A controlling device ensures an accurate control of the rotational speed of an engine. When a hydraulic working machine is in a suspended state, the rotational speed of the engine can be changed from a designated rotational speed to a low rotational speed without requiring any specific manipulation by the operator. When all control levers 14 to 21 are shifted to their respective neutral positions to suspend the operation, and the shifting speed of the control lever which is lastly shifted to its neutral position is low, a delay time is set to be longer than in the case of high shifting speed. If the control levers 14 to 21 are maintained in their respective neutral positions after the elapse of the delay time, the engine 1 is changed to the low rotational speed mode. When one of control levers is shifted before the elapse of the delay time, the engine 1 is continuously maintained in the designated rotational speed mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controlling device for controlling the rotational speed of an engine of a hydraulic working machine for use in civil and construction engineering, such as crane, hydraulic excavator.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A hydraulic working machine of this type includes a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a plurality of actuators such as hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors operated by oil supplied from the hydraulic pumps under pressure, and a plurality of control levers for controlling the plurality of actuators, respectively. The hydraulic pump feeds oil to each actuator under pressure via a directional change valve driven by a control lever to actuate the actuator to perform working operation. In general, the hydraulic working machine is provided with a throttle lever for setting a rotational speed of the engine to enable the operator to properly change the amount of oil fed from the hydraulic pump in accordance with operation modes.
Japanese Patent Publication No.60-38561 discloses a device for suppressing the fuel consumption for engine during the suspension period of working operation of a hydraulic working machine. This device includes a switch to enable the operator to selectively control the engine to run either at a predetermined low rotational speed for reducing the fuel consumption or at a speed designated by the throttle lever. When all the control levers are shifted to their respective neutral positions in the state that the low rotational speed mode is selected by the switch, the engine is controlled to run at the low rotational speed.
Further, the device of the above publication does not permit the engine to run at the low rotational speed as far as a predetermined time does not elapse after all the control levers are shifted to their respective neutral positions to prevent an undesirable performance that the engine is unintentionally controlled to run at the low rotational speed immediately after all the control levers are shifted to their respective neutral positions in the state that the low rotational speed mode is selected by the switch.
However, the device of the above publication has the inconvenience that to control the engine to run at the low rotational speed in the operation suspension period, the operator is required to manipulate the switch. In addition, if the operator forgets to manipulate the switch when suspending the operation, the engine continues to run at a high rotational speed designated by the throttle lever. This causes unnecessary consumption of fuel.
Furthermore, the device of the above publication immediately restores the rotational speed of the engine to a speed designated by the throttle lever when at least one of the control levers is shifted from its neutral position to its working position in the state that the engine is controlled to run at the low rotational speed. For this reason, there is a likelihood that if a high rotation speed is designated by the throttle lever, even a small shift of a control lever causes rapid increase in the rotational speed of the engine, and results in rapid increase in the amount of oil fed from the hydraulic pump and a sudden change in the actuating speed of the actuator against the operator's intention.

Controlling device for controlling rotational speed of engine of hydraulic working machine


A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first conductive layer on an insulating substrate, forming a first insulating layer, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer on the first conductive layer, patterning the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer, such that the third conductive layer is located on a partial region of the second conductive layer, forming a second insulating layer on the patterned third conductive layer, forming a first contact hole to expose the first conductive layer by patterning the first and second insulating layers, and a second contact hole to expose the third conductive layer by patterning the second insulating layer, and forming a fourth conductive layer to connect the first and third conductive layers with each other by way of the first and second contact holes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device, which can improve step coverage of an insulating layer included in a substrate in which a plurality of conductive layers and insulating layers are stacked, thereby preventing wire breakage in the conductive layer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display devices display an image by regulating light transmissivity of liquid crystal, having a dielectric anisotropy property, using an electric field. Such a liquid crystal display device is mainly constructed in such a way that a color filter substrate, formed with a color filter array, and a thin-film transistor substrate, formed with a thin-film transistor array, are bonded to each other with liquid crystal interposed therebetween. The thin-film transistor substrate is provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, a data signal being applied to the respective pixel electrodes individually. Also, the thin-film transistor substrate is provided with thin-film transistors to drive the plurality of pixel electrodes individually, gate lines to control the thin-film transistors, and data lines to apply a data signal to the thin-film transistors.
The thin-film transistor substrate is configured in such a way that a plurality of conductive layers and insulating layers are stacked. For example, the thin-film transistor substrate is configured in such a way that a first conductive layer, in which the gate lines, gate electrodes of the thin-film transistors, etc. are formed, a second conductive layer, in which the data lines, source electrodes and drain electrodes of the thin-film transistors, etc. are formed, and a third conductive layer, in which the pixel electrodes, etc. are formed, are stacked with insulating layers interposed therebetween.
The above-described thin-film transistor substrate includes a plurality of jumpers, which must connect the first and second conductive layers with each other by means of bridge electrodes formed of the third conductive layer. The bridge electrodes connect the first and second conductive layers with each other by way of first contact holes, which penetrate at least two insulating layers to expose the first conductive layer to the outside, and by way of second contact holes, which penetrate at least one insulating layer to expose the second conductive layer to the outside.
However, a semiconductor layer is further formed below the second conductive layer. As a result of stacking the second conductive layer over the semiconductor layer, the insulating layer formed on the second conductive layer exhibits poor step coverage at a stepped portion between the semiconductor layer and the second conductive layer. In this case, when the third conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer exhibiting poor step coverage, the third conductive layer has a problem of wire breakage.

Method for fabricating liquid crystal display device


A preparation, in particular a cosmetic preparation, in the form of a workable paste which is present in the form of a W/O emulsion and which is suitable for cosmetic uses, in particular in the area of decorative cosmetics for coloring and improving the skin, the lips and the eyelids. It is also suitable as a fixing for lipstick, as lip care, as a skin care foundation or as a sun protection agent. It is preferably in the form of a water-in-silicone emulsion. It contains a wax, a suitable emulsifier, a volatile silicone oil, a moistening agent, a solid phase and water. In addition it may also contain the additives and adjuvant substances which are approved and usual in cosmetics. Processes for the production of the preparation are also described.

The invention concerns a preparation, in particular a cosmetic preparation, which is present as a W/O emulsion in the form of a workable paste and is suitable for cosmetic uses, in particular in the region of decorative cosmetics, for coloring and improving the appearance of the skin, lips and eyelids. By way of example mention may be made here of lip rouge, blusher. makeup or eyeshadow. It can also be used as a fixing agent for the lips, as a skin care foundation or as a sun protection agent. That preparation, in particular a cosmetic preparation, occurs preferably in the form of a water-in-silicone emulsion.
Preparations of the specified kind usually contain lipid-like substances such as for example fats, oils, oil-soluble vegetable extracts and medium to long-chain fatty acids and waxes, as well as volatile or non-volatile silicone oils and silicone copolymers such as silicone resins and silicone gels. Silicone oils that may be mentioned are volatile cyclic silicone oils such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and linear short-chain siloxanes such as hexamethyldisiloxane or octamethyltrisiloxane, while non-volatile silicone oils that may be mentioned include the so-called dimethylpolysiloxanes in a wide range of different chain lengths and different viscosities and arylated silicone oils such as for example phenyl dimethicones, phenyl trimethicones, diphenyl dimethicones and others.
In addition they may contain a solid phase comprising finely divided fillers and coloring agents. Sun protection agents may use particularly finely divided pigments, so-called nanopigments, of an average particle size of between 5 and 50 nm, which act transparently on the skin and no longer color it. Silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, cerium oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and zinc oxide may be mentioned here by way of example.
A disadvantage with such preparations is that they can be easily transferred from the skin or the lips to which they are regularly applied on to other surfaces, for example cups, glasses, textiles or other areas of the skin. That can leave behind traces in the form of a colored mark or a greasy film. Such products therefore have insufficient adhesion to the underlying surface to which they are applied, with the result that lipstick and blusher, makeup, eyeshadow and also sun protection agents have to be regularly re-applied. As oily constituents generally spread very well on the skin, the pigments move from the original place of application together with small amounts from the oily phase into the fine wrinkles and creases in the skin in the immediate surroundings, which often has a very disturbing and adverse effect on the overall visual impression.
In the past the attempt was made to counteract that in relation to lipsticks and lip rouge by the use of so-called 'bromo acids', dyestuffs which substantively gather on the skin. As however, due to differing pH-values of the skin, those dyestuffs gave individually different and unpredictable shades and in addition the coloring effects often persisted for days, that route was immediately abandoned again because the lady consumers only inadequately accepted products of that nature.
After silicone oils and silicone resins had found their way into cosmetics, the attempt was made to improve the adhesion to the skin and thus the durability of decorative preparations thereby. Thus from about 1977 eyeshadow pencils and lipsticks have been known in the form of leads which were cast into sharpenable casings which in the lipid phase contained inter alia a mixture of phenyl trimethicone (a non-volatile silicone oil) and cyclomethicone (a volatile silicone oil). They were then followed by similar preparations which contained cyclomethicone as the sole silicone component. Although they had an apparently firm structure, those pencil materials could be applied to the skin in a soft and malleable fashion, similarly to a pasty material. After evaporation of the volatile silicone, there was left behind on the skin a soft elastic film which had very good adhesion and which moved only to a minimum extent into the area surrounding the original location at which it was applied. The principle of combining two silicone oils, applied to pasty preparations, is also to be found again for example in EP 0 756 864.
In spite of the highly positive effects in terms of adhesion and durability, such preparations of the kind known hitherto which contain silicone oil can give rise to detrimental effects on the part of sensitive users if they are used in the immediate proximity of the eye. More specifically, if even minimum amounts of silicone oils, in particular non-volatile silicone oils or other silicone polymers from the products in pencil form which are known from the state of the art pass into the eye or the conjunctiva sac, they can lead to an oily film on the lens and unpleasant irritation, referred to as the 'wind burn effect'.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Preparation, in particular cosmetic preparation, and the production and use thereof


