The present invention relates to conditioned pigment particle compositions which are used to color water based materials, such as hydrates, and methods for producing the conditioned pigment particle compositions. The conditioned pigment particles are made by first establishing a pigment color by selecting or combining non-conditioned pigment particles and then mixing the non-conditioned pigment particles having the desired color with an amount of binder to form agglomerated conditioned pigment particles. The conditioned pigment particles produced by the present method have an angle of repose ranging between about 28.degree. and about 34.degree. and a degradation rate of less than 5%.

Mineral oxides have been used for centuries as pigments for both surface and integral coloring. Currently synthetic mineral oxides, ferric oxide, ferrous oxide, chromium green, cobalt blue, and titanium oxide, to name a few, are used as pigments for the coloring of hydrates. Mineral oxide pigments of different particle sizes can be used to color various water based materials, such as concrete; however, pigments having smaller particle sizes, less than 75 microns, are generally preferred. The pigment particles are of a variety of shapes and sizes with the smaller sized mineral oxide pigment particles (both natural and synthetic mineral oxides) having a greater total surface area percentage as compared to the total percentage of surface area in the larger sized pigment particles. This means that if two groups of pigment particles having the same mass/weight were compared side by side, with one group of pigment particles having an average particle size diameter that was equal to half the average diameter of the other group of pigment particles, the group with the smaller particle size diameter would have roughly twice the surface area. The greater surface area means that if everything else is equal, the smaller particle size pigments would have a much higher tinting strength than similar pigment particles of a coarser grind and larger size. The higher tinting strength allows for a lesser amount of pigment to be used, which presumably makes the smaller sized pigments more economical to use than coarsely ground pigment particles.
While mineral oxide pigments of a smaller particle size are advantageous because they have a higher tinting strength, they are disadvantageous because the handling characteristics are undesirable. Smaller sized pigment particles tend to build-up on mixing equipment used to produce the pigments, which means that the equipment must be extensively cleaned when the pigment colors are changed. Additionally, the smaller size pigment particles tend to remain on the walls of the packaging containing the pigment particles leading to the loss of some of the pigment product. Thus, the advantages gained by having to use lesser amounts of pigment particles, as a result of having a higher tinting strength, are diminished because some of the product remains in the packaging. Another problem is that as a class the smaller size pigment particles do not flow freely, meaning that even though the particles have a higher tinting strength they do not readily disperse in hydrates or similar materials. The lack of disperseability of the smaller pigment particles is in part attributable to the angle of repose which is equal to about 50.degree.. An increased angle of repose results in decreased flowability and disperseability of the pigments. Because the small pigment particles are not readily dispersible, this results in a longer mixing time when the pigments are added to the hydrates. Consequently, costs are increased because it takes more time and energy to mix the pigments with the hydrates, more time is required to clean the equipment, and not all the pigments are used.
A further problem associated with smaller sized pigment particles is that they tend to cake and form lumps when kept in storage for extended periods of time. This is especially disadvantageous because the lumps of the pigment particles may not completely disperse when mixed with hydrates or similar materials, resulting in a hydrate that is not uniformly colored. The lumped pigments may also cause the finished hydrate or cement product to have lumps of undispersed pigment in the material matrix meaning that the material may less structural strength.
Another problem associated with smaller sized pigment particles is the creation of dust. In a pigment production plant, dust is generated at nearly every step involved in the processing of the pigments, including the drying, grinding, transporting, and packaging steps. As a result, these production plants spend a great deal of time and money on housekeeping to prevent cross contamination of products. Besides increasing the costs of the production of the pigment particles, mineral oxide pigment dust can be a possible source of pollution leading to public relations problems.
Currently, known technologies include two options for making mineral oxide pigment particles which have a high tinting strength and which are dustless. The first option involves producing the mineral oxide pigment particles in an aqueous slurry, which can be advantageous because the pigment slurries are pumpable and are readily measurable by weight or volume. However, slurries suffer from the disadvantage that they are not very cost effective because the slurries weigh more than dry pigments and thus shipping costs increase as a result of including water with the pigments. Also, to achieve a slurry with a high solids content, a chemical additive must be included in the slurry thereby further increasing the cost of the pigments. Another problem associated with slurries is that they tend to settle and dry out if stored for extended periods of time or if not properly stored. One other problem associated with slurried pigments is that the metering equipment must be cleaned regularly to prevent cloggin and the equipment must be thoroughly cleaned when changing colors.
The second option for making pigments having a high tinting strength is for the pigment slurry to be spray dried to remove the water. Spray drying results in free flowing and dustless pigments agglomerated in bead form having an angle of repose of about 34.degree.. The pigment beads will readily redisperse in high slump concrete (ready mix and wet cast concrete); however, in zero or low slump concrete (block, paver and retaining wall stones) the redispersion can be slower than powdered pigments. Slow redispersion of the spray dried mineral oxide pigments is attributable to the lack of porosity of the spray dried pigments. The slow redispersion of the spray dried mineral oxide pigment beads is also a problem because higher production block plants for making blocks generally cannot devote the additional time required to get complete dispersion of the beaded pigments.
It is desirable to have a method for producing pigment particles that have high tinting strength and which are free of the problems mentioned above. Specifically, because of the problems associated with small sized mineral oxide pigment particles, it is desirable to have: a process for forming dry mineral oxide pigment particles that are non-dusting; pigment particles that readily disperse in all types of hydrates in a short amount of time; and, pigment particles that do not clump when stored for long periods of time, nor break down with the passage of time. As will be seen, the present inventive method and compositions eliminate the aforementioned problems.

Compositions and method for conditioning mineral oxide pigment


A frequency domain kernel phase processor comprises an input buffer to st Fourier coefficients input from a Fourier transform of a communications signal. A communications signal suitable for processing by the present invention typically comprises a desired signal masked by a stronger interference signal having varying power that spans a range of frequency bins encompassing the desired signal. A scheduler inputs Fourier transform coefficients from the input buffer and generates a series of magnitude squares and symmetric phase differences for each frequency bin. The magnitude squares and the symmetric phase differences are output to phase transform processors which transform the symmetric phase differences to reveal the desired signal. The transformed outputs from the phase transform processors are output to an output buffer to be formatted and displayed.

The frequency domain kernel phase processor of the present invention relates generally to enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of communication signals. More particularly, the present invention relates to detecting weak signals in the presence of interfering narrowband signals having a phase linearity that varies with time.
Electrical signals having sharp spectral features have traditionally been detected by signal processors exemplified by the block diagram of FIG. 1. A sensor 102 outputs an electrical signal representative of the desired signal typically masked by interfering signals. An A/D converter 104 digitizes the electrical signal and outputs a data stream to Fourier transform 106. Format processor 108 averages the Fourier coefficients generated by Fourier transform 108 and displays the average power over time per frequency bin on display 110. If the desired signal is masked by interfering signals spanning the frequencies of the desired signal, however, the spectral characteristics of the desired signal may not be apparent. A continuing need exists for a signal processor that can display weaker signals masked by stronger interfering signals.

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A composite of silicon and tin is prepared as a negative electrode composition with increased lithium insertion capacity and durability for use with a metal current collector in cells of a lithium-ion battery. This electrode material is formed such that the silicon is present as a distinct amorphous phase in a matrix phase of crystalline tin. While the tin phase provides electron conductivity, both phases accommodate the insertion and extraction of lithium in the operation of the cell and both phases interact in minimizing mechanical damage to the material as the cell experiences repeated charge and discharge cycles. In general, roughly equal atomic proportions of the tin and silicon are used in forming the phase separated composite electrode material.

Lithium-ion batteries are used as electric storage systems for powering electric and hybrid electric vehicles. These batteries comprise a plurality of suitably interconnected electrochemical cells arranged to provide a predetermined electrical current at a specified electrical potential. In each such cell, lithium is transported as lithium ions from a negative electrode through a non-aqueous, lithium-containing, electrolyte solution to a lithium-ion-accepting positive electrode as an electronic current is delivered from the battery to an external load, such as an electric traction motor. A suitable porous separator material, infiltrated with the electrolyte solution and permeable to the transport of lithium ions in the electrolyte, is employed to prevent short-circuiting physical contact between the electrodes. Graphite has been used as a negative electrode material and bonded in a thin electrode layer on a copper current collector. During charging of the cells, lithium is inserted into the graphite (lithiation, forming LiC6, about 372 mAh/g) and extracted from the graphitic carbon during discharging (delithiation). A suitable particulate material for receiving and storing inserted lithium during discharge of each cell is used as the positive electrode material. Examples of such positive electrode materials include lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), a spinel lithium transition metal oxide such as spinel lithium manganese oxide (LiMnXOY), a lithium polyanion such as a nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide [Li(NiXMnYCoZ)O2], lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), or lithium fluorophosphate (Li2FePO4F), or a mixture of any of these materials. Suitable positive electrode materials are often bonded as a thin layer to an aluminum current collector. The electrochemical potential of such lithium ion cells is typically in the range of about 2 to 4.5 volts.
The use of lithium-ion batteries to power electric motors in automotive vehicles has led to the need for higher gravimetric and/or volumetric capacity batteries. While graphitic carbon is a durable and useful lithium-intercalating, negative electrode material for lithium-ion cells, it has a relatively low capacity for such lithium insertion. Other potential negative electrode materials such as silicon (theoretical capacity, 3600 mAh/g for Li15Si4) and tin (theoretical capacity, 992 mAh/g for Li22Sn5) have much higher theoretical capacities than graphite for lithium insertion. However, the volume change of up to 300 volume percent for silicon during lithiation and delithiation processes leads to fracture of the active silicon material and/or loss of electrical contact with the conductive additives or the current collectors. And tin has the same problem of a large volume expansion upon lithiation, leading to rapid capacity degradation.
The basic mechanism responsible for the loss of capacity of a battery due to fracture of the electrode materials in its cells is the loss of electrical contact with conductive material and the creation of new surfaces, which irreversibly consume the active lithium to form new solid electrolyte interfaces. Both problems shorten the effective cycling capacity of a battery. There remains a need for a more effective way or material form of utilizing silicon or tin in negative electrodes of lithium-ion cells.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Phase separated silicon-tin composite as negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries


A power generating system comprises a condenser and a deaerator apparatus. The condenser condenses a working fluid into a condensate and operates at an internal pressure above ambient pressure during a normal operating mode. The deaerator apparatus uses steam to remove contaminants from the condensate to bring the condensate to a desirable purity. The deaerator apparatus is deactivated during a typical operating state of the power generating system such that the condensate bypasses the deaerator apparatus. The deaerator apparatus is activated during a non-typical operating state of the power generating system such that the condensate passes into the deaerator apparatus wherein contaminants can be removed from the condensate. The typical operating state of the power generating system occurs when the condensate comprises a desirable purity and the non-typical operating state of the power generating system occurs when the condensate comprises an undesirable purity.

In steam generating systems, a condenser is used downstream of a steam turbine to convert steam, after it has passed through the steam turbine, from its gaseous state to its liquid state. The condenser may be air-cooled and comprises a steam inlet duct, a plurality of condenser tubes, and a condensate outlet duct. Steam passes into the condenser through the steam inlet duct and flows through the condenser tubes. Air is forced over outer surfaces of the tubes so as to cool the tubes and, hence, the steam flowing through the tubes, thus causing the steam to be converted into a liquid condensate. The condensate is reused in generating steam for the steam turbine such that at least a portion of it later returns to the condenser where it is once again converted to its liquid state in the condenser.
It is desirable to prevent contaminants, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, from entering the condenser. When the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide are high enough, they become corrodents to iron and steel used in the condenser and other components of the steam generating system, including piping and a steam generator. The corrosion product is iron oxide which tends to deposit on the steam generator surfaces and reduce heat transfer. Corrosion also causes wall thinning of the condenser tubes and other steel structures, and can result in leaks and failures. In addition to being a corrodent, carbon dioxide interferes with monitoring of the steam generating system for more corrosive species, such as chloride. Hence, carbon dioxide is a nuisance that may require the steam generating system to use more sophisticated monitoring equipment at significantly greater expense.
Despite attempts to prevent the leakage of contaminants into steam generating systems, during certain operating conditions of the steam generating systems, some leakage may occur. For example, the normal operating pressure in a typical condenser may be a few inches of mercury (absolute pressure) and, hence, the normal operating pressure is at a vacuum, i.e., less than 1 atmosphere absolute pressure, in which case contaminants may leak into the condenser. Further, contaminants may leak into the condenser of a steam generating system when the system is stopped or slowed, such as during shut-down phase of the system. Additionally, various maintenance procedures that may be performed during the system shut-down phase require that one or more of the components of the steam generating system be filled with air, i.e., so that a human may enter into the component to perform maintenance thereto.
Condensate polishers and/or deaerators are known to remove contaminants from the condensate. However, as noted above, the normal operating pressure within a typical condenser in a power generating system is below one atmosphere, and thus, contaminants are susceptible to leak into the condenser. Thus, the condensate polishers/deaerators used to remove contaminants from the condensate may be continually run during operation of the power generating system, thus increasing a cost and/or decreasing an efficiency of the power generating system.

Deaerator apparatus in a superatmospheric condenser system


Example embodiments relate to a memory card including a generally box-shaped printed circuit board, a control chip in the generally box-shaped printed circuit board, a memory chip in the generally box-shaped printed circuit board, and a plurality of contact pads on at least two portions of an upper portion, a lower portion, a left portion and a right portion of a front face of the generally box-shaped printed circuit board, and on at least two portions of an upper portion, a lower portion, a left portion and a right portion of a rear face of the generally box-shaped printed circuit board.

1 . Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate to a memory card and a method of manufacturing the same.
2 . Description of the Related Art
As peripheral devices, i.e., a computer, a cellular phone, a digital device (i.e., camera), are being rapidly developed, there may be a need for larger storage capacity. Therefore, a memory card used as a storage medium in peripheral devices may be quickly improving, e.g., memory cards having gigabytes for storage capacity.
However, configurations of the memory cards, such as size, number and location of the contact pads, may vary in accordance with the different types of peripheral devices. Thus, one type of peripheral device, e.g., a computer, a cellular phone, and/or a digital camera, may not be compatible with other types of peripheral devices.
Accordingly, because conventional memory cards may not be compatible with more than one peripheral device, separate memory cards may be required for each peripheral device.

Memory card and method of manufacturing the same


Alternative textual interpretations of each sequence of inputs detected within an auto-correcting keyboard region are determined. Actual keystroke contract locations may occur outside the boundaries of specific keyboard key regions associated with the actual characters of word interpretations proposed for selection. The distance from each contact location to each corresponding intended character may increase with the expected frequency of the intended word. An intended word is selected from among generated interpretations and is automatically accepted for output.

