Apparatus and methods are provided for classifying wine in terms of fruit and non-fruit flavors. A first scale is provided for scoring wine in terms of fruit flavor, and a second scale is provided for scoring wine in terms of non-fruit flavor. The first and second scales may be displayed in a two-dimensional chart, and the fruit and non-fruit scores of particular wines may be displayed on the chart to visually communicate wine flavor information.

In recent years, the accessibility of wine has increased tremendously. A consumer may now purchase wine not only at bars, restaurants and wine stores, but also at many supermarkets, warehouse stores, drug stores and convenience stores. In addition, consumers with Internet access may now purchase wine from numerous online wine merchants and wineries. In particular, the Internet has enabled many small wineries to reach a potential market that might otherwise be unavailable to the vintner.
Although wine is now widely available, many people find the process of evaluating and selecting wine to be very intimidating. Indeed, the sheer variety and number of available wines often can seem overwhelming. To aid the wine selection process, some consumers rely on objective factors to categorize wine. For example, wine may be classified based on grape variety or variety blend (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, etc.), growing region or appellation (e.g., Napa Valley, Bordeaux, etc.), vintage (e.g., 1999, 2000, etc.) or brand (e.g., Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon, Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.). Although these categories provide a way to describe wine, the categories are not reliable predictors of wine flavor, and provide little guidance for comparing flavor differences between wines. As such, a consumer can only guess the wine flavor based on these categories.
To overcome the static nature of such classification systems, several wine experts and wine magazines have developed systems for categorizing wine based on other criteria. For example, some wine critics, such as Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer, have developed ratings scales to classify wine. The ratings scales typically use a 100-point scale to rate wine quality, with 50 being the lowest and 100 being the highest assigned scores. Each wine is assigned a score or a score range (e.g., 90–100) on the scale based on any of a variety of factors, such as color, appearance, aroma, bouquet and finish. Although such ratings are effective at communicating information regarding overall wine quality, the ratings are of little help in categorizing wine in terms of flavor.
To overcome this limitation, wine scores are sometimes accompanied by written descriptions of a wine's flavor. For example, Wine Advocate, issue 156, page 19 describes one rated wine as "a seriously-endowed smoky effort revealing hints of bacon fat, black raspberries, espresso and vanillin from new oak casks. Dense and full-bodied, with great purity, terrific texture, elevated alcohol (not excessive), and moderate tannin in the long finish . . . . " Although such summaries include lush descriptions that may evoke vivid sensations, the reviews lack any clear or consistent technique for defining or comparing wine flavors. Indeed, it may be difficult for a consumer to compare one wine described as a "seriously endowed smoky effort" with another wine having "a tight, firm beam of mineral, pear and green apple fruit."
In an attempt to add some consistency to the process of characterizing wine, some wine experts have proposed a uniform vocabulary used to describe wine flavor. For example, Dr. Ann C. Noble, of the University of California at Davis, developed a "wine aroma wheel" that includes specific terms used to describe wine flavors. The wine aroma wheel includes three concentric circular wheels. The innermost wheel is subdivided into 12 pie-shaped slices that describe generic wine flavors/aromas (e.g., "floral," "spicy," "fruity," "nutty"). The middle wheel is subdivided into 27 associated pie-shaped slices that further define the wine flavors/aromas of the innermost wheel (e.g., "fruity" is further subdivided into "citrus," "berry," "(tree) fruit," "(tropical) fruit," "(dried) fruit" and "other"). Finally, the outer wheel is subdivided into 87 associated pie-shaped slices that more specifically define the wine flavors/aromas of the middle wheel (e.g., "berry" is further defined as "black berry," "raspberry" and "strawberry" and "black currant/cassis").
To describe the flavors or aromas of a particular wine, a taster first selects one or more of the generic descriptors from the inner wheel, and then further refines the description by successively selecting associated descriptors from the other two wheels. Thus, a particular wine may be described as "skunk/sweaty/green beans/melon," "dusty/rubbery/burnt match/strawberry jam/violet/soy sauce," or any other combination of the specific descriptors of the outer wheel. Although the aroma wheel provides a consistent vocabulary for describing wine flavor, it fails to provide a simple, intuitive system for easily comparing and evaluating wine flavor. Indeed, for many consumers, it may be a bit unwieldy to compare three chardonnays, the first having a "lemon/grapefruit/apple/orange blossom" flavor profile, the second having a "hazelnut/oak/apricot/banana" flavor profile, and the third having a "lemon/pear/butterscotch/vanilla" flavor profile.
To simplify the wine classification process, some systems characterize wine in terms of a relatively small number of flavor categories. For example, Best Cellars, Inc. classifies wine in one of eight "style categories" that include "fizzy," "fresh," "soft," "luscious," "juicy," "smooth," "big" and "sweet." Although such categories may be used to provide very high-level classification of wines, many wines may not easily fit into any of the eight predefined categories. For example, "juicy" wines are defined as "Light-bodied red wines. Fruity, upfront, instantly drinkable," whereas "smooth" wines are defined as "Medium-bodied red wines. Velvety, graceful, deliciously refined." A typical Loire Valley Cabernet Franc is a light-bodied red wine, but is often not particularly fruity. A good Oregon Pinot Noir has strong, upfront fruity flavors, but also is medium-bodied and velvety. Thus, neither wine seemingly would easily fit into any of the broad categories used in the Best Cellars system.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for classifying wine in a way that is simple and easy to understand.
It further would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for classifying wine in a way that may be used to communicate relative wine flavor.
It also would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for classifying wine in a way that may be used to compare flavor differences between wines.
It additionally would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for consistently and systematically classifying wine.
It also would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for classifying wine in an all-inclusive manner.

Methods and apparatus for classifying and selecting wine


The present invention relates to a synchronously lighting apparatus of a vehicle meter. The digital signal transformed from the measured value triggers the light-emitting device of the light-outputting group so as to change the lighting status and triggers the display machine synchronously. Accordingly, an obvious warning is obtained.

The increasingly expanded static functionalities and dynamic statuses of the vehicle are displayed by means of measuring meters, for example, a speed meter, an engine speed meter, a fuel meter, an in-vehicle temperature meter, etc. The measuring meters of the general vehicle for showing measurement data are designed to fit for use habit of the driver, wherein all measuring meters are designed in the form of LCD panels, pointer type display panels, or digital simulated pointer type display panels. Consequentially, these measuring meters do not provide eye-catching warning effect for the driver.
A conventional technique discloses an electronic control loop that triggers a RGB light-emitting device by comparing and mixing lights and changes light-projecting sources with different colors by a microprocessor in accordance with setting values of the meters. The driver is aware of various warring messages through variation of the projected lights so as to prevent himself from danger. Accordingly, these pointer type meters achieve the purpose of controlling color.
The microprocessor disclosed in this conventional technique is for receiving pointer-shifting signals and outputting corresponding control programs stored in the memory to the electronic control loop by means of control, operation, etc. However, the function of receiving pointer-shifting signals means that this conventional technique must provide at least one electrical connection to the pointer. Nevertheless, the modern vehicle meter does not necessarily adopt the pointer as its indication tool. It may adopt the digital symbols. Moreover, the function of receiving pointer-shifting signals means that the microprocessor operates in accordance with the received pointer-shifting signals. In case the pointer has a breakdown or a malfunction, the display tool is totally not able to work.
However, the aforementioned conventional technique is merely confined to the color domain while the human eyes sense the status variation by means of color, lighting, and light intensity.

Synchronously lighting apparatus of vehicle meter


The rotary disc conveyor system is formed of a series of units or pans linked together to form a continuous conveyor run. Each of the pans preferably includes a pair of rotary discs thereon, with all of the discs of the system rotating simultaneously and unidirectionally to convey material along the conveyor run. Each disc includes a series of generally radially disposed vanes thereon, to assist in sweeping the material along the conveyor. Guides may be installed along either side of the system, between each disc, to facilitate material flow and restrict return flow. Mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical power may be used to provide rotation of the discs. The rotary disc conveyor is particularly well suited for use in longwall coal mining for removing loose coal from the mining head and conveying it along the face of the wall to another transport system for removal from the mine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to powered conveyor systems for continually transferring material from one point to another, particularly in the longwall coal mining industry. More particularly, the present invention comprises a conveyor system formed of a series of relatively short units which may be assembled together, with each unit containing a pair of rotary discs therein. Power is provided for rotating the discs, with the rotation of the discs transferring material from disc to disc along the conveyor run.
2. Description of the Related Art
Powered conveyor systems have universal application in the continuous transfer of material from one point to another, and have long been used in a number of different industries and environments. Most such conventional conveyor systems utilize a flat belt or belts driven by powered rollers, to convey the material from one point to another. Generally, this principle has proven to be reasonably durable and reliable for the conveyance of most goods and materials.
However, such conventional conveyor systems are pushed to the limit of their reliability when installed in some relatively harsh environments. An example of such is the coal mining industry, particularly in longwall underground mining. The longwall mining technique has been developed relatively recently, i.e., in the past few decades. In longwall mining, a mining machine advances laterally along the face of the coal seam, which may be on the order of a thousand feet in length. A longwall face conveyor system extends behind the mining machine, and parallel to the face of the seam and travel of the mining machine. Conventional longwall face conveyor systems are powered by endless runs of conventional link chains, and operate continuously to transfer tons of coal from the mining machine to the end of the longwall face and conveyor run, where the coal is transferred to another conveyor or to a coal skip for transport to the surface.
The problem with conventional chain driven conveyor systems is that even though they are constructed of extremely sturdy materials, they are still prone to shutdown primarily due to breakage of links in the chain drive mechanism. When a single link breaks, the conveyor line is shut down, which shuts down the entire mining operation until the conveyor system is repaired. Considering the lost time when such a conveyor system is down for maintenance and/or repair, and the expense of repairing such systems underground, it can cost a mining operation on the order of two million dollars per year to repair and maintain a longwall face conveyor having a one thousand foot run.
The present invention provides a solution to this problem by means of a longwall face conveyor system utilizing a completely different principle of operation. The present conveyor system is formed of a series of separate units or pans, with each pan preferably containing a pair of vaned rotary discs thereon. The pans are linked together to form a conveyor run of the desired length. The rotary discs may be powered by any of a number of different means, e.g., roller chain and sprocket assemblies, rotary shafts extending between each pan and disc, or electric or hydraulic motors, etc. The present rotary disc conveyor system is considerably more durable than conventional link chain driven conveyor systems, resulting in far less down time for the conveyor line. The present rotary disc conveyor system is particularly well suited for use in longwall coal mining, as noted further above, but may be used in virtually any environment where conventional conveyor systems are used.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 842,056 issued on Jan. 22, 1907 to John C. Barr, titled "Circular Floor Conveyor," describes various embodiments of such circular conveyor systems. One embodiment incorporates multiple circular conveyors, but the conveyors include high peripheral walls and are separated into compartments by radial walls. These conveyors are not configured so much for the transfer of material from one to another, as for rotating the compartments for convenience in loading and unloading.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,415,201 issued on Feb. 4, 1947 to Erich R. Zademach et al., titled "Rotary Conveyor," describes a single, circular conveyor having a toroid configuration. The conveyor surface thus does not extend completely across the span of the Zademach et al. conveyor, and no means is provided to link a series of such conveyors together in a synchronized drive system, as provided by the present rotary conveyor system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,074 issued on Oct. 30, 1962 to Albert Musschoot, titled "Rotary Conveyor," describes a single rotary disc for redistributing loose material from an input chute to an output chute. A diverter blade extends from the center to one edge of the disc, but the diverter blade is stationary relative to the rotary motion of the disc. No multiple discs having a synchronous drive system are disclosed by Musschoot.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,210 issued on Mar. 17, 1964 to Charles E. Sheetz, titled "Rotary Fruit Handling Apparatus," describes a rotary distribution system which accepts articles from an overhead linear conveyor and distributes them to the periphery of the rotary devices. The only conveyor apparatus in the Sheetz machine is the overhead linear conveyor. Also, the Sheetz rotary elements are formed of two concentric discs separated by opposed spiral panels. The two concentric discs rotate at different speeds relative to one another. While Sheetz shows a pair of rotary disc assemblies in his machine, this is only to provide additional handling stations. The Sheetz machine is not truly a rotary conveyor, as it does not transmit material from one rotary assembly to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,104 issued on Dec. 26, 1967 to Herbert S. Winfield, titled "Parcel Distribution And Display System," describes a carousel type airline passenger baggage handling system. Multiple carousels are shown, but each has a separate linear feed conveyor or chute, and none of the carousels communicate with one another. The carousels are stand-alone devices, rather than being set into a stationary unit or pan, as is the case with the present rotary disc conveyor system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,724 issued on Nov. 19, 1974 to Wilber C. Belk, titled "Accumulator For Fragile Articles," describes a single turntable having a depressed center, for accumulating articles. When sufficient articles have collected on the turntable, the table is tilted to dump the articles on a linear conveyor. Only a single rotary disc is disclosed by Belk, with no communication between plural rotary conveyor discs as provided by the present system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,189 issued on Nov. 1, 1977 to Donald L. Freed, Jr., titled "Material Gathering Device For A Mining Machine," describes a cutting drum disposed at the end of a boom, with a series of rotary discs positioned behind the cutting drum for transferring ore from the cutting drum to a conveyor extending along the boom. The rotary discs rotate in opposite directions to one another, in order to move the material centrally between the two center discs and laterally off the disc assembly to the conveyor. In contrast, the present system rotates all of the discs in the same direction, to convey material along the length of the present disc conveyor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,649 issued on Mar. 14, 1978 to Ole Prydtz, titled "Conveyor Systems," describes a complex mechanism for laterally displacing and rotating a series of conveyor discs in an overlapping assembly. The discs are sequentially displaced from their alignment as they are drawn along the conveyor chain, whereupon they rotate to displace an article(s) carried thereon until returned to their aligned positions. The present rotary disc conveyor system differs considerably from the Prydtz mechanism, in that in the present system: (1) the discs do not overlap; (2) each pair of discs is secured in its own pan or carrier, with a series of such pans or carriers being assembled together to form the conveyor of the present invention; (3) the discs are not displaced from their relatively fixed locations in their respective pans or carriers; (4) the discs of the present system rotate generally synchronously and continuously; (5) the present system includes a series of transfer vanes or blades atop each disc to urge the material from disc to disc; and (6) the present system is rotationally and directionally reversible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,520 issued on Apr. 24, 1979 to Angelo Palmieri et al., titled "Device For Feeding Articles," describes a device for sorting candies for distribution to a wrapping machine. The Palmieri et al. mechanism includes a pair of separated discs, but each of the discs has pockets for containing individual candies; such pockets teach away from the necessarily flat surfaces of the present discs. Moreover, a separate, relatively complex transfer mechanism is required to move candies from one disc to the other, unlike the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,055 issued on Jun. 26, 1979 to William R. Eberle, titled "Gathering Head," describes a rotary disc transfer assembly for transferring ore dislodged from a seam by a mining machine, to a conveyor extending back of the mining machine. FIG. 8 of the Eberle issued patent illustrates a four disc assembly which more closely resembles the device of the Freed '189 U.S. Patent discussed further above, than it does the present invention. The same points of difference between the Freed mechanism and the present invention, i.e., the opposite direction of rotation of discs to either side of the center in order to convey ore laterally from the mining machine and gathering head to a conveyor extending generally normal thereto, are seen to apply here as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,508 issued on May 5, 1987 to Shinichi Inoue et al., titled "Product Feeding Device For Combination Weighing Machine," describes a distribution system comprising a series of overlapping discs which distribute a product from one side thereof to the opposite side. A corresponding series of fixed fences assists in guiding the product across the line of discs, to the exit side. As in the cases of the devices of the Freed '189 and Eberle '055 U.S. Patents, the Inoue et al. mechanism is not truly a conveyor system, as it does not convey anything along the length of the overlapping discs, but rather transfers material from an entry side of the line of discs, to the opposite exit side. The fixed fences and lack of lateral retaining walls of the Inoue et al. mechanism render it incapable of conveying material along its length.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,707 issued on Jun. 9, 1987 to Stanley R. Vancelette et al., titled "Disc Transfer Mechanism For Electrical Component Assembly Machine," describes an apparatus having a series of spaced apart discs thereon. The discs accept electronic components from one side of the line, and rotate through a partial revolution to place the components on a conveyor. The Vancelette et al. apparatus is thus not a conveyor per se, but rather a handling device for transferring objects from one side of the device to a conveyor on the opposite side, which then conveys the objects to another location. The Vancelette et al. mechanism thus has more in common with the transfer or handling mechanisms of the Freed '189, Eberle '055, and Inoue et al. '508 U.S. Patents, than it does with the present rotary disc conveyor system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,999 issued on Jul. 16, 1996 to Anthony D. Ford, titled "Apparatus For Rotating A Flat Article Through A Desired Angular Orientation," describes a conveyor system having a series of widely spaced discs extending from the plane thereof. As the discs travel along the bottom run of the conveyor, they grip articles carried on another conveyor therebelow. The discs are rotated through a partial revolution to align the carried articles as desired on the lower conveyor. The Ford conveyor mechanism thus more closely resembles the apparatus of the '707 U.S. Patent to Vancelette et al. than it does the present rotary disc conveyor system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,545 issued on Jun. 3, 1997 to Roger D. Plumley, titled "Apparatus For Continuously Conveying Coal From A Continuous Mining Machine To A Remote Floor Conveyor," describes a linear conveyor system formed of a series of interconnected endless linear belts. The assembly includes motive power for repositioning as desired. The Plumley apparatus is closely related to such mechanisms used in the coal mining industry at present. The present rotary disc conveyor system, in contrast, is configured to operate along the face wall of a longwall continuous mining operation, and convey coal to a linear conveyor for conveyance from the mine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,468 issued on Jul. 27, 1999 to Carlo Corniani et al., titled "Method And Unit For Orienting Pump-Operated Caps," describes a bottle capping machine. The machine includes a pair of wheels or discs which rotate opposite one another, and which grip bottles about the disc peripheries. No means is disclosed by Corniani et al. for conveying material atop a series of such discs.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/96,934 published on Jul. 25, 2002, titled "Mining Machine And Method Of Mining," describes a system wherein a continuous mining machine mines a roadway tunnel into the ore seam, with a pair of augers mining a series of tunnels lateral to the roadway. The coal is carried from the mine on conventional chain and belt conveyors. The publication makes no disclosure of any form of rotary disc conveyor system.
Japanese Patent No. 58-100,033 published on Jun. 14, 1983, titled "Coal Throwing In Device Of Storage Tank," describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a rotating conveyor system for distributing coal evenly within a cylindrical storage tank or container. The conveyor system itself is an extendible linear device, with no rotary disc components. However, the linear conveyor may be rotated about a vertical axis extending through the center of the tank, to distribute coal evenly about the sides of the tank rather than creating a mound of coal in the center of the tank.
Finally, German Patent No. 3,726,450 published on Mar. 2, 1989, titled "Device For Loading Saggers With Ceramic Material Or For Unloading The Ceramic Material From The Saggers," describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a linear and rotary conveyor system for use in the ceramics industry. "Saggers" (fireproof containers) are loaded with ceramic articles to be fired, and emptied after firing, by means of the conveyor system of the '450 German Patent Publication. However, the conveyor system uses only a single rotary component in making a 180° change of direction during the loading and unloading of the "saggers." No continuous, linear conveyor system comprising a series of rotary discs is provided in the '450 German Patent Publication.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a rotary disc conveyor system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A screw-based dispenser for the application of cosmetic products and other applicable gels, liquids, and solids. The screw-based dispenser may have one or more of the following features: a cylindrical outer casing having at least two diametrically opposed feedback struts, a threaded screw connected to a base that is rotatable relative to the cylindrical outer casing, an elevator retention mechanism, a movable elevator operably engaged with the threaded screw within the cylindrical outer casing, and an elevator locking mechanism providing resistance to spontaneous axial movement of the elevator toward an end of the threaded screw opposite the rotatable base.

A variety of dispensers for the application of cosmetic products and other applicable gels, liquids, and solids are generally known and used by consumers. One type of conventional screw-based dispenser has a cylindrical outer casing filled with an applicable substance, such as lip balm, wherein the applicable substance is placed upon an axially movable elevator. The axially movable elevator is engaged with a screw contained within the cylindrical casing, and rotation of the screw within the cylindrical outer casing is controlled by a rotatable base adjacent to one of the ends of the cylindrical outer casing. When the base rotates the screw, the movable elevator axially progresses up or down along the thread of the screw within the cylindrical casing, causing the applicable substance to either be propelled or repelled depending upon the direction of rotation of the base.
One problem with the manufacture of such screw-based dispensers is the issue of "up-elevator." After the screw-based dispensers are molded, they are often transported to another facility to be filled with the applicable substance. During filling, the movable elevator needs to be disposed near the non-dispensing end of the cylindrical casing in order for the cylindrical casing to be fully filled with the applicable product. However, jostling of the empty dispensers during transportation can cause the movable elevator to travel up from the non-dispensing end of the cylindrical casing closest to the rotatable base to a higher position. Not only does the higher position of the elevator result in a screw-based dispenser being less than optimally filled, but the higher position of the elevator even more problematically causes the excess applicable product that would normally fill the dispenser to spill over onto the manufacturing equipment. Cleaning up the manufacturing equipment and locating the insufficiently filled dispenser wastes time and materials.
Another drawback to conventional screw-based dispensers is that they can be disassembled by rotating the movable elevator off the top of the screw. Yet another drawback to conventional screw-based dispensers is a lack of sensory feedback when turning the rotatable base, with the result that a user is unable to ascertain whether the applicable product has been propelled or repelled a sufficient distance by the movable elevator without visual verification. Another drawback is the issue of floating, wherein the rotatable base is unintentionally rotated due, for example, to contact between the rotatable base and a user's pocket, causing the applicable product to inadvertently be propelled.
The manner in which these and other drawbacks of conventional screw-based dispensers are overcome is described in more detail in the following sections of the present disclosure.

Screw-based dispenser having locking elevator and elevator retention mechanism


A system, according to one embodiment, includes a first end having several first contacts configured for coupling with a circuit board, a second end oriented about orthogonal to the first end, and a plurality of leads connecting the first and second contacts. The second end has a plurality of second contacts configured for coupling directly with a card edge of an electronic device. The orientation of the second end relative to the first end is fixed. A system, according to another embodiment, includes a circuit board, a plurality of such connectors.

Conventional card edge connection layouts may include condensed vertical backplane connections. Vertical backplane connection layouts may be perpendicular to the airflow through the card environment, e.g., such as a high performance card in a computer, etc., which may be disruptive to normal functionality e.g. due to overheating, etc. These conventional card environments may further lack hot swap accessibility due to condensed layout designs of vertical backplane connections. Again this may prove disruptive to normal functionality due to complications involved in swapping out the vertical backplane components e.g. swapping due to a non-functional component, swapping due to increased functionality demands, etc.
Embodiments described herein establish advantageous orthogonal card edge connection layouts while maintaining a condensed and temperature balanced card environment.

Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A temperature compensation circuit which includes a signal detecting circuit provided on a signal supply path which outputs logic signals to a target circuit. Also included are switch elements which turn current on/off to heater elements each time the signal detecting circuit detects that the logic signals are being applied to the target circuit. The power source of the invention therefore only needs to endure the same amount of current applied to the target circuit which leads to a reduction in power consumption.

In an IC test apparatus having a plurality of test signal supply paths (hereinafter "channel") which provide test pattern signals to a plurality of pins of the IC to be tested, delay times among the channels should be matched. Thus, each delay time per each channel has to be adjusted to be same delay time and such adjusted delay time should be maintained for a long period of time. However, if IC circuits are employed to form each channel to decrease the size of the test apparatus, there arises a problem in that, in such IC circuits, delay times for propagation of signals vary depending on temperature changes.
Particularly, if the ICs with CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) structure are used, such a change in the delay time conspicuous since the heat generation is completely different whether it is in rest or in operation. Namely, in the CMOS circuit, in a non-operational state (when no signals are generated therefrom), the amount of a current consumed therein is very small. In contrast, if the CMOS ICs are in an operational state (when a logic of the signal is inverted), they consume the current several thousand times as much as they do in the non-operational state. Thus, in the ICs with the CMOS structure, the amounts of the currents consumed therein are largely different between the operational and non-operational states. Accordingly, self-heating values in each state are different. If the operational and non-operational states are irregularly happen, the temperature of the IC chips increases only when they are in the operational state, which is impossible to control. As a result, mismatches of the delay times are caused between the channels.
In order to solve the above problem, the conventional device has employed ICs having temperature compensatory function for a circuit aiming to maintain the delay times in a certain period.
FIG. 9 shows a structure of the conventional IC having a temperature compensatory function therein. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 10 is a chip forming an IC. The chip 10 consists of a target circuit 11 to form a channel of the IC test apparatus and its delay time is to be maintained in a certain period, a temperature sensor 12 formed in a vicinity of the target circuit 11, a plurality of heater elements H dispersed in a vicinity of the target circuit 11, and a plurality of switch elements 13 for turning on/off a current applied to the heater elements H. In the conventional device, detecting signals from the temperature sensor 12 are given to a heater control device 20, control output signals from the heater control device 20 are given to the switch elements 13 wherein the current applied to the heater H is turned on/off so as to consistently maintain the temperature inside the chip 10.
Namely, when the target circuit 11 is in the non-operational state, the heater elements H is heated by a current (which is the same current as consumed in the target circuit 11) applied thereto. Then, an operation of the target circuit 11 begins so as to turn off the current applied to the heater elements H when a surrounding temperature of the target circuit 11 increases.
When a signal is given to the target circuit 11 and its operation begins, the temperature of the circuit increases. Then, the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature change and shuts off the current applying to the heater elements H, causing the time delay. However, this conventional structure has a disadvantage in that: since the detection of the temperature change is subject to the temporary increase of the temperature inside the chip 10, it causes a fluctuation in the delay times.
Further, because of the delay in the detection, the currents are applied to both of the target circuit 11 and heater elements H. This means that an electric power source receives about twice as large current as the current consumed in the target circuit 11. Therefore, material used for the electric power source should endure at least twice as large current as the current consumed by the target circuit 11. The number of the electric power sources correspond to the number of the circuits 11. For example, in an IC test device, 100 electric power sources may be needed to match the number of the IC pins, that is 100 IC pins, resulting the increase of the manufacturing costs.
Another conventional method contains a circuit which controls the propagation delay time in an IC by controlling a heater in the IC and the amount of heat given to the IC by the heater. Namely, the conventional method realizes a control circuit for adjusting the signal propagation delay time in substantially constant time by controlling the temperature of the IC.
According to the conventional method, the propagation delay time of a signal which passes at least one part of the IC can be measured and compared with a standard delay time. If the measured delay time is shorter than the standard delay time, it is controlled to increase the heat generation of the heater. On the other hand, if the measured delay time is longer than the standard delay time, it is controlled to decrease the heat generation from the heater.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a conventional structure disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 1-114067. Since a delay measuring circuit 30 is included in an IC chip 32, a delay time in the delay measuring circuit 30 is affected by the temperature as substantially the same as other circuit in the chip IC 32.
A heater 34 thermally connected to the IC chip adjusts the signal transmission delay time by selectively heating the IC chip 32. The heater 34 is preferably an integrated heating element which is mounted on the IC chip 32 with other circuit components. The heater 34 is usually provided relatively near the delay measuring circuit 30. Thus, it is able to minimize the time delay until the delay measuring circuit 30 is heated by the heater 34. A typical IC chip using a metallic lead frame has a good thermal conductivity. Thus, it is able to transmit the heat generated by the heater 34 to each circuit inside the chip. Usually, a plastic or ceramic package 36 having a relatively good thermal insurability surrounds the chip 32. With the package 36, the inside of the IC chip can keep a higher temperature than an ambient temperature.
As described in the above, all circuits in the IC chip 32 are arranged to be in a vicinity each other and made of materials having high thermal conductivity. Therefore, all of the circuits inside the IC chip 32 are maintained in the uniform temperature. Further, factors changing the delay time in one circuit in the chip, such as the temperature and the voltage, are set to substantially equal in every circuit within the same IC chip. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the delay time of all circuits in the chip by measuring either one of the circuits, such as the delay measuring circuit 30, and adjusting the temperature in the chip based on its information.
A control means 40 controls the heater 34 based on the measured result of the delay time received from the delay measuring circuit 30. Namely, if a measured value of the delay time is shorter than a desired time, the control means 40 controls the heater 34 to increase the heat generation. In contrast, if a measured value of the delay time is longer than the desired time, the control means 40 controls the heater 34 to decrease the heat generation. Accordingly, the delay time is precisely controlled by this procedure.
A standard delay circuit 42 in FIG. 10 generates standard delay signals corresponding to a desired transmission delay time. A delay comparison circuit 44 compares a standard delay signal from the standard delay circuit 42 and a measured delay signal from the delay measuring circuit 30. The output of the delay comparison circuit 44 is indicative of a time difference between the desired delay time and the delay time which is actually measured. Then, the heater 34 is controlled by a heater control signal so as to decide whether the generated heat is maintained or adjusted, based on a relationship between the standard delay signal and the measured delay signal. A standard delay time setting circuit 50 including a micro processor sets up a desired standard delay time. Further, the delay measuring circuit 30 measures the transmission delay time in response to a test signal received from a test signal source 52.
According to the foregoing method, the temperature inside the IC chip can be substantially maintained. However, it is impossible for the conventional method to handle local temperature changes in a short period of time.

Temperature compensation circuit for IC chip


The invention relates to an electric contact spring having a resilient section, an assembly portion, and a transition portion. The resilient section includes a first resilient portion, a second resilient portion extending from the first resilient portion, and a third resilient portion extending from the second resilient portion. The assembly portion extends from the first resilient portion and includes a catch device. The transition portion extends downward from the assembly portion.

Electric contact springs are well known to electrically connect equipment, apparatuses, devices and/or components. For example, when two devices are mechanically connected, the electric contact springs of the one device electrically connects with a contact device of the second device. Since the electronic and electrical engineering sector requires smaller devices, electric or electronic devices are becoming increasingly compact, with an increasing number of functionalities. The contact springs and the counter-contact devices must thereby perform their function in contact spaces which are becoming smaller. In contrast, however, the requirements of the mechanical connection, for example with respect to tolerances, remain constant. That is to say, as the electric contact spaces become smaller, there are an increasing number of electric contact problems, which are exacerbated, for example, by the relaxation or ageing of the materials used and/or by temperature changes.
The electrical connection, for example, of printed circuit boards, boards, battery or accumulator packs thus presents an increasing number of problems. For example, the corresponding devices, such as electric tools, mobile telephones, cameras, computers, etc., and a large number of various associated battery or accumulator packs from different manufacturers, are subject to comparatively high levels of mechanical tolerances which is to a large extent attributable to the compatibility of the associated device with the large number of different battery or accumulator packs. These tolerances must be overcome by the relevant electric contact springs or spring contact devices and the corresponding or complementary electric counter-contact devices, taking into account relaxation and optionally an increase of the tolerances owing to intensive loading. Owing to the miniaturisation and expansion of functionalities already mentioned above, an increasing number of contact springs must be located on the same surface or in the same spatial region in modern devices.
European Patent No. EP 0902994 B1 discloses a known electric spring contact device having an integral electric contact spring which is accommodated substantially completely in a housing. An electric contact portion of the contact spring protrudes from the housing and serves to electrically contact an electric counter-contact device. The contact spring has three spring portions which are guided using three bending portions in a zig-zag manner inside the housing. In the region of the contact spring that protrudes out of the housing, the contact spring has at both transverse sides protective flaps so that no external objects can become caught between the contact spring and the housing. Furthermore, the housing has solder connections which can be inserted therein and by means of which the housing can be secured to a printed circuit board. A contact zone which is arranged horizontally with the counter-contact device allows the contact portion to expand in one direction or in an opposite direction during electrical contacting.
German Patent App. No. DE 20 2008 001 018 U1 discloses an integral electric contact spring for a bus conductor portion of a printed circuit board. The zig-zag shaped elongate contact spring is securely received between two portions of a housing of the bus conductor portion and protrudes at one end with an electric contact portion from the two-part housing. At an opposing end, the contact spring can be securely electrically connected to the printed circuit board by means of a soldering pin. The contact spring has two resilient portions which are connected by means of a resiliently rigid portion and which are each arranged by means of two bending portions in the contact spring, whereby a contact zone which is arranged horizontally with a counter-contact device allows the contact portion to expand in one direction or an opposing direction during electrical contacting.
U.S. Patent App. No. 2006/0079136 A1 discloses an integral planar electric contact spring which is guided substantially completely in a housing. An electric contact portion of the contact spring that is guided by the housing in the direction of the spring protrudes from the housing and serves to provide horizontal electrical contacting with an electric counter-contact device. The contact spring has a plurality of resiliently flexible resilient portions which are connected by means of resiliently flexible bending portions and which are guided in a partially zig-zag like manner inside the housing. The contact spring further has at the other side of the resilient and bending portions a projection which, when the contact spring is used in accordance with provisions, can be positioned on a resilient portion of the contact spring. An electrical property of the contact spring is thereby improved, which can now additionally also transport electric current and transmit electric voltage using the contact connection between the projection and the respective resilient portion.

Electric contact spring, electric spring contact device as well as electric contact zone


The invention describes an apparatus for the filtration of liquids and an associated filter cartridge 100, the correct seating of which is ensured and can be established by the user. The apparatus is characterized in that the inlet funnel 10 has at least one first fixing means 30 below the receiving opening 13, and in that the filter cartridge 100 has at least one second fixing means 130 below and at a distance from the sealing rim 160, which second fixing means, when the filter cartridge 100 is being fitted into the receiving opening 13, interacts with the first fixing means 30.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for the filtration of liquids. The invention also relates to a filter cartridge for an apparatus of this type.
2. Description of the Related Art
Filter cartridges are to be understood as meaning on the one hand cartridges which have a screen-like formation for mechanical filtration. On the other hand, filter cartridges are also to be understood as meaning cartridges which, in addition to a screen-like formation, contain at least one filter medium, e.g. in granule form, which is used for the chemical and/or mechanical removal of organic and/or inorganic contaminants and/or to lower the levels of such contaminants. Filter cartridges equipped in this way therefore allow non-mechanical filtration, which may be combined with mechanical filtration. These filter cartridges are used to optimize water, the term optimization being understood as meaning mechanical and/or non-mechanical filtration. This includes, for example, softening and decalcification of drinking water.
A very wide range of embodiments of apparatuses for the filtration of liquids are known.
By way of example, there are filter apparatuses with spherical filter cartridges, which are screwed onto the inlet funnel from below by means of a bayonet catch, as described in WO 2004/014519 A2.
DE 199 05 601 A1 has disclosed an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, having an inlet funnel which has a receiving opening with a sealing rim. The filter cartridge is likewise fitted into the receiving opening from below and is pressed into the receiving opening by means of a separate securing ring. For this purpose, the filter cartridge is provided with a groove on the cartridge upper part below the sealing rim; the lower portion of the securing ring engages in this groove. The upper portion of the securing ring is guided in a groove of a connection piece formed integrally on the funnel base. The filter cartridge is complex to install and remove, requiring particular skill on the part of the operator.
Other embodiments provide for the inlet funnel to have, in its base wall, a receiving opening, into which the filter cartridge is fitted from above. The filter cartridge generally has a conical sealing rim, which bears against the edge of the receiving opening. The filter cartridge may become tilted during insertion, so that the intended sealing position is not adopted.
DE 199 158 29 A1 has disclosed a filter cartridge and an apparatus for treating liquids, in which the sealing rim has additional latching means, which interact with corresponding latching means in the region of the opening in the base of the inlet funnel. The latching means are brought into engagement with one another by a rotational movement.
In this embodiment, the filter cartridge is held only at the edge and is located in the filtrate space. If the apparatus is a kettle, therefore, the filter cartridge is also in the boiling space, which means that the filter cartridge could be damaged during the heating of the filtered liquid. Therefore, it is desirable for the filter cartridge to be arranged such that it is shielded from the filtrate space or boiling space.
Inlet funnels with a receiving chamber for the filter cartridge are used to remedy this problem. In this design too, the conical sealing rim of the filter cartridge bears against the rim of the receiving opening in the base wall of the inlet funnel.
The peripheral and base wall of the filter cartridge is arranged at a distance from the peripheral and base wall of the receiving chamber, so that during filtration, although filtered liquid can collect in this intermediate space, this liquid does not limit the quantitative flow through the apparatus. An outflow opening provided with a closure element is located in the base wall of the receiving chamber.
DE 198 46 583 A1 has disclosed a water filter device of this type, with a collection can and a heating element. The inlet funnel has a receiving chamber, into which the filter cartridge is fitted from above. The receiving chamber is formed by a filter insert, which may be fixedly connected to the inlet funnel or can be fitted into the receiving opening. The filter insert is matched to the conical shape of the filter cartridge and forms a guide element for the filter cartridge. Since the peripheral wall of the filter cartridge bears against the filter insert over its full surface, the two components can only be separated from one another with difficulty, in particular if the user pushes the filter cartridge too deep into the filter insert. On account of the fact that two conical surfaces are sliding along one another, it is not clear to the user when he has reached the limit position which is required for optimum seating of the filter cartridge and defines the sealing position of the filter cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,350 describes a filter system which is connected to a water pipe via two connections. The filter system comprises a housing upper part and a housing lower part, which are screwed together after the filter cartridge has been fitted. The cover and base wall of the filter cartridge have cup-shaped indentations, in which correspondingly shaped connection pieces of the housing parts for supplying the unfiltered liquid and removing the filtered liquid, engage. To change the filter cartridge, the two housing parts have to be unscrewed.
In all the known filter apparatuses, it is necessary for the filter cartridge to be matched to the desired quantitative flow.

Filter cartridge and apparatus for the filtration of liquids


A device, namely a detactable fastener accessory that can be used to cover a fastener, preferably a snap cover of an article of clothing, the accessory having or adapted to have a decorative cover piece connected thereto. In a further embodiment, the fastener accessory is part of an extender system that allows an article of clothing such as a vest or jacket to have a greater size by connecting an extension segment, such as a chain, piece of leather or other fabric, between fasteners on opposite sides of the article of clothing, which at least provides the advantages of allowing a user to achieve better ventilation or airflow while riding a motorcycle and also prevents the article of clothing from being blown out of a desired position. When used in the extender system, the fastener accessory allows for matching decorative pieces to be displayed on each side of the article of clothing.

Many different devices have been employed to cover or decorate fasteners, such as buttons and snaps. Vest extenders have been used in the art to extend the size of an article of clothing such as a jacket or vest and provide ventilation.
U.S. Patent Publication 2012/0117763 relates to a slidable button cover that can be attached to a cuff button and/or a shirt button on a shirt of a type comprising a cuff button and/or a shirt button. More specifically, this invention relates to a slidable button cover that can be attached on a shirt of a type comprising a cuff, a shirt, a cuff and/or shirt button and a cuff and/or shirt button hole, said cuff and/or shirt button reportedly securely engaging said cuff and/or shirt button, and a slidable button cover with a decorative face on the top of said slidable button cover with an attaching means on the bottom of said slidable button cover capable of sliding over and engaging said cuff and/or shirt button thread, said cuff and/or shirt button reportedly resting securely within the attaching means and beneath the bottom of the slidable button cover.
U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0313864 relates to a one piece detachable button cover adapter for converting a plain jean button into a more decorative one. This device is comprised of a substantially flat, circular disc with resilient prongs. An ornamental top is attached to the front side of this adapter and resilient prongs on the back side hold a jean button. The reported advantage of this invention is that it covers and securely holds a jean button whereas a typical button cover does not. Another reported advantage is that this adapter does not utilize a cup and/or hinge and therefore produces a more attractive, sleeker button cover that is easy to attach to and detach from a jean button.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,951 relates to a plastic device for detachably covering and concealing a button employs a first horizontal plate having at least one opening therein. A second horizontal plate spaced from the first plate is secured to one end of a hollow cylinder having opposite open ends and closes same. A living hinge integrally secures a portion of the periphery of the other open end of the cylinder to a peripheral portion of the first plate. The device has an open position at which the other end of the cylinder is out of engagement with the first plate and has a closed position at which said other end of the cylinder is in mating engagement with the first plate. The cylinder and the first plate are provided with detachable locking engagement means which are spaced apart when the device is in the open position and which are disposed in locking engagement when the device is in closed position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,584 relates to a convertible jewelry article includes a button cover and a pair of inserts for converting the button cover for use as a pin or a clip-on earring. The button cover includes a cover portion having an open back and a back plate hinged to the cover so that it is hingeably received over the open back. The back plate includes an opening for receiving button attachment means therein, and resilient clip members for releasably maintaining the back plate in closed relation over the open back. The pin insert includes an insert body, a raised surface on one side thereof and a pin projecting outwardly from the raised surface. The earring insert is generally similar but includes a spring loaded earring clamp instead of a pin. Both of the inserts are adapted to be received in the cover portion so that the raised surface is received in interfitting engagement with the opening in the back plate when the back plate is in closed relation over the open back of the button cover. When assembled with the button cover, the pin or the earring clamp extends outwardly of the back plate through the opening therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,269 relates to rib and groove snap-type action securing elements formed respectively on closure bases and caps so that a number of different closure caps can be disposed for co-action with a single base to fabricate a number of different closure assemblies.

Clothing fastener accessory and extender system


A snowmobile having a double A-arm front suspension is disclosed. The double A-arm front suspension includes an upper A-arm, a lower A-arm, and a spindle connecting the skis the upper A-arms and lower A-arms, the connection of the upper and lower A-arms to the spindle defines a caster angle, the upper A-arm and the lower A-arm are connected to the front portion of the frame such that the caster angle decreases when the front suspension is compressed. Also disclosed is a snowmobile having a suspension travel of at least 8 inches and a steering assembly having a single pitman arm.

Some conventional snowmobiles are equipped with a front suspension system utilizing trailing arms. A trailing arm front suspension system consists of two radius rods and two trailing arms connecting the ski legs to the snowmobile frame. The two radius rods extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the snowmobile while the trailing arms extend rearwardly substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the snowmobile. The front end of the trailing arm is connected to the ski leg, and the rear end of the trailing arm is pivotally connected to the snowmobile frame. In operation, the vertical movement of the ski leg follows the arc defined by the trailing arm. A trailing arm suspension geometry generates a forward motion of the skis when the suspension is compressed such that the skis have to slide forward for the suspension to be compressed. Because the skis move forward when absorbing shocks or landing from a jump, they work in the opposite direction of energy absorption. Therefore more stress is added on the front suspension components and on the frame of the snowmobile when the suspension is compressed. Furthermore, the impact forces felt by the driver of the snowmobile is greater. The trailing arm suspension geometry thus requires heavy springs, reinforced suspension arms and a reinforced frame to handle these extreme conditions thereby increasing weight and cost of the snowmobile. A trailing arm suspension geometry also generates an increase in caster angle such that more effort is required by the driver to turn the skis of the snowmobile when the suspension is compressed.
Other conventional snowmobiles are equipped with a front suspension having a double A-arm suspension geometry, also known as double wishbone suspension geometry. These types of systems have proven to be better able to handle extreme riding conditions and eliminated some of the major drawbacks of the previous described trailing arm suspension geometry because the skis do not necessarily move forward when the front suspension is compressed. However, conventional double A-arm suspension geometry still require more efforts from the driver to turn the skis of the snowmobile when the suspension is compressed.
Thus, there is a need for a snowmobile front suspension that alleviates some of the drawbacks of conventional front suspension systems and preferably reduces the steering effort required when the suspension is compressed.


In one embodiment, access log information is written to portable cards of end-users of system that includes networked and non-networked processor based systems that control user access. In conjunction with processing of access attempts by non-networked processor-based systems, time stamps of accesses by each end-user for multiple accesses on multiple processor-based systems are analyzed against one or more access rules, the one or more rules defining one or more relative timing constraints or order constraints for accesses on multiple processor-based systems. Also, in conjunction with processing of the further access attempts by the non-networked processor-based systems, access decisions are controlled in response to determining whether the time stamps of respective end-users indicate that said respective end-users have violated the one or more access rules.

Limiting access to relevant resources and protected areas to authorized individuals may be important in many circumstances, such as in the case of access to an airport, military installation, office building, etc. Traditional doors and locks can be used for protection of sensitive areas. However, doors with traditional locks and keys may be cumbersome to manage in a setting with a large number of users. For instance, once an employee is fired, it may be difficult to retrieve the physical keys the former employee was issued while employed. Moreover, there is a possibility that copies of such keys were made and never surrendered.
"Smart" doors provide access control to sensitive areas. A smart door may be equipped with a key pad through which a user enters his/her PIN or password. The key pad may have an attached memory and/or elementary processor in which a list of valid PINs/passwords may be stored. Thus, a door may check whether the currently entered PIN belongs to the currently valid list. If so, the door may open. Otherwise, the door may remain locked. Of course, rather than (solely) relying on traditional keys or simple key pads, a more modern smart door may work with cards or other portable devices with various types of memory. Such cards or devices may be used in addition to or instead of traditional keys or electronic key pads. Such magnetic-strip cards, smart cards or contactless devices may have the capability of storing information that is transmitted to the doors. More advanced cards may also have the ability of computing and communicating. Corresponding devices on the doors may be able to read information from the cards, and perhaps engage in interactive protocols with the cards, communicate with computers, etc.
Smart doors can possess various connectivity levels. A fully networked door is one that is at all times connected with some database (or other computer system). For instance, the database may contain information about the currently valid cards, users, PINs, etc. In some instances, to prevent an enemy from altering the information flowing to the door, such connection is secured (e.g., by running the wire from the door to the database within a steel pipe). On the other hand, a totally non-networked door does not communicate outside of its immediate vicinity. In between these two extremes, there may be doors that have intermittent network-capability (e.g., a wirelessly connected "moving" door that can communicate with the outside only when within range of a ground station, such as the door of an airplane or a truck).
Traditional access control mechanisms suffer from many drawbacks. Fully networked doors may be very expensive. The cost of running a secure pipe to a distant smart door may vastly exceed the cost of the smart door itself. Protecting a wire cryptographically, while possibly cheaper, still has its own costs (e.g., those of protecting and managing cryptographic keys). Moreover, cryptography without steel pipes and security guards cannot prevent a wire from being cut, in which case the no-longer-networked door may be forced to choose between two extreme alternatives: namely, remaining always closed or always open, neither of which may be appropriate or practical. In any case, a fully networked door is often not a viable option.
Non-networked smart doors may be cheaper than connected doors. However, traditional approaches to smart doors have their own problem. Consider, for instance, a non-networked smart door capable of recognizing a PIN. A terminated employee may no longer be authorized to go through that door; yet, if he still remembers his own PIN, he may have no trouble opening such an elementary smart door. Therefore, it would be necessary to "deprogram" the PINs of terminated employees, which is difficult for disconnected doors. Such a procedure may be very cumbersome and costly, e.g., an airport facility may have hundreds of doors and dispatching personnel to reprogram all of such doors can be impractical.

Systems and methods for controlling access within a system of networked and non-networked processor-based systems


An apparatus for detecting physical marks from a wobble signal includes a matching value operation unit, a threshold value generator and a physical mark indicator. A wobble signal is converted into a matched signal by the matching value operation unit according to the waveform difference between a normal clock signal or a specific matching reference signal and itself, wherein the matching reference signal needs to highlight the existed physical mark. The physical mark indicator designates a threshold value that depends on the status of the wobble signal, and compares the matched signal with the threshold value to output a physical mark indication signal. The threshold value is selected from at least two different default values. Furthermore, a decoder is employed to convert the physical mark indication signal into wobble data with physical address information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting physical marks from a wobble signal and a method thereof, more particularly to an apparatus capable of detecting physical marks by means of several threshold values or several offset values.
2. Description of the Related Art
When the mold of a recordable optical storage medium is engraved with grooves, the shallow grooves start from the center of the optical storage and are spirally formed thereon by means of a laser beam. Known as a pre-groove, the groove does not look like a smooth spiral; instead, it is a perturbed spiral that wobbles in a sinusoidal waveform of tiny amplitude. A signal read from the pre-groove is hereinafter referred to as a "wobble signal." Every sector on an optical disc contains time-related data to provide address information for positioning the pick-up head.
Since the address code information is provided by the wobbling pre-groove, such information is called ADIP (Address In Pre-groove) data. To produce a recordable optical disc, the disc producing machine encodes the physical address information, and then the encoded data are converted into wobble signals, which are recorded on the tracks of the recordable optical disc, by minimum shift keying modulation (hereinafter referred to as "MSK modulation"), harmonic modulated wave modulation (hereinafter referred to as "HMW modulation"), etc.
Later on, to retrieve the recorded data, the optical storage device demodulates the wobble signals first and then decodes them in order to read the corresponding physical address information for accurately positioning the pick-up head.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ADIP address word recorded on the pre-grooves of a Blu-ray disc after an MSK modulation. An ADIP address word 10 is represented by a data matrix of 56 columns and 83 rows, wherein each row is named an ADIP unit, and each element is equivalent to a wobble length. If three continuous wobble lengths respectively show data of 1,2 and 3, they represent a physical mark 11. The physical mark 11 is based on the MSK modulation, so it is also named an MSK mark. Physical address information consists of a plurality of MSK marks.
FIG. 2(a) is a functional block diagram of a conventional apparatus for detecting physical marks existing in a wobble signal. A wobble signal is converted into a matched signal by the matching value operation unit 21 of a physical-mark detection apparatus 20, and the matched signal is compared with a fixed threshold value by means of a comparator 22. The compared signal is decoded by a decoder 23 for obtaining wobble data with physical mark information.
FIG. 2(b) is a waveform diagram of signals converted from a wobble signal on a Blu-ray disc by a matching value operation unit 21. The signal at the first line is a normal clock signal with a plurality of monotone square pulses for the matching value operation unit 21 to refer to it for processing signals. On the other hand, the matching value operation unit 21 can also refer to a matching reference signal, at the third line, with a specific waveform. The product signal that the wobble signal is multiplied by the matching reference signal includes a physical mark 25′ within three continuous wobble length periods, as shown in the fourth line in FIG. 2(b). The physical mark 25′ corresponding with the physical mark 25 of the wobble signal represents an MSK mark. If the product signal is integrated or accumulated with a time interval to obtain a cumulating signal, a larger matching value 25″ can be obtained from the corresponding interval 25′ of the physical mark 25 in the wobble signal. On the contrary, a smaller matching values is obtained from the other intervals excluding the interval 25′ by the integral of the product signal. The matching value is compared with the threshold value to decide whether a physical mark exists.
In addition to the application of the Blu-ray disc, the wobble signal data, as shown in FIG. 1, is obtained, and the physical-mark detection apparatus 20 is also applied to an HD DVD (High Density Digital Versatile Disc) disc and DVD+RW disc, both of which have similar wobble signals.
FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of the compared signals of a wobble signal on a DVD+RW disc processed by the matching value operation unit 21. The signal at the first line is a normal clock signal, including a plurality of monotone square pulses, for the matching value operation unit 21 to refer to it. The wobble signal has a physical mark 31 occurring within four continuous wobble length periods, and the physical mark 31 and the normal clock signal are opposite in phase. A sync unit product signal is produced by multiplying the wobble signal by the normal clock signal, and the bit zero product signal and bit one product signal are also produced by the same multiplying operation.
The waveform, shown in FIG. 4, is resulted from the similar signal conversion applied to an HD DVD disc. The wobble signal has two physical marks 41, each occurring within 6 continuous wobble length periods. The sync unit product signal, unity unit product signal, address 000 product signal and address 001 product signal are produced by multiplying the wobble signal by the normal clock.
The physical-mark detection apparatus 20 merely employs the fixed threshold value 24 to decide whether a physical mark exists or not, but occasionally the decision result of existence or non-existence for a physical mark is erroneous due to the distortion of the wobble signal. In other words, no matter how the magnitude of the fixed threshold value 24 is employed, the erroneous decision result of the existence or nonexistence still occurs.

Apparatus for detecting physical marks from wobble signal and method thereof


An apparatus for distinguishing an energy band of a photon in a readout circuit that counts photons in multi-energy radiation incident onto a sensor for each energy band includes an integrator configured to accumulate an electric signal received from the sensor that has undergone photoelectric conversion from the photon; a comparator configured to compare an accumulated electric signal received from the integrator with one of a plurality of threshold values; and a signal processor configured to instruct sequential switching from one of the plurality of threshold values to another one of the plurality of threshold values according to a result of a comparison received from the comparator; and output a digital signal that distinguishes an energy band of the photon based on results received from the comparator of sequential comparisons of the accumulated electric signal with the plurality of threshold values.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for distinguishing energy bands of photons in multi-energy radiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical devices using radiation are currently available and continue to be developed. Along with the recent trend of analog to digital mode shifting in X-ray imaging systems using radiation, there have also been rapid advances in X-ray detectors as a core part of digital X-ray imaging systems. Digital X-ray detection technologies may be roughly classified into either indirect or direct methods. The indirect method generates an image via sequential conversions from X-rays to visible light and then from the visible light to an electric signal, and the direct method generates an image via direct conversion of an X-ray signal to an electric signal.
X-ray detection methods include an integration method in which an image signal is generated by integration of electric signals generated for a predetermined duration, and a photon counting method in which an image signal is generated by counting incident X-ray photons. The photon counting method creates a high quality image with distinguishable X-ray energy bands via a single exposure, i.e., a small exposure to X-rays, and accordingly vigorous research has recently been conducted thereon.

Apparatus and method for distinguishing energy bands of photons in multi-energy radiation

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A simplified process for jointly producing butene-1 and ether in a catalytic distillation zone which comprises an upper catalytic zone for etherification and a lower catalytic zone for isomerization of C.sub.4 plus olefins. The process is especially usefull when combined with a process for the production of light olefins including ethylene and propylene from methanol. According to the invention, the produced butene-1 stream is combined with ethylene to produce polyethylene.

Olefinic hydrocarbons are feedstocks for a variety of commercially important additional reactions to yield fuels, polymers, oxygenates and other chemical products. The specific olefin isomer, considering the position of the double bond or the degree of branching of the hydrocarbon, may be important to the efficiency of the chemical reaction or to the properties of the product. The distribution of isomers in a mixture of olefinic hydrocarbons is rarely optimum for a specific application. It is often desirable to isomerize olefins to increase the output of the desired isomer.
Butenes are among the most useful of the olefinic hydrocarbons having more than one isomer. A high-octane gasoline component is produced from a mixture of butenes in many petroleum refineries principally by alkylation with isobutane; 2-butenes (cis- and trans-) generally are the most desirable isomers for this application. Secondary-butyl alcohol and methylethyl ketone, as well as butadiene, are other important derivatives of 2-butenes. Demand for 1-butene has been growing rapidly based on its use as a co-monomer for linear low-density polyethylene and as a monomer in polybutene production. Isobutene finds application in such products as methyl methacrylate, polyisobutene and butyl rubber. The most important derivative influencing isobutene demand and butene isomer requirements, however, is methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) which is experiencing rapid growth in demand as a gasoline component. Pentenes also are valuable olefinic feedstocks for fuel and chemical products.
Catalytic isomerization to alter the ratio of isomers is one solution to this need. Since ethers must be supplied at lower cost to find widespread use as a fuel product and since isomerization competes with increased feedstock processing as a source of desired isomers, an isomerization process must be efficient and relatively inexpensive. In one aspect, a catalytic isomerization process must recognize olefin reactivity: isobutene in particular readily forms oligomers which could require a reconversion step to yield monomer if produced in excess. The principal problem facing workers in the art, therefore, is to isomerize olefins to increase the concentration of the desired isomer while minimizing product losses to heavier or lighter products.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,133 discloses a process for the recovery of butene-1 from a mixed C.sub.4 feed stream which also contains isobutylene, butene-2, isobutane, and normal butane. The C.sub.4 feedstream is passed through an etherification zone to selectively convert isobutylene to an ether to produce a first stream comprising the product ether and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and a second stream comprising isobutane and butene-1. The second stream is then separated to yield butene-1. The first stream is alkylated for use in a motor fuel. Butene-2 isomers (cis- and trans-) are desired feedstocks to an alkylation reactor in which the butene-2 isomers react with isobutane to produce alkylate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,264 discloses a process for the production of a pure butene-1 and a premium gasoline from a C.sub.4 olefinic hydrocarbon fraction. According to the disclosure, the C.sub.4 olefinic hydrocarbon fraction is polymerized and disproportionated to partially convert the isobutene to a gasoline/jet fuel boiling range component (e.g., an isobutene dimer and trimer), hydrogenating the gasoline/jet fuel boiling range fraction to produce a stabilized fuel component, and fractionating the remaining C.sub.4 olefins to obtain a high purity butene-1 product.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,502 discloses a process for the deep catalytic cracking of petroleum feedstocks to produce a full range of synthetic hydrocarbons including a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon fraction which includes C.sub.4 paraffins and butenes. In processing the C.sub.4 hydrocarbon fraction, combinations of separate processing includes: hydroisomerization of butene-1 to butene-2, butadiene hydrogenation, and etherification. The remaining butenes are passed to an extractive distillation process to separate the olefins (butene-1 and butene-2) from any paraffins (normal butane, etc.), and the olefins are passed to a skeletal isomerization unit and therein converted to isobutene which is recycled to the etherification zone to produce more MTBE.
Processes for the isomerization of olefinic hydrocarbons are widely known in the art. Many of these use catalysts comprising phosphate. U.S. Pat. No. 2,537,283 (Schaad), for example, teaches an isomerization process using an ammonium phosphate catalyst and discloses examples of butene and pentene isomerization. U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,801 (Holm et al.) discloses a method of preparing a catalyst comprising precipitated aluminum phosphate within a silica gel network and the use of this catalyst in the isomerization of butene-1 to butene-2. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,270,085 and 3,327,014 (Noddings et al.) teach an olefin isomerization process using a chromium-nickel phosphate catalyst, effective for isomerizing 1-butene and higher alpha-olefins. U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,343 (Mitsutani) reveals a process for double-bond transfer based on a catalyst of solid phosphoric acid on silica, and demonstrates effective results in isomerizing 1-butene to 2-butenes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,164 (Holm et al.) teaches skeletal isomerization of olefins to yield branched isomers using a catalyst containing aluminum phosphate and titanium compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,146 teaches isomerization of an aliphatic olefin, preferably 1-butene, with a catalyst consisting essentially of chromium and amorphous aluminum phosphate. None of the above references disclose the olefin-isomerization process using the non-zeolitic molecular sieve (NZMS).
The art also contains references to the related use of zeolitic molecular sieves. U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,564 (Tidwell et al.) teaches the isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butene using a zeolitic molecular sieve. U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,502 (Hayes et al.) discloses the isomerization of mono-olefins based on a catalyst comprising crystalline aluminosilicate in an alumina carrier with platinum-group and Group IV-A metallic components. U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,003 (Sobel) discloses the employment of a zeolite catalyst for butene isomerization. U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,832 (Butler et al.) teaches the use of a phosphorus-containing zeolite for butene conversion in which the phosphorus has not been substituted for silicon or aluminum in the zeolite framework. U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,984 discloses the use of a non-zeolitic molecular sieve, NZMS, for the isomerization of pentenes in a pentene-containing feedstock comprising a raffinate from an etherification process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,984, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses the use of a catalyst comprising at least one NZMS and having the absence of a platinum-group metal demonstrates surprising efficiency in converting butene-2 to isobutene or butene-1 in a butene isomerization operation and in the skeletal isomerization of pentenes.
Efficient production of butene-1 has remained a problem in the art, requiring complex, multi-step processes to recover butene-1, often as a by-product of motor fuel production. In such processes, the objective is butene-2 which can be alkylated to produce a high octane, low vapor pressure product. Often when butene-1 is isolated, it is further skeletally isomerized to produce more isobutene.
It is the objective of the present invention to provide a simplified process for the recovery of butene-1 from C.sub.4 olefin streams. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a reduced cost process for selectively and directly producing butene-1 from C.sub.4 olefinic hydrocarbon streams.

Process for the production of butene-1 from a mixture of C4 olefins


A method according to one embodiment may include supplying power to plurality of External Electrode Fluorescent Lamps (EEFLs). The method of this embodiment may also include generating signals proportional to the voltage of each EEFL. The method of this embodiment may also include generating a feedback signal indicative of the state of one or more of the plurality of EEFLs based on, at least in part, the value of at least one signal proportional to the voltage of each EEFL. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

External Electrode Fluorescent Lamps (EEFL) are widely used in LCD panel backlight applications. Since the operational impedance of an EEFL has positive V-I characteristic, many individual EEFL lamp tubes may be connected in parallel, all of which may be driven by a single pair of inverter circuit. However, connecting multiple EEFLs directly in parallel presents difficulties for open/broken lamp detection in EEFL backlight system design since only the total current supplied to all the lamps in the panel, in aggregate, is sensed, rather than sensing the current of individual lamps in the system.
For example, in one conventional EEFL backlight system, open lamp detection is implemented by detecting the operational voltage of EEFL lamps. The total amount of current flow through all the lamps is controlled by a DC/AC inverter. If any lamp is broken, the total current will not change, and the rest of lamps will share the amount of current previously provided to the broken lamp. This results in lamp voltage increase in the remaining lamps due to increase of current in each of the remaining lamps. If the voltage is higher than a threshold, a DC/AC inverter judges an open lamp condition. Since the normal operation voltage of an EEFL lamp has at least +/−10% tolerance and also varies with temperature, this method is only able to detect if more than ¼ of total number of EEFLs become broken. For example, in a 20 EEFL backlight system, this conventional EEFL backlight system is unable to detect if less than 5 lamps are broken, since the lamp voltage change of less than 5 broken lamps is within the normal operation voltage tolerance range.

Open lamp detection in an EEFL backlight system


The present invention provides methods for removing particulate and a vapor phase contaminant from a gas stream including, in one embodiment, directing a gas stream comprising fly ash and a vapor phase contaminant into a particulate collection device, wherein the particulate collection device includes an upstream collection section and a downstream collection section; removing at least a portion of the fly ash from the gas stream in the upstream collection section; injecting a sorbent into the particulate control device between the upstream collection section and the downstream collection section; adsorbing the vapor phase contaminant onto the sorbent to produce spent sorbent; and removing the spent sorbent from the gas stream in the upstream collection section. An apparatus is also provided for performing the methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the removal of particulate and vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream. More specifically, the present invention relates to the removal of particulates, such as fly ash and vapor phase contaminants, such as mercury, from a gas stream, such as a flue gas stream from a coal-fired boiler.
2. Description of Related Art
Utility power plants, in particular, coal-fired power plants, remove particulate matter, such as fly ash, from flue gas generated by the boiler before releasing the flue gas to the atmosphere. Typical methods for removing fly ash include the use of an electrostatic precipitator or baghouse filter. The collected fly ash must then be properly disposed of, taking into account its composition.
Utility power plants also are concerned about emission of trace metals in light of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment (CAAA) on air toxics (Title III). Special attention has been given to mercury (Hg) in terms of its environmental release and impacts, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is closely scrutinizing sources that emit mercury. Mercury is present in flue gas in very low concentrations (<1 ppb) and forms a number of volatile compounds that are difficult to remove. Specially designed and costly emissions-control systems are required to capture these trace amounts of volatile compounds effectively.
Several approaches have previously been adopted for removing mercury from gas streams. These techniques include passing the gas stream through a fixed or fluidized sorbent bed or structure or using a wet scrubbing system. The most common methods are often called "fixed bed" techniques. Approaches using fixed bed technologies normally pass the mercury containing gas through a bed consisting of sorbent particles or various structures such as honeycombs, screens, and fibers coated with sorbents. Common sorbents include activated carbon and noble metals such as gold and silver. In many cases where noble metals are used, only the surface layer of the sorbent structure is coated with the noble metal sorbent while the support underneath is made of ceramic or metallic materials. The sorbents in these fixed structures can be periodically regenerated by heating the structure and driving off the adsorbed mercury (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,522, entitled "Mercury Removal Apparatus and Method," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The mercury driven off can be recovered or removed separately.
There are, however, several disadvantages of fixed bed systems. Gas streams such as those from power plant coal combustion systems contain a significant amount of fly ash that can plug the bed structures and, thus, the beds need to be removed frequently from operation for cleaning. In addition, fixed bed systems may produce a significant pressure drop in the gas path.
Alternatively, these beds may be located downstream of a separate particulate collector (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,522). Particulate removal devices ensure that components of the flue gas such as fly ash are removed before the gas passes over the mercury removal device. The beds will also have to be taken off-line periodically for regeneration, thereby necessitating a second bed to remain on-line while the first one is regenerating. These beds also require significant space and are very difficult to retrofit into existing systems such as into the ductwork of powerplants without major modifications.
In another technique, a primary particulate control device pre-collects most of the ash present in a gas stream. A sorbent is then injected into the gas stream downstream of the primary particulate control device but at a location upstream of a baghouse. A removable filter bag in the baghouse is then coated with the injected sorbent and contaminants are adsorbed as they pass through the filter bag (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,766, entitled "Method for Removing Pollutants from a Combustor Flue Gas and System for Same," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In yet another technique, a porous tube of sorbent material is placed into the duct work through which the gas passes (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,143, entitled "Apparatus and Method for the Removal of Contaminants in Gases," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Such a technique permits the tube of sorbent materials to be cleaned and the sorbent to be regenerated in place without having to stop the gas flow by heating the sorbent in situ and driving off the contaminants. However, application of heat to the porous tube while it is in the duct is not a convenient technique.
In yet another technique, a sorbent structure is coated with a renewable layer of sorbent, in which a flue gas passes over the sorbent structure (see, for example, published U.S. Pat. Application 20020124725 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Renewable Mercury Sorption," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The sorbent structure can be a tube or plate and can be porous or non-porous and is placed inside a duct through which the flue gas flows.
In yet another process, a carbonaceous starting material is injected into a gas duct upstream of a particulate collection device. The carbonaceous starting material is activated in-situ and adsorbs contaminants. The activated material having the adsorbed contaminants is then collected in a particulate collection device. Such a process is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,451,094 and 6,558,454, both entitled "Method for Removal of Vapor Phase Contaminants from a Gas Stream by In-Situ Activation of Carbon-Based Sorbents," which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In this process, however, both particulate or fly ash and the sorbent having the adsorbed contaminant are collected together in the same particulate collection device.
While there are existing methods for removing fly ash from a flue gas stream and method for removing vapor phase contaminants, there remains a need for an improved method and apparatus that removes both fly ash and vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream and that allows for separate removal and collection of the fly ash and the vapor phase contaminant.

Method and apparatus for removing particulate and vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream


A vehicle seat having a supporting device includes a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor, an upper rail supported by the lower rail so as to be slidable in a front-rear direction, a lower arm fixed to the upper rail, a supporting cover provided at the side of a door so that a passenger gets in/out of the vehicle interior with putting his/her hand on the supporting cover, a bracket for supporting the supporting cover from underneath thereof, an upper surface portion formed in a plate shape at the bracket so as to extend in an approximately horizontal direction, an extending portion formed in a plate shape at the bracket extending downward from the upper surface portion and forming a vertical portion at which the bracket is fastened to the lower arm, and a through hole formed on the upper surface portion of the bracket.

A known vehicle seat disclosed in JP2002-345593A includes a lower rail, an upper rail and a lower arm. Specifically, the lower rail is fixed on the vehicle floor, the upper rail is supported by the lower rail so as to be slidable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle interior V, and the lower arm is fixed to the upper rail so as to support a seating surface of a seat cushion S.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle seat includes a supporting device for supporting a passenger to get in/out of a vehicle, in which a supporting cover 60′ is provided to the vehicle seat at the seating surface 70′ of the seat cushion S on the side of the door. In this configuration, a passenger gets in/out of the vehicle with putting his/her hand on the supporting cover in order to ease the getting on/off operation. The known supporting device has a structure where a part of the lower arm 30′ extends along an under surface of the supporting cover so as to form a bracket portion 50′ as shown in FIG. 6 in order to support the supporting cover from underneath thereof. In other words, the bracket portion supports pressure applied by the passenger who put on his/her hand on the supporting cover.
When excessive pressure applied to the supporting cover, for example, when a heavy object falls on the supporting cover, the bracket portion of the lower arm may deform or break. In such case, because the lower arm is integrally formed with bracket portion, even when only the bracket portion is broken, the entire lower arm needs to be replaced, as a result, a repairing cost becomes high.
Further, according to the known supporting device, because the lower arm is formed integrally with the bracket portion, such lower arm cannot be used for a vehicle not having the supporting cover. Thus, a cost for manufacturing the vehicle seat having a supporting device becomes high.
A need thus exists to reduce a cost and a repairing cost of a vehicle seat having a supporting device, the supporting device supporting a passenger to get in/out of a vehicle.


A sanitizing system for use with monitors, particularly including touchscreen monitors, includes an ultraviolet light source positioned about a periphery of the monitor and configured to transmit light toward the monitor. A sensor detects the presence of an object such as a human finger in the close vicinity or in contact with the monitor in order to stop the operation of the lights.

Widespread use of shared touchscreen displays is common in retail and healthcare applications. These touchscreens are cleaned infrequently and consequently can harbor infectious pathogens, which are transmitted from person to person when they use the touchscreen. Frequent cleaning is impractical and cannot be performed often enough to keep the contamination levels in check.