An applicator for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty coating medium onto a traveling fiber material web, notably of paper or cardboard, includes at least one metering system with a metering slot configured as an open-jet nozzle and formed between an approach-side lip and a departure-side lip. The applicator includes at least one guide surface bordering on the exit of the metering slot and intended for the coating medium issuing as an open jet out of the metering slot. The length of the guide surface is adjustable in at least one direction substantially parallel to the flow direction of the coating medium along the guide surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty coating medium onto a traveling material web, notably of paper or cardboard.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatuses are used in so-called coating systems for providing a traveling material web, formed for example of paper, cardboard or a textile material, on one or both sides with one or several layers of the coating medium, for example color, starch, impregnating fluid or the like.
In the so-called direct application, the liquid or pasty coating medium is applied by an applicator system directly onto the surface of the traveling fiber material web, the latter being carried during application on a rotating countersurface, for example an endless belt or a backing roll. In the indirect application of the medium, the liquid or pasty coating medium is first applied onto a substrate, for example the surface of a backing roll configured as an applicator roll, and is then transferred from the substrate to the fiber material web in a nip through which the material web passes.
Known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,030 is an applicator for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty coating medium onto a traveling fiber material web, notably of paper or cardboard, which includes a metering system with a metering slot configured as an open-jet nozzle and formed between an approach-side lip and a departure-side lip. Owing to the configuration of the open jet of liquid or pasty medium proceeding through the ambient atmosphere, such applicators are also known by the trade name "Fountain Jet Flow Applicator." Of the two lips forming the metering slot, the one disposed on the side of the metering slot which, in the indirect application of the medium, the applicator roll rotates toward, or, in the direct application of the medium, the fiber material web runs toward, is called the approach-side lip. Accordingly, the second lip, located on the side of the metering slot from which the applicator roll or fiber material web departs from the applicator, is called the departure-side lip. In one embodiment of an applicator according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,030, a concavely curving guide surface for the liquid or pasty coating medium, bordering on the metering slot, is arranged on the free end of the approach-side lip or the departure-side lip.
An applicator comparable with the applicator according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,030 is also being marketed by the assignee of the present invention under the trade name "Jet Flow F." The German patent application P 44 32 177.5-51, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses an adjustment system that is usable in a "Jet Flow F Applicator" and that allows adjusting the approach-side lip manually or automatically with respect to its clearance from the departure-side lip. Viewed across the width of the applicator, the clearance can be adjusted zonewise differently by use of actuators, so as to even out, e.g., localized production inaccuracies and/or realize a desired cross profile of the applied liquid or pasty medium. The cross profile may sectionally vary, for example, by being flattened at the edges of the fiber material web. Also possible is a coarse adjustment of the entire metering slot extending across the width of the applicator. Usually coordinated with each adjustment zone are one or several actuators that are placed at a specific sideways spacing relative to one another. The correct choice of the mutual clearances between the respective actuators is particularly important for optimum adjustment of a desired cross profile.
It has been found, though, that the adjustment of an individual actuator has, with respect to the longitudinal expanse of the metering slot or the machine width direction, an effect on the section of the flow of liquid or pasty coating medium. The flow of coating medium is normally to be influenced by adjacent actuators. Thus, the adjustment of an individual actuator affects the resulting cross profile. For example, the local enlargement of the metering slot depth occasioned by actuation of an individual actuator at a profile spot causes a local variation of the amount of coating medium traversing a preset unit area. The variation nonetheless can still be limited to the area of the adjustment zone of the operated actuator. Until the coating medium impinges on the surface of the traveling fiber material web or the applicator roll, however, sort of a spreading effect or evening effect occurs in machine cross direction in the jet of coating medium. Thus, a zonewise variation of the cross profile results from the originally locally restricted variation of the amount of coating medium. This effect on the cross profile, caused by an individual actuator, is hereinafter called "influential width."
Due to the mutual influencing of the respective actuators of a metering slot adjustment system and the resulting superimposition of the influential widths of adjacent actuators, an even cross profile can obviously be achieved only at relatively high control expense. Besides, the influential width resulting from an individual actuator depends upon various design-related technical parameters of the applicator and/or on the properties of the coating medium used, for example, total pump output or total volume flow of the applicator, operating speed, rheology of the coating medium, etc. The user of a finished applicator is no longer able to influence these parameters.

Coating medium applicator with guide surface


An adjustable golf swing training device for use with multiple different golf clubs having a template frame partially surrounding and defining a ball hitting area. A club selection bar slidably cooperates with the primary longitudinal frame section so that movement of the club selection bar with respect to the primary longitudinal frame section aligns the club indicia for one of the multiple different golf clubs with the club face alignment tab and establishes the location of the front foot marker and the back foot marker to inform a user of the proper foot locations for the golf club when a golf ball is positioned in the ball hitting area and aligned with the club face alignment tab.

One embodiment of the present invention is a golf trainer that is a template that is placed on the ground and provides a visual presentation of many fundamental set up and alignment functions for a golfer to consider when attempting to strike a golf ball correctly. This trainer will create the proper muscle memory for a consistent and more "perfect" golf swing. The template may be composed of multiple distinct sections that may be used together or independently.
One embodiment of the trainer is made in the shape of a rectangle with an arrow shape at one end. The ball is placed within the frame of the trainer and the graphics printed on the trainer provide a visual template that identifies key the aspects of proper alignment between the golfer, the club, the ball and the target. Because the ball is placed within the frame, the golfer has an overview of many functions that must be considered at one time and this causes the golfer to focus and concentrate more on each practice swing which builds proper muscle memory and results in a more "perfect practice".


A method for producing (S)-cyanohydrins of general formula ##STR1## in which R and R' independently represent (1) hydrogen; (2) a substituted or unsubstituted saturated alkyl group which may include amine, imine, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, halogen, carboxyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 -cycloalkyl groups and/or a N,O,S-heteroatom-substituted aromatic ring as substituent; (3) a substituted or unsubstituted, singly or multiply unsaturated alkenyl- or alkinyl group which may include one or several amine, imine, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, halogen, carboxyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 -cycloalkyl groups and/or one optionally N,O,S-heteroatom-substituted aromatic ring as substituents; (4) a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group. The method includes an enzyme-catalyzed conversion of carbonyl compounds of general formula II ##STR2## with hydrogen cyanide or a substance supplying hydrogen cyanide or CN- for the conversion in the presence of an amount of an immobilized (S)-oxynitrilase which catalyzes the conversion. The use of nitrocellulose as carrier for the immobilized (S)-oxynitrilase results in a distinct increase of the yield of (S)-cyanohydrin and of the enantiomeric excess compared to the traditional cellulose carrier material.

