An airborne weather radar system that detects potentially hazardous weather conditions associated with storms and includes a radar display featuring visual indications of these conditions. The radar display includes a vertical situation display having iconal representations and symbolic icons indicative hazardous weather conditions and aviation hazards along the aircraft's flight path not otherwise immediately apparent or shown on standard weather radar displays. The system includes processes for detecting and predicting hazardous weather conditions such as overshooting thunderstorm tops and vaulted thunderstorm energy and serious hazards such as turbulence and hail.

Airborne weather radar systems are used to detect the presence of storms and turbulent weather. This is important since weather is a cause or contributing factor in a large number of aircraft accidents. Weather forecasts are useful but airborne weather radar provides invaluable real time input as to local conditions ahead and in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft. Accordingly, weather radar serves as the main focus of the pilot's awareness of weather conditions that may affect the aircraft. However, radar reflectivity at the frequencies employed in weather radar systems is primarily a function of the amount of atmospheric moisture. Modern weather radar is first and foremost a gauge of rainfall providing an excellent graphical depiction of precipitation conditions relative to the aircraft's position. On most weather radar displays different colors are used to represent different radar return signal levels and correspondingly different amounts of moisture detected in the atmosphere. Typically, the color black is used to represent very little or no rainfall; green is used to represent weak rainfall; yellow is used to represent moderate rainfall; and red is used to represent strong rainfall. It's up to the pilot to then interpret the display and to infer the presence of hazardous flight conditions from the image features depicted on the display. It takes training and experience to do this effectively and can represent a substantial workload to pilots who are often busy performing other essential tasks. Consequently, weather radar may not be used to its maximum potential and hazardous conditions may sometimes be missed.
Thunderstorms are a major hazard to aircraft and an understanding some of their characteristics is important to pilots in interpreting weather radar. Thunderstorms are composed of three vertical parts. The bottom portion, below the freezing level, is composed mostly of rain that reflects weather radar signals very well and serves as the most reflective portion of the storm ("bright band"). The middle portion occurs above the freezing level and up to the altitude level or tropopause where the ambient air temperature drops below −40 degrees Celsius. This section of the storm is composed of a combination of ice crystals having low reflectivity and super cooled water providing moderate reflectivity. This middle portion shows up well on weather radar but its radar reflectivity diminishes with increasing altitude up to the −40 degree C. level often referred to as the radar or wet top of the storm. Severe thunderstorms can often be distinguished from more benign storms by vertically scanning the storm and determining the amount of vertical development in the storm above freezing level and the amount of the storm above the tropopause level. Above the −40 degree C. level up to its actual or visible top, a storm is composed entirely of ice crystals that reflect very little radar energy. However this top section above the radar top may be the site of serious turbulence and comprise an area hazardous to aircraft.
Given the right conditions with large amounts of warm and humid air rising from the ground thunderstorms can grow with surprising speed and ascend in altitude as rapidly as 6000 ft. per minute. As warm and humid air is caught in strong updrafts and converted to ice crystals and super-cooled water it may rise up well above the freezing level. Large amounts of moisture can be trapped and held aloft high in a thunderstorm cell forming an area of dangerous potential energy for creating hazardous weather. This phenomenon is referred to as thunderstorm vaulting. During such events, limited precipitation occurs in the bottom portion of the storm as few downdrafts exist and the true extent of the storm may be misjudged unless the middle portion of the storm is scanned and the developing nature of the threat recognized.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,886 to Seitz et al describes a weather radar system in which the weather data is converted into polar coordinates and is rotated and translated on the display screen in accordance with turning maneuvers executed by the aircraft. This patent also describes weather radar systems having combined displays of PPI and RHI data.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,987 to Frederick describes a radar system featuring an automatic horizontal and vertical scanning radar for displaying weather conditions in combined plan view and vertical view images. The vertical view may comprise a vertical front view display or a vertical side view display having altitude indicia so that the pilot can perceive heights and intensities of storm cells and select the best route through adverse weather conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,275 to Kelly et al describes a weather radar system which processes radar images to identify features such as squall lines, hooks and steep reflection gradients that are potentially indicative of hazardous conditions. Notifications may then be provided on the radar screen such as textual information or visual highlighting that warns the pilot about the hazardous conditions.

Airborne weather radar system and radar display


A seven-speed powertrain for an automatic transmission includes first, second and third single pinion planetary gear sets, each having a first gear, a ring gear, and a planet carrier as an operating member thereof. The first, the second, and the third single pinion planetary gear sets are arranged on an input shaft and combined by a plurality of frictional elements including first, second, and third brakes, and first, second, and third clutches.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seven-speed powertrain of an automatic transmission for a vehicle.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A powertrain of an automatic transmission for vehicles has been developed in different ways depending on the vehicle company, and a four-speed or five-speed powertrain is generally used. However, a six-speed automatic transmission has been recently developed and adopted to some vehicles, and a seven-speed automatic transmission is also being developed.
In one example of a seven-speed automatic transmission, a single pinion planetary gear set and one Ravingneaux type compound planetary gear set are combined using three clutches and three brakes to realize seven speeds.
However, although such a powertrain may realize seven forward speeds and one reverse speed, there can be a number of drawbacks. For example, the position of the third brake may hinder a hydraulic line for supplying operating pressure to the first and second clutches. In addition, because the Ravingneaux type compound planetary gear set has a large radial-direction size, such a powertrain has a drawback in drag torque, poor controllability, and a poor durability of the planetary gear because the number of operational elements is great. For the same reason, it has poor productivity and poor design freedom.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person or ordinary skill in the art.

Seven-speed powertrain of an automatic transmission for a vehicle


An air compressor assembly with one or more of the following features: a removable manifold assembly capable of being remotely located from the air compressor assembly for controlling and distributing compressed air from the air compressor assembly to one or more air powered tools, a lifting handle, a handle capable of assuming a plurality of positions, condensate removal devices, and a stable base and tie-down points.

