A charge storage capacitor includes a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, and a local interconnect electrode formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is an encapsulation layer, and a ferroelectric memory cell includes the charge storage capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charge storage capacitor and more particularly, to a charge storage capacitor including an encapsulation layer that can also function as a dielectric layer of the charge storage capacitor.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Integrated circuit ferroelectric memory devices include an integrated circuit substrate which includes a cell region and a periphery region. A plurality of ferroelectric memory cells are formed in the cell region, including a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors. The ferroelectric capacitor in the ferroelectric memory cell includes a dielectric material that has a high dielectric constant and that can be polarized by an electric field, thus storing a memory data state. A polarization of the dielectric material remains until reversed by an opposite electrical field. This makes the dielectric memory cell non-volatile.
Conventionally, capacitors with a single ferroelectric layer, such as a PZT-F layer (ferroelectric layer formed of PZT (lead zirconate titanate)), are used for making both switchable ferroelectric capacitors (data storage capacitors) and charge pump capacitors or other charge storage capacitors. However, it is very difficult to optimize the ferroelectric properties of a ferroelectric layer, such as a PZT-F layer, for high permittivity capacitor applications such as charge pumps or other charge storage capacitors. Further, conventionally, an encapsulation layer, such as a PZT-E layer (encapsulation layer formed of PZT (lead zirconate titanate)) is utilized only for encapsulating and protecting the underlying ferroelectric capacitor including the PZT-F layer.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a charge storage capacitor that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved charge storage capacitor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a capacitor including a dielectric layer that is easy to optimize for both encapsulation and high permittivity dielectric properties.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a capacitor having a high charge storage capability that has low leakage current and relatively linear capacitance dependence on voltage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated circuit, including an improved charge storage and a ferroelectric memory cell, having a simple manufacture process.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description, which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a charge storage capacitor includes a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, and a local interconnect electrode formed on the dielectric layer.
In another aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit including a capacitor includes a bottom, a first dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, a top electrode formed on the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer formed on the top electrode, wherein the second dielectric layer completely covers the top electrode, and a local interconnect electrode formed on the second dielectric layer.
In another aspect of the present invention, a charge storage capacitor includes a bottom electrode, a first dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, a second dielectric layer formed on the first dielectric layer, and a local interconnect electrode formed on the second dielectric layer.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a capacitor, includes the steps of forming a bottom electrode, forming an encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode, and forming a local interconnect electrode on the encapsulation layer.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming an integrated circuit, comprising a charge storage capacitor and a ferroelectric memory cell including a data storage capacitor, includes the steps of forming a bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor and a bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor on an integrated circuit, forming a ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor, forming a top electrode on the ferroelectric layer, forming a first encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor and a second encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor including the ferroelectric layer and the top electrode, wherein the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation are formed simultaneously, and forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on the first encapsulation layer and a second interlayer dielectric layer on the second encapsulation layer, wherein the first encapsulation layer is a dielectric layer of the charge storage capacitor.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming an integrated circuit comprising a capacitor, includes the steps of forming a bottom electrode, forming a ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode, forming a top electrode on the ferroelectric layer, forming an encapsulation layer on the top electrode, wherein the encapsulation layer completely covers the top electrode, and forming a local interconnect electrode on the encapsulation layer, wherein the ferroelectric layer includes PZT.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming an integrated circuit, comprising a charge storage capacitor and a ferroelectric memory cell including a data storage capacitor, includes the steps of forming a bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor and a bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor on an integrated circuit substrate, forming a first ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor and a second ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor, forming a first top electrode on the first ferroelectric layer and a second top electrode on the second ferroelectric layer, forming a first encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor, including the first ferroelectric layer and the first top layer, forming a second encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor, including the second ferroelectric layer and the second top layer, wherein the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation are formed simultaneously, forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on the first encapsulation layer and a second interlayer dielectric layer on the second encapsulation layer, etching the first interlayer dielectric layer to form a first opening to expose the first encapsulation layer, etching the second interlayer dielectric layer and the second encapsulation layer to form a second opening to expose the top electrode of the data storage capacitor, and forming a first local interconnect electrode in the first opening and a second local interconnect electrode in the second opening, simultaneously, wherein the first local interconnect electrode comprises part of the charge storage capacitor.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a capacitor, includes the steps of forming a bottom electrode, forming a ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode, forming an encapsulation layer on the ferroelectric layer, and forming a local interconnect electrode on the encapsulation layer.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for forming an integrated circuit, comprising a charge storage capacitor and a ferroelectric memory cell including a data storage capacitor, includes the steps of forming a bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor and a bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor on an integrated circuit substrate, forming a first ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor and a second ferroelectric layer on the bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor, forming a top electrode layer on the first and second ferroelectric layers, etching the top electrode layer to remove from the first ferroelectric layer and to form a top electrode of the data storage capacitor on the second ferroelectric layer, forming a first encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode of the charge storage capacitor including the first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer on the bottom electrode of the data storage capacitor including the second ferroelectric layer and the top electrode, and forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on the first encapsulation layer and a second interlayer dielectric layer on the second encapsulation layer, wherein the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation are formed simultaneously.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Charge pump or other charge storage capacitor including PZT layer for combined use as encapsulation layer and dielectric layer of ferroelectric capacitor and a method for manufacturing the same


A device for a power tool that includes an internal combustion engine and a carburetor for supplying an air and fuel mixture to the engine. The carburetor includes at least one externally adjustable component. An air filter arrangement of the device is for in-taking air, filtering the air, and directing the filtered air to the carburetor. The arrangement includes a housing. A tamper-resisting portion of the device extends from the air filter arrangement housing and extends adjacent to the location of the at least one adjustable component. The tamper resisting portion includes a segment that permits access to the at least one adjustable component along a first direction and limits access to the at least one adjustable component off of the first direction.

A portable power tool, such as a chain saw, a hedge trimmer, an edger, or a blower, is often powered by a gasoline engine. Typically, a carburetor is associated with such a smaller engine.
A small engine carburetor has one or more adjustable components, often referred to as needle valves, which control fuel flow. To calibrate fuel flow, each valve is rotationally adjusted to axially extend or retract a valve control surface within a fuel passage in the carburetor until optimum fuel flow through the passage is achieved. Adjustment within the carburetor is commonly done by "metering" during no load or idle engine operation by a first "idle" needle valve and during part or full load operation by a second "main" needle valve. Pre-calibration of the carburetor on a flow test bench may be performed prior to being assembled to an engine. After assembly of the carburetor to an engine, it is customary to adjust the metering valves, if needed, to fine tune fuel flow to the actual demand of the operating engine. Such calibration is first done at an assembly facility, and may subsequently be done by a qualified technician.
Recently, in response to federal and state "clean air" regulations, there has developed an increasing need to prevent gross misadjustment, especially by non-qualified people. Such prevention of gross misadjustment is directed to the prevention of excessive emission of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons from an internal combustion engine. Thus, subsequent over adjustment of fuel flow is to be prevented/discouraged.

Air filter housing with tamper resistant carburetor feature


A limited rotation motor system is disclosed that includes a rotor shaft mounted within first and second bearing units. The rotor shaft is coupled to a helically shaped torsion member that is fixed with respect to a motor housing.

