A temperature measuring device is configured of a substrate formed of a silicon wafer, a thermocouple formed by using the film forming method, the photolithographic method, and the etching method, and a clamp pad (an electrode pad) which is arranged in an edge portion of the substrate, and which is connected to the thermocouple. In a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, the temperature measuring device is fixed on a wafer mounting portion with a clamper pin (a fastening device) being in contact with the clamp pad. An output of the thermocouple is taken out to the outside through the clamper pin.

1. Field of the Invention
It is related to a temperature measuring device for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, which measures the temperature of a semiconductor wafer in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device (an LSI: a large scale integrated circuit); a method of measuring temperature, by using the temperature measuring device, in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus; and a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which measures temperature by using the temperature measuring device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In processing for manufacturing a semiconductor device (an LSI), there are a number of processes for heating a semiconductor wafer, such as a film forming process, an impurity diffusion process and an etching process. In these processes, the temperature of the wafer needs to be strictly managed. For example, in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process at the time of forming a film, large unevenness is caused in the film thickness if the temperature of the wafer is not strictly managed. In addition, in the etching process at the time of forming a wiring, a defect, such as an increase in the wiring resistance, a short circuit, or disconnection, is caused if the temperature of the wafer is not strictly managed.
In a case of a heating furnace, and a film forming apparatus such as a CVD apparatus used in the impurity diffusion process, the temperature is managed by monitoring the temperature in the apparatus, by use of a thermocouple arranged in the apparatus. However, in an apparatus of this kind, temperature on a wafer surface is not directly measured. For this reason, the temperature is not managed at a sufficiently strict level. In addition, the thermocouple arranged in the apparatus cannot measure the distribution of the temperature on the wafer surface.
In a single wafer apparatus used in the etching process or the physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, the ultimate temperature on a wafer surface is measured by attaching, to the wafer surface, a film, such as TEMP-PLATE (registered trademark), including an element which changes the color thereof according to the temperature. In the case of the temperature measurement using TEMP-Plate, it is possible to determine whether or not the ultimate temperature reaches a desired temperature, but not to know the temporal change in the temperature.
In order to solve such a problem, Publications of Japanese Patent Applications No. Sho 62-139339 (Patent Literature 1), No. Hei 11-118616 (Patent Literature 2), and No. 2002-16117 (Patent Literature 3) disclose that a thermocouple is formed on a semiconductor wafer, and that the temperature on a wafer surface is measured by the thermocouple.
Patent Literature 1 discloses that the thermocouple is formed on the wafer, but does not disclose how an output of the thermocouple is connected to a measuring device (a measuring circuit). A method may be employed in which one end of a cable of the measuring device is directly connected to an electrode on the wafer. This method, however, has a disadvantage that it is troublesome to connect the cable and to remove the cable after use. In addition, when the wafer is placed inside a vacuum chamber, it is difficult to take out the other end of the cable to the outside of the chamber.
Patent Literature 2 discloses that a thermocouple formed on a wafer and an external measuring device are connected to each other via a connector. In this case, however, an operator needs to attach or detach the connector, and this is also troublesome. As in the case of Patent Literature 1, a wafer is placed in a vacuum chamber, this method also has a disadvantage that it is difficult to take out one end of a cable to the outside of the chamber.
Patent Literature 3 discloses that an output of a thermocouple is taken out to the outside via an electrode pad provided in an edge portion (a vicinity of an orientation flat) of the wafer. However, Patent Literature 3 does not disclose how the electrode pad is connected to the measurement instrument.
In general, a semiconductor wafer is conveyed to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses (such as a film forming apparatus, an etching apparatus, and a heating furnace), and is set in a predetermined position by an automatic conveyor device. For this reason, there is a demand for a temperature measuring device which is conveyed and automatically set in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses in a manner similar to that of a normal semiconductor wafer, and which can measure the temperature under a condition similar to a condition where the wafer is actually processed.

Temperature measuring device for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, method of measuring temperature in semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus


The invention relates to ultrasound apparatus for measuring the flow speed of a fluid, the apparatus comprising first and second ultrasound transducers disposed at points that are spaced apart in the direction of fluid flow, a transmitter module, a receiver module, and switch means organized so that each of the first and second transducers operates alternately as a transmitter and as a receiver. The transmitter module includes at least one transmission signal generator whose output is permanently connected via two logic gates each followed by a respective resistive divider bridge to a respective first terminal of the first and second transducer, and in that the first and second switch means are interposed respectively between the first terminals of said first and second transducers and the receiver module.

It has been known for many years to measure the flow rate (or volume) of a fluid flowing along a duct by using the propagation of sound signals transmitted between two sound transducers situated at points that are spaced apart in the flow direction of the fluid. Basically, a sound signal transmitted from the first transducer to the second transducer is received by the second transducer and the propagation time T.sub.1 of the sound signal is measured. Similarly, the propagation time T.sub.2 of a sound signal transmitted from the second transducer to the first transducer is measured after said signal has been received by said first transducer.
In a fluid meter, the flow rate can be obtained by combining the measured propagation times concerning the two sound signals transmitted in two opposite directions between the two points with a measurement of the sound phase shifts induced in each sound signal by the propagation of each of the sound signals in the flow. European patent application No. 0 426 309 describes an example of such a flow rate measuring system, in which the received signal is sampled and converted into digital form, with sound phase shift being measured by performing synchronous detection on the digitized signal.
Various types of electronic circuit can be used to meter fluid by the method of measuring the flow speed of the fluid by means of ultrasound. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of such an electronic circuit associated with two ultrasound transducers 1, 2 located at a distance from each other in a duct 3 along which there flows a fluid such as a gas. The two transducers 1, 2 are connected to a switch block 4 which has two switches 5, 6 and enables each transducer to be used alternately as a transmitter and as a receiver. A transmitter module 14 and a receiver module 17 are respectively connected to the switches 5 and 6 in the switch block 4. The transmitter module 14 comprises an operational amplifier 16 and a digital-to-analog converter 15. The receiver module 17 comprise at least one amplifier 18 and an analog-to-digital converter 19 which digitizes and samples the received signal, e.g. simultaneously. An electrical power supply 7 and a power supply control module 8 are connected to the transmitter module 4 and the receiver module 17, and also to the switch block 4 and to an electronic control circuit such as a microcontroller 10. The microcontroller 10 includes, in particular, a crystal clock 9, an arithmetic and logic unit, random access memory (RAM), and read only memory (ROM), and is capable of co-operating with display circuits 13, a re-writable read only memory 12, and a serial link 11 of the RS 232 type.
Gas meters for each subscriber in a distribution network must be simultaneously accurate, reliable, and as cheap as possible. These constraints make it necessary to optimize the implementation of the electronic circuits and to avoid using expensive components such as inductors or operational amplifiers fitted with adjustment members for example, while nevertheless guaranteeing that there are no errors which could be due, for example, to the presence of stray capacitance or to zero-point drift associated with the fact that each transducer is not associated with the same impedance when operating as a transmitter and as a receiver.

Ultrasound apparatus for measuring the flow speed of a fluid


An access-level control apparatus includes an NC machine tool, an RFID that is held by an operator and stores an ID given to the operator, a reader unit that reads out the ID in the RFID, an authenticating unit that determines operator processing limitation information including an operable range by the operator associated with the ID or display information provided to the operator, and an operation/display limiting unit that limits processing by the operator for the NC machine tool on the basis of the operator processing limitation information. The reader unit includes a transmission antenna that calls the RFID. The transmission antenna is disposed in parallel to a rotation axis of a motor unit of the NC machine tool.

In a numerical control (NC) machine tool, it has been a general practice that a plurality of operators such as an operator who inputs a control program of an NC apparatus and causes the NC apparatus to execute work and an operator who monitors a state during the work and checks that the NC apparatus is normally operating operate the NC machine tool and monitor a state of the NC machine tool. In this case, it is necessary to prevent wrong operation by an inexperienced operator or a leak of information such as a control program or a control parameter by a malicious operator. Technologies for preventing the wrong operation and the leak have been proposed.
For example, there has been proposed an apparatus that, when the NC machine tool is broken, checks, using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), whether an operator is an operator having a recovery operation ability and prevents recovery work from a failure by an inexperienced operator (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). There has been proposed a plant control system in which a user carries a transmission device that transmits a user ID and the system limits an operation range on the basis of the user ID read by a user-ID reading device and records an operation history of each user (see, for example, Patent Literature 2).


Battery separators made of a wettable, uniform mat of melt blown fibers. The melt blown fibers are thermally bonded to one another. These fibers are made of a thermoplastic material. The fibers have a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 13 microns (μ) and lengths greater than 12 millimeters (mm). The mat has a basis weight ranging from 6 to 160 grams per square meter (g/m2), a thickness of less than 75 microns (μ), and an average pore size of 0.3 to 50 microns (μ).

A battery is an electrochemical device comprising an anode, a cathode, a separator sandwiched between the anode and cathode, and an electrolyte wetting the separator and in ionic communication between the anode and the cathode. Various chemistries in which the electrochemical potential between various materials is used to generate electricity have been studied and commercially implemented. See, in general: Besenhard, J. O., Ed., Handbook of Battery Materials, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Germany, 1999; and Linden, D., Ed., Handbook of Batteries, Second Edition, McGraw Hill Inc., New York, N.Y., 1995, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The separator is a critical element of the battery. It is used as a spacer between the anode and cathode to prevent electronic contact of the anode and the cathode. It must be sufficiently permeable to allow ion transport between the anode and the cathode, but must have pores that will block the migration of particles that separate from the electrodes. It must have sufficient strength and/or tortuosity to prevent dendrites from growing through the separator and causing a short circuit within the battery. It must also have sufficient strength to withstand the battery manufacturing process. Such strength manifests itself, in one instance, as puncture strength, the ability withstand being pierced by the rough surfaces of the electrodes during battery manufacture. Such strength also manifests itself, in another instance, as tensile strength, the ability to withstand the tight winding required to obtain the battery's physical structure. The separator must also be thin, so as not to take up too much space within the cell. Accordingly, there is a need for tough, strong, thin, and permeable structures for use as separators in batteries.
One structure for obtaining such qualities is a nonwoven material or fabric. See, for example, Besenhard, Ibid., page 288 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,549; 5,962,161; 6,120,939; and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/745,026 filed Dec. 20, 2000, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Nonwoven materials encompass a broad class of fibrous structures. Nonwoven material, in its most common usage, includes fibrous structures made by such processes as dry, wet, or air laying, needlepunching, spunbond or melt blown processes, and hydroentanglement. Melt blown nonwovens are different from spunbond nonwovens. Spunbond nonwovens are filaments, and then laying those filaments onto a continuous belt, that result in a nonwoven with long fiber lengths. Melt blown nonwovens are formed by extruding molten polymer through a die then attenuating and breaking the resulting filaments with hot, high-velocity air or steam, that results in a nonwoven with short fiber lengths. As battery separators, melt blown nonwovens are perceived as having some adequately sized pores within the distribution of pore sizes, but having to broad a distribution of pore sizes (thus having to many inadequately, too large, sized pores and having insufficient tensile and puncture strength, both of which limit their ability to be used as effective battery separators.
Electrolytes, used in the most widely sold batteries, may be aqueous (polar) or organic (nonpolar) solutions. Since, batteries are most often assembled without electrolyte, and are later activated by the addition of the electrolyte, the separator must be wettable by the electrolyte. "Wettability" or "wet out" refers to the ability to cause a liquid to penetrate more easily into, or spread over, the surface of another material. Hydrophilic refers to the ability to "wet out" an aqueous based liquid. Hydrophobic refers to the inability to "wet out" an aqueous based liquid. Accordingly, nonwovens, which are, most often, made of polyolefins, will not wet out aqueous based electrolytes because polyolefins are inherently hydrophobic. Therefore, such nonwovens must be made hydrophilic so that the aqueous electrolyte will wet out the separator.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wettable, melt blown nonwoven separator having sufficient mechanical properties and sufficiently small pores for use as a separator in a battery.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A reciprocating compressor includes a front frame; a middle frame positioned with an interval from the front frame; an outer stator having a winding coil and coupled between the front frame and the middle frame; a cylinder coupled to the front frame; a magnet mounting inner stator having a protruded pole portion at both ends thereof and linear-movably inserted into the outer stator; a magnet mounted at an outer circumferential surface of the magnet mounting inner stator; a piston inserted into the cylinder; a connection unit for connecting the piston and the magnet mounting inner stator; a resonance spring unit for resonating the piston and the magnet mounting inner stator; and a valve assembly for opening and closing a gas flow path so that gas can be sucked into the cylinder and compressed as the piston is linearly-reciprocated. According, the amount of the expensive magnet used is reduced, an output of a driving motor is enhanced, and components are simplified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reciprocating compressor, and more particularly, to a reciprocating compressor capable of reducing a usage amount of an expensive magnet, enhancing an output of a driving motor, and simplifying components.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Generally, a reciprocating compressor is a device for sucking refrigerant gas and compressing the refrigerant gas as a piston is linearly-reciprocated in a cylinder. The reciprocating compressor is largely divided into two by a driving mechanism. One is for converting a rotary motion of a motor into a linear reciprocation and then transmitting the converted linear reciprocation to a piston, and another is for directly transmitting a linear reciprocation of a motor to a piston.
FIG. 1 shows one example of a reciprocating compressor in which a linear reciprocation of a motor is directly transmitted to a piston. As shown, the reciprocating compressor comprises: a casing 10 to which a gas suction pipe 1 and a gas discharge pipe 2 are coupled; a front frame 20 and a middle frame 30 elastically supported in the casing 10 with a certain interval; a driving motor 40 mounted between the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30, for generating a driving force; a cylinder 50 inserted into the front frame 20; a piston 60 linearly-reciprocated in the cylinder 50 by receiving a driving force of the driving motor 40; a rear frame 70 covering the piston 60; a resonance spring 80 for inducing a resonance by elastically supporting the piston 60; and a valve assembly 90 for opening and closing a gas flow path so that gas can be sucked into the cylinder 50 and compressed as the piston 60 is linearly-reciprocated.
The driving motor 40 includes: an outer stator 41 mounted between the front frame 20 and the middle frame 30; an inner stator 42 inserted into the outer stator 41 with a certain interval thereby to be mounted at the front frame 20; a winding coil 43 coupled to the outer stator 41; and a mover 44 linear-movably inserted between the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42.
The mover 44 is composed of a cylindrical holder 45, and a plurality of magnets 46 coupled to the holder 45. The holder 45 is connected to the piston 60.
The outer stator 41 is formed as a cylindrical shape having a certain length, and an opening groove 41a at which the winding coil 43 is positioned is formed at an inner circumferential surface of the outer stator 41. A pole portion 41b is formed at both sides of the opening groove 41a.
The inner stator 42 is formed as a cylindrical shape having a certain length, and a sectional surface of one side thereof has a square shape.
The outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42 are formed as a plurality of lamination sheets having a certain shape are stacked.
As shown in FIG. 2, a length L1 of the magnet 46 in an axial direction is the sum of a length L2 of the opening groove 41a of the outer stator and a length L3 of one pole portion. Under a state that the magnet 46 is coupled to the holder 45, both ends of the magnet 46 are respectively positioned at the middle part of the pole portion 41b.
The valve assembly 90 is composed of: a discharge cover 91 coupled to the front frame 20, for covering one side of the cylinder 50; a discharge valve 92 positioned in the discharge cover 91, for opening/closing one side of the cylinder 50; a valve spring 93 positioned in the discharge cover 91, for elastically supporting the discharge valve 92; and a suction valve 94 coupled to an end portion of the piston 60, for opening and closing an inner flow path 61 penetratingly formed in the piston 60.
An unexplained reference numeral 21 denotes a coupling bolt, and 22 to denotes a nut.
An operation of the reciprocating compressor will be explained as follows.
First, when power is supplied to the driving motor 40, a current flows on the winding coil 43 of the driving motor 40. By the current, a flux is formed at the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42. By an interaction between the generated flux and a flux formed by the magnet 46 of the mover 44, the mover 44 is linearly-reciprocated and thereby the piston 60 connected to the mover 44 is linearly-reciprocated in the cylinder 50.
As the piston 60 is linearly reciprocated in the cylinder 50, a pressure difference is generated in the cylinder 50. By the pressure difference inside the cylinder 50, the suction valve 94 and the discharge valve 92 constituting the valve assembly 90 open and close the gas flow path thereby to suck gas into the cylinder 50, compress the gas, and discharge the gas. While the above processes are repeated, sucked gas is continuously compressed.
In order to enhance a price competitiveness of a compressor, components and fabrication processes have to be simplified. Also, in order to minimize a consumption power, an output of a driving motor has to be maximized.
However, in the conventional reciprocating compressor, the magnets 46 are positioned at the air gap between the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42 under a state of being mounted on the holder 45. According to this, the holder 45 for fixing the magnets 46 is required thus to have complicated components and to increase a fabrication cost of the holder 45. Also, since the holder 45 is used, the air gap between the outer stator 41 and the inner stator 42 becomes relatively large thereby to generate a motor loss.
Also, since both ends of the magnet 46 are respectively positioned at the middle part of the pole portion 41b of the outer stator, the length L1 of the magnet 46 becomes relatively long and thereby a usage amount of the magnets 46 mounted at the holder 45 is excessively increased. As the magnet 46 is very expensive, the entire fabrication cost is increased.


A plasma etch process includes a plasma etch step performed with a photoresist mask on a workpiece using a polymerizing etch process gas that produces in the plasma polymerizing species which accumulate as a protective polymer layer on the surface of said photoresist mask during the etch step, the process including the following steps performed in the same chamber after the etch step and prior to removing the photoresist mask:                (a) removing residue of the type including polymer material from chamber surfaces including a ceiling of said chamber, by coupling RF plasma source power into the chamber while coupling substantially no RF plasma bias power into the chamber, and introducing a hydrogen-containing gas into the chamber, until said residue is removed from the chamber surfaces;        (b) removing the protective polymer layer from the surface of the photoresist mask, by coupling RF plasma bias power into the chamber while coupling substantially no RF plasma source power into the chamber, and introducing into the chamber a process gas comprising oxygen and carbon monoxide, until the polymer layer is removed from the surface of the photoresist mask.

Integrated circuit performance is being continually improved by increasing device switching speed, increasing interconnection density and reducing cross-talk between adjacent conductors that are separated by inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers. Switching speeds have been increased and cross-talk reduced by employing new dielectric thin film material as the IMD having low dielectric constant ("low-k material"), such as porous organo-silicate glass. Interconnections have been increased by increasing the number of interconnected conductive layers and reducing feature size (e.g., line widths, hole diameters). Connecting between different conductors entails high aspect ratio (deep and narrow) openings or "vias" through the low-k material. Such fine features (e.g., having feature sizes on the order of 45 nm) have required photoresist (for photolithography) adaptable to higher wavelengths. Such photoresist tends to be thinner and more prone to form imperfections such as pin holes or striations during the dielectric etch process. This problem is addressed by employing a fluorocarbon chemistry during the plasma etch formation of narrow vias though the low-k dielectric film. The fluorocarbon etch chemistry deposits a protective fluorocarbon polymer on the photoresist. The etch process typically must stop upon reaching a bottom dielectric layer overlying copper interconnection lines. This bottom dielectric layer typically serves as a barrier layer preventing diffusion of copper atoms from the conductor line, and is itself a low-k dielectric material, such as nitrogen-doped silicon carbide, and is typically very thin (on the order of hundreds of Angstroms). After the barrier layer has been exposed, the etch process is halted, having formed a deep narrow (high aspect ratio) opening or via. In preparation for the next process step, the photoresist is stripped from the wafer. This photoresist strip process can be done in an ammonia-based plasma with bias power applied to the wafer, and is performed in the same chamber in which the preceding etch process was performed, in order to avoid an unnecessary wafer transfer step and maximize productivity. The problem is that the photoresist strip process causes the thin barrier layer at the via bottom, consisting of the vulnerable low-k material, to disappear.
One way around this problem may be to transfer the wafer to a dedicated photoresist ashing chamber before performing the photoresist ashing step. Unfortunately, such an approach would reduce productivity because of the delays inherent in the transferring of the wafer between reactor chambers.
Therefore, there is a need for a combination via etch and photoresist strip process in which the thin barrier at the via bottom is preserved.

Plasma etch and photoresist strip process with intervening chamber de-fluorination and wafer de-fluorination steps


An impulse response is estimated for a channel by estimating an intermediate impulse response of the channel. The intermediate impulse response comprises at least one multipath spike and one or more non-deterministic noise components at locations throughout the channel. Then, a threshold function is applied to the estimated intermediate impulse response across at least a portion of the channel in order to provide an estimated final impulse response of the channel. The threshold function has the effect of nulling the noise components of the channel having values less than the threshold function at the location within the channel of the respective noise component, and the threshold function is characterized by a level that varies across the portion of the channel from a minimum value to a maximum value in a manner determined by the location of the at least one multipath spike within the channel.

Linear adaptive equalizers having a plurality of taps are widely used in digital communication receivers in order to provide correction for multipath channel distortion. Adaptive algorithms, such as the least mean squares (LMS) algorithm, are typically implemented in order to determine the weight values for the taps of the equalizer. Such adaptive algorithms are easy to implement and provide reasonably good performance. However, under difficult channel conditions, these algorithms may fail to provide tap weights that converge to the desired values.
It is well known that this failure may be avoided if the tap weights, instead of being initialized to values of zero as is often done, are initialized at least somewhat close to their final desired values based on a knowledge of the impulse response of the channel. An estimate of the channel impulse response (CIR) may be derived from an a priori known training sequence periodically transmitted prior to, and/or along with, the unknown data. One such system with this feature is specified in the ATSC 8VSB standard for digital terrestrial television broadcasting.
The channel impulse response is typically estimated in a receiver by cross-correlating the training sequence as received with a representation of the known transmitted training sequence stored in the receiver as the reference. The Z-transform of the estimated channel impulse response is derived and inverted. From the inverted Z-transform, a vector is formed having a plurality of elements, and these elements are used to initialize a corresponding number of tap weights of the equalizer.
A conventional linear adaptive equalizer 10 that utilizes a transversal filter 12 is shown in FIG. 1. The transversal filter 12 comprises a plurality of taps Nff whose weights are applied to the received signal in order to eliminate the effects of multipath from the received signal. The transversal filter 12 includes a plurality of outputs 141 through 14n and a corresponding plurality of multipliers 161 through 16n. The signal on each of the outputs 141 through 14n is multiplied by a corresponding tap weight from a conventional tap weight update algorithm 18 (such as an LMS) by a corresponding one of the multipliers 161 through 16n. The outputs from the multipliers 161 through 16n are added together by an adder 20, and the output from the adder 20 is supplied as an output of the conventional linear adaptive equalizer 10.
The output from the adder 20 is also supplied to a decision directed/blind module 22 that compares the filter output with either the known training signal, when the known training signal is being received, or likely corrected data decisions, when the unknown data instead of the known training signal are being received. This comparison forms an error signal e that is used by the conventional tap weight update algorithm 18 to update the linear tap weights so as to minimize the value of the error e.
During training, the conventional tap weight update algorithm 18 typically estimates the channel impulse response by a-periodically cross-correlating the training sequence as received with a stored version of the known training sequence. If s [k] is defined as the stored known training sequence for k=0 . . . (L−1), and if x [k] is defined as the received signal sampled at the symbol rate, with x [0] being the first received training symbol in the received signal, the cross-correlation is given by the following equation:
                                          h                                      [              m              ]                                =                                    ∑                              k                =                0                                            L                -                1                                                                                s                                                  [                  k                  ]                                                                          x                                                  [                                      k                    +                    m                                    ]                                                                    ,                                                                for                                                              -                          L              chan                                ≤          m          ≤                      L            chan                                              (        1        )            where Lchan is the length of the channel and is typically set at 576.
The conventional tap weight update algorithm 18 then determines the Z-transform of h [m] and inverts the Z-transform in order to determine the tap weights that are supplied to the multipliers 161 through 16n.
This algorithm addresses channel related noise. However, there are other sources of noise. These other noise sources may, in a general, be described as deterministic noise and non-deterministic noise. Deterministic noise is noise that is known a priori. An example of deterministic noise is noise due to the finiteness of the cross-correlation as described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/142,108 filed on May 9, 2002 and in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/142,110 filed on May 9, 2002.
As described in these applications, noise due to the finiteness of the cross-correlation may be determined by a-periodically cross-correlating a known training sequence with a received training sequence to produce a cross-correlation vector, by estimating a correction vector related to the finiteness noise component, and by iteratively subtracting truncated representations of the correction vector from the cross-correlation vector so as to produce a succession of cross-correlation outputs of increasing accuracy.
After the deterministic noise is removed from the channel impulse response, however, the channel impulse response still contains a noise component referred to herein as non-deterministic noise. The present invention is directed to the suppression of this non-deterministic noise from the channel impulse response.

Adaptive thresholding algorithm for the noise due to unknown symbols in correlation based channel impulse response (CIR) estimate


The invention relates to an electromagnetic valve, comprising a valve tappet, which is arranged in a valve housing and which can open or close a valve passage in the valve housing, a magnet armature, which is provided in order to actuate the valve tappet and through which a hole passes for accommodating the valve tappet, and a restoring spring, which acts on the valve tappet and the spring end of which facing away from the magnet armature is supported on a magnet core in the valve housing. For precise valve adjustment, an adjustment sleeve is fixed in the hole of the magnet armature, in which adjustment sleeve the valve tappet is fastened in some sections at the same time.

WO 03/093083 A1, which is incorporated by reference, has already disclosed an electromagnetic valve of the type stated, the magnet armature of which is penetrated by a hole in order to accommodate a valve tappet. A return spring is supported on the valve tappet, and the valve tappet is moved in the magnet armature in order to set the spring preloading force.

Electromagnetic valve, in particular for slip-controlled motor vehicle brake systems


Disclosed are methods for the diagnosis of autosomal muscular dystrophy through the analysis of muscle tissue using antibodies reactive with components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. An experimental muscle tissue sample, treated if necessary to render components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex available for antibody binding, is contacted with an antibody which binds to a dystrophin-associated protein. The extent of antibody binding is determined, and compared to the extent of antibody binding to normal control tissue. A substantial reduction in the extent of binding to experimental tissue, as compared with normal control tissue, being diagnostic of autosomal muscular dystrophy. Among the autosomal muscular dystrophies which are detectable by the methods described herein are Fukuyama muscular dystrophy and severe childhood autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy.

Severe childhood autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy (SCARMD) is a disease which is prevalent in North Africa. This progressive muscular dystrophy shares several clinical features with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) including, for example, mode of onset, rapid progression, hypertrophy of calves and extremely high serum creatine kinase levels during the initial stages of the disease (see, e.g., Ben Hamida et al., J. Neurol Sci. 107: 60-64 (1992)).
It has been demonstrated that Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is caused by a mutation or deletion which results in the absence of the dystrophin protein (Hoffman et al., Cell 51: 919-928 (1987)). Dystrophin has been shown to be associated with a large oligomeric complex of sarcolemmal glycoproteins (see, e.g., Ervasti and Campbell, Cell 66: 1121-1131 (1991)). The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex has been proposed to span the sarcolemma and provide a linkage between the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. In DMD, the absence of dystrophin leads to a great reduction in all of the dystrophin-associated proteins. These observations have enabled, for example, the development of immunologically-based methods for the diagnosis of DMD.
In contrast to DMD, it has been reported that dystrophin and dystrophin-related protein (DRP), an autosomal homologue of dystrophin, are expressed normally in the skeletal muscle of individuals afflicted with SCARMD (see, e.g., Khurana et al., Neuromusc. Dis. 1: 185-194 (1991)). Thus, there is no teaching in the prior art which would enable the development of an immunologically-based method for diagnosing SCARMD, or other autosomal muscular dystrophies.

Diagnosis of autosomal muscular dystrophy


A composite hanger grid for supporting splash bars in a cooling tower uses separate vertical suspension members and horizontal beams by which all of the operational loads imposed on the splash bars are transferred to the horizontal beams, which then transfer the load to the vertical suspension members. Since all of the horizontal beams are independent of each other and separate components from the vertical suspension members, the horizontal beams will be loaded equally throughout the entire hanger grid. Also disclosed are components of the composite hanger grid, splash bars adapted for use with specific embodiments of the composite hanger grid, assemblies of the composite hanger grid with its supported splash bars, a method of assembling a composite hanger grid and a method of assembling an evaporative cooler fill assembly, including hanger grids and splash bars, in a cooling tower.

The present invention relates to a composite hanger grid for supporting splash bars in a cooling tower, components of the composite hanger grid, splash bars adapted for use with specific embodiments of the composite hanger grid, assemblies of the composite hanger grid with its supported splash bars, a method of assembling a composite hanger grid and a method of assembling an evaporative cooler fill assembly, including hanger grids and splash bars, in a cooling tower.
Cooling towers are open loop direct contact evaporative heat exchangers used to provide a heat sink for a wide variety of waste heat applications. Hot process water is delivered to the cooling tower via nozzles from above. The water from the nozzles is distributed and cascades over the media typically called "fill" which provides surface area from both the droplet and a structure for mass transfer and subsequently latent heat removal. Air delivery is through either natural draft or forced ventilation. Depending on the direction of air flow through the cooling tower with respect to the cooling liquid, typically water, the cooling tower may be concurrent (air and water flow in the same downward direction), which is rare due to less turbulent interaction of the air and water, counter-current (water flows downwardly and air flows upwardly), or cross-flow (water flows downwardly and air flows sideways). The composite hanger grids, components, splash bars and assemblies thereof according to the present invention may be used with any of these types of cooling towers, preferably with counter-current and cross-flow cooling towers.
The tower fill utilized depends upon the tower application, which varies widely based on many factors. For instance, a splash fill is typically used for applications where the water source contains solid impurities or fouling is expected. A number of variations exist for tower fill including splash fill that relies on the impact of falling water on a surface to provide relatively small water droplets of high surface area to volume ratios. Fill surface area also contributes to the mass transfer capacity. Splash bars are a variation of splash fill that requires a support system to position the splash bars at the appropriate location in the cooling tower for proper operation. As the name suggests, splash bars are generally longitudinal shaped bars or beams that must span support members within the cooling tower where the spacing between supports is typically 2 feet. Splash bars themselves vary in length and shape, but are generally limited to 12 feet in length and five 5 inches in width for ease of assembly.
The splash bars are offset both vertically and horizontally so that water droplets falling vertically from near the top of the cooling tower will invariably strike one or more of the splash bars below the water distribution system and from higher splash bars onto lower splash bars during descent. Large water droplets are broken into smaller water droplets upon striking one of the splash bars. As many water droplets strike the splash bars, a thin film of water tends to form on each splash bar which increases the surface area of water exposed to air to enhance evaporative cooling.
Typical prior art splash bar support grids, called hanger grids, are a mesh of perpendicular members usually spaced at fixed dimensions of 4 inches horizontally and either 4 or eight 8 inches vertically to form windows within which the splash bars are supported on the horizontal members. The hanger grids having 4-inch vertical spacing are installed at the top of a cooling tower (near the fan in the case of a mechanical-draft tower) to prevent excessive localized air velocities and create an even pressure drop throughout the cooling tower, when hanger grids having 8-inch vertical spacing are installed toward the middle and bottom of the cooling tower. The grids formed by the mesh are generally 2 or 4 feet in width and 4, 6 or 8 feet in height. The hanger grids can be sized to fit within a fill section where air and water interact within cooling towers of various designs and dimensions.
Currently, splash bars are supported by one of several accepted methods. The first method utilizes a wire mesh grid with horizontal and vertical wire members that are spot welded at the crossing points and treated for corrosion resistance. One treated version uses a dipped plastic coating; however, the vibration and movement of the splash bars within the tower from air flow causes localized wearing of the coating at contact points between the grid and the splash bar, thereby exposing the wire to corrosion and ultimately failure of the wire. The second treated version uses galvanized metal; however, chemical treatment erodes the zinc coating leading to a similar local degradation of the material and associated failure mechanism as the coated wire mesh. Stainless steel wire mesh is also used; however, the spot welded connection is typically limiting in its structural capacity and is the point of failure for this application.
Plastic injection molded grids are used to provide a similar spacing arrangement and typically have an integrated connection method for splash bar attachment molded into either the vertical or horizontal members. The plastic grids are generally molded as a single unit of 2 or 4 feet in width and 4, 6 or 8 feet in height. The plastic grids tend to fail at the areas of high stress near the top of the splash grid hanger as the load from the lower levels is additive upwardly on the grid toward the upper connection to the cooling tower structure. As the load increases, the stress in the vertical support members of the grid also increases. The material properties are exceeded locally near the top as the stress surpasses the ultimate strength of the material at the design cross section able to support the load. The current plastic products attach via holes in the vertical members, concentrating the stress at these locations therefore further reducing the strength of the product.
Typical splash bars are slightly greater in width than the 4-inch openings of the support grids to eliminate bypass of the cascading water. As a result, the splash bars must be rotated on edge to be inserted into the hanger grid. Notches punched into one or both edges of the splash bars allow the splash bar to lay flat on the horizontal members of the hanger grid while encompassing the vertical members of the hanger grid. There are problems regarding the installation and retention of the splash bars on the horizontal members. The process of rotating the splash bars in the narrow windows during installation complicates and increases the time required for installation.
The splash bars are typically held in place within the windows of the hanger grids by external clips, opposing clips integrally molded, or large staples (termed "hog rings"). The method of attachment is critical in maintaining the splash bars in position and can have a significant impact on cost due to manpower required to attach the splash bar to the support at every grid location. Commonly, the grids are installed sequentially up to the length of the splash bar. Access is not available from the side or other end. The splash bars are inserted from one end and clipped or stapled at the single exiting end location. This leaves the unattached end of the splash bar to move freely within the grid windows due to the lateral and vertical air flow required for mass transfer. In cases where access is available, increased manpower is required to attach all clip locations of the grid to the splash bars.
Two methods are typically employed to secure hanger grids to the cooling tower structure. With wire mesh support grids, a separate bracket is first fastened to the cooling tower support structure using screws or nails. The wire hanger grid is then hung from the bracket, typically by the top horizontal wire. The load of multiple panels connected together is then applied to the spot welds of the top horizontal wire which may end in failure of the welds, particularly in cold climates where ice may form on the hanger grids and splash bars in winter. Injection molded plastic hangers typically feature nail or screw holes in either the top horizontal member or near the top of the vertical members. The same principle of accumulated load of multiple connected panels also applies to the plastic panels which results in the load surpassing the ultimate strength of the plastic vertical members. Typical top hanging brackets are designed to extend over the top of horizontal structural beams within the cooling tower to "hook" the hanger grid onto the horizontal structural beam. Different beam sizing for major and minor structural support beams for the hanger grids (e.g., structural support beams having different heights, such as 2 inches by 4 inches compared to 2 inches by 6 or 8 inches) cause the top elevation not to have uniform heights within the cooling tower, requiring measurement for exact placement of a rotated hanger grid, where the side opposite the hook is extending away from the structural beam.
The foregoing problems associated with the prior art hanger grids, splash bars and their assembly are overcome by the various aspects and embodiments encompassed by the present invention including a composite hanger grid for supporting splash bars in a cooling tower, components of the composite hanger grid, splash bars adapted for use with specific embodiments of the composite hanger grid, assemblies of the composite hanger grid with its supported splash bars, a method of assembling a composite hanger grid and a method of assembling an evaporative cooler fill assembly, including hanger grids and splash bars, in a cooling tower.

Composite hanger grid and components, splash bar, assembly thereof and method of assembly


To provide a refrigerating apparatus that can control the supercooling degree of liquid refrigerant irrespective of changes in circulating refrigerant amounts in a refrigeration cycle, a refrigerating apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle having one or more compressors or inverter compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator; a liquid introduction circuit that guides decompressed refrigerant obtained by extracting one part of high pressure liquid refrigerant from the refrigeration cycle and decompressing, to a supercooling heat exchanger provided in the refrigeration cycle to perform heat transfer between the decompressed refrigerant and high pressure liquid refrigerant, and then introduces the refrigerant into refrigerant for intake into the compressors or inverter compressor or an intermediate pressure part of these compressors; a controller controlling shutdown of the compressors or driving frequencies of the inverter compressor based on suction pressure detection values with respect to pressure setting values for suction pressure of the compressors or inverter compressor; and a flow controller controlling the amount of high pressure liquid refrigerant flowing through the liquid introduction circuit based on the circulating volume of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to technology for controlling the degree of supercooling of liquid refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle.
(2) Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a refrigerating apparatus uses a refrigeration cycle configured by connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator in this order by refrigerant piping.
In this refrigeration cycle, after low pressure refrigerant that was drawn into the compressor is compressed to a predetermined high pressure, the refrigerant is guided to the condenser and changed into high pressure liquid refrigerant, by the heat exchange with air. This high pressure liquid refrigerant is guided to the expansion valve and expanded, and then sent to the evaporator to be changed to low pressure gas refrigerant, by heat exchange with air to be cooled or with fluid for cooling such as water. Thereafter, the low pressure gas refrigerant is drawn into the compressor and compressed again to repeat the above described refrigeration cycle.
As the condenser in the refrigeration cycle, an air cooled condenser conducting heat exchange between refrigerant and air blown into the condenser is generally used. However, the degree of supercooling of liquid refrigerant that is condensated by this kind of condenser is low at approximately 1° C., and the degree of supercooling may be zero depending on the operating conditions. Therefore, if the liquid-refrigerant does not retain a sufficient degree of supercooling there is a risk of the liquid refrigerant re-evaporating (hereafter, referred to as "flush phenomenon") due to pressure loss or the like in the liquid refrigerant piping that follows the condenser.
Particularly, HFC refrigerants (for example, R-404A) that are attracting attention in recent years because of environmental concerns are difficult to be supercooled since, in terms of the physical properties of the refrigerants, their volume flow rate is large compared to HCFC refrigerants (for example, R-22). Further, since the circulating volume flow rate of an HFC refrigerant increases compared to, for example, R-22, the volume of refrigerant increases, pressure loss rises, and a flush phenomenon is liable to occur. Examples of problems when a flush phenomenon occurs in liquid refrigerant piping in the refrigeration cycle include a noticeable drop in refrigerating capacity and overfilling of refrigerant when performing an operation to fill refrigerant while viewing the status of flush gas occurrence with a sight glass when performing trial operation for a unit.
Therefore, in order to control this type of flush phenomenon, a refrigerating apparatus has been disclosed that ensures the degree of supercooling of liquid refrigerant reaches a predetermined level by providing a supercooling heat exchanger partway along the liquid refrigerant piping that follows the condenser, and after extracting and decompressing one part of liquid refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant piping on the flow side thereafter, guides the refrigerant to the supercooling heat exchanger to experience heat exchange with high pressure liquid refrigerant (see FIG. 1 of JP-A-2003-279169).
Further, a refrigerating apparatus is known that comprises a plurality of fixed capacity compressors or variable capacity-type inverter compressor and controls the capacity by regulating the number of operating compressors or the driving frequency in accordance with load changes. However, the circulating amount of refrigerant varies greatly when this kind of capacity control is performed. When this kind of control is applied to, for example, the refrigerating apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2003-279169, it becomes necessary to control the degree of supercooling of liquid refrigerant by a supercooling heat exchanger in accordance with variations in the circulating amount of refrigerant. However, no studies have been carried out heretofore regarding this point.
Therefore, for example, when the evaporation temperature of the evaporator is set low or when the circulating amount of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle becomes low in the case of a small load, an amount of decompressed refrigerant to be evaporated for supercooling is greater than the required amount flows into the supercooling heat exchanger. More specifically, with respect to the high pressure liquid refrigerant and decompressed refrigerant flowing through the supercooling heat exchanger, since the decompressed refrigerant occupies a greater part of the flow ratio, the heat exchange efficiency of the supercooling heat exchanger decreases and evaporation of the decompressed refrigerant in the supercooling heat exchanger is insufficient. Consequently, the degree of suction gas superheating and the degree of discharge gas superheating of the compressor decreases. Further, in the supercooling heat exchanger, there is a risk of a freeze burst occurring due to overcooling, and a refrigerant gas leak or the like being generated as a result thereof.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerating apparatus that can control the degree of supercooling of liquid refrigerant irrespective of the circulating volume of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.


A new Skin Rejuvinating System for exfoliating the user's skin thereby facilitating blood movement and reducing cellulite by utilizing a brushing means controlled at various rotational speeds depending on the sensitivity of the user's skin. The inventive device includes a motor encasement, a motor means secured within the motor encasement, a controller means electronically connected to the motor means, a power source electronically connected to the controller means, and a brushing means rotatably secured to the motor means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Massaging Devices and more particularly pertains to a new Skin Rejuvinating System for exfoliating the user's skin thereby facilitating blood movement and reducing cellulite by utilizing a brushing means controlled at various rotational speeds depending on the sensitivity of the user's skin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of Massaging Devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, Massaging Devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art Massaging Devices include U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,789; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,102; U.S. Design Pat. No. 245,883; U.S. Design Pat. No. 274,957; U.S. Design Pat. No. 250,228 and U.S. Design Pat. No. 262,672.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Skin Rejuvinating System. The inventive device includes a motor encasement, a motor means secured within the motor encasement, a controller means electronically connected to the motor means, a power source electronically connected to the controller means, and a brushing means rotatably secured to the motor means.
In these respects, the Skin Rejuvinating System according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of exfoliating the user's skin thereby facilitating blood movement and reducing cellulite by utilizing a brushing means controlled at various rotational speeds depending on the sensitivity of the user's skin.


A method and system for processing data indicative of pages of mailpiece content material, and for printing pages “on demand” for use in a mailpiece inserter. The method comprises the steps of: (i) transmitting data from the application software to a print processor along read and write paths and (ii) activating one of the write and read such that when one path is activated the other path is inactivated. The data is then rendered into a print control language (PCL) compatible with a printer integrated with the mailpiece inserter and printed for use therein. The method and system mitigates printing errors by eliminating synchronous access to the same data location within the spool file, i.e., by the application software/spooler along the write path and the print processor along the read path.

A mail insertion system or a "mailpiece inserter" is commonly employed for producing mailpieces intended for mass mail communications. Such mailpiece inserters are typically used by organizations such as banks, insurance companies and utility companies for producing a large volume of specific mail communications where the contents of each mailpiece are directed to a particular addressee. Also, other organizations, such as direct mailers, use mailpiece inserters for producing mass mailings where the contents of each mailpiece are substantially identical with respect to each addressee.
In many respects, a typical inserter system resembles a manufacturing assembly line. Sheets and other raw materials (i.e., a web of paper stock, enclosures, and envelopes) enter the inserter system as inputs. Various modules or workstations in the inserter system work cooperatively to process the sheets until a finished mail piece is produced. Typically, inserter systems prepare mail pieces by arranging preprinted sheets of material into a collation, i.e., the content material of the mail piece, on a transport deck. The collation of preprinted sheets may continue to a chassis module where additional sheets or inserts may be added based upon predefined criteria, e.g., an insert being sent to addressees in a particular geographic region. Subsequently, the collation may be folded and placed into envelopes. Once filled, the envelopes are closed, sealed, weighed, and sorted. A postage meter may then be used to apply postage indicia based upon the weight and/or size of the mail piece.
The capacity, configuration and features of each inserter system depend upon the needs of each customer and/or installation. Until recently, mailpiece inserters were limited to two basic configurations, i.e., low-volume inserters capable of producing between about 5K-10K mailpieces monthly, and high-volume inserters capable of producing in excess of 100K mailpieces daily. To contrast the differences in greater detail, low volume inserters may occupy the space of a conventional office copier and generally will cost less than about twenty-thousand dollars ($20,000). High-volume inserters may extent over 100 feet in length and cost in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000). Only recently have manufacturers introduced models having an intermediate capacity, i.e., producing between 50K-100K mailpieces monthly. Exemplary models fulfilling these specifications are the DI 900 and DI 950 Model inserters produced by Pitney Bowes Inc., located in Stamford, Conn., USA.
These inserters, whether in the low, intermediate or high-volume categories, typically require the use of "preprinted" sheets which are presented to the various downstream devices by a feed module for subsequent processing. That is, a mailpiece job run is printed to produce an "ordered" stack of mailpiece content material which may be fed to the mailpiece inserter. Scan codes disposed in the margin of the first or last sheet of each mailpiece document provide the instructions necessary to process the mailpiece, i.e., whether additional inserts will be added, how the content material is to be folded (C-fold, Z-fold, etc.) and/or what size envelope will the content material be contained. To facilitate communication of these instructions, a user computer and a printing device are typically network connected to the mailpiece inserter such that scan codes can be easily printed and interpreted.
While it has long been desirable to print mailpiece content material "on-demand", and/or "just-in-time", to facilitate the flow and handling of mailpiece content material, certain processing and mechanical limitations on print operations have preempted the physical integration of printing devices with mailpiece inserters. More specifically, the lengthy time required to process and print complex print jobs has provided little motivation to physically integrate the two processes/devices. Furthermore, difficulties associated with matching the throughput of the printer with downstream devices of the mailpiece inserter, i.e., a lack of throughput compatibility between printers and mailpiece inserters, has also mitigated practical integration.
To better understand the difficulties, consider, for example, a complex print job containing some fifty-thousand (50,000) sheets of mailpiece content material. When employing conventional print control logic, spoolers and print drivers, the time required to process the print job (excluding print time) will nominally consume several hours. Thereafter, the time required to print the spooled data, (even when printing at the maximum speed of some of the most advanced, commercially-available printers, which print at a speed of about fifty-five (55) pages per minute) can span an additional fifteen (15) hours (i.e., 50,000 sheets×1 min/55 sheets×1 hour/60 min). Consequently, a print job for a mailpiece inserter can consume some eighteen (18) hours before mailpieces can be stacked and/or fed to the first station or module of a mailpiece inserter.
While conventional operating systems employ a spool file to free up the application software e.g., document processing software such as MS Word® (MS Word is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation) during print operations, mailpiece inserters cannot begin operations, i.e., processing mailpiece content material, until the print job is complete. In addition to the time required for processing/printing, should an error occur during print processing, the entire print job must be re-run or processed again in an attempt to rectify the error. Moreover, most printing errors are not visible or apparent until the entire print job is complete, i.e., which, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, can consume the better part of a full day.
A need, therefore, exists for a method and system which enables mailpiece content material to be printed "on demand" while mitigating/eliminating errors when processing complex print jobs. The method and system, therefore, operates to facilitate/enhance the flow, handling and accuracy of printed content material

Method and system for mitigating errors when processing print stream data


In order to minimize switching-induced electromagnetic interference in a power supply switching circuit of the type used to control the AC power for multiple high voltage devices, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps employed for backlighting a large scale liquid crystal display, the gating signals that are used to switch lamp-driving inverter circuits ON and OFF are staggered, or slightly offset in time, so that no two switching devices will be switched at the same time. By slightly offset in time is meant that the time differential between any pair of switching signals is relatively small compared to the period of the switching signal frequency. This has the effect of spreading out and thereby diminishing the magnitude of the spectral content of both capacitively and inductively coupled transients that are produced at switching times of the inverter circuits.

There are a variety of electrically driven systems that require one or multiple sources of high voltage AC power for controlling the operation of one or more system application devices. As a non-limiting example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), such as that employed in desktop and laptop computers, or in larger display applications, such as large scale television screens, requires that an associated set of high AC voltage-driven cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) be mounted directly behind it for backlighting purposes. Where the LCD panel is a large scale display device, a relatively large number (e.g., on the order of twenty to forty) of such lamps is required to achieve uniform backlighting.
In order to obtain a uniform brightness output from all such lamps (and therefore uniform backlighting of the LCD display), it is common practice to have the output of a respective one of a plurality of inverter circuits (voltage-controlled switching devices and associated output transformers coupled to the lamps) coupled to a prescribed number of (e.g., on the order of four to five) CCFLs, and drive each inverter circuit by way of a common high frequency switching signal (such as a 50 KHz signal). Unfortunately, as the number of inverter circuits is increased (in association with larger area CCFL backlighting requirements), the larger is electromagnetic interference (EMI) produced by driving multiple inverter circuits with the same switching signal. Indeed, for relatively large power switching systems, the magnitude of the EMI may be so large as to make the system non-compliant with FCC specifications.

Staggering switching signals for multiple cold cathode fluorescent lamp backlighting system to reduce electromagnetic interference


The magnitude (Ga) of an impact applied to a lens holder is constantly monitored based on an output of an impact sensor. When it is determined that Ga exceeds Gth, focus servo is released, and the lens holder is provided with a force to make it move away from a disk. Upon recheck of Ga, when it is determined that Ga is now equal to or less than Gth, the force having been provided to the lens holder is cancelled, and the focus servo is resumed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk device and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an optical disk device permitting control for preventing collision between a disk and an objective lens and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, in an optical disk device, reading of information recorded on a disk from light reflected from the disk via an objective lens has been performed. Some of such optical disk devices are provided with an actuator for displacement of the objective lens, where a signal to be applied to the actuator is controlled so as to control the position of the objective lens in the focus direction.
For position control of an objective lens in a focus direction for an optical pickup in an optical disk device, various techniques have conventionally been disclosed for preventing collision between the disk and the objective lens. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-259444 discloses a technique to make an objective lens recede from a disk by means of a withdrawal mechanism thereof in accordance with a focus error signal that is generated based on a received-light signal of an optical pickup. Further, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-185363 discloses a technique to drive an objective lens in accordance with an impact applied to the optical disk device.
Conventionally, in the case where the position of the objective lens is controlled by a signal applied to an actuator, when a member holding the objective lens suffers an impact exceeding the range of normal displacement by the actuator, the member itself may oscillate, in which case subsequent position control of the objective lens by means of the actuator may be difficult. As such, there has been a demand for an optical disk device capable of preventing collision of the objective lens to the disk even in such a case.

Optical disk device capable of preventing collision between disk and objective lens, and control method thereof


A charge-coupled device (CCD) having a light-sensitive image section (40) and two readout registers (42, 44), situated at opposite ends of the image section, the device being arranged so that light-induced pockets of charge in the image section may be read out along either of the two registers, the outputs of the two registers being merged (46) to provide one common output for the device.

The invention relates to charge-coupled devices, and more especially to charge-coupled devices used for imaging and having two readout registers.
Charge-coupled devices (CCD's), in which a matrix or array of charge "pockets" is formed by the incidence of light upon the device, are well known and are often used in imaging systems. A typical application is the conversion of optical images into electrical signals in a TV system, in which context the CCD operates as a substitute for the already well-established vidicon tube.
FIG. 1 shows a typical CCD array utilising what is known as "frame transfer". The device 10 consists of two sections: an image section 20 and a line readout section 30, both of which are disposed on a common substrate. The image section 20 is made up of a number (in this case, 12) of horizontal electrodes 22 mounted on a substrate (not shown). The electrodes 22 are isolated from each other, are insulated from the substrate below by an oxide layer and run along the entire width of the array. To allow the CCD array to be light-sensitive, the electrodes are fabricated from a material that is semi-transparent to light, namely poly crystalline silicon (polysilicon).
Running vertically down the image section 20 are a number of channel stops 24. These are electrically inactive, doped (e.g. p-type) regions in the substrate and serve to constrain any charge produced in the substrate by the incidence of light upon the device to a number of "potential wells" bounded effectively by the width w of an electrode and the distance d between adjacent channel stops; one such "well" is shown shaded at 26. Given now the potential conditions on the 3-phase clock lines 23 connected to the electrodes, as shown in FIG. 1, charge 25 will be set up in each of those wells situated below an electrode having a positive potential with respect to the substrate. The amount of charge (negative) in each well will be proportional to the amount of light falling upon that well. The CCD image area is effectively a pixel array, whose dimensions are, in this case, 5 pixels wide.times.4 pixels high.
Once sufficient exposure to light falling onto the array from the image has been allowed (so-called "integration time"), the contents of image section 20 are clocked line by line, under the control of suitably changing potentials on clocking lines 23, out of the image section and into line readout section 30, where they are serially clocked out of the device at output amplifier 32, using clock lines 34.
In the device of FIG. 1 only one readout section or register is used. Indeed, most uses of the CCD in such imaging systems require only one readout register, through which the charge contents of the image array are sequentially output to an amplifier and whatever further processing stages are desired. However, there are applications which demand the use of two registers situated at opposite ends of the CCD image area, through either of which the image contents may be read at will. It is, for example, sometimes necessary to be able to read sequential image frames through two outputs alternately.
A second application lies in the use of a so-called "time delay integration" technique, the basis of which is the scanning of the field of view of the CCD array across an image, for example by means of a rotating mirror. Whereas, however, in a conventional imaging system of the scanning type each line of the image is sequentially detected by a one-dimensional array of detectors (corresponding to one of the rows or columns of charge pockets shown in FIG. 1), in the present application the scanned image is allowed to fall onto a two-dimensional CCD array, as shown in FIG. 2. In addition the clocking of the array is arranged to synchronise with the scanning rate, so that as one particular line of the image moves across the array its position is tracked by the clocking taking place in the same direction. The effect of this technique is to lengthen the integration time of each line of the image scanned and thereby to increase the imaging sensitivity.
It can be desirable in imagers using this particular imaging technique to have the capacity for movement of an image line across the CCD array to take place in either of two opposite directions, and it is therefore clearly desirable to be able to switch readily between the two readout registers to cater for this. The arrows in FIG. 2 indicate that the charge contents of the image section 40 may be read out either through register 42 or through register 44, emerging at outputs 1 and 2 respectively.
Hitherto such applications involving two readout registers have required the use of two output amplifiers on the CCD, one for each register. The drawback with this approach, however, has been the unequal treatment of image information from the two registers, due to the inability to perfectly match the two amplifiers in terms of gain and offset, etc. There is also an increased hardware cost.

Charge-coupled device with bi-directional readout through dual, merged readout registers


A high recovery metering valve includes an inlet, outlet and a plenum. An internal valve trim places the plenum in communication with the outlet. A valve poppet is moveably positioned within the internal valve trim. In one embodiment, the valve poppet includes a distal portion that is tapered. In another embodiment, the distal portion is characterized by a double radius. In some embodiments the inlet and the outlet are orientated about ninety degrees with respect to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control valves and, in particular, to metering valves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluid valves are well known mechanisms that are used to control the flow of a fluid (e.g., gas or liquid) through a conduit. A metering valve is a type of valve that provides precise control of the amount of fluid flowing through a conduit. Metering valves are used in a wide variety of industrial applications in which precise control is desired.
One particular application for a metering valve is in the power industry. For example, metering valves are used to control the amount of fuel (e.g., natural gas) that is delivered to the combustion chamber of a gas turbine. To meet stringent pollution emissions, it has become increasingly desirable to precisely control of the amount of fuel entering the combustion chamber.
To further reduce pollutants and to increase efficiency, it is generally desirable to operate the combustion chamber at high pressures. However, the operating pressure of the combustion chamber may be limited by the available supply pressure of the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber. The supply pressure may be increased by replacing and/or adding additional compressors to raise the supply pressure. Alternatively and typically less expensive, the supply pressure can be increased by reducing the pressure loss through the metering valve. Such pressure loss is often referred to as pressure recovery and is determined by the ratio of the total pressure at the inlet of the valve over the total pressure measured at the outlet of the valve.
One type of metering valve is an angle metering valve. Such angle valves have an inlet and an outlet that have longitudinal axes that are not parallel to each other. The angle between the longitudinal axes are often determined by the position of existing conduits and/or space limitations. Ninety degrees is a common angle in angle valves. Turning the direction of the fluid through an angle valve typically results in decreased pressure recovery.
There is, therefore, a general need for an improved high recovery metering valve.


A system for determining angle of attack and angle of sideslip of an air vehicle is described. The system includes a plurality of mass flow sensors, at least a portion of which are mounted to result in a differential in air flow across the respective mass air flow sensors. The system also includes a controller configured to receive signals from the flow sensors and determine at least one of the angle of attack and the angle of sideslip for the air vehicle.

This invention relates generally to flight control systems that are incorporated into air vehicles, and more specifically, to methods and systems for determining angle of attack and angle of sideslip using flow sensors.
Angle of attack (AOA) and angle of sideslip (AOS) are parameters used by aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for flight control. Angle of attack is the angle between an airfoil chord line and the relative wind. Angle of sideslip is the angle between the airfoil chord line and the flight path. In current systems there are two ways in which AOA and AOS are sensed. In a first method, separate mechanical AOA and AOS probes are used that protrude from the air vehicle. In the second method, a combination of either six precision absolute pressure sensor transducers or two precision absolute pressure sensors and two precision differential pressure sensors are used.
Both of the above described solutions for determining AOA and AOS are high cost, and both are complex in that they require high precision sensors, precision modeling algorithms, and complex controller software and electronics. In addition to the high cost, these systems are of excessive size and weight and therefore are not typically suitable for small, emerging air vehicles such as missiles and UAVs.

Methods and system for determining angles of attack and sideslip using flow sensors


A dual chamber cardiac pacemaker incorporating a microprocessor-based controller which is programmed to automatically establish an A-V interval at a value which provides optimum cardiac function but without the need for a special sensor for measuring cardiac function is described. The microprocessor is programmed to continuously monitor heart rate and variation in heart rate and only when the patient is stable, enter a parameter adjustment loop in which the pacemaker's A-V interval is incremented in several discrete steps and for each step, the corresponding average steady-state heart rate is measured and stored. When the A-V interval incrementation process causes that interval to reach a predetermined upper limit, the pacemaker's A-V interval is set at the value that corresponds with the minimum average heart rate to thereby maximize cardiac performance.

I. Cross Reference to Related Applications
II. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an improved cardiac rhythm management apparatus, and more particularly to an implantable cardiac stimulating device incorporating means for optimizing the A-V interval or other pacing parameters without the need for an additional sensor.
III. Discussion of the Prior Art
In the "Discussion of the Prior Art" section of the above-identified companion application, there is set out at length a discussion as to how the prior art in the field of implantable cardiac stimulating devices has not addressed a closed-loop adaptive system for adjusting the A-V interval between the occurrence of an atrial depolarization signal (natural or paced) and the generation of a succeeding ventricular stimulating pulse in such a way that the heart's cardiac function is optimized, especially in treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure (CHF). In accordance with the teachings of that application, a patient suffering from CHF has implanted in his/her body a cardiac stimulator and lead arrangement which allows for the sensing of atrial and ventricular activity along with a variable frequency pulse generator for stimulating at least one ventricular chamber, that pulse generator being controlled by a microprogrammable controller. In addition to the usual lead assembly used conventionally for sensing atrial and ventricular depolarization signals, a further sensor is utilized for measuring cardiac function and providing information relative thereto to the microprogrammable controller. That controller then operates to adjust the A-V interval in incremental steps until reaching a predetermined A-V delay limit value. For each of the incremental steps, the cardiac function sensor allows the system to determine whether a given incremental change in the A-V interval results in improved cardiac function. Ultimately, the A-V interval is set to the greatest length which is less than or equal to the limit value that yields maximal cardiac function.
The present invention differs from the device described in the aforereferenced companion application in that it obviates the need for an additional sensor, i.e., the sensor used to assess cardiac function.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the body has several mechanisms designed to adjust to metabolic demand by modifying cardiac output and, ultimately, oxygenation of tissue. The cardiac output may be increased or decreased by adjustment in sinus rate or stroke volume. Recognizing this fact, it should be possible to monitor metabolic demand by monitoring the sinus rate or the stroke volume or both. The present invention takes advantage of these mechanisms to optimize cardiac function in paced patients.
In a situation where the pacing rate is under sinus control, for example, in VDD pacing, any modification in a pacing parameter which decreases cardiac performance (and thus cardiac output) will, after a period of adjustment, result in an increased heart rate to regain the original cardiac output. Conversely, any change which improves cardiac performance will result in a decreased heart rate. Thus, the minimum, steady-state heart rate achieved following an incremental adjustment of a performance related pacing parameter, e.g., atrial-ventricular interval, will correspond to the optimum value of that parameter. It is, therefore, possible to optimize these parameters simply by monitoring the heart rate during the adjustment process, noting the value at which the minimum sinus rate occurs and setting the pacemaker to this parameter value at the conclusion of the procedure.
Before the above approach can be used to effect optimization of cardiac function, it is necessary to guarantee that the patient is in a stable hemodynamic condition at the time that heart rate is being measured following an incremental adjustment in the A-V interval. If the underlying condition is changing during the adjustment procedure, such as when the patient is exercising or under emotional stress, the heart rate will no longer be simply related to changes in the parameter being optimized and there can be no guarantee that the optimization procedure will converge to the correct value.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for optimizing cardiac function utilizing a cardiac stimulator that does not require a further sensor over and above the conventional sensing and stimulating electrodes on a conventional pacing lead.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for optimizing cardiac function in a patient suffering from cardiac disfunction, such as CHF, by setting the A-V delay interval of the implantable stimulating device to a value which corresponds to the lowest heart rate obtained during a series of measurements taken over a predetermined period of time and at times when the patient is found to be in a stable hemodynamic condition.

Cardiac rhythm management device with automatic optimization of performance related pacing parameters


A plasma display panel having a plurality of bi-discharge sources comprising a front substrate and a rear substrate coupled in parallel; a plurality of first electrodes, second electrodes and third electrodes in parallel disposed over the front substrate along a first direction; a plurality of rear substrate walls disposed in parallel over the rear substrate along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each of the plurality of second electrodes is centered between each of the plurality of first and third electrodes, which leads to a bi-discharge source. In each of the plurality of second electrodes, one side is induced as having a plurality of positive charges and the other side with a plurality of negative charges, which are equal amount and thus result in charge counterbalance on the second electrode.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to a plasma display panel (PDP) and a related method of sustaining a discharge waveform. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plasma display panel having a plurality of bi-discharge sources and a related method of sustaining discharge waveform.
2. Related Art
Plasma display panel (PDP) is a device that displays dynamic or static images by spurring gas discharge in the interior of the device. According to a number of electrodes, the PDP may be categorized into specific types. The tri-electrode type is currently mostly used, shown in FIG. 1. In construction, the PDP of the tri-electrode type is composed of a front substrate and a rear substrate, which are each disposed with conductive electrodes parallel with each other.
In the PDP, over the front substrate 100 are disposed a sustain electrode (also known as X electrode) 110 and a scan electrode (also known as Y electrode) 120 parallel therewith. The electrodes 110,120 are each fabricated with indium tin oxide (ITO), which is a transparent and conductive material. With an application of a voltage, the electrodes 110,120 can pass through by a visible light generated in the interior of the PDP and are thus called "transparent electrodes". Unfortunately, the transparent electrode exhibits a poor conductivity, thus that a metal electrode is employed and disposed there over is necessary in order to increase conductivity. Therefore, the metal electrode is generally named "auxiliary electrode" 130. A dielectric layer 140 is covered over the X and Y electrodes 110,120 as an insulate layer, and a magnesium oxide (MgO) layer is covered on the insulating dielectric layer 140 as a passive layer 150.
In the PDP having auxiliary electrodes 130, on the rear substrate 160 is disposed an address electrode (also termed "An electrode") 170 parallel with the X electrode 110 and the Y electrode 120. Similarly, the A electrode 170 is formed as an array corresponding to the X and Y electrode structure. The space defined by the pair of X electrodes 110 and Y electrodes 120, and the A electrode 170, is called a discharge cell (not shown). On the basis of this electrode arrangement, a three dimensional device of the space defined is formed for discharge and light generation. A barrier rib 180 is disposed over the rear substrate 160 between two adjacent A electrodes 170 and used to separate discharge cells corresponding to different colors of the light generated, in order to avoid interruption of emission of the generated light due to crosswalk of a plasma in the discharge cells. On each an electrode 170 and a side of the barrier rib 180 which faces the adjacent barrier rib 180 are sequentially coated with red, blue or green phosphor 190. A pixel is formed by three adjacent discharge cells with different colors. Finally, an inert gas mixture (not shown) is utilized for gas discharge to generate the plasma. The gas is filled between the front substrate 100 and the rear substrate 160. In a high pressure environment in the PDP, the inert gas mixture is de-ionized and discharged with the presence of the electrode structure with external voltages, applied, and thus produces positive and negative ions in the plasma. When the positive and negative ions combine, a ultra-violet light is generated. Once the ultra-violet light is absorbed by the phosphor associated with red, blue and green, energy of the ultra-violet light is translated into red, blue and green visible lights, respectively. Through the transparent ITO-made electrode 110,120 and the front substrate 100, the visible light is outwardly emitted and seen by humans.
Referring to FIG. 2, showing an electrode arrangement of a prior PDP. In the figure, a plurality of electrodes is particularly laid as desired, and an X electrode 200, Y electrode 210 and rear substrate wall 220 jointly define a light emitting cell 230. Referring to FIG. 3, illustrating a waveform of sustained discharge voltage and current produced by a prior PDP. In this case, since the discharge currents of all electrodes pass through an external circuit, i.e. a circuit external to the electrode structure and connected therewith, power loss and circuit costs must increase. Further, a voltage drop may arise owing to the current, driven by the voltages provided as above and flowing through the electrode structure and the external circuit, which may in turn have an impact on an operable voltage range of the PDP.
In view of the description above, in the prior PDP mentioned above each pixel is maintained at a level of luminance by virtue of discharge of the auxiliary electrodes. Thus, the electrode arrangement has a limit on the luminous efficiency of the PDP.

Plasma display panel having a plurality of bi-discharge sources and related method of sustaining discharge waveform


A chipper/shredder for comminuting debris such as leaves, twigs, branches and the like, comprising a housing having at least one inlet for receiving such debris, cutting elements disposed within the housing, an engine operatively coupled to the cutting elements for selectively moving said cutting elements to comminute the debris, and a first feed chute attached to a first side of the housing and communicating with the inlet, wherein the feed chute is selectively rotatable between upright and lowered positions, rotation of the chute being about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first side of the housing. The housing preferably includes a second inlet on the opposite side of the first feed chute, with a second feed chute fixedly secured thereto for introducing larger debris into the interior of the housing for comminuting. The first feed chute is normally locked in its upright position, but may be moved to its lowered position by pulling a knob which disengages a plunger from a plate rotatable with the chute mounted adjacent the inlet. With the first feed chute in its lowered position, leaves and other debris may be introduced into the comminuting chamber. In the preferred embodiment the engine is an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft extending into the housing and coupled to the cutting elements, and the first feed chute rotates about an axis co-linear with the drive shaft.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for comminuting leaves, twigs, branches and similar debris, and, in particular, to a chipper/shredder having a rotatable feed chute selectively movable between upright and lowered positions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Chipper/shredders are well known lawn care and garden implements used to comminute debris such as leaves, twigs, branches, etc. Typical portable chipper/shredders comprise a generally circular housing attached to a frame, with an electric or gasoline powered engine attached thereto for driving a plurality of cutting elements disposed within the housing. The housing typically includes at least one feed chute attached thereto for introducing debris through an inlet in the side of the housing into the interior, whereupon the cutting elements comminute the debris to small particle suitable for use as mulch or for disposal. Ordinarily, a pair of such feed chutes are provided on opposite sides of the housing, with one feed chute being adapted for larger debris such as branches and small tree limbs, and the other chute being better suited for introducing smaller debris such as leaves and twigs into the housing. Also, it is common for the feed chute adapted to receive leaves and other small debris to have an enlarged receptacle or hopper at its distal end to facilitate introduction of such debris in relatively large quantities.
It has been found desirable for the hopper to be selectively positionable between an upright position, whereupon debris may be inserted vertically from above, and a lowered position, whereupon debris may be raked or swept horizontally directly into the hopper. One such apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,462, issued Jun. 18, 1974 to Hamlin, which discloses a chute 16 having hinged sidewalls 16A movable between raised and lowered positions. The Hamlin apparatus enables the user to rake or sweep debris directly into the housing, but the configuration of the chute is irregular and does not provide an efficient passageway for introduction of the debris. Additionally, the Hamlin design is unacceptably complex and expensive, since the hopper and hinged chute are separate components. Accordingly, a need has been recognized for a simplified chipper/shredder, or similar comminuting apparatus, having a feed chute selectively movable between upright and lowered positions which performs equally well in either position.

Chipper/shredder having rotatable feed chute


Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems and methods for secure remote transfers. The onsite monitoring system secure file transfer solution can allow for transferring operational data by an onsite system behind a firewall to a central monitoring and diagnostic infrastructure by sending asynchronous, concurrent, parallel files over a port using a previously opened connection. The asynchronous TLS tunneling based remote desktop protocol solution is uni-directional because the communication ports are typically open outbound only.

Monitoring and diagnostic (M&D) centers can provide numerous services for power plant units as well as other assets. Such services may include asset monitoring, event tracking, trip event reporting, root cause classification, forced outage detection, diagnostics and reporting with various recommendations to a site. Raw operational data as well as post-processed data can be derived from analytics which may be used by various engineering teams for performance and reliability studies, warranty support, and engineering research and development.
However, new requirements are being imposed for the large set of existing power plants requiring relatively secure file transfers. Many sites need to comply with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) or other regulatory security requirements and other communication security challenges. In addition, many of these sites have limited bandwidth connections and relatively unstable or otherwise unreliable links.
Typically, the onsite monitoring is located within the power plant infrastructure. The onsite network is usually protected by firewalls and a proxy at the plant edge that may prevent inbound connections and thus enforcing that the onsite monitoring is non-routable. Furthermore, all standard bi-directional TCP/HTTP communication ports are usually blocked by the firewall to ensure the security of the system. In addition, secure remote access is needed to provide monitoring and diagnostic users with the ability to remotely access the onsite monitoring and perform certain administration and management tasks.
Current communications typically require a bi-directional based communication ports schema, and current data transport technologies are generally not able to adequately deal with dial-up or low bandwidth network topologies (e.g., significant latency, bandwidth management under stress conditions). Furthermore, a uni-directional general purpose file transfer solution is not available.
In order to meet new and ever growing customer security requirements, relatively secure file transfer solutions are needed to provide secure data transfer for transport of data between an onsite monitoring system and a central monitoring and diagnostic infrastructure. A secure file transfer package is needed to be deployed to support onsite monitoring sites with limited bandwidth connections and relatively unstable or otherwise unreliable links that can comply with NERC or other regulatory requirements and other communication security challenges.

Systems and methods for secure remote access