A rope tie for an animal or other movable object comprising a helical coil fixedly or removably attached to a support. A free end of a rope is inserted through a first loop of the coil toward a second loop of the coil, then under, around, and through the second loop of the coil. When the animal or movable object pulls on an opposite end of the rope, the rope moves out of the coil until it tightens around the second loop and ceases moving, thus restricting or stopping the movement of the animal or movable object. The free end of the rope may be placed on a hook to reduce the movement of the rope through the coil. Slack in the portion of rope extending from the coil to the animal or movable object may be removed or reduced by pulling on the free end of the rope.

Many objects and animals must be tethered by ropes to keep them from moving away from a desired location.
Horses and dogs, for example, must be trained to calmly accept being tied to a stationary object. Young horses not accustomed to being tied in a stationary position often panic and attempt to pull away from the stationary object. Similarly, older horses spoiled in their training, may panic, feel trapped, and pull back in panic or fight when tied. Most dogs, too, will pull back on a secured leash or rope to escape and attend to other activities of more interest to the dog. If additional rope is not allowed to play out in these situations, the animal's panic, pulling, and resistance increase.
Many inanimate objects, such as boats, must also be tied by a rope to a dock or other object, but need a certain amount of slack or extra rope when waves or other water movement cause them to move and pull on the rope. If slack is not provided in these instances, the boat may strike, or repeatedly strike, nearby objects and be damaged.
In tree trimming and removal operations, an additional length of rope may also be needed to permit some movement in the tree limb or other part of the tree being cut or removed.
Indeed, there are many applications in which an object must be secured with a rope and, after securing or tying, require an additional length of rope due to environmental forces or conditions that cause the object to move and pull on the rope by which it is secured.
Many conventional, prior art rope ties do not easily allow an additional length of rope to be extended to accommodate for the movement of the animal or other tied object. If such rope ties do allow for additional rope to be extended in order to permit movement, there is usually no convenient way to retrieve the additional rope, or slack, once it is extended.
Many existing rope ties require the rope to be knotted to an anchor of some type. When the tied object moves, the knot tightens and may be very difficult to untie in order to provide an additional length of rope to accommodate movement. When the slack or additional rope is no longer needed the knot must be untied and retied in order to secure the object or animal with the desired length of rope and tension. Since it may be difficult for the user to know in advance the amount of slack needed for a particular application, or may be difficult to knot the rope to provide the optimal amount of slack, it is often necessary to secure an animal or object subject to movement several times—i.e., by trial and error—to achieve the optimal or desired rope length, which is time consuming and requires constant attention to the tie during the adjustment period.
Mechanical and spring loaded ties have been used to attempt to achieve more flexible and adjustable tying arrangements; however, they have movable parts that are subject to mechanical failure or unexpected rapid movements that may further panic or scare an animal and generate another round of panic, anxiety and pulling or, in the case of other movable objects, cause unexpected and undesirable movements of the object tied. Many mechanical ties do not provide a secure, solid attachment to a fixed support, and some mechanical ties must be held by a user who may not be strong enough to properly resist the movement of large animals or objects or quick enough to move with the changing play in the rope.

Adjustable rope tie for animals and movable objects


A power supplying apparatus includes a housing with a plurality of storage compartments and a box-receiving compartment. A rear cover is mounted on the housing to close an open rear side of the latter. A circuit board unit is mounted on an inner surface of the rear cover. Each of a plurality of power-supplying units is disposed removably in a respective one of the storage compartments, and has an internal power supply circuit and an internal isolating circuit. A first set of complementary connectors interconnects the power-supplying units and the circuit board unit. A control box has a casing received removably in the box-receiving compartment, and a control circuit disposed in the casing. The control circuit includes a detecting and alarm generating circuit and a load balancing circuit, and is connected to the circuit board unit via a second set of complementary connectors.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power supplying apparatus, more particularly to a power supplying apparatus that includes multiple power-supplying units and that facilitates maintenance and repair of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional power supplying apparatus 1 for supplying electric power to electronic equipment is shown to comprise a housing 11 that is formed with a plurality of storage compartments 10. A power-supplying unit 12 is slidably disposed in each of the storage compartments 10. The housing 11 has an open rear side that is closed by a rear cover 110. A circuit board unit 13 is mounted on an inner surface of the rear cover 110 by means of screws.
With reference to FIG. 2, pairs of complementary male and female connectors 120, 130 are mounted on the rear side of each power-supplying unit 12 and on the circuit board unit 13. When the power-supplying unit 12 is disposed in the storage compartment 10, the connector 120 thereon engages the corresponding connector 130 on the circuit board unit 13 to establish electrical connection between the power-supplying unit 12 and the circuit board unit 13. Each connector 130 is connected to a respective isolating circuit 131 on the circuit board unit 13 in order to ensure that malfunctioning of one of the power-supplying units 12 will not affect normal operation of the other power-supplying units 12.
In use, an alternating current (AC) input to each of the power-supplying units 12 will be converted into a direct current (DC) power signal by a power supply circuit 121 in the latter. The DC power signals pass through the respective isolating circuit 131 before reaching a DC output circuit 132 and a DC output bus connected to the DC output circuit 132.
The circuit board unit 13 further has a detecting and alarm generating circuit 133 and a load balancing circuit 134 connected to each of the connectors 130. The detecting and alarm generating circuit 133 generates an alarm signal upon detecting the malfunctioning of any one of the power-supplying units 12. The load balancing circuit 134 operates to balance the power outputs of the power-supplying units 12.
Some of the drawbacks of the conventional power supplying apparatus 1 are as follows:
The isolating circuits 131, the detecting and alarm generating circuit 133 and the load balancing circuit 134 are all disposed on the circuit board unit 13. When any of these circuits fail, the circuit board unit 13 must be removed for replacement with a new one. During the replacement operation, it is necessary to turn off a main power switch (not shown) of the power supplying apparatus 1, to remove each of the power-supplying units 12 from the respective storage compartment 10, and to detach the rear cover 110 from the housing 11. Only then can the malfunctioning circuit board unit 13 be removed from the rear cover 110 to facilitate testing and repairing thereof, and can the new circuit board unit 13 be installed. Thus, maintenance and repair of the conventional power supplying apparatus 1 is both inconvenient and time consuming to conduct. In addition, since the main power switch of the power supplying apparatus 1 must be turned off when replacing the circuit board unit 13, the normal operation of the electronic equipment connected to the power supplying apparatus 1 is interrupted as well, thereby resulting in more inconvenience.

Power supplying apparatus with multiple power-supplying units


A nitrogen-containing compound, an organic electroluminescent device, and a photoelectric conversion device are provided, which relates to the technical field of electronic components. The nitrogen-containing compound has a structure represented by Chemical Formula 1. The organic electroluminescent device using the nitrogen-containing compound and the photoelectric conversion device using the nitrogen-containing compound can be improved.

With the development of electronic technology and the progress of material science, the application range of electronic components for realizing electroluminescence or photoelectric conversion becomes more and more extensive. Such electronic components generally include a cathode and an anode disposed opposite to each other, and a functional layer disposed between the cathode and the anode. The functional layer is composed of multiple organic or inorganic film layers and generally includes an energy conversion layer, a hole transport layer between the energy conversion layer and the anode, and an electron transport layer between the energy conversion layer and the cathode.
Taking an organic electroluminescent device as an example, the organic electroluminescent device generally includes an anode, a hole transport layer, an electroluminescent layer as an energy conversion layer, an electron transport layer and a cathode, which are sequentially stacked. When voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, an electric field is generated between the two electrodes, electrons on the cathode side move to the electroluminescent layer and holes on the anode side also move to the luminescent layer under the action of the electric field, the electrons and the holes are combined in the electroluminescent layer to form excitons, and the excitons are in an excited state and release energy outwards, so that the electroluminescent layer emits light outwards.
In the prior art, KR1020190035567A, CN107459466A, CN106008424A, CN104583176A, CN103108859A and the like disclose materials that can be used to prepare hole transport layers in organic electroluminescent devices. However, there is still a need to develop new materials to further improve the performance of electronic components.

Nitrogen-containing compound, organic electroluminescent device and photoelectric conversion device

Shaanxi Lighte Optoelectronics Material Co., Ltd.