In method of injecting a substance into a living cell having a cell membrane, the substance, the cell and a liquid are placed into a tapering passage. Energy is applied to the cell, thereby inducing poration. To sort cells, a cellular suspension is placed in a tapering passage, including a narrow end that defines an opening that has a dimension corresponding to a cell size. An acoustic wave is applied, thereby forcing cells having a cell size smaller than the selected cell size through the opening, with a portion of the cells having a cell size not smaller than the selected cell size not forced through the opening. To extract material from a cell, an electric field and an acoustic wave are applied, thereby causing the cell membrane to allow the material to pass out of the cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cellular manipulation devices and, more specifically, to a device that can perform poration, transfection, lysis and sorting of living cells.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As reflected in the recent Proteomics special feature article ("Automated NanoElectrospray: A New Advance for Proteomics Researchers," Laboratory News, 2002) Mass Spectrometry (MS) has become the technology of choice to meet today's unprecedented demand for accurate bioanalytical measurements, including protein identification. Although MS can be used to analyze biomolecules with very large molecular weights (up to several MegaDaltons (Mda)), these molecules must be first converted to gas-phase ions before they can be introduced into a mass spectrometer for analysis. Electrospray ionization (ESI) has proven to be an enormous breakthrough in structural biology because it provides a mechanism for transferring large biological molecules into the gas phase as intact charged ions. It is the creation of efficient conversion of a very small quantity of a liquid sample (proteins are very expensive and often very difficult to produce in sizable quantities) into gas-phase ions that is one of the main bottlenecks for using mass spectrometry in high throughput proteomics.
Conventional (micro and nano) capillary ESI sources, as well as the more recently developed MEMS-based electrospray devices, rely on application of strong electric field, which is used for focusing of the charged jet leading to jet tip instabilities and formation of small droplets of the analyte sample. As a result, the size and homogeneity of the formed droplets is determined by the magnitude and geometry of the applied electric field, thus requiring high voltages for generating sufficiently small micrometer or sub-micrometer droplets via the so-called Taylor cone nebulization. Reliance on the electrohydrodynamic Taylor cone focusing of the jet to form the mist of sufficiently small charged droplets leading to single ion formation imposes several fundamental and significant limitations on the capabilities of the conventional ESI interface.
One such problem is that a very large electric potential needs to be applied to the capillary tip (up to a few kilovolts relative to the ground electrode of the MS interface) to ensure formation of the stable Taylor cone, especially at higher flow rates and with poorly conducting organic solvents.
An additional problem is that the choice of suitable solvents is very much restricted to those featuring high electrical conductivity and sufficiently low surface tension. This restriction imposes severe limitations on the range of biological molecules that can be analyzed via ESI Mass Spectrometry. For example, use of pure water (the most natural environment for most biomolecules) as a solvent is difficult in conventional ESI since the required onset electrospray voltage is greater than that of the corona discharge, leading to an unstable Taylor cone, damage to the emitter and uncontrollable droplet/ion formation.
Since the conventional ESI relies on the disintegration of the continuous jet emanating from the Taylor cone into an aerosol of charged droplets, there is the limit to the lowest flow rate (and therefore the minimum sample size) that can be used during the analysis. For example, commercial products require the minimum sample volume to be about 3 μL.
Another problem is that sample utilization (i.e., fraction of the sample volume that is introduced and being used in MS analysis relative to the total volume of the electrosprayed sample) is very low due to uncontrollable nature of electrohydrodynamic atomization process that relies on the surface instabilities. Further, a significant dead volume (i.e., a fraction of the sample that cannot be pulled from the capillary by electrical forces) is unavoidable in any jet-based atomization process.
Still other problems are that commercially available ESI devices are very expensive because of the manufacturing difficulties, and limited usable lifetime because of the high voltage operation in a chemically-aggressive solvent environment.
An ability to extract DNA from or inject DNA into living cells is critical to any genetic, molecular biology, drug design and delivery, and pharmaceutical research and development work. Drug delivery, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries routinely need to be able to extract DNA from and inject DNA into a cell. This is probably the most critical step in many molecular biology and genetics modification protocols currently used.
Some methods of injecting DNA into cells involve poration of a group of cells. In poration, the cells are subjected to an energy field that causes pores in the cell membranes to dilate. Typically, many cells are placed in a field that varies spatially and those cells that are in the area of a certain field strength porate, while the rest do not. The low level of predictability and accuracy of poration results in a low yield and the inefficiency of requiring the technician to spend extra time sorting cells that have successfully porated from those that have not successfully porated.
Therefore, there is a need for a system for extracting and injecting materials into living cells with a high level of predictability and accuracy.

Electrosonic cell manipulation device and method of use thereof


An optical touch device includes an indication plane, an image sensing unit, a light emitting unit and a frame. A sensing region is defined on the indication plane. The image sensing unit is disposed at a corner of the indication plane. The light emitting unit is disposed beside the image sensing unit and used for emitting light to the sensing region. The frame is disposed at one side of the indication plane. The frame includes two first inclined surfaces connected to each other and facing the sensing region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical touch device and a frame thereof and, more particularly, to a frame, which is adapted for an optical touch device, capable of eliminating background noise well.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Since consumer electronic products have become more and more lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller, there is no space on these products for containing a conventional input device, such as mouse, keyboard, etc. With development of touch technology, in various kinds of consumer electronic products (e.g. display device, all-in-one device, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.), a touch device has become a main tool for data input. Compared with other touch design, such as a resistive touch design, a capacitive touch design, an ultrasonic touch design, or a projective touch design, an optical touch design has lower cost and is easier to use.
A conventional optical touch device utilizes light emitting units to emit light onto a touch object (e.g. finger or stylus) such that the touch object reflects light to an image sensing unit. Afterward, the image sensing unit will generate an image after receiving the reflected light. One of the key factors in image processing algorithm is whether the reflected light signal from the touch object can be distinguished from the background noise well. That is to say, if the reflected light signal from the touch object can be distinguished from the background noise well, the image processing algorithm can be processed and controlled well accordingly, otherwise the image processing algorithm may become complicated and has to be calculated by more powerful processor.
In general, the strength of background noise is usually determined according to a frame of the conventional optical touch device. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a frame 1 of the prior art, and FIG. 2 is a distribution diagram illustrating a signal-to-noise ratio measured by using the frame 1 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame 1 is formed as a triangular column. As shown in FIG. 2, the background noise is huge and disordered within the signal-to-noise ratio measured by using the frame 1. In other words, the frame 1 cannot eliminate the background noise.


This disclosure relates to current flattening circuits for an electrical load. The current flattening circuits incorporate randomize various parameters to add noise onto the supply current. This added noise may act to reduce the signal to noise ratio in the supply current, increasing the difficulty of identifying a computational artifact signal from power rail noise.

In computer security, a side-channel attack is any attack based on information gained from the implementation of a computer system, rather than weaknesses in the implemented algorithm itself (e.g., cryptanalysis and software bugs). Timing information, power consumption, and electromagnetic leaks can provide information on the operation of the system that may be exploited.
Some side-channel attacks utilize technical knowledge of the internal operation of the system, while others, such as differential power analysis, are effective as black-box attacks. Differential power analysis (DPA) is a side-channel attack that involves analyzing power consumption measurements from a system, often using statistical methods. The attack exploits leakage of internal power consumption information back to supply pins external to the circuit package. Varying power consumption can occur when microprocessors or other secure hardware perform secure operations such as cryptographic algorithms using secret keys. Using DPA, an adversary can obtain information at the package pins regarding power consumption from multiple operations performed by a secure load in an electronic device.
One approach to protecting against side-channel attacks utilizes circuits that prevent the power fluctuations that arise from computations in protected circuits from propagating back to pins of the circuit package, where such fluctuations may be exploited. Circuits providing such prevention are known as "current flattening circuits".

Techniques to improve current regulator capability to protect the secured circuit from power side channel attack


A method for bonding a three-dimensional cover, which includes the following steps: bonding a flexible display panel on a heavy release film through optical adhesive to obtain a bonded body; placing the bonded body on a carrying surface of a conformable tool, making the flexible display panel face the carrying surface of the conformable tool, and fixing two ends of the heavy release film in the bonded body to fixtures of the conformable tool; controlling the fixtures of the conformable tool to adjust the shape of the bonded body, so that the adjusted shape of the bonded body matches the three-dimensional cover; tearing off the heavy release film from the bonded body to obtain the flexible display panel with optical adhesive, and bonding the three-dimensional cover to the flexible display panel using the optical adhesive.

