A method of detecting lint in a clothes dryer is disclosed. Light is directed through a surface within the clothes dryer, the light being emitted by a light source. The light is received at a photocell if the light is reflected off the surface when lint covers the surface. An indication is provided that lint is present within the clothes dryer if light is received at the photocell. Furthermore, a voltage level detector is positioned within the lint detector and determined if a threshold amount of light is received. In another aspect, if the threshold amount of light is received a warning light, an audio speaker, or an electrical output can be activated. Likewise, the clothes dryer can be automatically shut down. In another aspect, the photocell is a phototransistor. In another aspect, the photocell is a photoresistor.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure generally relates to safety mechanisms for household appliances and other electrical devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to safety methods that detect the presence of lint in clothes dryers.
2. General Background
A clothes dryer inevitably produces particles of lint and fibers that accumulate in many areas of the clothes dryer. A lint filter positioned in the air vent within the clothes dryer captures a quantity of these lint particles. However, some lint unavoidably permeates the lint filter to unreachable areas of the clothes dryer and accumulates with the passage of time. Lint can also permeate crevasses between the chamber and the housing of the clothes dryer.
Unbeknownst to many users, the accumulation of lint in clothes dryers poses a serious fire hazard. Common fire hazards in clothes dryers are generally caused by the accumulation of lint in the exhaust duct or filter or accumulation of lint in the vicinity of the heating element. Because lint is highly flammable, proximity to the motor or the heating element of a clothes dryer can ignite the lint very rapidly and propagate the fire to the rest of the premises. Fires initiated by lint accumulation have caused hundreds of injuries and many human fatalities. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an estimated annual 15,500 fires, 310 injuries, and 10 deaths associated with clothes dryers.
Unfortunately, the lint fire hazard has been exacerbated by other factors. Users of clothes dryers tend to leave the appliance turned on when they leave the house. Further, poor filter maintenance may increase the presence of lint within the clothes dryer. Even when lint filters are cleaned, sometimes lint particles are airborne and later settle in other areas of the clothes dryer.


A device and method for dynamically adapting spatial resolution for imager Fourier transform spectrometers makes it possible to acquire data in interferogram mode and image mode on survey points for an observed scene, each survey point being associated a matrix of macro-pixels and defined by a plurality of zones. For each survey point, analysis of the content of each zone is carried out on the basis of data of the image mode. Classification into clear zone or non-clear zone is carried out as a function of proportion of cloud, and clear-pixel data are generated on the basis of the sum of the data of the macro-pixels of the clear zone class. Survey point data are generated on the basis of the sum of the data of all the macro-pixels of the matrix associated with the survey point. The survey point and clear pixel data streams are transmitted to the ground.

A Fourier transform spectrometer, commonly designated by the initials "FTS", is an instrument observing a scene with a relatively low spatial resolution—that is to say size of survey point—and a very fine spectral resolution. It is typically coupled to a so-called "imager" device, working in spectral broadband, whose spatial resolution is finer. The aim of coupling the FTS with an imager is to improve FTS instrument data geo-location.
By way of example, in a meteorological observation satellite, the Fourier transform spectrometer makes it possible to observe the spectrum of the light in the infrared/near infrared region, and its spatial resolution may be of the order of 10 to 20 kilometers. The Fourier transform spectrometer is coupled with an imager of finer resolution, of the order of a kilometer.
Known Fourier transform spectrometers comprise an analogue detector disposed in a pupil plane. More recent Fourier transform spectrometers—called imager FTSs—comprise, as replacement for the analogue detector, a matrix detector placed in an image plane which decomposes a survey point—representing the final resolution of the instrument—into elementary pixels. This decomposition makes it possible notably to perform digital compensation for the field effect or "self-apodization", or else to employ, in addition to the "FTS mode", an image mode, that is to say a mode making it possible to image the field of view of a survey point with a fine spatial resolution. This image mode can replace the "imager instrument". The physical pixels forming such a matrix are typically produced by the technology commonly designated by the initials CMOS corresponding to the conventional terminology "Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor", or CCD technology corresponding to the conventional terminology "Charge-Coupled Device". In order to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio, the reading of the detector is performed with spatial resolutions that vary according to the mode. Hereafter, the term "macro-pixel" designates the "digital" resolution of the Fourier transform spectrometer in the "FTS mode", and the term "super-pixel" designates the "digital" resolution in the image mode. A super-pixel can be formed by a physical pixel of the detection matrix, or else by a grouping of physical pixels, for example of 2×2 or 3×3 pixels, according to the spatial resolution requirement needed for the image mode. A macro-pixel defining the spatial resolution of the FTS mode is in practice formed by a plurality of physical pixels of the detection matrix, for example disposed according to an alignment in one or more rows or in one or more columns of physical pixels of the matrix, in the direction of the interferometric fringes so as to preserve a contrast on the modulated signal which is sufficient (>40%) within each macro-pixel.
The data acquisition time, called the "exposure time", is decomposed, for spectrometers of imager FTS type, into a time which comprises an acquisition phase in FTS mode and an acquisition phase in image mode, the FTS mode acquisition phase covering of the order of 98% of the exposure time.
The FTS data are essentially used to study/monitor the composition of the atmosphere. Now, utilization of the data with this objective is possible only in a clear scene, that is to say for a cloudless observed scene. A scene considered clear typically contains less than 5% of cloud of the surface area of the survey point. Thus, if a survey point contains a proportion of clouds which is greater than a threshold value of the order of 5%, the data can hardly be utilized by the scientific community. Statistically only a low proportion of the acquired data is in a clear scene (<20%).
The requirement therefore exists for a solution which alleviates these drawbacks. The present invention is aimed at remedying the existing limitations by proposing a novel system for dynamic adaptation of spatial resolution for spectrometers.

Device and method for dynamic adaptation of spatial resolution for imager fourier transform spectrometers


A method for fabricating a silicon-doped or boron-doped aluminum electrode is revealed. Aluminum target or aluminum paste prepared by selectively doped with silicon and/or boron is arranged at a silicon wafer with a passivation layer by physical deposition or screen printing. Then the doped aluminum layer is melted in linear or dot pattern to pass through the passivation layer and contact with the silicon wafer. Thus contact resistance between an aluminum back electrode and the silicon wafer of crystalline silicon solar cells is reduced and acceptor concentration on a surface layer of the silicon wafer is increased. Therefore the process speed is faster and the energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell is improved.

1. Fields of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating an aluminum electrode, especially to a method for fabricating a silicon-doped or boron-doped aluminum electrode of a solar cell that is in local contact with a silicon wafer.
2. Descriptions of Related Art
Solar power is among one of the most prosperous renewable energy and solar cell related research has received considerable attention. Solar cells directly convert light energy into electricity by the photovoltaic effect without emission of greenhouse gases and pollutant gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, etc. Thus solar energy becomes a promising alternative source as energy resources are gradually being exhausted and the cost of energy is increasing.
However, for long-term and wider applications of solar cells, there are still many technical problems need to be overcome. The unsolved problems of solar cells include stability, lifetime, cost, etc.
Take a crystalline silicon solar cell as an example, surface passivation of the silicon wafer is crucial. Silicon atoms on surface of the silicon wafer have many dangling bonds that promote recombination of carriers. An increase in surface recombination reduces the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Thus a layer of passivation material is deposited on surface of the crystalline silicon solar cell to form a passivation layer. Thereby surface defects are reduced to ensure minimal surface recombination losses and further improve energy conversion efficiency. Yet most of the passivation layer is made from insulating dielectric material. While producing contact electrodes, a metal layer covered over surface of the passivation layer is processed to pass through the passivation layer and have ohmic contact with silicon wafer. Thus a circuit is formed.
There are three methods commonly used now. The first method is using photolithography to form openings on the passivation layer. Then an aluminum electrode is deposited by screen printing or application of aluminum paste. This is the most mature method now but the processes are complicated and mostly used in laboratories, not suitable for mass production.
The second method is laser ablation. There are multiple openings formed by using a laser beam to irradiate the passivation layer and then deposit an aluminum electrode or screen print aluminum paste. Yet the method is easy to form holes between aluminum and silicon and this affects electrode contact performance. Moreover, in order to prevent damages to the silicon wafer, the opening formation process usually uses laser with extremely short wavelength such as excimer laser that produces energy in the ultraviolet spectrum. Within the range of such short wavelength, the laser power is low and the cost is quite high.
The third is to deposit the aluminum layer over the passivation layer by laser firing contact. Then both the aluminum layer and the passivation layer are penetrated by a laser beam at the same time to form ohmic contact between aluminum and silicon. The method has two shortcomings. (1) The electrode contact of aluminum silicon alloy is obtained by high temperature of the laser. Besides the speed problem, the laser processing also causes damages to the silicon wafer around the processed area of the silicon wafer. (2) The surface electric field is difficult to form around the aluminum electrode due to low aluminum solid solubility in silicon. Thus carrier recombination near the aluminum electrode is unable to be reduced efficiently and the conversion efficiency of the cell is further affected.
There is room for improvement and a need to provide a novel method for fabricating an aluminum electrode that achieves a good balance between the cost and the performance.

