A wave generator for a strain wave gearing is provided with a rigid plug having an ellipsoidal plug-outer-circumferential surface, and a ring-shaped displacement body that is flexed to an ellipsoidal shape by the plug. The ring-shaped displacement body is provided with a plurality of radially arranged displacing sections. The plug-contacting surfaces of the displacing sections are in sliding contact with the plug-outer-circumferential surface and when the plug rotates, the displacing sections are repeatedly displaced in the radial direction. By the displacement of the displacing sections, wave motion is generated in an external gear. It is possible to achieve a wave generator capable of generating wave motion in the external gear with a small rotational torque.

In the most common type of wave generator (rolling-contact-type wave generator) for a strain wave gearing, balls, rollers, or other rolling bodies are typically caused to roll on an external peripheral side of an ellipsoidal plug to generate wave motion in an external gear. A rolling-contact-type wave generator is provided with a wave generator bearing mounted between an ellipsoidal outer circumferential surface of a plug that is a rigid body and an inner circumferential surface of a flexible external gear. The wave generator rotates in a state of rolling contact with the inner circumferential surface of the external gear, and causes each circumferential-direction portion of the external gear to oscillate at a specified amplitude in the radial direction. Such a wave generator is disclosed in Patent References 1 and 2, for example.

Sliding contact-type wave generator and strain wave gearing


An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors formed on the substrate, each thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a first gate insulation layer, a second gate insulation layer, an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines disposed orthogonal to the plurality of gate lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed at pixel regions defined by intersections of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines, each pixel electrode electrically contacting each drain electrode of the plurality of thin film transistors, and a plurality of storage capacitors each including a portion of each gate line as a first capacitor electrode, the first gate insulation layer as a dielectric layer, and a capacitor electrode electrically communicating with each pixel electrode and functioning as a second capacitor electrode with a portion of each pixel electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices make use of optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules to control alignment orientation. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules can be controlled by application of an electric field. Accordingly, when the electric field is applied to liquid crystal molecules, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules changes. Since refraction of incident light is determined by the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, display of image data can be controlled by changing the applied electric field.
Of the different types of known LCDs, active matrix LCDs (AM-LCDs), which have thin film transistors and pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form, are of particular interest because of their high resolution and superiority in displaying moving images. Because of their light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption characteristics, LCD devices have wide application in office automation (OA) equipment and video units. A typical liquid crystal display (LCD) panel may include an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The upper substrate, commonly referred to as a color filter substrate, may include a common electrode and color filters. The lower substrate, commonly referred to as an array substrate, may include switching elements, such as thin film transistors (TFTs), and pixel electrodes.
LCD device operation is based on the principle that the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is dependent upon an electric field applied between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. Moreover, because the liquid crystal molecules have spontaneous polarization characteristics, the liquid crystal layer is considered an optical anisotropy material. As a result of the spontaneous polarization characteristics, the liquid crystal molecules possess dipole moments when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer between the common electrode and pixel electrode. Thus, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled by the application of an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. When the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is properly adjusted, incident light is refracted along the alignment direction to display image data. The liquid crystal molecules function as an optical modulation element having variable optical characteristics that depend upon polarity of the applied voltage.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional LCD device. The LCD device 11 includes an upper substrate 5 and a lower substrate 22 with a liquid crystal layer 14 interposed therebetween. The upper substrate 5 and the lower substrate 22 are commonly referred to as a color filter substrate and an array substrate, respectively. Within the upper substrate 5 and upon the surface opposing the lower substrate 22, a black matrix 6 and a color filter layer 7 are formed in the shape of an array matrix and include a plurality of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters so that each color filter is surrounded by corresponding portions of the black matrix 6. Additionally, a common electrode 18 is formed on the upper substrate 5 to cover the color filter layer 7 and the black matrix 6. In the lower substrate 22 and upon the surface opposing the upper substrate 5, a thin film transistor (TFT) "T," is formed in the shape of an array matrix corresponding to the color filter layer 7. A plurality of crossing gate lines 13 and data lines 15 are positioned such that each TFT "T" is located adjacent to each crossover point of the gate lines 13 and the data lines 15. Furthermore, a plurality of pixel electrodes 17 are formed on a pixel region "P" defined by the gate lines 13 and the data lines 15 of the lower substrate 22. The pixel electrode 17 includes a transparent conductive material having good transmissivity such as indium-tin-oxide (ITO) or indium-zinc-oxide (IZO), for example.
According to the LCD device 11 of FIG. 1, a scanning signal is applied to a gate electrode of the TFT "T" through the gate line 13, while a data signal is applied to a source electrode of the TFT "T" through the data line 15. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 14 are aligned and arranged by operation of the TFT "T," and incident light passing through the liquid crystal layer 14 is controlled to display an image.
FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a pixel of a conventional array substrate for use in a liquid crystal display device. In FIG. 2, an array substrate 22 includes a pixel region "P" having a corresponding thin film transistor (TFT) "T," a pixel electrode 17 and a storage capacitor "C." Gate lines 13 are arranged in a transverse direction and data lines 15 are arranged in a longitudinal direction such that each pair of the gate lines 13 and the data lines 15 define a pixel region "P." The TFT "T" includes a gate electrode 26, a source electrode 28, a drain electrode 30 and an active layer 33. The gate electrode 26 of the TFT "T" extends from the gate line 13, while the source electrode 28 of the TFT "T" extends from the data line 15. The drain electrode 30 is spaced apart from the source electrode 28 and the active layer 55 is disposed over the gate electrode 24 between the source electrode 28 and the drain electrode 30. The source electrode 28 and the drain electrode 30 overlap opposite ends of the gate electrode 26. A portion of the pixel electrode 17 overlaps a portion of the drain electrode 30 and electrically contacts the drain electrode 30 through a drain contact hole 41. Furthermore, the storage capacitor "C" is a storage-on-gate type capacitor, and thus comprises a capacitor electrode 16 electrically communicating with a pixel electrode 17 through a capacitor contact hole 43, a portion of the gate line 13, and an insulator functioning as a dielectric layer (not show in FIG. 2). Namely, the storage capacitor "C" has M/I/M (metal/insulator/metal) structure. At this point, the position and configuration of the storage capacitor "C" can be various.
In the above-described structure, a parasitic capacitor is formed between the gate electrode 26 and the drain electrode 28 of the TFT "T." The parasitic capacitance influences and deteriorates function of the liquid crystal layer since the parasitic capacitance is a direct-current component of the voltage. Furthermore, the gate electrode 26 and the drain electrode 28 of the TFT "T" can become short-circuited if the gate insulation layer disposed on the gate electrode 26 has defects, such as pinholes or cracks. Accordingly, the gate insulation layer in a conventional array substrate, which is used as a dielectric layer in the storage capacitor "C," is formed of a relatively large thickness over the gate electrodes and gate lines.
Thin film transistors (TFTs) can be divided into two generally different categories based upon the relative disposition of their gate electrodes—staggered types and coplanar types. The staggered type TFT includes an inverted staggered type which is generally used for LCD devices due to their simple structure and superior efficiency. Within the inverted staggered type TFT there includes a back channel etched type (EB) and an etch stopper type (ES). A manufacturing method of the back channel etched type TFT will be explained hereinafter.
FIGS. 3A to 3J are plan views and cross-sectional views each taken along the line III-III of corresponding plan view and illustrates conventional manufacturing processes of an array substrate of FIG. 2B.
Referring to FIG. 3A, a substrate 22 is cleaned of organic materials and any foreign substances to promote adhesion with a first metal layer that is subsequently deposited on the substrate 22 by a sputtering process, for example. Here, the first metal layer is aluminum or aluminum alloy, such as aluminum neodymium (AlNd), for example. Then, the first metal layer is subsequently patterned using a first mask to form the gate lines 13 in a transverse direction and a gate electrode 26 that extends from the gate line 13. In the conventional array substrate, aluminum is conventionally used as a metal for the first metal layer because of its low resistance and reduced RC delay. However, pure aluminum is chemically weak when exposed to acidic fabrication processing, thereby resulting in formation of hillocks during high temperature fabrication processing. Accordingly, aluminum alloys and double-layered structure are used for the first metal layer. When employing the double-layered structure for the gate electrode 26 and gate line 13, the aluminum (Al) layer or the aluminum alloy layer is stacked with a molybdenum (Mo) layer or a chrome (Cr) layer that has high corrosion resistance and durability.
In FIG. 3A, the gate insulation layer 33 is formed on a surface of the substrate 22 to cover the patterned first metal layer. Then, a pure amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layer 53 and a doped amorphous silicon (n+ a-Si:H) layer 54 are sequentially formed upon the gate insulation layer 33. The gate insulation layer is an inorganic material, such as silicon nitride (SiNx) or silicon oxide (SiOx), or an organic material, such as benzocyclobutene (BCB) or acryl-based resin, for example.
FIG. 3B shows a second mask fabrication process in which the pure amorphous silicon layer and doped amorphous silicon layer are patterned. A photo resist is formed on the doped amorphous silicon layer and then exposed to light using the second mask. Thereafter, the photo resist is developed to form a patterned photo resist 35 over the gate electrode 26 and to expose the doped amorphous silicon layer.
In FIGS. 3C and 3D, an exposed portion of the doped amorphous silicon layer 54 is removed, and a portion of the pure amorphous silicon layer 53 is also removed to form an active layer 55 and an ohmic contact layer 56. Accordingly, a semiconductor layer 58 including the active layer 55 and ohmic contact layer 56 are formed on the gate insulation layer 33 disposed over the gate electrode 26. As a result of this fabrication process, the gate insulation layer 33 is exposed except for a portion disposed over the gate electrode 26.
In FIGS. 3E and 3F, a second metal layer is formed upon the ohmic contact layer 56 and upon the gate insulation layer 33 by depositing a metallic material, such as molybdenum (Mo), chrome (Cr), tungsten (W), aluminum (Al), aluminum alloy or an alloy thereof The second metal layer is subsequently patterned using a third mask to form a source electrode 28, a drain electrode 30, a data line 15, and a capacitor electrode 16. The data line 15 is arranged perpendicular to the gate line 13 and defines a pixel region "P" with a data line 13. The source electrode 28 extends from the data line 15 and overlaps an end portion of the gate electrode 26. The drain electrode 30 is space apart from the source electrode 28 and overlaps an opposite end portion of the gate electrode 26. Thus, a thin film transistor (TFT) "T" is formed. Moreover, the capacitor electrode 16 is disposed over a portion 13a of the gate line 13. Therefore, a storage capacitor "C" comprises the portion 13a of the gate line 13 as a first capacitor electrode, a portion of gate insulation layer 33 as a dielectric layer, and the capacitor electrode 16 as a second capacitor electrode. Since the capacitor electrode 16 is formed over the portion 13a of the gate line 13, the structure is commonly referred to as a storage-on-gate structure. If the second metal layer is formed of aluminum in the above-described structure, molybdenum (Mo) or chrome (Cr) is disposed on the second metal layer in order to form a double-layered structure.
In FIGS. 3E and 3F, a portion of the ohmic contact layer 56 disposed upon the active layer 55 is etched using the source electrode 28 and drain electrode 30 as masks, thereby forming a channel region in the active layer 55 between the source electrode 28 and the drain electrode 30.
In FIGS. 3G and 3H, a passivation layer 39 is formed on the TFT "T," on the storage capacitor "C" and on the gate insulation layer 33. The passivation layer 39 is subsequently patterned using a fourth mask to form a drain contact hole 41 to the drain electrode 30 and a capacitor contact hole 43 to the capacitor electrode 16.
In FIGS. 3I and 3J, a transparent conductive material is deposited on the patterned passivation layer 39. The transparent conductive material commonly includes indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO). Thereafter, the transparent conductive material is patterned to form a pixel electrode 17 in the pixel region "P." A portion of the pixel electrode 17 overlaps the drain electrode 30 and electrically contacts the drain electrode 30 through the drain contact hole 41. Additionally, another portion of the pixel electrode 17 overlaps the portion 13a of the gate line 13 and the capacitor electrode 16, thereby electrically contacting the capacitor electrode 16 through the capacitor contact hole 43.
As described above, the gate insulation layer is commonly formed of a relatively large thickness to prevent any short-circuit between the gate electrode and the drain electrode in the thin film transistor. Thus, the dielectric layer that is the portion of the gate insulation layer also is formed of a relatively large thickness in the storage capacitor. As commonly known, the capacitance of the storage capacitor is inversely proportion to the thickness of the dielectric layer. Accordingly, the storage capacitor fabricated by the above-described fabrication method does not have sufficient capacitance, thereby causing an image-sticking defect when displaying a subsequent image after displaying a previous image.

