An object of the present invention is to provide a two dimensional drive system having higher positioning accuracy. The drive system includes a pair of first linear guides provided in a first direction; a pair of second linear guides provided in a second direction; a pair of first travellers slidably engaged with the first linear guides; a pair of second travellers slidably engaged with the second linear guides; a first ball bearing screw rotatably spanned between the second travellers; a second ball bearing screw rotatably spanned between the first travellers; a slider screwed with the first and the second ball bearing screws, the slider being capable of moving on the ball bearing screws; a first and a second motors for driving each ball bearing screw; a first restrainer for restraining the inclination of the first ball bearing screw with respect to the first direction; and a second restrainer for restraining the inclination of the second ball bearing screw with respect to the second direction.

The present invention relates to a two dimensional drive system, more precisely relates to a two dimensional drive system which is capable of moving a slider in a plane.
There is disclosed a conventional drive system, which is capable of moving a slider in a plane, in Japanese Patent Kokai Gazette No. 59-232778. The drive system has a pair of X-axis guides provided in an X-direction; a pair of Y-axis guides provided in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction; a pair of X-travellers slidably engaged with each X-travellers; a pair of Y-travellers slidably engaged with each Y-travellers; an X-ball bearing screw rotatably spanned between the Y-travellers; a Y-ball bearing screw rotatably spanned between the X-travellers; a slider to which the X- and Y-ball bearing screws are screwed whereby the slider is capable of moving on the X- and Y-ball bearing screws with the rotation thereof; and motors for driving the X- and Y-ball bearing screws.
However, the conventional two dimensional drive system has a following disadvantages:
The X- and Y-travellers are merely slidably engaged with the X- and Y-guides. Therefore, when the slider, which is close to one of the X-travellers, moves in the X-direction, the other X-traveller moves later than the one thereof, so that the Y-ball bearing screw is inclined with respect to the Y-axis; when the slider, which is close to one of the Y-travellers, moves in the Y-direction, the other Y-traveller moves later than the one thereof, so that the X-ball bearing screw is inclined with respect to the X-axis. By inclination of the X- and Y-ball bearing screws, the positioning accuracy of the slider may be quite low, and the vibration of the slider may be caused during high speed operation.

c/o Kabushiki Kaisha Mechanic Sekkei Jimusho, 5175-1

Ooaza, Toyoshina, Toyoshina-machi, Minamiazumi-gun, Nagano-ken


A coolant control valve is provided that includes at least one actuator, a first rotary valve body and a second rotary valve body, each rotary valve body driveably connected to the at least one actuator. The second rotary valve body is arranged non-coaxially to the first rotary valve body.

CCVs are known and can be arranged to provide coolant flow control for temperature management of various powertrain components including IC engines, transmissions and various components of electric, hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles.
A portion of CCVs are electro-mechanical in design, incorporating an electrical actuator assembly that interfaces with a mechanical valve body to provide a controlled flow of coolant for a selected powertrain component or system. Depending on its design, the mechanical valve body can be linearly actuated or rotary actuated by an actuator, often times in the form of an electric motor or solenoid. The valve body can be configured with one or more liquid openings that control an amount of coolant flow to or from one or more inlets or outlets arranged on an outer housing of the CCV. Packaging space for CCVs can be challenging, especially in a powertrain environment of a vehicle.

Coolant control valve with non-coaxial rotary valve bodies


An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: for each of a plurality of loops, acquire loop information including a number of variables, a number of registers, a number of memory commands for inputting and outputting a value of the variable between the register and a main storage device, and a number of arithmetic commands for the value of the variable stored in the register, which are used in the loop; calculate the number of variables, the number of registers, the number of memory commands, and the number of arithmetic commands, which correspond to a combination of the loops that are candidates for loop fusion, for each of the combinations of the loops;

In software development, a compiler that converts source codes described in a high-level language into object codes described in a low-level language such as a machine language is often used. In a process of converting the source code into the object code, a compiler may perform various optimizations to improve execution efficiency of the object code. In the optimization, loop optimization such as loop fusion, loop expansion, and loop division may be performed. For example, in the loop fusion, the execution efficiency may be improved by analyzing structures of loops existing in the code and fusing a plurality of loops to reduce locality of data and the number of loop determinations.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 7-121381, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 8-101776, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-228891 are disclosed as related art.

Information processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium storing compiling program, and compiling method

Abstract: determine a combination to which the loop fusion is to be applied among the combinations which are calculated for each of the combinations; and execute the loop fusion on the determined combination.


A novel method and apparatus for testing a device is described. The novel method and apparatus uses a reduced number of method steps, instructions, and clock cycles in order to test a device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for testing a device is described in which a device is instructed in one instruction to receive address information and a first data packet. The address information and the first data packet are loaded into the device. The first data packet may be selectively passed through a first storage element into a second storage element, and the address information may be loaded into the first storage element. The device is then instructed to program the first data packet into an address location of said device defined by the address information stored in the device. The device is then instructed to read or capture a second data packet from the address location defined by the address information. The second data packet is then output from the device. The second data packet may then be compared with the first data packet to verify the correct initial programming of the first data packet at the address location in the device. Additionally, the device may be instructed to selectively receive a third data packet and then load the third data packet into the device without overwriting the address information already stored in the device. The first data packet and the address information may be serially shifted into the device or loaded in parallel into the device. In like manner, the second data packet may be serially shifted out of the device or outputted in a parallel manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of test circuitry for integrated circuits or systems. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a novel method of testing a circuit using a reduced number of method steps, instructions and clock cycles.
2. Art Background
Various techniques have been developed to enable testing of a device, such as an integrated device, by including test logic into the device itself. The integrated test logic provides the ability to test the overall functionality of a particular device as well as a functional block (logic blocks, registers, I/O's etc.) within a particular device. Additionally, integrated test logic provides a way for testing interconnections between integrated circuits once the circuits have been assembled onto a printed circuit board (PCB) or other substrate, as well as, observing and modifying circuit activity during a device's normal operation.
One standardized approach to providing the test logic within a device is defined in IEEE Std 1149.1-1990 and 1149.1a-1993 entitled IEEE Standard Test Access Port and Boundary-Scan Architecture (IEEE Std 1149.1). IEEE Std 1149.1 defines a test access port (TAP) which is a general purpose port that can provide access to many test support functions built into a component to be tested. The TAP has a minimum of three dedicated input connections: a Test Input Clock (TCK) for clocking in serial test data or instruction information, a Test Mode Select Input (TMS) which is decoded by logic accessing the TAP to control test operations, and Test Data Input (TDI) which provides serial input test data or instruction information. In addition, the TAP has at a minimum one dedicated output: Test Data Output (TDO) which provides for the serial output of data from the TAP. Through the use of the test logic accessed through the TAP, data, address and instruction information may be serially written to and read from a device under test.
FIG. 1 shows a single device under test configuration 10 in which test logic accessed through a TAP may be implemented. A device under test 12 may be a single integrated circuit device or a system on a PCB. Device under test 10 includes a test circuit 14 which receives serial test data input TDI 16, test input clock TCK 20, and test mode select TMS 22. Additionally test circuit 14 outputs serial test data output 18.
FIG. 2 shows a multiple devices under test configuration 100 and illustrates how components to be tested may be interconnected in a serial configuration in compliance with IEEE Std 1149.1. Specifically, device under test 102 is serially connected to device under test 104 through their respective test circuits 106 and 108. When test circuits 106 and 108 comprise test logic accessed through a TAP as illustrated in FIG. 2, test circuits 106 and 108 receive TCK 112 and TMS 114. Test data and instruction information is serially received by test circuit 106 from TDI 110 and is output as serial output data at node 118. The serial output data at node 118 is received by test circuit 108 and output as serial output data at TDO 116. Test circuits 106 and 108 may be distributed throughout devices under test 102 and 104.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in accordance with IEEE Std 1149.1, prior art test logic 200 for testing a component and using a TAP. Test logic 200 comprises controller 203 which includes control logic 202 coupled to decode control logic 204. Control logic 202 receives and interprets the signals on TMS 218 and TCK 220 and together with decode control logic 204 generates clock and/or control signals as required. A set of registers, including instruction register 206, data registers 208 and 210, boundary scan register 212 and bypass register 214, are configured to receive input signals from decode control logic 204, TCK 220 and TDI 222.
Through the interaction of control logic 202 and decode control logic 204 an instruction is serially loaded into instruction register 206 from TDI 222. With instruction register 206 comprising Z bits, it requires Z clock cycles of TCK 220 to load an instruction into instruction register 206. Instructions loaded into instruction register 206 are decoded by decode control logic 204 and are used to select a test to be performed and/or register to be accessed. Data register 208 which comprises X bits, and data register 210 which comprises Y bits, allow access to design-specific test support features in a device under test, such as self-test, scan paths, etc. Boundary scan register 212 allows testing of board interconnections, testing of typical production defects such as opens and shorts and allows access to component inputs and outputs. Bypass register 214 provides a one-bit serial connection for use when no other register is being used.
Additionally, test logic 200 includes a selector 216 which is controlled by a select signal at node 226 from decode control logic 204. Selector 216 receives the serially shifted out data from instruction register 206, data registers 208 and 210, boundary scan registers 212 and bypass register 214 and selectively outputs the received data at output TDO 224.
Test logic 200 has been utilized to test a device, such a programmable logic device, as illustrated in FIG. 8. At step 800, an instruction is serially shifted into instruction register 206 which instructs test logic 200 to load address information into data register 208. The address information indicates an address to be tested within the device under test. At step 802, the address information is serially shifted into data register 208. At step 804, an instruction is serially shifted into instruction register 206 which instructs test logic 200 to load data register 210 with a first data packet. At step 806, the first data packet is serially shifted into data register 210. At step 808, an instruction is serially shifted into instruction register 206 which instructs test logic 200 to program the address location stored in data register 208 with the first data packet stored in data register 210. At step 810, an instruction is serially shifted into instruction register 206 which instructs test logic 200 to read or capture a second data packet from the address location stored in data register 208 and store the captured second data packet into data register 210. This step verifies that the first data packet was correctly programmed into the address location stored in data register 208. Finally, at step 812, the data packet stored in data register 210 is serially shifted out from data register 210 through selector 216 to TDO 224.
The method of FIG. 8 requires a significant number of clock cycles in order to program a location in a device under test and to verify that the programming was completed correctly. Specifically, it requires 4Z+2Y+X clock cycles: 4Z clock cycles to load the four instructions in steps 800, 804, 808 and 810; 2Y clock cycles to execute steps 806 and 812; and X clock cycles to execute step 802. The more clock cycles that are used to test a device, the lower the testing throughput and the greater the likelihood that a false programming error will be introduced due to system noise. Additionally, the more instructions that are used in order to test a device, the lower the testing throughput.
Therefore, a need exists for a method of testing a device, which may incorporate test logic compatible with IEEE Std 1149.1, in a reduced number of method steps, reduced number of instructions and reduced number of clock cycles in order to increase testing throughput. Additionally, a need exists for a method of testing a device, which may incorporate test logic compatible with IEEE Std 1149.1, in a reduced number of clock cycles in order to reduce the number of false errors caused due to system noise.

