A confocal scanning microscope has an illuminating aperture and a detecting aperture whose optical axes intersect at an angle. Multiplication of a predominantly transverse section of the point spread function of one aperture with the predominantly axial section of the point spread function of the other aperture results in improved axial resolution to the extent that the transverse section is narrower than the axial section.

For each point in space, a microscope's resolving power is described by a function of three spatial variables called the point-spread function. The point-spread function is typically the Fourier Transform of an aperture distribution. Although the point-spread function is defined at all points in space, the region of most interest to microscopists is that region in which the point-spread function reaches its maximum value. This region is referred to as the "main lobe" of the point-spread function.
The overall shape of a point-spread function, and in particular the shape of the main lobe of a point-spread function, is determined by the microscope objective lens and the illumination source. The spatial location of the main lobe, however, is determined in part by the location of the lens in the three-dimensional space.
A point-spread function defines the resolution of a microscope because two luminous points in the field of view are resolvable only to the extent that their images can be separated by two main lobes from two different point-spread functions. Since the point-spread function is three dimensional, whether or not two luminous points are in separate main lobes depends on both how far apart they are and on the direction in which they are separated.
The transverse resolution of a microscope depends on the width of a cross section of the main lobe transverse to the optical axis. The images of two points in a plane transverse to the optical axis are resolvable if they are separated by a distance exceeding the width of the cross section. Similarly, the axial resolution of a microscope depends on the length of a cross section of the main lobe in a plane containing the optical axis. Images of two points in the plane containing the optical axis are resolvable to the extent they are separated by more than this length.
The point spread functions of the illuminating aperture and of the detecting aperture are formed by convolving the response of the lens to an infinitesimal point source (the lens's "impulse response") with a function representative of the spatial extent and intensity of the illumination source. In the ideal case, where the illumination source is an infinitesimal pinhole, the point-spread functions for both the illumination aperture and the detection aperture of a confocal microscope are sync functions in the axial direction and Bessel functions in the transverse direction. In the case of a pinhole having a finite aperture, the forms of the point spread functions are modified slightly as a result of the above-mentioned convolution.
While the forms of these functions depend on the geometry of the apertures and the spatial extent of the illuminating pinhole, the scales of these functions depend on the numerical apertures of the objective lenses. The axial extent of the main lobe is inversely proportional to the square of the numerical aperture whereas the transverse extent of the main lobe is inversely proportional to numerical aperture. Accordingly, the main lobe extends further in the axial direction than it does in the transverse direction. Because of this, the resolution in the axial direction is significantly poorer than the resolution in the transverse direction.
In conventional confocal microscopes, the overall point-spread function is the product of the point-spread functions for the illuminating aperture stop and for the detecting aperture stop. Since, as described above, these two point-spread functions are of the same form, the product of the two point-spread functions still has a main lobe which is long in the axial direction. The axial extent of the main lobe limits the axial resolution of the confocal microscope, thereby limiting the ability of the confocal microscope to perform optical sectioning on very thin layers.
Conventional methods of increasing axial resolution focus on using objective lenses with high numerical aperture. This is unattractive for several reasons. First, for applications requiring a wide field of view, the narrow field of a high numerical aperture lens is undesirable. Second, for certain applications such as the examination of images deep within tissue, the short focal length of a high numerical aperture lens makes it difficult to place the lens close enough to the region of interest for the microscope to function effectively. Third, for scanning which requires movement of the objective lens, the increased weight of a high numerical aperture lens limits the speed and precision with which the lens can be moved during scanning.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a confocal scanning microscope having enhanced axial resolution but without the constraints of short focal length, excessive weight and narrow field of view imposed by the use of a lens having a high numerical aperture.

Confocal scanning microscope with angled objective lenses for improved axial resolution


The present invention discloses a small integrated greening device and method for recycling wastewater, including a wastewater collection system, a microorganism and plant purification system, and a reclaimed water collection and distribution system. The method includes the following process: greywater or wastewater is collected through a pipeline and enters a water collection tank of a wastewater collection part. Lifting is performed by submersible sewage pumps, such that the lifted water enters a microorganism and plant synergistic purification and greening part. Each submersible pump is controlled by one corresponding automatic water level controller to transport the treated water to the reclaimed water-use sites. The device and method provided by the present invention utilize the physical and chemical action of a filler and the synergistic purification effect of microorganisms and plants to purify the greywater, and the purified reclaimed water is used for flushing toilets, watering trees or other purposes.

With the development of economy and the shortage of water resources, the recycling of sewage and wastewater has gained widespread concern. Currently, most of greywater inside and outside civil and industrial buildings are directly discharged into municipal sewer networks, and finally are directly discharged after being treated by urban sewage treatment plants. In this case, water resources are not fully utilized. The reasons are as follows: most water recycling technologies on the market require a large amount of land area, and have complicated operation and maintenance, and high cost; in case of improper treatment, the sewage may be further corroded and emit odors to pollute the environment, incompatible with the environment.
Various greywater can be reused after certain treatment to effectively save water. Based on the physical and chemical action of fillers and the synergistic purification effect of microorganisms and plants, the functional filler and plants are used in a water recycling system in civil and industrial buildings, to achieve the dual purpose of sewage recycling and environmental protection.

Integrated greening device and method for recycling wastewater

XI'AN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A semiconductor device includes a first set of stacked structures including alternately stacked insulating layers and conductive layers disposed on a substrate, and arranged in a generally parallel configuration with respect to each other, a second set of stacked structures including alternately stacked insulating layers and conductive layers disposed on the substrate between the first stacked structures, and arranged in a generally parallel configuration with respect to each other, a first wiring structure configured to electrically couple conductive layers located on the same layer in different stacked structures of the first set of stacked structures, a second wiring structure configured to electrically couple conductive layers located on the same layer in different stacked structures of the second set of stacked structures, and a third wiring structure configured to electrically couple the first wiring structure and the second wiring structure with an operation circuit.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device having a memory block.
2. Related Art
Methods for incorporating an operation circuit into a semiconductor memory system may change based on a structure of one or more memory blocks disposed within the semiconductor memory system. For example, an operation circuit may be incorporated differently into a memory device including memory blocks having a 2-dimensional structure when compared to a memory device including memory blocks having a 3-dimensional structure. In many cases, a drain select line and a source select line may be stacked with word lines in different areas from each other.


Methods, lead retention assemblies and systems may provide a secure connection of electrical leads to an implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker or a defibrillator. The method may include: providing a lead retention assembly including a support member, a first side clamp and a second side clamp, a first port and a second port each defining a respective receptacle in conjunction with the support, and a fastener configured to urge both the first and second side clamps toward the support upon actuation of the fastener; providing at least two electrical lead bodies each including a respective proximal end portion; inserting the respective proximal end portions into the respective receptacles to be in electrical communication with a respective electrical contact in the respective receptacles; and actuating the fastener to thereby clamp the proximal end portions of the respective electrical lead bodies within the first and second ports.

Cardiac pacemakers, and other implantable stimulation devices such as cardioverters and defibrillators, are typically hermetically sealed within a housing or casing (sometimes also referred to as a "can") to isolate the electronic circuits contained within the device from the body environment. Such devices require that electrical signals be reliably passed between the hermetically sealed circuitry and external connectors without compromising the hermeticity of the device. Depending on the configuration of the implantable device there may be multiple electrical paths required between the device and its external connectors for delivering, for example, multi-chamber or multi-site stimulation and shock therapy, and for receiving sensed cardiac signals. These paths should be electrically and mechanically integrated with the device to provide a safe, long-term lead retention assembly that does not compromise the hermetic package.
Typically, a hermetic housing feedthrough electrically couples the electronic circuits contained within the device housing to the lead retention assembly. The feedthrough may extend through the wall of the hermetically sealed casing into the lead retention assembly so as to couple the electronic circuits within the casing to lead-receiving receptacles within the lead retention assembly. Each lead has one or more electrical terminals on a proximal end thereof, typically in the form of a pin terminal and one or more conductive ring terminals. Typically, the pin is electrically coupled to a distal tip electrode and is therefore sometimes called the "tip terminal." When the proximal end of the lead is inserted into the lead receptacle of a lead retention assembly, contacts within the receptacle come into contact with corresponding terminals on the lead so as to couple the lead to the electronic circuits within the implantable stimulation device via the feedthrough assembly. Needless to say, a completely dependable electrical connection is useful between the lead terminals and the corresponding lead retention assembly contacts. At the same time, the lead retention assembly being capable of releasing the lead from the lead receptacle during explantation or other subsequent surgical procedure may be useful, as may doing so while remaining tightly sealed against the entry of body fluids.
It is known in prior art lead retention assemblies to electrically and mechanically connect the proximal end of the lead within a receptacle of the lead retention assembly by a variety of expedients including captive fastening screw/collet arrangements and setscrews. In such prior art lead retention assemblies in which the lead is fixed within the lead receptacle using a setscrew, the setscrew is often threaded into an electrical connector block within the lead retention assembly. When the screw is advanced, it comes into contact with an associated terminal on the proximal end of the lead, mechanically and electrically coupling the lead and the lead retention assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,145, issued Jan. 10, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an example of a lead retention assembly mounted on an implantable cardiac stimulation device having a side-actuated mechanism for fixing and tightly sealing electrical leads inserted into lead receptacles.