A hole cover device is used to cover all or a portion of an excavation or hole. The hole cover device includes a top plate through which extends a screw mechanism that is coupled to a plurality of movable arms below the top plate. When a hole needs to be covered, the lower portion of the hole cover device (including the movable arms) is placed in the hole, with the top plate resting on the ground around the hole. The screw mechanism that extends above the top plate is then turned, which causes the movable arms below the top plate to extend outwardly until they engage the sides of the hole, making removal of the hole cover device very difficult. The screw mechanism may then be secured using a lock to assure the hole cover device may only be removed by authorized personnel. In a preferred embodiment, the hole cover device is for a circular hole, such as those drilled for fenceposts and electrical power poles, and therefore has a circular top plate with a diameter larger than the hole to be drilled. The screw mechanism is coupled to three lower arms that are preferably 120 degrees apart and that extend radially from the screw mechanism. When the hole cover device is placed in a hole and the screw mechanism is engaged, the movable arms deploy to an extended position. Because the three movable arms are equally spaced around the circle, extending the movable arms results in the hole cover device being automatically centered in the hole. Once the movable arms securely engage the sides of the hole, the screw mechanism may be locked to prevent unauthorized people from removing the hole cover device.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to the excavation and construction field, and more specifically relates to devices for covering holes.
2. Background Art
Various projects often require digging a hole in the ground. For example, installing power poles requires digging or drilling a hole, then placing the power pole into the hole. Some construction projects use post and pier construction, which also requires drilling holes for concrete posts. Often a trench needs to be excavated in which water or power lines need to be run. One common problem with many types of excavations and other types of holes relates to the danger in leaving the hole uncovered. A person or animal could inadvertently step into an uncovered hole, possibly causing injury (such as a broken leg) if the hole is small, or causing the person or animal to fall into a larger hole, possibly causing serious injury or even death.
To reduce the danger of an open hole, sometimes a flat piece of metal or plywood is placed over the hole to stop a person or animal from stepping or falling into the hole. This solution works relatively well for protecting people who know the hole is there and do not wish to disturb the hole. However, simply covering the hole with metal or plywood does not work well for keeping curious children or vandals out of the hole. A child or vandal could easily slide a piece of metal or plywood out of the way, making the hole accessible. The child could then be injured by falling or playing in the hole. A vandal could fill the hole with rocks, dirt, glass, or other material, making removal of these materials necessary before the hole may be used for its intended purpose. In addition, a piece of metal or plywood could be accidentally shifted to not completely cover the hole by an animal (such as a cow) walking on the metal or plywood.
Leaving a hole uncovered could lead an individual or company to be exposed to significant financial liability for injuries caused by the hole. Simply covering the hole with a sheet of material is not sufficiently safe or secure to keep children and vandals out of the hole. Without a device for securely covering a hole, the construction and excavation industries will continue to suffer from inadequate methods and devices for covering an open hole, potentially exposing companies in these industries to significant financial liability from injuries and damages caused by unsecured or uncovered holes.
According to the preferred embodiments, a hole cover device is used to cover all or a portion of an excavation or hole. The hole cover device includes a top plate through which extends a screw mechanism that is coupled to a plurality of movable arms below the top plate. When a hole needs to be covered, the lower portion of the hole cover device (including the movable arms) is placed in the hole, with the top plate resting on the ground around the hole. The screw mechanism that extends above the top plate is then turned, which causes the movable arms below the top plate to extend outwardly until they engage the sides of the hole, making removal of the hole cover device very difficult. The screw mechanism may then be secured using a lock to assure the hole cover device may only be removed by authorized personnel. In a preferred embodiment, the hole cover device is for a circular hole, such as those drilled for fenceposts and electrical power poles, and therefore has a circular top plate with a diameter larger than the hole to be drilled. The screw mechanism is coupled to three lower arms that are preferably 120 degrees apart and that extend radially from the screw mechanism. When the hole cover device is placed in a hole and the screw mechanism is engaged, the movable arms deploy to an extended position. Because the three movable arms are equally spaced around the circle, extending the movable arms results in the hole cover device being automatically centered in the hole. Once the movable arms securely engage the sides of the hole, the screw mechanism may be locked to prevent unauthorized people from removing the hole cover device.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Hole cover device and method for covering a hole


An improved method and apparatus for dry forming adhesive coated wood fibers in an airstream in a particular mold apparatus. The invention includes a particular sequence of steps and related apparatus, and permits the manufacturer of a mat of differing cross-sectional shapes but of uniform density. The invention includes the advantageous steps of final curing of the mat off of the main molding apparatus, thus achieving efficiencies in use.

The present invention pertains to forest products and particularly to the use of wood fibers.
Trees in the USA are of two general types for commercial purposes, hardwoods and softwoods. The softwoods are well utilized for the manufacture of newsprint, paper and the like paper products. Hardwoods, in the larger trees, are well utilized for the production of lumber.
However, the hardwood category also includes large numbers of relatively small trees, trees that are deformed or are otherwise not well shaped to produce commercial sizes and quantities of lumber, and the relatively larger as well as the smaller limbs of the larger hardwood trees which are not utilizable for lumber. The present invention is directed towards utilization of this resource.
That is, softwood production is well spoken for and most of the hardwood production is spoken for. It is the part of the hardwood production which is not otherwise usable at present which is usable in accordance with the invention to produce structural material such as panels with texturized surfaces and other objects of a particular category.
The prior art has been aware of certain problems in the use of hardwood fiber in methods such as the present invention that involve pressing of the fibers into products. Hardwoods tend to have short and thick walled fibers. These short thick walled fibers, when used in conventional processes of the same general category as the present invention and in paper making, tend to bond to each other only poorly, and, especially important as to paper, tend to exhibit poor tear strength and an abundance of natural and generated fine material that causes drainage problems resulting in low wet web strength. In the present state of the art, hardwood pulps are used primarily only as a filler and as a means to provide smoother surfaces on paper for printing.
Because of these problems, utilization of hardwoods of lower than lumber quality as set forth above has not occurred. This results in a good deal of waste of these lower quality hardwoods resulting in added pressure on softwood production.
In the prior art of the utilization of such wood fiber, the techniques utilized basically fall into two categories, using the fibers when they are wet, and using them when they are dry. The present invention is a dry or air as opposed to water deposition type of process.
The invention uses bonding techniques to form the final structural members. Wet techniques tend to be slower, involve many steps including those to drain the water used for the forming and to dry. These steps are all avoided with dry forming techniques such as the present invention.
Finally as to the prior art, attention is invited to two earlier patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,870 issued Oct. 27, 1987 to Setterholm and Hunt; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,713 issued Jun. 28, 1988 to the present inventor, Dennis Gunderson. Both of these patents are owned by the U.S. Government, Secretary of Agriculture on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service.
Gunderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,713 teaches forming of a uniform density mat by draining a fiber bearing slurry through porous mandrels, and subsequent consolidation of the web in the mold. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,870, Setterholm and Hunt teach the wet-forming of a mat of variable cross-section on a support of resilient deformable mold inserts or "nubs" on a forming wire. They show how the web can be molded directly on the nubs and then consolidated as web and resilient inserts are pressed together under pressure applied normal to the surface of the web.
The present invention distinguishes from U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,713 in that: (1) the present invention is an air-forming and not a wet-forming method, (2) the present invention is not limited to drying on the mold, but provides means to remove the web from the mold and complete consolidation and cure thereof remote from the porous mandrels. The present invention distinguishes from Setterholm and Hunt in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,870 in that the web is not formed on the resilient deformable blocks as taught by them--nor is it wet formed. Further, in the present invention, it is the protrusions in the forming apparatus which are porous whereas in Setterholm and Hunt it is the base material which is porous. In the present invention, there is significant one-dimensional (thickness direction) consolidation of the web on the mandrels. This is very significant because it permits the forming of much deeper sections (greater variations in cross-section) than is possible with the methods taught by Setterholm and Hunt. Moreover, the present invention teaches means to achieve further one-dimensional consolidation of the web even after the resilient pillows have been inserted in the web. The withdrawal of the solid block into the support plate (one-dimensional consolidation) prior to the distortion of the resilient pillows (three-dimensional consolidation) is not taught by Setterholm and Hunt.
A dry formed web cannot be adequately consolidated in the forming apparatus and the means to proceed with further consolidation and curing are not obvious from these prior patents. The present invention teaches a novel means to contain and support the web when the forming mandrel is withdrawn. Further, the invention teaches a novel means to proceed with consolidation of the web after it is removed from the mandrels.

Method for forming structural components from dry wood fiber furnish

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


In a water flow system, a non-metallic liner 50 is placed within at least a portion of a passage 48 of a supporting metallic end body 38 to preclude contact between any water flowing through the system and the passage of the end body. The liner 50 includes a flared section 60 at a first end 54 thereof which engages a bevelled surface 49 of the end body 38 and is held there in sealing fashion by a cone washer 82 and a nut 84 threadedly coupled to the end body. At a location near a second end 56 of the liner 50, the liner is formed with a first stepped shoulder 62 which facilitates location of the liner within the passage 48 of the end body 38 at the second end of the liner. A second stepped shoulder 64 is formed on the liner 50 which provides a location for an O-ring 72 which engages an adjacent portion of the passage 48 of the end body to form a seal thereby. With seals formed at the first and second ends 54 and 56 of the liner 50, any water passing through the liner will not contact the passage 48 of the end body 38.

This invention relates to an isolated conduit system, and particularly relates to a conduit system where fluid flowing through the system is isolated from contact with selected components of the system.
In some plumbing systems used today, fluid-conducting portions of these systems are composed of metals which are known to leach metallic elements into a fluid, such as water, passing therethrough and in contact therewith. The fluid-conducting portions include couplers for coupling the butt ends of two adjoined conduits, inlet mounts of a faucet system such as, for example, a hollow end body, and the like. Typically, the couplers, the end bodies and other metal components are composed of a rigid metal material such as brass to provide a non-corroding, sturdy, easily machinable component.
In recent years, there has been an effort to provide plumbing systems which use materials other than the durable metal material such as brass. However, as noted above, the brass components are highly durable, provide strength and support to the associated assembly, are somewhat resistant to corrosion from water and are conducive to machining when forming the couplers, end bodies and the like into the desired configurations.
In order to continue the use of such metal components, including brass components, in fluid-flow systems, a need has evolved to provide some form of isolation between, at least, a major portion of the liquid flow passages of the metal components and the fluid flowing therethrough to significantly reduce the amount of metallic elements which may leach into the water.


An integrated circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a plurality of storage elements that can be coupled in a first mode and a second mode. The first mode includes the plurality of storage elements being coupled to enable normal operation of the integrated circuit, and the second mode includes the plurality of storage elements being coupled together as a shift register. The integrated circuit also includes a rewritable non-volatile memory and a sleep controller that is coupled to the rewritable non-volatile memory. The sleep controller is for switching the plurality of storage elements between the first mode and the second mode. The sleep controller is for extracting data from the plurality of storage elements in the second mode and storing the data with the non-volatile memory to record the operating state of the plurality of storage elements in the first mode.

Integrated circuits that enter low power or sleep modes conventionally leave power on to internal registers, memory devices, low voltage detection circuits, and the like, in order to preserve the state of the device. Therefore, even in sleep modes, integrated circuit systems can still consume at least 100 nanoamperes (nA) of power due to systems remaining powered along with leakage current. For certain battery powered devices, this level of power consumption is unacceptable.
One conventional way for dealing with this problem is to use non-volatile memory, e.g., electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). For example, before a central processing unit (CPU) enters a sleep mode it can store various amounts of state information to a non-volatile memory, like EEPROM. After which, the CPU enters into a low current or no current sleep mode that may not include a supply voltage monitor since the information is stored to non-volatile memory. However, one of the problems associated with this conventional solution is the latency to resume when the device wakes up from the sleep mode.
As such, it is desirable to address one or more of the above issues.


A light sensor and light feedback adjustment device is provided for use with a control unit for selectively controlling the light output of at least one lamp of a ceiling-mounted luminaire to which the unit is connected, based at least in part on the level of ambient light feedback to the unit. The device includes a lens holder, a lens element screw-mounted on the lens holder and including a light gathering lens, and an arrangement for, in use, securing the lens holder in place in a ceiling tile of the ceiling on which the luminaire is mounted. The lens holder includes a tubular mounting portion including a central bore therein in which is disposed a fiberoptic bundle that receives light gathered by the lens. A light feedback adjustment arrangement includes an adjustable set screw mounted for movement in a transverse passage located in the lens holder between the lens element and the fiber optic bundle so as to vary the light coupled to the bundle.

Most fluorescent lighting systems have a fixed lumen output, except for phosphor degradation effects, i.e., the lumen generating arc is either off or on at a fixed level. However, a number of fluorescent lamps control techniques have, and are being, developed which permit proportional adjustment of the fluorescent lamp arc as a means to establish a more desirable level of lumen output. Savings in electrical energy accrue in such proportional lighting systems where the arc has been reduced from the otherwise "full on" level. Besides the economic implications, the ability to reduce lighting and still meet the requirements of different tasks improves lighting quality. For example, in order to achieve proper contrast and reduce reflections, the background lighting provided in an area surrounding a video display terminal (VDT) is generally lower than that required for high contrast work tasks like reading. Corridors require even lower lighting levels and, in general, to provide for uniform lighting in a building is wasteful of energy. Moreover, the ANSI lighting guidelines for different tasks and building areas vary over a range of at least ten to one, which makes adjustable lighting a highly desirable building lighting feature.
Proportional fluorescent lighting control systems generally use pulse width modulation of the fluorescent arc or variable frequency control of the arc, and/or some form of AC phase control of the fluorescent lamp arc discharge current and other parameters. Often, such systems require the adjustment of a control potentiometer to provide a varying reference or control signal used to establish the level of lamp lumen output. More advanced systems also employ a light sensing means for generating a light feedback signal which varies as a function of the surrounding ambient light. This light feedback signal, after conversion to a related electrical signal, and sometimes after summing with another reference signal, is used to proportionally reduce the average lamp arc current, and hence the light output from the lamps, when a daylight contribution is available. (In an open loop system, the summing operation referred to above may not be required.) Such systems are also designed to increase the average lamp arc current so as to maintain the ambient lighting level at the desired level originally set as the lamp phosphors wear and/or as the lamps and/or luminaire reflecting surfaces accumulate dirt. Without such an increase in the average arc current, an undesired lowering of the lumen output would occur. Presently, this problem is too often solved by the wasteful practice of over-lighting when lamps are new in order to ensure that there will be sufficient lighting when lamps and luminaires become degraded.
It has been shown that localized control of each luminaire is preferred because the contribution from daylight decreases with the distance between the luminaire and the window wall and daylight contributions in different areas may vary as a function of the azimuth angle of the sun, i.e., because of different shading effects produced as the sun moves across the horizon. With such localized control of individual luminaires, each fixture adjusts so that the sum of the daylight and the luminaire light meets the desired level. In contrast, in the case of larger area control of a plurality of luminaires, a standardized lumen output for all luminaires must be established in the area with the least daylight contribution. This results in over-lighting a large majority of the controlled area, i.e., that part of the area which receives a greater amount of daylight than the particular luminaire used to establish the lumen set point and adjustment is precluded for different work tasks or for variations in visual acuity between different workers whose work area is covered by that group of luminaires. Given that such local control is preferred, a simple economical means is necessary to set the lumen output in each local area at the recommended lumen level for the tasks to be performed in that area.
Localized control may be accomplished by utilizing a magnetic transformer ballast with an electronic controller, i.e., a controller such as disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,045, or a variable frequency or pulse width modulated electronic ballast or yet other means. In all cases, an optical pickup device is necessary to measure the localized light level. The light level measurement is converted into a corresponding electrical feedback signal. This signal is then used to control the lumen output of the luminaire. In this regard, the lumen output is increased if the ambient lumen level in the surrounding area decreases, e.g., as the daylight wanes. On the other hand, the lumen output is decreased if the ambient lumen level in the surrounding area increases, e.g., the amount of daylight increases.
Because the control unit, whether an electronic ballast or other controller, is generally mounted in a closed ballast compartment within the luminaire, the unit is not easily accessible for adjustment purposes. Hence, any light adjustment is best accomplished outside of the ballast compartment by maintenance personnel. In previous systems developed by me, this adjustment was made by attenuating the sensed light measurement by varying the distance from the light pickup lens to the optical-electrical transducer which converts the sensed light signal into a corresponding electrical signal. In this regard, in 1978 I developed a system employing an acrylic plastic lens as the light sensor, a fiber optic bundle and a photocell transducer wherein the distance between the lens and the fiber optic bundle was varied by manually adjusting the relative position of the fiber optic bundle in order to provide the desired set point. A system of this general type, i.e., one using a light collector and a fiber optic bundle, and one which, in practice, was adjusted as just described, is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,820 (Widmayer).
A later development of my basic idea is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,288 (Hess, II et al) which is assigned to Conservolite, Inc., a then licensee of the assignee of U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,820 mentioned above. This patent discloses varying the output of a light collector device including a light sampler or gatherer (including a collecting lens) and a light receiver (including a fiber optic bundle) by, as in the prior art system referred to above, varying the distance between the light sampler and light receiver. This is accomplished in the light collector device of the Hess, II patent by mounting the light sampler (lens) with a threaded portion which is received in a threaded bore in the receiver so that by threading the light sampler into and out of the light receiver, the distance between the lens and the fiber optic bundle can be varied. The Hess, II patent provides that by threading the sampler further into the receiver, the amount of light transmitted to the illumination level control system is increased, thereby raising the illumination level in the controlled area, and that threading the sampler further out of the receiver produces the opposite effect. The light collector is illustrated in the patent as being secured to a specially shaped mounting bracket which is mounted on a T-bar of a suspended ceiling.
There are a number of disadvantages associated with the adjustable light collector of Hess, II. For example, the device requires either gripping the collecting lens directly with the fingers to provide the necessary threading in or out of the light sampler, or else requires the use of a special tool to perform this task, and it will be appreciated that both of these approaches have obvious shortcomings. Further, the mounting arrangement is cumbersome and the overall device is relatively complex given the purpose to be carried out.

Manually controlable light feedback adjustment device for gas discharge lighting systems


A fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body, a fluorescent layer and a discharge electrode. The lamp body has a discharge space in which ultraviolet light is generated. The fluorescent layer is formed on an inner surface of the lamp body to change the ultraviolet light into visible light. The discharge electrode is on an end portion of the lamp body to apply a voltage to the discharge space. A ratio of intensities of the visible light at wavelengths of about 545 nm and about 516 nm is about 1.32:1 to about 1.71:1. Therefore, color reproducibility and luminance may be improved.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a fluorescent mixture, a fluorescent lamp, a backlight assembly having the fluorescent lamp and a display device having the fluorescent lamp. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a fluorescent mixture, a fluorescent lamp used for a display device, a backlight assembly having the fluorescent lamp and a display device having the fluorescent lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices typically have various characteristics such as, for example, thin thickness, light weight, low deriving voltage, low power consumption. Thus, LCD devices are widely used in various fields.
An LCD panel of an LCD device is a non-emissive type display device that does not generate light. Thus, the LCD device includes a backlight assembly that supplies the LCD panel with light.
The backlight includes, for example, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL), a flat fluorescent lamp (FFL), a light emitting diode (LED) as a light source. The fluorescent lamp has various characteristics such as, for example, low price, long lifetime, and low heat generation, and therefore the fluorescent lamp is widely used in the LCD device having various sizes.
The fluorescent lamp may include, for example, an electrode, a discharge space filled with a discharge gas, and a fluorescent lamp. When a discharge voltage is applied to the electrode, the discharge gas in the discharge space may generate excitons. Moreover, when ultraviolet light generated by the excitons is incident into the fluorescent layer, visible light may be generated from the fluorescent layer.
The fluorescent layer includes a fluorescent material. Optical characteristics such as, for example, luminance, color, color reproducibility of the visible light may be changed based on the kind of the fluorescent material. The color reproducibility is a reference for determining a color displayed on the LCD device. The color reproducibility may be represented by the CIE1976 color coordinate system, the NTSC color coordinate system, and may be a percentage of a color range with respect to the above-mentioned color coordinates. However, when the fluorescent material has high color reproducibility, the luminance of the visible light may be decreased. When the fluorescent material has high luminance, the color reproducibility of the visible light may be decreased.
Also, the visible light may include red color, green color and blue color, and one of the red, green and blue colors may deteriorate luminance or color reproducibility of the remainder of the red, green and blue colors. For example, wavelength distribution of the green light may be irregular, so that the color reproducibility of the blue color may be deteriorated.

Fluorescent mixture for fluorescent lamp, fluorescent lamp, backlight assembly having the same and display device having the same


An improved spinal fusion system (10) for positioning between a first and second vertebral body, the system (10) has a body (100), a pair of polyaxial fasteners (220) and a locking bridge (102). The distal end has a slotted opening (120) extending through the body (100) and forming a gap extending between the two or more bore holes (110) to form a deflectable bridge (102) spanning the bore holes (110). The bridge (102) has a center opening (50) for receiving a set screw (20) passing through the bridge (102) into a threaded opening (52) in the body. When the set screw (20) is tightened, it deflects the bridge (102) closing the gap as the bridge (102) contacts an exterior surface of each head (210) of the polyaxial fasteners (200). The angulation of each polyaxial screw (200) is adjustable, controlled by the tightening of the set screw. Initial contact of the bridge (102) with the head (210) of the fastener (200) reduces angulation movement of the shank (220) requiring manual manipulation. Increased tightening of the set screw (20) fixes the angulation as the bridge (102) reduces the gap and increases fastener head contact forces.

There are several procedures available to patients with degenerative spine conditions. For example, Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion ("ALIF") has been performed by surgeons since the 1950's. In an ALIF procedure, the disc space is fused by approaching the spine through the abdomen. In the ALIF approach, a three-inch to five-inch incision is made on the left side of the abdomen and the abdominal muscles are retracted to the side. Since the anterior abdominal muscle in the midline (rectus abdominis) runs vertically, it does not need to be cut and easily refracts to the side. The abdominal contents lay inside a large sack (peritoneum) that can also be refracted, thus allowing the spine surgeon access to the front of the spine without actually entering the abdomen. There is also a less popular transperitoneal approach that accesses the spine through the abdomen. This adds a lot of unnecessary morbidity to the procedure and therefore is used much less often.
Another technique is called Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion ("PLIF"). In the PLIF approach, the spine is accessed through a three-inch to six-inch long incision in the midline of the back and the left and right lower back muscles are stripped off the lamina on both sides and at multiple levels. After the spine is approached, the lamina is removed, which allows visualization of the nerve roots. The facet joints, which are directly over the nerve roots, may then be undercut to give the nerve roots more room. The nerve roots are then retracted to one side and the disc space is cleaned of the disc material. A bone graft, or an interbody cage, is then inserted into the disc space and the bone grows from vertebral body to vertebral body.
Still another procedure is a Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion ("TLIF"). By removing the entire facet joint, visualization into the disc space is improved and more disc material can be removed. It should also provide for less nerve retraction. Because one entire facet is removed, it is only done on one side. Removing the facet joints on both sides of the spine would result in too much instability. With increased visualization and room for dissection, a larger implant and/or bone graft can be used. Although this has some improvements over a PLIF procedure, the anterior approach, in most cases still provides the best visualization, most surface area for healing, and the best reduction of any of the approaches to the disc space.
There are other approaches know in the art, as well. For instance, Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion, Axial Lift using a transsacral approach, and the like. Additionally, there are similarly pluralities of methods for correcting degenerative issues with the cervical spine. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these and other known procedures have benefits, as well as disadvantages. As such, more beneficial approaches in the art are needed.


A shutter apparatus for stereoscopic cameras for simultaneously taking a pair of stereoscopic photographs. A coupled shutter leaf is produced by integrally connecting two shutter leaves respectively disposed on two photographing lens portions provided with spots having different apertures. The coupled shutter leaf is rotatably supported by a connecting portion. The shutter leaf disposed at the photographing portion provided with the stop having a smaller aperture has a smaller width, and a weight for compensating for the weight of the shutter leaf which is reduced as a result of reducing the width thereof is provided. The exposure time of the photographing portion provided with the stop having a smaller aperture is longer than that of the other photographing portion, so that the quantity of incident light at the two photographing portions is the same. It is also possible that the shutter leaves have the same width and the connecting portion for rotatably supporting the coupled shutter leaf is shifted from the center of the two stops closer to the stop having a large aperture.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 3-325163 filed on Nov. 12, 1991 which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shutter apparatus for stereoscopic cameras for simultaneously taking a pair of stereoscopic photographs so as to view a subject three-dimensionally.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stereoscopic camera for simultaneously taking a pair of stereoscopic photographs so as to view a subject three-dimensionally is well known. This type of camera is provided with, for example, two photographing lenses which enable the same subject to be taken from rightward and leftward points. The pair of stereoscopic photographs are printed on photographic paper or developed on reversal film (positive film) and viewed through binocular lenses so that the subject is viewed three-dimensionally.
FIG. 7 is an external view of a stereoscopic camera for taking the above-described stereoscopic photographs. The stereoscopic camera is composed of the main body 1 provided with a finder 2 and a shutter button 3, and two photographing lenses 4, 5 provided on the front surface of the main body 1 with an interval of about 30 mm between the two lenses 4, 5. A subject to be taken is positioned through the finder 2 and taken on the film mounted on the main body 1 through the photographing lenses 4, 5 by pressing the shutter button 3. Two images caught from different angles are thus projected on the film.
In another type of stereoscopic camera, the two photographing lenses 4, 5 have different object distance ranges; one is in focus in a short range and the other is in focus in a long range. Furthermore, the aperture of the stop for a short range is made smaller than the aperture of the stop for a long range so as to increase the depth of field. According to this type of camera, two stereoscopic photographs which are in focus in a short range and in a long range, respectively, are obtained. These two stereoscopic photographs enable the subject which is in focus in a wide range to be viewed three-dimensionally.
Since the conventional stereoscopic camera has the two photographing lenses 4, 5, as described above, two independent shutter mechanisms are provided for the photographing lenses 4, 5. The shutter leaves provided at the respective opening portions of the two shutters are simultaneously operated for a predetermined time by the respective shutter mechanisms so as to expose the film to a predetermined amount of light and to simultaneously photograph the same subject on two frames. Since two mechanisms are used to operate the shutter leaves simultaneously, the mechanisms become complicated and they are wasteful from the point of view of cost.
In the case of a simple (disposable) stereoscopic camera, it is necessary to simplify the mechanism as much as possible.
The applicant of the present invention has proposed a shutter which is capable of simultaneously operating the shutters at the two photographing portions by one leaf integrally connecting two shutter leaves. However, in the above-described type of camera in which the two photographing lenses 4, 5 are in focus in different photographing ranges, since the apertures of the spots are different in the two photographing portions, the quantity of incident light is different in the two photographing portions.

Shutter apparatus for stereoscopic cameras


A “hold” feature on a user operated remote control allows a currently displayed track or view to be maintained while a video presentation is being played. As a user is watching a presentation that uses multiple camera views shown one-at-a-time as in a standard edited cut (i.e., “director's cut”) of a movie, the user can press a button when the user sees a camera view or scene of particular interest. Thereafter, the track associated with the camera view or scene that was showing when the hold button was pressed will continue to be played in place of the presentation. To return to the edited cut the user depresses the hold button again. The held track will continue to play until the user decides to resume presentation of the edited program or until the held track ends. Upon ending, the program track is resumed. While holding a track the user is free to select other available tracks in addition to jumping back to the program track at any time.

This invention relates in general to viewing a media production and more specifically to providing user ability to hold, or maintain individual video tracks during the playback of a video.
Media productions can be presented to a user, or viewer, from many sources. Productions such as audiovisual videos, movies, etc., can originate from broadcast centers, satellite transmissions, cable transmissions, digital networks (e.g., the Internet, a corporate or campus local area network (LAN), etc.), from a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), memory stick, hard disk or other suitable storage medium, or from other sources. Some forms of media presentations allow a user to select an angle or scene from one of multiple angles or scenes (or other information) available during the presentation. For example, if a user is watching a broadcast of a football game the user may be able to select a camera view that shows a close-up of the quarterback, a medium shot of a team's linemen, a long overhead shot of the playing field, etc. The user can select among each of the available scenes at any time by pressing buttons on a remote control device.
Similarly, a DVD, hard disk drive, random access memory (RAM), streaming content over a network or other content source can provide a production with multiple track, or "multi-angle," selection. Typically, each selectable angle or view is assigned to a different button. Alternatively, a display screen dan show icons, symbols, "thumbnail" images or other indicators of possible scene selections. The user can highlight and select a track associated with an indicator by using a control such as a television remote control.
However, the use of dedicated buttons, separate visual indicators for each track, or other prior art approaches to track selection can create inconveniences during playback. For example, it may be difficult for a user to remember which button is associated with a track. Where an on-screen visual indicator is used, valuable screen "real estate" is taken up and less viewable area is available for displaying the actual presentation. A user may be required to interpret the visual indicators to understand what type of angle or scene selection will result from selecting a particular track. Track assignments and availability often change during a presentation and this can disorient and confuse the user.

System for holding a current track during playback of a multi-track media production


A linear EMV actuator uses a permanent magnet and an electromagnet in which EMV operation for opening/closing an exhaust valve and an intake valve makes valve operations linear. As a result, the valve undergoes a soft landing and active control of an amount of opening of the valve. The linear EMV actuator includes an upper core and a lower core, an armature, an actuator spring and a valve spring. Also included are a permanent magnet, an upper coil and a lower coil connected to each other in series thereby forming one electromagnet, a displacement sensor, and a position controller.

(a) Field of the Invention
Generally, the present invention relates to a linear EMV actuator utilizing a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. More particularly, the linear EMV actuator operates to open and close an exhaust valve and an intake valve making valve operations linear so that the valve encounters a soft landing and active control of an amount of the opening of the valve.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Typically, a power generating apparatus, such as an engine, includes a valve and a device that opens and closes the valve. The valve typically functions to take air into a combustion chamber or for exhaust gas from the combustion chamber. Typically, a mechanical mechanism for driving the valve includes a crankshaft and a camshaft have been used to open and close the valve. More recently an EMV (Electro-Mechanical Valve train) valve driving method using electromagnetic operation has been developed as an alternative to the mechanical mechanism.
Two types of EMV actuators, an EMV using an electromagnet and an EMV actuator using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet are in use today.
The conventional EMV actuator that uses an electromagnet is described in Korean patent application No. 2002-0055972, and the conventional EMV actuator that uses a permanent magnet and an electromagnet is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,582.
The EMV actuator using an electromagnet is configured such that a reciprocal motion of a valve is formed only by an electromagnet and a spring. That is, a first spring retainer is coupled to an upper portion of the valve and is supported by a valve spring. An armature is positioned at an upper end of the first spring retainer so as to be linearly movable. An upper coil and a lower coil are respectively disposed at an upper side and a lower side of the armature. A second spring retainer is connected to an upper portion of the armature while being elastically supported by an actuator spring. The EMV actuator using an electromagnet, current is alternately applied to the upper coil and the lower coil so that a driving force acts on the armature and thereby causes a vertically reciprocal movement of the valve.
The EMV actuator using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet together includes a valve stem and an armature that are integrally formed in order to produce a compulsory reciprocal motion of a valve. A permanent magnet is positioned outside the armature. In addition, an upper coil and a lower coil are respectively positioned above and below the permanent magnet. An actuator spring and a valve spring, for elastically supporting the armature are respectively positioned above and below the armature. Therefore, in the EMV actuator using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, when current is alternately applied to the upper coil and the lower coil, a magnetic force is generated so that a position of the armature can be changed. Positive strengths of the actuator spring and the valve spring are similar to negative strengths due to the permanent magnet. Magnetic flux of the permanent magnet flows along the armature, the upper core, and the lower core. Since a negative strength due to the permanent magnet depending on a position of the armature increases as it approaches both ends, stable points of the armature are a center point and both end points.
That is, for an operation of the EMV actuator using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, when the armature is position at one end, which is a stable point, current is applied to the opposite coil in order to move it to an opposite position. By repeating this, the armature can be reciprocally moved. Therefore, in the EMV using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, current driving is needed only when a reciprocal motion is required in order to escape from stable points at both ends.
In the EMV actuator using only an electromagnet, since one valve is operated by respectively controlling two coils, i.e., upper and lower coils, there is a drawback in that many current controllers and displacement controllers are needed in the case where the engine has multiple cylinders. In addition, since an inductance and a magnetic force of a coil depending on a displacement of an armature are substantially nonlinear, a high-grade control strategy such as a nonlinear controller or an adaptive controller instead of a general linear controller is needed. In particular, great exertion is needed in order to realize a soft landing of a valve for avoiding problems cause by shocks on both ends of the valve. Furthermore, since initiation of movement is performed by using a resonance of a spring during initial driving of a valve, there are problems in that a time delay occurs and it is difficult to control an opening amount of a valve since the focus is on complete opening/closing of a valve.
In the EMV actuator using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, since the strength of a spring and the negative strength of a permanent magnet are designed to be similar to each other, a substantial current is needed to obtain the speed of reciprocal motion of a valve that can be used in a real vehicle. In addition, in the EMV actuator using only an electromagnet, an upper coil and a lower coil are needed in order to control one valve, and there is a drawback of shocks on both ends of the valve. Further, although there is little problem in initial driving of a valve, it is difficult to freely control an opening amount of a valve, and although it has a better controllability than the EMV actuator using only an electromagnet, there is a drawback that controllability is limited because of a design of an actuator using nonlinearity.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Linear EMV actuator using permanent magnet and electromagnet


A display device and a driving method thereof are provided, which reduces an instantaneous current generated with a charge and discharge of source signal lines and further reduces a load to a power supply line. According to the invention, source signal lines are divided into the first to the n-th groups so as to be charged or discharged according to the first to the n-th latch pulses which are inputted at different timing. Since the number of the source signal lines which start to be charged or discharged at the same time is reduced, an instantaneous current generated with the charge and discharge can be reduced, and a load to the power supply line can be reduced as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device having light emitting elements, and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a flat panel display device which is widely used for a display portion of a portable information terminal as well as a medium-size or a large-size display device is shifting in its driving method from a passive matrix method to the main stream of an active matrix method in which writing of video signals to pixels are carried out rapidly, in accordance with the increase in the number of pixels with the higher resolution.
According to the active matrix method, there are a dot sequential drive in which pixels are sequentially driven on a dot-by-dot basis and a line sequential drive in which pixels are driven on a line-by-line basis. Circuit configurations of the both are shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
FIG. 5A shows an example of a circuit configuration of an active matrix type display device using a dot sequential drive. Around a pixel portion 501, a source signal line driver circuit 502 including a shift register 504, a sampling switch 505 and a level shifting buffer 506, and a gate signal line driver circuit 503 including a shift register 507 and a level shifting buffer 508 are disposed.
The shift register 507 outputs a row selection pulse in accordance with a clock pulse (GCK) and a start pulse (GSP) from the first stage in sequence. The outputted pulse undergoes an amplitude modulation and the like in the level shifting buffer 508, whereby gate signal lines are selected from the first row in sequence.
In the rows where gate signal lines are selected, the shift register 504 outputs a sampling pulse in accordance with a clock signal (SCK) and a start pulse (SSP) from the first stage in sequence. The sampling switch 505 samples a video signal (Video) in accordance with a timing at which the sampling pulse is inputted, and charges or discharges source signal lines.
The above operation is performed from the first row to the last row in sequence, thus writing for one frame is completed. A similar operation is repeated thereafter to display images.
FIG. 5B shows an example of a circuit configuration of an active matrix display device using a line sequential drive. Around a pixel portion 511, a source signal line driver circuit 512 including a shift register 514, a first latch circuit 515, a second latch circuit 516 and a level shifting buffer 517, and a gate signal line driver circuit 513 including a shift register 518 and a level shifting buffer 519 are disposed.
The shift register 518 outputs a row selection pulse in accordance with a clock pulse (GCK) and a start pulse (GSP) from the first stage in sequence. The outputted pulse undergoes an amplitude modulation and the like in the level shifting buffer 519, whereby gate signal lines are selected from the first row in sequence.
In the rows where gate signal lines are selected, the shift register 514 outputs a sampling pulse in accordance with a clock signal (SCK) and a start pulse (SSP) from the first stage in sequence. The first latch circuit 515 samples a video signal in accordance with a timing at which the sampling pulse is inputted, and the video signal that is sampled on each stage is held in the first latch circuit 515.
After video signals for one row are sampled and a latch pulse (LAT) is inputted, the video signals held in the first latch circuit 515 are transferred to the second latch circuit 516 all at once, whereby all the source signal lines are charged or discharged at a time.
The above operation is performed from the first row to the last row in sequence, thus writing for one frame is completed. A similar operation is repeated thereafter to display images.
According to the dot sequential drive shown in FIG. 5A, circuit configuration is relatively simple, which leads to small-scale driver circuits while it takes a long time to charge and discharge one source signal line. On the other hand, according to the line sequential drive shown in FIG. 5B, circuit configuration is relatively complex, which leads to large-scale driver circuits. However, as the charge and discharge for all the source signal lines are performed in parallel, writing can be performed with a sufficient time.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd


A bookbinding apparatus which forms a sheet bundle by aligning a plurality of sheets fed from an image forming apparatus and prepares a booklet by applying adhesive on a spine of the sheet bundle, the bookbinding apparatus includes: a storage member for storing the adhesive; a rotating member for rotating in contact with the adhesive in the storage member; a heater for melting the adhesive in the storage member and for heating the adhesive so as to reach a preset temperature; and a control device for controlling the preset temperature, at a termination of the bookbinding job, to switch from a first preset temperature for a time of bookbinding to a second preset temperature which is below the first preset temperature and equal to or above a melting point of the adhesive.

In a widely used bookbinding apparatus for producing a booklet, image-recorded sheets are stacked to form a sheet bundle and the spine of this sheet bundle is applied with hot metal type adhesive, whereby binding operation is performed.
The adhesive applied on the spine of the sheet bundle is a solid mass at the normal temperature. A predetermined amount of adhesive is put into the hopper of the apparatus.
A proper amount of the solid adhesive in the hopper is fed to a melting tank as s storage member at a predetermined time interval. It is melted in a melting tank provided with a heater, and is kept at a preset temperature. The adhesive kept at the preset temperature is applied on the spine of the sheet bundle by a gluing device.
When continuous bookbinding is to be performed, the adhesive stored in the melting tank is preferably kept at the optimum preset temperature.
However, when a non-bookbinding mode continues for a long time, unwanted power consumption, deterioration of the adhesive or generation of offensive smell from the adhesive may result if the adhesive stored in the melting tank is kept at the optimum preset temperature.
Such a problem fails to meet the requirements of an office wherein greater importance is placed on energy saving, cost reduction and maintenance of a comfortable working environment.
In a bookbinding apparatus for solving the problem disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-57580, the heater is turned off upon termination of bookbinding operation, or the temperature is reduced to a level lower than the optimum preset temperature.
However, when the heater is turned off, the room temperature is reduced. Thus, the adhesive having been liquefied is again turned into a solid.
Thus, when gluing is performed, the adhesive in the solid state must be heated to the temperature wherein gluing is possible. This will consume a lot of time.
When switching the temperature to the level lower than the gluing temperature without turning off the heater, the time required for resetting is prolonged if the switching temperature is too low,
If an application roller in contact with the adhesive is rotated before the solid adhesive is liquefied, the drive mechanism or drive circuit of the application roller may be damaged.

Bookbinding apparatus and bookbinding system

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An organic light emitting device having an overlapped area located at an edge of a non-display area. The organic light emitting device includes: a first electrode, a pixel definition layer, an isolation layer and a second electrode. The first electrode is arranged on a planarization layer of the overlapped area. The pixel definition layer is arranged on the first electrode, and further includes a number of pixel definition blocks. The isolation layer is arranged on the pixel definition layer, and further includes a number of supporting blocks arranged in a manner same to that of the number of pixel definition blocks of the pixel definition layer. The second electrode covers the first electrode, the pixel definition blocks, and the supporting blocks in the overlapped area. the second electrode overlaps the first electrode.

For an existing display device, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED for short), as a current-type light emitting device, is increasingly used in a field of high-performance display for its characteristics such as self-luminance, fast response, wide viewing angle, fabrication on a flexible substrate.
With an extension of OLED used in the field of display, requirements for a brightness of OLED display screen body are increasing accordingly. However, in areas where displays and wires are overlapped, owning to ignorance of an influence of a disordered layout, a problem of uneven brightness of the display occurs because of an aperture ratio of the overlapped area affected by the disordered or inconsistent layout of the overlapped area under a requirement of a high-resolution screen body.

Organic light emitting device, display and mobile communication device

KunShan Go-Visionox Opto-Electronics Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is a method for preventing lane departure for use in a vehicle. The method determines whether the vehicle is moving out of its lane by extracting lane markings from an image inputted by using rear side cameras mounted on both side mirrors, calculating a lane departure distance from the directional angle and side distance calculated by three-dimensional mapping of the extracted lane markings, and estimating a lane departure time through the calculated lane departure distance and a vehicle speed sensed by a vehicle speed sensor, thereby preventing vehicle accidents caused by the driver's lane departure.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to method for preventing lane departure for use in a vehicle, and more particularly, to a method for preventing lane departure for use in a vehicle, which can prevent a driver from leaving his/her current traveling lane by a simplified logic.
2. Background Art
Generally, an Advanced Safety vehicle (ASV) is a high-tech vehicle that utilizes high-tech electronics and control technology in order to improve safety of a vehicle, which reduces traffic accidents, save energy, and promote driver's convenience.
A Lane Departure Warning System (hereinafter, referred to as "LDWS"), which is one of ASVs, is a safety equipment for a vehicle, which detects a lane the vehicle is currently traveling by sensing an image in all directions from a camera attached to the vehicle, and then produces a warning signal if the vehicle is about to leave the lane due to the driver's carelessness or dozing off at the wheel.
The LDWS includes a lane detection device for determining whether the vehicle is moving out of the lane by analyzing an image signal of the front of the vehicle and a warning device for warning the driver if the vehicle is moving out of the lane as a result of analysis of the LDWS.
The LDWS of this type is a system suitable for drivers in the countries where the transport network of roads is well-provided and vehicle industry is developed, especially, truck drivers and long-distance commuters, who are exposed to the risk of lane departure accidents due to fatigue from long-time driving, carelessness, and dozing off at the wheel.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional method for preventing lane departure for use in a vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional LDWS includes an image sensor for receiving front and rear traveling images, an image processor for performing image processing to recognize lane markings, a departure determining unit for determining whether a vehicle is moving out of the lane on the basis of the recognized lane markings, an interface input unit for receiving a vehicle interface signal, and an interface output unit for issuing a lane departure warning and showing a lane departure situation.
Herein, the vehicle interface is composed of various variables such as a lane width, the curvature radius of the lane, a lane crossing time, and so on.
Here, the image sensor recognizes lane markings on a road by using a single camera mounted at the center between the front and the rear ends of the vehicle, and detects the degree of difference between the center of the recognized lane markings and the optical axis of the camera, thus issuing a lane departure warning.
However, this method has problems in that (i) as various variables are used, the logic becomes complicated and (ii) the accuracy is low because a lot of noises, such as a defect in the sensor, distortion of a camera lens and so on, are included which cause errors in image coordinates and real coordinates.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method for preventing lane departure for use with vehicle


