A morphing energy absorber system includes an energy absorbing structure and an actuator system within the energy absorbing structure to morph the energy absorbing structure.

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle assemblies and, more particularly, to a morphing energy absorber system for a vehicle assembly.
Vehicle structures such as doors are typically constructed with an exterior panel and an inner panel that provides structural support. A trim panel is usually fastened to the inner door panel adjacent to the passenger compartment to conceal internal door components and provide aesthetic qualities and ergonomic features.
To lessen the effects of a collision type impact to the vehicle occupant seating area, some vehicle assemblies may include a door intrusion guard beam and bolsters of foam or honeycomb construction to provide energy absorption. Although effective, the energy absorption of such structures is necessarily directed to a generally mid-sized occupant and may be too rigid for a relatively small statured occupant or too soft for a relatively large statured occupant.

Morphing energy absorber system for a vehicle assembly

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A fuel control device and method of making the same are provided, the fuel control device comprising a housing having an inlet separated from an outlet by a valve seat and having a movable valve member for opening and closing the valve seat, an electrical coil, a movable armature being moved to a first position thereof when the coil is energized and being moved to a second position thereof when the coil is deenergized, and a tension spring operatively interconnecting the valve member to the armature.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new fuel control device and to a new method of making such a fuel control device.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide a fuel control device comprising a housing means having an inlet separated from an outlet by a valve seat, a movable valve member carried by the housing means for opening and closing the valve seat, an electrical coil carried by the housing means, a movable armature carried by the housing means and being movable to a first position thereof by the coil being energized and being movable to a second position thereof when the coil means is deenergized, and means operatively interconnecting the valve member to the armature so that the valve member tends to move to an open position thereof relative to the valve seat when the armature is moved to the first position thereof and tends to move to a closed position thereof with the valve seat when the armature is moved to the second position thereof. For example, see the U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,011 to Kelly et al.
It is also known to provide a fuel control device comprising a housing means having a pair of valve seats therein and a pair of movable valve members for respectively opening and closing the valve seats, a casing mounted to the housing means and comprising a supporting means, the supporting means comprising a pair of flux plates disposed in spaced apart relation, an electrical coil disposed in the casing between the flux plates, two movable plunger means respectively having portions thereof disposed in the casing in generally a side-by-side spaced apart relation and being operatively associated with the coil and the flux plates to be moved to certain positions thereof when the coil is energized, and means operatively interconnecting the plunger means respectively to the valve members so that the valve members are moved to open positions thereof relative to the valve seats when the coil is energized. For example, see the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,011 to Kelly et al.
It is also known to provide a fuel control device comprising a housing means having a first valve seat separating a first inlet from a first outlet and having a second valve seat separating a second inlet from a second outlet, a first movable valve member carried by the housing means for opening and closing the first valve seat, and a second movable valve member carried by the housing means for opening and closing the second valve seat. For example, see the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,011 to Kelly et al.
It is also known to applicants to provide a one-piece homogeneous flexible diaphragm having a first portion for operating a first valve means and a second portion for operating a second valve means.

Fuel control device and methods of making the same


A multi-chip light emitting device (LED) lamp for providing white light includes first and second broadband LED chips. The first LED chip includes a multi-quantum well active region having a first plurality of alternating active and barrier layers. The first plurality of active layers respectively include different relative concentrations of at least two elements of a first semiconductor compound, and are respectively configured to emit light of a plurality of different emission wavelengths over a first wavelength range. The second LED chip includes a multi-quantum well active region having a second plurality of alternating active and barrier layers. The second plurality of active layers respectively include different relative concentrations of at least two elements of a second semiconductor compound, and are respectively configured to emit light of a plurality of different emission wavelengths over a second wavelength range including wavelengths greater than those of the first wavelength range. The light emitted by the first and second LED chips combines to provide white light. Related devices are also discussed.

Light emitting diodes and laser diodes are well known solid state lighting elements capable of generating light upon application of a sufficient current. Light emitting diodes and laser diodes may be generally referred to as light emitting devices ("LEDs"). Light emitting devices generally include a p-n junction formed in an epitaxial layer grown on a substrate such as sapphire, silicon, silicon carbide, gallium arsenide and the like. The wavelength distribution of the light generated by the LED generally depends on the material from which the p-n junction is fabricated and the structure of the thin epitaxial layers that make up the active region of the device.
Typically, an LED chip includes a substrate, an n-type epitaxial region formed on the substrate and a p-type epitaxial region formed on the n-type epitaxial region (or vice-versa). In order to facilitate the application of a current to the device, an anode contact may be formed on a p-type region of the device (typically, an exposed p-type epitaxial layer) and a cathode contact may be formed on an n-type region of the device (such as the substrate or an exposed n-type epitaxial layer). When a potential is applied to the ohmic contacts, electrons may be injected into an active region from the n-type layer and holes may be injected into the active region from the p-type layer. The radiative recombination of electrons and holes within the active region generates light. Some LED chips include an active region with multiple light emitting regions or active layers (also known as multi-quantum-well structures) between or near the junction of the n-type and p-type layers.
LEDs may be used in lighting/illumination applications, for example, as a replacement for conventional incandescent and/or fluorescent lighting. As such, it is often desirable to provide a lighting source that generates white light having a relatively high color rendering index (CRI), so that objects illuminated by the lighting may appear more natural. The color rendering index of a light source is an objective measure of the ability of the light generated by the source to accurately illuminate a broad range of colors. The color rendering index ranges from essentially zero for monochromatic sources to nearly 100 for incandescent sources. Alternatively, it may be desirable to provide a light source that may differ significantly from a light source with a high CRI index, but may still require a tailored spectrum.
In addition, the chromaticity of a particular light source may be referred to as the "color point" of the source. For a white light source, the chromaticity may be referred to as the "white point" of the source. The white point of a white light source may fall along a locus of chromaticity points corresponding to the color of light emitted by a black-body radiator heated to a given temperature. Accordingly, a white point may be identified by a correlated color temperature (CCT) of the light source, which is the temperature at which the heated black-body radiator matches the color or hue of the white light source. White light typically has a CCT of between about 4000 and 8000K. White light with a CCT of 4000 has a yellowish color. White light with a CCT of 8000K is more bluish in color, and may be referred to as "cool white". "Warm white" may be used to describe white light with a CCT of between about 2600K and 6000K, which is more reddish in color.
The light from a single-color LED may be used to provide white light by surrounding the LED with a wavelength conversion material, such as a phosphor. The term "phosphor" may be used herein to refer to any materials that absorb light in one wavelength range and re-emit light in a different wavelength range, regardless of the delay between absorption and re-emission and regardless of the wavelengths involved. A fraction of the light may also pass through the phosphor and/or be reemitted from the phosphor at essentially the same wavelength as the incident light, experiencing little or no down-conversion. Accordingly, the term "phosphor" may be used herein to refer to materials that are sometimes called fluorescent and/or phosphorescent. In general, phosphors absorb light having shorter wavelengths and re-emit light having longer wavelengths. As such, some or all of the light emitted by the LED at a first wavelength may be absorbed by the phosphor particles, which may responsively emit light at a second wavelength.
For example, a single blue emitting LED may be surrounded with a yellow phosphor, such as cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). The resulting light, which is a combination of blue light and yellow light, may appear white to an observer. More particularly, to produce yellow light, a blue photon of approximately 2.66 electron volts (eV) may be absorbed by the yellow phosphor, and a yellow photon of approximately 2.11 eV may be emitted. As such, an average energy of about 0.55 eV may be presumably lost through nonradiative processes. Thus, a blue LED surrounded by a yellow phosphor may lose an appreciable amount of energy through the conversion of blue to yellow. Also, if a red phosphor is included to improve the color rendering, the energy loss may be even greater, resulting in even greater reduced efficiency.
In addition, the light emitted by multiple different-colored LEDs may be combined to produce a desired intensity and/or color of white light. For example, when red-, green- and blue-emitting LEDs are energized simultaneously, the resulting combined light may appear white, or nearly white, depending on the relative intensities of the component red, green and blue sources. While it may be possible to achieve fairly high luminous efficacy with such lamps (due at least in part to the lack of phosphor conversion), color rendering may be poor due to the limited spectral distribution of light emitted from each LED.

Broadband light emitting device lamps for providing white light output


A method for sequencing a nucleic acid is provided. In certain embodiments, the method includes contacting a nucleic acid duplex comprising a nucleic acid template and a primer annealed to the template with a reagent mix under primer extension conditions to produce an extended primer and ATP. The reagent mix may contain an adenosine-2′-deoxynucleoside tetraphosphate moiety and a polymerase. The method further includes detecting the produced ATP. Also provided are adenosine-2′-deoxynucleoside tetraphosphate moieties that find use in the subject methods. Also provided are kits containing the adenosine-2′-deoxynucleoside tetraphosphate moieties for use in the subject methods.

