A method for adjusting a focus of an optical system includes focusing measurement light in a sample space using an optical arrangement. The measurement light is transmitted on a sample side of the optical arrangement through at least one optical medium. The measurement light reflected by a reflector and transmitted through a further optical arrangement is detected using a detector arrangement. A working distance between the optical arrangement and the reflector is ascertained based on the measurement light detected by the detector, wherein a focus of the measurement light lies on the reflector for the working distance.

Methods and devices for adjusting the focus or for determining the refractive index of a sample medium are known from the prior art. However, they have the disadvantage that they are slow, require a high illumination intensity or require the recording of an image, in particular an image of the sample.
Consequently, the prior art solutions require contrast in an object or in the illumination to adjust the focus or to ascertain a refractive index.

Method and device for adjusting the focus or determining the refractive index of a sample medium, non-volatile computer-readable storage medium and microscope


A curtain airbag system includes a sail panel. The sail panel may be attached with an inflatable curtain of the curtain airbag system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to inflatable curtain airbag systems.
2. Background Discussion
Vehicle curtain airbag systems may include a sail panel to reduce occupant limb excursion through a front corner of the vehicle if the curtain airbag system is deployed.
Packaging space for pre-deployed curtain airbag systems may be limited. Curtain airbag systems including a sail panel may require more packaging space than curtain airbag systems not including a sail panel.
It is desirable to reduce the amount of packaging space required for pre-deployed curtain airbag systems including a sail panel.


A substrate provided with an anti-reflective coating where the anti-reflective coating is made up of a layer of nanostructures. The nanostructures may be formed by depositing a material such as SiO2 and then using a process such as reactive ion etching in conjunction with an inductively coupled plasma source. Other aspects of the fabrication process are also disclosed.

A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). For that application, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g., comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned.
Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
There are various techniques for making measurements of the microscopic structures formed in lithographic processes, including the use of scanning electron microscopes and various specialized tools. One form of specialized inspection tool is a scatterometer in which a beam of radiation is directed onto a target on the surface of the substrate and properties of the scattered or reflected beam are measured. By comparing the properties of the beam before and after it has been reflected or scattered by the substrate, various properties of the substrate can be determined. This can be done, for example, by comparing the reflected beam with data stored in a library of known measurements associated with known substrate properties. Two main types of scatterometer are known. Spectroscopic scatterometers direct a broadband radiation beam onto the substrate and measure the spectrum (intensity as a function of wavelength) of the radiation scattered into a particular narrow angular range. Angularly resolved scatterometers use a monochromatic radiation beam and measure the intensity of the scattered radiation as a function of angle. Included in this latter category are interferometric approaches that use phase information of diffracted orders of the radiation beam.
These and other applications within the tool require the use of various types of optical components. It is advantageous to provide the surfaces of these optical components with anti-reflection (AR) coatings to reduce unwanted reflections. Physical vapor deposition is a common method for depositing AR coatings on optical surfaces. In such coatings, thin layers of materials with different refractive indexes are deposited on the surface to achieve a low overall reflectivity. For practical purposes, often only a few materials are used in the coating process. As a result, these multilayer coatings have limited wavelength bandwidth (e.g. 450-700 nm for visible applications) and limited angle of incidence range (0 to 30 degrees) in which they are effective and have reflection values less than 0.5%.
There is thus a need to be able to provide an anti-reflective coating that is effective over a wider range of wavelengths and over a wider range of incident angles.

Anti-reflection optical substrates and methods of manufacture


A fuel injector control circuit and method include first switching circuitry (128, 134, 138, 142, 148, 152, 154) to selectively apply a first electrical signal (171) to a solenoid (114) to vary a load signal (176) between a first maximum (201) threshold and a first minimum (203) threshold. Second switching circuitry (130, 132, 136, 140, 148, 154) to selectively applies a second electrical signal (198) to the load (114) to vary the load signal (176) between a second maximum (205) threshold and a second minimum (207) threshold. The second electrical signal (198) has a magnitude substantially higher than the first electrical signal. Preferably, the second maximum threshold (205) has a magnitude less than a magnitude of the first maximum threshold (201), and greater than a magnitude of the first minimum threshold (203), and the second minimum threshold (207) has a magnitude less than the magnitude of the first minimum threshold (203).

Fuel injection systems are widely used in internal combustion engines. These fuel injection systems typically employ one or more solenoid operated fuel injectors that provide fuel to a corresponding combustion chamber at the appropriate time during the combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine. By controlling the amount of fuel introduced into the combustion chamber, the overall operation of the engine can be more effectively controlled.
Electronic control systems are used for controlling the timing, the waveshape, amplitude, and the duration of the signals which actuate the fuel injectors. The electronic control system usually provides a relatively high amplitude current to the fuel injectors during an initial or pull-in period of time to achieve an initial actuation of the solenoid operated fuel injectors. Subsequently, a smaller magnitude current is provided to the solenoid operated fuel injectors to maintain actuation of the solenoid during a subsequent holding or hold period of time. As a result of this "peak and sustain" or "peak and hold" control, the energy required to operate the fuel injector solenoid is usually increased since the relatively high amplitude current is initially permitted to ensure a fast actuation response of the solenoid while the smaller magnitude current is utilized to maintain the actuation of the solenoid with less power dissipated. These electronic control systems typically have a reliable and stable source of power (i.e., an alternator/battery system of a vehicle) that applies energy to the solenoids of the fuel injectors. When energy is initially applied to the fuel injectors, current flow through the fuel injectors will build up gradually due to the inductance of the solenoids. However, the mechanics of the fuel injectors will not actuate until the current reaches a certain threshold which depends on the characteristics of the electromagnetic and mechanical properties of the actuators. The amount of time for the current to build up to actuate the fuel injectors is dependent upon the voltage applied to the fuel injector.
In most vehicles, the power supplied to the fuel injectors is provided by a battery, usually producing a nominal 12 volt DC signal. However, the voltage of the battery can vary substantially during normal operation of the vehicle. When the battery voltage is low, it will take longer for the current in the fuel injectors to build up than when the battery voltage is high. In addition, under certain conditions, the battery voltage may drop to an inadequately low level which may not build up or maintain adequate current in the solenoids of the fuel injectors.
In some prior art systems, in addition to utilizing power from a battery, a high voltage power supply, known as a "boost" power supply, has been applied to the fuel injectors at the beginning of the pull-in period of time to overcome the solenoid inductance and the inertia of the fuel injector solenoid mechanics. Typically, this boost power supply includes a large reservoir capacitor to provide high peak power. The boost power supply can build up solenoid current quickly to insure rapid turn-on of the fuel injectors in response to a control signal. The boost power supply is usually only driving the fuel injector solenoid at the beginning of the pull-in period of time.
However, in some applications, where operation is required at very low battery voltages, it may be necessary to apply the boost power supply at instants other than just during the initial current rise time. Furthermore, in some applications, a rapid succession of boost power supply sourced pull-in pulses may be required, thus significantly increasing the boost power supply's power rating, and the recovery rate of the reservoir capacitor between rise times. Typically, the boost power supply is designed oversized in order to meet these requirements. In addition, the power dissipated by the boost power supply is significant and proportional to the boost power supply's power rating, thus it is desirable to appropriately size the boost power supply by minimizing a proportion of energy delivered by the boost power supply and to maximize a proportion of energy delivered by the battery supply to the fuel injector solenoid.
What is needed is an improved approach for driving loads, solenoids in particular, that will operate under low battery voltage to supplement the drive provided by the battery.

