The present invention is to provide a grounding part of hard disk (HDD) against EMI and shock, which includes a HDD body and two conducting frames, wherein the two conducting frames are composed of a narrow vertical plane and two parallel planes extending along two corresponding sides of the vertical planes to form a U-type conducting frame with an opening, a plurality of elastic projections are disposed on the two parallel planes of the two conducting frames, and the openings of the two frames just accommodate the two corresponding sides of the HDD body. When the HDD body and the two conducting frames is installed in a containing room of an electronic device (e.g. notebook computer), the requirements of shock protection, EMI protection and grounding for the HDD body is achieved by virtue of the compression of those elastic projections.

Nowadays, the increasingly progressive development of network and communication technologies bring about the diversified portable devices, such as digital electronic products like notebook computer and the like, featuring price-effectiveness, compactness and portability in the daily life and work. In addition to solving the demand of wireless communication of ordinary people, other entertainments and data management requirements, e.g. various digital games and databases, are also available, making the use of the portable devices become commonplace particularly in the busy metropolitan life style. Moreover, keeping abreast with the industrial readiness and more and more added peripheral functions, the functions possessed by the current portable devices already surpass the earlier basic model by a substantial extent and the added peripheral functions are essential now, accounting for a major trend under development.
Furthermore, owing to the current notebook computer being more and more light and thin, the conventional 2.5″ hard disk (HDD) is apparently hard to meet the light and thin requirements of the notebook computer. As such, the 1.8″ HDD is applied instead accordingly and has become a new trend. However, some notebook computer manufacturers, such as TOSHIBA, produce the 1.8″ HDD having a design with no screw hole on the HDD body. Therefore, the fixing means of the HDD body is extremely difficult.
Most of the notebook computer manufacturers today employ a rubber and a bracket means to fix the HDD body. Although the application of the rubber ensures the shock prevention effect of the HDD body, the HDD body fails to be grounded due to the non-conducting nature itself. Hence, certain construction materials must be added to secure the grounding effect, and this certainly introduces a hike on the production cost of the notebook computer manufacturer relatively.
The mentioned shock prevention and grounding issues are the test criteria necessarily conducted on the HDD body for the present notebook computer manufacturer to install the HDD body upon integrating the computer and to secure the HDD body in conformity of a test standard. Besides, the resulting electromagnetic interfering (EMI) out of the operation of the HDD operation also impacts on the notebook computer and jeopardizes the health of human body. In view of this, many countries have already requested to pass the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) before the actual sales to the market.
The so-called EMI means an electromagnetic noise generated during the operation of instruments and devices containing electronic and electrical components or the useless signal of device interfering with other devices by way of radiation or transmission to result in malfunction or distortion of other devices. As a result, it becomes an issue as to if the HDD body can be effectively free from EMI (EMI). In that sense, products with superior design against EMI thus have more values to be distributed and marketed globally.
Please refer to FIG. 1 below showing the schematic diagram of the conventional HDD body using the rubber sheath:
In FIG. 1 a containing room 11 concavely disposed on one side of case 10 of a notebook computer is conspicuously found and the containing room is just enough for the HDD body 12. The four side edges of the HDD body 12 are covered with a rubber 13 so as to ensure the shock protection effect of the HDD body 12 by virtue of the elastic characteristics of the rubber 13. However, as the rubber 13 is a nonconductor, it fails to achieve the grounding effect for the HDD body 12. Consequently, it is necessary to dispose a conducting part (not shown) on the inner surface of a cover plate (not shown) of the containing room 11 so as to attain the grounding effect by means of the conducting part in contact with another conducting part 121 on the surface of the HDD body 12.
Whereas, in addition to a required mold causing higher cost, the mentioned approach employs costly materials and certain structural design must be added in terms of the grounding and EMI protection. All these make the effective cost reduction out of reach. Furthermore, the requirements for shock protection, EMI protection and grounding have been demanded more rigorously due to the readiness of the industry. Aside from the constant technical upgrade, the cost-down factor is on top of the list when notebook computer manufacturer takes into account a new design.
In summary, how to be unique in the rising homogeneity among the electronic devices sheds the light on the wining measure to the manufacturers. As such, how to design a product capable of overcoming the mentioned drawbacks and enhancing the competitive edge of manufacturers is an immediate subject for manufacturers to tackle.

Grounding part of hard disk against EMI and shock


The present invention is directed to a radiation image reading system. The system includes a radiation source for irradiating a radiation toward a subject. The radiation source has a size “D”. A radiation detector in which large number of detecting devices for detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject are arranged in an array form, for generating an image signal of the subject by detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject by each of the detecting devices. An aperture of each of the detecting devices has a size “A”. Also included is a sampling section for sampling the image signal. The size A of the aperture fulfills a condition of B≦A≦2B. B is a size of a penumbra on the radiation detector. The size B of the penumbra is represented by B=Dx (R2/R1), where R1 is a distance from the radiation source to the subject and R2 is a distance from the subject to the radiation detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for reading a radiation image from an image signal of a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to a sampling technology of an image signal.
2. Description of Related Art
So far, a radiation image such as an X-ray image or the like has been widely used in a medical field for diagnosing a medical condition. In particular, a radiation image according to the Intensifying screen-Film system still remains being used in a world-wide medical field as an imaging system having both a high reliability and an excellent cost performance, as a result of efforts for enhancing a sensitivity and an image quality in a long history. On the other hand, these days, a Computed Radiography (CR) using a photostimulable phosphor sheet is in commercialization and a sensitivity thereof and an image quality thereof have been enhanced. Furthermore, a Flat Panel Detector (FPD) has also been introduced. Therefore, nowadays there are more choices of a system instead of the conventional Intensifying screen-Film system.
Meanwhile, in conjunction with developments of a radiation detector such as a CR, an FPD or the like, opportunities of generating a magnified image for looking at a more detailed structure of the subject are increasing (for example, see JP-Tokukai-2001-311701A and JP-Tokukai-2003-180670A). In the magnified image generation, while it is possible to look at a detailed structure of the subject as mentioned, there is in general a problem of an image deterioration because blur is generated on a subject image according to an image generation condition, since a radiation source is not an ideal point source. In the arts disclosed in JP-Tokukai-2001-311701A and JP-Tokukai-2003-180670A, such a problem is solved by using a phase contrast or the like, and thereby it is possible to obtain a radiation image having an excellent sharpness.
By the way, regardless of a type of the radiation detector such as a CR, an FPD or the like, it is always necessary to have a step of "sampling" in order to obtain a digital signal from an image signal (analog signal) obtained by the radiation detector. According to a known sampling principle, a phenomenon called "aliasing" occurs unless the image signal obtained by the radiation detector is sampled by a sampling frequency being larger than a frequency two times as much as the frequency of the image signal prior to the sampling. When "aliasing" occurs, a false image is generated or a noise is increased.
When a CR is applied as the radiation detector, it is possible to obtain an image signal by following a time series along with a scanning direction of a stimulating light. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the aliasing from occurring in the scanning direction by providing a low pass filter called an anti-aliasing filter. However, since it is not possible to provide such a filter in a sub-scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the scanning direction of the stimulating light, it is not possible to avoid the occurrence of the aliasing in the sub-scanning direction.
On the contrary, when an FPD is applied as the radiation detector, principally or due to a structural reason, it is difficult to place the anti-aliasing filter, and therefore the aliasing always occurs. Further, in this case, the larger a value of a Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of the detector for obtaining a radiation image having a high sharpness is set, the larger influence the aliasing provides.
Under such circumstances, when an image signal is sampled, it is necessary to perform an optimal sampling corresponding to a type of the radiation detector while the occurrence of the aliasing is considered. Moreover, since it is considered that opportunities of the above-mentioned magnified image generation keep increasing, it is also necessary to perform an optimal sampling in view of the above-mentioned magnified image generation.


A self-synchronising data bus analyser comprising a generator LFSR, a receiver LFSR and a comparator    wherein the generator LFSR generates a first data set which is transmitted through a data bus to the comparator; and    wherein the comparator compares the first data set with a second data set generated by the receiver LFSR and adjusts the receiver LFSR until the second data set is substantially the same as the first data set.

