A bit-patterned media (BPM) magnetic recording disk has a cobalt (Co) alloy recording layer (RL), a ruthenium (Ru) containing underlayer (UL), and a noble metal film (NMF) as an interlayer between the RL and the UL. The RL is preferably oxide-free and is a Co alloy, like a CoPtCr alloy, with a hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) crystalline structure with its c-axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the RL. The NMF is an element from the Pt group (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir) and Au, or an alloy of two or more of these elements, and has a thickness less than 3.0 nm, preferably between 0.3 and 1.0 nm. The NMF does not interrupt the epitaxial growth of the RL and has little to no effect on the distribution of the RL c-axis orientation. The NMF increases the coercivity (Hc) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant (Ku) of the RL.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to patterned perpendicular magnetic recording media, such as disks for use in magnetic recording hard disk drives, and more particularly to patterned disks with data islands having improved magnetic recording properties.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic recording hard disk drives with patterned magnetic recording media have been proposed to increase data density. In conventional continuous magnetic recording media, the magnetic recording layer is a continuous layer over the entire surface of the disk. In patterned media, also called bit-patterned media (BPM), the magnetic recording layer on the disk is patterned into small isolated data islands arranged in concentric data tracks. While BPM disks may be longitudinal magnetic recording disks, wherein the magnetization directions are parallel to or in the plane of the recording layer, perpendicular magnetic recording disks, wherein the magnetization directions are perpendicular to or out-of-the-plane of the recording layer, will likely be the choice for BPM because of the increased data density potential of perpendicular media. To produce the magnetic isolation of the patterned data islands, the magnetic moment of the spaces between the islands is destroyed or substantially reduced to render these spaces essentially nonmagnetic. Alternatively, the media may be fabricated so that there is no magnetic material in the spaces between the islands.
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) has been proposed to form the desired pattern of islands on BPM disks. NIL is based on deforming an imprint resist layer by a master template or mold having the desired nano-scale pattern. The master template is made by a high-resolution lithography tool, such as an electron-beam tool. The substrate to be patterned may be a disk blank with the magnetic recording layer, and any required underlayers, formed on it as continuous layers. Then the substrate is spin-coated with the imprint resist, such as a thermoplastic polymer, like poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA). The polymer is then heated above its glass transition temperature. At that temperature, the thermoplastic resist becomes viscous and the nano-scale pattern is reproduced on the imprint resist by imprinting from the template at a relatively high pressure. Once the polymer is cooled, the template is removed from the imprint resist leaving an inverse nano-scale pattern of recesses and spaces on the imprint resist. As an alternative to thermal curing of a thermoplastic polymer, a polymer curable by ultraviolet (UV) light, such as MonoMat available from Molecular Imprints, Inc., can be used as the imprint resist. The patterned imprint resist layer is then used as an etch mask to form the desired pattern of islands in the underlying magnetic recording layer.
In BPM, data are stored in an array of single-domain magnetic islands. The magnetic islands are required to have high coercivity (Hc) and be magnetically stable at room temperature. The figure of merit for the thermal stability of a magnetic island is given by the ratio (KuV/kBT) where Ku is the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant, V is the magnetic volume of the island, kB is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature. The contributions to Ku may include magneto-crystalline anisotropy and surface/interface induced magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic islands are considered thermally stable when (KuV/kBT) is typically above 80.
However, to provide higher bit areal density the magnetic islands lateral dimensions need to be smaller which leads to a lowering of V and thus a reduction in thermal stability. To compensate for the loss in V with higher areal density, Ku must be increased. In the case of a CoPtCr alloy magnetic material, increasing the Pt content and/or decreasing the Cr content can achieve higher Ku. In addition to high Hc and thermal stability the magnetic islands are also required to have a narrow intrinsic switching field distribution (iSFD), i.e., the island-to-island variation of the coercive field needs to be narrow enough to insure exact addressability of individual islands without overwriting adjacent islands. However, higher Pt content (e.g., greater than about 20 at %) leads to more stacking faults/defects and face-centered-cubic (fcc) phases, which affects the RL rocking angle, i.e., the angle of the c-axis of the hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) crystalline structure relative to the preferred perpendicular orientation, which is detrimental to a narrow iSFD. Also, lower Cr content can cause an increase in saturation magnetization, and therefore the magnetostatic energy is enhanced.
What is needed is a patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium that has high Hc and Ku without the adverse effects on magnetic properties such as those caused by varying the amounts of Pt and Cr.

Patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium with ultrathin noble metal interlayer


A connection component for a detachable component on a respirator product is provided with which the component can be connected to the respirator product in a simple manner. A bayonet connection (6, 7) is provided between the component and the respirator product. The bayonet connection can be connected in a preferred position and has a first connection part (9) with projecting tongues and a second connection part (10) with recesses designed corresponding thereto. A centering ring (14) is provided on the first connection part (9). The centering ring is arranged around the tongues. A cylindrically designed circumferential surface (11) is provided on the second connection part (10). The circumferential surface is designed as a surface that can be introduced into a groove (13) at the centering ring (14).

A respirator product in the form of a breathing mask with a connection component between a filter and the mask body of the breathing mask has become known from WO 99/21618. The connection component comprises a bayonet connection with a first connection part with projecting tongues on the mask body and a second connection part on the rear side of the filter, which has correspondingly designed mounting openings for the tongues of the first connection part. The connection parts can be brought together and locked against one another in a certain preferred position only, with the two connection parts snapping into one another. Due to the preferred position to be taken into account during the assembly, the filter always assumes a predetermined position in relation to the mask body in the locked position. It is possible as a result to also arrange the second connection part eccentrically on the filter housing in order to remove the filter cartridge as far away from the field of view of the mask user as possible.
The drawback of the prior-art breathing mask is that the mounting of the filters is made difficult by the fact that a certain preferred position is to be taken into account, especially when the filter must be replaced quickly during use. It may happen now that the connection parts are shifted in relation to one another and the preferred position is thus not found. Even though the mask user can recognize the position of the recesses on the filter connection through the eye-protecting lenses, the corresponding positions of the projecting tongues of the connections on the mask body cannot be recognized because of the limited field of view.

Connection component for a respirator product


A method for managing a digital multimedia broadcasting channel includes receiving a broadcast data frame that includes an occurrence change field, and performing a service update responsive to reconfiguration version data defined within the occurrence change field. Alternatively, the method includes transmitting a broadcast data frame that includes an occurrence change field, and causing a receiving terminal to perform a service update for a new channel responsive to reconfiguration version data defined within the occurrence change field. A digital multimedia broadcast terminal includes a receiver for receiving a broadcast data frame that includes an occurrence change field, and a controller configured to generate a control signal causing a service update responsive to reconfiguration version data defined within the occurrence change field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), and in particular to managing digital broadcasting channels in a DMB system.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
High-quality digital audio devices, such as compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs), have increased in acceptance and popularity throughout the world. Consequently, listeners of digital broadcasts have demanded that such broadcasts provide audio at quality that equals that of CDs and DVDs. Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) systems have been widely used to obviate limitations in the quality of audio available from typical amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) broadcast services.
DAB is a technology that is currently implemented in various countries such as Europe, Canada, and the United States. A DAB system implements technology which differs from that of conventional AM and FM broadcasting systems, and is able to provide robust, high-quality, signals which are readily received by both stationary and mobile receivers.
In recent times, a variety of multimedia services include both audio and video data using a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) service. A typical DMB service can provide users with high-quality audio and video data. The Eureka-147 system has been developed for the above-mentioned DAB service, and has been utilized to provide content using DMB.
A single ensemble, which is one of the many types of broadcast signals in the DAB system, is composed of one or more services. A single service is composed of one or more service components. Individual sub-channels or fast information data channels (FIDCs) may be used for each of these service components.
Multiplex configuration information (MCI) identifies services multiplexed into the ensemble, service components contained in individual services, and position information of the service components. The MCI forms part of the main service channel (MSC), which is repeatedly broadcast and subsequently received by a receiving device, such as a terminal. The terminal utilizes the received MCI to interpret the MSC.
The term reconfiguration will be used herein to refer to a change in an ensemble structure of a received broadcast signal. Typically, the receiving terminal is readied for a change to a new ensemble prior to the actual reconfiguration process. This may be accomplished by transmitting new MCI (i.e., information regarding the reconfiguration) to the receiving terminal at a point of time prior to the actual occurrence of the reconfiguration process. As an example, the MCI may be broadcast to the receiving terminal about six seconds before the reconfiguration actually occurs.
During reconfiguration, one or more changes may occur. For instance, the reconfiguration may change the number of services that make up the ensemble, the structure of the service components, the configuration within an ensemble structure, and combinations thereof.
FIG. 1 depicts a reconfiguration in which the number of services within an ensemble structure is increased from three to four services. The original services include sports, movies, and radio. The reconfiguration provides for the addition of the news service.
FIG. 2 depicts a reconfiguration in which the number of services within an ensemble structure is decreased from three to two services. Another reconfiguration possibility would be for the number of services to remain the same, but the sub-channel which belongs to a particular service may be changed to another sub-channel. This channel switching may be performed for one or more of the services of the ensemble structure.
A user is typically unaware of changes to the ensemble structure until they are notified of the reconfiguration. The user therefore only realizes the addition or deletion of a service, resulting from received channel information, after changes in the structure of the ensemble has occurred. In addition, conventional techniques usually permit obtaining the relevant ensemble change information only when actively displaying a particular service. There is currently no viable technique for obtaining the relevant information when changing non-active configurations of the ensemble. Periodically performing fast information channel (FIC) decoding has previously been proposed to solve the problem. However, this solution requires performing FIC decoding in fade areas.

Digital multimedia broadcasting system and method for managing multimedia broadcast channels


The present invention provides systems and methods capable of reducing power consumption in an imaging device. One imaging device includes two analog to digital converters that are separately programmable and can be in different power modes. Each analog to digital converter is capable of creating an image derived from a pixel array that has a full field of view, but lower resolution.

The present invention is related to systems and methods for capturing, processing, displaying, and/or transmitting images. In particular, the present invention is related to the capture, processing, displaying, and/or transmission of images in a mobile environment, where power conservation is of high importance
Charged coupled devices and CMOS pixel arrays have been used to detect images. The detected image information is acquired from the pixel array in the form of an analog electrical signal, and is then converted from an analog electrical signal to a digital electrical signal using an analog to digital converter. Such implementations include reading each of the pixels from the pixel array, and digitally processing the pixels after conversion to digital signals.
In some cases a single image sensor device is used in a multitude of configurations and, in particular, in a multiple of image resolutions. In those cases, the resolution of the pixel array fits with the highest needed resolution. For lower resolution, the image read from the sensor is electrically manipulated for lower resolution. The power consumption of the device, however, remains constant regardless of the configuration. In this way, the lower resolution configurations consume the same amount of power which is consumed for the highest resolution configurations.
In some cases, two analog to digital converters are utilized to read the various pixels, for example, one converting the odd-numbered pixels and the other converting the even numbered pixels. Use of two converters doubles the power consumption needed for the two analog to digital converters. Even when working with reduced resolution images, the two analog to digital converters consume power, because giving up the odd or the even numbered pixels would result in lost color information.
The analog circuits as well as the digital circuits remain in operation even when a limited Field Of View (FOV) cropped picture is output. Powering these unused analog circuits results in unnecessarily high power consumption. For at least the aforementioned reasons, there exists a need in the art for improved image processing systems.

Systems and methods for power conservation in a CMOS imager


Powdering on a front surface of a printed matter or the like is appropriately performed. A printing apparatus configured to perform printing on a medium includes: an ink ejection portion configured to eject an ink to the medium; and a powdering portion configured to perform powdering that applies powder to the medium. The powdering portion includes: a liquid applying device configured to apply, to the medium, a powder containing liquid that is a liquid including the powder and a solvent and an energy ray emitting portion configured to irradiate the powder containing liquid applied to the medium with energy rays. The powder containing liquid is a liquid that generates heat when irradiated with energy rays. The energy ray emitting portion irradiates the powder containing liquid applied to the medium with energy rays to evaporate the solvent of the powder containing liquid, so that the powder adheres to the medium.

Conventionally, evaporation-drying ink that is fixed to a medium when a solvent is evaporated has been widely used as ink for an inkjet printer. Recently, ink (fast-drying ink) that generates heat itself through irradiation with energy rays such as ultraviolet rays has been disclosed as ink of such an evaporation type (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). When such fast-drying ink is used, for example, the ink on a medium can be efficiently dried in a short time before bleeding (such as inter-color bleeding) of the ink occurs by irradiating the ink with energy rays right after the ink lands on the medium.

Printing apparatus, printing method, powdering apparatus, and powdering method


Methods and apparatus provide for: producing a control signal at a first substantially steady state logic level indicative of a sleep mode, and at a second substantially steady state logic level indicative of a normal mode; producing a gate signal that is at a substantially steady state null level when the control signal is at the first logic level, and that oscillates at a local clock frequency when the control signal is at the second logic level; producing a local clock signal from a system clock signal as a function of the gate signal; and interposing at least one signal propagation latch circuit between an origin of the control signal and the location at which the gate signal is produced.

The present invention relates to managing power consumption in a processor through clock signal gating and control.
Where power consumption in a processing system is of concern, conventional techniques to reduce power consumption and dissipation include causing the processing system to enter into a sleep mode in which processing functions are shut down, operating voltage/current is cut off, and/or clock signals are gated off. With reference to FIG. 1, an existing processing system 10 is illustrated, which may or may not be prior art to the instant invention. The processing system 10 includes a clock control unit 12 and a plurality of branch circuits 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D operable to distribute clock control signaling to various portions of the processing system 10 in accordance with a tree or rake structure. Each branch circuit 14 includes a local clock buffer circuit 16 (only circuit 16A being shown) in order to start or stop a clock signal that is distributed to a local area of the processing system 10 and/or in order to modulate the clock frequency from a high frequency input clock (HFCLK) to a low frequency output clock (LFCLK).
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram that graphically illustrates relationships among the HFCLK signal, the LFCLK signal, and a control (CONT) signal of the processing system 10. The transformation of the HFCLK signal to the LFCLK signal is accomplished within the local clock buffer 16 as a function of the CONT signal issued from the clock control unit 12. The CONT signal is a square-wave signal transitioning at about one-half the frequency of the HFCLK signal. The local clock buffer 16 may include combinational logic (such as a NAND gate) to produce the LFCLK signal from the HFCLK signal and the CONT signal.
As there may be a significant distance between the clock control unit 12 and the local buffers 16, each branch circuit 14 may include multiple flip-flop stages to accommodate signal delays and propagate the CONT signal to all of the local clock buffers 16.
The clock control unit 12 may be employed in the processing system 10 in order to facilitate the gating of the HFCLK signal(s) to the respective local areas of the processing system 10, the distribution of the LFCLK, and to achieve a sleep mode in which the LFCLK signal is shut down. The clock control unit 12 may facilitate entering and exiting the sleep mode by turning the CONT signal OFF (for sleep mode) and ON (for normal mode).
Among the problems with this approach is that the distribution of the CONT signal throughout the processing system 10 requires the use of the multiple flip-flop stages. The many transitions of the flip-flops to propagate the CONT signal results in high power consumption and dissipation within the processing system. Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new solutions to the problem of power reduction in a processing system using clock signal control.

Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a processor using clock signal control


The present invention relates to a process comprising contacting methyl methacrylate or styrene; a C1-C10-alkyl acrylate; and a polymerizable carboxylic acid monomer with a stable aqueous dispersion of first polymer particles, under emulsion polymerization conditions, to form a stable aqueous dispersion of second polymer particles. The first polymer particles have a Tg in the range of from −30° C. to 30° C., and the monomers have a calculated Tg in the range of 50° C. to 120° C. The present invention also relates to the dispersion of second polymer particles, which is useful as a binder to improve freeze-thaw stability in a coatings formulation.

The present invention relates to an acrylic latex binder and a process for its preparation. The binder is useful for preparing paints with improved freeze-thaw stability.
Latex paints generally require anti-freeze additives, such as ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, to provide acceptable freeze-thaw stability. Although these additives are effective for their intended purpose, their future for use in paints is at the mercy of nascent regulations designed to lower and even eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in consumer products. Attempts to achieve freeze-thaw stability by incorporating higher levels of acid or surfactants into the binder polymer have deleteriously increased water sensitivity. Accordingly, it would be desirable to find alternative approaches to achieve acceptable freeze-thaw stability in paints while maintaining other desirable properties such as acceptable film formation and water insensitivity.

Acrylic latex binder and method of preparation


An embodiment of an electronic apparatus may include one or more substrates, and logic coupled to the one or more substrates, the logic to determine a set of requirements for a persistent storage media based on input from an agent, dedicate one or more banks of the persistent storage media to the agent based on the set of requirements, and configure at least one of the dedicated one or more banks of the persistent storage media at a program mode width which is narrower than a native maximum program mode width for the persistent storage media. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

NVM EXPRESS (NVMe) is a specification defining how host software communicates with non-volatile memory (NVM) across a PCI EXPRESS (PCIe) bus. It is the industry standard for PCIe solid state drives (SSDs) in a variety of form factors (e.g., U.2, M.2, AIC, EDSFF). The NVMe specification defines a more efficient interface for SSD devices, providing lower latency, and is more scalable for SSDs than some legacy interfaces. The NVMe specification contains host-to-device protocol for SSD commands used by an operating system for: read, write, flush, TRIM, firmware management, temperature, errors and others. The NVMe specification version 1.4 (dated June 2019, nvmexpress.org) defines an optional "NVM Set" as a collection of NVM that is separate (e.g., logically and potentially physically) from NVM in other NVM Sets.

Configurable NVM set to tradeoff between performance and user space


Techniques for optimizing data transmission efficiency and accuracy in cellular network environments using remote radio headers are presented. In an aspect, a mobile device includes a collection component configured to collect fiber loss data from a plurality of remote radio devices in a cellular network. The fiber loss data can include data representative of data transmission loss over fibers respectively connecting the plurality of remote radio devices to a base station device. The mobile device further includes a selection component configured to select a remote radio device from the plurality of remote radio devices with which to access based in part on the fiber loss data.