Air compressor assemblies are used to provide compressed air for operating air powered tools such as nailing tools, socket driving tools, material shaping tools, sanding tools, spray painting tools, inflation chucks, and the like. Frequently, it is desirable to operate several tools from air supplied by a single air compressor assembly. In such instances, the air outlet port or "pressure manifold" of the air compressor assembly is fitted with an adapter allowing the attachment and removal of multiple air hoses for providing air to operate several air powered tools at once. However, in many applications, the air compressor assembly must be located remotely from the workers utilizing the tools for which it provides air. For instance, at a typical construction site, a single air compressor assembly may be required to provide air to operate a plurality of tools, which, because of the physical layout of the site, are used at locations where the air compressor assembly cannot be transported. For example, workers may be working in an upper story of an unfinished building while the air compressor assembly is located on the first story. Similarly, wherein the air compressor assembly is driven by an electric motor, it may be desirable to situate the air compressor assembly near a source of electrical power such as an electrical outlet, an electrical generator, a vehicle, or the like. As a result, the amount of air hose required to couple the air compressor assembly to each tool is greatly increased, in many cases becoming unwieldy to store and transport. Furthermore, because workers are remotely located from the air compressor assembly, they often cannot readily access the air compressor assembly's pressure regulator and pressure gauges to control the amount of pressure being provided to their tools.
Consequently, it would be advantageous to provide an air compressor assembly having a removable manifold assembly that can be remotely located from the air compressor assembly and attached thereto via a single air hose for distributing compressed air from the air compressor assembly to multiple air powered tools. Such a manifold assembly should provide means for adjusting the air pressure provided to the air powered tools and for indicating pressures within the compressed air storage tank and manifold outlet pressure remotely.
Air compressor assemblies in portable applications are typically transported with the use of a wheel assembly and a transport handle assembly used to guide the air compressor assembly when utilizing the wheel assembly. However, a typical transport handle assembly is not suited for lifting the air compressor assembly, such as when the air compressor assembly is loaded into a truck, needs to be transported over stairs, is lifted over uneven ground, and the like. For example, a typical transport handle may be positioned at one end of the air compressor assembly, thereby providing support to only one end of the air compressor assembly. Furthermore, an air compressor assembly may weigh hundreds of pounds, thereby requiring a substantial force to be exerted to lift the air compressor assembly.
The failure of the typical transport handle assembly to supply an accommodating way of lifting the air compressor assembly often requires users, when trying to lift the air compressor assembly to wrap their arms around the air storage tank, grasp a wheel assembly, grip the motor assembly, and engage in other very difficult and unsure maneuvers. These maneuvers may cause damage to the air compressor assembly and even injury to the user due to the size and weight of a typical air compressor assembly.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an air compressor assembly including a lifting handle and/or a handle capable of assuming a plurality of positions.
Conventionally, a condensate removal device is placed in proximity to a low point of a compressed air tank within an air compressor assembly to remove condensate that may form within a compressed air tank. During the utilization of a compressed air tank, it is common for water and other liquids to condense from the air inside the air tank as a consequence of the pressure and temperature differences inside the tank and outside the tank. Water and other liquids that may accumulate inside the air tank may be removed through the installation of a condensate removal device placed near a low point of the air tank. Typically, condensate removal devices known to the art are valves that may be opened and closed easily yet are capable of maintaining a constant pressure inside the air tank.
Since compressed air tanks tend to be large and heavy, they may not be easily transported. As a result, typical mobile compressed air tanks may be fitted to a frame comprising wheels and handlebars. This allows a person or persons to lift the compressed air tank and pull or push it to a desired location. While traveling on a smooth surface, the design works well. However, in many construction sites, movement to a remote location over an uneven and unpaved surface may be necessary. A frequent problem that occurs while moving the compressed air tank to a remote location is that the drain valve for removing condensate from an air tank may be damaged during transport to a remote location. Foreign objects tend to come into contact with the valve during transport causing damage to the valve. Another problem is that compressed air tanks may be moved during the day and typically are placed upon the bed of a pickup truck in order to transport the compressed air tank to another worksite. Since typical compressed air tanks are heavy, it is not easy for persons to use care and caution when placing the compressed air tanks onto the bed of a pickup truck. Thus, the compressed air tank may be lifted and pushed onto the bed in a quick manner. Often, other items located on the bed of the truck may come into contact with the drain valve damaging the valve when the compressed air tank is placed upon the bed of a pickup truck. Upon damage to the drain valve, the compressed air tank becomes non-functional.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus to act as a shield to prevent the condensate removal device from coming into contact with foreign objects. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if the condensate removal device could recess into a mounting device allowing the mounting device to shield the condensate removal device. Another advantageous aspect would be to cover the condensate removal device with a removable cap to protect the condensate removal device.
A popular type of air compressor assembly comprises a compressor mounted to a horizontal compressed air storage tank. The compressed air storage tank further includes a wheel assembly consisting of a wheel mounted to each side of the tank by a wheel bracket. A handle assembly and base are mounted to the air supply tank opposite the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly and base support the air compressor allowing the air compressor assembly to be transported by lifting on the handle assembly thereby raising the base from the surface on which the air compressor rests.
One long unresolved problem with such air compressor assemblies is that they tend to be top heavy due in part to the weight of the compressor above the compressed air storage tank. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, such air compressor assembly 5-100 includes a base 5-102 which has historically been made much narrower than the width of the compressed air storage tank 5-104 since the three point stance provided by the base 5-102 and wheel assembly 5-106 was sufficient to balance and provide stability to the air compressor assembly 5-100 when used in normal consumer applications. However, when such air compressor assembly 5-100 is utilized in more austere environments, such as at a construction site, where the air compressor assembly 5-100 is much more likely to rest on rough or uneven ground, it has been discovered that excessive tension (such as a sharp pull or jerk) applied to an air hose coupled to the air compressor in a direction generally perpendicular to the side of the compressed air storage tank 5-104 can cause the air compressor assembly 5-100 tip over as shown by arrow 5-108, possibly damaging the air compressor assembly or injuring its user. Similarly, when such air compressor assembly is loaded into a vehicle such as a pickup truck, or the like for transport, movement of the vehicle may cause the air compressor assembly 5-100 to tip over possibly damaging the air compressor assembly 5-100 and the vehicle. As a result, many users consider air compressor assemblies having such horizontal compressed air storage tanks less desirable for use in harsh environments than air compressor assemblies having other tank configurations.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a portable air compressor assembly of the type having a horizontal compressed air storage tank, wherein the air compressor assembly includes a more stable base to prevent tipping of the air compressor assembly. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide tie-down points for securing the air compressor assembly to a vehicle for transport.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides systems and methods for orienting or assembling a detailed part in a predetermined orientation in which the detailed part is made up of a plurality of component parts. First, a location and alignment are defined by a virtual assembly tool. Next, a unique combination of self-locating features are disposed on the individual component parts in which the unique combination corresponds to the location and alignment defined by the virtual assembly tool. Thus, the virtual assembly tool is integrated into the assembled detailed part. In practice the individual component parts are engaged with predetermined corresponding component parts using the self-locating features. The act of engaging the individual component-parts is repeated until all component parts are engaged with each respective corresponding component parts.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to assembly techniques, and, more particularly, to systems and methods of integrating an assembly tool into a detailed part.
2. Description of Related Art
Aircraft components are generally unique geometric structures whose design is directly related to the size, payload requirements and purposes of particular aircraft which employ them. Consistent with this uniqueness, the manufacturer of a given aircraft design requires the creation of unique and dedicated tooling typically in the form of assembly jigs and fixtures. Further, such unique tooling and production facilities must be maintained and retain ed over the product ion life span of the aircraft and beyond in anticipation of replacement parts. An aircraft manufacturer that makes a fleet of aircraft must provide and maintain separate tooling and facilities for each different aircraft component (such as the wing, fuselage and tail section). The investment for new tooling and facilities for each new aircraft design commonly exceeds many millions of dollars. For this reason, when a manufacturer is considering a new design or a variation on an existing design, the decision to make the new design or variation is greatly influenced by the sizeable amount of the initial investment required to build new tooling and facilities.
In addition to initial investment, other economic factors associated with current aircraft manufacturing techniques also influence direct labor cost and quality considerations. These economic factors include the degree of automation and accessories used in connection with basic tooling. All of these represent ongoing costs to the manufacturer, which are added over and above the initial investment cost for producing tooling and facilities for any component production.
Assembling and fastening together elements of aircraft components is a multi-step process. For example, the elements of a wing assembly may include an aluminum web, a couple of ankle caps and several stiffeners. Once these elements or details are designed the problem lies in the high man hours requirements needed to prepare and position the elements for assembly and further operations such as automatic fastening, for example, as found in modern aircraft assembly plants. Such a preparation process may also include manual drilling and installation of many temporary fasteners to hold the wing assembly in position, as guided by a jig for that purpose.
Traditional practice was for design to focus on performance requirements with little consideration of how assembly could be accomplished in production. Production depended on tool determinate assembly methods, as above-described, to locate parts in xe2x80x9caircraftxe2x80x9d coordinates and make adjustments by shimming or filing at contact areas. These methods lead to work in process laden, station-by-station assembly flow. Reduced tooling assembly methods would support an assembly line perspective by allowing product to flow smoothly through production.
Current emphasis on Lean Manufacturing has initiated the need to develop new methods for streamlining assembly. An innovation of the present invention is the use of part features to locate parts during assembly. Reduced tooling assembly strives to define lean assembly methods which benefit from advances in technology and manufacturing capability by pairing features to achieve assembly location objectives. Projected benefits include reduced assembly tooling and less assembly time.
The above-mentioned and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, by providing a method and system of integrating an assembly tool into a detailed part and of assembling the detailed parts using self-locating part features.
The present invention achieves technical advantages as a system and method for orienting or assembling a detailed part in a predetermined orientation in which the detailed part is made up of a plurality of component parts. The method first defines a location and alignment of the component parts. Self-locating features, such as locating tabs, integral flanges, locating notches and locating bosses, are subsequently disposed on the individual component parts corresponding to the defined location and alignment. By disposing a unique combination of self-locating features on component parts of the detailed part, a virtual assembly tool is incorporated into the detailed part. In practice, component parts are engaged with predetermined corresponding component parts using the disposed self-locating feature on each part. Thus, proper location and alignment of each respective part is assured, within a predetermined dimensional tolerance. The act of engaging individual component parts is repeated until each of the component parts is fully located and aligned, using the self-locating features, in the predetermined orientation.
Among the new advantageous of the present invention are: First, integration of self-locating features into detailed part reduces or eliminates the assembly and locating tool counts used to assemble components such as Wing Carry Through components; Second, the integration of self-locating features into the detail parts reduce the assembly span time; Third, reduction or elimination of maintenance requirements of locating and alignment assembly tools and, since tools and time are reduced, consequently, the total cost to assemble the detailed part is reduced.

Integration of self-locating feature into detail parts


A system for supporting bundled tube segments within a combustor includes an annular sleeve that extends circumferentially and axially within the combustor, a support lug that extends radially inward from the annular sleeve and an annular support frame that is disposed within the annular sleeve. The annular support frame includes an inner ring portion, an outer ring portion and a plurality of spokes that extend radially between the inner and outer ring portions. The inner ring portion, the outer ring portion and the plurality of spokes define an annular array of openings for receiving a respective bundled tube segment. The inner ring portion is connected to each bundled tube segment and the outer ring portion is coupled to the support lug.

Combustors are commonly used in industrial and power generation operations to ignite fuel to produce combustion gases having a high temperature and pressure. For example, turbo-machines such as gas turbines typically include one or more combustors to generate power or thrust. A typical gas turbine includes an inlet section, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. The inlet section cleans and conditions a working fluid (e.g., air) and supplies the working fluid to the compressor section. The compressor section progressively increases the pressure of the working fluid and supplies a compressed working fluid to the combustion section. A fuel is mixed with the compressed working fluid within the combustion section and the mixture is burned in a combustion chamber defined within the combustion section to generate combustion gases having a high temperature and pressure. The combustion gases flow to the turbine section where they expand to produce work. For example, expansion of the combustion gases in the turbine section may rotate a shaft connected to a generator to produce electricity.
The combustion section may include one or more combustors annularly arranged between the compressor section and the turbine section. In a particular combustor design, each combustor includes an end cover that is connected to an outer casing so as to form a high pressure plenum around the combustor. Each combustor also includes a plurality of bundled tube segments or sectors disposed downstream from the end cover. The plurality of bundled tube segments are generally arranged in an annular array about an axial centerline of the end cover and/or about an axially extending center fuel nozzle. Each bundled tube segment is fluidly connected to the end cover via a fluid conduit that extends axially downstream from the end cover.
Each bundled tube segment generally includes a plurality of parallel tubes arranged radially and circumferentially across the bundled tube segment. The parallel tubes extend generally axially through a fuel plenum defined within the bundled tube segment. The tubes provide for fluid communication through the fuel plenum and into the combustion chamber. One end of the fluid conduit is rigidly bolted to the end cover and a second end is fixedly or rigidly connected to the bundled tube segment, thereby creating an end loaded cantilever. As a result, the fluid conduit generally carries the structural load created by the cantilevered bundled tube segment at the connection joint defined at the end cover.
As the combustor cycles through various operating modes, the cantilevered bundled tube segments vibrate at various frequencies which may result in large deflections of the fluid conduit, thereby causing undesirable bending stresses at the end cover and fluid conduit connection joint. In addition, the vibrations may result in the adjacent bundled tube segments clashing together, thereby potentially resulting in durability issues. Therefore, an improved system for mounting and/or supporting the bundled tube segments within the combustor would be useful.

System for supporting bundled tube segments within a combustor


A method is provided for CO2 separation from a combined-cycle power plant with exhaust-gas recirculation and CO2 separation. The hot-gas flow is split into a recirculation flow and an exhaust-gas flow before the final turbine stage in the turbine. A first partial flow remains in the turbine and carries out expansion work in the conventional form, before its waste heat is dissipated, for example in a waste-heat boiler, and the gases are recirculated into the inlet flow of the gas turbine. A second partial flow is diverted before the final turbine stage, and emits its waste heat in an HRSG/heat exchanger, before CO2 is separated from the exhaust-gas flow at an increased pressure level.

Because of the generally recognized risk of climate change, there is worldwide interest in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, in particular of CO2 (carbon dioxide). So-called CCS (carbon capture and storage) or CO2 sequestration, that is to say the separation of the CO2 from the thermal power process in a power plant and storage of the separated CO2 separately from the atmosphere, is considered to be a realistic step for reducing the CO2 emission into the atmosphere within a relatively short time. CO2 separation is carried out either from the flue gases after the combustion of a fuel containing carbon or by a chemical reaction, in which the carbon is separated from the fuel before combustion. The CCS process includes regeneration of absorbers, adsorbers, or other CO2 separators.
Separation of CO2 after combustion, also referred to as backend capture or post combustion capture, is one of the most promising CCS technologies, and can also be used in particular for combined-cycle power plants.
All known CCS technologies require a relatively large amount of power. In the case of backend capture, the specific energy consumption per kilogram of separated CO2 is inversely proportional to the CO2 concentration in the flue gases from which the CO2 is separated. In order to separate CO2 from gas flows with a relatively low CO2 content, as is the case in the flue gas from conventional gas turbine power plants or combined-cycle power plants (or gas turbine power plants with power/heat coupling), a relatively large amount of energy is correspondingly required per kilogram of separated CO2. The CO2 content of the flue gases depends on the nature of the gas turbine, the fuel gas used and the operating point of the gas turbine. Various concepts have been proposed to increase the CO2 concentration in the flue gases, and therefore to increase the efficiency of the separation process. One concept is flue gas recirculation, for example as has been proposed by O. Bolland and S. Sæther in "NEW CONCEPTS OF NATURAL GAS FIRED POWER PLANTS WHICH SIMPLIFY THE RECOVERY OF CARBON DIOXIDE" (Energy Conyers. Mgmt Vol. 33, No. 5-8, pp. 467-475, 1992). Another concept is the series connection of CCPP, as has been proposed, for example, in US2008/0060346. In this case, the flue gases from a first CCPP are cooled down, and are used as inlet gases for a second CCPP. The flue gases from the second CCPP are cooled and are then passed on for CO2 separation. This virtually doubles the CO2 content of the flue gases, halves the total mass flow of flue gas to be treated, and correspondingly reduces the required plant size and energy consumption.
Furthermore, it has already been proposed in the past for the CO2 absorption to be carried out at an increased pressure. Because of the reduced volume flows, this makes it possible to reduce the plant size and to exploit an increased capacity of the absorber at an increased pressure. For this purpose, WO 00/48709 proposes re-compression of the flue gases for absorption, with subsequent heating and expansion in a turbine. Since the energy for CO2 absorption at high pressure is inversely proportional to the CO2 partial pressure, the energy consumption resulting from absorption at an increased pressure could ideally lead to an efficiency improvement. Since the additional compression results in unavoidable losses, at least some part of the positive effect is, however, lost.

Gas turbine with flow separation and recirculation


A light source module for stereoscopic display includes multi-primary color lasers which output the light with the same polarization direction. Respective lasers are divided into two groups according to the wavelengths of the output light. A light combiner is provided in the output light path of each laser group and is used for combining the output light of all lasers in the group into one output light path. The light source module further includes a polarization conversion rotary member, and the polarization direction of the two output light is periodically and alternately rotated by 90 degree by self-rotation of the polarization conversion rotary member. An imaging device for stereoscopic display includes the light source module for stereoscopic display, the light combiner and a first optical imaging modulator and a second optical imaging modulator. A stereoscopic display system includes the imaging device for stereoscopic display and a projection lens sub-system.

With the continuous improvement in the quality of life, higher requirements for display technologies have been put forward. 3D, stereoscopic technology is one of the most important trends in current development of display technologies.
Currently, there are the following categories of stereoscopic technology.
Dual-color glasses based method:
In this method, a scene to be displayed on the screen is filtered with a driver program. Specifically, the image intended for the left eye is filtered to remove red, and the image intended for the right eye is filtered to remove cyan (blue and green). The viewer wears a pair of dual-color glasses. A filter lens over the left eye blocks red, and a filter lens over the right eye blocks cyan. Therefore, the left eye sees only the image intended for the left eye, and the right eye sees only the image intended for the right eye. The brain fuses both images into perception of regular colors. This is the lowest cost method of stereoscopic technology, but it is generally only suitable for scenes where color is not an important factor. As to other types of scenes, it may cause discomfort of viewers and severe color distortion due to the loss of color information.
Active stereoscopic method:
In this method, a driver program alternately transmits left eye and right eye images, for example, a left eye image at a first frame, a right eye image at a second frame, another left eye image at a third frame, and so forth. The viewer wears a pair of shutter glasses in synchronization with the display device in a wired or wireless manner. While presenting the left eye image, the display device opens the shutter in the left glass and closes the shutter in the right glass. While presenting the right eye image, the display device opens the shutter in the right glass and closes the shutter in the left glass. According to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, an afterimage is thought to persist in front of the eye whose view is blocked, and any viewer within the range can see a three-dimensional scene wearing a pair of the stereoscopic glasses. Generally, the shutters in the glasses are implemented with liquid crystals. The liquid crystal layer can be switched between transparent and dark by an applied electrical signal. This method reduces the brightness of the image in half, and has certain frequency requirements on the refresh rates of the display device and the shutters in the glasses, demanding more on the properties of the display device and the glasses, and resulting in higher manufacturing cost. Moreover, flicker caused by the frequent switching of the stereoscopic glasses is displeasing to the eye, and may tire the viewer.
Passive synchronization stereoscopic method:
In this method, a driver program simultaneously outputs left eye and right eye images. The left eye and right eye images are projected using two projectors. A polarizing filter is provided in front of the projector for the left eye image, and an orthogonal polarizing filter is provided in front of the projector for the right eye image. The viewer wears a pair of glasses, which also contain a pair of polarizing filters oriented the same as the projectors. According to the polarizing effect, each eye only sees the image intended for the eye itself. Currently, this is the stereoscopic method producing the best imaging results. However, since light emitted from the projector light source is like natural light, the polarizing filters on the outputs of the projectors cost 50% of the light energy, reducing the utilization rate of the light energy. Moreover, the use of two projection subsystems is costly, requires a large space and may cause inconvenience in installation and moving.
Due to its advantages such as wide color gamut and low energy consumption, laser-based display technology is considered one of the prominent, next generation display technologies. Combining laser-based display with stereoscopic projection is the current trend, one implementation of which is an active stereoscopic method. The screen alternately presents left eye and right eye images at twice the frequency, and the glasses dynamically block one of the eyes. That is, present the left eye image while blocking the right eye's view, and present the right eye image while blocking the left eye's view, so that the eyes are provided with different images, which are fused by the brain into perception of a three-dimensional scene. Multi-color display makes use of time-domain control, e.g., lights of different wavelengths are transmitted during different time slots according to a color wheel. Since each wavelength is illuminated separately during one time slot, the utilization rate of the laser light source is low. Moreover, the existing stereoscopic projection method includes two projection subsystems, one for projecting the left eye image and the other for projecting the right eye image, therefore, the size of the projection system is large, installation and moving inconvenience may be caused, and manufacturing and production costs are high. Furthermore, each of the left eye and right eye images uses only half of the light energy output from the laser, resulting in a low brightness of the image.

Light source module for stereoscopic display, imaging device for stereoscopic display and stereoscopic display system


A digital network based communications system that establishes communications sessions to communicate via a simulated circuit-switch environment. Exemplary embodiments communicate between a first communications station (104) and a second communications station (106) using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) techniques. Calls are setup (700), maintained and torn down (800) using Session Initiation Protocol and Session Description Protocol messages. Call modes are able to be changed between duplex and simplex without disconnection. Duplex calls are also able to be interrupted with a request for a simplex call. A receiver (104) engaged in a duplex call can receive a request for a simplex call, accept the simplex call or send a response message, and then resume the duplex call, all while maintaining the duplex call data communications session.

Electronic communications, particularly for voice communications, are able to operate in several modes. Two popular communications modes are Simplex and Duplex. Duplex mode communications between two or more devices involve transmission and reception at each station that is either actually or apparently simultaneous. Duplex mode communications simulate face-to-face communications as all participants constantly receive all input from other participants, even while he or she is talking.
Simplex mode communications, on the other hand, operate by having only one participant transmit at a time. Simplex mode communications often use a "Push-To-Talk" (PTT) metaphor similar to a "walkie-talkie." A participant who desires to talk generally presses a button on his or her device and begins talking. Each participant in a simplex mode communication session then receives that transmission. Simplex mode communications have the advantages of faster call set up, since call setup processing is usually within the control of the wireless network, and "floor control" provides a mechanism for clear "command and control" communications. A problem with simplex mode communications arises if multiple persons desire to talk at the same time. In such a case, a "PTT" collision occurs and can result in both transmitters transmitting PTT collisions which can result in garbled or missed communications. Alternatively, a system-wide controller can be provided and configured to arbitrate such collisions. Even in the case of PTT collision arbitration, a participant who is denied the opportunity to talk will be dissatisfied, especially when involved in a heated discussion.
Data communication networks are increasingly used to carry voice communications. Such networks, such as Internet Protocol (IP) networks, provide a flexible communications structure to adaptively communicate data and voice as needed by one or more enterprises. Data networks are being deployed with combinations of wired and wireless nodes, or stations, that are able to communicate data and voice freely among wired and wireless stations. Such networks, however, are generally set up as either a simplex call or a duplex call and changing a call's mode requires tearing down and re-starting the same call in a different mode. This delays communications between or among the participants.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Mode shifting communications system and method


A wide angle scanning system includes a plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements each having a non-refracting surface and a refracting surface; and a mechanical beam steering system including micro-mechanical steering elements, each being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements for rotating a respective rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical element about a center of rotation that coincides with a center of the non-refracting surface.

Generally laser communications and laser sensors require the ability to very rapidly scan (e.g. direct) the laser beam(s) over a wide angle, i.e. such as when the scanner is used in the transmit mode. In the receive mode, the scanner needs to be able to very rapidly direct incoming light from any particular angle selected from a wide variation of angles. In addition, for target or source acquisition, the receive mode should initially start out in a wide-angle/stationary search mode in which all optical elements in the scanner are each pointed at a different angle. Then when a signal is acquired, all the scan elements are pointed in an optimal direction corresponding to the signal. This latter mode (e.g. focused mode) is needed in laser communications to increase both security and signal to noise ratio.
Focusing of the scanner so that all the scan elements are pointed in the optimal direction is generally obtained by beam steering where many small laser beams are combined by stacking and/or by super-positioning the small laser beams. However, directing the resultant combined laser beam involves movement of a large mass, such as with a gimbaled mirror system or a sheet of a lenslet array that provides slow response times. Deformable mirrors may also be employed for beam steering where small angular deviations can be made with the deformable mirrors however, these deformable mirrors are unable to provide wide angle, two-dimensional sweeps of a large diameter laser beam without any obstructions. Other systems for beam steering can also be utilized in scanners such as, for example, Risley prism mechanisms, beam steering mechanisms manufactured by Metastable Instruments, Inc. of Peters, Mo., USA and micro-opto-electro-mechanical chips. Liquid crystals can also employed for beam steering but the response time for liquid crystal beam steering is approximately tenths of a second with a fairly large beam divergence (e.g. tens of degrees).
It would be advantageous to have a wide angle scanning system in which small/low mass scan optics allow for fast response times when focusing the scanner in a predetermined direction.


An antenna arrangement includes a directional antenna assembly, the directional antenna assembly comprising a directional antenna intended to be mounted on an interface delimited by a stationary support structure, the directional antenna generally extending according to a main axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the interface, wherein the antenna arrangement further comprises a rotatable base mounted on the interface, the rotatable base comprising a pole integral with the rotatable base, the pole extending in the direction of the main axis, the rotatable base being rotatable about the main axis 11, a rotation of the rotatable base actuating the rotation of the pole about the main axis.

The invention generally relates to radio frequency (RF) antennas and more particularly to integrated antenna arrangement.
Omni-directional antennas are widely used to transmit and/or receive RF energy in omni-directional (i.e. 360°) beam patterns, in many application fields.
The integration of antennas in an existing application system, such as a naval topside arrangement, raises a number of constraints.
In particular, available space in the application system in which the antenna is to be integrated is generally limited. For example, some equipment manufacturers require that the antennas be installed in a top position. This results in a confined space with multiple antennas.
To be able to provide omnidirectional coverage for communication systems operating in the VHF/UHF band, off the shelf omnidirectional antennas or synthetic omnidirectional antennas consisting of an array of antennas can be used for transmit or receive or transmit and receive simultaneously. In either case, there is a need to ensure that the antennas are not blocked by other antennas or structures nor that other antennas are blocked by the omni-directional antennas. Further, for synthetic bearing omnidirectional antennas made of an array of antennas, it is required to support the wide bandwidth in VHF and UHF while at the same time making it possible for other equipments to be installed on top of the array.
When integrating omnidirectional antennas systems into an application system, interference between emission and reception can also appear. Indeed, multiple communication antennas when placed in a confined space often result in a transmitting antenna interfering with the reception by a receiving antenna. To limit occurrence of interferences, it is known to use tuneable analogue filters that require adequate separation between the frequencies used by the two antennas, which reduces the available bandwidth.
While integrating omnidirectional antennas into an existing structure or system, each antenna is further required to maintain its true 360° field of view in azimuth direction and true field of view in elevation direction, without being obstructed or interfered.
Antenna arrangements exist for enabling integration of omnidirectional antennas and directional antennas in confined spaces. However, such antenna arrangements often block antenna apertures and result in interference between antennas transmission/emission, thereby jeopardizing antenna performance and inducing electromagnetic interference.
The number of antennas used in an application system, such as naval topsides, has dramatically increased over the past decades. With such increasing number of antennas, the integration of omnidirectional antennas in an application system without obstruction of the antenna apertures and on a non-interference basis has became a major challenge.
In synthetic omnidirectional antennas using an array of antennas, such as for example distributed communication antennas, the array of antennas (also referred to as "stack of antennas") operates in the entire VHF/UHF band and the antenna are vertically stacked around a support. The synthetic antenna pattern uses inputs from antennas on a limited diameter to provide omnidirectional coverage. It is needed to have a limited diameter for the support while providing access to the equipments that are to be installed above the antenna array (e.g. SATCOM). The limited diameter also hampers adequate support of a directional antenna, when such directional antenna is further used. On the other hand, increasing the diameter of the antenna array would result in an increased number of antennas to prevent incircularity of the synthetic omnidirectional pattern.
In some existing application systems where the omnidirectional antenna system is to be installed, such as for example on-board of naval ships, the topside equipment requires a minimum installation height and has to be as compact and lightweight as possible to ensure that:                the stability of the application system is not jeopardized,        signature (RCS, IR, visual, thermal) and fuel consumption are minimal, and        the speed of the system (e.g. ship speed) is maximized.
For distributed antenna systems, there is a need to place identical antennas with multiple infrastructures and mechanical provisions for installation and interconnection, which results in additional built-in volume, mass and cost.
Also, since antennas are intended to be at the highest point compared to their surroundings, the antenna arrangement itself as well as the neighbouring equipment and personnel are to be protected against lightning without obstructing the free field of view. For example, installation of a separate lightning arrestor in the vicinity of the sensor arrangement to control the lightning attraction point provides protection against lightning but the lightning arrestor is blocking the 360° unobstructed view.
There is accordingly a need for an improved compact integrated antenna arrangement adapted to be integrated in an application system.


A musician's article of clothing for an upper body of a musician and used for receiving a musical instrument strap inside the clothing during a musical performance. The clothing is designed to prevent wear, discoloration and burnoff on the shoulder of the clothing. Also, the strap can be removed from the side of a handheld musical instrument and conveniently stored inside the clothing when the strap and musical instrument are not in use. The front of the shirt includes a shoulder strap opening and a chest strap opening therein. The back of the clothing includes a rear strap opening. When the instrument strap is removed from the musical instrument, the strap is received inside the clothing. A lower end of the strap is extends outwardly through the rear strap opening. The upper end of the strap extends outwardly through the shoulder strap opening or the chest strap opening. The ends of the strap are then attached to the side of the musical instrument prior to the musician's performance.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an article of clothing used when a musician holds a handheld musical instrument and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an upper body article of clothing such as a musician's shirt, vest, jacket, coat and the like having two or more strap openings. The clothing is used for receiving a musical instrument strap therein. The opposite ends of the strap are inserted outwardly through the strap openings and attached to the musical instrument. Also, the clothing can be used for storing the strap when the musical instrument is not being played.
(b) Discussion of Prior Art
Heretofore, musicians playing various types of handheld musical instruments such as a guitar, a keyboard and the like have held the instrument next to their bodies using an instrument strap. The strap is placed over one shoulder of the player with the opposite ends of the strap releasably attached to sides of the guitar. During a performance, the strap moves back and forth on the musician's shirt, coat, jacket and the like causing discoloration and burnoff of the clothing's material. Burnoff is caused by rubbing and heat friction on the clothing material.
The subject invention provides a unique structure, function and advantages when compared to a standard clothing worn by a musician with the instrument strap received over a portion of the shoulder of the clothing.

Musician's article of clothing with strap openings for inserting and holding a musical instrument strap therein


Methods and arrangements are provided for use in multiple user computing environments. These methods and arrangements can be configured to allow for a plurality of separate and concurrent desktops and workspaces within the shared computing environment. One method includes creating a separate desktop thread for each user that is authenticated during a logon process, creating a separate desktop associated with each desktop thread, and maintaining a list of desktop threads that are created. In this manner, several users can be logged on simultaneously. In certain implementations, the method further includes establishing a separate user environment associated with each desktop and launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop. The list of desktop threads allows for selective and/or automatic switching from a first desktop to a second desktop without terminating a desktop thread associated with the first desktop. The methods and arrangements are also applicable to remote process logon and switching.

There are many situations where several people would like to share a single computer. For example, a home may have a single personal computer (PC) that is shared by the family members. If these users desire a unique configuration, privacy, and/or security for their applications and data files, such a shared computing environment may not adequately accommodate them.
For example, with most operating systems, the users share a single workspace. Unfortunately, doing so does not allow personalization of their workspace or security of data between users. In certain operating systems, users may separate their data into multiple "profiles" or "accounts". One of the drawbacks to this scheme is that if one user is using the computer and a another user would like to access their own files, the first user would have to close all open applications in order for the other user to log on to the system and access their data. Thus, the first user's application state is lost. In addition to losing the application state, the user is inconvenienced because of the time involved with closing down the prior user's state and re-establishing the new user's state.
Certain solutions, such as, for example, the "Identity Manager" available in Microsoft Outlook Express version 5.0, allow certain user data to be shared among separate users without losing all of the application's states during a user switch. However, the Identity Manager manages only a small subset of the user's data. Text documents, for example, are not stored separately for each user. Furthermore, there is little workspace personalization available and the user data is not secured for other user access.
Consequently, there is a need for an improved methods and arrangements for use in multiple user computing environments. Preferably, the methods and arrangements will allow for a plurality of separate and concurrent desktops and workspaces within the shared computing environment

Methods and arrangements for providing multiple concurrent desktops and workspaces in a shared computing environment


Soldering paste for bonding an electronic component to electrodes on a ceramic substrate includes alcohol having at least two OH groups, organic acid, and metallic powder. The electronic component disposed on the electrodes through the soldering paste undergoes a reflow performed in a nitrogen atmosphere. Accordingly, an ester film is formed around the electrodes as a reaction product of the organic acid and the alcohol. The ester film incorporates therein the remaining organic acid and metal salt as its reaction product. As a result, high insulation reliability is provided.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 10-241863 filed on Aug. 27, 1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to soldering paste, a soldering method, and a surface-mounted type electronic device.
2. Related Arts
When a conventional flux containing rosin as a base and aminohalogen salt as an activator is used for soldering paste, the base and the activator remain after reflow. This gives rise to problems that (i) an insulation property between electrodes is insufficient when a narrow electrode distance of approximately 100 xcexcm is taken, (ii) corrosion occurs when a mounted component is used in an environment permitting contact with air, and (iii) silicone gel is not hardened when the mounted component is sealed therewith.
To solve these problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-94691 proposes a volatile polyhydric alcohol material having two or more OH groups as a base of flux for soldering paste. In this case, when specific alcohol is selected as the polyhydric alcohol, satisfactory wettability can be secured by reducibility of this material without adding an activator. Under these circumstances, there is a requirement of further improving continuous printability.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to improve printability of soldering paste without lowering wettability and insulation reliability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a soldering method for soldering an electronic component to a base member using soldering paste with high printability and wettability. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a surface-mounted type electronic device including an electronic component surface-mounted on a base member with high insulation reliability.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a soldering paste is composed of a flux including alcohol as a base and organic acid as an activator, and metallic powder. The alcohol has at least two OH groups. The organic acid reacts with the alcohol to produce ester when the metallic powder is fused. Preferably, the soldering paste includes a material for reducing a viscosity of the soldering paste.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a soldering method for soldering an electronic component to a base member uses soldering paste including alcohol which has at least two OH groups, organic acid, and metallic powder. The electronic component is soldered to the base member by the soldering paste during a soldering reflow.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a surface-mounted type electronic device includes an electronic component bonded to an electrode through a soldering portion, and an ester film disposed on a peripheral surface of the electrode. The ester film is a reaction product between an organic acid and an alcohol and including the organic acid therein.
The addition of the organic acid to the soldering paste allows the addition of the material to the soldering paste for reducing the viscosity of the soldering paste. As a result, the printability of the soldering paste is improved without lowering the wettability. Further, the organic acid reacts with alcohol in the soldering paste to produce an ester film using metallic powder as a catalyst during soldering reflow. The ester film incorporates therein remaining organic acid and metal salt as its reaction product. As a result, insulation reliability is improved.

