A level converter circuit includes a first CVSL (Cascade Voltage Switch Logic) circuit responsive to a voltage switching signal for providing a power supply voltage or an input voltage, and a second CVSL circuit responsive to a voltage equal to the power supply voltage or input voltage output from the first CVSL circuit for providing a positive input voltage or a negative input voltage. The level converter circuit can supply high positive and negative voltages required for a flash memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level converter circuit, and more particularly, to a level converter circuit for a flash memory.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a flash memory, a voltage of various levels must be applied to a memory cell. In the case of a DINOR type flash memory, for example, various voltages of a level indicated in the following Table 1 must be applied to a bit line, a word line, and a source line in various operation modes. In Table 1, the voltage at the left side of the slash sign is supplied at a select state, and the voltage at the right side of the slash sign is applied at a de-select state.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Bit line Word line Source line ______________________________________ Program 6V/0V -9V/0V Floating Erase Floating 10V/0V 9V Read 1V 3.3V/0V 0V ______________________________________
Referring to Table 1, a voltage of 6V and a voltage of -9V are applied to a bit line and a word line, respectively, and a source line is set to a floating state for a selected memory cell in a program operation mode. For a de-selected memory cell, a voltage of 0V is applied to the bit line and the word line, and the source line is set to a floating state.
In an erase operation mode, the bit line is set to a floating state, and a voltage of 10V and a voltage of -9V are applied to the word line and the source line, respectively, for a selected memory cell. For a de-selected memory cell, the bit line is set to a floating state, and a voltage of 0V and a voltage of -9V are applied to the word line and the source line, respectively.
In a read operation mode, a voltage of 1V, a voltage of 3.3V, and a voltage of 0V are applied to the bit line, the word line, and the source line, respectively, for a selected memory cell. For a de-selected memory cell, a voltage of 1V is applied to the bit line, and a voltage of 0V is applied to the word line and the source line.
It is appreciated that a level converter circuit for supplying a voltage of various levels is required. An example of a conventional level converter circuit is shown in FIG. 16.
Referring to FIG. 16, a level converter circuit 501 includes cross-coupled P channel MOS transistors 507 and 508, and N channel MOS transistors 509 and 510 turned on/off in a complementary manner in response to a voltage switching signal Vin.
When voltage switching signal Vin of an H (logical high) level is applied, N channel MOS transistor 510 is turned on. Since this voltage switching signal Vin is applied to the gate of N channel MOS transistor 509 via an inverter 511, N channel MOS transistor 509 is turned off. As a result, the voltage of node 506 is pulled down to a level of ground voltage (0V) GND, whereby P channel MOS transistor 507 is turned on. Therefore, voltage Vpp of a voltage input terminal 102 is provided as an output voltage Vout via P channel MOS transistor 507.
When voltage switching signal Vin of an L (logical low) level is applied, N channel MOS transistor 510 is turned off and N channel MOS transistor 509 is turned on. Therefore, the voltage of node 505 is pulled down to the level of ground voltage GND, whereby P channel MOS transistor 508 is turned on. Here, voltage VPP is applied to the gate of P channel MOS transistor 507 via P channel MOS transistor 508, whereby P channel MOS transistor 507 is turned off. Therefore, ground voltage GND is provided as output voltage Vout via N channel MOS transistor 509.
Thus, level converter circuit 501 provides an output voltage Vout of a VPP level in response to voltage switching signal Vin of an H level, or output voltage Vout of a ground level in response to voltage switching signal Vin of an L level. A circuit that converts the voltage level by switching cross-coupled transistors 507 and 508 as shown in FIG. 16 is referred to as a cascade voltage switch logic (CVSL) circuit.
By using this CVSL circuit, a level converter circuit that generates only a positive voltage with an amplitude between the level of VPP and ground can be implemented. However, this level converter circuit cannot selectively generate positive and negative voltages as shown in Table 1.

Level converter circuit generating a plurality of positive/negative voltages


An incombustible artificial marble which is used to produce multiple color patterns which contains, as a multiple layer composite, a layer of activated clay mixed with stone powder and/or cement powder, fine sawdust and/or the heart of kaoliang stalk, a coloring agent, calcium and magnesium salts, an epoxy resin layer; an adhesive layer; a transfer film layer containing multiple color patterns, an ultra-violet curable adhesive layer and a protective film layer.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing incombustible artificial marble for architectural and floor use and also to a method of preparing incombustible artificial marble.
Processes for preparing artificial marble by mixing stone powder, cement, etc. with an adhesive or water are well known.
However, in the case of the artificial marble mentioned above, they frequently are broken or cracked by slight contact or pressure because the bending strength (moment) and the general strength thereof are low.
Furthermore, since conventional artificial marble cannot have a flat and slick surface due to the properties of the various components such as stone powder, cement, sand, etc., multiple color patterns cannot be distinctly and selectively transferred thereto by hot stamping or roller coating, except for black or white color.
In addition, in order to prepare color patterns, small color marble aggregates are mixed with raw materials of said artificial marble to show color patterns on the surface of the marble.
However, such marble cannot have multiple color patterns except for one or more colors since the colors of the aggregate are restricted.

Incombustible artificial marble and a process for preparation thereof

No. 1107, 1-Dong, Daerim Apt. 277, Nokbeon-dong, Eunpyeong-ku


A vacuum switch comprises a first vacuum container containing therein a circuit breaker, a second vacuum container containing therein the first vacuum container and grounded, and a third vacuum container connected to the second vacuum container, containing therein a disconnecting switch and an earth device and grounded. The second and third vacuum containers are isolated in vacuum from the first vacuum container, and the second vacuum container is electrically insulated from the first vacuum container. The second vacuum container contains an insulator fixed to a conductor connected to the circuit breaker and a movable rod partially disposed out of the vacuum containers and operating the circuit breaker to open and close. The disconnecting switch, circuit breaker and the insulator are arranged in a line. A vacuum switchgear comprises the above-mentioned vacuum switches of the number corresponding to three phases and necessary components, each being contained in a metal box.

The present invention relates to a vacuum switch and a vacuum switchgear using the vacuum switch and, more particularly to a vacuum switch most suitable to be made small in size and a vacuum switchgear using the same.
As incoming transformer apparatuses to be made compact, a SF6 gas-insulated switchgear is disclosed in JP A 3-273804, for example. In the switchgear, a circuit breaker, two disconnecting switches, and an earth device are individually manufactured and contained in a unit chamber filled with an insulating gas and a bus chamber arranged in a switch box. In the case where a vacuum circuit breaker is used as this circuit breaker, a movable electrode is moved up and down to a fixed electrode to close and open by an operation device of the circuit breaker. There is also a vacuum circuit breaker, as disclosed in JP A 55-143727. In the vacuum circuit breaker a movable electrode is rotated left and right about a main axis as a supporting point to contact with or separate from a fixed electrode, that is, to close or open. Further, there is a switchgear as disclosed in JP A 9-153320, which is constructed so that while a movable conductor arranged in one vacuum container is roundly moving between a fixed conductor and an earth conductor, the movable conductor moves to a close position, an open position, a disconnecting position and an earth position.
Further, JP A 5-166440 and JP A 3-225718 each disclose a vacuum switch constructed so that a vacuum bulb, an operation mechanism for operating the vacuum bulb and a disconnecting device are contained in a hermetically closed metal box or a switch case.
The SF6 gas insulated-switchgear disclosed in JP A 3-273804 uses a SF6 gas, so that it is required to reduce the SF6 gas in view of a greenhouse effect. Therefore, a switchgear in which the SF6 gas is not used is desired. In the vacuum circuit breaker disclosed in JP A 55-143727, since the container is not grounded, in order to perform maintenance inspection of the incoming transformer apparatuses, it is necessary to take sufficient safety measures such as prevention of re-application of current or voltage from a power source by causing remaining electric charges and induction current to flow into an earth by opening the disconnecting switch provided other than the circuit breaker and grounding the earth switch after opening the circuit breaker. In the circuit breaker, the apparatuses are individually provided, so that it is difficult to make the size of the circuit breaker small. Further, the switchgear disclosed in JP A 9-153320 is excellent in making the size small, however, since the close position, open position, disconnecting position and grounding position are provided in one vacuum container, it has such a disadvantage that all the functions are lost when an accident occurred by any chance. JP A 5-166440 and JP A3-225718 each disclose that the vacuum bulb is contained in the hermetically closed metal box or switch case, however, they do not disclose that the hermetically closed metal box or switch case is made vacuum, and that the hermetically closed metal box or switch case is grounded.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum switch which is made small in size and a switchgear using the vacuum switch.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum switch which can be suited for diversification of apparatuses and a switchgear using the vacuum switch.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum switch which is improved in assemblage and a switchgear using the vacuum switch.
Further still another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum switch which is improved in insulation and a switchgear using the vacuum switch.
In order to attain the above objects, a vacuum switch of the present invention comprises a first vacuum container containing therein a fixed electrode and a movable electrode of a circuit breaker, and a second vacuum container which is electrically insulated from the first vacuum container and grounded and contains therein the first vacuum container. The first vacuum container is communicable in vacuum with the second vacuum container, for example, through a small gap between an insulator forming a part of the first vacuum container and a conductor connected to a fixed or movable conductor and passing through the insulator. Thereby, the vacuum of the two vacuum containers reaches an equilibrium state under normal condition and is stable.
A wall of the first vacuum container containing therein the fixed electrode and the movable electrode of the circuit breaker and a wall of the second vacuum container are arranged at such a distance that the both walls are lower in potential than the potential of a bus, or at a relatively small distance. Particularly, they are arranged to keep such a distance that the potential of the wall of the first vacuum container becomes intermediate potential between the potential of the bus and the earth potential.
The second vacuum container also contains therein an insulator fixed both to the conductor electrically connected to the circuit breaker and to a movable rod for operating the circuit breaker to open and close.
A vacuum switch of the present invention comprises a first vacuum container containing therein a circuit breaker, a second vacuum container containing therein the first vacuum container and grounded, and a third vacuum container connected to the second vacuum container, containing therein a disconnecting switch and grounded. The first vacuum container is communicable in vacuum with the second vacuum container through a gap, however, the vacuum of the third vacuum container is isolated from the vacuum of the first and second vacuum containers.
The second vacuum container also contains therein an insulator fixed both to the conductor electrically connected to the circuit breaker and to a movable rod for operating the circuit breaker to open and close. Further, the disconnecting switch and the circuit breaker, preferably, the insulator fixed to the conductor and the movable rod also are arranged in a substantially straight line.
The vacuum switch is constructed so that a disconnecting switch and an earth device are contained in the third vacuum container. Further, at least one vacuum container containing the first vacuum container is provided between the first and second vacuum containers.
Further, a vacuum switchgear according to the present invention has switches as mentioned above of the number corresponding to three phases or more, and necessary elements such as a protective relay device and an operation box arranged in a metal box.