With the development of display technology and the popularization of smart devices, people's requirements for display panels are getting higher and higher. Among them, flexible display panels have attracted more and more attention because of their low power consumption and flexible characteristics. In transportation and usage, generally, a three-dimensional cover for protecting the flexible display panel is bonded to the flexible display panel.
At present, the method for bonding the three-dimensional cover to the flexible display panel usually includes the following steps: providing the three-dimensional cover; bending the shape of the flexible display panel into a shape similar to the contour shape of the inner surface of the three-dimensional cover; bonding the three-dimensional cover to the flexible display panel by directly pouring liquid adhesive between the three-dimensional cover and the flexible display panel. This bonding method of directly pouring liquid adhesive not only has low bonding efficiency, but also easily damages the flexible display screen and leads to poor display.

Method for bonding a three-dimensional cover and a glued optical assembly

CHENGDUE BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


A front containment device for a supercharger attached to an internal combustion engine of a racing vehicle, such as a car. The preferred device includes a cover to sufficiently contain a front end of the supercharger, wherein the cover controls and stops parts that are projected through the front end of the supercharger during an engine explosion. The cover is received around an external drive mechanism and generally overlays the front end of the supercharger. The cover is coupled with the supercharger using a pair of side straps and a connecting buckle. A rear strap is used for attaching the device to the engine or other suitable mount. The cover includes a plurality of holes, wherein bolts are received through the holes and connected to the supercharger for positioning the cover thereon. Additionally, the cover has a plurality of specially designed apertures for accommodating a portable starter, wherein the starter is used to start the engine associated with the supercharger.

The present invention relates generally to a containment device for a supercharger attached to an internal combustion engine of a racing vehicle or the like, and more particularly, to a cover that controls and stops parts projected through a front end of the supercharger during an engine explosion.
Superchargers are commonly used on internal combustion racing vehicles to force air into the engine; thus, significantly increasing the engine's power output. A conventional supercharger has a plurality of rotors disposed in a housing assembly, wherein the rotors are externally driven to force the air into the engine. Moreover, when there is an engine explosion, the rotors and other parts are frequently projected from the front end of the supercharger; wherefore, the vehicle's driver and nearby spectators are in danger of being injured by the projected objects.
For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a simple, economical and effective containment device for a supercharger; however, until now, no such device has been developed.


A device for attachment to a bed frame for the receipt of articles therein having a receptacle with a closed end and an open end, a door fastened to said open end, a lock attached to the door so as to fix a position of the door with respect to the receptacle, a clamp attached to a forward end of the receptacle so as to affix the receptacle to the bed frame, and a support connected to a back end of the receptacle so as to support the receptacle above a surface. The clamp is a mounting bracket affixed by a bolt to the receptacle. An area between the receptacle and the mounting bracket engages corresponding surfaces of the bed frame. The receptacle has a top surface, a base, a pair of sides, and a pair of ends extending upwardly relative to the base. The support is an extendible leg fastened to a rear end of the receptacle so as to support the receptacle in a generally level condition.

There is a recognized need for a means to mount a receptacle to the side of a bed so as to permit ready access to a gun. In recent years, there have been increasing numbers of incidents of burglars, rapists and other criminals breaking into homes at night and committing serious and violent crimes. Many have concluded that they must provide for their own personal safety and have acquired guns, handguns or shotguns, which they keep, variously, in dresser or night stand drawers, under mattresses, under pillows, etc. Each of these approaches is fraught with the obvious disadvantage that the protective handgun is not readily available when most needed. Additionally, each of these approaches is also presented with the conspicuous problem of access by unauthorized persons, such as children.
Various U.S. patents have issued in the past which address the need for access to guns in proximity to beds. Goodman U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,449, issued on Sep. 26, 1989 shows a lockable gun safety drawer having a gun drawer slidably engaged within a recessed drawer housing which is attached to the underside of a bed. A bed side bracket is configured so as to be received between the angle iron bed frame member and the bottom edge of the bed's box springs. The drawer housing has a top plate, side panels, back panels, and bottom panels. A holster post is attached to and extends upwardly from the bed side bracket and is adapted to hold a holstered gun in ready position at bed side.
C. Kontorowitz U.S. Pat. No. 1,423,804 issued on Jul. 25, 1922, E. C. Ulm U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,694 issued on May 12, 1959 and Fried et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,676 issued on Oct. 7, 1958 disclose various drawers that are suitable for attachment to the underside of a bed. In particular, each of these patents describe various techniques for bracketing the drawer to the bed so as to allow for easy accessibility.
J. McGinley U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,390 issued on Nov. 20, 1990, discloses a safety locker drawer for use on the underside of a chair. This invention shows a slidable drawer which includes suitable brackets for attaching to the underside of the support bars of a chair. A locking arrangement is provided which securely locks the drawer within the support structure.
Each of these above-described patents provides a system which allows for ready accessibility to a gun in times of need. However, they are not particularly addressed to the safety of children within the home. Whenever it is necessary to place a gun in close proximity to a bed, suitable precautions must be taken so as to assure that children do not have access to the gun during the day or when unsupervised. The construction of the gun-containing drawers or cabinets should be such as to provide adequate safeguards for the prevention of access by children. Additionally, the design of such a drawer or cabinet should allow for ease of accessibility. The drawer or cabinet should also be suitable for allowing a means for the secure storing of other items.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gun storage cabinet which can be easily attached to the underside of a bed frame.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gun storage cabinet which allows for easy accessibility in times of danger.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gun storage cabinet which prevents access by children.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a gun storage cabinet which is easy to manufacture, easy to install, and relatively inexpensive.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.

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A rocket motor has a reloadable, reusable hollow casing which contains solid fuel, a nozzle and preferably a delay ignition cartridge and ejection charge. A nozzle gasket holds the nozzle in place at the exhaust end of the casing and a delay cartridge gasket holds the delay cartridge and ejection charge in place at the ejection charge end of the casing. The gaskets fit loosely against the casing and are deformable so that upon ignition they are pressed outward against removable flanges at each end of the casing to create a seal against the casing.

Solid fuel rocket motors with a range of up to several hundred miles are typically used by hobbyists and for low altitude scientific research, for example, weather measurements. They will typically employ a solid fuel rocket motor which has an exhaust nozzle at one end, and an ejection charge at the other end. The solid fuel propellant is between these two ends. It is currently known to use an aluminum cylindrical casing for the rocket motor housing, which is then stocked with a series of cylindrical solid fuel cartridges which contain the propellant. It is important in such a motor casing to seal the two ends of the tube, first, to prevent combustion gases from being exhausted out the ejection charge end of the casing and, second, to force the combustion gases which are exhausted out the exhaust end of the casing to exit out the exhaust nozzle and not around the sides. Rubber 0-rings which are deformed when the components of the rocket motor are assembled are typically used. In some cases, an end cap is screwed onto each of the ends of the cylindrical hollow rocket motor casing. When the end caps are screwed down, 0-ring gaskets, either in the casing or in the end caps are pressed longitudinally to form a seal against the casing. An alternative method is to use 0-rings which are compressed radially. Typically, the 0-rings will be stretched over a portion of the threaded end caps and have a larger outside diameter than the inside diameter of the motor casing. The gaskets are therefore compressed when pushed into the hollow cylindrical casing. They can then be held in place longitudinally in a variety of ways.
In addition to fuel cartridges and end seals, a rocket motor also requires holders for the exhaust nozzle delay ignition cartridge and ejection charge. These parts are all typically provided separately further complicating the assembly of the rocket motor with its many parts and seals. Since it is preferred to reuse a rocket motor retaining all of the holders and gaskets and replacing the spent fuel cartridges, delay ignition cartridge and ejection charge, the time consumed and the inconvenience of disassembling and reassembling the motor is important.


A communication system for transmitting data between a transmitting platform and a receiving platform moving relative to each other. A phased array antenna forms the transmitting antenna rotated on the transmitting platform and a single dipole, oriented parallel to the transmitting antenna, forms the receive antenna located on the receiving platform. The phased array antenna is split into small sections, each section comprising dipole elements and a matching network, including a feedpoint. The receive antenna is mounted close to the transmitting antenna.

