A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid storage portion includes one or more flexible walls and is configured to change at least one of the shape and the size of the liquid storage portion upon a change of the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion. The cartridge includes a sensor configured to detect data of a physical property. The data relates to at least one of a corresponding shape and a corresponding size of the liquid storage portion so that the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion is determinable from the measured data.

At least one example embodiment relates to aerosol-generating systems, such as handheld electrically operated vaping systems. At least one example embodiment relates to liquid storage portions used in aerosol-generating systems in which the aerosol-forming substrate is liquid and the liquid is stored in the liquid storage portion.
One type of aerosol-generating system is an electrically operated vaping system. Handheld electrically operated vaping systems may include a device portion comprising a battery and control electronics, a cartridge portion comprising a supply of aerosol-forming substrate held in a liquid storage portion, and an electrically operated vaporizer. A cartridge comprising both a supply of aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion and a vaporizer is sometimes referred to as a "cartomizer". The vaporizer comprises a coil of heater wire wound around an elongate wick soaked in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion. The cartridge portion may also comprise a mouthpiece, which the vaper draws on.
It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system that senses the consumption of aerosol-forming substrate and that determines the amount of aerosol-forming substrate remaining in the liquid storage portion.
WO 2012/085207 A1 discloses an electrically operated aerosol-generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. The system comprises a liquid storage portion configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, an electric heater comprising at least one heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and electric circuitry configured to monitor activation of the electric heater and estimate an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate remaining in the liquid storage portion based on the monitored activation.
The monitored activation of the electric heater, for example by counting the number of activations, the activation time, even under consideration of power and temperature, are only rough estimates of the amount of the remaining liquid.
It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system that improves the precision of the determined volume of the remaining liquid.

Cartridge including a liquid storage portion with a flexible wall


The invention relates to an unlocking device (10), especially for a vehicle protection device, comprising a locking bar (16) which in a locked position establishes a connection positive at least in portions between a first component (12) to be unlocked and a second component (14) and permits relative motion of the two components (12, 14) in an open position. The unlocking device (10) further comprises a pyrotechnical actuator (18) including a pyrotechnical element (20) having a propelling charge and a piston-cylinder unit (22) having a piston (24) and a cylinder (26), wherein motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) can be generated due to activation of the propelling charge upon ignition thereof and wherein the piston-cylinder unit (22) is connected to the locking bar (16) without redirection so that upon motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) the locking bar is movable from its locked position into its open position.

The invention relates to an unlocking device, especially for unlocking two components of a vehicle connected via the unlocking device.
From the state of the art unlocking devices for unlocking two interconnected components of a vehicle are known by which a locking bar can be removed from a locked position. Unlocking devices of this type, also referred to as pulling actuators, are relatively complex and expensive, however.


Disclosed herein is an integration of automatic search functionality into a business application. The application is monitored for an instance wherein the user is initiating an activity that involves an expenditure. Upon detection of such an activity, a query is automatically generated based on information related to the expenditure. The query is communicated to a search component, from which corresponding search results are eventually received. Finally, at least some information related to the search results is displayed to the user. In one embodiment, assuming the user's express or implicit approval, auto-generation of data and/or modification of business process flow are facilitated based on the search results.

Sparked by Internet technology, there has been a dramatic proliferation of business data published and made available to users of computing devices. However, it is common for business data to be scattered across a broad range of different data stores associated with a variety of different data sources. Under the circumstances, efficiently accessing relevant data when it is needed can be a real challenge.
Currently, a user using a computing device to accomplish a business task often must stop what he or she is doing in order to manually navigate through different data stores to find a data item that is likely to be relevant to current needs. In most cases, the tools provided to support navigation through data are completely separate from the tools being utilized for business purposes. It is not uncommon for a user to be forced to switch back and forth between a business application and an application configured to support data searching.
In many cases, the process of identifying relevant business data requires a user to sift through search results (e.g., often in a list format) on a trial and error basis in order to determine relevancy of data to current needs. The queries utilized to request the search results are not commonly configured to take contextual considerations into account, such as why the user is searching for certain information or the kind of information most likely to be useful to the user performing the query. Often times, query refining becomes necessary to efficiently locate relevant results. Sometimes, re-querying using different syntax or search terms is the most efficient option. A user is often relied upon to make good and informed search strategy decisions to get to information that satisfies current needs.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted anywhere in the present description.

Automatic search functionality within business applications


A clip is fixed on the front or rear case, so as to obtain elastic force between clip and the surface of the case in order to suspend the body of a portable communication terminal on the clothes or bags. The clip is a molded synthetic resin which is itself elastic. Further, there is formed, on the front or rear case, a pocket which puts in a base portion of the clip from the side direction of the case. Further, a window portion is formed for guiding an elastic supporting portion of the clip from the pocket to the outer surface of the case. Furthermore, there is formed, on a base portion of the clip, a screw fixing portion which is inserted into the pocket and is fixed to one of the cases at the position of a screw insertion portion of the other case by using a screw.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates mainly to a structure for a clip of a portable remote terminal such as a pocket telephone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, portable remote terminals are suspended on a belt of trousers, a pocket of a jacket, or a bag. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the base of clip 15 is fixed through hinge axis 14 to hinge holders 13 which are provided on either of front case 11 or rear case 12 (mostly on rear case 12) which is a part of a frame of the portable remote terminal. In this case, an elastic body 16 such as a leaf spring is used for rendering restoring force for clip 15.
The conventional structure, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, assembled by using a plurality of parts such as a leaf spring is not easy to manufacture and raises product cost. Therefore, an elastic synthetic resin, or a molded body including a wire harness has been used for the clip, as disclosed in, for example, JP(Y2)-Hei 4-2549, 1992. However, the structure of a clip made of an elastic resin or molded body becomes complex and difficult to assemble, because it is laborious to fix the clip to the case.

Clip structure of portable communication terminal


An organic EL element includes a support substrate, an organic EL portion that is disposed on the support substrate and is formed by stacking a first electrode layer, an organic functional layer, and a second electrode layer, a sealing member that seals the organic EL portion, and one or more moisture absorbing portions that have moisture absorption characteristics. The moisture absorbing portion is disposed in an outer edge portion of a light emitting area of the organic EL portion in which the first electrode layer, the organic functional layer, and the second electrode layer are sequentially continuously superimposed when viewed in a stacking direction of the organic EL portion. An area of the moisture absorbing portion disposed on the light emitting area is smaller than an area of the light emitting area.

For example, a conventional organic EL element described in Patent Literature 1 is known. The organic EL element described in Patent Literature 1 includes an anode (a transparent electrode), a cathode (a display electrode) that is disposed to face the anode, an organic functional layer (a light emitting element layer) that is interposed between the anode and the cathode and spontaneously emits light when different voltages are applied to the anode and the cathode, and a getter member that is stacked to cover the cathode and the organic functional layer.


Disclosed is a multi-channel receiver optical sub assembly. The a multi-channel receiver optical sub assembly includes: a multi-channel PD array, in which a plurality of photodiodes (PDs) disposed on a first capacitor, and including receiving areas disposed at centers thereof and anode electrode pads arranged in an opposite direction at an angle of 180 degrees based on the receiving areas between the adjacent PDs is monolithically integrated; a plurality of transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) arranged on a plurality of second capacitors, respectively, and connected with the anode pads of the respective PDs through wire bonding; a submount on which the first capacitor.

