A glass bead separating apparatus and method are disclosed, for use with a slurry blast cabinet. The system is capable of continuous operation, so that glass beads which are broken and undersized can be separated out of the slurry along with debris from the blasting operation, on a continuous basis while blasting takes place, and the slurry can be continuously returned to the blasting cabinet in the purified condition. Used slurry is withdrawn from a hopper at the bottom of the blasting cabinet, pumped up to the top of the separator apparatus and delivered through a nozzle over an inclined screen sized to pass everything but reuseable, whole glass beads. The reuseable beads are collected in a bin, while the remainder passes down onto another, much finer screen which retains nearly everything but the liquid slurry medium, which is preferably water. The relatively clean water drops into a holding tank at the bottom of the separator apparatus, with an overflow weir provided to maintain a preselected water level. The overflow water continuously flows into the collection bin where it is mixed with the reusable beads, and a reconstituted slurry is delivered back to the slurry blast cabinet by gravity flow. Some of the clear water in the holding tank is pumped up to a set of spray nozzles over the inclined screen, and is sprayed onto the slurry to help wash debris off the beads and through the screen. This water falls back into the holding tank.

The invention relates to slurry blasting equipment, and more particularly to a separator apparatus and method for removing broken and undersized glass beads and blasting debris from a blasting slurry on a continuous basis while blasting is in progress.
There has been no effective method of separating broken down and undersized glass beads from the useable beads while in a blasting slurry, such as is used in many cases for the surface treatment of materials such as metals. In a dry state, separation of non-useable from useable glass beads has been accomplished rather easily, but separation has been much difficult for a slurry mix of glass beads and liquid, which is normally water. Until the present invention described below, there simply was no known method of efficiently accomplishing such separation, particularly on a continuous basis for supporting a slurry blasting operation.
Other separating apparatus is well known. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 158,808, 1,704,115 and 4,012,316. Some of the prior art discloses classification apparatus including inclined screens, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,410,340, which is directed to a device for washing and grading sand. U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,316 discloses an apparatus for wet classification of solid particles, including a pump for recirculating the fluid.
An article in the British Journal of Applied Physics, Volume III, October 1952, Page 311, entitled "Production and Separation of Small Glass Spheres", discloses a method for separating and classifying small glass bead, but the method is very different from the present invention described below.


An engine is operated with air-fuel ratio F/B control interrupted, by regarding an alcohol concentration value ALC1 inputted from outside as a tentative concentration value, and by detecting the rotation-speed fluctuation amount of an engine, the appropriateness of the tentative concentration value is determined. In the case where it is determined that the tentative concentration value is appropriate, an estimated alcohol concentration value ALC2 stored in a storage means is replaced by the tentatively changed alcohol concentration value ALC1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine and more particularly to a control apparatus, for an internal combustion engine, that is provided with a function capable of appropriately estimating and updating the concentration of alcohol in a fuel for the internal combustion engine that utilizes an alcohol-containing fuel.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exists an automobile that is referred to as a so-called flexible fuel vehicle (referred to as FFV, hereinafter), which can travel with a mixed fuel composed of alcohol and gasoline at various ratios, in addition to gasoline. Alcohol is different from normal gasoline (mixed fuel) in the amount of contained carbon atoms; therefore, in supplying a mixed fuel composed of alcohol and gasoline to an internal combustion engine utilized in an FFV, it is required to adjust the fuel injection amount, in accordance with the alcohol concentration value of the fuel.
Accordingly, among such FFVs, there have been known a control apparatus in which the alcohol concentration value of a fuel is detected by an alcohol concentration sensor disposed in the fuel tank and a control apparatus in which an alcohol concentration is estimated through the correlation between the alcohol concentration value and the average value of air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficients that are calculated based on the air-fuel ratio in exhaust gasses. Moreover, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-60003 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-285971, there have been known control apparatuses that prevent the drivability (driving performance) and the exhaust gas performance from being impaired even in the case where the alcohol concentration sensor is abnormal.
That is to say, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-60003 proposes a method in which, in the case where an abnormality occurs in an alcohol concentration sensor, by forcibly giving an arbitrary concentration value before feedback control is started and detecting the optimum driving condition based on the value of change in the engine rotation speed, the optimum concentration value is estimated before feedback is started even in the case where an abnormality occurs in the alcohol concentration sensor.
Additionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-285971 proposes a method in which, in the case where the control apparatus for an engine is replaced, by utilizing a first fuel property representative value given from the outside and estimating/updating the alcohol concentration value, there is prevented deterioration in the movement performance of the internal combustion engine such as being unstartable or deterioration in the exhaust gas performance.
However, in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-60003, when, during concentration estimation before the feedback control (while the loop is opened), the feedback control is established, the foregoing concentration estimation is interrupted and feedback-controlled concentration estimation is started. In this situation, in the case where the feedback control is out of order, e.g., an abnormality exists in the feedback system, the open-loop concentration estimation is not completed and the feedback-controlled concentration estimation is not correctly performed, whereby an erroneous alcohol concentration value is estimated/updated; as a result, there has been a problem that, during open-loop driving, the drivability (driving performance) and the exhaust-gas performance of the vehicle are adversely affected.
Moreover, also in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-285971, there has been a problem that, in the case where an alcohol concentration value is updated during the feedback control and an abnormality exists in the feedback system, an erroneous alcohol concentration value is estimated/updated, as is the case with Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-60003. Still moreover, because, as a control value, an alcohol concentration value is updated and utilized based on a value given from the outside, there has been a problem that, when being erroneously updated, the alcohol concentration value cannot be restored. In other words, in the case where, because there actually exists no problem in an unupdated alcohol concentration value, e.g., there exists a problem in an item, other than the alcohol concentration value, such as a device, e.g., an injector or an ignition system, the driving condition of the vehicle does not become optimum even through the alcohol concentration value is updated, there has been a problem that, because the alcohol concentration value cannot be restored, solving of the problem with regard to the vehicle drivability is hindered.

Control apparatus for internal combustion engine


Disclosed is an energy collector system applicable to internal combustion engines. It may include: a) a collector of thermal energy from the exhaust gases; b) a thermal tank covered by helical tubes to gain heat by the exhaust gases; c) a heat exchanger; and d) an outer element capable of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, such as a closed Brayton cycle turbine, a Stirling engine, a Rankine turbine or an open loop air motor for converting mechanical energy (coupling the difference in rpm) into electrical energy with an electrical generator. The thermal energy collector may be composed of a heat exchanger that collects energy from the exhaust gases. The electrical energy generated may be used for driving a hybrid vehicle. The thermal tank is capable of storing energy as heat, as well.

The present invention is a new system that collects heat energy from the exhaust gases of a combustion engine and uses the collected thermal energy to operate hybrid vehicles or to drive the systems of a combustion engine such as the oil pump, fuel pump, water pump, alternator or the air conditioning or any other component or device that requires thermal, mechanical or electric energy. Thermal energy from the exhaust gases of combustion engines is collected in a thermal tank with phase change material to minimize the required volume and whose insulation minimizes energy losses. The connection between thermal tank and the internal combustion engine is via a heat exchanger by conduction or by convection, whichever makes a more efficient and secure setup, and minimize heat losses. Patent MX-a-2009-965 was previously obtained, for an energy collector system applicable to hybrid cars, it refers to a novel power system for hybrid vehicles in which, the energy supply is performed through a solar collector, the thermal energy is stored, and subsequently delivered to a conversion system that produces electrical energy by means of a Stirling engine, a closed cycle Brayton turbine or any other element capable of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, such as a Rankine turbine or an open cycle air engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,784 Hybrid electric propulsion system, mentions a hybrid vehicle with an external combustion engine, that works with external heat produced by liquid fuel and does not have any thermal energy storage, therefore it does not work based on heat energy recovered from combustion engines. This way, the differences with this document is that it uses fuel to generate heat, while the proposed invention uses the energy from the exhaust gases or residual heat, then stores the heat in a tank containing phase change material. Also, the way the connection is made between the thermal tank and the heat engine is different in the proposed invention. Another document that describes a thermal tank of similar characteristics to the one used and developed by ourselves is patent Mx/a/2008/015984 which led us to see the advantages of this invention compared to the others. The invention described herein uses energy from exhaust gases making it totally different to those above mentioned devices.
In 1971 the Department of Energy (DOE) began a research on the use of Stirling engines in cars. Together with other institutions and companies such as NASA, General Motors (GM) and Stirling Thermal Motors (STM) and created prototypes of vehicles with Stirling engines and mechanical drives all the way to the tires. Technical reports show that these vehicles had properties similar to conventional cars of that era. The latest prototype of those investigations seems to be a Chevrolet Lumina '95, in a hybrid configuration (serial hybrid) a Stirling engine from STM, which generates electricity but the power source used is gasoline. Despite the earlier success, this prototype did not meet basic requirements and especially did not achieve the expected performance. During the DOE's program, research was made on the use of alternative fuels such as natural gas, however, they do not mention the use of exhaust gasses nor waste heat from any industrial process, and therefore the technical reports make it totally different to the invention presented here.
Furthermore FR 2905728 A1 and patent pending in the USPTO 20110041491, both for the inventor Thévenod, Frederic, is based on the use of a heat engine that uses the heat source with a working chamber of variable volume where reception power is for heating the working gas outside the chamber in contact with the external heat source in which the heat engine operates on a two stroke cycle in which a discharge phase, compression phase and transfer phase outgoing continue in each other in a single motion reduction chamber volume. This being completely different from the invention presented here, where energy is collected on phase change from solid to liquid in a heat insulated tank for thermal energy to be delivered through a heat exchanger preferably to a Brayton turbine driving an electric generator which charges the batteries of a hybrid vehicle. Moreover, the French Patent 2359974 and German Patent DE2729998, both of inventor Brecheisen Adell Warren refer to an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger relief mechanism, so it can work even if the exhaust gases' total energy would fall below a given value. This invention integrates to the assembly constituted by an internal combustion engine associated to an auxiliary drive device a turbocharger that receives an assistance of drive when the regime falls below a determined value. This being completely different from the invention presented here, where energy is collected on phase change from solid to liquid in a heat insulated tank for thermal energy to be delivered through a heat exchanger preferably to a Brayton turbine driving an electric generator which charges the batteries of a hybrid vehicle.
French Patent 2502692 proposes a heat recovery system for the thermal energy of the exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine. It is based on convection of a liquid, that can be water flowing through a spiral tubing around the exhaust into a thermal reservoir. This system is not based on the use of the phase change between solid and liquid media to minimize the volume required. This also has the limitation that only low temperature levels can be used, since otherwise, high pressures would be obtained. Also this patent does not involve any engine that uses the recuperated heat to aid in moving the vehicle itself or to drive its accessories. As can be seen the present invention differs fundamentally from this solution.
French Patent 2921689 "Heat recovery device for an exhaust system with integrated heat exchanger for recovering heat of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine" discloses a heat recovery system based on convection, where a liquid, which may be water flowing through a pipe in a spiral around the exhaust passage transfers the heat to a thermal container. This system, as can be seen, is not based on the phase change material from solid to liquid to minimize storage volume. This solution is also limited to the value of the temperature at which the thermal energy is stored as the vapor pressure of the liquid leads to that the values are limited to the evaporation temperature of such liquid.
Patent application US 20160082949 A1 "System for improving exhaust gas purifying performance of diesel hybrid electric vehicle" explains a system for improving exhaust gas purification performance in which an SCR catalyst is equipped in an exhaust line to reduce nitrogen oxide within exhaust gas. This system involves a hybrid control unit to turn off an engine for the vehicle to go into hybrid driving mode and another control unit to determine if there is a request of an engine off from the hybrid control unit. However, the difference from this patent is the use of a phase change from solid to liquid in a heat-insulated tank for energy to be delivered through a system involving a turbine propelled by heat energy from the exhaust gases of a combustion engine and uses the collected thermal energy to operate a hybrid vehicle, in which the system can be coupled with that of a series or parallel hybrid vehicle. Thus, this patent is different from some others including steam turbine solutions such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,997,080 B2 Internal combustion engine with auxiliary steam power recovered from waste heat. A combination internal combustion and steam engine includes a cylinder having a piston mounted for reciprocation therein with an internal combustion chamber and a steam chamber in the cylinder adjacent; U.S. Pat. No. 8,661,817 B2 (High efficiency dual cycle internal combustion steam engine and method. The coolant in the cooling jacket of a dual cycle internal combustion steam engine is intentionally maintained at an elevated temperature that may typically range from about 225° F.-300° F. or more.) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,448,440 B2 (Method and apparatus for achieving higher thermal efficiency in a steam engine or steam expander. A high order of thermal efficiency is achieved in a steam engine or steam expander having a piston clearance that approximates zero together with a negligible amount of compression). Also, this invention is different from U.S. Pat. No. 9,276,188 B2 (Thermoelectric-based power generation systems and methods. Some embodiments provide a waste heat recovery apparatus including an exhaust tube having a cylindrical outer shell configured to contain a flow of exhaust fluid; a first heat exchanger extending through a first region of the exhaust tube, the first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cylindrical outer shell) and similar ones using thermo-electrical components such as Peltier, Seebeck and Thomson, which are different from a Brayton Cycle turbine due to this patent achieving higher efficiency and a more compact solution.
There are several patents that mention the use of the Rankine cycle and the exhaust gas recovery:
Patent publication DE102011003607 A1 by BMW claims a method to produce mechanical power of an expansion machine using the heat of the exhaust gas of the vehicle with a feed pump on circuit run in an evaporation-pressure medium to evaporate a fluid and then to the machine for cooling and expansion in order to create mechanical work. Also, Patent US 20130174544 A1 describes a system to obtain a electric supercharged hybrid drive mechanism by means of a Rankine cycle with a heat exchanger with liquid-phase medium which is water, turbine, pipes system, a condenser and a pump. Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 8,683,801 B2 claims a method involving a Rankine cycle of heat recovery in which the system includes a fluid going to a heat exchanger coupled to a heat source of an internal combustion engine with a conversion device in the fluid's path.
However, the proposed patent is different to all of them due to the use of a Brayton cycle turbine and a thermal tank with a phase change material to recover energy from the exhaust gas as by using this cycle there are improvements in important factors such as efficiency and the reduced size of the system.

Energy collector system applicable to combustion engines

INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES S.A. DE C.V.


An over-sampling analog-to-digital converter using a current switching circuit 102 as a local digital-to-analog converter, wherein a difference between the output currents Isig and Iq of a voltage-to-current converter circuit 101 and a current switching circuit is integrated by a capacitor 105 of which the one end is grounded to a dc potential VB. Further, the current switching circuit 102 has many bits to decrease the difference current between the signal current Isig and the feedback current signal Iq. Moreover, the level-shifting function of the voltage-to-current converter circuit 101 makes it possible to apparently subtract the dc component from the input analog signal Vsig which is produced based on an internally generated dc voltage as a dc bias voltage, and to decrease a change in the voltage between the electrodes of a capacitor caused by the integration of current.

The present invention relates to an analog-to-digital (hereinafter often simply referred to as A/D) converter which converts an analog voltage signal into a corresponding digital signal. More specifically, the invention relates to an A/D converter of the over-sampling type adapted to being realized in a semiconductor integrated circuit, and to a sampling pulse-forming circuit most adapted to the A/D converter. The invention is further related to a current switching circuit whose output current value is controlled by a digital signal which consists of a plurality of bits, and to an A/D converter in which the current switching circuit works as a local digital-to-analog (hereinafter often simply referred to as D/A) converter circuit, and particularly to an over-sampling A/D converter of the type of current integration capable of realizing high-precision conversion characteristics without requiring high precision in the current value.
One of the systems of the A/D converter can be represented by an over-sampling system which uses a sampling frequency that is several tens to several hundreds of times as great as the frequency band of analog input signals. The over-sampling A/D converter can be classified into several types depending on the circuit constitution, such as one of the delta-sigma (.DELTA..SIGMA.) type disclosed in, for example, Hauser et al, "MOS Falter . . . " 1985 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, pp. 80-81, February, 1985 and one of the interpolation type disclosed in for example, Yamakido et al, "A Voiceband 15b Interpolative Converter Chip Set" 1986 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference pp. 180-181, February, 1986. The A/D converters of the over-sampling system require high-speed operation but permit the elements in the analog circuitry to have a greatly decreased level of accuracy compared with those of other non-over-sampling system devices making it therefore possible to relatively easily realize conversion characteristics maintaining high accuracy relying upon a semiconductor integrated circuit. Moreover, a pre-filter that is usually provided in the preceding stage of all A/D converters can be realized in a small size, maintaining loose element accuracy in order to prevent reflection in the band caused by the sampling of high-band noise components included in the input signals.
In many conventional over-sampling A/D converters, however, an operational amplifier has been used the integrated circuit portion for integrating error voltages between the input analog signal and the analog reference signal that is fed back and a limitation is imposed on reducing the electric power consumed by the A/D converter since the operational amplifier must be operated at high speeds. Conversely, a limitation is imposed on the speed of the operational amplifier even if it is attempted to increase the speed by increasing the consumption of the electric power, and it becomes difficult, too, to obtain further increased conversion precision even if the sampling frequency is increased.
The over-sampling A/D converters have heretofore used a power-source voltage which is 5 volts or greater. It was, however, found through study by the present inventors that when it is attempted to adapt the over-sampling A/D converter to small portable communication terminal equipment such as a pager (or generally called pocket bell), a cordless telephone set and a mobile telephone set that have been vigorously developed in recent years, the operation must be sustained on small cells, i.e., the operation must be sustained on a low-voltage power source. Even in this case, the operational amplifier must be operated at high speeds making it further difficult to accomplish the conversion maintaining required accuracy.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, furthermore, there has been proposed a circuit system in which no operational amplifier is required for the analog integration circuit portion as is disclosed in Koch et al, "A 12-bit Sigma-Delta Analog-to-digital Converter with a 15-MHz Clock Rate" IEEE, JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, SC-21, December, 1986, pp. 1003-1010. According to this circuit system, the input analog voltage signal is converted into a current signal using a voltage-to-current converter circuit and, at the same time, a local D/A converter circuit is constituted by a current switching circuit of one bit, in order to electrically charge or integrate a differential current between the input signal and the feedback signal using a capacitor whose one end is grounded to a dc potential as an analog integration circuit. Therefore, the above circuit system is of the .DELTA..SIGMA. type.
The voltage-to-current converter circuit for the input signals requires an operational amplifier to maintain linear precision to some extent. The operational amplifier needs to maintain the gain to some extent for the frequency band of the desired input signals. Further, the load that must be driven by the operational amplifier consists solely of a gate electrode of a transistor such as the MOS transistor connected to the current source, in order to decrease the consumption of electric power.
General technical discussions related to the A/D and D/A converters have been published in, for example, Nikkei Journal of Electronics, No. 447, 1988 pp. 165-175, the same journal, No. 452 1988 pp. 277-285, the same journal, No. 493, 1988, pp. 211-221, the same journal, No. 454, 1988, pp. 277-285, ICASSP85, Proceedings, 36. 7. 1-36. 7. 4 (1985), pp. 1400-1403, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 65626/1986.

Over-sampling analog-to-digital converter using a current switching circuit as a local digital-to-analog converter


Leak-detection system and method for detecting a leaking container. The system includes an enclosure defining a cavity therein surrounding the container, which container may be a nuclear fuel rod having fission products leaking through a breach in the exterior surface of the fuel rod. The fission products are capable of adhering to the exterior surface of the fuel rod as the fission products leak through the breach in the fuel rod. A radiation detector is in communication with the cavity for detecting the fission products leaking through the breach. Moreover, a gas injector is in communication with the cavity for injecting a multiplicity of carrier gas bubbles into the cavity to remove any fission products adhering to the exterior surface of the fuel rod and to carry the fission products removed thereby to the radiation detector. In this manner, the detector detects the leaking fission products even though they may tend to adhere to the exterior surface of the fuel rod. In addition, an elevator is connected to the fuel assembly for elevating the fuel assembly in the cavity, so that the external pressure acting against the exterior surface of the fuel rods is reduced in order to relieve the internal pressure in the fuel rods. As the fuel assembly is elevated, any fission products tending to "hide-out" in the fuel rods expand and migrate through the breach. As the fission products migrate through the breach, they are carried by the carrier gas bubbles to the radiation detector where they are detected by the radiation detector. In this manner, otherwise undetectable leaking fuel rods become detectable.

This invention generally relates to leak detection and more particularly relates to a leak-detection system and method for detecting a leaking container, which leaking container may be a leaking nuclear fuel rod having a radioactive fission product material leaking therefrom.
However, before discussing the current state of the art, it is instructive first to briefly describe the structure and operation of a typical nuclear reactor which may contain leaking fuel rods. In this regard, a typical nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel containing a plurality of fuel assemblies therein defining a nuclear reactor core capable of producing heat by fission of fissile nuclear material. More specifically, each fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods having the fissile nuclear material sealingly contained therein in the form of a plurality of coaxially stacked fuel pellets. As the fissile material forming the fuel pellets fissions, radioactive fission products (e.g., Xenon - 135 and Kr-85) are produced within the fuel rod. Such radioactive fission products are normally sealingly contained within the fuel rod because the fuel pellets producing the fission products are themselves sealingly contained within the fuel rod. Liquid moderator coolant (i.e., demineralized water) is caused to flow through the fuel assemblies and over the fuel rods for assisting in the fission process and for removing the heat produced by the fission process. During operation of the nuclear reactor, the heat due to fission of the fissile material is carried from the fuel rods by the liquid moderator coolant, which flows from the pressure vessel and through a piping system connected to the pressure vessel and thence ultimately to a turbine-generator for generating electricity in a manner well understood in the art.
However, the fuel rods may occasionally leak. Leaking fuel rods are undesirable because such leaking fuel rods may release the radioactive fission products into the liquid moderator coolant flowing over the fuel rods, thereby radioactively contaminating any reactor system components in fluid communication with the coolant. Such reactor components may be, for example, structures housed within the pressure vessel, piping interconnecting the components of the reactor system, cooling tower apparatus or the turbine belonging to the previously mentioned turbine-generator. Increased levels of radioactive contamination in these reactor system components increases the time required for servicing the components because the components are typically decontaminated prior to servicing in order to reduce radiation exposure to service personnel. Moreover, leaking fuel rods increase the risk of discharging higher levels of radioactivity into the environment surrounding the nuclear reactor through an off-gas system associated with the nuclear reactor. Therefore, in order to avoid such undesirable radioactive contamination of reactor system components and the environment surrounding the reactor, it is important to detect any leaking fuel rods. If a leaking fuel rod is detected, it is replaced with a non-leaking fuel rod.
A prior art method of leak-detection includes latching a transport mechanism to the fuel assembly and removing the fuel assembly from the reactor core, such as during routine refueling operations of the reactor core. The fuel assembly is transported to a remote test chamber and placed therein to perform the leak-detection procedure. After being transported to the test chamber, the transport mechanism is unlatched from the fuel assembly. Next, while the fuel assembly resides in the test chamber, a vacuum is drawn in the test chamber to produce a pressure differential across the fuel assembly that facilitates migration of the fission product out any leaking or breached fuel rods. This also prevents the fission products from "hiding-out" in the breached fuel rod. The fission product material migrating out any leaking fuel rod is detected as it travels past a suitable detector located in the test chamber. If the fuel assembly contains no leaking fuel rods, the latching mechanism is again connected to the fuel assembly for reloading the fuel assembly into the reactor core or into a spent fuel pool depending on whether the nuclear fuel in the fuel assembly is capable of further fissions. On the other hand, if the fuel assembly contains a leaking fuel rod, the fuel rod is preferably replaced with a non-leaking fuel rod before being reloaded into the reactor core or transported to the spent fuel pool. Although this procedure has proven satisfactory for detecting leaking fuel rods, it is time consuming because each fuel assembly to be tested is latched, transported to the test chamber, unlatched, tested, relatched and then returned to the reactor core or transported to the spent fuel pool. Such a time consuming procedure undesirably lengthens the time required to refuel the reactor core. Therefore, a problem in the art is to provide a leak-detection apparatus and method that is less time consuming.
Moreover, applicants have discovered that at least some of the fission product material leaking from a breached fuel rod may undesirably adhere to the exterior surface of the fuel rod such that the fission product is not detectable by the detector. In addition, applicants have discovered that some of the fission product material may continue to "hide-out" in the fuel rod and may not sufficiently migrate out the breached fuel rod in order for it to be detected, even when subjected to the previously mentioned vacuum which is drawn in the test chamber. Therefore, another problem in the art is to detect leaking fuel rods even though the fission product material leaking from the fuel rod may adhere to the exterior surface of the fuel rod and even though the fission product material may tend to "hide-out" in the fuel rod.
Another method for detecting leaking nuclear fuel assemblies is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,847 titled "Method and Apparatus for Detecting Failure of Nuclear Fuel" issued Nov. 22, 1983 in the name of Shozo Saito, et al. This patent discloses a method for detecting failure of nuclear fuel which method comprises supplying air into a sipper cap mounted on a fuel assembly to form an air layer, isolating the fuel assembly to be detected from other assemblies, soaking the fuel assembly in a water bath, discharging the water from the system, and sampling that includes introducing a predetermined amount of cooling water in the fuel assembly and discharging the water-to a sample receptacle. However, this patent does not appear to disclose a solution to the problem of adequately removing fission product material adhering to the exterior surface of the fuel rods and does not appear to disclose a solution to the problem of detecting fission product material that may tend to "hide-out" in the fuel rods.
Although the above-recited prior art disclose leak-detection apparatus and methods, the above-recited prior art do not appear to disclose a leak-detection system and method for suitably detecting a leaking container, which leaking container may be a leaking nuclear fuel rod having a radioactive fission product material leaking therefrom.
Therefore, what is needed are a leak-detection system and method for detecting a leaking container, which leaking container may be a leaking nuclear fuel rod having a radioactive fission product material leaking therefrom.


An arrangement is disclosed for a meter cabinet, distribution cabinet or empty housing, including a frame and a door, wherein the frame can carry a door and the door is attached pivotally to the frame on its hinge side. The door may be aligned in relation to its frame quickly and without problems, with an adjustment device for aligning the door in the closed condition, the adjustment device being associated with the frame.

DE 88 00 918 U1 discloses a hinge having a pin. The pin may be pushed within a guide by a leaf spring. The leaf spring or the pin has a gripping part for the purpose of manual actuation.
DE 41 08 430 A1 describes a hinge part which is movable inside a guide part. Associated with the hinge part is a spring having toothing that can be brought into engagement with a crosshead screwdriver.
In the known arrangements, a door to be adjusted when the door is open. Adjustment of the door is carried out in the region of the hinges.
In practice, a door can be aligned in relation to a frame that carries the door. For this purpose, the door is opened and closed a number of times. In order to align a door precisely with the frame, at present adjustments are checked successively a number of times, with the door closed. Frequently, when doing this, a number of subsequent adjustments are involved.

Arrangement for a meter cabinet, distribution cabinet, switch cabinet or empty housing


An earphone able to function as a left or as a right earphone and receive sound channels accordingly comprises a processing unit, a capturing unit, and a touch sensor. The capturing unit gets images of ear canal. The touch sensor senses a first and second ear contact points. The processing unit applies sensor readings and captured images to an imaginary circle having a default radius, to determine whether earphone is being worn in the right or in the left ear. The output of sound can be channeled appropriately to an earphone in the left ear or in the right ear or both. A method and a system for detecting wearing state are also provided.

Earphones are usually stereophonic. If a user wears the earphone on an opposite ear, a sound field that the user hears will be opposite. In order to identify left and right channels of the earphone, the earphone is generally marked L or R to identify the left or right channels. User often cannot see L or R logo under environment with low lighting, it is likely earphones are worn in reverse.

System and method for detecting ear location of earphone and rechanneling connections accordingly and earphone using same

NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.


A rotor blade for a rotary-wing aircraft, of an airfoil section has a basic blade thickness at 12% chord length, a portion of an increased blade thickness between the leading edge and a point corresponding to about 90% chord length, a maximum blade thickness at a position shifted backward, a curvature distribution concentrated on the middle portion thereof, and a portion contiguous with the trailing edge and cambered. The drag coefficient of the airfoil section is small when the Mach number is about 0.6 and the lift coefficient is about 0.6, and the airfoil section has a large maximum lift coefficient and a large zero-lift drag divergence Mach number, and generates a small pitching moment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotor blade for a rotary-wing aircraft and, more particularly, to an airfoil section of a rotor blade for a rotary-wing aircraft, having a small drag coefficient in a state where the Mach number is small.
2. Description of the Related Art
Airfoil sections developed by NACA, i.e., the former NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of USA, are used widely. Airfoil sections NACA0012 and NACA23012 are representative ones among those developed by NACA
The applicant of the present patent application proposed the airfoil sections with improved performance in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,102. Each of previously proposed airfoil sections has a maximum lift coefficient C.sub.1max and a zero-lift drag divergence Mach number M.sub.dd, which are higher than those of the NACA's airfoil sections. Shown in FIGS. 11(A), 11(B), 11(C), 11(D) and 11(E) are airfoil sections U896H-10, U896H-10UR, U896H-08, U896H-09 and U896H-12 proposed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,102. Since the upper line and the lower line of each of these airfoil sections are substantially symmetrical in a range between coordinates corresponding to about 30% chord length and coordinates corresponding to about 90% chord length, the nose-down pitching moment about the airfoil section, with intrinsic characteristics to cambered airfoil sections, is comparatively small. Accordingly, these airfoil sections can reduce the load on the pitch angle changing mechanism of a rotary-wing aircraft and vibrations due to the variation of the pitching moment during the rotation of the rotary wing.
FIG. 12 shows the performance of NACA0012, NACA23012 and the airfoil sections proposed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,102, in which the maximum lift coefficient C.sub.1max at a Mach number of 0.4 is indicated at a higher point along the vertical axis and the zero-lift drag divergence Mach number M.sub.dd is measured to the right position along the horizontal axis. As is obvious from FIG. 12, the maximum lift coefficients C.sub.1max and the zero-lift drag divergence Mach numbers M.sub.dd of the airfoil sections of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,102 are larger than those of NACA0012 and NACA23012, which indicates the excellent performance of the airfoil sections proposed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,102.
An inner wing portion, i.e., the base portion, of the rotor blade for the rotary-wing aircraft and an outer wing portion, i.e., an wing tip portion, of the same undergo different airflow conditions, respectively, during operation. Therefore, it is inappropriate, in some cases, to apply the same airfoil sections previously proposed by the applicant of the present patent application to all the sections of rotor blades. The airspeed of the inner part of a rotor blade is lower than that of the outer part and the working Mach number of the inner part is comparatively small. Therefore, requirements of the inner part of a rotor blade concerning drag divergence Mach number are not very severe. Generally, the maximum lift coefficient C.sub.1max of an airfoil section is comparatively large in a small Mach number range, the maximum lift coefficient C.sub.1max of the inner part need not be very large. Therefore, the improvement of the drag characteristic of the inner part of a rotor blade under a hovering flight condition, where Mach number is about 0.6 and lift coefficient is about 0.6, is more important than increasing the maximum lift coefficient and the drag divergence Mach number, and the reduction of the drag coefficient under such airflow conditions is required.
Although the airfoil sections proposed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,102 each have a large maximum lift coefficient C.sub.1max or a large zero-lift drag divergence Mach number M.sub.dd, the drag coefficient shows a tendency to increase when the lift coefficient is 0.6 or above and the Mach number is about 0.6, and the airfoil section of the inner wing portion of the rotor blade leaves room for improvement.


Telephone coupling devices which are used to connect various devices into telephone networks without electrical connections require structure which will provide effective acoustic coupling with telephone handsets produced by a variety of manufacturers, many of which differ from each other not only in major dimensional characteristics but also in specific construction. An acoustic coupler having a dimensionally bi-stable flexible coupling element permits use of the coupler of the present invention with an unlimited number of telephone handset configurations.

The present invention relates to telephone coupling devices for use in communications networks whereby the transducer of the telephone handset and the transducer of the acoustic coupler are maintained in effective acoustical coupling relationship.
Portable computer terminals and similar devices intended to communicate with central data processing facilities must be able to be effectively coupled to telephone lines to provide for the desired data transmission. The development and common use of telephone equipment from a variety of diverse manufacturers has created significant problems tending to reduce the effectiveness of such portable terminals because the necessity for effective coupling to the telephone handset has become a problem of some complexity and importance tending to restrict the hoped for universal usage of such portable terminals. It is not uncommon that a telephone coupler intended for a standard handset such as manufactured by Western Electric is unusuable with the increasingly common handsets identified by the general designation Trimline handsets and handphones. One typical solution of the problem involves special interface or transition units disposed between "Trimline" handsets and the coupler thereby significantly lowering the effectiveness of the sound transmission. Typical of prior art acoustic telephone couplers intended for use with telephone handsets of standard design can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,719,783, 3,733,437, and 3,992,583. Additionally, telephone couplers have been developed which are intended to be strapped to the telephone handset such as are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,180,937, 3,299,207 and 3,619,507. Thus, the known prior art has not provided a universally useful telephone coupler which is effectively self-contained and ready for use with a variety of handsets.


The disclosed computer-implemented method for determining whether malicious files are targeted may include (i) applying, to a malware detection structure, a plurality of sample data points, each sample data point corresponding to at least one of a malicious file known to be targeted and a malicious file known to be non-targeted, (ii) identifying one or more boundaries of the sample data points within the malware detection structure, (iii) determining, after identifying the sample boundaries, that a new data point falls outside of the boundaries, and (iv) classifying a malicious file associated with the new data point as non-targeted in response to determining that the new data point falls outside of the sample boundaries. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Organizations attempting to combat cyber-attacks have an interest in knowing whether malicious files are targeted to a specific recipient. Conventionally, this determination is made via manual labeling by analysts. However, manual labeling may be time intensive and, in consequence, difficult to scale. Unfortunately, traditional machine learning approaches to email classification may also fall short because (i) the characteristics of malicious files may change over time and (ii) traditional machine learning classifiers may not perform well when given data that lies outside the distribution of the training points used to train them. The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for improved systems and methods for determining whether malicious files are targeted.

Systems and methods for determining whether malicious files are targeted


Quick release pipe end caps secure materials enclosed by pipes. This is accomplished by capping the ends of the storage pipe with quick release pipe end caps. Contractors frequently transport a variety of materials to job sites using a large pipe as a storage container. Quick release pipe end caps have a cap which covers the end of a pipe and a quick release mechanism which removably secures the cap to the pipe without requiring the use of tools. The quick release mechanism consists of a band having slots which is enclosed by a latching mechanism. The cams on the end of a locking lever engage with the slots in the band and tighten the band about the cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a quick release pipe end cap for use in connection with pipes. The quick release pipe end cap has particular utility in connection with securing materials enclosed by pipes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Quick release pipe end caps are desirable for securing materials enclosed by pipes. This is accomplished by capping the ends of the storage pipe with quick release pipe end caps. Contractors frequently transport a variety of materials to job sites using a large pipe as a storage container. In particular, multiple sizes of pipes may be nested inside of one another to minimize the space they occupy. Duct tape is frequently used to secure the ends of the pipe, but this is potentially ineffective as well as messy and time-consuming. Quick release pipe end caps have the additional advantage of easily being removably secured to pipes without the use of tools.
The use of closure members for pipes and the like is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,463 to Bywater, Jr. discloses a closure member for pipes and the like. However, the Bywater, Jr. ""463 patent does not have a locking lever, and has further drawbacks of requiring tools to operate the latching mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,526,238 to Kendall discloses a pipeline closure that temporarily closes the open end of a pipeline. However, the Kendall ""238 patent does not have a locking lever, and additionally does not have a band with overlapping opposing ends.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,792 to Tempel discloses a protective cover for pipe end that prevents the ingress of snow and rain into the interior of a pipe. However, the Tempel ""792 patent does not have a locking lever, and also lacks a band encircling the exterior of the pipe.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,707 to Lundgren discloses a pipe protector that covers a pipe end. However, the Lundgren ""707 patent does not have a locking lever, and also requires the use of tools to align the teeth.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,336 to Black discloses a lightweight pipe clip for maintaining an end plug insertably coupled to an irrigation pipe outlet. However, the Black ""336 patent does not have a locking lever, and further lacks a band encircling the exterior of the pipe.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 257,057 to Logsdon discloses a pipe test cap. However, the Logsdon ""057 patent does not have a locking lever, and has the additional deficiency of lacking a band encircling the exterior of the pipe.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a quick release pipe end cap that allows securing materials enclosed by pipes. The Bywater, Jr. ""463 patent, the Kendall ""238 patent, the Tempel ""792 patent, the Lundgren ""707 patent, the Black ""336 patent, and the Logsdon ""057 patent make no provision for a locking lever. The Bywater, Jr. ""463 patent and the Lundgren ""707 patent require tools to secure themselves to the pipe. The Kendall ""238 patent does not have a band with overlapping opposing ends. The Tempel ""792 patent, the Black ""336 patent, and the Logsdon ""057 patent lack a band encircling the exterior of the pipe.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved quick release pipe end cap that can be used for securing materials enclosed by pipes. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the quick release pipe end cap according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of securing materials enclosed by pipes.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of closure members for pipes and the like now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved quick release pipe end cap, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved quick release pipe end cap which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a quick release pipe end cap which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a cap with a closed end, an open end, and a quick release mechanism attached to it sidewall.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
The invention may also include the cap being cylindrical in shape and made of an elastomeric material such as neoprene rubber. The quick release mechanism may take the form of a band having slots cut into its top surface encircling the cap. The opposing ends of the band may overlap within a hollow band enclosure in such a manner that the slots are on top. A cam slot may be cut in the top of the band enclosure. Pin supports may be attached to the top of the band enclosure. A locking lever may be rotatably mounted on a pin inserted through the pin supports. The locking lever may be arcuate in shape, and may have cams attached to the end mounted on the pin such that the cams engage with the slots on the band when the locking lever is rotated in a clockwise direction. The quick release mechanism components may be made of stainless steel. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently current, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved quick release pipe end cap that has all of the advantages of the prior art closure members for pipes and the like and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved quick release pipe end cap that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved quick release pipe end cap that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such quick release pipe end cap economically available to the buying public.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new quick release pipe end cap that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release pipe end cap for securing materials enclosed by pipes. This allows the user to quickly attach the quick release pipe end cap to a pipe without the use of tools.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release pipe end cap for securing materials enclosed by pipes. This makes it possible to easily remove the quick release pipe end cap from a pipe without the use of tools.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a quick release pipe end cap for securing materials enclosed by pipes. This ensures that the quick release pipe end cap will remain in place while the pipe is transported.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved quick release pipe end cap for securing materials enclosed by pipes.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated current embodiments of the invention.


The invention relates to a method for configuring a mobile user device as a remote controller for a hearing aid, said mobile user device, comprising a removable secure digital (SD) card, comprising a radio interface and an antenna controller for configuring said radio interface for wireless communication with said hearing aid; and, a computer-readable memory for storing a software application for remotely controlling said hearing aid via said communication module; said method comprising: requesting a communication module identifier, from said communication module; sending a request for hearing aid setting information associated with said hearing aid to a server, said request comprising said communication module identifier; receiving at least part of said hearing aid setting information if said server determines on the basis of said communication module identifier that access to said hearing aid setting information by said mobile user device is allowed; and, configuring the radio interface of said communication module on the basis of said hearing aid setting information.

Currently hearing aids are provided with a wireless interface in order to offer additional functionality to the user. This way the hear aid may be wirelessly linked to a television, an audio streaming device, a mobile phone, etc. Additionally, the wireless link may be used to control the hearing aid, e.g. controlling the settings of e.g. its filters and/or volume, or to update parts of the software and/or settings of the hearing aid software. Due to energy and health constraints, the wireless link of the hearing aid is typically configured as a low-energy wireless link that uses a relatively low carrier frequency between 0.1 and 500 MHz.
Different hearing aids manufactures implement their own proprietary wireless interfaces in their products. Each manufacturer uses its own carrier frequency and its own protocol stack software for establishing a wireless data link with the hearing aid. Due to these differences only dedicated remote control devices are available on the market that only work with hearing aids of one particular manufacturer. Hence, the user of a hearing aid needs to buy a separate proprietary remote control device that is especially designed for a hearing aid of a particular manufacturer. Typically, these remote control devices cannot be used with hearing aids of other manufacturers. U.S. Pat. No. 8,280,086 describes a remote control system for a hearing aid that is configured as a "plug-in" device for a mobile phone. The plug-in device can be connected to the mobile phone via the power bus connector and comprises a radio link that can make wireless contact with a particular hearing aid. When plugged-in, an application program in the plug-in device configures the mobile phone as a remote control for the hearing aid. Although this solution eliminates the needs for a separate remote control device, the plug-in does not provide a simple, secure and flexible wireless control solution for hearing aids of different manufactures working on different data carrier frequencies and different protocol stacks.
Hence, there is a need in the art for improved methods and system that allow wireless control of a hearing aid. In particular, there is a need in the art for methods and systems that provide simple, secure and flexible wireless control functions for different types of hearing aids of different manufacturers.

Mobile wireless controller for a hearing aid


A rotation detecting device for a brushless motor having: a stator core on which a coil is wound; a driving magnetic pole portion which opposes the stator core, which comprises a plurality of magnetic poles, and which is rotated; an FG magnetized portion which is rotated together with the driving magnetic pole portion and which comprises a plurality of magnetic poles; and an FG pattern which opposes the FG magnetized portion. In the device, relative positions of the stator core, the driving magnet pole portion, the FG magnetized portion, and the FG pattern in the circumferential direction are set so that the minimum point c of a torque ripple of the brushless motor does not coincide with points a and b of an output signal from the FG pattern which function as a trigger for rotation control.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a rotation detecting device for a brushless motor.
2. Related art
Some electric motors such as a motor for driving a rotary cylinder head of a videotape recorder (VTR), and that for driving a rotary polygon mirror of an optical scanning device are provided with a frequency generator (FG) so that the rotating speed of the driving motor is detected and the detected speed is used in the speed control.
Generally, such a frequency generator attached to a motor or the like comprises a magnetized portion for the frequency generator (hereinafter, referred to as "FG magnetized portion") which is rotated together with a rotating body such as a rotor of the motor and magnetized and arranged in the circumferential direction, and a generating coil pattern (hereinafter, referred to as "FG pattern") which opposes the FG magnetized portion.
The FG pattern is formed on a circuit board so as to have a substantially circular ring shape, and comprises a plurality of generating lines which are radially elongated, and connecting lines which connect the generating lines so as to constitute a series connection unit.
A predetermined wiring pattern is formed on the circuit board.
FIGS. 4 to 6 show an example of a conventional brushless motor.
In FIGS. 4 and 5, the reference numeral 1 designates a rotation shaft. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation shaft 1 is rotatably supported through a bearing 4 by the bearing holder 3 which stands on a circuit board (printed-circuit board) 2. A rotor case 5 which is rotated integrally with the rotation shaft 1 and has a substantially cup-like shape is fixed to the upper end portion of the rotation shaft 1 in FIG. 4. A ring-like rotor magnet 6 is disposed on the inner peripheral face of the outer flange portion of the rotor case 5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the rotor magnet 6 comprises a driving magnet pole portion 6a in which N-poles and S-poles are alternatingly formed in the circumferential direction and which is used for driving the brushless motor, and an FG magnetized portion 6b which is disposed at the lower end of the driving magnet pole portion 6a in FIG. 4 and in which magnetic poles are alternatingly formed.
In order to facilitate the understanding of the positional relationship between the driving magnet pole portion 6a magnetized on the inner peripheral face of the rotor magnet 6, and the FG magnetized portion 6b magnetized on the lower end face, the magnetization state is shown on concentric circles in FIG. 6.
A stator core 19 is disposed at a position which opposes the inner periphery of the driving magnet pole portion 6a of the rotor magnet 6. A driving coil 10 is wound on the stator core 19. An FG pattern 7 shown in FIG. 5 is formed at a position of the circuit board 2 which opposes the FG magnetized portion 6b of the rotor magnet 6.
The rotating speed of such a brushless motor is usually controlled in the following manner. The FG pattern 7 outputs a sinusoidal FG signal (see (b) of FIG. 7). The FG signal is waveform-shaped by, for example, a waveform shaper (not shown) so as to be converted into a pulse-like FG signal shown in (c) of FIG. 7. The leading edge a or the trailing edge b of the pulse-like FG is used as a trigger. Alternatively, the sinusoidal FG signal ((b) of FIG. 7) may be used as it is. In this case, the cross point a or b of the sinusoidal FG signal and AC=0 is used as a trigger. The rotational position is controlled in a similar manner. That is, the leading edge a or the trailing edge b of the pulse-like FG, or the cross point a or b of the sinusoidal FG signal and AC=0 is used as a trigger.
However, such a rotation detecting device for detecting a rotating speed or a rotational position has the following problem.
In the case where the period of the motor torque ripple (FIG. 7(a)) coincides with that of the FG signal (FIGS. 7(b) and (c)), or the case where these periods have a mutual relationship of, for example, one-to-an even number multiplication, the minimum point c of the motor torque due to the torque ripple coincides with the leading edge a and/or the trailing edge b of the pulse-like FG (in FIG. 7, both the points a and b) (naturally, the minimum point c coincides also with the cross points a and b of the sinusoidal FG signal and AC=0). This produces a problem in that the change (reaction) of the speed of the motor in response to an input of a rotating speed control signal is delayed. When such a brushless motor is used as, for example, a motor for driving a cylinder of a VTR, particularly, the delay causes undesirable phenomena such as a color slippage and disturbance in a displayed image.
This problem arises also in the case where the leading edge a or the trailing edge b of the pulse-like FG, or the cross point a or b of the sinusoidal FG signal and AC=0 is used as a trigger of a rotational position control signal. In the case, namely, the change (reaction) of the position of the motor is delayed.

Rotation detecting device for a brushless motor

Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho


A deflector assembly located within the interior of a trailer for distributing dry bulk during loading of the dry bulk into the interior of the trailer. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector and an air cylinder. The deflector has a deflecting surface capable of deflecting the dry bulk being loaded into the interior of the trailer. The deflector moves from an opened position to a deflecting position upon a flow of compressed air from an air source to the air cylinder.

The present invention relates to load distribution deflectors. More specifically, it relates to a load distribution deflector for use during loading of dry bulk into a trailer to provide for approximately equal load distribution within the trailer.
In the trucking business, there is a need to improve the means for distributing dry bulk in a trailer during the loading process so that load limits are not exceeded. Dry bulk is normally loaded into a trailer by vacuuming the air from the interior of the trailer. The vacuum created in the interior of the trailer then sucks the dry bulk through a loading line extending through the rear of the trailer. Such method of loading dry bulk allows the trailer to be quickly filled. However, since the dry bulk are loaded into the trailer through a loading line directed toward the front of the trailer, often after the trailer is fully loaded, more of the dry bulk is located at the front of the trailer causing unequal front to rear load distribution. Such unequal load distribution may cause uneven tire wear or more importantly violate the weight limit. To remedy this unequal load distribution, the dry bulk can be redistributed by unloading a portion of the loaded bulk located at the front of the trailer and then reloading the dry bulk at a lower amount of vacuum. Such method of redistributing the load requires significant amount of time and labor. Alternatively, the driver would often drive the tractor and trailer backwards and then slam on the brakes to quickly decelerate tractor and trailer. This quick deceleration would shift the dry bulk toward the rear of the trailer. While such a maneuver is capable of redistributing the dry bulk, it also causes premature wear to the tractor and trailer.
Therefore, there exists a need in the trucking industry to equally distribute the dry bulk in the trailer during the loading process.
This invention relates to a deflector assembly located within the interior of a trailer for distributing dry bulk during loading of the dry bulk into the interior of the trailer. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector and an air cylinder. The deflector has a deflecting surface capable of deflecting the dry bulk being loaded into the interior of the trailer. The deflector moves from an opened position to a deflecting position upon a flow of compressed air from an air source to the air cylinder.


A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system comprising: providing a package carrier; mounting an integrated circuit to the package carrier; and forming a perimeter antiwarpage structure on and along a perimeter of the package carrier.

Increased miniaturization of components, greater packaging density of integrated circuits ("ICs"), higher performance, and lower cost are ongoing goals of the computer industry. Semiconductor package structures continue to advance toward miniaturization, to increase the density of the components that are packaged therein while decreasing the sizes of the products that are made using the semiconductor package structures. This is in response to continually increasing demands on information and communication products for ever-reduced sizes, thicknesses, and costs, along with ever-increasing performance.
These increasing requirements for miniaturization are particularly noteworthy, for example, in portable information and communication devices such as cellular phones, hands-free cellular phone headsets, personal data assistants ("PDA's"), camcorders, notebook computers, and so forth. All of these devices continue to be made smaller and thinner to improve their portability. Accordingly, large-scale IC ("LSI") packages that are incorporated into these devices are required to be made smaller and thinner. The package configurations that house and protect LSI require them to be made smaller and thinner as well.
Many conventional semiconductor (or "chip") packages are of the type where a semiconductor die is molded into a package with a resin, such as an epoxy molding compound. Numerous package approaches stack multiple integrated circuit dice or package in package (PIP) or a combination. Other approaches include package level stacking or package-on-package (POP). POP designs face reliability challenges and higher cost.
As the outline of these POP designs becomes smaller they are more susceptible to warpage during the solder reflow process. The heat necessary to reflow the solder can cause the package substrate to warp and deform. With ball grid array (BGA) packages this is a critical problem because of the number of connections between the package and PCB.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit packaging system improved yield, low profile, and improved reliability. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is critical that answers be found for these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit packaging system with perimeter antiwarpage structure and method of manufacture thereof


A method and apparatus for monitoring operating characteristics and/or control signals of a system comprising a variable speed vacuum pump. Operating characteristics and/or control signals of the system may be monitored, and the pumping speed of the variable speed vacuum pump may be altered responsive to the monitored operating characteristics and/or control signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a vacuum pump system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor substrate processing is generally performed in process chambers having sub-atmospheric pressures. Vacuum pump systems are commonly utilized to achieve and maintain sub-atmospheric pressures within the process chambers. The vacuum pump systems are typically remotely located in a "grey area" or a "sub-fab" outside the clean room to prevent adverse affects on substrate processing.
Vacuum pump systems serving a typical process chamber generally have a pumping capacity in the range of 1600 l/min up to 25,000 l/min in order to satisfy the needs of typical substrate processing operations. Vacuum pump systems of this capacity generally consume up to about 6 kilowatts per hour of electricity. Further, vacuum pump systems are typically operated at a constant speed during system operation, while chamber pressure is controlled by gas flow, throttle valve and isolation valve actuation. Accordingly, vacuum pump systems are a significant source of power consumption in semiconductor processing systems, as well as other types of systems.
As a result, new approaches to reducing the power consumption of vacuum pump systems are constantly being explored. Reducing power consumption is desirable both for reducing the energy associated with maintaining sub-atmospheric pressures and for reducing the heat generated and subsequent cooling requirements of the vacuum system, the clean room and the facility. Additionally, conservation of energy is desirable for social, economic and environmental benefits.
One possible approach to conserving power is through the use of variable speed vacuum pumps. Typically, variable speed vacuum pump systems include a motor driver that operates to maintain one or more selected motor speed setpoint(s) proportional to a desired pumping speed. The motor speed setpoint(s) is determined according to the desired processing conditions. During operation, the pumping speed may be changed by altering the selected motor speed setpoint(s). By controlling the speed of the pump it is possible to slow the motor speed when a higher speed is not needed.
Integrating a variable speed pump system onto an existing semiconductor processing system may require substantial changes to the system control software. Making software changes to existing systems is both expensive and time-consuming, and may require tracking a number of different software versions across a variety of semiconductor processing system platforms. Therefore, there is a need for a vacuum pump system that reduces power consumption and may be integrated onto a wide variety of semiconductor processing systems with minimal changes to processing system control software.


Optical fibers are fixed to elongating tables by optical fiber fixing jigs. Coatings are removed from portions of the fibers and respective fibers of two different groups are placed into tight contact with one another. Rectifier rods, supported movably by rectifier rod supporting members, are disposed outside the optical fiber strands. The fibers are then heated by a gas burner 4A so as to be welded integrally with each other, and are then elongated. By using rectifier rods, the outside optical fiber strands of the groups being welded are not so strongly heated that uniform welding and elongation can be realized. In one preferred embodiment, the fibers are arranged such that there are gaps therebetween. These gaps are substantially 250 .mu.m. The gaps are sufficiently wide that heating gas flows in a manner such that all the optical fiber strands are heated uniformly to make it possible uniform welding and elongation.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the production of optical fiber couplers. More specifically, it addresses the problem of producing a plurality of optical fiber couplers at the same time that all have the same operating characteristics.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an optical fiber coupler is produced by carrying out the following manufacturing steps: 1) removing the coating from plurality of optical fibers, 2) heating and welding the optical fibers integrally so that the optical fibers are tightly in contact with each other, and 3) further heating and extending them. The strands of optical fibers are minute glass bodies each having an outer diameter of 125 .mu.m. Therefore, high accuracy is required to produce an optical fiber coupler. Therefore, the productivity of optical fiber couplers has been so low that the optical fiber couplers have been expensive to produce.
To improve productivity, there has been proposed a method of producing a plurality of optical fiber couplers at the same time, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 63-205615, or Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei. 1-120510, the subject matter of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully recited.
When producing a plurality of optical fiber couplers en bloc, it is required that all of the couplers have the same operating characteristics. However, using conventional production methods, it has been difficult to manufacture couplers with good reproducibility while making their characteristics uniform.
Optical fiber couplers produced simultaneously by conventional methods were measured as to their degrees of coupling. Their characteristics turned out to be non-uniform. It was difficult to simultaneously produce optical fiber couplers which exhibited the same degree of coupling. To learn more, four optical fiber couplers were produced from tape-like four-core optical fiber units and their structures were inspected in detail. FIG. 7 shows a section of an example of a tape-like four-core optical fiber unit. Another example of a tape-like four core optical fiber unit is shown in FIG. 16, where the individual optical fibers are spaced from each other. As shown in FIG. 7, each unit is constituted by four optical fibers or strands. Each optical fiber strand has a core 21A and a clad 22A and covered with a protective coating 23A. The optical fiber strands are arranged in a plane and covered with a coating layer 24A so as to be integrated flatly.
When optical fiber couplers were manufactured from such units using conventional methods, it was found that the quantity of welding varied on a large scale, as shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, the abscissa designates optical fiber strands of tape-like four-core optical fiber units in the order sequentially from the outer side, and the ordinate designates the quantity of welding between the respective optical fiber strands. The quantity of welding was expressed by the width W of a welded portion between two strands, as shown in FIG. 9. The variation of the quantity of welding was larger in the outer side strands than in the inner side strands, as seen in FIG. 8. From this result, it was concluded that the optical fiber strands were not heated uniformly since the quantity of welding depends largely on the temperature of the optical fiber strands which are being heated.
From further detailed inspection, it was determined that there was a problem in the flow of gas at the time of heating the optical fiber strands. The distance between optical fiber strands after removal of the protective coatings of a tape-like optical fiber unit is so narrow (about 125 .mu.m) that heating gas cannot flow between the optical fiber strands satisfactorily. It is impossible to heat all the optical fiber strands uniformly.
The heating process is further explained with reference to FIG. 5. Reference numerals 1aA, 1bA, 1cA and 1dA represent optical fiber strands of one tape-like optical fiber unit, 2aA, 2bA, 2cA and 2dA optical fiber strands of the other tape-like optical fiber unit, and 4A a gas burner. Each of the pairs of the corresponding optical fiber strands 1aA and 2aA, 1bA and 2bA, 1cA and 2cA, and 1dA and 2dA are made to contact tightly with each other, heated and welded by the gas burner 4A. When heating, gas does not flow into portions between the optical fiber strands satisfactorily. Mostly, it flows outside (around) all of the strands.
Therefore, the flow of gas strongly heats only the optical fiber strands which are disposed on the opposite ends, so that the heating temperature of the outer side optical fiber strands is higher than that of the inner side optical fiber strands, and the quantity of welding of the outer side optical fiber strands is larger than that of the inner optical fiber strands. This phenomenon is not limited to the case of using tape-like optical fiber units. In the case of tightly contacting and arranging single-core optical fibers, the distance between optical fiber strands is also about 125 .mu.m in the same manner to thereby bring about such a phenomenon.

Method of producing optical fiber couplers using rectifier rods to provide even heat distribution


A special bathtub for invalids has a fixed end part which abuts an oblong rotatable end part operable by control of the pressure of the water source. The center of curvature of the abutting faces of the fixed end part and the oblong rotatable end part is offset from the pivotal axis of the rotatable end part to incorporate a wedging feature in effecting a watertight seal. An interlocking latch and water sensor prevent inadvertent opening of the tub when it is filled with water.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to special bathtubs which accommodate invalids or other persons who cannot for various reasons step over the sidewall of a conventional bathtub, or easily position themselves in a bathing position. This invention particularly applies to a bathtub wherein an invalid may approach and (1) sit upon a seat in an accessible position, then be moved into the tub without raising his feet, and then be lowered into the water, or (2) walk into an open segment of the tub, and then be moved into the tub while standing and holding onto support handles.


A method and device for decompressing a compressed video image and capable of enlarging or contracting the image at the same time. The method utilizes an enhancement/contraction pre-processor to perform enlargement or contraction processing on the compressed data in the vertical direction. Then, at a later stage, an enhancement/contraction post-processor is used to perform enlargement or contraction processing on the decompressed data in the horizontal direction. By dividing the whole video image into a number of rows and dealing with each row sequentially, memory for storing a single row of video data is only required. Therefore, a whole image can be decompressed without using large amount of memory for storing the decompressed data; a large amount of memory is saved.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a device and method for processing video image. More particularly, the present invention relates to the device and method for decompressing the compressed video data of a video image in a system that uses a variable-length encoding method with a line-end-code.
2. Description of Related Art
Following the recent advance in computer technologies, computer systems have become part of our life. Through linking to the Internet, the newest information from the world can be obtained in your personal computer. In recent years, the quantity of information flowing through a computer network has increased tremendously. Beside the general alphanumeric data, other types of data such as voice and video image are transmitted in vast quantities. The favored gem of today's PC hobbyist and general users is the multimedia system. A multimedia system need to shuttle vast amount of voice and video data around, hence, whether to store or to transmit, these data must be compressed in order to save memory space and increase processing time. For a multimedia system, the system must also include some other functions such as the enlargement and contraction of images besides having the basic function of decompressing the compressed video data.
There are a number of methods for decompressing the compressed video data. For example, one conventional method is to target the decompression of one horizontal line at a time. In practice, the first line of compressed video data is decompressed first, before the decompression of the second line is executed, and so on processing sequentially from the top line down to the bottom line. The conventional formats for storing row compressed video data are shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. They are composed of two parts, namely, a first part for storing the number of pixels and a second part for storing the color of the pixels. The length for storing the number of pixels is variable, for example, ranging from occupying 2-bits up to 14-bits as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. On the other hand, the length for storing the color of the pixels is fixed, normally occupies just two bits. Therefore, when information from these two parts is obtained the number of pixels and its color in the horizontal direction is completely specified. By receiving and then decompressing the row compressed video data piece by piece in a left to right manner before reaching the line-end-code, the complete pixel image in a horizontal line is thus obtained. The line-end-code is very similar in format to the row compressed video data as shown in FIG. 5, except that the first part is of fixed length and all consists of zeros; while the second part stores the color of the pixels. When the receiver picks up the line-end-code, it will interpret to mean that the horizontal pixels from that point on are of the same color as specified in the color part of the line-end-code. The receiving of a line-end-code implies the end of a line, and therefore, anything received thereafter represent the code for the next line down. Again, decompression starts from the left side in a sequential order until the line-end-code is again received. The whole process is repeated many times from top to bottom line by line to form a decompressed data into a video image.
To enlarge or contract video images, the conventional method is to receive the whole packet of compressed video data, decompress it before applying the enlargement or contraction to create the actual image. As mentioned before, a large storage area is required to store up the decompressed video data; hence, a large capacity storage buffer is needed. This represents a waste in the memory storage space. At present, although the memory capacity of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip is large and unit cost of it is rather cheap, DRAM chips are by no means cheap. Moreover, time is also wasted in writing a large quantity of data to a DRAM chip and then reading it from the DRAM chip for processing. In other words, the conventional method of processing image data is uneconomical.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need to provide devices and improved method for decompressing video image data.

Device and method for decompressing compressed video image


A device for packaging and dispensing a flowable product comprises a casing comprising a nozzle for dispensing the product and a container designed to contain the product to be packaged. The casing comprises a rigid bottom, an air renewal and filtration assembly, a filter element, and an air inlet passage located in said rigid bottom. The nozzle comprises a tapered portion that defines a free end of the nozzle, an actuating portion resiliently movable between an engagement position and a rest position. A dose-defining chamber may be isolated from the air contained in the container and may have a determined volume in the rest position. The engagement position may be obtained by engaging the actuating portion against a stationary wall portion, so as to empty the chamber and expel a dose exactly corresponding to the determined volume of the chamber.

The invention relates more particularly to a device for packaging and dispensing a product comprising a container designed to contain the product that is to be dispensed, with the aid of a nozzle that has no air inlet and with which the container is fitted, the nozzle optionally being an integral part of said container or being mounted in a sealed manner on an open neck of said container.
There are in the prior art packaging devices of conventional structure that can be used to preserve and dispense a product in the form of doses or drops or in any other form, while maintaining its sterility for the entire duration of its use.
These devices are used particularly in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food applications, and in some cases more particularly in opthalmological applications.
For example, the prior art includes such devices disclosed in patents FR 2 770 495, FR 2 638 428 and FR 2 661 401 in which a container is fitted with a dispensing nozzle that includes a bacteriological filter membrane which sterilizes the product when it is expelled from the container.
In these devices, the container comprises a flexible portion which, when squeezed by hand, forces the product through the bacteriological membrane, through the nozzle and out of said container.
It should be observed that, when a portion of product is expelled from the container, a partial vacuum is created inside the container and must be compensated for, either by admitting more air equivalent to the volume of product expelled, or by a corresponding reduction in the internal volume of the container, which can be done by causing a corresponding deformation of the container.
Present-day membranes do not allow product (liquid, semi-fluid or in suspension) to flow in one direction, i.e. from the interior of the container to the exterior, and air to flow in the opposite direction, i.e. from the exterior to the interior of the container, the reason being that the internal and external faces of the membrane are "wetted" by the passage of the product and the external face resists the entrance of new air.
In this type of device it is therefore necessary to provide a container whose internal volume is variable and reduces as the product contained inside it is dispensed.
This requirement results in unattractive-looking containers that are difficult to manipulate when not protected by a protective outer jacket, or difficult and expensive to manufacture if such a protective outer jacket is provided.
Another problem with these devices is that there is no way of dispensing highly viscous products as these require excessive pressure to force them through the sterilizing membranes, the pores of which are of extremely small diameter. Nor can they be used to dispense products in suspension where the particles axe stopped by the membrane.
Another kind of device that can be used to achieve a similar result is disclosed in FR 2 772 007. This comprises a rigid container designed to contain the product to be packaged, a hand pump of the type with no air inlet mounted on the container, said pump being intended to dispense the product in single doses, and a sterilizing filter placed in an air renewal passage formed in the base of the container.
The main problem with this kind of device is that the bottle is rigid and that a dispensing pump has to be used to dispense the product. Such a pump discloses in patent FR 2 772 007 contains numerous elements, including a dose-defining chamber and two valves for isolating said chamber and dispensing precise doses of product. This construction is very expensive and considerably increases the cost price of the device, and the cost of such a pump can be practically equivalent to that of the bottle itself. The cost of such a device makes it unsuitable for its use in certain applications such as, for example, opthamology, in which the products are sold cheaply and do not need precise dosing because the products are dispensed in drop form. A pump capable of dispensing drops requires very precise construction, which increases its cost by a corresponding amount.
Another problem with such a device is that the pump used has a push rod incorporating its own nozzle through which the product is dispensed. It is inherent in the construction of the pump that the push rod is movable and the product is dispensed when the push rod is released and returns to its initial position under the action of a return spring. This mobility of the push rod, and therefore of the nozzle through which the product is dispensed, makes this device unsuitable, and possibly even dangerous, for dispensing eye drops.
Another problem with a device comprising a pump is that it is impossible to sterilize it by heating it because the pump contains plastic components, some of which are inherently unable to tolerate the high temperatures indispensable for sterilizing the complete device before it is put to use.
Another difficulty with this kind of device is that the pump usually contains metal parts, such as the spring or the valves where these consist of steel balls, and these are incompatible with certain fragile or aggressive products or products that may produce an electrolytic effect.

Product packaging and dispensing device comprising a sterile filter bottle which is equipped with a nozzle


Provided are a resin composition which offers both high transparency and a low linear expansion coefficient and can be used as a material for a dry film, and also a dry film obtained from this composition, an optical waveguide, and a photoelectric composite wiring board. The resin composition for an optical waveguide includes: (A) an epoxy resin constituted by a solid epoxy resin with one or less hydroxyl group in a molecule, and a liquid epoxy resin with one or less hydroxyl group in a molecule; (B) a curing agent with one or less hydroxyl group in a molecule; and (C) a nanosize silica sol, and contains no compound including two or more hydroxyl groups in a molecule as a resin component.

Optical fibers have been widely used as a transmission medium in the field of long-range and medium-range communication for FTTH (Fiber to the Home) or automotive applications. High-speed transmission using light has recently also become a necessity for short ranges of less than 1 m. Optical wiring boards of an optical waveguide type that enable high-density wiring (narrow pitch, branching, crossing, multilayer configuration, etc.), surface mounting, integration with an electric substrate, and small-radius curving, which are the features unattainable with optical fibers, have been used in such a range.
In general, optical wiring boards of the following two types are needed. The optical wiring boards of the first type should be interchangeable with printed wiring boards (PWB), and those of the second type should be interchangeable with flexible printed substrates (FPC) used at hinges of small terminal devices.
Since the optical wiring boards of each type should enable electric wiring and low-speed signal transmission for actuating a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) or PH (PhotoDiode), which is a light-receiving element, the ideal board is a photoelectric composite wiring board including an optical circuit and an electrical circuit.
To realize such a configuration, an optical waveguide should be formed on the conventional electrical circuit substrate with a small linear expansion coefficient. Meanwhile, since a resin material constituting the optical waveguide is required to be transparent, no filler can be compounded therewith. For this reason, a resin material with a high linear expansion coefficient is typically used for the optical waveguide. Therefore, an optical waveguide material with a high linear expansion coefficient is laminated on a substrate with a low linear expansion coefficient. The resultant problem is that stresses caused by the difference in linear expansion coefficients appear in the thermal history of the process or thermal history of reliability, and the substrate is warped. As a result of such warpage, stresses are applied to the mounted elements, conduction is disrupted and the chip can be fractured. Accordingly, it is desirable that a transparent resin material with a low linear expansion coefficient be used.
A resin composition in which nanosize particles are compounded with a liquid material is known as a transparent resin composition for an optical material (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-235325
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-40850
Meanwhile, a method for forming a liquid material by spin coating or bar coating and a method for laminating a dry film material that is solid at a normal temperature with a pressing device of a vacuum laminator are typically used for forming a core layer or a clad layer constituting an optical waveguide, but the dry film material that can be used for forming a film by a vacuum laminator method is more preferred because of excellent productivity thereof.
Resin compositions including nanosize particles, such as those of the prior art described hereinabove, have been reported as liquid materials, but dry film-shaped materials that excel in transparency are presently unavailable. This is apparently because of the following problem. Thus, where two or more hydroxyl groups are present in one compound from among the resin composition, curing agent, and other additives constituting the dry film, those hydroxyl groups act together with the hydroxyl groups on the surface of nanosize particles, causing cohesion which results in white turbidity.
Where an attempt is made to remove completely the hydroxyl groups by surface treatment of the nanosize particles in order to resolve the aforementioned problem, the hydroxyl groups are difficult to remove completely because of a steric hindrance of the coupling material modifying the surface. Therefore, the white turbidity caused by cohesion is difficult to prevent.

Resin composition for optical waveguide, dry film, optical waveguide, and photoelectric composite wiring board using same

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