In an access network which supports a mobile IP protocol, a packet data protocol context is opened at support node and a gateway node in order to establish a connection between a mobile node and a mobile IP foreign agent located at the gateway node. A mobile IP registration over the connection is initiated. The gateway node monitors whether the registration is successful or fails. The PDP context is deleted, if the registration irrecoverably fails. If the registration was unsuccessful but a retry could be successful, the PDP context may not deleted, but the registration is retried.

A mobile communications system refers generally to any telecommunications system which enables wireless communication when users are moving within the service area of the system. A typical mobile communications system is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). Often the mobile communications network is an access network providing a user with wireless access to external networks, hosts, or services offered by specific service providers.
The general packet radio service GPRS is a new service in the GSM system (Global System for Mobile communication). A sub network comprises a number of packet data service nodes SN, which in this application will be referred to as serving GPRS support nodes SGSN. Each SGSN is connected to the GSM mobile communication network (typically to a base station controller BSC or a base transceiver station BTS in a base station system) so that the SGSN can provide a packet service for mobile data terminals via several base stations, i.e. cells. An intermediate mobile communications network provides radio access and packet-switched data transmission between the SGSN and mobile data terminals. Different sub networks are in turn connected to an external data network, e.g. to a public switched data network PSPDN, via GPRS gateway support nodes GGSN. The GPRS service thus allows the provision of packet data transmission between mobile data terminals and external data networks when the GSM network functions as a radio access network RAN.
Third-generation mobile systems, such as Universal Mobile Communications system (UMTS) and Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications system (FPLMTS), later renamed as IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000), are being developed. In the UMTS architecture a UMTS terrestrial radio access network, UTRAN, consists of a set of radio access networks RAN (also called radio network subsystem RNS) connected to the core network (CN). Each RAN is responsible for the resources of its set of cells. For each connection between a mobile station MS and the UTRAN, one RAN is a serving RAN. A RAN consists of a radio network controller RNC and a multiplicity of base stations BS. One core network which will use the UMTS radio access network is the GPRS.
One of the main targets in the development of mobile communications networks is to provide an IP (Internet Protocol) service with a standard IP backbone which would use a combination of mobile network mobility management in the mobile networks and Mobile IP. The basic IP concept does not support the mobility of the user: the IP addresses are assigned to network interfaces depending on their physical location. In fact, the first field of an IP address (the NETID) is common to all interfaces that are linked to the same Internet subnet. This scheme prevents the user (the mobile host) from keeping its address while moving over different Internet subnets, i.e. while changing the physical interface.
In order to enhance mobility in the Internet, a Mobile IP protocol for IP version 4 has been introduced by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in the standard RFC2002. A mobile IP enables the routing of IP datagrams to mobile hosts, independently of the point of attachment in the sub network. The mobile IP protocol introduces the following new functional or architectural entities.
'A Mobile Node (MN)' (also called Mobile Host MH) refers to a host that changes its point of attachment from one network or sub network to another. A mobile node may change its location without changing its IP address; it may continue to communicate with other Internet nodes at any location using its (constant) IP address. 'A Mobile Station (MS)' is a mobile node having a radio interface to the network. A 'Tunnel' is the path followed by a datagram when it is encapsulated. The model is that, while it is encapsulated, a datagram is routed to a known decapsulation agent which decapsulates the datagram and then correctly delivers it to its ultimate destination. Each mobile node is connected to a home agent over a unique tunnel, identified by a tunnel identifier which is unique to a given Foreign Agent/Home Agent pair.
'A Home Network' is the IP network to which a user logically belongs. Physically, it can be e.g. a local area network (LAN) connected via a router to the Internet. 'A Home Address' is an address that is assigned to a mobile node for an extended period of time. It may remain unchanged regardless of where the MN is attached to the Internet. Alternatively, it could be assigned from a pool of addresses.
'A Mobility Agent' is either a home agent or a foreign agent. 'A Home Agent (HA)' is a routing entity on a mobile node's home network, which tunnels packets for delivery to the mobile node when it is away from home, and maintains current location information for the mobile node. It tunnels datagrams for delivery to, and, optionally, detunnels datagrams from, a mobile node when the mobile node is away from home. 'A Foreign Agent (FA)' refers to a routing entity in a mobile node's visited network which provides routing services to the mobile node while registered, thus allowing a mobile node to utilize its home network address. The foreign agent detunnels and delivers to the mobile node packets that were tunneled by the mobile node's home agent. For datagrams sent by a mobile node, the foreign agent may serve as a default router for registered mobile nodes.
RFC2002 defines 'Care-of Address (COA)' as the termination point of a tunnel toward a mobile node for datagrams forwarded to the mobile node while it is away from home. The protocol can use two different types of a care-of address: 'a foreign agent care-of address' is an address announced by a foreign agent with which the mobile node is registered, and 'a co-located care-of address' is an externally obtained local address which the mobile node has acquired in the network. An MN may have several COAs at the same time. An MN's COA is registered with its HA. The list of COAs is updated when the mobile node receives advertisements from foreign agents. If an advertisement expires, its entry or entries should be deleted from the list. One foreign agent can provide more than one COA in its advertisements. 'Mobility Binding' is the association of a home address with a care-of address, along with the remaining lifetime of that association. An MN registers its COA with its HA by sending a Registration Request. The HA replies with a Registration Reply and retains a binding for the MN.
A single generic mobility handling mechanism that allows roaming between all types of access networks would allow the user to conveniently move between fixed and mobile networks, between public and private networks as well as between PLMN's with different access technologies. Therefore, mechanisms supporting the Mobile IP functionality are also being developed in mobile communication systems, such as UMTS and GPRS.
The aim is to implement the Mobile IP as an overlay of the UMTS/GPRS network while maintaining backwards compatibility with present systems, assuming minimal modifications in the GPRS standards and on networks whose operators do not want to support MIP. FIG. 1 illustrates the minimum configuration for a GPRS operator who wishes to offer the mobile IP service. The current GPRS structure is kept and handles mobility within the PLMN, while MIP allows a user to roam between other systems, such as LANs, and UMTS without loosing an ongoing session. In FIG. 1 the foreign agents FA are located at the GGSNs. All GGSNs may not have FAs. The SGSN and the GGSN may also be co-located. One FA in a PLMN is sufficient for offering the MIP service, but for capacity and efficiency reasons, more than one may be desired. This means that the MS must request a PDP context to be set up with a GGSN that offers FA functionality. While setting up the PDP context, the MS is informed about network parameters of the FA, e.g. care-of address.
The MS may have the same care-of address COA during a session, i.e. as long as a PDP context is activated. A very mobile MS might perform several inter-SGSN HOs during a long session, which may cause an inefficient routing. As an initial improvement, a streamlining procedure with a temporary anchoring point in the GGSN could be introduced: If the MN is not transferring data or is possibly even in the active state while moving from one SGSN to another, a new PDP context can be setup between the new SGSN and its associated GGSN at the handover. The MN will get a new care-of address. If the MN is transferring data, e.g. being involved in a TCP session, the MN will move from the old SGSN to the new one while keeping the PDP Context in the old (anchor) GGSN for the duration of the data transfer. Once the data transfer is terminated, the PDP Context can be moved to the GGSN associated with the new SGSN. In other words, a new virtual connection to a new GGSN and an associated FA is established. A typical feature of the mobility agent in the mobile IP is that it periodically transmits agent advertisement messages to the mobile nodes in order to advertise its services. The mobile nodes use these advertisements to determine the current point of attachment to the Internet. Because of the new connection established by the access node to the new mobility agent, the agent advertisement messages sent by the new mobility agent can be received by the mobile node, and thereby the mobile node is able to detect the change of the attachment point (i.e. mobility agent) and to initiate a standard mobile IP registration.
More generally, in any Mobile IP agent registration, a PDP context is first opened. Then the agent registration is made over the open PDP context.
The problem is that because the mobile IP signaling is transferred on the user plane, the underlying access network nodes, such as the RNC and the SGSN, have no possibility to know whether the registration was successful or not. Thus, if the agent registration procedure fails, the underlying infrastructure is totally ignorant of the failure. This causes the unused PDP context to remain open and to use the resources unnecessarily. In the inter-GGSN (or inter-FA) handover described above, an additional problem arises. When the handover is performed, the SGSN controlling the handover has no possibility of knowing when to close the connection (PDP context) to the old GGSN/FA.
Similar problems may be encountered in any mobility management on a system level overlaying the access network. These various overlaying mobility managements are commonly referred to herein as a macro mobility management.

