An optical imaging lens includes: a first, second, third, fourth and fifth lens element, the first lens element has an object-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis and a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery; the second lens element has an object-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery; the third lens element has positive refractive power, having an object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of its periphery; the fourth lens element has positive refractive power, having an object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of its periphery and an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis; the fifth lens element has an image-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis and a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an optical imaging lens set and an electronic device which includes such optical imaging lens set. Specifically speaking, the present invention is directed to an optical imaging lens set of five lens elements and an electronic device which includes such optical imaging lens set of five lens elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the popularity of mobile phones and digital cameras makes the sizes of various portable electronic products reduce quickly, and so does the size of the photography modules. The current trend of research is to develop an optical imaging lens set of a shorter length with uncompromised good quality. The most important characteristics of an optical imaging lens set are image quality and size.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,105, U.S. Pat. No. 7,639,432, U.S. Pat. No. 7,486,449 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,684,127 disclose an optical imaging lens set of five lens elements. However, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,105 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,639,432, the first lens element and the second lens element have negative refractive power and with positive refractive power respectively; in U.S. Pat. No. 7,486,449 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,684,127, both the first lens element and the second lens element have negative refractive power. This arrangement cannot achieve good optical performance. Besides, in those four patents, the total length of the optical imaging lens set is between 10˜18 mm, and the size of the optical imaging lens set is too big to satisfy the specification requirements of consumer electronics products.
Therefore, how to reduce the total length of a photographic device, but still maintain good optical performance, is an important research objective.

Optical imaging lens and electronic device comprising the same


There are provided the body supported to the side of the combination switch and having the circular wall, the rotor connected rotatably to the body and coaxial with the wall section, the free motion spacer formed circularly between the body and the rotor and capable of freely turning with rotation of the rotor, the first guide section and the roller constituting the second guide section which are provided in the free motion spacer, the first flat cable arranged along in the circumferential direction of the outer and inner peripheral sides of the free motion spacer in such a manner that both ends of the first flat cable are fixed to the body and the rotor respectively and the first flat cable is reversed by always making the convex side of the reversing section in the first flat cable contact the first guide section, and the second flat cable arranged along the circumferential direction of the outer and inner peripheral sides of the free motion spacer in such a manner that both ends of the second flat cable are fixed to the body and the rotor respectively and the second flat cable is reversed by always making the concave side of the reversing section of the second flat cable contact the roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary connector device supplied for electrical connection between a vehicle body and a steering wheel in an automobile or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-204224 discloses a conventional rotary connector device shown in FIG. 4. This rotary connector device 101 is provided with a fixed-side housing 105 having an outer tubular wall 103 and a movable-side housing 109 having a inner tubular wall 107. A moving body 117 is rotatably arranged in an accommodating section 111 formed between the fixed-side housing 105 and the movable-side housing 109. The moving body 117 is provided with a first opening 113 and a second opening 115. First and second flat cables 119 and 121 are wound in the accommodating section 111 in such a manner that both ends of each of the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 are fixed respectively on circumferential surfaces of the outer tubular wall 103 and inner tubular wall 107 and reversing sections 119a and 121a of the both the flat cables 119 and 121 pass through the first opening 113 and the second opening 115.
When a steering wheel is rotated, this rotation is transmitted to the movable-side housing 109 to rotate the movable-side housing 109 in the same direction. For example, when the movable-side housing 109 rotates in the clockwise direction, the reversing sections 119a and 121a of the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 rotate and move in the clockwise direction by a rotary amount smaller than that of the movable-side housing 109, and the moving body 117 also rotates and moves in the clockwise direction in response to the motion of the reversing sections 119a and 121a. As a result, the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 are reeled out by a length about twice as long as the moving amount from the side of the inner tubular wall 107 and are rewound back to the side of the outer tubular wall 103, so that the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 are in a rewound state. In this case, the reversing section 119a of the first flat cable 119 moves in the first opening 113 in the clockwise direction. At this point the reversing section 121a of the second flat cable 121 moves in the second opening 115 in the clockwise direction, but since a width dimension W1 of the first opening 113 and a width dimension W2 of the second opening 115 are configured to have a relation of W1<W2, only the reversing section 119a in the first opening 113 having the shorter width dimension presses a fixed tube 123 as a guide section in the clockwise direction, and the reversing section 121a in the second opening 115 having the longer width dimension does not press a fixed tube 125. Therefore, the moving body 117 rotates in the accommodating section 111 by receiving only the pressing force from the reversing section 119a of the first flat cable 119.
In contrast, when the movable-side housing 109 rotates in the counterclockwise direction from a neutral state of the steering wheel, the reversing sections 119a and 121a of the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 rotate and move in the counterclockwise direction by a rotary amount smaller than that of the movable-side housing 109, and the moving body 117 also rotates and moves in the counterclockwise direction in response to the motion of the reversing sections 119a and 121a. As a result, the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 are reeled out by a length about twice as long as the moving amount from the side of the outer tubular wall 103 and are wound up to the side of the inner tubular wall 107, so that the first and second flat cables 119 and 121 are in a wound-up state. In this case also, only the reversing section 119a in the first opening 113 having the shorter width dimension pulls a roller 127 as a guide section opposing the fixed tube 123, and therefore, the moving body 117 rotates in the accommodating section 111 by the tension force.
In this way, in the clockwise direction operation of the steering wheel, the reversing section 119a of the first flat cable 119 moves in the first opening 113 having a width of W1 and thereafter, contacts against the fixed tube 123, and in the counterclockwise direction operation of the steering wheel, the reversing section 119a moves in the first opening 113 having a width of W1 in the opposite direction and thereafter, contacts against the roller 127. Each contact of the reversing section 119a in the first flat cable 119 rotates and moves the moving body 117 in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, thus making it possible to smoothly operate the rotary connector device 101.
However, since the rotary connector device 101 is so configured that the reversing section 119a moves in the first opening 113 of W1 and thereafter, contacts against the fixed tube 123 or the roller 127, thus operating the rotary connector device 101, an interference noise of the reversing section 119a with the fixed tube 123 or the roller 127 is possibly generated.
Therefore, in the conventional rotary connector device, when a driver turns a steering wheel of an automobile backward, an impact noise is generated, therefore raising the problem of giving discomfort to the driver as an abnormal sound. That is, the conventional rotary connector device has the problem that since the reversing section moves and thereafter, contacts against the guide section, thereby operating the rotary connector device, the interference noise of the reversing section with the guide section is possibly generated.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a rotary connector device which overcomes the above mentioned problems in the conventional art. The present invention addresses this need in the conventional art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A valve timing controller includes a first rotating element and a second rotating element. The controller further includes a link mechanism part including arm members for coupling the first and second rotating elements. The controller also includes a gear part including a first gear and a second gear to convert outside rotating torque to control torque for motion of the arm members due to coupling of and relative motion of the first and second gears. Additionally, the controller includes a separation member disposed between the gear part and the link mechanism part for separating a thrust gap of the gear part and a thrust gap of the link mechanism part.

A valve timing controller is conventionally known for changing a relative rotational phase between two rotating elements that rotate in association with a drive shaft and a camshaft, respectively. For example, JP-2005-48707A discloses a valve timing controller equipped with arm members for linking a first rotating element (a sprocket) with a second rotating element (an output shaft) via a revolute pair. The valve timing controller also includes a phase changing mechanism for changing a relative rotating phase between the first rotating element and the second rotating element. Furthermore, the valve timing controller includes an electric motor for producing rotating torque for a motion of the revolute pair. In addition, the valve timing controller includes a motion converting mechanism for transmitting the rotating torque by the electric motor to the arm members.
The electric motor, the motion converting mechanism, and the phase changing mechanism are axially combined. The motion converting mechanism and the phase changing mechanism are configured in such a manner as to be accommodated in the sprocket.
In addition, the motion converting mechanism is equipped with a gear part including a ring gear and a planetary gear. The planetary gear performs a planetary motion by engaging with the ring gear. The motion converting mechanism also includes a guide member for guiding a movable member, which supports the revolute pair of the arm members around an axis as a controlling object. An engagement projection projecting from the planetary gear is supported by an engagement bore located in the opposite side of the arm members of the guide member. Also, the movable member slides relatively along a guide passage formed in the guide member, thus converting a rotational motion of the motor into a predetermined revolute pair motion of the movable member.
In the conventional technology, the ring gear and the planetary gear engage with each other by several teeth, producing a cantilever state thereof, and therefore there is a possible decline thereof toward a thrust direction. For example, when the decline in the thrust direction occurs, the planetary gear swings in the thrust direction within a thrust gap, and undesirable sound can be result, such as a slapping sound.
Therefore, reduction of the thrust gap is suggested. However, this idea is designed to axially combine a gear part with another member, such as a link mechanism formed of arm members constituting a revolute pair. Accordingly, this idea requires a precision improvement of each member in order to reduce variation of the thrust gap of each member.

