A device to produce a high capacity, low velocity, non-aspirating, semi-cylindrical air pattern, to be mounted in a ceiling. The device has a box-shaped backpan connected to a ceiling air duct and a flow directing assembly attached to the backpan and hanging below the ceiling. The flow directing component has a perforated face panel made up of flat surfaces in horizontal and angular planes, forming a substantially semi-cylindrical shape. Inside the face panel are four vanes that span its length, for controlling the direction of air flow. The flow directing assembly can swing away from the ceiling by a hinge along one side, or can be removed entirely using quick release means.

A variety of ceiling- or wall-mounted air distribution devices or diffusers are known that supply ducted air to the room in which they are mounted. These devices generally have an air inlet connecting to the duct system and an air outlet with flow-directing features such as vanes, baffles and/or a perforated face plate. The flow-directing component may be mounted directly to the inlet duct. Alternatively, the air supplied by the inlet duct may be collected in a plenum chamber in the wall or ceiling prior to distribution in the room. The air pressure of the plenum is greater than that of the outside atmosphere.
Conventional "horizontal" air flow diffusers are generally mounted above a ceiling with the face of the flow directing component co-planar with the ceiling. Typically, directional vanes are used to deflect air horizontally through perforations in the face of about 3/16 in. in diameter. This relatively large perforation size permits the supply air to issue from most of these devices in jets with high initial velocity. The air throw, or maximum distance from the outlet at which a specified air velocity can be measured, that is produced is relatively long. The Jets induce the room air and achieve its mixing with the supply air. However, at the large volumes required for high air change rates, these high jet velocities can produce unacceptably high room air velocities.
Laminar flow diffusers that provide "vertical" air flow are also typically mounted in a ceiling with the face coplanar with the ceiling. A deflector in the plenum above the face directs air vertically through perforations in the face that are smaller than those in horizontal air flow diffusers, generally about 1/16 in. in diameter. This smaller aperture size offers significant resistance to the supply air. Consequently, the supply air tends both to fill the plenum more completely than in a device with larger perforations, and to expand more completely across the face of the diffuser as it issues. This results in lower initial face velocity and less entrainment of the room air than would occur with high velocity jets. Thus, in contrast to horizontal diffusers, laminar flow diffusers typically have very low initial velocities, short throws, and low levels of aspiration.
Another type of air diffuser is the "trough" type diffuser, introduced by E.H. Price Limited of Winnipeg, Manitoba in the 1970's, which has a flow directing component that suspends below the ceiling in a triangular prism shape. The flow directing component has vanes to direct air horizontally, and fits directly below the ceiling air duct, with no plenum in between. This device generally has a face with larger perforations, of about 3/16 in. in diameter. The Model GFY high capacity diffuser made by the Barber-Colman Company of Rockford, Ill. uses a similar design for two-way horizontal air distribution.
More recently introduced diffusers create a "radial" or semi-cylindrical flow of air into the room. These are designed to meet the need for high capacity, non-mixing air distribution.
One such device is the Duct-D-fuser.TM. made by United Sheet Metal Division of United McGill Corporation, Columbus, Ohio. This device is essentially the extension of a cylindrical metal air duct into a room. The end of the duct in the room is closed off and the portion of the duct in the room has one of a variety of perforation patterns in its sides. This device is intended primarily for industrial applications.
Another diffuser that can produce a radial flow is the Fusa-Vent.TM. made by Precision Air Products Company of Delano, Minn. This device has a trapezoidal diffuser cage that is installed directly below a ceiling air duct. Adjustable air deflectors are mounted inside the diffuser cage along the two edges where bottom wall meets side walls. The deflectors can be positioned to produce horizontal, vertical or intermediate air patterns. The diffuser may further be adjusted by raising or lowering its orifice cover, which is spring-mounted.
A third type of radial diffuser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,558 and Canadian Patent No 1,234,312, and sold by Krueger of Tucson, Ariz. and Krueger Air Canada of Weston, Ontario. This device has a box-shaped plenum for installation above the ceiling and a flow directing assembly that suspends below the plane of the ceiling. The bottom wall of the plenum that separates these two components is perforated. The flow directing assembly has a perforated face interior to which are curved directional vanes. Perforation size is of the range of 1/16 to 3/16 in. in diameter. The face is semi-elliptical in cross section with side wall portions that are inclined inwardly from the vertical at the top. The inwardly inclined portions allow air flow to be directed in paths generally parallel to the ceiling, whereas the overall pattern of air flow is radial. The patent specification describes a horizontal, adjustable perforated baffle of approximately the same dimensions as the air duct for placement inside the plenum.
Devices that use circular or curved perforated screens, as these radial diffusers do, have not been generally well accepted in the air distribution industry, primarily due to high tooling costs and limited application to commercial office space.
Certain other air distribution devices are described below to present an overview of the known art.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,609 describes a filter diffuser that produces a semi-spherical air distribution pattern, with an inverted dome shape made of multi-ply expanded aluminum sheets or foil. The device is mounted directly below an air duct with no intervening plenum. According to the disclosure, the air passing through the filter is distributed at all angles in the room without the use of baffles or directional vanes. A metal disc is located in the bottom of the dome to prevent air discharge directly downward. In another embodiment, the filter diffuser may have a basket or dishpan shape.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,735 describes an air distribution device that is mounted in the ceiling directly below an air duct so that the perforated outlet is coplanar with the ceiling. The device has a plurality of pivotal directional vanes that may be arranged in different patterns for one, two, three, or four-way and vertically downward air distribution.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,560 describes a ceiling box for downward air distribution that is installed below an air duct. The bottom of the box is a grille that is substantially flush with the ceiling, through which air is discharged to the room. An end or side wall of the ceiling box is secured to a ceiling joist. The box walls have at their bottom an inwardly projecting flange that supports the grille.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,659 describes an array of air diffusion modules, wherein, according to the disclosure, the air flow of each module can be monitored and adjusted to produce a balanced distribution of air from all the modules. This is achieved for each module by a valve controlling the admission of pressurized air into an upper control plenum located above a lower distribution plenum. At the bottom side of each module's lower distribution plenum is a perforated diffusion plate that is contiguous with the ceiling. The diffusion plate is hingedly attached, and may swing down to a vertical position to allow access to the interior. A perforated deflection angle plate with two outwardly and downwardly extending legs exists on the interior of the perforated diffusion plate and swings down with it.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,176 describes an air outlet for room conditioning systems to be mounted in a ceiling directly below an air intake duct. This device requires fixed vertical deflectors below the duct that extend downward to the plane of the ceiling. Below the ceiling plane are pivotal slats in the casing portion of the device. Each slat is composed of two vanes that form an obtuse angle, and is pivotal about their junction point. The vanes are unequal in width, with the upstream vane of each slat being shorter in the air flow direction. According to the disclosure, this device has a perforated plate below the air duct and above the fixed deflectors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,379 describes an air release box with a box housing having at least one perforated bottom wall and two perforated side walls, as well as end walls that are not perforated. The side and end walls connect to the cover that carries the connection air inlet. Spin outlet means are arranged in at least the central perforated bottom wall section and in the perforated side wall sections. Two baffle guide plates extend from the bottom walls toward the air inlet. The baffle plates are hingedly attached and angularly adjustable.


An electric component capable of connecting terminal fitments and electrodes arranged on a front surface of a circuit board to each other in a soldering-less manner without increased accuracy in assembling thereof and without using any conductive rubber member. A terminal assembly is constituted by a terminal fitment and a coiled spring. The terminal fitment includes first and second conductor holding sections each arranged for interposedly holding an end of each of connection conductors. The coiled spring is formed of a conductive wire and arranged so as to spirally surround the connection conductor and be compressed between a contact electrode and the first conductor holding section.

This invention relates to an electric component with a soldering-less terminal structure, and more particularly to an electric component with a terminal connection structure which permits connection without soldering.
Use of freon (flon) is subject to restriction in view of environmental pollution, so that it is highly required to connect a terminal conductor, a lead wire or the like to a connection electrode of a circuit board without soldering. This is likewise true of an electric component called a focus pack used for adjustment of a focus voltage of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a screen voltage thereof or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,339 discloses a high-voltage variable resistor unit including a terminal connection structure for connecting, by means of a terminal fitment like a coiled spring provided at one end thereof with a ring into which a connection conductor or connection terminal is inserted, a connection electrode of the resistor unit to the connection terminal without soldering. Such a conventional terminal fitment as taught in the U.S. patent fails to firmly hold the connection terminal therein, to thereby cause the connection terminal to be readily released from the terminal fitment. Also, it tends to cause a failure in electric connection between the connection terminal and the terminal fitment. Further, the above-described construction of the terminal fitment requires to keep the connection terminal and connection electrode connected together prior to incorporation of a circuit board in an insulating casing. This, when use of a lead wire of an increased length is required for the connection conductor, causes the long lead wire to obstruct assembling of the high-voltage variable resistor unit. In particular, when the high-voltage variable resistor unit including the terminal connection structure is combined with a fly-back transformer, the high-voltage variable resistor must be placed in a heating oven together with the long lead wire for the purpose of subjecting a resin material for molding of the fly-back transformer to heat curing. Unfortunately, the long lead wire renders the operation highly troublesome, leading to a deterioration in production efficiency.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,280, which corresponds to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 318669/1994, owned by the assignee discloses two kinds of terminal connection structures for connecting a core wire of a lead to a connection electrode of a circuit board without soldering. FIG. 9 of the U.S. patent shows a connection structure using a plurality of terminal assemblies in each of which a terminal fitment provided with a conductor holding section for interposedly holding the core wire of the lead and a conductive rubber member are combined together. The conductive rubber member is used as a connection means for connecting a terminal fitment and a connection electrode arranged on a circuit board 1 to each other without soldering. Unfortunately, a conductive rubber material for the conductive rubber member incorporated in such construction of the U.S. patent is inherently expensive, to thereby cause an electric component or a high-voltage electric component such as a high-voltage variable resistor unit having the conductive rubber member incorporated therein to be disadvantageously increased in cost. Also, the conductive rubber member is formed by cutting an elongated linear conductive rubber material, to thereby be varied in length. Also, the conductive rubber material exhibits excessively increased elasticity. Thus, arrangement of the plural terminal assemblies often causes mounting of the electric component to be carried out while keeping the circuit board inclined due to both a variation in length of the conductive rubber members and increased elasticity thereof, to thereby render assembling of the electric component highly troublesome.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,280 also discloses a connection structure including a terminal fitment in which a conductor interposing or holding section and a contact terminal section exhibiting elasticity are integrally incorporated. The terminal fitment is so constructed that the elastic contact terminal section functions to connect the conductor holding section and an electrode on a circuit board to each other without soldering. Also, the U.S. patent discloses a structure for connecting a plurality of electrodes arranged on the circuit board and a plurality of connection conductors to each other without soldering, respectively. Further, the U.S. patent discloses a high-voltage variable resistor unit having the terminal fitment of such an integral type incorporated therein and constructed in such a manner that a lid member covers a board receiving chamber of an insulating casing.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,280 described above and U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,678 likewise owned by the assignee each disclose a terminal fitment which includes a conductor holding section for interposedly holding a connection conductor, wherein the conductor holding section is provided with a plurality of edges adapted to bite into an end of the connection conductor when drawing force is applied to the connection conductor.
The above-described terminal fitment having the conductor holding section and contact terminal section integrally incorporated therein which was proposed by the assignee is significantly reduced in the number of parts, resulting in being highly advantageous when automatic assembling of the terminal fitment is accomplished with increased accuracy. However, incorporation of the terminal fitment of the integral type into the insulating casing by manual operation causes assembling of the electric component to be deteriorated in accuracy, so that the terminal fitment is incorporated in the electrical component while being inclined. This causes a pressure of contact between the contact terminal section exhibiting elasticity and the electrode on the circuit board to be reduced, resulting in a failure in contact therebetween rarely occurring.
Also, the conventional terminal fitment wherein the conductor holding section is provided with a plurality of the edges adapted to bite into the end of the connection conductor when drawing force is applied to the connection conductor does not cause any problem so long as only the drawing force is applied thereto. However, it encounters a problem that the connection conductor is cut by the edges of the conductor holding section in the worst case, when turning force which tends to cause turning of the connection conductor about a central axis thereof is repeatedly applied to the connection conductor or the connection conductor is formed into a thin configuration.

Electric component with soldering -less terminal structure


A small, lightweight, reusable marker buoy is provided for marking a selected location on a body of water. The marker buoy has a buoyant float formed with an upwardly open well within which is mounted a rotatable anchor line spool. A conduit directs anchor line from the spool, through the float body, and out the bottom of the float where it is attached to a weighted anchor. A spring biased friction plate within the well provides resistance to rotation of the spool and a nut that secures the spool on an upwardly projecting spindle can be tightened to press the spool against the friction plate with a predetermined force to provide a preselected resistance to rotation of the spool and thus a preselected tension on the anchor line. In use, the resistance is set to allow the weighted anchor to draw anchor line from the spool as the anchor sinks but to resist further deployment of anchor line from the spool due to wave and wind action after the anchor has fully deployed. A fin and current direction indicator line is provided to indicate visually the direction of current in a region where the buoy is deployed.

Fisherman, divers, treasure hunters, coast guards, and others have long had a need to mark a location of interest on a body of water so that the location can be maintained or found easily at a later date. The need might arise, for example, from a desire to mark the location of a promising fishing spot, the location of an underwater artifact, or the location of submerged geographic features of interest to pleasure divers. In either event, it is desirable that the location be marked with a floating visible buoy that is anchored securely in place, is not subject to drift as a result of wind and wave action and that is lightweight, reliable, and reusable.
A variety of attempts have been made to provide lightweight reusable marker buoys. Some examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,993,974 of McVicker, U.S. Pat. No. 3,020,567 of Colt, U.S. Pat. No. 3,089,156 of Hamm, U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,036 of Ulf, U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,636 of Schurr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,395 of Saulnier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,551 of Keller, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,468 of Nichols. While many of the devices of these patents represent nobel attempts to provide convenient, lightweight, reusable marker buoys, they nevertheless embody various problems and shortcomings inherent in their designs. The McVicker device, for example, has an anchor line wrapped about the body of the buoy and the buoy floats horizontally as the anchor sinks and the anchor line unwinds freely. All the while, the lower portion of the buoy slowly fills with water and, at some point, the buoy rights itself into a floating vertical orientation wherein the anchor line is caught by a hook to prevent further deployment of the line. One problem with this design is that it is unpredictable. When the buoy rights itself from the ballast it has taken on, anchor deployment stops. If the anchor has not yet reached the bottom when the buoy is righted, the entire assembly simply floats away. On the other hand, if the anchor reaches the bottom long before the buoy rights itself, then the anchor line will continue to deploy, particularly in the present of a strong current or strong wind. In such a case, the buoy can float far from the actual location of the anchor and the location that was intended to be marked. Finally, the free deployment of the anchor line can lead to entanglement that can render the entire system inoperative.
The Colt device seeks to provide a measured resistance to deployment of anchor line but is mechanically complex and necessarily includes metal components that are subject to rust and that require maintenance. Hamm discloses a windless that deploys and anchor and locks the anchor line when the anchor is deployed. This device is also subject to tangles because of the free wheeling deployment of the anchor line and can be subject to drift in rough seas as the bobbing float lifts the anchor off of the bottom. Nichols is also subject to the problems of free wheeling anchor line deployment and the problems associated with a locked anchor line after deployment of the anchor. Further, the locking notch in Nichols is positioned so that it can accidently catch the anchor line as it is paid out, thus preventing the anchor from reaching the bottom. Devices disclosed in the other patents, such as the Schurr and Saulnier patents, are mechanically complex, subject to malfunction, and also embody many of the shortcomings already discussed.
Accordingly, a continuing need exists for an improved marine marker buoy that is lightweight, economical, reusable, and that reliably marks a preselected location on a body of water without entanglement of the anchor line during deployment and without surf and wind induced drift after the anchor is deployed. Such a buoy should deploy its anchor to the proper depth automatically when tossed into the water and should be able to accommodate anchors of various sizes and weights as needed depending upon the condition of the surf. The buoy should be resistant to corrosion and should allow for easy retraction of the anchor when the buoy is to be retrieved and moved to another spot to be marked. Finally, such a buoy should indicate clearly to its user the direction of the water current in the region in which the buoy is deployed and should be configured so that the functional components of the buoy are kept out of the water and substantially dry during use. It is to the provision of such a marine marker buoy that the present invention is primarily directed.


