An LED lamp has a gear column which is connected between a cap and a substrate. The substrate is provided with a regular polyhedron of at least four planes, the planes having at least one LED which has a luminous flux of at least 5 lm. The gear column also has a heat-dissipater which interconnect the substrate and the lamp cap.

The invention relates to a LED lamp comprising a gear column, a lamp cap which is connected to an end of the gear column and a substrate which is connected to the other end of the gear column and which is provided with a number of LEDs.
Such a LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp is known from English patent publication GB 2,239,306, which more particularly describes a LED lamp which can suitably be used for decorative purposes. The known lamp comprises a customary base with a BC cap or a continental screw cap, a gear column which accommodates the electronic gear necessary to operate the LEDs, as well as a substrate which is circularly symmetrical when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the lamp, in the substrate a number of individual LEDs are incorporated. The colors generated by the different LEDs during operation of the lamp may differ. By using an adjustable switching time control, it is possible to generate specific lighting effects and lighting patterns with the known lamp.
The known lamp has a number of drawbacks. One of these drawbacks is that the lamp can only be used for signaling purposes, whereby the LEDs of the lamp draw attention via a specific adjustable flashing frequency. The known lamp cannot provide for continuous, uniform lighting with a high luminous flux. In addition, the manufacture of the known lamp is relatively complicated. This applies in particular if the known lamp must be provided with a large number of LEDs.
It is an object of the invention to obviate the above-mentioned drawback. The invention more particularly aims at providing a LED lamp which can be relatively easily mass-produced, and which can be operated such that continuous, uniform lighting with a high luminous flux is obtained.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a LED lamp of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph, which is characterized in that the substrate comprises a regular polyhedron of at least four faces, whereby faces of the polyhedron are provided with at least one LED which, during operation of the lamp, has a luminous flux of at least 5 lm, and the gear column is provided with heat-dissipating means which interconnect the substrate and the lamp cap.
The invented lamp enables continuous, uniform, high-intensity lighting to be achieved. It has been found that LEDs having a luminous flux of 5 lm or more can only be efficiently used if the lamp comprises heat-dissipating means. Customary incandescent lamps can only be replaced by LED lamps which are provided with LEDs having such a high luminous flux. A particular aspect of the invention resides in that the heat-dissipating means remove the heat, generated during operation of the lamp, from the substrate via the gear column to the lamp cap and the mains supply connected thereto.
The use of a substrate which is composed of a regular polyhedron of at least four faces enables the intended uniform lighting to be achieved. The regular polyhedron is connected to the gear column, preferably, via a vertex. However, the polyhedron may in principle also be connected to the gear column in the center of one of the faces. The greatest uniformity in lighting is obtained if each one of the faces is provided with the same number of LEDs of the same type.
In experiments leading to the present invention, it has been found that favorable results can be achieved with polyhedrons in the form of an octahedron (regular polyhedron of eight faces) and dodecahedron (regular polyhedron of twelve faces). Better results, however, are achieved with substrates in the form of a hexahedron (polyhedron of six faces, cube). In practice it has been found that a good uniformity in light distribution can already be obtained using substrates in the form of a tetrahedron (regular polyhedron of four faces, pyramid). In an alternative embodiment the substrate comprises a three-dimensional body like a sphere or an ellipsoid, or a pat of a sphere or an ellipsoid.
A favorable embodiment of the LED lamp is characterized in that the lamp is also provided with a (semi-)transparent envelope. This envelope may be made of glass, but is preferably made of a synthetic resin. The envelope serves as a mechanical protection for the LEDs. In addition, the envelope may contribute to obtaining the uniform lighting which can be obtained with the lamp.
A further interesting embodiment of the LED lamp is characterized in that the heat-dissipating means comprise a metal connection between the substrate and the lamp cap. It has been found that such a connection, which may preferably consist of a layer of copper, properly dissipates the heat from the substrate to the lamp cap. In principle, the gear column may entirely consist of a heat-conducting material, for example a metal such as copper or a copper alloy. In this case, it must be ensured that the electronics present in the gear column is properly electrically insulated from the metal gear column. Preferably, also the substrate is made of a metal, such as copper or a copper alloy.
Yet another embodiment of the LED lamp is characterized in that means are incorporated in the column, which are used to generate an air flow in the lamp. Such means, preferably in the form of a fan, can be used, during operation of the lamp, to generate forced air cooling. In combination with the heat-dissipating means, this measure enables good heat dissipation from the gear column and the substrate.
A further embodiment of the invented LED lamp is characterized in that the faces of the polyhedron are provided with an array of LEDs, which preferably comprises at least one green, at least one red and at least one blue LED or at least one green, at least one red, at least one yellow and at least one blue LED or at least one white LED. By virtue of the shape of the substrate, such an array of LEDs can be readily provided, often as a separate LED array, on the faces of the substrate. This applies in particular when the faces of the polyhedral substrate are substantially flat. Such a LED array generally comprises a number of LEDs which are provided on a flat printed circuit board (PCB). In practice, LEDs cannot be readily secured to a substrate which is not level. If LEDs with a high luminous flux (5 lm or more) are used, then a so-called metal-core PCB is customarily used. Such PCBs have a relatively high heat conduction. By providing these PCBs on the (preferably metal) substrate by means of a heat-conducting adhesive, a very good heat dissipation from the LED arrays to the gear column is obtained.
By using one or more LED combinations in the colors green, red and blue or green, red, yellow and blue for each substrate face, a LED lamp can be obtained which emits white light. Such LED combinations composed of three different LEDs are preferably provided with a secondary optical system, in which the above-mentioned colors are blended so as to obtain white light. Another interesting embodiment of the LED lamp is characterized in that the lamp is provided with means for changing the luminous flux of the LEDs. If the gear column is provided with electronics suitable for this purpose, then this measure enables a dimmable LED lamp to be obtained. The dim function is preferably activated by means of an adjusting ring which is attached to the gear column at the location of the lamp cap. It is obvious that, if an envelope is used in the lamp, the adjusting ring must be situated outside the envelope.
A further interesting embodiment of the invented LED lamp is characterized in that the lamp is provided with means for mutually varying the luminous flux of the LEDs provided on the various faces of the substrate. The electronics necessary for this function is incorporated in the gear column of the lamp. By using this measure, it is possible to change the spatial light distribution of the LED lamp. If LEDs of different colors are used, it is also possible to adjust the color and the color distribution of the LED lamp. The distribution of the color and/or light distribution is preferably adjusted via an adjusting ring, which is connected to the gear column at the location of the lamp cap. It is obvious that, if an envelope is used in the lamp, the adjusting ring must be situated outside the envelope.


