A printed circuit board including a terminated power plane is described. Specifically, the power-ground plane construction includes a dielectric layer, a power plane having a peripheral edge, and a ground plane. The ground plane is spaced from the power plane by the dielectric layer, and is positioned in an opposed relationship to the power plane. The power-ground plane construction also includes a termination element coupling the power plane, at or adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, to the ground plane so as to terminate the power plane. In one embodiment, a plurality of termination elements couple the power plane, at or adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, to the ground plane. The termination elements are spaced from each other at substantially regular intervals. In another embodiment, a termination element is a strip or sheet element coupling continuous lengths of the peripheral edge of the power plane to ground plane.

The inclusion of a capacitive decoupling network between the power and ground planes of a printed circuit board (PCB) is well known and desirable for a number of reasons. Specifically, decoupling capacitance may be provided in the form of discrete decoupling capacitors connected between the power and ground planes of the PCB, the discrete decoupling capacitors being located adjacent loads, which typically comprise integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on the PCB. Decoupling capacitance is also provided in the form of intrinsic (or interplanar) capacitance, particularly in multilayer PCBs, by the parallel location of the power and ground planes within a PCB. This decoupling capacitance serves to provide fast risetime current to the ICs and to minimize differential voltages that may develop between the power and ground planes of the PCB, as a result of IC switching events, by isolating the switching currents as "local events. This in turn reduces the potential of the PCB to radiate and conduct electromagnetic interference (EMI).
FIG. 1 shows an equivalent circuit 10 for an integrated circuit 12 and a decoupling capacitor (C.sub.d) 14 mounted on a PCB. The intrinsic or interplanar capacitance is represented by the capacitor (C.sub.0) 16. The power plane is represented by the line 18, and the ground plane by line 20.
The power plane of a PCB should ideally exhibit zero impedance, and it is desirable to minimize the impedance of power planes as much as possible. FIG. 2 is a graph showing power plane impedance (Z) versus frequency (MHz) for an example power-ground plane construction within a PCB having a number of discrete decoupling capacitors mounted thereon. The graph plots the impedance of the power plane, with the PCB configured as a "bare board" (i.e. a PCB without any discrete capacitors mounted thereon), with broken line 22, and the impedance of the power plane, with the PCB having discrete decoupling capacitors mounted thereon, with solid line 24. As is apparent from the graph, the impedance increases dramatically at operating frequencies above a series resonant frequency (f.sub.1) due, inter alia, to the presence of the discrete decoupling capacitors, and the impedance theoretically becomes infinite at a parallel resonant frequency (f.sub.3). The impedance of a PCB employing discrete decoupling capacitors comprises the cumulative impedance of the power and ground planes, vias connecting these planes, traces between capacitors and ICs, and the capacitor mounting pads. The significant increases in the power plane impedance at high frequencies results in the performance of the PCB deteriorating substantially at these frequencies, at which the PCB may not function properly, or may exceed regulatory emission levels.
The series resonant frequency (f.sub.1) is determined mainly by the number and location of the discrete decoupling capacitors. By optimizing the number and location of discrete decoupling capacitors, as well as other PCB characteristics, it is possible to shift the series resonant frequency (f.sub.1) to higher frequencies as increased operating frequencies are encountered. However, PCB operating frequencies are being achieved at which it has become increasingly difficult, inefficient and expensive to match the series resonant frequency (f.sub.1) to the PCB operating frequency.

Printed circuit board including a terminated power plane and method of manufacturing the same


A curved stairway preform designed to be finished in trim thereby simulating a completely wooden curved stairway.

In contrast to the usual and customary central pole firehouse stairway and the expensive, expansive, labor intensive, all wooden circular or curved stairway fabricated in minute detail, manually, with myriad wooden piece parts, the present invention relates to the creation and structure of a straight or curved stairway which simulates faithfully the classic wooden stairway.
The process and structure of the present invention provides a curved stairway which simulates, faithfully, the classic wooden stairway while providing an affordable unit which is available to the mass market.
That is, the present invention provides, at a reasonable price, a curved or a straight stairway or staircase having all the aesthetic appearances including greater strength as well as other desirable attributes not found in the classic wooden structure.
It is well known that the classic wooden structure requires meticulous preparation of jigs and fixtures for the assembly by hand, of many, many piece parts including subsequent installation. In fact, the wooden structures require, frequently, dismantling after assembly at the point of manufacture for reassembly at the point of use. Obviously, the labor and expertise involved in the above procedure make the availability of circular stairways available only to a select few who can afford the luxury.


A grouting material which contains a fine particle material having a Blaine specific surface area of 5000 cm2/g or more, containing 30 to 60% by mass of cement clinker, 40 to 70 % by mass of and blast-furnace slag and 0.5 to 3 parts by mass of gypsum in terms of SO3 based on 100 parts by mass of the total amount of cement clinker and blast-furnace slag, and further contains (i) 4 to 8 parts by mass of calcium-aluminate-based rapid-hardening admixture, (ii) 0.05 to 0.2 parts by mass of setting retarder and (iii) 0.5 to 1.7 parts by mass of high-performance water-reducing agent, based on 100 parts by mass of the fine particle material.

Construction methods using cementitious grouting materials are being employed not only for foundation treatment of dams, prevention of ground liquefaction, and reinforcement of rock and ground in tunnel excavation, but also as a filling material for fixing anchor bolts, recently.
As cementitious grouting materials, for making the grouting more effective, fine particles grouting materials having a Blaine specific surface area of 5000 cm2/g or more obtained by pulverizing and classifying a mixture consisting of blast-furnace slag mainly and Portland cement are used, and there are many examples using such materials.
Fine particle grouting materials having a fine particle size has high hydration activity. Since the viscosity of the grouting material slurry increases due to hydration, expected grouting effects often fail to be exhibited. Also, to ensure the filling effect, it is necessary to maintain a low viscous state for a long period of time. For this reason, high-level dispersion of particles and inhibition of hydration are required. As such dispersion, a high-performance water-reducing agent is widely used (e.g., see Laid-Open Japanese patent publication No. 2003-49164; Patent Document 1).
Fine particle grouting material develops strength equivalent to that of Portland cement. However, due to the use of the high-performance water-reducing agent, the gelation and hardening after injection may be retarded and take 10 to 20 hours in some cases.
The grouting material slurry of injected grout may fail to obtain sufficient effects of the grouting material in a case either where it receives an external force before gelation or hardening or where it contacts with confined water or running water to be removed and washed away from the injected area. And also if hardening of the grouting material is markedly delayed, the whole construction process including the step next to grouting is disturbed, which may lead to economical disadvantages.
On the other hand, as a grouting for limited area, a grouting material composition to which gel time is imparted using a specific rapid-hardening admixture, inorganic sulfuric acid salt and liquid glass is devised for the purpose of shortening the setting time (Laid-open Japanese patent publication No. 2004-231884; Patent Document 2). Such a grouting material has, however, problems that development of strength is insufficient and that a low viscous state cannot be maintained due to high hydration rate.
[Patent Document 1 ] Laid-open Japanese patent publication No. 2003-49164
[Patent Document 2] Laid-open Japanese patent publication No. 2004-231884