Access context management for macro-level mobility management registration in an access network


A user device dynamically adjusts one or more portions of a user interface (UI) element. The user device detects content color data describing the color of content that is overlaid by a UI element on a display of a user device, the UI element including one or more components and a UI element background. The user device determines component color data describing the color of the one or more components of the UI element, and dynamically determines transparency data for the UI element background using the content color data and the component color data. The user device displays the UI element in accordance with the transparency data and the component color data.

Field of Disclosure
This disclosure relates to the field of displaying information via a graphical user interface, and specifically to dynamically adjusting a graphical user interface element to enhance visibility.
Description of the Related Art
Many users utilize their digital devices to read material such as novels, news articles, short stories, etc., view videos, view pictures, or more generally interact with some sort of displayed content. Oftentimes the digital devices display a graphical user interface element of a user interface overlaid over a portion of the displayed content. The graphical user interface may have a transparent background that allows portions of the displayed content to be seen through the element. However, a transparent background is not always an option. For example, a transparent background can make it difficult to view the content of the element if the colors of the element are close to that of the overlaid content.

Dynamic transparency adjustment of user interface element


A supplying tube for a molten glass, which is placed in a downstream end portion of a supplying passage directing the molten glass flowing out of a melting furnace to a forming vessel in a forming furnace, has a small diameter tube portion which has a small flow passage area and is provided at an upstream side, and a large diameter tube portion which is provided at a downstream side of the small diameter tube portion and has a large flow passage area. An expanded diameter tube portion of which flow passage area gradually expands toward the downstream side is interposed between the small diameter tube portion and the large diameter tube portion. The small diameter tube portion, the expanded diameter tube portion, and the large diameter tube portion may be integrally and continuously connected to one another.

In general, a down-draw process and an up-draw process are known as methods for continuously forming, from molten glass, a sheet glass used in the manufacture of a flat display or the like such as by liquid crystal display. The down-draw process is basically classified into an overflow down-draw process and a slot down-draw process.
As an example, means for manufacturing sheet glass by the overflow down-draw process will be described. The temperature of molten glass obtained by heating a glass raw material in a melting furnace is reduced until the molten glass has a viscosity suitable for the formation. Thereafter, the molten glass is flown down in a supplying tube 62 shown in FIG. 4a provided at a downstream end portion of a supplying passage, and is continuously supplied from one side of a forming vessel (a groove-shaped overflow vessel) 11a formed on an upper portion of a formed body 11b having a cross-section of substantially wedge in the forming furnace 11. In general, a vessel (pot) is provided at an upper end of the supplying tube 62 such that the molten glass is subjected to soaking near the temperature suitable for the forming. Moreover, in the forming furnace 11, the molten glass G flown over the overflow vessel 11a flows down along both side surfaces 11ba of the formed body 11b to be fused at a lowest end 11bc, and the fused molten glass is drawn downwardly so that a sheet glass 13 is continuously formed, as shown in FIG. 4b.
However, such conventional method has led to the following problems. The molten glass flowing out of the melting furnace gradually reduces temperatures while moving downstream of the supplying passage, and is subjected to a temperature control to be supplied to the forming furnace when reaching the temperature suitable for the forming. In addition, since a viscosity of the molten glass increases as the temperature decreases, the flow of molten glass increases resistance as the molten glass moves to the downstream of the supplying passage. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4a, when the supplying tube 62 is directly coupled to the forming furnace 11 (overflow vessel 11a) and has a constant diameter (flow passage area), a supplying amount of the molten glass to the forming furnace 11 is controlled by a resistance applied to the molten glass from a portion provided at the extreme downstream end of the supplying tube 62 near the forming furnace 11. For this reason, when a thickness distribution or the like of the sheet glass 13 is changed, the temperature of the portion of the supplying tube 62 near the forming furnace 11 must be changed so that the viscosity is adjusted to an appropriate value. However, in the conventional method, since the entire flow of the molten glass existing in the long passage of the supplying tube 62 is affected by the above temperature change, the flow rate of the molten glass supplied to the forming furnace 11 is likely to be changed rapidly and a relatively long time is required for reaching the steady state of the flow rate during which a good quality of sheet glass cannot be obtained.
As a structure addressing the problems, it has been known that the supplying tube is divided into a small diameter tube provided at the upstream side and a large diameter tube provided at the downstream side, a lower end of the small diameter tube is inserted into an upper end of the large diameter tube, and the molten glass flowing into the large diameter tube from the small diameter tube is supplied to the forming vessel in the forming furnace (see e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below). More specifically, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, a supplying tube 72, which is provided at a downstream end portion of the supplying passage of the molten glass from the melting furnace to a forming furnace 21, is composed of a small diameter tube 72a of which upstream end is connected to, for example, a vessel for soaking the molten glass, and a large diameter tube 72c of which downstream end 72ca is connected to one side of an overflow vessel 21a in the forming furnace 21, and the downstream end portion of the small diameter tube 72a is inserted into the inside of the upstream end portion of the large diameter tube 72c. According to such structure, even when the temperature near the downstream end 72ca of the large diameter tube 72c is changed during the changing of thickness distribution or the like of a sheet glass 23, a fluid level L of the molten glass at the upstream end portion of the large diameter tube 72c merely moves up and down and the flow of the molten glass in the small diameter tube 72a is little affected. Therefore, the flow rate of the molten glass is prevented from changing rapidly. As a result, it is possible to change thickness distribution or the like of the sheet glass 23 while maintaining a stable flow rate.
[Patent Document 1] JP No. 2001-80922A
[Patent Document 2] United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0110804

Device for manufacturing sheet glass and method for manufacturing sheet glass


There is disclosed an organic EL display device using pre-charge which can improve display quality by preventing a cross talk generated by a brightness difference within the same picture realization area, and a driving method thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electro luminescence display device, and more particularly to an organic electro luminescence display device using pre-charge, and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there have been developed various flat panel display devices of which the weight and size can be reduced, wherein the weight and size is a disadvantage of a cathode ray tube CRT. The flat panel display device includes liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as "LCD"), field emission display (hereinafter, referred to as "FED"), plasma display panel (hereinafter, referred to as "PDP"), and electro-luminescence display (hereinafter, referred to as "EL").
The PDP has a relatively simple structure and fabricating process, thus the PDP is advantageous in being made into a large screen, but there is a disadvantage in that its light emission efficiency and brightness is low and its power consumption is high.
The LCD has its demand increased as it is mainly used as a display device of a notebook computer. However, the LCD is fabricated by a semiconductor process, thus it is difficult to be made into the large screen. And, because the LCD is not a self-luminous device, there is a disadvantage in that a separate light source is required and power consumption is big due to the light source. Further, the LCD has a disadvantage in that a lot of light loss is caused by optical devices such as a polarizing filter, a prism sheet, a diffusion plate, etc and its viewing angle is narrow.
The EL display device is roughly divided into an inorganic EL display device and an organic EL display device, and has an advantage in that its response speed is fast and its light emission efficiency, brightness and viewing angle are high. The organic EL display device can display a picture in a high brightness of tens of thousands [cd/m2] with a voltage of about 10[V] or so, and is applied to most of the EL display devices which are put to practical use.
A unit device of the organic EL display device, as shown in FIG. 1, forms an anode 2 of transparent conductive material on a glass substrate 1, and a hole injection layer 3, a light emitting layer of organic material and a cathode 5 of metal of which a work function is low, on top thereof. If an electric field is applied between the anode 2 and the cathode 5, holes within the hole injection layer 3 and electrons within the metal respectively move toward the light emitting layer 4 to be combined with each other in the light emitting layer 4. Then, a fluorescent material within the light emitting layer 4 is excited to have a transition made, thereby generating a visible ray. At this moment, the brightness is proportional to a current between the anode 2 and the cathode 5.
The organic EL display device is divided into a passive type and an active type.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram equivalently representing a part of an organic EL display device of a passive type, and FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram representing waveforms of a scan signal and a data signal of the passive type organic EL display device.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the passive type organic EL display device includes a plurality of data lines D1 to Dm and a plurality of scan lines S1 to Sn which cross each other; and organic EL cells OLED respectively formed at the crossing parts between the data lines D1 to Dm and the scan lines S1 to Sn.
The data lines D1 to Dm are connected to the anode of the organic EL device OLED to supply a data current Id to the anode of the organic EL device OLED.
The scan lines S1 to Sn is connected to the cathode of the organic EL cell OLED to supply scan pulses SP1 to SPn synchronized with the data current Id to the cathode of the organic EL cell OLED.
The organic EL cell OLED emits light in proportion to the current flowing between the anode and the cathode during a display period DT when the scan pulses SP1 to SPn are applied.
The organic EL cell OLED of the organic EL display device has a problem that its response speed is low and its brightness is low because a current is charged therein during a response time RT delayed by a capacitance existing in the organic EL cell OLED and a resistance component of the data lines D1 to Dm. In order to compensate the low response speed of the organic EL cell OLED, there is recently proposed a technique that a pre-charge period is provided as a non-display period between display periods DT.
On the other hand, in the organic EL display device, in case of realizing a designated picture, a pre-charge voltage waveform in contradiction to the same pre-charge period is made differently in accordance with locations of the data lines D1 to Dm and the scan lines S1 to Sn, thereby generating a problem such as a horizontal cross talk.
In reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a description will be made in detail as follows.
Firstly, FIG. 4 represents a still picture has a black picture realized in the middle of the picture and a white picture realized in an area except the black picture.
In this case, even though the data current and the pre-charge current for representing the same brightness are applied between a white picture area (hereinafter, referred to as "first white area A") horizontally adjacent to and a white picture area (hereinafter, referred to as "second white area B") vertically adjacent to the area where the black picture is realized, there is generated a drive voltage (current) deviation due to a difference of loading quantity in a horizontal line direction.
In other words, the organic EL cells OLED corresponding to the black picture area in an (N+1)th scan line do not emit light, thus the loading quantity corresponding to non-light-emitting organic EL cells OLED is excluded from the total loading quantity in the (N+1)th scan line. Accordingly, a higher drive voltage is charged in the second white area B than in the first white area A, wherein the second white area B corresponds to the Nth scan line of which the loading quantity is relatively larger than the (N+1)th scan line.
After this, even though the pre-charge current of the same size is applied to the first white area A and the second white area B, the drive voltage deviation between the first white area A and the second white area B is maintained intact.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the amount of the current charged in the data line corresponding to the (N+1)th scan line in contradiction to the same pre-charge period is relatively lower than the amount of the current charged in the data line corresponding to the Nth scan line, thus there is generated a cross talk problem by the brightness difference (or drive voltage deviation) between the first white area A and the second white area B although the same data current and pre-charge current is supplied for expressing the same gray level.