A switch system and method transfer a data packet from a source data port to one or more destination data ports through a switch. The system includes at least one crosspoint circuit. A crosspoint circuit in the switch system includes a first and a second reduced voltage swing line, a first and a second transistor circuit for each data input path and a sense amplifier for a data port. The first reduced voltage swing line is coupled to the first transistor circuit, the second reduced voltage swing line is coupled to the second transistor circuit and both reduced voltage swing lines are connected to the sense amplifier. A method for transferring data using a crosspoint circuit includes a charging first voltage line and a second voltage line to a predetermined voltage level, discharging the predetermined voltage level in the first voltage line, maintaining the predetermined voltage level in the second voltage line concurrently with the discharging step, receiving a high clock signal at a sense amplifier, and generating an output signal based on a differential voltage level at the arrival of the clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the field of electronic routing systems, and in particular, to a switch system and method for routing data packets between data ports.
2. Description of the Related Art
A crossbar switch system is a relay operated device or the equivalent that makes a connection between a one-bit signal line in one set of signal lines and a onebit signal line in another set of signal lines that are essentially orthogonally oriented relative to the signal lines in the one set. In a typical chip, a crossbar switch is used to route data from one data port to another data port. Traditional cell-based, full logic swing crossbar switches involved many switching elements that caused long time delays and high power consumption due to the capacitance of the switching elements and the resistance and capacitance of the metal. Generally, conventional systems routed data by moving the data to be transmitted from a transmitting data port to an input buffer associated with that data port, along a single data line, to an input of a crossbar switch, to an intersection at which a second data line that is also connected to the crossbar switch connects, to an output of the crossbar switch, and to the receiving data port.
In a typical conventional system, a crossbar switch system has six bi-directional data lines, so that there is only one data line for each data port that is numbered for simplicity 1 through 6. Each data port has a data buffer and each data buffer includes block units that each hold a portion of a packet of data. Typically, there are six to eight block units in each data buffer. Each data buffer is coupled to the data line associated with that particular data port. Within the crossbar switch, each data line is coupled to each other data line at an intersection point. Typically, data lines 1, 2, and 3 are positioned horizontally, while data lines 4, 5, and 6 are positioned vertically, so that the lines form a grid or orthogonally oriented data lines. Where two lines intersect and couple together is an intersection point for connecting two data ports.
When the conventional system is operational, a data port loads its associated buffer with the packets of data it seeks to transmit, along with information on the priority of the data in the blocks and on which output port to transmit the data. An arbitration process is also employed to determine the order in which the block units are to transmit over the data line to the crossbar switch. Furthermore, a second arbitration process at the output end determines whether the destination data port is available to receive the data from the data blocks. In conventional systems the arbitration processes occur to provide a priority of transmission. Once a block of data successfully gets access to both the transmitting data line and the receiving data line, the data is transmitted to the crossbar switch and to the destination data port by switching from the transmitting line to the receiving line at the intersection point where the two lines couple together. Similarly, another data port may undertake a similar operation to transmit data from its buffer, along its data line to the crossbar switch, to the intersection point where the data line coupled to the destination port couples to the transmitting data line, and out to the destination data port.
The following examples illustrate operation of the conventional systems. As a first example, the data port 1 seeks to transmit its data packets to the data port 6. The data port 1 loads the data packets into the blocks, for example 8 data packets into 8 blocks, of the data port 1 buffer. Each data packet in the data port 1 buffer also includes priority information such as low, medium, or high, as well as address information to direct transmission of the data to the data port 6. The system begins using a first arbitration process to determine the order of transmitting the data packets in the blocks across data line 1 to the crossbar switch. A second arbitration process then determines whether the data port 6 is available to receive the data packets. Once these arbitration processes are completed and a data block is given access to both the data line 1 and the data line 6, the data packet from that data block is transmitted across the data line 1 into the crossbar switch, to the intersection point where the data line 1 couples with the data line 6, onto the data line 6 and out to the data port 6. The problem with this approach is that two arbitration processes decrease system performance as system time and resources are consumed to arrange and order the data packets before transmission begins. Moreover, in the conventional systems, internal blocking is not prevented. Internal blocking is a typical problem in conventional systems where a data packet destined for a particular data port is unable to transmit to that data port because of a transmission of another data packet to that data port.
As a second example, both the data port 1 and the data port 3 seek to transmit their respective data packets to the data port 6. In this implementation, each source data port undergoes a first arbitration process to determine the order to transmit the data packets in the data blocks of their own data buffer across their data line and to the crossbar switch. A second arbitration process is also applied to determine whether the data port 6 is available to receive the data packets, and if so, from where it may receive the data packets, that is either from the data port 1 buffer or the data port 3 buffer. After the two arbitration processes are completed, the data block that won both arbitration processes begins transmitting through its data line, to the crossbar switch, to the data line 6 and onto the data port 6. All other data packets in the data blocks of the data port 1 and the data port 3 must wait to transmit. Once again, the problem with this approach is that the two arbitration processes require significant system time and resources resulting in decreased overall system performance for routing data.
As a third example of a crossbar switch system, the data port 1 seeks to transmit a data packet to the data port 6. In this example, the data port 1 has already undergone the first arbitration process and begins transmission of the data packets from its data input buffer to the data port 6. Subsequently, the data port 3 seeks to transmit its data packets from the data blocks of its data input buffer, with the data packets from some blocks destined for the data port 6 and the data packets from other blocks destined for the data port 5. Moreover, the data blocks holding the data packets to be transmitted to the data port 6 are designated high priority while the data blocks holding the data packets to be transmitted to the data port 5 are designated medium priority.
During the first arbitration process for the data port 3 data packet, the data packets in the data blocks destined for the data port 6 are ordered in terms of their priority for transmission across the data line 3. However, the second arbitration process will not permit transmission to the data port 6 because the data port 6 is unable to receive a data transmission as it is busy receiving data from the data port 1. Moreover, the data in the data blocks destined for the data port 5 are also unable to transmit because it lost the first arbitration process to the high priority blocks that are waiting to transmit across the data line 6 and onto the data port 6. The data packets in the data blocks destined for the data port 6 have been given priority and control of the data line 3, by virtue of prevailing in the first arbitration process, until its transmission is completed. This problem described and associated with the conventional systems is another example of internal blocking. Internal blocking also occurs where multiple data packets having the same priority reside in the same data input buffer. Internal blocking decreases system performance because of the greater time required to transmit the data packets when a higher priority data block is unable to transmit forcing lower priority data blocks to remain idle and wait until the higher priority data block completes its transmission.
Another problem associated with conventional crossbar switch systems involves using a full-swing operational implementation to switch logic states. A drop in the voltage level signal results in an inability to switch states because the proper voltage level necessary to trigger the switch cannot be reached. For example, if the voltage required to switch a state is 2.5 volts (xe2x80x9cVxe2x80x9d) for ON and 0.8 V for OFF and the system voltage level only reaches 2.3 V, a switch may not switch ON. The problem with the prior art systems is that longer clock cycle times are required as the system must wait to switch states until the voltage level can rise back to 2.5 volts. Moreover, the full-swing bus implementation of the prior art systems results in greater power dissipation on the chip. Thus, there is a decrease in the performance and power ratio on the chip.
Therefore, there is a need for a crossbar switch system that provides faster and more efficient data throughput thereby increasing overall switch system performance. There is also a need for a switch data bus that allows for faster and more efficient switching despite being heavily loaded and being wired with resistive interconnect.
Generally, the present invention relates to a switch system within a routing device that is designed to route data from one data port to another data port through the use of a crossbar switch. The present invention is designed to increase the data throughput of a crossbar switch system by coupling multiple input data buses, or paths, from a source data port to a reduced-swing differential output data bus, or path, in the crossbar switch to produce the data at a destination data port coupled to the output data bus.
The system and method of the present invention satisfies the need for faster and more efficient data throughput in a switching system to improve overall system performance. The system of the present invention comprises a source data port input buffer, a first source data input path, a second source data input path, a first data output path, a second data output path, and at least one crosspoint circuit. The source data port input buffer further comprises a first data section and a second data section. Each crosspoint circuit is a differential, reduced voltage swing circuit.
The first data section of the source data port input buffer is coupled to the first data input path and the second data section of the source data port input buffer is coupled to the second data input path. The first and the second data input paths each couple to the first data output path and the second data output path through the crosspoint circuit located at each intersection of the input paths and the output paths. The system of the present invention has the advantage of transferring data in each data section simultaneously to different data output paths, without delaying transmission due to an initial arbitration process for transferring across a singular data input path, an internal blocking problem, or an overloaded bus. Therefore, the present invention significantly increases data throughput in the system.
The method of the present invention comprises the steps of loading each of a data packets or frames into data sections of an input buffer, coupling an input path for each data section to a switch, transmitting each data packet to the switch from the data section through the coupled input path, and switching each data packet from the input path to an output path. The method of the claimed invention allows for transferring multiple data packets from the input buffer to a switch simultaneously and then forwarding the data packets to one or more destination data ports. Therefore, the method of the claimed invention improves overall system performance by increasing the rate and efficiency of data throughput in the system.
The system and method of the present invention includes a differential, reduced voltage swing circuit crosspoint circuit for a switch system. The crosspoint circuit comprises a first reduced voltage swing line and a second reduced voltage swing line, along with a first transistor circuit and a second transistor circuit for each data input path and a sense amplifier for a data port. The first reduced voltage swing line is coupled to the first transistor circuit and the sense amplifier. The second reduced voltage swing line is coupled to the second transistor circuit and the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier produces an output signal for the data port. The crosspoint circuit has the advantage of coupling multiple data input paths on a bus within a switch without decreasing system performance because of overloading the bus. Also, the crosspoint circuit allows for changes in a state of a data signal based on a clock signal and a voltage differential rather than a particular voltage level, thereby increasing system performance because immunity from common mode noise allows lower voltage swings to be used. In addition, on-chip power dissipation is reduced because the voltage swing on the bus is reduced.
The method of operation of the crosspoint circuit comprises the steps of charging a first voltage line and a second voltage line to a preset voltage level, discharging the preset voltage level from the first voltage line, maintaining the preset voltage level in the second voltage line, receiving a clock signal at the sense amplifier to place the sense amplifier in an on state, triggering the sense amplifier based on the voltage differential in the first voltage line and the second voltage line, and outputting a full-swing output signal from the sense amplifier. The method of operation of the crosspoint circuit provides the benefit of changing output states based on a differential voltage measurement rather than a voltage level measurement. The advantage of this approach is to increase overall system performance because the common mode rejection allows a lower voltage signal swing to be used. In addition, because the method has an excellent common mode noise rejection, full-swing output signals can be generated.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

Crossbar switch and method with crosspoint circuit


Delta protein expression in a cell is reduced by introducing miR-1 into the cell, and detecting a resultant reduction of Delta protein expression in the cell.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 21-22 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that are sometimes expressed in a lineage-specific fashion and thus have the potential to control cell fate decisions (Ambros, 2001; Bartel, 2004; Johnston, 2003). There are over 300 known miRNAs and each is thought to target numerous mRNA transcripts for either degradation or, more often, translational inhibition. miRNAs typically bind to 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs through inexact sequence matching. The lack of precise sequence homology between miRNA and targets has made target prediction difficult, although it does appear that sequence matching of the 5′ end of the miRNA and a permissive secondary structure of target mRNA are important features (Lewis, 2003; Zhao, 2005). Despite recent advances in target prediction, only a handful of miRNA targets have been validated thus far resulting in limited knowledge of biological roles for most miRNAs.
miRNAs may play a role in regulation of stem cell fates (Hatfield, 2005; Forstemann, 2005; Cheng, 2005), but direct experimental evidence and a mechanistic understanding of miRNA regulation of cell lineages have been lacking. In Drosophila, the dorsal vessel, a primitive heart, is composed of distinct cell types, each arising from progenitor cells that follow stereotypic lineage decisions, providing a tractable system in which to study the possible involvement of miRNAs in cell fate decisions. We previously demonstrated that miR-1-1 and miR-1-2 are redundant muscle-specific mammalian miRNAs that play a role in cardiogenesis (Zhao, 2005). Mouse miR-1-1 and miR-1-2 were regulated by serum response factor (SRF), a central transcriptional regulator of muscle differentiation, and excess miR-1 in vivo resulted in premature withdrawal of cardiomyocytes from the cell cycle. We have found that miR-1 targets the Notch ligand Delta, and that when introduced into cells, inhibits Delta protein expression.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A step-type training machine in which the exerciser trains using a predetermined load while detecting the pulse of the exerciser, and in accordance with data (e.g. the age, sex and weight) inputted before the training and various data (e.g. the exerciser's pulse) during the training, the step load is varied and controlled during the training so as to impart the optimum exercise load to the exerciser. The machine includes a frame; a plate for mounting various parts at a lower portion of the frame; a pair of crankarms each pivotally mounted by a pivot shaft on the plate and having a step member mounted on its one end movable up and down through a predetermined angle; an eddy current load device rotated by the swinging movement of the pair of crankarms; an input device for inputting individual data of the exerciser; a mechanism for measuring the pulse value of the exerciser; a detector for detecting the rotation frequency of the load device; a processor for extracting a control signal; and a display for displaying predetermined date extracted by the processing means.