In pyrosequencing, a sequencing primer is hybridized to a single stranded DNA template to form a nucleic acid duplex. The duplex is incubated with the enzymes DNA polymerase, ATP sulfurylase, and luciferase, and with the substrates adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) and luciferin. In addition, one of the four deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs; i.e., dATP, dGTP, dGTP, or TTP) is added. If the dNTP is complementary to the next position on the nucleic acid template, the deoxynucleotide is incorporated into the elongating nucleic acid strand, and a pyrophosphate (PPi) molecule is released stoichiometrically. Importantly, pyrophosphate is only released if the complementary nucleotide is incorporated into the elongating nucleic acid chain.
The release of PPi indicates that a reaction has occurred. Consequently, the identity of the nucleotide incorporated into the elongating nucleic acid strand can be determined based on whether or not PPi has been released. The pyrophosphate released in these reactions can be detected in a variety of ways, including enzymatically. First, sulfurylase quantitatively converts PPi to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the presence of APS. Subsequently, this ATP is consumed in a luciferin-luciferase reaction to generate PPi and detectable light in amounts that are proportional to the amount of ATP. Thus, each light signal is proportional to the number of nucleotides incorporated into the growing strand. Moreover, pyrosequencing depends upon the release of PPi to initiate the cascade of reactions resulting in the emission of a detectable light signal. Such methods allow a base to be identified at a target position. Successive iterations of the method with each dNTP allow a DNA template to be sequenced.


A multi-stage, multi-tube, shell-and-tube reactor which contains reaction zones and interstage temperature control (cooling/heating) zones in series. The reactor has at least two types of zones which both contribute to removing or supplying heat to the system depending on the system's need. The reactor will have a group of reaction zones which contain tubes packed with catalyst to progress the reaction and remove or supply heat simultaneously. There are also a number of interstage temperature control (cooling/heating) zones which are designed to supply or remove heat to or from the system. The positioning, number, and design of the zones will depend on the amount of temperature control desired and exothermic or endothermic nature of the processes to be conducted in the reactor.

Generally, a shell-and-tube catalytic reactor is a type of reactor which is used to efficiently remove reaction heat. In some uses of these reactors, a catalyst is filled in a plurality of reaction tubes; a reaction fluid (gas and/or liquid) into the reaction tubes to cause a chemical reaction for obtaining a desired product; and a heat transfer medium is circulated through the reactor shell such that the chemical reaction can occur under controlled thermal conditions. Shell and tube reactors typically include a number of reaction tubes held in place in the shell by one or more tubesheets; shell nozzles are used for introducing and withdrawing the heat transfer medium; tube nozzles are used for introduction of reactants into the reaction tubes and for withdrawing product therefrom; and appropriate dividers and/or baffles are used to separate the respective reactor parts for their specific functions. The reactor parts are typically made from materials that do not react with the materials being processed in the reactor.
In some cases, during the use of shell-and-tube catalytic reactors, hot spots can occur at a local point in one or more of the reaction tubes. These hot spots can cause problems, such as the deterioration of the catalyst, leading to a reduction in catalyst life, and/or a decrease in the production of the desired product. Thus, methods for efficiently transferring heat to or from the reaction tubes in the shell-and-tube reactor is a desirable goal.
Prior Art:
The following prior art documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,961 is entitled "tubular reactor for carrying out endothermic and exothermic reactions with forced circulation." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches a tubular reactor with forced circulation of a heat transfer medium which flushes the outside of the reaction tubes in axial direction, the heat transfer medium being supplied to, and withdrawn from, the reactor wall uniformly through circular pipelines, and particularly the constructional shape of deflecting guide plate means arranged transversely to the direction of flow and having annular openings around the reaction tubes for uniform flow towards all the tubes of the nest of tubes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,980 is entitled "reactor for carrying out reactions accompanied by a change in heat." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches a shell and tube reactor for reactions accompanied by a change in heat. Reaction material flows through the tubes and a heat exchange medium flow through the shell to remove or supply heat of the reaction. Also a pump disposed in the reactor on the shell side circulates the heat exchange medium within the shell. The tubes are disposed in spaced sectors so that passageways are provided for the circulating heat exchange medium. Heat exchange medium is withdrawn and supplied to the shell and is itself subjected to heat exchange outside the reactor. Improved distribution of the heat exchange medium within the shell is obtained by withdrawing and supplying the heat exchange medium, respectively, from and to the aforesaid passageways.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,287 is entitled "combined heat exchanger reactor." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches a one-piece, integral, high strength, combined heat exchanger-reactor comprising a monolithic honeycomb structure wherein the channels thereof are divided into two or more groups; group one carrying one fluid and group two carrying another fluid which differs from the first in composition and/or temperature and/or pressure and/or direction of flow, the main design feature of the combined heat exchanger-reactor (CHER) being that group one channels extend outward parallel to the channel axis and perpendicular to the cross-section of the honeycomb and each channel of this group one being in thermal contact through common walls with channels of group two while each channel of group one is separated from other channels of group one by the intervening voids formed by the presence of the channels of group two. The extended ends of the channels of group one extending from one or both ends of the honeycomb are manifolded at one or both ends so as to form a separation of the entrances and/or exits of the extended group one channels from the recessed group two channels thereby permitting the entry and/or exit of fluid in group one channels while preventing entry of the same fluid into the group two channels thereby permitting the independent passage of different fluids through the different channel one and channel two systems, the common wall which exists between channels of the different groups allowing heat conduction from the fluid in one group of channels to the fluid in the other group of channels. In this manner, very precise concentration and/or temperature control may be maintained over the fluids and/or catalysts which exist in the different channel groups, enabling one to perform complex reactions, either self-induced or catalytic, in the reactor with greatly enhanced yields and/or selectively due to the refined temperature and/or concentration control which is made possible by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,798 is entitled "pseudoadiabatic reactor for exothermal catalytic conversions." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches a multitubular catalytic reactor for exothermal catalytic reactions comprises a bundle of parallel tubes all of the same length and a catalyst within the tubes. The tube bundle has an inlet side and an outlet side. Devices are provided for introducing separately reactants to within the tubes of the reactor and coolant to the channels defined between adjacent tubes of the bundle. The coolant is introduced into the channels co-currently with the direction of flow of the reactants. The products are withdrawn from the tubes independently of the coolant. The reactor is particularly adapted to a single stage conversion of methanol into gasoline boiling point range constituents using crystalline aluminosilicate catalysts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,891 is entitled "method for transferring heat between process liquor streams." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches a method of transferring heat between process liquor streams such as streams of caustic liquor in the Bayer process for producing alumina from bauxite, utilizing a heat pipe arrangement for heat exchange. The process streams respectively pass in contact with one surface of a first heat-exchange wall and one surface of a second heat-exchange wall while being isolated from the second surfaces of the two walls; these second walls are exposed to a closed volume (also isolated from both process streams) containing a heat transfer fluid that vaporizes below the temperature of the hotter process stream and condenses above the temperature of the cooler process stream. The heat transfer fluid vaporizes at the exposed surface of the wall contacted by the hotter stream, and condenses at the exposed surface of the wall contacted by the cooler stream, thereby transferring heat (as heat of vaporization) from the former stream to the latter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,846 is entitled "process and apparatus using plate arrangement for combustive reactant heating." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches a process and apparatus for indirectly heating an endothermic reaction by combustion of reactants or products from the endothermic reaction using a plate heat exchange arrangement in a highly efficient manner. This invention is particularly suited for processes such as the production of styrene or synthesis gas. When producing synthesis gas, oxidizing reactants in a secondary reforming step generates heat for a primary reforming step and the process improves selectivity and yield with a highly efficient heat exchange step that uses narrow channel for indirect heat exchange. The narrow channels are preferably defined by corrugated plates. The primary reaction channels will contain a catalyst for the promotion of the primary reaction such as steam reforming or ethylbenzene dehydrogenation. The secondary heating step may be performed outside of the heat exchange channels with hot effluent gases passing through the heat exchange channels to provide heat to the primary reaction step or the secondary reaction channels may contain combustion promoting catalyst to generate the heat in-situ.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,431 is entitled "reactor for temperature moderation." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches embodiments which include methods and apparatus for arranging multiple reaction zones such that at least one hot spot in one of the reaction zones is moderated by a cooler spot in an adjacent reaction zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,521,028 is entitled "catalytic reactor for low-Btu fuels." As set forth in the abstract, this patent teaches an improved catalytic reactor which includes a housing having a plate positioned therein defining a first zone and a second zone, and a plurality of conduits fabricated from a heat conducting material and adapted for conducting a fluid therethrough. The conduits are positioned within the housing such that the conduit exterior surfaces and the housing interior surface within the second zone define a first flow path while the conduit interior surfaces define a second flow path through the second zone and not in fluid communication with the first flow path. The conduit exits define a second flow path exit, the conduit exits and the first flow path exit being proximately located and interspersed. The conduits define at least one expanded section that contacts adjacent conduits thereby spacing the conduits within the second zone and forming first flow path exit flow orifices having an aggregate exit area greater than a defined percent of the housing exit plane area. Lastly, at least a portion of the first flow path defines a catalytically active surface.
With the highly exothermic or endothermic nature of some chemical reactions, including the catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrohalogenation of certain fluorocarbons and fluoro-olefins, there is a need to be able to remove or supply heat while a reaction progresses. Traditional shell-and-tube reactors do not have enough heat transfer capability to keep these reaction systems at optimal operating conditions. The present invention solves this problem by providing multi-stages and multi-tubes, whereby the ability to progress a reaction and also remove or supply heat efficiently is achieved—all in the same shell-and-tube reactor vessel.