The invention generally relates to limited rotation motors (sometimes referred to as galvanometer motors), and relates in particular to systems for controlling the movement of limited rotation motors.
Limited rotation motors move within a limited radial range of motion only. Certain limited rotation motor systems employ a torsion bar, one end of which is fixed and the other end of which moves with the limited rotation motor shaft. The motor acts against a force caused by the torsion bar that resists rotation. When the motor drives the shaft to one swing of its motion range and then turns off, the torsion bar applies torque to the shaft to return the shaft to its neutral position.
For example, FIG. 1 shows a limited rotation motor system 10 that includes a clamp hub 12, and a torsion bar 14 that is fixed to the clamp hub 12. The system also includes a torsion bar hub 16, and a magnetic rotor 18 (having a generally rectangular cross-sectional area) on a shaft that is supported by a rear bearing 20 and a front bearing 22. The front bearing is fixed to the housing frame, while the rear bearing is slidably attached to the housing frame. The clamp hub 12, torsion bar 14, and torsion hub 16 are spot welded together. The torsion hub 16 and rotor 18 are soldered together. The torsion bar stores potential energy when the rotor 18 is rotated, and releases the energy when the power to the motor (stator windings) is turned off.
The bearings are typically manufactured with a degree of manufacturing tolerance that provides a small amount of play between the balls and the bearing races or rings. This play may be reduced by a process called radial pre-loading that applies a force vector across the bearing, making the outer ring eccentric with respect to the inner ring; and this eccentricity is limited by the presence of a ball or balls trapped between the rings. For example, FIG. 2 shows a bearing having an inner ring 30, an outer ring 32, and a plurality of bearing balls 34 between the inner and outer rings. Radial pre-loading involves establishing a force vector as shown at A that brings the inner and outer rings closer together at a location in an effort to reduce unwanted play in the bearing system. Such radial pre-loading may be achieved, for example, by including a small asymmetric notch in the rotor 18 as shown at 24. This imbalance causes asymmetric radial magnetic forces to be applied to the rotor, which creates the force as indicated at A.
It has been found, however, that radial pre-loading does not fully remove play in certain bearing systems. It has further been found that the use of a torsion bar may provide excessive resistive torque forces near the range limit of certain limited rotation motors. Also, the very high axial stiffness of the torsion bar causes Brinelling of the front bearing under conditions of temperature extreme due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the torsion bar and the stator frame.
There is a need therefore, for a limited rotation motor control system for providing improved performance of a limited rotation motor. There is further a need for an improved limited rotation motor system that is efficient and economical to manufacture.

System and method for providing rotation control in a limited rotation motor system


According to the invention, an availability request is transmitted by a client to a server in order to verify whether a server is available. A response to said availability request is transmitted by the server to the client by means of a confirmation message if the server is available. The client transmits a message regarding the availability of the server to other clients who then prevent the transmission of an availability request to the server at least for a predefined period of time.

Reliable verification of the availability of a server is of great significance in particular in the case of loosely connected client-server relations in packet-oriented data networks. If a client detects early enough that a server is overloaded or down, then it is possible to implement countermeasures in good time, such as, for example, the search for an alternative server or the creation of warning notices. Methods for verifying the availability of a server are applied, which methods also include keepalive tests described in the H.323 standard, as on 11/2000, chapter 7.2.2, if there is no permanent communication relationship between client and server and if, however, such a relationship must exist and be without fault is the basis for a desired functionality, for example, Internet telephony. In packet-oriented networks keepalive tests are used, for example, to simulate to the communication subscribers a quasi line-switching character with respect to mutual availability.
With conventional keepalive tests, a client sends availability requests to a selected server in cyclical intervals of time. If the server transmits a response to the availability request within a predefinable period of time, the server is deemed available and thus the communication relationship active. Of disadvantage in this approach is that the server is generally put under a severe load by transmitting a response to all the client requests.

Verification of the availability of a server

Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG


An electronic apparatus including: a supported body; a support member provided with a through hole extended in an substantially horizontal direction; a fixture that fixes the supported body and the support member to each other in an approximately horizontal direction through the through hole of the support member; a buffer member that is disposed between the fixture and the support member and has a first portion that is supported by an inner circumferential face of the through hole of the support member and a second portion that is not supported by the inner circumferential face of the through hole of the support member; and a support body that is disposed in the support member so as to support the second portion of the buffer member.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus that improves the buffering characteristics of a support member.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electronic apparatus having a device such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for which vibration needs to be considered, there are mutual influences of vibration and shock between the device and a support member that supports the device. Thus, vibration generated from the device is transferred to the entire electronic apparatus through the support member, and the vibration affects other members of the electronic apparatus. In contrast, vibration and shock applied from other components of the electronic apparatus or the outside of the electronic apparatus may propagate to the device through the support member to have a bad influence thereon. The vibration and the shock may cause breakdown, deterioration, noise, and the like of the device or the components of the electronic apparatus.
Accordingly, a vibration-proof device that prevents the propagation of vibration by disposing an elastic body between a supported body and a support body is proposed.
In the anti-vibration device disclosed in JP-UM-A-06-032788, the propagation of vibration is prevented by disposing a rubber elastic body between a supported body and a support body. However, a main unit is supported only on contact portions between the rubber elastic body and the support body. Accordingly, there are many cases where the buffering characteristics for vibration or shock are limited.


A light source assembly including a light source part, a light guide plate and a light-condensing sheet. The light source assembly generates light and includes at least one light source. The light guide plate includes an incident surface to which the light is incident, an opposing surface which is opposite to the incident surface, and an exiting surface which emits the light, and has a thickness which is gradually increased from the incident surface to the opposing surface. The light-condensing sheet includes a plurality of reverse prism patterns which protrude toward the exiting surface, extend along an arc of a circle, and are arranged in a concentric circle structure.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a light source assembly and a display apparatus having the above-mentioned light source assembly. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a light source assembly for increasing a display quality and a display apparatus having the above-mentioned light source assembly.
2. Discussion of the Background
Generally, a display apparatus includes a display panel displaying an image and a backlight assembly providing light to the display panel.
The backlight assembly may utilize various kinds of light sources. Recently, a light emitting diode ("LED") has been typically applied to small electronic devices.
The backlight assembly may be classified as either an edge-illumination type or a direct-illumination type according to the position of the light sources. In the backlight assembly of the edge-illumination type, a light guide plate for guiding light is disposed adjacent to the light sources. In particular, the light guide plate guides a light from the light emitting diode and planarly emits the light. Since an exit angle of the light emitted from the backlight assembly is generally constant, a user's demands for using display devices in various conditions may be difficult to satisfy. A narrow view angle is required when the display device is personally used, and a wide view angle is required when many people use the display device together. However, the view angle is usually not easy to change.
Moreover, in order to form various viewing angles, a light surface opposing an incident light surface of a light guide plate is formed as a spherical minor shape, and the incident light is changed to parallel light. Thus, a view angle distribution may be adjusted actively. However, because the spherical minor shape of the opposed light surface is disposed faraway from an effective display area of the display panel, the size of the display apparatus is increased and the depth of the bezel is increased.

Light source assembly and display apparatus having the same


A current perpendicular to plane (CPP) sensor having FeN in their free and pinned layers. A tunnel junction sensor (TMR) according to the present invention can have a MgO barrier layer, and a CPP GMR sensor according to the present invention can have a Cr spacer layer.