1 . Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of producing (S)-cyanohydrins with the general formula I ##STR3## in which the groups R and R' signify, independently of one another: Hydrogen;
A substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated alkyl group with 1 to 18 C atoms which can comprise one or several amine, imine, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, halogen, carboxyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 -cycloalkyl groups and/or one optionally N,O,S-heteroatom-substituted aromatic ring with up to 22 C atoms as substituent, which cyclic substituents can be substituted themselves singly or multiply with halogen, hydroxy and/or linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkinyl; PA1 A substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, singly or multiply unsaturated alkenyl- or alkinyl group with 2 to 18 C atoms which can comprise one or several amine, imine, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, halogen, carboxyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.20 -cycloalkyl groups and/or one optionally N,O,S-heteroatom-substituted aromatic ring with up to 22 C atoms as substituents, which cyclic substituents can be substituted themselves singly or multiply with halogen, hydroxy and/or linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkinyl; PA1 A substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group with 5 to 22 ring atoms in which up to 4 of the ring carbon atoms can be replaced by N, O and/or S and the group can comprise one or several amine, imine, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, carboxy and/or linear or branched, saturated or singly or multiply unsaturated alkyl groups with one to 22 C atoms as substituent and at least two of the substituents on the ring can be joined to a cycle, PA1 provided that R and R' do not signify hydrogen at the same time, by enzyme-catalyzed conversion of carbonyl compounds of general formula II ##STR4## in which R and R' have the meaning indicated for formula I, with hydrogen cyanide or a substance supplying hydrogen cyanide or CN.sup.- for the reaction in the presence of an amount of an immobilized (S)-oxynitrilase which catalyses the reaction.
2. Background Information
Starting from chiral cyanohydrins, a plurality of important substance classes of optically active compounds such as e.g. .alpha.-amino alcohols, .alpha.-hydroxyaldehydes and .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acids are readily accessible. Methods for producing optically active (S)-cyanohydrins are described in the literature.
The enantioselective addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of chiral catalysts plays a significant part in the chemical methods for the synthesis of optically active cyanohydrines.
According to H. Minamikawa, S. Hayakawa, T. Yamada, N. Iwasawa, K. Narasake, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 61 (1988), 4379 and K. Narasaka, T. Yamada, H. Minamikawa, Chem. Lett. 1987, 2073 the (R)-cyanohydrins are produced starting from a few aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in good chemical and optical yields (61-93% ee). The authors indicate that the (S)-cyanohydrins are formed when using the corresponding other enantiomer of the catalyst.
According to M. Hayashi, T. Matsuda, N. Oguni, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1990, 1364 titanium tetraisopropanolate with L(+)-diisopropyltartrate or with chiral Schiff bases was used as a further chiral catalyst (M. Hayashi, Y. Miyamoto, T. Inoue, N. Oguni, J. Org. Chem. 58 (1993), 1515). Depending on the catalyst used, both aromatic as well as aliphatic (S)- and (R)-cyanohydrins were produced usually in unsatisfactory enantiomeric excesses of 22-96% ee.
According to E. J. Corey, Z. Wang, Tetrahedron Lett. 34 (1993), 4001, it was possible to obtain a few aliphatic (S)-cyanohydrins by cyanosilylizing in very good chemical and optical yields (ee values up to 95% for heptanal) with a bisoxazoline magnesium complex as chiral catalyst.
Good enantiomeric excesses can also be obtained in the diastereoselective cyanosilylizing of aldehydes acetalized with 2(R),4(R)-pentanediol. According to J. D. Elliot, V. Choi, W. P. Johnson, J. Org. Chem. 48 (1983), 2294 an ee value of 93% at a 97% yield was achieved thereby for (R)-mandelonitrile. If the corresponding 2(S),4(S)-pentanediol is used (S)-cyanohydrin is produced in the same manner.
Even optically active, protected a-amino aldehydes (M. T. Reetz, M. W. Drewes, K. Harms, W. Reif, Tetrahedron Lett. 29 (1988), 3295; J. Herranz, J. Castro-Pichel, T. Gracia-Lopez, Synthesis 1989, 703) and .alpha.-hydroxy aldehydes (M. T. Reetz, K. Kesseler, A. Jung, Angew. Chem. 97 (1985), 989) can be converted under Lewis acid-catalysis with trimethylsilyl cyanide or tributyl tin cyanide under moderate to good diastereoselectivity into the corresponding .beta.-amino-.alpha.-hydroxy- and .alpha.,.beta.-dihydroxynitriles.
A further possibility for synthesizing (S)-cyanohydrins starting from (R)-cyanohydrins is known from F. Effenberger, U. Stelzer, Angew. Chem. 103 (1991), 866 and F. Effenberger, U. Stelzer, Chem. Ber. 126 (1993), 779.
The (R)-cyanohydrins are sulfonylized thereby and then reacted with potassium acetate under S.sub.N 2 conditions. The acetyl group is removed in the aqueous sour leaven!. In the case of aliphatic cyanohydrins all stages take place totally free of racemization; racemization occurs in part at times! in the case of aromatic cyanohydrins. This method can be used especially for those compounds which were not directly accessible since that time on account of the limited substrate spectrum of the (S)-oxynitrilases.
The Mitsunobu reaction also takes place under the inversion of (R)-cyanohydrins (E. Warmerdam, J. Brussee, C. G. Kruse, A. van der Gen, Tetrahedron 49 (1993), 1063).
However, when viewed on the whole it is desirable in every instance to replace the chemical methods by enzyme-catalyzed methods. (R)-cyanohydrins with very differing structure are accessible in very good optical yields via the addition of hydrogen cyanide to aldehydes catalyzed with hydroxynitrile lyase from bitter almonds (PaHNL) (EC 184.108.40.206) (F. Effenberger, Angew. Chem. 1994, 106, 1690-1619). Since the enzyme is also readily accessible in industrial amounts, this method offers the simplest access to (R)-cyanohydrins.
However, the conditions for the enzyme-catalyzed preparation of (S)-cyanohydrins are considerably different. The use of hydroxynitrile lyase from bicolor sorghum (SbHNL) (EC 22.214.171.124) as catalyst has proven to be the most successful (F. Effenberger, B. Horsch, S. Forster, T. Ziegler, Tetrahedron Lett. 1990, 31, 1249-1252; U. Niedermeyer, M. -R. Kula, Angew. Chem. 1990, 102, 423-425; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1990, 29, 386-387; M. -R. Kula, U. Niedermeyer, I. M. Stuertz, EP-B 350,908, 1990; DE-B 38 23 866 (Chem. Abstr. 1990, 113, 57462h)), an enzyme which in the meantime can also be obtained from millet seedlings in amounts sufficient for synthetic applications. In addition to the rather difficult accessibility, the substrate spectrum of SbHNL, which is distinctly limited in comparison to PaHNL and accepts only aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes as substrates, is a serious disadvantage for the use of this enzyme.


There are disclosed a method of purifying a polyacrylonitrile which comprises removing iron compounds or ions thereof and aluminum compounds or ions thereof which can be contained as impurities in a polyacrylonitrile obtained by aqueous suspension polymerization using an inorganic redox initiator, from a solution consisting of said polyacrylonitrile and an organic solvent capable of dissolving said polyacrylonitrile, by the use of a substance having ion-exchanging ability which is insoluble in said organic solvent; a process for producing fiber from the polyacrylonitrile thus purified; and a process for producing carbon fiber from said fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of purifying a polyacrylonitrile obtained by aqueous suspension polymerization by the use of an inorganic redox initiator; a process for producing acrylic fiber having a high spinning stability by using a purified solution of said polyacrylonitrile as a starting material; and a process for producing carbon fiber by carbonizing this acrylic fiber.
2. Description of the Related Art
Acrylic fibers have properties such as excellent bulking power, feeling and color definition like those of wool, and are utilized for various purposes The acrylic fiber is obtained as a product, i.e., staples or filaments, by subjecting a polyacrylonitrile as starting material to a step of its dissolution in an organic or inorganic solvent, and then spinning the resulting solution by a wet process, a dry process or a semi-dry semi-wet process. In general, the starting polyacrylonitrile is produced by radical polymerization of acrylonitrile monomer and a monomer copolymerizable therewith. The acrylic fiber obtained by the above method is carbonized into carbon fiber through a carbonizing step, and the carbon fiber has high performance characteristics such as high strength, modulus of elasticity and heat resistance and is utilized for various purposes, for example, it is used as a material for airplanes.
Suspension polymerization which is nonuniform polymerization in an aqueous system is a historied and widely used process for producing a polyacrylonitrile and is advantageos, for example, in that control of the quality of the polymer is easy, that recovery of an untreated monomer(s) is easy, and that the control of the whole process is easy. For the production of the polyacrylonitrile, a continuous suspension polymerization method using water as a medium for reaction is employed. As a polymerization initiator in this case, an inorganic initiator is generally used.
When monomers the greater part of which is acrylonitrile monomer are polymerized using an inorganic initiator (for example, an oxidation-reduction system of ammonium persulfate-ammonium hydrogensulfite-ferrous sulfate) and water acidified with sulfuric acid, as a medium for reaction, the resulting polyacrylonitrile forms particles, namely, the polyacrylonitrile is obtained in the form of an aqueous dispersion. The polyacrylonitrile usable as a material for acrylic fiber can be obtained by filtering the aqueous dispersion of the polymer after completion of the polymerization and washing and drying the precipitate. In this case, when an initiator containing iron is used, the resulting polyacrylonitrile contains iron compounds or iron ions.
For obtaining a polyacrylonitrile by continuous aqueous suspension polymerization, an aluminum reactor is absolutely necessary. This is because when a stainless reactor or a glass-lined reactor is used for producing a polyacrylonitrile by continuous aqueous suspension polymeization, the continuous polymerization becomes substantially difficult owing to the formation of a deposit of the polyacrylonitrile. It is said that when an aluminum reactor is used, its aluminum surface is corroded and dissolved because the reaction system is an acidic aqueous solution, whereby the formation of a deposit of the polyacrylonitrile is prevented.
For completing the polymerization reaction, a short-stop is used. The short-stop used for producing a polyacrylonitrile by aqueous suspension polymerization should have an ability to neutralize the acidic aqueous solution as reaction system. As the short-stop, there are used aqueous solutions of electrolytes such as sodium oxalate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt, sodium hydrogencarbonate, etc.
Thus, a polyacrylonitrile is produced in the presence of at least electrolytes due to the polymerization initiator, electrolytes produced by the corrosion of a polymerizer, and the electrolytes added as short-stop. Moreover, with the progress of the polymerization reaction, the polyacrylonitrile forms polymer particles of several tens microns as dispersed particles in the aqueous system. Therefore, the polymer particles are contaminated with the above-mentioned various electrolytes such as iron compounds, aluminum compounds, etc.
In the production of an acrylic fiber from a polyacrylonitrile produced by such conventional aqueous suspension polymeization, the polymer obtained by the polymerization is subjected to a washing step and then a drying step, and dissolved in a solvent capable of dissolving the polyacrylonitrile, to obtain a polyacrylonitrile dope solution, which is spun by a wet process or a dry process to produce the acrylic fiber. Conventional polyacrylonitrile dope solutions, however, cause various problems in the production of recent high-quality acrylic fiber. For example, when the dope solution used for producing an acrylic fiber is held with heating (at about 100.degree. C.) for a long period of time, its yellowing becomes marked, and the dope solution itself is gelatinized, so that the flowability of the solution is deteriorated. The yellowing of the dope solution causes yellowing of the acrylic fiber itself The gelatinization of the dope solution results in a low flowability of the solution, so that stable spinnable properties cannot be assured. Consequently, end breakage is caused and the production of acrylic fiber having a sufficiently high quality becomes difficult. In addition, the above-mentioned various electrolytes remain in carbon fiber obtained by firing the acry ic fiber and deteriorate the strength and the quality. Thus, the aforesaid various electrolytes, in particular, the iron compounds or ions thereof and the aluminum compounds and ions thereof, have an undesirable influence on the thermal stability of the polyacrylonitrile dope solution, the spinnable properties at the time of spinning into fiber, and physical properties of the fiber.


A system and method for securing the initialization of a Smartcard controller and a Smartcard terminal incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a firmware loader associated with a Smartcard controller and configured to receive and authenticate firmware and provide an associated Smartcard driver digital signature and (2) a Smartcard driver associated with the Smartcard controller and configured to be authenticated using the Smartcard driver digital signature and authenticate the firmware.

Smartcards are rapidly becoming a favored way to transport and communicate personal information securely and reliably. Smartcards assume the general size and shape of a conventional credit card but include data processing and storage circuitry that allows them to receive, process, store and transmit information. By virtue of their size, information-carrying capacity and security, Smartcards are destined for use in financial (e.g., banking) transactions, official identification and healthcare delivery, among other things. International Standards Organization (ISO) Standards 7810, 7816/1 and 7816/2 specify the physical structure and hardware and software architecture of Smartcards and are incorporated herein by reference.
Smartcards receive and transmit information by being coupled to a "cardbus." ISO Standards 7816/1 and 7816/2 also specify the structure and communication protocol(s) of cardbuses. Since security is touted as one of the hallmarks of Smartcards, the above-referenced standards provide for a reasonably high level of security of data crossing a cardbus. In addition, Deutsch Telecom has created a certification process, called "B," that establishes a security level for Smartcard terminals as a whole. Compliance with B1 affords a distinct competitive advantage.
Personal computers (PCs) can advantageously host Smartcard interfaces so they can act as multifunction terminals with respect to Smartcards. As a Smartcard terminal, a PC could, for example, enable point-of-sale (POS) financial transactions to be made or medical information to be taken from, or given to, a patient. To enable a PC to act as a Smartcard terminal, the host PC must be provided with a suitable hardware adapter. A suitable adapter contains a Smartcard controller and typically assumes the physical form of an expansion card coupled to the host PC's Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.
While the PCI bus presents a nearly universal, reliable, wide, fast, open-standards bus suitable for communication with a Smartcard controller, its security does not rise to the level required for Smartcard communication, and particularly for compliance with B1. The security issue arises when the Smartcard controller is initialized. To understand the problem, one should understand how a Smartcard controller would be initialized in a host PC.
A Smartcard controller contains flash memory. During initialization, firmware for driving the controller is caused to be loaded from the PC's hard drive into Smartcard controller's flash memory. Then, in a separate action, a Smartcard driver is caused to be loaded from the PC's hard drive into the PC's main memory. An application running in the PC can then communicate with the Smartcard driver; the Smartcard driver communicates with the firmware; and the firmware communicates with a Smartcard via the Smartcard controller. The communication path is reversed for data transmitted from the Smartcard back to the application.
The security hole exists because the firmware must be loaded across the PCI bus, which as stated above is non-secure. The Smartcard controller is rendered non-secure as a result. A hacker could change the firmware before it is loaded into the flash memory and thereby create a "back door" into a financial, medical or insurance information network. To increase security, the firmware could, of course, be installed into the flash memory when the Smartcard controller is manufactured and never changed thereafter. However, that significantly impairs the flexibility and utility of the controller and is therefore unacceptable.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a way to improve the security of Smartcard controller initialization in a PC such that the security of the firmware loaded into the Smartcard controller is reasonably guaranteed. More specifically, what is needed in the art is a way to provide a level of security over a PCI bus that meets or exceeds B1.

System and method for securing the initialization of an inherently non-secure Smartcard controller


There is disclosed a seismic response control method for a structure, comprising the steps of installing a seismic response control device in a structural component of stiffness K.sub.f ; and controlling a characteristic of story restitutive force based of story restitutive force Q (=Q.sub.s +F) given as the sum of restitutive force Q.sub.s of the structural component installed with the seismic response control device and force F generated from the seismic response control device so as to maintain or vary the characteristic of story restitutive force, which is shown on a coordinate plane as the relation between amplitude D(t) and story restitutive force Q(t) of the structural component portion, in the specific form, in response to the kaleidoscopic state of vibration. The seismic response control device is controlled efficiently with a sensor for measuring a state value of a device part and a simple configuration on microprocessor level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a seismic response control method, in which a seismic response control device comprised of a variable damping device or an actuator is installed in a structure, and seismic response control of the structure is performed by controlling a characteristic of restitutive force, that is, hysteresis in a structural body installed with the seismic response control device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a prior art, a passive seismic response control device covers a dynamic vibration absorber which reduces vibration of a structure in response to reaction force of a weight mounted on the top or inside of the structure by synchronizing the weight supported by a spring and a damper with a natural period of the structure (See Japanese Patent Publications B2-H3-38386 and B2-H5-55741, for instance).
Further, a passive seismic response control device adopting a damping device covers a device which attains a reduction in vibration of a building by setting a damping coefficient of a damping device, which is disposed in a frame composed of columns and beams of a structure so as to be connected to an earthquake-resisting component, at a certain value or automatically varying the damping coefficient according to the state of vibration (See Japanese Patent Publications B2-2513356 and B2-2528589, for instance).
On the other hand, the present inventors have developed a variety of active seismic response control systems such as a seismic response control method, in which an earthquake-resisting component is installed in a frame composed of columns and beams of a structure through a variable stiffness device or a variable damping device, and the evaluation of damping capacity of the structure is made by varying a stiffness of the frame composed of columns and beams with the variable stiffness device, or varying a damping coefficient of the variable damping device, and a seismic response control method, in which damping force generated from a variable damping device is applied as control force (See Japanese Patent Publications B2-H7-42811 and B2-H7-45781, for instance).
In a passive seismic response control method, a damping device 11 is installed in each story of a building as shown in FIG. 18, for instance, and as a result, this method particularly offers the advantages of dispensing with the installation of a sensor and the supply of external energy, whereas it has the disadvantages of needing to set a damping coefficient relatively to a specific vibration mode or being highly restricted in vibration damping effects by a stiffness of a mounting brace or the like installed with the damping device.
On the other hand, according to an active seismic response control method adopting a variable damping device, a sensor 22 is disposed on portions of a building as shown in FIG. 19, for instance, a seismic or like response of the building is synthetically judged by a computer 23, and a command is issued to a variable damping device 21 disposed in each story of the building to provide high damping capacity to the building.
However, even in this case, it is necessary to perform complicated analysis by the computer on the basis of information from the sensor in each story. Further, detailed advance examinations are required for adjustment.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and, in a seismic response control method for a structure adopting a seismic response control device such as a variable damping device and an actuator, to enable efficient seismic response control by controlling force generated from the device so as to maintain a hysteresis characteristic on a story basis, or vary the hysteresis characteristic under specific conditions.

Seismic response control method for structure


A method for forming a heat exchanger tube is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a pair of identical, asymmetric upper and lower members which and joining them together to form a tube. A plurality of longitudinally extending walls are also formed in the tube members. The walls form a plurality of flow paths in each tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods for making refrigerant tubes for heat exchangers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for making a refrigerant tube for a heat exchanger wherein the tube is formed from identical members having asymmetric sides.
2. Disclosure Information
Heat exchangers employ a wide variety of tube geometries depending upon the heat transfer characteristics needed to be achieved. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,600 discloses a condenser for an automotive vehicle using round tubes having an internal surface with corrugation-like teeth formed thereon. Other heat exchanger designs use different types of tubes. A second example can be found in air conditioning system condensers of the parallel flow type. In this type of condenser, substantially flat refrigerant tubes are used. These tubes must withstand high pressure gaseous refrigerant which flows through them and still achieve high heat transfer characteristics. As is well known, these flat tubes have a plurality of discrete flow paths formed therein. The flow paths can be formed by inserting an undulating metal insert into the tube and brazing the insert into place. The flow paths can also be formed by forming walls in the tube during an extrusion process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,377 teaches a method for making refrigerant tubes for use in condensers. The tubes in the '377 patent are formed from two members, a bottom member having a plurality of walls along the longitudinal length of the tube and a top member which acts as a "lid" or cover. The top member is brazed to the bottom member to form the tube. However, during fabrication of this type of tube, the top member must be held securely in place to prevent it from sliding relative to the bottom member. The top and bottom members of the tube are substantially different in shape, requiring further labor and expense in fabricating this tube. It would be advantageous to achieve the beneficial effects of a generally flat tube formed by joining two members together without incurring the substantial labor and cost associated with multiple designs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for making a refrigerant tube which is less expensive to manufacture by employing identical tube members joined together to form the tube.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tube which is formed from two members which lock together during the fabrication process to prevent relative movement between the members during brazing.

Method of making refrigerant tubes for heat exchangers


Disclosed is a ultrasonic transducer array comprising a ceramic connector having an array of connector pads, a mismatching layer of electrically conducting material connected to the upper surface of the ceramic connector, a piezoelectric transducer chip connected to the mismatching layer, separation means for dividing the piezoelectric chip into a plurality of transducer elements positioned in a two-dimensional array, wherein each one of the plurality of transducer elements is selectively connected to a corresponding one of the connector pads. Also disclosed in a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array and transducer array for ultrasound imaging.

Diagnostic ultrasound is an essential modality in virtually every medical specialty and particularly in obstetrics, cardiology and radiology. The ultrasound transducer is the critical component and the limiting factor affecting the quality of diagnostic ultrasound imaging and Doppler measurements. The most sophisticated medical ultrasound scanners now use (N.times.1) linear arrays containing over a hundred transducer elements which may be multiplexed and/or electronically steered and focused via phased array techniques.
Two dimensional (N.times.M) transducer arrays will be essential in future diagnostic ultrasound equipment to improve clinical image quality and Doppler measurements. The most immediate clinical application of 2-D phased arrays is to reduce image slice thickness by focusing in the elevation plane perpendicular to the scanning dimension. The second important application of 2-D transducer arrays is the correction of phase aberrations introduced across the transducer aperture by tissue inhomogeneities. These aberrations occur in two-dimensions so that 2-D arrays combined with the proper phase correction signal processing are essential to restore diagnostic image quality.
In addition to improving conventional ultrasound B-scan image quality, two-dimensional transducer arrays are necessary to develop the new modes of ultrasound imaging anticipated in the near future. These new techniques include (1) presentation of simultaneous orthogonal B-mode scans; (2) acquisition of several B-scans electronically steered in the elevation direction; (3) development of high-speed C-scans; (4) high-speed volumetric ultrasound scanning to enable real time three-dimensional imaging and volumetric, angle-independent flow imaging. These techniques can only be implemented with 2-D array transducers.
It has already been a significant challenge for the ultrasound community to design and fabricate linear phased arrays for medical ultrasound over the past two decades. Three criteria have determined the size and geometry of the transducer array elements. (1) The elements must have sufficient angular sensitivity to steer the phased array over a .+-./-45.degree. sector angle. (2) The arrays must suppress grating lobe artifacts by fine inter-element spacing and (3) the width of each rectangular element must be small compared to the transducer thickness to remove parasitic lateral mode vibrations from the desired transducer pass band. These criteria have resulted in long narrow elements in linear arrays such that each element is less than one wavelength wide in tissue (e.g., 0.3mm wide.times.10 mm long at 3.5 MHz). Unfortunately, the design and fabrication problems of one-dimensional transducer arrays become almost, overwhelming when extended in two dimensions. In this case element sizes may be less than 0.2mm.times.0.2mm for more than 1000 elements in the array.
There are two obstacles which limit such transducer arrays.
(1) There are severe fabrication difficulties in electrical connection to such array elements which can be less than one ultrasound wavelength on a side.
(2) It is very difficult to achieve adequate sensitivity and bandwidth from such small elements
In the last 15 years there have been several descriptions of prototype 2-D array transducers for medical ultrasonic imaging. Some of these prototypes used integrated circuit (IC) fabrication techniques to include a large number of transducer elements, but the resulting product was unsuitable from an acoustic viewpoint. All these prototype arrays were unsuitable for modern medical ultrasound imaging in which the transducer is placed in direct contact with the patient's skin. Erickson et al. (Acoustical Holography, Vol. 7, pp 423-425, 1976), describes 8.times.8 element 2-D array (element size 2mm.times.2mm) of L.sub.i NbO.sub.S operating at 3MHz on sapphire and silicon substrates with associated integrated circuits with a 0.001 inch high bonding pad for each element. The L.sub.i NbO.sub.S /sapphire/silicone structure causes significant problems in acoustic performance. The array was designed only for water tank imaging. Plummer et al. (IEEE Trans. on Sonics and UItrasonics, 50-55, pp. 273-280, 1978), describes the fabrication of 16.times.16 element 2-D arrays operating at 2-4MHz (element size=2.2mm.times.2.2mm) of PZT connected by a conductive epoxy bump of unspecified height to a glass substrate with plated through holes on silicon integrated circuits. Again, the PZT/glass/silicon structure will cause significant problems in acoustic performance. Pappalardo (Ultrasonics, pp. 81-86, 1981), described a 23.times.23 element 2-D array operating at 1.6MHz (element size=0.8mm.times.0.8mm) in which each column of array elements is glued to the edge of a fiber-glass circuit board using conductive epoxy.
Each of these descriptions share the design of a piezoelectric element mounted on a substrate of high acoustic impedance but low acoustic losses. Thus much of the emitted ultrasound energy is emitted from the rear surface of the piezoelectric element and reverberates inside the substrate before transmission into the load (water or tissue). This would result in long pulses of narrow bandwidth, unsuited for high quality medical ultrasound. In each design no attention is paid to the bonding layer thickness whether solder or conductive epoxy.
Another group of 2-D arrays include transducers mounted on lossy acoustic backings to obtain good pulse characteristics but without the advantage of microelectronics fabrication techniques. De Franould et al. (IEEE UItrasonics Symposium, 77CH1264, pp. 251-263, 1977), reported a 2-D array transducer using PZT on a non-conducting plexiglass .lambda./4 mismatching layer and a lossy tungsten-epoxy backing (0.4mm.times.4mm elements at 2.4MHz). No connection technique was specified. Fitting et al. (IEEE Trans. on UItrasonic Farro. and Freq. Control, UFFC-34, pp. 346-356, 1987), described a 2-D array transducer for receive mode only using mask metallization of polyvinylidene fluoride on a tungsten epoxy substrate. However, none of these involved the use of multi-layer ceramic technology. Nakashani et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,349) discussed a conductive mismatching layer of thicknesses of .lambda./32 to 3.lambda./16, however, this work involved low acoustic impedance transducer material (polymer) rather than the high acoustic impedance of PZT.


An optical power splitter that can minimize the chip size with its manufacturing cost. The optical power splitter has one input optical waveguide and N output optical waveguides and splits an optical signal incident from the input optical waveguide into N optical signals. The optical power splitter includes at least two optical splitters having a structure of a planar lightwave circuit element and arranged apart from one another at predetermined intervals in a single chip, and an alignment waveguide for aligning the input and output optical waveguides of the plurality of optical splitters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical communication element, and more particularly to an optical power splitter of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) type.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an optical power splitter is used for channeling input light into several different paths and has a wide application in an optical communication system, an optical access network, etc. The optical power splitter is classified into 1×2, 1×4, 1×8, . . . 1×N (where N is a natural number) types according to the number of its output terminals.
There are two representative methods used to manufacture an optical power splitter: a method of fusing an optical fiber in a melting-drawing manner and a PLC type method. Generally, the melting-drawing method is used in the systems having low channels, such as 1×2, 1×4, etc., whereas the PLC method is used in the systems with over 8 channels.
Although the PLC method considered a better choice over the melting-drawing method, it is not widely used due to its limitation in the number of channels and its high manufacturing cost. Even when the number of channels are reduced, the manufacturing cost will not be reduced. For example, the cost required for manufacturing an optical power splitter with four optical splitters of a 1×2 PLC type is twice or three times the cost of manufacturing an optical power splitter with one only optical splitter of a 1×8 PLC type. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the 1×2 PLC type per channel is twice or three times that of the 1×8 PLC type.
FIG. 1 illustrates the basic structure of the conventional optical power splitter with four 1×2 (i.e., 4(1×2)) optical splitters. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional optical power splitter has a dicing line for cutting the splitter into individual elements. Thus, the conventional optical power splitter requires a space for accepting four divided modules which has an adverse effect in the in chip size. In addition, in the conventional optical power splitter, time for assembling the each optical splitter is mostly spent in housing the splitters, thus an efficient work time and material cost cannot be realized.


A display holding device of projection television is secured on a cabinet of the projection television and has a rigid material section secured on the cabinet, and an elastic material section for sandwiching the display section, which is integrally formed on the rigid material section. The display section has a screen on which an image is projected and a filter which is provided outside the screen to face the screen at a certain distance. The elastic material section has first to fourth protuberances. The screen is sandwiched between the first and second protuberances on the elastic material section. The filter is sandwiched between the third and fourth protuberances on the elastic material section.

The present invention relates to a display holding device of a projection television, which secures a screen and a filter on a cabinet of a rear-projection-type projection television (hereinafter referred to as PTV).
FIG. 19 is a sectional view schematically showing a conventional PTV display holding device. As shown in FIG. 19, the display holding device has a screen frame 22 secured on a cabinet 1, a screen mount 23 fastened on the screen frame 22 by screws 4, and a filter mount 25 fit on the screen frame 22. Protection tape 26-29 is utilized to prevent a screen 6 and a filter 7 from being damaged due to impact, vibration, and other causes. The screen 6 is tightly sandwiched between the protection tape 26 on the screen mount 23 and the protection tape 27 on the screen frame 22, and the filter 7 is tightly sandwiched between the protection tape 28 on the screen frame 22 and the protection tape 29 on the filter mount 25.
Manufacturing the conventional display holding device described above requires that the protection tape 26, 27, 28 and 29 be placed consistently near the outer edges of the screen frame 22, the screen mount 23 and the filter mount 25. The troublesome work increases the manufacturing cost of the conventional PTV.

Display holding device of projection television


An auxiliary element is incorporated into a steering apparatus and that, in addition to the steering circuit, a further steering circuit is provided on the same axle. A movement is forced upon the auxiliary element by a further kinematic coupling, such that the movement is additionally transmitted to the opposite wheel by the auxiliary element. The transmission increases boost to the steering force.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a two-circuit steering system, in particular for military but also for civil utility vehicles, having a steerable axle. For the transmission of high steering forces to the wheels, a conventional steering gear is assigned an auxiliary element on which the movement is forced by way of a kinematic coupling to the steering gear, such that the movement is additionally transmitted via the auxiliary element to the opposite wheel. Further, a steering system with bilateral activation is proposed.
2. Description of the Background Art
Steerable axles comprise a rigid axle which is connected to a vehicle frame and on the ends of which steerable wheels are mounted in an articulated manner. A steering gear and various transmission elements transmit the steering movement from a steering wheel to the wheels (DE 100 58 628 B4). A wheel bearing arrangement for a steerable axle of a vehicle is disclosed for example in DE 20 2004 021 236 U1. An articulated configuration of, and steering arrangement for, a driven or non-driven rigid rear axle of a utility vehicle emerges from DE 296 08 229 U1. DE 20 2004 021 588 U1 is also concerned with a utility vehicle steering system.
Most military vehicles have all-wheel drive. Here, in the case of utility vehicles, aside from the 4×4 drive configuration, the 6×6 and 8×8 drive configurations are often also encountered. In the case of a 4×4 utility vehicle, the utility vehicle has two axles, one front axle and one rear axle. The transmission of a steering movement takes place only to the front axle. In the case of utility vehicles of said type, high steering forces arise in the event of high axle loads.

Steering system for utility vehicles with bilateral actuation


System and method for presenting items and obtaining user selections of those items. In one embodiment, the method comprises presenting a sequence of images of a plurality of items and adding a currently displayed item to a holding area responsive to accepting user input. In one embodiment, the presenting may be a virtual slide show. The method may be implemented as software on a stand-alone computer or in a client-server networked environment.

As the Internet has evolved, many stores, shops, manufactures, wholesalers, retailers, etc. have constructed web sites to present items available from the particular entity. In this way, Internet web sites typically serve as catalogs of items available from a particular entity. For example, when a consumer views the content of a web site presented by a clothing retailer, the consumer is typically presented with an opportunity to select a particular group of items available from the retailer. In typical web sites, the groups of items listed are presented as departments or classes of the particular goods for sale. For example, men's, women's, shoes, outerwear, etc. When a consumer wishes to view the items in a particular department, the consumer may click on a particular graphic element or text string representing the grouping, thus causing the web site to present a screen full of thumbnail views of graphics of the particular goods in that department. However, for a consumer to view all of the items in a particular department the consumer is required to scroll through multiple screen pages of items in the department, to sequence through multiple web pages containing single items in the department, or to sequence through multiple pages containing smaller groups of items in the department, until all items have been viewed. Some web sites present all items in a department in one long web page, requiring the consumer to scroll through the long web page. When multiple items are presented in a single web page the consumer must click through a smaller image of an item to view a larger image of an item. As such, it is cumbersome for a consumer to view items presented on a retailer's web site.


A power amplifier includes: an amplifier; an input matching circuit connected to an input of the amplifier; an output matching circuit connected to an output of the amplifier; and a low-frequency processing circuit connected to the input matching circuit or the output matching circuit, wherein the low-frequency processing circuit includes a first line having a first end connected to the input matching circuit or the output matching circuit, a first shot stub connected to a second end of the first line and including a second line and a first capacitor connected in series each other, and a second short stub connected to the second end of the first line in parallel with the first short stub and including a third line and a second capacitor which are connected in series each other, the first line has a length of λ/8, the second line has a length of λ/4, and the third line has a length of λ/8 with respect to a wavelength λ of a fundamental frequency.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication power amplifier intended mainly for satellite communication.
Background Art
Traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA) have been used so far as satellite communication power amplifiers, but TWTAs are being increasingly replaced by solid-sate amplifiers (SSPA) using FETs (field-effect transistors) such as GaAs (gallium arsenide) or GaN (gallium nitride) from the standpoints of cost and reliability in recent years. In power amplifiers, a low-frequency processing circuit is connected to an input matching circuit or an output matching circuit to provide high impedance at an operating frequency (fundamental frequency) and low impedance at a low frequency of the power amplifiers. In this way, the power amplifiers suppress intermodulation distortion while reducing influences of an RF signal on output power or efficiency. Conventional low-frequency processing circuits are made up of lines and capacitors connected to one another in series (e.g., see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-61175).


An information distribution system includes a distribution server which distributes information, and distribution terminals each of which receives the distribution information and outputs the distribution information from a user interface in a predetermined output form, wherein the distribution information includes an object information element and a control information element which controls the user interface so as to return response information to the distribution server, the response information being generated by a user in response to the distributed object information element, and each of the distribution terminals includes a user interface control for controlling the user interface in accordance with the control information element so as to return the response information to the distribution server, and medium output for outputting the object information element of the received distribution information on a recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information distribution system and an information distribution service. The present invention is preferably used for, for example, a case where advertisement or commercial information is provided by using a facsimile terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
In conventional art, providing material for advertisement or commercial (hereinafter, material for advertisement or commercial is referred to as "advertisement material") to a specific customer has been conducted by mail, such as direct mail, or by directly inserting the advertisement material in the customer's mailbox by hand (hereinafter, referred to as "direct posting"). In recent years, a method of using electronic mail via a PC (personal computer) or cellular phone is employed.
However, the conventional advertisement method of employing mail, such as direct mail, or direct posting is problematic in that costs needed for advertisement material, such as costs for printing the advertisement material itself and the envelope used therefor, are increased. Also, this method is problematic in that it is impossible to flexibly change the content of advertisement according to the respective customers, and that a long time is needed from shipping to delivery.
The other conventional method of employing electronic mail via a PC or cellular phone has the following problem. Specifically, the transmission capability is so poor and the screen size is so small that sufficient amount of advertisement image cannot be transmitted. Accordingly, limitations are imposed on the data size, and expressiveness, of the advertisement image. In the case of employing a PC, a further problem arises that it is rare for a customer to read the received electronic mail timely, thus lowering promptness.
The reason for the problem of the electronic mail employing a PC is as follows: Regarding electronic mail, unlike cellular phones each of which often has a function of sending, upon receipt of an electronic mail, the receipt notification and/or the body of the electronic mail to the cellular phone, PCs lack such a function. Accordingly, the user usually fails to know even the receipt of an electronic mail until he performs an operation to take out the electronic mail from the receiving mailbox.
Note that even with either the direct mail or the electronic mail via a PC or cellular phone, it is difficult to confirm that the user has surely seen the content of the advertisement and accordingly the effect of the advertisement (hereinafter, occasionally referred to as "advertisement effect") has been produced, thus lowering reliability. For example, it may happen that most of the delivered direct mails are discarded without being read, and that most of received electronic mails are deleted without being read.
Further, in the case of a cellular phone and PC, an advertisement, which contains an image other than a text, is distributed in the form a file attached to an electronic mail (hereinafter, a file attached to an electronic mail will be referred to as "attached file"). However, if data form of the attached file does not conform to the data form which can be treated by the mailer provided in the cellular phone or PC, which has received distribution of the advertisement (throughout the present specification, distribution of advertisement is occasionally "advertisement distribution"), it is likely to happen that the user cannot see the advertisement normally. Therefore, it may happen that the number of the users who have actually seen the advertisement gets smaller than the number of the destinations to which the advertisement is distributed. Accordingly, it is difficult to forecast or manage the advertisement effect.

Information distribution system and information distribution service


A closing phase that produces the smallest energization flux error at a connection input point is calculated based upon a residual flux of the first closing phase and the preliminarily given pre-arc characteristic and closing time deviation characteristic of a three-phase circuit breaker, so that the calculated phase value is set as a target closing phase of the first closing phase. A closing phase that produces the smallest energization flux error when a residual flux of zero is calculated, so that the calculated phase value is set as a target closing phase of the remaining two phases. The total time required from the reference point to the target closing phases of the remaining two phases and a delay time corresponding to an integer multiple of a given cycle of the three-phase power supply is set as a target closing time of the remaining two phases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a transformer inrush current elimination technique for suppressing an inrush current generated upon connecting a transformer to a three-phase power supply, and more particularly, to an inrush current elimination technique using a controlled closing method for suppressing an inrush current transited in a three-phase transformer having a primary winding of a star connection type with a grounding neutral and a secondary or tertiary winding of a triangle connection type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in, order for eliminating an inrush current in a transformer, there has been taught, for example, a controlled closing method using a circuit breaker connected in a specific phase of a three-phase power supply. The following description relates to a transformer inrush current elimination system of a controlled closing method.
In a conventional transformer inrush current elimination system using this method, a step-down means for lowering a phase voltage of a three-phase transformer is used so that the phase voltage is made suitable for an input signal of an optimum making (or energization) phase calculation device serving as an electronic equipment. That is, the step-down means lowers a phase voltage of each phase, which is generated upon de-energization (i.e., shut-down) of the three-phase transformer from the power supply and changes in a transient manner to finally become zero. By using these three step-down phase voltages as the input signals of the optimum making phase calculation device, the input voltages are subjected to a time-wise integrating operation by a residual flux calculation means to thereby calculate a residual flux inside an core of the three-phase transformer. Then, a making phase calculation means calculates three optimum making phases that are respectively different without causing an inrush current, by using a formula derived from a relational expression among a flux at the time of the making (energization), a making phase and the calculated residual flux. These calculation results are used as output signals of the optimum making phase calculation device, and thus, the output signals are used as making phase signals of a controlled switching unit of a circuit breaker. The making phase signals are individually inputted for the respective phases in the circuit breaker. See, for example, Patent Document 1. Japanese Patent No. 2685574 (Specification pages 4–10, FIGS. 1 to 10).
Moreover, in another conventional transformer inrush current elimination system of this type, the disclosure takes into consideration in practical use, regarding the points of mechanical closing time deviations of the circuit breaker, influences of pre-arc of the circuit breaker, and the like. See, for example, Non-Patent Document 1: "Elimination of Transformer Inrush Current by Controlled Switching" (IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY) written by John. H. Brunke and Klaus. J. Frohlich), (U.S.) p. 276–285, Second Issue, Vol. 16, April 2001.
However, in the conventional techniques described in Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to mechanical closing time deviations and influences of pre-arc of the circuit breaker. Therefore, the phase input is sometimes carried out at a point offset from an optimum making phase, and in such a case, there has been a problem that an excessive inrush current tends to occur.
In addition, with respect to the optimum making phases of the rest two phases after the first phase has been inputted, the disclosure of Patent Document 1 takes no consideration of damping of DC flux components of a transformer core, which is caused by a triangle connection of a secondary or tertiary winding. Therefore, the optimum making phases of the rest two phases are not appropriate, resulting in occurrence of an excessive inrush current.
Moreover, in the conventional technique described in Non-Patent Document 2, there is no concrete description of a specific solution for solving a problem of mechanical closing time deviations and influences of pre-arc in the circuit breaker.

Transformer inrush current elimination system


A vacuum insulated structure including a tube having an outer wall, a jacket surrounding the tube to enclose an annular insulating space, the jacket having an end that terminates at the outer wall of the tube, a seal formed between the end of the jacket and the tube to preserve a vacuum within the insulating space, and a fitting affixed to one of the tube and the jacket for coupling the vacuum insulated structure to an external device. A method of making a vacuum insulated structure including forming a tube and a jacket, positioning the jacket over the tube to form an annular insulating space, with an end of the jacket being positioned adjacent to an outer wall of the tube to form a vent, causing air to escape through the vent, sealing the vent, and affixing a fitting to one of the tube and the jacket.

Vacuum insulated structures have many practical uses and can be constructed as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,681,299 and 7,374,063, in which tube walls and jacket walls are vacuum brazed together to create a strong metallurgical joint that has a higher melting temperature than the braze material itself. Typically, the tube walls and the outer jacket walls of such vacuum insulated structures are quite thin, often less than about 0.010″ inches. Consequently, it can be difficult to affix a fitting onto a vacuum insulated structure to enable the structure to be mounted or supported by an external device. In particular, an attempt to weld or solder a fitting to a tube wall or the outer jacket wall of the structure risks perforating the thin wall and destroying the vacuum seal. Additionally, acid that is commonly contained in solder materials can erode into and eventually perforate the thin outer jacket wall. Further, the thin walls of the vacuum insulated structure may not be capable of supporting a threaded or compression-type fitting without sustaining damage.

Vacuum insulated structure with end fitting and method of making same


A combustion-powered fastener-driving tool includes a tool housing, a power source associated with the housing and including a cylinder head, a cylinder and a piston reciprocating in the cylinder, a valve sleeve reciprocating relative to the cylinder, a chamber switch and a trigger switch; the cylinder head, the valve sleeve, the cylinder and the piston combining to define a combustion chamber, the closing of both switches required for initiating an ignition of the power source for driving piston down cylinder. A fan is disposed in the combustion chamber, and a control system includes a control program associated with the housing, connected to the power source, the chamber switch and the trigger switch, and configured for providing a designated ignition delay period after fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and when the chamber switch is closed, the delay period being variable as a function of monitored tool parameters.

Combustion-powered tools are known in the art, and exemplary tools produced by Illinois Tool Works of Glenview, Ill., also known as IMPULSE® brand tools for use in driving fasteners into workpieces, are described in commonly assigned patents to Nikolich U.S. Pat. Re. No. 32,452, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,522,162; 4,483,473; 4,483,474; 4,403,722; 5,197,646; 5,263,439; 5,897,043 and 6,145,724 all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Such tools incorporate a tool housing enclosing a small internal combustion engine. The engine is powered by a canister of pressurized fuel gas, also called a fuel cell. A battery-powered electronic power distribution unit produces a spark for ignition, and a fan located in a combustion chamber provides for both an efficient combustion within the chamber, while facilitating processes ancillary to the combustion operation of the device. Such ancillary processes include: mixing the fuel and air within the chamber, turbulence to increase the combustion process, scavenging combustion by-products with fresh air, and cooling the engine. The engine includes a reciprocating piston with an elongated, rigid driver blade disposed within a single cylinder body.
A valve sleeve is axially reciprocable about the cylinder and, through a linkage, moves to close the combustion chamber when a work contact element at the end of the linkage is pressed against a workpiece. This pressing action also triggers a fuel-metering valve to introduce a specified volume of fuel into the closed combustion chamber. Thus, the valve sleeve opens the combustion chamber for venting gases, and closes the combustion chamber for sealing prior to ignition.
In such tools, once fuel is injected into the combustion chamber, the fuel and air are mixed using turbulence created by a rotating fan blade. If the fuel and air are not mixed properly prior to ignition, either a weak combustion cycle or no combustion will occur. Therefore, it is important that sufficient time is provided for mixing to assure repeatable nailer operation and desired performance. Mixing time is defined as the interval from which fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and the fuel and air is uniformly mixed.
The time duration for achieving complete mixture depends on many parameters, including fuel metering time, fuel spray pattern, fuel spray velocity, fan configuration and rotational velocity (RPM), and engine and fuel temperatures. Of these, the most significant are fan RPM, engine temperature and fuel temperature. The faster the fan RPM, the less time is required for mixing due to increased turbulence within the chamber. Considering higher tool and fuel operating temperatures, the gas molecules are more energetic, which in turn reduces available mixing time. In addition, higher fuel cell temperatures increase the pressure of the fuel, which gives the fuel spray/jet greater velocity as it is injected into the combustion chamber, which promotes mixing. The opposite trends of the previous conditions will cause increased required mixing times.
In view of the above conditions, there is a need for an improved combustion nailer configured for monitoring and controlling such parameters, and providing improved tool performance.

Variable ignition delay for combustion nailer


Estimating non-linearity of a power amplifier includes receiving signals at a first location. The signals include an input signal, a pre-distorted signal, and an output signal. The output signal exhibits distortion, including a non-linearity effect, with respect to the input signal. The power amplifier is located at a second location remote from the first location. The non-linearity of the power amplifier is estimated in accordance with the signals at the first location using an inverse model. Pre-distortion information is calculated according to the estimated non-linearity using the inverse model. The pre-distortion information is sent to a pre-distorter at the second location, where the pre-distorter can reduce the non-linearity effect using the pre-distortion information.

Power amplifiers are typically a major source of non-linearity in communication systems. Tactical satellite transmission systems may be particularly sensitive to non-linearity because of their inherently high peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR). To reduce the effects of non-linearity, the non-linearity of a power amplifier can be estimated, and a signal can be pre-distorted in accordance to the estimate to compensate for the non-linearity. Known techniques, however, may not sufficiently reduce the effects of non-linearity in certain situations. It is generally desirable to sufficiently reduce the effects of non-linearity.

Performing remote power amplifier linearization


A computer implemented method includes receiving a request for payment-related information at a wireless device. The method also includes communicating between the wireless device and a paired vehicle computing system (VCS) to verify the presence of a known vehicle. Further, the method includes transmitting requested payment-related information, responsive to the verification of the presence of the known vehicle.

Wireless technology, vehicle based computing systems, portable phones and computers, biometric IDs, RFID chips storing "cash"—among other things, modern technology is all about portability and convenience. The internet can be accessed almost anywhere, at the touch of a button, in seconds. Purchases can be made online, with the swipe of a card, and sometimes using a chip in a portable device. While all of these innovations certainly make our lives easier, the level of access to an individual's entire life that can be obtained through the theft of one or more implements of convenience can sometimes give cause for alarm. Fortunately, this risk is not unrecognized, and the providers of technological convenience are always striving to provide increased security to accompany modern systems.
Cellular phones can hold an ever increasing amount of personal and financial data. Applications allow access to bank accounts, credit card accounts, and some phones even have chips that store cash amounts for purchases. Unfortunately, due to the fact that most phones are used so often, they are highly susceptible to loss, when a user misplaces or forgets a phone at a location of use. Similarly, phones may make desirable targets for theft, as they are small, portable, and provide potentially expansive access to a person's personal data.

Method and apparatus for identification verification and purchase validation


The invention relates to a camera arrangement for a vehicle having a camera unit and a pivot mechanism for the pivoting of the camera unit into an active position and into a position of rest. The camera unit is accommodated in a chamber in an inaccessible manner from the outside in the position of rest and is pivoted out of the chamber in the active position for the optical detection of a surrounding zone. The pivot mechanism comprises two pivot arms which are rotatably coupled to the camera unit at oppositely disposed sides thereof and which pivot in opposite directions during the pivoting of the camera unit.

So-called rear view cameras which are able to detect a rear external zone of the vehicle and, for example, to present it on a display in the dashboard of the vehicle are above all provided in modern motor vehicles, e.g. in passenger vehicles or trucks, to facilitate reversing and/or to support driver assistance systems. The camera can be attached to a rear side of the vehicle such that it is able to record a zone behind the vehicle in the active position. For the protection of the camera, it is accommodated in the chamber in the position of rest, i.e. at a time at which the camera is not activated.
Known camera arrangements of this kind have the disadvantage that they require a comparatively large amount of construction space.
It is therefore the underlying object of the invention to provide a more compact camera arrangement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A vertical and optical distortion correction apparatus in a projection television set is provided. Thermal consumption of each convergence output end is reduced, convergence control is facilitated and a correction control time is shortened by correcting the optical and vertical distortions at each vertical output end of red, green and blue cathode ray tubes.

The present invention relates to a vertical and optical distortion correction apparatus in a projection television set, and more particularly, to a vertical and optical distortion correction apparatus in a projection television (TV) set for correcting vertical and optical distortions while reducing thermal loss of a convergence output end and facilitating color balance control.
An existing projection TV set includes three cathode ray tubes (CRTs) for converting an electrical image signal into red, green and blue light. These CRTs have a size of seven to nine inches. The CRT for red light and the CRT for blue light are disposed to the left and right sides with respect to the CRT for green light, respectively. Each CRT includes a deflection yoke portion for deflecting an electrical beam horizontally and vertically. Thus, in case of a blue image displayed on a screen by the blue light CRT, an optical distortion due to arrangement of the three CRTs is shown in the upperleft end and lowerleft end of the image as shown in FIG. 3A, and distortion due to a deflection yoke portion (hereinafter, referred to as a "vertical distortion") is shown in the upperright end and the lowerright end of the image. In case of a green image displayed by the green light CRT, a vertical distortion of the image shows up strongly in the center-top and the center-bottom of the image as shown in FIG. 3B. In case of a red image displayed by the red light CRT, a vertical distortion of the image shows up strongly in the upperleft and the lowerleft end as shown in FIG. 3C and an optical distortion of the image shows up strongly in the upperright end and the lowerright end as shown in FIG. 3C. A digital convergence correction circuit and an analog convergence correction circuit are usually used for correcting the vertical distortion and optical distortion. These correction circuits produce voltage waveforms for correcting distortions of the red, green and blue images, and the produced voltage waveforms are supplied to convergence amplifier circuits of the red, green and blue CRTs, respectively. That is, the produced voltage waveforms are applied to a convergence yoke portion of each CRT. Each convergence yoke portion corrects the distortions according to the applied voltage waveform.
However, since heat proportional to a degree of correcting the convergence is generated in CRTs, in the case of the conventional distortion correction, a large thermal energy loss is generated. Such a problem shortens the life of the apparatus and negatively impacts the reliability of the apparatus.

Apparatus for correcting vertical and optical distortions of images in projection TV sets


An injector for injecting a fluid, including a valve seat, on which a sealing area is situated, and a closing element, which is situated on an injector center line and which, on the valve seat, releases and closes at least one through-opening, the at least one through-opening having a main axis at an angle of inclination with respect to the injector center line, the at least one through-opening having an inflow area, and the inflow area having a tapering design.

Injectors which inject fluids into a volume space, such as fuels into an internal combustion engine, are available. Conventional designs encompass housings including movable closing elements accurately fitting a respective valve seat, for example a valve needle, for opening and closing the injector, for example regulated by a piezo actuator or an electromagnet as a solenoid valve.
The related art of injection furthermore includes that the fluid is injected into a combustion chamber via usually multiple through-openings which are released by an inwardly opening valve needle. A combustible air/fuel mixture is formed and ignited in the combustion chamber.
For manufacturing reasons, the provided through-openings are conventionally created from the outside of the injector to the inside, for example laser-drilled or with the aid of spark erosion. Due to the manufacturing process, this creates sharp-edged inner sides of the through-openings, which consequently results in disadvantageously high flow losses with a high pressure drop. This, not least in the application of a high pressure injection, may result in deviations from an ideally preferably centric course of the movable closing element and its decentering, in particular a drift. Even very small deviations or oblique positions in the injector may result in fluctuation behavior and non-optimal spray patterns of the injected fluid. This, for example in the case of a fuel, disadvantageously affects emissions and fuel consumption.
Furthermore, it has been found that decentering, in particular a drift, of the movable closing element negatively influences the wear behavior of the injector.

Injector for injecting a fluid, having a tapering inflow area of a through-opening


There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition of stabilized [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse. The composition comprises at least one of organic acids and salts thereof, as a first stabilizer, and pH thereof is adjusted in a range of 5.5-8.0. The composition may contain at least one of substances selected from saccharides, amino acids, proteins and salts thereof, as a second stabilizer. Conversion of [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse into [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse-lactone is suppressed by increasing pH value and deamidization in asparagine residue at 19-position is suppressed by the presence of the organic acid or salt thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition of stabilized [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse.
2. Related Arts
Recent developments in chemical synthesis and biological application technologies make possible production of various proteins, peptides and others with desired biological activities.
A compound of [Leu.sup.13 -motilin-Hse has been developed by the present inventors as the substance showing biological activities similar to native motilin (this is one of peptide hormones and shows various biological activities, and more particularly an accelerating function of digestive canal) and having possibility of large scale production with use of biotechnology, through various studies and investigations on motilin and various motilin analogues [Jap. Pat. Nos. Hei 3-80096(A) and 3-218395(A)]. Structural differences of [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse from native type motilin lie in that methionine (Met) residue at 13-position of an amino acid sequence coded by the native type motilin is substituted with leucine (Leu) residue, and that homoserine (Hse) residue is added at C-terminal (23-position). When biotechnologies are applied for, the [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse can easily be prepared with a cost less than that for preparing the native type motilin and [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin and shows higher biological activities than the latters [said Jap. Pat. No. Hei 3-218395(A).
Similar to general biologically active peptides, the motilins are apt to be affected by various external factors such as heat, humidity, light beam, and peptidases and thus stored in a refrigerator. As measures for stabilizing the motilins, then, it has been proposed to prepare an aqueous solution containing the motilin and adjusted in pH of 4.0-5.5 or lyophilize the solution [Jap. Pat. No. Hei 3-41032(A)], and to prepare a solution containing the motilin and a stabilizer selected from amino acids and proteins, or lyophilize the solution [Jap. Pat. No. Hei 3-41033(A)].
In the Claims for said Jap. Pat. Nos. Hei 3-41032(A) and 41033(A), there is referred to "motilins" but actually stabilized motilins are native type motilin and [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin, only.
While, the motilin analogue of [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse has homoserine (Hse) residue at C-terminal (23-position) and thus it can not give a sufficient stability, even if pH shall be adjusted to 4.0-5.5, since there is such a possibility that the homoserine residue at 23-position shall change into lactone form in a pH range less than 5.5, even if the motilin analogue is kept in a state of aqueous solution or lyophilized powder.
The inventors have further found through studies and investigations on [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse that there is a possibility of deamidization or formation of cyclic imide in asparagine (Asp) residue at 19-position and it becomes a cause to reduce the stability of the motilin analogue, in question.
In other words, it is impossible to give a sufficient stabilization to the motilin analogue of [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse with pH adjustment only, in different from the native type motilin and [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin as teached in said Jap. Pat. No. Hei 3-41032(A).
It is preferable, further, that [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse shows its stability in neutral pH or pH range near thereto to reduce a stipulation, when it is administered through an injection.

Pharmaceutical composition of stabilized [Leu.sup.13 ]-motilin-Hse


A clock and data recovery circuit comprising a phase detection circuit, first and second oscillators, and a flip-flop. The phase detection circuit outputs a detection signal according to a significant transition of an input signal. Each oscillator receives the detection signal and operates alternately in a clock and data recovery mode and a phase-locked mode. When the first oscillator operates in the clock and data recovery mode and outputs a first clock to control the flip-flop to output an output signal, the second oscillator operates in the phase-locked mode to adjust a frequency of a second clock. Before switching to the clock and data recovery mode, the second oscillator synchronizes the second clock with the first clock.

The invention relates to a clock and data recovery circuit, and in particular to a clock and data recovery circuit employed in communication systems.
In a typical communication system, a transmitter generates data signals according to its clock and transmits the data signals to a receiver through channels. To correctly interpret the data signals, the receiver reads the data signals according to a clock synchronized with the transmitter's clock. The receiver thus requires a clock recovery system to recover the data signal from the transmitter. At least two clock recovery techniques are currently used. First, the transmitter's clock may be transmitted to the receiver on a channel parallel with the channel carrying the data signals. The receiver can then estimate the phase of the data signals from the phase of transmitter's clock. This technique however, is disadvantageous in that it requires an additional channel. Alternately, the phase of the data signals may be recovered directly from information carried in the data signals themselves.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional clock and data recovery circuit. The clock and data recovery circuit 1 comprises a control unit 10, a gated voltage controlled oscillator (GVCO) 11, a D flip-flop 12, and a phase locked loop (PLL) 13. The PLL 13 comprises a phase/frequency detector 130, a charge pump 131, a filter 132, and a GVCO 133. The control unit 10 controls the GVCO 11 to receive a data signal D1. The phase/frequency detector 130 of the PLL 13 receives a reference clock Cf1, and the filter 132 controls the GVCOs 11 and 133. The GVCOs 11 and 133 respectively output oscillated clocks CK1 and CK2 corresponding to the data signal D1. The D flip-flop 12 reads the data signal D1 according to the clock CK1, thus estimating the phase of the data signal D1 correctly.
In ideal conditions, the clock CK1 synchronizes with the clock CK2. However, since the processes of the GVCOs 11 and 133 may not match, difference between the phases of the locks CK1 and CK2 is increased with time, such that the D flip-flop 12 may incorrectly trigger the data signal D1.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A multi-purpose pen includes an upper pen shaft and a lower pen shaft joined by a hollow middle ring in between. The upper pen shaft has a cone-shaped lucent section at a rear end thereof, such that light beams emitted form an illumination module located in the upper pen shaft are passed out to an exterior via the cone-shaped lucent section. The upper pen shaft further has a pen clamp at the rear end thereof. A front edge of a reverse side of the pen clamp is disposed with a protruding object that is penetrated into a corresponding opening at the upper pen shaft, so as to touch-control a light source switch at a circuit board of the illumination module. An insulating strap is located between the circuit board and the protruding object for preventing electricity leakage.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pen, and more particularly, to a multi-purpose pen that not provides writing functions, but also serves as control pen for touch panels as well as fulfilling illumination and indication purposes.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Men have long since been targeting at providing conveniences in writing. Referring to FIG. 1 showing a prior laser pen, a laser device is placed at an interior of the laser pen, and a button 11 is provided at an exterior. When a user presses the button, light beams from a light emitting diode are emitted out to the exterior via a pen end 12. The prior laser pen is not different from ordinary pens with respect to writing functions, and therefore although the laser pen provides originality but has limited purposes. In addition, the laser pen cannot be applied to touch panels, while having high manufacturing costs without major breakthrough in appearance. Above all, the laser pen is highly likely being switched on due to unintentional contacts. Therefore, the laser pen is not widely accepted on the market. It is a vital task as how to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks.


The invention relates to a novel method of preparing attrition resistance spinel supports for Fischer Tropsch catalysts. The process comprises: (a) combining aluminum oxide, metal compound capable of forming spinel phase, and soluble compound of a trivalent aluminum; (b) mixing the combination resulting in (a) in a manner sufficient to form a slurry comprising the aforementioned combination; and (c) processing the mixture of (b) under conditions sufficient to form metal aluminate spinel composition. Metal aluminate spinel, for example, is formed in the last step by calcining the mixture from (b) at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1300° C., but the process is also capable, of producing attrition resistant supports (e.g., having a DI of 5 or less) at a relatively lower temperature in the range of 700 to 1050° C. The invention also produces the attrition resistance with lower metal loadings than that reported for prior attrition resistant spinel supports.

The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process (or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) is a catalyzed chemical reaction in which synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) is converted into liquid hydrocarbons. A variety of catalysts have been used for the FT process, but the most common active metals are based on cobalt or iron. In addition, to the active metals, noble metal promoters such as ruthenium or rhenium are added to enhance activity/selectivity of the active ingredient. Typically, the active metal and the promoters are supported on alumina, silica or titania.
The FT process can be carried out either in a fixed bed reactor or a slurry bed reactor. In case of a slurry bed process, the catalyst particles are suspended in oil with gaseous reactants being bubbled into the reactor. For either process to be economically viable, the catalyst must exhibit good performance for a long period of time without significant loss in catalytic activity. Typically, catalyst deactivates because of one or more of the following issues: (a) poisoning of the active catalytic metal (e.g., cobalt), (b) loss of catalytic metal surface area (e.g., via sintering), (c) loss of active metal species due to reaction with support, and (d) attrition.
The attrition of the catalyst, i.e., issue (d) above, is primarily dependent on the strength of the support for the catalytically active metal. Using slurry bed catalyst as an example regarding the attrition issue, the particles in these catalysts are subjected to a number of collisions either with other particles or with the reactor walls. This causes the catalyst particles to "attrit" or break into smaller particles. Smaller particles are not retained in the reactor, and as a result the activity declines absent continuous addition of fresh catalyst. In order to enhance performance of the catalyst and to improve the catalyst life, a support must therefore exhibit high attrition resistance.
High surface area alumina is commonly used as a catalyst support for FT. Supports having high surface area provide the necessary support surface for dispersing catalytic sites throughout the catalyst. High surface area aluminas are conventionally prepared by calcining an aluminum hydroxide composition such as boehmite. Calcined, high surface area alumina per se, however, does not exhibit good attrition resistance. Indeed, it is also largely believed that aluminas after calcination cannot be easily bound into hard particles. Hence there is a tendency to use boehmitic aluminas as support precursors, which are slurried in water and "peptized" in the presence of an acid such as nitric or hydrochloric acid, followed by drying and calcinations to give attrition resistant particles. This alternative presents its own problem because these peptized boehmitic aluminas slurries gel at high solids content and need to diluted before drying and calcination. Processing the alumina at high solids content is desirable not only to get high production rates, but also to yield a strong particle of desired particle size upon spray drying.
In addition, and as referenced with respect to issue (c) above, high surface area alumina supports react with active metal precursor of cobalt to form Co-aluminate spinel upon calcination. This transforms the active Co metal to "inactive" spinel Co-aluminate and thus decreases the catalyst activity.
In order to prevent Co-aluminate spinel formation, divalent metals like Ni, Zn, and Mg can be added to an alumina support to form the spinel phase "a priori" and thus prevent the formation of inactive Co-aluminate. The divalent metal aluminate spinels are formed upon high temperature calcinations above 650° C. Such spinel materials do not exhibit high strength, however, and can easily break into smaller particles. In other words, such spinel phase-based particles generally do not have sufficient attrition resistance.
It has been shown that if the spinel compositions are calcined at very high temperatures, in excess of 1100° C., the attrition resistance improves significantly (see WO 2005/072866 A1 or US 2007/0161714). In addition to requiring high calcination temperatures, it is also apparent that high levels of divalent metals are needed to attain the good attrition resistance. Typically, the divalent compound is in excess of 10 wt % (as metal) in loading.
It has also been shown that, as a result of high temperature calcinations, the support pore diameter shifts to higher pore modes. Catalysts made from these high temperature calcined spinel supports therefore have high selectivity to higher hydrocarbons in addition to the aforementioned attrition resistance. The practical use of these supports, however, is limited due to expensive processing steps, and large amounts of expensive divalent metal compounds added as dopants. Furthermore, large amount of divalent dopant compounds poses the risk of leaching out of the spinel structure and adversely affecting the catalyst activity.
The object of this invention therefore is to provide catalysts with improved attrition resistant metal aluminate spinel supports made at relatively low temperatures and preferably using relatively low levels of divalent metals.

Attrition resistant supports for fischer-tropsch catalyst and process for making same


A flat fluorescent lamp is provided. In the flat fluorescent lamp, a discharge gas and a fluorescent material are disposed inside a chamber; first and second electrodes covered by a dielectric layer are disposed at the bottom of the chamber; first protruding points are disposed on a first side of each electrode; and second protruding points are disposed on a second side of each electrode. In each electrode, the first and the second protruding points are alternately laid. The first light-emitting region formed between the first protruding points and the first and second electrodes corresponding thereto and the second light-emitting region formed between the second protruding points and the first and second electrodes corresponding thereto are one of the entirely not overlapping and partially overlapping. Further, a driving method for the flat fluorescent lamp and a liquid crystal display device having the flat fluorescent lamp are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat fluorescent lamp and a liquid crystal display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flat fluorescent lamp that can provide a planar light source with high uniformity and a liquid crystal display device having the aforementioned flat fluorescent lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the rapid progress in display techniques, liquid crystal display devices have been massively deployed as the display screens of consumer electronic products including mobile phones, notebook computers, personal computers and personal digital assistants. However, the liquid crystal display panel of a liquid crystal display device has no light-emitting capability. Hence, there is a need to install a back light module underneath the liquid crystal display panel to provide all the light needed for the display function. At present, the principle types of back light module in the market include the flat fluorescent lamp (FFL), the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) and the light-emitting diode. Among these three types of back light modules, the flat fluorescent lamp is more commonly used in the liquid crystal display device because it is cheaper to produce and occupies a smaller space.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing part of a conventional planar fluorescent lamp. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional flat fluorescent lamp 100 comprises a top substrate 110 and a bottom substrate 120 pairing together. A discharge space is formed between the top substrate 110 and the bottom substrate 120 and the discharge space is filled with a discharge gas 130. A set of electrodes 140 is disposed on the bottom substrate 120 and a dielectric layer 150 is disposed over the set of electrodes 140 to protect the set of electrodes 140. In addition, a fluorescent material 160 is coated over the inner sidewall of the top substrate 110 and the bottom substrate 120 and the outer wall of the dielectric layer 150.
The flat fluorescent lamp 100 is driven by applying a driving voltage to the set of electrodes 140 to produce a discharge electric field E. The discharge electric field E will ionize the discharge gas 130 to produce plasma. As the excited electrons in the ions of the plasma return to a ground state, ultra-violet rays are simultaneously produced. When the ultra-violet rays from the plasma shine on the fluorescent material 160, the fluorescent material 160 will be excited to emit visible light.
At present, most flat fluorescent lamps use a driving system capable of providing a controlled local discharge, for example, a design having a plurality of protruding points on an electrode for producing a multiple of point discharges. However, such local discharge can easily lead to the production of a higher intensity beam in a local area. Hence, a regular pattern of light/dark streaks will appear. Ultimately, the degree of uniformity of the light intensity across the flat fluorescent lamp will be reduced.

Flat fluorescent lamp and driving method thereof, and liquid crystal display device