Methods and systems for connecting electrical leads to an implantable medical device


A hybrid storage system comprising mechanical disk drive means, flash memory means, SDRAM memory means, and SRAM memory means is described. IO processor means and DMA controller means are devised to eliminate host intervention. Multi-tiered caching system and novel data structure for mapping logical address to physical address results in a configurable and scalable high performance computer data storage solution.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a data storage system which is applied to a computer system, and comprises volatile (e.g. SRAM, SDRAM) and nonvolatile (e.g. flash memory, mechanical hard disk) storage components.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional computer system, a hard disk drive (HDD) is used as an external memory device wherein a magnetic disk is used as a storage medium. The HDD can be used as a large-capacity file apparatus. However, as compared to a main memory comprising a semiconductor memory (e.g. a DRAM), the access speed of the HDD is lower. A cache system for the HDD has been known as a means for increasing the access speed of the HDD. Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and flash memory have been used to implement a cache system for the HDD. However, the translation from logical address to physical address format suitable for accessing flash memory and a HDD consume resources of the host computer and affects performance. Accordingly there is a need for a hybrid storage system wherein the performance is improved through elimination of host intervention.
Enterprise-level storage systems typically use arrays of hard disk drives (HDD) as mass storage units, or configured as RAID systems. Data users or clients access the data using standard block-based IO interfaces or over the network using standard file-based access protocols. The HDD array data is managed by dedicated host computers that run storage management applications. As several interface controllers are employed in both host and client systems, enterprise-level storage systems will benefit from a controller architecture that integrates block-based access and file-based or random access to the data. The integration of data transfer controllers for different interfaces in the previously mentioned hybrid storage system that implements multi-tiered caching system for a HDD will extend the benefits of HDD data caching to HDD array systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hybrid multi-tiered caching storage system


A virtual LAN (VLAN) has a number of segments connected by a connection-based network. A method for providing differentiated service to frames having different user priorities in a VLAN carries frames associated with different user priorities over different channels in the connection-based network. The connection-based network may be an ATM network in which channels are specified by a connection identifier which may comprise a VPI/VCI pair. A bridge according to the invention has one or more bridge ports. Each of the bridge ports may be associated with a VPI. The bridge ports may each be associated with a plurality of service interfaces each capable of terminating a connection in the connection-based network. The service interfaces may each be associated with a VCI. Priority tagged frames received at the bridge port are mapped to service interfaces on the basis of their user priorities.

In this disclosure the term virtual LAN ("VLAN") means a data communication network which comprises a number of segments which are connected together by links which operate according to a networking protocol different from that of the network segments. For example, two segments of an ethernet network may be connected by way of a channel in a connection-based network. The channel may be, for example, a virtual circuit in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. Each of the network segments may be interfaced to the connection-based network by a bridge.
Data may be delivered between the segments in any of a wide number of ways. For example, where the segments comprise ethernet segments and the network which connects the segments comprises an ATM network then ethernet frames may be carried between the segments according to standards such as local area network emulation ("LANE"), multi-protocol over ATM ("MPOA") or IP over ATM. Data may be carried on a path in a MPLS network. The particular format by which data is conveyed between network segments is not important to this invention.
IEEE standard 802.1Q provides a set of capabilities which permit media access control (MAC) bridges to define and manage networks in which multiple broadcast domains can co-exist on a single physical medium. This IEEE standard uses the term "VLAN" to describe such networks. In this disclosure the term VLAN is not used in the same sense as it is in IEEE 802.1Q (although this invention may be applied to networks which operate, or which include portions which operate, according to IEEE 802.1Q). IEEE standard 802.1D describes the operation of MAC bridges.
Various networking protocols permit priorities (sometimes called "user priorities") to be assigned to data. Through the use of such protocols, data having different priority levels can be treated differently. For example, certain levels of Quality of Service (QoS) may be specified for each priority level. An example of a networking protocol which accommodates user priorities is the IEEE 802.1D standard which relates to ethernet networks. Annex H of IEEE standard 802.1D describes a way to map user priorities to service queues.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,569 discloses a method for extending QoS guarantees to stations on a token ring LAN. The method involves a LAN station originating a request for a connection through an ATM network to either a remote ATM station or a remote LAN station. A LAN/ATM interface device receives the request and attempts to establish the requested connection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,378 discloses a method for identifying frames which relate to a VLAN and excluding such frames from ports not associated with the VLAN.
There is a need for ways to accommodate user priorities in VLANs.


The tensile properties of elastic polymer films which contain thermoplastic block copolymer compositions and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers are improved by replacing some of the ethylene/vinyl acetate with a polyolefin having low crystallinity. The increase in tensile strength occurs without significant loss of elasticity and is most significant when the polyolefin is an ultra-low density polyolefin.

The invention relates to blends of thermoplastic block copolymers, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, and polyolefins. More specifically, the invention relates to films made from the blends.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,180 and 4,977,014 describes elastomeric films comprising from about 40% to about 80% of a thermoplastic block copolymer composition and from about 15% to about 60% of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The '180 patent teaches that films having both good tensile strength and good elasticity must contain ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers that have a vinyl acetate content between 22% and 33% and have a melt index less than 0.6 as determined by ASTM Method D 1238, Condition B. The '014 patent teaches that addition of small amounts of polystryrene to the blends improves tensile strength without significant reduction in elasticity and that the limits on vinyl acetate content and melt index can be broadened.


An image forming apparatus has a charging roller disposed in contact with a photoconductor having a photoconducting layer for charging the surface of the photoconductor, and a photoconductor life judging device including an element for detecting the change of the value of the current flowing through the charging roller and an element for judging the photoconductor life on the basis of the change of the current value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image forming apparatus, for charging a surface of a photoconductor by a charging roller, which comprises a judging means for judging a life of the photoconductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus which performs image forming process using a photoconductor having a photoconductive layer, it is known that deterioration of the photoconductor results in reduction of a image quality to be formed. For instance, when a surface potential of the photoconductor increases due to the deterioration, the charges can not be sufficiently canceled by an exposing process and fogs would arise in the formed image so as to provide deteriorated images only. Accordingly, it is necessary to replace the photoconductor depending on the degree of the deterioration in order to constantly obtain images of high stability and quality. Conventionally, the photoconductor has been used to be replaced when the numbers of the formed images reaches a predetermined number (e.g. approximately 40,000).
However, such manner of judging the time for replacing the photoconductor as mentioned above bases on the predetermined numbers of the formed images, irrespective of the actual used state of the photoconductor. Further, taking account of the dispersion of the individual life of the photoconductors, the threshold value of the numbers of the formed images in the counting-type photoconductor replacing method has been set to a significantly low value, taking account of the case where the life is shortest. As a result, it has been quite usual that still certainly usable photoconductors are replaced.

Apparatus for judging life of photoconductor


A heat exchange unit is provided with which, even if a flammable refrigerant is used, the likelihood of the refrigerant reaching an electric component unit is reduced. An outdoor unit (20) constitutes a portion of an air-conditioning apparatus (1), and is connected to an indoor unit (30) via a liquid-side refrigerant connection pipe (6) and a gas-side refrigerant connection pipe (5). The outdoor unit (20) includes an outdoor housing (50), an outdoor heat exchanger (23) disposed inside the outdoor housing (50) and in which a refrigerant flows, a liquid-side shutoff valve (29) connected to the liquid-side refrigerant connection pipe (6), a gas-side shutoff valve (28) connected to the gas-side refrigerant connection pipe (5), and an outdoor electric component unit (8) disposed inside the outdoor housing (50). The refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant containing at least 1,2-difluoroethylene. When the outdoor unit (20) is in its installed state, the lower end of the outdoor electric component unit (8) is positioned above the liquid-side shutoff valve (29) and the gas-side shutoff valve (28).