This invention relates to a step-type training machine in which an exercise load is set by a heart rate, and by feeding back the heart rate during exercise, the braking force of a brake load means is automatically controlled so that the exercise load can be maintained at a level suited for the level of the physical strength of an individual exerciser. The invention also relates to a method of controlling this training machine.
More specifically, the invention relates to a step-type training machine in which the exerciser exercises under a predetermined load while detecting the pulse of the exerciser, and in accordance with data (e.g. the age, sex and weight) inputted before the training and various data (e.g. the exerciser's pulse) during the training, the step load is varied and controlled during the training so as to impart the optimum exercise load to the exerciser. In this manner, the exerciser can perform aerobic exercise efficiently and safely and also can perform isokinetic exercise in a stable manner because of the exercise speed control, thereby enabling the exerciser to execute the training without experiencing any excess load on the joints.
Recently, there have been developed various training machines intended for improving the physical strength of the young as well as the old. For example, there is known a training machine of a so-called upstairs-type in which there are provided a pair of right and left crank pedals which can be driven up and down, and the driving of the right and left crank pedals is transmitted to a load means such as a rheostatic brake, so that the up-and-down driving of the crank pedals can be controlled. In the conventional training machine of the upstairs-type, the speed of the up-and-down motion of the crank pedals is controlled by a braking force generated by a field current of a rheostatic brake load means which varies in proportion to the up-and-down driving speed of the crank pedals. Thus, the braking force of the rheostatic brake load means is not controlled by taking into consideration the weight, exercise efficiency, age, sex, physical strength, etc., of the exerciser.
In the conventional training machine of the upstairs-type, return mechanisms for the right and left crank pedals are constituted respectively by separate right and left springs, and therefore the reaction forces exerted by the springs respectively on the right and left feet of the exerciser are different from each other. Therefore, proper simulation of climbing stairs cannot be obtained.
Accordingly, in the conventional training machine of the upstairs type, the load of the rheostatic brake load means can not be adjusted in accordance with the level of the physical strength of the individual exerciser and in accordance with variations in physical conditions during the training, so that it has been difficult to set an effective exercise load for the exerciser. As a result, there have been problems that the training is either excessive or not sufficiently challenging.
Further, in the conventional upstairs type training machine, the reaction forces of the crank pedals differ depending on the position of the specific exerciser and the positions of the right and left feet of the exerciser. Further, there has been a problem with the durability of the springs.

Step-type training machine and control method


A vibratory drive unit is modular in construction and includes a base member, a top member, a number of lower spring mounting members detachably mounted to the base member, a corresponding number of upper spring mounting members detachably mounted to the top member, a corresponding number of spring members connected between the number of upper and lower spring mounting members and means for vibrating the top member relative to the base member. The various components of the vibratory drive unit are configured provide for either clockwise or counter-clockwise operation using identical drive unit components to thereby minimize component complexity and component inventory required therefore. A vibratory bowl is further provided and includes a number of locator pins extending from a bottom surface thereof. Each of the locator pins are received within a corresponding recess defined in the top member of the vibratory drive unit and attachment is made therebetween to secure the vibratory bowl to the top member of the vibratory drive unit.

Vibratory parts feeders are commonly known apparatuses for providing oriented parts from a mass of disoriented parts, for transporting parts along a processing path, and/or for feeding and maintaining a predetermined quantity of parts to a downstream parts orienting feeder. A common requirement of any of the foregoing parts feeders is a drive unit operable to impart the necessary vibratory feed motion to a parts container operatively associated with the drive unit.
In accordance with one known class of vibratory parts feeders, a vibratory bowl is mounted to a suitable drive unit wherein the drive unit is typically operable to urge parts upwardly along a helical parts path of the bowl by vibrating the bowl both axially along, and rotationally about, its central axis. In the design of such a vibratory parts feeder, an established industry practice is to attach the feeder bowl to a top member of the drive unit, wherein the top member and a stationary base member of the drive unit are interconnected by a plurality of drive springs. Vibratory action is created at the base member, by suitable means, which is transferred to the top member via the drive springs. By establishing an appropriate vibratory direction, and properly positioning the drive springs accordingly, the feeder bowl is made to vibrate in either an upwardly clockwise or upwardly counter-clockwise direction. Parts within the feeder bowl are then correspondingly transported upwardly along the helical parts path to a bowl exit location.
An example of one known vibratory drive unit 15 for use with a vibratory parts feeder 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, vibratory drive unit 15 includes a top member 12 connected to a bottom member 14 via a number of drive springs 16. Top member 12 includes a number of spring mounting members 18 formed integrally therewith, which members typically include opposing spring mounting faces 20 and 22. Bottom member 14 defines corresponding spring mounting faces 24 and 26 therein. Springs 16 are mounted between spring mounting faces 20 of top member and spring mounting faces 24 of bottom member 14, as shown in FIG. 1, for vibration of top member 12 relative to bottom member 14 in an upward clockwise direction. Springs 16 may alternatively be connected between spring mounting faces 22 of top member 12 and spring mounting faces 26 of bottom member 14 for rotation of top member 12 relative to bottom member 14 in an upward counter-clockwise direction. In so doing, vibratory drive unit 15 typically includes a striker plate 28 connected to top member 12, and an electromagnetic driver 30 mounted to bottom member 14. Electromagnetic driver 30 is typically periodically energized to attract striker plate 28 thereto, thereby imparting the vibratory drive motion to top member 12 through springs 16 as is known in the art.
While the foregoing vibratory drive unit structure is widely used and satisfactorily provides for bi-directional operation thereof, it has several drawbacks associated therewith. For example, spring mounting faces 20, 22, 24 and 26 are formed integrally with top member 12 and bottom member 14 respectively. Typically, such spring mounting faces have a bore therethrough for engaging a fastener used to mount springs 16 thereto. If any damage occurs to faces 20-26, or the bores defined therein, either due to accident or normal wear and tear, the entire top member 12 or bottom member 14 must be replaced for continued operation of vibratory drive unit 15. Such replacement can be costly and wasteful, particularly if only one spring mounting face, or bore, is damaged, and the remaining spring mounting faces and corresponding bores are in good condition. As another example, providing vibratory drive unit 15 with bi-directional operation requires the number of spring mounting faces of top member 12 and bottom member 14 to be doubled over that required for uni-directional operation. Such a requirement adds significantly to the processing time and costs of fabricating top member 12 and bottom member 14.
Designers of vibratory parts feeders have utilized several approaches in attaching a feeder bowl to a vibratory drive unit, such as drive unit 15. One such prior art approach is shown with respect to vibratory parts feeder 10 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a feeder bowl 32 is attached to the top member 12 of vibratory drive unit 15 via a number of clamp nuts 40. Vibratory bowl 32 includes a side wall portion 34 which extends downwardly beyond bottom bowl surface 36, thereby defining a flange portion 38. Fasteners 42 extend through clamp nuts 40 into top member 12 to thereby secure flange portion 38 between a vertical wall 12a of top member 12 and clamp nuts 40.
Yet another known approach for attaching a feeder bowl to a vibratory drive unit is shown with respect to vibratory parts feeder 50 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, vibratory bowl 52 is attached to top member 12' of vibratory drive unit 15 via a number of fasteners 42. Vibratory bowl 52 includes a side wall 54 which extends downwardly below a bottom surface 56 of bowl 52 to form a flange 58. Fasteners 42 extend through flange 58 into top member 12' such that flange 58 is clamped between vertical side wall 12a' of top member 12' and fasteners 42.
Another known approach for attaching a feeder bowl to a vibratory drive unit is shown with respect to the vibratory parts feeder 60 of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, a vibratory bowl 62 is mounted to top member 12" of vibratory drive unit 15 via a number of fasteners 72. Vibratory bowl 62 includes a side wall 64 which extends downwardly below a bottom surface 66 of bowl 62 to form a flange portion 68. A plate 70 is attached to the bottom surface of bowl 62, typically via welding, and extends outwardly to flange portion 68. A number of fasteners 72 extend upwardly through top member 12" and into engagement with plate 70 to thereby attach bowl 62 to top member 12".
Still another known approach for attaching a feeder bowl to a vibratory drive unit is shown with respect to the vibratory parts feeder 80 of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, a feeder bowl 82 is mounted to a top member 12'" of vibratory drive unit 15 via a number of fasteners 92. Vibratory bowl 82 includes a side wall 84 extending below a bottom surface 86 of bowl 82 to form a flange portion 88. A number of lugs 90 are attached to the bottom surface 86 of bowl 82 and to a portion of inner surface 88a of flange portion 88 adjacent thereto. Vibratory bowl 82 is then mounted to vibratory drive unit 15 such that a gap G is defined between bottom bowl surface 86 and top member 12'". A number of fasteners 92 extend upwardly through top member 12'" and engage lugs 90 to thereby secure vibratory bowl 82 to top member 12'" of vibratory drive unit 15.
While the foregoing techniques for mounting a feeder bowl to a vibratory drive unit have been used extensively in the past, each have drawbacks associated therewith, particularly when used with large feeder bowls and corresponding drive units (e.g., feeder bowls having diameters in excess of approximately 18 inches). For example, the clamp nut and flange mount techniques shown and described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 have a tendency to twist and eventually fracture the flange portion of the feeder bowl. The bottom plate structure of FIG. 3 alleviates this problem, but requires plate 70 to have substantial thickness to provide adequate engaging surfaces for engaging fasteners 72 in order to avoid stripping fasteners 72 during operation of the parts feeder. Unfortunately, increasing the thickness of plate 70 necessarily has the undesirable effect of increasing the weight of the vibratory bowl which then results in decreased drive efficiency. While the bowl mounting arrangement of FIG. 4 provides for such increased fastener engaging surfaces without substantially adding weight to the vibratory bowl, this approach reduces the rigidity of bowl 82 in the vicinity of the flange portion 88. Under the tremendous forces present in large vibratory parts feeders, the use of lugs 90 may deform or possibly fracture flange portion 88 within the vicinity of the various lugs 90 during operation of the vibratory parts feeder.
In view of the foregoing shortcomings of prior art vibratory drive units and feeder bowl mounting arrangements, there exists a need for improvement in such areas, particularly with large feeder bowls and corresponding drive units. An ideal vibratory drive unit should be suitably configured so that damage to one or more spring mounting faces does not require replacement of an entire top or bottom member. An ideal feeder bowl mounting arrangement should rigidly secure the feeder bowl to the top member of the vibratory drive unit against rotational forces in either rotational direction, and further against vertical forces due to lifting of the feeder bowl, and should be suitably robust to withstand the tremendous vibrational forces present in large feeder bowl and corresponding vibratory drive unit configurations.