Valve timing controller with separating member


A hole plug attachment structure includes: a first attachment-target member is formed with a first attachment hole; a second attachment-target member is formed with a second attachment hole; and a hole plug that includes a tube-shaped outer peripheral wall, a blocking portion, a ring shaped flange jutting out toward a radial direction outer side of the outer peripheral wall from an end portion of the outer peripheral wall on an opposite side from an insertion direction so as to cover a location surrounding the second attachment hole, and a hook portion, a location of the flange that abuts an edge of the second attachment hole being thicker than a location of the flange that abuts the edge of the first attachment hole, in a state in which a back face of the flange abuts both the edge of the first attachment hole and the edge of the second attachment hole.

The present disclosure relates to a hole plug attachment structure.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2013-155805 discloses a hole plug that is attached to an attachment hole (through hole) formed in an attachment-target member (door inner panel). The hole plug includes a tube shaped outer peripheral wall (side peripheral wall) that is inserted into the attachment hole, a blocking portion (bottom portion) that closes off the inside of the outer peripheral wall, and a ring shaped flange (lip) that juts out toward a radial direction outer side from an end portion of the outer peripheral wall on an opposite side from an insertion direction. An outer peripheral portion of the flange is thicker than a base portion of the flange.


A thermoplastic polymer comprising a fluorochemical ester composition of formula I:C4F9SO2N(Q1)(CH2)a—O—C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)O(CH2)bNQ2SO2C4F9   (I)wherein Q1 and Q2 which may be the same or different are each a hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; a is an integer from 2 to 11; b is an integer from 2 to 11; and n is at least 10.

Carpet and textile fibers are easily soiled and stained in everyday use. The problem of fiber soiling has become more difficult with the advent of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, and polyester, that are substantially more oleophilic (oil-loving) than traditional natural fibers such as cotton and wool.
A wide variety of materials are known to cause soiling. Soil found on fibers can include a variety of solid particles, such as fly ash or other inorganic particulates; liquids, such as oils and greases; mixtures of solids and liquids, such as soot (that contain particles mixed with oily components); and biological matter suchas skin cells and sebum.
Soil typically adheres to the fiber surface by Van der Waals forces, that are effective only over very short distances. The strength of the bond depends on the forces of interaction per unit interfacial area, the area of contact, and whether a liquid is present on the fiber surface. Oily films on the fiber increase soiling. In general, the higher the viscosity of the liquid, the greater the adhesion of the liquid to the fiber. Soil particles can even adhere to initially smooth surfaces, such as polyester and polyethylene film. Soil is not commonly mechanically entrapped in the fiber.
Staining of a fiber can occur in a wide variety of ways, including through the ionic or covalent binding of an exogenous colored substance to the fiber. For example, nylon fibers are polyamides with terminal amino and carboxyl end groups. Nylon is commonly stained by acid dyes, which are colored, negatively charged molecules that ionically bind to the protonated terminal amine. Examples of staining acid dyes include liquids containing FD&C Red Dye No. 4, wine, and mustard.
For many years, soil (as opposed to stain) resistance has been imparted to carpet and textile fibers by applying a finish that repels oil and water. Perhaps the first soil resist agent for fibers was starch, that was removed along with the soil when the fiber was washed. Other water soluble polymeric stain resist finishes have included methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, alginic acid, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. As with starch, the strong disadvantage of these protective finishes is that their mechanism of action is sacrificial; they contain the soil but are removed along with it when the fiber is cleaned.
Vinyl polymers including acrylics, methacrylics and polymers of maleic acid have also been used as soil release agents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,249 discloses emulsions of copolymers of ethyl acrylate with at least 20% acrylic, methacrylic, or itaconic acid in combination with N-methylol acrylamide.
More recently, fluorochemical soil release agents have become very popular. The fluorochemical agents are coated onto the fiber to prevent wetting of the surface by minimizing chemical contact between the surface and substances that can soil the carpet, making the substance easier to remove.
The first fluorochemical finishes focused on reducing the surface energy of the fiber to prevent the spreading of oily soils. More recently developed fluorochemical finishes have attempted to combine reduction in surface energy with hydrophilicity, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,151. A number of patents describe fluorinated polymers for use as soil resist coatings for fibers, including U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,874 (describing polyurethanes that consist of a combination of an oleophilic fluorine-containing block and a hydrophilic polyethyleneoxide block) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,944 (describing a fluorinated condensation block copolymer, that include oleophilic fluorinated blocks and hydrophilic polyethyleneoxide blocks connected by urea linkages).
Although fluorinated finishing coats on fibers do impart an amount of soil resistance to the fiber, they all suffer from the distinct disadvantage that they are removed by routine maintenance of the fiber. None of the fluorochemical finishes available to date provides permanent protection from soiling and staining. This is a particular problem for polypropylene, that is very oleophilic, and that has begun to compete with nylon as a fiber for use in residential carpets.
Thermoplastic polymer fibers are frequently treated with fluorochemical compounds in order to affect the surface characteristics of the fiber, for example to improve water repellency or to impart stain or dry soil resistance. Most frequently, fluorochemical dispersions are applied topically to the fabrics made from these fibers by spraying, padding or foaming, followed by a drying step to remove water.
For example, a method is known for obtaining dry soil resistance and nonflame propagating characteristics in a textile fiber by applying topically aqueous dispersions of a variety of fluorinated esters derived from perfluoroalkyl aliphatic alcohols of the formula CnF2n+1 (CH2)mOH where n is from about 3 to 14 and m is 1 to 3, together with mono- or polycarboxylic acids which contain from 3 to 30 carbons and can contain other substituents. The fluorinated esters include, among others, a perfluoroalkylethyl stearate corresponding to "ZONYL" FTS available from DuPont, as well as perfluoroalkylethyl diesters made from dodecanedioic acid or tridecanedioic acid.
It is well recognized that the process of manufacturing thermoplastic polymeric fibers and fabrics could be simplified and significant capital investment could be eliminated if the topical application were replaced by incorporating a fluorochemical additive into the polymer melt prior to the extrusion of the fiber. The difficulty has been in finding suitably effective fluorochemical additives.
Thermoplastic polymers include, among others, polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and polyacrylates. Polyolefins, and in particular polypropylene, are frequently used for disposable nonwoven protective garments, particularly in the medical/surgical field, in part because of a polyolefin's inherent water-repellency. However, polyolefins are not inherently good repellents for other lower surface tension fluids frequently encountered in the medical field such as blood and isopropyl alcohol. To get around this deficiency, fluorochemical dispersions are applied topically to these fabrics.
The requirements of an additive suitable for incorporating into a polyolefin melt include, besides the ability to repel low surface tension fluids at a low concentration of the additive, a satisfactory thermal stability and low volatility to withstand processing conditions. Preferably the compound will migrate to the surface of the fiber so as to minimize the amount of additive needed for adequate repellency. While this migration can often be enhanced by post-extrusion heating of the fiber, it is more preferable for the migration to occur without the need for this heating step. This requirement for mobility in the polymeric fiber in turn tends to limit the size of the fluorochemical molecule, and effectively eliminates from consideration high molecular weight polymeric fluorochemical additives.
The general concept of incorporating fluorochemical additives into a polyolefin fiber melt is known, but the difficulty in finding suitable effective additives has limited the application of this concept. Many of the past efforts to evaluate such fluorochemical additives have been aimed at improving other properties of the polyolefin, and do not teach methods of its improving repellency to low surface tension fluids.
Nonwoven composite structures are known consisting in part of two or more melt-extruded nonwoven layers, at least one of which includes an additive which imparts to the surface at least one characteristic different than the surface characteristics of the polymer alone as a result of preferential migration of the additive to the surface without the need for post-formation treatment of any kind. Examples of the additive-including layer include polypropylene modified by commercially available fluorochemical additives, including "ZONYL" FTS defined above.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,178,931 and 5,178,932 disclose specific nonwoven laminiferous and composite structures respectively, consisting in part of three melt-extruded nonwoven layers, the second of which includes an additive which imparts alcohol repellency as a result of preferential migration of the additive to the surface without the need for post-formation treatment of any kind, and where at least one of the first and third layers has been treated by topical application of an agent to change its characteristics in some way. Examples of the additive-including second layer include commercially available fluorochemicals, including "ZONYL" FTS.
Soil resistant polymeric compositions are known which are prepared by melt extrusion with a nonpolymeric fluorochemical dispersed throughout the polymer. The polymers used include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polyester, and the fluorochemical used is a perfluoroalkylstearate, in particular "ZONYL" FTS.
In addition, a polymeric composition is known comprising a mixture of a polymer selected from the group of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polyester with a fluorochemical comprising a fluorinated oleophobic, hydrophobic alkyl group attached to a nonfluorinated oleophilic alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl moiety optionally through a linking moiety, which can be melt extruded as a mixture. A more specific description of the above fluorochemical is not disclosed, but among the many compounds which are applicable are esters where the oleophilic organic group contains from 2 to 35 carbon atoms. Examples of such are "ZONYL" FTS or a product made by transesterifying "ZONYL" BA with methyl stearate and methyl palmitate.
An automotive coating film is known containing an organic solvent-soluble waxy hydrocarbon which possesses a fluorine-containing organic group. This component is a product obtained by esterifying and coupling a high molecular weight alcohol with a carboxylic acid which possesses a fluorine-containing group or a product obtained by esterifying and coupling a high molecular weight fatty acid and an alcohol which possesses a fluorine-containing group. As examples of high molecular weight alcohols included are those with average carbon chain lengths with up to 50 carbons. As examples of high molecular weight fatty acids included are those with carbon chain lengths of up to 31 carbons (mellisic acid). The products were tested only as a waxing agent for automobiles.
Japanese Patent Application 3-41160 teaches a thermoplastic resin composition containing a perfluoroalkyl group-containing long chain fatty ester of the formula Rf—R1—OCO—R2 where Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group with 5 to 16 carbons, R1 is an alkylene group with 1 to 4 carbons, and R2 is an unsaturated alkyl group or a saturated alkyl group with 21 to 50 carbons. One example reacts C8F17C2H4OH with C27H55COOH to produce the ester. The resins included polyethylene and polypropylene. Benefits of the additive were shown by the contact angle of water with molded articles of the resin. No tests are reported on the repellency to low surface tension fluids of the resulting polymers.
A need exists to achieve superior repellency to low surface tension fluids and superior product efficiency.
In summary, while the prior art discloses numerous examples of polyolefin fibers containing a fluorochemical additive incorporated at the melt stage to alter the surface characteristics of the extruded fiber, much of this was aimed at soiling and staining resistance, water repellency or other purposes.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,560,992 and 5,977,390 disclose soil resistant thermoplastic polymers containing a fluorochemical.

Fluorochemical diesters as repellent polymer melt additives


Systems and methods may provide for monitoring an input audio signal from an onboard microphone of a mobile device while a host processor of the mobile device is in a standby mode. Additionally, a predetermined audio pattern may be identified in the input audio signal and a device location session may be triggered with respect to the mobile device based on the predetermined audio pattern. In one example, an output audio signal is generated during the device location session.

Misplacing a mobile device such as a wireless smart phone or tablet may be a common occurrence, particularly given the increased popularity of these devices in modern society. In order to locate a misplaced mobile device, conventional solutions may involve the use of another device such as a separate phone or computer to call and/or text the misplaced mobile device, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) based device to detect an RFID tag installed on the misplaced mobile device, and so forth. The use of another device may be inconvenient and/or impractical, depending upon the circumstances. Other solutions may involve installing a location based application on the mobile device in advance of the device being misplaced. Such an approach may require the misplaced mobile device to be in an active mode in order for the application to function. In most cases, however, the mobile device enters a standby state once it has been misplaced for a certain amount of time, rendering the location based application inoperable.

Low power voice trigger for finding mobile devices


A spark plug system includes a center spark plug and a plurality of peripheral spark plugs, the spark plugs extending into a ridge-roof type combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine from the inner surface of a cylinder head and being disposed approximately on the ridgeline of the ridge-roof. The amount by which the center plug projects into the combustion chamber from the inner surface of the cylinder head is different from the amount by which each of the peripheral plugs projects into the combustion chamber from the inner surface of the cylinder head, whereby the time in which the flame propagation of the center plug reaches the flame propagation of the peripheral plugs is delayed.

The multi-point ignition engine disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Application No. H08-4641 provides combustion stability by arranging peripheral ignition or spark plugs at locations where the air flow is slight so that the spark of each plug is not easily extinguished, thereby improving the ignition rate. The present system provides an improved arrangement of spark plugs in an internal combustion engine.

Spark plug system in an internal combustion engine


A head having micro-positioning control. The head includes a slider body and a transducer body coupled to the slider body through a flexible interface. The transducer body is spaced from the slider body to form a gap therebetween. Micro-positioning actuators are coupled to the transducer body in the gap to provide micro-positioning control. In an embodiment for an air bearing slider, the gap includes off-track and fly height positioning control.

Data storage devices store digital information on a rotating disc. Heads are coupled to an actuator assembly which is energized to position the head relative to the disc surface for read/write operations. The head includes transducer elements to read data from or write data to the disc. A real density is increasing requiring increased positioning control for desired read-write resolution or operation. In particular, track density is increasing requiring greater off-track positioning control. For a head having an air bearing slider, head-disc spacing parameters are decreasing and track density is increasing requiring both off-track and fly height positioning control. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions to these and other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.

Slider for a data storage device including transducer level micro-positioning and method of fabrication therefor


A method includes characterizing portions of a model as being either critical to a real-time execution of the model or non-critical to a real-time execution of the model, and generating code that is capable of real-time execution based on the critical portions of the model while maintaining the full functionality of the non-real-time critical sections, e.g., graphics, logging, other offline calculations, via a communication link and parallel host processing.

An object model is a formal description of an object-oriented application. Semantic elements of an object model describe object classes, attributes of object classes, relationships between object classes and inheritance between object classes. One example object-oriented application is time-based block diagram modeling. Dynamic real-world systems such as electrical circuits, shock absorbers, braking systems, and many other electrical, mechanical and thermodynamic systems may be modeled, simulated and analyzed on a computer system using block diagram modeling. Block diagram modeling graphically depicts time-dependent mathematical relationships among a system's inputs, states and outputs, typically for display on a graphical user interface (GUI). Block diagram modeling may also be used to simulate the behavior of a system for a specified time span. Object-oriented applications include all forms of computation paradigms for block diagrams.
Block diagram modeling can also be used to design algorithms to control the real-world systems being modeled, i.e., a block diagram can be converted to a standalone real-time program and executed on a target system. A modeling diagram can interface with the generated real-time program to exchange run-time data, e.g., change parameters or upload data.
Real-time systems may be thought of has having two main components. A first component is a real-time program required to run a hardware device, such as control logic. A second component is interface code for runtime analysis, visualization and control of the real-time program.


An image processing method of arranging orientation detection information for detecting an image orientation in an image includes arranging the orientation detection information in at least two positions that are symmetric with respect to a center of the image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for arranging orientation detection information for detecting an image orientation in an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a technology called steganography with which an original image (primary information) is provided with additional information (secondary information) embedded therein that is invisible with human eye and the secondary information is retrieved on the image acquisition side.
For instance, an image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-349879 performs a process on an encoder side in which original image data is divided into several blocks and secondary information is embedded therein in accordance with the magnitude relation of the feature indices of individual blocks (for example, average density, granularity, color saturation, or centralization/decentralization of density). On the other hand, on a decoder, after the image data is divided again into blocks, the secondary information is retrieved based on the magnitude relation of the feature indices of the blocks.
In the above conventional technology, however, there is a problem that an image may not be processed in the correct orientation, as explained below.
Specifically, in the above conventional technology, there is a problem that, if the orientation of an image at the time of embedding secondary information in the original image data (at the time of encoding) is different from the orientation of the image at the time of retrieving the secondary information from the image data in which the secondary information is embedded (at the time of decoding), the image processing apparatus cannot accurately extract the magnitude relation of the feature indices residing in different blocks, which prevents the image from being processed in the correct direction.
In order to solve such a problem, there is a method in which information for detecting the orientation of original image data is embedded in the original image data. In particular, when the image processing apparatus encodes the original image data, information for detecting the orientation of the original image data (orientation detection information) is embedded in addition to the secondary information so that the image orientation can be detected by way of this orientation detection information at the time of decoding to process the image. The embedment of the orientation detection information here means to define, for instance, the magnitude relation of the feature indices indicating "top" and add modifications to the feature indices of blocks in the "top" region of the original image data in accordance with this definition.
However, according to this method, when the magnitude relation of the feature indices residing in blocks other than the orientation detection information coincides with the magnitude relation of the feature indices residing in the blocks for the orientation detection information indicating "top", the image processing apparatus may mistake blocks other than the orientation detection information for the orientation detection information blocks, depending on the locations of the non-orientation detection information blocks, and make an erroneous judgment on the orientation of the image. Thus, there is a problem that the magnitude relation of the feature indices residing in the blocks cannot be correctly extracted, which prevents the image from being processed in the correct direction.
The above problem is not limited to the steganography but may arise in other types of image processing apparatuses (optical character reader (OCR), for instance) that do not employ the magnitude relation of the feature indices.

Method and apparatus for processing image, and printed material


The present invention provides a method for stabilizing low dielectric constant materials in a semiconductor structure. The method comprises providing the semiconductor structure and thereon spinning-on a dielectric layer. After a curing step, the dielectric layer is treated with an aqueous solution containing, for example, ammonium hydroxide. With the aqueous solution, a passivated film formed on the surface of the dielectric layer, such as a polymer layer, can protect the dielectric layer from adsorption of moisture or solvents.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for stabilizing low dielectric constant materials, and more particularly to a method for stabilizing spin on polymer materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is the nature of semiconductor physics that as the feature sizes are scaled down, the performance of internal devices in integrated circuits improves in a compounded fashion. That is, the device speed as well as the functional capability improves. The overall circuit speed, however, becomes more dependent upon the propagation speed of the signals along the interconnects that connect the various devices together. With the advent of very and ultra large scale integration (VLSI and ULSI) circuits, it has therefore become even more important that the metal conductors that form the interconnections between devices as well as between circuits in a semiconductor have low resistivities for high signal propagation. Copper is often preferred for its low resistivity, as well as for resistance to electromigration and stress voiding properties.
On the other hand, considerable attention has focused on the replacement of silicon dioxide with new materials, particular material having lower dielectric constants, since both capacitive delays and power consumption depend on the dielectric constant of the insulator. Accordingly, circuit performance enhancement has been sought by combining the copper conductors with low dielectric constant layer (k less than approximately 4).
Spin on polymer, for example, aromatic hydrocarbon material contained or SiLK, has been used recently as a low dielectric constant material. Those spin on polymers mostly have hydrophobic behavior after a curing step. For the hydrophobic nature of the polymers, they have the tendency to chemically protect moisture or solvents on their surface. Even so, the physical absorption on a film""s surface is still observed from environments. The absorption phenomena would result in degradation of the characteristics of the polymers, such as an increase of the dielectric constant. Depicted in FIG. 1, the value of the dielectric constant changes with respect to the exposure time of the polymers. The result clearly indicates that the dielectric constant gradually increases with the exposure time after the curing step. On the other hand, the moisture or solvents may be removed by using a baking or degassing step. However, the polymers have loose structures that may result in re-adsorption phenomena when the polymers are again exposed for a long time.
One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a method to stabilize low dielectric constant materials. Formation of a passivated film on the low dielectric constant materials can protect them from adsorption of moisture or solvents after the curing step.
Another one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a method to stabilize spin on polymer materials. The surfaces of the spin on polymer materials are treated with alkaline solution.
In the present invention, a method for stabilizing low dielectric constant materials in a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing the semiconductor structure and thereon spinning-on a dielectric layer. After a curing step, the dielectric layer is treated with an aqueous solution containing ammonium hydroxide. With the aqueous solution, a passivated film formed from the surface of the dielectric layer, such as a polymer layer, can protect the dielectric layer from adsorption of moisture or solvents.

Method for stabilizing low dielectric constant materials


A lens meter is provided which includes a light source portion (20) with a first light source (21) for generating a lens-characteristic measuring light beam (P2) and a second light source (23) for generating a position specifying light beam (P1). A patterning plate (28) with lens-characteristic measuring patterns (28c) and position specifying patterns (28b) is disposed in an optical path (31) of the lens-characteristic measuring light beam (P2) and position specifying light beam (P1) generated by the light source portion (20). The measuring light beam (P2) is projected onto a subject lens (30) set in the optical path (31) so that the images (28c') of the lens-characteristic measuring pattern (28c) are received. The received images (28c') are analyzed, and the lens-characteristic mapping display of the subject lens (30) is performed. In this lens meter, the first and second light sources (21, 23) are separate from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lens meters capable of performing a lens-characteristic mapping display of a subject lens to be tested.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional lens meters, a patterning plate 50 with circular holes serving as patterns 50a for measuring the lens characteristics of a subject lens is provided in the optical path of a measuring light beam emitted by a light source portion, as shown in FIG. 17. For example, a progressive power lens as a subject lens is set in the optical path, and the measuring light beam is projected onto the progressive power lens set in the optical path so that a great number of lens-characteristic measuring pattern images are received on a charge-coupled device (CCD). The images received are analyzed, and the lens characteristics, such as a spherical degree S (see FIG. 18(a)), a cylindrical degree C (see FIG. 18(b)), an axial angle A (see FIG. 18(c)), and a prism degree Prs (see FIG. 18(d)), are displayed on a display screen (mapping display).
In this kind of lens meter, a center-position determining pattern or position specifying pattern 51 consisting of four slits 50b through 50e and presenting a square shape as a whole is formed in the central portion of the patterning plate 50 so that the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 can be determined, even when the optical axis of a subject lens is offset from the optical axis of the optical path.
The lens meter of the above kind is equipped with a means for determining the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50. The determining means processes a great number of pattern images received by the CCD, thereby identifying the difference in configuration between the image of the lens-characteristic measuring pattern 50a and the center-position determining pattern 51 and extracting the image of the center-position determining pattern 51. Based on the extracted image of the center-position determining pattern 51, the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 is determined.
However, about 1000 lens-characteristic measuring patterns 50a are provided in the patterning plate 50 and, therefore, in order to determine the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50, the images of about 1000 lens-characteristic measuring patterns 50a and the image of the center-position determining pattern 51 must be processed. For this reason, there are the disadvantages that the image processing will take time, and that the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 cannot be quickly determined.
In particular, when a subject lens set in the optical path is moved in a direction crossing the optical path, the image information being displayed on the display screen is difficult to move quickly so as to follow the movement of the subject lens.
In another lens meter of the above kind, a great number of lens-characteristic measuring patterns 50a are provided in a patterning plate 50, and the lens-characteristic measuring pattern 50a corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 is omitted. Based on the omission information on the image of the lens-characteristic measuring pattern 50a corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50, the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 is determined.
However, in the case of the lens meter which omits the lens-characteristic measuring pattern 50a which should be located at the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50, if the patterning plate 50 becomes dirty and even a single pattern of the lens-characteristic measuring patterns 50a which should be there is omitted, then the places at which the images of the lens-characteristic measuring patterns 50a are omitted will be 2 or more. Consequently, there is the disadvantage that the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 cannot be determined.
In the case of an unprocessed lens with paint marks, a measuring light beam is shut out at a position at which the marks are painted. Therefore, as with the aforementioned case, the places at which the images of the lens-characteristic measuring patterns 50a are omitted will be 2 or more, and consequently, the center position of the pattern image corresponding to the center position Oo of the patterning plate 50 cannot be determined.


The present invention provides a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight module. The backlight module includes: a backplane (2), a light guide plate (4) arranged in the backplane (2), a backlight source (6) arranged in the backplane (2), and an optic film assembly (8) arranged on the light guide plate (4). The backplane (2) comprises a bottom plate (22) and a plurality of side plates (24) perpendicularly connected to the bottom plate (22). The bottom plate (22) has a surface facing the light guide plate (4) and defining a curved surface (222) and the curved surface (222) comprises a curved reflection surface (224) formed thereon. The backlight module and the liquid crystal display device using the backlight module according to the present invention have simple structure and include a backplane having a bottom plate that has a surface facing the light guide plate and including a curved reflection surface having excellent reflectivity formed thereon to replace a conventionally used reflector plate so as to reduce the thickness of the liquid crystal display device, reduce the cost of manufacturing, and facilitate achievement of thinning and also preventing the light guide plate from damage caused by friction between the reflector plate and the light guide plate and thus extending the life span of the light guide plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal displaying, and in particular to a backlight module and a liquid crystal display device using the backlight module.
2. The Related Arts
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have a variety of advantages, such as thin device body, low power consumption, and being free of radiation, and are thus of wide applications. Most of the liquid crystal displays that are currently available in the market are backlighting liquid crystal displays, which comprise a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight module. The operation principle of the liquid crystal display panel is that, with liquid crystal molecules interposed between two parallel glass substrates, a plurality of vertical and horizontal tiny wires is arranged between the two glass substrates and application of electricity is selectively made to control the liquid crystal molecules to change direction in order to refract out light emitting from the backlight module for generating images. Since the liquid crystal panel itself does not emit light, light must be provided by the backlight module in order to normally display images. Thus, the backlight module is one of the key components of a liquid crystal display. The backlight modules can be classified in two types, namely a side-edge backlight module and a direct backlight module, according to the position where light gets incident. The direct backlight module comprises a light source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or a light-emitting diode (LED), which is arranged at the backside of the liquid crystal panel to form a planar light source directly supplied to the liquid crystal display panel. The side-edge backlight module comprises an LED light bar, serving as a backlight source, which is arranged at an edge of a backplane to be located rearward of one side of the liquid crystal display panel. The LED light bar emits light that enters a light guide plate (LGP) through a light incident face at one side of the light guide plate and is projected out of a light emergence face of the light guide plate, after being reflected and diffused, to pass through an optic film assembly to form a planar light source for the liquid crystal display panel.
Thinning is the current trend of the development of the liquid crystal display devices. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional thinned liquid crystal display device is shown, comprising: a backlight module 100, a mold frame 300 mounted on the backlight module 100, and a liquid crystal display device 500 mounted on the mold frame 300. The backlight module 100 comprises: a backplane 102, a light guide plate 104 arranged inside the backplane 102, a backlight source 106 arranged inside the backplane 100, and a reflector plate 108 arranged between a bottom plate 122 of the backplane 102 and the light guide plate 104. The light guide plate 104 is directly positioned on the reflector plate 108 so that no gap exists between a bottom surface 142 of the light guide plate 104 and the reflector plate 108 for reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal display device and achieving thinning of the liquid crystal display device.
However, when the surface of the bottom plate 122 of the backplane 102 that faces the reflector plate 108 is not sufficiently smooth (such as having convexity), it may raise up the reflector plate so as to increase the frictional force between the reflector plate 108 and the light guide plate 104, resulting in easy damage of the light guide plate 104.

