Embodiments for controlling exhaust air-fuel ratio are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises adjusting upstream exhaust air-fuel ratio to maintain a first emission control device at or below a threshold temperature, and when the upstream exhaust air-fuel ratio is below a threshold, injecting air into an exhaust passage between the first emission control device and a second emission control device to maintain downstream exhaust at a different, higher air-fuel ratio. In this way, excess emissions may be converted while maintaining the emission control devices below a maximum temperature.

Turbo charging an engine allows the engine to provide power similar to that of a larger displacement engine while engine pumping work is maintained near the pumping work of a normally aspirated engine of similar displacement. Thus, turbo charging can extend the operating region of an engine. However, in severely downsized engines, the close coupling of the turbocharger and downstream exhaust components, such as catalysts, can present difficulties during high load engine operation. For example, the high exhaust temperatures of high load operation can damage the turbocharger and/or catalyst. To avoid degradation to the exhaust components, the engine may be operated with rich combustion in high load conditions to lower exhaust temperatures.
However, the inventors herein have identified potential issues with the above approach. For example, the rich operation may produce a significant amount of CO and HC emissions. Further, the lowered exhaust temperatures may result in these emissions going unconverted in the downstream catalysts.
Thus, in one example, some of the above issues may be at least partly addressed by an engine method comprising adjusting upstream exhaust air-fuel ratio to maintain a first emission control device at or below a maximum temperature, and when the upstream exhaust air-fuel ratio is below a threshold, injecting air into an exhaust passage between the first emission control device and a second emission control device to maintain downstream exhaust at a different, higher air-fuel ratio.
In this way, the temperature and air-fuel ratio of the downstream emission control device, which is further from the exhaust manifold and thus subject to lower exhaust temperatures than the upstream emission control device, may be adjusted independently of the upstream emission control device. By doing so, emissions that escape from the upstream emission control device unconverted may be converted in the downstream emission control device, without subjecting the upstream emission control device to high temperatures which may contribute to component degradation.
In one example, the temperature and air-fuel ratio of the downstream emission control device may be adjusted via the introduction of secondary air into an exhaust passage between the upstream emission control device and the downstream emission control device. The secondary air may include compressed intake air routed from the intake passage to the exhaust passage. Further, in some embodiments, the compressed intake air may be routed to the exhaust passage via an LP-EGR passage coupled the exhaust passage. The secondary air may be introduced based on feedback control to maintain a downstream air-fuel ratio at stoichiometry and/or maintain a temperature of the downstream emission control device within a threshold range.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for using solar energy to enhance the efficiency of a compressed air energy storage system (and visa-versa). The apparatus comprises a photovoltaic panel to drive a compressor, which provides compressed air energy into an inner vessel housed within a storage tank. Two solar receiving panels are used to heat water which can be circulated and stored within an annulus surrounding the inner vessel, wherein the heated water can help regulate the temperature of the compressed air within the tank. This way, when air is released using a turbo expander, any excess temperature drops that can otherwise result from air expansion can be avoided. The overall system efficiency is enhanced by the chilled air by-product of the turbo expander which is used to generate more electrical power from an associated fuel-driven generator set, and/or by the waste heat from the compressor and from the generator set exhaust which is used in a Combined Heat and Power system (CHP) to power either a steam-driven generator set or an absorption chiller.

Due to the growing demand for energy throughout the world, concerns have grown about the future of the world's energy supplies. Not only are there limited supplies of oil and coal reserves available within the earth's crust, but due to the ongoing security problems and concerns that now exist throughout the world today, there has been a growing desire to reduce our nation's reliance on foreign oil.
Indeed, many energy experts believe that a successful energy solution must include the ability to harness energy from what are often called natural renewable resources, such as the sun and wind. The renewability and abundant availability of these resources make them well suited to the development of potentially viable long term solutions, and many believe that whatever efforts that are currently being made to use these resources must significantly be expanded before the world's oil and coal reserves eventually run out.
One problem associated with the use of renewable energy such as the sun and wind is that the energy is not always available when the energy is needed. Solar power, for example, is only available during the day, and is most effective when the sun is shining brightly, and therefore, the extent to which energy can be provided by the sun is not always predictable. Wind energy is also only available when the wind is blowing, and therefore, it is not a highly reliable source of energy. Another drawback to these resources is that even when energy is available, the amount of energy that they generate is not always consistent. For example, even when the wind blows, it does not always blow at the same speed, or at regular intervals, and therefore, the amount of energy that can be generated is not always consistent. The same is true of solar energy, i.e., the degree to which the sun is shining and available can be sporadic; it often depends on the weather, and therefore, it is never certain how much energy can be generated at any given moment in time.
One potential solution to these problems is to store the energy during times when the energy is available, and using the energy when it is needed most. This is often referred to as time-shifting. Nevertheless, one problem associated with time-shifting relates to the inherent inefficiencies that can result from having to store energy in one form, and then converting the energy into another form before it can be used. This is especially true of compressed air energy storage systems that store compressed air in high pressure storage tanks, wherein the energy must be converted by a generator to produce usable electricity. In such case, the energy used from storage can often end up costing more than the energy that was stored. These inefficiencies can significantly reduce the economic incentives that are needed to promote the installation of these potentially viable systems.
Notwithstanding these problems, because the sun represents a significant natural resource that will never run out, there is a strong desire to develop a system that can not only harness the sun's energy, i.e., to produce electricity, but to store the energy, and do so in a manner that is efficient and cost-effective, wherein the energy that is generated can then be made available on a continuous and uninterrupted basis, so that it can be used during peak demand periods, as well as when little or no sun is available. Moreover, while there has been a steady increase in the number of photovoltaic (PV) cell projects that have been initiated and developed in recent years, each of these projects has had a serious shortfall in electric power production particularly in the late afternoon and early evening when the power demand is high. Thus there is a need to install a PV panel system wherein the excess energy can be collected and stored during the high solar irradiation period and then used during the weaker solar irradiation period.

Method and apparatus for using solar energy to enhance the operation of a compressed air energy storage system


An array substrate comprises: a plurality of flexible cushions; and a plurality of signal lines, wherein the signal lines have ends respectively located on the flexible cushions.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of display technology, and particularly to an array substrate, a display panel and a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIG. 1, bonding pads 11 are formed at ends of signal lines 1 in an array substrate. As shown in FIG. 2, electrodes 21 of a flexible circuit board chip on flex (COF) 2 are connected to the bonding pads 11 through an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) 3. There are conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive film 3. The electrodes 21 are electrically connected to the bonding pads 11 through the conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive film 3. In order to ensure that there is no short-circuit between the adjacent bonding pads 11, the number of the conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive film 3 is limited, and thus a width of the bonding pads 11 needs to be larger, thereby ensuring a certain resistance while effective electric connections are formed between the electrodes 21 and the bonding pads 11.
However, the more the width of the bonding pads 11 is, the more the pitch among the signal lines 1 is, so that utilization ratio of the space is reduced against the narrow-frame requirement of the display device.

Array substrate, display panel and display device


A specimen stage for charged-particle scanning microscopy comprises a non-magnetic platform for supporting a specimen, at least one probe pin assembly including a probe pin for contacting a selected portion of the specimen, the probe pin being electrically insulated from the platform and being electrically coupled to an output, and an elevator mechanism operable to move the platform for bringing the specimen into and out of electrical contact with the probe pin(s), substantially without moving the probe pin(s).

Charged-particle scanning microscopy has become a very important tool for examination of specimens having microscopic-scale and/or nanoscale features. Scanning electron microscopy is a versatile form of charged-particle scanning microscopy that is extensively used in the biological sciences and in physical sciences and technology, especially in microelectronics development and manufacturing. The utility and versatility of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) arises in part from the various modes of image formation that an SEM can employ, such as secondary electron emission, Auger electron emission, backscattered electron contrast, cathodoluminescence, characteristic X-ray emission, and electron-bean induced current (EPIC). Several of these modes are susceptible to interference by magnetic fields that may be present in the vicinity of a specimen being examined. In microelectronics development and manufacturing, the SEM is often used for defect and yield analysis of semiconductor integrated circuits.
Specimens to be examined in an SEM are often mounted on conductive specimen stubs, e.g., with conductive paste. Such electrical contact to a specimen mounted on such a stub may be required to prevent charging of the specimen during scanning with the electron beam or other charged-particle beam. Some modes of using SEM's require at least one electrical contact in addition to back side contact to a stub. The electron-beam induced current (EPIC) mode is such a mode.
Various special-purpose stages have been developed for use in SEM's and other charged-particle-beam instruments, such as electron-beam and ion-beam lithography systems. For example, special-purpose stages have been made for heating specimens, for cooling specimens to low temperatures, for tensile-strength testing in an SEM, for wet specimens, for scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), for combination SEM and scanning probe microscopy, etc.
Using a charged-particle-beam scanning instrument such as an SEM for defect and yield analysis of semiconductor integrated circuits in microelectronics development and manufacturing, for example, often requires examination of multiple specimens in electron-beam induced current (EPIC) mode. As each new specimen has been introduced into the instrument, it has been necessary to re-position electrical contacts on the new specimen, a time-consuming process that is sometimes difficult to perform reproducibly so that various specimens will be examined with equivalent corresponding electrical-contact arrangements. Thus, there is a need for a specimen stage that allows fast, convenient, and repeatable specimen exchanges with repeatable electrical contacts in a charged-particle-beam scanning instrument.

Specimen stage for charged-particle scanning microscopy


A compact bidirectional module for multichannel use includes at least one transmitter and at least one receiver combined in a transmission/reception unit installed in a common housing, and at least one further such transmission/reception unit or at least one additional transmission unit or one additional reception unit provided in the common housing. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission/reception unit is constructed in accordance with a bidirectional transceiver module which is described in German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 93 120 733 A1 and is also referred to as a TO-BIDI module, and additional transmission or reception units are likewise constructed by using the TO construction. Thus, a compact module that combines the assemblies of the known BIDI module and those of the TO-BIDI module, with their characteristics is provided.

The invention relates to a transmission and reception module for bidirectional optical message and signal transmission, in which a fiber connection for an optical fiber and lens coupling optics are disposed in a common housing. Such modules include a first optical unit, which contains a transmitter, is disposed on the longitudinal axis of the housing defined by the fiber axis. Such modules include at least one beam splitter disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis, and on the longitudinal axis, in the interior of the housing. By means of the beam splitter, it is possible to deflect beams of light radiation from and to at least one corresponding further optical unit. These optical units disposed to the side of the longitudinal axis. For many years, fiber-optic message transmission used transmission of at least one channel in each case, bidirectionally, using the full-duplex or half-duplex method. By way of example, European Patent Application 0 463 214 A1 discloses a transmission and reception module, which is known as a BIDI module, for bidirectional optical message and signal transmission. In this module, the two active components (the light transmitter and the light receiver) are installed as autonomous components encapsulated such that they are hermetically sealed in a common module housing. In a hollow interior of the common module housing, a beam splitter and lens coupling optics are disposed. The module also includes a fiber connection for a common optical fiber. The transmitter injects an optical signal into the attached glass fiber, while another optical signal can be received from the same fiber simultaneously or at a different time. The beam splitter separates the two signals. The beam splitter also may contain a WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) filter, in which one specific wavelength can be reflected, and another can be passed.
If, apart from the respective one channel in each direction, it is intended to transmit a further channel in at least one direction, then an external fiber splitter or an external WDM filter can be installed in the supplying glass fiber. This glass fiber can be located upstream of the module. However, this represents a relatively impracticable solution.
On the other hand, a so-called multichannel transceiver module is proposed in German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 93 114 859 A1. In this application, at least one further light transmitter and/or light receiver with associated lens coupling optics and at least one further beam splitter are provided in the common housing of a conventional BIDI module as described above. The further light transmitter or transmitters and/or light receiver or receivers is or are designed preferably in the form of the so-called TO (transistor outline) standard construction. TO standard construction has been described in German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 93 120 733 A1. However, this solution has the disadvantage that bidirectional transmission of a further channel requires two TO modules, namely a transmission module and a reception module, in the common housing.
European Patent Application 0 644 668 A1 discloses a transmission and reception module for bidirectional optical multichannel transmission having a light transmitter, a light receiver, a fiber connection for a common optical fiber, lens coupling optics, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter is positioned at an intermediate point in the beam path, and is disposed in a common housing. At least one further light transmitter and/or light receiver, with associated lens coupling optics, and at least one further beam splitter are provided in the common housing. In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the beam splitters are disposed one behind the other in the beam path, and parallel to one another, inclined at an angle of 45xc2x0 to the beam path, between the fiber connection and the opposite light transmitter, in the axial direction of the optical fibers in the housing.
European Patent Application 0 487 391 A1 relates to an optical bidirectional transmission and reception module having a common fiber connection opening, a plurality of transmitters, a plurality of receivers, and a corresponding plurality of light paths. Beam splitters are in each case disposed upstream of the transmitters and receivers in two mutually parallel levels. The object of this arrangement of beam splitters is to allow light at a wavelength corresponding to the respective transmitter or receiver to pass, and to reflect light at all other wavelengths.
A compact bidirectional transmission and reception device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,624. The compact bidirectional transmission and reception device has a planar convex lens with a beam-splitting wavelength filter disposed on its planar surface. This lens is positioned between a transmitter and a receiver. This arrangement produces a compact transmission and reception device. In addition, in FIG. 4, this document shows a linear array of such lenses, by means of which radiation beams from such a linear arrangement of transmitters can be injected into a linear arrangement of optical fibers.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to specify a transmission and reception module having a multichannel capability for bidirectional optical message and signal transmission. This reception module also is designed to save space and expand by adding further bidirectional channels in as simple a manner as possible.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a transmission and reception module for bidirectional optical message and signal transmission. This module features a common housing forming an opening and containing lens coupling optics and a fiber connection for an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis. The module also includes a first optical unit containing a transmitter disposed along the longitudinal axis. In addition, the modules includes a second optical unit adjacent the longitudinal axis, at least one of said first optical unit and said second optical unit being a combined transmission/reception unit having a unit housing at least partially surrounding a transmitter and a receiver, the unit housing mounted in said opening in said common housing. The module further includes a beam splitter in said common housing disposed on the longitudinal axis and at an oblique angle thereto. The beam splitter deflects beams of light radiation between said first optical unit and said second optical unit.
The invention described further below with reference to exemplary embodiments achieves this object in a compact module in which at least one transmitter and at least one receiver are combined in a transmission/reception unit. This unit is installed in the common housing. Furthermore, at least one additional such transmission/reception unit or at least one transmission unit or one reception unit are provided in the common housing.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission/reception unit is designed in accordance with a bidirectional transceiver module which is described in German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 93 120 733 A1 and is also referred to as a TO-BIDI module. Furthermore, the at least one transmission unit or the at least one reception unit is preferably designed as a TO module. The invention thus describes a compact module that combines the assemblies of the known BIDI module and those of the TO-BIDI module with their characteristics.
The multichannel BIDI thereby produced can transmit one channel, or more than one channel, in the respective directions simultaneously, in addition to the normal bidirectional function on two bidirectional channels.
A conventional BIDI module having two bidirectional channels, that is to say one transmission channel and one reception channel, thus becomes a module with three channels by the use of a TO transmission or reception module by means of a TO-BIDI having the same external dimensions. If one TO transmission module is replaced by a TO-BIDI, one transmission and reception channel and a second reception channel result. If one TO reception module is replaced by a TO-BIDI, the configuration produces two transmission channels and one reception channel. Finally, if a TO laser and TO receiver are each replaced by TO-BIDIs, then the configuration produces two transmission and two reception channels: i.e., four channels. This can, of course, also be expanded to the module arrangement having three TO components, resulting in modules with five and six channels. The corresponding expansion to even more channels can be achieved by appropriate lengthening of the module by simultaneous outputting by means of additional filters in the optical beam path to the corresponding additional TO components. In optical terms, this can be done in a particularly simple manner by designing the optics of the TO components for one collimated beam in the module. The maximum possible number of channels is thus twice as great as the number of connected TO-BIDIs, or is correspondingly less if a single TO transmission or reception component is used instead of a TO-BIDI.
A further major advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that the optical channel separations in the TO-BIDI and BIDI module can be of a different type or of the same type. If, for example, a WDM filter is used for virtually no-loss separation of two wavelengths in the module, then not only can the separation in the TO-BIDI be accomplished in the same way once again, using a WDM filter to two further wavelengths. However, a 3 dB-beam splitter can also be used to split the intensity of one wavelength between, in each case, one reception channel and one transmission channel.
This means that the use of TO-BIDIs as TO components allows the multichannel BIDI to operate each individual channel bidirectionally. This is true particularly in the case of WDM systems having a number of discrete wavelengths: for example, in accordance with the ITU Standard, four wavelengths or even more. These are so-called HD-WDM systems. In comparison with multichannel HD-WDM systems as normally used until now, and which are operated only unidirectionally, this results in full bidirectional functionality on each WDM channel. This means that, for relatively recent multichannel WDM transmission on individual glass fibers, the arrangement according to the invention allows the transmission capacity of the fibers to be doubled by means of bidirectional operation.
Thus, using the arrangement according to the invention, two bidirectional module types with different optics are combined such that a new module type is produced. The functional characteristics of this new module are considerably better than the intrinsic functions of the individual module types. Thus, using the arrangement according to the invention, it is not just possible to produce any desired multichannel modules, but also to operate one-directional multichannel HD-WDM transmission systems fully bidirectionally. The wavelength stabilization which is required, for example by means of temperature stabilization, can in this case be accomplished by appropriate temperature stabilization of the entire module, as described, for example, in German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 93 114 860 A1.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the combined transmission/reception unit includes a combined mirror/beam-splitter layer equally reflecting a radiation beam emitted from the transmitter and transmitting a received radiation beam that is to be detected by the receiver.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the transmission/reception module further includes a common substrate supporting the lens coupling optics and the transmitter. The transmitter is a laser chip having a light output side opposing a substrate part mounted on the common substrate. The common substrate holds the combined mirror/beam-splitter layer. The combined mirror/beam-splitter layer inclines at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees (45xc2x0) to the light output side of the laser chip such that a radiation beam which is emitted by the light output side is reflected on the combined mirror/beam-splitter layer toward the lens coupling optics. The substrate part and the common substrate transmit a wavelength of the received radiation beam to be detected by the receiver, and the light receiver located on the outlet side of the received radiation beam from the common substrate.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the beam splitter can contain a selective-wavelength filter.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the transmission/reception unit further includes a common substrate having a bottom face and a substrate part. The substrate part having a side surface with a mirror layer. The transmission/reception unit also includes a laser chip below the optical coupling having a resonator surface emitting a radiation and. The laser chip is disposed as a transmitter with the side surface adjacent the resonator surface. The resonator surface inclines at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees (xcx9c45xc2x0) to the side surface so the radiation is directed upwards perpendicularly from the common substrate to the lens coupling optics. The lens coupling optics attaches to the substrate part such that the mirror layer is adjacent the resonator surface. The beam splitter reflects the radiation emitted from the laser chip and passing radiation injected from the lens coupling optics such that the light receiver is provided underneath the beam splitter, on the bottom face of the common substrate.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the transmission/reception module can include a reception unit; a transmission unit; a further transmission/reception unit; two reception units; a reception unit and a further transmission/reception unit; four reception units; four transmission units; and/or four further transmission/reception units.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the transmission/reception module can include 2n further transmission/reception units, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a bidirectional module for multichannel use, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Bidirectional module for multichannel use


A cutting apparatus includes a cutter, a controller and a memory configured to store instructions. The instructions instruct the controller to execute steps including arranging patterns including peripheral lines including sequential line segments. The pattern arrangement includes arranging the patterns so that the line segments of adjacent patterns overlap each other. The instructions further include identifying the overlapping line segments, generating data representing a line including the identified overlapping line segments, designating the patterns including the overlapping line segments as a pattern group and extracting parallel line segments from the line segments forming the pattern group, grouping the extracted parallel line segments into line segments parallel to each other and denoting an identical cutting direction, determining a cutting order of the line segments composing the pattern group of the patterns including the overlapping line segments and generating a signal based on the generated data and the determined cutting order.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to a cutting apparatus and a computer readable storage media medium storing computer readable instruction.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a cutting plotter is known. The cutting plotter can cut a pattern from a sheet such as for a paper, automatically. The sheets are attached to a base material. The base material, for example, comprises an adhesion area on a surface of the base material. The cutting plotter can also comprise a carriage. The carriage comprises, for example, a mechanism for moving a cutter of the cutting plotter along a certain direction. By moving the cutter along the certain direction by the mechanism, the cutter can move from a first position where the cutter and the sheets is closed to and contact each other to a second position where the cutter is moved away from the sheets. A driving roller and a pinch roller as a drive mechanism are set at both edges of the base material of the cutting plotter, and the driving roller and the base material can be moved toward a first direction by the driving roller and the pinch roller. And the carriage is also moved by mechanism for moving the cutter toward a second direction. The second direction is defined as across the first direction, for example, the second direction is vertical direction from the first direction. As a result of the above-mentioned processes, the cutting plotter can cut the pattern from the sheet by the cutter.

Cutting apparatus and computer readable storage medium


There is provided a power control apparatus including an input unit to which attribute information regarding a type of generation of power is input, a determination unit configured to determine the type of generation of the power corresponding to the attribute information according to the attribute information, and a power control unit configured to control use of the power according to a determination result by the determination unit.

The present disclosure relates to a power control apparatus, a power transmission apparatus, and a power control system.
Recently, with regard to power generation, societal awareness of an amount of greenhouse gas emissions and nuclear power generation has increased. In particular, the pros and cons of nuclear power generation and the introduction of renewable energy have been examined more closely due to the accident that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in 2011.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No, 2011-125122, a battery control apparatus for controlling electrical storage for a battery from a point of view of renewable energy is disclosed. Specifically, the battery control apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-125122 controls how power stored in the battery is used, a timing at which power stored in the battery is sold to an electrical power company, a timing at which power for storage in the battery is purchased, and the like based on a predicted amount of power generation of renewable energy.
On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2001-306191, 2011-135748, and 2011-142771, power transmission using a packetized power packet is also well known. According to the power transmission using the power packet, attribute information of power can be transmitted in a header field along with the power.

Power control apparatus, power transmission apparatus, and power control system


The expression A-sign(A), where A is a signed binary integer represented in 2's complement form, sign (A) is equal to one when A is greater than zero, sign (A) is equal to zero when A is zero, and sign (A) is equal to negative one when A is less than zero, is calculated by bit-complementingA, bit-complementing (A-1) when A is less than zero, bit-complementing A when A is equal to zero, and bit-complementing (A+1) when A is greater than zero. Zero detect for A is provided by determining whether a first carry-out bit from (A+0) and a second carry-out bit from (A+1) have different logical values. In this manner, A-sign (A) can be calculated by a general purpose computer in a single instruction cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer arithmetic, and more particularly to calculating the expression A-sign (A) for signed binary integers.
2. Description of Related Art
The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard has emerged as the dominant standard for compressed digital video. The MPEG-1 standard specifies a compressed video bit-stream rate of approximately 1.5 megabits per second, and a compressed stereo audio bit-stream rate of approximately 250 kilobits per second. The second standard, MPEG-2, will specify compression rates for higher-bandwidth distribution media, and is in the process of being formalized. To meet the MPEG standard, video and audio compression and decompression products must rapidly process the various algorithms used to implement the MPEG standard.
In MPEG video signal processing, the basic video information processing unit is typically a macro-block, which has a 16.times.16 pixel matrix comprising four 8.times.8 luminance blocks, and two 8.times.8 chrorninance blocks. Each pixel in a luminance block or chrominance block has an output corresponding to an unsigned integer number, and each macro-block is part of a much larger luminance or chrominance frame, as the case may be.
MPEG video signal processing includes a computation requirement for calculating A-sign (A) for each pixel in a block, where A is a signed binary integer, sign (A) is equal to one when A is greater than zero, sign (A) is equal to zero when A is zero, and sign (A) is equal to negative one when A is less than zero.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart of algorithm 100, which is known, for calculating A-sign (A). At step 102, signed binary operand A is obtained. Decision step 104 tests whether A is zero. If A is zero, the algorithm branches to end step 112 since A provides A-sign (A). If A is nonzero, the algorithm branches to decision step 106 which tests whether A is negative. If A is negative, at step 108 A is incremented to obtain A+1, and the algorithm terminates at end step 112 since A+1 provides A-sign (A). Returning to decision step 106, if A is nonnegative (and therefore greater than zero since A is nonzero) then at step 110 A is decremented to obtain A-1, and the algorithm terminates at end step 112 since A-1 provides A-sign (A). Conventional variations to algorithm 100 are apparent. For instance, A can be tested for being negative before A is tested for being zero. Although algorithm 100 and related variations are simple to implement, they normally require several instruction cycles.
Moreover, providing zero detect at decision step 104 may require a large amount of chip area or several instruction cycles using conventional approaches. For instance, zero detect of an n-bit operand can be provided by an n-bit OR gate coupled to an inverter. The OR gate outputs a zero, which the inverter converts to a one, only when the operand consists of zero's. Drawbacks to this approach include the increased fan-in of the OR gate, which increases chip area, and the delay associated with ORing each bit of the operand. Another known technique for zero detect of a binary operand includes serially right-shifting the operand, and inspecting the shifted-out bits one at a time. As soon as a shifted-out bit of one is detected then the operand must be nonzero, whereas if all shifted-out bits are zero's then the operand must be zero. A drawback to this approach is that the right-shifting operation can be relatively time consuming and particularly difficult to implement in a single instruction cycle.
Accordingly, a need exists for calculating A-sign (A) in a rapid and efficient manner.

Calculating A - sign(A) in a single instruction cycle


A system includes a vehicle processor configured to detect one or more brake presses. The processor is also configured to detect one or more accelerator presses. Further, the processor is configured to add values related to the brake presses and accelerator presses to aggregate an index value based on detected brake and acceleration presses. The processor is additionally configured to enact a safety and convenience related measure based on the index value passing at least a first predetermined threshold.

Drivers are used to an array of connected services. Utilizing in-vehicle connected systems, such as navigation systems and/or infotainment systems, which can connect with remote servers, drivers can obtain a wealth of information. This can include entertainment, driving information and even weather and traffic information. Driving directions, for example, can be provided based on best routes, most efficient routes and even routes with decreased traffic.
Of course, sometimes traffic information may not be available due to connection issues or lack of a subscription to a traffic service. Also, traffic information may be based on dated information.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,421,334 generally relates to an on-board intelligent vehicle system including a sensor assembly to collect data and a processor to process the data to determine the occurrence of at least one event. The data may be collected from existing standard equipment such as the vehicle communication bus or add-on sensors. The data may be indicative of conditions relating to the vehicle, roadway infrastructure, and roadway utilization, such as vehicle performance, roadway design, roadway conditions, and traffic levels. The detection of an event may signify abnormal, substandard, or unacceptable conditions prevailing in the roadway, vehicle, or traffic. The vehicle transmits an event indicator and correlated vehicle location data to a central facility for further management of the information. The central facility sends communications reflecting event occurrence to various relevant or interested users. The user population can include other vehicle subscribers (e.g., to provide rerouting data based on location-relevant roadway or traffic events), roadway maintenance crews, vehicle manufacturers, and governmental agencies (e.g., transportation authorities, law enforcement, and legislative bodies)
U.S. Application Publication 2008/303693 generally relates to an automatic traffic reporting system comprising a vehicle mounted data transceiver (telematics device) and centrally operated information collectors and analyzers that generate real time traffic reports for selected areas of interest.
U.S. Application Publication 2009/192688 generally relates to a traffic sensing system for collecting information on traffic conditions. A traffic sensing system includes a traffic sensing server and a mobile traffic sensing device that sends traffic reports to the traffic sensing server. An MTS device may use an accelerometer integrated into a smart phone to detect potholes, to detect when the vehicle is braking, to detect whether the MTS device is being transported via a vehicle or a pedestrian, to detect horns sounding, and so on. The MTS device reports the various conditions to the traffic sensing server for accurate assessment of traffic conditions at stretches of road through which vehicles transporting MTS devices travel.
U.S. Application Publication 2011/246016 generally relates to a method of displaying traffic on a display within a vehicle may include monitoring a current vehicle speed, monitoring external traffic data by various methods, determining if a brake is applied for at least a predetermined time period, determining if the vehicle is a predetermined distance from a traffic signal that the vehicle is approaching, determining that a traffic event exists on a road upon which the vehicle is traveling, inquiring if traffic cameras exist on the road upon which the vehicle is traveling, and displaying traffic data on a display within the vehicle that corresponds to the road ahead upon which the vehicle is traveling. The method may include determining if the vehicle speed is maintained at a speed less than the posted speed for a predetermined time period. The display may display traffic data captured by the traffic cameras, downloaded from remote servers, or communicated directly from another vehicle.

Method and apparatus for determining traffic conditions


A decolorization treatment method in which not only can a liquid that has been obtained by treating raw water that is stock-raising treatment water in a purifier tank be decolorized swiftly with simple equipment, but moreover the treatment water can be purified to an extent that reuse as a washing liquid or the like is possible. The method of decolorizing stock-raising treatment water comprises adding ferric polysulfate and a nonionic or anionic organic coagulant to a filtrate that has been obtained by treating raw water that is stock-raising treatment water in a purifier tank, and agitating the obtained product to bring about reaction and thus separate into solid and liquid components, and removing the solid component. Preferably, a two-stage reaction is carried out in which the ferric polysulfate is added and agitation is carried out to bring about reaction, and then the nonionic or anionic organic coagulant is added thereafter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of decolorizing stock-raising treatment water discharged from a livestock barn or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
With stock-raising treatment water discharged from a livestock barn (hereinafter referred to as 'raw water'), a method is adopted in which the raw water is stored in a raw water tank, is fed therefrom into a solid-liquid separator using a pump, and is separated into a solid component such as feces and a liquid component, each of which is then treated. With a sieve shaker type or sloping screen type solid-liquid separation system that has been used with wastewater treatment apparatuses using a conventional activated sludge method, a sloping mesh screen is placed in a sloping opening of a hopper-like wastewater receiver, raw water containing excrement is fed using a pump onto an upper part of the sloping mesh screen, and is made to drop down along the sloping mesh screen, whereby a liquid component drops down through the mesh of the screen and is temporarily held in a filtrate tank from the hopper-like wastewater receiver, before being fed to the next treatment step, for example an aeration tank. The solid component, on the other hand, runs along the screen, and drops down into a solid component housing pitch from a lower edge of the screen and is accumulated. In the aeration tank, aeration is carried out with an aerator, and sludge in the wastewater is decomposed by activated sludge microbes. In general, a fixed type aerator is provided in the aeration tank, and minute bubbles are blown into the wastewater by this aerator, the inside of the tank is agitated at a fixed flow speed to make the dissolved oxygen concentration in the tank constant, and the activated sludge microbes are thus cultured so as to treat the wastewater.
Moreover, with conventional treatment equipment, decolorization treatment is carried out before the treated water is discharged into a public drain. Before color removal, the treatment liquid is a brown suspension, with the suspended matter containing fine fibrous matter, which clogs filters, and causes troublesome problems to remain in subsequent treatment. Conventional decolorization treatment involves an operation such as blowing in ozone, using a large amount of activated charcoal, or passing through an osmosis membrane, and to obtain a sufficient transparency, a considerable amount of ozone or activated charcoal and a considerable treatment time are required. Incidentally, with a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-205298 ('Treatment apparatus for wastewater containing livestock urine', laid open Jul. 22, 2003), as shown in FIG. 10, treatment water that has been treated in a membrane treatment part is sucked by a suction pump 142 and thus fed via a transfer pipe l15 into a filtrate water tank 108 that is provided next to a sludge storage tank 107 that is adjacent to a membrane separation tank 106, and then the filtered treatment water is fed into a decolorization treatment part 150 via a transfer pipe l16, and decolorization treatment is carried out to make the wastewater close to colorless and transparent. A decolorizer 150a constituting the decolorization treatment part 150 is constituted such that the treatment water that has been sucked from the filtrate water tank 108 is fed by a membrane supply high pressure pump 151 to a membrane module 152 having a reverse osmosis membrane, and the treatment water is decolorized by the reverse osmosis membrane which is washed with a chemical solution for washing by a chemical-injecting pump 154 from a chemical solution tank 153. In FIG. 10, l17 is a permeated liquid transfer pipe, l18 is a circulating water pipe, l19 is a concentrated water transfer pipe, and l20 is a washing water supply pipe. In this way, hitherto decolorization treatment has required large-scale equipment and a long treatment time, but even so sufficient effects have not been obtained.

Method of decolorizing stock-raising treatment water


A torsional vibration damper for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having a substantially discoidal centrifugal flange and a plurality of centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers. Each centrifugal pendulum-type absorber includes a first pendulum mass and a second pendulum mass. The first pendulum mass is arranged above a first surface of the pendulum flange, and the second pendulum mass is arranged above a second surface of the pendulum flange. The first pendulum mass and the second pendulum mass are firmly connected to each other by means of at least two spacing bolts in each case. The pendulum flange has a plurality of cutouts in which the spacing bolts are guided. A second spacing bolt of a first centrifugal pendulum-type absorber and a first spacing bolt of a second centrifugal pendulum-type absorber are guided in at least one first cutout.

Torsional vibration can arise in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. To suppress this torsional vibration, it is known to use torsional vibration dampers arranged in the drivetrain. Such torsional vibration dampers or rotational vibration dampers consist of a substantially discoidal pendulum flange on which a plurality of centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers in the form of mass elements are attached. The centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers can move in the radial direction and peripheral direction of the pendulum flange.
The pendulum flange is made to rotate by the drivetrain. The centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers are pushed radially outward, and the amount of outward-directed centrifugal force depends on the speed of the drivetrain. An uneven angular velocity of the drivetrain that, for example, is generated by the operating cycles of an internal combustion engine, causes deflections of the centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers in the circumferential direction of the pendulum flange, which attenuate the unevenness of the angular velocity of the drivetrain. Such a torsional vibration damper is, for example, known from German Patent Application No. 10 2009 042 831 A1.
When the speed and angular velocity of the drivetrain are low, the centrifugal force acting on the centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers can, in certain circumstances, be insufficient to keep the centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers in their positions radially to the outside. Under the influence of gravity, the centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers can instead shift so that neighboring centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers bump against each other. This generates noise that is perceived as annoying and problematic.


Provided is a battery module. The battery module includes a lower cooling tube arranged in the lower cooling plate, an upper cooling tube arranged in the upper cooling plate, the upper cooling tube being connected to the lower cooling tube and arranged in a different plane than the lower cooling tube, and a branching portion connecting the lower cooling tube to the upper cooling tube, wherein the branching portion includes a lower connection tube connected to the lower cooling tube, an upper connection tube connected to the upper cooling tube, a lower connection housing arranged to surround an outer surface of the lower connection tube, and an upper connection housing arranged to surround an outer surface of the upper connection tube, the upper connection housing being coupled to the lower connection housing.

In general, a secondary battery is rechargeable and dischargeable unlike a primary battery that may not be recharged. A secondary battery is used as an energy source in mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies, and may be in the form of a single battery or a battery module, in which a plurality of batteries are electrically connected as a single unit, depending on the kinds of external devices to which the secondary battery is applied.


A pseudo-random number generator comprises a linear feedback register for generating pseudo-random numbers; and a signal generator for generating a shift clock for operating a linear feedback register and predetermined input data. The linear feedback register has a plurality of registers connected in series, a first logical operation circuit for taking logical operation of output data from predetermined registers to deliver the result thereof, and a second logical operation circuit for taking logical operation of input data supplied from the outside and output data of the first logical operation circuit to supply the result thereof to any one of the registers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pseudo-random number generator which employs a linear feedback shift register (hereinafter abbreviated as "LFSR") to generate pseudo-random numbers.
2. Description of the Related Art
While random numbers have been conventionally used for cryptographic algorithms and the like, pseudo-random numbers, which can be generated more easily than true random numbers, tend to be more frequently used because they can be readily handled and processed.
A pseudo-random number generator for generating pseudo-random numbers typically employs LFSR to generate random numbers having a long cycle. The LFSR comprises a plurality of registers connected in series, and an exclusive OR logic circuit (hereinafter called the "XOR circuit"), wherein output data of predetermined registers are fed back to the first one of the registers through the XOR circuit. With the XOR circuit provided in a feedback path, the LFSR delivers random numbers having a relatively long cycle.
For example, LFSR comprised of n registers produces random numbers, the cycle of which is an n-th order linear maximum cycle series (called "M-series") 2n−1. It should be noted that random numbers provided by the LFSR are repeatedly generated random numbers of the M-series, and the cycle of the LFSR does not refer to a time period, but to the length of the M-series.
In a cryptographic circuit for generating a cryptogram using pseudo-random numbers, and the like, if pseudo-random number series or pseudo-random number generation logic is revealed, an original plaintext can be restored from an acquired cryptogram, thus making it important to efficiently generate unpredictable random number series.
While pseudo-random number series or pseudo-random number generation logic is more difficult to be broken as the order number n of LFSR (the number of registers) is larger for the number of bits of random numbers generated thereby, only LFSR having a small number of bits can be used in some cases due to such constraints as a circuit scale. To address this situation, a variety of techniques have been studied for improving the randomness of pseudo-random numbers generated by lower-order LFSR, and Japanese Patent No. 2937919, for example, describes a pseudo-random number generator which comprises a plurality of clocks at different frequencies, and switches an operation clock (shift clock) supplied to each of registers in LFSR using a predetermined output of the LFSR.
When a shift clock is fixed, the LFSR repeatedly generates the same random number series at a predetermined cycle from a predetermined initial value (SEED). On the other hand, the pseudo-random number generator described in Japanese Patent No. 2937919 cited above switches shift clocks using a predetermined output of the LFSR to cause variations in timing of a shifting operation, with the result that an apparent cycle becomes longer than the cycle determined by the order number of the LFSR.
However, while the foregoing configuration relies on variations in the shifting operation to vary the timing at which a random number is generated, SEED and random number series generated thereby are equal to those which are generated with a fixed shift clock. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, while random numbers are generated at random time intervals (note, however, that they are continuously generated (dispersed) at constant intervals, when viewed in a certain short duration), they will not disturb the order of random numbers which are generated with a fixed shift clock. Thus, while the pseudo-random number generator described in Japanese Patent No. 2937919 simply improves the randomness over the configuration with a fixed shift clock, it still fails to provide a sufficiently high randomness because of its ever high susceptibility to identification of the pseudo-random number series or the pseudo-random number generation logic.


A light emitting device and a method for fabricating the same according to the present invention are advantageous in that since an LLO (Laser Lift Off) process is performed using a thick metal film grown through a growth process, an occurrence rate of a void is remarkably decreased due to dense bonding between metals so that an occurrence rate of a crack can be decreased. Further, the present invention has an advantage in that a metal is filled in trench regions formed through an isolation process for devices, thereby protecting the devices and ensuring excellent heat dissipation. The present invention has a further advantage in that a reflective film is formed on inclined sidewalls of a device-forming thin film layer so that light loss through lateral sides of the device can be reduced, thereby improving optical properties.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a light emitting device and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, sapphire (Al2O3) used for a substrate for growing gallium nitride (GaN) causes many problems in fabrication and driving of devices due to its own nonconductivity and low thermal conductivity in fabricating the devices using GaN.
To solve such problems, a device is fabricated by removing a sapphire substrate using an LLO (Laser Lift Off) method. In order to remove the sapphire substrate, a GaN thin film should be first bonded to a wafer made of silicone (Si), or gallium arsenide (GaAs), or a metal plate, which has high conductivity and superior thermal conductivity.
As described above, if a wafer or a metal plate is bonded to a GaAs thin film, chances are that a portion of the GaAs thin film is broken or several cracks are generated therein.
As one of the methods for reducing such break of the GaN thin film and propagation of the cracks, etching a portion of the GaN thin film and bonding it to the surface of sapphire has been widely used.
However, due to a step naturally produced after the etching, a void space is produced upon bonding of the GaN film. Accordingly, a process of filling such a void space with a variety of materials and subsequently performing a bonding process has been frequently used.
FIGS. 1a to 1e are sectional views schematically illustrating a conventional process of fabricating a GaN device. As shown in FIG. 1a, a thin film layer (11) including a plurality of devices each of which has an N-GaN layer, an active layer and a P—GaN layer is formed on a top surface of a sapphire substrate (10).
Here, the device is a device such as a light emitting diode.
Thereafter, the thin film layer (11) is selectively etched such that the plurality of devices (11a) are separated from each other (FIG. 1b).
At this time, due to the etching process, regions that have been etched between the devices (11a) become trenches (20) defined and enclosed by the devices (11a).
Next, a P metal layer (12) is formed on the top of each of the plurality of devices (11a) (FIG. 1c).
Successively, a carrier substrate (14) is bonded to the P metal layers (12) formed on each top of the plurality of devices (11a) using a bonding material (13) (FIG. 1d).
The carrier substrate (14) is made of one selected from the group consisting of silicone, GaAs, Cu and Al.
Then, the sapphire substrate (10) is separated by performing an LLO process (FIG. 1e).
Here, there arises a problem in that the trenches (20) are not filled with the bonding material (13) so that, as shown in FIG. 1e, a crack (25) is produced in the device due to the difference of a thermal expansion coefficient between GaN and air expanded by heat of laser incident for the LLO process.
FIGS. 2a to 2h are sectional views schematically illustrating another conventional process of fabricating a GaN device. A thin film layer (11) including a plurality of devices each having an N-GaN layer, an active layer and a P—GaN layer is formed on a top surface of a sapphire substrate (10) (FIG. 2a).
Here, the device is a device such as a light emitting diode.
Thereafter, the thin film layer (11) is selectively etched such that the plurality of devices (11a) are separated from each other, thereby making trenches (20) between the devices (11a) through the etching (FIG. 2b).
Next, a P metal layer (12) is formed on the top of each of the plurality of devices (11a), and the trenches (20) are filed with an easily removable material (30) (FIG. 2c).
Here, the easily removable material (30) is any one of epoxy, a photoresist, a polyimide and a dielectric.
Successively, a metallic bonding layer (33) is deposited on the P metal layer (12) formed on the top of each of the plurality of devices (11a), and another metallic bonding layer (34) is deposited on the bottom of a carrier substrate (35). Then, the P metal layers (12) and the carrier substrate (35) are bonded by means of bonding forces of the metallic bonding layers (33, 34) (FIG. 2d).
Here, a material such as AuSn with a melting point of about 350° C. is used for the metallic bonding layers (33, 34). The carrier substrate (35) is put on the top surfaces of the P metal layers (12), and the metallic bonding layers (33, 34) are then melted at a temperature higher than the melting point of the metallic bonding layers (33, 34) so that the P metal layers (12) and the carrier substrate (35) are bonded to each other.
Then, the sapphire substrate (10) is separated by performing an LLO process, and the material (30) filled in the trenches (20) is removed (FIG. 2e).
Thereafter, the plurality of devices (11a) and the trenches (20) are cleaned, and the plurality of devices (11a) are partially removed by performing an etching process (FIG. 2f).
Here, the removed regions of the plurality of devices (11a) are regions of the devices opposite to regions where the P metal layers (12) are formed.
Except for the portions of the top surfaces of the plurality of devices (11a) which have been partially removed, a passivation film (18) for enclosing the plurality of devices (11a) and filling the trenches (20) is formed, and N metal layers (15) are then formed on the portions of the top surfaces of the plurality of devices (11a) where the passivation film (18) has not been formed (FIG. 2g).
Subsequently, the plurality of devices (11a) are separated to pieces from each other by performing a scribing process and a breaking process (FIG. 2h).
FIGS. 3a to 3h are sectional views schematically illustrating a further conventional process of fabricating a GaN device. A thin film layer (11) including a plurality of devices each having an N-GaN layer, an active layer and a P—GaN layer is formed on the top surface of a sapphire substrate (10) (FIG. 3a).
Thereafter, the thin film layer (11) is selectively etched such that the plurality of devices (11a) are separated from each other, thereby forming trenches (20) between the devices (11a) through the etching (FIG. 3b).
Next, a P metal layer (12) is formed on the top of each of the plurality of devices (11a), and the trenches (20) are filled with an easily removable material (30) (FIG. 3c).
Here, the easily removable material (30) refers to such material as can be easily removed through an etching process.
The foregoing processes of FIGS. 3a to 3c are the same as those of FIGS. 2a to 2c.
Subsequently, a seed metal layer (40) is deposited on the tops of the filling material (30) and the P metal layers (12) formed on the plurality of devices (11a), and a metallic carrier layer (41) is then deposited on the seed metal layer (40) (FIG. 3d).
Then, the sapphire substrate (10) is separated by performing an LLO process, and the material (30) filled in the trenches (20) is removed (FIG. 3e).
Thereafter, the plurality of devices (11a) and the trenches (20) are cleaned, and the plurality of devices (11a) are partially removed by performing an etching process (FIG. 3f).
Here, the removed regions of the plurality of devices (11a) are regions of the devices opposite to regions where the P metal layers (12) are formed.
Except for the portions of the top surfaces of the plurality of devices (11a) which have been partially removed as such, a passivation film (18) for enclosing the plurality of devices (11a) and filling the trenches (20) is formed, and N metal layers (15) are then formed on the portions of the top surfaces of the plurality of devices (11a) where the passivation film (18) has not been formed (FIG. 3g).
Successively, the plurality of devices (11a) are separated to pieces from each other by performing a scribing process and a breaking process (FIG. 3h).
The aforementioned second method of FIGS. 2a to 2h and third method of FIGS. 3a to 3h are quite similar to each other in view of all the processes. As compared with the aforementioned first method, the trenches in the second and third methods are filled with an easily removable material, and metal layers are bonded to each other to ensure strong bonding, remarkably reducing the frequency of occurrence of fine voids that may be produced during the bonding. However, the problem of there being presence of a crack persists.

Light emitting device and method for fabricating the same


A locking retainer includes a flexible band including an outer surface, an inner surface substantially parallel to and spaced from the outer surface, a first end, and a second end. A first plug member is integrally attached to the first end of the flexible band and includes an extending member having a first end, a second end, and top and bottom surfaces. The first plug member includes a first prong extending from the top surface of the extending member, and a second prong extending from the bottom surface of the extending member. A second plug member integrally attached to the second end of the flexible band comprises a first and second leg that each has a first end and a second end, wherein the second leg is substantially parallel to and spaced from the first leg. A cavity is defined between the first ends of the first and the second legs. The second ends of the first leg and the second leg are joined. A first engaging member and a second engagement member are attached to the first leg and second leg, respectively. The first and the second engaging members each comprise a sloping portion having a first free end and a second end, the sloping portion extending in an angular direction into the cavity, and a wall abutting the second end of the sloping portion. To lock the locking retainer, the first plug member is inserted within the cavity defined between the first and second legs causing the first prong to engage the first engagement member and the second prong to engage the second engagement member.

The present invention relates generally to strap retainers and, more particularly to strap retainer clips for permanent securing of safety straps to movable structures such as shopping cart devices.
Nylon safety straps are traditionally secured to grocery store carts or other similar vehicles to provide a seatbelt-type child restraint in an effort to assure the safety of an occupant or item that is being transported in the shopping cart. Such devices are securely attached to the shopping cart in a manner such that the retainer clip does not become accidentally detached from the cart. In addition, it is desirable that the strap retainer clip should be resistant to occurrences that take place in the day-to-day operation of shopping carts such as vandalism that results in the damage or the removal of the safety restraint. Many of these occurrences take place due to the fact that shopping carts are left in unsecured areas, such as parking lots, for long periods of time, resulting in various opportunities for vandalic acts.
More importantly, normal wear-and-tear due to the everyday operation of the strap retainer needs to be considered in the construction of a more secure safety retainer clip. In this manner, attachment of the safety clip to the shopping cart carriage is important in several respects. For instance, the nylon strap is prone to rub against metallic parts, such as the carriage or the retainer clip itself, resulting in the weakening of the seat-belt device. Rubbing of the nylon strap may result in tearing and eventual failure of the nylon web itself. Due to this concern, conventional attachment devices such as metallic rings, inflexible metallic clips and metallic grommets are undesirable. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for shopping carts to be exposed to moisture, such as rain, when left outside for long periods of time, resulting in the rusting of metal strap retainers. Therefore, it is desirable to have a retainer clip that is weather resistant and has a strong constitution to withstand rough usage.
The environment in which a safety retainer clip is to be used dictates the desirable characteristics that a suitable safety retainer clip should embody. In this regard, the safety retainer clip should be inexpensive to produce and have a simple construction. Furthermore, it is desirable that the securement of the retainer clip to the shopping cart be possible without the need for a tool or other complicated method of securement. Moreover, it is desirable that the retainer clip have a secure locking mechanism that is resistant to the accidental detachment of the clip.
The present invention therefore provides a locking retainer that is simple to install and does not require the use of tools or a complicated installation procedure. Furthermore, the present invention provides a retainer clip that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Moreover the present invention provides a retainer clip that will withstand rough operating conditions due to stress placed upon the clip from all conceivable angles. Moreover, the present invention provides a retainer clip that attaches a child seatbelt to a grocery store cart or similar device in a permanent and secure fashion. Moreover, the present invention provides a retainer clip that resists the inadvertent and unwanted release of the clip from the shopping cart or similar device due to twisting and other directional forces placed upon the device during use.
A locking retainer according to the present invention includes a flexible band having a first end and a second end. A first plug member is attached to the first end of the flexible band. The plug member defines a first and a second prong which extend from opposite sides thereof. A second plug member is also attached to the second end of the flexible band. The second plug member defines a cavity between first and second legs. The first and second legs define a respective engaging member. In this manner, the first plug member is receivable into the cavity. The first and second engaging members are respectively engagable with the first and second prongs.


A time required for an output voltage of a source follower to rise from Low to a predetermined voltage depends on a bias voltage. Therefore, by setting a converged voltage of an output voltage to be high by increasing the bias voltage, the time required to rise up to the predetermined voltage can be reduced. Therefore, a first source follower which is biased so that the converged value of the output voltage becomes a predetermined Hi voltage when an input data signal goes from Low to Hi, and a second source follower which is biased so as to become the Hi voltage after a period of one clock when an input data signal goes from Low to Hi, are used. The two source followers are operated with appropriate timing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for signal transmission between, for example, semiconductor integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a voltage-mode circuit employing a single source follower is known as a signal transmission circuit having low power consumption and a low amplitude (see JP No. 6-45547 A).
There is another conventional technique in which an output buffer circuit is composed of two N-channel MOS transistors constituting a push-pull structure, and a NOR circuit which feeds an output signal back to a pull-up transistor so as to obtain an output signal having a low amplitude and a high speed (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,415).
Also, there is a known technique of adding an edge emphasis circuit to a high-speed voltage-mode differential output driver (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,670).
In the conventional circuit employing a single source follower, when a logical high voltage (Hi voltage) is transmitted, the gate-source voltage of an N-channel MOS transistor included in the source follower decreases to the threshold voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor, disadvantageously resulting in a reduction in drive performance and a reduction in transmission rate.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


To provide a magnetic storage element, a magnetic storage device, and an electronic device which store multi-value information with a simpler structure. A magnetic storage element provided with a plurality of tunnel junction elements each of which includes a reference layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a storage layer capable of reversing a magnetization direction, and an insulator layer interposed between the reference layer and the storage layer, the plurality of tunnel junction elements electrically connected to each other in parallel, in which the plurality of tunnel junction elements has film configurations identical to each other, respective layers of the film configurations formed by using a same material to have a same thickness, and each of cross-sectional shapes obtained by cutting the plurality of tunnel junction elements in a laminating direction is a polygonal shape including upper and lower sides parallel to each other with a ratio of the lower side to the upper side different for each of the plurality of tunnel junction elements.

In recent years, with improvement in performance of various information devices, higher integration, higher speed, and lower power consumption of storage devices incorporated in the various information devices are progressing. Therefore, the performance of storage elements using semiconductors is made high.
For example, as a large-capacity file memory, a flash memory is widely used in place of a hard disk drive. Furthermore, as a code storage or a working memory, in place of a NOR flash memory and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), development of various types of storage elements such as a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM), a phase-change random access memory (PCRAM), and a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) is in progress.
Especially, the MRAM which stores information according to a magnetization direction of a magnetic body is attracting attention as the storage element for the code storage or the working memory because this may operate at a high speed and rewrite almost unlimitedly.
However, the MRAM which reverses magnetization by a current magnetic field generated from wiring has a problem in reducing power consumption and increasing capacity because efficiency of the magnetization reversal is low. Therefore, attention is focused on a spin transfer torque-magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) which causes the magnetization reversal without using the current magnetic field by using spin torque magnetization reversal.
Spin polarized electrons passing through a magnetic layer a magnetization direction of which is fixed apply torque in a magnetization direction of a magnetic layer which they enter when entering the magnetic layer the magnetization direction of which is free. In the STT-MRAM, the magnetization direction of the magnetic layer is reversed by using the torque by the spin polarized electrons. Such STT-MRAM may simplify a structure of a memory cell, and the smaller a volume of the memory cell, the smaller an amount of current required for the magnetization reversal of the magnetic layer may be made. Therefore, the STT-MRAM is expected as a non-volatile memory capable of reducing the power consumption and increasing the capacity.
Here, as a method of further increasing storage density of the STT-MRAM, it is studied to make information stored in each memory cell multi-value information.
For example, in Patent Document 1 below discloses a magnetic storage element in which stored information is made the multi-value information by laminating two tunnel junction elements (also referred to as magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements) and electrically connecting them in series.

Magnetic storage element, magnetic storage device, electronic device, and method of manufacturing magnetic storage element

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


Processes for making rigid, binder free agglomerates of powdered metal are disclosed. The agglomerates have a low tap density. Articles that contain binder free agglomerates made from electrochemically active powder are also disclosed.

This invention generally relates to a process for producing agglomerates of metal powders. More particularly, this invention is directed to a process for producing rigid, porous, binder free agglomerates of metal powders. This invention is also directed to devices that include the rigid, binder free agglomerates.
Fine metal powders are used in a wide variety of devices to enable desirable chemical reactions. For example, catalysts are incorporated in the catalytic converts of vehicles powered by combustion engines. The catalyst facilitates the conversion of potentially harmful fumes to environmentally acceptable gases or liquids. In another example, metal powders are used to store gases, such as hydrogen, in a solid matrix to minimize the hazards associated with the storage and transport of hydrogen as a compressed gas. Fine metal powders are also used in batteries and fuel cells. Commercially available batteries, including both rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries, are used to power portable devices such as flashlights, cameras and tape recorders. One chemical system used to produce rechargeable batteries incorporates a finely divided metal hydride in one of the electrodes. Another chemical system, typically used to manufacture non-rechargeable batteries, also known as primary batteries, uses an alkaline electrolyte, manganese dioxide as the active cathode material and zinc as the active anode material. The zinc is usually disposed within the central region of the battery as part of a gel. Prior to incorporating the zinc into the battery, the zinc is comminuted so that a quantity of zinc powder with a majority of particles ranging from 25 microns to 500 microns is obtained. The individual particles are suspended in the anode gel which prevents settling of the zinc particles within the battery.
One of the long-standing objectives of battery manufacturers is to produce batteries with the ability to power a device for longer and longer periods of time. The need to improve the battery's performance is especially acute in devices that require large currents. As disclosed in JP Kokai 57[1982]-182972, the high discharge characteristic of a battery can be improved by incorporating 5-30 weight percent of the zinc as particles with a particle size of 25 microns or smaller. Unfortunately, as the percentage of particles that are 25 microns or smaller increases, the viscosity of the anode may become too high to process in high speed manufacturing machines. One way to overcome this problem is to process all of the zinc particles into a single porous body. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,480,839 discloses an anode made of zinc powder or particles that have been compressed under sufficient pressure to agglomerate the particles into a coherent body shaped as a hollow cylinder. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,793 describes cleaning the zinc powder with a mild acid and then pressing the zinc to form a porous structure. These patents are directed to the production of coherent structures that are suitable for use as an electrode in an electrochemical cell. All of the particles are included in the compaction process and form a part of the compacted electrode. Thus, these processes are not well suited for the production of electrodes that incorporate both agglomerated electrochemically active particles and non-agglomerated electrochemically active particles in the same electrode.
Other methods of handling the finely divided metal powders include the step of utilizing an agglomerant to form the agglomerates. The agglomerant may be a binder that acts as an adhesive to secure particles to one another thereby enabling the formation of the agglomerates. Alternatively, the agglomerant may be a pore former which facilitates the formation of the agglomerate but is then removed from the agglomerate thereby forming pores within the agglomerate. Unfortunately, the use of an agglomerant may have a negative impact on the performance of the agglomerated powder. For example, if a battery includes an electrode that uses agglomerates of electrochemically active material that incorporate an organic binder, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), then the particles are inherently coated with the electrically nonconductive PVA. The coating increases the internal resistance of the electrode that includes the coated, agglomerated particles. As the electrode's internal resistance increases, the battery's run time decreases. Furthermore, there are potential problems associated with the cost of the binder as well as the volume of space occupied by the binder. As the volume of space dedicated to the binder increases, the quantity of electrochemically active material must be decreased to make room for the binder. As the quantity of active material is decreased, the cell's run time is reduced.
Therefore, there exists a need for a process that produces small, rigid, binder free agglomerates that do not compromise the performance of the agglomerated particles. The process should not require the use of an additive, such as a binder or pore former, to enable production of the agglomerates.

Methods for producing agglomerates of metal powders and articles incorporating the agglomerates


A program execution device is provided which, even when a currently executed application (program) abnormally terminates, can prevent the application from becoming unusable, and thereby improve user convenience. An MA management unit includes: an MA management unit main for receiving an instruction from an initialization subprogram and controlling the other constituent elements in the MA management unit; an XAIT obtainment analysis unit for analyzing an XAIT sent from the head end; an MA selection unit A for selecting a program to be activated, according to the XAIT analysis result; an MA activation unit for activating of the specified program; an MA monitoring unit for monitoring the operational state of the specified program and notifying when an abnormal termination has occurred; and an MA selection unit B for selecting an alternative program.

In recent years, specifications for digital television are being formulated, and with this, an STB (Set Top Box) which is compliant with each of the specifications is being developed.
In the OCAP 1.0 specification (OCAP1.0 Profile OC-SP-OCAP1.0-IF-109-031121), which is a specification for North American cable broadcasting, various services (for example, an interactive program) can be provided by distributing to respective homes, not only video and audio, but also the applications attached to such video and audio. In addition, an application (for example, an electronic program guide) prepared by a broadcast operator can also be operated in an STB.
The "downloading of data" in patent reference 1 describes a method for downloading, from a broadcast wave (in other words, an MPEG2 transport stream), an application related to a broadcast and executing the downloaded application. With the technology described in patent reference 1, it becomes possible to distribute, not only video and audio, but also applications to respective homes.
Furthermore, the "method and apparatus for managing an application in accordance with application life cycle" in patent reference 2 describes a technology for application operation management. In the OCAP 1.0 specification, the management of life cycles of distributed individual applications is made possible with the use of the technology described in patent reference 2.
Furthermore, the OCAP 1.0 specification stipulates that, in the case where an application prepared by a broadcast operator exists at the time of STB activation, the application prepared by the broadcast operator must be activated, as well as reactivated in the case where the application prepared by the broadcast operator abnormally terminates.
By using the conventional technology, it becomes possible, after downloading and executing an application, to monitor the life cycle of the application and detect abnormal termination. In addition, it becomes possible to re-execute an application that abnormally terminates.    Patent Reference 1: Japanese Translation of PCT International Application laid open as JP2001-519627    Patent Reference 2: Japanese Translation of PCT International Application laid open as JP2003-504753


An optical wiring switching unit includes a first connection interface. A packet switch includes a second connection interface. A resource includes a third connection interface, and is formed with at least one of a server and a storage device. A control device controls the optical wiring switching unit to perform a switching of connection between the connection interfaces. The packet switch and the resource are connected to the optical wiring switching unit via the connection interfaces. A network is configured by connecting the packet switch and the resource with a control of the optical wiring switching unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network configuring apparatus employing a physical wiring switch, and more particularly, to a network configuring apparatus that can enhance a flexibility in establishing a network system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, more and more companies have been adopting a business style of outsourcing an operation management of their corporate information system to a data center provider, to save a cost for information technology (IT)-related facility.
A need from a user includes an establishment of a system in response to a change of a market, such as a system for dealing with an event that happens on a short-term basis or a load occurring on a periodic basis and a system that would be needed in the future for which it is difficult to predict. The data center provider prepares a variety of IT resources and provides a service with which the user can use the IT resources, to meet various needs from the user.
When providing the service, the data center provider divides the IT resources in compliance with an access condition of each user, a usage time of each user, a usage season of each user, etc., to meet a request from the user for using the IT resources.
To realize such services, it is extremely important to operate the IT resources efficiently, and to reduce an operation cost effectively. For that purpose, a method of dynamically changing an allocation of resources to a user in response to a load, when the load of the user is changed in a data center, has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-124976).
In addition, in an optical-electrical convergence network that is configured with an optical core network and an electrical sub-network, a method of performing a setting or a releasing of an optimum optical-path in response to a traffic amount between the electrical sub-networks in an automatic manner has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-258862).
However, with the above conventional technologies, it is difficult to enhance a flexibility in configuring a network system. For instance, in the conventional technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-124976, a network switch is connected to each of the IT resources, and a reduction or a reinforcement of the IT resources is performed by controlling the network switch. However, the IT resources cannot be reinforced more than the number of ports of the network switch, and as a result, a size of a system depends on a capacity of a pre-installed network switch.
Therefore, when it is predicted that there would be a necessity to expand the size of the system in the future, it is required to estimate the size of the system that would be necessary in the future from the time of introducing the system, and to use a network switch that can cover the estimated size of the system, which results in an increase of a cost for an initial installation of the network switch.
In the conventional technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-258862, when a usage rate of an optical path on the optical core network is over a predetermined value, the optical path is additionally set to suppress an occurrence of a congestion, and when the usage rate of the optical path is below a predetermined value so that there is a slim chance of the occurrence of the congestion, the optical path is released. However, the technology is not helpful for a new addition of an IT equipment or an easy change of a network topology.


The present invention relates to: a photocurable composition comprising a silicone-based compound having a repeating unit represented by the chemical formula A (linear or branched alkylene oxide having a carbon number 1-15) and a photocurable functional group; a barrier layer comprising the same; and an encapsulated device comprising the barrier layer.

Organic optoelectronic devices such as organic light emitting diodes, devices including photovoltaic cells, and displays such as organic thin film transistors must be encapsulated to protect sensitive components thereof from gases in air (mainly oxygen and/or water vapor). Improper protection can cause deterioration in quality of the devices. In addition, this can cause occurrence of non-radial dark spots, which also lead to degradation of the devices. In particular, in an organic light emitting diode, water vapor can cause degradation of the diode and deterioration in quality of an interface between an anode (or cathode) and an organic film.

Photocurable composition, barrier layer comprising same, and encapsulated device comprising same


Bias tees, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, include switches in the AC signal path, the DC signal path, or both, to improve the capability of the bias tees to be used for high impedance AC measurement, low current DC measurement, or both. Optical control of the switches, as well as control of the switches using a DC bias present within the AC signal input to the bias tee, is described. Including a set of diodes into the DC signal path, rather than a switch, provides enhanced capability of the bias tee to be used for high impedance AC measurements.

Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to bias tees, and, more particularly to configurable bias tees that improve current processes for low current measurements and AC high impedance measurements.
Description of Related Art
A bias tee is typically a passive, three-port electrical network that may act as a diplexer. In one mode of operation, one port of the bias tee network is connected to a very low frequency or direct current (DC) source and another port is connected to a high frequency or alternating current (AC) source. The bias tee combines the DC source signal and the AC source signal so that the third port of the network is simultaneously coupled to both the DC and AC signals. Bias tees are well-known electrical devices which are useful in many applications where it is necessary to inject DC power into an AC signal. Typical applications include powering photodiodes, lasers, or remote antenna amplifiers.
Bias tees are also typically bi-directional. Therefore, in another mode of operation, a combined AC and DC ("AC+DC") signal is applied to the third port of the tee, and the bias tee network separates the AC and DC components of the signal so that the AC component of the signal can be measured at the AC port of the tee, and the DC component of the signal can be measured at the DC port of the tee. Examples of applications that use a bias tee in this mode include packaged device characterization and wafer probing. In these types of applications, connecting the combined AC+DC port of the tee to the output of the device under test allows a user to measure the DC characteristics of the device, and to measure the AC characteristics of the device, without having to re-configure the test setup between the DC and AC tests. In such applications, for certain types of devices, the bias tee carries very low DC current levels, as well as AC signals for high impedance measurements to the measurement instrument. Achieving good performance for both low current DC measurements and AC high impedance measurements presents special challenges to the designer of a bias tee.
The simplest bias tee designs employ a capacitor, a resistor, and three coaxial connectors. The coaxial connectors serve as a DC signal port, an AC signal port, and a combined AC+DC signal port for the tee. The capacitor is connected between the AC signal port and the AC+DC signal port. The resistor is connected between the DC signal port and the AC+DC signal port. The overall DC performance of this bias tee design is limited because the resistive element limits the current that can travel through the DC path of the tee.
Improved DC performance is achieved with a modified bias tee design in which the resistor in the DC path is replaced with an inductor. Although an ideal inductor would block the AC signal from passing back to the DC port, the AC performance of this design can be limited by the potential LC resonance effects. Also, since such a design uses coaxial connectors as the ports of the tee, its low current performance is limited due to the leakage current inherent in coaxial connectors.
To improve low current performance, triaxial connectors, rather than coaxial connectors, are used for the DC port and the AC+DC port. The single capacitor in the designs described above is replaced with two capacitors in series. One of the capacitors is "guarded" by the DC signal, thereby minimizing the leakage current through this capacitor. However, because this capacitor usually has relatively large capacitance, it will tend to generate current noise, thereby still hampering the low current performance of the bias tee.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations of the prior art.


Provided is a dryer for drying hair or the like while evenly spraying a liquid such as a medical agent without causing the same to drip off. The dryer includes: a main body having an air outlet; and an atomizer. The atomizer includes: a container detachably attached to the main body; and an ultrasonic vibration unit close to the air outlet and atomizing the liquid in the container through an ultrasonic vibrator. Disposed around a downstream side of an outlet hole is an absorber with a passage communicated with the outlet hole that is on a downstream side of the ultrasonic vibrator in a casing composing the ultrasonic vibration unit. Formed on an inner wall of the outlet hole are thin grooves extended from the ultrasonic vibrator toward the absorber. Thus, droplets on the inner wall pass through the thin grooves before being absorbed by the absorber via capillary action.

Heretofore, as such a kind of dryer, there has been disclosed a dryer (e.g., Patent document 1) equipped with an aromatic substance container that is provided on a nozzle attached to an air outlet of a dryer main body. Particularly, an aromatic substance is stored in such aromatic substance container, and is then vaporized by a heat of the dryer such that the aromatic substance can be sent to hair along with a hot air.


A corrugated washer for use with a corrugated L-foot mounting bracket and a structural mounting rail prevents vertical shear at the joint between the rail and the corrugated L-foot bracket when mounting photovoltaic modules (i.e., solar panels) to a roof of a building or other structure. The design locks the T-bolt from falling off the rail slot, and always aligns the T-bolt in the correct orientation and prevents back-rotation. The corrugations on the washer and L-foot help for making height adjustments, too.

The present invention relates to structures and methods for mounting one or more photovoltaic modules (i.e., solar panels) to a roof of a house or building, or other structure, using components made of stainless steel and/or aluminum alloys (which can be anodized). A problem with prior art joints between structural rails and mounting brackets (e.g., L-foot mounting brackets) is that excessive vibrations, aging, or improper installation torque can result in vertical slippage of the joint due to loosening of the attachment hardware (e.g., T-bolt) when the joint is subjected to shear forces due to wind loads, dead weight, etc. acting on the solar panels. Also, loosening of the hardware and vibrations can result in back-rotation of the T-bolt to a point where the head of the T-bolt can completely pull out of the slot in the rail, resulting in catastrophic failure of the structure. Finally, it is desirable to have a vertical height adjustment in the mounting bracket, to accommodate non-uniform roof heights.

Corrugated washer for use with a corrugated L-foot mounting bracket for mounting solar panels to a roof