Vacuum switch and vacuum switchgear using the same


A system for managing and routing calls involves a switch, multiple endpoints, an IVR system; and storage including a data structure associating individual unique keys with ANI information and one of the endpoints. In response to receipt of a call, identified by a specific ANI, the IVR will allow the user to input a routing key. If the user does not provide the routing key, it will follow the user's interaction to one of the endpoints, and I) generate a unique key, II) store the unique key, the specific ANI and an identifier of the one of the endpoints, and III) make the unique key available so that, the user can provide the unique key as the routing key on a subsequent call. If the user does provide the routing key, the specific ANI will be verified and the user's call routed to the endpoint associated with the routing key.

The use of interactive voice response systems for call management, routing and distribution has become ubiquitous. Such systems enable a caller to navigate a series of menus to reach the endpoint they want, for example, sales, customer service, make an appointment, check an account balance or billing date, etc. However, it can be frustrating for a caller to call a number that they call fairly often and have the interactive voice response ("IVR") system notify the caller that "some of our selections may have changed." Since the caller does not know whether, in fact, the selections that will take them where they want to be connected have changed since their last call, they are either forced to waste time going through the voice or key-press prompts to get to where they want or, if they have memorized the sequence to get them where they want, try the sequence only to find that the prompts have actually changed and so they did not end up where they wanted.
Still further, for systems that deal with people's personal information, for example, medical offices, banks, brokerages, etc., an IVR may initially prompt the caller for identification information even though the caller is not interested in anything where that information would be needed. Moreover, in some cases, even if the caller initially inputs their information because it will be needed, they may be required to provide it again at the location where they end up.
In most cases, the only other way that someone can bypass the above problem with most IVR systems is to, for example, repeatedly press "0" or say "operator" or the like so that they get connected to a person and then can ask to be directly connected to where they want. However, that approach can actually take more time than navigating the IVR prompts and, in some cases, the transfer by the person merely places the caller back into the IVR system.
Thus, there is an ongoing technological problem involving IVR technology involved in managing and routing calls. Specifically, there is a problem with how such systems handle certain calls and significant room for improvement in the operation of such systems, particularly with respect to systems where the same callers may call multiple times over some time span, in some cases for the same reason and in other cases for different reasons.

Streamlined call management and routing system

International Business Machines Corporation


An information processing device transmits, to a plurality of image forming devices, a registration request to the service providing device, and receives location information for accessing the service providing device corresponding to each the image forming device from among the plurality of image forming devices that have received the registration request, accesses the service providing device on the basis of the received location information, and receives and displays an authentication screen for inputting authentication information. After authentication information has been input on the displayed screen, a user corresponding to the authentication information and the plurality of image forming devices are associated with each other and managed by the service providing device.

A printing system has been proposed in which a print instruction is transmitted from a client to a Web server, and the Web server that has received the print instruction converts contents for printing to print data. A configuration in which the Web server provides a client with a Web service has been conventionally proposed. In recent years, cloud computing has also attracted attention as a configuration for providing a service from a web server to a client. A main feature of cloud computing is that data conversion and data processing are executed in a distributed manner using many computing resources so as to process requests from many clients in a simultaneous manner. At present, vendors provide various types of services in a disorganized manner by implementing web services in a cloud computing environment to realize cloud computing.
For example, Google (registered trademark) has developed a mechanism for data communication designed to provide services in conjunction with image forming devices, and has publicly disclosed interfaces designed for image forming devices to conduct data communication in a cloud computing environment prepared by Google (registered trademark). By implementing this interface in image forming devices, it is possible for a client to designate an image forming device to perform printing, even if the image forming device and the server are connected via the Internet.
In order to utilize the aforementioned Web server (hereinafter referred to as a "service providing device"), a user who is a client needs to acquire an account of the service providing device, and to register a printer. Firstly, the user causes an image forming device to connect to and communicate with a service providing device via a network. The user who registers the image forming device directly operates an operation unit of the image forming device or remotely operates the operation unit by using a information processing apparatus such as mobile phone through a network so as to initiate printer registration processing. Alternatively, the user can use an application for registration that has been prepared by respective venders. For example, a printing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-160579 receives a request, from a information processing apparatus, for registering an image forming device on a service providing device, and transmits, to the information processing apparatus, configuration information for the image forming device and access information for accessing the service providing device. Then the service providing device executes printer registration by associating the configuration information for the image forming device transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the service providing device on the basis of the access information with the user information. As an another example, assume an information processing device having a configuration in which a user utilizes an application for a printer registration that is provided by a vendor so as to register an image forming device from the information processing device on the service providing device through a network. In this environment, the user first activates the application for the printer registration on a screen provided in the information processing device. The user issues instructions about the printer registration to the service providing device by using the printer registration screen displayed by the activated application. By this instruction, the application issues instructions about a registration request to the service providing device to the image forming device to be registered, and the image forming device to be registered accesses the service providing device. The service providing device that has been accessed by the image forming device transmits a login screen for logging into the service providing device to the login screen. When the user inputs account information and the like on the login screen and a login has been successful in the service providing device, the printer registration is executed by associating the image forming device that has accessed with the information processing apparatus.

Information processing device, image forming device, printing system control method, and storage medium for searching, retrieving image forming devices that are collectively registered on a service providing device