Fuel injector control circuit and system with boost and battery switching, and method therefor


A method of providing a limited resource to a plurality of users that aggregates the plurality of users into a purchasing block, arranges for the availability of the resource and regulates the use of the resource by each of the users based on each of the user's need for the resource so that a particular user having a greater need for the resource receives a greater provision of the resource while controlling usage of the resource to maintain aggregated usage below a predetermined level. The method is implemented through the use of an aggregation controller and a plurality of consumer resource controllers located at consumers' facilities. Communication between the aggregation controller and the consumer resource controllers is achieved through the use of a communication network, such as the Internet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to energy conservation and allocation methods. More particularly, the invention relates to computer program and method for distributing a limited resource to a plurality of users so as to aggregate the users and organize the distribution of the resource to meet the limited availability of the resource according to need.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The impending deregulation of various energy resources such as electricity and natural gas has created an opportunity to combine consumers' resource requirements in order to approach the marketplace and acquire the best price. Consumers experience not only a per time unit requirement of a resource (such as a kilowatt-hour requirement for electricity) but also a peak availability, or demand, for the resource (such as a kilowatt demand).
Suppliers of the limited resource must be prepared to supply these two facets of use by maintaining appropriate capacity. If no control is placed over the use of the limited resource, the use of the resource will typically peak at certain times of the year, for example in the summer for electricity. Electric utility companies must design generation capacity to meet the highest demand on the highest usage day of the year. The alternative is to subject customers to possible brown outs or black outs.
Distribution systems for limited resources are traditionally limited to providing the limited resource to consumers physically attached to the distribution company's facilities. Thus, consumers must purchase the limited resource only from the attached distribution company and cannot aggregate with other consumers attached to other distribution systems and bargain for better rates.
Prior art energy control systems have been developed that allow utility companies to control specific appliances at consumers' homes or businesses by turning the appliance on or off based on the needs of the utility company to reduce the demand for the resource. These prior art systems do not consider the resource needs of consumers and thus may result in an appliance being turned off at a very inopportune time.
Other prior art methods use power consumption reduction based on a "comfort fairness" procedure. The "comfort fairness" method sheds loads with the lowest priority first. The "comfort fairness" method focuses on the systems in one building but does not take into account need over an aggregated system of users.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method of providing a limited resource to a plurality of users that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

Computer program and method for reducing HVAC demand for energy


A method of preparing an adhesive composite is provided where a fluoropolymer having nodes and interconnected fibrils with a void volume formed from the node and interconnected fibril structure is at least partially filled with a paste formed from a thermoset or thermoplastic adhesive and a particulate vapor phase formed inorganic filler having uniform surface curvature, sufficient adhesive and filler are present to provide a composite having between about 5 to about 40 volume percent polymeric substrate, 10-95 volume percent adhesive and filler imbibed within the voids of said substrate and 5 to 85 volume percent inorganic filler is contained within the composite. In the composite, the ratio of mean flow pore size to largest particle size is at least above 0.7; or the ratio of mean flow pore size to average particle size is greater than 1.5; or the ratio of minimum pore size to average particle size is at least above 0.8; or the ratio of minimum pore size to largest particle size is at least above 0.4.

Polymeric materials in sheet or film form containing fillers and are suitable for use in the electronics industry in the manufacture of electronic substrates, chip packages, circuit boards and other electronic devices or in the separating technologies where filters, separators or membranes are required. The ultimate use of the film and the particular property that the film will exhibit determines the selection of the specific filler. For example, activated carbon can be incorporated into the film to provide a filter or separator. Electrical properties can be attributed to a polymer film by incorporating fine metal particulates to impart electrical conductivity. Frequently, the film is a polymeric adhesive and the metal particles provide the film with the requisite electrical property. Thermal conductivity can be obtained by adding a ceramic and/or metal and/or diamond into the adhesive.
Adhesive films can be formed from (1) a solution or paste that will polymerize to form the "polymeric" film, or (2) a polymeric substrate having an adhesive added thereto. In either case, as the quantity of filler is increased to provide the desired electrical/thermal property, the physical properties of the adhesive are degraded to a point of limited utility. For example, a typical conductive adhesive might have as much as 40-60% (v/v) filler. However, these adhesives are very weak and brittle, and are only useful when dispensed as a paste/liquid. If a film can be made from these compositions, they are difficult to handle in the "B" staged form, limiting their size and thickness.
One approach to overcome the shortcomings of filled adhesives is to limit the quantity of the filler that is added. A separate approach is to add a reinforcement material like woven glass fiber. However, in both of these approaches, the performance of the filled adhesive is severely compromised when this is done. As a result, less than the desired amount of filler material is used. The resulting sheet adhesive can be worked, but the desired or optimal property and performance are not obtainable. Thus, existing filled adhesives sacrifice performance for usability.
In addition, particle filled sheet adhesives suffer from a phenomenon known as "particle settling" or sedimentation. The heavy particles (up to 10.times. the density of the resin) will sink to the bottom of the film, leaving a resin rich surface. This phenomenon results in undesirable inhomogeneities and poor reliability. High bond pressures are often required to insure that the excess surface resin is pushed back into the film. Even so, surface irregularities, could still result in resin rich areas that would be deficient in the property supplied by the particle.
Attempts at preparing filled film adhesives have been made, but significant drawbacks exist and therefore their preparation are limited. The quantity of filler that can be added is controlled by the physical limitations of: (1) polymeric film or substrate; and (2) the filler-adhesive additive. Often, the desired quantity of filler renders the adhesive-filler additive impossible to handle.
Thermosetting resins have been imbibed into substrates to impart structural integrity to an otherwise brittle layer. For example, a woven glass substrate can be imbibed with a thermosetting or thermoplastic adhesive. However, this approach has significant drawbacks when a filler is also added. For example, hollow glass microspheres have been dispersed into a thermosetting adhesive and then imbibed into a woven substrate. However, the amount of filler that can be delivered to the substrate is limited because the flexibility and manipulability of the resulting adhesive film is poor and it is difficult to conform the adhesive film for the desired applications.
Another drawback to such a composite is the limited homogeneity possible with the woven structure. At every interstice of the weave lies a composition that is different than the volume defined between the interstices. This results in inhomogeneities in physical properties, electrical properties, and in conformability. It would be desirable to have a filled adhesive sheet that is homogeneous and flexible at wide ranges of filler level.
Also, although curing additives have been added into a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and then imbibed into a polyurethane foam, the nature of the scaffolding, poses many limitations. As a result, it is very difficult to make thin composites, or flexible, thermally stable composites. Flame retardant particles have also been dispersed into an adhesive and then imbibed into a non-woven polyimide-ester substrate for use as a flame-retarded flexible circuit substrate. In general, in these prior art systems, dispersing an additive into an adhesive at an optimal level for performance sake and at the same time providing that adhesive as a thin sheet is not feasible.
Fillers have also been incorporated into fluoropolymers, such as porous, expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene (ePTFE), by directly adding the filler to the fluoropolymer prior to extrusion and expansion. Thin porous polytetrafluoroethylene films filled with inorganic filler that are between 0.1 and 5.0 mils thick and substantially pin hole free are also known, as are thin capacitive polytetrafluoroethylene layers for printed wire circuit boards (PWB). The porous expanded polytetra-fluoroethylene used can be prepared in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,566 to Gore. In each case, the filler is admixed with the polymer prior to extrusion and expansion.
Polytetrafluoroethylene that has not been expanded, and thus does not include the fibril-node micro-structure of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, can also include fillers. Extruded composite tapes of ceramic filler and polytetrafluoroethylene with dielectric properties have been prepared by adding the filler to the polytetrafluoroethylene prior to extrusion. Silane compounds can also be desirable for providing uniformity and improved dispersibility when aqueous polytetrafluoroethylene-filler dispersions are prepared. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,721 to Leverett and U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,244 to Ogden, et al. In addition to silanes, other organic compounds that render hydrophilic fillers hydrophobic, for better dispersibility, are also known. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,879 to Kawachi, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,110 to Morozumi. It is also known to precoat filler with a coupling agent, e.g. a silane, titanate, etc. prior to paste extrusion
Composites formed in these patents require bonding at "sintering" temperatures--i.e., at very high temperatures or at high temperature and pressure. As a result, these composites have not been used to the extent contemplated, especially because of the difficulty encountered when the composites are further processed. This is particularly the case when the other materials being bonded to these composites cannot withstand these elevated temperatures and pressures.
Other attempts to avoid these drawbacks have been made, but the results have been unsatisfactory. Porous fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene has been prepared according to the technique taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,407,096 and 3,407,249 to Landi. In the Landi patents, inorganic or organic fillers are incorporated into the network of unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene fibers. The Landi process involves preparing a blend of polytetrafluoroethylene and an organic polymer that is extruded. The organic polymer is subsequently removed by dissolving in an appropriate solvent. The resulting structure precludes the introduction of additional particulate fillers because of the very fine fibril network.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,972 to Sato, gas-containing microballoons or spheres are used to form an insulating porous composite with polytetrafluoroethylene. In the Sato patent, the polytetrafluoroethylene substrate has a porosity of about 75% and is dipped into an ultrasonically-stirred liquid containing microballoons, allowing the spheres to flow into the pores. The imbibed substrate is heated without restraint, thus shrinking the porous polytetrafluoroethylene so as to fix the microspheres in the pores. The product produced, according to the Sato patent, is useful as a porous compressive-resistant, low dielectric. The spheres fill the pores and thus prevent the pores from being collapsed. Using the same approach, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,641 to Sato, porous polytetrafluoroethylene composites with sintered polytetrafluoroethylene particles within the pore volume are fabricated. In each case, the Sato composites cannot satisfactorily be imbibed with resin, and as such, would be very difficult to use as an adhesive.
Although the prior art has produced substrates that contain fillers, the addition of an adhesive to the particle being produced has not resulted in acceptable products. For example, in Japanese Laid-open-patent application 61-40328 to S. Hamasaki, et al., silicone rubber is imbibed into a porous expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene structure for use as a thin electrical insulator with a thickness not greater than 50 mm. The silicone rubber is imbibed as a solution and results in a product that is transparent, e.g., free of filler, that is subsequently cured. However, the structural integrity of the cured product is poor. In an attempt to reinforce the structure of the Hamasaki patent, H. Kato, et al., in Japanese Laid-open-patent 62-100539, teach a silicone rubber article which is made by first incorporating a ceramic into a dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene. The filler is incorporated directly into the nodes of the node-and-fibril structure, and thereafter the silicone resin is imbibed into said fibrillated structure as described above. In both of these instances, the final product is a rubber-like cured sheet.
In a similar fashion, M. Hatakayama, et al., in GB-2195269B (EP-0248617B1), describes an article and process of imbibing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene with a thermosetting resin which is useful as an adhesive for printed wiring boards (PWB). An inorganic filler could be incorporated into the node-fibril structure of the expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,901 to Hatakayama, et al. who impregnates a resin without filler into polytetrafluoroethylene.
Unfortunately, with these approaches, it is difficult to attain high degrees of ceramic loading because the ceramic serves to weaken the node and fibril structure. It is difficult to make thin films of filler-reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene because as the material thickness is reduced, the filler/fiber particulate creates pinhole tears. Furthermore, incorporating inorganic fillers, especially in the range greater than 30 volume percent, makes mixing and paste extrusion processing of these composites very difficult. An additional misfortune is that the ceramic reinforcement is not uniformly distributed throughout the composite structure.
A need exists for a uniformly reinforced, thin adhesive sheet composite that is capable of retaining high levels of reinforcement. Thus, a need exists for structurally reliable, filled-adhesive films that contain the greatest possible quantity of filler to maximize the desired property without sacrificing structural integrity. These films should: be as thin or as thick as possible, be in an easy-to-use, convenient sheet form which is not brittle, have uniform consistency and be pinhole free.
The subject invention, described below, overcomes these and other drawbacks of the prior art.