R410A is a refrigerant frequently used in conventional heat cycle systems such as air-conditioning apparatuses. R410A is a two-component mixed refrigerant of difluoromethane (CH2F2; HFC-32 or R32) and pentafluoroethane (C2HF5; HFC-125 or R125), and is a near-azeotropic composition.
Unfortunately, R410A has a global warming potential (GWP) of 2088. Due to the growing concern over global warming in recent yrs, it is becoming increasingly common to use R32 having a lower GWP of 675.
Accordingly, for example, PTL 1 (International Publication No. 2015/141678) proposes various low GWP refrigerant mixtures that can potentially replace R410A.


Planar magnetic transducers including diaphragms having electrical conductors thereon which are mounted within frames so that spaced magnets are disposed on opposite sides of central sound producing surface areas of the diaphragms. Pole elements are provided in spaced relationship between each of the magnets and extend inwardly toward the diaphragms so to form pole extensions for causing magnetic flux from the poles of the magnets proximate to the diaphragms to extend more densely and generally parallel to the electrical conductors between the magnets and the pole elements. Openings for acoustic waves are provided between the pole elements and adjacent magnets.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally directed to transducers which incorporate a vibrating diaphragm, and more specifically to planar magnetic transducers which include magnets mounted on opposite sides of a diaphragm on which an electrical conductor circuit has been applied. The invention is directed to pole elements spaced intermediate each of the magnets on opposite sides of the sound producing diaphragm which function to enhance transducer efficiency by reducing magnetic flux leakage and causing the magnetic flux field from the pole faces of the magnets adjacent the diaphragm to assume a more parallel orientation relative to the conductor circuit of the diaphragm between the magnets and the pole elements.
2. History of the Related Art
In microphone transducers, acoustic pressure variations act on a diaphragm surface causing the diaphragm to vibrate. The resultant vibrations of conductors associated with the diaphragm, while retained within a magnetic field of the transducer, create a voltage signal of similar time variance and intensity characteristics as the acoustic signal used to supply the conductors of the diaphragm. In a loudspeaker transducer, an audio signal current flows through conductors of a diaphragm. A magnetic field is created by current flowing the conductors which reacts with the magnetic field of magnets mounted in proximity to the diaphragm, thereby causing magnetic forces to act on the conductors that create sound pressure waves along the diaphragm surface which are proportional and synchronous to audio signals applied to the conductors.
Diaphragms of planar magnetic loudspeakers are normally held loose or under tension in a plane parallel to the pole faces of one or more permanent magnets so as to be in the space of the static magnetic field of the magnets. An active surface area of the diaphragm, which is an area of the diaphragm which is not constrained from motion by a rigid supporting frame to which the diaphragm is attached, is vibrated when electrical signals are provided to conductor circuits attached to the diaphragm. Conductors are attached to the diaphragm in runs which, in many transducers, are generally parallel with the edges or pole faces of the permanent magnets. The path of the conductors on the diaphragm is chosen so that current flowing therethrough produces net magnetic forces of uniform direction for all of the conductor segments or runs along the active surface of the diaphragm by causing the general direction of diaphragm motion to always be perpendicular to the diaphragm surface.
The diaphragm active surface area is chosen for particular acoustic response characteristics, such as frequency response or dispersion. The spacing of conductors and the adjacent magnetics are chosen so that the diaphragm is uniformly driven across its entire active surface area for low distortion or maximum band width. As an alternative, the conductor spacing may be chosen for optimum efficiency for a particular frequency band width or for various other reasons. The electrical circuit formed by conductor runs or segments on the diaphragm is designed concurrent with the arrangement of permanent magnets so that sufficient magnetic field strength and proper magnetic field orientation is provided to all active conductor segments or runs to achieve adequate transducer efficiency.
Conductor runs on the diaphragm may take a variety of configurations, including round or rectangular. The conductors may be bonded to a diaphragm or foil conductor patterns chemically etched from foil laminates. The conductor dimensions, compositions and circuit arrangements are often chosen to meet a desired circuit impedance requirement for maximum efficiency within practical limitations. At the present time, aluminum or aluminum-clad conductors are preferably utilized for conductors due to lower mass and lower overall mass-resistivity produced over other conductor metals. Lower mass has an inherent advantage for fast transient response and lower mass-resistivity equates to higher efficiency.
The magnet materials are chosen for cost, ease of fabrication and magnetic parameters. Optimal magnet spacing, geometry and dimensional criteria may vary the magnetic material utilized in a particular application. An "air gap dimension", the spacing between a diaphragm of magnetic transducers and the magnets thereof, should be minimized for maximum efficiency but must be chosen to allow for adequate diaphragm motion at low frequencies. The optimum spacing between adjacent magnets of each assembly is also influenced directly by the air gap length.
The advantages of planar magnetic loudspeakers over other electromagnetic arrangements is that planar magnetic loudspeakers have lower distortion and more accurate phase response when compared to cone radiator type loudspeakers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,312 to McKay discloses a push-pull type planar magnetic transducer arrangement wherein magnets are positioned to direct a magnetic flux across the diaphragm in a slant angle with conductor runs applied to the diaphragm. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,173 to Winey, another push-pull magnetic arrangement is shown wherein magnets are positioned in alternating sets of rows so that magnetic fluxes are supposed to be directed tangential to the diaphragm from the north pole face of one magnet to the south pole face of an adjacent magnet and so forth across the width of the transducer with the magnets in opposing assemblies of magnets on opposite sides of a diaphragm providing repellant magnetic forces to bound the path of the magnetic flux field.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,379 to Nakaya, arrays of square magnets alternating in polarity is disclosed which are retained in two similar assemblies of equivalent magnetic pole structures with a diaphragm contoured with conductor patterns arranged to minimize resonance mode inherent in some planar transducer designs.
Each of these magnetic transducer designs and other prior art structures create a long, and therefore low, permanence path for the magnetic flux from the pole faces of the magnets proximate to the conductors carried by the sound producing diaphragms. Gauss' law dictates that the flux of each permanent magnet must form a closed loop through both poles of each magnet and take the highest permanence path from pole face to pole face. Therefore, the longer the flux path, the less efficient the transducer.


A tool comprising an elongated handle on the upper end of a driver member for remotely changing the rotational setting of a diverter valve mounted in the suction outlet of a skimmer for a swimming pool. The diverter valve is provided with an adapter ring having a protrusion on the top surface thereof. The driver member comprises a skirt with an upper hub portion. The skirt is provided with a slot on the bottom edge thereof and openings on the sidewall thereof. The hub portion has the elongated handle extending upwardly therefrom and an axial projection extending downwardly therefrom. While the circulating pump for the pool is running, the axial projection enables the skirt to be readily positioned and seated over the upper end portion of the diverter valve and the openings on the sidewall of the skirt enable the driver member to be removed from the diverter valve by permitting water in the skimmer to flow into the suction outlet thereof to break the suction.

Swimming pool installations are commonly provided with at least one skimmer adjacent the sidewall of the pool. The skimmer is provided with an inlet for receiving water from the surface of the pool as controlled by a floating weir therein and is provided with a suction outlet on the bottom thereof which is connected to one of the sockets of a tee fitting. It is also common practice to provide a main drain suction outlet on the floor of the swimming pool which is connected by a pipe to the opposite socket of the tee fitting. The branch socket of the tee fitting is connected by a pipe to the inlet of an external pump-filter assembly .located adjacent the decking of the swimming pool.
A diverter valve, which includes a hollow upper cylindrical portion, a hollow middle cylindrical portion, and a lower semicircular wall portion with a bottom diagonal wall extending down from an edge thereof is mounted within the top opening of the suction outlet of the skimmer. When so mounted, a shoulder on the bottom of the upper cylindrical portion of the diverter valve rests on the upper rim of the suction outlet and its lower semicircular wall portion extends down into the interior of the tee fitting such that the bottom diagonal wall thereon is disposed opposite the internal openings of both the upper socket and the lower socket of the tee fitting. The diverter valve is provided for the purpose of regulating the amount of the vacuum of the external pump that is made available at the suction outlet of the skimmer and the suction outlet of the main drain of the pool during the normal filtering of the water in the swimming pool.
When it is desired to vacuum the floor of the swimming pool with a portable vacuum cleaner, the diverter valve in the suction outlet of the skimmer must be rotatably adjusted by the pool technician extending his hand up to his elbow into the water in the skimmer. This adjustment provides for positioning the bottom diagonal wall on the lower semicircular wall portion of the diverter valve to completely close off the internal opening in the lower socket of the tee fitting connected by a pipe to the main drain on the bottom of the pool. This enables all the vacuum of the pump to be made available to the suction outlet of the skimmer. This, of course, requires that the suction outlets of any other skimmers provided for the pool be plugged off. The pool technician then connects the end of a vacuum hose on a portable vacuum cleaner, placed on the floor of the pool, to the upper cylindrical portion of the diverter valve mounted in the suction outlet of the skimmer to receive the full vacuum of the pump. Then, after cleaning the pool with the portable vacuum cleaner, in order to reset the diverter valve so that a portion of the suction of the pump is again made available to the suction outlet of the main drain, it is necessary for the pool technician to again extend his hand up to his elbow into the water in the skimmer.
This need for the pool technician to have to extend his hand up to his elbow into the water in a skimmer each time he adjusts the setting of the diverter valve is a great inconvenience and nuisance and is especially a problem in the winter months when not only is the water in the pool cold but the pool technician has to remove his shirt and/or jacket that is covering his arms to assure that they do not get wet when he extends his hand up to his elbow in the water in the skimmer.
It should now be clear that it would be highly desirable and more convenient if the pool technician were provided with a manipulator tool that would enable him to remotely change the rotational setting of the diverter valve mounted in the suction outlet of the skimmer to regulate the flow of water being drawn from the suction outlets of the main drain and the skimmer without having to submerge his hand up to his elbow into the water in the skimmer.


