A hydraulic tappet includes a tubular cylinder sideable within a bore of a housing, a piston with a reservoir slideably mounted within the tubular cylinder, a lower piston spring biased away from the piston with the reservoir forming a pressure chamber therebetween. The reservoir being in open communication with pressure oil ports and the pressure chamber selectively being closed or open to said reservoir. The closing or opening of the pressure chamber being controlled by the lower piston and cylinder riding on tracks of a cam which control the relative position of the cylinder and lower piston.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a hydraulic tappet in a valve actuating mechanism, and more particularly to a hydraulic tappet for a valve train in an internal combustion engine.
Description of the Prior Art
A hydraulic tappet in a valve actuating mechanism of an internal combustion engine is known. German Pat. No 1 033 459 discloses an example of the above.
The known hydraulic tappet automatically compensates, in response to lubricating oil pressure in the tappet, for any play or lash in the valve actuating mechanism of the internal combustion engine. Such known hydraulic tappets with automatic length compensation include a tappet cylinder actuated by a cam and a tappet piston arranged slidingly and spring loaded therein, constructed to actuate a valve directly or indirectly. The tappet piston contains a reservoir chamber permanently loaded by the lubricating oil pressure and is movable in the direction of play compensation by a pressure chamber connectible to said reservoir chamber under certain conditions.
During the transmission of movements and forces between cam and rocker lever or valve, the tappet piston is supported through the oil column enclosed in the pressure chamber against the tappet cylinder when a check valve within the tappet is closed and thus the tappet constitutes a virtually rigid connection.
In the case of an increase of play in the valve actuating mechanism, the length of the hydraulic tappet is increased by the spring loaded tappet piston being urged away from the bottom of the tappet cylinder so that a vacuum is produced in the pressure chamber which in conjunction with the lubricating oil pressure chamber causes the check valve to open and lubricating oil to flow out of the reservoir chamber into the pressure chamber until the existing play has been eliminated.
The compensating hydraulic tappet is also capable of being shortened where there is a reduction of play in the valve actuating mechanism. Oil can escape or leak from the pressure chamber at the peripheral gap between tappet piston and tappet cylinder until the necessary reduction of play has been compensated. The oil leaks from the pressure chamber due to powerful compressive forces generated by the cam and valve and a rapid buildup in oil pressure.
Although the known hydraulic tappets in valve actuating mechanisms of internal combustion engines achieve considerable advantages such as the reduction of the noise level and the avoidance of valve play adjustment operations, they exhibit drawbacks. These drawbacks include a limitation of the maximum camshaft speed, restrictions to gentle cam contours, and stringent demands as to freedom from trapped air in the lubricating oil. The individual points which produce these disadvantages are listed hereinbelow.
In order to permit the passage of the lubricating oil from the reservoir chamber into the pressure chamber, which is necessary in the case of an increase in play, it is necessary for the pressure of the lubricating oil supply to overcome the resistance of the check valve. The oil system must maintain a minimum pressure. The minimum pressure must be maintained at idle speed and maximum oil temperature which dictates a correspondingly large capacity lubricating oil pump and a low resistance design of the lubricating oil passages in the engine.
The arrangement of the check valve in the pressure chamber, which is dictated by design considerations, leads to a relatively large volume in the pressure chamber so that the static rigidity of the oil column c=BA.sup.2 /V (where B=compressibility module of the oil, A=effective piston area, and V=volume of pressure chamber) diminishes and thus, negatively influences the natural frequency and the transmission function of the valve actuating mechanism.
In order to ensure the automatic length compensation of the hydraulic tappet in the case of play reduction, relatively large gap widths are necessary at the peripheral gap between tappet piston and tappet cylinder, since otherwise it would be impossible to obtain a corresponding rapid shortening of the hydraulic tappet in the warming-up phase of the engine when immediate power demands lead to a rapid heating of the engine and hence to rapid length increases in the valve actuating mechanism and increases in the volume of the oil in the pressure chamber.
However, the large gap widths which are necessary for the above stated reasons have a disadvantageous influence on the dynamic rigidity of the hydraulic tappet specifically at higher oil temperatures and higher forces. In addition to the diminished static rigidity of the oil column due to a great volume of the pressure chamber, the dynamic rigidity is diminished due to a constant tendency to shorten the hydraulic tappet by leakage at the peripheral gap between the tappet piston and cylinder defined by equation:
Q=ps.sup.3 b/12nl
(Q+leakage flow, P=pressure in pressure chamber, S=radical gap, b=gap width, 1=gap length, and n=viscosity of oil).
A further problem in the known hydraulic tappets occurs when the engine is switched off and switched back on after a period of time. The known hydraulic tappets are designed to allow air to be sucked from the reservoir into the pressure chamber if the hydraulic tappet is stopped in the open position. The introduction of air into the pressure chamber renders the hydraulic tappet inoperable for a period of time upon the next operation of the engine which results in objectionable rattling and shortened valve strokes. Further difficulties with known hydraulic tappets result from the fact that when the valve speed limit is attained at which the rocker lever and tappet are no longer pressed against the cam by the valve spring, a recoil of the oil column in the pressure chamber results in the suction of oil and hence to an undesirable pumping-up of the hydraulic tappet which leads to the destruction of the tappet. Natural vibrations of the hydraulic tappet due to insufficient rigidity can also lead to the destructive pumping-up.


An approach is provided to increase password strength in a group of users. The approach detects a password event corresponding to one of the users. In response to the detected password event, the approach identifies a strength of the user's password and compares it to one or more password strength metrics that correspond to the group of users. The password strength comparison data is then transmitted as feedback back to the user.

Much user authentication in traditional systems relies on user-chosen passwords. The strength of a password in the face of a variety of attacks, from brute force to knowledge-based attacks, continues to be important to prevent unauthorized access of a user account or user data. Techniques that influence users in the strength of their chosen password include enforced password composition policy, lists of banned passwords, feedback on the strength of the password the user is choosing, and providing lists of generated (high-strength) passwords from which the user chooses a password. Most traditional mechanisms rely on restricting users. The feedback on the user's current password strength gives users some transparency into the strength of the choice they are currently making when compared to an algorithm for evaluating the strength of a password against brute force attacks, with the notion that they will chose to get their password to strong (or at least not weak). However, such feedback does not include context of the user community in which the password is used.

International Business Machines Corporation


In a combined acceleration and deceleration device with a carrier housing and a carrier element which is movable along at least one guide track of the carrier housing between a force and/or form-locking park position and an end position under the control of an acceleration arrangement and a deceleration arrangement including a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit with a spring return structure. The cylinder-piston unit carries a guide member which is guided by the guide track and has a curved stop surface and the carrier element has a curved push surface with the push surface area and the stop surface area having different radii of curvature so that they contact each other maximally along a contact line.

The invention resides in a combined acceleration and deceleration device with a carrier housing including a carrier element which is movable along a guide track of the carrier housing between a force- and/or form-locking park position and an end position by means of a carrier element which can be subjected to an acceleration structure and at the same time to a deceleration structure, which includes at least one hydraulic cylinder piston unit with a spring-operated carrier element return mechanism.
EP 1 562 458 A1 discloses such an arrangement wherein however, with a sudden load on the carrier element, the pivot joint between the carrier element and the carriage can be overloaded or the carriage may be tilted and cause an eccentric stress on the piston rod.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device which remains reliably functional even when subjected to multiple shock-like loads.

Acceleration and deceleration arrangement with overload protection


A lunch box container including a bottom wall and a hingedly mounted top wall includes ferrous metallic floors directed into the bottom and top walls recessed relative to the bottom and top walls respectively to receive and secure ferromagnetic inserts to permit configurational changes to the lunch box structure to enhance continued use by individuals. A modification of the invention includes illumination frameworks arranged to direct illumination onto inserts within the frameworks.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to lunch box container structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved lunch box container arranged to accommodate lunch box container configurational inserts for display and enhanced amusement of individuals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Display containers of various types per se are utilized in the prior art such as exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,762,544 and 3,884,349.
Lunch box structure having selective displays are indicated in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,216,862 and 5,054,611.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a decorative display for identification and enhanced amusement of individuals in use providing for ferromagnetic inserts arranged for mounting within the wall structure of the lunch box container and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Lunch box container with magnetic inserts


The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag which has, with respect to its inflated sate, a front wall including a middle portion. The middle portion features a depression in an inflated state of the gas bag, by a restraining means being provided which engages the middle portion and at least partly prevents the same from moving in a direction out of the gas bag module. The restraining means is formed such that it is able to release the middle portion after an initial restraint.

This invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag.
Gas bag modules with a so-called ring-shaped gas bag are already known from DE 36 30 685 A1. Here, the front wall is that wall of the gas bag which in the inflated state is directed towards the occupant and which the occupant can impact upon. The middle portion usually is the center of the front wall, which middle portion remains firmly attached to the gas bag module in the case of the known gas bag, so that in the inflated state the above-mentioned ring-shaped chamber is formed.
From DE 199 04 072 A1 there is likewise known a gas bag module with a ring-shaped gas bag, the middle portion of which is prevented from moving towards the occupant by a funnel-shaped part of the module cover. The funnel-shaped module cover is intended to define a deployment direction radially and obliquely outwards, so that occupants disposed clearly outside a central seating position (centrally with respect to the vehicle seat as seen in longitudinal direction of the vehicle) also experience a restraint. Even occupants seated too close to the steering wheel can not be contacted by the accelerated middle portion, which normally first gets in contact with the occupant, as the middle portion is permanently restrained. There is at best allowed a minor movement of the module cover out of the module towards the occupant (deployment direction), this movement being so small that the occupant cannot get in contact with the cover.
In the known gas bags, this middle portion is not available for restraint, not even in the case of heavy occupants, which are disposed in a central seating position and thus hit the front wall in the region of the depression.
The invention provides a gas bag which restrains heavy and centrally seated occupants even more safely. This is achieved in a gas bag module comprising a gas bag which has, with respect to its inflated state, a front wall including a middle portion. The middle portion features a depression in an inflated state of the gas bag, by a restraining means being provided which engages the middle portion and at least partly prevents the same from moving in a direction directed out of the gas bag module. The restraining means is formed such that it is able to release the middle portion after an initial restraint. In the gas bag module proposed, the middle portion is initially restrained, so that the gas bag first of all radially moves radially and obliquely outwards. In this phase of the inflation process, the depression is formed. In the further course of the inflation process, however, the restraining means releases the middle portion, so that the same can move towards the occupant and the occupant can contact the middle portion, and thus can be restrained by the same. This release of the middle portion can be effected obligatorily in any case or depending on specific frame conditions, e.g. from a specific internal gas bag pressure onwards or depending on the position of the occupant. For instance, a heavy occupant or an occupant having an average weight would generate a high internal gas bag pressure in the case of a high impact intensity, when the occupant falls into the gas bag, which high internal gas bag pressure then results in the restraining means releasing the middle portion, and the latter can contribute to a restraint. Via position sensors, the seating position of the occupant can, for instance, be determined. If in the case of an impact the occupant is positioned too close to the gas bag module or off-center, the restraining means would possibly not release the middle portion at all, in order to achieve a better restraining effect and minimize the risk of the occupant being hurt by the air bag.
The restraining means can, for instance, selectively be destroyed or released during deployment, in order to release the middle portion. This destruction can be effected by the high internal pressure or, for instance, also by the influence of temperature due to the hot compressed gas.
In accordance with one embodiment, the restraining means has a limiting strap which is attached to the middle portion. This limiting strap for instance has a tear seam, which is destroyed for releasing the middle portion.
The use of a releasable latching connection as restraining means also is an inexpensive design.
In accordance with another embodiment, the restraining means has a drive for releasing the middle portion. This drive can be actuated by a control, which is coupled to a sensor, depending on the values detected by the sensor.
In accordance with a less expensive embodiment, the restraining means comprises a loop attached to the inside of the middle portion, and a retaining ring in which the loop is suspended. The loop or the retaining ring are destroyed from a specific physical load onwards.

TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH and Co. KG


The present disclosure provides a wireless feeding system including: a feeding device; and a power receiving device receiving power transmitted from the feeding device; wherein the feeding device includes a power generating section generating the power to be fed, and a resonant element fed with the power generated by the power generating section, the power receiving device includes a power receiving element receiving the power transmitted from the feeding device, and supplies power according to the received power to a load, and at least one of a power propagation path to the resonant element in the feeding device and a received power propagation path in the power receiving device has a frequency characteristic correcting circuit achieving a wider band by expanding a frequency characteristic while maintaining a Q-value as high sharpness of resonance of the power.

The present disclosure relates to a wireless feeding system of a noncontact feeding system in which power is supplied and received on a noncontact (wireless) basis.
An electromagnetic induction system is known as a system for supplying power on a wireless (radio) basis.
In addition, a wireless feeding and charging system using a system referred to as a magnetic field resonance system utilizing an electromagnetic resonance phenomenon has recently been drawing attention.
In the case of the noncontact feeding system of the electromagnetic induction system already used widely now, a magnetic flux needs to be shared between a feeding source and a feeding destination (power receiving side), the feeding source and the feeding destination need to be disposed in very close proximity to each other to transmit power efficiently, and a coupling axial alignment is also important.
On the other hand, the noncontact feeding system using the electromagnetic resonance phenomenon has advantages of enabling power transmission at a longer distance than the electromagnetic induction system and not decreasing transmission efficiency very much even when axial alignment is somewhat poor, due to the principles of the electromagnetic resonance phenomenon.
Incidentally, in addition to the magnetic field resonance system, there is an electric field resonance system utilizing the electromagnetic resonance phenomenon.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-185939 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1), for example, discloses a wireless feeding system employing the magnetic field resonance system.
According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, power is transmitted from a feeding coil connected to a feeding circuit to a resonant coil by electromagnetic induction, and frequency adjustment is made by a capacitor and a resistance connected to the resonant coil.
There has recently been a report on a radio power transmission technique that has achieved transmission of a power of 60 W at a distance of 2 m using the magnetic field resonance system utilizing the resonance phenomenon of a magnetic field.
In addition, there has been a report on the development of a highly efficient "wireless feeding system" that transmits a power of 60 W using the magnetic field resonance system and which drives an electronic device at a distance of 50 cm.
This radio power transmission technology enables radio power transmission of a few 10 W at a distance of a few m, and is thus expected to be applied to new concept products for use in offices and households.


The invention provides thickeners based on carboxyl- and carboxamido-containing addition polymers obtainable by free-radical emulsion or suspension polymerization of:. a) from 30 to 70% by weight of carboxyl-containing, ethylenically unsaturated monomers, PA0 b) from 10 to 70% by weight of carboxamido-containing, ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and PA0 c) from 0.1 to 30% by weight of further ethylenically unsaturated monomers. in the presence of at least 5% by weight of one or more water-soluble protective colloids from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones and (meth)acrylate-(meth)acrylic acid copolymers, the percentages by weight being based in each case on the overall weight of the comonomers.

1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to thickeners based on carboxyl- and carboxamido-containing addition polymers, to their use in coating compositions, adhesives and hydraulically setting binders, and to processes for their preparation.
2) Background Art
In addition to polyurethane thickeners and celluloses, carboxyl- and carboxamido-containing aqueous copolymer dispersions are widely employed as thickeners. They develop their thickening action only in an alkaline medium following neutralization of the carboxyl groups. In order to achieve a good thickening effect, high molecular weights are required in these polymers. A disadvantage of these products is that they possess very high viscosities in neutralized form but in acidic form are not stable on storage. In order to avoid these disadvantages, the following procedures are known.
In EP-A 529 206 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,688) polyacrylamide is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization. This technique can be transferred to carboxylate-containing polymers, and in DE-A 3520507 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,912) a water-in-oil microemulsion comprising an aqueous acrylamide/acrylic acid solution, an organic solvent and a nonionic surfactant is polymerized. A disadvantage of this method, however, is that large amounts of organic solvent must be used in order to ensure the phase inversion and must then be separated off again subsequently, which is complex. These organic solvents, such as Isopar.RTM.M and toluene, moreover, are nowadays unacceptable on environmental grounds.
According to EP-A 736 547 (CA-A 2173297) the problems set out above can be avoided by preparing conventional emulsion polymers from water-soluble and water-insoluble monomers, but again in the presence of organic solvents which must subsequently be separated off by distillation. A further disadvantage is that in order to obtain stable dispersions use is made in addition of surfactant monomers which act as associatively thickening groups.
EP-A 450 437 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,145) describes copolymers based on alkyl acrylates and/or alkyl methacrylates, prepared with polyvinyl alcohol as protective colloid, for use as sizes. The products, however, are unsuitable for use as thickeners since they show no increase in viscosity on neutralization.
The object of EP-A 627 450 was to prepare thickeners based on (meth)acrylate-(meth)acrylic acid copolymers which are present in acidic form as a stable dispersion and exhibit no WeiBenberg effect, without using the toxic compound ethyl acrylate. Said object was achieved by means of polyvinyl alcohol-stabilized, (meth)acrylate-based copolymer dispersions which are described as being suitable thickeners for aqueous dispersions, especially emulsion paints. The thickening effect, however, is not sufficient to provide the required stability in hydraulically setting compositions.
Thickeners obtainable commercially include those based on acrylamide-acrylic acid copolymers prepared by the technique of precipitation polymerization. A disadvantage of such a thickener is that, in the acidic state in which the product is obtained, its storage stability is unsatisfactory, and without stirring the product rapidly forms a sediment and an agglomerating product cake which can no longer be stirred up or disrupted. For this reason the product is converted at an early stage into the neutralized form, in which it is indeed storage-stable but has a very high viscosity (10,000 mPas at 7% solids content) and can therefore be prepared only in very highly diluted form, and hence uneconomically.
The object was therefore to provide storage-stable, water-soluble polymers of low viscosity which can be employed as thickeners.

Thickeners based on carboxyl-and carboxamido-containing addition polymers


An impurity-doping apparatus is provided with: a supporting plate which supports a semiconductor substrate; a wall-like block disposed above the supporting plate floating away from the semiconductor substrate, the wall-like block implements a recess inside so as to establish a space for a solution region containing impurity elements, the solution region is localized on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the upper surface being opposite to an bottom surface facing to the supporting plate; and a laser optical system, configured to irradiate a laser beam onto the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, through the solution region surrounded by the wall-like block, wherein the impurity elements are doped into a part of the semiconductor substrate by irradiation of the laser beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an impurity-doping apparatus, an impurity-doping method, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices using silicon carbide (SiC), especially 4H silicon carbide (4H—SiC), are being expected as power semiconductors. Semiconductor devices of 4H—SiC are typically produced by doping a semiconductor substrate, which includes a 4H—SiC crystalline layer grown epitaxially at a desired concentration, by ion-implantation of impurity elements such as phosphor (P) or aluminum (Al). Specifically, impurity-element ions are accelerated and irradiated onto a semiconductor substrate and implanted into the semiconductor substrate. Then, a process of annealing the semiconductor substrate is performed to recover the crystalline structure of the semiconductor substrate, damaged by the ion-implantation, and activate the impurity elements.
When high-dose amount, for example, about 1015/cm2, of ions are implanted into a (0001) surface ((000-1) surface) of a 4H—SiC semiconductor substrate, it is necessary to heat the semiconductor substrate to about 300 to 800° C. in advance. If the heating is not performed in advance, recrystallization of 4H—SiC and activation of impurity elements are not effectively performed.
The annealing of SiC is performed at about 1600 to 1800° C., which is higher than that of Si. Such high-temperature annealing is known to cause Si atoms to fall off from SiC at the surface of the semiconductor device and roughen the surface of the semiconductor device due to migration. Accordingly, annealing is performed after protection film of aluminum nitride (AlN), carbon (C), or the like is deposed on the surface of the semiconductor device. However, formation of the protection film and its removal increase the number of processes and the processing cost. Moreover, there is a danger of contamination of the surroundings by aluminum (Al) or carbon (C).
As a method for solving such above problems, a technology of laser doping is proposed in non-patent literature (NPTL) 1 and NPTL 2. In NPTL 1 and NPTL 2, the doping method is as follows: a 4H—SiC semiconductor substrate is immersed in a solution as an aqueous solution containing impurity elements, and an interface region between the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the solution is irradiated with laser light. Accordingly, the semiconductor substrate is locally heated and doped by the impurity elements in the solution. The laser lights used in the method proposed by NPTL 1 and NPTL 2 are optical beams having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region, which cause a large absorption coefficient in SiC. According to the techniques of NPTL 1 and NPTL 2, implantation of the impurity elements and activation of the semiconductor substrate are simultaneously performed in an environment substantially at room temperature. Moreover, it is unnecessary to heat the semiconductor substrate in advance and anneal after the implantation of the impurity element.
However, in case of the technology in NPTL 1 and NPTL 2, the semiconductor substrate is needed to be entirely immersed in the solution. Accordingly, a problem arises that a large amount of the solution enough to immerse the semiconductor substrate entirely in the solution is needed for use.

Impurity adding apparatus, impurity adding method, and semiconductor element manufacturing method


A ballast for powering a fluorescent lamp with filaments requiring preheating. Control circuitry within the ballast delays an ignitor from being turned on until the filaments have been sufficiently preheated. The control circuitry is isolated and thereby protected from the high voltage pulses of the ignitor by an optocoupler. A SIDAC employed in the generation of the high voltage pulses is not relied upon for sensing full arc discharge of the lamp. The breakover voltage of the SIDAC can therefore be set at a much lower than conventional level resulting in the generation of more high voltage pulses over a prefixed period of time.

This invention relates generally to a ballast for starting a fluorescent lamp, and more particularly to an ignition scheme for igniting a fluorescent lamp following a predetermined period of time during which the lamp filaments are preheated.
Fluorescent lamps often require that their filaments (electrodes) be preheated prior to lamp ignition. Preheating is often controlled by an automatic switch commonly referred to as a starter. Once the filaments have been preheated, one or more large voltage pulses, generated by an ignitor, are applied to the fluorescent lamp filaments. These voltage pulses are commonly referred to as ignition pulses. Filaments are also frequently heated following ignition.
A starter typically includes two electrodes, at least one of which is bimetallic, enclosed in an argon/helium glass bulb. When the mains are switched on, a glow discharge starts between the electrodes. The heat from the glow discharge causes the bimetallic electrodes to bend toward and come into contact with each other. Current now flows through the electrodes and lamp filaments heating the latter. In the meanwhile, the glow discharge within the starter bulb has stopped allowing the electrodes to cool down and thereby separate from each other. When the electrodes separate, the relatively heavy current flowing through the inductive ballast and lamp filaments is interrupted. Voltage pulses in the order of 1000 volts, sufficient for lamp ignition, are now applied across the lamp filaments. In the event that the lamp does not ignite, the filaments are once again preheated prior to attempting to ignite the lamp.
The amount of heat applied to the lamp filaments prior to application of the ignition pulses thereto is critical in starting the lamp. In lamps that require preheating, it is difficult to start a lamp when the filaments have not been sufficiently preheated. Sputterring of the filaments during unsuccessful ignition can occur. Blackening of the fluorescent bulb and a decrease in lamp life often follows.
Starters, such as described above, do not sufficiently control the amount of heat being applied to the filaments prior to attempted ignition. More particularly, the amount of heat applied to the filaments varies based, in part, on the amount of time that the bimetallic elements remain in contact with each other. An unreliable ignition scheme with consequential sputtering of filament (emitter) material can result.
Ignition of the lamp also depends on the amount of energy within the high voltage (ignition) pulses generated by the ignitor. The amount of energy delivered to the lamp by the high voltage pulses can vary and depends, in part, on the number of high voltage pulses produced over a predetermined period of time. When an insufficient amount of energy is delivered to the lamp, the lamp will not ignite even though the filaments have been adequately preheated.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved ballast scheme in which the fluorescent lamp filaments are sufficiently preheated prior to turning on the ignitor. The ballast should, in particular, more precisely control the length of time that the filaments are preheated prior to attempted lamp ignition. Circuitry employed for controlling the length of time that the filaments are preheated should be isolated from the ignitor to protect the former from the high voltage levels generated by the latter. The improved ballast scheme also should generate ignition pulses having an overall higher energy level than generated by a conventional ignitor so as to provide a more reliable ignition scheme.

Ballast scheme for a fluorescent lamp with preheated filaments

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


A coating material in laminate form, intended for an insulation system for installation elements such as pipes, containers, and ventilation ducts. The insulation system includes a surface that the coating material must cover. The coating material has an outer, first layer made of metal foil, for example an aluminum foil, having a thickness within the 20 to 100 mm and more preferably 30 to 60 mm range, together with a plastic layer placed between the metal foil first layer and the surface of the insulation system.

The invention relates to a coating material in laminate form intended in insulation systems for installation elements such as pipes, containers and ventilation ducts. The invention also relates to an insulation system comprising such a coating material.
In the technical fields of buildings and processes, it is common practice to insulate, for example, pipes and containers. The insulation may be provided in shell form, for pipes, or in the form of panels or mats. A typical insulation is made up of a thermally insulating material, such as mineral wool, which, on its side turned toward the external environment, is provided with a protective outer layer made of plastic, paper or metal, and laminated onto said material. The protective outer layer conventionally has a very small thickness. When this consists of aluminum, the thickness is around 18 μm, which is regarded as the lower limit for an aluminum foil resistant to diffusion. This small thickness means that the outer layer is, however, subject to mechanical damage which may occur, for example, during fitting or maintenance. One standard way of increasing its strength is to provide the outer layer with a reinforcement, for example glass fibers embedded in the outer layer. However, such reinforcement is insufficient to give the outer layer of the insulation the required mechanical properties. Good mechanical properties are important, for example, as regards maintenance, insofar as the insulating surface may, in many cases, be the only support surface available, for example for a ladder. The mechanical properties are also important in confined spaces where there is a substantial risk of a person knocking against the outer layer and damaging it.
In cases where the insulations described above consist of a pipe shell, said shell has, for fitting reasons, a slit which allows it be easily opened and fitted over a pipe. The slit is then sealed by means of a band of adhesive tape for example, just like the joints between the adjacent elements. Examples of such pipe shells and the way they are fitted are indicated for example in document U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,957. In the case in which mats are used, a corresponding sealing operation is performed by means of an adhesive tape or a sheet provided with adhesive.
When such sealing is considered as being insufficient, the insulation may, in accordance with document EP 0 308 191, be provided with adhesion-promoting surfaces in combination with an adhesive tape adapted for this purpose.
To increase the mechanical properties while ensuring satisfactory sealing, it is very commonly appropriate to supplement such insulations during fitting with an outer shell. This shell may for example consist of molded, plastic or metal, coverings that are rigid, but always flexible. The joints that are formed between the coverings are sealed for example by means of an adhesive tape or a sheet of the same type of material as the coverings. In the case in which the insulation takes place on surfaces exposed to condensation, a condensation-impervious means must be placed inside such a covering.
It should be noted that the work undertaken by the person carrying out the sealing operation is demanding, in order to provide a satisfactory result. In many cases, the work is complicated, partly because the pipes and the containers are often of complex shape and extent and partly because accessibility is often limited. In addition, the quality of the adhesion during on-site fitting and operation is often insufficient because of the salty or humid environment.
The metal coverings used, for example those available under the brand name ALUPAK®, or in general those termed "stucco sheet", are formed from pure aluminum with a thickness of 0.1−0.2 mm, which is pressed to the desired shape. There is a manifest risk of causing damage during handling by cuts. In addition, the tear strength is insufficient. The use of coverings made of plastic, available for example under the brand name Isogenopak®, are less advantageous from the standpoint of fire resistance.
The technique described here is the same whether the surfaces are cold surfaces, exposed to condensation, or are hot surfaces, not exposed to condensation.
An estimate in this sector of activity indicates that about 90 to 95% of all insulations are combined with a separate outer layer in covering form, for example as described above. Consequently, this means that in this case there is twice the amount of fitting work, which is expensive and time-consuming, and entails a high risk of surface defects or even integral defects.


An image display device, and a production method thereof are provided, which maximize suppression of warping of a protective panel. A liquid crystal display panel and a transparent protective panel formed from a plastic are arranged facing each other via a cured resin. An outer dimension of the protective panel is made larger than an outer dimension of the display panel. Curing is carried out with an edge of the protective panel fixed with a fixing jig during and after curing. Alternatively, the outer dimension of the protective panel is substantially equal to an outer dimension of the display panel, which is substantially equal to an inner dimension of a case and the protective panel. Curing is carried out with the resin composition in contact with substantially the whole face of the protective panel.

In an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device, to prevent the image display panel from being damaged and to protect the surface thereof, a transparent protective panel such as a glass panel or a plastic panel is arranged on the front face of the image display panel. More specifically, for example, the protective panel is mounted inside a case with a slight gap with respect to the image display panel, by arranging a spacer or the like between the image display panel and the protective panel at the peripheral edge of the image display panel.
However, when such a configuration is employed, the gap between the image display panel and the protective panel scatters light, resulting in decreased contrast and luminance. This leads to the problem that image quality is harmed. Furthermore, in a configuration in which a gap is present, reflection occurs at the interface between the protective panel and air due to their different refractive indices, which leads to visibility problems, especially outdoors.
Based on such circumstances, it has been proposed to fill a resin between the image display panel and the protective panel. For example, in the liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1, a spacer is arranged on the periphery of a polarizing plate which is pasted on the surface of a liquid crystal display panel, and a surface protective glass is mounted on an upper portion of the spacer. Furthermore, the surface protective glass is mounted on the liquid crystal display panel by filling an adhesive so that air bubbles do not enter between the polarizing plate and the surface protective glass.
Patent Document 2 also describes an image display device in which an image display panel and a protective panel are closely adhered via at least one or more layers of a transparent adhesive material. Patent Document 2 describes that excellent impact resistance can be realized by having a predetermined relationship between the thickness of the transparent adhesive material and the dynamic viscoelastic properties measured based on frequency dispersion.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-55641
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-29644

Image display device and production method thereof


A pair of boiler electrodes defines a volume therebetween to be filled with electrolyte to be heated by electrical current passage between the electrodes through the electrolyte. A microporous insulating barrier permeable to the electrolyte is disposed between the electrodes to limit current flow in the electrical current path between the electrodes to a level within the maximum allowable range of the electrode material, the barrier being spaced from the surface of the electrodes at least sufficiently to prevent concentration of current on the electrode surfaces. The barrier includes channels in the vertical direction to accommodate steam removal from the electrolyte. In a particular embodiment employing concentric cylindrical electrodes having a heating space therebetween, a plurality of microporous insulating sheets spaced from each other and from each of the electrodes is disposed concentrically between the electrodes to present a high resistance electrical current path between the electrodes through the electrolyte, and a free vertical steam flow path between the concentric insulating sheets.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electric steam boilers, and particularly to electrode boilers for use with "dirty" water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In immersion type electrode boilers, electrodes connected to an appropriate source of electrical power are either completely or partially immersed within an electrolyte to be heated to produce steam or otherwise to employ the heat so generated. The electrical current density at the electrode surfaces must be kept below that at which unacceptable electrochemical corrosion would occur. As electrical conductivity of the electrolyte employed increases (e.g., by use of high conductivity "dirty" water), electrical resistance to electrical current flow decreases, so that for given voltage the current density within the electrolyte, and consequently the electrical current density at the electrode surfaces, increases. The maximum current density tolerable by the material, e.g., stainless steel, of conventional immersion type boiler electrodes requires use of purified water, or at least water having a conductivity no greater than a certain predetermined level.
Prior art techniques for accommodating high conductivity water include that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 32,116, filed Apr. 23, 1979 by T.A. Keim and my earlier-filed U.S. patents application Ser. No. 34,373, filed Apr. 30, 1979, both assigned to the instant assignee, and both incorporated herein by reference. Each of the above-mentioned U.S. patent applications describes a system employing insulators to maintain electrical resistance regardless of water conductivity at such a level that the current density between the electrodes remains at acceptable values to limit electrode corrosion. The above-cited application Ser. No. 32,116 discloses a system employing an insulating wall having fluid flow paths therethrough. The above-cited application Ser. No. 34,373 discloses a system employing a porous matrix consisting of individual spheres, pellets or cylindrical rods in a porous basket disposed between boiler electrodes.

Microporous insulating barrier system for electrode boiler output control


A machine (20) for lapping or testing gears comprising a single machine column (22) having a first side (24) oriented perpendicular to a second side (26) with the first side having a first workpiece spindle (28) rotatable about a first axis and the second side having a second workpiece spindle (38) rotatable about a second axis. The first workpiece spindle is movably secured to the first side and the second workpiece spindle is movably secured to the second side. The first and second workpiece spindles are movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V. At least one, and preferably both, of the spindles are direct drive spindles. At any relative position of the spindles and their associated gear members (36, 48) along the G, H and V directions, the crossing points of their respective axes remains the same. For lapping, the machine further includes means (64, 66) to introduce lapping compound at the toe end of one of the members rotating in mesh at a location before the point of mesh. The inventive method provides for a smooth transition between points on the tooth surface thus avoiding the formation of a stepped tooth surface. A linear transition, or second order or higher order function transition, between points on the tooth surface eliminates the formation of the stepped tooth surface.

Lapping is a well established process for finishing the tooth surfaces of bevel gears. It is a process that provides an economical alternative to other hard finishing processes for bevel gears and it has been used in all areas except for some aircraft applications.
In the lapping process, a pinion and ring gear are mounted, via appropriate workholding equipment, to respective spindles in a lapping machine that has the same basic design as a testing machine. In most instances of rolling of the gearset, the pinion is the driving member and the ring gear is braked. The gears are rolled in mesh and lapping compound, which can be a mixture of oil (or water) and silicon carbide or similar abrasive, is poured into the meshing zone. Examples of lapping and/or testing machines can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,901 to Hunkeler; U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,940 to Rebeski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,958 to Ellwanger et al.; or, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,058 to Gnadt et al.
Most lapping and testing machines have three degrees of freedom available for realizing relative motion between a ring gear and pinion. The first freedom being relative movement in the direction of the ring rear axis which shall be referred to as direction G or the G axis, the second freedom being relative movement in direction of the pinion axis which shall be referred to as direction H or the H axis, and the third degree of freedom being distance between the ring gear and pinion axes which shall be referred to as direction V or the V axis. The direction V is also known as the "hypoid offset."
In lapping or testing processes, relative movement in the V and H directions effect positional changes in the contact pattern of the members of the gearset, in effect modifying the contact pattern. Lapping involves rotating the gear members in mesh with contact at a desired position on the tooth surfaces. Thus, the members are located at particular V and H positions along with a particular G axis position to effect the desired backlash.
Typically, the V, H and G movements each have an effect on both the lengthwise and depthwise position of the localized tooth contact pattern, the primary effect of the V-axis movement being on the relative lengthwise position of the contact pattern, the primary effect of H-axis movement being on the relative depthwise position of the contact pattern, and the primary effect of G-axis movement being on the backlash.
As the gear set is lapped, contact is shifted toward one of the outer (heel) or inner (toe) portions of the tooth surface by changing the V and H settings as necessary to effect such a shifting of the contact position. As V and H are changed to effect the shifting, the G axis position must also be changed to maintain the desired backlash. When the desired heel or toe position is reached, V and H axes positions are again changed to shift contact to the other of the heel or toe positions with the changing V and H positions being accompanied by an appropriate G-axis change to maintain backlash. The contact position is then returned to the beginning position.
To date, the structure of lapping machines usually has been similar to the construction principle as bevel gear cutting and grinding machines except that in most lapping machines, the shaft angle is permanently set to 90.degree.. Thus, lapping machines have one less degree of freedom than cutting and/or grinding machines.
However, such similarities to cutting and grinding machines results in many machine elements (for example, columns, slides and ways) lying between the ring gear and pinion members which introduces unwanted and uncontrolled compliance into the lapping process. Furthermore, with an increasing number of machine elements between the gearset members, the distance between the gearset members and the machine base undoubtedly increases, thus lessening the beneficial stiffness and stability effects provided by close proximity of the gearset members to the machine base.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lapping machine which eliminates many of the machine elements between gearset members thereby enhancing machine stability.
It is a further object to provide a high speed lapping process including a method to introduce lapping compound during the high speed lapping as well as monitoring vibration of a gearset during lapping as a means to signal optimal conditions of the lapped gearset.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description and the accompanying drawings.


A number of variations may include a method that may include depositing a first layer on a first semiconductor layer in an overlying position with respect to at least one trench structure formed in the first semiconductor epi layer. The first layer may include a first metal and a second metal. A second layer may comprise a material constructed and arranged to scavenge semiconductor material migrating from the first semiconductor layer during annealing may be deposited over the first layer. The first semiconductor layer may be subjected to at least a first annealing act to provide a first structure. At least a portion of the first structure may be stripped to remove any of the first layer not reacted with the semiconductor material to form a Schottky barrier structure during the first annealing act.

The present invention relates, in general, to electronics, and more particularly to semiconductors, structures thereof, and method of forming semiconductor devices.
A Schottky device is a type of semiconductor device that exhibits a low forward voltage drop and a very fast switching action. The lower forward voltage drop translates into less energy wasted as heat, which provides improved system efficiency and higher switching speed compared to conventional PN junction diodes. This makes Schottky devices more suitable for applications requiring higher efficiency power management. Such applications include wireless/portable devices, boost converters for LCD/keypad backlighting, charge circuits as well as other small signal applications.
A need exists to provide a method for forming Schottky barrier rectifiers using alloy compositions that produces stable devices with uniform parameters over a broad range of annealing conditions.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


A liquid applying tool which can create pressurizing action with a simple structure and without any labor at the time of using the liquid applying tool, and allows liquid to be smoothly fed to a tip end of a liquid applicator member with the assistance of the pressurizing action.

In the past, as a liquid applying tool, there has been known a liquid applying tool in which a tip end of a liquid applicator member housed in a tubular shaft of the liquid applying tool is adapted to be projected out of and retracted in the tubular shaft via a tip end opening of the tubular shaft by means of a rotary cam mechanism. The rotary cam mechanism generally includes a rotary cam member provided in the tubular shaft so as to be movable between an advanced position and a backward position, and a cam body formed around an inner peripheral surface of the tubular shaft. The rotary cam mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a knocking member inserted, via a rear end opening of the tubular shaft, in the tubular shaft with a rear end portion thereof being projected rearward from the rear end opening of the tubular shaft. Every time the rotary cam member is pushed by the knocking member, the rotary cam member is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the cam body and can be switched between the advanced position and the backward position. When the rotary cam member is located at the advanced position, the tip end of the liquid applicator member is projected out of the tip end opening of the tubular shaft. When the rotary cam member is located at the backward position, the tip end of the liquid applicator member is retracted in the tubular shaft.
For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a structure which enables liquid in a liquid accommodating tube to be smoothly supplied to a liquid applicator member of a liquid applying tool by pressurizing action which is linked to the operation of a rotary cam mechanism. The liquid applying tool disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 includes a tubular shaft, a liquid accommodating tube movably inserted in the tubular shaft, a rotary cam mechanism for causing the liquid accommodating tube to be moved forward and rearward, a pressurization space defined in the tubular shaft and communicating with an interior of the liquid accommodating tube, and a pusher member (knocking member). In the liquid applying tool, when knocking force is applied to the pusher member to thereby cause the pusher member to be moved forward, a piston which is connected to the pusher member is moved forward and a rotary cam member of the rotary cam mechanism is moved forward to thereby cause the liquid accommodating tube to be moved forward. As the piston is moved forward, it tightly closes the pressurization space to thereby pressurize the pressurization space. Even after the pusher member is released from the knocking force, the piston is adapted to be maintained in the forward position, whereby the pressurization space is maintained in the pressurized state. Thereby, the interior of the liquid accommodating tube which communicates with the pressurization space is pressurized, and liquid accommodated in the liquid accommodating tube can be smoothly supplied to the liquid applicator member with the assistance of the pressurizing action.
However, in the above-mentioned liquid applying tool, a structure which causes the operation of the rotary cam mechanism and the pressurizing action to be linked to each other is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the structure of the liquid applying tool is made complicated.
Moreover, a ballpoint pen having a pressurizing pump mechanism provided in a tubular shaft thereof is disclosed in Patent Literature 2, for example. The pressurizing pump mechanism includes a pressurization chamber communicating with an interior of a liquid accommodating tube inserted in the tubular shaft, an elastic body adapted to be pushed into the pressurizing chamber, a compression spring for causing the elastic body to be biased in a direction to be separated from the pressurizing chamber, and a pusher bar for causing the elastic body to be forcedly moved forward. The pusher bar is inserted in the tubular shaft so as to be partially projected rearward from a rear end opening of the tubular shaft. The ballpoint pen further includes a cap which has an inner ball provided therein and is removably fitted around a tip end portion of the tubular shaft. When the ballpoint pen is used, the cap is removed from the tip end portion of the tubular shaft and then fitted around a rear end portion of the tubular shaft. When the cap is fitted around the rear end portion of the tubular shaft, the inner ball provided in the cap operatively pushes the pusher bar of the pressurizing pump mechanism and maintains the pushed state of the pusher bar, so that the liquid accommodating tube is maintained in a pressurized state.


In refuse incineration, it has been determined that the legal requirements governing refuse incineration can be more easily met by maintaining a uniform depth of charge on the grate. The charging of the refuse and the transport speed of the charge produced by movable refuse feeders can be regulated as a function of the quantity of refuse in the incinerator or in its individual zones. The load of the drive mechanism can be used for measurement and control purposes for maintaing a uniform refuse depth.

1. Field of the Invention
In incineration systems for the incineration of refuse, it is generally desirable that both the exhaust gases and also the particulates, that is flue dust and ashes, are burned as completely as possible. The energy generated during such an incineration process can often be utilized for additional functions, such as generating steam for operating a turbine, etc. In order to insure that the incineration process is efficient, it can be desirable to regulate the quantity of refuse or the depth of the refuse layer on the grates within a refuse incinerator system.
2. Background Information
The grate disclosed in German Patent No. DE 24 46 724 C 3 can be considered an example of one type of incinerator grate which can be used for the incineration of refuse. The grate described therein consists of several grate zones, which comprise both stationary and movable grate bars which overlap one another like roof tiles. The movable grate bars of one zone are simultaneously hydraulically retracted and advanced, to move the charge through the furnace and also to rearrange the charge. To achieve a uniform transport of the charge, all the grate bars are moved at essentially the same speed. The present invention is, however, not restricted to only the combustion grates as disclosed by DE 24 46 724 C 3.
The operation of a refuse incinerator is particularly difficult, in comparison to the operation of coal-fired, oil-fired or gas-fired systems, because the fuel, i.e. the refuse, varies in terms of its composition and combustion properties. The operation of a refuse incinerator can therefore be subject to constant and sometimes extreme fluctuations.
In order to provide approximately constant incineration conditions and safe and reliable operation, essentially constant adjustments of the firing as a function of the fuel which is introduced need to be made. Some of the considerations which can affect the firing conditions include differences in piece size, density, moisture content, net calorific value and flammability of the refuse being burned.
Now and in the future, the principal objective of refuse incineration is the disposal of refuse and the processing of recyclable materials. Therefore, the primary emphasis should essentially be placed on the reduction and elimination of harmful or toxic substances. The energy generated is no longer an urgent necessity, but remains a desirable byproduct.
The most important objective of the incineration should therefore be considered to be the burning of both the exhaust gases and also the particulates, that is, flue dust and ashes, as completely as possible.
These requirements can ultimately only be met by maintaining approximately constant operating, or combustion conditions during the incineration process. Compliance with new legal requirements makes the maintenance of constant combustion conditions increasingly important.
It is known that the incineration of refuse which entails severe fluctuations in calorific value tends to overload or underload the grates. For example, if the calorific value of the refuse decreases on account of an increased proportion of wet or inert material, the heat released and the quantity of steam generated are typically also reduced. Therefore, in order to compensate, additional refuse is typically added to the combustion chamber, whereby the grates can become overloaded.
An incineration regulation system which aims at constant steam production will therefore typically increase the amount of refuse charged into the incinerator when there is a decrease in the calorific value of the refuse. But, as mentioned above, this hcan often lead to an overloading of the grate, and instead of the desired increase in temperature, there can instead be a further reduction of the combustion chamber temperatures, as insufficient burning may result. Moreover, such an overloading can tend to lead to a "trash heap" on the grate, which trash heap can be transported through the incinerator and can ultimately results in ashes which are incompletely burned.
On the other hand, when the refuse has a high net calorific value, the typical response is to decrease the amount of refuse being fed onto the grates, to attempt to bring about a reduction in the heat being generated. However, when the refuse feed is decreased, there can be a danger that if the amount of refuse charged into the incinerator is excessively reduced, there will be "holes" in the layer of refuse on the grate. Such "holes" can results in the escape of cold combustion air, along with plumes of CO, through the layer and up the exhaust stacks.

Method for incinerating refuse, and a control process therefor


A continuous variable valve lift device includes a valve, which opens/closes a channel by means of reciprocation, a control shaft, which is mounted so as to be able to move toward or away from a reciprocation central axis of the valve, a pivotable shoe, which is pivotably coupled to the control shaft, includes a cam insertion part in a recess or through-hole shape and a slide face slidably contacting an end of the valve, and reciprocates the valve when pivoted, and a drive cam, which comes into contact with an inner wall of the cam insertion part, and pivots the pivotable shoe. Thereby, the continuous variable valve lift device can freely adjust a lift amount and a lift time of the valve without changing positions of the drive cam and camshaft, and thus be easily applied to an existing engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a continuous variable valve lift device, in which a valve has simultaneously variable lift time and distance depending on the low-/high-speed operating range of an engine, and more particularly to a continuous variable valve lift device, in which additional components for conducting variable lifting of a valve are minimized, thereby providing a more simple structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
As for an engine, a camshaft is rotated by a rotating force transmitted from a crank shaft, and an intake valve and an exhaust valve are reciprocated up and down with regular timing by cams of the camshaft. Thereby, intake air is supplied to a combustion chamber, and then combustion gas is exhausted. In this process, a fuel-air mixture is compressed and exploded to generate power.
In this manner, a series of elements such as a drive cam, a camshaft, a tappet, a rocker arm, etc. for operating the intake and exhaust valves is called a valve train.
In a conventional art, a valve is installed on an intake or exhaust port in a cylinder head through a valve guide. A spring support plate is installed on a cylinder head body. A valve spring is installed between the spring support plate and a spring retainer. A tappet of the valve is installed so as to contact a drive cam.
The ordinary valve train configured in this way repeats the operation in which the drive cam rotates to push the valve tappet to open the valve while compressing the valve spring, and then the valve is closed by a recovery force of the valve spring.
However, this ordinary valve train makes a single degree-of-freedom system motion by motion of the cam, so that it is impossible to change the valve train depending on engine operation conditions such as high-speed and low-speed engine operation conditions.
In order to solve this problem, there have been developed a variety of continuous variable valve lift devices, each of which is adapted to adjust a lift time and a lift distance of the valve according to the engine speed. However, these continuous variable valve lift devices must change positions of the drive cam and the camshaft, so that it is impossible to easily apply them to existing mass-produced engines.
Further, these continuous variable valve lift devices are designed to adjust the lift time of the valve by increasing or decreasing the lift distance of the valve, so that it is impossible to more efficiently adjust the lift time of the valve.
In addition, the continuous variable valve lift devices additionally require a separate variable cam in addition to the drive cam coupled to the camshaft in order to adjust the lift distance and the lift time of the valve, so that they have complicated internal configuration.


This invention relates to an air purification apparatuses and methods for air purification. The air purification apparatuses pass air through energy beams that form one or more fields of energy within a chamber to produce an outflow of sterilized air. In some aspects, a charge generation system is implemented to repel particles from the chamber walls. In some aspects, the fields of energy extend across substantially an entirety of the cross sectional area of the interior volume of the chamber and longitudinally within the chamber. In some aspects, a controller is configured to rotate a beam of collimated light energy within the chamber at a rotational velocity corresponding to at least V/W, wherein V is the linear velocity of a particle within the chamber along the longitudinal axis, and W is the width of the beam of collimated light energy.

Field
This application relates generally to an air purification apparatus and methods of air purification.
Description of the Related Art
Air circulation and purification systems are directed to the removal of airborne particulates from the air. Airborne particulates comprise a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances, bacteria, viruses and any other substances that are small enough to become suspended in the air and atmosphere. Exposure to airborne particulates poses dangers to humans and other organisms because particulates may, for example, induce allergic reactions or cause sickness. The respiratory system is the major route of entry for airborne particulates. The deposition of particulates in different parts of the human respiratory system depends on particle size, shape, density, and individual breathing patterns.
Air circulation systems, for example, air conditioning and heating systems in buildings, aircraft, vessels and vehicles, have been known to circulate airborne viruses and bacteria, which can spread sickness to the occupants. Some air circulation systems in buildings, aircraft, and automobiles use physical filters to trap dust and other particulates. However, physical filters do not to trap small particulates, for example, viruses and spores. Additionally, physical filters can become clogged which in turn decreases air flow, increasing facility costs. Also, the accumulation of particulates on physical filters requires regular cleaning or replacement of the filter, which can interrupt air flow and can be expensive. In some systems, air is purified or sterilized by irradiating the circulating air with ultraviolet lights. One drawback of this method is that dust and particulates collect on the emission source which reduces the intensity of the ultraviolet light. Over time, this collection of particulates reduces the effectiveness of the purification process. Additionally, ultraviolet systems must slow the air to gain more energy to pathogen exposure time to be effective. Slowing the air, as filters also do, significantly increases energy expenses. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cost effective and efficient means of sterilizing large volumes of air.
The purification of air and objects has been a common requirement for numerous types of practices and environments. For example, sterilized air and objects are required for hospital surgical rooms. The practice of dentistry usually does not require a sterile environment, but it does require the use of sterile dental tools. The state of the art discloses various devices and methods for achieving these objectives. However, the prior art tool sterilization systems may not provide adequate sterilization, or may have similar limitations as those described above generally for air purification systems.
Additionally, recent world developments and increased concern over biological weapons and viruses, such as the SARS virus, or a. niger spores, has created a need for simple apparatuses that provide a safe haven by destroying biological pathogens as well as aerosols and suspended particulates. Conventional technology is directed primarily towards filtration methods for removing the above-noted micro objects. However, filtration has its limits described above: efficiency, cost, size, etc.


Systems and methods for installing, commissioning, testing, and maintaining a fire alarm control panel via a mobile device are provided. Some methods can include receiving a first signal from a fire alarm control panel device, the first signal containing identifying information of the fire alarm control panel device, transmitting a second signal containing the identifying information to a server device, receiving a third signal containing a second piece of information from the server device, and displaying the second piece of information on a user interface device, wherein the second piece of information includes information for installing, commissioning, testing, or maintaining the fire alarm control panel device.

Known user interfaces of fire alarm control panels are not cost effective or easy to use and do not quickly provide a necessary information for installing, commissioning, testing, and maintaining a fire alarm control panel. For example, known user interfaces are not intuitive and do not easily or quickly guide a user to program the fire alarm control panel. Indeed, it may be necessary to identify detailed information from user manuals and have more than fundamental system knowledge to install, commission, test, and maintain the fire alarm control panel.
In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved systems and methods.


An integrated circuit includes a clock input, a first output, and a second output. A programmable pulse generator has a programmable pulse counter coupled to the clock input at least one control input for receiving count information. A fixed delay element is coupled to the programmable pulse counter. A programmable delay element is coupled to the programmable pulse counter and has at least one control input for receiving delay information. A first multiplexer is coupled to the fixed delay element, the programmable delay element and to the first output. A second multiplexer is coupled to the programmable delay element, the output of the fixed delay element and the second output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) integrated circuit technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to on-chip circuits for testing an FPGA for the presence of delay defects.
2. Prior Art
Traditionally, integrated circuits are only tested for functional defects (those that become apparent no matter how slowly the chip is operated). However as semiconductor technology scales, it becomes necessary to check for delay defects as well. A typical example of a delay defect is a contact having an unduly high resistance.
Methods for testing for delay defects in nonprogrammable integrated circuits, such as standard cell ASICs, are known in the prior art. Some of these are applicable also to programmable integrated circuits, including FPGAs. Other testing methods are specific to programmable integrated circuits.
There are three general categories of known test methods: at-speed functional test with the intended design; scan chain testing; and methods specific to programmable logic devices. Each is considered in turn.
In at-speed functional testing, the circuit is tested by running it as in normal operation, but using the highest specified clock frequency. This can be very effective for non-programmable integrated circuits, or for programmable integrated circuits that are already programmed with the intended design and will not be reprogrammed. However for programmable integrated circuits, the need to use the highest specified clock frequency is problematic, since this frequency is very design-dependent and end-user designs are not known at the time of testing.
Scan chains are a widely used technique for performing functional testing of non-programmable integrated circuits (e.g. standard cell ASICs). The various flip-flops in an integrated circuit are connected together to form a shift register scan chain independent of the normal functional logic. By putting the flip-flops in a special scan mode, test data can be shifted into and/or out of the flip-flops.
Scan chains can also be used to test for delay defects. There are two methods for using scan chains to perform delay-defect testing, launch from shift and launch from capture. One example is found in R. Madge, B. R. Benware and W. R Daasch, "Obtaining High Defect Coverage for Frequency-Dependent Defects in Complex ASICs, IEEE Design & Test of Computers," September-October 2003, pp. 46-53.
Common to both methods is that two clock pulses are applied at high speed and path delays exceeding the intervening time are detected. First, a test pattern is loaded using the scan chain. Signals are then launched through the delay paths either by a last pulse of the clock in scan mode ("launch from shift"), or by pulsing the clock in normal mode ("launch from capture"). After a suitable delay, the outputs of the delay paths are captured in the flip-flops by another pulse of the clock, in normal mode. In some cases it may be desirable to pulse the clock multiple times in normal mode before reading out the data.
An FPGA programmed with a particular design can also be tested for delay defects using launch and capture pulses if some means (analogous to a scan chain) is provided to control and observe the flip-flops. In an FPGA, alternatives for controlling and observing the flip-flops include a hard (built-in) scan chain, a soft (programmed as part of the design) scan chain, and a read/write probe circuit using row/column addressing. In the following discussion, the term "scan chain" will be considered to include any of these or other similar means for controlling and observing the flip-flops.
When using launch and capture pulses for delay testing, it is crucial to precisely control the intervening interval, since this governs the time allowed for the signals to propagate through the paths under test. Various circuits and methods for doing so are known in the prior art.
Several examples of such circuits and methods are disclosed in AppNote 5202 of Jul. 15, 2005 from Mentor Graphics, describing an on-chip generator for creating two pulses, one for launch and one for capture, on the same output. The spacing between the pulses is determined by the frequency of an incoming clock, with no ability to adjust it. There is also no ability to alter the number of pulses.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,651 describes a complex on-chip controller capable of delivering various numbers of pulses on the scan and system clocks. The number of pulses is programmable. The timing of the pulses is determined by two "reference clocks," the "functional clock" used during normal operation and a separate shift clock. It does not appear to be possible, let alone convenient, to alter the frequency of the clocks and thus the delay from launch to capture.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,202,656 describes a scheme for "launch from capture" testing. An on-chip PLL provides a high-frequency output, and an on-chip pulse counter passes exactly two pulses from the PLL output to the system clock. The delay between the two pulses can only be controlled by adjusting the PLL frequency, which is not always convenient.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,375,570 describes a scheme for "launch from capture" testing where the launch and capture pulses are both delivered over a single system clock. The length of each pulse is controlled by an on-chip delay line. The launch and capture pulses are triggered by two separate signals from the tester with rapid and precise relative timing. Not all testers are capable of providing such signals.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will observe that none of these prior art methods provide a convenient way to control the launch-capture interval. They either require a sophisticated tester, or a clock whose period equals the desired interval or is an exact multiple of the desired interval. In particular, there is no way to achieve fast launch-capture intervals that are less than the minimum clock period.
Several other methods for delay testing have been developed specifically for FPGAs which take advantage of their programmability.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,514 describes a method for measuring delays through logic in an FPGA. The chip is programmed to implement one or more free-running ring oscillators which include the desired delay path. The output of the oscillator is connected to on-chip counters to measure its frequency and duty cycle. It is not clear from this reference if the counters are intended to be built with programmable logic or hard circuitry.
This scheme has several disadvantages. First, clock-to-output delays through flip-flops may only be incorporated into the ring by adding delay elements to reset the flip-flop after some suitable delay, which must be safely below the period of the oscillator. In addition, the scheme does not appear to support measurement of setup times at flip-flop inputs. Further, some of the programmable logic and routing is consumed to either implement the counters or convey the oscillator outputs to a central hard-logic counter. This increases the number of test designs that are required to be sure all circuitry is included in at least one ring oscillator. If a central hard counter is used, it may become a bottleneck preventing testing of multiple oscillators simultaneously, increasing test time.
Another category of delay testing methods for FPGAs works by detecting differences in delay on pairs of paths with matching nominal delay (i.e. two equivalent paths that should have identical delays). If the actual delays of the matched paths differ significantly, it indicates a defect. Two such methods have been described in the prior art.
E. Chmelar, "FPGA Interconnect Delay-Fault Testing," Proc. Int'l Test Conf. (ITC 03), 2003, pp. 1239-1247, describes a delay fault test technique using paths of matched nominal delay in an FPGA with a special delay mismatch detection circuit. However the delay mismatch tolerance is determined by the actual delay of a certain routing path, which is quite inflexible. Altering the tolerance requires reprogramming the FPGA to insert or remove routing resources in the path. Reprogramming the FPGA unnecessarily increases total test time.
M. Abramovici and C. Stroud, "BIST-based delay-fault testing in FPGAs," Journal of Electronic Testing: Theory & Applications, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp. 549-558, 2003, suggest using paths of matched nominal delay in FPGAs and detecting mismatches using a counter. Their approach has several disadvantages. The use of counters has the same drawbacks cited above in connection with the ring oscillator scheme. The precision of the delay discrimination is limited by the maximum frequency of the counters. Finally, if a central counter is used, it is difficult to convey the high-speed pulses from the ends of the paths under test to the central counter.
For volume production it may sometimes be desirable to test FPGAs for use with a specific customer design. In this case, defects in circuitry not used by the particular design can be ignored. Even in this case however the testing is still generally performed by programming multiple test designs into the chip.

On-chip probe circuit for detecting faults in an FPGA


A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) module for a vehicle includes a base, a cover, and a clamp. The base is configured to define a post protruding from a wall of the base. The cover is configured to define a hole that cooperates with the post to couple the cover to the base to form a housing of the module. The base is further configured to define the clamp which is coupled to the wall by a hinge. The clamp is operable between an open position where the hole can be placed around the post and a closed position where the clamp retains the hole around the post.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) modules for vehicles typically include a hollow housing. Heat exchangers, airflow creation devices, and/or airflow directing devices are typically disposed within the housing of the HVAC module. These components cooperate to receive, temper, and redirect a flow of forced air from an upstream blower assembly to and through a downstream outlet to be dispensed to the cabin of the vehicle. An exemplary HVAC module is disclosed in United States Patent Application Number 2010/0240294 published Sep. 23, 2010 by Goupil. Goupil shows a HVAC module with a housing partially formed of a flexible (i.e. pliable in response to a predetermined force) material that relies on a skeleton structure to attach the flexible portion of the housing to a rigid portion of the housing that supports other parts of the HVAC module such as a blower. There is a continuing need for HVAC modules that weigh less and are less expensive to manufacture.


A system can allow users of mobile devices to opt-in to receive emergency notifications based on a source mobile device sending a notification of an emergency situation. The users of the mobile devices can filter reception of the notification based on several factors including, but not limited to location, time, type of event etc. The system can also comprise video devices capable of being activated and/or recording video in response to an indication that the notification as been sent. Additionally, notifications and identification of mobile device users intending to response to the emergency can be sent to emergency personnel to assist the emergency personnel in determining who should be at the scene of the emergency.

Alarms or emergency notifications are typically sent to security management firms or perhaps directly to a police public safety answering point (e.g., 911 operator). However, in some geographic areas, it can take emergency services half an hour to respond to such notifications, either due to distance or perhaps traffic conditions. Consequently, the increased response time can lead to increased negative consequences for individuals experiencing the emergency situation.
The above-described background relating to facilitating community notifications for emergency events is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

Facilitation of community notification for emergency events


A laser arrangement comprising a ring cavity at least two gain portions in said ring cavity, an input-output coupling connected to said ring cavity, a discriminator means connected in said ring cavity and adapted to discriminate between a pumping signal and an output signal and pumping means for providing said pumping signal and connected to said gain portions of said ring cavity such that, upon activation of said pumping means, said laser arrangement operates as a laser producing a laser output at said input-output coupling.

The present invention relates to a Brillouin/Erbium laser arrangement and in particular, to a bidirectional single elliptical polarization high efficiency and output power all fibre laser arrangement and its application to current sensing.
Brillouin fibre lasers (BFL) are particularly useful in fibre sensors due to extremely narrow linewidths and they have been the subject of considerable research at a number of different wavelengths [S. P. Smith, F. Zarinetchi, and S. Ezekiel, Opt. Lett., vol. 16, p. 393,1991]. They have found applications such as gyroscopes [S. Huang, K. Toyama, B. Y. Kim, and H. J. Shaw, Opt, Lett., vol. 18, pp. 555-557, 1993] and current sensors [A. Kxc3xcng, P. -A. Nicati, and P. A. Robert, IEEE Photon. Technol, Lett., Vol. 8, p. 1680, 1996]. Such devices are realized by using two counter-propagating Brillouin lasers sharing the same fibre ring resonator and experiencing different apparent cavity lengths due to nonreciprocal phaseshifts induced by either Sagnac or Faraday effects. These two counter-propagating Brillouin lasers will therefore oscillate at slightly different optical frequencies and the optical beat frequency will be linearly proportional to either the rotation rate or the electric current. These types of sensors have much simpler signal processing than more conventional devices [I. G. Clarke, Opt. Lett., vol. 18, pp. 158-160, 1993] based on Sagnac loop. To achieve maximum sensitivity of the current sensor to the Faraday effect it is necessary to keep the laser polarization states circular although some degree of ellipticity is acceptable.
The conventional technique to produce a BFL is to construct a critically coupled fibre resonator, required because of the small magnitude of the Brillouin gain [G. P. Agrawal, in Nonlinear Fibre Optics, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1989]. Principal disadvantages of critically coupled BFLs include the small output power that can be achieved, the requirement of cavity matching to the pump signal, and the difficulty in incorporating intra-cavity elements because of their associated loss.
Brillouin/erbium fibre lasers (BEFL) [G. J. Cowle and D. Yu. Stepanov, J. Lightwave Technol., VOL. 15, PP. 1198-1204, 1997] combine Brillouin gain as used in BFLs with gain from erbium-doped fibre (EDF) to yield laser sources with unique properties. Narrow bandwidth nonlinear gain from stimulated Brillouin scattering in Single Mode Optical Fibre (SMOF) precisely determines the wavelength of operation, and gain in erbium-doped fibre (EDF) allows efficient operation and large power extraction. BEFLs do not require cavity matching to the Brillouin pump frequency since the BEFL resonator is not critically coupled. The Brillouin pump can be removed from the laser cavity to avoid spurious injection locking. In [G. J. Cowle and D. Yu. Stepanov, Opt. Lett., vol. 21, pp. 1250-1252, 1996] the laser cavity was made non-resonant in the direction of the Brillouin pump injection using a pigtailed bulk isolator. However, such an approach is undesirable for the sensing applications which require bidirectional operation.
It is an object of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved laser arrangement which overcomes the disadvantages of the aforementioned laser arrangements and is further preferably capable of being applied to electric current measurements.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a laser arrangement comprising a ring cavity, at least two gain portions in said ring cavity, an input-output coupling connected to said ring cavity, a discriminator means connected in said ring cavity adapted to discriminate between a pumping signal and an output signal, and pumping means for providing said pumping signal and connected to said gain portions of said ring cavity such that, upon activation of said pumping means, said laser arrangement operates as a bidirectional laser producing a laser output at said input-output coupling.
In one embodiment, the laser arrangement comprises a ring cavity with Brillouin gain portions, a bidirectional optical amplifier and an elliptical polarizer interposed in predetermined portions of the ring cavity, input-output couplings connected to the ring cavity, and pumping means connected to the Brillouin gain portions of the ring cavity, such that, upon activation of the pumping means, the laser arrangement operates as a bidirectional laser and produces an output at said input-output couplings.
Preferably the laser arrangement acts as a Brillouin laser for obtaining a bidirectional single polarization high power output at the frequencies shifted down from the frequencies of the pumping means by an amount determined by the Brillouin shift in the glass fibre.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention the aforementioned laser arrangement is applied to the measurement of an electric current by measuring the optical beat frequency between counterpropagating waves in the ring cavity. The optical beat frequency being linearly proportional to the current value.
Preferably, the optical amplifier is formed from the one piece of rare earth doped optical fibre with a separate pumping means connected to the rare earth doped optical fibre.
Preferably, the elliptical polarizer is formed from the one piece of spun highly birefringent polarizing fibre (PSHBF) polarizing in the wavelength range of the laser operation [I. G. Clarke, Opt. Lett., vol. 18, pp 158-160, 1993].
The Brillouin pump should be removed from the ring cavity to enable the laser to be operated in the BEFL mode. This can be achieved using a number of different techniques with the preferred embodiment utilising a polarizing spun highly birefringent fibre. Alternatively, a blazed grating or other discriminators, could be utilized, provided that the discriminator does not inhibit the bidirectional operation of the laser arrangement.
In broad terms, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a Brillouin laser, comprising Brillouin gain portions and a rare-earth doped optical amplifier inserted into a ring cavity.
More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a bidirectional single polarization high output power laser arrangement at the frequencies shifted down from the frequencies of the pumping means by an amount determined by the Brillouin shift in the glass fibre, comprising Brillouin gain portions for obtaining gain in opposite directions at shifted frequencies, input/output couplers to provide input/output coupling and feedback through the ring cavity, an optical amplifier to compensate for the ring cavity losses, and a polarizing spun highly birefringent fibre (PSHBF) to prevent injection of the Brillouin pumping means into the optical amplifier.
The concept of the laser arrangement is as follows: First increase the gain of the optical amplifier to a level just below that required for the arrangement to operate as a laser. Elliptically polarized light from an external narrow linewidth laser is then injected into the predetermined portions of the ring cavity to stimulate Brillouin scattering in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. In scalar-type backward stimulated Brillouin scattering, circularly or elliptically polarized Brillouin pump is reflected into the Stokes wave as if from a conventional mirror [B. Ya. Zeldovich, N. E. Pilipetsky, and V. V. Shkunov, in Principles of Phase Conjugation, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1985], ie. with the reversal of rotation sense and preservation of the orientation of the ellipse. With sufficient intensity of the injected Brillouin pump an elliptically polarized Brillouin signal is generated in the opposite direction and with the opposite rotation sense supported by the PSHBF at a frequency separated from the injected signal by the Stokes shift and it will eventually have sufficient gain to reach a lasing threshold by virtue of the combination of the Brillouin gain and the gain in the optical amplifier.
Preferable key features of the laser are that it does not need a low loss resonator, instead using an optical amplifier to equalise the resonator losses, which allows it to obtain high power output, and it does not require an optical isolator, instead using a PSHBF to isolate the Brillouin pump, thus allowing for the bidirectional operation. The PSHBF prevents both depletion of the optical amplifier gain by an injection locking to the Brillouin pumping means and provides feedback for the Brillouin signal.
In a preferred embodiment, the Brillouin gain portions are lengths of single mode optical fibre and the optical amplifier comprises a section of erbium doped fibre which is optically pumped through a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) coupler. With sufficient pump power applied, the ring laser would operate as a normal erbium doped fibre ring laser. However, in this embodiment, laser action is originated from signals shifted down in frequency by an amount determined by the Brillouin shift in the glass fibre, generated from an external narrow linewidth laser source. The Brillouin pump signals injected in opposite directions are non-resonant in the laser cavity as they are blocked by the PSHBF in the ring and hence do not enter the EDF section of the ring. However the Brillouin signals generated in the opposite directions with respect to the corresponding Brillouin pumps are amplified by the amplifying section of the ring. The polarizing spun highly birefringent fibre prevents the ring from operating as an injection locked laser and sets the internal polarization state of the laser.
Such an arrangement has advantages in producing bidirectional high output power narrow linewidth laser sources for fibre sensors. The laser has only one elliptically polarized eigenstate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. This makes the laser very attractive for current sensing using the Faraday effect. Additionally, the laser also has application in the gyroscope area. Elliptical polarization of the counter propagating laser eigenstates also ensures that spatial hole burning in the amplifying section of the laser is reduced as the standing wave pattern is close to a helicoidal shape and thus the light field intensity approaches uniformity along the doped fibre.
To measure nonreciprocal phaseshifts induced by the Faraday effect when an electric current is applied to a conducting coil wound around the PSHBF section of the laser, the frequency of the optical beat produced by the counter-propagating lasing modes can be analysed using a radio-frequency spectrum analyser (RFSA). For experimental convenience and to prevent possible lock-in of the counter-propagating lasing modes at low currents, the optical beat frequency in this embodiment is preferably biased using a frequency shifter by shifting the frequency of one of the Brillouin pumps, thus shifting the corresponding Brillouin gain maximum. Given the sweep time xcfx84 of the RFSA is much longer than the electric current waveform period T and the ratio xcfx84/T is known, the waveform can be reconstructed from the RFSA spectrum and the current can be measured.

Brillouin/erbium fiber laser current monitor using elliptically polarizing fiber