Method for fabricating silicon-doped or boron-doped aluminum electrode

Atomic Energy Council-Institute of Nuclear Energy Research


The intake manifold includes a mounting flange formed as a forged or cast member and having a fuel injection valve-mounting portion provided on the mounting flange. Branch pipes are formed from iron series-containing pipe members, and are joined to the mounting flange. A plurality of mounting bosses can also be formed on the mounting flange to support a stiffener connected to a surge tank.

In conventional vehicle engines, there is provided an intake manifold for introduction of intake air, which intake manifold has a mounting flange mounted on a cylinder head, a plurality of branch pipes successively arranged along the mounting flange, and a surge tank to which the branch pipes are connected.
More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an engine 102 has intake ports 106 formed in a cylinder head 104. An intake manifold 108 has branch pipes 110 which respectively communicate with the intake ports 106. In addition, the intake manifold 108 has a mounting flange 112 mountable on the cylinder head 104 at a side portion thereof, which mounting flange 112 is a metal, plate-like member. In this case, since the mounting flange 112 is formed of a metal plate, a fuel injection valve-mounting portion 114 is provided on the cylinder head 104. A fuel injection valve 116 is mounted on the mounting portion 114.
In general, the intake manifold is entirely formed either by a light alloy casting, such as an aluminum alloy, or by resin. When fabricated as a light alloy casting, a greater degree of freedom is present in shaping the intake manifold. However, an air passage (an air-fuel mixture passage) inside each of the branch pipes includes a coarser or rougher inner surface. This results in increased air flow resistance.
When formed by resin, then the intake manifold is lighter in weight and a greater degree of freedom is present in shaping the manifold. Further, the air passage has a smoother inner surface formed inside the branch pipe, and thus exhibits less ventilation or flow resistance. However, there is another inconvenience in that the strength/rigidity of the intake manifold is difficult to insure.
Further, there is also a known type of intake manifold formed by a combination of several individual members, in which the branch pipes are formed by iron series-containing pipe members, while the mounting flange is formed by an iron series-containing plate member (made of the plate metal).
When the branch pipes and the mounting flange are formed as individual members, the air passage inside each of the branch pipes has a smoother inner surface and thus ventilation resistance is reduced. Further, the intake manifold includes fewer worked portions. In addition, the intake manifold is less expensive. However, the intake manifold in this case has an inconvenience of having a lesser degree of freedom in the shaping thereof.
When the branch pipes and the mounting flange are formed by individual aluminum series-containing pipe members and an aluminum series-containing forged member, then the air passage inside each of the branch pipes has a smoother inner surface, and thus exhibits reduced ventilation resistance. However, the intake manifold in this case has yet another inconvenience of increased cost.
Examples of the above-discussed types of intake manifolds are disclosed in, e.g., published Japanese Examined Patent Application Nos. 7-45853 (1995) and 6-5061 (1994), and in published Japanese Patent No. 2539226 (1996). The intake manifold according to Japanese Patent Application No. 7-45853 includes a main pipe and a plurality of branch pipes. More specifically, the main pipe is open at one end, but is closed at the other end. In addition, the main pipe has a plurality of holes formed in a peripheral wall thereof. Further, an outwardly protruding flange is integrally provided surrounding each of the holes, through which flanges the branch pipes are connected to the main pipe. Each of the branch pipes is formed by extrusion. The extruded pipe is connected at one end to the above-mentioned outwardly protruding flange such that the two are snugly engaged with one another. Such a construction provides the intake manifold with a smooth inner surface, less air resistance, and improved intake efficiency.
Japanese Patent Application No. 6-5061 describes a method for producing the entire intake manifold in a simple manner, including the steps of: molding a plurality of aluminum-extruded pipe members, each of which includes a large number of linear grooves on an inner peripheral surface thereof, the linear grooves extending in the lengthwise direction of the pipe member; distorting each non-worked pipe member, thereby forming a spiral-like groove in the inner peripheral surface over the entire length thereof; bending the non-worked pipe members, thereby producing a plurality of branch pipes, each of which has the spiral-like groove defined in the inner peripheral surface over the entire length thereof; and, brazing the branch pipes onto a main pipe.
Lastly, according to Japanese Patent No. 2539226, a thicker portion is provided on a peripheral wall of a main pipe at a location where branch pipes are to be connected thereto. Holes are punched at the thicker portion, through which holes the branch pipes are connected to the main pipe. A radially extending portion is opened and formed at a peripheral surface of each of the holes. The radially extending portion extends from the outermost end by a predetermined length. One end of the branch pipe is inserted into the radially extending portion, and is then brazed to the main pipe. This process eliminates a need to provide both holes and cylindrically shaped, outwardly protruding portions for use in connection of branch pipes, as practiced in conventional manners. As a result, lower manufacturing costs and fewer manufacturing processes are realized.
In conventional intake manifolds, since the mounting flange is fabricated using a metal plate member, then the fuel injection valve-mounting portion cannot be provided on the mounting flange. Thus, the fuel injection valve must be mounted directly on the cylinder head. This brings about an inconvenience in that the fuel injection valve cannot be used on engines that do not have the fuel injection valve-mounting portion on the cylinder head.
With the mounting flange formed using a plate member made of metal plate, the fuel injection valve-mounting portion can be provided on the mounting flange by the same mounting flange being made larger in thickness. However, this causes inconveniences in that it takes a long time to work or form such thicker mounting flange, thereby increasing costs, and further potions of the mounting flange are also unnecessarily made larger in thickness, with a concomitant increase in weight.
Further, since the heat conductivity of an aluminum alloy and that of iron are 240 W.multidot.m.sup.-1 K.sup.-1 for 100.degree. C. and 72 W.multidot.m.sup.-1 K.sup.-1 for 100.degree. C., respectively, then the heat conductivity of the aluminum alloy is about three times as large as that of iron. Accordingly, with the intake manifold formed using the aluminum alloy, heat is readily conducted from the cylinder head to the intake manifold. The heat is then transferred to the fuel delivery pipes which include fuel passages, which pipes are provided on the branch pipes. As a result, fuel in the delivery pipes is heated. This causes another inconvenience in that harmful percolation (fuel volatility) is readily produced. A further inconvenience is that a complicated structure and high costs are involved when a fuel supply system is provided with a counter-measure to obviate the former inconvenience.


A multi-spindle machine system includes a pick-off attachment. The pick-off attachment enables a more compact and stronger pick-off spindle. The shorter pick-off spindle is able to pick off longer work pieces. High speed bearings and oil lubrication enable the pick-off attachment to perform additional back machining functions. Other features include a dovetail spindle housing support associated with a slip-inducing composite material, an over-tension stop indicator, and an increased pick off position to cam position ratio.