A wind turbine system includes turbine blades (16) that turn a low speed shaft (18). A shrink disc coupling (24) radially connects the low speed shaft to a low speed gear box input shaft (22). A brake (26) for the gear box input shaft is operatively connected with the coupling. At least one circuit including a processor controls the brake to keep torsional force on the gear box input shaft below a threshold. The at least one circuit is associated with sensors that can sense conditions away from the gear box input shaft. The at least one circuit can determine when a current condition exists which can cause the threshold to soon be exceeded if preventive braking is not timely applied to the gear box input shaft. The current condition can include a sensed weather condition that is approaching the wind turbine system.

Wind driven electric power generating devices include one or more rotating blades that move in response to movement of the wind. The blades rotate a shaft at a rotational speed that varies in response to wind speed. The shaft that is directly rotated by the one or more blades of a wind turbine generally rotates at a relatively low velocity. For example, rotation at a rate of 10 to 60 rpm is common for many types of commercial wind turbine generators.
Electrical generators, which are sometimes alternatively referred to as dynamo electric machines, often have an armature or other rotating assembly that preferably rotates at a relatively high rotational speed compared to the rotational speed of the blades when producing electricity. Some common electrical generators preferably operate in the range of 600 to 1,800 rpm. Many types of wind turbine electrical generator systems include a gear box that operates to connect a shaft that is operatively connected to the turbine blades and rotates at the speed thereof, to the electrical generator. The gear box operates to step up the speed from the relatively low speed shaft which rotates at the speed of the turbine blades, and provides an output via one or more relatively high speed output shafts which shaft or shafts are operatively connected to the rotating assembly of a generator and which rotates at a speed that is suitable for the production of electricity.
Wind velocity is often highly variable, irregular and unpredictable. Wind velocity may rise and fall rapidly during gusty conditions. Such repeated rapid changes in wind speed, and the resulting force against the one or more turbine blades of a wind turbine electric generator, may result in excessive torque loading and/or torque spikes in the power transmission system, including the gear box. While the pitch of the blades of the wind turbine may be selectively changeable in many wind turbine electric generator systems, the pitch of the blades is generally not changed rapidly for dynamic or energy production reasons. As a result, blade pitch generally cannot be changed quickly enough to avoid excessive torque that results from wind gusts or highly rapidly varying wind conditions. Rather, systems which control the pitch of the blades will often take considerable time to change the blade pitch sufficiently to reduce torsional load spikes or other undesirable conditions. Many times load spikes, excessive torsional loads and other conditions which can damage components of the wind turbine will have impacted the gear box and other components before a change in pitch can be effective to avoid damage.
Further, when a wind turbine generator is operating efficiently and the generator is applying a resistence load to the high speed output shaft of the gear box, rapid changes in torsional force may be particularly damaging to gears, bearings and other components within the gear box. Such conditions may cause breakage and/or fatigue of shafts and gear teeth, which eventually results in failures of the gear box and connected components. Further in some arrangements, rapid changes in wind speed may cause increases in the rotational speed of the turbine blades and the generator to undesirable levels. Many types of wind turbines are not operated in sustained winds above 55 mph in order to avoid damage to the device components. In cases where the rotational speed of wind turbine blades has reached an undesirable level, a reduction in speed is generally achieved by changing the pitch of the blades. Because in such circumstances the blades and the other system components are rotating at an undesirable high speed, and because of inertial forces, a change in pitch of the blades will often take considerable time to achieve a reduction in the speed of the blades. Thus, considerable time is often required to slow down and/or stop the rotation of the blades.
While some wind turbine electric generator systems include a brake device for stopping and/or preventing rotation of one or more components of the system, such devices are generally configured only to stop and hold one or more shafts against relatively small rotational forces. Such mechanisms will generally operate to prevent the mechanism from rotating once a change in pitch of the turbine blades has been used to slow the rotational speed of the turbine blades. Conventional braking mechanisms cannot generally withstand an extended period of attempting to resist the force of the turbine blades at operating pitch and being rotated by high winds. Further in many conventional arrangements, the braking mechanisms apply braking and holding force on the high speed output shaft of the gear box. As a result, when the brake is engaged, torsional loading and potential gear box wind-up caused by the wind force acting on the wind turbine blades is applied to the gear box. Such conditions may cause fatigue and/or damage to internal gear box components as the gear box resists the torsional loading.
Wind turbine electric generators and related systems may benefit from improvements.

Wind turbine electric generator with torque limiting brake


A method for identifying a stimulation target is provided, which uses microelectrode recording and electrical impedance tomography techniques together in a composite probe. The composite probe includes at least a microelectrode recording sensor and a plurality of microelectrodes, so that after the composite probe is guided and implanted to a depth suitable for the stimulation target based on microelectrode recording signals, tissue structures surrounding the composite probe are delineated by using the plurality of microelectrodes, and the boundary of the stimulation target and the precise location of the composite probe within the stimulation target are determined. Accordingly, the present invention provides a quick and accurate direction for surgeons, eliminating the problem of not knowing the exact location of the implanted probe within the stimulation target as in the case during deep brain stimulation surgeries.

Side effects often appear after patients have taken medicines, and one of the most common side effects is dyskinesia, which not only hinders a normal life, and may also induce a variety of symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
In addition to drug-induced side effects, after the drug has been taken for a long period of time, it may often lose efficacy and often induce an "on-off" alternating reaction. When the drug induces the "on" reaction, the patient's symptom is under control, but when the "off" reaction is induced, the patient's symptoms will not be able to be controlled, and thus the ability to lead a normal life is affected.
Therefore, when the patient cannot carry out normal activities or quality of life is affected due to the above two reasons (the side effects of drugs and the "on-off" alternating reaction), surgical treatments would need to be considered. Such surgeries can be divided into two main types: deep brain stimulation (DBS) and lesion procedure which involves a higher risk, among which deep brain stimulation is more popular.
In the current deep brain stimulation surgery, microelectrode recording (MER) is employed to help determine the implant position for a permanent wire that is used to stimulate the target within the brain by electricity. Specifically, this technique first uses Computed Tomography (CT) scanning and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to search for a rough position of the target to obtain a first implantation trajectory for implanting a probe with a microelectrode recording sensor. This sensor performs microelectrode recording to confirm whether the probe has reached the predefined position of the stimulation target. If the first implantation of the probe position is not satisfactory, then the probe is taken out and implanted in a different trajectory, until the probe is successfully implanted in the predefined target position. When the depth of probe implanted has reached the stimulation target, the probe can then be removed and replaced with a permanent wire. However, the microelectrode recording technique can be used only to determine whether the depth of implanted probe has reached the stimulation target, but cannot be used to determine the exact location of the probe within the stimulation target. Therefore, it is possible that the permanent wire is placed at the non-optimal position within the stimulation target rather than being properly implanted at the "optimal location" within the stimulation target. If the placement position is not ideal for the permanent wire, the part of the target within the brain that is stimulated upon electrical conduction will be limited, and thus cannot achieve the desired effect of the surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,492 discloses an integrated probe applicable to DBS surgery, which integrates a DBS wire into a probe with a microelectrode recording sensor, so that after the probe is implanted into the stimulation target, the probe is not removed and replaced by a permanent wire, this can reduce the complexity of the surgery. However, this prior-art technique still cannot determine if the implant position of the probe is accurate or not, so several trajectories for implanting the probe may still be required to locate the best implant position, so a fast and accurate implantation of the probe into the desired location of the stimulation target is not possible, which increases the burden on the patient and surgical risks of failure.
Referring to FIG. 1, an existing electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technique is shown. As shown, a wire with electrodes 1-16 is dispose around the periphery of a specific region 100. Through electrodes 1 and 3 on the surface of this specific region 100, a current source 104 may input signals into the specific region 100. In the meantime, the presence of a conductive target 102 will affect the electric field profile of 100, that is, the equipotential line 108 will be altered with the presence of 104 which reflects on the potential measured by electrodes 4-16 on the surface of the specific region 100. A voltage measuring device 106 is used for receiving signals to calculate the impedances within the specific region 100 and reconstruct the image of the conductive target 102 in the specific region 100. For example, the voltage measuring device 106 first connects to the electrodes 6 and 8, after receiving signals from the electrodes 6 and 8, it subsequently moves to measure voltage signals from other pairs of electrodes. In short, the electrical impedance tomography technique surrounds the target with electrodes, and performs some established voltage measuring procedures to delineate the location of the target within the region surrounded by the electrodes. As for DBS surgeries, it is different from the above technique in that the electrode is implanted into the brain toward the target. If one wishes to delineate the tissue structures surrounding of the probe in a DBS surgery so as to know the precise location of the probe implanted in the target, the electrical impedance tomography technique is not directly applicable.