Vibratory drive unit and associated parts feeder bowl


Described herein is a technology for facilitating remote monitoring, in accordance with one aspect, image data and corresponding true color data of a region of interest is received by a computer system from a mobile device. The computer system may integrate the image data and the true color data to generate normalized true color data. The normalized true color data may then be mapped to device independent color image data. A recommendation may then be sent based on the device-independent color image data.

Currently, patients suffering from chronic wounds are typically cared for by a wound care nurse who may either assess wounds based on experience or use prohibitively expensive and specialized instruments to facilitate assessment. The wound care nurse may determine the stages of the wound based on a number of factors. Accurate determination of wound staging will impact the decision on which treatment to apply, and subsequently affect the rate of healing.
Since assessment of the wound staging is typically performed by wound care nurses, such assessment is subjected to wide variations based on their experience. Experienced wound care nurses may be able to effectively assess a wound and assign appropriate treatment for speedy recovery, while inexperienced nurses may apply less effective treatment due to inaccurate wound assessment, resulting in slower recovery. Shortage of experienced wound care nurses also means that these experienced wound care nurses are not able to take care of the increasing number of chronic wound patients.


A thick column is formed by masking and etching a substrate, and the column is thinned to a very small diameter (e.g., .ltoreq.5 nm) by oxidizing the column and removing the oxide layer. A metal layer is deposited on the surface of the substrate, and the column and substrate are etched to form a pit. The backside of the substrate is etched to form an aperture surrounded by the metal layer. Alternatively, the metal layer is removed and a dopant layer is implanted into the substrate, followed by the etching of the backside, leaving an aperture surrounded by the dopant layer. In a second alternative, the oxidized column is broken from the substrate, and the backside is etched, leaving an aperture surrounded by an oxide layer. These processes can be used to fabricate apertures of very small and reproducible dimensions for such instruments as near field scanning optical microscopes and scanning ion conductance microscopes.

There are a number of technologies in which a very small aperture is required.
Near field scanning microscopy, for example, is a technique for analyzing objects by means of a light beam which is smaller than the wavelength of the light. To obtain a light source of subwavelength dimensions, light is directed through an aperture formed in a thin opaque screen and having a width less than one-half the wavelength (.lambda.) of the light, frequently substantially smaller than the wavelength (e.g., .lambda./20). The sample to be studied is positioned in the "near field" of the light source, which begins at the aperture and extends outward a distance equal to about one-half of the width of the aperture, wherein the light emerging from the aperture remains collimated.
To obtain a complete image, the sample is typically scanned. During scanning, the aperture must be maintained at a constant distance from the sample. U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,985 to Quate, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes an NSOM in which an optical waveguide is formed along the longitudinal axis of a cantilever. During scanning, the cantilever is positioned parallel to the surface of the sample. A tip is formed near the free end of the cantilever, and the small aperture is formed at the apex of the tip by a focused ion beam process. The cantilever approaches the sample until the apex of the tip is located extremely close to the sample surface. Optical radiation is introduced into the waveguide and transmitted to the tip, where the radiation exits through the aperture. The tip-sample separation is held constant by operating the cantilever in the manner of an atomic force microscope operating in the non-contact or attractive mode. The non-contact or attractive mode is described in numerous sources, including for example Y. Martin et al., "Atomic Force Microscope Force Mapping And Profiling On A Sub-Hundred Angstrom Scale", Journ. App. Phys., Vol. 6, pp. 4723-4729, March 1987.
The NSOM can be operated in the transmission mode, where the sample is analyzed by detecting the light which passes through the sample, or the reflection mode, where the sample is analyzed by detecting the light reflected from the sample.
Another instrument which requires a very small aperture is a scanning ion conductance microscope. In a scanning ion conductance microscope, a very small aperture is formed in a body, typically a pipette, and the body is immersed in an electrolytic bath. An ionic current flows from an electrode located on one side of the body, through the aperture, to one of two electrodes located on the other side of the body in the electrolytic bath.
The resolution obtainable in an NSOM or SICM varies inversely with the width of the aperture and the thickness of the material in which it is formed. In an NSOM, for example, the width of the aperture is normally from 1/10 to 1/20 of the wavelength of the light being used, or in the range of 15-100 nm. Moreover, for commercial instruments the aperture width and thickness should also be predictable and should be repeatable from one manufacturing batch to another.

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford, Jr. University


A concave light reflecting device for providing substantially uniform illumination across a plane comprising a parabolic reflecting surface, an involute reflecting surface, and a segmented reflecting surface. The parabolic reflecting surface having a first end and a second end, wherein the parabolic radius of the first end is less than the parabolic radius of the second end. The involute reflecting surface having a first end, a second end, and a focal point within the concave portion of the device. Wherein, the distance from the focal point to the involute reflecting surface increases from the first end to the second end. The second end of the involute reflecting surface transitions to the first end of the parabolic reflecting surface, and the first end of the involute reflecting surface is connected to the segmented reflecting surface. The segmented reflecting surface extends outward from the focal point of the involute reflecting surface for decreasing glare from the device.

The invention pertains to a reflector used with a light source in a light fixture. More particularly, the invention pertains to a concave light reflecting device.
Uniform illumination along a defined horizontal or vertical plane has been the focus of several different configurations for luminaires. It is well known that light rays disperse as they travel away from a luminaire. This requires greater intensity or candle power directed at points in the plane that are further away in distance from the luminaire to maintain uniform illumination across the plane. The inverse square law, with cosign correction, defines the magnitude of illumination along the plane, E=(I/d.sup.2) cos .theta.. Satisfying the inverse square law for uniform illumination along the plane requires that the luminaire provide 13.245 times the intensity or candle power at angle .theta. of 65.degree. than is provided at nadir.
Various designs and geometric shapes for reflectors have been used to attempt to achieve uniform illumination across a plane. These designs include combining parabolic, elliptic, circular and cylindrical sections as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,679,893; 4,027,151; and 4,229,779.
The aim in designing a reflector device is maximizing the amount of light out of the device with minimum glare while maintaining maximum efficiency to avoid decreasing lamp life.


A directional coupler for detecting an output of a high frequency circuit module includes a main line and a sub-line overlapped with the main line with a dielectric material. The sub-line is set, in width, narrower than the main line and both side edges of the sub-line are allocated at the internal side of both side edges of the main line. Accordingly, the sub-line is surely provided opposed to the main line in the total width area and a signal current flowing into the main line can be detected in higher accuracy. Therefore, a wireless communication system for controlling an output of the high frequency circuit module by including such directional coupler assures stable communication.

