A high-speed shear with a knife, particularly a chisel-type knife with a knife edge, arranged on at least one of two oppositely arranged drums, wherein the knife can be accelerated to the feeding speed of the rolled strip and the drums can be adjusted relative to each other for carrying out a cut. At least one drive unit provided for the drums serves to accelerate the drums to the speed of the rolled strip to be cut and at least one of the drums may be provided with a separately controllable adjusting device. The chisel-type knife of the knife drum is mounted so as to protrude from the cutting circle towards the anvil or the surface portion of the second drum acting as an anvil and to mount the chisel-type knife of the knife drum so as to be resiliently supported against a predetermined restoring force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-speed shear with a knife, particularly a chisel-type knife with a knife edge, arranged on at least one of two oppositely arranged drums, wherein the knife can be accelerated to the feeding speed of the rolled strip and the drums can be adjusted relative to each other for carrying out a cut. At least one drive unit provided for the drums serves to accelerate the drums to the speed of the rolled strip to be cut and at least one of the drums may be provided with a separately controllable adjusting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of hot-rolled wide strip, the endless rolling method is used more and more. The material used is produced by welding preliminary strips or in casting machines. However, hot-rolled wide strip is also manufactured by using a semi-endless rolling method in which the material used may have the length of several preliminary strips which may be stored intermediately on roller tables, roller-hearth furnaces or in coil boxes.
After the hot-rolling procedure, the finished strip must be cut to the strip lengths corresponding to the required coil weights. The cut should be carried out in a continuous operation, i.e., at rolling speed. Accordingly, the cut must be carried out at the speeds of trains for hot-rolling wide strip which are conventional today in the range of 5 m/sec. to 30 m/sec., preferably 10 m/sec. to 20 m/sec. The strip thicknesses are between 0.5 mm to 30 mm, preferably between 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm.
Rotary shears or guillotine shears which are conventional in the art and serve to cut hot-rolled wide strip, are not designed for such high strip speeds. However, flying shears which are used following cold-rolling tandem trains usually operate today only at strip speeds of about 6 m/sec; in these type of shears there is also a demand for significantly higher speeds.
At such high strip speeds, it is no longer possible to economically carry out the conventional cutting procedures in which the knife drum is accelerated to a strip speed of up to 30 m/sec. for carrying out the cut and in which the knife drum must subsequently be decelerated again.
In order to eliminate these difficulties, it has already been proposed to control the acceleration of the knife drum to strip speed or the operation of the knife drum at strip speed separate of the movement to be carried out perpendicularly of the strip and to provide for at least one of the drums a separately controllable adjusting device.
In this connection, it is possible to provide one of the drums with a knife and the other drum with an anvil or a surface portion acting as an anvil which interacts with the knife.
However, when the shear has this configuration, a safe and exact cut can only be ensured if the cutting gap between the knife cutting edge and the anvil or the surface portion of the counter-drum is zero. If this is not the case, for example, if the knife has an excess length, the knife and the anvil may be overloaded until they are destroyed, or when the knife has an insufficient length the cut remains incomplete.
However, due to one or more interacting variables including thermal extension, wear, elastic behavior of the adjusting devices, acceleration forces, finishing tolerances, etc. the adjustment of the cutting gap to "zero" cannot be achieved with the required certainty. Therefore, it is necessary for a certain and reliable cutting of the strip that the knife protrudes from the cutting circle. However, this protrusion leads to a rapid increase of the cutting forces and, thus, to wear phenomena in all structural components of the cutting elements, the adjusting device and the bearings of the drums.

High-speed shear for transversely cutting rolled strip


A guard for a rotatable or swivel seat includes a first generally planar surface and an opposing second generally planar surface. The first and second surfaces define an inner peripheral edge that surrounds a central opening. A skirt extends generally perpendicularly from the first and second surfaces. The skirt generally surrounds and is spaced radially outwardly from the inner peripheral edge. The guard includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced-apart fastener points formed on or in at least one of the first and second surfaces. Each fastener point is spaced radially outwardly from the inner peripheral edge and radially inwardly from the skirt. The guard is attachable to a platform of a seat in both a first configuration wherein the skirt of the guard extends away from the platform of the seat and a second configuration wherein the guard is inverted from the first configuration.

The present invention relates generally to a guard that at least partially covers and/or surrounds a conventional swivel of a rotatable chair or other seat.
Rotatable or swivel chairs (none shown) are well known. As shown in FIGS. 6-9 and 11, swivel chairs typically include one of a variety of swivels 12, 12′. Generally speaking, a swivel 12, 12′ is a connection that allows at least a portion of an object (e.g., a seat of a chair) to rotate with respect to another portion of the object (e.g., a base of the chair). As shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, conventional swivels 12, 12′ typically include two spaced-apart and generally planar plates 28, namely a first plate 28a and a second plate 28b. One or more bearings (none shown) and/or a spring 50 (see FIG. 7) are typically positioned between the plates 28 and provide for the above-described relative motion or movement between the plates 28 and the structure (e.g., a platform 32 and/or a top plate 34, which are described in detail below) to which the plates 28 are secured. Conventional swivels 12, 12′ may be referred to as auto-return swivels, 360 degree swivels, memory return swivels and non-return swivels, for example.
Certain conventional swivels 12 include self-clinching nuts 26, which are commonly referred to as PEM nuts. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a swivel 12 that includes self-clinching nuts 26. The self-clinching nuts 26 are generally fixed to or included within only one of the plates 28, such as the second plate 28b, of the swivel 12 and are sized and/or shaped to receive and engage at least a portion of a fastener 38, such as a threaded bolt or screw, (see FIGS. 5 and 6) therethrough. Other conventional swivels 12′ lack self-clinching nuts 26, but instead include openings 44, 52 in both plates 28 with generally smooth (i.e., not threaded) interior surfaces for receipt and/or the passage of a fastener 38. FIGS. 9 and 11 show a swivel 12′ without self-clinching nuts 26. A separate conventional nut (not shown) may be threaded onto at least a portion of the fastener 38 after the fastener 38 is inserted into one of the openings 44, 48, 52 of each of the first and second plates 28a, 28b, or at least a portion of the fastener 38 may engage a portion of a self-clinching nut 26 in another component of the chair.
Conventional rotatable or swivel chairs are often susceptible to a user or a bystander, particularly a child, intentionally or inadvertently contacting at least a portion of the swivel 12, 12′ and thereby pinching or otherwise being injured during movement or rotation of the plates 28 of the swivel 12, 12′. Further, conventional swivels 12, 12′ are at least somewhat unsightly or otherwise unattractive, and the use of such a swivel 12, 12′ is undesirably inhibited by the collection of dust or dirt thereon or therein.
It has not yet been discovered how to create a guard that at least partially covers, surrounds, hides and/or conceals a conventional swivel 12, 12′ and is reversible or useable in either of two orientations to accommodate conventional swivels 12, 12′ that include and lack self-clinching nuts 26. The present invention accomplished the above objectives.

Guard and combination for rotatable or swivel seat and method of installing same


Diabetes treatments comprising, as effective ingredients, biguanide derivatives represented by the following general formula (1), or salts thereof.