The image sensor according to the present invention comprises a shift register which includes a plurality of stages of unit registers Res, a plurality of transistors Tr3, and a plurality of transistors Tr8; each transistor Tr3 corresponds to one of the unit registers Res, and resets an input signal In of a back unit register when the corresponding unit register Res to the Tr3 outputs a high level signal, the back unit register being arranged in back of the corresponding unit register Res in shifting direction; and each transistor Tr8 corresponds to one of the unit registers, and resets an input signal of the front unit register when the corresponding unit register to the Tr8 outputs a high level signal, the front unit register being arranged in front of the corresponding unit register in shifting direction.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a MOS image sensor comprising a dynamic shift register, in particular, to the improvement of the reset function.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Recently, an image sensor using an amplifier MOS sensor has been brought to attention. This image sensor characterized by its high sensitivity amplifies a signal detected by a photodiode for each cell indicating a pixel, using a transistor.
A dynamic shift register is used as a circuit to scan horizontally or vertically a sensor unit which has pixels arranged two-dimensionally in such image sensor as described above so as to enhance simplification, high integration and low power consumption of the circuit.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of the conventional image sensor. This image sensor is made up of an imaging unit 61, shift registers 62 and 63, a signal processing unit 64, and a preamp 65. The imaging unit 61 contains pixels which are arranged two-dimensionally. The shift register 62 outputs a row selection signal to select one of the rows from the imaging unit 61. The shift register 63 outputs a pixel selection signal to select a pixel in the selected row. The signal processing unit 64 derives a pixel signal from the selected pixel. The preamp 65 amplifies the derived pixel signal.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of the conventional NMOS dynamic-typed shift register and is utilized as the shift registers 62 and 63. The diagram only shows 4 stages; however, in actuality, there are from hundreds to thousands stages.
The clock signals Clk1 and Clk2 are two-phase clock signals, on which shifting operation bases. The clock signal Clk1 is inputted into the "2N+1"th(where N is an integer) units, and the clock signal Clk2 is inputted into the "2N"th register units. Thus, the "2N+1"th register units and the "2N"th register units operate in alternate shifts.
In FIG. 2 Res1, Res2 . . . (in a case of mentioning anyone, the abbreviation Res is used) are unit registers. These unit registers memorize a logical value of an input signal In inside in synchronization with a clock signal Clk. Then, each of the unit registers outputs the memorized logical value as the output signals, Out and Next. The output signal Out is outputted as a row selection signal or a column selection signal to the imaging unit 61.
Transistors Tr3-1,3-2, . . . (in a case of mentioning anyone, the abbreviation Tr3 is used) are reset transistors, each resetting an input signal In that is inputted to each of the unit registers. Here, the reset of the input signals means changing the level of the input signals to low level, and thus, discharges the capacity which is connected to the corresponding input signal line (e.g. the gate capacity of the transistor). In other words, each of the transistors Tr3 resets the input signal In by the following two steps. First, the Tr3 changes the level of the input signal In to low level when the output signal Out of the unit register is at high level, said unit register being next to the unit register containing the input signal In that is connected to the current transistor. Then, the Tr3 discharges the charge stored in the memory elements within both the current and the front unit registers. This is to prevent the unit register from keeping the charge forever and remaining at high-level without resetting. After resetting, the level of the input signal In falls to low-level or the state of the input signal In changes to high impedance.
Transistors Tr7-1, 7-2 . . . (in a case of mentioning anyone, the abbreviation Tr7 is used) are on when the reset control signal RS rises to high level, and reset all of the input signals of all the unit registers at once. The reset control signal RS inputs the input signal In1 of the unit register Res1 as a reset pulse right before the start pulse, in synchronization with the start pulse. Thus, all the unit registers get reset (all clear) before the start pulse is applied.
FIG. 3A is a circuit diagram showing a structure of the unit register Res. As the diagram shows, the unit register is made up of NMOS transistors Tr1, Tr2, and a capacitor C1. FIG. 3B shows an operation performed by the unit register in a case the input signal In is at high level. Because the input signal In is at high level, a gate electrode of the transistor Tr1 is already at high level due to a gate capacitor of the transistor Tr1 and a potential of the capacitor C1, before the rising edge of the clock signal Clk(in FIG. 3). In this state, when the clock signal Clk rises from low level to high level, a gate voltage In of the transistor Tr1 is boosted via the capacitor C1(in FIG. 3). Also, the potential under the gate becomes higher than the high level of the clock signal Clk since a voltage higher than the clock signal is applied to the gate of the transistor Tr1, and thereby, the Out signal is outputted at the level as high as that of the clock signal Clk(in FIG. 3). When the clock signal Clk falls to low level, the Out signal is outputted at the level as low as that of the clock signal Clk. Here, the Next signal is outputted at high level even after the fall of the clock signal Clk since the high level is held in the gate capacitor of the unidirectional transistor Tr2.
In the case the input signal In is at low level (or floating), the boost transistor Tr1 is not on, therefore, both of the Out signal and the Next signal are held at low level(or floating) even if the clock signal Clk is inputted.
FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a reset operation of the transistor Tr3 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the clock signals Clk1, Clk2, the input signals (or the internal data) In1˜In4, the output signals Out1˜Out4 are the signals shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
First, the unit register Res1 synchronizes with the Clk1 signal (in FIG. 4), and boosts the input signal In1 which is at high level to hold it inside (in FIG. 4). At the same time the unit register Res1 outputs the output signal Out1 as the pixel selection signal (in FIG. 4), and raises the level of the Next1 signal to high level. The Next 1 that has been boosted to high level is inputted as the input signal In2 into the next unit register Res2. Here, each of the other "2N+1"th unit registers where the Clk1 signal has been inputted is in the state of low level (or in the state of high impedance), and does not take in a high level signal.
In this manner, each of the "2N+1"th unit registers to which the clock signal Clk1 is provided performs a shifting operation. The next clock signal Clk2 performs a shifting operation of each of the "2N"th unit registers.
Also, when the output signal Out2 rises to high level, the reset transistor Tr3-1 is on. This Tr3-1 changes the level of the input signal In1 to low level. Then, the gate electrode of the transistor Tr1 and the charge of the capacitor C1 are discharged, which resets the input signal In1 in the unit register Res1.
When the output signal Out3 rises to high level, the reset transistor Tr3-2 is on. This causes the gate electrode of the transistor Tr1 and the capacitor C1 within the unit register Res2 to discharge. At the same time, the charge of the gate electrode of the unidirectional transistor Tr2 within the unit register Res1 is discharged via the Next1 signal line. In this respect the input signal In 2 is reset in the unit register Res2.
As mentioned above, in the NMOS dynamic shift register, the unit register which outputs the high level signal resets the input signal In which is inputted to the unit register of the front stage.
Such shift register is introduced in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent publication No. S64-44178 which discloses the advanced technology mentioned above. The Japanese Laid-Open Patent publication No. S64-44178 discloses the bidirectional shift register which can choose a shifting direction with two types of groups of transistors. One group of transistors connect the unit registers in the forward direction, and the other group of transistors connect them in the reverse direction.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of the conventional bidirectional shift register. There are two differences between FIG. 5 and FIG. 1. One is that the extra transistors are added: the transistors Tr4-1, Tr4-2, . . . (abbreviated as Tr4 in a case of mentioning anyone), the transistors Tr5-1. Tr5-2, . . . (Tr5), the transistors Tr8-1, Tr8-2, . . . (Tr8), the transistors Tr9-1, Tr9-2, . . . (Tr9), and the transistors Tr10-1, Tr10-2, . . . (Tr10). The other difference is that the control signals Norm and Rev are specified. These different features will be mainly explained in the following.
The control signals Norm, Rev are the signals which designate a shifting direction. In the case of (Norm, Rev)=(High Level, Low Level), they designate the forward shifting operation. In the case of (Norm, Rev)=(Low Level, High Level), they designate the backward shifting operation.
The transistor Tr4 is on when the control signal Norm is at high level, and connects the input and output of the unit register in the forward direction. Also, the transistor Tr10 is on when the control signal Norm is at high level, and transmits the output of the unit register to the reset transistor Tr3.
The transistor Tr5 is on when the control signal Rev is at high level, and connects the input and output of the unit register in the backward direction. Also, the transistor Tr9 is on when the control signal Rev is at high level, and transmits the output of the unit register to the reset transistor tr8.
In the forward shifting operation, the transistors Tr4 and Tr10 are on, and Tr5 and Tr9 are off. In this state, the unit register which outputs the high-level output signals turns on the transistor Tr3 which is connected to the input signal in the previous (the backward in the shifting direction) unit register through the transistor Tr10. In this manner, the input signal of the previous unit register is reset.
In the backward shifting operation, the transistors Tr5 and Tr9 are on, and the Tr4 and Tr10 are off. In this state, the unit register which outputs the high-level output signal turns on the transistor Tr8 which is connected to the input signal of the previous (the backward of the shifting direction) unit register through the transistor Tr9. In this manner, the input signal of the previous unit register is reset.
The transistor Tr7 is the transistor for the all-clear purpose as shown in FIG. 2, and is turned on by the reset control signal RS right before the start pulse in synchronization with the start pulse. In addition, the Japanese Laid-Open Patent publication No. H 6-104292 discloses the shift register which initiates the start at some midpoint of the shift register in order to deal with a zoom mode and the like. For example, this shift register enables scanning from the one-fourth point to the three-fourths point in the shift register.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An element which is used to identify materials, such as, thermoplastics and sort these thermoplastics on a moving conveyor belt. Such structures of this type, generally, employ a diamond knife (or point) for use as an internal reflection element to obtain the mid-infrared spectrum of the material sliced (or punctured) by the knife (or point).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an element which is used to identify materials, such as, thermoplastics and sort these thermoplastics on a moving conveyor belt. Such structures of this type, generally, employ a diamond knife (or point) for use as an internal reflection element to obtain the mid-infrared spectrum of the material sliced (or punctured) by the knife (or point).
2. Description of the Related Art
It is highly desirable for recycled engineering thermoplastics to be recompounded to produce new formulations which would be almost identical to the original product. In order for this to be successful, the recycle portion must be pure. While contamination with certain polymers may be acceptable, others would produce catastrophic results. Therefore, the basic problem is how to assure purity of a recycle polymer stream.
All recycle proposals involve the grinding of individual items to produce a polymer form that can be economically conveyed, transported, mixed with other materials, and extruded. Identification of individual items, before grinding, is the most efficient process to guarantee purity.
Infrared spectroscopy provides as ideal method of material identification, but sample presentation presents a formidable problem. Often times, these items are too thick to be transparent, too irregular to yield good contact for conventional attenuated total reflectance (ATR) techniques, and/or too dull to reflect a measurable amount of energy. In addition, many items are coated with paint or a metallized or textured layer which would interfere with surface or reflection techniques.
Infrared spectroscopy has proven to be very useful for the identification of polymers. The usual application of this technology involves obtaining a transmission spectrum of the polymer in question and then comparing the spectrum to a library of similarly obtained spectra.
Another typical application involves the use of ATR techniques, as shown in FIG. 1. In particular, light is directed into a high refractive index optical element 2 along light path 8. As the light bounces off the faces of the optical element 2, a portion of the radiation extends beyond the surface of element 2 and penetrates thermoplastic samples 4 and 6. Samples 4 and 6, typically, are cut into strips approximately 1/2.times.13/4 inch. Samples 4 and 6 are mounted and tightened against element 2 with, typically, 15 in.-lbs. of pressure. Each time light ray 8 bounces, some of the radiation extends beyond the face of element 2 as shown in areas 10. These areas 10 of the light are called the evanescent waves 10. As wave 10 extends beyond the face of element 2, wave 10 examines material contacting the surface, namely, samples 4 and 6. In this manner, a spectrum is obtained of a thin section of samples 4 and 6 along the front surface of samples 4 and 6. The thickness examined is from 1-15 microns depending on the material and the refractive index of element 2, the angle of incidence, and the refractive index of samples 4 and 6. Typically, all sample spectra are ratioed against a background spectrum obtained with just element 2.
It is also possible to shorten the process time by comparing conventionally obtained interferograms, instead of, spectra. The problem with this technology is material sampling. In order to get a transmission spectrum, the material must be very thin, usually, on the order of several micrometers to tens of micrometers. The usual way to obtain such a sample involves hot pressing a small sample of the polymer. This is a relatively long and labor intensive process that would be almost impossible to automate on a production line or any conveyor-based process.
In some cases, depending on the thickness of the object, it is possible to obtain mid-to-near infrared spectra without sample preparation. This type of technology has proven useful only for sorting plastic bottles and containers. It is important to note that, in this case, the wall thickness of a typical plastic bottle or container is thin enough to obtain spectra with measurable features, in the near infrared and lower mid-infrared regions, without sample preparation.
In the area of engineering thermoplastics, the majority of recycled pieces are too thick to be transparent to near infrared or infrared radiation. Hence, transmission methods cannot be employed. A technique, based on diffuse reflectance, has been shown to be an effective way to obtain the mid-infrared spectrum for these materials. However, significant sample preparation is required. In particular, a small sample of polymer is removed by abrading with a silicon carbide abrasive paper. The sample, still on the paper as small flakes of polymer, is examined in the diffuse reflectance mode to obtain an infrared spectrum. Again, the spectrum is compared to similarly obtained spectra to identify the material. This technique shows promise for recycle applications only where a single sampling would be required to identify a large number of individual parts. An example of such an application would be the dismantling of a number of identical items where the manufacturer is certain all similar parts were manufactured from the same polymer.
Another technique has been devised to obtain spectrum from a flat, moving sample without contacting the surface. In this case, hot air, directed at a point in the sample, provides localized heating. The resulting infrared emission is collected and analyzed to obtain the spectrum. This technique works well with some samples, but would be expected to present insurmountable problems with the assortment of shapes, sizes, and textures anticipated in a recycle stream of engineering thermoplastics. A more advantageous system, then, would be presented if the optical element were able to avoid the problems associated with thick painted, metallized or textured samples while being able to be employed on a conveyor-based system.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for an optical element which is capable of being used on a conveyor-based system, and which at least equals the thermoplastic identification characteristics of the known systems, but which at the same time is capable of identifying thermoplastics which are thick painted, metallized or textured without having to prepare the thermoplastic. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.