An optical modulator that contains a flexible dielectric membrane suspended over a substrate. The flexible membrane is made of a dielectric material such as silicon nitride. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible membrane has an optically active region. A contact region is maintained in the vicinity of the optically active region which is electrically isolated therefrom. The contact region which includes a conductive material draws accumulated charge build-up from the optically active region. In another embodiment a first area of conductive material is formed on at least one surface of the flexible membrane proximate its center. At least one second area of conductive material is formed on at least one surface of the flexible membrane surrounding the first area. The first area of conductive material is kept electrically isolated from the surrounding second area. The first area of conductive material is coupled to an electrical ground. When an electrical potential is applied between the flexible membrane and the below-lying substrate, only the second areas of conductive material are affected. As a result, only the second areas of conductive material act to deform the membrane. The first area of conductive material in the center of the membrane remains unaffected and ensures that the membrane deforms in a uniform manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to micro-mechanical modulators that are used to modulate light signals propagated by optical fibers. More particularly, the present invention relates to surface normal mechanical optical modulators and the structure of the membranes used by such modulators.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In many optical wavelength division multiplexing systems it is desirable to have inexpensive optical modulators that have high contrast and wide optical bandwidths. One such modulator is a surface normal micro-mechanical modulator, sometimes referred to as a mechanical antireflection switch (MARS) modulator. Such modulators have a variable air gap defined between a substrate and a membrane. Typically, MARS modulators operate by selectively changing the amount of light reflected in the surface normal direction, i.e., the direction normal to the substrate below the membrane. This is done by varying the size of the air gap that exists in between the substrate and the membrane, thereby altering the optical properties of the device.
Since the optically active area of the membrane is not coated with a metal film, an electric charge can build upon the dielectric silicon nitride film in this area due to surface and bulk migration of charges. The build up of charges in the optically active area of the membrane changes the required voltage needed to accurately operate the MARS modulator. Inaccurate operation of the MARS modulator can adversely affect operation of the entire optical network.
A need, therefore, exists for an improved MARS modulator where surface charges are prevented from collecting on the optically active area of its membrane.

Micro-mechanical modulator having an improved membrane configuration


Methods, devices and systems are provided for detection of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in samples using the luciferin-luciferase reaction. An aspect of the invention includes a low molarity and low pH composition for use in detecting the presence of ATP. The low molarity and low pH composition can be used in combination with methods for reading, calculating and interpreting luminescence generated by the ATP-luciferin-luciferase reaction. Both the low molarity, low pH composition and the methods for reading, calculating and interpreting luminescence can be used with a single service hygiene monitoring format.

Determination of cleanliness in industrial and health care settings is important for maintaining good hygiene and sanitation. The surfaces of equipment used for food handling, storage or processing are major sources of microbial and allergen contamination. Microbial contamination can lead to decreased shelf life of products and, if pathogens are present, transmission of disease. Unexpected allergens on food contact surfaces may cause food to become contaminated. Such contamination has the potential to cause adverse reactions, such as an allergic reaction including hives, anaphylaxis and death, in sensitive people who consume or otherwise contact the contaminated food.
Historically, microbial culturing was used to determine the presence of microorganisms. However, culturing is time consuming and, therefore, the necessary "real time" feedback to sanitation and food preparation personnel is not available. As a result, food exposed to surfaces later found to contain potentially harmful microorganisms could enter the food supply.
During the 1990's various rapid and efficient test methods and devices were developed for the detection of contamination on surfaces. Some of these methods do not detect microbes directly but instead use markers such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that are indicative of either the presence of microbes or the existence of residual food contamination of a surface. One such apparatus is the POCKETSWAB-PLUS (POCKETSWAB is a registered trademark of Charm Sciences, Inc. of Lawrence, Massachusetts), which rapidly and efficiently detects ATP on surfaces. The POCKETSWAB apparatus detects ATP through the reaction of luciferin and luciferase, which, in the presence of ATP, generates luminescence (light). Luminescence generated is measured using a luminometer. Such ATP detection systems generally provide the user with an average reading of relative light units (RLU's) over a time period, for example 5 seconds.
Also during the late 1990's, allergen tests were developed to detect allergenic components of foods. These tests are typically ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) based and require 30 minutes or more before a result is obtained. ELISA allergen tests have generally been more sensitive for detecting allergenic food residues than previously available ATP tests such as the POCKETSWAB.
Maximizing the sensitivity of ATP detection assays and systems, particularly single service ATP detection assays, could expand their usefulness. For example, an adequately sensitive ATP detection system could be used to rapidly screen a surface for food residue at the level of allergen test detection. For example, in the case of tests that detect peanut allergens, regulations require sensitivity of 5 parts per million peanut residue.

Method of determining allergenic food on surfaces


Provided is a display apparatus for receiving millimeter waves or terahertz waves from a transmitter under a non-line-of-sight condition, the apparatus including: a plurality of diversity boards that are installed in a bezel of the display apparatus, receive millimeter waves or terahertz waves having different paths, convert the received waves into a plurality of baseband signals, and sense output powers of the plurality of baseband signals; a controller to output a control signal for selecting a diversity board of a maximum output power from the output powers sensed by the plurality of diversity boards; a selector to connect the diversity board of the maximum output power among the plurality of diversity boards to an image converter by the control signal; and the image converter to convert an output of the selector into image data for displaying.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a large display apparatus that receives millimeter waves or terahertz waves from a mobile communication terminal under non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions, and more particularly, to a plurality of diversity boards of the large display apparatus that displays massive data seamlessly using millimeter or terahertz communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A technology that directly connects a smart phone to a display for demonstration or presentation has been developed. A technology for massive and high-speed communication could be based on a millimeter wave or terahertz wave wireless communication.
Millimeter waves or terahertz waves travel in straight lines and thus, may be used for line-of-sight (LOS) communication. For a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communication condition, beam-forming technology is generally utilized. Since the beam-forming technology consumes a large amount of power by using a plurality of transceivers, and increases the size of a product, it is difficult to be embodied in a mobile communication terminal such as a smart phone. There is required for a technology that enables communication in an NLOS communication environment in which hindrance occurs when millimeter waves or terahertz waves are used to transmit massive data at high-speed through a mobile communication terminal such as a smart phone.
A transceiver to which a beam-forming technology is applied according to the conventional art configures a transmitter and a receiver in an array structure and provides various RF paths. A phase of each wave is controlled and the wave arrives at the receiver by avoiding an obstacle.
The beam-forming technology illustrated in FIG. 1 provides various paths using an array of antennas and transceivers. Therefore the beam-forming technology may increase a size of a product.
The receiver based on the beam-forming scheme of FIG. 1 has various paths for millimeter waves, and includes a delay device having a different delay time for each path so as to change a phase of each signal. The receiver embodied as an array performs reception by changing an antenna beam pattern in various directions, so as to perform millimeter wave communication by avoiding a bather during transmission and reception.
To embody the beam-forming technology, multiple signal paths are basically required and thus, a large amount of power is consumed and a size of a transceiver is also large. When N paths exist, an amount of power consumption N times greater than an amount of power consumption of a general transmitter or receiver (a transmitter or receiver including a single path) may occur, and a size of a product increases in proportion to a number of arrays.
Korean published patent No. 2012-0030200 discloses a method and apparatus for transmitting data using multiple antennas and beam-forming, which supports a predetermined beam-width regardless of an emission angle and prevents power loss caused by spreading of an angle, but has difficulty in decreasing a size by including an antenna array in a transmitting terminal.