The present invention provides a high recording density magnetic recording medium with excellent surface smoothness, as well as excellent electromagnetic conversion characteristics and durability. A magnetic recording medium comprising a lower non-magnetic layer containing at least a non-magnetic powder and a binder resin on a non-magnetic support, and an upper magnetic layer with a thickness of 0.2 μm or less on said lower non-magnetic layer, wherein said lower non-magnetic layer contains an acicular powder of hydrated iron oxide as the non-magnetic powder, and said lower non-magnetic layer contains a fatty acid and a fatty acid amide. Preferably the acicular powder of hydrated iron oxide is goethite with an average long axial length of 0.15 μm or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium, and more specifically to a high recording density magnetic recording medium with excellent surface smoothness, electromagnetic conversion characteristics and durability
2. Disclosure of the Related Art
In recent years, the magnetic recording media for digital recording to release from signal deterioration arising from repeated copying have become common. Furthermore, in order to cope with increases in recording data volumes, magnetic recording media with increased recording densities are required. In order to increase the recording density, factors such as media thickness loss and self-demagnetizing loss must be considered, and for these reasons, it is desired to reduce in the film thickness of the magnetic layer.
When the thickness of the magnetic layer is reduced, the surface roughness of the support is reflected on the surface of the magnetic layer, causing a loss of smoothness in the magnetic layer surface, and a deterioration of the electromagnetic conversion characteristics. Consequently, a non-magnetic layer is provided on the surface of the support as an undercoat layer, and the magnetic layer is then provided on the surface of this non-magnetic layer. As a result, the surface of this non-magnetic layer provided beneath the magnetic layer need to be formed with smooth, to obtain a magnetic layer with a smooth surface.
Furthermore, when the thickness of the magnetic layer is reduced, the quantity of lubricant that can be held within the magnetic layer decreases markedly. The addition of large quantities of lubricants to the magnetic layer undesirably results in such a problem as blooming, and a satisfactory level of durability cannot be achieved solely through the addition of the maximum quantity of lubricant which can be added to the magnetic layer.
Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 1-25136 discloses the use of combinations of fatty acids, fatty acid esters and fatty acid amides as the lubricant for a magnetic layer on a support. However, even if a lubricant combination such as that disclosed in the above publication is applied to an extremely thin magnetic layer of 0.2 μm or less, the absolute quantity of lubricants that can be incorporated within the layer is insufficient due to remarkable thinness of the magnetic layer, and adequate levels of durability and reliability cannot be obtained. Furthermore, if the entire quantity of lubricants deemed necessary is added to the thin magnetic layer, then problems such as lubricant blooming under conditions of high temperature and high humidity become far more likely.
As a result, lubricants are added to, and held within the non-magnetic layer to become a lower layer of the magnetic layer. The lubricants within the non-magnetic layer are supplied gradually to the surface of the medium, depending on the environment in which the magnetic recording medium is used, and consequently the durability improves.
An example of a magnetic recording medium in which lubricants are added to the lower non-magnetic layer is detailed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-334450 which discloses the lower non-magnetic layer contains acicular particles of hydrated iron oxide such as acicular goethite dispersed in a binder, wherein the acicular particles of hydrated iron oxide has the average long axial length of 0.2 μm or less and the average short axial length of 0.04 μm or less, and the lubricants for the lower non-magnetic layer utilize fatty acids and fatty acid esters.


An optical functional device comprises a dielectric substrate 5, a ferroelectric thin layer 10 provided on the dielectric substrate 5 and comprising a material having electro-optical effect and an electrode 3A, 3B provided on the ferroelectric thin layer 10. A part of the ferroelectric thin layer 10 functions as a core 9 of the optical wave guide and the dielectric substrate functions as a clad for the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide 9 constitutes a multi-mode waveguide in the direction “D” of depth of the ferroelectric thin layer.

So-called multi-media industry has been developed and broad band communication has been increasingly demanded, so that it has been already applied an optical communication system operating at a speed higher than 10 Gb/s. Such system operating at even higher speed is expected. An LN optical modulator is applied as a device for modulating electrical signal of 10 Gb/s or higher (microwave signal) to light.
It was invented a structure to satisfy velocity matching condition of microwave and light wave to realize wide-band modulation of an optical modulator, by lowering the thickness of an optical waveguide substrate (Japanese Patent publication No. 2002-169133A).


The invention is directed to methods and apparatus for repairing fractured, hollow-shafted hockey sticks. In one aspect, the invention comprises a shaft repair insert for joining together a broken hockey shaft so as to define a unitary, repaired hockey stick. In another aspect, the invention comprises a shaft repair sleeve for joining together a broken hockey shaft so as to define a unitary, repaired hockey stick. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a blade receiving insert capable of repairing a hockey shaft having a fracture proximate a blade receiving end. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a shaft extension member for repairing or adjusting the length of hockey shaft.

Over the years, advancements in material technology have lead to increased sophistication in the manufacturing and performance of hockey sticks. Traditionally, hockey sticks were manufactured primarily of wood with a fiberglass covering on the blade portion. The wood stick comprised a solid shaft either machined of a single piece of wood or by sandwiching multiple layers of wood together. These solid shafts were typically very durable but suffered somewhat from increased weight as well as limited flexibility.
Through the use of advanced material technologies, modern hockey sticks are often manufactured of a wide variety of materials. In addition to the aforementioned wood and fiberglass, newer materials including lightweight metals, such as aluminum, and high performance polymers and composite materials such as, for example Kevlar®, graphite, ABS, carbon fiber and ceramics are being used either individually or in combination. Using these new materials, stick suppliers such as Hillerich & Bradsby, CCM, Christian Brothers, Cooper, Mission, Hespeller and Bauer/Nike have been able to alter hockey stick performance to alter and tune stick characteristics such as weight and stick flex.
One way in which these new materials have affected stick construction is through the development of hockey sticks having hollow shafts. These sticks can be manufactured of any of the aforementioned materials and can be either one-piece designs, such as the Easton Synergy™, Louisville Response™, or Mission M1™ models, or they can include removable/replaceable blades and shaft extensions to vary the overall stick length. Representative hollow shaft designs include U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,875 to Easton et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,115 to Sweet, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,325 to Jansen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,916 to Rodger; U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,553 to Rodgors; U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,306 to Selden; U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,027 to Christian et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,947 to Quigley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,509 to Christian; U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,836 to Carroll et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,416 to Christian; U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,955 to Calapp et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,029 to Kunisaki et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,793 to Burger; U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,505 to Burger; U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,633 to Conroy; U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,697 to Sulenta; as well as U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 404,449 to Burger; 430,249 to Burger; 431,273 to Burger; and 458,329 to Clark, Jr. et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publications Nos. 2002/0065154A1 to Goldsmith et al.; and 2003/0119612A1; all of these patents, design patents and patent applications being hereby incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure. With the development of these technologically advanced hockey sticks, suppliers have been able to charge a premium when selling these high performance hockey sticks to the public.
One drawback to the new shaft designs is that with a hollow shaft, the user has an increased potential to break the stick in the shaft as opposed to more traditional blade breakages. As the new shaft and stick designs often have a significant replacement cost associated with them, this can lead to significant warranty and service issues for suppliers was well as frustration on the part of consumers.

Apparatus and method for repairing a hockey stick shaft


A pneumatic oxygen conserving device uses a portion of gas exiting its main valve to interrupt delivery of the gas. Gas is dispensed upon inhalation and is interrupted by means of suitable pneumatic connections between the device's delivery system and its sensing system.

Gas delivery systems typically include a source of gas, such as oxygen, a regulator for reducing the source pressure of the oxygen to a pressure more suitable for use within the delivery system, and a gas line, typically a cannula, for delivering oxygen from the delivery system to the person. Oxygen delivery systems are used not only in hospitals and health care institutions, but also in home-health care and by ambulatory persons requiring oxygen for any number of reasons. Wherever such oxygen delivery systems are used, it is frequently desirable to increase the life of the oxygen supply. This is especially the case in home-based or ambulatory settings where the supply of oxygen is often an oxygen bottle or other relatively finite oxygen source.
To increase the life of the oxygen supply, oxygen conserving devices, also known as oxygen conservers, are frequently used. These conserving devices generally interrupt the flow of oxygen delivered to the person at regular intervals, thereby reducing the rate of oxygen consumption.
Conservers are generally of two types, those which operate electronically, and those which operate pneumatically. Each of these types suffers from various drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, electronic conservers require a power source, generally a battery, in order to operate, thus necessitating periodic replacement or recharging of the power source.
Electronic oxygen conservers sometimes have further disadvantages related to durability and cost.
Pneumatic oxygen conservers are those which make use of the pressurized gas and its flow within the conserver to intermittently block the delivery of gas to the person. Although such pneumatic conservers generally dispense with the need for power sources and complex electronics, they are oftentimes bulkier.
A further disadvantage of pneumatic systems is that they generally require more complex gas lines or cannulas in order to operate. Examples of such pneumatic conservers and their associated dual-lumen cannulas are disclosed in Myers U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,133 and Carter U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,000. One lumen of the cannula is for supplying oxygen to the person wearing the cannula, whereas the other lumen generally connects to a sensing port on the conserver. The pneumatic conserver generally responds to changes in the pressure in the sensing lumen to provide oxygen to the person during inhalation and to interrupt the flow of oxygen to the person in response to exhalation (when oxygen is typically not needed). Unfortunately, dual lumen cannulas are more difficult to obtain, more expensive, bulkier, and generally heavier than the standard, single lumen cannulas used in electronic conservers and many other medical devices.
As a result of these and other drawbacks, pneumatic oxygen conserving devices have not enjoyed widespread use despite certain advantages of such pneumatic conservers over electronic ones.
The various attempts to overcome the drawbacks of pneumatic conservers have had mixed results and have generated their own drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, although the pneumatic oxygen conserver disclosed in Hoffman U.S. Pat. No. 2,881,725, makes use of a single-lumen cannula, the device disclosed therein does not generally deliver oxygen in a manner consistent with the oxygen consumption profiles of a person breathing through a cannula. In other words, it is desirable for oxygen delivery from a conserving device to match a person's needs for oxygen as closely as possible.
There is a need, therefore, for a pneumatic oxygen conserving device which can be used as part of an oxygen delivery system, and which overcomes the disadvantages of current oxygen delivery systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for forming a ring structure having a high volume fraction of a filament reinforcement within a metal matrix is disclosed. The ring structure is formed by consolidating a set of nested rings each of which has a high volume fraction of the filamentary reinforcement therein. The nesting is done to provide a clearance between the rings of the nest of about 2 or 3 mils. The nested rings are enclosed within a HIPing can and the structure is HIPed at about 15 ksi and 1000.degree. C. for over an hour. A single superring structure results from the HIPing.