Diamond-based, self-sampling internal reflection element for on-line analysis of materials in a recycle stream


Training apparatus comprises exercise equipment mounted to a side surface or a roof of a land vehicle or for mounting to a surface such as a wall of a building or ship. The exercise equipment comprises a support structure which is attached to the surface or roof. In some embodiments the support structure is maneuverable by pivoting with respect to the surface or roof, whilst remaining attached thereto, between a stowed condition and an exercising condition.

The invention relates to training apparatus.
It is known from WO2014/027086 to provide training apparatus comprising exercise equipment and a shipping container. Using a vehicle, the training apparatus is transported with the exercise equipment contained in the shipping container. After the training apparatus has been transported to a site where it is to be used for training, it is removed from the vehicle and the exercise equipment is unpacked from the shipping container and assembled by attachment to the outside of the shipping container. This type of training apparatus is readily transportable to a site where it is to be used, but time and effort are required to remove it from the vehicle used to transport it and to position it on the ground. After the training apparatus has been used, time and effort are also required to load it into or onto the vehicle before it is ready for transport.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 8,485,951 to provide vehicle mounted training apparatus which provides for resistance tube training.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a method of phonetically encoding a text document. The method comprises providing, for a current word in the text document, a phonetically equivalent encoded word comprising one or more syllables, each syllable comprising a sequence of phonemes from a predetermined phoneme set, the sequence being phonetically equivalent to the corresponding syllable in the current word, and adding the phonetically equivalent encoded word or the current word at a current position in the phonetically encoded document, Each phoneme in the phoneme set is associated with a base grapheme that is pronounced as the phoneme in one or more English words.

Reading is an indispensable skill in modern life. The ability to mentally convert written text into meaning allows people separated in place or time to communicate efficiently with each other. Unlike speech, which is a "natural" ability that almost everyone develops early in life without the need for instruction, literacy is a skill of relatively recent development that must be intensively taught.
In an alphabetic language such as English, text characters represent phonemes, the basic units of spoken sound. Phonemes make up syllables, which in turn make up words, and words are grouped into phrases and sentences that contain meaning. The first step in reading an alphabetic language is phonological, and involves decoding text characters into phonemes. The phonemes are grouped into syllables and the syllables into words. Once this decoding and grouping is accomplished, the reader internally "hears" each word. This activates the speech-understanding portions of the brain to obtain the meaning of the words and thereby understand the sentences that comprise them. The ability to decode text characters into phonemes is labelled "phonemic awareness". Studies have shown that approximately twenty percent of people across all language groups have difficulty in developing phonemic awareness when learning to read, mostly for reasons related to brain functioning. As readers become more proficient, they start to recognize whole words, and even phrases, by shape, a function known as "sight word recognition" that involves the visual processing parts of the brain and enables fluency in reading. Developing phonemic awareness allows people to practice reading by themselves and develop sight word recognition without needing to hear an unfamiliar word pronounced externally. Most learners develop sight word recognition after successfully decoding a word five times (some need to see it more than ten times). Practice is therefore essential for developing sight word recognition.
The English language presents particular problems to would-be readers because it has, for historical reasons, relatively poor phonemic orthography, that is, correspondence between how words are spelled and how they are spoken. There is a two-way ambiguity in English orthography. Firstly, many phonemes can be spelled more than one way (for example the long-"e" sound in the word "me" can be spelled as "e", "ey", "ee", "ei", "ea", "y", or "ie"). This ambiguity is referred to as homophonic ambiguity, as it gives rise to homophones—words that are pronounced the same but are spelled differently (e.g. "steel" and "steal"). Secondly, many characters and character combinations (or "graphemes") represent multiple phonemes. For example, the grapheme "a", in addition to representing its "basic" phoneme, i.e. the phoneme as which the grapheme is most frequently pronounced (the short "a" sound in "at"), represents at least three other phonemes (as in "ate", "wash", and "about"). This is referred to as homographic ambiguity, as it gives rise to homographs—words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently (e.g. "bow" to rhyme with "cow", and "bow" to rhyme with "show"). It is homographic ambiguity that presents difficulties to would-be readers. By some estimates, more than half of the words in any passage of standard English text are non-phonetic, in the sense that they involve graphemes representing phonemes other than their basic phonemes. This fraction is even greater for proper names, for example "Cholmondeley", which is pronounced "Chumley". Even proficient readers struggle to phonetically decode unfamiliar proper names correctly. To learn to read such words correctly, a would-be reader can attempt to learn an often inconsistent, and invariably incomplete, set of rules as to how phonemes vary according to context. Alternatively, they can jump straight to the "sight word recognition" stage of reading. Either of these tasks is laborious for most people, particularly so for adults. If the would-be reader does not already know the sound and meaning of the word, the task of phonetic decoding is made more difficult. Therefore, even children or adults with normal phonemic awareness, but who have smaller vocabularies than those from higher-education backgrounds, will struggle with phonetic decoding of anything other than the simplest standard English text.
English is also unusual in that the number of people who speak, but cannot read or write, English in some form as a second language vastly exceeds the number of native speakers. There is also a large class of people, particularly in Asian countries, who can understand written English, but cannot pronounce it. Such people are relying solely on sight word recognition, as they would do in their native, pictographic languages.
There is thus a large number of adults who could benefit from assistance in learning to phonetically decode English, in addition to children of native speakers.
There have been many attempts to reform English spelling to reduce the ambiguities and thereby make written English more phonetic. They fall into two basic categories: those that operate within the existing Roman alphabet, and those that introduce new characters, or variants of existing characters. None of these proposals has ever been widely adopted, for a variety of reasons. Those that operate within the existing alphabet tend not be able to reduce the ambiguities sufficiently to make the reform effort worthwhile, while those that do not involve substantial adaptation costs. Moreover, teaching new readers to read using previous versions of reformed English renders standard English text, which will always predominate, more difficult to read for those readers.
The advent of electronic publishing has made the distribution of documents, particularly books, in customized formats economically feasible. Where previously "special formats" to aid reading by people with reading difficulties of all kinds were limited to large-print books, it is now possible to prepare and distribute books and other documents in a large variety of legibility-aiding formats to suit all kinds of reading difficulties. Examples of such formats include shorter lines, larger line spacing, grading of font sizes over words and lines, eye-tracking guidelines, and many others. However, such formats have not catered to the specific reading difficulty of poor phonemic awareness, or to the needs of adult non-native English speakers.

