A thin film transistor array substrate includes a first conductive pattern group including a gate electrode of a thin film transistor and a gate line connected to the gate electrode; a semiconductor pattern defining a channel of the thin film transistor; a second conductive pattern group including source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor and a data line crossing the gate line, a pixel area being defined by the data line crossing the gate line; a third conductive pattern group having a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; and at least one dummy pattern disposed between at least one of the first to third conductive pattern groups and an adjacent one of the semiconductor patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel using a horizontal electric field, and more particularly, to a thin film transistor array substrate of such a liquid crystal display panel and a fabricating method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, liquid crystal displays (LCD's) control light transmittance of liquid crystal using an electric field, thereby displaying a picture. Liquid crystal displays are largely classified into a vertical electric field type and a horizontal electric field type depending upon the direction of the electric field driving the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display of vertical electric field applying type drives a liquid crystal in a twisted nematic (TN) mode with a vertical electric field formed between a pixel electrode and a common electrode arranged in opposition to each other on the upper and lower substrate. The liquid crystal display of vertical electric field type has an advantage of a large aperture ratio while having a drawback of a narrow viewing angle of about 90°. The liquid crystal display of the horizontal electric field applying type drives a liquid crystal in an in plane switch (IPS) mode with a horizontal electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode arranged parallel to each other on the lower substrate. The liquid crystal display of a horizontal electric field type has an advantage of a wide viewing angle (i.e., up to about 160°).
Hereinafter, the liquid crystal display of horizontal electric field type will be described in detail. The liquid crystal display of the horizontal electric field type includes a thin film transistor array substrate and a color filter array substrate joined to each other, a spacer for uniformly maintaining a cell gap between two substrates, and a liquid crystal filled into a liquid crystal space defined by the spacer. The thin film transistor array substrate comprises a plurality of signal lines for forming a horizontal electric field in each pixel, a plurality of thin film transistors, and an alignment film coated thereon to align the liquid crystal. The color filter array substrate includes a color filter for implementing a color, a black matrix for preventing a light leakage, and an alignment film coated thereon to align the liquid crystal.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a structure of a thin film transistor array substrate of a related art liquid crystal display of horizontal electric type, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the thin film transistor array substrate taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the thin film transistor array substrate of the related art liquid crystal display of horizontal electric field type includes a gate line 2 and a data line 4, which intersect each other provided on a lower substrate 1, a thin film transistor 30 provided at each intersection, a pixel electrode 22 and a common electrode 24 provided in a pixel area defined by the intersecting gate and data lines, and a common line 26 connected to the common electrode 24. Further, the thin film transistor array substrate includes a storage capacitor 40 provided at an overlapped portion between the pixel electrode 22 and the common line 26, a gate pad 50 connected to the gate line 2, a data pad 60 connected to the data line 4 and a common pad 80 connected to the common line 26.
The thin film transistor 30 allows a pixel signal of the data line 4 to be charged and maintained on the pixel electrode 22 in response to a gate signal of the gate line 2. To this end, the thin film transistor 30 includes a gate electrode 6 connected to the gate line 2, a source electrode 8 connected to the data line 4, and a drain electrode 10 connected to the pixel electrode 22. Further, the thin film transistor 30 includes an active layer 14 overlapping the gate electrode 6 with a gate insulating film 12 therebetween to define a channel between the source electrode 8 and the drain electrode 10. The active layer 14 also overlaps the data line 4, a lower data pad electrode 62 and a storage electrode 28. On the active layer 14, ohmic contact layer 16 for making an ohmic contact with the data line 4, the source electrode 8, the drain electrode 10, the lower data pad electrode 62 and the storage electrode 28 are further provided.
The pixel electrode 22 is connected via a first contact hole 32 going through a protective film 18, to the drain electrode 10 of the thin film transistor 30 and is provided in the pixel area. Particularly, the pixel electrode 22 includes a first horizontal portion 22a connected to the drain electrode 10 and provided parallel with adjacent gate lines 2, a second horizontal portion 22c overlapping with the common line 26, and a finger portion 22b provided in parallel to the common electrode 24 between the first and second horizontal portions 22a and 22b. The common electrode 24 is connected to the common line 26 and is provided at the pixel area. Specifically, the common electrode 24 is provided parallel to the finger portion 22b of the pixel electrode 22 in the pixel area. Accordingly, a horizontal electric field is formed between the pixel electrode 22 to which a pixel signal is supplied via the thin film transistor 30 and the common electrode 24 to which a reference voltage is supplied via the common line 26. More specially, the horizontal electric field is formed between the finger portion 22b of the pixel electrode 22 and the common electrode 24. Liquid crystal molecules arranged in the horizontal direction between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate by such a horizontal electric field are rotated due to a dielectric anisotropy. Transmittance of a light transmitting the pixel area is differentiated depending upon a rotation extent of the liquid crystal molecules, thereby implementing a gray level scale.
The storage capacitor 40 consists of the gate line 2, the storage electrode 28 overlapping the gate line 2 having the gate insulating film 12, the active layer 14 and the ohmic contact layer 16 therebetween, and the pixel electrode 22 connected, via a second contact hole 34 going through the protective film 18, to the storage electrode 28. The storage capacitor 40 allows a pixel signal charged on the pixel electrode 22 to be stably maintained until the next pixel signal is charged. The gate line 2 is connected, via the gate pad 50, to a gate driver (not shown). The gate pad 50 consists of a lower gate pad electrode 52 extended from the gate line 2, and an upper gate pad electrode 58 connected, via a third contact hole 54 going through the gate insulating film 12 and the protective film 18, to the lower gate pad electrode 52. The data line 4 is connected, via the data pad 60, to the data driver (not shown). The data pad 60 consists of a lower data pad electrode 62 extended from the data line 4, and an upper data pad electrode 68 connected, via a fourth contact hole 64 going through the protective film 18, to the lower data pad electrode 62. The common line 26 receives a reference voltage from an external reference voltage source (not shown) through the common pad 80. The common pad 80 consists of a lower common pad electrode 82 extended from the common line 86, and an upper common pad electrode 88 connected, via a fifth contact hole 84 going through the gate insulating film 12 and the protective film 18, to the lower common pad electrode 82.
A method of fabricating the thin film transistor array substrate having the above-mentioned structure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3J. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, a gate metal layer 5 is formed on the lower substrate 1 by a deposition technique, such as sputtering. Then, a photo-resist pattern 72 is formed by photolithography, including exposure and development processes using a first mask 70 defining a shielding area S2 and an exposure area S1. The gate metal layer 5 is patterned by an etching process using the photo-resist pattern 72, thereby providing a first conductive pattern group including the gate line 2, the gate electrode 6, the lower gate pad electrode 52, the common line 26, the common electrode 24 and the lower common pad electrode 82 on the lower substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 3B.
As shown in FIG. 3C, the gate insulating film 12, an amorphous silicon layer 13 and an n+ amorphous silicon layer 15 are sequentially formed on the lower substrate 1 by a deposition technique, such as PECVD or sputtering, etc. Then, a photo-resist pattern 76 is formed by the photolithography including exposure and development process using a second mask 74 defining a shielding area S2 and an exposure area S1. The amorphous silicon layer 13 and the n+ amorphous silicon layer 15 are patterned by an etching process using the photo-resist pattern 76, thereby providing a semiconductor pattern including the active layer 14 and the ohmic contact layer 16 on the lower substrate 1, as shown in FIG. 3D.
As shown in FIG. 3E, a data metal layer 9 is formed on the gate insulating film 12 provided with the semiconductor pattern by a deposition technique, such as sputtering, etc. Then, a photo-resist pattern 90 is formed by photolithography including exposure and development process using a third mask 78 defining a shielding area S2 and an exposure area S1. The data metal layer 9 is patterned by the etching process using the photo-resist pattern 90, thereby providing a second conductive pattern group including the data line 4, the source electrode 8, the drain electrode 10, the storage electrode 28 and the lower data pad electrode 62 on the lower substrate 1, as shown in FIG. 3F. Subsequently, the exposed ohmic contact layer 16 between the source electrode 8 and the drain electrode 10 are etched by utilizing the source electrode 8 and the drain electrode 10 as a mask. Thus, the active layer 14 at the channel portion of the thin film transistor 30 is exposed.
As shown in FIG. 3G, the protective film 18 is entirely formed on the gate insulating film 12 provided with the second conductive pattern by a deposition technique such as PECVD, etc. Then, a photo-resist pattern 94 is formed by the photolithography including exposure and development process using a fourth mask 2 defining a shielding area S2 and an exposure area S1. The protective film 18 is patterned by an etching process using the photo-resist pattern 94, thereby providing the first to fifth contact holes 32, 34, 54, 64 and 84 as shown in FIG. 3H. As shown in FIG. 3I, a transparent conductive film 21 is coated onto the protective film 18 having the first to fifth contact holes 32, 34, 54, 64 and 84 by a deposition technique such as the sputtering, etc. Then, a photo-resist pattern 98 is formed by photolithography including exposure and development process using a fifth mask 96 defining a shielding area S2 and an exposure area S1. The transparent conductive film 21 is patterned by an etching process using the photo-resist pattern 98 to thereby provide a third conductive pattern group including the pixel electrode 22, the upper gate pad electrode 58, the upper data pad electrode 68 and the upper common pad electrode 88, as shown in FIG. 3J.
As described above, in the related art thin film transistor array substrate and a fabricating method thereof, the photolithography process is a series of processes including photo-resist coating, mask alignment, light-exposure, development and stripping, etc. Such photolithography process has the problems of a long process requirement time, a large waste of a stripper liquid for removing the photo-resist and the photo-resist pattern and expensive equipment such as an exposure device, etc. Particularly, as a dimension of the substrate is made larger and a size of the pattern becomes smaller, the cost of the exposure device increases.

Thin film transistor array substrate and fabricating method thereof


An incrementally adjustable/integral mounting clamp having two semi-cylindrical strap sections with a mounting boss on at least one of the straps, and having a hook and spline adjustment on one set of cooperating ends of the straps and tabs on the other ends of the straps for drawing the ends together by an alien bolt. The straps are preferably formed of extruded aluminum, and providing a low-profile clamp enabling it to be attached on the fork tube in areas of little clearance.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a clamp used in the mounting of motorcycle windshields and other accessories, which are mounted on tubular frame members of the motorcycle frame. Alternatively, the clamping member may be used on other sports vehicles having tubular frames upon which accessories may be mounted.
In the United States, today's motorcycle industry is fueled and driven by enthusiasts who consider riding motorcycles a sport and accessorizing and personalizing them as an avocation. The motorcycle accessory aftermarket is a multibillion-dollar industry.
A popular motorcycle accessory category is the windscreen or windshield. Most motorcycles are offered for sale without windshields. Windshield buying decisions are made by motorcycle owners, based primarily on aesthetics, function, ease of installation, perceived value and availability. Accordingly, motorcycle windshields as with other accessories vary widely in configuration.
2. General Background of the Invention
Most windshields are attached to the fork tubes of the motorcycle. The fork tubes suspend the front wheel and are the main structural members of the front end. Attachment to tubular structures is normally done by means of a clamp, and a wide variety are currently available in the market. The problem in fitting a variety of motorcycles is that there is no uniformity among, or for that matter with any particular, manufacturers as to the diameter of the fork tubes. Fork tubes typically vary from about 35 mm diameter to about 43 mm diameter. The difference in circumference is in this range amounts to over 25 millimeters (mm) or about one inch.
Prior solutions consisted of individually size-specific fork tube clamps, which were production headaches for manufacturers and stocking headaches for distributors and dealers due to the wide variety of sizes that are necessarily stocked to accommodate different motorcycles. Alternatively, a variation of the automotive worm-gear type "hose" clamps were tried, however they are now generally rejected by consumers as a viable alternative. The motorcycle enthusiast prefers a clamping mechanism which contributes, or at least does not detract from, the overall appearance of the vehicle.
The present invention provides and improved motorcycle windscreen apparatus for attachment to a motorcycle having a pair of front forks. The apparatus includes a windscreen and a pair of clamps for fixing the windscreen to the motorcycle at the front forks.
Each of the clamps includes a pair of connectable clamp sections that can affix to motorcycle forks of differing diameter in an adjustable fashion.
The connectable clamp sections each have inner curved surfaces that generally conform to the forks of the motorcycle and outer surfaces opposite the inner curved surfaces.
One of the clamped sections has a first end portion with a plurality of circumferentially spaced dove-tail sockets. The other of the clamp sections has a first end portion with a dove tail projecting portion that fits a selected one of the dove-tail shaped sockets. This enables an adjustable connection to be formed between a selected socket and the dove-tail projecting portion. Once the projected portion fits a selected socket, the clamp fits a selected fork diameter.
A bolted connection can be used for holding the clamps together at second end portions of the clamp sections spaced from the dove-tail connecting portions.
The present invention also provides an improved clamp apparatus for affixation to a tubular member. The apparatus includes clamp members each having inner curved surfaces that conform generally to the shape of the tubular member.
Each of the clamp members have end portions with connecting end portions that enable the clamp ends to be connected so that the clamp extends around the tubular member upon assembly.
The end portions of the clamps provide dove-tail connecting portions that include a plurality of dove-tail slots on one clamp member and a dove-tail projecting portion on the other clamp member. When the projecting portion selectively fits a slot to fit the clamp to the tubular members, a bolted connection or like fastener can be used to complete the connection.


An outdoor cooking apparatus includes a burner frame that has a base with a portion that engages an underlying support surface during use, an upper grill or grate that receives a pot during use, the upper grill having a cooking surface. The frame includes a plurality of legs that extend between the base and the grill. In the preferred embodiment, the base can be a ring. In the preferred embodiment, the grill can include a ring and a plurality of radially extending struts. In this fashion, the ring surrounds a pot that is placed upon the struts, limiting the lateral movement of the pot. The pot has a diameter and a height, the pot is sized and shaped to fit inside the frame envelope during shipment or storage. The legs extend around the pot and the burner element in the storage position. A wind guard shroud is attached to the underside of the radial struts. This shroud is also contained within the pot when in a storage position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an outdoor cooking apparatus of improved configuration that includes a burner that can be powered with pressurized gas such as butane or propane, one or more pots and/or pot liners that store within the envelope of the burner frame. More particularly, the present invention relates to an outdoor cooking device with a frame that provides a nozzle, a shroud or wind guard that surrounds the burner nozzle, and wherein preferably one or two pots can be nested and stored within the envelope of the burner frame, either of the pots being supported during cooking upon a grate portion of the burner frame.
2. General Background of the Invention
A number of outdoor cookers have been sold commercially for a number of years and are admitted as "prior art" type burners. These "prior art" burners have traditionally included a metallic frame that supports a burner nozzle, such as a cast iron burner nozzle. Such burner nozzles are commercially available and are used to fire most natural gas fired hot water heaters.
Examples of these prior art type outdoor cooking devices can be seen in the brochures of Metal Fusion, Inc., of Jefferson, La. Patents have issued naming Norman Bourgeois as inventor that relate to burners and related cooking apparatus. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,735 for a "Convertible Burner Apparatus" that features different primary burner frames and legs that can elevate the burner frames. Other Bourgeois patents that relate to cooking devices include the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,813,321; 5,970,852; and 6,058,830.
The burner nozzle can be a cast iron hot water heater type burner nozzle or a jet burner arrangement that uses a single outlet centered in a cylindrically-shaped, vertically oriented metallic tube. The most common version of the prior art "jet burner" arrangement is seen in Metal Fusion's catalog as Model No. 90PK. Another version of this type of cooker includes two spaced apart circular rings connected with struts and having a cylindrically-shaped wind guard or shroud. This type of prior art burner can be seen for example as Metal Fusion Model Nos. 82PK, 83PK, 85PK, 86PK, and 86PKJ.
For cooking some food items such as poultry items, it is sometimes desirable to fry the object in a basket that can be lifted from the pot. An example of this type of "prior art" arrangement is seen in the 1996 Metal Fusion catalog as Model No. 32TPK. For a combination cooking arrangement that includes a burner, pot and liner, the user typically places the poultry item in the basket and lowers it into boiling oil using a bail. In the prior art, bails have often been detachable from the basket so that the user can lower the basket into the pot and the contained boiling oil and then remove the handle or bail therefrom. This allows the user to eliminate the transfer of heat from the basket to the handle during the elongated cooking process.
A number of patents have issued that relate to cooking devices and utensils for use in combination with cooking vessels. The Walker U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,135 provides a utensil assembly and kit including same for cooking vessels used in preparing and supporting combustibles above the bottom of the cooking vessel and away from its inner walls. The utensil kit comprises a base supported above the bottom of the cooking vessel, a plurality of support attachments separately detachable and interchangeably mountable on the base for supporting selected combustible products, and releasable latch mechanism having two parts, one part disposed on the base, and the other part is disposed on each of the support attachments for engaging the base. One of the utensils is a poultry support attachment that fits inside the cavity of a chicken or other poultry enabling it to be positioned upright.
The Rappaport U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,169, discloses a poultry supporting device that sits upon a base in the form of a pan.
A rotisserie cooking arrangement is disclosed in the French Patent 2685862.
A roasting support for fowl is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,642. The apparatus includes a longitudinally extending rod that extends through the center of the turkey having an eyelet at its upper end.
A roaster for poultry and meat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,602. The apparatus includes a vertical roasting apparatus wherein a predetermined amount of liquid for generating the moisture required to produce a high quality and flavorful roasting of the meat is included in a reservoir formed within the support structure itself and disposed internally of the poultry or meat being roasted.
A vertical spit for displaying roasting or warming is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,999.
A combination outdoor cooker and smoker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,154. The apparatus includes a cooker having a gas burner coupled to an external gas source through a control valve by a gas supply conduit.
An Austrian patent 217592 discloses a cooking device that has a central member upon which a turkey or chicken is supported during the cooking operation.
British patent 2205734A discloses a device for use in preparing and cooking kebabs that includes walls which are interconnected to define a tube member and into which a first end wall is slidably received to further reinforce the shape formed by the sidewalls and whose end position is determined by the engagement of lips projecting inwardly from the sidewalls. The sidewalls are appertured longitudinally for receiving a knife to cut food within the tube member.
Issued patents to Barbour (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,758,569 and 5,896,810) disclose a cooking apparatus directed to the frying of poultry items such as turkeys.
One of the problems with outdoor cookers is the handling of very large pots that contain a high volume of cooking fluid such as vegetable oil. It is desirable that such an outdoor cooking apparatus have good stability to support the very heavy and often tall pot during cooking, and during placement of or removal of the pot, liner or both from the burner. Further, the cooking fluid is desirably reused for certain cooking fluids such as vegetable oils. One solution is to drain the pot, yet also provide for drainage without removal from the burner. However, the burner must enable such drainage and still provide a safe, stable cooking platform for very large capacity cooking pots.


The present invention relates to a system for the preparation of air in an aircraft comprising a compressor charged with air on the inlet side, comprising a supply air heat exchanger which is downstream of the compressor, is charged with air compressed in the compressor on the pressurized air side on the inlet side and which is in communication on the pressurized air side on the outlet side with a system or unit which is to be supplied with pressurized air, and comprising a turbine which is charged on the inlet side with pressurized air from a pressurized air supply separate from the air supply of the compressor and is in communication on the outlet side with the low pressure side inlet of the supply air heat exchanger and which is in communication with the compressor such that the compressor can be driven by means of the turbine.

The invention relates to a system for the preparation of air and to a method for the preparation of air in an aircraft.
Cooled pressurized air is required for the operation of oxygen and nitrogen generation units in aircrafts and for the operation of units in aircrafts with similar demands on the supply air.
The aircraft tanks fill up with a mix of kerosene vapor and air due to the removal of kerosene during the flight. With an unfavorable composition, an explosive mix can be created which ignites due to spontaneous ignition or is ignited by spark formation. To preclude this risk, it is proposed to reduce the oxygen content of the air in the kerosene tank. Investigations have shown that a spontaneous ignition of the mix can be reliably avoided by a reduction of the (normal) oxygen content of the air in the kerosene tank from 20.9% to approximately 12% to 14.5%. In addition to a low oxygen content, a high nitrogen content is advantageous to prevent a spontaneous ignition of the mix.
A unit is known from EP 1 375 349 A1 for the generation of nitrogen which will be termed an OBIGGS (on board inert gas generation system) in the following. This system uses a molecular sieve, whereby the largest portion of oxygen is filtered. A product gas with a greatly reduced oxygen content and a highly increased nitrogen content is created at the outlet side. This product gas can now be introduced into the kerosene tanks to preclude the risk of an ignition of the kerosene/air mix. Furthermore, the OBIGGS product gas can e.g. also be guided into freight spaces to minimize the risk of fire there.
The OBIGGS requires a supply with cooled pressurized air of approximately 50° C. to 90° C. Depending on the filter technology used and on the system size, the minimum supply pressure required amounts to approximately 1.8 bar (rel.) or 3.1 bar (rel.). According to the prior art, the supply of the OBIGGS takes place in that pre-cooled pressurized air (approximately 200° C. and 2 bar relative pressure) is guided out of the pressurized air bleeding system of the aircraft via a closable inlet valve (OSOV) into a special OBIGGS heat exchanger (OHX) and is there cooled according to the demands. The heat exchanger OHX is located in a ram air passage.
An already known system of this kind can be seen from FIG. 1. The oxygen is then filtered by the corresponding filter technology in the OBIGGS, whereby product gas is obtained with a nitrogen portion of >90%. It is then fed, as described above, to the tank containers and/or to the freight spaces. As can be seen from FIG. 1, an ozone converter is provided which is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger OHX on the pressurized air side. The ozone content of the ambient air and thus of the pressurized air increases with the flight altitude. The ozone can impair the action of the oxygen separation in the OBIGGS. This disadvantageous effect can be diminished or precluded by the ozone converter which reduces the ozone content.
As furthermore visible from FIG. 1, a valve OBPV is provided which is arranged in a bypass line which connects the inlet of the heat exchanger OHX on the pressurized air side with its outlet on the pressurized air side. Hot pressurized air is guided around the heat exchanger OHX by opening the valve OBPV. A specific minimum temperature of the cooled supply air can thereby also be set with cold ambient temperature (ram air temperature). Alternatively, a temperature control is also possible by a flap or a valve (not shown) in the ram air passage, whereby the ram air amount is reduced.
It is mostly necessary for the OBIGGS to be in operation during the whole flight. If the aircraft is on the ground, however, no ram air is present, i.e. the ram air for the cooling of the heat exchanger OHX must be generated otherwise or using corresponding means. This can be achieved, for example, by means of an ejector. Provision is made in this process for bled air to be guided via the open valve OESOV (see FIG. 1) and fed to a nozzle/ejector OEJ. The high discharge speed of the air at the nozzle effects an entrainment of the ambient air, whereby a ram air flow is generated which serves to cool the heat exchanger OHX. The necessary ejector air quantity amounts to approximately 60% of the OBIGGS supply air amount.
Alternatively, it is possible for this purpose for the ram air be generated on the ground by means of a blower in the ram air passage. For this purpose, a power supply and an inspection unit are required which are not shown in FIG. 1.
The following flow rates for the supply of an OBIGGS system are required for an aircraft with approximately 150 passengers:
Cooled OBIGGS pressurized supply air: approx. 100 g/s
Ram air: approx. 150 g/s to 200 g/s
Ejector (ground operation only): approx. 60 g/s.
A total of approximately 160 g/s pressurized air and, additionally, approximately 200 g/s ram air is thus required for the provision of 100 g/s OBIGGS pressurized supply air.
As mentioned above, OBIGGS systems are also known which require a higher supply pressure of at least approximately 3.1 bar (rel.). To balance this, the requirements of cooled pressurized supply air, however, only amount to approximately 35% (in this example thus approximately 35 g/s). Due to the higher pressure and the lower flow rate, this OBIGGS system has a smaller and lighter construction than that which works at lower pressures, but higher flow rates.
One problem in the operation of OBIGGS systems of this kind which require a higher supply pressure of approx. 3.1 bar (rel.) consists of the fact that the level of the pressurized air supply of aircraft lies at approximately 2 bar (rel.) and thus well below the required 3.1 bar (rel.). To provide cooled pressurized air for this type of OBIGGS system, a compressor is thus required. FIG. 2 shows a corresponding architecture which is likewise known from the prior art.
Analog to the system shown in FIG. 1, pressurized air/bled air is supplied to the system via the open valve OSOV. The pressurized air flows through an ozone converter after passing through the valve OSOV. A heat exchanger (OPHX) is disposed upstream of the compressor so that temperatures do not arise in the downstream compressor C which are too high. After passing through the compressor, the pressurized air is cooled to approximately 75° C. in the heat exchanger OMHX and is supplied to the OBIGGS system. The heat exchangers OPHX and OMHX are cooled by ram air, as is shown in FIG. 2. On the ground, the ram air is generated by the ejector OEJ or by blowers. The driving of the compressor takes place by means of a turbine in which pressurized air is expanded which is branched off downstream of the ozone converter. For this purpose, the valve OPRV is opened and pressurized air is supplied to the turbine inlet.
Alternatively to this, the drive of the compressor can also take place by means of an electric motor such as is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,602. The pressurized air for the turbine is thereby saved. However, the electric motor is relatively heavy in construciton and requires further components such as an energy supply (converter) and an inspection unit.
The systems known from the prior art in accordance with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are associated with the following disadvantages:                Ram air passage        An independent ram air passage, including the corresponding openings for inlet and outlet in the aircraft structure, is required for the ram air of the heat exchanger OHX (FIG. 1) or OPHX/OMHX (FIG. 2). The available space for freight is thereby reduced and the aircraft weight increased and additional costs are incurred. This disadvantage is made even larger if OBIGGS systems have to be retrofitted in existing aircraft. Fairly large modifications are required in order to subsequently integrate a ram air passage into the aircraft structure with new additional openings for the inlet and outlet.        Ram air flow        For reasons of cost and complexity, a flap at the inlet of the ram air passage is generally dispensed with. The disadvantage arises from this that the maximum ram air passage flow is always provided in flight even if a low ram air flow would be sufficient in specific flight phases or at a low ambient temperature. The ram air flow increases the aircraft kerosene consumption and thus the operating costs.        Ejector/Blower        The OBIGGS operation is generally also required on the ground. Since no ram air is available in this operating state due to lack of ram pressure, it must be actively conveyed. For this purpose, either a blower or, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ejector (OEJ and OESOV) are installed. Both variations are associated with costs and with weight disadvantages. Furthermore, an additional pressurized air requirement thereby results for the ejector or an additional electrical power requirement, if a ram air blower is alternatively used.        Ozone converter        Already known pressurized air preparation systems mostly require an ozone converter. The pressure losses generated in this process have to be compensated by smaller pressure losses in the following heat exchangers in order to ensure the same supply pressure for the OBIGGS system. The heat exchangers are thereby larger and heavier in construction. A further disadvantage is additionally the weight of the ozone converter.        Availability of pressure during descent        Depending on the required engine power, different pressures are available in the bled air system of the aircraft. The engine power is greatly reduced during the descent/landing approach, with relatively low pressures resulting from this.        The tanks of an aircraft are ventilated such that the same pressure results in the tank as in ambient. The ambient pressure increases during the aircraft descent. To match the internal tank pressure to the ambient pressure, the most air has to be supplied to the tanks in this phase. An OBIGGS system must therefore provide the maximum amount of nitrogen-enriched air in this phase and thus also generates the maximum demands on the OBIGGS pressurized supply air in this phase. Since the performance capability of the systems described in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 depends directly on the pressure of the bled air, the performance capability of the OBIGGS pressurized air preparation system is limited just in the phase of maximum demand. This has to be compensated by correspondingly larger dimensioned components, with corresponding disadvantages with respect to weight, construction space and costs resulting from this.
The disadvantages described above apply equally to the systems from the prior art shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2.
The following additional disadvantages result from the system shown in FIG. 2:
With the system described in FIG. 2, the advantage initially results with respect to the system that higher pressures can be achieved for the OBIGGS supply. The required amount of cooled supply air is thereby substantially reduced and a more efficient OBIGGS system can be used. This advantage is, however, eliminated again for the following reasons:                An additional component is required with the compressor;        a drive is required for the compressor which, in the case of a turbine, requires additional pressurized air from the bled air system. Pressurized air is thus required for the actual OBIGGS supply and for the drive of the turbine and for the ejector for the generation of ram air, i.e. cooling air, in ground operation;        an additional heat exchanger (OPHX) is required, with the corresponding disadvantages with respect to construction space and weight;        due to the smaller required OBIGGS supply air amount (at a higher supply pressure), the required ram air flow could generally be reduced. However, this is negated by the ram air amount which the additional OPHX needs.

Abstract: The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of air in an aircraft.


A casing assembly includes a casing and a support seat. The casing has interconnected first and second casing walls located on different sides thereof, and an engaging groove portion extending in a direction perpendicular to that of the first casing wall. The first casing wall is formed with an opening portion communicated with the engaging groove portion. The second casing wall is oriented downwardly and the first casing wall extends uprightly when the casing is disposed in an upright state. The support seat includes a supporting bottom portion for supporting the second casing wall when the casing is in the upright state, and an engaging member connected to the supporting bottom portion. The engaging member has an engaging segment spaced apart from and disposed above the supporting bottom portion for insertion into the engaging groove portion through the opening portion so as to engage the engaging groove portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a casing, more particularly to a casing that can be placed uprightly using a support seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional designs of horizontal placement for many electronic devices can no longer meet current user requirements in terms of space utilization. Therefore, upright placement designs have been devised to enable a user to choose to place an electronic device horizontally or uprightly depending on his/her requirement.
Referring to FIG. 1, R.O.C. Utility Model No. M335216 discloses a structure that utilizes a support seat 12 to enable an electronic device 11 to be placed uprightly. The aforesaid structure utilizes engaging grooves 121 in the support seat 12 to engage an outer frame 111 of the electronic device 11, so that the support seat 12 may be coupled with the outer frame 111 to thereby support the electronic device 11.
However, the electronic device 11 has to be provided with the outer frame 111 in order to be able to couple with the support seat 12 in the aforementioned structure. Therefore, the above structure is not suitable for an electronic device without an outer frame. In addition, the provision of the outer frame 111 increases manufacturing costs.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show another structure that utilizes a support seat 22 to permit mounting of an electronic device 21 in an upright state. In this structure, the support seat 22 is provided with two rows of retaining blocks 221 projecting therefrom. The electronic device 21 can be held in the upright state between the two rows of retaining blocks 221. Furthermore, the electronic device 21 has two opposite upright surfaces respectively provided with recesses 211 (only the recesses 211 in one of the surfaces are shown) for receiving the retaining blocks 221 of the support seat 22, so that the support seat 22 can firmly support the electronic device 21. However, in order for the support seat 22 to hold the electronic device 21 in the upright state, the retaining blocks 221 and the corresponding recesses 211 need to have a certain height and a certain width, so that the electronic device 21 can be held on the support seat 22 in the upright state in a relatively secure manner. The greater the height of the recesses 211, the wider will be the width of the recesses 211. This means that the recesses 211 will occupy a larger area of the upright surfaces of the electronic device 21, will be more obtrusive, and will do more damage to the overall appearance and aesthetic appeal of the electronic device 21.

Casing assembly and electronic device including the same


A computer-implemented method for initiating online collections that includes determining a current status of an account held by an account holder, determining a real-time financial profile of the account holder using information on the banking institution computer systems and third party information providers and displaying a customized status message based on the account holder's financial profile. The method provides remediation options to the account holder.

On-line banking tools offer customers of financial institutions a convenient way to manage their accounts without having to visit brick and mortar locations. Consumer and commercial on-line banking tools are available and permit account holders to perform account management operations such as funds transfers, bill payment, cash and treasury management, investment, procurement, international, trust, and credit and loan services, and so on.
Currently, banking institutions continue to need to reach their account holders regarding when their accounts have an adverse account status and for performing remediation (e.g., collections) activities. While existing on-line banking tools have proved useful, an ongoing need exists for further improvements.


An air pressure fixed coil for magnetic resonance imaging has a surface on which an air pressure fixing device is arranged. The air pressure fixing device is in communication with a control switch, that is operable to actuate the air pressure fixing device to generate a negative pressure or to restore a normal air pressure, so that the air pressure fixing device is suctioned and fixed onto an object, or is released from the object. Since the coil is fixed in place by using air pressure, the coil can be fixed onto a patient bed without arranging any fixing structure on the patient bed, and therefore the coil can be positioned and fixed at any place on the patient bed for carrying out a scanning operation according to needs. At the same time, since there is no need to pre-arrange any fixing structure on the patient bed, such as slots, holes etc., the structural strength of the patient bed will not be affected, and the appearance of the patient bed can be kept simple, clean and neat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system, and particularly an arrangement for fixing such a coil in place.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a magnetic resonance system, there is a need to use a strong electromagnetic field created by high-powered radio frequency signals so as to excite nuclei in a human body to generate magnetic resonance signals, and then the magnetic resonance signals emitted from the human body are received. The said magnetic resonance signals are reconstructed into magnetic resonance images in a known manner. When a body is examined, normally it is necessary to position one or more radio frequency coils on a patient's bed with their field of view oriented at different parts of the human body, and a suitable coil needs to be placed at a corresponding position in order to carry out a scanning.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic diagrams of the structure of a currently available breast coil and the manner of fixing it onto a patient bed. Tabs 14 are arranged respectively on both sides 12 of a breast coil 10 in a direction facing a patient bed 20. A plurality of slots 22 are formed respectively on both sides of the patient bed 20 along its longitudinal direction. When the breast coil 10 is used to carry out an examination, said tabs 14 are inserted along the arrow direction into the corresponding slots 22 according to the position that the patient is in said patient bed 20 or the patient's body height, so that the breast coil 10 can be fixed onto said patient bed 20.
FIGS. 4 to 6 show schematic diagrams of the structure of a currently available head coil and the manner of fixing it onto a patient bed. A number of studs 34 are arranged respectively on the bottom surface 32 of a head coil 30 in a direction facing a patient bed 20. A number of corresponding holes 24 are formed on the patient bed 20. When the head coil 30 is used to carry out an examination, the studs 34 are inserted along the arrow direction into the corresponding holes 24, so that the head coil 30 can be fixed onto the patient bed 20.
It can be seen that in such a currently available magnetic resonance imaging system, in order to fix different coils at different positions on the patient bed, it is necessary to arrange correspondingly specific structures, such as tabs and slots, studs and holes, etc., on the various coils and on the patient bed, so as to carry out the positioning or fixing therebetween.
Since specific structures have to be designed on a patient bed, such as forming slots, holes, etc., the strength of the bed base may be affected. In addition, the structures such as slots, holes, etc. tend to be soiled and collect dirt easily, therefore it is necessary for them to be cleaned regularly to prevent disease transmission.
In order to use a coil for scanning at a variety of positions, it is necessary to make a series of slots or holes on the patient bed, and this further reduces the structural strength of the patient bed. Furthermore, such a coil can only be located on the positions where the slots and holes are formed, and this leads to inconvenient placement operations, and also restricts the flexibility in using the coil.

Magnetic resonance coil fixed in place by air pressure


Techniques for enabling secure cross-process memory sharing are provided. In one set of embodiments, a first user process executing on a computer system can create a memory handle representing a memory space of the first user process. The first user process can further define one or more access restrictions with respect to the memory handle. The first user process can then transmit the memory handle to a second user process executing on the computer system, the memory handle enabling the second user process to access at least a portion of the first process' memory space, subject to the one or more access restrictions.

In certain computing scenarios where multiple user processes access a shared storage volume, it may be desirable to implement an "arbitrator" user process that receives input/output (I/O) requests issued by the other user processes and executes the requests against the shared storage volume on behalf of those processes. For example, consider a scenario where the shared storage volume functions as a cache for data that is read and written by the user processes. In this case, the arbitrator process can track and prioritize the I/O requests received from the various user processes in order to, e.g., create/update cache mappings, implement cache eviction policies, and so on.
In a conventional I/O workflow involving a user process A and an arbitrator process B as described above, process A typically sends an I/O request (e.g., a read request) to process B, which forwards the read request to a kernel I/O stack that interfaces with the target storage volume. Upon execution of the read request at the storage tier, process B receives the read data from the kernel I/O stack and stores the data in a memory buffer that is local to (i.e., is in the memory space of) process B. Finally, process B notifies process A that the read request has been completed, and the read data is copied from the memory buffer in process B to another memory buffer that is local to process A for consumption by process A.
While the foregoing workflow is functional, it is also inefficient because it requires a copy of the read data intended for process A to be held, at least temporarily, in the memory space of process B. It is possible to work around this inefficiency by mapping a portion of process A's memory into process B via conventional memory mapping techniques. However, this can become impractical if process B needs to perform/arbitrate I/O on behalf of a large number of other processes. For example, process B may run out of memory address space before it is able to map shared memory segments for all such processes.


A new Lantana plant named ‘LANZ0042’ having medium size white mature flowers, excellent flower production, vigorous plant growth and uniform dense rounded to semi-upright habit with medium sized dark green semi-glossy foliage and having very low seed set.

The present invention comprises a new Lantana, botanically known as Lantana camara L., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'LANZ0042'.
'LANZ0042' is the product of a planned breeding program in Gilroy, Calif. The new cultivar 'LANZ0042' has medium size white mature flowers, excellent flower production, vigorous plant growth and uniform dense rounded habit with medium sized dark green semi-glossy foliage.
The new Lantana cultivar, 'LANZ0042', is the result of an open hybridization made in an outdoor field in Gilroy, Calif. in summer of 2016. The female parent of the new cultivar is 'Havana Full Moon', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,445, characterized by its white inflorescences, medium green foliage, moderate seed set, and moderately spreading growth habit. 'LANZ0042' differs from 'Havana Full Moon' in having a rounded to semi-upright growth habit, dark green foliage, and very low seed set. The male parent of the new cultivar is not known.
The seed was sown in August 2017 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gilroy, Calif., and 'LANZ0042' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in November 2017.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'LANZ0042' was accomplished when vegetative stem cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in February 2018, in Gilroy, Calif.


A unitary self-leveling paint can holder for providing self-leveling of a paint can in two dimensions. An elliptical frame member is provided having a major and minor axis. The frame has a cylindrical handle extending therefrom along the major axis, and a pair of diametrically opposed notches along the minor axis for receiving and pivotably supporting a paint can about the paint can handle bosses. Alternatively, a semi-elliptical frame member can be implemented. The elliptical frame design facilitates rotation of the received paint can along the major axis and about the minor axis up to 30.degree. from vertical. The apparatus is comprised entirely of aluminum and thus matches standard aluminum hollow rung ladders and is not subject to rusting. Further, the apparatus is not subject to degradation such as from paint drippings since there are no moving parts. In lieu of the cylindrical handle which is adapted to be inserted into a hollow ladder rung, a bracket is provided to pivotably attach the paint can supporting member to solid rung ladders or to hollow rung ladders having inaccessible rung hollows.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to paint can holders adaptable to ladders, and more particularly to self-leveling paint can holders.
II. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of paint can holders are commercially available which are adapted to be used with ladders. These paint can holders eliminate the need for the painter to hold the paint can while painting. Further, these paint can holders are adapted to hold the paint cans level while painting, walking the ladder between painting locations, or elevating the ladder.
Typically, a hollow-rung aluminum ladder is used for painting wherein the rung hollows or openings are accessible from each side of the ladder frame. These openings disposed through the hollow-rungs are ideal for receiving paint can supports. One such paint can support adapted to such a ladder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,446 to Brown which teaches a ladder caddy having a holding-arm with rubber sleeves which can be inserted into one of the selected hollow-rungs. This device is adapted to receive a standard cylindrical paint can and provide self-leveling of the paint can in only one direction, namely, transverse to the ladder rungs to compensate for the incline of the ladder. It fails to include leveling if the ladder is supported on an unlevel footing, or while adjusting or walking the ladder.
Another paint can holder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,226 to LaFontaine. This device also includes an elongated segment which can be disposed axially into a ladder rung hollow. A paint can holding frame is adapted to be secured to the inside rim of a cylindrical paint can to provide support. Again, this device is adapted to provide leveling only in a single direction transverse to the ladder rungs, and fails to provide automatic leveling in a second and axial direction along the adjacent ladder rung.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,993 to Hopkins teaches a paint can support and brush receptacle which is freely pivotal about a clamp for maintaining a level can and brush regardless of ladder inclination. However, leveling is only provided for in one direction. Thus, if the ladder is tilted slightly due to an uneven footing, or while moving the ladder, leveling is not provided.
Another paint caddy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,127 which has a paint can receptacle formed of a cylindrical member which can be mounted to either side rail of the ladder frame. This device also maintains the rim of the paint can in a horizontal position regardless of the incline of the ladder. However, this device fails to provide leveling of the paint can in a second direction if tilted sideways due to an uneven footing or while adjusting the ladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,550 to Storey teaches a paint bucket holder for a ladder having a holder which can be rotated to a predetermined and fixed angle relative to a clamp. Thus, the angle of tilt of the paint bucket can be changed in one direction. However, adjustment in a second direction is not provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,045 teaches a ladder caddy apparatus which also provides self-leveling in only one direction. A suspension web includes a keyhole slot for facilitating a pivotal mounting relative to the clamp member. U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,317 also teaches a paint can holder providing leveling in a single direction transverse to the ladder rungs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,060 to Korda teaches a paint can holder for hollow-rung ladders. The paint can holder has a supporting cradle and bottom plate for supporting a paint can in a fixed vertical position. The holder has a pivot for providing leveling in only one direction. The pair of diametrically opposed cradles in combination with the bottom plate are provided to prevent sideways movement of the paint can within the cradle. Accordingly, leveling is provided only in a single direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,051,428 teaches a self-leveling holding device including a pair of pivoting rings to provide self-leveling vertically and horizontally. An inner ring is pivotably coupled to and disposed within an outer ring, which outer ring is pivotably connected to a frame including a clamping portion. While this device is adapted to provide leveling in two dimensions unlike most of the prior art, the arrangement of the rings is rather intricate and paint drippings can bind and inhibit free rotation of each of the multiple pivot points.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,420,486 to Baker teaches a ladder bracket for providing leveling in two directions, but fails to include any mechanism for restricting shifting and slipping of the paint can within the ring.

Self-leveling paint can holder for ladders


An intelligent shopping cart, an intelligent shopping system and an implementation method thereof. The intelligent shopping cart includes a cart body; and the cart body includes a storage unit and a handle, and further includes an intelligent terminal device configured on the handle. The intelligent terminal device is provided with a touchscreen computer having a display function and/or an operation function. The cart body is provided with an RFID tag for storing number information of the intelligent shopping cart. The cart body is further provided with a device in a communication connection to the touchscreen computer, and the device at least includes one or a combination of a weight sensor, a monitoring device, a code-scanning device, a positioning device, and a voice broadcasting device.

At present, there are tens of thousands of types of commodities in various large supermarkets in China. With the expansion of the scale of supermarkets and the diversification of shopping choices of consumers, problems such as unable to quickly find the exact goods to buy in the supermarket, insufficient understanding of the commodity information of commodities in similar category but different brands, unclear of the quantities and detailed prices of the commodities purchased in the intelligent shopping car, waiting in a long queue at the side of checkout counter for settlement during the peak period of shopping, etc. will be encountered. The existing intelligent shopping cart reads nearby commodities via RFID (radio frequency identification devices), resulting in that dozens or tens of catalogues of commodities on the nearby shelves are displayed on the screen, which fundamentally changes the shopping habits of users, and results in a large number of commodities and a high selection error rate during a selection. Since dozens of commodities are read at a time, the reaction speed is bound to slow down. Moreover, when encountering fresh or other weighing commodities, because the price is uncertain, if an RFID tag is attached to each weighing commodity, the cost will be greatly increased, and such practical problems cannot be solved. The anti-theft problem cannot be solved simply by relying on the pressure measurement and control. There are many commodities with the same weight but different prices in the supermarket. For example, many commodities have the same specification, but the prices of the commodities differ by several RMB or even hundreds of RMB. Relying only on the weight, the error rate is very high, which brings the opportunity for some dishonest users to confuse one commodity with another, thereby bringing losses to the supermarket.

Intelligent shopping cart, intelligent shopping system and implement method therefor


A system comprises a water purification system having an electrolytic cell to receive a flow of waste water. A power source supplies power to the electrolytic cell. The power source at least comprises an H-bridge controller to apply power to the electrolytic cell. A device senses an amount of current being supplied to the H-bridge controller. An analog-to-digital device outputs a digital signal representative of the sensed current. A processor processes the digital signal and outputs a plurality of pulse width modulated control signals for the H-bridge controller. The control signals control the H-bridge controller to apply the power during a first period of time with a current in a first direction to maintain an average for the sensed current, and to apply the power during a second period of time with the current in a second direction to maintain the average.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that an electrical network is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, transmission lines, voltage sources, current sources and switches. An electrical circuit is a special type of network, one that has a closed loop giving a return path for the current.
Typically, an H bridge is an electronic circuit that enables a voltage to be applied across a load in either direction. These circuits are often used in robotics and other applications to allow DC motors to run forwards and backwards. H bridges are available as integrated circuits, or can be built from discrete components.
Typically, an electrolytic cell is an electrochemical cell that undergoes a redox reaction when electrical energy is applied. It is most often used to decompose chemical compounds, in a process called electrolysis.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Apparatus for controlling an electrolytic cell in a water purification system


In order to magnetically shield the transmission line which connects the external connector mounted on the outer housing with the internal circuit and also to make it possible to freely mount the external connector without being limited by the position of the internal circuit, an outer housing 60 consists of an outer housing main body 61 and a shielding layer 62 applied to the inner-periphery surface of the outer housing 60. An transmission line 73 extends from the internal circuit through the outer-periphery side of the shielding layer 62 of the outer housing 60 along the shielding layer 62 to the desired position, where the external connector 70 is placed.

The present invention relates to a vehicle-onboard signal processing device, for example, a radar system, automobile navigation system, and the like, which is mounted on a vehicle in order to receive and transmit signals between the vehicle and the outside.
In a radio-wave type radar system that uses radio waves of millimeter wave band, the attenuation of radio beam is small even during the bad weather where rain or fog is present, so that the maximum detection distance required for a vehicle-onboard device can be ensured. For this reason, the radio-wave type radar system has been merchandised as a sensor for measuring the distance between the own car and a car ahead or measuring the relative velocity. Such a vehicle-onboard radar system is to be equipped with various magnetic shields to prevent electromagnetic noise from leaking to the outside and also from entering from the outside.
For example, in a device disclosed in Japanese application patent laid-open publication No. Hei 7-66746, a cylindrical shaft made of conductive material is disposed between the inside surface of an outer housing and an internal circuit, and signal lines and the like are placed inside the cylindrical shaft so as to increase the cut-off frequency in the space between the internal circuit and the inside surface of the outer housing and also to block electromagnetic noise generated from the signal lines, and the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Vehicle-onboard signal processing device and vehicle-onboard radar system


To carry out diagnosis of a current sensor while maintaining high reliability. An inverter control device according to the present invention controls an inverter circuit, calculates an estimated direct current value on the basis of a duty value and an alternating current sensor value output by an alternating current sensor, and performs diagnosis of a direct current sensor on the basis of the estimated direct current value and a direct current sensor value output by the direct current sensor.

A power conversion device is mounted to drive a motor in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. The power conversion device switches a power semiconductor in an inverter circuit to convert a direct current supplied from a battery into an alternating current to drive the motor.
In the power conversion device, a direct current sensor that measures the direct current supplied from the battery to the inverter circuit is mounted in addition to a three-phase alternating current sensor that measures a current flowing in the motor.
In recent years, due to issuance of the functional safety standards for automobiles, necessity of detecting abnormality/failure in the power conversion device has been increased. Therefore, it is necessary to perform diagnostic processing of detecting abnormality/failure for the direct current sensor.
There is PTL 1 as a background art in the present technical field. PTL 1 discloses "when a current command value for a PDU 3 is set as a torque command value of a motor 1, feedback computing units 14a and 14b compare a phase current to be supplied to the motor 1 with the current command value and calculate a voltage command value in such a way that the motor 1 is driven according to the torque command value. A voltage loss corrector of a current sensor failure detector 19 corrects a loss in the PDU 3 with respect to the voltage command value, and calculates a voltage command value after correction actually supplied to the motor 1. Further, since an inverter current estimator of the current sensor failure detector 19 calculates a PDU current estimated to flow to the PDU 3 on the basis of the current command value and the voltage command value after correction, current sensor determination means of the current sensor failure detector 19 compares a battery current detected by a battery current sensor 5 and a PDU current to determine presence or absence of abnormality in the battery current sensor 5″.

Inverter control device and power conversion device


An LED bulb includes a hollow enclosure and a lower cover assembly. The lower cover assembly includes a circuit which permits the connecting pins to be inserted into a two hole socket in either direction. The LEDs are mounted to expose their leads to ambient air to assist in cooling. The hollow enclosure includes reflective surfaces therein and a top reflector which also may include a reflecting surface therein.

In the past several years, there has been an explosion in the use of LEDs in a variety of applications. Initially, LEDs were small and did not provide a significant degree of illumination. Accordingly, LEDs were often used as indicator lights and not as a source of illumination. However, as the technology surrounding the construction and use of LEDs has progressed, LEDs are now being used in many illumination applications where incandescent lamps were previously once used. However, since the amount of light produced by LEDs is still small in comparison to many incandescent lamps, there remains a need in the art to maximize the illumination provided by one or more LEDs and to place the LEDs in a replaceable package similar to an incandescent light for user convenience.


A plasticized cadmium oxide electrode for an electrochemical generator and more specifically for a storage battery is formed by pasting a reticulated open-porosity matrix, a plasticizing agent being associated with cadmium oxide in the paste employed. This electrode has high capacity and offers outstanding stability during cycling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrodes for electrochemical generators and is more specifically concerned with a cadmium oxide electrode for storage batteries.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Very different and numerous routes have already been explored for many years with a view to developing new electrode designs which are conducive to higher performances. In this field, research has primarily been directed to a reduction in weight of collectors, to enhanced retention of active materials and to an increase in their electrochemical efficiency by establishment of better charge collection. The use of porous collectors has thus led to the achievement of substantial progress in comparison with techniques of the prior art, initially by making use of sintered metal structures and then, more recently, by obtaining and employing fibrous or reticulated metallized structures having an open-pore volume which can attain and even exceed 90%.

Cadmium oxide electrode with binding agent

Sorapec, Societe de Recherche et d'Applications Electrochimiques


A vehicle security system for cooperating with a communications network includes a plurality of communication nodes in which a given communication node may transmit an acknowledgment message to an adjacent wireless transceiver upon receipt of a message therefrom. The vehicle security system may include a wireless transceiver and a security controller at the vehicle. The security controller may transmit a message related to vehicle security via the wireless transceiver. The security controller may retransmit the message related to vehicle security if the wireless transceiver does not receive an acknowledgment message from an adjacent communication node. The security controller may not retransmit the message related to vehicle security if the wireless transceiver does receive an acknowledgment message from the adjacent communication node.

Several conventional vehicle security systems include a security controller connected to a wireless transceiver that communicates with a communications network to send an alert message to a monitoring station in response to a security breach. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,737,989 and 6,844,827 to Flick disclose a communication network in communication with a vehicle security system, which includes a controller connected to a position-determining device and a wireless transceiver. If the controller determines a security breach has occurred, it then sends an alert message via the wireless transceiver to a monitoring station or to a user via the communications network. The alert message may be generated by the controller based on the vehicle moving beyond a radial threshold distance from a user selected reference location, for example.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,297,768; 6,476,763; 6,484,035; and 6,710,738 to Allen, Jr. disclose a vehicle security system wirelessly connected to a communications network. The vehicle security system includes a controller connected to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a vehicle switch, and a wireless transceiver. The controller is asleep until the wireless transceiver or the vehicle switch sends a wake-up signal to the controller. The controller then reports the location of the vehicle based upon the GPS receiver via the wireless transceiver to a monitoring station connected to the communications network.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,847,825 and 6,876,858 to Duvall et al. disclose a vehicle security system including a vehicle tracking unit cooperating with a monitoring station via a communications network to locate a vehicle. The vehicle tracking unit includes a controller cooperating with a GPS receiver and a wireless transceiver. After a user calls the monitoring station, the monitoring station queries the vehicle security system via the communications network, which activates the GPS receiver. The activated GPS receiver determines the vehicle location and forwards this data to the monitoring station via the wireless transceiver using the communications network.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,497 to Robert discloses a mobile tracking system for a vehicle including a security controller connected to a wireless transmitter for sending an alert message to a communications network that an initiation state for tracking the vehicle has occurred. The system includes a plurality of mobile stations in communication with the wireless transmitter, and each mobile station includes a position-determining device. The system locates and tracks the vehicle based on signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter using a triangulation algorithm and data generated by each position-determining device.
Other references disclose the combination of a cellular communications device communicating with a cellular mobile radiotelephone system to send an acknowledgment message to confirm receipt of a paging message. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,526,401 and 5,546,444 to Roach, Jr. et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,144 and 6,125,275 to Comer et al. disclose a cellular mobile radiotelephone system including a paging acknowledgment system that can confirm reception of a transmitted paging message. The paging acknowledgment system includes a communications system, remote communications devices, and a mobile switching center. The remote communications device responds to a message containing its particular address by transmitting an acknowledgment message to the mobile switching center, which forwards the acknowledgment message to the communications system.
Unfortunately, such conventional vehicle security systems may result in redundant or unnecessary communication between the vehicle security system and the communications network. Such unnecessary communications may result in greater operational cost of the vehicle security system as well as inconvenience for the user.

Vehicle security system receiving acknowledgment of transmitted vehicle security message and related methods


An optical beam scanning apparatus of the present invention includes a body housing; a light source that emits one or more light fluxes; a pre-deflection optical system; an optical beam deflecting device; a sensor that detects a portion of the light flux deflected by the optical beam deflecting device; a holder base fixed to the body housing by a screw; a rotating holder attached to the holder base and provided with a shaft; a sensor substrate fixed to the rotating holder by a screw, the sensor being fixed to the sensor substrate; a rotation adjusting mechanism that rotationally adjusts the rotating holder around the shaft with respect to the holder base; and a fixing mechanism that fixes the rotating holder to the holder base. With this configuration, it is possible to properly adjust deviation of a recording position while making precise rotational adjustment of a horizontal synchronization sensor.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical beam scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optical beam scanning apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical beam scanning apparatus which is capable of adjusting deviation of a recording position using a horizontal synchronization sensor, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optical beam scanning apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses employing an electrophotographic method, such as a laser printer, a digital copying machine, a laser facsimile machine and so on, each have an optical beam scanning apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive drum by irradiating and scanning a surface of the photoconductive drum with a laser beam (light beam).
In recent years, a tandem color apparatus has been proposed in addition to a monochrome apparatus equipped with a scanning optical system using a single light source, and in addition, a method for use in the tandem color apparatus has been proposed, which increases the number of laser beams to be scanned one time using a plurality of light sources (laser diodes) arranged in a single laser unit for the purpose of increasing the scan speed on a surface of a photoconductive drum (multi-beam method). In the multi-beam method, a plurality of beams for each of color components (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan and black) emitted from each light source are processed to be combined into a single integrated beam in an optical system before deflection, and then the single integrated beam is incident on a polygon mirror. The polygon mirror deflects the incident beam which in turn passes through an fθ lens constituting an optical system after deflection to be separated into beams for respective color components to be irradiated on respective photoconductive drums corresponding to the respective color components.
For an optical system using a light source (LD array) having a plurality of emission points (optical system using a multi-beam method), if a beam-to-beam pitch in a sub-scanning direction on an imaging plane (plane in which a laser beam (light flux) is actually imaged) is set to be a desired value (for example, about 42 μm for 600 dpi and about 21 μm for 1200 dpi), since the emission points have a required distance (deviation) therebetween in a main scanning direction without being arranged in a row in the sub-scanning direction in view of magnification of the optical system, there is a need to adjust a recording position. In the multi-beam method using the light source having the plurality of emission points, as recording timings on image planes of photoconductive drums are deviated from each other, positional deviation of the laser beams scanned on the photoconductive drums occurs in the main scanning direction, which may result in deterioration of image quality due to the positional deviation of the laser beams.
In the prior art, for example, in a scanning optical system using a multi-beam method, a portion of light flux reflected on a deflection surface of a polygon mirror is detected by a horizontal synchronization sensor and is used as a horizontal synchronization adjusting signal in order to align a recording position of lead-off laser beam and respective recording positions corresponding to respective laser beams located with required distance in the main scanning direction from thus recording position (that is, in order to take a horizontal synchronization). This horizontal synchronization sensor is used to correct the recording position at regular intervals.
However, the precondition for precise alignment of the recording position of the scanning optical system is that an edge line direction of a light receiving surface of the horizontal synchronization sensor is substantially perpendicular to a main scanning direction in which light fluxes are scanned. If this precondition is not satisfied, it is difficult to properly correct deviation of the light fluxes in the main scanning direction, which occurs on an imaging plane.
To overcome such a problem, JP-A-2002-341272 discloses a technique for preventing deviation of a recording position of a multi-beam laser. In the technique disclosed in JP-A-2002-341272, an integrated unit including BD slits and BD sensors (BD detecting unit) is arranged around an optical axis of a scanning lens in a rotationally adjustable manner.
The following techniques have been known as techniques related to the technique for preventing deviation of the recording position of the multi-beam laser.
According to a technique disclosed in JP-A-2006-215483, by moving position in an optical axial direction of reference light flux detecting means (synchronization detecting sensors), which is arranged at an optical scanning start side and an optical scanning end side, toward a predetermined direction, it is possible to reduce positional deviation in a main scanning direction between two laser beams (deviation between the optical scanning start side and the optical scanning end side), which occurs when a light flux incident on an optical deflector (or a scanning optical system) is a "convergent light flux", thereby preventing image quality from being deteriorated.
According to a technique disclosed in JP-A-2002-107645, delay time from detection of a synchronization detecting signal to write initiation may be adjusted either in an electrical manner or in a mechanical manner such as adjusting an angle of a mirror to direct a light flux to a light receiving means.
According to a technique disclosed in JP-A-2000-255096, by adjusting an attachment position of a BD unit in advance such that scan light for obtaining a reference signal of image write is incident on the center of an effective detection portion of a BD unit, it is possible to improve compatibility of a scanner unit.
According to a technique disclosed in JP-A-2002-341271, a BD sensor and a BD slit plate for passing a laser beam to the BD sensor are accommodated in an optical box, and a BD slit provided in the BD slit plate is formed with a slit shape inclined at a predetermined angle θ (0°<θ<90°) with respect to a scan direction of a scan lens, thereby achieving simplification of BD recording timing adjustment.
According to a technique disclosed in JP-A-2002-357778, an optical beam scanning apparatus in which an optical box attached with a light source part, a deflector, an optical part, a horizontal synchronization detecting means and a reflecting member is attached to an optical bench by means of a plurality of couplers has a support member provided in a shakable manner with respect to the optical box for supporting and fixing the reflecting member on the optical box by adjusting its position relative to the optical box.
According to a technique disclosed in JP-A-2004-333556, for a small-sized scanning optical apparatus to direct a light flux to a BD sensor via a BD lens without passing through a scan lens, recording adjustment of scan lines may be made by moving the BD lens in a main scanning direction.
However, in the technique disclosed in JP-A-2002-341272, since there exists no reference required for rotational adjustment of the horizontal synchronization sensor, there is a need to make the rotational adjustment while seeing deviation of beam spots of light fluxes being actually scanned. However, since a group of beam spots has no vertical reference to emission points, there is a problem of difficulty in producing verticality of the horizontal synchronization sensor on the basis of a group of actual beam spots. In addition, there is a problem of difficulty in determining positions of the horizontal synchronization sensor and the slits.

Optical beam scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus


A portable fire ring comprises a plurality of curved sections which are secured together in an end-to-end relationship to form a semi-circle. A grill extension is then assembled and connected to the ends of the semi-circle. A pivotal grill extends over the grill extension to permit the fire chamber of the grill section to be opened to enable coals to be placed in the fire chamber. Disassembled, the fire ring may be lifted and moved to the desired position or moved to a new location. The portable fire ring is easily assembled and disassembled and may be carried in a bag or the like when disassembled.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fire ring and more particularly to a portable fire ring for surrounding a campfire.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, a circle of rocks has been used to surround a campfire. The circle of rocks provides protection for the fire from the effects of the wind, and also serves to furnish support for cooking utensils. The fire rings constructed of rocks afford slight protection from the wind, are slow to set up, and difficult to cook over. Gathering scattered rocks may disturb the natural landscape around the campsite. This undesirable aspect, coupled with the fact that finding and lugging rocks back to the campsite is hard work, makes for an inefficient means of campfire protection. Further, rocks rocks normally cannot be found in uniform sizes to provide even, level support for pots and pans, creating problems in the cooking process. Though uncommon, there may be dangers involved with using rocks. A porous, waterlogged rock may explode as it heats up, thereby possibly causing bodily injury.
Permanent metal fire rings are becoming more widely used, both for convenience and safety. Some are simple rings, some have attached cooking grills that either flip over for grilling, or swing to the side. Because the permanent metal fire rings are designed to be permanent, they obviously are not practical to carry from campsite to campsite. Further, permanent metal rings generally have poor cooking surfaces which lower their utility for food preparation.


A system is provided for collecting surveillance data from one or more sensor units and incorporating the surveillance data into a surveillance database. The system is configured to retrieve surveillance data from the surveillance database and perform predetermined analytical functions on the data. The system is also configured to present surveillance data and the results of data analysis in one or more predetermined formats.

Systems designed to monitor predetermined areas, places or objects are known. These systems often incorporate video cameras that provide a continuous feed of video data that is either displayed in real time on a display device and/or recorded to a recording device, such as a video tape recorder. While these systems provide for capture and recordation of video data depicting the conditions and/or occurrences within the monitored area, they do not provide a means of easily determining when and where an occurrence or condition has taken place. Nor do they provide for any means of analyzing the information depicted by the video data.
Further, as video data requires substantial recording media space for storage, it is common for video data to be recorded and archived for only a very limited period of time. Thus, once the period of archiving has expired, the video data is either recorded over or otherwise erased from the recording media. Further, known systems do not provide for any type of analysis of video data that would allow for a determination of, for example, how long an intruder has been in a monitored area; whether the intruder is alone; how the intruder got into the monitored area; where the intruder has previously been; what the intentions of the intruder might be or, where the intruder may be going to next.


A non-abusable, non-inflammatory, biocompatible, non-biodegradable, subcutaneous, polymeric implant for the prolonged, controlled release of hydromorphone with near zero-order kinetics is described. Methods of alleviating cancer pain and treating opioid drug addiction with the implant are also described.

Approximately 70% of patients with cancer experience pain attributable to their neoplasm or its therapy. As life expectancy has increased in developed and developing countries, cancer and cancer-related pain have become major social and medical concerns. The worldwide availability of opioid analgesics, the primary therapy for most cancer-related pain, varies greatly. In 1991, 20 developed countries accounted for 86% of the morphine consumed in the world while the remaining 14% of morphine was consumed in the remaining countries having the majority of the world's population. (Joranson, D. E., Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 8(6):353-360, 1993).
The scant use of opiates for the relief of cancer pain for the majority of the world's population is a result of many factors including concerns over drug diversion for illicit use and addiction. Further, many patients with cancer-related pain require long-term continuous dosing of opioid analgesics which often necessitates the ingestion of multiple pills or tablets many times a day. Compliance with this dosing scheme is often poor. Further, enteral drug delivery is poorly tolerated or prohibited in many patients with cancer-related pain in whom continuous drug delivery is a necessity. However, continuous parenteral delivery of opioid analgesics is expensive, cumbersome, and dependent upon the availability of refrigeration, catheters, pumps and trained personnel.
Drug addiction is a major societal problem throughout the world. In the United States alone, on any given day, there are several hundred thousand addicts who are enrolled in treatment clinics. Most of them are placed on "methadone maintenance" as a basic part of their therapy. Major behavioral and compliance problems commonly complicate treatment.
The cost of "methadone maintenance" therapy is several hundred dollars per month per patient. A significant portion of this cost relates to the frequent clinic visits and the monitoring of urine tests that are run to assure proper compliance with drug dosing, as well as the pharmacy charges relating to methadone dispensing.
Delivery systems and devices for controlled release of drugs; i.e., controlled release and sustained or prolonged release, are well known in the art. A variety of methods have been described in the literature, including the physiological modification of absorption or excretion, modification of the solvent, chemical modification of the drug, absorption of drug on an insoluble carrier, use of suspensions and implantation pellets. Other methods include mixing the drug with a carrier such as waxes, oils, fats, and soluble polymers which are gradually disintegrated by the environment resulting in release of the drug. Much attention has been directed to the reservoir type of device, i.e., a device in which a drug is encased within a polymeric container, with or without a solvent or carrier, which allows passage of drug from the reservoir.
Another type of drug delivery device is the monolithic type in which a drug is dispersed in a polymer and from which the drug is released by degradation of the polymer and/or by passage of the drug through the polymer. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer is a well known representative of an imperforate polymer (Rhine, W D, et al, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 69:265-270, 1980; Sefton, M. V., et al, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 73:1859-1861, 1984; Cohen, J., et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 73:1034-7, 1973). The release kinetics of a drug from a polymeric delivery system are a function of the agent's molecular weight, lipid solubility, and charge as well as the characteristics of the polymer, the percent drug loading, and the characteristics of any matrix coating. The importance of these factors coupled with the specific pharmacology, toxicology, and therapeutic goals necessitate that the design of a polymeric implant for a specific agent must be carefully constructed.
Ku et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 74, p.926 (1985) describe a multiple-hole approach to obtain zero order release.
The sustained parenteral delivery of opioid antagonists and agonists has been an area of considerable interest because first, it may afford a new approach to the treatment of opioid drug abuse and second, the undertreatment of pain is widely recognized throughout the world.
A. Narcotic Antagonist: Naltrexone
Over the past two decades, a variety of approaches have been attempted using polymers containing narcotic antagonists in an effort to prevent drug abuse. The release characteristics of these antagonists are less critical than those of the pure agonists as evidenced by the first-order kinetics noted in the literature.
1. Glycerine implants PA1 2. Cholesterol-glyceryltriesterate demonstrated first order kinetics in rats PA1 3. Glutamic acid and leucine--biodegradable PA1 4. Polylactic/glycolic acid (PLGA) beads PA1 1. Cholesterol-glyceryltriesterate demonstrated first order kinetics in rats. PA1 1. Polymeric silicone elastomer PA1 2. Silicone with sodium alginate (swells on contact with water to release drug) PA1 3. Pellets PA1 4. Polyanhydride formulation PA1 1. Prednisolone (Miyazaki, S., et al, Chem. Pharm. Bull (Tokyo), 29:2714-7, 1981 PA1 2. 5FU (Wyszynski, R. E., et al, J. Ocul. Pharmacol., 5:141-6, 1989) PA1 3. Adriamycin (Lin, S. Y., et al, Biomat Art Cells Art Org., 17:189-203, 1989. PA1 4. Insulin (Brown, L., et al, Diabetes, 35:692-7, 1986; Brown, L., et al, Diabetes, 35:684-91, 1986)--EVA coated and with hole in one face of the polymer giving near constant release rates. PA1 5. Nerve Growth Factor (Hofman, D., et al, Bxp Neurol, 110:39-44, 1990) PA1 6. Immunoglobulin (Radomsky, M. L., et al, Biomaterials, 11:619-24, 1990) PA1 7. Albumin (Niemi, S. M., et al, Lab Anim. Sci., 35:609-12, 1985) PA1 8. Dopamine/Levodopa (During, M. J., et al, Ann. Neurol., 25:351-356, 1989; Sabel, B. A., et al, Ann. Neurol., 28:714-717, 1990)
B. Narcotic Mixed Agonist/Antagonist: Buprenorphine
First order kinetic release using an agent which is not preferred for the treatment of chronic pain.
C. Narcotic Agonist: Morphine
Morphine is an excellent agent for the treatment of pain but is seven times less potent than hydromorphone and thus, is much less suitable for long-term subcutaneous implant. Many of these implants have demonstrated first-order kinetic release which would threaten the lives of patients receiving implants containing lethal amounts of opioids.
D. EVA Implants
EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) polymers have been used to deliver many classes of drugs: Hormones (i.e., prednisolone, insulin), antineoplastic agents (i.e., 5FU, adriamycin), proteins (i.e., albumin, immunogloblins), neurotransmitters (i.e., dopamine), and antibiotics. A burst of these agents is inconsequential compared to a burst of potent opioids.
Mechanisms for making EVA polymers and tests of their biocompatibility and non-inflammatory nature have been described in the literature. Brown, L. R., et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 72:1181-5, 1983; Langer, R., et al, J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 15:267-77, 1981; and Niemi, S. M., et al, Lab. Anim. Sci., 35:609-12, 1985, all describe the non-inflammatory nature of the polymer and techniques for polymer manufacture.
Critical factors involved in changing the release characteristics of drugs from EVA polymer have been described (Brook, I. M., et al, Br. Den. J., 157:11-15, 1984).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,002, hereby incorporated by reference, describes a cube with 5 sides coated with impermeable layer and a cylinder with all but one flat side coated. A hemisphere with impermeable coating (paraffin) except for exposed cavity in the center face provides zero order kinetics for albumin release (Hsieh, D. S., et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 72:17-22, 1982). EVA with impermeable coating of polymer with hole in the center of one face provides zero order kinetics for insulin release. Drug particle size, drug loading, and matrix coating all significantly affect release kinetics (Rhine, W. D., et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 69:265-70, 1980).
Grossman et al (Proceedings ASCO, Vol. 19, p337 (1991)) describe a delivery system where hydromorphone was embedded into a controlled release matrix made of poly-ethylene-vinyl acetate!.

Subcutaneous implant for delivery of hydromorphone