (neodymium) and the like are conventionally used in addition to a high purity Al. Further, a laminated structure is used, in which an Al electrode is interposed between a cap layer for preventing the generation of corrosion or hillock and a barrier layer for preventing mutual diffusion between Al metal and a base film material.
FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d) show processes of manufacturing a TFT having an Al electrode with a laminated structure.
First, as shown in FIG. 8(a), an insulating layer 2, a semiconductor layer 5, a gate insulating layer 6, and a gate electrode 100 are formed in order on a transparent substrate 1. In FIG. 8(a), the semiconductor layer 5 and the gate electrode 100 can be formed by a patterning method using a conventional photolithography technique. Further, the semiconductor layer 5 can include a source region 5S, a channel region 5C, and a drain region 5D that are formed by ion doping. Furthermore, the gate electrode 100 has a laminated structure in which a Ti (titanium) layer, an Al (aluminum) layer, and a TiN (titanium nitride) layer are formed in this order on the gate insulating layer 6. The Ti (titanium) layer and the TiN (titanium nitride) layer play roles of a barrier layer and a cap layer, respectively.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8(b), a first interlayer insulating film 20 covers the gate electrode 100 and the gate insulating layer 6. Since the first interlayer insulating film 20 is formed in the same shape as the uneven shape of the gate electrode 100 and the gate insulating layer 6, the surface thereof have an uneven shape corresponding to the surface shape of the gate electrode 100 and the insulating layer 6. Further, in the first interlayer insulating film, contact holes 21 are formed to reveal the source region 5S and the drain region 5D.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8(c), the source and drain electrode material SD is formed to cover the first interlayer insulating film 20. Here, the source and drain electrode material SD has a laminated structure in which a Ti (titanium) layer, an Al (aluminum) layer, and a TiN (titanium nitride) layer are formed in this order on the first interlayer insulating film 20. Since the source and drain electrode material SD is formed in the same shape as the uneven shape of the first interlayer insulating film 20, the surface thereof has an uneven shape corresponding to the surface shape of the first interlayer insulating film 20.
Next, as shown in FIG. 8(d), patterning the source and drain electrode material SD using a photolithography method forms a drain electrode 23 and a source electrode 24.
In such a semiconductor element, by the potential difference between the gate electrode 100 and the semiconductor layer 5, the electric field of the gate electrode 100 affects the channel region 5C to trigger a switching operation between the source region 5S and the drain region 5D.

Thin film semiconductor element and method of manufacturing the same


A spherical image of a spatial environment is received and contains spherically arranged pixel values indexed by a time value. The spherical image is represented in a content creation coordinate system in reference to a spatial position in the spatial environment. The spatial position is indexed by the time value. A spatial relationship is determined between the content creation coordinate system and a spherical image reference coordinate system. Based at least in part on the spatial relationship and the spherically arranged pixel values, spherical distributions of image metadata are determined for the spherical image.

Panorama images can cover a relatively large range of field of views (FOVs) with a wide set of view angles to a physical or artificial environment portrayed by the panorama images. Image portions extracted from the panorama images related to specific view angles can be rendered on image display devices of a wide variety of sizes, shapes, geometries, aspect ratios, etc. Small image portions can be extracted from the panorama images for rendering on relatively small image display areas of handheld devices. Large image portions can be extracted from the same panorama images for rendering on relatively large image display areas of panorama display systems, large televisions, wall-and-ceiling display systems, display systems for Cave Automatic Virtual Environments (CAVEs), etc.
Panorama images can be generated with a relatively high dynamic range. Images display devices, however, may support different dynamic ranges, typically lower. Handset devices may only support lower dynamic ranges much lower than a standard dynamic range, whereas high-end televisions may support high dynamic ranges much higher than the standard dynamic range such as ITU BT Rec.709 with approx. 100 cd/m2 max luminance. Merely extracting image portions extracted from the panorama images of the high dynamic range into the standard dynamic range would fail to take advantage of full rendering capabilities of many high-end televisions. In addition, for almost all display devices, visual artifacts are likely to occur if the image portions extracted from the panorama images are not properly adapted for rendering in accordance with specific rendering capabilities of these display devices.
The viewports of panorama images may change statically or dynamically in various vision applications. For movies, viewports may be selected based on a director's artistic intent. For virtual reality, augmented reality, helmet mounted display applications, etc., viewports may be changed dynamically based on head tracking. In different fields of view to the same image or to similar images, there may exist very different image content characteristics in terms of luminance range, color gamut, white point, etc. Rendering quality is likely to be negatively affected if the differences in the image characteristics of the image portions corresponding to the different fields of view are not properly addressed.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.

