A micropattern measuring method disclosed herein includes acquiring an image of a micropattern including plural layers; extracting a rough outline of the micropattern in the image as a sequence of points including plural points; dividing the plural points composing the sequence of points into groups; making each of the groups as each of patterns belong to any of the plural layers; and acquiring edge coordinates of a pattern to be measured from the patterns which are made to belong to the respective layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a micropattern measuring method, a micropattern measuring apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a micropattern measuring program is recorded, in a semiconductor device manufacturing technique.
2. Related Background Art
Generally, a semiconductor device includes plural layers. When a micropattern on the semiconductor device is evaluated using a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), for example, in a contact hole pattern or the like after etching, a wiring pattern or the like on a layer thereunder is sometimes seen in an opening thereof.
FIG. 32 and FIG. 33 are diagrams showing examples of a micropattern in a contact hole examined under the SEM. In the case of examination under the SEM, there are various cases where only an edge on one side of a wiring pattern 20 is seen in an opening of a contact hole 10 as shown in FIG. 32, where edges on both sides of the wiring pattern 20 are seen as shown in FIG. 33, and so on due to variations in the wiring size of a lower layer, misalignment, or the like. Moreover, a position or positions where an edge or edges are seen are not fixed.
A common method of measuring the shape of a contact hole is, for example, a method of setting an ROI (region of interest), which is a region to be measured, to cross a central portion of a pattern of a contact hole 30 as shown in FIG. 34, searching for an edge position horizontally outward from a central portion of the ROI, calculating a distance from an edge paired with the extracted edge position, and calculating the maximum width thereof.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 7-27548 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), a method of designating a center of a contact hole pattern, converting an image to polar coordinates based on the center, and calculating an edge is proposed. In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-91231 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2), a method of setting a closed region defined by double closed curves along a pattern of a contact hole and searching for an edge of the contact hole in the closed region is proposed.
However, in either method, when the edge of the lower-layer pattern is seen in the opening of the contact hole as shown in FIG. 32 to FIG. 34, the edge of a lower wiring pattern can be within an edge search region. In such a case, the edge of the lower wiring pattern which is situated further inside is extracted, whereby the contact hole cannot be measured accurately.

Micropattern measuring method, micropattern measuring apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium on which a micropattern measuring program is recorded


Integrated, energy efficient process for making detergent range alkylbenzenes use a combination of a low benzene to olefin feed ratio for alkylation, alkylbenzene refining system operation and a transalkylation of dialkylbenzene co-produced during alkylation is used to reduce energy costs per unit of alkylbenzene product.

Alkylation of benzene with olefin of 8 to 16 carbon atoms produces alkylbenzenes that may find various commercial uses, e.g., alkylbenzenes can be sulfonated to produce detergents. As used herein, alkylbenzenes refers to phenylalkanes wherein the alkane group has between about 8 and 16 carbon atoms. Alkylbenzenes are produced as a commodity product in large-scale facilities, e.g. often in amounts of 50,000 to 200,000 metric tonnes per year per plant. In the alkylation process, benzene is reacted with an olefin the desired length to produce the sought alkylbenzene. The alkylation conditions comprise the presence of homogeneous or heterogeneous alkylation catalyst such as aluminum chloride, hydrogen fluoride, silica alumina or zeolitic catalysts and elevated temperature.
The alkylbenzene must meet stringent product specifications to be commercially acceptable. For instance, alkylbenzenes, to be desirable for making sulfonated surfactants, must be capable of providing a sulfonated product of suitable clarity, biodegradability and efficacy. The benzene content of the product should be relatively free from benzenes, e.g., less than about 1 part per million by weight (ppmw), and often less than about 0.5 ppmw. Also, desirable alkylbenzene products are relatively free, e.g., less than about 50, preferably less than about 5, ppmw, from byproducts such as dialkylbenzenes, oligomers of olefins, and the like (herein referred to as "heavies"). Additional considerations for commercial alkylbenzene products include the 2-phenyl content and linearity of the alkyl substituent. With respect to efficacy, alkylbenzenes having higher 2-phenyl contents are desired as they tend, when sulfonated, to provide surfactants having better detergency but less solubility if the 2-phenyl content becomes too high. Thus alkylbenzenes having a 2-phenyl isomer content in the range from about 25 to about 40 percent are particularly desired.
The catalysts are not selective and other reactions of olefins can occur to produce heavies, i.e., dimers and dialkylaryl compounds. Also, skeletal isomerization of the olefin can occur, resulting in a loss of selectivity to the sought alkylbenzene. The formation of dialkylaryl compounds is particularly problematic as the reaction approaches complete conversion of the olefin and the concentration of the alkylbenzene has thus increased thereby increasing the likelihood that an olefin molecule will react with an alkylbenzene molecule rather than benzene. Accordingly, typical processes use a large excess of benzene to reduce the molar ratio of the sought alkylbenzene to the olefin in the reactor. For homogeneous hydrogen fluoride catalyzed processes, the benzene to olefin ratio is generally in the range of 6:1 to 8:1. Solid catalysts are prone to generate more heavies. Hence, for these solid catalysts the mole ratio of benzene to olefin is typically greater than 15:1. For making alkylbenzenes with reduced skeletal isomerization, the benzene to olefin ratio is often in excess of 20:1 and sometimes as much as 30:1.
As the ratio of benzene to olefin increases, additional process costs are also incurred in the recovery and recycling of the unreacted benzene in the alkylation product. The refining system for alkylbenzene production is summarized in Pujado, Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) Manufacture, Handbook of Petroleum Refining Processes, Second Edition, pp 1.53 to 1.66 (1996), especially pages 1.56 to 1.60. Especially for large-scale, commercial alkylation processes such as are used for the production of linear alkylbenzenes, capital and operating costs can be very important, and the addition of additional distillation steps can thus be undesirable. Of the distillations effected in the alkylbenzene refining system, the benzene distillation requires the highest heat duty. The distillation to separate alkylbenzene from heavies, including dialkylbenzene, is typically conducted under subatmospheric pressure and is energy intensive to maximize the recovery of alkylbenzene.
The commercial processes that use of hydrogen fluoride as the alkylation catalyst do benefit from the ability to use lower benzene to olefin ratios. However, the use and handling of hydrogen fluoride does provide operational concerns due to its toxicity, corrosiveness and waste disposal needs. Solid catalytic processes have been developed that obviate the need to use hydrogen fluoride. Improvements in these solid catalytic processes are sought to further enhance their attractiveness through reducing energy costs and improving selectivity of conversion while still providing an alkylbenzene of a quality acceptable for downstream use such as sulfonation to make surfactants. Particular attention has been addressed to improving solid catalyst performance to enable lower benzene to olefin ratios to be used. While much progress has been made, energy efficiency gains are still sought to enhance the economic attractiveness of solid catalytic processes.
A desire exists for an integrated alkylbenzene production facility that can employ a transalkylation unit operation in an economically viable manner to enhance production of alkylbenzenes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Energy integrated processes including alkylation and transalkylation for making detergent range alkylbenzenes


A pulsed NMR analysis system and process comprising sample throughput system (P, LI, V1, V2) and user system controls (104) to establish digitized free induction decay curves (C), from which components functions are determined using non-linear regression techniques to correlate the curve components to the target nuclei.

Pulsed NMR techniques are used in instruments for the measurement of the type, property and quantity of lattice bound and free, magnetically active nuclei within a sample. Some of the substances and properties that have been measured by NMR techniques are: moisture, polymers and copolymers, oils, fats and crystalline materials.
Pulsed NMR uses a burst or pulse of energy that is designed to excite the nuclei of a particular nuclear species of a sample being measured (the protons, or the like, of such sample having first been precessed in an essentially static magnetic field); in other words the precession is modified by the pulse. After the application of the pulse there occurs a free induction decay (FID) of the magnetization associated with the excited nuclei. That is, the transverse magnetization associated with the excited nuclei relaxes back to its equilibrium value of zero. This relaxation produces a changing magnetic field which is measured in adjacent pickup coils. A representation of this relaxation is the FID curve.
The analysis method described herein and in the above related patents and applications is to decompose the FID waveform into a group of separate time function equations. The coefficients of these equations are derived from the FID by use of a Marquardt-Levenberg (M-L) iterative approximation that minimizes the Chi-squared function--a technique well known in the art. Some of the time function equations found useful are: Gaussians, exponentials, Abragams, and trigonometric. From these time functions a set of parameters is calculated. Some of these parameters are ratios of the y-axis intercepts, squares and cross products of these ratios, and decay times for each of the time curves. In addition the sample temperature may form the basis for another parameter.
But, relating these parameters, quantitatively and qualitatively, back to the species of target nuclei is required. In the above referenced patent applications, the system is calibrated with known samples, and a `regression line` is generated which relates the parameters to the types, properties and quantities of the target nuclei. An unknown sample is introduced and the time functions are derived via the M-L iteration, and the parameters are calculated. The parameters are "regressed" via the "regression line" to yield the types, properties and quantities of target nuclei in the unknown sample. That is, the measured parameters from the unknown FID are used with the "regression line", and the types, properties and quantities in the unknown sample are determined. It is to be understood that the multidimensional "regression line" may not be graphically represented. As a simple regression technique example, consider that the grade point average of each of the students at a college were related to that student's SAT score and high school standing (forming a three dimensional space). The line formed is a "regression line" (which may be graphed). A new student's grade point average may be predicted by placing the student's SAT and high school standing on the "regression line,, and "reading" the grade point average.
It is a principal object of the present invention to relate the type, property and quantity of target nuclei of interest accurately and precisely.