Method and apparatus for testing a device


The invention provides an assembly comprising a cryostat (6, 7, 8, 9) and a flat coil layer (3) of superconducting coils (2) for use with a magnetic levitation and/or acceleration motor system (1) of a lithographic apparatus. The cryostat comprises two insulation coverings (8, 9). The coil layer is arranged between the two coverings. The coverings each comprise an inner plate (10) configured to be cryocooled and an outer plate (11) parallel to the inner plate, and an insulation system with a vacuum layer (13) between the inner and outer plate. The insulation system of said covering comprises a layer of circular bodies (101), the central axes of these bodies extending perpendicular to the inner and outer plate, and is configured to provide a layer of point contacts between two layers of circular bodies or between a layer of circular bodies and the inner and/or outer plate.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine constructed to apply a desired pattern onto a substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). A lithographic apparatus may, for example, project a pattern (also often referred to as "design layout" or "design") of a patterning device (e.g., a mask) onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on a substrate (e.g., a wafer).
As semiconductor manufacturing processes continue to advance, the dimensions of circuit elements have continually been reduced while the amount of functional elements, such as transistors, per device has been steadily increasing over decades, following a trend commonly referred to as 'Moore's law'. To keep up with Moore's law the semiconductor industry is chasing technologies that enable to create increasingly smaller features. To project a pattern on a substrate a lithographic apparatus may use electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of this radiation determines the minimum size of features which are patterned on the substrate. Typical wavelengths currently in use are 365 nm (i-line), 248 nm, 193 nm and 13.5 nm. A lithographic apparatus, which uses extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, having a wavelength within a range of 4 nm to 20 nm, for example 6.7 nm or 13.5 nm, may be used to form smaller features on a substrate than a lithographic apparatus which uses, for example, radiation with a wavelength of 193 nm.
In a lithographic apparatus a patterning device is subjected to a radiation beam. Whilst passing through the patterning device, a pattern is imparted to this radiation beam. Subsequently, the radiation beam with imparted pattern passes through a projection system, which projects the imparted pattern onto a substrate. In order to provide the substrate with a desired pattern, both the patterning device and the substrate are moved with respect to the projection system as well as with respect to each other. For this purpose linear and/or planar motor systems are used based on current conducting coils and permanent magnets at room temperature or higher due to heat developed by the coils. Linear and planar motor systems typically have a stator part and a mover part which is movable in controlled manner with respect to the stator part by manipulating the current through the current conducting coils.

Assembly comprising a cryostat and layer of superconducting coils and motor system provided with such an assembly


A venting system for structures using a ridge vent for venting a conventional exhaust system associated with a structure through a conventional ridge vent. The venting system includes a ridge vent adaptor, which defines a mounting head at an upper end, and a pipe coupling at a lower end. The mounting head is configured to be received through an opening formed in the ridge of the roof. The mounting head defines two mounting flaps for securing the ridge vent adaptor to the roof of the structure. The mounting flaps are dimensioned to be concealed by the ridge vent when installed. The pipe coupling is provided for coupling a conventional pipe of an exhaust system into the ridge vent adaptor. A transition portion is defined between the mounting head and the pipe coupling, and is continuously increasing in cross-sectional area from the pipe coupling to the mounting head such that outlet of exhaust gases is not inhibited. Flexible pipe connectors are provided for adapting an existing exhaust system to the ridge vent adaptor of the present invention. Each flexible pipe connector is provided with a female receptor at one end and either a female receptor or a male connector at the other end, with an accordion-style elongated body, and is capable of flexing at least 135.degree. in any direction with respect to the central axis thereof. As a function of the flexible pipe connectors, a pipe connecting the two flexible pipe connectors is oriented at an angle equal to that of the roof pitch.

In the field of building construction, it is well known that exhaust systems such as a sewer exhaust and a room exhaust, are vented through the roof of the building. This is true whether the structure is a commercial building or a residential house. Most building codes require that the upstanding pipes rise to a particular level above the roof in order to prevent the exhausted gases from re-entering the structure. However, as a result of the venting of the particular exhaust system through the roof, several problems arise. Namely, each opening cut into the roof of the structure for passage of an upstanding pipe presents a potential for leaks. Many devices have been developed for the reduction of leaks around such pipes. Another problem associated with upstanding pipes is a reduction in the aesthetic quality of the structure.
It is also well known that in many structures today, ridge vents are utilized for venting the structure, and especially the attic. Although most commonly used for buildings with A-frame roofs, any slanted roof may incorporate a ridge vent to assist in circulating air through the structure. Due to the nature of the ridge vent, the ridge vent is disposed at the high point on the roof, thereby exhausting heated air as it rises.
Other devices have been produced to assist in ventilating exhaust systems through the roof of the structure, and to prevent leaks around upstanding pipes, flashing, and other components associated with the exhaust system. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date ______________________________________ 4,782,743 G. C. Quinnell Nov. 8, 1988 5,390,451 R. A. Kopp, et al. Feb. 21, 1995 5,394,663 J. Jackson Mar. 7, 1995 5,457,920 D. A. Waltz Oct. 17, 1995 5,487,247 W. L. Pigg Jan. 30, 1996 5,561,953 M. J. Rotter Oct. 8, 1996 5,615,526 D. W. Palmer, et al. Apr. 1, 1997 ______________________________________
Of these, those patents issued to Waltz ('920) and Rotter ('953) each disclose ridge vent constructions for roofs. The '920 device is a ridge vent for a conventional shingled roof, with flexible teeth adapted to fit between shingles to prevent passage of debris thereunder. The '953 device is provided for venting the ridge of a contoured metal roof. Neither of these devices teaches the use of the ridge vent for exhausting a conventional exhaust system such as that associated with a plumbing vent.
Those devices disclosed by Kopp, et al. ('451); Jackson ('663); and Palmer, et al. ('526) are illustrative of those devices which require cutting an opening in the roof as discussed above. It is evident from the disclosures of each that leaking around these devices is of concern, in that seals, gaskets, and waterproofing membranes are disclosed. The '663 device is a pipe flashing vent requiring the formation of an opening in the roof, and is configured to assist in preventing water from entering a pipe associated with an exhaust system in the structure. The '663 device is provided for venting the exhaust system wherein the upstanding pipe terminates within the structure. Although this device reduces the negative impact to the aesthetic quality of a conventional upstanding pipe, such problem is not eliminated. Further, the concerns regarding leaking around the stand pipe are not alleviated. The '451 device is a flexible high collar roof flashing for sealing an opening in a roof through which an upstanding pipe extends. The '526 device is a drain for draining water from a flat roof.
Pigg ('247) discloses a ventilation system for a roof and wall structure, wherein direct ventilation is accomplished through the walls and roof. Air vented through the structure is directed to at least one vent pipe extending above the apex of the roof The '247 device is not provided with means for venting through a ridge vent. Nor is the '247 device provided with a means for communication exhaust gas from within a discrete system in the structure to the exterior of the structure.
The device disclosed by Quinnell ('743) is a ridge tile with a ventilating aperture. A cap is taught for preventing water from entering the ventilating aperture. The '743 device is provided specifically for use with tile roofs, and cannot be used with conventional ridge vents. Specifically, the '743 device includes a ventilation duct which extends through the roof and into the weather cap.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for venting a conventional exhaust system associated with a structure through a conventional ridge vent disposed at a high point on the roof of the structure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the device may be quickly installed whether in a newly constructed building or as a retrofit to existing structures.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device whereby all stand pipes associated with the structure are eliminated, thereby improving the integrity of the roof of the structure and improving the aesthetic value of the roof.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby an exhaust system within a structure may be easily adapted to be vented through the ridge vent without requiring manipulation of cumbersome plumbing components.