The present invention relates to a communication system and, more particularly, to a system for transmitting data between a transmitting platform and a receiving platform using a phased array antenna as the transmitting antenna located on the transmitting platform.
For cross-reference purposes, the existence of two filed applications are noted. The first application is Ser. No. 07/316,991, which ultimately became U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,393, entitled "Communication System for Transmitting Data Between a Transmitting Antenna Utilizing Leaky Coaxial Cable and a Receive Antenna in Relative Movement to One Another," by Timothy R. Fox and Jerry C. Posluszny. The second application is Ser. No. 07/317,026, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,696, entitled "Communication System for Transmitting Data Between A Transmitting Antenna Utilizing Strip-Line Transmission Line and a Receive Antenna in Relative Movement to One Another," by Timothy R. Fox. These applications and the present application are commonly owned by the same Assignee.
A communication system for transmitting data between a rotating platform and a stationary platform finds particular utility in CT scanners. The data come from a transmitter source and are applied to a suitable modulator that modulates a sinusoidal radio-frequency carrier signal. The modulated carrier signal is applied to the feedpoint of the transmitting antenna. The transmitter carrier source, the suitable modulator and the transmitting antenna are mounted on the transmitting platform, and the transmitting platform is rotating.
The transmission often is achieved using brushes sliding against slip rings to make a set of electrical connections between the rotating and stationary platforms. This mechanical contact causes a number of problems, however. One problem is that the mechanical interface is highly susceptible to wear. A second problem is that the mechanical interface achieves only an intermittent electrical contact.
Another problem with present CT scanners is that a large portion of the equipment rotates, but the data received from the rotating equipment must be communicated to a computer that does not rotate. Aside from the mechanical linkages discussed above, other CT scanners use flexible cables to connect the rotating platform to the fixed platform. As a result, most present CT scanners cannot allow the platform to rotate continuously. Thus, the rotating platform will make, for example, two rotations and then the transmitting cable must be rewound and the rotation started over again for another two rotations. This procedure causes wear on, and early destruction of the cables. Moreover, the scanning procedure is rendered unnecessarily long because the platform cannot continuously rotate.

Communication system for transmitting data between a transmitting antenna utilizing a phased array antenna and a receive antenna in relative movement to one another


A pre-charge circuit includes a receiving module, an enabling module, and a reset module. The receiving module receives the received driving signal of the pre-charge circuit and outputs the receiving driving signal according to a control signal. The enabling module outputs a pre-charge signal when receiving the driving signal. The reset module is electrically coupled between the receiving module and the enabling module for receiving a reset signal to reset the pre-charge signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift register, and more particularly, to a shift register and a pre-charge circuit thereof having stable pre-charge voltages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional shift register constructed by N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (NMOS) transistors. As shown in FIG. 1, the shift register 100 comprises an input end I, nodes Z and N, an output end O, a pre-charge circuit 110, an enabling control circuit 120, and three switches QN2, QN3, and QN4. The input end I of the shift register 100 receives driving signals from the shift register of the previous stage (not shown). The output end O of the shift register 100 outputs the driving signals of the shift register 100. The enabling control circuit 120 comprises a switch QN10 and an inverter INV1. The first end of the switch QN10 is coupled to the input end I, and the control end of the switch QN10 receives a clock signal CLK. The second and first ends of the switch QN10 are electrically coupled together according to the clock signal CLK. The input end of the inverter INV1 is electrically coupled to the second end of the switch QN10, and the output end of the inverter INV1 is electrically coupled to the node N for outputting the inverted signal received on the input end of the inverter INV1 to the node N. The pre-charge circuit 110 comprises a switch QN1. The control end of the switch QN1 is electrically coupled to the input end I, the first end of the switch QN1 is electrically coupled to the input end I, and the second end of the switch QN1 is electrically coupled to the node Z. The switch QN1 transmits the signal received on the input end I to the node Z so as to pre-charge the node Z. The control end of the switch QN2 is electrically coupled to the node N, the first end of the switch QN2 is electrically coupled to the node Z, and the second end of the switch QN2 is electrically coupled to the output end O. The control end of the switch QN3 is electrically coupled to the node Z, the first end of the switch QN3 receives the clock signal XCK, and the second end of the switch QN3 is electrically coupled to the output end O. The logic "1" of the clock signals XCK and CLK are set to be 7.5 Volts as the high voltage VDD, and the logic "0" of the clock signals XCK and CLK are set to be 0 Volts as the low voltage VSS. The voltage setting for the logic levels "0" and "1" of the clock signals are disclosed as an example. The control end of the switch QN4 is electrically coupled to the node N, the first end of the switch QN4 is electrically coupled to the voltage source VSS, and the second end of the switch QN4 is electrically coupled to the output end O, and the clock signals CLK and XCK have opposite polarity to each other and have the same frequency.
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of the shift register 100. As shown in FIG. 2, when the input end I receives the driving signal from the shift register of the previous stage (not shown), the voltage on the input end I rises to the voltage VDD, and the pulse width is a half period of the clock signal XCK. The driving signal from the shift register of the previous stage is transmitted through the pre-charge circuit 110 to the node Z and through the enabling controller 120 to the node N. Meanwhile, the first half period of the clock signal XCK is at logic "0". Since the pre-charge circuit 110 is constructed by the switch QN1 (NMOS), the voltage on the node Z is lowered by a source-to-drain voltage VDS of the switch QN1. In this condition, the voltage VDS is the threshold voltage VTH1 of the switch QN1, and the threshold voltage VTH1 is assumed to be 2.5 Volts. Thus, the voltage on the node Z is 5 Volts (VDD−VTH1). Since the enabling controller 120 is constructed by the switch QN10 and the inverter INV1, the voltage on the node N is lowered to 0 Volts, and stays the same for one period of the clock signal XCK. As shown in FIG. 2, because the voltage on the node N is 0 Volts, the switches QN2 and QN4 are turned off. In the second half period of the clock signal XCK, in which the clock signal XCK stays at logic "1", the switches QN1, QN2, and QN3 are all turned off, and thus the electric charge accumulated on the node Z has no current path to discharge. The voltage on the node Z is further raised by a voltage VDD to be 12.5 Volts (2VDD−VTH1=2×7.5−2.5) when the clock signal XCK on the first end of the switch QN3 rises from logic "0" to logic "1", because an intrinsic capacitor C1 exists between the second end of the switch QN3 and the control end of the switch QN3. Therefore, the switch QN3 is turned on and the voltage on the output end O rises to the voltage VDD as the driving signal for the shift register 100. Next, when the voltage on the node N again rises to the voltage VDD, the switches QN2 and QN4 are turned on, which lowers the voltage on the output end to be the voltage VSS.
According to the above description, when the shift register 100 outputs driving signals, the voltage on the node Z is (2VDD−VTH1), the voltage on the output end O is VDD, and thus the gate-to-source voltage VGS of the switch QN3 should be 5 Volts (VGS=2VDD−VTH1−VDD=VDD−VTH=7.5−2.5). However, the driving ability of the output end O of the shift register 100 is related to the gate-to-source voltage (VGS) of the switch QN3. That is, the higher the voltage VGS of the switch QN3 is, the higher the driving ability of the output end O of the shift register 100 is. The threshold voltage VTH varies with fabrication process. Therefore, the voltage VGS of the switch QN3 derived from the equation (VDD−VTH1) varies with the fabrication process, and thus the driving ability of the shift register 100 is severely affected.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional shift register fabricated with P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (PMOS) transistors. As shown in FIG. 3, the shift register 200 comprises an input end I, nodes Z and N, an output end O, a pre-charge circuit 210, an enabling control circuit 220, and three switches QP2, QP3, and QP4. The input end I of the shift register 200 receives driving signals from the shift register of the previous stage (not shown). The output end O of the shift register 200 outputs the driving signals of the shift register 200. The enabling control circuit 220 comprises a switch QP10 and an inverter INV2. The first end of the switch QP10 is electrically coupled to the input end I, and the control end of the switch QP10 receives a clock signal XCK. The switch QP10 electrically couples the second end of the switch QP10 to the first end of the switch QP10 according to the clock signal XCK. The input end of the inverter INV2 is electrically coupled to the second end of the switch QP10, and the output end of the inverter INV2 is electrically coupled to the node N for outputting the inverted signal received on the input end of the inverter INV2 to the node N. The pre-charge circuit 210 comprises a switch QP1. The control end of the switch QP1 is electrically coupled to the input end I, the first end of the switch QP1 is electrically coupled to the input end I, and the second end of the switch QP1 is electrically coupled to the node Z. The switch QP1 transmits the signal received on the input end I to the node Z so as to pre-charge the node Z. The control end of the switch QP2 is electrically coupled to the node N, the first end of the switch QP2 is electrically coupled to the node Z, and the second end of the switch QP2 is electrically coupled to the output end O. The control end of the switch QP3 is electrically coupled to the node Z, the first end of the switch QP3 receives the clock signal CLK, and the second end of the switch QP3 is electrically coupled to the output end O. The logic "1" of the clock signals XCK and CLK is set to 7.5 Volts as the high voltage VDD, and the logic "0" of the clock signals XCK and CLK is set to 0 Volts as the low voltage VSS. The voltage setting for the logic levels "0" and "1" of the clock signal are disclosed as an example, which can be designed as desired. The control end of the switch QP4 is electrically coupled to the node N, the first end of the switch QP4 is electrically coupled to the voltage source VDD, and the second end of the switch QP4 is electrically coupled to the output end O. However, since the shift register 200 employs the PMOS process, the switches QP1˜QP4, and QP10 are PMOS transistors. Additionally, the clock signals CLK and XCK have opposite polarity to each other and have the same frequency.
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating the shift register 200. As shown in FIG. 4, when the input end I receives the driving signal from the shift register of the previous stage (the voltage on the input end I falls from the voltage VDD to the voltage VSS and the pulse width is a half period of the clock signal CLK), the driving signal from the shift register of the previous stage is transmitted through the pre-charge circuit 210 to the node Z and through the enabling controller 220 to the node N. Meanwhile, the first half period of the clock signal CLK is at logic "1". Since the pre-charge circuit 210 is constructed by the switch QP1 (PMOS), the voltage on the node Z is raised by a source-to-drain voltage VDS of the switch QP1. In this condition, the voltage VDS is the threshold voltage VTH2 of the switch QP1, and the threshold voltage VTH2 is assumed to be 2.5 Volts. Thus, the voltage on the node Z is 5.5 Volts (VDD−VDD+VTH2). Since the enabling controller 220 is constructed by the switch QP10 and the inverter INV2, the voltage on the node N is raised from 0 Volts to the voltage VDD, and stays the same for one period of the clock signal CLK. As shown in FIG. 4, because the voltage on the node N is VDD, the switches QP2 and QP4 are turned off. In the second half period of the clock signal CLK, which the clock signal XCK keeps at logic "1", the switches QP1, QP2, and QP3 are all turned off, and thus the electric charge accumulated on the node Z has no current path to dispense. The voltage on the node Z is further lowered by a voltage VDD and to be −2.5 volts (VTH1−VDD=2.5−5) when the clock signal CLK on the first end of the switch QP3 falls from logic "1" to logic "0" because an intrinsic capacitor C2 exists between the second end of the switch QP3 and the control end of the switch QP3. Therefore, the switch QP3 is turned on and the voltage on the output end O falls to 0 Volts as the driving signal for the shift register 200. Next, when the voltage on the node N again falls to 0 Volts, the switches QP2 and QP4 are turned on, which raises the voltage on the output end O to be the voltage VDD.
It can be seen from the above that when the shift register 200 outputs driving signals, the voltage on the node Z is (−VDD+VTH2), the voltage on the output end O is 0 Volts, and thus the gate-to-source voltage VGS of the switch QP3 should be −5 Volts (VGS=−VDD+VTH2−0=−7.5+2.5). However, the driving ability of the output end O of the shift register 200 is related to the VGS of the switch QP3. That is, the higher the voltage VGS of the switch QP3 is, the higher the driving ability of the output end O of the shift register 200 is. The threshold voltage VTH varies with fabrication process. Therefore, the voltage VGS of the switch QP3 derived from the equation (−VDD+VTH2) varies with the fabrication process, and thus the driving ability of the shift register 200 is severely affected.