The present invention relates to the formation of large ring structures. More particularly, it relates to the formation of filament reinforced ring structures having relative large diameters and having a relatively large number of layers of filament reinforcement of the order of 100 to 200 layers or more.
Methods for the formation of filament reinforced structures are disclosed in U.S. patents assigned to the same assignee as the subject application. The preparation of titanium alloy base foils, sheets, and similar articles and of reinforced structures in which silicon carbide fibers are embedded in a titanium base alloy are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,775,547; 4,782,884; 4,786,566; 4,805,294; 4,805,833; and 4,838,337; assigned to the same assignee as the subject application. The texts of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Preparation of composites as described in these patents is the subject of intense study inasmuch as the composites have very high strength properties in relation to their weight. One of the properties which is particularly desirable is the high tensile properties imparted to the structures by the high tensile properties of the silicon carbide fibers or filaments. The tensile properties of the structures are related to the rule of mixtures. According to this rule the proportion of the property, such as the tensile property, which is attributed to the filament, as contrasted with the matrix, is determined by the volume percent of the filament present in the structure and by the tensile strength of the filament itself. Similarly, the proportion of the same tensile property which is attributed to the matrix is determined by the volume percent of the matrix present in the structure and the tensile strength of the matrix itself. To achieve high tensile properties in composite structures it is preferred to have a relatively high volume fraction of the filament reinforcement.
Prior to the development of the processes described in the above-referenced patents, such structures were prepared by sandwiching the reinforcing filaments between foils of titanium base alloy and by pressing the stacks of alternate layers of alloy and reinforcing filament until a composite structure was formed. However, that prior art practice was found to be less than satisfactory when attempts were made to form ring structures in which the filament was an internal reinforcement for the entire ring.
The structures taught in the above-referenced patents and the methods by which they are formed, greatly improved over the earlier practice of forming sandwiches of matrix and reinforcing filament by compression.
Later it was found that while the structures prepared as described in the above-referenced patents have properties which are a great improvement over earlier structures, the attainment of the potentially very high ultimate tensile strength of these structures did not measure up to the values theoretically possible. The testing of composites formed according to the methods taught in the above patents has demonstrated that although modulus values are generally in good agreement with the rule of mixtures predictions, the ultimate tensile strength is usually much lower than predicted by the underlying properties of the individual ingredients to the composite. A number of applications have been filed which are directed toward overcoming the problem of lower than expected tensile properties and a number of these applications are copending. These include applications Ser. No. 445,203, filed Dec. 4, 1989; Ser. No. 459,894, filed Jan. 2, 1990; and Ser. Nos. 455,041 and 455,048, both filed Dec. 22, 1989. The texts of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
One of the structures which has been found to be particularly desirable in the use of the technology of these reference patents is an annular article having a metal matrix and having silicon carbide filament reinforcement extending many times around the entire ring. Such ring structures have very high tensile properties relative to their weight particularly when compared to structures made entirely of metal. Such structures must be precise in their internal dimensions in order for the structures to be used most effectively in end use applications inasmuch as the structures are often used as part of a more complex structure and for this purpose are fitted over one or a number of elements in a circular form in order to serve as a reinforcing ring.
One of the structures which is formed has the reinforcing filament wound many times and in many layers around the circumference and is a reinforced ring structure. The reinforced ring can be used for example as a reinforcing ring for the compressor blades of a compressor disk of a jet engine. In order to serve to hold the blades in a compressor stage of a jet engine a large number of layers of reinforcing filaments are required.
The ring structures of concern here are structures which may be a few inches to a few feet in diameter The above referenced prior art patents and pending applications deal primarily with the technology and parameters of forming individual filament reinforced layers and with economical and reliable methods for forming structures having a relatively small number of such layers. However, there is no teaching in the referenced patents and applications about methods for forming ring structures having layers of filament reinforcement in excess of about 100 such layers.
It has been recognized that there is a limitation on the number of layers which can be added to a ring structure before a danger arises that the addition of further layers of filament reinforcement will cause buckling and damage to the filaments of the underlayers. The limit on the number of such layers before the potential for filament buckling and damage occurs is about 20 or 30 layers of filament reinforcement. While such structures are very valuable and are a vast improvement over structures which have been known heretofore, nevertheless there is a need for filament reinforced ring structures having a much larger number of layers of filaments to provide additional reinforcement.
It will be recognized that in forming rings by addition of a single layer of reinforcement at a time, the product ring can be inspected after each layer of reinforcement is added. Rings with a few layers of reinforcement can be discarded if found to be defective when inspected without substantial economic loss. However a single ring to which 60 layers have been added individually does represent a serious economic loss. This is another reason for forming ring segments of 20 layers each and condensing these into a single structure of 100 or 200 layers or more.

Reinforced multilayer filament reinforced ring structure


The present invention provides an airbag inflator assembled, in part, using ultrasonic welding. The inflator includes a housing adapted to receive an initiator assembly and an adaptor socket to connect the inflator to the electronic systems of the vehicle. The initiator and the adaptor socket are welded together at a point of interface through the housing of the inflator using an ultrasound welding process. Joint seals are provided that allow the production of a gas-tight seal upon completion of assembly of the airbag inflator.

Safety belts are designed to protect the occupants of a vehicle during events such as automobile collisions. In low-speed collisions, the occupants are generally protected from impact with objects located inside the vehicle such as the windshield, the instrument panel, a door, the side windows, or the steering wheel by the action of the safety belt. In more severe collisions, however, even belted occupants may experience an impact with the car's interior. Airbag systems were developed to supplement conventional safety belts by deploying into the space between an occupant and an interior object or surface in the vehicle during a collision event. The airbag acts to decelerate the occupant, thus reducing the chances of injury caused by contact with the vehicle's interior.
Many typical airbag systems consist of several individual components joined to form an operational airbag module. Such components generally include an airbag cushion, an airbag inflator, a sensor, and an electronic control unit. Airbag cushions are typically made of a thin fabric that is folded to fit into a compartment of a steering wheel, dashboard, interior compartment, roof, roof rail, roof compartment, or other space in a vehicle. The airbag inflator is in fluid communication with the airbag cushion, and is configured to produce a gas to inflate the cushion when it is needed. The sensors detect sudden decelerations of the vehicle that are characteristic of an impact. The readings taken by the sensors are processed in the electronic control unit using an algorithm to determine whether a collision has occurred.
Upon detection of an impact of sufficient severity, the control unit sends an electrical signal to the inflator. The inflator uses one of many technologies currently known in the art to produce a volume of an inflation gas. The inflation gas is channeled into the airbag, inflating it. Inflation of the airbag causes it to deploy, placing it in a position to receive the impact of a vehicle occupant. After contact of the occupant with the airbag and the corresponding deceleration of the occupant, the airbag rapidly deflates. To accomplish this, the inflation gas is vented from openings in the airbag, deflating it and freeing the occupant to exit the vehicle.
As experience in the manufacture and use of airbag modules has increased, the engineering challenges involved in their design, construction, and use have become better understood. Most airbag modules include an airbag cushion, an inflator, an initiator, and often a housing enclosing the components and electronic connections needed to carry signals from external sensors to the module to cause its deployment. The components of an airbag module must be arranged to provide proper deployment of the airbag cushion. In addition, the components must be mounted to each other and to the vehicle in a manner sufficiently secure to successfully withstand the vibrations, shocks, and other forces experienced in an operating motor vehicle.
Currently, initiators are attached to inflators indirectly, being first placed in an adaptor customized to fit the particular inflator and initiator in use, and then using a crimping process to secure the initiator within the adaptor. The adaptor also includes features provided to serve as a connector socket for the attachment of the electronics used to initiate deployment of the airbag module. Initiators are generally inserted into the adaptors, and then a portion of the adaptor is crimped about the initiator, securing it into place such that when the adaptor is inserted into the airbag module, the initiator is capable of initiating production of inflation gas by the inflator even after long periods of vehicle operation.
The adaptors used in these currently known processes are complex parts that must be individually manufactured to accommodate the connector geometries used by various automotive manufacturers. Often the adaptors are custom-machined parts that are costly to produce and use, thus raising the costs of inflators. Accordingly, a need exists for methods of securely attaching an initiator and a connector socket to an airbag module. It would be a further advantage in the art to provide such a method which avoids the costs associated with the crimping-based methods discussed above, while still providing a gas tight seal. Such methods are provided herein.

Ultrasonic welded initiator and connector socket


A reuseable mailer type business form has an initial mailing configuration addressed to an outgoing addressee, and a reply mailing configuration addressed to a reply addressee. The mailer complies with the postal requirement that no part of the outgoing address or postage (including postal service applied bar coding) appear on the mailer in the reply configuration. The mailer includes a front opaque ply with at least one cut-out, and at least one removable strip adjacent an edge, including a perforation line. Postage indicia are visible at the upper right-hand corner of the front ply. A rear opaque ply has a fold line adjacent an edge, and coincident with the perforation line of the front ply. A flap is defined between the fold line and the adjacent edge. At least one insert ply (between the front and rear plies) having outgoing address information visible through the cutout when the mailer is in the initial mailing configuration is provided. Various structures are provided for rendering non-viewable all outgoing addressee postage information when the mailer is converted between the initial and reply configurations. Such structure can be a second removable strip adjacent a different edge than the first removable strip, or a second cutout provided in the front ply for viewing the outgoing postage (on the insert ply).

Relatively-recent postal requirements have rendered unuseable a number of previously-popular mailers. The U.S.P.S. requirements provide that only the addresses, zip+4 bar code, postage and markings and endorsements that may be visible when a reuseable mail piece is mailed from the originator to the recipient, or from the recipient back to the originator, are those that apply at the time of mailing. The mailer must remove or sufficiently obscure any other element to prevent their being mistaken by postal mail process equipment or personnel. Reuseable mail pieces that are not constructed to meet the requirements are not accepted.
According to the present invention, a reuseable mailer type business form, having four different configurations, is provided which complies with the U.S.P.S. regulations. The business form according to the invention comprises a reuseable mailer useable in an initial mailing configuration addressed to an outgoing addressee, and in a reply mailing configuration addressed to the reply addressee. The features common to all mailers according to the invention include the following elements: A front opaque ply having top, bottom and first and second side edges, at least one cutout, and at least one removable strip adjacent an edge thereof including a perforation line. Postage indicia visible at the upper right hand corner of the front ply. A rear opaque ply of substantially the same size as the front ply having a rear face and a front face, and a fold line adjacent an edge thereof substantially coincident with the perforation line of the front ply, a flap portion defined between the fold line and the adjacent edge of the rear ply. At least one insert ply having outgoing address information thereon visible through the cutout when the mailer is in the initial mailing configuration. And, means for rendering non-viewable all outgoing addressee and postage information, including outgoing addressee bar coding, when converting the mailer from the initial configuration to the reply configuration.
The "rendering" means provided according to the present invention may take the form of a second removable strip adjacent a different edge than the at least one removable strip, or a second cutout formed in the front ply at the upper right-hand corner, postage indicia formed on the insert and visible through the second cutout when the mailer is in its initial configuration. Alternatively, the rendering means may include outgoing addressee bar coding on the insert, and the cutout being large enough so that the entire outgoing address, including bar coding, is visible through it. Also, in one embodiment in order to prevent an insert from moving around within the reply configuration of the mailer, an obscuring reply address that is provided on the front face of the rear ply, aligned strips of self-stick adhesive may extend between the top and bottom edges of the front and rear plies on one side of the cutout, for sealing the front and rear plies together when the insert plies are between them. The adhesive on the flap portion may be a strip of rewettable adhesive, and the cutouts may be open or covered by transparent (e.g., glassine) patches.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a general configuration of reuseable mailer, and a number of specific embodiments thereof, that are simple to construct and use, yet comply with all postal regulations regarding visibility of outgoing and reply addresses. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and the appended claims.

Reuseable mailer meeting postal requirements


An example locating assembly includes, among other things, a display within an electrified vehicle, a vehicle symbol presented on the display, and a charge port symbol presented on the display. The charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate a position of a charge port. An example locating method includes displaying a vehicle symbol and a charge port symbol on a display of an electrified vehicle. The charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate a position of a charge port.

Electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because electrified vehicles are selectively driven using one or more electric machines powered by a traction battery. The electric machines can drive the electrified vehicles instead of, or in addition to, an internal combustion engine. Example electrified vehicles include hybrid electrified vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electrified vehicles (PHEVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and battery electrified vehicles (BEVs). Some electrified vehicles, like PHEVs and BEVs, can charge the traction battery from an external power source. A user can plug a charger into a charge port of the electrified vehicle so that power can move from an external charging system to the electrified vehicle.
There is no universal standard for where the charge port is located on electrified vehicles. Some electrified vehicles can include a charge port within, for example, a front fender. Other electrified vehicles can include a charge port within a rear fender, a rear tail light, or in some other area. Some electrified vehicles have more than one charge port located in different areas. One charge port could be at the front of the electrified vehicle and used, for example, for AC charges. Another charge port could be located at the rear of the vehicle and used for DC fast charges.
An operator of the electrified vehicle may not know, or may forget, where the charge port is located on an electrified vehicle. This could lead to the operator positioning the electrified vehicle in an inconvenient location relative to an external charging system.

Charge port locating assembly and method


A power supply apparatus for supplying an output voltage to a load is provided, which comprises a power output unit, a feedback unit and a control unit. The power output unit adjusts and supplies the output voltage to the load in accordance with at least one driving signal. The feedback unit dynamically detects output condition of the power output unit and outputs the corresponding detection result. The control unit determines a skipping ratio for an internal clock in accordance with the detection result output from the feedback unit, and outputs the internal clock with a part of the pulses being skipped to act as the driving signal.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus, and more particularly, to a power supply apparatus that performs a dynamic pulse-skipping mode (PSM).
2. Description of Related Art
The design of a conventional power supply apparatus is generally based on the specification provided by a manufacturer of load units, so the output power is a preset value, and the output power must be large enough to allow the load to work normally in any case, i.e., the output power is the maximum value of the power consumed by the load. Considering the actual application, the load, such as a processor, a random access memory, and a display, is not fully loaded at any time, especially in the case of a mobile communication product that is mostly in a standby mode to save power, so the efficiency for the power supply apparatus in the whole load range is a key point in practical application. Accordingly, in recent years, a variety of power supply apparatuses are proposed in some documents. For example, in Journal of Solid-State Circuit, Vol. 39, No. 1, Page 3-14, January 2004, in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a power supply apparatus is provided, wherein the output state of the power supply apparatus is sensed through a current mode, and thereby the output is adjusted accordingly.
The conventional voltage-regulating method includes: pulse-width modulation (PWM) and pulse-frequency modulation (PFM). FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the conversion efficiency and the load currents for the PWM and PFM. Referring to FIG. 1, as for power supply with light load, the power supply apparatus is designed to regulate voltage through PFM; on the contrary, as for power supply with heavy load, the power supply apparatus is designed to regulate voltage through PWM. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a detector for determining the PWM or PFM in the conventional power supply apparatus. Referring to FIG. 2, according to a comparative result output by a comparator 215, a switch 230 selects to transmit a pulse-width modulation signal output by a pulse-width modulator 205 or a pulse-frequency modulation signal output by a pulse-frequency modulator 210 to drivers 220 and 225. Power transistors 235 and 240 are respectively driven by the drivers 220 and 225 to be alternately turned on. Therefore, a load current Iout flows through an inductor 245 to be supplied to a load 270. Generally, all outputs of the power supply apparatus are connected to a load capacitor 250.
Since the voltage-regulating methods of the pulse-width modulation and the pulse-frequency modulation have their own suitable load ranges, the perfect conversion efficiency cannot always be achieved within the whole load range if a single method is employed. Therefore, in the conventional art, the pulse-width modulation and the pulse-frequency modulation are integrated into a single power supply apparatus, which is switched to one of the voltage regulating methods automatically according to the load condition. However, as shown in FIG. 1, there are also low efficiency points at the handshaking section of the curves PFM and PWM.
In order to detect the current of the load 270, a sensitive resistor is connected in series between the power transistor 235 and a voltage source Vin in the conventional art. In order to reduce the power consumption, the switching technology (shown in FIG. 2) for the conventional pulse-width modulation and pulse-frequency modulation is to connect a sensitive resistor 255 and a power transistor 260 between a node 280 and the voltage source Vin in series. The current load current Iout is obtained by using the sensitive resistor 255, and the voltage of a node 285 is compared with a predetermined reference voltage Vmode, thereby achieving a simple load-sensing architecture. However, the conventional art has two serious disadvantages: (1) power consumption of the serial-connected resistor 255; (2) such architecture is only capable of switching between the pulse-width modulation and the pulse-frequency modulation by using a fixed point, and cannot detect them dynamically.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

Individuals connected through internet browsers such as Google Chrome and social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram may simultaneously participate in an event, even when these individuals are physically located in different locations. For example, individuals in different locations that are connected via Facebook may view an event such as a concert, movie, or sports match, stream a video, play a video game, or attend an education session at the same time, while also being able to communicate, for example via text, with each other over the social media platform.
Similarly, individuals in different locations may watch the same video or other multimedia content using a streaming application, such as Netflix, that is integrated with a video sharing application, for example, a Chrome tele-party extension. While streaming a video using, for example, Netflix tele-party, individuals participating in the streaming session may communicate with each other, for example, via sending text messages on the streaming platform. However, these streaming sessions are typically not fully synchronized due to the differences in the network configurations of the devices used in the streaming session. For example, when multiple individuals are simultaneously streaming a video, there are likely to be different lag times on when the video is received on each user's device due to the differences in the configuration of each user's device/network, for example, the bandwidth associated with each user's network. Current video sharing applications are typically limited to operating on select devices. For example, some video sharing applications can only operate on desktop computers and are not configured to operate on portable devices such as smart phones or tablets. Moreover, interactions over these video sharing applications are typically fragmented, wherein they may provide one or more of video streaming, video sharing, group video chat and group text as discrete features, such that one or more of these features may not be available during a streaming session. There is thus a need for an improved system and method of integrating video sharing applications with streaming application while allowing the streaming application to fully synchronize communal video streams being viewed on multiple devices and to synchronize the communal video streams with social media content being transmitted across devices during communal viewing.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Integrated system and method for executing a communal media system in a streaming application


Fuel efficiency of small carbureted engines can be improved through the use of a fuel shut off valve that ceases fuel flow in the carburetor upon determination that the engine throttle has been closed and the engine is not at or near an idle condition.

Conventional carbureted engines used in motor vehicles, particularly those used in many motorcycles, generally do not have shut off valves to allow turning the fuel flow off when the motor vehicle is decelerating.
Real-world and simulated drive cycles representative of how motorcycles are used generally include a significant amount of time spent decelerating with the throttle closed on the carburetor. Such periods can include the use of so-called engine braking, in which the operator releases the throttle control and the throttle valve closes to prevent air from flowing into the combustion chamber(s) of the engine. Any fuel that is delivered to the combustion chamber(s) of the engine during periods in which the throttle is closed in this manner is generally wasted.

Deceleration fuel shut off for carbureted engines


A visual axis detection apparatus in which an eye of an observer is illuminated by a light source, and the corneal reflection image of the eye and the reflected image of the iris are detected by a light sensor. By the utilization of the position information of each reflected image from the sensor, the visual axis of the eye is calculated by a calculator. The light sensor has a plurality of photoelectric elements, and the calculator utilizes the position information of one of a plurality of photoelectric elements which produces the smallest output signal to detect the reflected image of iris on the basis of the signal from the light sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a visual axis detection apparatus, and particularly to a visual axis detection apparatus in an optical apparatus such as a camera designated to detect the axis in the direction of a viewing point being observed by an observer (photographer) on an observation surface (a focusing screen) on which is formed an object image by a photo-taking system, i.e., the so-called visual axis, by the utilization of a corneal reflection image obtained when the surface of an eyeball of the observer is illuminated.
2 Related Background Art
There have heretofore been proposed various apparatuses for detecting which position on an observation surface the observer is observing, i.e., detecting the so-called visual axis.
For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-172552, a parallel light beam from a light source is projected onto the front eye part of an eyeball of the observer and the visual axis is formed by the utilization of the image positions of the corneal reflection image by the reflected light from the cornea and a pupil. FIGS. 10A and 10B of the accompanying drawings illustrate the principle of a visual axis detecting method, FIG. 10A being a schematic view of a visual axis detecting optical system, and FIG. 10B showing the intensity of an output signal from a photoelectric element array 6.
In FIG. 10A, the reference numeral 5 designates a light source such as a light emitting diode which emits infrared light not sensed by the observer. The light source 5 is disposed on the focal plane of a light projecting lens 3.
The infrared light emitted from the light source 5 is collimated by the light projecting lens 3, is reflected by a half mirror 2 and illuminates the cornea 21 of an eyeball 201. At this time, the corneal reflection image (Purkinje image) d by part of the infrared light reflected by the surface of the cornea is transmitted through the half mirror 2, is condensed by a light receiving lens 4 and is re-imaged at a position Zd' on the photoelectric element array 6.
Also, a light beam from the end portions a and b of an iris 23 form the images of these end portions a and b at positions Za' and Zb' on the photoelectric element array 6 through the half mirror 2 and the light receiving lens 4. Where the rotation angle .theta. of the optical axis OA2 of the eyeball with respect to the optical axis of the light receiving lens 4 (the optical axis OA1) is small, when the Z coordinates of the end portions a and b of the iris 23 are Za, Zb, the coordinates Zc of the center position c of the iris 23 are expressed as EQU Zc.perspectiveto.(Za+Zb)/2.
Also, when the Z coordinates of the position d at which the corneal reflection image is created and the distance between the center of curvature 0 of the cornea 21 and the center C of the pupil 24 is L.sub.OC, the rotation angle .theta. of the optical axis OA2 of the eyeball substantially satisfies the following relational expression: EQU L.sub.OC * SIN.theta..perspectiveto.Zc-Zd. (1)
Here, the Z coordinates Zd of the position d of the corneal reflection image and the Z coordinates Zo of the center of curvature 0 of the cornea 21 are coincident with each other. Therefore, in calculation means 9, the positions of particular points (the reflected image d of the cornea and the end portions a and b of the iris) projected onto the surface of the photoelectric element array 6 as shown in FIG. 10B are detected, whereby the angle of rotation .theta. of the optical axis OA2 of the eyeball can be found. At this time, expression (1) is rewritten into as ##EQU1## where .beta. is a magnification determined by the distance L1 between the position d at which the corneal reflection image is created and the light receiving lens 4 and the distance L0 between the light receiving lens 4 and the photoelectric element array 6, and usually is a substantially constant value.
This is effective, for example, for saving the trouble of selecting sand inputting one of distance measuring points provided not only at the center of the image field but also at a plurality of locations in the image field in the automatic focus detecting apparatus of a camera when the observer attempts to select one of those distance measuring points and perform automatic focus detection, and regarding that point being observed by the observer as a distance measuring point, and automatically selecting the distance measuring point to thereby accomplish automatic focus detection.
In a visual axis detection apparatus according to the prior art, an image sensor 7 (image pickup means), comprising a plurality of photoelectric element arrays 6, such as CCDs, is used as light receiving means.
FIG. 11A of the accompanying drawings is an illustration showing the corneal reflection image of an eyeball and the reflected image of the iris formed on the surface of such an image sensor 7, and FIG. 11B of the accompanying drawings is an illustration of an output signal from one of the photoelectric element arrays 6 of FIG. 11A.
In these figures, the positions of the corneal reflection image Zd' and the marginal points Za' and Zb' of the iris 23 and the pupil 24 are detected by a photoelectric element array Y1.
Generally, a method whereby an output signal from a photoelectric element array is A/D-converted, whereafter it is subjected to a differential process is known as a positive detecting method using an image sensor.
As shown in FIG. 11B, the output signal from the photoelectric element array for the corneal reflection image Zd' is very great and can be detected relatively easily. On the other hand, the output signals from the photoelectric element arrays for the marginal points Za' and Zb' of the iris 23 and the pupil 24 are weak, and the reflectivity of the iris 23 differs from person to person. Therefore, a ghost or a flare can enter a detecting optical system, and in the case of a person wearing glasses, reflected images from the glasses provide a noise component, and this reduces the detection accuracy of the marginal points Za' and Zb'.
For example, when an attempt is made to take the differential value of the output signals of FIG. 11B and detect it by a predetermined threshold value, a plurality of points which can be regarded as the marginal point P1 of the iris 23 and the pupil 24 will come into existence.
This has led to a case where the reliability of the detection position becomes low and the visual. axis is detected erroneously. To avoid this, it is necessary to use new software, and this has resulted in the problem that the calculation process becomes complex and further, the calculation speed becomes low and it becomes difficult to effect visual axis detection in real time.


Switchgear is provided including an enclosure for pad-mounted installation. The enclosure includes large lift-up cover panels in combination with removable front panels so as to provide unobstructed access to the interior of the enclosure. In a preferred arrangement, the enclosure houses switchgear that includes low-voltage control and viewing arrangements that are operable from a first side of the switchgear and medium-voltage cable terminations that are accessible from a second side of the switchgear opposite the first side, the enclosure providing access to the low-voltage arrangements while providing isolation from the medium-voltage arrangements. The enclosure also includes protection from the environment in the area of the lift-up cover panels while also providing collapsible lifting members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to switchgear for the field of electrical power distribution, and more particularly to an enclosure for pad-mounted installation of switchgear to provide separate access to and isolation between medium-voltage cable termination arrangements and the low voltage control, testing and viewing provisions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Switchgear are generally categorized by their installation location (e.g grade or surface, sub-surface etc.), the configuration of components (e.g. loadbreak switches, fuses, interrupters, disconnects, sectionalizers, etc.), the cable connections (e.g. elbows, cable terminators), the accessibility of components and controls, the medium within the switchgear enclosure, for example air, vacuum, oil, gas (such as SF.sub.6), etc., and additional features such as fault indicators, voltage indicators, power operation, automatic fault interruption control, etc. Various enclosures for pad-mounted installations are known that provide security and access features for operation of the switchgear or components housed therein.
While the enclosures of the prior art arrangements may be useful to provide certain useful operational features, the prior arrangements are rather limited regarding accessibility, ease of fabrication, and ease of operation for switchgear that is housed in a sealed tank and that includes arrays of low-voltage controls and viewing provisions of internal switch positions, and arrays of medium-voltage cable terminations.


A power train for eight forward and one reverse speeds may include input shaft, output gear, transmission case, speed shift unit, output unit, four clutches and two brakes. The speed shift unit includes a first operational member fixedly connected to the input shaft, a second operational member selectively coupled to the input shaft; a third operational member fixedly connected to the transmission case; a fourth operational member selectively coupled to the sixth operation member; and a fifth operational member selectively coupled to the fourth operational member. The output unit includes a sixth operational member fixedly connected to the fifth operational member, a seventh operational member selectively coupled to the input shaft and the transmission case, an eighth operational member selectively coupled to the input shaft, and a ninth operational member connecting the output gear. The four clutches and two brakes control pertinent operation members to change the rotational speed.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power train of an automatic transmission, and more particularly, to a power train that realizes eight forward speeds and one reverse speed.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A typical shift mechanism of an automatic transmission utilizes a combination of a plurality of planetary gear sets. A power train of such an automatic transmission that includes a plurality of planetary gear sets changes rotational speed and torque received from a torque converter of the automatic transmission, and accordingly transmits the changed torque to an output shaft.
It is well known that when a transmission realizes a greater number of shift speeds, speed ratios of the transmission can be more optimally designed and therefore a vehicle can have economic fuel mileage and better performance. For that reason, an automatic transmission that is able to realize more shift speeds is under continuous investigation.
In addition, with the same number of speeds, features of a power train such as durability, efficiency in power transmission, and size, depend a lot on the layout of combined planetary gear sets. Therefore, designs for a combining structure of a power train are also under continuous investigation.
A manual transmission that has too many speeds causes the inconvenience of to a driver. Therefore, the advantageous features of automatic transmissions having more shift-speeds are more important because an automatic transmission automatically controls shifting operations.
Meanwhile, as more shift-speeds in an automatic transmission are realized, a power train that shifts skip-up and skip-down easily, as well as shifts up and down normally, is required.
The above information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


Managing backup copies in a right to delete personal data environment is described. A system creates a revised backup copy by deleting any data that a deletion request ledger specifies for deletion from a backup copy that was created for a data object. The system associates an updating time with the revised backup copy. The system retrieves the revised backup copy in response to receiving a restoration request corresponding to the revised backup copy. The system enables restoration of the data object by deleting any data i) that the deletion request ledger specifies for deletion from the revised backup copy and ii) that is associated with a deletion request time which is subsequent to the updating time.

If a software error corrupts a data object, or if erroneous data updates the data object, a data protection administrator may restore the data object to a previous state that does not include the corrupted or erroneous data. A backup/restore application executes a backup operation either occasionally or continuously to enable this restoration, storing a copy of each desired data object state (such as the values of data and these values' embedding in a database's data structures) within dedicated backup files. When the data protection administrator decides to return the data object to a previous state, the data protection administrator specifies the desired previous state by identifying a desired point in time when the data object was in this state, and then instructs the backup/restore application to execute a restore operation to restore a copy of the corresponding backup file(s) for that state to the data object.
A data object and/or a backup file may be stored on cloud storage, which is a model of data storage in which digital data is stored in logical pools, with the physical storage spanning multiple servers, and often locations, and the physical environment typically owned and managed by a hosting company. A cloud storage provider is responsible for keeping the stored data available and accessible, and the physical environment protected and running. People and organizations buy or lease storage capacity from a cloud storage provider to store user, and/or application data. Cloud storage services may be accessed through a co-located cloud computer service, a web service application programming interface (API), or by applications that utilize a web service API, such as cloud desktop storage, a cloud storage gateway, or Web-based content management systems.
While this disclosure uses backup files as examples, the procedures discussed apply to general data management operations. In the most general case of storing backup files in cloud storage, a typical backup/restore application reads data on a client system, optionally de-duplicates/compresses the backup data, catalogues the backup data, and sends the backup data to a cloud storage gateway, which exposes a file system interface backed by the cloud storage. Any data written to the file system interface exposed by the cloud storage gateway ends up getting written to the cloud storage. Often the cloud storage gateway is an intelligent device (like Maginatics or SteelStore) and has built-in de-duplication/compression capabilities.

Managing backup copies in a right-to-delete personal data environment


A mobile drive apparatus (1001) for item handling. The drive apparatus comprises at least one platform for supporting an item; a drive means; and a movable door (5003, 5001) coupled to the at least one platform and configured to move between an open position in which the platform is accessible to a user and a closed position in which the platform is enclosed. The apparatus further comprises control means coupled to the drive means. The control means are configured to control the drive means to move the drive apparatus from a current location associated with an item pickup point to a second different location for processing by an item handling hub, in response to receiving an indication that a token presented by the user is a valid token.

The volume of baggage being handled at airports has increased significantly in recent years and with this this growing volume of baggage, congestion at airports has increased, making it more and more difficult to navigate through the airport. This increased congestion also slows down the throughput of passengers from the airport entrance to the aircraft. This congestion and increasing queues at check-in counters may result in departure delays for airlines and may also impact the airport with additional costs and inefficiencies, as more staff are required to manage and coordinate passengers and their baggage.
A further problem with current baggage handling systems is that reduced mobility passengers also have to bring their baggage into the airport by themselves or with assistance from others.
Although curb-side check-in may be available at some airports where baggage can be dropped off outside the airport, the baggage still needs to be transported from the hotel, car park or other location to the bag check-in position.
Some self-service baggage solutions have been provided which accelerate the baggage drop process. These may allow a passenger, who has already checked in, to quickly drop their bags at the self-bag drop counter. However, a problem with such a solution is that the passenger still has to enter the airport with their baggage, which does not alleviate the problem of congestion within the airport caused by significant amounts of baggage and baggage trolleys.

Item handling system, method and apparatus therefor


A leakage current control device of a semiconductor memory device is provided to effectively remove leakage current flowing from a bit line to a word line when a process defect is generated by gate residues of the semiconductor memory device, thereby reducing unnecessary current consumption. In the leakage current control device, the bit line boosted to a voltage level of core voltage/2 is controlled at a ground voltage level during a precharge period to remove unnecessary leakage current flowing from the bit line to a word line bridge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a leakage current control device of a semiconductor memory device, and more specifically, to a technology of effectively removing leakage current when a process defect is generated by gate residues.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in most of DRAM planner processes using semiconductors a process defect caused by gate residues results in a bridge phenomenon which shorts neighboring metals.
Due to the bridge phenomenon between metals, an unnecessary current path is formed to increase power consumption of a memory, which degrades the performance of the product.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating a path of leakage current by the gate residue process defect in a conventional semiconductor memory device.
In the conventional semiconductor memory device, a word line WL and a bit line BL are connected to a resistor R and a capacitor C. While the semiconductor memory device is precharged, the word line WL transits to a ground voltage level, and the bit line BL is maintained at a core voltage/2 (bit line precharge voltage VBLP).
However, when the above-described state is maintained for a long time, a current path is formed from the bit line BL to the word line WL, so that unnecessary current is consumed. Moreover, it is difficult to solve the process defect by complementation on the process as a critical dimension of the semiconductor memory becomes more microscopic.
Specifically, a basic refresh operation is required to maintain data for the minimum power consumption at a standby mode of a low power consumption memory product. However, when leakage current is generated by a gate residue phenomenon at the standby mode of the low power consumption memory product, unnecessary current is consumed.