Remote radio headers (RRHs) are radio devices that can be employed in wireless network environments to extend network coverage. RRHs are connected to a baseband processing unit, such as a macro cell base station, via a fiber cable. RRHs employed within a macro cell provide a more consistent user experience in areas of the macro cell where the signal to noise ratio (SINR) from the macro cell base station is low. In this respect, each RRH can function as an alternative access point for a user device/equipment (UE). RRHs can include one or more antennas for performing radio communications with a UE. RRHs are sometimes referred to by other names such as remote radio units, remote radio devices, or remote antennas, and the term "RRH" as used herein should be understood as referring to any distributed radio device that functions as described herein.
In general a UE camps on (e.g., accesses or selects) an access point, such as an RRH, that the UE detects strong reference signal receiving power (RSRP) and/or received signal strength indicator (RSSI) after powering on. In order to find a desirable RRH to access, a UE may collect measurements of several candidate RRH's signal strength (e.g., measurements of RSRP and/or RSSI) to identify and select an RHH having desirable measurements. This procedure is called cell selection. When performing selection of cells serviced by RRHs, the UE primarily bases its decision on data loss associated with radio signal transmission as interpreted from RSSI/RSRP measurement data. However, the fiber backhaul connections between an RRH and the macro base station of a mobile network can influence the capacity and performance of the RRH and thus the data accuracy and efficiency of data communications between a UE and the mobile network. For example, problems associated with fiber backhaul connections between a macro base station and an RRH providing services to a UE can significantly impact overall data transmission efficiency and quality. Accordingly RRH selection based solely on radio signal strength data can result in unexpected drop in data rate.


In described embodiments, a seal assembly is provided for sealing a space between a shaft and a housing. The shaft is rotatable about a central axis. The seal assembly includes an outer portion connectable with the housing and an inner portion releasably attached to the outer portion. The inner portion is replaceable with a replacement inner portion. A method for removing the inner portion from the outer portion is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to seals, and more particularly to radial seals for sealing a space about the rotatable shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radial shaft seals are generally known and typically include a seal member with an inner circumferential "sealing surface", which may be provided by an annular lip or a cylindrical portion of the seal body, that is engageable with the exterior surface of a shaft. As the shaft rotates within the seal, the sealing surface remains in sliding contact with the shaft outer surface to prevent the migration of substances (e.g., oil, debris particles) through a sealed space.
As a result of use, however, the sealing surface eventually wears, resulting in the replacement of the entire shaft seal. Seal replacement can be a time-consuming and costly task, requiring the shaft around which the seal operates to be shut down for an extended period of time while the old seal is removed and the new seal is installed. It would be beneficial to have a seal that provides the ability to replace only the sealing lip, thereby reducing the time and expense for such maintenance.


A switched-capacitor regulator is provided for regulating the output voltage of a voltage supply. The switched-capacitor regulator includes a supply input terminal capable of receiving a supply voltage, two or more flying capacitors, a regulation switch located between each flying capacitor and the supply input terminal, and a voltage control circuit. The activity of the regulation switches is controlled by the voltage control circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, the voltage control circuit includes a feedback resistance area having one or more feedback resistors located between the output of the flying capacitors and a ground terminal, a first gain stage connected to the feedback resistance area, and two or more second switchable gain stages, which are each connected to a regulation switch and the first gain stage. The switched-capacitor regulator operates in pseudo-continuous regulator mode using three-stage switchable operational amplifiers with time-multiplexed pole-splitting compensation.

Switched-capacitor regulators are needed in many portable electronic devices to provide supply voltages for different systems. Possible devices include personal digital assistants, notebook computers and mobile phones.
The importance of switched-capacitor regulators is demonstrated by their capability to provide dc-to-dc conversions without the use of inductors. Less conducted electromagnetic interference and cross couplings are then generated to other systems, since no magnetic components are used. Existing control methods adopted in switched-capacitor regulators require extra power transistors or auxiliary circuits to regulate the output voltage. These increase the chip area of the thereby increasing the manufacturing cost.
The accuracy of the output voltage is critical to switched-capacitor regulators. The accuracy is determined by line and load regulations and the load-transient recovery time of regulators, which in turn is dependent on the implementation of the controller. Existing implementations employ single-stage linear amplifier in the controller, which can affect the accuracy of the regulators.
A number of methods have been employed to maintain the output voltage of a switched-capacitor regulator. Both U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,623 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,531 disclose two single-ended switched-capacitor regulators and are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. Additional circuitry (either a current source or a variable resistor connected between the input supply voltage and switches S1, S2, S3 and S4) is required to maintain the output voltage. However, the additional circuitry is implemented by power transistors; thereby increasing the chip area and manufacturing cost.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,531 also describes a single-ended switched-capacitor regulator as shown in FIG. 3, which uses an extra current source connected between the power switches and ground for output-voltage regulation. Therefore, the area efficiency of the switched-capacitor regulator is not ideal
FIG. 4 shows a cross-coupled switched-capacitor regulator from U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,296. The cross-coupled design is similar to the configuration in U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,623, used to achieve dual phase operation. Extra power transistors are still required for regulating the output voltage, and this lowers the area efficiency of the regulator.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-coupled switched-capacitor regulator which maintains the output voltage without using extra power transistor, as described in W. Chen, W. H. Ki, P. K. T. Mok and M. Chan, "Switched-capacitor power converters with integrated low-dropout regulators", IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, Sydney, Australia, Vol. III, pp. 293-296, 2001. Power transistors Ml4 and Mr4 are alternately turned off during the capacitor charging phase and regulate the output voltage of the control loop during the capacitor discharging phase. Therefore, Ml4 and Mr4 function as switching low-dropout regulators (SLDR) and the control scheme is known as an SLDR mechanism. By adopting SLDR control, an analog buffer should be used in order to enable Ml4 and Mr4 to operate in the saturation region during capacitor discharge phase. However, extra auxiliary voltage doubler are required to generate a high-voltage clock signal swinging up to 2VDD so as to drive extra switches connected to the output of the analog buffer. Extra auxiliary voltage doublers increase both the area and total static current dissipation in the controller. In addition, since the gate-voltage swing of Ml4 and Mr4 is 2VDD and increases with the input supply voltage, the SLDR control causes switching noise problems in the switched capacitor regulator. Moreover, gain stage and analog buffer in the controller cascaded with power transistors Ml4 and Mr4 results in a two-stage switchable opamp. Two-stage switchable opamps may not provide sufficient loop gain magnitude, and hence the accuracy of the switched capacitor regulator is not optimized.
There is a need for a control method for a switched-capacitor regulator that is able to efficiently and accurately regulate the supply voltage of electronic devices without requiring additional power transistors or auxiliary circuits.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology


An organic light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same includes a first substrate; a thin film transistor (TFT) on the first substrate; a planarization layer on the TFT; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) on the planarization layer; a passivation layer on the OLED; a second substrate on the passivation; and a hydrogen capturing material between the first and the second substrates to prevent oxidation of materials forming the TFT.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an organic light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same.
Description of the Prior Art
An organic light emitting device emits light using an electroluminescence phenomenon in which an organic compound placed between electrodes emits light when electric current flows between the electrodes. Further, an organic light emitting display device is a device for displaying an image by controlling an amount of electric current flowing to the organic compound to adjust an amount of emitted light.
The organic light emitting display device has an advantage in that it is possible to make it light weight and thin while emitting light using a thin organic compound between the electrodes.
In the case that the organic light emitting device is driven by an oxide thin film transistor (TFT), if a characteristic of the oxide is changed due to various factors, a change in electric behavior of the transistor may cause a threshold voltage shift. If the extent of the threshold voltage shift is outside a compensation range for a circuit driving an organic light emitting panel, the threshold voltage shift may result in a stain or a deviation of luminance that may be visible on the screen.
Accordingly, the threshold voltage shift may be an important factor causing degradation of the organic light emitting display device, and may limit use of the oxide thin film transistor in driving the display device.

Organic light emitting device and method of fabricating the same


At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an alignment apparatus which includes a moving member, a structural object arranged on the moving member, and an electromagnetic actuator which moves the structural object relative to the moving member. The electromagnetic actuator includes a plurality of linear motor units, which apply forces in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction to the structural object. The plurality of linear motor units apply, to the structural object, forces in the rotation direction about each of two axes orthogonal to each other in the horizontal plane and the rotation direction about the axis in the vertical direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alignment apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-22960, there has conventionally been proposed an alignment apparatus (stage apparatus) using linear motors.
As discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-203140, there has also conventionally been proposed an alignment apparatus (stage apparatus) using electromagnets.
As shown in FIG. 19, an alignment apparatus 700 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-22960 interposes linear motors 741 and 742 between a fine moving stage 710 and a coarse moving stage 730. More specifically, in the linear motors 741 and 742, the Lorentz force acts between linear motor movable elements 741a and 742a attached to the fine moving stage 710 and linear motor stators 741b and 742b attached to the coarse moving stage 730. This makes it possible to drive the fine moving stage 710 in the horizontal direction and vertical direction relative to the coarse moving stage 730.
However, the alignment apparatus 700 of Japanese Application Publication No. 2003-22960 has an arrangement in which the linear motor movable element 742a readily vibrates the fine moving stage 710 because the linear motor movable element 742a is cantilevered to the fine moving stage 710. The point of impact of a control force, which acts on the fine moving stage corresponds to the position where each linear motor is set. When a linear motor, which drives the fine moving stage in the vertical direction is positioned at the edge of the fine moving stage, its elastic mode is readily excited. For these reasons, the fine moving stage 710 may deform to result in a decrease in its alignment accuracy.
As shown in FIG. 20, an alignment apparatus 800 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-203140 interposes electromagnets between a fine moving stage 810 and a coarse moving stage 830. More specifically, a magnetic attraction force acts between electromagnets 841a, 842a, 843a, and 844a attached to the fine moving stage 810 and iron pieces 841b, 842b, 843b, and 844b attached to the coarse moving stage 830. This makes it possible to drive the fine moving stage 810 in the vertical direction relative to the coarse moving stage 830.
However, the alignment apparatus 800 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-203140 attaches the electromagnets 841a, 842a, 843a, and 844a to the neighborhoods of the four corners of the fine moving stage 810. When a driving force in the vertical direction is transmitted to the fine moving stage 810, the fine moving stage 810 may locally deform. This may decrease the alignment accuracy of the fine moving stage 810.

Alignment apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method


A biolistic apparatus is provided with a housing having a carrier membrane disposed in a chamber for movement relative to an outlet plate having a plurality of apertures therein. The carrier membrane has a plurality of micro-particles adhered thereto on the surface of the membrane adjacent the apertures for delivery into cells or tissue. A plurality of rupturable membranes are mounted in spaced relation to the carrier membrane. Initially, a vacuum is provided within the assembly including the outlet opening to purge the apparatus of any undesirable gasses. High pressure helium is then delivered to the rupturable membranes and upon reaching a predetermined pressure, will cause the membranes to rupture allowing a shock front of high pressure helium to strike the carrier membrane and impel the articles through the outlet openings.

The present invention is directed to a biolistic device for accelerating micro-projectiles into intact cells or tissues. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a biolistic device having a gas shock generator for applying a gas shock to a fixed carrier membrane to distend the membrane and separate micro-projectiles from the surface of the membrane at high speeds into the target cells or tissues.
For medical applications, a biolistic device must have several characteristics including safety, reproducibility, ease of use, non-trauma for the patient and minimal injury to the bombarded tissue. At the same time, maximum particle dispersion, maximum particle velocity and maximal skin penetration are needed. Existing biolistic devices need improvement in terms of delivery, efficacy, reproducibility, gentleness and ease of use. Many of the prior art devices make a loud noise which can be frightening and impact the skin with a violent shock wave of helium gas. Prior art configurations utilizing a "flying disk" has shot to shot variation and subjects the skin to a violent shock wave and does not achieve as much dispersal or penetration as might be desired.

Biolistic apparatus for delivering substances into cells and tissues


A squeeze container includes a concave storage portion in which a content is stored, a sheet-shaped elastic body arranged to cover an opening portion of the storage portion, pressurization mechanism configured to swell the elastic body to the storage portion side with gas pressure, and a delivery passage which provides communication between the inside and outside of the storage portion and which delivers the content squeezed by the elastic body to the outside. The pressurization mechanism is structured to be capable of gradually swelling the elastic body by repeating squeezing with a hand and releasing thereof.

There have been known various squeeze containers capable of pushing out a content with predetermined operation. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a squeeze-type brush-equipped container including a two-tire container body in which an inner container to store a content and an outer container to accommodate the inner container are combined as a container suitable for storing a content such as a hair dressing agent, hair dye and hair growing agent. The container disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a first check valve which is arranged at a delivery passage of a content and a second check valve which is arranged at a communication passage to introduce air mutually between the inner container and the outer container. Here, the content can be delivered through a brush portion by holding and compressing a torso portion of the container body.
Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a container in which pressurization means to increase air pressure in an extruding tool body and a delivery pipe to provide communication between the inside and outside of the extruding tool body are arranged at the extruding tool body which is formed by covering a closed-end cylindrical body with a cover body. In the container disclosed in Patent Literature 2, a bag body accommodated in the extruding tool body is compressed owing to air pressure in the extruding tool body increased by the pressurization means and a liquid content in the bag body is delivered through the delivery pipe.
Further, Patent Literature 3 discloses a container which pushes out a content by swelling a balloon portion with a bellows pump as an embodiment in FIG. 14 and the like.


Disclosed are a test instrument and testing methods for audibly providing signal metrics (such as signal strength and/or signal quality) of fifth-generation network (5G) beams to assist installation of 5G Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) antenna at a premises. A test instrument may obtain signal metrics and provide audio output based on the signal metrics at various locations of the premises. The audio output may be transmitted to a headphone device worn by a user. In this manner, the user may select an appropriate location on the premises at which to install the 5G CPE antenna via audible queues that are based on the measured signal metric at a given location. The test instrument may provide fine-tuning capabilities by also audibly providing directional information that indicates where the 5G CPE antenna should be pointed or moved to align the 5G CPE antenna to a 5G beam.

5G network technology provides scale, low latency, speed, and other benefits to service ever-growing network traffic volume. To build out the 5G network, 5G service providers may need to install new 5G equipment quickly while keeping the service technician safe and maintaining high Quality of Service for the customer. To install new 5G service at a customer's premises, outdoor 5G antenna installations may be required to receive 5G beams from a 5G base station. However, outdoor 5G antenna installations may present high safety risk for a service technician since such installation may require carrying heavy equipment on a ladder, rooftop, or other hazardous location. Thus, it may be dangerous for the technician to interact with testing equipment designed to be handheld while attempting to install or carry the heavy equipment. These and other hazards may also apply when troubleshooting or repairing existing installations as well. As such, what may be needed is an ability to facilitate installation or repair of outdoor 5G antennas in a safe manner that also ensures both efficient execution of the task and high Quality of Service to the end-user.

Test instrument for 5G CPE antenna installation


The present invention disclosure relates to a tool for supporting and locking a rim or tired wheel in position on a tire mounting-demounting machine for automobile wheels equipped with support table with an axial hole or opening, the tool including grip-release device for a tired wheel (TW) or a rim (W) to be handled, and locking means for locking the grip-release device to the support table and/or for locking the rim (W) or tired wheel (TW) against components of the grip-release device.

In the present description and in the claims, with the expression "rim or tired wheel of or for motorcycles" it is intended a rim or a tired wheel having a central through hole of smaller diameter than the central through hole of a rim or tired wheel for automobiles, even if this is a rim or tired wheel that is not for motorcycles.
As is known, tire mounting-demounting machines for mounting-demounting tires on-from rims for automobiles are equipped with a support table that can be fixed or drivable in rotation; in such case, it also drives in rotation a rim or tired wheel loaded thereon. The wheel-carrier rotatable table usually has a threaded central hole of standard 40 mm diameter and is equipped with jaws for engaging and locking a rim (bare or tired) arranged thereon. Once the jaws are tightened against the rim, a threaded pin or bar is inserted in a loose manner; after having crossed through the central hole of the rim, such pin/bar is screwed into the threaded hole of the wheel-carrier table. The threaded pin or bar has a length much greater than the thickness or width than the rim, so that the threaded pin or bar projects from the rim even after its screwing in the wheel-carrier table. A cone is screwed on the projecting part of the threaded pin or bar, until such cone is brought into forced abutment against rim; the rim will thus be tightened between the wheel-carrier table and the cone, so that it is made integral in rotation with the wheel-carrier table.
Motorcycle wheels have their rim provided with central through hole having a standard diameter of about 18 mm, such that a normal tire mounting-demounting machine for automobile wheels is not adapted to be used for motorcycle wheels.
It would be desirable to be able to arrange a tire mounting-demounting machine with universal use, i. e. usable for handling rims and tired wheels of automobiles as well as motorcycles.
Tire mounting-demounting machines have also been proposed lacking wheel-carrier rotatable table and equipped with multiple expansion arms for the engagement of the rim, angularly mounted spaced around a rotatable shaft, as taught by the patent application EP-0 499 825 (for example). Each expansion arm bears at its head a respective pad for engaging against an edge of a rim, usually the internal edge.
As will be understood, with the expansion arms during the locking-releasing operations, there is the risk of impacting or in any case interfering with projecting portions of a motorcycle wheel, whose rim is integral or which is in any case made integral with a brake disc (front wheel of the motorcycle) or a chain sprocket (rear wheel). In addition, as specified above with regard to the size of the threaded pin or bar, one would in any case not be able to lock a motorcycle wheel against the expansion arms.
EP-0 001 855, DE-16 80 348, WO-2009/015920, US-2005/199349, and FR-1 567 801 disclose respectively prior art tools for supporting and locking a rim or tired wheel in position on a tire mounting-demounting machine.

Tool for supporting and locking a rim or tired wheel for motorcycles


Embodiments are directed to managing access to network resources. Mesh agents for an overlay network may be provided. If a client requests access to a resource, a first mesh agent configured to provide the client with ingress to the overlay network may be determined. If a security engine validates the request received from the first mesh agent, a route from the client to the resource may be determined. A secure tunnel may be generated between the first mesh agent and a last mesh agent based on forwarding the request to mesh agents on the route. If the request is provided to the last mesh agent credential information for the resource may be provided to the last mesh agent and the last mesh agent, the request and the credential information may be employed to access the resource.

As organizations become increasingly dependent on networked environments, remote services, distributed services, or the like, managing and monitoring infrastructure access in networked environments can become both critically important and more difficult. Difficulties in managing network environments may not be new, however, interconnections among remote offices, data centers, remote employees, remote customers, and so on, have resulted in organizations relying more broadly on heterogeneous distributed networked services, or the like. Also, in some cases, regulatory environment has been adapting to the increase in computer-based services. Accordingly, organizations may be required to comply with regulatory regimes from multiple jurisdictions related to various critical subjects, such as, finance, privacy, employee rights, cross jurisdiction taxation, and so on. The combination of the increase in reliance on distributed and networked services and ongoing changes in regulatory environments has tended to elevate the importance of managing and monitoring infrastructure access in networked environments both for operations as well as compliance with various regulatory regimes. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Managing and monitoring infrastructure access in networked environments


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a film on a substrate in a process chamber, and removing a deposit from at least a portion of an inside of the process chamber after forming the film, wherein removing the deposit includes performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including a first process of supplying a first gas for etching the deposit into the process chamber and a second process of supplying a second gas into the process chamber so as to increase a pressure in the process chamber, the second gas being incapable of etching a member constituting the process chamber or having an etchability against the member lower than that of the first gas.

One example of a process for manufacturing a semiconductor includes a film formation process of depositing a predetermined thin film on a substrate using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. The CVD method refers to a method in which a thin film having elements included in a source molecule thereof is deposited on a substrate to be treated using reaction of a vapor phase of a gaseous source and a surface of the substrate. Among CVD methods, controlling the deposition of a thin film at an atomic layer level is referred to as an ALD method, and the ALD method is characterized in that a temperature of the substrate is low. Also, plasma is used to remove impurities from the thin film deposited using the CVD method or aid in performing a chemical reaction of a film forming source adsorbed using the ALD method.
For example, formation of an amorphous silicon nitride film (hereinafter referred to as a "SiN film") using the ALD method is performed using dichlorosilane (DCS) and ammonia (NH3) plasma. A process of forming a SiN film on a substrate includes, for example, DCS irradiation treatment and NH3 plasma irradiation treatment. Both of these treatments are repeatedly performed (hereinafter referred to as "cycle treatment") to deposit a SiN film having a predetermined film thickness on a substrate.
In such an ALD or CVD method, however, a thin film is cumulatively deposited on a contact portion in addition to the substrate. Foreign substance contamination in which microcracks are generated due to the cumulative deposition and the substrate is contaminated by foreign substances formed by peeling of the microcracks is problematic. The foreign substance contamination readily takes place as a deposition rate and a thickness of a cumulative film increase.
To prevent the foreign substance contamination as described above, a cleaning process for removing a cumulative film by performing cleaning treatment after a series of film formation treatments is also executed. Such treatment includes introducing a cleaning gas such as nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) or fluorine (F2) into a reaction chamber, reacting the cleaning gas with a SiN film, converting the SiN film into gases and exhausting the gases (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No.: 2009-33121).

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, cleaning method, substrate processing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium


A rowing exerciser defined by pivotally connected elongated first and second frame members has a limit member fixed to one of the frame members posterior to the pivot point in order to limit up and down movements thereof, and a tension spring which connects the first and second frame members anterior to the pivot point. A downward front end of the first frame member is provided with a front wheel assembly, while the upward rear end of the former is provided with a seat. An upward front end of the second frame member is provided with a handle member, while a downward rear end of the same is provided with a rear wheel assembly. The front and rear wheel assemblies are rotatable in only one direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exerciser, more particularly to a rowing-type body building exerciser for exercising the shoulder and arms.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many types of body-building exercisers available in the market, such as chest pulls, barbells, shoulder presses, thigh & knee machines, pommel horses, and parallel bars, all of which are useful in their respective ways. However, an athlete cannot enjoy the pleasure of traveling while exercising simultaneously with the use of these body-building exercisers because he has to stay at the same place in order to use these exercisers. The athlete can get bored if he or she has to remain at the same place for a long period of time.


Compound layers, such as metal silicon nitrides, are formed by ALD or CVD from precursors with incompatible reaction temperature ranges. The substrate is held at a temperature within the lower reaction temperature range (e.g., that of a metal precursor). The low-temperature precursor and its reactant react to form an ALD monolayer or thin CVD layer. The high-temperature precursor and its reactant are pulsed in the chamber, and the substrate is irradiated with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light adds energy to the system to overcome the reaction barrier despite the substrate temperature being below the minimum reaction temperature of the high-temperature precursor.

Related fields include Related fields include thin-film formation by atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and related techniques; in particular, formation of compound nitrides of components with differing reaction temperatures.
Advanced thin-film devices can only benefit from new materials if those materials can be reliably produced. Oxides, nitrides and oxynitrides of mixed materials show promise, for example, as variable-resistance and constant-resistance layers of resistive-switching memory (sometimes called "ReRAM"), and in other applications. In some of the applications, stoichiometric oxygen and/or nitrogen content is desirable; in others, non-stoichiometric variations are preferred. However, some of these complex compounds can be difficult to deposit or grow in the desired ratios of the different elements.
Various nitrides have been considered for various components of ReRAM cells, in particular for embedded resistors because of their stable performance and tunable resistance characteristics. However, deposition of nitrides usually requires elevated temperatures that may be damaging to other cell or circuit components. Furthermore, the high temperature requirement limits the selection of the precursors that may be reacted with nitrogen containing precursors during deposition of nitrides.
For example, consider tantalum silicon nitride (TaSiN). With fairly high Si content, it works well as an embedded resistor in a ReRAM stack. However, the Si precursor tris(dimethylamino)silane (TDMAS) will only react with the N precursor NH3 to form SiN at a process temperature greater than 500 C, while the Ta precursor (tert-butylimido)tris(diethylamido)tantalum(V) (TBTDETa) decomposes at temperatures above about 340 C. This disparity in tolerable temperature range poses serious obstacles to conventional co-deposition.
Therefore, a need exists for a way to form metal silicon nitrides with sufficiently high silicon-nitride content for embedded resistors without exceeding the process temperatures tolerated by the metal precursors; for example, by using a non-thermal type of energy to promote the silicon-nitride reaction. Plasma has been used, but may be inconvenient because of the specialized equipment needed.

Low-temperature deposition of nitrides by UV-assisted ALD or CVD


An apparatus and method for the production of substitute skin that advantageously reduces the amount of donor dermal cells needed from non-wound areas of a patient having a wound to be auto-grafted is reduced by using all of the harvested skin cells. A 3D printer is used to construct a wound graft product from the harvested skin cells without wasting any of the harvested skin cells. In a case of an irregularly shaped wound, wastage of harvested skin associated with trimming is avoided.

Healing wounds is a complex process of tissue repair and regeneration in response to injury. The healing response in skin wounds attempts to reconstitute a tissue similar to the original damaged one and this is accomplished via the concerted action of numerous skin cell types, collagens, cytokines, growth factors (GF s), chemokines, cell surface and adhesion molecules, as well as multiple extracellular matrix proteins. Autologous split-thickness skin grafting currently represents the most rapid, effective method of reconstructing large skin defects; however, in cases where a significant quantity of harvested graft is required, it represents yet another trauma to an already injured patient.
Some patent literature and academic literature is mentioned as follows, generally in roughly chronological order:
Wille, Jr., "Method for the formation of a histologically-complete skin substitute," U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,655 issued Mar. 8, 1994;
Bernard, et al., "Process for creating a skin substitute and the resulting skin substitute," U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,654 issued Jun. 17, 1997;
Bernard et al., "Skin substitute," U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,961 issued Sep. 16, 1997;
Wille, Jr., "Serum free medium for use in the formation of a histologically complete living human skin substitute," U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,307 issued Nov. 11, 1997;
Takai et al., "Wound healing composition using squid chitin and fish skin collagen," U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,228 issued Dec. 16, 1997;
Wille, Jr., "Cell competency solution for use in the formation of a histologically-complete, living, human skin substitute," U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,781 issued Aug. 18, 1998;
S. Hybbinette et al., "Enzymatic dissociation of keratinocytes from human skin biopsies for in vitro cell propagation," Exp Dermatol., 1999: February; 8(1):30-8;
Mares-Guia, "Non-immunogenic, biocompatible macromolecular membrane compositions, and methods for making them," U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,255 issued Jul. 17, 2001;
D. W. Hutmacher, "Scaffold design and fabrication technologies for engineering tissues—state of the art and future perspectives," J. Biomater. Sci. Polymer Edn, 12:1, 107-124 (2001);
Conrad et al., "Skin substitutes and uses thereof," US 20020164793 published Nov. 7, 2002;
Ramos et al., "Method for the preparation of immunologically inert amniotic membranes," US 20040126878 published Jul. 1, 2004;
Conrad et al., "Skin substitutes and uses thereof," U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,675 issued Jan. 25, 2005;
Conrad et al., "Skin substitutes and uses thereof," US 20050226853 published Oct. 13, 2005;
S. G. Priya, et al., "Skin Tissue Engineering for Tissue Repair and Regeneration," Tissue Engineering: Part B, 14:1, 2008, 105-118;
G. S. Schultz, et al., "Interactions between extracellular matrix and growth factors in wound healing," Wound Rep Reg 17, 153-162 (2009);
Conrad et al., "Skin substitutes and uses thereof," U.S. Pat. No. 7,541,188 issued Jun. 2, 2009;
Woodroof, "Laser-Perforated Skin Substitute," US 20090230592 published Sep. 17, 2009;
Woodroof, et al., "Artificial Skin Substitute," US 20090232878 published Sep. 17, 2009;
Woodroof; "Temporary Skin Substitute comprised of biological compounds of plant and animal origins," US 20090234305 published Sep. 17, 2009;
Woodroof, et al., "Skin Substitute Manufacturing Method," US 20100000676 published Jan. 7, 2010;
Woodroof, et al., "Artificial skin substitute," U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,931 issued Oct. 19, 2010;
Mirua, et al., "Skin Substitute Membrane, Mold, and Method of Evaluating External Preparation for Skin," US 20110098815 published Apr. 28, 2011;
Israelowitz et al., "Apparatus for the growth of artificial organic items, especially human or animal skin," US 20110159582 published Jun. 30, 2011;
Guenou, "Methods for Preparing Human Skin Substitutes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells," US 20110165130 published Jul. 7, 2011;
Bush et al., "Bioengineered Skin Substitutes," US 20110171180 published Jul. 14, 2011;
Yoo et al., "Delivery system," US 20110172611 published Jul. 14, 2011;
M. V. Karaaltin et al., "Adipose Derived Regenerative Cell Therapy for Treating a Diabetic Wound: A Case Report," Oct. 6, 2011;
Chernokalskaya, et al., "Polymeric Membranes with Human Skin-like Permeability Properties and uses thereof," US 20110281771 published Nov. 17, 2011;
Miura et al., "Application method of external dermatological medications, evaluating method of the same, application evaluating apparatus, and application evaluating program," US 20120022472 published Jan. 26, 2012;
D. Rosenblatt, "Researchers aim to 'print' human skin," Feb. 15, 2011, www.cnn.com;
Miura et al., "Skin substitute membrane, mold, and method of evaluating external preparation for skin," US 20120109300 published May 3, 2012;
R. Kirsner, et al., "Spray-applied cell therapy with human allogeneic fibroblasts and kertinocytes for the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers: a phase 2, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial," www.thelancet.com, vol. 380, Sep. 15, 2012;
B. Raelin, "Wake Forest 3D Prints Skin Cells Onto Burn Wounds," Jul. 19, 2012, www.3dprinter-world.com;
A. Lutz, "Printed Skin Cells Will Change How We Treat Burns Forever", Aug. 3, 2012, www.businessinsider.com;
Miura et al., "Skin substitute membrane, mold, and method of evaluating external preparation for skin," U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,554 issued Dec. 25, 2012;
"Printing Skin," www.medicaldiscoverynews.com/shows/202_printSkin.html, undated;
C. M. Zelen, et al., "A prospective randomised comparative parallel study of amniotic membrane wound graft in the management of diabetic foot ulcers," International Wound Journal, ISSN 1742-4801, 2013;
H. Kim, et al., "Evaluation of an Amniotic Membrane-Collagen Dermal Substitute in the Management of Full-Thickness Skin Defects in a Pig," Archives of Plastic Surgery, 2013, 40:1, 11-18;
"SkinPrint: 3D Bio-printed human skin can help burn victims", May 16, 2013, www.3ders.org;
K. Maxey, "3D Printed, Transplantable Skin in 5 Years?", May 17, 2013, www.engineering.com;
H. Briggs, "Artificial human ear grown in lab," Jul. 31, 2013, www.bbc.co.uk;
S. Leckart, "How 3-D Printing Body Parts Will Revolutionize Medicine," Aug. 6, 2013, www.popsci.com;
Thangapazham et al., "Hair follicle neogenesis," US 20130209427 published Aug. 15, 20131
T. Lu et al., "Techniques for fabrication and construction of three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering," Internat'l Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013:8, 337-350.
Although there are a number of reports of skin autografts produced in vitro, they take weeks to generate—which is too long a waiting period for a patient whose wound needs treatment. Quicker production of skin autografts is an unmet need and unsolved problem.
In several studies conducted using amniotic membrane (AM) in both acute and chronic wounds, much of the first round placement is absorbed into the body. In some cases, it takes as many of 3-4 full grafts of AM in order to result in full closure of the wound. Less graft being absorbed into the body so that it is unable to contribute to closing the wound is an unsolved problem.
Another difficult unsolved problem has been that when an undamaged donor area of skin of a patient is harvested and used as an autograft for treating the patient's own wound, the donor site often becomes a non-healing wound.
There are complicated, unsolved problems and unmet needs for better technologies in wound grafting and wound healing.


A programmable frequency divider capable of operating in a normal mode and a fractional mode divides the input clock frequency by any integer ‘N’ provided at the input. In the normal mode the input is divided by the integer ‘N’. The divided output signal has a 50% duty cycle if the input clock has a 50% duty cycle. In the fractional mode, fractional division can be achieved from dividing by 1.5 to dividing by 255.5 in steps of 0.5.

Frequency dividers are generally used, for example, in frequency synthesizers to provide signals in stepped frequencies. One field of application for frequency dividers are, e.g. PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuits as used in mobile radio technology. In these circuits, a number of communication channels are only a few 100 kHz apart from one another in the GHz band, and the PLL circuit must ideally be capable of generating output frequencies, which are precisely synchronized to these channels. As a rule, a fractional frequency divider is used in the feedback path of the PLL circuits.
Another field of application for frequency dividers is, for example, digital signal processing and microprocessor technology. In the case of signal processing devices, it is often a requirement to clock different modules with different frequencies, which are a few MHz apart from one another (e.g. from 70 MHz to 170 MHz). A register or processor operating, e.g. at a maximum frequency of 152 MHz can only be operated optimally if this exact clock frequency is provided, if possible. If, e.g. only two different frequencies, for instance 120 MHz and 170 MHz, are available, one is forced to operate the processor at 120 MHz, as a result of which 32 MHz of performance are lost. Using a frequency synthesizer, which covers the range between 120 MHz and 170 MHz in 10-MHz steps, the microprocessor can be operated at 150 MHz and only 2 MHz of performance are lost.
These examples show that frequency dividers capable of dividing a predetermined input frequency not only by an integral factor N but also by fractions thereof, namely N+m/k, are required. A method for dividing frequency of a signal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,915 to Altera Corporation. It includes the steps of (1) applying the signal to down counter (2) storing a first count value and a second count value in memory (3) loading the down counter the first count value (4) detecting when the down counter counts to the end of first count value (5) count value toggling the output signal when the down counter reaches end of count for the first count value (6) loading the down counter with the second count value (7) toggling the output signal when the down counter reaches end of count for the second count value and repeating steps (3) to (6).
The drawback of the aforesaid frequency divider is that it is not possible to obtain a 50% duty cycle at the output if the division factor is an odd number. This can be best understood with an example. Consider a case of divide by three operation. In this case, the memory should be loaded with the bits corresponding to the On Time and Off Time of the divided clock. In order to achieve 50% duty cycle at the output, the load bits corresponding to On Time and Off Time should be 1.5, which is not possible.
What is desired therefore, is a counter that can operate both in a normal division mode and in a fractional division mode.


A reinforcing element for an article of clothing includes at least one elongate element and a plurality of raised bodies aligned substantially longitudinally and integrally formed with the elongate element. The bodies define slits therebetween to allow bending of the reinforcing element in a first direction and prevent bending of the reinforcing element in a second direction by a blocking contact of the bodies.

A common risk attendant with sports activities is the hyperextension of joints, such as fingers, ankles, knees, etc. For example, a particular risk for a soccer goalkeeper is the hyperextension of individual fingers or the thumb. When the goalkeeper tries to deflect a ball with the extended hand, there is a risk that one or more fingers of the extended hand may be subjected to the complete impact of the ball and hyperextended. Strains, and in the worst case, fractures, are the consequence. Accordingly, specialized gloves have been developed with heavy cushioning to prevent such injuries.
A goalkeeper glove performs several functions. Apart from improving the grip on the inner side of the hand, a primary function of the glove is to protect the hand against substantial mechanical loads that occur when deflecting a sharply shot ball. In this respect, it is known to cushion the glove by damping the forces that occur during ball contact. Apart from this passive cushioning, it has also been known for several years to provide goalkeeper gloves and gloves for other sports with active reinforcing elements. Other sports where the joints are subjected to similar forces include snowboarding (where wrist injuries are common), football, skateboarding, etc.
These reinforcing elements allow a bending of the hand in a gripping direction, but block a bending of the extended hand in the opposite direction, i.e., into the direction of hyperextension. In the case of a goalkeeper glove, the extended hand, and more particularly the fingers and the thumb, are therefore actively supported by the glove when deflecting a sharply shot ball.
To obtain the desired mechanical properties, it is known to design the reinforcing element from at least two separately manufactured components. An example of such an element is shown in FIG. 7, the element indicated by reference numeral 1. A series of compression-proof bodies 2 are arranged on a completely flexible but elongation-free tension element 3 (e.g., a suitable foil, tape, or thin wire). As can be seen, the reinforcing element 1 can be easily folded into the direction of the solid arrows 4 (the first, or bending, direction), since the elongation-free foil, tape, or thin wire would not resist such a deformation. If, however, the reinforcing element 1 is extended, the compression-proof bodies 2 contact each other and prevent the reinforcing element 1 from exceeding the extended configuration into the direction of the dashed arrows 5 (the second, or hyperextension, direction).
If such a reinforcing element 1 is integrated into the backside of a glove for one or more fingers, the desired support against hyperextension is achieved by the described cooperation of the two components 2, 3. Examples of this design can be found in German Patent Nos. DE 3516545 A1, DE 19910799 C1, DE 10100848, DE 10010403 A1, and DE 10010404 A1, and in PCT Application No. WO 01/00052, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. All of the disclosed reinforcing elements are made from an elongation-free tension element and a sequence of compression-proof bodies. As explicitly disclosed in those references, such a design allows a blocking action in the direction of hyperextension with a resistance-free movement in the gripping direction.
Another approach is described in German Patent No. DE 20113431 U1, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. There, the reinforcing element comprises a plurality of hingedly connected units, with linked reinforcing elements, each having at one end a pivot and on the other end a corresponding bearing receptacle. The hinges are designed such that a rotation of two links with respect to each other is only possible in one direction. Starting from an extended configuration the sequence of links blocks any bending into the opposite direction.
Nearly all reinforcing elements for active protection against hyperextension known in the art require a complicated manufacture. In the constructions described above, the compression-proof bodies 2 attach to the tension element 3 by, for example, gluing, sewing, or guiding the tension element through openings in each individual compression-proof body 2. This process, however, is difficult to automate, thereby increasing the costs associated with such devices.
The same applies to the reinforcing elements made from a plurality of hingedly connected links, which must be separately manufactured and subsequently connected to each other. Since up to ten reinforcing elements may be required for a complete protection of the hand, this leads to substantial manufacturing efforts. Furthermore, the manual assembly of the reinforcing elements requires an exact quality control (for example, to verify whether the compression-proof bodies 2 are reliably anchored to the tension element 3 or whether all links have been correctly connected to each other). As a consequence of the related costs, gloves with active protection against hyperextension can until now only be found in the highest price segment and, therefore, are only usually purchased by professional or semi-professional users.
This is unfortunate, since the risk of sprains and fractures is particularly high with children, teenagers, and other non-professionals, not just in soccer, but in other sports as well. Goalkeeper gloves for these users, however, have until now not been equipped with active reinforcing elements for protection against hyperextension, simply because it is not economically feasible to incorporate into such gloves an expensive reinforcing element. In addition, the known constructions require a certain minimum size for reliable operation.
There have been attempts to avoid the complex manufacturing and assembly process accompanying multi-piece reinforcing elements by utilizing single-piece construction. One such attempt is disclosed in German Patent No. DE 297 05 586 U1, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference it its entirety, where a plurality of slits extend partially through a single piece of material, thereby forming a reinforcing element with thicker sections separated by thinner sections (located at the slits). The slits allow the reinforcing element to bend in a first direction and still provide a blocking interaction when the element is bent into a second direction.
Since the thicker portions of the reinforcing element are more resistant to bending, however, the bending in the first direction would be concentrated at locations where the material is thinnest (i.e., at the slits). This would limit the flexibility of the reinforcing element disclosed in the above-referenced German patent. As a result, the element may cause discomfort to the fingers and/or joints of the wearer, for example, when throwing or catching a ball, or when punching at a ball to deflect a shot. This would be particularly likely if the bending locations do not correspond exactly with the wearer's joints. Additionally, the concentration of bending forces may cause the element to weaken at those points of bending more quickly. This weakening would ultimately lead to premature failure and require replacement of the entire reinforcing element.
There is, therefore, a need to provide a reinforcing element for active protection against hyperextension that can be more easily and inexpensively manufactured than known constructions, but without weakening prematurely, and that can also be used for smaller glove sizes. Additionally, there is a need to provide a reinforcing element that can be used in a variety of sports equipment, to prevent injuries to joints, such as ankles, wrists, knees, the neck, etc.


The movement of animals may be controlled by recording a sound which initiates movement in an animal and combining that movement initiating sound with additional sounds to produce music. A preferred embodiment uses the sound of one or more active dragonflies in combination with at least one of instrumental notes and sounds of nature to repel mosquitoes, flies and other closely related insects while attracting or entertaining humans.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to the field of acoustic wave systems and devices, and more particular to systems used to affect the behavior of animals. In a more particular embodiment of the invention, predator sound waves are combined with other sounds to yield music which is accepted or pleasurable to mankind, and which simultaneously is useful to affect the behavior of specific animals. In an even more particular embodiment, the invention pertains to the field of mosquito or other airborne pest control, and integrates dragonfly sounds into music to repel mosquitoes while providing pleasurable entertainment to humans.
2. Description of the Related Art
For time immemorial, man has sought ways to adapt his environment in ways which are generally perceived as beneficial. The desire for making changes to one's environment are generally based upon important issues such as health and well-being.
Louis Pasteur, who is often cited as the father of modern disease theory, identified and publicized cause and effect relationship between microbiological agents and disease. This forever influenced the understanding of disease, and has continued to lead to an ever greater understanding of the vectors of disease transmission. However, understanding disease transmission is only one component of disease prevention and human health. Another necessary component is the disruption of the usual transmission vector, whereby the disease is not allowed to pass through a normal cycle.
The economic impact of unchecked disease vectors should not be underestimated. For example, while mosquitoes are perceived by many persons only as annoying pests that may induce short-term skin irritation, their affect on mankind is far more consequential. Historically in the Untied States, mosquito-borne disease presented a serious problem for early western settlers. In the late 1800's two crews were hired for each logging camp, because it was not unusual for half of the workers to be out at any one time with malaria. This mosquito-transmitted blood parasite continued to be a problem in many parts of the U.S. into the early 1950's, when it was brought under control by eliminating human sources of infection. Humans infected with the parasite are the only source of malaria infection, and with the appearance of effective drugs, window screens and a better understanding of mosquitoes and the disease, human malaria in the U.S. was eliminated. Malaria is not the only mosquito-borne disease that has caused problems in the past. In the early 1940's hundreds of cases of equine encephalitis were reported in the mid-west and west each year. It wasn't until the 1950's however that the first human cases of mosquito-borne encephalitis were recognized. Even today, human and equine cases of encephalitis are not rare occurrences.
Using the mosquito as a continuing example, this pest is a known vector for the transmission of Eastern equine encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis, Rift Valley Fever, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Dog heartworm, and malaria, among other diseases. In 1997, dengue was considered by some to be the most important mosquito-borne viral disease affecting humans; its global distribution is comparable to that of malaria. An estimated 2.5 billion people live in areas at risk for epidemic transmission. Each year, tens of millions of cases of dengue fever occur and, depending on the year, up to hundreds of thousands of cases of DHF. The case-fatality rate of DHF in most countries is about 5%. Most fatal cases are among children and young adults. Dengue is primarily a disease of the tropics, and the viruses that cause it are maintained in a cycle that involves humans and Aedes aegypti, a domestic, day-biting mosquito that prefers to feed on humans. Infection with dengue viruses produces a spectrum of clinical illness ranging from a nonspecific viral syndrome to severe and fatal hemorrhagic disease. The emergence of dengue/DHF as a major public health problem has been most dramatic in the American region. In an effort to prevent urban yellow fever, which is also transmitted by Ae. aegypti, the Pan American Health Organization organized a campaign that eradicated Ae. aegypti from most Central and South American countries in the 1950s and 1960s. As a result, epidemic dengue occurred only sporadically in some Caribbean islands during this period. The Ae. aegypti eradication program, which was officially discontinued in the United States in 1970, gradually eroded elsewhere, and this species began to reinfest countries from which it had been eradicated. In 1997, the geographic distribution of Ae. aegypti is wider than its distribution before the eradication program.
With the development of modern industry, many new and generally useful nuclear, biological and chemical compounds have been discovered or created that are known to have certain desirable characteristics, including the interruption of disease transmission vectors. Unfortunately, the history of these compounds has been checkered by unexpected side effects that are all too often disruptive in ways that ultimately lead to a completely new and unexpected problem. Examples are the early identified effectiveness of the chemical compound dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, in the eradication of lice and mosquitoes.
Between the realization of the pesticidal activity of DDT during World War II and the present, competition between man and his competitors has been substantially achieved through chemical warfare. One textbook from the mid-1970's referred to these chemicals as "a complex arsenal of synthetic compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and at least one other element such as chlorine, arsenic, mercury, sulfur, or phosphorus." Unfortunately, and as already noted, this arsenal of weapons has, over time, been determined to have adverse impact on mankind and the environment that must be considered in weighting the benefits of the compounds with the associated risks.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was created to serve the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic substances. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) section 104 (i), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), requires ATSDR and the EPA to prepare a list, in order of priority, of substances that are most commonly found at facilities on the National Priorities List (NPL) and which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health due to their known or suspected toxicity and potential for human exposure at these NPL sites. CERCLA also requires this list to be revised periodically to reflect additional information on hazardous substances. ATSDR ranks Lindane 33 of 275 on the 2001 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances. DDT is 12, Chlordane 19. The list is replete with these elements that were, and, in some cases, continue to be used as a part of the "chemical arsenal" which disrupts the disease vectors. Unfortunately, many of these chemical compounds are persistent, meaning they either do not degrade or do so very slowly.
Total eradication of mosquitoes responsible for bearing disease does not appear to be plausible with chemical warfare, at least not without even greater risk to mankind and the environment than the risks from the mosquito. Yet, in view of the serious health threat that these mosquito-borne diseases present to the human population, alternative ways to control the environment which do not have the recognized or potential toxicity of the chemical compounds of the past are needed. According to one visionary, "the future will depend on our wisdom not to replace one poison with another."
Nevertheless, no highly effective technique that is considered to be generally acceptable for breaking the disease vector path of the mosquito has been proposed other than the chemical arsenal described herein above. For example, at a recent national conference on techniques for avoiding the transmission of mosquito-borne illness, only rudimentary techniques were proposed that may be used to reduce one's risk for becoming infected. These techniques, which are beneficial but not total solutions, included repairing window screens, removing heavy brush and trees, emptying small containers, regularly changing the water in vases, pot plants, bird baths, pets' containers and any other receptacles which hold water, keeping swimming pools chlorinated or salted, or emptying them completely when not in use for long periods, emptying children's wading pools regularly, and opening clogged drainage ditches. Other listed techniques for reducing risk include avoiding exposure at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are more active; wearing long, loose clothing; using a repellent such as N,N-Diethyl-M-Tolumide (DEET) Compound; using sprays, coils and vaporising devices to kill mosquitoes; using mosquito netting including possibly treating the nets with a repellent/insecticide; flushing unused toilets once a week; keeping drains and roof guttering in good repair and free of leaves and debris; keeping fish ponds stocked with fish; ensuring that tanks have close-fitting tops, lids, covers and inlet pipes to exclude mosquitoes, and screening all water inlets and the outlet end of overflow pipes. What is desired then is a way to assist with the control of the environment while not introducing further risks that may, as yet, be unknown to those within the controlled environment.
Acoustic waves have been used in the prior art to control an environment without consequential and long-term alteration. The fundamental precept of this technique is that there are certain sounds that are irritating to one or more species within the animal kingdom, and that these certain sounds may be used to selectively drive those species from an area. While the precept is correct, several factors have prevented widespread effective use of acoustic systems. One factor is a general lack of sounds that are selective to only one or a few species. In other words, and for exemplary purposes only, ultrasonic repellants have been designed which are intended to repel various rodents and flying insects. The ultrasonic adjective is used to identify that the sound waves are of higher frequency than normally detected by the human ear. Exemplary of these concepts are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,341,762 to Petersen, which is designed for pest control, and 5,418,518 to Schenken et al, which is designed to provide a warning signal to deer and the like of an oncoming vehicle. Other species are responsive to sonic waves, such as shown in 3,317,889 to Barrand, which discloses vibrational waves in water of between 100 and 14,000 Hertz to drive sharks from an area. Each of these patents are designed to use sound waves to control an environment for the benefit of people.
Unfortunately, ultrasonic sounds may irritate or even deafen certain desired animals that are also sensitive to sounds in the same acoustic spectrum as used to deter a pest. It is well-known, for example, to use an ultrasonic horn as a deterrent during dog training, owing to a dog's elevated sensitivity to sounds within the ultrasonic spectrum. Furthermore, many rodents which are common house pets are also sensitive to ultrasound. Consequently, the overlap of detectable spectrum among desired and undesired animals has presented an obstacle in the prior art to successful use of acoustic control. This is especially true of the Petersen technology, where the desired sound pressure levels are extremely high.
Compounding the problems that limit ultrasonic pest control is an awareness that certain pests will become immune, or deaf, to continuous high volume ultrasonic sounds. Inventions such as the Quittner horn of U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,138 seek to overcome this limitation by providing intermittent activation of the acoustic wave. Nevertheless, the volumes required are difficult to produce and maintain in an area sufficient to adequately deter pests, and the probability of the pest becoming "immune" to the sound is relatively great.
Where the desired animal behavioral control spectrum overlaps that of human hearing, the sounds of the controlling device are known to be annoying and irritating to people as well as pest, and so are unacceptable for most purposes. Examples of this type of system are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,977,866 to Joseph, Jr. et al, 5,864,516 to Brown et al, and 5,515,026 to Ewert. In the Joseph patent, chaotic noises are used to discourage birds from entering the area of an airfield. While the system may perform well for the airfield, where few persons will be found and where most persons will be wearing ear protectors, in ordinary locations occupied by persons this system would prove irritating and unacceptable. Two additional patents, U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,774 to Parra and U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,630 to Jan, illustrate the use of predator sounds to discourage a species which is prey to the predator from entering the area. Unfortunately, the sound of a predator such as a shark or hawk is not associated with enjoyment by most persons, nor would continuous exposure to repeated predator sounds be anticipated to be well received by most persons.


A pitch circle radius of a driving side gear of a drive mechanism of an air mix door is continuously and progressively increased from a maximum heating position side part to a maximum cooling position side part. A pitch circle radius of a driven side gear of the drive mechanism is continuously and progressively increased from a maximum cooling position side part to a maximum heating position side part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door drive mechanism of an air conditioning system for a vehicle, and particularly to the door drive mechanism of the air conditioning system, which drives a door, such as an air mix door, through a gear mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-355212, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,935, discloses a door drive device, which drives a door, such as an air mix door, of an air conditioning system (also referred to as a vehicle air conditioning system) for a vehicle.
The above door drive device includes a door drive gear, which is rotated by a drive apparatus, such as a motor. The door drive gear is meshed with a rack, which is integrated with the air mix door. When the door drive gear is rotated by the drive apparatus, the air mix door is slid together with the rack.
FIG. 5 is an air mix door drive gear mechanism of a previously proposed air conditioning system, which is different from that of the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-355212. In the air mix door drive gear mechanism, a driving side gear 30r is secured to an output shaft 29r of a drive servo motor (not shown) and rotates integrally with the output shaft 29r. A driven side gear 31r, which is meshed with the driving side gear 30r, is secured to a rotatable shaft 19r of an air mix door (not shown) and rotates integrally with the rotatable shaft 19r.
The driving side gear 30r is formed into a circular shape having a constant pitch circle radius (i.e., a constant radius of a pitch circle). Corresponding to this constant pitch circle radius of the driving side gear 30r, a pitch circle radius of the driven side gear 31r is also constant. An operable angular range of the air mix door is less than 360 degrees, and thus the driven side gear 31r has a fan shape, which has an arcuate outer peripheral part. The arcuate outer peripheral part of the driven side gear 31r extends along an imaginary arc that is centered in the rotational axis of rotatable shaft 19r.
As discussed above, both the pitch circle radius of the driving side gear 30r and the pitch circle radius of the driven side gear 31r are constant, so that a linear relationship exists between an operational angle of the driven side gear 31r and an operational angle of the driving side gear 30r, as indicated by a characteristic A (a characteristic line indicating a relationship between an operational angle of the driving side gear and an operational angle of the driven side gear) in FIG. 6.
This will cause the following disadvantages in terms of control of the temperature (hereinafter referred to as an outlet air temperature) of air to be discharged from the vehicle air conditioning system into the passenger compartment. In a maximum heating position of the air mix door, the air mix door fully closes a cool air passage (an air passage that bypasses a heating heat exchanger) and fully opens a warm air passage (an air passage that extends through the heating heat exchanger) in a unit case. When the air mix door is rotated from the maximum heating position to a temperature control range where both the cool air passage and the warm air passage are opened, the air mix door opens the cool air passage. Since this cool air passage extends along the entire extent of the unit case in a width direction of the unit case (a left-right direction of a vehicle), this movement of the air mix door results in a rapid increase in a flow rate of cool air, which flows through the cool air passage.
Thus, when the air mix door is driven from the maximum heating position to the temperature control range, the outlet air temperature of the air conditioning system is rapidly reduced, as indicated by a characteristic C (a characteristic line indicating a relationship between an operational angle of the driving side gear and the outlet air temperature of the air conditioning system) in FIG. 7, resulting in poor controllability of the outlet air temperature.
To address such a disadvantage, it is conceivable to add an auxiliary link mechanism between the driven side gear 31r and the rotatable shaft 19r of the air mix door to reduce the amount of change in the operational angle of the driven side gear near the maximum heating position of the air mix door to reduce the amount of change in the rotational position of the air mix door, as indicated by a characteristic B (a characteristic line indicating a relationship between an operational angle of the driving side gear and an operational angle of the driven side gear) of FIG. 6. However, this requires the addition of the auxiliary link mechanism besides the gears 30r, 31r. Thus, an additional space for accommodating the auxiliary link mechanism needs to be provided, and the addition of the auxiliary link mechanism causes an increase in manufacturing costs.
In the above described air conditioning system recited in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-355212, a tooth depth of the tooth located at the end of the door drive gear or a tooth depth of each of the teeth located near the end of the door drive gear is increased relative to the rest of the teeth. Also, a tooth depth of the tooth located at each of the ends of the rack or a tooth depth of the teeth located near each of the ends of the rack is increased relative to the rest of the teeth. However, this structure is intended to move the air mix door in a direction perpendicular to a slide direction of the air mix door at the end of a slide path of the air mix door, and there is no structure of the gear mechanism disclosed to improve the controllability of the outlet air temperature.

Vehicle air conditioning system having door drive mechanism