Venting system for structures using a ridge vent


A heat generating apparatus having a housing assembly in which a working chamber including a heat generating region for heat generation and a fluid storing region for storing a viscous fluid, and a heat receiving chamber for receiving heat from the heat generating region are formed. The heat generating apparatus also having a rotor element mounted on a drive shaft to be rotated within the working chamber to apply a shearing action to the viscous fluid within the heat generating region. The viscous fluid generates heat when the shearing action is applied thereto so that the heat is transmitted to a heat exchanging liquid flowing through the heat receiving chamber. The heat generating region and fluid storing region communicating through an aperture formed in a partition wall formed in the working chamber, and the aperture having a gas-phase portion, a liquid-phase portion and a liquid supply portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat generating apparatus, non-exclusively used as a heat source for a vehicle heating system, and operating on the principle that a viscous fluid subjected to a shearing action due to the rotation of a rotor element generates heat which is received by a heat exchanging liquid circulating through a heat receiving chamber and is carried to an objective heated area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-337110 (the corresponding European Patent Publication is No. 0687584 A1 and the corresponding U.S. Patent Publication is U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,184) discloses a heat generating apparatus adapted for use in a heating system incorporated in an automotive vehicle. The heating apparatus includes a housing in which a heat generating chamber and a heat receiving chamber, or a water jacket arranged adjacent to the heat generating chamber, are defined. The housing rotatably supports a drive shaft via a bearing and a shaft sealing device. An outer end of the drive shaft and the housing support thereon a solenoid clutch which acts so as to connect the drive shaft to a vehicle engine via a belt-and-pulley mechanism, and to disconnect the drive shaft from the vehicle engine as required. The drive shaft has an inner end extending into the heat generating chamber and a rotor element is formed integrally therewith to be rotated with the drive shaft within the heat generating chamber. The heat generating chamber has an inner wall surface which cooperates with outer faces of the rotor element to define gaps therebetween in which a viscous fluid such as silicone oil is confined to generate heat. Namely, when the above-mentioned heating apparatus is incorporated in the vehicle heating system, the rotor element integral with the drive shaft is rotationally driven by the vehicle engine, and accordingly, the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber is subjected to a shearing action by which the viscous fluid generates heat within the gaps between the inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element. The heat is transmitted to the engine cooling water flowing through the water jacket via the wall of the heat generating chamber, and therefore, the heat transmitted to the engine cooling water is carried to a heating circuit in which the heat is moved to the air with the vehicle compartment.
In the heat generating apparatus of JP-A-'110, the viscous fluid within the heat generating chamber is constantly being subjected to the shearing action to generate heat during the rotation of the rotor element and the drive shaft. Therefore, the viscous fluid within the gaps between the inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element constantly can hold heat to become excessively hot. As a result, the viscous fluid is apt to be thermally degraded, and also be physically degraded due to the cutting of the molecular chains in the viscous fluid which reduces the molecular weight thereof. Thus, the viscosity of the viscous fluid is decreased so as to cause a reduction in the heat generating performance of the viscous fluid, and the operating life of the viscous fluid is shortened. Replacement of the degraded viscous fluid having a reduced viscosity with a fresh viscous fluid requires removing the heat generating apparatus from the vehicle and disassembly of the apparatus per se. The removed and disassembly of the heat generating apparatus is very cumbersome and inconvenient.
Further, according to an experiment conducted by the present Applicant with respect to the heat generating apparatus, when the apparatus is driven under a specified severe operating condition, such as a high speed and lengthy operating condition, it was found that leakage of the viscous fluid from the apparatus occurs. The heat generating apparatus of JP-A-'110 aims to achieve a simpler construction thereof while the viscous fluid within the heat generating chamber is added at a filing rate of 100%. Therefore, a thermal expansion of the viscous fluid within the heat generating chamber due to heat generation is absorbed by an expandable elastic membrane which also functions as a shaft sealing element, and a compensating chamber arranged between the shaft sealing element and a bearing device for rotatably support the drive shaft. Thus, when the heat generating apparatus is operated at a nominal rotating speed of the drive shaft for a relatively short period of time, leakage of the viscous fluid does not occur. Nevertheless, when the apparatus is operated at a very high rotating speed of the drive shaft or when the apparatus is operated at the nominal operating speed of the drive shaft for a long period of time, the thermal expansion of the viscous fluid cannot be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic membrane and a reduction in the volume of the compensating chamber to result in leakage of the viscous fluid. Since the leakage of the viscous fluid reduces the amount of viscous fluid held in the heat generating chamber, viscous fluid must be added to the heat generating chamber by disassembling the heat generating apparatus mounted in, e.g., an engine compartment of the vehicle. Further, the viscous fluid gradually leaking from the heat generating apparatus causes contamination in the engine compartment.
Furthermore, in the heat generating apparatus of JP-A-'110, the heat generating chamber is entirely filled with the viscous fluid, i.e., the filling rate of the viscous fluid for the heat generating chamber is approximately 100%. Therefore, an initial torque to start the rotation of the drive shaft and the rotor element is very large. Accordingly, at the starting of the vehicle engine, various problems, in which a cranking motor of the engine fails due to an excessive load applied to the motor and the solenoid clutch and the pulley-belt, slip occur. Also, the starting of the heat generating apparatus during the running of the vehicle provides a driver with an unpleasant feeling caused by the starting shock of the apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,778 and the corresponding German Patent Publication DE-3832966-A1 disclose a viscous fluid type heat generating apparatus provided with a housing in which a heat chamber and a fluid supply chamber communicating with the heat chamber via a fluid-supplying passage and a fluid-returning passage. The heating and fluid storage chambers are filled with a viscous fluid and a given amount of air. Thus, the viscous fluid can be supplied from the fluid supply chamber to the heating chamber, and also returned from the heat generating chamber to the fluid supply chamber. Accordingly, degradation of the viscous fluid can be prevented.
Further, in the heat generating apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,778, an amount of the viscous fluid held in the apparatus can be reduced at the start of the operation thereof, and accordingly, a starting torque necessary for starting the heat generating apparatus can be reduced.
Nevertheless, according to an experiment on the heat generating apparatus of U.S. Pat. '778, conducted by the present Applicant, it was confirmed that when the apparatus is operated under a severe operating condition, i.e., under a high-speed continuous-running condition, the apparatus may allow leakage of the viscous fluid from the apparatus. Namely, in the heat generating apparatus, the fluid-supplying passage and the fluid-returning passage are separately formed in a partition wall between the heat generating chamber and the fluid supplying chamber. Thus, the heat generating chamber and the fluid supplying chamber communicate with one another only by the fluid-supplying and fluid-returning passages. The fluid supplying passage is usually closed by a closing element and the fluid returning passage is constantly kept open. Accordingly, the fluid returning passage works as a throttling orifice opening from the heat generating chamber toward the fluid supplying chamber. As a result, a pressure level in the heat generating chamber increases during a high-speed continuous-running condition and causes leakage of the viscous fluid from the heating chamber.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-246823 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,377 disclose a viscous fluid type heat generator for an automobile which is provided with a heat generating chamber in which a heat generating chamber is formed so as to fluidly communicate with a vacant space arranged adjacent to an innermost end of a drive shaft on which a rotor element is mounted so as to be rotated together with the drive shaft. The heat generating chamber and the vacant space may be filled with viscous fluid. If the vacant space is supplied with a given amount of air, a thermal expansion of the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber can be absorbed by volumetric reduction in the air in the vacant space fluidly communicating with the heat generating chamber. Thus, the viscous fluid can be prevented from leaking from the heat generator.
Nevertheless, the heat generator of JP-A-'823 is provided with coaxially extending labyrinth recesses formed by cooperation between axial projections of an inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and alternate axial projections of outer faces of the rotor element. The labyrinth recesses prevent the viscous fluid held in the heat generating chamber from circulating in the heat generating chamber. Accordingly, the physical and chemical properties of the viscous fluid must be degraded during the continuous use of the viscous fluid type heat generator.