Real time magnetic resonance analysis with non-linear regression means


A circular saw blade assembly of a tree felling head of a type which has peripherally mounted cutting teeth. The assembly has a circular disc plate with a rim. Mounting lug arrangements evenly distributed and outwardly projecting around the rim receive tooth holders having respective heads adapted to receive the cutting teeth, and respective shanks projecting behind the heads and adapted to receive bolts for fastening the cutting teeth against the heads of the tooth holders. Each mounting lug arrangement has opposite lug elements spaced from each other and extending in parallel with a radial plane of the disc plate. The lug elements of each mounting lug arrangement define an outwardly opened channel extending substantially in a tangential direction with respect to the rim and into which the shank of one of the tooth holders is slideably mountable.

Known in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,731 (Wildey) which shows a saw blade of a type which is used in a tree felling head. The saw blade has a disc provided with tooth holders about its periphery which support cutting teeth asymmetrically above an inner plate of the disc. As shown in FIG. 1, the tooth holders are in the form of protrusions radially projecting from the rim of the disc. Each tooth holder has a transverse central mounting bore. The mounting bore has a larger diameter on one side to receive the shank of a tooth, and a smaller diameter on the other side to receive the shank of a bolt screwed in the shank of the tooth to hold it in place on the tooth holder. One problem with this tooth retaining system is that the tooth holders must be sufficiently spaced from one another to leave enough space for passage of the bit used to drill the mounting bores, thereby limiting the number of possible teeth and tooth holders around the saw blade (e.g. to 18 teeth) and forcing them to be undesirably remote from one another, which reduce the cutting efficiency of the saw blade. Also, the impact on the outer edge of the teeth produces a shearing force on the tooth retaining system, i.e. the shanks of the teeth and the bolts, causing premature wear due to the configuration of the teeth and of the tooth holders. The tooth holders may be separate from the disc, in which case they form a part of the rim of the disc and are fastened to it using bolts extending across superimposed portions of the tooth holders and the disc. Such a mounting arrangement is expensive and presents certain risks for the blade such as holders becoming loose and cracks at the periphery of the blade originating from the mounting holes, in addition to safety risks.

Circular saw blade assembly for a tree felling head


A tape loading apparatus for use in a digital video cassette recorder provided with a deck, a driving unit and a head drum includes a pair of pole base assemblies for loading a tape, each of the pole base assemblies including a pole base having a hole, a pair of guide rails for guiding the pole base assemblies toward the head drum, and a power conveying unit for transmitting a power from the driving unit into the pole base assemblies. The hole of the pole base has such a shape that the pole base assembly fitted around a periphery of the guide rail does not rotate about the periphery of the guide rail.

In general, a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a rotary type head drum such as a DVCR is provided with a tape loading apparatus. The tape loading apparatus is designed to draw a portion of a magnetic tape out of a cassette loaded in the DVCR and to run same in a predetermined path by moving pole base assemblies. The pole base assemblies are respectively provided on guide plates disposed at a supply reel side and a take-up reel side so as to move along a curvilinear loading slot formed at each of the guide plates. While running through the predetermined path, the tape makes contact with a peripheral surface of the head drum, which is provided with at least one or more heads so as to record/reproduce signals onto/from the tape.
One of the prior art tape loading apparatuses for use in a DVCR is shown in FIG. 1. In the illustrated apparatus, the tape loading apparatus includes a motor 11 for loading a tape cassette (not shown) and a tape (not shown), a pair of pole base assemblies 13 for extracting the tape from the loaded tape cassette and bringing it into contact with a head drum 1 of DVCR, and a power conveying unit for transmitting a power from the motor 11 into the pole base assemblies 13.
The pole base assemblies 13 are respectively provided on guide plates 3 disposed at a supply reel side and a take-up reel side so as to move along a loading slot 4 formed at each of the guide plates 3.
The power conveying unit includes a plurality of relay gears 22 driven by the motor 11, a cam gear 24 engaged with one of the relay gears 22 and having a cam groove 26, a relay plate 28 connected with the cam gear 24 by engaging a pin 30 provided at one end thereof with the cam groove 26 and having at the other end thereof a gear portion 32, a pair of pole base assembly loading gears 34. The loading gears 34 are engaged with each other and one thereof is connected with the relay plate 28 by an engagement with the gear portion 32 of the relay plate 28. Further, each of the loading gears 34 is connected with its corresponding pole base assembly 13 via a link device 36.
The tape is loaded first by actuating the motor 11. The power of the motor 11 is transmitted into one of the pole base assembly loading gears 34 via the plurality of relay gears 22, the cam gear 24, and the relay plate 28, which, in turn, rotates the other pole base assembly loading gear 34. The rotation of the pole base assembly loading gears 34 allows the link devices 36 to move the pole base assemblies 13 along its corresponding loading slot 4, till the pole base assemblies 13 reach their respective V-shaped catcher 7 provided at a drum base 5 to thereby bring the tape into contact with the peripheral surface of the head drum 1.
In such a tape loading apparatus, the loading slot is formed with the guide plate, which, in turn, increases the size thereof, resulting in setting a limit to the e:tent that the DVCR can be miniaturized. In addition, the task of assembling and disassembling the link devices is tricky and cumbersome, since the link devices are hidden from view due to the guide plate. Furthermore, since the catcher has the V-shape, it is difficult to catch the pole base assembly effectively and reliably, causing the tape to slacken.

Miniature tape loading apparatus suitable for a digital video cassette recorder


A DC-to-DC converter comprises a sense circuit to sense the output voltage of the converter to generate a feedback signal, a transconductive amplifier to amplify a difference between the feedback signal and a threshold signal to generate a first current and to generate a second current in response to a load transient, a charging circuit connected with the first current to generate a charging voltage, a driver to compare the charging voltage with two reference signals to generate a pair of low-side and high-side driving signals, and a fast response circuit to compare a load transient signal corresponding to the second current with a third reference signal to generate a bypass signal to drive the output stage of the converter in the load transient.

Widely applied to various electronic products, a DC-to-DC converter provides the functions of regulating the voltage level from a DC input voltage, such as boost or buck voltage conversion, and of maintaining the regulated voltage at the desired level. For example, in a computer system, due to the power supplies of different voltages for CPU, memory and hard disk drive, the DC-to-DC converter is required to regulate the power source voltage of the computer system to various supply voltages supplied to various operational units of the computer system.
Typically, a DC-to-DC converter modulates the duty cycle of an output stage by a driving signal, to thereby regulate the output voltage of the converter within a demanded range. In a conventional DC-to-DC converter, the output voltage of the converter is detected to generate a feedback signal, which feedback signal is compared with a threshold signal by an error amplifier to generate an error signal for a pulse width modulation (PWM) comparator to compare with a ramp signal to generate a PWM signal, and the PWM signal is supplied to a driver to drive the output stage. In this converter, an oscillator is generally employed to generate the ramp signal for the PWM comparator, so as to modulate the duty cycle of the PWM signal. Unfortunately, this modulation mechanism has a slow load transient response. When a load transient occurred, the load current changes instantly, such as suddenly raising of the load current causing the output voltage of the converter dropping rapidly, due to the duty cycle modulation resulted from comparison to the ramp signal, the converter is slow to respond to the load transient to recover the output voltage thereof to the original level. Therefore, it is desired a DC-to-DC converter with fast load transient response and method thereof.