Multi-stage multi-tube shell-and-tube reactor


A wavelength-tunable laser apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, a Fabry-Perot (FP) laser, and a planar lightwave circuit. The FP laser is formed on the semiconductor substrate at one side thereof, and has a plurality of longitudinal modes. The planar lightwave circuit is formed on the semiconductor substrate at the other side thereof, and includes a waveguide and a clad surrounding the waveguide with a grating carved into a portion of the waveguide. Light outputted from the FP laser is coupled to the waveguide, the grating reflects a plurality of light beams of different wavelengths, and the FP laser is wavelength-locked by one of the light beams reflected from the grating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source for optical communication, and more particularly to a wavelength-tunable laser apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) employs unique wavelengths assigned to respective subscribers to provide high-speed wideband communication services. The development of an economical WDM light source is essential for implementing WDM-PONs. The wavelength-locked Fabry-Perot laser has been proposed as a source, since it is low-priced, can achieve frequency stabilization by outputting only light of wavelength that coincides with inputted light of a desired power level or more, and improves transmission performance by increasing the SMSR (Side Mode Suppression Ratio). The SMSR represents the ratio of the intensity of the light beam outputted after being amplified to the intensity of the light beams outputted after being suppressed, as will be discussed in more detail below. An external diffraction grating, a fiber Bragg grating, and an FP filter are used to induce a wavelength-locked phenomenon in the FP laser.
FIG. 1 depicts the configuration of a conventional laser apparatus using an external diffraction grating. The laser apparatus 100 includes an FP laser 110, a RF source 120, first and second lenses 130 and 135, an optical coupler 150, and a diffraction grating 160.
The FP laser 110 outputs light modulated based on an electrical signal inputted from the RF source 120. The first lens 130 couples the light outputted from the FP laser 110 into a first optical fiber 141. The first optical fiber 141 is connected to one end of the optical coupler 150, and second and third optical fibers 142, 143 are connected to the other end thereof. The optical coupler 150 transmits the light inputted through the first optical fiber 141 to the second and third optical fibers 142, 143. The light outputted from the second optical fiber 142 is collimated by the second lens 135 to be incident on the diffraction grating 160, and the grating 160 reflects light of a predetermined wavelength. The reflected light is coupled to the second optical fiber 142 through the second lens 135. The optical coupler 150 transmits the reflected light inputted through the second optical fiber 142 to the first optical fiber 141. The reflected light is transmitted through the first optical fiber 141 and is coupled to the laser 110 through the first lens 130. The laser 110 is wavelength-locked by the reflected light, and outputs the wavelength-locked light. By means of the first lens 130 and the optical coupler 150, the wavelength-locked light is transmitted to the third optical fiber 143 for output. The laser device 100 can tune the wavelength of the output light by controlling the reflection wavelength of the diffraction grating 160.
However, the above laser apparatus using the external diffraction grating requires an accurate packaging technology, and the diffraction grating is bulky. Also, applying heat and strain to the fiber Bragg grating for wavelength tuning requires additional devices, and the tunable wavelength range is limited to several nanometers.


A re-attachable safety connector may be a single unit or may have a number of components working together as one unit. In the embodiments that have multiple components, connection of the components together may be accomplished by use of a series of pins inserted into a plurality of through bores in the body of the components at the mid-portions, as illustrated herein. Depending on the materials used to manufacture each of the elements of a given embodiment, the pin series may be sheared in half in order to provide for a safety release, or the properties of molded plastic as flexible may be relied upon in order to accomplish a safety release. Second through fourth embodiments are capsule shaped and provide for re-attachment of the chain.

Several kinds of conventional connectors for use with ball-and-link type pull chains are commercially available for the purpose of coupling segments of pull chain together.
One of the more common conventional pull chain connectors is a metal, capsule-shaped connector which has a first large opening on a first side and a continuous slot which travels the length of the side opposite the first side and includes each end of the capsule. The continuous slot has a first small generally circular opening at its first end, a large generally circular opening at its mid-portion directly opposite the first large circular opening on the first side, and a second small generally circular opening at its second end. The two portions of the continuous slot which flank the large circular opening are just wide enough to accommodate a link of a pull chain. This conventional connector accommodates two balls, one from each of two pull chain segments to be connected. A first ball from a first segment of pull chain is inserted into the large generally circular opening of the continuous slot, and the pull chain link adjacent that ball is snapped through the narrow portion of the continuous slot so that the first ball rests in the end of the conventional connector and the pull chain link extends through the first small generally circular opening. A second ball from a second segment of pull chain is inserted into the opposite end of the conventional connector in the same way, so that the second segment of pull chain extends through the second small generally circular opening. Once the pull chain links are snapped into the narrow portions of the continuous slot, the pull chain links are essentially locked into position until they are manually removed from that position in the same way they were inserted. Tension applied to the pull chain does not in any way affect the connection between the pull chain segments established by the conventional connector.
Another of the conventional connectors is a lidded, box-like connector which has indentations at each end of the bottom portion of the box for accommodating a ball from each of two segments to be connected, and has slotted openings at each end of the box for accommodating the pull chain links leading out of the box, once the balls are placed inside the indentations. The balls are placed into the indentations and the lid of the box is snapped shut in order to retain the balls and link the segments of pull chain together securely. Like the first conventional connector, the security of the connection established with use of conventional connector is also largely undisturbed by increased tension on a pull chain.
Both of the aforementioned conventional connectors are extremely effective for connecting pull chain segments; however, neither possesses safety features which might prevent accidental injury. That these conventional connectors so reliably fix linked pull chain segments to one another disqualifies them as safety connectors.
A third conventional connector is available which is a cylinder designed to slide snugly over a second, smaller cylinder. The smaller cylinder has a depression at each of its ends for accommodating a pull chain ball from each of two segments of pull chain. Once the balls are situated in the depressions, the smaller cylinder is inserted inside the larger cylinder to secure the connection of the pull chain segments. Although the tubes are easily uncoupled from one another in a normal setting, they do require that a user grasp one of the pull chains with one hand while grasping the larger cylinder with the other hand. A user must only uncouple the components of the conventional connector by pulling the larger cylinder away from the smaller cylinder. Therefore, an entangled child would need to be able not only to locate the conventional connector while entangled, but to disassemble it using both hands in order to prevent himself/herself from further injury. A child may, however suffer some form of injury as a result of his/her entanglement even if he/she is able to disconnect the conventional connector, depending on the amount of time it takes the child to find and disassemble the components. A worse scenario, of course, is that of a child who may be unable either to locate or to disassemble the components of the conventional connector; it is for that reason that this conventional connector cannot be considered a safety connector.
Use of a conventional connector with a pull chain in a home or other environment where children have access to the pull chain could prove hazardous or even deadly. Historically, children have become tangled primarily about the head and neck with pull chains during the course of play. Unable to free themselves or even call for help in cases where their small airways might be compromised from strangulation, many children have suffered extreme injury and sometimes death as a result of their entanglement in pull chains. In the best case, a child may still suffer mild to moderate injury of an extremity which has become caught in the pull chain in the act of running or jumping while playing with the pull chain.
What is therefore needed is a re-attachable safety connector for use in linking segments of pull chains which will, with increased tension beyond a reasonable amount necessary to normally operate a pull chain, and without extra effort on the part of the operator or on the part of a child who becomes entangled therein, release at least one segment of pull chain, and thereby minimize the potential for injury or hanging.


An engine including a WHR system includes a clutch positioned to engage or disengage a WHR feedpump that moves working fluid through a WHR circuit. The clutch engages or disengages the feedpump under certain operating conditions of the engine and/or the WHR system, and/or at the request of an operator of the engine. Conditions may include cool or cold components, and insufficient working fluid. The operator may also request the clutch be disengaged, such as might be advantageous if the operator detects an operational problem with the WHR system or determines there is an advantage to operating the engine without the WHR system.

A WHR system makes use of waste heat from internal combustion engines. The more waste heat energy extracted from an internal combustion engine by a WHR system, the greater the potential efficiency of the engine. However, the WHR system requires energy to operate, such as the energy required to operate a feedpump to pump a working fluid through the WHR system. The energy required to operate the WHR system represents a loss to the efficiency gained from the WHR system.

Waste heat recovery system including a clutched feedpump


A reusable sandwich holder may be quickly and easily wrapped around a sandwich and also serves as a place mat over which the sandwich may be eaten once unwrapped. The sandwich holder includes a decorative cloth outer cover and a plastic inner liner that maintains the freshness of a sandwich wrapped therein. The sandwich holder may be washed, either by hand or in a clothes washer, to permit its repeated reuse.

This invention relates generally to sandwich holders and, more particularly, to a sandwich holder that may be quickly wrapped around a sandwich and that also functions as a place mat over which the sandwich may be eaten when unwrapped.
Several common products are known in the prior art for retaining sandwiches. They include plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and plastic bags, with and without zippered openings. Plastic wrap material is expensive, lacks adhesiveness, and cannot be reused. Aluminum foil material is even more expensive, is difficult to fold neatly around a sandwich, imparts a metallic odor and taste to the wrapped sandwich, and is also difficult to reuse. Plastic bags, like plastic wrap, are not environmentally friendly in that they are not biodegradable. They are also expensive and tear easily when washed in an attempt to reuse them.
The present invention provides a reusable sandwich holder that may be easily wrapped around a sandwich and that also serves as a place mat over which the sandwich may be eaten once unwrapped. The sandwich holder of the present invention includes a decorative outer cover and a plastic inner liner that maintains the freshness of a sandwich wrapped therein. The present sandwich holder may be washed, either by hand or in a clothes washer, to permit its repeated reuse.


First to third light-emitting elements each including a reflection electrode layer, a transflective electrode layer, and a light-emitting layer provided therebetween are provided. In the first light-emitting element, the light-emitting layer is in contact with the reflection electrode layer and the transflective electrode layer. In the second light-emitting element, a first transparent electrode layer is in contact with the reflection electrode layer, the light-emitting layer is in contact with the first transparent electrode layer and the transflective electrode layer. In the third light-emitting element, a second transparent electrode layer is in contact with the reflection electrode layer, the light-emitting layer is in contact with the second transparent electrode layer and the transflective electrode layer. The first transparent electrode layer is different form the second transparent electrode layer in thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a light-emitting device using electroluminescence. Further, one embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device using the light-emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, research and development have been actively conducted on light-emitting elements using electroluminescence (EL). In a basic structure of such a light-emitting element, a layer containing a substance with a light-emitting property is provided between a pair of electrodes. A voltage is applied to this element, so that light emission from the light-emitting substance can be obtained.
Since the above light-emitting element is a self-luminous type, and thus a light-emitting device using the light-emitting element has advantages such as high visibility, no necessity of a backlight, and low power consumption. In addition, such a light-emitting device also has advantages in that the device can be formed to be thin and lightweight and that response time is high.
For example, in the case where the light-emitting element is applied to an active matrix light-emitting device, the light-emitting element is formed over a substrate provided with a transistor for controlling light emission or the like in some cases. With such a structure (bottom-emission structure) where light emitted from a light-emitting element is extracted to outside through a substrate provided with a transistor for controlling light emission or the like, there is a problem of low aperture ratio due to a wiring, a transistor, or the like.
In order to solve that problem, a structure (top emission structure) where light is extracted from the side opposite to an element substrate has been proposed (e.g., see Patent Document 1). With the top-emission structure, the aperture ratio can be increased, and the extraction efficiency of light can be increased, which are advantageous in power consumption and high definition.
Further, in order to improve the extraction efficiency of light from a light-emitting element, a method in which a microcavity using a resonant effect of light between a pair of electrodes is used to increase the light intensity in a specific wavelength (e.g., see Patent Document 2), a structure in which a region where the cavity length is different is provided in each pixel to improve the viewing angle dependence of a light-emitting element (e.g., see Patent Document 3), and the like have been proposed.

Light-emitting device and electronic device using light-emitting device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


To provide a mutant Rad51 paralog gene, wherein a protein encoded thereby shows an activity for enhancing sensitivity of a cell to a DNA-damaging factor; a mutant Rad51 paralog peptide showing the activity; a transformed cell having the gene; a screening method for a drug having a DNA-damaging action, comprising contacting a test substance with the transformed cell, and evaluating a response of the cell; and a screening method for a controlling agent for DNA repair, comprising contacting a test substance with a transformed cell having the Rad51 paralog gene, and evaluating a homologous recombination repair capacity. According to the present invention, there is enabled a screening of a novel anticancer agent which allows a more efficient therapy for a cancer, wherein the agent is an agent capable of enhancing the sensitivity of a cell to an anticancer agent comprising a DNA-damaging factor or an agent having a DNA-damaging action.

Double-strand DNA breakages occur frequently during DNA repair and are produced by ionizing radiation and certain chemicals [Haber, J. E., Trends Biochem. Sci., 24, 271–275 (1999)]. A single unrepaired double-strand DNA breakage is believed to cause cell death in yeast and vertebrate cells [Bennett, C. B. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 5613–5617; Huang, L. C. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 4827–4832 (1996)].
In yeast, homologous recombination repair is a major DNA breakage repair pathway. The above-mentioned homologous recombination repair pathway has been conserved from yeast to human [Shinohara, A. et al., Nat. Genet., 4, 239–243 (1993); Siede, W. et al., Genetics, 142, 91–102 (1996); Boulton, S. J. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 24, 4639–4648 (1996a); Boulton, S. J. et al., EMBO J., 15, 5093–5103 (1996b); Bezzubova, O. Y. et al., Cell, 89, 185–193 (1997); Essers, J. et al., Cell, 89, 195–204 (1997); Thompson, L. H. et al., Biochimie, 81, 87–105 (1999)].
Presently, the analysis of radiosensitive yeast mutants has revealed numbers of key genes involved in the homologous recombination repair. The genes include, for instance, the Rad52 epistasis group and the like [Shinohara, A. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci., 20, 387–391 (1995); Baumann, P. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci., 23, 247–251; Kanaar, R. et al., Trends Cell Biol., 8, 483–489 (1998)].
Among the members of the RAD52 epistasis group, the structure and function of Rad51 have been conserved to a remarkable degree among all eukaryotes. The above-mentioned Rad51 structurally and functionally resembles Escherichia coli recombination protein RecA [reviewed in Kowalczykowski, S. C. et al., Experientia, 50, 204–15 (1994)]. Lethality of Rad51-deficient cells [Tsuzuki. T et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 6236–6240 (1996); Lim, D. S. et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 16, 7133–7143 (1996); Sonoda. E. et al., EMBO. J., 17, 598–608 (1998)] has suggested that Rad51 plays a central role in the homologous recombination repair in vertebrate cells [Bezzubova, O. Y. et al., Cell, 89, 185–193 (1997); the above-mentioned Essers et al. (1997); Rijkers, T. et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 18, 6423–6429 (1998); Yamaguchi-Iwai, Y. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 18, 6430–6435 (1998)].
However, many of the detailed functions and roles for other Rad52 epistasis groups are yet unrevealed at the current situation.

Japan Science and Technology Corporation


A gland seal comprises a plurality of sealing plates (24, 28, 30) sealingly received in a bore (12). Each pair of adjacent plates define between them a sealing channel (42). The channels are linked by elongate slots (41) in the plates to define a generally helical path. The channels are filled with a sealant through a filling hole (54) at one end of its respective channel.

There are many applications in which a flexible elongate element such as a line or conduit requires sealing at an interface between two environments between which there is a high pressure differential. The boundary may be constituted by a bulkhead at which the sealing must be performed. The element may, for example, be an optical fibre for monitoring conditions on one side of the boundary. Another example is a fine tube used for capillary sampling of material on one side of the boundary.
It is particularly important to provide highly reliable seals for such elements at interfaces in many different applications, for example the chemical and food processing and nuclear industries, in which the consequences of leakage of fluid past the seal can be severe.
Another field in which the reliability of seals is very important is that of undersea telecommunication elements, for example optical fibres, in which stretches of telecommunication cable are interrupted by repeaters at which the signal in the fibres is boosted. The seal between the fibre and the repeater housing must be designed to withstand the extreme pressures at considerable depths for a projected life time of 25 years or more.
Sealing glands are known for undersea optical communication fibres which comprise a metallised fibre soldered into a cylindrical body screwed into a bulkhead flange and also an electrode embedded in insulating ceramics also screwed into bulk head flange for power feed connections. In both cases the gland assembly comes as a unit with approximately 1 meter lengths of fibre sealed in place which are spliced to the fibres of the incoming cable, on one side, and to the receiving fibres inside the repeater housing, on the other.
In both cases, the gland comprises a tubular arrangement extending out of the housing in line with the cable. The radial thickness of the arrangement is considerable in comparison with the cable to be sealed in order for it to be strong enough to withstand the pressures at depth. It is also made long enough in order to provide sufficient sealing contact between the sealing material and both the cable and the housing. Both of these factors have to be taken into account when designing the housing and can necessitate a more bulky housing shape than would otherwise be the case.

British Telecommunications public limited company


Dye-sensitized semiconducting metal oxide films for photoanodes, photoanodes incorporating the films and DSCs incorporating the photoanodes are provided. Also provided are methods for making the dye sensitized semiconducting metal oxide films. The methods of making the films are based on the deposition of an encapsulating layer of a semiconducting metal oxide around the molecular anchoring groups of photosensitizing dye molecules adsorbed to a porous film of the semiconducting metal oxide. The encapsulating layer of semiconducting metal oxide is formed in such a way that it is not coated over the chromophores of the adsorbed dye molecules and, therefore, allows the dye molecules to remain electrochemically addressable.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have great potential to compete with conventional p-n junction solar cells due to their relatively low-cost. However, one practical limitation of existing DSC designs is the tendency, over time, for dyes to detach (desorb) from the photoelectrode. Once detached, these sensitizers no longer contribute to the cell's photocurrent, thereby resulting in lower cell performance. This behavior is thought to be due to competitive adsorption of water, which may enter the cell over time via capture of moisture from air surrounding the cell. A second practical problem is the degradation of cell performance (energy conversion efficiency) when a conventional redox-electrolyte-containing organic solvent is replaced by water. The performance shortfall is thought primarily to reflect problems in getting aqueous solutions to completely permeate high-area, mesoporous photoelectrodes. Nevertheless, the ability to use water as the cell solvent would reduce materials costs and make the cells greener by eliminating hazards associated with disposal or leakage.

Metal oxide-encapsulated dye-sensitized photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells


An interpolation circuit for a digital filter which is small in circuit scale, operates at a high speed and is low in power consumption. The digital interpolation filter circuit includes front-end circuit 1 which outputs added value .SIGMA..sub.i of input data and the last data, and filter unit 2. Filter unit 2 includes delay circuit unit 3 which delays added value .SIGMA..sub.i of one clock and two clocks intervals, and outputs the delayed values, bit shift circuit unit 4 which inverts the signs of the added value and data obtained by delaying the added value 2 clocks interval and outputs resulting values and which shifts the data delayed one clock interval from the added value, 3 bits and one bit making multiplication of the delayed added value by 8 and 2, respectively, and outputs resulting values, adder 5 for adding the outputs of bit shift circuit unit 4 for each data having the same delay amount, and bit shift circuit 6 for shifting a result of the addition by 4 bits to divide the addition result by 16.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a digital filter, and more particularly an interpolation circuit for a digital filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a related art apparatus, a "Digital Filter Circuit" is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. Heisei 3-262205. In order to form a modulator using the digital filter circuit, an interpolation circuit must be interposed between a finite impulse response (FIR) filter which shapes a wave form of a base band signal so that it has a roll-off spectrum characteristic and a complex multiplier for multiplication by a carrier. For the interpolation method, various methods such as linear interpolation are available. However, for interpolation with a high degree of accuracy, Lagrange interpolation or the like interpolation methods are used. The Lagrange interpolation is an interpolation method wherein, for given different n+1 points (X.sub.i, Y.sub.i) (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n), Y=f(X) is approximated with a polynomial of degree n EQU Pn(X)=a.sub.0 +a.sub.1 X+a.sub.2 X.sup.2 + . . . +a.sub.n X.sup.n
which satisfies EQU P.sub.n (X.sub.i)=Y.sub.i (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n)
Pn(X) is called interpolation polynomial of degree n. The coefficients of the interpolation polynomial are determined from the term that the given different n+1 points (X.sub.i, Y.sub.i) (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n) are solutions to the equation EQU Pn(X.sub.i)=Y.sub.i (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n)
Particularly where data distance .DELTA.X=X.sub.i+1 -X.sub.i is fixed, the interpolation polynomial for calculation of data ((X.sub.i-2 +X.sub.i-1)/2, Z) between data (X.sub.i-2, Y.sub.i-2) and (X.sub.i-1, Y.sub.i-1) is given as a well-known expression EQU Z=P.sub.n (Y)=(-Y.sub.i-3 +9Y.sub.i-2 +9/Y.sub.i-1 -Y.sub.i)/16
where n=3.
An example of an interpolation circuit of a conventional digital filter is shown in FIG. 1. This circuit comprises delay units 15, 16, and 17, multipliers 18, 19, 20 and 21 and adders 22, 23 and 24. Each of delay units 15, 16 and 17 delays an input signal by a one clock interval, and each of multipliers 18, 19, 20 and 21 outputs an input signal multiplied by a tap coefficient in the block. Further, each of adders 22, 23 and 24 outputs a sum of two input signals.
Next, operation of the conventional circuit is described hereinafter. Inputted data Y.sub.i is successively delayed by delay units 15, 16 and 17, and delayed data Y.sub.i-1 is outputted from delay unit 15, Y.sub.i-2 from delay unit 16, and Y.sub.i-3 from delay unit 17. Further, Y.sub.i is multiplied by -1 by multiplier 18, Y.sub.i-1 by 9 by multiplier 19, Y.sub.i-2 by 9 by multiplier 20, and Y.sub.i-3 by -1 by multiplier 21. Output values of the multipliers are added by adders 22, 23 and 24 so that output Z EQU Z=(-Y.sub.i-3 +9Y.sub.i-2 +9Y.sub.i-1 -Y.sub.i)/16
is obtained. From this, it can be seen that Lagrange interpolation of degree 3 has been performed.
The conventional digital filter interpolation circuit has the same structure as an ordinary FIR filter which performs roll-off waveform shaping, and cannot be used where the sampling frequency is high because it is inferior in terms of the operation speed. The conventional digital filter interpolation circuit is disadvantageous also in that, even where the sampling frequency is low and interpolation can be performed using an ordinary FIR filter, a large circuit scale requires unavoidable high power dissipation


An optical window deposition shield including a backing plate having a through hole, and a honeycomb structure having a plurality of adjacent cells configured to allow optical viewing through the honeycomb structure. Each cell of the honeycomb structure has an aspect ratio of length to diameter sufficient to impede a processing plasma from traveling through the full length of the cell. A coupling device configured to couple the honeycomb core structure to the backing plate such that the honeycomb structure is aligned with at least a portion of the through hole in the backing plate. The optical window deposition shield shields the optical viewing window of a plasma processing apparatus from contact with the plasma.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved component for a plasma processing system and, more particularly, to an optical window deposition shield employed in a plasma processing system to provide optical access to a process space through the deposition shield.
2. Discussion of the Background
The fabrication of integrated circuits (IC) in the semiconductor industry typically employs plasma to create and assist surface chemistry within a plasma reactor necessary to remove material from and deposit material to a substrate. In general, plasma is formed with the plasma reactor under vacuum conditions by heating electrons to energies sufficient to sustain ionizing collisions with a supplied process gas. Moreover, the heated electrons can have energy sufficient to sustain dissociative collisions and, therefore, a specific set of gasses under predetermined conditions (e.g. chamber pressure, gas flow rate etc.) are chosen to produce a population of charged species and chemically reactive species suitable to the particular process being performed within the chamber (e.g. etching processes where materials are removed from the substrate or deposition where materials are added to the substrate).
Although the formation of a population of charged species (ions, etc.) and chemically reactive species is necessary for performing the function of the plasma processing system (i.e. material etch, material deposition, etc.) at the substrate surface, other component surfaces on the interior of the plasma processing chamber are exposed to the physically and chemically active plasma and, in time, can erode or become coated with deposits. The erosion or coating of exposed components in the plasma processing system can lead to a gradual degradation of the plasma processing performance and ultimately to complete failure of the system.
Thus, in order to minimize the damage of components of a plasma processing system, more particularly optical windows, an optical window deposition shield is mounted between the optical window and the plasma. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional optical window deposition shield in relation to a chamber wall deposition shield. As seen in this figure, the optical window deposition shield 1 includes a main body 3 and a peripheral flange 5 used to connect the optical window deposition shield 1 with a chamber wall shield 10. As seen in the partial cross-section portion of the optical window deposition shield 1 itself, the optical window deposition shield 1, typically fabricated from aluminum, includes many high aspect ratio holes 7 that open to the plasma. The high aspect ratio holes 7 have a ratio of length to diameter of four or greater. While these high aspect ratio holes 7 allow viewing through the optical window deposition shield 1, because of their geometry, the high aspect ratio holes 7 do not allow plasma to form close to the optical window of a plasma chamber that the shield is used in. Further, the optical window deposition shield 1 can be coated with various protective materials. For example, the optical window deposition shield 1 can be anodized to produce a surface layer of aluminum oxide, which is more resistant to the plasma. Details of an optical window deposition shield in relation to a plasma processing chamber will be discussed with respect to FIG. 1 below.
While effective in shielding the optical window of a processing chamber, prior art optical window deposition shields such as the one shown in FIG. 6 pose problems. First, the process of forming multiple holes in a block of aluminum does not provide a large ratio of viewing area (i.e., holes) to metal region, thereby making viewing of the plasma properties through the shield 1 difficult.
Moreover, the prior art optical viewing window shields are expensive to manufacture and are typically machined to a specific shape corresponding to the chamber liner configuration. Therefore, periodic maintenance, such as removal of the optical window deposition shield 1 for cleaning and inspection, is performed to prolong the life of the shield. Because the optical window deposition shield 1 is an integral structure fastened to the chamber liner 10, removal is complicated and time consuming, which results in further expense in the way of labor and chamber down-time. Finally, the optical window deposition shield 1 is heavy and bulky making safe disposal difficult.
As an alternative to the optical window deposition shield, the damage of the optical window can be minimized by providing gas flow over the optical window to keep it free of plasma contact during plasma processing. However, the necessary gas flow device is expensive and cannot easily be retrofitted to an existing chamber.

Honeycomb optical window deposition shield and method for a plasma processing system


A switch cover 21 has a frame member 22 and a cover member 23. The frame member 22 is fastened to the case front 6 of a printer 1 and surrounds a power switch 15. The cover member 23 is supported by the frame member 22 pivotably between a closed position 23A covering the opening 24 inside the frame member 22 and shielding the power switch 15 so the power switch 15 is inoperable, and an open position 23B where the opening 24 is open and the power switch 15 is not shielded. By simply fastening the switch cover 21 to the case front 6 with the frame member 22 surrounding the power switch 15, the cover member 23 can cover and prevent operating the power switch 15. Accidental operation of the power switch of electronic devices, including products such as printers, can therefore be prevented.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a printer and a printing system having a switch cover that covers and prevents accidental operation of a power switch.
2. Related Art
Printers that are installed at checkout counters in stores, for example, and are connected to peripheral devices such as credit card processing terminals, and have an integral print processing unit for printing, and a central processing unit with capabilities similar to a computer, are known from the literature. The operation processing unit runs driver software including a printer driver that controls driving the print processing unit, and device drivers that control driving the peripheral devices. An example of such a printer is disclosed in JP-A-2008-171303.
When the power switch of such a printer with a CPU turns on, a startup process is executed just like when the power switch of a computer turns on. More specifically, the CPU boots the operating system and loads the printer driver and device drivers to enable controlling and driving the print processing unit and peripheral devices connected to the printer. As a result, if the operator or customer accidentally touches and turns the power switch off in the middle of processing a customer transaction, time is taken for the printer to reboot and re-enable printing after the power switch is turned on again, making the customer wait.


A service provider registers information of some documents, including an identifier of each document and a bibliographic item constituting the document content, in a storage section in a database section and determines classifications to which these documents should belong to further register identifiers of these documents to the classification items in the storage section. A calculation section calculates a distinction quantity of each classification item by consulting the bibliographic item of the classified document in the database section. Another calculation section calculates a distinction quantity of an unclassified document in the database section, and a decision section determines and classifies a classification item to which the unclassified document should belong based on a result of the calculation and the distinction quantity of each classification item. A collection section periodically collects a new document or an updated document from the network environment, and a classification information extraction section registers classification in the database in accordance with the classification item specification written in the document.

The present invention relates to a system for classifying documents distributed and existent in a network environment, and more particularly to a distributed document classifying system such that classification items are prepared in advance and a service provider judges contents of typical documents to be classified while a similarity of any other document with respect to the classified document group is calculated to effect automatic classification.
In a network environment such as World Wide Web (which will be referred to as WWW hereunder) in which a plurality of documents are distributed and existent, searching a desired document becomes harder in proportion to a number of documents. As a countermeasure, a directory service such as that of WWW for previously classifying documents distributed on the network and storing their sites or bibliographic items in a database in order to provide a retrieving service to clients has widely spread. The present invention relates to a distributed document classifying system required for realizing such a directory service.
FIG. 14 shows a structure of this type of conventional distributed document classifying system. As shown in the drawing, the prior art distributed document classifying system comprises: a database section 92 including a classification information storage section 921 and a document information storage section 922; and a document manual registration section 91.
In the database section 92, the document information storage section 922 stores document identifiers of documents distributed and existent on the network and a list of the bibliographic items, and the classification information storage section 921 stores a list of classification items and document identifiers of documents classified into respective classification items. When registering a new document, a service manager carries out: judgment on an item to be used as a bibliographic item by confirming the content of that document; addition of the judged bibliographic item and a document identifier determined according to a given method to the document information storage section 922 through the document manual registration section 91; and additional registration of the document identifier of that document to the corresponding classification item in the classification information storage section 921 by judging the item to which that document is classified by the content of the confirmed document.
Although the document classification operation is all manually carried out in the above distributed document classification system, a system for automatically performing such an operation has been proposed. For example, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 7-49875 discloses a system for automatically classifying documents by calculating a conformity between each document and a word list as a retrieval condition which is previously prepared in accordance with each classification. Further, according to this system, the updated state of the documents on the network is monitored and the updated document is collected for the classification process.
In the conventional distributed document classifying system shown in FIG. 14, however, registration of the document identifier or the bibliographic item and the operation for classifying each document must be all effected by the service provider by using the document manual registration section, leading to an increase in the cost.
On the other hand, the system disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 7-49875 is capable of automatically classifying the documents. However, it presumes that all the documents must be automatically classified in advance, and hence it is required to preset a retrieval condition given to each classification. Although a word list is an example of the retrieval condition, an adequate skill is needed for appropriately setting the retrieval condition for each classification if none of the document is yet to be classified. In addition, if several documents to be classified into given classification items are actually checked up to determine the retrieval condition, these documents used for this work must be also dealt as a target of the automatic classification even though they have been already classified, and this is thus a wasteful processing step.
It is therefore a first object of the present invention is to provide a distributed document classifying system such that the manual classification and the automatic classification are both used and a service provider manually classifies some of documents distributed and existent in a network environment while any other document is automatically classified by calculating a conformity of these documents with the classified document group.
Further, in the document manual classification by the service provider or the document automatic classification by calculating a conformity of any other document with the manually-classified document group, a result of document classification often depends on judgment by the service provider who carries out the classification and does not always accord with an intention of a document creator. According to the art disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 7-49875, all the documents are automatically classified based on the retrieval condition, and hence they are disadvantageously classified irrespective of the intention of each document creator. Since the document creator has thorough knowledge of his/her document, and the cooperation of such a document creator will enable the further appropriate classification.
It is therefore a second object of the present invention to provide a distributed document classifying system by which a document creator can explicitly specify a classification to which his/her document should belong.

Distributed document classifying system and machine readable storage medium recording a program for document classifying


This document describes tools that enable a switch to temporarily alter its forwarding behavior when statistical data characterizing the switch satisfies a user-specified condition. To do so, the tools may monitor chronological sets of statistical data associated with the switch over a period of time. If the tools determine at one point during the period of time that one set of statistical data satisfies the user-specified condition, the tools alter the forwarding behavior of the switch for the remainder of the period of time. At the conclusion of the period of time, the tools restore the original forwarding behavior to the switch.

Data-packet switches are a central part of data networks. Some data-packet switches are able to perform port rate limiting whereby the data-packet switch limits the amount of data that ingresses a particular port of the data-packet switch to a user-specified amount. Currently, sophisticated, high-end data-packet switches are capable of performing port rate limiting.
To enforce a rate limit, a data-packet switch may inspect data packets received at a port on a packet-by-packet basis to determine if forwarding a particular data packet to a destination port of the data-packet switch will violate the rate limit. If forwarding the data packet will violate the rate limit, the data packet is discarded rather than forwarded to the destination port.
Performing packet-by-packet inspection requires that the data-packet switch utilize a silicon device having specific hardware features. These features are typically available only on high-end, expensive silicon devices and may include: memory for storing data packets while waiting for inspection; inspection logic for inspecting each data packet; and classification logic for classifying each data packet according to one or more parameters, such as classification according to the port on which the data packet ingressed the data-packet switch.
Using these expensive silicon devices results in an expensive data-packet switch. Due to their expense, operators cannot afford to deploy such data-packet switches widely in their networks, despite their desire to use rate limiting. Consequently, operators often limit deployment of rate limiting to a few locations within their networks.

Altering switch behavior based on statistical data


The present invention relates to a continuous process for the fluorination of perchloroethylene (PER) in the gas phase in a single stage with hydrofluoric acid (HF) in the presence of a catalyst to give, as major product, pentafluoroethane. The process is characterized in that it is carried out at a temperature of between 280 and 430° C. and with an HF/PER molar ratio of greater than or equal to 20.

The reaction for the fluorination of perchloroethylene with HF in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst is known. It generally results in the formation of 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (124) and pentafluoroethane (125) with 123 as the major product.
These compounds (denoted overall hereinbelow by the expression ("120 series") can be used either as substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), in the fields of foams (blowing agents and insulators), aerosols (propellants) or refrigeration, or as intermediates in the synthesis of these substitutes. A search is currently underway for high performance processes for the industrial production of pentafluoroethane.
The document WO 92/16479 discloses a process for the manufacture of 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (124) and pentafluoroethane (125) by reacting perchloroethylene (PER) with HF in the gas phase in the presence of a catalyst comprising zinc fluoride supported on fluorinated alumina at a temperature of between 250 and 450° C. and with a contact time of between 0.1 and 60 sec. This document teaches the use preferably of an HF/PER molar ratio of between 3 and 10.
It is recommended, in order to obtain pentafluoroethane as the major product, to carry out the operation in two stages. Thus, the document EP 811 592 provides a two-stage process according to which PER is reacted with HF in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst and at a temperature of between 60 and 150° C., to give 123 and/or 1,1,2-trichloro-2,2-difluoroethane (122), and the 123 and/or 122 formed in the first stage is/are subsequently reacted in the vapour phase with HF in the presence of a catalyst and at a temperature of between 250 and 450° C.
Furthermore, this document teaches that, as the reaction for the fluorination of perchloroethylene to give pentafluoroethane is a highly exothermic reaction (28 kcal/mol), there are a number of problems posed by carrying it out in a single stage: the reaction is difficult to control, the catalyst decomposes and significant amounts of by-products are formed.