The present invention provides a mechanism of assessing the performance of high-speed data buses. Accordingly, it is useful at this point to briefly review such data buses and the techniques that are currently used for assessing their performance. These topics will be discussed with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical receiver in a hybrid parallel-serial interface; and
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a typical bit error testing device.
Modern software products (such as streaming video/audio etc.) have contributed to the ever-increasing demand for higher bandwidth data buses. High-speed data buses such as PCI-express, Hype Transport and RapidIO are replacing the traditional parallel PCI bus with a point-to-point communications system in which addressing information is packaged together with data and the resulting packets are transmitted over serial transmission lines. More recently, hybrid parallel-serial interfaces have been developed in which data is transmitted over multiple serial transmission lines operating in parallel.
Referring to FIG. 1, a receiver 10 in a hybrid parallel-serial interface typically comprises a differential I/O buffer 12, a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit 14, a deserialiser or rate reduction block (DDR, QDR or ODR) 16, a deskewer 18 and a re-timing buffer 20. Since a timing signal is not generally transmitted in the data stream to a receiver, a CDR circuit 14 is used to regenerate a bit clock from the received data stream. Since individual serial transmission lines may have different time delays (because they are of different lengths etc.), the deskewer 18 is used to re-align data transmitted in parallel over multiple serial transmission lines. Finally, a reference clock 22 is used to control the timing of the CDR circuit 14, the deserialiser 16, deskewer 18 and the re-timing buffer 20.
Data transmitted at a double data rate (DDR) undergoes a transition at every clock edge. In other words, the data undergoes a transition at a rising clock edge and a falling clock edge. In contrast, data transmitted at a single data rate (SDR) undergoes a transition at every second clock edge (i.e. on either a rising clock edge or a falling clock edge).
The goal of a receiver in a digital data transmission system is to sample a received waveform at the point where its voltage and timing margins are as large as possible in order to minimize the risk of assigning an incorrect bit value to the sample. However, the increased data rates accommodated by high-speed data buses tend to accentuate irregularities in the signal stream. Furthermore, hardware analogue effects become more evident at higher data rates. Consequently, precise signal timing becomes more critical at higher data rates. One of the key metrics for quantifying the performance of a data transmission system is bit error rate (BER).
Referring to FIG. 2, a bit error testing circuit/device 40 typically comprises generator module 42 and a receiver module 44 which are respectively connectable to a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. The transmitter Tx is connected to the receiver Rx through data bus 46. The generator module 42 comprises a first test pattern generator LFSRGEN and the receiver module 44 comprises a second test pattern generator LFSRREC, comparator 48 and counter 50.
In use, the first test pattern generator LFSRGEN transmits a pre-defined test pattern PRBSGEN to the transmitter Tx. The transmitter Tx then transmits the test pattern through the data bus 46 to the receiver. Rx. The receiver Rx samples the bits from the received waveform and transmits the resulting bit sequence to the comparator 48. The second test pattern generator LFSRREC generates a confirmation pattern PRBSREC that matches the test pattern PRBSGEN generated by the first test pattern generator LFSRGEN. The second test pattern generator LFSRREC transmits the confirmation pattern PRBSREC to the comparator 48, which compares the confirmation pattern PRBSREC to the bit sequence received from the receiver Rx. The bit error rate is calculated as the number of bits that differ between the confirmation pattern PRBSREC and the bit sequence sampled from the waveform received by the receiver.
A pseudo-random bit sequence (PRBS) is a widely used test pattern for assessing bit error rates (BER). A PRBS is a particularly useful test pattern as it is an algorithmically determined, predictable and repeatable bit sequence that has the same statistical characteristics as a random sequence. These statistical characteristics mean that a PRBS can be readily used to simulate live traffic on a transmission line.
A PRBS can be generated by a linear feedback shift register (LFSR), in which some of the outputs from the register are fed back to its input through an XOR logic gate. By selecting different register lengths and feedback outputs it is possible to generate different output patterns. In particular, by correctly choosing the feedback outputs from an n-bit LFSR it is possible to generate a PRBS of length 2n−1, i.e. a maximal length sequence that includes all the possible permutations (patterns) of the n-bits, excluding the all-zeros pattern.
In light of the above discussion of PRBS test patterns and referring back to FIG. 2, for the sake of clarity the first test pattern generator LFSRGEN will be known henceforth as the generator LFSR. In addition, the test pattern PRBSGEN generated by the generator LFSR will be known henceforth as the generator PRBS. Similarly, the second test pattern generator LFSRREC and confirmation pattern PRBSREC generated therefrom will be respectively known henceforth as the receiver LFSR and the receiver PRBS.

Self-synchronising bit error analyser and circuit

International Business Machines Corporation


There is provided a semiconductor memory device capable of performing high-speed reading even when the current capability of memory cells and transistors for charging is decreased, and a bit line capacitance is increased. In a sense amplifier, in addition to a P-type MOS transistor for charging, a P-type MOS transistor and a N-type MOS transistor are provided as a circuit for charging a selected bit line up to a switching level of a determination inverter included in a circuit for determining data of a memory cell, and a bit line is charged at high speed, whereby a read time is shortened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and in particular, to a technique of providing a high-speed readable mask ROM.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a contact-type mask ROM as a conventional semiconductor memory device. The contact-type mask ROM has a configuration in which whether or not a drain of a memory cell transistor is connected to a bit line through a contact is associated with "0" and "1" of memory data.
In FIG. 6, the conventional semiconductor memory device is composed of a memory cell array 3, a column decoder 2, a sense amplifier 18, and a charge signal generation circuit 4.
The memory cell array 3 is configured so that memory cells Mij (i=1 to m, J=1 to n) of N-type MOS transistors are arranged in a matrix. Gates of the memory cells Mij are connected respectively to word lines WLi (i=1 to m) commonly in a row direction (memory cells having the same numerical value of i), and sources thereof are grounded. Herein, drains of the memory cells Mij are connected to bit lines BLj (j=1 to n) in the case where memory data is "0", and are not connected to bit lines BLj (j=1 to n) in the case where the memory data is "1".
The column decoder 2 is composed of N-type MOS transistors Cj (j=1 to n). All drains of the N-type MOS transistors Cj (j=1 to n) are commonly connected. Gates thereof are connected respectively to column selection signal lines CLj (j=1 to n), and sources thereof are connected respectively to the bit lines BLj (j=1 to n).
The sense amplifier 18 is composed of a P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging (charging circuit), an inverter 8 for determining output data of the memory cells Mij (determination inverter), and an inverter 9 for buffering an output signal of the inverter 8 (buffering inverter). A gate terminal of the P-type MOS transistor 5 receives a charge control signal NPR of the charge signal generation circuit 4. A source terminal thereof is supplied with a supply voltage VDD, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to a common drain of the N-type MOS transistors Cj (j=1 to n). The inverter 8 receives a signal of the common drain of the N-type MOS transistors Cj (j=1 to n), and determines output data of the memory cells Mij. The inverter 9 receives an output signal from the inverter 8, and outputs memory data of the memory cells Mij.
The charge signal generation circuit 4 receives a dock and an address from outside, and outputs the charge control signal NPR to a gate of the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging.
Next, the operation of reading data of the memory cell M11, as an example, in the semiconductor memory device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a timing chart for signals in respective portions of the sense amplifier 18.
First, among the column selection signal lines CLj (j=1 to n), CL1 is changed to a logic "H" level, and the other CL2 to CLn are changed to a logic "L" level, whereby the N-type MOS transistor C1 is turned on among the transistors constituting the column decoder 2, and the other transistors C2 to Cn are turned off. Furthermore, the word line WL1 is changed from the logic "L" level that is a non-selected state to the logic "W" level that is a selected state, and the other word lines WL2 to WLm are retained to be the logic "L" level that is a non-selected state.
Next, the charge control signal NPR is changed from the logic "H" level to the logic "L" level, and the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging is turned on.
Herein, in the case where the drain of the memory cell M11 is connected to the bit line BL1, the current capability of the memory cell M11 is larger than that of the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging. Therefore, an input signal SIN (SIN0) of the inverter 8 becomes lower than a switching level VTH of the inverter 8. An output signal SOUT (SOUT0) of the inverter 8 holds the logic "H" level, and an output signal OUT (OUT0) of the inverter 9 holds the logic "L" level.
On the other hand, in the case where the drain of the memory cell M11 is not connected to the bit line BL1, the bit line BL1 is charged by the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging, and the input signal SIN (SIN1) to the inverter 8 has a voltage higher than the switching level VTH of the inverter 8. Therefore, the output signal SOUT (SOUT1) of the inverter 8 turns to be the logic "L" level, and the output signal OUT (OUT1) of the inverter 9 turns to be the logic "H" level. At this time, a read time tRD is determined by a time during which the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging charges the bit line BL1.
The above-mentioned conventional semiconductor memory device has the following problem.
In the case where the memory cells Mij are connected to the bit lines BLj, data are determined by setting the level of the input signal SIN (SIN0) to the inverter 8 to be lower than the switching level VTH of the determination inverter 8 under the condition that the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging and the memory cell Mij are in a ON state. Therefore, the current capability of the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging is set to be smaller than that of the memory cells Mij.
In recent years, the current capability of the memory cells Mij has decreased along with the miniaturization of a process and the enhanced performance of equipment. Furthermore, the number of the memory cells Mij to be connected to the bit lines BLj is increased to enhance the bit line capacitance. Along with the decrease in current capability of the memory cells Mij, the current capability of the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging also is decreased, and the capacitance of the bit lines to be charged by the P-type MOS transistor 5 for charging is increased. Therefore, a charge time is prolonged, which results in a prolonged read time tRD.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method and system flows water through a water system in proximity to an ion generation device and to a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that combines photochemistry principles, heavy metal toxicity, and UV light radiation to form a highly effective combined water disinfection process. Using ion generation and UV irradiation, the method and system synergistically improves the disinfection and bactericidal effects of ion generation or UV radiation working individually by making ion-exposed microorganisms more susceptible and less resistant to the bactericidal effects of UV radiation. The combined method and system of the present invention may include control means such that the method and system can be configured for single pass through, dual pass through or for recirculation such that the order of exposure to the ion generation and UV radiation aspects can be varied or altered. The method and system of the present invention may also be provided with means for controlling the system flow rate, ion generation and UV radiation levels to maximize performance, to minimize energy consumption, and, in some situations, to selectively target certain microorganisms for inactivation.