Recently, as a quantity of data transmitted through a network increases according to necessity of mass information exchange, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) method has been used in an optical transmission system using a single channel. The WDM method is a data transceiving method of transceiving data of several wavelength ranges through one optical fiber by multiplexing or demultiplexing the data.
Accordingly, a multi-channel transmitter optical sub assembly (TOSA), a multi-channel receiver optical sub assembly (ROSA), and an optical sub assembly (OSA) are demanded as a multi-channel optical transceiver module for data channel multiplexing in an optical transceiver system to which a multi-function high-integrated optical transmission line optical sub module platform for a network based on a WDM is applied.
Especially, in a metro access network system requiring mass data transmission, the development of a technology of the multi-channel ROSA that is an optical receiver with high sensitivity has been demanded according to a long transmission distance. In order to manufacture the ROSA having high sensitivity, it is necessary to use a photodiode (hereinafter, referred to as a "PD") having a high sensitivity characteristic. However, it is more difficult to manufacture the ROSA having high sensitivity in which the PDs are integrated, compared to the ROSA in which PIN PDs are integrated in the related art.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are a diagram illustrating a configuration of a ROSA in which a single-channel PD is integrated in the related art and a circuit diagram corresponding to the configuration, respectively.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the ROSA in the related art includes a PD 110, two bypass capacitors 120 and a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) 130.
In order to manufacture the ROSA having the best sensitivity, the PD needs to exhibit high sensitivity, and the sensitivity of the PD may be measured and evaluated when the ROSA is manufactured in a form of a transistor outline (TO) in which the two bypass capacitors 120 and the transimpedance amplifier 130 are integrated as illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the ROSA in which the PD is integrated may be determined by an optimal arrangement of the PD 110, the two bypass capacitors 120 and the transimpedance amplifier 130, and a wire bonding method.
The transimpedance amplifier mounted for the optimal arrangement of the respective components of the ROSA needs to meet a capacitance of the PD demanded for an optimum operation, and also meet a capacitance of the bypass capacitor. Further, when a length of the wire for the wire bonding increases, inductance increases, so that it is necessary to arrange the respective components considering the inductance so as to optimally perform the wire bonding.
As described above, in order to manufacture the ROSA, it is necessary to consider several factors. In order to meet the consideration, sizes of the three types of components, such as the PD, the two bypass capacitors and the transimpedance amplifier, the arrangement for the mounting and an electrode design are important. In the three types of components, a size of the currently commercially available transimpedance amplifier and a size of the capacitor of optimal capacity are larger two and three times than that of the PD. However, when a size of the PD increases, the capacitance of the PD increases and a chip price is increased, so that it is impossible to increase a chip size of the PD to correspond to the sizes of the transimpendance amplifier and the capacitor in order to achieve the optimal wire bonding for preventing the deterioration of the sensitivity. Accordingly, a shape of the ROSA to be manufactured is determined according to the sizes of the transimpendance amplifier and the capacitor and an arrangement form of electrode pads of the PD.
Further, in order to manufacture the ROSA in which a plurality of PDs is integrated, since there is no commercially available multi-channel transimpedance amplifier, it is necessary to integrate the transimpedance amplifiers and the capacitors as many as the number of channels. Accordingly, it is difficult to manufacture the ROSA in which the plurality of PDs having a high sensitivity characteristic is integrated, and a sub module platform in which the ROSA in which single-channel PDs are integrated as many as the number of channels has been developed up to now.

Multi-channel receiver optical sub assembly

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A mounting spindle with a thread that is formed adapted to the thread-protecting element, formed as a helical wire, serves as a mounting tool with the mounting method. The helical wire is fixed on the mounting spindle by frictional engagement, which is greater than the torque necessary for mounting the helical wire into the receiving threads. The mounting spindle with the helical wire fixed thereon is then threaded into the receiving threads. Then, the mounting spindle is removed from the helical wire by rotation opposite to the mounting direction. The frictional force is achieved by a reduced-diameter end section of the helical wire.

Conventional thread-protecting elements in the form of a helical-shaped, wound wire serve for strengthening the receiving threads of structural members composed of materials of relatively low strength. For this purpose, the thread-protecting element is mounted in the receiving threads, whereupon the screw can then be rotated into the thread-protecting element.
For threading the thread-protecting element into the receiving threads, two types of assembly are customary. With the one type of assembly, the helical-shaped wire is provided with a notch for pulling, using which a special tool pulls the helical-shaped wire along and rotates into the receiving thread, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,119, U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,398, U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,303, etc. With the other type of assembly, the helical-shaped wire is provided on one end with a diagonally running pin for pulling, using which, in turn, a special stool pulls the helical-shaped wire along and through this, rotates it into the receiving thread, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,152,681, U.S. Pat. No. 2,363,663, etc. The notch for pulling results in a modification of the cross section of the wire, which makes the winding process more difficult. The pin for pulling has the disadvantage that, after the assembly, it must be broken and removed. In each case, an elaborate and costly special tool is required for mounting the helical-shaped wire into the receiving thread.

Method for mounting a thread-protecting element into a receiving thread and mounting spindle and a thread-protecting element therefore


A variable heat-generating performance viscous fluid type heat generator having a heating chamber in which an electrorheological fluid is confined to generate heat upon being subjected to a shearing action by the rotation of a rotor element within the heating chamber, a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heating chamber and permitting a heat exchanging liquid to receive heat from the electrorheological fluid and to circulate through the heat receiving chamber and an external heating circuit, and a controllable electricity conducting unit adjustably conducting electricity through the electrorheological fluid so as to adjustably change the viscosity of the electrorheological fluid to thereby vary the heat-generating performance of the viscous fluid type heat generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a viscous fluid type heat generator with variable heat-generating performance. More particularly, the present invention relates to a variable heat-generating performance viscous fluid type heat generator having an overall size reduced for enabling the heat generator to be easily mounted on a preselected mounting area in the body of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. 3-98107 discloses an automobile heating apparatus in which a viscous fluid type heat generator is incorporated. The viscous fluid type heat generator described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. 3-98107 includes a pair of mutually opposing front and rear housings tightly secured together by appropriate tightening elements such as through bolts to define an inner heat generating chamber and a heat receiving chamber separated by a partition wall through which the heat is exchanged between the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber and the water in the heat receiving chamber. The heat receiving chamber is therefore arranged to be located outside but in close relation with the heat generating chamber. The heat exchanging water is introduced into the heat receiving chamber through a water inlet port and delivered from the heat receiving chamber toward an external heating system, and the water is constantly circulated through the heat generator and the external heating system.
A drive shaft is rotatably supported in the front housing via an anti-friction bearing so as to support thereon a rotor element in such a manner that the rotor element is rotated with the drive shaft within the heat generating chamber. The rotor element has outer faces which are face-to-face with the wall faces of the heat generating chamber and form labyrinth grooves therebetween, and a viscous fluid, for example, silicone oil is supplied into the heat generating chamber so as to fill the labyrinth grooves between the rotor and the wall faces of the heating chamber.
The automobile heating apparatus is further provided with a heat generating controller including a pair of engaged upper and lower covers defining therein a chamber in which a diaphragm element is received to form a part of the chamber as a controlling chamber enclosed by the diaphragm and the upper cover. The heat generating controller is attached to the lowermost portion of the front and rear housings. The controlling chamber of the heat generating controller fluidly communicates with the heat generating chamber via a fluid conduit, and the heat generating chamber in turn communicates with the atmosphere via an appropriate air hole formed in a connecting portion of the front and rear housings. The diaphragm of the heat generating chamber functions to adjustably change an internal volume of the controlling chamber in response to a vacuum pressure in the manifold of an automobile engine and a spring force of a coil spring arranged in a portion of the chamber of the heat generating chamber opposite to the controlling chamber.
When the viscous fluid type heat generator is incorporated in the heating system of an automobile, the heat generator per se is accommodated in a mounting space extending around an engine crank shaft so as to be operatively connected to the automobile engine. Therefore, the drive shaft of the viscous fluid type heat generator is rotated to rotate the rotor element within the heat generating chamber while applying a shearing action to the viscous fluid in the heating chamber. Thus, the viscous fluid generates heat when being sheared, and heat exchanging is conducted between the viscous liquid within the heat generating chamber and the water flowing through the heat receiving chamber. The heated water is circulated through the heating system of the automobile so as to warm the compartment within the automobile.
In the above-described conventional variable heat-generating performance viscous fluid type heat generator of Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. 3-98107, controlling of heat generation is conducted by a method described below.
Namely, when heat supply to the compartment of the automobile is excessive, the diaphragm of the heat generating controller is moved within the chamber of the upper and lower covers by the vacuum pressure of the engine manifold to increase the internal volume of the controlling chamber. Accordingly, the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber is received by the controlling chamber of the heat generating controller. Therefore, heat generation within the heat generating chamber of the viscous fluid type heat generator is reduced due to reduction in the amount of the viscous fluid held between the inner wall of the heat generating chamber and the surface of the rotor element. As a result, supply of heat to the compartment within the automobile is reduced to lower a temperature in the compartment.
On the contrary, when the heat supply is excessively small, the diaphragm of the heat generating controller is moved within the chamber of the upper and lower covers to reduce the volume of the controlling chamber by the action of the spring force of the coil spring and an adjusting pressure supplied from a pressure adjusting hole formed in a part of the lower cover of the heat generating controller. Accordingly, the viscous fluid flows from the controlling chamber into the heat generating chamber of the viscous fluid type heat generator. Therefore, an increase in the amount of the viscous fluid held between the inner wall of the heat generating chamber and the surface of the rotor element of the heat generator is achieved so as to increase heat generation within the heat generating chamber. As a result, heat supply from the viscous fluid type heat generator to the compartment of the automobile is increased permitting the temperature within the compartment to go up.
Nevertheless, in the above-described variable heat-generating performance viscous fluid type heat generator, a separate heat-generating performance controller having a fluid receivable controlling chamber communicating with the heating chamber of the viscous fluid type heat generator must be arranged outside the heat generator to adjustably change the amount of viscous fluid held within the heat generating chamber of the heat generator to thereby control the heat-generating performance of the viscous type heat generator. Accordingly, an entire assembly of the viscous fluid type heat generator and the heat-generating performance controller becomes inevitably large in size resulting in making it difficult to mount the assembly in the body of the automobile.