Multi-spindle machines are known in the prior art. Multi-spindle machines are used to mass produce standardized types of components. A multi-spindle machine typically has several work stations at which machining operations are performed. A piece of raw stock, such as a bar stock, enters the machine at a first station and as the machine indexes, various machining operations are performed. Once the station is indexed completely through the machine, a completed part is formed. The part is released, and the process is repeated for that station with a new piece of raw stock. An advantage of multi-spindle machines is that all stations in the machine can simultaneously contribute to producing parts, resulting in high production.
Multi-spindle machines (also referred to as multiple spindle machines) typically have a large indexing spindle drum with four, five, six or eight work spindles thereon. Each of the spindles carries a work piece. Generally in all but one of the stations, where a new piece of stock enters, a machining operation is performed. After each machining operation is completed, the drum is rotated so that each work piece moves sequentially through the locations where the various machining operations are performed. Machining operations that are typically performed at a multi-spindle machine include turning and threading. Most multi-spindle machines are very efficient in terms of producing standardized parts at a high rate.
Typically, the speed of multi-spindle machines changes from high to low speed and back again during the course of the operating cycle. High speed is normally used for times in the machine cycle when critical machining operations are not occurring. High speed operation is desirable when the drum is indexing, or when the tools are moving toward or away from the work pieces and are not performing work thereon. Low speed operation is generally used when the tools in the machine are cutting or forming the metal. An attempt to operate the machine at a high speed when such cutting or forming work is being performed is likely to cause a problem or jam the machine.
In many multi-spindle machines at the final station the machined work piece is cut off from the remaining stock. The machined work piece is often dropped onto a conveyor or other device to move it away from the machine. It is common to perform additional operations on the machined part before it is ready for use. These additional operations are often done by hand or in other machines and add substantial cost to making the part. In many machines the movement of the work piece after cut off is unpredictable and may result in nicks on the ejected work piece. Therefore, work pieces sometimes become damaged and unusable. Furthermore, because the work piece is released from a rotating collet, large work piece catchers are sometimes required in order to ensure catching and guiding of the falling work pieces. Additionally, the catchers often have to be situated in a crowded tool zone, which often makes it difficult to control the cut off part and avoid damage to parts and other machine components.
In some multi-spindle machines pick-off attachments are available for pick-off of work pieces in the station where the completed work piece is cut off from the remaining stock. The movement of a pick-off attachment is typically set with the timing of the multi-spindle machine. After the work piece is separated from the remaining stock by being cut off, the cut off area may be subject to back machining operations, such as chamfering. The pick-off and back machining operations are controlled by mechanical cams and actuating devices in the machine. A pick-off attachment can include a dead length collet type attached to a pick-off spindle. The collet may be operated by twin toggles controlled by a special cam mounted on the main camshaft in front of the main drive housing. The pick-off spindle collet is able to grip and release a work piece.
The operation of a pick-off spindle collet is known in the art. A pick-off collet can be axially driven by cams and levers to position the collet over the work piece held by the work spindle. The pick-off collet can grippingly engage the work piece which is then cut from the remaining stock. The piece may be rotated in the pick-off spindle and have a back machining operation performed thereon. An ejector plunger may be used for removal of the work piece from the pick-off spindle. The pick-off spindle can be axially retracted toward the stationary ejector plunger so that the work piece is pushed out of the pick-off collet by the ejector plunger.

Pick-off attachment for a multi-spindle machine


A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharging unit that includes a nozzle row that discharges a liquid, and that is able to reciprocate in a first direction that intersects the nozzle row; a transport unit that transports a medium in a second direction that intersects the first direction; and a reading unit that reads the liquid discharged from the discharging unit to the medium. The liquid discharging apparatus is configured to execute an adjustment pattern forming operation for forming a first adjustment pattern for adjusting a landing position of the liquid discharged from the discharging unit in the first direction and a second adjustment pattern for adjusting the landing position of the liquid discharged from the discharging unit in the second direction on the medium, and an adjustment pattern reading operation for reading the first and second adjustment pattern with the reading unit according to a single command.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid discharging apparatus and a liquid discharge position adjustment method.
2. Related Art
In the related art, liquid discharging apparatuses, such as a recording apparatus that discharges a liquid, such as ink, on a medium, such as a recording medium, are used. In such a liquid discharging apparatus, adjusting the position at which the liquid lands on the medium is generally performed before discharging the liquid to the medium.
For example, JP-A-2001-129980 discloses a recording apparatus that transports a recording medium and performs recording by discharging ink to the recording medium by a recording head being reciprocated in a direction that intersects a transport direction of the recording medium, in which the recording apparatus is able to form an adjustment pattern for adjusting the landing position of the ink in the reciprocation direction of the recording head and the transport direction of the recording medium.
However, it takes time to individually form various adjustment patterns. Generally, this is because a maintenance operation for the discharging unit is executed, in order for ink (liquid) to be appropriately discharged before and after forming (recording) each adjustment pattern. Therefore, in the related art, a long time is taken in adjusting the position at which the liquid lands on the medium.

Liquid discharging apparatus and liquid discharge position adjustment method


A method for processing an input in a mobile terminal that recognizes inputs such as a visual input and/or voice input is provided. In the method, a position on a screen corresponding to a viewing direction of a user's eyes is determined. An indicator corresponding to the determined position is displayed on the screen. When a relevant (i.e. actuating) signal is detected, an indicator is arranged on the desired object for selection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for processing an input, on an input area of a mobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, as the electronic communication industry continues to develop, a mobile terminal, which includes devices including but not limited to a mobile communication terminal (cellular phone), an electronic scheduler, a personal digital assistant, etc. has become a necessity of a modern society, and serves as an important means for transferring information quickly.
Generally, a conventional mobile terminal includes at least one button for performing an input. This button may be realized mechanically as a keybutton, for example, or when a touch screen is used, it may be realized in a in conjunction with software. When a user presses the button with his finger, an input signal (i.e. an actuating signal) for a relevant operation occurs. However, the conventional button may be useless to a user with a disability that involves manipulating his/her hands or fingers. In having difficulty in manipulating his/her hands, or a user facing a circumstance where the user cannot use his hands. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved input method that solves this inconvenience.

Method and apparatus for processing input in mobile terminal


A method for testing poles (1) including the steps of applying a first load to a pole (1), measuring the movement of the pole (1), at least partially de-loading the pole (1) to a second load, measuring the movement of the pole (1), and using the change in the movement measurements under the respective loads to calculate the pole (1) stiffness.

Power poles and telephone poles are conventionally formed from wood, steel or concrete and are pounded into the ground, or a hole is drilled into the ground and the pole is inserted into the hole.
Once the pole has been put into the ground, the upper part of the pole is arranged to receive power cables, data cables, telephone cables and the like. For some poles, the weight of these cables can be quite considerable and some poles contain additional devices such as power transformers which are quite heavy.
Wood rot, bores, termites and other factors operate to reduce the strength, and therefore, the service life of poles. For safety reasons, the strength of the poles must be periodically checked and the future life of the poles established. As wood rot generally occurs below the ground level, a simple visual inspection is not sufficient and mechanical strength tests must be carried out.
To date, no simple, efficient and reliable test method has been available so poles are often replaced well before the end of their effective life.
This naturally increases the operating expenses of the electricity authority.
A known method to test the strength of a pole is to apply a load to the pole. This is usually done using a hydraulic ram which pushes or pulls the pole. However, applying a pushing force or a pulling force directly to the pole using a ram or similar device has some disadvantages. Therefore, there would be an advantage if an improved method and apparatus could be provided to test a pole.
The inventor of the present invention has been particularly active in the past in devising methods and apparatus to test the strength of poles in order to determine fitness for the purpose to which they are put.
One of the methods for testing the pole strength uses a means to calculate the minimum required strength of the pole and load to be applied to the pole equivalent to the minimum strength, a means to apply a load to the pole, means to measure the load applied to the pole, and (a) means to calculate the residual strength of the pole from the applied load, or (b) means to measure the displacement of the pole under the applied load, means to calculate the residual strength of the pole from the applied load and the displacement, and means to detect the pole failure.
The prior art methods and apparatus test whether the pole possessed a predetermined minimum strength by simulating a maximum load for the predetermined strength. This generally produced a "yes/no" answer to the question whether the pole possessed the minimum strength or not. Generally, the prior art simulation applied a load that was equal to the maximum anticipated wind load on the pole multiplied by an appropriate safety factor.
During the course of developing and using the above method, the inventor discovered that the method and apparatus that was in use had drawbacks. The prior system required the establishment and use during the testing of a reference in order to measure the flexion or displacement of the pole. This reference became difficult to establish in difficult terrain, particularly when the ground is undulating or hilly.
Further, the method used was found to contain certain inaccuracies which could be improved upon. The inventor theorized that these inaccuracies may stem from the application of a load to the pole and the subsequent movement of the pole.
It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.


Methods and apparatus for use in building three-dimensional objects on substantially a cross-sectional basis including methods and apparatus for forming successive layers using counter-rotating rollers, ink jet recoaters, spinning members which sling material, applicator bars that dispense material via a meniscus and/or independently dispensed streams, and also including methods and apparatus to determine a preferred region over which to form a layer and to check for building errors.