Process for the manufacture of pentafluoroethane


An oral composition for suppressing mouth odors comprising from about 0.001 to about 10 percent by weight of a copper salt and from about 0.001 to about 10 percent by weight phytic acid or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof. A cationic antimicrobial compound is added to the oral composition to aid in the prevention of plaque formation and gingivitis provided the oral composition contains from about 0.01 to about 20 percent by weight of a compatibilizing agent.

The present invention relates to oral compositions for the control of volatile compounds associated with oral malodor.
"Oral composition" means a composition for topical applications to the oral cavity to clean and care for the teeth as well as the oral cavity surfaces. Representatives of such compositions are oral hygiene products and dentifrices such as mouthwashes or rinses, toothpaste, dental gels, tooth powder, chewing gum, lozenges, and similar products. In addition to cleaning teeth to remove dental plaque, the function of oral hygiene preparations is to stop the formation of dental calculus, to prevent dental disorders such as caries, periodontitis and gingivitis, and also to eliminate halitosis.
Dental plaque is a deposit which forms on teeth and consists of inorganic and organic components derived from saliva, food and bacteria which are present in the oral cavity. When plaque undergoes calcification it forms dental calculus, or tartar as it is sometimes called. Dental calculus is largely calcium and orthophosphate arranged in a crystal lattice called hydroxyapatite (HAP).
Oral malodor, or halitosis, is caused by the putrefactive activity of microorganisms on appropriate substrate components of dental plaque, debris adhering to mucous membranes and salivary cellular elements to produce volatile sulfur compounds. These sulfur volatiles primarily consists of hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S), methyl mercaptan (CH.sub.3 SH) and traces of dimethyl sulfide (CH.sub.3).sub.2 S. Volatile sulfur compounds, aromatic amines, ammonia and urea have also been shown to increase in the mouth of patients suffering from periodontal disease, see, for example, J. Periodontal Res., 15, 185-192 (1980), Clin. Chem., 27, 842-845 (1981), Intl. Den. J. 28, 309-319 (1978).
Methods of inhibiting volatile sulfur compounds to reduce the production of mouth odor have included the use of dentifrices containing antimicrobials, such as, chlorhexidine. However, the side effects associated with chlorhexidine, such as a bitter taste and staining of the teeth, tongue, gums and oral mucosa, precludes the use of chlorhexidine in oral compositions.
Copper compounds including copper chlorophyllin, copper gluconate, copper citrate and copper long chain alkyloyl sarcosine have been used to reduce mouth odors. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,044,939; 3,565,933 and 4,112,066 and Nippon Shishyubyo Gakkai Kaishi, 490-498 (1981) for oral compositions containing such compounds. These copper compounds, however, do not fully exert their mouth odor reducing effect when blended in relatively small amounts. As copper is astringent, the amount of these copper compounds required to assure their effect in reducing mouth odor makes such oral compositions unpleasant in taste.
An oral composition containing copper gluconate, a fluorine compound, and an alkali metal salt of an alkyl sulfate having 8 to 18 carbon atoms is reported in published European Patent Application 0321180. It was reported that these components act in a synergistic manner so that mouth odor suppression is accomplished when each ingredient is contained in a low concentration.
While the use of copper compounds in oral compositions for controlling mouth malodor is known, none of the references provide a means by which the copper can be retained in the oral cavity to control mouth odor over a period of time. In addition, many copper compounds are unstable at biological pH (about 7.0) resulting in undesirable cloudiness and precipitation of insoluble by-products.
It is therefore desirable when using copper in an oral composition to control mouth malodor, to have an oral composition in which the copper compound is effective at a relatively low concentration, can be maintained in the oral cavity over a prolonged period of time, and remains soluble when used in liquid compositions. It would also be desirable to prepare an oral composition capable of controlling mouth malodor in addition to the prevention of plaque and calculus formation.

Oral compositions for suppressing mouth odors


An electronic device and method of fabrication are provided. The electronic device comprises a substrate, a patterned conductive layer serving as an antenna layer formed on the outer surface of the substrate, electrically connected with a printed circuit board (PCB) for sending or receiving a wireless signal, wherein the substrate is placed between the patterned conductive layer and PCB. The patterned conductive layer may be electrically connected to the PCB through a hole in the substrate by a connecting piece. The substrate may be a housing of the electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electronic devices, and in particular to an electronic device having a patterned conductive layer serving as antenna layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Antennas for radio devices convert electrical signals to electromagnetic signals or vice versa. In handheld electronic devices, the antenna can be external or internal. FIGS. 1 to 4 show antennas of conventional electronic devices.
As shown in FIG. 1, an external antenna 51 is disposed on an antenna carrier 52, protruding from a housing 53 of an electronic device. FIG. 2 shows a conventional internal antenna 61 produced by punched metal, disposed on an antenna carrier 62, and installed in an electronic device. FIG. 3 shows an antenna component 71 produced by forming an antenna layer on soft circuit board, disposed on an antenna carrier 72, and then installed in an electronic device 73. FIG. 4 shows an antenna 81 produced by folding metal and disposed on an antenna carrier 82, installed in an electronic device. Conventional manufactured by punching or folding and assembly with a plastic antenna carrier adversely affects manufacture and assembly costs and limits size and space conservation.

Electronic device and method of fabrication of a same


An acoustical panel assembly for a suspended ceiling comprising a rigid frame, sound absorbing material, sound transmission attenuation material and a face fabric. The frame is an assembly of extruded members secured together in a polygonal pattern such as a square or a rectangle. The fabric is secured to the frame by gripping elements integral with the frame. Marginal portions of the fabric are captured and hidden in receiving chambers formed by the frame members.

The invention relates to improvements in suspended ceiling panels and, more specifically, to fabric covered panels for suspended ceilings.
Suspended grid ceiling systems are in widespread use because of their functionality in allowing access to the plenum for service, alternation and/or addition to wiring, air conditioning, heating, plumbing and other hardware typically found in a building. Ceiling panels that lay in the suspended grid come in a variety of materials and finishes. Most commonly, the panels are rigid boards made of various materials that often have their visible faces perforated or otherwise textured to obtain a level of sound absorption. U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,081 shows an example of a fabric covered acoustical panel with a rigid perimeter frame for use with a suspension ceiling grid. The product disclosed in this patent requires a vinyl rope to retain the fabric and the attendant complications of handling and installing the rope. Additionally, this patented product may be difficult to install and especially to remove. This is of particular consequence where the person attempting to install or remove the panel is unfamiliar with the motions which apparently must be performed to place or remove the patented panel.
The invention provides an improved fabric covered acoustical panel assembly for suspended ceiling structures that uses inexpensive parts, is readily assembled and is easy to install and remove. The disclosed panel assembly has a rigid polygonal perimeter frame that serves to hold the fabric, a sound absorbing material and a sound transmission attenuating material in assembled relation and precisely engages supporting flanges of the tees of a suspension grid. The frame is preferably an extrusion of suitable thermoplastic such as polyvinylchloride.
As disclosed, the frame has integral gripping elements that frictionally engage the margin of the fabric facing. The gripping elements allow the fabric to be simply and quickly installed on the frame by tucking its margins into the reach of the gripping elements. The frame includes a cavity for receiving any excess marginal material and thereby neatly controlling its location regardless of limited extra material or imperfect positioning of the fabric. Thus, the edge of the fabric does not xe2x80x9cread throughxe2x80x9d the visible part of the fabric. The gripping elements of the frame are situated so that the fabric margins can be tucked into their control from operations conducted on the front or visible face of the panel so that the fabric condition and position can be continuously observed and corrected for proper positioning by the person installing the fabric on the frame. Additionally, the frame includes retaining rib elements for holding the sound absorbing material in place. Still further, the frame includes a support area for receiving and locating the sound transmission attenuating material.
The disclosed panel construction is suitable for factory mass production, limited production in a small shop or custom manufacture at the site where the panels are to be installed. The frame is assembled by connecting its sides together at corners with an angle bracket that is simply pushed longitudinally into the sides and is retained in place by a strong friction fit. The panel assembly can be readily recovered with fabric when damaged, outdated, or other conditions require a change.