Viscous fluid type heat generator with variable heat-generating performance

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


A catheter system is disclosed including an elongated catheter, an elongated balloon carrier and a disposable balloon formed from an expandable and resilent biocompatible material. The balloon has a lumen disposed between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. The proximal end of the carrier and the distal end of the catheter are configured to permit the distal end of the catheter to matingly engage the proximal end of the carrier. The outer diameter of the balloon carrier and the outer diameter of the balloon are configured such that the diameter of the carrier and the diameter of the balloon permit the balloon first to be slideably mounted onto the balloon carrier and second to be slideably moved from the carrier onto the catheter when the proximal end of the carrier is matingly or otherwise suitably engaged with the distal end of the catheter.

Urethral pressure measurements have been used for more than 75 years to assess urethral closure function. Urethral pressure and urethral closure pressure are idealized concepts which aim to represent the ability of the urethra to prevent leakage. So long as the intraurethral pressure exceeds the proximal fluid pressure, urine cannot leak and therefore the subject should be continent. Measurement of urethral pressures requires the introduction of a catheter adapted to perform such measurements. A variety of different techniques are employed to make urethral pressure measurements. Moreover, in the field of urethral impedance planimetry, it is known to measure the elasticity or "tonus" of the urethra, the cross-sectional area of the urethra, bladder pressure, abdominal pressure and detrusor pressure. EMGs and imaging data may also be obtained when making such measurements.
One well known technique for assessing a patient's bladder function is PCA (or "Pressure Cross-Sectional Area") catheter measurement as described, for example, in "A System for Measurement of Micturition Urethral Cross-Sectional Areas and Pressures" by Mortensen et al., Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput., 1983, 21, 482–488; "Simultaneous Recording of Pressure and Cross-Sectional Area in the Female Urethra: A Study of Urethral Closure Function in Healthy and Stress Incontinent Women" by Lose in "Neurology and Urodynamics," Volume 11, Number 2, 1992; and "Urethral Pressure Measurement Problems and Clinical Value" by Lose, Scand. J. Urol. Nephrol. Suppl. 207. See also "Urethral Impedance Planimetry" presented by Lose et al. at the Medtronic Satellite Symposium, ICS, Tampere, Finland, 2001.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art PCA catheter system 5 comprising catheter body 10, expandable and resilient balloon 20 mounted near distal end 30 of the catheter, balloon channel 40 for introducing saline solution 50 inside and removing saline solution 50 from balloon 20, distal micro-pressure transducer 60 mounted near distal tip 70 of catheter body 10, proximal micro-pressure transducer 65 mounted beneath a portion of balloon 20 and situated proximally from distal pressure transducer 60, and electrodes 80A, 80B, 80C and 80D mounted beneath balloon 20 on catheter body 10. Electrical connectors 9 at the proximal end of catheter system 5 permit electrical connections to be established between electrodes 80A through 80D, transducers 6Q and 65, or temperature or other sensors, and external recording and/or analysis equipment (not shown in the Figures).
Cross-sectional area (or "A") is determined by delivering high frequency alternating current between excitation electrodes 80A and 80D and measuring the electrical conductivity of the saline solution inside balloon 20. Balloon 20 is then inflated and deflated incrementally with saline solution during rest and provocative maneuvers, and the drop in voltage between sensing electrodes 80B and 80D is measured. Using the field gradient principles described by Harris et al. in "Electrical Measurements of Urethral Flow" in "Urodynamics", New York, Academic Press, Chapter 34, page 465, cross-sectional area A may be determined. The pressure inside balloon 20 may be increased incrementally to induce dilation, and the resulting pressures may be recorded using the proximal and distal pressure transducers. The resulting pressure response curve is a stress relaxation curve, which may be analyzed to determine the elastic properties of the patient's urethra. Balloon 20 is preferably fully distensible within the physiological range of the urethral cross-sectional area.
It will now be seen that PCA catheter system 5 comprises several expensive components, most notably distal micro-pressure transducer 60, proximal micro-pressure transducer 65, and electrodes 80A, 80B, 80C and 80D. In addition, catheter system 5 requires the incorporation of balloon channel 40 and the inclusion and mounting of balloon 20. Because the cost of a single PCA catheter system 5 may easily exceed several thousand dollars, it is preferable that at least portions of PCA catheter system 5 be reusable following sterilization.
To date, some PCA catheters have been re-used by mounting disposable balloons on catheter body 10 using sutures or ties 75 that are secured around the proximal and distal ends 85 and 90 of balloon 20. Mounting balloon 20 on catheter body 10 using such manual attachment techniques is time consuming, tedious and does not produce reliable seals between proximal and distal ends 85 and 90 of balloon 29 and the outside diameter of the catheter. What is needed is a PCA catheter system having a disposable balloon which may be readily and quickly mounted on or removed from a catheter body, and Which also provides a competent non-leaking seal between the balloon and the catheter when the balloon is filled with saline solution.
Patents and printed publications describing various aspects of the foregoing and other problems, as well as the state of the art, are listed below.    1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,562 to Hynecek et al. entitled "Miniature Pressure Transducer for Medical Use and Assembly Method."    2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,196 to Bradley et al. entitled "Profilometry Method and Apparatus" to Ellis.    3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,367 to Tucci entitled "Detachable Balloon Catheter and Method of Use."    4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,563 to Gross entitled "Urodynamic Catheter."    5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,345 to Taylor et al. entitled "Detachable and Reusable Digital Control Unit for Monitoring Balloon Catheter Data in a Syringe Inflation System."    6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,554 to Miraki entitled "Catheters Having Separable Reusable Components."    7. U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,081 to Kreder entitled "Urethral Pressure Catheter."    8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,688 to Imran et al. entitled "Low Profile Balloon-On-A-Wire Catheter with Shapeable And/Or Deflectable Tip and Method."    9. U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,374 to Alba et al. entitled "Catheter Sleeve for Use with a Balloon Catheter."    10. U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,163 to Glickman entitled "Catheter with Slideable Ballobn."    11. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,871 to Adams et al. entitled "Catheter Systems with Interchangeable Parts."    12. U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,781 to Thompson et al. entitled "Intraurethral Pressure Monitoring Assembly and Method of Treating Incontinence Using Same."    13. U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,258 to Wang et al. entitled "Method of Forming a Co-Extruded Balloon for Medical Purposes."    14. U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,524 to Wallace et al. entitled "Pressure Device with Enhanced Fluid Monitoring Features."
All patents and printed publications listed hereinabove are hereby incorporated by reference herein, each in its respective entirety. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate readily upon reviewing the drawings set forth herein and upon reading the Summary of the Invention, Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments and claims set forth below, at least some of the devices and methods disclosed in the patents and publications listed hereinabove may be modified advantageously in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Catheter system having disposable balloon


An apparatus includes a surge protection device, a current sensor configured to sense a current through the surge protection device, and a surge discriminator circuit coupled to the current sensor and configured to discriminate among a plurality of surge levels for the surge protective device responsive to the sensed current. The current sensor may include a current transformer configured to generate a secondary current responsive to the sensed current and the surge discriminator circuit may be configured to discriminate among a plurality of surge levels responsive to the generated secondary current.

Surge protection devices (SPDs) are commonly used to protect electrical and electronic equipment from damage caused by high energy lightning surges and other transient disturbances. These devices typically operate by shunting surge currents away from the protected component using devices such as a metal oxide varistor (MOVs), which can provide a low-impedance shunt path for the surge current. A typical application for an SPD is shown in FIG. 1, where an SPD 20 is coupled to a distribution panel 10 that distributes power from a feeder circuit 12 to multiple branch circuits 14. The SPD 20 may, for example, be coupled to bus bars within the panel 10 and may be located external to the panel 10 or integrated therein. SPDs may be similarly used in switchgear, switchboards, busways, motor control centers (MCCs), and the like.
A conventional SPD may have the capability of detecting and recording a number of surges that are experienced by the SPD. This information may, for example, enable maintenance personnel to determine whether the protected system requires additional protection. A conventional SPD may have current transformers or other current sensors that are used to sense currents passing through the MOVs of the SPD and circuitry for determining, for example, when the sensed current reaches a threshold that indicates a surge.

