The invention relates to a multistage launch vehicle and method of multistage launch vehicle operation in which at least one subsequent motor stage is ignited following lift-off in partially overlapping relationship with its immediately preceding motor stage prior to shut-down and staging of the preceding motor stage in order to effect positive thrust control over the launch vehicle throughout shut-down and staging of the preceding motor stage. Preferably, each of the motors comprising the subsequently fired motor stage is provided with a thrust profile in which maximum thrust is attained prior to staging of the preceding stage.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to the aerospace industry, and more particularly to the launching of payloads into orbit around the earth. In particular, the invention relates to a launch vehicle and a method of launch vehicle operation for deploying a satellite into a predetermined orbital path around the earth.
2. Description of the Related Art
Launch vehicles for delivering payloads such as satellites into earth orbit have become increasingly important as the communications industry has increased its reliance upon satellite-based communication systems. As a result of this increased reliance on satellite-based communication systems, a variety of launch vehicles have been implemented in an effort to deliver satellites into earth orbit. However, these launch vehicles have not proven to be entirely satisfactory for reasons of reliability, cost of manufacture, and the availability of necessary components. It is for all these reasons that the launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation of the present invention were developed.
The design and operation of a launch vehicle is, to a large extent, dictated by the size of the payload to be carried and the orbit to which the payload is to be delivered, the location of the launch site, and the cost and availability of parts for constructing the launch vehicle. Early satellite launch vehicles employed a "series" stage configuration in which a number of successively-ignitable rocket stages were stacked one on top of another. The term "rocket stage" as used throughout this disclosure refers to the discrete, simultaneous firing and operation as a group of one or more rocket motors until engine shut-down. In series configured launch vehicles, a prior, burn-out stage is jettisoned from the launch vehicle, usually with the aid of pyrotechnic devices such as explosive bolts, prior to ignition of a successive stage.
Early preference for the series stage configuration for launching commercial payloads such as satellites stems to a large extent from the familiarity of launch vehicle frameworkers and designers with series stage configurations resulting from work on predominantly military-oriented launch projects. However, the design criteria for a military project, which tend to dictate a series stage configuration, influence the design of a commercial launch vehicle to a much lesser extent. For example, design parameters such as maximum vehicle width, which are of considerable importance for military projects involving launchings from subterranean launch sites such as missile silos, are less critical for commercial launch vehicles. Additionally, there is less of a need in a commercial context to skew in a direction of absolute performance the relative equilibrium between performance and cost of manufacture. Instead, the balance in a commercial context is directed more toward the side of cost-effectiveness of the launch procedure and the launch apparatus. For these reasons, parallel rather than series rocket engine configurations have gained increasing acceptance.
In a parallel rocket engine configuration, two or more rockets are placed in a side-by-side (rather than vertical) configuration, resulting in a launch vehicle which is generally wider, but shorter in height, than is a series configuration of similar propulsive capabilities. The parallel configuration is particularly advantageous in a commercial context because it provides for a greater degree of payload flexibility by allowing for a relatively wide range of payloads by simply changing the number of "strap-on" rocket motors assembled to a central or core stage of the launch vehicle. The generally shorter, wider configuration of the parallel arrangement of rocket motors also results in a launch vehicle which exhibits a considerable degree of both static and dynamic stability over its series counterpart. A further advantage is provided by the near collocation of the vehicle center of gravity and its thrust and aerodynamic centers. As a result of this near collocation of center points, the parallel configuration rockets tend to be more readily controllable, even in the absence of external fin augmentation.
In spite of the seemingly great operational advantages afforded by a parallel rocket configuration over its series counterpart, serious operational and cost deficiencies nevertheless exist with current parallel configuration launch vehicles. For example, one known parallel configuration launch vehicle employs as its first stage a pair of specially designed and constructed solid fuel rocket motors which carry the launch vehicle beyond the earth's sensible atmosphere before the second stage is ignited. While this rocket affords a tremendous payload capacity of on the order of 40,000 lbs. for deployment into a low earth orbit of generally no more than 300 nautical miles for a range of orbital inclinations, it is not well suited for transporting considerably smaller payloads such as small to medium-sized communication satellites, which typically range in weight from about 150 lbs. to about 3,500 lbs., for deployment at lower polar earth orbits, typically from about 100 nautical miles to about a 450 nautical miles above the earth's surface. As used throughout this disclosure, the term "polar orbit" is meant to refer to an orbital path around the earth that is inclined with respect to the earth's equator at an angle of about 90.degree.. This known launch vehicle is therefore quite limited in the range of payload weights it can efficiently deliver into earth orbit, as it was designed specifically for transporting relatively heavy, bulky payloads. In view of the specific and narrowly defined operational and mission objectives around which this known launch vehicle was designed, one cannot readily adapt this known, large capacity launch vehicle to carry much lesser weight payloads to typically closer proximity earth orbits, especially low altitude polar earth orbits, for the vehicle and its rocket engines were not designed and constructed to account for these operational parameters.
In another known parallel configuration launch vehicle, nine solid "strap-on" rocket motors are positioned along the circumference of a high output liquid burning first stage core engine. Six of the solid rocket motors, along with the liquid core engine, are ignited at lift-off in order to raise particularly heavy payloads from the ground. Because the solid rocket motors are provided principally to assist in the initial launching of the launch vehicle from the ground, they have a relatively short burn life of on the order of about fifty seconds, after which they are jettisoned from the continuously burning liquid core stage. Following jettisoning of the six "strap-on" motors, the remaining three solid rocket motors are ignited while the vehicle is in flight in order to further augment the thrust output of the continuously burning liquid engine, and are burned to completion and thereafter jettisoned. Thereafter, the launch vehicle operates as a conventional series configuration multistage rocket in the manner set forth above.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that there exists a need for an expendable launch vehicle which is readily reconfigurable to deliver a variety of different size payloads inexpensively and reliably into a range of earth orbits. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation for delivering relatively light payloads such as one or more satellites into earth orbit in as reliable and cost-effective a manner as is possible.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation which utilizes, to as large an extent as possible, proven launch vehicle components for delivering a payload into earth orbit.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation which is readily adaptable to carry payloads of a variety of different weights into a range of orbital configurations around the earth.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation which includes a plurality of rocket engine stages arranged in a parallel configuration that is adaptable to a wide range of payload capacities for delivery into one of a variety of different earth orbits.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a parallel configuration, multistage launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation which provides improved dynamic stability and enhanced vehicle control up to deployment of a payload such as a satellite into earth orbit.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel configuration, multistage launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation which eliminates the need for a reaction control system to provide attitude control during operation of the early stages of the launch vehicle.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel configuration, multistage launch vehicle and method of launch vehicle operation which employs for its lower stages substantially similar rocket motors and related equipment to provide a greater degree of commonality of design than has previously been achieved in the aerospace industry.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Overlapping stage burn for multistage launch vehicles


A heater comprising: (a) a non-woven heating layer having: a forward surface, a rearward surface, and a plurality of edges around a periphery of the heating layer; (b) two or more connections to a power source; wherein the heating layer is made up of a plurality of individual fibers that are randomly oriented; and wherein substantially all of the non-woven heating layer produces heat when power is to the non-woven heating layer.

The present teachings are predicated upon providing an improved heater and more preferably an improved heater for use in a vehicle. Generally, heaters include a wire that is formed in a pattern. The wire produces heat when electricity is applied to the wire. The wire may also be placed in a carbonaceous material so that as the wire heats up the heat is diffused into the carbonaceous material heating a larger area. However, achieving uniform heating in these devices may not always be achieved and hot spots may occur around the heating wires. Further, if a heating wire breaks the heater may cease to heat. Heaters may also include electrodes that are connected by a positive temperature coefficient material so that electricity is conducted from one electrode through the positive coefficient material to the other electrode and heat is produced. Other heaters have a woven configuration where a plurality of long materials are woven together to form a heater. These heaters may result in hot spots along one or more of the long materials as these materials may allow for current drift along one wire. Examples of heaters may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,824,996; 5,935,474; 6,057,530; 6,150,642; 6,172,344; 6,294,758; 7,053,344; 7,285,748; and 7,838,804; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003/155347; 2004/0211772; 2007/0278210; 2009/024548; 2010/0200558; and 2010/0282458; European Patent No. EP2400814; and Japanese Patent Publication No. JP02-120039 all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
It would be attractive to have a high degree of flexibility to conform to an occupant and to avoid crinkling noises or the like in response to occupant motion. It would be attractive to minimize part quantities in an assembly and correspondingly to reduce assembly steps. Notwithstanding what exists today, car manufacturers and others continue to seek low cost, light weight, and easy to manufacture ways to provide a heating surface. In this regard one attractive feature is to be free of dependency upon fluctuating prices for high demand metals such as gold, silver, copper, or the like. It would be attractive to avoid dependency of adhesive bonding of conductive metals to a surface.
What is needed is a flexible seat heater that is free of and/or substantially free of gold, silver, and copper. It would be attractive to have a heater that may be subjected to a flexing action without partial or complete failure of all or a portion of the heater. It would be attractive to have a heater that exhibits uniform heating across the heater without having to employ complex power supply configurations and/or expensive controllers. What is further needed is a flexible seat heater that may be cut, bent, shaped, formed, or a combination thereof without losing any heating functions.


An image forming apparatus includes a transfer brush for transferring to a paper sheet a developed image on an photoconductive drum. The transfer brush is formed in a plate-like shape by a number of electroconductive fibers bundled together. The transfer brush has a contact portion set in elastic contact with the drum. The brush presses the paper sheet, which is fed by the feeding device, against the drum under a predetermined pressing force. A DC current supply applies voltage to the paper sheet through the transfer brush so as to electrostatically attract the developed image to the paper sheet. The transfer brush is inclined to the image carrier so as to allow the paper sheet to be guided into an area between the drum and the transfer brush.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus, electrostatic printer, etc., and in particular to an image forming apparatus for transferring an image which is obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image to a transfer material, such as a paper sheet, by a transfer device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus and electrostatic printer, is adapted to form an electrostatic image on a photoconductive drum (image carrier), electrostatically attract a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image to provide a developed image and transfer the developed image to a paper sheet so that recording is carried out.
An electrostatic transfer device using a corona transfer method or roller transfer method, as well as a mechanical transfer device using an adhesive transfer method, etc., are known as the transfer device in this field of art.
After transfer has been effected, there remains an electrostatic latent image and untransferred developing agent on the photoconductive drum. The remaining developing agent is removed by a cleaner. Then, the electrostatic latent image is erased by a discharger. In this way, the above-mentioned operations are repeated.
Recently, a growing demand has been made for more and more compact image forming apparatus. The generation of ozone caused upon corona discharge poses a problem harmful to the human being when the electric transfer device is employed. For this reason, the transfer device using the roller transfer method is desirable because it generates less ozone.
In spite of that major advantage of the roller transfer method, there are several reasons for which this method has generally not been employed.
For the roller transfer method it is necessary that a transfer material, such as a paper sheet, be pressed against the image forming surface of the photoconductive drum by the transfer roller under proper pressure and applied voltage. If the pressure is insufficient, uneven transfer is encountered. Under excessive pressure, on the other hand, a developing agent (toner) is adhered to the image forming surface of the drum so that an image transfer is partially skipped on the paper sheet. It is, therefore, necessary to manufacture that transfer roller with high mechanical accuracy (straightness about 50 microns) and proper pliability (JIS hardness of about 10.degree. to 40.degree.). However, electroconductive rubber used as a material for the conventional transfer roller can hardly achieve the above two requirements.
Specifically, if a paper sheet as thick as 100 microns is used, a defective image transfer occurs owing to the generation of excessive pressure involved. In this case, it is necessary to perform complex control wherein the transfer roller is moved toward and away from the photoconductive drum so as to enable the transfer roller to meet the thickness of the paper sheet.
It is generally also necessary to exert an electrostatic force on the developed image so that, subsequent to transferring the developed image to the paper sheet, the resultant paper sheet is separated from the transfer roller. In order to generate such an electrostatic force, the transfer roller has a predetermined electrical resistance. It is required that, under all the circumferences, the aforementioned resistance be so maintained as to prevent a breakdown of a recording medium by the electrostatic force. This restricts the range in which the material for the transfer roller is selected.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems under these backgrounds, there is a demand for an image forming apparatus adequate enough to satisfy these required characteristics.

Image forming apparatus having a transfer brush of electroconductive fibers


Fiber reinforced lightweight concrete composites employ less than 4% by volume of reinforcing fibers in conjunction with small particulate lightweight aggregates or voids, and cure to composites which exhibit high tensile strain and strain hardening behavior. The composites are useful for numerous structures in civil engineering.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to fiber reinforced, brittle matrix inorganic composites, particularly of a cementitious nature, which are lightweight, and which exhibit strain hardening behavior.
2. Background Art
Lightweight concrete has many cases, and is typically produced by incorporating lightweight aggregates such as pyroprocessed shales, clays, slates, expanded slags, expanded fly ash, and aggregates mined from porous volcanic sources into a hydraulically setting matrix. The air-dried unit weight is typically in the range of 1400 to 1900 kg/m3. Yet further decreases in density can be achieved by foaming the mixes, wherein the encased air takes the form of small and spherically-shaped bubbles dispersed within the concrete matrix. P. E. Regan et al., "Lightweight Aggregate Foamed Concrete," STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, Vol. 68, No. 9, 1990, pp. 167-173. Expanded polymer beads have also been used in such products.
Lightweight concrete affords the advantage of significant reduction in weight. In bridge and building design, for example, the reduced gravitational load and seismic internal mass allows reduced member sizes and foundation forces. However, use of lightweight concrete is limited due to its lack of ductility. While conventional concrete is hardly known for ductility, the cracking and brittle nature of concrete is even more pronounced in lightweight concrete, because the lightweight aggregate is usually weaker than the cement matrix, and provides little resistance to crack propagation. In such lightweight products, the fracture energy is typically only a fraction of that of normal concrete.
Significant improvement in fracture toughness can be achieved through incorporation of fiber reinforcement. However, conventional fiber reinforced concrete still exhibits quasi-brittle post-peak tension-softening behavior under tensile load, where the bearable load decreases with increases in crack opening. Tensile strain capacity thus remains low, about the same as normal concrete, i.e. about 0.01%. Considerable efforts have been expended into converting the quasi-brittle behavior of fiber reinforced concrete to ductile strain-hardening behavior resembling ductile metals. In most cases, the approach has been to increase the volume fraction of fibers as much as possible. As the volume fraction of fibers reaches the range of 4-10%, depending on the particular fiber, moderate strain hardening behavior may be achieved. For example, WO 99/58468 discloses a high performance concrete of normal density, wherein moderate strain hardening is achieved by incorporation of 4% by volume of polyvinyl alcohol fibers in a compact matrix which includes very hard, small diameter fillers. Nevertheless, the strain capacity is still less than 0.5%.
High fiber volumes create processing problems, however. Homogenous fiber dispersion become difficult due to the increasing viscosity of the mix as more and more fibers are dispersed. The high fiber surface area and the mechanical interaction between the fibers raises the viscosity such that processing also becomes difficult. Various processing techniques have been disclosed in attempts to solve such problems, such as the extrusion process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,374.
Lightweight concrete, as mentioned earlier, exhibits even higher brittleness and lower compressive strength than concrete of normal density. Adding large amounts of reinforcing fibers to concrete mix with lightweight aggregates is problematic, since the lightweight aggregate interferes with uniform dispersion of reinforcing fibers. Several attempts have been made to create lightweight concrete with improved tensile strain and strain hardening capacity. However, such attempts have not proven successful, due to inappropriate fiber type and weak interface bond strength. Moreover, the importance of size control of lightweight fillers has not been recognized by the art.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,676, polyolefin film with fibrillated, hooked microfibrils is used to reinforce cement mortar containing gas bubbles or cellular plastic chunks. As cracks develop, bridging forces are provided predominantly by the mechanical interlock between the hooked microfibrils and the mortar matrix. The fibrillating process, however, provides various fibril dimensions. The ultimate composite tensile strength is limited as the small diameter fibers are ruptured under strain due to low fiber strength, and large diameter fibers are easily pulled from the matrix due to low bond strength and high Poisson ratio of polyolefin fibers. The resulting lightweight concrete does not exhibit tensile strain hardening, and compressive strength remains low, due to the use of gas bubbles or cellular plastic chunks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,620 discloses multilayer concrete structures, where lightweight gas-bubble-containing, fiber reinforced concrete is used in conjunction with a dense, fiber reinforced concrete. Polypropylene fibers and carbon fibers are disclosed as being useful. However, carbon fibers are ill suited for use in cementitious composites when randomly distributed due to their brittleness and vulnerability to bending stress. Moreover, the structures disclosed are not only highly anisotropic, but also cannot, in tandem, achieve the strain hardening behavior desired of lightweight concrete.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,282 discloses the use of unidirectionally oriented continuous carbon fibers at high volume percent concentration to achieve light weight. However, such composites require unique processing, and are also highly anisotropic.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,609 discloses lightweight concrete containing polypropylene fibers and gas bubbles produced by reaction between aluminum metal powder and alkaline cementitious ingredients. However, strain hardening behavior is not achievable.
It would be desirable to provide lightweight concrete materials with higher physical properties than those presently available, in particular, high fracture toughness and strain hardening capacity, while maintaining light weight, ease of processing and application, and physical properties such as compressive strength.

Lightweight strain hardening brittle matrix composites

The Regents of the University of Michigan


Provided are a cationic lipid which facilitates the introduction of a nucleic acid into, for example, a cell or the like; a composition containing the cationic lipid and a nucleic acid; a method for introducing a nucleic acid into a cell by using a composition containing the cationic lipid and the nucleic acid; and the like. The cationic lipid is, for example, a cationic lipid represented by formula (A): formula (A):

A cationic lipid is an amphiphilic molecule having a lipophilic region containing one or more hydrocarbon groups and a hydrophilic region containing at least one positively charged polar head group. The formation of a complex which is positively charged as a whole between a cationic lipid and a macromolecule such as a nucleic acid facilitates the entry of the macromolecule such as a nucleic acid into a cytoplasm through a cell plasma membrane, and therefore, the cationic lipid is useful. This process, which can be performed in vitro and in vivo, is known as transfection.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose cationic lipids and lipid particles containing the lipid, which are advantageous for in vivo delivery of a nucleic acid into a cell and for use in a nucleic acid-lipid particle composition suitable for therapy of diseases. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cationic lipid such as
    2,2-dilinoleyl-4-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)[1,3]-dioxolane (DLin-KC2-DMA); and for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a cationic lipid such as
    (6Z,9Z,28Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,9,28,31-tetraen-19-yl 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate (DLin-MC3-DMA).

Abstract: (wherein R1 is alkenyl or the like, R2 is alkenyl or the like, R3 and R4 are each alkyl, or are combined together to form alkylene, or R3 and R5 are combined together to form alkylene, R5 is a hydrogen atom or the like, or is combined together with R3 to form alkylene, X1 is alkylene, and X2 is a single bond or alkylene).


Various embodiments of an architectural covering insert primarily adapted for use in simulated divided light openings is disclosed. The insert includes an outer framework with horizontal and vertical dividers, a plurality of horizontally or vertically disposed shade components associated with one or more dividers and control means for moving the shade components between extended and retracted positions across simulated openings defined by the vertical and horizontal dividers. The shade components can be of the roller shade type or collapsible cellular type with the net result being that, from a visual standpoint, there are shade components associated with each individual simulated opening defined by the horizontal and vertical dividers, as opposed to a single shade that covers the entire architectural opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to coverings for architectural openings and, more particularly to an insert adapted to be placed in an architectural opening to simulate a divided light opening with the insert including a plurality of shade components to cover each simulated opening.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Coverings for architectural openings have taken numerous forms for many years with early coverings simply consisting of fabric draped across the architectural opening in various aesthetic orientations. Draperies are another common form of covering wherein a fabric material is typically pleated along an upper marginal edge, and suspended along the top edge of an architectural opening and mounted so that the pleated material can be moved between an extended position across the architectural opening and a retracted position adjacent one or both sides of the architectural opening.
More recent coverings have taken the form of Venetian blinds wherein horizontal slats of material are suspended in spaced relationship in an architectural opening on tape ladders such that the slats can be elevated into a stacked relationship adjacent the top of the opening or suspended in uniformly spaced relationship across the architectural opening. The slats can further be rotated about their longitudinal axes to permit or block the passage of vision and light through the covering.
Similarly, vertical blinds have vertically oriented slats that operate very similarly to the horizontally oriented slats of a Venetian blind and, again, the vertically oriented slats can be evenly distributed across the opening or retracted adjacent to one or both sides of the opening. They further can be rotated about vertical axes to block or permit the passage of vision and light through the covering.
More contemporary shades have been referred to as cellular shades wherein adjacent interconnected cells are adapted to be extended across an architectural opening. The interconnected cells can also be collapsed or gathered adjacent the top or bottom of the architectural opening in a retracted position or wrapped around a roller in the retracted position. Some cellular products include horizontal or vertically extending vanes that can be manipulated to block or permit the passage of vision or light through the covering even when it is extended across the architectural opening.
Coverings of the aforenoted type are utilized in many types of architectural openings including windows, doors, archways and the like, and in the case of glass paneled architectural openings, it does not matter whether there is an opening with one large panel of glass or an opening with a plurality of individual smaller units of glass referred to as divided light openings.
In fact, large glass panels that may totally cover an architectural opening have been aesthetically divided into a plurality of smaller units by use of an insert having horizontal and vertical crisscrossing frame components that thereby define square or rectangular passages therethrough so that when the insert is positioned in overlying relationship with the large glass panel, the glass panel has the appearance of a plurality of smaller individual glass units. Such inserts have the advantage of being readily removable so that the larger glass panel can be easily cleaned. When an insert of this type is used, the opening is referred to as a simulated divided light opening.
The aforenoted coverings for architectural openings are typically designed to totally cover an entire architectural opening as opposed to individual smaller units within a divided light opening or a simulated divided light opening. It will be appreciated, however, that a totally different aesthetic look could be created with a covering for an architectural opening wherein each individual unit or various combinations of units defined in a simulated divided light opening had its own covering component.
An undesirable feature of prior art coverings for architectural openings resides in the fact that most of the coverings are operated by control cords which have been accepted for utilitarian purposes but are not necessarily aesthetically pleasing. A retractable architectural covering which did not require such cords would, therefore, be desirable.
It is further desirable in some environments to have a covering for an architectural opening which is retractably mounted for movement across the opening but which is totally hidden from view when in a retracted condition. In other words, in some environments, while it is desirable to have a covering that can be extended across an architectural opening to control vision and the passage of light, it may also be desirable that the covering be hidden from view when retracted so that an observer would not even realize the opening had a covering associated therewith.
It should also be appreciated that when moving a retractable covering between extended and retracted positions, which is typically accomplished with a pull or lift cord system, numerous pulling strokes by the operator of the covering may be required. In other words, to move a covering from a fully retracted to a fully extended position, an operator needs to apply several pulling strokes on the cord in order to obtain a full extension or retraction of the covering. Gearing could be provided to reduce the number of strokes necessary to fully move the covering between extended and retracted positions but the work required to move the covering is correspondingly increased. Accordingly, an improved system for extending and retracting coverings for architectural openings with a minimal stroke and no excessive work would be desirable.
It is to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art noted above that the present invention has been developed.
The architectural covering of the present invention takes the form of a framed insert sized and configured to overlie an architectural opening. By way of example, if the architectural opening were a window, having a glass panel therein, the insert would fit within the confines of the window frame so as to define a simulated divided light window having the appearance of a window with a plurality of small individual glass panels. The insert itself has vertical and horizontal dividers or muntins that are surrounded by a peripheral framework and each horizontal or vertical divider might include one or more covering components so that each simulated individual panel or unit defined by the insert has the appearance of a covering component associated therewith.
The covering components could take numerous forms such as a cellular shade, Venetian blind, roll up shade or the like. Accordingly, the covering components may be alternately referred to as shade components. The division of the covering for the architectural opening into a plurality of component units to cover one or more simulated panels in the architectural opening provides not only a unique appearance for an architectural covering but also a unique mechanism for unitarily operating each covering component simultaneously.
In accordance with the present invention, behind a vertical or horizontal divider or muntin in the insert, a roll-up or stacking mechanism is provided so as to be substantially invisible to someone within the building structure in which the insert is mounted. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a simple manually operable slide is positioned along the framework for the insert so that movement of the slide in one direction causes the individual covering components to selectively extend across a simulated panel or panels to which they are associated and a sliding movement of the operable slide in the opposite direction causes the covering components to retract into a hidden position behind the horizontal or vertical divider.
It will be appreciated from the detailed description that follows that a covering in accordance with the present invention is designed to have at least first and second parallel but separated support elements on which retractable coverings are mounted. A drive mechanism is coupled to at least one of the support elements in a manner such that the plurality of coverings are operated from a single drive mechanism.
It will further be appreciated from the description that follows that the architectural covering is hidden when retracted and the drive mechanism for operating the covering is also substantially hidden so that an observer is virtually unaware that a covering exists when the covering is fully retracted.
Another feature of the present invention which will become apparent with the detailed description that follows resides in the fact that the operating system or drive mechanism for moving the covering between extended and retracted positions entails a mechanism that requires a very short stroke to fully move the covering between extended and retracted positions and without any additional effort than required for conventional architectural coverings.
Other aspects, features and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.

Covering for a simulated divided light architectural opening and systems for mounting same


A cutting cylinder unit and cutting divice for shaping a plant, such as a boxwood bush. The cutting device comprises at least one cutting cylinder unit. The cutting cylinder unit comprises a cutting cylinder with a surface of revolution which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a cylinder center axis and with cutting members provided along the suface of revolution; a cylinder drive for driving the cutting cylinder in rotation about the cylinder center axis; and a cutting edge which is provided along the outside of the surface of revolution for interacting in a cutting manner with the cutting member. The surface of revolution and the cutting edge, as seen in the direction of the cylinder center axis, have corresponding curvatures. This curvature is substantially matched to a predetermined desired shape of the plant.

The present invention relates to the use of a cutting cylinder unit for cutting a plant, the cutting cylinder unit comprising:                a cutting cylinder having a surface of revolution which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a cylinder centre axis and having cutting members provided along the said surface of revolution;        a cylinder drive for driving the cutting cylinder in rotation about the cylinder centre axis;        a cutting edge which is provided along the outside of the surface of revolution for interacting in a cutting manner with the cutting members.
Cutting cylinder units of this type are known from cylinder mowers for mowing grass, a ground-covering plant. An example of such a unit which may be mentioned is NL-80.04241. The mowing device described in this document comprises a tractor provided with a number of, in this case four, cutting cylinder units. Each cutting cylinder unit comprises a cutting cylinder which is driven in rotation about a cylinder centre axis and has a cylindrical outer surface of revolution, a cylinder drive for driving the cutting cylinder in rotation, and a straight cutting edge which runs along the cylindrical surface of revolution. The cutting cylinder is provided with knife edges which are provided at relatively large intervals with respect to the cylinder centre axis, running helically along the inside of the cylindrical surface of revolution, and on the cutting members. The cutting edge is provided along the cylindrical surface of revolution in such a manner that it interacts in a cutting manner with the cutting members or at least the knife edges thereof which move past the cutting edge during rotation. Elsewhere, grass can be mowed using a cutting cylinder of this type. Known cylinder mowers of this type are only intended for cutting a ground-covering plant, such as grass, in a straight line and are eminently suitable for producing very flat lawns.
It is known to cut various plants, such as boxwood bushes but also hedges more generally and also other shrubs, such as yew, privet, etc., or trees, such as a bonsai tree, into a shape. This work is generally performed by hand. With the aid of a cutting device, such as hedge-clippers, the plant in question is cut into the desired shape. This is a time-consuming operation. Particularly for certain types of plants which are sold to distributors or purchasers by the cultivator after they have been cut into shape, this leads to labour-intensive work which takes up a relatively large amount of time.

Cutting device with cutting cylinder unit having curved cutting surfaces for shaping a plant and a vehicle provided with a cutting device of this type


An improved bearing for an electric motor includes a body portion having an open end configured to receive a portion of an armature shaft of an electric motor therein. In an illustrated embodiment, the bearing also includes a base configured to apply a spring force to an end surface of the armature shaft, and a connecting portion located between the body portion and the base.

Electrical motors, such as actuator motors used in automotive applications, include a rotor and a stator. Such electric motors typically include a metal pole housing configured to receive magnets (stator) and a movable armature (rotor). Plastic pole housings with metal sleeve inserts may also be used. Pole housings are used to maintain a magnetic circuit of the electric motor in a closed field or loop manner. The motor operates by having the armature turn inside the pole housing when a voltage is supplied to the motor. Metal pole housings are produced using a variety of different manufacturing processes. For example, the pole housings may be formed by a deep drawn stamping process, a rolling process, an extrusion process, or other suitable forming process.
When an electric motor is energized, the armature rotates because wires on the armature are arranged relative to the magnetic field so that torque is developed about an axis of rotation of the armature. The armature includes a shaft having a first portion which extends into a nose of the pole housing. The armature shaft also includes a second portion which extends into a gear box. In order to support the rotating armature, first and second bushings are typically used on the first and second portions, respectively, of the armature shaft.
In certain applications, such as a window lift motor application, for example, cylindrical or sleeve bushings are used in the nose of the pole housing and spherical bearings are used in the brush card to support the armature shaft. Typically, these bushings are made from a sintered iron-based material. These sintered bushings are usually impregnated with grease or oil to provide low friction contact with the armature shaft during rotation of the armature.
The first bushing is press fit into a nose of the pole housing to support radial loads from the armature under static or dynamic conditions. In order to support an axial load on the armature in conventional motors, a reinforced plastic end plug or thrust button is typically coupled to an end of the armature shaft. This thrust button is used to reduce the thumping or rubbing noises during motor operation by avoiding asperity (metal-to-metal) contact between the metal armature shaft and metal pole housing in an axial direction. Therefore, the cost of electric motors is increased due to the need to provide multiple separate components for supporting the armature (rotor) in the pole housing and the associated inventory and assembly costs for these multiple components. These multiple components include sintered bushings, a thrust button coupled to an end of the armature shaft, a broached end of the armature shaft to receive the thrust button, grease or oil for the bushings, and retainers for the bushings.
The present invention reduces the required components substantially by using a polymeric bearing having an integral, flexible end portion to provide multi-axis dynamic load support for the armature shaft within the pole housing. The improved bearing of the present invention is a cup-shaped bearing having a cylindrical body portion with a rigid wall for supporting a side wall of an armature shaft of the electric motor. The rigid wall of the body portion of the bearing supports radial dynamic loads on the armature shaft. The improved bearing also includes a flexible end or base formed integrally with cylindrical body portion. The base supports axial dynamic loads on the armature shaft. The flexible base has a predetermined spring constant to maintain a preload condition on the armature shaft, thereby reducing movement of the armature shaft during operation of the motor.
In an illustrated embodiment, at least an inner surface of the bearing which contacts the armature shaft is coated with a PTFE polymeric material having a low coefficient of friction and high self-lubricating characteristics. The improved bearing of the present invention eliminates the need to use sintered bearings, separate thrust buttons coupled to the end of the armature shaft to absorb axial loads, a broached end of the armature shaft to receive the thrust button, grease or oil on the bearings, or retainer clips for the bearings.
In one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a bearing is provided for an electric motor. The bearing comprises a body portion having an open end configured to receive a portion of an armature shaft of an electric motor therein, a base configured to apply a spring force to an end of the armature shaft, and a connecting portion located between the body portion and the base. The connecting portion is configured to provide a predetermined spring constant for the spring force applied by the base.
In one illustrated embodiment, the body portion, the base and the connecting portion are integrally formed as a one-piece bearing. Also in an illustrated embodiment, the body portion further comprises means for retaining the body portion in a housing of the electric motor.
In another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a bearing for an electric motor comprises a body portion having an open end configured to receive a portion of an armature shaft of an electric motor therein. The body portion is configured to support radial loads on the armature shaft in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the armature shaft. The bearing also comprises means formed integrally with the body portion for applying a force to the armature shaft in an axial direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the armature shaft.
In yet another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a bearing for an electric motor comprises a generally cylindrical body portion configured to receive and surround a portion of an armature shaft of an electric motor. The body portion has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is configured to engage the armature shaft to support radial loads on the armature shaft in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of the armature shaft. The bearing also comprises means formed integrally with the body portion for retaining the body portion in a housing of the electric motor. The retaining means extends radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the body portion.
In a further illustrated embodiment of the present invention, an electric motor comprises a housing including a body portion having a nose and an open end opposite from the nose. The open end of the housing provides access to an interior region of the housing. The motor also comprises a magnet structure located in the interior region of the housing, and an armature located in the interior region of the housing. The armature includes an armature shaft having a portion located in the nose of the housing. The armature and armature shaft are rotatable relative to the magnet structure. The electric motor further comprises a bearing located in the nose of the housing. The bearing includes a body portion having an open end configured to receive a portion of the armature shaft and a base formed integrally with the body portion. The base is configured to apply a spring force to an end of the armature shaft in an axial direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the armature shaft.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A display system has removable fixtures for supporting eyeglasses, eyeglass frames and similar manufactured articles in a display configuration on a substantially vertical display panel. A fixture has a forward end adapted to hold the eyeglasses, eyeglass frames or other article in an attractive display position and a rear end adapted to secure the fixture releasably to an aperture in the display panel. The rear end of the fixture has a face plate that contacts the front surface of the display panel around the periphery of the aperture, a pair of opposed side lugs and a flanged top clip dimensioned to fit in the aperture and engage the periphery of the aperture and the rear surface of the display panel. The fixture is attached by inserting the flanged top clip and pressing rearwardly until the side lugs engage the display panel. The side lugs can have inclined bottom edges that bear against the bottom edge of the aperture, forcing the top clip against the opposite edge. This secures the attachment against downward pressure on the fixture and allows the fixture to be readily detached by upward pressure.

In the optical business, it is desirable to display a large variety of eyeglasses and eyeglass frames in a manner that is attractive and allows the prospective buyer easily to examine and compare a large number of different frames or eyeglasses. Advantageously, the frames or eyeglasses are supported such that they are readily seen from different perspectives. The supporting structure should not unduly interfere with the view of the frames or eyeglasses, and should make it easy for the customer to try them on, with minimal danger of upsetting other frames. A wide variety of such displays are known, examples being disclosed in the following U.S. patents:
______________________________________ 1,421,196 Fennimore 1922 3,229,944 Everburg 1966 3,924,750 Dunchock 1975 4,204,602 Dunchock 1980 5,018,253 Oppenheimer 1991 5,025,931 Berger 1991 5,056,668 Berger 1991 5,069,416 Ennis 1991 5,085,388 Cruetz 1992 5,144,345 Nyman 1992 5,176,262 Zoueki 1993 5,255,796 Josephson 1993 ______________________________________
Eyeglasses and/or frames have a peculiar structure, namely that needed to fit in place on the wearer's head. Thus, the frames have temple pieces to engage over a wearer's ears pivotally coupled to a lens support that typically has spaced pads to fit the bridge of the nose. These aspects are common to frames without lenses, sample frames with plain glass lenses, finished eyeglasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, goggles and the like, and the present invention is applicable to all these types, as well as other articles having similar needs or attributes.
It may be desirable to display frames with the temple pieces folded wholly or partly closed against the lens frame, or alternatively, folded open to the position they occupy in use. The fixtures supporting the frames should admit of such alternatives, and should also be arranged to hold the frames in an attractive array. Potential purchasers typically make their selection of eyeglass frames very carefully, and an attractive but unobtrusive supporting fixture is important. While the eyeglass and eyeglass frame displays disclosed in the foregoing patents include a variety of different types of display structures, it would still be desirable to improve on the supporting structures to provide a display system that is more sturdy, light weight, simple but versatile, unobtrusive, attractive, inexpensive and easy to install. It would further be desirable to provide a security system for eyeglasses or eyeglass frames when displayed on supporting structures that secures the frames to the supporting structures such that the frames cannot be casually upset, for example when reaching for an adjacent frame in a compact array.

Eyeglass and eyeglass frame display fixture and system


An input apparatus (2000) includes a motion detection unit (2020) and an input recognition unit (2040). The motion detection unit (2020) detects motion of an object by using a captured image including the object. Here, the detected motion of the object is motion of the object in a period defined based on a result of detection by a sensor attached to the body of a user of the input apparatus (2000). The input recognition unit (2040) recognizes input to an information processing apparatus based on the detected motion of the object.

A technique has been developed in which an action such as a gesture input performed on a space by a user is imaged by a camera, a generated captured image is analyzed, and thus the user's input operation on an information processing apparatus is recognized. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a menu screen is displayed on the palm or the menu screen is changed according to a gesture of the palm of a user (for example, a gesture of opening the palm).
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique of performing input by using a virtual keyboard displayed on a head mounted display. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which the virtual keyboard is fixed to an object on a real space, and thus a position of the virtual keyboard is not changed even if the head of a person wearing the head mounted display is moved.

Input apparatus, input method, and program


The present invention provides the capability to use customized procedures to manipulate and control objects in graphic implementations. It provides externalizes much of the underlying object manipulation functionality. A customized procedure is executed at various "trigger" points including: the expiration of a specified period of time; the opening or closing of a window; or, when input from a mouse input device is received. There are several different types of mouse events: mouse button down; mouse move with button down; mouse move with no button down; and mouse button up. A graphic object associated with a customized procedure that is triggered by a mouse event is called a "button object." The customized procedure associated with a button object has four parameters: buttonobj, hitobj, win, and eventinfo. The buttonobj parameter refers to the graphic object having a button procedure that is currently being executed. The hitobj parameter refers to the graphic object that was selected triggering the mouse event. The present invention provides a tree-like organization for grouping its graphic objects. If the selected object does not have an associated button procedure, the tree-like structure is traversed upward to find an object that does have an associated button procedure. The win parameter identifies the window that the mouse event occurred in. The eventinfo parameter points to a record containing information pertaining to the mouse event that triggered the procedure execution. A customized procedure driven by a mouse event transforms a graphic object into a "button" object.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of manipulating graphic objects.
2. Background Art
Database management systems (DBMS) have been developed to address informational needs by providing tools to define, store and retrieve data. For example, a relational database management system (RDBMS) provides the ability to structure information into relations, or tables, and relating tables using join columns.
Tools to externalize the information contained in a DBMS include forms and report generation tools, for example. Prior art database manipulations using forms and report generation tools were accomplished by invoking procedures that execute steps to manipulate the DBMS information.
For example, a forms tool provides the ability to define an output layout that includes textual fields such as prompt and data fields. A form can display data. Further, a form can provide an ability to modify data by modifying the textual representation of the data and/or specifying operations for modifying data in the DBMS. Procedures associated with a form can provide the ability to manipulate data in a DBMS.
The form and report generation tools are used to communicate information in a textual format. Thus, these tools cannot provide an ability to represent (e.g., display or input) data in graphical form. Further, these tools cannot provide the ability to modify the data by modifying the graphical representation of the data.
Prior art graphical applications can provide basic graphic tools. However, these prior art graphical applications do not provide an ability to manipulate a database using objects in a graphic environment. Prior art manipulation of objects in a graphic environment has required the generation of a library of routines written in a programming language such as C. Further, it has resulted in a set of rules for manipulating objects that are not flexible.
A prior art system, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,013 issued to Robert M. Dunn on Mar. 14, 1989, implements an interactive rule based system to enable problem solutions to be generated in schematic diagram form. The system of Dunn permits a designer to create libraries of functions and icons for use in the problem solving process.
Another prior art method, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,992 issued to Robert E. Cunningham, et al. on Aug. 20, 1991, is an interactive method of developing user manipulable graphic elements. It is a system for generating a graphic interface and then building an application "inward" from the interface.
A further prior art system, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,470 issued to Edwin D. Trautman on Jun. 9, 1992, implements an interactive record system for automatically indexing a set of data obtained from a number of internal and external sources. The system allows data events and data objects to be associated with each other. An index of data objects is generated including marker means for individually marking data events. Actuators can be defined that include means for bounding interactive areas on a display screen that can be activated by touch of a cursor positioning icon.
A prior art method of specifying a user interface for a data base is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,477 issued to Sytze T. Koopmans on Jun. 9, 1992. A panel definition phase displays a pop up window with a plurality of prompts for specifying the form of a subsequent pull down window which becomes part of a panel interface to a specified application program and is available to a run time user. The invention allow run time applications to be customized with graphical interface options.
Still another prior art system, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,556 issued to Jean-Marie Hullot, et al. on Sep. 8, 1992, provides a graphic user interface for a computer in which representations of application programs can be placed in a reserved area so that they will not be overlapped by work windows. The application icons are guided into specific "docks" in the reserved area. Removal of icons from the docking area is limited.
Yet another prior art method of providing display buttons to access context sensitive help information is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,155,806 and 5,157,700 issued to Anthony Hoeber, et al. on Oct. 13, 1992 and Oct. 20, 1992, respectively. The system is intended to be used in a display system having object oriented graphic interfaces. The system teaches the use of windows that include text, icons, and buttons that correspond to functions that are to be executed by the central processing unit. A cursor positioning device is used to activate a button, generating a help description.
Each of the foregoing prior art systems does not provide customized PL/SQL procedures to manipulate and control graphic objects.


Discussed is an apparatus for recovering a motion vector to perform error concealment on received video stream, including: a first selecting unit selecting a first motion vector from a first slice that is above a lost slice, and selecting a second motion vector from a second slice that is below the lost slice; a second selecting unit determining at least one first orthogonal motion vector that is orthogonal to the first motion vector, and determining at least one second orthogonal motion vector that is orthogonal to the second motion vector; and a recovering unit computing a lost motion vector, comprised in the lost slice, using a weighted average of valid motion vectors, wherein the valid motion vectors include at least one of the first motion vector, the second motion vector, the first orthogonal motion vector, and the second orthogonal motion vector.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for recovering spatial motion vector of received video stream.
Discussion of the Related Art
Mobile devices are becoming more prevalent and complex. As a result, the wireless communication aspect of these devices is becoming increasingly significant. At the same time, video demands in terms of availability and quality are also on the uprise. High definition (HD) video is the standard of choice for meeting today's video demands. However, HD video is characterized by high data rates. HD video compressed using H.264 can be wirelessly streamed via 802.11 wireless networks. However, such wireless networks are prone to packet losses, which result in degraded perceptual quality of video. It is thus important to perform error concealment in order to improve the visual quality of degraded video.

Apparatus and method for recovering spatial motion vector


A microwave digital communication system PSK-modulates a microwave carrier by using a main signal and, further, frequency-modulates it by using a service channel (SC) signal for monitoring and controlling the system. An intermediate relay station employing a space diversity reception system converts a received microwave into an intermediate frequency (IF) to extract the SC signal, and converts the IF signal into a microwave to transmit, thus performing heterodyne relay. The intermediate relay station generates a phase error signal corresponding to the frequency deviation of the IF received signal, by using the IF received signal and an IF reference signal having a fixed frequency equal to the carrier frequency of the IF received signal, and extracts the phase error signal as an SC signal. The SC signal is inputted as a control signal to a VCO for generating a receiving-side local oscillation signal so that the frequency of that follows the variation of the frequency deviation of the received microwave. Thereby, the IF received signal is phase-locked by the IF reference signal, thus suppressing the frequency modulation component of the IF received signal caused by the SC signal. Because the intermediate relay station causes no increase in the frequency modulation factor while adding an SC signal, this relay station facilitates easily regeneration of the carrier performed by the receiving terminal station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intermediate relay station and, more particularly, to an intermediate relay station which employs a heterodyne relay system and drops and inserts a frequency-modulated SC signal (service channel signal).
2. Description of the Related Art
A microwave communication system employing transmitting and receiving terminal stations and intermediate relay stations therebetween needs to transmit a service channel signal (hereinafter, referred to as an SC signal), besides a main signal, in order to monitor and control the intermediate relay stations.
An intermediate relay station in a heterodyne-relay microwave communication system relays a main signal as follows: an intermediate relay station converts a microwave received from the preceding station into an intermediate frequency, and then converts the intermediate frequency into a microwave to transmit to the succeeding station.
This system does not regenerate data by converting a main signal into a baseband signal and, therefore, is also called a non-regenerative relay system. To monitor and control the intermediate relay stations, this system needs to drop or insert, at the intermediate relay stations, a monitor/control signal, called an SC signal, that is sent from the preceding station, without resorting to the main signal. Therefore, the intermediate relay stations of this system are provided with means for extracting and adding an SC signal. The transmitting terminal station superposes an SC signal by frequency-modulation onto a microwave carrier which has been PSK-modulated by digital signals of a main signal. When receiving the microwave, each intermediate relay station converts the microwave into an intermediate frequency signal (an IF received signal) in order to extract an SC signal, which is then used for a predetermined purpose. Each intermediate relay station adds a new SC signal (which may include a part of the extracted SC signal at that station) to the microwave by frequency modulation during conversion of the IF received signal into a sending microwave signal. The IF received signal used for the frequency modulation contains a frequency-modulation component corresponding to the SC signal added by the preceding station, as well as a PSK-modulation component corresponding to the main signal. Therefore, if each intermediate relay station directly uses such an IF received signal for conversion into a sending microwave, the frequency modulation (FM) factor of the microwave is increased by the SC signal added by each intermediate relay station. In other words, as the microwave is relayed by the plurality of intermediate relay stations to the receiving terminal station, the FM factor and the frequency deviation of the microwave carrier become greater. Although the intermediate relay stations and the receiving terminal station each have a PLL (phase-locked loop) function for carrier regeneration and data demodulation, the PLL function fails to perform, undesirably if the frequency deviation of the microwave received is excessively increased, thus making carrier regeneration or the like difficult.
In many cases adopting the above mentioned communication system, the intermediate relay stations employ the SD(space diversity) reception system which combines waves received through two radiowave propagation paths, in order to enhance the received signal which has been degraded by variation of the radiowave propagation characteristics, such as fading. Such intermediate relay stations should also be able to optimally combine two separately-received waves, transmit an SC signal having a sufficiently large bandwidth and add no FM factor increment.

Intermediate relay station of a digital microwave communication system using service channel for monitoring and controlling space and/or time diversity, heterodyne relay, phase control, frequency control, with phase shift keying modulation


A diol from which a resin material having high processability and a high refractive index can be manufactured, a polycarbonate resin and a polyester resin which is a polymer of the diol, and a molded article and an optical element formed of the polymer. The diol is represented by the general formula (1) shown below; the polycarbonate resin and the polyester resin are polymers thereof; and the molded article and the optical element are formed of the polymers,

Since resin materials having a high refractive index have higher processability than conventional glass materials, extensive studies are made to apply them to various applications such as eyeglass lenses, lenses for cameras and the like, lenses for optical disks, fθ lenses, optical elements of image display media, optical films, films, substrates, various types of optical filters, prisms, optical elements for communication, and the like.
In particular, resin materials having a fluorene structure are known to have a relatively high refractive index and a relatively low birefringence, and can also be expected to exhibit a high heat resistance, so such resin materials are variously being studied. Japanese Patent No. 4196326 discloses a low-birefringence polycarbonate resin having a 9,9′-diphenylfluorene structure and excelling in heat resistance and mechanical strength.
On the other hand, it is broadly known that naphthalene structures can make resin materials to have a higher refractive index than fluorene structures, and there is stated that a polyvinylnaphthalene has a refractive index of the d line of about 1.68, and is one of the polymers having a high refractive index among common polymers. A naphthalene skeleton has a high symmetry having its planar structure and a long conjugated system. Hence, introduction of a naphthalene structure into a polymer can also be expected to improve mechanical properties of a polymer.
From these backgrounds, resin materials having a naphthalene structure incorporated are variously being studied. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-316190 discloses a novel aromatic diamine to become a raw material for an aromatic polyamide resin and a polyimide resin having a dimethylnaphthalene skeleton and excelling in mechanical strength, heat resistance and processability.
There is a spirobifluorene as a molecule having a structure by which a higher refractive index and a lower birefringence can be expected because of having a higher number of conjugated aromatic rings in a molecule thereof and a higher symmetry of the molecular structure than the conventional 9,9′-diphenylfluorene structure. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-089585 discloses a resin having a heterocyclic structure having such a spiro carbon as a unit skeleton.
Optical elements are designed utilizing such resins.

Diol, and polycarbonate resin or polyester resin

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 each independently denote one of a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group having 1 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms; Q denotes one of an oxyethylene group, a thioethylene group and a single bond.


A pop-up stopper includes a main body having an inside provided with a receiving space and a periphery provided with a plurality of through holes, a control unit removably mounted on a top of the main body and including a top cap and a plurality of connecting members, and a bottom cap removably mounted on a bottom of the main body. Each of the connecting members includes at least one upper elastic plate having a protrusion and at least one lower elastic plate having a protrusion. Thus, the stopper has draining and straining functions to achieve a sanitary effect. In addition, the control unit and the bottom cap can be mounted on and detached from the main body easily and quickly, thereby facilitating a user assembling and disassembling the stopper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stopper and, more particularly, to a pop-up stopper for a bathroom, sink and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional pop-up stopper comprises a cup-shaped barrel having an inside provided with a receiving space and a periphery provided with a plurality of through holes each connected to the receiving space. The stopper can be mounted in a sink. The sink has a bottom provided with a mounting chamber which has a top provided with a stepped portion and a bottom connected to a drain pipe. The barrel of the stopper is mounted in the mounting chamber of the sink and has a top provided with a protruding flange resting on the stepped portion of the sink. Thus, the water in the sink in turn flows through the receiving space and the through holes of the barrel into the drain pipe and is drained from the drain pipe. In addition, larger items, such as food dregs and the like, are stopped by the barrel and stored in the receiving space of the barrel.

Pop-up stopper having draining and straining functions


A transmission with a variator, notably for automotive vehicles, is disclosed. The transmission is constituted by a variator which can be disconnected by engaging a constant-ratio direct drive. The engagement system is an either-or device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission for automotive vehicles and refers more particularly to a transmission unit comprising a variator and differential group used in combination with an internal combustion engine. The axis common to the engine and the primary shaft of the variator as well as the axis of its secondary shaft are most often arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Although numerous improvements have been made on this type of transmission, it still presents drawbacks with respect to energy economy. For reasons of space, cost and efficiency, variators usually have a range of ratios in the order of 4 or 5, while the range of ratios should be in the order of 6 to 8. Indeed, such an expanded range of ratios permits more efficient operation of most of the internal combustion engines used in automotive vehicles.
Also, efforts to improve the belt's resistance to wear cause a certain amount of over-dimensioning aimed at reducing the frequency of replacement and, on the other hand, the overall efficiency of the variator is not always satisfactory.


A method and system within a data processing system are disclosed for directly accessing code during a process by taking a trace by way of using an interruption. According to the present invention, the processor is programmed to generate a trace interrupt after each branch, or at the end of each basic block from the current process. This allows generation of exactly the same number of interruptions as would be produced by an instrumentation approach but without having to know where the basic blocks are in advance. By programming the performance monitor feature to count instructions, the exact size of each basic block is known. At each interrupt, the address of the beginning of the next basic block is saved which is the address where the interruption came from. Tracing information for the previous basic block including its address and its size (the current value of a counter) is created. If the current process is a process to be traced, the tracing information is stored in a trace buffer, the counter is reset to zero returning back to the process from the interrupt.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for data processing and in particular to an improved method and system for instruction level tracing. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for direct access to code by taking a trace by way of an interruption without having to allocate any memory or modify the code being traced.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, code debugging in a data processing or computer system can be accomplish by either inserting calls to a tracing code routine (i.e. instrumenting) in the code to be traced, or using the tracing facility of the system to single step through the code (i.e., generate an interruption after the execution of each instruction). When using the instrumentation technique by inserting calls to a tracing code routine, the first step of the routine is typically to locate the basic blocks of the code to be traced which is usually a non-trivial and slow operation especially on data processing systems with dynamic branches like the PowerPC line of microprocessors available from IBM Microelectronics. Additionally, when using the tracing facility of the machine, tracing becomes quite slow due to the fact that the flow of instruction is interrupted each instruction due to single stepping through the code.
Also, when utilizing the instrumentation approach, it is always necessary for the tracing code routine to allocate memory for each basic block traced. At the very least, the instruction replaced by a branch to the tracing code routine has to be allocated and saved to memory. The amount of memory necessary to complete this task may be considerable, mainly because all the basic blocks in the workload to be traced have to be instrumented because it is not known in advance which one will be executed. Lastly, on the PowerPC.TM. line of microprocessors available from IBM Microelectronics (e.g., the PowerPC.TM. 604) there is also a limit of 26 bits that can be used for branch displacements. This causes limitations on what can be instrumented with big executables.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and system that does not have any limitation on the number of basic blocks that can be traced. In particular, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and system which utilizes tracing by way of an interruption to directly access code without having to allocate memory.

Method and system for software instruction level tracing in a data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


An oil supply structure of a continuously variable valve timing apparatus includes: a first oil filter to receive and filter oil from a main gallery; a first oil control valve to receive oil from the first oil filter; a first continuously variable valve timing apparatus to receive oil from the first oil control valve; a second oil filter to receive and filter oil from the main gallery; a second oil control valve to receive oil from the second oil filter; a second continuously variable valve timing apparatus to receive oil from the second oil control valve; and an oil supply line in a cylinder head, that fluidly connects the main gallery, the oil filters, the oil control valves, and the continuously variable valve timing apparatuses. The cylinder head includes the oil supply line, and various holes for the components of the oil supply structure to be disposed therein.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oil supply structure of a continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) apparatus, and a cylinder head employing such an oil supply structure.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Optimal operation of intake and exhaust valves depends on rotation speed of the engine. That is, optimal opening/closing timing, and optimal lift, of the valves depends on the rotation speed. A continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) apparatus enables different valve timings depending on the engine speed. Typically, a CVVT apparatus is operated by oil hydraulic pressure, and its precision can be improved by removing impurities from the oil.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Oil supply structure for continuous variable valve timing apparatus and cylinder head employing the same


Defect analysis of an integrated circuit die is enhanced using a method and system that make possible the detection of defect-related heat generation in the die. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor die having a liquid crystal layer is analyzed by detecting a liquid crystal phase change caused by heating the die. The heating causes a first circuit region and a second circuit region to effect a separate phase change in corresponding areas of the liquid crystal layer. A detector is adapted to use time-lapsed analysis to detect the liquid crystal phase change in the area corresponding to the second circuit region before the corresponding areas cease to be separately detectable.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices and their fabrication and, more particularly, to semiconductor devices and their manufacture involving techniques for analyzing and debugging circuitry within an integrated circuit.
The semiconductor industry has recently experienced technological advances that have permitted dramatic increases in circuit density and complexity, and equally dramatic decreases in power consumption and package sizes. Present semiconductor technology now permits single-chip microprocessors with many millions of transistors, operating at speeds of hundreds of millions of instructions per second to be packaged in relatively small, air-cooled semiconductor device packages. A by-product of such high-density and high functionality in semiconductor devices has been the demand for increased numbers of external electrical connections to be present on the exterior of the die and on the exterior of the semiconductor packages which receive the die, for connecting the packaged device to external systems, such as a printed circuit board.
As the manufacturing processes for semiconductor devices and integrated circuits (IC) increase in difficulty, methods for testing and debugging these devices become increasingly important. Not only is it important to ensure that individual chips are functional, it is also important to ensure that batches of chips perform consistently. In addition, the ability to detect a defective manufacturing process early is helpful for reducing the number of defective devices manufactured.
One IC analysis method involves using a liquid crystal material. Liquid crystalline materials have both crystalline solid and liquid characteristics. These characteristics enable their use for thermally analyzing an integrated circuit for defects. When the liquid crystal material is heated, its properties change. These changes include, for example, a coloring change and an ordering transition. Available defect analysis methods use the changes as indications of temperature in an integrated circuit. Detecting the temperature and temperature variation of an IC is useful for detecting circuit defects that result in excessive current drain and, therefore generate excessive heat. By forming a liquid crystal layer on an integrated circuit, the response of the liquid crystal can be monitored and used to detect such xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d that are an indication of a defect.
One type of liquid crystalline material useful for defect analysis is calamatic liquid crystal material having nematic ordering. Calamatic liquid crystals have long, rod-shaped molecules, and those having nematic ordering change under temperature variation from a nematic to an isotropic state. In the nematic state, the liquid crystal alters the polarization of light incident upon it. When the liquid crystal changes to an isotropic state, the polarization of incident light is no longer affected. This change in the effect upon incident light is used to detect a temperature change in the liquid crystal material. The transition temperature at which the change occurs is dependent upon the particular characteristics of the material.
Typical analysis methods that use liquid crystals involve forming a liquid crystal layer on an integrated circuit, heating the circuit with an external source, and observing a change in the state of the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal layer is often formed by adding a solvent, such as pentane, to the liquid crystal material and then applying the material to the surface of an integrated circuit device with an eyedropper. The solvent evaporates, leaving the liquid crystal material behind. Other liquid crystal application methods include applying liquid crystal with a spreading strip, or applying a drop of liquid crystal on the chip and spinning the chip to spread out the liquid crystal. In addition, a liquid crystal emulsion may be used in place of the liquid crystal mixed with a solvent.
Once the liquid crystal has been applied, the integrated circuit is then heated with an external heater. The heater is used to bring the integrated circuit to within about 0.1 Kelvin of the transition temperature of the liquid crystal material. A microscope is directed at the liquid crystal layer. A suitable microscope includes a polarized light source and a linear polarizer (analyzer) in front of an eyepiece or camera. The integrated circuit is electrically stimulated, thereby heating a defect in the circuit and raising the liquid crystal material over the defect to its transition temperature. The liquid crystal material changes from nematic to isotropic phase, which is evidenced by a dark spot that is detected by the microscope.
One problem with currently used methods for liquid crystal IC analysis is associated with the detection of a defect-generated liquid crystal phase change when other heat sources, such as other defects or intrinsic heat sources, interfere with the defect-driven phase change. For example, intrinsic heat sources, such as phase lock loops (PLL) and crystal oscillators, generate heat during normal operation that tends to overwhelm defect-related heat sources in certain types of ICs. These intrinsic heat sources make liquid crystal analysis of defective ICs difficult because the intrinsic heat causes the liquid crystal to change phase at such a rate that liquid crystal phase changes due to defects are difficult or impossible to detect using conventional methods. These intrinsic heat sources make liquid crystal defect analysis particularly difficult when they are located in close proximity to the defect being sought.
The present invention is directed to a method and system for analyzing an IC die involving defect detection using liquid crystal. The defect detection can used to detect defects in dies having intrinsic heat sources that make conventional liquid crystal analysis difficult or even impossible. The present invention is exemplified in a number of implementations and applications, some of which are summarized below.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor die having a liquid crystal layer is analyzed using time-lapsed analysis to detect a phase change of the liquid crystal caused by heat generated in the die. The heat causes a first circuit region and a second circuit region to generate heat and effect separate phase changes in corresponding areas of the liquid crystal layer. The first and second circuit regions are located in such a manner that the separate phase changes are not separately viewable using real-time analysis. A detection device, such as a videocamera, is adapted to use time-lapsed analysis to separately detect the phase changes of the liquid crystal and provide detection data for analysis of a defect in the die.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The figures and detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

Time-lapsed IC defect analysis using liquid crystal


A wrap-around source/drain trench contact structure is described. A plurality of semiconductor fins extend from a semiconductor substrate. A channel region is disposed in each fin between a pair of source/drain regions. An epitaxial semiconductor layer covers the top surface and sidewall surfaces of each fin over the source/drain regions, defining high aspect ratio gaps between adjacent fins. A pair of source/drain trench contacts are electrically coupled to the epitaxial semiconductor layers. The source/drain trench contacts comprise a conformal metal layer and a fill metal. The conformal metal layer conforms to the epitaxial semiconductor layers. The fill metal comprises a plug and a barrier layer, wherein the plug fills a contact trench formed above the fins and the conformal metal layer, and the barrier layer lines the plug to prevent interdiffusion of the conformal metal layer material and plug material.

The limits of planar transistors have constrained efforts to increase integrated circuit performance while decreasing the size of devices. Recently developed fin-based transistors enable denser packing of device components and greater current control with the use of wrap-around dual- and tri-gates. Use of multiple fins enables further tailoring of device specifications and increased performance. However, source/drain contacts for multi-fin devices are typically formed over the top edges of the fins, which can lead to high resistance due to current crowding at the fin tips.

Wrap-around trench contact structure and methods of fabrication


A symbol detector (110) for generating data symbols from a received signal having multiple signal voltages comprises an analog-to-digital converter (115) for converting the multiple signal voltages to digital values and peak and valley counters (310, 315) coupled to the analog-to-digital converter (115) for tracking the digital values to determine peak and valley values associated with high and low voltages, respectively, of the received signal. The symbol detector (110) further comprises calculation circuitry (120) coupled to the peak and valley counters (310, 315) for calculating upper, lower, and center thresholds in accordance with the peak and valley values and a decoder (125) coupled to the analog-to-digital converter (115) and the calculation circuitry (120) for generating the data symbols in accordance with the digital values and the upper, lower, and center thresholds.

Digital communication systems, such as selective call paging systems, have utilized binary digital signalling formats for many years. When such digital signalling formats have been utilized, the digital information has been modulated onto the carrier using modulation techniques such as frequency shift keying (FSK), wherein the digital information is directly modulated onto the carrier. Within the receiver, the frequency shift keyed carrier is demodulated and further processed to provide a stream of digital data. Such modulation and demodulation techniques, while effective at lower data bit rates, such as data bit rates below approximately 6000 bits per second, are not effective at higher data bit rates due to synchronization problems in simulcast systems. As a result, other modulation techniques are required to enable higher data throughput at lower symbol rates.
One such modulation technique which allows higher data throughput at lower symbol rates is a multi-level frequency modulation technique, such as four-level frequency modulation (FM). As compared to conventional frequency shift keyed modulation, four-level FM allows twice the data throughput for a given data symbol rate. In conventional four-level FM receivers, the carrier is received and converted to analog voltages. The analog voltages then are compared to pre-programmed threshold levels to allow a determination of which of four data symbols should be generated for each analog voltage. Although this demodulation technique provides a stream of digital data, the data may not always be recovered accurately because the pre-programmed threshold levels do not allow for variations in the received carrier which result in voltage offsets. As further offsets in the received carrier occur, greater voltage offsets are encountered and incorrect data symbols can be generated, possibly causing erroneous recovery of information from the radio signal. Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus, for use with multi-level signalling formats, for dynamically varying the threshold levels utilized for recovery of data symbols in response to variations in the voltage offsets caused by voltage variations in the received carrier.

Method and apparatus for generating threshold levels in a radio communication device for receiving four-level signals


A support element includes a bore; a boss surrounding the bore and having an offset surface at an angle to the bore axis; and a counterbore formed opposite the boss relative to the bore and substantially coaxial with the bore, having a counterbore surface substantially orthogonal to the bore axis and a counterbore angled surface at an angle to the bore axis and corresponding to the offset surface. A bolt, including a head portion received in the counterbore and a threaded portion received at least partially within the bore, couples an illumination device to the support element, such that the illumination device is capable of being pivoted about the bore axis and a transverse axis orthogonal to the bore axis.

Standard traffic drums are generally known in the art. Some traffic drums include features such as a pivoting light for enhanced visibility and storage properties. Other traffic drums include a mounting interface for a tire section for enhanced drum stability. However, conventional pivoting mountings found on existing traffic drums hinder pivoting operations of the light and cause drum damage during pivoting operations. These conventional pivoting mounts induce stresses into a drum upper surface, drum handle or light mount during a pivoting process, or when the pivoting mount is disposed in a pivoted or deployed orientation. The accessories or integrated features available on these and other known traffic drums do not safely and purposefully address these issues. The present disclosure seeks to overcome some limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present disclosure is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.