Technical Field
The invention provides keyboard systems that auto-correct "sloppy" text entry due to errors in touching a keyboard or screen. More specifically, the invention provides a reduced keyboard such as those implemented on a touch-sensitive panel or display screen and to mechanical keyboard systems, using word-level analysis to resolve inaccuracies (sloppy text entry) in user entries. This invention is in the field of keypad input preferably for small electronic devices. Further, the invention relates to a directional input system with automatic correction.
Description of Background Art
For many years, portable computers have been getting smaller and smaller. The principal size-limiting component in the effort to produce a smaller portable computer has been the keyboard. If standard typewriter-size keys are used, the portable computer must be at least as large as the keyboard. Miniature keyboards have been used on portable computers, but the miniature keyboard keys have been found to be too small to be easily or quickly manipulated with sufficient accuracy by a user.
Incorporating a full-size keyboard in a portable computer also hinders true portable use of the computer. Most portable computers cannot be operated without placing the computer on a flat work surface to allow the user to type with both hands. A user cannot easily use a portable computer while standing or moving. In the latest generation of small portable computers, called Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), companies have attempted to address this problem by incorporating handwriting recognition software in the PDA. A user may directly enter text by writing on a touch-sensitive panel or display screen. This handwritten text is then converted into digital data by the recognition software. Unfortunately, in addition to the fact that printing or writing with a pen is in general slower than typing, the accuracy and speed of the handwriting recognition software has to date been less than satisfactory. To make matters worse, today's handheld computing devices which require text input are becoming smaller still. Recent advances in two-way paging, cellular telephones, and other portable wireless technologies has led to a demand for small and portable two-way messaging systems, and especially for systems which can both send and receive electronic mail ("e-mail").
It would therefore be advantageous to develop a much smaller keyboard for entry of text into a computer. As the size of the keyboard is reduced, the user encounters greater difficulty selecting the character of interest. In general there are two different types of keyboards utilized in such portable devices. One is the familiar mechanical keyboard consisting of a set of mechanical keys that are activated by depressing them with a finger or thumb. However, these mechanical keyboards tend to be significantly smaller than the standard sized keyboards associated with typewriters, desktop computers, and even "laptop" computers. As a result of the smaller physical size of the keyboard, each key is smaller and in closer proximity to neighboring keys.
This increases the likelihood that the user will depress an unintended key, and the likelihood of keystroke errors tends to increase the faster the user attempts to type.
Another commonly used type of keyboard consists of a touch-sensitive panel on which some type of keyboard overlay has been printed, or a touch-sensitive display screen on which a keyboard overlay can be displayed. Depending on the size and nature of the specific keyboard, either a finger or a stylus can be used to contact the panel or display screen within the area associated with the key that the user intends to activate. Due to the reduced size of many portable devices, a stylus is often used in order to attain sufficient accuracy in contacting the keyboard to activate each intended key. Here again, the small overall size of such keyboards results in a small area being associated with each key so that it becomes quite difficult for the average user to type quickly with sufficient accuracy.
One area of prior development in mechanical keyboards has considered the use of keys that are much smaller than those found on common keyboards. With smaller keys, the user must take great care in controlling each key press. One approach (U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,690) proposes a system that uses up to four miniature keys in unison to define primary characters (the alphabet) and nests secondary character rows (like numbers) between primary character rows. Selecting a secondary character involves depressing the miniature key from each of the surrounding primary characters. Grouping the smaller keys in this fashion creates a larger apparent virtual key composed of four adjacent smaller keys, such that the virtual key is large enough to be depressed using a finger. However, the finger must contact the keys more or less precisely on the "cross-hairs" of the boundaries between the four adjacent keys in order to depress them in unison. This makes it still difficult to type quickly with sufficient accuracy.
Another area of prior development in both touch screen and mechanical keyboards has considered the use of a much smaller quantity of full-size keys. With fewer keys, each single key press must be associated with a plurality of letters, such that each key activation is ambiguous as to which letter is intended. As suggested by the keypad layout of a touch-tone telephone, many of the reduced keyboards have used a 3-by-4 array of keys, where each key is associated with three or four characters (U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,437). Several approaches have been suggested for resolving the ambiguity of a keystroke sequence on such a keyboard. While this approach has merit for such keyboards with a limited number of keys, it is not applicable to reduced size keyboards with a full complement of keys.
Another approach in touch screen keyboards has considered analyzing the immediately preceding few characters in order to determine which character should be generated for a keystroke that is not close to the center of the display location of a particular character (U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,512). When the keyboard is displayed on a small touch screen, keystrokes that are off-center from a character are detected. Software compares the possible text strings of probable sequences of two or three typed characters against known combinations, such as a history of previously typed text or a lexicon of text strings rated for their frequency within a context. When the character generated by the system is not the character intended by the user, the user must correct the character before going on to select the a following character, because the generated character will be used to determine probabilities for the following keystroke.
The fundamental problem is that the specific activations that result from a user's attempts to activate the keys of a keyboard do not always precisely conform to the intentions of the user. On a touch screen keyboard, the user's finger or stylus may hit the wrong character or hit between keys in a boundary area not associated with a specific character. With a miniaturized mechanical keyboard, a given keypress may activate the wrong key, or may activate two or more keys either simultaneously or with a "roll-over" motion that activates adjacent keys in a rapid sequence. Other examples include common keyboards operated by users with limited ranges of motion or motor control, where there is a limited ability to consistently strike any particular space or key, or where the limb (such as in the case of an amputee, or the use of gloved hands or gloved fingers) or the device used to make the entry (such as a stylus) is far larger than the targeted key or character space.
Further, to operate a computing device, such as a computer, one or more input devices must be connected thereto. Since the early days of the computing age, the keyboard has been the primary input device for users to input textual messages into to computing devices. The textual messages may be commands for the computers to execute, or just plain data entry if he's using a keyboard as an input device. However, the user must memorize the correct spelling and syntax of computer commands. Even if the user has memorized the correct spelling, the input of data with keyboard itself can be error prone. Hence, a graphical user interface (GUI) has been developed for computing devices to reduce the use of keyboard. In a GUI, the user operates an alternative input device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick, to move around a cursor or pointer on the display. Once the cursor is moved to the desired position, a button is pressed and released, and a corresponding computer command is thus executed. Although a GUI provides an alternative way to invoke computer commands, the keyboard continues to serve as the primary text entry input device for computing devices.
Nevertheless, there are situations such as in console video-game machines or hand held devices with a joystick or joystub, where a traditional keyboard is neither available nor convenient. Currently, the text entry method for these systems usually consists of scrolling through an alphabet or on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Another commonly adopted navigation means in video-game machines provides users with a pie menu, which is a circular menu that allows users choose items by dragging the pointing device in the direction of the menu item. To input a word, the user must select each letter by scrolling through an alphabet list, navigating through the pie menu, or locating it on the on-screen keyboard and click a selection button after each letter is located.
The above text entry method has numerous disadvantages. For example: the method is inefficient because the user has to spend time in locating the letter and confirming the letter; the method is inconvenient because it breaks the normal typing flow when inserting clicks between letter selections; and the method is ineffective because the user could easily mistake an adjacent letter for the limited size of the on-screen keyboard.
What is desired is an effective text entry input system using a directional input means such as a joystick or trackball device. It is further desired that the text entry input system is intuitive and easy to operate. It is still further desired that the text entry input system can provide auto-correction of input mistakes.

Keyboard system with automatic correction


A thermal head (255) is placed on a head block plate (230) cantilevered to a base portion (103) to come into contact with, or separate from, a platen roller (210), and an operating member (260) manually operated Is rotatably provided for this contact or separation. The operating member (260) is designed so that the thermal head (255) is made to abut against the platen roller (210) on the way to the final stage of operation, a spring (270) for pressing the thermal head against the platen roller is biased, and at the final stage, an end (260e) thereof is trapped,into a receiver (190a) constructed integral with the base portion to support a part of the side on which the head block plate (230) is not supported. In this way, the stability of operation and durability are assured.

Some of thermal printers of this type are designed so that, in order to facilitate loading of a recording paper roll on the printing section, for example, the thermal head is cantilevered in a printer body and thereby the recording paper can be loaded from the side of the free end of the thermal head.
Such thermal printers, however, have the drawback of being inferior in stability of operation and durability because the thermal head is cantilevered.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer which is free of such a drawback as in a conventional thermal printer and is excellent in stability of operation and durability.


A recumbent bilateral reciprocal isokinetic leg exerciser wherein first and second reciprocating members are slidingly coupled to a linear track so that they move with linear bilateral reciprocal motion. Both reciprocating members are coupled to associated hydraulic cylinders so that hydraulic fluid is drawn into or forced out of the hydraulic cylinders as the reciprocating members move along the track. A valve assembly is coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling fluid flow into and out of the hydraulic cylinders so that the reciprocating members move isokinetically. The valve assembly may be set for simultaneous movement of the first and second reciprocating members or for movement of one reciprocating member by itself. To ensure accurate measurement of patient effort, a strain gauge assembly is disposed on each reciprocating member for detecting deformation of the reciprocating member along multiple axes. The information obtained by the strain gauge assembly then may be used to calculate the actual forces being applied in a desired direction.

This invention relates generally to exercise and rehabilitation systems and methods, and, more specifically, to a linear tracking isokinetic exerciser.
When the hip, thigh, knee or ankle are injured, rehabilitation includes increasing the range of motion of the affected joint as well as increasing muscle strength and endurance. It is also necessary to retrain normal gait characteristics, particularly with regard to symmetrical strength and movement of both limbs. Thus, physicians and physical therapist have become increasingly interested in multi-joint exercises that simulate the dynamics of actual limb movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,194 illustrates a known exercise device for bilaterally and reciprocally exercising a person's limbs. A person using the exerciser sits on an upright seat and places each of his or her feet through a loop of a pedal. The pedals are secured to a forward end of an L-shaped lever located on each side of the exerciser, and the levers are coupled to an actuator which isokinetically controls the motion of the levers. Although useful in many respects, the device lacks some desirable features. For example, the upright seat makes exercising awkward and inefficient. The reciprocating peddles move arcuately and therefore do not properly simulate the forces encountered during actual walking. Movement of one limb inherently causes a corresponding movement in the other limb, so the device cannot isolate and exercise a single limb at a time. Analog hydraulic pressure gauges are used to measure the forces generated by each leg, but the indirect nature of the measurement only approximates the actual force being applied to the pedals. The needles in the gauges are not damped, so they bounce severely under even moderate use. Thus, unless gross differences exist between limbs, the gauges do not provide sufficient information for adequate gait or strength training.


A vehicle seat may have a seat part and a backrest. The backrest may have a foam component with a cavity for receiving at least part of an airbag device. The foam component may be lined at least to some extent with a reinforcing layer arrangement in the region of the cavity.

EP 1 199 227 A1 discloses a vehicle seat comprising a subassembly consisting of a backrest and an airbag module, wherein the backrest has a frame, a padding and a covering part, and wherein the airbag module has an ejection channel which is attached to the frame. The covering part is configured in a rigid manner, whilst the padding is configured in a flexible manner in the region of the transition to the covering part such that, by the deformation of the padding, a gap may be formed between the covering part and the padding for the airbag to emerge from the backrest.
A safety device for motor vehicles comprising at least one airbag module which may be integrated in a vehicle seat is disclosed in EP 1 201 510 A1, said airbag module comprising a prefabricated modular unit, which may be handled as a cohesive whole and which has at least one inflatable airbag which serves in particular as a side airbag, as well as a gas generator, wherein a structural element forming at least one part of a rear wall of the vehicle seat is additionally configured as a module cover for the modular unit. The structural element has at least one region which may be broken open, torn open, swiveled open and/or pivoted away by the inflating airbag and which is provided with a predetermined breaking point.
EP 2 960 116 B1 discloses a far-side airbag device comprising a side airbag which is provided in a vehicle width direction on a vehicle center side of a backrest on a side portion, wherein the side airbag has a rear inflation portion which is inflated and deployed when it is supplied with gas and which restrains at least the rear parts of the chest and the abdomen of a seated occupant. A far-side airbag device is able to take into account the so-called secondary movements, i.e. the movements of the vehicle occupants after the first contact with the airbag after an accident and reduce the consequences thereof.
A vehicle comprising two adjacently arranged individual seats is disclosed in DE 196 03 106 A1, said individual seats each containing on the sides thereof remote from one another at least one side airbag which is accommodated in an associated side element of the upper seat back region, wherein the upper seat back regions extend with the side elements thereof substantially to the side beyond the lower seat back regions as far as the vicinity of the adjacent vehicle structure.