Surge protection devices with surge level discrimination and methods of operating the same


A system configured to dynamically adjust the ultrasonic carrier level in a parametric array system in response to changing source signal input levels, and which employs a look-ahead delay strategy to enable optimal modulation of the carrier wave to eliminate constant ultrasonic carrier emission and reduce the ultrasonic carrier emission to what is actually needed to accommodate the db range of the source material, and at the same time, to also minimize noticeable distortion and sound artifacts of a high-power ultrasonic carrier, and/or distortion/artifacts arising from modulation of an ultrasonic carrier to reduce average power output; and thus it realizes advantages of carrier modulation based on source-signal level, while minimizing inherent drawbacks of carrier modulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for sound reproduction. More specifically, the invention relates to a parametric sound reproduction system wherein economies are realized by dynamically adjusting the ultrasonic carrier level in a parametric array in response to changing input levels of the source audio signal being reproduced in the array.
2. Related Art
It has been recognized that there are advantages in modulating the output power level, or "envelope" (amplitude modulated or single sideband modulated) of an ultrasonic carrier wave in a parametric loudspeaker system application. This has been known since at least as early as 1991, when the work of Kamakura, Aoki, and Kumamoto was published, as noted below. Modulation of the carrier can provide a more efficient system than using a carrier of fixed amplitude, as such a fixed carrier must be of sufficient amplitude level to accommodate peak levels in the audio source material signal without distortion. In contrast to a fixed carrier, using a modulated carrier the envelope can expand and contract with the source signal level; and it is possible to produce a carrier amplitude of essentially zero when the source signal level is essentially zero, for example. Average radiated power is markedly reduced because of the greater efficiencies inherent in only providing so much carrier amplitude as is needed to accommodate the source signal level. Accordingly, less amplifier power is required, and less emitter heating is caused, both enabling lower costs in the system. Attempts have been made to accomplish this variation of radiated power of the carrier in a variety ways.
Examples of such prior work, and further background information regarding parametric array systems and carrier modulation can be found in the following references: published European Patent Application No. EP 0973152 A2 filed Jul. 15, 1999 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, naming Frank J. Pompei as inventor; published European Patent Application No. EP 0003931 A1 filed May 5, 2000 by Sennheiser Electric GMBH & CO.KG, naming Wolfgang Niehoff et al. as inventors; and, the article referenced above, "Suitable Modulation of the Carrier Ultrasound for Parametric Loudspeaker" by T. Kamakura, K. Aoki, and Y. Kumamoto, ACUSTICA Vol. 73 (1991), each of these references are incorporated in this disclosure by reference for the relevant teachings consistent with this disclosure.

Dynamic carrier system for parametric arrays


A flared vaginal stent having a body portion and an outwardly flared head portion as well as a method of use thereof is presented. The head portion is comprised of an outwardly flared tip, optionally containing a groove to accommodate the cervix, to flatten out the proximal vagina. Anterior surface of the head portion is flat while opposing posterior surface of the head portion is curved. The stent mimics the shape of the human vagina and displays the front and back surfaces of the vagina to facilitate placement and attachment of a graft to the full length of the anterior and posterior walls of the vagina. The flat surface allows suture placement for on the full length of the vagina for attachment of the graft anteriorly. The curved posterior surface highlights the posterior surface of the vagina to aid suture placement on the posterior (underside) of the vagina.

The vagina is a long fibromuscular tube, extending from the perineum, approximately 9-15 centimeters inward and towards the sacrum in the human female. It is attached to the pelvic sidewall on the left and the right, and to the uterosacral ligaments, which pull the apex up towards the sacrum. As the vagina moves inward and to the sacrum, it flares out laterally to maintain attachment to the pelvic sidewall. In women with a uterus, the uterus attaches to the upper middle part of the vagina. The cervix forms the topmost part of the vagina. In cases of vaginal prolapse, the tissues that support the vagina are broken, and the vagina falls outward by telescoping on itself. The definitive way to repair this prolapse, is to push the vagina back in, and hold it in place with a graft, which is attached to the exterior surface of the vagina with sutures. Currently available methods for holding the vagina for suture placement do not duplicate the shape of the vagina appropriately for optimal placement of the attachment sutures and graft.


A system and a method for generating effects in a webcam application are provided. The method includes identifying a first object and a second object in a video image. The method also includes adding a first user-created object to the video image to create an altered video image and adding a second user-created object to the altered video image to further alter the altered video image. Other steps included are associating the second user-created object with the second object; identifying a movement of the second object; and moving the second user-created object in the altered video image in accordance with the association of the second user-created object with the second object. The first object is a static object, and the first user-created object is manually movable. The movement of the second user-created object in association with the second object is independent of a movement of the first user-created object.

In recent years, a growing number of personal computers and interactive television systems are equipped with digital video cameras. These cameras may be configured as a web camera or "webcam." The webcam captures a continual stream of video images and broadcasts the images on the monitor of a personal computer. Such cameras may be used for at least one-way video communication, two-way video communication (videoconferencing, chatting, etc), or broadcast video communication. The communication may be displayed on the monitor or can be transmitted through a network such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet.

Generating effects in a webcam application


An internal combustion engine comprising a scroll compressor unit having a pair of scrolls interfitted to each other to define a compression chamber therebetween and a scroll expansion unit having a pair of scrolls interfitted to each other to define an expansion chamber therebetween. The compressor chamber is communicated to the compression chamber through a check valve, and a burning unit for detonating a fuel together with a working fluid in the expansion chamber to expand it thereby driving the scroll expansion unit. The scroll compressor unit and the scroll expansion unit are interconnected by an interconnecting unit.

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to a scroll-type internal combustion engine of which the compression chamber and the expansion chamber are defined by respective pairs of scrolls.
A scroll-type fluid machine having a pair of scrolls rotatably interfitted within a vessel to define a displaceable compression chamber therebetween for compressing the fluid within the vessel is disclosed, thereby to generate a vacuum within the vessel or to provide compressed fluid. One example of such fluid machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,499. Since such a rotatable scroll-type fluid machine is a rotary machine, it is smooth in operation and has less vibration and has a high efficiency and a high speed operation is possible.
Also, a rocking or orbiting scroll-type fluid machine in which a pair of stationary scrolls and an orbiting scroll is interfitted to define a displaceable volume chamber therebetween is also known in one example of the orbiting scroll-type fluid machine is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-190183. Such an orbiting scroll-type fluid machine has a very low vibration level and noise level and is efficient and compact as compared to the reciprocating motion engine.
Therefore, a compact, high-speed and high-efficiency prime mover low in vibration and noise levels would be obtained if the rotary or orbiting scroll-type fluid machine could be applied to a prime mover, and it is desirable to provide such prime mover.

Scroll type rotary internal combustion engine


A charge pump circuit is provided which includes at least two charge pump stages connected in series with a front charge pump stage having a first transistor for receiving an input voltage and a last charge pump stage having a second transistor for providing an output voltage. The first transistor is configured to operate at a first threshold voltage and the second transistor is configured to operate at a second threshold voltage different than the first threshold voltage.

The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to a charge pump circuit with multiple stages operating at different threshold voltages.
The demand for evermore compact, portable, and low cost consumer electronic devices has driven electronics manufacturers to develop and manufacture integrated circuits (IC) that operate with low power supply voltages resulting in low power consumption. There may be components of the devices that require higher voltages than the low power supply voltage. For example, devices having nonvolatile memory components such as flash memory may require very high voltages to program and erase memory cells. Generally, charge pump circuits have been used to generate high voltages in circuits with only low power supply voltages available. However, as device features and geometries continue to shrink to sub-micron size, the power supply voltages are also reduced. This can adversely effect a charge pump efficiency of the charge pump circuit in generating the required high voltages.
Therefore, what is needed is a simple and cost-effective apparatus and method for increasing the charge pump efficiency in charge pump circuits.

Apparatus and method for increasing charge pump efficiency

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


The recording medium cartridge accommodates a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a optical and/or magnetic disk, or the like in a cartridge body having an upper half and a lower half. A non-contact type memory device storing information, for example, given when producing the cartridge is provided in a reel of at least one of upper and lower flanges of a tape reel or on a surface facing to the tape winding surface of the body in the cartridge accommodating the tape reel wound with the tape, or in a recessed portion formed in at least one of a bottom surface of the lower half and an upper surface of a slider or in the slider in the cartridge having the slider, or in a transparent window of the body. A part of at least one of the upper and lower halves that corresponds to the memory device may be notched. The memory device may be welded together when fitting other members.

The present invention generally relates to a recording medium cartridge such as a magnetic tape cartridge and more particularly to a recording medium cartridge such as a magnetic tape cartridge that is fitted with a non-contact type memory device capable of reading and writing various items of information in a non-contact manner. More specifically, the present invention relates generally to a recording medium cartridge for a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk or an optical recording medium, and more particularly to a recording medium cartridge fitted with a non-contact type memory device in such a form that information can be read therefrom and written thereto, for recording information given when producing the recording medium cartridge and information on contents of data recorded on the recording medium accommodated in the recording medium cartridge.
There have hitherto been known a variety of conventional magnetic tape cartridges such as a recording/reproducing tape cartridge used for a home- or official-use video tape recorder or a video camera, and, as a large capacity recording medium for a data backup in an external storage device (computer memory) such as a computer, a 2-reel type tape cartridge including a pair of take-up hubs wound with a magnetic tape and rotatably accommodated in a cartridge body (case) constructed of upper and lower halves, a 1-reel type tape cartridge accommodating rotatably a single tape take-up reel (tape reel) wound with the magnetic tape, and a disk type tape cartridge accommodating rotatably a single magnetic disk (or a magneto-optic disk). The variety of known magnetic tape cartridges are, for example, cartridges of such a type as to have openings of which structures and dimensional data are prescribed in JISX6127 (1992), JISX6129 (1993), JISX6130 (1996) and JISX6141 (1993) (which are hereinafter generically called a magnetic tape cartridge of which a structure and dimensional data are prescribed in JISX6127 (1992) and the like) and a cartridge of which a structure and dimensional data are prescribed in ECMA-288 and the like. The magnetic tape cartridges, especially those used as cartridges of recording mediums for storing the data of a computer and the like are recorded with important items of information such as backup data.
In those magnetic tape cartridges, if capable of specifying contents of the information recorded and types of the magnetic tapes without even reading the information from the magnetic tapes, this is effective in terms of storing and managing the magnetic tape cartridges and searching the recorded information. Especially in the magnetic tape cartridge used as a cartridge of the recording medium for storing the data of the computer and the like, if capable of simply recognizing only the general contents of the information recorded without accessing the magnetic tape, this is quite convenient. Under such circumstances, it is considered that a cartridge body and a cartridge case is attached with a non-contact type memory device (which will hereinafter also be referred to as a cartridge memory (CM)) including an IC memory capable of writing and reading the information in a non-contact manner. This non-contact type memory device itself does not have a power source and is operated by an induced current occurred by an electromagnetic inductive action of a data reading/writing unit provided on the side of a recording/reproducing device (deck).
In the case of attaching this non-contact type memory device to the cartridge body, the non-contact type memory device is normally disposed within the cartridge body in terms of increasing a degree of freedom of designing the magnetic tape recording/reproducing device of an external storage device and protecting the non-contact type memory device from an adhesion of dusts to this non-contact type memory device itself and an impact caused from outside. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 11-317050 discloses a 1-reel type magnetic tape cartridge with the non-contact type memory device, as shown in FIG. 22, incorporated into the cartridge body. This magnetic tape cartridge 160 is inserted into the recording/reproducing device (deck unillustrated) in an arrow direction A.
A non-contact type memory device 162 used in this example includes a data transmitting/receiving antenna 164 and a memory device 166. The memory device 166 is a storage device such as a conventional memory chip that is capable of electronically taking out the information, and is stored with information on the magnetic tape cartridge 160 or information related to contents thereof. The data transmitting/receiving antenna 164 is classified as a coil antenna having a function of converting a magnetic field emitted from an antenna of the data reading/writing unit provided inside the deck and supplying the electric power to the data transmitting/receiving antenna 164 itself and the memory device 166 as well, and transmitting digital data given from the memory device 166 to the antenna of the deck-sided data reading/writing unit. This data transmitting/receiving antenna 164 is fitted in the vicinity of a bottom surface 168 and a rear surface 170 inside the magnetic tape cartridge 160. The data transmitting/receiving antenna 164 is attached at an angle of approximately 45° to both of the bottom surface 168 and the rear surface 170 of the magnetic tape cartridge 160 in the example shown in FIG. 22.
A first problem inherent in the prior art is, however, that when the non-contact type memory device is disposed inwardly of the cartridge body accommodating main components such as a tape reel and a magnetio tape, there is received a large restraint due to a space where a variety of members are disposed in the cartridge body and a space for winding the magnetic tape, and also a restraint and a limit in terms of a degree of freedom of designing a layout position of the non-contact type memory device. Further, with these restraints, it follows that there is received a restraint in a degree of freedom of designing a layout position of the data reading/writing unit of the non-contact type memory device provided on the side of the external storage device.
On the other hand, if the non-contact type memory device is attached somewhere outside the magnetic tape cartridge, there might be a high possibility in which the non-contact type memory device is easy to have a damage by an external force when the magnetic tape cartridge is stored and carried and when loaded (attached) into and detached from the external storage device, and the non-contact type memory device might become an obstacle when attached (loaded) to and detached from the deck. Further, the non-contact type memory device might become a hindrance when loaded and detached and might come off carelessly. Namely, there is a high probability that the surface of the non-contact type memory device might be damaged when loaded and detached, and, if exposed to the outside; the non-contact type memory device might come off due to an unexpected state.
Further, a manufacture of the magnetic tape cartridge fitted with the conventional non-contact type memory device, involves the use of a member for fixing and a device for fitting the non-contact type memory device, and hence there is a necessity of specially providing a work for fitting the non-contact type memory device. This requirement might lead to a complicated process of manufacturing the magnetic tape cartridge.
Moreover, in addition to the variety of above-mentioned problems arising when the non-contact type memory device is disposed outside the magnetic tape cartridge or inside the cartridge body, a second problem inherent in the prior art is that if the non-contact type memory device is attached to the outside of the magnetic tape cartridge, the non-contact type memory device might be easy to receive an influence by a magnetic field occurred by devices other than the data reading/writing unit of the non-contact type memory device provided in the external storage device.
Still further, a third problem inherent in the prior art is that as in the case of the magnetic tape cartridge shown in FIG. 22, when the non-contact type memory device is packaged into the cartridge case, the non-contact type memory device must be, if a defect of the non-contact type memory device is detected by an operation check after assembling the magnetic tape cartridge, exchanged by deassembling the external casing of the magnetic tape cartridge assembled, and this turns out to be a factor of causing a decline of efficiency of the operation and eventually an increase in cost due to a rise in the number of inspection steps.
Moreover, the non-contact type memory device is an expensive member, and therefore, even though the non-contact type memory device has no problem, if a drawback to the magnetic tape cartridge is detected, or if the magnetic tape cartridge becomes unusable for some reason, a problem is that the non-contact type memory device must be take out if it is to be used again by deassembling the magnetic tape cartridge.
Further, when the non-contact type memory device is disposed outside the magnetic tape cartridge or inside the cartridge case, as a matter of course, there similarly exist the variety of problems described above.
Further, various items of information are recorded on a recording medium of the recording medium cartridge such as the magnetic tape cartridge shown in FIG. 22 and so on, however, an arrangement that the above-mentioned cartridge memory (CM) is attached in order to specify contents of the information recorded and a type of the recording medium without reading the information from the magnetic recording medium, is on the verge of its utilization.
By the way, the magnetic tape cartridge exemplified in the prior art is classified as a 1-reel type magnetic tape cartridge accommodating the magnetic tape, and therefore has a large degree of freedom in terms of a fitting area of the cartridge memory within the cartridge. By contrast, however, a fourth problem of the prior art is that the recording medium cartridge of which the structure and the dimensional data are prescribed in JISX6127 (1992) and the like has, because of the cartridge accommodating inside a couple of take-up hubs wound with the magnetic tape, an extremely small degree of freedom in terms of the fitting area of the cartridge memory within the cartridge.
Further, the recording medium cartridge of which the structure and the dimensional data are prescribed in JISX6127 (1992) and the like includes an optical detecting device using a prism, for detecting an existence (of leading and tail edges) of the magnetic tape by utilizing a transparent portion connected to both of side edges of the magnetic tape wound extending on the couple of take-up hubs.
Then, a member including the prism configuring this optical detecting device is normally composed of a material exhibiting an excellent light transmissivity but different from a material constituting the body (containing upper and lower halves, a slider and the like) of the recording medium cartridge. This member is fitted by thermal welding to a predetermined position within the lower half.
By the way, a fifth problem of the prior art is that the items of information recorded on the cartridge memory in the recording medium cartridge shown in the prior art described above, are limited to the contents of the data recorded in the recording medium cartridge. Namely, a concept that production conditions are one-dimensionally managed by recording the cartridge memory with types and tool serial numbers (device serial numbers) with respect to raw materials, devices, jigs and the like which were used in the process of producing the cartridge memory, was not seen in the conventional recording medium cartridges.
It is, however, highly effective in tracing the process afterward and a countermeasure for claims that a cartridge memory capable of writing and reading in a non-contact manner is incorporated at an early stage of the production process of the recording medium cartridge, and detailed information on the production process thereafter is recorded on this cartridge memory.


An integrated semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array (B1) with a first bit line and a second bit line (BL, /BL), a controllable resistor (SW) and a control unit (100) configured to control the controllable resistor. In a first operating state of the integrated semiconductor memory device, the first and second bit lines are connected to one another via a first controllable switch (ET1) and also via the controllable resistor (SW) which has been set to a low resistance, to a connection (A10) that applies a mid-voltage (VBLEQ), where the voltage level of the mid-voltage is in the form of an arithmetic mean between a first and second voltage potential (VBLH, VBLL). By virtue of the control unit briefly setting the controllable resistor to a very low resistance in the first operating state of the integrated semiconductor memory device, the period of time required for the first and second bit lines require to assume the mid-voltage (VBLEQ) is shortened. The influence of capacitive coupling influences, which slow down the charging of the first and second bit lines to the mid-voltage, is significantly reduced as a result.

In an integrated semiconductor memory device, for example a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) semiconductor memory, the memory cells are arranged in a matrix-like memory cell array, the matrix-like shape of the memory cell array being obtained from the essentially vertically running word lines and horizontally running bit lines. During access to a memory cell, the memory cell is conductively connected to one of the bit lines by an appropriate signal on the word line. At the end of the bit line there is a sense amplifier which detects the cell signal transmitted via the bit line and amplifies it. The amplified signal is first written back to the cell via the bit line and can then be read to the outside. This process takes place simultaneously for all memory cells which are associated with a word line. This means that, after a word line has been activated, all of the bit lines within the memory cell array have a signal applied to them.
To make the arrangement of the memory cell array as compact as possible, it is desirable to have bit lines which are as long as possible. On the other hand, however, this results in a reduction in the signal that the sense amplifier can detect. The memory cell area of an integrated semiconductor memory device is therefore generally split into individual memory cell arrays. FIG. 1 shows a memory cell area 10 in an integrated semiconductor memory device which is split into the memory cell arrays B1, B2, B3 and B4. Between the individual memory cell arrays, the sense amplifiers run in a sense amplifier strip SFa, a sense amplifier strip SFb and a sense amplifier strip SFc. In the memory cell arrays B1 and B2, respective horizontally running bit lines BL and, running vertical thereto, word lines WL1 and WLr are shown. Pairs of bit lines are respectively connected to sense amplifiers in the sense amplifier strips SFa and SFb, respectively.
To obtain an arrangement for the memory cell array which is as compact as possible, the sense amplifiers are used to amplify signals on a bit line in the first or second memory cell array, depending on the activated word line. A single sense amplifier can thus be used to access either a memory cell in the first memory cell array B1 or a memory cell in the second memory cell array B2.
To clarify this central idea behind the sense amplifiers, FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the block SSA, shown in dashes in FIG. 1, in the memory cell area 10. The sense amplifier SA, which is in the sense amplifier strip SFa, is respectively connected to a bit line BL and to a complementary bit line /BL in the first memory cell array B1 and in the second memory cell array B2. In FIG. 2, the bit lines BL in the first and second memory cell arrays B1 and B2 each have a DRAM memory cell connected to them, for example. The DRAM memory cell contains a selection transistor AT whose controllable path is connected to the first electrode of a storage capacitor SC. The second electrode of the storage capacitor is connected to a reference potential M. The selection transistor AT of the memory cell SZ in the first memory cell array can be controlled using a control signal on the word line WL1. The selection transistor of the memory cell SZ, which is in the second memory cell array, can be actuated using a corresponding control signal on the word line WLr.
To read cell information which is stored in the memory cell, the selection transistor is switched to the conductive state by applying the control signal. The charge stored on the storage capacitor SC flows via the controllable path in the selection transistor AT to the bit line BL and alters the potential thereof. The sense amplifier SA connected to the end of the bit line amplifies a fall in potential or a rise in potential on the bit line, depending on the stored cell information. The sense amplifier ensures that, by way of example, in the case of a fall in potential on the bit line BL, a low voltage level VBLL is applied to the bit line BL. Conversely, a high voltage level VBLH is applied to the complementary bit line.
When reading a memory cell SZ, which is in the first memory cell array B1, it is necessary to turn on the switching transistor ISO1 or ISO2, which connects the sense amplifier SA to the bit line BL or to the complementary bit line /BL. To this end, the control signal MUXr is applied to the control connection MAr of the two switching transistors. If it is necessary to read a memory cell in the second memory cell array B2, the sense amplifier SA is connected to the bit line BL or to the complementary bit line /BL in the second memory cell array by means of the switching transistors ISO1 and ISO2, respectively, arranged in the second memory cell array. In this case, the control signal MUX1 is applied to the control connection MA1 of the switching transistors in the second memory cell array B2 and turns on the two switching transistors.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the word line WLr or WL1 in the first or second memory cell array is connected to all bit lines which are present in this memory cell array. This means that when a word line is activated, for example the word line WL1 in the second memory cell array B2, all of the memory cells which can be actuated by this word line are conductively connected to the bit lines which are connected to them. This applies a voltage signal to all bit lines in the second memory cell array. All other memory cell arrays remain in the deactivated state.
In the deactivated state, the bit lines need to be charged to a common uniform voltage level as quickly as possible during a precharging process, in order to allow fresh access to the same memory cell array after the shortest possible time period. This prevents any influence during a fresh access operation by a random potential state on the bit lines, for example on account of a previous read access operation.
To clarify the way in which the circuit elements involved in a precharging process work, the circuit component IES (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2), which is based on the prior art, is shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the sense amplifier SA in the sense amplifier strip SFa, which is connected to the bit line BL or to the complementary bit line /BL in the second memory cell array B2 via the two switching transistors ISO1 and ISO2. During access to the second memory cell array B2, the transistors ISO1 and ISO2 are turned on by applying the control signal MUX1 to their common control connection MA1. The bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL in the second memory cell array are conductively connected to the sense amplifier SA in this case. The bit lines BL and /BL can also be connected to one another by means of a first switching transistor ET1. In addition, a second switching transistor ET2 and the transistor LT acting as a current limiter connect the bit line BL to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ. A third switching transistor ET3 and the transistor LT for current limiting likewise connect the complementary bit line /BL to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ. In this case, the mid-voltage VBLEQ is in the form of a voltage level between a high voltage level VBLH and a low voltage level VBLL. The high voltage level VBLH corresponds to the logic 1 information item and the low charge level VBLL corresponds to the logic 0 information item in this case. The two switching transistors ET2 and ET3 are connected to one another via a common connection Z. The three switching transistors ET1, ET2 and ET3 can be controlled by applying a control signal EQL to a common control connection EA. The transistor for current limiting LT can be controlled by applying a control signal SL to its control connection S10.
The precharging process generally takes place after a read or write access operation. To this end, the switching transistors ET1, ET2 and ET3 are turned on by applying the control signal EQL to their common control connection EA. At the same time, the transistor LT for current limiting is also turned on by applying the control signal SL to its control connection S10. The bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL are connected to one another by means of the first switching transistor ET1, which is on. In addition, the second switching transistor ET2 and the transistor LT for current limiting connect the bit line BL to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ. Similarly, the transistor LT for current limiting and the third switching transistor ET3 connect the complementary bit line /BL to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ. The connection of the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ and also the connection of the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL via the first switching transistor ET1, which is on, mean that a common equalization potential which corresponds to the mid-voltage VBLEQ will appear on the two bit lines.
FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate the voltage states on the bit lines BL and /BL while the bit lines are being precharged to the mid-voltage VBLEQ. FIG. 4A shows four sense amplifiers SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4 which are respectively connected to a bit line pair which includes the two bit lines BL and /BL. The fact that the bit line pairs are adjacent to one another at a short physical distance and also the small feature widths of the individual bit lines mean that the bit line pairs are capacitively coupled to one another. In addition, the complementary bit line /BL connected to the first sense amplifier SA1 is capacitively coupled via a first parasitic coupling capacitor CK1 to the bit line BL which is connected to the second sense amplifier SA2. The complementary bit line /BL connected to the second sense amplifier SA2 is connected via a second parasitic coupling capacitor CK2 to the bit line BL which is connected to the third sense amplifier SA3. The complementary bit line /BL connected to the third sense amplifier SA3 is connected via a third parasitic coupling capacitor CK3 to the bit line BL which is connected to the fourth sense amplifier SA4. By activating the word line WL, the memory cells SZ connected to the bit lines are applied to the bit lines, and the information stored in them is amplified. In the example in FIG. 4A, the bit lines denoted by "0" have memory cells SZ connected to them that store a logic 0 information item. The bit lines denoted by "1" have memory cells connected to them which store a logic 1 information item. When the memory cells SZ connected to the bit lines BL and /BL are read, the bit lines denoted by "0" assume the low voltage level VBLL, for example 0V, and the bit lines denoted by "1" assume the high voltage level VBLH, for example 1.5 V.
The low voltage potential on the complementary bit line /BL connected to the second sense amplifier SA2 and the high voltage potential on the bit line BL connected to the third sense amplifier SA3 charge the second parasitic coupling capacitor CK2 to a high voltage level of, by way of example, 1.5 V, which corresponds to the voltage level VBLH. The charge stored on the second parasitic coupling capacitor CK2 produces a voltage offset on the complementary bit line /BL connected to the second sense amplifier SA2, which bit line has been charged to the low voltage level VBLL. Similarly, a voltage shift is produced on the bit line BL which is connected to the third sense amplifier SA3.
FIG. 4B shows the voltage potential on the bit lines BL and /BL connected to the sense amplifier SA2 during a read access operation and a subsequent precharging process. Assuming that the memory cell SZ connected to the bit line BL stores a logic 1 information item, the bit line BL is charged to the high voltage level VBLH during a read access operation up to the time TP. Conversely, the complementary bit line assumes the low voltage level VBLL, corresponding to the logic 0 information item. At the time TP, the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL are conductively connected via the switching transistor ET1 shown in FIG. 3. The common voltage potential which is then put on the bit line pair is a potential VO, which is below the mid-voltage VBLEQ on account of the negative offset voltage on the bit line /BL.
FIG. 4C shows the voltage potential on the bit lines BL and /BL connected to the sense amplifier SA3 during a read access operation and a subsequent precharging process. During the read access operation, the bit line BL is charged to the high voltage level VBLH, which corresponds to the logic 1 information item. The complementary bit line has assumed the low voltage level VBLL, which corresponds to the logic 0 information item. At the time TP, the precharging process starts. The bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL are connected via the first switching transistor ET1 shown in FIG. 3, which is on. The common voltage potential which is then put on the bit line pair is a potential VO, which is above the mid-voltage VBLEQ on account of the positive offset voltage on the bit line BL.
Since, as FIG. 3 shows, the current limiter transistor LT and the second switching transistor ET2 connect the bit line BL, and the current limiter transistor LT and the third switching transistor ET3 connect the complementary bit line /BL, to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ, the common voltage potential which appears on the bit line pair after the time TA has elapsed will be the potential VBLEQ again. In FIG. 4B, the voltage potential on the bit line pair BL and /BL starts from a voltage offset VO which is below the mid-voltage and approaches the mid-voltage VBLEQ. In FIG. 4C, the voltage potential on the bit line pair BL and /BL starts from a voltage offset VO which is above the mid-voltage and approaches the mid-voltage VBLEQ. The voltage VBLEQ connected to the connection A10 is between the high voltage potential VBLH, which corresponds to the logic 1 information item, and the low voltage potential VBLL, which corresponds to the logic 0 information item. Preferably, it corresponds to the arithmetic mean from the voltage VBLH and the voltage VBLL to which the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL are charged.
Referring again to FIG. 4A, no charges are stored on the first coupling capacitance CK1 and the third coupling capacitance CK3. The reason for this is that the first coupling capacitance CK1 connects two bit lines that are each charged to a voltage potential VBLH, which corresponds to the logic state 1. The coupling capacitance CK3 connects two bit lines which are each charged to the voltage potential VBLL, which corresponds to the logic state 0.
A voltage shift VO appears at the start of a precharging process only if one of the capacitively coupled bit lines has been charged using a high voltage potential and the other bit line has been charged using a low voltage potential. The time TA, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, which is after the voltage potential VBLEQ (corresponding to the mean from the high and low voltage levels VBLH and VBLL) has appeared on the two bit lines, is generally in the range of about 100 ns (nanoseconds).
The charge stored on the coupling capacitances CK when the data topology is unfavorable produces a voltage offset on the bit lines which cannot be eliminated by shorting the bit lines through the first switching transistor ET1 (which is on). This charge can be dissipated only via the transistor for current limiting, which connects the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL to the connection A10 for applying the mid-voltage VBLEQ. The time TA which is required until the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL have been charged to the common voltage level VBLEQ is essentially dependent on the magnitude of the coupling capacitance CK, on the high voltage level VBLH which corresponds to the logic 1 information item and on the resistance of the transistor LT for current limiting.
The resistance of the transistor for current limiting determines the level of the equalization current draining to the connection A10. Its resistance can be altered by the control voltage which is applied to the control connection SL. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, a fixed internal voltage VINT is connected to the control connection SL of the transistor for current limiting, where the fixed internal voltage corresponds to the threshold voltage of the transistor for current limiting at room temperature (e.g., about 25° C.). When the integrated semiconductor memory device is operated in the low temperature range, the threshold voltage of the transistor for current limiting is generally increased.
If the transistor for current limiting is turned on by actuating its control connection with the constant control signal SL (e.g., the constant control voltage VINT), the transistor is turned on inadequately, particularly at low temperatures. This means that the resistance of the transistor for current limiting is too high to dissipate the charge stored on the coupling capacitance CK to the connection A10 in the prescribed precharging time. The time TA which is needed in order to charge the bit line BL and the complementary bit line /BL to the common voltage potential VBLEQ from the start of the precharging process to the time TP is in this case longer than the available precharging time. Since it is no longer possible to assume the desired equalization potential VBLEQ within the available precharging time, increased failures arise, particularly when the integrated semiconductor memory device is operated at a low temperature. To minimize such failures, the integrated semiconductor memories are currently tested using a coupling-critical data topology and a reduced precharging time. However, the stringent test conditions in turn result in an increased loss of yield during the test phase.