A reel table driving mechanism for a video cassette recorder which can transmit drive forces of different torques to a supply reel table and a take-up reel table in accordance with operating modes thereof. The reel table driving mechanism has a first rotator having a supporting shaft, a pulley rotatably inserted around a lower portion of the supporting shaft, a felt interposed between the pulley and the first rotator, a spring holder disposed on an upper surface of the pulley, a movable member slidably coupled to an upper portion of the spring holder, a spring disposed between the movable member and the spring holder, and a second rotator disposed on an upper portion of the movable member. The movable member is formed at an upper surface thereof with three first vertical sections and three first inclined sections. The movable member is formed at an underside thereof with a pair of extension members which are slidably engaged with the pair of guide grooves of the spring holder. The second rotator is formed at an inner lower portion thereof with a recess which is engaged with the upper surface of the movable member. The second rotator pushes the movable member downward when it is rotated in a reverse direction. By the mechanism, a tape is stably run while various operating modes are being executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video cassette recorder, and more particularly to a reel table driving mechanism for a video cassette recorder which can transmit drive forces of different torques to a supply reel table and a take-up reel table in accordance with operating modes thereof.
2. Prior Art
Generally, a video cassette recorder (hereinafter, simply referred to VCR) is a device for recording/reproducing an image signal and an audio signal onto/from a magnetic tape running along a running system. The magnetic tape is wound around a pair of reels provided in a cassette. When the cassette is loaded into a deck of the VCR according to a loading mechanism, the pair of reels are respectively mounted on a take-up reel table and a supply reel table installed on the deck. After that, the take-up reel table and the supply reel table are rotated by a capstan motor, thereby carrying out selected operating modes such as play, record, fast forward and rewind. At this time, the magnetic tape is drawn out from one reel and is wound around the other reel according to the rotating directions of the take-up reel table and the supply reel table.
A typical reel disc driving system of a conventional VCR 500 is schematically shown in FIG. 5, wherein a tape 501 may be made to travel in a forward or a reverse direction by the drive of a supply reel table 510 or a take-up reel table 520. Further, tape 501 can be made to travel at a constant speed by means of a capstan shaft 550 and a pinch roller 540. In general, reel tables 510 and 520 are selectively driven by an idler 560 for transmitting the driving force of a capstan motor 530.
Idler 560 is selectively engaged with supply reel table 510 or take-up reel table 520 according to a rotating direction of capstan motor 530 so that supply reel table 510 or take-up reel table 520 can be selectively rotated. However, looseness of loaded magnetic tape 501 may occur during the conversion from one mode to another mode of operation due to a delay in the shifting motion of idler 560 and an inertia moment of reel tables 510 and 520, which may cause operational failures, noises and/or distortions.
Therefore, take-up reel table 520 requires relatively less torque for running magnetic tape 501 in the forward direction because it is disposed closer to capstan motor 530, whereas supply reel table 510 requires relatively more torque for moving magnetic tape 501 in the reverse direction because it is disposed farther from capstan motor 530.
Moreover, in case of the rewind or fast forward modes wherein magnetic tape 501 is run at a higher speed, a higher level of torque is required for rotating reel tables 510 and 520. Such requirements for varying the torque of each reel table are normally executed by means of a reel disc driving mechanism.
FIG. 6 shows a conventional reel table driving mechanism 300 for VCR 500. As shown in FIG. 6, reel table driving mechanism 300 comprises a first rotator 12 rotatably mounted to a support shaft 14 which is secured to a deck. a driving pulley 18 rotatably inserted around a hub 13 of first rotator 12 and in contact with first rotator 12 through a felt member 34, and a second rotator 22 firmly fitted on hub 13 of first rotator 12. A movable member 20 is coupled to second rotator 22 so that it is selectively engaged with openings 32 of driving pulley 18 so as to directly transmit the drive force of pulley 18 to second rotator 22.
In addition, seated at second rotator 22 is a spring 24 which can bias movable member 20 upward to separate it from openings 32 of driving pulley 18, thereby transmitting the driving force of pulley 18 to first rotator 12 through felt member 34.
A driving gear 10 is rotatably inserted around hub of first rotator 12 and meshed with idler 560. Also, disposed between second rotator 22 and driving gear 10 is a spring 26 which pushes driving gear 10 upward to properly engage it with idler. Pulley 18 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise through a belt 30 coupled thereto, depending on a forward or a reverse driving of capstan motor 530.
In the case of a play or a review mode, movable member 20 is kept separated from pulley 18. Therefore, the driving force of pulley 18 is transmitted to first rotator 12 due to the frictional contact therebetween via felt member 34, providing driving gear 10 with relatively less torque through second rotator 22 and spring 26. As a result, idler 560 is shifted toward and engaged with one of reel tables 510 and 520, thereby operating VCR 500 in a desired mode. When an excess load is exerted against driving gear 10 during an operation of VCR 500, a slippage between pulley 18 and first rotator 12 occurs, preventing loaded tape 501 from slackening.
In the case of a rewind mode or a fast forward mode, movable member 20 is pressed downward against the biasing force of spring 24 by a pressing member (not shown) and then engaged with driving pulley 18 through openings 32 of pulley 18. Therefore, pulley 18 and second rotator 22 are rotated together with first rotator 12. Accordingly, the driving force of pulley 18 is directly transmitted to gear 10 to generate a higher torque for each reel table, enabling VCR 500 to operate in the rewind or fast forward operating mode.
However, while the play mode or the review mode is being carried out, conventional reel table driving mechanism 300 transmits the same torque to supply reel table 510 or take-up reel table 520 so that the looseness or slackening of the loaded magnetic tape may occur while the above modes are executed.

Reel table driving mechanism for a video cassette recorder


A method and circuit for correcting a power factor in an alternating current/direct current power transformer. The circuit has an inductor fed by a rectified AC voltage, and a switch by which the inductor can be charged and discharged by closing and opening the switch, and further has a diode by which the discharge current of the inductor is fed to the output of the circuit. During the discharge phase, a voltage corresponding to the output voltage is measured, and the measured values are stored. It is further determined when the discharge current reaches or crosses the zero line at the end of a discharge phase. Switch-on and switch-off signals for actuating the switch are generated by analyzing the information determined. The switch should not be switched on again until a particular minimum switch-off time has been reached.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for active power factor correction (PFC), i.e. by means of a switch clocked actively by a PFC control unit.
The technical field of the present invention is in particular that of power factor correction in AC/DC voltage power converters.
2. Related Technology
Power factor correction is used to influence the manner in which electrical appliances draw current from the power supply system. The AC mains voltage has a sinusoidal time profile, as is known. Ideally, therefore, the current drawn from the mains should also likewise have a sinusoidal time profile. This ideal case does not always arise, however, with it even being possible for the current to deviate considerably from a sinusoidal envelope. If the current drawn is not sinusoidal, harmonics are produced in the mains current, however. These harmonic currents in the supply system should be reduced with the aid of a power factor correction circuit.
DE 10 2004 025 597 A1 has disclosed a circuit for power factor correction, in which the inductor is charged and discharged repeatedly by means of a switch clocked by a PFC control unit by virtue of said switch closing and opening, and in which the discharging current of the inductor is supplied to the output of the converter via a diode (D). The PFC control unit in the form of an ASIC has only two pins. Control signals are output via one of the pins and parameters which are required for dimensioning the switch-on and switch-off time for the switch are monitored at the other pin. In this case, the switch is switched on again at the end of a switch-off time when the discharging current through the inductor has reached the zero line. This time is determined by monitoring the voltage on the high-potential side of the switch and is measured by means of a voltage divider, which is connected in parallel with the switch. The tap of the voltage divider forms a monitoring point, to be precise the only monitoring point, with said monitoring point being connected to the monitoring pin. The monitored voltage has a downwardly inflected time profile when the discharging current reaches the zero line. This event will be referred to below as a ZCD event (zero crossing detection).
In the known method and the known circuit, therefore, the DC output voltage can be monitored via the monitoring point when the switch is open. The DC output voltage can only be monitored as long as there is still current flowing through the diode, however. When the AC input voltage, i.e. the rectified and, as far as possible, smoothed mains voltage, which still comprises successive sinusoidal half-cycles of the same polarity, however, has a relatively low mean amplitude value, or when the load is low, the time segment within which the diode is conducting can be very short, with the result that the DC output voltage can only be sampled to an insufficient extent.
Circuits for power factor correction of the type under consideration here are normally regulated by virtue of the switch-on time TON being altered. Given a predetermined load, TON is theoretically constant over the entire angular range of 90 degrees of a mains half-cycle. However, when the load is reduced, TON also needs to be reduced correspondingly. Even when the DC output voltage VBUS is monitored directly, the control range is restricted as a result of the abovementioned temporally very short sampling pulses. Under such low-load conditions, the procedure which has therefore been adopted in the meantime is that the power correction circuit has been switched off entirely when VBUS exceeds an upper voltage threshold and switched on again when VBUS exceeds a lower voltage threshold. With such hysteresis regulation, however, the desired sinusoidal form of the input current can be maintained.

Method and circuit for power factor correction