Pre-charge circuit and shift register with the same


A radiation detector includes two radiation conversion panels for detecting radiation image information representing a radiation image of a subject. A signal combination judging circuit judges a combination of two serial signals representing the detected radiation image information. Based on the judged combination, an amplitude/phase modulator modulates the serial signal into an amplitude-modulated signal and modulates the phase of the amplitude-modulated signal according to the other serial signal, generating an amplitude/phase-modulated signal. The amplitude/phase-modulated signal is transmitted through an optical fiber to a console.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation image capturing apparatus, which includes a radiation detector comprising a two-dimensional matrix of radiation detecting elements, for capturing a radiation image of a subject by applying a radiation emitted from a radiation source through the subject to the radiation detector, and a method of processing radiation image information captured by the radiation image capturing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there have widely been used radiation image capturing apparatus for applying a radiation to a subject and guiding the radiation that has passed through the subject to a radiation conversion panel for thereby recording radiation image information of the subject on the radiation conversion panel. The radiation conversion panel comprises, for example, a stimulable phosphor panel which is capable of storing a radiation energy representing radiation image information in a phosphor and subsequently emitting the stored radiation energy representing radiation image information as stimulated light from the phosphor by applying stimulating light to the phosphor.
In recent years, the medical field has faced demands for a system for recording radiation image information on a radiation conversion panel and thereafter immediately reading the recorded radiation image information for diagnosis or the like. To meet such demands, it has been proposed to use, instead of the stimulable phosphor panel, a semiconductor sensor employing a CCD solid-state sensor or amorphous silicon for directly converting the applied radiation into an electric signal to be read.
Efforts have been made to produce radiation conversion panels which are higher in resolution (with more pixels) and larger in area. Therefore, it is important to develop a technology for transmitting a large amount of radiation image information recorded in radiation conversion panels at a high rate to diagnostic systems or the like.
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2002-199388 discloses a radiation image capturing apparatus for transmitting radiation image information at a high rate through optical fibers. FIG. 13 of the accompanying drawings shows a schematic arrangement of such a radiation image capturing apparatus 2.
As shown in FIG. 13, the radiation image capturing apparatus 2 comprises an image capturing unit 4 for capturing radiation image information and a controller 6 for controlling the image capturing unit 4 and processing the radiation image information sent from the image capturing unit 4. In the image capturing unit 4, the radiation image information is recorded on a radiation conversion panel 8 which may comprise a semiconductor sensor or the like. The radiation conversion panel 8 is divided into two areas A, B which record respective items of radiation image information. When the respective items of recorded radiation image information are read from the areas A, B of the radiation conversion panel 8, they are converted into respective digital signals by A/D converters 10a, 10b. The digital signals from the A/D converters 10a, 10b are multiplexed by a multiplexer 12. The multiplexed digital signals are converted into a serial signal by a parallel-to-serial converter 14. The serial signal from the parallel-to-serial converter 14 converted by an electro-optical transducer 16 into an optical signal, which is transmitted through an optical fiber 18 to the controller 6. In the controller 6, the optical signal is converted by an optoelectrical transducer 20 into an electric signal, which is converted into a parallel signal by a serial-to-parallel converter 22. The parallel signal from the serial-to-parallel converter 22 is supplied to a CPU 24. The CPU 24 processes the parallel signal to rearrange the items of radiation image information from the areas A, B to reproduce an image from the radiation image information.
FIG. 14 of the of the accompanying drawings is a diagram showing the relationship between the serial signal supplied from the parallel-to-serial converter 14 to the electro-optical transducer 16 and the optical signal transmitted from the electro-optical transducer 16 through the optical fiber 18 to the controller 6.
As shown in FIG. 14, the serial signal comprises a series of data SAk, SAk+1, SAk+2, . . . representing the radiation image information read from the area A of the radiation conversion panel 8, and a series of data SBk, SBk+1, BAk+2, . . . representing the radiation image information read from the area B of the radiation conversion panel 8. The serial signal is supplied from the parallel-to-serial converter 14 to the electro-optical transducer 16, which converts the serial signal into an amplitude-modulated optical signal. The amplitude-modulated optical signal comprises high and low amplitude levels which represent levels "1" and "0" of the data of the serial signal.
Even though the optical fiber 18 is used to transmit the optical signal from the image capturing unit 4 to the controller 6, since the amount of data to be transmitted remains unchanged, there is a certain limitation on high-rate transmission of the signal.

Radiation image capturing apparatus and method of processing image information therefor


The present disclosure relates to embodiments of bus interface systems capable of dealing with the tougher half clock cycle of SREAD commands in the new mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) radio frequency front end (RFFE) version 2.0 standard. With regard to the slave bus controllers of the bus interface systems disclosed herein, the slave bus controller is configured to operate the slave bus driver such that the data bus line is driven towards a minimum voltage level in response to a final clock edge of the clock signal during the bus park subframe. To ensure compliance with the MIPI RFFE version 2.0 standard, the slave bus controller is configured to detect when the data bus line has been driven within a first voltage range after the final clock edge and continue driving the data bus line 16 even after the bus park half clock period is finished.

Within the mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) radio frequency front end (RFFE) standards is a bus park mechanism/interval whereby the component currently driving a data bus line releases control of that line (by going into a tristate condition) and allows another component to take over driving the SDATA line. The new MIPI RFFE 2.0 standard continues with the use of half of a clock cycle for the current driver to drive the data bus line to a logic low and then tristate and thereby allow half of a clock cycle for the next driver to start driving the bus. It also continues with the concepts of half-speed data reads (HSDR) to simplify the RFFE bus slave requirements and adds the concept of synchronous READ (SREAD) commands. The purpose of the SREAD command is simply to further (i.e., relax) the bus slave driver requirements. An SREAD command allows for the RFFE bus master (or masters) to sample the data bus line not on the falling edge of the serial clock (SCLK) but instead on the following rising clock edge. This gives bus slaves twice the time to change states. It is important to keep the RFFE bus slave devices with simple driving requirements. The slave drivers need to be sized big enough to support the maximum clock frequency but small enough to avoid and minimize electromagnetic interference and other signal integrity issues.
A problem exists, however, with the bus park at the end of the SREAD command. While the SDATA drives can be designed to meet the longer SREAD timelines, which allow for a full clock cycle to reach 80% of the reference supply rail, the bus park at the end of the data frame still only allows the RFFE bus slave half of a clock cycle to drive SDATA low and tristate the slave driver. While the portion of the SDATA driver can be designed to meet the tougher half clock cycle while allowing the rising portion to meet a full clock cycle, there is increased risk and concern regarding the faster fall times across all production, temperature, voltage, and load conditions.
Therefore, techniques and devices are needed that deal with the tougher half clock cycle of SREAD commands.

