A semiconductor element with high current drive capability, capable of high-speed operation, and having little variation in pluralities of semiconductor elements is provided. It is characterized by the fact that semiconductor elements have a first crystalline semiconductor region including pluralities of crystal orientations, and the first crystalline semiconductor region being connected to a second crystalline semiconductor region which is conductive, wherein the first crystalline semiconductor region is extended in the direction parallel to the insulating film which extends in linear-shaped stripe pattern on the insulating surface, and the second crystalline semiconductor region is provided ranging over the insulating film which extends in linear-shaped stripe pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor element formed using a semiconductor film with a crystal structure and a method for manufacturing the same, and relates to a semiconductor device equipped with a circuit which integrated the semiconductor element and a method for manufacturing the same. This invention especially relates to a thin film diode using a Field Effect Transistor (Typically Thin-Film Transistor) and a crystalline semiconductor film. This Field Effect Transistor forms a channel formation region by a crystalline semiconductor film, which is formed on an insulating surface as a semiconductor element.
2. Related Art
Technology of forming semiconductor elements such as a transistor produced in such a way that an amorphous silicon film is formed on an insulating substrate and crystallized, is developed. Especially the technology of irradiating laser beams and crystallizing the amorphous silicon film is applied to the manufacture technology of a thin-film transistor (TFT). A transistor produced using semiconductor films (crystalline semiconductor films) with crystal structure is applied to a plane type display device (flat panel display) represented by a crystal display device.
Technology of re-crystallization of a damage layer and an amorphous semiconductor film formed on a semiconductor substrate or semiconductor films and the technology of crystallization of the amorphous semiconductor films formed on the insulating surface is developed by using laser beams in a semiconductor manufacture process. Widely used laser beams for a laser oscillation device applied for this semiconductor manufacture process is represented by a gas laser such as an excimer laser, and a solid-state laser such as a YAG laser.
An example of crystallization of an amorphous semiconductor film by irradiation of laser beams is disclosed in JP-A-62-104117, which proposes a poly-crystallization of the amorphous semiconductor film by high-speed scan with the scanning speed of laser beams set to more than a diameter of beam spot×5000/second, without making the amorphous semiconductor film result in a perfect melting state. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,363 discloses a technology to form a single crystal region substantially on a semiconductor film, which is formed in the shape of an island by irradiating the extended laser beams. Or JP-A-8-195357 discloses a crystallization method of an amorphous semiconductor film using such as a laser processing apparatus, which processes a light beam in linear form before irradiation in an optical system.
Further, JP-A-2001-144027 proposes a technology such that crystalline semiconductor films with large grain size are formed by irradiating laser beams of a second harmonic wave onto the amorphous semiconductor films using solid laser oscillation device such as Nd:YVO4 laser. A transistor is thus constituted.
However, when crystallization is made by irradiating the laser beams onto the amorphous semiconductor film formed on the flat surface, the crystal was made into poly-crystals, producing defects such as a grain boundary which was formed improperly. Therefore, crystal orientations without deviation could not be obtained.
Crystal defects are involved in a grain boundary, resulting in a carrier trap. This may be considered as a causative factor that migration degree of electron or holes falls. Also, the semiconductor films with neither deviation nor crystal defects could not be formed due to a volume contraction of the semiconductor films caused by crystallization, thermal stress applied to a ground material, or lattice mismatching. Accordingly, if special methods such as bond-and-etchback SOI (Silicon on Insulator) are excluded, the crystallized or re-crystallized crystalline semiconductor films formed on an insulating surface, could not obtain an equivalent quality to a MOS transistor which is formed on a single crystal substrate.
The above-described flat panel display device and the like have semiconductor films formed on glass substrates to constitute a transistor. However, it was almost impossible to arrange a transistor so as to obviate a grain boundary formed improperly. That is, the grain boundary or crystal defects involved therein unexpectedly could not be eliminated by controlling the crystallizability of the channel formation regions of a transistor strictly. Consequently, this produced a causative factor of not only the inferior electrical property of a transistor, but also variation in each element characteristics.
Especially when crystalline semiconductor films are formed on a non-alkali glass substrate currently used abundantly industrially by using laser beams, the focus of the laser beams varies in response to the influence of the surge of the non-alkali glass substrate itself, involving a problem of causing crystalline variation as a result. Furthermore, in order for a non-alkali glass substrate to avoid contamination by the alkaline metal, it is necessary to prepare protection films such as insulating films, as ground films. And it was almost impossible to form thereon the crystalline semiconductor films with large grain size and with no grain boundary and crystal defects, which were eliminated.

Thin film transistor with channel region in recess

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is a card edge connector which includes an insulative housing comprising a body and opposed perpendicular arms. The body of the housing has a card receiving side having a longitudinal groove. This groove has opposed lateral first and second sides and each of said first and second sides has at least one first and second contact receiving opening. There is also at least one recess in the card receiving side of the body communicating with said first aperture in the first lateral side of the groove. There is also at least one recess in the opposed side of the housing body communicating with the second opening in the groove. A first contact fixed in the recess in the card receiving side of the body and extends through said first opening into the groove. A second contact is fixed in the recess in said opposed side of the body and extends through said second aperture into the groove. An efficient means of mounting the contacts in the housing and for allowing engagement of a card with the housing is thus provided. Metal inserts are also provided adjacent the perpendicular arms of the housing to provide overstress protection and other advantages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to card edge connectors.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Edge connectors may be attached to printed circuit boards and may be used for connection of cards used for the retrieving or storage of information. Various card edge connectors are known in the art in which the front edge of a card is inserted in a longitudinal groove of a insulated housing. Adjacent that groove there are a plurality of contacts with arcuate conductive contacts arranged in side by side relation adjacent the groove so that conductive pads on the printed wiring board contact the arcuate sections of the contacts as the board is inserted into the groove. A continuing need exists for improved means for engaging the card with the contacts and for mounting the contacts in the insulative housing.
A need also exists in such card edge connectors for means for protecting the housing against excessive stresses, for providing a stop for the card, for providing a solderable hold down and for simplifying overall tooling.


A device for inhibiting inadvertent initiation of a munition includes a sorbing refrigeration device adapted to at least partially surround an energetic material of the munition. A container includes an energetic material and a sorbing refrigeration device at least partially surrounding the energetic material. A method for inhibiting an inadvertent initiation of a munition includes cooling an energetic material of the munition by sorption refrigeration.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for inhibiting inadvertent initiation of a munition.
2. Description of Related Art
Energetic materials, such as explosives and propellants, are often found in confined spaces within munitions. Under normal conditions, these materials are unlikely to detonate or burn spontaneously; however, many are sensitive to heat and mechanical shock. For example, when exposed to extreme heat (as from a fire) or when impacted by bullets or fragments from other munitions, the energetic materials may be initiated, causing the munitions in which they are disposed to inadvertently react at a rate ranging from slow burning to detonation.
Efforts have been made to develop insensitive munitions, which are munitions that are generally incapable of detonation except in its intended mission to destroy a target. In other words, if fragments from an explosion strike an insensitive munition, if a bullet impacts the munition, or if the munition is in close proximity to a target that is hit, it is unlikely that the munition will detonate. Similarly, if the munition is exposed to extreme temperatures, as from a fire, the munition will likely only burn, rather than detonate.
One way that munitions have been made more insensitive is by developing new explosives and propellants that are less likely to be initiated by heating and/or inadvertent impact. Such materials, however, are typically less energetic and, thus, may be less capable of performing their intended task. For example, a less energetic explosive may be less capable of destroying a desired target than a more energetic explosive. A less energetic propellant may be capable of producing less thrust than a more energetic propellant, thus reducing the speed and/or the range of the munition. Additionally, the cost to verify and/or qualify new explosives and/or propellants, from inception through arena and system-level testing, can be substantial when compared to improving the insensitive munition compliance of existing explosives and/or propellants.
Other development efforts have resulted in devices that are designed to vent pressure within the munition in the event the munition is exposed to a fire. Some such devices, known as the thermally initiated venting systems, include an external thermal cord which, when ignited, triggers an out-of-line device that, in turn, detonates a linear shaped charge. The detonation of the linear shaped charge weakens the housing containing the munition's energetic material, allowing the energetic material to vent without exploding. However, such thermally initiated venting systems do not address other insensitive munitions issues, such as bullet impact, fragment impact, and slow heating (i.e., "cook-off") of the energetic material.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing, the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.