Display apparatus of receiving millimeter wave or terahertz wave under non-line-of-sight conditions and displaying method thereof

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


The invention provides a plush toy and methods for associating the plush toy with a shoe having at least one shoe strap with hooks and loops on an interior surface of the shoe strap. To associate the plush toy with the shoe, the shoe strap is threaded through an entrance and an exit of the plush toy. Next, hooks and loops of the shoe strap are engaged to attach the plush toy to the shoe. If there is a second shoe strap, the second shoe strap is threaded through a second entrance and a second exit of the plush toy to attach the plush toy to the shoe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to plush toys and, more particularly, to a plush toy for association with a shoe.
2. Background of the Invention
Children enjoy novelty items and accessories that they can wear, particularly plush items that resemble cute animals or popular characters. One place where children like to display such items is on their body.
One such plush item is designed to be mounted on a sneaker or other shoe having a shoelace. The plush item can have one of several shapes. For example, the plush item may have the shape of a car. Alternatively, the plush item may have an animal-shaped body with a head and a tail and two small elastic loops attached to the center of the underside of the body in a longitudinal relationship, i.e., with one loop closer to the head and the other loop closer to the tail. The loops are just large enough to fit a shoelace through. However, for a child to put such a toy onto her shoe, she must unlace the entire shoelace and then relace the shoe, putting the shoelace through the elastic loops. The plush item must be mounted and the shoelace relaced so that the elastic loop nearer the head is mounted on a section of shoelace near the front of the shoe and the elastic loop nearer the tail is mounted on a section of shoelace farther back. Such a design has drawbacks because it is extremely difficult for young children to mount the plush item and relace the shoe to obtain the proper placement of the plush item. Another drawback occurs when a young child repeatedly insists that an adult remove the plush item and replace it with a different item on the shoelace, because the adult must repeatedly unlace and relace the shoe. Another drawback to this design is that the plush item does not fasten securely onto the shoe and bounces all over the shoe when the user is walking.
Accordingly, a need exists for a more practical and less time-consuming approach to mounting plush items on shoes that addresses these drawbacks.


A printed product, with a number of inserts, is printed on a printing machine. The pages of the inserts are printed by the printing machine as product pages on the web. The web is then folded in a folder that is a part of the printing machine to thereby form at least one of the inserts of the printed product. The printed product is laid out at an exit of the folder and the web is folded in such a manner that a final format of each insert completely shows one of these printed pages. Before the printed product is laid out at the exit of the folder, inserts which belong to the same printed product are collected in the folder by placing these inserts one atop the other.

Printing presses, and in particular web-fed rotary presses, preferably having several printing groups, and further having at least one folding apparatus with at least one former, are typically used for newspaper printing. The printing presses can also have several sections, each one preferably with several printing groups. Webs of material, such as, for example, paper webs, which are imprinted in different sections, are united in the at least one folding apparatus to produce a common printed material.
The pages of the printed product can be printed in the at least one printing group of such a printing press in broadsheet production format or in tabloid production format. The printed product is subsequently delivered at an outlet of the folding apparatus which is a part of this printing press. In their final format, printed products, which have been produced in tabloid format, have a complete imprinted page, such as, for example, a page of text. The surface defined by the final format of the printed product is not folded. In contrast, the pages of a printed product formed in broadsheet format have a transverse fold extending parallel with regard to the format width, such as, for example, with regard to the imprinted lines of text, so that for a complete view of its imprinted pages the printed product printed in broadsheet format must be opened at this transverse fold. A fold is to be understood in this context to be a reshaping of the material, which fold forms a so-called fold break in the imprinted web of material.
Printing presses, which are employed for newspaper printing, form printed products, in this case newspapers in particular, in a production format that is fixed or determined by press elements, namely either in a broadsheet format or in a tabloid format. The tabloid format is smaller, with respect to the surface of the pages of the printed product, than is the broadsheet format. In regard to its surface, which is determined by its height and width, a newspaper that is printed in tabloid format is, for example, only half as large as a newspaper which is produced in broadsheet format. Printed products which are formed in tabloid format can be produced, for example, wherein the web of material, which is imprinted in at least one printing group of the printing press, is slit, preferably prior to its passage through a former of the printing press that is located downstream of the printing group in the production direction. This slitting of the web is accomplished on or at the former and extends along the web's transport direction, such as, for example by the use of a cutting arrangement. Partial webs, which are formed by the slitting of the web of material, are placed on top of each other. In the course of their further passage through the folding apparatus, the partial webs, which are lying on top of each other, are folded at least once transversely to their transport direction.
A portion of a printed product, which is combined by being bundled together, such as, for example by the provision of a transverse fold, is called an insert for this printed product. Different inserts of the printed product can relate to different segments of the printed product, wherein the individual segments can differ, for example, in their content. The individual segments can be, for example, assigned to one or to several of the parts customarily constituting a newspaper, such as politics, economy, sports, features or real estate, for example, or which differ from each other by the editorial portion and the advertising portion of a newspaper. The format of an insert is fixed by the width and by the height extending orthogonally, with regard to the latter, of its pages. The width is identified by a direction extending parallel with respect to a text imprinted on the page. In other words, the page's width is parallel to its lines of text. With printed products which are manufactured in tabloid format, one of the printed pages which is imprinted by the printing press is completely contained on the pages of its inserts, and the format of these inserts agrees with the final format of the printed product.
A need has now arisen to manufacture printed products with several inserts, and wherein the inserts, which are part of a defined printed product, are not combined by being placed inside each other. However, for printed products that are formed in tabloid format, such as, for example, as a newspaper, it is not possible at present, with the use of known folding apparatuses, to produce printed products with several inserts other than those with inserts placed therein. This is because all partial ones of the webs of a defined printed product are first assembled in the folding apparatus and are then together transversely folded. Until now, printed products in tabloid format, which consist of several inserts, are combined by the use of devices that are specially provided for this, such as, for example, in a shipping department which is located downstream of the printing press, but which is not located within the printing press.

Method and printing machine for producing a printed product with a number of inserts


A lathe includes a machine support, a work table, two cross beams and a feeding device. The work table is positioned on the machine support. The two cross beams are mounted on the machine support above the work table. The feeding device includes a cutter. The feeding device is slidably assembled between the two cross beams to obtain support from opposite sides of the two cross beams.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to lathes, and particularly, to a lathe with two cross beams for high stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related manufacturing field, a tool holder holding a cutter of a lathe is usually mounted on single cross beam. The tool holder moves along the cross beam to adjust positions of the cutter when machining a workpiece. The cutter needs to overcome a great resistance during the machine process. However, it is hard to stably support the tool holder because the tool holder is fixed to one side of the single cross beam. During machining, the lathe shakes easily, which can loosen the cutter adversely affecting accuracy.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.


Hybrid material components and methods of forming hybrid material components are provided. For example, a hybrid material component comprises a plurality of metallic tows and a plurality of non-metallic tows. Each metallic tow of the plurality of metallic tows is surrounded by a portion of the plurality of non-metallic tows such that the plurality of metallic tows are embedded within the plurality of non-metallic tows. An exemplary hybrid material component is a containment assembly of a gas turbine engine. Methods of forming such components include forming a hybrid material; laying up a plurality of layers of the material to form a layup; and processing the layup such that a plurality of metallic tows and a plurality of non-metallic tows are co-cured.

