A current regulating, transconductance amplifier is connected to the load capacitor of a backplane system. The load capacitor is connected close to the load inside the feedback loop of the regulating amplifier. The frequency response shaping networks of the amplifier are designed to include the pole and zero, contributed by this capacitor, to meet the criteria for fast settling of a current step at the load. At least in the location of the load capacitor and the current feedback paths between each sense point and the transconductance amplifier of the regulator the dielectric thickness of the dielectric material is made as thin as possible, consistent with manufacturability and voltage breakdown (currently on the order of seven mils thick), and the current paths between the transconductance amplifier and each of the sense points (for detecting changes in load current) are made parallel to one another on opposite sides of the dielectric material so that the current in the two paths follow equal and opposite parallel directions. This results in the interaction of the electromagnetic fields created by the two currents drawn at the sense points so that they cancel one another so as to reduce the parasitic impedance of these current paths.

Distributive power supplies have found wide application, as, for example, in telecommunications and data processing systems. This class of power supply provides an advantage over bulk power systems by reducing parasitic reactances between the power supply and components connected to the supply. See Application Note #6, TachoMOD Demonstration Board, Vicor Corporation, Andover, Mass., July 1991; and Prager, Jay, "Beyond Distributed Power", Vicor Corporation, Andover, Mass. Dec. 21, 1990. In general these power supplies provide a source of power to a common bus system (known as a "backplane" system) so that high speed digital signals can be transmitted among various components all connected to the backplane system so as to form a larger electronic system.
Backplane systems or motherboards are widely used today to overcome numerous problems arising out of the huge number of wires often required to effect connections between cardedge connector pins. The term "backplane" is understood to refer to a board or sheet of electrically insulating material, such as a glass-epoxy composite, provided with a plurality of electrically conductive channels or busses that run parallel to one another across one or more surfaces of the backplane between one or more male or female electrical connectors coupled to the busses. The backplane can be thus considered as the neural network of an electronic system in that it provides the interconnection of components of the system, usually in the form of various "function boards" or "daughter boards", each comprising a multiplicity of printed circuit boards.
In a bussed backplane, the majority of the interconnections are formed by contacts on connectors provided on each function or daughter board. The contacts are typically oriented perpendicular to the direction of the bussed connections at locations on the backplane called slots. Such backplanes may also have point to point connections which go from a contact on one connector to a single point on another connector. There may also be connections that interconnect more than two points but which are not fully bussed or have no bussed section.
As the demands of increased operating speeds on backplane systems have increased, so have the performance demands on distributive, power sources. For example, BTL systems have recently been developed, such as the Futurebus+ system manufactured and sold by the present assignee, Hybricon Corporation of Ayer, Mass., which allow much faster propagation time of digital signals through the backplane bus, than previously achieved by the earlier Versa-module Europe (VME) system.
The former VME system uses TTL logic for each transceiver connected to the bus. As such there is a larger capacitive load which slows down signal propagation in a VME system. Furthermore, as the result of TTL logic, a greater swing of voltage is required between the high and low states of the digital signals on the bus. In order to reach the TTL logic threshold, a change in the signal voltage on the bus must travel past all of the slots of the bus in the forward direction; then reflect back to the source. Consequently, these VME systems are ref erred to as second incident wave systems.
BTL systems, on the other hand, employ a family of transceivers with much lower parasitic output capacitance so that the signal propagation delay is reduced and with smaller voltage swing so that "incident" wave switching systems can be provided. This family of transceivers, specified in the IEEE 1194.1 documentation, has become the basis for a high performance computing system such as the Futurebus+ system. Known as Backplane Transceiver Logic, or BTL, this transceiver family has also become popular for computer and telecommunications applications. A BTL transceiver is an open collector device with a series Schottky Barrier diode for isolating the collector capacitance from the bus when the transceiver is off (in the high state).
For effective transmission of high speed digital signals in backplanes using the incident wave mode of operation, each bussed transmission line must be terminated at each end with a resistive termination R.sub.T (see FIG. 1) which matches the characteristic impedance of the line provided by the bus. Furthermore, these termination resistors need to be connected to a power source so that the resistors act as pullups when a particular line changes from a low state to a high state, and thus provide the means of establishing the logic high level voltage on the bus as the default state. As is well known, the bus voltage must be then switched from high to low, by transceivers located on the function and daughter boards that plug into the backplane at various slot positions (shown for example at SL.sub.1 through SL.sub.7 in FIG. 1) when a low state is initiated. The termination resistors R.sub.T, located at each end of the bus, are connected to a power source V.sub.T, so as to provide the proper voltage level, typically set at 2.1.sup.V DC, which establishes a logic high level equal to the power source voltage. This is also shown in FIG. 1. The nominal logic low voltage is approximately 1.sup.V DC and the nominal, mean threshold voltage is approximately 1.54.sup.V DC. FIG. 1 shows the various voltage limits. Transition times between the high and low states vary typically between 2ns. and 5ns., but can be faster.
As a result a signal voltage front (caused by a change in state) travels down a backplane past each slot and does not reflect back appreciably (and for this reason is referred to as an "incident wave switching" system). The signal can be accepted by any board. Theoretically, a transceiver driver can put another change of signal on the backplane before the signal front of the previous one has reached the end of the backplane.
The requirement, problems and solutions described herein, are described in connection with the transmission of high speed digital signals on backplane systems and, preferably in bussed backplane interconnection systems that will support incident wave switching operation of the system. Incident switching, by its nature, places very serious demands on the speed and signal integrity capability of the system. However, the application, problems and solutions described herein, are appropriate for a wider range of backplane system applications.
In order to understand the problems of the prior art reference is made to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a simplified representation of one end of a typical backplane signal transmission system meeting the Futurebus+ specification, wherein two of the slots n-1 and n are shown connected to 64 data bit lines of the signal bus 10 connected to the pullup, terminating resistors R.sub.t1 -R.sub.t64. Each successive pair of data bit lines R.sub.t1 and R.sub.t2, R.sub.t3 and R.sub.t4, . . . R.sub.t63 and R.sub.t64 have their terminating resistors connected as a pair to the ground plane of the backplane through a single bypass capacitor C.sub.3.
Capacitor C.sub.3 is preferably a ceramic (i.e., tantalum and aluminum electrolytic) capacitor connected in parallel to one or two stages of larger or main capacitors C.sub.2 and C.sub.1, as well as the power supply 12, all of which have one plate or terminal connected to the ground plane. The larger capacitors are provided in order to supply charging current to each successively smaller capacitor. Capacitors C.sub.3,1 ; C.sub.3,2 . . . C.sub.3,n are the primary source of stored energy needed to supply current to the termination resistors R.sub.T, initially, at the moment a transceiver switches T on, and likewise, absorb the excess current when the transceiver switches off. They will discharge (or charge) at an initial rate determined by the maximum current demand which can be a number of amperes when the maximum possible number of lines switch simultaneously. When one of the data bit lines changes state from a high state to a low state, for example, charge is pulled from the corresponding capacitor C.sub.3, resulting in a decrease in voltage across this capacitor. For stability of the high voltage state of reference voltage provided across the terminating resistor on the line, the capacitor must be charged as quickly as possible. By making capacitor C.sub.2 >>C.sub.3, and C.sub.1 >>C.sub.2, the discharging capacitor C.sub.3 will be quickly charged by capacitor C.sub.2, which in turn will be quickly recharged by capacitor C.sub.1, with the latter being recharged by the 2.1.sup.V DC power supply.
The inductances L.sub.4,1a, L.sub.4,2a . . . L.sub.4,32a, L.sub.4,1b, L.sub.4,2b . . . L.sub.4,32b, L.sub.3a, L.sub.3b, L.sub.2a, L.sub.2b, L.sub.1a L.sub.1b, all represent the unavoidable series interconnection parasitic inductance of each charge and discharge path of each capacitor. The circuit also shows the possible sense points for the two power supply sense connections.
From this circuit schematic, it can be readily seen that when one or more lines are switched, significant crosstalk voltage can be injected into other lines. For example, when the line for bit 1 is switched by any transceiver connected to it, the dv/dt of the rising or falling edge of the signal current will generate a voltage across L.sub.4,1a and L.sub.4,1b which will appear as a pulse at the junction of R.sub.t1 and R.sub.t2 and thus on bus line for data bit 2, attenuated as a function of R.sub.t2 and impedance output Z.sub.o of line 2.
Since capacitors C.sub.3,1 ; C.sub.3,2 . . . C.sub.3,n are the primary source of stored energy needed to supply current to the termination resistors, and they will discharge (or charge) at an initial rate determined by the maximum current demand, any voltage change, across these capacitors, due to current drawn by driven lines will appear as crosstalk across undriven lines as well as each driven line seeing the crosstalk from all the other driven lines.
For many general, digital circuit applications, a sufficiently stable voltage source for switched current applications (which typically use feedback amplifiers to provide the necessary currents to maintain a stable voltage) is provided using a conventionally current regulated power supply with a set of low ESR capacitors. For more precise applications, however, this system does not work well.
Use of such low ESR capacitors with the parasitic inductances create resonant frequencies in the feedback of an amplifier of a current regulator causing undesirable ringing of the circuit at the resonant frequencies. The series inductances need to be reduced and a different type of supply, with faster and different response characteristics, is therefore needed to solve the problem.
Until the present invention, it has been difficult to develop a faster response time of a current regulator of a power supply for a backplane system. We believe that the reason a fast responding current regulator has not been developed is because of the high series parasitic inductances. The errors due to the series parasitic inductances, which are partly in the capacitors and partly in the printed circuit interconnections, and the errors due to the equivalent series resistances, which are inherent in ceramic capacitors, are totally unacceptable for the application.
For more precise applications of the power supply of a backplane system, remaining problems include (a) transient response of the current regulator, (b) output impedance and (c) the parasitic inductance between the power supply and the high speed BTL logic devices. Prager, supra, suggests that part of the solution to the problem arising out of parasitics and a DC-DC converter module is to use "external capacitance at the load sites, to overcome control response and transient voltage problems at the point of load, inherent to traditional converters. By having essentially all of the output capacitance outside the converter module, at the points of load, parasitic inductances between the converter and the load are lumped into the output inductance of the converter, thus eliminating constraints on the slew rate of the voltage feeding the parasitics." Thus, the system described by Prager is a "voltage compliant system".
However, applying the teachings of Prager as well as the prior art precision voltage references (as described hereinafter) used for successive approximation analog-to-digital converters in order to provide a fast recovery after the application of a current step function to a backplane system is not satisfactory because of inherent parasitic impedances created in the current paths between the sense points, as well as the load capacitor itself.

Fast response current regulator for DC power supply


A position controller of a motor in which the position time can be shortened even if an external force is applied. A speed control unit (13) comprises a compensation low-pass filter (133) having a transfer function corresponding to a delay of a speed control system. The speed control unit (13) further comprises an integral control system including a speed integrator (132) for integrating the difference between a speed and a delay speed command to the low-pass filter (133) compensating the delay in the speed control unit. A proportional control system outputting a command proportional to the speed command, and a multiplying means (134) for multiplying the sum of outputs from the integral control system and the proportional control system by a speed proportional gain and outputting the result as a torque command. A speed feedback low-pass filter (135) having a transfer function for preventing a ripple from appearing in the torque command due to a quantization error and/or a positional error at a position detection unit is also provided.

An example of a conventional motor position controller is shown in FIG. 10 (refer to FIG. 1 in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-254550). In this controller, a difference between a position indicated by a position command and a fed-back position is calculated by a subtractor in a position control unit, and then processed by the position control unit before being output as a speed command. A subtractor in a speed control unit 3 calculates a difference between a fed-back speed, obtained by a speed calculation unit 2 converting the fed-back position output from an encoder E, and the speed indicated by the speed command. This difference is processed by the speed control unit 3, which outputs a torque command to a torque control unit 4. The torque control unit 4 controls an excitation current flowing into a motor M in such a manner to cause the motor M to produce a torque as required by a torque command.
Normally, the position control unit 1 in this controller is constructed as a proportional control (P-control) unit and the speed control unit 3 is built as a proportional-integral control (PI-control) unit. The conventional PI-control unit forming the speed control unit 3 has a configuration shown in FIG. 11. In this PI-control unit a difference between the speed indicated by the speed command and the fed-back speed is calculated by a subtractor SB, and is input through a proportional control system with a gain of 1 to an adder AD. In the integral control system, the difference is multiplied by an integral gain by a multiplier 31 and integrated by a speed integrator 32 before being supplied to the adder AD. The adder AD adds an output of the proportional control system and an output of the integral control system, and sends the result to a multiplier 33, which in turn multiplies the output of the adder AD by a proportional gain and outputs the result as a torque command. By constructing the speed control unit 3 as a PI-control unit, it is possible to minimize not only a transient difference of speed but also a steady state difference.
Generally, control systems have a limited response, which means that a fed-back speed takes long to respond to a speed command. FIG. 12 shows a simulation of a positioning operation in a conventional position controller. In the figure, diagrams represent, from top to bottom, a position command, a position difference (magnified), a speed command, a fed-back speed, a speed integrator output, a torque command, and an in-position state (positioning operation completes). Upon receiving the position command, the motor M begins to rotate. However, after the speed command has been output from the position controller until the fed-back speed is obtained (until the fed-back speed corresponding to the speed command appears), the speed integrator 32 performs a integrating operation. While the motor is rotating at a constant speed, the integrated value decreases. But as the motor M decelerates, the integrating operation is performed again. At the end of the positioning operation, all the remaining integrated value is discharged, and the motor M stops. Thus, in the conventional controller, as shown in FIG. 12, after the position command has become zero, the positioning response is delayed for an amount corresponding to a residual quantity of the remaining integrated value in the speed integrator 32.
To solve this problem, a control method of switching from a proportional control to a proportional-integral control (P-PI switch control) has been proposed. FIG. 13 shows a simulation of a positioning response in the P-PI switch control. Diagrams represent, from top to bottom, a position command, a position difference (magnified), a speed command, a fed-back speed, a speed integrator output, a torque command, and an in-position state (positioning operation completes). In the P-PI switch control, when the motor is rotating, the speed control unit 3 is made to perform a proportional control, immediately before the motor M stops, and is switched to a proportional-integral control. Changing the control mode according to the operation state as described above makes it possible to make the residual quantity, in the speed integrator 32 while the motor is running, zero and to shorten a positioning time while at the same time suppressing a steady state difference when the motor stops. However, if the P-PI switch control method is applied to a control system in which an external force is always applied to a shaft of a motor, such as one that drives a vertical shaft, the positioning time increases, as shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 shows a simulation of a positioning response under the P-PI switch control. In this figure, too, diagrams represent, from top to bottom, a position command, a position difference (magnified), a speed command, a fed-back speed, a speed integrator output, a torque command, and an in-position state (positioning operation completes). As can be seen from the speed integrator output of FIG. 14, after the control is changed over to the PI control, the speed integrator 32 compensates for a torque corresponding to the external force. The P-PI control thus has a problem of not being able to shorten the positioning time when an external force is applied to the shaft.
An object of this invention is to provide a motor position controller which can shorten the positioning time even if an external force is applied.


The invention relates to a textured surface covering having a hot melt wear layer without distortion of the visual image of the textured substrate. The wear layer substantially follows the contours of the substrate with minimum change in thickness of the wear layer over the textured surface and provides an aesthetically pleasing three dimensional appearance to the textured surface of the substrate. The wear layer exhibits significant clarity and visual depth, as well as improved maintenance (cleanability) properties. The resulting product has a visual image clarity reflecting any texture in the substrate including very light reflective (lenticular moray) embossings.

Decorative products useful as surface coverings for floors, walls, etc., are well known in the art and have achieved broad use in domestic and commercial environments. Unfortunately, the application of a protective surface layer on an embossed substrate has presented many difficult problems. The embossing tends to diminish or distort upon application of the wear layer. Such distortion or diminishing reduces the aesthetic appearance and the three dimensional effect desired. Further, air is entrapped between the wear layer and embossed or textured substrate when the wear layer is laminated to an embossed or textured substrate by conventional lamination processes.
Many prior art protective wear layer surfaces comprise relatively rigid thermoset polymers which are laminated to a flat substrate. The laminated wear layer and substrate is then embossed. For example, Sawka U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,675 discloses applying a substantially uniformly thick protective surface layer to a base layer or substrate and then embossing the base layer at a temperature between the softening temperature of the base layer and the decomposition temperature of the base layer, but less than the softening temperature of the wear layer.
Attention is also called to Fry U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,556. In this patent the wear layer has a relief pattern formed thereon and is laminated to a flat base layer. In another embodiment, the wear layer, which is substantially uniform in thickness, is embossed and then the base layer comprising a hot-melt composition is applied to the embossed wear layer.
Other commercially available floor structures are made by applying a liquid plastisol to a smooth or textured substrate. When the plastisol is fused, air bubbles are entrapped reducing clarity. Further, the liquid plastisol tends to flow into the depressions of the embossed substrate, reducing the texture of the exposed surface.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hot melt calendered or extruded wear layer for embossed substrates


A modular valance fixture includes at least one elongated light fixture including a channel frame having a first end and a second end and to which a plurality of lights are mounted. At least two identical bases each have a distal end and a mounting end that mounts to a wall. At least two identical sleeves each include a slide end that telescopically receives the distal end of one of the bases, a distal end and a tube having a first side and a second side. Each of the at least two identical sleeves are oriented to either act as a left-handed support or as a right-handed support for the at least one elongated light fixture. The first side of each tube of the identical sleeves includes a cutout that faces one of the first and the second ends of the channel frame of the light fixture.

There are a variety of ways to use lighting in a retail store. One way to encourage customers to look further at an item is the use of valance lighting. Valance lighting places lights above or below an object or objects on display and is generally hidden behind a board or panel to create an effect of lighting up a specific place.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.


A golf bag cart (10) having a frame (14), a handle (22), first and second rear wheels (18, 20), and first and second wheel struts (52, 54), to which the first and second rear wheels (18, 20) are rotatably mounted, the first and second wheel struts (52, 54) being pivotally mounted to the frame (14) by mid-frame pivots (68). A front wheel (16) and a front wheel mount (44) are included, the front wheel mount (44) being pivotally attached to the frame (14) by a lower frame pivot (40). The golf bag cart (10) is movable from an extended configuration (12) to a collapsed configuration (13), such that the rear wheels (18, 20) pivot about the mid-frame pivots (68) to move towards the front wheel (14). The front wheel (14) and the wheel mount (44) pivot about the lower frame pivot (40) so that the front wheel (16) moves towards the rear wheels (18, 20), as the golf bag cart (10) is being collapsed.

Golf is a sport which its practitioners often take very seriously. In particular, golfers may have a large selection of clubs to use for every foreseeable occasion, and consequently, the golf bag and its collection of clubs may become heavy and cumbersome to carry around the golf course. One answer to this problem has been the golf cart, to which the bag can be strapped, thus relieving the golfer of the burden of carrying his collection of clubs upon his shoulders.
A golf cart ideally has several qualities which make it well suited for its purpose. One such quality is stability, since the cart will be expected to be driven over rough terrain, possibly in varying weather conditions. To aid in stability, it is thus desirable that the cart have tires and wheels of a sufficient diameter that the wheels do not become stuck in small ruts and mud puddles. The cart should have a sufficiently wide wheel base that it does not easily tip over when on sloped terrain, or when buffeted by winds. It must additionally be large enough in its frame that a fair sized golf bag can be easily secured to it, usually at top and bottom, thus implying a certain minimum length between the wheels and the upper handle.
All of these features which add to the cart's stability do so by establishing a certain breadth and length to the cart. Unfortunately, these same breadth and length requirements also serve to make the cart bulky, and less easily portable than may be desirable. One partial solution to the bulk of these golf carts has been to make them somewhat foldable in some part or parts. However, the compactness of a golf cart is still generally limited by the same features, namely wheel diameter, and frame length, which lend stability.
Another fairly recent trend in golf carts is for carts that are pushed ahead of the user rather than being pulled behind. The traditional "pull behind" cart was a two-wheeled structure with a support foot acting as a third support for parking the cart. The foot was lifted from engagement with the ground by tilting the cart backwards so the support foot left the ground, and then rolled on the two wheels. This "pull behind" style had certain ergonomic disadvantages, compared to a push style cart, particularly because the user had to being continually reaching behind himself to hold the handle, which twisted the user's body, and could potentially aggravate back problems, muscle strains, etc. Additionally, the user is less able to watch for obstructions in the cart's path, since it is being pulled behind, while the user is presumably watching the terrain ahead of him. A pushcart can often propel itself down a slope or on hard ground. A pull cart requires constant attention and effort. Our arms are not designed to pull an object or otherwise work behind us. Usually, when performing any task that requires such an effort, we would turn around and face the task. This could be dangerous on the golf course with a pull cart (i.e. ponds, cliffs, snakes, etc.) Additionally, pushing a cart allows the golfer to stand directly on the extended centerline of the cart, maximizing his energy expenditure.
There is thus still a great need for a golf cart which can collapse or fold so that its various components can be reconfigured into a very compact structure, but without disassembling its components, and thus can be quickly moved from a collapsed configuration to an extended one with a minimum of effort.


Position based WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) management. Based on either the relative position or the specific location of devices within a WPAN, communication between the various devices is managed by grouping the devices into two or more groups. In addition, the communication between theses various devices may be governed by profiles assigned to the groups (or even the actual individual devices) that are assigned based on their locations within the WPAN. The relative locations of the devices may be made using ranging that is performed by transmitting UWB (Ultra Wide Band) pulses between the various devices within the WPAN. Alternatively, each device may include GPS (Global Positioning System) functionality and information corresponding to the specific locations of the devices may be communicated between the devices, and that information may be used to group devices user and/or assign profiles to govern the communication to and from the devices.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to communication systems; and, more particularly, it relates to managing communications within such communication systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Data communication systems have been under continual development for many years. In recent years, the development of piconet type communication systems has been under increasing development. A piconet may be viewed as a network that is established when two devices connect to support communication of data between themselves. Sometimes, piconets are referred to as PANs (Personal Area Networks). These piconets typically operate within a region having a radius of up to approximately 10 meters.
As is known, the Bluetooth® communication standard is the first such PAN communication standard that has been developed. In accordance with the Bluetooth® communication standard, the communication between the various devices in such a piconet is strictly performed using an M/S (Master/Slave) configuration. Each of the devices within such a Bluetooth® piconet is M/S capable. Typically one of the devices (sometimes referred to as piconet controller in this situation), or a first device within the Bluetooth® piconet, transmits a beacon signal (or an access invitation signal) while operating as the "master" device of the Bluetooth® piconet to the other "slave" devices of the Bluetooth® piconet. In other words, the "master" device of the Bluetooth® piconet polls the other "slave" devices to get them to respond.
However, other piconets may be implemented such that the devices do not operate according to such an M/S (Master/Slave) type relationship. In such instances, various piconet operable devices operate may be referred to as PNCs (piconet coordinators) and DEVs (user piconet devices that are not PNCs). The PNCs operate to coordinate the communication between themselves and the DEVs within the piconet. Sometimes, such a PNC may be implemented to operate as a master with respect to the 1 or more DEVs that operate as slaves, but this need not be the case in all instances—the strict M/S relationship is typically the case only in a Bluetooth® piconet.
In even some other instances, two or more piconets operate cooperatively such that at least two piconets operate such that they share at least one common device in a scatternet implementation. For example, in a scatternet, a single DEV may interact with two or more PNCs. This implementation will allow various devices within different piconets that are located relatively far from one another to communicate through the PNCs of the scatternet. However, within a scatternet implementation, a problem may arise such that each of the individual piconets must be able to operate in relative close proximity with other piconets without interfering with one another. This inherently requires a great deal of synchronization between the piconets, which may be very difficult to achieve in some instances. It is also noted that independently operating piconets, not implemented within a scatternet implementation, may also suffer from deleterious effects of interference with other piconets located within relative close proximity.
Some PAN communication standards and recommended practices have been developed (and some are still being developed) by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers) 802.15 working group. These standards and recommended practices may generally be referred to as being provided under the umbrella of the IEEE 802.15 working group. Perhaps the most common standard is the IEEE 802.15.1 standard which adopts the core of Bluetooth® and which generally can support operational rates up to approximately 1 Mbps (Mega-bits per second).
The IEEE 802.15.2 recommended practice specification has been developed in an effort to support the co-existence of the IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth® core with virtually any other wireless communication system within the approximate 2.4 GHz (Giga-Hertz) frequency range. As some examples, the IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) standards both operate within the approximate 2.4 GHz frequency range. This IEEE 802.15.2 recommended practice specification has been developed to ensure that such a WLAN and a piconet may operate simultaneously within relatively close proximity of one another without significant interference with one another.
In addition, the IEEE 802.15.3 high data rate PAN standard has been developed in an effort to support operational rate up to approximately 55 Mbps. In this IEEE 802.15.3 standard, the PNCs and DEVs do not operate according to an M/S relationship as they do according to Bluetooth®. In contradistinction, a PNC operates generally as an AP (Access Point) and manages the various DEVs such that they are guaranteed to perform their respective communication according to their appropriate time slots thereby ensuring proper performance and operation within the piconet. An extension of the IEEE 802.15.3 high data rate PAN standard is the IEEE 802.15.3 WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) High Rate Alternative PHY Task Group 3a (TG3a). This is sometimes referred to the IEEE 802.15.3a extended high data rate PAN standard, and it can support operational rates up to 480 Mbps
Yet another standard developed by the IEEE 802.15 working group is the IEEE 802.15.4 low data rate PAN standard that generally supports data rates within the range of approximately 10 kbps (kilo-bits per second) and 250 kbps.
Typically within such WPANs, the communication between each of the user devices and a PNC (piconet coordinator) (as well as between the various user devices via p2p (peer to peer) communication) is performed according to a common scheme such as a single code rate, a single modulation, and/or a single data rate. There does not presently exist in the art any means by which the communication to and from the various devices of one or more piconets may be handled in any other way besides according to such a common scheme.


Disclosed herein is a non-clog shredder that is used to shred solid matter entrained in a non-homogenous liquid-solid feed. In one embodiment of the invention, the shredder is located at the bottom of a toilet bowl and is used to shred solid disposable products such as napkins and diapers that are discarded in the toilet bowl. The shredder comprises a generally cylindrical cup that is open at one end, with a circular end-cap at the other end. The end-cap has an axial opening that allows the feed to pass through the cup. In one embodiment of the invention, the opening has recesses and/or teeth on the periphery of the opening. An impeller disposed against the circular end plate creates suction for transfer of the waste through the shredder. A cutting blade on the impeller assembly projects axially through the opening in the end-cap.

The present invention, in general, relates to a shredder for shredding semi-solid or particulate matter entrained in a non-homogenous liquid-solid flow. The shredder disclosed herein finds an application in process industries, for example in the ore, paper, pulp, food and fiber industries for macerating particulate or solid material in an incoming liquid-solid feed.
An example of the application of the shredder disclosed herein is in marine and recreational vehicle toilets. These toilets are designed to accept waste, such as human waste and toilet paper which can be easily flushed down the toilet. But if products such as feminine hygiene and diapers are discarded in the toilet, the toilet often clogs. Repeated attempts to flush such products down the toilet may eventually be successful but it results in excessive usage of fresh water. In one embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the shredder is located downstream of the toilet bowl discharge line of a marine or recreational vehicle toilet to prevent clogging of toilets, especially when products such as feminine hygiene products and baby diapers are discarded in the toilet bowl.
In general, there is an unsatisfied market need for shredding solid matter in an incoming liquid-solid feed without clogging the line transporting such flow.


The force to draw an armature of an electromagnetic valve apparatus driving a valve for opening or closing a high-pressure liquid passage is increased and valve bouncing is alleviated by a surface of the core being flat and a surface of the armature facing the surface of the core being shaped convexly spherical. Interference of the surfaces is prevented by a smaller initial gap in a central portion of the faces, even when the armature is installed aslant due to insufficient accuracy of the component parts. Strong electromagnetic attraction can be secured because the smaller the gap is, the stronger the electromagnetic attraction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an electromagnetic valve apparatus for driving an open/close valve to open or close a high-pressure fuel passage in order to control fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity used particularly in the fuel injection equipment of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electromagnetic valve apparatus has been known for driving by utilizing electromagnetic force, an open/close valve to open or close a high-pressure fuel passage in order to control fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity. The electromagnetic valve apparatus comprises a core with a coil embedded therein and an armature located adjacent to the core. The armature is attracted toward the core when magnetic flux generated by electric current in the coil passes through the armature, and thus a valve body connected to the armature is driven.
As the electromagnetic valve apparatus is composed such that the valve body sits on the valve seat in a state in which the armature is attracted toward the core to close the fuel passage, there must be a gap between the core and the armature in the state in which the armature is attracted toward the core. It is required that this gap is as small as possible for securing strong electromagnetic attraction.
However, heretofore, both the surfaces of the core and the armature facing each other have been shaped as flat surfaces (see FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.2003-193939, and FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-98024, for example). The valve apparatus has been composed to provide a sufficient initial gap between the surfaces of the core and the armature facing each other so that the end surface of the armature does not interfere with the surface of the core facing the end surface of the armature even when the armature is installed aslant. This is caused by insufficient accuracy of the component parts, since it is difficult from the standpoint of accuracy of the component parts to compose them so that the gap is even allover the surfaces.


Automatically estimating a sensitivity level of an information technology (IT) asset in one aspect may obtain information about an asset. Characteristics of the asset assigned based on the information may be compared with stored characteristics of known sensitive assets. A sensitivity level of the asset may be determined based on the comparing.

A growing number of advanced persistent threats and insider threats have demonstrated the capability of attacking specific highly sensitive entities in a government or company. The computer security community has recognized that not all IT assets have the same value or importance to the company, and, therefore, they require different levels of protection corresponding to their sensitivity and value. By prioritizing the security efforts and budget to better protect highly sensitive assets, organizations can reduce the security risk. Further, quantitative measurement of the sensitivity of IT assets enables other important applications such as intelligent file backup and business continuity planning.
To achieve this vision, all assets in an organization need to be assigned a sensitivity value that properly indicates the business value and criticality to the organization. Currently, the asset classification is primarily done manually by the system administrators with respect to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the assets. However, there are limitations in the manual approach. For instance, it is very hard for a large organization to assign appropriate labels to all the assets in the organization. The number of assets in a large organization can grow huge, and, often, the assets are created and managed independently in different departments, so it is extremely hard to catalog and centrally manage all the assets. Additionally, most of the guidelines are descriptive and can be interpreted subjectively. Therefore, the classification of assets can differ significantly by different human judges. Furthermore, a coarse-grained (3 to 5-scale) type of ratings currently used in manual measurement may not provide the sufficient.

Estimating asset sensitivity using information associated with users

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for signing an electronic document, including establishing an electronic signature appearance for an electronic signature, determining a bounding region on the electronic document for the display of the electronic signature appearance, at the time of signing an electronic document, previewing the electronic signature appearance in the bounding region and signing the electronic document with an electronic signature, the electronic signature associated with the electronic signature appearance. The electronic signature appearance can be configured at the time of signing the electronic document.

This invention relates to signing an electronic document.
An electronic signature is created and verified by means of cryptography. Typically, a private key of the signer of an electronic document is used for creating the electronic signature and a public key of the signer is used for verifying the electronic signature. A recipient of the signed electronic document must have the corresponding public key in order to verify that the electronic signature is the signer's.
In a conventional public-private key implementation, an electronic signature is created by using a hash function to compute a result derived from the signed electronic document and the signer's private key. If the signed electronic document changes, then the hash result will also, with an extremely high probability, change. At the time of signing the electronic document, a hash result is computed and then transformed into an electronic signature using the signer's private key. The resulting electronic signature is statistically unique to both the signed electronic document and the private key used to create it. Typically, an electronic signature is attached to or made part of the electronic document and stored or transmitted with the electronic document.
Verification of the electronic signature is accomplished by computing a new hash result using the same hash function used in creating the electronic signature. The signer's public key is then used to verify whether the electronic signature was created using the signer's corresponding private key and whether the newly computed hash result matches the hash result derived from the electronic signature. If the signer's private key was used and the hash results are identical, then the electronic signature is verified. Verification indicates that the electronic signature was created using the signer's private key and that the electronic document was not altered after it was signed.
The term electronic signature will be used to refer to the code derived from the signed electronic document and a given private key. An electronic signature appearance is a visual manifestation of the signer's signature on the electronic document. An electronic signature appearance can include graphic elements and textual elements. For example, the electronic signature appearance can include an image of the signer's handwritten signature and text indicating the date the electronic document was signed. Because an electronic document cannot be altered after it has been electronically signed without invalidating the electronic signature, the signer cannot alter the electronic signature appearance after signing the electronic document. If the signer is not satisfied with the appearance of the electronic signature on the electronic document, then the signer would have to effectively re-sign another copy of the electronic document, using an electronic signature appearance satisfactory to the signer.

Dynamic preview of electronic signature appearance


Provided is an optical pickup apparatus that can be made compact and is capable of producing stable push-pull signals. The optical pickup apparatus includes a light source, an objective lens, a diffraction element, a light-receiving element, and a control-driving section. The diffraction element receives light reflected from an optical recording medium. The light-receiving element receives light beams diffracted by the diffraction element. The light-receiving element has a plurality of light-receiving regions. The light-receiving region produces an output signal responsive to the quantity of the incident light beam. The control-driving section obtains differences among the output signals from a plurality of the light-receiving regions by calculation to derive a push-pull signal, and drives the objective lens under control on the basis of the push-pull signal.

1. Field of the Technology
The present technology relates to an optical pickup apparatus which is installed in information processing equipment for performing at least one of information recording process, information reproducing process, information erasing process, and information rewriting process on an optical recording medium, and the optical pickup apparatus acts to emit light to the optical recording medium as well as to receive light reflected from the optical recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical pickup apparatus is designed to effect emission and reception of light for an optical recording medium such for example as Compact Disk (CD for short), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD for short), and Btu-ray Disk (BD for short). The optical pickup apparatus is installed in information processing equipment for performing at least one of information recording process, information reproducing process, information erasing process, and information rewriting process on the optical recording medium. A semiconductor laser element is mounted in the optical pickup apparatus to effect emission and reception of light for use in information processing operation to be performed on the optical recording medium.
For optical disks of so-called CD-type, such as CD and recordable CD, adaptable to at least one of information recording process, information reproducing process, information erasing process, and information rewriting process that are performed by information processing equipment, a laser light source for emitting light having an emission wavelength close to 780 nm is used to execute signal processing. On the other hand, for optical disks of so-called DVD-type such as DVD and recordable DVD, a laser light source for emitting light having an emission wavelength close to 650 nm is used to execute signal processing. In addition, for BD, a laser light source for emitting light having a wavelength close to 405 nm is used to execute signal processing.
There has recently been an increasing demand for an optical pickup apparatus capable of performing processing operation on optical recording media of different types with adaptability to several wavelengths. However, as compared with an optical pickup apparatus designed to perform processing operation on an optical recording medium of a specific type, the one having the aforestated capability is made complicated in structure and grows in size. As a related art devised to overcome this problem, there is a known technology to implement an optical system common to focus error detection and radial error detection refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 11-73658 (1999), for example).
FIGS. 13A and 13B are plan views showing a light-receiving element and a diffraction element 1 of an optical pickup apparatus pursuant to the related art as viewed in a direction of optical axis Z. Specifically, FIG. 13A is a plan view of the light-receiving element, and FIG. 13B is a plan view of the diffraction element as viewed in the optical axis direction Z. The diffraction element 1 acts to diffract backward light, which is light reflected back from an optical recording medium, to direct ± first order diffraction light toward the light-receiving element. The diffraction element 1 has a circular outer shape, and is placed with its center O located at a position passing through the optical axis of the optical pickup apparatus. Moreover, the diffraction element 1 is divided into six regions by a first dividing line 3 extending in a tangential direction while passing through the center O and a second dividing line 4 and a third dividing line 5 that are each perpendicular to the first dividing line 3. On the other hand, the light-receiving element is divided into first to eighth regions R1 to R8, of which the second region R2, the fourth region R4, the sixth region R6, and the eighth region RB are each subdivided into three small regions a, b, and c.
In FIG. 13B, a right-left direction as viewed in the paper sheet with FIG. 13B printed thereon will be defined as the tangential direction, and a top-bottom direction as viewed in the paper sheet will be defined as a radial direction, which is a direction radially of the circular plate-shaped optical recording medium. The radial direction is perpendicular to the tangential direction. In a strict sense the radial direction comprises two opposite directions, namely one radial direction which is an upward direction as viewed in the paper sheet and the other radial direction opposite from one radial direction. Out of the second and third dividing lines 4 and 5 extending in parallel with the radial direction, the one located on the one-tracking-direction side (of the diffraction element) is the second dividing line 4.
Out of the six separate regions of the diffraction element 1 shown in FIG. 13B, the one radial direction-side region located at extreme one-tangential-direction position and the one radial direction-side region located at extreme the other-tangential-direction position correspond to, of the eight regions of the light-receiving element, the first region R1 and the fifth region R5. A beam of light which enters these regions is condensed so as to be focused on a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element.
Out of the six separate regions of the diffraction element 1 shown in FIG. 13B, the other radial direction-side region located at extreme one-tangential-direction position and the other radial direction-side region located at extreme the other-tangential-direction position correspond to, of the eight regions of the light-receiving element, the third region R3 and the seventh region R7. A beam of light which enters these regions is condensed so as to be focused on the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element.
Out of the six separate regions of the diffraction element 1 shown in FIG. 13B, the one radial direction-side region located centrally in the tangential direction corresponds to, of the eight regions of the light-receiving element, the second region R2 and the eighth region R8. A beam of light which enters these regions is condensed so as to be focused farther than the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element from the diffraction element 1.
Out of the six separate regions of the diffraction element 1 shown in FIG. 13B, the other radial direction-side region located centrally in the tangential direction corresponds to, of the eight regions of the light-receiving element, the fourth region R4 and the sixth region R6. A beam of light which enters these regions is condensed so as to be focused closer than the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element to the diffraction element 1. As employed herein, "correspond to" means that reflected backward light diffracted in each of the regions of the diffraction element 1 enters its respective region of the light-receiving element.
If forward light entering the optical recording medium travels radially across a track of the optical recording medium, a significant luminance variation will result in two areas located tangentially centrally but spaced apart radially. In FIG. 13B, such an area which exhibits a significant luminance variation is encircled by a chain double-dashed line. In the diffraction element 1, in other areas than the area exhibiting a significant luminance variation, even if the forward light travels radially across the track, the degree of luminance variation is relatively low. By exploiting a difference in light quantity between a light beam entering the area exhibiting a significant luminance variation and a light beam entering the area exhibiting a slight luminance variation, it is possible to produce a push-pull signal. In response to the push-pull signal thus produced, tracking servomechanism (not represented graphically) is driven thereby to allow radial adjustment of the forward light which enters the optical recording medium.
In the optical pickup apparatus pursuant to the related art, a radial error for tracking servo control is obtained by the differential push pull method using the quantity of a light beam entering each of the regions of the light-receiving element. To be specific, the radial error is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
                                                                           DPP                =                                                                                {                                                                  (                                                                              R                                                                                4                                                        all                                                    +                                                      R                                                                                6                                                                                all                                                                          )                                            -                                              (                                                                              R                                                                                2                                                        all                                                    +                                                      R                                                                                8                                                                                all                                                                          )                                                              }                                    -                                                                                k                  ×                                      {                                                                  (                                                                              R                                                                                1                                                    +                                                      R                                                                                5                                                                          )                                            -                                              (                                                                              R                                                                                3                                                    +                                                      R                                                                                7                                                                          )                                                              }                                                                                =                                                                  MPP                  -                                      k                    ×                    SPP                                                                                (          1          )
In the formula (1), DPP represents a push-pull signal which is obtainable by the differential push pull method, and R1 to R8 represent the quantities of the light beams entering the first to eighth regions, respectively, of the light-receiving element. Out of the first to eighth regions, the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth regions are each subdivided into three small regions. In the formula (1), R2all, R4all, R6all, and R8all represent the quantities of the light beams entering the second region, the fourth region, the sixth region, and the eighth region, respectively, and in a sense, each value represents the sum total of quantities of the light beams entering the three small regions, respectively. Note that, specifically, the quantity of the light beam entering each of the regions of the light-receiving element is expressed as the signal strength of an electric signal outputted through conversion by the light-receiving element.
As shown in the formula (1), MPP is equivalent to (R4all+R6all)−(R2all+R8all). In this case, since MPP involves the quantity of the light beam entering the area exhibiting a significant luminance variation, when the forward light entering the optical recording medium travels across the track of the optical recording medium, MPP is caused to vary greatly so as to indicate a radial displacement, or an AC component of a radial error signal.
Moreover, SPP is equivalent to (R1+R5)−(R3+R7). In this case, since SPP does not involve the quantity of the light beam entering the area exhibiting a significant luminance variation, even if the forward light entering the optical recording medium travels across the track of the optical recording medium, SPP is smaller than MPP in the extent of variation in light quantity relative to the amount of radial displacement. Note that k represents a coefficient and, by multiplying SPP by this coefficient, it is possible to render the rate of change of the second term of the formula (1) relative to the amount of deviation of the objective-lens position from the track equal to the rate of change of MPP. On the basis of MPP, SPP, and k, a DC component of the push-pull signal can be produced thereby to reflect a radial error offset upon the push-pull signal. The three small regions obtained by subdividing each of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth regions of the light-receiving element are used for focus error detection.
Out of the terms constituting the formula (1), (R4all+R6all) and (R1+R5) ideally stand in positive correlation with each other relative to tracking deviation, in other words, the terms are of the same polarity. Similarly, there is a positive correlation between (R2all+R8all) and (R3+R7). In a case where (R4all+R6all) and (R1+R5) representing the quantity of light entering each region of the light-receiving element; that is, the strength of a signal outputted from each region of the light-receiving element, are ideally increased and decreased in a correlative manner, a stable push-pull signal DPP can be produced as a servo signal for radial error correction.
However, if a lack of synchronization occurs between (R4all+R6all) and (R1+R5) that are fundamentally the same in polarity due to the presence of a foreign matter, a flaw of the optical recording medium, etc. with consequent mutual differences in signal fluctuation, the DPP signal will fluctuate in amplitude, which gives rise to the problem of a failure in stable radial servo control. The degree of deviation of the push-pull signal DPP resulting from a foreign matter, a flaw, or the like may possibly be greater than the radial error-induced variation of the push-pull signal DPP.
FIG. 14 is a plan view of the diffraction element 1 of the optical pickup apparatus of the related art as viewed in the optical axis direction Z, illustrating a shade 2 caused by a foreign matter adherent to the surface of the optical recording medium and how the shade 2 travels. In the presence of a foreign matter or flaw on the optical recording medium, the forward light cannot be reflected properly from the foreign matter- or flaw-bearing part of the optical recording medium, with the result that the quantity of the reflected backward light is decreased. As the optical recording medium is turned, the foreign matter moves tangentially in conjunction with the track relative to the optical pickup apparatus. In FIG. 14, there is shown a case where the foreign matter is circular in shape and has a diameter smaller than the distance between the second dividing line 4 and the third dividing line 5 of the diffraction element 1.
As the foreign-matter shade 2 comes near to the diffraction element 1 where the reflected backward light enters, it is located in, of the three tangentially separated regions, the one assuming extreme the other-tangential-direction position. At this time, the amount of light received by each of the first region R1, the third region R3, the fifth region R5, and the seventh region R7 of the light-receiving element is decreased. When the foreign-matter shade 2 is shifted radially from the position passing through the center of the diffraction element 1, there arises a difference between the sum total of the strengths of signals from the first region R1 and the fifth region R5 of the light-receiving element and the sum total of the strengths of signals from the third region R3 and the seventh region R7 of the light-receiving element. This condition of the optical pickup apparatus of the related art will be referred to as "the first condition".
Next, when the foreign-matter shade 2 is located between the second dividing line 4 and the third dividing line 5 on the diffraction element 1, the amount of light received by each of the second region R2, the fourth region R4, the sixth region R6, and the eighth region R8 of the light-receiving element is decreased. When the foreign-matter shade 2 is shifted radially from the position passing through the center of the diffraction element 1, there arises a difference between the sum total of the strengths of signals from the second region R2 and the eighth region R8 of the light-receiving element and the sum total of the strengths of signals from the fourth region R4 and the sixth region R6 of the light-receiving element. This condition of the optical pickup apparatus of the related art will be referred to as "the second condition". Further, when the foreign-matter shade 2 is located in the region assuming extreme one-tangential-direction position, the amount of light received by each of the first region 21, the third region R3, the fifth region R5, and the seventh region R7 of the light-receiving element is decreased. When the foreign-matter shade 2 is shifted radially from the position passing through the center of the diffraction element 1, there arises a difference between the sum total of the strengths of signals from the first region R1 and the fifth region R5 of the light-receiving element and the sum total of the strengths of signals from the third region R3 and the seventh region R7 of the light-receiving element. This condition of the optical pickup apparatus of the related art will be referred to as "the third condition".
The first to third conditions are separated from one another time. By the timewise differences among the first to third conditions, the increase-decrease relationship between (R4all+R6all) and (R1+R5) of the formula (1) varies with time correspondingly. In consequence, they should ideally be of the same polarity, but cannot perfectly synchronized with each other in reality.
FIGS. 15A to 15C are diagrams showing the quantity of light detected in the light-receiving element when the foreign-matter shade 2 passes through a radially-shifted location on the diffraction element 1 of the optical pickup apparatus of the related art. FIGS. 15A to 15C are charts, showing states where the foreign-matter shade 2 is projected differently onto the diffraction element 1, on which the abscissa represents the tangential position of the foreign-matter shade 2 on the diffraction element 1 and the ordinate represents outputs produced from the light-receiving element. In FIG. 15A, the thick line indicates (R2all+R8all), and the thin line indicates (R1+R5). In FIG. 15B, the thick line indicates (R4all+R6all), and the thin line indicates (R3+R7).
FIG. 15C indicates the values of MPP, k×SPP, and DPP in the formula (1). If, in its tangential movement, the foreign matter travels in a location shifted from the radial center of the diffraction element 1, there arises a lack of synchronization in the outputs from the light-receiving element that should ideally be the same in polarity. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15C, there is a problem that DPP is caused to vary significantly.
A feature of an example embodiment presented herein is to provide an optical pickup apparatus that can be made compact and is capable of producing a stable push-pull signal.
According to the example embodiment, an optical pickup apparatus comprises a light source, an objective lens, a diffraction element, a light-receiving element, and a control-driving section. The objective lens is a lens for condensing light emitted from the light source on a surface of an optical recording medium. The light reflected from the optical recording medium enters the diffraction element. A light beam diffracted by the diffraction element enters the light-receiving element. The light-receiving element has a plurality of light-receiving regions. The light-receiving region produces an output signal responsive to the light quantity of the incident light beam. The control-driving section obtains differences among the output signals produced by a plurality of the light-receiving regions by calculation to derive a push-pull signal, and drives the objective lens under control on the basis of the push-pull signal.
The diffraction element has a forward region and a reverse region. The forward region serves to let a light beam enter, out of a plurality of the light-receiving regions, the one for producing an output signal bearing a same-sign relation to the push-pull signal. The reverse region serves to let a light beam enter, out of a plurality of the light-receiving regions, the one for producing an output signal bearing an opposite-sign relation to the push-pull signal. A plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions are arranged alternately in one of the directions set for the diffraction element.
By virtue of alternate arrangement of a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions in one of the directions set for the diffraction element, in contrast to a case where a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions are not arranged in an alternating manner, it is possible to increase the possibility that a foreign-matter shade extends over the forward region and the reverse region adjacent to each other. Accordingly, in terms of the influence of the foreign-matter shade on the push-pull signal, the timewise difference between the output signal corresponding to the forward region and the output signal corresponding to the reverse region can be lessened. This makes it possible to achieve mutual cancellation of the influence of the foreign-matter shade on the forward region and that on the reverse region in the performance of push-pull signal calculation, and thereby suppress push-pull signal fluctuation resulting from the on-the-diffraction-element movement of the foreign-matter shade projected on the diffraction element. Moreover, radial error correction is carried out in accordance with push-pull signal calculation, wherefore the light-receiving element used to read signals recorded on the optical recording medium can be used also for control and driving of the objective lens. In consequence, as compared with a case where the light-receiving element is not adaptable to shared use, reduction in apparatus size can be achieved.
According to the example embodiment, the diffraction element has a bright-dark contrast area and a simple area. The bright-dark contrast area is an area where, of the light beams reflected from the optical recording medium, diffraction reflected light from a track borne on the surface of the optical recording medium enters. The simple area is an area where, of the light beams reflected from the optical recording medium, only simple reflected light from the optical recording medium enters; that is, no diffraction reflected light enters. The light-receiving region has a push-pull light-receiving region and an offset light-receiving region. Moreover, the diffraction element has a first diffraction region and a second diffraction region. The first diffraction region diffracts the incident light so that it can be directed to the push-pull light-receiving region. The second diffraction region diffracts the incident light so that it can be directed to the offset light-receiving region. A plurality of the first diffraction regions and the second diffraction regions are arranged alternately in one of the directions set for the diffraction element.
This makes it possible to decrease the possibility that the foreign-matter shade affects only one of the first diffraction region and the second diffraction region on the diffraction element, and thereby decrease the possibility that the foreign-matter shade affects only one of the push-pull light-receiving region and the offset light-receiving region of the light-receiving element. In this way, with the influence of the quantity of light entering the simple area taken away from the quantity of light entering the bright-dark contrast area on the diffraction element, at the time of push-pull signal calculation, it is possible to eliminate the influence of simple diffraction light entering the bright-dark contrast area, as well as to achieve cancellation of the influences of the foreign-matter shade. In consequence, a higher degree of accuracy in the push-pull signal is achievable compared to the related-art technology.
According to the example embodiment, in the diffraction element, a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions are arranged alternately in a tangential direction which corresponds to, out of the directions parallel to the diffraction element, the direction of a line tangent to the track at a position where light condensed by the objective lens enters the surface of the optical recording medium.
Thereby, when the shade of a foreign matter adherent to the surface of the optical recording medium moves in the tangential direction on the diffraction element, at least part of the foreign-matter shade passes through the forward region and the reverse region alternately several times. Accordingly, in terms of the influence of the foreign-matter shade on the push-pull signal, the timewise difference between the output signal corresponding to the forward region and the output signal corresponding to the reverse region can be lessened, wherefore push-pull signal fluctuation resulting from the on-the-diffraction-element movement of the foreign-matter shade projected on the diffraction element can be suppressed. Moreover, it is possible to decrease the possibility that the foreign-matter shade is projected lopsidedly on one side, i.e. one of the forward region and the reverse region. Therefore, the influence of the foreign-matter shade projected on the forward region and that of the foreign-matter shade projected on the reverse region cancel each other out with the consequence that push-pull signal fluctuation resulting from the movement of the foreign-matter shade on the diffraction element can be suppressed.
According to the example embodiment, a shape of the second diffraction region is so determined that a quantity of light entering the second diffraction region is proportional to an amount of deviation of the objective lens from the track.
In this case, in contrast to a case where the quantity of light entering the second diffraction region bears a non-linear relationship with the amount of deviation of the objective lens from the track, the formula used for push-pull signal calculation can be simplified, wherefore computation cost required for push-pull signal calculation can be reduced correspondingly. This makes it possible to obtain a radial error in a short period of time and with high accuracy, as well as to render the time taken for radial error correction as short as possible. Accordingly, the objective lens can be driven under control with higher accuracy.
According to the example embodiment, the diffraction element includes regions of which each constitutes at least part of either of the forward region and the reverse region, and at least part of the regions is rectangularly formed so that the tangential direction becomes its lengthwise direction.
This helps increase the possibility that, in the diffraction element, the foreign-matter shade extends over the forward region and the reverse region adjacent to each other in a radial direction. When the foreign-matter shade extends over the forward region and the reverse region adjacent to each other, in terms of the push-pull signal, the influence of the foreign-matter shade on the forward region and that of the foreign-matter shade on the reverse region can be synchronized with each other. Accordingly, push-pull signal fluctuation resulting from the on-the-diffraction-element movement of the foreign-matter shade projected on the diffraction element can be suppressed. This makes it possible to achieve mutual cancellation of the influence of the foreign-matter shade on the forward region and that on the reverse region.
According to the example embodiment, in the diffraction element, a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions are arranged alternately in a radial direction which is parallel to the diffraction element and perpendicular to the tangential direction.
By doing so, in contrast to the case of arranging a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions alternately in the tangential direction of the diffraction element, it is possible to easily insure timewise synchronization between the foreign-matter shade's projective entrance to the forward region and its projective entrance to the reverse region. Meanwhile, alternate arrangement of the forward regions and the reverse regions in the tangential direction affords the advantage to decrease the possibility that the foreign-matter shade is projected lopsidedly on one side, i.e. one of the forward region and the reverse region. By contrast, with the alternate arrangement of the forward regions and the reverse regions in the radial direction, the influence of the foreign-matter shade, which is projected so as to extend over the adjacent forward region and reverse region, on the forward region and that on the reverse region can be perfectly synchronized with each other. In consequence, the foreign-matter influence on the forward region and that on the reverse region cancel each other out.
According to the example embodiment, the diffraction regions constitute a first array and a second array. In the first array, a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions are arranged alternately in the tangential direction. In the second array, a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions are arranged alternately in the radial direction.
This makes it possible to form the first array in that part of the diffraction element in which a phase difference arises between the waveform of the output signal corresponding to the forward region and the waveform of the output signal corresponding to the reverse region, as well as to form the second array in that part of the diffraction element in which the waveform of the output signal corresponding to the forward region and the waveform of the output signal corresponding to the reverse region are in the same phase. Accordingly, in contrast to the case of arranging a plurality of the forward regions and the reverse regions alternately in only one specific direction in the diffraction element, in terms of the influence of the foreign-matter shade on the push-pull signal, the output signal corresponding to the forward region and the output signal corresponding to the reverse region can be synchronized with each other with a higher degree of accuracy. This helps stabilize the push-pull signal even further.
According to the example embodiment, the light-receiving element has an independent light-receiving region, and an output signal from the independent light-receiving region is not used for push-pull signal calculation. The diffraction element includes an independent diffraction region and the second diffraction region. The independent diffraction region is formed centrally of the diffraction element in the radial direction, and diffracts the incident light so that it can be directed to the independent light-receiving region. The second diffraction region is formed outwardly from the independent diffraction region in the radial direction.
By virtue of the independent diffraction region, the increase and decrease of the quantity of light entering the radial midportion of the diffraction element is independent of that of the push-pull signal. The second diffraction region is located radially outwardly from the independent diffraction region, the edges of which extends in the tangential and radial directions. Thereby, the quantity of light entering the radial midportion of the diffraction element that is relatively large in the intensity of incident light per unit area becomes irrelevant to the light quantity used for push-pull signal calculation. This leads to easiness in determining the shape of the second diffraction region in such a manner that the quantity of incident light is proportional to the amount of deviation of the objective lens from the track.
According to the example embodiment, the light-receiving region receives at least one of + first order diffraction light and − first order diffraction light resulting from diffraction in the diffraction element.
Accordingly, as compared with the case of utilizing zeroth order diffraction light in lieu of ± first order diffraction light, the distance between the diffraction element and the light-receiving element can be made shorter. Although there is a need to secure a sufficient distance between the diffraction element and the light-receiving element to space a plurality of the light-receiving regions apart in the light-receiving element for the sake of positive distinction, by utilizing ± first order diffraction light, it is possible to arrange a plurality of the light-receiving regions spacedly while shortening the distance between the diffraction element and the light-receiving element.
According to the example embodiment, the light-receiving element further includes a focus error detecting region, and the diffraction element further includes a focus-error diffraction region. The focus error detecting region included in the light-receiving element is a region for achieving focus error detection. The focus-error diffraction region included in the diffraction element acts to diffract incident light so that it can be directed to the focus error detecting region.
Thereby, focus error detection and radial error detection can be achieved by the common diffraction element and light-receiving element. Therefore, as compared with the case of disposing one of the diffraction element and the light-receiving element in a separate unit for focus error detection and radial error detection, the optical pickup apparatus can be made more compact.
According to the example embodiment, in response to an output signal from the focus error detecting region, the control-driving section produces a focus error signal by a knife edge method.
In this case, as compared with the case of effecting focus error detection by the differential push pull method, the light-receiving region used for focus error detection can be smaller in size, wherefore the optical pickup apparatus can be made more compact.
According to the example embodiment, in response to an output signal from the focus error detecting region, the control-driving section produces a focus error signal by a beam size method.
In this case, as compared with the case of effecting focus error detection by the differential push pull method for instance, the light-receiving region used for focus error detection can be smaller in size, wherefore the optical pickup apparatus can be made more compact.
According to the example embodiment, the light source, the diffraction element, and the light-receiving element are combined in a single-piece unit.
Accordingly, when mounted in combination with other components, the optical pickup apparatus can be handled with the light source, the diffraction element, and the light-receiving element secured in their relative positions. This leads to easiness in mounting operation.


A method of joining a connector 12 to an electromagnetic actuator 10 is provided. The actuator 10 has a metal housing structure 14, 18 and electrical leads 24, 26 extending from the housing structure. The method includes providing at least one channel 30 in the housing structure and a port 36 communicating with the at least one channel 30 and with a mounting surface 28 of the housing structure. The plastic connector 12 is molded on the mounting surface 28 and plastic material in fluid form is permitted to flow through the port 36 and into the at least one channel 30 to fill the channel and the port. The plastic material is permitted to cool and harden to define the connector 12 with the connector being interlocked with respect to the housing structure via the plastic material in the at least one channel 30.

This invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator for a vehicle engine and, more particularly, to an electromagnetic actuator having a molded connector providing a connection for electrical energy to the actuator.
A conventional electromagnetic actuator for opening and closing a valve of an internal combustion engine generally includes xe2x80x9copenxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cclose xe2x80x9d electromagnets which, when energized, produce an electromagnetic force on an armature. The armature is biased by a pair of identical springs arranged in parallel. The armature is coupled with a gas exchange valve of the engine. The armature rests approximately half-way between the open and close electromagnets when the springs are in equilibrium. When the armature is held by a magnetic force in either the closed or opened position (at rest against the open or close electromagnet), potential energy is stored by the springs. If the magnetic force is shut off with the armature in the opened position, the spring""s potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy of the moving mass and cause the armature to move towards the close electromagnet. If friction is sufficiently low, the armature can then be caught in the closed position by applying current to the close electromagnet.
Typically, providing a connection for electrical energy to the actuator is accomplished by using a plastic connector joined directly to a surface of the metal actuator by a high pressure overmolding process. However, this connection is not robust since it is difficult to create a strong joint between the plastic connector and the flat metal surface of the actuator.
Accordingly, a need exists to join a plastic connector to a surface of a metal actuator such that a robust connection is created between the metal actuator and plastic connector.
An object of the present invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by providing a method of joining a connector to an electromagnetic actuator. The actuator has a metal housing structure and electrical leads extending from the housing structure. The method includes providing at least one channel in the housing structure and a port communicating with the at least one channel and with a mounting surface of the housing structure. The plastic connector is molded on the mounting surface and plastic material in fluid form is permitted to flow through the port and into the at least one channel to fill the channel and the port. The plastic material is permitted to cool and harden to define the connector with the connector being interlocked with respect to the housing structure via the plastic material in the at least one channel.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an electromagnetic actuator is provided and includes housing structure having a mounting surface and at least one channel therein generally adjacent to the mounting surface. An upper electromagnet and a lower electromagnet are provided in the housing structure and are disposed in spaced relation. Each of the upper and lower electromagnets has electrical leads. An armature is mounted for movement between the upper and lower electromagnets. A connector is joined with the mounting surface and has a portion extending into the at least one channel so as to interlock the connector with the housing structure. The connector also covers at least a portion of the leads.
Other objects, features and characteristic of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.

Electromagnetic actuator with molded connector


The present invention discloses devices, for adaptive fast-charging of mobile devices, including: a charge-delivering device for providing electrical power to a charge-receiving device; and at least one electrical-contact pin for enabling electrical current to be transmitted at an amperage greater than about 5 A to the charge-receiving device. Preferably, the charge-receiving device is selected from the group consisting of: an integral power-source component of a mobile device and a slave battery. Preferably, at least one electrical-contact pin is further configured to transmit the electrical current at an amperage selected from the group consisting of: greater than about 10 A, greater than about 20 A, greater than about 30 A, and greater than about 60 A. Preferably, at least one electrical-contact pin is spring-loaded. Preferably, at least one electrical-contact pin includes protection circuitry for protecting against thermal overloads and short circuits. Preferably, the device charger further includes: a receiving-area holder for properly engaging the charge-receiving device.

The present invention relates to devices for adaptive fast-charging of mobile devices.
Modern electronic appliances are becoming ubiquitous for personal as well as business use. It cannot be overstated that with the evolution of such devices, mobility has emerged as a key driver in feature enhancement for technological innovation. While the rapid advancement of low power-consumption processors and flash-memory devices have enabled such mobility to reach new levels of real-world productivity, further development is significantly hampered by the rather slow progress made in battery technology. The proliferation of smart phones, tablets, laptops, ultrabooks, and the like (acquiring smaller and smaller form factors) has made this issue even more abundantly apparent as consumers are eager to have longer and longer device usage times between recharge cycles, without adding heft to the weight and footprint of such devices.
The demands of such applications vary widely, for example, in voltage or power level, but all are preferably served by lightweight, power-storage devices which can rapidly and consistently provide high energy density over long time spans, and can be quickly recharged to operational energy levels. To meet the growing demand in portable electronic device, energy storage devices with high specific energy, high power density, long cycle life, low cost, and a high margin of safety must be employed.
Currently, the dominant energy storage device remains the battery, particularly the lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries power nearly every portable electronic device, as well as almost every electric car. Batteries store energy electrochemically, in which chemical reactions release electrical carriers that can be extracted into an electrical circuit.
The charge and discharge processes in batteries are slow, and can degrade the chemical compounds inside the battery over time. A key bottleneck in achieving enhanced performance is the limited fast-charging ability of any standard battery. Rapid charging causes accelerated degradation of the battery constituents, as well as a potential fire hazard due to a localized, over-potential build-up and increased heat generation.
Nearly all electronic mobile devices include power connector that receives and provide charging energy. Such electrical connectors are typically configured as female receptacle connectors, and are adapted to be engaged with a male plug connector, such as a USB plug. The plug connector may be at the end of a cable, and plug into an electronic device, thereby forming one or more conductive paths for providing charging energy. Generally, all existing types of connectors only support relatively-low charging current. Today, mobile devices are typically charged via the USB connection, which can supply up to 5 A.
It would be desirable to have devices for adaptive fast-charging of mobile devices. Such devices would, inter alia, overcome the various limitations mentioned above.

Devices for adaptive fast-charging of mobile devices


An imaging lens comprises a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, an aperture stop, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element arranged in order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis of said imaging lens. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant optical parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance.

In recent years, as use of portable electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones and digital cameras) becomes ubiquitous, much effort has been put into reducing dimensions of portable electronic devices. Moreover, as dimensions of charged coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) based optical sensors are reduced, dimensions of imaging lenses for use with the optical sensors must be correspondingly reduced without significantly compromising optical performance.
Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,355,215, 8,432,619 and Taiwanese. patent publication No. 201337319, discloses a conventional imaging lens that includes six lens elements. However, it is difficult to reduce the system length of such imaging lenses for satisfying requirements of mobile phones with a slim profile.
Therefore, it is required to develop a miniaturized optical imaging lens having reduced dimensions and good imaging quality that may satisfy requirements of miniaturization of consumer electronic products such as mobile phones.

Imaging lens, and electronic apparatus including the same


Device for splicing the trailing end or the cut off end of a first roll of web material with the starting end of a second roll of web material, the first and second roll having a winding core, whereby the web material pulled out from the first roll by a roller is transmittable to a starting end of the second roll of web material which is situated on a splicing table, where these are connected to each other, such that during rolling off web material from the first and second roll, and inside the web material of the first roll and near the nip between the first roll and a storage roll for this, the roller, which is pivotally hinged in a spring loaded arm is provided, such that the arm exerts a fit-up pressure on the web material of the first roll, whereby the breaking or the termination of the web material swings the roller in a direction off the first and second roll of web material whereby the end portion of the web is carried and transported to the splicing table provided between two stores for the first and second roll, the second store providing a unit for lifting and moving the second roll of web material to the first store.

Web materials, e.g. paper, plastic films, foils, fabric and so on, are in great extent used as semi-manufacture for further processing or use for example as packing material. The web material is delivered in rolls and normally is placed in a roll stand, from which the material is guided into a converting machine. The starting end of the web material has to be thread through various stations which is both time consuming and a tedious work, which moreover has to be repeated every time a new roll of web material is placed in the roll stand.