The heart of a computer is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm adjacent to a surface of the rotating magnetic disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly located on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing, the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic impressions from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The write head includes a coil layer embedded in first, second and third insulation layers (insulation stack), the insulation stack being sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers. A gap is formed between the first and second pole piece layers by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head and the pole piece layers are connected at a back gap. Current conducted to the coil layer induces a magnetic flux in the pole pieces which causes a magnetic field to fringe out at a write gap at the ABS for the purpose of writing the aforementioned magnetic impressions in tracks on the moving media, such as in circular tracks on the aforementioned rotating disk.
In recent read head designs a spin valve sensor, also referred to as a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, has been employed for sensing magnetic fields from the rotating magnetic disk. The sensor includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer, hereinafter referred to as a spacer layer, sandwiched between first and second ferromagnetic layers, hereinafter referred to as a pinned layer and a free layer. First and second leads are connected to the spin valve sensor for conducting a sense current therethrough. The magnetization of the pinned layer is pinned perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS) and the magnetic moment of the free layer is located parallel to the ABS, but free to rotate in response to external magnetic fields. The magnetization of the pinned layer is typically pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic layer.
The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen to be less than the mean free path of conduction electrons through the sensor. With this arrangement, a portion of the conduction electrons is scattered by the interfaces of the spacer layer with each of the pinned and free layers. When the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers are parallel with respect to one another, scattering is minimal and when the magnetizations of the pinned and free layer are antiparallel, scattering is maximized. Changes in scattering alter the resistance of the spin valve sensor in proportion to cos θ, where θ is the angle between the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers. In a read mode the resistance of the spin valve sensor changes proportionally to the magnitudes of the magnetic fields from the rotating disk. When a sense current is conducted through the spin valve sensor, resistance changes cause potential changes that are detected and processed as playback signals.
When a spin valve sensor employs a single pinned layer it is referred to as a simple spin valve. When a spin valve employs an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer it is referred to as an AP pinned spin valve. An AP spin valve includes first and second magnetic layers separated by a thin non-magnetic coupling layer such as Ru. The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen so as to antiparallel couple the magnetizations of the ferromagnetic layers of the pinned layer. A spin valve is also known as a top or bottom spin valve depending upon whether the pinning layer is at the top (formed after the free layer) or at the bottom (before the free layer).
The spin valve sensor is located between first and second nonmagnetic electrically insulating read gap layers and the first and second read gap layers are located between ferromagnetic first and second shield layers. In a merged magnetic head a single ferromagnetic layer functions as the second shield layer of the read head and as the first pole piece layer of the write head. In a piggyback head the second shield layer and the first pole piece layer are separate layers.
Magnetization of the pinned layer is usually fixed by exchange coupling one of the ferromagnetic layers (AP1) with a layer of antiferromagnetic material such as PtMn. While an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material such as PtMn does not in and of itself have a magnetization, when exchange coupled with a magnetic material, it can strongly pin the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer.
In order to meet the ever increasing demand for improved data rate and data capacity, researchers have recently been focusing their efforts on the development of perpendicular recording systems. A traditional longitudinal recording system stores data as magnetic bits oriented longitudinally along a track in the plane of the surface of the magnetic disk. This longitudinal data bit is recorded by a fringing field that forms between a pair of magnetic poles separated by a write gap. A perpendicular recording system, on the other hand, records data as magnetic transitions oriented perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic disk. The magnetic disk has a magnetically soft underlayer covered by a thin magnetically hard top layer. The perpendicular write head has a write pole with a very small cross section and a return pole having a much larger cross section. A strong, highly concentrated magnetic field emits from the write pole in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic disk surface, magnetizing the magnetically hard top layer. The resulting magnetic flux then travels through the soft underlayer, returning to the return pole where it is sufficiently spread out and weak that it will not erase the signal recorded by the write pole.
The advent of perpendicular recording systems has lead to an increased interest in Current perpendicular to plane (CPP) sensors, which are particularly suited to use in perpendicular recording systems, due to their ability to read signals from a high coercivity medium. A CPP sensor differs from a more conventional current in plane (CIP) sensor such as that discussed above in that the sense current flows through the CPP sensor from top to bottom in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layers making up the sensor. Whereas the more traditional CIP sensor has insulation layers separating it from the shields, the CPP sensor contacts the shields at its top and bottom surfaces, thereby using the shields as leads.
On type of CPP sensor is a tunnel valve or tunnel junction magnetoresitive sensor (TMR). Such sensors have a magnetic free layer and a magnetic pinned layer similar to a GMR or spin valve. The tunnel valve, however, has a thin electrically insulating barrier layer sandwiched between the free and pinned layers rather than an electrically conductive spacer layer. To meet the demands for increased sensor performance, researchers have sought to develop TMR sensors having improved performance characteristics. A theoretical improvement has been reported by constructing a TMR sensor having an Fe free layer, an Fe pinned layer and a MgO barrier formed therebetween. Such a construction has been proposed by Wulfhekel et al. in Applied Physics Letters, vol. 78, no. 4, 22 Jan. 2002. In reality however, TMR sensors having such a construction have not exhibited the performance that has been expected. At least a portion of this less than desirable performance has been due to the formation of Fe oxides FeOx at the interface of the free layer and the barrier layer and at the interface of the pinned layer and the barrier layer. In addition, Fe has a strong positive magnetostriction, which is undesirable for use in a free layer in that it causes magnetic instability in the sensor.
Another form of CPP sensor is a CPP GRM sensor. Such sensors have magnetic free and pinned layers and a non-magnetic, electrically conductive spacer layer sandwiched there between, similar to the more common CIP sensors. Since the current flows through the very thin GMR layers in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layers, it can be appreciated that the overall electrical resistance, or sheet resistance (R), is extremely low. Since the performance of the sensor is the change in resistance divided by the sheet resistance, one can appreciate that as the sheet resistance approaches 0, the change in resistance also approaches 0 and the performance of the sensor drops off accordingly. Therefore, such CPP GMR sensors have not seen widespread use in commercial data storage systems.
Therefore, there is a need for a practical CPP magnetoresistive sensor having exceptional magnetoresistive performance. More particularly, there is a need for a TMR sensor having a strong dr/R performance, and a need for a CPP GMR sensor having a desired amount of electrical resistance, especially in the region of the free layer, spacer layer and pinned layer, since it is resistance in this area that contributes to GMR.

CPP GMR/TMR structure providing higher dR

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The fuel injector may also include a flow path for a fuel air mixture to the combustor extending longitudinally within the injector housing, and a gallery for liquid fuel encircling the flow path. The gallery may include a plurality of fuel spokes that are configured to deliver liquid fuel from the gallery to the flow path. The gallery may extend from a feed end to a terminal end that overlaps the feed end. The feed end may be a region where liquid fuel enters the gallery and the terminal end may be a region where the gallery terminates.

Gas turbine engines produce power by extracting energy from a flow of hot gas produced by combustion of fuel in a stream of compressed air. In general, turbine engines have an upstream air compressor coupled to a downstream turbine with a combustion chamber ("combustor") in between. Energy is released when a mixture of compressed air and fuel is burned in the combustor. The resulting hot gases are directed over blades of the turbine to spin the turbine and produce mechanical power. In a typical turbine engine, one or more fuel injectors direct some type of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel (such, diesel fuel or natural gas) into the combustor for combustion. This fuel mixes with compressed air (from the air compressor) in the fuel injector, and flow to the combustor for combustion. The compressed air, which may exceed 800° F. (426.7° C.) in temperature, may surround sections of the fuel injector, and may create a hot ambient environment for the fuel injector. Combustion of the fuel in the combustor can create temperatures exceeding 2000° F. (1093.3° C.). These high temperatures in the vicinity of the fuel injector increase the temperature of the fuel injector during operation of the turbine engine.
In fuel injectors, fuel lines are used to direct the fuel to the fuel injector, and fuel galleries direct the fuel through nozzles that deliver the fuel to the combustor. The high temperatures of the fuel injector during operation may lead to coking of liquid fuel in these lines and galleries. Over time, this coke deposit in the lines and galleries can lead to flow restrictions that adversely affect the operation of the gas turbine engine.
U.S. patent application publication US 2007/0157616 A1 to Hernandez et al. (the '616 publication) describes a fuel injector for a jet engine. The fuel injector of the '616 publication includes a primary fuel circuit and a secondary fuel circuit that direct separate streams of fuel through the fuel injector. The secondary circuit includes an annular distribution chamber positioned in an air swirler and fluidly coupled to a plurality of orifices. The primary circuit includes a separate distribution chamber that is positioned adjacent the distribution chamber of the secondary circuit. In the fuel injector of the '616 publication, fuel in the distribution chamber of one fuel circuit is used to cool the fuel in the distribution chamber of the other fuel circuit. The fuel injector of the '616 publication may be suitable for applications that include multiple fuel circuits positioned proximate each other. However, in applications where such a layout is not feasible due to space or other constraints, the fuel injector of the '616 publication may not be suitable. For instance, positioning multiple distribution chambers adjacent to each other in a single air swirler may introduce design complexities when space is limited.

End-fed liquid fuel gallery for a gas turbine fuel injector


A floating production and storage facility (FPS) or "floating atoll" comprises a very large tension leg platform (TLP) having a regular or irregular polygonal horizontal cross-section (including a circle) and having a centralized opening (moonpool) therethrough. The floater has wave transparent attributes, stanchions sited interior of the moonpool adapted to receive risers and maintain the risers within a limited horizontal zone with reference to the vessel while allowing vertical freedom of motion with reference to the vessel. It also has risers sited in the stanchions and connected to the bottom of the body of water upon which the TLP floats. The risers have sufficient buoyancy means below but near the surface of the water to tension the risers into vertical position, and can have additional buoyancy means distributed over much of their length. The floater can have large oil storage means, and can be moored by lateral mooring as well as the TLP tendons.