Solid imaging generally involves the formation of three-dimensional objects according to computer commands based on a computer aided design ("CAD") or other three-dimensional representation of the object. One solid imaging technique recently developed is stereolithography which is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,575,330 and 5,184,307, both of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Appearing below is a summary of the basic steps of a stereolithographic embodiment:
1. Generation of a three-dimensional object design in a CAD system and storage of the design data in a CAD file; PA1 2. Compiling data from the CAD file into numerous thin "slices" each representing a thin cross-sectional layer of the three-dimensional object; PA1 3. Transfer of the compiled CAD data to a StereoLithographic Apparatus ("SLA"); PA1 4. Coating a layer of building material adjacent to a previously formed object cross-section in preparation for forming a subsequent object cross-section. The building material layer is preferably uniformly coated at an appropriate thickness so that the subsequently formed object cross-section meets tolerance requirements; PA1 5. Selectively exposing the building material layer to synergistic stimulation to solidify or otherwise physically transform the building material layer at those locations which collectively represent the object cross-section to be formed; PA1 6. Repeating steps (4) and (5) to alternately form successive building material layers and object cross-sections until the three-dimensional object is formed; and PA1 7. Post processing the newly-formed object by removing residual building material clinging to the object, removing the object from the platform on which it was formed, exposing the object to additional synergistic stimulation to ensure complete solidification of the building material and removing supports.
Building materials typically used in solid imaging may exhibit fluid-like characteristics but solidify or otherwise physically transform in response to synergistic stimulation. The fluid-like characteristics facilitate dispensing a building material layer adjacent to a previously formed object cross-section, as well as smoothing the building material layer surface in preparation of forming the next object cross-section. Depending on the coating technique used, suitable materials include transformable liquids such as thermally polymerizable resins, photopolymerizable resins, a first part of a two-part epoxy, sinterable powders, bindable powders or combinations thereof and the like. Liquid materials may also contain inert filler materials.
Various forms of synergistic stimulation may be used as long as the building material is responsive to the synergistic stimulation. These include certain wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation, such as infrared radiation, visible radiation and ultraviolet radiation. Other forms of synergistic stimulation which may be used are particle beams, reactive chemicals dispensed onto the building material such as a photoinitiator (the second element of a two-part epoxy), binder materials, and the like.
The design data, representative of the three-dimensional object can be obtained from various sources including CAD data, CAT scan data, manually programmed data, and data derived from techniques for scanning physical objects. If this data is initially in layer form, the compilation process may be reduced to creating appropriate layer fill data. However, additional compilation may be desired or required to transform the data into proper form to meet accuracy, process or other requirements such as how supports will be built along with the object. The procedures and apparatus described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,182,055, 5,184,307, 5,192,469, 5,209,878, 5,238,639, 5,256,340, 5,273,691 and 5,321,622, 5,345,391, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/233,026, pending, and Ser. No.08/233,027, pending, both filed Apr. 25, 1994, address the generation of appropriate layer data. All of these patents and patent applications are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Also incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, is the publication entitled Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing: Fundamentals of Stereolithography, First Edition, authored by Paul F. Jacobs, Ph.D., and published by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, Mich., in 1992.
The current invention is directed primarily to step (4) above, i.e., coating a building material layer adjacent to a previously formed object cross-section in preparation for forming a subsequent object cross-section. Several approaches have been used in the past to perform this coating step, most often with a building material comprising a liquid photopolymerizable resin. However, these prior approaches have resulted in varying degrees of layer accuracy and nonuniformity, and/or have required excessive time to form the coatings, these problems have the following ramifications:
First, it is important that the building material layer is uniform and of appropriate thickness so that upon solidification, the resulting object cross-section exhibits dimensional accuracy. Indeed, the accuracy of the successive building material layers directly impacts the accuracy of the final object in view of potential misplacement of object features upon exposure to synergistic stimulation and potential accumulated errors which may result from errors on successive layers.
Second, it is desirable to minimize the time required to form a building material layer because the cumulative coating time of the successive layers represents a significant portion of the overall object build time. Indeed, photopolymer resins exhibit slow flow velocities due to viscosity and surface tension. If driven only by gravity, imperfections in photopolymer building material layer surfaces can take prohibitively long time periods to relax or otherwise become uniform with the rest of the building material layer surface. This in turn increases object build time, reduces machine throughput, and reduces the cost effectiveness of solid imaging.
Third, the extent of inaccuracy and nonuniformity of the building material layer as well as the amount of time necessary to form it may vary with the geometry of previously formed cross-sections. Accordingly, automated coating of building material layers is difficult because there may be no set correction parameters that might otherwise be used if coating inaccuracies were constant.
A description of several previous approaches is set forth in the following U.S. Patents and Patent Applications, the disclosures of which are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein:
1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/414,200, now abandoned, by Hull, et al filed Sep. 28, 1989, and its continuation Ser. No. 08/230,443 filed Apr. 20, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,882, are directed to covering the building material layer surface with a film which is then peeled from the surface. Before or after peeling, the surface is exposed to synergistic stimulation to form the next object cross-section.
2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/495,791, now abandoned, by Jacobs et al filed Mar. 9, 1990, and its continuation Ser. No. 08/198,655, now abandoned, filed Feb. 18, 1994, are directed to the use of vibrational energy applied directly to the building material layer surface or to a previously formed object cross-section to decrease the time required for surface imperfections to vanish or level out to a tolerable level.
3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,931 issued to Almquist, et al. and its continuation Ser. No. 08/146,562 filed now abandoned Nov. 2, 1993 are directed to, among other things, using a member such as a doctor blade, to smooth or spread a coating of building material over a previously formed cross-section of the object.
4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,530 issued to Cohen, et al. is directed to forming a building material layer which is supported by a frame and the force of surface tension. The layer is then laid above a previously formed object cross-section.
5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,337 issued to Heller, et al. and its continuation-in-part Ser. No. 08/299,879 filed Sep. 1, 1994, now abandoned are directed to, among other things, using a dispensing device such as an applicator bar to form uniform building material layers.
The doctor blade approach listed above typically involves sweeping a bar or other device across the surface of a building material layer thereby smoothing it. Though this may reduce coating time, other problems remain such as those associated with leading edge bulge, trapped volumes, scoop-out and other problems described in previously incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,931.
Other coating approaches have been suggested beyond those listed above. An electrically charged or uncharged counter-rotating roller which spreads a mound of powder into uniform layers is disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US87/02635, Publication No. WO 88/022677 by Deckard, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,816 issued to Beaman et al. However, the roller disclosed therein is generally not suited for use with liquid building materials because liquids may cling to the roller unlike the powders described in the above references which are instead ejected in front of the roller. This clinging action may also cause building material to be carried over the roller and redeposited behind it thereby creating a nonuniform building layer. Furthermore, liquid mounds also tend to sink or spread out into previously dispensed volumes of unsolidified liquid. In any event, the Deckard and Beaman references do not address how such a roller might be used with liquid building materials.
Several basic aspects of using a dispensing slit or curtain coater in a stereolithographic process are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 59-237054, laid open to the public as Japanese Publication 61-114817(A) on Jun. 2, 1986, filed by Morihara et al. The slit coater remains stationary as the container of liquid building material is moved back and forth beneath it. The slit coater dispenses building material having a thickness equal to that of the desired solidified object cross-section. However, Morihara's slit coater is not suitable for producing high-resolution objects for at least the following reasons.
First, forming building material layers having a thickness equal to that of the desired object cross-section does not account for the shrinkage which typically occurs as the building material solidifies. This in turn leads to inaccuracies in the vertical dimensions of the object, formation of non-planar object cross-sections especially in transitional regions between supported and unsupported portions of a cross-section, and uncontrolled positioning of the working surface.
Second, Morihara's slit coater does not account for the volumetric difference of material dispensed when the container moves at constant velocity versus when it accelerates and decelerates near the ends of its line of travel. This results in a nonuniform thickness across the building material layer.
Third, Morihara's slit coater cannot dispense material at locations of the container which are inaccessible to the slit coater. This either reduces the accuracy of the overall coating formed or the usable working area of the container.
Fourth, Morihara's slit coater does not recognize that in certain stereolithographic embodiments, one must coat a building material layer over the entire surface of the liquid bounded by the container before the building material layer achieves the desired thickness. This is because when building material is dispensed in regions that are not closely supported by solidified material, the building material will not simply remain at the surface of the liquid in the container. Instead, it serves to raise the liquid level in the entire container thereby decreasing the thickness of the building material layer at the point it was just dispensed at. Only after material has been dispensed over all such unsupported regions will the building material surface level reach the desired level. In certain circumstances however, such as when coating very thin building material layers on the order of 0.004 inches or less, one may ignore this problem.
Fifth, the building material in Morihara's container is likely to shift due to the repeated to and fro container motion. Such shifting would likely result in nonuniform coating thicknesses and/or increased layer formation times. In fact, even if the container is moved to and fro at moderate speeds, the material in the container may slosh out of the container. For all the foregoing, it appears that Morihara does not disclose an apparatus or method to rapidly and accurately recoat building material layers.
Beyond the problems of the particular approaches discussed above, other problems involve the dispensing of a known quantity of building material, or avoiding the accumulation of small errors into large cumulative errors as successive layers are coated. Accordingly, there is a need in the RP&M art for methods and apparatus which overcome the problems discussed in this background section as well as other problems.