Backlight module and liquid crystal display device using same

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


In a vanadium nitride film formed on a surface of a base material, a ratio V [at %]/N [at %] between a vanadium element concentration and a nitrogen element concentration in the film is 1.08 or more and a chlorine element concentration in the film is 1 at % or more and 5 at % or less.

Conventionally, the formation of a vanadium nitride film high in film hardness and rich in lubricity has been performed as a hard coating treatment on the surface of a die of press forming, a cutting tool, a gear cutting tool, a forging tool and so on.
As such a method for manufacturing the conventional vanadium nitride film, a method for forming a vanadium nitride film by the arc ion plating method is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a vanadium nitride film having a Vickers hardness of about 2000. Further, Patent Document 2 also discloses a method for forming a vanadium nitride film by the ion plating method. Patent Document 2 discloses a vanadium nitride film having a Vickers hardness HV of about 2300.

Vanadium nitride film, and member coated with vanadium nitride film and method for manufacturing the same


The present invention provides a hollow IM-5 molecular sieve sphere and the preparation process thereof. The process according to the present invention adds a relatively great amount of the surfactant of a cationic quaternary ammonium salt in the IM-5 molecular sieve system, to form a hollow IM-5 molecular sieve sphere via the micelle action by the surfactant, which structure benefits the mass transfer of the reaction process.

The microporous molecular sieve material has regular pore structures and a large surface area, thus is widely used in the fields of adsorption, separation, chemical engineering, catalysis and the like. In recent years, some new structures of molecular sieve materials have been prepared continuously.
IM-5 molecular sieve is a new zeolite prepared using a bi-quaternary ammonium salt as the templet agent. The IM-5 molecular sieve has a pore-passage structure similar to that of ZSM-5, has a two dimensional 10MR crossing pore structure, and has relatively high thermal stability and hydrothermal stability. Thus the ZSM-5 has a broad prospect of application for catalysis in the petrochemical fields of paraffin cracking, isomerization of n-butylene, preparation of gasoline from Synthesis Gas and the like.
Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2000, 162: 175-189 Discloses to obtain an IM-5 molecular sieve using 1,1-(pentamethylene)bis-(1-methylpyrrolidinium)bromide as the templet agent, under the condition of adding a promoter of sodium bromide and static hydrothermal conditions at a temperature of 175 degrees C.
Journal of Catalysis 215 (2003) 151-170 discloses to obtain an IM-5 molecular sieve using 1,1-(pentamethylene)bis-(1-methylpyrrolidinium)bromide as the templet agent, under the dynamic hydrothermal condition at a temperature of 160 degrees C.
CN1234012A discloses an IM-5 molecular sieve and the preparation process thereof. The IM-5 molecular sieve is obtained from hydrothermal crystallization at a temperature of 170 degrees C. by adding additional NU-88 powder as a seed crystal.
By studying the products prepared according to the documents above, it can be seen that the IM-5 molecular sieves obtained from prior arts have a morphology of two dimensional rod form with a diameter of generally 50 nm or more and an aspect ratio of generally about 5.
Currently, the preparation of the molecular sieve having a hollow sphere structure is highly interested in the art, in addition to the molecular sieve materials having rod, strip, massive, sphere forms and the like. This is because the special hollow structure may generally cause some special properties of the material, particularly for the catalysis, adsorption, controlled release of medicaments, nano-photoelectricity and the like.
Currently, the hollow sphere of a molecular sieve is prepared predominantly by using a polystyrene microsphere as templet, combining the layer-layer self assembly and a hydrothermal or gas-phase conversion crystallization process. The typically related documents comprise: Chem. Commun., 2000, 2161-2162 and Adv. Mater. 2006, 18, 801-806. This process preparing the molecular sieve hollow sphere using the polymer microsphere as a hard templet has complicated operation steps, poor controllability and relatively high cost.
CN101618336A prepares a MCM-22 molecular sieve hollow sphere by hydrothermal crystallization using carbon black particles as a templet. The carbon black templet has broader sources and lower cost compared with the polystyrene microsphere templet; however, due to the non-uniformity of the carbon black particle as well as a particle size of generally 20 microns or more, the hollow sphere obtained has a relatively large particle size, and correspondingly a thin pore wall, such that the hollow sphere is easy to be broken.
It can be seen that the current preparation with the molecular sieve hollow sphere uses generally a polymer micro sphere and a hard templet such as carbon black and the like, thus the controllability is insufficient. Meanwhile, the amount of the hard templet used is relatively great, which is difficult to be burnt off, and the burn off of the templet may bring abundant environmental pollutants.

Hollow spherical zeolite IM-5 and preparation method therefor

FUSHUN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM AND PETROCHEMICALS, SINOPEC


A putter head (10) comprised of a frame or bracket housing (12), two end bodies (14a) and (14b), and a face (18) having uniform thickness. The two equally dimensioned end bodies (14a) and (14b) are mounted adjacent or outboard of the frame or bracket housing (12). The tabular face (18) is mounted to the end blocks (14a) and (14b). The putter head face (18) is provided with a 0.degree. to +10.degree. loft.

Those who have played the game of golf are well aware that putting often accounts for nearly half the golfer's total score. Although there are a wide variety of putters available to the golfers, they still seek improved designs that will assist them in lowering their total score.
Golf putter heads have been designed to impart a rolling motion to the golf ball for short distances. The putter is specifically constructed for use in striking the golf ball accurately toward the cup once it has reached the putting green. Typically, the general construction of a golf club includes a grip portion adapted to be grasped by the golfer, a shaft extending linearly downward from the grip portion, to a club head at the end of the shaft opposite the grip portion. Typically, the club head extends traversely to the shaft and the shaft has a neck portion located at one end thereof, which is connected by a hosel to the shaft.
The golfer addresses the golf ball by placing the club adjacent to the ball. The golfer then swings the club in a short, sweeping arc for a desired, but seldom achieved, perfect swing.
Such a perfect swing would include contacting the "sweet spot" of the putter face. The sweet spot is the spot on the putter face about which there is zero torque. Striking the golf ball at a point off the sweet spot may open or close the face of the club and cause the ball to travel off line. Putter heads are designed to reduce the torque imparted to the putter head when striking the ball off the sweet spot. The feel of the putter as it strikes the golf ball is an important design feature. A putter with a good feel will provide better control and impart confidence to the golfer. The Applicant has found that the feel of the putter is a function of the size of the sweet spot or hitting area, as well as the balance of the putter face which strikes the golf ball. Thus, it is the object of this invention to provide a putter head that will reduce the torque created when the putter head strikes the ball off the sweet spot of the face, to produce better feel and control.
Applicant provides for a putter head that is unique in a number of ways, resulting in an enhanced sweet spot yielding better control and feel.
First, there is a face having uniform thickness. Second, the unique design provides that the overall balance of the putter head--both static and dynamic--the zero torque line and the perfect sweet spot are all aligned with the geometric center of the putter face and head. That is, a point on the putter face or head where there is an equal amount of weight from a line or point drawn on the front of the putter face across the top and to the back of the putter head. Finally, Applicant provides a putter head having a suspended face plate--that is, a face plate attached to the head at only the heel and toe ends thereof.


A chisel quickly adjusting and positioning device for a chiseling machine includes a plurality of separating members for adjusting a gap between a sleeve and the bottom of a machine body, and a chisel unit composed of a chisel and a drill fitting lengthwise in the chisel. After the drill is fitted in the chisel and then clamped in a drill chuck, the chisel unit is fitted in the sleeve. Then the separating members can be pivotally moved in or out of the gap between the sleeve and the bottom of the machine body, and then the sleeve is pushed up so that a gap between the chisel blade and the tip of the drill may be formed for quickly adjusting and positioning the chisel unit with the machine body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a chisel quickly adjusting and positioning device for a chiseling machine, particularly to one provided with a number of separating members for adjusting the gap between the tip of a drill and the chisel blade of a chisel of a chisel unit so as to quickly adjust and position the chisel unit in the chiseling machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In processing wood works, a chiseling machine is used for chiseling variously shaped holes, and a conventional chiseling machine generally uses a chisel unit composed of a chisel and a drill for performing the necessary work by drilling a hole at first by the drill, and then the chisel begins to chisel a square hole (for example) around the round hole made by the drill. In fixing the chisel unit on the chiseling machine, the chisel is at first fixed on the chiseling machine, and the gap between the chisel and the drill of the chisel unit is to be adjusted according to the practical necessity to enable the chisel unit to perform the chiseling work.
Nevertheless, to adjust the gap between the chisel and the drill of the chisel unit of the conventional chiseling machine is done by manual operation and eye measurement. Therefore, it may be not be done with accuracy, so to keep the drill stably is quite impossible without supporting the drill manually to tighten up a drill chuck.