Method for identifying stimulation target


A pivot assembly for a vehicle external mirror having a mirror head mounted to a mirror base, the assembly comprising a first member (20), a second member (30), the first and second members (20, 30) mounted in or being part of the mirror base and the mirror head respectively, the first and second members (20, 30) having respectively first and second detent sides (24, 34), inner sides (26, 36) and apertures (28, 38) extending from the detent side (24, 34) to the inner sides (26, 36) respectively, detent means (56, 59), a spigot (50), a spring (60), means (56, 72) for applying a pre-load to the spring (60), the initial relative rotation between the second member (30) and the first member (20) in a first direction causes loading of the spring (60), the pre-load is maintained during subsequent relative rotations between the second (30) and the first member (20).

The present invention relates to external rear view mirrors for vehicles and in particular to mirrors of the type having a head pivotally mounted to a base.
Vehicle external side rear view mirrors commonly comprise a mirror head which is pivotally attached to a mirror base or mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is in turn secured to the motor vehicle body. The pivot enables the mirror head to rotate with respect to the base if it is impacted either while the vehicle is moving or stationery (referred to as "mirror break away"). The pivot also enables the mirror head to move to a "park" position under the action of a drive means to effectively reduce the width of the vehicle and reduce the risk of impact or interference from passing pedestrians or other vehicles. The ability to "park" the mirror head also facilitates transportation of the vehicle.
Spring loaded detent systems are used in external rear vision mirrors on motor vehicles to provide the ability for the mirror head to be alternatively held in a deployed position and a parked or folded position.
A problem in the assembly of such spring loaded detent systems is that while a moving part (typically connected to the mirror head) and a fixed part (typically connected to the mirror base or bracket) are being assembled, a spring which loads the detent system must be held compressed. Such an operation usually requires special tooling to hold the spring in a loaded position during assembly. Furthermore, such an assembly operation can, in some cases, pose a danger to the assembler.
In order to limit the degree of rotation of the head with respect to the base, end stops are provided within the mirror assembly. A known simple end stop arrangement includes a projection fixed with respect to either the head or the base that engages a stop fixed with respect to either the base or the head. Such simple stop arrangements have the disadvantage that they cause twisting of the head with respect to the base. This twisting causes a shear load through the pivot axis.
Other end stop arrangements have the disadvantage that they limit the degree of travel of the head with respect to the base to less than 180°.
It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle external mirror assembly that overcomes at least some of the above stated problems.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved pivot assembly for a vehicle external mirror that is adapted to pre-load a detent spring in a simple assembly operation not requiring any special tools or expertise.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for assembling a pivot assembly incorporating a spring-loaded detent system.

External vehicle mirror having a self-loading pivot and an end stop

Schefenacker Vision Systems Australia Pty Ltd.


Provided is a high-reliability level shift circuit not prone to faulty operation due to noise. A level shift circuit 1 is provided with: first and second current control elements 12a and 12b into control terminals of which a reverse-phase input signal and an in-phase input signal are input, respectively; first and second load circuits 13a and 13b which are connected at one end to a high-side power source terminal Vb and at the other end to each of first terminals of the first and second current control elements 12a and 12b; a comparator 14 in which a pair of differential input terminals Np and Nn are connected separately to each of the first terminals of the first and second current control elements 12a and 12b; a current generating circuit 3 in which first and second current output terminals Na and Nb are connected to second terminals of the first and second current control elements 12a and 12b, and which separately generates a current which flows through the respective first and second current control elements 12a and 12b; and voltage suppressing circuits 15a and 15b which are connected separately or commonly to the first and second current output terminals Na and Nb, respectively, and suppress voltage from rising in the first and second current output terminals Na and Nb, respectively.

An inverter system capable of high level control by a microcontroller has been widely used for controlling a motor which is used in household electrical appliances, such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, in order to improve energy-saving performance. On the other hand, with practical use of a wide band gap semiconductor element such as SiCFET or GaNFET, application to an inverter circuit has been studied in an effort to aim efficiency improvement by low on-resistance and high frequency characteristics thereof.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a circuit configuration of a conventional inverter circuit. FIG. 6 is an example of a configuration of an inverter circuit INV which is configured with a driver circuit 30, power switching elements of an n-type MOSFET 7a and 7b, a diode 8, and a condenser 9. The driver circuit 30 has a function of a level shift circuit.
In the driver circuit 30, a power source terminal VCC and a ground terminal VSS which perform supplying externally, a control input terminal Inh on a high-side circuit 36 side, a control input terminal Inl on a low side, a positive voltage power source terminal Vb, a reference power source terminal Vs and an output terminal Vh on the high-side circuit 36 side, and an output terminal V1 on the low side are provided, respectively. The power source terminal VCC and the ground terminal VSS of the driver circuit 30 are connected to a power source terminal VCC and a ground terminal VSS of the inverter circuit INV, respectively.
A control input signal on the high-side circuit 36 side, which is input by the control input terminal Inh, is connected to an input terminal IN of a pulse generating circuit 31, and a first pulse with a pulse width of around 100 ns is generated from a first output terminal OUT1 after rising of the control input signal and a second pulse with a pulse width of around 100 ns is generated from a second output terminal OUT2 after falling of the control input signal, respectively.
FIG. 7 shows one example of a circuit configuration of the pulse generating circuit 31. The pulse generating circuit 31 is configured by including six inverters 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e and 41f which are cascade-connected, two NAND circuits 42a and 42b, two inverters 43a and 43b, and two condensers 44a and 44b for pulse width setting. An input of the head inverter 41a is connected to the input terminal IN, and when output nodes of the inverters 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e and 41f are set as N1, N2, N3, N4, N5 and N6 in order from head, respectively, one end each of the condensers 44a and 44b is grounded, the other ends thereof are connected to the nodes N3 and N4, respectively, the nodes N2 and N5 are connected to two inputs of the NAND circuit 42a, respectively, the nodes N1 and N6 are connected to two inputs of the NAND circuit 42b, respectively, outputs of the NAND circuits 42a and 42b are connected to inputs of the inverters 43a and 43b, respectively, and outputs of the inverters 43a and 43b are connected to the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2, respectively.
FIG. 8 shows an operation waveform of the pulse generating circuit 31. The first pulse in synchronization with the rising of the control input signal which is input to the input terminal IN and the second pulse in synchronization with falling thereof are output from the first output terminal OUT1 and the second output terminal OUT2, respectively.
The first pulse is input to a gate of an n-type high voltage MOSFET 32a, converted into a signal which is level-shifted by a resistance 33a, and input to a reset input R of an RS flip-flop 34. The second pulse is input to a gate of an n-type high voltage MOSFET 32b, converted into a signal which is level-shifted by a resistance 33b, and input to a set input S of the RS flip-flop 34. An output Q of the RS flip-flop 34 is connected to an input of an inverter 35, and an output of the inverter 35 is connected to a gate of the MOSFET 7a through the output terminal Vh.
As a result thereof, the control input signal which is input to the control input terminal Inh is level-shifted and transmitted to the high-side circuit 36 which is floating, and output to the gate of the MOSFET 7a as a high-side output signal. On the other hand, the control input signal on the low side, which is input to the control input terminal Inl on the low side, is output to a gate terminal of the MOSFET 7b through the output terminal V1 on the low side.
To a drain of the MOSFET 7a, a high-voltage power source of, for example, around 600 V is connected through a high-voltage power source terminal HV of the inverter circuit INV. A source of the MOSFET 7a and a drain of the MOSFET 7b are connected to the reference power source terminal Vs of the driver circuit 30 and an output terminal OUT of the inverter circuit INV, respectively. A source of the MOSFET 7b is connected to a ground terminal for output GND of the inverter circuit INV to be grounded.
One end of the condenser 9 is connected to a cathode terminal of the diode 8 and the positive voltage power source terminal Vb, the other end thereof is connected to the reference power source terminal Vs, and an anode terminal of the diode 8 is connected to the power source terminal VCC. A bootstrap circuit is configured by the diode 8 and the condenser 9. When the floating condenser 9 is charged with a power source voltage supplied through the power source terminal VCC of the inverter circuit INV which is connected to the power source terminal VCC and a potential of the reference power source terminal Vs rises through the MOSFET 7a, a high voltage is generated at the positive voltage power source terminal Vb due to electrostatic bonding through the condenser 9, so that floating power source supply is realized in the high-side circuit 36.
When two positive and reverse control input signals whose phases are inversed are input to the two control input terminals Inh and Inl, an output signal with a high voltage applied between the power source terminal HV and the ground terminal GND of the inverter circuit INV as an amplitude is generated on the output terminal OUT of the inverter circuit INV which is connected to the reference power source terminal Vs.
A reason why the pulse generating circuit 31 and the RS flip-flop 34 are used in the conventional circuit configuration shown in FIG. 6 is that power supplied by the bootstrap circuit to the condenser 9 is limited so that power consumption at the high-side circuit 36 is suppressed as much as possible to keep output capability of the inverter 35.
However, there is a problem that input of the RS flip-flop 34 is likely to be subjected to faulty operation with respect to noise, and countermeasure for noise is needed under a condition with much noise like the high-side circuit 36. Against such a problem, in PTL 1 described below, proposed is a circuit configuration in which a filter by a logic circuit is arranged before an RS flip-flop to prevent faulty operation due to noise.
Moreover, in PTL 2 described below, in order to provide a level shift circuit capable of suppressing faulty operation of an upper arm power switching element and an inverter device provided with the same, proposed is a method that in a series circuit of a resistance for generating an input signal of a power switching element driving circuit and an n-type MOSFET, each of the resistance and the n-type MOSFET is surrounded by double isolation oxide films and a potential of a Si active layer held between these double isolation oxide films is separately supplied. Specifically, with this method, when a time differentiation (dv/dt) of a low-level power source potential of the power switching element driving circuit which is connected to a source of the upper arm power switching element is generated, a voltage drop of this resistance is lowered to suppress faulty operation of the level shift circuit.