Treatments for type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes are currently centered on hypoglycemic agents. Strict blood glucose control clearly lowers rates of transition to complications and mortality rates. The major hypoglycemic agents used are insulin preparations or oral hypoglycemic agents such as sulfonylurea agents, thiazolidine derivatives, α-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanide agents and the like. Among such oral hypoglycemic agents, biguanide agents are known to be the most effective in type II diabetic patients. Numerous biguanide derivatives have been synthesized to date, and the hypoglycemic actions of various biguanide derivatives have been reported in publications such as, for example, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 81, 3728-3736 (1959). However, such biguanide derivatives are commonly recognized as having the potential to induce lactic acidosis, and even the aforementioned publications have not confirmed the presence or degree of blood lactic acid level augmenting effects of biguanide derivatives. Consequently, the existing biguanide agents, such as metformin, have been contraindicated for diabetic patients with anamnesis of lactic acidosis, diabetic patients with kidney dysfunction, diabetic patients with liver dysfunction, diabetic patients with cardiovascular dysfunction, diabetic patients with pulmonary dysfunction, diabetic patients susceptible to hypoxia, diabetic patients consuming excessive alcohol, diabetic patients with gastrointestinal disturbance and elderly diabetic patients, due to the risk of their causing lactic acidosis (DRUGS in JAPAN : Ethical Drugs, 23rd edition, p.2094, 2000, Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center).
In addition, approximately 10% of type II diabetic patients are said to have overt nephropathy, therefore many patients cannot take biguanide agents. Sulfonylurea agents, thiazolidine derivatives and insulin preparations are administered in such cases, but because these agents produce a hunger craving and thus tend to result in increased body weight, such agents cannot be considered suitable for obese diabetic patients. A demand therefore exists for biguanide agents which lower blood glucose substantially without increasing blood lactic acid levels, in order to reduce the risk of inducing lactic acidosis.

Biguanide derivative and therapeutic agent for diabetes containing the same

Abstract: (wherein R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different and each represents one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl groups and optionally substituted lower alkylthio groups).


A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes displaying an e-book content on a touchscreen, determining whether a touch lock prerequisite for setting the touchscreen to a touch lock mode is met, and if the touch lock prerequisite is met, setting the touchscreen to the touch lock mode. If the touchscreen is set to the touch lock mode, the touchscreen maintains a locked status for a touch action except a specifically provided touch action. And, the touchscreen set to the touch lock mode is set to display the e-book content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal and controlling method thereof. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for displaying e-book (electronic book) contents in a touch lock mode.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile/portable terminals and stationary terminals. The mobile terminals can be classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals again according to possibility of user's direct portability.
As functions of the terminal are diversified, the terminal is implemented as a multimedia player provided with composite functions such as photographing of photos or moving pictures, playback of music or moving picture files, game play, broadcast reception and the like for example.
To support and increase of the terminal functions, it may be able to consider the improvement of structural part and/or software part of the terminal.
Recently, if a display unit of a terminal and a sensor configured to sense a touch action configure a mutual layer structure (hereinafter named a touchscreen), the display unit may be usable as an input device as well as an output device. Compared to conventional input mechanism, a user's touch action via a touchscreen facilitates a user to control a mobile terminal in a desired direction. Yet, although a user unintentionally touches a touchscreen, a mobile terminal determines that there is a predetermined touch action performed by the user, it may perform an operation the user does not intend to do. Thus, if a user does not want to perform a touch action on a mobile terminal including a touchscreen, it may be necessary to set a mode of preventing a touch action from working, i.e., a screen lock mode or a touch lock mode. However, in case of a touch-locked mode of a conventional touchscreen, since basic information is available only, it may cause a problem that display functions of a mobile terminal have difficulty in being used fully and correctly.

Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof


A valve drive mechanism is provided for opening and closing a valve of an engine. The device comprises a valve drive device and a swing member pivotally supported on a swing member support shaft. The swing member is driven to pivot about the swing member support shaft by the valve drive device. A cam surface is formed on the swing member. The cam surface is configured to transfer motion of the swing member to a second member of the valve drive device. The cam surface comprises a first portion that is configured to contact the second member while the valve is moving from a closed or substantially closed position to an open position and a second portion configured to contact the second member when the valve is closed or substantially closed. A width of the second portion of the cam surface is smaller than a width of the first portion of the cam surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve drive mechanism and, more particularly, to a valve drive mechanism for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
One type of valve drive mechanism for an internal combustion engine comprises a camshaft, which drives an intake and/or exhaust valve to open and close through a rocker arm. A swing member or rocking member is positioned between the rocker arm and the camshaft. The swing member is rocked back and forth by a rotating cam that is provided on the camshaft. A cam surface on the swing member comes into contact with a cam surface on the rocking arm. Thus, when the swing member is rocked or swung back and forth, this motion is transferred to the rocker arm causing it to be rocked back and forth. This reciprocal motion causes the rocker arm to press against the intake and/or exhaust valve to open/close the valve. JP-A-H7-063023 describes such a valve mechanism.

Valve mechanism for internal combustion engine


A first transistor and a second transistor which serve as switches are connected with each other in series between a data line and a gate electrode of a third transistor which drives a diode. A characteristic of the first transistor is made to differ in terms of current driving capability from that of the second transistor. A storage characteristic of one of the first transistor and the second transistor is made higher than that of the other transistor whereas the current driving capability of the other transistor is raised, and so that leakage current in the first and second transistors which are connected in series is significantly reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive circuit and it particularly relates to a technology by which to reduce leakage current.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a trend in recent years, equipments including semiconductor devices are becoming smaller and lighter, and switching transistors to be implemented in such equipments are often mounted on semiconductor substrates. For example, thin film transistors (TFTs) are frequently used for unit equipments such as LCDs. Although various improvements have been made in the characteristics of TFTs, leakage current is a perpetual problem. For instance, a technology for improving storage characteristics is desired in order to store data over a reasonably long period of time.
The storage characteristics of transistors may be improved, for instance, by using longer gate length thereof, but this goes against the aforementioned trend toward smaller size of equipments. Moreover, the use of longer gates of transistors causes the problem of increased gate capacity and greater power consumption resulting therefrom.

Drive circuit including a plurality of transistors characteristics of which are made to differ from one another, and a display apparatus including the drive circuit


A number of embodiments of inductions and fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines that improve exhaust emission control and fuel economy without adversely effecting the running of the engine under any running condition. This is accomplished by injecting fuel into one of at least two intake passages and providing exhaust gas recirculation into another of the intake passages. A stoichiometric fuel air mixture is introduced and the amount of exhaust gas recirculation is such that a minimum amount of air is inducted into the combustion chamber through the other intake passage when exhaust gas recirculation is being accomplished. Both two and three intake valve systems are disclosed and these use either control valves for controlling the flow through the other intake passages or operate without control valve. In addition an arrangement is provided wherein the spray from a single fuel injector may be deflected into several of the intake passages under certain running conditions so as to provide a more uniform fuel introduction without necessitating multiple fuel injectors.

