A potential generating circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. Potential at a substrate of the first transistor varies with a first parameter. The first parameter is any one of a supply voltage, an operating temperature, as well as a manufacturing process of the potential generating circuit. Potential at a substrate of the second transistor varies with the first parameter. A gate of the first transistor is connected to a drain of the first transistor. The substrate of the first transistor serves as a first output of the potential generating circuit. A gate of the second transistor is connected to a drain of the second transistor. The substrate of the second transistor serves as a second output of the potential generating circuit.

At present, a delay circuit is commonly used in a semiconductor element. A delay circuit is a circuit capable of delaying a pulse signal by a certain period of time. When a delay circuit is used in a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a delay provided by the delay circuit often has to be controlled precisely. The change in the delay by a delay circuit has to be small when there is a change in a parameter such as a supply voltage, an operating temperature, a manufacturing process, etc.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an input signal and an output signal passing through a delay circuit. After the input signal has passed through the delay circuit, a delay signal is output. As shown in FIG. 1, the output signal is the input signal delayed by a period of time T. FIG. 1 shows a case in which both a rising edge and a falling edge of the input signal are delayed by T. In another case, only the rising edge of the input signal is delayed by T, or only the falling edge of the input signal is delayed by T.
In an existing delay circuit, the delay T may change greatly (to become larger or smaller) with the change in the supply voltage, the operating temperature, as well as the manufacturing process, impacting precision of the delay. There is a pressing need for a solution for reducing impact of the change in such a parameter on the delay T by a delay circuit so as to reduce the change in the delay T.

Potential generating circuit, inverter, delay circuit, and logic gate circuit


A dyeing base body to be used in a dyeing step of dyeing a resin body by heating a sublimable dye attached to the dyeing base body by electromagnetic waves to sublime the dye toward the resin body. The dyeing base body includes a metal base made in sheet form and an electromagnetic wave absorption layer formed on at least an opposite side to the side to which the dye will be attached. The electromagnetic wave absorption layer has a higher electromagnetic wave absorption rate than the base.

This disclosure relates to a dyeing base body to be used in a vapor deposition transfer dyeing process, a method for producing a dyed resin body using the dyeing base body, and a method for producing the dyeing base body.
Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for dyeing a resin body (e.g., a plastic lens). For instance, in a vapor deposition transfer dyeing method disclosed in Patent document 1, a sublimable dye attached or adhered to a dyeing base body is heated and then the heated sublimable dye is deposited on a resin body. Patent Document 2 teaches the use of inorganic material (e.g., glass), organic material (e.g., paper), and metal material (e.g., aluminum) as the material of a dyeing base body.

Dyeing base body, method for producing dyed resin body, and method for producing dyeing base body


A method of obtaining an excellent recycled pulp from waste pressure-sensitive adhesive paper which has previously been discarded. This method being characterized in that the waste paper is defiberized, then a defiberized suspension thereof is diluted, the diluted suspension is coarse screened by a screen having a slit width of below 0.5 mm, the pulp suspension after coarse screening is dewatered so as to have a solid matter consistency of 15 to 40% by weight, the dewatered stuff is mechanically agitated, the difference between the temperature of the stuff before the agitation and the temperature thereof after the agitation being below 12.degree. C., the obtained stuff is being diluted again, the diluted suspension is fine screened by a screen having a slit width of below 0.2 mm, the obtained accept is mixed with a surface active agent and subjected to flotation separation, the accept is cleaned by a cleaner for heavy foreign matters and/or a cleaner for light foreign matters, and then the accept being washed.

In Japan at present, the amount of waste paper, including broke for regeneration, used as a material for producing paper and paper board exceeds 50% of the total production materials and already occupies the position of a main material.
Waste papers which can be pulped again include newspaper corrugated containers, magazines, printed woodfree, color printed wood free paper (including art paper), white shavings, cards, high grade white wood containing shavings, white wood containing shavings, white manila, tickets, high grade wood containing waste, brown printed woodfree, chipboard cuttings, carton box waste, thermosensitive paper, pressure-sensitive duplicating paper and CPO (computer printout).
These waste papers are generally pulped again through a defiberizing process in which the waste Papers are defiberized and a pulp suspension is obtained, a coarse screening process in which foreign matters are separated from the pulp suspension, a fine screening process, a deinking process in which printing ink is removed, a bleaching process for whitening, etc. However, waxed paper, pressure-sensitive adhesive paper, paper coated with a hot-melt agent, etc. are discarded or burned at present as "taboos", or waste papers which can never be pulped again, because it is impossible to remove wax, pressure-sensitive adhesive, hot-melt agent, etc. from the pulp fibers.
According to the quality standard of waste papers established by the industry, it is basically improper to mix paper stuff with said waxed paper, pressure-sensitive adhesive paper or paper coated with a hot-melt agent, and they may be mixed only in an unavoidable case in an amount less than 0.3%.
The reason therefor is explained in case of the Pressure-sensitive adhesive paper as follows: The pressure-sensitive adhesive paper contains a pressure-sensitive adhesive as much as 5 to 50%, and it is impossible to remove said pressure-sensitive adhesive from pulp fibers because the adhesive has a large adhesive strength. If a recycled pulp containing the pressure-sensitive adhesive is made into paper, the pressure-sensitive adhesive may clog wires and contaminate a press roll or a felt in a paper-making process, causing problems such as a breakdown and the reduction of paper-making efficiency. Furthermore, there is a fatal problem that the pressure-sensitive adhesive exerts a bad influence upon the forming of a paper layer or the paper quality. For example, the pressure-sensitive adhesive forms spots on the paper surface. Under these circumstances, a method of pulping waste pressure-sensitive adhesive paper has not been tried yet and there has been no literature disclosing said pulping method.
The present invention provides a novel method of obtaining a recycled pulp from waste pressure-sensitive adhesive paper. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a pulping method for effectively separating foreign matters such as pressure-sensitive adhesive, silicone and plastic films and obtaining a recycled pulp having a high brightness even when colored waste paper is included, said recycled pulp being free from operation troubles in the paper-making process and wild formation.

Method of pulping waste pressure-sensitive adhesive paper


In an engine speed controlling method in a PI isochronous control mode, the initial value of an integral term for PI control is determined when the difference between a given target engine speed and an actual engine speed becomes more than a prescribed level, and the value of the integral term is change to the value of a no-load rack position at which the target engine speed is maintained in no engine load condition, when the actual engine speed becomes equal to the target engine speed, whereby large overshoot and undershoot can be effectively suppressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling rotational speed of an internal combustion engine in an isochronous control mode using a proportional and integral (PI) control.
2. Prior Art
For example, in a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine equipped with an electronically controlled automatic transmission system in which the operations of a gear-type transmission and a clutch are controlled by means of a microcomputer, for shifting the gear-type transmission into a desired gear position it is necessary to synchronize rotational speeds between two gears to be meshed in the transmission (Japanese Patent Application Public Disclosure No. Sho 60-179365). To establish such a synchronization between the gears, an isochronous control is usually employed, and a fuel quantity to be supplied to an internal combustion engine is controlled by the use of PI control in order to make an actual rotational speed of a gear coincident with a desired target rotational speed thereof.
However, when the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine is controlled in PI control mode, it tends to degrade the response characteristics of the control for the variation of the target rotational speed. In this case, the improvement in the response characteristics will impair control stability. Furthermore, an overshoot or undershoot condition in engine rotational speed may be caused when the target rotational speed varies greatly for a short time. Therefore, it is generally said that PI control is unsuitable where the target rotational speed differs greatly from the actual rotational speed and it is required to make the actual rotational speed equal to the target rotational speed for a short time, for example in the above example of the synchronization control of the gear rotational speed for the gear-shifting operation of the above-mentioned transmission system.

Method for controlling rotational speed of an internal combustion engine


A water-in-oil emulsion is a product form having many practical advantages. A vinylamine-based macromolecule having specific effects as papermaking chemicals and a flocculant is provided in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion having good storage stability and high performance as a flocculation treatment agent. Disclosed is a flocculation treatment agent including a water-in-oil emulsion of a water-soluble macromolecule that is produced by subjecting a water-in-oil emulsion of an aqueous poly-N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide solution coexisting with a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether to hydrolysis in the presence of an acid or a base. Preferably, the polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether is added before the hydrolysis reaction.