In a region between at least two mutually adjacent body parts, an assembly template is connected to the body support structure, which template has at least one adjustment edge against which the adjacent body parts can be aligned. The template is centered on centering pins of vehicle door hinges and the adjustment edge serves to position a fender part with respect to the door.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a body support structure and a plurality of body parts which can be fixed to the body support structure, and to an assembly template for the motor vehicle.
This application is based on German Patent Application No. 196 03 102.8 filed in Germany on Jan. 29, 1996 and German Patent Application No. 196 54 446.7 filed in Germany on Dec. 27, 1996.
It is known from German Patent Document DE 43 21 752 C1 to fasten a body part in the form of a vehicle door by means of a hinge arrangement on a B-pillar of a body support structure of a motor vehicle. Body parts adjoining such a vehicle door, such as front or rear fenders, may under certain circumstances be fastened to the body support structure such that the various body parts are not aligned exactly with respect to one another and, because of different gap tolerances between mutually adjacent body parts, a nonuniform overall appearance of the body shell is formed.
German Patent Document DE 41 15 755 A1 discloses a motor vehicle, the bumper of which can be fixed on the vehicle body by means of an adjustable mount, in order to avoid damaging the body when mounting the bumper. To this end, the mount has a guide part which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and interacts with a slide part arranged on the bumper. After mounting the bumper, the guide part can be moved in the displacement direction running in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as a result of which the bumper can be slid directly onto the adjacent edge of the body.
An object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset which is provided with an evenly and uniformly arranged body panel.
This object is achieved in that, in a region between at least two mutually adjacent body parts, an assembly template is connected to the body support structure, the assembly template having at least one adjustment edge, against which at least one adjacent body part can be aligned. The solution according to the invention makes it possible to align mutually adjacent body parts uniformly and thus also to adapt the mounting positions of bumpers and headlamps accordingly. This therefore always results in an identical gap dimension and thus also identically running joints and beads between the individual, mutually adjacent body parts. Moreover, it is possible to achieve a gap dimension of the same dimension between all the mutually adjacent body parts. Readjustments of movable body parts, such as vehicle doors, rear lids, or tailgates, are unnecessary, since the movable body parts are already adjusted appropriately during assembly on the body support structure.
In a refinement of the invention, the assembly template has positioning receptacles, by means of which the assembly template can be placed on corresponding centering elements on hinges, fixed on the support-structure side, of a pivotably movable body part of the motor vehicle and can be centered relative to the hinges. As a result, the hinges form a template for the assembly template, so that exact alignment of the assembly template relative to the body support structure becomes possible. In particular, side doors are envisaged as the pivotably movable body parts. However, tailgates, bonnets, and other pivoting parts may also serve as corresponding body parts.
In a further refinement of the invention, at least one centering pin protruding outwards at right angles is provided on each hinge as the centering element, and correspondingly open sockets are provided in the assembly template. As a result, when putting on the assembly template an exact alignment relative to the hinges is already achieved. The alignment by means of the centering pins and the sockets in particular ensures precise positioning in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
In a further refinement of the invention, a support edge for a support of the assembly template is provided on a hinge in the vertical direction of the vehicle, against which support edge a support stop of the assembly template is supported. The support edge and the support stop provide alignment and support in the vertical direction of the vehicle relative to the body support structure.
In a further refinement of the invention, the assembly template can be fixed on the body support structure by means of a plurality of fastening points distributed over the length of the said template. Corresponding fastening elements thus fix the assembly template in the respectively aligned end position, the fixing simultaneously ensuring that the assembly template is secured relative to the body support structure in the transverse direction of the vehicle.
In a further refinement of the invention, the assembly template has at least one latching location for joining an adjacent body part by means of a latching connection. As a result, it is possible to fix an adjacent body part at least partially without additional fastening elements.
In a further refinement of the invention, the assembly template can be fastened at fastening points of door hinges of a side door of the motor vehicle. As a result, already existing fastening points are provided in a simple manner for fastening the assembly template.
In a further refinement of the invention, the assembly template can be fastened at the fastening points with the aid of the fastening elements for the door hinges on the body support structure. As a result, no additional fastening elements are required to fasten the assembly template, since the assembly template is fastened to the body support structure in a simple manner together with the door hinges.
In a further refinement of the invention, the assembly template is provided with fixing elements for fastening at least one adjacent body part. As a result, the assembly template has a double function, in that it serves, on the one hand, for alignment and, on the other hand, for fastening adjacent body parts or components.
In a further refinement of the invention, the fixing elements have guides for sliding on the at least one adjacent body part. By means of these guides, a defined assembly direction, which permits exact assembly relative to the assembly template, is already predetermined for the adjacent body part.
In a further refinement of the invention, latching locations for securing the at least one body part in a positively-locking manner in the slid-on end position are assigned to the fixing elements. As a result, the at least one body part to be slid on is already fixed sufficiently on the body support structure without using additional fastening means. Preferably, the body part is supported in its slid-on end position against the adjustment edge of the assembly template.
In a further refinement of the invention, the assembly template is produced as a single component made of plastic. As a result, the assembly template can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner and in large quantities.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Motor vehicle having a body support structure and assembly template


Computer-implemented methods and systems are provided for locally freezing a user account in a geographic or digital space. Consistent with disclosed embodiments, locally freezing a user account in a geographic or digital space includes receiving fraud data associated with the user account, the fraud data including a location where a fraud associated with the user account has occurred, wherein the fraud location includes at least one of a digital location or a geographical location; receiving account data associated with the user account, the account data including non-fraudulent account transaction information; generating a pattern of fraud based on the fraud data; generating a pattern of use associated with the user account based on the account data; determining a geodigital area for a localized account freeze based on the pattern of fraud and the pattern of use; and performing a localized account freeze on the user account based on the determined geodigital area.

Electronic data transfers often fall victim to fraud due to identity theft, data breaches, or otherwise insecure systems. When potential fraud occurs, financial service providers may ask the user whether fraud has occurred and/or completely deactivate the account. When a user is asked whether fraud has occurred, there may be a delay in the response, providing time for further fraudulent activity. Alternatively, if the user's account is compromised by a fraudster, the fraudster may have access to the user account and indicate that no fraud has occurred while continuing the fraudulent activity.
If the user's account is completely deactivated, a user may lose access to their card even when the fraud occurred electronically or very far away.
Accordingly, improved systems are needed for identifying fraudulent electronic data transactions and applying intelligent rules for freezing a user account to reduce computer system load, improve system efficiency, and enhance electronic data security.

Localized account freeze for fraudulent transactions


A cover removal apparatus includes a frame, an electromagnet and a power source, which is electrically coupled to the electromagnet for selectively energizing the electromagnet. The removal apparatus may further include means for positioning the electromagnet relative to a cover and/or means for loosening the cover.

Covers can be used to close holes leading from the street level down to a sewer or other utility connection. The covers allow cars and other vehicles to traverse the road without falling into the hole. Of course, before such holes can be entered their covers must be removed. Such covers are often made of cast iron and tend to be difficult to maneuver because of their size and weight. For example, manhole covers can weigh between 75-400 pounds.
Typically, manhole covers are removed using a long metal rod with a hook at the end. The hook is inserted into an aperture in the manhole cover. A person then physically lifts the cover off the casting that the cover rests on. This can be difficult due to the resting weight of the manhole cover. Further, these covers often stick to the casting thus making it more difficult to lift the cover. To free the covers, typically a person must pound on them with a maul or similar tool. Commonly one person will lift the cover while another person hammers on the cover. The combination of the two forces typically breaks the stuck cover loose. However, injuries to the back, toes, hands, and fingers of the workmen are not uncommon due to the difficulties in handling these heavy manhole covers. Further, there are other safety issues regarding the hook slipping while a person pulls on the cover. During removal, for instance, a person manually removing the cover risks losing balance and falling backwards into traffic if the hook slips while under tension.


A buckle for fastening a load strap, comprising a buckle frame, a crossbar extending between side arms of the frame, and a pivotable cam arranged between the side arms. The crossbar forms part of a locking element, which is displaceable between a closed position, in which the crossbar extends between the side arms, and an open position, in which the crossbar is separated from at least one of the side arms, such that a load strap is laterally insertable between the cam and the crossbar.

Cam buckles are commonly used for fastening load straps when securing cargo or equipment. Typically, one end of the strap is coupled to the buckle, the strap placed around the cargo, and the free end of the strap threaded into the buckle. Pulling the excess strap through the buckle provides the necessary tension to secure the cargo. The cam locks the strap in place, preventing it from slipping back through the buckle, thus keeping the cargo secured.
Threading the free end of the strap into the buckle can be difficult and requires some dexterity. For example, the end of the strap may be frayed, making it difficult to thread into the buckle without causing further damage. Depending on the dimensions of the strap and buckle, the operation can be very difficult to perform while wearing gloves. Pulling the excess strap through the buckle is also time consuming. In particular, if the cargo to be secured is small, the length of strap that needs to be pulled through the buckle in order to achieve the necessary tension can be significant.
WO 2014/154947 A1 and WO 2016/064272 A1 disclose buckles allowing a strap to be inserted laterally, by way of an opening or slot in a sidewall or arm of the buckle frame, thus eliminating the need to thread the strap into the buckle. The opening mechanisms can however be difficult to manipulate. Additionally, these solutions may come with a loss of stiffness, increasing the risk of the buckles deforming under load.

Abstract: The displaceable locking element may provide great ease of access for laterally inserting a load strap. The integrity of the buckle frame is maintained, increasing the stiffness of the buckle and its ability to withstand tension from a load strap.