With depletion of hydrocarbon reserves found onshore, production of oil and gas from reservoirs underlying water has received considerable attention. In relatively shallow water, wells may be drilled in the ocean floor from bottom founded, fixed platforms. Because of the large size of the structure needed to support drilling and production facilities in deep water, bottom founded structures are limited to water depths of less than about 1,000-1,200 feet. In deeper water, floating systems have been used in order to reduce the size, weight, and cost of deep water drilling and production structures. Ship shaped drill ships and semi-submersible buoyant platforms are commonly used for such floating facilities.
When a floating facility is chosen for deep water use, motions of the vessel must be considered, and if possible, constrained or compensated for in order to provide a stable structure from which to carry on drilling and production operations. Rotational vessel motions of pitch, roll, and yaw involve various rotational movements of the vessel around a particular vessel axis passing through the center of gravity. Thus, yaw motions result from a rotation of a vessel around a vertically oriented axis passing through the center of gravity. In a similar manner, for ship shaped vessels, roll results from rotation of the vessel around the longitudinal (fore and aft) axis passing through the center of gravity and causing a side to side roll of the vessel. Pitch results from rotation of the vessel around a lateral (side to side) axis passing through the center of gravity causing the bow and stern to move alternatively up and down. With a symmetrical or substantially symmetrical platform such as a common semi-submersible, the horizontally oriented pitch and roll axes are essentially arbitrary and, for the purposes of this disclosure, such rotations about a horizontal axes will be referred to as pitch/roll motions.
All of the above vessel motions are considered only relative to the center of gravity of the vessel itself. In addition, translational platform motions must be considered which result in displacement of the entire vessel relative to a fixed point, such as a subsea wellhead. These motions are heave, surge, and sway. Heave motions involve vertical translation of the vessel up and down relative to a fixed point along a vertically oriented axis passing through the center of gravity (bobbing). For ship shaped vessels, surge motions involve horizontal translation of the vessel along a fore and aft oriented axis passing through the center of gravity. In a similar manner, sway motions involve the lateral horizontal translations of the vessel along a left to right axis passing through the center of gravity. As with the horizontal rotational platform motions discussed above, the horizontal translational motions (surge and sway) in a symmetrical or substantially symmetrical vessel such as a semi-submersible are essentially arbitrary. In the context of this specification, all horizontal translational vessel motions are referred to as surge/sway motions.
Combinations of the above described motions encompass platform behavior as a rigid body in 6 degrees of freedom. The six components of motion result as responses to continually varying harmonic wave forces. These wave forces first vary at the dominant frequencies of the wave train. Vessel responses in the six modes of freedom at frequencies corresponding to the primary periods characterizing the wave trains are termed "first order" motions. In addition, a variable wave train generates forces on the vessel at frequencies resulting from sums and differences of the primary wave frequencies. These are secondary forces and corresponding vessel responses are called "second order" motions.
A completely rigid structure fixed to the sea floor is completely restrained against response to the wave forces. An elastic structure, that is, elastically attached to the sea floor, will exhibit degrees of response that vary according to the stiffness of the structure itself and according to the stiffness of its attachment to the earth at the sea floor. A "compliant" offshore structure is usually referred to as a structure that has no stiffness relative to one or more of the response modes and that can be excited by first or second order wave forces.
Floating production or drilling vessels have essentially unrestricted response to first order forces. However, to maintain a relatively steady proximity to a point on the sea floor, they are compliantly restrained against large horizontal excursions by a passive spread anchor mooring system or by an active controlled-thruster dynamic positioning system. These positioning systems can also be used to prevent large, low frequency (i.e., second order) yawing responses.
While both ship shaped vessels and conventional semi-submersibles are allowed to freely respond to first order wave forces, they do exhibit very different response characteristics. The semi-submersible designer is able to achieve considerably reduced motion response by (1) properly distributing buoyant hull volume between columns and deeply submerged pontoon structures (2) optimally arranging and separating surface piercing stability columns and (3) properly distributing platform mass. Proven principles for these design tasks allow the designer to achieve a high degree of wave force cancellation such that motion can be effectively reduced over selective frequency ranges. Put another way, the vessel can be designed such that it has "wave transparent" attributes.
The design practices for optimizing semi-submersible dynamic performance depend primarily on "detuning" and wave force cancellation to limit heave. Pitch/roll responses are kept to acceptable levels by providing large separation distances between the corner stability columns while maintaining relatively long natural periods for pitch/roll modes. This practice keeps the pitch/roll modal frequencies well away from the frequencies of first order wave excitation and is, thus, referred to as "detuning," or sometimes "tuning." Another way to achieve acceptable hydrodynamic performance is to practice "wave force cancellation." Wave force cancellation is achieved by properly distributing submerged volumes comprising the hull relative to the elements that penetrate the water surface. Design practice to minimize platform response in various seas may involve both "detuning" and "wave force cancellation," and these techniques are well known to those skilled in the art.
Another class of compliant floating structure is moored by a vertical tension leg mooring system. This tension leg mooring provides compliant restraint of first and second order horizontal motions. In addition, such a structure stiffly restrains vertical first and second order responses of heave and pitch/roll. This form of mooring restraint would normally not be practical to apply to a conventional ship shaped monohull due to the wave force distribution and resultant response characteristics. Therefore, the vertical tension leg mooring system is generally conceived to apply to semi-submersible hull forms which can mitigate total resultant wave forces and responses to levels that can be effectively and safely restrained by stiffly elastic tension legs.
This type of floating facility, which has gained considerable attention recently, is the so-called tension leg platform (TLP). The upper terminations of vertical tension legs are located to or within the corner columns of the semi-submersible platform structure. Alternatively, the vertical tension legs can be located in a symmetrical array at the outer periphery of a torus shaped floating structure. The tension legs are maintained in tension at all times by insuring that the buoyancy of the TLP exceeds its operating weight under all environmental conditions. Put another way, the tendons must be under sufficient tension that no tendon will go slack in a design storm, usually a one hundred year storm. When the buoyant force of the water displaced by the platform/structure at a given draft exceeds the weight of the platform/structure (and all its internal contents, payloads, riser tensions, etc.), there is a resultant "excess buoyant force" that is carried as the vertical component of tension in the mooring elements (and risers in the case of conventional TLP). When stiffly elastic continuous tension leg elements (tendons) are attached between a rigid sea floor foundation and the corners of the floating hull, they effectively restrain vertical motion due to both heave and pitch/roll inducing forces while there is a compliant restraint of movements in the horizontal plane (surge/sway and yaw). Thus, a tension leg platform provides a very stable floating offshore structure for supporting equipment and carrying out functions related to oil production. Conoco's Hutton platform in the North Sea is the first commercial example of a TLP. Saga's Snorre platform recently installed in the North Sea is a current example of a TLP.
The primary interest in the TLP concept is that the stiff restraint of vertical motion makes it possible to tie back wells drilled into the sea floor to production facilities on the surface through a collection of pressure containment apparatuses (e.g., the valves of a well "tree") such that the "christmas tree" is located above the body of water within the dry confines of the platform's well bay. This "dry tree" concept is very attractive for oil field development because it allows direct access to wells for maintenance and workover. As water depth (and thus tendon length) increases, tendons of a given material and cross section become less stiff and less effective for restraining vertical motions. In other words, they become "springy." To maintain acceptable stiffness, the cross sectional area must be increased in proportion to increasing water depth. For installations in very deep water, a tension leg platform must become larger and more complex in order to support a plurality of extremely long and increasingly heavy risers and tension legs and/or the tension legs themselves must incorporate some type of buoyancy to reduce their weight relative to the floating platform. Such considerations add significantly to the cost of a deep water TLP installation. Conoco's Jolliet TLWP (tension leg well platform) in the Gulf of Mexico addresses this problem by limiting payload on the platform and by using large diameter steel pipes that are nearly buoyant as tendons. However, this approach is largely limited to locations that have sites relatively near by for the production equipment.
In the conventional TLP, the risers are connected to the TLP by riser tensions which are expensive, and because they contain various moving parts, are subject to mechanical wear and breakdown. Additionally, the risers constitute "parasitic" weight on the conventional TLP. Particularly, in deep water this increase in weight leads to larger and larger minimum hull displacements. As in air craft and motor vehicle design, there is a multiplying effect. That is, each unit of additional payload weight (or tension) requires additional structural weight to support it which in return requires still more weight or mass of the structure. Thus, any decrease in payload leads to considerable savings in the TLP structure.
Prior art references having particular relevance to the invention at hand include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,111,692 discloses a floating doughnut or torus shaped platform. However, it is not a TLP and does not have risers with top buoyancy in stanchions around the periphery of the moonpool.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,321 is perhaps the closest of the prior art references at hand. It discloses a spar buoy vessel having risers with buoyant means held in a top and bottom frame such that the floater is free to move vertically with respect the risers. The spar buoy configuration is known to be one means of imparting wave transparency to a floater. However, the floater is not a TLP and is free to heave. Furthermore, removing the weight of the risers from the floater does not lead to the large savings of reducing parasitic weight which is effected according to the invention at hand. In other words, only the buoyancy needed to hold up the risers is reduced, not the multiplying effect which results from reducing parasitic weight on a TLP.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,073 discloses a large floater which has wave transparent attributes. It is largely cumulative to U.S. Pat. No. 3,111,692 in exemplifying the state of the art in this regard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,495 supplemented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,673 disclose a constant tension buoy for wellheads in a "moonpool" of a semi-submersible shaped floater moored in a lateral fashion. All of the risers are rigidly connected and integral with the constant tension buoy which functions like a mini TLP in the passageway of the floater involved, a semi-submersible shaped floater in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,495 and a spar buoy shaped floater in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,673. The spar buoy configuration as well as the semi-submersible configuration are known to have wave transparent attributes. In neither of these references is there any suggestion of tethering the floater down to constitute a TLP. These references are also related to the COBRAS concept disclosed in Ocean Industry, March 1976, pages 67-69. In the COBRAS concept, the risers are connected to a riser buoyancy chamber below the platform which functions as a "false seabed" enabling access to the risers from a floater which is moored overhead. The concept of U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,495 is also disclosed in Ocean Industry, April/May 1991, pages 75, 77 in that a wellhead deck is fixed to risers, both it and the risers having buoyancy functioning similar to a TLP inside the "moonpool" of a floater which is moored in place. The floater, however, is not suggested to be tethered down to constitute a TLP.
The searcher in an earlier pre-examination search also cited the following references: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,602,302;. 3,407,768; 3,256,936; 3,327,780; 3,461,828; 3,580,207; 3,952,684; 3,982,401; 4,301,760; 4,352,599; 4,462,717; 4,470,721; 4,630,681; and 4,936,710. These references appear exemplary of the state of the art.
There continues to be a compelling need for improved platforms and drilling systems, particularly those which are less costly and safer for production of hydrocarbons from beneath very deep water, particularly water depths of 500 feet to 8,000 feet and more particularly 1,000 to 4,000 feet. Unless this need is satisfied, only very rich reservoirs will support development at such relatively great depths. Therefore, it is appropriate to examine all aspects of deep water drilling and production systems in order to identify those features which are most sensitive to increasing water depths.
As water depth increases, the risers become naturally longer just as the tendons do, as discussed above. With conventional TLPs, to achieve proper top end support so as to limit riser responses in severe metocean conditions, riser top tension must be increased at a greater rate than the rate by which water depth is increased. Therefore, risers and riser tensions tend to place an ever increasing load on the floating (TLP) structures as they are placed in deeper waters. The invention at hand greatly mitigates the multiplying effect of building larger and larger hulls to support parasitic riser weight by, in effect, making each riser a mini single well TLP and placing it in a horizontal restraint means such as a stanchion in the protected moonpool of a large floating mother TLP, which can also have auxiliary moorings. The solution to a problem faced by the art effected thereby may be more fully understood in accordance with the disclosure of this application which follows:

Floating production and storage facility


Disclosed is an optical recording medium having recording film containing a photochromic material and a binder, in which the photochromic material is acid anhydride of diarylethene derivative and the binder is polycarbonate. Owing to this structure, the optical recording medium can reliably keep information recorded thereon even when the information is repeatedly reproduced.

The present invention relates to optical recording media, and more particularly to optical recording media using a photochromic material for a recording film.
Photochromic materials have been heretofore used for light quantity adjusting filters, displays, actinometers, recording media for photographic printing, paints, etc. in various fields.
Recently, the photochromic materials have been paid much attention also in a field of optical recording media using laser beam because the materials have such a possibility that they are employable as reversible memory media with information of high density.
In the case of the optical recording media using the photochromic materials for the recording film, recording of information on the optical recording media or erasure of information therefrom is generally carried out in the following manner. When the recording film is irradiated with a recording light having a wavelength of for example 420 nm, a coloring reaction takes place in the irradiated area to form a colored spot recorded with information. When the colored spot recorded with information is irradiated with an erasing light having a wavelength of 550 nm, this spot is decolored to erase a pit recorded with information.
However, if the light having a wavelength of 420 nm is used for reproducing (reading out) information from the recording medium, the colored pit area still remains in the colored state, but other area than the colored pit area is also colored. As a result, all area is colored and the recorded area cannot be distinguished from the non-recorded area. That is, information recorded on the medium is erased. In contrast thereto, if the light having a wavelength of 550 nm is used for reading out information, the pit recorded with information is decolored, and as a result, the recorded information is erased. Accordingly, the most serious problem in the optical recording media using a photochromic material is that information recorded on the media cannot be repeatedly reproduced (read out).
To solve the above problem, a method of reproducing the recorded information using a mixed light consisting of the light having a wavelength of 420 nm (referred to simply as "420 nm light" hereinafter) and the light having a wavelength of 550 nm (referred to simply as "550 nm light" hereinafter) has been proposed. This method is briefly described below.
(1) In the reproduction of the recorded information, when the recorded area is irradiated with the mixed light of the 420 nm light and the 550 nm light, the recorded area tries to absorb the 550 nm light to decolor the area. At this time, the recording material generates heat, and thus generated heat accelerates a coloring reaction brought about by the 420 nm light to keep the area in the colored state.
(2) When the non-recorded area is irradiated with the mixed light of the 420 nm light and the 550 nm light, heat is not generated because the area does not absorb the 550 nm light. Even if the area absorbs the 420 nm light and is colored, the degree of the coloring reaction is slight, and the slightly colored this area is rapidly erased by the 550 nm light. Therefore, the non-recorded area can be kept in the same state.
However, a problem still resides even if the above-mentioned known method is used. That is, a composition of the recording film which is conventionally known causes a coloring reaction in the non-recorded area when the non-recorded area is subjected to reproduction operation with the mixed light, though the level of the coloring reaction in the non-recorded area is very slight as compared with that in the recorded area. This slight coloring induces serious coloring of the non-recorded area. That is, if reproduction operation is repeatedly carried out, the non-recorded area absorbs the 550 nm light to raise the temperature of the area. As a result, the non-recorded area is colored so that the non-recorded area is hardly distinguished from the recorded area.

Optical recording medium and method of reproducing information record on the optical recording medium


A wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel is formed as a unit of a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing has an outer member with a body mounting flange mounted on a knuckle and double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes the wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub has an inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces. The outer joint member has another inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in an annular space opening formed between the outer member and the inner member. A sensor is fit into a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member. It opposes the sensor via a predetermined radial gap. The outer diameter of the pulser ring is smaller than the inner diameter of the knuckle.