At present, quaternized dialkylaminoalkylene (meth)acrylates are used as papermaking additives such as most of retention aids, drainage aids for paper boards, paper strengthening agents, and coagulants for pretreatment of papermaking stock. The reason that the above materials are most widely used may be that their cost is reasonable and they are easy to produce. However, it is known that a polyvinylamine exhibits excellent effects as a pitch controlling agent used to prevent a pitch trouble caused by an adhesive pitch. A polyvinylamine is effective also as a drainage aid for paper boards because the improvement in dewaterability during press dewatering is higher than that when the above-described acrylic-based macromolecules are used. When a polyvinylamine is used as a coagulant for dewatering of sludge, the water content of dewatered cake is reduced specifically in some cases, and it is therefore understood that it is important to use the acrylic-based macromolecules and polyvinylamine for different purposes. It is suggested that the above phenomena be due to the primary or secondary amino groups in the polyvinylamine macromolecules.
A polyvinylamine is a primary amino group-containing vinyl polymer having the simplest structure and methods such as a method in which poly-N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide is hydrolyzed with an acid or a base, a method in which poly-N-vinyl-O-t-butylcarbamate is hydrolyzed, or a method in which the Hofmann reaction of polyacrylamide is performed in the presence of a hypohalous acid and an alkali metal hydroxide are known.
In the method in which a polymer of an N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide monomer is hydrolyzed with an acid or a base, the monomer used as the raw material can be easily synthesized. In addition, a polymer with a high molecular weight can be relatively easily obtained by hydrolysis of a radical polymerization reaction product of N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide, and the method is highly safe. Therefore, this method is useful as an industrial production method.
However, an aqueous solution of a high-molecular weight polyvinylamine has high viscosity and is therefore difficult to handle. In order to utilize a high-concentration polyvinylamine, it is preferable to use the polyvinylamine in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion.
Disclosed is a method of mechanically emulsifying an aqueous solution of the polyvinylamine in the presence of an emulsifier to produce as a water-in-oil emulsion of a polyvinylamine. The viscosity of the aqueous solution of a high-molecular weight polyvinylamine is high. Therefore, in this method, the concentration of the aqueous polyvinylamine solution must be reduced to a level at which emulsification can be achieved. This method is not suitable for the purpose of utilizing a high-concentration polyvinylamine (Patent Literature 1).
One useful method of producing a water-in-oil emulsion of a polyvinylamine is to produce a water-in-oil emulsion of poly-N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide and then to hydrolyze the water-in-oil emulsion with an acid or a base.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a method of producing a water-in-oil emulsion of poly-N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide. However, in this production method, there is no description about a water-in-oil emulsion of a polyvinylamine that is obtained by hydrolysis of the above water-in-oil emulsion.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a method of hydrolyzing a water-in-oil emulsion of a copolymer of N-vinylformamide and acrylonitrile with an acid. In this method, it is necessary to use acrylonitrile as a monomer, and it is also necessary to perform hydrolysis with an acid. An ester bond in an emulsifier used for acid hydrolysis is easily cleaved by the acid. In this method, since a base cannot be used for neutralization, the stability of the emulsion is low.
Patent Literature 4 discloses a method of producing a stable water-in-oil emulsion of a polymer obtained by hydrolysis of N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide with an acid or a base in the presence of a mixture of specific emulsifiers. Also in this production method, an emulsifier having an ester bond is used, and the stability of the emulsion is low since the ester bond is easily cleaved with an acid or a base.
Patent Literature 5 discloses that, when a water-in-oil emulsion of a polymer of N-vinylamide is hydrolyzed by an acid or an alkali, an antioxidant, a reducing agent, or an aldehyde capture agent in an amount of 0.01 to 20% by mass with respect to the polymer is added to the w/o-polymer emulsion before, during, or after hydrolysis, for the purpose of improving the stability of the emulsion after the hydrolysis. In addition, there is a description that the polymerization may be performed in the presence of an emulsifier having an HLB of 9 to 20 and produced by synthesizing a reaction product of a glycidyl ether of a C10 to C22 aliphatic alcohol and a polyhydric alcohol and then reacting a C2 to C4 alkylene oxide with the reaction product.
As described above, there is no conventional method that can produce a stable water-in-oil emulsion of a polyvinylamine that is obtained by hydrolyzing a water-in-oil emulsion of poly-N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide with an acid or a base.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-59747
Patent Literature 2: European Patent Application Laid-Open No. 0231901
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 05-309208
Patent Literature 4: Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. Hei. 10-500714
Patent Literature 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 05-117313


A semiconductor structure is described containing a deflector between a first nanoscale device and a second nanoscale device. The deflector is designed to deflect near-field radiation from emanating from the first nanoscale device to the second nanoscale device. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished using at least one nanoscale element located between the first and second nanoscale device, where the nanoscale element is tuned to the proper plasmon-polariton frequency to deflect the near field radiation.

This invention relates generally to nanodevice assemblies, and more particularly to apparatus having a plurality of nanodevices arranged with nanoscale spacing.
The fabrication of device assemblies such as integrated circuits is continually evolving with a view to reducing dimensions and improving performance. Modern computer chips are typically fabricated using semiconductor "nanodevices", i.e. devices which have at least one dimension on the nanoscale (from a fraction of a nanometer up to hundreds of nanometers).
Nanodevices in integrated circuits generally warm up during operation. Since such devices typically have strongly temperature-dependent behavior, this can be detrimental to performance. Memory cells provide a particular example of such nanodevices. A typical memory chip comprises one or more integrated arrays of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. It is important to ensure that heat generated by individual cells cannot disturb the state of neighboring cells and so cause data errors on readback. This "thermal disturb" issue is particularly problematical where active heating of cells is fundamental to cell operation. In phase-change memory (PCM) for example, a cell can be set to different resistive states, representing different stored information, by heating a volume of chalcogenide material in the cell to different temperatures. The chalcogenide can be set to one or more wholly or partially crystalline states by heating to appropriate temperatures. The chalcogenide can then be reset to an amorphous state by heating to a higher temperature, causing melting of the chalcogenide. For this RESET operation, the active cell volume needs to be heated above a melting temperature of typically about 900 K. The temperature of neighboring cells must, however, remain below the chalcogenide crystallization temperature, typically about 450 K, to avoid thermal disturb. With increasingly higher storage densities, the distance between memory cells will decrease below 20 nm. Tailoring the steep temperature gradients between cells poses one of the main challenges in scaling down PCM technology.
Current measures to counter heating problems in nanodevice assemblies involve either incorporating insulating layers to protect vulnerable devices, or providing conducting channels to convey heat away via thermal conduction. In memory arrays, for instance, layers of thermally insulating material such as Si3N4 have been incorporated between memory cells, dramatically reducing thermal conduction between neighboring cells.


In a copying machine, an original which has been once exposed to be scanned is inverted and transmitted again to an original table glass, and a sheet having one face onto which an image has been fixed is inverted and then transmitted through a transmitting path to an image forming section, whereby the top and back faces of the original are copied to the top and back faces of the sheet, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copying machine having a function of double-face (reflex) copying, multiple-composition copying and parallel-composition copying.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, some kinds of copying machines having multifunctions including double-face copying, etc. are provided with a sheet-feeding equipment for double-face copying which is disposed below an image forming section. The sheet-feeding equipment for double-face copying is so constructed that a copy sheet having one face onto which an image has been fixed is inverted by a face-inverting sheet supply section or not and then temporarily stocked in a sheet stock section, and that the stocked copy sheet is refed by a sheet refeeding section to the image forming section wherein an image is fixed onto the other face thereof or the copied face thereof.
With the recent office automation, the multi-functioning of copying machine has been required such as enlargement, reduction, continuous-page printing, double-face copying and multiple-composition copying. With the increased multifunctioning of copying machine, the kinds of the size of sheets to be handled are thereby increasing the number of cassettes. On the other hand, the effective utilization of office floor space has become an important issue because of the recent increase of land prices, whereby a copying machine has been required to have a small installation space in order to save floor space.
As a copying machine which reduces installation space and is capable of mounting many cassettes to the machine assembly thereof, a front loading-type copying machine has been developed. In the machine, a plurality of cassettes storing sheets has been mounted to the lower side of the machine assembly in a manner to be taken out of the front, whereby the cassettes do not protrude beyond the machine assembly to make small the installation area of the machine assembly.
In the manufacture of copying machines, copying machines not provided with a function of double-face copying are sometimes manufactured in compliance of the user's request. In this case, from the view point of the manufacture economy, copying machines which are originally so designed as to perform double-face copying are manufactured with a sheet-feeding equipment for double-face copying omitted. Such a copying machine has a problem in that the large space for mounting a sheet-feeding equipment for double-face copying is useless.
In a front loading-type copying machine, the incorporation of a sheet-feeding equipment for double-face copying requires a large mounting space to be prepared in the machine body. This causes a problem in that the maximum number of cassettes mountable in the machine body, which is an element of the multifunctioning, is restricted, thereby impeding the multifunctioning of a copying machine.
The image fixing process in the image forming section of a copying machine is performed in such a manner that a toner image obtained after the developing and transferring processes is meltingly pressed onto one face of a copy sheet by hot heat rollers. Therefore, the process of fixing an image onto one face causes a copy sheet to produce deformation such as wrinkle and curl and to change characteristic thereof. In a sheet-feeding equipment for double-face copying having the above-mentioned configuration, therefore, there arises a problem in that a sheet-feeding error is liable to occur during the process of refeeding a sheet from the sheet stock section. In order to avoid such a feeding error from occurring during the refeeding process, it is required to use expensive copy sheets having special quality in which the above-mentioned deformation and the characteristic hardly occur, thereby causing another problem that inexpensive copy sheets such as those of regenerated paper which have been widely used in recent years are restricted in the use for double-face copying, and multiple-composition copying.