Rapid recoating of three-dimensional objects formed on a cross-sectional basis


An apparatus for actuating a valve includes an actuator body with a proximal end having a connector for coupling to a valve assembly, and a distal end. A piston assembly having a piston disposed in a piston cylinder is located within the proximal end of the actuator body. A telescoping port assembly extends from the distal end to the piston assembly, the telescoping port assembly having an inner telescoping member and an outer telescoping member. The outer telescoping member has an inner cavity that reciprocatingly receives an end of the inner telescoping member. A bore extends axially through the telescoping port assembly and communicates pressure from a pressure source to the piston cylinder, so that when a pressure media is supplied from the pressure source to the bore, the piston actuates the valve assembly, and the outer telescoping member telescopes outward from the inner telescoping member.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to valve actuators, and in particular to a hydraulic actuator with a telescoping supply port.
2. Description of Prior Art
Valves can sometimes have a linearly translating member, such as a stem, to move the valve between the open and closed positions. Some valves, such as gate valves, have an aperture that aligns with the bore to allow flow through the valve. The valve can be normally open, and thus the valve is closed when it is moved linearly to push the aperture out of alignment with the bore. Alternatively, a valve can be normally closed, and thus the valve is opened when it is moved linearly to position the aperture into alignment with the bore. Regardless of whether the valve is normally open or normally closed, the valve can be actuated, or moved between the open and closed position, by a valve actuator.
Current valve actuators can have a piston located at the distal end of the valve actuator, opposite the end of the actuator that is connected to the bonnet of the valve assembly. The mass of the piston will affect the center of gravity of the valve actuator, which in turn affects the bending moment, stress, and fatigue on the connection between the valve actuator and the bonnet.

Inertially stable actuator with telescoping supply port


Architecture that facilitates management of an application or service of a system. A catalog is provided that stores management information which is accessible to determine the status of the application of service. Code of the application or service to be installed on the system is attributed with management information. When installed, the application or service is processed to copy the management information into a manifest, which manifest is further stored in the catalog along with other manifests associated with different applications or services. The management information in a manifest is uniquely identified by a URI, which access to the management information is via the URI, and which leads to the associated application or service.

Traditional systems management is largely ad-hoc. Application developers do not have a structured framework for managing their applications and achieving high reliability. Developers normally have to write and maintain two separate pieces of code-one for normal application processing and a second one to expose it to management. For example, in one conventional architecture, management is part of the specification and a component cannot be compiled without exposing some management properties
What is needed is an improved architecture for exposing an application to facilitate system management.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of attribution to describe management information


In a semiconductor integrated circuit device in which a rectifier device constituting a rectifier comprises a MOS transistor whose gate is connected to one antenna terminal and whose source is connected to the other antenna terminal, the parasitic capacitance applied between the antenna terminals increased. The present invention provides a technology for connecting a first MOS transistor whose gate is connected to a second input terminal between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, allowing an output terminal of a first bulk terminal control circuit, which is connected between the first and second input terminals, to control a bulk terminal of the first MOS transistor, and allowing an output terminal of a second bulk terminal control circuit, which is connected between the first and second input terminals, to control a bulk terminal of a second MOS transistor, which is connected between the second input terminal and the first output terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and contactless electronic device having a function of rectifying a signal received by an antenna coil, and more particularly to a technology suitable for a rectifier in a semiconductor integrated circuit device.
2. Description of the Related Arts
The so-called contactless electronic device, which incorporates a semiconductor integrated circuit device and an antenna in a card, causes the semiconductor integrated circuit device to exchange information with an interrogator, and implements various functions, for instance, of transmitting data retained by the contactless electronic device and retaining data transmitted from the interrogator.
The semiconductor integrated circuit device incorporated in the contactless electronic device uses the antenna, which is incorporated in the contactless electronic device, to receive a high-frequency signal that is supplied from the interrogator, rectifies and smoothes a voltage generated across the antenna, and generates an internal voltage that is necessary for the operation of internal circuitry.
When the employed rectifying device is a MOS transistor whose gate and source are connected to antenna terminals, the MOS transistor parasitic capacitance, which is represented by gate-to-source capacitance, is applied between the antenna terminals. Therefore, the parasitic capacitance acts as a resonant capacitance that is connected in parallel with an antenna coil (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-97366 and JP-A-2002-514377).
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-97366 describes a rectifier that does not forward bias a parasitic bipolar transistor and can remarkably reduce a leak current.
JP-A-2002-514377 describes a rectifier that can reduce a drain-to-source voltage at the time of conduction by making use of the substrate effect of a MOS transistor threshold voltage.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-274339 describes a rectifier that reduces the rectifying-device-induced voltage loss by adding a series regulator function to a rectifier that comprises a MOS transistor.
Prior to this patent application, the inventors of the present invention studied problems that arise when a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a rectifier whose rectifying device comprises a MOS transistor described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-97366, JP-A-2002-514377, or Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-274339 was applied to a contactless electronic device.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device, contactless electronic device, and handheld terminal


Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a novel ‘double kingpin’ type skateboard truck having multiple elastomeric bushings, where one or more of such bushings is an elongated bushing having two staggered mounting holes incorporated herein for the purpose of mounting the bushing upon two bolts in the double kingpin truck mechanism. The novel placement and novel form of the said bushing provides both enhanced overall stability to the truck, as well as a wider range of tension adjustability features to the double kingpin truck system. Moreover, increased shock absorption capabilities, ‘wheel wobble’ resistance and overall truck mechanism balance, permit the ‘double kingpin’ type truck to be more useable for higher speed skateboard riding purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to double kingpin skateboard truck incorporating a novel resilient bushing mounted onto the threaded end of a truck insert bolt for the purpose of increasing double kingpin truck stability and rider safety. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a double kingpin skateboard truck for increased safety and stability of riders of a skateboard incorporating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A 'double kingpin' longboard skateboard truck, for example, as disclosed by
U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,460 to Williams, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, is distinguished from a single kingpin skateboard truck by the double kingpin truck's particular incorporation of a truck insert, which is attached between the axle and the base plate of a 'single kingpin' type skateboard truck. More particularly, a commonly known 'double kingpin' type truck, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a skateboard truck insert, seen in FIG. 3a, capable of being positioned between a base plate and an axle of a skateboard truck. The truck insert generally comprises: an intermediary member; a truck insert pivot pin projecting from the intermediary member for positioning in a pivot pin receiving hole in the base plate; a mounting portion at one end of the intermediary member with an oversized through hole; a blind hole at an end of the intermediary member opposite the one end for receiving a pivot pin projecting from the axle; and an axle bolt hole for receiving a 2 to 3 inch in length axle bolt extending from the axle, where the axle bolt hole is spaced from the blind hole and is located in the intermediary member between the oversized through hole in the mounting portion and the blind hole.
The inclusion of the extra 2 to 3 inch truck insert bolt, two bushings, insert pivot pin and other components incorporated in the truck insert component provides the 'double kingpin' type skateboard truck a hyper-turning, and hyper-traction ability, in comparison to a typical 'single kingpin' type skateboard truck. The double kingpin truck geometry is therefore well suited for skateboard carving, pumping, slalom riding and 'sidewalk surfing' purposes. However, the same 'extra' truck components provided by the inclusion of the 'truck insert,' also makes the 'double kingpin' type skateboard truck less speed stable than a single kingpin truck, making it less suitable for high speed skateboard riding purposes.
Thus, there is a need for a double kingpin skateboard truck incorporating a novelly positioned and novelly formed bushing mounted onto the threaded end of a 2 to 3 inch truck insert bolt for the purpose of increasing double kingpin truck stability and rider safety; said novel bushing formed and utilized as a staggered, double hole bushing.

Double kingpin skateboard truck incorporating a double hole bushing


A system for purging an aircraft fuel reservoir includes a body (48) configured to be assembled on the aircraft fuel reservoir (16) and a valve (50), received in the body (48), and having a released configuration of an outlet channel (70) and a tight closed configuration of the outlet channel (70). The system further comprises a transport pipe (44) secured to the body (48), the transport pipe (44) being configured to be fluidly connected to a fuel supply pipe (20) configured to supply an energy producing device. The transport pipe (44) extends at least between a fuel suction inlet (52) and a discharge outlet (54), the suction inlet (52) being configured to emerge in the aircraft fuel reservoir (16) and the discharge outlet (54) being configured to emerge in the supply pipe (20) when the body (48) is mounted on the aircraft fuel reservoir (16).

In order to avoid this proliferation, a first known method is to purge the water accumulated in the bottom of the reservoir by pumping it and diluting it with the fuel to supply propulsion engines of the aircraft.
Furthermore, a second known method is to monitor the presence of water in the reservoir, by means of a manual purging system.
This purging system typically comprises a body mounted in an opening at the bottom of the reservoir, and a manual valve for closing and opening the body. The valve slides in the body between a low closed position closing off the body and a high open position in which liquid contained in the reservoir can be discharged. An operator can thus actuate the purge by pushing the valve upward to move it into its high open position.
However, such a purging system lacks compactness.
Furthermore, the operations performed with this purging system are also tedious. Indeed, an aircraft comprises several reservoirs, and the purges are arranged in hard-to-reach areas of the aircraft, for example at a landing gear. For each reservoir, it is necessary to check daily by sampling whether it contains water.
Lastly, the known equipment for producing the manual purges is conventional and may lead to substantial fuel leaks. The leaks are sources of pollution and cause a risk of fines at some airports. Furthermore, they prevent the flight of the aircraft and must therefore be repaired before any flight.
Furthermore, the known purge system described above also typically comprises a system for locking the valve in the high open position in particular allowing complete emptying of the reservoir of the aircraft during maintenance operations. The locking system is typically formed by an L-shaped slot delimited in the body, which has a vertical part and a horizontal part. A guide lug secured to the moving valve slides with the valve in the vertical part until the valve is in the high position. From this position, it suffices to rotate the valve around its axis for the guide lug to slide in the horizontal part of the L of the slot. The guide lug then prevents the valve from returning to its low position. To rotate the valve around its axis, the latter is provided with a rectilinear cavity in which the operator inserts a metal tool of the "slot screwdriver" type.
One problem encountered with this system is the untimely locking of the valve in the high position. Indeed, by malfunction of the locking system or lack of understanding thereof, the valve may unintentionally remain open. The fuel then spreads to the outside of the reservoir in an uncontrolled manner until manual locking of the body by the operator. As a result, the aircraft is immobilized on the ground for a long period of time.
For these reasons, the operators are hesitant to perform inspections and the necessary purges of the fuel reservoirs. The inspections and purges are then not done as often as necessary, promoting the appearance of microbial pollution and corrosion.

System and equipment for purging a reservoir and associated purge and assembly processes


A system and method which generates a single use password based on a challenge/response protocol. A box manager module executing within a security appliance identifies a public key (P) and salt value (S) associated with an administrator's smart card and generates a random nonce (N). The box manager transmits a challenge comprising the following elements: <SHA1(N), BM_ID, P[N, BM_ID], S>. Upon receiving the challenge, the administration card decrypts P[N, BM_ID] using the private key contained within the card and computes SHA1(N). The administration card then compares its computed values with the received values from the box manager. If the values match, then to the administration card returns a response comprising the following elements: HMAC_N[user, SHA1 (password, S)], where HMAC_N represents the SHA1 keyed hash message authentication check of the response elements using the nonce N as the key.

A storage system is a computer that provides storage service relating to the organization of information on writable persistent storage devices, such as memories, tapes or disks. The storage system is commonly deployed within a storage area network (SAN) or a network attached storage (NAS) environment. When used within a NAS environment, the storage system may be embodied as a file server including an operating system that implements a file system to logically organize the information as a hierarchical structure of data containers, such as files on, e.g., the disks. Each "on-disk" file may be implemented as a set of data structures, e.g., disk blocks, configured to store information, such as the actual data (i.e., file data) for the file.
The file server, or filer, may be further configured to operate according to a client/server model of information delivery to thereby allow many client systems (clients) to access shared resources, such as files, stored on the filer. Sharing of files is a hallmark of a NAS system, which is enabled because of its semantic level of access to files and file systems. Storage of information on a NAS system is typically deployed over a computer network comprising a geographically distributed collection of interconnected communication links, such as Ethernet, that allow clients to remotely access the information (files) on the filer. The clients typically communicate with the filer by exchanging discrete frames or packets of data according to pre-defined protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
In the client/server model, the client may comprise an application executing on a computer that "connects" to the filer over a computer network, such as a point-to-point link, shared local area network, wide area network or virtual private network implemented over a public network, such as the Internet. NAS systems generally utilize file-based access protocols; therefore, each client may request the services of the filer by issuing file system protocol messages (in the form of packets) to the file system over the network identifying one or more files to be accessed without regard to specific locations, e.g., blocks, in which the data are stored on disk. By supporting a plurality of file system protocols, such as the conventional Common Internet File System (CIFS) and the Network File System (NFS) protocols, the utility of the filer may be enhanced for networking clients.
A SAN is a high-speed network that enables establishment of direct connections between a storage system and its storage devices. The SAN may thus be viewed as an extension to a storage bus and, as such, an operating system of the storage system enables access to stored data using block-based access protocols over the "extended bus". In this context, the extended bus is typically embodied as Fibre Channel (FC) or Ethernet media adapted to operate with block access protocols, such as Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) protocol encapsulation over FC (e.g., FCP) or TCP (iSCSI).
SCSI is a peripheral input/output (I/O) interface with a standard, device independent protocol that allows different peripheral devices, such as disks, to attach to a storage system. In SCSI terminology, clients operating in a SAN environment are "initiators" that initiate commands and requests to access data. The storage system is thus a "target" configured to respond to the data access requests issued by the initiators in accordance with a request/response protocol. The initiators and targets have endpoint addresses that, in accordance with the FC protocol, comprise worldwide names (WWN). A WWN is a unique identifier, e.g., a node name or a port name, consisting of an 8-byte number.
A SAN arrangement or deployment allows decoupling of storage from the storage system, such as an application server, and some level of information storage sharing at the storage system level. There are, however, environments wherein a SAN is dedicated to a single storage system. In some SAN deployments, the information is organized in the form of databases, while in others a file-based organization is employed. Where the information is organized as files, the client requesting the information maintains file mappings and manages file semantics, while its requests (and storage system responses) address the information in terms of block addressing on disk using, e.g., a logical unit number (lun).
A network environment may be provided wherein information (data) is stored in secure storage served by one or more storage systems coupled to one or more security appliances. Each security appliance is configured to transform unencrypted data (cleartext) generated by clients (or initiators) into encrypted data (ciphertext) destined for secure storage or "cryptainers" on the storage system (or target). As used herein, a cryptainer is a piece of storage on a storage device, such as a disk, in which the encrypted data is stored. In the context of a SAN environment, a cryptainer can be, e.g., a disk, a region on the disk or several regions on one or more disks that, in the context of a SAN protocol, is accessible as a lun. In the context of a NAS environment, the cryptainer may be a collection of files on one or more disks. Specifically, in the context of the CIFS protocol, the cryptainer may be a share, while in the context of the NFS protocol, the cryptainer may be a mount point. In a tape environment, the cryptainer may be a tape containing a plurality of tape blocks.
Each cryptainer is associated with its own encryption key, e.g., a cryptainer key, which is used by the security appliance to encrypt and decrypt the data stored on the cryptainer. An encryption key is a code or number which, when taken together with an encryption algorithm, defines a unique transformation used to encrypt or decrypt data. Data remains encrypted while stored in a cryptainer until requested by an authorized client. At that time, the security appliance retrieves the encrypted data from the cryptainer, decrypts it and forwards the unencrypted data to the client.
As can be appreciated from the above description, the need to limit access and control of a security appliance is critical to the safety of secure storage. As such, security appliances typically require a high level of authentication before permitting an administrator to perform administrative functions relating to the security appliance. Typically, an to administrator may be required to authenticate with a conventional username/password pair to the security appliance. However such single factor authentication techniques, e.g., only a username/password, do not provide a sufficiently high level of authentication. Alternately, an administrator may be required to utilize a smart card containing a set of cryptographic keys in addition to a username/password pair as a form of the factor authentication. Yet, several noted disadvantages arise by requiring such a two factor authentication technique. A first noted disadvantage involves management of a plurality of security appliances and, in particular, the requirement that an administrator utilize a separate smart card for each of the security appliances in order to perform management functions. As the number of smart cards increases so does the probability of the loss and/or theft of one of the plurality of smart cards.
A second noted disadvantage arises in that by requiring a smart card or other physical token, the administrator may be restricted to use of certain types of computers and/or protocols when accessing (i.e., "logging into") the security appliance to perform management functions. For example, an administrator may log into a world wide web (WWW) based interface adapted to the HTTP protocol using a graphical user interface (GUI) of a web browser executing on a management console having a smart card reader attached thereto. However, should the administrator desire to login to a text base command line interface (CLI) using, e.g., the SSH protocol a disadvantage arises, as conventional SSH management consoles ("clients") generally do not include interfaces to smart card readers. Thus, an administrator may be required to utilize nonstandard SSH clients, which may not be available for all systems that an administrator may desire to utilize as management consoles.

System and method for generating a single use password based on a challenge/response protocol


A system is provided for integrating at least one portable computing device with a resuscitative medical device such as a defibrillator. The system may include a carrying case coupled to the resuscitative medical device. The carrying case may include a storage space for the at least one portable computing device and a wireless charging system for charging the at least one portable computing device. The system may be configured to enable secure data transfer between each of the devices, including data communication and data storage. A processor of the resuscitative medical device may be configured to activate the wireless charging system and charge the at least one portable computing device under certain circumstances. The processor may further be configured to prioritize or optimize charging and data transfer between the resuscitative medical device and each of multiple portable computing devices.

Acute care is delivered to patients in emergency situations in pre-hospital and hospital settings for patients experiencing a variety of medical conditions. Such medical conditions may involve the diagnosis and treatment of disease states that, if left alone, would likely degenerate into a life-threatening condition and, potentially, death. Stroke, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), traumatic arrest, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest are a few examples of disease states for which acute care is delivered to patients in an emergency setting. Cardiac arrest is a serious life-threatening condition that involves the sudden loss of blood flow resulting from an inability of the heart to circulate blood effectively to the body, and it remains a leading cause of death. Other conditions that may be life-threatening include shock, traumatic brain injury, dehydration, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, wound healing, diabetes, stroke, respiratory failure, and orthostatic hypotension.
Despite advances in the field of circulatory enhancement, the need for improved approaches for treating patients with impaired circulation remains an important medical challenge. One example of acute care for treating cardiac arrest is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is a process by which one or more rescuers may provide chest compressions and ventilations to a victim who has suffered an adverse cardiac event—by popular terms, a heart attack. During the first five to eight minutes after CPR efforts begin, chest compressions may be the most important element of CPR because chest compressions help maintain circulation through the body and in the heart itself.
Typically, rescuers (e.g., first responders, EMTs or emergency medical technician, caregivers, or other medical personnel like nurses and doctors) utilize resuscitative medical devices such as patient monitors to monitor and treat patients in emergency medical situations. In some cases, the patient monitor may be a monitor/defibrillator that can measure and analyze electrocardiogram signals of the heart of the patient and provide a therapeutic shock (if needed) based on the measured and analyzed electrocardiogram signals. Additionally, the patient monitor may utilize bi-directional wired or wireless communication protocols to communicate with one or more portable computing devices. The bi-directional communication enables the patient monitor to transmit relevant information regarding the condition of the patient and any therapies that may have been provided to the portable computing device. Likewise, the portable computing device may enable a rescuer to interact with the patient to view measured and analyzed information, control the patient monitor to deliver treatment provided to the patient, set event markers related to treatments, and enter patient information, to list a few examples.

Medical device integrated with portable display and functionality


A novel expandable composition and method for using the same are disclosed. The disclosed method relates to using the composition, for example, as an automotive cavity sealant. The inventive composition normally is a combination of at least one base polymer, at least one expansion or blowing agents, at least one hydrocarbon resin, at least one curing agent or catalyst and optionally at least one additives such as a supplemental polymer, colorant, tackifier, processing oil, among others.

Expandable sealants are known in this art such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,427,481; 4,874,650; 5,266,133; 5,373,027; 5,506,025; 5,266,133; 5,373,027; and 5,678,826; and European Patent No. EP 0 730 998B1; the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. One conventional cavity sealing arrangement and method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,803; the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated by reference. Other convention cavity sealants comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based materials that are pumped into location and, in some cases, expand after being exposed to a sufficient amount of heat. Conventional sealants also include polyurethane based or containing foams. Typically, these sealants are employed in automotive applications for filing cavities, stiffening adjacent components and dampening sound/vibrations.
Conventional sealant compositions may be limited in their application due to the temperature and time required to cause the sealant to expand. Certain conventional compositions also require the addition of heat to produce the expandable composition as well as to cause the composition to expand. There is a need in this art for an expandable composition that: 1) is activated at a relatively low temperature, 2) adheres to a metal substrate, 3) is easily installed and remains in a predetermined location and 4) for some applications is resistant to fuel, e.g., diesel and gasoline.

Expandable compositions and methods of making and using the compositions


Provided is a display device including: a display panel including a plurality of data lines and gate lines formed to define a plurality of pixels; a data drive unit; and a gate drive unit, wherein the display panel is provided with a transistor that includes: a first electrode unit configured to receive a first voltage and including two first electrodes; a second electrode unit configured to receive a second voltage and including two second electrodes; a third electrode unit configured to receive a third voltage and including a common third electrode, the third electrode unit being formed to include a bent portion between the first electrode unit and the second electrode unit; and two channels formed to be spaced apart from each other adjacent to opposite ends of the third electrode unit and configured to correspondingly connect the two first electrodes and the two second electrodes, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device with a redundant transistor structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display panel for use in a display device such as a liquid display device or an organic light-emitting display device is, in general, provided with at least one transistor for displaying an image.
A transistor within each pixel in a display panel is fabricated through a number of processes. During the processes, fine foreign substances, particles, and/or impurities may undesirably be included in the transistors (in particular, in the channel regions). In such an instance, the transistor may be electrically shorted or disconnected and, thus, the transistor may not function normally. This may cause a pixel defect which changes the corresponding pixel into a bright dot or a dark dot.
Such a pixel defect which changes a pixel into a bright dot or a dark dot may considerably degrade the quality of the image of display devices and reduce the yield of display panel production.
Thus, a repair process has been conventionally performed so as to change a defective pixel that appears as a bright dot, e.g., due to fine foreign substances, rather into a dark dot such that the defective pixel cannot be visually recognized.
However, when there are an excessive number of pixels that have changed into dark dots by the conventional repair process on a display panel, the quality of the image of the display may be seriously degraded to an extent that the display panel is not of commercial value, which may result in the display panel being discarded.
Thus, there is a need for an efficient repair process for fixing defective pixels.

Display device with redundant transistor structure


A flashlight includes a core having first and second surfaces, a side edge portion, and proximal and distal ends; along with first, second and third cavities. Light generating components include a light emitter in the first cavity, a switch in the second cavity and a battery disposed in the third cavity. A ribbon cable electrically couples the switch and battery. A first sheet-like stiffener overlays the first surface of the core. A first cover sheet overlays the first sheet-like stiffener to sandwich the sheet like stiffener between the first surface of the core and the first cover sheet. A second cover sheet overlays the second surface of the core. The first and second cover sheet members are joined together to form a flexible casing having an interior cavity. The core stiffener and light generating components are disposed within the interior cavity.