An apparatus for controlling a refrigeration cycle for circulating a refrigerant through a compressor 2, a heat exchanger for condensation 4, a flow rate control valve 5, and a heat exchanger for evaporation 6, connected each other, comprising: a first operation means for changing a heat exchanging capability of said heat exchanger for condensation 4, a second operation means for changing a heat exchanging capability of said heat exchanger for evaporation 6, a means for operating a running capacity for changing a running capacity of said compressor, and a control means for reducing a difference between a running condition on a high pressure side or a low pressure side of said refrigeration cycle and a target, wherein when a difference between a running condition on a high or low pressure side and its target is reduced, the control means 15 bring the running condition closer to the target, minimizes a consumption energy, and bring a temperature difference of a heat exchanging fluid between an inlet and an outlet of the heat exchanger for condensation 6 closer to a target temperature difference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a compressor, a heat exchanger for evaporation, and a heat exchanger for condensation in a refrigeration cycle constituting a refrigerating air conditioner and a method of controlling the refrigeration cycle.
2. Discussion of Background
FIG. 14 schematically shows a refrigeration circuit of a conventional multi-chamber type air conditioner disclosed in JP-A-8-2534926. In FIG. 14, numerical reference 31 designates an outdoor unit; numerical reference 32 designates a variable capacity compressor; numerical reference 33 designates a four-way valve; numerical reference 34 designates an outdoor heat exchanger; numerical reference 37 designates a distributor; numerical references 41a through 41c designate three indoor units; numerical references 42a through 42c designate indoor electronic expansion valves; numerical references 43a through 43c designate electromagnetic switching valves; numerical references 44a through 44c designate electromagnetic switching valves; numerical reference 45 designates a controller; numerical reference 46 designates an outdoor blower; numerical reference 47 designates an electronic expansion valve; numerical references 48a through 48c designate indoor heat exchangers; numerical reference 49 designates a gas-liquid separator; numerical references 51 and 52 designate connection pipes for connecting the outdoor unit 31 to the distributor 37; numerical reference 53 designates a high-pressure pipe in the distributor 37; numerical reference 54 designates a low-pressure pipe in the distributor 37; numerical reference 55 designates an intermediate pressure pipe; numerical reference 56 designates a four-way valve; numerical reference 57 designates an accumulator; numerical reference 58 designates a pressure detector for a high pressure; and numerical reference 59 designates a pressure detector for a low pressure.
The distributor 37 and each of the indoor units 41a through 41c are connected by two pipes. The indoor units 41a through 41c are composed of the indoor heat exchangers 48a through 48c and the electronic expansion valves 42a through 42c, wherein the electronic expansion valves 42a through 42c are connected to the intermediate pressure pipe 55, and the indoor heat exchangers 48a through 48c are connected to the low-pressure pipe 54 and the high-pressure pipe 53 through the electromagnetic switching valves 43a through 43c and 44a through 44c. Further, the pressure detectors 58 and 59 are installed in the outdoor unit 31, wherein detection signals from the pressure detectors are inputted in the controller 45. The controller 45 controls a capability of exchanging heat between a refrigerant circulating in piping and the outdoor heat exchanger 34 using the compressor 32, the four-way valve 33, and the blower 46.
In the next, operation will be described. A case that the indoor unit 41a is in a heating mode and the indoor units 41b and 41c in a cooling mode will be described. A high-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 32 passes through the four-way valve 33 and is partially condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger 34 to be transformed into a two-phase refrigerant. Thereafter, the refrigerant passes through the high-pressure connection pipe 51 and flows into the distributor 37 located in a room.
The two-phase refrigerant in the distributor 37 passes through the four-way valve 56 and is separated into a gas and a liquid by the gas-liquid separator 49. Thus obtained high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the indoor unit 41a through the electronic switching valve 44a, and dissipates heat to be condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 48a. Thereafter, the refrigerant flows into the intermediate pressure pipe 55 through the electronic expansion valve 42a and joins with a liquid refrigerant flowing into the intermediate pressure pipe. from a liquid-phase portion through the electronic expansion valve 47 and flows into the indoor units 41b and 41c. In the indoor units 41b and 41c, the refrigerant is respectively changed to have a low pressure by the electronic expansion valves 42b and 42c and is endothermically evaporated by the indoor heat exchangers 48b and 48c. Thereafter, it joins with the low-pressure pipe 54 through the electromagnetic switching valves 43b and 43c. Further, it passes through the four-way valve 56 and circulates by passing through the low-pressure connection pipe 52, the four-way valve 33, and the accumulator 57 and returning to the compressor 32. As described, a refrigeration circuit for simultaneously heating and cooling, in which a cooling operation is conducted in the indoor heat exchanger 48a and a heating operation is conducted in the indoor heat exchangers 48b and 48c, is realized.
In the above refrigeration circuit, a high pressure discharged from the compressor 32 and a low pressure sucked by the compressor 32 are detected by the pressure detector 58 provided in the high-pressure pipe in the outdoor unit 31 and the pressure detector 59 provided in the low-pressure pipe, and the result of this detection is transmitted to the controller 45. The controller 45 compares each detected value respectively with preset high-pressure or low-pressure target value after receiving signals transmitted from the detectors 58 and, 59. Further, the controller 45 calculates a requisite capacity of the compressor 32 based on a result of this comparison and a requisite capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger 34 based on a result of this calculation. Further, the controller 45 controls a capacity of compressor 32 based on the result of this calculation and simultaneously controls a capability of exchanging heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 34 by adjusting the revolutional numbers of the blower 46.
Further, when a variation of a load is estimated large, a capacity of the compressor 32 and a capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger 34 are controlled and simultaneously the four-way valve 33 is switched based on determination of whether or not the outdoor heat exchanger 34 is used as a condenser of heat dissipator or as an evaporator of heat absorber from the result of calculation, whereby a drastic variation of the load is managed.
By such a control, it is possible to deal with changes of a load on an outdoor unit side in response to environmental conditions of weather and a climate, opening and closing of side doors of the indoor units 41a through 41c, a change of a preset indoor temperature, and a change of the load of the indoor unit caused by switching between cooling and heating modes.
In controlling thus constructed conventional multi-chamber type air conditioner, the high-pressure target value and the low-pressure target value necessary for calculating a degree of controlling the compressor, of the outdoor heat exchanger, and of the four-way valve were fixedly preset in designing the refrigeration cycle and were constant regardless of a preset value of indoor air temperature and an outdoor air temperature.
Specifically, the high-pressure target value and the low-pressure target value were set so as to be able to deal with a large load for obtaining a general purpose apparatus which can deal with any load.
Since the method of controlling the conventional multi-chamber type air conditioner had the above-mentioned structure and operation, the air conditioner was not always energy-saving as a whole as long as the capability for exchanging heat of the indoor heat exchangers 41a through 41c were not controlled by the controller 45 in the outdoor unit 31.
Further, energy consumption of the compressor 32, which occupied the largest ratio in the entire energy consumption of the air conditioner, was substantially constant irrespective of the preset value of indoor air temperature and an outdoor air temperature. For example, in case that the preset value of indoor air temperature was high or an outdoor air temperature was low at a time of cooling operation, it was possible to save energy. However, there was a problem that the energy was not sufficiently saved.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional technique and to provide an apparatus for controlling a refrigeration cycle and a method of controlling the refrigeration cycle, by which a proper capability of the refrigeration cycle can be quickly obtained under a running condition and the running condition can be controlled so as to save energy. For example, the object of the present invention is to obtain the apparatus of controlling the refrigeration cycle and the method of controlling the refrigeration cycle, by which a high-pressure detection value and a low-pressure detection value of the refrigeration cycle can be quickly converged in to a high-pressure target value and a low-pressure target value respectively under a running condition, and energy consumption of an entire air conditioner can be minimized within an allowable range for attaining a target under a running condition.
Another object of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus of controlling a refrigeration cycle and a method of controlling the refrigeration cycle, by which a high-pressure target value and a low-pressure target value used for converging into a preset temperature in a heat exchanger on a user side and a control for assuring a capability can be automatically set and properly changed in response to running conditions.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for controlling a refrigeration cycle of circulating a refrigerant in a compressor, a heat exchanger for condensation, a flow rate control valve, and a heat exchanger for evaporation, connected each other, comprising: a first means for changing a capability of exchanging heat of the heat exchanger for condensation, a second means for changing a capability for exchanging heat of the heat exchanger for evaporation, a means for operating a running capacity of the compressor, and a control means for reducing a difference between a running condition of the refrigeration cycle on a high pressure side or a low pressure side and a target.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle, wherein the control means works to minimize a consumption energy in the smallest one of the differences between the running condition on the high pressure side or the low pressure side and the target.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle, wherein the control means works to make a difference between an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of a heat exchanging fluid of a heat exchanger on a user side, being one of the heat exchanger for condensation and the heat exchanger for evaporation, to reach or approach to a target of temperature difference.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle, wherein the running condition on the high pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is under a discharge pressure of the compressor or a saturation temperature corresponding to this discharge pressure; and the running condition on the low pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is under a suction pressure of the compressor or a saturation temperature corresponding to this suction pressure.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle, wherein the running condition on the high pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is under a condensation pressure of the condenser or a saturation temperature corresponding to this condensation pressure; and the running condition on the low pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is under an evaporation pressure of the evaporator or a saturation temperature corresponding to this evaporation pressure.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle, further comprising: a target value setting means for automatically setting one of target values of the running conditions on the low pressure side and the high pressure side of the refrigeration cycle in reference of a preset value of an inlet temperature or an outlet temperature of heat exchanging fluid in a heat exchanger on a user side and automatically setting the other of the target values in reference of a temperature of heat source.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle further comprising: a target value changing means for increasing or decreasing the target value on the low pressure side in reference of a relationship between the running condition on the low pressure side in a stable running condition of the refrigeration cycle and the target value on the low pressure side, wherein the heat exchanger for evaporation is the heat exchanger on the user side.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle further comprising: a target value changing means for increasing and decreasing the target value on the high pressure side in reference of a relationship between the running condition on the high pressure side in a stable running condition of the refrigeration cycle and the target value on the high pressure side, wherein the heat exchanger for condensation is the heat exchanger on the user side.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for controlling the refrigeration cycle, wherein the target value changing means increases and decreases the target value on the high pressure side or the low pressure side of the refrigeration cycle based on a relationship between the inlet temperature of the heat exchanging fluid in the heat exchanger on the user side in a stable running condition and the target value, and on a relationship between the outlet temperature of the heat exchanging fluid in the heat exchanger on the user side and the target value.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a refrigeration cycle comprising: a step of making a parameter of degree of change from various capacities in a compressor based on changes of running conditions on a high pressure side or a low pressure side of the refrigeration cycle in response to the degrees of change of the various capacities of the compressor, a step of obtaining standard degrees of change of capabilities for exchanging heat of heat exchangers for condensation and evaporation so as to make the capabilities for exchanging heat be target values in the running condition on the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the refrigeration cycle by varying the capabilities for exchanging heat with respect to the degrees of change of the various capacities of the compressor, made as the parameter, a step of producing a plurality of degrees of change based on the obtained standard degrees of change, a step of operating the plurality of degrees of change when the plurality of degree of change of the heat exchangers for condensation and evaporation respectively make the capabilities of the heat exchangers to exceed their allowable capabilities for exchanging heat so that the plurality of degrees of change makes the capabilities involved within their allowable capabilities for exchanging heat, and a step of selecting degrees of change among the plurality of degrees of change of the capabilities for exchanging heat obtained with respect to the parameter, which degrees of change make the capabilities of exchanging heat to approach to the target value of the running condition on the high pressure side or the low pressure side.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a refrigeration cycle comprising: a step of operating degrees of change making a running capacity of compressor and throughput capacities of heat exchangers for condensation and evaporation to approach to a target on a low pressure side or a high pressure side by changing the running capacity of compressor and the throughput capacities of heat exchangers for condensation evaporation using a difference between the target on the low pressure or high pressure side and a current running condition, and a step of selecting degrees of change making the running capacity and the throughput capacities to maximally approach to the target on the low pressure or high pressure side among the degrees of change.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method of controlling the refrigeration cycle, further comprising: a step of selecting a combination of the degrees of change making a consumption energy minimize by controlling the degrees of change of the running capacity of the compressor and the degrees of change of the capabilities for exchanging heat in the heat exchangers for condensation and evaporation.