Wheel bearing apparatus is known that supports a vehicle wheel relative to a suspension apparatus. The wheel bearing apparatus includes a wheel speed detecting apparatus to detect a rotational speed of a wheel to detect the wheel speed to control the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Such a bearing apparatus generally has a wheel speed detecting apparatus with a magnetic encoder. The encoder has magnetic poles alternately arranged along its circumferential direction integrated in a sealing apparatus arranged between inner and outer members that contain rolling elements (balls or rollers). A wheel speed detecting sensor detects variations in the magnetic poles of the magnetic encoder according to the rotation of the wheel.
FIG. 5 is a representative example of such a wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel. The wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member 51. It is integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a body (vehicle body) mounting flange 51b to be mounted on a knuckle (not shown). Its inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces 51a and 51a. An inner member 56 has a wheel hub 52 and an outer joint member 55 of a constant velocity universal joint 61. The wheel hub 52 has a wheel mounting flange 53 integrally formed at one end. A plurality of hub bolts 54, to secure a wheel (not shown), is mounted equidistantly along the flange periphery. The outer circumference of the wheel hub 52 includes an inner raceway surface 52a corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces 51a and 51a. A cylindrical portion 52b axially extends from the inner raceway surface 52a. The outer joint member 55 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 52b of the wheel hub 52. The outer circumference of the outer joint member 55 includes another inner raceway surface 55a corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces 51a and 51a.
Double row rolling elements (balls) 57, held by cages 58, are rollably arranged between the outer raceway surfaces 51a and 51a and inner raceway surfaces 52a and 55a. In addition, seals 59 and 60 are mounted in opening portions of an annular space formed between the outer member 51 and the inner member 56 to prevent leakage of lubricating grease contained within the bearing. The seals 59, 60 prevent rain water or dusts from the outside entering into the bearing.
The outer joint member 55 forms part of the constant velocity universal joint 61. It includes a cup shaped mouth portion 62, a shoulder portion 63, forming the bottom of the mouth portion 62, and a hollow shaft portion 64 that axially extends from the shoulder portion 63. The shaft portion 64 has a spigot portion 64a fit into the cylindrical portion 52b of the wheel hub 52 and a fitting portion 64b at the end of the spigot portion 64a.
An inner circumferential surface of the wheel hub 52 has a hardened irregular portion 65. The shaft portion 64 of the outer joint member 55 is fit into the wheel hub 52. The wheel hub 52 and the outer joint member 55 are integrally connected to each other via plastic deformation. The fitting portion 64b of the shaft portion 64 is expanded radially outward forcing the material of the fitting portion 64b to bite into the hardened irregular portion 65.
The seal 60, arranged at a side of the outer joint member 55, has a cover 66 and a sealing member 67. The cover 66 is generally formed by pressing a steel sheet of SPCC etc. in an annular configuration with a crank shaped cross-section. That is, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 6, the cover 66 has a cylindrical portion 66a of larger diameter and a cylindrical portion 66b of smaller diameter. It is fit onto the end 51c of the outer member 51 abutted against the end of the outer member 51.
An outer diameter d1 of the cylindrical portion of larger diameter is set so that it is smaller than an outer diameter D1 of the end portion 51c of the outer member 51 (d1<D1). This enables an inner circumferential edge of the knuckle to be prevented from interfering with the cylindrical portion 66a, of larger diameter, during insertion of the knuckle onto the end portion 51c of the outer member 51.
The sealing member 67 is generally formed of rubber in an annular configuration. It is secured on the cylindrical portion 66b of smaller diameter. Tip ends of a plurality of sealing lips 67a, 67b and 67c are adapted to slidably contact with a cylindrical surface 63a. A stepped surface 63b is formed on a shoulder of the outer joint member 55.
A second cylindrical surface 63c with a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical surface 63a is formed between the inner raceway surface 55a of the outer joint member 55 and the cylindrical surface 63a. A cylindrical encoder 68 is secured on the second cylindrical surface 63c. The encoder 68 is made of rubber magnetic material with magnetic poles N and S alternately arranged along its circumferential direction. An outer diameter d2 of the encoder 68 is set so that it is smaller than D2 of the cylindrical surface 63a (d2<D2). This enables the encoder 68 to be prevented from interfering with the inner circumferential edge of the sealing member 67 during insertion of the outer joint member 55 into the outer member 51.
A sensor 69 is supported on the cover 66. A flat portion 70 extends along an axial direction of the cover 66. It is formed on the cover at a portion along the circumferential direction of the smaller cylindrical portion 66b of the cover. A radially extending through aperture 70a is formed in the flat portion 70 to mount the sensor 69.
The sensor 69 has a rod shaped inserting portion 69a formed of synthetic resin and a mounting flange 69b arranged at the base end of the inserting portion 69a. A detecting portion is embedded in the tip end of the inserting portion 69a. A wire harness 71, having sufficient flexibility, extends from the base end of the sensor 69.
The inserting portion 69a of the sensor 69 is inserted radially, from outside the cover 66, into the inside of the cover 66 through the mounting aperture 70a. The under side of the mounting flange 69b abuts against the flat portion 70. Under such a condition, the sensor 69 is secured on the cover 66 by a fastening mechanism such as screws. The wheel speed detecting apparatus can be completed by arranging the tip end portion of the inserting portion 69a so that it radially opposes the outer circumferential surface of the encoder 68.
Dimensions of portions relating to the sensor 69 are limited so that the base end portion of the wire harness 71 (shown by a two-dot chain line) does not project radially outward under a condition where the base end portion of the wire harness 71 contacts with the base end surface of the sensor 69. In addition, the position of the sensor 69 can be arranged nearer to the axis of the encoder 68. This reduces the dimension of the outer diameter of the encoder 68. Simultaneously, the dimension of the outer diameter of the cover 66 supporting the sensor 69 can also be reduced.
Accordingly, portions of the seal 60 that include the encoder 68 and the sensor 69 as well as the cover 66 are arranged within a recessed portion opened radially outward between the outer member 51 and the outer joint member 55. Thus, it is possible to detect the rotation of the wheel with high reliability and to reduce the size of the wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel having the encoder 68 and the sensor 69 (see Japanese Laid-open Patent publication No. 140146/2005).
In the prior art driving wheel bearing apparatus, the dimension of each portion of the wire harness 71 is limited so that the base end portion of the harness 71 does not project radially outward beyond the end portion 51c of the outer member 51. However, since the wire harness 71 of the sensor 69 sometimes interferes with assembly of the wheel bearing apparatus, it is necessary to insert the outer member 51 into the knuckle with the wire harness 71 being folded. However, this makes the assembly of the wheel bearing apparatus troublesome and thus increases the assembling steps.
In addition, since it is impossible to assemble the wheel bearing apparatus due to interference of the outer joint member 55 with the knuckle after a united connection of the wheel hub 52 and the outer joint member 55, via plastic deformation, it is necessary to previously secure the outer member 51 to the knuckle before the uniting connection of the wheel hub 52 and the outer joint member 55, via plastic deformation. This further complicates the assembly of the wheel bearing apparatus. In addition, this makes it impossible to adopt a system of supplying to an automobile manufacturer with the wheel bearing apparatus as a so-called axle module (a unit of the wheel bearing apparatus, a drive shaft and a constant velocity universal joint at a side of a differential unit (not shown)). Thus, the automobile manufacturer cannot assemble the axle module to the knuckle.
It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure to provide a wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel that improves the workability during assembly by supplying an axle module to an automobile manufacturer.
To achieve the above mentioned object, a wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel is provided. It is formed as a unit of a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing includes an outer member integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a body mounting flange. The body mounting flange is mounted on a knuckle. The inner circumference of the outer member includes double row outer raceway surfaces. Inner members include a wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub has a wheel mounting flange integrally formed at one end. A cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mount flange. The outer circumference of the cylindrical portion has an inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces. The outer joint member is formed, on its outer circumference, with another inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces. A hollow shaft portion axially extends from the another inner raceway surface. It is inserted into the wheel hub. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in opening portions of an annular space formed between the outer member and the inner member at its opposite ends. The wheel hub and the outer joint member are integrally connected via plastic deformation. It plastically deforms the shaft portion to caulk it onto the wheel hub. A sensor is radially passed and fit into a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member. The pulser ring opposes the sensor, via a predetermined radial gap. The outer diameter of the pulser ring is smaller than the inner diameter of the knuckle.
The fourth generation type wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel has the wheel hub and the outer joint member united via plastic deformation. A sensor is radially passed and fit into a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member. It opposes the sensor via a predetermined radial gap. The outer diameter of the pulser ring is smaller than the inner diameter of the knuckle. This wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel eliminates troublesome work and improves the workability during assembly. It enables supply, to an automobile manufacturer, of a wheel bearing apparatus as a so-called axle module (a united wheel bearing apparatus, a drive shaft and a constant velocity universal joint at a side of a differential unit). This enables the automobile manufacturer to assemble the axle module to the knuckle.
The pulser ring has an annular supporting member formed by pressing a steel sheet and a magnetic encoder bonded on the annular supporting member. The encoder is formed by an elastomer that is mingled with magnetic powder. It has magnetic poles S, N alternately arranged along its circumferential direction. This makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost, weight and size of the wheel bearing apparatus.
The annular supporting member is formed by pressing a stainless steel sheet or a preserved cold rolled sheet. This makes it possible to prevent the generation of rust for a long term. Thus, this improves the durability of the wheel bearing apparatus.
A seal is mounted in an annular space opening formed between the outer member and the outer joint member at its inner side ends. The seal includes an annular sealing plate and a slinger. Each has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and is arranged opposite to each other. The annular supporting member is formed integrally with the slinger. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and steps of assembly. Thus, this further improves the workability during assembly.
The sensor is fit in the mounting aperture of the knuckle so that it does not extend beyond the inner diameter of the knuckle. It is retracted from the inner diameter by a predetermined gap. This makes it possible to prevent the magnetic encoder and sensor from being damaged by interference during assembly of the wheel bearing assembly.
The wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel is formed as a unit of a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing has an outer member integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a body mounting flange. The flange is mounted on a knuckle. The outer member inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member has the wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub has a wheel mounting flange integrally formed at one end. A cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mounting flange. The outer circumference of the cylindrical portion includes an inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces. The outer joint member has, on its outer circumference, the other inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces. A hollow shaft portion axially extends from the other inner raceway surface and is inserted into the wheel hub. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in an annular space opening formed between the outer member and the inner member at their opposite ends. The wheel hub and the outer joint member are integrally connected via plastic deformation. The plastic deformation of the shaft portion caulks it onto the wheel hub. A sensor is radially passed and fit in a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member. It opposes the sensor via a predetermined radial gap. The outer diameter of the pulser ring is smaller than the inner diameter of the knuckle. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel that eliminates troublesome work, improves workability during assembly, and supplies a so-called axle module to an automobile manufacturer. This enables the automobile manufacturer to assemble the axle module to the knuckle.
A wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel is formed as a unit with a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing includes an outer member integrally formed, on its outer circumference, with a body mounting flange. The flange is mounted on a knuckle. The outer member inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes a wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub has a wheel mounting flange integrally formed at one end. A cylindrical portion axially extends from the wheel mount flange. The outer circumference of the cylindrical portion includes an inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces. The outer joint member is formed, on its outer circumference, with another inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces. A hollow shaft portion axially extends from the other inner raceway surface and is inserted into the wheel hub. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in an annular space opening formed between the outer member and the inner member at opposite ends. The wheel hub and the outer joint member are integrally connected via plastic deformation. Plastic deformation of the shaft portion caulks it onto the wheel hub. A sensor is radially passed and fit into a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member. It opposes the sensor via a predetermined radial gap. The pulser ring includes an annular supporting member formed by pressing a steel sheet. A magnetic encoder is bonded on the annular supporting member. The encoder is formed by an elastomer that is mingled with magnetic powder. It has magnetic poles S, N alternately arranged along its circumferential direction. The outer diameter of the pulser ring is smaller than the inner diameter of the knuckle.

Wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel


A liquid crystal display includes a timing controller to activate a dynamic charge share control signal to indicate a time at which the gray level of the data voltage is changed from a white gray level to a black gray level and a time at which the polarity of the data voltage is inverted, and to activate a dot inversion control signal for widening a horizontal polarity inversion period of data voltages to be supplied to the data lines when a weakness patterns are input, and a data driving circuit supplying one of a common voltage and a charge share voltage to data lines only when the gray level of data is changed from the white gray level to the black gray level and when the polarity of the data voltage in response to the dynamic charge share control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof adapted to reduce the generation of heat and power consumption of a data driving circuit and to prevent the deterioration of the picture quality in the data of weakness patterns.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display displays images by controlling the light transmittance of liquid crystal cells in response to a video signal. A liquid crystal display of an active matrix type actively controls data by switching a data voltage applied to the liquid crystal cells using a thin film transistor (TFT) formed at every liquid crystal cell Clc, as illustrated in FIG. 1, thereby improving the picture quality of a motion image. As shown in FIG. 1, reference label "Cst" denotes a storage capacitor for sustaining the data voltage charged to the liquid crystal cell "Clc," "D1" denotes a data line through which the data voltage is supplied, and "G1" denotes a gate line through which a scan voltage is supplied.
The liquid crystal display is driven according to an inversion method in which a polarity is inverted between neighboring liquid crystal cells. The polarity is inverted whenever a frame period is shifted in order to reduce a direct current (DC) offset component and the degradation of liquid crystals. However, the swing width of the data voltage, which is supplied to the data lines whenever the polarity of the data voltage is shifted, is increased, thereby generating a great amount of current in a data driving circuit. Thus, problems of rising temperature due to increase in heat generation and power consumption of the data driving circuit increases sharply.
In order to reduce the swing width of the data voltage supplied to the data lines, thereby reducing the heat generated temperature and power consumption of the data driving circuit, a charge sharing circuit or a precharge circuit is adopted in the data driving circuit. However, the effects of these circuits do not provide a satisfactory result.
Further, if the polarity of the data voltage is driven according the inversion method, the charging amount of a liquid crystal cell charged by the data voltage of a positive polarity is different from that of a liquid crystal cell charged by the data voltage of a negative polarity. Thus, there is a problem in that the picture quality is degraded.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, assuming that a liquid crystal cell is charged by the data voltage of a positive polarity and then by the data voltage of a negative polarity for representing the same gray level as that of the data voltage of the positive polarity, the liquid crystal cell maintains a voltage Vp(+) whose absolute value voltage may be lowered by as much as ΔVp due to parasitic capacitance of the TFT after being charged by the data voltage of the positive polarity. Then, the liquid crystal cell maintains voltage Vp(−) whose absolute value voltage may be increased by as much as ΔVp due to parasitic capacitance of the TFT after being charged by the data voltage of the negative polarity.
Accordingly, a liquid crystal cell of a normally black mode liquid crystal display has light transmitted therethrough with a higher light transmittance when being charged by the data voltage of a negative polarity for representing the same gray level as that of the data voltage of a positive polarity than that of the data voltage of the positive polarity. In the normally black mode, the higher the voltage charged in a liquid crystal cell, the higher the light transmittance of the liquid crystal cell.
Further, a liquid crystal cell of a normally white mode liquid crystal display has light transmitted therethrough with a lower light transmittance when being charged by the data voltage of a negative polarity for representing the same gray level as that of the data voltage of a positive polarity than that of the data voltage of the positive polarity. In the normally white mode, the higher the voltage charged in a liquid crystal cell, the lower the light transmittance of the liquid crystal cell.
In addition, a liquid crystal display has a low picture quality in the data pattern of a specific picture according to a correlation between the polarity pattern of a data voltage applied to the liquid crystal cells and the gray levels of data. Representative factors that degrade the picture quality include a phenomenon in which a greenish tint is generated in a display screen, and flicker is generated in which the luminance of a screen is shifted periodically.
For example, greenish tint may be generated in a display image when a liquid crystal display is driven according a vertical 2-dot and horizontal 1-dot inversion method (V2H1) in which the polarity of a data voltage applied to the liquid crystal cells every vertical 2-dot (or 2 liquid crystal cells) is inverted, and the polarity of a data voltage applied to liquid crystal cells every horizontal 1-dot (or 1 liquid crystal cell) is inverted. In addition, the gray levels of data supplied to odd pixels are white gray levels and the gray levels of data supplied to even pixels are black gray levels within a 1 frame period, as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, in the first, second, fifth, and sixth lines L1, L2, L5, and L6, the data voltage of all green (G) data, which have the greatest influence on the luminance, of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) data, have a negative polarity. Therefore, greenish tint is generated in the first, second, fifth, and sixth lines L1, L2, L5, and L6. This greenish phenomenon is generated because the green (G) data is biased toward any one polarity.
Another example of this greenish phenomenon is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, greenish tint is generated in a display image when a liquid crystal display is driven according to a vertical 2-dot and horizontal 1-dot inversion method (V2H1), and the gray levels of data supplied to odd subpixels are white gray levels and the gray levels of data supplied to even subpixels are black gray levels.
When a liquid crystal display is driven according to a vertical 1-dot and horizontal 1-dot inversion method (V1H1) in which the polarity of a data voltage is inverted every vertical 1-dot and horizontal 1-dot so that the polarities of data voltages applied to adjacent liquid crystal cells in vertical and horizontal directions are inverted. For the data voltages that include a data voltage of white gray level and a data voltage of black gray level alternately disposed every 1 subpixel within a one frame period as shown in FIG. 5, a flicker phenomenon in which the luminance of a display image is shifted every frame period is generated. In other words, all the data voltages of white gray levels have a positive polarity and all the data voltages of white gray levels in a next frame have a positive polarity within 1 frame period. Consequently, the luminance of a display image is shifted every frame period causing flicker.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof


Signaling between two or more ICs use a signaling scheme wherein a reference signal is generated at the driver side and the receiver side. The driver side reference signal is coupled to the receiver side reference signal with a transmission line channel forming a reference channel. Data signal channels are paired with a reference channel between each two adjacent data channels. Adjacent pairs of data signal channels are each separated with an empty wiring channel. The paired data signals are received in one input of a differential receiver. The reference signal of the reference channel between the two paired data channels is coupled to the other input of the two differential receivers. Coupling from the paired data channels to the reference channel appears a common mode noise and is rejected by the differential receivers. The number of channels is reduced from a full differential signaling scheme.

Digital computer systems have a history of continually increasing the speed of the processors used in the system. As computer systems have migrated towards multiprocessor systems, sharing information between processors and memory systems has also generated a requirement for increased speed for the off-chip communication networks. Designers usually have more control over on-chip communication paths than for off-chip communication paths. Off-chip communication paths are longer, have higher noise, impedance mismatches, and have more discontinuities than on-chip communication paths. Since off-chip communication paths are of lower impedance, they require more current and thus more power to drive.
When using inter-chip high-speed signaling, noise and coupling between signal lines (cross talk) affects signal quality. One way to alleviate the detrimental effects of noise and coupling is through the use of differential signaling. Differential signaling comprises sending a signal and its compliment to a differential receiver. In this manner, noise and coupling affect both the signal and the compliment equally. The differential receiver only senses the difference between the signal and its compliment as the noise and coupling represent common mode signals. Therefore, differential signaling is resistant to the effects that noise and cross talk have on signal quality. On the negative side, differential signaling increases pin count by a factor of two for each data line. Additionally, an empty wiring channel is usually added between each differential channel which further adds to the wiring inefficiency.
The logic levels of driver side signals are determined by the positive and ground voltage potentials of the driver power supply. If the driver power supply has voltage variations that are unregulated, then the logic one and logic zero levels of the driver side signals will undergo similar variations. If the receiver is substantially remote from the driver such that its power supply voltage may undergo different variations from the driver side power supply, then additional variations will be added to any signal received in a receiver side terminator (e.g., Thevenin's network). A Thevenin's network is the equivalent circuit of a network between two terminals consisting of the open circuit Thevenin's voltage, measured at across the two terminals, in series with the Thevenin's impedance. The Thevenin's impedance is determined as the impedance between the two terminals with all voltage sources replaced with short circuits and all current sources replaced with open circuits. These power supply variations will reduce noise margins if the reference has variations different from those on the received signals caused by the driver and receiver side power supply variations. Also cross-talk between adjacent channels may lead to reduce "eye" patterns defining detection margins for signal transitions.
There is, therefore, a need for a signaling scheme that generates a reference wherein receiver side and driver side power supply noise is common mode, wiring channels are reduced, and differential receivers may be employed to reject common mode noise from power supplies and from cross-talk coupling between adjacent data channels.

Reduced cross-talk signaling circuit and method

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for managing testing of test material is disclosed. An electronic traveler associated with the test material is identified. The test materials are tested as specified by the electronic traveler. Test results from the tests are recorded onto the electronic traveler.

Production flows used for testing dies on wafer lots typically require several thousands of test procedures to be performed on each of the dies by a plurality of multi-function test equipment. Each piece of test equipment may be capable of running a number of test procedures that may be applicable to certain types of materials. Test equipment operators who receive wafer lots on the production floor are required to manually input data associated with the wafer lots, and select specific tests to run on the wafer lots. After the tests are run, the test equipment operator would be required to manually record the test results. The test equipment operator may also be required to determine a next course of action to take in response to the test results.
In the past, a physical document was typically used to convey information to the test equipment operator regarding a wafer lot to be tested on the production floor such as the lot identifier and specific test programs to be run. This physical document was also used to record test results and often included rules to be applied to determine how to further process the wafer lot. However, since the information on the physical document had to be processed by the test operators, many of the errors associated with testing materials such as wafer lots on the production floor could be attributed to human error in interpreting information from the physical document or entering data onto the physical document. In addition, the use of the physical document proved to be inefficient for tracking the wafer lot on the production floor and tracking the document itself.
Thus, what is needed is an effective and efficient method and apparatus for managing testing in a production flow that reduces the problems associated with requiring human operators to retrieve, interpret, and enter information on a physical document.

Method and apparatus for managing testing in a production flow


The disclosure provides a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) control device, system and method. The RFID control device includes a base station controller (40). The base station controller (40) includes a base service module (402), a peripheral service module (401) and a control logic module (403), wherein the base service module (402) controls a base service device (50) and reports a control result information; the peripheral service module (401) controls a peripheral equipment (80) and reports a control result information; and the control logic module (403) receives the control result information reported by the base service module (402) and the peripheral service module (401), controls the base service device (50) through the base service module (402) and controls the peripheral equipment (80) through the peripheral service module (401) according to a control logic rule. When a use scene is changed, only the control logic rule of the control logic module (403) needs to be overwritten.

RFID system is a non-contact automatic identification technology, including an electronic tag and a reader; the RFID technology identifies a target object automatically through a radio frequency signal and acquires related data; and the identification operation needs no manual intervention and is applicable to various severe environments. The RFID technology can identify high-speed moving objects and can identify a plurality of electronic tags simultaneously, with a fast and convenient operation.
RFID control system generally consists of an electronic tag (radio frequency electronic tag) and a reader. A certain format of electronic data is stored in the electronic tag to serve as the identification information of a to-be-identified object. Generally, the reader sends a command to the electronic tag, the electronic tag transmits the stored identification data back to the reader according to the received command of the reader. This type of communication is implemented in a non-contact mode by utilizing the space coupling of alternating magnetic field or electromagnetic field and by utilizing the modulation and demodulation techniques of radio frequency signal; that is to say, the reader sends an air interface command to the electronic tag and the electronic tag responds to the command of the reader, thereby implementing the communication between the reader and the electronic tag.
The control rule and program of an existing RFID control system are fixed and cannot be overwritten, which can be applied to one scene only; for example, the control rule order of a certain scene is fixed as: Detecting, Authenticating, LED Displaying and Barrier Opening; then the control rule order cannot be changed to be: Detecting, Authenticating, Barrier Opening and LED Displaying. If the control rule order needs to be modified, the code must be overwritten by manufacturers only; so the operation complexity is increased and inflexibility is caused.
In addition, in the existing RFID control system, several peripheral equipments are generally controlled by a single base station controller; in this way, each base station controller needs to lead out many peripheral interfaces; then, maintenance and moving are very inconvenient.
Therefore, how to implement, by the RFID control system, the flexible control on peripheral equipment, the reduction of complexity and the applicability to the usage in various scenes is the technical problem needed to be solved in the industry.

Radio frequency identification control device, system and method