Text conversion and representation system


A semiconductor die includes at least one process monitoring circuit for evaluating at least one process parameter of the semiconductor die. The at least one process monitoring circuit can include a first group of process monitoring circuits for monitoring NFET speed and a second group of process monitoring circuits for monitoring PFET speed. The process monitoring circuits can be distributed at the corners of the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die further includes a voltage control circuit configured to store optimum voltage information corresponding to the at least one process parameter. The voltage control circuit is further configured to selectively provide the optimum voltage information to a system power supply. The voltage control circuit includes a calculated optimum voltage register that stores the optimum voltage information corresponding to the at least one process parameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally in the field of semiconductors and circuits. More particularly, the invention is in the field of voltage control circuits on semiconductor dies.
2. Background Art
In semiconductor fabrication technology, process parameters can vary significantly from lot to lot, from wafer to wafer in the same lot, and even across the same wafer. For example, process parameters can vary by over 15.0 percent from lot to lot or even from wafer to wafer in the same lot. The process variations can even cause semiconductor dies to operate out of specification, which can significantly affect semiconductor die power, performance, and yield. For example, process variations can affect semiconductor die performance by causing a semiconductor die to have a speed that is either too high or too low. As another example, process variations can also reduce semiconductor die yield, since semiconductor dice that are out of specification may have to be discarded. Thus, semiconductor die manufacturers are challenged to provide a solution to process variations.
One approach currently utilized for dealing with process variations across the wafer consists of "speed binning" semiconductor dies. In "speed binning," the semiconductor dies are tested and sorted based on their operating speed at a specified fixed voltage. This approach works well for mass produced semiconductor dies, such as computer microprocessors, where a market exist for different speed devices. However, this approach does not work as well for many other semiconductor market segments, such as networking semiconductor dice, where volume isn't as high and only a single speed device can be sold.
In another approach, the operating voltage of the semiconductor die is adjusted in an attempt to compensate for process variations. For example, process variations may be overcome by running a slower device at an increased voltage and running a faster device at a decreased voltage. However, this approach is too cumbersome, and thus ineffective, since the supply voltage provided to each semiconductor die would have to be individually adjusted. Additionally, this approach undesirably hinders semiconductor die interchangeability in different hardware platforms.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a semiconductor die that is effectively compensated for process variations such that each semiconductor die meets customer required specifications.

Semiconductor die with process variation compensated operating voltage


A draper belt for a head of a harvester that is to extend about a roller having an outer groove encircling the roller and may include a web and an elastomeric belt guide. The web may have a first surface to carry crop material and a second surface to face the roller. The elastomeric belt guide may extend from the second surface and may include downwardly projecting teeth.

Draper belts are used on harvester heads to convey severed crop material transversely across the head to a feeder housing that further conveys the crop material into the harvester for handling, such as threshing and cleaning. During operation, the draper belts may become misaligned, potentially damaging the belt or other components of the harvester head.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.


The present disclosure is directed to a device and method for guiding a hopping foot across material in a desired pattern using a manually positionable longarm sewing machine, the device having a rigid guide arm with opposing first and second planar sides, a plurality of notches formed in the edges of the guide arm, and at least one attachment point for mounting on the material. The attachment point can be a circular opening, and an anchor point in the form of a temporary disc affixed to the material is sized and shaped to be slidably received within the circular opening to provide a pivot point for rotation of the guide arm, and the notches are sized and shaped to slidably receive the hopping foot of the longarm sewing machine to guide the hopping foot across the surface of the material.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is directed to a device for use in forming quilted designs on fabric and, more particularly, to a tool for use with sewing and quilting machines in generating lines of stitching, particularly for guiding a sewing machine in a pattern such as a circle or an arc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Quilting as both a technique and an art form has developed over the millennia from hand stitching to modern machine sewing. While stitching has the utilitarian function of holding layers and segments of cloth together, it also provides a means of artistic expression through ornate designs along with fabric color and texture selection.
Machines for sewing quilts have been used since the 1800s. Adaptations over the years have resulted in the development of the longarm sewing machine, which has a longer reach and greater mobility than typical sewing machines.
The longarm sewing machine includes a large sewing head with a hopping foot extending downward to contact the fabric. The head is mounted for movement along a frame. Handles on the sewing head allow the operator to guide the hopping foot by hand across the fabric to create a stitching pattern. Some machines can be mounted on frames and robotically controlled, i.e., a computer controls movement of a carriage. More sophisticated (and expensive) machines utilize computers that is integral to the longarm machine itself and is configured to control functions such as pattern placement, stitching coordinates, size, and stitch length.
Tools have been developed to assist operators in manually guiding the sewing head. One example is a tool formed of an elongate bar or flat piece of rigid material that has handles attached at both ends. A centrally disposed slot is formed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool and is sized and shaped to accommodate the hopping foot. This "mini-handle" tool enables an operator to manually maneuver the sewing head across the fabric surface to create a desired stitching pattern.
As with other manual methods of guiding the sewing head, it is subject to operator error. When a pattern is applied to the fabric, the manual guiding method may require the operator to stand behind the machine and carefully guide the sewing head to trace or follow a preprinted or embossed pattern. As the operator must look at the pattern being traced and not at the actual stitching, broken or bunched thread, puckering, folds, misalignment, uneven stitching and other problems can go unnoticed. Alternatively, a freehand approach to creating a pattern while standing in front of the machine can be very difficult to execute when symmetry or repeated patterns are desired. In either case an error can be difficult to undo and, if left in the fabric, will result in an unsightly appearance. For example, many noted patterns utilize a series of concentric circles or arcs. Manually following a tracing of the circles or arcs from behind the machine requires the operator to repeatedly stop the machine and make visual contact with the hopping foot and the stitching line, resulting in frequent stopping and starting of the machine as the operator moves around to maintain a line of sight.
Hence, there is a need for a device that can assist the operator in moving the hopping foot in the desired pattern across fabric or other material when the sewing machine head is manually positionable with the work area completely visible and accessible.


Disclosed are a method and apparatus for a data storage library comprising a first and second drive, a first and second mobile medium, a first and second partition wherein the first partition comprises the first drive and the first mobile medium and the second partition comprises the second drive and the second mobile medium, and a combination bridge controller device. The combination bridge controller device is configurable to control first communication traffic between at least a first client and the first partition wherein the first communication traffic can comprise a first data package. The combination bridge controller device is further configurable to optionally encrypt the first data package for storage on the first mobile medium when the first mobile medium is in cooperation with the first drive.

The data storage industry is experiencing a boom fueled in part by aggressive cost reduction of data storage due to advances in storage technology, broadened international accessibility to the internet and the World Wide Web, and the public's appetite to accumulate data. Unfortunately, with the boom has come associated undesirable activities, such as data attacks and data theft. Data stored in data storage libraries are among the primary targets of such attacks and theft.
Data storage libraries serve as data receptacles for a variety of clients, including businesses, governments, and the general population. These libraries are generally comprised of drive storage devices adapted to read and write data to and from media which can be archived within the libraries. Traditionally, tape media has been used in many of the mainstream storage libraries due to the relatively high storage capacity and data integrity robustness of tapes. One advantage of tape is mobility, providing achievability in remote locations called "vaults", making an 'on-line' data attack difficult, if not impossible. However, should an attacker acquire a tape, the data stored on the tape may be subject to unwanted access. In attempts to prevent unwanted access, the tape, or other mobile media capable of being used in a data storage library, can be armed with a number of security measures including data encryption. One fundamental component of data encryption is the knowledge of how to decode or decrypt the data; such knowledge is known to those skilled in the art as the key. In order to increase security of data, decryption keys can be changed from one data set to another frequently enough to instill sufficient confidence that the encrypted data is secure.
Dealing with numerous keys associated with various mobile media that may be located in a variety of different locations can not only be a management challenge, it can be time consuming. Some clients using a data storage library may consider data encryption as a required feature to protect their data, while other clients may prefer to forgo encryption protection in the interest of conserving resources and time associated with key management. Also, managing the encryption requirements of different clients on in a commonly used data storage library can be complex and problematic.
In an effort to manage differing encryption of stored data on mobile media (within a library or vault, for example) for multiple clients using a common library, both methods and apparatus are disclosed herein. It is to innovations related to this subject matter that the claimed invention is generally directed.

Optional data encryption by partition for a partitionable data storage library


A tank heater control that will control a heater used for heating pressurised tanks over a broad range of temperatures. The system uses a sensor for providing a signal to a processor, in which the signal is indicative of flow of gas from the tank. The processor energizes the heater when gas flows from the tank. In various embodiments, the sensor may be a flow sensor on an outlet from the tank, temperature sensors that detect a difference in temperature of the tank from ambient temperature, or a pressure sensor on an outlet from the tank.

This invention relates to control devices used in conjunction with heating pads when heating barrels and tanks, particularly those that are pressurised and which may contain hazardous materials.
In industry and life in general there is frequently found the necessity for heating the contents of a tank that is located in a place subject to the ravages of the outdoors and the associated elements. A practical method to warm the contents is by utilising an electric heater strapped to the tank. There are a number of such systems available, some of which are controlled by temperature sensing elements and some of which have no controls and they do heat tanks as required.
These systems in general include a heating element, a means by which to attach it to the tank and a power supply cable. In certain applications it is imperative that a limited amount of heat be applied to the tank so as to prevent overheating or over-pressurisation of the contents of the tank. To ensure that the tank contents do not go above a pre-determined safe set-point some systems limit the amount of power of the heater while other systems utilise a fixed point, temperature limiting thermostat as a safety cut-out while other systems use a combination of the two. There follows a list of problems associated with these types of systems when utilised for heating liquid pressurised gas (LPG) in tanks or cylinders.
LPG is used as a fuel over a broad range of temperatures in many areas of the world ranging from the arctic to the tropics. The mix of LPG is particular to each region and depends on the local requirements and each mix has its own heating requirements.
LPG is stored in pressurised tanks in the form of liquid and gas. The liquid portion being heavier fills the lower portion of the tank cavity and the gas being lighter fills the upper portion of the tank cavity. When the need arises, gas is withdrawn from the upper region of the tank and obeys the laws of chemical thermodynamics. As the gas is withdrawn the LPG temperature drops and the pressure within the tank drops thus making it difficult to obtain sufficient quantities of gas from the tank. By applying heat to the liquid contents of the tank the pressure within the tank is increased and greater quantities of gas may be withdrawn from the tank. If too much heat is applied to the tank the pressure could increase to the point where a safety release valve would be activated, releasing explosive gas into the atmosphere thus creating a dangerous situation. It is therefore desirable to heat the tank in a controlled fashion.
In the case of a heater that relies on a thermostat for safety there are three possible common configurations for the thermostat. In the first configuration the thermostat senses and limits the temperature of the heater. In the second configuration the thermostat senses and limits the temperature of the tank. In the third configuration the thermostat senses the ambient air temperature and in combination with a lower power of heater, ensures that the tank contents will not over-heat or become over-pressurised. In the case of the heater that has no thermostat the heating capacity is reduced so as not to overheat or over-pressurise the tank.
The problem with the systems that utilise the thermostats is that they are limited to pre-set operating temperatures which are not functional over a broad range of ambient temperatures. The problem with the systems that have no thermostats is that they have lower heating capacities and thus do not provide sufficient heating capacities in the warmer climates.


A solar power generating device includes a first conductive body, a second conductive body and an insulating body sequentially disposed on the first conductive body, and a solar energy converting unit. The first conductive body has a conducting post upward projected from a hollow sleeve portion of the insulating body and a through opening of the second conductive body, so that a conducting section at a top of the conducting post is exposed at the insulating sleeve portion. The solar energy converting unit is mounted on the conducting section of the first conductive body and in electric contact with the second conductive body. With these arrangements, the solar power generating device may be mounted on a circuit board without the need of distinguishing the polarities of electrodes, and can therefore be easily mounted to and dismounted from the circuit board and be conveniently replaced when necessary.

Considering the depletion of petrochemical fuels available on the earth and the worsening greenhouse effect, energy sources, such as water power generation, wind power generation, geothermal power generation, and solar power generation that do not cause environment pollution have been gradually exploited for use. Among others, solar power generation is more frequently utilized by people because it requires only a solar collector panel to collect solar energy. However, to mount a conventional solar collector panel, a user has to screw a support frame to the ground first, and then screws the solar collector panel to the support frame. The user also has to distinguish the positive electrode from the negative electrode of the solar collector panel, and then correctly connects the solar collector panel to other power-consuming device or power accumulating means. Therefore, the mounting of the conventional solar collector panel involves very complicate and troublesome procedures. Similarly, a lot of complicate and troublesome procedures are also required to dismount or replace the conventional solar collector panel. These disadvantages prevent the conventional solar collector panel from being widely accepted for use in different applications.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a solar power generating device that can be very easily mounted to and dismounted from a circuit board, and accordingly, be conveniently replaced when necessary.


A driving apparatus includes a transmission mechanism portion; a motor housed in a motor housing located at an engine side of the transmission mechanism portion; and a clutch interposed between an engine output shaft and an input shaft of the transmission mechanism portion, wherein: a secondary side of the clutch, which is connected to the input shaft, is configured by a cover; a rotor of the motor is integrally connected to the cover, which is the secondary side of the clutch; a stator of the motor is fixed to the motor housing; a front hub positioned at the engine side of the cover is rotatably supported at a front wall member of the motor housing; and a rear hub positioned at the transmission mechanism portion side of the cover is rotatably supported at a rear wall member of the motor housing.

The present invention relates to a driving apparatus for a hybrid vehicle.
There exists several kinds of driving apparatuses for hybrid vehicles in which a conventional automatic transmission is utilized, and in which a motor and a clutch are located at a torque converter portion. In such a driving apparatus, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2004-1708 for example, a clutch (starting clutch) is interposed between an engine output shaft and an input portion of an automatic transmission apparatus, and a rotor of a motor is integrally fixed to an engine output side (primary side) of the clutch. In other words, the primary side of the clutch has a shell (drum) structure as well as a torque converter, the clutch is accommodated in the shell structure, and the rotor of the motor is integrally fixed to a front cover portion, which configures the shell structure.
Accordingly, in a conventional torque converter, a front of the front cover is fitted to the engine output shaft as a center piece, a rear case is rotatable relative to an oil pump body, and the shell has an oil-tight configuration. This driving apparatus is thus configured as a doubly supported structure to some extent.
However, in the apparatus, in which the rotor of the motor is connected to the primary side of the clutch, the engine output shaft and the motor rotor are connected. Accordingly, at the time of starting by the motor, the engine needs to rotate idly. Therefore, a loss of power occurs. Further, when the motor is utilized as a generator for regeneration, regeneration is difficult until the vehicle stops because of interference by an engine rotational frequency. Further, though the shell structure portion (front cover), to which the rotor of the motor is fixed, becomes the doubly supported configuration to some extent, the front thereof is supported at the engine output shaft by the centerpiece. It is thus difficult to support a shaft center of the front cover with high precision because of influences from vibrations of the engine, or the like. Accordingly, an air gap between the rotor fixed to the front cover and a stator fixed to a housing becomes large, and it is therefore impossible to sufficiently exert performance of the motor.
In the light of the foregoing, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,066, an apparatus is suggested in which a rotor of a motor is connected to a secondary side (automatic transmission apparatus side) of the clutch. In this apparatus, a hub side of the clutch is a primary side connected to an engine output shaft, and a secondary side includes a flange member having a flange. A front of the flange member is opened, and is penetrated with a connecting member (a damper spring, a flexible plate, or the like) that connects the clutch primary side including the hub with the engine output shaft.
In this apparatus, when a vehicle starts, a torque of the motor can be transmitted directly to an automatic transmission apparatus without being interfered by the engine by turning off the clutch. When the motor is utilized as a generator for regeneration, kinetic energy can be regenerated as electric energy until the vehicle stops.


A stand (100) is disclosed. The stand (100) may include a first connecting component and a second connecting component. The first connecting component may include at least one fixing element and a chamber. The chamber may have an opening. The second connecting component may include an insertion portion including at least one fixing element and a chamber. The chamber may have an opening. When the insertion portion of the second connecting component is inserted, along an axis in an insertion direction, into the chamber through the opening, the fixing element in the first connecting component may work in pairs with the insertion portion to cause the first connecting component to be connected with the second connecting component.