Leakage current control device of semiconductor memory device


Embodiments of a low profile three parameter isolator are provided, as are embodiments of an isolation system employing one or more low profile three parameter isolators. In one embodiment, the three parameter isolator includes a first damper and a flat plate structure, which is coupled to the first damper and which extends substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the isolator. A main spring is formed in the flat plate structure and is coupled in series with the first damper, as taken along a first load path through the three parameter isolator. A tuning spring is also formed in the flat plate structure such that the tuning spring is coupled in parallel with the main spring and in series with the first damper, as taken along a second load path through the three parameter isolator.

Vibration isolation systems are employed in a wide variety of applications to minimize the transmission of disturbances forces between two bodies or structures. For example, satellite are often equipped with vibration isolation systems to minimize the transmission of vibratory forces emitted from attitude adjustment devices (e.g., control moment gyroscopes or reaction wheels) to other vibration-sensitive components (e.g., optical payloads) carried by the satellite. The performance of a vibration isolation system is largely determined by the number of isolators included within the system, the manner in which the isolators are arranged, and the vibration attenuation characteristics of each individual isolator. Vibration isolation systems employing three parameter isolators, which behave mechanically as a primary spring in parallel with a series-coupled secondary spring and damper, provide superior attenuation of high frequency vibratory forces as compared to vibration isolation systems employing other types of passive isolators, such as viscoelastic isolators. An example of a three parameter isolator is the D-STRUT® isolator developed and commercially marketed by Honeywell, Inc., currently headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Such isolators are often single Degree of Freedom (DOF), axially-damping devices well-suited for usage within multi-point mounting arrangements.
By conventional design, three parameter isolators are often imparted with a relatively length, cylindrical or strut-like form factor. As a result, the usage of three parameter isolators may be precluded by packaging constraints in instances wherein a relatively limited distance is provided between isolator mount points. While it may be possible to extend the distance between the mount points by system redesign, this solution is less than ideal and may negatively impact overall system performance; e.g., system redesign may result in wider mode spread, less attenuation at a given frequency or frequencies, and/or an undesirable increase in isolator loads and strokes. As an alternative solution, the isolation system can be built using low profile viscoelastic mounts having generally puck-shaped form factors. However, the usage of viscoelastic mounts in place of three parameter isolators typically requires a tradeoff in the performance of the isolation system. Moreover, the damping and stiffness characteristics of viscoelastic mounts typically vary in a non-linear manner with changes in temperature and load, which can render viscoelastic mount-based isolation systems more difficult to design and predict and less effective at attenuating vibrations over a wide frequency range.
There thus exists an ongoing need to provide embodiment of a low profile three parameter isolator, which has a reduced length or height and which is well-suited for usage within an isolation system capable of proving high fidelity damping and stiffness in six degrees of freedom. Ideally, such a low profile three parameter isolator would be readily manufacturable, durable, lightweight, and characterized by a relatively low part count. It would also be desirable for such a three parameter isolator to provide damping and stiffness properties that vary in a substantially linear manner with changes in load and temperature. Finally, it would be desirable to provide embodiments of an isolation system including one or more low profile three parameter isolators having the foregoing characteristics. Other desirable features and characteristics of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent Detailed Description and the appended Claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing Background.

Low profile three parameter isolators and isolation systems employing the same


A fuel composition useful for operating a jet engine or a diesel engine containing a petroleum derived kerosene fuel and a Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fuel is provided. The Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fuel contains normal and iso-paraffins in a weight ratio of greater than 1:1 and/or the freeze point of the composition is lower than the freeze points of both of the petroleum derived kerosene fuel and the Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fuel.

The freeze point of a fuel composition is an important factor in determining whether it is suitable for use in power units which are intended for operation under low temperature conditions, such as for example arctic conditions. It is also an important factor in relation to aviation use, for which low temperature conditions are experienced at high altitudes. It is clearly vital that the fuel composition does not freeze or cause flow to be restricted (because of increased viscosity or blocked filters) during operation, otherwise the consequences could be disastrous.
Additives are known for inclusion in fuel compositions to enable them to be used under such low temperature conditions. Such additives include flow improver additives and wax anti-settling agents. However, it would be desirable to be able to achieve the low temperature effects of such additives whilst reducing, or even eliminating, their presence.
In "Qualification of Sasol semi-synthetic Jet A-1 as commercial jet fuel", SwRI-8531, Moses et al., November 1997, is described the blending into jet A-1 fuel of a synthetic iso-paraffinic kerosene (IPK), derived from synthesis gas through a Fischer-Tropsch process. IPK is described as having a very low freezing point, which is stated to be typically less than −60° C. Blends of 25% and 50% IPK in Jet A-1 are described as having freeze points of above −60° C., but below the freezing point of Jet A-1, which is indicated to be −47 to −49° C. Therefore, the freeze points of the blends lie between the respective freeze points of the blend components. This document also refers to the freeze points of blends of SMDS (i.e. Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis) kerosene with conventional fuels always being lower than predicted by blending ratio, i.e. below that according to a linear blending formula, but with no reference to where the freeze points of the blends lie in relation to the freeze points of the blend components. Therefore, from the disclosure of this document it would not be expected that the freeze point of blends would lie below the freeze points of both of the blend components.
In "Freezing point of jet fuel blends", Schmidt, Minutes of the meeting of the low temperature flow performance of aviation turbine fuels group, CRC Aviation fuel, lubricant and equipment research meeting, April 1995, there is discussion of the relationship of the measured freeze points of various jet fuel blends in relation to linear blending assumptions. It is shown in this document that said freeze points could be higher than or lower than the freeze points based on linear blending assumptions, and can be between the freeze points of the blending components or below the freeze points of both of the blend components. Thus, it is not possible to predict from this document what the relationship will be between the freeze point of a blend and the freeze points of the blend components, particularly of blends in which one of the components is a Fischer-Tropsch derived fuel, such fuels not being mentioned in this document.

Depressed freeze point kerosene fuel compositions and methods of making and using same


Systems and methods for controlling temperature in an optical amplification system are provided. An optical amplification system comprises a pump laser, a multiplexer, an optical fiber, a temperature control device, and processing circuitry. The pump laser generates an optical pump signal. The multiplexer multiplexes the optical pump signal and an input optical signal to generate a multiplexed optical signal. The optical fiber receives the multiplexed optical signal. The temperature control device controls temperature within the optical amplification system based on a control signal. The processing circuitry determines whether to adjust the temperature of the optical amplification system and generates the control signal based on this determination.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to optical amplification, and more particularly to temperature control in optical amplification.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical fibers are an excellent communication medium, e.g. in avionics, because optical fibers provide large bandwidth, are lightweight, and are immune to electromagnetic interference. In some environments such as the aircraft environment, some challenges for optical amplification system design exist that are not currently addressed in the communications markets. These challenges include the need for low power consumption and a wide operating temperature range.
Standard erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) are designed for operation between 0° C. and 70° C. The erbium doped fiber amplifiers operate over this range using either uncooled pump lasers or pump lasers operated at a specific temperature, (e.g. 25° C.) through use of a thermoelectric cooler.
When an optical amplification system operates at a temperature outside of the standard temperature range, the optical amplification system can maintain output optical power and noise figure at the expense of power consumption, or the optical amplification system can minimize power consumption at the expense of output optical power and noise figure. If an uncooled pump laser is used to minimize power consumption, the optical amplification system cannot maintain the output optical power and noise figure over a wide temperature range. If a thermoelectric cooler is used to fix the pump temperature, the optical amplification system can maintain output optical power and noise figure, but the power consumption will increase.
FIG. 1 illustrates a graph of wavelength versus power for performance of a pump laser at different temperatures in the prior art. The wavelength output by a pump laser varies with the temperature of operation of the pump laser. This temperature-dependent variation limits the temperature range for operation of optical amplification systems using pump lasers. In order to hold the wavelength of a pump laser stable, the optical amplification system uses a fiber Bragg grating. The fiber Bragg grating will effectively lock the pump laser wavelength as long as the wavelength peak of the gain medium in the laser is close to the center wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating. The wavelength peak of the gain medium is fundamentally temperature dependent. Therefore, if the temperature of the gain medium is not controlled by using a temperature control device, such as a thermoelectric cooler, the gain medium wavelength will drift sufficiently far away from the fiber Bragg wavelength so as to cause the pump laser to "unlock" and lase at a frequency other than the desired one. Thus, one resulting problem is a dramatically reduced gain from the optical amplification system.

Temperature control in an optical amplification system