An electrically conductive cable for transmitting electrical signals is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the cable includes a first braided wire conductor having a cross-sectional height and cross-sectional width which is more that twice the cross-sectional height, a first dielectric sheath surrounding the first oval braided wire conductor. The cable also includes a second braided wire conductor which has a cross-sectional height and a cross-sectional width which are substantially identical to those of the first oval braided wire conductor, and a second dielectric sheath surrounding the second oval braided wire conductor. In the preferred cable design, the second oval braided wire conductor is disposed vertically above the first oval braided wire conductor to enhance performance characteristics of the cable. A metallic shielding tube may be provided surrounding the first and second conductors and their respective sheaths. In one embodiment, the conductors are hollow braided metal wire tubes with cross-sectionally oval dielectric insulators disposed centrally therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulated wire cable assembly for transmitting electrical power or signals. More particularly, the present invention relates to an insulated wire cable assembly which uses a conductor which has an oval cross-section, which preferably is formed of interwoven filaments, and which allows for improved performance of the cable.
2. Description of the Background Art
Electrical cable is used for many applications, such as power cords, telephone lines, speaker cables, power lines and many other applications. Most electrical cable in use today uses cylindrical conductors which are round in cross-section. Known cable designs have a higher than optimal level of current bunching, skin effect phenomenon, and frequency effects that degrade the performance of the cable.
People tend to think in terms of DC when they think of cable performance. Even experienced electrical engineers will forget about the effects of frequency on cable performance. When using DC, current is uniformly distributed across the entire cross-section of the wire conductor and the resistance is a simple function of the cross-sectional area.

Cable for transmitting electrical impulses


A photoelectric cross-connect system for an optical-communication system minimizes service recovery time when an error is generated. A plurality of nodes are connected by an optical-transmission line wherein each nodes automatically recognizes a data rate of an input signal and communicates over a redundant channel with an adjacent node when there is a certain type of error. An optical-receiving unit receives an optical signal performs O/E conversion. A main optical-transmitting unit recovers clock and data signals according to the converted signal and sets a data rate according to the converted signal for subsequent transmission; a redundant optical-transmitting unit recovers a clock and data according to the converted signal and sets a data rate according to the converted signal for subsequent transmission A switch provides selectively connection state between the optical-receiving unit and the main optical-transmitting unit and between the optical-receiving unit and the redundant optical-transmitting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an optical-communication network comprised of a plurality of nodes and, in particular, to a photoelectric cross-connect system included in each node.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an optical-communication network comprises a back-up opticaltransmission path in case the active optical-transmission line malfunctions or is down due to errors thereby providing uninterrupted transmission. FIG. 1 is an architecture illustrating a conventional mesh structure of an optical-communication network. As shown, the conventional optical network includes four nodes, 110, 120, 130, and 140, connected using a bi-directional optical-transmission line, first line 115, second line 125, third line 135, fourth line 145, and fifth line 150. In this type of network, one node always has at least one optical-transmission path to the other nodes. The optical-transmission line is an optical fiber connected between two nodes, and the optical-transmission path is a path of the channel transmitted between two nodes, namely a path covering the nodes and the optical fiber. In addition, a photoelectric cross-connect system included in each node 110, 120, 130, or 140 has a data-rate recognizing function and a clock/data recovery function, thus maintaining transparency for a plurality of specific data rates. That is, each of the nodes 110, 120, 130, and 140 is capable of automatically recognizing an unknown data rate of an input channel and recovering a clock and data.
The node (A) 110 is connected to adjacent nodes (D) 140 and (B) 120 through the respective optical-transmission lines 145 and 115, and communicates with the node (D) 140 through a main channel allocated to the node (D) 140 and the node (B) 120. Here, the main channel allocated between the node (A) 110 and the node (D) 140 is the shortest optical-transmission path between the two nodes, and transmitted in the normal operation through the fourth optical transmission line 145 connected between the node A (110) and node D (140). In the same manner, the main channel allocated between the node A (110) and the node B (120) is a channel transmitted through the first optical-transmission line 115 connected between the node A (110) and the node B (120).
In the normal operation, when a channel having the node D (140) as a destination is inputted externally, the node A (110) transmits through the fourth optical-transmission line 145 allocated to the node D (140). The node D (140) receives data through the main channel and transmits the data to a corresponding node through its own channel.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state when an error is generated in the fourth optical-transmission line 145 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, if the fourth optical-transmission line 145 between the node A (110) and the node D (140) is down and then data destined to the node D (140) is externally inputted, the node A (110) cannot use the main channel allocated to the node D 140. In this case, the node A (110) receives information that the fourth optical-transmission line 145 has an error through a supervisory channel allocated to the node D (140), then notifies the error through a supervisory channel allocated to the node B (120). The node B (120) in turn switches the main channel allocated to the node D 140 to the back-up channel and communicates with the node D (140) through the back-up channel. The back-up channel outputted from the node A (110) reaches the node D (140) in the order of the first optical-transmission line 115, the node B (120) and the fifth optical-transmission line 150.
Note that the time for recovering the service using the back-up channel at a given node satisfies the following equation [error generation recognition time (a few ten μs)]+[switching time (a few ten ms)]+[error generation notification time through supervisory channel (a few ten ms)]+[data recovery time of redundant channel (a few hundred ms)]=[service recovery time (a few hundred ms)].
As such, the recovery time for N nodes is then increased by N multiplied by the recovery time calculated above. Note that the data-rate recognition time of an input channel takes most of the data-recovery time when using the back-up channel. Such data-rate recognition is performed at the input of a channel having different data rates. If the data rate has been recognized previously, the corresponding back-up channel can output the data directly without wasting time in trying to recognize the data rate. However, if a channel with a different data rate from the previously-recognized rate is received, the time to recognize the data rate is required.
As described above, the conventional optical network has a disadvantages in that, when an error is generated in the optical-transmission line, it takes a long time to recover the service through the back-up channel.