Apparatus for controlling refrigeration cycle and a method of controlling the same


A switching power supply comprises a switching device, a smoothing circuit, and a control circuit including a current detector for detecting a current flowing through an inductor in the smoothing circuit. The detected current is multiplied by a current control gain to generate a signal PIS. The rectangular wave signal is add to and the signal PIS is subtracted from a voltage detection signal corresponding to the output voltage of the switching power supply. The current control gain is adjusted so that ΔPIS/ΔD becomes closer to a predetermined constant, where ΔPIS represents an amount of change in the signal PIS, and ΔD an amount of change in the duty ratio of a driving signal for the switching device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply control device and a switching power supply which perform a phase-lead compensation.
2. Related Background Art
Switching power supplies, which have such characteristic features as small size, light weight, and high efficiency, have widely been utilized as power sources for microcomputers built in various devices, personal computers, and the like. The personal computers and the like have been achieving a lower voltage and a higher processing speed while increasing their current consumption. Therefore, the switching power supplies may drastically increase or decrease their load current in response to the processing load in the personal computers and the like. The switching power supplies also have a characteristic feature in that they can easily conform to a wide input voltage range, and thus have been utilized as a power source usable in several countries in the world and a power source having a wide specification for setting their input voltage. It is necessary for the switching power supplies to secure a stable output voltage against such a change in load current and input voltage. Even when the output voltage becomes a transient response to a drastic change in load current or in input voltage, the switching power supplies are required to restore a stable state rapidly.
In particular, a high-speed response is required in switching power supplies for driving microprocessors such as VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) and POL (Point of Load) and LSI (Large Scale Integration) having a high clock frequency and a low voltage such as DSP (Digital Signal Processor) in order to respond to drastic fluctuations in load current. However, in a switching power supply equipped with an LC filter circuit as an output circuit, a phase delay occurs therein due to the influence of the LC filter circuit.
A switching power supply may have a control device such as a controller IC (Integrated Circuit), which turns on/off a switching device such as FET (Field Effect Transistor). The control device feeds back the output voltage of the switching power supply, so as to construct a voltage loop, and generates a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal for turning on/off the switching device according to the output voltage. "An Accurate and Practical Small-Signal Model for Current-Mode Control," Ridley Engineering inc., 1999 discloses the control device that feeds back the current flowing through an inductor of the LC filter circuit, so as to construct a current loop, thus performing a phase-lead compensation under current mode control using the current flowing through the inductor. In the current loop, a value resulting from multiplication of a detected current by a current control gain is fed back. The above document discloses that the current control gain has the optimal value. Data Sheet of HIP6301 PWM controller, intersil corporation, 2002, discloses that the current flowing through the inductor is detected according to a voltage across the resistance, Ron, of the switching device when the switching device is turned on.

Switching power supply control device and switching power supply


An analyzer system for improving quality of a reaction product, wherein a liquid sample must be maintained at an elevated temperature to prevent precipitation of titratable species, comprises a heated sample and dilution section, an autotitrator and a programmable controller. In operation a liquid sample to be analyzed is withdrawn from a reactor and maintained at reactor temperature while being diluted. The diluted sample is then cooled and passed to an autotitrator for analysis. The analyzer system includes a programmable controller for automatic unattended dilution of successive samples.

As used herein, a pH titration involves the incremental addition of a standard acid to a carefully measured quantity of aqueous solution during which pH values and the aliquots of reagent added are recorded. A titration curve is a plot of these data. The titration curve is invaluable in determining the equivalence point in a pH titration. One problem encountered in the analysis of certain materials is that of preparing a diluted sample of the material, when the material to be analyzed must be dissolved at elevated temperatures. For example, titration analysis can be valuable in determining the mole percent ratio of titratable species in a process for preparing sodium sulfide solutions by reacting sodium hydroxide with sodium hydrosulfide, provided the reaction material can be dissolved in a solution for titration analysis.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide method and apparatus suitable for titration analysis of materials which dissolve only at elevated temperature.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for diluting a highly viscous and corrosive sample material.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for sample handling with heating and cooling.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for automatic, unattended dilution of a highly viscous and corrosive sample material.

Heated dilution system for a liquid sample


A metering and dispensing closure for a container wherein two rotatable disks rotate in conjunction with a stationary cap member to afford accurate measuring of a powder material and dispensing of it. The disks and the container cap afford a consistent measuring of the powder material, as well as provide a variety of drive members which can be utilized with the dispensing closure.

The field of the invention is metering and dispensing devices for a powder material. More particularly, it relates to a powder dispensing closure which is connected to a container and can dispense accurate amounts of the powder into a liquid.
Dispensers of the type concerned with in this invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,032,050 and 5,469,992. The dispenser disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,050 provides a rotatable metering disk 80 for materials to be dispensed. It is connected outside a container which poses sealing problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,992 also discloses a rotatable metering member 20. However, it is connected to a canister and not to a transportable container.
There are problems with rotatable measuring piece and stationary feed pieces. These cannot effect a desired internal stirring action of the container contents. Without this action, a significant amount of powder can be left in the container and not deposited into the measuring chamber.
The prior art does not provide a metering and dispensing closure which is connectable to a container and affords suitable sealing for powder materials which are hygroscopic.
Currently, the only reliable and cost effective method for dispensing powdered chemicals from small containers (between 1 and 4 kg), is to use a water spray and screen approach. There are two important limitations with these systems; the feed-rate is very inconsistent, and the powder formulations are limited. Such a method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,559.
The feed-rate varies over at least a 3:1 range and sometimes more due to the amount of powder remaining in the container, any bridging that may occur due to solidification near the screen, water pressure, spray pattern variation, water temperature and batch to batch variations. To control the amount of product dispensed, these systems typically require a concentration feedback control subsystem to compensate for their variable feed-rates. By far the most common is the conductivity feedback control used in dishwashing applications. Stated another way, because of the feed-rate variation, "spray/screen" powder dispensing systems normally can not be used in applications where a repeatable dose is required. This invention avoids this limitation by providing a precise and consistent metered dose based on a volumetric measurement.
The "spray/screen" dispensers work only with a limited range of powders and formulations. Detergents, the most commonly fed powders, are limited to formulations that will not create excess exothermic heat if the spray should penetrate into the powder. This has typically meant that the caustic (typically NAOH or KOH) level needs to be kept below about 40% to prevent the possibility of steam generation within the container which can be a safety issue. The metering and dispensing closure of this invention would remove this limitation and allow more powerful detergent powders to be formulated with perhaps up to 70% caustic concentrations for soft-water dishwasher applications. This would represent a 40% to 50% increase in "power" in a single container.
Many powders simply cannot be fed at all using the "spray/screen" method. These include any powders that tend to absorb water quickly and turn into a gel before they can be dissolved at the screen. The metering and dispensing closure of this invention obviates this.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor component, wherein capacitances occurring between contacts, interconnects or metallizations are reduced by filling cavities with air or gas is provided. The cavities are produced between the semiconductor material and a passivation layer in a region wherein the interconnects are surrounded by dielectric and are subsequently closed by a further passivation layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to semiconductors and more specifically to a method of manufacturing semiconductor components having interspaces filled with a gas to reduce capacitance of interconnects.
2. Description of the Related Art
The capacitance of interconnects is one of the limiting factors for the switching speed of integrated circuits on semiconductor chips. With smaller lateral dimensions, the spacings between the various interconnects also become smaller, so that the coupling capacitances between neighboring interconnects increase to the same extent. The capacitances between various metallization levels also play a part given higher integration density. Over and above this, the average interconnect length to be driven by a gate also increases, particularly in logic circuits with increasing integration density, so that either more powerful driver stages and/or a reduction of the supply voltage are required. Oxide that is applied by low-temperature CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is usually utilized as intermetal dielectric (IMOX) in integrated circuits on silicon wafers.
GB Patent 22 47 986, EP 603 104 A1, EP 501 407 A1 and EP 393 635 disclose semiconductor components wherein interspaces that are filled with air or a gas are present between interconnects or metallizations to reduce the capacitances occurring between the interconnects. These interspaces are fashioned as trenches, cavities or honeycomb-like cells.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor components


A rotational difference between the speed corresponding to a cylinder at a combustion stroke and the speed corresponding to the cylinder at a previous combustion is calculated. Then, a corrected value is derived from averaging all the rotational differences up to the present combustion stroke. A corrected rotational difference is calculated by subtracting the corrected value from the rotational difference. The misfire judgment level is calculated and set with an interpolated calculation by referring to the map that has the parameters of engine speed and fuel injection pulse width. The level is then compared with the corrected rotational difference. If the corrected rotational difference is larger than the misfire judgement level, and if the corrected rotational difference at the previous combustion stroke is smaller than the level that has a minus value, it can be accurately judged that the cylinder at the previous combustion stroke is in a condition of misfire.

The present invention relates to a misfire discriminating method for an engine wherein a misfire is detected from the variation in the rotation of an engine.
In general, it is ideal for producing a stable output that combustion in a multicylinder engine undergoes the same process every cycle. In the multicylinder engine, however, the combustion is liable to fluctuate for such reasons as listed below:
(1) Nonuniformity in the distribution rate of intake air attributed to the complication of the shape of an intake pipe, the interferences of the intake air among cylinders, etc. PA0 (2) Some differences among the combustion temperatures of the individual cylinders attributed to cooling routes. PA0 (3) Manufactural scattering in the volumes of the combustion chambers of the individual cylinders, the shapes of pistons, etc.
Heretofore, the so-called combustion fluctuation has been suppressed to the minimum by the air fuel ratio controls and ignition timing controls of the individual cylinders. In a recent high-performance engine tending toward a higher output and a lower fuel cost, however, when any of the injectors, ignition plugs etc. has deteriorated or broken down, intermittent misfire arises and incurs lowering in the output.
In general, a misfire of a cylinder can be detected by detecting a variation in the rotation of the engine due to the misfire and comparing the variation in the rotation with a predetermined discriminating level. For example, according to the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 118031/1987, there is disclosed a technique for discriminating an abnormal combustion cylinder based on a maximum value of a variation in the rotation of an engine and a counted value of pulse signals by measuring an interval of a plurality of pulse signals generated at each one revolution of a crankshaft, and discriminating the maximum value of the variation in the rotation of the engine from a timing change of the pulse interval.
Further, according to the official gazette of Japanese Patent application Laid-open No. 112646/1990, there is disclosed a technique for detecting an abnormal cylinder from a variation in the momentary rotation of each cylinder by detecting a plurality of angular positions per one revolution of a multicylinder internal combustion engine, and detecting the momentary rotation of a special rotating position of each cylinder from an interval of the detected angular positions.
However, a variation in the rotation due to a cause except the misfire might occur in the engine. For example, when a variation in the rotation occurs continuously for a predetermined time due to a snatch, it is difficult to distinguish the variation in the rotation due to the snatch from the variation in the rotation due to the misfire, and an erroneous discrimination might occur merely by comparing the variation in the rotation of the engine with the misfire discrimination level.
In addition, in order to normally detect the rotating speed of the engine, it is, for example, necessary to provide a rotor to be rotated in cooperation with a crank shaft driver by the engine and rotation detecting means composed of a sensor for detecting a predetermined position corresponding to a cranking position of the rotor. A small mounting position error exists at the rotor and the sensor for constituting the rotation detecting means in each engine, and allowable errors in manufacture of the respective components exist.
Therefore, the variation in the rotating speed of the engine to be detected by the rotation detecting means includes the above-described error different at each engine. If the misfire is discriminated according to a unitarily set discrimination level, an erroneous discrimination might occur.
Moreover, a relatively small variation in the rotation of the engine might occur due to a cause except the misfire such as a stepwise difference due to acceleration/deceleration. If a misfire once occurs, continuous misfires might occur among the cylinders. In such a case, if the misfire is discriminated merely by comparing the variation in the rotation of the engine with a misfire discrimination level, the variation in the rotation due to nonmisfire mightly erroneously discriminated as the misfire, or, on the contrary, the continuous misfire might be erroneously discriminated as the mere variation in the rotation, and hence it is difficult to accurately detect the misfire.
Even when the intermittent misfire has occurred in one cylinder in the multicylinder engine, a driver often drives an automobile without noticing the misfire. Besides, it is difficult to diagnose during the drive whether the cause of the misfire is temporary or is the deterioration of any of the injectors, the ignition plugs etc.
Therefore, according to the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 258955/1986 by way of example, a comparison is made between the difference of the minimum value and maximum value of the r.p.m. of an engine corresponding to a cylinder at the previous combustion stroke and the difference of the minimum value and maximum value of the engine r.p.m. corresponding to the cylinder at the present combustion stroke. The combustion condition of the pertinent cylinder is discriminated, depending upon whether or not the discrepancy between the compared values falls within a preset reference value. In a case where abnormal combustion has occurred in excess of a predetermined number of times, a misfire is judged, and warning is given.
With the prior-art technique mentioned above, the misfire condition is discriminated by grasping the revolution fluctuation of the engine. However, when the misfire is diagnosed at the cranking of the engine or at the initial stage of firing start at which the revolution fluctuation is great, the diagnosis is liable to become erroneous and poses a problem in reliability.

Misfire discriminating method and apparatus for an engine


A tire, the tread comprising rubber compounds and including a wear limit surface. At least one wireless temperature measurement system based on surface acoustic wave or bulk acoustic wave technology is embedded in a region of a rubber compound, said region being radially to the outside of a surface radially to the inside of the wear limit surface and the surface radially to the inside of the wear limit surface being, in the unworn state, at a distance from the outer surface of the tread of at most 95% of the thickness of the tread.

The reinforcement armature or reinforcement of tires, and especially of motorcycle tires is, at the present time—and usually—formed by a stack of one or more plies conventionally denoted by "carcass plies", "crown plies", etc. This way of denoting the reinforcements derives from the manufacturing process, which consists in producing a series of semifinished products in the form of plies, provided with filamentary reinforcing elements that are often longitudinal, which reinforcements are subsequently assembled or stacked so as to build up a tire blank. The plies are produced flat, with large dimensions, and are subsequently cut according to the dimensions of a given product. The plies are also assembled, firstly, substantially flat. The blank thus produced undergoes a forming operation so as to adopt the typical toroidal profile of tires. Semifinished products called "finishing products" are then applied to the blank, in order to obtain a product ready for vulcanization.
Such a "conventional" process involves, in particular as regards the phase of producing the tire blank, the use of an anchoring element (generally a bead wire), used for anchoring or retaining the carcass reinforcement in the region of the tire beads. Thus, for this type of process, a portion of all of the plies making up the carcass reinforcement (or only part of it) is upturned around a bead wire placed in the bead of the tire. In this way, the carcass reinforcement is anchored in the bead.
Generalization in the industry using this type of conventional process, despite many variants in the way in which the plies are produced and assembled, has led those skilled in the art to use a vocabulary derived from the process: hence the generally accepted terminology comprising in particular the terms "plies", "carcass", "bead wire", "forming", for denoting the passage from a flat profile to a toroidal profile, etc.
At the present time there are tires that do not comprise, strictly speaking, "plies" or "bead wires" according to the above definitions. For example, document EP 0 582 196 discloses tires produced without using semifinished products in the form of plies. For example, the reinforcing elements for the various reinforcement structures are applied directly to the adjacent layers of rubber compounds, the combination being applied by successive layers on a toroidal core, the shape of which makes it possible to obtain, directly, a profile matching the final profile of the tire being manufactured. Thus, in this case, there are no longer "semifinished products", nor "plies" nor a "bead wire". The base products, such as the rubber compounds and the reinforcing elements in the form of cords or filaments, are applied directly to the core. Since this core has a toroidal shape, there is no longer a forming operation for bringing the blank from a flat profile to a toroidal profile.
Moreover, the tires described in that document do not have a "conventional" upturn of the carcass ply around a bead wire. This type of anchoring is replaced with an arrangement in which circumferential cords are placed adjacent said sidewall reinforcement structure, the combination being embedded in an anchoring or bonding rubber compound.
There are also processes for assembly on a toroidal core using semifinished products suitable for rapid, effective and simple application on a central core. Finally, it is also possible to use a hybrid construction, comprising both certain semifinished products for achieving certain architectural aspects (such as plies, bead wires, etc.), whereas others are produced by directly applying reinforcing elements and/or compounds.
In the present document, so as to take into account recent technological developments both in the manufacturing field and in product design, the conventional terms such as "plies", "bead wires", etc. are advantageously replaced with neutral terms or terms that are independent of the type of process used. Thus, the term "carcass reinforcement" or "sidewall reinforcement" is valid for denoting the reinforcing elements of a carcass ply in the conventional process, and the corresponding reinforcing elements, generally applied in the sidewalls, of a tire produced using a process without semifinished products. For its part, the term "anchoring region" may denote both the "conventional" carcass ply upturn around a bead wire of a conventional process and the assembly formed by the circumferential reinforcing elements, the rubber compound and the adjacent sidewall reinforcement portions of a base region produced using a process with application on a toroidal core.
The longitudinal direction, or circumferential direction, of the tire is the direction corresponding to the periphery of the tire and is defined by the run direction of the tire.
A circumferential plane or circumferential sectional plane is a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the tire. The equatorial plane is the circumferential plane passing through the center or top of the tread.
The transverse or axial direction of the tire is parallel to the rotation axis of the tire.
A radial plane contains the rotation axis of the tire.
As in the case of all other tires, motorcycle tires may have a radial configuration, the architecture of such tires comprising a carcass reinforcement formed from one or two plies of reinforcing elements making an angle to the circumferential direction that may be between 65° and 90°, said carcass reinforcement being radially surmounted by a crown reinforcement formed from at least generally textile reinforcing elements. However, there are nonradial tires, to which the invention also applies. The invention therefore also relates to partially radial tires, that is to say those in which the reinforcing elements of the carcass reinforcement are radial at least over part of said carcass reinforcement, for example in the part corresponding to the crown of the tire.
Many crown reinforcement architectures have been proposed, whether the tire is intended to be mounted at the front or the rear of the motorcycle. A first structure consists, in respect of said crown reinforcement, in using only circumferential cords, and said structure is more particularly employed for the rear position. A second structure, inspired directly from the structures usually employed in tires for passenger cars, has been used to improve the wear resistance, and consists in the use of at least two working crown plies of reinforcing elements that are parallel to one another in each ply but crossed from one ply to the next, making acute angles with the circumferential direction, such tires being more particularly suitable for the front of motorcycles. Said two working crown plies may be associated with at least one ply of circumferential elements, these generally being obtained by the helical winding of a tape of at least one rubber-embedded reinforcing element.
The choice of tire crown architectures has an impact on certain tire properties, such as wear, endurance, grip or even running comfort or, in particular in the case of motorcycles, stability. However, other tire parameters such as the nature of the rubber compounds constituting the tread also have an impact on the properties of said tire. The choice and nature of the rubber compounds constituting the tread are for example essential parameters as regards wear properties. The choice and nature of the rubber compounds constituting the tread also have an impact on the grip properties of the tire.
Moreover, it is known to those skilled in the art that the physicochemical properties of rubber compounds vary with temperature, and therefore that the temperature has an influence on the properties of the tread of a tire.
Furthermore, it is known, for example from document EP 1 275 949, to implant a wireless sensor in tires so as to determine forces or stresses exerted within the tire.
Document EP 0 937 615 discloses the use of wireless surface acoustic wave sensors incorporated into a tire, especially for measuring the grip of a tire. Such a sensor has the advantage of being able to be remotely interrogated wirelessly, by radio waves, without a nearby energy source being necessary. The energy of the interrogating radio wave sent by a remote interrogation device is sufficient for the sensor to transmit a modified radio wave in response.

Vehicle tire and the use of a temperature measuring system


A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) controls an electrically-initiated device (EID) in an electric field. The PCBA includes a conductive layer, a dielectric layer, and a trans-conductive layer (TCL). The conductive layer of the PCBA designated protected areas. An electrical current with a predetermined current density is impressed in the conductive layer when the PCBA is in the electric field. The TCL is a nickel-metal composite metamaterial positioned between the conductive and dielectric layers and configured to change in shape or thickness in the electric field such that the impressed current is steered away from the conductive layer and into the dielectric layer to prevent premature activation of the EID. A system includes an outer housing, power supply, an EID such as a sonobuoy or medical device, and the PCBA, all of which are encapsulated in the housing. A method is also disclosed for manufacturing the PCBA.

Silicon and other semiconductor materials are used to construct printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) for use in the control of electronic circuits and other devices. In a typical PCBA, conductors and circuit components, such as capacitors, resistors, diodes, and the like, may be surface mounted or etched onto the PCBA. The PCBA supports as well as electrically interconnects the various components and traces using thin sheets of conductive foil interposed between dielectric layers.
PCBAs, being electric circuits, tend to be highly sensitive to the effects of radiation. Therefore, a common board-level design feature is a Faraday cage. Faraday cages are metal enclosures that are typically surface mounted to the PCBA between sensitive circuit components and the source of radiation. Such cages form electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields around the protected components, and operate by reflecting radiation energy and/or dissipating the energy as heat. Faraday cages may be fastened to an outer surface of the PCBA, or may be located within the board, e.g., as a multi-sided shield protecting PCBA components from internally-generated narrowband fields emanating from adjacent PCBA components. However, Faraday shields and other EMI shielding techniques may not be appropriate in certain applications due to their size and weight, as well as the band-limited nature of their shielding-based principle of operation.
Specifically, Faraday cages and other prior art EMI shields can be relatively large and bulky relative to the components that are being protected. As a result, physical EMI shields typically add an undesirable height or Z-dimension that may be less than optimal or even impracticable for certain applications, particularly those encapsulated in a housing having limited internal space. Additionally, incident field energy may be impinged within any cavities that might exist between the EMI shield and the protected components of the PCBA, thereby leading to undesirable cavity effects. For instance, trapped energy within such cavities may resonate and cause cavity energy to grow exponentially, ultimately damaging the PCBA. Thus, Faraday cages may be undesirable in certain sensitive applications.
Electrically-initiated devices (EIDs) are a particular class of sensitive devices that are triggered or activated via an electrical signal, often while being exposed to intense electric fields. An example EID application is that of an incendiary device used to create a flame or intense heat, e.g., in a sonobuoy operation. For instance, the incendiary device could burn through a small line or lanyard that is maintaining a carbon dioxide (CO2)-based activation function in an off state, with severing of the lanyard causing release of stored CO2. The released CO2 rapidly inflates a sonobuoy floatation device, or alternatively deflates such a flotation device so as to scuttle the sonobuoy when sonobuoy operations are complete. Other EID applications may include pace makers and other medical devices which trigger in response to an electrical signal. As a result, there is a need to protect against premature activation of EIDs due to energy from an incident electric field.

Method for assembling a printed circuit board assembly


A method and system for solving an optimization problem comprising a plurality of dynamic constraints. A genetic algorithm is used to iteratively generate potential solutions to the problem. A constraint graph is used to model the plurality of dynamic constraints, and any potential solution that does not correspond to a connected subgraph of the constraint graph is infeasible and discarded. Real-time changes in dynamic constraints are incorporated by modification of the constraint graph between iterations of the genetic algorithm. An exemplary embodiment comprising the scheduling of air missions is presented.

A genetic algorithm is a heuristic method based on the mechanics of natural selection and genetics that is a powerful tool for finding solutions to optimization problems, i.e., finding optimal (or more optimal) feasible solutions to a problem under a set of objectives and constraints. A solution is "feasible" if it complies with all constraints binding the different variables, and infeasible if it does not comply with all constraints binding the different variables. An "optimal" solution is the most "fit" of the feasible solutions, where the fitness of a solution is determined by how it is scored by a fitness function. In other words, solution A is more fit—better—than solution B under a particular fitness function F if the fitness function F gives a higher score to solution A than to solution B.
A genetic algorithm typically includes generating a population of feasible solutions to a problem, ranking the solutions according to an objective fitness function, selecting some solutions to survive and/or reproduce, replacing or creating new solutions through genetic operators such as mutation (e.g., changing an existing solution or creating a new solution that has properties of other solutions), and iteratively repeating the steps of selection, ranking and creation/replacement until the algorithm terminates. Typically each generation of the algorithm will generate an improved solution, in the sense that the best solution that emerges after each generation is better than the best solution from the prior generation; and when the solutions begin to converge (i.e., when scores of the highest-ranking solutions cease to materially improve), there is a high degree of confidence (assuming a well-designed genetic algorithm) that the genetic algorithm has converged on a solution that is optimal or nearly so, and the algorithm terminates. Because they can efficiently search large, nonlinear and noisy solution spaces, genetic algorithms and associated genetic programming techniques are ideally-suited for solving optimization problems involving a large number of constraints and multiple different, sometimes inconsistent, objectives.
One example of such a problem is the creation of an Air Tasking Order in the context of a wartime air campaign. An Air Tasking Order (ATO) assigns aircraft and munitions to targets, and specifies the timing and grouping of air missions. It implements an air campaign that covers a 24 hour period. There is a planning cycle, the Master Air Attack Plan (MAAP) process, that precedes preparation of each ATO; once the ATO is issued the MAAP process begins again.
Often there are multiple different tactical objectives that must be satisfied by the ATO. For example, the planner may want to maximize a Probability of Destruction (PD) of a target while simultaneously minimizing attrition and mid-air refueling. The planner may also want to prioritize these objectives based on the mission at hand. Alternatively, a planner may consider minimizing attrition to be the top priority in one mission, while minimizing refueling may be of primary importance in another mission. The objectives may also change as the campaign progresses. Early in a campaign, for example, acquiring air supremacy and/or striking previously-known targets may be the highest tactical objectives, whereas later in the campaign the highest tactical objective may be destruction of pop-up targets and other time-sensitive targets (TSTs). Since an air campaign may involve hundreds of targets, dozens of aircraft units, and multiple possibly-competing tactical objectives, the ATO planning problem is a prime candidate for optimization using a genetic algorithm.

Method and system for solving an optimization problem with dynamic constraints


A fixing device includes a first heat generator and a second heat generator that heat a fixing rotator. A support is disposed inside the fixing rotator. A reflector is mounted on the support and interposed between the support and each of the first heat generator and the second heat generator to reflect light radiated from the first heat generator and the second heat generator toward the fixing rotator. The reflector includes a body mounted on the support and a shield portion projecting from the body toward the first heat generator and the second heat generator to shield the fixing rotator from the first heat generator and the second heat generator. The shield portion includes a wing disposed opposite a non-conveyance span of the fixing rotator in the axial direction thereof where a recording medium is not conveyed over the fixing rotator.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present invention relate to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a fixing device for fixing an image on a recording medium and an image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing device.
2. Description of the Background
Related-art image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, facsimile machines, printers, or multifunction printers having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile, plotter, and other functions, typically form an image on a recording medium according to image data. Thus, for example, a charger uniformly charges a surface of a photoconductor; an optical writer emits a light beam onto the charged surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor according to the image data; a development device supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a toner image; the toner image is directly transferred from the photoconductor onto a recording medium or is indirectly transferred from the photoconductor onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer belt; finally, a fixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording medium bearing the toner image to fix the toner image on the recording medium, thus forming the image on the recording medium.
Such fixing device may include a fixing roller heated by a heater and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller to form a fixing nip therebetween. As a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip, the fixing roller and the pressure roller apply heat and pressure to the recording medium, melting and fixing the toner image on the recording medium.
Instead of the fixing roller, the fixing device may include a fixing belt having a thermal capacity smaller than that of the fixing roller and heated by a heater lamp. Instead of the fixing belt, the fixing device may include a fixing film heated by a ceramic heater.
The fixing belt is requested to be heated quickly to shorten a first print time taken to output the recording medium bearing the fixed toner image upon receipt of a print job. Additionally, as the image forming apparatus conveys an increased amount of recording media at high speed, the fixing belt is requested to overcome shortage of heat.
On the other hand, since the fixing film is heated by the ceramic heater situated at the fixing nip, the fixing film is heated insufficiently at an entry to the fixing nip, resulting in faulty fixing. Accordingly, the fixing film is requested to overcome shortage of heat at the entry to the fixing nip.
To address those requests, the fixing device may include a metal thermal conductor as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fixing device 20R1 incorporating a tubular, metal thermal conductor 200 disposed inside an endless belt 101. A heater 300 is disposed inside the metal thermal conductor 200. A pressure roller 400 is pressed against the metal thermal conductor 200 via the endless belt 101 to form a fixing nip N between the pressure roller 400 and the endless belt 101. As the pressure roller 400 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1, the endless belt 101 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 in accordance with rotation of the pressure roller 400, thus conveying a recording medium P bearing a toner image in a recording medium conveyance direction D1. The metal thermal conductor 200 guides the endless belt 101 sliding thereover. The heater 300 heats the metal thermal conductor 200 which in turn heats the endless belt 101, thus heating the endless belt 101 entirely. Since the tubular, metal thermal conductor 200 is disposed opposite the endless belt 101 throughout the entire circumferential span of the endless belt 101, the metal thermal conductor 200 heats the endless belt 101 quickly, thus shortening the first print time and overcoming shortage of heat.
In order to shorten the first print time and save energy further, the endless belt 101 heated by the heater 300 directly, not through the metal thermal conductor 200, is proposed as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a fixing device 20R2 incorporating the endless belt 101 heated by the heater 300 directly. As shown in FIG. 2, instead of the metal thermal conductor 200 depicted in FIG. 1, a nip formation plate 500 disposed inside the endless belt 101 presses against the pressure roller 400 via the endless belt 101 to form the fixing nip N between the endless belt 101 and the pressure roller 400. Since the heater 300 heats the endless belt 101 directly at a position other than the fixing nip N, the heater 300 heats the endless belt 101 effectively, shortening the first print time at reduced manufacturing costs while saving energy. A stainless steel support 600 supports the nip formation plate 500 to enhance mechanical strength of the nip formation plate 500 against pressure from the pressure roller 400.
Alternatively, the fixing device may include a plurality of heaters: a center heater including a filament that heats a center of the fixing belt in an axial direction thereof and a lateral end heater including a filament that heats each lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof. The center heater and the lateral end heater are turned on and off according to the size of the recording medium, preventing overheating of each lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof where the recording medium is not conveyed. Additionally, the center heater and the lateral end heater are turned on and off based on the temperature of the center and the lateral end of the fixing belt in the axial direction thereof that is detected by a plurality of sensors disposed opposite the center and the lateral end of the fixing belt.
However, the center heater and the lateral end heater may generate heat unnecessarily at a section where heating is not required, overheating a peripheral component situated in proximity to the center heater and the lateral end heater.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus