In a system, an output voltage of a power generator is input to a filter circuit. The filter circuit includes a first capacitor having opposing first and second electrodes, a second capacitor having opposing third and fourth electrodes, a first switch electrically connected to be series with the third electrode of the second capacitor, and a second switch electrically connected to be series with the fourth electrode of the second capacitor. A series circuit of series-connected first switch, the second capacitor, and the second switch is electrically connected with the first capacitor in parallel thereto. A control circuit is electrically connected to the first and second switches of the filter circuit. The control unit is configured to control the first and second switches to be substantially simultaneously on and off to thereby cause the filter circuit to filter the frequency components from the output voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power-generator control systems for smoothing an output voltage of a power generator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an alternator installable in vehicles, when a rotor of the alternator rotates, a field winding wound around a core of the rotor creates magnetic fluxes when a field current is supplied thereto, and the created magnetic fluxes magnetize the core to provide field poles.
The rotation of the filed poles creates magnetic fluxes, and the created magnetic fluxes induce three-phase AC voltages in three-phase stator windings wound around a stator core that faces the rotor core. The three-phase AC voltages are rectified so that a DC voltage is generated as an output voltage from the alternator.
In such an alternator, one phase voltage is different in phase from another phase voltage, and therefore, rectification of three-phase AC voltages induced in the three-phase windings may cause ripple voltages to appear on an output voltage. Cycles of the ripple voltages therefore change depending on the number of revolutions of the alternator (rotor).
In controlling the output voltage of the alternator, it is important to eliminate the ripple voltages appearing on the output voltage of the alternator.
An example of such means for eliminating ripple voltages from an output voltage of an alternator is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H02-51398.
The ripple-voltage eliminating means disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication is provided with a control circuit that controls a field current to be supplied to a field winding of a synchronous generator to thereby regulate a negatively fed-back output voltage of the synchronous generator to a constant value.
Specifically, the control circuit includes a filter. The filter consists of a differential amplifier, a resistor connected between a negative input terminal and an output terminal thereof, a plurality of capacitors, and a switch.
One electrode of each of the individual capacitors is electrically connected with the negative input terminal to which the output voltage of the synchronous generator is input, and the switch is electrically connected with the output terminal of the differential amplifier. The switch works to select any one of the other electrodes of the individual capacitors to be electrically connected with the output terminal of the differential amplifier.
With the configuration of the control circuit, change of a capacitor to be electrically connected with the output terminal of the differential amplifier allows a lagging phase and a leading phase in the feedback loop to be adjusted, thus effectively filtering out ripple voltages from the output voltage of the synchronous generator. This makes it possible to improve the voltage regulation characteristic of the control circuit.
In the structure of the control circuit, the switch is connected with only the other electrode of any one of the capacitors.
The control circuit is normally designed as an IC. In the control IC, the switch is normally composed of a semiconductor switching element(s), such as a transistor.
When the control IC is used under high-temperature environment as a part of a vehicle, a leakage current that flows across region(s) of the semiconductor switching element in which no current should be flowing may be not ignored. This causes the voltage regulation characteristic of the control circuit to deteriorate.
For example, in the control IC with the filter whose differential amplifier consists of a pair of current-mirror transistors, a leakage current may appear to flow from the switch connected with one of the capacitors to the semiconductor substrate of the control IC. The appearance of leakage current may cause a current flowing through one of the current-mirror transistors to be mismatched with one current flowing through the other of the current-mirror transistors. This may cause the ripple-voltage filtering characteristic of the control IC to deteriorate, so some of ripple voltages, which are supposed to be eliminated under no leakage currents appearing in the control IC, remain in the output voltage. This may cause the voltage regulation characteristic of the control circuit to become worse.

System for smoothing output voltage of power generator


An aircraft 1 with a spiral inducing assembly 2 which is capable of inducing the aircraft to travel in a continuous spiraling motion without the aircraft rolling. A ramjet 6b is attached to a tube 3 that is able to rotate around the encircled part of the fuselage. The ramjet 6b is able to rotate in a pivoting manner on the rotate-able tube 3 with respect to the rotate-able tube 3, thereby changing their pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the rotate-able tube 3. Ramjet 6b is smaller than another ramjet on the right side of the tube 3. The difference in size between the ramjets makes the ramjet 6b exert a weaker force on the rotate-able tube 3 than the ramjet on the right side when the ramjets are rotated in the same direction. The imbalance between the rotational forces thus causes the rotate-able tube 3 to rotate. A fin 6c is also able to cause the rotate-able tube 3 to rotate during flight. When rotated, the ramjets would exert a lateral force on the rotate-able tube 3. Thus, as well as forcing the rotate-able tube 3 to rotate, the ramjets would also push the rotate-able tube sideways. But as the rotate-able tube is pushed sideways, it rotates, and hence the lateral direction of push constantly revolves, causing a spiraling motion of the aircraft when in flight.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of aviation dealing with missiles and military attack airplanes.
The aim of this invention is to provide an aircraft that has higher chance of surviving attacks from anti-aircraft weapons. The aircraft can be in the form a missile. The aircraft according to this invention is fitted with a mechanism that enables the aircraft to travel in a continuous spiraling motion while flying when the mechanism is engaged. The mechanism is such that once activated, the spiraling motion is automatic. The mechanism can also be disengaged by a pilot when so desired if the aircraft carries a pilot. The spiraling motion is achieved during flight without having to roll the aircraft.
The mechanism could also be fitted to a missile, including a multi-stage missile. The mechanism can be made so as to activate automatically on separation of stages of a multi-stage missile. A spiraling missile would be more difficult to destroy by lasers, machine guns and anti-missile missiles than a missile travelling in a straight line.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,764,044 B2, 6,708,923 B2, 7,093,791 B2 and 7,165,742 B2, in the name of Kusic, show airplanes and missiles with variable pitch fins on a rotate-able tube, which fins are operated in order to force the aircraft or missile to travel in a continuous spiraling motion.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,644,587 B2 and 6,648,433 B2, in the name of Kusic, show spiraling missiles using only rigid structures to achieve continuous spiraling motions.
The current invention uses thrust producing motors as a means for inducing a continuous spiraling motion in an aircraft, using pivoting jet or rocket motors on a rotate-able tube to induce a spiraling motion in the aircraft. The jet or rocket motors could be used to accelerate the aircraft into a spiraling motion, whereas fins could act to slow the aircraft during a prolonged spiraling motion.

Aircraft spiraling mechanism with jet assistance—D


The present disclosure provides an audio playback system adapted to automatically switch an active microphone back and forth between two or more devices. For example, where the system is a pair of earbuds, where each earbud is worn by a separate user, the system may switch the active microphone to the device worn by the user that is speaking at a given time. While that device holds the active microphone, the other device may wait until a particular event that frees up the microphone, such as if the user wearing the device with the active microphone stops talking. According to some examples, a notification may be provided through one or more of the devices in the system to let the user know, for example, that he does not have the active microphone, that the active microphone is free, that the active microphone has been switched, etc.

Due to limitations in the short range wireless communication standards, wireless earbuds only support one of the buds serving as the active microphone during a phone call. This presents a user experience problem for users as they are unable to easily share their bud with a friend while on a phone call to have a "3-way" call that would work seamlessly. One possible solution is that the user can manually specify on which bud to use the microphone. The manually specified earbud serves as the active microphone regardless of whether it is being worn on the user's head or not. In this mode, the earbud with the active microphone may be in the case for a period of time before the user figures out that voice data is not being captured by the other earbud that is worn.

Automatically switching active microphone for wireless headsets


A hinge apparatus includes a first hinge section with a pair of oppositely positioned flange sections connected to the first hinge section. A second hinge section is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned flange sections connected to the second hinge section and a hinge device moveably connects the first hinge section and the second hinge section.

A hinge is a useful tool for moveably connecting objects. In wooden fence construction, for example only and not by limitation, the most popular prior art method of creating a hinged walk gate is to install "strap hinges". Strap hinges are hinges that are flush mounted to the face of the gate section with lag screws. The lag screws horizontally penetrate the fence board and the two by four, for example, stringer so as to secure the strap hinge to the gate section. Thus the entire weight of the gate section hangs on the horizontal screws which inevitably sag and tilt downward under the force of gravity. This causes the gate section to become misaligned such that the gate drags on the ground, making the gate difficult to open and close and sometimes making the gate section inoperable.
Another problem with the prior art gate hinge is that it only operates in one direction. The prior art strap hinges only allow a gate to swing out. Further, strap hinges are weak, as described above and are, therefore, very ineffective in securely holding heavier gates, such as drive gates, in position.
Thus, there is a need in the art for providing a hinge that maintains the gate in the selected operable position without sagging. It, therefore, is an object of this invention to provide a hinge apparatus and method that is easy to use, easy to install and which, when installed, holds objects to which it is attached against misalignment. It is a further object of the invention to provide a universal hinge that operates effectively as a hinge in two directions without need of modification.


An electroluminescent display (EL) device and a method of manufacturing the same. The EL device includes a substrate, a first electrode unit including first electrodes formed on the substrate in a predetermined pattern, and first electrode terminals connected to the respective first electrodes; a second electrode unit including second electrodes formed on the first electrodes, and second electrode terminals connected to the respective second electrodes; an emission area formed where the first electrodes intersect the second electrodes, an electroluminescent layer disposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes in the emission area, and an outer insulating layer between the emission area and the second electrode terminals; wherein the outer insulating layer comprises an insulating material formed to contact at least an edge of the second electrode terminals facing the emission area to reduce a steepness of a step between the second electrode terminal and the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electroluminescent (EL) device, and, more particularly, to an improved EL device with a more secure patterning of fine electrodes, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
EL devices are self-emission type display devices, and much attention has recently been paid to the EL devices because they have advantageous features suitable for next generation devices, such as a wide viewing angle, a high contrast ratio, and a high response speed. EL devices are classified into inorganic EL devices and organic EL devices, according to the materials used for forming the light-emitting layers.
In particular, studies of organic EL devices have been extensively conducted because of their advantages, including good characteristics in terms of brightness and response speed, color displaying, and so on.
An EL device is basically configured such that an anode is formed on a transparent insulating substrate, e.g., a glass substrate, in a predetermined pattern, a light-emitting layer, consisting of organic or inorganic layers, is formed on the anode, and a cathode having a predetermined pattern is then stacked thereon so as to be orthogonal with the anode.
The organic or inorganic layers have at least a layered structure of a hole transport layer and a light-emitting layer sequentially stacked. As described above, the light-emitting layer is made of either an organic or inorganic material.
Usable materials of the organic layer include copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), N,N′-dinaphthalene-1-yl-N,N′-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB), and tris-8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq3).
In the above-described EL device, when a drive voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, holes from the anode migrate to the light-emitting layer, and electrons from the cathode migrate to the light-emitting layer. The holes and the electrons are recombined in the light-emitting layer to generate excitons. As the excitons are deactivated to a ground state, fluorescent molecules of the light-emitting layer emit light, thereby forming an image.
As described above, EL devices are classified into organic EL devices and inorganic EL devices according to the materials used for the light-emitting layers. An explanation will now be given by referring to an organic EL device.
FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a conventional passive matrix type organic EL device. As shown, the conventional organic EL device includes a transparent substrate 11, an active area 20 for organic electroluminescence (to be briefly referred to as an active area, hereinbelow), a cap 12, an electrode terminal portion 30, and a flexible printed circuit board PCB 13. The active area 20 is formed on the substrate 11, and forms an image. The cap 12 is adhered to the substrate 11 and encapsulates the active area 20. The electrode terminal portion 30 supplies current to the active area 20, and extends outside the cap 12. The flexible PCB 13 is adhered to the electrode terminal portion 30 extending outside the cap 12, and connects circuits (not shown) for driving the active area 20. The electrode terminal portion 30 includes a first electrode terminal 32 and a second electrode terminal 34.
The active area 20 includes first electrodes, organic layers, and second electrodes on the substrate 11. The first electrodes are connected to the first electrode terminal 32, and can be spaced a predetermined interval apart from each other in a striped pattern. The organic layers are deposited on the first electrodes in a predetermined pattern. The second electrodes are formed on the organic layers such that they are insulated from the first electrodes and are electrically connected to the second electrode terminal.
In such an organic EL device, the organic layers formed at the active area 20 are formed of very thin layers, and the first electrodes and the second electrodes face each other with the organic layers interposed therebetween. Thus, the organic layers may be thinned at the edges of the first electrodes formed in a predetermined pattern, and short-circuits between the first electrodes and the second electrodes may be generated thereat. Also, short-circuits between each of the first electrodes may be generated.
In order to prevent short-circuits between the electrodes, a variety of techniques in which inner insulating films are formed between each of first electrodes have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,222,315, 6,297,589, and so on. In particular, each of the inner insulating films disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,315 has a thickness which becomes gradually smaller toward each adjacent electrode, thereby preventing short-circuits at edge portions of the first electrodes.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view of a portion "A" shown in FIG. 1, in which inner insulating films 26 are formed between each of the first electrodes 22. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the line I—I shown in FIG. 2.
In the drawings, the first electrodes 22 are generally formed of indium tin oxide (ITO). Each of second electrode terminals 34 includes a first terminal portion 34a and a second terminal portion 34b. The first terminal portion 34a is formed of ITO like the first electrodes 22. The second terminal portion 34b is formed of Cr, and compensates for a voltage drop due to line resistance.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an organic layer 28 and second electrodes 24 are sequentially formed. The second electrodes 24 are formed up to upper portions of the second electrode terminals 34, of the electrode terminal portions 30, to then be electrically connected to the second electrode terminals 34.
However, the following problems may arise in the connection between the second electrode terminals 34 and the second electrodes 24.
Whereas the first and second terminal portions 34a and 34b forming each of the second electrode terminals 34 have a height of several thousands of angstroms, the height of each of the second electrodes 24 covering the second electrode terminals 34, typically made of aluminum Al, is generally 1000 Å or less. As shown in FIG. 3, since the second electrode terminal 34 is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the active area 20, and no layers other than the second electrodes 24 exist therebetween, a predetermined step is generated between the substrate 11 and the second electrode terminal 34. Thus, it is required that the second electrodes 24 cover the second electrode terminal 34 while overcoming a step of the second electrode terminal 34 at a portion "B" shown in FIG. 3. In practice, however, the second electrodes 24 may be easily cut at the edge of the second electrode terminal 34, as shown in FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first terminal portion 34a and the second terminal portion 34b of the second electrode terminal 34 may be shaped such that the upper portions thereof protrude compared to the lower portions thereof. Thus, the second electrodes 24 may be disconnected at an edge, as indicated by reference symbol S.
In order to prevent the second electrodes from being disconnected at the edges, it is necessary to form the second electrodes more thickly. However, forming the second electrodes more thickly may deteriorate the current characteristics of an organic EL device, and may increase the driving voltage of a panel.
Further, the organic EL device may deteriorate due to electrostatic shock generated at contact portions between the second electrodes and the second electrode terminals.
As an effort to overcome these problems, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. JP2000-235890 has disclosed a method of forming a port with a gently sloping end connected to an interconnect portion. However, both the port and the interconnect portion are as thin as tens to hundreds of micrometers, so that it is difficult to practically form such a thin port with the gently sloping end. Furthermore, although such a port can be manufactured, the resulting port has an undesirable step at its sloping end.

Electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing the same


A method and system for automated visual inspection, include receiving, from a camera imaging an inspection line, an image of the inspection line. The image includes an item on the inspection line personal or confidential image data. A processor produces from the image of the inspection line a reduced image, which does not include the personal or confidential image data, and inputs the reduced image to an inspection process.

Inspection during processes can be instrumental in ensuring the quality of the process. For example, inspection during production processes at manufacturing plants helps control the quality of products by identifying defects and then acting upon this identification, for example, by fixing the defect or discarding the defective part. During production, the process of defect detection is essential for quality assurance (QA) gating and sorting on production lines, and is consequently useful in improving productivity, improving production processes and working procedures, reducing defect rates, and reducing re-work and waste.
Systems that use imaging devices and image processors, generally referred to as machine vision systems, are used in inspection tasks, where a camera is set up to scan the process or item under inspection. Images obtained by the camera are then analyzed, for example, to detect defects in items.
Such machine vision solutions necessitate positioning and arranging of cameras and typically require a set up stage by an operator and/or set up crew. Images obtained by the cameras during the set up stage are recorded and viewed (e.g., via a closed-loop video system) for feedback regarding the positioning and arrangement of the cameras, ambient illumination, and other parameters important for setting up a machine vision system. The images are also recorded and viewed to enable monitoring by the operator or another reviewer to correct or improve the set up process, if necessary. These images, which are obtained during the set up stage, almost always include views of the crew involved in setting up and other surroundings and background which are not relevant for the set up or for the following inspection process.
Consequently, images obtained during the set up stage and during the following inspection stages, typically include personal and/or confidential information, such as one or more crew people or parts of bodies of crew people, machinery or parts of the machinery used at the manufacturing plant and other background depicting the environment of the inspection line and plant. The use of these images, which are obtained during visual inspection processes, may be extremely restricted, due to security policies and/or privacy regulations.
Since use of images obtained during the set up stage and during the following inspection stages, is essential in visual inspection processes, restrictions on the use of these images may harm and even bring the inspection process to a halt, causing irreparable damage.

System and method for automated visual inspection


A thermal safety device includes a device body with an inlet duct and at least one outlet hole in communication with the atmosphere, a shut-off device mounted in the device body and movable between a closed position and an open position, and a retaining element that keeps the shut-off device in the closed position. The retaining element includes a casing containing a heat sensitive substance configured to expand upon reaching a first predetermined temperature and break the casing and allow the valve to open. A yielding support element provides support for and protects the casing until the temperature reached by the support element is higher than a second predetermined temperature which is higher than the first. The support element is configured to yield upon reaching the second predetermined temperature to place the shut-off device in the open position.

On vehicles with gas-fuelled engines, the gaseous fuel is loaded and compressed in at least one cylinder or container. According to safety standards in the sector, each gas cylinder in a vehicle is equipped with safety means to prevent, or at least reduce the chance of, an explosion due to an abnormal increase in the internal pressure, the presence of fire and/or a temperature increase beyond a predetermined threshold. Security units are used in association with compressed gas cylinders to prevent excessive temperature increases that lead to increases in the internal pressure of the cylinder.
Known heat safety devices are traditionally placed along a gas venting duct from the cylinder. They typically include a heat sensitive element confined in a respective seat or chamber in a solid body in association with an ejection piston. The heat sensitive element keeps the duct closed unless and until it reaches a predetermined safety temperature threshold upon which it opens the vent for emptying the cylinder.
In certain embodiments, the heat sensitive element is a solid state alloy that melts at the predetermined safety temperature. The element is then pushed, at least partially, outside through an ejection port by the associated piston so as to open the venting duct. In other embodiments, the heat sensitive element is in liquid or paste form and contained in a casing configured to break upon reaching the predetermined temperature.
It is important that the safety devices be reliable and sensitive enough to work properly when impinged by an abnormal rise in temperature.
Several solutions have been developed to increase the reliability and sensitivity of the safety devices. In one method, a small amount of eutectic material is placed in the proximity of the external-environment. Tests have shown that the sensitivity and reliability of the safety device increases as the amount of eutectic material is decreased and the proximity between the eutectic material and the heat source, such as the environment outside the device, increases. One problem with this method is that these devices are difficult to manufacture and assemble. Any mistakes/faults in the manufacturing and/or assembly can adversely affect the operation of the device itself.
In other techniques, device sensitivity is increased by using a liquid heat-sensitive element that is contained in a glass casing configured to break at a predetermined temperature. In these devices, when the predetermined temperature is reached, the casing breaks and the gas is immediately released. Such devices are described in patents German Patent No. 19911530, European Patent No. 0590235 and European Patent No. 0314577.
One problem encountered in the above devices involves the glass casing, which is typically made in the shape of a bulb with a thin elongated neck. This glass casing is known to break for reasons unrelated to the temperature, such as vibrations caused by the operation of the vehicle.
When the glass casing breaks before reaching the predetermined temperature then if and when the predetermined temperature is reached, the safety device fails to work.
Another concern is that the device offers little resistance where the force that the high pressure gas imparts to the piston is great.
There is a need for inexpensive easily manufactured safety devices that reduce the time required for activation. This reduced time makes them both more sensitive and reliable.

Safety device for self-propulsion gas systems


A method and system for gamma adjustment for average power level dependency displays includes applying gamma controlled functions over a range of values at a plurality of average power levels (APLs) for a display. The gamma controlled functions include coefficients for reconstruction of the gamma controlled functions. Upon a change to an APL, interpolation is performed between the coefficients to predict a new gamma controlled function for the new APL.

Certain flat panel displays (e.g. Plasma TVs) have dynamic behavior which changes according to input content. This dynamic behavior occurs especially with regard to gamma characteristics. For displays in general, gamma is the exponent that defines the proportionality between light intensity (luminance) and input voltage or digital input value. That is, the intensity produced by a display is proportional to the input voltage or digital input value raised to the power gamma. The value of gamma varies depending on the display. For displays with dynamic behavior or average power level dependency, gamma characteristics are varied depending on the level of power of the content, thereby making it difficult to perform a general gamma correction.
A conventional method of characterizing a display is to measure patches on the display using a spectroradiometer. For the gamma characteristic, a series of patches are measured. Such a procedure is referred to as a ramp (e.g., a gray ramp): (Red, Green, Blue)=(0, 0, 0), (32, 32, 32), (64, 64, 64), . . . , (224, 224, 224), (255, 255, 255). After the measurement, a gamma curve can be plotted. FIG. 1 depicts a luminance value plotted against a digital value for a typical gamma curve (gamma=2.5). The gamma derived from the plot is applied to compensate for a mismatch with a gamma of content input to the display device. However, this characterization of gamma is only for a display with a fixed average power/picture level (APL), and it does not necessarily represent the gamma for other APL settings. The gamma characteristics can be measured for other settings, but this is limiting since additional measurements are needed and the number of additional measurements may be large (i.e., a plurality of APLs).
Even further, flat panel displays often show dynamic features such as dynamic contrast and dynamic APL. Such advanced processing helps the displays produce more enhanced image quality because brightness, contrast, and gammas are adapted to the input content in real time. From a calibration point of view, applying one calibration derived for a given level (e.g., fixed APL) to another level of display state may not work due to discrepancies in display characteristics among different levels (i.e., display behavior changes dynamically according to average power/picture levels of the input content.

Method and system for prediction of gamma characteristics for a display


A sensor device analogical output signal shifting system including the sensor device including at least two detection cells adapted to equip a mechanical device and deliver at least two analogical output signals depending on behavior of the mechanical device. A shifter circuit selectively processes the analogical output signals and including at least a first part including at least one passive analogical component having a variable parameter and a second part including at least one passive analogical component having a variable parameter; and a control component for controlling the variable parameters of the passive analogical components, a variation of these variable parameters shifting at least one of the sensor device analogical output signals in the circuit. The circuit delivers at least two sensor device analogical output signals, including at least one shifted output signal including the first shifted analogical output signal and/or the second shifted sinusoidal signal of the sensor device.

It is known to equip a mechanical device, such as a motor including a rotor and a stator, with a sensor-bearing unit for tracking the rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. Other mechanical devices including a mobile part and a stationary part may be equipped with such a sensor device, for example power steering, alternator and rack rails devices. Depending on the mechanical device, the mobile part may move in rotation or in translation. Thus, the sensor device may include a rotation angle sensor or a linear sensor.
In other words, each mechanical device is equipped with a dedicated sensor device, implying a specific indexation to provide effective measurements.
Some customers using sensor-bearing units do not have a lot of experience and knowledge on the motor control strategies and therefore use off-the-shelve solutions. These solutions often only accept a very precise indexation of the sensor-bearing output signals with the rotor magnetic field. Typically, an error of only ±8 degrees may be accepted between the zero-index of the output signals and the zero-index of the rotor if this error may be adjusted by a controller, and an error of only ±0.5 degrees may be accepted in case there is no adjustment in a controller.
Mechanically, the zero-index can be set in two ways: pre-indexing the rotor with the shaft (achieved by the motor manufacturer) and/or pre-indexing the shaft with the sensor (achieved by motor manufacturer or sensor manufacturer). These methods are difficult and costly to implement since they involve a precise mechanical indexation.
For instance, it is known to mount a sensor-bearing unit with a degree of freedom on a shaft, allowing the sensor to rotate in order to mechanically shift the output signals with respect to the rotor. A rotation of the sensor up to 180 degrees around the rotor may be necessary to provide correct shift. Such a method is difficult to implement and requires specific tooling for precise indexation of mechanical angular offset.
WO-A-2007/077389, corresponding to the preamble of claim 1, describes a system for detecting the angular position of a rotating element with respect to a non-rotating element. Sensors are fixed to the rotating or the non-rotating element and their output signals are processed to generate a differential signal.
WO-A-2010/082086 describes a method and a device for sensing an absolute rotation angle of an electric energy assisted steering, comprising a rotor mobile around a rotation axis and through several revolutions. The sensing device is connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) having a signal processor, a converter, a calculating processor and an integrating unit. ECU adjusts the offset and the gain of output signal of the sensing device.
WO-A-2011/070391 describes a method and a device for estimating the angular position of a rotating device with respect to a stationary device. The measuring device includes several angle sensors connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) for generating and treating signals to estimate the angular position of the rotating device.

System for delivering at least one shifted analogical output signal


The pressure transducer provided with a measuring chamber is separated by a medium which is to be measured by a separation membrane. A piezoelectric element is arranged on the measuring chamber which is filled with silicone oil, thereby enabling the specific volume of said chamber to be modified. An adjustable path of the measuring signal is compared to a reference path and considerable deviations indicate an error on the membrane. As a result, the state of the separation membrane can be monitored when the pressure transducer is in the installed state.

A pressure transducer of this type, which enables the measurement of an absolute pressure of a process medium or of a pressure difference, is known from DE 37 05 901 C2. A pressure measuring cell with a housing is disclosed there, in which a measuring membrane is arranged which subdivides a housing interior into a measuring chamber and a reference chamber. The measuring chamber and the reference chamber are each provided with a pressure channel which, when the pressure measuring cell is used in a difference pressure transducer, leads in each case to a separation membrane which separates the measuring chamber and the reference chamber respectively from a measuring medium at which the pressure difference is to be measured between different measuring points. The two chambers are filled with a pressure transfer fluid, a silicone oil for example. In order to generate an electrical measuring signal which changes depending on the applied pressure difference, it is possible for the measuring membrane to carry a pressure sensor which for example is made from silicon and is provided with elongation resistances. By using a facility for evaluating the measuring signal, it is possible to generate and output a measurement value from the electrical measuring signal. Opposite the measuring membrane in the reference chamber is located a piezoelectric element which is provided with electrical connections for control purposes. When energized, this piezoelectric element serves to modulate the hydrostatic pressure in the pressure transfer fluid of the reference chamber. Rapid modulation operations are applied in order that this increase in hydrostatic pressure takes effect in the reference chamber. The equalization of pressure by way of the separation membrane adjacent to the pressure channel can then be ignored. The change in pressure is transmitted to the measuring membrane by means of the pressure transfer fluid. When the amplitude of the pressure modulation is known, the sensitivity of the pressure measuring cell is inferred directly from the amplitude of the corresponding modulation of the measuring signal. Self-monitoring of the pressure measuring cell for malfunctions, particularly of the measuring membrane, is thus enabled during operation and without causing any interruption of the measurement process. The known pressure transducer has the disadvantage, however, that changes in or damage to the separation membrane-cannot be identified.


An LED manufacturing method includes steps of: providing a substrate including a first surface; forming a first portion of a first semiconductor layer on the first surface in a first atmosphere including a first carrier gas; and forming a second portion of the first semiconductor layer on the first portion in a second atmosphere including a second carrier gas; wherein a plurality of first cavities is formed on a surface of the first portion during forming the first portion; and wherein the plurality of first cavities is transformed to a plurality of second cavities during forming the second portion, and one of the second cavities includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface above the first inclined surface.

The light-emitting diode (LED) is a solid state semiconductor device. The structure of the LED comprises a p-type semiconductor layer, an n-type semiconductor layer, and a light-emitting layer formed between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. The light-emitting principle of the LED is the transformation of electrical energy to optical energy by applying an electrical current to the p-n junction to generate electrons and holes. Then, the LED emits a light when the electrons and the holes combine.

Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof


A radiation measurement apparatus 10 includes a visible image acquisition unit 11 that takes a visible image, a radiation intensity acquisition unit 12 that measures intensity distribution of radiation incoming from a direction being substantially equal to an image picking up direction of the visible image acquisition unit, and an intensity display unit 15A that displays an image acquired by overlaying the intensity distribution of radiation, which is represented by using a plurality of colors being allocated to the intensity distribution of radiation on the visible image.

It is important for operators working in a nuclear electricity generation plant or citizens living in a neighborhood of the nuclear electricity generation plant to reduce radiation exposure. Further, in a case where user wants to determine a position of radiation source in some place such as operation site, it is required that a radiation measurement apparatus that has a high portability or enables user to take it anywhere. Conventionally, radiation measurement technology disclosed in patent document 1 has known as an example of radiation measurement technology.
The radiation measurement technology disclosed in patent document 1 includes a radiation detector that is arranged in two-dimensional arrangement such as a matrix or the like and a collimator that arranges in front of the radiation detector and limits incoming direction of radiation, and visualizes radiation intensity as two dimensional distribution.


A system, method and medium for utilizing a parameter hierarchy having state information to generate a uniform resource locator (URL). In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes the steps of creating a component hierarchy that includes at least one component object associated with a web page, and creating a parameter hierarchy that includes at least one parameter object that includes state information respectively associated with at least one of said component objects. Finally, the parameter hierarchy is utilized to generate a URL that can render the component hierarchy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a system, method and medium for enabling components to be added to a web page while preserving use of the uniform resource locator (URL) associated therewith and, more particularly, to a system, method and medium for enabling the components to be added by separating the component hierarchy from the parameter hierarchy within and/or utilized by a user interface framework.
2. Background of the Invention
Today's World Wide Web (WWW) sites deliver a wide variety of dynamic, personalized content to end users. Although a variety of technologies exist, such as, for example, component-based web user interface frameworks that facilitate building sophisticated web sites, known technologies and/or frameworks do not provide a solution to the problem of non-addressable URLs that may be caused by one or more changes to a component hierarchy. As used herein, the WWW refers to a system of internet protocol (IP) servers that support documents that are formatted in markup languages such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Wireless Markup Language (WML), or Hand-held Device Markup Language (HDML). The term WWW as used in this specification can also to refer to any server or connected group or interconnected groups of servers that implement a hyperlinking protocol, such as HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), in support of Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) and documents in markup languages, regardless whether such servers or groups of servers are coupled to the WWW as such.
HTTP, the underlying protocol used by the WWW, defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions Web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands. For example, when a user enters a URL into a browser, this actually sends an HTTP command to the Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.
HTTP is called a stateless protocol because each command is executed independently, without any knowledge of the commands that came before it. This is the main reason that it can be difficult to implement Web sites that react intelligently to user input.
There can thus be problems in developing user interfaces (UIs) for the Web. One such problem is that state management, converting raw HTTP requests state into UI state and vice versa, typically requires substantial manual intervention by the programmer. Programmers thus have to carefully name each state parameter, using knowledge of all the other state parameters in the Web UI, to avoid namespace collisions. As used herein, a namespace is a means of resolving naming conflicts by defining a globally unique name for a particular set of elements.
A second problem associated with developing UIs for the Web, a product of the first, is that Web UI code is generally difficult to reuse. Programmers cannot generally use code from an old UI in a new UI without modifying the code because the code contains custom state management logic. The state management logic is appropriate only to the old UI. Thus, if the code is introduced into a new UI without careful modification, the code can cause namespace collisions.
Web UI frameworks thus need to provide state management, and component UI frameworks need to support composability and reusability. Existing systems, such as Bebop and JavaServer™ Faces (JSF), satisfy these requirements by, for example, utilizing a component framework that can provide URI encoded data that resolves namespace collisions.
FIG. 1, generally at 100, shows an exemplary simplified architecture of JSF. JSF is a server side 103 UI component framework for Java technology based web applications. The current version of the JSF specification is version 1.2, as defined by Java Specification Requests (JSR) 252, which was released for early draft review on Dec. 8, 2004. JSF version 1.2 is incorporated herein by reference.
Client side 101 devices can include devices such as a standard personal computer (PC) 102, a cellular telephone 104, and/or a personal digital assistant (PDA) 106. Server side 103 can include, for example, a standard server 108 computing device. A servlet 124 can run on server 108, and generally serve as an interface or gatekeeper between server side 103 and client side 101. As used herein, a servlet 124 is a web component, managed by a container, that generates dynamic content. Servlets 124 are platform independent Java classes that are compiled to platform neutral bytecode that can be loaded dynamically into and run by a Java enabled web server, such as server 108. Servlets 124 interact with web clients 102, 104, 106 via a request/response paradigm implemented by the servlet container.
JSF page 110 utilizes a regime, such as a tree 114 of UI components, which can be associated with backend model objects called backing beans 122. Backing beans 122 handle application logic (sometimes called business logic). HTML renderer 112 is used to display on PC 102 (and/or similar devices) the data maintained in component tree 114. JSF page 116 also utilizes a component tree 120, which can also be associated with backing beans 122. Wireless Markup Language (WML) renderer 118 is used to display the data maintained in components 120 on wireless devices such as cellular telephone 104 and/or PDA 106.
In JSF, component trees 114 and 120 can thus be used for displaying a structure in which content may be presented on different client types (e.g., PC 102 and cellular telephone 104) using different protocols (e.g., HTML for personal computer 102 and WML for cellular telephone 104). The individual components 126, 128, 130 of component trees 114, 120 are configurable, reusable elements that compose (e.g., are used to render) the user interfaces of JSF applications. Components 126, 128, 130 can be, for example, a table, a frame, and the like.
All code in a UI is encapsulated inside the components (e.g., components 126, 128, 130). Components 126, 128, 130 adhere to the following rules:
1. Each component (e.g., component 126, 128, 130) has a name, unique with respect to its siblings;
2. Each component (e.g., component 126, 128), except for the root component (e.g., component 130), has one parent component;
3. Each component (e.g., component 126, 128, 130) may contain child components; and
4. Each component (e.g., component 126, 128, 130) may contain state parameters.
Rules 2 and 3 place each component in a component hierarchy.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a component hierarchy. Each (C) (e.g., 202a-e) represents a component, and each string adjacent to a component in quotes (e.g., "root" 204a, 204b-e, etc.) is a component name. Similarly, each (P) (e.g., 206a-c) represents a parameter, and each string adjacent to a parameter in quotes (e.g., "exampleparam" 208b) is a parameter name. Component trees 114, 120 may assume a form such as shown in FIG. 2.
A component hierarchy such as shown in FIG. 2 can be used to facilitate naming parameters by enabling a set of unique paths to be produced, one for each node. For example, note that FIG. 2 has three parameters named exampleparam: exampleparam 208a, exampleparam 208b, and exampleparam 208c. Ordinarily, having three parameters with the same name would be problematic, because the following illustrative scenario may result when state is marshaled to a URL:                exampleparam=foo        exampleparam=bar        exampleparam=baz
The situation above result leads to indeterminacy regarding which value belongs to which parameter, and generally results in web page failure or unexpected behavior.
One possible solution that may be implemented to avoid indeterminacy is to utilize the order of the parameters (e.g., foo, bar, and baz are utilized first, second, and third, respectively). However, this approach is not reliable because a fourth exampleparam parameter may be added, for example, between exampleparam 208a and exampleparam 208b, which would change the order of the parameters.
Therefore, instead of utilizing the order of the parameters, a rule can be utilized providing that state parameters are named according to their unique position in the component hierarchy 200. When this rule is utilized in connection with a component hierarchy 200 such as shown in FIG. 2, the names are instead:                root.alpha.kingdom.exampleparam=foo        root.alpha.phylum.exampleparam=bar        root.beta.exampleparam=baz
There are no namespace collisions, and components can be readily matched with their respective state parameter value.
Thus, as previously discussed, known systems support composability and reusability by utilizing a component hierarchy such as shown in FIG. 2 to resolve namespace collisions. However, while use of a component hierarchy provides state management and supports composability and reusability, use of a component hierarchy also makes it more difficult to enable a Web application to continue to function after changes to the appearance of (e.g., after one or more components are added to a component hierarchy and/or one or more components are deleted from a component hierarchy) the Web application.
FIG. 3, generally at 300, shows an exemplary component hierarchy that is in code form. FIG. 3 can also thus be referred to as a component hierarchy, and generally correspond to (or be derived from) the form of the component hierarchy 200 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, standard class names (e.g., Java class names) are generally represented as the first word on a line (e.g., Page 302, TabbedPane 304, Pane1 306, TicketDetail 308, etc.), and instances of the class names are generally represented as the second word on a line (e.g., page 320, body, 322, pane1 324, ticketDetail 326, etc.)
Instances of the TabbedPane 304 and Form 312 classes (or components) are stateful, in that a user would expect his decision to "stick." At any given time, the TabbedPane 304 component shows only one of its child panes. That is, at any given time, TabbedPane 304 will show only one instance of the Pane1 306 or Pane2 310 components. Thus, once Pane1 306 is selected by the user, she expects it to remain selected in subsequent web requests. Similarly, if Pane2 310 (and thus instance pane2 328) is selected by a user, the user will expect Form 312 (and thus instance addTicket 330) to retains its values so that inputs provided by the user (using the respective subject 332, description 334, and discoveryDate 336 instances of the TextInput 314, TextArea 316, and DateInput 318 components) in one request may be processed in a subsequent request.
One known way of retaining state, as is shown in FIG. 2, is to define components such that they directly contain state parameters. Thus, with regard to FIG. 3, the body 322 instance of TabbedPane 304 class can contain state data indicating the currently selected pane (e.g., Pane1 306 or Pane2 310). Now, suppose Pane2 310 is selected. In this case, the addTicket 330 instance of Form 312 can include state information pertaining to data entered for the subject 332, description 334, and discoveryDate 336 instances.
FIG. 4, generally at 400, shows a form (or, grammar) of Pane2 310 that serves as a key to qualify, for example, a currently selected pane (e.g., pane2 308). A web application state is typically encoded into the "query string" portion of a URL. A web URL usually takes the form:
SCHEME+"://"+"HOST"+"/"+"APP"+"?"+QUERY-STRING
Examples utilizing the web URL form are as follows:                https://mit.edu/login?name=john        http://redhat.com/news?date=yesterday&numitems=12
The query string portion is made up of key-value pairs, or "query variables." A single key-value pair can be rendered as follows:
KEY+"="+VALUE
Examples of a key-value pair are as follows:                name=john        numItems=12
A query string can contain multiple query variables, joined using the ampersand (or, alternately, semicolon) character:
VAR1+"&"+VAR2+"&"+VAR3
Examples of a query string are as follows:                name=john&numItems=12        date=yesterday&id=23&enabled=true
When a component hierarchy, such as shown in FIG. 3, is utilized to namespace component parameters to prevent collisions, a key to qualify the currently selected pane (e.g., pane2 310) can take the form as shown in FIG. 4. With regard to key 402, the instances of page 320, body 322, pane2 328 and addTicket 330, and the query string subject=Example+ticket 404, will appear in URLs, which can be bookmarked by a user. Thus, in existing UI frameworks, any changes to the component hierarchy 300 that impact the generation of keys, such as key 402, will break those URLs if one or more components are added to and/or deleted from the component hierarchy. That is, the URLs will no longer go to the place the user bookmarked. A good implementation that utilizes this pattern to generate URLs will endeavor to "fail gracefully," whereas a bad implementation may simply error out. In either case, URLs captured from such an application are not safe to use as are, for example, URLs that are persistent.
FIGS. 5 and 6, taken together, show how a bookmark can default to a home page after a change is made to a component hierarchy associated with a bookmark deep within a website. In particular, FIG. 5, generally at 500, is a screen display associated with a deep bookmark, and FIG. 6, generally at 600, is a screen display showing how the bookmark defaults to the home page of the website when the bookmark of FIG. 5 is accessed subsequent to a change in the component hierarchy of FIG. 5. As used herein, a deep bookmark is a bookmark associated with a domain name that refers to a page other than the home page.
Turning now to FIG. 5, suppose a person visits a web site, encounters a piece of content, and adds the content to her bookmarks folder. Thus, suppose a person bookmarks 502 the webpage shown in FIG. 5. Some time later, she clicks on the bookmark 502 to return to the content. If the structure of the webpage 500 shown in FIG. 5 has changed (e.g., one or more components have been added and/or one or more components have been deleted to the webpage shown in FIG. 5) subsequent to the bookmark, then, instead of having FIG. 5 displayed, the home page 600 may be displayed, as shown in FIG. 6. URL 602 shown in FIG. 6 is accordingly different than the bookmarked URL 502 that the user bookmarked in connection with FIG. 5. This scenario assumes that the components used for the web site generally have "default" failure mode states that they can use to render themselves, such that stateful components beneath the point of change in the component hierarchy can revert to their default states. A more severe case of failure would be that the user simply receives a File Not Found error, without being directed to the homepage.
FIG. 7, generally at 700, is an exemplary illustration of how an existing URL would be broken when a new component is added to a component hierarchy. Component hierarchy 710 is an existing hierarchy, and component hierarchy 720 is a hierarchy after a new browser 704 instance of a BrowserPane 702 class has been added to component hierarchy 710. A user's bookmark corresponding to component hierarchy 710 will contain the state parameter:                page.body.selectedPane=pane2
When a browser 704 instance of the BrowserPane 702 class is added to component hierarchy 710, thus resulting in component hierarchy 720, the page.body.selectedPane=pane2 state parameter no longer holds its meaning. Instead, the state parameter required is now:                page.browser.body.selectedPane=pane2
Thus, a component hierarchy can be utilized to avoid namespace collisions. However, the use of a component hierarchy to avoid namespace collisions can lead to another problem. Namely, as a result of adding one or more components to and/or deleting one or more components from the component hierarchy (e.g., adding a browser 704 instance to hierarchy 710, thus resulting in hierarchy 720), the user's bookmark associated with the state parameter associated with the initial component hierarchy no longer works (e.g., the user's bookmark associated with component hierarchy 710 no longer works after browser 704 is added).
At least one embodiment of the present invention is directed to preserving state when one or more components are added to and/or one or more components are deleted from a component hierarchy, and making web UI code easier to reuse by, for example, modeling state data associated with components in a hierarchy that is separate and distinct from the component hierarchy.

System, method and medium for component based web user interface frameworks


A ring binder (10) includes a ring metal (18) securable to a spine portion (16) of the binder. A spur eyelet (30) used for this purpose includes a post (32) one end (34) of which attaches to the ring metal. A plate (40) is formed at the other end of the post. Radiating outwardly from the underside of the plate are a plurality of concentrically formed spurs (50). Each spur has barbs (56) formed on an outer end (54) of the spur. To attach the ring metal to the spine, the spurs are pushed into the body of the spine. Thereafter, the barbs keep the eyelet from being pulled away from the body of the spine thereby preventing the ring metal from separating from the binder.

This invention relates to ring binders, and more particularly, to a spur eyelet for use in securing a ring metal to a spine portion of the binder.
A ring metal, as it name implies, is typically an assembly, formed of metal, and including binder rings. The binder rings comprises two sections which are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder so things can be stored in, and removed from, the binder. The binder rings and the lever mechanism by which they are opened and closed all form part of the ring metal assembly. A plate covers the lever mechanism and usually has provisions at each end for attachment of the ring metal to a spine section of the binder. One way of attachment has been to use rivets. However, it has been found that other ways of attachment are more secure and better able to withstand the rigors to which the binder may be put. In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 377,805 an alternate attachment structure is shown which uses a radial pattern of tabs formed on each end of the plate. The tabs are pushed into the body portion of the spine to secure the ring metal in place. While useful for its intended purpose, other constructions are more reliable both to secure the ring metal to the binder in the first instance, and to see that it does not come off thereafter.


A system and method for regulating the flow of traffic at a roadway intersection having one or more traffic signals by positioning a processor in the vicinity of the intersection to store cycle times of the traffic flow directions, mounting an RFID reader in the vicinity of each traffic signal in communication with the processor, interrogating with the RFID reader an RFID tag on each RFID-tagged vehicle at the roadway intersection to count the number of RFID-tagged vehicles present in each traffic flow direction at the roadway intersection, calculating an unused time slice of the cycle time for a first traffic flow direction at the intersection; reducing the cycle time for the first traffic flow direction in accordance with the unused time slice; and, increasing the cycle time for a second traffic flow direction at the intersection in accordance with the unused time slice.

Automobiles are a part of everyday life in urban and suburban communities. Traffic lights dot the landscape in urban centers and the surrounding communities, and control the flow of traffic on roads, large and small. Drivers must pay attention to traffic signals, and failure to heed them, results in increased traffic congestion and accidents.
While traffic controls are a necessary part of any road and highway system, measures are taken to try to keep the traffic flow on the major arteries moving as much as possible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for preparing a biodegradable copolyester includes: (a) optionally preparing an aromatic prepolymer by reacting a first aromatic dicarboxylic compound with a first aliphatic glycol; (b) reacting the aromatic prepolymer with a second aromatic dicarboxylic compound and a second aliphatic glycol so as to form a first reaction product; (c) reacting the first reaction product with an aliphatic dicarboxylic compound so as to form a second reaction product; and (d) performing polycondensation of the second reaction product.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for preparing a biodegradable copolyester, more particularly to a method including a step of preparing an aromatic prepolymer in the preparation of a biodegradable copolyester, and the biodegradable copolyester prepared therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical polyesters used for various products including synthetic fibers, moldings, formings, plastic films and textiles, etc., are high molecular weight aromatic polyesters. These aromatic polyesters are produced by esterification and condensation of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol or terephthalic acid with butylene glycol. Although the aromatic polyesters thus formed have good processability, they are not degradable naturally and tend to cause environmental pollution.
For the purpose of environmental protection, many attempts have been made to use aliphatic polyesters instead. The aliphatic polyesters are biodegrable and will not pollute the environment. However, applications of the aliphatic polyesters have been limited because of their low heat resistance and unsatisfactory mechanical properties. In order to obtain polyesters that have both good physical properties and processability, it has been attempted to introduce an aryl functional group into molecules of the aliphatic polyesters, so as to impart biodegradable property to the aliphatic polyesters. Nevertheless, the biodegradable rate of the aliphatic polyesters decreases with an increase in the amount of the aryl group introduced to the molecules of the aliphatic polyesters.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,393, assigned to Eastman Chemical Company, describes a biodegradable random branched aliphatic-aromatic copolyester, which was prepared by transesterification of an aromatic diester, an aliphatic diester, and an aliphatic glycol in the presence of a branching agent, at a temperature ranging from 190° C. to 210° C., so as to obtain a transesterified product. Polycondensation of the transesterified product was then conducted at 250° C., under a vacuum of approximately 0.1 mmHg, so as to form the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester. The branching agent was used for increasing the length of the molecular chain of the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester. However, the biodegradable rate and elongation property of the copolyester decreased with an increase in the amount of side chains in the molecules of the copolyester.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,108, assigned to BASF Aktiengesellschaft, describes biodegradable polyether esters which were prepared by reacting adipic acid with 1,4-butylene glycol at a temperature ranging from 230° C. to 240° C., so as to form a prepolymer, and then adding dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4-butylene glycol to the prepolymer, so as to carry out polycondensation in a reduced pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,716, assigned to IRE Chemical Ltd., describes a biodegradable copolyester resin composition prepared by the following four steps: (1) preparing an aliphatic prepolymer; (2) reacting the prepolymer with an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic glycol at a temperature ranging from 180° C. to 220° C.; (3) adding an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid to the reaction mixture at a temperature ranging from 150° C. to 180° C.; and (4) conducing polycondensation of the reaction mixture at a reduced pressure.

Method for preparing a biodegradable copolyester


A staging system for robotic installation of a conductor assembly comprises a base member defining a base identifier that is identifiable by a robotic installer, a set of receptacles attached to the base member and defining respective receptacle identifiers, wherein each receptacle is configured to receive and temporarily secure one or more of a set of connectors of the conductor assembly, which also comprises respective sets of wire cables for the set of connectors, and a set of robotic installation features at least temporally attached to or defined by the set of connectors, respectively, and defining respective installation identifiers, wherein each robotic installation feature is configured to be temporarily interacted with by an end effector of the robotic installer such that the robotic installer obtains movable control of the connector to remove it from its respective receptacle and to install it with a corresponding electrical connector.

A conductor assembly typically comprises a plurality of wire cables electrically connected to respective plurality of connectors. During installation, each wire cable/connector is intended to connect to other corresponding electrical connectors/systems. Manual installation of wire cables/connectors by a human installer can be time consuming and costly, particularly for less experienced human installers and for more complex installation projects (e.g., conductor assemblies having a large number of wire cables/connectors). Automated installation by a robotic installer may be preferable to manual human installation due to increased speed and decreased costs. The robotic installer, however, must be able to accurately identify each wire cable/connector and obtain movable control of then in order to complete the robotic installation. In some cases, multiple cable/connector pairs may need to be moved and installed simultaneously, which further increases the complexity. Complex visual scanning or viewing systems could be utilized by the robotic installer, but this could further increase costs and complexity. Accordingly, while conventional conductor assemblies and conventional robotic installers work well for their intended purpose, an opportunity exists for improvement in the art of robotic installation of conductor assemblies.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Conductor assembly staging for robotic installation


A level shifter including a first boost circuit, an inverter, a second boost circuit and a level shift circuit is disclosed. The first boost circuit receives an input signal, and a first amplification factor for the input signal is determined based on a control signal. The inverter receives the input signal to generate an inverted input signal. The second boost circuit is coupled to an output terminal of the inverter to receive the inverted input signal, and a second amplification factor for the inverted input signal is determined based on the control signal. The level shift circuit has a first input terminal and a second input terminal respectively coupled to output terminals of the first boost circuit and second boost circuit to change the voltage level of output signals from the first boost circuit and second boost circuit to a first voltage level.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a level shifter, and more particularly to a two-stage level shifter with a boost circuit.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
The conventional voltage pull-up circuit is typically implemented by a level shifter. The level shifter includes two input terminals respectively receiving an input signal and an inverted input signal. In a typical level shifter, the input terminal is electrically connected to the gate of a transistor. If the output current of the level shifter needs to be increased, the W/L ratio of the transistor coupled to the input terminal must be raised firstly, thus, the layout area of the level shifter will be increased. To completely turn on an NMOS transistor, the input positive voltage applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor must exceed a predetermined voltage level. If the input positive voltage applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor does not exceed the predetermined voltage level, the NMOS transistor can not be completely turned on and only outputs small output current. If the voltage level of the input signal applied to the level shift does not exceed a predetermined voltage level, the level shifter may be not properly driven.


The present invention provides an apparatus suitable for decolorizing a textile product using ozone. The apparatus of the present invention enables the decolorization rate to be adjusted by adjusting the water content of the textile product and controlling the ozone concentration to achieve uniform decolorization. The decolorization apparatus for a textile product of the present invention includes an airtight container, a rotary drum which rotates in the airtight container, an ozone generator connected with the airtight container through an automatic valve, a water supply unit, and a blower unit which includes an air heater and supplies hot air and cool air to the airtight container. The ozone concentration inside the airtight container is maintained at a desired level by measuring the ozone concentration using an ozone analyzer and controlling the ozone generator.

The present invention relates to a decolorization apparatus for a textile product such as a fabric roll and a sewn garment, particularly for a dyed textile product, and to a decolorization method using the apparatus, in which a treatment target textile product is decolorized by exposure to ozone gas.
Conventionally, a textile product such as dyed jeans is partially decolorized to provide the textile product with a decolorization pattern. The partial decolorization of jeans is achieved by a physical method in which a dyed product is loaded into a drum together with pumice and rotated, or by a method using a bleaching agent such as hypochlorite or a hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 7-37715 discloses a method for forming a decolorization pattern on a textile product by exposing a dyed textile product containing moisture in different amounts to an ozone atmosphere to obtain a decolorization pattern having a decolorization contrast caused by the difference in the amount of moisture. This invention utilizes a phenomenon in which a section rich in moisture is decolorized by ozone to a greater extent than a section with less moisture, and obtains a decolorization pattern having a higher contrast in comparison with the conventional method by providing the textile product with moisture corresponding to a desired pattern. Ozone is supplied by utilizing a commercially available ozone generator using a silent discharge method in which air is used as the feed gas, and the residual ozone is decomposed by using a potassium iodide solution. This invention discloses an embodiment in which a pair of dyed trousers is hung inside a stainless steel cylindrical container with a diameter of 50 cm and a height of 140 cm, and ozone is blown into the container while rotating the trousers.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-105844 discloses a shape stabilization apparatus which provides a textile product with wrinkle resistance and shrink resistance by applying ammonia gas and treating the textile product with a resin treatment solution which does not contain a formalin component. This apparatus includes an airtight container equipped with an ammonia gas supply pipe, an inert gas supply pipe, and a steam pipe, a rotary drum having an air-permeable peripheral wall which rotates around a horizontal axis inside the airtight container, a treatment solution injection pipe connected with the airtight container, a blower pipe equipped with a heater which supplies hot air and cool air to the airtight container, and a liquid heater for heating the treatment solution.

Decolorization apparatus and decolorization method for textile product


The present invention encompasses biocompatible reactants, biocompatible product hydrogels, methods of use thereof, and methods of synthesis thereof using a novel crosslinking mechanism between a first reactant compound including an N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester group and a second reactant compound including a N-terminal cysteine amine group. In certain embodiments, one or more of the reactant compounds may be a macromonomer.

When first described in 1992,1 native chemical ligation (NCL) revolutionized peptide synthesis by providing a facile, chemoselective synthetic method for preparation of large peptides and functional proteins from short fragments. In NCL, an unprotected N-terminal cysteine (Cys) of one peptide reacts with the thioester-activated C-terminus of another peptide to form a thioester intermediate that rearranges via an S-to-N acyl migration to yield an amide bond linking the two fragments together (FIG. 1).2,3 NCL leads to minimal epimerization and byproduct formation and is highly selective to the N-terminal Cys, allowing the use of unprotected, post-translationally modified, and non-naturally occurring amino acids. NCL has been used to synthesize ion channel proteins such as KcsA,4 the plant protein crambin,3 glycosylated proteins such as monocyte chemotactic protein-3,5 and other difficult or otherwise impossible protein sequences.
Several research groups in the biomaterials community have explored NCL for preparation of functional materials.6-12 These studies focused on the use of NCL for synthesis of collagen mimetic biomaterials,9 chemical modification of polymers10,11 and self-assembled peptide scaffolds,8 and modification of substrate surfaces.6 In principle, the chemoselectivity of NCL is attractive for in vitro and in vivo use, allowing chemical reactions to proceed with specificity in a complex biological milieu, preserving the bioactivity of endogenous compounds and facilitating the targeting of therapeutic or diagnostic molecules to specific biomolecular targets such as cell surface proteins and components of the extracellular matrix. We have been developing polymer hydrogels cross-linked via NCL,7,12 for potential in vitro and in vivo applications. The general strategy involves the reaction of a thioester-derivatized polymer with a second polymer containing N-terminal Cys residues. Mixing of the two polymer precursors under mild aqueous conditions led to gel network formation via NCL without the need for added catalysts.7 Later, we extended this strategy to the formation of gels for in vitro cell encapsulation, incorporating polymer-bound IL-1 receptor inhibitory peptides that provided an immunoprotective effect to entrapped insulin secreting cells.12
Despite these recent advances, several aspects of the NCL reaction remain challenging for use in a biological setting. For example, standard NCL conditions employ the use of strong reducing agents that may be harmful in living systems. Furthermore, the slow rate of NCL cross-linking7, the hydrolytic instability of the thioester, and the adverse biological effects of the thiol leaving group13 remain obstacles to future in vivo applications of NCL.
Several modifications of the NCL reaction have been introduced in an effort to expand the utility of the method.14-16 Danishefsky and coworkers described the use of oxo-esters in NCL (FIG. 1), first through an indirect approach involving o-thiophenolic ester17 and followed later by a direct approach utilizing p-nitrophenyl (pNP) activated C-terminal ester.18 Termed "oxo-ester-mediated NCL" (OMNCL), this approach enables high efficiency reactions even with bulky C-terminal amino acids, although disadvantages include hydrolytic susceptibility of the pNP ester and challenges associated with direct solid phase synthesis of pNP ester peptides.19 Weissenborn et al. described OMNCL on oxo-ester activated surfaces and found 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl (PFP) to be more efficient than pNP and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) activating agents.20
Here we describe polymer hydrogel formation via OMNCL between branched polymer precursors containing NHS activated ester and N-Cys endgroups.21 Mixing of NHS and N-Cys polymer precursors led to gel formation within seconds, and quantitative NMR studies revealed the crosslinking mechanism to be OMNCL. In addition to characterizing the bulk mechanical and adhesive properties of the hydrogels, we performed the first in vitro and in vivo studies of OMNCL hydrogels, showing favorable biological response in cytotoxicity assays and in a subcutaneous implant model. The OMNCL hydrogel strategy overcomes many of the earlier limitations of NCL, including cytotoxicity of thiol leaving groups and slow reaction kinetics, and represents a promising strategy for chemical cross-linking of hydrogels in a biological context.
Specifically, hydrogel materials are appealing as their high water content and efficient mass transfer are similar to that of native tissue. One current clinical use of hydrogels is as sealants since they decrease the incidence of reoperation due to surgical wound leaks and results in the decrease of cost and patient morbidity.10 In addition, coating tissue surfaces with exogenous hydrogel materials may lead to the decrease in the incidence rate of tissue to tissue adhesion thus decreasing postoperative complications.11,12 Therefore, tissue adhesive hydrogels are used daily by surgeons to circumvent complications and establish adequate wound closure. Some limitations attributed to the existing NCL hydrogels include slow reaction kinetics at physiological pH and some cytotoxicity associated with the release of small molecular weight thiol containing molecules.
Accordingly, there is a need for a tissue adhesive hydrogel formulation that uses a modification to the NCL chemistry that results in faster reaction times under physiological conditions and that produces a strong, non-cytotoxic product.

Polymer hydrogel adhesives formed with multiple crosslinking mechanisms at physiologic pH