Ultraviolet light (UV) radiation has long been considered a viable method for drinking water disinfection due to its ability to inactivate protozoa and other microbial species. UV of a given wavelength is absorbed by the cellular nucleotides of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms and causes cross-linking, or demerization, of their RNA and DNA, thereby destroying their ability to multiply and thereby effectively disinfecting the water. Further, UV light radiation does not create significant disinfection by-products. However, due to the cost that is directly proportional to power requirements, UV disinfection can be very expensive to implement. Power requirements for UV disinfection depend primarily on the required fluence, or the product of irradiance and exposure time.
Ion generators have also been employed in previous attempts to control algae, nuisance invertebrates, and microorganisms. Such ion generators are based on well-known principles of electrochemical reactions, one of which is referred to as electrolysis. Electrolysis is an electrochemical process by which electrical energy is used to promote chemical reactions that occur on the surface of functionally cooperating electrodes. One electrode, called the anode, involves the oxidation process where chemical species lose electrons. A second electrode, called the cathode, involves the reduction process where electrons are gained. In water, for example, oxygen is generated at the anode and hydrogen is generated at the cathode. The generation of hydrogen and oxygen in fresh water by the process of electrolysis will be weak due to the low electrical conductivity of the water. The oxygen generated aids in the prevention of the deposit of inorganic salts on the electrodes. The function of an ion generator is also to produce metal ions, typically copper ions or silver ions. Metal ion production is accomplished by use of an electrically charged metal anode that comprises atoms of the metal ions that are to be generated. It is the purpose of the ion generator to feed the metal ions out of the generator before they can be deposited on a cathode. The metal ions and oxygen, both of which are produced by the ion generator, are feed into the water stream of the water system to prevent fouling of the system by algae, nuisance invertebrates, microorganisms, and inorganic salts. As previously mentioned, these inventors have devised ion generators utilizing these principles and which are the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,350,385; 6,800,207; and 6,852,236 issued to Holt, et al.
The toxicity of copper and silver to aquatic organisms is well established although the exact mechanism is not well defined. The bactericidal effects of silver, for example, have been known for centuries. Silver has been shown to be effective as a disinfectant against coliforms and viruses, including human adenoviruses, as well as other microbial species. In general, these heavy metals must be in an ionic form in order for them to be toxic to invertebrates, microorganisms and algae. The eradication of microorganisms is attributed to positively charged ions that are both surface active and microbiocidal. These ions attach themselves to the negatively charged bacterial cell wall of the microorganism and destroy cell wall permeability. This action, coupled with protein de-naturation, induces cell lysis and eventual death. One advantage to the use of metal ionization, for example, is that eradication efficacy is wholly unaffected by water temperature. Chlorine, a commonly used antifouling chemical, is somewhat temperature dependent. Furthermore, the metal ions actually kill the microorganisms, and other microorganism-promoting bacteria and protozoa, rather than merely suppress them, as in the case of chlorine. This minimizes the possibility of later re-colonization. Other advantages of metal ionization compared to other eradication techniques include relatively low cost, straightforward installation, easy maintenance, and the presence of residual disinfectant throughout the system. In water, and at concentrations sufficient for bactericidal activity, silver does not impart taste, color or odor and has no apparent detrimental effects on mammalian cells. Accordingly, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) does not set a primary drinking water standard for silver.
The photochemistry of silver salts, or silver compounds, is also well known. When silver salts are exposed to light, silver ions and free electrons are generated which, in turn, combine to form silver atoms. The silver atoms produce the "latent image" which is enhanced through the development process.
In the view of these inventors, what is needed is an ion generating and UV generating disinfection system that uniquely combines silver photochemistry principles, heavy metal toxicity, and UV light radiation to form a highly effective combined water disinfection method and system. Such a combination would be highly lethal to a broad range of microbial organisms, including viruses, because it would synergistically improve the disinfection or bactericidal effects of ion generation or UV radiation working individually. This synergism occurs because, for example, silver ions complex with the DNA of microorganisms, making them even more susceptible is and less resistant to the bactericidal effects of UV radiation. Such a combined method and system would, in effect, work to immediately kill most of the microorganisms and then cause a residual killing mechanism to greatly enhance the water disinfection process. In the view of these inventors, what is needed is such a method and system whereby the system can be configured for single pass through, dual pass through or for recirculation such that the order of exposure to the ion generation and UV radiation aspects can be varied, altered, or combined as desired or required by any particular application. What is also needed is such a method and system that includes means for controlling ion concentration and UV fluence levels to maximize performance, to minimize energy consumption, and, in some situations, to selectively target certain microorganisms for inactivation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for controlling water system fouling


A prism sheet capable of enhancing light efficiency and viewing angle characteristics, a backlight unit using the prism sheet, and a method for fabricating the prism sheet are disclosed. The prism sheet includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of grooves formed in an upper surface of the transparent substrate to extend in a parallel direction with each other and to be uniformly spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance, a plurality of reflection patterns respectively formed in the grooves, and a plurality of lenticular lenses formed on the upper surface of the transparent substrate formed with the reflection patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a back light unit, and more particularly, to a prism sheet capable of enhancing light efficiency and viewing angle characteristics, a backlight unit using the prism sheet, and a method for fabricating the prism sheet.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, various flat panel display devices have been developed that eliminates bulky and heavy structural nature disadvantages of cathode ray tubes (CRTs). One such flat panel display devices is a liquid crystal display (LCD). The LCD displays a desired image by adjusting a transmission amount of light beams irradiated from a backlight unit using a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of liquid crystal cells and a plurality of control switches adapted to switch video signals to be supplied to the liquid crystal cells, respectively.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a related art backlight unit.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the related art backlight unit includes a lamp 10 which emits light, a light guide plate 20 which guides the light incident thereto from the lamp 10, a lamp housing 12 which encloses an incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20 and the lamp 10, a reflection plate 30 which is arranged beneath the light guide plate 20, a diffusion sheet 40 which is arranged on the light guide plate 20 to diffuse light emerging from the light guide plate 20, and a prism sheet 50 which adjusts the traveling direction of light emerging from the diffusion sheet 40.
For the lamp 10, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp is mainly used. The lamp 10 is turned on by a lamp drive voltage supplied from an inverter (not shown), to irradiate light to be incident to the incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20 formed at one side of the light guide plate 20.
The lamp housing 12 is arranged at the incidence face side of the light guide plate 20 to enclose the lamp 10 and the incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20. The lamp housing 12 is provided, at an inner surface thereof, with a reflection face to reflect the light from the lamp 10 toward the incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20.
The light guide plate 20 enables the incident light from the lamp 10 to reach a position spaced apart from the lamp 10 by a great distance, and guides the incident light toward the diffusion sheet 40. A printed pattern is provided at an inclined lower surface of the light guide plate 20 to form an inclined reflection face, so that the light incident to the incidence face 22 is reflected from the inclined reflection face of the light guide plate 20 at a certain angle such that the light travels uniformly toward the diffusion sheet 40.
The reflection plate 30 is arranged beneath the light guide plate 20 to re-reflect any light incident to thereto from the reflection face of the light guide plate 20 toward the light guide plate 20 to reduce a loss of light.
The diffusion sheet 40 diffuses the light emerging from the light guide plate 20 to the entire region of the prism sheet 50.
The prism sheet 50 condenses the light emerging from the diffusion sheet 40. To this end, the prism sheet 50 includes a condensing film 52 made of polyester (PET), and prism peaks/crests 54 formed on an upper surface of the condensing film 52 in the form of stripes, as shown in FIG. 2.
Each prism crest 54 has first and second inclined faces each having a certain inclination from the apex of the prism crest 54. For example, each of the first and second inclined face is inclined by about 45° from the upper surface of the condensing film 52.
When it is assumed that the condensing film 52 of the prism sheet 50 has a refractive index n1, and the outside of the prism sheet 50 has a refractive index n2, light incident to the condensing lens 52 at an angle θ1 is refracted at an angle θ2 at the prism peaks 54 in accordance with Snell's Law, as expressed by the following equation 1, and is then emitted to the outside of the prism sheet 50.
                                          n                                                                          1                                n                                                                          2                          =                              sin                                                                          θ                                                                          1                                sin                                                                          θ                                                                          2                                              equation                                                  1
In the above-mentioned related art backlight unit, light emitted from the lamp 10 is advanced toward the diffusion sheet 40 arranged above the light guide plate 20 via the light guide plate 20. The light emitted from the light guide plate 20 is diffused by the diffusion sheet 40 over the entire region of the prism sheet 50. The diffused light is then condensed as it passes through the prism sheet 50, and is then externally emitted.
In the above-mentioned related art backlight unit, the light incident to the prism sheet 50 may be divided into those of three regions, namely, a full reflection region, a condensing region, and a side lobe region, as shown in FIG. 3.
In detail, the light of the full reflection region, namely, light (A) vertically incident to the condensing film 52, is reflected by the first and second inclined faces of the prism peaks 54, so that the light (A) is directed back to the light guide plate 20. Thus, the light (A) is recycled to be condensed.
The light of the condensing region, namely, light B incident to the condensing film 52 at a particular angle, is refracted by the first or the second inclined face of the prism peaks 54, so that the light (B) is condensed and emitted as useful light.
On the other hand, the light of the side lobe region, namely, light (C) incident to the condensing film 52 at another particular angle, is reflected by the first or the second inclined face of the prism peaks 54, so that the light (C) escapes and thus causes degradation in light efficiency and in viewing angle characteristics.
For this reason, there are bright regions in the prism sheet 50 at opposite sides of a symmetrical line of the prism sheet 50, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the related art backlight unit has problems caused by the structure of the prism sheet 50, namely, a viewing angle asymmetry caused by brightness asymmetry and a degradation in light efficiency caused by side lobes.
In order to solve the problems incurred in the related art prism sheet, a lenticular lens sheet to be used as a condensing sheet has been proposed. Such a lenticular lens sheet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,224 issued to Saitoh et al. on Feb. 9, 1999 and is shown in FIG. 5.
Referring to FIG. 5, the related art lenticular lens sheet includes a plurality of lenticular lenses 21 formed on an upper surface of a transparent substrate 1, a reflection pattern 23 formed on a lower surface of the transparent substrate 1, a condensing layer 14 formed on the lower surface to cover the reflection pattern 23, and a transparent resin layer 16 formed on the condensing layer 14. The related art lenticular lens sheet attempts to prevent the loss of light caused by the side lobes in the structure of FIG. 4 using the reflection pattern 23 and lenticular lenses 21.
The reflection pattern 23 of the related art lenticular lens sheet may be formed using the following method. First, an adhesive layer (not shown) is coated over the lower surface of the transparent substrate 1. Parallel light is then irradiated to the transparent substrate 1 from above the lenticular lenses 21 and is condensed at the adhesive layer by the lenticular lenses 21. The adhesive layer loses adhesion properties in regions where the light is irradiated and retains adhesion properties in regions where no light is irradiated. A reflection pattern is transferred to the adhesion layer to form the reflection pattern on portions of the transparent substrate 1 corresponding to respective valleys of the lenticular lenses 21.
The reflection pattern 23 functions to shield and reflect light that would cause a degraded condensation. The light reflected by the reflection pattern 23 is re-reflected by a reflection plate arranged beneath the reflection pattern 23, so that the reflected light is recycled.
However, the above-mentioned related art lenticular lens sheet has a problem in that the reflection pattern 23 bonded to the adhesive layer may deform due to heat or external pressure or may peel off due to a degradation in the adhesion force of the adhesive layer. Furthermore, the related art lenticular lens sheet has a problem in that it is impossible to form the reflection pattern 23 with diverse shapes because the reflection pattern 23 is bonded to the lower surface of the transparent substrate 1 using the parallel light.

Prism sheet, backlight unit using the same, and method for fabricating the prism sheet


This invention relates to construction components, and particularly to those used in toy construction sets and puzzles. A construction component has at least two interlocking joints, each of them is made in the form of a volumetric body with faces, at least part of which lie in the planes of the cube faces where cube face length is equal to <<a>>, where protrusions are made on at least one of the aforementioned faces, having a height ≧<<a/2>> and containing four sections, arranged individually in the planes of the cube faces and adjacent to the face on which protrusions are made, wherein each face of the interlocking joint, lying on the plane of the faces of the cube, lies either in the plane of one of the faces of another interlocking joint or in the plane parallel to the plane of one of the faces of the other interlocking joint.

One known analog from prior art is the construction component containing a base, which is created, as a rule, in the form of a parallelepiped with one or more interlocking joints to connect the analogous (similar) components together (patent RU 2150985 of 20 Jun. 2000).
A disadvantage of the known construction component is poor functionality because its design permits only one possible type of connection between identical construction components.

Construction elements and construction toy


An organic light emitting diode display includes a display substrate, a sealing member disposed to face the display substrate, a sealant disposed between the display substrate and the sealing member, the sealant being configured to attach the display substrate and the sealing member to each other, a plurality of conductive wires on the display substrate, the conductive wires overlapping the sealant, and at least one short-circuit blocking layer between the conductive wires.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to an organic light emitting diode display.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an organic light emitting diode display includes a display substrate having an organic light emitting diode, a sealing member disposed to face the display substrate and to protect the organic light emitting diode of the display substrate, and a sealant attaching and sealing the display substrate and the sealing member to each other.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


To purchase an item which is viewed on a broadcast. The items may include furniture, jewelry, clothing and automobiles. The viewer is able to utter a phrase in reference to a viewed item that they wish to view or purchase. The system then searches the broadcast information and displays all relevant items. The viewer is then able to select and purchase a particular item.

When watching a program or a commercial being broadcast in a conventional television broadcasting, a viewer may wish to obtain a thing appearing in the program or the commercial or an object such as a piece of music played in the program or the commercial.
In such cases, first, the viewer connects a PC (personal computer) to the Internet, searches for information on these objects on the Internet, and obtains information on the target objects.
Then, based on the obtained information, the viewer contacts or goes to a shop selling the objects, and purchases the objects. Conventionally, viewers purchase objects appearing in programs and commercials by such a process.
On the other hand, while video and audio are normally broadcast as programs and commercials in television broadcasting, there is a broadcasting form such that not only video and audio are broadcast as programs and commercials but also data broadcasting is performed to broadcast, as data, additional information on objects appearing in the programs and commercials.
When broadcasting is performed in such a broadcasting form, it is necessary to previously associate the additional information being broadcast as data with objects appearing in programs and commercials. And when video and audio of programs and commercials are broadcast, it is necessary that the additional information previously associated with the objects be broadcast as data broadcasting so as to synchronize with the video and audio.
Conventionally, to associate the additional information being broadcast as data broadcasting with objects appearing in a program or a commercial, after creating the video and audio of the program or the commercial, the producer of the program or the commercial associates the additional information with each scene while checking the scenes of the video and audio. As described above, the association of the additional information being broadcast as data broadcasting with objects appearing in a program or a commercial is performed by hand by the producer.
However, for a viewer to obtain an object appearing in a program or a commercial being broadcast, it is necessary to connect to the Internet from a PC completely irrespective of reception of the broadcast, download information on the target object through the Internet and order the object by telephone or the like based on the downloaded information, which is inconvenient.
That is, it has been an object in the conventional broadcasting that obtaining objects appearing in programs and commercials being broadcast cannot be easily performed and requires time and trouble, which is inconvenient.
On the other hand, while video and audio are normally broadcast as programs and commercials in television broadcasting, to perform broadcasting in the broadcasting form such that not only video and audio are broadcast as programs and commercials but also data broadcasting is performed to broadcast, as data, additional information on objects appearing in the programs and commercials, the association of the program additional information requires a great deal of labor of the producers, so that it is difficult to provide sufficient additional information.
That is, it is an object that when not only the video and audio of programs and commercials are broadcast but also additional information on objects appearing in the programs and commercials is broadcast as data broadcasting, since it is necessary to previously perform the association of the program additional information and the association requires a great deal of labor, it is difficult to provide sufficient additional information.


A dryer assembly for drying compressed fluid received from a fluid compressor. The dryer assembly comprises a compressed fluid circuit and a refrigeration circuit associated with the compressed fluid circuit and configured to reduce the temperature of the compressed fluid and to remove condensate from the compressed fluid. The dryer includes means for manipulating the dryer to regulate the rate of heat transfer between the compressed fluid circuit and the refrigeration circuit. A first sensor senses the lowest temperature of the compressed fluid after the compressed fluid has passed the refrigeration circuit and a second sensor senses a reference temperature. A controller is configured to receive the lowest temperature and reference temperature from the sensors and to determine a relative humidity based on the lowest temperature and the reference temperature. The controller controls the means for manipulating the dryer in response to the determined relative humidity.

