Accumulated toner and other particulate contaminants are removed from rollers, such as charging and transferring rollers, and conveyed to a collection receptacle positioned about the rotating path of an image bearing member, such as a photoconductive drum. In one embodiment, accumulated toner removed from a charging roller is recycled for development.

Conventional electrophotographic apparatus, such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, etc., comprise an image bearing member, such as a photoconductive element, normally in the form of a drum or belt. Arranged in timed sequence around the image bearing member are a plurality of processing stations for performing various functions. These processing stations may comprise stations for charging the image bearing member, imagewise exposing the charged image bearing member to electrostatically form a latent image thereon, developing the latent electrostatic image with a developer commonly referred to as toner, transferring the toner developed image from the image bearing member to a substrate, such as paper, cleaning the image bearing member, i.e., removing residual toner and other contaminants from the surface of the image bearing member, and fixing the transferred toner developed image on the paper.
A typical reproduction operation comprises charging the image bearing member, such as a photoconductive drum, and exposing the charged surface to a light pattern of an original image to be reproduced, thereby selectively discharging the surface in accordance with the original image. The resulting pattern of charged and discharged areas on the surface of the photoconductive drum forms an electrostatic charge pattern or electrostatic latent image conforming to the original image.
The latent electrostatic image is developed by contacting it with finely divided toner which is held by electrostatic force on the image bearing member. The toner image is transferred to a substrate, such as paper, in a transferring device into which paper is fed by a registration roller toward the drum in synchronization with drum rotation. As the leading edge of the paper abuts the drum, electrostatic forces adhere the two together, and the transferring device transfers a toner image from the photoconductive drum to the paper. After transfer, the toner image is fixed to form a permanent record.
Subsequent to development, and after transfer of the developed image to the paper, some toner inevitably remains on the photoconductive drum, held thereto by electrostatic and/or Van der Wals forces. Additionally, other contaminants, such as dust, paper fibers, toner additives, Kaolins and various other forms of debris, have a tendency to be attracted to the charge retentive surface.
Contemporary commercial automatic copiers/reproduction machines, optical printers and facsimile machines comprise an electrostatographic image bearing member, which may be in the form of a drum or belt. The image bearing member moves at high rates in timed unison relative to a plurality of processing stations. This rapid movement of the electrostatographic image bearing member requires vast amounts of toner to be employed during development. Associated with the increased amounts of toner is the difficulty in removing residual toner remaining on the image bearing member subsequent to transfer.
One type of device conventionally employed for charging the image bearing member is a corona charger normally positioned slightly spaced apart from the surface of the image bearing member for applying a surface charge thereto. However, corona chargers are known to exhibit disadvantages, such as low charging efficiency, ozone generation, image blurring and high maintenance requirements. The disadvantages associated with corona chargers have led to the implementation of alternatives, such as a contact type charge inducing member, notable a charging roller, which is maintained in contact with the surface of an image bearing member, e.g., a photoconductive drum. The charging roller charges the photoconductive drum by contact while a voltage is applied to the charging roller, thereby charging the photoconductive drum at an advantageously relatively low voltage. Since a discharge is not established, ozone is not generated and the accumulation of dust on the wire electrode of a typical corona charger is avoided.
During operation, toner and other contaminants, including airborne particles, inevitably accumulate on the charging member, as from the surface of the photoconductive drum, particularly as the number of imaging cycles increases, thereby decreasing its charge inducing efficiency. In addition, toner and other contaminants, such as dust, tend to redeposit on the photoconductive drum, resulting in poor quality reproductions.
A prior attempt to address charging roller contamination is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 58-81538, wherein toner and other contaminants are removed from the surface of a charging roller by contact with a fur-brush. Another prior approach is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent No. 03-100676, wherein toner and other contaminants are removed from a charging roller with a foamed urethane sponge. In Japanese Laid Open Patent No. 02-301779, toner and other contaminants are removed by a cleaning member in the form of a web, such as a cloth web. These prior cleaning attempts have proved to be less than satisfactory.
The prior technique of removing toner and other contaminants from a surface of a charging roller by scraping with a fur-brush requires frequent periodic disposal of removed material, which is a time consuming and dirty manual operation. A receptacle is positioned remote from the image bearing member to accommodate removed material. However, it is necessary to remove the receptacle to dispose of the removed material at frequent intervals, which is manifestly costly and inefficient. The use of a sponge cleaning member also lacks efficiency due to its limited collection capacity which is reached quickly in normal operation. Therefore, an operator is required to exchange sponge cleaning members at frequent intervals. Cloth web cleaning members are also inefficient, since removed toner and other contaminants remain on the web causing gradual deterioration. Cloth web cleaning members also become impractical with large image forming apparatuses.
In a conventional image forming apparatus, a substrate, such as a sheet of paper, is fed to a transferring station wherein the toner developed image is transferred from the image bearing member to the paper, typically by means of a transferring roller. During operation, the surface of the transferring roller also becomes contaminated with toner and other particulate contaminants, thereby deteriorating the quality of the transferred image.

Apparatus and method for cleaning rollers in image formers


A driver comprises a front-end stage, a back-end stage, and an intermediate controller. The front-end stage comprises a front-end main circuit and a front-end controller, and is configured to rectify an AC input voltage from an external power supply and output a DC bus voltage through output terminals. The back-end stage comprises a buck circuit, and configured to receive the bus voltage from the front-end stage and output a desired DC drive voltage to a load according to an operating voltage of the load. The intermediate controller is configured to obtain a difference voltage signal indicative of an electric potential difference between the bus voltage and the drive voltage, and provide a feedback signal generated based on the difference voltage signal to the front-end controller. The front-end controller controls the front-end main circuit based on the feedback signal to change the bus voltage with change of the drive voltage.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to drivers, and especially to drivers having high efficiency in a wide input range and comprising back-end stage buck circuits, and especially to LED lamps comprising the drivers.
In the LED constant current driving power supply, a two-stage driving circuit is a common technical solution. The two-stage driving circuit comprises a front-end circuit and a back-end circuit, wherein the front-end circuit is configured for power factor correction and constant voltage output control, and the back-end circuit is configured for constant-current output control. The buck circuit is a preferred solution for the back-end circuit. In practical applications, the user's requirements for the efficiency of the LED driver circuit will never stop. In order to adapt to a variety of application occasions, the LED driver circuit is required to have high efficiency not only in full load, but also in light load.
However, when the two-stage driving circuit comprising a buck back-end circuit is in full load, i.e., when an output voltage of the buck circuit is close to an input voltage of the buck circuit, the efficiency of the buck circuit is high. However, when the driving circuit is in light load, i.e., when the output voltage of the buck circuit is much lower than the input voltage of the buck circuit, the efficiency of the buck circuit is low, thereby limiting the efficiency of the driving circuit as a whole.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method to solve at least one of the problems described above.


A work machine having dual compression ignition engines each driving motor generators providing a power output to selective loads. The compression ignition engines each have an exhaust aftertreatment device requiring regeneration in accordance with a selected parameters. A controller controls motor/generators or hydraulic pump/motors associated with the diesel engines to either transfer load between one or the other of the motor/generators or pump/motors to impose a load on one of the engines sufficiently high to produce passive regeneration. In the event that loads driven by the motor/generators or pump/motors are too low, one of the engines may be shut off or the loads increased.

A work machine, such as a construction, agriculture or forestry work machine typically includes a power unit in the form of an internal combustion (IC) engine. The IC engine may either be in the form of a compression ignition engine in which the heat of compression ignites timed and quantity selected fuel for combustion or a spark ignition engine in which a homogenous mixture is ignited by an ignition source or a homogenous charge compression ignition engine which is a hybrid of the former two. For most heavy work machines, the power unit is in the form of a diesel engine providing better torque, power and durability characteristics for work operations.
The emissions regulations set forth in the original Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laws have initially been applied to on highway vehicles. In recent years, the EPA regulations have been applied to off-highway vehicles such as work machines. The issues faced by on-highway diesel engine applications are now being faced by off-highway applications.
In the usual applications, this requires an exhaust aftertreatment device which receives the products of combustion from the internal combustion engine and treats it appropriately to remove a combination of nitrous oxides, particulates and other hydrocarbons. These devices inherently require periodic regeneration to remove particulates or carbon matter so as to restore the aftertreatment device to a substantially new condition. This is necessary to maintain the effectiveness of treating the products of combustion so as to maintain both the letter and spirit of the EPA laws.
The issue of regeneration becomes difficult when applied to work machines in the sense that the machines are constantly being utilized to perform an industrial or agricultural function. Any regeneration effort must not prevent continued operation of the machine so that it can achieve its intended purpose, namely the industrial or agricultural function.
A number of efforts have been made to achieve regeneration and these include raising the temperature of the products of combustion to the exhaust aftertreatment device sufficiently so that any extra carbon is burned off. The devices to achieve this can be heaters, ultrasonic devices and adding hydrocarbons to the exhaust stream to achieve the temperatures required for regeneration.
Unfortunately, all of these approaches require energy beyond that necessary for the particular duty cycle of the work machine. In particular, adding hydrocarbons in the form of fuel decreases the fuel efficiency and therefore the effectiveness of the work machine. Devices incorporating heaters or ultrasonic devices require additional power sources to drive the temperature increasing function. Nowhere is the need for efficiency greater than in an agricultural machine having a duty cycle that varies between one of maximum load and such as driving a combine through a field and simultaneously harvesting, collecting and processing the harvested agricultural material. The opposite of this maximum load is the time in-between actual harvesting when the engine is operating at a small fraction of the maximum power available to the device.
What is needed in the art therefore, is a work machine that utilizes internal combustion engines and which efficiently and effectively regenerates exhaust aftertreatment devices associated with the internal combustion engines.

Dual engine work vehicle with control for exhaust aftertreatment regeneration


A glass forming compound having in its melted glass phase the formula Si.sub.2 AlO (PO.sub.4).sub.3 or 4 SiO.sub.2.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.3P.sub.2 O.sub.5 is provided together with grain mixtures for producing refractory thermally insulating bricks adapted for use in the preheating zone of a rotary cement kiln operating in an atmosphere containing alkali chlorides, particularly KCl. The bricks develop a glass layer on the kiln exposed face thereof which resists penetration by alkalis, particularly KCl.

This invention lies in the field of glass forming compositions having utility in thermally insulating bricks for rotary cement kilns and the like.
The refractory lining of the preheating zone of a rotary cement kiln, that is, the kiln region in which the raw material is dried and calcined, and, depending on whether the method employed involves a wet process, or a dry process, or the process employed utilizes grate or cyclone preheaters, which region constitutes about 25 to 45 percent of the entire length of a rotary kiln, is subject to characteristic stresses which may be described as follows: Since the raw material in this kiln region is in a stage of dehydration and calcination (endotherm processes), temperature stress is secondary as a wear or attrition factor. Mechanical stress as a result of abrasion is moderate, since the raw meal, or the preformed granules, are still soft. Chemical stress as a result of alkali oxides, alkali sulfates, alkali chlorides and alkali fluorides, which alkalis come from the raw material and from the fuel, and which alkalis accumulate in the kiln atmosphere because of the circulation of the kiln exhaust gases for better heat utilization, is, on the other hand, heavy to very heavy. These substances condense, particularly in the region of the preheating zone, on the surface of the refractory brick-lining and diffuse into the brick interior with more or less heavy chemical interaction with the brick components. This has the consequence that, with fireclaybricks of class A of German DIN-classification and corresponding light-weight refractory bricks, which are still used in this kiln region in part, alkali spalling occurs as a result of the formation of feldspar and feldspar-like compositions. A volume increase is associated therewith, and the alteration of the thermal coefficient of expansion associated therewith, in the sense of an increase therein, leads to bursting and rapid brick wear. In part, the open pores also fill up with alkali compounds, as a result of which chipping-off of brick hulls (i.e. outer surfaces) also results.
This realization has already led to the previously used fireclaybricks of class A (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content between 30 and 45 percent by weight) being replaced either by fireclaybricks with a low Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content, or by siliceous light-weight refractory bricks with between 15 and 30 percent by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Bricks of this material group demonstrate an improved behavior by comparison to the previously employed fireclaybricks with regard to alkali attack and the compounds thereof, as the indicated reactions do not extend to the entire brick, but rather are characteristically limited only to the surface thereof. As a result of reaction of the alkalis with the brick components, solid protective glaze layers are formed, on the brick surface, which protective layers prevent, or, delay, a deeper in-diffusion of the alkalies into the brick and the above described bursting. This mechanism, in which a "heterogeneous" glaze formation thus takes place on the brick surface, which naturally can only occur if suitable substances are present from the kiln atmosphere which react with the brick material, made possible for the first time by the successful use of porous, thermally insulating bricks, for example, those of the kind described in British Pat. No. 1,005,469, in the preheating zone of rotary cement kilns.
It has shown itself to be the case, however, that the mechanism of superficial "brick sealing" as a consequence of the formation of solid protective layers by "heterogeneous" glaze formation fails to occur, particularly in the presence of KCl or other alkali chlorides, in the following designated simply by "KCl", in a kiln atmosphere. The KCl diffuses substantially completely into the open pores of the brick without reaction with the brick material. Because of the low melting temperature of KCl, and, in particular, the formation of eutectic melts with still lower melting points in the presence of K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, the penetration of the KCl in the case of porous, thermally insulating bricks occurs so deeply that their insulating ability is lost, and the brick structure is destroyed by repeated cycles of solidification and melting, as well as the crystalization pressure of KCl.
In order to prevent infiltration of KCl into the porous, thermally insulating bricks, it is already known that the brick surface can be provided with heat-resistant or refractory protective coatings which contain an inorganic binding agent, such as, for example, water glass, aluminum sulfate, or monoaluminum sulfate. Protective coatings of this kind are, however, only effective for a short time, since they are rapidly worn away (removed) by the kiln feed sliding over them, and the surface of the brick is thus soon re-exposed. This exposed surface is now, in turn, fully exposed to the infiltration of KCl, or the like. In addition, in the case of alkali spalling, brick wear occurs by batch-wise occurrences of peeling-off or chipping-off of layers in a thickness of up to several centimeters, so that even protective coatings with theoretically good adhesion and high abrasion resistance are lost along with the chipped-off brick pieces. Renewing the protective coatings on the brick surfaces can, however, only be undertaken by repeated shutdowns of a rotary kiln, which is completely uneconomical.

Glass forming compound and brick made therewith


A semi-automatic mortising machine includes a support base, a support bar, a guide device, a working device, a distance adjusting device, and a dust collection box. Thus, the displacement direction can be controlled in a manual manner during the working process, and the cutting operation is performed in an automatic manner so as to cut the mortises and tenons in the workpiece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mortising machine, and more particularly to a mortising machine that is operated in a semi-automatic manual working manner to form mortises and tenons in a workpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a wood material 1 is formed with a plurality of mortises 11 or a plurality of tenons 12 in a manual manner or by an automatic working process. The manual working manner of the wood material 1 has a very poor working speed, thereby greatly decreasing the working efficiency and thereby increasing costs of production. The automatic working process of the wood material 1 can increases the working speed largely. However, the conventional automatic mortising machine needs a multi-axial displacement feature so as to match the profiles of the mortises and tenons of the workpiece, so that the automatic mortising machine has a very complicate construction, thereby increasing costs of fabrication and maintenance.


A thermally insulated cooking device, including an insulated container, a cooking spot suspended inside the insulated cooking container, an insulated outer lid which closes off an upper opening of the insulated container, and an inner lid for closing off an upper opening of the cooking pot. Further included is a heat retaining material that can be heated by microwaves, which is removably attached to an inner face of the insulated outer lid. By attaching the heat retaining material, after it has been heated in a microwave oven, a temperature drop inside the insulated container can be substantially and safely prevented since heat radiates from the heat retaining material into the insulated container. Moreover the heat retaining material can be safely handled.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermally insulated cooking device comprising; an insulated container provided with an insulated outer lid, and a cooking pot provided with an inner lid, suspended in space inside the insulated container.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Heretofore as such a cooking device, there has been disclosed in FIG. 1 of Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-28490, a thermally insulated cooking device comprising; an insulated container having an upper opening with first handgrips respectively provided on opposite sides thereof, a cooking pot having an inner lid, housed inside the insulated container so as to be freely inserted and removed, an insulated outer lid which is able to close off the upper opening, connecting portions located above the first handgrips and provided on the insulated outer lid or on the insulated container, for connecting between the inside and outside of the insulated container, and second hand grips fixed at their respective base ends to opposite sides of the cooking pot and protruding outwards through the connecting portions. With this thermally insulated cooking device, food such as stew is placed in the cooking pot, which is then closed With the inner lid, and heat applied to cook. After this, the cooking pot is suspended in space inside the insulated container, and the insulated outer lid closed, thereby keeping the cooking pot at a high temperature so that cooking can continue.
With the conventional technology thermally insulated cooking device, the cooking pot can be thermally insulated and thus kept at a high temperature so that cooking can continue. However with the insulated container, since the inside and outside are connected by the connecting portions, then there is the likelihood of a small drop in the interior temperature of the insulated container.
As a means to solve this problem, there is disclosed in FIG. 2 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-188188, a heat retaining body which can be used repeatedly, having a heat retaining material which can be melted by microwaves provided inside a container formed from a heat resistant material which is transparent to microwaves. Consideration is given to placing this heat retaining body at the bottom of an insulated container, however with this arrangement there is a problem with poor safety of the heat retaining body.


A voice input may be received, and from the voice input, a topic may be identified. A sentiment score for the topic may be generated using sentiment analysis on the voice input, and the sentiment score may reflect an individual's reaction to the topic. The sentiment score may be compared to a sentiment threshold. In response, one or more images may be selected, based on the topic, from an image database. The one or more images may be validated, and then displayed.

The present disclosure relates generally to cognitive computing, and more particularly to cognitive content display devices.
Digital image display devices may display a single image, a slideshow of images, or one or more videos. Once the owner of the device selects the content to be displayed, the device displays that content, without any consideration to environmental context, such as, for example, the potential audience. Traditional devices are limited in their ability to identify persons in proximity to the device, as well as in their ability to selectively display content.

International Business Machines Corporation


A dynamic range sensor that measures the distance to a target or amount of material in a container. The sensor has a transducer and a controller that is coupled to the transducer. The controller generates a first command signal for the transducer, detects a first echo signal from the transducer, and determines whether the first echo signal was received by the transducer within a near-field time. If the first echo signal was received within the near-field time, the controller detects a second echo signal of a predetermined magnitude. If a second echo signal is not detected within a predetermined amount of time, the controller ignores the first echo signal and generates a second command signal different than the first command signal. The controller modifies the second command signal until a second echo signal is detected. The controller converts either the first echo signal or the difference between the first echo signal and the second echo signal to a distance measurement or volumetric representation of the amount of material in the container. Preferably, the transducer is driven at resonance with a series of pulses such that the frequency of the pulses matches the transducer""s temperature-dependent frequency characteristics.

The present invention relates to devices that measure the volume of fluids, liquids, or pulverous solids or the distance from a predetermined point to a target. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sensor that provides accurate measurements of volume or distance in near-field conditions.
Fuel, lubricants, bulk solids, and a variety of other materials are stored in tanks and similar containers and then consumed by being drawn from the container as needed. In virtually all storage applications, the level (or volume) of the material in the storage container is monitored to ensure that the supply of material does not unexpectedly run out. Measurement sticks, electro-mechanical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and other devices are used to monitor material levels.
While known level monitoring devices are functional, they do not provide satisfactory accuracy and information regarding the amount of material in a storage tank. Measurement sticks are undesirable because they require human manipulation. The measurement stick must be manually inserted into the material and then the markings on the stick must be read to determine an indication of the amount of material in the container. Measurement readings are subject to human error. Worse, if no person is available to take a reading, the amount of material in the tank cannot be determined.
Electro-mechanical level sensors (xe2x80x9ce-m sensorsxe2x80x9d) function automatically and don""t require human intervention. Nevertheless, these devices suffer from several deficiencies. First, e-m sensors must be calibrated to the size of the tank in which they are installed. Second, e-m sensors provide only one type of information, a measurement of the percentage of material remaining in the tank: such as the common xe2x80x9cF,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cxc2xe,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cxc2xd,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cxc2xc,xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cExe2x80x9d level designations. Third, e-m sensors use mechanical floats. Float devices often register inaccurate readings due to changes in tank orientation, which occur when storage tanks are mounted in vehicles. Lastly, e-m sensors are unreliable due to failures in their moving parts.
Ultrasonic sensors don""t rely on mechanical floats. Instead, ultrasonic sensors measure an echo signal reflected off the surface of the material in the storage tank. Nevertheless, ultrasonic sensors are affected by a variety of environmental variables, such as temperature, target location, target composition and motion, transmission media, and acoustic noise. Most known ultrasonic sensors fail to adequately compensate for changes in one or more of these variables. In particular, most ultrasonic level sensors are unable to accurately measure material levels when the surface of the material is close to the ultrasonic transducer in the sensor.
A conventional ultrasonic level sensor 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The sensor 10 is controlled by a driver (not shown). The driver generates electrical signals that are delivered to a transducer (not shown), within the sensor. The transducer is a resonant piezoelectric element that vibrates in response to the electrical signals from the driver. The oscillation of the piezoelectric element creates a sound wave 12 that propagates from the sensor 10 to a target 14. When the sound wave 12 reaches the target 14, at least a portion of it is reflected back toward the sensor 10 as an echo signal 16.
The sensor 10 measures the amount of time required for the sound wave 12 to travel to the target 14 and the echo signal 16 to travel from the target 14 back to the sensor 10. The time needed for the sound to make this round trip is referred to as the time of flight (xe2x80x9cTOFxe2x80x9d), and may be used by a microprocessor (not shown) coupled to the sensor to calculate the distance of the target from the sensor. If the sensor is mounted on a container, the distance measurement may be used to calculate a volumetric representation of the amount of material in a container.
The transducer continues to vibrate for a certain period of time after the signals from the driver 30 are removed or reduced to zero magnitude. This time is referred to as a xe2x80x9cring time.xe2x80x9d The ring time of an ultrasonic sensor such as the sensor 10 is dependent on numerous variables including temperature, humidity, the magnitude of the drive signal applied, and the type of crystal used in the transducer. Generally, rings times range from a few microseconds to 2000 xcexcsecs.
When an ultrasonic sensor, such as the sensor 10, attempts to measure the level of a material whose surface is very close to the transducer, the echo signal returns to the transducer before the end of the transducer ring time. The sensor does not detect an echo that occurs while the transducer is still ringing. The undetected echo signal, however, reflects off of the sensor and back to the target a second time and sometimes multiple times. By the time multiple reflections occur, the transducer stops ringing. The transducer then detects a second, third, or consecutive reflection and mistakes it for the first reflection. This situation is shown in FIG. 2. A drive pulse DP causes the transducer to ring for a certain ring time which is detected as a low signal on a detect signal line. An echo pulse EC received during the ring time is not differentiated on the detect signal line from the low signal produced by the ringing oscillator. Thus, no echo detection occurs until after the oscillator has stopped ringing.
Detection of an echo reflection rather than the first echo causes a sensor to produce erroneous measurements. In the worst-case scenario, the time of flight measurement error approaches twice the ring time of the transducer. For a sensor with a ring time of 500 xcexcsecs and a full-scale range of one meter the error is:
Error=2xc3x97(speed of soundxc3x97ring time)/2=346 m/sxc3x97500e-6 meters=0.173 meters or 17.3%
An error of this magnitude is unacceptably large for many applications. Accordingly, a number of approaches have been developed to address the problem. One approach to the problem is to use two transducers: one for receiving the sound pulse and one for transmitting the sound pulse. Measurement systems of this type are complex and expensive due to the additional hardware used. Another approach is to use a physical spacer to prevent the sensing of close range targets. Measurement systems of this type have limited usefulness. Yet another approach to the problem is to reduce the ring time of the oscillator with a clamp or dampener. However, a dampened transducer is not as sensitive as a non-dampened transducer. A device can include a spacer and a dampened oscillator, but this is also unsatisfactory.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved sensor that provides accurate and enhanced material distance and level information. In particular, there is a need for a sensor that provides accurate material distance and level information in near field conditions (i.e., situations where the surface of the material is physically proximate to the transducer in the sensor).
The present invention provides a near field measurement sensor. The sensor includes a transducer such as an ultrasonic transducer. The transducer is coupled to a controller such as a programmable microprocessor or microcontroller. The controller generates a first command signal for the transducer, detects a first echo signal from the transducer, and determines whether the transducer received the first echo signal within a near-field time. If the first echo signal was received within the near-field time, the controller detects a second echo signal of a predetermined magnitude. If a second echo signal is not detected within a predetermined amount of time, the controller ignores the first echo signal and generates a second command signal different than the first command signal. The controller modifies the second command signal until a second echo signal is detected. The controller converts either the first echo signal or the difference between the first echo signal and the second echo signal to a distance representation to the target or a volumetric representation of the amount of material in the container. Preferably, the transducer is driven at resonance with a series of pulses such that the frequency of the pulses matches the transducer""s temperature-dependent frequency characteristics.
To ensure that the controller can distinguish between a true echo signal rather than a secondary echo reflection, the controller is programmed to measure the ring time of the oscillator in the transducer by monitoring the output of the transducer continuously following a trigger command. The controller considers the ring time complete once the detect signal returns high for a predefined period of time. A temperature sensor is coupled to the controller and the controller is programmed to compensate for changes in temperature that can affect ring time and other measurement variables. The controller determines the ring time of the transducer before making each measurement. The near field time is set at about two and one-third times the ring time.
The controller may utilize a look up table to generate a command signal that is a series of pulses tuned to the transducer""s resonant frequency. The look up table includes information that is based on temperature. Accordingly, the system includes a temperature sensor to provide temperature information to the controller. Information from the temperature sensor may be distributed to other devices and other locations through a communications module coupled to the controller.
The invention may also be implemented as a method of sensing the level of material in a container, where the ambient temperature of the sensor""s surrounding is detected. The method involves generating a signal having a frequency and an amplitude. The signal is sent to a target or surface of the material of interest, a first reflection of the signal from the target is detected according to a timing scheme, and the amplitude and frequency of the signal are controlled according to the detected temperature and the time of detection of the reflection of the signal.
In the case of near field measurements, the method also includes detecting a second reflection, determining the time difference between the first reflection and the second reflection, and converting the time difference between the first reflection and the second reflection to a distance representation or a volumetric representation of the amount of material in the container.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Dynamic range sensor and method of detecting near field echo signals


A discharge lamp operation apparatus includes an AC power supply (10), a voltage converting circuit (11), an inverter circuit (13), a load circuit (15), a controller (1), and a pulse voltage superimposing section (3). The pulse voltage superimposing section (3) controls the switching elements (Q3, Q4) of the inverter circuit (13) to superimpose a pulse voltage to the voltage applied across the discharge lamp (LA). The period until the discharge lamp (LA) is lighted is divided into a preheating period to preheat the discharge lamp and a startup period to start the discharge lamp. During the startup period, the controller (1) raises gradually the output voltage (Vdc) of the voltage converting circuit (11), and the voltage superimposing section (3) superimposes the pulse voltage on the voltage applied across the discharge lamp (LA).

In recent years, a discharge lamp operation apparatus for dimming or controlling a light has been popularly used in various scenes for presentation and energy saving. For an example of this kind of discharge lamp operation apparatus for dimming a light, generally known is one equipped with a chopper circuit for rectifying a voltage from a commercial power supply, and converting and outputting a desired DC voltage, an inverter circuit for converting DC voltage of the chopper circuit to an AC rectangular wave form voltage, a load circuit equipped with a discharge lamp and LC resonance circuit connected to the inverter circuit. In this kind of discharge lamp operation apparatus for dimming, it is general practice to control a driving frequency of switching elements which is included in the inverter circuit in order to control a light.
However, recently, for this kind of discharge lamp operation apparatus for dimming, in order to further increase dramatic effects, a function to enable continuous and stable dimming even to a dimming ratio as low as several % or less (a ratio of light intensity when dimmed to the maximum light intensity) is required, together with a function to prevent unpleasant flash from being generated when the discharge lamp in the dimming state at such a low dimming ratio is turned off and then turned on again.
For the discharge lamp operation apparatus with dimming stabilized by carrying out dimming of the discharge lamp by controlling the output DC voltage of the chopper circuit that supplies power to the inverter circuit without positively controlling the driving frequency of the inverter circuit, there is a prior art disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,182.
Similarly, for the discharge lamp operation apparatus which dims the discharge lamp by controlling the output voltage of the chopper circuit, there is one disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 58-204496. Because this discharge lamp operation apparatus has a self-oscillating type inverter circuit, dimming of the discharge lamp changes the inverter operating frequency, making it difficult to operate the inverter circuit constantly at the optimum operating frequency. In addition, for other discharge lamp operation apparatus, there is a device disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 03-115938. This is an active oscillating type inverter circuit in which the inverter operating frequency is set to the vicinity of a resonance frequency of an LC resonance circuit. By controlling the output voltage of the chopper circuit in this condition, dimming of the discharge lamp is carried out. Setting the inverter operating frequency to the vicinity of resonance frequency of the LC resonance circuit in this way can maintain the discharge lamp voltage to a high level even during dimming, and can avoid unstable discharge of the discharge lamp. However, in either system, the dimming ratio that can achieve stable dimming is still high and it has been impossible to start a discharge lamp at a low dimming ratio without generating unpleasant flash.
In addition, for the discharge lamp operation apparatus, which has a function to prevent unpleasant flash from being generated when the lamp is turned on again, there is a prior art disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,423. In this prior art, as shown in FIG. 1 of the prior-art document, a means for intermittently applying a pulse voltage enough to start the discharge lamp is added in a discharge lamp operation apparatus which includes a chopper circuit for converting AC power supply to DC power, an inverter circuit for converting DC power to high-frequency power, and a load circuit including the discharge lamp connected to the output end of the inverter circuit and is configured to operate the inverter circuit in advance and then, drive the chopper circuit.
In this discharge lamp operation apparatus for dimming, as shown in FIG. 2 of the prior-art document, operation of the chopper circuit is stopped in the preheating period of the discharge lamp, and the peak AC line voltage is entered in the input of the chopper circuit. When the preheating period is finished and the startup period begins, operation of the chopper circuit begins and during the startup period the output voltage of the chopper circuit is kept constant. During this startup period, a pulse voltage is superimposed to the discharge lamp, and this superimposed manner of the pulse voltage is to gradually increase the peak of the pulse voltage as the startup time elapses. This can be achieved by gradually increasing the variation range of the inverter driving frequency. When this kind of control is carried out, even the moment when the discharge lamp moves from the startup state to dimming deeply a light state, generation of unpleasant flash of the discharge lamp can be prevented. Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,423, the driving frequency of the inverter circuit is controlled as shown in FIG. 17 of the prior-art document so that the discharge lamp does not generate flash even during the deep dimming of 0.5% or lower dimming ratio. That is, by turning ON the transistor Q5 while the transistor Q3 is turned ON, the transistor Q3 is forcibly turned OFF to change the ON period of the transistor Q3. As the ON period of transistors Q2 and Q3 becomes imbalanced by this, the oscillation frequency varies, and the output of the inverter circuit 12 is varied extensively. Thus, it is enabled to start dimming with no flash generated even at the deep dimming where the dimming ratio is as 0.5% or lower.
In the above conventional example, dimming of the discharge lamp is achieved by varying the output voltage of the chopper circuit, that is, the input voltage of the inverter circuit. This method is able to increase the stability of the discharge lamp at the time of dimming as compared to the method of dimming the discharge lamp by varying the driving frequency of the inverter circuit. However, even if any of the method is used, conventionally, the lower limit of the dimming ratio that can achieve stable dimmed lighting was about 3%.
The reason will be described hereinafter.
First of all, with respect to the method of varying the operating frequency of the inverter, FIG. 22 shows characteristics (a) of the discharge lamp LA, and the output characteristics (b) of the discharge lamp operation apparatus when the operating frequency f of the inverter circuit is designated as a parameter, where the intersection point of characteristics (a) of the discharge lamp LA and output characteristics (b) of discharge lamp operation apparatus is an operation stabilization point of the discharge lamp. In FIG. 22, increasing the operating frequency f, that is, lowering the dimming ratio gives rise to a case in which a plurality of intersections of the output characteristics (a) of the discharge lamp operation apparatus and characteristics (b) of the discharge lamp LA exist (for example, points A, B, and C in FIG. 22). In such event, there are cases in which the operation stabilization point instantaneously moves to anywhere in points A, B and C in accordance with the condition of the discharge lamp LA and a phenomenon of unstable lighting of the discharge lamp LA occurs (hereinafter called this phenomenon "a jump phenomenon"). In particular, when this jump phenomenon occurs at the deep dimming operation with the dimming ratio is nearly 3% or lower, the discharge lamp causes going-out. Consequently, only increasing the operating frequency f cannot accommodate deep dimming where the dimming ratio is nearly 3% or lower.
Next, with respect to the method of varying the output voltage of the chopper circuit, that is, the input voltage of the inverter circuit, FIG. 23 shows characteristics (a) of discharge lamp LA and output characteristics (b) of discharge lamp operation apparatus in which the output voltage Vdc of the chopper circuit is designated as a parameter. In FIG. 23, when the output voltage Vdc of the chopper circuit is lowered, that is, the dimming ratio is lowered, unlike the case in which the operating frequency f is increased, the operation stabilization point is constantly set to one point only no matter what value the DC voltage Vdc would take. Consequently, when the output voltage Vdc of the chopper circuit is designated as a parameter, no jump phenomenon occurs in a discharge lamp. However, even in this method, when the dimming ratio reaches nearly about 3% or lower, the discharge lamp LA causes flickering, going-out, etc., and it sometimes becomes difficult to stably turn on the discharge lamp LA. Consequently, these discharge lamp operation apparatuses could not meet dramatic applications where dimming at nearly 3% or lower dimming ratio is required.
In addition, where a pulse startup voltage is applied to a discharge lamp in order to prevent unpleasant flash from being generated when the lamp is turned on again, a complicated control circuit is required to gradually increase the variation range of the driving frequency in order to gradually raise the peak pulse voltage, constituting a factor of increasing the cost of the discharge lamp operation apparatus. In addition, when the control of above-mentioned conventional examples is carried out after the discharge lamp moves to the deep dimming lighting condition, the difference between the oscillation frequency in the deep dimming lighting condition and the oscillation frequency when the pulse voltage is generated is excessively large. Thus it becomes sometimes difficult to generate a pulse voltage with a peak value enough to prevent generation of flash in discharge lamp particularly in the deep dimming lighting condition where the dimming ratio is 0.5% or lower.


A landslide detecting apparatus which is laid under the ground include: a light source; a lens device for converting a beam of light from the light source into a parallel pencil of rays; a condensing lens device; a light detecting device; and a shading mechanism adapted to partly or entirely intercept the pencil of rays in response to external pressures applied thereto. Any change in the earth's crust in a direction to cause a landslide causes the shading mechanism to operate in correspondence with the magnitude of the change so as to partly intercept the parallel pencil of rays and cause a change in the quantity of light detected, making it possible to obtain a quantitative knowledge of the change in the earth's crust. A landslide detecting apparatus may have a plurality of detection units arranged three-dimensionally and radially, each detection unit being equipped with a shading mechanism adapted to operate in correspondence with external pressures applied thereto, a row of light emitting light elements and a row of light receiving elements opposed to each other, the shading mechanism being adapted to intervene between these rows of light emitting and light receiving elements in proportion to external pressures applied thereto.

This invention relates to a landslide detecting apparatus for detecting a landslide underneath mountain roads having elevated slope faces, in hilly residence areas, etc.
Conventional examples of such a landslide detecting apparatus include: a detection system using a wire sensor 51 as shown in FIG. 1A; a detection system using a contact sensor 52 as shown in FIG. 1B; a detection system using a photoelectric sensor 53 having a light emitting element 53a and a light receiving element 53b as shown in FIG. 1C; a detection system using a vibrometer-type sensor 54 as shown in FIG. 1D; and a detection system using a microwave sensor 55 as shown in FIG. 1E.
These conventional landslide detecting systems have both merits and demerits. For example, in a detection system using a wire sensor 51, a contact sensor 52, a photoelectric sensor 53, or a microwave sensor 55, the sensor is installed on the ground, so that it is under the influence of wind, rain, mist, snow, etc., making it difficult to perform accurate measurement. The vibrometer-type sensor 54 is laid under the ground, so that it is not affected by weather conditions as in the above case. On the other hand, this type of system is rather expensive since it involves a large-scaled apparatus.

Landslide detecting apparatus having improved optical unit

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A porous substrate is placed inside an enclosure and a gas flow is injected into the enclosure under predetermined conditions of temperature and pressure to form a solid deposit within the accessible pores inside the substrate. A wall that is permeable to the gas flow is interposed on the path of the flow between its inlet into the enclosure and the substrate, the wall not being in contact with the substrate, thereby forming around the substrate a region which is free from strong turbulence so that infiltration is performed essentially under diffusion conditions, thereby minimizing the deposition gradient within the volume of the substrate.

A particular field of application of the invention is making composite material parts constituted by a fiber preform which is densified by a matrix by chemical vapor infiltration. The preform or substrate is a texture or fabric formed on the basis of fibers, e.g. a cloth or a felt. In order to enable the matrix-constituting material to infiltrate into the core of the preform, the preform is placed in an oven at a predetermined temperature and a flow of gas is injected into the enclosure under predetermined conditions of pressure and flow rate. The matrix material is obtained by one of the components in the flow of gas decomposing or by a plurality of components in the flow of gas reacting on coming into contact with the preform. Chemical vapor infiltration methods using carbon or ceramics (carbides, nitrides, or refractory oxides, for example) are well known. Reference may be made, in particular, to the following documents: FR-A-2 189 207, FR-A-2 401 888, and EP 0 085 601.
Chemical vapor infiltration is a lengthy process (several tens of hours) and it is often performed in a plurality of successive cycles.
A drawback of the chemical vapor infiltration methods currently in use lies in a deposition gradient of the matrix-constituting material within the substrate. More precisely, the thickness of the deposit falls off perceptibly between the surface of the substrate and the interior of the substrate, and the greater the speed of infiltration, the greater this effect.
Because of this "excess deposition" on the surface, the pores in the substrate end up by being closed at the surface long before the core has been completely densified.
It is then frequently necessary to machine the substrate to give the flow of gas new access to the internal pores thereof. To do this, the incompletely densified part must be allowed to cool so that it can be removed from the furnace, and so that the surface deposit can be removed by machining, prior to returning the part to the furnace and bringing it back up to the desired temperature. Operations of infiltration followed by machining are commonly repeated several times before the desired degree of densification is achieved.
Nevertheless, in the end, densification is inevitably greater in the vicinity of the surface than in the core of the substrate where residual pores remain.
In addition, the surface deposit that results from the impact of the gas flow on the substrate sometimes presents a microstructure or crystallinity that is different from that of the deposit in the core of the substrate.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby the deposition gradient can be minimized, thereby making it possible to achieve densification that is more uniform, more regular, and more complete.

Chemical vapor infiltration method utilizing substantially diffusive conditions


The present invention relates to a flexible light source structure. The flexible light source structure includes a flexible insulating layer, a conductive trace layer formed on the flexible insulating layer, a plurality of light emitting diodes formed on the conductive trace layer and a packaging layer. The packaging layer covers the light emitting diodes and filling the gaps between the light emitting diodes.

With the development of optoelectronic technology, the application of LED light source becomes more and more extensive, such as indicator light box, lighting panel, backlight module, advertising light board and so on. However, the light source module used in these products are not flexible. The above-mentioned disadvantages need to be overcome.

Flexible light source structure and method for manufacturing same


The present invention provides a permanent magnet with both a high corrosion resistance and magnetic properties compared to the existing R-T-B based magnets. It is a R-T-B based sintered magnet (wherein, R includes Y (yttrium) and R1 as essential, R1 is at least one kind of rare earth elements except Y but includes Nd as essential, and T is at least one kind of transition metal element including Fe or the combination of Fe and Co as essential). By allowing the ratio of R1 to Y (R1:Y) in the R contained in the grain boundary phase to be 80:20˜35:65 in terms of the calculated molar ratio of the grain boundary phase and adding Y to the raw materials of the R-T-B based magnet, Y segregates at the triple point, and corrosion of grain boundary phase is prevented by oxidized Y.

The R-T-B based magnet comprising a tetragonal compound R2T14B as the main phase is known to have excellent magnetic properties, and has been considered as a representative permanent magnet with high performances since it was invented in 1982 (Patent Document 1: JPSho59-46008).
Although the R-T-B based magnet has excellent magnetic properties, the trend that the corrosion resistance is low exists due to having the rare earth element that is easily oxidized as the main component.
Therefore, in order to improve corrosion resistance of the R-T-B based sintered magnet, the surface treatment such as coating resins, plating or the like on the surface of the magnet body is usually adopted. On the other hand, by changing addition elements of the magnet body or internal structure, the study on improving the corrosion resistance of the magnet body is performed. Enhancing corrosion resistance of the magnet body is very important for improving reliability of the products after surface treatment. In addition, the simpler surface treatment also can be used than coating resin or plating so as to be advantageous for reduce the product cost.
In the prior art, for example, Patent Document 2 (JP Hei4-330702) has disclosed a technical solution in which the intermetallic compound R—C of rare earth elements between the non-magnetic R-rich phase and carbon is inhibited to be 1.0 mass % or less and corrosion resistance of the magnet is enhanced by reducing the content of carbon in the permanent magnet alloys to 0.04 mass % or less. Further, Patent Document 2 has disclosed a technical solution in which corrosion resistance is improved by setting the concentration of Co in the grain boundary phase to 5 mass % to 12 mass %.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A plug connector comprising a first contact support, in which contacts are disposed, which enter an electrical connection with mating contacts of a second contact support, when the contact supports are joined. The first contact support comprises first coding device, which interacts with a second coding device of the second contact support and assures a defined joining of the contact supports in order to connect the contacts and the mating contacts.

A plug connector of this type is known e.g. from DE 196 07 381 C2, which relates to a plug connector according to the Rast 5-Standard. Plug connectors of this type according to the invention can also be provided according to the Rast 2.5-Standard, which differ from the preceding plug connectors substantially only through the width of the contact pattern.
Plug connectors according to the Rast 5- or the Rast 2.5-Standard have become widely used in particular in electrical household- and kitchen appliances, heating system controls and internal system wiring solutions in the automotive industry.
Such plug connectors typically comprise a plug (second contact support) and a plug socket (first contact support), typically in a multi-pole configuration respectively. The term "plug" thus refers to the configuration of the "male" contact component, wherein the "socket" comprises "female" contact components. Since the socket is the component which is e.g. inserted into contact sections of a circuit board or onto a multi-pin strip in the major number of the Rast-plug connectors used on the market, the socket is subsequently designated as plug socket. Consequently, also circuit boards, multi-pin strips are similar are considered as plugs or plug devices according to the invention.
In order to assure an assembly of plug device and plug socket, which is safe against polarity reversal, both components comprise coding devices. In particular for a polarity safe attachment at circuit boards, their coding devices are configured as circuit board recesses or incisions in the contact portion of the circuit board, which vary with respect to their position, length and width. For each coding of a plug section of a circuit board, a mating plug socket is fabricated, whose housing forms coding walls mating with the recesses.
Color coding is used as a supplement for said form of mechanical coding quite frequently. Color markings are disposed at the plug devices, which are configured as adhesive labels, color bars or as colored plug socket housings. Thus, it is indicated for the assembly process that plug sockets, which are identified accordingly, have to be inserted onto the plug devices, e.g. the circuit board, at a location with identical color. Thus, the color marking can be configured as a supplemental optical, quasi redundant coding for unmistakable joining of plug socket and plug device, or it can be used for coding mechanically identically coded plug sockets or plug devices for additional differentiation.
The mechanical coding and the color coding have proven to be particularly advantageous, since a quasi error free assembly, this means a polarity reversal safe assembly of plug device and plug socket is assured. Meanwhile, however, the perception is that the fabrication of such plug connectors requires improvement.
In production, respective batches with a certain mechanical and/or color coding are fabricated. Thereafter setup times are required at the fabrication equipment for fabricating a batch with a different mechanical and/or color coding. As long as the color coding is performed by means of adhesive labels or color bars, this is a process step in need of improvement as well.


A system for simultaneously testing at least two any control rod clusters contained within a reactor vessel, the system comprising a control rod drive mechanism attached to the control rod clusters for retracting the control rod clusters within said reactor vessel to a position suitable for testing. Electrical power means connected to the control rod drive mechanism for supplying electrical power to the control rod drive mechanism and for terminating the power to the control rod drive mechanism and, when terminated, causing said all said control rod clusters to fall into the reactor vessel. A rod position indicator attached to the control rod drive mechanism for monitoring the position of the control rod clusters; and computing means operatively connected to the rod position indicator and receiving a signal representing the fall time of each control rod cluster for generating an elapsed time profile of all the control rod clusters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for testing a plurality of control rod clusters positioned in a reactor vessel for any obstructions during insertion and withdrawal of the control rod clusters from a core of the reactor vessel and, more particularly, to a system for simultaneously testing all the plurality of control rod clusters.
2. Background of the Related Art
In nuclear power generation, a reactor vessel is located in a containment building and is the primary vessel wherein heat is generated for producing steam. The reactor vessel includes a flanged body having a flanged, removable upper head bolted atop its upper portion for forming a sealed enclosure. Fuel pellets, which are located within fuel assemblies, are positioned within the reactor vessel for producing a controlled nuclear fission which, in turn, generates the necessary heat. The containment building functions to contain any unlikely radiation leakage from the reactor vessel within the containment building.
To control the nuclear fission process, a plurality of control rods are either selectively inserted or withdrawn from the fuel assemblies. Control rods are typically stainless steel tubes encapsulating an absorber material, and are grouped together in a predetermined number, generally sixteen, forming a control rod cluster. There are typically sixteen control rod clusters in the reactor vessel. The control rod clusters extend into the fuel assemblies when fully inserted, and when the control rod clusters are withdrawn, they extend up and away from the fuel assemblies.
Each control rod cluster is attached to a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) for axially moving the absorber material within the stainless steel tubes. An electromagnetic coil stack assembly is attached to the CRDM for electromagnetically supplying the CRDM the energy necessary to move the control rod clusters. A switchgear panel is connected to and supplies the electrical power to the coil stack assembly. A rod position indicator (RPI) is attached atop the electromagnetic coil stack assembly and, in cooperation with a RPI data cabinet electrically connected to the RPI, monitors the position of the control rod clusters. It is instructive to note that all of the above components, except the switchgear panel and the RPI data cabinet, are located within the containment building.
Due to safety regulations and the like, before starting-up the plant, each control rod cluster should be tested to ensure they may be inserted into and withdrawn from the fuel assemblies without hitting any obstructions. Present devices for testing the control rod clusters, as are well known in the art, insert them one cluster at a time. In such prior testing arrangements, an oscillograph is manually attached to the RPI data cabinet for receiving a digital signal and providing a trace test signal of the control rod cluster during testing. To start testing, test personnel energize the coil stack assemblies which fully withdraws the control rods, and then de-energize a predetermined coil stack assembly, such as by manipulating a switch in the switchgear panel, for fully inserting a control rod cluster. The oscillograph traces the fall of the preselected control rod cluster into the fuel assemblies on photosensitive paper for visual inspection by the test personnel to determine if any problem exists, as is well known in the art.
Although the present devices are satisfactory, they are not without drawbacks. The present device is time consuming because each control rod cluster is tested separately. In addition, if one wished to simulate an accident condition, all the control rod clusters should be inserted simultaneously. Such accident conditions may not be simulated by the present devices because the clusters may not be tested simultaneously. Further, some of the test personnel are required to be within the containment building during testing to operate the oscillograph, and this requires the test personnel to be temporarily exposed to radiation.
Therefore, a need exists for a system for simultaneously testing a plurality of control rod clusters:

System and method for simultaneously testing a plurality of control rods


Provided are a storage device and a method for controlling thereof. Some embodiments include a method, comprising: receiving target performance information by a storage device; comparing the target performance information with maximum performance information by the storage device; and adjusting an incremental step pulse program (ISPP) operation performed on a memory cell of the storage device in response to the comparing of the target performance information with maximum performance information.

1. Field of the Inventive Concept
Embodiments relate to a storage device and a method for controlling thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Performance of a storage device, for example, a solid state drive (SSD) is being continuously improved. The storage capacity of SSDs is increasing, and a bandwidth at which the SSD writes or reads data is also increasing. However, an external device which stores or reads the data on and from the SSD, e.g., a host device, may include a device that does not support the maximum bandwidth of the SSD, and in some cases, not all of the bandwidth of the SSD is used.

Storage device and method for controlling thereof


A device for eliminating a gap of the threaded rod of a plane machine has four gap nuts respectively screwed with four threaded rods under the threaded rod bases of a planing table. Four springs are respectively fitted between the backlash nuts and the threaded rod bases. When the gap nuts are screwed upward, the springs are pressed to produce a pushing-up force to push against the threaded rod bases and the planing table, and the pushing-up force is greater than the total weight of the rod bases and the table. Thus, the threaded rod bases can be pushed by the springs to move upward and closely contact the threaded rods to eliminate a gap therebetween, stabilizing the table and the planning knife to perform planing precisely and elevate the quality of planing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, to a device for eliminating a gap of the threaded rod of a plane machine, particularly to one able to stabilize the planing table of a plane machine during planing so as to carry out planing smoothly and precisely and elevate the quality of planing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional plane machine, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a bottom base 11, four threaded rods 12 and a planing table 13 combined together. The four threaded rods 12 are respectively fixed at the four corners of the bottom base 11, extending upward and screwed through the planing table 13. The planing table 13 able to be moved up and down is provided thereon with a planing knife for carrying out planing of wood materials. The planing table 13 has four threaded rod bases 131 respectively fixed at its four corners and screwed with the four threaded rods 12, enabling the planing table 13 to move up and down along the threaded rods 12.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, the threaded rod base 131 of the planing table 13 has its inner threads 1311 screwed with the outer threads 121 of the threaded rod 12; therefore backlash (a) of different sizes may form between the inner threads 1311 and the outer threads 121. Further, the planing table 13 has a certain weight so the inner threads 1311 of the threaded rod base 131 may be forced by the weight of the planing table 13 to press the upper side of the outer threads 121 of the threaded rod 12, forming a gap (a) between the inner and the outer threads 1311 and 121 above the inner threads 1311. On the other hand, when the planing machine carries out planing, the wood material being planed will produce a reverse pushing-up force to push against the planing knife and the planing table 13. As there forms the gap (a) between the inner threads 1311 of the threaded rod base 131 of the planing table 13 and the outer threads 121 of the threaded rod 12, the planing table 13 together with the threaded rod base 131 will be actuated by the reverse pushing force of the wood material to move upward for nearly the distance of the gap (a), if the reverse pushing force pushing against the planing table 13 is greater than the total weight of the planing table 13. At this time, the planing position of the planing knife 14 will become a bit higher than the original one by the distance of a gap (b), and the planing surface of the wood to be planed subsequently will become a little more bulgy than the original one, resulting in an uneven planing surface 151, as shown in FIG. 3. And such an uneven planing surface 151 will always appear especially when the planing table 13 is frequently moved up and down or has been employed for long to render the inner threads 1311 of the threaded rod base 131 and the outer threads 121 of the threaded rod 12 worn off seriously. Apparently, it is of great importance to solve the problem of the gap formed between the threads of the threaded rod base 131 and the threaded rod 12 so as to stabilize the planing table 13 in a planing process and elevate the quality of planing.

Device for eliminating a gap of the threaded rod of a plane machine


A system is disclosed for delivering hyper-concentrated chemicals in a ready to use non-concentrated state. The present invention affords users with the ability to dispense the hyper-concentrated chemicals in a safe electrical free environment as the system operates from fluid force. The present invention may work off a water supply being used as the primary power supply that is also used to dilute the hyper-concentrated chemical. The present invention may be configured for use in any number of environments, such as refineries, off-shore platforms, food processing facilities, agriculture facilities, and the like.

It is no surprise that the chemical and petrochemical industry and its various production facilities are dirty. The facilities, vessels, mixers, equipment, structures, and machinery utilized in these industries become covered with dirt, grease, grime, and various other types of waste during use. Thus, an enormous amount of time and money is spent cleaning the various types of waste and dirt generated in such an environment, such as refineries, offshore drilling platforms, dive support vessels, construction vessels, chemical production facilities and the like.
Due to the extent and severity of waste, dirt, grime, grease, and the like that accumulates in and around the facilities of the chemical and petrochemical industry, such as offshore platforms, oil refineries, chemical production facilities, storage tanks and holding vessels, substantial quantities of industrial cleaners and degreasers are continuously needed and purchased to clean the various components that make up these industrial facilities. Currently, the refineries and chemical production facilities acquire industrial cleaners and degreasers by purchasing the industrial cleaners and degreasers in a ready-to-use state wherein the cleaners and degreasers are in a non-hyper-concentrated state. In the non-hyper-concentrated state, these cleaners and degreasers have already been diluted with water. In such a diluted state, these types of cleaners and degreasers are ordered and transported to the various facilities in oversized bulk tanks, totes, or multiple drums. While purchasing the cleaners and degreasers in the oversized containers is a way to keep the industrial cleaners and degreasers on site, the mere size of the oversized drums, totes, or multiple drums is a problem. With the large oversized drums, totes, and tanks there is always a potential for a substantial chemical spill. In addition, the bulk tanks, oversized drums and totes also occupy a lot of space. Further, the disposal of the oversized bulk tanks, totes, and drums, once they are empty, is another disadvantage that the facilities have to deal with in obtaining industrial cleaners and degreasers in oversized drums, totes, or tanks.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a system that can dispense the needed industrial cleaners and degreasers without the cleaners and degreasers having to exist in the oversized bulk tanks, totes, or multiple drums while still delivering the same amount of cleaner and/or degreaser. Purchasing more cleaners and degreasers in smaller holding tanks is not the answer as the user is simply left with even more holding tanks, drums, or totes to dispose.

System and method for delivering hyper-concentrates


A pixel array module with a self-test function including a test circuit unit, a plurality of test lines, and a pixel array is provided. The test circuit unit provides the self-test function. The test lines are connected between the test circuit unit and the pixel array. The pixel array is connected to the test circuit unit through the test lines and includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a transistor. Each transistor has a first terminal and a second terminal. Regarding each of the pixels, a driving signal of the transistor is transmitted from the first terminal to the second terminal thereof under a normal mode, and a test signal of the transistor is transmitted from the second terminal to the first terminal thereof under a test mode. Furthermore, a self-test method of the foregoing pixel array module is also provided.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to a pixel array module and a test method thereof. Particularly, the disclosure relates to a pixel array module with a self-test function and a method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional three-dimensional (3D) stacked image sensor. Referring to FIG. 1, the 3D stacked image sensor 100 has a development potential due to characteristics of high resolution and high bandwidth. A structure of the 3D image sensing chip includes a pixel array 110 of a top layer, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) array 120 of a second layer and an image processor array 130 of a third layer, where the components of each layer are stacked through 3D stacking elements 140. The chips of each layer have to be tested before stacking, so as to pick out good chips for a post stacking process. In this way, a yield of the stacked chips may be enhanced, and manufacturing cost may be reduced.
However, when the pixel array 110 of the top layer is tested before the stacking, that a pixel photosensitive signal cannot be read is encountered since in the structure of the 3D image sensor 100, the pixel array 110 of the top layer generates an analog voltage signal after sensing light, and such signal has to be read out by the ADC array 120 of the second layer. However, before the chips are stacked, the voltage signal of the pixel array 110 cannot be read by the ADC 120 of the second layer, and once the voltage signal of the pixel array 110 cannot be read, the test on the layer of the pixel array cannot be performed. When the untested chips are stacked, a yield of the chip stacking may be decreased.

Pixel array module with self-test function and method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A non-invasive system and process for converting sensory data, e.g., visual, audio, taste, smell or touch, to neural firing time differences in a human brain and using acoustic signals to generate the neural firing time differences. Data related to neural firing time differences, the acoustic signals, and a user""s response map may be stored in memory. The user""s response map may be used to more accurately map the calculated neural firing time differences to the correct neural locations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for generating sensory experiences. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for forming an acoustic signal from neural timing difference data.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional technique for generating neural activity in the human nervous system requires surgical implants. The implants may comprise electronic connections and wires that cause electronic impulses to interact with some portion of the human nervous system, such as the human neural cortex, and thereby cause neural activity in the human neural cortex. Researchers have successfully mapped audio sensory data to the cochlear channel, and visual data to the visual cortex.
Conventional invasive techniques have several drawbacks. First, surgical implants may cause patient trauma and medical complications during and/or after surgery. Second, additional or on-going surgery may be required, particularly if new technology is developed.
The present invention solves the foregoing drawbacks by providing a non-invasive system and process that uses acoustic signals to generate sensory data, e.g., visual, audio, taste, smell or touch, within/onto the human neural cortex. The system forms acoustic signals from neural timing difference data.
One advantage of the system is its adaptability to each individual user. Human brains have some similarities, but they may vary in size, shape, number of convolutions, etc. The present system comprises components that may be calibrated and a library of acoustic signals that may be customized for each individual user. The system is advantageously configured to allow vision-impaired and/or hearing-impaired users to experience at least some visual and/or auditory sensations.
Another advantage of the system is that no invasive surgery is needed to assist a person, such as a blind or deaf person, to experience live or recorded images or sounds.
One embodiment of the system comprises a primary transducer array and a secondary transducer array. The primary transducer array acts as a coherent or nearly-coherent signal source. The secondary transducer array acts as a controllable, acoustic diffraction pattern that shapes, focuses and modulates energy from the primary transducer onto the neural cortex in a desired pattern. The secondary transducer emits acoustic energy that may be shifted in phase and amplitude relative to the primary array emissions.
The projected, ultrasonic sensory pattern of energy is configured such that each portion of the pattern projected into the neural cortex may be individually pulsed at low frequencies. The system produces low frequency pulsing by controlling the phase differences between the emitted energy of the primary and secondary transducer array elements. The ultrasonic signal pulsed at low frequencies affects the neural firing timing in the cortex. Even though a person may be blind or have his or her eyes closed, the person""s visual cortex neurons are still firing. Changes in the neural firing timing induce various sensory experiences, depending on the altered firing time and the location of the neuron in the cortex. The mapping of some sensory areas of the cortex is known and used in current surgically invasive techniques. The present system induces recognizable sensory experiences by applying ultrasonic energy pulsed at low frequency in one or more selected patterns on one or more selected locations of the cortex.
One aspect of the invention relates to a method of storing data related to acoustic signals configured to alter neural firing times in a brain. The method comprises non-invasively projecting a first acoustic signal into the brain. The first acoustic signal affects a neural firing time at a first neural location in the brain. The method stores a user sensory response and data related to the first acoustic signal in a memory. The method non-invasively projects a second acoustic signal into the brain, and stores a user sensory response and data related to the second acoustic signal in the memory.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of customizing a library of data related to acoustic signals configured to alter neural firing times in a brain. The method comprises retrieving data related to a first acoustic signal from a memory; projecting a first acoustic signal into the brain using the data related to a first acoustic signal, the first acoustic signal affecting a neural firing time at a first neural location in the brain; storing a user sensory response with the data related to the first acoustic signal in the memory; retrieving data related to a second acoustic signal form the memory; projecting a second acoustic signal into the brain using the data related to the second acoustic signal; and storing a user sensory response with the data related to the second acoustic signal in the memory.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a system of storing data related to acoustic signals configured to alter neural firing times in a brain. The system comprises a transducer system configured to non-invasively project a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal into the brain, the first and second acoustic signal affecting one or more neural firing times at one or more neural locations in the brain; a signal generator coupled to the transducer system; and a memory coupled to the signal generator. The memory is configured to store: data related to the first and second acoustic signals; and user sensory responses produced by the first and second acoustic signals. The signal generator is configured to select data in the memory related to signals configured to generate the neural firing time differences in the brain, the transducer system is configured to apply the signals to generate the neural firing time differences in the brain.
The present invention will be more fully understood upon consideration of the detailed description below, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

Method and system for forming an acoustic signal from neural timing difference data


A point card management system includes a multifunction peripheral that processes an image and a server that is connectable to the multifunction peripheral via a network. The multifunction peripheral includes a read request receiving unit, an image read control unit, and a description information acquisition unit. The description information acquisition unit acquires description information of the point card from the image of the point card read by the image reading unit. The server includes a server hard disk and an extraction unit. The extraction unit extracts the accumulation information of the point card from pieces of information of the point card, which have been stored in the server hard disk, based on the description information of the point card, which has been received.

This disclosure relates to a point card management system.
In an image processing device, which is typified by a multifunction peripheral, a photoreceptor is irradiated with light, based on image data, to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. Then, after a charged toner is fed onto the formed electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, the toner is transferred to a sheet of paper and is fixed onto the sheet of paper, and the sheet of paper is discharged to the outside of the device, thus performing printing.
In the image processing device, as information management, information of a name card is read and is managed. A technology related to acquisition of name card information from a readout name card has been conventionally known.
A typical known data management device includes a reading unit that reads image data from a document, a by-purpose storage unit that stores the image data read by the reading unit by application purpose of the image data, and an at-storing-time attribute allocation unit that automatically allocates, when the by-purpose storage unit performs storing, an identification ID, a storage area, and a storage format which correspond to the purpose of storing.
Also, a typical known information management system manages a management database in which information related to the description of a print medium is registered, includes a management server configured to enable sharing of information related to a description of the print medium between terminal devices via a network, and provides various types of management services using the information related to the description of the print medium. When the typical known information management system prints and outputs output information extracted from the information related to the description of the print medium which has been registered in the management database, the typical known data management device also outputs identification information onto the print medium on which printing is performed and performs management of the information related to the description of the print medium registered in the management database in accordance with the identification information that is read by scanning the print medium and management of the print medium.


The double-sided display panel according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a first organic light-emitting layer for front-side display; a second organic light-emitting layer for back-side display; a first switch TFT configured to enable the first organic light-emitting layer to emit light; and a second switch TFT configured to enable the second organic light-emitting layer to emit light. A gate electrode of the first switch TFT is multiplexed as, or connected to, a gate electrode of the second switch TFT.

Currently, most of the display devices available in the market are single-sided display devices. In many scenarios, e.g., for digital signage, electronic communication equipment, cashier utilities, window-type inquiry utilities and advertisement playing utilities in such public places as exhibition centers, usually users need to view displayed images/pictures from two sides of the display device. The double-sided display has been widely used nowadays.
However, a conventional double-sided display panel actually includes two separate display panels assembled together, and its internal structure and a driving system for driving the two separate display panels to emit light are complex, so a display synchronization abnormality may occur for the double-sided display device. In addition, the double-sided display panel has relatively high manufacture cost and a large thickness, so it is impossible to provide a light and thin display panel.

Double-sided display panel, manufacturing method thereof and display device


A diagnostic device for measuring biochemical characteristics of microorganisms. A first chamber is provided into which is inoculated a test suspension containing an unknown organism. First passage means selectively provides liquid communication between the first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber provides for contacting the liquid suspension with a substrate reagent which is located therein. Second passage means connects the second chamber to a third and selectively allows liquid communication therebetween. The third chamber may contain a suitable detection means for identifying the biochemical characteristics of the reacted test suspension when brought into contact therewith.

The present invention relates to the collection and identification of microorganisms and, while it is most suitably described in such context, it must be realized that its structure may be applied in other uses without departing from its inventive concept.
Bacterial diseases are diagnosed and treated by the isolation and identification of causative microorganisms. Conventionally, medical therapy should only be initiated after determination of the etiologic agent. This determination is based primarily on clinical information, but confirmatory laboratory data should always be sought to aid and permit appropriate management of the infective disease. Clinical tests for bacterial identification depend upon comparison of a number of physiological, morphological, and positive and/or negative biochemical reactions for the suspect etiologic agent and comparing these with the reactions of known species. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to obtain specimen cultures of the organism from such sources as sputum, blood, urine, etc., and submit of these samples to identifying procedures.
This means of identification is complex and time-consuming and concomitantly prone to possible error and mis-identification. Moreover, the time-consuming nature of the many tests which must be conducted places a burden on the cost of laboratory operation and excessive employment of skilled personnel for long periods of time.
Various methods and apparatus have been employed in an attempt to facilitate the identification of micoorganisms. These are primarily directed to expediting the cumbersome process and rendering the identification more positive. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,448, which discloses a separately compartmented tube containing pre-prepared culture media for differential identication of microorganisms, particulary of the Enterobacteriaceae family. In using this device, a rigid rod-like member containing a culture of the organism is withdrawn through the tube thereby inoculating each of the chambers. This prior art device is limited by the number of tests available for use in the unit and by its cost as well as storage and stability problems.
To date, a most successful advance in this area of clinical laboratory testing involves the use of bibulous paper or other absorbent substrate impregnated with reagents which detect the presence of specific enzymes or metabolic end products characteristic of certain microorganisms. These reagents include a substrate to be acted on by a specific bacterial enzyme and a detection system which reacts with the metabolic end product to yield a readily identifiable color change. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,122,480, 3,341,427, 3,359,180, 3,378,346, 3,597,321, 3,616,258, 3,645,853 and 3,649,461, which are incorporated in this application by reference, and modifications thereof disclose the preparation and formulation of the various substrate and detection reagents as well as their application to the identification of certain organisms.
A typical application of these techniques involves the following materials and process steps:
1. Paper strips containing suitable substrate and detection reagents are prepared for a number of specific biochemical tests, for example, Voges-Proskauer, nitrate reduction, phenylalanine deaminase, urease, indole, lysine decarboxylase, etc.
2. Test tubes corresponding to the number and order of the tests to be performed are placed in a rack.
3. Bacterial colonies cultured on or in a suitable nutrient, for example, an agar medium, are transferred to and suspended in a tube containing 0.3 ml. of saline for each test to be used. The resultant suspension should have a turbidity approximately equal to a Kirby Baver Standard.
4. Approximately 0.3 ml. of the suspension is pipetted into each of the test tubes.
5. Test strips corresponding to the specific test are added to each of the test tubes and incubated therein for approximately four hours at a temperatures of 35.degree.-37.degree. C.
6. The positive or negative indication of the test is then read from the color of the substrate zone where appropriate, as for example in the lysine decarboxylase test, or the tube is tipped so that the incubated suspension moistens the detection zone where again the color change or absence thereof gives rise to a positive or negative indication, as in the Indole Test, for example.
This test procedure has proven extremely successful, giving accuracy results as good as standard laboratory procedures in a much shorter time. To aid in the determination of the exact organism involved based upon the probabilities determined by each of the specific tests, U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,586 describes one type of an identification system providing for rapid and accurate determination of the causative agent. This system employs a number of punch-coded test data cards which, when placed in registration, give an indication as to the identification of the organism involved according to known principles of Boolean logic. Another approach is the use of a computer program dictionary, based on actual number systems, to provide probability of identification.
It is to further enhance and facilitate the foregoing test procedure that the present invention is directed. Although the rapid reagent-impregnated strip test identification procedure has greatly shortened the time involved and increased the accuracy of organism identification, it is considered that this test may be further enhanced by the utilization of a device which would obviate the need for a plurality number of test tubes as well as the commensurate time and care needed in their handling, cleaning and preparation. The invention envisions a device designed for ease of handling while still allowing rapid and accurate identification.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved diagnostic device for the rapid and accurate identification of microorganisms. It is another object of the invention to provide a unitary disposable device for the performance of a series of biochemical tests. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device which facilitates rapid and easy inoculation with a test specimen and visual assessment of the test results. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a test device containing therein substrate and/or detection reagents for the identification of microorganisms.