Copy machine having plural trays each tray capable of storing two different stacks of sheets


A dual beam spectrometer for conducting both turbidimetric and colormetric measurements includes a housing with a light source. The housing further includes source exit apertures that form light from the light source into a sample light beam and reference light beam. A sample cartridge for containing sample material to be measured is mounted in the housing in the path of the sample light beam. The spectrometer also includes a detector assembly for detecting the sample light beam and the reference light beam. The detector assembly includes a first detector that senses or detects sample light beam and a second detector that senses or detects the reference light beam. A sample light beam detection aperture tube is positioned in the housing between the sample cartridge and the first detector. Similarly, a reference light beam detection aperture tube is positioned between the sample cartridge and the second detector.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a new and improved spectrometer; and more specifically, to a new and improved spectrometer capable of conducting both turbidimetric and colormetric measurements.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Regular transmission optics are most commonly used for colormetric measurements, while diffuse transmission optics are commonly used for turbidimetric measurements. Due to these different optics, a single spectrometer cannot perform both colormetric and turbidimetric measurements. Moreover, if conventional regular transmission optics are used to perform turbidimetric sample measurements, accuracy problems occur. These accuracy problems manifest themselves in a large instrument to instrument bias due to opto-mechanical variations between instruments. Conventional optics typically eliminate inaccuracy by calibration of each instrument using samples of known turbidity. A correlation between the known levels and the instrument lends results in a calibration curve that is used to correct for bias. Another method of removing the inaccuracy is to precisely align each optical system in the manufacturing process to eliminate the opto-mechanical variations. While both methods of correction are viable, neither is an acceptable procedure when manufacturing a large number of instruments.
Several systems are known in the prior art; however, none of these systems includes a dual beam spectrometer that can perform both turbidimetric and colormetric analysis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,893, discloses a system that measures light absorption of a liquid medium with an antibody before and after agglutination reaction by using a wavelength of light which is absorbable by the antibody. This system, however, can perform only colormetric measurements of the agglutination reaction. Another system is disclosed in Japanese Patent 1,112,162. This system includes two photometric systems used to perform both regular and diffuse transmission measurements of agglutinated samples. Again, two systems are necessary. Japanese Patent No. 63/191,962 discloses a system or instrument that automatically performs immunoassays making use of a latex agglutination reaction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,083 discloses a system that uses a laser for a light source to detect diffuse transmission. A laser is not necessary in the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,040 discloses an assay that is used for detection and determination of fibrin monomer in blood plasma. British Patent No. 1,598,129 discloses a system or an instrument that automatically performs immunoassays using a latex agglutination reaction.
In Soviet Union Patent No. 1186958, there is disclosed a system of calibration for a regular transmission photometer. A patent for an optical sample cell is disclosed in Soviet Union Patent No. 883714. Similarly, a calibration procedure for a regular transmission spectrometer correction filter is described in Soviet Union Patent No. 1153240. U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,187 discloses a method of estimating turbidity employing polystryrene latex suspensions as samples. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,293 discloses a fluorometric assay of ligands by a reaction with a reagent which alters emission properties of a fluorescer.

Spectrometer for conducting turbidimetric and colormetric measurements


A versatile tiltable vehicle lift capable of supporting a vehicle at a desired height. In its lowermost position, the lift tilts downwardly, thereby enabling a vehicle to be driven onto the lift. The tiltable feature of the lift eliminates the requirement that the device be retractable below floor level. The tiltable vehicle lift has an upper treadway frame for receiving and supporting a vehicle. An elevation means, typically a hydraulic cylinder, is pivotally connected between the rearward legs and the treadway frame. The tiltable vehicle lift is provided with a locking mechanism that safely maintains the vehicle lift at a desired height. The locking mechanism is comprised of an upper lock bar and a lower lock bar which may be engaged at any desired height of the vehicle lift. A means for disengaging the locking mechanism is provided so that the vehicle lift may be lowered.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a multi-use vehicle support and lift for raising vehicles to a desired working height to facilitate repairs for collision damage or to perform general repairs.
2. Description of Related Art.
During the 1970s, the United States automobile market was dominated by vehicles constructed with traditional framed chassis. Traditional frame construction uses a steel frame, usually under the vehicle, as a base to which the body and other components are affixed.
The middle of that decade witnessed many changes in the U.S. automobile market. The introduction and eventual explosion of unitized constructed vehicles led to greater competition between manufacturers. The technological improvements and consequent advantages of unitized construction in basic body design, the materials used, and the introduction of safety zones dramatically improved occupant safety. The ability of the foreign manufacturer to change a model's styling without the necessity of complete retooling was a major production advantage.
A variety of economic and regulatory factors forced the domestic manufacturers to move away from framed construction toward the unitized body in the late 1970s. By then most foreign manufacturers had perfected their production methods and had gained an increasing sales volume advantage over domestic manufacturers.
A more discerning public demanded increased active and passive safety in the automobile, and the uni-body constructed vehicle provided both.
In unitized constructed vehicles, the components of the inner and outer body function as the frame. A unitized constructed automobile body is produced with closer tolerances, and the main structure is constructed using high-strength low-alloy steel. Some manufacturers are beginning to use components of plastic for cosmetic panels. All these factors render the repair of the unitized constructed automobile extremely complex, even more so than the traditional repair techniques and processes required for full-framed vehicles. In many cases, less "power" is required by the body and frame alignment equipment to pull the unitized constructed vehicle back into alignment.
The move to the unitized constructed body by the domestic automobile industry and the inroads made in the U.S. market by foreign manufacturers have accelerated the need for multi-use products in collision repair facilities. These products must have the versatility and adaptability to function not only as body and frame alignment repair systems for both unitized and frame cars, but also must be capable of being employed in other avenues of repair and service. Collision repair equipment must now provide convenience of work flow through the repair facility, more comfortable working heights for the technicians to increase their productivity, less movement of the cars through the shops during repair, and (because of the multi-use capabilities) must cut the equipment investment costs to the facility.
Overall economic conditions of the collision repair industry in the U.S. and other countries have produced a need for more versatile body and frame alignment equipment, equipment that can be used for purposes other than body and frame alignment, such as use as a car lift. In the last few years, cars have become lighter in weight and smaller in size, making it all but impossible for a repair technician to do anything underneath or on the lower body section of the vehicle without raising the whole car up to a comfortable working height.
Prior lift devices have been constructed to accommodate portable pulling devices to be used to pull the frame and body into proper alignment when needed. In almost every instance, collision damaged vehicles must be raised one or more times during repair, although some may not need to be pulled with the pullers.


The present invention relates to a mounting method of passive component, and particularly relates to a mounting method of a small-size passive component. A passive component partially covered by an adhesive material is provided. Before the adhesive layer is melted, the adhesive material is melted and then solidified to form a fixing structure between the passive component and a substrate for fixing the passive component on the substrate. Therefore, the tombstone problem caused by uneven pulling force that the melted solder applies to the two ends of the passive component is effectively solved. The yield rate is increased, and the product loss is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a mounting method of a passive component, and more particularly to a mounting method of a passive component for solving the tombstone problem of the passive component caused by uneven pulling force that the melted solder applies to the two ends of the passive component.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the present package manufacturing process or the assembly process, the passive component is mounted alone or together with other components on the substrate or circuit board according to the demand. The surface mount technology (SMT) is the most common mounting method nowadays because of the advantages including fast manufacturing speed, high precision and high repeatability.
Please referring to FIGS. 1A˜1C, a conventional surface mounting method is illustrated in FIGS. 1A˜1C. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, solder paste 14 is printed on each contact pad 12 disposed on a surface of a substrate 10 (or circuit board) in a stencil printing process. Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, two ends of a passive component 16 are placed on the solder paste 14 disposed on the surfaces of the contact pads 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 1C, the solder paste 14 is melted and then solidified in a reflowing process for bonding the passive component 16 onto the substrate 10, so that the passive component 16 is electrically connected with the contact pads 12 of the substrate 10.
However, the amount of the solder paste on each contact pad in the present surface mount technology is often slightly different due to the inaccuracy of the manufacturing process. For example, the size of each opening of the stencil is not always the same, and the stencil and the substrate may not be positioned accurately. As a result, the pulling force that the melted solder applies to the two ends of the passive component is uneven in the reflowing process. Or, the uneven pulling force may be caused when the passive component is misaligned on the contact pads. When the pulling forces applied to the two ends of the passive component are not equivalent, the passive component is not positioned accurately. The slight inaccuracy of the positioning process of the passive component usually does not affect the product quality and the yield rate a lot.
However, as the electronic products become more compact and light-weight, all the components become smaller accordingly. The passive component is no exception. When the passive component becomes smaller, the uneven pulling force that the melted solder applies to the two ends of the passive component affects the mounting process more, especially in the passive component with size smaller than size of grade 0402. Please refer to FIG. 2. The tombstone phenomenon defined as the raising of one end of the passive component takes place when the pulling force that the melted solder applies to the two ends of the passive component is uneven. The conventional surface mounting method fails, and the yield rate is decreased. Therefore, a mounting method of a passive component with size smaller than size of grade 0402 is desperately needed to solve the tombstone problem of the passive component caused by uneven pulling force that the melted solder applies to the two ends of the passive component.


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for transferring color information from a no-flash image of a scene to a flash image of the scene using a localized tonal mapping algorithm. In some aspects, an example method can include obtaining a no-flash image and a flash image, mapping color information from the no-flash image to the flash image, and generating an output image including the flash image modified based on the mapping to include at least a portion of the color information from the no-flash image.

The increasing versatility of image data capturing products, such as digital cameras, has allowed image data capturing capabilities to be integrated into a wide array of devices. Users can capture video and/or images from any device equipped with such image data capturing capabilities. For example, a user can use a camera to capture images of a scene for recreational use, professional photography, surveillance, among other applications. The image data capturing devices can capture images and output the image data for processing and/or consumption.
Image capturing devices today generally provide an assortment of settings that a user can configure to adjust the quality and characteristics of captured images. For example, image capturing devices often have a flash setting that a user can enable to produce flash images. Flash images are images produced using a flash of artificial light to help illuminate a scene being captured by the image. Flash images are typically used to illuminate a dark scene or provide a supplementary source of light when ambient light is inadequate. While flash images can help improve the quality of an image by providing additional lighting, they often suffer from incorrect or unnatural color caused by a dominant bluish tint. On the other hand, no-flash images can often appear blurry and noisy, and are generally inadequate for dark or low-light environments. Accordingly, effective techniques are needed for processing flash images to produce high-quality images suitable for dark, low-light, and other environments.

Systems and methods for color matching for realistic flash images


A single monolithic integrated circuit (10) containing a solar cell (or cells) with a DC-DC converter includes: a substrate (120, 220); the solar cell (101) or a solar cell array (100, 100′) on the substrate for generating an output voltage; and the DC-DC converter (102) integrated on the substrate for receiving the output voltage to generate a converted voltage, which may be higher or lower than the solar generated voltage. The substrate may be a silicon <111>, silicon carbide, or sapphire substrate. A GaN RF power amplifier and a CMOS controller including PWM modulator may also be monolithically integrated with an InGaN solar cell array and a GaN DC-DC converter. GaN switches (113, 115, 117, 119) may be used to couple InGaN solar cells (101) in series or parallel within the solar cell array (100, 100′) to yield improved or optimal voltage and current levels as required by the load.

1. Field
One or more aspects of embodiments according to the present invention relate to solar cells and a voltage converter (e.g., a DC-DC converter), and in particular, to solar cells used with a voltage converter.
2. Description of Related Art
Solar cells are used for renewable power generation in many applications. DC-DC voltage converters are used to step up or step down voltages to those required by a load. Further, in remote locations (e.g., desert) that are difficult to access, solar cells may provide renewable energy to power electric/electronic devices.

Monolithic InGaN solar cell power generation with integrated efficient switching DC-DC voltage convertor


A method and system for directly down-converting FM signals to demodulated baseband information signals that can be used to directly down-convert analog FM signals and digital FM signals to demodulated baseband information signals. In an embodiment, the method includes aliasing an FM signal at an aliasing rate substantially equal to the frequency of the FM signal or substantially equal to a sub-harmonic thereof; adjusting the aliasing rate in accordance with frequency changes on the FM signal to maintain the aliasing rate substantially equal to the frequency of the FM signal, and outputting a demodulated baseband information signal. The method optionally includes compensating for phase delays and/or other characteristics of the loop in order to maintain bandwidth and stability for the loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed toward receiver-transmitter systems referred to as Family Radio Service (FRS) units, although the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The Family Radio Service (FRS) is one of the Citizens Band Radio Services. It is intended for the use of family, friends, and associates to communicate among themselves within a neighborhood or while on group outings. There are fourteen discreet FRS channels available for use on a "take turns" basis. The FRS unit channel frequencies are:
Channel No.(MHz)1462.56252462.58753462.61254462.63755462.66256462.68757462.71258467.56259467.587510467.612511467.637512467.662513467.687514467.7125Other selected technical specifications are:
(a) Frequency modulation (although phase modulation is allowed);
(b) Frequency tolerance of each FRS unit must be maintained within 0.00025%;
(c) The authorized bandwidth for an FRS unit is 12.5 KHz; and
(d) Effective radiated power (ERP) shall not, under any condition of modulation, exceed 0.500 W.
The operating rules for the FRS are found at 47 C.F.R. 95.191–95.194. For additional technical information, see 47 C.F.R. 95.601–95.669.
2. Related Art
A variety of FRS systems are available. Presently available FRS systems do not directly down-convert FM signals to demodulated baseband information signals.
What is needed is a method and system for directly down-converting FM signals to demodulated baseband information signals.

Analog zero if FM decoder and embodiments thereof, such as the family radio service


A lime stabilization system for treatment of sewage sludge, and method is provided in which dewatered sludge and lime are provided to a mixer. Lime and sludge are mixed to raise the pH during which volatiles are driven off with or without supplemental heat. A forced air draft prevents steam from backing up into the lime supply. The sludge goes to a discharge station via a transfer apparatus, and air containing any dust, odors, steam or ammonia is cleaned via a scrubber. The system is computer-controlled via gravimetric load cells and/or volumetric means. The system includes computer controlled means for dissolving scale resulting from exposure of surfaces to lime, using acid, water or combinations thereof.

The need for treating sewage sludge for disposal, and particularly municipal sewage sludge, has increased substantially in recent years. One way of dosing so, is by mixing or blending alkaline materials with the sludge. There is also developing an increasing demand, particularly with respect to municipal sewage sludge, that the treatment of the sludge be sufficiently thorough that is will allow beneficial re-use of sludge, such as enabling the sludge to be applied to land on which agricultural and ornamental corps may be grown. One way of doing so is to mix alkaline products with sludge in a manner that blends the alkaline and sludge.
When sewage sludge is only treated with an alkaline material such as lime, without a sufficient increase in sludge temperature, the resulting mix may be only partially stabilized, such that higher pathogenic organisms are not destroyed.
In the treatment of sewage sludge, such can produce dust as a result of the treatment process and odors, and steam can result from the temperature reached during the treatment process. Additionally, ammonia can be produced during the treatment process.
Additionally, the use of lime during the treatment process can results in build-up of scale resultant from the lime treatment on surfaces that are exposed to the lime treatment.

Precision lime stabilization system and method for treatment of sewage sludge


An apparatus and a method for jointing a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, the apparatus includes a composite cable, where the composite cable includes an electric power cable, a first optical fiber cable including the first optical fiber, and a second optical fiber cable including the second optical fiber, wherein the apparatus includes a first routing device and a second routing device, each routing device being arranged to change the direction of a fiber optic path from a first axis to a second axis and including a first optical fiber portion aligned with the first axis, a second optical fiber portion aligned with the second axis, and an intermediate optical fiber portion integral with the first and second optical fiber portions and extending through an arc between the first and second optical fiber portions, the intermediate optical fiber portion in the region of the arc having a reduced diameter in relation to the diameter of the first and second optical fiber portions, wherein the first optical fiber is optically connected to the first optical fiber portion of the first routing device, wherein the second optical fiber is optically connected to the first optical fiber portion of the second routing device, and wherein the second optical fiber portion of the first routing device is optically connected to the second optical fiber portion of the second routing device.

A composite cable including an optical fibre cable and an electric power cable may for example be used in offshore applications, such as submarine power and/or communication cables. Another example is installation environments that require monitoring of the operation of electricity, wherein the optical fibre cable may be used for detecting temperatures of the electric power cable. The optical fibre cable may comprise one or a plurality of parallel optical fibres and the optical fibre cable may comprise a tube in which optical fibre/-s is/are accommodated and protected. The optical fibre is used for fibre-optic communication and may thus send data along the composite cable. An optical fibre cable including a tube, e.g. made of a metal material, which houses one or a plurality of optical fibres, may be called an FIMT, Fibre in Metal Tube. The composite cable may be called a composite power cable.
Two composite cables or two cable ends often need to be connected to one another, for example when installing the composite cables in the application at hand, or in a jointing process if the cable is broken and requires repair. Also, in a continuous composite power cable, two optical fibre cables may need to be jointed in case of fibre break or fibre cable damage. In general, when jointing the optical fibres of two optical fibre cables, which may extend after one another along the axial extension of the composite cable, a certain extra optical fibre length has to be added in order to accomplish the jointing of the optical fibres of two optical fibre cables. In general, the electric power cable of the composite cable comprises one or a plurality of electrical conductors, e.g. three, and a circumferential cover located outside of the electrical conductor/-s. The cover may be armouring, or an armouring cover, provided to protect the elements of the composite cable located within the armouring. The cover may also be a circumferential conductive screen located outside of a circumferential electrically insulating layer which in turn is located outside of the electrical conductor, wherein the screen is arranged to be held at ground potential. The composite cable may also comprise a circumferential outer jacket, e.g. made of polymer material, located outside of the cover and of the electrical conductor in order to provide further protection. The composite cable may comprise additional layers or jackets of different materials, e.g. an additional circumferential electrically insulating layer.
In general, the optical fibre cable is located inside of the outer jacket or embedded within or located inside of the cover. Often, the armouring, or armouring cover, is formed by a plurality of parallel longitudinal wires in one or a plurality of layers in the radial direction. When producing a composite cable having wire armouring, the wires are applied close to one another along the longitudinal extension of the cable, generally along helical lines. One or a plurality of the wires may be replaced by an optical fibre cable, whereby the optical fibre cable requires no additional space inside of or outside of the armouring. After the production of the composite cable, when jointing two already manufactured composite cables or repairing a defective composite cable, two optical fibres or two optical fibre ends of two optical fibre cables may need to be jointed. However, since the optical fibre cable is embedded in the composite cable and essentially axially immovable, e.g. by being located inside of the jacket or even inside of the armouring, or by being embedded in and being part of the cover, e.g. the armouring, as described above, extra optical fibre length needs to be added to be able to joint two optical fibres. The extra optical fibre length is often needed because of the equipment used for jointing optical fibres, e.g. a fusion splicing apparatus, which requires a space between the optical fibre cable and the remainder part of the composite cable. After completion of the splicing of the optical fibres, an overlength of optical fibre remains, i.e. an extra optical fibre length. This optical fibre overlength has to be dealt with and protected from the exterior environment outside of the composite cable. The optical fibre overlength may also take up space or room such that the outer dimension of the composite cable is increased, which may be a disadvantage. An optical fibre cable may also be sensitive to harsh bending, which should be considered when taken care of the extra optical fibre length.
In prior art there are examples of how to take care of the extra optical fibre length created when jointing optical fibres of a composite cable.
US 2012/0033928-A1 discloses a cable joint for jointing two cable ends of an optical fibre cable of an optical fibre composite electric power cable. The cable joint includes a repair box having storage for storing extra length needed for jointing fibres of the optical fibre cable.
CN 101719651-A describes a composite power cable connection box used for an optical fibre arranged in the centre of a conductor.
EP 0 646 817-A2 discloses means for jointing a bundle of longitudinal elements, such as a composite electrical/fibre optic cable. A jointing compartment for the fibres is provided where jointing can be undertaken.
JP 59212813-A describes a connection part of a power cable containing optical fibre.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,431-B1 discloses a cable joint for a multi-core cable including an outer sheath surrounding at least one electric pilot line and/or at least one optical fibre line and/or tube therefore.
CN 201917691 describes a fibre optics attachment structure for connecting the fibre optics in heterogeneity electricity optical fibre compound power cable.

Apparatus and a method for jointing a first and a second optical fibre of a composite cable


A headlamp for motor vehicles has a reflector having a light output opening, a gas discharge lamp arranged in the reflector, a screen covering the light output opening and means for shielding off interference radiation emitted by the gas discharge lamp and including a transparent interference-radiation-absorbing metallic coating.

The present invention relates to a headlamp for motor vehicles. In particular it relates to a headlamp for motor vehicles which has a reflector with a gas discharge lamp and a screen covering a light output opening of the headlamp.
Such a headlamp is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 35 19 611. This headlamp has a reflector into which as gas discharge lamp protrudes. The light outlet opening of the headlamp is covered with a screen. In addition to the visible radiation, the gas discharge lamp also emits electromagnetic radiation in the non-visible range which can lead to interference, for example in broadcast reception in motor vehicles.


A conversion plug structure having a variable resistor has a conversion adaptor and an intermediate adaptor. The conversion adaptor has a plurality of first terminals disposed therein. The intermediate adaptor has an insulating housing, a plurality of second terminals disposed in the insulating housing, and a variable resistor electrically connecting between one of the second terminals and a power cord. The rest of the second terminals electrically connects with the power cord.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conversion plug structure having a variable resistor, and more particularly, to a conversion plug structure connecting with an end of a power cord and providing various voltages via adjusting a variable resistor of an intermediate adaptor thereof.
2. Background of the Invention
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional DC power cord 70 can connect with a conversion plug structure 80. The conversion plug structure 80 includes an intermediate adaptor 81 connecting with an end of the power cord 70 and a changeable conversion adaptor 82. The intermediate adaptor 81 has three insertion holes 83 at an end thereof and three first terminals 84 respectively disposed in the insertion holes 83 and electrically connecting with the power cord 70. The conversion adaptor 82 has second terminals 85 disposed at an end thereof. The second terminals 85 of the conversion adaptor 82 are capable of inserting in the corresponding insertion holes 83 of the intermediate adaptor 81, so that the second terminals 85 respectively electrically connect with the first terminals 84. Therefore, the conversion adaptor 82 connects with the intermediate adaptor 81 in an insertion and a changeable manner, the conversion adaptor 82 electrically connects with the intermediate adaptor 81 and the power cord 70, and electric power is transmitted to the conversion adaptor 82 via the power cord 70 and the intermediate adaptor 81.
Because the conversion adaptor 82 connects with the power cord 70 in a changeable manner, when the power cord 70 is used for different specifications of outlets of electric appliances, the conversion adaptor 82 can be changed to apply to various outlets without changing the power cord 70, thereby reducing fabrication costs and consumers' expenses.
The above power cord 70 can be applied to only one kind of voltage, but general electric appliances have various ranges of voltages including 15V, 16V, 17V, 19V, 20V, 22V, etc. Therefore, the power cord 70 does not have a widespread use.
FIG. 2 shows another conventional conversion plug structure 80. The conversion adaptor 82 is further divided into a first body 86 and a second body 87. The first body 86 and the second body 87 are connected with each other via a connection cord 88. A resistor (not shown) is disposed inside the conversion adaptor 82 in a proper position thereof. The voltage of the electric power transmitted by the power cord 70 can be changed via the resistor inside the conversion adaptor 82, and the conversion adaptor 82 can be changed to provide various voltages for various electric appliances without changing the power cord 70, thereby obtaining a widespread use. However, the conversion adaptor 82 has to be changed, so as to have different resistances, which increases costs and consumer' expenses.
Accordingly, as discussed above, the conventional conversion plug structure still has some drawbacks that could be improved. The present invention aims to resolve the drawbacks in the prior art.

Conversion plug structure having a variable resistor


Aspects relate to processing captured images from structured light systems. An example device may include one or more processors and a memory. The memory may include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to receive a captured image of a scene from a structured light receiver, analyze one or more first portions of the captured image at a first scale, and analyze one or more second portions of the captured image at a second scale finer than the first scale. The analysis of the one or more second portions may be based on the analysis of the one or more first portions. The instructions further may cause the device to determine for each of the one or more second portions a codeword from a codeword distribution and determine one or more depths in the scene based on the one or more determined codewords.

A device may determine depths or distances of its surroundings using different depth finding systems. In determining depths or distances of objects from the device, the device may transmit one or more wireless signals and measure reflections of the wireless signals. The device may then use the reflections to generate a depth map illustrating or otherwise indicating the depths of objects from the device. One depth finding system is a structured light system.
For a structured light system, wireless signals in a known pattern of points are transmitted. The wireless signals may be near-infrared (NIR) signals or other frequency signals of the electromagnetic spectrum. The reflections of the wireless signals may be captured, and the captured signals may be processed in determining depths of objects from the device. Constraints on the resolution of the pattern and the transmission power for the signals of conventional structured light systems limit the accuracy of the determined depths.

Multiple scale processing for received structured light


An operating method of an electronic device having a fingerprint sensor unit is provided. In the operating method, a touch action of an input device is sensed and a touch signal is generated by the fingerprint sensor unit. A fingerprint analysis and an action analysis are performed according to the touch signal to determine a finger category of the input device and an action information of the touch action. An operation corresponding to the finger category and the action information is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an operating method and an electronic device, and more particularly, to an operating method based on fingerprint and gesture recognition and an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the functional diversification of electronic devices, conventional operation interfaces, such as mouses and keyboards, no longer meet user requirements. Accordingly, touch panels have been rapid developed. Compared to that of aforementioned conventional operation interfaces, the operation of touch panels is simple and straight-forward. By simply touching a touch panel, a user can directly select objects, menus, or figures displayed on the screen with his finger or a stylus or operate aforementioned objects, menus, or figures with different gestures.
However, an existing touch panel can only operate regarding each pre-defined gesture. Namely, each gesture is corresponding to one operation. Usually, when a user performs a gesture to operate a touch panel, the operation of a software has to be involved to correspond the gesture to more than one operation.

Operating method based on fingerprint and gesture recognition and electronic device


A ΣΔ modulator for producing a modulation signal for modulating a frequency division ratio of a comparison frequency divider of a PLL circuit. A plurality of integrators connected in series integrate an input signal and output overflow signals when the integrated value has exceeded a predetermined value. Differentiators transfer the overflow signals of the integrators. An adder multiplies predetermined coefficients by output signals output from the differentiators and adds the multiplied values. The absolute values of the predetermined coefficients of the adder are set to be less than the predetermined value. This setting decreases the modulation width of the modulation signal.

The present invention relates to a PLL circuit utilizing a ΣΔ modulator.
In recent years, there has arisen a demand for PLL circuits employed in mobile communication equipment such as cellular phones to improve their channel switching speed and C/N characteristics to cope with the trends of increased integer ratio N and reduced power consumption in such equipment. In order to satisfy such demand, PLL circuits utilizing a ΣΔ modulator have been put in practical use. These PLL circuits utilizing a ΣΔ modulator are now required to improve their channel switching speed and C/N characteristics still further.
The channel switching time and C/N characteristics are important loop characteristics of a PLL circuit. Specifically, it is required to shorten the time required for switching from a certain lock-up frequency to another lock-up frequency and to reduce the phase noise contained in an output signal frequency.
In order to meet these requirements, fractional-N PLL frequency synthesizers (PLL circuits) using a fractional frequency division ratio of a comparison frequency divider configuring a PLL loop have recently been put in practical use. It is known that this type of fractional-N PLL circuits, which allows a reference signal frequency to be set high, is advantageous to improve the channel switching time and the C/N characteristics.
However, the fractional value of a fractional frequency division ratio is obtained equivalently and on an average by temporally varying the integer division value. Specifically, a fixed frequency division value N is periodically divided by N+1 to equivalently obtain a fractional frequency division ratio. For the case of 1/8 division, for example, eight dividing operations are implemented by repeating seven divisions by N and one division by N+1, while for the case of 3/8 division, eight dividing operations are implemented by repeating five divisions by N and three divisions by N+1.
However, when a comparison signal divided by such fractional-N operation is compared with a reference signal by means of a phase comparator, periodical phase errors occur due to periodical repetitions of N divisions and (N+1) divisions, which in turn causes spurious noise to occur in output signals of a voltage controlled oscillator.
Therefore, as one means for preventing occurrence of spurious noise associated with the fractional-N operation, a ΣΔ fractional-N PLL frequency synthesizer 100 having a multi-stage noise shaping (MASH) ΣΔ modulator as shown in FIG. 10 has been proposed. The ΣΔ modulator serves as means for preventing occurrence of spurious noise by randomly varying a frequency division value used for performing a fractional-N operation.
In FIG. 10, an oscillator 1 outputs to a reference frequency divider 2 a reference clock signal having a natural frequency based on oscillation of a crystal resonator. The reference frequency divider 2 is configured by a counter circuit, divides a reference clock signal based on a predetermined frequency division ratio and outputs a reference signal fr thus produced to a phase comparator 3.
The phase comparator 3 is provided with a comparison signal fp from a comparison frequency divider 4. The phase comparator 3 outputs a pulse signal according to a phase difference between the reference signal fr and the comparison signal fp to a charge pump 5.
The charge pump 5 outputs an output signal to a lowpass filter (LPF) 6 based on the pulse signal output from the phase comparator 3.
This output signal has a pulse component contained in its DC component, and the DC component varies in accordance with frequency variations of the pulse signal, while the pulse component varies based on the phase difference of the pulse signal.
The LPF 6 smooths the output signal of the charge pump 5 to remove any high frequency component therefrom and outputs an output signal thus obtained to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 7 as a controlled voltage.
The VCO 7 outputs an output signal fvco with a frequency according to the controlled voltage to an external circuit as well as to the comparison frequency divider 4.
The frequency division ratio of the comparison frequency divider 4 is set to be varied arbitrarily by a ΣΔ modulator 8.
The ΣΔ modulator 8 is configured as a third-order modulator including n-bit integrators (Σ) 9a to 9c, differentiators (Δ) 10a to 10f configured by flip-flop circuits, and an adder 11. The integrators 9a to 9c and the differentiators 10a to 10f operate using the comparison signal fp from the comparison frequency divider 4 as a clock signal.
The integrator 9a is provided with a numerator value F for the ΣΔ modulator 8 from an external device (not shown). The integrator 9a accumulates the input value F based on the clock signal and outputs an overflow signal OF1 when the accumulated value becomes greater than a denominator value (modulo value) Q. After the overflow, the integrator 9a subtracts the denominator value Q from the accumulated value and continues to accumulate the input value F.
The denominator value (modulo value) Q is set to 2n, and the numerator value F is input as an (n−1)-bit digital signal when the power of the denominator value Q is n. The denominator values Q of the integrators 9a to 9c are an identical value, 1024 for example, and the numerator value F is 30.
The overflow signal OF1 from the integrator 9a is provided to the adder 11 via the differentiators 10a and 10b as an input signal a. The accumulated value X1 of the integrator 9a is provided to the integrator 9b.
The integrator 9b performs an accumulating operation on an input signal of the accumulated value X1 and outputs an accumulated value X2 to the integrator 9c. An overflow signal OF2 output from the integrator 9b is provided to the adder 11 via the differentiator 10c as an input signal b, and also provided to the adder 11 via the differentiators 10c and 10d as an input signal c.
The integrator 9c performs an accumulating operation on an input signal of the accumulated value X2 and output an overflow signal OF3. The overflow signal OF3 is provided to the adder 11 as an input signal d, provided to the adder 11 via the differentiator 10e as an input signal 4, and also provided to the adder 11 via the differentiators 10e and 10f as an input signal f.
The differentiators 10a, 10b, and 10care inserted for correcting any deviation in timing of the input signals a to f caused by operation of the differentiators 10d, 10e, and 10f according to the clock signal.
The adder 11 implements the following computation:(+1)a+(+1)b+(−1)c+(+1)d+(−2)e+(+1)fbased on the input signals a to f. A coefficient to be multiplied by each of the input signals a to f is set based on a Pascal triangle.
FIG. 12 shows the computation results (excluding +N) of the computation operation of the adder 11 as described above. As shown in FIG. 12, the adder 11 produces random numbers which vary arbitrarily in the range from +4 to −3.
The adder 11 is provided with a fixed frequency division ratio N which has been preset. The adder 11 adds the above-mentioned computation result to the fixed frequency division ratio N and outputs the result to the comparison frequency divider 4.
Due to the operation of the adder 11 as described above, the frequency division ratio provided to the comparison frequency divider 4 varies randomly with respect to the fixed frequency division ratio N, for example as N, N+1, N, N−2, N+3, N−1, and N−1.
The comparison frequency divider 4 thus performs a fractional-N operation on an average based on the frequency division ratios received from the adder 11.
FIG. 11 shows a circuit equivalent to the ΣΔ fractional-N PLL frequency synthesizer shown in FIG. 10.
In this equivalent circuit, the configuration of a ΣΔ modulator 12 is slightly different from that of the ΣΔ modulator 8, while other configurations of the equivalent circuit are the same as in FIG. 10. In the ΣΔ modulator 12, integrators (Σ) 13a to 13c have similar configurations to the integrators 9a to 9c and perform a similar accumulating operation based on a numerator value F input thereto.
Differentiators 14a to 14e are each configured by a flip-flop circuit and operate using a comparison signal fp output from the comparison frequency divider 4 as a clock signal.
An overflow signal OF1 from the integrator 13a is provided to an adder 15a via differentiators 14a and 14b as an input signal a. An overflow signal OF2 from the integrator 13b is provided to an adder 15b via a differentiator 14c as an input signal d.
An overflow signal OF3 from the integrator 13c is provided to the adder 15b as an input signal e and also provided to the adder 15b via a differentiator 14d as an input signal f.
The adder 15b performs the computation b=d+e−f by adding the input signals e and d and subtracting the input signal f to obtain an output signal b and outputs the output signal b to the adder 15a.
The output signal b of the adder 15b is also provided to the adder 15a via a differentiator 14e as an input signal c.
The adder 15a performs the computation a+b−c by adding the input signals a and b and then subtracting the input signal c and provides the result thus obtained to the adder 15c.
The adder 15c adds the output signal from the adder 15a to the fixed frequency division ratio N provided by an external device and provides the resultant value to the comparison frequency divider 4.
Accordingly, the adders 15a and 15b of this ΣΔ modulator 12 perform the following computation operation:(+1)a+(+1)b+(−1)c+(+1)d+(−2)e+(+1)f.
As the result of such operation, random numbers varying arbitrarily in the range from +4 to −3 are output from the adder 15a.
The adder 15c is provided with a fixed frequency division ratio N that has been preset. The adder 15c adds the aforementioned computation result to the fixed frequency division ratio N and outputs the result thus obtained to the comparison frequency divider 4.
As the result of such operation, the frequency division ratio input to the comparison frequency divider 4 varies with respect to the fixed frequency division ratio N randomly, for example as N, N+1, N, N−2, N+3, N−1, and N−1.
The comparison frequency divider 4 thus performs a fractional-N operation on an average based on the frequency division ratios output from the adder 15c.
FIG. 12 shows an example of random numbers indicating the modulation width of modulated outputs from the third-order ΣΔ modulator 8 or the ΣΔ modulator 12 as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, respectively. FIG. 13 shows an example of random numbers produced by a fourth-order ΣΔ modulator. As seen from these two figures, as the order of ΣΔ modulators becomes greater, the width of variation of the output signals from the ΣΔ modulators becomes greater and the modulation width of the frequency division ratio at the comparison frequency divider 4 is increased.
FIGS. 14A to FIG. 14C show examples of random numbers produced by second-order to fourth-order ΣΔ modulators, respectively.
FIG. 15B shows a frequency spectrum of an output signal from a fractional-N PLL frequency synthesizer 100 employing a third-order ΣΔ modulator as described above, while FIG. 15A shows a frequency spectrum of an output signal from a fractional-N PLL frequency synthesizer employing a fourth-order ΣΔ modulator.
As seen from the comparison between FIGS. 15A and 15B, as the order of ΣΔ modulators becomes greater, the noise level that occurs when a PLL loop is locked is increased and a problem is posed that C/N characteristics are degraded.
In contrast, if the order decreases, the C/N characteristics are improved. However, ΣΔ modulation becomes instable, whereby the output signal is adversely affected.


An improved vibration-free mounting system for sample cooling and low temperature and precision spectroscopy in which a closed-cycle helium refrigerator mechanism is to be mounted adjacent to a cold test chamber to enable efficient sample cooling. The system includes a first rigid support structure which receives and supports the refrigerator mechanism, and a second rigid support structure independently receiving and supporting a shroud having a cold test chamber for housing test samples on a sample holder. The second support structure is physically isolated from the first structure to prevent the transfer of vibrations therebetween, and the first and second structures are rigidly aligned with one another along a vertical axis. A gas envelope vibration isolating connection is provided between the refrigerator mechanism and the shroud for providing thermal communication for efficient sample cooling. The second support structure is preferably mounted on a vibration isolation table having a plate-like top supported by a volume of relatively loosely packed and dry granular material such as sand. The shroud also preferably includes a flange for enabling rigid mounting of the spectrometer device adjacent the test chamber. The shroud can also comprise a removable lower section to facilitate access to the sample holder and various experimental setups.

There are a variety of analytical testing procedures and experiments which must be undertaken in low temperature environments, typically in the temperature range of between about 3 degrees Kelvin to about 200 degrees Kelvin (3.degree. K to about 200.degree. K). Conventional sample cooling and testing apparatus designs utilize liquid nitrogen, liquid helium, or both to obtain the required low temperatures. Implementation and application of these mildly hazardous materials is generally costly, labor intensive, and inconvenient as a result of the relatively high cost of the materials themselves, the frequent transfers from storage containers to experimental apparatus, and the equipment necessary to confine and handle such materials safely and efficiently. Analyses and experiments requiring substantial time periods at reduced temperatures also pose significant hurdles in maintaining the experimental setups at the necessary low temperatures.
Recently, however, advancements in technology have enabled the use of closed-cycle helium refrigerators in place of the low temperature liquids, as, for example, described in the article entitled The Use of a Helium Refrigerator for Mossbauer Studies, by Y. Chow, et al. (Vol. 66, Nuclear Instruments and Methods, 1968). As mentioned by Chow et al., in order to obtain appreciable Mossbauer effect, it is often necessary for the gamma-ray emitter and/or absorber (sample) to be cooled to cryogenic temperatures. While the helium refrigerator has been found to be an efficient and cost effective alternative to the use of expensive cryogens, practical applications of these devices are plagued by vibrations from the refrigerator itself, including vibrations associated with compression/decompression of the helium gas, as well as the motion of pistons in their cylinders. The result of these mechanical vibrations has severely limited the application and usefulness of these helium refrigerator devices in the more vibration-sensitive techniques such as Mossbauer spectroscopy and the like.
A number of approaches directed to obtaining relatively vibration-free sample cooling have been attempted in the industry. Examples include: attachment of the sample holder to the refrigerator cooling mechanism through flexible copper braids to provide a non-rigid thermal conduction path, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,131 (Sakitani et al.); attaching a gas-filled envelope through a flexible bellows-like device for both thermal conduction and mechanical vibration isolation, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,403; and providing gas by-pass arrangements to reduce inlet and outlet pressure differentials. While all of these approaches have been successful to some degree, none have provided a complete solution to the problem of isolating refrigerator vibrations in applications for sample cooling. For example, for the copper braid-type arrangement to provide an effective thermal conduction path, it must possess a sufficiently large cross-section, which inherently results in a compromise of the vibration isolation benefit, as some vibrations are always transmitted through the flexible braids. Some experiments have been conducted by turning the refrigerator compressor off while acquiring data. Long term low temperature maintenance is clearly a problem in such cases. Similarly, the use of by-pass lines and the like reduces, but does not eliminate, the vibrations which are inherent in these refrigerators. Moreover, by-passing arrangements do not eliminate the mechanical vibrations associated with the moving pistons of the refrigerator expander.
Taking a closer look at the vibration-free refrigeration transfer device of U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,403, there is described a mechanical device which decouples vibrations of the refrigerator from the sample by utilizing a helium exchange gas provided in an envelope that surrounds the refrigerator itself. While this gas envelope provides a larger area for thermal conduction and effectively isolates the mechanical vibrations, the arrangement shown and described in this patent fails to adequately address the arrangement for mounting the refrigeration system relative to the measurement system. The '403 patent merely suggests that a rigid support system be provided in order to derive the maximum benefit from the vibration isolation aspects of the invention, proposing a rail-like structure for rigidly attaching transducers and the gamma ray optics used in Mossbauer spectroscopy to a tabletop. No structure for vibration isolation or damping to prevent transmission of vibrations from the surrounding environment to the experimental equipment is disclosed in this patent document, and there is no true isolation provided between the refrigerator expander unit and the sample mounting structure. As a result, even the improved refrigeration transfer arrangement of this patent could not provide the essentially vibration-free system required for reliable use in conjunction with Mossbauer and other vibration-sensitive studies.
Moreover, a number of attempts have been made to provide adequate mounting of closed-cycle refrigerators for the purpose of eliminating vibration. None have been thoroughly described in the literature as successfully utilizing the refrigeration transfer arrangement described in the '403 patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,747, entitled SHOCK ISOLATOR FOR OPERATING A DIODE LASER ON A CLOSED CYCLE REFRIGERATOR, describes a mount which is rigidly affixed to a bench or table and upon which the laser diode is mounted. The vacuum shroud is attached to the bench, and the expander portion of the refrigerator is attached to the laser diode mount through a plurality of thermally conductive, flexible straps. The vibrations of the expander unit are isolated from the bench and mount assembly by connecting the vacuum shroud and its radiation shield to the expander by means of flexible vacuum hoses. While this mounting system is relatively compact, this arrangement suffers critical residual vibrations with amplitudes of nearly 2300 nm or more because the conductive straps provide a path through which vibration can be transmitted to the laser diode mount, and because the vacuum hoses are incapable of totally absorbing shock and vibration along their central axis. As a result, vibration is transmitted to the vacuum shroud, the bench and the diode mount.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,819, entitled VIBRATION ISOLATION AND PRESSURE COMPENSATION APPARATUS FOR SENSITIVE INSTRUMENTATION, describes a mounting arrangement for closed-cycle refrigerator which allegedly isolates the refrigerators from vibration-sensitive instruments while permitting thermal contact therebetween. The patent describes the combination of flexible, thermally conductive straps to couple the sensitive instruments to the cold end of the refrigerator, a housing assembly to be secured to an instrument platform, a reaction bracket supporting the refrigerator expander unit and absorbing shock and vibration therefrom, a cryocooler, and a flexible bellows arrangement to physically attach the cryocooler to the instrument chamber and reaction bracket. As set forth in this patent, however, the resulting line width broadening of CCl.sub.2 is increased by 2 MHz, or about 5.4%. An equivalent line broadening measured by Mossbauer spectroscopy would yield a residual vibration amplitude of nearly a full micron of motion.
Moreover, the apparatus of the '819 patent is contemplated for specialized applications such as airborne instrumentation and the like, and is relatively limited in applications outside of that field. In any case, while this system appears to provide some improvement in accuracy of experimental results, the residual vibration levels of the system continue to remain above acceptable levels for applications such as Mossbauer spectroscopy.
The very low temperature refrigerator shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,131 includes a mounting system for rigidly suspending the refrigerator in a cryostat, while providing for vibration isolation therebetween. This structural setup resembles the refrigeration transfer interface of U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,403 described above, but employs a suspension system comprising an array of wires which are connected tangentially at various points along the cold end of the refrigerator. The cold end of the refrigerator, is, in turn, connected to the sample by way of a flexible, thermally conductive strap. While this mounting arrangement provides a relatively compact structure, the residual vibration amplitude at low frequency is nearly 1000 nm, and is substantially above acceptable levels for some of the more vibration-sensitive procedures.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,363,217; 4,833,899; 4,835,972; and 4,862,697 pertain to structures contemplated for vibration damping and isolation of cryopumps. In particular, these patents illustrate the suspension of the refrigerator expander head having a weight attached to dampen vibratory motions; and, alternatively, hanging the refrigerator expander head from a self-supporting bellows configuration. While the weight of the first arrangement does not tend to move precisely out of phase with the refrigerator, the vibratory amplitude is significantly damped to permit proper operation of some vibration-sensitive equipment, such as electron microscopes. While such active vibration damping arrangements have some meaningful usage with respect to cryopumps and relatively less sensitive equipment and procedures, they do not provide the high level of vibration isolation required for sample cooling and low temperature experiments which nominally require freedom from vibration.
Consequently, the structures and methods heretofore available for mounting of closed-cycle helium refrigerators for sample cooling and low temperature spectroscopy have failed to provide the required substantially vibration-free environments necessary for optimum performance and resolution. In this regard, there has not been available an adequate solution to the problem of refrigerator vibrations in applications for sample cooling, as residual vibration amplitudes persist above acceptable levels. Similarly, there has not been available a mounting system which provides true isolation between the refrigerator expander unit and the sample mount, and vibrations present in the ambient environment due to the operation of the refrigerator compressor have not been prevented from being transmitted directly to the experimental apparatus. Available methods simply did not hold the sample mount stationary relative to measurement devices while simultaneously providing for the low temperatures and flexibility for adaptations required to undertake a variety of sample cooling and spectroscopy operations.

Substantially vibration-free shroud and mounting system for sample cooling and low temperature spectroscopy


A unidirectional material for helicopter parts is fabricated by winding a composite-material roving delivered from a feeding mechanism of a filament winding device around and between a plurality of pins provided on a mandrel rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof, the roving feeding mechanism being moved in a traversing manner such that the feeding path of the roving becomes a figure eight figure, whereby the roving is thus wound to form a tubular mesh of obliquely crossing and staggered helixes of the roving around the mandrel. The material has an improved strength in a transverse direction of the mandrel.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing unidirectional materials to be used for flexbeams and spars for rotor blades of helicopters. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for fabricating unidirectional materials particularly for helicopter parts, which enable an improvement in the strength of the fabricated unidirectional material in all directions thereof.
Heretofore, unidirectional materials to be used for flexbeams for helicopter blades have been fabricated by a method described, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publn. No. 1-17810 (1990). According to the known method, a composite-material roving is delivered from a feeding mechanism of a filament winding device and is wound in a ring pattern between two or more parallel pins fixedly installed at spaced-apart positions.
A unidirectional material produced by the known method has a very high tensile strength in a longitudinal direction of the wound roving. However, with respect to tensile stress in a crosswise direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the strength of the fibers is not effective. For this reason, the strength of the resin bonding the roving determines the strength of the unidirectional material in the 90-degree direction. Consequently, the strength in the 90-degree direction is extremely low. That is, the tensile strength in the 90-degree direction is of the order of 5 percent or less of the strength in the 0-degree direction.
Accordingly, it has been practical in the past to reduce the tensile stress in the crosswise direction of the unidirectional material generated by torsion in the flexbeams accompanying feathering action of the rotor.
More specifically, attempts have been made to increase the strength through such measures as relieving stress concentration due to the shape of the flexbeams and adding doublers for reinforcing weak parts.
In all of these measures, however, the aim is only to reduce internal stress by load in the resin material. Consequently, there is a limit to the effectiveness of these measures. Moreover, there arises the problems of complication of the shape of the unidirectional material and increase in the number of parts.

Method and apparatus for fabricating unidirectional materials for helicopter parts


The invention provides methods for treating obesity in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of catestatin (CST) or its equivalent to a subject afflicted with obesity so as to maintain an effective amount of circulating catestatin in the subject to promote lipolysis and oxidation of released fatty acids in both liver and adipose tissue, thereby, reducing adipose tissue weight and hence treating obesity in the afflicted subject.

Chromogranin A knockout (Chga-KO) mice display increased adiposity despite high levels of circulating catecholamines and leptin. Consistent with diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, desensitization of leptin receptors (Ob-R) due to hyperleptinemia is believed to contribute to the obese phenotype of these KO mice. In contrast, obesity in Ob/Ob mice is caused by leptin deficiency. To characterize the metabolic phenotype, Chga-KO mice were treated with a CHGA-derived peptide catestatin (CHGA352-372) that is deficient in these mice. CST treatment reduced fat depot size and increased lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. In liver, CST enhanced oxidation of fatty acids as well as their assimilation into lipids, effects that are attributable to the upregulation of genes promoting fatty acid oxidation (Pparα, Acox, Ucp2 and Cpt1α) and incorporation into lipids (Gpat and Cd36). CST did not affect basal or isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production in adipocytes but inhibited phospholipase-C activation by the alpha-adrenergic receptor (α-ADR) agonist phenylephrine suggesting inhibition of α-ADR signaling by CST. Indeed, CST mimicked the lipolytic effect of the α-ADR blocker phentolamine on adipocytes. Moreover, CST reversed the hyperleptinemia of Chga-KO mice and improved leptin signaling as determined by phosphorylation of AMPK and Stat3. CST also improved peripheral leptin sensitivity in DIO mice. In Ob/Ob mice, CST enhanced leptin-induced signaling in adipose tissue. In conclusion, our results implicate CST in a novel pathway that promotes lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation by blocking α-ADR signaling as well as by enhancing leptin receptor signaling.
Chromogranin A (CHGA in humans, Chga in mice), a 48-kDa acidic secretory proprotein (1-3), gives rise to several peptides of biological importance, which include the dysglycemic hormone pancreastatin (PST: CHGA250-301) (4,5), the vasodilator vasostatin (CHGA1-76) (6), and the anti-hypertensive peptide catestatin (CST: CHGA352-372) that inhibits nicotine-induced catecholamine release (7-9). Initially identified as a physiological brake in catecholamine secretion (7), CST has been established as a pleiotropic hormone having effects on promoting angiogenesis (10), lowering of blood pressure (8,11,12) and cardiac contractility (13-15) as well as enhancing baroreflex sensitivity (16,17) and heart rate variability (18).
In addition to the above cardiovascular functions, CST has an antimicrobial activity (19,20) and also regulates mast cell migration, cytokine production and release (21), smooth muscle cell proliferation (22), and monocyte migration (23). CST can act both extracellularly and intracellularly because the peptide can cross cell membrane (24,25).
Fat cell functions are regulated by catecholamines through four types of adrenergic receptors (ADR): β1, β2, β3 and α2 (26,27). Activation of the three β-ADRs is positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase by stimulatory GTP sensitive proteins, resulting in enhanced production of cyclic AMP. Cyclic AMP activates protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn phosphorylates hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) leading to hydrolysis of triglycerides (lipolysis). In contrast, α2-ADR activation has the opposite effects on lipolysis because it is coupled to inhibitory GTP sensitive proteins (28-31). Therefore, the net action of catecholamines depends on the balance between β- and α-ADRs (27). Normally, the β-ADR-mediated lipolytic action dominates. Sustained activation of sympathetic nervous system or increased plasma catecholamines is often associated with desensitization of β-ADR (32). In vivo studies have shown that the lipolytic action of catecholamines is blunted in obese subjects (33,34). Catecholamine-induced regulation of lipolysis through β-ADR desensitization has also been demonstrated in vitro (32,35). Repeated treatment with epinephrine results in the suppression of basal and epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis in lean and obese subjects (36). Even the in vivo lipolytic response to epinephrine is desensitized by prior exposure to epinephrine (37). In view of the above, we hypothesize that the increased fat mass in hyperadrenergic Chga-KO mice (38) reflects β-ADR desensitization by increased plasma catecholamines (8). Since catecholamines are known to inhibit leptin secretion (39-41), β-ADR desensitization may prevent such inhibition and lead to increased leptin level along with the increased adipose mass as found in Chga-KO mice and other obese models. Chronic hyperleptinemia in turn may desensitize Ob-R and perpetuate the obese phenotype.
The invention, in one embodiment, is based on CST that breaks this cycle and reduces obesity by restoring ADR and Ob-R sensitivity through normalization of catecholamine and leptin levels. Indeed, we found that chronic CST administration to obese Chga-KO mice resulted in a dramatic lean phenotype. CST treatment also reduced body weight and adipose mass in DIO mice without reducing food intake. Interestingly, CST could enhance leptin effects on adipose tissue metabolism and signaling in both DIO and leptin-deficient Ob/Ob mice. Our findings suggest that the reduction in fat mass after chronic CST treatment is due to increased lipolysis and lipid mobilization through CST action on α2-ADR and leptin receptor. In line with this, CST promoted fatty acid oxidation and leptin signaling.

Methods for promoting lipolysis and oxidation in liver and adipose tissue using catestatin

The Regents of the University of California


Methods and system for facilitating multi-dimensional personal heating and cooling. User information is used as a mean to configure the temperature in a surrounding environment, thereby facilitating comfort for a user and, in the case wherein multiple users are accessing an area, classifying the area into a number of regions and maintaining each region at a different temperature and guiding the users to desired regions.

Maintaining a comfortable temperature in an indoor environment, which is generally heated or cooled in order to ensure the comfort of inhabitants or users of that environment, can be a challenging task. There is typically no link between the setting of a thermostat or sensor and a comfort level required by an individual. In many cases, rooms or a given area can be heated and/or cooled even though no one is physically present in the space. The result is wasted heating and/or cooling resources.

Multi-dimensional heating and cooling system

International Business Machines Corporation