A method is provided for accessing a storage cell of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) having an array of gain cells being read accessible by a read wordline and a read bitline, and being write accessible by a write wordline and write bitline separate from said read wordline and read bitline. The method includes activating a read wordline of the array of gain cells to permit signals from a plurality of gain cells coupled to the read wordline to develop on a plurality of corresponding read bitlines coupled to the gain cells. An interlock signal is then generated in the DRAM after activating the read wordline. The read wordline is then deactivated in response to the interlock signal.

The present invention relates to integrated circuit memory, and more specifically to an apparatus and method of controlling a read cycle of a gain cell type dynamic random access memory with an interlock signal.
For several decades, the one transistor dynamic random access memory (DRAM) has been the dominant choice for high-density and low-cost semiconductor memory in computing systems. Recently, advancements in miniaturization have allowed DRAM to be integrated or "embedded" into the same integrated circuit ("IC" or "chip") as a processor which requires access to a memory. Embedding DRAM on the same chip with the processor not only reduces packaging cost, but also significantly increases available processor to memory bandwidth. Because of the smaller memory cell size, embedded DRAMs can be about three to six times denser than embedded static random access memories (SRAMs), and operate with lower power dissipation and up to 1000 times lower soft-error rate.
DRAMs which are embedded into chips having a processor function are typically implemented by a one transistor and one capacitor DRAM cell structure (1T1C cell), which is commonly used in standalone commodity DRAMs. FIG. 1a illustrates a transistor level schematic of a 1T1C DRAM cell 10A. When a wordline, e.g. WLA, of the DRAM is activated, the access transistor 11A coupled to that wordline turns on, which then couples the capacitor 12A having a voltage stored thereon to the bitline BLA. This results in a small voltage signal on BLA due to the transfer of charge from the capacitor 12A to BLA, or from BLA to the capacitor 12A depending on the value of the voltage stored on the capacitor. As a result of this charge transfer, the voltage on capacitor 12A that originally represented a data bit is destroyed, which is termed "destructive read".
Bitline BLA and another bitline BLB of the DRAM form a pair of bitlines coupled to a sense amplifier 15. The other bitline BLB of the pair, is not coupled to a memory cell 10A accessed by the activated wordline WLA, but is instead coupled to a memory cell 10B which is only accessible by a different wordline WLB. Bitline BLB retains a bitline precharge voltage, and is used to provide a reference voltage to a sense amplifier 15. At the sense amplifier 15, the small voltage difference between BLA and BLB of the bitline pair is amplified to rail-to-rail logic levels. The amplified logic level signals on the bitline pair BLA, BLB are then available to be read out from the memory. If the particular column address corresponding to bitline BLA has been selected through column select line CSL, the signals on the bitline pair are transferred to a pair of data lines DLA and DLB.
Whether or not the particular bitline pair is selected for read out by CSL, a writeback operation must now be performed to restore the data to all the cells of the 1T1C DRAM that have been accessed by the activated WLA, the data having been destroyed as a result of accessing those cells by WLA. This is performed by the sense amplifier 15 driving the pair of bitlines BLA, BLB with the amplified logic levels that were obtained in the previous step. As a result of this operation, the accessed cells are restored with the same data that they held before being accessed.
Instead of writing back the previously stored information, another possible operation at this time is to write new information into the accessed cell coupled to the bitline BLA. In this operation, the sense amplifier 15 drives the voltages on the pair of bitlines BLA and BLB to complementary low and high levels, or high and low levels, respectively, according to write data signals that are input thereto from the data line pair DLA and DLB. Typically, the write operation is performed after a read operation, because only some selected cells of the many cells that are accessed by the activated wordline WLA are to be written in a given write operation, and the data stored in other cells accessed by the activated wordline WLA are destroyed as a consequence of accessing the cells, i.e., the write operation to a 1T1C DRAM is destructive. The sense amplifier 15 must then write back the accessed data bits of the nonselected cells in a writeback operation as described above, which is typically done simultaneously with the write operation to the selected cells. This process of simultaneously writing back stored data while writing new data to some cells is known as a read modified write operation.
In a 1T1C DRAM, the destructive read operation followed by write back, and the read modified write operation made necessary because of the destructive nature of writing, require longer cycle times than read and write operations performed within an SRAM because read and write operations are nondestructive in an SRAM. This makes the performance advantage of conventional embedded DRAMs small over standalone commodity DRAMs. Hence, the essential advantage of conventional embedded DRAMs up to the present time has been to provide high-capacity memory on the same chip as a processor, e.g., for executing graphics applications, rather than as a high density, high performance alternative to SRAM.
In order to increase the benefits of using embedded DRAM over standalone DRAM or other types of IC memory, improvements have been made to the architecture of embedded DRAMs to improve bandwidth, latency and cycle time. Because the width of the input output (I/O) interface between processor and embedded memory is already much larger than the I/O width to an external (off-chip) memory, page mode operation which is commonly used for standalone DRAMs does not greatly increase the average speed of accessing the embedded DRAM. Instead, improvements in the time to randomly access cells of the DRAM (a measure of latency) and the cycle time (a measure of address bandwidth) are paramount to increasing the performance of the embedded DRAM relative to alternative types of on-chip memory, e.g. SRAM, or standalone DRAM. However, as described above, the performance of a 1T1C DRAM is strongly dependent on the cycle time needed to write back previously stored information after reading cells or while writing to selected cells of the DRAM.
A particular type of DRAM known as "gain cell DRAM" exhibits much improved cycle time over conventional 1T1C DRAM, due to the nondestructive nature by which the gain cell DRAM is read and written. Accordingly, in a gain cell DRAM, the long duration read/writeback operation and read modify write operation of 1T1C DRAM are not needed, such that the cycle time for accessing cells of the gain cell DRAM is much improved.
FIG. 1b shows a schematic of a three transistor, one capacitor cell 10 of a gain cell DRAM (3T1C gain cell DRAM). Each gain cell 10 includes a capacitor 21 for storing a voltage representing a data bit, a write access transistor 20C coupled to a write wordline WWL for storing a voltage on the capacitor 21 from a write bitline WBL, and a state transistor 20B having a gate coupled to the capacitor 21 for indicating the stored state on the capacitor 21 over many read operations performed after the voltage has been stored on the capacitor 21. The gain cell 10 also includes a read access transistor 20A coupled to a read wordline RWL for outputting the current high voltage or low voltage state of the state transistor 20B onto the read bitline RBL.
In operation, read access is provided by activating the read wordline RWL, which then couples the state transistor 20B to the read bitline RBL. Depending upon the voltage stored on the capacitor 21, which is the same voltage applied to the gate of state transistor 20B, the state transistor 20B will either be on or off. If the state transistor 20B is off, the read bitline RBL will exhibit a voltage at or near the supply voltage Vdd that is connected to RBL through resistor R10. That high voltage on RBL will be detected as a first stored data bit value, a "1", by the sense amplifier 25. However, if the state transistor 20B is on, the voltage on RBL will be pulled down by the conductive path to ground through transistors 20A and 20B. The sense amplifier 25 will detect the lowered voltage at that time on RBL as a different stored data bit, a "0", than for the higher RBL voltage, the "1", that exists when the state transistor 20B is turned off.
A write operation is performed using a write wordline WWL and write bitline WBL that are separate from the read wordline RWL and read bitline RBL that are provided for reading the gain cell 10. Writing is performed by activating the write wordline WWL to turn on transistor 20C, and then storing a write voltage on capacitor 21 from the write bitline WBL. The signal on the WBL is single ended. When writing to the gain cell 10, write control circuitry 27 drives the voltage on the write bitline WBL to either a high level such as the supply voltage VDD or a low level such as ground, depending on the value of the data bit being written.
It is apparent from the foregoing that read operations to the gain cell are nondestructive, in that the voltage stored on the capacitor 21 remains after many operations of reading the cell, since there is no conductive path between the capacitor 21 and the read bitline RBL. The nondestructive nature of the read operation allows the read cycle time to be shortened compared to 1T1C DRAMs, because accessed memory cells no longer need to be written back after reading. Because the read cycle time is so much shorter than in 1T1C DRAMs, use of a 3T1C gain cell design for DRAMs embedded into chips requiring fast access and low latency appears especially advantageous.
While the foregoing discussion indicates that gain cell DRAM may be an advantageous alternative to 1T1C DRAM, it would be desirable to further improve the cycle time and latency of gain cell DRAMs. In such way, gain cell DRAM can be an advantageous alternative to 1T1C DRAMs and/or SRAMs for embedding into chips having a processor function.

Gain cell memory having read cycle interlock

International Business Machines Corporation


A patient's transportation device has a support provided with handles and wheels on which the support is supported, the wheels being vertically adjustable.

The present invention relates to a device for transportation of patients, which is provided with a support having handles and arranged on wheels.
Such a patient transportation device is disclosed for example in the German patent document DE 195 46 882.8. The patient transportation device disclosed in this reference has an inclination compensation between the support and a padded lying member inserted in it. Small inclinations which occur in vehicles or airplanes are therefore compensatable in a satisfactory manner. During transportation of patients on inclined terrain or over ramps, the inclination compensation possibilities of the known support are however no longer sufficient.


A particulate material processing apparatus has a vessel, a processing tank, and a dispersing member. The vessel has a charging port for charging a particulate material into the vessel. The processing tank receives the particulate material charged from the charging port. The processing tank is shaped so as to narrow towards the bottom. At least the lower part of the processing tank is made of a gas-permeable material that allows the process gas for processing the particulate material to pass through. The dispersing member is disposed below the charging port. The dispersing member disperses and flattens the particulate material on the processing tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a particulate material processing apparatus for processing a particulate material using a process gas, and to a particulate material processing system.
2. Background Information
A particulate material processing apparatus for feeding a heat current from below a reservoir tank for storing a particulate material is conventionally used in order to perform a drying process for a particulate material, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 5-240581.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-327379, an inverted-cone-shaped packed bed cooling apparatus having a processing tank (hopper) that is shaped so as to narrow towards the bottom is used to perform a cooling process for the particulate material. In this packed bed cooling apparatus, air for cooling is introduced via a gas supply duct from the side of the bottom cone of the inverted cone that constitutes the lower part of the main body.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Particulate material processing apparatus and particulate material processing system


A natural, red-hue colorant that is substantially free of alkaloids and polyphenoloxidase, has good stability, minimal aroma, and does not contain any organic solvent residuals is provided. The natural colorant has a red-hue equivalent to the red-hue of FD&C Red No. 40 and is more stable as compared to existing natural colorants. Methods for extracting anthocyanin pigments from red-fleshed potatoes without use of an organic solvent, while essentially eliminating alkaloids and polyphenoloxidase from the extract are also provided. Potatoes are pressed and filtered and the filtrate (i.e., potato juice containing potato anthocyanin pigments) is concentrated. The pH of the concentrate is adjusted with alkali to precipitate alkaloids therein. The concentrate is filtered and the pH of the filtrate is adjusted to a pH value of about 3.5 or lower. The pH is adjusted in such a manner to obtain a colorant having the desired red-hue color and intensity (i.e., a natural colorant having a red-hue equivalent to FD&C Red No. 40).

Colorants in foods are either natural pigments or synthetic compounds. There is a need for natural red-hue colorants that can serve as an alternative to the existing red-hue colorants, such as, FD&C Red No. 40, for use as an additive to foodstuffs, beverages, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, and the like. Various colorants have been produced by extraction of various fruits and vegetables. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,452,822 and 4,500,556, anthocyanins are extracted from grape pomace to produce a colorant. However, such colorant extracts include residual organic compound residues due to the manner of extraction and do not possess a red-hue equivalent to FD&C Red No. 40.
Red cabbage and purple carrots have also been extracted to obtain natural colorants. Both the red cabbage and purple carrot extracts, however, do not provide a red-hue colorant equivalent to the red hue of FD&C Red No. 40. Anthocyanins have also been extracted from radishes to provide a red-hue colorant. However, the radish extracts possess a relatively strong and unpleasant flavor (and odor) due to the presence of glucosinolate break-down products, making the radish colorant undesirable for foodstuffs and beverages.
There has been some (unsuccessful) research regarding the use of various potato extracts as a source for natural colorants. Some of the research has been directed to potato cultivars rich in anthocyanin pigments, but the extract is of a purple hue rather than a red hue.
Natural fruit and vegetable juices have been approved by the FDA as colorants as long as a physical separation or extraction of the colorants is performed. That is, chemical separation means cannot be used to separate the colorants, only physical separation processes, such as by dehydration, concentration, and membrane-separation technology. Aqueous fruit and vegetable extractions are also considered physical separations of the colorant. Thus, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to obtain FDA approval for such "natural colorants."
It may be possible to prepare a relatively stable, red-potato anthocyanin extract by absorption of potato extract on a C-18 silica resin. Such extractions, however, have not previously been performed because subsequent extraction with an acidic alcohol is necessary. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has very strict standards and requirements for approval of such a colorant extract for use as food colorants because organic solvents are used for the extraction process (i.e., a chemical separation process is used). The organic solvent extraction typically leaves residual amounts of the organic solvent in the extract. Accordingly, if such a chemical separation process is used, the FDA requires extensive and costly toxicological and safety tests be performed before such a colorant could be considered and possibly approved by the FDA. Even then, it may not be possible to sufficiently remove the organic solvent residuals from the extract such that the extract could be used as a food colorant.
Potato anthocyanins have not been used as colorants because potatoes, both cultivated and wild potatoes, contain steroidal glycoalkaloids. Specifically, steroidal glycoalkaloids ("SGAs" or "alkaloids"), a class of nitrogen containing compounds that possess the C.sub.27 skeleton of cholestane, are present in cultivated and wild potatoes. The major alkaloids in commercial potatoes are .alpha.-solanine and .alpha.-chaconine, which are glycosylated derivatives of the aglycone solanidine. Potato breeding typically introduces desired traits (e.g., frost, disease, and pest resistance) but tends to result in increased concentrations of such alkaloids. Alkaloids are natural toxins in potatoes that probably evolved as protective compounds in response to tissue invasion. Alkaloids have antimicrobial, insecticidal, and fungicidal properties that provide resistance against several insect pests and herbivores. Roddick et al., Membrane Disrupting Properties of the Steroidal Glycoalkaloids Solasonine and Solamargine, Phytochemistry, Vol. 29, pp. 1513-1518 (1990); Tingey, Clycoalkaloids as Pest Resistance Factors, Am. Potato Journal, Vol. 61, pp. 157-167 (1984); Schreiber, Steroid Alkaloids: the Solanum Group, R.H.F. Academic Press, N.Y., pp. 1-192 (1968). However, alkaloids possess pharmacological and toxicological effects that are harmful to human beings. Van Gelder, Chemistry, Toxicology and Occurrence of Steroidal Glycoalkoloids: Potential Contaminants of the Potato, Eds. Abbel-Fattah and Rizk, CRC Press, FL, pp. 117-156 (1991); Jadhav et al., Naturally Occurring Toxic Alkaloids in Food, Crit. Rev. Toxicol., Vol. 9, pp. 21-104 (1981). Alkaloids along with cyanogenic glucosinolates are responsible for more human illnesses and deaths than any other plant toxicants. Hall, Toxicological Burdens and the Shifting Burden of Toxicology, Food Technol., Vol. 46, pp. 109-112, (1992).
A safety level for acceptable alkaloid concentrations in potatoes was established at 200 mg/kg for acute toxicity, but these levels do not account for possible subacute or chronic effects. An upper limit of 60 mg/kg to 70 mg/kg has been proposed for potato cultivars selected for human consumption. Valkonen et al., Potato Glycoalkaloids: A Burden or a Blessing?, Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., Vol. 15(1), pp. 1-20, (1996); Van Gelder, Chemistry, Toxicology and Occurrence of Steroidal Glycoalkoloids: Potential Contaminants of the Potato, Eds. Abbel-Fattah and Rizk, CRC Press, FL, pp. 117-156 (1991).
The FDA requires that the concentration of alkaloids in potato cultivars be below a particular level before the potato is approved for human consumption. The FDA also requires documentation of the alkaloid concentration of newly developed cultivars. A problem in extracting anthocyanin from potatoes is that the anthocyanin extract of the potatoes also contains such alkaloids. Accordingly, potato extracts have not heretofore been developed for use as red-hue colorants.
The alkaloid concentrations in red-fleshed potato anthocyanin extracts are of concern since they tend to be concentrated along with the anthocyanin pigments. Alkaloids are fairly heat-stable compounds, slightly affected by steaming, boiling, baking, frying, cooking and microwaving of potatoes. Friedman et al., Potato Clycoalkaloids: Chemistry, Analysis, Safety, and Plant Physiology, Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., Vol. 16(1), pp.55-132, (1997); Van Gelder, Chemistry, Toxicology and Occurrence of Steroidal Glycoalkoloids: Potential Contaminants of the Potato, Eds. Abbel-Fattah amd Rizk, CRC Press, FL, pp. 117-156 (1991). Alkaloids will precipitate under basic conditions. The stability of the anthocyanins, however, is affected by basic pH. A basic pH increases the rate of degradation of the anthocyanin pigments, and hence any colorant formed by the same. Wrolstad, Colorants in Food Chemistry: Principles and Applications, Ed. Christen, G. L., AFNC Press, CA (1999); Francis, Food Colorants: Anthocyanins, Crit. Rev. Food Sci. and Nutr., Vol. 28(4), pp. 273-314 (1989); Harib et al., The Effect of Oxygen and Hydrogen Ion Concentration on Color Changes in Processed Beets, Strawberries and Raspberries, Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., Vol. 68, p. 482 (1956).
Further, potatoes contain polyphenoloxidase (PPO) which also presents a problem when extracting anthocyanin pigments from potatoes for use as colorants. That is, the extract would likely contain such PPO. PPO, polymerized phenolics, react with anthocyanin pigments, accelerating degradation of the anthocyanin colorant to produce an undesirable browning of the extract.
The present invention provides a natural, red-hue colorant compositions that are substantially free of alkaloids and PPO, has good stability, minimal aroma, minimal taste, and does not contain any organic solvent residuals. The natural colorant compositions further provide a red-hue equivalent to the red-hue of FD&C Red No. 40 and are more stable than existing red-hue natural colorants. The natural colorant compositions also provide a semi-purified alkaloid fraction. Such purified alkaloid fraction may be used as a natural pesticide, herbicide, antimicrobial agent, insecticide, or fungicide.
Further, the present invention provides methods for preparing colorant compositions comprising anthocyanin pigments extracted from red-fleshed potatoes without use of an organic solvent, while essentially eliminating alkaloids and PPO from the extract. The disclosed methods of the present invention provide production of natural colorant compositions having a red-hue equivalent to FD&C Red No. 40. Moreover, the disclosed natural colorant compositions and methods of making the same, meet FDA classification parameters as a colorant exempt from severe certification requirements (i.e., the process is a "physical separation" rather than a "chemical separation"). The disclosed method and corresponding natural colorants fall within the group of natural vegetable juices that are already approved by the FDA.
Specifically, in a method of the present invention, potato slices are pressed and filtered. The filtrate (i.e., potato juice containing potato anthocyanin pigments) is then concentrated and the pH of the concentrate is adjusted with alkali to precipitate alkaloids. Adjustment of the pH of an anthocyanin extract has not before been considered appropriate because alkali saponifies the acylated anthocyanins. Additionally, such a pH adjustment of an anthocyanin extract typically accelerates the degradation of the anthocyanin. In the present methods, however, the conditions for pH adjustment have been optimized to maximize the precipitation of unacceptable alkaloids while minimizing saponification and degradation of the anthocyanin pigments.
After the alkaloids are precipitated, the concentrate is filtered and the pH of the filtrate is adjusted to a relatively low pH value. The pH is adjusted in such a manner to obtain a colorant having the desired red-hue color and intensity (i.e., a natural colorant having a red-hue equivalent to FD&C Red No. 40). Additionally, acid adjustment of the filtrate to a relatively low pH value improves the stability of the anthocyanin pigments.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, drawings, and examples of the red-hue natural colorant compositions and methods for making the same.

The State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University


An apparatus sets a telephone to an on-hook state. The telephone has a base with at least one cavity forming a cradle for a handset The telephone also has a handset with an operative surface including a mouthpiece microphone and an earpiece speaker. A first surface of the handset is opposite to the operative surface. The apparatus includes a first arm having a surface, and the first arm responds to the surface being pressed by a portion of the handset being positioned in the base. The first arm moves to actuate an on-hook switch to set the telephone to the on-hook state. The surface of the handset which presses the first arm is the operative surface or the first surface. The first arm responds to the handset having the operative surface facing away from the base. The first arm also responds to the handset being positioned entirely out of the cradle by extending from a first slot in the base. With a portion of the handset being positioned in the cradle, the first arm is moved by the portion to be retracted through the first slot into the base. A cooperative arm is pivotally coupled to the first arm, with retraction of the first arm into the base causing the cooperative arm to extend through a cooperative arm slot to engage the handset to maintain the first arm in a retracted position in the base.

The present invention relates to telephones, and, more particularly, to a mechanism for setting a telephone to an on-hook state with the handset oriented in different positions.
Corded telephones, such as trim line or slim line telephones, typically require the handset to be positioned in the cradle of a base of the telephone in order to hang up the telephone. The handsets in such positions have the operative components, that is, the mouthpiece microphone, the earpiece speaker, and the numerical keypad facing toward the base, and thus inaccessible to the user when the telephone is on-hook
To implement speakerphone functions, additional circuitry is required for the telephone to replace the operative components of the handset which, when on-hook, cannot be used. Accordingly, duplication of equipment and needless complexity is introduced into telephones with speakerphone functions.
Thus, there is a need to implement a speakerphone in a telephone without extra components while the handset is cradled in the base.

Hanging latch hook mechanism for telephones


The present invention provides a system (200) for controlling drive signal timing parameters of an output driver circuit (206). The present invention defines a driver circuit having an output interface (204), and a first transistor (222) coupled to a first voltage supply (230), a first control signal (232), and a first node (220). The circuit also has a first resistive element, coupled between the first node and a second node (234). A second resistive element (228) is coupled to ground. A second transistor (224) is coupled to the second node, to a second control signal (236), and the second resistive element. The circuit has a third transistor (244), coupled to the first and second nodes, and to a third node (240). A third resistive element (242) is coupled between the third node and the output interface. A fourth transistor (238) is coupled to the first and third nodes, and to the output interface. The circuit also has a fifth transistor (216), coupled to a second voltage supply (218), to the first node, and to the output interface.

The continual demand for enhanced integrated circuit performance has resulted in, among other things, a dramatic reduction of semiconductor device geometries, and continual efforts to optimize the performance of every substructure within any semiconductor device. A number of improvements and innovations in fabrication processes, material composition, and layout of the active circuit levels of a semiconductor device have resulted in very high-density circuit designs. Increasingly dense circuit design has not only improved a number of performance characteristics, it has also increased the importance of, and attention to, semiconductor device properties and behaviors.
The increased packing density of the integrated circuit generates numerous challenges to the semiconductor manufacturing process. Every device must be smaller without damaging the operating characteristics of the integrated circuit devices. High packing density, low heat generation, low power consumption, and good reliability must be maintained while satisfying a number of critical performance parameters.
Commonly, system designers specify or define a number or required operational parameters (e.g., max/min voltage, signal timing) for certain circuitry segments in a system. Semiconductor devices (i.e., integrated circuits) must comply with such required parameters in order to be used in the system. For example, a system may require that a semiconductor device operate over supply voltage range of 10V to 20V, optimized for performance at 15V. In another example, a system may require that a semiconductor device provide a specified timing parameter (e.g., trise(MIN), tfall(MAX)).
Unfortunately, however, there are a large number of variables in semiconductor device manufacturing that can affect any given performance parameter. Intra-process variations, feature matching issues, and layout considerations are among a number of concerns that impact a device manufacturer's ability to provide a specified performance parameter. In some cases, a semiconductor device's standard operational parameters may be sufficient to provide a required performance level in a given system. In a number of other cases, however, a given system may require a very specific or peculiar performance parameter—such that an integrated circuit must be designed specifically for that application, if possible.
Consider, for example, the conventional circuitry system 100 illustrated in prior art FIG. 1. System 100 depicts a portion of a common high side driver circuit application, illustrating some of the concerns mentioned above. System 100 comprises an end equipment system 102 coupled, via an operative interface 104 (e.g., a pin), to an integrated circuit segment 106 within semiconductor device 108. For purposes of illustration, symbolic boundary 110 demarcates an operational border (e.g., physical, electrical), between device 106 and system 102, and along which interface 104 is disposed.
Segment 106 comprises a high side driver circuit, having a first transistor 112, a second transistor 114, and a third transistor 116. Transistor 116 has a first terminal coupled to supply voltage 118, a second terminal coupled to node 120, and a third terminal—which serves as an output for segment 106—coupled to interface 104. Transistor 112 has a first terminal coupled to supply voltage 122, a second terminal coupled to node 124, and a third terminal coupled to node 120. Transistor 114 has a first terminal coupled to node 120, a second terminal coupled to node 126, and a third terminal coupled to ground.
Segment 106 is utilized to drive an operational load 128 within system 102. Load 128 is represented in FIG. 1 by capacitor 130 and resistor 132, coupled in parallel between interface 104 and ground. Load 128 may comprise any operational load (e.g., another semiconductor device, an electro-mechanical assembly, an antenna) requiring a drive signal of a specified voltage. Appropriate control signals are asserted at nodes 124 and 126 to turn transistor 116 on and off, as desired. For purposes of explanation and illustration, transistor 116 is depicted as an NMOS transistor. When on, transistor 116 supplies load 128 with a desired drive signal. Again, for purposes of explanation and illustration, it is assumed that—through the selection of supply voltages 118 and 122, and the size and layout its constituent components—segment 106 supplies load 128 with sufficient voltage for operation of system 102.
If, however, rise and fall times of a drive signal originating from segment 106 are particularly critical, then certain issues may arise in system 100. Where a target propagation delay—between the time at which a driver off or on signal is asserted at nodes 124 and 126 and the time at which the voltage at interface 104 has sufficiently dissipated or charged, respectively—must be relatively small, common circuit phenomena can have significant consequences. Signal fall times and propagation delays are typically affected to a greater extent, since—generally—device discharge phenomena tend to be more problematic than device charging phenomena. For example, capacitive coupling effects from load 128 can impede the discharge of transistor 116 through load 128 and, consequently, extending the actual fall time and propagation delay beyond the target. This can present a significant problem, especially in a number of modern end-equipment applications where increasingly faster data transfer and performance rates are demanded.
Certain conventional systems have attempted to adjust or control the propagation delay by incorporating some sort of alternative discharge path from transistor 116. Unfortunately, a number of these conventional systems channel that discharge through the semiconductor device itself, not load 128. This increases power dissipation in device 108. Furthermore, circuitry and routing for such a purpose can add considerable design and fabrication overhead to a semiconductor device. Such an approach usually results in increased costs, decreased reliability, or yield problems.
Some conventional systems rely directly on complementing MOS structures (e.g., PMOS) as a supplemental discharge mechanism for transistor 116 (NMOS). In most semiconductor fabrication processes, however, there are considerable process variations and tolerances between the complementary technologies. As a result, inexact device matching can, and often does, occur. This can shift propagation delays on a device-to-device, wafer-to-wafer or lot-to-lot basis—profoundly degrading overall device reliability. Furthermore, such approaches can create undesirable circuitry behaviors—such as overdriving the output into cutoff, or loss of fall time control. Overdriving the output into cutoff can cause an output fall time to have a large dv/dt during a portion of the fall time.
In other instances, where such discharge systems are not implemented, devices may simply be screened or tested for parameter compliance. When a device is non-compliant, it is scrapped—degrading yield and increasing costs.
As a result, there is a need for a system that provides accurate and manageable control of drive signal timing parameters through driver circuitry—satisfying critical timing requirements and providing reliable device performance in an easy, efficient and cost-effective manner.

Versatile system for controlling driver signal timing


A plurality of rechargeable batteries are provided as part of an electronic system that includes an electronic circuit which controls periodic charging of the batteries and allows selection of the output voltage over a given range. The system is preferably packaged in a shape to be easily integrated with a carrying case, such as a briefcase, and/or to physically match a specific type of portable equipment, such as a notebook computer. In one embodiment, the batteries and circuitry are included in a wrist rest structure of a type used with portable computer keyboards. In other forms, the power supply is useable with a large number of other specific items of portable electronic equipment, such as portable video and telecommunications equipment.

This invention relates generally to power supplies for portable or mobile electronics equipment, and, more specifically, to portable power supplies including battery storage.
Use of a wide variety of portable electronic devices is increasing rapidly. One class of such devices includes notebook computers, electronic organizers, sophisticated calculators, and the like. Another class of such devices includes video cameras and other video equipment. Telecommunications products, such as telephones, telefax machines, and the like, are increasingly being used in portable form. Various other types of portable electronic equipment also find widespread use, including radios, television sets and the like. In all such equipment, the power is supplied by batteries, either in a replaceable, non-rechargeable form or of a rechargeable type. The batteries are usually contained within each piece of equipment itself, or in a battery pack that is removably attached to the equipment. An auxiliary low voltage DC power input receptacle is generally always provided. Any internal rechargeable battery is charged by supplying power through the same input receptacle. An external power supply is usually required to interconnect such a receptacle with available AC house current is supplied
Since there is very little standardization of battery and power supply requirements, it becomes very inconvenient when a user is carrying more than one piece of equipment at a time. Each such piece of equipment can require its own special type of battery or battery pack and/or external operating or recharging power supply. It can be very awkward to have to carry separate battery packs and/or power supplies for each of several pieces of portable electronic equipment. Further, if the user desires to be able to operate or recharge each of several pieces of equipment from more than one source, such as from both AC house current and a car battery, for example, it may be necessary for the user to carry two or more separate power supplies and/or types of interconnecting cables for each piece of equipment. There is very little standardization in both the electrical and mechanical (types of plugs, etc.) interfaces with external power supplies.
Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an external power supply for such equipment that overcomes these disadvantages to the user.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a power supply that is adaptable for use with a wide variety of types of portable electronic equipment and various types of power sources.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a power supply for portable electronic equipment in a form that is easy to carry and use.

Rechargeable battery power supply with load voltage sensing, selectable output voltage and a wrist rest


A rotational angle detecting apparatus comprises a rotary disc having first protrusions for an angle signal provided along the outer periphery of the disc and second protrusion for a reference signal arranged adjacent to the first protrusions in the thickness direction of the disc. A pick-up assembly is disposed to face the second protrusion to sense the rotationl position thereof. The sensed signal including noise components due to a magnetic coupling between the pick-up assembly and the first protrusions is subject to an integration and then applied to a level detector to generate a first pulse signal which occurs only during the integration signal being greater than a predetermined threshold level. On the other hand, a second pulse signal is produced by shaping the sensed signal. The first and second pulse signals are applied to an AND logic gate from which an output pulse is obtained in synchronism with the rotation of the disc.

This invention relates to a rotational angle detecting apparatus for controlling an ignition timing of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to an apparatus for generating pulse signals in synchronism with the rotation of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.
As is well known, the ignition timing of the internal combustion engine has an influence on an amount of the exhaust gas emitted and gas mileage. In order to realize an optimum ignition timing, it is conventional to use a distributor which rotates in synchronism with the internal combustion engine. The ignition timing is controlled by a centrifugal advance mechanism and a vacuum advance mechanism which are disposed in the distributor.
Since, however, both the advance mechanisms are of a mechanical control system they are inferior in precision and responsiveness. In an attempt to eliminating these disadvantages, an electronic control system has been developed. In case of the electronic control system, various detectors are required to be provided for sensing various information delivered to the control system, and one of these detectors is an apparatus for detecting the rotational angle of a crank shaft.
A conventional apparatus for the detection of the rotational angle comprises a magnetic disc with a number of protrusions formed at the outer periphery thereof and one or more pick up coils disposed in opposition to the protrusions with an appropriate spacing. The disc is mounted to rotate in synchronism with the crank shaft so that an amount of magnetic flux intersecting each of the pick up coils may change in the form of an alternating wave. As a result, an amount of the rotational angle can be sensed as the number of pulses obtained by shaping the alternating signal of the pick-up coil.
Another type of a conventional detector consists of a rotary disc having a number of apertures provided along the periphery thereof and a photoelectric transducer which is disposed to face the disc so as to produce an alternating signal changing in accordance with the rotation of the disc.
The rotational angle detector is usually required to generate two kinds of pulses. One is an angle signal which is to be generated at each time the crank shaft is rotated by an amount of a certain angle. This angle is determined by the number of the protrusions disposed at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the rotary disc. The other is a reference signal which is provided in correspondence with the number of cylinders of the engine. For example, in case of a 4-cycle 6 cylinder engine, a reference signal must be generated at an angular interval of 120.degree. in a revolution. For the control of the ignition timing, these two kinds of pulses must be generated in synchronism with each other. To this end, first protrusion for the generation of the angle signal and second protrusions for the reference signal have been formed on the same disc. In this case, however, the first and second protrusions should be located at a considerable distance in the thickness direction of the rotary disc, i.e., the axial direction of the crank shaft. Otherwise, a relatively high level of noise will be superposed on the reference signal because of an undesirable magnetic coupling between the pick-up coil for the reference signal and the angle signal-generating protrusion. Therefore a reference signal detector circuit at the succeeding stage will operate erroneously. However, a cooling fan, an air cooling compressor, an air pump for purifying the exhaust gas and the like are coupled to a pulley which is directly coupled with the crank shaft. Due to restriction of the mounting space of these components, it has been very difficult to dispose both the protrusions for the reference signal and those for the angle signal at a considerable distance in the thickness direction of the rotary disc.
The conventional detector has another drawback as follows. It is desirable from the viewpoint of high accuracy of the angle detection to provide as many protrusions as possible at the outer periphery of the disc thereby producing the angle signal of a high frequency. Due to the restriction of the mounting space in the vicinity of the crank shaft, however, the rotary disc is also restricted in its diameter. Therefore, it has been difficult to increase the number of the protrusions of the disc and thus the detection precision has been inferior.


A vehicle barrier system comprises a housing, substantially vertical members, a barrier member, and an actuation assembly. The barrier member is coupled with the substantially vertical members. The barrier member is configured to stop a moving vehicle when the substantially vertical members are in a raised position relative to the housing. The actuation assembly is operable to selectively raise and lower the substantially vertical members relative to the housing to selectively deploy and retract the barrier member relative to the housing. The actuation assembly comprises a powered rotary actuator mounted to the barrier member. The actuation assembly is operable to convert rotary motion from the rotary actuator into linear movement of the barrier member. A counterweight provides opposing mass and vertical motion relative to the barrier member.

Versions of the present invention relate to systems and devices that may be used to provide a barrier to prevent the passage of vehicles and the like. Some barriers may be installed in a fixed configuration, such that the barrier system constantly prevents the passage of vehicles and the like. Other barriers may be selectively deployable, such that vehicles may pass during selected times (e.g., when the barrier is present but not deployed); while vehicles may be prevented from passing during other selected times (e.g., when the barrier is deployed). Some vehicle barriers are shown and described in U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0098486, entitled "Vertically Actuated Vehicle Barrier System," published Apr. 22, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Additional vehicle barriers are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,416, entitled "Vehicle Barrier Deployment System," issued Jan. 5, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. While a variety of systems and methods have been made and used to provide a barrier, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor has made or used the invention described herein.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown. While some of the drawings include specific dimensions, etc., it should be understood that those dimensions are mere examples. Any other suitable dimensions, proportions, etc., may be used.

Vertically actuated vehicle barrier system


Elevator cars move in two vertical hoistways each having at least one crossing-point to a third vertical parking hoistway arranged between the two hoistways to allow transfer of the elevator cars between adjacent ones of the hoistways. A control system and a drive move empty elevator cars through the crossing-points for parking and for responding to calls for service.

The present invention relates to an elevator with several self-propelled cars and at least three adjacently situated vertical elevator hoistways, and to a method of operating such an elevator.
The elevator according to the present invention provides several approaches to arranging the elevator hoistways of an elevator installation. Several examples are shown in a diagrammatic plan view in FIGS. 1A–1D.
In FIG. 1A, two vertical elevator hoistways 1 and 2 are shown, which are situated adjacently. In each of the two hoistways 1 and 2, at least one elevator car 3 moves up and down. Each of the hoistways 1 and 2 has a hoistway door 4.
In FIG. 1B a further arrangement is illustrated, which shows two vertical elevator hoistways 5 and 6, which hoistways are situated adjacently. Along the depth of the hoistway, each of the elevator hoistways 5 and 6 has two sections of hoistway situated one behind the other. An elevator car 3, which moves in the front section of one of the hoistways 5 and 6 (as shown in the left hoistway 5), serves the hoistway doors 4. An elevator car 3, which moves in the back section of one of the hoistways 5 and 6 (as shown in the right hoistway 6), does not afford access to any of the hoistway doors 4. There can be several of the elevator cars 3 in circulation.
The Japanese patent application publication number JP 6080324 shows an arrangement with two adjacently situated hoistways, similar to that shown in FIG. 1B. Different than in FIG. 1B, along the depth of the hoistway, each of the elevator hoistways has three sections of hoistway situated one behind the other. Only the front section of the hoistway has access to the hoistway doors, in a manner similar to FIG. 1B. An extension of the concept according to FIG. 1B is seen in the Japanese patent application publication number JP 6080352. Along the depth of the hoistway, the arrangement according to JP 6080352 has several hoistway sections and horizontal or sloping crossing-points. There are hoistway doors both in the front hoistway wall (as in FIG. 1B) and in the back hoistway wall. The elevator cars must therefore have access openings on two opposite sides.
A further arrangement of the elevator according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1C. This arrangement has one vertical elevator hoistway 7. Left and right in this elevator hoistway 7, the elevator cars 3 can be moved up and down. In a central hoistway section 9, there are no hoistway doors 4. There are two different approaches to transportation which can be realized in such a hoistway 7. Either the central hoistway section 9 is used only for transferring the elevator cars 3 from left to right, or vice versa, or the central section 9 is used for vertical transportation and/or for parking the elevator cars 3.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,155, an arrangement is described which is comparable with the variant shown in FIG. 1C. According to this U.S. patent specification, the central section between the left hoistway section and the right hoistway section is used for temporarily parking the elevator cars. The elevator cars move along a central transportation arrangement. An elevator car can be disengaged and parked in the central section.
The Japanese patent application publication number JP 09077418 shows an arrangement with three adjacently situated hoistway sections, similar to that shown in FIG. 1C. The left section of the hoistway is used for upward trips, and the right section of the hoistway is used for downward trips. The central section of the hoistway is used for fast downward trips, but has no hoistway doors for boarding or exiting. Behind the three adjacently situated sections of hoistway, in both the headroom and the pit, there is a connecting hoistway for the purpose of transferring the cars between the three vertical sections of hoistway. In the right and left sections of hoistway, the elevator cars are moved together as a group in a vertical direction. In the central section of hoistway, an autonomous vertical movement is possible.
The Japanese patent application publication number JP 2000185885 shows an arrangement with four adjacently situated sections of hoistway, similar to that shown in FIG. 1C. A significant difference is to be seen in that the sections of hoistway are arranged separately, and only connected by sloping crossing-points.
A variant of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1C is outlined in FIG. 1D. The hoistway 7 has three complete sections of hoistway which are situated adjacently. Not only the left and the right sections of hoistway have hoistway doors 4, but the central section of hoistway also has hoistway doors 8.
With regard to the drive of the elevator cars 3, there are two different basic approaches. Either the elevator cars 3 are conveyed together at least in the vertical direction, or the cars can be moved individually. The latter approach results in additional flexibility.
A disadvantage of some of the known hoistway arrangements is that when the elevator cars cross over from one travel path to another, or when they change over from one elevator hoistway to the other elevator hoistway, the elevator cars containing passengers undergo lateral acceleration. Such lateral acceleration is unpleasant for the passengers being transported. Such changeovers are also associated with strong vibrations, which can be experienced as disturbing. These factors can cause passengers to feel insecure, especially since the passenger is in an enclosed car and has no visual contact or reference to the outside.
On the other hand, other arrangements require a relatively large amount of space, without significantly increasing the transportation capacity, or else the constructional cost outlay is large. Some of the known arrangements require stopping places and/or hoistway doors on several side walls of a hoistway. From the constructional standpoint, this is costly. Furthermore, on changing direction, or when changing cars, passengers must under certain circumstances walk around a hoistway to board another elevator car.

Elevator installation comprising a number of individually propelled cars in at least three adjacent hoistways


A composition is provided including a resin including one or more silicon-based materials, one or more organic-based materials, or a combination of silicon-based materials and organic-based materials. The composition further includes a first solvent having a boiling point from 140° C. to 250° C. and a second solvent having a boiling point from 50° C. to 110° C., wherein the a weight ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent is from 1:1 to 1:5. Methods for applying coatings to substrates are also provided.

Planarization is the process of increasing the flatness of semiconductor wafer surfaces using planarization techniques. Starting raw wafers for semiconductor device fabrication generally have a flat or planar surface into which a plurality of gaps or trenches is etched. As the wafer goes through the various steps of device fabrication, layers of different materials, shapes, and depths are deposited over the wafer surface through different growth and deposition techniques. At times, portions of these materials already deposited over the wafer need to be removed. This series of material growth, deposition, and removal steps decreases the flatness or planarity of the wafer surface.
Modern fabrication techniques that increase the number of layers applied to the wafer while decreasing the width of the etched lines or trenches may increase the likelihood of wafer non-planarity.
Typical coating formulations use a single solvent or a combination of solvents with similar boiling points. Generally, a coating formulation with a high boiling point solvent has a higher viscosity, and a coating formulation with a low boiling point solvent has a lower viscosity. While coating formulations with a high viscosity may be desirable for providing thicker coatings, such coatings may not adequately provide fill of gaps or trenches, in particular gaps or trenches having relatively high aspect ratios. Conversely, less viscous coating formulations typically provide adequate gap filling ability, but the lower viscosity typically results in thinner layers of the coating formed along the wafer surface.
Improvements in the foregoing are desired, wherein surface features of an underlying substrate may be completely filled with high solid content planarizing formulations.

Materials and spin coating methods suitable for advanced planarization applications


A belt-driven starter-generator includes a rotary shaft, and a pulley belt coupled on an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft. A key is press-fitted into a pocket formed between the rotary shaft and the pulley belt so as to fix the rotary shaft to the pulley belt. A coupling member is coupled to a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft so as to support one side of the pulley belt. Operational reliability and assembly convenience may be improved by the belt-driven starter-generator of the present disclosure.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a belt-driven starter-generator.
2. Background
In general, a vehicle includes a starter motor for driving an engine and an alternator for generating electricity using torque of the engine. In the starter motor, an ignition switch is connected to a battery power source through an operation of a driver when the vehicle is started, and thus driving force generated by supply of power to the starter motor rotates the engine so that the vehicle start.
On the other hand, the alternator is connected to a drive portion of the engine to generate alternating current power by rotation of a rotor in a state in which a magnetic field is formed through the driving force of the engine, and the alternating current power is converted using a rectifying device so as to charge the battery.
Both of the starter motor and the alternator have a structure configured of a stator and a rotor. Accordingly, since the starter motor and the alternator have a very similar structure, the starter motor and the alternator may function as either a generator or a motor according to application of force or power thereto.
In recent years, a belt-driven starter-generator (BSG) structure which can serve as both of a stator motor and an alternator by one structure has been actively pursued. In the belt-driven starter-generator, a pulley belt is coupled to an upper end of a rotary shaft rotated by a motor. Specifically, after a woodruff key is laterally inserted into the rotary shaft, the pulley belt is assembled and fixed by fastening a nut thereto.
However, when the motor is driven at a high speed, the fixed coupling of the nut to the pulley belt becomes loose, resulting in malfunctions and deteriorated reliability. Further, there is difficulty in assembling the pulley belt since the woodruff key is laterally inserted into the rotary shaft.


A memory system according to an embodiment includes a non-volatile memory that performs multi-value recording using a plurality of pages and a controller. The controller performs bit inversion for any page of first symbols in a data string. The first symbols are a certain code sequence in the data string. The controller dispersedly allocates bits to be inverted to the plurality of pages. The controller records substitution position information indicating a position of the bit inversion in redundant data of the bit-inverted page.

In a memory element, such as a NAND, a cell is likely to be affected by adjacent cells with the miniaturization of the memory element. Therefore, in some case, data is erroneously read from a cell due to the influence of adjacent cells. In particular, when the memory element performs multi-value recording, in many cases, data is erroneously read from the cell.

Memory system for recording data and memory control method for recording data


A texturing roller for applying drywall mud or plaster to a flat surface such as a wall or ceiling in a texturing pattern, which roller includes a roller cylinder fitted with random holes and multiple leather discs crowded onto the roller cylinder by rivets which extend through the discs and the holes and are expanded in place by a riveting tool. The roller cylinder is designed to mount on a conventional roller frame and handle normally fitted with a disposable paint cylinder used for painting flat or textured surfaces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the application of drywall mud and plaster to structures and more particularly, to a texturing roller for texturing flat surfaces such as floors, walls and ceilings in structures. The texturing roller is designed to dispense a viscous liquid such as drywall joint compound or "mud", wall plaster materials and the like used in the construction industry. Typically, the texturing roller is rolled through a liquid drywall joint compound or "mud" of suitable viscosity and applied to a floor, wall or ceiling in order to impart a texturing pattern to the floor, wall or ceiling, after which the textured surface is painted and exhibits a decorative effect from the texturing pattern.
One of the problems realized in the application of joint compound or drywall "mud", as well as various plaster mixtures and compositions and floor leveling compounds to walls, ceilings and floors respectively, in the construction industry is that of providing an instrument or tool which will apply a random texturing effect to the flat surface without "skipping", deteriorating or malfunctioning due to applicator design deficiencies. For example, conventional texturing rollers are typically characterized by a wooden cylinder having an opening extending longitudinally through the center thereof for mounting the roller on a special frame having a handle. Multiple leather discs are randomly stapled to the outside surface of the wooden cylinder in close proximity to each other and the radially-extending edges of these crowded, convoluted discs impart a texturing effect to a flat surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling when the texturing roller is rolled through a preparation of joint compound, plaster or other composition, for application to the floor, wall or ceiling. In a typical application, many of the leather discs are torn from the conventional rotating roller cylinder during application of the drywall mud or plaster, since the staples tend to either pull out or break due to rust and repeated use, as the conventional texturing roller is constantly subjected to a water environment. Furthermore, application of the staples to the leather discs in securing the leather discs to the wooden roller produces relatively wide anchor lines across the surfaces of the discs at the heads of the staples, thereby inhibiting the natural curling and convoluted orientation of the discs and muting the desired texturing effect as the roller is operated to apply mud or plaster to the floor, wall or ceiling. Moreover, the specialized frame necessary to mount the conventional wooden texturing roller is somewhat expensive and cannot be used in ordinary painting operations, since it will not accommodate conventional tubular paint rollers extensively used in the trade. Moreover, due to the necessity of using a solid wooden roller in which the staples are anchored, the conventional texturing roller is necessarily heavy, especially when periodically immersed in the water-based drywall mud or plaster, which soaks into the wooden roller after prolonged use.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved texturing roller which is characterized by a roller cylinder having a cylinder bore defining a cylinder wall and capable of fitting on a conventional roller frame. Multiple openings or perforations are provided in the roller cylinder wall for accommodating fasteners such as rivets which crowd multiple leather discs against each other on the outside surface of the roller cylinder to facilitate texturing floors, walls and ceilings with plaster, drywall mud or the like.
Another object of this invention is to provide a texturing roller which is simple in design, durable in construction and is capable of fitting on a conventional paint roller frame and includes a conventional roller cylinder having a cylinder bore for accommodating the paint roller frame cylinder stay and provided with multiple random openings or perforations for accommodating rivets and securing multiple leather discs in crowded fashion to the outside surface of the roller cylinder to facilitate texturing a flat surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling with drywall mud, plaster or a similar material or texturing composition.


A fuel supply system has an air chamber that contains a fuel injector. At least one aperture is formed in a substantially lowermost portion of a lower surface of the air chamber. The aperture and the lower surface have a generally uninterrupted or smooth transition or interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to fuel supply systems and vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to an engine, and a vehicle equipped with the fuel supply system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional fuel injector generally is located downstream (in an airflow direction) of a throttle valve. In most arrangements, an air cleaner is positioned on an opposite side of the throttle valve from the fuel injector. Thus, air is drawn into a combustion chamber of an engine through the air cleaner, across the throttle valve and past the fuel injector.
Such a construction undesirably places the fuel injector relatively close to the combustion chamber. Because the fuel injector is positioned close to the combustion chamber, the fuel injected from the fuel injector may flow into the engine without being fully atomized. Therefore, to improve fuel atomization, a second fuel injector can be positioned such that the throttle valve is positioned between the second fuel injector and the first fuel injector.
When the engine is operating under high speed and high load conditions, the second fuel injector can supply sufficient fuel to account for fuel that is not being atomized from the first fuel injector. Thus, in such a fuel supply system, when the engine is operating under high speed and high load conditions, the fuel is injected not only from the downstream injector but also from the upstream injector.
While such a fuel supply system provides improved fuel atomization, it fails to provide a compact arrangement. In other words, in order to have a sufficient spacing between the second fuel injector and the combustion chamber, the intake air passage would be fairly long. To shorten the intake air passage, JP-A-7-332208 teaches a structure in which at least a portion of the fuel injector is recessed into the air cleaner at the upstream end of the air intake passage.
With reference to FIG. 13, the structure of the fuel supply system described in JP-A-7-332208 is reproduced therein. As shown, a downstream injector 102 is placed downstream of a throttle valve 108 of a throttle body 106, which serves as an air intake path. Upstream of the throttle valve 108, an upstream injector 104 is placed inside of an air cleaner 100.
While the arrangement shown in FIG. 13 is an improvement over earlier configurations, this arrangement still has a number of drawbacks. For instance, fuel injected from the upstream injector generally will splash (hereinafter referred to as "bubble over") outside of the air intake path due to air turbulence in the air cleaner. To address bubble over, it has been suggested that one should suppress the amount of fuel coming from the upstream injector or that one should move the upstream injector closer to an aperture of the air intake path.
Suppressing the amount of fuel coming from the upstream injector may result in a lean mixture being supplied to the engine. Moving the upstream injector closer to the aperture of the air intake path may decrease fuel atomization. Thus, both suggestions to correct bubble over lead to further complications and inefficiencies.


A pair of injection units and a common co-injection manifold are carried on a slide mounted a machine base. The machine base carries a mold element, and the injection units and manifold are moved in unison with respect to the mold element. The injection units are, in turn, carried on slideways mounted to the machine slide such that the injection units may be separately moved relative to the co-injection manifold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to injection apparatus for softening plastics materials so that they can be injected through a manifold, into a mold, to provide a part of predetermined cross-sectional configuration. More particularly, the present invention relates to injection apparatus in which two injection units are provided, each injection unit feeding material into a single manifold for co-injection of plastics materials from two separate sources, wherein the injection units are supported in a common plane to feed a common manifold, and the longitudinal axes of the respective injection units are disposed at an acute angle relative to each other. The common manifold, in turn, feeds material into an injection mold.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,777, issued Dec. 31, 1991, to W. T. Schmitt, discloses a pair of extruders for feeding a single extrusion die, configured to produce a particular cross-sectional shape. The extruders converge on the extrusion die, and the extruder axes lie in a common vertical plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,808, issued Mar. 19, 1974, to C. Y. Ma et al, discloses structure and control of an injection molding machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,292, issued Oct. 20, 1987, to E. I. Valyi, discloses a method and device for injection molding of two resins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,496, issued Apr. 14, 1987, to H. Ozeki et al, discloses a hot runner mold for injection molding of two resins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,234, issued Jun. 5, 1990, to R. D. Schad et al, discloses a manifold for co-injection of resins from two sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,101, issued Feb. 28, 1989, to R. D. Schad et al, discloses a manifold for tri-injection of resins from three sources.
In the course of operating extruders and injection units, it is at times necessary to remove the plastication screws, either to permit repair of the original screws, or to permit substitution of different screws. The plural units of prior art co-injection molding machines and co-extruders are not readily retracted from the common manifold.
The inventors herein have determined that it would be of great advantage in a co-injection machine to be able quickly and automatically accomplish the following:
(a) disconnection of the manifold injection nozzle from a mold element, and PA1 (b) disconnection of the injection unit nozzles from the common manifold. If these goals are accomplished, the manifold nozzle may be purged without directing purging material through the mold element and, optionally, each injector unit nozzle may be separately purged without directing purging material through the manifold. Further, the manifold may be more readily adapted to mold assemblies. PA1 (a) a machine base including a mold element support; PA1 (b) a co-injection manifold having first and second injection site means for receiving plasticated material and manifold nozzle means for discharging plasticated material; PA1 (c) a first injection unit, including a first injection nozzle; PA1 (d) a second injection unit, including a second injection nozzle; PA1 (e) means for biasing the first and second injection nozzles into respective first and second injection site means; and PA1 (f) means for simultaneously moving the co-injection manifold and the first and second injection units, in unison, with respect to the mold element support.
The inventors herein have also determined that it would be of great convenience in a co-injection machine to be able to selectively and independently move the injection units transversely of their respective longitudinal axes, for servicing the units.


A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) resin powder includes spherical particles of a thermoplastic elastomer resin. The spherical particles have an average particle diameter of 50 μm to 300 μm. The thermoplastic elastomer resin powder is suitable for a powder slush molding (PSM) process, and the molded article produced therefrom has excellent surface characteristics.

A thermoplastic elastomer resin is a material that has thermoplastic nature as well as elasticity like rubber. Accordingly, it finds many applications as a replacement for various kinds of rubber parts such as a molded article including interior material for vehicles.
When fine powder is required during the forming process of the thermoplastic elastomer resin, it is typical to crush large particles by a cryogenic process to obtain fine powder.

Thermoplastic elastomer resin powder and method for producing thermoplastic elastomer resin powder


A portable carrier for a beverage container includes a case (10) having an externally frusto-conical housing that fully encloses the beverage container, and a removable cooling core (70) that fits within the housing. A zipper (30) preferably extends along at least part of at least two sides of the case, and more preferably extends on the top and bottom of the case. A carrying strap (40) may include a pouch for storing a bottle opener.

There are numerous known devices for carrying and cooling beverage containers. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,072 to Shaw (December 1976) a portable wine cooler case has flasks of coolant that surround the body of a bottle. However, the case leaves the neck of the body unprotected. In other carrying cases such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,583 to Kelley et al. (October 1996), a cover does protect the neck of the beverage container, but the case does not conform to the shape of the neck. That leaves the carrying case unnecessarily bulky, and allows some types of bottles to shift unnecessarily within the case. Accordingly, there is still a need to provide improved beverage container carrying cases.


Fiber-reinforced composite posts are produced having high strength and high radiopacity. In a method of manufacturing the fiber-reinforced composite posts, fibers are pulled through filled resin and heat is applied at various steps in the process to provide high strength and optimal radiopacity.

Light curable dental restorative materials are composite compositions of unsaturated functional monomers and fillers that are formulated to be polymerized by photochemical action upon exposure to light. The compositions will typically polymerize upon application of light in the 300-500 nanometer range. These composites have exhibited good mechanical properties after polymerization has been affected. Moreover, polymerizing the composites in inert atmospheres, under compressed air or in a vacuum has further enhanced the mechanical properties.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,320,162 and 6,236,020 to Friedman, which are hereby incorporated by reference, are directed to a method and apparatus for preheating single dose units of photocurable materials prior to clinical usage to enhance the properties of the composite. The patents describe the principal advantages of the preheating step as improved monomer conversion, improved material hardness, improved wear resistance, improved color stability, and improved strength. The inventor therein discovered that the reactive monomer in the photocurable material converted to a polymer in a substantially linear relationship over a temperature range from the refrigeration temperature of 20° F. to an elevated temperature of 150° F. Despite the advantages realized by this process, the inventor failed to note that by the time the photocurable material is delivered and shaped into a tooth cavity, the temperature of the material has cooled down to about 98° F. (body temperature). It is not much different than using an unheated photocurable material that will reach the temperature in the patient's mouth, i.e., 98° F., during insertion and before light curing. Moreover, the inventor cannot perform this procedure at temperatures higher than 150° F., since the procedure is being performed in a patient's mouth, and pulpal damage could begin to occur at that point. Therefore, the utilization of elevated temperature for a dental composite is minimal, and the benefit of such is limited.
Fiber-reinforced composite posts in the dental industry have exhibited adequate strength and light translucency, but have been deficient in radio-opacity. In order to increase the radio-opacity, it would be necessary to add more filler to the resin. The addition of more filler tends to increase the viscosity of the filled resin rendering it nearly impossible for penetration of the resin into the fibers.
Accordingly there remains a need to provide high strength fiber-reinforced composite posts having adequate strength and high radio-opacity. It would be beneficial to provide a facile and effective process for manufacturing high-strength and highly radiopaque fiber-reinforced composite posts.

Method of manufacturing high strength dental restorations


A system is provided that determines the amount of toner on a photo receptor in a xerographic operation. A photo receptor is charged in one or more locations to create an image. A developer places a patch of a predetermined amount of toner onto the one or more charge locations of the photo receptor. A light emitting diode projects light onto the photo receptor, wherein the intensity of the light varies based on the voltage provided to the LED. An optical reflective sensor measures the reflectance of the toner placed on the photo receptor, the amount of reflectance of the toner is related in a known way to the intensity of the LED. A direct relationship between LED intensity and the reflectance of the toner allow for accurate extrapolation at LED intensities greater than the point of saturation.

The following relates to toner density control in xerographic applications. It finds particular application in utilizing optical reflection to measure black toner density levels of solid patches placed on a clean belt. Application to other colors and to halftone levels, however, is not excluded.
In copying or printing systems such as a xerographic copier, laser printer or inkjet printer, a common technique for monitoring the quality of prints is to artificially create a test patch of a predetermined desired density. The actual density of the printing material, toner or ink for example, in the test patch can then be optically measured to determine the effectiveness of the printing process in placing this printing material on the print sheet.
In the case of xerographic devices such as a laser printer, the surface that is typically of most interest in determining the density of printing material thereon is the charge retentive surface or photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed and subsequently developed by causing toner particles to adhere to areas thereof that are charged in a particular way. In such a case an optical device, often referred to as a densitometer, for determining the density of toner on the test patch is disposed along the path of the photoreceptor directly downstream of the development unit. There is typically a process within the operating system of the printer to periodically create test patches of the desired density at predetermined locations on the photoreceptor by deliberately causing the exposure system thereof to change or discharge as necessary the surface at the location to a predetermined extent.
The test patch is then moved past the developer unit and the toner particles within the developer unit are caused to adhere electrostatically. The denser the toner on the test patch, the darker the test patch will appear in optical testing. The developed test patch is moved past a densitometer disposed along the path of the photoreceptor and the light absorption of the test patch is tested. The density of toner on the patch varies in relationship to the percentage of light absorbed by the test patch.
Xerographic test patches that are used to measure the deposition of toner on paper to measure and control the tone reproduction curve (TRC) are traditionally printed on inter-document zones of photoreceptor belts or drums. Generally, each patch that is printed is a uniform solid halftone or background area. This practice enables the sensor to read values on the TRC.
Many xerographic printing system process controls move physical actuators such as developer bias, charge level and raster output scanner (ROS) intensity to maintain the TRC as measured by an in-line optical sensor. Optical reflective sensing of black solid patches at desirable densities can, in particular, suffer from a limited sensing range. Black toner has minimal diffuse reflection and specular reflection typically saturates near or below the developed mass per unit area (DMA) target level.
To overcome this difficulty, development curve measurement and projection schemes have been implemented (e.g., iGen3 patch generator approach) or high digital area coverage halftones that are somewhat correlated with solids have been used. The latter approach suffers to the extent that the correlation is poor, and the previous approach relies on extrapolation and has hardware overhead costs, software complexity, and bandwidth limitations.
In order to remedy this problem, alternative systems and methods need to be employed to more accurately determine patch density. Such identification can provide more consistent and accurate control over the quantity of toner, i.e. color, utilized for various applications.

Electrophotographic system to enable direct sensing of toner quantity


The present invention is directed to a battery pack in which it can be detected with ease whether a battery pack is properly attached to a battery charger or a power supply of electrical machinery and apparatus. A battery pack (10) that accommodates therein a battery includes at its central bottom surface a detection aperture (104) that is engaged with an engagement portion formed at a connection portion of a battery charger or electrical machinery and apparatus to which the battery pack is connected to thereby detect the kind of the battery. Also, the battery pack (10) includes on its bottom surface a detection aperture (106) that is engaged with an engagement portion formed at a connection portion of the battery charger or electrical machinery and apparatus to which the battery pack is connected to thereby detect an electric power output amount of the battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery pack for use as a DC power supply for electrical machinery and apparatus and
1. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional battery pack, previously proposed by the assignee of the present application, will be described below (see Japanese patent application No. 3-52555).
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a battery pack 10 attached to, and charged by a battery charger 12. FIG. 2 shows an example of the battery charger 12.
As illustrated, the battery charger 12 is a molded product of a plastic material and includes a concave portion 51 on which the battery pack 10 is attached. The battery charger 12 includes a primary circuit unit 52 having a power supply transformer or the like and a secondary circuit unit 53 having a rectifying circuit or the like. The battery charger 12 further includes an AC cord 54 with a plug connected to the primary circuit unit 52.
As shown in FIG. 2, the secondary circuit unit 53 includes a DC power supplying adaptor plug 55, charging power supplying first and second terminals 56, 57, and a temperature detection signal input third terminal 58. The adaptor plug 55 is provided so that the electrical machinery and apparatus can directly use the DC power from the AC power supply without using the battery pack 10.
The three terminals 56 to 58 are each formed of, for example, a plate spring so that they can be deformed with resilience. A spring constant of the third terminal 58 is substantially 2/3 of those of the first and second terminals 56, 57. As shown in FIG. 2, the first to third terminals 56 to 58 are assembled into a mold plate 60 which is disposed on the bottom surface of the concave portion 51. Such mold plate 60 is colored with some suitable color different from a color "black" of a case 59 of the battery pack 10, such as "blue" or the like.
Though not shown, the second circuit unit 53 includes a control circuit. The control circuit is operated to control the charging of the battery accommodated within the battery pack 10. This control done by the control circuit is based on a so-called -.DELTA.V charging completion method. That is to say, when the battery charging is started, a voltage between the first and second terminals 56, 57 is increased progressively. After the voltage reached to a peak value, the battery charging is ended when the voltage is decreased a little.
The aforesaid control circuit detects a temperature of the battery now being charged on the basis of a temperature detection signal from a temperature detecting element (not shown) disposed on the bottom surface of the battery pack 10. When a detected temperature exceeds a predetermined value, a charging current supplied from the first and second terminals 56, 57 to the battery is cut off and the charging done by the battery charger 12 is interrupted under the control of the control circuit.
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 10 includes a case 18 that is formed of an upper case 14 and a bottom case 16 and is arranged such that a plurality of batteries are accommodated within the case 18.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the battery pack 10 and the condition that columnar batteries 21 to 25 are accommodated in the inside of the battery pack 10. FIG. 3 shows the inside of the battery pack 10 with the bottom case 16 being removed, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 3 and illustrating the battery pack 10, the batteries 21 to 25 and other elements and parts.
The batteries 21 to 25 might be nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries and are arrayed in a parallel fashion as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Electrodes of the batteries 21 to 25 are connected together via a conductive plate 32 and the five batteries 21 to 25 are arranged as a combined battery 27 in which the batteries 21 to 25 are electrically connected in series. An insulating sheet 34 is disposed between the electrodes of the batteries 21 to 25 and the conductive plate 32.
The combined battery 27 includes a first electrode 36 (positive electrode) and a second electrode 38 (negative electrode) for charging and discharging. On the under side of the two electrodes 36, 38, there are disposed a temperature detecting element 42 such as a thermistor or the like and a breaker (not shown). The first and second electrodes 36, 38, the temperature detecting element 42, the breaker (not shown) or the like are supported by a mold member 44 disposed between the two batteries 21, 22.
On the lower side of the battery 21 is disposed a third electrode 40 which derives a temperature detection signal. The third electrode 40 is formed as a thin plate to construct a plate spring and might be either directly bonded to the battery 21 by an adhesive or attached to the mold member 44.
The temperature detecting element 42 includes two lead wires 42A, 42B connected thereto. The temperature detecting element 42 is connected to the first electrode 36 by means of the first lead wire 42A and the temperature detecting element 42 is connected to the third electrode 40 by means of the second lead wire 42B. The combined battery 27 and the three electrodes 36, 38, 40 are disposed so as to come in contact with the inner surface of the upper case 14.
FIG. 5 shows a structure of a bottom surface of the case 18, i.e., an outer surface of the bottom case 16. The bottom case 16 has on its outer surface 11 concave portions 16A through 16K and three apertures 16a, 16b, 16c formed through its outer surface. The two apertures 16a, 16b are formed in the concave portions 16D, 16E, respectively.
The three apertures 16a, 16b, 16c are bored at the positions corresponding to the three electrodes 36, 38 and 40 of the battery pack 10. Therefore, when the case 18 is assembled by the upper case 14 and the bottom case 16 and the batteries 21 through 25 are disposed in the inside of the case 18, the three electrodes 36, 38 and 40 are exposed from the corresponding three apertures 16a, 16b, 16c, respectively.
The eight concave portions 16C to 16J and the two apertures 16a, 16b are disposed in association with spacings 28A through 28D between adjacent ones of the batteries 21 to 25.
As shown in FIG. 5, symbols +, -, .perp., encircled by open circles, are marked neighboring three electrodes on the outer surface of the bottom case 16. These symbols are formed by the embossing processing when the bottom case 16 is molded by a plastic material.
The whole bottom case 16 is colored with "black", for example, and a dashed-line portion 20 that encircles the three apertures 16a, 16b, 16c are colored with other colors such as "blue".
On the bottom surface of the concave portion 51 of the battery charger 12, there are formed convex portions 61A, 61B, 61C as shown in FIG. 2. The convex portions 61A, 61B, 61C are disposed so as to engage with the corresponding concave portions 16I, 16G, 16H of the battery pack 10.
The outside concave portions 16I, 16G of the concave portions 16I, 16G, 16H are referred to as detection apertures, and the inside larger concave portion 16H is referred to as a locking aperture. The detection apertures 16I, 16G function to detect whether or not the battery pack 10 is properly attached to the battery charger 12.
In the battery pack that can be properly attached to the battery charger 12, the two convex portions 61A, 61B are respectively inserted into the corresponding detection apertures 16I, 16G and the bottom surface of the battery pack 10 is brought in contact with the bottom surface of the concave portion 51 of the battery charger 12. Meanwhile, in the battery pack 10 that is not properly attached to the battery charger 12, the two convex portions 61A, 61B are not inserted into the corresponding concave portions 16I, 16G and the bottom surface of the battery pack 10 is raised from the bottom surface of the concave portion 51 of the battery charger 12.
The locking aperture 16H functions to lock the battery pack 10 so that the battery pack 10 attached to the battery charger 12 is prevented from being moved during the battery pack 10 is being charged.
When the proper battery pack 10 is attached to the battery charger 12, the three electrodes 36, 38, 40 of the combined battery 27 exposed from the apertures 16a, 16b, 16c of the bottom case 16 are brought in contact with the three terminals 56, 57 and 58 of the battery charger 12, respectively.
Since at least either the three electrodes 36, 38, 40 or the three terminals 56, 57, 58 are formed of members that can be deformed resiliently, such as plate springs, the connection of both of them can be made reliable under spring-biasing force of such resilient members. As earlier noted, the spring constant of the third terminal 58 is selected to be smaller than those of other terminals so that, even when the battery pack 10 having no third electrode is mounted on the battery charger 12, the bottom surface of the battery pack 10 can be protected from being damaged.
In the illustrated conventional battery pack, the detection apertures 16I, 16G are provided on the bottom case 16 of the battery pack 10. When it is determined whether or not the convex portions 61A, 61B formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion 51 of the battery charger 12 are engaged into the detection apertures 16I, 16G, it is determined whether or not the battery pack 10 is properly attached to the battery charger 12. The aforesaid arrangement can be applied to a relationship between the battery pack 10 and the battery charger 12 and also applied to a relationship between the battery pack 10 and the electrical machinery and apparatus that utilizes the battery pack 10 as a power supply thereof.
When the battery pack 10 is not properly attached to the battery charger 12, the battery pack 10 is raised from the battery charger 12 by a height corresponding to the convex portions 61A, 61B and then inclined. If this inclination angle is large, then it can be detected with ease that the battery pack 10 is not properly attached to the battery charger 12. Conversely, if this inclination angle is small, then it becomes difficult to detect whether or not the battery pack 10 is properly attached to the battery charger 12.
In order to increase the inclination angle, the height of the convex portions 61A, 61B of the battery charger 12 must be increased and the depth of the detection apertures 16I, 16G of the battery pack 10 must be increased. If so, it becomes difficult to mold the battery charger 12 and the bottom case 16.
In order to increase the inclination angle of the battery pack 10 without changing the height of the convex portions 61A, 61B of the battery charger 12, the convex portions 61A, 61B of the battery charger 12 and the detection apertures 16I, 16G of the battery pack 10 must be disposed nearer the central position.
However, in the example of the prior-art battery pack 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the detection apertures 16I, 16G are formed adjacent to one side portion of the bottom case 16 of the battery pack 10 and are not formed at the central portion of the bottom case 16.
Furthermore, the battery pack 10 includes an identifying marker (not shown) attached thereto to indicate that the battery pack 10 had already been used or charged. Such identifying marker is attached to a front end portion 16-1 (see FIG. 4) of the bottom case 16 of the battery pack 10. Consequently, the battery pack 10 is unavoidably increased in size in the longitudinal direction by the amount corresponding to the protruded portion of the identifying marker.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved battery pack in which the aforesaid shortcomings and disadvantages encountered with the prior art can be eliminated.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack in which it can be detected with ease whether a battery pack is properly attached to a battery charger or a power supply of electrical machinery and apparatus.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack having a battery accommodated therein which comprises a detection portion formed at a central portion of a bottom surface of the battery pack, the detection portion being engaged with an engagement portion formed on a connection portion of a battery charger or electrical machinery and apparatus to which the battery pack is connected to detect the kind of the battery.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack having a battery accommodated therein which comprises a detection portion formed at a bottom surface of the battery pack, the detection portion being engaged with an engagement portion formed on a connection portion of a battery charger or electrical machinery and apparatus to which the battery pack is connected to detect an electric power output amount of the battery.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar parts in the several views.

Battery pack having identification recesses and terminals