Heat generating apparatus employing viscous fluid

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jodoshokki Seisakusho


Electrolyte compositions and methods for planarizing a surface of a substrate using the electrolyte compositions are provided. In one aspect, an electrolyte composition includes one or more chelating agents, one or more corrosion inhibitors, and one or more pH adjusting agents. In another aspect, an electrolyte composition includes one or more chelating agents, two or more corrosion inhibitors, and one or more pH adjusting agents. In another aspect, an electrolyte composition includes one or more chelating agents, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more pH adjusting agents, and one or more electrically resistive additives.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to electrochemical mechanical polishing. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrolyte solution for copper removal and a method for removing copper from a substrate.
2. Background of the Related Art
Reliably producing sub-half micron and smaller features is one of the key technologies for the next generation of very large scale integration (VLSI) and ultra large-scale integration (ULSI) of semiconductor devices. However, as the limits of circuit technology are pushed, the shrinking dimensions of interconnects in VLSI and ULSI technology have placed additional demands on processing capabilities. Reliable formation of interconnects is important to VLSI and ULSI success and to the continued effort to increase circuit density and quality of individual substrates and die.
Multilevel interconnects are formed using sequential material deposition and material removal techniques on a substrate surface to form features therein. As layers of materials are sequentially deposited and removed, the uppermost surface of the substrate may become non-planar across its surface and require planarization prior to further processing. Planarization or "polishing" is a process where material is removed from the surface of the substrate to form a generally even, planar surface. Planarization is useful in removing excess deposited material and removing undesired surface topography and surface defects, such as rough surfaces, agglomerated materials, crystal lattice damage, scratches, and contaminated layers or materials to provide an even surface for subsequent lithography and processing.
Electrochemical mechanical polishing (ECMP) is one method of planarizing a surface of a substrate. ECMP removes conductive materials from a substrate surface by electrochemical dissolution while polishing the substrate with a reduced mechanical abrasion compared to conventional chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes, which may require a high relative down force on a substrate to remove materials, such as copper, from the substrate. A typical ECMP system includes a substrate support and two electrodes disposed within an electrolyte containment basin. In operation, metal atoms on a surface of a substrate are ionized by an electrical current from a source of potential, such as a battery or other voltage source connected to the two electrodes. The metal ions dissolve into the surrounding electrolyte solution at a rate proportional to the electric current. The metal ions from the substrate (anode) either plate the electrode (cathode), fall out of the solution as a precipitate of complexes, or remain in the solution. The destiny of the metal ions depends greatly on the chemistry of the metals and the solution.
While ECMP typically subjects a substrate to a lower down force than CMP, ECMP processing conditions, such as the pressure and the length of processing, may result in damage to the substrate surface. In particular, substrates containing low dielectric constant (low k) dielectric materials, such as carbon doped silicon oxides or other porous low k materials, may be deformed or scratched under ECMP processing conditions.
Therefore, there is a need for compositions and methods for planarizing a substrate with an electrolyte composition that minimizes damage to the substrate during planarization.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrolyte with good planarization capability, high removal rate and smooth surface finish for electrochemically controlled copper CMP


A rotor for an impact crusher which has rotor plates distributed along the length of a rotor shaft and secured to the shaft. Aligned, open, recessed cavities in multiple rotor plates receive a backing bar spanning the plates and the bar is secured to the plates. A removable hammer bar seats in the cavities and rests against the backing bar. Wedges held in place by retainers hook the hammer bar in place.

This invention relates to what is sometimes referred to as an impact crusher, and more particularly to a construction for the rotor in the crusher which is rotated to produce a breaking up of the material handled.
A conventional impact crusher has a frame including a hood portion which encompasses a crushing chamber within the crusher. A power-driven rotor is rotatably supported within the crusher, with the rotor supporting one or more hammers distributed about the periphery of the rotor. Material fed into the crusher cascades downwardly to fall against the rotor and be impacted by the hammers described as the rotor is rotated at high speed. The impact of a hammer striking the material being processed produces fragmentation of the material. A crusher of this description is disclosed in my copending application entitled "Impact Crusher with Biased Tertiary Curtain Assembly", filed October, 1992.
In a rotor for an impact crusher, it is important that any hammers provided be capable of operating over an extended period of time without replacement required. By constructing the hammer and its mounting in such a manner that the hammer may be turned over to provide a new striking edge, the service life of the hammer is appreciable extended. Any mounting for the hammer should hold it securely in place, since it should be obvious that were a hammer to work lose during operating of the crusher, because of the operating speed of the rotor and the weight of the hammer, considerable damage could result. While a hammer should be held securely, nevertheless, the mounting for the hammer should be such as to enable the hammer easily to be removed and turned over or replaced.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction for the rotor in an impact crusher which takes care of the above-described requirements in a highly practical and satisfactory manner.
More specifically, an object is to provide an improved rotor for an impact crusher, which features plural hammers or hammer bars distributed about the rotor, and a mounting whereby a hammer bar is securely held in its intended operating position, the mounting nevertheless being readily disassembled when rotor repair is required.
Yet another object is to provide such a rotor with hammer bars for producing the impacting action where a bar has two working shoulders, and is capable of being turned over in its mounting when one shoulder of the bar becomes worn to place an opposite unworn shoulder in operating position.
As contemplated herein, a hammer bar may be removed from its mounting on a rotor with lifting of the bar in a direction extending generally radially of the axis of the rotor, which in a typical crusher might be in an upward direction where there is easy access to the interior of the crushing chamber. Bar removal may further be done without the need of extensive equipment. Bar removal is considerably easier than in organizations where the bar must be shifted in a longitudinal direction, or in a direction extending axially of the rotor.
A further object is to provide a rotor construction which provides replaceable wear surfaces in regions of the rotor where appreciable wear occurs.
Yet a further object is to provide a rotor which employs wedge members and wedge retainers for holding a hammer bar in place, and such a construction where the wedge members and retainers are reversible.

Mounting for replaceable hammers in impact crusher


A mobile communications system includes base stations and mobile units. A power control scheme is provided in which a mobile unit can enter into a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode. During DTX mode, the mobile unit is not transmitting traffic channels that can be monitored to determine frame errors so that the target ratio of energy per bit to noise spectral density (target Eb/No) can be adjusted. Instead, the base station monitors bit errors of bits in a pilot channel communicated by the mobile unit during DTX mode. Using this technique, the target Eb/No can be adjusted even when the mobile unit is not transmitting traffic channels, so that outer-loop power control can be performed. A number of mechanisms can also be used to detect when a mobile unit has entered DTX mode.

Mobile communications systems, such as cellular or personal communications services (PCS) systems, are made up of a plurality of cells. Each cell provides a radio communications center in which a mobile unit establishes a call with another mobile unit or a wireline unit connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Each cell includes a radio base station, with each base station connected to a mobile switching center that controls processing of calls between or among mobile units or mobile units and PSTN units. In an alternative arrangement, the base stations may be connected to base station controllers that are in turn connected to the mobile switching center.
One type of protocol used in mobile communications is the code-division multiple access (CDMA) protocol, originally implemented as the IS-95 protocol. CDMA is based on a spread-spectrum technique in which multiple users have access to the same band of carriers. This is accomplished by assigning a unique orthogonal code (referred to as the Walsh code) to each mobile unit. To meet requirements for third generation (3G) wireless communications systems, the CDMA technology has been replaced with the CDMA 2000 family of standards. The standards in the CDMA 2000 family include the IS-2000-1, IS-2000-2, IS-2000-3, IS-2000-4, IS-2000-5, and IS-2000-6 (collectively referred to as the "IS-2000 standard").
According to IS-2000, a mobile station may discontinue the transmission of traffic channels to preserve power and reduce interference when there is no data to send. Such a feature is referred to as the discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode. The DTX feature is available on fixed-rate traffic channels, such as the dedicated control channel and supplemental channel, in the reverse link between the base station and each mobile unit. The CDMA air-link is based on a forward link and reverse link between base stations and mobile units. The forward link is the link from the base station to the mobile unit, while the reverse link is the link from the mobile unit to the base station. Among the channels used in the reverse link are the dedicated control and supplemental channels, which are employed to carry traffic frames and other signaling from the mobile unit to the base station.
Conventionally, in performing outer-loop power control without DTX, such as in IS-95 CDMA systems, the target ratio of energy per bit to noise spectral density (referred to as the target Eb/No) is adjusted based on whether errors occurred in receiving frames. A target Eb/No may be specified for each mobile unit. The target Eb/No may be increased when the frame error rate (FER) rises above a predetermined threshold and decreased when the FER falls below the predetermined threshold. Alternatively, adjustment of the target Eb/No may be based on occurrence of frame errors rather than the FER crossing a threshold. By coordinating the step sizes of the increases and decreases in the target Eb/No, a target FER can be achieved.
If the transmission of traffic frames is discontinued, however, the conventional technique of controlling the target Eb/No based on the transmission of traffic frames during the period of silence is not possible, even if the receiver in the base station can detect that the transmission of frames has ceased. The reception of traffic frames is no longer available to determine exactly what target Eb/No is required for a given quality of reception. Without a way of adjusting the target Eb/No, reliable transmission of frames may not be possible when the mobile unit exits DTX mode and starts transmitting traffic frames again.
Setting a fixed target Eb/No does not entirely solve the problem, since the Eb/No required for successful transmission of traffic frames may vary during the period of silence, in which case no frames may be successfully received at the end of the silence period and a dropped call may result. The target Eb/No may alternatively be set to a high value to ensure reception at the end of the silence period. Such a high value may be the worst-case value based on the velocity of the mobile unit and the known channel conditions. However, setting a high target Eb/No may result in the transmission of excessive power on the pilot, traffic, and power control channels, which may significantly reduce the power reduction that is supposed to result from the use of DTX.
Thus, an improved method and apparatus for performing power control is needed in a mobile communications system.