Aircraft gas turbine engines operate in various conditions and foreign objects may be ingested into the engine. During operation of the engine and, in particular, during movement of an aircraft powered by the engine, the fan blades may be impacted and damaged by foreign objects such as birds or debris picked up on a runway. Impacts on the fan blades may damage the blades and result in blade fragments or entire blades being dislodged and flying radially outward at relatively high velocity.
To limit or minimize damage from dislodged blades or blade fragments, some known engines include a metallic or composite casing or shell to facilitate increasing a radial and an axial stiffness of the engine and to facilitate reducing stresses near the engine casing penetration. To provide blade containment, most of the kinetic energy from a released blade or blade fragment must be absorbed by the casing or shell material. For smaller diameter engines, adequate containment capability may be achieved with a metallic "hardwall" case thick enough to resist penetration by blade fragments. A layer of composite material, such as a graphite epoxy polymer matrix composite, may be applied to the outer surface of the metallic case to bolster the containment ability of the case. Thus, the metal and composite elements of the case remain separate.
However, for larger diameter engines, a metallic case thick enough to resist penetration is prohibitively heavy. Therefore, either composite hardwall systems (which utilize a composite case rather than a metallic case) or composite "softwall" containment systems may be used for larger diameter engines. In a softwall system, a lightweight, high strength ballistic fabric, such as a fabric formed from aromatic polyamide fibers (e.g., Kevlar®), may be wrapped in multiple layers around a relatively thin support structure. In operation, a separated blade or blade fragment locally penetrates the support structure and strikes the fabric. The fabric layers are intended to capture and contain the blade or blade fragment. Conventional support structures may be fabricated of aluminum or fiber-reinforced composites based on weight considerations, e.g., the support structure may include aluminum honeycomb structures. Thus, like typical hardwall containment systems, typical softwall containment systems may utilize separate metal and composite materials to form the containment case.
Layering metal materials and composite materials in a containment system, in the manner typically utilized in hardwall and softwall containment systems, can increase the weight and cost of the engine in which the containment system is used. Further, all metallic containment systems or all composite (e.g., carbon) containment systems also can be relatively heavy and/or costly. Accordingly, improved containment casings or shells for gas turbine engines would be desirable. For instance, increasing the strength and energy absorption of containment assemblies without unduly increasing the weight and/or cost of the containment system would be desirable.


The combination of an endless power transmission belt construction and pulley therefor, the belt construction and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction having an inner surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like longitudinal projections and longitudinal grooves that are adapted to mesh with a ribbed surface of a pulley, the inner surface of the belt construction being cogged and defining a plurality of transversely disposed and alternately spaced apart transverse projections and transverse grooves, the transverse grooves each having a depth that is approximately one-half of the depth of the longitudinal grooves and that is approximately one-fourth of the thickness of the belt construction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new endless power transmission belt construction and to a new combination of the belt construction and a rotatable pulley means as well as to new methods of making the same.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide the combination of an endless power transmission belt construction having opposed side edge means and having opposed inner surface means and outer surface means with the inner surface means defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like longitudinal projections and longitudinal grooves, the belt construction having a certain thickness, and a rotatable pulley means having an outer peripheral ribbed surface means meshing with a portion of the inner surface means of the belt construction and defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like longitudinal projections and longitudinal grooves that respectively have portions thereof for serially meshing respectively with cooperating portions of the longitudinal grooves and longitudinal projections of the inner surface means of the belt construction, the depth of the longitudinal grooves of the inner surface means of the belt construction being substantially less than the approximately 2.4 mm depth of the longitudinal grooves of a similar belt construction that is adapted to have the inner surface means thereof mesh with the ribbed surface means of the pulley means, the inner surface means being cogged and defining a plurality of transversely disposed and alternately spaced apart transverse projections and transverse grooves. For example, see the copending U.S. Pat. application of Jack D. White, Jr., Ser. No. 717,223, filed Jun. 18, 1991.
Also see the U.S. Pat. to Hull, No. 4,647,278, the U.S. Pat. to Miranti, Jr. No. 4,832,670, and the U.S. Pat. to DiGiacomo et. al., No. 4,913,690, each of which discloses an inner surface means of an endless power transmission belt having longitudinal grooves and projections and transverse grooves and projections therein.
Also see the U.S. Pat. to Hull, No. 4,647,27R, the U.S. Pat. to Miranti, Jr. No. 4,832,670, and the U.S. Pat. to DiGiacomo et al, No. 4,913,690, each of which discloses an inner surface means of an endless power transmission belt having longitudinal grooves and projections and transverse grooves and projections therein.

Belt construction, the combination of the belt construction and a pulley and methods of making the same


The present disclosure provides a multi-SIM multi-standby system, a multi-SIM multi-standby method and device. The multi-SIM multi-standby system includes: a SIM card management system including at least one SIM card and a modem device that uses the at least one SIM card according to a SIM card's identification; a communication terminal configured to transmit a SIM card using request to a server, where the SIM card using request carries the SIM card's identification; the server being configured to receive the SIM card using request and acquire a modem device identification of the modem device that uses the SIM card according to the SIM card's identification, and return the modem device identification to a communication terminal; and the communication terminal being configured to transmit a communication request to a corresponding modem device according to the modem device identification so as to realize communication services by means of the modem device.

Terminals, such as mobile phones, have become an indispensable part in people's daily life, people usually communicates with others by means of a mobile phone; however, with the continuous development of people's social circles, a user often need to prepare many telephone numbers to separate a working telephone from a living telephone in order to avoid working from being mixed with living life.
Due to the fact that an existing communication terminal such as a mobile phone usually supports 2 physical SIM cards at the most, when the user needs to use communication functions of multiple physical SIM cards including voice and short message, these communication functions may only be implemented by replacing physical SIM card; in this case, the user may only use the communication function of the physical SIM card being plugged into the mobile phone, however, the unplugged physical SIM card may not be used to dial or receive an incoming call; moreover, when the user often needs for a business trip or needs to use different physical SIM cards under some other scenes, the SIM card needs to be replaced by frequent plugging in and drawing out the physical SIM card.
It is known from the above that, there is a technical problem in the prior art that the communication information of the physical SIM card which is not plugged into the communication terminal may not be received in real time, and the physical SIM card needs to be frequently plugged in and drawn out, so that user experience is influenced.

Multi-SIM multi-standby system, method and device, computer device, and computer readable storage medium

SHENZHEN UCLOUDLINK NEW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An operator presence control assembly for a walk-behind greens mower includes a handle supported on a frame of the walk-behind greens mower, a ribbon switch on the outer perimeter of the handle, and a circuit including the ribbon switch. The circuit is completed by applying a threshold pressure to the ribbon switch, and a device selectively energizeable via the circuit in accordance with the threshold pressure applied to the ribbon switch. As the user of the greens mower grips the handle, the ribbon switch completes a circuit to energize a switch to engage an electromagnetic clutch.

Operator presence features are common in walk-behind reel mowers and rotary mowers. Typically, the mower is provided with a lever, also known as a bale, which can be moved between an engaged and disengaged position. The bale engages cable links, springs, and other mechanical components in order to enable a micro-switch and activate the cutting mechanism. However, it should be understood that these systems require additional mechanical components that increase the cost of the mower and further increase the complexity of operation of the operator presence control system.
Therefore, while the existing operator presence control mechanisms may operate sufficiently, it is desirable to provide a walk-behind reel mower with an operator presence control having a reduced number of components, simplified operation, and improved reliability.

Mower presence control assembly including a ribbon switch


Systems and methods for monitoring a wellbore and actuating a downhole device include a body adapted for insertion into the wellbore that contains a processor, data storage, and sensors that detect a pressure, temperature, and acceleration associated with the body. Computer instructions are usable to receive and store preselected parameters, which include pressure, temperature, and acceleration ranges, and to compare measured values to these ranges for forming a determination usable to initiate actuation of a downhole tool. Additional parameters, such as temporal parameters, can be used to allow, cease, reset, or prevent actuation of the downhole tool.

Conventionally, when it is desired to actuate a downhole tool, such as a packer, a cutter, a torch, a perforating gun, a setting tool, or a similar type of apparatus, a two-part process must be performed. First, a logging tool must be lowered into a wellbore, to the desired location, and used to record the wellbore temperature and pressure at that location. After the logging tool is retrieved to the surface, this data is used to program the downhole tool and/or an associated actuation tool with predetermined values. Specifically, the downhole tool and/or the actuation tool is programmed with an expected or predetermined pressure or pressure range, and an expected or predetermined temperature or temperature range, and then the downhole tool and/or the actuation tool is/are lowered into the wellbore. When these programmed conditions are detected by the downhole tool and/or the actuation tool, it is assumed that the downhole tool is located at the desired location, and the tool is actuated.
Typically, the tool is lowered into the wellbore with an associated timer to prevent premature actuation of the tool, such as an unexpected increase in temperature or pressure caused by the exodus of gas from the well, which could increase the pressure and temperature to the programmed levels prior to the tool reaching the desired depth. The timer is programmed at the surface of the well with a preset duration, estimated to be the approximate amount of time required for the tool the reach the desired location in the well. After the preset duration expires, the tool becomes "armed," such that exposure to the programmed temperature and pressure will cause the tool to become actuated. If the tool does not reach the desired location within the preset time interval for any reason, the tool may become actuated at a different location, if the programmed pressure and temperature values are detected elsewhere in the wellbore. Further, if the tool does not become actuated at the desired location for any reason, it must be retrieved to the surface in an armed state, which can potentially cause unintended actuation at an undesired location during retrieval and related damage to the wellbore, or the possibility of an actuation at the surface, which can cause catastrophic damage and/or injury.
Because logging and tool actuation are performed as separate operations, the reasons that a downhole tool fails to actuate at the proper location may be difficult to determine. The ambient temperature and pressure of the wellbore is typically not logged when lowering a downhole tool, primarily due to the size of the components involved. A downhole tool, when engaged with an actuation tool, may have a length of thirty feet or greater. The addition of a logging tool to this lengthy assembly can cause the overall length to become prohibitive.
Additionally, conventional actuation tools are subject to other inherent difficulties, such as poor battery life and/or the use of potentially hazardous batteries (e.g., lithium batteries, which can be subject to restrictions on transport, use, and disposal thereof), and improper grounding. The high temperature environment within a wellbore significantly reduces the life of batteries, such that it becomes necessary to lower and actuate a tool quickly, before the loss of battery power prevents further operation of the tool. To at least slightly extend the battery life of such tools, conventional actuation tools are normally powered using dangerous lithium and/or cadmium batteries, which are subject to burdensome regulations regarding the transport, use, and disposal thereof, primarily due to the possibility of explosion as well as the possibility of negative environmental impact following disposal. Further, one of the primary reasons for the failure to actuate downhole tools is improper grounding thereof, as the proper grounding is often difficult to verify until the tool has successfully been actuated. However, until a tool has been retrieved to the surface, normally in an "armed" state, as described above, the reason a tool has failed to actuate, whether due to improper grounding or another cause, is normally unknown.
A need exists for a logging and actuation tool that overcomes one or more of the above-referenced deficiencies by reducing or eliminating the possibility of actuation at an improper location, providing a more reliable mechanism for grounding the tool, and significantly reducing the size of the overall tool to enable simultaneous logging and actuation runs, while also increasing the possible uses for such a tool, such as by sizing the tool to enable insertion into coiled tubing or similar narrow conduits, such as small diameter pipe (e.g., having a diameter of 2 inches or less) and/or conduits having narrow restrictions.
A need also exists for a combined logging and actuation tool that is safe to operate, easy and inexpensive to transport, and can be powered using non-hazardous power sources, thus reducing the expense associated with transport and/or disposal of materials.


A method and device for partitioning packet classification rules are provided. According to an example of the method, one or more group are obtained by initially grouping bits included in a rule set on the network device. A local optimum combination of bits is determined for each group according to a correlation analysis on the group. A global optimum combination of bits having a minimum correlation coefficient and comprising fewest bits is determined from all the local optimum combinations of bits. The rule set is partitioned according to the global optimum combination of bits.

According to a method for partitioning packet classification rules, for each of n rules, j bits may be selected from m bits included in the rule, and then the n rules are partitioned into 2j rule subsets in a way that rules in the rule subsets are not repeated as much as possible, so the total number of rules in the 2j rule subsets is fewest, and the occupied storage space is smallest.
Usually, there are two modes to be used for the selection of the j bits. Mode 1: the j bits may be selected one at a time, and every time one bit is selected, a rule subset obtained in the last time may be partitioned according to the selected bit, and eventually, an original rule set may be partitioned into 2j rule subsets. Mode 2: j bits may be selected randomly every time, and the j bits selected this time may be different from those selected last time, and comparing the total number of rules in rule subsets obtained in current partitioning with the total number of rules in rule subsets obtained in last partitioning, if the total number of rules is reduced, the j bits selected currently are accepted until the number of partitioning times reaches a predetermined value or the partitioned rule subsets meet the requirements.
When mode 1 is adopted to select j bits, the cumulative value of the number of partitioning times follows a formula
            ∑              k        =        0            j                          (                  m          -          k                )                          2        k              ,thus, the partitioning complexity is high, and bits selected previously may have an influence on subsequent partitioning results.
When mode 2 is adopted to select j bits, the j bits are randomly selected to generate Cmj results. In such a case, it is very difficult to completely enumerate the partitioning results under each selection, and due to uncertainty of a random selection, rule subsets obtained by partitioning in this mode may not be able to meet requirements.

Partitioning of packet classification rules


A device that generates a DC reference voltage approximately equal to half a DC supply voltage. It includes an input stage forming a first potentiometric divider comprising two branches having an asymmetric behavior in response to variations in the room and/or operating temperature, and supplying a first DC voltage (NBGP), an intermediate stage forming a resistive and capacitive filter, which eliminates the dynamic component of the first DC voltage (NGBP) and supplies a second DC voltage (NARF), and an output stage forming a second potentiometric divider comprising two branches also having an asymmetric behavior of which the voltage variations are smaller than those of the first divider comprising in addition a logic inverter function, and supplying a third DC voltage (NREF), the variations of which are the inverse of those in the second DC voltage (NARF), the variations in the latter being thus compensated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for generating a DC reference voltage. More exactly, the invention relates to a device enabling an output reference voltage approximately equal to half a DC supply voltage provided to this device to be obtained.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Numerous reference voltage generating circuits are known. However, these circuits generally include passive elements and/or bipolar transistors. When attempts are made to integrate such components in a silicon matrix, of the logic type, several drawbacks are encountered. On the one hand, a passive element such as an ohmic resistance, for example, often gives great variations in its value, of the order of magnitude of .+-.20%. On the other hand, some of these components are relatively expensive: for example, a bipolar transistor, longer to manufacture than an MOS transistor, is more expensive, and is in addition more difficult to integrate.

Device for generating a DC reference voltage


An image processing method includes: when performing quantization processing on pixel values of an image, regarding each pixel of a plurality of pixels of the image, calculating a quantization error value of the pixel, where the quantization error value corresponds to a difference between a quantized value of the pixel after the quantization processing for the pixel and an original value of the pixel before the quantization processing for the pixel; and adjusting original values of a plurality of neighboring pixels of the pixel before the quantization processing for the neighboring pixels according to the quantization error value, a plurality of weighted values, and a plurality of random numbers, where the plurality of weighted values respectively correspond to relative locations of the plurality of neighboring pixels with respect to the pixel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to quantization processing of pixel values of images, and more particularly, to image processing methods and devices capable of performing adaptive random number processing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Quantization processing is a widely developed technique in image processing. For printers, half tone processing is a typical quantization processing method, where the half tone processing can be divided into two-level half tone processing and multilevel half tone processing according to the prior art.
The quantization processing mentioned above may cause quantization errors of pixel values of a quantized image according to many prior art methods. In order to prevent differences between the quantized image and the original image from being observed easily, issues related to distributing the quantization errors among neighboring pixels within the quantized image are widely discussed in the prior art. In general, such kinds of technologies can be referred to as error diffusion processing.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram of four weighted values 7/16, 3/16, 5/16, and 1/16 utilized in an error diffusion method according to the prior art, where the error diffusion method is provided by Floyd and Steinberg. The arrows tells how quantization errors of a pixel P(i, j) are respectively distributed among its neighboring pixels P(i+1, j), P(i−1, j+1), P(i, j+1), and P(i+1, j+1) according to the weighted values 7/16, 3/16, 5/16, and 1/16 mentioned above, in order to adjust original values of the neighboring pixels P(i+1, j), P(i−1, j+1), P(i, j+1), and P(i+1, j+1) before the quantization processing for the neighboring pixel. If a printer prints a picture with gradient variations therein according to the error diffusion method mentioned above, the print out result typically has problems such as clustered points and even worm-like patterns, causing the print out quality to be unacceptable.


A display panel is provided, which includes a base substrate, and a light-emitting device and an encapsulation structure sequentially arranged on the base substrate. The encapsulation structure includes at least one first encapsulation film layer, the first encapsulation film layer includes at least two inorganic layers arranged in a stack, and refractive indexes of the at least two inorganic layers sequentially increase in a direction close to the light-emitting device. The first encapsulation film layer is configured to adjust an angle of an ambient light incident on the light-emitting device to reduce the ambient light reflected from the display panel.

With the development of display technology, more and more organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panels are applied to high-performance display products due to their high brightness, wide color gamut, high resolution and low power consumption.
An OLED display panel has a light-emitting device, and the light-emitting device includes a light emitting layer and electrodes (such as an anode and a cathode) for driving the light emitting layer to emit light. The OLED display panel realizes display through emitting light by the light emitting layer. In an environment where the OLED display panel is located, an ambient light irradiated to the light-emitting device at a certain angle will be reflected on the electrodes of the light-emitting device to generate reflected light, and the reflected light may interfere with the light emitted by the OLED display panel (i.e., the light generated by the light-emitting device and emitted from the OLED display panel).

Display panel and method for manufacturing same, and display apparatus


A control device of a power supply system includes a processor configured to set a sampling period, at which measurement values of a reactor current flowing through a reactor of a DC-DC converter and measured by an ammeter are sampled, so as to minimize a sum of differences between the length of a first period in a switching cycle of a switching element of the DC-DC converter and an integer multiple of the sampling period and between the length of a second period in the switching cycle and an integer multiple of the sampling period, the reactor current increasing during the first period and decreasing during the second period; sample, at intervals of the sampling period, measurement values of the reactor current measured by the ammeter; and average measurement values sampled in the switching cycle, thereby measuring an average of the reactor current in the switching cycle.

To boost direct-current power supplied from a direct-current power source, such as a fuel cell, a boost-type DC-DC converter (hereafter, a DC-DC converter will be simply referred to as a "converter") is used in some cases. Such a boost-type converter includes, for example, a reactor and a switching element. Control of a duty ratio, which is a ratio of the period during which the switching element is ON to a switching cycle of the switching element, leads to control of a current flowing through the reactor (hereafter simply a "reactor current"), which results in control of a transformation ratio (in this example, a boost ratio) of the voltage outputted from the converter to the voltage inputted thereinto. For this reason, appropriate control of the transformation ratio requires precise measurement of a reactor current. To this end, a technique has been proposed to measure a reactor current of a converter (see, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-279151).
For example, a device for detecting an average reactor current described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-279151 determines whether a period during which the value of a reactor current nonlinearly changes exists in a cycle of switching control by a switching element. When such a period exists, the device estimates an average amount of the reactor current in a cycle of switching control, based on voltages inputted into and outputted from a voltage converter, a value of a reactor, and a ratio of an ON period to an OFF period of the switching element.

Power supply system, control device, and method for measuring reactor current


The invention relates to a single-use camera comprising a mechanism for repetitive flashing not connected to shutter operation.

Single-Use Cameras, also known as Film with Lens Units, One-Time-Use Cameras or Recyclable Cameras, have provided the camera user with a miniaturized, inexpensive, rugged and easy to operate alternative to traditional camera designs. As a result, these Single-Use Cameras are often carried by their owners on a regular basis and employed under conditions where owners would not normally take expensive cameras. These modern Single-Use Cameras are now available with many amenities designed to make picture taking more enjoyable and easier under a variety of environmental or lighting conditions. For example, these cameras are now available with flash units designed to widen the range of suitable lighting conditions. Other units are available in water resistant housings and with modified film-formats, for example, panoramic formats, all designed to encourage carrying the camera to moist, less accessible or more dangerous locations that are visited by the user either during normal life activities or during trips, vacations, and the like. Manufacturers have even encouraged the storage of such cameras in auto glove compartments so that they can be available to record damage from auto accidents. Representative examples of Single-Use Cameras are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,896,178; 4,954,858; 5,086,311; 5,170,199; 5,235,364; 5,315,332; 5,337,099; 5,353,076 and 5,361,111.
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
While these cameras are certainly excellent for their intended use, i.e recording scenes, the additional features, such as the incorporated power sources and circuitry associated with the incorporated flash units, represent an as yet untapped opportunity to provide the consumer with additional values.

Single-use flash camera with emergency strobe or continuous illumination enhancements


An oxygen sensor is employed for determining whether the exhaust air-fuel ratio is rich or lean. A voltage is applied to the oxygen sensor at device impedance calculation intervals to calculate device impedance. After device impedance calculation, a reverse voltage is applied to the oxygen sensor with a view toward promptly negating the influence of voltage application on the sensor output. Subsequently, the sensor output of the oxygen sensor is sampled at sampling time intervals until it is concluded that the device impedance calculation period is over.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller for a gas concentration sensor, and more particularly to a gas concentration sensor controller that is suitable for the control of a gas concentration sensor installed in an internal-combustion engine's exhaust path.
2. Background Art
As disclosed by Japanese Patent JP-A No. 28575/2000, there is a conventionally known device that includes an oxygen sensor installed in an internal-combustion engine's exhaust path. The oxygen sensor for this device generates an output in accordance with the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas that flows in the exhaust path. There is a correlation between the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas and the exhaust air-fuel ratio. With the conventional device, it is therefore possible to obtain the information about the exhaust air-fuel ratio in accordance with the oxygen sensor output.
The above device is capable of detecting the device impedance of the oxygen sensor by varying the voltage V0, which is applied to the oxygen sensor, from a reference voltage to a sweep voltage. If a ΔV0 change occurs in the applied voltage V0, the associated current I changes by ΔI, which corresponds to the device impedance Rs. Therefore, the above conventional device calculates the device impedance Rs in accordance with the voltage change ΔV0 and current change ΔI, which arise when the applied voltage V0 changes from the reference voltage to the sweep voltage.
As described above, the above conventional device acquires the information about the exhaust air-fuel ratio in accordance with the oxygen sensor's output, and detects the device impedance by applying the sweep voltage to the oxygen sensor. While the sweep voltage is applied to the oxygen sensor, the output value of the oxygen sensor is affected by the sweep voltage. Therefore, while the sweep voltage is applied, the oxygen sensor's output does not correspond to the exhaust air-fuel ratio.
The oxygen sensor includes an impedance component and a capacitance component. Therefore, the oxygen sensor's output does not revert to a value corresponding to the exhaust air-fuel ratio for some time after the application of the sweep voltage is stopped. Consequently, the above conventional device may erroneously detect the exhaust air-fuel ratio during the time interval between the instant at which the sweep voltage is applied to the oxygen sensor for device impedance detection purposes and the instant at which the influence of the sweep voltage disappears.


An idling stop control system stops an idling of an engine so as to automatically stop the engine in the case where a predetermined condition on automatic stop of the engine is established and releases the automatic stop of the engine so as to restart the engine in the case where a predetermined condition on restart of the engine is established in accordance with a driving condition of the vehicle. The idling stop control system recognizes a type of an object in front of the vehicle and restarts the engine depending on the type of the object in front of the vehicle even if the engine is in the automatic stop and the restart condition of the engine is not established with respect to the driving condition.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an idling stop control system for a vehicle that automatically stops an idling of an engine in the case where an automatic stop condition of the engine is established and that automatically starts the engine in the case where an automatic start condition of the engine is established.
2. Related Art
Recently, in order to improve fuel economy and to decrease exhaust gas emission, various kinds of techniques concerning a function for stopping idling have been proposed and are in practical use. The function automatically stops an engine when operation of the engine is not required in a state such as while waiting for a traffic light to change, a train to pass, or a person to come, and then the function automatically starts the engine when operation of the engine is required. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2000-45819 discloses a technique of an idling control system for a vehicle, which calculates a relative speed of a preceding vehicle on the basis of a change of an inter-vehicle distance and a speed of the vehicle. The system determines whether the preceding vehicle stops or starts by checking on the calculated relative speed of the preceding vehicle and the speed of the vehicle provided with the system. When it is determined that the preceding vehicle stops and the vehicle also stops, a stop mode is automatically executed to stop the engine of the vehicle; and when it is determined that the preceding vehicle starts during the engine of the vehicle being in the stop mode, an idling start mode is automatically executed to restart the engine of the vehicle.
In the technique used in such as the idling control system disclosed in JP-A No. 2000-45819, the idling start mode is automatically executed to restart the engine when it is determined that the preceding vehicle starts to move (hereinafter, containing changes of an inter-vehicle distance and a speed) while the vehicle is at a stop under the stop mode. However, in the state the vehicle is under such a stop mode, if a pedestrian crosses a road, a bicycle moves, or a motorcycle slip through traffic in front of the vehicle, the idling control system may mistakenly determine, due to such moving objects, that the preceding vehicle starts to move. Thus, the stop mode is unnecessarily released, and as a result, the idling start mode may be repeatedly executed. Thus, if release of the stop mode is unnecessarily frequently executed, not only is it difficult to successfully improve fuel economy, but also the unnecessarily frequent ON/OFF of the engine may annoy the driver.


A caulk cartridge including an end closure having a centrally extending mounting stub with a reciprocating valve positioned therein. A nozzle is thread mounted to the stub with inward threading of the nozzle engaging and inwardly shifting the valve to an open position for discharge therethrough. Outward retraction of the nozzle releases the valve for a reseating of the valve.

