A programmable interface module includes a linear power regulator to control and provide power to interfaced components on an as needed basis. The interface module is implemented in, for example, a sensor pack and multiplexed to a plurality of sensor modules. In a first mode, the linear voltage regulator provides a relatively small amount of power which allows a sensor module to output a signal responsive to detecting an environmental condition (e.g., gamma or x-ray radiation, extreme temperatures, etc.). The interface module can switch the linear voltage regulator to a second mode in which the linear voltage regulator ramps up the amount of power provided to a detecting sensor module. The sensor module can then provide a level indicative of a concentration or intensity of the environmental condition. If the level surpasses a predetermined threshold, the sensor pack can output an alert signal to security server.

Public safety is constantly threatened by environmental dangers. For example, a plume of smoke from a dirty bomb can quickly consume a metropolitan area to cause mass harm. In another example, ports receive millions of cargo containers every year, while only a few are inspected for terrorist sabotaging. In response, the Department of Homeland Security has promulgated initiatives for threat monitoring and readiness that are designed to prevent threats and to improve emergency response. Conventionally, a threat is manually observed, and a call is made to 911 which has to be routed to the correct authorities.
One shortcoming of conventional automated detection systems is that they are typically hardwired for a specific type of environmental condition. Thus, once the system is manufactured, it cannot be adapted for different environments. Furthermore, current detection systems typically have complex deployment requirements or short deployment periods. For example, some detection systems are wired to a power source. Other detection systems must be constantly serviced to replace batteries.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for a robust detection system that is easily deployable and is low-powered to provide a long deployment life. Additionally, a need exists for a sensor interface system and method for allowing specialized user sensors and transmit systems to function together.

Sensor and transmission control circuit in adaptive interface package


A molecular detection apparatus includes a detector. The detector includes: a vibrator having a piezoelectric member that has a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode connected to the first surface, a second electrode connected to the second surface, and a third electrode connected to the second surface and disconnected from the second electrode; a sensitive film overlapping at least one part of the second electrode and at least one part of the third electrode and configured to change a vibration frequency of the vibrator in response to an interaction with target molecules; and a detection electrode to detect the changed vibration frequency.

A sensing technology using a smell (gas) sensor has been widely used for odor determination, measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the atmosphere, performance confirmation of air cleaners, trouble detection of devices, and so on because it is capable of digitizing smell in the air.
In recent years, there have been increasing concerns of detection of detonating explosives and detection of narcotic drugs and stimulant drugs and a concern of exhalation diagnosis of specific diseases, which have relied on the dog's sense of smell so far, and higher performance of a smell sensor and a gas sensor has been desired.
General gas sensing methods use devices such as a flame ionization detector (FID), a photo-ionization detector (PID), and a non-dispersive infra-red (NDIR) gas analyzer. These devices have problems regarding portability, risk due to the use of a flammable gas, life and price of a light source used for the measurement, substance recognition performance, and so on. Therefore, a small sensor advantageous in the assembly in a processing device and the measurement at a work site has been developed.
The performances required in the smell (gas) sensor are sensitivity, selectivity, simplicity, swiftness, reliability, stability, and so on. As a semiconductor gas sensor that is a representative of a small sensor, there has been proposed a sensor that is capable of measuring gas concentration by using a change that electrical properties such as electrical resistance undergo when oxygen adsorbed on porous tin oxide (SnO2) is consumed by a reducing substance. However, a conventionally used oxide semiconductor sensor has a problem of low detection sensitivity and detection accuracy, for example. The detection accuracy means accuracy in detecting a type, accuracy in detecting a concentration of a detected gas, for example, and so on.


A hand-operated juicer includes a base, an upright support mounted on the base, an upper squeeze unit that is connected to an upper end of the upright support, and a lower squeeze unit that is disposed below the upper squeeze unit above the base. The upper squeeze unit has a manually operable rod member and a squeeze cap that is connected to a lower end of the rod member. The rod member is movable vertically to enable the squeeze cap to abut against the lower squeeze unit. The squeeze cap is made of stainless steel, and has an upper socket portion, a lower skirt portion diverging downwardly from the upper socket portion, and a tubular adaptor that is mounted removably in the upper socket portion and that is connected detachably to the lower end of the rod member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hand-operated juicer, more particularly to a hand-operated juicer that has a corrosion-resistant squeeze cap.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional hand-operated juicer includes a base, an upright support connected to the base, an upper squeeze unit connected to an upper end of the upright support, and a lower squeeze unit fixed to the upright support below the upper squeeze unit. The upper squeeze unit has a rod member and an aluminum squeeze cap connected to a lower end of the rod member. The rod member is operable manually to move the squeeze cap vertically with respect to the lower squeeze unit in order to squeeze fruit disposed on the lower squeeze unit. Since the fruit juice often contains acidic substances, the surface of the squeeze cap is easily corroded, thereby affecting the appearance of the squeeze cap. In addition, since the squeeze cap is fixed to the rod member, cleaning of the dirt that is accumulated in a clearance formed between an upper socket portion of the squeeze cap and the lower end of the rod member is difficult to conduct.


A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for performing statistical leakage power characterization to estimate yield of a circuit in terms of leakage power. According to some approaches, this is performed with consideration of bi-exponential modeling.

The invention is directed to an improved approach for designing, analyzing, and manufacturing integrated circuits.
An integrated circuit (IC) has a large number of electronic components, such as transistors, logic gates, diodes, wires, etc., that are fabricated by forming layers of different materials and of different geometric shapes on various regions of a silicon wafer. Many phases of physical design may be performed with computer aided design (CAD) tools or electronic design automation (EDA) systems. To design an integrated circuit, a designer first creates high level behavior descriptions of the IC device using a high-level hardware design language. An EDA system typically receives the high level behavior descriptions of the IC device and translates this high-level design language into netlists of various levels of abstraction using a computer synthesis process. A netlist describes interconnections of nodes and components on the chip and includes information of circuit primitives such as transistors and diodes, their sizes and interconnections, for example.
An integrated circuit designer may use a set of layout EDA application programs to create a physical integrated circuit design layout from a logical circuit design. The layout EDA application uses geometric shapes of different materials to create the various electrical components on an integrated circuit and to represent electronic and circuit IC components as geometric objects with varying shapes and sizes. Typically, geometric information about the placement of the nodes and components onto the chip is determined by a placement process and a routing process. The placement process is a process for placing electronic components or circuit blocks on the chip and the routing process is the process for creating interconnections between the blocks and components according to the specified netlist. After an integrated circuit designer has created the physical design of the circuit, the integrated circuit designer then verifies and optimizes the design using a set of EDA testing and analysis tools.
Based upon the layout, photomasks are created for lithographic manufacturing of the electronic product. A photomask, or more simply a "mask," provides the master image of one layer of a given integrated chip's physical geometries. A typical photolithography system projects UV light energy on to and through the mask in order to transmit the mask pattern in reduced size to the wafer surface, where it interacts with a photosensitive coating on the wafer. Other processes may also be performed during to manufacture an integrated circuit. For example, etching, electroplated copper deposition (ECD), and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) may be used to form interconnects for the IC.
Significant variations may arise during the process of manufacturing the IC. These variations are commonly caused by side-effects of the processing used to manufacture the IC. For example, optical effects of using lithographic manufacturing process may cause variations to exist in the manufactured device from the originally intended feature dimensions and geometries of the layout. Variations in feature density, widths, and heights may also occur during the CMP, etching, and plating processes.
With shrinking process node sizes, the inherent effect of process variations is playing a larger factor in defining the behavior of a circuit. In particular, the variations may lead to serious problems and flaws in the manufactured IC. This leads to serious risks of reduced manufacturing yield and increased failures for final products that incorporate the IC devices.
One particular area of concern is with regard to the management of leakage power in an IC product. As processing technology sizes shrink, the effects of process variations becomes quite significant towards its effects upon leakage power. Pattern-based effects within the manufactured IC devices may cause leakage currents in transistors to exceed allowable levels, which cause excessive amounts of leakage power to affect the performance and viability of the IC device.
The present application provides an improved approach to perform leakage power analysis, characterization, and management. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to statistical leakage analysis approaches for performing power estimation that can address leakage variation, cell modeling and/or full chip computation techniques. Some embodiments of the invention utilize a bi-exponential model to perform leakage analysis and power estimation. As leakage power variation continue to increase in nanometer technologies, the statistical approach of the present embodiments provide a significantly improved solution to performing leakage analysis.
Other and additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention are described in the detailed description, figures, and claims.

Method and system for performing statistical leakage characterization, analysis, and modeling


A message transmitting and receiving method according to one aspect is performed by a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus including a middleware unit configured to manage a message published by a publisher in a publish/subscribe system in which a message is exchanged between the publisher and a subscriber via a broker, and a storage unit configured to store a library including functions configured to provide the broker, and includes the steps of performing, by the middleware unit, subscribing on the broker by setting a callback function, and upon receipt of a first message published by a device, passing, by the broker, the first message to the middleware unit by calling the callback function.

With the spread of Internet of Things (IoT), many devices such as sensors have a function of transmitting and receiving data. When a large number of devices and applications that manage the devices perform communications individually, the number of communication partners becomes enormous, which makes it extremely troublesome to identify a communication partner.
Under the above circumstances, the convenience of a broker-based publish/subscribe model in which messages are exchanged without individually identifying a communication partner has attracted attention. In recent years, this publish/subscribe model has been adopted in many IoT systems.
In an IoT system that adopts the publish/subscribe model, publishers and subscribers are not always evenly distributed. For this reason, a server that subscribes to all messages and temporarily stores them may be provided between a broker and an application (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Message transmitting and receiving method, communication apparatus, and program

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


An electrohydraulic control system for loading a bucket of a work machine includes sensors for producing signals representative of bucket position and forces. A command signal generator receives the signals and calculates a target angle on the basis of accumulated energy, and a force vector angle representing actual forces produced at an reference point on the bucket. Lift and tilt command signals are modified in response to differences between the target and actual angles, and used to controllably extend the lift cylinder to raise the bucket through the material, while racking the bucket at rates calculated to efficiently capture the material.

Work machines for moving mass quantities of earth, rock, minerals and other material typically comprise a work implement configured for loading, such as a bucket controllably actuated by at least one lift and one tilt hydraulic cylinder. An operator manipulates the work implement to perform a sequence of distinct functions. In a typical work cycle for loading a bucket, the operator first maneuvers close to a pile of material and levels the bucket near the ground surface, then directs the machine forward to engage the pile.
The operator subsequently raises the bucket through the pile, while at the same time "racking" (tilting back) the bucket in order to capture the material. When the bucket is filled or breaks free of the pile, the operator fully racks the bucket and lifts it to a dumping height, backing away from the pile to travel to a specified dump location. After dumping the load, the work machine is returned to the pile to begin another work cycle.
It is increasingly desirable to automate the work cycle to decrease operator fatigue, to more efficiently load the bucket, and where conditions are unsuitable for a human operator. Conventional automated loading cycles however, using predetermined position or velocity command signals, may be inefficient and fail to fully load the bucket due to the wide variation in material conditions. Pieces of interlocking broken rock left by blasting, referred to herein as "shot rock", and sedimentary earth, referred to herein as "hard pack", present particularly challenging material conditions. Power limitations of the machine hydraulic system may even make conventional automatic loading impossible when the bucket tip encounters larger rocks.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,572 to Gautler discloses a hydraulic control system which controls a lift cylinder to maintain wheel contact with the ground, by monitoring associated wheel torque. U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,843 to Rocke discloses a control system for capturing material which selectively supplies maximum lift and tilt signals in response to sensed hydraulic pressures. International Application No. WO 95/33896 to Daysys et al. discloses reversing the direction of fluid flow to the hydraulic cylinder to when bucket forces exceed allowable limits. None of the systems however, variably control the magnitude of the command signals in order to more efficiently capture material.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

System and method for automatic bucket loading using force vectors


In general, techniques are described for remotely monitoring, controlling, and/or adjusting configuration settings related to network access points located within a rental property. In some implementations, rental data that indicates a property that has been rented for a specified rental period is received. Sensor data collected by one or more sensors of the property during the specified rental period is obtained. A current occupancy of the property during the specified rental period is determined from the sensor data. Network data indicating network activity over a network access point of the property is obtained during the specified rental period. The network access point is configured during the specified rental period based at least on the network activity indicated by the network data and the current occupancy determined for the property from the sensor data.

Properties that are temporarily available for rent often provide complimentary internet access using secured network access points such as routers. A property administrator that manages and/or owns a property may provide guests with access codes that enable the guests access the internet through the secured network access point during a rental period. Configuration settings for the network access point can be periodically adjusted by the property administrator in order maintain network security between multiple guests.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wireless connection validation techniques


Provided is a method of treating arterial hypertension in a patient. The method comprises selecting a patient suffering from arterial hypertension and creating a flow pathway between a first vascular location and a second vascular location. The first vascular location comprises a source of arterial blood and the second vascular location comprises a source of venous blood. The method causes a reduction in diastolic pressure and a reduction in systolic pressure; and the reduction in diastolic pressure is to an extent at least approximating the reduction in systolic pressure. Systems and devices for creating a flow pathway are also provided.

Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated requiring the heart to work harder to circulate blood through the vessels. Blood pressure includes two measurements, systolic and diastolic, which depend on whether the heart muscle is contracting (systole) or relaxed between beats (diastole). Normal blood pressure at rest is within the range of 100-400 mmHg systolic and 60-90 mmHg diastolic. High blood pressure is typically present if it is persistently at or above 140/90 mmHg.
Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, aneurysms of the arteries such as aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, and is a cause of chronic kidney disease. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure is associated with a shortened life expectancy.
Current treatment methods, such as the administration of pharmaceuticals and renal denervation therapy, are associated with incomplete or otherwise limited treatment; high cost; invasiveness; and numerous undesirable side effects. There is therefore a need for improved approaches, including both devices and methods, for treating patients suffering from hypertension.

Methods, systems and devices for treating hypertension


A stair climbing exercise apparatus for use within a pool of water comprises two steps mounted for reciprocal movement along vertically disposed guides, pulleys disposed at an upper end of the guides, and a cable interconnecting the two steps and extending around the pulleys. Mounted on each of the steps, for movement therewith, is a flap having a relatively large surface disposed perpendicularly to the direction of movements of the steps. In use, when one of the steps is moved downwardly by the foot of a user of the apparatus, the other step is moved upwardly by the interconnecting cable. The water resists movement of the flaps, hence provides resistance to downward movement of the steps.

This invention relates to apparatus for performing underwater therapeutic exercise and particularly to an exercise simulating a stair climbing activity.
It is recognized that therapeutic exercises, e.g., by elderly persons or persons recovering from an illness or accident, are often best performed within a water environment wherein the weight of the exerciser's body is at least partially supported by the water while selected portions of the body are exercised. This allows selective exercising while reducing unwanted stresses.
One exercise which is particularly best performed within a body of water by persons undergoing physical therapy is that of stair climbing. This is because normal stair climbing is so stressful as to be almost impractical as a therapeutic exercise unless the normally high exertions associated with it are greatly reduced.
Stair climbing exercise devices are well known and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,970,302, 4,726,581, 4,708,338, 3,592,468, and 4,555,108, the subject matter of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In each of the devices of these patents, movable steps are provided which are movable in opposite directions, i.e., one being moved downwardly by the user's foot while the other moves upwardly, and vice versa. Also, each of the devices is provided with means for selectively varying the amount of force required for moving the steps.
The devices described in these patents are not designed for use under water. Proper design of apparatus for use in water, particularly water which is chemically treated, e.g., fluorinated, for hygienic purposes, must overcome several problems. For example, chemically treated water tends to be highly corrosive, thereby excluding the use of many materials and assemblages. Lubricated joints, unless hermetically sealed, are impractical. Also, to avoid the need to remove the apparatus from the pool, the parts of the apparatus should be readily removable and replaceable even if under water.
Thus, for underwater use, an apparatus should be as simple as possible, containing few parts movable with respect to one another, and including a minimum of joints requiring lubrication.
Patents, in the names of applicants herein, plus others, exist showing underwater exercize apparatus. One such patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,085, shows different apparatus simulating rowing, skiing, and skating, using flap means to provide resistance to movable elements moved by the exerciser.
The present invention is directed to a stair climbing apparatus satisfying the aforementioned criteria.

Underwater stair climbing exercise apparatus


A vaginal care composition is introduced directly into the vagina in the form of an ovule, a cream or an ointment or with a tampon or which is brought into a position outside the vagina on a panty liner. The composition comprises viable Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium microorganisms, non-viable Saccharomyces cultures, saccharide(s), vitamin A, and zinc.

The present invention relates to a method of applying a vaginal care composition. In particular, the invention relates to a vaginal care composition which is introduced directly into the vagina in the form of an ovule, a cream or an ointment or with a tampon or which is brought into a position outside the vagina on a panty liner.
It has long been known that mucosae can be very sensitive. The mucosa of the vagina is particularly sensitive to irritations or inflammations. Women who are so predisposed react, for example after visiting a swimming pool or other body of water or after sexual intercourse, with irritations, painful changes or even inflammation in the region of the vaginal mucosa. Hormonal changes, for example when taking the pill ("contraceptive pill"), in pregnancy, lactation or during the menopause, can also cause an irritated reaction in the vaginal mucosa. Similarly, systemic treatment with antibiotics, for example, also causes irritations of the mucosae, in particular the vaginal mucosa. A further irritating factor for the vaginal flora is the increasing discharge from the vagina, which originally comes from the abdominal cavity and, owing to an unphysiological composition of the secretions, can disturb the normal balance of the vaginal population.
The resulting irritations of the vaginal mucosa are not only painful but can also develop into advancing inflammations, which can affect other organs or the woman's entire body. In fact, several hundred thousand women are affected each year by such irritations, which can impair their feeling of well-being considerably.
One theory which might explain why irritations and inflammatory reactions can develop involves the formation of biofilms. Such biofilms may be involved in the formation of/colonization with pathogenic microorganisms and/or affect them in a supporting manner or even inhibit them. It would therefore be desirable to prevent such pathological biofilms from developing. The formation of a physiological mucosa-protecting film is the aim of this application.
Accordingly, the mucosa should be cared for in such a manner that it is better able to withstand environmental influences and does not offer an environment in which pathological biofilms are able to develop. Such care has already been widely practiced for a long time, for example for the outer skin of the body, for example by the use of caring oils or creams, preferably on a regular basis, but in particular after the skin has been exposed to particular stresses, for example after sunbathing or after showering or swimming.
For protection against infections when visiting swimming pools, there are tampons which are intended to prevent such infections. These "Symbiofem" tampons, which are to be found, for example, on the website www.symbiofem.com, are impregnated with Vaseline oil. However, these tampons provide only a purely mechanical barrier layer which does not contribute to caring for the vaginal mucosa in any way. On the contrary, it is questionable whether contact with highly concentrated Vaseline oil is beneficial to the mucosal environment. Furthermore, the Vaseline oil prevents a tampon from expanding in the required manner, so that it is barely able to adapt exactly to the body shape of the wearer and, in the end, water will nevertheless be allowed through.
Care products for the vaginal mucosa, with which the mucosa can be similarly cared for and protected, are therefore desirable.

Method for administering a vaginal care composition


A method includes providing data for storage in a memory, which includes multiple analog memory cells arranged in a three-dimensional (3-D) configuration having a first dimension associated with bit lines, a second dimension associated with word lines, and a third dimension associated with sections. The data is stored in the memory cells in accordance with a programming order that alternates among the sections, including storing a first portion of the data in a first section, then storing a second portion of the data in a second section different from the first section, and then storing a third portion of the data in the first section.

Various types of three-dimensional (3-D) non-volatile memory devices, and methods for programming such devices, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0069657, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a memory device that includes a memory cell array, in some embodiments a three-dimensional Flash memory, a self interleaver configured to interleave and load data on the fly into a buffer circuit using an interleaving scheme, and a control logic configured to control programming of the interleaved data in the memory cell array.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0069664, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a Flash memory system and a word line interleaving method thereof. The Flash memory system includes a memory cell array, such as a three-dimensional array, and word line interleaving logic. The memory cell array is connected to a plurality of word lines. The word line (WL) interleaving logic performs an interleaving operation on WL data corresponding to at least two different word lines and programs data, including the interleaved data, to the memory cell array.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0028027, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a 3-D semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cell strings, includes a substrate and a channel that extends from the substrate. Memory cells may be disposed in layers in which the diameter of the channel varies. A programming verification operation may be carried out in a sequence whereby memory cells more likely to fail in programming are verified before attempting to verify memory cells that are less likely to fail programming. In an exemplary embodiment, the verification operation is performed on a memory cell disposed in a layer associated with a larger-diameter channel before performing the verification on a memory cell disposed in a layer associated with a smaller-diameter channel.

Programming schemes for 3-D non-volatile memory


A new and distinct, vigorous cultivar of Stokesia laevis named ‘Divinity’, characterized by a compact growth habit, wide strap like leaves, and numerous white flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar botanically known as Stokesia laevis and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Divinity'. 'Divinity' is a new and distinct cultivar found as a chance seedling in summer 2009 at a plant nursery in Pensacola, Fla. Asexual propagation in the form of division, root cuttings, and layering have all yielded successive generations exhibiting the same phenotypic characteristics of the original plant showing the new plant to be stable and reproducible in production.


A content processing apparatus includes a clock circuit. The clock circuit counts time with reference to a first start-up time. A flash memory holds a storage period. A recording time based on a time of the clock circuit is embedded in a JPEG file to be recorded in a hard disk. When accepting an instruction to reproduce the JPEG file, a CPU calculates a boundary time based on a current time of the clock circuit and the storage period. Then, if the recording time of the JPEG file is earlier than the boundary time, the CPU disables a reproduction process of the JPEG file by a JPEG codec.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content processing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a content processing apparatus that restricts an available period of a content.
2. Description of the Prior Art
These days, there is an increasing need for assigning a period of seven days, thirty days or the like to each of contents such as image data, audio data and computer software in order to impose an available-period restriction with which the content becomes unavailable after this period has passed since a first using time. For situations requiring the available-period restriction, for example, there are a case of charging for a content in providing it according to an available period and a case of restricting a storage period of a recorded image from a surveillance camera in recording it from a viewpoint of human rights protection, etc.
A prior art for applying the available period restriction as mentioned above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-open No. H8-212115 laid-open on Aug. 20, 1996. According to this prior art, image files are stored in a hard disk (HD). A storage period is assigned to each of the image files, and, after the storage period has elapsed, the image file is deleted from the HD or is once read out from the HD, subjected to a compression process and an image quality degradation process, and stored again in the HD. Due to this, the image file whose available period has passed, cannot be reproduced at all or can be reproduced but viewed only with low image quality.
In the above prior art, however, whenever an image file whose available period has passed, comes into existence, it is necessary to perform a heavy process such as deleting or compressing the relevant image file. Thus, a heavy load is imposed especially in a case where a large number of files are handled.


A device for isolation of see crystals during processing of solutions. The device enables a seed crystal to be introduced into the solution without exposing the solution to contaminants or to sources of drying and cooling. The device constitutes a seed protector which allows the seed to be present in the growth solution during filtration and overheating operations while at the same time preventing the seed from being dissolved by the under saturated solution. When the solution processing has been completed and the solution cooled to near the saturation point, the seed protector is opened, exposing the seed to the solution and allowing growth to begin.

The present invention relates to the growth of crystals from solutions, particularly to the isolation of seed crystals during processing of the crystal growth solution, and more particularly to a seed crystal protector which allows the seed to be present in the growth solution during processing thereof while preventing damage and dissolution to the seed.
In any method of solution crystal growth, the growth solutions must be filtered and overheated above the saturation point in order to remove all extraneous particles and dissolve crystal clusters which can become crystallization sources during growth of a single crystal. After these operations the seed crystal is introduced into the clean solution. This has been done in two different ways: 1) by introducing a seed fixed on a crystal holder into the tank which contains the processed solution, or 2) by introducing the solution into a tank which contains the seed.
In both of the above-referenced cases the cleanliness and stability of the solution obtained during filtration and overheating are reduced. New extraneous and crystalline particles come from the air, the crystal holder, walls of a dry tank, etc., and small crystalline clusters are formed due to local drying and cooling.
In addition, the seed itself has to be introduced at a temperature higher than the saturation point in order to dissolve crystalline particles which always exist on its surface. The higher the temperature the greater the probability of dissolving all crystalline particles. But at the same time the seed itself will be partially dissolved or even lost during this overheating operation, especially if a small seed is used in a large volume of solution as is often the case during the growth of large crystals, such as the KDP crystals for nonlinear optical devices, such as Pockel cells and frequency converters, weighing up to 3.5 kg.
Various crystal growing techniques have been developed to provide rapid growth of the crystals. These prior approaches are exemplified by N. P. Zaitseva et al., Study Of Rapid Growth Of KDP Crystals By Temperature Lowering, Kristallografiya, 36, 198-202, Jan. 1991; and J. Zachova et al., Application Of High Rate Crystal Growth Technique To Nucleic Acid Bases Single Crystals, SPIE, Vol. 1402, 216-222, 1990.
While these prior processes have greatly advanced the solution crystal growth technology, there is a need for protecting the seed crystal during processing of the growth solution and preventing contamination of the growth solution. This need is satisfied by the present invention which basically involves a seed protector which isolates the seed crystal during processing of the growth solution without removing the seed crystal from the tank containing the growth solution. The protector device basically involves a movable shaft having a sealed cup at one end which surrounds the seed crystal, and upon completion of the solution processing, the shaft is raised to expose the seed crystal to the growth solution.

Device for isolation of seed crystals during processing of solution

The Regents of the University of California


A computer system has a large number of media input sources selectively coupled to a single presentation device. A device database tracks characteristics and connections of the input sources. Multiple, possibly conflicting, channels are assigned to a set of mutually distinct logical channel designations in a channel-map database. Program events occurring on the channels reside in a guide database.

The present invention relates to electronic data processing, and more particularly concerns the identification, selection, and presentation of media signals from multiple channels of multiple media sources in a multimedia system.
Personal computers are evolving in several different directions. One of those directions leads toward a larger system including multimedia inputs from many different sources, presented to a user--or a group of users simultaneously--through a set of system output devices which have a configuration similar to that of an entertainment center or a home theater. This type of personal computer converges the capabilities of previously separate systems into a single system having greater capabilities than any of the separate systems, and at the same time reduces cost by eliminating the duplication of components providing the same function in the separate systems. An example of such a "converged system" is the publicly available Destination.RTM. PC/TV system from Gateway 2000. This product permits a user to enjoy the capabilities of both a personal computer system and a high-quality television system at a lower total cost than that of two separate systems.
One of the advantages of a convergence system is the availability of enough computing power to integrate many media input devices, such as direct-broadcast satellite receivers, compact disc and digital video disc players, video cassette recorders, and cameras, and to control their functions from a central point. Moreover, the programmability of a computer permits a system to be built up and configured to the individual tastes of each user, and to allow the media devices to interact with each other as the user wishes. Another potential capability involves employing on-line programming guides to set up and schedule events, such as recording a particular satellite show on a cassette recorder, then playing it back at a specified time.
In order to realize the advantages of convergence systems, it must be very easy for a relatively untrained user to add new features and devices, to prevent devices from interfering with each other, and to present consistent interfaces for all features and devices.
One of the problems in meeting these goals is that individual media sources such as satellite, cable, and off-the-air television each have multiple channels, and their channels are numbered or otherwise designated without regard for the designations of channels in the other services. Each service has its own, incompatible "channel map." Thus, for example, merely specifying channel `156` may be ambiguous between a local cable provider and a satellite service.

Method and managing multiple channel maps from multiple input devices in a multimedia system


A NO.sub.x abatement composition comprises a NO.sub.x abatement catalyst and a NO.sub.x sorbent material which are dispersed in proximity to, but segregated from, each other on a common refractory carrier member (10). The NO.sub.x sorbent material comprises a basic oxygenated metal compound and optionally further comprises ceria. The NO.sub.x abatement catalyst contains a catalytic metal component including a platinum metal catalytic component. The catalytic metal component is segregated from the NO.sub.x sorbent material, which may be one or more of metal oxides, metal carbonates, metal hydroxides and mixed metal oxides. At least the catalytic metal component and the NO.sub.x sorbent material must be on, or comprise separate, particles; the particles may either be admixed or may be disposed in separate layers (20a, 20b) on the carrier member (10). A NO.sub.x abatement method employs the composition and includes periodically adjusting the gas being treated between lean and stoichiometric/rich operating cycles.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with NO.sub.x abatement, especially with NO.sub.x abatement in the exhaust gas of lean-burn internal combustion engines. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a novel composition comprising a combination of a NO.sub.x trap (sorbent material) and a NO.sub.x abatement catalyst, and to a method of using the same.
2. Related Art
It is well-known in the art to utilize catalyst compositions, such as those commonly referred to as three-way conversion catalysts ("TWC catalysts") to treat the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. Such catalysts have been found to successfully promote both the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons ("HC") and carbon monoxide ("CO") and the reduction of nitrogen oxides ("NO.sub.x ") in the exhaust gas, provided that the engine is operated at or close to stoichiometric air/fuel conditions. However, many present day engines, especially gasoline-fueled engines used for passenger automobiles and the like, are designed to operate under lean conditions at least part of the time as a fuel economy measure. That is, the ratio of air to fuel in the combustion mixture supplied to the engine is maintained above the stoichiometric ratio so that the resulting exhaust gases are "lean", i.e., the exhaust gases are relatively high in oxygen content and relatively low in reductants content, e.g., HC, CO and/or hydrogen.
Although lean burn engines provide enhanced fuel economy, they have the disadvantage that conventional TWC catalysts cannot adequately abate the NO.sub.x component of pollutants in the gas stream. The art has devoted some effort to developing catalysts specifically designed to treat the exhaust of lean burn engines. One such effort is described in the publication Environmental Catalysis For A Better World And Life, Proceedings of the 1st World Congress at Pisa, Italy, May 1-5, 1995, published by the Societa Chimica Italiana of Rome, Italy. At pages 45-48 of the publication, there is an article entitled "The New Concept 3-Way Catalyst For Automotive Lean-Burn Engine Storage and Reduction Catalyst", by Takahashi et al (below referred to as "the Takahashi et al paper"). This article discloses the preparation of catalysts by impregnating precious metals, mainly platinum, and various alkaline and alkaline earth metal oxides, mainly barium oxide, and rare earth oxides on supports, mainly alumina. These catalysts were employed for NO.sub.x purification of actual and simulated exhaust gases. At page 47 of the article, there is both shown graphically in FIG. 5 and discussed in paragraph 3.1.1., "NO.sub.x Storage Mechanism", the concept of employing NO.sub.x storage compounds in conjunction with the catalytic (platinum) component, with both the NO.sub.x storage compounds and the catalytic component dispersed on a common support material. It is stated that "When precious metals were separated from the NO.sub.x storage compounds on these catalysts, the NO.sub.x storage amount drastically decreased." Paragraph 3.1.1. therefore teaches that the NO.sub.x storage compound and the platinum catalyst should be intimately admixed by being disposed on the same increment of, e.g., alumina, support as described in the catalyst preparation procedure described in paragraph 2 (page 45) and illustrated in FIG. 5.
In paragraph 3.1, page 46, testing of the catalysts is described as being carried out with simulated exhaust gases alternately under oxidizing and reducing conditions. The conclusion is drawn on the last sentence on page 46, that NO.sub.x was stored in the catalyst under oxidizing conditions and that the stored NO.sub.x was then reduced to nitrogen under stoichiometric and reducing conditions.
SAE paper 950809 published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., Warrendale, Pa., and entitled Development of New Concept Three-Way Catalyst for Automotive Lean-Burn Engines, by Naoto Miyoshi et al, was delivered at the International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Mich., Feb. 27-Mar. 2, 1995. This paper, referred to below as "the SAE paper", which has authors in common with the above-mentioned Takahashi et al paper, contains a disclosure which is substantially the same as, but is more detailed than, that of the Takahashi et al paper. At page 123 of the SAE paper a correlation between basicity of the elements used as NO.sub.x storage material and NO.sub.x storage capacity is discussed as is NO.sub.x adsorption by complex oxides such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 Oy and CuO--BaO. The discussion of mixed oxides is made with reference to items 6 and 7 of the references cited at the end of the SAE paper. The references are "Uptake of NO gas by YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 Oy" by K. Tabata et al, Chem. Lett., 1988, pp. 799-802 and "NO removal by adsorption into BaO--CuO binary oxides" by M. Machida et al, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commum. 1990, pp. 1165-1166. At page 125 of the SAE paper, there is a comparison of two catalysts. One catalyst comprises (a) noble metal impregnated on one increment of alumina and the NO.sub.x storage component impregnated on alumina, and the other catalyst comprises (b) both noble metal and the storage component impregnated on the same increment of alumina. The SAE paper states that catalyst (a) stored a very small amount of NO.sub.x as compared to catalyst (b) and concludes that the "storage amount increases when the noble metal is in the proximity of the storage component".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,300, "Catalyst For Purification of Exhaust Gas", issued on Apr. 13, 1993, to M. Funabiki et al, discloses a catalyst composition comprising a refractory support having deposited thereon an active layer containing a palladium and rhodium catalytic metal component dispersed on alumina, a cerium compound, a strontium compound, and a zirconium compound. (See the Abstract.) This patent discloses the preparation of the catalyst by impregnating alumina particles with palladium and rhodium and then combining the impregnated alumina with compounds such as cerium nitrate, strontium acetate hemi-hydrate and zirconyl acetate together with acetic acid and deionized water in a ball mill, and crushing and mixing the mixture to provide a slurry which is applied to a monolithic, cylindrical cordierite carrier. See columns 3-5 of the Funabiki et al Patent, especially Example 1 which discloses that the strontium compound is solubilized in the acidified water and impregnated into the alumina support particles together with the palladium and rhodium catalytic metal components. Example 1 as Funabiki et al, like the Takahashi et al and SAE papers referred to above, impregnates both the alkaline earth metal compound (a strontium compound in the case of Funabiki et al), and the palladium and rhodium catalytic metal components into the same increment of (alumina) support material. However, Example 2 of Funabiki et al substitutes strontium hydroxide for the strontium acetate and the limited solubility of strontium hydroxide suggests that it remains in bulk form in the finished product, admixed with the palladium and rhodium-impregnated alumina.


A printer display which allows users to access and edit a document may resolve some problems traditionally associated with the publication process on network printers. This may be accomplished by providing a GUI at the printer at which a user may access, display, and edit a document originally saved to the user's PC. The GUI may allow users to make changes to the document while they are present at the network printer instead of forcing them to return to their PC to make the changes. Additionally, restricting access to the printer display may provide a secure printing environment for the user by controlling who may access a document at the printer or view printed results. Further, limiting GUI and document access may also reduce or eliminate the potential for lost or stolen printed documents.

Documents often require many revisions before they are ready for final publication. In many home and business environments, a writer will edit his document at a personal computer (PC) and print the document to a remotely-located, network printer. The writer must then travel to the printer to retrieve the printed document or have the document delivered to his location. During the revision process, the writer will often print what he thinks is the publication copy of a document only to find minor errors that are visible once it is in tangible form. For example, documents with headers and footers are often edited such that these parts of the document are not visible until printing. If the printed document contains header and footer formatting errors, the writer must first travel to the printer to retrieve the printed document, notice the errors, travel back to his PC to correct those errors, print the document again, then travel back to the printer to retrieve the corrected, printed document. Correcting these minor errors wastes both time and resources. Furthermore, once the writer sends his document to a conventional shared network printer, the printer prints that document as soon as the file has made its way through the printer queue. Consequently, others may be able to view or gain possession of the printed document before the writer has a chance to retrieve it.
Previous methods and devices have included graphical user interfaces (GUIs) at the printer, but none have addressed the particular problem associated with the publication process and security nor have they enhanced the tedious, back-and-forth revision process described above. For example, printers are known to allow a user to first print a reduced version of image files associated with digital imaging to prevent printing full-sized copies of unwanted photos. Other devices include printing interfaces which allow a user to apply formatting changes to a portion of a document without changing the original file and to print a copy with those changes. Further printers will display information about mismatches between a printer's resources and the file in a user interface or allow manual or automatic changes to a document based the compatibility of the document content with printer resources. Still other references disclose methods for secure printing which employ data encryption/decryption techniques and the use of SMART cards.


A compact X-ray fluorescence spectrometer system dedicated to in-line, real-time analysis of wear metal particles in a lubricant used in a lubricating system that comprises a sample chamber, an X-ray source assembly, and an X-ray detector assembly. The sample chamber is substantially composed of a non-metallic material and has a cylindrical shape. The sample chamber is adapted for in-line connection to the lubrication system of the machine such that the sample chamber provides a passageway through which the lubricant flows. The sample chamber has an X-ray transparent window formed therein that allows the passage of X-rays so that the presence of wear metal particles can be detected in the lubricant. A high intensity, relatively small spot incident X-ray source assembly is configured to provide a source of X-rays directed toward the sample chamber such that said X-rays pass through the window in the sample chamber and contact the lubricant flowing therethrough. The X-ray source assembly may comprise either an electron-beam excited X-ray tube associated with a collimating/focusing assembly or, alternatively, an X-ray laser source. The X-ray detector assembly is configured to detect the X-rays emitted from the lubricant flowing through the sample chamber. The X-ray detector assembly generates a signal reflecting the X-rays emitted by the lubricant and comprises a collimating/focusing assembly capable of wide angle collection of the X-rays emitted from the lubricant flowing though the sample chamber and a low-noise X-ray detector. The system also includes a computer system and associated software for processing the signal in order to determine the presence and amount of wear metal particles in said lubricant.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spectrometers, and particularly to X-ray fluorescence spectrometers for wear metal analysis of lubricating oils.
2. Relevant Technology
The presence of wear metal particles in lubricating oils, even in micron or sub-micron size is recognized as one of the main causes of catastrophic failure of aircraft engines, gear boxes, and other lubricated machinery. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers ("ASME") has established standard ASME industrial assessment charts such as the one depicted in FIG. 1, indicating industrial tolerance limits for various chemical elements. Some types of equipment require even more stringent standards. For example, advanced military aircraft engines, have a limit for the maximum iron content for safe engine operation that is typically set at about four (4) parts per million ("ppm"). This is a much lower limit than the range of 20 ppm to 50 ppm established by one ASME industrial assessment chart for general industrial facilities as indicated by FIG. 1.
Depending on the type of equipment, the risk of failure, and the stringentness of the tolerance limits, periodic inspections are performed to verify that the wear metal particles are not exceeding established tolerances. For example, after a number of in-flight occurrences resulting in the loss of crew and hardware, the risk of engine failure was deemed to be so serious by the military that an oil analysis for F16 fighter airplanes is currently performed after every flight.
At present, wear metal analysis is routinely performed in dedicated analytical laboratories on solid residual particles collected from used oils by filtration after selected periods of operation, such as 10, 50, 100, and 500 hours of operation. The most common analysis methods are: atomic emission spectroscopy; inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy; atomic absorption spectroscopy; and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Atomic emission spectroscopy is a destructive method in which a sample material is excited by arc sparks that are produced in a sample chamber to cause a subsequent characteristic emission. Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy is also a destructive method. In inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy a sample is excited by burning it in a high temperature furnace to produce a plasma. Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a destructive inspection method in which the molecular disassociation or ionization of the sample is related to characteristic reductions in the intensity of an incident light beam passing through the sample. The X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a non-destructive inspection method where a sample is excited by exposure to an X-ray beam and as the energy dissipates releases a characteristic emission.
In certain field cases, periodic batch sampling and emission or absorption analyses are sufficiently reliable to detect over ninety percent (90%) of potential failures. This level of performance is, however, considered insufficient or unacceptable if, even in singular cases, loss of human life and of unique, expensive hardware is involved. Moreover, emission and absorption spectroscopies are sensitive only to solid particles of a size in the 1 micron to 10 micron range. Thus, these methods cannot be used for advanced engine systems in which special filters prevent the passage of particles larger than 0.3 microns.
A particular deficiency of the inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy is that the short, high temperature burning of the batch specimens usually lasting only nanoseconds to microseconds may not be capable of vaporizing large wear metal particles. These limitations of absorption and emission spectroscopies suggest that X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy should rather be adopted as a preferred analytical method.
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy has no particle size limitation, and is fast, reliable, and non-destructive. In current applications, however, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is still performed in the batch mode. A batch mode is when the sample materials, in this case the solid particles, are collected periodically from used oils by a filtration process. Therefore, in spite of the advantages of the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy method, the formation and release of wear metal particles into the system may still escape immediate detection with possible catastrophic results. On the other hand, oil analyses performed with virtually arbitrary periodicity, without any reliable indication of actual significant wear, are expensive in terms of materials, equipment, labor, and time.
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is one of the analytical methods often used for elemental identification and quantitative evaluation of components in multi-element sample materials. A schematic illustration of the basic two-stage process involved in X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the first stage or X-ray absorption stage, energy, such as an X-ray, is delivered to the sample material from an external X-ray source as depicted in FIG. 2. The energy absorption or energy increase results in the sample becoming excited at the atomic level as shown in FIG. 3. In the second stage or the X-ray emission stage, after a time interval equal to the life time of the characteristic excited state, the sample spontaneously decays and emits the excess energy in the form of X-rays with energies uniquely related to the electronic structure of the sample species as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The emission spectrum is plotted as X-ray intensity versus energy. The line features of the emitted X-ray spectrum are characteristic for the chemical composition of the sample material and thus can be interpreted as fingerprints in a virtually unequivocal elemental identification. Line intensities are used in quantitative analyses with appropriate calibration. The bremsstrahlung radiation background, always present in the recorded spectrum, can be subtracted by a computer used for data processing.
It would be advantageous to substantially improve the efficiency of early risk detection by incorporating a miniature analytical instrument within the machinery assembly itself to conduct a continuous, real-time oil analysis and detection of metal particles of any size. It would be advantageous to be able to have an X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy that did not have to be run in a batch mode. It would further be advantageous to be able to have immediate detection of the formation and release of wear metal particles.

Compact X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for real-time wear metal analysis of lubrucating oils


The appearance of symmetrical lateral movement such as the flapping of a bird's wings is provided by a rotating vane which has a light side and a dark side. The vane is generally elliptical in shape and is divided into two blades. Each of the blades is curled about an axis which is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the vane. Accordingly, rotation of the vane alternately shows the light and dark sides of the vane such that the light side of the vane appears from a distance to be moving along the axis of rotation about the center of the axis of rotation. The vane is rotatably attached to an animal decoy, such as a duck decoy, by a support. The curvature of the vane causes the vane to rotate in response to a wind force. During rotation, the top of the vane moves away from the head of the decoy and the bottom of the vane moves toward the head such that any lift generated by rotation of the vane is directed upwards to lift the decoy slightly out of the water rather than drive the decoy into the water. A motor can supply rotational force to the vane in the absence of wind force.

Water fowl decoys which are made to resemble various water fowl such as ducks or geese have long been used by hunters to attract game to a particular area. Such decoys are generally made of wood or molded plastic and are placed in water to mimic the appearance of a flock of ducks or geese sitting in a lake, lagoon, cove, or other similar body of water. Since the decoys are motionless, such decoys are not particularly visible from the altitudes at which water fowl fly and therefore have limited success in attracting game.
Accordingly, a number of attempts have been made to introduce motion to water fowl decoys. Some conventional decoys are dragged by underwater systems to give the decoys the appearance of swimming about in the water. However, such conventional decoy systems have only limited success, apparently since the swimming motion is hardly perceptible to water fowl flying overhead at significant altitudes. Other conventional decoys employ elaborate mechanically driven wings to imitate the flapping of wings by a bird. Such flapping decoys are better at attracting game but suffer from the disadvantages of mechanical complexity and associated expense.
What is needed is a particularly simple and inexpensive mechanism by which motion resembling the flapping of a bird's wings is introduced to a bird decoy.


A baton includes an elongated flexible resilient member having a wand portion extending from a handle formed at a first end of the member and divided into two separate elongated half sections substantially longitudinally bisecting the wand portion and the handle. The two half sections may be releasably mounted to one another to form the baton.

Spectators at sporting events generally desire to vociferously indicate their reaction to the performance of a player, a team or an official at suitable times during a game. Hand-held objects such as programmes, towels, elongated balloons or commercially available foam hands are commonly seen being held aloft and waved by spectators at various times during a sporting event and provide a noticeable visual reaction to a specific incident. Such spectator reaction is readily apparent to players, officials and to other spectators. Further, when such objects are waved in unison by a group of individuals, this can have the effect of enhancing the performance of a team or an individual on a team.
The novelty baton of the present invention may be manufactured from flexible foam or like material to provide a safe, reusable alternative or addition to such devices presently in use. A pennant can be removably affixed intermediate the ends of the baton and quickly marked by the user with 'dry-erase' felt tipped markers or the like, to further enhance the spectators' personal reaction to an incident occurring during the sporting event. The baton may contain a pocket or like storage area in a proximal end within which such markers can be readily stored.
In the prior art the applicant is aware of Canadian Patent Number 2,407,490, issued Nov. 1, 2001 to Olson for a Hand Held Multiple Banner and Signage Device. This device illustrates multiple flexible, flat, rectangular sheets each of which may either be folded laterally upon its centerline or joined at an edge so as to create opposing, equal sized signage sheets. A message may be displayed on a single sheet or on two adjacent sheets.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. Des. 357,707 issued Apr. 25, 1995 to Moore, for a Foldable Message Sign for Sporting Events. This sign is of rigid planar construction having a plurality of fold lines permitting the message sign to be accordioned outwardly from a folded to an extended configuration by gripping the opposite side edges of the banner.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,255 issued Jul. 22, 1986 to Marcotti for a Flag Pole Device, generally comprising an elongated staff having a transparent, waterproof envelope open at an end, which is removably secured to the staff. An insert may be placed within the envelope and the open end of the envelope secured to the staff.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,910 issued May 1, 1990 to Chu-Ying for a Foldable Display Means, which generally comprises a hollow mast or staff having an upper section hingedly secured to a lower section. A display sheet or flag secured to the upper section may be selectively, angularly positioned relative to the lower section. The lower mast section may have one or more elongated storage slots to accept both upper mast section and flag when rotated generally downwardly parallel to the lower mast section. The upper mast may accommodate a flag-marking instrument.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,512 issued Apr. 9, 1991 to Shan for a Portable Extensible Flag Pole with a Flag. The flag is secured to a rotatable dowel positioned within the uppermost mast section and the uppermost mast section is provided with a slot through which the flag protrudes. Rotation of the dowel within the upper mast section allows the flag to be withdrawn from its extended aspect to a storage aspect to subsequently be suitably nested within an adjacent mast section.


A drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising an engine, a transmission or gearbox, a clutch aggregate for transmitting torque, the clutch aggregate including at least two friction clutches that are assigned to an input shaft of the transmission or gearbox, wherein at least one of the at least two friction clutches features an energy accumulator operatively arranged to generate a lock-up force required for torque transmission through the clutch aggregate, and a control unit operatively arranged to control an automatic activation of the at least two friction clutches and the transmission or gearbox, wherein in the event of a malfunction of the activation of the friction clutch, the stored energy in the accumulator creates an interruption of torque transmission within a section of the drive unit connected downstream of the clutch aggregate.

Drive units for motor vehicles of the type mentioned above are, for instance, proposed by DE 10 2005 061 078 A1, DE 103 08 700 A1, and DE 103 08 698 A1. Special designs of the so-called twin clutches for application with such drive units are, for instance, proposed by DE 102 38 403 A1, DE 34 46 460 C2, DE 100 64 459 A1, DE 100 13 576 A1 and DE 101 55 458 A1. Basically, both types of twin clutches are known, whereby both clutches are closed from outside by forces applied forcibly to the actuating means of the clutches as well as twin clutches by which the clutches feature a separate energy accumulator, e.g. a diaphragm spring that at least partially applies the contact force required for closing the friction clutch. The latter clutches involve the so-called closing clutches, whereas by the clutches that are closed mainly by means of force applied from outside are called automatically opening clutches. Also embodiments of a twin clutch are possible, in which a closing as well as an automatically opening friction clutch is available.
Only the automatically opening clutches have prevailed in practice, in particular when the so-called dry clutches are used in connection with a power shift gearbox. This design is necessary to ensure that both clutches will open in the event of a malfunction in the activation system of the power shift gearbox and/or at least in the event of a malfunction in one of the two friction clutches. Thereby, damage to the drive train can be avoided, in particular in the gearbox, for instance, because of a blocking effect when both friction clutches are closed. The reasons for such malfunctions within the control device and the actuators controlled by this control device are, for example, power failures that interrupt the hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electric power supply to the respective actuators. A cause of power failure, for instance, can be a fallen connector or failure of a circuit breaker. To avoid critical driving situations, automatically opening friction clutches have been used as already mentioned above. These clutches open automatically in the event of certain operational malfunctions.


To provide a process for producing CeO2 fine particles having high crystallinity, being excellent in uniformity of composition and particle size and having a small particle size, and a polishing slurry containing such fine particles.

Recently, particularly along with the increase in the integration and functionality of semiconductor integrated circuits, there has been a demand for development of micro-fabrication techniques for miniaturization and densification. Planarization techniques for interlayer insulating films and embedded wirings are important in semiconductor device production processes, in particular, in the process of forming multilayered wirings. That is, as the multilayered wirings are increasingly formed due to the miniaturization and densification in the semiconductor production processes, the degree of irregularities tends to increase in the surfaces of the individual layers, resulting in a situation where the step height exceeds the depth of focus in lithography. In order to prevent such a problem, high planarization techniques are important in the process of forming multilayered wirings.
As the material for such wirings, Cu has attracted attention because of its lower resistivity compared with conventionally used Al alloys and also because of its excellence in electromigration resistance. Since the vapor pressure of copper chloride gas is low, it is difficult to form Cu into the shape of wirings by Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) which has been conventionally used. Therefore, in order to form the wirings, a Damascene method is used. In this method, concave portions such as trench patterns and via holes for wirings, are formed in an insulating layer. A barrier layer is then formed thereon, and then Cu is deposited so as to be embedded in the trench portions to form a film by sputtering, plating or the like. Subsequently, the excess Cu and barrier layer are removed by Chemical Mechanical Polishing (hereinafter referred to as "CMP") until the surface of the insulating layer is exposed, other than the concave portions, whereby the surface is planarized to form an embedded metal wiring. Further, it is possible to form multilayered wirings comprising Cu and SiO2 film by depositing an interlayer insulating film comprising SiO2 on an embedded wiring, planarizing the SiO2 film by CMP and forming the next embedded wiring. Recently, a Dual Damascene method has been predominantly used, in which Cu wirings and via holes embedded with Cu are simultaneously formed (e.g. Patent Document 1).
Further, in order to electrically separate devices such as transistors, shallow trench isolation (hereinafter referred to as STI) has been employed. In this method, a trench is formed on a silicon substrate while a device region is masked with a SiNx film, and then a SiO2 film is deposited so that it is embedded in the trench, and then any SiO2 film on the SiNx film is removed by CMP to electrically separate the device region. During CMP, it is common to use the SiNx film as a stopper by letting the removal rate of the SiNx film and the removal rate of the SiO2 film have a selective ratio, so that polishing is terminated at the time when the SiNx film is exposed.
For such formation of Cu embedded wirings, for planarization of the interlayer insulating film, development of a polishing compound which provides a high removal rate of the SiO2 film and a low removal rate of the SiNx film has been developed. Heretofore, as abrasive grains to be used for the above CMP, silica abrasive grains have been commonly used. However, they provide a low selective ratio between the removal rate of the SiNx film and the removal rate of the SiO2 film, cerium oxide (hereinafter referred to as CeO2) abrasive grains excellent in such selective ratio are becoming used instead.
For example, an attempt has been made to use a polishing compound in the form of a slurry containing ultrafine particles of high purity CeO2 for the above process for producing a semiconductor device (e.g. Patent Document 2) However, since CeO2 in a low crystalline state is chemically highly reactive, when a polishing compound slurry containing such CeO2 ultrafine particles is used, problems such as a burned spot, orange peel and deposition on the polished surface tend to arise, and thus they cannot be used for precision polishing. In order to solve these problems, an attempt has been made is to use CeO2 ultrafine particles obtained by mixing, with stirring, an aqueous solution of cerous nitrate with a base in such a mixing ratio that the pH value of the mixture ranges from 5 to 10, followed by aging at from 70 to 100° C. (Patent Document 3).
However, in this method, it is not easy to set the reaction conditions, and it is hard to control the end point of the reaction, and accordingly, it is difficult to control the particle size of the fine particles and the particle size distribution, and no sufficient properties were achieved for use as a precision polishing slurry in the process for producing a semiconductor device.
On the other hand, Patent Document 4 discloses a method for producing a magnetoplumbite type ferrite (MFe12O19) powder by glass crystallization method, comprising subjecting glass to heat treatment at a temperature of at least the glass transition point to precipitate ceramic crystals in the glass matrix, and dissolving and removing the glass with a weak acid to separate only precipitated crystals. This glass crystallization method is characterized in that it is effective as a means for preparing high purity ceramic particles and that the particle size, the particle size distribution and the shape of the particles are easily controlled, in a case where substances other than the crystallized particles are completely removed.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-55861
Patent Document 2: JP-A-8-134435
Patent Document 3: U.S.P. 5,938,837
Patent Document 4: U.S.P. 4,569,775

Abstract: A process for producing CeO2 fine particles, which comprises a step of obtaining a melt containing, as represented by mol % based on oxides, from 5 to 50% of CeO2, from 10 to 50% of RO (wherein R is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) and from 30 to 75% of B2O3, a step of quenching the melt to obtain an amorphous material, a step of precipitating CeO2 crystals from the amorphous material, and a step of separating the CeO2 crystals from the obtained crystallized product, in this order. A polishing slurry containing from 0.1 to 20 mass % of such fine particles.


A tilt mechanism (10) for a chair comprises a base (11), a first support (12) configured to support a chair seat and a second support (13) configured to support a chair back. The second support (13) is pivotably coupled to the base (11). A first coupling mechanism (41) couples the first support (12) with the base (11) and includes a first pin (40) slideably supported in a first linear guide slot (20). A second coupling mechanism (42) couples the second support (13) with the first support (12) and includes a second pin (44) slideably supported in a second linear guide slot (36). When the second support (13) pivots relative to the base (11), the first pin (40) is caused to be displaced along the first linear guide slot (20) and the second pin (44) is caused to be displaced along the second linear guide slot (36).

For a wide variety of applications, chairs are nowadays provided with features which provide enhanced comfort to the person using the chair. For illustration, office-type chairs are commonly utilized in modern working environments to provide an occupant with a level of comfort while performing certain tasks that require a person to be in a seated position for an extended period of time. One common configuration for such a chair includes a mobile chair base assembly to allow the chair to roll across a floor and a pedestal column supporting the superstructure of the chair. The superstructure may include components which enable the user to adjust certain settings of the chair and to facilitate recline or "tilt" of the chair superstructure, including the seat and back of the chair. This basic chair configuration allows users to change their sitting position in the chair as desired, such that fatigue may be minimized during long sitting periods.
In recent years, chair designs have implemented a feature where a chair back and seat both move simultaneously during a tilting or rearwardly reclining motion of the chair back. The chair seat may also tilt in this process or may be displaced otherwise relative to the chair base. The combined movement of the chair back and seat in these designs results in some level of improvement for the occupant through a range of tilting motions over a conventional "static" chair without coordinated back and seat movement.
Various configurations may be realized to implement such a coordinated motion of the chair back and chair seat. For illustration, a back support supporting the chair back may be coupled to a seat support supporting the chair seat via a pivot coupling.
Such a pivot coupling may restrict the movement of the rear portion of the seat to a radial movement. Such a purely radial movement may give rise to undesired conditions, such as "shirt shear" or "bridging" conditions. If a shirt sear occurs, the occupant's shirt may be untucked, which is undesirable. When the bridging condition occurs, the lower portion of the chair back falls away from the occupant during recline. In such a condition, the occupant's lumbar region may be largely unsupported by the chair back.
More complex configurations of tilt mechanisms may be realized, in order to make it less likely for undesired conditions to occur during recline. For illustration, the reclining mechanism may be provided with an additional link member which is coupled to the seat support through a pivot connection and to the back support through another pivot connection. While more complex relative movements of the chair seat and chair back can be defined using such configurations, they may lead to increased complexity and, thus, costs of the tilt mechanism. Further, considerable re-design may be required to adapt such a tilt mechanism to various types of chairs.
It may also be desirable to implement a chair tilt mechanism which can be easily adapted to different chair requirements. Different types of chairs may impose different constraints on the mechanism. For illustration, the chair tilt mechanism should be able to move between the zero tilt and the full tilt position, while not moving the occupant's center of gravity relative to the chair base assembly so much that an overbalancing or tipping occurs. The shift in center of gravity which is still acceptable will depend on the configuration of the chair base assembly. Complex configurations of chair superstructures, for example of the type using additional link members articulated to both the seat support and the backrest support, may be complicated to re-design so as to accommodate the design constraints imposed by different types of chairs.


A linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) system is disclosed. The system has an LVDT. A signal conditioner circuit is coupled to the LVDT. The signal conditioner circuit uses an inductance of the LVDT primary as a micro-power excitation carrier frequency to lower a drive power of the system. The signal conditioner circuit generates output currents that are summed and filtered to generate a position proportional voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of signal conditioning circuits, and more particularly to a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) signal conditioner employing minimal excitation circuitry in association with a magnetic demodulation and excitation oscillator.
2. Background Information
An LVDT signal conditioner is a circuit for exciting an LVDT and detecting an output voltage that is proportional to the linear displacement of a magnetically enhanced rod of the LVDT. The LVDT is utilized to sense linear displacement(s) in servo control systems and is typically a part of the position control loop.
Various signal conditioning circuit topologies are known for producing a desired variable DC output voltage all of which are derived as a synchronous modulator-demodulator circuit pair. However, all of the LVDT signal conditioners known in the art require the use of an excitation oscillator to drive the primary circuit winding of the LVDT to provide carrier energy for modulation by the movable magnetic armature. The modulated carrier is an amplitude varying voltage that is induced on the secondary side of the LVDT and is synchronously demodulated to produce an output voltage proportional to the modulation amplitude (shaft displacement).
As position detection servo controls and the associated circuits become more complex, it is desirable to reduce power consumption of the detection circuits as well as the occupied volume and form factor variability of the components. An LVDT with low power (microwatt) signal conditioners are desirable as direct replacements in linear servo potentiometer control systems that are exposed to harsh vibration and temperature environments. It is also desirable to maintain optimum performance in high radiation environments by minimizing the use of susceptible semiconductor networks.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an LVDT signal conditioner that overcomes the above problems. The LVDT signal conditioner must be capable of being utilized in servo control positioning systems that employ a minimum of semiconductor networks and that are capable of providing servo position data within harsh vibration and temperature environments as those commonly found in launch vehicle and space systems.

Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) system using an inductance of an LVDT primary as a micro-power excitation carrier frequency to lower a drive power


According to an embodiment of the invention there may be provided a system that may include a specimen chamber, an exchange chamber, a pressure monitor; and a controller. The exchange chamber may be configured to (i) receive a specimen when an exchange chamber pressure maintained within the exchange chamber is at a first pressure level, (ii) reduce the exchange chamber pressure to be lower than a specimen vapor pressure. The pressure monitor may be configured to perform, during a measurement period, at least one measurement of the exchange chamber pressure. The exchange chamber may be configured to stop a reduction of the exchange chamber pressure during the measurement period.

Specimens such as but not limited to wafers may be reviewed using a scanning electron microscope. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) must maintain a very low vacuum level within a specimen chamber in order to provide high resolution SEM images.
Wafers can be entered to the specimen chamber of the SEM only after they are dry enough—their outgassing level is below a predefined outgassing level.
Wafers may be positioned within an exchange chamber before entering the specimen chamber of the SEM. After receiving the wafer the exchange chamber is sealed and the exchange chamber starts to constantly evacuate gas within the exchange chamber—until the exchange chamber pressure reaches a low enough level.
An exchange chamber pressure monitor is used for preforming exchange chamber pressure measurements in order to evaluate the outgassing of the wafer within the exchange chamber.
The constant evacuation may speed up the provision of the wafer to the SEM but introduces noise and otherwise deteriorates the accuracy of exchange chamber pressure measurements.
There is a growing need to provide a system and method for accurately estimating the outgassing of a specimen (such as a wafer) within an exchange chamber.

System and method for controlling specimen outgassing


A power system for supplying power to a load is provided. The power system comprises a converter system comprising a first converter and a second converter and configured for operating in a first mode and a second mode. The first converter and the second converter are configured to be coupled in series during the first mode, and in parallel when operating in the fault mode.

The invention relates generally to power supply systems and more specifically to a system and method for a power converter to supply fault currents without over-rating.
Many devices, such as power supply systems, operate on power drawn from generators. The generator, in turn, draws power from systems such as wind turbines, gas or diesel-driven engines, turbines, or any other suitable drive system. Converter systems are usually designed to draw power from the generator and to provide the power either to a fixed frequency power grid or at a desired frequency to various loads. In other applications, such as motors, power converters are designed to draw power from a grid and provide the power to the motor.
In some applications, when there is a failure at the load, the converter systems are required to provide fault currents to the load for several cycles of the fundamental voltage. Typically, the fault current is of relatively high value. The fault current is provided to ensure the timely protection of the load. In most power electronic applications, the time interval required by the protection system to respond amounts to steady state operation for the power electronic equipment.
In order to withstand high fault current, such converters are often over-rated. Over-rating the converter system results in bulky and oversized converter systems due to larger size of devices and thermal management system, passive components like dc-link capacitors and filter inductors. In addition, the increase in components also results in an increase in the cost of the converter system.
Another requirement of converter systems is to comply with standards of harmonic injections or perturbations to the system to which power is applied (e.g. a power grid). The switching frequency of most converter systems is limited to a few hundred hertz, resulting large harmonic distortion. The harmonic distortion can be corrected by using a filter comprising large passive components. However, this again results in making the converter system bulky and heavy.
Therefore, there is a need to design a compact and cost effective converter system for withstanding high fault currents during fault conditions and effectively filtering harmonic components.


An improved electrically conductive light bulb base for use with common threaded light bulb sockets currently widely used. The improvement combines a substantial reduction in the amount of thread required, by employing a shorter thread that enlarges or increases in size, in radius, or both. This type of thread is in place of the standard thread in securing the bulb in the socket. Optionally, short portions of thread may be provided on one side of a generally cylindrical, smooth base. The particular advantage is that the bulb inserted by hand can be inserted and secured or released and removed with a minimum number of turns of the wrist.

The common electric sockets currently widely used to hold incandescent light bulbs have a number of concave threads in a metallic shell. Similarly, the bases of incandescent light bulbs presently employed with these sockets, have an outer metallic shell with corresponding convex threads that fit the concave threads in the sockets for the purpose of securing the bulbs in the sockets. Generally these bulbs are inserted and removed by hand.
The current standards for the manufacture of such bases require, amongst other things, a sufficient number of turns of thread to ensure that the bulb is secure in the socket. Due to the limited amount of rotation of the wrist, it requires a number of repeated movements of grasping and turning to insert and secure or release and remove a bulb manufactured within these standards.
If the number of threads on the base of the bulb can be greatly reduced to leave a smooth cylindrical portion, starting at the end that is to be first inserted, then the bulb can be inserted in the socket and removed with fewer turns. The bayonet type bulb in current use accomplishes this but it cannot be used with a threaded socket.
The prior art for threaded bases contemplates a short unthreaded portion for the purpose of facilitating the alignment of the bulb within the socket. But, the number of threads must be greatly reduced to substantially reduce the amount of turning. Merely reducing the number of threads in order to reduce the amount of turning is not sufficient.
If most of the thread is removed an alternative must be provided in place of the missing thread, to secure the bulb base in the socket. This invention combines the removal of all but a small portion of thread with the use of a thread that enlarges or increases in radius or both, to supplement the thread in securing the base in the socket.
The purpose of the invention is to make it possible to insert and remove the bulb with a minimum amount of turning while at the same time ensuring that electrical contact is made and that the bulb is secure.

Light bulb base having an enlarging external thread


A process for triggering a passive safety device for vehicle occupants inside a vehicle, in particular airbags, pretensioning systems, buckle switches, and roll-over bars, where--by means of electric sensors, an evaluation circuit evaluating the acceleration signals of these sensors, and triggering agents--the safety devices are triggered if the acceleration signals indicate a vehicle condition which may be potentially hazardous for the vehicle occupants. According to the invention, sensor signal characteristics will be generated from quantified sensor signals by means of an evaluation function; these sensor signal characteristics will then be differentiated and fed into an amount calculation function. The up-integrated values of these amounts will then be compared to a trigger threshold so that safety devices can be triggered, if necessary. The process according to the invention allows vehicle crash events to be fully classified whilst at the same time being easy to implement in terms of actual hardware and software requirements.

The invention concerns a process for triggering a passive safety device for vehicle occupants inside a vehicle where--by means of electric sensors that detect a critical vehicle condition, an evaluation circuit, and triggering agents for the safety device--an activation of these triggering agents is effected in relation to the acceleration signals supplied by the sensors.
Passive safety devices for motor vehicles, such, as, e.g., airbag systems, pretensioning systems, or roll-over bars, serve to protect vehicle passengers from injuries in the event of a vehicle collision (crash) occurring.
Known triggering processes of such safety devices will feed the acceleration signals, which are generated either by a single or even by two acceleration sensors, into an integration device in order to compare then the integration value with a crash threshold, and subsequently trigger the passive safety device if necessary.
Before acceleration signals are integrated these will usually be amplified, filtered, and fed to an unsymmetrical limiter as known from DE 38 16 587 A1. By means of a differential circuit a reference value will be subtracted from any signal generated in this way; and only then will it be fed into an integrator. Further processing of the integrated acceleration signal is effected by means of analog technology.
In addition to the analog processing of acceleration signals, their digital processing is also known, for example from DE 37 17 427. There, the acceleration signals of two sensors will be fed into a sample and hold circuit after amplification and filtering; the output signals of such a sample and hold circuit are digitized by means of a post-connected A/D converter. These digitized sensor signals are then processed by a microprocessor.
Such digital processing is also known from DE 30 01 780 C2 where the acceleration signals are converted by means of an 8 bit analog/digital converter and processed by an 8 bit processor.
The cost and effort entailed by such 8 bit processing is not inconsiderable as it involves a very high memory storage and calculation requirement.
Finally, from DE 41 17 811 C2, a process for evaluating sensor signals is known where these signals are first digitized as acceleration signals after analog processing. These digitized acceleration signals will be entered over a predefined time period in succeeding time intervals and stored within a shift register. The difference calculated from the current acceleration value and the previous acceleration value lying in the past by the said predefined time period will then be fed into an integrator in order to calculate the differential velocity whose value is used as a trigger criterion. However, in order to implement storage and difference calculation an 8 bit resolution will be required here also.

Triggering process for passive safety devices in vehicles


Single-component bodies useful in fuel cells and other electrochemical devices are provided. In preferred embodiments, the single-component bodies comprise an anodic region at a first side, a cathodic region at a second, non-adjacent side, and an oxygen ion-conducting region substantially free from anodic or cathodic character disposed between said anodic and cathodic regions. The single-component bodies comprise either transition metal perovskites or oxide electrolytes such as yttria-stabilized zirconia doped with multivalent cations.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operate by converting chemical energy directly to electricity by way of an isothermal electrochemical oxidation process that is not governed by the Carnot cycle thermodynamics characteristic of other energy conversion devices. SOFCs typically possess efficiencies approaching 90 percent and therefore require lower energy input to produce a specific amount of power. Additionally, SOFC performance is relatively independent of the power plant size.
During operation of a SOFC, an oxidant such as air or some other oxygen-containing medium typically is introduced at a cathodic portion of the fuel cell, and a fuel such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, natural gas, or coal-derived gas is introduced at an anodic portion. Upon application of an external load, oxygen at the cathode (air electrode) reacts with incoming electrons from an external circuit to generate oxygen ions, which then migrate to the anode (fuel electrode) through an oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte within the body of the fuel cell. At the anode, the fuel is electrochemically oxidized with these oxygen ions to liberate electrons to an external circuit. The oxidation occurring at the fuel electrode causes current to flow through the external circuit, returning electrons to the air electrode to form more oxygen ions.
Traditionally, solid oxide fuel cells have been fabricated as multiple-component assemblages such as laminates which during operation suffer from a variety of problems attributable to thermal, mechanical, and chemical incompatibilities between each component. These problems have included poor fuel tolerance, limited chemical and thermal endurance, complex and expensive fabrication techniques, and poor mechanic durability. For example, many multiple-component fuel cells can only be energized and de-energized a few times before the component layers de-laminate due to differential thermal expansion and contraction.
Accordingly, there exists a need for new fuel cells which eliminate or at least minimize the problems associated with multiple component structures.

Electrochemical devices based on single-component solid oxide bodies

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