The present invention relates to a directional coupler, a high frequency circuit module comprising the same directional coupler and a wireless communication system comprising the same high frequency circuit module, and particularly to the technique that can effectively be adapted to the wireless communication technology to realize the communication under the stable output of a high frequency power amplifier controlled with high accuracy.
In a transmitting side output stage of a transmitter of wireless communication equipment (mobile communication equipment) such as a mobile telephone set and a hand-held telephone set or the like, an amplifier comprising in the multiple stages a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) and a GaAs-MES (Metal Semiconductor) FET or the like is used.
For the hand-held telephone set, a system is already established so that the communication is performed by varying an output depending on the ambient environment with a power control signal transmitted from a base station considering the operational environment and thereby any interference is never generated against the other hand-held telephone sets.
For example, in view of avoiding the interference against the other systems, the power control signal is transmitted from the base station of a digital hand-held telephone system to the hand-held terminals (hand-held telephone sets) in order to provide the minimum output required for the communication. At the inside of a terminal utilizing a higher frequency power amplifier comprising FET such as MOSFET or the like, a microcomputer of the baseband unit monitors the power control signal transmitted from the base station and an output of the high frequency power amplifier to adjust the output power by changing a power control signal (Vapc) to be applied to the control terminal of the high frequency power amplifier.
This high frequency power amplifier is described in xe2x80x9cThe Nikkei Electronicsxe2x80x9d, Jan. 27, 1997, p115 to p126, published by the Nikkei BP Co., Ltd. This reference reports the standard system of the 900 MHz Band Cellular System Hand-Helt Telephone System in the North America and the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) system in Europe.
Moreover, xe2x80x9cThe Hitachi Reviewxe2x80x9d, Vol. 79, No. 11 (1997), P63 to P38, published by the Hitachi Review Co., Ltd. reports an analog signal processing IC of high frequency unit for digital cellular standards xe2x80x9cGSM/EGSMxe2x80x9d. This reference discloses a block diagram for detecting an output of the high frequency power amplifier with a directional coupler and for controlling a power amplifier module with a power detection signal.
A directional coupler is described, for example, in the xe2x80x9cBasic Items and Applications of a Microwave Circuitxe2x80x9d, Jul. 10, 1997; P191 to P193, published by the General Electronics Publication Co., Ltd. This reference reports a distributed coupling type directional coupler.
On the other hand, xe2x80x9cThe Electronic Materialsxe2x80x9d, April, 1999, P91 to P95, published by the Industrial Investigation Society reports a ceramics-laminated low-pass filter and a directional coupler for 1608 type mobile communication. These low-pass filter and directional coupler are formed as the discrete parts.
In the hand-held telephone system, base stations transmit, to the hand-held terminals (hand-held telephone sets) the signal (power control signal) to control the transmission power to provide the minimum output required for communication. In the hand-held terminals, a high frequency power amplifier of the output stage in the transmitting side is controlled with an APC (Automatic Power Control) circuit operating based on such control signal. Namely, the high frequency amplifier is controlled to provide the output required for communication. To realize such control operation, a circuit for detecting the power of the power amplifier is required.
A directional coupler is used for detecting an output of the high frequency power amplifier and in addition employs a method of comprising a discrete directional coupler as an external part and a structure to form, through direct depiction, a part corresponding to a coupler on a dielectric material substrate based on the concept of xcex/4 line.
That is, the aforementioned reference (Basic Items and Applications of the Microwave Circuit) discloses a structure where a conductor pattern is provided at one surface of the dielectric material substrate as one of the directional couplers and a ground conductor is also provided at the rear surface. In this specification of the present invention, this structure is called a parallel type directional coupler. In this parallel type directional coupler, the conductor pattern is formed as the distributed coupling type parallel two lines. Namely, the main line as the transmission path and the sub-line as the line for detection are extended in the width of the same size for the predetermined distance in the constant interval.
Moreover, one of the other directional couplers disclosed has a structure that two strips are formed by overlapping the main line and sub-line within the dielectric material via the dielectric material layer. In this specification, this structure is called an overlapping type directional coupler. This overlapping type directional coupler also has the structure that the main line and sub-line of the width in the same size are also extended for the predetermined distance with a constant interval therebetween.
However, in these directional couplers, the line width is equal in the main line (transmission line) and sub-line (detection line). Therefore, particularly in the case of the overlapping type directional coupler, if the sub-line is deviated for the main line, an output value of the directional coupler will be changed easily. As a result, when the high frequency circuit module such as a high frequency power amplifier (high frequency power amplifier module) is controlled with this detection signal, it becomes difficult that an output of the high frequency circuit module is controlled with higher accuracy. Therefore, a wireless communication system comprising such high frequency circuit module has come to have a fear for disabling stable communication.
An object of the present invention is to provide a directional coupler that can detect a transmission output of a main line with higher accuracy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a high frequency circuit module comprising a directional coupler that can detect an output with higher accuracy.
The other object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system assuring stable a communication by monitoring an output with higher accuracy.
The aforementioned and the other objects and novel characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of this specifications and the accompanying drawings thereof.
The summary of the typical inventions of those disclosed in the resent application will be briefly explained as follows.
(1) A directional coupler includes a main line forming the transmission line and a sub-line forming the detection line which are different respectively in the line width. For example, the width of the main line is wider than the sub-line. In the overlapping type directional coupler, both side edges of the sub-line are located, in the main line and sub-line that are overlapped with each other, at the inside of both side edges of the main line.
(2) In the high frequency circuit module comprising an amplifying system comprising a plurality of stages of the amplifying stage including at least the initial stage and the final stage and a directional coupler for detecting an output of the final stage of the amplifying system, the line width of the main line forming the transmission line of the directional coupler is wider than the sub-line forming the detection line. The directional coupler is of the overlapping type and both side edges of the sub-line, in the main line and sub-line that are mutually overlapped with each other, are never extruded to the outside from both side edges of the main line and are located within the internal side of the main line. An impedance of the main line is smaller than that of the sub-line.
(3) A high frequency circuit module comprises a amplifying system comprising a plurality of stages of amplifying stages including at least the initial stage and final stage, a directional coupler for detecting an output of the final stage of the amplifying system and an output control circuit for receiving a power detection signal and a power control signal detected with the directional coupler and supplying the power control signal to each amplifying stage. The width of the main line forming the transmission line of the directional coupler is wider than that of the sub-line forming the detection line. The directional coupler is of the overlapping type and both side edges of the sub-line, in both main line and sub-line that are overlapped with each other, are never extruded to the outside of both side edges of the main line and are located within the inside thereof. An impedance value of the main line is smaller than that of the sub-line.
(4) A high frequency circuit module comprises an amplifying system comprising a plurality of stages of the amplifying stage including at least the initial stage and final stage, a directional coupler for detecting an output of the final stage of the amplifying stage, an output control circuit for receiving a power detection signal and power control signal detected with the directional coupler and supplying the power control signal to each amplifying stage, a filter connected to the final stage of the amplifying system and an antenna switch circuit connected to the filter. Line width of the main line forming the transmission line of the directional coupler is wider than that of the sub-line forming the detection line. The directional coupler is of the overlapping type and both side edges of the sub-line is never extruded, in the main line and sub-line that are overlapped with each other, to the outside from both edges of the main line and are located within the inside thereof. An impedance value of the main line is smaller than that of the sub-line.
(5) In the high frequency circuit module in any one of the structures of items (1) to (4), a plurality of stages of the amplifying systems are provided.
(6) In the structures of items (1) to (5), the main line is narrower than the sub-line. Namely, the high frequency circuit module comprising an amplifying system comprising a plurality of amplifying stages including at least the initial stage and final stage and a directional coupler for detecting an output of the final stage of the-amplifying system and the width of the main line forming the transmission line of the directional coupler is smaller than that of the sub-line forming the detection line. The directional coupler is of the overlapping type and both side edges of the main line, in the main line and sub-line that are overlapped with each other, are located in the internal side of both side edges of the sub-line. Impedance of the main line is larger than that of the sub-line. Moreover, a matching circuit for impedance matching is provided between the main line and the final amplifying stage, while a matching circuit for impedance matching against a device for detecting a current of the sub-line is provided between the sub-line and an output terminal of the sub-line.
(7) A wireless communication system comprises a high frequency circuit module of any structure of items (1) to (6).
According to the means of item (1), (a) the main line becomes wider than the sub-line and thereby loss of the main line can be reduced, and (b) in the case of the overlapping type directional coupler, since both side edges of the sub-line are never extruded to the outside of both side edges of the main line and located in the internal side thereof, the total area of the line width of the sub-line can surely be provided are opposed to the main line and thereby highly accurate power detection can be performed.
According to the means of item (2), (a) since both side edges of the sub-line are never extruded to the outside from both side edges of the main line and are located within the internal side thereof in the overlapping type directional coupler in the high frequency circuit module and the main line width is wider than the sub-line width, the sub-line is surely placed opposed to the main line in the total line area and thereby the power can be detected with higher accuracy, and (b) since the line width of the main line can be set larger than that of the sub-line, the line width of the main line can be selected freely. Accordingly, from the point of view of the high frequency circuit module to be built into a wireless communication system, the main line can be comprised as a part of the matching element of the module, resulting in the parts saving effect and loss reducing effect.
Even in any high frequency circuit module of those in the items (3) to (5), the effect similar to that of the module having the means of item (2) can also be attained.
According to the means of item (6), in the directional coupler, (a) since the width of the main line is set narrower (shorter) than that of the sub-line, the coupling coefficient increases, whereby the overlapping length (coupling length) between the main line and sub-line can be set short and reduction in size of the high frequency circuit module can be attained and moreover since the coupling length can be shortened, the loss of signal passing the main line can also be reduced, and (b) since both side edges of the main line is never extruded to the outside from both side edges of sub-line and are located in the inside thereof, the total line width can surely be provided opposed to the main line and thereby highly accurate power detection can be performed.
According to the means of item (7), since the power detection of the high frequency circuit module can be performed in higher accuracy, high precision output control is possible for the high frequency circuit module and thereby stable communication can be realized.

Directional coupler, high frequency circuit module and wireless communication system


A system providing greatly improved monitoring against wrong or fraudulent acts. A game facility monitoring system includes game machines or game-related devices provided with detectors that detect the state of a device and the operation of the device resulting from wrong or fraudulent acts, detects the state of the device and the operation of the device possibly resulting from wrong or fraudulent acts, and gives out a notification. The system may also include an anomaly warning unit that operates, when any of the detectors is triggered, a warning operation determined by an anomaly level corresponding to the detected contents of multiple anomaly levels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for monitoring game facilities and a game facility. In particular, this invention is suitable for application to a system adapted to monitor abnormal, wrong, or illegal acts by employees, players, or wrongdoers in game facilities for example furnished with pachinko game machines and slot machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
The game balls (pachinko balls) remaining when a play is over with a pachinko game machine for example, have in a sense monetary values because they are exchanged with prize commodities. Therefore, it is possible that skilled wrongdoers attempt to swindle pachinko balls through illegal tricks.
In recent years, pachinko balls are also rented out in various ways. In a way, game balls are rented out by inserting cash into the so-called sandwiched device placed between pachinko game machines. In another way, a player first buys with cash a prepaid card or a like card having the same function as the prepaid card, and inserts the card into the sandwiched device to receive pachinko balls. As described above, in game facilities there are many devices to handle money such as bills or coins, or quasi money having the same values as money.
In such a situation, there are many devices and machines furnished in game facilities to monitor wrongdoings. For example, the pachinko game machines are furnished with a cheat sensor for detecting electromagnetic waves, magnetic forces, or vibration used by a cheater in an attempt to swindle game balls. When such a sensor is actuated, warning is issued or notification is given to a higher rank computer. Devices for handling quasi money for example are also furnished with a theft sensor to perform similar monitoring and warning functions, or arranged that internal operation of the device is permitted to limited employees on condition that an employee inserts an employee's card the employee carries, so that a warning is issued or notification is given to a higher rank computer when the operation is wrong.
In still another arrangement, for example, the entire hall of a game facility is watched with a single or plural monitoring video cameras.
In still another arrangement, history of employee's operation of the devices for handling quasi money is successively recorded to discourage employees from wrongdoing.
Now, there are many types of wrong acts that are thought to be perpetrated in game facilities. Conventionally, those acts are handled as a whole with a limited number of personnel who are also busy doing other ordinary jobs. So the wrong acts are not necessarily immediately coped with.
Even if the employees' history record is taken to find wrong acts of employees, the types of wrong acts are numerous and wrong acts are not easy to find.
Furthermore, wrong acts may be perpetrated not only during the business hours but also outside the business hours, and since power supply to various devices is turned off outside the business hours, there is the possibility that anomaly sensors do not work, or detection and measures are delayed.
Still another problem is that employees versed in the monitor functions may replace a memory (such as a RAM) that has recorded the history of wrong operations, or erase such wrongdoing history without using a regular monitoring computer. Conventionally, such a problem is not sufficiently taken into consideration.
Therefore, a game facility monitoring system with improved wrongdoing monitoring functions is in demand.

Game facility monitoring system and game facility


A bulb lighting device is provided. The bulb device comprises a base, a driving electronics unit comprising a power supply electrically connected to the base and a battery connected to the power supply through a battery management unit, and a communication unit comprising a communication interface and at least one of a wireless unit and a power line unit, wherein the communication unit is electrically connected to the driving electronics unit. The bulb device further comprises an LED module having LED flight sources in an LED array together with an electric driving LED controller arranged inside an at least partially transparent envelope, wherein the LED module is electrically connected to the driving electronics unit, and a motion detector arranged inside the envelope and electrically connected to the driving electronics unit, wherein an output signal of the motion detector is forwarded outside of the bulb lighting device through the communication unit.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a bulb lighting device to monitor patients in a home environment.
Motion sensors are widely used both in public buildings and in private homes. The usage of these sensors is very wide: they can be used to switch on the light, or in security systems. Detecting the movement of elderly people is getting more and more important nowadays. Most people above 65 are living alone at home and in most of the cases they suffer from chronic disease such as Parkinson, Alzheimer or dementia. The highest risk is that they will fall during an everyday activity and there is nobody in the vicinity to help them.
Motion detection in private homes is becoming more and more important. Commercial motion detectors are mainly PIR (Passive Infra-Red) sensors where the radiated heat of the body is detected during motion. Special Fresnel lenses are available for detection at close and far distances and for detection at different heights. One of the main disadvantages of PIR sensors is that they cannot detect stationery objects (e.g. standing person), cannot measure distance, and cannot "look" through even a thin object.
Infrared sensors are widely used, but taking into consideration that in most of the cases a light bulb is covered with an envelope, it makes the passive infrared sensor unusable, Additionally, the heat emitted by the light bulb disturbs the infrared sensor, thus requiring the need of insulation or special alignment. In order to make a device usable in as many conditions as possible, motion detection should be done in the widest range (field of view) as possible. Taking the mentioned heat-disturbance into consideration, it makes the usage of infrared sensor more complicated.
Radar technology is another option to detect motion in a home environment. The radar can "see" through the lamp shield, is not sensitive to radiated heat, can see through thin objects such as curtains etc. and can detect motion in a large field of view.
The term "radar" is generally understood to mean a method by means of which short electromagnetic waves are used to detect distant objects and determine their location and movement. The term RADAR is an acronym for Radio Detection And Ranging.
A complete radar measuring system is comprised of a transmitter with antenna, a transmission path, the reflecting target, a further transmission path (usually identical with the first one), and a receiver with antenna. Two separate antennas may be used, but often just one is used for both transmitting and receiving the radar signal.
Microwaves are generally understood to be electromagnetic waves with frequencies above 2 GHz and wavelengths of less than 15 cm (6 in.). For technical purposes, microwave frequencies are used up to approx. 120 GHz; a limit that will extend upwards as technology advances Far above this limit are to be found the infrared, visible light and ultraviolet ranges.
Microwave frequencies are used intensively for communications and locating purposes. To prevent mutual influence and interference, the use of microwaves is officially regulated. There are, however, also internationally released frequency bands for industrial, scientific and medical purposes (so-called ISM bands). Currently these are the following 4 frequency ranges: 2.45 GHz±50 MHz, 24.125 GHz±125 MHz, 5.8 GHz±75 MHz and 61.25 GHz±250 MHz.
Commonly used radar methods include: CW (Continuous Wave) radar (no distance information), Interferometer radar (disadvantage: the absolute distance information is λ2-periodical), Pulse radar, FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) Reflectometer radar, Combined methods radar and TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) radar. The basic methods used for radar level measuring equipment are Pulse radar or FMCW radar, sometimes supported by the Interferometer method.
Taking the advantages and disadvantages of the above mentioned methods into consideration, the Pulse radar method meets the present requirements. The principle is very simple: a short electrical pulse or wave package is transmitted, meets the reflector after time t1=a/c and is received back after a total time t2=2a/c, where a is the distance and c is the velocity of light (which is the same as the propagation speed).
The main two disadvantages of both the PIR and radar techniques are: they need wiring, which makes the mounting of these sensors expensive; and they are highly visible, which can make elderly people feel uncomfortable.
Light devices with motion sensing functionality already exist, but the motion sensing is used to turn on the light in these devices.
There are many motion sensors on the market. Most of them use PIR (Passive Infra-Red) for motion sensing. Wireless motion sensors also exist. Wireless as used in relation to these sensors means that they are powered using batteries. There is no such wireless motion sensor known from the prior art where the motion sensor is concealed in a lighting device. From the outside, the device according to the present subject matter, looks like a general light bulb which promotes concealing motion sensors from view. Using radar as the sensing device is also a possible technology for this device.
There are prior documents where radar is used in combination with other sensors, e.g. US Patent Publication No. 2009/0303100 entitled "Motion detection systems using CW radar in combination with additional sensors". This solution is focusing on reliable motion detection using radar but it is not concealed, or integrated into a light emitting device. It uses wireless technology to transmit a motion signal to a remote station though.
Another group of solutions is focusing on integrating motion sensors into lighting fixtures to switch on light if motion is detected. They all use PIR-based motion detectors: U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,532 entitled "Decorative Lighting Fixture for Motion Detection" or U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,417 entitled "Motion detector assembly for use with a decorative coach lamp" or U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,945 entitled "Lighting fixture control device" or U.S. Pat. No. 6,943,687 entitled "PIR motion detector for a decorative lantern" or U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,941 entitled "Decorative lighting fixture with hidden motion detector". Most of these solutions are also focusing on hiding the motion detector, but none of them are wireless. U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,705 entitled "Hidden PIR motion detector with mirrored optics" is directly focusing on another possible way of hiding the PIR motion detector.
One of the advantages of using radar technology is that its viewing angle is pretty wide. There is a disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,691 entitled "Motion detector with extra-wide angle mirrored optics" in which this kind of motion detector is shown, focusing on achieving a 360 degree viewing angle using PIR detector. This document describes how to achieve this target, but it neither is integrated into a device nor uses wireless technology.
Nowadays, many attempts can be seen to integrate new types of lighting devices or any non-conventional lighting methods into a conventional shape light bulb. The reason of the importance of these attempts is that many customers still prefer, conventional pear-shaped light bulbs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,978 entitled "Lamp bulb with stretchable lamp beads therein" shows light beads integrated into a convenient light bulb. One of the aspects of this solution is that the light bulb can be disassembled, thus the shape of the light bead can be adjusted.
There are two ways of communication between a sensor and a remote supervision station, and there are different embodiments to fulfill this requirement, which can be categorized into two main groups: wireless and wired.
The main known wireless communication types (in the 2.4 GHz frequency range) are Bluetooth, WiFi and ZigBee. The first two technologies are known to have high power consumption and, considering that it is desirable to detect motion even if the lamp is switched off, the best choice is to use ZigBee technology specially designed for cases where devices periodically "wake up", send short messages and then return to a sleep mode.
The device can be battery-powered if the light is off. In this case we cannot use power line communication; the only way is to use wireless communication, preferably ZigBee technology. It is much more secure and it better meets up-to-date requirements.
The ZigBee technology is briefly summarized in the following.
The ZigBee network consists of one coordinator, full function devices (FFD, also known as routers) and reduced function devices (RFD, also known as end devices). The coordinator is unique on the network and only one instance is allowed in one network. Both the FFD and RFD devices can receive and send signals, but the FFD can have child devices, while the FED is on the bottom level (at the end) of the hierarchy. An important requirement of the FFDs is that they need continuous power supply so, in most of the cases, they are plugged into the wall outlet (power line), and batteries are not allowed.
The network topology can be star, mesh or cluster tree. The ZigBee network is best described, among its topology, by the network channel and the network pan ID. Network channel ranges from channel 11 (2405 MHz) to 26 (2480 MHz) and the panID is a unique 16-bit number. Two networks on the same channel with different panID may exist, but is not recommended if there is a free, noiseless channel available.
Networks may further comprise beacon and non-beacon modes. In non-beacon-enabled networks ZigBee Routers typically have their receivers continuously active, requiring a more robust power supply. However, this allows for heterogeneous networks in which some devices receive continuously, while others only transmit when an external stimulus is detected.
In beacon-enabled networks, the ZigBee Routers transmit periodic beacons to confirm their presence to other network nodes. Nodes may sleep between beacons, thus lowering their duty cycle and extending their battery life. Beacon intervals may range from 15.36 milliseconds (at 250 kbit/s) to 786.432 seconds (at 20 kbit/s). However, low duty cycle operation with long beacon intervals requires precise timing, which can conflict with the need for low product cost.
It can be easily seen that it makes sense to use non-beaconed mode. The ZigBee node at the lamp may receive constantly, since it is connected to the mains supply, while a battery-powered light switch would remain asleep until the switch is thrown. The switch then wakes up, sends a command to the lamp, receives an acknowledgment, and returns to sleep. In such a network, the lamp node will be at least a ZigBee Router, if not the ZigBee Coordinator; the switch node is typically a ZigBee End Device.
Wired communication is typically networked over a power line (known as power line communication or power line networking (PLN)) to avoid having additional wires. One must ensure, however, that the power line is not physically isolated. The following options are available. The device may continuously operate on its supply voltage (i.e. does not need batteries) and the lamp switch only sends an on/off signal. The disadvantage of this method is that it is unsafe because of the continuous high voltage supply. Or, one can use this method without having the device continuously on power supply by ensuring that the connection between the lamp and the coordinator is continuous. The disadvantage of this method is that it cannot be implemented in existing circuits, as a conventional lamp switch physically isolates the switched device.
The Power Line Networking is briefly summarized in the following.
The term Power Line Networking is used in many ways: Power Line Communication or Power Line Carrier (both abbreviated as PLC), Power Line Digital Subscriber Line (PDSL), mains communication, power line telecom (PLT), power line networking (PLN), or Broadband over Power Lines (BPL); but they all mean carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission.
One of the many advantages of Power line Communication is that it can be used at every stage of the voltage transmission, at high voltage transmission lines and lower voltages as well. Care must be taken because transformers typically prevent proper signal propagation. Since the power wiring system was originally intended for transmission of AC power, in conventional use, the power wire circuits have only a limited ability to carry higher frequencies. The propagation problem limits the usage of power line communication.
There is also a term for PLN, Homeplug, and there is also an alliance called the HomePlugPower line Alliance, which is a group of electronics manufacturers, service providers, and retailers that establishes standards for, and tests members' devices for, compliance with the various power line communication technologies known as HomePlug.
The speed of the PLNs is comparable to older, common wireless and wired communication systems: HomePlug 1.0 has a data rate of 14 Mbps, HomePNA 2.0 has a data rate of 10 Mbps, while IEEE802.11b has a data rate of 11 Mbps and IEEE802.11a has a data rate of 55 Mbps. For a complete comparison the ZigBee network has a theoretical data rate of 250 kbit/s.
An important parameter of the communication channel is the signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, wherein SNR=(Received power)/(Noise power). The signal clarity is highly affected by the devices (loading impedances) connected to the transmission line (channel). This is the reason why it is still hard to use PLNs over large distances.
There is a need to provide a bulb lighting device with extended functionalities to monitor patients in a home environment, which has a base as a conventional light bulb, and which is capable of replacing the conventional light bulb used in current lighting apparatuses. It can thus be replaced by a conventional light bulb if needed. There is also a need for the ability to communicate between the device and a remote station with minimal additional technical investments.

Bulb lighting device and system comprising such device to monitor patients in home environment


Formation of the magnetic sensor layers of a magnetic sensor are separated into at least two depositions to reduce the dimension of the sensor. The free layer portion of the sensor is deposited at a different process step than the pinned layer portion. The top of the free layer stack can be a tunnel barrier, the free layer, or part of the free layer. The free layer stack also may contain an in-stack bias layer. The longitudinal bias layer may be patterned in a separate processing step, which allows the stack containing the free layer to be effectively thinner and allow smaller track width dimensions.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to magnetoresistive (MR) read sensors or heads for magnetic recording systems and, in particular, to an improved system, method, and apparatus for such sensors that operate with the current-perpendicular-to-the-plane mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
In certain types of MR read sensors or heads for magnetic recording systems, the sense current passes perpendicularly through the planes of the layers making up the sensor. Such sensors are called "current-perpendicular-to-the-plane" or CPP sensors. CPP sensors are distinguished from "spin-valve" type MR sensors widely used in commercially available magnetic recording disk drives because spin-valve sensors operate with the sense "current-in-the-plane" of the sensor layers, or in CIP mode.
One type of CPP sensor is a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensor comprising two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin insulating tunnel barrier layer and is based on the phenomenon of spin-polarized electron tunneling. The response of a MTJ sensor is determined by measuring the resistance of the MTJ when a sense current is passed perpendicularly through the MTJ from one ferromagnetic layer to the other. The probability of tunneling of charge carriers across the insulating tunnel barrier layer depends on the relative alignment of the magnetic moments (magnetization directions) of the two ferromagnetic layers. In addition to MTJ sensors, giant magnetoresistive (GMR) type MR sensors have also been proposed to operate in the CPP mode.
One of the problems with CPP MTJ and GMR sensors is the ability to generate an output signal that is both stable and linear with the magnetic field strength from the recorded medium. The sensing ferromagnetic layer in the CPP sensor must be stabilized to avoid magnetic instabilities and degradation of the signal-to-noise performance of the sensor by hysteresis. The problem of sensor stabilization using a conventional tail stabilization approach is especially difficult in the case of a CPP sensor. For example, with an MTJ MR read head, the sense current passes perpendicularly through the ferromagnetic layers and the tunnel barrier layer. Thus, any hard bias metallic materials used in the tails to stabilize the sensing ferromagnetic layer will short circuit the electrical resistance of the MTJ if they come in contact with the ferromagnetic layers. This can be solved with a thin insulation layer as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,410, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, that solution is dependent on the spacing from the sensor to the hard bias layer and the shape of the hard bias layer.
One type of MTJ MR read head has a biasing ferromagnetic layer magnetostatically coupled with the sensing ferromagnetic layer of the MTJ to provide longitudinal bias to the sensing ferromagnetic layer. As shown in FIG. 1, this MTJ MR head is a sensor structure made up of a stack of layers formed between a bottom shield 10 and a top shield 12, the shields being typically formed of relatively thick highly magnetically permeable material, such as permalloy. The shields 10, 12 have generally planar surfaces spaced apart by a gap 53. The gap material 50, 52 on the sides of the sensor structure is an insulating material, typically an oxide such as alumina. The layers in the stack are a bottom electrical lead 20, the MTJ sensor 30, the longitudinal bias stack 40, and top electrical lead 22.
The MTJ sensor 30 is made up of an antiferromagnetic layer 32, a fixed ferromagnetic layer 34 exchange biased with the antiferromagnetic layer 32 so that its magnetic moment cannot rotate in the presence of an applied magnetic field, an insulating tunnel barrier layer 36 in contact with the fixed ferromagnetic layer 34, and a sensing or "free" ferromagnetic layer 38 in contact with the tunnel barrier layer 36 and whose magnetic moment is free to rotate in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The longitudinal bias stack 40 includes a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer 42, a biasing ferromagnetic layer 44 that has its magnetic moment aligned generally within the plane of the device and is separated from the ferromagnetic layer 38 by the spacer layer 42, and an optional antiferromagnetic layer 46 exchange coupled to the biasing ferromagnetic layer 44. The self field or demagnetizing field from the biasing ferromagnetic layer 44 magnetostatically couples with the edges of the sensing ferromagnetic layer 38 to stabilize its magnetic moment, and, to linearize the output of the device. The electrically conductive spacer layer 42 prevents direct exchange coupling between the biasing ferromagnetic layer 44 and the sensing ferromagnetic layer 38 in the MTJ sensor 30 and allows sense current to flow perpendicularly through the layers in the stack between the two leads 20, 22.
As shown in FIG. 1, the width of the data tracks of the recorded media is determined by the trackwidth (TW) of the MR sensor. The shielding geometry provided by shields 10, 12 of the MR sensor attenuates the flux coming from adjacent magnetic transitions of the recorded media along the downtrack direction (perpendicular to the layers in the stack) and therefore enhances the sensor's linear resolution. However, for very small trackwidths this shielding geometry does not provide adequate suppression of side reading caused by flux coming from adjacent tracks. Thus, an improved design for an MR sensor that overcomes these limitations of the prior art would be desirable.