The invention generally relates to cartridges commonly used for the dispensing of mastic type adhesives, sealants, and the like.
Such cartridges basically consist of a substantially rigid tube of cardboard or appropriate synthetic resinous material such as polyethylene within which the contents are sealed by opposed end closures. A forward end closure conventionally mounts a discharge nozzle through which the contents are ejected. The opposite rear end closure is selectively forwardly slid within the tube for a forward discharge of the contents through the nozzle.
The cartridge, at the discharge end thereof, is frequently sealed by an impermeable membrane provided across the end of the tube immediately inward of the end closure. In addition, the mounted nozzle will normally be of an outwardly tapering configuration terminating in a sealed end. Thus, an opening of the cartridge for discharge of the contents involves both a severing of the tip portion of the nozzle and a breaking of the inner membrane, both functions requiring an appropriate sharp implement such as a knife or the like. The difficulties of opening conventional cartridges for use have not infrequently resulted in injuries to the user, particularly to the non-professional.
Another problem frequently encountered with known caulk cartridges is the difficulty in resealing a partially used cartridge for both preserving the unused contents and maintaining the discharge apparatus for practical reuse. One common expedient for resealing the cartridge involves the use of a separate end cap which is frictional engaged over the cut tip of the nozzle. Such end caps are frequently misplaced or accidentally dropped from the nozzle, thus exposing the contents to the atmosphere.


A coolable double walled structure, for use and exposure in a hot gas flow environment, includes a jet issuing wall, a target wall spaced from the jet issuing wall defining at least one cavity therebetween. The jet issuing wall includes at least one impingement rail having a greater thickness than the jet issuing wall such that a bottom portion of the impingement rail extends within the cavity formed between the jet issuing wall and the target wall. A number of impingement ports are disposed within each impingement rail to provide flow communication through the jet issuing wall to the target wall. Due to the relatively thick dimensions of the impingement rail, the impingement ports disposed within respective impingement rails can be directionalized so as to provide for local cooling needs. In one embodiment, the entry areas of the impingement ports are bell shaped so as to lower inlet pressure loss. In another embodiment, the exit area immediately surrounding the impingement ports is rounded for lower post-impingement pressure drop.

This invention relates generally to turbine combustors and more particularly relates to improved impingement jet flow through double-wall structures.
Traditional turbine combustors use diffusion flames in which fuel and air enter the combustion chamber separately. This process of mixing and burning produces flame temperatures typically exceeding 3900.degree. F. Since the maximum temperatures conventional combustor liners, transition pieces or other hot section components are generally capable of withstanding is in the order of about 1500.degree. F., steps to protect these components from excessive temperatures must be taken.
Currently, it is known in the art to cool parts using heat transfer across walls having hot and cold surfaces by flowing a cooling fluid in contact with the cold surface to remove the heat transferred across from the hot surface. Among the various cooling techniques that have been used to cool hot section components are impingement cooling and film cooling.
Current advanced combustors typically premix the maximum possible amount of air with the fuel entering the combustion chamber for NOx reduction. Accordingly, little or no cooling air remains available, making film-cooling of the hot components extremely difficult.
Combustors that utilize impingement cooling use either impingement inserts or impingement covers to deliver high velocity impingement jets onto the hot component surfaces requiring cooling. The term "impingement cooling," as used herein, is defined as a variation of convection cooling in which the cooling medium is directed as a sheet or jet towards a wall to be cooled, thereby providing increased heat transfer in particular localities. Conventional impingement devices have impingement holes that are essentially flow orifices, which flow orifices lack the length-to-diameter ratios necessary to more fully develop impingement jet flow or to directionalize the impingement jet flow. Conventional means of impingement within turbine combustors or other components is via a series of coolant jets developed through a sheet metal plate. Typical plates may have jet orifice holes drilled, punched, or laser machined in a desired pattern, and to desired hole diameters. The plates may be either flat, or of small curvature, or may be formed into more complex shapes for specific regional applications within the turbine. Typical materials may be for example, stainless steel, or nickel based corrosion resistant alloys for high temperature exposure. In all cases, these plates are thin, providing jet hole length to diameter ratios generally not exceeding unity. Such jet hole geometries are insufficient to provide a developed flow, but instead issue the cooling jet with a flow structure that will be more susceptible to spreading, and therefore less effective in providing impingement cooling at the target surface.
Impingement sheet metal jet plates are generally maintained at a constant distance from the target wall. A balance is sought between the individual jet cooling effectiveness and the cooling degradation effect which results from spent-jet crossflow. Crossflow degradation refers to the effect of the spent coolant, which increases in mass flow as more jets are added to it, on the remaining coolant jets, an effect which serves to decrease the relative strength of a jet flow compared to the total spent coolant flow, and therefore decreases the cooling ability. Because of this effect, the jet plate must remain a certain distance from the target wall to allow enough volume for the spent coolant flow, such that the spent flow velocity will not degrade the jet velocity. This distance is generally much greater than that which would be desired for more effective cooling performance by the jets.
Additionally, current impingement devices are not thermally or mechanically connected, except by an edge braze or a weld, and accordingly carry negligible thermal and mechanical loads. Furthermore, the offset distance of current impingement devices is typically constant, and at best slightly increasing or decreasing, making it difficult to tailor the impingement device to local cooling needs. Moreover, conventional impingement devices suffer from crossflow degradation of jet impingement heat transfer effectiveness.
Therefore, it is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for an impingement device having higher length-to-diameter entry holes. Additionally, an impingement device should be capable of directionalized jet flow, and should reduce spent jet coolant crossflow heat transfer degradation. Furthermore, an impingement device should maintain spacing without crossflow effects. It is a purpose of this invention, to fulfill these and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.


Collars, support structures, or forms for protruding conductive structures include apertures or receptacles through which the conductive structure may extend. The aperture or receptacle may be configured to contact a surface of the conductive structure, and even to define a shape of at least a portion of the conductive structure. Each collar, support structure, or form may include a plurality of adjacent, mutually adhered regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices having collars disposed about the peripheries of the contact pads thereof and, more specifically, to the use of stereolithography to fabricate such collars around the contact pads prior to securing conductive structures to the contact pads. Particularly, the present invention pertains to collars disposed about the peripheries of the contact pads of a semiconductor device component for enhancing the reliability of conductive structures secured to the contact pads. The present invention also relates to semiconductor device components including such collars.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Collars, support structures, and forms for protruding conductive structures


A process, system and device are provided for automatically recording pressure-vs.-volume curves during artificial respiration with a respirator. The inspiration pressure is increased during the supply of a breathing gas volume flow under the control of a control unit. The resulting breathing gas volume flow rate is detected and the volume is determined from the latter by integration. The control unit compares the breathing gas volume flow detected during the phase of expiration with a preselected set point and acts on an expiration valve (12) in the expiration line (8) by means of a controller in case of deviation from the set point in order to return the breathing gas volume flow to the set point.

A PV curve (PV loop) is run through during the artificial respiration of intubated patients who are not breathing spontaneously and this is used to measure the lung. For example, a volume that is usually substantially larger than the maximum volume normally applied during the current respiration is applied in this case. This volume is subsequently expired again. The volume and the pressure are recorded during the inspiration and expiration in an X-Y plot (curve). The so-called inflection points (opening and closing points) of the lungs, the so-called lung compliance at different pressures and other measured variables can then be determined from this curve in order to then optimize the respiration pressures of the current respiration.
A process of the type described in the introduction is known, for example, from the document WO 03/037413 A1. A prolonged phase of expiration is carried out in the process described there before the PV manoeuver in order to lower the pressure to a preset minimum value, which is the so-called positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP). The inspiration pressure is then increased continuously over a pressure ramp to a preset peak pressure and the volume is determined at the same time, which is possible, e.g., by detecting the breathing gas volume flow and by integrating same. A passive expiration to the end pressure is carried out after the manoeuver described. The pressure curve is then plotted as a two-dimensional curve against the volume. The PV curve can then be analyzed in the known manner, and the normal breathing cycles can be continued with the respirator. Furthermore, the possibility of allowing the pressure to drop from the preset maximum over a pressure ramp to the desired minimum in a controlled manner is addressed. Based on the nonlinear flow behavior of the lungs, a more or less greatly varying breathing gas volume flow with peaks is now obtained.
One problem in the prior-art PV measurement maneuvers is that they ignore the fact that a pressure drop is also brought about by flow resistances of the breathing gases in the airways and in the lungs. However, these effects on the PV curve obtained, which are due to the flow resistance, cannot be ignored any longer in case of larger breathing gas volume flows. Even though it would be possible to avoid this problem by running through a slow pressure rise ramp and a correspondingly slow expiration curve, this would require an excessively long measuring time and unduly stress the patient.

Process for the automatic recording of pressure-vs.-volume curves during artificial respiration