This invention relates to an induction system for an internal combustion engine and more particularly to an improved induction system that permits better exhaust emission control while, at the same time, affording good fuel economy. In addition, the invention relates to an improved injection system for a multiple intake passage system for an engine.
It is well known that a variety of arrangements have been incorporated for improving exhaust gas emission control and particularly for controlling the emission of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and NOx in the exhaust gases of an engine. Unfortunately, many of the aspects employed to provide exhaust emission control can deteriorate the fuel economy of an engine.
In addition to exhaust emission control and fuel economy, it is also desirable to provide good running characteristics for the engine through its entire speed and load range. One way in which these varying conditions can be met is through the use of a compound induction system for the engine wherein low and mid-range performance is supplied by a single, relatively small intake passage to offer good turbulence in the combustion chamber while high speed requirements are provided by a larger effective passage so as to improve volumetric efficiency. Normally this type of compound induction system incorporates at least two intake passages that serve each combustion chamber with a throttle valve arrangement for controlling the flow through one of the intake passages so that it will supply no charge under low and mid-range load conditions. However, the existence of this additional passage and its flow control valve can give rise to pumping losses that deteriorate the fuel economy of the engine when the control valve is closed.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved induction system for an engine wherein good performance results under all running conditions and at the same time effective exhaust emission control is achieved.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved induction system for an engine that permits the aforenoted results while, at the same time, eliminating or substantially reducing pumping losses under low and mid-range performance so as to improve fuel economy.
One way in which NOx emissions are controlled is through the use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Recirculating exhaust gases into the combustion chamber under at lease some running conditions reduces the temperature in the combustion chamber and the formation of NOx. However, the use of EGR can give rise to poor running characteristics when large quantities of exhaust gases are recirculated. In addition, many engines are very sensitive to the amount of the EGR.
It is, therefore, a still further object of this invention to provide an improved system for permitting increased usage of EGR without deteriorating engine performance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an EGR system for an engine having a compound induction system wherein the EGR is employed to reduce pumping losses as well as controlling the emission of NOx.
With compound induction systems, it is frequently the practice to inject fuel in such a manner that a single fuel injector can supply fuel to all induction passages serving a given combustion chamber. However, when there is no flow occurring through certain of the induction passages under some running conditions, any fuel injected into this passage will be lost or can cause other disadvantageous results. Therefore, it is frequently proposed to employ multiple fuel injectors in such systems, which expedient adds to the cost and complexity of the system.
It is, therefore, a still further object of this invention to provide an improved fuel injection system for a compound induction system wherein only a single fuel injector is employed and means are provided for selectively controlling the spray pattern of the fuel injector.

Induction system for an internal combustion engine


A developer for an electrophotographic tandem image forming method is provided that contains a toner; and a carrier, wherein the toner has a shape factor SF-1 of from 120 to 160, an average circularity of form 0.93 to 0.98, a weight-average particle diameter (D4) of from 3.0 to 8.0 μm, and a ratio (D4/Dn) of the weight-average particle diameter (D4) to a number-average particle diameter (Dn) of from 1.01 to 1.20, and wherein the carrier is almost a spherical ferrite coated with a resin wherein alumina is dispersed, which has an average particle diameter of from 20 to 45 μm and the following formula:(MgO)x(MnO)y(Fe2O3)zwherein x is from 1 to 5 mol %, y is from 5 to 55 mol % and z is from 45 to 55 mol %.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developer for forming an electrophotographic image, and to an image forming method using the developer.
2. Discussion of the Background
As a conventional electrophotographic full-color recording method, a method of developing each color image with plural photoreceptors is known.
This method separately forms each color toner image through each latent image forming process, developing process and transfer process, has a small difference between a single color image forming speed and a full color image forming speed, and has an advantage of being capable of meeting specifications for high speed printing. However, since this method forms each color toner image on a separate photoreceptor and layers each color toner layer (color lapping) to form a full color image, when each color toner has different properties such as chargeability, each color toner image has a different developed toner quantity, resulting in large variation of a secondary hue, i.e., deterioration of color reproducibility. In addition, this is same when each photoreceptor has a different chargeability and a different potential after irradiated.
Further, since this method transfers and fixes each toner image formed on the plural photoreceptors on an image forming substrate, when each color toner has a different adherence thereto, the color toner is not stably fixed, resulting in deterioration of color reproducibility. Since a conventional toner prepared by a pulverizing method nonuniformly includes materials dispersed therein in a fracture cross section thereof, surface properties thereof are difficult to fix, and each color toner is difficult to have a stable developed toner quantity and a uniform adherence to the image forming substrate. Accordingly, each color toner has a different developability and transferability, resulting in deterioration of color images. Particularly, since each color toner has a different transferability, color reproducibility thereof tends to deteriorate and an incomplete transfer thereof tends to occur.
Although an intermediate transferer prevents background fouling from directly transferring to a recording medium such as a paper when the photoreceptor has the background fouling, the toner transfers from the photoreceptor to the intermediate transferer and to the recording medium therefrom, and therefore the toner is difficult to have sufficient transferability.
On the other hand, although a conventional polymerized toner prepared by a suspension polymerization method has uniform surface properties, the toner has a spherical shape and has high adherence to the photoreceptor and image forming substrate. Particularly, cleanability of an elastic blade cleaning the photoreceptor and intermediate transferer tends to deteriorate.
As mentioned above, a tandem image forming method is difficult to stably produce high-quality color images for long periods.
Each color toner for use therein needs to have a stable developed toner quantity and a uniform adherence to the photoreceptor and image forming substrate.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-318482 discloses a toner for use in a tandem image forming method, wherein one of the following conditions is satisfied:
(1) the toner has a shape factor having a variation coefficient not greater than 16% and a number particle diameter distribution having a number variation coefficient not greater than 27%; (2) the toner includes a polled toner in an amount not less than 50% by number and has a number particle diameter distribution having a number variation coefficient not greater than 27%; and (3) the toner includes a toner having a shape factor of from 1.2 to 1.6 in an amount not less than 65% by number and has a shape factor having a variation coefficient not greater than 16%.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-244400 discloses a toner for use in a tandem image forming method, wherein the toner has a flat shape and toner images formed thereof are overlaid on an intermediate transferer having an adherence.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-304025 discloses a toner, wherein a relationship between an average circle-equivalent diameter of the toner on a surface of a photoreceptor after an electrostatic latent image is developed and a value derived by dividing a standard deviation thereof with the average circle-equivalent diameter is specified; the toner has a volume-average particle diameter of from 2 to 7 μm; the toner has a volume variation coefficient not greater than 22; the toner includes a toner having a shape factor of from 1.2 to 1.6 in an amount not less than 60% by volume; and the shape factor has a variation coefficient not greater than 18%, and an image forming apparatus wherein a DC voltage overlapped with an AC voltage is applied to a photoreceptor.
Any of these methods specify a particle diameter distribution and a shape of a toner, but even a two-component developer including such a toner does not have stable developability and developing uniformity.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a toner having good developability and transferability, which is capable of stably producing high-quality color images having good solid image uniformity and thin line reproducibility for long periods in a tandem color image forming method.

Developer, and image forming method using the developer


The present invention relates to a tamper-evident closure of the roll-on type which comprises an engagement surface, suitable for engaging with a corresponding engagement surface provided on the neck of a container, wherein the engagement surfaces permit the complete removal of the closure after the first opening.

Tamper-evident closures are known in the art. Such closures generally comprise a true and proper cap, removably associated with the remainder of the closure, and a tamper-evident element, or one for making the first opening evident.
In the majority of closures, there is at least one element which remains attached to the container after the first opening. Normally, such an element is intended and designed to remain attached to the container for the entire useful life of the container.
With the increase in sensitivity regarding the environmental impact of products, there has gradually become widespread the need to also reduce the environmental impact of safety closures.
It is known that in order to reduce the environmental impact of an object it is possible to produce it by means of components all made of the same material or in any case easily separable from one another.
In the particular case of safety closures, normally comprising an element intended to remain on the container for the entire useful life of the latter, it is found that it is not in fact easy, with normal separation techniques adopted in the recycling field, to separate the container from the element fitted onto it.
The element therefore becomes a pollutant for the recycling of the container.
The documents WO2008/95863, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,156,490, 3,001,657, GB 407386, GB 374394, GB 362101, FR 1108212 and FR 723220 disclose containers having a neck, having a lower screw thread and an upper screw thread, to which there is applied a closure having a lower portion in engagement with the lower thread and an upper portion in engagement with the upper thread. Upon first opening, the lower thread is configured to retain the lower portion on the container. However, the container does not allow removal of the lower portion after the first opening.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to produce a container which allows ready separation of the closure so as to be able to recycle the container better without any element of the closure being able to become a pollutant for the purposes of the recycling of the container itself.
In view of the prior art described, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container which can be adapted to receive a completely removable tamper-evident closure, making both recyclable separately.
In addition, the present invention makes it possible to obtain advantages in terms of simplicity of production, greater strength, greater compactness and/or greater versatility.

Container for recyclable closure and container closure assembly with said container


A vehicle roll over protection system with at least one hoop member, longitudinal member, and connection device. The connection device couples the longitudinal member to the hoop member and includes first and second side plates that are fixedly attached on opposing sides of the hoop member in a substantially parallel arrangement to define a channel between the first and second side plates. Each side plate includes a cut-out that forms a cradle. The longitudinal member is received in the cradle. One or more wing plates are fixed to the longitudinal member. The wing plate(s) are received in the channel between the first and second side plates such that the first and second side plates act as displacement limiting features that limit the displacement of the longitudinal member relative to the hoop member in multiple directions.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Many vehicles are equipped with vehicle roll over protection systems such as roll hoops, roll bars, and roll cages. These vehicle roll over protection systems generally improve the rigidity of the vehicle, particularly around the passenger compartment, and therefore can reduce damage to the vehicle during a roll over event. Vehicle roll over protection systems are commonly installed in off-road vehicles and vehicles used in competitive racing due to the higher likelihood of roll over events associated with such activities. However, vehicle roll over protection systems are also fitted to a wide range of other vehicles including automobiles, trucks, construction equipment, and tractors.
Vehicle roll over protection systems are typically made from sections of metal tubing that are welded together to form a roll hoop or roll cage. Due to dimensional variations between different vehicles, even across vehicles of the same model type, roll hoops and roll cages are often customized or adjusted to fit each particular vehicle on a one-off basis. This in combination with the requirements for welding equipment makes the installation of traditional vehicle roll over protection systems difficult in assembly line manufacturing environments. Accordingly, there remains a need for vehicle roll over protection systems that can be manufactured more efficiently and be installed on a vehicle assembly line without the need for additional welding operations.

Structural tube connection device for a vehicle roll over protection system


A device authenticates accessories by detecting that an accessory is attached to the device, determining a unique identification (ID) for the accessory, determining, based on the unique ID, if the accessory has been paired to the device, and in response to determining that the accessory has been paired to the device, enable use of the accessory by the device. In response to determining the accessory has not been paired to the device, the devices performs a secondary authentication process on the accessory.

Many types of electronic devices, including laptop computers, mobile phones, tablet computers, and other types of devices, rely on an array of accessories for performing certain functionality. As examples, electronic devices may utilize batteries for wireless power and utilize wired power supplies for charging the batteries and for providing wired power. It is common for a new device to be sold by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with a battery and a power supply. Over the course of a device's life, however, a user may wish to acquire additional accessories for the device. For example, a user may wish to purchase a second battery for travelling, or after several years of use, may wish to replace a battery that no longer sufficiently holds a charge. Users may also wish to keep power supplies at multiple locations or need power supplies with different plugs and voltages for different countries.
As the life cycles for accessories are often different than the life cycles of the devices themselves, there exists large demand for aftermarket accessories. Counterfeiters and other unauthorized manufacturers often attempt to capitalize on this aftermarket demand by selling unauthorized accessories, including counterfeit accessories and unauthorized refurbished accessories. These unauthorized accessories often times do not work properly and can even, in some instances, damage devices, potentially hurting an OEM's reputation.


A surgical stapler is provided that includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The second jaw includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion of the first jaw is pivotally mounted to the proximal end portion of the second jaw. A flexible guide is secured to the distal end portion of the first jaw.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are aimed at reducing the amount of extraneous tissue that is damaged during diagnostic or surgical procedures, thereby reducing patient recovery time, discomfort, and deleterious side effects. As a consequence, the average length of a hospital stay for standard surgery may be shortened significantly using minimally invasive surgical techniques. Also, patient recovery times, patient discomfort, surgical side effects, and time away from work may also be reduced with minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally invasive teleoperated surgical systems have been developed to increase a surgeon's dexterity when working on an internal surgical site, as well as to allow a surgeon to operate on a patient from a remote location (outside the sterile field). In a teleoperated surgical system, the surgeon is often provided with an image of the surgical site at a control console. While viewing a three dimensional image of the surgical site on a suitable viewer or display, the surgeon performs the surgical procedures on the patient by manipulating master input or control devices of the control console. Each of the master input devices controls the motion of a servo-mechanically actuated/articulated surgical instriment. During the surgical procedure, the teleoperated surgical system can provide mechanical actuation and control of a variety of surgical instruments or tools having end effectors that perform various functions for the surgeon, for example, holding or driving a needle, grasping a blood vessel, dissecting tissue, stapling tissue, or the like, in response to manipulation of the master input devices.

Postioning method for stapler with compliant tip


X-ray analysis of a primary sample such as a flexible sheet 60 uses apparatus having a primary sample holder such as a material feed-through system 20 for moving the flexible sheet through the apparatus. An X-ray analysis head 6 containing an X-ray source and an X-ray detector is mounted on a robot arm 4. The robot arm moves in three dimensions so that the analysis head can be brought into position to measure the flexible sheet as it is being brought through the apparatus by the material feed-through system.

X-ray analysis is a widely adopted technique for accurately capturing measurement data for materials analysis. X-ray diffraction, XRD or X-ray fluorescence, XRF, are both appropriate in various circumstances. XRF for example can accurately measure can accurately measure elemental composition in a very wide range of concentrations; among others metal, from low concentration impurities (sub-ppm) to high concentrations of major constituents (up to 100%).
Samples for such X-ray analysis may be prepared by a number of methods, for example by compressing powder to a solid sample, or fusing the powder. X-ray analysis can also be carried out on streaming samples, for example powders.
There is however a need for the measurement of a wider variety of samples which need not be flat of or known or fixed shape.
In particular, XRF equipment for measuring flexible sheet material, such as textiles or thin films, of the type that may be wound into rolls, for example, has not previously been available.
Further difficulties may arise with non-flat samples of various shapes.
For the most accurate analysis, both XRF and XRD require calibration and this is a particular issue for XRF. There is accordingly a need for XRD or XRF equipment to measure comparable calibration samples.


An accumulator is disposed in a refrigerant circuit at a position on the suction side of a compressor, separates the gas and liquid phases of the refrigerant, and contains the liquid refrigerant. The accumulator comprises: a pressure container (2) having an inner space (S) formed therein; a refrigerant inlet opening (5) provided in the pressure container; a refrigerant outlet opening (6); a conduction pipe (8) for conducting a refrigerant within the pressure container to the outlet opening; and a gas-liquid separation means (15) provided with a separation plate (16) provided within the pressure container so as to face the inlet opening and so as to expand substantially perpendicularly to the direction of the line of flow at the inlet opening. The gas-liquid separation means has, in the region of the separation plate which faces the inlet opening, a mountain-shaped protrusion (18) having a crest (18a) and a sloped surface (18b), the crest (18a) protruding toward the inlet opening.