Organic electro-luminescence display device and driving method thereof

Abstract: An organic EL display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel where a plurality of data lines cross a plurality of scan lines and electro luminescence cells are arranged in the crossing parts thereof; a pre-charge driver for supplying a pre-charge current to the data line in accordance with gray levels of data; and a data driver for charging a data current to the data line for a designated period which is set before a scan pulse is supplied to the electro luminescence cell and after the pre-charge current is supplied.


A transparent conductive composition, a transparent conductive layer formed of the composition and a manufacturing method thereof are provided The composition contains a transparent conductive particle, metal alkoxide [M.sub.1 (OR).sub.4 ]; metal (M.sub.2) particles or salt thereof (M.sub.2 X) and a catalyst. Here, the metal alkoxide [M.sub.1 (OR).sub.4 ] is one selected from the group consisting of Si(OR).sub.4, Ti(OR).sub.4, Sn(OR).sub.4 and Zr(OR).sub.4, where R is C.sub.1 .about.C.sub.4 alkyl, and the metal (M.sub.2) is at least one selected from the group consisting of silver (Ag), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru) and tin (Sn), and X is one selected from the group consisting of chloride, nitrate and sulfonate. Therefore, a transparent conductive layer having improved conductivity, transmittance and hardness can be obtained through a low-temperature sintering process.

The present invention relates to a transparent conductive composition, a transparent conductive layer formed of the same and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a composition for a transparent conductive layer used as an anti-static layer and an electromagnetic wave shielding layer of home appliances, and a power supplying transparent electrolyte of a flat panel display, a transparent conductive layer formed of the composition and a manufacturing method thereof.
A transparent conductive layer is a thin layer formed on the surface of an insulation material layer having high light transmittance. The transparent conductive layer includes a metal thin film of platinum (Pt) or gold (Au) and a metal oxide thin film of indium tin oxide (ITO), tin oxide, titanium oxide or antimony oxide.
Generally, the transparent conductive layer is manufactured by a sputtering method, a deposition method or an ion beam method. When intending to form the transparent conductive layer by one of the above methods, a high-price equipment such as vacuum device is required, increasing the manufacturing costs. Also, since the manufacturing process by the above method is performed under a vacuum condition, the size of a thin film to be manufactured is severely limited.
To solve the above problems, a method for manufacturing a transparent conductive layer has been suggested, which includes the steps of coating a dispersion containing transparent conductive particles on a substrate to form a conductive layer, and then forming a protective layer made of a hydrolyzed product of a metal alkoxide on the resultant structure. The structure of the transparent conductive layer formed by the above method is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, transparent conductive particles 14 of the conductive layer 12 formed on a substrate 11 do not directly contact each other and void is existed in space between the transparent conductive particles 14. Here, reference numeral 13 represents the protective layer made of a hydrolyzed product of a metal alkoxide.
However, a solvent used in manufacturing the transparent conductive layer partially remains in the void. The void between the transparent conductive particles increase contact resistance of the transparent conductive layer, thereby lowering the conductivity of the layer.
In order to obtain a transparent conductive layer having excellent conductivity, it is necessary to perform a high-temperature (400.degree. C. or more) sintering process under a reduction atmosphere. However, it is difficult to apply this method adopting the high-temperature sintering process to articles that have poor heat-resistance such as plastics, and the method may damage a coating equipment, causing difficulties in practical use.

Transparent conductive composition, transparent conductive layer formed of the same, and manufacturing method thereof


The present invention provides a screw-type writing instrument having an expansion and contraction function in which an outer shaft cam, a cartridge holder and an inner shaft cam are coupled in a double screw manner, so that the expansion or contraction of the writing instrument and the advancing or retracting operation of a pen core can be simultaneously conducted, thus being convenient to use, and which, thanks to the contractible structure, is convenient to carry and hold.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to retractable writing instruments and, more particularly, to a screw-type writing instrument having an expansion and contraction function which is portable and serves as a fashion accessory.
2. Background
Generally, a retractable writing instrument has a pen core advancing and retracting mechanism such that the tip of the pen core, which is provided in the casing of the writing instrument, can be advanced when one desires to write something, and can be retracted when not in use. This mechanism may be applied to a ballpoint pen, a mechanical pencil, a multi pen, etc.
In the case of a writing instrument having no pen core advancing and retracting mechanism, because the writing instrument can have a small size thanks to the reduced axial length thereof, it may be used as a decorative article, a character product or a fashion accessory as well as having its inherent function as a writing instrument. However, the writing instrument having no pen core advancing and retracting mechanism requires a separate covering means, such as a lid, which eliminates a safety hazard, protects the pen tip, and prevents cloth from becoming stained with ink. This writing instrument is inconvenient because a user must open the separate lid every time he/she desires to use it. Furthermore, there is a disadvantage in that the lifetime of the writing instrument is reduced if the lid is lost.
Meanwhile, in the case of a writing instrument having a pen core advancing and retracting mechanism, because the length of the pen core advancing and retracting mechanism is added to the length of the pen core, the overall length of the writing instrument is longer than that of the writing instrument having no pen core advancing and retracting mechanism. Therefore, in this case, the writing instrument is not suitable for use as a decorative article or a character product and is relatively inconvenient to hold and carry.
In an effort to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a pen tip advancing and retracting device of a writing instrument having an expansion and contraction function was proposed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0038481, which was filed in 1988. In this technique, a main body and a cap body are coupled to each other and expand and contract in length. A member, which is integrated with a protective tube coupled to an ink tube, is mounted to the upper end of the main body. A longitudinal hole is formed at a predetermined position in the member, so that the upper end of a pin having a predetermined length is inserted into the longitudinal hole of the member. Here, a protrusion is provided at a predetermined position on the pin, and the pin further extends a length from the protrusion sufficient for the pin to be inserted upwards into the longitudinal hole. Furthermore, one end of the pin is enlarged in diameter. A bushing having a flange is inserted into the lower end of the protecting tube, and a typical coil spring and a conical cap are provided outside the bushing and are screwed to the outer surface of the lower end of the main body. Then, the flange, to which the elasticity of the coil spring is applied, is brought into contact with the lower end of the pin. Meanwhile, a head member is fastened to the cap body such that the upper end of the pin is in close contact with the bottom of the head member.
However, in the conventional pen tip advancing and retracting device of the writing instrument, a large number of elements is required to achieve the purpose of the conventional technique, that is, 1) the main body, 2) the cap body, 3) the ink tube, 4) the protecting tube, 5) the member, 6) the pin, 7) the bushing, 8) the coil spring, 9) the conical cap and 10) the head member. Therefore, the conventional technique has disadvantages of reduced productivity and manufacturability.
Furthermore, the conventional pen tip advancing and retracting device of the writing instrument has a mechanism in which a pen tip is advanced by contacting the bottom of the head member with the upper end of the pin, and is retracted by the elasticity of the coil spring in a second stage after the expansion or contraction process has been conducted. As such, because the pen tip is not advanced or retracted at the moment that the writing instrument is expanded or contracted, there is a disadvantage in that the pen tip is not rapidly advanced or retracted.
As well, in the conventional pen tip advancing and retracting device of the writing instrument, because the main body, having a relatively small diameter, is inserted into the cap body, having a relatively large diameter, the balance and harmony, which are related to aesthetic principles of form, are deteriorated, thus reducing the aesthetic value.
Moreover, the conventional pen tip advancing and retracting device of the writing instrument is inconvenient because the operation of expanding or contracting the main body and the cap body is independent from the operation of advancing or retracting the pen tip.