The present invention relates to a compressor dryer system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compressor dryer system controlled based on relative humidity.
Compressed gas systems typically provide high volumes of dry, pressurized air or other gases to operate various items or tools (while a multitude of gases can be used, this application typically refers to air as a matter of convenience). The corrosion of ferrous materials is known to be a function of the moisture content to which it is exposed. There is a significant reduction in the corrosion rate below particular moisture content for any specific set of ambient conditions; this is known as the corrosion limit. Historically, refrigerated dryers have been designed to produce a specific dew point in the downstream compressed air stream when operated at specific steady state conditions. The dew point is then correlated back to the lowest temperature exhibited by the compressed air stream within the refrigerated dryer. Some adjustment to the coldest temperature for efficiency in separating entrained liquid moisture from the air stream is usually required. The operating parameters of the dryer are then manipulated to produce the adjusted cold air temperature and therefore downstream dew point.
An illustrative dryer 100 is shown in FIG. 1. Conventional systems dry the air using heat exchangers first to cool the air and lower the dew point of the air, which causes water vapor to condense out of the air, and second to reheat the air and raise the outlet temperature of the air. This system provides a relatively dry air source. Refrigerated dryer 100 includes both an air heat exchanger circuit 110 and a refrigerant heat exchanger circuit 120. Air heat exchanger circuit 110 includes an inlet 112, an air-to-air heat exchanger 114, an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger or evaporator 116, a water separator 120a and an air outlet 118. Refrigerant heat exchanger circuit 120 includes evaporator 116, a compressor 122, a condenser 124, a throttling device 126, and a hot gas by-pass valve 128.
In operation, dryer 100 receives a high temperature, saturated, pressurized air or gas stream at inlet 112. The air or gas stream passes through an inlet side of air-to-air heat exchanger 114. The air or gas stream cools down to an intermediate temperature during which some water vapor condenses. The condensed moisture precipitates out and collects in the separator 120a.The intermediate temperature air or gas then travels through the air side of evaporator 116 where the air or gas is further cooled to a low temperature. Again, moisture condenses out of the air or gas stream and collects in the separator 120a.The low temperature air or gas then travels through the outlet side of air-to-air heat exchanger 114. This reheats the air or gas stream to a desired temperature. The air or gas stream then exits the dryer 100 at air outlet 118. Under standard operating conditions, because the desired temperature air can hold significantly more moisture vapor than low temperature air, dryer 100 provides a source of dry, unsaturated, pressurized air or gas at air outlet 118. As explained above, the gas low temperature will be monitored and the dryer 100 manipulated to maintain the low temperature at a desired point to attempt to obtain the desired downstream dew point.
The dryer 100 can be manipulated in various ways. In refrigerant heat exchanger circuit 120, refrigerant enters the refrigerant side of evaporator 116 as a cool liquid. While passing through evaporator 116, the refrigerant heats up and is converted to a gas by the exchange of heat from the relatively hot air side to the relatively cool refrigerant side of evaporator 116. The low pressure gas travels to compressor 122 where the refrigerant is compressed into a high pressure gas. The refrigerant than passes through air or water cooled condenser 124 where the refrigerant is condensed to a cool, high pressure liquid. The cool, high pressure refrigerant passes through throttling device 126 (typically capillary tubes or the like) to reduce the pressure and boiling point of the refrigerant. The cool, low pressure, liquid refrigerant than enters the evaporator and evaporates as described above.
In the illustrated embodiment, the dryer 100 is varied by utilizing a hot gas by-pass valve 128 in the refrigerant heat exchanger circuit 120. When air heat exchanger circuit 110 and refrigerant heat exchanger circuit 120 operate at or near full capacity, and the low temperature is at the desired temperature, hot gas by-pass valve 128 has no particular function. However, when the low temperature is reduced, the hot gas by-pass valve 128 functions to reduce cooling and increase the low temperature temperature. The particulars regarding the operation of hot gas by-pass valve 128 are well known in the art. Other manipulated systems are also known. For example, some systems cycle the compressor 122 on and off when the system operates at less than 100% capacity or alternatively utilize a variable speed drive to vary the speed of the refrigerant compressor 122. Alternatively, the air heat exchanger circuit 110 may be controlled, for example, by throttling the compressed fluid flow rate through the air heat exchanger circuit 110. These systems are generally configured to operate under standard operating conditions.


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for identifying available cores of a many-core processor, allocating a first subset of the cores to an enabled state and a second subset of the cores to a spare state, and storing information regarding the allocation in a storage. The allocation of cores to the enables state may be based on a temperature-aware algorithm, in certain embodiments. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to multiprocessor systems, and more particularly to improving reliability in such multiprocessor systems.
Computer systems are becoming increasingly complex and are beginning to include advanced processors, including multicore processors. Dual-core processors having two processor cores that execute instructions concurrently have been introduced. It is anticipated that in the future, processors will be manufactured that include additional cores, e.g., more than two cores. Current road maps include processors with four and eight cores.
Additionally, long term it is anticipated that processors will evolve to a many-core environment, in which many cores are present in a single processor package, and even on a single substrate or die of the package. Accordingly, it is anticipated that processors with 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or more cores will become available in the future. In addition to the complexity associated with such many-core processors, reliability concerns increase. Specifically, due to various technology-related issues, cores in a many-core processor will exhibit higher failure rates than single core or dual-core processors.
While various reasons exist for these greater failure rates, all of these reasons combine such that cores of a many-core processor may suffer from lifetimes that shorten from generation to generation. Such decreasing lifetimes can be attributed to a number of sources of degradation including electromigration, stress migration, time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB), negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), and thermal cycling. Most of these failure mechanisms are expressed at elevated temperatures, i.e., the higher the temperature, the lower the core mean time to failure (MTTF). The failure rate of the processor or a core thereof is commonly referred to as failures in time (FIT), which is the expected number of failures in 109 hours. Using a FIT value, one can attain the MTTF as 1/FIT. For various technologies, MTTF is obtained assuming steady state operation at fixed conditions (e.g., temperature, voltage, frequency and utilization). Accordingly, increasing any of these parameters can cause further degradation of lifetime reliability.

Enhancing reliability of a many-core processor


Provided is an optical deflector for deflecting radiation beams. The optical deflector includes: a peripheral region having a first effective refractive index; and a deflection pattern region having a predetermined shape and a second effective refractive index, wherein the second effective refractive index differs from the first effective refractive index. Here, due to the deflection pattern region having the predetermined shape, the radiation beams are deflected in a direction starting from a certain point. By using the optical deflector, the locus of a light source can be designed in one of various forms, such as a straight line, a circle, an ellipse, or a parabola.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical deflector that deflects radiation beams.
2. Discussion of Related Art
An optical deflector is used to improve data access time in CD players or magneto-optical disk drivers and also utilized in laser printers, scanners, or display devices. A prism is a typical example of the optical deflector that deflects beams from its original direction. This prism is mostly used with respect to collimating beams in a free space.
A prism-type optical deflector may also have a waveguide shape and be formed of silica, GaAs, InP, LiTaO3, or polymer, etc. In this case, an optical deflector having the waveguide shape refers to a structure that guides beams in a vertical direction and deflects the beams in a lateral direction.
The principle on which the beams are deflected is as follows. When the beams propagate in a certain pattern, a refractive index of a medium in the pattern is changed by an external electric signal. Thus, the beams are deflected according to a refraction characteristic relative to an angle on which the beams are incident at an interface between a region where the refractive index is changed and a region where the refractive index remains unchanged.
Meanwhile, the deflection of beams radiating in a lateral direction through a waveguide can be employed in various optical devices, such as optical switches, arrayed waveguide gratings, and concave gratings. Also, since the waveguide can be monolithically integrated with a light source, it is possible to manufacture very small optical devices. Conventional waveguide-type optical deflectors are discussed in detail in Reference document 1 [IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 13, no. 15, October 1995] and Reference document 2 [IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 12, no. 8, August 1994]. Reference document 1 makes an analysis of beam propagation in terms of wave optics to show that beams are deflected by a waveguide type optical deflector, and Reference document 2 teaches the optical deflection characteristics of an optical deflector by the help of experiments using gas laser (He—Ne, 635 nm).
However, the conventional optical deflectors are applied to incident beams that are not radiation beams but collimating beams. Hereinafter, the problem of the conventional optical deflectors will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual diagrams for explaining the optical deflection characteristics of a conventional optical deflector.
FIG. 1A illustrates the optical deflection characteristics of a triangular-type optical deflector 20 when beams that are transmitted through an optical waveguide (not shown) and incident on the triangular-type optical deflector 20 are collimating beams. Referring to FIG. 1A, since all beams have the same incident angle as an interface, they are refracted and deflected at the same angle. As shown in FIG. 1A, the beams, which propagate in parallel in an x direction in a region 5 having an effective refractive index of n1, are deflected by the triangular-type optical deflector 20 having a predetermined pattern and an effective refractive index of n2. Here, the effective refractive index refers to an effective refractive index of the optical waveguide and varies with a change in the refractive index of a medium in a core layer of the optical waveguide.
FIG. 1B illustrates the optical deflection characteristics of the triangular-type optical deflector 20 when beams that are transmitted through the optical waveguide 10 and incident on the triangular-type optical deflector 20 are beams radiating from the point O. In FIG. 1B, the beams that radiate from the point O are denoted as A, the beams in a pattern of an optical deflector are denoted as B, and the beams that have passed through the pattern of the optical deflector are denoted as C. The radiation beams A pass through an interface between regions having refractive indexes of n1 and n2 and are refracted at an angle of θ2 according to Snell's law. The beams B pass again through the interface between the regions having refractive indexes of n2 and n1 and are refracted at an angle of θ3 to θ4. As a result, the beams A are refracted twice and become the beams C. Accordingly, as can be seen from FIG. 1B, because the radiation beams A are incident on the interface at respectively different incident angles, the radiation beams A are refracted in respectively different directions.
In conclusion, it is difficult to apply the above-described conventional optical deflectors to radiation beams.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for genome editing of a Rosa locus, using fusion proteins comprising a DNA binding domain and a cleavage domain or cleavage half-domain. Polynucleotides encoding said fusion proteins are also provided, as are cells comprising said polynucleotides and fusion proteins.

Rosa gene products are ubiquitously expressed at all stages of development. As such, this locus has been widely used for expressing endogenous sequences from endogenous or introduced promoters and for creating transgenic mice, for example from embryonic stem cells. See, e.g., Strathdee et al. (2006) PLoS ONE, Issue 1, e4; Nyabi et al. (2009) Nucl. Acids. Res. 37:e55.
However, conventional methods of targeted insertion can require complicated assembly of target vectors. Thus, there remains a need for methods of targeted insertion into and/or modification of Rosa gene in a targeted fashion. Precisely targeted site-specific cleavage of genomic loci offers an efficient supplement and/or alternative to conventional homologous recombination. Creation of a double-strand break (DSB) increases the frequency of homologous recombination at the targeted locus more than 1000-fold. More simply, the imprecise repair of a site-specific DSB by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) can also result in gene disruption. Creation of two such DSBs results in deletion of arbitrarily large regions. The modular DNA recognition preferences of zinc-fingers protein allows for the rational design of site-specific multi-finger DNA binding proteins. Fusion of the nuclease domain from the Type II restriction enzyme Fok I to site-specific zinc-finger proteins allows for the creation of site-specific nucleases. See, for example, United States Patent Publications 20030232410; 20050208489; 20050026157; 20050064474; 20060188987; 20060063231; 20070134796; 2008015164; 20080131962; 2008015996 and International Publication WOs 07/014,275 and 2008/133938, which all describe use of zinc-finger nucleases and which are incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.


The present invention relates to a drive circuit for a switch (T) connected to a rectifier arrangement in a switching converter which provides an output voltage (Vout) from an input voltage (Vin), the drive circuit having the following features:                a controller arrangement (40) having at least one control amplifier (OTA1) and a compensation network (41) having at least one capacitor (C4, C5), a signal dependent on the output voltage (Vout) being fed to said controller arrangement and the latter providing a control signal (S4),        a protection circuit (30), which is designed to detect at least one critical state of the switching converter and which provides a protection signal (S3) in a manner dependent on the presence of a critical state, the protection circuit (30) having a discharge circuit (32) coupled to the compensation network (41),        a signal generating circuit (20), to which the control signal (S4) and the protection signal (S3) are fed and which provides a drive signal (S5) having drive pulses according to the protection signal, the duty ratio of which drive signal is dependent on the control signal (S4).

FIG. 1 shows a basic circuit diagram of such a PFC according to the prior art. The task of a PFC is to make available, from an input voltage Vin, a rectified, at least approximately load-independent output voltage Vout which serves for supplying a load, for example a DC-DC converter. The PFC comprises input terminals K10, K11, at which a mains AC voltage is present as input voltage Vin, the root-mean-square value of which may be between 90 V and 270 V in the case of a long-range power supply. The PFC comprises a bridge rectifier BG, and a further rectifier arrangement connected between the bridge rectifier BG and the output terminals K20, K21 and having a series circuit formed by a coil L and a diode D and a capacitor C connected between the output terminals K20, K21 and also having a semiconductor switch T, which is connected between a node that is common to the coil L and the diode D and the bridge rectifier BG and which serves to connect the coil in parallel with the output terminals of the bridge rectifier.
The semiconductor switch T is driven in clocked fashion by a drive IC which, via the semiconductor switch T, serves for controlling the power consumption of the PFC and thus for setting the output voltage Vout. For this purpose, a signal S1 dependent on the output voltage Vout is fed to the drive IC. During operation, the coil L stores energy when switch T is closed and outputs said energy via the diode D to the output capacitor C and a connected load when switch T is subsequently open. In this case, the power consumption is dependent on the duty ratio of the switch T, that is to say on the ratio of switch-on duration to drive period. In this case, the drive period is usually prescribed by an oscillator signal generated in the drive circuit.
The duty ratio of the switch T varies over the period of the usually sinusoidal input voltage, the frequency of which is significantly less than the switching frequency. This variation results from the fact that, in the case of a high instantaneous value of the input voltage, a shorter switch-on duration of the switch T suffices in order, per drive period for the maintenance of a required power consumption, to take up the same quantity of energy as in the case of a lower instantaneous value of the input voltage Vin. Overall, it holds true that as the root-mean-square value of the input voltage decreases, the duty ratio increases in order to achieve a given power consumption. The same holds true in the event of a rise in the power consumption of a load connected to the output terminals. In this case, too, the duty ratio of the switch increases in order to increase the power consumption overall for a given input voltage.
In the case of PFC with power consumptions above a legally prescribed limit value, there is the requirement for a mains current consumption which is proportional to the input voltage. For a control of this type, a signal dependent on the input current is also fed to the drive IC in accordance with FIG. 1. An example of a drive circuit for such a PFC is a module of the TDA 16888 type from Infineon Technologies AG, Munich.
During operation of a PFC, critical operating states may occur if, by way of example, the output voltage decreases to a value which lies outside the dimensioning limits of the switching converter. This is the case for example in the event of a mains failure or a so-called "brownout". "Brownout" denotes a disturbance in the supply mains in which the mains voltage falls, over a plurality of mains periods, below a limit specified for the power supply, said limit being 90 V, for example in the case of a long-range power supply.
The control of the PFC attempts to compensate for this decrease in the mains voltage by long switch-on periods of the switch T, in order to maintain a required power consumption. However, this can lead to impermissibly high currents in the switch T for which it is not designed. In order to avoid such high currents, PFCs with current limiting are known in which the switch T is switched off when its load current exceeds a maximum value. This has the effect that the switch T carries current only for in each case a short time, but the diode D carries current in each case for a correspondingly longer time, so that an impermissible heating of the diode D may result from this.
In order to avoid this problem, it is known to detect the root-mean-square value for the instantaneous value of the input voltage and to switch off the PFC if said root-mean-square value or the instantaneous value falls below a lower limit value. Such a PFC which detects the instantaneous value of the input voltage is disclosed for example in the data sheet UCC3817 from Unitrode Inc. What is disadvantageous in this case is that detecting the input voltage requires a voltage divider which divides the input voltage down to values which can be processed by a logic circuit. The components required for the voltage divider increase the costs and the circuitry outlay of such a PFC. Furthermore, detecting the root-mean-square value of the input voltage has the disadvantage that the input voltage has to be averaged over half a period of its temporal profile, which requires an integrator circuit having a large time constant, which can only be realized by means of external components. However, such external components considerably increase the costs and realization outlay of such a circuit.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a drive circuit for a switch in a switching converter, in particular in a PFC, which ensures a protection of the switching converter in the case of critical operating states, in particular in the case of a decrease in the output voltage, and which does not require detection of the input voltage. Furthermore, an aim of the invention is a method for driving a switch in a switching converter, in particular in a PFC.

Drive circuit for a switch in a switching converter and method for driving a switch in a switching converter


Devices and methods for injecting or otherwise delivering multiple-component therapies to human or animal subjects. Devices having injectors (e.g., syringes) attached to biaxial or coaxial injection cannula(s) are used to deliver multiple components of a particular therapy such that those components become combined shortly before or upon exiting the injection cannula(s). In some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include a first set of finger grips at a first location and a second set of finger grips at a second location. Also, in some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include depth slops for controlling the depth within tissue at which the therapeutic substance is delivered. Also, in some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include refill manifolds with attached syringes or other reservoirs containing the component substances to facilitate refilling of the injectors.