Performing power control in a mobile communications system


A programmable electronic golf swing timer worn on the wrist like a watch with an actuator button worn underneath a golf glove which will audibly alert the player at the optimal time the club should contact the ball. This electronic golf swing timer will assist the golfer in maintaining a uniform and consistent golf swing. The process of timing a golf swing with the watch-like assembly includes the steps of:. a. setting a swing time for a particular golf club from back swing to contact with a golf ball by pressing a club button followed by a time button followed by a set button located on the watch-like assembly; PA1 b. pushing a club button located on the watch-like assembly representative of the golf club to be swung; PA1 c. observing an LED display on the watch-like assembly indicating the golf club chosen and the swing time for the golf club; PA1 d. activating a membrane switch positioned conveniently on a finger clip remote from the watch-like assembly to generate an electrical connection to indicate the start of the back swing; PA1 e. transmitting said electrical connection via a lead wire to the watch-like assembly to initiate a timer; and, PA1 f. providing an audible beep from the watch-like assembly after the swing time has elapsed as notification that contact of the golf cub with the golf ball should ideally occur.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for an electronic golf swing timer, and more particularly, pertains to an electronic timer worn on the wrist, and includes a membrane switch which is worn on the thumb and is connected to the electronic timer by a small lead wire worn on the inside of a golf glove. The electronic golf swing timer is a self administered timing device used to maintain consistent golf swing timing from the start of the back swing to the time of contact with the golf ball. An audible signal is sent when the timer reaches a preset time programmed by the player which, if used effectively, will audibly signal the player at the exact time of impact. Otherwise, the signal will alert the player of an early or late swing. The electronic golf swing timer is easily programmable to meet each individual golfer's swing and each golf club used.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Other devices have been used for providing information regarding timing or acceleration motion of specific sporting activities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,379 to Chateau et al. describes a wrist-worn device that detects the rate of acceleration for the motion of a bowler. A signal indicates if the bowling motion suggests too much acceleration or if it is too slow. The main teaching of Chateau et al. is the development of an accelerometer able to measure small changes in acceleration and convert them to an electrical signal. Miller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,960, discloses an event register device for counting events or items. The device is worn on the wrist with a remote transducer located on the user's finger to activate the event count. Its primary use is for a swimmer to count swimming laps. Another device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,547 to Fujita discloses a digital wristwatch with a timer function located on the housing. This device does not allow for precise timing of a specific sporting motion that requires both hands. Furthermore, it does not provide a means to set a predetermined and precise desired time for a sporting motion and then provide the means to evaluate the precise timing of the specific sporting motion.
The present invention provides a means for setting a precise time for a specific sporting motion and a method for determining if the sporting motion is performed with that precise time or requires adjustment.


A non-gated diode structure of a silicon-on-insulator, having a silicon-on-insulator substrate, a pair of isolating structures, a first type doped region and a second type doped region. The silicon-on-insulation substrate has a stack of a substrate, an insulation layer and a silicon layer. The isolating structures are located in the silicon layer to define a well region. The first and second type doped regions are located in the well and are adjacent to the isolating structures. Such a non-gated diode structure can be applied to an electrostatic discharge protection circuit to increase the electrostatic discharge protection voltage or current. In addition, a fabrication method of the non-gated diode is also introduced. This non-gated diode can be also fabricated in the general bulk CMOS process, and used in the on-chip ESD protection circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an electrostatic discharge protection circuit and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly, to an electrostatic discharge protection circuit of a non-gated diode and a fabrication method thereof that uses the silicon-on-insulation (SOI) fabrication process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Silicon-on-insulator technology is a prime contender for low voltage, and high-speed applications because of its advantages over bulk-Si technology in high isolation, latch-up immunity, and smaller junction capacitance. However, electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a major concern for SOI technology.
The protection level provided by an ESD protection circuit is determined by the amount of current that it can sink while clamping the voltage to a small value. The device failure is initiated by thermal runaway and followed by catastrophic damage during an ESD pulse. In SOI devices, the presence of the buried oxide layer having a thermal conductivity 1/100th of Si causes increased device heating, which in turn accelerates thermal runaway under ESD stress condition.
FIG. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of a gated-diode (called as Lubistor) in SOI published in the article of S. Voldman et al. "CMOS-on-SOI ESD protection networks," in Proc. Of EOS/ESD Symp. 1996, pp. 291–301. As shown in FIG. 1, the SOI gated diode is formed on a SOI substrate which includes a substrate 10, a buried oxide layer 12 and a silicon layer. Shallow trench isolation (STI) structures 14 are formed in the silicon layer. A P+ region 20 and an N+ region 16 are formed in the silicon layer between the STI structures 14, while a N-type or P-type doped region 18 is formed in the silicon layer between the P+ region 20 and the N+ region 16. If the N-type doped region 18 is selected, the P+ region 20 and the N− doped region 18 construct a SOI diode. In contrast, if the P-type doped region 18 is formed, the N+ region 16 and the P-type doped region 18 construct a SOI diode. A gate is further formed on the doped region 18. The gate includes a P+ region 24 and an N+ region, a spacer 26 and a gate oxide 28.
The P+ region 20 and the N+ region 16 are coupled to voltage V1 and V2 as the voltage application terminals for the SOI diode. Taking the SOI diode formed of the P+ region 20 and the N-type doped region 18 as an example, the SOI diode is forward biased if V1 is positive relative to V2. On the contrary, if V2 is positive relative to V1, the SOI diode is reverse biased.
If the heat generated by the ESD voltage at the junction between the P+ region 20 and the N-type doped region 18 is small, the SOI diode can withstand a higher ESD voltage. The heat generated at the PN junction is joule heating. When the maximum temperature of the SOI diode reaches its intrinsic temperature, Tinstrinsic, second order breakdown occurs. Therefore, to obtain a better ESD protection, the power density and joule heating have to be reduced in the device structure.

Electrostatic discharge protection circuit of non-gated diode and fabrication method thereof