The present invention is a thin film deposition tool with arc detection capabilities. An arc detector is provided in the power supply line between the power supply and the sputter deposition tool. Arcs are detected by the arc detector and counted using a logic circuit. Arc data is collected and analyzed and real-time data is provided which can be used to stop further processing until a repair is made.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to arc detection and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for detecting arcs during sputter deposition.
2. Problem to be Solved
Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), also known as sputtering, is a process for forming thin metal layers on wafers used for integrated circuits (ICs). The technique requires the use of a typical PVD sputter chamber 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 which includes vacuum chamber 11. The technique is generally performed according to the following description. A target 12 formed of a material such as a metal or insulator is placed in a vacuum chamber 11 and connected electrically as a cathode. An anode 13 provides reference to ground. An electric field placed between the target 12 and the anode 13 by a power supply 15 causes a low pressure gas, such as argon, to ionize. Ionized gas atoms are accelerated across the electric potential and impact the target 12 at high speed, causing target metal atoms to be physically removed or sputtered. The metal atoms ejected from the target material travel virtually unimpeded through the low pressure gas and plasma and strike substrate 14 forming a coating having an approximately uniform thickness.
Arcing occurs when a path from ground to the target is established through electrons or ions in the plasma. Arcing during PVD can be caused by factors such as contamination or inclusion within the structure of the target or from such tool maintenance factors as contamination from other sources such as vacuum grease, vacuum leaks, or improper alignment of the target. Contaminants in the target, referred to as inclusions, can include SiO.sub.2 or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Arcing during PVD carl cause damage to semiconductor chips on a wafer and reduce the yield of good chips on the wafer. While normal metal deposition is typically less than 1 micron thick, the arcing causes a locally thicker deposition of metal on the wafer. Subsequent processes are used to pattern and etch metal lines onto the wafer. Since the local defect is thicker than the surrounding metal, the defect is not etched through in the subsequent processing, and this can result in a short circuit on the chip. The local defect can also distort a pattern imaged onto the wafer in a subsequent photolithography step. A semiconductor chip has multiple levels of metal lines separated by an insulator, each of the metal levels formed by a process such as: sputter depositing the metal, patterning the metal, and etching the metal. Since a metal short at any level will cause the chip to fail, it is important to avoid damage from arcing during sputter deposition.
Prior art deposition chambers run until the target inclusion which caused the arc is sputtered through or the arc causing problem is fixed. Corrective action is dependent upon the availability of parametric data, for example, the number of metal shorts per layer, or inspection based upon a sample plan which reveals the defects. This information can take weeks to obtain. As a result, both random yield loss and yield loss for an extended time remain undetected.
The effects of arcing have been detected by scanning the surface of wafers after metal deposition with a laser, a costly process. Reliable techniques for finding inclusions in targets that might cause arcing have not been available, and claims by target manufacturers that their targets have low inclusion levels could not previously be substantiated by wafer surface scanning techniques. Furthermore, no process was available to provide real-time monitoring of the arcing in the deposition chamber.

International Business Machines Corporation


In a mobile communication system of the present invention, a base station apparatus and mobile station apparatus (user device) communicate each other on a plurality of downlink component carriers and a plurality of uplink component carriers. And while the mobile station apparatus (user device) transmit an uplink data to the base station apparatus on the plurality of uplink component carriers, the mobile station apparatus (user device) transmit a scheduling request for requesting uplink resource for the uplink data to the base station apparatus using a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) only on a specific uplink component carrier of the plurality of uplink component carriers.

In recent years, a personal communication device has been miniaturized and diversified significantly with a field of personal communication rapidly developed. Various data services, such as multimedia information, online gaming, video-on-demand, music download, and mobile TV, have been provided and personal demand for communication and entertainment seems to be substantially satisfied with them. Under the circumstances, a main problem of a next-generation mobile communication system would be how to provide a user with a higher peak velocity and a wider system frequency band.
At the 53rd meeting of 3GPP RAN1, held in Kansas City in the U.S. on May 5-9, 2008, by 3GPP (the 3rd Generation Partner Project) which is an international organization for standardization, requirements for LTE-Advanced and possible propositions related to the LTE-Advanced were discussed. After the meeting, "TR36.913v8.0.0, Requirements for Further Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced)" was submitted and adopted, in which it is clearly stated that the LTE-Advanced system having a maximum system frequency band of 100 MHz should be supported. In addition, a great number of companies proposed, at the meeting, that an uplink system bandwidth narrower than a downlink system bandwidth should be supported (see Non Patent Literature 1, for example).
This proposition, however, gives rise to a problem that the uplink system bandwidth and the downlink system bandwidth of the LTE-Advanced system would be different in size from each other. As to a conventional LTE system, the uplink system bandwidth and the downlink system bandwidth are equal in size to each other, and the maximum system bandwidth is 20 MHz. The conventional LTE system has thus allowed its LTE base station to accurately acquire, from an LTE user device (mobile station terminal), uplink control signaling in a downlink bandwidth occupied by the LTE user device (i.e. downlink control signaling related to uplink control information, also called "DCI (Downlink Control Information) format 0"). In contrast, the LTE-Advanced system employs the uplink system bandwidth and the downlink system bandwidth which are asymmetric to each other. Thus, it has been required a novel method for feeding back the uplink control signaling to the base station.
Further, one of the above requirements for the LTE-Advanced is compatibility between the LTE-Advanced system and a conventional LTE user device, that is, operation of LTE and LTE-Advanced should be possible in the same frequency spectrum.

Base station, user device, communication system, method for controlling base station, method for controlling user device, method for controlling communication system, program, and storage medium


Interior trim gap covering apparatuses for motor vehicles and methods for making interior trim gap covering apparatuses are provided. In one example, an interior trim gap covering apparatus comprises a first gap hider member. The first gap hider member comprises a substrate having a forward edge and a rearward edge and a plurality of openings formed therethrough extending between the forward and rearward edges to facilitate the substrate deforming in response to an applied force. A flexible covering overlies the substrate.

Motor vehicles typically include an instrument panel and a steering column that extends through an opening in the instrument panel. Generally, this opening must be large enough to provide for the full tilt of the steering wheel, which leaves a gap between the edge of the instrument panel opening and the steering column. As a result, there is a need to shield the opening around the steering column for both aesthetics and to prevent access to the instrument panel. A closeout, or boot, generally surrounds the steering column for preventing such access to the instrument panel while still allowing for full travel and tilt of the steering wheel. An additional requirement is that the steering column be able to translate a specified axial distance upon impact by the occupant, such as in a frontal impact.
Current closeouts employed between an adjustable steering column and an instrument panel are generally either a flexible type gap covering, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,431 issued to Geyer, or a rigid plastic-type gap covering. In general, the flexible type gap coverings use an unsupported skin material that can unfortunately crease and permanently wrinkle from moving and positioning for full travel and tilt of the steering wheel. Additionally, the rigid plastic-type gap coverings can undesirably break apart when the steering column moves in an axial direction, such as in a frontal impact.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide interior trim gap coverings for motor vehicles that avoid creasing and/or wrinkling, for example, from moving and positioning for full travel and tilt of a steering wheel, and methods for making such interior trim gap coverings. Moreover, it is desirable to provide interior trim gap covering for motor vehicles that allow a steering column to translate a specified axial distance, such as during a frontal impact, without the interior trim gap covering breaking apart, and methods for making such interior trim gap coverings. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Interior trim gap covering apparatuses for motor vehicles and methods for making the same


A device for collection of energy from mechanical disturbances and distribution of that energy to an electrical load. A transducer converts mechanical energy in the form of forces and displacements into electrical energy in the form of charge pulses. The charge pulses are rectified into a Direct Current (DC) power signal and accumulated and stored in an input storage element. A controlled conversion circuit assures that the voltage on the storage element is maintained within a predetermined optimal range for energy harvesting from the transducer, avoiding the application of peak voltages. The controlled conversion circuit can be hard wired and/or controllably adjustable to match a given disturbance characteristic. Only when the voltage is within the optimal range for a given type of disturbance will the controlled conversion circuit enable a DC/DC converter to further convert the stored energy to a voltage that is coupled to an output storage element. This technique optimizes power conversion by controlling the high voltage to low version conversion process by, for example, sensing the disturbance with external sensor or internal voltage of the system, and then using this information about the disturbance to control how and when the electrical conversion process will occur.

Harvesting energy from intermittent mechanical disturbances can be of great value for powering remote sensors and other types of electrical circuits such as those supporting wireless transponders. Even if the available disturbances are relatively minor and produce only very small amounts of energy, the sum total of energy collected over time can be enormous benefit for a wide variety of applications. Energy harvesting transducers and energy storage circuitry can effectively provide "self powering circuits" that are far more robust and longer lived than ones powered by a storage battery or can enable hybrid systems with reduced size batteries. These self powered circuits can draw and store energy from mechanical disturbances in the environment around them. This enables them to operate in environments where regular maintenance, to change batteries for example, might be impractical or impossible. The harvested electrical power can be used to provide power for a wide variety of applications such as powering of remote sensors, transmitting telemetry data over a wireless link, local alarm indication, implanted electronic medical devices for therapy or monitoring, and many other uses.
Given the rapid advances in the field of low power circuitry over the last few years, energy harvesting and storage technology is expected to find wide application. Some key requirements for the deployment of these technologies include minimal power consumption, maximum efficiency to optimally harvest and store the power from mechanical disturbances using electromechanical transducers, as well as the need to switch and transform the energy into an optimal form for use by an external application circuit, for example conditioning it to a suitable voltage. Often, the relatively high voltages and currents generated by electromechanical transducers are not readily useable by conventional low power circuitry. Thus, previous energy harvesting technologies suffer from poor efficiencies in collecting, storing and transferring energy from transducers to an application load circuit.

System for optimal energy harvesting and storage from an electromechanical transducer


A wafer 1 has a chamfered edge 2 polished to specular glossiness, and a laser mark for indication of crystal orientation is put on the chamfered edge 2. Another laser mark 4 for indication of specification, production number, identification, etc. may be carved as a bar code on the chamfered edge 2. These marks 3, 4 are carved on the chamfered edge 2 by laser marking which does not put any harmful influences on the wafer 1.

The present invention relates to a wafer having a laser mark for indication of a crystal orientation, specification, etc.
A wafer sliced off an ingot is processed in various steps such as lapping, chamfering and etching. In these steps, a mark for indication of a crystal orientation is carved on an edge of the wafer. The mark is used for setting the wafer, when the wafer is scribed along a cleavage plane for instance.
Such a mark has been put on a wafer by various methods.
The method is the most popular one by which an orientation flat is formed at an edge of a wafer. The orientation flat is used for a crystal orientation of the wafer in later steps. However, it is difficult to precisely align a wafer using the orientation, since the orientation flat is formed in a relatively broad area crossing an edge of the wafer at an obtuse angle. The orientation flat also reduces an effective area of the wafer. Besides, the orientation flat puts restrictions on a shape of an electrostatic chuck which is used for handling a wafer and causes a harmful effect on dynamic balance during spin rotation of a wafer.
A notch engraved on an edge of a wafer is also used as a mark or indication of a crystal orientation. In this case, a notched edge is polished to specular glossiness, so as to distinctly detect the notched part during measuring in later steps. Such polishing is troublesome, and residual stresses inevitably remain near the notched part. It is difficult to completely remove such residual stresses.
A laser mark useful an indication of a crystal orientation has been recently proposed. The laser mark is put on a front or back side of a wafer by partially melting a surface layer of the wafer with irradiation of a laser beam. The laser mark can be easily carved on the front or back side of the wafer without introduction of any mechanical stresses. However, the laser mark reduces an effective area of a wafer, and inevitably requires a troublesome process for rectifying data so as to eliminate errors caused by the marked part during measuring a shape of the wafer.

Wafer having a laser mark on chamfered edge

Super Silicon Crystal Research Institute Corp.


A system and method for classifying digital images is presented. The method includes extracting a plurality of descriptive data items of a transaction evidence from a digital image indicating a plurality of purchased items; searching in data source for informative data based on the extracted plurality of descriptive data items, wherein the informative data includes a price; determining a correlated amount for each of at least one of the plurality of descriptive data items, wherein the correlated amount determined for one of the descriptive data items defines a paid price for the descriptive data item; determining, based on at least one expense type classification rule, a primary expense type of the transaction evidence, wherein the at least one expense type classification rule is applied to the plurality of descriptive data items and each of the correlated amount; and classifying the digital image based on the primary expense type.

Enterprises all over the world often spend large amounts of money on goods and services purchased by the enterprises' employees in the course of their regular business dealings. Portions of these transactions may be refundable such that the enterprise can reclaim a Value Added Tax (VAT) or deduct qualified expenses from their corporate income tax. These expenses often must be reported to the relevant tax authorities in order to reclaim a tax refund.
In some jurisdictions, enterprises may subtract the amount paid in VAT from a total tax amount owned to a tax authority by calculating any VAT paid by the enterprise for expenses that have a qualified business justification. In some countries the subtraction may occur without providing an original price of evidences, e.g., a tax receipt, for such expenses. However, the original evidences may be required when a tax inspection is performed by a tax authority. Where an evidence is missing or in cases where the evidence is not an original one, the company may be at risk.
Currently, when evidences such as tax receipts are gathered in a large scale, the process of detecting whether a tax receipt actually contains all necessary transaction data items may be time consuming for the entity reviewing the evidences, as well as for the parties of the transaction, if their input is required.
In addition, in many cases it is desirable to determine the vendor's identity associated with a transaction made in order to apply the appropriate tax rules. Different products and services that a vendor provides are subjected to different tax rules and regulations. Normally, the vendor's identity has to be manually entered by either the vendor or the customer. Such method may be cumbersome, time consuming, and labor intensive, especially when tax receipts are entered in a large scale. Also, problems also arise when the vendor's identity is not entered by mistake.
There are available solutions by which enterprises collect and analyze data associated with expenses and purchases made by their employees. However, such solutions do not provide an efficient method of automatically determining a vendor's identity.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that would overcome the challenges noted above.

System and method thereof for determining vendor's identity based on network analysis methodology


A conveyor sorter includes a conveying surface movable in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of the conveying surface. At least one diverting rail is configured to selectively guide at least one of the pusher shoes laterally of the conveying surface. At least one diverter associated with the diverting rail is adapted to selectively transfer one or more pusher shoes to the diverting rail. The diverting rail has at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and the second portion is at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal direction that is different from the first angle. A pusher shoe guided by the diverting rail travels at a first lateral rate along the first portion and at a second, different lateral rate along the second portion. The first angle may be less than the second angle and a pusher shoe guided by the diverting rail traveling at the first lateral rate initially contacts an article on said conveying surface at the first portion. The second lateral rate would be higher than the first lateral rate for the duration of the diverting of the article. The diverting rail may be at least partially curved thereby providing a gradual junction between the first and second portions.

This invention relates generally to conveyor diverting systems, and more particularly to conveyor diverting systems having an endless conveying surface composed of multiple surface members, each one or group of adjacent ones mounted with a laterally movable shoe capable of diverting packages or other articles from the conveying surface by pushing laterally against the articles as they move down the conveyor. Such lateral pushing diverts a package from a main conveyor to an adjacent branch conveyor, or other receiving structure.
Conveyor diverting systems using a moving conveying surface consisting of a plurality of parallel surface members have been known for a number of years. Such diverting systems utilize a diverter shoe movably mounted on one or more of the surface members for lateral movement with respect to the conveying surface under the guidance of a track network. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,510 issued to Cotter et al., and commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,515 issued to Nitschke et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The track network is located generally under the conveying surface and guides the diverter shoes via follower portions descending from the diverter shoes and engaging the track network. Diverters or diverter switches in the track network selectively transfer guidance of each diverter shoe from a track running in the direction of the movement of the conveying surface to a diagonal track, or plurality of diagonal tracks, in order to cause lateral movement of the diverter shoes. Examples of diverter switches used to selectively transfer guidance of diverter shoes between tracks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,095, issued to Hoshi et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,912, issued to Cotter, and International Publication No. WO 01/83342 A1 by Bozarth et al. In order to avoid wasted spacing between variable-length packages, such diverting systems may include manual or automatic measuring means at an infeed point to cause the diverter gate associated with the selected branch conveyor to divert a selected number of shoes corresponding in general to the length of the package. Exemplary of this type of conveyor are U.S. Pat. No. 3,361,247, issued to James N. Lauzon et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,347, issued to Brouwer, the latter being commonly assigned with the present invention.
The diverters or diverter switches used to divert the shoes onto diagonal tracks are often desirably spaced apart approximately the same distance as the distance between adjacent surface members. This spacing allows adjacent diverters to divert shoes along adjacent surface members. Such spacing, however, often leaves little room for the diverter switches. In order to construct diverter switches that can operate in such spaces, it is often necessary to construct the diverter switches so that they divert shoes at a relatively steep angle. That is, the diverter switches are constructed so that they change the motion of the shoes from a state in which the shoes are traveling longitudinally with no transverse motion to one in which they have a relatively high transverse motion component. In general, the steeper the angle at which the diverter switches divert shoes in a transverse direction, the more space that is created for the physical structure of the diverting gate to occupy. Diverting the shoes at too steep of an angle, however, can cause difficulties as will be set forth in more detail below.
With increased demands for the number of packages to be conveyed by such conveying systems, the overall speed of the conveyor has become an important factor in the design of conveying systems. As a general matter, increasing the speed of the conveyor typically increases the throughput of the conveyor. Increasing the speed of the conveyor, however, can create other difficulties. For example, if the longitudinal speed of the conveyor is increased, the lateral speed of the diverter shoes will also increase during package diverts. If this lateral speed gets too great, however, the diverter shoes may impinge the package with such force that the package is toppled, knocked backwards on the conveyor, knocked off of the conveyor, or otherwise undesirably moved. While the lateral speed of the diverter shoes can be decreased by lessening the angle of the diverting tracks, as noted above, decreasing the angle of the diverting tracks may not leave sufficient room for the diverter switches to be operably installed. Also, decreasing the divert angle generally requires the adjacent take-away conveyors to take up more space in order to accommodate the greater effective width of the article when it is diverted at a smaller angle. Having larger take-away conveyors not only increases their expense, but also uses up more factory floor-space, which is often at a premium. Further, the need can therefore be seen for a diverting conveyor that mitigates the aforementioned problems associated with increased conveyor speeds.
Increased demands for package throughput also make the amount of inter-package spacing an important factor. By spacing packages closer together, more packages can be placed on a conveyor, and thus more packages can typically be processed over a given time period when they are spaced more closely together. However, a minimum inter-package spacing is desirable as a result of the rotation of a diverted package as it is diverted. Because of this rotation, additional inter-package spacing is required to avoid conflict between the package being diverted and a closely trailing package. This rotation pushes the trailing corner of the package adjacent the branch conveyor back a distance. Sufficient spacing between the packages to accommodate the backward movement of this corner is desirably included in conveyor systems. The extent of this spacing, however, is desirably reduced, and the need can be seen for a conveyor diverting system that can more effectively decrease the amount of necessary inter-package spacing.

Conveyor system with diverting track network


A continuous strip of sheet paper material is divided into blanks by a device comprising a cutter and an anvil rendered capable of sliding movement one in relation to the other and establishing a cutting position toward which the strip is advanced by way of a passage incorporated into the anvil; the cutter is reciprocated across the anvil in such a manner as to pass through the cutting position transversely to the strip, alternating between two limit positions on opposite sides of the passage, the geometry being such that the cutter will vacate the passage entirely when occupying either one of the two limit positions.

The present invention relates to a device for cutting a strip of sheet material into blanks.
In particular, the present invention relates to a device for cutting strip paper material, and finds application to advantage in the tobacco industry for the fabrication of internal reinforcing frames for cigarette packets, to which reference is made directly in the following specification albeit with no limitation in scope implied.
It is conventional practice in cigarette packaging machines to utilize devices of the type comprising a cutter and an anvil, in which the cutter and the anvil components are invested with sliding movement one relative to the other and caused to operate in conjunction at a cutting position in such a way as to divide up a continuous strip of paper material into discrete blanks each presenting the shape of a reinforcing frame for a rigid cigarette packet of the type with a hinged lid. The anvil is associated normally with a drive device such as will feed the strip in a predetermined direction along the anvil and toward an edge of the anvil that coincides with the aforementioned cutting position.
In familiar devices of the type outlined above, the cutter is operated by a relative drive or actuator device in such a manner as to pass across the anvil in a direction transverse to that followed by the advancing strip and through the cutting station. The action of the cutter may be either continuous or reciprocating; if continuous, the cutter will be mounted generally to the periphery of a roller set in rotation about its own axis in such a way that the cutting edge is caused to describe a circular trajectory passing tangentially to the anvil at the cutting position. When rotating cutters are used, a relatively short active cutting step is accompanied by a relatively long passive feed step in which the cutting edge advances toward the cutting position, since the edge has to complete one full revolution about its axis of rotation between two successive cutting strokes.
In the case of a reciprocating action, the cutter completes a forward stroke and a return stroke away from and back toward an at-rest position, passing through the cutting position each time. The forward stroke constitutes an operating step in which the cutting edge severs the paper strip by translating toward and striking against a corresponding edge of the anvil that coincides with the cutting position, whereas the return stroke is a passive movement serving simply to return the knife to the at-rest position.
It will be evident that cutting devices of the type described above are none too efficient. Whether the movement happens to be continuous or reciprocating, in effect, the active cutting stroke is accompanied by a relatively long passive stroke.
The object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device such as will be more efficient than devices of the prior art type described above.

Device for cutting a strip of sheet material into blanks


A window regulator for a motor vehicle includes a drive unit assembly with a module plate. The drive unit for the window regulator includes a cable drum housing with a cable drum and a motor assembly. The cable drum housing includes a stepped annular ring extended from the cable drum housing and a snap-fit post protruded from each of the stepped annular ring for engaging with the module plate. The cable drum housing is positioned on a receiving site of the module plate, and the stepped annular ring and the snap-fit post is coupled with a locating site on the receiving site. Each locating site includes a circular bead for engaging with the stepped annular ring of the cable drum housing.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Passenger car and light truck motor vehicles typically feature movable side door glass. A mechanism is required to move the glass between the upper closed position and the lower opened position. These mechanisms are generally known as window regulators. Window regulators can be manually operated, or can be driven by a power actuator, most commonly employing an electric motor. Many window regulator mechanisms are generally well-known technologies.
One type of the window regulator uses a drive unit having a cable driven by an electric motor through a cable drum. These types frequently incorporate a motor assembly which includes a gear housing formed of molded plastic which must be assembled and connected to a cable drum and a cable drum housing, which drive unit is in turn mounted to a door inner panel. Accordingly, the assembled drive unit is generally attached to the door inner panel such as a sheet metal for supporting a driving force exerted by a cable in the window regulator. Despite the satisfactory performance of the conventional drive unit including motor assembly and cable drum housing in the window regulators, there is constantly a desire to reduce cost, simplify assembly and reduce weight of automotive components, while providing a desirable durability, low warranty claims, and compliance with performance requirements.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Drive unit assembly for a window regulator


A dip-forming composition of the present invention comprises a dip-forming latex containing a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing 100 parts by weight of a monomer mixture containing 70 to 85 parts by weight of a conjugated diene monomer, 10 to 28 parts by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer, 2 to 5 parts by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and 0 to 18 parts by weight of other monomer copolymerizable with these monomers, said copolymer having a toluene insoluble content of 30% by weight or more and a toluene swelling degree of 70 times or less; and a vulcanizing agent, a vulcanization accelerator and zinc oxide which are blended in said latex in amounts of 0.5 to 2 parts by weight, 0.25 to 1 part by weight and 0.5 to 1 part by weight, respectively, on the basis of 100 parts by weight of a solid content of the latex. There can be provided a dip-formed article exhibiting an excellent touch and feel, sufficient tensile strength and elongation at break and an excellent persistence of close fitting, as well as a dip-forming composition capable of providing such a dip-formed article.

Rubber gloves have been extensively used in household applications, various industrial applications such as food industries and electronic parts production industries, and medical applications. It has been conventionally required that these rubber gloves have a good stretchability even upon application of a smaller force thereto and a good followability to finger motion so as to prevent users' hands from being tired even when wearing for a long period of time (a good touch and feel), are free from breaking during wearing (sufficiently high tensile strength and elongation at break), and exhibit a capability of retaining a tight-fitting condition (a good persistence of close fitting).
Hitherto, there have been frequently used rubber gloves obtained by dip-forming natural rubber latexes. However, the rubber gloves made of natural rubber latexes have such a fear that some users tend to undergo allergy to proteins contained in a rubber component thereof even in a trace amount. Therefore, there have been conventionally proposed gloves made of synthetic rubber latexes which are free from the above drawback.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,533, there have been proposed gloves obtained by dip-forming a dip-forming composition containing a carboxyl-modified conjugated diene-based rubber latex which is produced by subjecting a monomer mixture containing a conjugated diene monomer in an amount of 80 to 99% by weight to emulsion copolymerization and has a glass transition temperature of −50° C. or lower. However, the gloves proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,533 tend to be insufficient in tensile strength notwithstanding an excellent touch and feel and a sufficient elongation at break thereof.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,325, there have been proposed gloves obtained by dip-forming a dip-forming composition containing a copolymer latex which is produced by subjecting a monomer mixture containing 5 to 65% by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer, 35 to 90% by weight of a conjugated diene monomer and 0.5 to 10% by weight of an unsaturated acid monomer to emulsion copolymerization and has a toluene insoluble content of 85% by weight or less. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,325 discloses gloves formed from the copolymer latex obtained by emulsion-copolymerizing the monomer mixture containing 34% by weight of styrene. However, the gloves proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,325 tend to be ill-balanced between touch and feel and tensile strength and insufficient in persistence of close fitting notwithstanding a sufficient elongation at break thereof.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 131812/2001 discloses gloves obtained by dip-forming a styrene-butadiene rubber latex having a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or lower which satisfy such a condition that a ratio of a tensile stress thereof as measured after 6 min from 100% elongation thereof, to an initial tensile stress thereof as measured immediately after reaching the 100% elongation (stress retention rate) is in the range of 30 to 50%. More specifically, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 131812/2001, there are disclosed gloves produced from the styrene-butadiene rubber latex having a relatively high styrene content. However, the gloves disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 131812/2001 tend to be insufficient in touch and feel and persistence of close fitting.

Composition for dip forming and molding obtained by dip forming


A prefabricated tub/shower enclosure, and a method for retrofitting a bathroom with same are disclosed. The enclosure consists of a molded shell having three walls, a tub portion, a ceiling and integral plumbing. In use, a portion of the tub/shower enclosure is cantilevered beyond the exterior wall of the house, allowing a larger-sized tub/shower enclosure to be incorporated into the bathroom than would otherwise be possible. The tub/shower enclosure is installed through an opening formed in an exterior wall of the house between interior framing members defining the bathroom.

Recently, a trend in home construction has been toward relatively large-size bathrooms. Such bathrooms, especially those provided for the master bedroom, tend to be significantly larger than those found in older homes. Frequently, owners of such older homes desire to renovate or retrofit such smaller-sized bathrooms with, for example, a larger tub or shower enclosure. Unfortunately, the additional room required for such a retrofit is often not available within the confines of the existing bathroom. Few options are available to such homeowners.
One option is to "stick-build" an addition to the house, which, simply for the luxury of a larger tub, may be considered by many as cost prohibitive. A second option is a building extension in the form of a "bathroom/ensuite" module including a preformed shell and external wall as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,380. According to that patent, the preformed shell is installed through an opening in an exterior wall of the house. The external wall, preferably embodied as a bay window, covers the preformed shell and is fit to the exterior wall of the home. According to the patent, the preformed shell may be located partially within the bay of the bay window allowing the homeowner to expand beyond the confines of an existing bathroom. It is believed that the disclosed ensuite extension requires additional foundation or other supporting structure thereunder, adding expense and complexity to such a retrofit.
The present invention is intended as a low cost, easily-implemented alternative to known bathroom retrofitting approaches.

Bathing enclosure for retrofitting bathrooms


An N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine salt of an n-6 or n-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) that is beyond the 6-desaturation step, or of any polyunsaturated fatty acid, other than those belonging to the n-6 and n-3 series, having 16 to 26 carbon atoms and up to six double bonds, the double bonds being in the cis or trans configuration, the salt being formed with the fatty acid either as such or in the form of a covalent derivative, through the carboxyl group, of a bifunctional compound itself having a free acid function.

Numerous previous patent applications by the inventors have documented important therapeutic actions of the n-6 and n-3 essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their bodily conversion pathways are set out in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1 __________________________________________________________________________ n-6 EFA's n-3 EFA's __________________________________________________________________________ 18:2n-6 18:3n-3 Linoleic acid, LA) (.alpha.-Linolenic acid, ALA) .dwnarw. .delta.-6-desaturation .dwnarw. 18:3n-6 18:4n-3 (.gamma.-Linolenic acid, GLA) (Stearidonic acid) .dwnarw. elongation .dwnarw. 20:3n-6 20:4n-3 (Dihomo-.gamma.-linolenic acid, DGLA) .dwnarw. .delta.-5-desaturation .dwnarw. 20:4n-6 20:5n-6 (Arachidonic acid, AA) (Eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) .dwnarw. elongation .dwnarw. 22:4n-6 22:5n-3 (Adrenic acid) .dwnarw. .delta.-4-desaturation .dwnarw. 22:5n-6 22:6n-3 (Docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) __________________________________________________________________________
The acids, which in nature are of the all-cis configuration, are systematically named as derivatives of the corresponding octadecanoic, eicosanoic or docosanoic acids, e.g. z,z octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid or z,z,z,z,z,z docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid, but numerical designations based on the number of carbon atoms, the number of centres of unsaturation and the number of carbon atoms from the end of the chain to where the unsaturation begins, such as, correspondingly, 18:2n-6 or 22:6n-3, are convenient. Initials, e.g. EPA and shortened forms of the name e.g. eicosapentaenoic acid are used as trivial names in some of the cases.
The preferred fatty acids of the present invention are the ten n-6 and n-3 essential fatty acids that are beyond the 6-desaturation step, desirably in all -cis form, but the invention is not limited to them nor to acids in which the chain contains repeating --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 -- units. Columbinic acid and .alpha.-parinaric acids, for example, are also suitable, being e,z,z-octadeca-5,9,12-trienoic acid and z,e,e,z-octadeca-9,11,13,15-tetraenoic acid, respectively.
The therapeutic actions include desirable effects in many different diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, skin diseases, inflammatory diseases and immunological diseases, cancer, psychiatric disorders, renal diseases, prostatic disorders and gastrointestinal and other diseases.
By their nature, EFAs are highly hydrophobic compounds which are soluble in water to a negligible extent. However, there are many reasons why it would be desirable to have a water soluble form of these compounds. Such water soluble derivatives may, for example be more easily absorbed from the gut via the hepatic portal system; may be given intravenously with ease; and may be used in many other ways such as in topical formulations, formulations for local administration, innovative oral formulations including drinks, enteral foods, and skin care preparations including lotions, shampoos, creams and so on.
Meglumine (N-methyl glucamine, an N-alkyl polyhydroxy amine) is an agent which is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations and which has an excellent safety profile. The formula is: ##STR1##
We have found that the meglumine derivatives of EFAs are highly water soluble and can therefore be used in many different ways in the formulation of pharmaceuticals, foods, nutritional supplements, skin care products and drinks of many different sorts. The invention can also be applied to a wide variety of other polyunsaturated fatty acids, other than those belonging to the n-6 and n-3 series, which have 16 to 26 carbon atoms, up to 6 double bonds, and with the double bonds in either the cis or trans configuration.

N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine salts of polyunsaturated fatty acids


Techniques for playing a media file in a multimedia application include launching a multimedia application as one process and automatically launching a pipeline of one or more media processing components as one or more isolated processes. In this manner, any untrustworthy components can be executed in an isolated process that is separate from the execution process of the multimedia application, thereby improving fault tolerance and hang resistance.

Multimedia applications typically execute media files by multimedia processing, which is a very complex task. Oftentimes, multimedia processing hangs or crashes a multimedia application due to small mistakes arising in the codes of the multimedia application. Such problems arise when the multimedia application performs operations like playing a DVD, copying a CD to the computer hard drive, and so forth.
The codes in the multimedia application are usually complex and may be developed by multiple vendors who may or may not specialize in such code development. At present, the media processing applications, more precisely multimedia playback applications, include a multimedia pipeline to process the media files. The multimedia pipeline uses a third party codec (e.g. DivX) to decode and process the decompressed data from the media files to be presented to a user. Thus, if a failure occurs in the third party codec, a corresponding failure occurs in the multimedia playback application. Furthermore, crashing or hanging or any other improper functioning of the multimedia playback application results in unpredicted interruptions while the user listens to/views the media files. In addition, the third party codec can be susceptible to deliberate attacks designed to compromise the security of the system running the multimedia application.

Fault tolerant and hang resistant media processing applications


A vertical auger bottom-fill bag filling machine including a conical auger bowl depending from a cylindrical hopper on rocker arms, with the auger bowl being connected to the cylindrical hopper and a fill tube by flexible gaskets. A vertical auger shaft extends through the cylindrical hopper, auger bowl, and fill tube, with a section of flighting disposed within the auger bowl and fill tube to compress, de-aerate, and dispense the product. An agitator is mounted on the bottom of an agitator drive shaft which circumscribes the auger shaft and rotates independent thereof, the agitator having paddles which move the product and press the product downwardly in the auger bowl. An inverted venting cone is disposed within the auger bowl, with a vent tube extending upwardly and terminating proximate to the top of the cylindrical hopper. The inverted venting cone and vent tube are connected to the auger bowl to vibrate therewith, the vent tube surrounding and being spaced apart from the auger shaft and agitator drive shaft. The fill tube includes an enlarged upper section which permits the auger bowl to vibrate even though the diameters of the section of flighting and lower section of the fill tube are closely fitted. The vertical auger bottom-fill bag filling machine is incorporated into an automated bag filling system including a bag magazine, bag pickup and hanging mechanism, bag elevator assembly, bag weighing mechanism, bag conveyor, sealing station, and associated controls.

This invention relates generally to vertical auger or vertical screw type bag filling machines for filling products into bags, and particularly to a vertical auger type bag filler having a vibrating bowl, inverted venting cone, and a rotating agitator assembly.
The above referenced patent discloses a vibrating hopper with inverted cone connected to a vertical auger bag filling machine via a cross auger conveyor. This system has proven effective for de-aerating and filling many types of powdered and granular products that were previously, at best, difficult to de-aerate and fill. In particular, the system provides great adaptability to handling different types of products through adjustments and fine tuning of the various elements along the system, and provides for adjustment of those components.
Other efforts to combine the de-aerating effects of a vibrating hopper with the advantages of an automated vertical bottom-fill auger and bag handling system have been attempted. In particular, the Model 3CM-F Automatic Bagging Machine by the Newlong Machine Works, Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan (American-NewLong Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.) incorporates a vibrating hopper and a two vertical screw feeds which may be adapted between a standard configuration and a specialized configuration for extremely fine powdered products.
For extremely fine powdered products, the Newlong system utilizes a service hopper which feeds product into a vibratile hopper. The vibratile hopper is disposed above a conical primary fill hopper having a fill tube and screw feeder with a bag elevator mechanism which permits bottom filling of bags. The bags are lowered by the bag elevator mechanism when the filling process commences, with the filling cycle being controlled by a timer that interrupts rotation of the screw feeder after a pre-set time. The bag top is shaped and the bag is then forwarded to a secondary fill station which is also disposed beneath the vibratile hopper. The bag is supported from above on a load-cell weight scale, and a secondary screw feeder fills the bag with the balance of a pre-set weight of product. The bag is then transferred via a conveyor to a bag inserter and bag top slitter, and the top of the bag is then sealed using a heat sealer or stitching machine.
However, there are several disadvantages to such a system. Four hoppers or bowls are required to accomplish both the vibrational de-aeration process and the independent primary filling and secondary topping processes, with at least three of those hoppers or bowls being disposed in generally vertical alignment. Including the height of the fill tubes and conduits connecting the hoppers or bowls, the system then requires significant minimum interior ceiling height for clearance. The system requires two outlet ports from the vibratile hopper, thus preventing effective use of auxiliary equipment within the vibratile hopper such as an inverted venting cone, vertical auger, or an agitator assembly. Since the bag is transferred between a primary fill station and a topping station with correctional weighing commencing after the bag reaches the topping station, there is a significant delay in processing bags through the system. The system requires two independent sets of screw feeder drives for the separate filling stations, and if the system is adapted for automated responsive filling, two sets of controls for measuring product density within the two fill tubes and adjusting the revolutions of the two screw feeders are necessary. The system for filling extremely fine powders is distinct from the standard arrangement, and tuning either system for different types of products can only be accomplished by synchronizing several system elements.