As the above-mentioned accumulator, there is known one of a type which arranges a gas-liquid separating plate at the inside and makes the gas/liquid dual phase refrigerant strike it, as shown in for example FIG. 9 of PLT 1. FIG. 5 is a view which shows an accumulator of FIG. 9 of PLT 1. This accumulator is provided with an inlet 105 and outlet 106 of a fluid which are arranged in parallel at a top part of a pressure vessel 102, a double wall tube 108 which guides the gas refrigerant to the outlet, and a gas/liquid separating plate (umbrella-shaped member) 115 which spreads out in a substantially conical shape or umbrella shape so as to cover a gas refrigerant inflow port of the double wall tube 108. The gas/liquid dual phase state refrigerant which flows in from the inlet 105 is separated into a gas and liquid by striking the umbrella shaped member 115 whereby the gaseous refrigerant flows through a circumferential gap S3 between the umbrella shaped member 115 and the inside surface of the pressure vessel 102, flows from the top end of the outside tube 110 of the double wall tube to the inside of the double wall tube, descends, then rises inside the inside tube 109 and is sent from the outlet 106 to a compressor (not Shown). The separated liquid refrigerant and oil which had been contained in the refrigerant flow down through the circumferential gap S3 between the umbrella shaped member and the inside wall of the vessel to be stored at the bottom part of the vessel.
In this regard, in the accumulator of FIG. 9, the flow cross-sectional area changes so as to expand while transitioning from the inflow port 105 to the space S2 above the umbrella shaped member 115, then being reduced at the circumferential gap S3 between the umbrella shaped member 115 and the vessel inside surface, but a relatively large pressure loss of the refrigerant occurred due to this change of the flow cross-sectional area.


The general field of the invention is that of devices for controlling luminance of lighting devices comprising light-emitting diodes. The control device is driven by a cyclic input signal of determined period, each period comprising an activation time representative of a determined luminance level. The control device comprises analog electronic means generating a second control signal for the intensity of the electric current passing through the light-emitting diodes, the amplitude of the second control signal being an increasing function of the activation time in such a way that the combination of the cyclic input signal and of the second signal applied to the light-emitting diodes gives a greater luminance range than the range of the cyclic input signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is that of the back-lighting of passive viewing screens also called LCDs for "Liquid Crystal Displays". These screens are light modulators and require an external lighting source in order to operate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a certain number of applications, in particular in the aeronautical field, these screens are used by day and at night. Consequently, the lighting source must possess a high luminance range so as to ensure both correct daytime contrast under strong sunshine and a faintly luminous night-time image so as not to hinder the pilot's nocturnal vision. Thus, luminance ranges of the order of 1000 to 10 000 may be specified.
Technically, to achieve these high ranges, use is made of control signals modulated in terms of duty ratio, also called "PWM" for "Pulse Width Modulation". These periodic signals comprise, during each period, a variable activation time. However, the specified luminance range may be greater than the range of the PWM control signal provided. For example, the range of the PWM signal may be limited to 100 whereas the required range is of the order of 1000.
For certain lighting sources, control by duty ratio turns out to be sufficient. Mention will be made notably of fluorescent lamps of "HCFL" ("High Cathode Fluorescent Lamp") or "CCFL" ("Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp") type. Indeed, when the activation time is very small, having regard to the technical nature of these sources, the light emitted is not proportional to the activation time but is much smaller than the latter whereas, when the activation time is greater, the light emitted becomes proportional to the activation time. For example, for an activation time corresponding to 1% of the period of the PWM, the quantity of light emitted will be 0.1% of the possible maximum, whereas, for an activation time corresponding to 50% of the period of the PWM, the quantity of light emitted will be close to 50% of the possible maximum. Thus, naturally, the sought-after increased luminance range is obtained.
However, certain lighting sources like light-emitting diodes or LEDs have very low response times. Having regard to their performance in respect of dimensions, luminous efficiency and lifetime, LEDs are increasingly used to achieve lighting sources for display screens. In this case, the previous effect is no longer present. If the light-emitting diodes are solely controlled by the PWM signal, the luminance emitted is directly proportional to the activation time of the PWM, no longer making it possible to obtain the sought-after effect, that is to say a high brightness range.
To alleviate this drawback, the modulation of the luminance of the LEDs is achieved either by modulating the amplitude of the current which passes through them, or by modulating the activation time over a given period by a PWM signal, or by combining the two modulations to obtain a very high depth of modulation. Technically, to carry out this modulation of the amplitude/modulation of the activation time distribution, use is made of an arithmetical and logical calculation function which works on digital signals. FIG. 1 represents a digital control device using this principle. This device 1 comprises a digital controller 2 which receives a luminance setting CL. This controller 2 generates two digital signals. The first signal is a temporal signal SPWM modulated in terms of duty ratio having a determined activation time, dependent on the luminance setting. The second signal SA-N is a control signal for the current passing through the array of light-emitting diodes. It is transformed into an analog signal SA-A by means of a digital-analog converter 3 or "DAC" and then applied to the electronic control circuits 4 for the LED array 5. The device can optionally be supplemented with a slaving device making it possible to finely adjust the luminance emitted by the diodes. It is represented by a dotted arrow in FIG. 1.
However, this technical solution may exhibit certain drawbacks. In the aeronautical context, even if these calculation resources are justified by other needs, the PWM/amplitude distribution calculation function is subject to the most constraining procedures of development and certification of RTCA/DO-254 type, entitled "Design Assurance Guidance For Airborne Electronic Hardware" or RTCA/DO-178 type, entitled "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification".
Moreover, on account of problems of obsolescence related to the gradual disappearance of fluorescent lamps, equipment manufacturers are tending to replace back-lighting based on fluorescent lamps with lighting units based on LEDs. Now, as has been seen, fluorescent lamps are controlled by a simple PWM signal. In these cases, the equipment manufacturer or the aircraft manufacturer does not want to introduce modifications of the existing numerical calculation functions so as to avoid any re-certification of the viewing device or to add any, necessarily complex, digital circuit carrying out the PWM/amplitude distribution calculation.

Device for controlling light-emitting diodes with very high luminance range for viewing screen


A system and method for on-line management of account information by customers of a provider of goods or services. A web server receives billing information from a telecommunications service provider in a standardized XML-format readily suitable for viewing by the customers. The system further includes a tiered storage system for maintaining invoices of the customers. Recent invoices are maintained in an upper tier of the storage system where they are accessible to customers over the Internet. As the invoices age, an archival and retrieval application periodically transfers the invoices to an intermediate tier where they may only be accessed by the archival and retrieval application using an index maintained in the upper tier. Account receivable information is also available on-line through the web site. The available account receivable information is continuously synchronized with corresponding information maintained by the service provider using a synchronization application which minimizes traffic therebetween.

Traditionally, telecommunication service providers and other corporate entities have maintained account information for their subscribers or other customers on an internal enterprise network typically configured to include a mainframe or other large scale computing device in which the account information was maintained and plural client computing devices capable of accessing information maintained on the mainframe. In contrast with a traditionally configured limited access enterprise network such as the one herein described, the Internet is a vast, publicly accessible computer network comprised of a wide variety of disparate computing devices operated by an equally disparate group of computer users. These computing devices are interconnected by various connection media which communicate using the transmission control protocol/Internet protocol ("TCP/IP") set of communication protocols.
In recent years, it has become increasingly commonplace for commercial enterprises such as corporations to interconnect their limited access enterprise network with the Internet. The purpose of such interconnections was two-fold—to enable the users of the enterprise network access to resources available through the Internet and to enable external computer users to access selected resources of the enterprise network through the Internet through a computer system commonly referred to as a web server. As the corporate web server became more common, information which was traditionally maintained on the mainframe where it could only be accessed by employees through the enterprise network began to migrate onto the web server. As a result, while a web server typically maintains publicly available content, oftentimes, it will also maintain content for which access is limited to authorized users. For example, a telecommunications service provider may have a web site which provides general information on its services within a publicly accessible portion of the site while allowing existing subscribers to access confidential information, typically, their personal account information, within a limited access portion of the site to which unrelated third parties are barred.
Early web sites were quite rudimentary, with only a limited amount of functionality available to the accessing subscriber. As the web sites became more sophisticated, however, additional subscriber functionality was added to the sites. Similarly, as subscribers became more "web-savvy", their expectations of what subscriber functionality should be available at the sites grew. Over time, it became common for a web site to allow a subscriber to review invoices, update subscriber information and make payments on-line. However, certain limitations have prevented web sites from performing these and other tasks effectively. For example, to place invoices on-line, it was common for the service provider to employ software which electronically searches through text images of the printed invoices for information of interest, captures selected information from the text images of the printed invoices and reformat the captured information to create electronic invoices. This technique is both complex and difficult to maintain. For example, if the name of a product or service is changed, the software employed by the service provider must be updated in order to be able to continue to capture invoice information associated with the re-named product or service.
It also became desirable for the service provider to place account receivable ("A/R") information on the web site. Unlike invoice information which, once generated, remains unchanged, A/R information is constantly updated. For example, a subscriber may be billed on the first of the month, receive a partial credit for a wrong number on the tenth of the month and pay the balance owed on their account on the twentieth of the month. Thus, any A/R information to be maintained on the web site must be constantly updated by the mainframe in order to be accurate. Otherwise, the subscriber accessing A/R information through the web site would view outdated information. However, a significant amount of resources may be consumed by the heavy traffic resulting from the constant updating or "synchronizing" necessary such that the A/R information residing on the web server matches that residing on the mainframe.
Another problem with maintaining invoice, A/R and similar types of subscriber information on the web site relates to the substantial consumption of memory resources at the web site which results from maintaining these types of subscriber information at the web site. For example, a service provider typically generates a new invoice for each customer on a monthly basis. It should be readily appreciated, therefore, that maintaining invoice information on-line will quickly consume the available memory resources, particularly if the service provider has hundreds of thousands of subscribers. To conserve existing memory resources and avoid the added expense of additional memory resources, many web sites which maintain invoice information on-line will typically limit the number of months of invoice information available over the web. For example, many sites limit available invoice information to only two months and will delete aged invoice information to free space for newer invoice information. While such an approach both keeps the information which tends to be of most interest to subscribers while restraining the cost of maintaining invoice information on-line, it does limit the usefulness of the web site since subscribers interested in older invoices are forced to contact a representative of the service provider capable of retrieving the desired invoice information off the mainframe computer system.
By configuring a web site to include a tiered storage system in which current information is maintained in an upper tier while older information is maintained in an indexed lower tier, a subscriber would be capable of accessing account information which encompasses a greater chronological period. It is, therefore, the object of the invention to provide such a storage system.

On-line account management system having a tiered account information storage system


A lamella groove milling tool has a drive shaft receiving the cutter. The drive shaft is arranged to be vertically displaceable with respect to the carriage of the milling tool. The displacement preferably takes place by means of a positioning body which is rotatably connected with the housing by way of a thread and which is connected with the drive shaft. The positioning body has resilient detent devices in order to be able to adjust the rotating position in lockable discrete steps. This achieves reproducible height adjustments of the milling plane of the milling tool.

This application claims the priority of European Application No. 97106621.2, filed Apr. 22, 1997, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a lamella groove milling tool and, more particularly, to a lamella groove milling tool having a housing with a motor, a cutter coupled with the motor by way of a gear, a longitudinally displaceable carriage having an opening for the emerging of the cutter, and a plane support surface, as well as a stop plate, which can be adjusted concerning the distance and the angle with respect to the milling plane formed by the cutter.
Lamella groove milling tools are used for making grooves into which lamellae are inserted as connection elements between wood elements. This connecting technique results in very stable and stiff connections which have a high strength.
A lamella groove milling tool of this type is known, for example, from European Patent document EP 0 420 498. In it, a lamella groove milling tool is described which consists of a housing having a motor. The motor drives a rotatable cutter which can be moved out of and withdrawn into an opening of a sliding subassembly connected with the housing. In this case, the sliding subassembly and the housing are movably arranged with respect to one another, whereby the cutter is movably arranged in the so-called sectional plane with respect to the opening of the sliding subassembly. The sliding subassembly has a surface area which is aligned in parallel to the sectional plane and a stop face which is aligned perpendicularly thereto and in which the mentioned opening is arranged. The distance between the surface area and the sectional plane, as a rule, is selected according to the standard distance defined for groove-type connections and cannot be changed. In order to now produce a groove at a distance which differs from the standard distance with respect to an edge on a workpiece to be machined, another stop plate is also provided on the stop face and can be swivelled with respect to the stop face in an angular range of 90.degree., the distance between the swivelling axis and the sectional plane being adjustable. However, for implementing these grooves, the tool must be held or guided in a swivelled manner.
The disadvantage of this known construction of a lamella groove milling tool is the fact that, on the one hand, it requires relatively high expenditures to maintain the permissible tolerance with respect to the distance between the sectional plane and the surface area and, on the other hand, for all groove machining which deviates from the standard distance, the use of the adjustable stop face is required. This results in high expenditures and, as the result of the construction of this stop face, is also connected with high tolerances, particularly where a large number of pieces require the machining of grooves. In addition, an adjustment which was selected and was then changed can no longer be reproduced in a precise manner.
It is an object of the present invention to find a lamella groove milling tool of the above-described type which can be adapted in a simple and fast manner to different application requirements.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a lamella groove milling tool having a housing with a motor, a cutter coupled with the motor by way of a gear, a longitudinally displaceable carriage having an opening for the emerging of the cutter, and a plane support surface, as well as a stop plate, which can be adjusted concerning the distance and the angle with respect to the milling plane formed by the cutter. The cutter is arranged on a drive shaft which is essentially vertically displaceable along its axis with respect to the support surface.
In the case of the lamella groove milling tool further developed according to the invention, the distance between the milling plane and the support surface can advantageously be adjusted. On the one hand, the manufacturing of the lamella groove cutting tool can be simplified in this manner in that the distance to be maintained within a certain tolerance can be adjusted in the factory in the case of the finished tool by a corresponding positioning of the drive shaft in a very simple manner. This eliminates the conventionally required interventions into the tools not meeting the tolerance. Further, the user can also freely select a basic distance which differs from the provided and adjusted standard distance and is advantageous according to the application.
Special embodiments of the invention are further described herein.
Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that different adjustments can be reproduced an arbitrary number of times with high precision by means of the preferred embodiment with the lockable discrete adjusting devices. This was not so in the case of the conventionally known devices where the adjustments took place without exception in a continuous manner and one clamping fixation respectively was used. As a result of the fact that, according to the invention, lockable, that is, discrete positions can be adjusted, any selected position can be reproduced again and again in a precise and reliable manner. This also leads to a higher precision during the machining of the workpieces. In addition, a desired position can also be adjusted more rapidly since the respective detent position is precisely indicated and a continuously adjustable marking must not be coordinated with an adjusting scale.


A content of Copy Once cannot be copied to an external device or the like, even for the purpose of making a backup. This is inconvenient for the user. However, if copying to another device for the purpose of making a backup is permitted, the content may be copied in an unauthorized manner. The present invention provides the hard disk recorder that transmits the content to the backup device, sets an expiration time in the content stored in the hard disk recorder itself, and deletes the content stored in the hard disk recorder itself after the expiration time expires.

Digital broadcasting for broadcasting digital contents has started in recent years. Digital contents hardly deteriorate in quality in use. As a result, for the purpose of protecting the copyright, Copy Control Information (CCI), which indicates whether a copy of the content is permitted to be made, and in case of being permitted, the number of copies permitted to be made, is attached to the digital contents. In many cases, the CCI indicates that copying is permitted only once (Copy Once). When a content containing CCI indicating Copy Once is recorded on a recording medium, the CCI is rewritten to indicate that copying thereafter is not permitted (No More Copy). A content containing CCI indicating No More Copy cannot be copied, but can be moved to another medium.
Operation in an unauthorized manner can be performed even on a content containing the CCI. For example, a content recorded on a hard disk recorder (hereinafter referred to as HD recorder) might be operated in an unauthorized manner using a personal computer while the HD recorder is powered off. There is known a technology for preventing such an unauthorized copying by preliminarily calculating unauthorized operation detection information by substituting a content recorded on the HDD into a one-way function, then after the HD recorder is powered on, generating verification information by substituting the content recorded on the HDD into the one-way function, and detecting an unauthorized use of the content by comparing the generated verification information with the stored unauthorized operation detection information.
There is also known a technology intended to improve the convenience of the user by storing a content temporarily, and deleting the content after a predetermined period passes or after the content is played back, thereby realizing a "shift playback" of a content containing CCI indicating that copying is prohibited.
On the other hand, users can record digital broadcast contents on the HD recorder without minding the storage capacity, and can view the recorded contents with simple operations, since the HDD has a large capacity and a random access is available with the HDD.

Backup system, recording/reproduction device, backup device, backup method, program, and integrated circuit


A method of controlling a phase-shift full-bridge (PSFB) converter in a light load operation is provided to switch control modes of the PSFB converter by detecting magnetizing current of a transformer thereof. The method includes following steps: First, the PSFB converter is operated in an extended PSFB control mode when the magnetizing current is larger. Afterward, the PSFB converter is operated in a modified PSFB control mode when the magnetizing current is gradually reduced and electric charges transported by the residual magnetizing current near to or less than a half of the DC input voltage. Finally, the optimal degree of soft switching of the PSFB converter is implemented when the PSFB converter is operated at the modified PSFB control mode. Accordingly, it is to improve overall efficiency, reduce switching losses, and achieve electromagnetic compatibility.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a method of controlling a phase-shift full-bridge converter, and more particularly to a method of controlling a phase-shift full-bridge converter in a light load operation.
2. Description of Related Art
With the development of the semiconductor technology, the trend of designing small, short, thin, and light electronic products is necessary. For the power electronic products, the switching frequency is continually increased in order to effectively reduce volume and weight of the switching power converter. However, the power switch components of the power converter withstand higher switching stresses and also produce more switching losses, once the switching frequency is increased, thus reducing the conversion efficiency of the switching power converter.
Because the conventional switching power converter is operated by the hard switching technology, the switching losses of the power switch components are also with increased if the switching frequency is increased. Therefore, the switching losses would reduce the conversion efficiency, shorten the use life of the switch components, and increase the occupied space and costs of the additional heat-dissipating devices. In addition, the voltage or current surge produced due to the non-ideal switching behavior causes the electromagnetic interference (EMI).
In order to overcome problems caused due to the high-frequency, the soft switching technology is applied to a variety of power electronic products. The soft switching is generally divided into two categories: zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero current switching (ZCS). ZVS technology means that the voltage difference across two terminals of the power switch component is decreased to zero during the transient period and then the power switch component is turned on. In other words, a product of the voltage difference and the current flowing the power switch component is zero so as to reduce switching losses of the power switch components, restrain the voltage and current surge, increase conversion efficiency and circuit stability, and reduce noise interference and electromagnetic interference.
In addition, there are two possible conditions would occur in the light load operation of the PSFB converter: (1) the resonance energy is insufficient due to the small current at resonance points when the output inductor current is in the continuous conduction mode (CCM); (2) the resonance energy is zero due to zero current at resonance points when the output inductor current is in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM).
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method of controlling a PSFB converter in a light load operation to implement the optimal degree of soft switching the power switches so as to improve the overall efficiency, reduce switching losses, and achieve the electromagnetic compatibility.

Method of controlling phase-shift full-bridge converter in light load operation


Integrated circuits with multi-level memory cells and methods for producing the same are provided. A method for producing an integrated circuit with a multi-level memory cell includes forming a gate insulator overlying a substrate. A select gate is formed overlying the gate insulator such that one multi-level memory cell includes one select gate. A thin film storage layer with nanocrystals is formed overlying the select gate and the substrate, and a left and right control gate are formed on opposite sides of the select gate such that the thin film storage layer is between the substrate and each of the control gates. A left implant and a right implant are formed in the substrate such that the select gate, the left control gate, and the right control gate are positioned between the left and right implants.

The semiconductor industry is continuously moving toward the fabrication of smaller and more complex microelectronic components with higher performance. Memory cells are an important component of many microelectronic components, and smaller memory cells that can store more information are desirable. The standard one bit memory cell can store one bit of data as either a logical "0" or a logical "1" state. A multi-level memory cell can store more than one bit of data. For example, a two bit memory cell can store 4 logical states of data (22) as either a "00", a "01", a "10", or a "11". A three bit memory cell can store eight bits of data (23), and so on. Multi-level memory cells frequently reduce manufacturing costs per bit of data stored, because the same production steps are used for multiple bits to achieve a higher density memory array for a given "footprint" or area. Multi-level memory cells also shrink the area required to store a bit of data, so smaller components are possible.
One type of memory cell is flash memory that is non-volatile and re-writable. Non-volatile memory retains stored information even when the memory cell is de-powered, and stored information can be changed when a memory cell is re-writable. Most multi-level memory cells in production today are non-volatile. Some memory cells for flash memory store information by either charging or draining an electrically isolated component, and the information is recalled by determining if the isolated component is charged or not. One type of memory cell used for flash memory is a thin film storage cell that uses discrete storage crystals, called silicon nanocrystals, to hold the charge. The storage crystals are relatively small, so thin film storage cells are useful for reducing the size of memory cells. However, the use of thin film storage cells for multi-level memory cells could decrease the area required to store a set amount of information.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide multi-level memory cells with reduced size, and methods for producing the same. In addition, it is desirable to provide non-volatile flash multi-level memory cells using thin film storage layers, where the memory cell is re-writable. It is also desirable to provide methods for producing such memory cells. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present embodiment will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Multi-level memory cells and methods for forming multi-level memory cells


