There is provided a musical tone reproducing apparatus, which stores tone color parameters in a general-purpose storage means, to thereby shorten the time taken for a tone color changing process. A CPU 10 registers a tone color parameter group that has been read out from a RAM 11 in a tone generator memory 30, which is a general-purpose memory, in advance. The tone color parameters required when a tone generation core 33 carries out musical tone reproduction are stored in a cache memory 32 for all channels. Upon the CPU 10 giving a tone color changing command to a controller 31, a specified tone color parameter is read out from the tone generator memory 30. The tone color parameter for a specified channel in the cache memory 32 is then rewritten with the read out tone color parameter. The tone generation core 33 reads out from the cache memory 32 the rewritten tone color parameter set for each channel, and hence musical tone reproduction with a changed tone color is carried out. Because a tone color parameter group of a freely chosen number of tone color parameters has been registered in the tone generator memory 30, the need to transfer a tone color parameter from the CPU 10 to the tone generator memory 30 each time a tone color is to be changed can be removed as much as possible. Moreover, the output bit width of the cache memory 32 is made to be large, and hence the tone color parameter the tone color parameter can be set into the tone generator means instantaneously. Consequently, even though the tone color parameters are stored in advance in the general-purpose storage means, the time taken for the tone color changing process can be shortened, and hence the occurrence of a break in sound generation during tone color changing can be prevented.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a musical tone reproducing apparatus capable of changing tone color, and a portable terminal apparatus having the musical tone reproducing apparatus.
2. Background Art
Conventional musical tone reproducing apparatuses include ones that generate musical tones using hardware. Such a musical tone reproducing apparatus is constructed such that the tone color of reproduced musical tones can be changed.
An example of the construction of such a musical tone reproducing apparatus is shown in FIG. 10, and a description will now be given of the changing of the tone color. In FIG. 10, a CPU (central processing unit) 110 reads sequence data such as MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) data or SMAF (synthetic music mobile application format) data out from a RAM (random access memory) 111, and supplies the sequence data to a tone generator hardware section 115. The tone generator hardware section 115 reproduces the sequence data supplied from the RAM 111, and accordingly outputs musical tone signals to a speaker 134. The tone generator hardware section 115 is comprised of a tone color parameter storage region 130, and a data processing section 133 that carries out a musical tone reproducing process. The tone color parameter storage region 130 is comprised of registers or regions reserved in the RAM 111.
In the musical tone reproducing apparatus constructed as above, when changing the tone color of a musical tone to be reproduced, the CPU 110 gives a tone color changing command to the tone color parameter storage region 130, and also reads a tone color parameter for the tone color to be changed to out from the RAM 111, and writes the tone color parameter into the tone color parameter storage region 130. Once musical tone reproduction timing been has reached, the data processing section 133 reads the tone color parameter for the tone color to be changed to out from the tone color parameter storage region 130, and carries out musical tone reproduction with a tone color changed using the tone color parameter. Note that much sequence data and a plurality of tone color parameters (a tone color parameter group) can be stored in the RAM 111.
In such a conventional musical tone reproducing apparatus, when changing the tone color, the CPU 110 reads the tone color parameter for the tone color to be changed to out from the RAM 111 and transfers the tone color parameter to the tone generator hardware section 115 as described above. In this case, because the data bus width of the tone generator hardware section 115 is approximately 8 bits, the bit width of the RAM or registers constituting the tone color parameter storage region 130, i.e. the bit width of the stored data, is also limited to being approximately 8 bits. However, one or more tone color parameters for one channel required when the data processing section 133 carries out the tone reproducing process for one channel are comprised of many bits, specifically several tens of bits. Consequently, with a RAM or registers having a bit width of 8 bits, it has been necessary for the one or more tone color parameters for one channel required when the data processing section 133 carries out the tone reproducing process for one channel to be read out divided into a plurality of times each of 8 bits. As a result, a problem has arisen that a long time is required to read out the tone color parameter for a tone color to be changed to from the tone color parameter storage region 130 and set the tone color parameter in the data processing section 133, and hence the processing time becomes long.
If the processing time becomes long as described above, then a break may occur in sound generation. To resolve this, one can envisage increasing the operating speed of the RAM or registers constituting the tone color parameter storage region 130. However, there has been a problem that if the operating speed of the RAM or registers is increased, then the electric power consumption thereof increases, and hence a battery that is used to operate a portable terminal apparatus in which the musical tone reproducing apparatus is installed is used up quickly. Moreover, every time a tone color is to be changed, the CPU 110 must transfer the tone color parameter for the tone color to be changed to from the RAM 111 to the tone generator hardware section 115, and hence there has been a problem that the amount of data transfer between the tone generator hardware section 115 and the CPU 110 increases.
Furthermore, if the tone color parameter storage region 130 is comprised of registers exclusively for this purpose, then reading out from a freely chosen number of registers can be carried out simultaneously, but the tone color parameter storage region 130 becomes a region exclusively for tone color parameters, and hence a problem arises that if the tone color parameter storage region 130 is also used for general-purpose data having a width of 8 bits other than tone color parameters, then the efficiency of usage of the tone color parameter storage region 130 as a memory becomes poor.
Moreover, if the tone color parameter storage region 130 is comprised of a RAM having a large bit width, then a tone color parameter having a large bit width can be read out at a time, but the tone color parameter storage region 130 becomes a region exclusively for tone color parameters, and hence a problem again arises that if the tone color parameter storage region 130 is also used for general-purpose data having a width of 8 bits other than tone color parameters, then the efficiency of usage of the tone color parameter storage region 130 as a memory becomes poor.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a musical tone reproducing apparatus which stores tone color parameters in a general-purpose storage means, to thereby shorten the time taken for a tone color changing process, and a portable terminal apparatus having the musical tone reproducing apparatus.

Musical tone reproducing apparatus and portable terminal apparatus


This invention is directed to a laser-subdivided aluminum nitride substrate wherein a resolidified layer formed at the laser score lines is constituted by one or more types of material selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides and oxynitrides of aluminum and of additives of said aluminum nitride substrate, and to a method of producing an aluminum nitride substrate wherein, subsequent to laser scoring the substrate, a heat treatment step at about 1000.degree. C. to 1800.degree. C. is carried out prior to the step of metallizing. This simple method provides an aluminum nitride substrate having a prescribed withstand-voltage characteristic.

This invention relates to an aluminum nitride substrate and to a method for producing it.
The field of applicability of ceramics has increased in recent years, and electronic components have come to occupy an important position within it. Semiconductor substrates have become an important application. In fact, notwithstanding its recent development to the stage of practical implementation, the technology of applying aluminum nitride ceramics as semiconductor element substrates is still the subject of vigorous research concerning detailed aspects thereof.
One of them is a method of producing many products at the same time. A mass-production method for aluminum nitride ceramics has been considered. There are many uses for the substrate. For purposes of illustration, however, a semiconductor substrate which has a size of 10 mm.times.10 mm.times.0.7 mm will be discussed.
A method of producing semiconductor substrates includes several steps of preparing a ceramic substrate, metallizing onto the substrate, electroless-plating onto the metallized portion, mounting a silicon semiconductor chip thereon, electrically connecting the chip with the electroless-plated portion through bonding wires, covering the substrate with resin, and installation into a product of transistor modules. It has been noticed that it is not advantageous to treat substrates one by one according to these steps. This is because the substrates are too small to be treated in these steps. Separate processing results in a ratio of good products to total products that becomes worse as the substrates become smaller.
A method has been developed for using a large ceramic substrate. That is, the method includes several steps of preparing a large ceramic substrate, metallizing many patterns onto the substrate, electroless-plating onto the metallized portions, sub-dividing the substrate into prescribed dimensions, mounting silicon semiconductor chips thereon, respectively, electrically connecting each chip with the electroless-plated portion through bonding wires, covering the substrate with resin, and installation into products of transistor modules. In this case, a high density energy means was used only by the applicant of the present invention for sub-dividing the substrate into prescribed dimensions. For example, there are laser method and electron beam means etc. as a high density energy means. In this case, laser method is better as a high density energy means because its equipment is simpler and cheaper than that of electron beam means. This method of using a laser has two steps, namely, making some holes, consecutive holes or grooves (hereinafter, these are called score lines) on the substrate by directing the laser at prescribed portions on the substrate, and severing the substrate along these score lines after the step of electroless-plating.
When score lines are formed in this way on an aluminum nitride substrate surface by high density energy working, the phenomenon of segregation of metallic aluminum in the vicinity of this worked surface has been found to occur. It is therefore found that, in the nickel plating stage, in which the substrate is covered with a metallizing layer constituting the electrically conductive layer necessary for an electronic component, the plating layer also covers the metallic layer that is present in the worked surface. This impairs the withstand-voltage characteristic that is required for a substrate to be used for electronic components.
Several methods have been developed for removing this metallic aluminum by the applicant of the present invention. They employ mechanical means in a honing step, using so-called abrasive etc., or placing it in water and irradiating with a laser. However, in the case of the former method, it is difficult to verify whether or not removal is complete. And in the latter method, the drawback that complicated system is required cannot be avoided.

Aluminum nitride substrate and method for producing same


Highly anti-corrosive thin-platelet like metal pigments having high corrosion resistance and good dispersibility characterized in that the inherent metallic luster of the thin-platelet like metal substrates is maintained without demanding the original surface smoothness are provided. The highly anti-corrosive thin-platelet like metal pigments comprising, on the surface of thin-platelet like metal substrates treated with phosphoric acid compounds and/or boric acid compounds, one or more coated layers containing one or more hydrated metal oxides of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, zirconium, titanium and tin.

Commercially available pearl-luster pigments which use thin-platelet like mica substrates coated with highly refractive metal oxides (called "interference color layer" hereinafter) such as titanium oxide etc. to exhibit color through interference are well known. However, since the mica is semi-transparent, their reflectivity is low; therefore, expression of interference color by action of interference is not fully achieved. Thus there appear the interference colored pigments where metal which is opaque and has a high optical reflectance is used as thin-platelet like substrate and an interference color layer (such as titanium oxide, etc) is coated on its surface (forex, JP (A) Hei. 1-110568, JP (A) Hei. 2-669, etc). In these interference colored pigments, the interference color is layer indirectly coated by means of the so-called sol-gel method avoiding an aqueous water treatment, since thin-plate like metal substrate have a disadvantage that they can easily react with water and easily be oxidized.
Further, goniochromatic pigments (multi-chromatic interference colored pigments) has also been known, wherein on the surface of thin-platelet like metal substrate, the first coating layer is formed using hydrated silicon oxide (as an example of a substance having a low refractive index) by the so-called Sol-Gel method, then other metal oxide having a high refractive index is coated thereon by vapor phase reaction and repeated too give a lure charge (color travel effect) due to changes in viewing angle (ex. JP (A) Hei. 8-209024, JP (A) Hei. 8-302237, JP (A) Hei. 9-124971).
Moreover, in order to obtain a highly anti-corrosive layer (passivation layer), it has been known that there were a product which is treated with phosphoric acids, etc, (e.g. DE 19836810.0 etc.), a product which is treated with organic phosphoric acids (e.g. JP (A) Hei. 3-74472, JP (PCT) 2001-502375, etc.), a product which is treated only with silica (e.g. JP (A) Hei. 8-209025; U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,366 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,496; etc.), a product where a treatment with containing volatile phosphorus compounds and volatile nitrogen containing organosilicon compounds by the vapor phase method is carried out (JP (A) Hei. 7-292279), and so forth.
However, in these conventional methods there is the disadvantage that expensive raw materials have to be used or that the inherent smoothness of the surface of thin-platelet like metal substrate is not maintained but is deteriorated or the dispensability of particles is insufficient resulting in irregular reflection whereby the reflected light on the surface of thin-platelet metal can not be adequately utilized. Accordingly, even when the upper interference color layer is further coated thereon it is not possible to sufficiently achieve the expression of the interference color.
In particular, because the anti-corrosive property to acidic aqueous solution is insufficient, it is not possible to carry out the treatment in an aqueous system where the cost is low and the operation is easy in terms of facilities thereon. Namely, it is not possible to adopt a method in which hydrated metal oxides obtained by neutral hydrolysis using water-soluble metal salts and alkali or by a thermal hydrolysis of water-soluble metal salts in an aqueous system, are coated, filtered, dried and, if desired, calcined (this will be defined as a wet-process method" as a whole including the description in the claims). In addition, as mentioned above, smoothness and denseness of the surface to which the anti-corrosive layer is coated are not sufficient and, further the affinity between the hydrated metal oxide layers constituting such an anti-corrosive layer and the hydrated metal oxide layer constituting the interference color layers coated thereon is not sufficient, whereby it is impossible to achieve a homogenity and denseness of the hydrated metal oxide layer constituting the interference color layer; whereby, interference color having a high coloration can not be exhibited.
In other cases such as the adoption of vapor phase method (e.g. in JP (A) Hei. 8-209024, JP (A) Hei. 8-302237, JP (A) Hei. 9-124971, etc.), there are disadvantage that production facilities are expensive, volatilizing temperature of the method used in restricted (JP(A)7-292279), whereby in general more strict reaction control is required than an aqueous phase reaction, etc. Thus there has been a demand for utilizing the above-mentioned conventional method which is so-called wet-process method.


A garment has a pocket with an opening located at the waistband of the garment. A strap includes a stretchy membrane and at least one of the opposite ends of the strap extends into openings in the garment to form a horizontal pocket opening. The strap may be made of an elastic material. A fabric can conceal part of the strap and may surround or be attached to the strap. The pocket lining has front and rear walls attached together, with top horizontal portions of the front and rear wall attached behind an exposed portion of the strap. The walls of the pocket lining may be attached to two join seams of the garment. Stretching the strap outwards will open the pocket thus accessing belongings stored therein. When the pocket is closed, the elastic material of the strap provides stretch and recoil, securing any belongings safely inside the pocket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to garments having pockets, and more particularly to shorts having pockets for use during outdoor, sport, fitness, and exercise activities.
2. Description of Related Art
Virtually every lower body garment has a pocket. However, the typical pocket has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Pockets are found on all types of lower body garments, such as, but not limited to: sweat pants, track pants, athletic shorts, and skirts. The objects in typical pockets can unintentionally exit the pocket easily. Common objects found in most pockets include, but are not limited to, cell phones, mp3 players, credit cards, membership I.D. cards, cash and keys, all of which are costly to replace if lost or broken from falling out of a pocket. Furthermore, the boom in the market for smartphones has increased the demand for means to safely hold and secure these smartphones when performing activities that involve wearing athletic garments. The typical side seam/hand pocket does not address this problem. The prior art has suffered from not sufficiently advancing a secure pocket that is both easily accessible and functional.
Attempts have been made to provide a pocket on athletic garments that can securely hold valuable belongings while still being easily accessible and fashionable. An example of a pocket system for securing belongings is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. US D654,661 S, to Savage (hereafter referenced as '661). Unlike the present invention, the '661 system's location of the pocket is on the rear of the garment. This location is inconvenient, and requires the user of the garment to twist his/her body to access the pocket. In addition, the location of the pocket in '661 will limit exercises including, but not limited to, abdominal crunches, leg press, bench press, or any exercise that requires lying on a utility bench or on ones back.
Furthermore, the '661 system utilizes a zipper as a means of securing the belongings inside the pocket. This requires the wearer, who cannot see the pocket because of the location of the pocket on the rear of the garment, to blindly locate the zipper slider to open the pocket. Additionally, the teeth of the pocket could scratch objects in the pocket when taken out and or irritate the user's hands while accessing the pocket. In addition, the size of the pocket requires the wearer to take off the many smartphone cases, as they are too bulky to fit in the pocket. Another disadvantage of the '661 system is there is only one pocket located on the garment, and in a very inconvenient area.
Needs exist for improved garment pockets for securing valuables during exertion.


A method of friction stir welding and a non-consumable multi-section faced retractable shoulderless variable penetration friction stir welding tool. The tool includes a substantially cylindrical body portion, a head portion, and a tip section, each integral to the tool. The body portion has a longitudinal axis about which it is rotable, a diameter, a sidewall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. The head portion is located at the distal end of the body portion. The head portion includes a multi-section face, having a first face section and a second face section, that converges to the tip section. The tool is retractable, reduces overheating, improves weld quality by reducing internal voids and lack of fusion, and facilitates variable penetration welds.

Those in the wide ranging materials joining industries have recognized the benefits of friction stir welding (FSW) since its invention, only to be precluded from widespread application due to a number of factors. FSW is a relatively simple method of solid phase welding developed by The Welding Institute in the early 1990's. The conventional process utilizes a specially shaped nonconsumable cylindrical tool with a profiled pin, often threaded, extending from a shoulder of the tool, that is rotated and plunged into a joint formed by abutting edges of the workpieces that are to be joined until a surface of the shoulder contacts the surface of the workpieces. The rotating tool plasticizes a region of the workpieces around the pin and beneath the shoulder. The tool is then advanced along the joint. The rotation of the tool develops frictional heating of the workpieces, from both shoulder friction and pin friction, as well as adiabatic heating, and the tool forces plasticized workpiece material from the leading edge of the tool to the rear of the tool where it consolidates and cools to form a high quality weld.
The FSW tool is generally a cylindrical piece with a shoulder face that meets a pin that projects from the shoulder face at a right angle, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,460,317 and 6,029,879. In some instances, the pin actually moves in a perpendicular direction in an aperture formed in the face of the shoulder, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,469; 5,697,544; and 6,053,391. The face of the shoulder may be formed with an upward dome that is perpendicular to the pin, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,479; 5,697,544; and 6,053,391. The dome region and an unobstructed shoulder face to pin interface have been considered essential for the proper frictional heating of the workpiece material. Traditional thinking held that the dome region of the shoulder serves to constrain plasticized material for consolidation at the trailing edge of the FSW tool so as to prevent it from extruding out from under the sides of the tool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,592 states at column 1, lines 42-51, that "In order to achieve a proper consolidation of the weld metal the probe bottom part (shoulder) must maintain during the whole welding operation (forward movement) in an intimate contact with [the] surface of the joined members. If the probe shoulder during this forward movement even temporarily 'lifts' from the surface a small amount of plasticised welding material will be expelled behind the probe thus causing occurrence of voids in the weld since there is no available material to fill the vacant space after the expelled material." The present invention proves this long-held belief false.
Since FSW is a solid-state process, meaning there is no melting of the materials, many of the problems associated with other fusion welding methods are avoided, including solidification cracking, shrinkage, and weld pool positioning and control. Additionally, FSW minimizes distortion and residual stresses. Further, since filler materials are not used in FSW, issues associated with chemical segregation are avoided. Still further, FSW has enabled the welding of a wide range of alloys that were previously unweldable. Yet another advantage of FSW is that it does not have many of the hazards associated with other welding means such as welding fumes, radiation, high voltage, liquid metals, or arcing. Additionally, FSW generally has only three process variables to control (rotation speed, travel speed, and pressure), whereas fusion welding often has at least twice the number of process variables (purge gas, voltage, amperage, wire feed speed, travel speed, shield gas, and arc gap, just to name a few). Perhaps most importantly, the crushing, stirring, and forging of the plasticized material by the FSW tool often produces a weld that is more reliable than conventional welds and maintains material properties more closely to those of the workpiece properties, often resulting in twice the fatigue resistance found in fusion welds.
Despite all the advantages of FSW, it has only found very limited commercial application to date due to many difficulties associated therewith. One early problem associated with single-piece FSW tools 90, as seen in FIG. 1, was that they leave an exit hole 80 in the weld 40, as seen in FIG. 5, that must be filled after completion of the friction stir weld. Such single-piece FSW tools 90 are also plagued with premature breakage of the pin 92 during welding, resulting in the pin 92 being permanently lodged in the weld 40. Such breakage is often attributed to tool design that has relatively poor heat distribution and areas of high stress concentration, such as at the pin 92 to shoulder 91 interface, also known as the transition region 93, seen in FIG. 1. In an effort to eliminate exit holes 82 the retractable pin tool 95 was developed, as seen in FIG. 2. The retractable pin tool 95 essentially splits the conventional shouldered FSW tool 90 into two separate components, namely a shoulder portion 96 that is hollow and receives the pin 97 that may extend and retract from the shoulder 96. The independent movement of the pin 97 permits the pin 97 to be gradually withdrawn from the weld 40 while the shoulder 96 remains in contact with the workpieces 10, 20, thereby eliminating the exit hole 80.
While the retractable pin tool 95 may eliminate the exit hole 82, it has several drawbacks. The retractable pin tool 95 is prone to breakage due to the high stress concentrations at the shoulder 96 to pin 97 interface. The retractable pin tool 95 is also susceptible to binding between the pin 97 and the shoulder 96 as stirred weld metal can be forced into the gap between the pin 97 and the shoulder 96.
Another problem with both conventional shouldered FSW tools 90 and retractable pin tools 95 is the overheating caused by the shoulder 91, 96. During FSW with conventional shouldered FSW tools 90, 95 the weld 40 is repeatedly subjected to the pressure and rotation of the tool shoulder 91, 96. As a conventional FSW tool 90, 95 traverses a joint 35 the material is first exposed to the leading edge of the shoulder 91, 96 that is generally exerting a downward force on the workpieces 10, 20 of several hundred pounds, often several thousand pounds, and is rotating at RPM's ranging from under 100 rpm to over 1000 rpm, while traversing the joint 35 rather slowly, generally less than ten inches per minute (IPM), depending on the materials being joined and their thickness. Taking for example a simple illustrative case of a conventional tool 90, 95 traversing a joint 35 at 6 IPM and 800 RPM, it takes 10 seconds to traverse a one inch section of the joint 35 during which 80 revolutions of the tool 90, 95 are made, resulting in 160 exposures of weld 40 to the shoulder 91, 96 (an exposure at the leading edge and the trailing edge for each revolution). Such repeated exposure to the shoulder 91, 96 results in the overheating of the weld 40 and the associated drawbacks. Prior methods and apparatus have indicated that such top surface friction heating and weld material containment contributed by the shoulder were essential to FSW. In fact, the definition of friction stir welding in most welding references includes the mention of a tool having a pin and a shoulder, thus a tool lacking a shoulder, or a shoulderless tool, as in the present invention, is a completely new concept.
Further, conventional shouldered FSW tools 90 and retractable pin tools 95 are generally ineffective at joining workpieces 10, 20 of different thickness, as seen in FIG. 6. This is due in large part to the fact that such tools 90, 95 are designed for a specific pin 92, 97 length for a particular material thickness. Such designs necessitate a unique tool for each thickness of material to be joined. The retractable pin tool 95 may reduce the number of tools needed to make welds in materials having differing thicknesses, but it too is limited in that each retractable pin tool 95 has a limited useful range established by the diameter of the shoulder. For instance, if the material is too thick or thin then under-heating or over-heating will occur. Additionally, one can easily appreciate that the pin 97 of a retractable pin tool 95 designed for use in joining ⅛″ thick sheets will be ineffective and will fail if it is simply further extended from the shoulder 96 in trying to join ½″ thick plates.
Additionally, conventional shouldered FSW tools 90 and retractable pin tools 95 cannot be used in joining workpieces having more than slight curvature. Such tools 90, 95 provide inadequate contact, also referred to as lift-off, or result in gouging of workpieces, as seen in FIG. 18. Such lift-off and gouging results in welds having reduced aesthetic qualities that often require grinding of the surface and diminish the mechanical properties of the weld.
Yet another problem associated with conventional shouldered FSW tools 90 and retractable pin tools 95 is the flow characteristics imparted on the weld material due to the transition region 93, labeled in FIG. 1, between the shoulder 91 and the pin 92. The transition region 93 in shouldered tools 90, 95 often causes dead zones and eddies in the material flow resulting in subsurface voids and lack of fusion in the weld 40. Such problems greatly limit the robustness of the conventional tools and methods, particularly on joints that vary in geometry or heat distribution due to part shape or tooling.
A friction stir weld 40 created with conventional shouldered FSW tools 90, 95 has several distinct regions, as seen in FIG. 3, where the direction of travel of the tool 90 is into the paper. First, the metal away from the immediate vicinity of the weld 40 that is not affected by the weld is known as the base metal 50. Closer to the actual weld 40 is the heat affected zone (HAZ) 60 where the material has experienced a thermal cycle that has modified the microstructure and/or mechanical properties, yet has no plastic deformation. Next, closer to the tool 90, 95 is the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) 70 where the material has seen limited plastic deformation by the tool 90, 95, and the heat from the process has also exerted some influence on the material. With the exception of aluminum, most materials exhibit recrystallization throughout the TMAZ 70. Aluminum often exhibits recrystallization in only a portion of the TMAZ, often referred to as the nugget. Within the TMAZ 70 is the stir zone 75, seen in FIG. 4, having non-uniform grain structure from the violent deformation that materials in this region undergo while hot. The stir zone 75 has a shoulder region 76 and a pin region 77. The pin region 77 is that region that nas been directly exposed to the pin 92, whereas thc shoulder region 76 is the region just outside of the pin region 77 and below the shoulder 91, 96 of the tool 90, 95. The shoulder region 76 flares out further away from the pin 92, 97 near the surface of the workpiece nearest the shoulder 91, 96, due to the effects of the shoulder 91, 96. This flared-out portion of the shoulder region 76, or re-stir area, near the surface of the weld 40 is the area most commonly exposed to overheating and the associated annealing and overageing effects that reduce the weld properties.
Additionally, the design of conventional shouldered FSW tools 90, 95 is prone to excessive wear and poor heat and load distribution. These problems are largely attributable to the longstanding belief that FSW tools must have a relatively narrow pin and wide shoulder.
Accordingly, the art has needed a tool, and associated methods, that eliminate the need for a shoulder and thereby eliminate the multitude of problems associated with the shoulder. An ideal tool would be simple in design and construction; inexpensive; allow for retractability during welding thereby eliminating the exit hole; accommodate joining materials of differing thicknesses; facilitate variable penetration depth; improve weld quality by reducing internal voids and lack of fusion; and eliminate the re-stir area of the stir region. While some of the prior art devices attempted to improve the state of the art, none has achieved the unique and novel configurations and capabilities of the present invention. With these capabilities taken into consideration, the instant invention addresses many of the shortcomings of the prior art and offers significant benefits heretofore unavailable. Further, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of friction stir welding and multi-section faced shoulderless retractable variable penetration friction stir welding tool for same


A toy device for simulating a weapon which comprises a toy body having a configuration which supplies a directional orientation for aiming the toy body at a target and a parametric speaker. The parametric speaker generates at least one new sonic frequency from at least two ultrasonic frequencies of different value, and projects them directionally toward the targeted area. The speaker comprises i) an ultrasonic frequency generator; ii) a sonic frequency generator; iii) modulating means coupled to the ultrasonic frequency generator and the sonic frequency generator for producing the at least two ultrasonic frequencies of different value; and iv) at least one ultrasonic frequency emitter coupled to the modulating means and aligned for transmission with the directional orientation of the toy body for propagating the at least two ultrasonic frequencies and concurrently generating the new sonic frequency with directional sound transmission orientation toward the target. A firing mechanism is coupled to the toy body for activating the parametric speaker to generate the new sonic frequency. A light source may also be attached to the toy weapon for providing visual targeting where the parametric speaker and light source are in common target alignment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to toy weapons which provide sound as a complement to simulate reality. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device and method for enhancing toy weapons with realistic sound directionally projected from a parametric speaker.
2. State of the Art
Toy weapons have been popular with children for many years. Enhancements for such toys have included the addition of sound to create a sense of reality. For example, the use of caps as part of a rifle or pistol gave a child an opportunity to operate the toy with the realism of sound, timed with pulling the trigger. The emergence of space-type toy weapons has extended conventional explosive sounds to hums, buzzes, swishes, and an unending array of other strange noises suggesting space combat experience. Such sounds are now pre-recorded and played back from the toy weapon through a conventional speaker usually contained within the toy.
Although these enhanced devices provide enjoyment to the user, a significant drawback arises because of their limited projection range. Typically, the intent of the manufacturer is merely to localize sound for the user to react. It is not anticipated that the sound is to project to other playmates. For example, in a typical shoot-out, the other child may be 100 feet or more away and will not likely hear the bang or buzz associated with his friends toy gun. Accordingly, the supposed victim of the shoot-out will question the alleged "hit" because he has no appreciation for accuracy or timing.
Efforts to extend this element of mutual recognition between playmates has prompted the use of paint balls and other forms of projectile which confirm the "hit", supposedly without risk of injury. These contact devices do, in fact, create potential harm based on impact at the eyes. Therefore, cautious parents and friends usually discourage unsupervised use of such toys. Furthermore, impact on other objects such as walls, furniture and vehicles can cause damage. Accordingly, proliferation of a general toy weapon which operates with a clear framework of safety has not occurred.


In a computer system having a plurality of processors connected to a shared memory, a system and method of decoupling an address from write data in a store to the shared memory. A write request address is generated for a memory write, wherein the write request address points to a memory location in shared memory. A write request is issued to the shared memory, wherein the write request includes the write request address. The write request address is noted in the shared memory and addresses in subsequent load and store requests are compared in share memory to the write request address. The write data is transferred to the shared memory and matched, within the shared memory, to the write request address. The write data is then stored into the shared memory as a function of the write request address.

As processors run at faster speeds, memory latency on accesses to memory looms as a large problem. Commercially available microprocessors have addressed this problem by decoupling memory access from manipulation of the data used in that memory reference. For instance, it is common to decouple memory references from execution based on those references and to decouple address computation of a memory reference from the memory reference itself. In addition, Scalar processors already decouple their write addresses and data internally. Write addresses are held in a "write buffer" until the data is ready, and in the mean time, read requests are checked against the saved write addresses to ensure ordering.
With the increasing pervasiveness of multiprocessor systems, it would be beneficial to extend the decoupling of write addresses and write data across more than one processor, or across more than one functional unit within a processor. What is needed is a system and method of synchronizing separate write requests and write data across multiple processors or multiple functional units within a microprocessor which maintains memory ordering without collapsing the decoupling of the write address and the write data.

Decoupling of write address from its associated write data in a store to a shared memory in a multiprocessor system


In an apparatus for measuring a deposited toner amount of a toner patch formed on a toner carrier, an intersection between a light outgoing and incoming plane including an optical axis of the light emitting portion and light receiving portion of an optical sensor and a surface of the toner carrier is perpendicular to a direction of propagation thereof. The light outgoing and incoming plane is inclined at a mounting angle toward the direction of propagation of the toner carrier with respect to a plane including the intersection. A control unit calculates the deposited toner amount in accordance with one of a peak value and a bottom value of a sense voltage in a thickness determining region and calculates the deposited toner amount in accordance with the other of the peak value and the bottom value in an area determining region.

1. Field
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a multi-color image forming apparatus such as a color electro-photographic printer, a color laser beam printer and a color print machine, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for measuring a deposited toner amount in a multi-color image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a multi-color image forming apparatus reproduces a clear image in accordance with a full-color mode, a monochromatic color mode, or a black and white print mode. For this purpose, toner rectangles or patches having predetermined amounts of magenta toner, predetermined amounts of cyan toner, predetermined amounts of yellow toner and predetermined amounts of black toner are deposited in advance to a toner carrier or a transfer belt. Then, the predetermined amounts of deposited toner of the patches are measured by a deposited toner amount measuring apparatus to thereby fine-adjust the charging process, the exposing process, the developing process, the transferring process, the fixing process and the like.
A prior art deposited toner amount measuring apparatus detects light reflected from a toner patch on a transfer belt irradiated with light, and measures a thickness of deposited toner in accordance with the difference between the height of the transfer belt at edges of the toner patch and the height of the toner patch. Thus, a thickness of deposited toner as the deposited toner amount can be measured regardless of a wavelike movement, roughness and fluttering of the transfer belt (see: JP2010-152138A).
In the above-described prior art deposited toner amount measuring apparatus, however, only a large amount of deposited toner can be measured, which is discussed below.
That is, in a thickness determining region TDR where a toner patch TP1 has a deposited toner amount W not smaller than 0.6 mg/cm2, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the transfer belt (toner carrier) beneath the toner patch TP1 is entirely covered by toner particles thereof, so that the thickness "t" of deposited toner at the toner patch TP1 is proportional to the deposited toner amount W at the toner patch TP1 as illustrated in FIG. 23. Note that the deposited toner thickness "t" is increased at inner portions having a width of about 1 to 1.5 mm from the edges of the toner patch TP1, to improve the accuracy of the deposited toner thickness "t" by measuring them at such inner portions.
On the other hand, in an area determining region ADR where a toner patch TP2 has a deposited toner amount W smaller than 0.6 mg/cm2, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the transfer belt (toner carrier) beneath the toner patch TP2 is not entirely covered by toner particles thereof, so that the thickness "t" of deposited toner at the toner patch TP2 is constant regardless of the deposited toner amount W at the toner patch TP2 as illustrated in FIG. 23.
In FIGS. 21 and 22, note that LR designates a reflection reference level at the transfer belt.
Thus, the above-described prior art deposited toner amount measuring apparatus measures only deposited toner amounts W in the thickness determining region TDR (W≧0.6 mg/cm2); however, the above-described prior art deposited toner amount measuring apparatus would not measure deposited toner amount W in the area determining region ADR (W<0.6 mg/cm2). If it is required to measure deposited toner amount W in the area determining region ADR, an additional deposited toner amount measuring apparatus is required, which would increase the manufacturing cost.
Additionally, the above-described prior art deposited toner amount measuring apparatus requires a line sensor and a specific optical system, which also would increase the manufacturing cost.

Apparatus for measuring deposited toner amount commonly for thickness and area determining regions


Apparatus and method for filling a container (7), particularly an open bag, with a powdery product has the following features” a net scale (1) situated above a tube arrangement and/or hopper arrangement (2), which terminates in a filler neck (6) above the container (7) to be filled while preferably projecting into this container. An intermediate chamber (3) is arranged downstream of the net scale and upstream of the container (7) to temporarily hold at least a portion of the product released by the net scale, and a compacting device (8, 9) is provided for compacting the product placed inside the container (7).

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for filling an open container, preferably an open bag
In order to accurately weigh a product, it is common to split the product flow into a coarse stream and a fine stream. A worm may hereby be used for example as dosing member. This type of product feed is provided exclusively for realizing a high weight accuracy.
The net system involves in some cases a separation of the product flow into fine and coarse streams when being filled into the scale, whereas the gross system involves a separation during filling the container.
In general, the gross system provides only little productivity which is disadvantageous. At the same time, there is no possibility to compact the product during the weighing phase because any type of manipulation has an impact on a weight.
Gross systems are also known which provide an intermediate compaction at a non-critical weighing moment during the weighing and filling processes.
Cited as prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 3,209,844 A, DE 36 40 520 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,742 A, CH 683 251 A5, DE 38 11 880 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,411 A, GB1 011 653 A, DE 101 32 715 C1, CH 611 216 A5, U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,775A, and GB 661 224 A.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,209,844 describes a filling device with a scale by which a coarse weight is pre-metered (underweight) which is then fully emptied into the filling container. Subsequently, a volume dosing wheel supplies a fine stream.
DE 36 40 520 describes a filling device to first weigh the quantity to be filled and then to discharge it directly into a bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,742 describes a weighing device by which a coarse stream of the filling material is volumetrically pre-metered and released in a scale receiver. Doses of the fine stream are then added. Subsequently, the total filling material portion is dispensed.
CH 683 251 A5 uses a differential scale as weighing device and dispenses the released product directly from the scale as coarse and fine streams.
DE 38 11 880 A1 deals with the problem of maintaining the filling material continuously under vacuum during an otherwise known filling procedure in order to prevent contamination as a result of environmental impacts.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,411 describes a filling apparatus having two separate connections into a bag to be filled. Each of the connections has its own weighing mechanism for alternatingly weighing the material. A feeder with an impeller that rotates at constant revolution compacts the product so that the material to be filled drops pre-compacted in accordance with the revolving compartments into a filling container. The impeller thus assumes the function of ventilation and compaction of the filling material. (Continuous transport as a result of product compaction).
All afore-mentioned apparatuses lack basically apparatuses for product compaction or are dimensioned for only little output.
Powdery products which are also very fine have the characteristic of intake of air during transport and also during the filling operation, leading to a significant increase in volume. As a consequence, the bags normally used for packaging must have a respectively great volume to provide enough space for the product in the bags.
After the product has again released the air entirely or partly following the filling of the bags, for example through introducing compaction measures or after elapse of a certain time, the product takes up a respectively smaller volume, so that the bag or the bag article becomes too big, i.e. packaging material is given away, resulting in higher costs and problems when stacking the bags. The afore-mentioned prior art is unsuitable to overcome these problems satisfactorily.

Method and apparatus for filling open containers with a powdery product


In a connector having a housing (4) and a plurality of contacts (3) held by the housing, first and second ground plates (5,9) are placed between adjacent ones of the contacts to intersect with to each other. A first contacting portion (11) is formed integral with the first ground plate and is for bringing at least one of the first and the second ground plates into contact with at least one of the contacts. The first and the second ground plates are brought into contact with to each other through a second contacting portion (12) formed integral with the second ground plate. The first contacting portion may be formed integral with the second ground plate. The second contacting portion may be formed integral with the first ground plate.

This invention relates to a connecting apparatus adapted to connect a high-speed signal line and, in particular, to a connector such as a straight-pin connector and a right-angle socket connector.
As a connector of a vertical-connection type for use in a connecting portion between a back board and a package board connected to the back board in a direction perpendicular thereto, use has heretofore been made of a right-angle socket mounted on the package board. The socket comprises a large number of contact modules and a large number of ground plates mounted to a front housing so as to be adapted to high-speed signal transmission. The contact modules and the ground plates are alternately arranged to be sandwiched by each other. Each of the ground plates is electrically connected to a circuit board by forming a ground connecting portion extracted or extended from the ground plate to be directly contacted with the circuit board or by cutting the ground plate to form a contact spring to be contacted with a contact through which electrical connection to the circuit board is achieved.
In the former technique, the ground connecting portions are located on the circuit board at positions between contact connecting portions. In case where the contact connecting portions are arranged at a high density, it is difficult to form a circuit pattern on the circuit board and to provide the ground connecting portions on the circuit board in view of space limitation. If the ground connecting portions are formed in an area except the neighborhood of the contact connecting portions, the number of the ground connecting portions is inevitably reduced and ground characteristics of the contacts is degraded. This results in deterioration in transmission characteristics.
In the latter technique, the ground plate is cut. In an area where the ground plate is cut, there arise various unfavorable phenomena, such as occurrence of crosstalk, variation in impedance characteristic, and reflections resulting therefrom. Thus, the transmission characteristics are degraded. Obviously, the degradation in transmission characteristics will be more serious with an increase in number of the contacts to be contacted with one ground plate.
Meanwhile, in differential transmission, a differential signal pair is transmitted through a pair of two contacts as one transmission line pair. Consideration will be made of the case where a pair of package boards are disposed on front and back surfaces of the back board with the back board interposed therebetween. As seen from a front side of a mounting surface of the back board, the package boards on the front and the back surfaces thereof are connected to the back board to be perpendicular to the back board and to be perpendicular to each other. The back board is provided with a straight-type pin connector including a number of pin contacts penetrating via through holes formed in the back board to protrude on the front and the back surfaces of the back board. The pin contacts are fitted into the right-angle socket attached to the package boards on the front and the back surfaces of the back board.
It is assumed that a pair of pin contacts forming a transmission line pair are aligned parallel to one package board on one of the front and the back surfaces of the back board. Then, the same pair of pin contacts are aligned perpendicular to the other package board on the other of the front and the back surfaces of the back board. In this event, in the right-angle socket connector on the one package board, transmission lines in the transmission line pair are equal in length to each other. On the other hand, in the right-angle socket connector on the other package board, the transmission lines in the transmission line pair are different in length from each other. This means that a pair of transmission lines in the transmission line pair are different in total length from each other. Therefore, a skew, i.e., a difference in propagation delay is produced in the single transmission line pair in the connector. As a result, transmission characteristics are degraded.
Furthermore, if a transmission line of a ground contact is substantially similar in section to that of a signal contact, crosstalk will easily occur between signal contacts arranged on both sides of the ground contact.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a connector which is reduced in space-related problems and which is improved in transmission characteristics.
It is another object of this invention to provide a connector in which crosstalk hardly occurs.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a right-angle socket connector of a vertical-connection type, which is capable of enhancing ground connection to be adapted to high-speed transmission by bringing a ground contact for high-speed transmission into contact with a ground plate to surround a signal contact.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector which comprises a housing, a plurality of contacts held by the housing to be arranged in a plane, a first ground plate placed between adjacent ones of the contacts, a second ground plate intersecting with the first ground plate and placed between adjacent ones of the contacts, a first contacting portion bringing at least one of the first and the second ground plates into contact with at least one of the contacts, and a second contacting portion bringing the first and the second ground plates into contact with to each other.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly which comprises a back board having opposite surfaces and a plurality of connectors each according to the above-mentioned connector. The connectors are mounted on the opposite surfaces of the back board in positions such that the first ground plates are arranged in directions intersecting with each other.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector which comprises a plurality of contacts, an insulator holding the contacts and having a window portion, and a ground plate facing the insulator. At least one of the contacts has a ground plate contacting portion connected to the ground plate. The ground plate contacting portion is connected with the ground plate through the window portion.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-pole connector which comprises a plurality of connectors each according to the above-mentioned connector. The connectors are superposed one another in a condition where the ground plate extends between adjacent ones of the connectors. The multi-pole connector further comprises a front housing coupled to the connectors and a shield plate coupled to the front housing and holding the connectors in cooperation with the front housing to form an integral structure.

Connector easy in wire connection and improved in transmission characteristic

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.


An apparatus for shipping goods may include a strut, a first beam, a second beam, a lift-eye housing interfacing with the strut, the first beam, and the second beam, and having an opening facing in the direction of the upper wall, and a lift-eye disposed within the lift-eye housing and configured to support the weight of the apparatus and to pivot from a stowed position within the lift-eye housing to a deployed position where a distal portion of the lift-eye projects out of the lift-eye housing.

Global shipping, such as of drilling rig components and systems, necessarily involves large fabricated structures. The structures often require the assistance of cranes for transportation. Most structures have lift-eyes that enable cranes and other transportation devices to connect to and carry the structures during operation.
Shipping costs of the fabricated structures are often based on the total volume occupied by the structures. Conventional lift-eyes are attached externally to the fabricated structures. Such a configuration increases the overall volume occupied by each container because the protruding lift-eyes prevent the structures from seamlessly stacking end to end.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first conventional fabricated structure 100 and a second conventional fabricated structure 110 with a plurality of protruding lift-eyes 115a, 115b, 115c, 115d, 115e, 115f. The protruding lift-eye 115a adds to the total volume occupied by each container by an amount equal to the height, h, of the protruding lift eye 115a multiplied by the length, l, and width, w, of either fabricated structure 100, 110 because the first conventional fabricated structure 100 cannot be stacked directly atop the second conventional fabricated structure 110. This additional volume forces companies to pay increased shipping costs without obtaining any additional storage capacity.
Other lift-eyes do not protrude from the fabricated structure and may, instead, be stored within the structure. However, these lift-eyes are stowed within the interior of the fabricated structure and therefore occupy available space that would otherwise be available for occupation by the systems and components requiring space. Therefore, companies must design larger fabricated structures to meet the needs of some structures.
Further, many fabricated structures are limited in the loads they can handle because the lift-eyes installed in them are only capable of withstanding certain conditions and loads. This limitation requires some companies to design for larger, heavier fabricated structures, although they do not require the extra volume, because the larger structures have more durable lift-eyes.
The present disclosure provides a lift-eye in pocket apparatuses and methods to overcome some of the disadvantages of conventional fabricated structures, as further disclosed below.

Lift-eye in pocket apparatus and methods


A power generation system has a fuel cell stack and at least one condensation point in the system at which water present after shutdown of the power generation system can condense or collect. Drying after shutdown is improved by maintaining a temperature gradient between the condensation point and at least one other component in the power generation system after shutdown. In one embodiment, the temperature gradient is maintained by housing the fuel cell stack in a thermally insulated container and arranging the condensation point outside of the insulating container. In another embodiment, drying after shutdown is accomplished with an adsorption unit having a water-adsorbing material arranged in a desired location within the power generation system.

The present systems and methods relate to fuel cell based power generation systems for the generation of electrical energy, and particularly, to improving the freeze-start capability of such systems.
Fuel cells are electrochemical energy converters, which directly convert chemical energy to electrical energy. For this purpose, the fuel cell is supplied with a fuel and with oxidant (such as air) as reactants. The reactants are spatially separated by an electrolyte, through which ion exchange takes place. Example fuels include hydrogen, or methane. There are several known types of fuel cells, including polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). This list is not complete and the present systems and methods are not limited to a specific type of fuel cell, nor to a specific fuel, nor to a specific application. For example, the application of the present systems and methods invention in a motor vehicle is only one possible embodiment.
Water is present in fuel cells. It may be produced in the fuel cell as a product of the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, or it may be supplied to the fuel cell for cooling or humidification purposes. For example, the membrane serving as electrolyte in PEM fuel cells must be humidified to allow an efficient cation exchange. Thus, typically either or both of the fuel and oxidant streams may be humidified with water in a humidifier upstream of the fuel cell. Water may also be conducted through special cooling channels in the fuel cell to cool it.
After an operational shutdown of a fuel cell, the temperature of the fluids contained therein and of the components of the power generation system gradually drop to ambient temperature. During this period, water vapor that is still present in the fluid channels of the power generation system condenses and precipitates as liquid water. If the ambient temperature drops below 0° C., any water present in the power generation system may freeze. Such water may be located in the fuel cells, but may also be present in other areas of the power generation system, such as circulation devices (e.g., pumps, compressors, fans, blowers) for the reactants, valves, or in the flow channels that conduct the reactant streams or the cooling water through the power generation system. Often, the flow channels have areas in which water can accumulate, such as in corners or at the end of dead ends where sensors are located.
Problems may occur upon resumption of power generation if condensed water drops or ice are still present in the system. The presence of ice or condensed water may obstruct the flow of reactants, and the presence of ice in particular may affect the proper functioning of system components, such as valves, sensors, or circulation devices. In some situations, this may result in damage to the components.
To prevent accumulation of water drops and ice and to improve the freeze-starting capability of fuel cell systems, a conventional approach is to purge (i.e., blow dry gas through) the flow channels of the system immediately after operation ceases. However, this method has disadvantages. The use of purging requires considerable amounts of time and energy. Moreover, as the quantity of water present in the system is unknown, it is difficult to estimate whether the amount of purge gas and the duration of the purging will be adequate for sufficient drying. Furthermore, it is difficult for the purge gas to reach water that has been deposited at poorly accessible spots of the flow channel system, such as at the ends of flow channels and in corners. Moreover, the membranes of PEM fuel cells can normally not be dried completely. There will always be small remaining reservoirs, from which water is able to diffuse to other locations and, in particular, to critical positions in the power generation system.
Japanese patent document JP 2003-142136 proposes the provision of a condenser for drying the internal fluid channels of a fuel cell stack, where the condenser is cooled during a power generating operation. For vehicular fuel cell stacks, Japanese patent document JP 2003-142136 proposes disposing the condenser just behind the radiator grill, so that it is cooled by the air draft. The object of this arrangement is to permit water vapor that is still present in the fluid channels of the fuel cell stack after operation ceases to travel through an open path to the condenser, and to precipitate there. Thus, the condenser forms a predetermined condensation point.
An alternate approach to minimize or avoid the problems associated with freezing water in a fuel cell stack is to house the fuel cell stack in a thermally insulated container. This approach is described in published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0162063. One drawback of using the thermally insulated container housing only the fuel cell stack, however, is that the other components of the power generation system may retain water in inaccessible locations. The system described in US 2003/0162063 keeps residual water in the fuel cell stack from freezing by maintaining the temperature in the insulating container sufficiently above freezing with a heating system arranged in the insulating container. However, water droplets may remain in the reactant channels of the power generation system after an operational shutdown.

Fuel cell based power generation systems and methods of operating the same


A device for measuring the thickness of slag on the surface of liquid metal contained in an ingot mould comprises a wire made of electrically conductive material and capable of being eliminated under the effect of the heat at the temperature of the slag, the wire having a free end able to be dipped into the slag, a wire feeder capable of displacing the wire so that its free end dips vertically into the slag according to a predetermined trajectory, a wire displacement measurer capable of measuring a distance travelled by the free end of the wire during a time interval between two predetermined events when the latter is displaced under the action of the feeding means, and a wire feeder controller having a molten metal contact detector capable of detecting contact between the free end and the surface of the liquid metal.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for measuring the thickness of slag on the surface of a liquid metal contained in a metallurgical vessel such as an ingot mould, notably of the continuous casting type.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Hereinafter in this description, the invention will be described with reference to the measuring of thickness of slag formed on the surface of a metal contained in an ingot mould without there being any limitation on the framework of the present invention whose design can be implemented in other metallurgical vessels containing a molten metal topped with a layer of slag, itself topped with a layer of non-molten powder. It will, however, be noted that the measurement of the level of slag in the ingot mould constitutes a preferred application of the present invention.
In the case of ingot mould casting, the conventional operation of continuous casting of a liquid metal schematically consists in continuously pouring the molten metal into a bottomless vertical tubular casting space of an ingot mould: this space is delimited by metal walls cooled by a circulation of water outside the casting space. The liquid metal flowing in the casting space is solidified at least on the surface, thus forming a skin, in contact with the walls of the ingot mould, before being continuously extracted from the ingot mould. The product extracted from the ingot mould is then core-cooled by spraying water and then cut to the desired length.
Conventionally, a covering powder is added to the surface of the molten metal bath. This melts on contact with the metal so that it forms two layers: a layer of molten powder of 3 to 15 mm in contact with the liquid metal, called slag, and a layer of non-molten powder. The purposes of the casting powders are mainly to thermally insulate the liquid metal bath, to prevent oxidation and to lubricate the ingot mould with the film of molten powder (slag) which flows along the walls of the ingot mould. Secondarily, it will be noted that the layer of non-molten powder thermally insulates the layer of slag and, consequently, very favourably influences the thermal homogeneity of the slag.
The exact composition of the powder depends on the parameters of the casting. This composition is an important parameter which will act on the balance between the melting of the slag and the consumption of powder. Controlling this balance involves measuring the slag thickness.
Traditionally, the thickness of the slag is measured manually by means of two metal rods. In the case where the liquid metal contained in the ingot mould is steel, it is known practice to use a rod made of steel and a rod made of copper of the same length. These rods are dipped vertically and partially into the liquid metal, to the same height. The rod made of steel melts on contact with the liquid steel, but not with the slag. The rod made of copper melts on contact with the slag. Thus, after the removal of the two rods, the comparison of their remaining length enables the measurement of the thickness of the slag. The thickness of the slag in fact corresponds to the length difference between the rod made of steel and the rod made of copper.
However, these measurements are done manually, which proves restrictive, because these operations mobilize an operator who cannot fully attend to another activity and have to be carried out regularly for the best possible monitoring. Furthermore, there is a certain risk of inaccuracy in the measurements performed, affecting the reproducibility of these measurements.


A network capable of communicating with foreign networks and having a plurality of devices capable of mutually communicating with one another and a domain setup method thereof. The network includes at least one main remote controller for, out of the devices, setting up authorization to use the respective devices belonging to at least one main domain having at least one of the devices; and at least one subsidiary remote controller for receiving authentication for authorization to use the respective device belonging to a domain having the respective devices authorized to at least one user by the respective main remote controllers. Thus, the present network enables each user to efficiently administer whether to use the home devices as well as enables the home devices authorized to each user to be set up in one domain in order to keep security and privacy from foreign domains.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network and a domain-creating method therefor, and more particularly to a network and a domain-creating method thereof capable of efficiently administering users who have access to home devices as well as enabling users to form a plurality of home networks in one home network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the home network system refers to a network system built at home for communicating with foreign networks so as to enable intelligent communications, and such a network system maximizes the sharing of information resources and the use of individual products at home.
The home network of the home network system connects diverse home devices in a wired or a wireless manner, and the home devices can be classified into information-related devices such as personal computers, facsimile machines, scanners, printers, etc., A/V devices such as TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs, VCRs, audio devices, camcorders, home game machines, etc., control-related devices such as coffee makers, electric rice cooker, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, cameras, etc., and dummy devices such as remote controllers, interphones, sensors, lights, etc.
The individual home devices constituting the home network form one network in general, and home network users share all the home devices together. However, depending on the features of the home devices, the home devices can be intended to be used only by its owner or administrator, or to be restricted in use depending on users. For example, if a network contains a printer, a DB server, a TV, etc., and the printer, DB server, and TV are owned by one person, the owner may want to share the TV and DB server with the other home members, but may want to use the printer only by himself or herself.
To meet the demands of such a user, a method has been proposed in which an administrator of a home network sets home devices to be available or unavailable to individual home network users. However, such a method has difficulties in use when a plurality of family members or room mates are administered by one user who can access a home network, because it is impossible for one administrator to set up authorization to use home devices owned or administered by different users since a family member or a room mate may own different home devices.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a method in which each owner or each administrator of home devices of one home network can set up authorization for individual users to use the home devices when there exists different owners or administrators for the home devices of one home network and there exists a plurality of users, enabling the security and privacy to be guaranteed when the users use their home devices.

Network and domain-creating method thereof


An automatic purse string suture device is disclosed that enables a surgeon to install a purse string suture in tissue structures, particularly for sealing the tissue about a cannula. The device is particularly suited for minimally invasive cardiothoracic procedures and is comprised of an applicator having an elongated structure with protrusions extending from the distal edge thereof. Also provided are means for advancing a needle through a passage to pass a suture through tissue that has been conformed to the distal edge of the device. Various means for conforming the tissue to the distal edge are disclosed as are methods for using the device to facilitate cardiothoracic surgery.

Purse string sutures are frequently used in surgical procedures to close a tubular section of tissue, e.g., intestinal tissue. Purse string sutures are also used in the performance of cardiac surgery wherein the heart, major arteries, and/or major veins are cannulated for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). More specifically, a purse string suture is used to seal the tissue around a cannula placed within the cardiac tissue.
Cardiopulmonary bypass requires a cannula (or cannulae) to be placed into the right side of the heart (typically the right atrium) or in the major veins (typically the superior vena cava and/or inferior vena cava) to drain blood from the patient and deliver it to a pump-oxygenator, commonly known as the heart-lung machine. In the pump-oxygenator, the blood is exposed to a gaseous mixture that eliminates carbon dioxide and adds oxygen to the blood. The oxygenated blood is then returned to the body through a perfusion cannula. In some circumstances, the perfusion cannula is placed into a large peripheral artery, such as the common femoral artery. However, because of a higher incidence of complications associated with that method of blood return to the body, it is more acceptable to return the blood through a cannula placed directly into the ascending aorta.
The insertion of the arterial (aortic) perfusion and the venous drainage cannula are usually performed in the following fashion. After the patient's chest has been opened and the pericardium (the protective sac around the heart) has been entered, two concentric purse string sutures are placed into the anterior wall of the ascending aorta just proximal to upstream of the brachiocephalic trunk. The diameter of the purse string suture is made large enough to accommodate the size of the aortic perfusion cannula. A "choker" tube or sleeve is positioned over the trailing ends of the suture threads to act as a tourniquet for tightening the purse string suture. A small incision is then made through the wall of the aorta into its lumen in the center of the purse-string sutures. The aortic perfusion cannula is then inserted through that incision into the aorta to prevent the escape of blood prior to connection to the pump-oxygenator. The purse string sutures are then tightened by means of their respective tourniquets to seal the aortic wall around the perfusion cannula in order to prevent the escape of blood from the aorta. Air is then evacuated from the perfusion cannula as it is joined by a connector to the tubing from the pump-oxygenator. A cross-clamp is placed on the aorta just downstream of the aortic root and upstream of the cannula to ensure that no blood flows back into the aorta during CPB.
The venous drainage cannula(e) is similarly inserted directly through an incision centered within a single purse-string suture into the right atrium of the heart or into the superior and/or inferior vena cavae for connection to the drainage side of the pump-oxygenator. The respective purse string sutures are tightened by means of a tourniquet as described above. An external clamp is sometimes placed around the vena cava to prevent blood from flowing between the vessel lumen and the venous cannula.
Cardiopulmonary bypass is instituted by allowing unoxygenated blood which is returning to the right side of the heart to be diverted into the pump-oxygenator where it is oxygenated and temperature-adjusted. From there, the blood is pumped into the patient's arterial system via the aortic perfusion cannula.
When it is desired to arrest cardiac function, a cardioplegic solution, such as potassium (KCl) is delivered to the myocardium by one or a combination of two general techniques, antigrade and retrograde. The infusion of cardioplegia fluid in an antegrade manner is accomplished by means of a cardioplegia cannula inserted at the aortic root wherein the fluid flows in the normal direction into the coronary ostia through the coronary arteries and into capillaries within the myocardium. Retrograde infusion of cardioplegia solution is directed into the right coronary sinus by means of a cardioplegia cannula inserted in the right atrium, and flows backwards into the coronary arteries and capillaries of the myocardium. With both techniques, a purse string suture may be used to seal the tissue around the cannula.
Typically, two concentric rows, with off-setting or staggered stitches and with each row having 4 to 5 stitches, are placed for the arterial perfusion cannula. Because the blood flow pressure is greater on the arterial side of the heart, a double purse string suture is used as a precaution in case one suture breaks. Two rows of stitches also help to minimizes the risk of blood leakage from the incision site. On the other hand, because there are not the pressure concerns on the venous side, only a single purse string suture having about 5 to 6 stitches is typically used for venous cannulation. As the cardioplegia camula is in a portion of the circulatory system that has been bypassed by CPB, there is virtually no concern of blood leakage, and only a single purse string suture is necessary to seal the tissue around the cannula and hold it in place.
The diameter of a purse string sutures is sized to accommodate the respective cannulae. Arterial cannulae range in size from about 8 French, having an inner diameter of about 0.10 inch or 2.5 mm (for pediatric use to) about 24 French, having an inner diameter of about 0.30 inch or 8.0 mm. Accordingly, the inner purse string suture for an arterial cannula has a diameter which is preferably slightly larger (about 3.2 mm or 1/8 inch) than that of the cannula, and the outer suture has a diameter which is also about 3.2 mm or 1/8 inch greater than the inner suture. As venous cannulae tend to be slightly larger than arterial cannulae to compensate for the slower flow of blood, their sizes typically range from about 12 French, having an inner diameter of about 0.15 inch or 4.0 mm, to about 40 French, having a diameter of about 0.52 inch or 13.2 mm. The diameter of the associated single purse string suture is then preferably about slightly larger (about 3.2 mm or 1/8 inch) than that of the venous cannula.
Conventionally, purse string sutures are manually stitched by the surgeon. In laparoscopic surgery, for example, where tubular ends of tissue are being tied off, the entire thickness of the tissue wall may be penetrated to achieve the desired suturing. However, in cardiac surgery, and particularly in the context of aortic cannulation, total penetration of the aortic wall by the purse string suture can cause catastrophic effects such as blood leakage, the introduction of air into the arterial system, and the disruption of calcified deposits from the innermost layer of the aortic wall. Additionally, penetration of the aortic wall by a needle or suture can damage the endothelial layer increasing the likelihood of the long-term buildup of stenotic deposits within the aorta. Thus, the surgeon must be cautious so as not to penetrate the entire thickness of the vessel wall. Uniform placement, spacing and length of the stitches are also important to minimize the risk that some of the stitches may rip away from the tissue when the ends of the purse string suture are pulled. With manual stitching, it is difficult to obtain uniform and accurate penetration of the purse string suture into the tissue. It is also difficult for a surgeon of average skill to obtain stitches which are uniform in length and evenly spaced apart.
Another drawback of applying purse string sutures manually is the space required in the surgical opening for the surgeon's hands. With the progression towards less invasive cardiac surgical techniques which permit the visualization and manipulation of surgical instruments through less invasive openings in the chest, there is a need for a compact surgical instrument which automatically places purse string sutures in tissue structures and obviates the need for space to view the stitching procedure and accommodate the surgeon's hands.
Another objective of less invasive surgeries is to reduce the time a patient is subjected to potentially traumatic procedures, such as the necessary clamping of the aorta prior to implementing CPB and thereby reduce the interruption in systemic circulation. Although some cardiac surgeon's are very skilled and adept at placing purse string sutures by hand, it takes about 3 to 5 minutes to apply each purse string suture. A total of 3 to 5 purse string sutures being placed for the entire cannulation procedure, manual stitching adds considerable time to the entire procedure.
There are several surgical instruments for applying purse string sutures about the periphery of tubular tissue without the need for a surgeon to manually insert the suture needles into the tissue. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,915,107, and 5,188,636 disclose instruments in the form of a pair of serrated tissue clamping jaws provided with teeth. Needle passages extend through the teeth on each jaw for receiving a needle attached to a suture to be threaded through the tissue. The tissue clamping jaws act to gather tissue into the spaces between the teeth and then the needles are advanced through the needle passages. Other instruments are disclosed, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,749,114, 4,821,939, 5,242,457 and 5,484,451 for example, which utilize a plurality of staples for applying purse string sutures to human tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,451 discloses a surgical stapler having a pair of jaws with each jaw containing a staple cartridge for holding staples. The staples are shaped to have an eyelet for receiving a purse string suture.
These aforementioned devices are adapted for the application of a purse string suture circumferentially about an end or the periphery of a tubular tissue structure. They are not practical for applying purse string sutures to a closed vessel or vessel lumen, such as the heart or aorta, where it is desirable to apply a suture to only one wall or side of the vessel or lumen rather than about its periphery. The clamping jaw mechanism of these devices is also undesirable for use in creating purse string sutures in cardiac tissue, and the aorta in particular, as they tend to be traumatic to the tissue, increasing the risk of embolism. Furthermore, these instruments are not suitable for applying a purse string suture where it is necessary to avoid penetrating the suture through the entire thickness of the tissue wall, such as in the aorta, or where the use of staples to secure a suture is less than desirable due to the increased risk of thrombosis and embolisms associated with stapling vascular tissue.
Accordingly, a general objective of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for automatically applying a purse string suture to a single wall of a vessel or vessel lumen which does so more accurately and in less time than manual suturing.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an instrument for a traumatically providing a purse string suture which does not employ clamping jaws or staples.
It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a device which automatically applies a purse string suture to a tissue wall where the suture penetrates through less than the full thickness of the wall.
It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a surgical instrument for automatically applying a purse string suture to cardiac tissue which can be inserted through a relatively small opening in the chest, which does not necessitate viewing of the suturing site for achieving accurate results, and which occupies minimal space in the surgical opening.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic purse string suture instrument which incorporates a cutting or puncturing element to incise the area within a purse string suture for placement of a cannula or cannulae.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which applies two concentric purse string sutures simultaneously.
These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the drawings and the following description of the invention.


Embodiments of the invention provide sampling methods suited for graphics hardware acceleration. A graphics application may specify a grid of pixels to be rendered. The graphics application may supply a graphics rendering engine with one or more sets of camera parameters. Each set of camera parameters is used to alter the position of the pixel grid relative its original position so that a grid of samples can be generated at the new grid position. The graphics rendering engine then renders a grid of samples at the new grid position. Each sample grid may be used sampled to determine a set of intermediate color values that may be blended together to generate a final color value for each pixel in the pixel grid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to graphics processing. More specifically, the present invention relates to techniques for rendering an image using sampling methods suited for graphics hardware acceleration.
2. Description of the Related Art
In computer graphics, rendering is the process of determining color values of the pixels of a two dimensional graphics image based on a three-dimensional graphics scene typically generated by a graphics application. When graphics images are rendered, various artifacts, such as jagged edges, may ultimately appear in the image. A number of anti-aliasing techniques exist that "blend" the colors of pixels adjacent to one another in an image to mask artifacts in the image. For example, such blending can make jagged edges appear smoother to the human eye. Typical anti-aliasing techniques use multiple color values or samples to determine the final color value of each pixel in the graphics image so that there is a more gradual transition between the different objects and colors in the graphics image.
Currently, random and pseudo random sampling methods have been used to reduce aliasing effects when generating images using a software-based rendering engine. This approach has the advantage of using a random sampling pattern for anti-aliasing so that the sampling frequencies are less likely to correlate with the spatial frequencies in the graphics image, but requires that the image be rendered by software routines that execute on a general purpose central processing unit (CPU). While effective, the software approach is significantly slower than using hardware based rendering techniques.
In contrast to software renderers, dedicated graphics processing units (GPUs) typically use a fixed sampling pattern to perform anti-aliasing operations. GPUs are specifically designed to process image data much more quickly than a CPU. However, the sampling patterns used by GPUs may introduce moiré, ringing, or animation artifacts for some images. Moiré effects are most often generated when the sampling frequency of the anti-aliasing grid pattern correlates with one or more spatial frequencies present in the graphics image. For example, images that include regular patterns such as roof lines or brick walls, checkerboards, or any other repeating pattern in an image may lead to moiré effects when using anti-aliasing techniques that rely on grid-based sampling.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a sampling technique suited for graphics hardware acceleration that is not as prone to artifacts, such as moiré effects, as current hardware-based sampling techniques.

Sampling methods suited for graphics hardware acceleration


A security-aware master is provided, such that a master can determine its security state before attempting access to secure resources or before requesting secure access level. An exemplary system include a system interconnect; one or more masters coupled with the system interconnect; and a master security check register coupled with the system interconnect. The master security check register is configured to receive a request from a master via the system interconnect to access the master security check register, wherein the request includes a master operating state signal that indicates a security state of the master requesting access, and return a data value to the master based on the master operating state signal, wherein the data value indicates a current security state of the master requesting access.

A processing system can include multiple masters that share slaves (or peripherals). To provide a secure processing environment, the processing system often implements a security mechanism that enables each master to access resources depending on its security state. For example, a security mechanism can allow a master operating in a secure state to access secure and non-secure resources, while allowing a master operating in a non-secure state to access only non-secure resources. A master is typically unaware of its operating state, such that the master may attempt to access secure resources even when operating in a non-secure state. The security mechanism blocks such attempt and then notifies the master that an error occurred while attempting to access the secure resources. The master can then take action to resolve the error. Although existing security mechanisms have been generally adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects.

System and method for security-aware master


A basic and simple power control circuit for selectively controlling power to an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a power module, a system power port, and a processing unit, the processing unit includes a first and a second power control pins. The power control circuit includes a power switch, a trigger signal producing sub-circuit, a trigger-receiving sub-circuit, and a switch controlling sub-circuit. The switch is connected between the power module and the system power port. The trigger signal producing sub-circuit produces a trigger signal. When receiving a trigger signal, the trigger-receiving sub-circuit follows a first control signal output by the second power control pin to output the first control signal. The switch controlling sub-circuit turns off the power switch when receiving the first control signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to circuits, and particularly to a power control circuit and an electronic device with the power control circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices, such as computers, set-top boxes, include a power control circuit. When the electronic device is manually shut down, the power control circuit cuts off the power source after the electronic device is given a soft shutdown. The usual power control circuit also can control the electronic device to enter an active standby mode or a passive standby mode awaiting further user operation. In the active standby mode, the power control circuit maintains power to every element of the electronic device, and only shuts down programs currently running. In the passive standby mode, the power control circuit stops providing power to the elements of the electronic device except for a central processing unit and a memory of the electronic device, to maintain basic operating requirements. However, the usual power control circuit is constituted by a microcontroller and a power management chip and is expensive.
A power control circuit and an electronic device to overcome the described limitations are thus needed.

Power control circuit and electronic device