Front end serial bus automatic bus park tri-state activation


According to one embodiment of the present invention, a diverter valve is comprised of a valve body with multiple inlet and outlet ports. The diverter valve is further comprised of two ceramic valve sections that can be rotated with respect to each other to allow the user to direct fluid entering the valve body to one of several outlet ports. According to a second embodiment, the diverter valve of the present invention further incorporates one or more of a flow regulator, a flow meter, and a check valve.

Diverter valves are often used as a component of a larger fluid handling or treatment system. Typically, a diverter valve can be actuated to either direct a flow of fluid through one or more pieces of equipment, or to bypass that equipment. Many diverter valves currently available offer several distinct disadvantages. These valves are often constructed with materials that degrade over time or with exposure to the fluids being controlled. For example, a typical diverter valve contains rubber or polymer seals that are in contact with the moving parts of the valve and are also exposed to the fluids within the valve. These seals often degrade or fail over time, requiring the removal of the valve from service and repair or replacement of the valve seals.
In addition, fluid handling or treatment systems that rely on diverter valves often require the installation of separate flow regulators, check valves, and flow meters, resulting in the inclusion of additional joints and seals in fluid handling systems, and a greater potential for leaks and failed joints. The inclusion of such components may also result in relatively high fluid pressure drops across these systems.
The present invention provides several improvements over diverter valves know in the art.


A low-cost high performance ultra wideband antenna that combines a plurality of shielded cables with properly selected and carefully positioned load balancing components to form a novel closed loop dipole is disclosed. The apparatus includes a closed-loop broadband antenna circuit that may be comprised of single or multiple conductive radiating elements that are electrically connected to one another at the flare-end of each antenna leaf by at least one shielded conductor in one or more shielded cables of any type. The shielded cable portion of the closed loop circuit may be interrupted by load impedance tapered regions that are positioned in an area that does not interfere or interferes minimally with antenna performance. The closed-loop broadband antenna circuit and the feed-point connections may be grounded by a separate path within the device. The disclosed approach simultaneously mitigates known problems of parasitic side lobes, antenna ringing, and RF coupling that commonly plague prior art.

The challenge of specifying an optimal antenna geometry that supports a broad range of wavelengths is generally afforded at the expense of antenna ringing, polarization offsets, parasitic side-lobe generation, radiation efficiency or any combination thereof. End-fire or flare-end ringing occurs when a signal bounces back-and-forth between the feed-point and the flare end of an antenna. This is a particularly prominent problem for ultra-wideband antennas such as that described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,369,245 and 3,984,838 and by Carrel in [1].
A primary challenge of antenna design is to mitigate the forgoing problems without distorting the rising edge of the transmitted pulse or destabilizing the ultra wideband impedance characteristics of the antenna. Prior art employed combinations of flair end lump loading and impedance tapering to suppress end-fire ringing at the cost of rising edge distortion and poor radiation efficiency; see [2], and U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,007.
The quest for broadband antennas that are capable of effectively transmitting impulse signals or multiple carrier waves has been ongoing for nearly a half-century and is documented through prior art and public disclosure including the dipole antenna, U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,840; resistive loaded and tapered antennas, [3] and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,642,645 and 4,803,495; printed circuit board antennas, [4] and U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,843; side-lobe suppression antennas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,940; and lump loading for maximal energy transfer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,007.
Lump loading alone does not mitigate the problem of end-fire ringing during the first several cycles and consequently target detection applications are impeded at close range. Tapered antennas address the problem of close range target detection very effectively by distributing bands of impedance across the antenna to convert the ringing energy into heat. However, this payoff is afforded at the expense of a substantial drop in radiation efficiency and an accompanying requirement for more powerful transmitter hardware. Moreover, the discrete interface at each tapered band creates parasitic side-lobes and induces reflections near the feed point that distorts the rising edge of the transmitted pulse. This is a particularly prominent problem for target identification systems because the rising edge of the pulse is used to induce reflections that carry sufficient spectral bandwidth to characterize the target. These reflections are only useful if the transmitted signal has very low levels of distortion.
More recent work by Shlager, Smith and Maloney partially addressed the problem by applying a resistive taper to bowtie antennas [5]. The devices were implemented by constructing bow-tie antenna leaves from three sections of material that were comprised of varying conductivities that followed the tapering guidelines in [2]. A continued effort by Askildsen, Thompson, Whites, et al. in 2004 expanded the applicability of resistive tapering for high-performance ultra wide band bow-tie antennas in [4]. These efforts further revealed that resistive tapering reduces the return signal of an ultra wideband (UWB) signal pulse.
Several recent designs were patented to address the deficiencies of the above listed prior art including a low side-lobe resistive reflector antenna, U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,423; a low profile antenna, U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,143; a top loaded Bow-Tie antenna, U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,821; a closely coupled directive antenna, U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,811; a tapered, folded monopole antenna, U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,858. Each of these prior disclosures employed unique methods to mitigate known problems of the expired patents that were described earlier, yet none fully and simultaneously address the problems of end-fire ringing, consistent impedance characteristics, the rising edge distortion on the transmitted pulse, parasitic side lobe generation, non-uniform polarization artifacts, radiation efficiency, or any combination thereof.
While prior art does substantially improve select antenna parameters, these methods introduce new design tradeoffs that interfere with antenna performance. This invention applies a novel approach that leverages on the principles of shielded closed loop antennas [7], ultra wide band antenna design techniques, and impedance tapering to devise an impulse antenna that mitigates the foregoing. The invention simultaneously provides efficient canceling for balanced oppositely polarized signals and safe dissipation for unbalanced signal energy.

Machine producible directive closed-loop impulse antenna


In a control apparatus for an automotive continuously variable transmission having a forward-reverse selector mechanism in which a gear ratio for reverse is set closer to a speed reducing side than a gear ratio for forward and a belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism, a PH pressure that is outputted from a first regulator valve and a PL pressure that is outputted from a second regulator valve are changeably supplied to one and the other of a hydraulic cylinder of a drive pulley and a hydraulic cylinder of a driven pulley via a shift control valve. A hydraulic pressure supplied to a reversing hydraulic pressure connecting element from a reversing manual valve is inputted into an oil chamber of a first regulator valve so that the PH pressure is increased with the hydraulic pressure so inputted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an automotive continuously variable transmission for transmitting power via a forward-reverse selector mechanism and a belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known as a control apparatus of this type for an automotive continuously variable transmission, a control apparatus for an automotive continuously variable transmission comprising a manual valve for changing over a forward-reverse selector mechanism, a first regulator valve for outputting a first pulley control pressure, a second regulator valve for outputting a second pulley control pressure which is lower than the first pulley control pressure, and a shift control valve for changing gear ratios for the continuously variable transmission mechanism by changeably supplying the first pulley control pressure and the second pulley control pressure to one and the other of a hydraulic cylinder of a drive pulley and a hydraulic cylinder of a driven pulley of the continuously variable transmission mechanism.
Incidentally, in general, a single pinion planetary gear mechanism is used as the forward-reverse selector mechanism, and when this occurs, the gear ratio for the reverse is set closer to the speed reducing side than the gear ratio for the forward. Due to this, an excessive torque is caused to act on the belt of the belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism when the vehicle starts to reverse, and this causes a possibility that the durability of the belt may be badly affected.
To eliminate such a drawback, conventionally JP-A-9-303550 proposes a control apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission mechanism such that a gear ratio thereof is changed and controlled with a shift control valve so as to be set closer to a speed increasing side at the time of reversing than forwarding.
In the control apparatus proposed in the aforesaid Japanese unexamined patent publication, a torque increase occurring due to deceleration in the forward-reverse selector mechanism at the time of reversing is offset with a torque decrease occurring due to acceleration in the continuously variable transmission mechanism to thereby prevent an excessive torque from acting on the belt of the continuously variable transmission mechanism when the vehicle starts to reverse. However, when the system is down, the shift control valve is held at the OD position where the shift control valve supplies the first pulley control pressure to the hydraulic cylinder of the drive pulley and the second pulley control pressure to the hydraulic cylinder of the driven pulley, which cannot perform the shift control of the continuously variable transmission. Due to this, the load carried by the belt when the system is down increases higher at the time of reverse running than forward running. To cope with this, there has been a demand to design belts and transmissions which can guarantee the durability thereof at the time of reverse running with the system being down, and attempting to satisfy the demand calls for increase in weight and cost.
The invention was made in view of the aforesaid drawback, and an object thereof is to provide a control apparatus for an automotive continuously variable transmission which can make the load carried by a belt of a continuously variable transmission mechanism equal between when running forward and reverse.
With a view to attaining the object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is a provided control apparatus for an automotive continuously variable transmission for transmitting power via a forward-reverse selector mechanism in which a gear ratio for a reverse is set closer to a speed reducing side than a gear ratio for a forward and a belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism, the control apparatus comprising a manual valve for changing over the forward-reverse selector mechanism, a first regulator valve for outputting a first pulley control pressure, a second regulator valve for outputting a second pulley control pressure which is lower than the first pulley control pressure, and a shift control valve for changing gear ratios for the continuously variable transmission mechanism by changeably supplying the first pulley control pressure and the second pulley control pressure to one and the other of a hydraulic cylinder of a drive pulley and a hydraulic cylinder of a driven pulley of the continuously variable transmission mechanism, wherein when a system goes down the shift control valve is adapted to be held at such a position that the first pulley control pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder of the drive pulley, whereas the second pulley control pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder of the driven pulley, the control apparatus being characterized in that a control pressure changing means is provided for increasing a differential pressure between both the first and second pulley control pressures higher at the time of reversing when a hydraulic pressure is supplied from the manual valve to a reversing hydraulic pressure connecting element for changing over the forward-reverse selector mechanism to the reverse by receiving an hydraulic pressure from the manual valve than at the time of forwarding.
When the differential pressure between both the first and second pulley control pressures, even if the shift control valve is held at the OD position where the first pulley control pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder of the drive pulley, whereas the second pulley control pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder of the driven pulley, the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism is shifted to the speed increasing side. Thus, according to the invention, the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism when the system is down is changed closer to the speed increasing side at the time of reversing than forwarding so as to make the load on the belt equal between reverse running and forward running.
Here, in order to increase the differential pressure between both the first and second pulley control pressures the second pulley control pressure, which is relatively lower, may be reduced, but this produces slippage of the belt. To cope with this, it is desirable that the control pressure changing means is adapted to increase the first pulley control pressure by inputting a hydraulic pressure supplied from the manual valve to the reversing hydraulic pressure connecting element into a pressure regulating oil chamber of the first regulator valve.
In addition, in the event that the amount of increase in the differential pressure between both the first and second pulley control pressures is set such that the total gear ratio of the forward-reverse selector mechanism and the continuously variable transmission mechanism gets equal between the forward time and the reverse time, the difference in speed of the axels between the forward running and the reverse running is eliminated, and this becomes advantageous in improving the operation feeling at the time of reverse moving.

Control apparatus for an automotive continuously variable transmission


Cu interconnections embedded in an interconnection slot of a silicon oxide film are formed by polishing using CMP to improve the insulation breakdown resistance of a copper interconnection formed using the Damascene method, and after a post-CMP cleaning step, the surface of the silicon oxide film and Cu interconnections is treated by a reducing plasma (ammonia plasma). Subsequently, a continuous cap film (silicon nitride film) is formed without vacuum break.

This invention relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device, to a semiconductor integrated circuit device technique; and, in particular, to a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising an embedded interconnection having copper as the main conducting layer, and an effective technique applied to a semiconductor integrated circuit device.
In a technique for forming interconnections comprising semiconductor integrated circuit devices, semiconductor devices, electronic circuit devices and electronic devices, a conducting film, such as, for example, aluminum or tungsten, is deposited over an insulating film and is patterned by ordinary photolithography and dry etching.
However, in this interconnection forming technique, as devices and interconnections comprising semiconductor integrated circuit devices become finer, interconnection resistances are largely increasing, interconnection delays are occurring, and a limit is being reached to further performance improvements of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices.
In recent years, an interconnection forming technique known as the Damascene method has been developed. This Damascene method may be broadly distinguished into two types, i.e., the Single Damascene method and the Dual Damascene method.
In the Single Damascene method, after forming an interconnection slot in an insulating film, for example, a main conducting layer for forming interconnections is deposited over this insulating film and in the interconnection slot, and an embedded interconnection in the interconnection slot is formed by polishing this main conducting layer by, for example, CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing), so that it is left only in the interconnection slot.
In the Dual Damascene method, after forming a connecting hole to connect with the interconnection slot and a substrate interconnection in the insulating film, a main conducting layer for forming interconnections is deposited over this insulating film and in the interconnection slot and connecting hole, and an embedded interconnection in the interconnection slot and the connecting hole is formed by polishing this main conducting layer by, for example, CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing), so that it is left only in the interconnection slot and connecting hole.
In both methods, a material such as copper or the like is used as the material of the main conducting layer of the interconnections from the viewpoint of improving the performance of the semiconductor integrated circuit device. Copper has the advantage that, compared to aluminum, its resistance is lower and its permitted current for reliability is more than two orders of magnitude higher. Hence, the film can be made thinner to obtain the same interconnection resistance, and the capacitance between adjacent interconnections can be reduced.
However, compared to other metals, such as aluminum or tungsten, it diffuses easily in the insulating film if copper is used as the interconnection material, therefore, it is necessary to form a thin conducting barrier film to prevent diffusion of copper on the surface of the main conducting layer including copper (bottom surface and side surfaces), i.e., on the inner wall surfaces (side surfaces and bottom surface) of the interconnection slot. There is also a technique to prevent diffusion of copper in the embedded interconnection from the upper surface of the embedded interconnection into the insulating film by depositing a cap film including, for example, silicon nitride so as to cover the upper surface of the embedded interconnection over the entire surface on the upper surface of the insulating film in which the interconnection slot is formed.
This kind of embedded interconnection technique is mentioned in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-154709, wherein the embedded properties of a fine contact hole with a high aspect ratio are improved by forming the embedded interconnection of high purity copper having an oxygen concentration or sulfur concentration not exceeding 3 ppm, thus enhancing the surface diffusion properties and fluidity of the copper.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11 (1999)-87349, for example, a technique is disclosed wherein, after forming the interconnection slot and connecting hole in the insulating film, a copper film is formed by sputtering using a target having a purity of 99.999 wt % (5N) or higher. In this Publication, to facilitate embedding of the copper, a titanium nitride/titanium film is formed as a barrier layer over the surface of the interconnection slot and connecting hole.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11(1999)-87509 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11 (1999)-220023, for example, a technique is disclosed wherein the barrier layer on the bottom surface of a via is removed to lower the resistance of the via.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 11 (1999)-16912, for example, a technique is disclosed wherein the oxide layer formed in the interconnection part exposed at the bottom of the connecting hole is eliminated by applying heat, plasma or ultraviolet irradiation in a reducing atmosphere.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device and fabrication method for semiconductor integrated circuit device


A Plectranthus plant named ‘Sumcol 03’ particularly characterized by its strong fragrance and compact, rounded shape. The plant has shown resistance to botrytis, snails, and caterpillars. Animals, such as cats and dogs, avoid the present plant because of its strong fragrance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Plectranthus hybrid known by the varietal name 'Sumcol 03'.
The new cultivar was discovered in a cultivated area as a naturally occurring and spontaneous branch mutation of Plectranthus hybrid 'Sumcol 01' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP13,843). The new variety was discovered in June of 2002 in Lüdinghausen, Germany.
'Sumcol 03' has a similar fragrance to 'Sumcol 01', but has different colored leaves.
The first asexual reproduction of the new variety took place in Lüdinghausen, Germany in August 2002 by cuttings. Continued observations of the vegetative cuttings have confirmed that the distinguishing features of the new cultivar remain stable and true to type through successive asexual propagations.