Traditional flashlights usually include a housing that comprises a generally cylindrical casing, having a hollow interior into which batteries are received.
In order to provide strength to the flashlight, and protect the batteries, the casing is normally made from a hard, rigid plastic or metal material. Battery contacts and wiring are disposed within the interior of the hard plastic casing.
One end of the casing is typically closed, and the other end of the casing is open. The open end of the casing often includes a threaded end surface for threadedly receiving a light assembly, that when joined to the casing forms a part of the overall flashlight housing. The light assembly includes an axially facing, radially extending lens cover, that covers over a highly reflective parabolic or conical dish. The dish includes a light bulb placed at the base of the dish.
A switch member is usually mounted on the outwardly facing, cylindrical side surface of the flashlight. Typically, either a push button-type switch or a slide switch is employed to enable the user to turn the light on and off. Examples of such flashlights are shown in Shiu. U.S. Pat. No. D524,972; Lynch, U.S. Pat. No. D425,231; and Leopoldi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,495.
Flashlights of this type have been produced in many sizes and shapes and have been used for many years, and are still in widespread use. Although such flashlights are often large and cumbersome, they have significant utility because the size of the interior of the rigid casing can be made large enough to hold a plurality (e.g. 2-5) of large batteries, such as C or D cells, to provide the flashlight with sufficient candle power (or lumen) to cast a bright light on the surrounding areas, and sufficient power reserves to produce light for relatively long periods of time. Because of this large battery capacity, flashlights of this type are often used in work and safety-related applications and are often carried by police officers and other security and safety personnel. Additionally, the Applicant has been an inventor in the field of flashlights and other lighted devices. See, Killion, U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,991; Killion et al., U.S. Pat. No. D636,509; Killion et al., U.S. Pat. No. D636,510; and Killion, Published Patent Application No. 2010/0110670 A1.
Although the rigid casing of the flashlights described above are usually cylindrical, advances in battery and light bulb technology have permitted designers to expand beyond the confinement of typically employed cylindrical shapes. For example, a large number of "flat casing" flashlights exist that employ more compact batteries and advanced technology bulbs such as LED bulbs. See, e.g. Lee, U.S. Pat. No. D549,862.
Recently, "soft flashlights" have begun to be used in several applications. As used in this application, a soft flashlight is a flashlight that has a non-rigid easing. The casing on a soft flashlight generally includes a pair of plastic sheet-like members that are joined together to serve as its outer casing, rather than a hard rigid plastic covering. Another typical feature of soft flashlights is that they are generally thin and somewhat sheet-like in their configuration rather than being cylindrical. More accurately, such soft flashlights might comprise thickened sheet sandwiches.
A typical soft flashlight includes a first sheet member that serves as the top cover member, and a second sheet member that serves as a bottom sheet member. The top and bottom sheet-like members are usually coupled to each other around the edges, so as to form an interior pocket there between. Functional elements (e.g. bulbs, light assembly, switches, batteries) are disposed in the pocket formed between the first and second cover members.
The interior components that are inserted within the pocket typically include a battery for power, a switch to enable the user to turn the flashlight on and off and a light source. The recent popularization of LED type light bulbs has facilitated the use of such soft flashlights because of the low power usage, and bright light provided by such LEDs. The bright light and low power usage of LEDs has generally made such lights practical, as such lights are usually powered by a small disc-like battery, of the type that one might find in an automobile key fob, garage door remote control or calculator.
One valuable feature of such "soft flashlights" is that they can be made relatively inexpensively. This inexpensive nature makes these flashlights ideally suited for use as promotional products. Promotional products are products that serve both a functional purpose, and also include advertising to serve an advertising purpose. Examples of well-known promotional products include things such as coffee cups that will often hear the name of a particular company. A wide variety of the promotional products can be found at the Applicant's website at www.benteil.com, that shows, inter alia, a wide variety of pens, clips, magnets and lighted products.
Another feature of the soft flashlights is that they may be constructed to be quite small and inexpensive. As such, soft flashlights work well when attached to key chains, and when carried in purses, as they are quite compact, while still being capable of providing a significant amount of light.
Although known soft flashlights do have several valuable features, they also have some drawbacks. One drawback with several known flashlights is that they tend to be too flexible and "squishy" feeling and lack in any significant rigidity. This excess flexibility enables the flashlight to be bent along an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. One problem with this high flexibility is that it imparts an unstable, and therefore undesirable feel to the device.
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a stiffer, less flexible, soft flashlight than those that are presently known, that will have increased rigidity, and therefore tend to have a better "feel", and that can also impart a better and wider pressure point for the on/off switching device to thereby make the switch for the device easier to activate through this wider pressure point.
Another difficulty with prior known soft flashlights relates to the wiring. In particular, the electrical components of known soft flashlights are usually wired together through the use of round (in cross section) wires that couple the battery to the LED light. These traditional round wires have several drawbacks. One drawback is that round wires can import a had "feel" to the flashlight as they make the flashlight devices in which they are used seem somewhat lumpy. In order to alleviate this "lumpy feel," prior art flashlights employed a tunnel that was formed into the foam core of the device into which the round wires were placed.
Another difficulty encountered with the use of typical round wires is that they are difficult to manipulate and attach to appropriate components during manufacture. A further difficulty that is often encountered is that traditional round wires are difficult to attach to other small components such as a battery and switch. Although one can be assured of getting a good connection to the battery by soldering the wires to the battery, soldering suffers from the down side of causing the battery to have an unpleasant feeling or bump.
Alternately, wires may be coupled to a battery terminal via tape. Although the use of tape reduces the size of the "bump", it is difficult to ensure that one achieves a good and durable connection between the wire and the batteries when tape is used.
Another problem with the use of round wires is that such wires often have sharp edges. These sharp edges have the capability of piercing the soft plastic sheet-like covers of the soft flashlight, thereby detracting from the feel of the device, and possibly causing some discomfort to the user if the user gets pricked by the wires' sharp edge.
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a soft-type flashlight having an improved wiring system.


The present invention relates to a telescopic boom with at least one outer structure and at least one inner structure, each of which is designed as a hollow section with upper flange and lower flange, the upper flange having a half-basket profile with two rounded edges to which the lower flange is joined with a liner of an essentially U-shaped profile, and each structure being mounted on the adjoining structure with a front and a back bearing. To achieve a stable bearing of the structures and a great usable extension length with this boom under high force level, the invention proposes that the front bearing has a slide element in the area between the lower flanges only in the region of the curvature, and the back bearing has a separate plain bearing half liner in the area between the upper flanges only in the region of each rounded edge.

Booms of this type are known from practice, for instance from mobile cranes. A load is hung on the front end of an extended inner structure so that the inner structure with its lower flange exerts a load on the front end section of the lower flange of the outer structure. At the same time, the rear end of the inner structure exerts a load on the upper flange of the outer structure with its upper flange. Within the scope of this invention, "front" designates the direction towards the load-receiving free end of the boom, and "rear" designates the direction towards the end opposite to the free boom end.
On account of the great forces to be transmitted, special attention has to be paid to the design of the front and rear bearings connected to the inner and outer structures. Apart from a reliable support, these bearings are also designed to counteract undesired deformations of the profile cross-sections of the inner and outer structures. Normally, full support of slide elements of the front and rear bearings is therefore sought to be achieved. The slide elements are each fixed on one side to a laterally bordered plane bearing block on one of the inner or outer structures and the slide elements are each supported on the adjoining outer or inner structure at the opposite side of the respective slide element. Reinforcing support means in the form of collars are required for receiving the forces acting on the slide elements and the bearing blocks. As a rule, the collars on the inner structures for the rear bearings are made continuous over the cross-sectional shape of the inner structure and jointly form an enclosure for the slide elements, whilst the collars of the front bearings are normally mounted externally on the outer structure and consist of solid material with a dimension of 150 to 300 mm in the longitudinal direction of the boom. The collars thereby reduce the usable extension length of the structure in question. As shown in FIG. 6 (prior art), the inner structures cannot be fully telescoped into one another, as they are hindered from doing so by the inner collars. The same happens analogously in the region of the front bearing with the outer collars.
DE-OS 1531174 suggests a roller bearing for telescopic booms with a polygonal cross-section. To receive the edge stresses occurring upon load, each edge of the lower flange has assigned thereto an outer roll, and each edge of the upper flange an inner roll. The outer and inner rolls present obstacles to one another in a disadvantageous manner, whenever the structures are slid into one another, so that the usable extension length of the structures is reduced at least by the sum of the diameter of the rolls arranged side by side. Moreover, the inner rolls occupy a lot of space in the hollow profile cross-section of the inner structure, so that there is only little space for the telescopic cylinder unit arranged therein for extending the boom.

EC Engineering + Consulting Spezialmaschinen GmbH


A proportional integral derivative (PID) controller implements control over a drilling system based on an integral term and a proportional term. The integral term is the integral of an operating drilling fluid pressure compared to a target drilling fluid pressure. The proportional term is the difference between an operating weight on bit and a target weight on bit. The sum of the proportional term and the integral term is multiplied by a controller parameter to determine a surface rate of penetration. A drill pipe lowering rate may be changed based on the determined surface rate of penetration, and the process may repeat in an iterative cycle until the integral term is reduced to an acceptable degree.

During downhole drilling, the drill bit may encounter different drilling conditions. For instance, the formation being drilled may change or the formation fluid pressure may change. These different conditions may affect the drilling procedure and impact drilling parameters such as the rate of penetration, drilling fluid pressure, weight on bit, and torque. In response to the changing drilling conditions, an operator may change one or more of the drilling parameters. For example, the operator may change the weight on bit or the rotational speed of the drill bit. The operator may also change the rate at which drill pipe is lowered into the wellbore. In some embodiments, a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller may control the rate at which the drill pipe is lowered into the wellbore.

Methods of drilling using mixed proportional integral derivative control