A single unit video camera recording apparatus comprising multiple recording devices for accommodating removable recording media. Each of the recording devices has a circuit for detecting the remaining amount of the recording medium available. The recording apparatus has a control circuit for switching between the multiple recording devices in response to a comparison with the detected remaining amount and a preset value along with other factors, including the operating mode that has been selected for the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a single-unit video camera-recording apparatus and a recording apparatus for use in a single-unit video camera-recording apparatus and a recording apparatus using a variety of recording media, such as an optical disc, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disc or the like, for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an example of a conventional single-unit video camera-recorder. This single-unit video camera-recorder comprises a camera unit and a VTR (video tape recorder) unit secured together or the VTR unit detachably attached to the camera unit to record a video signal obtained from a CCD (charge-coupled device) on a magnetic tape by the VTR unit.
According to the single-unit video camera-recorder shown in FIG. 1, when the user (referred to hereinafter as "cameraman") operates a video camera unit 1 by means of an operation unit 1, the video camera unit 1 is controlled by a control signal supplied to the video camera unit 1 through a connector 2 from a system controller 8. When an operation for controlling the VTR unit, such as record, playback, rewind, fast forward or the like, is designated by the operation unit 1, the system controller 8 supplies a control signal to a microcomputer 16 and a tape transport 11 is controlled by the microcomputer 16. Under the above-mentioned control operation, the cameraman can take a picture of an object or record a video signal obtained when the cameraman takes a picture of the object on the magnetic tape by the single-unit video camera-recorder.
Upon recording, the video signal obtained when the cameraman takes a picture of the object by the video camera unit 1 is processed in various manners, such as automatic gain adjustment, white balance adjustment, black balance adjustment, switching of electronic shutter speed or the like, by operating the operation unit 9. Then, the video signal thus processed is supplied through a connector 2 to a video signal input processing unit 3, in which it is pre-processed for recording and supplied to a recording signal processing unit 4. The video signal supplied to the recording signal processing unit 4 is processed in various manners so that it can be recorded on a recording medium.
An audio signal collected by a microphone 5 is supplied through a connector 6 to an audio signal input processing unit 7, in which it is pre-processed for recording and then supplied to the recording signal processing unit 4. Then, the audio signal is processed in various manners for recording together with the video signal. The audio signal thus processed is supplied through an amplifying circuit 10 and a rotary transformer 12 to a head 14 mounted on a rotary drum 13 together with the video signal, thereby being recorded on a magnetic tape (not shown) with the head 14 so as to form slant tracks.
Various types of single-unit video camera-recorders are now commercially available on the market, and any of these single-unit video camera-recorders includes the single tape transport.
Because the single-unit video camera-recorder records a video signal on a recording medium, if a remaining amount of the recording medium is lost, it is then necessary for the cameraman to set a new recording medium in the single-unit video-camera recorder.
Regardless of amateur or professional, the cameraman does not wish to interrupt the shooting whenever the cameraman encounters with a shutter release opportunity for taking an important picture (e.g., when valuable animals appeared, etc.). If the cameraman were required to change the recording medium with a new one even when the cameraman encountered with the shutter release opportunity, the cameraman would lose such important shutter release opportunity.
When the cameraman is taking a picture during a long time by using the single-unit video camera-recorder, the cameraman must set a new video tape cassette after the remaining amount of the video tape cassette provided as a recording medium is lost. Consequently, it is unavoidable that the cameraman suffers from a loss produced when taking a picture. Also, there is then the possibility that the cameraman will miss the important shutter release opportunity.
Further, even though the remaining amount of the recording medium is sufficient and the cameraman can take a picture satisfactorily, there is the possibility that a picture cannot be recorded on the recording medium due to a failure of the tape transport or the like.

Device for switching between multiple recording media based on a recordable time remaining calculation


Steel tubes for bearing element parts according to the present invention, wherein the specific compositions are limited and an accumulation intensity of {211} face along with an impact property at ambient temperature in the longitudinal direction of steel tube are specified, can be provided as a source material for bearing element parts, which have excellent machinability and fatigue life in rolling contact, being incorporated without adding a free-cutting element specifically nor without reducing productivity since the spheroidizing for the same annealing duration with that of conventional spheroidizing treatment can be applied. Accordingly, by applying a manufacturing method or a cutting-machining method according to the present invention, bearing element parts such as races, rollers and shafts can be produced with less cost and efficiently.

For source tubes for bearing element parts such as races, shafts, rollers, needles and balls, high Cr (chromium) bearing steel such as SUJ2, specified in JIS G 4805 Standard is widely used in general.
The above, the so-called "bearing steel", is subjected to processing by means of hot rolling and the like, and then to spheroidizing annealing for the purpose of softening, followed by processing such as cold rolling, cold drawing, cold forging and machining, which finally undergoes the heat treatment comprising quenching and tempering at low temperature, thus resulting in having desired mechanical properties.
Since, among the above processing steps, the machining step is costly, there is a growing demand for bearing steel having excellent machinability that will enable to enhance cutting-machining efficiency and extend tool life.
A free-cutting metal element (a metal element to act for enhancing machinability) such as Pb and S is well known to improve machinability when it is added independently or in combination with the other(s). However, bearings to be used for industrial machineries, automobiles or the like are subjected to repetitively high surface pressure. In this regard, the addition of above free-cutting element(s) will cause a fatigue life in rolling contact to substantially decrease.
Furthermore, the above free-cutting metal element generally causes hot workability to decrease, thereby becoming more of an issue that surface cracking and defects are likely to be generated during hot working process such as hot rolling for bearing steels.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 01-255651, high Si- low Cr bearing steel having excellent machinability, which contains REM (rare-earth metals) in chemical compositions, is disclosed. However, since REM is very likely to be oxidized, a yield in steel making is unstable and it is difficult in commercial operation to control the globular size of REM oxides and the state of dispersion morphology of the same, whereby the coarse REM oxides tend to be generated, and the generation of a large amount of REM oxides leads up to a substantial decrease of the fatigue life in rolling contact.
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 03-56641, a bearing steel having excellent machinability, which contains BN compounds in the chemical compositions that enhance the machinability without decreasing the fatigue life in rolling contact, is disclosed. However, since B has little solubility in the steel, its yield is unstable in the steel and its segregation is likely to be generated. Further, B causes a solidification startup temperature to markedly decrease, thereby ending up promoting a solidification segregation in association with B segregation. In addition, the decrease of solidification startup temperature amounts to a reduction of hot workability, thereby ending up in likely generation of surface cracking and defects during hot working process.
Accordingly, the bearing steel having a B content which is specified in the above Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 03-56641, namely 0.004-0.020% in weight, is not commercially and reliably processed to be bearing element parts.
In Japanese Patent No. 3245045, a bearing steel having excellent machinability as well as cold workability and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed, wherein the number of carbides in the metal structure and the hardness are adjusted by the heat treatment to be applied under specific condition. However, in this annealing condition by above invention, a slow heating or an isothermally holding in its heat-up step is required. In this regard, the annealing time becomes longer, thus reducing the productivity.
Furthermore, since, in a continuous heat treatment furnace which is commercially used, the temperature in each zone is predetermined and the number of zones is limited either, it is difficult to perform annealing under the condition specified in above Japanese Patent No. 3245045, whereby restructuring or renewal of the continuous heat treatment furnace becomes necessary in order to carry out annealing under the specified condition, thus ending up in a cost increase.
The disclosed technologies above could at least provide a bearing steel tube having excellent machinability to be used for bearing element parts. But, as afore-mentioned, the productivity as well as quality will potentially become more of an issue.

Steel tube for bearing element parts and method of manufacturing as well as machining the same


In a first power state of an image forming apparatus in which a first power supply unit supplies power to a network I/F but does not supply power to a central processing unit (CPU), if a received packet is a first type packet, a power supply control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to a second power state in which the first power supply unit supplies power to the CPU but the second power supply unit does not supply power to the image forming unit. If the received packet is a second type packet, the power supply control unit shifts the image forming apparatus to a third power state in which the first power supply unit supplies power to the CPU and the second power supply unit supplies power to the image forming unit.

1. Field
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a control executed at the time when an image forming apparatus being in a sleep state receives a packet via a network to recover the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that performs network communication has a function to automatically shift to a sleep state to reduce power consumption when the image forming apparatus has not been used for a predetermined period or longer. While the image forming apparatus is in the sleep state, another apparatus operates the image forming apparatus via a network to recover the image forming apparatus from the sleep state.
A method for the recovery from the sleep state has been discussed in which an image forming apparatus receives an input signal from a network and recovers from the sleep state if a pattern of the received input signal matches an input signal pattern that is registered in advance.
There is also a method in which when an image forming apparatus recovers from the sleep state, whether to supply power to respective devices in the image forming apparatus is selected and then the image forming apparatus recovers from the sleep state (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-71760).
The following discusses a case of the foregoing conventional techniques in which an image forming apparatus being in the sleep state receives a network packet and then power is supplied to some of the devices in the image forming apparatus to recover the image forming apparatus.
In this case, a power control apparatus cannot determine whether the packet received via the network is a job packet that requires printing operation or any other packet such as an inquiry about the apparatus. Thus, power can be supplied only to some of the devices. Hence, when the image forming apparatus receives a job packet that requires power supply to every device, the image forming apparatus undergoes a state in which power is supplied to some of the devices, and thereafter power is supplied to every device. This may cause a delay in printing operation after the recovery from the sleep state.
Furthermore, the supply of power to every device at the time of recovery from the sleep state may lead to excess power consumption if the packet received via the network is a mere inquiry of the status of the apparatus.

Image forming apparatus, and method of controlling image forming apparatus


A developing device including: a housing; a developing roller including a roller main body having a recess portion recessed inwards in an axis line direction, the recess portion including, a first surface extending in the axis line direction, and a second surface extending from an inner end portion of the first surface towards a direction intersecting with the axis line direction; and a seal member arranged between the housing and the roller main body, wherein, in the axis line direction, the second surface is positioned within a range in which the seal member is arranged, and wherein, in the axis line direction, a distance from an inner end portion of the seal member to the second surface is larger than a length of a part at which the seal member and the first surface overlap with each other.

A developing roller to be used for a developing device has been known which has a recess portion recessed inwards in a rotary shaft direction from an end surface of the developing roller (see JP-A-2009-145705). In this technology, the recess portion of the developing roller is hollow, so that heat can easily escape. Hence, it is possible to suppress a temperature of the developing roller from being increased.

Developing device having seal member and recess portion in the developing roller


A headphone device includes a sound outputting part and a sensor. The sound outputting part includes a case, a main board, a driving unit, a baffle plate and an ear pad. The sensor is installed on the baffle plate, uncovered by the ear pad and connected with the main board. If the human ear is sensed by the sensor, the main board judges that the headphone device is worn by the user. If the human ear is not sensed by the sensor, the main board judges that the headphone device is not worn by the user. According to the result of judging whether the headphone device is worn by the user, the playback of the audio content of an electronic device connected with the headphone device is correspondingly controlled.

Generally, the user may use a headphone device to listen to an audio content of an electronic device or answer a call. When the headphone device is removed by the user, the user may leave for a time period and forget to temporarily cease playing the audio content. After the headphone device is worn again by the user, the playback progress has advanced. Since the user has to re-adjust the playback progress, the operating method is not user-friendly. Moreover, if the headphone device is not used for a long term and the user forgets to disable the wireless connection between the headphone device and the electronic device or forgets to turn off the headphone device, the usage time of the headphone device is shortened since the battery of the headphone device continually provides electrical energy to the headphone device when the headphone device is not used. Consequently, the availability of headphone device is reduced.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved headphone device for automatically allowing the electronic device to temporarily cease playing the audio content when the headphone device is removed and automatically allowing the electronic device to continuously play the audio content when the headphone device is worn by the user again. Moreover, when the headphone device is not used for a long term, the headphone device is capable of disabling the wireless connection between the headphone device and the electronic device or turning off the headphone device, so that the usage time of the headphone device is extended.


An electronic cigarette includes a housing, an atomizer disposed in the housing, and a control circuit disposed in the housing and configured to control operation of the atomizer based on time data regarding a current time.

Electronic cigarettes are typically designed to simulate use of a conventional cigarette, by providing an inhalable substance that may include nicotine, flavorants, or other additives or substances. When a user inhales, an atomizer, or vaporizer, vaporizes a fluid such that the fluid can be inhaled by a user of the electronic cigarette.


Methods and apparatus involve protecting data encrypted by a first key on an endpoint computing asset including a drive with full disk encryption. The endpoint has both a main operating system for applications, and the like, and another operating system during a pre-boot phase of operation. During use, the pre-boot operating system prevents a user of the endpoint from accessing the encrypted data and the key. In one embodiment, an information exchange partition on the endpoint is accessible from a remote location and includes data encrypted using a second key accessible to both the pre-boot operating system and the main operating system. Another embodiment allows for the provision of a network connection to the endpoint during the pre-boot phase of operation in accordance with a security policy.

Corporate computing assets, such as laptops, phones, PDAs, etc., are utilized outside corporate firewalls today more than before. With ever more employees either working from home or "on the road," controlling and managing corporate information technology (IT) assets is becoming a difficult or serious problem. It is especially complicated when assets are lost or stolen which can compromise corporate data stored on the device.
Full disk encryption (FDE) is one technique to combat the loss of data on a lost or stolen device. Typically, FDE is employed on a drive using a pre-boot authentication (PBA) partition, and the system boots to that partition and seeks proper authentication, such as a password or certificate (which may be on a removable storage device). Once provided, the drive employing FDE may be decrypted and the main operating system employed to boot to this drive.
This PBA process requires a person to be physically present at the machine in order to provide the authentication. This prohibits a remote connection from being made, such as for allowing access by IT people desiring to provide software updates to the device, and is a major deterrent to the use of FDE. Additionally, deploying software on the FDE drive may require a reboot, which cannot be done unless a person is physically present to provide the required authentication.
Accordingly, a need exists for a manner in which to manage and provision a drive employing FDE from a remote location.

Remote management of endpoint computing device with full disk encryption


Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing drive test data in conjunction with geographical data such as population distribution, geographical data as to wireless device usage, location of high-value customers, or other geographical data. The results of the analysis are reported to a human operator, such as a manager overseeing the drive test routes in a particular region. The results enable the operator to revise drive test routes, or select new routes, that provide improved measurement data for the wireless network.

The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus monitoring network infrastructure performance by means of computer analysis of drive test results.
In a cellular radio communications system (wireless communications network), an area is divided geographically into a number of cell sites, each defined by a radio frequency (RF) radiation pattern from a respective base transceiver station (BTS) antenna. The BTS antennae in the cells are in turn coupled to a base station controller (BSC), which is then coupled to a telecommunications switch or other gateway, thereby facilitating communication with a telecommunications network such as the PSTN (public switched telephone network) or the Internet.
When a mobile station (such as a cellular telephone, pager, or appropriately equipped portable computer, for instance) is positioned in a cell, the mobile station communicates via an RF air interface with the BTS antenna of the cell. Consequently, a communication path is established between the mobile station and the telecommunications network, via the air interface, the BTS, and the gateway.
With the explosive growth in demand for wireless communications, network resources can be stressed. For instance, as the level of call traffic increases in a typical cell site, the likelihood of interference between mobile stations can increase substantially. In response to such an increase in call traffic, the base station of the cell may instruct all mobile stations in the cell to decrease their transmission power, and the base station may itself begin to communicate at a lower power level with each mobile station in the cell. With lower transmission power, however, call quality can diminish, and calls may ultimately be lost.
Further, as cities and landscapes evolve, changes to topography can substantially effect the operation of a wireless network. For instance, as buildings and trees rise or fall in or around a cell site, the radiation pattern of the cell site may change drastically. As a result of new or changed signal reflections, for instance, the signal-to-noise ratio in or around the cell site may become unacceptably low and calls may be dropped.
To help manage the call traffic in congested or evolving areas and in other circumstances, a service provider may make changes to the network, such as by repositioning cell sites, subdividing cell sites into a number of sectors, adding new cell sites, or reallocating frequencies among various coverage areas. However, in order to effectively decide when and where such changes should be made, and to otherwise provide subscribers with acceptable and expected quality of service, a need has arisen to monitor communication resources.
One way to monitor communication resources is to send technicians out into the field (i.e., into cell sites) with mobile diagnostic measurement (MDM) tools, to collect diagnostic data about network conditions. Once the data is collected, the data can be analyzed, and determinations can then be made about the state of the network and about what changes if any may be required. MDM tools are known and commercially available from companies such as ZK Celltest, Willtech (now Xcellon), Ericsson, and Agilent.
One such MDM tool may comprise a combination of a computer and one or more mobile stations connected to the computer via suitable cable connections. The computer can be programmed to send one or more instructions to the mobile stations via the cable connection, so as to cause the mobile station to take various actions and to report various parameter values to the computer. For instance, the computer may instruct the mobile station to initiate a number of phone calls or data sessions and, for each call/session, to report to the computer (i) the channel (frequency) used, (ii) the transmit power used, and (iii) an indication of whether the call/session succeeded or was dropped.
Conveniently, the MDM tool may be carried in a vehicle such as a car, so that measurements can be made at various geographic locations. One technician may drive the vehicle around town, while another technician in the vehicle can operate the MDM tool so as to record information about the network. Alternatively, the MDM tool can simply be carried in the trunk of the vehicle or elsewhere in or on the vehicle and can automatically collect information about the network. Ideally, the MDM tool would further include a GPS receiver adapted to collect location data points indicative of where the MDM tool made its measurements. The MDM tool could thus establish a log file that includes records each indicating measured network conditions and a corresponding geographic location. Further, the log file can include an MDM identifier that identifies the MDM tool that collected the data.
In a typical arrangement, the data collected by the MDM tool will then be transferred to a central reporting office, where the service provider can process the data and endeavor to make decisions about system resources. In this regard, the data could be transferred on disk or over a cable or network connection from the MDM tool to the central reporting office. Alternatively, in a preferred arrangement, the MDM tool can wirelessly report the test results to the central office, via a wireless packet data connection (e.g., via FTP) for instance.
The process of driving or otherwise conveying an MDM tool around a given geographic area to collect network information is known as "drive testing." Conveniently, a wireless carrier can arrange with a trucking company, taxicab company, public transportation company, or other carrier to mount MDM tools in various vehicles so as to collect network information from throughout a desired area as those vehicles drive along their routes, which are referred to as "drive test routes."
Background prior art references disclosing the state of the art in analysis of cell coverage in wireless networks and strategies for drive test routes include the following patents, each of which is incorporated by reference herein: Sanders et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,487; Arpee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,404; Somoza, U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,035; Arpee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,494; Bemadin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,095; Rappaport et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,839; Gutowski, U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2002/0063656; and Jensen, U.S. Patent Application publication US 2002/0009992.
There is a need in the art to more intelligently and efficiently plan drive test routes, for example so that a minimum of drive test units are needed to adequately measure system performance in a defined geographical market. The present invention meets that need by providing methods and systems for automated analysis of drive test data. The drive test data is analyzed in conjunction with geographical data such as population distribution, geographical data as to wireless device usage, and other factors with the aid of a computing system. The results of the analysis are made available for use by a human operator, such as a manager overseeing the drive test routes in a particular region, so as to enable the operator to revise drive test routes, or select new routes, that provide improved measurement data for the wireless network.

Method and system for automatic analysis and management of drive test routes


There is provided a system and method for a pressure and angle sensitive stylus device. The method comprises detecting a plurality of pressure inputs using a plurality of sensors, determining an angle of pressure applied to a stylus device from the plurality of pressure inputs, and transmitting the angle of pressure to an interactive device. The plurality of sensors may be recalibrated when the plurality of sensors are not in use. Further, using the plurality of pressure inputs may detect a velocity of usage of the stylus device. The plurality of sensors may include three sensors arranged in a radially symmetric pattern about a longitudinal axis of the stylus device.

Active styli have become popular tools for use with interactive devices having touch sensitive screens. Artistic and writing applications on interactive devices offer a quick and mobile artistic canvas, however, touch inputs using a finger don't offer the level of detail that users can achieve using common pens, pencils, and paintbrushes. A stylus provides the user with a pen-type configuration that allows the user to write or draw in a conventional manner. Thus, users have found the increased accuracy and comfort of use associated with a stylus device better for making more detailed artistic creations. Furthermore, styli can mimic shapes of other artistic tools, such as a paintbrush, marker, stamp, or other desired configurations.
Active styli have gone further to provide features for the user to utilize with an application running on an interactive device. Some of these features allow for a user to come closer to mimicking traditional artistic tools. However, in real world artistic endeavors, pressure and angle of use of the pen, pencil, paintbrush, or other creative tool often have an effect on an overall artistic look. If the artist uses a side of a piece of graphite or pencil, it may have a noticeably different effect on the outlook of the drawing then using a pointed tip. Furthermore, the pressure and speed of use of the tool may also affect the overall artistic look of the project. However, touch sensitive screens are only capable of sensing touch events and not the pressure or angle of use of the stylus. Thus, contrary to the intent of the user, a touch sensitive screen may fail to capture drawn accents that would be possible on an analogous physical medium.

Pressure and angle-sensitive stylus device


A switching amplifier system and method is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a pulse width modulation frame size is determined based on a sample rate of a digital input signal. Data associated with the first digital input signal is modified based on the pulse width modulation frame size. A pulse width modulation signal is generated in response to the modified data.

Switching amplifiers are often used to provide for high efficiency operation. Certain integrated circuit components used to implement switching amplifiers, such as sample rate converters, may utilize more area on a silicon device than desired. Accordingly, there is a need for integrated circuit components for use in switching amplifier designs that utilize less area.


A semiconductor device may include a substrate having a drift region doped to a first conduction type. A trench may be etched into an upper surface of the substrate. A gate may be arranged along side walls of the trench. A gate oxide layer may be between the side walls of the trench and gate and between a bottom surface of the trench and gate. A first source region of the first conduction type may be on the upper surface of the substrate. A second source region of the first conduction type may be on the bottom surface of the trench. A first well region may be between the first source region and drift region, and a second well region may be between the second source region and drift region, the first and second well regions being doped to a second conduction type (electrically opposite to the first conduction type).

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device having a dual parallel channel structure and a method of fabricating the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a high power semiconductor device having a dual parallel channel structure capable of reducing an On-resistance and preventing a relatively large electric field from being applied to a gate oxide layer under a gate and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a power converting system for receiving a main power to be converted into a voltage required for a plurality of devices or to be distributed, the function of a power switching device is important. For example, the power switching device may be realized by a transistor based on a semiconductor material such as silicon, GaN, or SiC, like a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The power switching device is required to have a relatively high breakdown voltage. A large amount of research on the power switching device is being conducted in order to obtain characteristics of reduction in an On-resistance, high density integration, and rapid switching.
For example, a field effect transistor (FET) of a trench gate structure, in which a trench is vertically formed and a gate oxide layer and a gate are formed in the trench, is advantageous in terms of high current and high density integration. However, in the FET of the trench gate structure, since the gate oxide layer under the gate is exposed to a drain formed under a substrate, when a high voltage is applied to the drain in an Off state, a large electric field is concentrated on the gate oxide layer under the gate. Therefore, insulation breakdown may be generated by the gate oxide layer before reaching the breakdown voltage.
On the other hand, it is relatively difficult to put the MOSFET using SiC into commercial use due to the relatively low channel mobility. Therefore, for example, research on improving mobility through a nitridation process is being conducted. However, since a threshold voltage is lowered as the mobility is increased, there are limitations to improving the mobility.

Semiconductor device having dual parallel channel structure and method of fabricating the same


A method and apparatus of assuring uniqueness of identification numbers of bus devices connected to a bus. Each bus device has a current identification number. At each of the bus devices, an identification number is received on a bus and the bus is contended for based on the received identification number. If more than one bus device is detected contending for the bus, the current identification number of one of the bus devices is changed. Each of the bus devices compares the received identification number to the current identification number of the bus device. A bus device provides a match indication, including driving a signal, if the comparison produces a match. Each bus device includes a collision detector for detecting if more than one bus device is driving the signal.

The invention relates to assigning identification numbers to computer system devices.
To avoid contention between multiple devices connected to a computer system bus, each bus device typically is assigned a distinct address space, with the bus devices selected using bus address lines. Thus, only one bus device responds to a bus transaction having a given address specified on the address lines.
A computer system generally contains several layers of buses, including a host bus, an expansion bus, and buses contained in some peripheral boards. Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary video board 2 includes a video bus 16 (which can be the VMI or Scenic Highway bus) connected to bus devices 10, 11, and 12, which are bus slaves. A graphics controller 18 is connected to the video bus 16 as a bus master. The video board 2 includes a frame buffer 20 for storing video data and a digital-to-analog (DAC) circuit 14 for transmitting video data to a video display 22.
The video bus 16 includes data lines VDAT and address lines VADDR as well as a clock signal, vertical and horizontal synchronization signals, and other control signals. Each of the bus devices 10, 11, and 12 is assigned a separate address space selectable by the address lines VADDR. The number of address lines required depends on the total address space of the video bus 16 and the number of devices that can potentially be connected to the bus.

Avoiding non-unique identifiers for bus devices


An extra-flexible insulated electric wire includes a conductor portion and an insulating cover. The conductor portion includes an inner layer and an outermost layer. In the inner layer, conductive strands are collectively twisted. In the outermost layer, conductive strands are disposed along an outer circumference of the inner layer. The insulating cover covers the conductor portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an extra-flexible electric wire.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electric wires have been proposed which are used in movable portions like hands, arms, legs and the like of a humanoid robot (refer to JP-A-9-35541 and JP-A-5-47237). These electric wires are used in locations where complex motions take place, and therefore, high flexibility is required on those electric wires.


Some food pathogens are not well controlled by lethality treatments followed by refrigeration. A food processing facility according to this invention reduces the likelihood that food pathogens will be able to enter the food processing facility, or spread should they be able to enter. The food processing facility is divided into a plurality of area, with different areas having different allowed actions that can be taken on the food product, different rules and/or procedures for persons who are allowed entry, and/or different levels of cleanliness. The food processing facility includes a plurality of separate rooms for processing the food product, each including separate food processing machines, air handling systems, drain systems and/or often-used supplies and tools. Different air pressures within different areas limit the possible movement of airborne food pathogens. Sanitizing stations are placed between various ones of the different areas.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to systems, methods and structures for reducing the likelihood of contamination of processed foods by bacteria, other microorganisms, or other pathogens.
2. Related Art
As food quality, sanitation and refrigeration practices have become better, the presence in processed foods of most common bacteria that affect food safety has been substantially reduced. While this has improved food safety overall, it presents the opportunity for more marginalized, less common bacteria and other food pathogens, which are otherwise unable to compete with such more common bacteria, to proliferate and colonize food product(s) as they are processed. For example, Listeria monocytogenes (hereafter "LM" or "Listeria"), which is inhibited by competition from more common bacteria, and thus naturally prevented from reaching fatal concentrations, is sometimes able to colonize food product(s) as they are being processed. Because Listeria, unlike more common bacteria and other food pathogens, is able to grow well in refrigerated conditions, and because most, if not all, competing bacteria have been eliminated from the food product(s) being processed, there is little or no competition to the Listeria bacteria to keep it from growing to fatal concentrations when Listeria contaminates food.
At the same time, the U.S. government has instituted numerous programs and testing regimes to ensure that food products are pathogen-free, i.e., are not adulterated. For example, the presence of a food pathogen on a ready-to-eat meat product renders the meat product adulterated under the provisions of the Meat Inspection Act and/or the Poultry Inspection Act. If adulterated, the ready-to-eat meat product cannot be shipped. Additionally, if the ready-to-eat meat product has already been shipped, it must be recalled. Moreover, in most, if not all, conventional food processing facilities, even if the source of adulteration of a particular lot of food product can be traced to a single processing element, such as a food slicer, in that food processing facility, it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine which particular food items may have come in contact with that source of adulteration. As a result, the typical recall involves all products passing through a food processing facility during the time of potential adulteration to ensure that no adulterated food product remains available for sale to the ultimate consumer.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined, for example, that Listeria is a hazard reasonably likely to occur in a slicing operation. Slicing operations are relatively high risk because pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes is ubiquitous and grows at refrigerated temperatures. Thus, because Listeria is ubiquitous, it is very difficult to prevent Listeria from colonizing processed food product(s) at points between an upstream lethality treatment and a downstream packaging operation, such as at a slicing operation. Furthermore, because sliced meats are "ready-to-eat", they are typically removed from packaging and consumed without any consumer-applied lethality treatment, such as cooking.

Clean room food processing systems, methods and structures


A vehicle drive apparatus includes: a sleeve including a first peripheral surface provided side by side with a spline; a connecting member including a groove provided side by side with a spline in spline engagement with the spline, recessed radially relative to the first peripheral surface, and including a bottom surface that serves as a second peripheral surface facing the first peripheral surface; and a tolerance ring disposed in the groove so as to exert a radial elastic force between the sleeve and the connecting member.

A related art vehicle-mounted vehicle drive apparatus includes splined rotational members that are in spline engagement with each other and coupled to each other in a drivable manner. One of the spline-engaged rotational members receives a thrust load from a sun gear etc. that is included in a planetary gear, for example. This rotational member is provided with a thrust bearing to receive the thrust load so as to stably rotate and drive the rotational member (see Patent Document 1).


A seal device where, even if a fluid to be sealed is under high pressure, a seal surface of a seal ring is prevented from producing heat and the seal surface is prevented from wearing. The seal device has a first seal ring (5) having a first seal surface (5A) at an end surface and having, on the opposite side of the first seal surface (5A), a first pressing surface (5B) formed on an inclined surface: a first seal retainer (51) having a first inner periphery fixation surface (51A) facing the first pressing surface (5B); a first elastic seal ring (2) for pressing the first pressing surface (5B) in an axial direction by elastic force produced by sealed compression between the first pressing surface (5B) and the first inner periphery fixation surface (51A); a second seal ring (15) in tight contact with the first seal surface (5A) of the first seal ring (5) and having a second seal surface (15A) slidable relative to the first seal surface (5A); and a second seal retainer (61) in which the second seal ring (15) is sealedly held. The first pressing surface (5B) is formed as an inclined surface where the ratio H/L is in the range not exceeding 0.5, with H being the width in a radial direction, L the length in the axial direction of the first pressing surface (5B).

Primary related art of the present invention is found as a seal device shown in FIG. 13 (for example, see Japanese Utilities Laid-open Publication No.H1-98368 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,483). This seal device 100 is applicable to a drive wheel apparatus of a mining damp truck.
The seal device 100 is arranged as shown in FIG. 13. The seal device 100 of FIG. 13 displays a cross sectional view of a half portion thereof being mounted to a drive wheel apparatus. In FIG. 13, a shaft (not shown) is disposed within a through hole of a fixed side retainer 130. There is disposed the seal device 100 in a cavity 120 which is formed between the shaft and the fixed side retainer 130. This deal device 100 protects the cavity 120 defined by the shaft and the fixed side retainer 130 against the attack by a sealed fluid M from outside A such as water, sludge or the like containing small particles like sands or the like.
In the seal device 100, a first seal ring 105 having a seal surface 105S and a second seal ring 115 having an opposed seal surface 115S not only face to each other surrounding the shaft, but the seal surface 105S and the opposed seal surface 115S are pressed against each other. In order to assure a sealing contact between the seal surface 105S on the first seal ring 105 and the opposed seal surface 115S on the second seal ring 115, the periphery of the first seal ring 105 is formed by a first tapered surface 105A, a first arcuate surface 105B and a first vertical surface 105C. Likewise, the periphery of the second seal ring 115 is formed by a second tapered surface 115A, a second arcuate surface 115B and a second vertical surface 115C.
Next, a first support surface 130A on the fixed side retainer 130 forms a shoulder surface, which defines one side wall of the cavity 120. Likewise, a second support surface 140A on a rotary side retainer 140 also forms another shoulder surface. Then the first seal ring 105, the second seal ring 115, the fixed side retainer 130 and the rotary side retainer 140 defines the cavity 120 therewithin.
There is disposed a first O-ring 102 near the cavity 120 side between the first tapered surface 105A and the first support surface 130A. Likewise, there is disposed a second O-ring 103 between the second tapered surface 115A and the second support surface 140A. The first O-ring 102 undergoes elastic deformation to form an elliptic cross section, which brings a first contact surface 102B into contact with the first tapered surface 105A while a second contact surface 102C is pressed against the first support surface 130A. Moreover, the second O-ring 103 also undergoes elastic deformation to form an elliptic shape after the first contact surface 103B comes into contact with the second tapered surface 115A and the second contact surface 103C is pressed against the second support surface 140A.
In the seal device 100 configured as described above, the first seal ring 105 is urged in the axial direction by the elastic deformation force of the first O-ring 102 while the second seal ring 115 also is urged in the axial direction opposing to the first seal ring 105 by a similar urging force due to the second O-ring 103. And the seal surface 105A and the opposed seal surface 115A slide to each other while maintaining tight contact thereof. When a sealed fluid M containing impurity reaches the cavity 120 from outside A, the pressure of the sealed fluid M creates urging forces onto the first O-ring 102 and the second O-ring 103 as well as onto the first seal ring 105 and the second seal ring 115 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The pressure of the sealed fluid M then act on the first vertical surface 105C and the second vertical surface 115C so that the pair of the seal surface 105A and the opposed seal surface 115A are pressed against each other by a large pressure which exceeds a prescribed value. Therefore, the seal surface 105A and the opposed seal surface 115A are forced to slide to each other under an intense press contact, which leads to a high temperature due to slide friction.
According to the experiments, when dirt water enters the cavity 120 impurities such as dirt and sand particles contained in the fluid are accumulated in the cavity 120. This cumulative pressure causes an urging pressure to the first vertical surface 105C on the first seal ring 105 and the second vertical surface 115C on the second seal ring 115 in mutually opposing directions, and friction heat generated by the sliding between the seal surface 105A and the opposing seal surface 115A sometimes increases the temperature of the respective seal rings 105, 115 to more than 300 degrees Celsius. When the first seal ring 105 and the second seal ring 115 are heated too much due to the heat generated during the sliding motion, rubber-made first O-ring 102 and second O-ring 103 get softened by the high temperature and fail to restore elastically to their original states. Therefore the first O-ring 102 and the second O-ring 103 are likely to diminish their ability of providing resiliently urging forces against the first seal ring 105 and the second seal ring 115, respectively. Further, the high temperature deteriorates the seal surface 105A and the opposing seal surface 115A and accelerates wear thereof.
Moreover, a floating seal device 150 shown in FIG. 14 is a second prior art related to the current invention (for example, see Utilities Public S62-4665 (pages 1 through 5, FIG. 5) or Patent Public 2002-98326, or the like).
This floating seal device 150 is so arranged that a first seal ring 152 and a second seal ring 153 which surround a drive shaft (not shown) substantially extend to the radial direction and face to each other on the slant. A seal surface 152A of the first seal ring 152 and a seal surface 153A of the second seal ring 153 are kept in sealing contact. The seal contact between the seal surface 152A of the first seal ring 152 and the seal surface 153A of the second seal ring 153 is urged by the compression force which is caused by the elastic deformation of a rubber-made first O-ring 155 and a second O-ring 156 to an elliptic cross section form. For that purpose, the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156 are disposed, respectively, between a first casing 160 and the first seal ring 152 and between a second casing 170 and the second seal ring 153 in such a way that the O-rings face to each other while forming an angle to the radial direction. A first seal tight surface 155A is pressed against a first support surface 160A while a second seal tight surface 156A is pressed against a second support surface 170A. Further, a first seal tight surface 155B is pressed against the first seal ring 152 while a second seal tight surface 156B is pressed against the second seal ring 153.
This floating seal device 150 provides a seal against a high pressure sealed fluid M containing slurry. It also effects a seal against a fluid M containing fine particles. High pressure of the sealed fluid M which breaks in from outside A causes a squeeze on the rubber material of the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156 which are arranged in a symmetric location, and that intensifies the press contact between the seal surfaces 152A and 153A of the first seal ring 152 and the second seal ring 153, respectively. Significant resilient compression forces caused by the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156 also intensify a press contact between the respective seal surfaces 152A and 153A, and thereby wear of the seal surfaces 152A and 153A is accelerated.
When the sealed fluid M comes into the cavity 160 from outside A and exerts pressure onto the second O-ring 156 and the second seal ring 153 as well as the first O-ring 155 and the first seal ring 152, slurry trapped between the first O-ring 155 and the first seal ring 152 and between the second O-ring 156 and the second seal ring 153, respectively, give pressure to the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156 in radially inward a direction, and the respective seal surfaces 152A, 153A are deviated from a parallel relationship relative to each other since the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156 are made of rubber material. Such a departure from the parallel relationship of the respective seal surfaces 152A, 153A causes uneven wear of the seal surfaces 152A, 153A. Also the respective pressure receiving areas disposed on radially outward side of the tapered surfaces 152B on the first seal ring 152 and the tapered surface 153B on the second seal ring 153 are increased by the deviations of the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156, and the pressure by the slurry therefore urges the pressure receiving surfaces of the respective tapered surfaces 152B, 153B and causes wear of the respective seal surfaces 152A, 153A which slide against each other under the press contact. Moreover, the sliding frictional heat of the first seal ring 152 and the second seal ring 153 causes softening and stress relaxation of the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156, and decreases resilient urging forces of the first O-ring 155 and the second O-ring 156.
The present invention is introduced to alleviate the above mentioned problems. A primary technical goal which this invention tries to achieve is to prevent wear of respective seal surfaces under the influence of a sealed fluid at high pressure or containing impurities. Further, stress relaxation in the respective resilient seal rings due to heat emitted during sliding of the respective seal surfaces is prevented and the resilient seal rings can exhibit outstanding resilient performance for urging the seal rings.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


The present disclosure relates to a system and method for providing a validation tool to automate in validation of the configuration settings of the computing devices and their interaction thereof for an enterprise application over a network. Also, the present disclosure validates the configurations of the enterprise application which is deployed and executed over the computing devices. Further, the present disclosure provides a method for verifying the configurations settings and applying the required configuration settings across the computing devices, if the existing configuration settings of said computing devices are not verified. Upon verifying and/or applying the configuration settings, said validation tool is configured to generate a compliance report and further notify said generated report to the intended user of a group.

Enterprise applications or web-based applications are specific to business functions, performing various typical tasks over a network. The network may comprise a number of servers, end-user computers and other computing terminals over which these enterprise applications are deployed and executed. Validating each server setup, end-user computer settings, application configuration settings as well as their interactions amongst them is a complex and an error prone process. In a globally controlled and locally managed (GCLM) environment, lots of manual intervention that involves key expertise availability and effort is typically used for validation and further, it is a time consuming process. Accordingly, there is a significant risk of errors. Also, maintaining parallel coordination among the users having application specific knowledge of the enterprise applications over the network is difficult.
Also, there are number of check-points or checklists which are to be considered during the validation process, and therefore, there is a chance of missing these check-points. Moreover, these enterprise applications are developed on various platforms and have specific requirements. These specific requirements must be addressed for errorless and flawless execution of the applications over the servers and end-user computers.
Moreover, in the validation process, the configurations settings of the servers and end-user computers need to be verified in relative to the required parameters and environment. And, after completion of the verification process, the required configuration settings must be applied across the servers and end-user computers.

System and method for validating configuration settings


Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for converting application code in a turbine control system. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for converting a turbine control system may be provided for. The method may include providing a first application code format including one or more elements, providing a second application code format including one or more elements, and identifying mappings of the one or more first application code format elements to the one or more second application code format elements. The method may further include retrieving a first control system application code written in the first application code format, and generating application data from the first control system application code based at least in part on the identified mappings. Additionally, the method may include converting the application data to a second control system application code written in the second application code format.

Industrial and power generation turbines have control systems that monitor and control their operation. These control systems typically include multiple microprocessors configured as main control processors running application code that implements the control system functions.
Older control systems may become outdated and need to be replaced or updated to allow implementing current control system capabilities, such as processing-intensive model-based controls, PID controls, and more powerful application tools. However, it is often preferable to update the control system so as to cause the least impact on the turbine operation. Furthermore, simple and quick upgrades are more cost-effective by requiring less labor, less downtime, and by providing quicker realization of the benefits generated by the upgraded control systems.
The existing legacy control system application code executing the control logic may be compiled in a data format different from that required to run on the upgraded control system hardware. Application code, for example, may be written in one of many programming languages, such as, for example, C, C++, C#, Java, Pascal, or Fortran, which is then compiled into machine language code executed by one or more microprocessors. Depending upon the generation or the origin of the control system for which the original application code was written, the data formats may vary. For example, fixed point, also referred to as integer, data formats were used in earlier processors because they require lower processing overhead, thus faster mathematical operations, than using a floating point data format. Furthermore, some earlier processors are not capable of performing floating point operations. As microprocessor speeds improve, the capabilities of performing operations on more complex data formats improve. Because performing operations on floating point data allows for calculations over a wider range of numbers while maintaining greater accuracies, it may be desirable to run control systems on processors capable of operating on floating point data. However, to the extent that at least some of the legacy application code functionality is still relevant in the upgraded control systems, manually reprogramming control system processors in the new data format may be inefficient and may introduce quality problems.
In one example, the Mark V turbine control system manufactured by General Electric ("GE") has achieved a large installed base during the many years of production. While the GE Mark V turbine control system remains a viable platform for existing owners who are using it today, its ability to accept some control upgrades is limited. As advanced control methods for turbines are developed, an upgrade path is needed for the existing GE Mark V turbine control systems to upgrade to either the GE Mark Ve or the GE Mark VIe control systems. One aspect of the upgrade path includes upgrading at least some of the existing legacy processors to newer, current microprocessors capable of handling more complex operations as required by the upgraded control system functionality. Accordingly, the upgraded processors are capable of operating on larger, more complex data formats, such as 32-bit, floating point data. However, the application code for the existing legacy GE Mark V turbine control system was written to be compiled and executed in 16-bit, fixed point format. Thus, the legacy application code written for fixed point processing requires re-writing so that it may be compiled and executed in floating point format to take full advantage of the upgraded system capabilities. Furthermore, the upgraded control system may include a new programming environment based in the C# programming language, an object-oriented programming language as part of Microsoft Corporation's .NET platform. Therefore, performing operations on the application code in the new environment may require the application code to be written in C#.
Thus, there is a desire for systems and methods that allow efficient control system upgrades, including providing for application code conversions to an upgraded control system programming standard.

Methods and systems for converting application code in turbine control systems


A p-type electrode structure having low resistance and a high yield light emitting element operable at low operating voltage is disclosed. On a substrate is formed an n-type clad layer, an active layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, a current structure layer, an n-type semiconductor layer and a metal layer. The energy level of a conduction band edge of the n-type semiconductor layer is deeper than that of a valence band edge of the p-type semiconductor layer, and the Fermi level of the metal layer is shallower than the energy level of a conduction band edge of the n-type semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a p-type electrode structure and a semiconductor light emitting element using the same structure. In detail, the present invention relates to a p-type electrode structure for a wide gap semiconductor and a semiconductor light emitting element using the same structure.
2. Related Art Description
In general, an electrode for a p-type semiconductor is formed of a metal such as Au or Al and is provided as an ohmic electrode by alloying it. In a wide gap semiconductor, it is difficult to obtain an ohmic p-type electrode. In p-type GaN, NiAu is used as an electrode material in order to reduce a resistance thereof. In p-type ZnSe, an electrode structure in which a ZnSe/ZnTe superlattice layer 92 is inserted in between an Au electrode 91 and a p-type ZnSe layer 93 as shown in FIG. 9 is used for a semiconductor laser (cf. Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 61, 1992, pp. 3160-3162) to substantially reduce an operating voltage of the semiconductor laser (cf. Electronics Letters, Vol. 36, 1996, pp. 552).
In a wide gap semiconductor such as the above-mentioned Zn Se or GaN, however, there is a problem that a metal electrode provided on a p-type semiconductor becomes a Schottky type electrode and a resistance of the electrode becomes high. Further, in the electrode structure in which the above-mentioned superlattice is inserted between the metal electrode and the p-type semiconductor layer, there is a problem of reproducibility since a resistance of the electrode is substantially changed by a very small variation of a thickness of the superlattice layer.
There is a further problem that, in the above-mentioned semiconductor laser in which p-type ZnSSe or p-type MgZnSSe is used as a p-type clad layer, a resistance of such wide gap material is high and, thus, an operating voltage of the semiconductor laser becomes high.

P-type electrode structure and a semiconductor light emitting element using the same structure


A revolver assembly of a microscope, for switching a current objective lens to one of a plurality of lenses by manual rotary operation of the revolver assembly, includes a revolver main body and a revolver rotary section rotatably coupled to the revolver main body for removably mounting thereon a plurality of objective lenses of the microscope. A holding member extends in a direction crossing a rotary axis of the revolver rotary section, and is immovable with respect to the revolver main body. A manually operable rotary operation section is arranged approximately parallel to the rotary axis of the revolver rotary section, and is coupled to the holding member so as to be manually rotatable around an axis which is separated from the rotary axis of the revolver rotary section by a predetermined distance. A rotary power transmission section is disposed between the rotary operation section and the revolver rotary section for mechanically transmitting rotary power generated by manual operation of the manually operable rotary operation section to the revolver rotary section. The rotary power transmission section preferably includes pulleys interconnected by a loop member such as a belt or wire, or includes a series of mutually engaged gears.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a revolver assembly of a microscope designed to change the magnification of the microscope by a rotary switching operation of selecting an objective lens out of a plurality of lenses.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 14 of the accompanying drawings schematically illustrates a known microscope designed to change the magnification of the microscope by a rotary switching operation of selecting an objective lens out of a plurality of lenses. Particularly when a large number of specimens are observed through a microscope of this type, for instance, for clinic screening, an operator places a single specimen on stage 1 at a time for observation on a one-by-one basis. Then, the operator has to operate focusing handle 2, stage handle 3, lighting control knob 4 and revolver 5 frequently to observe the specimen. The stage handle 3 can be moved horizontally to move the specimen.
The revolver 5 is fitted to the known microscope at a considerably elevated position relative to the focusing handle 2, the stage handle 3 and the lighting control knob 4 if viewed from the stage 1 (upper surface). In other words, as seen from FIG. 14, the revolver 5 is rather separated from the remaining components of the microscope to be operated for observing the specimen and, at the same time, disposed opposite to said remaining components relative to the stage 1.
Thus, the operator has to intentionally extend one of his or her arms in order to operate the revolver 5. This action of extending the arm gives rise to considerable fatigue on the part of the operator if repeated for screening a large number of specimens. Additionally, the arrangement of the revolver 5 at a position considerably elevated from the remaining components that are disposed substantially on a same level and hence can be operated rather easily for observing specimens provides a problem of poor screening efficiency particularly when a large number of specimens are inspected.
Still additionally, the revolver 5 is placed right above objective lens 6 and right below body tube 8 having eyepiece 7. Thus, the operator is required to do a cumbersome action of extending one of his or her arms upward and then making it creep under the arm section 91 of the frame 9 of the microscope.
Jpn. UM Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 48-7046 discloses a microscope comprising a revolver provided with a crown gear (a bevel gear) at a peripheral edge thereof and another gear held in engagement with the crown gear so that the revolver can be operated for rotary motion by manipulating a handle fitted to the gear. With a microscope having such an arrangement, however, the operator has to extend with an effort one of his or her arms upward to operate the revolver.
FIG. 15 schematically illustrates a known microscope having a configuration similar to the one shown in FIG. 14 but comprising an electric revolver assembly that allows an easy and efficient operation of the revolver. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the components that are similar to or the same as their counterparts are denoted by identical reference symbols.
The revolver 10 of the microscope is driven to rotate by a built-in electric motor. However, in order to drive the revolver 10 to rotate by means of an electric motor, the microscope is required to comprise additional components for driving the electric motor such as a power source unit 11 and a controller unit 12 provided with a control panel 12a. Because of these additional components, the electric revolver assembly of FIG. 15 is by far more costly than the one shown in FIG. 14.
Thus, a conventional manual-operation type revolver assembly of a microscope comprises a revolver located at an elevated position relative to the remaining components of the microscope to be operated for observing a specimen and, therefore, the operator is required to do a specific action of extending one of his or her arms simply to manipulate the revolver. Such a cumbersome action gives rise to a problem of causing considerable fatigue on the part of the operator if repeated for screening a large number of specimens and an additional problem of poor screening efficiency. A known electrically driven revolver assembly is, on the other hand, accompanied by the problem of higher cost due to additional components such as a power source unit and a controller unit.


A portable pool cleaning system for the remote cleaning of a swimming pool including a housing and a base. A motor is connected to the housing and is attached to a high pressure pump wherein the pump includes both intake and ports. The first tubing is connected to the intake port and the opposite end is inserted into the swimming pool for the transportation of water from the swimming pool to the pump. A second tubing is connected to an output port of the high pressure pump with the opposite end of the second tubing placed into the swimming pool and attached to a self-propelled cleaning device. The self-propelled cleaning device uses a high pressure water stream as a scrubbing function. The motor is connected to a timer which is connected to a power source. The timer initiates the activation and deactivation of the motor and the self-propelled cleaning device. A means for attaching the base and portable pool cleaning system to the periphery of the swimming pool is also included.

In recent years swimming pools have transitioned from large, community based pools to smaller individual pools. Most communities still provide the "City" pool; however, apartment complexes, homeowner's associations and many individual homes have permanent, in-ground swimming pools which primarily reserve use of the pools for members of the complex, association or the home owner. As these pools are typically smaller in scale and are not used as revenue generating tools, the costs of pool supporting equipment can become onerous. Pool cleaning systems fall into this expensive category.
Pool cleaning systems are typically built as a permanent addition to the in-ground pool. However, as the complexity and costs of these systems increased, swimming pool owners began to request alternatives to these large cleaning systems. To meet this need, portable pool cleaning systems were developed. An example of such a portable pool cleaning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,890 entitled "Pool Cleaning System" which is assigned to the North Broadway Corporation. This patent discloses a portable pool cleaning system for cleaning the surfaces of the swimming pools and the surrounding decks. This cleaning is accomplished without the necessity of draining the swimming pool. The system includes a cart for containing an electric pump and lines, one to a cleaning agent and one to a clean water source. The system implements a wand for scrubbing the walls and base of the swimming pool and the surrounding deck. This system requires the user to clean the pool and deck by scrubbing with the wand and then requires the user to add additional chemicals to the pool to counteract the cleaning agents.
In another example, a portable pool cleaning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,174 entitled "Self-Contained Mobile Pool Cleaning Apparatus" awarded to James F. Thiem and Jeffrey L. Scott. In this disclosed system, the cleaning apparatus includes a self-contained pump, filter and driving motor mounted on a hand wheeled truck and housed in a waterproof enclosure. The system further discloses a sweeper head that moves along the bottom and side walls of the pool in the usual manner by a hingedly mounted wand. This system requires the user to clean the pool by scrubbing with the wand.
These disclosed systems require the user to manually scrub the bottom and walls of the pool with the wand of the portable pool cleaning systems. Therefore, any advancement in the ability to remotely initiate and complete the cleaning would be greatly appreciated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.