An elastic cap detachably mountable to a barrel tip portion of a barrel so as to seal a tip of a needle hole includes a cylindrical receiving hole configured to receive at least part of a barrel tip portion and a puncture needle of a barrel. The receiving hole includes a first inner diameter portion having a smaller diameter than an outer diameter of the annular head; a stopper portion provided at an end of the first inner diameter portion; and a second inner diameter portion that is formed from the stopper portion to a bottom wall provided at an end of the second inner diameter portion, the second inner diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the first inner diameter portion.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an elastic cap detachably mounted to the tip portion of a barrel from which a puncture needle projects and a syringe assembly with the elastic cap.
Background Art
For example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,732, a prefilled syringe in which a drug or the like is pre-filled is provided with an elastic cap detachably mounted to the tip portion of a barrel having a puncture needle, thereby protecting the puncture needle and sealing the needle hole of the puncture needle.
The elastic cap is attached before a plunger is inserted into the interior space of the barrel and before the barrel is filled with a drug or the like. The process of attaching the elastic cap to the barrel in accordance with the prior art is described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
As shown in FIG. 4, an elastic cap 1 in accordance with the prior art is provided with a bottomed cylindrical shape having an open end portion 2 at one end and a thick bottom wall 3 at the other end and has a receiving hole 4 extending from the open end portion 2 toward the bottom wall 3 therein. The receiving hole 4 receives an annular head 7 of a barrel tip portion 6 provided at the end of a barrel 5 and a puncture needle 8 extending from the end of the barrel tip portion 6.
Specifically, the receiving hole 4 is provided with a large diameter portion 4a, an intermediate diameter portion 4b, and a small diameter portion 4c in that order from the open end portion 2 toward the bottom wall 3. The inner diameter of the large diameter portion 4a is larger than the outer diameter of the annular head 7 formed in the barrel tip portion 6, and the inner diameter of the intermediate diameter portion 4b is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the annular head 7. The small diameter portion 4c is reduced in diameter in a substantially tapered shape from an end of the intermediate diameter portion 4b toward the bottom wall 3 so that the small diameter portion 4c continuously changes from an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the intermediate diameter portion 4b to an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the puncture needle 8.
When the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 are inserted into the receiving hole 4 as shown in FIG. 5, the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 are moved from the open end portion 2 toward the bottom wall 3 so that the axis of the puncture needle 8 is axially aligned with an axis A of the receiving hole 4 and an insertion direction B of the puncture needle 8 is aligned with the axis A. This allows the tip of the puncture needle 8 to reach a base end surface 3a of the bottom wall 3 through the large diameter portion 4a, the intermediate diameter portion 4b, and the small diameter portion 4c. Thereafter, the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 are further moved as described above, thus inserting the tip of the puncture needle 8 from the base end surface 3a into the bottom wall 3 and sealing the needle hole of the puncture needle 8.
In this regard, the annular head 7 is press-fit into the intermediate diameter portion 4b against the elastic force of the elastic cap 1. Thus, the force (elastic force) by which the increased intermediate diameter portion 4b attempts to return to its original diameter acts on the annular head 7 so that the elastic cap 1 is positioned relative to the tip portion 6 of the barrel 5.
As described above, the elastic cap 1 is detachably mounted to the tip portion 6 of the barrel 5 so as to seal the needle hole of the puncture needle 8 so that a syringe assembly 9 is available. This enables a space between the interior space formed in the barrel 5 and the plunger (not shown) slidably received in the interior space to be filled with a liquid such as a drug in a liquid-tight manner. As described above, the receiving hole 4 has the large diameter portion 4a, the intermediate diameter portion 4b, and the small diameter portion 4c, each having a different inner diameter, where the tip diameter of the small diameter portion 4c having a minimum inner diameter thereof is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the puncture needle 8. As such, there is a concern that inserting the tip of the puncture needle 8 from the base end surface 3a into the bottom wall 3 may become difficult if the axis of the puncture needle 8 is slightly misaligned away from the axis A of the receiving hole 4 or if the insertion direction B is slightly inclined relative to the axis A, upon insertion of the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 into an insertion hole 4.
That is, if the insertion position of the puncture needle 8 is misaligned or the insertion direction B is inclined, it is contemplated that the tip of the puncture needle 8 may be inserted into the side wall of the receiving hole 4 before the tip of the puncture needle 8 reaches the base end surface 3a of the bottom wall 3. In particular, since the small diameter portion 4c is tapered, the puncture needle 8 is likely to be inserted into the side wall of the receiving hole 4. The thickness of the receiving hole 4 is thinner than that of the bottom wall 3. Thus, there is a concern that ensuring an insertion length capable of fully sealing a needle hole may become difficult if the puncture needle 8 is inserted into the side wall of the receiving hole 4.
Furthermore, the end surface of the puncture needle 8 is generally provided with an edge inclined relative to the axis of the puncture needle 8. When such a tip of the puncture needle 8 moves into an elastic member constituting the elastic cap 1, the moving direction thereof is likely to be oriented along the slope of the edge. If the puncture needle 8 is inserted into the side wall of the receiving hole 4, the puncture needle 8 moves in a direction away from the central axis of the elastic cap 1. In this regard, since the elastic cap 1 is less rigid than the puncture needle 8, a tip of the elastic cap 1 is bent opposite to the moving direction of the puncture needle 8 from the central axis of the elastic cap 1, as shown in FIG. 6. When the syringe assembly 9, to which the elastic cap 1 is attached in such a bent condition, is transferred to and from a container accommodating the syringe assembly 9, the tip of the elastic cap 1 may catch the container and this may result in poor yield and a damage of the puncture needle 8.
If the puncture needle 8 is inserted into the thin side wall of the receiving hole 4 as described above, the tip of the puncture needle 8 may eventually penetrate the side wall and be exposed to the outside of the elastic cap 1, as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, if a cover 1a having high rigidity compared to the puncture needle 8 etc. is attached to the outside of the elastic cap 1, the puncture needle 8 inserted into the side wall of the receiving hole 4 may be bent as it moves.
Furthermore, as described above, the elastic cap 1 is positioned in the syringe assembly 9 by press-fitting the annular head 7 into the intermediate diameter portion 4b having an inner diameter substantially equal to the annular head 7. Thus, it is difficult to accurately define a final insertion position of the barrel tip portion 6 relative to the receiving hole 4. Accordingly, there are concerns that an insertion length of the puncture needle 8 into the bottom wall 3 is insufficient and full sealing of the needle hole may become difficult, for example, if an insertion length of the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 into the receiving hole 4 is short. On the other hand, there are concerns that the puncture needle 8 is inserted into the bottom wall 3 more than necessary and silicone or the like applied to the surface of the puncture needle 6 to improve its lubricity may be removed if the insertion length is long.
That is, there are concerns in the above-described elastic cap 1 that it may become difficult to sufficiently protect the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 and to fully seal the needle hole without damaging the surface of the puncture needle 8 by accurately receiving the puncture needle 8 and the barrel tip portion 6 in the receiving hole 4. There is also a concern that it may become difficult to handle the syringe assembly 9 with the elastic cap 1 attached to the barrel tip portion 6.

Elastic cap and syringe assembly therewith


A method for detecting an oil mass covered by ice includes collecting alert data at a first probability of detection using an airborne platform moved about a search area above the ice. An alert area having a likelihood of an oil mass covered by the ice is determined based upon the alert data. Confirmation data is collected at a second probability of detection higher than the first probability of detection using a ground platform moved over the alert area. An oil mass covered by the ice is detected based upon the confirmation data.

As the world's demand for fossil fuels increases, energy companies find themselves pursuing hydrocarbon resources in more remote areas of the world. Such pursuits often take place in harsh, offshore conditions. In recent years, drilling and production activities have been started in the Arctic regions.
Spill detection and mapping may be particularly important for Arctic spills as oil may be hidden from view under snow and ice during periods of almost total darkness. Close to 24 hours of daylight in the spring and summer months facilitates monitoring oil spilled during the break-up and open water periods, but periods of fog and a low cloud ceiling remain as serious impediments. During freeze-up and through much of the winter, long periods of darkness and multiple oil/ice scenarios add to the challenges of detection, mapping and tracking oil in ice.
One approach for detecting an oil mass trapped beneath or within a solid ice sheet or on the ice surface under snow is based on the use of a low level airborne ground penetrating radar (GPR). In a paper titled "Remote Sensing for the Oil in Ice Joint Industry Program 2007-2009" by Dickins et al., a commercially available GPR system in the 500 MHz to 1 GHz frequency range is described that may be operated both from the ice surface and at low altitude from a helicopter to detect oil layers in the 1-3 cm range trapped in relatively smooth ice.
GPR is sensitive to the presence of oil in the snow pack over a broad range of snow densities and oil types. Oil located at the base of the snow tends to reduce the impedance contrast with the underlying ice or soil substrate resulting in anomalously low amplitude radar reflections and thereby enhances the prospects for detection with GPR. Sea ice, on the other hand, has a much higher electrical conductivity that varies substantially both laterally and vertically and can exhibit a high degree of anisotropy due to preferred crystal alignment. GPR may provide reliable thickness measurements for low salinity ice, but significant signal attenuation occurs for high-salinity first-year ice. Consequently, the problem of detecting an oil mass is simpler to formulate for dry snow than it is for sea ice since snow has a relatively isotropic structure and low conductivity.
Direct spill detection from SAR satellites and airborne SLAR/SAR systems is relatively straightforward for large spills in very open drift ice. However, detection of an oil mass covered by ice is much more difficult. Moreover, during freeze-up in fall and early winter, any detection of oil among ice with SAR/SLAR airborne or satellite sensors may be complicated by the presence of grease ice. Grease ice is the earliest smooth stage of ice crystals at the water surface. The presence of grease or new ice in conjunction with an oil spill on the water will produce close to identical signatures in the radar imagery, making detection of an oil slick difficult or impossible.
Other technologies that may be used to detect Arctic oil spills or leakages include forward looking infrared (FLIR) systems, SONAR systems, and hyperspectral imaging systems. In some cases, trained dogs may be used to reliably detect oil near the surface of the ice. A thickness of the ice in Arctic regions, for example, may vary from a few centimeters to 5 meters. While these other technologies may work when the oil is on or near the surface of the ice, they may not be very effective in detecting an oil mass covered by thick ice.
Yet another approach for detecting an oil mass under ice is based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2011/0181279. In this approach, a volume of substances is located under the surface, wherein at least a portion of the volume of substances is within a static magnetic field. At least one radio-frequency excitation pulse is transmitted from a remote location above the volume of substances to generate a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from the volume of substances. From the remote location, the NMR signal from the volume of substances is detected. The detected NMR signal is processed to determine whether the volume of substances includes the liquid. Even in view of NMR, there is still a need to improve upon the detection of an oil mass covered by ice.

Method and system using coordinated airborne and ground platforms for detecting oil covered by ice