Vertical auger type bag filler having a vibrating bowl with inverted venting cone and rotating agitator assembly


A wireless node, such as a sensor node or other suitable node, includes a supercapacitor having a charge and one or more photocells adapted to charge the supercapacitor responsive to ambient light. A microprocessor cooperates with a wireless transceiver to transmit a count of one or more wireless messages. The microprocessor determines the charge of the supercapacitor, determines an incremental charge of the supercapacitor resulting from the ambient light, and adjusts the count of the wireless messages as a function of the charge of the supercapacitor and the incremental charge. A power supply, including a boost regulator and a filter capacitor, powers the microprocessor and the wireless transmitter from the charge of the supercapacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to wireless communication and, more particularly, to wireless nodes employing an energy store for power. The invention also pertains to methods of powering wireless nodes and, more particularly, of charging an energy store responsive to ambient light.
2. Background Information
Relatively low power, radio frequency (RF) lighting control systems employ wall-mounted, battery powered, RF switch "sensors". Such a switch sensor sends a signal to a remote power control device, such as relay, in order to turn one or more lights on and off. Since the switch sensors are battery powered, the batteries must either be manually replaced or else must be recharged from a suitable power source.
Unlike stand-alone devices, a low power, RF sensor device allows its sensor to be connected to a remote controller or monitor.
It is known to provide a sensor system in which a plurality of sensors are connected, either directly with wires or indirectly with RF communications, to a central control and monitoring device. An example of such a sensor system is a security system, which may include a telephone line for dial out/in communication.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,577 discloses a smoke detection unit including a solar cell array and first and second trickle charger/voltage regulator adjustable units. Power from the solar cell array is gained from light sources in the home or factory. The solar cell array provides up to 9 volts to the smoke detector unit via the first trickle charger with ambient light.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,864 discloses a wireless remote sensor employing low-power CMOS circuit techniques. Since the power requirements are so low, the sensor can maintain operation via a power source using only electromagnetic radiation, i.e., "free" power, which emanates from ambient energy sources. The sensor may receive "free" power from ambient energy sources and also includes a battery backup. In this embodiment, the power source provides power to the sensor to operate using the "free" power and/or the battery supplied power. This allows the sensor to conserve the battery energy level by using the "free" power when possible.
It is known to employ a wide range of electronic devices that are solar powered for outdoor use.
It is known to power a hand-held calculator by collecting and storing power derived from artificial indoor light.
There is room for improvement in wireless nodes and in methods of powering wireless nodes employing ambient light to charge an energy store.

Wireless node and method of powering a wireless node employing ambient light to charge an energy store


The present invention includes: a series circuit including a reactor and a switching element connected between the rectified-current output terminals of a rectifier; a series circuit including a diode and a smoothing capacitor for obtaining an output voltage, connected in parallel to the switching element; an error amplifier configured to detect the output voltage, amplify the error between the detected output voltage and a reference voltage, and output an error signal; a zero-current detector configured to output a signal when detecting that a reactor current flowing in the reactor has become zero current; a correction signal circuit configured to detect a switching current flowing in the switching element, and generate a correction signal corresponding to the detected switching current; and an ON-period control circuit configured to control the switching element's ON period in accordance with the error signal and correction signal, from when the zero-current detector detects the zero current.

Conventional power-factor correction circuits generally employ a method in which current peaks of a switching element are made proportional to an input instantaneous voltage. According to this method, it is theoretically possible to obtain an input current that is proportional to the input instantaneous voltage.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of such a conventional power-factor correction circuit. In this power-factor correction circuit, it is detected that a current flowing in a reactor L2 has reached zero, when the voltage of an auxiliary winding Nd of the reactor L2 reaches or falls below a threshold Vth. When the current of the reactor L2 reaches zero, a flip-flop circuit FF1 is set to turn on a switching element Q1. In this way, the switching current of the switching element Q1 appears as a triangle-wave signal starting from zero.
Moreover, a switching element Q2 is turned off using an inverted signal from an inverter circuit INV1 at the same time as when the switching element Q1 is turned on. As a result, a capacitor C1 is charged with a constant current from a constant current source Ict, so that a voltage Vct of the capacitor C1 rises. A comparator CP1 compares the voltage of a capacitor C2 and the voltage Vct of the capacitor C1, and the output of the comparator CP1 shifts to a H level and resets the flip-flop circuit FF1 when the voltage Vct exceeds the voltage of the capacitor C2. As a result, the switching element Q1 is turned off. At the same time, the inverter circuit INV1 inverts a L-level signal which is the output of the flip-flop circuit FF1 and applies a H-level signal to the gate of the switching element Q2. As a result, the switching element Q2 is turned on, and the voltage Vct of the capacitor C1 is reset to zero.
As the above-described operation is repeated, the ON period of the switching element Q1 is controlled to be long when the output of an error amplifier A1 increases, and the ON period of the switching element Q1 is controlled to be short when the output of the error amplifier A1 decreases. The error amplifier A1 is configured to compare a reference voltage Vref and a value obtained by dividing the output voltage with a resistor R1 and a resistor R2, and operate in such a way that the output of the error amplifier A1 decreases as the output voltage rises, and the output of the error amplifier A1 increases as the output voltage drops.
As a result, the ON periods of the switching element Q1 are controlled such that the output voltage can be a target value which is determined by the reference voltage Vref and the ratio of voltage division by the resistor R1 and the resistor R2. During this control, the ON periods are set in such a way as to prevent response to the frequency of the AC input voltage, with the help of phase correction by the capacitor C2 provided at the output of the error amplifier A1. Accordingly, the ON periods of the switching element Q1 remain substantially the same during a half cycle of the AC input.
Since the inclination of the current flowing in the reactor L2 is proportional to the input instantaneous voltage, the switching element Q1 is controlled with substantially the same ON periods during the half cycle of the input AC voltage. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, peaks Isw of a switching current Iin appear as triangle waves proportional to an input AC voltage instantaneous value Vin, and the average value thereof is proportional to the input AC voltage. In reality, however, stray capacitance is present in parallel with elements such as the switching element Q1, a diode D2, and the reactor L2.
For this reason, in a case where the peak current of the switching element Q1 is equal to or below a certain level, the energy stored in the reactor L2 while the switching element Q1 is turned off is all consumed to charge the stray capacitance. Consequently, the anode voltage of the diode D2 fails to exceed the output voltage, and no current flows to the output side. That no current flows to the output side means that no current flows in from the input. This leads to a phenomenon in which the input current does not flow when the input AC voltage is equal to or below a certain level (FIG. 3). Thus, there is a problem in that, in a range where the input instantaneous voltage is low, the input current does not flow, thereby resulting in a narrower conduction angle and a deteriorated power factor. Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2006-526975 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-199896 have been known as techniques that solve this problem.
In the circuit described in Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2006-526975, a rectified voltage obtained by rectifying an input AC voltage is detected, and the ON period of a switching element is modified to be shorter than that determined by output voltage control when the input voltage instantaneous value is large, whereas the ON period is modified to be longer when the input voltage instantaneous value is small. In this way, when the input voltage instantaneous value is small, the switching current is increased and the time for which the input current does not flow is shortened. Accordingly, the conduction angle can be widened and the power factor can be improved.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-199896 utilizes a fact that a forward voltage generated in a secondary wiring of a reactor in a power-factor correction circuit when a switching element Q1 is turned on is proportional to an input instantaneous voltage. The ON period of the switching element is controlled to be long when the forward voltage of the secondary winding of the reactor is low, whereas the ON period is controlled to be short when the forward voltage is high.
In this way, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-199896, like Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2006-526975, in a range where the input instantaneous voltage is low, the ON period is increased, thereby providing a more current than the normal switching current which is proportional to the input instantaneous voltage. Accordingly, the conduction angle can be widened and the power factor can be improved.
However, in Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2006-526975, a rectified voltage obtained by rectifying an alternating current is detected. The voltage of the power-factor correction circuit after the rectification is high because it is a voltage obtained by rectifying a commercial alternating current. Thus, in a case of inserting a voltage detection circuit, a circuit design and selection of components taking high voltage into consideration are necessary.
In the case of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-199896, the input voltage is not detected directly, and therefore the high-voltage problem does not occur. However, for a power-factor correction circuit for critical mode control, it is possible to employ a method in which the switching current is detected directly and the auxiliary winding of the reactor is not utilized. Then, to employ this method, a different auxiliary winding is necessary.
An object of the present invention is to provide a power-factor correction circuit capable of widening the conduction angle and improving the power factor, without detecting the input voltage or detecting the voltage of an auxiliary winding of a reactor.

Power factor correction circuit having on-period controlling