Apparatus and method for inhibiting inadvertent initiation of a munition


A protection structure is formed from a platform and a forward pair and a rearward pair of load bearing members, where each load bearing member is attached at a lower end to the platform. A first and second pair of side beams are attached to the outer side of one of each of the pair of load bearing members, respectively. A pair of upper corner beams are attached to an upper end of each of the load bearing members and attached to an end of each of a forward pair and a rearward pair of transverse members, where a beam is attached to the opposite end of each of the pair of transverse members. Body panels may be attached to the protection structure to define and enclose the occupant compartment.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to motor vehicle occupant compartment construction, and in particular to a school bus occupant rollover protective structure that reduces the risk of injuries in rollover accidents, simplifies construction, and reduces cost.
School bus rollovers are a type of vehicle accident, often resulting in injury, and efforts have been taken to provide improved rollover protection to the occupants, often schoolchildren. To this end, the United States Department of Transportation, through the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, has enacted several Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards ("FMVSS") directed to the improved performance of school buses in a rollover.
One such Standard is FMVSS 220—School Bus Body Rollover (Roof Crush). This Standard applies a force equal to 1½ times the unloaded weight of the bus to the roof of the bus. The downward vertical movement of the force application plate is not to exceed 130 mm (5.125 inches). The length of the force application plate is 305 mm (12 inches) less than the length of the bus roof and 915 mm (36 inches) wide. Each emergency exit of the bus must operate in accordance with FMVSS 217 before, during, and after a roof crush test.
Another Standard is FMVSS 221—School Bus Body Joint Strength. In this Standard, each body panel joint shall hold the body panel to the member to which it is joined when subjected to a force of 60% of the tensile strength of the weakest joined body panel. A body panel is defined as a body component used on the interior or exterior surface to enclose the passenger compartment. The passenger compartment is defined as space within the school bus interior that is between a vertical transverse plane located 762 mm (30 inches) in front of the forward most passenger seating reference point and including a vertical transverse plane tangent to the rear interior wall of the bus.
Additional standards have been established by other organizations, such as the National School Transportation Association, and in particular its Specifications & Procedures—Side Intrusion. Under this standard, the bus body must withstand an intrusion force equal to the curb weight of the bus, but shall not exceed 88,960 N (20,000 pounds), whichever is less. The side of the bus is impacted at a location 559 to 610 mm (22 to 24 inches) above the floor line, with a 254 mm (10 inch) maximum diameter cylinder, 1,219 mm (48 inches) long in a horizontal plane. The cylinder must span two internal vertical structural members (bows). The cylinder shall not exceed 254 mm (10 inches) from its original point of contact. There can be no separation of lapped panels or construction joints.
Other standards include those of the State of Kentucky, Minimum Specifications for School Buses—Roof Intrusion. In this standard, there shall be no separation of a lapped panel joint when impacted at any point along the roof line on the outside surface, using an 203 mm (8 inch) diameter cylinder, 1,219 mm (48 inches) long, at a 30-45-degree angle, 25.4 to 76.3 mm (1 to 3 inches) above the top window line. The cylinder shall impact the roof line with the 1,219 mm (48 inch) dimension in a vertical plane with a force not to exceed 254 mm (10 inches) penetration into the passenger compartment.
The State of Colorado has adopted a Racking Test, in which a diagonal (racking) load test is applied to Type A, B, C, D school buses to assure adequate shear stiffness and strength of the bus body. With a force equal to 1½ times the Gross Vehicle Weight applied to the edge of the roof, the diagonal movement of the force at any point on the force application plate must not exceed 130 mm (5.125 inches), and each emergency exit shall operate in accordance with FMVSS 217 before, during and after the racking test. This loading is to be performed twice (two-cycle loading sequence). Seats may be installed in the test body in a manner that is identical to normal production.
Attempts to comply with these standards has resulted in the development of school bus fuselages with a multiplicity of generally U-shaped, one-piece rib members, spaced at intervals along the length of the body and coupled adjacent to their ends to the bus floor in an inverted position. These rib members were located between the interior and exterior panels and are joined to all of the panels. A plurality of stringer members, located along the joints between the exterior roof panels and the interior roof panels, define elongated roof stringers that extend substantially the entire length of the bus body and are secured to substantially every rib member. The rib members, stringer members, and elongated panels have been effective in increasing the safety of passengers in the bus body in the event of a collision or upset.
The problem with this current industry wide school bus design is that although most school bus fuselages pass these static tests, the tests are not necessarily predictive of the performance of the vehicle in actual dynamic rollover accidents. For example, in testing under FMVSS 220—School Bus Body Rollover (Roof Crush), the test performed by progressively loading the roof structure does not duplicate the multi-directional forces applied simultaneously to the roof structure in an actual dynamic rollover accident. In recent actual rollover accidents, the roof structure above the lower side glass sill has completely collapsed during the dynamic rollover event, even though the school bus design complied with FMVSS 220. Thus, it has been determined that current school bus designs should be improved to improve rollover protection to the occupants.

School bus rollover protection structure


A urine specimen container is disclosed which includes multiple urine holding chambers and further includes a cap to be secured to the container that enables extraction of a portion of the urine specimen from one chamber within the container without contaminating the urine specimen contained in an adjacent chamber of the same container.

The Present invention relates generally to container apparatus, and more particularly, to a multi-chambered urine specimen container with features including automated sample extraction and high forensic integrity.
Urine specimens are taken from people for a variety of reasons. Hospitals take a urine specimen from a patient to conduct laboratory test on the specimen to determine a patient's medical condition. Employers take urine specimens from employees to determine whether the employee has been using any illegal drugs. Recently, athletic competitions such as the Olympics have taken urine specimens from athletes to determine whether they have been using any illegal performance enhancing drugs. Such drug testing serves at least two purposes. First, it act as a deterrent by reminding those who would be tested that drug testing will be done and if they use an illegal substance they will in all likelihood be detected. The second function that drug testing serves is to identify drag users. For example, if an employee in a sensitive job is under the influence of narcotics, their job may be performed in a manner that is not safe and could result in harm to the employee as well as others.
The taking of a specimen from a person undergoing drug testing is usually done in the following manner. Usually, a person is selected to be tested, and asked to urinate into a specimen container while being observed by a witness. The donor places a lid on the specimen container and is then asked to put a label on the specimen container and to write the donor's social security number or other identifying number on the label thus providing the critical link between the donor's identity and the donor's specimen in the specimen container. The donor then delivers the now closed container to an administrator conducting the drug testing. Once the desired number of donors have supplied a specimen, the drug testing administrator delivers the specimens to a testing laboratory to undergo analysis for illegal substances. At the laboratory the urine within the container must be extracted from the container and placed into a test tube in order to be tested. Currently, this is accomplished through manual pouring. This can result in spillage and/or contamination of the specimen. It also requires extra time in the laboratory for such handling of the urine specimen.
In addition to the requirement for manual pouring, specimen containers suffer from other disadvantages. When the container is opened at the laboratory all of the specimen is exposed to external contaminants. In other words, there is no portion of the specimen that is sealed from eternal contaminants while leaving another portion of the specimen available for testing. In known specimen containers, if any foreign substance comes into contact with the specimen within the container, the question of specimen contamination may be subject to litigation.
The present invention overcomes many of the above-described disadvantages of known specimen containers. The present invention is a specimen collection container which provides enhanced security for urine specimens once they are collected. The present invention allows for automated extraction of samples in conjunction with all extraction device and it conforms to government agency protocols for testing in a forensic environment. The present invention is designed for urine collection, transport, and automated sampling. It provides significant benefits in the area of drug testing. The present invention includes multi-chambers and taper resistant/evident features for providing high forensic integrity. The container of the present invention consists of a multi-chambered cup and a cap. The cup has a inner wall and an outer wall. When the cup is mated with the cap, which also has an inner and outer wall, at least two concentric chambers are formed. Variations on the design of the present invention will allow for more than two chambers.
Upon collection of a urine specimen from a donor, urine is donated to fill the cup of the present invention to a level slightly above the inner wall. The cap is then assembled to the cup to divide the specimen into multiple parts. The cap seals the specimen in the cup and seals the liquid in the inner chamber from the liquid in the outer chamber(s). The configuration of the container allows the use of radial seals which are highly reliable without difficult alignment of the mating parts. The design of the cap would displace liquid from the cup if it were over filled. This maintains an air space to allow for expansion of the liquid without damage to the container if the specimen were to freeze during transport. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, teeth on the cup and cap deform and lock as the cap is screwed on. The design of the teeth prevents removal of the cap without great force that would damage the container.
The cap is preferably designed for separate access to the two chambers. A butyl rubber septum is preferably included within the cap to allow sampling from the inner chamber with a hypodermic needle. A foil or tin plastic film on top of the septum may be provided to show evidence of piercing or tampering with the specimen. Sampling through the septum is possible with automatic instruments. An alternate approach does not require the septum or foil. With this approach, automatic sampling can be done directly through the plastic cap.
Additional testing samples may be taken manually from the outer chamber of the cup through a pouring spout in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Due to the seal between the two chambers, any possible contamination of the specimen in the inner chamber which occurred during automatic extraction would not have disturbed the specimen in the outer chamber(s). To sample from the outer chamber, the top of the pour spout is removed and the specimen is poured from the cup. A small cap may be placed over the pour spout to reseal the outer chamber(s).
The container is preferably injection molded from polyolefin. Butyl rubber may be used for the septum. These materials absorb littler or no drugs from the specimen and release no contaminants, thereby allowing accurate test results. The container is preferably designed with inexpensive materials, few parts, and relatively simple features in order to be cost effective.