Method of manufacturing a magnetic sensor by multiple depositions of varying geometry

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.


The substrate cleaning method for performing cleaning processing on a plurality of substrates disposed such that front surfaces of the substrates on which a circuit pattern is to be formed extend substantially in a vertical direction. This method includes a step of picking up substrates contained in a cassette, all together, from the cassette, a step of making front surfaces of adjacent substrates face each other without bringing the front surfaces into contact with each other, while making back surfaces of adjacent substrates face each other without bringing the back surfaces into contact with each other, the front surfaces of the adjacent substrates being situated with a pitch interval L.sub.1 interposed therebetween, and the pitch interval being set to be larger than a pitch interval L.sub.2 interposed between the back surfaces of the adjacent substrates, a step of dipping the plurality of substrates thus disposed, all together, into a chemical solution, and a step of making the chemical solution flow between the front surfaces of adjacent substrates of the plurality of substrates, facing each other, and between the back surfaces of adjacent substrates of the plurality of substrates, facing each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate cleaning method and a substrate cleaning apparatus in which a chemical solution is used to clean and etch a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer, an LCD glass substrate, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, in a wafer processing step of an LSI manufacture process, a substrate cleaning apparatus of a wet type is used to remove foreign material such as particles, organic material, metal impurities, and the like. In this wet type substrate cleaning apparatus, a chemical solution such as a hydrofluoric acid solution, an ammonia hydrogen peroxide solution, such as an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide; an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide; a phosphate solution; a solution of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid; an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid and hydrogen peroxide; and a solution of hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride or the like is circularly supplied to a cleaning vessel, and a number of wafers are dipped in the chemical solution.
In the wafer processing step, circuits are patterned only on the front surfaces Wa of wafers. Therefore, in general the surface Wa of each wafer is mirror-finished by a super precise polishing method, while the back surface of each wafer is finished more roughly than the front surface Wa.
As shown in FIG. 20, wafers W are contained in a cassette C at equal pitch intervals such that the front surfaces Wa of the wafers are all oriented to the same side (in the grip side of the cassette). In the cassette, the front surface Wa of the wafers respectively face the back surfaces Wb of adjacent wafers. This arrangement of wafers is common to both the cassette C and the cleaning vessel.
Back surfaces of the wafers Wb are, in many phases of the manufacturing process, in contact with supporting members, carrier members, and the likes. Therefore, foreign material such as particles tend to more easily stick to the back surfaces Wb of the wafers than to the front surfaces Wa. It is generally said that a greater amount of foreign material sticks to the back surface Wb of a wafer than to the front surface Wa thereof.
Cleaning processing of wafers is carried out in a manner in which an upward flow is generated in a cleaning vessel by supplying a chemical solution to a cleaning vessel through a bottom portion so as to overflow to an upper portion of the vessel, and a plurality of wafers are dipped in the upward flow of the chemical solution.
However, in case of a group of wafers arrayed as shown in FIG. 20, foreign material which once has left the back surfaces Wb of the wafers tends to easily stick again to the front surfaces Wa of adjacent wafers. In particular, in case of cleaning wafers having a large diameter, foreign material easily sticks again to the front surfaces Wa of the wafers so that it is difficult to increase the cleaning efficiency of the wafers.
In addition, if wafers W.sub.L1 and W.sub.L2 are arrayed on a board 91 at a narrow pitch interval as shown in FIG. 15, these wafers easily incline so that upper portions of adjacent wafers W.sub.L1 and W.sub.L2 are easily brought into contact with each other since a clearance exists between a groove 98 and the wafer W.sub.L1 and between a groove 99 and the wafer W.sub.L2. In particular, when lifting up the board 91 from the cleaning vessel, a chemical solution is kept between the front surface Wa of the wafer W.sub.L1 and the back surface Wb of the wafer W.sub.L2, resulting in that non-uniformity in the cleaning rate appears within the surface of a wafer and that the cleaning rate varies between wafers arrayed in the same lot. However, if wafers W.sub.L1 and W.sub.L2 of a large diameter are arrayed at a wide pitch distance, the size of a cleaning vessel must be enlarged and a long time is required for circularly supplying a chemical solution into the cleaning vessel, so that the through-put is lowered.
Furthermore, the chemical solution is required in a large amount, increasing treatment in cleaning cost. Moreover, it takes a long time to heat the chemical solution to a predetermined temperature.

Substrate cleaning method and a substrate cleaning apparatus


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transporting a flat printed material being conveyed, such as a printed web of material, a ribbon, a signature, or the like. An exemplary apparatus includes a pair of seizing elements for transporting a web of material, and corrugation inducing elements arranged along a linear path adjacent to each other. The corrugation inducing elements are provided in a non-contacting manner on both sides of a transition area within which the flat printed material is conveyed, the corrugation inducing elements substantially extending along the transition area which is located between an output of the pair of seizing elements and the input to further processing elements to corrugate the flat printed material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for corrugating a flat material, such as a printed web in a folding apparatus assigned to a rotary printing press.
2. State of the Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,842 relates to signature handling apparatus having a first conveyor which sequentially moves signatures to a discharge station. At the discharge station, the signatures are sequentially transferred to a receiving conveyor. A corrugator assembly is located at the discharge station to stiffen the signatures by forming corrugations which extend between leading and trailing end portions of the signatures. Although the corrugations are only temporarily maintained in the signature, the corrugator assembly is close enough to the receiving conveyor that a corrugation is maintained as a leading end portion of the signature moves to the receiving conveyor. Thus, the corrugator assembly is spaced from the receiving conveyor by a distance which is less than the distance between the leading and trailing end portion of the signatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,733 relates to an apparatus for cutting and transporting a paper web in a folding apparatus of a printing press. The apparatus includes a pair of cutting cylinders for cutting web sections from the web, and a transporting device for transporting the web sections away from the cutting cylinders. The first cutting cylinder has at least one cutting anvil, and the second cutting cylinder has at least one cutting knife which meets the cutting anvil at a nip between the cutting cylinders to cut the web moving through the nip. A plurality of strips are supported on the first cutting cylinder and a plurality of strips are supported on the second cutting cylinder. The strips have positions on the cutting cylinders at which they impress a temporary reinforcing profile onto each newly formed leading portion of the web, when the strips move through the nip. At least one smoothing surface is also supported on the first cutting cylinder and at least one smoothing surface is also supported on the second cutting cylinder. The smoothing surfaces have positions on the cutting cylinders, wherein the smoothing surfaces remove the temporary reinforcing profile from the leading portion of the web when the smoothing surfaces move through the nip.
The above-mentioned approaches impose a corrugated profile in order to stiffen the leading edge of a ribbon, web or signature by corrugating the ribbon, web, or signature with rollers having opposing large and small diameter sections. The roller surfaces can be steel brushes, Velcro-tape, or urethane, and must contact the ribbon, web or signature. This causes the roller surfaces to wear and can cause marking of the ribbon, or web signature. Different materials have consequently been used to prolong the life of the various roller components, although wear of these components still occurs.
Known corrugating methods also have a large sensitivity to position adjustments, and different designs have been developed in an effort to reduce the sensitivity of the position adjustments. Furthermore, known methods of corrugating induce corrugation locally, such that the corrugation effect must be projected to the location where it is required. Accordingly, it would be desirable to improve the corrugation of a flat material, such as a ribbon, web or signature.

Method and apparatus for corrugating a flat material