Many items, such as a camera, are used with a stand for support and/or removable attachment to a surface that need to be assembled and disassembled from the stand frequently. A camera, as convenient equipment for recording scenes in a particular moment, is widely used all over the world. Sometimes, a camera may be mounted on a camera stand to improve the capturing stability of the camera. One end of the camera stand may be operably connected to the camera while the other end of the camera stand may be attached to a supporting surface. The supporting surface may include a table, a ceiling, a wall, a shelf, etc.
Currently, an integrated camera stand is becoming increasingly popular because of the easiness of installation and flexibility in replacement of components. The integrated camera stand may include a bottom component attached to the supporting surface and a top component connected to the camera. The top component and the bottom component may each include a magnet of opposite polarities such that the top component and the bottom component may attract each other. This conventional integrated camera may be very unstable. For example, the top component may be moved up and down or left and right easily, because the magnetic force between the top component and the bottom component is merely in the axial direction connecting the top component and the bottom component. Because the magnetic force is also relatively weak, the camera together with the top component may be easily stolen by force. If the top component and the bottom component are fixedly connected to each other via, e.g., screw and nut, adhesive, the camera may have a good anti-theft feature and stability but may be difficult to be dissembled.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a stand that may be stable and anti-theft while also easy to be assembled and disassembled.


There is disclosed an image reading apparatus in which the scanning optical system having a slit is caused to scan in a short-side direction of the slit, and light passed through the slit and reflected from or transmitted through an original is guided to a solid-state image pickup element through an optical image forming element so that the image is formed on the solid-state image pickup element and is read. In the apparatus, opening portions for detecting a shift in relative positional relationship between the slit and the solid-state image pickup element are formed in both end portions of the slit in its longitudinal direction corresponding to a portion other than an effective image region of the solid-state image pickup element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital image reading apparatus for reading an original image using a solid-state image pickup element such as a charge-coupled device (to be abbreviated to as a CCD hereinafter) and, more particularly, to adjustment of, e.g., optical characteristics in a digital image apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional slit exposure type image reading apparatus using a line sensor such as a CCD, most adjustment methods are performed by using jigs in the production line.
A conventional adjustment method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, optical elements for guiding an original image to a CCD mainly include a full-speed mirror unit 93 consisting of a slit 91, a first mirror 92, and an illumination device (not shown), a half-speed mirror unit 96 consisting of second and third mirrors 94 and 95, and an image forming unit 100 consisting of a focusing lens 97 for focusing an original image on the CCD at a reduced scale, a CCD 98, and a CCD driver 99.
In adjustment, points to be noticed are not only fundamental points regarding the optical element such as the magnification, resolving power of a lens, and the like, but also adjustment items inherent to slit exposure. The inherent items include right-angle precision of a central line Q of the slit 91 with respect to the scanning direction (a direction P in FIG. 1) of the full-speed mirror unit 93, parallelism between the central line Q of the slit and a longitudinal axis R of the CCD 98, and coincidence (to be referred to as synchronism adjustment hereinafter) between the central line Q of the slit and the longitudinal axis R of the CCD in the short-side direction of the slit through the optical elements.
In the adjustment method in the production line, a jig chart 101 shown in FIG. 2 is held at the position of a contact glass (not shown), and is exposed from the back surface side to form an image of the jig chart 101 on the CCD 98.
In this case, the following method is normally employed. CCD output signals are processed by a personal computer 102, so that the resolving power is adjusted using a portion A on the chart 101, the magnification is adjusted based on the interval of a portion B, the synchronism adjustment is performed based on a tapered chart C, and the right-angle adjustment is performed based on a portion D, while monitoring a monitor 103.
However, in the prior art, when one of optical elements constituting an optical path for focusing original reflection light onto a CCD by a focusing lens through a plurality of mirrors must be replaced due to some trouble on the market, since there is no jig for the production line, it is difficult to perform adjustment unless the jig chart 101 (including back surface exposure means), the processing personal computer 102, the monitor 103, and the like can be used. For this reason, a portion to be adjusted must be searched little by little while observing images. Thus, maintenance on the market is not considered upon design.


A screw driving machine in which a screw having a head is screwed into a work, includes: a body; a nose section positioned toward the work with respect to the body, the nose section holding the screw to be driven; a hammering mechanism accommodated in the body, for hammering the screw into the work until the head of the screw held above the work; a screwing mechanism for screwing the screw hammered into the work; a contact arm slidable with respect to the nose section, the contact arm being pulled in toward the body when the contact arm is pushed against the work; and a locking mechanism for prohibiting the contact arm from sliding in its half way when the contact arm is pushed against the work, and for releasing the contact arm from locking after the hammering mechanism hammers the screw into the work.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a screw driving machine which hammers a screw and then screws it. More particularly, the invention relates to a contact arm locking mechanism in a screw driving machine in which a contact arm is locked by the locking mechanism on its half way.
2. Related Art
A screw driving machine, as disclosed by Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 6-36774, has a driver which performs a screw hammering operation in a direction of axis, and a screwing operation around axis. The driver is driven by compressed air to hammer a screw into a material into which a screw is to be screwed (hereinafter referred to merely as "a work", when applicable), and screw the screw into the work. If, in the screw hammering operation, the stem of the screw penetrates the work, then the following screw screwing operation means nothing, and the screw has little extracting resistance from the work. Thus, in order to sufficiently hold the screw screwed in the work, it is essential to hammer the screw into the work to a predetermined depth according to the thickness of the work.
Hence, heretofore, as shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 of the Specification of the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Application, in order to make the screw hammering stroke of the driver to end at a predetermined position, the following hammering depth control mechanism is employed: A contact member which abuts against the work is arranged slidably along a nose section from which screws are ejected. In hammering a screw into the work, the contact member is held at a predetermined stop position to hold the nose section at a predetermined distance (or at a predetermined height) from the surface of the work, thereby to adjust the screw hammering depth.
In the above-described hammering depth control mechanism, a rotary arm integral with the rotary shaft of a pinion-rack mechanism is engaged with the upper end of the contact member. When the trigger lever is operated, the screw hammering operation is started. Thereafter, the pinion-rack mechanism is operated. In association of the operation of the rack, the rotary arm is rotated to release the contact member, so that the screw screwing operation is carried out. The upper end of the contact member is moved to a retracting position located above beyond the position of the rotary arm. When the trigger lever is released after the screw screwing operation, the rack is reradiated, and the rotary arm is rotated to the initial position.
However, the rotary arm, while rotating to the initial position, may strike against the side surface of the contact member, thus obstructing the returning of the contact member. If the contact member is not returned to the initial position, in the next screw hammering operation, it is impossible to hammer the screw to the predetermined depth, and the pinion gear coaxial with the rotary arm cannot be returned to the initial position. Hence, in the next screw screwing operation, the screw is not sufficiently rotated, so that the screw is not sufficiently held in the work.

Contact arm locking mechanism for screw driving machine


A flat panel display includes a magnetic material for focusing electrons onto a faceplate or phosphors of each pixel on a screen. In one embodiment, a display screen includes a faceplate having a magnetic material (30) deposited thereon. In an alternate embodiment, a field emission display including a substrate (11) with a cathode conductor (12); electron emitting tips (13) disposed over the cathode conductor (12); an insulator (14) disposed around the electron emitting tips (13); a conductive gate (15) over the insulator (14); and a magnetic material layer (19) for focusing electrons emitted from the emitting tips (13).

Cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, such as those commonly used in desk-top computers screens, function as a result of a scanning electron beam from an electron gun, impinging on phosphors of a relatively distant screen. The electrons increase the energy level of the phosphors. When the phosphors return to their normal energy level, they release the energy from the electrons as photons of light, which is transmitted through the glass screen of the display to the viewer.
Field emission displays seek to combine cathodoluminescent-phosphor technology with integrated circuit technology to create thin, high resolution displays wherein each pixel is activated by a plurality of electron emitters. This type of display technology is becoming increasingly important in appliances requiring lightweight portable screens. A promising technology is the use of a matrix-addressable array of cold cathode emission devices to excite phosphors on a screen.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,442, entitled "Display Panel" discloses a field emission device and more specifically discloses a display panel comprising a transparent gas-tight envelope, three main planar electrodes which are arranged within the gas-tight envelope parallel with each other. The three main electrodes are the emitter tip electrode, the grid electrode and the anode electrode, or cathodoluminescent panel. The cathodoluminescent panel may consist of a transparent glass plate, a transparent electrode formed on the glass plate, and a phosphor layer coated on the transparent electrode. The phosphor layer is made of, for example, zinc oxide which can be excited with low energy electrons. This structure is depicted in FIG. 1.
Field emission cathode structures are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,665,241, 3,755,704, and 3,812,559. To produce the desired field emission, a potential source is provided with its positive terminal connected to the gate, or grid, and its negative terminal connected to the emitter electrode (cathode conductor substrate). The potential source may be variable for the purpose of controlling the electron emission current. Upon application of a potential between the electrodes, an electric field is established between the emitter tips and the low potential anode grid, thus causing electrons to be emitted from the cathode tips through the holes in the grid electrode. An array of points in registry with holes in low potential grids are adaptable to the production of cathodes subdivided into areas containing one or more tips from which areas emissions can be drawn separately by the application of the appropriate potentials thereto.
The clarity or resolution of a field emission display is a function of a number of factors including emitter tip sharpness, alignment and spacing of the gates, or grid openings, which surround the tips, pixel size, anode to cathode spacing, as well as-cathode-to-gate and cathode-to-screen to-screen voltages. These factors are also interrelated. Another factor which affects image sharpness is the coincidence of emitted electron strikes on the anode and the location of the desired phosphor pixel.
The distance (d) that the emitted electrons must travel from the baseplate to the faceplate is typically on the order of several hundred microns. The contrast and brightness of the display are optimized when the emitted electrons impinge on the phosphors located on the cathodoluminiscent screen, or faceplate, at a substantially 90 degree angle. If the electrons are not focused in some way upon the faceplate, especially in the case of a large d, then the initial electron trajectories will assume a substantially conical pattern having an apex angle of roughly 30 degree which detrimentally effects the contrast and brightness of the display. Moreover, the space-charge effect results in columbic repulsion among emitted electrons which tends to increase dispersion within the electron beam, as depicted in FIG. 1.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,670 which is hereby incorporated by reference, assigned to the present applicant, discloses a process for the formation of self-aligned gate and focus ring structures around the cold cathode emitter tip which function to collimate the emitted electrons so that the beam impinges on a smaller spot on the display screen and thus results in improved display contrast and clarity. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,282 entitled, "An Electron Source of the Field Emission Type", discloses a "controlling electrode" placed downstream of the "extracting electrode".

Flat panel display with magnetic focusing layer


A rotor includes a hollow rotating shaft that is supported in a non-contact state by a radial self acting air bearing. The rotor also includes a contacting portion for positioning a rotating member in a rotating shaft direction that contacts with the rotating member from the rotating shaft direction. An engaging portion is included for positioning the rotating member in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft direction that engages with an inner surface of the rotating member. A holding portion is formed either in plural portions in a peripheral direction or as a single integrated portion that extends in the peripheral direction near the rotating member that is positioned by the contacting portion and the engaging portion, and that presses the rotating member from an opposite side of the contacting portion by deformation of one portion or a whole portion of the holding portion, and positions and holds the rotating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cost-efficient, accurately-assembled rotor structure (i.e., a rotor) that is supported, in a non-contact state, by a radial self-acting air bearing, and a polygon scanner using the rotor so as to provide enhanced reliability of the polygon scanner as a result of how a rotating member of the polygon scanner is held.
2. Discussion of the Background
Electrophotographic recording apparatuses, such as laser printers or digital copying machines etc., that operate by way of forming a latent image with a light beam are proliferating as a result of their characteristic high image quality, high speed recording, low noise etc., and low price. Such apparatuses include a light source pointed at a rotatable polygon scanner that rotates at 20,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) for high speed recording and high density processing applications. However, if used, conventional bearings that support the rotatable polygon scanner suffer from reliability, noise and longevity (bearing life) concerns as a result of the high speed operation. Therefore, self-acting air bearings that provide support to the scanner are used where the support is provided by a cushion of air.
In reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, Japanese Laid Open Patent No. 5-216707 discloses a self-acting air bearing that supports a high speed rotation of a polygon mirror 2. A rotor 1 is structured in a way so as to mount the polygon mirror 2 on an upper surface of a flange portion 3a that is formed around a center of a shaft direction of a hollow rotating shaft 3 and by holding and fixing the polygon mirror 2 by clamping a mirror keeper 4, which closes one edge of the hollow rotating shaft 3 by a screw, and by engaging a rotor yoke 7 that mounts a rotor magnet 6 in an inner side with a lower surface of the flange portion 3a and by adhering the rotor yoke 7 by way of glue. The rotor magnet 6 and the rotor yoke 7 face a driving coil on a housing side (not shown) and form a driving portion (a motor portion) on a rotor side so that the polygon scanner forms an axial gap direct current brushless motor.
In rotor 1, a fixing shaft that is fixed in a housing is inserted into the hollow portion of the hollow rotating shaft 3. Arranged this way, the rotor 1 is radially supported in a noncontact state by generating a self acting air flow between the rotor 1 and a surface of the hollow rotating shaft 3. Air is conveyed by a groove, such as a herringbone groove, that is formed on a peripheral surface of the fixing shaft. Axially, the rotor 1 is supported in a noncontact state by magnetic force that repels in a vertical direction by facing a permanent magnet 5, mounted on the mirror keeper 4, with permanent magnets that are mounted on an upper portion of the fixing shaft and a cover not shown in FIG. 19. In FIG. 19, a groove 6a is for correcting balance so as to avoid generating large vibrations when the rotor 1 rotates at high speed.
In FIG. 20, with respect to the hollow rotating shaft 3, two states that are viewed from upper diagonal direction and lower diagonal direction are shown, however, the views do not indicate that the hollow rotating shaft 3 needs two pieces. Rather, the views are shown this way so that mounting portions of an upper side and a lower side of the hollow rotating shaft 3 are easy to be understood, and preferred embodiments that will be described below will be presented in a similar fashion.
As a driving portion that rotates the rotor, other than axial gap type rotors, for instance, there are direct current brushless motors of a radial gap-inner rotor type, as disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent No. 5-231427. Also, radial gap outer rotors are available, as disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent No. 61-9138.
However, such conventional self acting air bearing type polygon scanners are subject to getting hot during high speed rotation and thus subjected to repeated temperature swings as the polygon scanner is cycled on and off during its life span. As a consequence, the glue used for fixing a rotor yoke 7 to the lower surface of the flange portion 3a of the hollow rotating shaft 3 is reduced in strength. The glue is also subject to shearing stress do to differences in coefficient of thermal expansion of the hollow rotating shaft 3 and the rotor yoke 7. Subject to such stains, the glue eventually fails and the rotor yoke 7 shifts, causing the rotor 1 to become unbalanced. Further, in an extreme case, there is a problem that the rotor yoke 7 falls from the hollow rotating shaft 3.
The mirror keeper 4 of the rotor 1 clamps and fixes the polygon mirror 2 that is mounted on the upper surface of the flange portion 3a of the hollow rotating shaft 3 by passing the screw 8 through the through hole 4a and clamping a screw hole 3b of the hollow rotating shaft 3 with a screw 8. Thus, the processes for forming the through hole 4a in the mirror keeper 4 and for forming the screw hole 3b in the hollow rotating shaft 3 must be precise, which increases expense. Further, residual cutting oil may remain within the screw hole 3b, where the cutting oil scatters during high speed rotation and soils optical parts such as the polygon mirror or a window glass that is mounted in the cover etc., and therefore elaborate cleaning is required, with associated higher expense.
Further, in the self acting air bearing type polygon scanner, surface accuracy of the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 2 is required. Since a mounting surface of the flange portion 3a is processed coaxially and unitarily with the hollow rotating shaft 3, it has no problem. However, an edge surface of the mirror keeper 4, for pressing the upper surface of the polygon mirror 2, requires high processing accuracy and assembling accuracy and thus also increases the cost.

Rotor and polygon scanner that incorporates the rotor


Integrated circuits compliant with a serial communications protocol with optional features are provided. The optional features include control plane features such as flow control, retry-on-error, clock tolerance compensation, and idle codes and include data path features such as streaming and packetized data modes, configurable data ports and user-defined data channel multiplexing. An integrated circuit compliant with the protocol can transmit streaming data with or without clock tolerance compensation codes. A priority data port can be used to implement retry-on-error functions while user-defined data channels carry user data. The data ports can be individually configured to perform different levels of cyclic redundancy checking. Logic design tools are used to create compliant circuits and systems.

This invention relates to serial communications, and more particularly, to serial communications systems that use a serial communications protocol having optional data path and control plane features.
Serial communications formats are often used in modern electronics systems. Serial communications can be faster than parallel communications, use fewer pins, and, particularly when differential signaling schemes are used, can have higher noise immunity.
A number of functions are involved in controlling the operation of a successful serial communications link. Serial communications protocols in which these functions are mandatory can become "heavy" and require a large amount of resources to implement on an integrated circuit. Serial communications protocols that do not support these functions do not require as many resources to implement, but can be inadequate for many communications tasks.
It would be desirable to be able to provide integrated circuits capable of implementing serial communications protocols with optional data path and control plane features.