A new and significantly improved approach for controlling the transmission power in the uplink direction of a CDMA-based radio system is disclosed, which provides a transmission power control even with regard to an overall link quality substantially involving a real time reaction on changes in the environment. A CDMA-based radio system is described which comprises an inner power control loop for adjusting the transmission power between a user equipment and at least one base station based on the signal to interference ratio to ensure that the signal to interference ratio is similar to a target signal to interference ratio at least within a predefined range and an outer power control loop for adjusting the target signal to interference ratio based on the link quality to ensure a target link quality necessary for fulfilling a predetermined quality of service in view of link quality at least within a predefined range. The outer power control loop is provided by establishing a first outer power control loop between the at least one base station and the user equipment and by establishing a second outer power control loop between an associated serving radio controller and the at least one base station.

In particular with regard to third-generation (3G) wireless communication networks, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) techniques are used in the respective radio access network. In such a CDMA-based-wireless communication network and especially for the reverse link or uplink relating to the physical channel from user equipment, such as a mobile station, to the network, the effect of mutual interference is not negligible. Consequently the control of transmission power is very critical for the overall system performance of the radio access networks and hence, in CDMA-networks the power control is usually split into a fast inner loop and a slower outer loop of power control.
In detail, the inner loop providing fast power control has to mitigate changes in the ratio between signal and interference (SIR). Normally the changes of such signal to interference ratio are caused by fast fading, such as Rayleigh or Ricean fading, by shadowing, e.g. log-normal fading or by changes in the interference level. Ideally the received SIR should remain constant to enable a good reception of the reverse link signal without wasting transmit power at the user equipment. Actually, the inner loop has to adjust the transmit power at the user equipment such that the resulting SIR at the respective base transceiver station (BTS) of the network stays as close as possible to a target value of SIR.
The outer power control loop providing slow power control has to control the current link quality, usually in terms of bit error rate (BER) or block error rate (BLER), depending on requirements of the respective radio bearer service. The received link quality however may still change although the SIR is controlled by the inner power control loop. These changes are particularly caused by variations in a multipath delay profile based, for example, on typical urban and/or hilly terrain, by alterations in the speed of the user equipment or by modifications in the interference characteristics. Consequently, the outer power control loop has to adapt the aforementioned target value of SIR of the inner loop such that the required link quality is met.
In CDMA-systems according to the IS-95 standard, the uplink inner and outer power control loop, i.e. for the transmission from a user equipment to the network, are both located in the base transceiver stations (BTS). For the inner power control loop, the received SIR is estimated at the BTS and is compared against the target SIR. If the estimated SIR is greater than the target SIR, a power-down command is sent to the user equipment using the forward link control channel. Accordingly, a power-up command is sent if the estimated SIR is below the target SIR. Thus, the power command is generally based on values "up" and "down". After the user equipment has received a respective power command, which is sent periodically 800 times per second, the transmit power is correspondingly changed by a predefined power step, usually based on dB. If the user equipment, however, is in a soft handover procedure, it combines the power commands of the respectively associated base transceiver stations. In particular the user equipment decreases its transmit power if any of the power commands asks the user equipment to decrease the transmit power and, hence, a transmit power increase is only performed if all power commands are power "up" commands.
With regard to the outer power loop control of such IS-95 systems, the BLER performance of a respective radio link is determined by checking the received frames or blocks for errors usually using a so called Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). If the CRC fails, the block is in error. To meet the required BLER, the target SIR is increased by predefined power up step in dB if a block was detected to be wrong. If the block was received correctly, the target SIR will be decreased by a fraction of the power up step. The correct BLER will be met if the power down step equals the power up step times the target BLER divided by "1-target BLER". In soft handover procedures, however, all base transceiver stations execute their outer power control loop algorithms independently. Consequently, every base station tries to set the target SIR such that the respective required link quality is met.
Thus, one of the problems of a CDMA-system according to the IS-95 standard is that, in soft handover procedures, the uplink outer power control loop is only able to control the link quality of one respective link leg. Since all the links are combined in a frame selection means, which is located in a respective radio network controller, the outer power control loop is not able to control the overall link quality after frame selection is performed due to the fact that the outer power control loop is located in the base transceiver station where no information of the link quality after frame selection is available. Consequently, each of the link legs in soft handover procedures will try to achieve the target quality and, hence, the target SIR values at the base transceiver stations will be set higher than necessary. Thus, the SIR and, accordingly, the transmit power, will be higher than necessary, whereby such transmit power causes a waste in system capacity.
In a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) system the uplink inner power control loop is also located at the base transceiver stations, with the functionality of the uplink inner loop basically similar to the uplink inner power control loop according to the aforementioned IS-95 based system. The only difference is that the power commands are sent 1500 times per second.
However, different than IS-95 based systems, a system based on the UMTS is provided with an uplink outer power control loop which is located in the radio network controller and, thus, it is possible to evaluate the link quality immediately after frame selection is performed. Consequently, the link quality requirements are related exactly to the measurable link quality.
One of the main drawbacks of such a UMTS decentralized power control concept, however, is the large signaling delay between the base transceiver stations and the network controller. In particular, with respect to the power control, the signaling delay located between the inner and the outer power control loop is degrading the speed and performance of the outer power control loop significantly. This causes a reaction to changes in the environment to be delayed, and the control loop needs to slow down to avoid instability problems. Moreover, the decentralized architecture also implies an additional signaling traffic load on the link between the radio network controller (RNC) and an associated NodeB, which may result in problems for radio network operators who depend on third party operators for the connection between the radio network controllers and the NodeBs.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is, to provide with regard to the aforediscussed state of the art, a new and significantly improved approach for controlling the transmission power in the uplink direction of a CDMA-based radio system avoiding the current drawbacks or problems and, in particular, providing a transmission power control even with regard to an overall link quality substantially involving a real time reaction on changes in the environment.

Control of the transmission power of a CDMA based system


Provided is a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery positive electrode that has excellent stability and enables formation of a positive electrode mixed material layer that causes a non-aqueous secondary battery to display excellent output characteristics. The slurry composition contains a positive electrode active material and a copolymer. The proportion constituted by nickel among transition metal in the positive electrode active material is at least 30.0 mol % and not more than 100.0 mol %. The copolymer includes a nitrile group-containing monomer unit in a proportion of at least 70.0 mass % and not more than 96.0 mass % and a basic group-containing monomer unit in a proportion of at least 0.1 mass % and not more than 5.0 mass %.

Non-aqueous secondary batteries (hereinafter, also referred to simply as "secondary batteries"), such as lithium ion secondary batteries, have characteristics such as compact size, light weight, high energy density, and the ability to be repeatedly charged and discharged, and are used in a wide variety of applications.
A positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, for example, normally includes a current collector and a positive electrode mixed material layer formed on the current collector. This positive electrode mixed material layer is formed by, for example, applying a slurry composition containing a positive electrode active material and a binder onto the current collector, and then drying the applied slurry composition.
In recent years, attempts have been made to improve binders used in the formation of positive electrode mixed material layers in order to further improve secondary battery performance.
For example, PTL 1 discloses the use of a polyacrylonitrile-acrylic acid copolymer having a molar ratio of acrylic acid relative to acrylonitrile within a range of 0.01 to 2 as a binder. According to PTL 1, this polyacrylonitrile-acrylic acid copolymer has excellent adhesion strength and electrolyte solution resistance.

Slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery positive electrode, positive electrode for non-aqueous secondary battery, and non-aqueous secondary battery


An air spring assembly including a first end member having a peripheral edge, a second end member in spaced relation to the first end member, and a flexible sleeve secured between the first and second end members at least partially defining a spring chamber. A label is formed from sheet material and includes a first portion coated with adhesive and a second portion spaced from the first portion that includes a plurality of indicia. The label is disposed along the first end member with the first adhesive portion secured thereto and the second portion extending outwardly beyond the peripheral edge. A method is also disclosed.

The present novel concept broadly relates to the art of air spring suspension devices and, more particularly, to an air spring having an overhanging label and a method of assembling the same.
In known arrangements, identifying information of an air spring, such as manufacturer name, model number, serial number, batch or lot number, size characteristics and/or load capacity, for example, are provided on a surface of the air spring. In some cases, information is molded or otherwise formed into the flexible wall of the air spring. In most cases, however, it is more practical from a manufacturing perspective to label the air spring during or just after performing the assembly process. In either case, the manufacturer, part number, specifications and other details are important for the proper selection of a replacement air spring, as a repair technician will in many cases have limited details about the originally installed air spring.
One possibility for marking an air spring with information, such as that discussed above, would be to print the information directly on a flexible wall or end member of the air spring. Unfortunately, the ink that is printed on the air spring component or components tends not to be sufficiently durable to withstand the environmental conditions associated with the use of the air spring on a motor vehicle suspension. That is, the water, salt, dirt and other compounds and debris typically cause the printed characters to be absorbed, wash off, fade or become otherwise unreadable. Thus, potentially causing the repair technician to have to undertake additional and, often, time consuming efforts to determine the correct replacement part.
In an effort to overcome this problem, manufacturers have used paper or polymeric labels that are printed to include the information specific to each air spring. Often, these labels are usually more durable and easier to read than direct printing, and are often preprinted in bulk quantities. In other situations, the labels can be printed individually during the production run. In either case, a label printed with the information specific to the air spring being produced is provided and is applied to a surface of the air spring during or just after assembly. One disadvantage to such an arrangement, however, is that the flexible movement of the wall of the air spring is incompatible with the securement of such labels. That is, when a typical printed label is secured to the flexible wall of an air spring, the label tends to become inadvertently loosened from the flexible wall and can fall off or become otherwise lost.
As such, manufacturers commonly affix the label to one of the rigid end members of the air spring. Thus, the label will not become loosened due to flexing of the wall. However, the label, along with the information printed thereon, is disposed between two rigid components of the vehicle and is, thus, not visible. Therefore, the repair technician will normally have to remove the air spring that is to be replaced from its installed disposition on the vehicle before the information on the label is visible. This requires considerable time and effort, and additionally causes the associated vehicle to be out of service during this time. This can be particularly problematic where the repair technician does not have a suitable replacement part on hand or otherwise immediately available. This is because the proper replacement part will then need to be ordered and the vehicle will remain out of service during this time, increasing the cost and time required to make the repair.
In an effort to overcome this disadvantage, at least one manufacturer has developed a label that is secured along the flexible wall of the air spring, as shown in International Patent Publication No. WO 01/27905, for example. In this arrangement, the label is captured between the flexible wall and the peripheral portion of the end member, which is crimped or otherwise formed along the end of the flexible wall to form the air spring. This arrangement, however, provides potential leak paths along the transitions between the edges of the label and the flexible wall, which are, of course, disadvantageous and to be generally avoided.

Air spring and hanging label assembly and method of assembling same


In a semiconductor device, a trench gate has a bottom portion in a drift layer and a communication portion extending from a surface of a base layer to communicate with the bottom portion. A distance between adjacent bottom portions is smaller than a distance between adjacent communication portions in a x-direction. A region between adjacent trench gates is divided in a y-direction into an effective region as an electron injection source and an ineffective region which does not serve as the electron injection source. An interval L1 (>0) of the ineffective region in the y-direction, a length D1 of the communication portion in the z-direction, and a length D2 of the bottom portion in the z-direction satisfy L1≦2(D1+D2). The z-direction is orthogonal to a x-y plane defined by the x-direction and the y-direction which are orthogonal to each other.

A semiconductor device having an IGBT is used in an electronic circuit for driving an inductive load such as a motor. A semiconductor device having a typical IGBT has the following structure.
An N−-type drift later is formed on a P+-type collector layer, a P-type base layer is formed in a surface portion of the N−-type drift layer, and an N+-type emitter layer is formed in a surface portion of the P-type base layer. Multiple trenches, which reach the N−-type drift layer by penetrating the P-type base layer and the N+-type emitter layer, are formed in a pattern of stripes. A gate insulation layer and a gate electrode are formed in order on a wall of each trench so that a trench gate can be formed with the trench, the gate insulation layer, and the gate electrode. Further, an emitter electrode is formed on the P-type base layer and the N+-type emitter layer through an interlayer dielectric film. The emitter electrode is electrically connected to the P-type base layer and the N+-type emitter layer through a contact hole of the interlayer dielectric film. Further, a collector electrode is formed on a back side of a collector layer and electrically connected to the collector.
In this type of semiconductor device, when a predetermined gate voltage is applied to the gate electrode, an N-type inversion layer is formed in the P-type base layer at an interface with the gate insulation layer in the trench, and an electron accumulation layer is formed in the N-type drift layer at an interface with the gate insulation layer in the trench. Electrons flow into the N−-type drift layer from the N+-type emitter layer through the inversion layer and the accumulation layer, and holes flow into the N−-type drift layer. Thus, a resistance decreases due to conductivity modulation so that it can change to an ON state.
In this type of semiconductor device having an IGBT, an ON voltage can be lowered compared to a semiconductor device having a MOSFET Recently, however, there has been a demand for a further reduction in an ON voltage.
For the above reason, for example, a patent document 1 discloses that a distance between adjacent gate electrodes is reduced to a very small value from 0.55 nm to 0.3 μm.
Further, a patent document 2 discloses that a trench gate has an enlarged portion which is located in an N−-type drift layer and has a width larger than a width of a portion other than the enlarged portion. Accordingly, a distance between the enlarged portions of adjacent trench gates is smaller than a distance between the other portions of adjacent trench gates.
In semiconductor devices as disclosed in the patent documents 1, 2, holes flowing into the N−-type drift layer are less likely to be drawn to the P-type base layer through space between adjacent trench gates, so that a lot of holes are accumulated in the N−-type drift layer. Thus, the amount of electrons flowing into the N−-type drift layer from the N+-type emitter layer through the inversion layer and the accumulation layer is increased. Since electron mobility is greater than hole mobility, an ON voltage is further reduced.
In the patent documents 1, 2, a low ON voltage is achieved. Recently, however, there has been a demand for a semiconductor device having not only a low ON voltage but also an improved load short-circuit tolerance.
That is, in such a semiconductor device, when a load short-circuit occurs, an electric current increases to saturation limited by the device. Then, Joule heat proportional to the salutation current is generated, so that a temperature of the semiconductor device increases. As a result, the semiconductor device may be broken.

Load-short-circuit-tolerant semiconductor device having trench gates


An endless screen lifts fecal matter and sewer influent debris from an influent channel. The endless screen is powered by an externally positioned air cylinder driving a pawl and rachet to move the screen in an elliptical path. A tank positioned below a top drop point for the screen receives the fecal matter and debris. A paddle mixer breaks up the fecal matter for return to the sewer channel and a conveyor picks up the debris and deposits it in a landfill receptacle.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for filtering particles from water. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus for removing debris from a water influent line employing a system reducing power consumption and providing an explosion proof environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Different types of apparatus appear in the prior art as useful to remove particles in water influent lines. The prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,536, 4,812,231 and 4,597,864 which describe a drum apparatus with a self-cleaning rotating fine polishing filter screen. Although these patents describe effective apparatus for separating debris from water influent lines, they require a significant amount of power for their operation. An improved influent water filter apparatus is needed that requires reduced amounts of power and operate in are explosion proof environment with low maintenance costs together with reliability of service.

Water influent particle removing apparatus


Methods and systems for improving a music experience are described. Multiple users can provide their musical preferences (e.g., favorite artist, group, genre, era, etc.). When the users come within the vicinity of a jukebox, the users' musical preferences are retrieved or determined. Using the combined or shared preferences of the users in the vicinity of the jukebox, the system is able to create or adjust the current playlist of songs, tailoring the music played based on the users listening nearby.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the playing of music based on the preferences of nearby users.
Related Art
Listening to music out loud can be a social activity that involves friends, family, strangers, co-workers, and the like. For example, in a household, people may play music out loud at parties and other social gatherings. In another example, at a shopping mall, music may be played in public areas.
Jukeboxes having several songs available for selection and play are generally well known in the art. As with game amusement devices, jukeboxes typically operate upon input of currency and are installed in locations such as bars, restaurants, airports, shopping malls, video arcades, casinos or the like. Upon receipt of currency, a user is prompted to select one or more songs for play, typically over a public speaker system installed in the location of the jukebox. As such, the jukebox plays the song selected by a single user, rather than the song preferred by the majority of the users in the vicinity of the jukebox. Typical jukeboxes have little means of accommodating the tastes and preferences of several users.
Thus, a need exists for systems and methods that improve the music experience of users.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.


A winding assembly used in conjunction with a door having a counterbalance system operable to offset the weight of the door, the counterbalance system including an axle rotatably supported on a pair of support brackets located at each side of the door and a counterbalance spring adapted to apply a counterbalancing force to the door. The winding assembly including a rotatable driver coupled to the counterbalance spring, the driver having a tool receiving portion, a gear wheel supported on the driver and rotatable therewith, the gear wheel defining a plurality of teeth, wherein at least one of the teeth carries a detent, whereby the detent provides a positive step to the pawl and gives an audible indication of the position of the gear wheel, and a lock assembly used in conjunction with a door system located within an opening defined by a frame, the door system including a door movable between an open position and a closed position, the door being supported on a pair of support brackets at either end of the door, a counterbalance system adapted to apply a counterbalancing force to the door, and a winding assembly adapted to adjust and maintain the counterbalancing force, the locking assembly having a lock bracket coupled to the winding assembly and fastenable to the frame to fix the winding assembly in a selected position, and a catch extending from the lock bracket and adapted to anchor the lock bracket to the frame upon unfastening of the lock bracket.

In general, the present invention relates to a door winding device. Such devices are commonly used to maintain and adjust the tension of a spring used to counterbalance the weight of a door. A door may be an upwardly acting door, such as, for example, a rolling door having a curtain made of flexible material which is coiled about a drum wheel or a sectional door made up of a plurality of panels. To provide a counterbalancing force for the weight of the door, a spring is attached at one end to one or more of the drum wheels and at its other end to a tensioning assembly. In the past, the door's support bracket would act as the tensioning assembly.
Sectional doors retain many of the same components as the described rolling door, but differ slightly in operation. In particular, as opposed to rolling the door about drum wheels mounted on the axle, most sectional doors employ a track system that guides the door panels from a generally closed vertical position to a generally open horizontal position. As in the case of a rolling door, the sectional door employs a counterbalance system having a spring to counteract the weight of the door. In both sectional and rolling doors, once the door and axle were mounted on support brackets, the free end of the spring would be attached to one support bracket and the spring would be rotated to charge the spring. Optimally, the counterbalance spring would have sufficient tension, such that the door would fully close and only a small amount of force would be necessary to raise the door from the closed position. If the door is not in the optimal position, the installer would adjust the spring tension by repositioning the end of the spring and the support bracket. After which, the installer would reassemble these components and repeat the pre-tensioning procedure to charge the spring.
To avoid repositioning of the spring on the bracket, alternative tensioning assemblies have been developed. In one such assembly, an axle tube is provided with a spring attaching plate and a tensioning plate. The tube is fit over the axle such that the plates may move independently of the axle. The plates are located on either side of the tensioning bracket and an end of the counterbalance spring passes through the spring attaching plate to eventually attach to the bracket. With the spring so attached, the axle tube may be rotated to increase or decrease tension on the spring. The plates are provided with multiple holes located radially equidistant from the center of the axle. To maintain the tension on the spring, a pin is passed through the holes in each plate to fix the plates relative to each other and the bracket preventing rotation of the axle tube. Adjustment may be made by removing the pin and rotating the axle tube hole to the next appropriate hole and reinserting the pin.
As will be appreciated, this tensioning assembly may be difficult to use. The user must rotate the axle tube with a suitable tool in one hand to align the holes in the spring attaching plate, tensioning bracket, and tension plate, and, with the other hand, attempt to insert a pin through these holes. As a result, once the installer has the holes aligned, he must maintain the exact tension on the axle tube to preclude relative rotation that would take the holes out of alignment.
A further disadvantage of this system is that the slidable pin may become disengaged by efforts to tamper with the door or other accidental contact with the pin. Essentially, the pin is not axially held, but for the frictional forces created by the plates and bracket. Therefore, a person could remove the pin without tools or extensive effort causing unintentional release of the spring's tension. It will be appreciated that such a release could make it difficult or impossible to operate the door and, in more dire instances, cause serious injury.
In another system, a collar is slipped over a rod around which the counterbalance spring is wound. The collar engages the spring and is fitted with a pair of ratcheting mechanisms and a assembly to hold the same in place while the ratchets are used to apply the correct tension to the spring. A similar system provides a tool for applying rotational force to a coiled torsion spring of a door counterbalancing mechanism including a split housing fixedly mounted onto a winding cone of the torsion spring. The housing has a sprocket provided with annular grooves on either side. A right-hand operated ratchet tool and left-hand ratchet tool fit within the corresponding grooves and are used sequentially in unison to create stored energy within the torsion spring. Still another tool includes an adapter used with existing door structures to tension the springs during periodic maintenance. The adapter includes a body that may be mounted upon a rotatable shaft supporting the coil springs and is nonrotatably attached to the end of the coil spring and rotatable shaft. The system further includes two improved wrenches for tensioning the springs, which have jaws that engage splines on the adapter body. To tension the door, the splines are engaged and rotated with the wrenches in an alternate manner, such that the coil spring is wound to increase or decrease the tension stored therein. It will be appreciated that the above-described systems are impractical to ship with each door and may be difficult for an inexperienced installer to use, if not dangerous.
Still other systems of tensioning a door in the industry employ a worm gear/worm reducer that allows the use of an electric power tool, such as a drill motor, to tension the door's counterbalance springs. These systems are generally made integral with the counterbalance system and significantly increase the overall cost of the door. Since a power tool is required to tension the door, it will be appreciated that, when the door is installed before the home or other structure is complete and before electric power is available, it may be impracticable or impossible to fully install the door. In addition, theses systems typically require a wind counter to indicate the tension on the door spring, which may not be easily viewed in the sometimes dark conditions in a garage without electrical power.

Winding assembly for door counterbalance system