Screw-type writing instrument having expansion and contraction function


A cargo loading and carrying device for use on a motor vehicle roof is disclosed, and according to the present invention, is designed to load cargo onto the roof of a motor vehicle from the rear of the vehicle. The present invention consists of a generally rectangular frame with side walls and two main rollers, all located on the roof of the motor vehicle. The main frame continues downward to the trunk of the motor vehicle, where telescoping legs elevate a third main roller up from the trunk of the motor vehicle. Two guide beams connect the third main roller and the main frame portion located on the roof, and act as guides and resting beams for the cargo as it is hoisted onto the roof via a crank and cable assembly. As a crank handle is turned, a cable wraps around the forward located main roller, hoisting up the cargo, which is connected to the opposite end of the cable. Cargo securement rings, located on the side walls of the main frame, are used in conjunction with traditional cargo securement means, such as adjustable straps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lifting devices and, more particularly, to a cargo loading and carrying device for use on a motor vehicle roof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many times in busy society, individuals desire to take large sized items with them as they travel in their motor vehicle. These items include canoes and other cargo. Individuals who own trucks can often place the items in the bed of the vehicle. For automobile owners, however, it is often necessary to place items on the roof of the motor vehicle in order to transport them safely, efficiently, and cost effectively.
There are several problems inherent in placing items on the roof of a motor vehicle. First, lifting the item onto the roof requires significant physical strength, not often possessed by the average individual, not to mention the elderly, young and infirm. Second, shorter individuals find it difficult to maneuver the item onto the roof. Third, the item may scratch the paint on the roof. Fourth, the item is difficult to secure in place on the roof. The resulting risk of injury to the motor vehicle, cargo and other cars on the road is raised when the cargo cannot be fastened securely to the roof. Fifth, dismounting the item from the roof is difficult. Sixth, the securement device used is often bolted to the roof, causing permanent damage to the roof and requiring that the device be permanently secured to the roof. This creates a continuous eyesore to many individuals who do not wish the securement device to be constantly on the roof. Seventh, removing the securement means is often a time consuming and difficult process. Eighth, the devices are often complicated, with many moving parts, each of which is subject to structural integrity failure with repeated use.
Devices in the previous art attempt to address these problems in various ways, as numerous attempts have been made to correct for the foregoing drawbacks to roof top cargo transport.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,472, issued in the name of Bamber, discloses a cartop hoist and carrier apparatus having a crane rotatably mounted to a frame that is adapted to be secured to the top of an automotive vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,147, issued in the name of Kucharczyk et al., discloses a hoist apparatus used for transferring goods into and from a cargo compartment of a trailer or the like, consisting of a vertical I-beam, rollers and cables.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,485, issued in the name of Edgerton, discloses a vehicle-top loader comprised of a carriage that rests on a vehicle-top rack and moves across the rack and pivots downward to a slant position alongside the vehicle to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo from the roof.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,759, issued in the name of Spurgeon, discloses a motor vehicle top carrier that loads cargo from the side using a wheel and pulley mechanism. Other devices that load cargo onto a motor vehicle roof from the side include U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,893, issued in the name of Heflin and U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,135, issued in the name of Embler.
Other devices utilizing cable hoisting mechanisms include U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,294, issued in the name of Salamin and U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,203, issued in the name of Borger. U.S. Pat. No. Des. D278,172, discloses an auto roof hoist bar to be used with a cargo hoisting system for an automobile roof.
Some devices are specifically designed to load and transport specific objects on the roof of a motor vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,282, issued in the name of Mottino, discloses a device for loading, unloading and carrying a bicycle in an upright position on a motor vehicle roof, comprised a shaped tube having its base pivotally connected to a support fastened to a carrier rial.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,218, issued in the name of Carter, discloses a wheelchair transportation device, comprised of supporting base mounted to the roof with an overlying frame rotatably mounted to the base above the driver's position. The frame is biased to rotate outwardly of the motor vehicle and a cable is used to raise the wheelchair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,110, issued in the name of Roberts, discloses a boat loading and unloading device comprised of a moveable frame, mounted inside of a fixed frame on the top of a vehicle. Davit-like structures which connect to a rod having pulley and line means provide the hoisting means.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method which overcomes the problems cited above.

Cargo loading and carrying device for use on a motor vechicle roof


The present invention provides a low carbon steel sheet and a low carbon steel slab on which formation of surface defects can be surely prevented by preventing aggregation of inclusions in the molten steel and finely dispersing inclusions in the steel sheet or slab, and a process for producing the steel sheet and slab. The present invention provides a process comprising the steps of decarburizing a molten steel so as to produce a carbon concentration of up to 0.01% by mass, pre-deoxidizing the molten steel by adding Al thereto so as to produce a dissolved oxygen concentration from 0.01 to 0.04% by mass, adding thereto Ti and at least La and/or Ce, and casting the molten steel, and a steel sheet and a steel slab obtained by the process.

A molten steel having been refined with a converter or a vacuum treatment vessel contains a large amount of dissolved oxygen. The excessive oxygen is generally deoxidized with Al that is a strong deoxidizing element having strong affinity for oxygen. However, Al forms Al2O3 inclusions through deoxidation, and the inclusions aggregate to form coarse alumina clusters each having a size of at least several hundreds of micrometers. The alumina clusters cause generation of surface defects during the production of a steel sheet, and greatly deteriorate the quality of the steel sheet. In particular, for a low carbon molten steel as a material for a steel sheet that has a low carbon concentration and, after refining, a high dissolved oxygen concentration, the amount of alumina clusters is very large. The generation ratio of surface defects of a steel sheet produced therefrom is extremely high, and measures for decreasing the Al2O3 inclusions remain as an important problem to be solved.
In order to decrease the Al2O3 inclusions, the following methods have heretofore been proposed and carried out: a method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-104219 comprising adding flux for adsorbing inclusions on a molten steel surface to remove Al2O3 inclusions; and a method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-149057 comprising adding CaO flux to a molten steel with the flow of pouring the molten steel utilized whereby Al2O3 inclusions are adsorbed and removed. On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-302112 discloses, not as a method of removing Al2O3 inclusions but as a method of not forming Al2O3, a method of preparing a molten steel for a steel sheet, which comprises deoxidizing a molten steel with Mg and in which the molten steel is substantially not deoxidized with Al.
However, it is very difficult to remove Al2O3 inclusions formed in a low carbon molten steel in a large amount and to such a degree that surface defects are not formed, by the methods of removing Al2O3 inclusions explained above. Moreover, when a molten steel is deoxidized by Mg deoxidation that forms no Al2O3 inclusions, the Mg vapor pressure is high, and the yield of Mg in the molten steel is very low. Accordingly, a large amount of Mg is required to deoxidize, with Mg alone, a molten steel having a high dissolved oxygen concentration such as a low carbon steel. Therefore, it cannot be said that the process is practical when the production cost is taken into consideration.
In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a low carbon steel sheet and a low carbon steel slab on which formation of surface defects can be surely prevented by preventing aggregation of inclusions in the molten steel and finely dispersing inclusions in the steel sheet or slab, and a process for producing the steel sheet and slab.