Serial communications system with optional data path and control plane features


An apparatus and method provide an apparatus and method for performing the addition of a PKG recoded number, to reduce noise production and power consumption. In particular, the apparatus is accomplished by a circuitry configured to receive at least two values, a first value and a second PKG value. The apparatus generates a sum value and a carry value. The method is accomplished by receiving a first value and second PKG value, and generating a sum value and a carry value from the first value and second PKG value.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for performing arithmetic operations, and more particularly, to reducing noise production and power consumption by performing the addition of PKG recoded numbers.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, traditional dual-rail encoding (i.e. mousetrap logic) is often implemented in arithmetic circuitry. Dual-rail encoding requires that multiple wires be enabled to indicate the proper value. For power and noise reasons, it is desirable to reduce the number of wires routed over an integrated circuit and the switching activity of these wires. Therefore, PKG recoding can be implemented to reduce the number of wires and the switching activity of these wires.
Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a recoding table 2 illustrating the encoding of two logical values into mousetrap logic. The mousetrap logic values are then encoded into PKG recoding values to reduce the number of wires routed over an integrated circuit from 4 wires to 3 wires. There is also a large savings in the switching activity of these wires. The switching activity is reduced from 2 of 4 wires switched to 1 of 3 wires switched, as shown by recoding table 2. These reductions cause the significant savings of cutting power consumption by 50% and the area for wiring by 25%.
Illustrated in FIG. 2A is a block diagram representing the dual rail pairs of signals for values A 3(A&B) and B 4(A&B) being recoded into PKG signals (101–103) by recoding device 9.
Illustrated in FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a possible example of a mousetrap logic encoding circuit 11 for P-propagate code in a PKG recoding. As shown in FIG. 2B, the propagate code 101 is generated from the mousetrap encoding by taking the logical "AND" operation of the high A 3B mousetrap encoded signal and the low B 4A mousetrap encoded signal in the "AND" logic 12. The output from the "AND" logic 12, is one input into the "OR" logic 14. The logical "AND" of the low A 3A mousetrap encoded sign and the high B 4B mousetrap encoded signal is performed in the "ADD" logic 13, and is input as the second input into "OR" gate 14. The final logical operation utilizing the "OR" 14 produces the P-propagate code 101 that is equal to the logical end of the A high 3B and B low 4A, or the A low 3A and B high 4B signals.
Illustrated in FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a possible example of a mousetrap logic encoding circuit 16 for K-kill code 102 in PKG recoding. The kill or clear all bits code in the PKG recoding is represented by a logical "AND" of the A low 3A and B low 4A mousetrap encoding bits. If both the A low 3A and B low 4A bits are enabled, the PKG recoding generates a K code 102, indicating the clearing of both logical bits A 4 and B 5.
Illustrated in FIG. 2D is a block diagram of a possible example of a mousetrap logic encoding circuit 18 for the G-generate code 103 in PKG recoding. The G-generate code 103 in PKG recoding, is constructed utilizing a logical end of the A high 3B and B high 4B bits in mousetrap encoding. If the A high 3B and B high 4B bits are enabled, the PKG recoding will generate a G code 103 that indicates the setting of both bits.
While using PKG recoded signals can reduce the number of wires needed to represent two values, it does cause the problem of how to add numbers in this PKG recoded form. Thus, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Apparatus and method for performing addition of PKG recoded numbers

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A vehicle start-up permission device in which an identification code stored in an electronic key can be kept secret. A start-up permission ECU (1) is magnetically coupled with a transmit-receive controlling circuit (6) of an electronic key (3) via an antenna (2) and an antenna (5) of the electronic key (3) with the electronic key (3) being inserted in an ignition key (4) so as to supply electric power for the circuit. When the ignition switch (4) is operated to an ACC position, the start-up permission ECU (1) transmits a random number code. When the transmit-receive controlling circuit (6) of the electronic key (3) receives the random number code, it converts by predetermined encryption processing a previously registered key code to a return code on the basis of the random number code and returns the return code. When the start-up permission ECU (1) receives the return code, it decodes a key code on the basis of the random number code, and when the key code coincides with the previously registered key code, the start-up permission ECU (1) outputs a start-up permission signal to an engine-controlling ECU (7).

In order to improve security, it has been recently suggested that, in a vehicle, an electronic key be used in which, for example, a transmitting circuit is integrated with a mechanical key. In this structure, an identification code is transmitted from an electronic key in a state of being inserted in an ignition switch, and when the identification code transmitted from the electronic key coincides with a previously set identification code, the electronic key is judged to be true and, based on this, an engine is caused to start up in accordance with a turning operation of the electronic key.
However, in the above-described conventional structure, the identification code itself is transmitted from the electronic key, and therefore, it is possible to read the identification code stored in the electronic key.

Vehicle start-up permission device and identification code registering method

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki Seisakusho


The present invention is a wheel assembly having a rim with a valve aperture extending therethrough that is designed to receive a valve having a simplified a construction that can be seated directly within a tire wheel assembly to minimize the number and type of components necessary for the valve. The valve includes a main body that is positionable in a sealed and recessed or embedded configuration within the aperture in the wheel rim in communication with the interior of the tire and with a pressurized air source that is used to inflate or deflate the tire. The main body encloses a valve mechanism that includes a components situated within the main body in a manner that enables the parts to be easily removed, cleaned and/or replaced if necessary without having to remove the entire valve assembly from the wheel.

In order to inflate and deflate the tires forming part of the wheels on a vehicle, valves are located on the rims or hubs of the wheels to be used for selectively inflating and deflating the tires disposed around the wheel rims. Air can be directed through the valves either into or out of the tires to increase or decrease the air pressure in the tires, correspondingly altering the ride characteristics of the individual wheel, and the overall vehicle.
On most occasions the valves are only accessible from the exterior of the wheel, such that it is necessary to exit the vehicle to use the valve to inflate or deflate the tire. However, various central tire inflation systems have been developed that provide valves on the wheel rims that can be remotely activated from the cab or other driver compartment for the vehicle. These systems enable an individual to control the flow of air into and out of the vehicle tires using the valves to vary the ride characteristics of the tires as necessary. Examples of systems of this type are illustrated in each of Howald et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,383, and Wang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,468, both of which are incorporated by reference herein. In each of theses patents, the rim of the wheel is formed with internal passages that enable air to be selectively passed from a compressed air supply through the passages to a valve. The valve is selectively operable from within the passenger compartment or cab of the vehicle to enable air to flow through the valve and into the tire through the passages formed in the rim. The passages are formed in either the outer rim (as in the '383 patent) or in the inner rim (as in the '468 patent) and form a flow path from an inlet for the compressed air through the rim and the associated valve to an opening on the exterior surface of the rim component that is located between the opposed sides of the wheel formed by the inner and outer rim sections. This outlet is also located between the beads of a tire mounted to the wheel, such that air exiting the outlet is retained within the tire to increase the air pressure, i.e., inflate the tire as desired.
Nevertheless, these prior art central tire inflation systems utilize passage designs that require the valves utilized therewith to have designs which require a number of additional components for the incorporation of the valves into tires for use with existing central tire inflation systems. These additional components greatly increase the cost and complexity of the valves, causing the valves to fail on a regular basis, necessitating that the valves be repaired and/or replaced on a consistent basis.
Additionally, the configuration of the passages in the rim in the prior art systems requires that the valve be positioned in an abutting relationship with the passages on the exterior surface of the rim component, i.e., surface-mounted on the rim. This positioning for the valve on the exterior of the rim in an exposed location where the valve can easily be damaged by debris or other objects striking the valve when the vehicle is in operation. In most instances, a wheel cover is required to protect the valve and other ancillary components for the central tire inflation system, such as hoses and fittings. The wheel cover is formed of steel or a composite material, and can trap rocks within the cover when in use, turning the cover into a rock tumbler that enables the rocks to damage the valve and other components of the CTIS system on the wheel that the cover is meant to protect.
As a result, it is desirable to develop a valve for use in a central tire inflation system that includes a minimum of parts and that can be incorporated into a number of different types of wheels. Also, it is desirable to develop a valve that can be positioned within a rim of a wheel incorporating a central tire inflation system that in a recessed or imbedded manner to effectively reduce the profile of the valve on the exterior of the wheel, thereby reducing the likelihood of the valve being struck and damaged during operation of the vehicle.

Central tire inflation wheel assembly and valve


The present invention allows a driving device, which drives a three-phase brushless motor in a sensorless manner, to detect an initial position of the brushless motor and start drive of the motor without performing positioning processing. In a device for driving a brushless motor by sequentially switching six energizing modes, in which two phases to be energized are selected out of three phases, energization is performed sequentially in six energizing modes before start of drive so that the motor does not rotate, and each induced voltage of an opened phase is acquired, induced voltage difference is obtained in each predetermined combination of energizing modes, and it is estimated to which one of six divided regions an initial position of the brushless motor corresponds based on a maximum value of induced voltage differences obtained.

Patent Document 1 discloses sensorless control in a driving device that drives a three-phase brushless motor by switching six energizing modes in which two phases to be energized are selected out of three phases of the three-phase brushless motor, the sensorless control switching the energizing modes sequentially in accordance with a result of comparison between terminal voltage and reference voltage of a non-energized phase.

Device for driving three-phase brushless motor