A circuit and method for achieving hold time compatibility between data-source devices coupled to a data-requesting device through a data bus is provided. The circuit is made up of an impedance coupled to the data bus, and the value of that impedance is selected, based on a respective capacitance in the data bus, to introduce a predetermined delay to data passing therethrough.

The present invention generally relates to the field of computing, data processing and digital communications. More particularly, the described invention discloses a circuit and method for achieving hold time compatibility between datasource devices coupled to a data-requesting device, e.g., a processor, through a data bus.
Rapidly increasing information traffic as well as increased computational needs continue to push bus and processor limits as users demand faster computers and higher data transfer rates. As processing times increase, clock frequencies increase and clock periods decrease. These shorter clock cycles may result in problems when logic circuit processing speeds approach that of a clock cycle.
The correct operation of a logic circuit depends on certain timing criteria being satisfied. FIG. 1 depicts some exemplary timing criteria which generally needs to be satisfied. One criterion is that a sufficient setup time 104 is available, and a subsequent sufficient hold time 108 is available. The setup time 104 is the amount of time preceding the change of state 112 in a control signal 116, typically a clock transition, in which a data signal 120 must be kept steady in order for a logic circuit to properly process the data. The hold time 108 is the amount of time following the change in a control signal 112, again typically a clock transition 112, in which the data signal 120 must be held steady for a logic circuit to properly process the signal.
As further described below, the present invention addresses the need to have interface architectures that reliably and inexpensively provide compatible hold time between devices that may be coupled to a data-requesting device, e.g., a digital signal processor (DSP), through a data bus. For example, in microprocessor-based systems and, particularly, in systems using relatively fast integrated circuit (IC) digital signal processors (DSPs), the timing criteria should be satisfied by any hardware interfaces between the microprocessor or DSP and other devices connected to the bus, such as devices that source data to the DSP. As an example of the foregoing, a typical relatively fast, and presently commercially available DSP, such as Texas Instruments DSP model TMS320LC206-80 and others, may demand a hold time of approximately two ns when reading data signals from devices that are coupled to the data bus to source such data signals. Typical data-source devices, such as flash memories, etc., are specified by their respective manufacturers to have approximately zero ns hold time. In order to overcome the resulting conflict in the hold time, it is known to use IC bi-directional buffers to isolate the devices from the DSP so as to provide the requisite hold time. Unfortunately, use of such IC buffers adds to the complexity and cost of the interfacing architecture. For example, in a 32-bit parallel processor, each data line requires one respective IC buffer and consequently the interfacing hardware requires a total of at least 32 of such IC buffers. Thus, it is desired to provide a lowercost hardware solution to any data hold time conflicts that may arise in a processing system by eliminating use of higher cost IC components for lower cost passive or discrete components.
Generally speaking the present invention fulfills the foregoing needs by providing a circuit for achieving hold time compatibility between data-source devices coupled to a data-requesting device, e.g., a processor through a data bus. The circuit comprises an impedance coupled to the data bus, and the value of that impedance is selected, based on a respective capacitance in the data bus, to introduce a predetermined delay to data passing therethrough.
The present invention further fulfills the foregoing needs by providing a method for achieving hold time compatibility between data-source devices coupled to a data-requesting device, e.g., a processor through a data bus. The method allows for coupling an impedance to the data bus, and for selecting the value of that impedance, based on a respective capacitance in the data bus, to introduce a predetermined delay to data passing therethrough.

Circuit and method for achieving hold time compatability between data-source devices coupled to a data-requesting device through a data bus


A motor driver drives a motor composed of a rotor and plural-phase windings that generate a magnetic field for rotating the rotor, including: a plurality of transistors that operate as switches for supplying current to the windings; a position detector operable to detect a rotational position of the rotor, based on a terminal voltage of each winding; and a switching controller operable to have performed a switching method to turn the transistors to an ON state or to an OFF state for controlling the rotor at the predetermined speed by means of the position detector, wherein the switching controller further controls so as to force each of the transistors into the OFF state for a predetermined duration in a predetermined cycle, and the position detector detects only while the switching controller forcedly keeps the transistor in the OFF state.

The following describes a conventional motor driver.
FIG. 14 shows the structure of a conventional motor driver.
In the figure, a rotor 1010 has a magnetic field unit achieved by permanent magnets, and generates a rotation force according to mutual action of windings 1011, 1012, and 1013. A power supplier 1020 is composed of three upper power transistors and three lower power transistors, and supplies power to the windings 1011, 1012, and 1013. A position detector 1030 compares each of terminal voltages V1, V2, and V3, which are each from one terminal of the windings 1011, 1012, and 1013, respectively, with a common voltage Vc, and outputs a detection pulse signal FG in accordance with the result of comparison. A command unit 1040 outputs a speed command signal EC for controlling speed of the rotor 1010. In accordance with the signal EC, the switching controller 1050 outputs a PWM signal Wp for having the upper power transistors of the power supplier 1020 perform PWM operation. In accordance with the detection signal pulse FG and the PWM signal Wp, a distribution controller 1060 outputs upper distribution control signals N1, N2, and N3 and lower distribution control signals M1, M2, and M3 for controlling power distribution to the windings 1011, 1012, 1013. Accordingly, the power supplier 1020 supplies power to the windings 1011, 1012, and 1013, and has the motor perform PWM sensorless driving.
A further structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-346394 (p. 18, paragraph no. 0051), for having position detection performed stably in order to eliminate instability in accelerated turning operation caused by lag in position detection.
A problem exists in these conventional motor drivers in that startup failure occurs easily. Startup failure occurs because the rotor 1010 is unstable in terms of position and rotates slowly at the initial startup, and therefore the back EMF (electromagnetic force) voltage that is induced in the windings 1011, 1012, and 1013 is low. Consequently, the position sensor 1030, which detects position based on the comparison results of the terminal voltage V1, V2, and V3 of the windings 1011, 1012, and 1013 with the common voltage Vc, detects erroneously.
Particularly, when having the motor perform PWM driving, induced noise that is characteristic of PWM operation is superimposed on the terminal voltage in the detection phase. As a result, the probability of the position sensor 1030 detecting erroneously further increases due to this superimposed noise.
A further conventional technique that attempts to deal with this problem is a method that fixes the position of the rotor in startup according to magnetic pull in a specific phase. However, this method is problematic because the motor driver takes longer to start up due to the additional time required to fix the position of the rotor.
In view of the stated problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a motor driver that enables stable PWM sensorless startup in PWM sensorless driving, taking into consideration the effects of noise that is characteristic of PWM operation.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A container lid assembly (2) that includes an integral pump (6P) so as to create pressure differential within a container. This pressure differential may be lower than atmospheric pressure so as to be at least a partial vacuum within the container. Alternatively, the pressure differential may be a state of higher than atmospheric pressure within the container. There are several features of the present invention that can be used in synergy, but are of value when implemented separately. These features include a pump configuration (120) that activates the reciprocating linear motion of the piston (10) by the rotational movement of a pump actuating element; a contents-dispensing mechanism (150) for removing contents from the container while maintaining the at least a partial vacuum within the container, a vacuum indicator, and a filter configured to filter the gases entering the pump from the interior of the container.

The present invention relates to lids that create a differential pressure within the container on which the lid is deployed and, in particular, it concerns a lid assembly with an integral pump, in which the reciprocating linear motion of the piston is actuated by rotational movement of a pump actuating element.
Several bottle cap devices are know that are configured for use in conjunction with a separate pump such that once the vacuum is created, the pump is disconnected from the cap. These devices suffer from the need to store the pump while not in used and prevent loss of the pump during such storage. Further, some of the dump mechanisms for devices of this type are expensive electrical devices that are inappropriate for consumers with a small number of containers requiring vacuum sealing.
One attempt to provide a bottle cap with an integral vacuum pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,321 to Wang. Wang's cap includes a piston style pump, the cylinder of which is deployed inside of the container on which the cap is deployed. A handle is formed on the exposed end of the piston, and the pump is operated by a push-pull motion. One drawback to this style of pump is the length of piston stroke necessary for efficient pumping. Therefore, the cylinder extends relatively far into the container, or in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,900 to Huang, the pump extends above the bottle.
Further, the bottle caps mentioned above require removal of the cap in order to access to contents of the bottle. Nor do the devices of prior art include a vacuum indication mechanism or a filter for use with powered contents in the container.
There is therefore a need for a container lid assembly with an integral pump, in which the reciprocating linear motion of the piston is actuated by rotational movement of a pump actuating element. It would be beneficial for the lid assembly to provide access to the contents of the container while maintaining the vacuum. It would be of further benefit for the lid assembly to include a differential pressure indicator. It would also be beneficial for the lid assembly to include a vacuum indicator.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A pump for use in low-profile applications comprises a barrel for holding fluid; and a piston that converts a rotational driving force into a longitudinal driving motion within the barrel. The pump provides space saving advantages by reducing the need for external equipment and mechanisms around the pump for providing actuation or moving the actuating mechanism.

Syringe pumps provide a mechanism for controlling the motion of the piston within the barrel and therefore the displacement of fluid in the syringe. The syringe used by the pump may be an integral part of the pump itself, or can commonly be a disposable part that can be used and replaced, and may be a syringe that can also be used manually. A syringe pump theoretically allows for a straightforward determination of the amount of fluid pumped, based on the distance moved by the piston within the barrel.
Conventional syringes and syringe pumps operate by the motion of a plunger displacing fluid within a barrel. When the plunger is advanced from an end within the barrel, fluid in the barrel is forced out the other end. On the other hand, when the plunger is drawn out of the barrel through one end, fluid is drawn into the barrel through the other end. To allow the pumping operation to occur properly, the plunger is sealed against the barrel, so that fluid cannot pass around the plunger for example.
The syringe pump can include an actuator attached to the end of the piston plunger in order to push and/or pull the plunger in/out of the syringe barrel. In such cases, it is necessary for the actuator to move with the piston, and therefore space has to be provided for this. Further, a driving mechanism for moving the actuator needs to be provided. As a result, the syringe pump often requires much more space than the syringe which it drives. For example, the overall length/height of a syringe pump can include the length of the syringe, the length of the actuator and the length of the driving mechanism.
Other syringe pumps do not directly connect an actuator to the syringe plunger. Instead, the actuator may be driven to contact and push the end of a syringe plunger without becoming connected to the syringe. This allows for the syringe to be emptied by the pump, but not filled. In such cases, the syringes may be replaced when emptied or manually re-filled. Another problem with such pumps is that the user cannot always be certain if the pump is dispensing fluid when the actuator is displaced, because the actuator may not be in contact with the syringe plunger when the actuator is first moved.
Conventional syringe pumps also suffer from a problem related to the seal formed by the syringe plunger with the syringe barrel.
One common method of sealing the plunger against the barrel in disposable syringes is by using an elastic seal such as an O-ring. Such an O-ring is provided around the outside of the plunger, close to the end of the plunger driving fluid within the barrel. The O-ring provides a relatively deformable surface that can thus shape itself to the barrel and form a tight seal. As such, the O-ring is positioned between he plunger and the barrel and so is in contact with the fluid in the barrel.
Another method of sealing the plunger against the barrel is for the whole plunger head to be made of an elastic material, so that the plunger head deforms as a whole to produce a seal within the barrel.
In both of these cases, the fluid in the barrel is in contact with the elastic material that is being used to create the seal. This raises possible fluid contamination/interaction issues. In fluidic and microfluidic applications, and biological fluidic applications in particular, it is undesirable to introduce materials into the system which might somehow react with the fluids or leach contaminants into the process fluids and somehow affect the experiment being performed in an unexpected and/or unquantifiable manner.
Further, the use of an elastic sealing material causes a characteristic stick/slip jump when first moving the plunger. This is caused due to high static friction between the elastic sealing material and barrel, which must be overcome to start the plunger moving. The high static friction means a correspondingly large force is required to start moving the plunger, and a characteristic jerk occurs before smooth plunger motion can be observed once enough force has been applied to the plunger to overcome the static friction. Even after the static friction has been overcome, the presence of the elastic O-ring results in a relatively large amount of dynamic friction (and hence a corresponding large required driving force) that must be overcome to keep the plunger moving. This makes fine control of the syringe difficult, especially when first beginning to move the plunger.
Further, it is typical for conventional syringes and syringe pumps to somewhat rely upon deformation of the outer barrel around the piston seal (be it an O-ring or the entire piston head) to achieve a good seal. That is, the barrel will deform slightly outwards in the region of the seal to allow the piston to be moved whilst maintaining pressure on the seal.
An alternative to the elastic material approach is to make the syringe (from metal for example) so the piston is an exact fit for the barrel. However, this approach is expensive and is therefore not well suited to the mass manufacture of disposable syringes. The use of metal may also introduce fluid contamination considerations.


In an image pickup apparatus capable of setting the flash exposure amount of an external flash both in the camera and the standalone external flash, if a flash exposure compensation amount locally set in the external flash itself and that set in the camera exist, one of them is enabled. Display is changed depending upon the location of the enabled setting in order to give the user notice of the enabled flash exposure compensation amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and, more particularly, to an image pickup apparatus capable of flash exposure setting in an external flash.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image capture using an external flash, a user may want to manually set the amount of flashlight or compensate the automatic set value in accordance with, for example, the color or distance of the object.
However, not all external flashes can locally set the compensation amount alone. Conventionally, an image pickup apparatus capable of setting the compensation amount of flashlight (to be referred to as a flash exposure compensation amount) controls an external flash (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-043559). This allows the user to set the flash exposure compensation amount in a single operation without being conscious of the type of external flash that is connected.
However, if an external flash capable of setting the flash exposure compensation amount on a standalone basis is used, flash exposure compensation may be set in both the external flash and the camera body. Usually, one of the set values is given a higher priority, or compensation is done on the basis the sum of the compensation amounts.
Some image pickup apparatuses display, for example, a mark to give the user notice of the flash exposure compensation setting state or the set compensation amount.
However, in a system that gives a higher priority to one of a plurality of flash exposure compensation amounts, the user cannot easily judge which one of the setting on the image pickup apparatus side and the setting on the external flash side is the priority setting. Thus, image capture may be performed with the flash exposure compensation that is not expected by the user.


To make a setting as to whether or not a time code is automatically received simple, and suppress a wasteful use of an electric power by a reception operation under an environment incapable of suitably receiving the time code. A reception circuit receives and outputs the time code through an antenna, and a control circuit corrects a time instant which is being clocked to a time instant corresponding to the time code. If a crown is operated to a time instant correction position, an input circuit outputs an operation signal denoting this. The control circuit responds to the operation signal to thereby control a reception operation of the reception circuit to OFF. At this time, a time instant correction is performed by hand by operating the crown.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio-controlled timepiece correcting a time instant on the basis of a time code received by a radio.
2. Description of the Related Art
From olden times, there is utilized the radio-controlled timepiece receiving a standard radio signal including the time code denoting a present time instant by the radio, thereby correcting the time instant in an inside of the radio-controlled timepiece. Even in a case where an error occurs in the radio-controlled timepiece, by correcting the time instant on the basis of the received time code, there can be corrected to an accurate time instant and displayed.
By the way, since the radio-controlled timepiece possesses a reception means for receiving the standard radio signal and the reception means consumes a large electric power, there is developed a radio-controlled timepiece in which there is contrived to save the electric power by reducing an electric power consumption of the reception means.
For example, in Patent Document JP-A-2002-139586 Gazette (Paragraphs [0014]-[0017], FIG. 1), there is disclosed a radio-controlled timepiece in which an automatic reception frequency at an electricity-saving time is decreased by diminishing an automatic reception frequency of the time code in compliance with an electricity generation state, thereby altering a reception operation in compliance with a situation of an electric source.
Further, in Patent Document JP-A-2004-3927 Gazette (Paragraphs [0034]-[0057], FIG. 1-FIG. 4), there is disclosed a radio-controlled timepiece in which there is made such that the automatic reception frequency of the time code is diminished in compliance with a reception situation.
In each of inventions described in the Patent Documents, although it is possible to contrive to save the electric power, since a setting of a timing automatically receiving the time code is intricate and the reception operation is repeated by a predetermined frequency also under an environment in which the standard radio signal can not be received normally, there is an issue that the large electric power is wastefully consumed.
Problems of the present invention are that a setting as to whether or not the time code is automatically received is simple, and a wasteful use of the electric power by the reception operation under an environment incapable of suitably receiving the time code is suppressed.


A phase lock loop circuit. The phase lock loop circuit includes first and second pass gates. The pass gates include signal inputs that receive first and second reference signals, respectively. The pass gates also have enable inputs. The phase lock loop also includes a loop filter that is coupled to the outputs of the first and second pass gates. A loop oscillator is coupled to the output of the loop filter. A strobe circuit is coupled to the output of the loop oscillator. The strobe circuit provides an input signal to the enable inputs of the first and second pass gates so as to sample the first and second reference signals. The loop filter uses the samples of the first and second reference signals to create a control signal that forces the loop oscillator to output a signal with a phase that is between the phases of the first and second reference signals.

Electronic systems typically use a timing signal from a timing source, e.g., a pulse train generated by a clock circuit, to coordinate the interoperation of various electronic circuits within the system. For example, this timing signal is used to coordinate the passing of data through the system and to initiate various procedures that operate on the data. To improve the reliability of such systems, a back-up timing source is typically included. The back-up timing source is used when, for example, the main timing source fails or is removed from the system for maintenance.
Telecommunications systems are being designed to operate at increasingly higher speeds. Unfortunately, in conventional telecommunications systems, data is often lost when the system switches between the primary timing source and the back-up timing source. This is referred to in the industry as a "hit" during the switch. The hit is caused by phase differences between the primary and back-up timing sources. As the system speeds increase, the amount of data lost during a switch over to the back-up timing source can cause unacceptable levels of lost data that need to be retransmitted.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a system that can switch between primary and back-up timing sources without an unacceptable hit on the data transmitted by the system.

Circuits and methods for a phase lock loop for synchronous reference clocks


The device for sorting items, such as rolls, is provided downstream of a first number (N) of feeding channels (Ca) of items (R), which feeding channels (Ca) are provided with dispensing members (8) for a controlled release of the items (R). The device (100) includes: a number of mobile tracks (5) equal to the first number (N), arranged downstream of the N feeding channels (Ca) and operatively associated in pairs, so as to define operating gaps (H1) between successive pairs. The first mobile tracks (5) are movable in reciprocal synchronism, transversally (W) to the feeding channels (Ca). A second number (M) of second mobile tracks (6) are arranged downstream of the feeding channels (Ca) and are disposed each one between successive pairs of the first tracks (5) at the operating gaps (H1). The second tracks (6) are movable both in synchronism with the first tracks (5), transversally (W) to the feeding channels (Ca), and in phase relation with operation of the first tracks (5), transversally (W1) to the feeding channels (Ca), within the operating gaps (H1).

The present invention relates to the technical field of automatic lines for forming and packaging parcels of items, such parcels usually consisting of one or more rows of items arranged in one or more layers and wrapped into protective sheet of heat-weldable type plastic material.
More in particular, the present invention relates to a device and method for sorting a series of items in output from a plurality of feeding channels and directed to a receiving section, so as to arrange the same items according to one or more side-by-side transversal rows.

Device and method for sorting items, such as rolls


A laser weldable PBT-series resin composition comprises a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)-series resin (A), and at least one resin (B) selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate-series resin (b1), a styrenic resin (b2), a polyethylene terephthalate-series resin (b3) and an acrylic resin (b4). The PBT-series resin (A) may be a PBT homopolyester, or a PBT-series copolymer modified with not more than 30 mol % of a copolymerizable monomer (e.g., a bisphenol compound or an adduct thereof with an alkylene oxide, and an asymmetrical aromatic dicarboxylic acid). The ratio (weight ratio) of the resin (B) relative to the PBT-series resin (A) [the former/the latter] is about 0.1/1 to 1.5/1. The resin composition may comprise a glass fiber. The resin composition is excellent in laser weldability, and can improve in welding strength of a shaped article formed from the resin composition.

A polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)-series resin is excellent in various properties such as heat resistance, chemical resistance, electric properties, mechanical properties and shaping processability (or moldability), and is used for a number of applications. Specific examples of the applications include a variety of automotive electrical components or parts (e.g., various control units, various sensors, and ignition coils), connectors, switch parts, relay parts, and coil parts. For producing these components, a plurality of shaped components or parts are bonded (or joined) to each other with the use of a bonding (or joining) means such as an adhesive, a screw cramp, a snap fit, a hot plate welding, and an ultrasonic welding. Regarding these bonding means, however, some problems have been pointed out. For example, in the case of using an adhesive, the waste of time up to curing of the adhesive, or the burden on the environment becomes an issue. Moreover, in a means using a screw cramp, the labor or the cost required for fastening increases, and in a hot plate welding or an ultrasonic welding, there is fear that a product receives a damage due to heat, vibration, and others.
On the other hand, a bonding (or joining) method by a laser welding has no damage of a product due to heat or vibration involved in the welding, and the welding process is also very simple. Thus, recently the laser welding method has been widely utilized, and has come to attract attention as a welding manner for various resin components or parts.
However, it is pointed out that, in the case of bonding a PBT-series resin with a laser welding, the resin cannot be substantially welded because of carbonization or others due to a low transmittance of a laser beam. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 26656/2001 (JP-2001-26656A) discloses that a shaped article formed from a polyester-series copolymer having a melting point within a specific range is bonded to other shaped article by welding processing to form a united shaped article. This document describes that a homopolyalkylene arylate resin (a polybutylene terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate, and a polyethylene naphthalate) has a low laser welding strength.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 245481/1998 (JP-10-245481A) discloses a thermoplastic resin composition which comprises a composition composed of a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin and a thermoplastic polyester resin (such as a polyethylene terephthalate) and a methacrylic ester-series resin (graft resin) blended therewith in a proportion of 1 to 10% by weight, in which the methacrylic ester-series resin is obtained by graft-polymerizing a monomer containing a methacrylic ester as a main component in the presence of a crosslinked acrylic ester-series elastic body. This document mentions an embodiment in which a bisphenol A-based polycarbonate resin and a polyethylene terephthalate resin are used in a proportion of 1.5/1 to 4/1 (weight ratio) in the resin composition. Further, as a heat-welding method of the resin composition, a hot plate welding, a vibration welding or an ultrasonic welding is also described. In this composition, however, it is necessary to use the graft resin in order to improve welding strength of the composition, and the use of the graft resin tends to deteriorate mechanical strength, heat resistance or others of the composition.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laser weldable PBT-series resin composition having an excellent laser weldability and a high welding strength even in the case of using a PBT-series resin as a base, and a shaped article formed from the same.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a shaped article of a PBT-series resin, which is high in light transmittance and welding strength.

Laser weldable polybutylene terephthalate-series resin composition, and shaped article


A mobile body=includes a reflection control layer that is formed on a surface of the mobile body, to absorb light in a wavelength region from 0.3 micrometer to 0.75 micrometer of incident sunlight, and emit light in a wavelength region from 0.75 micrometer to 100 micrometers.

Conventionally, in order to detect DNA by an infrared fluorescent probe, it has been known to use titanium oxide as an infrared fluorescent substance (see Patent Literature 1). Patent Literature 1 describes that the infrared fluorescence indicates a characteristic of emitting infrared rays at the time of absorbing light in an ultraviolet visible region, titanium oxide is excited with light in a wavelength region from 0.3 micrometer to 0.4 micrometer inclusive, and fluorescence emitted by light in a wavelength region from 0.7 micrometer to 1.2 micrometers inclusive is used.

Mobile body having reflection control layer


A power supply system for enhancing the economic viability of different modes of transportation that incorporate fuel cells to generate electricity. For example, the power supply system of the present invention provides for the off-board use of the electric power generated by an on-board power plant, such as a fuel cell, of a mobile vehicle power system, such as an electric car. Off-board use, or use remote from the vehicle, of the electrical power includes the delivery of power to a remote site. Off-board stations are provided for delivery of fuel to the vehicle and/or for receiving the electrical power generated by the fuel cell. The off-board station and the vehicle are appropriately equipped for quick and easy interconnection such that electrical power is drawn from the fuel cell for off-board use.

The invention relates generally to the field of propulsion systems. In particular, the invention concerns an on-board fuel cell system for mobile vehicles such as trains, marine vessels, automobiles and other mobile means of transportation.
As concerns surrounding traditional power sources persist, investigation into alternative means of power generation are becoming increasingly important. In particular, environmental and political concerns associated with combustion-based energy systems cannot be ignored. In an effort to reduce dependence on these types of power supplies and methods, interest is increasing in devices capable of generating electricity by consuming fuels without requiring combustion.
In addition to being utilized for the generation of electricity, however, combustion processes are most commonly used to power means of transportation such automobiles, trains, or marine vessels. Motor vehicles alone are among the chief contributors to pollution problems associated with combustion of fuel. So, while alternative power sources such as nuclear and hydroelectric systems may be suitable for large scale electric utilities, they do not present an ideal solution to the problems associated with powering means of transportation such as motor vehicles.
Alternatives to internal combustion engine powered motor vehicles have included various types of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are well known in the art. Typical electric vehicles are powered by nickel-cadmium batteries which drive electric motors of anywhere from twenty to 100 horsepower. The batteries are generally rechargeable by stationary direct current (dc) power supplies. A problem with known systems, however, is that they require constant recharging and offer limited range between required recharging stops.
Known systems are also expensive. Solar rechargeable systems, such as are available from Solectria of Arlington, Mass., represent one attempt to increase the travel range and control the cost of electric motor vehicles. Drawbacks associated with the solar generation of electricity, however, include its usefulness being limited to clear weather and daylight hours, and the expense of the vehicle.
Fuel cells, therefore, have been explored as a means for powering electric vehicles and reducing the constant need to recharge the vehicle from off-board sources. Fuel cells electrochemically convert fuel, such as hydrocarbon fuel, to electricity. Typically, a combustion reaction is not involved.
A drawback associated with prior art fuel cell systems, however, is that they are not economically viable for applications in which the power rating of the fuel cell must meet propulsion demands. In motor vehicle applications, for example, a fuel cell system designed to provide sufficient power required by the vehicle for cruising, let alone for peak surge, would be prohibitively expensive. While various known systems have attempted to exploit the advantages of designating a surge battery to meet peak demand in motor vehicle applications, none has satisfactorily overcome the economic problems.
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a system for powering a motor vehicle which does not require a combustion reaction.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a system which has a range comparable with that of traditional combustion engines without requiring interruptive recharging from off-board sources.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an economically feasible system for powering a motor vehicle which can accommodate typical motor vehicle surge and range demands.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fuel-cell powered vehicle that is capable of generating power for off-board consumption.
Other general and more specific objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear from the drawings and description which follow.


Efficiency of leading out light released from an active layer, i.e. the external quantum efficiency, can be improved remarkably by processing a light lead-out surface to have an embossment. A layer containing a p-type dopant like magnesium (Mg) is deposited near the surface of a p-type GaN layer to diffuse it there, and a p-side electrode is made on the p-type GaN layer after removing the deposited layer. This results in ensuring ohmic contact with the p-side electrode, preventing exfoliation of the electrode and improving the reliability.

This invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device and its manufacturing method. More particularly, the invention relates to a light emitting device having a stacked nitride compound semiconductor layer of GaN, InGaN, GaAlN, or the like, which remarkably reduces the operation voltage of the device, increases the luminance, and improves the reliability, and a manufacturing method for manufacturing such a device.
Light emitting devices for wavelength bands from ultraviolet to green or blue are being brought into practice by using nitride compound semiconductors represented by gallium nitride.
In this application, xe2x80x9cnitride compound semiconductorsxe2x80x9d involve III-V compound semiconductors expressed as BxInyAlzGa(1xe2x88x92xxe2x88x92yxe2x88x92z)N (0xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa61, 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa61, 0xe2x89xa6zxe2x89xa61), and further involve mixed crystals containing phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), etc., in addition to nitrogen (N) as group V elements.
It is getting possible to realize emission of light with a high intensity which has been difficult heretofore, such as ultraviolet light, blue light and green light, for example, by making light emitting devices like light emitting diodes (LED) and semiconductor lasers using nitride compound semiconductor. Moreover, because of their crystal growth temperatures being high, nitride compound semiconductors are stable materials even under high temperatures, and their use to electronic devices is hopefully expected.
A review is made on LED as an example of semiconductor light emitting devices using nitride compound semiconductors.
FIG. 14 is a conceptional diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of a conventional nitride compound semiconductor LED. The conventional LED is made of a GaN buffer (not shown), n-type GaN layer 102, InGaN light emitting layer 103 and p-type GaN layer 104 which are epitaxially grown on a sapphire substrate 101 sequentially. The InGaN light emitting layer 103 and the p-type GaN layer 104 are partly removed by etching to expose the n-type GaN layer 102. Formed on the p-type GaN layer 104 is a p-side transparent electrode 113. Further stacked on a part of the p-side electrode 113 are an insulating film 107 for blocking current and a p-side bonding electrode 106. Formed on the n-type GaN layer 102 is an n-side electrode 105.
In this structure, a current injected through the p-side electrode 106 is spread out by the transparent electrode 113 having a good conductivity and injected from the p-type GaN layer 104 into the InGaN layer 103 to emit light there. The emitted light is led out outside the chip through the transparent electrode 113.
However, conventional nitride compound semiconductor light emitting devices as shown in FIG. 14 involved problems, namely, high contact resistance at electrode portions and insufficient external quantum efficiency of light.
That is, since GaN has a band gap as wide as 3.4 eV, it is difficult to ensure its ohmic contact with electrodes. This invites the problems that the contact resistance increases in electrode portions, operation voltage of the device increases, and a large amount of heat is generated.
Moreover, refractive index of GaN is as large as 2.67, and its critical angle of refraction is as very small as 21.9 degrees. That is, when viewed from the normal of the surface from which the light exits, light which enters with a larger angle than the critical angle of refraction cannot be led outside the LED chip. Even when an AR (anti-reflection) film is coated on the surface of the chip, this critical angle does not change. Therefore, it has been difficult to obtain a larger emission power by improving the external quantum efficiency.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a semiconductor light emitting element and its manufacturing method which ensure good ohmic contact with electrodes and improve the external quantum efficiency of light.
To attain the object, the semiconductor light emitting device according to the invention, including a light emitting portion made of a nitride compound semiconductor, is characterized in that embossment is formed on a light emitting surface to improve the efficiency of externally leading out the light released from the light emitting portion, and it can significantly improve the external quantum efficiency.
Alternatively, the semiconductor light emitting device according to the invention comprises a light emitting portion made of a nitride compound semiconductor, and a reflector reflecting a light emitted from said light emitting portion at a reflecting interface to release said light outside, wherein an embossment is formed on said reflecting interface. The reflector may also serve as an electrode.
Alternatively, the semiconductor light emitting device according to the invention comprises a substrate, a mesa provided on one side of said substrate and including a light emitting portion, a reflector provided on said mesa and reflecting a light emitted from said light emitting portion to release said light outside through said substrate, a light-transmissive portion provided on a side surface of said mesa, a reflective layer coated on a surface of said light-transmissive portion, and an embossment provided on another side of said substrate to improve the external quantum efficiency of lights emitted from said light emitting portion, said reflective layer reflecting a light leaking sideward from said light emitting portion of said mesa so as to release the light outside through said substrate.
The invention is used in the above-summarized mode, and demonstrates the following effects.
First, according to the invention, because of the embossment formed on the light emitting surface of the semiconductor light emitting device or on the reflecting interface, the external quantum efficiency of the light released from an active layer can be improved significantly.
Additionally, according to the invention, by making a high concentration of a p-type dopant such as magnesium (Mg) near the surface of a p-type GaN layer, it is possible to ensure ohmic contact with a p-side electrode, reduce the operation voltage of the device, alleviate heat generation and improve the reliability.
Further, according to the invention, by removing a doping metal layer from the surface of the p-type GaN layer after introducing a p-type dopant like magnesium, exfoliation of the p-side electrode can be prevented. That is, deterioration of the characteristics caused by exfoliation of the electrode can be overcome, and the reliability of the light emitting device can be improved. Simultaneously,by removing the doping metal layer, transparency of the light emitting surface can be maintained, and the emission intensity can be improved.
Furthermore, according to the invention, by providing a doping metal layer of magnesium, for example, and doping a high-density p-type dopant by diffusion, xe2x80x9csurface roughnessxe2x80x9d of the p-type GaN layer can be prevented. That is, in order to make embossment on the surface of the p-type GaN layer, the GaN layer must be thick to a certain extent. When the GaN layer is grown thick by doping a p-type dopant by a high concentration, the problem of xe2x80x9csurface roughnessxe2x80x9d occurs. According to the invention, however, since magnesium is introduced after growth, the doping concentration need not be so high during growth of the p-type GaN layer. Therefore, the GaN layer can be grown thick without inviting the problem of xe2x80x9csurface roughnessxe2x80x9d.
As summarized above, the invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device having a high external quantum efficiency, operative with a low voltage, and improved in reliability. Thus, the invention has great industrial advantages.

Nitride semiconductor LED with embossed lead-out surface


A compression and decompression system and process for optimally compressing and decompressing multibit per pixel image regions based on the type of data contained in the image region, e.g., whether the image region contains continuous tone data, including data to be halftoned, or non-continuous tone data, including antialiased text and lineart data. Segmented bytemap data blocks are processed to provide both low spatial resolution continuous tone data and high spatial resolution non-continuous tone data. However, the high spatial resolution non-continuous tone data is generated by quantizing and packing the high resolution bytes across an edge and discarding the high resolution bytes along the edge, i.e., the multibit data is discarded only in directions parallel to the edges of marks to be rendered in the image data. Additional information indicating the directions of the edges in the image data are stored to aid in decompression. Subsequently, during decompression, the non-continuous tone data is decompressed into a high spatial resolution bytemap by unpacking the high resolution across the edges and inferring the high resolution along the edges. The low spatial resolution continuous tone data are processed to provide a low spatial resolution continuous tone data bytemap. As a result of this compression and decompression method, the amount of memory necessary to store the non-continuous tone data is reduced to a quarter of the memory necessary to store a conventional high spatial resolution bytemap.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to compression and decompression systems and methods. More specifically, this invention relates to compression and decompression systems and methods that compress and decompress image areas containing edges of marks to be rendered in image data based on the direction of the edges of the marks.
2. Description of Related Art
The human viewer appreciates viewing non-continuous toneart information, e.g., text and/or lineart, at higher spatial resolutions than the spatial resolutions required for continuous toneart information, e.g., halftone information, because the human eye sees contrast information at a higher spatial resolution than color information. Therefore, more spatial resolution is necessary to render non-continuous tone regions than is necessary to render continuous tone regions. This differentiation between the amount of information necessary for the human eye to process non-continuous tone regions and to process continuous tone regions is due to hyperacuity. Hyperacuity is the human visual system's ability to differentiate locally misaligned edges of marks in a rendered image to a much finer extent than the receptor spacing of the human eye. It is not the frequency response, i.e., resolution, of the visual system, but the ability to reckon edge position with high precision that is most important.
Data transmitted in a bytemap, i.e., one byte for each pixel of the image, typically has a corresponding spatial resolution that is roughly equal to the size of the pixel. Forming high quality continuous tone regions does not require as much spatial resolution for the transmitted data. However, continuous tone regions require a high number of tone levels to minimize contouring, or the ability of the visual system to see changes in tone. In contrast, forming extremely detailed non-continuous tone marks, such as three or four point text, requires a significant amount of spatial resolution for the transmitted image data, but generally requires fewer number of tone levels.
In this case, the non-continuous tone pixels are not necessarily binary, but can also be composed of a number of gray levels. The non-continuous tone data is of the type that might be scanned in from a high quality scanner, or of a type called antialiased, which contains partial intensities to help in the removal of stairstepping or the positioning of edges.
Therefore, in a bytemap, high spatial resolution, e.g., 800×800 pixels per inch (ppi) is necessary for non-continuous tone regions, while continuous tone regions only need low spatial resolution, e.g., 400×400 (ppi). Therefore, transmitting bytemapped image data with high spatial resolution results in an unnecessary degree of spatial resolution for rendering continuous tone data and a waste of image system resources to process the unnecessary data.
If bitmaps are used instead to transmit image data for printing, continuous tone data is sent as prehalftoned dot shapes. Sending proper pre-halftoned dots to a destination, e.g., a printer, requires a high spatial resolution, e.g., 600×4800 ppi, to avoid contouring. However, 4800 pixels per inch resolution is too much resolution for non-continuous tone data.
Therefore, when using bitmaps, higher spatial resolution is necessary for rendering continuous tone data than is necessary for rendering non-continuous tone data, once again resulting in a waste of image system resources to process the unnecessary data.

System and method for directed acuity segmentation resolution compression and decompression


An apparatus is for supporting an outboard motor on a transom of a marine vessel. The apparatus has a transom bracket configured for fixed attachment to the transom; a supporting cradle that supports the outboard motor with respect to the transom bracket, wherein the supporting cradle is pivotable with respect to the transom bracket about a trim axis; and a trim actuator that is pivotally coupled to the transom bracket at a first trim actuator pivot axis and to the supporting cradle at a second trim actuator pivot axis. Extension of the trim actuator pivots the supporting cradle upwardly about the trim axis. Retraction of the trim actuator pivots the supporting cradle downwardly about the trim axis. The trim axis is located aftwardly of the first trim actuator pivot axis.

The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Pat. No. 9,963,213 discloses a system for mounting an outboard motor propulsion unit to a marine vessel transom. The propulsion unit's midsection has an upper end supporting an engine system and a lower end carrying a gear housing. The mounting system includes a support cradle having a head section coupled to a transom bracket, an upper structural support section extending aftward from the head section and along opposite port and starboard sides of the midsection, and a lower structural support section suspended from the upper structural support section and situated on the port and starboard sides of the midsection. A pair of upper mounts couples the upper structural support section to the midsection proximate the engine system. A pair of lower mounts couples the lower structural support section to the midsection proximate the gear housing. At least one of the upper and lower structural support sections comprises an extrusion or a casting.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,745,036 discloses a trim control system automatically controls trim angle of a marine propulsion device with respect to a vessel. A memory stores trim base profiles, each defining a unique relationship between vessel speed and trim angle. An input device allows selection of a base profile to specify an aggressiveness of trim angle versus vessel speed, and then optionally to further refine the aggressiveness. A controller then determines a setpoint trim angle based on a measured vessel speed. If the user has not chosen to refine the aggressiveness, the controller determines the setpoint trim angle from the selected base profile. However, if the user has chosen to refine the aggressiveness, the controller determines the setpoint trim angle from a trim sub-profile, which defines a variant of the relationship between vessel speed and trim angle defined by the selected base profile. The control system positions the propulsion device at the setpoint trim angle.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,701,383 discloses a marine propulsion support system including a transom bracket, a swivel bracket, and a mounting bracket. A drive unit is connected to the mounting bracket by a plurality of vibration isolation mounts, which are configured to absorb loads on the drive unit that do not exceed a mount design threshold. A bump stop located between the swivel bracket and the drive unit limits deflection of the drive unit caused by loads that exceed the threshold. An outboard motor includes a transom bracket, a swivel bracket, a supporting cradle, and a drive unit supported between first and second opposite arms of the supporting cradle. First and second vibration isolation mounts connect the first and second supporting cradle arms to the drive unit, respectively. An upper motion-limiting bump stop is located remotely from the vibration isolation mounts and between the swivel bracket and the drive unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,376,191 discloses an outboard motor to be coupled to a transom of a marine vessel including a midsection housing having a front side configured to face the transom, a back side opposite the front side, a left side, and an opposite right side. An engine having an engine block is mounted directly to and supported by the midsection housing. A driveshaft is coupled in torque transmitting relation with a crankshaft of the engine, and a portion of the driveshaft is located exterior to the midsection housing. An exhaust pipe that conveys exhaust gas from an exhaust gas outlet of the engine downwardly away from the engine is also located exterior to the midsection housing. In one example, the midsection housing serves as a sump for engine oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,897 discloses a transom extension assembly for mounting an outboard motor in a spaced relation to the boat transom includes a quadrilateral linkage assembly in which each of the functions to trim, tilt and lift the motor with respect to the transom is provided independently. Each function is provided by a separate hydraulic cylinder means, but operating fluid pressure is supplied by a single fluid pressure source which may be mounted directly on the transom extension linkage.

Apparatuses for supporting outboard motors with respect to marine vessels


Disclosed is a slide valve for high temperature and/or abrasive service having a metal shell and a liner of refractory material forming a flowway having an inlet and an outlet and an orifice opening between them. A side opening closed by a removable bonnet intersects the flowway at the orifice opening and is provided with grooves extending transversely from the side opening to each side and beyond the orifice opening and forming upstream and downstream guide and slide shoulders. An orifice plate with an orifice is slidable into and out of position through the side opening, a slide or disc is slidable in the guides for movement to open, closed, and throttling positions. The orifice plate has a seal around its orifice which sealingly engages the upstream shoulder.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,306, slide control valves of this type are generally quite large having internal diameters ranging in size from 6 inches to 8 feet. Due to the services in which they are used, it is often necessary to repair or replace their internal parts including the slide. Obviously, it is desirable that this be done without taking the valve body out of the flow line in which it is installed.
In use, the slide of a valve of this type normally occupies a throttling position and is opened or closed depending on the type of valve or service, during start up, and in the event of an emergency. Since flow through the valve is normally in a vertical direction, the slide must be supported in the valve body; and due to the size of the slide and the impingement of the flow on the slide which partially closes the valve orifice, this vertical positioning of the valve imposes considerable load on the structure in the valve body on which the slide is supported. Consequently, there is a need to guide the slide or gate as it is moved between its flow controlling positions.
As shown in the aforementioned patent, the side edges of the slide are guidable reciprocally within guides between a seat ring or orifice plate and the body of the valve. The slide, guides, and orifice plate can be preassembled to permit them to be moved as a unit through a side opening in the body of the valve and then secured thereto to dispose the orifice in alignment with the flowway in order to smooth out turbulent flow through the valve. As explained in this patent, this structure not only permits the installation and removal of the internal parts as unit, but also minimizes distortion, binding, and wear by maintaining tolerances between the internal parts and the valve body due to thermal and mechanical stress.
In valves of this type where the slide is normally in throttling position, it is not necessary to maintain a tight seal between the slide and the seat surrounding the orifice in the orifice plate. The slide may have a T-slot connection with the stem of an actuator mounted on a bonnet removably installed on the body over the side opening, whereby the slide is free to shift into tight, load bearing engagement with the downstream guide surfaces.
In valves of this type manufactured and sold by Tapco, a division of Triten Corporation of Houston, Tex., the outer metal body is lined with a refractory material. Alternatively, the valve body may be lined with insulating material and the latter lined with refractory material. This results in a so-called "cold shell" design wherein external body temperatures are minimized.
Although these valves have experienced considerable success, they nevertheless require the fabrication of a large number of internal parts and considerable time and effort involved in assembling and disassembling them. The time and the cost involved in fabricating valves such as the type shown in the above-identified patent is significant; these costs are multiplied in the case of valves having larger internal diameters in large part because of the difficulties in maintaining precise tolerances across large diameters. These costs are further increased by valves such as a diverter valve having, for instance, a 96 inch inlet diameter and two side-by-side outlets each having an internal diameter of 96 inches such that the guides must be at least 16 feet long plus the distance the outlets are spaced apart. The difficulties in handling the internal parts of such a valve are alone a significant disadvantage of this construction.
The present invention is directed to such a valve in which an improved orifice plate, removable guides, and slide valve are provided so that they can be readily and easily inserted by sliding in place, and removed, repaired, and replaced through the bonnet without disassembling or removing the valve from the flow line.
The following represent the patent state of the art in addition to U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,306 mentioned above.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,539 discloses a slide valve whereby wear prone parts are removable without taking the valve off line. The valve is refractory insulated (Column 4, line 23).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,363 discloses a slide valve with guides held in place by a clamping action and is refractory lined (Column 3, line 33).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,879 discloses a slide valve with refractory lining using no screws or fasteners. Guides are maintained out of the flow path and held in place by a clamping action.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,440 discloses a slide valve with a slide or gate covered by a layer of refractory but uses clamping bolts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,179 discloses a gate valve with self-aligning sealing gaskets which may be readily replaced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,453 discloses a slide valve with refractory insulating material whereby the slide is held in tension.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,817 discloses a slide valve closure member held in place by guides and packed with refractory material but makes adjustments with fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,763 discloses a double slide valve with a refractory lining.
U.S Pat. No. 4,253,487 discloses a slide valve with a refractory lining.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,094 discloses a slide valve with a refractory layer but uses bolts.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,359 discloses a slide valve with refractory lining.


In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole positioned configured to generate a writing magnetic field when current is applied to a write coil, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) located adjacent the main magnetic pole, the STO being configured to generate a high frequency magnetic field when current is applied thereto, wherein the high frequency magnetic field is generated simultaneously to the writing magnetic field to assist in reversing magnetization of a magnetic recording medium. The STO includes: a spin polarization layer (SPL), a field generation layer (FGL) positioned adjacent the SPL, and one or more interlayers positioned between the SPL and the FGL, and a magnetization easy axis of the SPL is positioned in an in-plane direction such that the SPL has no perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

The heart of a computer is a magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) which typically includes a rotating magnetic disk, a slider that has read and write heads, a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator arm that swings the suspension arm to place the read and/or write heads over selected data tracks on the rotating disk. The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk adjacent an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic signal fields from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The volume of information processing in the information age is increasing rapidly. In particular, it is desired that HDDs be able to store more information in their limited area and volume. A technical approach to this desire is to increase the capacity by increasing the recording density of the HDD. To achieve higher recording density, microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) may be used.
In MAMR, in order to realize the desired assisting effect, it is necessary to apply a large amount of current through a spin torque oscillator (STO). However, due to this large current, reliability becomes a problem due to generation of heat and electro-migration tolerance. In order to improve reliability, some way of oscillating the STO with less current would be beneficial.

Low Bs spin-polarizer for spin torque oscillator


Turnkey maintenance of a customer's aircraft fleet is managed by a single management service provider (MSP) controlling integrated maintenance and materials services from a central operations site. The MSP converts data received directly from on-board aircraft systems into information it uses to manage maintenance service providers and parts suppliers. The MSP contracts with and manages maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations (MROs) who perform the maintenance on the customers' aircraft at line and base stations. The MSP either remotely manages part inventories at the customer's site, or manages suppliers who deliver the parts to the MROs. Maintenance planning, scheduling and execution information is exchanged between the MSP, MROs, part suppliers and the customers through a shared data communication network controlled by the MSP. The MSP charges the customer for the maintenance services based on a flat rate per unit of aircraft flying time.

Maintenance of commercial aircraft fleets requires the coordination of multiple service and information providers, as well as part suppliers. Line and base maintenance operations required to support aircraft flight readiness require up-to-date service manuals, maintenance repair records, engineering drawings, trained personnel, specialized tools, facilities, parts and an array of other resources. The logistics required for deploying, warehousing and maintaining inventories of repair parts at multiple service locations is also complicated, since parts must be procured from multiple suppliers as well the OEM aircraft manufacturers. Supply chain management and coordination of service providers is made more challenging where fleet aircraft serve wide geographic areas, making centralized service and inventory control by the airline operators impractical.
While some minor maintenance, e.g. line maintenance, is performed by certain airline operators, most operators either perform their own extensive maintenance (typically performed at base maintenance facilities) or outsource their maintenance by contracting with MROs (maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations). The airline operators nevertheless remain largely responsible for managing the material supply chain, performing service operations, coordinating ground service equipment, and managing information flow, including compliance with regulatory and maintenance certification requirements such as Air Worthiness Directives (ADs). Consequently, multiple commercial airlines must dedicate identical resources for maintaining the internal infrastructure and personnel needed to manage the various service and material management activities outlined above.

Integrated materials management for commercial aircraft fleets


A data reading apparatus has a reading device, which is set in a data read state upon operation of an operation switch, provided with a timer for measuring a first time period in which the operation switch is not operated, and for measuring a second time period in which no data input is detected while the operation switch is operated, wherein the data reading state is canceled according to an output from the first or second timer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data reading device for reading data such as a bar code, and a control system for controlling an operation on the basis of data read by the data reading device.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional device of this type, a first input means is operated to set a read state, and a second input means is operated to transfer data to another device.
Conventionally, the first input means adopts a slide switch or a push switch. In a device of this type, a battery is used as a power supply.
However, in some devices using a slide switch, when the switch is turned on, a read LED is kept ON, and a battery is used up soon. On the other hand, in other devices using a slide switch and a timer to turn off the power supply after the lapse of a predetermined period of time, whether or not a read enable state is set cannot be determined by looking at the switch. Once the power supply is turned off by the timer, the slide switch must be turned off once, and must be turned on again.
In a device using a push button, when the device is stored in a case or a pocket, the push button is kept depressed, and a battery is undesirably used up.
As a conventional bar code data reading device, for example, a pen-like device is known. In this device, a first input means is operated to set a read state, and a second input means is operated to transfer data to another device.
Since each prior art requires the first and second input means, it is difficult to realize a more compact device. Since it is difficult to improve operability of the two input means, operability of either means must be sacrificed.

Data reading device and control system having data reading device


A window for a display device includes a display device window mother substrate; and a color layer on the display device window mother substrate. The color layer includes a transparent ink layer on the display device window mother substrate and including a pigment particulate, a solid color layer on the transparent ink layer, and a shield ink layer on the solid color layer.

1. Field
A window for a display device and a display device including the same are disclosed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display devices include a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), a plasma display panel ("PDP"), an organic light emitting diode display ("OLED"), a field effect display ("FED"), an electrophoretic display device, and the like.
Such display devices include a display module displaying an image, and a window protecting the display module.
The window for a display device may have applied thereto such as by printing, a combination of a particulate such as pearl, a metal flake or the like, with a color ink, to improve the appearance and perceived beauty of the display device.

Window for display device, method of manufacturing the same and display device including the same


A multi-purposes mechanism for shooting apparatus includes a gun body, a barrel, a shooting member, and a rear cap. The gun body comprises a hollow tube perpendicularly interconnecting with a first loading hole at a center portion of the hollow tube. A first stage is formed on an inner wall of the tube in front of the first loading hole. A second stage is formed on the inner wall of the tube in back of the first loading hole. The barrel is disposed in the tube before the first loading hole, and has a first engaging ring corresponding to the first stage of the tube. The shooting member is disposed in the tube after the first loading hole, and has a second engaging ring on an outer wall thereof corresponding to the second stage of the tube. The rear cap is connected to a rear end of the tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-purposes mechanism for shooting apparatus, and more particularly to a shooting apparatus which is capable of shooting either BB ball and paintball by exchange a barrel and a shooting member.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional paintball gun uses pressurized air to shoot bullets, and a conventional BB gun is mostly using elastic mechanism to shoot bullets, although pressurized air can provide a better effect of shooting, however the bullets for BB gun are different from the bullets for paintball gun, thus users need to purchase two different guns for shooting fun.

Multi-purposes mechanism for shooting apparatus


An electronic circuit can have a first plurality of vertical Hall elements and a second plurality of vertical Hall elements all disposed on a substrate having a plurality of crystal unit cells, wherein the first plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed within five degrees of parallel to an edge of the crystal unit cells, and wherein the second plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed between eighty-five and ninety-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axes of the first plurality of vertical Hall elements.

It is known that conventional silicon substrates have a crystalline structure having a plurality of crystal unit cells. The unit cells have edges parallel to a surface of the substrate.
Conventional vertical Hall elements are arranged on a silicon substrate such that a direction of an axis of largest dimensions of the vertical Hall elements is directed at forty five degrees relative to the edges of the unit cells of the silicon substrate.
A vertical Hall element typically has an axis of maximum sensitivity in a direction ninety degrees away from an axis of a largest dimension of the vertical Hall element, and parallel to the surface of the substrate. Thus, when two vertical Hall elements are arranged at ninety degrees relative of each other, i.e., with axes of largest dimensions parallel to x and y axes of Cartesian coordinates, one of the two vertical Hall elements can be used to sense an x component and the other one of the two vertical Hall elements can be used to sense a y component of a magnetic field.
Several types of errors influence and accuracy of the measurement of the above x and y components.
A first type of error results from a sensitivity mismatch of the two vertical Hall elements arranged as described above. Furthermore, sensitivity error is known to change with time and/or temperature of the vertical Hall elements. However, the sensitivity mismatch type of error can be reduced by way of electronics associated with the two vertical Hall elements, e.g., by way of electronic automatic gain controls electronics or other gain calibration techniques associated with the two vertical Hall elements.
A second type of error results from a DC offset mismatch of the two vertical Hall elements arranged as described above. Furthermore, offset error is known to change with time and/or temperature of the vertical Hall elements. However, the offset mismatch type of error can also be reduced by way of electronics associated with the two vertical Hall elements, e.g., by way of chopper stabilized techniques described more fully below.
A third type of error results from a physical placement error such that the two vertical Hall elements are not physically placed ninety degrees apart. The placement accuracy type of error is static and does not change with time and/or temperature. Thus, this type of error can be reduced by way of a fixed calibration.
A fourth type of error results from so-called orthogonality error, which is not static and which changes with temperature, substrate or package stress, and the like. A used herein, the term "orthogonality" is used to describe a phase difference of first harmonics (in the presence of a rotating magnetic field) between signals generated by the above-described two orthogonally placed magnetic field sensing elements (e.g., vertical Hall elements). As used herein, the term "orthogonality error" (OG error) is defined as the deviation from the ideal phase difference between those two signals (ideally ninety degrees when OG error equals zero).
Orthogonality error resulting from the above-described fourth type of error is known to change with time and/or temperature and/or stress of the two orthogonal vertical Hall elements. Calibration to reduce the influence of this fourth type of orthogonality error has been difficult.
While physical placement error, third type of error, described above can result in some orthogonality error, as described above, the physical placement error is static and can be reduced or eliminated by a fixed calibration.
It would be desirable to provide vertical Hall elements placed in an orthogonal arrangement for which orthogonality error is reduced.

Electronic circuit having vertical hall elements arranged on a substrate to reduce an orthogonality error


This invention has as its object to easily verify alterations etc. of files stored in a folder. To achieve this object, an information processing method of this invention is a method of applying hash processing to files stored in a folder, which includes a designation step of designating a folder; a first generation step (steps S601 and S602) of generating hash data for each of files included in the folder designated in the designation step; a second generation step (steps S603 to S609) of generating one multiplexed hash data by repeating multiplexing each of the hash data generated in the first generation step in turn according to a predetermined order; and a step (step S610) of storing the multiplexed hash data in association with the folder designated in the designation step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing technique for processing files stored in folders.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, upon managing files whose dates are of importance (e.g., those based on ministry ordinances) in a file management system, folder names are normally assigned based on their dates like "2005-10" for a folder that stores files processed in October 2005, "2005-11" for a folder that stores files processed in November 2005, and so forth.
By configuring folders based on the dates in this way, the user can recognize at a glance when files were created and saved, and the need for searching files can be obviated. Files whose storage limitations have been reached must be discarded. In this case as well, using the folder configuration based on the dates, files can be deleted together for respective folders.
Meanwhile, upon enforcement of e-Document Law in Spring 2005 in Japan, respective ministries and agencies issued related ministry ordinances. Some ministry ordinances require "verification" means for detecting alterations and the like of files (to be referred to as alternations, etc. hereinafter). For example, new ministry and agency ordinances and the like issued by National Tax Agency, Financial Services Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry correspond to them.
In order to detect alterations etc. of files, the file management system must apply, in advance, processing required to detect alterations etc. (for example, processing for appending signatures or time stamps to files and generating their hash data, and so forth).
However, it is a heavy workload on the user to read out stored files in large quantities one by one and to apply such processing.
Also, it is inconvenient for the user to read out files that have undergone such processing one by one, and to periodically verify the presence/absence of alterations etc.
For these reasons, development of a file management system which can simultaneously apply the processing to a plurality of files and can verify them is demanded. Especially, since files based on ministry ordinances are normally managed for respective folders, it is desirable to apply the processing for respective folders.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


A palmtop computer system that incorporates mechanical buttons that combine the task of turning the palmtop computer system on and starting a particular application program. Furthermore, the same mechanical button can be used to navigate the application program to find the information that is most likely needed by the user. Additionally, external devices can be coupled to the palmtop computer system in a manner that allows the external hardware device to initiate specific application programs that cooperate with the external hardware device.

Modern computer operating systems support several application programs executing concurrently. To communicate with external hardware devices, the application programs call input/output routines in the operating system. To facilitate communication between applications, an operating system may provide a message passing system or a method of opening "sockets" between applications.
However, using two different methods for communicating information is unnecessarily complex. It would be desirable to have a simplified method of communicating information from and to application programs. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a messaging system that allows dormant applications to be immediately activated upon receiving information that is destined for the dormant application.

Method and apparatus for unified external and interprocess communication


A coupling arrangement is disclosed for rotationally coupling a drive element of a pivoting drive of an exhaust-gas flap for the exhaust-gas flow to a pivot shaft that is rotatable about a pivot axis. A first coupling element has a coupling region coupled to the pivot shaft for conjoint rotation about the pivot axis and a second coupling element has a coupling region coupled to the drive element for conjoint rotation about the pivot axis. A preload element acts on the first coupling element and the second coupling element substantially in a peripheral direction with respect to one another. One of the coupling elements has two rotational coupling projections which extend radially outward with respect to the coupling region of the coupling element. The other coupling element includes, so as to be assigned to each rotational coupling projection, a rotational coupling cutout which receives the corresponding rotational coupling projection.

A coupling arrangement of this kind is known from DE 10 2011 107 088 C5. In the case of the coupling arrangement, the first coupling element, which is held rotationally conjointly on the pivot shaft, has two rotational coupling projections which radially outwardly engage in rotational coupling cutouts of the second coupling element which is held rotationally conjointly on the drive element of the pivoting drive. In order to minimize the heat transfer between the two coupling elements, they contact each other exclusively in the region of peripheral support regions which are formed on the rotational coupling projections and which are supported in the peripheral direction on counterpart peripheral support regions that delimit rotational coupling cutouts receiving the rotational coupling projections.


A system for supplying an electric load, in particular for charging a battery device, including a charging station with an accommodation unit for the battery device and a detection unit for the battery device. The detection unit includes a first optical transmitting device for transmitting a first optical signal and an optical receiving device for receiving the first optical signal. The battery device includes a second optical transmitting device for transmitting a second and third optical signal, the second optical transmitting device functioning as a transmitter of a discretely configured optocoupler for transmitting information from the battery device to the charging station. The optical receiving device of the charging station is configured as a receiver of the discretely configured optocoupler for receiving the second and third optical signals.

Battery devices, such as rechargeable batteries, battery packs or terminal equipment having permanently installed chargeable battery cells are typically charged with the aid of external charging stations. This includes inter alia utilizing charging methods which use a contactless energy transmission between the charging station and the battery device. In an inductive charging system, for example, energy may be transmitted with the aid of a magnetic field. For this purpose, a transmitter coil housed in a charging station generates an alternating magnetic field which induces an electrical alternating current in a corresponding receiver coil of the battery device. However, an inductive coupling between both devices is required in order for the energy to be effectively delivered from the charging station to the accommodation unit. Thus, the transmitter and the receiver coil, depending on the quality of the inductive coupling, must typically be situated at a relatively small distance of a few millimeters to several centimeters from one another, the inductive coupling capable of being enhanced by a ferromagnetic core in the transmitter and the receiver coil.
In a wireless charging system which operates on the basis of an inductive energy transmission, different problems may arise depending on the configuration. Thus, for example, sufficient detection of a battery pack inserted into the charging station must be ensured, which requires a cyclical "pinging" of the battery device when the charging station is in standby mode. Furthermore, an adequate communication path between the battery pack and the charging station is also necessary in order to be able to determine the point in time when charging or recharging is ended and to communicate the required energy needs. In addition, foreign objects must be clearly and easily detected. Furthermore, a sufficiently robust feedback system for closing the control circuit must also be provided.
Various approaches are already known which provide optical transmission systems for charging systems. The publication DE 29724016 U1, for example, discusses a charging device for a rechargeable battery in which a detection of rechargeable batteries having varying capacitances is implemented with the aid of light barriers. In addition, the charging device includes an IR interface for transmitting information from the rechargeable battery to the charging device.
A charging device for inductively charging a hand-held power tool is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,979 A, in which the hand-held power tool communicates the fully charged state of its internal battery cells to the charging device with the aid of a photodiode.
A charging device for charging rechargeable batteries is also discussed in DE 19955985 A1 U1, the charging device including a light barrier for detecting an inserted rechargeable battery.
A rechargeable battery pack having a coding pin for interrupting a light barrier situated in the charging device is also discussed in DE 202009002787 U1.

Supply system and method for supplying an electric load


A chair includes a mounting frame, a chair seat frame movable relative to the mounting frame longitudinally between a forward position and a rearward position, a footrest mounted pivotally to a front seat portion of the chair seat frame and an anchored portion of the mounting frame at two pivot regions so as to be turnable from a low-lying position to a raised position when the chair seat frame is moved from the forward position to the rearward position, a guiding mechanism disposed to guide movement of the chair seat frame relative to the mounting frame, and a backrest unit disposed to be turned relative to the chair seat frame between an upright position and an inclined position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a chair, more particularly to a chair with a footrest that is turnable relative to a chair seat frame between a low-lying position and a raised position.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chairs are designed to provide a variety of functions. Some are ergonomically designed to enhance comfort. Some have a light and simple construction. Some have an adjustable backrest and an adjustable footrest, etc., to meet different requirements of the users. In one design, the chair is provided with a seat that can be adjusted relative to a seat base by virtue of movement of the body weight of a seated person for synchronously actuating both a footrest and a backrest to a desired inclination position. However, such chair is complicated in construction and is inconvenient to assemble. Moreover, it does not appeal to users that prefer a chair with a footrest and a backrest that can be adjusted individually.

Chair with a footrest turnable relative to a chair seat frame


An optical information recording medium includes a substrate 1 and two information layers (2, 4) formed on the substrate. The information layer is formed of a thin film showing a change that can be detected optically by irradiation of a light beam 7. A separating layer 3 that is transparent to a wavelength of the light beam 7 is formed between the information layers 2 and 4. Each information layer (2, 4) includes a sector area having sector address portions (9, 13) and data areas (8, 12) for recording information signals, the sector address portion and the data area being divided in the circumferential direction, and a management area (10, 14) for recording identification information about the amount of dislocation between the sector address portions 9 and 14 in the circumferential direction. Thus, the identification information about the amount of dislocation can be recorded, so that demodulation errors during reproduction can be reduced by switching amplification gain or slice level during reproduction according to the identification information. Also, stable data recording can be achieved by switching recording power according to a gate signal.

Conventionally, optical disks or optical cards are known as optical information recording media, on which information can be recorded or reproduced optically. These recording media use a semiconductor laser as a light source, and a great deal of information can be recorded or reproduced by irradiation of light that is finely focused through a lens.
At present, there is much research on the above recording media to increase their recording capacities. For example, a recording medium having a multilayer structure whose recording capacity is doubled by laminating information layers to record/reproduce information signals has been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,969). Also, a DVD (digital versataile disc)-ROM disk with two information layers has been put into practical use as a read-only optical disk. Moreover, a multilayer recording medium that can be recorded in the user's environment also has been proposed. Such a recording medium is formed of a phase changeable material, a magnet-optical recording material, a dye material, or the like.
On the other hand, an optical recording medium now in use, which includes a single recording layer, employs two types of format for recording signals: a sector-structure system and a continuous recording system. The former is used mainly to record data information, while the latter is used to record sound information, such as CD-R. In an optical disk having a sector structure, an area for managing information to be recorded and a data area on which information signals are recorded by users are separated.
However, when the recording system using a sector structure is applied to a multilayer recording medium, signals reproduced are distorted because of the recorded state of adjacent layers.
FIGS. 12(a) and 12(c) show a cross section of a recordable two-layer recording medium taken along the track direction, respectively. FIGS. 12(b) and 12(d) show the reproduced signals from the information layer of the recording medium. The two-layer recording medium in FIG. 12(a) includes a first information layer 202, a separating layer 203, a second information layer 204, and a protective plate 205 in this order on a substrate 201.
The first information layer 202 has a sector structure including data portions 208 for recording information signals and sector address portions 209 spaced at predetermined lengths of each data portion 208. The sector address portion 209 is used for information management during recording/reproducing information signals. Similarly, the second information layer 204 includes data portions 212 and sector address portions 213.
In FIG. 12(a), the first information layer 202 is not recorded, while a signal is recorded on the second information layer 204. FIG. 12(b) shows a reproduced signal from the second information layer 204. In this case, since the transmissivity of the first information layer 202 is unchanged, the reproduced signal becomes constant according to a pattern that is recorded on the second information layer 204.
On the other hand, in FIG. 12(c), the first information layer 202 is recorded; FIG. 12(d) shows the reproduced signal in this case. Here, the first information layer 202 has such characteristics that the transmissivity is increased by recording information. As shown in FIG. 12(d), the reproduced signal from the second information layer 202 has a waveform whose amplitude is increased in the area corresponding to the recorded portion of the first information layer 202. This is because the transmissivity of the first information layer 202 is raised by recording a signal. When a signal is reproduced from the second information layer 204, light passes through the second information layer 204 twice, i.e., at the time of being focused and reflected. Therefore, the amplitude fluctuation increases in proportion to the square of a change in transmissivity.
As described above, in an optical recording medium having a sector structure, information signals are recorded on the data portions alone and not on the sector address portions. Thus, in reproducing the information signals, the reproduced signal amplitude and the signal level fluctuate significantly depending on the recorded state of the opposite layer. In particular, when the reproduced signal from the second information layer is demodulated, reproduction errors are caused in the area corresponding to the boundary between the sector address portion and the data portion of the first information layer 202, so that the recorded information cannot be demodulated correctly.
Similarly, since the amount of light that reaches the second information layer 204 varies depending on the recorded state of the first information layer 202, information cannot be recorded correctly during recording.

Information recording medium with management area having recording identification information


A method and apparatus for obtaining a digital image of a selected scene and analyzing the image, utilizing an image processor, for selected frequencies of light in the image. The selected frequencies are converted, utilizing the image processor, to different selected frequencies to obtain an image representative of how a game animal sees the selected scene. The converted or representative image then is displayed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to vision and imaging devices and methods for use by hunters and more particularly to such devices and methods that permit hunters and other outdoorsmen and women to evaluate their concealment from game animals.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Hunters and other outdoorsmen and women, including fishermen, birdwatchers, photographers, and others, have long attempted to conceal themselves from their quarry or game using camouflage, blinds, and other concealment methods. Millions if not billions are spent annually by outdoorsmen on camouflage clothing and related items used to conceal them and their equipment from their quarry.
When hunting wild game animals, for example, hunters normally use camouflage clothing, tree stands, ground blinds, shooting houses, or any means of putting the odds in the hunter's favor of harvesting prey. Such game would include includes mammals such as whitetail deer, and elk; avian species such as turkey, waterfowl and other birds; and fish and reptiles, such as largemouth bass and alligator. Hunters use the tools mentioned above to attempt to blend into the surroundings and terrain in which they are hunting. They attempt to deceive the keen senses of the animal they pursue by disguising or masking themselves from detection by the animal prey or quarry, whether it is by sight, smell, or hearing.
It is well-known that animals have different vision than humans. In many areas, particularly low-light conditions, it is more acute than that of humans; and in others, particularly perception of colors, it is less acute. All animals see in different wavelengths or frequencies, due to different types and numbers of rods and cones in the eye. For instance the whitetail deer, the most-hunted big game animal in North America, is red and green colorblind, but can see in the ultra violet spectrum. This also enhances the sight of said animal in low light and even total dark conditions.
Accordingly, wild game can be difficult to deceive. Most camouflage and concealment items are evaluated using human vision. Because human vision differs from animal vision, these evaluations often are flawed and what appears to be good concealment actually is not at all. Therefore, when an outdoorsman or woman is in a situation where the wind and other scent factors are in his favor, his camouflage, tree stand, ground blind, etc. may not have him completely hidden from the animal he is pursuing.
Prior attempts have been made to utilize this knowledge to improve camouflage and concealment. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0055064 to Pringle et al. discloses a method of creating a surface composition utilizing animal vision data. U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,749 to Grant, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,735 to Rengle disclose optical devices that employ lenses and filters and the like to purportedly view objects and scenes in the manner in which animals view them.
A need exists for a better and more accurate way to see and examine the gear employed by outdoorsmen and women and to evaluate their concealment schemes in order to conceal themselves from game animals or quarry.

Method and apparatus for game animal vision