Viewport independent image coding and rendering

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


An intake device for an internal combustion engine includes a restriction valve provided in an air intake path of the engine, and an air flow rate sensor for measuring the amount of air suctioned into the air intake path which is provided on the downstream side of the restriction valve. The air flow rate sensor includes an air flow path where a sensor element is provided. The air flow sensor is set in the air intake path with a predetermined angle between the axis of the air flow path and the axis of the air intake path.

In an internal combustion engine used for vehicles, there are some types in which a throttle valve (restriction valve) is provided on the upstream side of an air intake manifold (air intake path), and a fuel injection valve and an air flow rate sensor are provided on the upstream side thereof or on the downstream side thereof (For example, refer to Japanese Published Examined Patent Application, Second Publication No. H04-15388 (Page 2, FIG. 1))
The air flow rate sensor detects the amount of intake air and outputs an intake air rate signal. In a case where the sensor is provided on the downstream side of the throttle valve, generally, it is installed in the axis direction of an air intake path of the air intake manifold.
The intake air rate signal outputted by the air flow rate sensor is inputted into a control circuit, and a fuel injection amount is calculated in response to the running state of the engine. A fuel injection amount signal based on the calculated fuel injection amount is outputted from the control circuit, and the operation control of the fuel injection valve is performed.
In an air intake device of a conventional art internal combustion engine, the air flow rate sensor is an air flow meter that detects the amount of air as a mass flow amount. In a case where the air flow meter is installed on the upstream side of a throttle valve, since the air flow meter measures the total of an amount of air suctioned into a combustion chamber and an amount of air filled in an air intake manifold, there is a problem in that the amount of air suctioned into the combustion chamber cannot be accurately measured in the period of transition.
On the other hand, in a case where the air flow meter is installed on the downstream side of the throttle valve in the axis direction of an air intake path, it is not possible to accurately measure the amount of intake air due to disturbance of air, which occurs on the downstream side of the throttle valve. That is, one end of the throttle valve is inclined in the forward direction in regard to the streams of air by rotation of the throttle valve, and simultaneously, the other end of the throttle valve is inclined in the reverse direction of the streams of air. In a case where the throttle valve is slightly opened, since a gap is formed between the throttle valve in the air intake path and the air intake path, air is caused to flow to the downstream side of the throttle valve along the inner wall in the air intake path through the gap.
Therefore, air straightly flows along the inner wall of the air intake path on the downstream side at one end side of the throttle valve inclined in the forward direction, and air flows while forming a vortex toward the center direction of the air intake path on the downstream side at the other end side of the throttle valve inclined in the reverse direction. That is, an air flow that is substantially parallel to the inclination of the throttle valve is formed from the other end side to one end side on the downstream side of the throttle valve. Therefore, if the air flow meter is installed immediately behind the throttle valve so as to extend in the axial direction of the air intake path, there is a problem in that the air flow meter cannot accurately measure the air amount suctioned into the combustion chamber.
Further, when the throttle valve is fully opened, although air flows in the air intake path, since an area in which the velocity of air becomes slow is brought about on the downstream side of the turning shaft of the throttle valve, there is a problem in that the air flow meter cannot accurately measure the amount of air suctioned into the combustion chamber if the air flow meter is installed immediately behind the throttle valve so as to extend in the axis direction of the air intake path.
In order to solve these problems, it is necessary that, in the prior arts, an air intake path is made larger to reduce disturbance of air, and the air flow meter is installed at a suitable position.
The present invention was developed in view of such situations, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an air intake device for an internal combustion engine and a method of measuring an intake air amount, which are able to accurately measure the air flow rate and are able to downsize the air intake path.

Intake device for internal combustion engine and method of measuring intake air amount


An integrated high side switch with multi-fault protection. When a fault condition is detected, the switch is turned off. The switch includes a pair of transistors that are connected such that the source of the first transistor is connected with the source of the second transistor. The drain of the first transistor is thus connected to the supply voltage. A first current mirror generates a current sense output. A second current mirror generates an internal current to detect an over current fault condition. The transistors in the current mirrors are connected like the switch transistors. A high voltage operational amplifier and a transistor are used as feedback to insure that the voltage at the output of the current mirrors matches the voltage at the output of the switch. This ensures that the current mirrors generate scaled versions of the current flowing through the switch.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated electronics. More particularly, the present invention relates to an integrated semiconductor high side switch with multi-fault protection.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Vehicles today are becoming significantly more complex and sophisticated. Much of the complexity and sophistication can be attributed to the electrical nature of vehicles. Modern automotive electronic systems, for instance, monitor or control many aspects of a vehicle's operation. Automotive electronic systems use various sensors (resistive sensors, inductive sensors, pressure sensors, and the like) to detect and monitor operational parameters such as fuel mixture, vehicle speed, engine temperature, safety mechanisms, and the like. Automotive electronic systems use the data collected by the various sensors to control and operate the respective electronic systems.
When an electronic system is designed for a vehicle, there are several problems that should be addressed. For instance, automotive electronic systems operate in a harsh environment that cannot be readily changed. Thus, electronic systems used in vehicles must survive the environment and be able to withstand extreme temperatures, nearly constant vibrations, and other physical jolts. In addition, automotive electronic systems may also be subject to extreme voltages (both high and low voltages) and short circuits to either ground or other voltage levels.
Another problem faced by automotive electrical systems is related to the need to interface a relatively large number of sensors with a microprocessor or other control system. As a general rule, it is not practical for the microprocessor to monitor all of the sensors in real time. Thus, the microprocessor samples the sensors periodically or based on current operating conditions of the vehicle. It is therefore desirable to turn the various sensors on and off rapidly. Mechanical switches are an inadequate solution for turning the sensors on and off rapidly because they are both too slow and too expensive. Electro-mechanical switches, on the other hand, have relatively short life spans, which makes them a less than ideal solution.
The need to turn a sensor on and off quickly is not the only electrical problem faced by automotive electrical systems. There are a variety of different fault conditions that can occur such as extreme voltages, short circuits to both high and low voltages, current surges, and the like. A properly designed electrical system should survive the various fault conditions and isolate other electronics that may be affected by the fault conditions. A properly designed electrical system insures that current, for example, does not flow back into a voltage supply and that voltage spikes do not harm the electrical system.
These problems are particularly present at switches that are used to turn the sensors on and off repeatedly. Not only should the sensors, supply voltages, or other electrical devices be protected from fault conditions, but the switches also need to be protected from the fault conditions themselves. One solution to these problems in use today is to provide a number of discrete electronic components that both customize the interface with the sensor or other electrical device and that protect the sensors from various fault conditions that may occur during operation of a vehicle. The use of discrete components, however, presents a potential problem in reliability because the severe operating environment of vehicles may have an adverse impact on one or more of the discrete components. The use of discrete components also raises the cost of this solution. What would be advantageous is a system or method that provides protection for various fault conditions without relying on discrete components. This type of approach would lower cost and improve reliability.

Multi-fault protected high side switch with current sense


A system managing a polishing state of tips of a welding gun of each welding robot installed in a production line of a vehicle includes: a robot controller storing tip polishing data including the number of polishing of the tips and a polishing amount of the tips generated after each tip dressing of the welding gun; and a server collecting the tip polishing data from the robot controller to store the collected data according to robot identification information of the robot and learning the store data through artificial neural network to generate reference data determining the polishing state of the tips corresponding to the robot identification information. The robot controller sets artificial neural network of the robot based on the reference data and determines whether a polishing state of the tips according to the number of polishing and the polishing amount of the tips is normal.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Generally, several welding robots are used to automatically perform spot welding or resistance welding to join a plurality of members in a production line of a vehicle. In addition, the number of the welding robots in operation is increasing due to automation of the production line.
The spot welding welds a base material by applying a high voltage current to the base material while two electrode tips attached to both ends of a welding gun of the welding robot is pressing the base material and continuously performs welding operations for a plurality of welding points.
The welding tips come into direct contact with the base material. Contact surfaces of fore-ends of the tips are deformed when the welding operation is repeated. For example, the surface of the tip may be deformed by contamination due to a welding soot and pressure and high temperature during the welding operation. The high voltage current required for the welding operation is lowered due to the deformation of the tip. Lowering of the high voltage current causes poor welding.
Therefore, a tip dressing operation is performed to polish the fore-ends of the tips through a polishing apparatus after a certain number of welding operations to prevent a welding defect. If the tip is not properly polished, the welding defect will occur. Thus, it is necessary to determine a polishing state of the tip after the tip dressing operation.
A tip inspection apparatus using a non-contact sensor has been developed recently. The tip inspection apparatus irradiates an inspection beam on a polishing surface of the tip and inspects the polishing state of the tip based on a measurement value of reflected light quantity.
A conventional tip inspection apparatus requires a separate working time in which the polishing surface of the tip is moved to a position at which the light beam is irradiated and then is returned to a working position for the welding operation. Thus, in a case of the production line having high unit per hour (UPH), a process for the production line may be delayed or a polishing time for the tip may not be secured.
Further, because degree of freedom of the welding gun is limited, the polishing surface of the tip may not be moved to a position at which the light beam is irradiated so that it is difficult to inspect the polishing state of the tip.
In addition, as the number of tip inspection devices corresponding to the increased number of the welding robots is increased, a cost of installation and operation of the tip inspection devices may increase. Cost of consumable is increased by replacing the tip that has a long service life but performs a certain number of welding operations.
Also, since sensor data of the tip inspection devices corresponding to the welding robots are different from each other, management work amount for the tip inspection is increased. If uniform data for the tip inspection is used, reliability of the tip inspection will be impaired.

System and method for managing welding gun


A battery module including a plurality of battery cells; and a barrier including a body portion, and a partition wall protruding from a first side of the body portion, first adjacent battery cells of the plurality of battery cells being arranged at the first side of the body portion, the partition wall extending between the first adjacent battery cells.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery module.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high-power battery module using a non-aqueous electrolyte with high energy density has recently been developed. The high-power battery module is configured as a large-capacity battery module manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series to be useable in driving motors of devices requiring high power, such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and the like.
The battery module may include a plurality of battery cells. However, the plurality of battery cells are typically not efficiently arranged in a space, and an unnecessarily wide interval between the battery cells exists, and, therefore, the accommodation efficiency of the battery cells is decreased.


Heat-sealable, multi-layer composite packaging structures that are suitable for packaging and having improved sealing properties and simplified construction as compared to prior art composite film constructions are disclosed. The inventive film structure includes a first substrate, such as paper, bonded such as by extrusion lamination, to a sealable, high-barrier film. This inventive “paper-adhesive-polymer” lamination may replace prior art “paper-adhesive-foil-adhesive” foil-based tandem laminations. An improved or comparable polymer film substrate may replace the “foil-adhesive” layer components of the popular incumbent prior art structure.

Multi-layer polymer films are widely used in packaging applications, such as bags and pouches for granular, particulate, individual, powder and liquid type products. Some common examples may include cereals, pet foods, snack foods, cookies, chips, seeds, fertilizers, etc. Many of these products are packaged mechanically at high speed for sale or distribution from bulk supplies. Multi-layer films must have the ability to form reliable seals at relatively high speed and appropriate temperature and, in some instances the film must do so in the presence of contamination in the seal region, due to the contents of the package. In many packaging applications involving dry powder or granular products, such as cake mixes, dry soup mixes, powdered drink mixes, hot chocolate mixes, and spices, a preferred packaging method has been a composite, laminated structure comprising a printable, outer paper web that is laminated to a foil layer and includes a second lamination of an inner seal layer on the side of the foil opposite the paper layer. Such incumbent structures are sometimes referred to as a traditional "paper/adhesive/foil/adhesive" structure or sometimes as a "paper/poly/foil/poly" structure. Typically, the "poly" in such structures is a polyethylene polymer.
In such composite packaging structures, the paper layer functions to provide a printable interface and a non-extensible web that can withstand the high stress forces applied as the structure is run through pouch and packaging machines at high speed and in the presence of high temperatures. Additionally, the paper layer functions to withstand the very high sealing temperatures required for sealing the relatively thick composite structures at high speed.
The foil is provided as a barrier layer. Foil has commonly been recognized as a barrier material, having transmission rates with respect to oxygen, water, flavor, aroma, and light of near zero, when in flat, undamaged form. However, in practice the foil layer is subject to flex cracking, pin-holing, crazing, and scratching in the packaging structure, and additionally to further deterioration and damage in the seal area due to the sealing function. The foil is also not very elastic and is subject to damage during film stretching or deformation. These defects may result in severely impaired performance as compared to flat foil substrate performance, leading to decreased shelf life and product spoilage. The failure of the foil layer can occur during the packaging process and during the distribution cycle for storage and retailing.
The inside or product-side adhesive or polymer layer typically functions as the sealable layer and is commonly a sealable polymer containing polyethylene, such as an olefin copolymer or terpolymer containing polyethylene and/or butylene. In some common prior art embodiments the inside sealable layer comprises a layer of extruded, high density polyethylene polymer that provides an acceptable seal strength along with an acceptable degree of leak-proofing in the seal area.
The polymer layer positioned between the paper substrate and the foil layer typically functions as an adhesive to bond the paper and foil. This layer is commonly a coextruded polymer layer, such as polyethylene, that is used as a coextrusion lamination adhesive.
To approach the performance of the paper/poly/foil/poly product without relying upon the fragile foil layer or without the need to perform two extrusions of polymer to laminate and provide a seal layer, some packaging applications may instead utilize just a multilayer polymer film. Flexible packaging polymer films may be treated on an outer surface to permit printability, treated and metallized on an opposing inner surface of the film to provide the barrier performance, and thereafter coated or laminated to an inner polymer seal layer or seal-coating. However, these metallized, coated films are not without their own limitations, such as sensitivity to high temperature at high speed, lack of bond strength of the metallized layer, seal strength concerns, hermeticity concerns, package stiffness concerns, and requiring the separate step of applying a sealant layer to the metal layer. Even with enhanced surface treatment and preparation, the metal layer may be subject to delamination and may require special quality control and handling to ensure consistent application. Further, the metallized layer may still suffer the other deficiencies of foil and may be especially sensitive to scratching and related defects as compared to foil.
Other sealable polymer films useful for packaging are also known in the art. For further example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,247 B1 to Kume et al. (Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.) discloses a polypropylene-based heat-sealable film having reduced minimum seal temperature. U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,913 B1 to Hanyu et al. (Fina Technology, Inc.) discloses a multi-layer polyolefin film of the type suitable for packaging application in which heat seals are formed. The multi-layer film comprises a substrate layer formed of a crystalline thermoplastic polymer having an interface surface. A heat-sealable surface layer is bonded to the interface surface of the substrate layer and is formed of a syndiotactic propylene polymer effective to produce a heat seal with itself at a sealing temperature of less than 110° C. (230° F.). U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,137 B1 to Vadhar (Cryovac, Inc.) discloses a two-component laminated multi-layer film suitable for use in packaging articles, such as pet food, comprising a first component and a non-heat-shrinkable second component. U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,648 to Donovan et al. (Mobil Oil Corporation) discloses a multi-layer film which has an improved composite structure for packages manufactured in a high speed packaging apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,068 to Kong et al. (Mobil Oil Corporation) discloses a multi-layer film that has an improved composite structure for providing hermetic seals to packages manufactured in a high speed packaging apparatus. The structure of the multi-layer film includes layers A/B/C/D. Skin layer A is formed from polypropylene copolymer with melt flow rate greater than one or linear high density polyethylene with melt index greater than one. Core layer B is formed from polypropylene. Intermediate layer C has the primary function of compliance during sealing, and sealing layer D has the primary function of providing adhesivity to the completed seal.
Related U.S. application Ser. No. 10/079,662 to Bader, filed on Feb. 20, 2002, discloses a core layer B that comprises a softening additive blended in a core layer to improve the hermeticity of a sealed package. The softening additive enhances compliance of the core layer with the sealable layer while the seal area is heated under pressure within the crimp jaws during sealing operations. The invention of the '662 application functions during sealing operations to effect a more hermetic seal. It is possible to improve hermeticity as per the '662 application without necessarily, substantially improving minimum seal strength.
Though each of the above films represented a variety of improvements related to packaging films, none of the above films combine desired improvements in processability, seal strength, impact strength, hermeticity, durability, and sufficiently reduced seal temperatures for some of today's challenging packaging operations. Opportunities exist for composite, laminated polymer films to replace other packaging composite substrates, such as those including paper and foil, in many demanding packaging operations, such as with ice cream bars, chocolate bars, powders, and other dry-particulate foods.
In many flexible packaging applications, it remains desirable to eliminate the foil layer in the incumbent packaging structures, to provide acceptable barrier properties and hermeticity, to reduce costs and time required to prepare the double-laminated incumbent structures, and to provide a packaging structure that may be microwavable. It is also desirable in some applications to have a polypropylene-based composite packaging structure that does not rely on polyethylene or other adhesive-type polymers for sealability, hermeticity, and seal strength. The inventive composite film meets these and other needs.

Sealable packaging structures and applications related thereto


A connector which can connect a personal computer designed to use a memory card as an external memory medium to an external storage device or medium via the connection for the memory card. The housing (4) of a card type connector (2) is designed to have an external shape and size substantially the same as a standardized memory card. By inserting the housing (4) into a memory card connector (22) of a personal computer (200), the personal computer (200) and a hard disk drive (210) are connected by a cable (36) extending from the housing (4) of the card type connector (2), so that data transmission and reception can be performed between the personal computer (200) and the hard disk drive (210).

External memory mediums or devices electrically connectable to the personal computer, e.g., a memory card, a hard disk drive, etc. are used to increase the storage capacity of the personal computer. The storage capacity of these devices varies. The memory capacity of a memory card is determined and limited by the number of memory elements incorporated therein and the memory capacity of each individual memory element. As a consequence, when a memory card is used for applications requiring a large memory capacity, the memory elements must each have a large memory capacity.
However, because memory cards are designed to be compact, the number and capacity of the memory elements incorporated therein is restricted. In view of the limited memory capacity of a memory card, in some applications, it may be desirable to use the hard disk drive as an external storage device due to its greater memory capacity. In addition to the limited capacity, memory cards are generally expensive due to the cost of the memory elements incorporated therein.
In the Japanese market, for example, a typical memory card, for example, a Static Random Access Memory ("SRAM") type memory card with a 1 MB to 2 MB memory capacity costs about 20,000 to 30,000 yen. Further, a memory card with a 10 MB to 20 MB memory capacity (requiring memory elements of greater memory capacity, such as a flash memory) costs about 200,000 to 300,000 yen. In contrast thereto, a hard disk drive costs about 80,000 yen for a memory capacity of 80 MB, about 100,000 yen for a memory capacity of 100 MB, and about 150,000 yen for a memory capacity of 200 MB.
Therefore, in view of the comparison between memory capacity and price, it may be desirable to use the hard disk drive rather than a memory card in certain applications because hard disk drives have a larger memory capacity than memory cards and are also less expensive.
Because the hard disk drive is larger than the memory card, it is difficult to load it into a compact personal computer, in particular, into a notebook computer. As a consequence, most compact computers are designed to have a memory card insertion slot or a connector for a memory card so that they may use a memory card as an external memory medium. In order to connect a hard disk drive to a computer designed as described above, a new connector is needed.


Cold-stretched products comprising a propylene-based resin composition obtained by mixing. (A) a polymer consisting mainly of propylene units, in a proportion of not more than 92% by weight and not less than 50% by weight,. (B) a polymer consisting mainly of butene-1 units or an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer having a softening point of 95.degree. C. or lower, in a proportion of not more than 47% by weight and not less than 5% by weight,. (C) a tackifier in a proportion of not more than 25% by weight and not less than 3% by weight, the sum of the proportions being 100% by weight; and a process for producing said cold-stretched products.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stretched products comprising a propylene-based resin composition excellent in cold-stretchability and which have a low degree of dimensional nonuniformity and a high low-temperature shrinkability, and a process for producing the stretched products.
2. Related Art
Currently, in the case of shrinkable plastics, a stretched product which shrinks at a low temperature is desirable from the viewpoint of energy savings, improvement of safety in work environments, etc. In the present invention, the term "stretched products" is used to denote products including not only flat films and sheets obtained by stretching but also various products of a non-flat shape in a stretched state obtained by molding or the like. In particular, heat-shrinkable films and sheets are advantageous in that they prevent their contents from being changed in quality by heat, and hence there has been a growing demand for such materials which shrink at low temperatures. In shrink packaging, as the shrinkage percentage is increased, the temperature at which sufficient shrinkage can be attained is lowered, and a wrinkle-free beautiful package can be obtained more easily.
In the field of packaging films and sheets, because of the demand for higher-speed automatic packaging, packaging films and sheets each having a uniform thickness and a good flatness are required. Also, in the case of printing machines, bag making machines- and molding machines, there is a growing demand for improved efficiency. Particularly in the field of films, rapid and secure sealing by means of a high-speed packaging machine is required, and therefore nonuniformity in thickness of a film or sheet itself becomes a cause of the nonuniformity of sealing capability. When a film or sheet having an insufficient flatness is sent out at a high speed during printing or bag making, bending and sagging occur, so that high-speed printing or bag making cannot be achieved.
Propylene-based resins have a relatively high melting point, a high heat resistance and a high oil resistance and hence are desirable as materials for resin compositions for packaging of oil-containing substances, which compositions are to be heated.
On the other hand, since ethylene-based resins such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers have a low melting point, they permit lowering of the stretching temperature and can give a stretched product having a good low-temperature shrinkability. These resins, however, are poor in heat resistance and oil resistance. That is, packaging materials obtained from them cannot withstand heat sterilization at 90.degree. C. or higher and cannot withstand cooking of an oil-containing substance packaged using the packaging materials.
A technique of stretching a propylene-based resin at a high temperature near its melting point to cause orientation is well known. As packaging films having a propylene-based resin layer, there are known monolayer films comprising a mixed composition of propylene-based resins and various composite laminated films. Also well known are films of compositions obtained by mixing a propylene-based resin with a tackifier. However, although the compositions used therein have a high heat resistance because of their melting point being higher than that of ethylene-based resins, they are poor in cold-stretchability and hence require stretching at a high temperature of 100.degree. C. or higher.
Also well known are oriented films of compositions obtained by mixing a propylene-based resin with a polybutene resin, but the cold-stretchability of the compositions used therein is not sufficient and the oriented films do not have a thickness precision sufficient for their use in a present-day high-speed machine and moreover are not satisfactory in low-temperature shrinkability.
On the other hand, it has also been attempted to laminate a proplene-based resin layer on a resin having an excellent cold-stretchability and cold-stretch them together.
For example, Jap. Pat. Pub. No. 48-21354 discloses a monolayer film obtained by stretching a mixed composition of a propylene-based resin, a petroleum resin and an anti-blocking agent at 135.degree. to 160.degree. C.
Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 47-34565 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,253) discloses a laminated film obtained by laminating a vinylidene-chloride-based resin layer on a crosslinked EVA base layer (an inner seal layer), further laminating thereon a layer (an outer surface layer) of a mixed composition of a polypropylene resin, a polybutene-1 resin and an atactic polypropylene resin, and stretching the three layers with heating at about 88.degree. C.
The specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,304 discloses a film obtained by stretching a monolayer film of a mixed composition of a polypropylene resin and a polybutene-1 resin with heating at approximately 82.degree.-110.degree. C.
The specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,270 discloses a laminated film obtained by stretching with heating at 98.degree.-100.degree. C. and which comprises three layers, i.e., a crosslinked EVA base layer (an inner seal layer) and two layers (outer surface layers) of a mixed composition of a polypropylene resin, a polybutene-1 resin and an atactic polypropylene resin.
Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 54-92895 discloses a laminated film obtained by stretching with heating at 130.degree. C. and which comprises two layers, i.e., a base layer formed of a mixture of a polypropylene resin and a low-molecular-weight resin (e.g., a petroleum resin) and a layer of a mixed composition of a polypropylene resin and a polybutene-1 resin.
Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 54-106585 (corresponding to of U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,767) discloses a laminated film obtained by stretching with heating at 130.degree. C. and which comprises three layers, i.e., a base layer of a resin composition composed mainly of a polypropylene type polymer and two surface layers of a mixed composition of an ethylene-propylene copolymer, a butene-1-based copolymer and a low-molecular-weight resin(a low-molecular-weight polypropylene or a low-molecular-weight polyethylene).
Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 57-15958 discloses a laminated film obtained by stretching with heating at 70.degree.-130.degree. C. and which comprises three layers, i.e., a base layer of a mixture of a propylene-based polymer and a butene-1-based polymer and two surface layers of an olefin resin (e.g. a propylene-butene-1 copolymer) gaving a melting point of 150.degree. C. or lower.
Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 58-11147 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,862) discloses a laminated film obtained by stretching with heating at about 88.degree. C. and which comprises four layers, i.e., a crosslinked EVA base layer, a barrier layer and two outer layers of a mixed composition of a polypropylene resin and a polybutene-1 resin.
Jap. Pat. Appln. Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 60-79932 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,859) discloses a laminated film obtained by stretching with heating at 45.degree. C. and which comprises five layers, namely, a core layer of a mixed composition of a polypropylene resin and a polybutene-1 resin, intermediate layers as base layers on both sides thereof which are formed of a mixed composition very excellent in cold-stretchability composed mainly of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and two surface layers formed of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
However, the propylene-based resin compositions described in these references can give stretched products good in thickness uniformity only on stretching at a high temperature of about 100.degree. C. or higher and permit cold stretching only when they are laminated on a base layer formed of another composition excellent in cold-stretchability. Thus, the propylene-based resin compositions themselves do not have a satisfactory cold-stretchability.
That is, the propylene-based resin compositions poor in cold-stretchability are insufficient in low-temperature shrinkability, and products obtained by forming the propylene-based resin composition into a laminate and cold-stretching the laminate, have not been sufficient in thickness uniformity and do not have desired performance characteristics. In other words, for satisfactory cold stretching of the laminate, the thickness of the propylene-based resin poor in stretchability should be reduced, and therefore a desired heat resistance of the whole laminate film has been unattainable. For obtaining a film in which all layers constituting the multiple layers of the film have been stretched to a high degree, the propylene-based resin compositions have been disadvantageous, for example, as follows. Since different stretching conditions should be employed for different resins constituting the layers, undesirable phenomena such as thickness non-uniformity, streaks, punctures and whitening occur during stretching, and the resulting film has an insufficient low-temperature shrinkage percentage. Moreover, when the film is subjected to free shrinkage at a high temperature at which sufficient shrinkage can be attained, a propylene-based resin layer having a small shrinkage percentage becomes wavy and the film after shrinking shows whitening.
In addition, when a film having a high degree of thickness nonuniformity obtained by forced cold stretching of the propylene-based resin is wound round a bobbin, the wound film is uneven, and the film becomes insufficient in flatness, is poor in machinability in a sending-out step in bag making, printing or the like, and produces nonuniform sealing strength in a high-speed automatic packaging machine or the like.

Cold-stretched products comprising a propylene-based resin composition and process for producing the same


A system for determining the weight of a vehicle includes a first axle subject to a relatively fixed axle weight. Typically, this axle is a front steering axle for a tractor-trailer combination vehicle. The load on this axle is considered known as the load does not vary significantly during the operation of the vehicle. A first accelerometer is supported on the first axle and measures the vertical acceleration of the first axle producing a first signal. Each additional axle on the vehicle, including any single rear or tandem drive axles and any trailer axles, also supports an accelerometer. The accelerometers on each of these additional axles measure the vertical acceleration of its respective axle. Each of these additional accelerometers produces a signal representative of its respective axle accelerations and these signals are combined to produce a second signal. A processor determines the vehicle weight by comparing the second signal to the first signal.

This application relates to a unique system for determining the weight of a vehicle by using accelerometers to measure the accelerations of the vehicle axles as the vehicle is moving.
Vehicles usually have maximum weight ratings which represent how much weight the vehicle can carry. Thus, it is important to know the weight of a vehicle during its operation. Overloading a vehicle can cause premature component wear resulting in high maintenance costs.
Often it is difficult to tell how much weight has been loaded onto a vehicle. Vehicles carry various types of cargo or payload in varying amounts. During a single day, a vehicle may transfer any of these different types of loads to various locations where a new load may be picked up and the original load removed. This loading and unloading of cargo can take place several times a day. Thus, it is important for a vehicle operator to know the vehicle weight at all times during the operation of the vehicle.
The most common method used for monitoring the weight of a vehicle is a scale. Typically, scales are located at the various sites where the vehicles are loaded or unloaded. The vehicle is driven onto the scale and the weight of the vehicle is measured while the vehicle is stationary. There are several drawbacks with this method. First, the scales are expensive and require continual maintenance to ensure proper calibration. Second, use of scales can be time consuming as there is usually only one scale per location with many vehicles waiting to be weighed. Finally, scales are not available at every location where a vehicle may be picking up a load, possibly due to the remoteness of the location or because the location is temporary. Thus, when the vehicle is loaded at such a location, an operator may not know exactly what the vehicle weight is and risks overloading the vehicle.
Another method to monitor the payload of a vehicle uses a force sensor, such as a load cell or pressure transducer. This method is expensive because it requires the vehicle to be retrofitted to include pressure sensing airbags and load cells throughout the vehicle to measure pressure and determine weight under certain known or fixed height conditions.
Thus, it is desirable to have an inexpensive system for determining the weight of a vehicle that continually monitors the vehicle weight and which is easily installed, maintained.

Payload monitoring for a tractor-trailer


A method corrects at least one transmission parameter for data transmission between a sensor unit and a control unit. A sensor timing signal is generated by a sensor oscillator with a predetermined period. The at least one transmission parameter is determined on the basis of the sensor timing signal. A reference timing signal is generated by a reference oscillator with a predefined reference period. The sensor timing signal is compared with the reference timing signal. A deviation of a current period of the sensor timing signal from a reference period is determined on the basis of the comparison. The at least one transmission parameter is corrected on the basis of the determined deviation.

Peripheral sensor interface 5 (PSI5) is an open standard. On the basis of the previous PASO protocol, the PSI5 standard supports applications in which up to four sensors per bus node can be interrogated in different configurations by a control unit. Bidirectional communication for sensor configuration and diagnosis is also provided.
In airbag systems, for example data from pressure sensors or acceleration sensors is evaluated via current-modulated two-wire buses which communicate with the control unit via a Manchester-encoded protocol. The PSI5 standard also defines possible operating modes. They are firstly differentiated into synchronous and asynchronous operating modes. In the case of the synchronous operating modes, depending on the connection of the sensors to the control unit there are three operating modes: parallel BUS mode in which the sensors are connected in parallel, universal BUS mode in which the sensors are connected in serial fashion and daisy chain BUS mode. Combined with other parameters, such as the total number of time slots, data rate, data word length, parity/CRC monitoring, the PSI5 standard permits different implementation possibilities. The use of a 10 bit data word length is widespread.
Owing to oscillator clock tolerances at the sensor, the number of bits which can be transmitted within a PSI5 communication mode is limited. For example, 10 bit sensor data can be transmitted within a 125 k communication mode in three different communication slots, even if the oscillator clock of the sensor can deviate by ±5% over its service life. However, in known methods it is not possible to communicate with three bus users within four communicate slots in the 16 bit mode at 189 k if there is an oscillator deviation of ±5% since otherwise data collisions can occur on the bus.

Device and method for correcting at least one transmission parameter