A method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device with a stable electrical characteristics without variation per each of the devices is provided, by forming, on a substrate, a cathode electrode, a carbon layer on the cathode electrode, and a gate electrode, disposing an anode electrode, and applying to the carbon layer a voltage higher than that at a driving of the electron-emitting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device using an electron-emitting film, a method of manufacturing an electron source including a large number of electron-emitting devices, and a method of manufacturing an image display apparatus including a large number of electron-emitting devices.
2. Related Background Art
An electron-emitting device includes a field emission type (FE-type) electron-emitting device, an MIM type electron-emitting device, and a surface conduction electron-emitting device. With respect to the FE-type, there is a configuration which is called a spindt type, in which an opening is formed in a gate electrode and a metallic member is tapered (formed in a cone shape) in the opening. In addition, there is a configuration in which electrons are emitted from a relatively flat diamond thin film (electron-emitting film) located in an opening as disclosed in JP 08-096703 A or the like.
As an application apparatus using those electron-emitting devices, there is, for example, a flat panel display in which the multiple electron-emitting devices described above are arranged on the same substrate. When a large number of electron-emitting devices to be utilized are arranged as in the flat panel display, it is important to set electron-emitting characteristics (in particular, voltage-current characteristics) of the respective electron-emitting devices uniform.
Therefore, with respect to an example using the spindt type electron-emitting device, a method of equalizing curvatures of the tips of respective emitters using electric field evaporation is disclosed in JP 3094459 B. With respect to an example using the surface conduction electron-emitting device, a method of uniformalizing characteristics of respective electron-emitting devices by applying a voltage to each of the electron-emitting devices after the completion of an operation which is called "activation process" is disclosed in JP 3062987 B.
An electron-emitting device using a diamond having negative electron affinity as an electron-emitting member is disclosed in JP 09-199001 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5283501 B, U.S. Pat. No. 5180951 B, and V. V. Zhinov, J. Liu, et al., "Environmental effect on the electron emission from diamond surfaces", J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B16(3), May/June 1998, pp.1188-1193).

Method of manufacturing electron-emitting device and method of manufacturing image display apparatus


A heat radiating member mounting structure for enabling multiple heat radiating members to be fastened together in a stack without tools is disclosed. Each heat radiating member has convex portions and lugs formed on each of two upright side flanges at two sides of a flat base thereof such that multiple heat radiating members can be fastened together by means of engaging protruding portions of the lugs of one heat radiating member into locating grooves in the convex portions of another heat radiating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat dissipation technology and more particularly, to a heat radiating member mounting structure for use to dissipate heat from a heat generating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An advanced electronic device has a high operation speed. During operation of a high-speed electronic device, much waste heat is produced. To maintain normal functioning of a high-speed electronic device, heat sink or cooler means may be used to carry waste heat away rapidly, avoiding the accumulation of heat. To enhance the heat dissipation performance of a heat sink, the heat spreading surface area must be relatively increased. Increasing the number of heat radiating sheet members or radiation fins can increase the heat spreading surface area. However, increasing the number of heat radiating sheet members or radiation fins of a heat sink relatively lowers the fabrication speed.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a combination heat sink that can be easily and rapidly assembled, thereby reducing the cost.

Heat radiating member mounting structure


A scanner guide for attachment to a pre-existing bar code scanner wand to enable such a wand to read bar coded labels disposed on a cylindrical surface of a relatively small diameter such as containers used for the collection of medical specimens. The scanner guide includes a cylindrical pin having a mounting base for positioning the same in generally parallel relation to a center axis of the scanner wand at a predetermined distance therefrom based upon the diameter of the cylindrical containers whereon the bar coded labels are disposed. A bottom surface of the mounting base is shaped to conform to the contour of the wand whereon it is to be mounted. In such an arrangement the scanner wand is held at a proper disposition in relation to the bar coded label as it is passed in a longitudinal direction over the same on the cylindrical surface. Thus, the proper reading may be obtained with a single passing and the scanning guide eliminates the necessity of repeated attempts at reading the bar code when disposed on a cylindrical surface.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to optical scanners and, more particularly, to a bar code wand reader adapted to read a bar code disposed on a curved surface.
Wand readers for scanning a bar code label are well known to those skilled in the art. Such a pen-shaped wand is commonly used to input data contained in printed bar code labels affixed to selected goods to an attached computer system. Such a bar code provides a method of coding the data such that it will represent the necessary numerical characters needed to identify the product being scanned.
Although such wand readers are well suited to use with products whereon the bar coded label may be fixed to a flat surface, a problem arises when attempting to attach such bar coded labels to a relatively small curved surface. Because the wand reader must be passed over the bar code at a relatively fast and constant speed, the degree of muscle control required to perform this task on a small curved surface makes it difficult to get a proper reading and numerous passes are almost invariably required to do so.
Thus, the present invention has been developed to provide a simple yet efficient device to enable a standard wand reader to be used to scan a bar coded label on a small curved surface.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,278 to Ming-Tai D. Kuo discloses a bar code wand reader adapted to read a bar code disposed on a narrow surface such as an edge of a printed wiring board.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,762 to Robert L. Roske discloses a shoe adapter for a bar code wand which frictionally engages a portion of the scanning head of the wand and maintains the wand at a consistent distance from the bar code label.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,165 to William A. Willson discloses a guide for mounting on an optical scanner having a laterally extending guide arm whereby the scanner can be moved in a parallel relationship with a straight edge to prevent lateral movement of the scanner for superior scanning capability.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,188 to Guther Hertel, et al. discloses a device for positioning a data carrier in a reading apparatus, the data carrier being attached, for example, to a test tube by means of a coupling element.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,016 to George B. Pfeffer discloses a file label reading system including a manually controlled wand which is adapted by the provision of a jig used to bear against the edge of at file for locating the wand in a read position over the bar code to steady the manual movement of the wand in order to provide an accurate reading of the code.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,802 to Toshiyasu Sakai discloses a bar code scanner having a pair of parallel side guide members connected by a transverse guide number which defines a scanning line at the end portions of the parallel side guide members.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,251 to Pauli Koutonen, et al. discloses a method for the identification of paper rolls by means of a code attached to or marked on the end surface of the roll. The code is read by a combined signal optical beam transmitter-receiver, including a guide arm which serves to locate the scanner in the center of the paper roll to provide an accurate reading.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,447 to Herbert La Mers discloses an information bearing label and method of reading the same which utilizes a wand reader having a center probe for locating the wand relative to a radially arranged bar code.


A filtration process and apparatus are provided wherein feed fluid to be filtered is introduced into a small gap between two rectangular plates. At least one of the plates supports a porous filtration membrane within the gap. During filtration, at least one of the plates is oscillated to effect a continuously changing gradient of gap width between opposing surfaces of the plate. A permeate is collected and a seal is provided to prevent admixture of the permeate with either feed fluid or retentate.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering a fluid through a porous membrane. More particularly, this invention relates to a filtration method and apparatus which creates large oscillatory fluid flow essentially parallel to a membrane surface to effect fluid flow both through the membrane and tangentially across the membrane.
2. Description of Prior Art
Membrane filtration processes have long been employed for the selective removal of contaminants from process fluid streams. For example, microfiltration membranes have been employed for the removal of bacterial contaminants from a wide variety of fluids, including beverages, parenterals and ophthalmic solutions, and for the removal of cellular debris from cell lysate streams. Ultrafiltration membranes, having a smaller pore size than microfiltration membranes, have been employed for the concentration of protein solutions as well as for the selective fractionation of proteins in solution. However, during many filtration processes, the presence of certain species can either irreversibly bind to the membrane surface or clog the membrane pores, resulting in membrane fouling that significantly decreases the rate at which fluid can permeate through the membrane structure. Similarly, the presence of certain proteins can lead to concentration polarization, which is the formation of a dense layer of highly concentrated protein near the membrane surface. This concentration polarization layer will also significantly reduce the rate at which fluid permeates through the membrane structure. Consequently, the removal of these fouling and/or concentration polarization layers can significantly improve the performance and economics of membrane filtration processes.
To minimize the formation of these layers, filtration processes have conventionally been conducted in the tangential flow filtration (TFF) mode of operation, wherein the flow of fluid is directed parallel to the membrane surface with only a fraction of the fluid being directed through the membrane. Membrane filters used in TFF processes are generally configured as flat sheet membrane cassettes where parallel membrane sheets are separated by thin, fluid-filled gaps. A fluid feed solution, typically consisting of cells, cellular debris and/or soluble proteins, is continuously recirculated at high velocities within the fluid-filled gap between the parallel membrane sheets using an external pump capable of delivering the necessary inlet pressures. The high fluid velocity serves to continually sweep the membrane surface clean of particles and proteins responsible for the formation of fouling and concentration polarization layers. As a consequence of the high transmembrane pressures created by the recirculation pump, a small fraction of the feed material is directed through the parallel membranes and is collected as permeate product.
A major limitation associated with this technology is that the external recirculation pump is responsible for creating both the high fluid velocities required for cleaning the membrane and the transmembrane pressures required for directing a portion of the fluid flow through the membrane structure. Consequently, the hydrodynamics required for cleaning the membrane surface are intimately coupled with the transmembrane pressure required for filtering the fluid material. For example, an increase in the fluid velocity across the membrane surface is accomplished by increasing the inlet pressure to the membrane device. These higher inlet pressures, while increasing the shear rates at the membrane surface, also cause more of the feed material to be directed through the membrane structure, ultimately accelerating the formation of the fouling and concentration polarization layers. In an effort to combat this phenomenon, cross flow velocity is increased, thereby increasing the upstream pressure gradient and further accelerating the fouling process. Consequently, each filtration process requires independent optimization. More importantly, highly viscous fluids and/or complex, highly fouling fluids cannot be processed at sufficiently high fluid shear rates to prevent the formation of fouling and/or concentration polarization layers.
Several techniques have been developed that attempt to address the limitations associated with conventional TFF operations. Vibrational filter systems are described in the prior art that are comprised of a constant gap spacing between two plates in which the filter elements are vibrated to prolong filter life by either minimizing cake formation or by removing existing cakes are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,564 discloses a vibration-scheme for efficiently removing pre-dried cakes from a series of stacked filter discs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,623 discloses a methodology in which the filter medium is reciprocated in a non-uniform fashion in a direction parallel to fluid flow in an effort to retard cake formation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,922 details a technique in which a series of filter cartridges are oscillated within the feed material to minimize cake formation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,988 describes a technique where the filter is oscillated at a prescribed frequency and displacement relative to the suspension in order to inhibit filter plugging. CH Patent 667217A5 discloses a technique in which oscillations generated by a piezoelectric ultrasound generator are transmitted to a belt filter for the subsequent removal of filter cakes.
In contrast, prior art methodologies for pulsating the fluid flow relative to the filter element, have also been disclosed in the prior art in an effort to minimize cake formation on filter devices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,608 describes a technique in which the vacuum downstream of a filter device is pulsed in order to remove solid material from the filter medium. DE Patent 3605065A1 discloses a similar technique in which the filtrate is pulsed in a periodic fashion to minimize cake formation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,178 describes a technique where the vibration of supply and exhaust air lines causes the process feed fluid to agitate within the filter housing, thereby enhancing fluid shear at the filter surface.
U.S. Pat. 5,468,844 discloses a technology consisting of a filtration channel comprised of a stationary membrane disc mounted in close proximity to a solid disc capable of being rotated at high angular velocities. The mechanical rotation of the solid disc causes the fluid between the membrane and solid disc to rotate in a direction generally parallel to the membrane surface, thereby minimizing the formation of fouling and concentration polarization layers. Flow of fluid through the membrane structure is accomplished by independently increasing the pressure upstream of membrane relative to the pressure downstream of the membrane device. However, there are two limitations associated with this technology. First, due to the circular geometry of this device, the fluid flow and shear are unevenly distributed across the plate radius, leading to a non-uniform use of the membrane surface. Second, viscous heating of the fluid caused by the overly large angular velocities of the rotating devices significantly hinder its applicability for large-scale separations.
International patent WO 97/02087 discloses a filtration technology which is comprised of disc plates that oscillate in an angular direction about a center axis. This oscillatory motion causes the fluid between the membrane discs to be moved and sheared generally in a tangential direction, effectively preventing the formation of fouling and concentration polarization layers. However, a limitation associated with this technology is that the tangential motion, velocity, and shear are highly non-uniform over the disc radius leading to a non-uniform use of the membrane surface. In order to more effectively use the membrane surface, the angular velocity of the oscillation must be increased which results in over-shearing, undesirable power consumption and heating of the fluid at the larger radii. The torsional oscillatory disc motion is supplied by a source external to the filter device and is transmitted to the device disc plates by means of a shaft. Because of the resulting increased inertia of the discs and the increasing length of the oscillating drive shaft, scale-up of the technology while maintaining efficient, uniform motion becomes impractical.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,629 describes the operation of a dynamic self-cleaning filter for liquid streams. In this technology, an outer resonant tube is concentrically mounted around an inner composite tube containing a filter membrane. The fluid in the annular chamber is transformed into a state of intense vaporous cavitation by causing the outer tube to resonate with the use of a sonic sinusoidal wave inducing transducer fixed to the outer tube at an antinodal point. The vaporous cavitation energy implodes the surfaces of the filter material, thereby minimizing the formation of fouling and concentration polarization layers. However, the intense energy involved with cavitation, although effective in cleaning membrane surfaces, would most likely lead to the denaturation of bioproducts sensitive to the formation of gas/liquid interfaces. In addition, cavitation upstream of polymeric membranes can conceivably damage the membrane surface.
It would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus of generating high shear forces at membrane surfaces in order to minimize fouling and concentration polarization, independent of variables controlling the feed rate and the fluid permeation rate through the membrane structure. Furthermore, it would be desirable that such a method and apparatus permit scaling up to commercially viable filtration rates. It would further be desirable to avoid cavitation that may degrade bioproduct quality and reduce membrane stability. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such a method and apparatus which improves the ease-of-use characteristics of dead-ended membrane filtration compared to conventional TFF operations.

Vibrationally-induced dynamic membrane filtration


A modification to conventional scan chain design is disclosed which can identify whether any connection in the scan chain is shorted to the supply voltage or ground (i.e., shorted to a logical 1 or logical 0) and the precise location of the short. Circuitry in the flip-flops (or other sequential elements) forming the scan chain allows the scan output of each flip-flop to be set or reset by switching a scan enable signal between logic states. If there is a fault in the scan chain where a node is stuck at a logical 1, then resetting the scan outputs of the flip-flops to 0 and clocking the flip-flops will result in a logical 1 being output from the last flip-flop after a number of clock pulses. The number of clock pulses indicates the position of the flip-flop in the scan chain which is associated with the fault. A similar technique detects a stuck-at-0 fault by setting the flip-flops to 1. In a preferred embodiment, each adjacent pair of flipflops in the chain consists of a flip-flop whose scan output can be reset to a 0 and a flip-flop whose scan output can be set to a 1.

Current microprocessors have a huge number of flip-flops (e.g., greater than 10,000). When testing or debugging the integrated circuit design, it is important to not only identify that a defect exists in the circuit, but the location and root cause of the defect. The use of scan design techniques to efficiently test and debug sequential circuits is a widely accepted industrial practice. In scan design, some or all flip-flops (or other sequential elements) in a circuit are linked into one or more scan chains. This permits data to be serially shifted into and out of these flip-flop chains, greatly enhancing controllability and observability of internal nodes in the design. If the data shifted into the scan chain comes out of the scan chain as predicted, it is determined that the flip-flops that make up the scan chain are not faulty.
After the circuit has been debugged and corrected, if necessary, the scan mechanism can be disabled, and the flip-flops may operate independently of one another.
In using scan design to test or debug a circuit, it is imperative that the scan chain itself not be defective. A defective scan chain will prevent the inputted data from being properly shifted through the chain and invalidate the testing of other parts of the logic.
Accordingly, what is needed is a design for sequential elements, such as flip-flops, which can be used to test or debug a circuit design via scanning, and in which any defects in the scan chain may be identified and precisely located.

Flip-flop design and technique for scan chain diagnosis