A fabric cutter for making a fringe on an edge of a fabric having a base member, a lever member; and a row of blades for cutting a fringe in the edge of a fabric, the lever member being pivotally attached to said base member and having suspended there from the row of blades; the base member having rectangular cutting slots with sharp edges corresponding in position to a lower end of each blade of the row of blades, the cutting slots being adapted to permit penetration there through of the plurality of blades upon lowering the lever member toward the base member to cut a fringe in the edge of a fabric located between the row of blades and the rectangular cutting slots.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cloth cutters and more particularly to cutters for forming a fringe on the edge of a fabric.
2. Description of the Related Art
To make a tie and cut blanket or pillow, a person layers two fabrics each fabric having two or more yards of material, one on top of the other, with the edges of the two layers being in alignment with each other. One layer will become the top of the blanket and the other layer will be the back. At this time the two layers can be pinned together. However, it has been found that the layers will remain aligned and not move relative to each other when not pinned. In addition, not pinning saves a step in preparing the layered fabrics for fringing.
Prior to creating a 4 inch fringe alone each edge of the layered fabrics, a 4×4 inch square is cut out of each corner of the layered fabrics and is discarded. A tape measure across the top of the four inch cuts that are to be made can be used to help make the strips are about 1 inch wide and only four inches deep. Now, using hand operated scissors, 4 inch slits are cut into the layered fabrics at 1″ intervals around all four sides.
It is here noted, for example, that a significant amount of time will be spent measuring and marking the layered fabrics where the slits are to be made, and if the layered fabrics measures 50 inches by 70 inches, about 240 slits will be cut into the layered fabrics that are one inch wide and four inches long by a person with a hand operated scissors.
A pair of very sharp scissors is required. If the scissors are dull, it will take a lot longer to complete and require a significant amount of effort.
After the cuts are made around all four sides of the layered fabrics, one strip from the front fabric and one strip from the back fabric are tied with an overhand knot to close the blanket edge and create a finished fringe edge.
A faster and easier way of cutting a fringe in at least one fabric is needed. The present invention may be used for blankets or pillows or any other product needing fabric cut to at least one string like length around the perimeter of a piece of material.

Fringe cutter for tie and cut blankets and pillows


The collapsible livestock feeder having a plurality of feeder sections pivotally secured to one another. Each feeder section includes a feed retainer and a hold back. The feeder section retains feed therein for access by an animal. When the feed in the retainer has been eaten, the animal uses the hold back to move the feeder section inward to access additional feed. The feeder sections thereby collapse around the feed, and do not require movement of the entire feeder to access feed at the interior. The modularity of the feeder also allows for ease of take-down, transport and set up.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a livestock feeder, and, more specifically, to an adjustable livestock feeder which substantially prevents trampling of the feed while allowing livestock access to the feed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art to provide circular feeders for cylindrical bales of hay such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,609. Such feeders typically comprise a circular wall of steel bars. A cylindrical bale is placed within the feeder, and the bars provide slots through which an animal places its head to access the hay.
Such feeders work relatively well to feed cattle and prevent feed from being trampled upon. Once a substantial portion of the bale has been eaten, however, it is often difficult for animals to access the interior portions of the bale. While prior art devices are designed to allow an animal to push the entire structure to access the interior portion of the bale, such structures are often difficult to move. The size and bulk of these prior art feeders makes it difficult for smaller or weaker animals to access the interior of the bale.
An additional drawback associated with these prior art devices is the difficulty in manipulating such livestock feeders and moving them from one place to another. The structures are typically rigid, heavy and large, making them cumbersome to transport.
The difficulties in the prior art discussed here and above are substantially eliminated by the present invention.


A working fluid composition for a refrigerating machine comprising: a refrigerating machine oil containing at least one lubricating base oil selected from a mineral oil and a synthetic oil, and at least one phosphorus compound selected from a mono(alkylphenyl) diphenyl phosphate having a C3-C5 alkyl group and a di(alkylphenyl) phenyl phosphate having two C3-C5 alkyl groups, wherein a content of the phosphorus compound is 0.01 to 5% by mass based on a total amount of the refrigerating machine oil; and a hydrocarbon refrigerant having 2 to 4 carbon atoms.

As refrigerants for a cold storage chamber, a car air-conditioner, a room air-conditioner, an industrial refrigerator and the like, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), R410A that is a mixed solvent of difluoroethane (R32) and pentafluoroethane (R125) in a mass ratio of 1/1, and the like are conventionally widely used.
The global warming potential (GWP) of such a HFC refrigerant is, however, as high as 1000 or more, and therefore, the use is now becoming restricted by the so-called F-gas regulation. It is indispensable for an alternative candidate for the HFC refrigerant to have a low GWP, and one of the candidates is a hydrocarbon refrigerant such as isobutane (R600a) already practically used for a cold storage chamber. Since the hydrocarbon refrigerant has an extremely low GWP of 20 or less and suitable physical properties, extensive studies are being made on it.
In the coexistence of a hydrocarbon refrigerant, since a hydrocarbon molecule does not contain chlorine or fluorine for increasing lubricity, lubricity improvement by the refrigerant cannot be expected differently from a case of the HFC refrigerant or the like, and in addition, since solubility of a hydrocarbon in a refrigerating machine oil is so high that the viscosity of the oil is lowered, a lubrication condition becomes severe, which requires a higher wear resistance of a refrigerating machine oil than in a conventional technique. Besides, from the viewpoint of power saving, it is required to also have a performance capable of retaining a friction coefficient low.
In the field of lubricating oils widely, an oiliness agent such as an alcohol, an ester or a long-chain fatty acid, an anti-wear agent such as a phosphoric acid ester or a metal dithiophosphate, and an extreme pressure agent such as an organic sulfur compound or an organic halogen compound are generally known as anti-wear additives. On the other hand, in a refrigerating machine oil, an additive cannot be used unless it is precipitated in the coexistence of a refrigerant and harmfully affects stability. Therefore, in a conventional refrigerating machine oil, an alcohol-based or ester-based oiliness agent, or triphenyl phosphate or tricresyl phosphate among phosphates is used.
Beside, Patent Literature 1 discloses a lubricating oil used for a refrigerating machine containing a phosphorus-based additive and a specific epoxy compound together, Patent Literature 2 discloses a compressor lubricating oil, to be used with the HFC refrigerant, containing triphenyl phosphate and tri(alkylphenyl) phosphate together, and Patent Literature 3 discloses a refrigerating machine oil, to be used with the ITC refrigerant, containing tricresyl phosphate and glycidyl ether epoxy or carbodiimide.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Refrigerator working fluid composition and refrigerant oil


A work station user selects a desired printer default configuration. Thereupon an address exclusively associated with the selected default configuration is appended to the print data sent from the work station to the printer. Default configuration setting circuitry provided, e.g., in a circuit card installed in the printer receives the address and, via a look-up table, provides instructions for implementing the default configuration associated with the address. The printer is then configured in accordance with the selected default configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for controlling the configuration of a printer and, in particular embodiments, for allowing a user to select a printer default configuration from a plurality of preset default configurations to control a printer connected in a multiple work station network.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical computer printer, it is necessary to establish a default configuration. Typically, the printer has a default configuration set by the user or preset by the manufacturer. Default configurations comprise sets of instructions for controlling certain parameters of the printing operations performed by the printer, including, but not limited to, fonts, paper sizes, page description languages, finishing options and stackers. Data or instructions for setting the default configuration are typically stored in a memory circuit within the printer.
In a typical network system, e.g., wherein one or more printers are connected, through a network communications link, to a plurality of individual work stations (e.g., personal computer terminals), each printer will have a preset default configuration, as discussed above. Each work station accessing a printer must operate with the default configuration set for that printer. It is often the case in a multiple work station network that the user of one work station will require a printer default configuration different than the printer default configuration required by the user of another work station.
If more than one printer is connected in the network, each printer may have a default configuration different from the default configuration set for the other printers in the network. Any one printer may be selectively accessed by a work station user by selecting that printer's network port. In this regard, by connecting a plurality of printers in the network through a corresponding plurality of network ports, a work station user may select the printer (and, thus, the default configuration set for that printer) to accommodate that user's printing needs.
However, the cost of including multiple printers in a network can be relatively high, especially where a large number of printers (and default configurations) are required. Moreover, the physical capabilities of the work stations or the network communications link may limit the number of printer network ports (and, thus, the number of printers having different default configurations) operable in the network. Thus, there is a need in the industry for an economical system which allows work stations in a network to operate with multiple printer default configurations, e.g., by allowing the work station users to select any one of the multiple printer default configurations.


An automatic protection arrangement for a communication system (100) provides a working line terminal equipment (300 and a link (1A) for transmitting bearer traffic from a number of bearer payload processors (50-N) to a switching center (10). The arrangement also has a protection line terminal equipment (35) and link (2A) coupled to the switching center (10). For detected faults, an instantaneous switch over occurs of the bearer traffic of the bearer payload processors (50-N) from the working line terminal equipment (30) to the protection line terminal equipment (35).

The present invention pertains to communication system failures and more particularly to automatic protection switching in such communication systems.
Communication system traffic is routed to a central point to perform the data transfer and switching functions. This central point is a mobile switching center. The mobile switching center is typically coupled to a digital cross connect switch on E1 or T1 links. The digital cross connect switch aggregates multiple T1/E1 interfaces to the optical SONET/SDH interfaces terminating at the network element. These features may be embedded into a single product which is sold by mobile switching system manufacturers.
Typically line equipment is coupled to the digital cross connect switch via OC3 links. These OC3 links may run considerable distances, for example.
All too frequently, these lines or fiber connections are severed by backhoes or other digging equipment and are covered by automatic protection switching standards. Automatic protection switching standards have been implemented into communication systems in order to alleviate the problems with failures due to lines being severed. Today's competitive markets demand that communication systems provide near continuous functionality. Therefore it is imperative that 99.999 percent of the time that the communication system smoothly handle data transmission.
Automatic protection switching typically uses two OC3 fibers to couple a particular piece of line equipment to a digital cross connect switch or to the mobile switching center in either a 1+1 or 1:N redundancy mode. In that manner if one of the links or cables is severed, the other one may survive and be able to provide full services for data transmission seamlessly. However, a digging accident may sever both OC3 links providing the working and protection services for a particular piece of line equipment. In addition, the line termination equipment itself may fail.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to have an arrangement to provide a seamless protection arrangement for faults due to OC3 cabling as well as protection for line termination equipment failure.

Extended automatic protection switching arrangement


A tool wrench for removing and replacing a needle cap from a combined needle cap and needle assembly. The tool or wrench has a generally longitudinal wrench structure defining a generally cylindrical opening having a cylindrical wall with at least one arcuate channel traversing the cylindrical wall. A method for removing a needle cap from a needle assembly that is releasably engaged to a syringe.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a tool and method for safely releasing, removing, and replacing a needle cap, or a combined needle cap and needle assembly from a hypodermic syringe or similar injection device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A patentability investigation was conducted and the following U.S. Patents by Nos. were discovered: U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,562 to Vernon; U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,386 to Simmons; U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,514 to D'Addezio; U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,248 to Sacco; U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,696 to Nedbaluk; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,314 to Aragon et al.


A mechanism is provided to address a structure under test and to identify a point of failure. A test open line carries a signal that indicates whether a structure under test is open or closed. A test short line carries a signal that indicates whether a structure under test is shorted. A test structure may include an array of cells, where each cell includes a circuit including structures to test. The cells may be scanned using scan only latches and signals on the test open and/or test short lines may be recorded. A test circuit may include a digital mode and an analog mode. The digital mode provides an open or closed value. The analog mode includes a programmable load. The output of the analog mode provides a resistance value that is relative to the programmable load.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor manufacturing and, in particular, to testing of semiconductor devices. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a defect monitor for semiconductor manufacturing capable of performing analog resistance measurements.
2. Description of Related Art
Bringing up a new semiconductor can be challenging and requires a variety of yield monitors to determine the health of the process and to find systematic problems. Several known structures, such as long wires, minimum spaced wires, and via chains are used to determine back end of line health. Back end of line (BEOL) includes wires and vias. Front end of line (FEOL) includes transistors and other devices. Wires may appear in metal layers or in the semiconductor itself. Vias are used to connect metal layers to other metal layers or to portions of the semiconductor device.
When a long wire is fabricated, a defect may occur where the wire is open at a point in the circuit. Similarly, a via chain may be defective if the via chain is left open. On the other hand, minimum spaced wires may exist in a semiconductor device. If these wires are shorted, then the structures are defective.
To find random defects, one must isolate defects to a small area so failure analysis can study the defect. The surrounding support logic for the BEOL structures must be capable of isolating the failure. However, isolating defects in the BEOL structures has proven to be difficult and unreliable.

Defect monitor for semiconductor manufacturing capable of performing analog resistance measurements

International Business Machines Corporation


An actuator maintains high efficiency, can react to an increase in pole, has a high part fit, and can be manufactured at low cost while it is thinned. The actuator includes a magnet which is formed in a ring shape, in which at least one surface perpendicular to a central axis thereof is divided in a peripheral direction and alternately plane-magnetized in different poles; a stator including a plurality of magnetic pole teeth opposed to the magnetized surface of the magnet; a rotor, which is held to be rotatable about a rotational axis as a center, includes a disk portion whose surface perpendicular to the rotational axis is bonded to the magnet, and is made of a soft magnetic material; and a coil, which is located on substantially the same surface as that of the magnet, is fixed to the stator, and excites the stator and the disk portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator which is suitably mounted as a drive source for a small electronic device such as a camera, a light quantity adjusting apparatus using the actuator, and a stepping motor to which principle of the actuator is applied.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 18 shows a conventional shutter apparatus for a lens shutter camera.
In FIG. 18, reference 101 denotes a permanent magnet, 102 denotes a driving lever, and 102a denotes a driving pin provided in the driving lever 102. The driving lever 102 is fixed to the permanent magnet 101 and integrally rotates with the permanent magnet 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a coil and 104 and 105 denote stators which are made of a soft magnetic material and excited through the coil 103. The stator 104 and the stator 105 are connected with each other through portions 104a and 105a, so that the stator 104 and the stator 105 are integrally formed in view of a magnetic circuit. When a current is supplied to the coil 103, the stator 104 and the stator 105 are excited, with the result that the permanent magnet 101 rotates within a predetermined angle range. Reference numerals 106 and 107 denote shutter blades and 108 denotes a base plate having an opening portion 108a. Hole portions 106a and 107a of the shutter blades 106 and 107 are rotatably fit to pins 108b and 108c of the base plate 108. The driving pin 102a is slidably inserted into long holes 106b and 107b of the shutter blades 106 and 107. When the driving lever 102 rotates with the permanent magnet 101, the shutter blades 106 and 107 pivot about the hole portions 106a and 107a, so that an aperture which is not shown is opened or closed.
As another mode, there is also a shutter apparatus having a structure in which a permanent magnet is made of plastic and integrally formed with a driving pin in order to prevent an increase in cost.
Reference numeral 109 denotes a front base plate for holding the shutter blades 106 and 107 so that the blades are movable between the front base plate 109 and the base plate 108. Reference numeral 110 denotes a rear base plate for holding the stators 104 and 105 and holding the permanent magnet 101 so that the magnet is rotatable.
The use of a digital camera has been widely spread. The digital camera performs photoelectric conversion on an image of a field to be imaged using a CCD or the like as an image pickup device and causes a recording medium to record a converted image as still image information. The operation of the digital camera of this type with respect to exposure will be briefly described below.
First, a main power source is turned on before photographing. When the image pickup device becomes an operating state, the shutter blades are held at an open position in which the image pickup device can be exposed. Therefore, the accumulation of charge and the transfer (emission) thereof are repeated in the image pickup device, with the result that the field to be imaged can be observed through an image monitor.
After that, when a release bottom is pressed, a diaphragm value and an exposure time are determined according to an output from the image pickup device at this time. Then, whether or not it is necessary to narrow the diameter of an exposure aperture is determined based on determined results. When it is necessary to narrow the diameter of the exposure aperture, the shutter blades are driven to set a predetermined diaphragm value. Next, an instruction for starting the accumulation of charge (accumulation start signal) is provided to the image pickup device from which the accumulated charge has emitted. Simultaneously, an exposure time control circuit is activated in response to the accumulation start signal serving as a trigger signal. After a lapse of a predetermined exposure time, the shutter blades are driven to a closed position in which exposure to the image pickup device is blocked. After the exposure to the image pickup device is blocked, the accumulated charge is transferred and image information is recorded on a recording medium through an image writing device. The blocking of exposure to the image pickup device during the transfer of charge is intended for preventing a charge quantity from changing by unnecessary light during the transfer of charge.
In addition to the above-mentioned shutter apparatus, there are a shutter apparatus having a mechanism for inserting and removing an ND filter into and from an optical path and a shutter apparatus having a mechanism for inserting and removing a diaphragm regulation member having a small diaphragm diameter into and from an optical path.
In the conventional shutter apparatus, a coil and stators take up a great deal of base plate space. Therefore, it is hard to locate another actuator, a guide rod for a lens, and the like. In view of this point, the following light quantity adjusting apparatus is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-049076 of the application filed by the present applicant.
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing a light quantity adjusting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-049076. FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing the light quantity adjusting apparatus shown in FIG. 19 in an axial direction. The light quantity adjusting apparatus includes an actuator serving as a driving device. The actuator has a magnet 201, a coil 202, a stator 203, an auxiliary stator 204, and a blade driving pin 201h. The magnet 201 is rotatable around the center of rotation as an axis and at least the outer peripheral surface thereof is divided in a peripheral direction so as to be alternately magnetized in different poles. The coil 202 is located in the axial direction of the magnet 201. In the stator 203, an outside magnetic pole portion 203a and an inside magnetic pole portion 203b which are excited by the coil 202 are opposed to the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the magnet 201. The auxiliary stator 204 is fixed to the inside magnetic pole portion 203b of the stator 203 and excited by the coil 202. The blade driving pin 201h is integrally formed with the magnet 201. The light quantity adjusting apparatus further includes a base plate 205 with an opening portion 205a and light quantity control blades 207 and 208. The light quantity control blades 207 and 208 are driven by the blade driving pin 201h of the actuator so as to adjust an opening quantity of the opening portion 205a of the base plate 205. Reference numeral 206 denotes a retaining plate.
When the light quantity adjusting apparatus having the above-mentioned structure is used, the coil and the magnet are located in the axial direction. Therefore, there is a large effect that the light quantity adjusting apparatus becomes a compact apparatus in which the coil and the magnet do not take up a great deal of base plate space.
When an additional reduction in size of a digital camera or the like using the above-mentioned actuator is demanded, it is necessary to achieve slimming of the digital camera in addition to a reduction in size of the actuator itself. However, in the above-mentioned actuator, the coil and the magnet are located in the axial direction. Therefore, extreme slimming is difficult because efficiency of the actuator is likely to reduce owing to a reduction in magnetization efficiency of the magnet in the peripheral direction.
On the other hand, the fundamentals of an actuator having a rotating shaft are also applied to a stepping motor.
FIG. 21 is a partially sectional view showing a two-phase stepping motor disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. H06-083561 as an example of a conventional technique. The stepping motor includes a set of permanent magnets 301 and 302 overlapped with each other through a disk magnetic material 303 fixed to a rotating shaft 311. The permanent magnets 301 and 302 are formed such that a plurality of magnetic poles formed by magnetization in the axial direction alternately become different magnetic poles in the peripheral direction. An inner tooth 305 radially protruding outward and an outer tooth 306 radially protruding inward are formed in each of the stators 307 and 308 which are opposed to the permanent magnets 301 and 302, respectively. The stators 307 and 308 are provided with excitation coils 309 and 310 for exciting the stators 307 and 308, respectively and positioned on both sides of the permanent magnets 301 and 302 such that the stators 307 and 308 are shifted from each other by an electrical angle of (½)π.
Here, a magnetic flux passes through a housing 317 surrounding the excitation coil 309, the outer tooth 306, the permanent magnet 301, the magnetic material 303, the permanent magnet 302, and the inner tooth 305 in order and then returns to the housing 317. The permanent magnet 301 is a magnet. When the inner tooth 305 and the outer tooth 306 which serve as an inlet and outlet of the magnetic flux are intended to oppose to the plane-magnetized magnets, the inner tooth 305 and the outer tooth 306 are actually on substantially the same plane. The magnetic material 303 serves as merely a back metal and is not excited by the excitation coils 309 and 310. Constituent elements required for the motor are (a) the housing 317 (also serving as a yoke), (b) the excitation coil 309, (c) the inner tooth 305 and the outer tooth 306 (magnet pole teeth), (d) the magnet (permanent magnet 301), (e) the magnetic material 303, (f) the magnet (permanent magnet 302), (g) the inner tooth 305 and the outer tooth 306 (magnet pole teeth), (h) the excitation coil 310, and (i) the housing 318 (also serving as a yoke), which are shown in order along the axial direction.
As described above, according to the stepping motor described in Japanese Patent Publication No. H06-083561, a large number of elements are located so as to overlap with the magnets having the surfaces perpendicular to the shaft in the axial direction. Therefore, a length of the stepping motor in the axial direction lengthens, so that it is hard to thin the stepping motor. In addition, the inner tooth and the outer tooth are provided in each of the stators and located such that the inner tooth and the outer tooth are shifted from each other by an electrical angle π in the case where a distance between the same magnetic poles in the peripheral direction of the magnets is given as one electrical angle. Therefore, when the number of magnetic poles of the stepping motor is intended to increase, a width of each of magnetic pole teeth and a gap between adjacent magnetic pole teeth become narrower, so that the difficulty in part processing increases and a physical strength reduces. Thus, the development of a stepping motor which can be thinned and is capable of dealing with an increase in pole has been desired.
FIGS. 22 and 23 show a two-phase stepping motor disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. H06-083564 as another example of the conventional technique. FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the two-phase stepping motor and FIG. 23 is a sectional view after assembly. The stepping motor includes a rotating shaft 403, a first permanent magnet 401, and a second permanent magnet 402. The first permanent magnet 401 and the second permanent magnet 402 are fixed to the rotating shaft 403 and magnetized in a thickness direction. In each of the first permanent magnet 401 and the second permanent magnet 402, different magnetic poles are alternately formed in a peripheral direction. A first stator 406 includes: a set of magnetic pole teeth 404 and 405 which are opposed to both sides of the magnetic poles of the first permanent magnet 401; and an excitation coil 410. A second stator 409 includes: a set of magnetic pole teeth 407 and 408 which are opposed to both surfaces of the magnetic poles of the second permanent magnet 402; and an excitation coil 411. The magnetic pole teeth 404 and 405 of the first stator 406 and the magnetic pole teeth 407 and 408 of the second stator 409 are positioned such that the first stator 406 and the second stator 409 are shifted from each other in the peripheral direction by an electrical angle of (½)π. When they are assumed to be constituent elements of a magnetic circuit, the magnetic circuit becomes a six-layer structure which includes the magnetic pole tooth 404 of the first stator 406, the first permanent magnet 401, the magnetic pole tooth 405, the magnetic pole tooth 408, the second permanent magnet 402, and the magnetic pole tooth 407 of the second stator 409. The number of air gaps between each of the stators and each of the magnets is two per phase, that is, four in total. Note that the stator is a stator.
As described above, the stepping motor described in Japanese Patent Publication No. H06-083564 is composed of a large number of parts provided in a multi-layer form. Therefore, a length of the stepping motor in the axial direction lengthens, so that it is hard to thin the stepping motor and a cost of parts increases. A large number of parts are provided in the multi-layer form and overlapped with one another in the axial direction. In addition, the number of air gaps between the stators and magnets, by which a magnetic characteristic is significantly influenced, is four, so that the parts cannot be easily assembled with high precision. It is necessary to pass the central rotating shaft through a large number of parts in order during assembly, so that an assembly time lengthens and it is likely to increase an assembly cost. The number of parts is large, so that it is likely to reduce assembly precision due to the accumulation of part processing precision. Thus, it is hard to construct a high performance stepping motor.
A stepping motor having a short shaft is disclosed as another conventional technique (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H02-058035). FIG. 24 shows a structural example of the stepping motor provided as a driving source for an exposure quantity adjusting apparatus, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H02-058035. A surface of a magnet 505 which is perpendicular to an axial direction is divided in a peripheral direction and magnetized. Two coils 506 and 507 are located on both sides of the magnet 505. The magnet 505 and the coils 506 and 507 are sandwiched by two stators 508 and 509 in a shift direction. Therefore, it is possible to suitably incorporate such a thin stepping motor into the exposure quantity adjusting apparatus for a camera.
However, there are the following problems in the structural example. First, the pole teeth per phase of the stators 508 and 509 which are opposed to the magnet 505 correspond to about half of the entire circumference, so that it is possible to use only a magnetic flux equal to or smaller than half of an effective magnetic flux of the magnet. Therefore, it cannot be said that the above-mentioned structure is effective. Second, the coils are close to the stators in only upper and lower ends, so that the amount of leakage magnetic flux from the coils to the circumference is large. Therefore, it cannot be said that the above-mentioned structure is effective. Third, the pole teeth of the stators which are opposed to the magnet correspond to about half of the entire circumference as described above, so that a range in which a driving force is caused in each excited phase also corresponds to about half of the entire circumference. Therefore, when the driving force is converted into torque, an unnecessary force in a transverse direction is likely to cause, with the result that there are concerns with respect to vibration, noise, non-uniform rotation, and a reduction in positional precision in the stepping motor.
As described above, the conventional actuators and stepping motors have the following problems. The number of parts is large, thereby increasing a cost. It is hard to achieve slimming. High efficiency is hardly obtained. It is hard to deal with an increase in number of poles. Parts cannot be easily fit.

Actuator, light quantity adjusting apparatus, and stepping motor


A vibration damper of a high polymer resin sheet which contains epizoelectric ceramic powder and a cloth layer placed therein including carbon fibers, which provides excellent as well as consistent and reliable damping effects in a relatively wide temperature range and also a method for producing the vibration damper.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a damper which can damp vibration generated mainly by a vibratory body and more particularly relates to a damper comprising a high polymer sheet which contains piezoelectric ceramic powder and a cloth layer placed therein which essentially comprises carbon fibers, and this invention further relates to a method for producing such a damping composition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional damper which transforms the vibratory energy generated by a vibratory body into electrical energy, which is then to be transformed into thermal energy to be dissipated, said vibratory energy is transformed into electrical energy by means of a piezoelectric body functioning as a medium to which an external resistor or external resistors are at times connected as a medium for transforming said electrical energy into thermal energy.
The connection work of such external resistors to a piezoelectric body, however, often becomes a cause of trouble, and further such external resistors usually extrude from a piezoelectric body obstructing attachment of a damper to a vibratory body, resulting in limitation to the use of such a damper.
Recently a piezoelectric body with carbon powder or the like mixed therein instead of using an external resistor was proposed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-46498).
Said piezoelectric body containing carbon powder or the like does solve said trouble caused by installation of external resistors, however, it possesses the following shortcomings:
a) it is technically hard to evenly mix carbon powder or the like in a piezoelectric body, resulting in dispersion of resistivity per manufactured damping body, therefore leading to inconsistency of damping effects; and PA1 b) it takes relatively a long time (30 min. to 60 min.) to mix carbon powder or the like well in a piezoelectric body, resulting in lowering productivity.


Method and arrangement for generating an output clock signal with an adjustable phase relation from a plurality of input clock signals.

Phase interpolators are used to generate clock signals with an adjustable phase, which are used for example in communications devices within the context of clock and data recovery (CDR). Such phase interpolators are known for example from US 2003/0002607 A1 or from EP 0 909 035 A2.
The mode of operation of such phase interpolators will be explained hereinafter with the aid of FIGS. 5-8.
FIG. 5 shows in this connection a block diagram of a phase interpolator 21. Two input clock signals s and c are in this connection fed to the phase interpolator 21. The input clock signals have the same frequency and amplitude as well as a phase difference of 90° (π/2). In addition a control signal cnt is fed to the phase interpolator 21. Depending on the control signal cnt the phase interpolator 21 generates from the input clock signals s and c an output clock signal o whose phase lies between the phases of the input clock signals s and c. Phase interpolators are also known in which the phase difference between the input clock signals s and c differs from 90°, or in which more than 2, in particular 4, input clock signals are used in order to be able to generate an output clock signal o that has an arbitrary phase between 0° and 360°. The action of the phase interpolator 21 is illustrated in time representation in FIG. 6. The input clock signals c and s have a phase difference 22 of for example 90°, and the output clock signal o has, with respect to the input clock signal c, a phase difference 23 that is adjusted depending on the control signal cnt.
This state of affairs is illustrated again in phase representation in FIG. 7. The arrows represent in this connection so-called phasors, and the direction of the arrow corresponds to the phase of the corresponding signal. The arrows are denoted by P(s), P(o) and P(c) for the phasors of the corresponding signal s, o and c. P(o) is in this connection a function f of the control signal cnt.
A circuit configuration of such a phase interpolator is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8. This phase interpolator 21 is designed as a difference interpolator, in other words the input clock signals are difference signals with the components s, s and c, c, while the output clock signal is a difference signal with components o, o.
The input clock signals are in each case fed to a difference amplifier, wherein the difference amplifier for the input clock signal s, s includes transistors T5 and T6 and a power source 10, while the difference amplifier for the input clock signal c, c includes transistors T7 and T8 as well as a power source 11. The difference amplifiers comprise common output load resistors L1, L2, which results in a summation of the outputs of the difference amplifiers.
In FIG. 8 in addition reference numeral 17 denotes an earth potential and 18 denotes a further defined potential, for example a positive supply voltage.
The control signal cnt controls the power sources 10 and 11 in order to vary the currents Is and Ic generated by them. This may be achieved in such a way that the sum of the currents Is and Ic remains constant. By varying the currents Is and Ic a weighting of the input clock signals s, s and c, c is carried out, whereby the phase of the output clock signal o, o is altered.
Such known phase interpolators are based on the following equation:
                                          A            ·                          sin                                            (                                  2                                    π                                                                                ft                                )                                              +                                    (                              1                -                A                            )                                                  cos                                            (                                  2                                    π                                                                                ft                                )                                                    =                                                            2                                                  A                  2                                            -                              2                                A                            +              1                                                      cos                                      (                                                2                                    π                                                                                ft                                +                                  arctan                                                        (                                          A                                              1                        -                        A                                                              )                                                              )                                                          (        1        )
The formula (1) states that with two sinusoidal input clock signals with 90° phase difference (sin(2πft) and cos(2πft)) of frequency f, which are weighted with weighting factors A and 1-A and added, an output clock signal is generated that has a phase difference of arctan (A/1-A) compared to the cosine input clock signal, arctan being in this connection the arc tangent. Similar formulae may be derived for sinusoidal input clock signals that have a phase difference that is not equal to 90°. The value of the weighting factor A is adjusted in FIG. 8 by the control signal cnt, in which connection the control signal cnt may be a digital or analogue signal.
Equation (1) applies however only to sinusoidal signals. If the input clock signals are not sinusoidal, the dependence of the adjusted phase on the control signal cnt and on the weighting factor A is virtually impossible to calculate. In addition, in this case the output clock signal o will have a distorted waveform. This applies all the more so the greater the energy of the input clock signals in higher harmonics (for example when considering the Fourier resolution).
Conventional phase detectors must therefore satisfy two conditions: on the one hand the difference pair of transistors T5, T6 and T7, T8 must be operated in a range that is as linear as possible, which influences the necessary biaser voltage and the required input amplitude of the input clock signals s, c. On the other hand the input clock signals must not have any substantial energy in higher order harmonics, in other words they must be sinusoidal or approximately sinusoidal.
A further requirement for highly versatile phase interpolators is that they can process input clock signals with different timing (clock pulse) frequencies.
A conventional phase interpolator with which these requirements can be met is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 9. In this connection the input clock signals s and c are first of all fed to a signal shaping device 24, which comprises a first filter 25 for the input clock signal c and a second filter 26 for the input clock signal s. These filters are designed so as to damp higher harmonic components in the input clock signals s and c, and to match the amplitudes of the input clock signals s and c in such a way that for example the difference pair of transistors of FIG. 8 can be operated in an at least approximately linear range. The filtered input clock signals s and c generated in this way are fed to the actual phase interpolator 27, which is shown here only diagrammatically. It may for example be realised substantially like the phase interpolator 21 of FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, the filtered input clock signals s and c are multiplied in multipliers 28 and 29 with weighting factors A and 1-A, and are added in an adder 30, the value A being adjusted by the control signal cnt. The intermediate clock signal o formed in this way is then preferably fed to a third filter 31, in which remaining distortions, for example of the waveform, are damped in order to generate the output clock signal o.
The filters 25, 26 and 31 are in this connection relatively complicated in design and implementation and are therefore expensive. In addition the filters must be programmable if input clock signals with different frequencies are to be processed. Also, the first filter 25 and the second filter 26 must be tuned to one another in order to generate filtered input clock signals s and c that correspond as well as possible to the requirements of formula (1).

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are provided for generating an output clock signal (o), in which a plurality of input clock signals (s, c) that have a predetermined phase relationship to one another, are weighted with respective weighting factors (A, 1-A), and in which the weighted input clock signals (s′, c′) are added in order to generate a summated clock signal (i). The summated clock signal (i) is integrated in an integrator (8) and optionally amplified in order to generate the output clock signal (o). An output clock signal (o) with an adjustable phase relation can be generated with such a method and such an arrangement, in which the requirements placed on the input clock signals are less stringent.