It is sometimes desirable to deliver (e.g., inject, infuse, apply, etc) two or more chemical substances to a desired location within the body of a human or animal subject such that the substances become combined or mixed shortly before, during or shortly after delivery into the body. For example, some therapies involve the administration of two or more component substances (e.g., chemical compounds, solutions, suspensions, biologics, cells, reactants, etc.) such that those substances react or otherwise interact with each other to form a resultant mixture or reaction product that directly or indirectly results in some therapeutic, diagnostic or cosmetic benefit (generally referred to herein as "Multiple-Component Therapies"). In some cases, it is important for the component substances to be combined or mixed immediately before, during or after delivery. This is the case, for example, when mixing or combining of the component substances too long before delivery would result in an increase in viscosity or solidification process that would render the product incapable of passing through an intended delivery cannula or needle or where the product has a very short half life and would loose activity before reaching its intended in vivo destination.
One Multiple Component Therapy is known as platelet gel (PG). In this therapy, a platelet-containing component (e.g., platelet rich plasma (PRP)) is combined with a thrombin-containing component (e.g, a thrombin solution) immediately before, during or after injection into the myocardium at one or more location(s) within or near an infarct or other myocardial injury. The platelet-containing component (e.g., PRP) combines with the thrombin-containing component and forms a platelet gel (PG) which causes the desired therapeutic effect. Such PG is formed when components (such as fibrinogen) contained in the platelet-containing component are activated by thrombin contained in the thrombin-containing component. Autologous PRP can be obtained from the subject's own blood, thereby significantly reducing the risk of adverse reactions or infection. When autologous PRP is used as the platelet-containing component, the resultant PG is referred to as autologous platelet gel (APG). The addition of thrombin to platelet-containing plasma products such as PRP is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,444,228, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. PRP has also been used in a variety of orthopedic and other applications.
Moreover, the preparation and use of PG and APG for improving cardiac function and/or preventing deleterious ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction or other injury to the myocardium is being investigated by Medtronic Vascular, Inc. of Santa Rosa, Calif., as described in parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/426,219 (published as 2007-0014784) and in United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006/0041242 and 2005/209564, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Since it may be difficult to pass PG or APG through the lumen of a needle, it is desirable to inject the platelet-containing component and the thrombin-containing component such that they become mixed immediately prior to, during or after injection through the needle. Additionally, injecting the platelet-containing component and the thrombin-containing component separately or immediately after mixing may allow the infusate to distribute to a greater area before fully gelling into the PG or APG, thereby possibly enhancing the effect of this therapy.
Other examples of Multiple Component Therapies known in the prior art include, but are not limited to; multiple component tissue adhesives and sealants (e.g., Tisseel VH™ Fibrin Sealant, available commercially from Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, Ill.); tissue bulking agents, fillers or polymeric materials (e.g., hydrogels) that may be formed or expanded in situ for various therapeutic or cosmetic applications such as tissue bulking, filling or expanding and various prodrug+activator combinations.
The prior art has also included a number of injector assemblies that may be usable for delivering Multiple Component Therapies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,985 (Grollier, et al.) describes a dispensing assembly usable for dispensing at least two constituents such that the constituents become mixed to form a homogenous product. This dispensing assembly has flexible walls and at least two compartments, including outlet orifices located adjacent to one another so that when the outlet orifices are opened as by cutting, and pressure is applied to the flexible walls, dispensing and immediate mixing of the constituents will be effected; the viscosity and volumes of the constituents are selected to have certain values to enable the dispensing to properly mix the constituents to form a homogenous product. The dispensing assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,985 (Grollier et al.) do not include any needle having a tissue penetrating tip or other means for injecting the constituents into tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,033 (McIntosh, et al.) describes a double syringe system for holding a pair of syringes in a manner so as to accommodate the simultaneous activation of the plunger of each syringe in order to effect simultaneous delivery of the contents of each syringe. The delivery system includes a support member that is positioned between the two syringe bodies. The elongated support member has resilient, C-shaped clamps on one end of the support member. The clamps are designed to be removably clamped onto the applicator so that the syringe barrels will be held together in a parallel manner. The elongated support member further comprises finger grips. A plunger connects the two syringe plungers so that they can also be simultaneously activated. Two side-by-side cannulas extend from the distal end of the delivery system and, as the plungers are depressed, the material from one syringe flows through one cannula and the material from the other syringe flows through the other cannula. The distal ends of the cannulas are aligned with each other so that there will be simultaneous delivery of the separated fluids from both syringes to the application site. In one embodiment, the side-by-side cannulas comprise needles of substantially equal length. Each of these needles bent towards each other so that as the needles approach their distal ends, they run parallel to each other and touch. The parallel portions of needles can be joined together with a sleeve, adhesive, or other methods known in the art. In another embodiment, the cannulas are formed of flexible lengths of tubing that are cut off at equivalent lengths and attached at their distal ends, usually with solvent adhesive. In yet another embodiment, the delivery system has a delivery tip that comprises a hollowed double fluid path attached to a single cannula fitting such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,375, which is specifically incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the delivery system may have spray heads attached to each syringe.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,639 (Baugh et al.) describes a system for delivering and combining an activated blood component and an inactivated blood component, which combine to form APG. This system comprises separate chambers which contain the activated blood component and the inactivated blood component, respectively. The first chamber includes an activating agent and a filter (which may be one and the same) which causes a clot (which forms in the blood component) to become triturated, thereby isolating thrombin from the clot. The second chamber stores the inactivated blood component (e.g., PRP) that, when mixed with thrombin, produces a gel. The first or second chamber may further contain agents which are desired to be delivered to a specific site. The design of the delivery system allows for ease in operation of combining two agents at a specific time and place.
United States Published Patent Application 2006/0253082 describes dispensing systems and methods for dispensing platelet gel or other two component treatments. These dispensing systems include a handle assembly that is designed to hold two syringes and thumb plate that is used to depress the plungers of both syringes simultaneously. The fluids contained in the separate syringes then flow through separate channels in a manifold and through a tip assembly. In various embodiments the tip assembly may include specialized various nozzles that entrain non-atomized flow of a first fluid in an atomized flow of a second fluid, delivering a first fluid upstream from a second fluid, delivering a first fluid and a second fluid with re-shapeable malleable tubes, delivering first and second fluids with releasable connectors maintained by a handle assembly.
There remains a need for the development of new devices and methods for injecting platelet gel or other Multiple Component Therapies to selected locations within the bodies of human or animal subjects such that the component substances become mixed or combined immediately before, during or after delivery into or onto the body of the subject.

Devices and methods for injection of multiple-component therapies


A control system for controlling the operation of an air conditioning compressor and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a thermostat switch and a high pressure switch arranged in series with a compressor switch across two sides of a power source whereby the thermostat switch and the high pressure switch must be in a closed condition thereof with the compressor switch also being in a closed condition before the compressor can be turned on, the system also comprising a low pressure switch that is arranged so as not to be in series with the other switches across the two sides of the power source and a microprocessor having means operatively associated with the low pressure switch to monitor the condition thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new control system for controlling the operation of an air conditioning compressor means as well as to a new method of making such a control system.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide a control system for controlling the operation of an air conditioning compressor means that has a refrigerant high pressure side and a refrigerant low pressure side, the system having a compressor switch means for turning on the compressor means when the compressor switch means is closed, a microprocessor means operatively associated with the compressor switch means and having means to control the opening and closing of the compressor switch means, a thermostat switch means operatively associated with the compressor switch means so as to prevent operation of the compressor means unless the thermostat switch means is closed, a high pressure switch means operatively interconnected to the high pressure side of the compressor means and operatively associated with the compressor switch means, and a low pressure switch means operatively interconnected to the low pressure side of the compressor means and operatively associated with the compressor switch means, the thermostat switch means and the high pressure switch means being arranged to be in series with the compressor switch means across two sides of a power source whereby the-thermostat switch means and the high pressure switch means must be in a closed condition thereof when the compressor switch means is in a closed condition before the compressor means can be turned on, the low pressure switch means also being in series with the thermostat switch means and the high pressure switch means so that the low pressure switch means must also be in a closed condition thereof before the compressor means can be turned on.

Control system for controlling the operation of an air conditioning compressor and method of making the same


A gasket assembly for use in an automotive engine for sealing a T-joint or multi-joint assembly without the use of a secondary sealing media such as RTV. The gasket assembly including a first gasket having a core member, having a plurality of orifices. A seal member attached to the side of the core member. At least one sealing bead extending from an end of the seal member, at least one of the sealing beads engaging with a sealing pad attached to a second gasket to form a T-joint between an engine block, an oil pan and front cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gaskets and gasket sealing mechanisms, and in particular, to an improved T-joint gasket assembly which does not use RTV sealant. RTV means room temperature vulcanizing sealant or agent.
2. Description of Related Art
Gaskets are used to provide a leak proof seal between two engine parts or other devices. Typically, the parts being sealed include flat sealing surfaces which are adjacent to one another during use. The gasket is usually placed between the opposite surfaces of the two components and compressed between them to prevent the escape of a gas, fluid or other medium. Many different variations and structures have been used in the prior art for gaskets and their sealing arrangements.
A particular problem has arisen in prior art seals which are used at a T-joint. A T-joint occurs at the intersection of three sealing surfaces. Such a T-joint may be found between a front cover, an oil pan and an engine block in an automotive engine. Many of the prior art attempts at providing a seal for such a T-joint have either used a sealant or caulking medium such as a RTV sealant or have used key and hole arrangements having flat surfaces in an attempt to provide a leak proof seal environment.
Both of the above prior art attempts at sealing a T-joint have not been successful in terms of costs and problems with application. First the sealing or caulking medium that is used such as a RTV sealant is very costly, messy and difficult to service. RTV sealant has also been known to effect the seal environment by over filling the adjacent trench in which the gasket sits thus providing a gap where fluid and/or gas may leak around the seal. Another problem is that the RTV sealant used in such seals hardens over time and cracks thus creating a leak around the sealing element.
The other type of seal arrangement is the key and hole which has flat surfaces that are prone to failure because of the relatively small amount of shift allowed in the mating components. This results in less than desirable interlocking and insufficient seal between the T-joint elements.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a T-joint seal that is easy to install, relatively inexpensive and prone to last longer than the RTV sealant based seals.


A flight carrier for simultaneously transporting one or more wine glasses or other type of glasses, tumblers or other fluid containers having a generally upwardly and outwardly expanding shape. The flight carrier comprises an essentially flat, planar lifting portion of operatively rigid material, the lifting portion having a front edge having a plurality of sequentially spaced openings therein, the openings extending into the flat planar portion, and a handle portion coupled to and acting on the lifting portion. Another embodiment of the flight carrier comprises a plurality of semicircular rings sequentially spaced apart by and rigidly coupled to a plurality of short connector portions.

The tremendous explosion in the popularity of drinking wine in the 1980s and 1990s through the world has brought about the establishment of dozens if not hundreds of small to medium sized restaurants and cafes with extensive and creative wine and other beverage lists. Sales of wines, beers, champagnes, brandies, appertifs and other beverages comprise a very large percentage of overall gross revenue for such establishments. In all metropolitan areas it is not unusual to find an extensive wine list containing between 50 and 100 different such beverages in stock and for sale.
Sales of wine, beer or other beverages at restaurants typically include sales of full bottles, glasses or flights. Full service wine merchants offer flights of wine or other drinks as a way of educating their customers as to the differences in different types of wines as well as to enhance revenues of such. Customers can select individual glasses of wine, or they can select a flight of wines. A flight of wines consists of about four glasses containing about 1.5 ounces of wine each. A flight can consist of 2 or 3 or 5 or 6 or more wines as well. Often flights of wine are given names descriptive of the wines they contain, such as "bold Chardonnay flight" or "Spanish flight". By ordering a flight of wines, with the names of the various wines which make up the flight listed on a menu or side card, customers, wine or other tasters of beverages can sample a larger number of wines or other beverages more conveniently.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a flight board 100 of the prior art. In the past, presentation of wine or beer in flights was facilitated using a standard tray or board. Unfortunately, glasses 50 slide on flat trays and can knock together having unfortunate results. Such boards 100 with small grooves or indentations 102 inset into the top surface have been used to facilitate service of a number of glasses 50 of liquid, generally wine glasses which may tend to be somewhat top heavy anyway, but are less than adequate. Such wine or drink boards 100 would generally be left at the table, an aesthetically undesirable feature, and lifting and setting down the loaded boards is continually fraught with tippage hazzard. And the need to find sufficient table space.
Not only does service of a flight of drinks typically involve a great risk of tippage and/or spillage, but other drawbacks of such presentation are inherent. Since rather than serve a singe 6 ounce glass a flight might consist of four--1.5 once servings. Therefore, increased service time is inherent with typical flight service. As importantly, server and/or customer confusion is also a problem with flight service. Unless the glasses are kept in a certain spatial orientation, and such can be remembered during the process of pour from bottle to placement on the bar to collection by a server to delivery to a table, the identity of the wine or other drink may be forgotten or confused.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for service of a flight of beverages, such as about two to about four or more wine glasses, to avoid the problems associated with the prior art,


A sensing device for sensing a condition of a plasma processing system component. The sensing device includes a main body configured to contain a material, an emitter contained in the main body and configured to emit light when exposed to a plasma, and a mating feature connected to the main body and configured to be mated with a receiving feature of an object in the plasma processing system such that the emitter material is exposed to a processing environment of the plasma processing system. When the emitter material is exposed to a plasma, the light emitted from the emitter can be monitored to determine at least one of material accumulation on the system component and erosion of the system component.

The fabrication of integrated circuits (IC) in the semiconductor industry typically employs plasma to create and assist surface chemistry within a plasma reactor necessary to remove material from and deposit material to a substrate. In general, plasma is formed with the plasma reactor under vacuum conditions by heating electrons to energies sufficient to sustain ionizing collisions with a supplied process gas. Moreover, the heated electrons can have energy sufficient to sustain dissociative collisions and, therefore, a specific set of gasses under predetermined conditions (e.g. chamber pressure, gas flow rate, etc.) are chosen to produce a population of charged species and chemically reactive species suitable to the particular process being performed within the chamber (e.g. etching processes where materials are removed from the substrate or deposition where materials are added to the substrate).
Although the formation of a population of charged species (ions, etc.) and chemically reactive species is necessary for performing the function of the plasma processing system (i.e. material etch, material deposition, etc.) at the substrate surface, other component surfaces on the interior of the plasma processing chamber are exposed to the physically and chemically active plasma and, in time, can erode or become coated with deposits. The erosion or coating of exposed components in the plasma processing system can lead to a gradual degradation of the plasma processing performance and ultimately to complete failure of the system.
Various parts of a plasma processing system consist of consumable or replaceable components that are fabricated from silicon, quartz, alumina, carbon, or silicon carbide, for example. Examples of consumable system components include electrodes, shields, rings, baffles and liners. The consumable nature of the replaceable components can require frequent maintenance of the plasma processing system. This frequent maintenance can produce costs associated with plasma processing down-time and new plasma processing chamber components, which can be excessive.
Consumable parts are commonly cleaned or replaced after detrimental processing conditions or process results are observed. The adverse processing conditions can include plasma arcing, particle formation, variations in substrate etch rate, etch selectivity and etch uniformity. Alternatively, consumable parts can be cleaned or replaced according to a predetermined maintenance schedule that can, for example, be based on the number of plasma operating hours. These methods can result in overdue or premature replacement of consumable system components.

Sensing component used to monitor material buildup and material erosion of consumables by optical emission


A vehicle power system may include a signal driver system electrically connected with a signal receiver system, and a traction battery electrically connected with contactors responsive to the signal receiver system. The electrical connections may be routed through a common interface. A voltage associated with a control signal commanding the signal receiver system to cause the contactors to close and driven into the electrical connection between the signal driver and signal receiver systems by the signal driver system may indicate whether the electrical connection between the traction battery and contactors at the common interface is faulty.

An electrified vehicle often includes a power storage unit, such as a traction battery, arranged to provide power for moving the vehicle. Power modules and wiring harnesses may form portions of the electrical path between the traction battery and the various high-voltage electrical loads electrically connected with the traction battery. The power modules and wiring harnesses may include connectors that interface with other components disposed along the electrical path. These connectors, on occasion, may not have a complete connection with their mating components.

Automotive vehicle power system interlock detection


An electric motor-driven vehicle comprises a seat disposed centrally on a vehicle body, a loading platform located over a loading platform receiving frame and behind the seat, and a plurality of main frame rails connected to the loading platform receiving frame. The vehicle further comprises a fuel supply piping system, at least one battery, a fuel cell and at least one fuel tank, all disposed so as to efficiently use the space within the vehicle body, and all protected from external forces by the loading platform receiving frame. A plurality of partition walls separate the at least one battery and the fuel cell from the at least one fuel tank and provide additional protection against external forces to the fuel cell and the at least one fuel tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an electric motor-operated vehicle using a fuel cell. Specifically, the invention relates to the layout of components associated with a fuel cell on the frame of an electric motor-operated vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electric motor-operated vehicles having fuel cells are well known in the art. Some of such conventional electric motor-operated vehicles are golf carts or other simple vehicles for carrying objects.
In such conventional vehicles, the fuel cell, fuel tanks and related components are mounted on the frame of the vehicle body. However, the layout of the components inefficiently uses space, thus disallowing the use of tanks with increased capacity, and does not adequately protect the components from external forces. Additionally the piping layout in such conventional vehicles is not compact nor has sufficient strength.

Small vehicle having fuel cell with damage protection