Array substrate for a liquid crystal display and method for fabricating thereof


A holographic anti-imitation method and device is provided, which can prevent a creative graphic design from unauthorized reproduction. The holographic anti-imitation method and device provides the creative graphic design as a hidden pattern in a synthesized image formed in a hologram that can be viewed only through a special viewing device. This allows the creative graphic design to be highly difficult to be reproduced by infringing parties. The synthesized image includes a background pattern visible to naked eyes and a hidden pattern merged into the background pattern which is invisible to the naked eyes. The hologram can be a dot-matrix hologram which is formed through laser means that generates two interfering laser beams to form a dot-matrix pattern of the synthesized image in the hologram. The hidden pattern can be viewed only through a special viewing device, such as a lenticular or a grate-like piece. When the viewing device is moved in crosswise or lengthwise direction over the hologram, the hidden pattern can be visualized to the viewer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to graphic means, and more particularly, to a holographic anti-imitation method and device which can prevent a creative graphic design, such as a trademark or a copyrighted graphic, from being easily reproduced by infringing parties. The holographic anti-imitation method and device provides a dot-matrix hologram in which the creative graphic design is encoded as a hidden pattern which can be viewed only through a special viewing device, such as a lenticular, so as to allow the creative graphic design to be highly difficult to be reproduced by infringers.
2. Description of Related Art
Commercial products are usually attached with labels printed with a creative graphic design, such as a trademark or a copyrighted graphic, when displayed for sale on the market so as to attract the attention of the buyers. By intellectual property law, the unauthorized reproduction and use of such a graphic design is illegal and infringes the rights of the titleholder. An infringer to such a graphic design can be sued by the title-holder for damages. However, in many cases, the unauthorized reproductions of the creative graphic designs by those infringers in the black market can be difficult to be found out and sued by the titleholder for damages. Especially because conventional product labels are usually made by print, the creative graphic designs thereon are very easy to be reproduced by the infringers. Although the holographic anti-counterfeit method has been widely used, it still can't prevent infringing completely. There exists, therefore, a need for an advanced method combining the holographic and a new kind of graphic means that can in some way show the creative graphic design to the viewer while nevertheless allowing the creative graphic design to be highly difficult to reproduce.

Holographic anti-imitation method and device for preventing unauthorized reproduction

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A data writing method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module having a plurality of physical erasing units, and a memory control circuit unit and the memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes: grouping the physical erasing units into at least a data area and a spare area; configuring a plurality of logical units for mapping to the physical erasing units of the data area; and dynamically reserving a predetermined number of physical erasing units dedicating to write sequential data. Accordingly, the method can fast write the sequential data with the page-based memory management.