Multi-chambered urine specimen container for automatic extraction and high forensic integrity


A shift control apparatus for an automatic transmission of a vehicle wherein a plurality of speed ratios are achieved by electronically controlling individual hydraulic pressures supplied to a plurality of frictional engaging elements to selectively engage these frictional engaging elements, which includes speed ratio select members for changing over the speed ratio of the automatic transmission from a neutral position to a running position, operation condition determination members for determining operation condition of the vehicle, an electromagnetic valve for controlling hydraulic pressure supplied to a first frictional engaging element to achieve a first speed; and electromagnetic valve control members for controlling operation of the electromagnetic valve so that when the speed ratio select members is determined by the operation condition determination means to be slowly manipulated, a supply time of a maximum hydraulic pressure to the first frictional engaging element is extended by a predetermined time, whereby achieving positive starting of the vehicle even when the speed ratio select means is slowly manipulated from the neutral position to a running position.

An automatic transmission for a vehicle selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to frictional engaging elements such as clutches and brakes to connect a desired rotary element in its gear system to an input shaft of the transmission or fix the element to the transmission casing, thereby automatically changing the speed ratio according to operation conditions of the vehicle.
Such an automatic transmission for a vehicle is required to be small in speed-shift shocks to protect various parts and components and maintain comfortable drive feeling. For this purpose, an automatic transmission for a vehicle has been proposed which uses a proper electronic control over the hydraulic pressure and its supply timing to frictional engaging elements, aiming to achieve reduced speed-shift shocks.
As shown in FIG. 5 which shows an example of the structure of such an automatic transmission for a vehicle, a crank shaft 12 of an engine 11 is integrally connected with an impeller 14 of a torque converter 13. The torque converter 13 has the impeller 14, a turbine 15, a stator 16, and a one-way clutch 17. The stator 16 is connected to a transmission casing 18 through the one-way clutch 17. By the function of the one-way clutch, the stator 16 is allowed to rotate in the same direction as the crank shaft 12 but is not allowed to rotate in the reverse direction. The torque transmitted to the turbine 15 is transmitted to the input shaft 19 (hereinafter referred to as the "transmission input shaft") of a gear transmission apparatus to achieve four forward speeds and a single reverse speed disposed at the rear of the torque converter 13.
The gear transmission apparatus comprises three clutches 20, 21, and 22, two brakes 23 and 24, one one-way clutch 25, and one ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism 26. The ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism 26 comprises a ring gear 27, a long pinion gear 28, a short pinion gear 29, a front sun gear 30, a rear sun gear 31, and a carrier 32 which rotatably supports the pinion gears 28 and 29 and is rotatably engaged with the transmission input shaft 19.
The ring gear 27 is connected to a transmission output shaft 33. The front sun gear 30 is connected to the transmission input shaft 19 through a kickdown drum 34 and a front clutch 20. Furthermore, the rear sun gear 31 is connected to the transmission input shaft 19 through a rear clutch 21. The carrier 32 is connected to the transmission casing 18 through a low reverse brake 24 and the one-way clutch 25 and to the transmission input shaft 19 through a 4th-speed clutch 22 disposed at the rear end of the gear transmission apparatus. The kickdown drum 34 is integrally connectable to the transmission casing 18 by a kickdown brake 23. Torque passed through the ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism 26 is transmitted from a drive gear 35 mounted to the transmission output shaft 33 to the drive shaft side of driving wheels (not shown).
The clutches 20 to 22 and the brakes 23 and 24 as frictional engaging elements individually comprise hydraulic mechanisms provided with engaging piston devices or servo mechanisms. These hydraulic mechanisms are operated through a hydraulic control unit (not shown) by hydraulic fluid generated by an oil pump 36 connected to the impeller 14 of the torque converter 13.
Detailed structure and functions of the mechanisms are already known, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open 58-54270/1983, 58-46248/1983, or 61-31749/1986. Thus, selective engagement of various frictional engaging elements is achieved according to the position of a shift lever provided beside the driver's seat of the vehicle (not shown) selected by the driver and operation conditions of the vehicle, and various speed ratios are automatically achieved through the hydraulic control unit according to instructions from an electronic control unit to control the operation conditions of the engine 11.
The select pattern of the shift lever includes P (parking), R (reverse), N (neutral), D (automatic three forward speeds or automatic four forward speeds), 2 (automatic two forward speeds), and L (fixed to the 1st speed) positions. With the shift lever set to the D position, when an auxiliary switch (over-drive switch, not shown) is operated, the automatic three forward speeds or the automatic four forward speeds can be selected. The functions of the individual frictional engaging elements when the shift lever is set to the individual positions are shown in FIG. 6. In the figure, symbol ".largecircle." indicates that an engagement condition is achieved by hydraulic operation, and symbol " " indicates that the engaging is achieved only when the L position is selected.
For example, when the shift lever is shifted from the N position to the D position during a standstill condition of the vehicle, from a condition where all of the frictional engaging elements are not engaged, only the rear clutch 21 is newly engaged to achieve the speed ratio of the 1st speed. However, during a standstill condition of the vehicle and when the accelerator pedal is not pressed down, the speed ratio of the 2nd speed is achieved in which further the kickdown brake 23 is lightly engaged, thereby preventing generation of an excessive creeping.
As shown in FIG. 7 which schematically shows the structure of the main portion of the hydraulic circuit in the hydraulic pressure control unit, the rear clutch 21 is connected with a rear clutch exhaust valve 37 through an oil passage 38, and the rear clutch exhaust valve 37 is connected with a N-D control valve 39 through an oil passage 40. The N-D control valve 39 which is supplied with hydraulic oil, of which the maximum pressure is regulated by a relief valve (not shown), from the oil pump 36 through an oil passage 41, and a 1-2 shift valve 44 which connects an oil passage 43 to a kickdown servo 42 which controls the operation of the kickdown brake 23 connect through an oil passage 45, and the 1-2 shift valve 44 is connected to a shift control valve 46 through an oil passage 47. A manual valve 48 which is mechanically linked with operation of the shift lever is connected to an oil passage 49 branched from the oil passage 41 to supply a line pressure to the manual valve 49, and the shift control valve 46 and the manual valve 48 connect through an oil passage 50. An oil passage 51 branched halfway from the oil passage 50 is connected with a hydraulic pressure control valve 52, and the hydraulic pressure control valve 52 is connected also to the N-D control valve 39 through an oil passage 53. Furthermore, the manual valve 48 and the N-D control valve 39 connect through an oil passage 54 branched halfway from the oil passage 51.
The hydraulic pressure control valve 52 supplies the line pressure supplied to the oil passages 50 and 51, adjusted by a reducer valve (now shown) to a lower pressure than the line pressure and controlled to a desired pressure according to the control hydraulic fluid supplied from the oil pump 36, to the oil passage 53 through an oil passage 55. Control hydraulic pressure in the oil passage 55 is adequately discharge-controlled by an oil pressure control electromagnetic valve of a type which closes when unenergized according to an instruction from an electronic control unit (hereinafter described as ECU) 56 so that a desired pressure is obtained.
The shift control valve 46 is controlled by a pair of shift control electromagnetic valves of a type which closes when unenergized of which the combination of actuation conditions is controlled by ECU 56, so that a central spool 60 is select controlled to positions corresponding to the 1st to 4th speed ratios.
In this case, when the shift lever is the N position as shown in FIG. 7, the line pressure from the oil passages 41 and 49 is not supplied to the oil passage 50 and 51 side, the rear clutch 21 and the kickdown brake 23 are not engaged, the transmission input shaft 19 runs idle, and the driving force from the engine 11 is not transmitted to the transmission output shaft 33.
From this condition, when the driver operates the shift lever to select the D position, and when the vehicle is in a standstill condition and the accelerator pedal is not pressured down, as shown in FIG. 8 which shows the relationship between the position of the shift lever at that time, an output signal from an inhibitor switch, a duty ratio of the hydraulic pressure control electromagnetic valve 57, the line pressure and a creep pressure supplied to an engaging side oil chamber 65 of the kickdown servo 42, only the shift control electromagnetic valve 59 of the pair of shift control electromagnetic valves 58 and 59 to control the operation of the shift control valve 46 is energized, and the line pressure from the oil passages 41 and 49 is supplied to the oil passage 50 and 47 through the central spool 60 of the shift control valve 46.
This moves the spool 61 of the 1-2 shift valve 44 to the right in FIG. 7, causing the oil passages 45 and 43 to communicate with each other. Furthermore, at the same time the shift lever is turned over from the N position to the D position, the inhibitor switch is turned on to supply the line pressure from the oil passage 51 to the oil passages 54 and 45, rapidly raising the hydraulic pressure in the oil passage 43 connecting to the kickdown servo 42 in area (1), and to the rear clutch 21 through the oil passages 53, 40, 38 to remove play of the rear clutch 21, reverting it back to the condition immediately before the engagement. In this case, since the rear clutch 21 is pressed by the amount of play, the line pressure in the oil passage 40 is not raised and, in turn, the line pressure in an oil passage 62 is not raised, a spool 63 of the N-D control valve 39 is positioned at the left end, as shown in FIG. 7.
After that, in area (2), the hydraulic pressure control electromagnetic valve 57 is actuated by the duty control, a spool 64 of the hydraulic pressure control valve 52 is intermittently moved to the left side in FIG. 7, causing the oil passage 53 to communicate with an oil discharge port EX of the hydraulic pressure control valve 52. As a result, a hydraulic pressure (hereinafter called the creep pressure), adjusted to a lower pressure than the line pressure from the oil passage 51, is supplied from the oil passage 53 to the N-D control valve 39, and from the oil passage 40 via the rear clutch exhaust valve 37 and the oil passage 38 to the rear clutch 21. This causes the rear clutch 21 to mildly engage, thereby reducing shocks associated with the engagement.
In area (3), the duty ratio of the hydraulic pressure control electromagnetic valve 57 decreases to 0%, and the line pressure from the oil passage 51 is, as is, supplied to the rear clutch 21 via the oil passage 38, achieving a complete engagement of the rear clutch 21. At the same time, the line pressure from the oil passage 51 passes through the oil passage 62 and acts on the left end in FIG. 7 of the spool 63 of the N-D control valve 39. The spool 63 of the N-D control valve 39 moves to the right in FIG. 7 to act on the left end, the oil passage 54 and the oil passage 40 communicate with each other through the oil passage 62, and the oil passage 53 and the oil passage 45 communicate with each other.
After that, in area (4), the duty ratio of the hydraulic pressure control electromagnetic valve 57 temporarily increases to 100%, and the line pressure, which acted into an engaging side oil chamber 65 of the kickdown servo 42, is discharged from an oil discharge port EX of the hydraulic pressure control valve 52 through the oil passage 43, the 1-2 shift valve 44, the oil passage 45, the N-D control valve 39, and the oil passage 53.
Then, in area (5), the hydraulic pressure control electromagnetic valve 57 becomes conductive at a predetermined duty ratio, the creep pressure is supplied from the oil passage 53 to the N-D control valve 39, and the creep pressure is supplied from the oil passage 45 through the 1-2 shift valve 44 and the oil passage 43 to the engaging side oil chamber 65 of the kickdown servo 42. As a result, the kickdown brake 23 moderately engages to achieve the 2nd speed ratio, thereby suppressing generation of an excessive creeping.
In this condition, when the accelerator pedal is pressed down by the driver, both of the pair of shift control electromagnetic valves 58 and 59 become conductive to achieve the 1st speed ratio, the central spool 60 of the shift control valve 46 moves to the right end in FIG. 7 to close the oil passages 50 and 47, the spool 61 of the 1-2 shift valve 44 is pushed back to the left end in FIG. 7, the oil passage 43 becomes communicating with the oil discharge port EX of the 1-2 shift valve 44. This causes hydraulic fluid in the engaging side oil chamber 65 of the kickdown servo 42 to be rapidly discharged through the oil passage 43 from the oil discharge port EX of the 1-2 shift valve 44, and the kickdown brake 23 is released, immediately achieving the 1st speed ratio which engages with only the rear clutch 21.
In a prior art automatic transmission shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in which a plurality of speed ratios are achieved by electronically controlling individual hydraulic pressures supplied to a plurality of frictional engaging elements to selectively engage these frictional engaging elements, when the shift lever is moved from the N position to the D position under a standstill condition of the vehicle, the position of the shift lever and the output signal of an inhibitor switch (not shown) are synchronized with the moving timing of a spool 66 of the manual valve 48, thereby achieving a smooth shift operation.
However, when the driver moves the shift lever from the N position to the D position very slowly, the output signal of the inhibitor switch changes over before the manual valve 48 moves from the N position to the D position to achieve complete communication between the oil passages 49 and 51, since the hydraulic pressure control unit duty controls the hydraulic control magnetic valve 57 according to the signal from the inhibitor switch, the creep pressure is supplied to the rear clutch 21 side before the spool 63 of the N-D control valve 39 does not completely move to the right in FIG. 7, and the rear clutch 21 tends to fail complete engagement.
Under such a condition, even if the driver presses down the accelerator pedal in order to start the vehicle, the rear clutch 21 tends to slip resulting in a difficulty in starting the vehicle, or deteriorating acceleration of the vehicle.
With a view to eliminate the above prior art problems, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a shift control apparatus for a vehicle automatic transmission in which individual hydraulic pressures supplied to a plurality of frictional engaging elements are electronically controlled to achieve a plurality of speed ratios, which enables positive starting of the vehicle even when the driver slowly moves the shift lever from the N position to the D position to start the vehicle.

Shift control apparatus for automatic transmission for vehicle

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


The relative concentration of opaque and translucent ore particles is determined by illuminating a falling stream of particles with a source of backlighting which provides a diffused background light source for detecting opaque particles and a relatively brighter light source for further illuminating translucent particles. Scanning a captured image of the falling particle stream for light and dark light images relative to the background light permits the relative concentration of opaque and translucent particles to be determined. The method is particularly useful for beneficiated composite phosphate ores containing desirable opaque phosphate particles and undesired translucent quartz particles.

Process control of flotation beneficiation of composite ores often is based on the relative concentrations of particulate translucent and opaque components in the ore. Typically, these concentrations are visually estimated by plant operators. It is widely recognized that because such estimates are subjective, they therefore vary from operator to operator. Also, such subjective estimates are imprecise and inaccurate.
Various methods and apparatus for the image analysis of particles are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,950 discloses a microscope system for observation of small particles in motion, such as particles emanating from an aerosol container. A video camera is used to observe the particles through stop action photography by the use of strobe lighting to create an image. The image then is stored in a short-term memory. The stored image is converted to electrical image-information signals by scanning the camera's imaging device, in accordance with the conventional operation of such a camera. The patent further discloses use of a `shading corrector` positioned in front of the camera to correct differences in background brightness and ensure that the background appears uniformly bright.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,682 discloses an apparatus and method for automatic quantitative measurement by image analysis of textures of optically anisotropic material having a known anisotropic nature. In particular, the patent is directed to quantitative analysis of coke. In accordance with the method of this patent, extensive sample preparation is required. The anisotropic material, for example, coke particles, is imbedded in resin visually distinct from the material. The reflectance pattern of the coke-containing resin is viewed through a polarizing microscope. The pattern is stored as grayscale information from an image divided into pixels; the resin has a grayscale value lower than that of the coke. Differences between grayscales of a base set of pixels and grayscales of subsets of pixels surrounding the base set of pixels are determined. The reflectance patterns are determined from these differences by comparison to pre-determined differences corresponding to the various textures (i.e., anisotropic areas) of the coke. Grayscales lower than those of the coke, which indicate that the primary component detected by the pixel is resin, are eliminated from consideration by pre-established criteria. Use of this method is burdensome, and requires mounting of the particles in resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,018 discloses an apparatus for viewing particulate matter, especially snow and other solid hydrometers. Particles are moved into the field of view of the camera, where motion of the image can be stopped by a strobe lamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,868 discloses an apparatus and a method for identifying moving particles by filtering image information to eliminate not only `noise` but also stationary objects and variations in the background.
The subject invention provides an apparatus and method for the image analysis of composite ores, whereby the relative concentrations of translucent and opaque components are reliably, accurately, and quickly determined. More specifically, the subject invention provides an apparatus and method for the image analysis of phosphate ore, whereby the relative concentrations of phosphate and quartz are determined.

Method and apparatus for image analysis of composite ores


There is described a method for forming a tube (3) of a web (4, 4) of packaging material comprising the steps of advancing the web (4) of packaging material along a web advancement path (P), overlapping a first lateral edge (19) of the web (4, 4′) of packaging material with a second lateral edge (20) of the web (4, 4) of packaging material for obtaining a longitudinal seam portion of the tube (3) and fusing at least an internal outer surface (34) of the first lateral edge (19) and an external outer surface (37) of the second lateral edge (20) with one another for longitudinally sealing the seam portion of the tube (3). The step of fusing comprises at least the substeps of directly heating the external outer surface (37) of the second lateral edge (20) and heating by contact the internal outer surface (34) by establishing contact between the internal outer surface (34) and the directly heated external outer surface (37).

As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, which advance a web of packaging material through a sterilization unit of the packaging machine for sterilizing the web of packaging material, e.g. by means of chemical sterilization (e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution) or physical sterilization (e.g. by means of an electron beam). Then, the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced within an isolation chamber (a closed and sterile environment), and is folded and sealed longitudinally along a seam portion to form a tube, which is further fed along a vertical advancing direction.
In order to complete the forming operations, the tube is continuously filled with a sterilized or sterile-processed pourable food product, and is transversally sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections within a package forming unit of the packaging machine during advancement along the vertical advancing direction.
Pillow packages are so obtained within the packaging machine, each pillow package having a longitudinal sealing band and a pair of top and bottom transversal sealing bands.
Furthermore, prior to the folding and the longitudinal sealing of the web of packaging material a sealing strip of heat-seal plastic material is applied onto an initial web of packaging material and sealed onto the initial web of packaging material for obtaining the web of packaging material from which the tube is formed. The web of packaging material is folded such that the sealing strip is in contact with a portion of the inner side of the tube. In other words, once the final package has been obtained the sealing strip is in contact with the pourable product and avoids that lateral portions of the edge of the web of packaging material, which is positioned within an inner space of the tube, get into contact with the pourable product.
More specifically, during the folding of the web of packaging material a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the web of packaging material are overlapped, whereby the second lateral edge is arranged within the inner space of the formed tube. In particular, an internal outer surface of the first lateral edge facing the inner space is in contact with an external outer surface of the second lateral edge facing the internal outer surface of the first lateral edge. In order to seal the longitudinal seam portion, the internal outer surface of the first lateral edge and the external outer surface of the second lateral edge are thermally fused to one another. Typically, the necessary thermal energy (heat) is provided by inductively heating e.g. the aluminum layer if present or by directing a stream of hot air onto the first lateral edge.
Even though the known methods of forming the tube and the packages and the known packaging machines work satisfyingly well, a need is felt to further improve the respective methods and packaging machines.
In particular, a need is felt to increase the efficiency in order to allow for energy savings and/or to decrease the critical time during which the newly formed and sealed seam portion may collapse (i.e. open and/or lose integrity) during further advancement of the tube.

Method for forming a tube and a method and a packaging machine for forming a package


The apparatus may be an N-bit DAC including (2M−1) parallel stages associated with M most significant bits, and (N-M) stages associated with (N-M) least significant bits. The (2M−1) parallel stages may deliver a first current to current-summing nodes of the DAC. The (N-M) stages may include a resistive network and a second pair of switches, and may deliver a second current to the resistive network of the stage. Each resistive network may scale the respectively delivered currents according to a binary weight of a stage corresponding to the resistive network, and may deliver the scaled currents to the pair of current-summing nodes. At least one of the (N-M) stages may be separated from the remaining stages.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly, to a hybrid R-2R structure for low glitch noise segmented digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
2. Background
A wireless device (e.g., a cellular phone or a smartphone) may transmit and receive data for two-way communication with a wireless communication system. The wireless device may include a transmitter for data transmission and a receiver for data reception. For data transmission, the transmitter may modulate a transmit local oscillator (LO) signal with data to obtain a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal, amplify the modulated RF signal to obtain an output RF signal having the desired output power level, and transmit the output RF signal via an antenna to a base station. Additionally, the transmitter may include a DAC to assist in the generation of the output RF signal that is transmitted.
A DAC converts digital signals (e.g., a 4-bit DAC converts a digital word of four bits, such as a digital signal of 0110) into a corresponding current or a corresponding analog voltage. A four-bit DAC will produce a different analog voltage value, or a different amount of current, for each possible digital value. That is, the four-bit DAC will produce a different current or analog voltage for each value of the digital signal from 0000 to 1111.
Low-noise, low-power, wideband, and high-resolution DACs are increasingly sought for advanced wireless standards, such as long term evolution (LTE), in which the DAC is modified for higher data rates or bandwidth. Such DACs may typically limit architecture and design choices.
For a transmit (TX) DAC used in RF applications, minimizing high frequency glitch noise, also referred to as DAC noise, at certain offset frequencies may avoid certain operational issues in a broadband cellular TX path. That is, it may be useful to reduce or to cancel such glitch noise, because the noise may desensitize an associated receive (RX) channel. In other words, out-of-band noise from the TX DAC can fall into the RX-band, and thereby desensitize the RX channel. Such out-of-band noise may be an issue of particular concern for the surface-acoustic-wave filterless LTE (SAW-less LTE) system.
Attempts to reduce glitch noise may address glitch-noise mismatch between most significant bits (MSBs) of a DAC and least significant bits (LSBs) of the DAC, may require careful scaling, or may take into consideration robustness to process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. For example, an approach to optimize delay between MSBs and LSBs may result in relatively high PVT variations, wherein the DAC may produce different analog voltages/currents for an identical digital signal depending on process variation, how long the DAC has been operating, or depending on a temperature of the DAC.
Another approach may be to increase the resolution of the DAC to lower the entire quantization noise floor. However, such an implementation may be expensive, due to significant resultant increases in area, power, or voltage headroom.

Hybrid R-2R structure for low glitch noise segmented DAC


In a braille recognition system according to the present invention, light is obliquely irradiated onto the surface of a document in braille, and its reflected light is received by imaging means, to obtain a gray image. An image corresponding to a pattern of projected points on the document in braille is obtained on the basis of the obtained gray image. An image is then cut in braille units from the image corresponding to the pattern of projected points. A braille code is generated for each cut image in the braille unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a braille recognition system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently in six-point braille generally employed, six points comprising three columns of points and two rows of points are taken as one unit, and characters are constructed by a combination of the projected points. This unit is referred to as a "masu".
In each masu, the projected point in the uppermost stage of the left column, the projected point in the intermediate stage of the left column, the projected point in the lowermost stage of the left column, the projected point in the uppermost stage of the right column, the projected point in the intermediate stage of the right column, and the projected point in the lowermost stage of the right column are respectively referred to as point 1, point 2, point 3, point 4, point 5, and point 6.
The spacing W1 between the projected points adjacent to each other in the lateral direction in the same masu is generally set to 2.0 to 2.1 mm. Further, the spacing W2 between the projected points adjacent to each other in the lateral direction between adjacent masus is generally set to 3.0 to 3.1 mm.
The braille is horizontal writing, which is read from the left to the right. In the six-point braille, 63 types of different combinations are possible. However, it is impossible to represent all of kana characters, numeric characters and alphabetic characters by 63 types of combinations. When a numeric character or an alphabetic character is represented, therefore, a code referred to as a pre-code for identifying a character system is assigned ahead of the numeric character or the alphabetic character.
A character on printed matter is referred to as a character in India ink, in contrast with braille. As a code corresponding to the braille, NABCC (North American Braille Computer Code) is generally used.
The braille is represented by projected points, unlike a general character. The braille is represented by the presence or absence of the six projected points. Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has developed a braille recognition system using a recognition method different from a general character recognition method, to file an application (Japanese Patent Application No. 1995/152853). Thereafter, the applicant has continued the research, to develop a method of automatically recognizing braille on the surface and the reverse surface of a document in braille having braille printed on both its surfaces from a picked-up image on one of the surfaces of the document in braille.


Objects are assigned to points in a rectangle by dividing the rectangle is divided into a plurality of smaller rectangles and applying an object assignment procedure, such as Kuhn's algorithm, to initially assigned objects in each second rectangle. The initial assignment is performed by calculating a maximal cost of assignment of objects to points, and selecting an assignment of objects having a minimum value of maximal cost, identified by iteratively recalculating the maximal matching assignment based on a midpoint of between the minimum and maximum costs.