Chisel quickly adjusting and positioning device for a chiselling machine


A rake for a cat litter box for collecting clumped litter waste material from within the cat litter box includes a support member. A plurality of tines are connected to the support member. Each of the plurality of tines includes a first section connected to and extending from the support member. Each of the plurality of tines further includes a second section extending generally perpendicularly to the first section. The second section of the tines receives the clumped litter waste material in a receiving area. At least one of the plurality of tines second sections includes an upwardly curved portion, curved toward the support member for defining multiple regions of the tines within the receiving area, such that the clumped litter waste material is contained in the multiple regions when collected from the cat litter box.

Domestic pets, particularly cats, typically utilize a litter box for their waste needs. Such litter boxes fall into two categories, the totally manual pan or container which carries a quantity of litter and the automatic or self-cleaning variety, which also carries a quantity of litter. The present invention pertains to the latter category and the patent literature does include a variety of such devices. U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,348, for instance, is directed to a circular litter device that extracts waste from litter material by rotating a rake or the chamber. Due to rotation of the rake or chamber, solid waste is extracted from the litter material using tines, and such waste is pushed to the outer perimeter of the chamber. The curvature of the rake allows the rake to cooperate with a scoop, which simultaneously removes solid waste from the rake and retracts into a tunnel, as the rake passes thereby.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,401,661 and 6,234,112 are both directed to a self cleaning pet litter box. The pet litter container is rotatably mounted on a base member, and rotates to move the pet litter over a sieve. The sieve is ramped shaped and therefore, clumped portions of the pet litter that are not sifted through its openings are forced upwardly toward a conveyer. The conveyer serves to carry the clumped portions of pet litter away from the pet litter container.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,459 is directed to a litter container with a rotary movement sieve. The sieve is attached to a rotatable ring around the upper portion of a container. As the sieve rotates, clumped portions of solid waste are captured thereon. Since the sieve is removable, the sieve, and the clumped portions of solid waste can be removed from the container.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,082,302 and 5,447,812, are both directed to a rectangular litter device that extracts waste from litter material using a comb that traverses the pan lengthwise, eventually conveying waste clumps into a receptacle at the front of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,735 is directed to a circular litter device that extracts waste from litter material using a rake which sweeps through a circular chamber. In this device, the waste material is deposited into a container which is rotated to sanitize and deodorize the contents.
The foregoing automatic litter devices have provided a variety of styles and mechanisms to facilitate periodic cleaning of the litter. Nonetheless, the apparatus of the present invention provides a novel approach to the design and operation of such devices by providing a single drive mechanism for the operation of all moving elements as well as other features not present in combination in a single device heretofore.

Rake for self-cleaning pet litter apparatus


A method for making a container for an electrowinning cell where the first step 10 provides a mold plug 11 and woven glass rovings 12 are applied in the second step shown at 13. Vinylester resin is applied to the glass rovings at 14 to a thickness of about 4 mm. The liner shown at 14 is 97% vinylester resin. The liner is then allowed partially to harden. The liner 15 is then completely removed from the mold plug and then placed on a slightly smaller support 16 which forms the inner portion of a mold having its walls built up around the support 16 with the liner 15 in place as shown at 17. The mold is supported on springs and a vibrator 18 is employed to vibrate the mold as the outer supporting layer is being poured. Four separate pours 19, 20, 21 and 22 are employed. Each pour has progressively less resin. Pour 19 comprises 12% resin, 0.5% glass, 30% fine and coarse river sand and 57.5% gravel mix. Pour 20 comprises 11% resin. 0.5% glass, 30% fine and coarse river sand and 58.5% gravel mix. Pour 21 comprises 10% resin, 0.5% glass, 30% fine and coarse river sand and 59.5% gravel mix. Pour 22 comprises 9% resin, 0.5% glass, 30% fine and coarse river sand and 60.5% gravel mix.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a container suited to holding corrosive liquids and in particular to a container made from thermosetting resins. Containers of this type are frequently used in the construction of electrowinning cells used in the mining industry.
2. Description of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4.621,010 and 5,037,520 and Australian patent No. 659,400 describe typical prior art containers. These patents describe containers made using vinylester or polyester resins mixed with sand and gravel.
The container described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,520 is molded using a composition employing vinylester or polyester thermosetting resins. The addition of thinning agent, inhibitors, promoters and catalyst modify the resins. The balance of the composition includes dry ingredients of crystalline silica particles token from groups consisting of gloss beads and mica flakes. The resins are mixed with the dry ingredients and then the mixture is continuously poured into an inverted mold. They then allow the mixture to cure at room temperature providing a final container having a smooth inside, bottom side and end wall surfaces. This method results in a container having a wall thickness of about 2.5 inches or 62 mm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,010 describes a laminated container where they employ a mixer designed to limit how much air is drawn into the mixture during the mixing process. Container integrity requires thorough mixing of the ingredients to coat the sand and gravel particles. This introduces air into the mixture promoting porosity in the container wall that can lead to cracks and leakage. It is therefore important to purge as much air as possible from the container wall. Porosity is still a problem despite the precautions taken in this method.
Australian patent No. 659,400 describes a laminated container using vibration to improve adhesion between a vinylester rich liner and a thick outer wall used to give strength and to support the liner. The liner serves the purpose of providing a high integrity non corrosive container while the vibration method reduces of delaminating over time.
Nevertheless all these containers suffer from disadvantages and there is room for improvement, in particular further reductions in air in the container wall is desirable as porosity is a problem that in even small amounts can lead to cracking over time. Another problem arises where the vibration method is in use to improve adhesion between the layers as there is a tendency for the sand in the outer layer to also abrade the wall of the mold in the same way. This makes it difficult to remove the container from the mold increasing labour costs and risking damage to the container or mold.

Method of making a container for electrowinning cell


A limit stop for a magnetic storage system having a combination of visco elastic inner core and a thin walled outer shell enclosing the visco-elastic material, and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin wall is hermetically sealed to isolate the inner core material and eliminate the possibility of contamination to the disk drive interior. The visco-elastic inner core has the properties of very good energy dissipation, while the outer shell provides high dimensional control and stability.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to disk drives, and in particular to limit stops in the disk drives whose function is to limit the extent of actuator radial motion to define the usable radius of the disk surface and to protect the suspension and slider from damage due to contact with the disk stack hub at the inner diameter of the disk or due to running off the disk surface at the outer diameter of the disk.
2. Description of Related Art
Moving magnetic storage devices, especially magnetic disk drives, are the memory devices of choice. This is due to their expanded non-volatile memory storage capability combined with a relatively low cost.
Magnetic disk drives are information storage devices which utilize at least one rotatable magnetic media disk having concentric data tracks defined for storing data, a magnetic recording head or transducer for reading data from and/or writing data to the various data tracks, a slider for supporting the transducer in proximity to the data tracks typically in a flying mode above the storage media, a suspension assembly for resiliently supporting the slider and the transducer over the data tracks, and a positioning actuator coupled to the transducer/slider/suspension combination for moving the transducer across the media to the desired data track and maintaining the transducer over the data track center line during a read or a write operation. The transducer is attached to or is formed integrally with the slider which supports the transducer above the data surface of the storage disk by a cushion of air, referred to as an air-bearing, generated by the rotating disk.
Alternatively, the transducer may operate in contact with the surface of the disk. Thus the suspension provides desired slider loading and dimensional stability between the slider and an actuator arm which couples the transducer/slider/suspension assembly to the actuator. The actuator positions the transducer over the correct track according to the data desired on a read operation or to the correct track for placement of the data during a write operation. The actuator is controlled to position the transducer over the desired data track by shifting the combination assembly across the surface of the disk in a direction generally transverse to the data tracks. The actuator may include a single arm extending from a pivot point, or alternatively a plurality of arms arranged in a comb-like fashion extending from a pivot point. A rotary voice coil motor (vcm) is attached to the rear portion of the actuator arm or arms to power movement of the actuator over the disks.
The vcm located at the rear portion of the actuator arm is comprised of a top plate spaced above a bottom plate with a magnet or pair of magnets therebetween. The vcm further includes an electrically conductive coil disposed within the rearward extension of the actuator arm and between the top and bottom plates, while overlying the magnet in a plane parallel to the magnet. In operation, current passes through the coil and interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet so as to rotate the actuator arm around its pivot and thus positioning the transducer as desired.
The magnetic media disk or disks in the disk drive are mounted to a spindle. The spindle is attached to a spindle motor which rotates the spindle and the disks to provide read/write access to the various portions on the concentric tracks on the disks.
The actuator in the disk drive must be capable of a sufficient range of motion so that the transducer/slider combination attached to the suspension can access the maximum usable area of the disk surface to provide the most efficient use of the magnetic storage media and thus achieve the high data density desirable in data storage devices. Circumferential data tracks on the disk are written in a band extending radially from as far to the outer diameter of the disk (OD) as allowed by the necessity of keeping the entire slider over the disk and as far to the inner diameter of the disk (ID) as allowed without the slider or the suspension contacting the spindle on which the disk is mounted.
When the disk drive is not in operation, the disks are not rotating so that the air-bearing that supports the slider during operation is no longer provided. In the stopped condition, the slider rests in contact with the disk surface. When the drive is started, the slider stays in sliding contact with the disk surface until the disk achieves sufficiently high radial velocity to provide the air bearing that supports the slider in the operating condition. When the disk drive is shut down, the actuator locates the slider at the start/stop zone and then the spindle motor is turned off causing the disk or disks to stop rotating, resulting in the slider or sliders contacting the disk when the air-bearings can no longer support their load. The surface of the disks in the start/stop zone are usually specially textured to provide a low sticking and high durability interface, resulting in easy starting and low wear.
In the present art, a common practice reserves a radial band approximately the width of the slider at the ID of the available disk area for use as a start/stop zone. In normal operation, the actuator positions the transducer/slider/suspension combination radially with respect to the disk as described above. The inner and outer radial limits of the slider/suspension combination are established by mechanical limit stops which constrain motion of the actuator positioning arm where the suspension or suspensions are mounted. These limit stops are located near the rearward extensions of the actuator arm. The ID limit stop limits actuator radial motion to define the innermost radius of the disk surface that can be accessed by the slider without danger of contact with the disk spindle. The OD limit stop limits actuator radial motion to define the outermost usable radius of the disk surface that can be accessed by the slider without danger of the slider running off the flat surface at the OD edge of the disk. The inner and outer radial limits of the slider/suspension combination with respect to the disk surface are required for safely restricting the radial position in case of drive electronics failure and to establish reference radii on the disk to provide information for recovery from a failure.
Because of the high density of data storage on the disks in a file and to maximize the disk area available for user data, it is important to minimize the radial distance over the disk required to decelerate and stop the sliders during impact of the actuator with the limit stops. Equally important, the vibration of the slider/suspension combination induced by rapid deceleration of the actuator assembly on impact with the limit stops must be minimized to prevent damage to the slider or the disk caused by intermittent contacts. In the prior art, these requirements for effective limit stop design have been addressed and will be described briefly.
One example of a limit stop is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,206 issued to Phillips et al. This patent describes a limit stop comprised of a pin fabricated from spring material such as steel with a central generally cylindrical section formed of elastomeric material such as rubber or urethane that encircles the steel section. Another example of a limit stop is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,912 issued to Koriyama. This patent describes a limit stop design in which shaped holes or recesses in the rearward extensions of the actuator arm are filled with elastomer material. Another example of a limit stop is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,482 issued to Walsh. This patent describes a limit stop which includes a stainless steel rod or pin which is insert molded into a jacket made from plastic or thermoplastic elastomer material. This thermoplastic jacket is provided with journals at its ends such that the axis of the steel rod is eccentric with respect to the common axis of these journals.
Many other approaches to limit stop design exist in the prior art, all of which are directed to 1) keeping crash impact deflections as small as possible to maximize the disk area available for data storage and 2) keeping crash impact deceleration levels as low as possible to provide the highest possible margin for slider and/or disk damage from intermittent contacts. A common approach is to completely form the limit stops of soft elastic or elastomeric materials to dissipate impact energy efficiently while limiting the impact deflections.
The limit stops and materials used therein described in the prior art have several disadvantages which severely constrain their utility in practice. Elastomer or visco-elastic material parts generally have poor dimensional control and geometric precision requiring large tolerances which wastes valuable disk space. Dimensional stability of parts formed from these materials change with time, temperature and loading. Limit stops formed of these materials tend to adhere to the actuator when loaded against it for long periods (sticky limit stops). The materials generally have high outgassing characteristics leading to contamination of the file components which can result in serious corrosion or stiction problems.
It therefore can be seen that there is a need for a limit stop that can be fabricated within well-defined mechanical tolerances, minimizes impact deflections, limits impact deceleration levels, has good dimensional stability with time, temperature and loading, and has low outgassing characteristics.

High-performance disk drive limit stop employing encapsulated visco-elastic material

International Business Machines Corporation


An auxiliary platform has a one-ton hoist which may be used in conjunction with a rigid pole handling system. The positioning of the one-ton hoist, as well as the positioning of a trolley on which the hoist is mounted and the positioning of the platform, is centrally controlled at a control panel. In one embodiment, a new set of tracks are provided on either side of a refueling pool. A pair of cavity platforms are installed over the edges of the reactor cavity to receive the new set of tracks and to thereby allow the auxiliary platform to travel over the reactor cavity. In another embodiment, the existing tracks are extended and a single new track is provided between the equipment pool and the reactor pressure vessel head pedestal and spent fuel cask washdown area. The auxiliary platform is made extendable so that it can travel over the width of the existing tracks and also over width defined by the new track and one of the existing tracks. The auxiliary platform can work independently of the refueling platform on a separate task or can aid the refueling platform in performing a single task. The auxiliary platform can both shorten the critical path time and reduce the exposure of radiation to workers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a platform system for use in boiling water reactor ("BWR") plants and, more particularly, to an auxiliary platform to be used in conjunction with a refueling platform in such plants.
2. Description of Prior Art
Typically, BWR plants have a refueling platform for traveling over a spent fuel pool and over a reactor cavity. The refueling platform may be used during a refueling operation and during other outage times to perform a variety of tasks. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1, the refueling platform travels over a pair of tracks 6. The refueling platform may be equipped with a rigid pole handling system for performing underwater operations. The rigid pole handling system comprises a hoist 10 attached to a carriage 12 that travels along a monorail. An operator may attach a tool 18 onto poles 8 from a pole storage rack 14 and lower the tool into the refueling pool. Once a task is completed with the tool 18, a different task may be performed with a different tool or at a different location.
To perform a complicated task or a number of tasks, however, the tools 18 must be changed a number of times and the refueling platform must be moved to a number of different locations. Thus, the performance of a single complicated task or the performance of numerous tasks is rather time consuming. Since workers are being exposed to radiation as the tasks are being performed, it is desirable to minimize the time needed to perform the tasks to thereby minimize the exposure time. Also, due to the limited space on the refueling floor, it is not possible to have the refueling platform travel across the entire refueling floor. Thus, access to all locations on the refueling floor is restricted.

Auxiliary platform for boiling water reactors


Disclosed embodiments are directed to a technique to remove DC offset from current measurement signals through shunt resistors in digital signal processing for current reconstruction when using discontinuous pulse width modulation (DPWM). Such measurements regarding current are pertinent to a feedback loop used for a system including a DC-link capacitor, inverter, and motor. A method of removing DC offset comprises: determining a three-phase output current signal of an inverter, wherein the inverter is coupled to a motor and a power supply; producing a voltage signal based on the three-phase output current signal and the resistances of one or more shunt resistors disposed in the inverter; applying an analog gain circuit to the voltage signal; processing the voltage signal with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); applying a DC offset corrector to the voltage signal; and performing current reconstruction on the voltage signal to produce a continuous current signal.

Induction motors are well known as industrial drives. Typically, a DC-link capacitor supplies power to the motor through an inverter. The inverter can switch between individual output loads to power the motor. Pulse width modulation (PWM) has been used to control the source supply to a load by controlling the frequency and duration of switching between connected and disconnected positions in the inverter. PWM can be ideal to use as it provides a continuous signal, and the motor must run on a continuous signal. It is often desirable to accurately measure the motor phase current in a feedback loop implemented with the motor to improve upon the performance of the motor or to ensure that the motor is operating correctly.
Currently, low pass filters have been used during processing to calculate the amount of DC offset to remove, as there is typically a DC offset value added because most of the low cost and inbuilt analog-to-digital (ADC) converters in Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) are unipolar and cannot process negative values. This arrangement is only efficient in removing the DC offset if the source signal is continuous and periodic. Although this arrangement provides accurate results, there is a limit as to which frequencies may be analyzed, there is a phase lag due to the filter, and the shape of the reconstructed current curve is distorted as the load increases when used with a discontinuous PWM method because there is discontinuity in the current information obtained.

Hysteresis based DC offset corrector for current reconstruction when using discontinuous PWM


A circuit arrangement for motor vehicles for characterizing one of several variants of an electrically controllable subassembly is provided. A subassembly is connectable to a coding plug. The coding plug has at least one electric terminal which is directly or indirectly connectable to a measurement input of an analyzer unit. The coding plug has fixed electric wiring by means of which a defined electric state may be generated at the measurement input in the analyzer unit. The electric state is detected in the analyzer unit and compared with stored data, by means of which a defined electric state that can be differentiated from all other states is assigned to each possible variant of the subassembly.

German Patent Document Nos. DE 100 61 025 A1 or DE 21 33 062A1 disclose circuit arrangements for motor vehicles. In these circuits different resistances, which vary according to the switch setting, can be applied to the measurement input of an analyzer circuit via manually operated switches in an operating unit. This yields a manually operated characterization of one of several functions that can be requested.
The object of the present invention is to create a simple and inexpensive circuit arrangement for motor vehicles for characterizing one of several variants of an electrically controllable subassembly.
This object is achieved through a system for a motor vehicle for characterizing one of multiple variants of an electrically controllable subassembly, the system comprising: a coding plug connectable to the subassembly; and an analyzer unit with a measurement input connectable directly or indirectly to at least one electric terminal of the coding plug, wherein the coding plug has a fixed electric wiring arranged such that a defined electric state is generable at the measurement input of the analyzer unit, and wherein the electric state is detected by the analyzer unit and compared with stored data such that a defined electric state differentiable from all other states is assigned to each possible variant of the subassembly.
Through the present invention a control unit for controlling the subassembly can still be manufactured, supplied and installed, independently of the subassembly. No additional logistical effort and/or expense is required for different variants of a subassembly. The variant is "learned" by the analyzer unit, which can be integrated into the control unit for controlling the subassembly. After recognition of the variant in the analyzer unit and/or in the control unit, mechanical tolerances can be compensated through the control technology. This allows savings in design measures for reducing tolerances. A simple analysis is performed in the analyzer unit and/or in the control unit. In customer service, simple handling is also possible when exchanging a subassembly. The new variant can be learned anew.

Circuit for motor vehicles with coding plug

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A method and system for controlling heating cables wherein a plurality of two-conductor heating cables are disposed in contact with heatable vessels to heat the vessels. Power lines having at least two conductors are connected to the heating cables through a plurality of first switches. Each first switch is responsive to a control signal for selectively connecting and disconnecting one heating cable to and from the power lines. Each of a plurality of remote terminals is connected to the two conductors of a heating cable and detects the temperature of the heatable vessel heated by the heating cable. At least one main controller for controlling a plurality of first switches is connected to two of the power line conductors. Temperature data relating to temperatures detected by the temperature sensors is transmitted from the remote terminals over the heating cables and the power lines by spread spectrum data transmission to the main controller. A plurality of control signals is produced as a function of the temperature data and is applied by the main controller to the first switches.

The present invention relates to the control and monitoring of heating cables.
Heating cables, such as XL-Trace.TM. self-regulating heaters manufactured by Raychem Corporation of Menlo Park, Calif. , are specially designed for freeze protection of metal and plastic water pipes in commercial, institutional and residential construction applications.
These heating cables are self-regulating in that two parallel bus wires are separated by a self-regulating conductive core. Current flows between the two bus wires independently at each point along the heating cable. The self-regulating conductive core of the heating cable continuously adjusts its heat output in response to pipe temperature, providing a freeze protection system that gives the user the correct amount of heat at each point along the pipe. It is apparent that if there is a failure or fault condition, there will be frozen pipes, process fluid degradations and other costly problems. Also, the self-regulating heating cables require a lot of energy to operate and there is no provision for energy conservation in freezing conditions.
In order to provide a system for monitoring and controlling the heating cable or heat tracing circuit, a third conductor was added to the heating cable and a monitoring system, for example, the MoniTrace 1000 by Raychem Corporation uses the third conductor in addition to the two bus conductors to monitor and control the heating cable and it uses a thermostat for energy conservation.
Among the disadvantages of this type of system, is that the three conductor cable is more expensive than the two conductor cable.

Heating cable control and monitoring method and system


In a dual plasma device, the first plasma is a microwave discharge having its own means of plasma initiation and control. The microwave discharge operates at electron cyclotron resonance (ECR), and generates a uniform plasma over a large area of about 1000 cm.sup.2 at low pressures below 0.1 mtorr. The ECR microwave plasma initiates the second plasma, a radio frequency (RF) plasma maintained between parallel plates. The ECR microwave plasma acts as a source of charged particles, supplying copious amounts of a desired charged excited species in uniform manner to the RF plasma. The parallel plate portion of the apparatus includes a magnetic filter with static magnetic field structure that aids the formation of ECR zones in the two plasma regions, and also assists in the RF plasma also operating at electron cyclotron resonance.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to vacuum deposition and etching apparatus, and more particularly to a plasma source utilizing coupled ECR microwave and radio-frequency (RF) plasmas; the apparatus particularly employing line cusp magnetic multipole structures in both plasma regions for enhancing plasma confinement and producing a uniform plasma over a large substrate area, and also incorporating an electrically-biased magnetic filter for controlling the properties of the ECR microwave and RF plasmas.
2. Prior Art
In U. S. Pat. No. 5,032,202, one of the inventors provided an improved ECR microwave plasma source featuring a magnetic multipole construction for both the plasma confinement and plasma generation, and which also provides a uniform plasma for large area plasma processing. Like ECR microwave plasma sources before it, the plasma source relies solely on microwave energy to produce its plasma. In microwave plasma sources, variations of the plasma uniformity are a sensitive function of gas pressure and magnetic field in the microwave launcher.
Parallel plate radio-frequency (RF) reactors are another type of vacuum deposition and etching apparatus. See, for example, C. M. Melliar-Smith and C. J. Mogab, "Plasma-Assisted Etching Techniques for Pattern Delineation", in Thin Film Processes (J. L. Vossen and W. Kern, Eds.), Academic Press, New York, Chapt. V-2 (1978) pp.497-556. It is well known with parallel plate radio-frequency (RF) reactors that it is difficult to produce desired high density and uniform plasma at low pressures below 1 mtorr. Low pressures are desired to minimize gas scattering because the uniformity and directionality become more important as the sub-features are reduced in size for manufacturing of the electronics.
Recently, the use of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) modes and static magnetic field structures have been reported in connection with parallel plate RF reactors (U. S. Pat. Nos. 4,585,668; 4,630,566; 4,691,662; 4,727,293; 4,906,900; and 5,081,398).
In one of these pats. 4,691,662, Roppel et al feeds charged excited species to the active RF plasma from a physically separated ECR microwave disk plasma. Roppel characterizes his active plasma as a microwave and RF plasma (or hybrid plasma) since it includes species from both microwave excitation and RF excitation. Roppel was able to achieve flexibility by controlling reactive species of the hybrid plasma. However, the operating pressure range was not reported The plasma source appears to operate at pressures well above 1 mtorr because of limited magnetic confinement for both the disk microwave plasma and the hybrid plasma. In fact, FIG. 1 of the 4,691,662 patent depicts some of the magnets 20 located on the sliding plate of the microwave cavity. In the Roppel apparatus, a resonant cavity is used to induce strong microwave electric fields which in turn create the microwave driven plasma inside a quartz dish. In such a source, the frequency required of the power supply decreases inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the microwave plasma. Consequently, it is difficult in such a source to create a uniform plasma over a large article at low pressures below 0.1 mtorr as needed for manufacturing microelectronics.

Coupled microwave ECR and radio-frequency plasma source for plasma processing


A method for securing an aircraft landing gear wheel drive actuator in an open position of the wheel, the drive actuator being movably mounted on the landing gear between said open position in which it is remote from the wheel and an engaged position in which it cooperates with the wheel to ensure its rotational drive, a displacement actuator being coupled to the drive actuator to move same between the two positions, and a locking member being provided to lock the drive actuator in the open position. The method includes holding the controlled displacement actuator to move the drive actuator to the open position, while the drive actuator is locked in the open position.

Aircraft landing gears carry wheels equipped with a rotating drive actuator. For safety reasons, it is required that, particularly in the takeoff or landing phases, the drive actuator cannot interfere with the wheel. Some of these drive actuators are thus mounted so that they can be moved on the landing gear between an engaged position in which the drive actuator is likely to drive the wheel, and an open position in which the drive actuator is away from the wheel and does not cooperate with it. For example, the drive actuator is pivotally mounted on the landing gear and is moved between the engaged position and the open position by a linear displacement actuator, such as a cylinder. A locking device is used to keep the drive actuator in an open position during the phases when it is prevented from interfering with the wheel. However, the locking element can still fail, which is a major safety issue.

Method for securing an aircraft wheel drive actuator in an open position