Provided is a see-through head mounted display (HMD) optical system which includes a display device, a collimation lens that parallelizes image lights emitted from the display device, a first wedge prism that includes a first enlargement unit for enlarging an image in a horizontal direction, a second wedge prism that includes a second enlargement unit for enlarging the image in a vertical, and a third wedge prism that has an inverse shape of the second wedge prism so as to prevent the image lights which have been reflected in the second wedge prism and enlarged in the vertical direction and an external image which has passed through the second wedge prism and been provided to a user from being distorted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical system for a see-through head mounted display (HMD), and more particularly, to an optical system for a see-through HMD which may enable information to be easily obtained even during outdoor activities, enable large screen viewing while remarkably reducing a volume and weight thereof, and remarkably reduce manufacturing costs to lower a price of products.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, a head mounted display (HMD) apparatus is an image display apparatus in which a virtual large screen is created at a distance by forming a focal point of an image light generated at a position very close to eyes using a precise optical device so that a user can view an enlarged virtual image. As a method of the HMD apparatus, a closed type HMD method to enable only an image light emitted from a display device to be viewed while preventing the surrounding environment from being viewed, and a see-through HMD method to enable the image light emitted from the display device to be viewed while enabling the surrounding environment to be viewed through a window may be given. FIG. 1 shows an example of an optical system of the see-through HMD according to the related art.
First, the see-through HMD shown in FIG. 1 is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0928226, and includes an optical system of an HMD apparatus which includes a display device 10 that emits image lights, a polarized light separator 11 that reflects only a specific polarized light among lights emitted from a micro display panel, a phase retardation plate 12 that converts a linearly polarized light reflected in the polarized light separator 11 into a circularly polarized light or converts an input circularly polarized light into a linearly polarized light, a semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13 that enlarges the circularly polarized light having passed through the phase retardation plate 12 to send the enlarged light to the phase retardation plate 12 again, and a light opening and closing switch panel 14 that is attached to an outer surface of the semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13 so that ambient lights can be opened and closed.
By the above-described configuration, beams of only 50% having characteristics of P or S waves among all image lights generated from the display device 10 are transmitted or reflected in the direction of 90 degrees by the polarized light separator 11 disposed so as to be inclined by 45 degrees relative to the display device 10, and the transmitted or reflected beams reach the phase retardation plate 12. Next, the image light linearly polarized from the phase retardation plate 12 is converted into a circularly polarized light to reach the semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13. Next, the light having reached the semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13 is reflected to become a circularly polarized light with an inverse rotation direction, and passes through the phase retardation plate 12 and the polarized light separator 11 again to reach user's eyes, and therefore an image enlarged in the semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13 can be viewed by a user.
However, according to the above-described related art, an amount of the image light generated from the display device 10 is lost by 50%, respectively, while the image light generated from the display device 10 passes through the polarized light separator 11 and the semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13, and therefore only 25% of the initial amount of light may be transmitted to both eyes and 75% thereof may be lost during a reflection process. As a result, a natural color of an original image light is difficult to be implemented, and therefore there is a problem that a high-luminance light source has to be separately used in consideration of a magnitude of the amount of light which is lost in order to provide an image with appropriate brightness to user's eyes.
In addition, since the polarized light separator 11 is diagonally positioned in a space in which the image enlarged in the semi-transparent concave reflection mirror 13 reaches both eyes, there is a structural problem in an increase in a field of view (FOV) or an eye box, which is an object of a typical HMD. Thus, the increase in the FOV and the eye box may cause an increase in the entire size and weight of the HMD. As a result, when wearing the HMD, a user may easily feel fatigue due to pressurization over the entire face of the user.

Optical system for see-through head mounted display having three wedge prism arrangement for separate enlargement in vertical and horizontal directions


An emergency brake illuminator for a motor vehicle comprising in combination (a) an emergency brake having a means for activating said brake, (b) a light located on the means for activating said brake, and (c) means for turning on said light when the vehicle's ignition switch is on so that when the ignition switch is on, the light is also on.

The present invention relates to a brake light illuminator that indicates the location of the emergency brake when the ignition is on, thereby allowing the driver to find the emergency brake without fumbling or hesitation when the need arises to use it.
The emergency brake, or parking brake, is seldom used by a high percentage of vehicle drivers or operators. Therefore, when an emergency arises requiring a quick stop, standard brake failure, etc., most of these drivers would at least hesitate before applying an emergency brake if they thought of it and its location at all.
The prior art does not address this problem at all. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,113 (Chen) describes an emergency brake monitor to remind a driver to release the emergency brake before the automobile starts to move.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,305,983 (Muth), U.S. Pat. No. 2,234,607 (Riedmaier), U.S. Pat. No. 2,343,394 (Blomberg et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,503,553 (Hollins) describe a brake indicator light system in which the light is off when the parking brake is fully released.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,202 (Bier) describes an alarm system that is activated when the ignition switch is on and the parking brake is applied.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,269 (Freibaugh et al.) describes a signal device for automobiles with automatic transmissions that gives a warning when the ignition is off and the gear shift lever is not in the park position.


A method of manufacturing a pressure sensor is provided. The method includes: providing a substrate, wherein a bottom electrode and a pressure sensing film are disposed on the substrate; forming an etch stop assembly on the pressure sensing film at a location corresponding to a pressure trench; forming a cover layer on the substrate covering the etch stop assembly and the pressure sensing film; forming a mask layer on the cover layer, wherein an opening of the mask layer is formed above the etch stop assembly and exposes a portion of the cover layer at the location corresponding to the pressure trench; etching the cover layer using the mask layer so as to form the pressure trench in the cover layer; removing the etch stop assembly at a bottom of the pressure trench; and removing the mask layer.

Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of semiconductor technology, and more particularly to a MEMS pressure sensor and method of manufacturing the same.
Description of the Related Art
With the continuous development of semiconductor technology, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensors are widely used in many applications. An existing method of manufacturing a MEMS pressure sensor may include the following steps. First, a coating layer is formed on a pressure sensing film disposed on a substrate. Next, a pressure trench is formed on the coating layer through a patterning process, so as to expose the pressure sensing film. The pressure trench (also known as a shutter) is used to sense an external pressure.
However, during the patterning process, unwanted etching of the pressure sensing film may occur at the bottom of the pressure trench, which may subsequently affect the electrical test results and reliability of the MEMS pressure sensor.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation


A rotor blade and a method and a manufacturing mold for the production of a rotor blade for a wind turbine, which extends longitudinally in the operational state from a blade root area to the connection to a rotor hub of the wind turbine and which is divided into at least two segments for its production, wherein at least one subdivision is provided approximately transverse to its longitudinal extension between the blade root area and the blade tip. The method facilitates and shortens the production of the rotor blade, in particular for a series production and to still provide the completed rotor blade as a familiar uniform rotor blade. In the method, the at least two segments, preferably after they have been at least partially produced or partially produced mainly parallel in time, are interconnected in an integration device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rotor blade and a method and a manufacturing mold for the production of a rotor blade for a wind turbine, which extends longitudinally in the operational state from a blade root area for connection to a rotor hub of the wind turbine up to a blade tip and which is divided into at least two segments for its production, wherein at least one subdivision is provided approximately transverse to its longitudinal extension between the blade root area and the blade tip.
2. Description of Related Art
Divided or respectively segmented rotor blades for a wind turbine have been known in principle for a long time, for example from DE 31 13 079 A1, for facilitation of its production, its transport and its assembly. Since the transport should also, preferably, be facilitated by the state of the art, the segments of the rotor blade are preferably first assembled at the installation location of the wind turbine and are also designed for this.
In contrast, the object of the invention is to facilitate and shorten the production of the rotor blade, in particular for a series production and to still provide the completed rotor blade as a familiar uniform rotor blade.

Rotor blade for a wind turbine, method and manufacturing mold for the production thereof