The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for assigning N objects to M points of a rectangle, where M≧N. The invention is particularly useful in placement of cells in an integrated circuit (IC) chip, although it is also useful in other environments where a large number of object must be placed in a space.
Consider a rectangle having left and right edges a and b, where a<b, and bottom and top edges c and d, where c<d. The rectangle containing a point having coordinates (x,y) can be defined as R={(x,y)|a≦x≦b, c≦y≦d}.
Points P1(x1,y1), P2(x2,y2), . . . , PM(xM,yM), are the points of rectangle R. Objects Q1(x′1,y′1), Q2(x′2,y′2), . . . , QN(x′N,y′N) are the objects to be placed in rectangle R. T is a set of types of points and objects. ti is a type of a point Pi, where i is each member of the sequence of 1 to M (i={overscore (1,M)}). Thus, tiεT. t′i is a type of an object Qi, i={overscore (1,N)}, thus t′iεT. For any pair of types, u ε T and v ε T, the relation of these types TR(u,v) is such that if the object having a type v is allowed to be assigned to a point of type u, TR(u,v)=1. Otherwise, TR(u,v)=0. TR(u,u)=1 for each type u ε T.
The goal of objects assignment is to assign all objects Qi, i={overscore (1,N)} to points Ps(i) (or to find the assignment s(i) for each i={overscore (1,N)}), so that:                a) s(i1)≠s (i2) for any 1≦i1<i2≦N,        b) TR(ts(i),t′i)=1 for any i={overscore (1,N)}, and        c) distances between objects Qi and points Ps(i) is as small as possible.
The cost C(i,j) of assignment of an object Qi to a point Pj is denoted as follows:
      C              (              i        ,        j            )        =      {                                                                      (                                                      x                    j                                    -                                      x                    i                    ′                                                  )                            2                        +                                          (                                                      y                    j                                    -                                      y                    i                    ′                                                  )                            2                                                                          if                                                                                TR                                                  (                                                            t                      j                                        ,                                          t                      i                      ′                                                        )                                                      =            1                                                ∞                                                    if                                                                                TR                                                  (                                                            t                      j                                        ,                                          t                      i                      ′                                                        )                                                      =            0.
One well-known technique of assigning objects is Kuhn's algorithm, which finds the optimal solution s(i) such that the sum
      ∑          i      =      1        N                    C              (              i        ,                  s                                (            i            )                              )      is the smallest possible value. However, Kuhn's algorithm requires a considerable amount of time to execute. More particularly, execution of Kuhn's algorithm requires time defined as O(N2M2). In practice, cell placement might require processing cell assignments for large values of parameters N and M (N,M>1000), and might be repeated many times during the design process. Consequently, execution of Kuhn's algorithm requires an unacceptable amount of time. Therefore, a need exists for a technique to quickly estimate objects assignment.

Process and apparatus for fast assignment of objects to a rectangle


A fueling environment's safety is improved by adding static charge sensors to the fuel dispenser and its peripherals. The static charge sensors detect static charge proximate the fuel dispenser and provide an indication of the static charge to a threshold detector. If the static charge is above a predetermined threshold, one or more safety devices may be activated to disperse or reduce the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser. Reduction in the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser helps reduce the risk of harm from the static charge.

Fueling environments handle fuels that are dispensed, and thus safety issues are always of concern. For example, it is possible that, in the right environmental conditions, there may be enough of a static electrical charge accumulated to generate a spark. In normal environments, such a spark shocks the recipient and may provide some brief period of discomfort. However, in a fueling environment that has hydrocarbon vapors lingering about the fuel dispensers, such a spark may be more dangerous.
Currently, most fuel dispensers display warnings about the risks associated with static electricity. However, there are currently no known commercially deployed devices which detect the presence of an elevated static charge proximate a nozzle of a fuel dispenser in a fueling environment. In light of the issues associated with such static charges, there is a need for a device that detects static charge proximate the fuel dispenser and has the capability to improve the safety of fuel dispenser users when such a static charge is detected.

Static electricity detection for fuel dispenser


Disclosed is a device for filling tanks from a canister with a first adapter device which is suitable for at least intermittent fastening to the canister and which has a delivery device by which a flowable medium can be conveyed out of the canister into the tank, wherein the device has a flushing agent connection in order to deliver a cleaning liquid to at least one component of the device. The device has a further receiving container to temporarily receive the flowable medium to be introduced into the tank, and the device has a measuring device which is suitable and intended to determine the amount of liquid to be introduced into the tank.

The present invention relates to a device for filling tanks and in particular for contamination-free filling of tanks. Such a device is known for example from WO 2014/005951 A1. In this case the present invention is also directed in particular to a device for example for decanting liquid plant protection agents from small containers, such as for instance canisters or bottles into different larger containers, such as barrels or tanks. Corresponding devices which hitherto have not allowed any cleaning of inner valve components are generally known from the prior art. The device described in the above-mentioned WO 2014/005951 already allows flushing of valve components.
The full content of the disclosure of WO 2014/005951 is hereby incorporated by reference into the subject matter of the present application. In particular, reference is made to the description of the drawings (pages 13 to 20 in the description thereof and to the associated drawings and these are also incorporated by reference into the content of the disclosure of the present application). However, in the prior art it has been shown that a metering of the liquids to be contained or checking of the decanted liquids is often difficult to achieve.

Device for filling tanks with intermediate container


Provided are an apparatus and method for manufacturing a solidified salt that is easy to treat in size and shape by using a vacuum transfer and a dual vessel. In the apparatus for quantitative solidification of a molten salt, a molten salt is introduced into a first vessel, and a second vessel is disposed inside the first vessel and quantitatively supplied with the molten salt. A molten-salt transferring unit quantitatively transfers the molten salt from the first vessel to the second vessel by vacuum pressure. A valve controls a discharge of the molten salt from the second vessel. A mold receives the molten salt from the second vessel and solidifies the molten salt. Accordingly, the molten salt can be stably discharged to the mold by quantitatively transferring the molten salt at vacuum pressure within the dual vessel, and a predetermined size and shape of the solidified salt can be manufactured, thereby processing and collecting the solidified salt safely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a solidified salt that is easy to treat in size and shape by using a vacuum transfer and a dual vessel, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for quantitative solidification of a molten salt by using a vacuum transfer and a dual vessel, in which a molten salt is stably discharged to a mold by quantitatively transferring the molten salt at a vacuum pressure within the dual vessel, and a predetermined size and shape of a solidified salt is manufactured, thereby processing and collecting the solidified salt safely.
2. Description of the Related Art
A molten salt has been widely applied in a variety of industrial technologies because of its inherent physical and chemical properties, that is, high electrical conduction, material transfer, and fluid properties. In recent years, the molten salt is actively used in many technical fields, including metal manufacture and purification, fuel cell, and so on.
In a process using a molten salt as a reaction medium, a sequential operation is impossible because a salt is solidified at a temperature below a melting point. Accordingly, a batch reactor is used for stepwise operations.
Due to deliquescence of salt, the process of molten salt requires operating conditions of inert atmosphere. Accordingly, it is difficult to transfer the molten salt out of the reactor for the purpose of purifying or recycling the salt or reusing the salt in a subsequent process.
Specifically, a large amount of the molten salt is used as a reaction medium in a metal manufacture and purification. After finishing the process, a large volume of the molten salt needs to be discharged out of the vessel and divided and solidified into a proper size and shape of a salt in order to easily process the molten salt in a subsequent process.
However, salt mass solidified in a discharge passage must be dissolved in order to re-discharge the molten salt out of the vessel after its discharge is paused.
As one example, the solidified salt can be dissolved using an O2 lance. However, this method is very dangerous and cannot be applied when an access to an apparatus is not easy. In order to solve this problem, PCT Application No. PCT/EP97/05469 discloses a method of melting the solidified melt by supplying an electromagnetic energy at a side of a discharge passage.
If such a conventional method is applied to a quantitative discharge of a molten salt, a salt mass is easily molten, but a molten salt cannot be quantitatively discharged. In addition, the molten salt cannot be rapidly discharged due to a melting time of the salt mass. Meanwhile, a mold is inevitably used to solidify the molten salt in a predetermined size and shape.
When the solidified material is attached to the mold, it is difficult to separate the solidified material from the mold. A method for solving this problem is disclosed in PCT Application No. PCT/EP97/06197; in which a mold containing a molten salt can be quickly cooled by immersing the mold in a low-temperature liquid. However, the mold must be vertically dropped down from an outside of a heater in order for the cooling. Also, it is difficult to prevent heat loss of the heater.
The conventional apparatus and method for discharging the molten salt cannot quantitatively solidify the molten salt in a size and shape easy to treat. Accordingly, there is a demand for an apparatus and method that can quantitatively discharge the molten salt and rapidly solidify it in a proper size and shape.

Apparatus for quantitative solidification of molten salt by using vacuum transfer and dual vessel


A hidden data path minimizes equilibration delays in coupling differential data through a complementary data path. The hidden data path may be used for both reading and writing to the memory cell array. The hidden data path includes two sets of complementary I/O lines coupled in parallel between the memory cell array and the DC sense amplifier, and are alternatively coupled between the memory cell array and the DC sense amplifier to receive and transmit data. The set of complementary I/O lines not coupled is equilibrated during this time in preparation for coupling to and transmitting subsequent differential data. The hidden data path may also include two sets of data read lines coupled in parallel between the DC sense amplifier and the output circuitry if used for reading data from the memory cell array. Similarly, a second set of data write lines may be coupled in parallel between the input circuitry and write driver circuit when used for writing data to the memory cell array.

As the processing speed of microprocessors increases, the demand for memory devices having faster access times also increases. Memory system designers have developed methods and designs that shave off nanoseconds from access times in order to satisfy the demand for high speed memory devices. Such designs have included memory devices having various data access modes, for example, devices that have a burst mode or page mode. Memory system designers have more recently developed synchronous memory systems that allow the pipelined transfer of data at the clock speed of the motherboard. Currently, there has been a movement toward memory designs that can transfer data at clock speeds optimized for the particular memory configuration. However, even with the advances made in memory system designs, the fundamental building blocks of memory devices have remained relatively the same. As will be described in more detail below, these building blocks are the basic elements that are shared among all types of memory devices, regardless of whether they are synchronous or asynchronous, random-access or read-only, or static or dynamic.
A conventional memory device is illustrated in FIG. 1. The memory device includes an address register 12 that receives either a row address or a column address on an address bus 14. The address bus 14 is generally coupled to a memory controller (not shown in FIG. 1). Typically, a row address is initially received by the address register 12 and applied to a row address multiplexer 18. The row address multiplexer 18 couples the row address to a number of components associated with either of two memory bank arrays 20 and 22 depending upon the state of a bank address bit forming part of the row address. The arrays 20 and 22 are comprised of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Associated with each of the arrays 20 and 22 is a respective row address latch 26, which stores the row address, and a row decoder 28, which applies various signals to its respective array 20 or 22 as a function of the stored row address.
After the row address has been applied to the address register 12 and stored in one of the row address latches 26, a column address is applied to the address register 12. The address register 12 couples the column address to a column address latch 40. The column address latch 40 momentarily stores the column address while it is provided to the column address buffer 44. The column address buffer 44 applies a column address to a column decoder 48, which applies various column signals to respective sense amplifiers and associated column circuits 50 and 52 for the respective arrays 20 and 22.
Data to be read from one of the arrays 20 or 22 are coupled from the arrays 20 or 22, respectively, to a data bus 58 through the column circuit 50 or 52, respectively, and a read data path that includes a data output register 56. Data to be written to one of the arrays 20 or 22 are coupled from the data bus 58 through a write data path, including a data input register 60, to one of the column circuits 50 or 52 where they are transferred to one of the arrays 20 or 22, respectively.
The above-described operation of the memory device 10 is controlled by a command decoder 68 responsive to high level command signals received on a control bus 70. These high level command signals, which are typically generated by the memory controller, are a chip select signal CS*, a write enable signal WE*, a row address strobe signal RAS*, and a column address strobe signal CAS*, where the "*" designates the signal as active low. The command decoder 68 generates a sequence of command signals responsive to the high level command signals to carry out a function (e.g., a read or a write) designated by each of the high level command signals. These command signals, and the manner in which they accomplish their respective functions, are conventional. Therefore, in the interest of brevity, a further explanation of these control signals will be omitted.
As mentioned above, read data are coupled from one of the arrays 20 and 22 to the data bus 58 through a read data path that is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. The read data path 80 begins in one of the columns in the array 20 (FIG. 1). The column includes a complementary pair of digit lines 84 and 86 coupled to the memory cells in the column. A sense amplifier 88 connected between the digit lines 84 and 86 amplifies a differential data signal 10 on the digit lines 84 and 86 in a well-known manner. The differential data signal indicates the presence of a "1" or a "0" in an enabled memory cell in the column.
The digit lines 84 and 86 are selectively coupled to a complementary pair of I/O lines 90 and 92 through a column switch 89 when the column select signal CSEL0 goes high. Prior to coupling to the digit lines 84, 86, the I/O lines 90, 92 are equilibrated and biased to a predetermined reference voltage level by an equilibration circuit 93. The equilibration circuit 93 ensures that the voltage levels of the I/O lines 90, 92 are approximately equal and at a predetermined reference voltage level so that the differential data signal on the digit lines 84, 86 will be accurately coupled to the I/O lines 90, 92. The equilibration circuit 93 is activated when the equilibration signal EQ goes high. The I/O lines 90 and 92 are also selectively coupled to the digit lines for a large number of other columns, but these other digit lines have been omitted from FIG. 2 for purposes of clarity. The I/O lines 90, 92 must be equilibrated every time the I/O lines 90, 92 are to be coupled to another pair of digit lines.
The I/O lines 90 and 92 are selectively coupled to a complementary pair of data lines 94 and 96 by first and second pass gates 98 and 100. Another pair of I/O lines 194, 196 is also shown coupling to the data lines 94, 96 to represent the fact that the data lines 94, 96 may be selectively coupled to at least one other complementary pair of I/O lines through a multiplexer, which is represented by the pass gates 98, 100, 198, 199. The use of a multiplexer allows the data lines 94, 96 to be shared with several other pairs of I/O lines. A conductive state of each of the pass gates 98 and 100 determines which pair of I/O lines is to be coupled to the data lines 94, 96, and is controlled by a complementary select signals SEL, SEL* derived from the column address. When the pass gates 98 and 100 are rendered conductive, the differential data signal is coupled from the digit lines 84 and 86 through the I/O lines 90 and 92 to the data lines 94 and 96. As with the I/O lines, the data lines 94, 96 need to be equilibrated prior to coupling to the I/O lines 90, 92. The equilibration circuit 93 is activated before the pass gates 98 and 100 become conductive to bias the data lines 94, 96 to an equal and a predetermined voltage reference level. Immediately prior to coupling to the I/O lines 90, 92, the equilibration 93 circuit is deactivated. However, an equilibration circuit (not shown) separate from the equilibration circuit 93 may be used to equilibrate the data lines 94 and 96.
The data lines 94 and 96 are coupled, respectively, to complementary inputs of a DC sense amplifier 110. The DC sense amplifier 110 is a high speed, high gain differential amplifier that amplifies the differential data signal on the data lines 94 and 96 to full CMOS voltage levels. An amplified differential data signal is generated by the DC sense amplifier 110 at complementary outputs and provided to a complementary pair of data read lines 112 and 114. As with the I/O lines and data lines, the data read lines 112, 114 must also be equilibrated by an equilibration circuit 111 prior to amplification by the DC sense amplifier 110 in order to accurately amplify the differential data signal. The data read lines 112 and 114 provide the amplified differential data signal to a complementary pair of inputs in a data output buffer 126, which provides a data signal to a data bus terminal 128 based on the amplified differential data signal. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the DC sense amplifier 110 may be coupled to at least one other complementary pair of data lines (not shown) through a multiplexer (not shown). Thus, the DC sense amplifier 110 may be shared between more than one pair of complementary data lines, in a manner similar to the coupling between the I/O lines and the data lines 94, 96.
In contrast to the data read sequence previously described, the data write sequence begins when input data is received by an input buffer 150 from the data bus terminal 128. Prior to receiving the input data, data write lines 152, 154 have been equilibrated by equilibration circuit 155. The input buffer 150 generates a differential data signal based on the input data and is coupled to a write driver circuit 158 using the data write lines 152, 154. The complementary output terminals of the write driver 158 are coupled to the data lines 94, 96 and the I/O lines 90, 92. When the column switch 89 couples the I/O lines 90, 92 and data lines 94, 96 to a selected pair of digit lines 84, 86, the write driver 158 writes data from the input buffer 150 to the memory cell array 20 (FIG. 1). As illustrated by this example, several elements of the read data paths and write data paths are shared between the read and write operations. For example, the I/O lines 90, 92 and data lines 94, 96 have bidirectional data capability and can be used for both reading from and writing the memory cell array 20. However, other elements are designed to transmit data in only one direction, and are thus specific to either the read or write operation. For example, data read lines 112, 114 are used only for reading data from the memory cell array. When writing data to the memory cell array, the data write lines 152, 154 are used instead.
A common operation with regard to complementary signal lines is that they all must be equilibrated prior to coupling to a differential data signal in order to accurately provide the differential data signal to the next stage of the data path. The problem with existing complementary data paths is that there may be some delay in coupling a differential data signal because of the time it takes to equilibrate the complementary signal lines. For example, in a memory device such as the one shown in FIG. 1, the equilibration time directly adds to the data transfer time of the memory device. The equilibration delay may affect the complementary signal lines used during a data read operation, as well as during a data write operation. The delay associated with equilibration may not be a problem for the complementary digit lines 84 and 86 because the same pair of digit lines is not generally used for successive data transfers. However, the same pair of I/O lines 90 and 92 and the same pair of data lines 94 and 96 are often used for successive data transfers. Before successive data transfers can occur, the I/O lines 90 and 92 and the data lines 94 and 96 must have been equilibrated. As the demand for memory devices having lower data access times becomes greater, the time lag added by any equilibration time may no longer be acceptable. Therefore, there is a need for a data path that can couple differential data without any delay due to equilibrating the data path.

Method and apparatus for hiding data path equilibration time


A torque command supplied to a tape running unit for drawing out and driving a tape wound on a first reel is modulated by a torque modulator depending on a moment of inertia of the first reel, a winding radius of the tape wound on the first reel, a moment of inertia and a rotating radius of the tape running unit, which are detected by a parameter detector. The first motor is responsive to the modulated torque command for rotating the first reel, thereby keeping the tension of the tape constant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tension control device of magnetic tape in a tape running system of a video tape recorder (VTR) or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the case of an apparatus which draws out a magnetic tape (hereinafter referred to as tape) from a supply reel for recording and reproducing signals, such as in the VTR, it is required to keep constant the tension of the drawn-out tape in order to magnetically record and reproduce signals stably while maintaining a contact state between the tape constant and the magnetic head. Keeping the tape tension constant is also demanded from the viewpoint of decreasing tape damage.
In order to stabilize the tape tension, hitherto, it has been attempted to detect the tension of the drawn-out tape, feed it back, and control the torque of a first motor for directly driving the supply reel on which the tape is wound, thereby stabilizing the tension of the tape (for example, "Collection of Technical Papers of Modern VTR Design Technologies," edited by Japan Industrial Technology Center).
In such conventional constructions, there was a limit in enhancing the response of the feedback system including the first motor to cause the supply reel to follow up the motion of the takeup reel or the capstan responsible for speed control of the tape. In particular, if the response of the capstan or the takeup reel to a tape speed command is increased in order to improve the controllability, the tape becomes too tense or too loose.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A bag forming/filling system includes a delivery mechanism to feed a predetermined length of web material from a web roll to a bag forming cylinder, in which the web is sealed by a sealing machine to form a bag. A predelivery mechanism unwinds and loosens a portion of the web from the web roll by a length substantially corresponding to the predetermined length before operation of the delivery mechanism. The predelivery mechanism may include a pivotally movable tension lever, which moves in an unwinding direction substantially during the closing motion of the sealing machine. In a second embodiment, the predelivery mechanism includes a drive element for rotating the web roll and a detector for detecting a slackened length of a portion of the web.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bag forming/filling system wherein a web from a web roll is allowed to hang down while being formed around a bag forming cylinder into a tubular shape by intermittent operation of a delivery portion, or mechanism which is located at an opposed position to an outer surface of the bag forming cylinder. The web is then sealed in a transverse direction by a closing motion of a transverse sealing machine to form a bag. The interior of the bag is then filled with material to be packed.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
A known bag forming/filling system is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 158630/87. According to this conventional bag forming/filling system, a predelivery mechanism, which includes a predelivery roller and a tension lever, is pivotally positioned on a downstream side of the predelivery roller in a delivery path extending from a web roll up to a bag forming cylinder. A web is passed onto both of a plurality of rotatable tension rollers which are journalled to the tension lever and onto a plurality of guide rollers disposed in an opposed relation to those tension rollers, so that constant tension is applied to the web by the weight of the tension lever and the tension rollers. Furthermore, two delivery belts, which act as delivery portions, are disposed on the outer peripheral portions and on both opposed sides of the bag forming cylinder so as to be in abutment with both transverse side portions of the web. Both delivery belts are adapted to perform an intermittent operation, whereby the web is delivered intermittently by a predetermined length at a time. Pivotal movement of the tension lever is detected by a detector and the predelivery roller is rotated, whereby the web is pulled out from the web roll and the tension lever is brought back into its initial position, so that the force of pulling out the web from the web roll is diminished and the web is kept under tension.
In such a known bag forming/filling system, however, since the web is delivered intermittently by the delivery portions while being kept under constant tension, the delivery resistance of the web is high, and unless the delivery force of each delivery portion is large, it is impossible to ensure the intermittent delivery of the web, thus resulting in increase of the cost. In the event a force is generated which is in a transverse direction relative to the delivery direction of the web being delivered, for example due to a defective setting of the web roll or a dimensional error of the web itself, a positional deviation of the web will occur, and the web will easily move over side guides which project therefrom with the result that the product obtained is defective.
The two delivery belts operate at the same speed to intermittently deliver both transverse side portions of the web by the same length at a time. If a difference in frictional resistance occurs between both delivery belts, which are in abutment with both transverse side portions of the web, due to a minor problem (for example, a surface stain on one delivery belt or the difference in quality between the two belts), one delivery belt will slip with respect to one side portion of the web. Accordingly, the other side portion of the web is forcibly pulled by only the other deliver belt, resulting in the web being skewed in the transverse direction, and the delivery resistance of the other web side portion being forcibly delivered increases, so that the other delivery belt, which is in abutment therewith easily slips. Repetition of such slippage results in meandering of the web and defective products.
To lower the occurrence of such defects stopping the operation and re-adjustment at every start of the transverse movement of the web are required, but this is not only troublesome but also lowers the operating efficiency.
Further, since it is necessary to provide a drive source for the predelivery mechanism which is separate from the drive source for the delivery belts and the transverse sealing machine, the structure is complicated and the cost becomes high.


An enterprise electronic calendar uses new enterprise protocols and mechanisms to implement the new enterprise protocols in an enterprise setting. The enterprise electronic calendar may perform activities such as automatically performing simple tasks that can be programmed. The enterprise electronic calendar works closely with new enterprise electronic calendar protocols in order to best support an enterprise and supports databases for a large organization where individuals must work towards common tasks. In a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a collection of four components closely interact with each other. The components are software based and reside in computers, workstations and palmtops linked through some type of network. The components include a timestamp controller (TSC), a graphical user interface (GUI), a protocol checking process (PCP) and a system administrator interface (SAI). Application as a manager of events in a distributed system is also provided.

(1) Field of the Invention
The method and the apparatus of the present invention is related to the field of electronic timers. More specifically, the present invention is related to a method and apparatus for managing the electronic calendars of personnel throughout an enterprise or for managing events in a distributed system.
(2) Prior Art
Currently, there are many tools available to help manage a person's daily activities. For example, there are simple diaries which may be purchased at a stationary store consisting of individual pages in a notebooklike format with each page having the day of each month in a year. Such a diary may be utilized to keep one's to do lists and reminders for each day. Additionally, there are different types of software currently available which accomplish the task of helping a user keep a record of his or her appointments. Such software is implemented as components of electronic calendar of personal digital assistants such as the Apple Newton and the Hewlett Packard Palmtop.
The disadvantage with currently available electronic calendars is that they only provide minimum support for interaction amongst electronic calendar users in a large organization. For example, Sun Microsystems's Calendar Manager, is an example of an electronic calendar which provides a user with a capability to browse other employee's calendars in the company and to look for mutually free times in order to make appointments with other users. Although the Calendar Manager provides browsing, it does not offer any additional significant enterprise oriented capability.
FIG. 1 illustrates a set of functionalities typically available on traditional electronic calendars. Traditional electronic calendar 100 accepts user or event inputs of to do lists 102 and appointment entries 104. Traditional electronic calendar 100 also provides browsing capability 106 and outputs reminders 108 to the user. Although some electronic calendars may provide interaction 110 with other electronic calendars, such interaction 110 is minimal. For example, some traditional electronic calendars 100 may provide an e-mail capability allowing for users to send and receive electronic mail. Thus, the interaction currently available amongst multiple users of electronic calendars is very limited.
The lack of support in currently available electronic calendars for an enterprise such as a large organization requires each individual electronic calendar user to perform extra tasks burdening them with administrative details. For example, if a user A desires to have a meeting with users B and C, user A must determine a date on which both users B and C will be able to meet. To this end, user A must browse through users B and C's calendars to determine the most convenient time for all three to meet at the same time. It would be much more efficient if user A only had to input minimum information regarding his or her desire to meet with users B and C in order to set up the meeting. More specifically, it would be desirable for an electronic calendar to be able to schedule a meeting automatically if given certain minimal parameters, such as the names of users requested to attend the meeting and a range of dates within which the meeting should be held.
The above example is only one of many functions which would be desired in an electronic calendar used in an enterprise setting. Such an electronic calendar can improve overall efficiency of an enterprise by automating enterprise oriented tasks. A method and an apparatus using new enterprise electronic calendar protocols to provide enterprise oriented capabilities to an electronic calendar are therefore desired. These same protocols also have application for the management of events in a distributed system.

Method and apparatus for management of electronic calendars throughout an enterprise and management of events in a distributed system