Integrated semiconductor memory device and method for operating an integrated semiconductor memory device


For removal of a painted surface (12), a rotating head (18) provided on a housing (10) is used, said rotating head (18) being provided with nozzles (19,20) which said nozzles (19,20) discharge high-energy jets (39) under high pressure towards the surface (12). The rotating head (18) is set into rotation by the recoil of the discharged high-energy jets. On the rotating head (18) an impeller (30) is secured constituting a centrifugal pump for the discharging of liquids in the housing (10).

In removing paint from painted surfaces one generally uses solvents that erode the paint or bring cause it to swell up. Subsequently, the paint is removed through mechanical means. The use of solvents leads to a substantial pollution of the environment. Chromate mixed with solvents is difficult to remove from the solvent. Furthermore, a considerable part of the solvents evaporate into the atmosphere.
It is known that a high-energy air jet having abrasive particles can be directed against a painted surface. The abrasive particles can be synthetic granulated material, glass spheres, nut shell fragments or CO.sub.2 ice crystals. Such abrasive processes are disadvantageous, wherein not only the paint is removed but also the surface underneath the paint is damaged. In particular, when the surface consists of artificially reinforced material, the danger exists that the reinforced fibers will be exposed by the spraying of abrasive material, so that the painted surface, in which the paint is to be removed, will be seriously damaged.
Furthermore, it is known that for cutting concrete and other material and for the purpose of cleaning the facade of buildings high-energy water jets are directed at the surfaces. The process of high-energy water jets is also used for rust-removal and removing shell-lime deposits on off-shore structures, such as, for example, ships and off-shore drilling platforms.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device for the removal of paint from painted surfaces, whereby the pollution of the environment is minimized and the removal of paint from painted surfaces is realized.
In accordance to the invention, the device consists of a rotating head having at least one nozzle, wherefrom a high-energy liquid jet is discharged. The rotating head is caused to rotate by the pressure of the high-energy liquid jet (in particular, through the recoil thereof), so that a separate rotating device in the housing is not required. By the rotation of the rotating head and the nozzle provided thereon, a periodically pressurized admission of approximately 150 to 220 Hz is directed to individual positions of the surface. As a result of the increase and decrease of the pressurized admission, the cohesive force of the paint is overcome and the paint of the surface splinters off. Thereby the lacquered coating as well as the primer can be disengaged. The rotating head is located in the inner part of the housing, the opening of the housing being closed by the surface to be treated.
Thus, the housing encloses the treated area completely. It can be guided over the painted surface by hand or by a suitable guiding device, so that a progressive treatment of the larger surface is possible. Uncontrolled liquids are prevented from being spun into the surroundings by the closed housing. Furthermore, the level of noise is reduced. The liquid and the paint disengaged from the surface is discharged out of the housing by the impeller. The impeller constitutes a centrifugal pump in the inner part of the housing, whereby the pump does not impede the high-energy jet discharged from the nozzles and removes the suspension from the housing immediately after the origination of the suspension. Thereby it is guaranteed that the high-energy liquid jets are not obstructed by a liquid layer that is to be found on the surface.
In accordance to the invention, the device requires only a connection to the housing for the pressurized fluid and no additional drive or supply lead. Thereby, the device is easily guided over the surface to be worked upon.
The device is particularly suitable for the removal of paint from painted surfaces which consist of metal or plastic. Aircrafts have their paint removed and are repainted every four to six years. This removal of paint proceeds in a hangar where other maintenance or repairs to the aircraft are also carried out. The device can be employed without any impairment or danger to people who are entrusted with other duties on the aircraft, whereby the device is always effected only on that position it is applied. The spraying of liquids as well as the level of noise is avoided. The outer shell of the aircraft consists of aluminum alloy and partially of carbon fiber solid solution. Both materials can have paint removed from their surfaces with this same device.
However, in accordance to the invention, the application of the device is not restricted to the removal of paint from painted surfaces of aircrafts. It can also remove paint or an equivalent coating of any other painted surfaces. Thereby it is also possible with equivalent miniaturized developments to utilize the device for the removal of paint from fingernails.
The removal of paint is caused by a periodically pulsed pressurized admission of a high-energy liquid jet. Thereby solvent-free liquids can be used. The removal of paint is particularly successful with water. The removal of non-soluble paint particles from the water can be realized through sedimentation or other separating systems, so that no polluted water appears in nature. The paint material can, in such a case, be recycled.
The rotating impeller together with the rotating head rotating more than a thousand times per minute, centrifuges the suspension out of the housing to the discharge valve. A prerequisite for this function of the impeller is that the impeller, in particular the rotating head, is not impeded by a collection of liquids in the housing. If the paint removal device must be used in different positions, for example on a horizontal surface, vertical or diagonal surface and overhead the collection of fluids can be thereby prevented in each of these situations in that the impeller is situated at end of the rotating head facing the opening. The impeller is also effective directly in the vicinity of the treated surface on which the leading edge of the impeller's blade is guided along. Thereby, it is guaranteed that the liquid is directly caught by the impeller after impact on the surface and is radially centrifuged so that no collection of liquid can build up that impedes with the rotation of the impeller blades and the rotating head.
A preferred embodiment is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Device for removing paint from painted surfaces


An optical module socket includes a base on which an optical module is mounted; descend/ascend means which is ascendably and descendably provided in the base and on which the optical module is mounted; holding means for holding the optical module in a predetermined state; pogopins provided in the base to connect with leads of the optical module; and positioning means of optical transmission means which are provided in the holding means and the descend/ascend means and which position, to the optical module, an optical connector to be connected to the optical module.

In general, traditionally, sockets have been broadly classified into mass-produced type sockets and tester type sockets.
The mass-produced type socket is first soldered onto a substrate and then mounted with an electronic component, such that pads or the like of the substrate can be electrically connected with an external connection terminal (such as leads or solder balls) without directly soldering the external connection terminal of the electronic component to the pads of the substrate. Therefore, the mass-produced type socket has been used, for example, to mount electronic components or the like which are highly likely to be replaced.
Moreover, the tester type socket allows pads of test substrate to be electrically connected with an external connection terminal of the electronic component to be evaluated without directly soldering the external connection terminal to the pads of the test substrate when the electronic component itself is evaluated. Thus, the tester type socket has been essential for, for example, the inspection of the electronic component.
Various ideas have been made in connection with the above-mentioned sockets so that, for example, the electronic component can be easily replaced or the external connection terminal of the electronic component may not be damaged.
For example, in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open No. H07-30019, there has been disclosed a technique of an IC socket in which a mechanism of confirming the loading of an IC is provided in an IC positioning table.
On the other hand, it has been increasingly essential to transmit a large volume of data at high speed along with the increasing volume in the data transmission. Electric wiring lines have various problems such as limits of throughput due to the length of the wiring line, an increase in power consumption, and an increase in noise such as radiation-field noise. An optical fiber transmission system has been researched and developed as effective means to solve the above problems, and is in practical use. For example, as far as communication among base stations is concerned, an increase in volume by means of optical communication has been achieved, and efforts have been made in connection with fiber to the office (FTTO) and fiber to the home (FTTH) in which optical fiber networks are provided to companies and households. Further, this system has wide range of uses, for example, in data transmission among boards of devices which transmit large volumes of data.
In the optical fiber transmission system, an optical module is used which converts an optical signal into an electric signal and vice versa. This optical module is different from a conventional electronic module which only handles electric signals, and comprises an external connection terminal which inputs and/or outputs electric signals as well as external optical signal connection means which inputs and/or outputs optical signals.


A magnetorheological fluid fan clutch effects modulated rotational motion transmission between a rotatable input shaft carrying an input clutch plate and a housing having a front cover and a rear cover forming a cavity about the input clutch plate wherein the front and rear covers operate as output clutch plates. A nonmagnetic spacer is positioned between the front and rear covers and radially outside the input clutch plate. A bearing supports the housing on the input shaft through the rear cover so that the input clutch plate is rotatable on the input shaft relative to the housing. Magnetorheological fluid is carried in the cavity, through which torque is variably transferred between the input clutch plate and the housing. A coil is positioned radially outside the nonmagnetic spacer and carries a variable electrical current to effect a variable magnetic field across the input clutch plate and through the magnetorheological fluid providing modulated torque transmission between the input clutch plate and the housing.

A magnetorheological fluid is a suspension of finely powdered iron or iron alloy in a fluid such as mineral oil or silicone. A magnetorheological fluid clutch may consist of this type of fluid suspension carried between clutch plates, with an associated device providing a desired magnetic flux level across the clutch plates and the fluid. The clutch plates are typically made of a material with high permeability such as iron. When the magnetic flux is generated across the clutch plates and through the magnetorheological fluid, the suspended particles respond. The response is embodied as an attraction of the clutch plates to the magnetorheological fluid particles. This characteristic phenomenon, combined with the internal magnetic attraction between the fluid particles, results in torque transmission between the clutch plates. In the past, magnetorheological fluid clutches have been referred to as magnetic particle fluid clutches. Many of the particle fluids used previously have been dry powders. With the development and use of suspensions of powders in a fluid medium such as mineral oil or silicone, studies were conducted into the rheology of particle fluids under a magnetic flux, and consequently the terminology of magnetorheological fluids has been coined.
Drives for the cooling fans of cars and trucks initially comprised a simple solid shaft extending from a drive pulley to the fan. Subsequently, the art realized that the fan did not require continuous engagement. It is known that the power consumed by driving a fan is proportional to the cube of the fan speed, whereas the cooling rate is typically proportional to the square root of the fan speed. Therefore, it is expected that considerable improvement in power consumption and fuel economy can be achieved by controlling fan activation so that the fan is disengaged when operating conditions permit. This realization led to the development of disengageable fan drives.
Typical production cars most commonly use electrically driven fans for readily disengaging the fan. The fan is driven independent of the engine through an electric motor, and the electric motor is turned on or off as needed. These electric motors are typically rated for a maximum of a few hundred watts. The power requirements of a cooling fan for trucks typically reach up to several kilowatts. Therefore, an electric fan drive is not practical for higher cooling requirement applications such as trucks.
The disengageable fan drive most commonly used in higher cooling rate applications, is the viscous fluid clutch. Torque transmission is typically achieved by the viscous drag force between two grooved clutch plates shearing a thin layer of silicone oil. The viscous fluid clutch is often composed of two sections, one contains the clutch grooves and performs the shearing function, and the other acts as a reservoir for the silicone fluid. Silicone fluid passes from the reservoir to the clutch grooves through an orifice. A thermostat valve situated on the clutch senses the temperature of the air leaving the radiator, and correspondingly opens or closes the orifice. This in turn, fills or drains the clutch grooves with the silicone fluid, engaging or disengaging the clutch.
While the viscous fluid clutch represents a significant improvement over the solid shaft drive, it continues to have certain drawbacks. The viscous clutch operates with bi-state capability meaning it can only be either completely engaged or completely disengaged. Engagement occurs at or near engine speed, even if the actual cooling requirement could be supplied at a lower speed. This results in inefficiencies by using more engine power for fan driving torque than may be required for the actual operating conditions encountered. The viscous fluid clutch also results in undesirable fan noise generation in many operating situations. The cyclic nature of thermostatic fan control causes the fan speed to oscillate, which can be particularly noticeable when the associated engine is at idle. The level of noise generation is typically proportional to the fifth or sixth power of the fan speed. Since the viscous fluid clutch is only bi-state, the fan speed is very high when the clutch is engaged resulting in increased noise generation. With a viscous fluid clutch, the temperature control system is also undesirably limited. A first limitation arises from the bi-state operational nature of the device, because the system provides only the two choices of maximum cooling or minimum cooling. A second limitation arises because the engine coolant temperature is indirectly sensed, from the air passing through the radiator. The resultant less than optimal temperature control, can lead to degraded engine performance and hunting of the fan clutch (resulting in more noise).
Providing adequate cooling is the key function of the radiator fan. The bi-state viscous fluid clutch only provides either maximum cooling or minimum cooling. Adding a means of modulating fan speed so that input torque is tailored to the amount of cooling required, avoids certain undesirable viscous fluid clutch characteristics. A modulating fan clutch controls the fan speed to achieve a constant cooling rate with the same total cooling as the cycling viscous fan clutch for every unit of time. Modulating control strategy reduces the maximum speeds that the fan operates at, potentially leading to improvements over the viscous fan clutch. For example, using existing relationships between fan speed, cooling rate, and fan power consumption, a modulating strategy can result in increases in engine operating efficiency. Reducing fan clutch driving load results in greater engine power availability. This becomes particularly significant in applications such as trucks, since the fan power consumption is of the order of several kilowatts at higher speeds, and is directly taken from the engine. Additionally, with reduced fan speeds, a significant reduction in fan noise is possible. Noise reduction is further achieved because of the elimination of the cycling of the fan clutch on and off.
Several types of fan drives to achieve fan speed modulation have been, and are being investigated by the automotive industry. While electric drives can be easily adapted to modulate the fan speed, they aren't practical in all applications. One known manner of achieving fan modulation uses a hydrostatic drive unit between the engine and the fan. In this type of device, the engine drives a pump, and the fluid from the pump drives a fluid motor with fluid flow control effected by valves. By controlling the fluid flow, the motor speed and the fan speed, are modulated. A hydrostatic drive offers the advantage of remote location of the fan with respect to the engine making it suitable for transverse engines. However, complexity and cost are concomitant drawbacks. The hydrostatic drives also typically suffer from undesirable inefficiencies, particularly when operated at partial loads.
Other types of modulating fan drives that have been investigated include the use of wet clutches that use controlled circulation of the silicone oil in the general viscous fluid clutch to modulate speed. Control difficulties and complexity are associated undesirable drawbacks with these methodologies. Packagability, simplicity, and the ability to smoothly control the torque capacity of a fan clutch continues to be an elusive combination of characteristics. Accordingly, the need for such a device continues to exist.