Soldering paste, soldering method, and surface-mounted type electronic device


A piezoelectric tuning fork resonator having a piezoelectric substrate provided with a stepped portion on its end and a tuning fork arm portion formed in the stepped portion. A dummy substrate is arranged adjacent to a side of the piezoelectric substrate and a pair of sealing substrates are pasted onto upper and lower portions of the piezoelectric substrate and the dummy substrate to form a chip type piezoelectric tuning fork resonator. In another embodiment piezoelectric substrate includes a resin sealing portion having a hollow portion defined around the tuning fork arm portion so as to form a resin-coated piezoelectric tuning fork resonator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
As a piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component, comprising sealing substrates which are hardly split or cracked, and a vibrating part which is excellent in airtightness/sealability, the inventor has proposed a piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component, which is improved in portions that are provided with terminal electrodes for being electrically connected with the exterior (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 3-73941 (1991)). The structure of this piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component has not yet been opened to the public.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are an exploded perspective view and a perspective view respectively, for illustrating such a piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component.
Referring to FIG. 2, a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 comprises a piezoelectric substrate 2, which is in the form of a rectangular plate, and tuning fork grooves 2a to 2c, which are formed in the piezoelectric substrate 2 for defining a pair of tuning fork arm portions 3 and 4. In the vicinity of the innermost part of the tuning fork groove 2a, a resonance electrode 5 is formed on an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate 2. This resonance electrode 5 is electrically connected to a lead electrode 6, which is formed on a position of the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate 2 reaching an edge thereof. Numeral 7 denotes a dummy electrode.
On a lower surface of the piezoelectric substrate 2, another resonance electrode 8 is formed so as to be opposite to the resonance electrode 5 which is formed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate 2, as shown in a downwardly projected manner. This resonance electrode 8 is electrically connected to a lead electrode 9, which is formed on the lower portion of the piezoelectric substrate 2 to reach an edge thereof. Numeral 10 denotes another dummy electrode.
A dummy substrate 11 is arranged on a side of the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 with a clearance A defined between the dummy substrate 11 and the tuning fork arm portions 3 and 4. Dummy electrodes 12a and 12b are provided on an upper surface of the dummy substrate 11, while dummy electrodes 13a and 13b are provided on its lower surface, as shown in a downwardly projected manner. The dummy substrate 11, which is formed by a ceramic substrate having the same thickness as the piezoelectric substrate 2, which is arranged on its side, is provided with the dummy electrodes 12a, 12b, 13a and 13b in order to attain coincidence of the total thickness of the component.
The piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 is structured so as to function as a two-terminal piezoelectric vibrator upon application of alternating voltages to the lead electrodes 6 and 9.
Rectangular frame members 35 and 36, and sealing substrates 37 and 38 are stacked on upper and lower portions of the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 and the dummy substrate 11, and pasted thereto with an insulating adhesive, thereby obtaining a laminate 14 shown in FIG. 3. Terminal electrodes 15 and 16, and dummy terminal electrodes 17 and 18 are provided on end surfaces of this laminate 14, thereby forming a piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component 19. The terminal electrodes 15 and 16 are formed so as to be electrically connected to the lead electrodes 6 and 9.
In this piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component, the terminal electrodes 15 and 16 provided on end surfaces of the laminate 14, as described above, whereby the sealing substrates 37 and 38 are hardly cracked or split in handling.
While a conventional piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component has notches, which are provided on edges of sealing substrates for extracting lead electrodes and electrically connecting the same with the exterior, the aforementioned piezoelectric tuning fork resonator, which has been proposed by the inventor, is provided with no such notches. Therefore, contact areas between the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator and the sealing substrates can be increased to attain improved airtightness/sealability of the vibrating part.
Even in such a structure, however, airtightness/sealability could be occasionally damaged. When the frame members 35 and 36 and the sealing substrates 37 and 38 are stacked on upper and lower portions of the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 and the dummy substrate 11, and pasted thereto with adhesives, some adhesive generally flows into the clearance A between the dummy substrate 11 and the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 to maintain airtightness in the interior. However, the piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component 19 may occasionally be produced without the adhesive completely flowing into the clearance A. In such a case, airtightness/sealability is not attained.
To this end, the inventor has further proposed a piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component, which has adhesive layers provided on both sides of the tuning fork arm portions, for integrating a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator with a dummy substrate by the adhesive layers while defining a clearance between the dummy substrate and the tuning fork arm portions (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-127591 (1992)). The structure of this piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component has not yet been opened to the public either. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing such a piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component. Referring to FIG. 4, adhesive layers 41 and 42 are provided on both sides of tuning fork arm portions 3 and 4 of a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1, for integrating the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 with a dummy substrate 11. These adhesive layers 41 and 42 are formed so that a clearance A is defined between the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 and the dummy substrate 11.
Thus, it is possible to seal the clearance A between the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 and the dummy substrate 11 with the adhesive layers 41 and 42, thereby improving airtightness of the overall piezoelectric tuning fork resonance component.
In the aforementioned structure, which has been proposed by the inventor, it is necessary to provide the adhesive layers 41 and 42 so that the clearance A is defined between the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 and the dummy substrate 11, so as not to hinder the tuning fork arm portions 3 and 4 of the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 from vibration. However, since the adhesives for forming the adhesive layers 41 and 42 are generally in the form of liquids, the tuning fork resonator 1 could be excessively integrated with the dummy substrate 11. In this case, the clearance A between the dummy substrate 11 and the piezoelectric tuning fork resonator 1 could be reduced so that the tuning fork arm portions may be hindered from vibration.
On the other hand, a method of manufacturing such a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator has the following problem:
In a general step of forming tuning fork grooves in a piezoelectric substrate, a plurality of piezoelectric substrates are superposed so that edges thereof are aligned with each other, and tuning fork grooves are simultaneously formed in the edges of the plurality of piezoelectric substrates which are superposed with each other.
In such a conventional method, however, frequency accuracy of the obtained piezoelectric tuning fork resonator is merely about .+-.3% with respect to a set value. Thus, a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator cannot be obtained in high frequency accuracy. In such a piezoelectric tuning fork resonator, the frequency of a vibration mode is determined by depths of the tuning fork grooves, which in turn are determined by distances from the edges of the piezoelectric substrate. In the piezoelectric substrates which are superposed with each other, however, such edges are not may not be accurately aligned with each other, and hence the depths of the tuning fork grooves formed are dispersed in the respective piezoelectric substrates. Thus, it is impossible to attain high frequency accuracy.
In order to solve this problem, the tuning fork grooves may have to be formed in each piezoelectric substrate separately. In this case, however, productivity is extremely deteriorated.

Piezoelectric tuning fork resonator and method of manufacturing the same


A wrench includes a body having two ends and a handle between the ends of the body. At least one of the ends of the body can be used for driving an object. The handle includes an upper face and a lower face opposite to the upper face. An anti-slipping section is formed on each of two end portions of the upper face and the lower face of the handle. Each anti-slipping section includes a plurality of embossed patterns. Since each anti-slipping section extends across the end portions of the handle, the user's hand will not slip during operation of the wrench even though there is oil on the user's hand.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wrench with an anti-slipping function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Taiwan Utility Model No. M240308 discloses a ratchet wrench having an anti-slip protective jacket. The ratchet wrench comprises a body having a handle on which the anti-slip protective jacket is integrally formed by injection molding. The protective jacket includes a regular anti-slipping section consisting of a plurality of regular protrusions and recessions for anti-slipping purposes. However, the end portions of the handle adjacent to two ends of the body are not provided with the anti-slipping protrusions and recessions.
In the beginning of tightening of a fastener that requires smaller torque, an end of the body is coupled with the fastener and a user can rapidly turn the fastener by grasping an end portion of the handle with the thumb and the index finger of one hand and moving the wrench back and forth. In the final stage of tightening that requires larger torque, the user can hold the other end portion of the handle distal to the fastener to provide larger torque. However, since the end portions of the handle are not provided with the anti-slipping structure, the user's hand is liable to slip and might be injured when impinging an object.
Further, the regular protrusions and recessions formed in the intermediate portion of the handle extend in a direction transverse to the extending direction of the handle such that the regular anti-slipping section merely provides an anti-slipping effect when a longitudinal force is applied. More specifically, the anti-slipping effect is limited, as the user's hand moves in a direction transverse to the extending direction of the handle while operating the handle.
Even if the jacket extends to the end portions of the handle, the jacket made of rubber or plastic is liable to be scraped and damaged when impinged upon a metal tool. The anti-slipping effect degrades accordingly. Further, the jacket deteriorates when coming in contact with oil, leading to damage to the jacket and loss of the anti-slipping function.
In another embodiment disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No. M240308, the wrench body includes upper and lower grooves for coupling with protrusions of the jacket. In a further embodiment disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No. M240308, the wrench body includes through-holes, and an upper jacket has projections extending through the through-holes for snapping engagement with engaging holes in a lower jacket. In still another embodiment disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No. M240308, the wrench body includes screw holes, and screws are extended through holes in upper and lower jackets and into the screw holes of the wrench body. These designs result in an increase in the manufacturing cost while failing to provide the required anti-slipping effect.


A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for storing predictions as well as examining and using one or more caches for anticipating accesses to a memory. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus is a prefetcher for managing predictive accesses with a memory. The prefetcher can include a speculator to generate a range of predictions, and multiple caches. For example, the prefetcher can include a first cache and a second cache to store predictions. An entry of the first cache is addressable by a first representation of an address from the range of predictions, whereas an entry of the second cache is addressable by a second representation of the address. The first and the second representations are compared in parallel against the stored predictions of either the first cache and the second cache, or both.

Prefetchers are used to fetch program instructions and program data so that a processor can readily avail itself of the retrieved information as it is needed. The prefetcher predicts which instructions and data the processor might use in the future so that the processor need not wait for the instructions or data to be accessed from system memory, which typically operates at a slower rate than the processor. With a prefetcher implemented between a processor and system memory, the processor is less likely to remain idle as it waits for requested data from memory. As such, prefetchers generally improve processor performance.
Generally, the more predictions generated by a prefetcher, the more likely that the prefetcher can arrange to have the necessary instructions and data available for a processor, thereby decreasing the latency of a processor. But many conventional prefetchers lack capabilities to manage predictions after they are generated and before a processor requests those predictions. Usually these prefetchers store prefetch data in a single cache memory, which is typically lacking in functionality to limit predictions that are superfluous with respect to those already stored in the cache. Moreover, cache memories of traditional prefetchers are not sufficiently designed for managing predicted addresses stored therein as they are for merely storing data generally.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a system, an apparatus and a method for minimizing the drawbacks of managing predictive accesses to memory, especially from the time when a prefetcher generates predictions to when a processor requests those predictions.

System, apparatus and method for performing look-ahead lookup on predictive information in a cache memory


A method of preparing a boron allotrope-organic lateral heterostructural article includes providing an article comprising a substrate comprising a portion thereof coupled to a boron allotrope comprising an elemental boron layer; generating an organic compound vapor from a solid organic compound source, said organic compound vapor having a higher enthalpy of adsorption on said substrate compared to enthalpy of adsorption on said boron allotrope; and contacting said organic compound vapor with said article to selectively deposit said organic compound on a substrate portion not coupled to said boron allotrope to provide a heterostructural article comprising said organic compound and said boron allotrope laterally adjacent one to the other and providing a lateral interface one with the other.

The rapid ascent of graphene has driven extensive interest in additional atomically thin elemental two-dimensional (2D) materials including phosphorene, stanene, and most recently, borophene. (See, A. J. Mannix, X.-F. Zhou, B. Kiraly, J. D. Wood, D. Alducin, B. D. Myers, X. Liu, B. L. Fisher, U. Santiago, J. R. Guest, M. J. Yacaman, A. Ponce, A. R. Oganov, M. C. Hersam, N. P. Guisinger, Synthesis of borophenes: Anisotropic, two-dimensional boron polymorphs, Science 350, 1513-1516 (2015)). Unlike the naturally layered structures of bulk graphite and black phosphorus, boron exhibits significantly more complex and diverse bulk structures due to the rich bonding configurations among boron atoms. Studies of atomically thin boron sheets (i.e., borophene) primarily relied on theoretical predictions until recent studies experimentally demonstrated borophene synthesis on Ag(111) substrates. These experimental studies have confirmed theoretical predictions that borophene is a 2D metal and can adopt multiple structurally distinct phases as a function of processing conditions.
As an emerging 2D material, borophene has thus far only been studied in isolation, whereas nearly all technological applications will require the integration of borophene with other materials. Of particular interest are electronically abrupt lateral heterostructures, which have been widely explored in other 2D materials due to their novel electronic properties. For example, atomically well-defined lateral heterostructures between graphene and hexagonal boron nitride have revealed spatially confined boundary states with scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). It should be noted, however, that methods for experimentally realizing atomically clean and abrupt lateral heterojunctions remain challenging for many 2D material systems. For example, the growth front of the first 2D material can be easily contaminated, which can disrupt the subsequent growth of the second 2D material and/or lead to ill-defined interfacial regions. Alloying and intermixing during the growth of 2D material lateral heterostructures also prevents abrupt interfaces.

Electronically abrupt borophene/organic lateral heterostructures and preparation thereof


A system, device and method for left atrial appendage occlusion detection is disclosed. The system for occlusion detection comprises a sheath; a delivery system comprising: a delivery catheter extending between a proximal end and a distal end; and a handle coupled to the proximal end of the delivery catheter; a medical tool coupled to a distal end of the delivery catheter at a target location within a portion of an organ of a patient, the medical device comprising a hub including a bore defining an axis, an occluder portion coupled to the hub and an anchor portion extending between a first end and a second end; at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the target cavity while blood is suctioned form inside the left atrial appendage; and at least one processor configured to process the pressure measurement acquired from the at least one pressure sensor.

The upper chambers of the heart, the atria, have appendages attached to each of them. For example, the left atrial appendage is a feature of all human hearts. The physiologic function of such appendages is not completely understood, but they do act as a filling reservoir during the normal pumping of the heart. The appendages typically protrude from the atria and cover an external portion of the atria. Atrial appendages differ substantially from one to another. For example, one atrial appendage may be configured as a tapered protrusion while another atrial appendage may be configured as a re-entrant, sock-like hole. The inner surface of an appendage is conventionally trabeculated with cords of muscular cardiac tissue traversing its surface with one or multiple lobes.
The atrial appendages appear to be inert while blood is being pumped through them during normal heart function. In other words, the appendages don't appear to have a noticeable effect on blood pumped through them during normal heart function. However, in cases of atrial fibrillation, when the atria go into arrhythmia, blood may pool and thrombose inside of the appendages. Among other things, this can pose a stroke risk when it occurs in the left appendage since the thrombus may be pumped out of the heart and into the cranial circulation once normal sinus rhythm is restored following arrhythmia events.
Historically, appendages have sometimes been modified surgically to reduce the risk imposed by atrial fibrillation. In recent years devices which may be delivered percutaneously into the left atrial appendage have been introduced. The basic function of these devices is to exclude the volume within the appendage with an implant which then allows blood within the appendage to safely thrombose and then to be gradually incorporated into cardiac tissue. This process, coupled with the growth of endothelium over the face of the device, can leave a smooth, endothelialized surface where the appendage is located. In comparison to surgical procedures, devices implanted percutaneously are a less invasive means for addressing the problems associated with the left atrial appendage.
In general, occlusion is detected by injecting contrast fluid into a target cavity and observing whether the contrast fluid escapes from the target cavity. However, contrast fluid has several disadvantages, such as allergic reactions. It would be advantageous to provide a percutaneous system, method and/or device that is capable of left atrial appendage occlusion detection without the use of contrast fluid.

Occlusion detection by pressure measurement


A hook comprises a pair of hook bodies, a pair of hook portions, a movable pressing portion, an operating portion and a link unit. The hook bodies are formed of two plates disposed apart from each other, respectively. The hook portions are integrally fixed to lower ends of the hook bodies, respectively. The movable pressing portion is rotatably supported between the hook portions. The operating portion is subject to a tension load of a hoist. The link unit has one end rotatably connected to the movable pressing portion and another end rotatably connected to the operating portion. When the operating portion is pulled upward, the movable pressing portion presses a wire harness, which is hooked to the hook portion, against the hook portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hook employed to separate a wire harness from a vehicle body and to a method for separating the wire harness using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In handling of disused automobiles, a hook employed to separate a wire harness from a vehicle body is conventionally disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2833674.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hook 50 comprises a hook body 51, a hook portion 52, a support pin 53, an operating portion 54, a rod member 55 and a lock member 56. The U-shaped hook portion 52 to which a wire harness WH is hooked is integrally fixed to a lower end of the hook body 51. The operating portion 54 has a lower end rotatably supported by the hook body 51 via the support pin 53 and an upper end connected to a rope 60 of a hoist (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The rod member 55 is integrally fixed to a lower end of the operating portion 54 and capable of approaching an end of the hook portion 52 and separating from the same. The lock member 56 locks the rod member 55 in a situation where the rod member 55 abuts against the end of the hook portion 52.
With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the wire harness WH is hooked to the hook portion 52 in a situation where the rod member 55 separates from the end of the hook portion 52. After hooking the wire harness WH to the hook portion 52, a tension load is applied to the hook 50 via the rope 60 upward. When the operating portion 54 is rotated around the support pin 53 by the tension load, the rod member 55 is also rotated together and then abuts against the end of the hook portion 52. In this situate, the lock member 56 locks the rod member 55 so as to keep in this position. If the tension load is further applied to the hook 50 via the rope 60 upward, the wire harness WH moves upward with the hook 50. The wire harness WH is separated from a vehicle body (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) by forcibly pulling out the wire harness WH from a plurality of clip means (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the vehicle body with the tension load.
The rod member 55 prevents the wire harness WH from falling off an opening of the hook portion 52 because the rod member 55 closes the opening.
The plurality of clip means are divided into a right clip means group and a left clip means group around a place where the wire harness WH is hooked to the hook 50. The wire harness WH is rarely pulled out from the right and left clip means groups at the same time and usually pulled out from either the right clip means group or the left clip means group in first, when the tension load is applied to the hook 50. Therefore, external force occurs to the wire harness WH by one clip means group continuing to clip the wire harness WH wherein the external force acts in an axial direction of the wire harness WH.
If the external force occurs to the wire harness WH, the hook 50 tends to sideslip because the wire harness WH is only hooked to the hook portion 52 so as not to fall off the opening of the hook portion 52. Once the hook 50 sideslip on the wire harness WH, the tension load applied to the hook 50 is not efficiently transmitted to the wire harness WH, and accordingly it takes a lot of time to separate the wire harness WH from the vehicle body.
Further, if the hook 50 sideslip on the wire harness WH, the wire harness WH tends to slip through the hook 50 from the other clip means group side wherein the wire harness WH has been pulled out from the other clip means group. Once the wire harness WH slips through the hook 50, it is necessary to start a work for hooking the wire harness WH to the hook portion 52 from the beginning again, and accordingly it takes a lot of time and becomes complicated to separate the wire harness WH from the vehicle body.
A method for separating a wire harness using a hook is conventionally disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication 2000-207947.
As shown in FIG. 3, a part of a wire of a wire harness WH′ is bent to form an eye portion 70. With the above configuration, if a hook (not shown in FIG. 3) is hooked to the eye portion 70 and then the wire harness WH′ is separated from a vehicle body (not shown in FIG. 3), the hook does not sideslip on the wire harness WH′. However, since it is necessary to form the eye portions 70 on each wire harness WH′ mounted to the vehicle body, it becomes complicated and costs a lot of money to manufacture the wire harness WH′, and accordingly this is not practical for the method.

Hook and method for separating wire harness using the same


A bumper protector that protects a bumper of a vehicle while functioning as a license plate fastener. The protector includes a portion, a band, and a screw. The portion is resilient and provides impact protection for the bumper of the vehicle. The band is disposed around the portion and prevents the portion from bursting when the portion is impacted upon. The screw is disposed through the portion and replaceably fastens the license plate to the bumper of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bumper protector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for protectors have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 251,509 to Wenrick teaches the ornamental design for a trim strip adapted to be secured to an automobile bumper or body.
Another example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 275,475 to Turkleson teaches the ornamental design for an automobile bumper guard.
Still another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,807 to Snow teaches a door stop and method which insures damping of the inertia of a swinging door without damage to either the door or the door stop. The door stop comprises a static member mounted to a wall or a door and a dynamic member having a hollow body which reciprocally receives guide structure of the static member. The dynamic member also comprises a bumper which upon engagement with the door or the wall causes reciprocation of the two members.
Yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,724 to Lei tert et al. teaches a cushioned stop member for attachment to a sliding panel for limiting movement of that panel relative to opposed abutment surfaces on a similar panel. This allows a series of sliding panels to be used in self aligning manner. The stop member has a base part with a flat surface suitable for securement to a flat surface of the sliding panel and retaining elements projecting outwardly from the base part. These retaining elements hold a resilient cushioning member which is an interference fit on the retaining elements and which has opposed side surfaces which can engage on the opposed abutment surfaces of the other panel in a cushioned manner.
Still yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,214 to Wolf et al. teaches a rubber block shaped as a segment of a circular washer wherein opposite ends of the segment are surfaces against which torsional forces are applied to the blocks. A plurality of hollow ducts extend through the block and all the ducts are parallel to each other and essentially perpendicular to a main plane of the block. The main plane is perpendicular to the load bearing surfaces. The hollow ducts are intersected by cavities having cross-sectional areas larger than the corresponding cross-sectional areas of the ducts intersecting these cavities.
Yet still another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,539 to Bressler teaches an elastic bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle or the like, which comprises an elastic bumper member adapted for repetitive cushioning impact, the elastic bumper member being formed of an elastomeric material, which contains imbedded therein a relatively stiff high strength insert member, with the insert member having a fastener device extending outwardly therefrom, and a cup-like holder member adapted to receive and hold one end of the bumper member which has the insert member and fastener protruding therefrom, such that the fastener member protrudes through the holder member and is then securely attached to a supporting position on the automotive vehicle axle or frame.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for protectors have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described


Sound source localization apparatuses and methods are described. A frame amplitude difference vector is calculated based on short time frame data acquired through an array of microphones. The frame amplitude difference vector reflects differences between amplitudes captured by microphones of the array during recording the short time frame data. Similarity between the frame amplitude difference vector and each of a plurality of reference frame amplitude difference vectors is evaluated. Each of the plurality of reference frame amplitude difference vectors reflects differences between amplitudes captured by microphones of the array during recording sound from one of a plurality of candidate locations. A desired location of sound source is estimated based at least on the candidate locations and associated similarity. The sound source localization can be performed based at least on amplitude difference.

Examples of sound source localization include localizing sound sources using an array of microphones. For example, a method (SRP-PHAT algorithm) of performing sound source localization based on time difference (phase difference) between the signals of different microphones has been proposed in J. DiBiase, "A high-accuracy, low-latency technique for talker localization in reverberant environments", PhD thesis, Brown University, Providence R.I., USA, May 2000.

Sound source localization apparatus and method

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


A projector includes an optical arrangement and a cooling arrangement. The optical arrangement includes a light source, a filtering component, a light modulation component and a projection lens. The filtering component filters the light emitted by the light source. The light modulation component modulates the light filtered by the filtering component to form an image. The projection lens projects the image formed by the light modulation component. The cooling arrangement is arranged relative to the optical arrangement to cool the optical arrangement. The cooling arrangement includes a blower, an air duct and a heat sink. The blower blows cooling air. The air duct guides the cooling air from the blower to the filtering component along an cooling air path. The heat sink is disposed in the cooling air path within the air duct and fixedly attached to the light modulation component to thermally contact with the light modulation component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a projector. More specifically, the present invention relates to a projector having a cooling arrangement to cool an optical arrangement.
2. Background Information
DLP (Digital Light Processing®) projector is a reflecting type of display device. In the DLP projector, light from a light source is filtered, and the light is reflected on a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). The DMD is a semiconductor element. The light reflected on the DMD is expanded and projected by a lens. Then, image colorization is performed.
The DLP projector includes a light source, an optical engine system and an external housing. The optical engine system includes a color wheel, a light tunnel, a DMD and a housing that houses the color wheel, the light tunnel and the DMD. The external housing houses the light source and the housing. When the light source generates heat up to a high temperature, the color wheel, the light tunnel, and the DMD located on a light path of the light emitted from the light source are heated up, too. The elevation in temperature cause operating performance and durability of the color wheel, the light tunnel and the DMD to be diminished.
In view of this, a heat sink is attached to the DMD and a fan is provided to the external housing. The heat sink is exposed to an outside of the housing. The fan blows cooling air through an inside of the external housing to promoted heat dispersal by the heat sink, to suppress temperature elevation of the DMD, and to suppress temperature elevation of the light tunnel and the color wheel.
With conventional projectors, cooling is performed by blowing air against optical elements used in the projectors.
For example, a fan is used for sending cooling air through an interior of an external housing (see Japanese Patent Utility Model Registration 3,108,585, for example).
With a conventional projector, a duct is used to blow cooling air along a fixed path. Specifically, the cooling air is circulated in the duct with a fan (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2003-337380, for example). Then, heat exchange is performed by blowing the cooling air, which has cooled along a circulation path, against hot optical elements (such as the light tunnel). Furthermore, the cooling air that has been heated through the heat exchange is cooled again. With another conventional projector, cooling air is drawn in by a sirocco fan. The cooling air is passed through a duct and guided to a light source unit (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2006-293117, for example). With another conventional projector, cooling air discharged from a cooling fan blows at the DMD (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2006-259282, for example).
Furthermore, with conventional projectors, cooling methods involves liquid cooling (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2006-259282 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2007-127856, for example).
However, with the conventional projector, the cooling air from the fan is diffused in the interior of the housing. Thus, it is difficult to raise the efficiency of cooling the DMD. The same can be said about the efficiency of cooling the light tunnel or the color wheel.
In contrast, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2003-337380 involves cooling the light tunnel by utilizing a heat exchange cycle of air circulating through the duct. Thus, extra space in which to install a ring-shaped duct is required. Furthermore, an extra air drying agent is also required. Thus, the temperature of the circulating air rises gradually, which worsens cooling efficiency.
Furthermore, with Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2006-293117, the cooling air discharged through the duct into the interior of the light source unit flows through the interior of the housing. Thus, the cooling air flowing through the interior of the housing becomes hot. Then, it is difficult to obtain low-temperature cooling air for efficiently cooling the light tunnel and the DMD.
Furthermore, with Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2006-259282, the cooling air discharged from a cooling fan is blown towards the DMD from the duct. The cooling air blown out of the duct contacts with the DMD, which improves the DMD cooling effect to a certain extent. However, when the cooling air blown from the duct contacts with the DMD, it is diffused, which means that the DMD cooling efficiency cannot be increased markedly.
In addition, employing a liquid cooling type of cooling method as indicated in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2006-259282 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2007-127856 is impractical in terms of providing a projector that is simple and easy to handle because it requires a relatively large mechanism such as a radiator, a duct, a water pump, or the like.