1. Technology Technical Field
The present invention relates to a data writing method for a non-volatile memory module, and a memory control circuit unit and a memory storage apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
The growth of digital cameras, mobile phones, and MP3 players has been rapid in recent years. Consequently, the consumers' demand for storage media has increased tremendously. A rewritable non-volatile memory is one of the most adaptable memories for portable electronic products such as laptop computer due to its data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, non-mechanical structure and high read/write speed. A solid state drive (SSD) is a memory storage apparatus which utilizes a flash memory as its storage medium. For these reasons, the flash memory has become an import part of the electronic industries.
A flash memory storage module includes a plurality of physical erasing units, and each of the physical erasing units has a plurality of physical programming units, and data is written into the physical erasing unit according to a sequence of the physical programming units. In addition, the physical programming units already written with data must be erased before it can be used again for writing data. In particular, the physical erasing unit is served as a smallest unit for erasing data, whereas the physical programming unit is served as a smallest unit for programming (or writing). Therefore, in a management of the flash memory module, the physical erasing units may be divided into at least a data area and a spare area.
The physical erasing units of the data area are used to store data stored by the host system. More specifically, a memory control circuit unit in the memory storage apparatus may convert logical access addresses to be accessed by the host system into logical pages of logical blocks, and map the logical pages of the logical blocks to the physical programming units of the physical erasing units of the data area. Namely, in the management of the flash memory module, the physical erasing units of the data area are regarded as the physical erasing units already being used (e.g., already stored with data written by the host system). For instance, the memory control circuit unit may use a logical-to-physical address mapping table to record a mapping relation between the logical blocks and the physical erasing units of the data area, in which the logical pages in the logical blocks are corresponding to the physical programming units of the physical erasing units being mapped.
The physical erasing units of the spare area are used to alternately exchange the physical erasing units in the data area. More specifically, as described above, the physical erasing unit written with data must be erased before it can be used again to write the data. Therefore, the physical erasing units of the spare area are designed to write random data for exchanging the physical erasing units mapped to the logical blocks. Accordingly, the physical erasing units of the spare area are either empty or available physical erasing units (i.e., in which data are not recorded or data are marked as invalid).
In other words, the physical programming units of the physical erasing units in the data area and the spare data are alternately exchanged for mapping to the logical pages of the logical blocks, so as to store the data written by the host system. For instance, in case the logical access address to be written with the random data from the host system is corresponding to one specific logical page of one specific block, the memory control circuit unit of the memory storage apparatus may select one or more physical erasing units from the spare area, write the random data into the physical programming units of the selected physical erasing units, and relate the physical erasing unit to be written with the data to the data area.
Particularly, during operations of the memory storage apparatus, in case the spare area is about to run out of the physical erasing units, the memory control circuit unit of the memory storage apparatus may arrange valid data in at least one physical erasing unit of the data area into the physical programming units not being used in other physical erasing units in the data area (hereinafter, known as "a valid data merging operation"). Accordingly, an erasing operation may be performed on the physical erasing units stored with the invalid data, and the erased physical erasing units may be related to the spare area, so that a mechanism of alternately exchanges may be maintained to execute subsequent write commands.
However, execution of said data merging procedure is quite time consuming. Therefore, in case the host system requests to write a great amount of data within a short time period (e.g., a request instructing to write the data in a buffer memory into the rewritable non-volatile memory when power is about to go off) and the physical erasing units of the spare area are about to run out, it may consume a great amount of time for the memory control circuit unit of the memory storage apparatus to execute the data merging procedure. As a result, the data may not be written within a predetermined time, leading to loss in the data stored by the system.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Data writing method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus


In a process for coating a substrate surface with a layer of inorganic material, the inorganic material is vaporised in a vacuum chamber evacuated to at least 10.sup.-3 mbar by bombarding with an electron beam from a high voltage electron-beam gun and deposited on the substrate surface. Gas discharging is created between the point of incidence (A) of the electron beam on the inorganic material to be vaporised and an anode such that the electrostatic charge created by the high voltage electron-beam gun flows off via the anode. This way damage to the substrate, which may arise as a result discharging phenomena, can be effectively avoided.

The invention relates to a process for coating a substrate surface with a layer of inorganic material, which is vaporized in a vacuum chamber evacuated to 10.sup.-3 mbar or less by bombarding with an electron beam from a high voltage electron-beam gun and deposited on the substrate surface. Within the scope of the invention is also a device for performing and applying the process.
Problems of electrostatic charging arise while electron-beam coating substrate materials that do not conduct electricity. These problems are due to the fact that the electrons from the electron-beam gun are not conducted off in a definite manner, this because the electrostatic charging cannot be led off the electrically insulating coating and substrate materials nor from the coated walls of the vacuum chamber which also become insulating after a certain time.
The charging phenomena express themselves e.g. in non-uniform focusing of the electron-beam, in non-defined alignment of the beam as a result of non-defined electrostatic fields and in charging of the substrate material which, especially when coil coating plastic films, can lead to considerable coiling problems. The electrostatic charge can also lead to pinholes in the film as a result of discharging. The build up of the electrostatic charge can also lead to overlapping of the film.
Known from the European patent document EP-A-0545863 is a process of the kind discussed above, in which a low energy, ionizing electron-beam forming a plasma is passed through the gas phase of inorganic material to an anode. The resultant gas discharging leads to removal of the electrostatic charge. The disadvantage of this mentioned method is that a second electron-beam gun has to be housed in the vacuum chamber.

Process and device for coating a substrate surface with vaporized inorganic material


A flowmeter proving apparatus for obtaining a reliable flow meter factor in a short time, using a flow-meter having a non-uniform pulse output with a small volume power. The flowmeter to be proved is connected in series with a small volume prover, using a by-pass valve. A CPU calculates irregularities of meter pulse spacing, determines the repeatability for a proving run from the number of counted meter pulses and a function given by the meter pulse number and the meter pulse space irregularity. The CPU then computes the proving pass number N.sub.p necessary for obtaining the required repeatability by substituting the repeatability value into another predetermined function.

The present invention relates to a flowmeter proving apparatus for proving flowmeters having non-uniform pulse outputs by using a reference volume cylinder and more particularly to a flowmeter proving apparatus having the function of calculating the number of proving runs necessary for obtaining the required repeatability of the proving test by using a small volume prover.
There are two conventional methods for proving flowmeters, one of which is called "an absolute proving method" whereby a flowmeter to be proved is connected in series with a precision cylinder having a calibrated reference volume and its reading during the displacement of the fluid of the reference volume through the calibrated section of the cylinder is directly compared to the above-mentioned fluid's volume or weight, and the other is called "a comparison method" whereby the flowmeter's reading is compared with a standard flowmeter. The "absolute proving method" is applied in the case where a high accuracy of instrumental error-correction is required. Generally, the absolute proving method is classified into two methods; one is "the tank method" using a standard tank having the known volume of its portion defined by its upper and lower levels, and the other is "the pipe method" using a reference volume pipe having the known volume in its calibrated section of the uniform cross-section.
The "standard tank method" cannot attain a high efficiency in performing proving tests since it requires much time and labor for reading the upper and lower levels, calculating the reference volume from the readings and so on. Conversely, in the case of "the pipe prover method", since whole meter pulses generated by a flowmeter to be proved are counted, and a rubber-made sphere of a diameter a little larger than the reference volume pipe's inside diameter is movable in the pipe under a low differential pressure of liquid therein, travels through the pipe section between its two positioned detectors (hereinafter called detectors). The result is compared with the reference volume and it is possible to obtain remote control and automated measurements thereby allowing the rationalization of the proving operation.
As regards the development of a flowmeter having a higher accuracy and a diversification of fluids for which flowmeters are used, it is necessary to achieve real time proving of the flowmeters through the pipe prover method using a small volume prover (hereinafter abbreviated to SVP) which is distinguished by its reduced size thereby allowing it to be transported by car or other vehicle by virtue of its short and small reference volume pipe.
The operating principle of SVP is such that a piston, sealably and slidably inserted in a cylinder of an even cross-section, travels through a calibrated section of the cylinder with its limits defined by the detectors to displace a constant volume of fluid through a flowmeter to be proved by comparing its readings with the measured volume of the fluid.
SVP systems are disclosed in chapter 4 "Proving System" of The Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards issued in June of 1988 by The American Petroleum Institute.
As mentioned above, the flowmeter proving method by using the SVP is meant to compare the fluid's volume in the calibrated section of the reference volume pipe defined by the signals emitted from the detectors with the number of meter pulses emitted from the flowmeter for the same period. The time-interval between the first detector signal at proving pass start and the first meter pulse following said detector signal and the time-interval between the last detector signal at the proving pass end and the meter pulse proceeding or following said detector signal, i.e. volume less than meter pulse spacing, are determined as ratios to the number of high frequency clock pulses and a fractional part of the displaced volume are calculated as a sum of or the difference between the ratios (by the double-timing method).
However, the double-timing method requires the conducting of the proving at a constant flow-rate and the generation of meter pulses at a uniform pulse spacing, that is, if the flow-rate varies or the pulses are emitted in non-uniform pulse spacing, the result may involve a corresponding error.
The flowmeter's pulse space dispersion depend upon the types of flowmeters to be proved. For example, a turbine meter, in which a rotor, rotatable in proportion to the flow-rate to be measured, is placed close to the flowmeter sensor, may generate equally spaced pulses of an excellent SN-ratio while pulse dispersion may occur in the case of a flowmeter having a rotary transmitting mechanism such as a gear train between a rotor and a meter pulse generator as well as a positive displacement flowmeter wherein a rotor's rotation angle is not proportional to the flowmeter's displacement.
The above-mentioned manual of API proposes that in case of a flowmeter having a rotor placed adjacent to the meter pulse generator, the proving test shall be conducted five times (by five proving passes) in order to attain a meter repeatability of 0.05% and a meter factor (in liters per pulse) shall be calculated as an average of values obtained by these five tests.
In a proving test of a flowmeter, generating irregularly spaced pulses representing certain flow-rates, it is necessary to increase the number of a piston's travels (hereinafter called the number of proving passes) or to set larger allowances for repeatability.
For instance, in order to obtain a repeatability of not more than 0.1% it is necessary to conduct 10 proving passes. Furthermore, increasing the number of proving passes increases the flowmeter's repeatability and also improves the quality of the mean's value.
However, there is no description of the relationship between a number of proving passes, the required repeatability and the mete pulse variations.