A method for fabricating fiber-reinforced composite structures, including centrifuge rotors, by resin transfer molding (RTM) is disclosed. The method involves loading reinforcing fibers into a mold and then injecting resin into the mold to coat the fibers to form the composite structure. Two types of reinforcing fibers are used--fabric preforms at the surfaces of the structure and chopped fibers at the interior of the structure. Also disclosed is a fiber-reinforced composite structure comprising a skin layer of reinforcing fabric, chopped fibers distributed throughout the interior of the structure, and epoxy resin that binds the fabric and chopped fibers together into a fiber-reinforced composite structure. The resin transfer molding method is especially useful for fabricating composite centrifuge rotors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to centrifuge rotors made from composite materials, and relates more particularly to a process of fabricating structures, including centrifuge rotors, by resin transfer molding, and the resulting structures or rotors.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Centrifuges are commonly used in medical and biological research for separating and purifying materials of differing densities. A centrifuge includes a rotor typically capable of spinning at tens of thousands of revolutions per minute.
A preparative centrifuge rotor has some means for accepting tubes or bottles containing the samples to be centrifuged. Preparative rotors are commonly classified according to the orientation of the sample tubes or bottles. Vertical tube rotors carry the sample tubes or bottles in a vertical orientation, parallel to the vertical rotor axis. Fixed-angle rotors carry the sample tubes or bottles at an angle inclined with respect to the rotor axis, with the bottoms of the sample tubes being inclined away from the rotor axis so that centrifugal force during centrifugation forces the sample toward the bottom of the sample tube or bottle. Swinging bucket rotors have pivoting tube carriers that are upright when the rotor is stopped and that pivot the bottoms of the tubes outward under centrifugal force.
Many centrifuge rotors are fabricated from metal. Since weight is a concern, titanium and aluminum are commonly used materials for metal centrifuge rotors.
Fiber-reinforced, composite structures have also been used for centrifuge rotors. Composite centrifuge rotors are typically made from laminated layers of carbon fibers embedded in an epoxy resin matrix. The fibers are arranged in multiple layers extending in varying directions at right angles to the rotor axis. During fabrication of such a rotor, the carbon fibers and resin matrix are cured under high pressure and temperature to produce a very strong but lightweight rotor. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,781,669 and 4,790,808 are examples of this type of construction.
Composite centrifuge rotors are stronger and lighter than equivalent metal rotors, being perhaps 60% lighter than titanium and 40% lighter than aluminum rotors of equivalent size. The lighter weight of a composite rotor translates into a much smaller mass moment of inertia than that of a comparable metal rotor. The smaller moment of inertia of a composite rotor reduces acceleration and deceleration times of a centrifugation process, thereby resulting in quicker centrifugation runs. In addition, a composite rotor reduces the loads on the centrifugal drive unit as compared to an equivalent metal rotor, so that the motor driving the centrifuge will last longer. Composite rotors also have the advantage of lower kinetic energy than metal rotors due to the smaller mass moment of inertia for the same rotational speed, which reduces centrifuge damage in case of rotor failure. The materials used in composite rotors are resistant to corrosion against many solvents used in centrifugation.
A disadvantage of composite centrifuge rotors is that the loading of the rotor due to centrifugal forces can cause delaminations and failure of the structure. Reinforcing structures such as outer shells may be necessary to provide adequate structural strength, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,362,301 and 4,790,808. Another disadvantage is that extensive and costly machining of the laminated core is required in order to form the outer shape of the rotor and to form the cell holes that receive the sample tubes or bottles containing the samples to be centrifuged.

Resin transfer molding of a centrifuge rotor


A system includes a first regional network including a first network element; a second regional network including a virtualized control plane network element, the virtualized control plane network element supporting a routing protocol at the first regional network, the routing protocol employing a location-based cost model; and a network connection connecting the virtualized control plane network element to the first regional network, the network connection having a network connection cost, the network connection cost applied in the location-based cost model to support the routing protocol at the first regional network.

The present disclosure relates generally to virtualization of network elements, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and computer program products for virtualization of control plane network elements.
Virtualization of network elements is a cost effective way of centralizing network functions, reducing capital expenses and reducing operation expenses. Exemplary services that can be virtualized include web servers, firewalls, application servers, etc. One drawback to virtualization occurs when the virtualized network element employs a cost determination based on the location of the virtualized network element relative to other network elements in the network. Since the virtualized network element is not physically located where the service is provided, location-based cost determinations may be inaccurate.

Virtualization of control plane network elements


A printer system includes a main printer which has a first tank and a first head, a sub printer which has a second tank having a volume smaller than the first tank and a second head and which is provided detachably with respect to the main printer, and a supply mechanism which supplies the ink from the first tank to the second tank when the sub printer is installed to the main printer. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the printer system, which is not provided with any exclusive station that finds no way of use except for the ink supplement and requires any excessive installation space, while the sub printer is of the ink supplement type.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a main printer which has a first tank and a first head, a sub printer which has a second tank having a volume smaller than that of the first tank and a second head, a printer system which is composed of the main printer and the sub printer, and an ink supply method for supplying the ink from the first tank and the second tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable type printer has been suggested, which is small in size as compared with a stationary type printer provided with a paper feed/discharge mechanism and which can be carried about, for example, with one hand (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-361934). The portable type printer has a small casing. Therefore, the portable type printer cannot carry any large volume ink tank as the ink tank for storing the discharge ink to be discharged to a recording member or medium. In view of the above, in order to supplement with the ink when the residual amount is in shortage while carrying an ink tank having a small volume, an exclusive station is prepared, to which the portable type printer is subjected to the docking. In the case of an exclusive station disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-361934, when the portable type printer is subjected to the docking, the ink tank of the portable type printer is supplemented with the ink from the exclusive station.
However, the exclusive station as described above finds no way of use except when the portable printer is supplemented with the ink. Further, the installation space is not small as well. In this viewpoint, it is not affirmed that the exclusive station as described above is convenient for the user. On the other hand, if the ink tank of the portable type printer itself is exchangeable, then the volume of the ink tank is small, and hence it is necessary that the exchange operation should be performed frequently, which is not preferred.

Printer system, main printer and sub printer to be used therefor, and ink supply method


A power conversion apparatus has a structure in which the negative terminal of an insulated power supply is connected to one of connection nodes of a negative side bus with U-phase, V-phase and W-phase lower-arm switching elements except the end-side ones. That is the negative terminal of the insulated power supply is connected to the connection node between the negative side bus and the V-phase lower arm switching element to enable suppressing variations of input voltages supplied from the insulated power supply to respective drive circuits for driving the lower-arm switching elements by using low pass filters having smaller filtering capacity and smaller size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power conversion apparatus including a plurality of series connections each having a high-voltage side switching element and a low-voltage side switching element connected in series to each other, a common negative side bus to which one end of each of the low-voltage side switching elements is connected, the other ends of the low-voltage side switching elements being connected to the corresponding high-voltage side switching elements, drive circuits provided for the respective low-voltage side switching elements for driving the low-voltage side switching elements, and a common power supply to which the drive circuits are connected.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-61290 describes, as such a power conversion apparatus, a three-phase inverter having a structure in which the grounds of the drive circuits corresponding to the low-voltage side switching elements (IGBTs) of U, V and W phases are used as the negative side bus. This three-phase inverter includes low pass filters (LC filters) interposed between each of the drive circuits and the power supply.
The LC filters are provided for suppressing variation of the ground voltage of each of the drive circuits due to voltage drop in the negative side bus caused by a current flowing through the negative side bus. Suppressing variation of the ground voltage makes it possible to suppress variation of the input voltage applied to the drive circuits from the power supply.
By the provision of such LC filters, variation of the ground voltage can be suppressed for each of drive circuits respectively corresponding to the three phases. However, when the three-phase inverter employs a structure in which, of three connection nodes of the negative side bus with the three low-voltage side switching elements, the nodes not in the middle in the direction along the negative side bus are connected with the negative terminal of the power supply, the following problem arises.
The voltage difference between the connection node connected with the negative terminal of the power supply and each of the other two connection nodes may increase with the increase of the inductance between the connection node connected with the negative terminal of the power supply and each of the other two connection nodes. Accordingly, when one of the three connection nodes which is not in the middle forms a reference point, variation of the input voltage of the drive circuit whose ground is at one of the connection nodes which is most distant from the reference point may be considerably large.
It would be possible to suppress the variation of the input voltage by increasing the filtering capacity of the LC filter interposed between the drive circuit and the power source, for example by lowering its resonance frequency. However, in this case, the size and cost of the LC filter are likely to be increased.

Power conversion apparatus having a negative terminal of a power supply connected to one of connection nodes of a negative side bus with U-phase, V-phase and W-phase lower-arm switching elements except the end-side ones


A method of maintaining a substantially fixed orientation of a pressure control device relative to a movable rig can include rotating a body of the pressure control device while the rig rotates. A method of remotely controlling an orientation of a pressure control device relative to a movable rig can include rotating a body of the pressure control device, and controlling the rotation of the body from a location on the rig remote from the body. A pressure control device for use in conjunction with a rig can include a body, a flange, an orientation device which changes a rotational orientation of the body relative to the flange, and an orientation control system which remotely controls the orientation device.

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a pressure control device which is remotely oriented relative to a rig.
Some floating rigs can move relative to a riser assembly. For example, a drill ship or a semi-submersible can be dynamically positioned relative to a riser assembly.
Unfortunately, such movement sometimes includes rotation of the rig relative to the riser assembly. As a result, any lines or cables extending between the rig and the riser assembly can become tangled, damaged, etc.
Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements are needed in the art of connecting rigs to riser assemblies.

Pressure control device with remote orientation relative to a rig


A male terminal fitting and a method of manufacturing the same is disclosed as including a plate-shaped contact protrusion (11, 31, 41, 51) formed at one side for mating with a female terminal fitting, and a conductor clamping portion (12, 32, 42, 52) located at the other side for clamping a conductor of an electric wire. The plate-shaped contact protrusion includes a base plate component (14, 34, 44, 54) extending from the conductor clamping portion in a longitudinally elongated shape, and an overlapping fold plate component (15, 35, 36, 45, 46, 55) laterally extending from a side of the base plate component. The plate-shaped contact protrusion further includes a flatness securing plate component (16, 35, 44, 56) laterally extending from the base plate component and overlaps with the overlapping fold plate component to ensure flatness conditions of the base plate component and the overlapping fold plate component. In the method, a plurality of sequentially arrayed male terminal fittings are formed by stamping operation and a forming operation is implemented to form each of the terminal fittings into final shapes, respectively.

The present invention relates to male terminal fittings and, more particularly, a male terminal fitting having a contact protrusion and a method of manufacturing the same.
Various attempts have heretofore been undertaken to develop a male terminal fitting of the type having a plate-shape contact protrusion as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. In such a male terminal fitting, the plate shape contact segment 1 is fabricated first by stamping a conductive thin metal sheet in a developed stage and subsequently bending the thin sheet metal into a final product. In particular, the plate-shaped contact protrusion 1 is comprised of an elongated base plate component 2, and an overlapping fold plate component laterally extending from one end of the base plate component and folded to lie over the base plate component 2. a distal end 3a of the overlapping fold plate component 3 is further folded toward the base plate component 2 such that a tabular portion 4 is formed. The presence of the hollow portion 4 enables the plate-shape contact protrusion 1 to have a desired thickness L1 even when using the thin sheet material.
However, since the tabular portion 4 is internally formed when forming the overlapping fold plate component 3 toward the base plate component 2, central portions of the base plate component 2 and the overlapping fold plate component 3 are caused to be collapsed in depths L2, L3, respectively, due to external press forces exerted thereto during the forming operation as shown in FIG. 2.
With such deformations, the base plate component 2 and the overlapping fold plate component 3 do not have desired flatness, resulting in a decrease in contact surface areas against mating walls of an associated female terminal fitting with a degraded reliability in electrical contact.
To address such an issue, another attempt has been proposed to develop a male terminal fitting whose plate-shaped contact protrusion is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein a base plate component has a longitudinal extension 7 which is folded back to form an overlapped structure on which overlapping plate components 6, 6 are folded inward to lie on the overlapped structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 10-3956. With such a structure, even when the plate-shape contact protrusion is exerted with the external press forces, the presence of the overlapped structure 7, which is laminated with the overlapping plate components 6, 6, avoids the central portions of the base plate component 2 and the overlapping plate components 6, 6 from being collapsed.
However, with a particular structure proposed in such a Japanese Provisional Publication, the presence of the longitudinal extension 7, which longitudinally extends from the distal end of the base plate component, needs an elongated sheet material with a remarkably increased width, causing an increase in a material cost and an increase in waste material.
Further, the presence of a bending step for bending the longitudinal extension 7 such that it is folded back to the base plate component 5 is reflected in an increase in the number of bending formation steps, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost of the male terminal fitting.

Male terminal fitting and method of manufacturing the same


A closure for dispensing a viscous material such as mustard or ketchup from a container includes a threaded closure body having a dispensing orifice through which viscous material may flow during dispensing, and a collection space for collecting a volume of thin liquid that may form on top of the viscous material during storage. The collection space acts to intercept the thin liquid as the container is inverted to dispense the viscous material. As the material continues to be dispensed, the thin liquid is re-mixed into the material, thereby keeping the solid to liquid ratio of the material in the container relatively constant. Additionally, a valve may be placed in the orifice for at least partially precluding passage of the thin liquid through the orifice during initial dispensation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to dispensing closures for dispensing containers of the type that are used to store and dispense viscous materials such as mustard and ketchup.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Containers that are used to store and dispense viscous foodstuffs and condiments such as ketchup and mustard employ a wide variety of closures in the United States and throughout the world. One commercially popular closure is shaped as a conical spout, and utilizes a twist-valve to open and close the dispensing passage. A second popular closure has a pivotally mounted snap-lid capable of being moved between a closed and an open dispensing position. In the closed position, the lid covers the dispensing opening and in the open position, the lid is moved away from the opening to allow the product in the container to be dispensed.
One problem that besets viscous foodstuffs such as ketchup and mustard is that thin liquid, e.g. the vinegar and aqueous base of the mixture, tends during periods of nonuse to form at the top of the container as suspended solids settle towards the bottom. When the container is inverted by a user to dispense the material, the thin liquid because of its initial position within the container and its lower viscosity will reach and be expelled from the closure opening before the more viscous material. Many consumers find this discharge of thin liquid to be unpleasant, and would rather not have it on their food. The thin liquid can also aerosolize as it is expelled from the closure and thus spray about in an uncontrolled manner that can make an unpleasant mess.
Consumers are advised to shake the container to mix the viscous material inside before dispensing, but this is often forgotten or avoided. Besides the unpleasant aspects of unmixed dispensing that are described above, premature depletion of the liquids from the suspension of the viscous material can lead to dehydration and thickening of the material.
A need exists for an improved system and method of dispensing viscous materials such as ketchup and mustard that reduces the potential for dribbling, spraying, mess-making and dehydration of the material as a result of early expulsion of the thin liquid component of the material during dispensing.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved system and method of dispensing viscous materials such as ketchup and mustard that reduces the potential for dribbling, spraying, mess-making and dehydration of the material as a result of early expulsion of the thin liquid component of the material during dispensing.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a closure for dispensing a viscous material from a container includes, according to a first aspect of the invention, securing structure for securing the closure to a container; orifice defining structure for defining an orifice through which a viscous material may flow during dispensing of the viscous material from the container; thin liquid collecting structure for collecting a volume of thin liquid that may form on top of the viscous material during storage, and a valve for permitting flow of viscous material through the orifice during dispensing, the valve being constructed and arranged to impede flow of the thin liquid through said orifice during initial dispensation of fluid through the closure, whereby the amount of thin liquid that will be initially dispensed from the closure will be reduced.
A closure for dispensing a viscous material from a container according to a second aspect of the invention includes a closure body having at least one thread defined on an inner surface thereof for engaging an external thread on a container, a dispensing orifice through which viscous material may flow during dispensing; a collection space for collecting a volume of thin liquid that may form on top of the viscous material during storage and a valve for permitting flow of viscous material through the orifice during dispensing, the valve being constructed and arranged to impede flow of the thin liquid through the orifice during initial dispensation of fluid through the closure, whereby the amount of thin liquid that will be initially dispensed from the closure will be reduced.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

System and method for dispensing viscous material

Crown Cork and Seal Technologies Corporation


An integrated vehicle control system includes a first control system having a maximum authority to selectively operate a first vehicle sub-system and a second control system to selectively operate a second vehicle sub-system. A controller is adapted to monitor a first parameter associated with the first vehicle sub-system and a second parameter associated with the second vehicle sub-system. The controller is operable to control the first and second parameters by selectively invoking operation of the second control system when the first control system exceeds the maximum authority and the second parameter exceeds an upper threshold.

Modern vehicles incorporate a number of active vehicle control sub-systems that enhance comfort and safety. Two such vehicle control sub-systems include an active front steering (AFS) system and a vehicle stability enhancement (VSE) system.
The AFS system electronically varies the steering ratio based on the intended steering angle, vehicle speed, road conditions and feedback control. Vehicle steering is more direct under normal road conditions at low and medium speeds, reducing operator steering effort. The AFS system also increases vehicle agility in city traffic or for parking maneuvers. Vehicle steering becomes less direct at higher vehicle speeds improving directional stability. Steering stiffens during high speed cornering or sudden maneuvers by monitoring the vehicle yaw rate.
The VSE system assists the vehicle operator in controlling vehicle handling on surfaces such as wet or uneven pavement, ice, snow or gravel. The VSE system also helps the vehicle operator maintain control during rapid or emergency maneuvers. The VSE system recognizes wheel skid based on sensor inputs from wheel speed sensors, steering angle sensors, vehicle speed and a yaw rate sensor. After analyzing the various inputs, the VSE system reduces engine torque and applies braking to maintain vehicle travel along the intended path.
The development of such vehicle control sub-systems reaches a natural limit that presents a compromise in fulfilling contradicting requirements of vehicle comfort, stability, performance and cost. Superimposing the control of each sub-system is not always the most effective means in achieving total vehicle performance.

Integrating active front steering and vehicle stability brake control


At the time of clamping, excessive stress is applied to bonding parts between substrates and input/output terminals, which may cause the bonding parts to be detached and cause the substrates to be cracked.

A power semiconductor device performs a power converting function of converting DC power to AC power or AC power to DC power. The power semiconductor device includes a power semiconductor element configured to perform a switching operation.
As such a power semiconductor device, PTL 1 describes a power semiconductor device in which heat is dissipated from heat dissipation surfaces of respective substrates bonded to both surfaces of a power semiconductor element to a cooler. A power semiconductor device mounted on an electric vehicle such as a hybrid car, an electric car, and a fuel-cell car is required to be reduced in size and weight, and components inside the power semiconductor device are densely integrated. The power semiconductor device described in PTL 1 is excellent in heat dissipation. However, when the power semiconductor device is sealed with an insulating resin, input/output terminals are clamped by upper and lower dies, and the resin is filled in a space between the dies.

Power semiconductor device including a spacer

Abstract: A lower electrode of a power semiconductor element 11 is connected via a bonding material 13 to a first interconnection layer 12 arranged on a lower surface of the power semiconductor element 11, and an upper electrode 14 of the power semiconductor element 11 is connected via the bonding material 13 to a second interconnection layer 15 arranged on an upper surface. Also, a second main terminal 16 electrically connected to the upper electrode 14 of the power semiconductor element 11 is connected via the bonding material 13 to the second interconnection layer 15 and contacts and is positioned on a third interconnection layer 24 (spacer) arranged to be parallel to the first interconnection layer 12 on the lower surface. An insulating layer 26 is laminated on a surface of each of the first interconnection layer 12 to the third interconnection layer 24 opposite the bonding material 13, and a heat dissipating layer 27 is laminated on the insulating layer 26.


A resonant power converter and a current synthesizing method therefor are provided. The resonant power converter includes a switch circuit, a resonant tank, a transformer, a rectifier circuit, and a current synthesizing module. The switch circuit receives an input voltage from an input source, and the rectifier circuit outputs an output voltage to a load. The current synthesizing module includes a sensing circuit, a peak hold circuit, and a calculation unit. The sensing circuit is configured to sense a resonant capacitor voltage on a resonant capacitor of the resonant tank. The peak hold circuit is configured to receive the resonant capacitor voltage and acquires a peak value thereof. The calculation unit is configured to receive the peak value, a switching frequency, the input voltage, the output voltage, and a resonant capacitance of the resonant power converter and generate a synthesized output current accordingly.

Most of power supplies need output current information for fault detection or system monitoring purpose. Since the current shape of the PWM converter is either triangular or trapezoidal, the output current information can also be obtained through sensing the current from primary side. In addition, the average value of the output current can be easily calculated.
For resonant converters, since the current shape is sinusoidal with harmonics, the output current information conventionally cannot be obtained by sensing the current from primary side directly. Moreover, it requires very complex computation to derive the average value of the output current from the peak value of the output current.
Therefore, there is a need of providing a resonant power converter and a current synthesizing method therefor to obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior arts.

Resonant power converter and current synthesizing method therefor

DELTA ELECTRONICS (THAILAND) PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED


A rotary feeding mechanism for axially feeding a rod-shaped body from a main body by rotating a tapered tip has a simple structure and can be produced economically. The main body is provided with plural open windows are arranged at a predetermined thread pitch along an axial direction of the main body. The tapered tip is installed rotatably on the main body, and a guide pipe extending toward the inside of the main body is fixed to the tapered tip. A holder for holding the rod-shaped body is housed in the main body, and the holder and the guide pipe are connected non-rotatably and movably in the axial direction. The outer periphery of the holder has an external thread which engages with the windows so that when the tapered tip is rotated, the holder moves in the axial direction while rotating via the guide pipe, and the rod-shaped body can be projected from or retracted into the main body.

Feeding mechanisms using a rotation operation have been known as a mechanism for feeding a rod-shaped body such as pencil leads, erasers, ink refills, crayons, etc. in writing instruments and lipsticks, eyeliners, etc. in cosmetic instruments.
As a simple and easy rotary feeding mechanism, for example, a cosmetic instrument described in UM-A-Sho 60-67726 has a helical spring (coil spring) disposed in a main body in which a holder for holding a rod-shaped body is hooked over the helical spring. The holder is moved forward or backward by rotation of the helical spring thereby projecting or retracting the rod-shaped body. Since the mechanism uses a helical spring, it is complicated to manufacture and assemble and not economical. In addition, in this mechanism, the whole helical spring is rotatably moved by actuating an end side of the helical spring that extends lengthwise in the axial direction of the rod-shaped body. As a result, variations are likely to arise in the pitch of the spring and may sometimes cause unstable feeding of the rod-shaped body. Further, the rod-shaped body is held by the holder, and if the holding power of the holder is too large, when the rod-shaped body is used up and needs to be replaced with a new one, the rod-shaped body residue remaining in the holder is difficult to detach, resulting in troublesome replacement.
UM-A-Hei 1-131586 describes a mechanism using no helical spring. In the mechanism described in this publication, helical grooves are formed on an inner face of a main body and a lateral projection of a holder is engaged with the helical grooves. In this structure, when the holder is rotated by a holder guide installed at the rear end of the main body, the holder is moved in an axial direction by which a rod-shaped body is fed. This structure presents a simplified mechanism. However, for the formation of helical grooves on the inner face of the main body, at the time of plastic molding of the main body, the molding is carried out by use of a motor drive die using a core pin formed with a thread on its outer periphery, resulting in high costs and complicated production.

Rotary feeding mechanism for rod-shaped body


A chop-wave control circuit includes a feedback unit, a ramp generation unit, a latchup unit and a voltage transformation unit that is used on a forward transformation circuit which includes at least a main output unit and at least one auxiliary output unit. The feedback unit captures a feedback signal from an output end of the auxiliary output unit to generate a slope regulation signal. The ramp generation unit alters the trigger time sequence of the latchup unit through the slope regulation signal to set an auxiliary flywheel switch ON or OFF. The voltage transformation unit detects potential variations of the latchup unit to set a chop-wave switch ON or OFF. By controlling the auxiliary flywheel switch and the chop-wave switch a power output cycle of the auxiliary output unit can be formed.

To meet the requirements of various elements of different voltages in computers these days power supplies generally provide outputs at different voltage levels. For instance a power supply has more than one set of output end for 12V, 5V and 3.3V. Hence the primary power system of the power supply has to branch out necessary auxiliary output circuits from the main circuit. Generation of the auxiliary output circuits mostly relies on a chop-wave circuit. The chop-wave circuit can be seen as a switch circuit with a truncated waveform. It is widely used on a forward transformation circuit that includes a power driving unit, a transformer, a main output unit and at least one auxiliary output unit. The power driving unit delivers electric power through the transformer to the main output unit and auxiliary output unit. The main output unit generates a first sync signal and a second sync signals through a self-excited driving unit to control respectively a main output switch and a main flywheel switch that are ON alternately to deliver output. The chop-wave circuit is used for the secondary side of the transformer to control the level of auxiliary output voltage through ON/OFF of the switches. Reference of the chop-wave circuit is available in R.O.C. patent publication number 186120 entitled "Forward power supply having sync modulation" in which a chop-wave circuit to generate auxiliary output is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 OUT2 is the output end of the auxiliary output circuit. The chop-wave circuit to control the auxiliary output circuit is controlled by a comparator A. The comparator A has one end capturing the voltage of the secondary side of the transformer 2 (T2) and another end capturing a feedback voltage from an output end of the auxiliary output circuit to the other end. These two are compared by the comparator A, then an output is generated to control ON/OFF of a switch element to alter the electric power output by the auxiliary output circuit. As the comparator has a significant inherent transfer delay, transient action is slow and the response is not desirable. Moreover, the comparator does not have latchup function. Hence in the event that noise interference occurred to one or two input signals at the two ends of the comparator after weighed and balanced erroneous actions are prone to take place and result in control cycle fluctuation. Hence it is relatively not stable. Another reference is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,828 entitled "Multiple output converter having self-synchronized pulse width modulation regulation". It also generates an auxiliary output through a chop-wave circuit. It has an integrator circuit (86) connecting to driver circuit (94). The integrator circuit (86) performs integration of a feedback signal through a capacitor (90) and a resistor (88). The driver circuit (94) has a stop point of ⅓ Vcc and a start point of ⅔ Vcc. The Vcc is the bias voltage power of the driver circuit (94). However, when the capacitor performs integration at ⅔ Vcc a significant transfer delay also occurs. The driver circuit (94) also does not provide latchup function. Moreover, in order to match the driving structure a P type chop-wave switch with a higher impedance and a poorer characteristic has to be used. This causes an additional loss. There are still rooms for improvement to address the undesirable transient response and control cycle fluctuation of the conventional chop circuits.


A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. By taking into account a setpoint temperature Tsetpoint of the internal combustion engine which depends on external and internal boundary conditions when controlling and/or regulating temperature-dependent functions of the internal combustion engine, fuel consumption and emission characteristics of the internal combustion engine are improved.

German Published Patent Document No. 30 24 209 and German Published Patent Document No. 41 09 498 discuss a method for the liquid-cooling of internal combustion engines in which the setpoint value of the coolant temperature is varied as a function of different parameters such as outside temperature, operating state of the engine, etc. This makes it possible to quickly attain the operating temperature after startup of the engine, while preventing the engine from overheating in all operating states. However, changing the setpoint value of the engine temperature also affects the operating performance of the engine, making it necessary to perform additional optimization.

Method for operating a combustion engine