Low carbon steel sheet and low carbon steel slab and process for producing same


A charging apparatus and a charging current detecting circuit thereof are disclosed in which it is possible to implement an electric circuit with little voltage loss by using an operational amplifier of low cost. A detecting resistor is disposed at the power voltage side of the downstream side of a power supply. The charging apparatus further includes an auxiliary power means for generating an auxiliary voltage to supplement the voltage limited to the range of an input voltage of the operational amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charging apparatus and a charging current detecting circuit thereof, and more specifically, to a charging apparatus and a charging current detecting circuit that charge a secondary battery by supplying a charging current from a power supply to the secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a charging current detecting circuit for detecting a charging current supplied from a power supply to a secondary battery is provided in a charging apparatus for charging the secondary battery.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a charging apparatus 2, such as an AC adapter, comprising such a charging current detecting circuit 1.
The charging apparatus 2 comprises a power supply 3 having a predetermined voltage (24 V in FIG. 2). By supplying the charging current to a secondary battery 4 using the power supply 3, the secondary battery 4 is charged.
An emitter of a controlling transistor 6 for controlling the supply of the charging current is connected to a power voltage side (24 V side) located at the downstream side of the power supply 3, and a collector of the controlling transistor 6 is connected to an anode of the secondary battery 4.
On the other hand, a ground side (0 V side) of the power supply 3 is connected to a cathode of the secondary battery 4.
In addition, a detecting resistor 7 serving as the main element of a charging current detecting circuit 1 is disposed at the ground side located at the downstream side of the power supply 3. The value of the charging current can be detected using the voltage drop caused by the detecting resistor 7.
The upstream side of the detecting resistor 7 is connected to a cathode of a variable battery 5, and the downstream side of the detecting resistor 7 is connected to a non-inversion input terminal of an operational amplifier 9. In addition, an anode of a variable battery 5 is connected to an inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier 9. Further, an output side of the operational amplifier 9 is connected to a base of the controlling transistor 6 via a resistor 8.
The variable battery 5 outputs a charging current setting signal to the operational amplifier 9. In addition, the operational amplifier 9 receives an input of the charging current setting signal and controls electrical conduction of the controlling transistor 6 such that a setting voltage of the charging current setting signal is the same as the voltage drop caused by the detecting resistor 7.
In addition, the operational amplifier 9 is driven by a voltage applied from the power supply 3. Further, when the operational amplifier 9 is driven, the controlling transistor 6 controls the supply of the charging current to the secondary battery 4. (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 05-137276)
In the charging apparatus 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the detecting resistor 7 is disposed at the ground side (0 V side) of the downstream side of the power supply 3. However, in this case, the operational amplifier 9, which is inexpensive and is operated until an input voltage is almost 0V, can be used.
However, depending on the particular circuit, the detecting resistor 7 may be disposed at the power voltage side (24 V side).
In the operational amplifier 9 of the above cases, the input voltage range (for example, 21 V) is limited to have a value lower than the power voltage (for example, 24 V). As a result, the input voltage (2 V) is insufficient to drive the operational amplifier 9.
On the other hand, if the detecting resistor 7 is disposed at the power voltage side, an operational amplifier 10, such as a rail-to-rail operational amplifier that operates suitably under the power voltage may be used. However, the rail-to-rail operational amplifier is high in cost (FIG. 3)
According to the conventional art, because the detecting resistor 7 is disposed at the ground side (0 V side), the ground of the secondary battery 4 is connected to the ground of the system, as in an electronic apparatus that is connected to the charging apparatus 2, by the detecting resistor 7 without being directly connected to each other.
For this reason, when the system is driven by the power 3 of the charging apparatus 2 without using the secondary battery 4 or when the system is driven by the secondary battery 4 charged by the charging apparatus 2, a loss in voltage is generated due to a voltage drop caused by the detecting resistor 7.

Charging apparatus and charging current detecting circuit thereof


A method and system for mapping security parameters to a plurality of network sessions is provided. A responding computer maps the security parameters to the combination of packet parameters and a mapped port value used in each of the plurality of sessions. The packet parameters includes IP source and destination addresses, application source and destination ports and protocol type. The mapped port value is assigned by the responding computer to maintain a unique mapping between each security association and each network session.

The popularity of the Internet and other private and public networks has resulted in increasing reliance on electronic transmission of data for both business and personal reasons. In many instances the data transmitted is of a personal or confidential nature. A user may provide credit card or other account information over the network to purchase goods or services. Sensitive and confidential business communications, emails, and documents are also transmitted over networks. It is necessary to provide security measures that protect such data as it is routed over the networks.
A popular protocol for electronically transmitting data is the Internet Protocol (IP). However, IP provides little security as the data within IP packets is not encrypted and may be accessed, viewed, and even altered by an eavesdropper. Thus, IP does not protect the confidentiality or authenticity of the data. These shortcomings have been addressed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which developed a set of extensions to IP referred to as the Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) suite. The IPSec suite includes protocols such as encapsulating security protocol (ESP), and key management and exchange protocol (IKE).
The ESP protocol, documented mainly in IETF Request for Comments (RFC) 2406, is an authenticating and encrypting protocol that uses cryptographic mechanisms to provide integrity, source authentication, and confidentiality of data. A first network device, referred to as an initiator, and a second network device, referred to as a responder, transmit IP packets according to the ESP protocol to exchange data in a secure manner. According to the ESP protocol, some information in the ESP packet is encrypted, such as underlying payload data and a transport layer header, e.g. Transport Control Protocol (TCP) header or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) header.
The IKE protocol, documented mainly in IETF RFC 2409, provides a method for the initiator and responder to negotiate security settings used with the ESP IPSec format. The negotiated security settings form one or more data structures, called a security association (SA), which defines parameters such as the encryption algorithm, keys, and the lifetime of keys, used by ESP to protect the contents of the IP packet. Because ESP requires one or more established SAs, an IKE negotiation is executed before the ESP protocol is used. Once the IKE negotiation is complete, a secure session is formed between the initiator and responder.
Typically, the responder maintains a plurality of SAs per secure session. A first SA is for inbound traffic, i.e. packets sent from the initiator to the responder, and a second SA is for outbound traffic, i.e. packets sent from the responder to the initiator. The first and second SAs are referred to as IPSec SAs. The inbound traffic SA instructs the responder how to process incoming IPSec packets received from the initiator and the outbound traffic SA instructs the responder how to generate outbound IPSec packets destined for the initiator. Each IPSec SA has a corresponding selector used to define what type of packets should be encapsulated using the parameters of the IPSec SA. The initiator likewise maintains reciprocal inbound and outbound IPSec SAs for the secure connection. Other SAs may exist such as an IKE SA that is used as part of the IKE negotiation process.
The responder is capable of maintaining multiple secure sessions with one or more initiators in which case the responder maintains a set of inbound and outbound SAs for each session. The responder must have a mechanism to select the proper inbound and outbound SA when receiving and transmitting ESP packets. To that end, inbound packets include unique identification, including a security paramenter index (SPI), which in conjunction with other data allows the responder to identify and apply the proper inbound SA for received packets.
When the responder transmits an IP packet to a network device, it first determines, based on IPSec policy selectors, whether the packet is subject to IPSec processing. If the packet is subject to IPSec, the responder identifies the proper outbound SA based on packet parameters, including protocol type, source and destination IP address, and source and destination application ports. Because the responder maintains multiple secure connections, each of which may have its own associated outbound SA, it is important that the combination of these parameters be unique for each secure connection.
Recent proposals suggest methods for implementing the IPSec protocol suite in network environments using a network address translation device (NAT). An example of such a network includes a NAT connected to a plurality of network devices on an internal network as an interface between the internal network and an external network. Each network device has a private source IP address that is valid on the internal network but not valid on the external network. When a first network device sends an IP packet destined for the external network, the NAT intercepts the packet and replaces the private source IP address with an IP address valid on the external network, such as a public IP address assigned to the NAT. The NAT performs the same process for each network device, and in each case uses the same source public IP address. This process, known as address translation, allows multiple initiators behind the NAT to communicate over the external network with a single source IP address.
The NAT may also perform port translation (NAPT), i.e. changes an application source port in the transport layer header, when necessary, to ensure that each network device behind the NAT sends packets with a unique combination if IP addresses and ports over the external network. The unique combination provides the NAT with a mechanism to route response IP packets sent from devices on the external network to the proper network device on the internal network. NAPT allows multiple computers behind a NAT to use a single address to communicate with the same network device, i.e. same destination IP address, using typical well-known UDP and TCP ports.
As previously described, the transport layer header in ESP packets is encrypted. Thus, the application source port in the header is opaque to the NAT. The NAT cannot read and modify the source port preventing the port translation function of the NAT.
One known method that permits NATs to perform port translation on ESP packets is called UDP encapsulation. According to this method, the encrypted portion of the ESP packet is encapsulated into an unencrypted UDP packet. The unencrypted UDP packet includes a UDP header with unencrypted source and destination ports. For implementation reasons, such as taking advantage of mappings created during IKE negotiations, the source and destination port values in the unencrypted UDP header are typically selected as port 500 or 4500, the Internet assigned numbers authority (IANA) designated ports for IKE negotiations. The NAT can access and modify the source port in the added unencrypted UDP header, thereby permitting the NAT to perform both address and port translation on the ESP packets.
Although UDP encapsulation facilitates NAT traversal for ESP packets, it does not offer a complete solution for processing of the ESP packets at the responder. The unencrypted UDP ports do not correlate to the encrypted application ports. When two or more initiators behind a NAT maintain secure sessions with the same responder, the source and destination IP addresses will likely be the same because of the address translation provided by the NAT. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the source and destination application ports will be unique since the NAT uses the unencrypted UDP ports for the port translation and not the encrypted application ports. Thus, there is chance that two outbound SAs at the responder will be mapped to the same combination of protocol type, IP addresses and application ports. When this occurs, the responder cannot determine which of the two or more outbound SAs should be applied to a given outbound packet. Examples of scenarios that require a solution for this problem include configurations where several employees of the same company (behind NAT) use IPSec Virtual Private Network (VPN) clients to their VPN server and configurations where conference participants (behind the same NAT) use IPSec protected TCP or UDP based connections to the same Internet server.
One solution is for the responder to internally assign a unique source IP address to one of the initiators when a session conflict is detected. Although this solution may provide unique mappings for outbound SAs, there is danger that the assigned unique source IP address will conflict with the actual IP address of some other network device, or that the original source Internet address is meaningful to applications, functions in layers above IP, or other IPSec policy enforcement.
From the foregoing, it is evident that a solution is needed to allow a responding computer to maintain unique mappings for outbound security associations used in network environments that employ a NAT.

Method for mapping security associations to clients operating behind a network address translation device


A scintillating fiducial pattern, and methods of fabricating and using same, on a substrate or a resist/substrate composite, where the scintillating fiducial pattern is used in a spatial referencing scheme. The invention includes the use of a scintillating fiducial pattern as alignment or reference marks on a resist/substrate composite, into which a pattern or feature is to be defined. The invention includes the use of a scintillating fiducial in a mask alignment scheme. The invention includes the use of a scintillating fiducial grid or grating in conjunction with an energy beam locating method, or spatial-phase-locked electron-beam lithography. Spatial referencing to the scintillating fiducial grid, or grating, may be implemented with a delay-locked loop, which locks the phase of a signal from the scintillating grid, or grating, to the phase of a known signal. The invention includes the use of a scintillating fiducial grating, or grid, or the like, in conjunction with energy beam locating, to pattern a distortion-free grating or grid. The invention includes the use of an optical or combined photon/electron detection scheme to detect the scintillating fiducial pattern or a signal from the scintillating fiducial pattern.

The invention relates to scintillating fiducial patterns and the methods of using and fabricating same.
In electron-beam lithography (EBL), a focused beam of electrons 5 is used to define a pattern 10 in electron-sensitive resist 15, which is on a substrate 20 as shown in FIG. 1A. The pattern is defined in the resist by scanning the electron beam over the resist where the pattern is to be defined. To define the pattern, the electron-beam dose, or current, must be high enough such that when the resist 15 is subsequently developed, the defined pattern 10 will be topographically distinguished as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, which depict negative and positive resist, respectively. Typically the sizes of patterns defined are less than 100 .mu.m and can be as small as 10 nm. As an alternative, this type of lithography could also be done with a focused beam of ions, or a focused beam of photons. In that case, the resist must be sensitive to the ions, or photons used.
A method of spatial-phase-locked electron-beam lithography (SPLEBL), or energy beam locating, has been proposed as an improvement to conventional EBL, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,169. The efficacy of SPLEBL has recently been demonstrated by Wong et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, Vol. 13, No. 6, p. 2859 (1995). With SPLEBL, the accuracy and precision with which patterns can be defined and placed on the substrate is significantly improved.
In conventional EBL, the patterns are written on a blank substrate and the pattern size and location is defined with respect to mirrors which are mounted on a stage which holds the substrate. The substrate-holding stage can move in two dimensions, X.sub.s and Y.sub.s, The positions of the mirrors are determined with two precise interferometers, one for X.sub.s and one for Y.sub.s. This is referred to as indirect referencing.
In SPLEBL, direct referencing is employed by placing a fiducial grid 230 on an electron-sensitive resist layer 215 provided on a substrate 220, as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the grid could be placed in close proximity (within millimeters) to the resist/substrate composite. The fiducial grid essentially defines a Cartesian coordinate system on the substrate, to which all patterning is referenced. The grid is of high quality: the spatial period is nearly constant everywhere on the substrate or has known distortion, and the axes of the grid (X',Y') 240, are orthogonal. The spatial period, .LAMBDA., of the grid is typically less than 100 .mu.m, and the thickness of the grid is typically less than 50 nm.
As an electron beam 300 scans across the substrate, as shown in FIG. 3B, the interaction of the beam with the fiducial grid gives rise to a modulated signal 310 as shown in the graph of FIG. 3A. This signal may be used to position the beam with respect to the fiducial grid. Since the scanning beam is positioned with respect to the grid, then all patterns are directly referenced to the grid, which is on, or in close proximity to, the resist.
The fiducial grid on the resist/substrate composite, which is used for SPLEBL, has been described typically as being fabricated from islands of resist on a thin layer of metal, or islands of metal over the resist. When an electron beam is incident on any material, secondary electrons (SE) are emitted, which have energies below 50 eV. The number of SE emitted depends upon the type of material. So, as the electron beam scans across a grid of metal islands on resist, or resist islands on metal, the number of SE emitted varies from metal island to resist. Consequently the SE signal 310 is modulated, as shown in FIG. 3A.
The quality of the modulated signal from the fiducial grid must be high for accurate and precise pattern definition and placement in SPLEBL or energy beam locating. One measure of signal quality, is the signal's contrast, C, which is defined as EQU C=S.sub.max /S.sub.min
where S.sub.max is the maximum value of the signal and S.sub.min is the minimum value of the signal, as indicated in FIG. 3A. Another measure of the signal's quality is the amount of amplitude noise on the signal. Amplitude noise is random fluctuations in the signals amplitude, and is indicated in FIG. 3A. If the amplitude noise is large and the signal's contrast is small, then it is difficult to detect the modulation produced by the fiducial grid. This is typically the case in SPLEBL, when secondary electrons are used.
A disadvantage with SE detection of the fiducial grid, as just described, is that all materials emit secondary electrons. And the maximum ratio in SE yield between any two materials is typically less than 2. Consequently, the maximum contrast from any fiducial grid will be typically less than 2.


A gradient index lens which reflects light and focuses a corresponding image. The reflector can be easily incorporated to optical devices, and is particularly suitable for encoders position detectors, or other instrumentation utilizing line gratings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward a gradient index lens which is modified to reflect light and to focus a corresponding image. Until the present reflector, state-of-the-art uses for gradient index lens were limited to diode to fiber couplings, fiber to detector couplings, fiber to fiber couplings, lens to lens couplings, or focusing and collimating applications. Prior art has been dedicated to minimizing reflections by angling the lens facet or encasing the gradient index lens with an anti-reflection coating. Within the scope of the present unity of invention, the reflector can be easily incorporated to optical devices, and is particularly adapted to encoders, position detectors, or other instrumentation utilizing line gratings.
2. Description of the Previous Art
a) U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,407-Kitano, et. al., discloses an image transmitter composed of optical fibers. The bundles of fibers are arranged neatly whereby the image formed at one end of the bundle is transmitted to the other end of the bundle.
b) U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,181-Kitano, et. al., discloses a gradient index light conductor.
c) U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,978-Cole, discloses an image reversing array utilizing gradient refractive index. Cole contains an array of optical elements with imaging properties in one meridian and light-containment properties in another meridian. Thus, the inversion of the image occurs across the width but not the length of a slit aperture. U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,978 was directed toward the photocopying industry.
d) U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,662-Lama, discloses a lens array composed of at least two distinct groups of fibers having differing gradient index values. Lama teaches the combination of differing gradient index values and radial parameters blended to form the lens array results in uniform exposure along the imaging plane.
e) U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,094-Aono, discloses a gradient index lens system. Aono teaches the cementing together of two gradient index lens manufactured with different gradient indexes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,094 argues the combination of the cemented lens reduces spherical aberration.


A garnet crystal for growing a substrate is used for manufacturing a magneto-optic element. The garnet crystal is grown by the Czochralski method and has a chemical structure represented by Gd.sub.8-(x+y) Yb.sub.x Ga.sub.y O.sub.12 wherein x has the range 1.0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.3.0, y has the range 2.5.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.4.5, and (x+y) has the range 5.0.ltoreq.(x+y).ltoreq.6.5. The method of manufacturing the garnet crystal for growing a magneto-optic element includes the steps of: preparing a mixture of gadolinium oxide, ytterbium oxide, and gallium oxide in a crucible by mixing the oxides together in a weight ratio such that the atomic ratio is Gd:Yb:Ga=3:p:q wherein p has the range 1.0.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.3.0 and q has the range 2.0.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.4.5; heating the mixture to make a melt of the mixture; and growing a garnet from the melt of the mixture by the Czochralski method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a garnet crystal for growing a bismuth-substituted rare earth iron garnet single crystal film which is used as a magneto-optic element built in optical isolators and optical switches, and more particularly to a garnet crystal substrate which has a large lattice constant and allows solid solution of a large amount of bismuth in a bismuth-substituted rare earth iron garnet single crystal film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A bismuth-substituted rare earth iron garnet single crystal (referred to as BIG) is an excellent material that exhibits good transparency and large Faraday effect in a near-infrared range. Single crystal thick films having a thickness of several hundred microns have been practically used as a Faraday rotator built in optical isolators and optical switches.
A BIG thick film having a thickness of several hundred microns is usually grown on a non-magnetic garnet substrate by a liquid phase epitaxial method. When growing such a thick BIG film, the BIG film and substrate must be very accurately aligned in lattice constant. A large difference in lattice constant results in defects in crystal structure or cracks in the substrate due to stress.
A garnet substrate for growing a BIG thick film includes an SGGG substrate made of (CaGd)3(MgZrGa).sub.5 O.sub.12 having a lattice constant of 1.2497 nm and an NGG substrate made of Nd.sub.3 Ga.sub.5 O.sub.12 having a lattice constant of 1.2509 nm. The Faraday effect and lattice constant, of a BIG film increase with increasing amount of bismuth-substitution and there have been demands towards a garnet substrate having an even larger lattice constant. An article in "Journal of Solid State Chemistry VOL. 5(1972), P. 85ff." has reported on a garnet crystal having a large lattice constant. The article reports that garnet phase was observed when a mixture of rare-earth oxide and gallium oxide reacted in solid phase.
In order to manufacture a substrate for growing a bismuth-substituted rare earth iron garnet single crystal film, a single crystal is required which has a diameter greater than one inch without cracks. However, there has been no report on such a single crystal yet.

Garnet single crystal for substrate of magneto-optic element and method of manufacturing thereof


An aircraft environmental control system (ECS) may be configured to operate in first mode and a second mode. The ECS may include an air cycle machine (ACM), a by-pass valve positioned to allow bleed air to by-pass the air cycle machine so that when the by-pass valve is open, the ECS operates in the first mode with bleed air at a first pressure and when the by-pass valve is closed the ECS operates in the second mode at a second bleed air pressure, higher than the first bleed air pressure. A bleed air system controller and ECS controller may be configured to selectively couple high pressure or low pressure bleed air ports of an engine of an aircraft to the ECS and control the by-pass valve position.

The present invention generally relates to aircraft environmental control systems (ECS), propulsion engines and the bleed air systems that supply the ECS. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods by which an ECS may be operated with low pressure bleed air so that fuel burn is minimized during flight of an aircraft.
The new generation of commercial aircraft will have to be ever more fuel efficient. Some, maybe most, will remain powered by engines designed for supplying bleed air to the aircraft systems, but may have to offer fuel burn levels competitive with "more electric" bleed-less solutions. It is essential in order to reduce fuel usage by the airplane that the overall impact on the engine of various bleed and power extractions as well as drag requirements for both pressurizing and cooling the cabin be optimized. An energy optimized solution that may allow usage of lower bleed pressure supply from the engines to the ECS and other user systems would offer a competitive alternate to "more electric" ECS architectures with relatively low development risks.
As can be seen, there is a need for an ECS that may be operated with bleed air at lower pressure from a relatively lower energy stage from the engines and thereby providing for reduced fuel burn during flight of an aircraft.

Low-pressure bleed air aircraft environmental control system


A multi-action wound dressing for accelerated wound healing by means of multi-therapeutic action is disclosed. The dressing comprises a porous sheet (101); two flexible sheets (102) having a first sheet (103) and a second sheet (104) attached to each other; multichannel conduits (105) or a plurality of single channel conduits; multichannel tubes (106), side adhesive tapes (107) and an optional wound contact layer (108). The porous sheet (101) includes a top planar surface (201), thickness (202) and a bottom uneven surface (203). The bottom uneven surface (203) lies on the surface of the wound and may have surface patterns (204). The pattern (204) may be wavy patterns and/or any other regular and/or irregular surface protrusion that allow intermediate gaps between wound surface and the bottom surface (203) of the porous sheet through which fluid can flow over the wound surface.

Wound healing is a natural biological process which occurs in four phases starting with haemostasis followed by inflammatory phase and proliferative phase. It then finishes with remodelling phase. Common chronic types of wounds are venous leg ulcers, ischemic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure wounds and acute wounds are traumatic wounds, post-surgical wounds and burns.
A wound is classified as a non-healing wound if it does not heal in an orderly and timely manner. These wounds usually do not close without interventions, and are sometimes resistant to healing interventions. Many local and systemic factors may interfere in one or more of phases of healing process and make wounds difficult to heal. Some common features shared by each of these wounds include prolonged inflammation, excessive discharge, persistent infections, and formation of drug-resistant microbial bio films. These non-healing wounds can be exhausting for the affected individual and place a massive financial burden on healthcare systems.
Wounds affect approximately 1% of the population worldwide. In the United States, chronic wounds affect around 6.5 million patients. A conservative estimate of the staggering cost of caring for these wounds exceeds $50 billion per year. The prevalence of chronic wounds in India is reported to be 4.5/1000 population and acute wounds to be 10.5/1000 population. Complications to non-healing wounds are vast including poor quality of life, severe pain, septicaemia, prolonged hospitalization, and in most cases amputations.
The care of these wounds has become its own specialty, with providers often using advanced therapies, including but not limited to growth factors, extracellular matrices, bioengineered skin, oxygen therapy, and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Negative pressure wound therapy has been found useful in treating exudating wounds. But there are limitations of this technology which restricts its use in various clinical conditions. It requires frequent change of dressing in case of contaminated wounds because negative pressure wound therapy does not control microbial growth per se. However, few literature and prior art propose use of NPWT systems with Fluid therapies like use of Antibiotics, Saline water, Oxygenation to take care of microbial growth at the wound site.
For various kinds of wound care systems reference is made to US20130204210, US20100121287, US20150320917 and US20160166781, which discloses few embodiments on the combinations of negative pressure fluid therapy and fluid delivery. However, there are gaps at various aspects of the functional architecture and design such as poor uniform distribution of negative pressure and poor uniform fluid delivery, not being a solo integrated wound care device, lack of smart control logic to use combination of therapies in an optimized way.
The dual action wound healing device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,088,113B2 where a portable, self-contained device is used for the topical application of oxygen and the removal of wound exudates to promote the healing of skin wounds. However, the working principle of the device cannot provide oxygen and negative pressure simultaneously. Also, there is no provision for the user to set specific negative pressure and duty cycle.
Reference is also made to US 20100106117 A1 which describes about a wound treatment apparatus which comprises of a vacuum therapy along with a wound dressing member that only allows for irrigation. The wound dressing member claims that the presence of open spaces in the design allows for a generally uniformly distributed vacuum therapy to draw exudates from the wound. However, the system works only with liquid mainly for the purpose of irrigation. It is unable to deliver other fluids such as oxygen. The application procedure for the bandage also requires multiple steps
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,210, which describes a system for applying reduced pressure along with a porous pad along with a drape positionable over the porous pad to seal. The system focuses on the intricacies of the porous pad and the possible arrangement of it. However, the system is not suited for delivery of any fluids including oxygen. As such, the system is unable to carry out dual therapy with negative pressure and fluid delivery.
Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 9,114,237, which provides systems and methods for delivery of fluid to wound therapy dressing wherein, a pressure source provides negative pressure to a wound dressing and a positive pressure to an actuator that expels fluid from a fluid reservoir.
Further, Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,240 B1, which relates to a method and apparatus for the introduction to a wound under negative pressure therapy for a wound healing agent, which generally comprises a foam pad for insertion into a wound site and a wound drape for sealing enclosure of the foam pad at the wound site.
Reference is made to WO2014140578 that relates to the treatment of wound with negative pressure, but in particular it relates to wound closure. It makes use of a wound filing and is particularly useful for large wounds. However, it does not relate to the isolation of negative pressure and positive pressure (fluid) at the wound site.
Further, there are already some existing wound treating systems available in the art. This is ACTI V.A.C Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) System which is a portable system designed for ambulatory patients. Designed to help patients resume their activities of daily living while still receiving the benefits of V.A.C.® Therapy.
There is PICO by Smith & Nephew, global product, which is a unique way of treating patients who would benefit from the application of NPWT. PICO is a revolutionary single use, canister free system, can save money compared to advance wound dressings by extending the interval between changes.
Further, there is also FDA cleared extriCARE® 2400 NPWT System which works to remove wound exudates, infectious material, and tissue debris from the wound bed and bring blood to the wound, which promotes faster healing. There is also Invia Liberty (of Medela, USA) which is a reusable NPWT system that can be used to treat a variety of wound types. It offers clinical flexibility with a range of pressure settings and therapy modes, while promoting patient mobility due to pump's compact size and lightweight design.
The Avance® Solo is a small and lightweight NPWT pump that maximizes patient freedom and mobility. Avance Solo allows for quick and easy discharge of patients from hospital while also reducing the challenges of logistics and administration for the caregiver. The VTG 3000, iVAC is portable system with a weight of about 600 gms. The system delivers continuous, variable and intermittent therapy with safety parameters for leakage, blockage, canister full, system tilt and inactive conditions.
The Smart NPWT (of Medical Development & Engineering, Pune) is a wound care modality used in modern healing process It is a treatment using sub-atmospheric pressure to increase blood flow remove bacteria and increase growth of granulation tissue in the wound.
WOUNDEX (of The Wedelia Surgical, Bangalore, India) is a CE certified NPWT Unit with unique features like impact pressure mode, GSM module, intermittent pressure mode, leakage caution system, light caution and nurse call system which can be used on various kind of wounds.
Most of the times, negative pressure wound therapy and fluid delivery therapies are used as separate treatment modes. Although there are prior arts available which disclose use of Negative pressure and oxygen together yet those systems are not efficient in lot of aspects. One of the limitations with existing prior arts is isolating negative pressure and positive pressure (fluid) at the wound site so that both the therapies can be provided at the wound site independently as well as simultaneously without interfering with each other. Yet another disadvantage with existing dual therapy dressings is difficulty in optimizing even distribution of negative pressure and oxygen at the wound site. Again, no such dual therapy dressing exists which can be used for treating a wide range of wounds that may include but not limited to infected wounds, exudating wounds, non-exudating wounds and the like. Another important factors to take care of is that existing dressings are made in various size and shape to accommodate various types of wounds which add to manufacturing and production cost. Further, most of the prior arts available for dual therapy dressing need several systematic procedural steps for application at wound site. This needs training for the clinician which is another problem from ease of use perspective.
Therefore, there is a dire need to provide an effective wound dressing to enhance wider range of bio mechanism favorable for would healing and which does not suffer the disadvantages associated with a conventional wound healing techniques and wound NPWT system.

Wound dressing for combined negative pressure and fluid delivery system


A plurality of optical sensors are mounted to a housing made of optically conductive material. The housing seals the optical sensors from a water-filled tube which extends through said housing. The optically conductive material provides optical coupling with the water-filled cable tube whereby a plurality of light beams are directed through the housing and the water-filled tube in a predetermined pattern, which provides certainty of the absence or presence of a cable within the water-filled cable tube for a minimum cable diameter regardless of the orientation of the cable within the water-filled tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to remote sensors and, more particularly, to an optical sensor system to detect the presence and absence of a towed array cable within a submarine's water-filled cable tube.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The currently available outboard sensor assembly utilized in many submarines to detect a thin-line towed array employs an acoustic sensor to alert the system operator of one of two conditions for the water-filled cable tube, either "tube empty" or "tube full." The acoustic sensors require open access to the tube's water-filled environment for efficient acoustic coupling into the tube. The open access requires cutting out section of the tube, which is a leak risk factor for submarine safety. Because of the location of the outboard sensor assembly on a submarine, the repair and replacement is problematic. Moreover, acoustic sensors have been found to be unreliable, which has led to the continual refit of submarines coming out of the shipyards.
The following U.S. patents describe various prior art systems that may be related to the above and/or other MFC power conditioners:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,862 teaches an apparatus for determining the position of a sheet when the sheet is placed on a support having at least two spaced apart CCD linear image sensors recessed in the sheet support and partially covered by the edge portions of the sheet. The CCDs operate as line cameras, and are scanned to generate signals correlated with the points of intersection of the sheet edges and the axes of the image sensors. Preferably the apparatus has circuitry for storing calibration values of the CCD signals obtained when the image sensors are not covered by the sheet, circuitry for storing corresponding scanning signal values when the image sensors are covered by the sheet, circuitry for comparing corresponding calibration and scanning values for obtaining difference values, and circuitry for detecting maxima in the gradient of the difference values for adjacent image points to find the locations of the points of intersection of the sheet edges and the axes of image sensors. These locations are used by software driving an X-Y plotter head or by a sheet positioning mechanism to correct for variations in sheet position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,092 discloses semiconductor wafer-detecting apparatus provided with a main support body formed of synthetic resin. A pair of substantially-parallel longitudinal channels and a plurality of substantially-parallel transverse channels are formed in the main support body. The longitudinal channels are located away from each other by a predetermined distance, and the transverse channels are arranged at intervals corresponding to the intervals at which wafers are arranged. Between the adjacent transverse channels, a plurality of pairs of holding portions are defined such that each pair is associated with the longitudinal channels. A pair of light-emitting elements and a pair of light-receiving elements are alternately arranged with reference to the holding portions. The light-emitting elements of each pair have their light-emitting faces oriented in opposite directions; likewise, the light-receiving elements of each pair have their light-receiving faces oriented in opposite directions. The light-emitting elements of each pair and associated light-receiving elements jointly constitute respective optical sensors. The presence or absence of a wafer is determined by detecting whether or not light is shielded between the light-emitting and light-receiving elements of each optical sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,391 teaches a device for determining a position with respect to a reference plane of at least one lead of an electronic component, wherein the lead is illuminated from a first and respectively second position situated sideways and out of the plane wherein the electronic component is disposed and wherein a first and respectively a second shadow image is formed of at least a part of the lead on an image plane, which second position is different from the first position and wherein the first and respectively the second shadow image is located and a third and respectively a fourth position is determined to this end and the position is determined from the third and fourth position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,633 teaches a coin mechanism having a coin storage tube and an optical sensor for sensing the level of coins in the tube, the sensor comprising a light source arranged to direct a light beam across the tube, a reflector for returning the beam across the tube and a light detector for detecting the returned beam is disclosed. The reflector for returning the beam is a concave mirror having a curvature such as to give the beam an area, where it approaches the detector, substantially greater than the effective area of the detector. This enables, in a compact sensor, the light intensity at the detector to be enhanced and at the same time the sensitivity to misalignment of components to be reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,122 teaches an electronic curb feeler system that uses two pairs of optical sensor units to detect an object located near the front end of a vehicle during parking. One pair of optical sensor units detects an object directly in front of a left portion of the front end of the vehicle while another pair of optical sensors detects an object directly in front of a right portion of the front end of the vehicle. By supplying the operator of the vehicle with the location of the object as well as the exact distance the object is from the front end of the vehicle the operator can avoid hitting the object while parking very close to the object.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,947 teaches an apparatus and method for determining the presence of a fluid conduit at a predetermined location and at least one characteristic of the fluid in the conduit are disclosed. The apparatus includes a light source for generating radiated light in a direction towards the predetermined location, such that when the fluid conduit is present at the predetermined location the radiated light passes in a direction through the fluid conduit, a first optical sensor for detecting the radiated light through the fluid conduit, and a second optical sensor for detecting the radiated light which is reflected by the fluid conduit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,814 teaches a multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus that has a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit and a control unit for controlling each optical path. A light block substance sensing function for a multi-optical-path light curtain is also provided to sense an object between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. A muting area setting unit is also provided that can be taught how to set an area for exerting a muting function. The muting function can be provided only in a partial area of the light curtain by using the muting area setting unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,116 teaches an object locating system that detects the presence of an object as it passes through two consecutive planar fields of view. Two pairs of optical sensor arrays with multiple, directed, pixel detectors observe the object from two angles as the object passes through each consecutive field of view. The locations of penetrations of the respective fields of view are calculated by triangulation. Using this data, the known location of the take-off point and/or the delay between penetrations, the trajectory of the object in time and space is calculated. Applications include projecting the range of a driven golf ball, measuring the respective arriving and departing velocities of a hit baseball, and determining the trajectory and origin of an arriving projectile, as in the case of the threat to a military vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,727 teaches a system for checking the position of a mechanical part, for example a tool of a lathe, along a checking direction. The system employs an optoelectronic device with a laser beam and a sensor for detecting the interruption of the beam. Mutual displacements between the part to be checked and the optoelectronic device within a checking area are controlled according to a sequence including linear inspection movements along a direction perpendicular to the checking direction and at inspection positions. The inspection positions are spaced apart along the checking direction at progressively decreasing mutual distances, according to a sequence that converges to the searched position.
The above cited prior art does not disclose an outboard optical sensor system operable for determining the absence or presence of a thin-line towed array cable within a tube.

Outboard optical cable sensor system and method

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy