An accumulator is capable of preventing an excessive enlargement of the flow rate of a liquid refrigerant which is discharged from the accumulator, reducing the quantity of refrigerating machine oil which is accumulated in the accumulator, and maintaining a required quantity of refrigerating machine oil in a compressor. Liquid and a gas which circulate in a refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit are introduced into a first space by a suction pipe, and the gas refrigerant is discharged to a refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit through a gas passage pipe, a second space and a discharge pipe 5. A liquid-level maintaining mechanism prevents a rise in the height of the accumulated liquid introduced into the first space. When the height has been made to be not lower than a predetermined height, a gas communication mechanism moves liquid in the first space from the first space to the second space. A returning mechanism discharges refrigerating machine oil accumulated in the first space to the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit.

The present invention relates to an accumulator for forming a refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit for use in an air conditioning machine or a refrigerator.
A conventional accumulator for forming a refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit by using, for example, a refrigerant, for example, refrigerant R22, and mineral oil (refrigerating machine oil) having mutual solubility will now be described.
FIG. 31 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the structure of a representative accumulator disclosed in a document ("Closed Compressor" written by Mutsuyoshi Kawahira, Issued by Japan Refrigeration Association, Jul. 30, 1981).
Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 151 represents a container, 152 represents a suction pipe, 153 represents a discharge pipe and 153a represents an oil-recovery hole formed in the bottom portion of the discharge pipe 153. Reference numeral 153b represents a discharge-pipe inlet opening formed at an end of the discharge pipe 153. Reference numeral 154 represents a liquid refrigerant (in a state in which refrigerating machine oil is dissolved) having a soluble relationship with refrigerating machine oil which is accumulated in the container 151. Reference numeral 155 represents a gas refrigerant.
The operation of the foregoing accumulator will now be described. In a refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit including the accumulator, the gas refrigerant 155 and the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 flow through the suction pipe 152, and then introduced into the container 151 as indicated by an arrow A. In the internal space of the container 151, the refrigerant gas and the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 are subjected to a process for separating the gas and the liquid from each other. Then, the gas refrigerant 155 is allowed to flow from the discharge-pipe inlet opening 153b to pass the discharge pipe 153, and then discharged to the outside of the container 151. On the other hand, the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 is accumulated in the lower portion of the container 151. Then, refrigerating machine oil dissolved in the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 is allowed to pass through the oil-recovery hole 153a and, together with the gas refrigerant 155 and the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154, allowed to flow to a compressor as indicated by an arrow B. The size of the oil-recovery hole 153a is determined to enable recovery of refrigerating machine oil to reliably be performed.
Problems experienced with the conventional accumulator shown in FIG. 31 will now be described.
When the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit is operated, a state is realized in which the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 is accumulated in the container 151 as shown in FIG. 31 depending upon a state of the operation.
The flow rate of the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 which flows from the oil-recovery hole 153a into the discharge pipe 153 is enlarged as the flow velocity of the gas which flows in the discharge pipe 153 is raised and as the quantity of the liquid refrigerant which is accumulated in the container 151 is enlarged, that is, as the height H of the liquid refrigerant is enlarged. The characteristic of the flow rate realized when the velocity of the gas is made to be constant is shown in FIG. 32.
In the drawing, the axis of abscissa stands for the height H (mm) of the liquid refrigerant and axis of ordinate stands for the flow rate (kg/h) of the liquid refrigerant (including refrigerating machine oil) 154 which is introduced from the oil-recovery hole 153a into the discharge pipe 153. The rate of the flow from the oil-recovery hole 153a is a value obtained by adding a flow rate, which is substantially proportional to the square root of the height H (mm) of the liquid refrigerant, to a substantially constant flow rate. Note that the height H of the liquid refrigerant is a height from the oil-recovery hole 153a to the liquid refrigerant 154.
It is a known fact that the gas refrigerant discharged from the discharge pipe of the accumulator is, in the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit, sucked by the compressor. Then, the gas refrigerant is compressed, and then discharged. The accumulator having the conventional structure encounters a phenomenon that the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant which is introduced into the discharge pipe 153 of the accumulator is enlarged excessively if the liquid refrigerant 154 in a large quantity is accumulated in the container 151. At this time, the compressor is brought to a state which sucks the liquid refrigerant in a large quantity. As a result, a state in which the liquid refrigerant is compressed is realized, causing an abnormally high pressure to be generated. Also the inside portion of the compressor encounters defective lubrication of the bearing portions because an oil-supply pump sucks the liquid refrigerant and thus supplies the liquid refrigerant to the bearing portions and sliding portions. As a result, mechanisms in the compressor will be broken, and abnormal abrasion and seizure of the sliding portions in the compressor take place.
The characteristic of a flow in an accumulator for a refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit in which refrigerating machine oil having no solubility with the refrigerant is employed and problems which arises in this case will now be described.
Another example of the conventional accumulator will now be described. FIG. 33 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the structure of an accumulator disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-39409.
Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 201 represents a container, 202 represents a suction pipe, 203 represents a discharge pipe and 204 represents liquid refrigerant accumulated in the container 201. Reference numeral 205 represents refrigerating machine oil. Reference numeral 203a to 203e represent plural oil recovery holes opened in the vertical direction of the discharge pipe 203. In this example, five oil recovery holes are formed. Reference numeral 203f represents a gas inlet port formed at an end of the discharge pipe 203. Symbol U indicates the velocity of a gas in the discharge pipe 203.
In the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit including the foregoing accumulator, a fluid containing a gas refrigerant, a liquid refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil is allowed to pass through the suction pipe 202, and then introduced into the container 201. The gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant are separated from each other in the internal space in the container 201. Then, the gas refrigerant is allowed to flow from the gas inlet opening 203f to pass through the discharge pipe 203, and then discharged to the outside of the container 201. On the other hand, the liquid refrigerant 204 and refrigerating machine oil 205 are accumulated in a lower portion of the container 201.
If refrigerating machine oil 205 has poor or no solubility with the liquid refrigerant 204 or if refrigerating machine oil 205 encounters phase separation from that of the liquid refrigerant 204 depending on the operating condition, refrigerating machine oil 205 and the liquid refrigerant 204 in the container 201 are separated from each other as shown in the drawing. As a result, refrigerating machine oil 205 having a thickness h floats on the liquid refrigerant 204 having the liquid level of H. The plural oil-recovery holes 203a to 203e are formed in the vertical direction so that refrigerating machine oil 205 and the liquid refrigerant 204 are sucked into the discharge pipe 203 through the oil-recovery holes 203a to 203e. Thus, they are mixed with the gas refrigerant and allowed to flow in the apparatus.
Another example of the conventional accumulator will now be described. FIG. 34 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the structure of an accumulator disclosed in Japanese Utility-Model Laid-Open No. 58-87079. The internal structure of the accumulator is different from that of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 33.
Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 206 represents a container, 207 represents a suction pipe and 208 represents a discharge pipe. Reference numeral 208a to 208e represent a plurality of oil-recovery holes vertically formed in the discharge pipe 208. Reference numeral 209 represents a liquid refrigerant and 210 represents refrigerating machine oil.
In the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit including the above-mentioned accumulator, a fluid containing the gas refrigerant, the liquid refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil is allowed to pass through the suction pipe 207, and then introduced into the container 206. In the internal space in the container 206, the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant are separated from each other. Moreover, refrigerating machine oil 210 and the liquid refrigerant 209 are separated from each other. Refrigerating machine oil 210 having a low specific gravity is brought to a state in which it floats on the liquid refrigerant 209. Since the plural oil-recovery holes 208a to 208e are formed vertically, refrigerating machine oil 210 and the liquid refrigerant 209 are sucked into the discharge pipe 208 through the oil-recovery holes 208a to 208e. Then, they are mixed with the gas refrigerant, and allowed to flow in the apparatus.
The two conventional structures are operated similarly and suffers from similar problems. The operation and problem of the conventional structure shown in FIG. 33 will now be described.
The flow rate of the liquid refrigerant which is introduced into the discharge pipe 203 through the oil-recovery holes 203a to 203e is enlarged as the velocity U of the gas which flows in the discharge pipe 203 is raised and the quantity of the liquid refrigerant which is accumulated in the container 201, that is, the height H of the liquid refrigerant, is enlarged. FIG. 35 shows a flow-rate characteristic realized on the assumption that the gas velocity U is a constant value and the thickness h of refrigerating machine oil 205 which floats on the liquid refrigerant 204 is constant.
Referring to FIG. 35, the axis of abscissa stands for the height H (mm) of the liquid refrigerant and axis of ordinate stands for the rate (kg/h) of flow which is introduced into the discharge pipe 203. Dashed lines indicate the flow rates of portions of the liquid refrigerant which are introduced through the oil-recovery holes 203a to 203e. An alternate long and short dash line rising to the right indicates the total flow rate of the liquid refrigerant introduced through the respective oil-recovery holes.
As the height H of the liquid refrigerant is enlarged, the number of the oil-recovery holes which exist in the liquid refrigerant 204 is enlarged. Since the rate of the flows which are introduced through the lower oil-recovery holes is enlarged by a quantity corresponding to the potential head of the liquid, the foregoing flow rate is enlarged as compared with a rate of the flows which are introduced through the upper oil-recovery holes. Therefore, the total flow rate of the liquid refrigerant is not enlarged in proportion to the height H of the liquid refrigerant. The total flow rate is enlarged with increasing speed. That is, as the level of the liquid refrigerant is raised, the quantity of the liquid refrigerant 204 which is sucked into the discharge pipe 203 and discharged from the accumulator is enlarged.
The flow rate of oil will now be described. A sawtooth solid line shown in FIG. 35 indicates a flow rate of refrigerating machine oil 205, which floats in the upper portion and which is introduced into the discharge pipe 203 through the oil-recovery hole. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing change in the flow rate of oil. The quantity of refrigerating machine oil is determined by the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit which includes the accumulator. Since the diameter of each oil-recovery hole is usually determined to prevent excess accumulation of refrigerating machine oil in the accumulator, the quantity of refrigerating machine oil which is accumulated in the closed container 201 of the accumulator is not changed considerably. Therefore, one or two oil-recovery holes usually exist within the thickness h of refrigerating machine oil although the number varies depending on the intervals of the oil-recovery holes.
FIG. 36(a) shows a state in which refrigerating machine oil 205 is accumulated in a range including the two oil-recovery holes 203c and 203d. FIG. 36(b) shows a state in which refrigerating machine oil 205 is accumulated in a range including one oil-recovery hole 203d though the thickness h of refrigerating machine oil is the same as that in the case shown in (a). That is, the state shown in (a) or that shown in (b) can be realized depending upon the change in the height H of the liquid refrigerant. As a matter of course, the difference between the two states causes the flow rate of oil to be changed. Thus, the state shown in (a) is a state in which the flow rate of oil is larger than that in the state shown in (b). Therefore, even if the thickness h of refrigerating machine oil is constant, the flow rate of oil which is introduced into the discharge pipe 203 is somewhat changed when the height H of the liquid refrigerant is changed. In actual, the flow rate has the trend toward sawtooth change, as shown in FIG. 35.
An operation condition is considered in which the liquid refrigerant is mixed with the gas refrigerant which flows in the accumulator and the quantity of the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant is enlarged excessively. Moreover, refrigerating machine oil of the type which encounters the phase separation with the liquid refrigerant is used in the accumulator having the conventional structure (see FIGS. 33 and 34). In the foregoing state, the liquid refrigerant in a large quantity is introduced into the compressor because a large number of the oil-recovery holes exist. In the foregoing state, the compressor is brought to a state in which the liquid is compressed and thus abnormally high pressure is generated. Also the inside portion of the compressor encounters defective lubrication of the bearing portion because an oil-supply pump sucks the liquid refrigerant and thus supplies the liquid refrigerant to the bearing portions and sliding portions. As a result, the moving portions in the compressor encounter abnormal abrasion and seizure. Thus, the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit encounters a defect in the cooling performance or in the operation. The foregoing state sometimes suffers from unsatisfactory reliability as compared with an arrangement in which refrigerating machine oil having solubility with the refrigerant is employed.
As can be understood from the description about the convention apparatus, the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant which is discharged from the accumulator included in the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit is required to be not larger than a certain limit. On the other hand, a somewhat large flow rate of refrigerating machine oil is required to smoothly operate the compressor. The foregoing limits somewhat vary depending on the refrigerating and air-conditioning circuit which includes the accumulator.
To reduce the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant in the conventional structure shown in FIG. 33 or 34, the diameter of each oil-recovery hole is required to be reduced for example. However, the minimum diameter of the oil-recovery hole has a limit because a required flow rate of refrigerating machine oil which must be processed. Moreover, excessive reduction in the diameter is unfit for a mass production. What is worse, there is apprehension that clogging of foreign matter, such as dust, takes place if the diameter of the hole is too small. Therefore, the diameter must be larger than a certain value, for example, the diameter of the hole must be not smaller than about 1.5 mm. However, the foregoing diameter is too small to reduce the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant.
Moreover, another problem arises in the structures shown in FIG. 33 and 34 from a viewpoint of the flow rate characteristic of oil. That is, if the diameter of each oil-recovery hole is made to be a small diameter, the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant can be reduced. However, also the flow rate of oil is undesirably reduced. In this case, a required flow rate as refrigerating machine oil cannot be realized. In this case, oil in a large quantity is accumulated in the container of the accumulator, causing the quantity of oil in the compressor to be reduced.
As described above, the conventional accumulator is brought to a state in which the compressor sucks liquid refrigerant in a large quantity. Thus, the accumulator is brought to a state in which the liquid refrigerant is compressed, thus causing abnormally high pressure to be generated. Since the oil supply pump in the compressor sucks the liquid refrigerant and supplies the liquid refrigerant to the bearing portions and moving portions, the bearing portions suffer from insufficient lubrication. As a result, the mechanisms in the compressor can be broken, abnormal abrasion and seizure take place in the moving portion in the compressor.
As described above, the conventional accumulator has a problem in that the flow rate of each of the liquid refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil cannot appropriately be controlled if refrigerating machine oil having solubility with the refrigerant is employed or refrigerating machine oil having poor solubility with the refrigerant is employed. Thus, the reliability of the operation of the compressor has been unsatisfactory.


An ohmic electrode for III-V compound semiconductors such as GaAs semiconductors which has practically satisfactory characteristics is disclosed. A non-single crystal InAs layer, Ni film, WSi film and W film are sequentially deposited on an n.sup.+ -type GaAs substrate by sputtering, etc. and subsequently patterned by lift-off, etc. to make a multi-layered structure for fabricating ohmic electrodes. The structure is then annealed first at, e.g. 300.degree. C. for 30 minutes and next at, e.g. 650.degree. C. for one second to fabricate an ohmic electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for fabricating an ohmic electrode and to a multi-layered structure for fabricating an ohmic electrode suitable for, in particular, III-V compound semiconductors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Decrease in contact resistance of ohmic electrodes and improvement of their thermal stability are important issues for implementation of high performance and reliability of devices such as FETs using compound semiconductors. So far, however, no satisfactory ohmic electrodes are available for compound semiconductors, in particular, GaAs or other III-V compound semiconductors.
At present, the most frequently used material of ohmic electrodes for GaAs semiconductors is AuGe/Ni. The use of AuGe/Ni as the material of ohmic electrodes makes it possible to fabricate ohmic electrodes in ohmic contact with GaAs semiconductors by annealing at 400 to 500.degree. C.
The most serious problem with the use of AuGe/Ni as the material of ohmic electrodes is that the thermal instability of the ohmic electrodes fabricated with the material. That is, since AuGe/Ni contains a great amount of Au (88% of typically used AuGe), Au reacts with GaAs at a temperature of or above 400.degree. C., and makes .beta.-AuGa (of a hexagonal close packed (HCP) structure with melting point T.sub.m =375.degree. C.), which causes deterioration of the thermal stability even though contributing to a decrease in contact resistance of the ohmic electrode. It results in inviting deterioration of device characteristics due to high temperature processes such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) executed after formation of the ohmic electrode.
This problem is explained below by taking a specific JFET manufacturing process with reference to FIG. 1. That is, in this manufacturing process, an n-type channel layer 102 is first formed in a semi-insulating GaAs substrate 101 as shown in FIG. 1A by selective ion implantation of an n-type impurity and subsequent annealing. Then, an insulating film 103, such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film, is deposited on the entire surface of the semi-insulating GaAs substrate 101, and selectively removed by etching to form an opening 103a. After that, a p-type impurity, Zn, is diffused into the n-type channel layer 102 through the opening 103a to make a p.sup.+ -type gate region 104. Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, after the insulating film 103 is selectively removed by etching to make openings 103b, 103c, ohmic electrodes 105, 106, 107 are fabricated on the n-type channel layer 102 accessed through the openings 103a, 103b, 103c by using AuGe/Ni as their material. Next, as shown in FIG. 1C, first-layer wirings 108, 109 respectively coupled to the ohmic electrodes 106, 107 are made. Next, as shown in FIG. 1D, an inter-layer insulating film 110, such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film, is deposited by a CVD method on the entire surface to provide electrical insulation from second-layer wiring, referred to later, and selectively removed by etching to make openings 110a, 110b. A high temperature near 400.degree. C. is applied in this step of depositing the interlayer insulating film 110 by a CVD method, and deteriorates the device characteristics. To make the second-layer wiring, a resist 111, for example, is applied to the surface except for areas for contacts of the second-layer wiring. After a material for the second-layer wiring is applied on the entire surface, the resist 111 is removed. As a result, second-layer wirings 112, 113 are obtained in the form of air bridge wiring as shown in FIG. 1E.
Apart from the above-indicated problem, the use of AuGe/Ni as the material of the ohmic electrode causes .beta.-AuGa produced by reaction between GaAs and Au. .beta.-AuGa coarsens the surface of the ohmic electrode and makes subsequent fine working difficult.
Studies have so far been made on various materials for ohmic electrodes to overcome these problems. The most ideal approach from the viewpoint of ohmic contact is to establish ohmic contact by using metal which lowers the energy barrier at the interface with an electrode metal and does not contain a compound with a low melting points such as .beta.-AuGa, as shown in FIG. 2 in which E.sub.C is bottom energy of the conduction band, E.sub.V is top energy of the valence band, and E.sub.F is the Fermi energy. This structure of ohmic electrode is obtained by epitaxially growing an In.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As layer as an intermediate layer with a low energy barrier on a GaAs substrate by a metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) methods for example, and by providing an electrode metal on the layer. However, the use of an epitaxial growth equipment, such as MOCVD apparatus, to make the structure of ohmic electrode reduces the process window and degrades the mass productivity.
There is a report, directed to solution of these problems, which proposes to make on a GaAs substrate a multi-layered structure, such as InAs/W, InAs/Ni/W, Ni/InAs/Ni/W, and so forth, by depositing the intermediate InAs layer with a low energy barrier by a sputtering method using InAs as the target and by depositing the W and Ni films by an electron beam evaporation method and to apply subsequent annealing, which is said to result in obtaining an ohmic electrode having a good thermal stability (J. Appl. Phys. 68. 2475(1990)). FIG. 3 shows one of such examples in which the ohmic electrode is fabricated by depositing an InAs layer 201 on an n-type GaAs substrate 200 by a sputtering method, then depositing a Ni film 202 and a W film 203 sequentially on the InAs layer 201, and later annealing the structure.
This method is quite excellent in mass productivity because of using a sputtering method which can make the InAs layer 201 at a high speed. In additions since the ohmic electrode uses the W film 203 which is a refractory metal as its top layer, which permits any kind of metals like Al, Au, and so on, to be used as the material of metallization for connection to the ohmic electrode without using a barrier metal, the design allows a wide choice in the process sequence. Nevertheless, this method still involves the serious problem that impossibility of introducing an impurity as the donor into the InAs layer 201, diffusion of a slight amount of In on the W film 203 during annealing, and other like factors, disturb realization of a sufficiently low contact resistance. There is also an additional problem that diffusion of In on the W film 203 during annealing coarsens the surface of the ohmic electrode and significantly degrades its morphology.
Only having existing ohmic electrodes with unsatisfactory property for use on GaAs semiconductors, realization of an ohmic electrodes with practically satisfactory characteristics has been waited for.

Method for fabricating ohmic electrode and multi-layered structure for ohmic fabricating electrode


A jug for new oil is disclosed having a neck which opens upwards at one end of a flat platform. The jug is provided with a handle slot located below the neck, which tends to reduce rapid variations in pouring rate (i.e. `glugging`) as new oil is poured out. The platform aids in supporting the catch pan as used oil is drained from it through a drain opening, into the emptied jug which had contained the new oil. The catch pan is provided with a plug operated by a T-handle. Also disclosed are a funnel which can be nested in an inverted condition on the jug neck, and a catch pan with a boat-shape to permit over-the-lip pouring of used oil therefrom as an alternative to controlled draining of used oil therefrom through a bottom wall drain.

The U.S. Patents of W. J. Pollacco U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,403,692, issued Sep. 13, 1983 and 4,533,042, issued Aug. 6, 1985 and of Paul J. Pollacco (the present inventor) 4,524,866, issued Jun. 25, 1985 disclose several devices which are designed to be used by do-it-yourselfers in changing their automotive engine oil in a convenient, yet socially-responsible manner.
In general, these prior patents disclose kits and parts for use in a procedure in which used oil is drained from the automotive engine crank case into an open catch pan (i.e. a drain pan) slid under the vehicle. After the crankcase outlet plug is closed, new oil is poured from a jug into the filler tube on the engine. Finally, the used oil caught in the catch pan is poured from the catch pan back into the previously emptied new oil jug.
The present invention is directed towards refinements, elaborations and improvements of those kits and parts.


A magnetic head position detecting device having enhanced miniaturization and improved measuring accuracy. In the device, the output light beam of a light source is reflected by a first mirror so as to be applied to a rotary drum or the slide contact surface of a magnetic head. The light beam reflected from the rotary drum or the magnetic head is then reflected by a second mirror so as to be detected by a light receiving element. Furthermore, in the device, the output signal levels of a light receiving element corresponding to the position of light beams from the rotary drum and the slide contact surface of the magnetic head are subjected to comparison, so that the amount of protrusion of the slide contact surface of the magnetic head from the rotary drum can be measured with high accuracy.

This invention relates to a device for measuring the position of a rotary magnetic head in a video tape recorder adapted to record and reproduce video signals.
Conventionally, in a high grade video tape recorder, magnetic head wear due to slide contact of the magnetic tape is corrected by periodically inspecting the video tape recorder.
As the magnetic head is worn, there is a corresponding change in its electromagnetic conversion characteristic. The change is corrected by readjusting the recording current and the reproducing equalizer circuit's characteristic. When it is determined that the magnetic head is worn too much to perform recording and reproducing operations, the magnetic head is replaced together with the rotary drum.
However, this method is disadvantageous in that whenever the inspection time comes, it is necessary to stop the use of the video tape recorder for inspection, even if the inspection shows that adjustment was unnecessary in fact.
In order to overcome this difficulty, a magnetic recording and reproducing device has been proposed in the art in which the amount of wear of the magnetic head is continuously measured with optical means and the recording and reproducing systems are continually adjusted according to the result of such measurement. An example of such a device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 64165/1989 owned by the assignee of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1 in this prior art magnetic head position measuring device 1 the output light beam LA1 of a light emitting element 2 (hereinafter referred to as "an irradiating light beam LA1", when applicable) is applied through a condenser lens LEN1 to a magnetic head 4 on a rotary drum 3 at a predetermined angle and reflected from the magnetic head 4. The light beam LA2 thus reflected (hereinafter referred to as "a reflected light beam LA2", when applicable) is applied through another condenser lens LEN2 to a position detecting element 6. Position detecting element 6 outputs a position detection signal S1 corresponding to the incident position of the reflected light beam LA2. This signal S1 is then applied to an amount-of-wear detecting circuit 7. The latter detecting circuit detects the amount of protrusion of the magnetic head beyond the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 3, i.e., determines the amount of wear of the magnetic head 4.
The condenser lens LEN1 on the irradiation side is positioned at a point along the distance between the light emitting element 2 and the magnetic head 4 is where the ratio L.sub.1 :L.sub.2 will substantially concentrate the irradiating light beam LA1 at a point M.sub.1 on the magnetic head 4.
Similarly, the condenser lens LEN2 on the reflection side is positioned at the point where the distance between the magnetic head 4 and the position detecting element 6 is divided in the same ratio of L.sub.1 :L.sub.2. Thus, the image of the point M.sub.1 on the magnetic head 4 is formed at a point N.sub.1 on the position detecting element 6.
When the magnetic head 4 is worn, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, the incident position of the irradiating light beam LA1 is shifted from the point M.sub.1 to a point M.sub.2 on the prolongation of the irradiating light beam LA1. The light beam LA2 reflected from the point M.sub.2 through the center O of the condenser lens LEN2 impinges at a point N.sub.2 on the position detecting element. That is, the incident position of the reflected light beam is shifted from the point N.sub.1 to the point N.sub.2.
The amount of shift P.sub.2 (=N.sub.1 -N.sub.2) of the incident position of the reflected light beam LA2, due to the wear of the magnetic head 4, can be represented by the following equation (1), because the triangles .DELTA.OM.sub.1 M.sub.2 and .DELTA.ON.sub.1 N.sub.2, formed by the wear P.sub.1 (=M.sub.1 -M.sub.2) and the optical path difference: EQU P.sub.2 =(L.sub.1 /L.sub.2).times.P.sub.1 ( 1)
In the above-described conventional magnetic head position measuring device 1, the amount of wear P.sub.1 of the magnetic head 4 is very small, for example, a maximum of 0.05 mm. Hence, in order to increase the detection accuracy of the amount of wear P.sub.1, it is necessary to increase the ratio L.sub.1 /L.sub.2 in Equation (1), i.e., the distance L.sub.1. This means that it is necessary to increase the distance between the condenser lens LEN2 and the position detecting element 6 rendering the device unavoidably bulky.
Furthermore, in this prior art position measuring device 1, the lens system magnifies the amount of wear P.sub.1 of the magnetic head 4 only several times (about twice in practice). Therefore, the detection is relatively low in accuracy.
In addition, with this conventional position measuring device, during installation of the rotary drum 3 of magnetic head 4, a reference value for measuring the amount of wear P.sub.1, namely, a magnetic head protrusion position reference value, must be stored in a memory provided, for instance, in the amount-of-wear detecting device 7. It also is necessary to maintain the reference value in the memory.


An elliptically polarized cavity backed wideband slot antenna with a planar log-periodic dipole is provided. Sufficiently large bandwidth is achieved with careful design of the dipole. Also, the antenna has constant E-field distribution and good impedance properties, and ensures a constant power ratio for vertical polarization and horizontal polarization over a broad frequency band.

Many forms and types of antennas and/or antenna systems are proliferated throughout the various communication networks to transmit and receive signals. However, the market now seeks to have antenna systems that provide 30% radiation power on vertically polarized radiation vs. 100% radiation power on horizontally polarized radiation. Note that it is a convention among North-American broadcasters to state the polarization power as 0 to 100% for each component which may appear as if the total radiation is more than 100%. Nonetheless, such radiation patterns typically improve reception and, because of a diversity of polarization patterns (e.g. horizontal and vertical), allow for an increased likelihood of better reception.
A way to achieve vertical and horizontal polarization is to modify horizontally polarized antenna systems with a vertical component. Such an approach is used for narrowband slot antennas. For example, adding a conventional slant parasitic dipole to a horizontally polarized slot antenna to achieve elliptical or circular polarization is a commonly used technique in the narrowband slot antenna field. In this regard, the technology of adding a slant parasitic dipole to a slot antenna to achieve circular or elliptical polarization is published in "Broadband Slotted Coaxial Broadcast antenna Technology" by John L. Schadler—Dielectric L.L.C. However, performance to meet the industry expectations in these prior systems is limited to specific channels. That is, even if these devices are able to radiate over a range, say 470 MHz to 700 MHz, only a limited number of channels within that range perform at an acceptable level.
Accordingly, it is difficult to achieve satisfactory broadband antenna performance because a constant power ratio, like 30% for the vertical polarization and 100% for the horizontal polarization over the entire broad frequency bandwidth of 470 MHz to 700 MHz, is required.
Known techniques still do not sufficiently address this problem so achieving improved broadband antenna performance at satisfactory levels is challenging.

Elliptically polarized cavity backed wideband slot antenna


This disclosure relates to a polymer that includes a first comonomer repeat unit containing a benzothiadiazole moiety, a thiophene oxide moiety, a cyclopentadithiophene oxide moiety, a thiadiazoloquinoxaline moiety, a benzoisothiazole moiety, a benzothiazole moiety, a thienothiophene moiety, a thienothiophene oxide moiety, a dithienothiophene moiety, a dithienothiophene oxide moiety, or a tetrahydroisoindole moiety. The polymer can be used as a photoactive material in a photovoltaic cell. This disclosure also relates to such photovoltaic cells, as well as modules containing such photovoltaic cells.

Photovoltaic cells are commonly used to transfer energy in the form of light into energy in the form of electricity. A typical photovoltaic cell includes a photoactive material disposed between two electrodes. Generally, light passes through one or both of the electrodes to interact with the photoactive material. As a result, the ability of one or both of the electrodes to transmit light (e.g., light at one or more wavelengths absorbed by a photoactive material) can limit the overall efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. In many photovoltaic cells, a film of semiconductive material (e.g., indium tin oxide) is used to form the electrode(s) through which light passes because, although the semiconductive material can have a lower electrical conductivity than electrically conductive materials, the semiconductive material can transmit more light than many electrically conductive materials.

Polymers with low band gaps and high charge mobility


A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame are disclosed. The vehicle including at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic.

Adjustable shock absorbers are known. Systems and methods for controlling one or more adjustable characteristics of adjustable shock absorbers are disclosed in US Published Patent Application No. 2016/0059660 (filed Nov. 6, 2015, titled VEHICLE HAVING SUSPENSION WITH CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL) and US Published Application 2018/0141543 (filed Nov. 17, 2017, titled VEHICLE HAVING ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION).

Vehicle having adjustable compression and rebound damping


A folding station of a folding box gluing machine for processing a blank having a middle piece and side pieces which are attached to sides of the middle piece and which are deflected upward and inward along folding grooves between the middle piece and the side piece across a folding line toward the lengthwise middle of the blank and then folded up in order to produce a folding boxes, includes a folding strap that deflects the side pieces and folds them upward. The folding strap is guided by a folding shunt, a positioning roller, and one or more deflection and pressure rollers. A distance between the folding strap from the folding line of the blank is adjustable, such that the folding strap acts on an outer region of the side piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a folding station of a folding box gluing machine for processing a blank delivered along a conveying section with a controllable delivery speed, wherein the blank has a middle piece on which side pieces are attached at the sides of the middle piece, which are folded inward along folding grooves between the middle piece and the side pieces, across a folding line toward the lengthwise middle of the blank and then folded up in order to produce the folded boxes, with a folding strap that folds the side pieces upward, being guided by a folding shunt, a positioning roller, and one or more deflection and pressure rollers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known folding box machine used to transform blanks into folded box tubes is disclosed in DE 102 41 448. The blanks correspond to a view of a ready-to-produce folding box. The folding must be performed with precision, since the folding will determine the angle trueness of the finished folded box.
In order to produce the folded box tube, folding straps or folding bands are used and arranged to lie against portions of the blank being folded up, or the side pieces of the folding box blank, and maintain the folding along the folding line. The folding straps are arranged so as to have a helical shape and are arranged to operate on the portions being folded. To effectively perform the folding operation, the folding straps travel at a speed corresponding to the speed of the blank. In order to ensure the angle trueness of the finished folded box, a plurality of loosely turning disks are arranged in the folding line, and make contact with the folding box blank in the vicinity of the folding lines.
Another known folding station for folding blanks is disclosed in DE 44 39 198 A1. Folding is performed using folding straps, which engage the side flaps of a blank from underneath. The folding straps thus travel from a plane underneath the blank to a plane above the middle piece of the blank. The axes of the folding straps are twisted relative to each other so that the surface of the folding strap facing the blank rotates by a total of about 180 degrees along the delivery path of the blank. In order to maintain close tolerances during the folding of the blanks, an edging device is arranged in the region of the folding lines of the blanks in the forward region of the delivery path.
It is evident from the described state of the art that exact folding along the folding lines and maintaining angle trueness of the blanks after folding present problems with the conventional folding process.

Folding station with adjustable folding strap


A device for providing electromagnetic oscillations in the sub-millimeter range comprising one or more electron beam generators for providing a first and a second electron beam and one or more magnetic field generators for focusing the first and second electron beams. The device may comprise an oscillator comprising a slow wave circuit having a structure of an electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the first electron beam and an amplifier comprising a slow wave circuit having a structure of an electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the second electron beam and electrically connected to said oscillator. The oscillator and amplifier may be formed on a single substrate utilizing a single deposition process. The oscillator and amplifier may be contained in a single vacuum envelope.

A backward wave oscillator ("BWO") is a tunable source of coherent radiation. A conventional BWO typically includes a slow wave circuit or structure having an electron source and suitable steering magnets or electric fields arranged around the slow wave circuit to pass an electron beam in proximity to the slow wave circuit or structure. In a conventional BWO, an electron beam interacts with the evanescent form of a propagating electromagnetic wave to oscillate the energy of the electromagnetic wave. Because of their wide tuning range, BWOs have been used in a variety of applications including as local oscillators in heterodyne receivers and transmitters.
A traveling wave tube ("TWT") is generally used to provide microwave, millimeter wave, sub-millimeter wave, etc. amplification. A conventional TWT typically includes a slow wave circuit or structure defined by a generally hollow vacuum-tight barrel with optional additional microwave circuitry disposed inside the barrel. An electron source and suitable steering magnets or electric fields are arranged around the slow wave circuit to pass an electron beam through the generally hollow beam tunnel. In a conventional TWT, an electron beam interacts with a propagating electromagnetic wave to amplify the energy of the electromagnetic wave. This interaction may be achieved by propagating the electromagnetic wave through a structure which slows the axial propagation of the electromagnetic wave and brings it into synchronism with the velocity of the electron beam. The kinetic energy in the electron beam is coupled into the electromagnetic wave, thereby amplifying the electromagnetic wave.
Nominally, the sub-millimeter wave regime ranges from 300 to 3000 GHz where electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength between 1.0 and 0.1 mm. Above the sub-millimeter band is the infrared region where wavelengths are typically reported in microns and the electromagnetic waves behave similar to light waves. Below the sub-millimeter is the millimeter wave band (ranging from 30 to 300 GHz) and the microwave band (ranging from 1 to 30 GHz). In the millimeter and microwave bands, the electromagnetic waves behave similar to the ordinary low frequency electric currents and voltages with the very important distinction that the circuit dimensions are comparable to a wavelength. In the sub-millimeter band, electromagnetic radiation has the properties of both microwaves and light. Structures that are suitable for microwaves become unreasonably small for sub-millimeter devices while standard optical configurations become far too large.
Added to the dimensional complexity are several physical constraints in the sub-millimeter band imposed by significant atmospheric attenuation and by greatly increased electrical conduction losses. Atmospheric attenuation is greatly enhanced by the presence of vibrational and rotational resonances of naturally occurring molecular gasses, while the roughness of metal surfaces significantly increases conduction losses. Because many of the issues regarding size and losses become exceedingly important at frequencies well below 300 GHz, the sub-millimeter regime is frequently extended to 100 GHz.
Conventionally, vacuum electron devices have dominated the microwave and millimeter wave regimes for applications where power and efficiency are important system parameters. However, within the sub-millimeter regime, conventional microwave structures are usually not applicable. Solid state devices are used as low power signal sources in the microwave and low millimeter wave regimes, but are not applicable in the sub-millimeter band. Gas lasers may be operated in the sub-millimeter band but may only be tuned to discrete frequencies and they are generally very large devices. Presently, there is no commercially available electronically tunable signal source in the sub-millimeter band.
Additionally, in conventional practice, when BWOs and TWTs are utilized together, the structures are fabricated as separate devices. Since two separate devices are commonly used, significant losses are associated with signals passing through a corresponding BWO output coupler, TWT input coupler, connecting transmission lines and the applicable two vacuum windows, which in total approximates to losses of 10 dB. For example, if the signal output from a conventional BWO is degraded by an insertion loss of 10 dB, a corresponding TWT must provide a compensating gain of 10 dB in addition to the system requirements. As a result the TWT design and fabrication must be complicated significantly by adding a sever to prevent the amplifier from oscillating uncontrollably. Thus, a need exists in the art to reduce insertion losses in coupling between an oscillator and amplifier in vacuum electron devices.
There is also a need for a novel source of electromagnetic radiation obtained by combining a BWO and a TWT amplifier in the same vacuum envelope. There is also a need in the art for a novel method of fabrication of two slow wave circuits as a unit on the same substrate. Thus, embodiments utilizing such novel methods and structure may provide significant advantages over conventional methods and circuits present in the art such as, but not limited to, improved manufacturing economies, reduction of insertion loss oscillator-amplifier couplings, and providing output powers of several hundred mW with efficiencies of a few percent.
Accordingly, there is a need for a novel apparatus and method for providing electromagnetic oscillations. Therefore, an embodiment of the present subject matter provides a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations comprising one or more electron beam generators for providing a first and a second electron beam and one or more magnetic field generators for focusing the first and second electron beams. The device may further comprise an oscillator comprising a slow wave circuit having a structure of an electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the first electron beam, and an amplifier comprising a slow wave circuit having a structure of an electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the second electron beam and electrically connected to the oscillator where the oscillator and amplifier are contained in a single vacuum envelope.
Another embodiment of the present subject matter provides a device for producing electromagnetic oscillations comprising a single vacuum envelope and a pair of electron beam generators contained within the envelope for generating a pair of substantially parallel electron beams. A pair of side-by-side slow wave circuits may be contained within the envelope, one circuit being positioned so that one electron beam induces electromagnetic oscillations in the circuit. The other circuit may be positioned to receive the electromagnetic oscillations, and positioned so that the other electron beam amplifies the electromagnetic oscillations in said circuit.
An additional embodiment of the present subject matter provides a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations at a sub-millimeter wavelength comprising a first and a second electron beam generator for generating a first and a second electron beam, each of the electron beam generators comprising a source of electrons, a collector of electrons, and a means for accelerating electrons emitted from the source in the direction of the collector. The device may further comprise an oscillator comprising a first slow wave circuit disposed intermediate the source and collector of the first electron beam generator where the first electron beam passes in sufficient proximity to the first slow wave circuit to induce electromagnetic oscillations in the first slow wave circuit and to interact with the induced oscillations for providing electromagnetic oscillations. An amplifier may also be included in the device, the amplifier comprising a second slow wave circuit positioned to receive the electromagnetic oscillations from the first slow wave circuit where the second electron beam passes in sufficient proximity to the second slow wave circuit to amplify the electromagnetic oscillations. Of course, the two slow wave circuits and beam generators may be contained in a single vacuum envelope.
Yet another embodiment of the present subject matter may provide a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations comprising one or more electron beam generators for providing a first and a second electron beam, an oscillator comprising a slow wave circuit having a structure of an electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the first electron beam, and an amplifier comprising a second slow wave circuit having a structure of an electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the second electron beam. In this exemplary embodiment, the first and second slow wave circuits may be fabricated on a single substrate using a chemical vapor deposition process.
Yet an additional embodiment of the present subject matter may provide a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations comprising one or more electron beam generators for providing a first and a second electron beam and one or more magnetic field generators for focusing the first and second electron beams. A first slow wave circuit may be provided for guiding electromagnetic oscillations having a first periodic structure of electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the first electron beam. A second slow wave circuit may also be provided for guiding said electromagnetic oscillations having a second periodic structure of electrically non-conducting material with metallized surfaces adjacent the second electron beam. In one embodiment, the phase shift of the electromagnetic oscillations per period propagating in the second periodic structure may be different than the phase shift of the electromagnetic oscillations per period propagating in the first periodic structure.
One embodiment of the present subject matter provides a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations comprising a first and a second electron beam generator for providing a first and a second electron beam, each electron beam generator comprising a source of electrons, a collector of electrons, and means for accelerating electrons emitted from the source in the direction of the collector. The device may further include a first slow wave circuit disposed intermediate the source and collector of the first electron beam generator where the first electron beam passes in sufficient proximity to the first slow wave circuit to induce electromagnetic oscillations in the first slow wave circuit and to interact with the induced oscillations for providing electromagnetic oscillations. The first slow wave circuit may be defined in two planes where the first electron beam passing therebetween. The device may further comprise a second slow wave circuit positioned to receive electromagnetic oscillations from the first slow wave circuit where the second electron beam passes in sufficient proximity to the second slow wave circuit to amplify the electromagnetic oscillations propagating in the second slow wave circuit.
Another embodiment of the present subject matter provides a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations comprising a first and a second electron beam generator for providing a first and a second electron beam. The electron beam generators may each comprise a source of electrons, a collector of electrons, and means for accelerating electrons emitted from the source in the direction of the collector. A first slow wave circuit may be disposed intermediate the source and collector of the first electron beam generator where the first electron beam passes in sufficient proximity to the first slow wave circuit to induce electromagnetic oscillations in the first slow wave circuit and to interact with the induced oscillations for providing electromagnetic oscillations. A second slow wave circuit may be positioned intermediate the source and collector of the second electron beam generator and receives electromagnetic oscillations from the first slow wave circuit where the second electron beam passes in sufficient proximity to the second slow wave circuit to amplify the electromagnetic oscillations in the second slow wave circuit. In this embodiment the first electron beam interacts with the full propagation strength of the electromagnetic oscillations propagating in the first slow wave circuit. In an alternative embodiment, the second electron beam interacts with the full propagation strength of the electromagnetic oscillations propagating in the second slow wave circuit.
One embodiment of the present subject matter may provide a device forming a pair of side-by-side slow wave circuits comprising a first substantially planar plate containing a pair of side-by-side periodic structures of electrically non-conducting material. Each of the structures may comprise an elongated ridge having a plurality of spaced digits extending substantially perpendicular therefrom with selected surfaces of the ridges and digits being metallized. A second substantially planar plate may be provided containing a pair of side-by-side periodic structures of electrically non-conducting material. Each of these structures may comprise an elongated ridge having a plurality of spaced digits extending substantially perpendicular therefrom with selected surfaces of the ridges and digits being metallized. The second plate may be positioned spaced from and substantially parallel to the first plate so that each periodic structure on the second plate opposes a periodic structure on the first plate forming a pair of biplanar, interdigital slow wave circuits.
An embodiment of the present subject matter may provide a device forming a pair of side-by-side slow wave circuits comprising a first substantially planar plate containing a pair of side-by-side periodic structures of electrically non-conducting material. A first of the structures may comprise an elongated ridge having a plurality of spaced digits extending substantially perpendicular therefrom with selected surfaces of the ridges and digits being metallized. A second of the structures may comprise a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel elongated ridges having a plurality of spaced vanes extending substantially perpendicular therebetween. The device may further include a second substantially planar plate containing a pair of side-by-side structures of electrically non-conducting material where a first of the structures is a periodic structure comprising an elongated ridge having a plurality of spaced digits extending substantially perpendicular therefrom with selected surfaces of the ridges and digits being metallized and a second of the structures comprising a substantially planar surface. In one embodiment the second plate may be positioned spaced from and substantially parallel to the first plate so that the periodic structure on the second plate opposes the first periodic structure on the first plate forming a biplanar, interdigital slow wave circuit. Further, the substantially planar surface on the second plate may also oppose the second periodic structure forming a single ladder slow wave circuit.
A further embodiment of the present subject matter may provide a device for providing electromagnetic oscillations having a sub-millimeter wavelength comprising a vacuum envelope and a pair of electron beam generators contained in the vacuum envelope. Each of the electron beam generators may include a source of electrons, a collector of electrons, and a means for accelerating electrons emitted from the source in the direction of the collector for generating a pair of substantially parallel electron beams at substantially the same voltage. The device may further comprise one or more magnetic field generators for focusing the electron beams and a pair of side-by-side slow wave circuits. Each slow wave circuit may comprise a periodic structure of diamond having selected surfaces overlaid with gold, each of the slow wave circuits being positioned between the source and collector of a respective electron beam generator so that the gold overlaid surfaces are adjacent the respective electron beam. The periodic structure of each slow wave circuit may be selected so that one slow wave circuit operates as a backward wave oscillator which feeds the electromagnetic oscillations induced therein into the other slow wave circuit which operates as an amplifier.
These embodiments and many other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the embodiments.

Apparatus and method for producing electromagnetic oscillations


The present invention provides methods for screening and testing disorder suppressor genes and disorder suppressor polypeptides. By screening the cDNA expression library incorporated with nucleic acids derived from an organism suffering from a disorder that accompanies cell death, genes having suppressive effects on the disorder symptoms were successfully cloned. Furthermore, suppressive effects of the nucleic acid and polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid on the disorder have been also examined. Screening of nucleic acids or polypeptides derived from an organism suffering from a disorder that accompanies cell death enables the efficient isolation and selection of suppressor genes of the disorder.

Current progress in human genome analysis has lead to the identification of genes associated with a variety of disorders. The analyses of these disorder-associated genes are revealing complicated relationships between the actions of causative gene(s) (or the aberrant action of normal genes associated with disorders) and the action of gene(s) that suppress disorders. That is, almost all the disorders occurring in humans are thought to be caused by a collapse in the balance between the action of disease-causing aberrant genes (or aberrant action of normal genes associated with disorders) and the action of normal suppressor genes that compete with aberrant genes. Such a view-point may be applicable to almost all the disorders ranging from stomach ulcer to neurodegenerative diseases, indicating, in other words, a possible presence of normal genes that suppress a majority of disorders (or disorder suppressor genes) in the genome. Needless to say, development of an efficient method of screening for such genes undoubtedly would enable the discovery and identification of useful genes expressing specific therapeutic effects on a variety of human disorders, including intractable diseases for which no treatment has yet been found.
Conventionally, a suppressor gene for a particular disorder was screened mostly by using a method that searched for a molecule that suppressed a biochemical function of a causative gene using the biochemical function as an index. However, such a method cannot be applied to cases where the biochemical function of the causative gene has not been elucidated. Furthermore, even if the biochemical function has been identified, the search for drugs based on the function may not directly lead to a molecule capable of curing the disorder when the biochemical function is not the direct cause of the onset of the disorder. In fact, even if a gene has been proved to be a causative of a particular disorder from epidemiological, genetic, or other studies, the biochemical function of the gene cannot be often identified, and, moreover, even if it is identified, it is difficult to clarify whether the identified function is the direct cause for the onset of the disorder. For example, although it has been demonstrated that a mutation in the α-synuclein gene, which has been identified as one of the Parkinson's disease (PD)-associated genes (Polymeropoulos, M. H. et al., 1997, Science 276: 2045-2047), is definitely the gene that causes the onset of PD, the biochemical function of α-synuclein has not so yet been elucidated. An Alternative example is the ATM gene, causative of ataxia telangiectasia (spinocerebellar degeneration with capillarectasia), in which although the only known biochemical function of ATM is a PI3 kinase-like activity, it is entirely unclear whether the aberration of this biochemical function causes the onset of the disorder. Thus, it is extremely difficult to develop a therapeutic molecule for a disease based on the mere identification of a causative gene.
Systems that attempt screening through a more functional method have been developed. One of them is a method of screening for genes and molecules that suppress cell death induced by disease-causing genes, which has been conventionally referred to as the death-trap method (D'Adamio, L. et al., Semin. Immunol. 1997, 9: 17-23). However, due to the extremely low efficiency in screening when using only the conventional death-trap method, this method has not so far become an effective screening method.
As described above, almost all the disorders occurring in humans are thought to be caused by a collapse in the balance between the action of disease-causing aberrant genes (or aberrant action of normal genes associated with disorders) and the action of normal suppressor genes that compete with aberrant genes. Therefore, it is highly likely that suppressor genes for a majority of disorders are present in the genome. Thus, screening of a cDNA library covering the human genome using the death-trap method may theoretically lead to the discovery of disorder suppressor genes. However, it is extremely difficult to discover such a suppressor gene out of the vast genome even by conducting this screening method, and in fact, no disorder suppressor gene has so far been found using the death-trap method even several years after its establishment. Therefore, a method capable of more efficiently screening disorder suppressor genes has been anticipated.

Method of screening disease depressant gene


A system and method for sidelobe suppression in OFDM communications systems is provided. A method for transmitting an information symbol having a plurality of information sub-carriers and a plurality of active interference cancellation (AIC) sub-carriers includes generating AIC sub-carrier data based on the information to be transmitted, populating the plurality of information sub-carriers with the information, populating the plurality of AIC sub-carriers with the AIC sub-carrier data, applying baseband processing to the information symbol, thereby producing a processed symbol, and transmitting the processed symbol.

Generally, in an OFDM communications system, a channel comprising a large number of sub-carriers over a frequency range is used to carry data. Frequencies within the channel may be referred to as in-band frequencies, and frequencies outside of the channel may be referred to as out-of-band frequencies. For example, if an OFDM communications system supports a plurality of channels, with a transmission occurring over one channel, then transmissions over the one channel are in-band transmissions with respect to the one channel, while transmissions occurring outside of a frequency range of the one channel are out-of-band transmissions with respect to the one channel.
Potentially, the OFDM communications system uses a number of different channels to allow communications by multiple communications devices operating in the OFDM communications system. The sub-carriers within a channel may be closely spaced and orthogonal to one another. The information (data and/or pilots) to be carried may be divided into multiple information streams with one information stream per sub-carrier. Each sub-carrier may be modulated with a conventional modulation scheme, such as quadrature amplitude modulation or phase shift keying.
In addition to the sub-carriers, a channel may include guard bands placed on the upper and lower ends of the channel frequency range, surrounding the frequency range of the sub-carriers. The guard bands may be used to help prevent signals in the channel from leaking out of the channel and causing interference to other communications devices in the OFDM communications system as well as electronic devices not in the OFDM communications system. For example, with the OFDM wireless communications system operating in a channel (or channels) with a frequency band adjacent to licensed spectrum, by regulation, the OFDM wireless communications system must not cause interference to electronic devices that are using the licensed spectrum. Additionally, the communications devices communicating over the channel (channels) should not cause interference to communications devices communicating over channels adjacent to the channel.
However, even with the use of guard bands, signals on the sub-carriers in the channel will leak through into adjacent channels or frequencies and may raise the signal level on out-of-band frequencies. This may negatively impact the performance of electronic devices operating in the out-of-band frequencies.
In co-assigned U.S. patent applications entitled "Ultra Wideband Interference Cancellation for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Transmitters by Protection-Edge Tones," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,840, filed Jul. 1, 2005, and "Narrow Band Interference Cancellation Technique for OFDM Transmitters," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/356,780, filed Feb. 17, 2006, which are incorporated herein by reference, a focus is placed on tone-nulling applications by controlling the interference level affecting narrowband communications systems, which usually has a right to use the band. The techniques proposed may not have application in sidelobe suppression since an optimization range may be set only within the OFDM signal spectrum, and therefore, sidelobes may not be effectively suppressed.
In a technical paper by S. Brandes, I. Cosovic, and M. Schenell, entitled "Sidelobe Suppression in OFDM Systems by Insertion of Cancellation Carriers," IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC-2005-Fall), September 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference, a technique for sidelobe suppression is presented. However, the technique ignores the effects of a transmitter's many baseband operations, including cyclic prefix and transmit time-windowing. Furthermore, a simple sinc function is used in calculating the interference assuming a rectangular pulse shaping for OFDM symbol and no cyclic prefix applied. Therefore, the technique has limited application in OFDM communications systems having cyclic prefix and transmit time-windowing.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for sidelobe suppression in OFDM communications systems that is applicable to OFDM communications systems wherein transmitters perform a number of baseband operations on the information to be transmitted, including adding a cyclic prefix (or cyclic suffix) and using transmit time-windowing (or time-domain filtering).

System and method for sidelobe suppression in communications systems


An inkjet recording apparatus includes: (a) a medium supporter; (b) an inkjet head; and (c) a medium feeder including a first roller and a second roller for cooperating with each other to nip the recording medium, for thereby feeding a recording medium outwardly of the medium supporter. The first roller is displaceable between a projecting position and a non-projecting position, such that the first roller projects out from the medium supporter when being placed in the projecting position. The inkjet recording apparatus further includes (d) a feeder controller configured to control the medium feeder, for causing the second roller to be displaced toward the first roller upon placement of the first roller in the projecting position so as to cooperate with the first roller to nip the recording medium, and causing the first roller and/or the second roller to be rotated, whereby the recording medium is fed outwardly of the medium supporter while the recording medium is being at least partially separated from the medium supporter by the placement of the first roller in the projecting position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus for performing a recording operation by ejecting ink toward a recording medium.
2. Discussion of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,466 (corresponding to JP-H11-268307A) discloses a multicolor liquid ink printer including: a stationary platen; drive rollers for moving a media sheet on the platen; a charging device for producing electrostatic charge; full width array printheads; and a carriage that carries the charging device and the printheads, so that a printing operation is performed by the printheads onto the media sheet (recording medium such as standard paper sheet) which is held on the platen. In this printer, after having been fed onto the platen, the media sheet is electrostatically held on the platen, owing to electrostatic charge that is produced by the charging device and applied onto the media sheet. A desired image is formed on the media sheet by the printheads while the media sheet is held on the platen. The printing operation is completed when the sheet having the formed image is moved by the drive rollers, from the platen to an output tray of the printer.


The present invention relates to zinc gluconate gel-containing topical compositions which have an anti-irritant effect on the skin. In particular embodiments, the gel matrix may further comprise chlorhexidine gluconate, wherein the zinc gluconate gel diminishes the irritant and/or allergenic effect of the chlorhexidine gluconate.

The use of physical barriers such as gloves or condoms has been recommended to minimize the risk of contact with body fluids containing infectious microbial pathogens such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and hepatitis. However, it has been reported that a significant number of these physical barriers allow fluids to seep through existing or newly created pinholes. Furthermore, chemical or mechanical insults during use can damage glove surfaces, increasing permeability to viruses. Other than serving as a physical barrier, gloves do not provide any anti-microbial protection unless specifically coated with an anti-microbial agent. The development and manufacture of such coated gloves may be complicated and costly.
The common practice of washing hands with antiseptics prior to glove donning cannot provide adequate protection, because the necessary antiseptic concentration needed for rapid kill of subsequently intruding pathogens is not available from the residual amount of antiseptic left on a washed skin surface. Use of relatively large amounts of antiseptics such as HIBISTAT (0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropanol) or HIBICLENS (4% chlorhexidine gluconate skin cleanser), while initially providing some protection, fails to fully inactivate intruding pathogens because of absorption of the anti-microbial agent to the skin. Existing barrier creams such as UNI SALVE (Smith and Nephew, Largo, Fla.) are also not effective for rapid inactivation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,978 (Stockum) describes a glove having an inner coating containing an anti-microbial agent and cross-linked starch. However, such gloves release the anti-microbial agent slowly, and therefore cannot provide rapid disinfection. U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,205 (Huang et al.) describes processes for producing a glove having an internal anti-microbial surface. However, the glove resulting from such processes also fails to provide rapid disinfection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,090 (Modak et al.) describes a glove having an inner coating comprising chlorhexidine which is capable of inactivating microbial pathogens such as HIV and HBV (Hepatitis B Virus). The glove described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,090 must be pretreated so as to prevent absorption of the chlorhexidine into the glove matrix. The glove described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,090 does not provide rapid microbial inactivation.
Glove use for protection from microbial pathogens is also known to give rise to allergic reactions in the skin of the glove wearer. Gloves, particularly latex gloves and gloves coated on the inside with starch powder, release allergens to which a wearer may be allergic.
Our invention provides, in part, a composition which can be used for rapidly inactivating microbial pathogens by application to a surface, such as skin. The anti-microbial agent in the composition does not bind to the surface due to the inclusion of an anti-binding substance in the composition, allowing the anti-microbial agent to be released in cidal doses when a fluid contacts the composition. In some embodiments, the anti-binding substance in the composition enhances the anti-microbial activity of the composition due to synergistic interaction with the anti-microbial agent.
Our composition overcomes some of the above-described problems associated with inactivation of microbial pathogens by providing the following advantages:
(1) when applied to skin, the anti-microbial agents in the composition minimally bind to the skin, permitting release of the anti-microbial agent and rapid microbial inactivation when the composition is contacted with a fluid; PA1 (2) the composition may be applied to the hands prior to glove use, regardless of the type of glove used, thereby giving a glove-wearer more choice as to which type of glove to wear; and PA1 (3) anti-allergens in the composition minimally bind to the skin, allowing rapid inactivation of allergens released from gloves, thereby permitting a glove-wearer to wear a glove to which he might otherwise be allergic. PA1 a) an irritant-inactivating agent, and PA1 b) a substance which substantially prevents the irritant-inactivating agent from binding to the surface, PA1 a) an irritant-inactivating agent; and PA1 b) a surfactant; PA1 a) an irritant-inactivating agent; and PA1 b) a surfactant; PA1 a) an irritant-inactivating agent, and PA1 b) a substance which substantially prevents the irritant-inactivating agent from binding to the surface, PA1 2% chlorhexidine gluconate PA1 2% zinc oxide PA1 0.2% polyquaternium 10 PA1 0.3% methylparaben PA1 0.5% phenoxyethanol PA1 95% SOFT-SENSE. PA1 2% chlorhexidine gluconate PA1 1% zinc oxide PA1 0.2% polyquaternium 10 PA1 0.3% methylparaben PA1 0.5% phenoxyethanol PA1 96% LOTION SOFT. PA1 2% chlorhexidine gluconate PA1 2% zinc oxide PA1 0.2% polyquaternium 10 PA1 0.3% methylparaben PA1 0.5% phenoxyethanol PA1 95% CUREL. PA1 a) an irritant-inactivating agent; and PA1 b) a surfactant; PA1 a) an irritant-inactivating agent; and PA1 b) a surfactant;

Composition for inactivating irritants in fluids

The Trustees of Columbia University in the city of New York


A hand actuated link cable or piston displacement system utilizes a four-bar linkage system attached to a hand-operated lever. The four-bar linkage system is connected by bolts that permit pivotal movement and enable the hand-operated lever to move with little or no longitudinal travel relative to the longitudinal axis of displacement. Adjustments to the lever's angle of operation can be made, as well as adjustments to the power ratio of the system, for applying force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for displacing a cable or piston by means of a hand operated lever and, more particularly, to a multiple linkage cable or piston displacement system.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known within the bicycle and motorcycle industry to use lever operated brakes and clutches. Systems that use levers having a single pivot to pull on a cable are well known. Four-bar linkage systems have been attempted as well in cable displacement systems. However, considerable improvement is still needed in such systems to provide improved performance in the power ratio of lever movement to cable displacement. Moreover, there is a need for adjustable, hand actuated cable displacement systems in which the angle of operation of the lever can be adjusted to accommodate individual desires.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 54-19004 discloses a four-bar linkage system utilized on a bicycle hand brake system. The links, however, are not positioned to significantly reduce potential lateral movement. That is, the lever can move laterally along the axis of the force application and away from its support bracket because the links in the mechanism are aligned essentially next to each other so that the lever must pivot around the two pivot points of the links on the support member.


A method is disclosed including receiving with a controller at a destination node signal samples and associated sampling time indications. The signal samples and the associated sampling time indications are received from a source node via a mesh network. The signal samples are delivered with sampling time indications generated at the source node to form a series of signals corresponding to one or more characteristic(s) related to electricity supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source. The method also includes applying a time domain convolution procedure to the received signal in the time domain that is uniformly sampled. The weighting of sample values in time domain convolution procedure is determined at least partially based on information indicative of the statistical behavior of a corresponding realized sample process.

The present disclosure relates to delivering information via a mesh telemetry system and more particularly to delivering data using a delivery system having variable transport delay or where data messages can be lost and/or unrecovered or both.
When delivering signals using telemetry systems (e.g., mesh telemetry systems), some samples of the source signal may be delayed or lost. Further the delay at which the signal samples arrive from the source is unpredictable thereby degrading the signal for purposes requiring uniformly sampled time series signals. Because certain signal samples may be lost, the lost information contained in the source signal may not be fully reconstructed.


A high speed anti-friction bearing includes an internal impeller mechanism to provide improved high speed lubrication for the anti-friction elements. At high bearing speeds the impeller mechanism scoops liquid lubricant from a liquid annulus centrifugally generated on the outer wall of the bearing. The scooped liquid is hurled inwardly onto the anti-friction elements as a fine mist. The bearing lubrication process is achieved with minimum heat generation and minimum energy loss insofar as the anti-friction elements do not plow through large masses of lubricant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to anti-friction bearings, and particularly to mechanisms for supplying liquid lubricant to the anti-friction elements. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bearing is a sealed bearing assembly having a self-contained supply of lubricant.
2. Description of Prior Developments
It is known to provide lubrication systems for anti-friction bearings. One problem with many lubricated bearings is that during high speed bearing operation the lubricant tends to be centrifugally thrown radially outwardly against the bearing outer wall. The lubricant forms an outer lubricant ring or liquid annulus spaced away from the anti-friction elements. The anti-friction elements become starved of lubricant.
The lubricant starvation problem can at least partly be solved by more completely filling the bearing with lubricant, i.e. by adding enough lubricant so that the anti-friction elements are continually immersed in lubricant, even when the lubricant is centrifugally formed into a lubricant annulus. However, with a greater quantity of lubricant in the bearing, the anti-friction elements and associated separator or spacer are required to plow through the lubricant mass. The bearing thus requires a greater amount of energy to achieve a given shaft rotational speed.
The higher energy requirement is particularly noticeable during high speed operation during which the energy is translated into objectionable heat in the lubricant and in the bearing elements. Adequate dissipation of the excessive heat is sometimes a problem.
The present invention is concerned with a high speed bearing assembly adapted to use a relatively small quantity of liquid lubricant, but without experiencing the above-mentioned lubricant starvation problem associated with centrifuging of the lubricant into an unusable lubricant annulus. The present invention employs an impeller or scoop arranged to extend a slight distance into the lubricant annulus for hurling the scooped liquid radially inwardly toward the anti-friction elements.
The dynamics are such that the hurled liquid is in the form of a mist of fine droplets. The liquid mist efficiently lubricates the rolling elements without creating significant internal heating of the rolling elements. The rolling elements do not have to plow through a continuous liquid lubricant mass, which would necessitate a high energy expenditure and create a turbulent fluid shear heating of the lubricant.
The use of a liquid scoop means in a lubricated bearing is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,605 to K. G. Lehmann. The Lehmann patent uses anti-friction element spacer blocks 16 that have angled shoulder surfaces 36 adapted to scoop and deflect liquid lubricant radially inwardly against an inner race 12. The deflected liquid then flows radially outwardly through passages 44 in the spacer blocks, thence through a slot-like passage 42 onto the surface of anti-friction ball element 14.
One disadvantage of the Lehmann arrangement is that the scoop shoulders 36 are within the rolling plane of rolling elements 14 and remote from the outer race 10. The liquid annulus has to form a relatively thick layer on the race 10 surface before the scoop shoulders can engage the liquid annulus. Also, the scooped liquid is required to take a relatively long circuitous route through passages 44 and 42 before reaching the ball element surface. The lubricant passages 42 and 44 will exert sufficient frictional resistance on the flowing liquid that the liquid is in a continuous state when it comes into contact with the ball 14 surface. Lubricant is supplied to the ball surface as a solid liquid stream, not as a mist of fine liquid droplets.
The physical construction of the Lehmann lubricant-distributing mechanism is such that a relatively large quantity of lubricant has to be charged into the bearing assembly before the scoop shoulders 36 can engage the liquid annulus and pump liquid lubricant onto the ball element surfaces. The ball elements have to plow through a substantial quantity of liquid during high speed operation and during low speed operation.

Lubrication mechanism for anti-friction bearings


An inspecting system (100) includes a stage (10), a white light source (20), a CCD camera (40), a laser diode assembly (60), at least one beam splitter (36, 34), a photo diode (50), and an oscilloscope (52). The white light source emits a white light (22) to illuminate a color filter (200). The CCD camera photographs the color filter and is linked with an image processing and displaying device (42). The laser diode assembly emits a laser light (62). The at least one beam splitter is arranged in a path of the laser light and transmits the laser light to the color filter. The photo diode receives the laser light reflected by the color filter and generates an electronic signal. The oscilloscope is connected with the photo diode and displays the electronic signal. The inspecting system facilitates the convenient and accurate inspection/evaluation of color filters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inspecting system for inspecting color filters.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) utilizes a color filter to display images and graphs. The color filter is generally constructed by arranging colored portions colored in red (R), green (G), and blue (B), as three primary colors of light on a transparent substrate. A dyeing method, a pigment dispersing method, and/or an electrodepositing method, etc. are typically used as manufacturing methods of the color filter. Recently, an ink jet system, simple in process and economically advantageous, has been used.
In order to ensure quality, a half-finished color filter and a finished color filter must be inspected in a manufacturing process. In a typical defect inspection of a color filter, an inspection person normally visually checks the color filter. Since this defect inspection method depends on the sensory organs and cognitive abilities of people, the defect inspection result varies depending on the abilities of the inspection personnel and/or on the error rates of such personnel, making it is difficult to attain a stable defect inspection.
What is needed, therefore, is an inspecting system that can aid persons to conveniently and accurately inspect color filters.


The new variety ‘Georgia Yellow’ is provided. The new variety ‘Georgia Yellow’ generally has brighter yellow flowers and a longer blooming period than similar cultivars of Gaillardia plants currently on the market. The new variety ‘Georgia Yellow’ consistently remains in color throughout the growing season (May-October) of North America.

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant botanically known as a Gaillardia×grandiflora and herein referred to as 'Georgia Yellow', as herein described and illustrated.
The new Gaillardia plant variety 'Georgia Yellow' was selected in Watkinsville, Ga. in 2006. The new variety 'Georgia Yellow' generally has brighter yellow flowers and a longer blooming period than similar cultivars of Gaillardia plants currently on the market. The new variety 'Georgia Yellow' consistently remains in color throughout the growing season (May-October) of North America.
Pedigree and history: The new Gaillardia plant variety 'Georgia Yellow' was one of many seedlings selected in summer 2006 in Watkinsville, Ga. and originated from open pollination of Gaillardia plants in the University of Georgia Trial Gardens in Athens, Ga. The maternal plant is likely the Gaillardia plant 'Torch Yellow'. Seeds from the open-pollinated Gaillardia plants were collected in fall 2005 and grown out in containers and in the field at Watkinsville, Ga. The resulting seedlings, of which the new variety 'Georgia Yellow' was one, were selected in summer 2006. The new Gaillardia plant variety 'Georgia Yellow' has been evaluated and tested in Watkinsville, Ga. and Athens, Ga. since 2007.
The new Gaillardia plant variety 'Georgia Yellow' has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, rooted stem cuttings. Plants from stem cuttings have been directly planted in the ground.

University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.


A process for automatic control of a respirator changes between two phases of respiration by checking a detected respiratory breathing activity signal for a threshold criterion. If the threshold criterion is met, a changeover is made.

Artificial respiration with respirators is aimed at relieving the respiratory muscles of a patient and at guaranteeing a sufficient supply of oxygen and elimination of carbon dioxide. This can happen by complete takeover of the breathing activity by the respirator or in an assisting process by partial takeover of breathing activity by the respirator, whereby in the latter assisting process, a present breathing activity of the patient is assisted or reinforced. For this, the respirators contain a fan for supplying breathing gas with a pressure, which is preset by a control unit. Furthermore, sensors are present, which detect pneumatic breathing signals in a time-dependent manner, for example, airway pressure, volume flow (flow) of the breathing gas and volume (which results from the integration of the flow), and forward these to the control unit.
In view of the rise in chronic lung diseases and the demand for an improved therapy, noninvasive breathing assistance with improved interaction of the patient and fan is a decisive requirement of modern respirators. An essential object herein is to establish time-based synchronicity between the device-side assistance and the patient's own breathing activity. Spontaneously breathing patients were frequently sedated in the past to adjust the respiration correctly and to force synchronicity between patient and respirator. This procedure is no longer acceptable by today's knowledge since risks of lung damage caused by the respiration have to be dealt with.
For an improved synchronization between the breathing activity of the patient and the fan action, it is important to detect the beginning of inspiration and the beginning of expiration in the breathing activity of the patient early and reliably. The breathing phase detection is especially often incorrect or late in newborns and in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients using conventional processes and leads to increased respiratory work until exhaustion.
For an artificial respiration which shall take the patient's breathing activity into consideration in an improved manner, it is known from DE 10 2007 062 214 B3 to pick up electromyographic signals, besides pneumatic breathing activity signals, by means of electrodes placed on the thorax and to derive electromyographic breathing activity signals (EMG signals) therefrom. These EMG signals are independent of the pneumatic breathing activity signals and therefore represent an independent source of information, which can be used to detect the beginning of inspiration and expiration. The EMG signals are, however, not infrequently superimposed by interference, for example, the ECG signal of the heart, motion artifacts or so-called cross-talk (muscle activity that has nothing to do with the respiratory system of the patient).
A triggering of breaths on the basis of EMG signals is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,423 B1. Here, the EMG raw signal is preprocessed and is finally used for triggering an intensity indicator (root mean square) of the EMG signal, whereby a fixed threshold is used—related to one breath.
In practice, however, the preprocessed EMG signal is often more susceptible to interference than pneumatic signals (pressure or volume flow). Such a susceptibility to interference or volatility makes it more difficult to change over or trigger the breaths when using trigger thresholds, since too many breaths may be mistakenly triggered (so-called autotrigger) or may be triggered too late (so-called delayed or missed trigger).
Marking of the signals with interference can be avoided by suitable filterings (e.g., by means of sliding averaging) of the signals. However, this would result in the major drawback of an additional signal delay for the intended use for changing over between phases of respiration.
In DE 102 12 497 A1, it is generally pointed out that at the beginning of a phase of inspiration, a continuation of the inspiration phase is essentially more likely than its premature end, and that a new beginning of an inspiration phase has a higher probability shortly before an end of the phase of expiration. Basically, it means that with an increasing probability for the development of an event triggering the phase of respiration, the trigger threshold can be lowered, since the influence of interference is unlikely, on the one hand, and moreover, even in case of a mistriggering based on a developing interference, the result of this erroneous changeover is markedly less interfering because of the chronological closeness to a correct changeover point in time than an erroneous changeover at a completely incorrect point in time. Moreover, no further indications are, however, made as to how and with what time curve and up to what chronological point in time a dynamic threshold curve shall be performed chronologically.

Process for the automatic control of a respirator


This disclosure sets out a multiple battery tester having a tray loaded with a set of batteries. The tray is placed in a receptacle and end located terminals move vertically to clamp a battery. The contacts bear on the battery, establishing a current flow path. This loop connects in charge/discharge system for testing. Test routines can be varied and data is recorded over time.

This disclosure is directed to a battery testing system. It is a testing system which is intended to be used with batteries of all types, sizes and shapes. Examples of batteries that can be tested are the high volume, low cost batteries having a nominal cell voltage of 1.5 volt DC and which are provided in cylindrical shells conforming with industry standards for batteries such as AA, AAA, B, C and D. While there are many other sizes, these are typical of the elongate cylindrical battery which has a positive terminal at the upper end and a negative terminal at the lower end. That is a first or representative size. In addition to that, there are circular batteries shaped more as a button. The positive terminal is at the upper end and the negative terminal is at the side of the button. While cylindrical, the diameter is usually two or three times greater than the thickness. Testing of cylindrical and button cells will be the primary examples, but that is not intended to exclude testing of rectangular batteries which have two terminals on the top end. These contrast with the AA cells or the button type cells (type PX625 cells) in that they may readily include two or more cells in a single housing which are connected so that they provide a desired terminal voltage which is higher than 1.5 volts. For instance, a 12 volt cell is comprised of eight serially connected individual cells which are assembled in a single structure in a single housing having one pair of terminals. Such multi-cell batteries providing higher voltage than 1.5 volts will be denoted hereafter as HVB (meaning multi-cell or high voltage batteries). It is assumed that the A, B, C and D cells can be exemplified by a particular dimension such as the AA cell, and that will be denoted hereinafter as the AAB meaning a single voltage cell of cylindrical construction conforming with the AA standard. Button shaped batteries will be known hereinafter as BB representing button batteries.
Other types of batteries can also be tested and that includes NiCd batteries, lithium type batteries, and others which happen to be rechargeable. Accordingly, the test equipment and several of the test procedures set forth below apply to batteries which are capable of multiple charges, i.e., they can be recharged. It also applies to those which cannot, namely, chemical cells which undergo an irreversible chemical conversion and are no longer chargeable.
It is not uncommon to manufacture several thousand AAB per hour. Indeed, they typically must be manufactured in large volume to be able to profitably make such batteries. Further, it is not uncommon to make a large number of batteries which pass all requirements for the particular quality control standards applied to a particular battery. Occasionally, something will go wrong with the manufacturing process. For instance, the chemicals which make up the AAB may be off standard. The assembly may be erratic and sub standard batteries are then made thereby. It is not uncommon for this to happen thereby causing the manufacture of a large number of defective batteries. When that occurs, the defective batteries need to be screened and not shipped. While the manufacturer can tolerate shipment of an occasional battery which is defective, either in terminal voltage or life, it is highly desirable that the manufacturing process be controlled with sufficient quality control (QC) that specified high QC standards are met. This involves substantial testing. Whether random individual units are tested or the entire production run, routine QC testing is helpful. In one aspect of the present disclosure, testing is enabled for all levels of QC including random or sampled selection at one extreme to testing of the entire production run at the other extreme. The present apparatus is a system which enables such testing. It will be described in the context of making perhaps 100,000 or more AAB during a production run.

System for simultaneously testing a plurality of batteries for multiple operating specifications