A high temperature Seebeck coefficient measurement apparatus and method with various features to minimize typical sources of errors is described. Common sources of temperature and voltage measurement errors which may impact accurate measurement are identified and reduced. Applying the identified principles, a high temperature Seebeck measurement apparatus and method employing a uniaxial, four-point geometry is described to operate from room temperature up to 1300K. These techniques for non-destructive Seebeck coefficient measurements are simple to operate, and are suitable for bulk samples with a broad range of physical types and shapes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to determining the Seebeck coefficient for thermoelectric materials. Particularly, this invention relates to measuring the Seebeck coefficient for high temperature thermoelectric materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
An applied temperature difference across a material causes charged carriers in the material (electrons or holes) to diffuse from the hot side to the cold side. Mobile charged carriers migrating from the hot to the cold side leave behind their oppositely charged and immobile nuclei, resulting in a thermoelectric voltage across the material.
The term, "thermoelectric," refers to the fact that the voltage is created by a temperature difference. Since a separation of charges also yields an electric field, the buildup of charged carriers on the cold side eventually ceases at some maximum value for a given temperature difference as there exists an equal amount of charged carriers drifting back to the hot side as a result of the electric field equilibrium. An increase in the temperature difference can result in more charge carriers on the cold side and thus yield an increase in the thermoelectric voltage.
The Seebeck coefficient (or thermopower) is a measure of the magnitude of an induced thermoelectric voltage in response to a temperature difference across a given material. The Seebeck coefficient has units of volts per degrees kelvin.
                    S        =                              Δ                                                                          V                                Δ                                                                          T                                              (        1        )            The Seebeck coefficient, S, depends on a material's temperature, and crystal structure. Typically, metals have small thermopowers because most have half-filled bands, including both electrons and holes. Electrons (negative charges) and holes (positive charges) both contribute to the induced thermoelectric voltage thus tending cancel their contributions to that voltage, resulting in a low net voltage. In contrast, semiconductors can be doped with an excess amount of electrons or holes and therefore can have large positive or negative values of the thermopower depending on the charge of the excess carriers. The sign of the thermopower indicates which charged carriers dominate the electric transport in both metals and semiconductors.
Accurate measurement of the Seebeck coefficient is critical for the performance assessment of thermoelectric materials. High temperature (e.g. greater than 500 C) Seebeck coefficient measurement systems are necessary for efficient and progressive development of thermoelectric materials for waste heat harvesting applications. The history and challenges of Seebeck coefficient measurement has been recently reviewed. See e.g. J. Martin, T. Tritt, and C. Uher, J. Appl. Phys. 108, 121101 (2010), which is incorporated by reference herein.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for improved apparatuses and methods for accurately measuring the Seebeck coefficient of thermoelectric materials. There is particularly a need for such apparatuses and methods to operate at high temperatures (e.g. above 500 C). Further, there is a need for such apparatuses and methods to be simple, non-destructive, efficient, fast and affordable. There is also a need for such systems and methods to be suitable for bulk material samples in a broad range of physical types and shapes. These and other needs are met by embodiments of the present invention as detailed hereafter.


An image forming apparatus a first fixing device fixing the toner image on the sheet; a second fixing device fixing the toner image, fixed on the sheet by the first fixing device; a fixing conveyance path guiding the sheet carrying the toner image fixed by the second fixing device; a detour conveyance path diverging from the fixing conveyance path on an upstream side of the second fixing device, and joining the fixing conveyance path at a joining point on a downstream side of the second fixing device so that the sheet is guided detouring the second fixing device; a joined conveyance path guiding the sheet on a downstream side of the joining point; a first curl applying unit disposed on the joined conveyance path and applying a curl to the sheet; and a second curl applying unit disposed on the detour conveyance path and applying a curl to the sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and a fixing device that fixes a toner image on the sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the image forming apparatus, a toner image is fixed on a sheet surface by the fixing device which heats and applies pressure to the toner image formed on the sheet. When the sheet carrying the toner image passes through the fixing device, the sheet is arched on an image formed side due to heat contraction of the toner (hereinafter this phenomenon is referred to as toner curl). On the other hand, at a marginal portion of the sheet where there is no toner image or at a portion of the sheet bearing a relatively small amount of toner, moisture is evaporated from the sheet due to heat of the fixing device which results in an arch formation in a direction opposite to the image formed surface (hereinafter this phenomenon is referred to as heat curl).
Dimension, shape, and direction of the two curl types change depending on various factors such as shapes of conveyance path inside the image forming apparatus, sheet size or a sheet making direction, fixing temperatures of the fixing apparatus, and toner type. Moreover, in addition to the above factors, the curl form changes depending on the toner image type and is also influenced by the environment where the apparatus is in use.
When the sheet is curled, a paper jam can occur at the conveyance path downstream of the fixing device or loading failure can occur due to the curl of the discharged sheet. Moreover, the image forming apparatus can have two-sided conveyance path for conveying a sheet to the image forming unit again to form the image on a second surface of the sheet after the image is formed on a first surface. In such apparatus, transfer failure may occur due to the curl, or the sheet fails to enter the fixing device, when an image is transferred onto the second surface.
Conventionally, a method of correcting the curl has been proposed in which a curl correcting unit is provided downstream of the fixing device for correcting the curl generated in the fixing device, and the transfer or conveyance failure downstream of the conveyance path is reduced (refer to Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. 9-301599, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,934). As a method of dealing with the differences in the curl level depending on the paper types and environments, there is an apparatus configured to adjust the curl correcting capability (refer to Japanese laid-open Application No. Hei 8-169615) or make the apparatus attachable/detachable. Moreover, there is a known mechanism to correct the two curl types (i.e., the toner curl and heat curl). Since both curls are generated in the opposite directions, in order to correct both curls, the downstream of the conveyance path in the fixing device is diverged, and the curl correcting units operating in opposite directions are disposed in the respective conveyance paths.
In the conventional apparatus, between the two curl types described above, the effect of the heat curl is especially large, and therefore, the curl correction is performed to all recording media mostly by disposing the curl correcting unit downstream of the fixing device. Nevertheless, since the curl formation varies depending on the sheet types and images as described above, there are cases where the curl cannot be corrected depending on the sheet types, or in some cases, the curl is corrected more than necessary. Especially, along with recent emergence of the high-speed apparatus market, the fixing temperature is set higher than before, and the applied pressure is being increased. As a result, a level of curl tends to get higher than the conventional machines, especially because the curl of the thin sheet becomes larger. This causes the problem that the sheet cannot enter the fixing device when the image is fixed on the second surface in a two-sided printing. Accordingly, the curl must be corrected and reduced.
Further, there is a problem that a configuration for skew registration employed for high speed operation shows a tendency to be weak against the curl compared to the conventional registration configuration. Moreover, in addition to the high speed, along with rising request for high image quality, in order to remove a trace on the image, a long roller is frequently disposed downstream of the fixing device. The long roller has a cylinder portion which is longer than the sheet width. However, in the case of employing the long roller, a gap is formed between a guiding board and the roller, so that paper jam occurs if the level of curl is not smaller than in the conventional machines.
In this regard, for example, when a curl correction unit in the two-sided conveyance path is devised to correct curling, large pressure must be applied to correct a thin paper at a lowered temperature. However, by applying large pressure, an image surface of the sheet may be damaged or wrinkled. Moreover, for example, when a curl correcting unit corrects a curl immediately after the fixing device, it is possible to apply a large curl to the sheet because the sheet temperature is high. However, depending on the sheet types, the curl can be generated more than necessary, or the image can be damaged if a large pressure is applied immediately after fixing. Adjustment of the curl correcting capability or the attachment/detachment mechanism is employed to deal with changes in the level of curls depending on the sheet types. Furthermore, the attachment/detachment and adjustment between the sheets are performed by a motor or solenoid in the high speed apparatus. However, it is not easily implemented because the apparatus and sequence become complex, and good durability is not obtained.
On the other hand, a number of sheet types used by the image forming apparatus is increasing. Therefore, it is difficult to fix the image with stability on all kinds of sheets in the image forming apparatus in which an image is fixed using a single fixing device. Therefore, a configuration is considered in which an image is fixed on the sheet using a plurality of fixing devices which are aligned serially in the conveyance path (refer to Japanese Patent Application laid-open Nos. 5-158364 and 7-191564). Also in this image forming apparatus that employs the plurality of fixing devices to secure stable fixing, there appears the problem relating to the curl correction as described above when the sheet conveyance is carried out at high speed.

Image forming apparatus and fixing device


An extrusion system including an edge encapsulation block is disclosed. The edge encapsulation block includes a housing that defines a central extrusion channel having an inlet for receiving a central material and an outlet for emitting an encapsulated material that includes the central material and an edge material, and an edge encapsulation channel for receiving the edge material. The encapsulation block also includes an edge blocker that includes an edge actuator at a first end of the edge blocker and an edge block at a second end of the edge blocker that is opposite the first end. Actuation of the edge actuator causes the edge block to translate from a first position to a second position spaced from the first position along an axis that extends through the central extrusion channel.

Sheets or webs of a material are often formed using an extrusion process. For example, a thermoplastic may be heated and extruded through a die to form a sheet of desired thickness. At times, it may be desired to coextrude two or more different materials to form a laminate. This has been accomplished in the past through the use of multi-manifold dies or by combining the flows of the materials upstream of a single manifold die. In the latter case, a feed block is coupled between two or more extruders and the die and combines the flows of the various materials.
However, the flow of material emitted from die or feed block can include unstable edges that have wavy or nonlinear orientations. Further, the flow of material may not completely solidify upon exiting the die or feed block, which can lead to migration of the material's edge. As a result, an operator of an extrusion process is required to trim and further shape the edges of the material to produce a product with the intended shape and dimensions. This trimming can lead to high levels of waste, particularly when the extruded material is expensive and the amount of material that needs to be trimmed is significant.
Therefore, there is a need for a device that add material to the edges of a flow of extruded material to prevent the waste of expensive material due to trimming of the material's edges.

Extrusion system including an edge encapsulation block


A device and method of operation for digital compensation of dynamic distortion. The transmitter device includes at least a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) connected to a lookup table (LUT), a first shift register, and a second shift register. The method includes iteratively adjusting the input values via the LUT to induce changes in the DAC output that compensate for dynamic distortion, which depends on precursors, current cursors, and postcursors. More specifically, the method includes producing and capturing average output values for each possible sequence of three symbols using the shift register and LUT configuration. Then, the LUT is updated with estimated values to induce desired output values that are adjusted to eliminate clipping. These steps are performed iteratively until one or more check conditions are satisfied. This method can also be combined with techniques such as equalization, eye modulation, and amplitude scaling to introduce desirable output signal characteristics.

The present invention generally relates to communication systems and integrated circuit (IC) devices. More specifically, the present invention provides for a device and method of operation for digital compensation of dynamic distortion in high-speed transmitters.
Over the last few decades, the use of communication networks has exploded. In the early days of the Internet, popular applications were limited to emails, bulletin boards, and mostly informational and text-based web page surfing. The amount of data transferred by such applications was relatively small. Today, the Internet and mobile applications demand a huge amount of bandwidth for transferring photo, video, music, and other multimedia files. For example, a social networking platform can process more than 500 TB of data daily. With such high demands on data storage and data transfer, existing data communication systems need to be improved to address these needs.
To address the need for high-speed data transfer, communication systems require transceiver devices that can transmit and receive data accurately at high rates and low power consumption. However, the transmitter and receiver components of such devices can be affected by numerous impairments that degrade the data signal. Particularly, high-speed transmitters can suffer from impairments, such as distortion, limited bandwidth, insertion losses, reflections, and noise. In some cases, the transmitter suffers from dynamic distortion, which not only depends on current symbols being transmitted but also on previous and subsequent symbols (precursors and postcursors, respectively) as well.
There have been many conventional types of methods and devices for compensation of signal impairments in transmitters. Unfortunately, they have been inadequate to address dynamic distortion. Therefore, improved communication systems with devices and methods for compensation of dynamic distortion in high-speed transmitters are highly desired.

Method and device for digital compensation of dynamic distortion in high-speed transmitters


As a method for using a hard X-ray sensor that can detect weak hard X-rays or the like with a higher resolution, a method for accurately evaluating natural resources of crude oil, natural gas, etc. existing underground, for example, is provided. A buried object evaluating method includes a detecting step of arranging a radiation detector to be opposed to a hard X-ray source radiating first hard X-rays with a buried object buried in a first substance being interposed between the radiation detector and the radiation source and, by using the radiation detector, detecting second hard X-rays transmitted through the buried object out of the first hard X-rays and third hard X-rays not transmitted through the buried object, and an evaluating step of evaluating the buried object based on a strength of the first hard X-rays and a strength of the second hard X-rays detected by the radiation detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for evaluating natural resources, etc. including crude oil, natural gas and the like existing underground or for evaluating a stratum structure by using radiation, and for monitoring a building interior by using radiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A radiation analyzing system by which radiation of hard X-rays, γ-rays or the like is detected so that an image information is generated is actually used in a variety of technological fields. For example, by detecting a radiation field from a certain heavenly body, a physical state or special structure of that heavenly body can be known. Also, by radiating X-rays to the human body or the like and investigating transmission waves thereof, a tomogram image of that human body or the like can be obtained. The radiation analyzing system is otherwise widely used, such as for a nuclear power field (i.e., a vitrification test of radioactive waste, a radiation monitoring device, etc.), a non-destructive inspection field (i.e., a semi-conductor inspection device, etc.), a resources exploring field (an exploration of underground resources, etc.) and the like.
Recently, a new hard X-ray sensor by which weak hard X-rays or the like can be detected with a high resolution has been developed (i.e., Japanese patent applications 2002-261262 and 2003-142670). This hard X-ray sensor is a semi-conductor detector in which CdTe (cadmium telluride) or the like having a relatively large photon blocking power as compared with Si or the like is implemented by a technology called a micro-bump. This sensor has a resolution of about 20 times or more and a detecting time of 1/10 or less than conventional technology. In this way, this sensor has various advantages so that it has a large possibility to be applied to various technological fields.
Nevertheless, a method for effectively using the above-mentioned hard X-ray sensor for each of the technological fields is not established yet and a prompt development thereof is being desired.

Buried object evaluating method, underground resources evaluating method, underground waste evaluating method, underground preserved object evaluating method, stratum structure evaluating method and building interior monitoring method, all using hard X-rays or γ-rays


Methods, systems, and products for dynamically creating a multimodal markup document are provided that include selecting a multimodal markup template, identifying in dependence upon the multimodal markup template a dynamic content module, instantiating the dynamic content module, executing a dynamic content creation function in the instantiated dynamic content module, receiving dynamic content from the dynamic content creation function, and including the dynamic content in the multimodal markup template. Selecting a multimodal markup template may be carried out by identifying a multimodal markup template from URI encoded data embedded in a request for a multimodal markup document from a multimodal browser. The multimodal markup template may include static content and the dynamic content may include XHTML+Voice content.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, systems, and products for displaying available menu choices in a multimodal browser.
2. Description of Related Art
User interaction with applications running on small devices through a keyboard or stylus has become increasingly limited and cumbersome as those devices have become increasingly smaller. In particular, small handheld devices like mobile phones and PDAs serve many functions and contain sufficient processing power to support user interaction through other modes, such as multimodal access. Devices which support multimodal access combine multiple user input modes or channels in the same interaction allowing a user to interact with the applications on the device simultaneously through multiple input modes or channels. The methods of input include speech recognition, keyboard, touch screen, stylus, mouse, handwriting, and others. Multimodal input often makes using a small device easier.
Multimodal applications often run on servers that serve up multimodal web pages for display on a multimodal browser. A 'multimodal browser,' as the term is used in this specification, generally means a web browser capable of receiving multimodal input and interacting with users with multimodal output. Multimodal browsers typically render web pages written in XHTML+Voice (X+V).
X+V provides a markup language that enables users to interact with an multimodal application often running on a server through spoken dialog in addition to traditional means of input such as keyboard strokes and mouse pointer action. X+V adds spoken interaction to standard web content by integrating XHTML (eXtensible Hypertext Markup Language) and speech recognition vocabularies supported by Voice XML. For visual markup, X+V includes the XHTML standard. For voice markup, X+V includes a subset of VoiceXML. For synchronizing the VoiceXML elements with corresponding visual interface elements, X+V uses events. XHTML includes voice modules that support speech synthesis, speech dialogs, command and control, and speech grammars. Voice handlers can be attached to XHTML elements and respond to specific events. Voice interaction features are integrated with XHTML and can consequently be used directly within XHTML content.
JavaServer Pages (JSP) currently provides a platform-independent, server-side technology for dynamically generating XML and HTML content. Current JSP technologies have not been applied to the creation of multimodal web pages however. The additional speech input and output modes of X+V applications require additional interactions between data and visual elements resulting in a more complex structure than that of the typical XML or HTML page. There is therefore an ongoing need for dynamically creating multimodal markup documents.

Dynamically creating multimodal markup documents

International Business Machines Corporation


There is disclosed a waterproof press-connecting connector in which when press-connecting sheathed wires respectively to press-connecting terminals, a rubber plug is prevented from moving to be disposed on the press-connecting terminals. In the waterproof press-connecting connector 15, there is provided positioning retaining means 21 for supporting the rubber plug 20, through which wires 7 are passed, at a rear end (defining a wire lead-out side) of a housing 18 in a provisionally-retained position where the end portions 7a of the wires are disposed respectively above press-connecting portions 23, and the rubber plug 20 is prevented from moving in a direction of axes of the wires, and in a completely-retained position where the wire end portions 7a are press-fitted respectively into the press-connecting portions 23. With this construction, the rubber plug 20 is prevented from moving in the direction of the axes of the wires 7.

This invention relates to a waterproof press-connecting connector in which a rear end portion of a housing, receiving press-connecting terminals each having press-connecting blades between which an end portion of a wire is press fitted, is waterproofed by a rubber plug.
FIG. 1 shows a waterproof press-connecting connector 1 disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 5-152028. This waterproof press-connecting connector 1 comprises a housing 4 having terminal receiving chambers 3 for respectively receiving press-connecting terminals 2, a tubular cover 5 receiving the housing 4 therein to cover the same, and a rubber plug 6 closing one open end of the cover 5.
The press-connecting terminal 2 includes press-connecting blades, and an end portion 7a of a sheathed wire 7 is press fitted between these press-connecting blades to be connected to the terminal 2. The rubber plug 6 has a plurality of wire insertion holes 8, and the end portions 7a of the sheathed wires 7, passed respectively through the wire insertion holes 8, are press fitted to the press-connecting terminals 2, respectively.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a seal ring inserted into the other open end of the cover 5, reference numeral 10 a mating connector, and reference numeral 11 a packing.
For connecting the waterproof press-connecting connector 1 to the end portions 7a of the sheathed wires 7, the end portions 7a of the sheathed wires 7, passed respectively through the insertion holes 8 in the rubber plug 6, are located respectively above press-connecting portions 12 of the press-connecting terminals 2 received respectively in the terminal receiving chambers 3 in the housing 4, and then are pressed by a press-connecting jig 13 from the upper side, as shown in FIG. 2(a). As a result of the pressing operation by the press-connecting jig 13, the end portions 7a of the sheathed wires 7 are press-connected respectively to the press-connecting terminals 2 to be electrically connected thereto. In this condition, the housing 4 is inserted into the cover 5, and the rubber plug 6 is fitted in the one open end of the cover 5 in such a manner that the rubber plug 6 is held in intimate contact with the inner peripheral surface of the one open end. As a result, the press-connecting terminals 2 and the end portions 7a of the sheathed wires 7 are received in a waterproofed manner within the cover 5.
However, generally, the sheath of the sheathed wire 7 contains an oily component, and therefore has a low friction coefficient, and the rubber plug 6 is liable to move in the direction of the axes of the sheathed wires 7 as shown in FIG. 2(a). As a result, the rubber plug 6 is moved to be disposed above the press-connecting terminals 2, and in this condition, when the sheathed wire 7 is pressed toward the press-connecting terminal 2 by the press-connecting jig 13, the rubber plug 6 is held between the press-connecting terminal 2 and the press-connecting jig 13, which results in a problem that the sheathed wire 7 can not be properly connected to the press-connecting terminal 2.

Waterproof press-connecting connector and press-connecting method


A new apparatus for processing substrates is disclosed. A multi-level load lock chamber having four environmentally isolated chambers interfaces with a transfer chamber that has a robotic assembly. The robotic assembly has two arms that each can move horizontally as the robotic assembly rotates about its axis. The arms can reach into the isolated chambers of the load lock to receive substrates from the bottom isolated chambers, transport the substrates to process chambers, and then place the substrates in the upper chambers. The isolated chambers in the load lock chamber may have a pivotably attached lid that may be opened to access the inside of the isolated chambers.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus for performing multiple processes on a substrate in succession within an environmentally controlled atmosphere.
2. Description of the Related Art
Substrate throughput in semiconductor processing is always a challenge. If technology is to advance, semiconductor substrates continually need to be processed efficiently. Cluster tools have developed as an effective means for processing multiple substrates simultaneously without breaking vacuum. Instead of processing a single substrate and then exposing the substrate to atmosphere during transfer to another chamber, multiple process chambers can be connected to a common transfer chamber so that when a process is complete on the substrate in one process chamber, the substrate can be moved, while still under vacuum, to another process chamber that is coupled to the same transfer chamber.
Another benefit of cluster tools is that multiple substrates can be processed within the tool in different chambers at the same time. After one substrate has exited a process chamber and transferred into another process chamber, a second substrate can be placed into the first process chamber. Thus, sequential processes can be performed on different substrate simultaneously within the cluster tool.
To enter the transfer chamber, a substrate first passes through a load lock chamber. The load lock chamber may heat the substrate prior to processing. After all of the substrate processing to be performed within the cluster tool has completed on the substrate, the substrate is transferred back to the load lock where it can exit the cluster tool system.
Therefore, a cluster tool can be very useful in increasing substrate throughput. Of course, there is always a desire to increase substrate throughput even more. Thus, there is a need in the art to increase substrate throughput in an apparatus that performs multiple processes on a substrate in succession.

Multi-level load lock chamber, transfer chamber, and robot suitable for interfacing with same


The parity of this invention includes two arrays of parities surrounding the memory. One array is generated in parallel. The other array is generated in serial. The two dimensional parity is used to protect, locate and correct errors automatically. The second parity is provided for only a subset of the address range of the memory. The memory controller does not compare the second parities unless there is a soft error in the first parity. The second parities are calculated upon command and not upon each memory write as the first parity.

Due to the decreasing size of memory elements their susceptibility to value corruption due to radiation induced effects from cosmic radiation is becoming a noticeable problem in some critical applications. Even within these applications, some memory uses are more vulnerable than others. Errors to the operating program can be very serious as they can lead to indefinite malfunctioning of the equipment. Such errors often require the device to be reset. Other errors in the data memory are considerably less dangerous for some applications because there is often some ambiguity as to the data anyway. In these cases the soft-error only causes a marginal increase in this ambiguity. This may be undetectable. This invention is a method for protecting the critical program memory for these types of applications. This invention also gives some limited protection to other memory uses like constant data.
Traditionally memories are protected by generating a number of parallel bits based on Hamming codes on a one-dimensional array of data bits often referred to as a memory line. This invention is a method of reducing the overhead of protecting memory from the rare radiation induced memory events. This invention employs just one bit of traditional parallel generated parity per memory line and a second serially generated parity bit per location in the memory line.

Soft error detection and correction by 2-dimensional parity


An electrode (1) for a high-pressure discharge lamp, having an electrode head (3) and an electrode rod (2), connected to electrode head (3) and defines a longitudinal axis (L). The electrode head (3) comprises a main section (4) on the same side as the electrode rod (2), an intermediate section (5) and an end section (9) on the opposite side from the electrode rod (2). The end surface of the end section (9) of the electrode head (3) is formed at least approximately semicircularly, and at least one subsection of the intermediate section (5) is cylindrically shaped. The extent (D2) of the cylindrical subsection of the intermediate section (5) in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is greater than the diameter (D3) of the semicircular end surface of the end section (9), but less than the largest transverse extent (D1) of the main section.

High-pressure short-arc discharge lamps for projection purposes, in particular for video projection, are known for example from the company OSRAM under the name P-VIP®. In the case of such high-pressure discharge lamps, the electrodes are exposed to high thermal stresses and high currents, for example 4 amperes or more. Undesired electrode burn-back therefore occurs, electrode material on the electrode tip being evaporated, as well as likewise undesired migration of the electrode tips and consequently also of the discharge arc burning between the electrode tips. This migration of the electrode tip is represented very schematically in FIGS. 8a and 8b. FIG. 8a shows a highly simplified shape of an electrode 101 having an electrode rod 102 and an electrode head 103. The electrode head 103 comprises a circular-cylindrical main section 104, and a hemispherical end section 105 as the "electrode tip". The relatively bulky main section 104 is used primarily for thermal radiation and therefore preferably has a relatively large surface area in comparison with the much smaller end section 105 (also referred to below as an electrode tip for the sake of simplicity), which is primarily used for maximally optimal positioning of the discharge arc and stable burning behavior thereof without arc jumps. In the course of operation of AC lamps, however, it is found that the end section 105, which melts at least partially during the lamp operation, can migrate on the end surface 106 of the main section 104. This effect can be commensurately more significant when the difference between the diameter of the end surface 106 and the diameter of the hemispherical end section 105 is greater. FIG. 8b shows by way of example the way in which the hemispherical end section 105 has migrated as far as the upper edge of the end surface 106 of the main section 104. This migration of the electrode tip generally leads at most to a minor change in the electrode spacing, i.e. the spacing of the electrode tips lying opposite one another in the discharge vessel. Measurement of the electrode spacing-dependent lamp voltage therefore likewise shows scarcely any change. Nevertheless, this effect of the electrode tip migration can lead to a reduction of, for example, 30% in the projector light. The reason for this is as follows. Since discharge lamps for projection applications are operated in an optical reflector, the migration of the electrode tips, and consequently of the discharge arc, leads to a significant reduction in the optical system efficiency since the luminous discharge arc in this case migrates from the primary focus of the elliptical reflector. In applications which require coupling of the light into an optical aperture arranged at the secondary focus of the reflector, for example the aperture of a DLP™ (DLP=Digital light processing), LCD or LCOS chip, or an optical integrator or light guide, the input coupling efficiency thereby furthermore decreases. This disadvantageous effect becomes more pronounced with an increasing reflector eccentricity, or decreasing input aperture of the downstream optical projector system.
In practice, electrodes having a hemispherical or frustoconical electrode head are predominantly used in the case of video projection lamps. Electrodes of the former type (see for example US 2004/0155588 A1) have a comparatively large mass in the front region of the electrode head, so that the electrode tip becomes less hot and less electric material consequently evaporates. They therefore generally have advantages in relation to the electrode burn-back behavior. However, they offer a relatively large surface for the electrode tip migration, so that the advantage in the burn-back behavior is generally outweighed by the disadvantage of the increased electrode tip migration.
Electrodes having a frustoconical electrode head, on the other hand, ensure stabilization of the electrode tip position by their tapering shape. Owing to the lower mass in the vicinity of the electrode tips, however, they generally exhibit significantly faster electrode burn-back. Accordingly, attempts have been made in the past to find the best possible compromise between electrode burn-back and electrode tip migration for a specific electrode by varying the cone angle.

Electrode, and high-pressure discharge lamp comprising said electrode


A device for measuring a polarization mode dispersion which prevents a bias of polarization components is such that incident light is made in line with orthogonal polarization axes (a p′-polarization axis and an s′-polarization axis) which are the p-polarization axis and s-polarization axis rotated by a certain angle θ, and is made incident to the optical fiber. This prevents the bias of the power in the p-polarization component and s-polarization component in the output of the polarization separator and is similar to a situation wherein the incident light is made in line with the p-polarization axis and s-polarization axis, and can measure the polarization mode dispersion.

Measurement of a polarization mode dispersion of optical fibers has been carried out conventionally. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (Kokai) No. H09-264814 describes a polarization mode dispersion measuring device for optical fibers. With reference to FIG. 7, a description will now be given of the device for measuring the polarization mode dispersion of optical fibers according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (Kokai) No. H09-264814.
First, the polarization mode dispersion τPMD of an optical fiber under test 104 is defined by the following equation (1):τPMD=2√{square root over ({dot over (θ)}2+{dot over (ψ)}12 cos2 θ+{dot over (ψ)}22 sin2θ)}  (1)
where θ is a polarization angle, ψ1 is a phase shift in a certain direction on a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of light, and ψ2 is a phase shift in a direction orthogonal to ψ1. On this occasion, a transfer function matrix [T] of the optical fiber under test 104 is defined by the following equation (2):
                              [                      T                                      (              ω              )                                ]                =                  [                                                                                                                          T                      11                                                                                                                  ⅇ                                          -                                              jϕ                        11                                                                                                                          T                      12                                                                                                                  ⅇ                                          -                                              jϕ                        12                                                                                                                          T                      21                                                                                                                  ⅇ                                          -                                              jϕ                        21                                                                                                                          T                      22                                                                                                                  ⅇ                                          -                                              jϕ                        22                                                                                ]                                    (        2        )
where |Tij| is an amplitude of respective matrix elements, φij is a phase shift of the respective matrix elements, and both of them are functions of an optical angular frequencyω. Then, the parameters –, ψ1, and ψ2 in the equation (1) are respectively obtained by the following equations (3), (4), and (5):θ(ω)=0.5 cos−1(|T11|2−|T21|2)  (3)ψ1(ω)=(φ11−φ22)/2  (4)ψ2(ω)=(φ21−φ12+π)/2  (5)
Consequently, the polarization mode dispersion τPMD of the optical fiber under test 104 is obtained by obtaining the transfer function matrix [T] of the optical fiber under test 104.
A description will now be given of how to obtain the transfer function matrix [T] of the optical fiber under test 104 with reference to FIG. 7. First, a control unit 109 makes output light of a polarization controller 103 as a linearly polarized wave in line with a p direction of a polarization beam splitter 105 incident to the optical fiber under test 104. On this occasion, output light from the optical fiber under test 104 is represented by the following equation (6):
                                          [                                                                                                                              T                        11                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          11                                                                                                                              T                        12                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          12                                                                                                                              T                        21                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          21                                                                                                                              T                        22                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          22                                                                                ]                                          [                                                            1                                                                              0                                                      ]                          =                  [                                                                                                                          T                      11                                                                                                                        ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          11                                                                                (                                              p                                                                                component                                            )                                                                                                                          T                      21                                                                                                                        ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          21                                                                                (                                              s                                                                                component                                            )                                                                                ]                                    (        6        )
The above-described output light is split into an s-polarization component and a p-polarization component by the polarization beam splitter 105, and then, the components are made incident to O/E converters 1061 and 1062 respectively, and the O/E converters 1061 and 1062 respectively measure:|T11|e−jφ11, |T21|e−jφ21
After the above-described measurement, the control unit 109 rotates the output light of the polarization controller 103 by 90°, and makes the rotated light as a linearly polarized wave in line with an s direction in the polarization beam splitter 105 incident to the optical fiber under test 104. On this occasion, output light from the optical fiber under test 104 is represented by the following equation (7):
                                          [                                                                                                                              T                        11                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          11                                                                                                                              T                        12                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          12                                                                                                                              T                        21                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          21                                                                                                                              T                        22                                                                                                                            ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          22                                                                                ]                                          [                                                            0                                                                              1                                                      ]                          =                  [                                                                                                                          T                      12                                                                                                                        ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          12                                                                                (                                              p                                                                                component                                            )                                                                                                                          T                      22                                                                                                                        ⅇ                                              -                                                  jϕ                          22                                                                                (                                              s                                                                                component                                            )                                                                                ]                                    (        7        )
The above-described output light is split into an s-polarization component and a p-polarization component by the polarization beam splitter 105, the components are made incident to the O/E converters 1061 and 1062 respectively, and the O/E converters 1061 and 1062 respectively measure:|T12|e−jφ12, |T22|e−jφ22
A network analyzer 107 obtains θ, ψ1, and ψ2 from the respective parameters measured as described above, and the equations (3), (4), and (5). It should be noted that the network analyzer 107 controls an intensity modulation ratio in an optical intensity modulator 102 through an amplifier 108.
Then, the above-described measurement is carried out while the output wavelength of a wavelength-variable light source 101 is being swept, thereby obtaining θ(ω), ψ1 (ω), and ψ2 (ω) from the respective measurement results. Then, the control unit 109 obtains the polarization mode dispersion τPMD from the equation (1).
However, in the method described above, when the output light of the optical fiber under test 104 is separated into the s-polarization component and p-polarization component by the polarization beam splitter 105, the power may be biased. Namely, either the s-polarization component or the p-polarization component output from the polarization beam splitter 105 may be extremely larger than the other component. In even an extreme case, only the p-polarization component is output, and the s-polarization component is not output.
In this case, the S/N ratio of the phase of a component with a smaller power degrades, and the measurement of the phase hence becomes inaccurate. Consequently, a group delay and the polarization mode dispersion of the optical fiber under test 104 contain noise, and the measurement thereof hence becomes inaccurate.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a polarization mode dispersion measuring device and the like which prevent the bias in the polarization components.

Device method and program for measuring polarization mode dispersion and recording medium recording the program


A document displaying system for facilitating easy access to documents being displayed. The document displaying system includes a support assembly having a backing member selectively couplable to a vertical support surface; a frame assembly operationally couplable to the support assembly; a transparent cover member operationally couplable to the frame assembly, and abutting a perimeter edge of the transparent cover member; and a pair of magnetic coupling members for selectively operationally securing the transparent cover member to the support assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to document displaying devices and more particularly pertains to a new document displaying system for facilitating easy changing of documents to be displayed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of document displaying devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,493 describes a device for displaying advertising in a floor surface. Other examples of document displaying devices include U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,446; U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,659; U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,263; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,087; U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,597; U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,933; U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,489; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,991.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that provides for additional stability of a frame, support of the system's weight, and easy front access to the document being displayed.


An object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a power converter against electromagnetic noise.

A vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle includes a DCDC converter circuit unit that converts high voltage and low voltage, and an inverter circuit unit that includes a power semiconductor circuit unit that converts DC power to AC power. With the miniaturization of vehicles, miniaturization of the DCDC converter circuit unit and the inverter circuit unit is also required.
Therefore, PTL 1 discloses a technology in which the DCDC converter circuit unit and the inverter circuit unit are accommodated in the same casing.
However, as electric products used in vehicles become high in voltage, further measures for parts constituting the DCDC converter circuit unit and the inverter circuit unit against electromagnetic noise need to be taken.

Abstract: A power converter according to the present invention includes: a power semiconductor circuit unit; a DCDC converter circuit unit; a first drive circuit board that outputs a drive signal to the power semiconductor circuit unit; a second drive circuit board that outputs a drive signal to the DCDC converter circuit unit; and a control circuit board that outputs a first control signal for controlling the first drive circuit board and a second control signal for controlling the second drive circuit board, in which the control circuit board is arranged at a position facing the second drive circuit board with the power semiconductor circuit unit and the DCDC converter circuit unit interposed therebetween, the first drive circuit board is arranged to be substantially parallel to an array direction of the control circuit board and the second drive circuit board, and the first drive circuit board has a relay wiring that relays the second control signal output from the control circuit board to the second drive circuit board.


A tilt and lock apparatus that includes a tilt servomechanism, a spiral torsion spring, a lock wheel, and a lock hook is described herein. The spiral torsion spring is mechanically coupled to the tilt servomechanism and the lock wheel (which includes an opening). When a shaft is positioned through the opening, rotation of the lock wheel is in unison with rotation of the shaft. An external surface of the lock wheel includes one or more grooves. The lock hook includes a head that engages and disengages the grooves. The lock wheel is stationary when the head engages one of the grooves and is rotatable when the head disengages the grooves. The head and the grooves are geometrically aligned when engaged to prevent creation of a force that acts to disengage the head responsive to an applied force acting on the shaft.

In various applications, shafts are mechanically coupled to a payload, where the shafts are desirably rotated to tilt the payload. However, external forces applied to a payload can damage an apparatus that rotates the shaft as well as the payload itself.
By way of example, a wheeled hopping robotic vehicle can include a hopping actuator (e.g., a payload). The hopping actuator can be stored in a home position in line with a chassis of the hopping robotic vehicle to enable the hopping robotic vehicle to drive. In preparation for deployment of the hopping actuator, the hopping actuator can be tilted. The hopping actuator can be deployed to cause the hopping robotic vehicle to propel off the ground. For instance, the hopping actuator can be a piston cylinder. Fuel and oxidizer can be metered into the hopping actuator and ignited, which causes a foot to extend from the bottom of the cylinder, thereby propelling the hopping robotic vehicle upwards from the ground. The force generated during hopping can cause damage to conventional mechanisms utilized to tilt the hopping actuator.
Moreover, the hopping actuator can be returned to the home position while in the air. If the hopping actuator fails to return to the home position prior to returning to the ground, significant applied forces can be exerted on the hopping actuator. Such applied forces commonly damage the conventional mechanisms utilized to tilt the hopping actuator.

Robust tilt and lock mechanism for hopping actuator


An integrated spoiler may comprise a side tube having a tube wall, wherein the tube wall has a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge is disposed proximate a portion of the tube wall; a seam proximate the first edge and the portion of the tube wall; a coupling across the seam configured to inhibit the exchange of gas across the seam; a flap comprising the second edge and extending outward of the seam; and a ligament. The flap may further comprise an angle θ between the flap and an outer surface of the tube wall wherein the ligament is configured to restrain angle θ at a maximum. The flap may be configured to pivot about the seam through angle θ in response to an aerodynamic force.

Emergency evacuation slides may be used to exit an aircraft absent a jet way or other suitable means of egress for passengers. The slides may deploy from a door sill or a side of the aircraft fuselage, for example. High winds tend to apply aerodynamic forces on the slide which tend to inhibit proper deployment of the slide and tend to lift the foot of the slide away from the ground.

Aircraft evacuation system with an integrated spoiler


A gas leak sensor system detects the presence of gas leaking into any one of a plurality of test spaces for example, refrigeration gas into a refrigeration case. A plurality of tubes extend from each of the test spaces to a sensor location whereat a selector valve is connected to each tube. A controller actuates the selector valves to select tubes in a particular order and a vacuum source draws air and any leaking gas through a selected tube and through a gas sensor to activate an alarm. The gas sensor is purged at least each time a leaking gas has been sensed.

Supermarkets and warehouses have many isolated refrigeration coils where potential leaks can occur. Individual sensing devices at each location would be cost prohibitive. U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,257 discloses the concept of a plurality of test spaces with tubing leading from the test spaces through valves to a single gas sensor, but no means for purging the system is disclosed.


A method for controlling wireless charging depending on a position of an FOB key in a wireless charging system provided in a vehicle and including an output unit, a wireless charging mount, and a controller, includes: transmitting, by the controller, a first signal informing a peripheral region of the wireless charging mount in which a wireless charging target is mounted that wireless charging is being performed in the peripheral region of the wireless charging mount in the case in which the wireless charging starts; transmitting, by the FOB key receiving the first signal, a second signal corresponding to the first signal to the controller; stopping, by the controller receiving the second signal, the wireless charging; and informing, by the controller, a user of the vehicle that the FOB key is present in the peripheral region of the wireless charging mount through the output unit.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling wireless charging depending on a position of an FOB key, and more particularly, to a method for controlling wireless charging that is capable of controlling the wireless charging by judging whether or not the FOB key is present in a peripheral region of a wireless charging system.
(b) Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide an apparatus and a method for transmitting vehicle wireless power for a smart phone capable of putting a plurality of smart phones or various electronic devices thereon within a vehicle in a contact scheme. It is also known to provide an apparatus and a method for supplying power by performing wireless charging for an electronic device such as a portable terminal, for example, a smart phone within the vehicle in a non-contact scheme. That is, wireless charging of the electronic device such as the smart phone can be carried out within the vehicle using magnetic resonance and electromagnetic coupled resonance. A portable electronic device such as an electronic organizer and a vehicle FOB key system, a smart phone case, a smart phone, and the like, receives power, which is electric energy, within the vehicle by using magnetic resonance and electromagnetic coupled resonance technologies.
Meanwhile, in the electromagnetic coupled resonance technology, in short distance transmission, which is a magnetic resonance type having a transmission distance of about several to ten meters, a frequency on the order of several ten MHz or several hundred MHz used in a mobile phone may be used, and a small amount of energy is transmitted at the same frequency to transmit and receive ends. In theory, electric products installed indoors may be used without wirings and portable apparatuses may be simultaneously operated without a separate power line. Non-contact transmission of which a transmission distance is about several mm to several cm has been actually applied to various devices such a distribution device, a transportation card, and the like. Particularly, in a short distance non-contact energy transmission technology, which uses an inductive coupling phenomenon among wireless power transmission technologies wireless transmitting energy to devices requiring the energy, the energy is transmitted by a current generated between two metal coils facing in parallel with each other and an electromagnetic interaction, and the current is induced from one coil toward the other coil through a magnetic field. Therefore, a relative position and a distance between the two coils and load power should be accurate. In the case in which the two coils are slightly distant from each other or a reference angle is out of a transmission/reception range, transmission efficiency is rapidly decreased. However, in the case in which the two coils are within a predetermined distance and the reference angle is within the transmission/reception range, the transmission efficiency is high.

Method for controlling wireless charging depending on position of FOB key


The present invention provides the discovery of an improved radiation curable coating composition comprising at least one acrylic monomer, a photoinitiator, and an ultraviolet light absorber selected from triazine or a dibenzoyl resorcinol derivative or a mixture thereof, the dibenzoyl resorcinol derivative having the formula ##STR1## where Ar and Ar' are independently substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups and R' is H or a linear or branched alkyl chain having less than about 10 carbons bearing a --Si(OR.sup.2).sub.3, where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl group.

Thermoplastic substrates such as polycarbonates and poly(methyl methacrylate) are generally characterized by their many advantageous properties which include clarity, high ductility, high heat deflection temperature, as well as dimensional stability. Many of these materials are transparent and are conventionally employed as replacements for glass in many commercial applications. However, such materials easily scratch and abrade, resulting in possible decrease in transparency. They often display low chemical solvent resistance and are susceptible to degradation by ultraviolet light. This results in unfavorable characteristics including yellowing and erosion of the substrate surface.
As a result, various methods to improve the weatherability and abrasion resistance of thermoplastic substrates have been developed. Such methods conventionally employ treating the thermoplastic substrate surface with a coating material, whereby the coating material typically contains ultraviolet light absorbing agents such as benzophenone and benzotriazole derivatives that decrease yellowing due to weathering conditions. The coating material may also contain a silicon compound for improved abrasion resistance. Coatings with increased abrasion resistance include so-called "silicone hardcoats", which are thermally cured, and silicon compound-containing compositions which are capable of being cured by radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Ultraviolet light (i.e. radiation curable) curable abrasion resistant coating compositions are dispersions of hard colloidal silica filler in acrylic monomers which can be cured using a free radical type of photo initiator. The ultraviolet radiation-cured coating compositions are advantageous because of their short curing times. These coatings provide increased weatherability, or abrasion resistance or a combination of weatherability and abrasion resistance to the underlying thermoplastic substrate.
Many ultraviolet radiation-curable abrasion-resistant coatings are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,205 discloses compositions comprising a silyl acrylate, aqueous colloidal silica, a photoinitiator and optionally a polyfunctional acrylate. Other materials which may be present include absorbers of ultraviolet radiation, employed as stabilizers, and hindered amines.
Other types of ultraviolet radiation-curable coating compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,504, which contain colloidal silica, a silyl acrylate, a polyfunctional acrylate and a photoinitiator. U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,508 contains colloidal silica, a silyl acrylate, a polyfunctional acrylate and a photoinitiator. Both of these patents also disclose the optional presence of ultraviolet stabilizers or compounds convertible thereto. U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,802 discloses coating compositions of essentially the same types further containing an ultraviolet radiation-absorbing amount of a dimeric benzotriazole compound as a stabilizer. Similar compositions employing acylphosphorus compounds such as 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,390, which also discloses the use of benzotriazoles and benzophenones as ultraviolet stabilizers.
Recently, it is becoming more and more common for thermoplastic substrates such as polycarbonate to be employed outdoors. It is thus important to impart weatherability properties on the ultraviolet radiation-curable coatings. Weather resistant coating systems can be prepared by incorporating ultraviolet absorbers, such as benzotriazoles and benzophenones, and hindered amine light stabilizers. However, prolonged exposure to sunlight, moisture and thermal cycling conditions can cause yellowing, delamination and formation of microcracks, decreasing transparency. These conditions are often noted in varying degrees in the compositions disclosed in the aforementioned patents, even when one of the properties mentioned is improved weatherability.
The instant invention, therefore, is directed to novel and improved ultraviolet light curable coatings, herein referred to as UV cured coatings, which are capable of absorbing ultraviolet light to increase the weathering characteristics of the coating. The instant invention further provides coating compositions that greatly improve weatherability of the coating and coated article by decreasing yellowing, delamination, and the formation of microcracks, as compared to presently known coatings being used for their weathering characteristics.

Radiation curable coatings with improved weatherability


A fishing line including a core of at least one multifilament yarn based on synthetic organic fibrous materials such as polyethylene of an ultra-high molecular weight, and a casing formed from polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) film tape which is wound around the core in the S direction and the Z direction or vice versa.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fishing line.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Fishing lines with a high resistance to breaking are known, which are either designed as monofilaments or are of a multitude of braided cords, wherein synthetic fibers of great strength are thus employed, such as discussed in German Patent Reference DE 44 02 630 C1, for example. As a protection against damage, such threads and cords are provided with a casing, for example by coating or extrusion, such as discussed in PCT International Publication WO 9203922 A1. The employment of adhesive materials, such as hot melt adhesives, for improving the adhesiveness between the casing and/or the filaments is disadvantageous in connection with known hybrid fishing lines. Such bonding layers/adhesive layers have a negative effect on the mechanical properties and fatigue strength under reversing bending strains of the fishing line, and over time also become brittle, disintegrate and decompose.
Braided or twisted fishing lines also have one disadvantage that the elongation at break is not inconsiderably increased by twisting. It is also possible when using the fishing line in salt water, while retrieving the fishing line water droplets are caught between the individual filaments and leave salt crystals behind when they dry, which leads to destruction by friction when unreeling the fishing line again.


A memory component includes at least one memory bank array, a DQ region, a clock tree, and a voltage generator. The memory component is configured in a semiconductor wafer. The at least one memory bank array is configured such that data is read out of it during a read operation. The clock tree is coupled to the DQ region and is configured for driving data during the read operation. The voltage generator is coupled to at least some components of the clock tree in order to provide at least some of the components of the clock tree with an increased voltage.

In many present day DRAM applications or in systems incorporating a DRAM, maximizing system performance is a significant consideration. Certain time constraints and delays in retrieving data from the system DRAM can affect overall system performance. Even very small time segments can affect performance. For example, during a read operation data is typically presented on data pads to be clocked out of the system memory for only a short period of time. As such, the clocking out of that data must occur within that short window of time during which it is presented, or there can be a failure. For this and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.

Boosted clock circuit for semiconductor memory


A plasma display device (10) is provided with circuitry (50) which modifies at least the R and B color component signals so as to compensate for the displacement of the display elements or sub-pixels for each color component relative to each other in the array. Surprisingly, this increases the ratio of wanted signal to alias spectrum. The modification is effected by an interpolator comprising transversal filters (31R, 31B). The circuitry can be combined with down-converters (52) when a high definition source is used. In this case a transversal filter (31G) is also included for the G color component signal.

This invention relates to color display devices, for use in television displays, computer monitors, and the like.
Conventional displays, using cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices, operate with a series of horizontal lines written continuously on the display in a vertical progression. The lines may be written continuously from top to the bottom (progressive, continuous or non-interlaced scan) or, more traditionally in broadcast receivers the odd numbered lines may be written first on one field and the even numbered lines then written on the next field (interlaced scan). For present purposes there is no material difference between progressive and interlaced scan; they both scan line-by-line and are supplied with an essentially continuous video signal which represents what may be regarded as picture elements or pixels along successive lines. Although referred to as pixels or picture elements, in the received analog video signal the pixels are not discrete, but rather the signal is completely continuous during each line. The lines are sufficient in number to be invisible to the normal user at the normal viewing distance.
To provide color on the display a cathode ray tube has three guns which receive analog red, green and blue (RGB) color-component signals respectively, and which are arranged to place red, green and blue spots closely together on the display screen. The three elemental color areas are not superposed, but are placed side-by-side. In a traditional shadow mask tube, illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C of the drawings, they are in a triangular arrangement of dots. In another type of tube known as the striped tube, illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the color regions are in narrow vertical stripes down the screen. In either event, the three color components of such a triplet are derived from the same instant of the video signal, but are positioned on the display at very slightly different locations. The video signal can be said to be sampled in this process. The three points of color can be referred to as sub-pixels. The sub-pixels are sufficiently close to render the sampling invisible.
A new type of display, which may be termed a discrete color display or matrix display, is now being developed, which consists of a two-dimensional array of separate display elements. An example of such a display is a plasma display. In this case also, the sub-pixels are not coincident on the display but appear at difference places on the overall display. They may be arranged in stripes as in the striped display. In this case the separate display elements are separately addressed, each with a separate pixel value, with successive samples, which have been taken from an appropriate continuous video signal.
We have appreciated that the spatial separation of the dots or stripes on the screen means that the information is not being displayed at precisely the correct point. Putting it another way, the information that should be displayed at the red sub-pixel should differ as regards the precise instant in the red video signal from which it is taken such as to reflect the spatial difference in the location of the red sub-pixel from the green and blue sub-pixels.
We have appreciated that with existing analog CRT displays this effect is obtained by adjusting the relative timing between the instants that the red, green and blue beams excite the phosphors as they sweep across the sub-pixels. This adjustment takes place during the convergence operation, which is part of the CRT setting-up procedure and can be explained as follows. A visual convergence adjustment takes place in which the scans are laterally adjusted so as to produce the optimum image as judged by a visual observer. FIG. 3 shows the relative disposition of the sub-pixels, guns and shadow-mask apertures with superposed beam positions corresponding to three adjacent sets of sub-pixels. It will be appreciated that,for the purposes of illustration the distance from the guns to the shadow-mask has been considerably reduced compared to the distance from the shadow-mask to the pixels. FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show the beam positions at three successive instants of time as the beams sweep from left to right. It can be seen that the spacing;of the beams is such that two of the beams are blocked when the third is exciting the appropriate phosphor. This has the effect of three-fold interleaving the times in the red, green and blue signals when the appropriate phosphors are excited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,513 describes video display apparatus using a matrix display. Analog color component signals are received and serially sampled for application sequentially to the matrix display. The inventor specifically wishes the three horizontally-spaced color components to represent the same point in time, and therefore includes a one-third pixel delay in one component signal path and a two-thirds pixel delay in another of the component paths. This in fact introduces a problem similar to that noted above.
The present invention is defined in the independent claims below, to which reference should now be made. Advantageous features are set forth in the appendant claims.
In accordance with this invention we have appreciated that a discrete digitally-driven display can, however, be improved by modifying the signal samples to take account of the sub-pixel shift.
Where the sample rate of the RGB signals is the same as that of the display, this modification preferably takes the form of an interpolation of the R and B samples to new samples which are offset by the R and B sub-pixel shift from the G samples. Where the sample rate (samples/line) of the RGB signals is different from that of the display, all three sets of samples need to be interpolated, again allowing for the shift offset.
The improvement is, in principle, applicable to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional sampling situations. One-dimensional sampling arises with a display where the colors are arranged in stripes where the sub-pixels of a color are vertically aligned, whereas two-dimensional sampling arises in particular where the sub-pixels are arranged in a group of dots. For ease of explanation the following description by way of example will be made in relation to a one-dimensional arrangement. Those skilled in the art will be able to expand the treatment to the two-dimensional situation.


The present invention relates to a resin composition having a high dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss tangent under high frequency conditions and articles obtained therefrom. The resin composition comprises 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic resin and 50-900 parts by weight of ferroelectric material. The formed articles can be used as substrates for a miniaturized antenna or circuit.

High density radio communications such as satellite broadcast systems, satellite communication systems, high-vision television broadcast systems, and cellular phone systems have come into wide use. And the frequency band in use is shifting to higher frequencies. To facilitate transportation of portable communication systems such as global positioning systems (navigation systems) and to make them smaller, miniaturization of the antenna for radio communication and the circuit substrate are desired.
An antenna for high frequency communication has a basic structure in which a metal foil such as copper foil is laminated on an antenna substrate. The antenna substrate is requested to be made from a material having a high dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss tangent. If the antenna substrate has these properties, even small antennae can receive and send high frequency radio waves. If the material has a high dielectric loss tangent, the transfer loss of information tends to be large and the sensitivity of receipt and transmission tends to have a low sensitivity and to be noisy. If the material has a low dielectric constant, the substrate or the antenna therefrom is difficult to be made small or to be miniaturized.
Formerly, some antenna substrates which have a high dielectric constant and a low dielectric loss tangent have been developed and are made of glass fibers prepregs, which have a comparatively high dielectric constant, preimpregnated with thermoset resins in which a powder of ceramics, which has a high dielectric constant, such as titania is added. However the process using such prepreg to make an antenna substrate is complicated and takes a great deal of time (i.e. >24 hrs.).
On the other hand it is known that there are resins, such as polyphenyleneoxide and polyphenylene sulfide, which have a low dielectric loss tangent.
However, their dielectric constant is too low, and their electrical properties are affected by the environmental temperature. They cannot be used as a substrate for a small antenna or a small circuit.

Resin composition and articles made therefrom


An insert for placement within a generally tubular fluid conduit having an inner conduit wall. The insert functions to provide quasi-laminar flow to a fluid, and is constructed as a generally ring shaped flow-through structure having an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall has a shape complimentary to the inner conduit wall such that the structure can be held by friction fit at an interface of the outer wall and conduit wall. The inner wall of the structure has projecting inwardly therefrom a plurality of uniformly spaced generally sinusoidal shaped vanes each terminating at an apex disposed between about 0.4 and 0.8 the radius dimension of the structure, and extending longitudinally preferably helically at an angle between about 17 degrees and 19 degrees in relation to a horizontal plane. Substantially identical construction as that of the insert is also incorporated within an inventive tubular fluid conduit having an inner wall with at least one integral quasi-laminar flow inducing portion constructed with substantially identical components as present at the inner wall of the insert. The construction functions to induce and maintain optimized spiral flow within a conduit.

The transport of fluid, whether liquid or gas, from one location to another as in an industrial manufacturing facility, for example, generally requires the employment of conduits such as piping or other ducting extending from the site of fluid storage to the site of fluid use. The route of travel of such a conduit can be a generally straight pathway or it can include one or more elbow or other turns in order to accommodate building architecture or the like present at the facility. As is well recognized in the art, however, fluid flow through a conduit is eventually impeded irrespective of travel geometry. Fluid dynamics teaches us the need for smooth flow in order to maintain efficient fluid movement, but such a flow pattern is eventually lost, and turbulent flow ensues. Once a system flow becomes turbulent, smooth flow is rarely, if ever, restored. Spiral or vortical flow solves this problem to some extent, but such a flow pattern is eventually damped out by tangential friction within the conduit, and, once again, turbulence ensues. The body of mathematics commonly known as Chaos Theory, when applied to the non-linear nature of flow, virtually guarantees the eventual collapse of any system of flow into turbulence, absent some mechanism of control.
In view of the above inefficiencies in moving a fluid from one location to another through a conduit, it is apparent that a need is present for technology that maintains an organized flow to moving fluid. One method of doing so is to induce and maintain the spiral movement described above. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a generally tubular fluid conduit in which sinusoidally shaped vanes therewithin define a fluid flow pattern substantially throughout the conduit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insert positionable within a conventional conduit whereby the insert introduces the sinusoidal shaped vane configuration to the conduit to maintain efficient fluid flow.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a conduit wherein at least one portion of the inside wall thereof is configured to induce and maintain a spiral movement in moving fluid.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a conduit having curvatures such as elbows and the like wherein a portion of the inside wall immediately preceding such a curvature is configured to induce a spiral flow to fluid passing therethrough to thereby maintain a spirality of movement throughout the curvature and beyond.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.

Flow system for pipes, pipe fittings, ducts and ducting elements


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a scalable interconnection scheme of multiple processing engines on a single chip using on-chip configurable routers. The interconnection scheme supports unicast and multicast routing of data packets communicated by the processing engines. Each on-chip configurable router includes routing tables that are programmable by software, and is configured to correctly deliver incoming data packets to its output ports in a fair and deadlock-free manner. In particular, each output port of the on-chip configurable routers includes an output port arbiter to avoid deadlocks when there are contentions at output ports of the on-chip configurable routers and to guarantee fairness in delivery among transferred data packets.

As transistor size becomes smaller, more computational components, memories and processing engines can be integrated onto a single chip. This high integration allows for the ability to process more system tasks in parallel to achieve higher system performance.
These computational components, memories and processing engines require a communication fabric for transferring data among them. As the number of processing engines increases, interconnection techniques, such as bus and ring architectures, are no longer scalable to provide enough communication bandwidth for these engines.
On-chip network is an interconnection technique for a large number of processing engines on a single chip. The network includes multiple on-chip routers in which each on-chip router connects to the nearest neighboring on-chip router(s) in the network. Each processing engine is connected to one of the on-chip routers; and, an on-chip router can connect with multiple processing engines. Data communicated among processing engines are transferred through the network of the on-chip routers.
However, there are issues with the on-chip routers of the prior art. For example, the prior art on-chip routers have fixed routing algorithms. As such, the prior art on-chip routers stop working if the addresses of processing engines change or if more processing engines are added or removed from the network. In addition, these prior art on-chip routers only support unicast data packets among processing engines and fixed arbitration schemes.

Matrix of on-chip routers interconnecting a plurality of processing engines and a method of routing using thereof


The invention concerns a handle, especially with a lock, for the exterior of a motor vehicle's gate or door, with a housing in which the handle is sunk, and on which the handle is linked swivel-mounted whereby it is possible to grab around the handle by hand, whereby the front surface of the housing is completely or partially covered on the outside by a covering disk which is swivel-mounted or slidable in such a manner relative to said housing, that the covering disk covers up the handle in the disk's closed-position and the covering disk releases the handle in the disk's open-position, and that the handle 3 is acted upon in an external direction by a spring, by which the handle can be pressed from its internal position into its external position protruding outwards.

The invention concerns a handle, especially with a lock, for the exterior of a motor vehicle's gate or door, with a housing in which the handle is sunk, and on which the handle is linked swivel-mounted, whereby it is possible to grab around the handle by hand, and the like.
It is known how to open a motor vehicle's rear gate by a control button and/or by introducing and turning a key in a lock. From European patent specification 0 300 528, it is furthermore known how to cover up the lock of a rear gate with a swiveling disk which must be twisted before the lock's control component is accessible. This known lock does not have a handle which the hand can grab, so that reaching is necessary to lift the rear gate.


An electrical card connector comprises an insulating header (1) having a mounting face (10), a plurality of electrical contacts (2) retained in the insulating header (1) and each having a soldering portion (22) arranging along the mounting face (10) and an engaging portion (21) for electrically connecting with an inserted electronic card, and a metallic shell (5) defining a receiving room (57) with an opening (59), through which the electronic card is inserted into the receiving room (57) along a direction, and further having a metallic header (58) disposed at a longitudinal end of the receiving room (57) and far from the opening (59), which is assembled onto the insulating header (1). Wherein the card inserting direction is perpendicular to the mounting face (10).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical card connector, and in particular to an electrical card connector for perpendicularly electrically connecting a card with a printed circuit board.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a conventional card connector is parallelly assembled on a printed circuit board (PCB), that is, the insertion of an inserted card is parallel with the PCB, as a result, the card connector occupies a large horizontal space above the PCB. In order to save horizontal space above a PCB, an electrical card connector perpendicularly assembled on the PCB is disclosed, such as an electrical card connector assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,273. However, the electrical card connector assembly needs a transition connector mounted on a PCB for connecting the electrical card connector to the PCB, as a result, more vertical space is occupied by the transition connector and further the manufacturing cost is higher.
Therefore, the present invention is directed to solving the above problems by providing an improved electrical card connector which can be perpendicularly assembled on a PCB and without a transition device for connecting to the PCB.