Ferroniobium, ferrotantalum and ferrovanadium alloys are hydrogenated to facilitate crushing then nitrided, and then acid-leached to produce a soluble iron nitride leachate and a niobium, tantalum or vanadium nitride residue which residue can be denitrided to yield the metal which can be recovered by melting.

The extraction of niobium (Nb) from ferroniobium (FeNb) has, in the past, been done in a variety of ways. The high cost of recovering niobium by the use of several of the known processes has deterred their commercial adoption.
Exemplary of the known methods include the extraction of niobium oxide (Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5) from FeNb in a multiple step process. The niobium oxide can then be metallothermically or carbothermically reduced to yield metal suitable for further purification by melting.
The state of the art extraction processes include chlorinating FeNb directly to produce ferric chloride (FeCl.sub.3) and niobium pentachloride (NbCl.sub.5) by passing chlorine through a bed of FeNb held at a temperature of from about 500.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C.
The reaction can be characterized as follows:
FeNb+4Cl.sub.2 .fwdarw.FeCl.sub.3 +NbCl.sub.5 +heat PA1 3Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 +10Al.fwdarw.6Nb+5Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 +heat
This reaction is exothermic and once started provides considerable heat and must, therefore, be carefully controlled. The FeCl.sub.3 and NbCl.sub.5 produced must be separated and this is accomplished by passing the chlorides in the vapor state through a heated bed of sodium chloride (NaCl) where the FeCl.sub.3 forms a eutectic composition with the NaCl and is thereby removed from the vapor process stream. The NbCl.sub.5 can then be subsequently condensed by cooling.
This chlorination step utilizes toxic chlorine gas reacted exothermically at elevated temperatures and pressures. These conditions can produce severe corrosion and thereby potential safety problems. Special equipment is necessary for handling the highly pressurized, corrosive liquid chlorine and it must be safely vaporized, metered and fed into the reactor. Likewise, the most suitable material for reactor construction is graphite. This is a brittle material which can fracture and fail abruptly after a short time in use in this environment. Further, the chlorine is normally used in excess to ensure complete reaction with the FeNb and the excess must be neutralized creating an expensive, undesirable by-product.
The condensed NbCl.sub.5 can, if desired, be distilled to achieve higher purity material. Distilled or undistilled, NbCl.sub.5 is then hydrolyzed by its addition to water and then the bath is neutralized, and the insoluble product can optionally be dried before being calcined in a heated kiln in the presence of oxygen to produce Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. The hydrolysis and neutralization steps can produce undesirable by-products and the drying and calcining steps are both energy intensive and expensive.
The Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 obtained as described can then be metallothermically reduced with aluminum powder in a batch reaction to form Nb metal according to the following equation:
This reaction is very exothermic attaining temperatures in excess of the melting point of the products which are then separated by gravity while in the molten state. While expensive, metallothermic reduction is effective with good yields.
The other methods for Nb extraction from FeNb involve caustic or carbonate fusions, which when leached or washed, give niobium oxide which is fairly pure and may be further purified by chlorination or other means presently known to the art. Ultimately, the oxide must be metallothermically reduced as previously described, or carbothermically reduced to Nb metal.
The process of reducing Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 carbothermically is difficult to do on a production basis since doing so requires large thermal input, vacuum vessels, and a careful balance of carbon to oxygen so that the resulting metal is not contaminated with either carbon or oxygen. If the carbon to oxygen ratio is maintained at nearly stoichiometric amounts, then the reaction proceeds rapidly until only a few percent of either remains unreacted. The reaction then proceeds slowly and it is difficult for it to reach completion. For this reason, carbothermic reduction is not currently used commercially.
Another method for extracting Nb from FeNb could theoretically be the direct electron beam melting and purification of FeNb by preferential vaporization of the Fe. This would be very expensive in practice as the melting point of FeNb is low and a great amount of electrical power is needed to superheat and vaporize the 5 to 40 weight percent of iron present. Though possible, it is not believed to be economically feasible.


A grommet includes a first grommet, having a first insertion hole through which a wire harness passes, an inner cover, having a second insertion hole communicated to the first insertion hole, the inner cover being mounted into the first grommet and a second grommet, mounted on the inner cover, and having a harness containing portion between the second grommet and the inner cover. A rib is provided on one of the inner cover and the second grommet. A rib bearing portion is provided on the another of the inner cover and the second grommet so as to be disposed to face to the rib. The wire harness disposed on the rib is pushed out from the rib by the rib bearing portion when the second grommet is mounted on the inner cover.

The present invention relates to a grommet, which covers a harness extending between a door opening portion and a door in a vehicle and is mounted on the door opening portion and the door.
A grommet for vehicle doors is known as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6A, a grommet 60 for vehicle doors includes an outer grommet 61, an inner cover 62, and an inner grommet 63.
The outer grommet 61 is made of rubber, and includes a bellows portion (not shown) disposed on an end side of a body 64 to extend rearward in FIG. 6A, and a fitting portion on a side of a door panel to be disposed at a tip end of the bellows portion and to be mounted on the door panel. The bellows portion is communicated to a hole 65 of the inner cover 62. The body 64 is provided at an outer periphery thereof with an insertion portion 66, which permits the inner cover 62 to be inserted thereinto.
The inner cover 62 includes a plate portion 67 inserted into the insertion portion 66 of the outer grommet 61 and a rib 68 substantially centrally of the plate portion 67. The inner cover 62 is fitted onto the inner grommet 63.
An end of the inner grommet 63 on a right side in FIG. 6A is opened to permit a harness 69 to be taken out therethrough. An upper face of the inner grommet 63 is provided with a fitting portion, which is disposed on a side of an opening portion (not shown) to be mounted on a door opening.
As shown in FIG. 6B, formed between the inner cover 62 and the inner grommet 63 is a harness insertion portion 70, which is divided into two halves to interpose therebetween the rib 68 of the inner cover 62. The harness 69 is inserted through the harness insertion portion 70. A tip end of the rib 68 of the inner cover 62 is disposed close to the inner grommet 63.
With such grommet 60 for vehicle doors, the harness 69 disposed in a panel on the door opening extends through the harness insertion portion 70 between the inner cover 62 and the inner grommet 63 from an opened portion of the inner grommet 63 to be taken into a door panel through the bellows portion from the hole 65 of the inner cover 62 and through the fitting portion on a door panel side. And the fitting portion of the inner grommet 63 is fitted into and fixed to the door opening. The fitting portion on the door panel side is mounted on the door panel.
When the fitting portion of the inner grommet 63 is fitted into and fixed to the door opening portion, a load is applied through the outer grommet 61, and at this time the rib 68 of the inner cover 62 abuts against the inner grommet 63 to prevent the load from deforming or breaking the inner grommet 63.
With the grommet 60 for vehicle doors, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, however, when the inner grommet 63 is fitted onto the inner cover 62, a part of the harness 69 is in some cases interposed and disposed between the rib 68 of the inner cover 62 and the inner grommet 63 as shown in FIG. 6B.
In this state, when the inner grommet 63 is fitted into and fixed to the door opening portion, a load is applied toward the inner grommet 63 from the inner cover 62 through the outer grommet 61, so that a part of the harness 69 on the rib 68 interposes the engagement of the rib 68 and the inner grommet 63 therebetween since the part of the harness 69 is caught by the rib 68 and the inner grommet 63.
As a result, a part of the harness 69 will be collapsed and broken, and there is caused a problem that breakage of the harness 69 leads to cutting-off of an electric current supplied into the harness 69 to incur malfunctioning of electric equipments.


An apparatus for imprinting data on a traveling film surface by utilizing a seven-segment light emitting element, comprises a film winding mechanism including a film feeding motor. A film feeding control device controls the film feeding mechanism to wind up one frame of the film after an exposure operation has finished. A pulse signal output device outputs pulse signals in accordance with the rotation of the motor. A perforation detecting portion detects a perforation and outputs a perforation signal. A PI counter counts the number of the pulse signals outputted between the detection of first and second perforation signals. A determining device determines light emitting intervals for the present imprinting operation based on the number of the pulse signals counted at the time of the preceding one-frame winding.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data imprinting apparatus of a camera and more particularly to a data imprinting apparatus provided in a camera for imprinting data, such as a date, on a film loaded in the camera, when the film is being wound up.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 6-308596 discloses an apparatus for optically recording a date, time and the like. In this apparatus, pulse signals are generated in accordance with the rotation of a film feeding motor and an imprinting timing is determined based on the number of pulse signals generated per perforation immediately before the start of imprinting the data.
However, in such a conventional apparatus, the film must be fed by at least one perforation for determining the imprinting timing.
Therefore, depending on the positional relationship between the frame and perforations of the film, there may be a limit to that position and space in the frame in which desired data are imprinted. Namely, it may be impossible to imprint the data, for example, starting from a position which is near the end of the frame.


Web browser software is implemented in a processing system housed in a set-top box connected to a television and communicating over a wide-area network with one or more servers. The browser allows a user to use a remote control device to navigate between hypertex, anchors in World-Wide Web pages displayed on the television. User inputs are entered from the remote control device using an infrared IR link in order to move a selection between hypertext anchors or various control buttons displayed on the television display. The browser is capable of downloading audio files from Web sites and generating sound through a speaker of the television set based on the audio files. Background music is generated during Web browsing based on audio files downloaded from one of the servers or audio files stored in memory in the set-top box. A background music audio file from a server can be downloaded while another background music audio file is played. An audio panel can be displayed when an audio file from a Web site is downloaded and played to form a user interface by which the user to play, stop, pause, rewind, or fast-forward the audio file.

The present invention pertains to the field of browser software for browsing the World Wide Web. More particularly, the present invention relates to audio functions in a Web browser.
The number of homes and businesses using personal computers has increased substantially in recent years, and along with this increase has come an explosion in the use of the Internet, and particularly the World-Wide Web (xe2x80x9cthe Webxe2x80x9d). The Web is a collection of formatted hypertext pages located on numerous computers around the world that are logically connected by the Internet. Although xe2x80x9cthe Webxe2x80x9d has in the past been a source of primarily scientific and technical information, it is now a valuable resource for information relating to almost any subject, including business, entertainment, travel, and education, to name just a few. Advances in network technology, and especially in software such as xe2x80x9cWeb browsersxe2x80x9d (software applications which provide a user interface to the Web), have made the Web accessible to a large segment of the population. However, despite the growth in the development and use of the Web, many people are still unable to take advantage of this important resource.
Access to the Web has been limited to people who have access to a personal computer. Yet some people cannot afford the cost of even a relatively inexpensive personal computer, while others are unable or unwilling to learn the basic computer skills that are required to access the Web. Furthermore, Web browsers in the prior art generally do not provide the degree of user-friendliness desired by some people who lack computer experience, and many computer novices do not have the patience to learn how to use the software. Some people, for example, dislike an interface which requires them to identify hypertext objects and use the point-and-click technique to browse through Web pages.
Most people, however, feel quite comfortable using a remote control to operate a television set. Therefore, it would be desirable to allow a person to access the World-Wide Web without the use of a personal computer. In particular, it would be desirable for a person to be able to access and navigate through Web pages using an ordinary television set and a remote control. It would further be desirable to have a user interface by which a person can use a remote control to navigate between hypertext objects on a Web page with minimal effort or thought, so that a person feels more as if he or she is simply changing television channels rather than utilizing a complex computer network.
Another problem associated with Web browsers is that they tend to provide minimal audio functionality. Audio files linked to Web pages are becoming increasingly more common. Although some Web browsers may provide capability to download and play audio files, they generally do not provide capability to manipulate audio data to any significant extent. In addition, Web browser user interfaces generally are not set up to facilitate audio functionality.
A method is provided of processing audio information in a client processing system that is capable of being coupled to a server processing system over a network and is capable of being coupled to an audio output device. In the method, a first audio sequence is output via the audio output device based on a first audio file stored in the client processing system. A second audio file, which represents a second audio sequence that is to be output following output of the first audio sequence, is downloaded into the client processing system from the network while the first audio sequence is being output. The second audio file is transmitted from the server processing system to the client processing system over the network.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method of providing a user interface for controlling audio functions of a client processing system. The client processing system is coupled to a server processing system over a network and to a display device. In the method, audio information is downloaded from the network, and an audio control panel is displayed on the display device. The audio control panel includes a number of images, each of which is for activating one of a number of audio functions for manipulating the downloaded audio information.
Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description which follows.

User interface for controlling audio functions in a web browser


For icebraking ships whose forward quarter is designed like a pontoon with an underside rising obliquely forward, and having icebreaking configurations on its sides, the hull can be equipped on both sides over the entire length of the ship with balcony-like flanks that improve the maneuverability of the icebreaking ship. The undersides of the balcony-like flanks can drop off obliquely downward and preferably lie at the level of the water line so that, during the turning of the ship, the oblique undersides can break off the edges of the ice. Further, the underside of the bow in the vicinity of the icebreaking configurations can be designed wider that the water line of the afterbody, to thus provide a clearance between the edges of the ice and the hull.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an icebreaking ship having a forward quarter designed like a pontoon with the underside of the bow extending from the ship bottom roughly to the beginning of the front third of the bow and rising obliquely forward to above the water line. The lateral edges of the bow in the vicinity of the water line bear icebreaking or cutting means and the width of the icebreaking or cutting means in the vicinity of the water line is greater than the width of the water line of the afterbody of the hull. The hull can also have balcony-like flanks on both sides, with a parapet that is preferably oriented roughly vertically. The balcony undersides adjoining the parapet can be oriented obliquely downward and the balcony support adjoining oblique surfaces, until the transition to the essentially flat ship bottom, can be oriented roughly vertically. The water line of the hull runs roughly parallel, and preferably somewhat outward to the half width of the underside of the balcony.
2. Background Information
Icebreakers of this type, which were disclosed in German Patent 4101034, have recessed waistline-like indentations in the body of the ship on both sides adjoining the pontoon-like forward quarter.
Furthermore, in this known icebreaker, the balcony-like flanks adjoining the indentations extend all the way to the stern.
It is true that, with appropriate dimensions of depth and length, the waistline-like indentations essentially provide a small turning circle radius during turns of the ship and, consequently, good maneuverability. However, such indentations tend to require significant construction interventions in the structure of the ship's hull and, consequently, increased cost.
Moreover, the indentations tend to disrupt the flow of water currents along the ship's side, which circumstance usually has a disadvantageous effect on resistance, particularly during forward travel in ice-free waters.


An electrical connector for interconnecting circuit boards has an insulating body with adjacently disposed recesses defined along at least one of its sides and open at the sides. A connector element is disposed in each of the recesses having a contact foot extending outwardly from the recess for mounting to one circuit board and a movable contact head extending above an uppermost face of the insulating body for being resiliently pressed into contact with another circuit board. The connector element includes a flexible stem portion between the contact head and a horizontal portion mounted to the insulating body such that the flexible stem portion bends back over the mounted portion only once.

Apart from hard wiring the boards one to another, prior art methods of interconnecting the boards include the use of edge connectors carried by the boards which engage with complementary fixed connectors carried within a frame mounting the boards, interconnection being required between the complementary fixed connectors to provide the necessary connections from one board to another.
Such systems are inconvenient and costly, requiring numerous individual component parts, and the assembly of those parts into an interconnection system. In addition, removal or replacement of individual boards of an assembly is likely to difficult and thus introduce further cost in service and maintenance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means of interconnecting boards as herein defined.


A charge pump with a MOS-type capacitor, where the MOS-type capacitor is operated in an inversion region in which capacitance varies as a function of the frequency of the applied signal. The charge pump is switched to transfer charge from an input node to the capacitor and from the capacitor to an output node. During a transition interval, a relatively high frequency switching signal is used to lower the capacitance and increase efficiency. During a settling interval, a relatively low frequency switching signal is used, in which case the capacitance is higher, but similar to a level which would be seen if the capacitor was operated in an accumulation region. MOS capacitor dimensions and switching intervals are mutually optimized to provide high efficiency and required throughput. The charge pump may be configured as a voltage multiplier, divider, inverter or follower, for instance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charge pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices often require regulated voltages in order to operate properly. Typically, a supply voltage of the device is provided to a voltage regulator which can translate the voltage to an output voltage at different levels. Various types of voltage regulators can be used. For example, linear regulators provide a relatively noise free output and can be lower in cost, but are less efficient and unable to step-up or invert the input voltage. Switching regulators can be higher in cost but have greater efficiency and can provide step-up and inversion features. Switching regulators rapidly switch an energy storage device such as an inductor or capacitor on and off. A charge pump, or voltage converter, provides an output voltage which is different from the supply voltage. A charge pump typically uses capacitors as energy storage elements to provide an output voltage which is higher or lower than the input voltage. Moreover, a charge pump can include voltage regulation circuitry to maintain the output voltage at a constant level also in the case when the input voltage varies within a range. However, a charge pump usually suffers from efficiency degradation when operated at a point which is not close to its native input to output voltage ratio.

Charge coupled pump-efficient charge pump regulator with MOS capacitor


A method for encoding a plurality of video frames of a single data stream at a plurality of encoding rates is provided. The method includes accessing a first video frame associated with the single data stream and encoding the first video frame at a first encoding rate. The method further includes accessing a second video frame associated with the single data stream and encoding the second video frame at a second encoding rate.

Transmission rate control is one of the most important modules in video coding and streaming over resource-limited networks. Failure to effect transmission rate control results in data loss. Many advances in video compression have been made to address the artifacts caused by data losses in the transport medium. These advances can be categorized into two classes. The first class attempts to address error propagation caused by temporal prediction, and includes techniques such as the use of periodic intra-frames and multiple description coding. The second class attempts to minimize the amount of received data that is rendered useless by data loss. Examples include "video packet" (resync markers) and reversible VLC code. Error concealment is a common technique that sits between these two classes.
Beyond the traditional Intra-frame (I-Frame) and the Inter-frame (P-frame) coding, a new frame type S-frame was introduced in the new video coding standard H.264. There are two types of S-frames, namely, the SI frame which is an intra frame encoded, and the SP frame which employs temporal prediction.
An improved system and method for transmission rate control utilizing S-frames and SP frames would be an improvement over conventional encoding and transmission systems and methods.

System and method for encoding a single video stream at a plurality of encoding rates

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Method and arrangement for providing a ceramic thermal barrier coating, TBC, deposited and attached directly to a metallic substrate (2), or an intermediate bond coating (3) deposited on such a substrate (2). The TBC includes at least two layers, wherein a first, inner TBC layer, that is directly attached to the substrate (2) or bond coating (3), presents a different microstructure than a second, outer TBC layer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to ceramic thermal barrier coatings, commonly referred to by the acronym, TBC, that is deposited and attached directly to a metallic substrate, or upon an intermediate bond coating deposited on, an covering such a substrate.
The invention also relates to a method of applying a TBC on a substrate, the TBC being applied on the substrate or a intermediate bond coating between the substrate and the TBC, preferably by means of thermal spraying of a powder that forms the TBC on the substrate or bond coating.
The invention also relates to metallic substrates and articles coated with such ceramic TBCS. In particular, the present invention concerns substrates and articles that constitute a constructional element operating in a high temperature environment, such as a turbine blade or combustor in a gas turbine engine.
2. Background
The demand for increased operating temperature in gas turbine engines has led to the development of ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBC) constituted by materials that are deposited onto metallic parts such as turbine blades and that are exposed to high temperature environments. The task of the TBC is typically to thermally insulate metallic part(s) in order to prolong the parts" service life and prevent rapid degeneration due to temperature-severe operative conditions.
Normally an intermediate bond coating such as a MCrAlY-coating is applied to the metallic substrate in order to promote an efficient connection between the TBC and the metallic substrate. The TBC is applied to the bond coating by means of any suitable deposition technique such as thermal (preferably plasma) spraying, physical vapor deposition (PVD), or chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
Accordingly, the TBC should possess a thermal conductivity that is as low as possible and that presents sufficient thermo-mechanical properties such as thermal shock and cycling resistance, as well as be thin in order to save weight and space.

Thermal barrier coating and a method of applying such a coating


The present invention relates to a light-activated semiconductor device comprising light-emitting elements for emitting light respectively, light-receiving elements for producing driving voltages in response to the light respectively and output elements activated in response to the driving voltages respectively. The light-receiving elements are disposed on two planes opposed to each other. The output elements are disposed on their corresponding planes in opposing relationship.

The present invention relates to a light-activated semiconductor device having light-emitting elements, light-receiving elements and output elements. Each of the light-emitting elements emits light. Each of the light-receiving elements outputs a signal in response to the light emitted from each light-emitting element. The output elements make conductive between two output nodes in response to the signal output from each light-receiving element. The light-emitting elements and the light-receiving elements are of isolation types wherein they are disposed as different semiconductor chips. The present invention relates particularly to a technique for disposing two light-receiving elements and two output elements.
A photocoupler, which has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1-48057, for example, is known as one for disposing the two light-receiving elements. The disclosed photocoupler has two pairs of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements. The two light-receiving elements are disposed onto two-divided lead frames in opposing relationship to each other. The light-emitting elements are disposed onto the lead frames interposed between the two light-receiving elements so as to be opposed to the respective light-receiving elements. Thus, the photocoupler having the two light-emitting elements and the two light-receiving elements can be reduced in size.
A solid-state device relay, which has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-170976, for example, is known as one for disposing the two output elements. The disclosed solid-state device relay has a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and two output elements. The light-receiving element is connected to a tab of a lead frame. The two output elements are provided at both ends of the light-receiving element. The two output elements are respectively electrically connected (wire-connected) to their corresponding tabs. Each of the output elements is of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) field effect transistor chip. Thus, a wiring step for assembling the solid-state device relay is simplified by using tabs.

Light-activated semiconductor device having light-emitting elements, light-receiving elements and output elements


A system and method that enables a telecommunications consumer to define groups to be included in a monthly bill, and then periodically generate a bill in accordance with the consumer's specifications. In one embodiment, the invention includes a plurality of portable wireless telephone stations; a plurality of wired telephone stations; a plurality of local exchange carriers (LECs); at least one mobile switching center (MSC) and at least one mobile base antenna tower. Each MSC, LEC and IXC is adapted to operate a program that allows a telecommunications consumer to define groups to be included in a monthly bill, and then periodically generate a bill in accordance with the consumer's specifications.

Telephone bill summary information is useful for a variety of purposes. For example, bill summary information may be used to automatically debit accounts for payment, to distribute charges to those who incurred them, and for cost tracking and reduction. Conventional telephone bills provide standard summary information, such as the location of a placed call and the total charges due over a predetermined period of time. The customer who receives the bill has no control over the summary information presented on the bill and cannot define or request custom summary information to appear on the bill. Recipients of such bills must themselves generate the summary information they need. It would be useful if bills including the desired customer defined or requested summary information were automatically generated by the telephone billing process.
More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,864 entitled "Telephone Billing with Customized Billing Information," and U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,170 entitled "Telephone Billing with Summary Information," to Jagadish et al. disclose the capability to present billing information to a user in a user-specified form, subject to specific limitations. Patents describe the nature of the accumulated summary information for a particular customer as depending on the services subscribed to by that customer. For example, the patents provide that it may be useful to maintain a summary field containing the number of minutes of calls that the customer has made during a particular discount period.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that enables a telecommunications consumer to dynamically arrange incoming and outgoing calls prior to the completion of the call into user-specified groups. There is also a need for a system and method that allows a telecommunications user to interactively create and organize groups in a master account by project, person, organization, purpose, etc.


A remotely controlled model airplane includes a receiver responsive to signals from a transmitter to control the direction of flight of the model airplane. The receiver, powered by a battery, demodulates the signal transmitted by the transmitter to selectively energize an electrical coil to generate a magnetic field of a first or second polarity. A rudder pivotally attached to the vertical stabilizer includes a magnet responsive to the magnetic fields generated and is urged in one direction or the other resulting in commensurate pivotal movement of the rudder. A hinge interconnecting the rudder and vertical stabilizer urges return to center of the rudder after it has been deflected left or right by the magnet responding to the magnetic field created as a result of a signal transmitted by the transmitter. An electric motor also under control of the transmitter and receiver may be incorporated to rotate a propeller to provide thrust and forward motion of the model airplane. By employing a transmitter to selectively transmit a plurality of signals, control surfaces of the model airplane can be deflected to provide 2-axis control to selectively alter the direction and pitch of the model airplane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control systems for remotely controlled model airplanes and, more particularly, to magnetically operated centrally biased control surfaces for a model airplane.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
Remotely controlled, and formerly referred to as radio controlled, model airplanes have been built and flown as a hobby since the 1940s when vacuum tube operated transmitters and receivers became available for use in model airplanes. With advances in the transmitter/receiver art, there have been significant size and weight reductions in the related equipment and there have been significant improvements in reducing the electrical power requirements. With such reductions in size and weight, smaller and lighter model airplanes became possible to be remotely controlled.
Initially, the control system actuated by a signal from the receiver was a rubber band driven escapement that provided left or right rudder deflection for directional control. Generally, such escapements lacked sufficient power to deflect the elevator to obtain a change in pitch or to deflect the ailerons to obtain a left or right rolling moment about the longitudinal axis. Moreover, control of the engine speed and operation was primarily limited to shutting down the engine, which engine was usually a single cylinder internal combustion engine. As technology advanced, several servo mechanisms were developed which had significant power to operate the various control surfaces and to provide a throttling capability for the engine. During the last ten years or so, the size of these servos has been significantly reduced. They also became capable of full proportional control to accurately deflect the respective control surface(s).
Through careful aerodynamic design of a model airplane, it is possible to control not only the direction of flight but also the pitch attitude of a model airplane using only deflection of the rudder. A skilled pilot can even do basic aerobatic maneuvers using only selected timed rudder deflection. For small sized lightweight model airplanes, a magnetic actuator for the rudder was available a number of years ago. This actuator included a coil to drive a linkage connected to the rudder of the model airplane. The signal transmitted by the transmitter and received by the receiver either energized the coil or de-energized the coil. The rudder was biased in one direction during the absence of a signal and upon transmission of a control signal, the coil was energized to cause deflection of the rudder in the other direction. By regulating the relative on/off periods of energizing the coil, directional control of the airplane could be maintained but a great deal of skill by the ground based pilot was required. Because of the low power output of the coil, the linkage connected to the rudder had to be very carefully adjusted, be essentially slop free and minimal friction was required.
With the advent of micro sized receivers, electric motors and small powerful batteries, small and light weight model airplanes can now be remotely controlled. As small and light weight model airplanes require relatively small forces to actuate control surfaces for controlling movement in the pitch, yaw and longitudinal axis, new and innovative low power servo mechanisms can be used for these purposes.

Remotely controlled model airplane having deflectable centrally biased control surface


A blood collection system comprises a suction unit (11), a hose arrangement (12) connected to the suction unit, means for aspirating blood and air through the suction unit and for pumping said blood and air through the hose arrangement, a flow sensing unit (14) for continuously sensing the blood flow through the hose arrangement, an anticoagulant additive dosing system (15) for continuously dosing an anticoagulant additive into the blood flowed through the hose arrangement in response to the continuously sensed blood flow, a mixing unit (16) for mixing the blood with the anticoagulant additive dosed into the blood, and a collection vessel (17) for collecting the mixed blood and anticoagulant additive. The means for aspirating and pumping the blood and air is a pump system (13) providing a known constant volume flow of the blood and air in the hose arrangement, the flow sensing unit (14) is arranged for continuously sensing the mass flow of blood through the hose arrangement by means of continuously measuring a parameter indicative of the weight of blood in a tubing section (14a), through which the blood is transported, and the anticoagulant additive dosing system comprises a control unit (15d) connected to the flow sensing unit and arranged for automatically controlling the continuously dosing of an anticoagulant additive into the blood flowed through the hose arrangement in response to the continuously sensed mass flow of blood.

In the health services organizations worldwide blood for homologous transfusion has always been and still is in short supply. Considerable amounts are used for transfusions on different indications, e.g., in connection to surgery on humans as mentioned above and in veterinary praxis. Blood is an expensive product due to the costs for collecting, testing and storing the same and the administration of the precise handling of the same. At homologous blood transfusions there is a risk of transferring detrimental diseases such as hepatitis, HIV infections, and different tropical diseases among others.
As an attempt to avoid the risks with homologous blood replacement, autologous blood transfusion has been suggested. In one autologous blood transfusion technique, the patient's own blood is collected during surgery from his surgical wound for a following re-transfusion of the "whole blood" when the patient will best need it. However, blood leaving the vascular bed will also get in contact with injured tissues forming the surgical wound's walls. This contact will activate the blood's coagulation.
When blood is sucked through a tubing system from a surgical wound into a blood collector the activation process will continue unless the internal surface of the tubing is blood compatible or until this process is stopped by an anticoagulant, such as a sodium citrate solution. Furthermore, it can not be avoided that air is also sucked into the system together with the blood. In fact much larger volumes of air are sucked than volumes of blood in the majority of the cases. The result is that almost all blood will pass through the system mixed with air as foam or froth until it has been defoamed.
It is important that the activation process resulting in polymerization or clot formation (coagulation) is stopped as early and complete as possible during that the blood is collected. This can only be achieved if an anticoagulant is added and mixed to the entire blood portion as early as possible during the blood collecting process. It should be noticed that the blood-air interface is not a blood compatible surface.
Beside blood and air the collected material may also contain non-desired tissue fragments from the surgical wound (clots, tissue fragments, fat, bone particles, etc.). These materials will also activate the same coagulation system during the blood collection process until the said system has been stopped (inactivated) by the added anticoagulant.
WO 01/14048 discloses a blood collection system comprising suction means for aspirating blood, a defoaming unit for defoaming the aspirated blood by virtue of subjecting the fluid to a G-force other than the force of gravity, a measuring device for in situ measuring the flow of the defoamed blood, a dosing means for dosing an additive, such as sodium citrate, into the blood at the output of the defoaming unit in dependence of preferably proportional to, the measured flow of the blood, a mixing unit for mixing the blood with the additive by virtue of subjecting the blood and the additive to a G-force other than the force of gravity, and a recipient for collecting the mixed blood and additive. The measuring device is an optical device arranged for measuring the amount of blood and the velocity of said amount, wherein the velocity is measured by recording the amount of blood in a first and in a second one-dimensional cross section of the tubing, located at different positions along the flow direction, at various times, and by correlating the recordings.


Methods and device for simultaneous multi-touch input on a touchscreen display are described. In one aspect, the present application describes a method implemented by a processor of an electronic device. The electronic device has a touchscreen display. The method includes detecting a first touch gesture on a first portion of the touchscreen display associated with a first control element and, during the first touch gesture, detecting a second touch gesture on a second portion of the touchscreen display associated with a second control element different from the first control element; and while detecting the first touch gesture and detecting the second touch gesture, simultaneously, causing a first event in the first portion of the touchscreen display in response to the first touch gesture, and causing a second event in the second portion of the touchscreen display in response to the second touch gesture.

Electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet computers are equipped or associated with various input interfaces. More particularly, current electronic devices are usually equipped with a touchscreen display. A touchscreen display provides a touch-sensitive input surface for receiving gesture-based input. Accordingly, a user may input instructions to the electronic device by inputting gestures on the touchscreen display to cause the electronic device to perform associated functions.
The gesture-based inputs allow a user to interact with user interfaces of applications within the electronic devices. These gesture-based inputs correspond to instructions to perform various functions and features within the user interfaces. For example, a user interface of an application may provide a display page that may be manipulated based on the gesture-based inputs of a user. For example, the display page may be scrolled, interface elements included in the display page may be selected, content included in the display page may be selected and copied, etc.
A user interface of an application may display multiple display pages. In such examples, a user may interact with all of the display pages to manipulate them. However, when interacting with multiple display pages, a user may need to "switch" between the display pages to interact with them and may not "simultaneously" interact with all of them (i.e. the user interface may only allow for one display page to be activated and manipulated at a time, while the other display pages are de-activated and cannot be manipulated).
For example, where the first touch of a multi-touch gesture (e.g. pinch-to-zoom) is detected, the location of that first touch associates the gesture with a particular portion of the interface, i.e. a control element. Thereafter, additional touches that are detected during the first touch (e.g. a received finger gesture) are assigned to the same control element irrespective of where they occur on the touchscreen display. That is, only one control element is active at a time.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

Methods and devices for simultaneous multi-touch input


A plug-connection verification system for detecting a properly made electrical plug connection. A detection device is provided which includes an analyzer unit and a data transmission device, the analyzer unit being designed to detect the position of the locking element and the data transmission device being designed to transmit the determined position of the locking element.

Plug connections which are composed of a plug and a socket as well as a locking element securing the plug connection, are available in many designs. Such plug connections are used, in particular, in the automotive industry. These plug connections are plugged together by operators during the assembly process on the assembly line. Generally, no provision is made to verify whether the plug connection has been properly made.
There are different ways to verify whether such plug connections have actually been plugged together properly and completely. Conventionally, a plug connection is designed in such a manner that, by visual inspection, for example through a cover element, it is possible to see whether or not the electrical plug connection has been properly made.
In the automotive industry, for example, plug connections generally have to be made at locations that are very difficult to see. This involves the disadvantage that conventional visual inspections cannot be used here, because the operator must make the plug connection "blindly" and therefore has no possibility to carry out a visual inspection.
It is only upon the completion of all electrical plug connections that the defect is possibly detected. However, due to the multitude of plug connections, the faulty connections can no longer be detected or only with greater effort.
An object of the present invention is to provide a plug-connection verification which allows a connection that has already been plugged together to be checked for correctness without the plug connection being accessible to view.

Plug-connection verification for detecting a properly made electrical plug connection


According to one or more embodiments, a cup holder includes a support, an adjustable arm connected to the support, and a base connected to the support and spaced apart from the adjustable arm, the base being pivotal about the support in a first direction and being translatable to the adjustable arm in a second direction different from the first direction. The support may include a first member and a second member separable from the first member, the first member being connected to the adjustable arm and the second member being connected to the base.

In certain existing designs, vehicle cup holders are often placed in the space provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat. Not only do these designs unnecessarily take away the space which otherwise could be available for other uses, but also they usually come in with relatively little flexibility for size and/or height adjustment.
It would thus be advantageous if a cup holder may be produced without these identified problems, particularly problems in relation to space constraint to a vehicle interior.

Cup holder and vehicle door containing the same


According to the present invention, it is provided a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising an alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid copolymer and a block copolymer prepared by extending, with a specific polyurethane component, the polymer chain of a block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, having a polymer block of an aromatic vinyl compound and a polymer block of a conjugated diene.

Block copolymers having a styrene polymer block and a conjugated diene polymer block [hereinafter referred to as "styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer"] and the hydrogenated products thereof can be readily formulated into a molded article, because they can be plasticized and molten by heating. They have rubber elasticity at an ordinary temperature and show excellent balance between flexibility and mechanical characteristics. Therefore, in recent years, they have been widely used in various fields as one of the thermoplastic elastomers.
The Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 52-150464 describes a composition in which a thermoplastic resin having specific properties is blended with a styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer and/or a hydrogenated product thereof. The publication discloses that the composition is suitable to insulators for conductors and soldering wires, and that a thermoplastic polyurethane is used as one of the thermoplastic resins described above. However, since the styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, and the thermoplastic polyurethane is poor in compatibility, the properties of each polymer fail to be provided sufficiently, and a useful polymer composition cannot be obtained.
Further, various proposals have been made so far for the techniques with an aim of improving the melt-adhesiveness of the styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer or the hydrogenated product thereof. For example, a melt-adhesive composition comprising a styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, and a thermoplastic polyurethane has been known [see the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. Hei 6-65467, Hei 6-107898 and Hei 8-72204]. However, this melt-adhesive composition sometimes results in a problem of failing to give a sufficient bonding strength or the lack of the durability of a bonding strength depending on the kind of the material laminated therewith. Moreover, the compatibility between the styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, and the thermoplastic polyurethane in this melt-adhesive composition is not quite satisfactory, so that the composition has a problem such as delamination or instability of the bonding strength in the laminate structure obtained, for example, by composite injection molding.
Also, a polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, modified with hydroxyl group, carboxyl group or a derivative thereof has been proposed with an aim of improving the compatibility between the styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, and the thermoplastic polyurethane and improving the melt-adhesiveness of the polymer composition comprising the styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, and the thermoplastic polyurethane [see the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. Sho 63-99257 and Hei 3-234755]. Further, there has been proposed addition of a phosphorus compound or a phenolic compound to the above-described composition to improve the thermal stability during processing [see the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 7-126474]. However, a satisfactory result has not yet been obtained, because these compositions are still poor in non-tackiness, melt-moldability such as melt-discharge stability, and melt-adhesiveness to other resins upon lamination.
As a polymer composition which can solve the above-described problems, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,952 discloses the polymer composition comprising (1) a block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene, (2) a block copolymer having a polymer block (I) of a block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene, and a polymer block (II) of a polyurethane, (3) a thermoplastic polyurethane and (4) a paraffin oil.
In addition, the polymer composition of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a block copolymer, which may be hydrogenated, of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene can be blended with an alkyl ester of (meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a number average molecular weight of 200,000 or more and a thermal decomposition type foaming agent. And the resulting composition can be formulated into a foam by an extrusion foam molding and the like [see the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 10-292103]. A laminate structure having a layer of a foam obtained by the above-described method is described to be useful for man-made leather and the like.

Abstract: The thermoplastic polymer composition of the present invention has excellent properties such as non-tackiness, melt-moldability and melt-adhesiveness to other resins upon the lamination therewith. Also, the thermoplastic polymer composition of the present invention has melt characteristics suitable for the production of a foam. Therefore, the thermoplastic polymer composition of the present invention can be applied favorably for the production of various molded articles including a foam.


An LED driving method is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a brightness control signal, wherein the brightness control signal represents a duty cycle of an LED within a pulse width modulation cycle, and the duty cycle is indicated by a plurality of illuminating clocks; dividing the PWM cycle into a plurality of sub-PWM cycles; and equally distributing the illuminating clocks to each of the sub-PWM cycles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to LED driving technology, and in particular, relates to the driving technology for suppressing LED flickers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods for driving LEDs can be classified into two categories: analog driving methods and digital driving methods. The analog driving method adjusts the LED brightness by changing the LED current. However, this method is not precise enough for brightness control, and it may change the LED's light color at the same time. Therefore, most LED products nowadays are driven digitally.
The digital driving method adjusts LED brightness via pulse width modulation (PWM). FIG. 1 shows the relationship between a system clock signal clk and a 4-bit brightness control signal SLC. As is well known in the art, 4 bits can be used to represent 24 brightness values. Thus, in FIG. 1, the PWM cycle of the 4-bit brightness control signal SLC (i.e., the total length of the brightness control signal) is identical to 16 illuminating clocks. The pulse width modulation is achieved by varying the duty cycle of the LED (i.e., by varying the duty ratio of the illuminating duration to the whole duration of the signal). With the PWM, the LED brightness can be digitally controlled. From FIG. 1, it can be known that the duty cycle of the brightness control signal SLC is 11/16, where the pulse width (high level portion in this Figure) has 11 illuminating clocks. In the duration of the aforementioned 11 clocks, the LED is turned on and emits lights. However, in the following 5 clocks, the LED is turned off. The PWM changes the relative lengths of the time that the LED is turned on and off, and thus the brightness of the LED can be adjusted.
Note that when the LED is desired to exhibit low brightness, the number of the continuous non-illuminating pulses which represents that the LED is turned off will increase. Although the PWM cycle is usually extremely short, the LED's winking changes (flickers) will be difficult to be perceived by humans visually; however, they are noticeable when filming the LED through a digital camera having a low image capture rate. Therefore, the present invention provides a digital LED driving technology for reducing flickers.

Method and apparatus for driving light emitting diode