The present data processing apparatus effects the pipeline operation for each of the machine cycle time with a plurality of pipeline stages processed in parallel. With respect to a load & extension instruction for instructing with the single instruction a first processing portion for reading the data shorter than the register length from RAM 19 and a second processing portion for zero-extending or the sign-extending the data into the register length, a zero-extension or a sign-extension operation in the second processing operation is executed, in a pipeline stream different from the pipeline stream where a first processing operation is executed or in a pipeline stage different from the pipeline stage where the reading from the storage portion of the first processing operation is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus for effecting a pipeline processing operation of data according to instructions of a memory, and more particularly, to a data processing apparatus for processing instructions for extending the data shorter than the register length.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The data processing apparatuses as well as the microcomputers come into general use due to the development of the recent electronic art, so as to be used in all the fields.
The conventional data processing apparatuses can be chiefly divided into a CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer) type characterized by multiple types of instructions and a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) type characterized by higher speed through limitation of the instruction types. For example, TRON, MC 68040, and so on are the former, while SPARC, MIPS and so on are the latter. They are respectively of pipeline construction designed to shorten the apparent execution time. The pipeline divides the processing of the instructions into at least reading, decoding, execution stages to execute them in parallel.
FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a microcomputer as the conventional data processing apparatus. The data processing apparatus is composed of five stage pipeline construction comprising five stages, an instruction fetch stage (hereinafter referred to as IF stage), a decode and register reading stage (hereinafter, as DEC stage), an operation and operand address calculation stage (hereinafter, as EX stage), a memory access stage (hereinafter, as MEM stage), and a register write back stage (hereinafter, as WB stage).
Referring now to FIG. 7, reference numeral 5 is a ROM for accommodating a machine language program, reference numeral 6 is an I latch for accommodating an machine language instruction (hereinafter, as instruction) taken out from the ROM 5, reference numeral 7 is an instruction decoder for deciding an instruction retained in the I latch 6 to control each portion of the microcomputer 4, reference numeral 8 is a register file for accommodating the operand or the address for specifying the operand, reference numeral 26 is a D selector for selecting one from 2 inputs of one portion of the content of the I latch 6 and the output of the register file 8, reference numeral 13 is a D1 latch for accommodating the output of the D selector 26, reference numeral 14 is a D2 latch for accommodating the output of the register file 8, reference numeral 15 is an arithmetic logic unit for effecting arithmetic logical operation with the use of the contents of the D1 latch 13 and the D2 latch 14, reference numeral 18 is an E latch for accommodating the output of the arithmetic logic unit 15, reference numeral 19 is a RAM from which the data is read with the value of the E latch 18 as the address input, reference numeral 20 is a M selector for selecting one from the two inputs of the value of the E latch 18 and the output of the RAM 19, reference numeral 27 is an extension unit for zero-extending or sign-extending the lower 8 bits or the lower 16 bits of the output of the M selector 20 into 32 bits, reference numeral 21 is a M latch for accommodating the output of the extension unit 27. The input/output of all the components except for the ROM 5, the I latch 6, the instruction encoder 7 has a 32-bit width.
The conventional data processing apparatus of such construction as described above loads the 8-bit or 16-bit data for zero-extending or sign-extending it into 32 bits, and assigns a single machine language instruction respectively to the commands of the assembly language program to accommodate in the register. The instruction is encoded by the instruction decoder 7 and is executed as follows in the MEM stage. Namely, the 8-bit or 16-bit data specified by the instruction is read from the RAM 19 and further, is zero-extended or sign-extended into the 32-bit length by the extension unit 27 and the results are accommodated in the register file 8.
In the data processing apparatus having the pipe line construction, it is demanded that the processing time of each stage of the pipeline should be approximately equal and shorted as much as possible. But in the above described conventional data processing apparatus, the processing time of the MEM stage becomes longer than those of the other stages, because it is composed of the access time of the RAM 19, the delay time of the M selector 20, the delay time of the extension unit 27, the set up time of the M latch 21, and the wiring propagation delay time among them. As a result, the upper bound of the operation clock frequency has a problem in that it is controlled lower by the processing time of the MEM sage, thereby being difficult to improve the performance. Also, to make the processing time in the MEM stage approximately equal to the processing time of the other stage, the engagement of the high speed RAM 19 extremely shorter in the access time is demanded, with a problem in that the cost and the consumption power are increased.

Data processing apparatus for performing a pipeline operation on a load and extension instruction

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A signal communication system includes a control portion and an operation portion. The control portion has an output data transmitter for transmitting output data to the operation portion in the form of a serial signal, and an input data receiver for receiving input data signal from the operation portion. The operation portion has an input data transmitter for transmitting the input data to the control portion in the form of a serial signal, and an output data receiver for receiving the output data from the control signal, and an operable device for executing an operation in accordance with the output data. The control portion further has an output data memory for storing output data, a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal, and a timing signal transmitter for transmitting the timing signal to the output data transmitter and the operable device. Thereby, the output data transmitter transmits the output data in accordance with the timing signal and the operable device the operation in synchronization with the timing signal.

A copying machine, facsimile transmitter machine or the like is provided with a console panel having an inputting portion and a display portion. The console panel communicates with a main controller provided in a main body of the machine. There have been two communication techniques. One is a static communication technique and the other a dynamic scan communication technique.
In the static communication technique, the number of control lines are required which corresponds to the number of display elements or inputting keys, which consequently involves cumbersome wiring and needs an increased number of connectors.
In the dynamic scan communication technique, on the other hand, the inputting portion and the display portion of the console panel are connected to the main controller in the form of a matrix. A scan address and display data are transmitted to the display portion in which display elements are in turn driven in accordance with the transmitted scan address and display data to provide a dynamic display. Also, key data is transmitted to the main controller from the operation portion.
Accordingly, it will be seen that the dynamic scan communication technique needs smaller number of control lines than the static communication technique. However, in case the number of display elements or inputting keys increases, the number of control lines will increase. Consequently. wiring becomes cumbersome and an increased number of connectors are required. Moreover, the main controller needs more complicated program.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-101561 has proposed a signal communication system in which a CPU is provided in an operating portion to execute nonsynchronous serial communication between the operating portion and a main controller. Specifically, only when display data is changed, the changed data is transmitted from a CPU in the main controller to the CPU in the operating portion in serial form, and stored in the CPU in the operating portion, and then displayed on a display portion. However, there is a likelihood that if the transmitting signal is distorted to an wrong signal by noise or the like in the transmission, the wrong signal is stored in the CPU, and displayed on the display portion. To prevent the above wrong display, the CPU of the operating portion executes the detection of wrong data, and transmits to the CPU of the main controller a signal requesting the re-transmission of display data when wrong data is detected.
However, the signal communication system of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-101561 has the following drawbacks: The request of re-transmission makes the signal processing more complicated, and also makes signal processing time longer. The provision of the CPU in the operating portion needs a program for the CPU of the operating portion, and increases the costs of production.
Also, in the dynamic scan communication technique, data is transmitted in a fixed order between the main controller and the operating portion. Accordingly, data having the same address is transmitted in the same cycle. If the power source, clock signal generator, or external unit generate a noise in synchronization with the transmitting signal, the noise will continuously damage data in a particular address. Consequently, a particular area of the display portion continuously provides a wrong display, or input of a particular key is continuously wrongly transmitted to the main controller.
There has been a signal communication system provided with CPUs in a main controller and an operating portion respectively, the CPUs checking every frame whether or not a received signal has an error. Specifically, the CPU of the operating portion executes checking of the received signal every one frame, e.g., 24 bits, and transmits an error flag data representing the detection result in the form of one bit to the CPU of the main controller. Similarly, the CPU of the main controller executes checking of a signal transmitted from the operating portion every one frame, and also confirms the error flag data from the operating portion. When it is detected based on the error flag data that the signal received by operating portion has no error, the CPU of the main controller transmits a next new signal to the operating portion. If it is detected that the signal received by the operating portion has an error, the CPU of the main controller transmits the previously transmitted signal to the operating portion again.
However, the CPU of the main controller executes the checking of a signal from the operating portion every frame. Even if the received signal has no more than one bit error, all the data in the checked frame are determined to be invalid. Accordingly, the checked frame including the error flag data is not received by the CPU of the main controller. Consequently, the CPU of the main controller does not transmit the previously transmitted signal again, which has been requested by the operating portion, but transmits a next new signal to the operating portion.
After receiving the error flag data, the CPU of the main controller determines whether it is necessary to transmit the previously transmitted signal is transmitted to the CPU of the operating portion again. Accordingly, a prolonged time is consumed for the signal communication, which consequently involves light flickerings in the display, and slow response in key inputting. Further, it will be seen that the more display elements and keys are provided, the more often the flickering and slow response will occur.
In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, it is an object of the present invention to provide a signal communication system which is simpler in construction, and can ensure smaller number of communication error and higher communication speed.


To reduce power consumption in a solid-state image pickup element that performs pixel addition. A solid-state image pickup element includes a predetermined number of blocks, each of which is provided with a plurality of normal pixels arranged in a predetermined direction, and a light shielding area in which the predetermined number of light shielding pixels are arranged in the predetermined direction, the light shielding pixels being connected to the respective blocks. A scanning circuit that controls each of the plurality of normal pixels in the block so that the block transfers electric charge to the light shielding pixel corresponding to the block. A signal processing unit is provided, for each of the light shielding pixels, with a signal processing circuit that processes a signal generated by the light shielding pixel on the basis of the transferred electric charge.

Solid-state image pickup elements are developed to achieve high functionality and sophistication nowadays, and solid-state image pickup elements equipped with a motion detection function of detecting motion of a photographic subject and a function of detecting illuminance are appeared. It is generally necessary for such motion detection or illuminance detection to have higher SN ratio, lower power consumption, and a higher dynamic range as compared with the case of capturing image data, but it does not necessary to have high resolution or high frame rate. In view of this, a solid-state image pickup element that adds pixel signals of a plurality of pixels and reads out it in detecting motion or illuminance is developed (e.g., see Patent Literature 1).

Solid-state image pickup element, image pickup apparatus, and method of controlling solid-state image pickup element

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION