A ride attraction system utilizes a robotic actuation system to move a curved door of a curved enclosure wall between a first position and a second position via a compound trajectory. In the first position, the door is mated with the wall, and in the second position, the door leaves an opening in the wall. The door and the wall may both include display surfaces that enable images to be displayed to occupants of a ride moving toward the wall and through the opening.

The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for enhancing a ride attraction and, more particularly, to a system and method for displaying images on a movable door.
Theme or amusement park ride attractions have become increasingly popular. Amusement rides generally include ride vehicles travelling along a path (e.g., a railway or a track), rides that are fixed relative to the ground, or both. In moving rides, the path traveled by the ride vehicles may be situated in different surroundings (e.g., on a mountain top, in a tunnel, under the water). Along the path, there may be different types of show events, such as visual effects, sound effects, water effects, and so forth.
As an example, a moving passenger platform (i.e., a ride vehicle) may travel along a pathway (e.g., a rail) including custom-designed surroundings associated with the ride. The passenger platform may pass through an area having props, such as motorized animals or creatures (e.g., dinosaurs), robots, other vehicles, and so forth. These props can be combined with other effects, such as fires, explosions, and the like, to enhance the realism or immersive nature of the ride. Further, some surroundings may be real environments, such as an aquarium with aquatic life, a small jungle-like environment with foliage and animals, or similar environments.
While these simulated environments can be very effective at creating a pleasurable experience for the rider, these attractions may be subject to further improvement. For example, it may be desirable to enhance the riders' immersion into the simulated environment by moving the riders through sections of an amusement ride divided into sections by various walls. Further, it may be desirable to enhance the effect of transitioning between these different sections to make the experience more pleasurable for the rider. For example, it may be desirable to make the rider feel as if they have been transported into another world by enhancing a transition from one area of an amusement ride to another, separated area.


An improved cathode structure in an electron gun for a cathode ray tube comprises a sleeve having a cylindrical shape, a heater disposed in the interior of the sleeve, a cap disposed at the upper portion of the sleeve, and an electron-emitting material layer coated on the outer top surface of the cap. A gap having a dimension that is 13.5% to 15.5% of the inner diameter of the sleeve, is defined between the sleeve and the heater, thereby improving an overshoot in emission of electrons at an initial operation state of heater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron gun for a cathode ray tube, and more particularly to an improved cathode structure in the electron gun which is capable of optimizing a space or gap between a sleeve and a heater received in the sleeve in order to improve an overshoot in emission of electrons.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, such an electron gun is disposed in a neck formed at the rear of a cathode ray tube and provided with a cathode for emitting electron beams, so as to scan electron beams on a phosphor screen formed at the front of the cathode ray tube. This cathode should have such a structure that defines properly a space or gap between a heater and a sleeve, in order to maintain an overshoot in emission of electrons within an allowable range.
In conventional cathode structures, however, the gap defined between the heater and the sleeve is small, thereby causing the occurrence of an overshoot in emission of electrons exceeding the allowable range. This disadvantage will now be described, in conjunction with one example of conventional cathode structure illustrated in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cathode structure comprises a sleeve 3 having a cylindrical shape and a heater 5 disposed in the interior of sleeve 3. The heater 5 includes a heating coil wire wound in the form of coil spring with a proper outer diameter D1 and a proper height L. The sleeve 3 is provided at the upper portion thereof with a cap 2 which is coated at its outer top surface with a layer 1 of an electron-emitting material such as carbonated oxide. The sleeve 3 is also provided at the lower portion thereof with a holder 4 through which a pair of heater taps 5a and 5b extends upwardly to be connected to the heater 5. The heater 5 has an outer diameter that is about 79% to 85% of the inner diameter D2 of the sleeve 3.
With this construction, as drive voltage of about 6.3 V is applied to heater taps 5a and 5b, the heater 5 generates heat of up to about 800.degree. C. by the drive voltage and applies the generated heat to the sleeve 3 and the cap 2. The cap 2 then transfers the heat from the heater 5 to the electron-emitting material layer 1. By the heat transmitted from the heater 5 via the cap 2, the electron-emitting material layer 1 emits thermal electrons. In the initial operation state, the electron-emitting material layer 1 emits an amount of electrons that is about 140% to 127% of the amount of electrons in the normal operation state. And a long time is taken until the amount of emitted electrons is maximized after the application of drive voltage to the heater taps 5a and 5b. This is because the amount of heat transferred from the heater 5 to the cap 4 includes the amount of heat by heat conduction. In this case, the generation of heat by heat conduction is caused by a reduction in the gap defined between the inner surface of the sleeve 3 and the outer surface of the heater 5. The reason for this reduced gap is that the heater 5 and the sleeve 3 expand abruptly, due to sudden heating of the heater 5. The gap has a size in the normal state when the heater 5 generates heat of a normal temperature.
As a result, the conventional cathode structure has a disadvantage that the size of gap between the heater 5 and the sleeve 3 is excessively reduced due to expansion of the sleeve 3 and the heater 5, in the initial operation state, that is, when the heater 5 suddenly generates heat. Due to this excessive reduction in the size of gap, the conventional cathode structure has a problem in that the amount of electrons emitted from the electron-emitting material layer 1 in the initial operation state cannot be maintained within an allowable range, that is, about 100% to 120% of the amount of electrons emitted in the normal state.

Electron gun for cathode ray tube with improved cathode structure


A communication method between construction equipment and a management server according to the present disclosure includes: receiving, by a diagnostic device of the construction equipment, state information from a plurality of vehicle control devices; checking, by the diagnostic device, a usable communication method when the received state information needs to be transmitted to a management server; when there is one usable communication method, transmitting, by the diagnostic device, the state information to the management server by using the corresponding communication method; and when there is a plurality of usable communication methods, selecting, by the diagnostic device, a communication method having the lowest fee per unit data, and transmitting the state information to the management server by using the selected communication method.

In general, in a remote management system of construction equipment, construction equipment, such as an excavator and a wheel loader, includes a communication module connected with a vehicle control device, and transmit information on the construction equipment to a management server through a mobile communication network or a satellite communication network, and the management server stores and manages the information on the construction equipment.
When information on the construction equipment is transmitted to the management server, data transmission cost is incurred. In order to decrease the data transmission cost, a method of transmitting information on the construction equipment to a surrounding communication terminal has also been developed. However, the method also finally incurs communication cost when the communication terminal needs to transmit information on the construction equipment to the management server again.
Since construction equipment in the related art uses a predetermined communication method, the construction equipment has no choice but to transmit data only through a fixed communication method even though a surrounding communication environment has changed. Accordingly, a communication method between construction equipment and a management server, which is capable of adaptably changing a communication method according to a communication environment by considering communication cost has been urgently demanded.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Method of communication between construction equipment and management server


A robust and reliable mechanism is disclosed for detecting whether a system has (or may have) been booted into a compromised or otherwise unprotected environment, so that a persisted clean file cache can be used across boots when appropriate. As such security scanning of files. A clean file cache can be maintained and used by a security application to avoid unnecessarily re-scanning a file that has not been modified since last being scanned and determined clean. Unnecessary scans are therefore avoided.

Some antivirus products are configured with an auto-protect feature, which allows files to be scanned as they are accessed to prevent a virus from spreading and infecting. Some auto-protect features scan and repair compressed files without having to expand the file first. The auto-protect feature scans files sent from the Internet, removable disks, or e-mail attachments and looks for viruses, Trojan horse programs, and other malware. A clean file cache can be maintained and used by the auto-protect feature to avoid unnecessarily re-scanning a file that has not been modified since last being scanned and determined clean.
In typical operation, a target file is accessed for the first time during a user session. Prior to allowing that access to complete, the auto-protect feature automatically scans the file for malware. If malware is identified, the corresponding security application will take remedial action (e.g., cleaning, deleting, or quarantining the suspect code). Once the target file is determined to be clean (assuming it can be cleaned or was simply not infected), a corresponding entry is made in the clean file cache that identifies the file and its corresponding time stamp (or other modification indicator). If the target file is subsequently accessed, the auto-protect feature accesses the clean file cache to confirm whether the target file is present and remains unmodified since last determining its clean status. If so, then no scanning is performed. Otherwise, the target file can be re-scanned for various security risks such as those previously mentioned.
Currently, the clean file cache feature is not persisted to disk and used across boots. This is because there are no mechanisms to ensure that the file system has not been modified by, for example, dual-booting into an infected and/or unprotected operating system environment where files listed in the clean file cache may have become infected while proper security protection mechanisms were not present. As is known, dual-booting is enabled when multiple operating systems (two or more) are installed on a computer. At boot time, a boot loader program is activated thereby allowing the user to choose which operating system to boot. Dual-booting is found in many systems, such as those where the desired applications or other programmed functionality cannot all run on any one operating system (e.g., where some applications run on a Microsoft operating system and other applications run on a Linux operating system). Dual-booting also allows a user to migrate data prior to removing an old operating system.
What is needed, therefore, is a reliable mechanism for detecting whether a system has booted into an unprotected/compromised environment, so that a persisted clean file cache can be used across boots when appropriate.

Enabling clean file cache persistence using dual-boot detection


A phase change memory device comprising a substrate. A plurality of bottom electrodes isolated from each other is on the substrate. An insulating layer crosses a portion of the surfaces of any two of the adjacent bottom electrodes. A pair of phase change material spacers is on a pair of sidewalls of the insulating layer, wherein the pair of the phase change material spacers is on any two of the adjacent bottom electrodes, respectively. A top electrode is on the insulating layer and covers the phase change material spacers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a phase change memory device and method for fabricating the same, and more particularly to a phase change memory device with a relatively higher device density and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A phase change memory (PCM) device may potentially serve as a 64-megabyte (MB) or greater stand-alone non-volatile memory, such as a flash memory. A PCM device stores data by changing the state of a phase change material from an amorphous state to crystalline state using a heating electrode. Before PCM devices become a mainstream replacement for flash memory, however, they must first achieve excellent electrical and thermal performance. Fabrication of non-volatile memory with relatively higher device density using conventional fabrication processes is, thus, a major aim of researchers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,111 issued by Intel Corporation discloses a conventional three-dimensional PCM (3D-PCM) 212 with a cup-shaped bottom electrode 206 as shown in FIG. 1a. A contact area between a phase change material 207 and a bottom electrode can serve as a contact area between the phase change material 207 and a width of the cup-shaped bottom electrode 206, thus, device density is improved. However, a bottleneck occurs when minimizing the device area using conventional fabrication processes, thus, making the invention unsuitable for photolithography processes with critical dimensions (CD) below 0.1 μm. As shown in FIG. 1b, EP Pat. No. 1339111 issued by ST Microelectronics (STM) Corporation discloses a PCM formed by filling a phase change material into a contact hole 57 with a nano-level CD or a minitrench 58 to reduce the contact area 58 between the phase change material and a cup-shaped heating electrode 22, thus, achieving higher device density. However, if the CD of the contact hole is too small to be filled with phase change material, a seam problem occurs.
A PCM device with higher device density is desirable.

Phase change memory device and method for fabricating the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The development of the edges of discharged areas on a photoconductor drum in an electrophotographic printing system is controlled by the ratio of the DC component of the developer bias to the magnitude of the difference between the DC component of the developer bias and the DC component of the bias supplied to the photoconductor charge roller. A development system using a developer, a photoconductor charge roller, a high voltage power supply, an optical density sensor, and a controller for controlling the high voltage power supply optimizes the electrophotographic edge development. The optical density sensor is used in a calibration process to determine the value of the DC component of the developer bias necessary to ensure the optical density of developed areas will meet the minimum specified optical density. Optimization of the edge development is accomplished by controlling the high voltage power supply so that the difference between the DC component of developer bias and the DC component of the photoconductor bias is maintained at a substantially constant value as the DC component of the developer bias is adjusted on successive calibrations.

An initial step in the electrophotographic printing process includes the deposition of a charge onto the surface of the photoconductor. Additionally, the photoconductor is discharged by selectively exposing the surface of the photoconductor to a scanning laser beam to form a latent electrostatic image. After formation of the latent electrostatic image, toner is developed onto the surface of the photoconductor drum during development.
One type of commonly used technique for the development of toner onto the latent electrostatic on the surface of the photoconductor is jump gap development. In the jump gap development process, an electrical signal is applied to a developer roller located close to the surface of the photoconductor. The gap between the surface of the photoconductor and the sleeve of the developer roller is usually in the range of several hundred microns. The electrical signal typically includes a DC component of the developer bias having a superimposed sinusoidal or square wave AC signal.
The charge on the surface of the photoconductor and the electrical signal applied to the developer roller create an electric field which moves electrically charged toner particles across the gap and onto the surface of the photoconductor. The combination of the AC and DC components of the electrical signal applied to the developer roller provides the electric field that strips toner off the sleeve of the developer roller and helps remove toner from the areas on the surface of the photoconductor which are not part of the latent electrostatic image.
The jump gap development process works well for the development of the interior portions of discharged areas on the surface of the photoconductor. However, in some cases, the jump gap development process does not fully develop the edges of the discharged areas. This can contribute to a degradation in the perceived quality of the printed image because the lack of development of edge detail. Furthermore, color printing is particularly susceptible to print quality problems resulting from jump gap development. Because high quality color printing requires, not only the capability to develop the fine features of images, but also the capability to precisely control the developed amounts of the various colored toners to accurately reproduce the desired colors, the shortcomings of the jump gap development process can be especially noticeable in color printing. Improving the performance of the jump gap development process provides a way in which the demands for improved print quality in electrophotographic printing can be met.

Optimization of electrophotographic edge development


A device and method for use with an automatic laundry dryer for conditioning laundry articles during the drying cycle. The device comprises a carrier impregnated with microencapsulated fluid, for use with an automatic laundry dryer for dispensing said fluid during the drying cycle thereby conditioning laundry articles. In the preferred embodiment, a polyurethane foam carrier is impregnated with a microencapsulated active agent fluid for rendering the laundry articles substantially static-free and/or for dispensing fragrance to provide the articles with a desirable scent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laundering devices, and more particularly to a device, and method for use thereof for conditioning laundry articles in an automatic laundry dryer during a drying cycle.
2. Description of the Background Art
Automatic laundry dryers are well known in the art for drying recently washed moisture laden fabrics such as clothing and the like (hereinafter "laundry articles" or "articles"). Typically, automatic laundry dryers remove moisture from moisture laden articles by causing the articles to tumble in a heated air stream whereby moisture is absorbed by the heated air stream and subsequently vented to the atmosphere. Automatic laundry dryers are common appliances in homes throughout the world.
A common problem experienced when drying laundry according to this and other prior art drying methods is the build-up of static electrical charges on the laundry articles resulting in what has commonly been referred to as "static cling." Specifically, the tumbling of the laundry articles in a heated environment causes the articles to acquire positive static charges, which, if not dissipated, result in the undesirable situation where the articles cling to one another or other oppositely charged surfaces. Accordingly, it is desirable to eliminate static cling by neutralizing static charge build-up generated during the drying cycle.
An additional problem in the laundry drying art involves the application of fragrances directly to the laundry articles during the drying process thereby resulting in a desirable scent. It is known in the background art to use scented detergents, disposable dryer sheets and the like in an effort to obtain freshly scented laundered articles. Furthermore, many consumers prefer specialized scents (e.g. lemon).
In an attempt to satisfy these demands, the prior art reveals devices for use with a laundry dryer to eliminate static cling by neutralizing static charge build-up and for further conditioning laundry articles during the drying process. For example, it is known in the art to use a fabric conditioning device comprising a thin polyurethane foam substrate impregnated with a conditioning agent, which substrate is fabricated such that the agent is entrapped or entrained within the cellular structure of the foam and dispensed during a single cycle. An example of such a device is available from Beecham, Inc. and sold under the trademark Cling Free.RTM., as a dryer-added fabric softener and anti-static device which is co-mingled with laundry articles to be rendered soft and/or substantially static-free in an automatic laundry dryer during the drying cycle.
A further example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,644, issued to Pavlich, which discloses a fabric conditioning device for use in an automatic laundry dryer, which device comprises a polyurethane foam substrate impregnated with, or coated with, an effective amount of a fabric conditioning agent, an anti-microbially effective amount of a halide ion-coating agent and an anti-discoloration effective amount of zinc sulfate, sorbitol or dextrose. However, since these prior art devices are only effective for one cycle they must be disposed of thus contributing to the accumulation of solid waste in landfills. Accordingly, there exists a need for a device, for use with a laundry dryer, for eliminating static build-up on laundry articles which is capable of repeated use.
Furthermore, these background art devices are limited to the application of "dry" conditioning agents during the drying cycle. Thus, there also exists a need for a device for use with a laundry dryer for dispensing controlled quantities of liquid conditioning agents during the drying cycle, since liquid conditioning agents may be more effective than "dry" conditioning agents. It is also preferable that such a device be capable of substantial repeated use without the need for disposal, refill, or recharge.

Fabric conditioning device of use with a laundry dryer


An assembly for converting motion comprises a first arm and a second arm rotatable about first and second fixed pivots; a third arm pivotably connected to the second arm; a first connecting arm pivotably connected to and extending between the first arm and the third arm; a second connecting arm pivotably connected to and extending between the first arm and the second arm; and a locking assembly comprising a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member connected to one of the arms and engaging with the second locking member at one or more positions from the retracted position to the extended position. The assembly may comprise the guide assembly comprising a guide member and an engagement member moveably engageable with the guide member.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for converting motion. In one aspect, the apparatus may be used to producing a straight line motion, in particular an apparatus for producing motion of a component in a straight line generated by the rotational movement of a second component or the motion of the second component about a pivot. In a further aspect, the apparatus may be used to both displace and rotate a first component with respect to a second component.
Mechanisms for converting motion, in particular producing a straight line motion from a rotational motion are known in the art. Such straight line mechanisms may be characterised by comprising a first member rotatable about an axis passing through the member and a second member linked to or associated with the first member, the arrangement being such that rotational movement of the first member about the axis results in a straight line movement of the second member.
Examples of early mechanisms for producing a straight line motion include the straight line mechanism design by James Watt, comprising a series of three levers in end-to-end configuration, with movement of the two end levers about pivots at their free ends causing the middle lever to follow a close approximation to a straight line over a portion of its movement. A related linkage comprising three levers, with the middle lever constrained to follow a straight line was proposed by Tchebicheff. The Peaucellier-Lipkin inversor consists of an arrangement of seven levers and provides a conversion of circular motion into linear motion and vice versa. A related four-lever mechanism was proposed by Hart. A linear converter, known as the half beam mechanism, in which a first linear motion is converted to a second linear motion perpendicular to the first, was designed by Scott Russell.
An analysis of a variety of multi-lever, straight line linkages is provided by Dijksman, E. A. 'Advances in Robot Kinematics and Computationed Geometry', pages 411 to 420, [1994] Kluwer Academic Publishers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,103 discloses a straight line mechanism, in particular a mechanism of the so-called 'conchoid' type. There is disclosed a linkage mechanism for an industrial manipulator comprising at least two of the said straight line mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,985 concerns a straight line link mechanism, comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links. The links are connected between a support and a controlled member. As one of the links is moved in a 360° arc, the controlled member alternately moves in a first direction along a linear path and thereafter in the opposite direction along a curved path. The weight of the controlled member may be balanced by the use of a counter weight, to provide a lifting mechanism. A cam may be employed to control the motion of the controlled member.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,353 discloses a straight line motion mechanism formed from a pair linkage mechanisms arranged in a parallelogram in combination with a motion control means. The motion control means interconnects the two linkage mechanisms and provide a uniform angular displacement of each linkage mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,290 concerns a transfer device for transferring a workpiece from a first location to a second location. The workpiece is moved in a trochoidal arc by means of a pickup arm mounted to roll along a flat surface.
A straight line mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,887. The mechanism comprises a static base and a platform supported by first and second arm assemblies. Each of the first and second arm assemblies comprises portions pivotally connected to the static base. The arrangement of the pivoted arm portions of each arm assembly is such that the platform is constrained to move in a straight line, as the portions of the arms move about their respective pivot connections.
Still more recently, WO 97/33725 discloses a device for the relative movement of two elements. The device comprises at least two first links connected to a first element by a hinged connection so as to form a four-hinge system and pivot in a plane parallel to the plane of the first element. At least two second links are connected to the second element so as to form a four-hinge system and to pivot in a plane parallel to the plane of the second element. The two four-hinge systems provided by the first and second links are coupled in series to allow relative motion of the first and second elements.
WO 99/14018 discloses a device for the relative movement of two elements. The device comprises at least two link devices coupled between the elements, each comprising two mutually articulated link units. A first link unit is connected to first, moveable element. The second of the link units is connected to the second, static element. Power applied to the link units causes the first element to move relative to the second.
A mechanical linkage is described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,151. The linkage comprises a plurality of interconnected levers. The linkage provides for movement of one member with respect to a fixed member. The linkage is specifically described and shown for use in providing movement for components of a chair, in particular to allow for movement of the seat of the chair in a rearwardly-downwardly and forwardly-upwardly direction. The linkage is indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,151 to provide for movement of the moveable member in a straight path with respect to the fixed member.
There is a need for an improved assembly for providing a straight line motion, in particular for providing an element moveable in a straight line in response to a rotational motion. It would be most advantageous if the assembly could be arranged in a compact form, thereby occupying only a small volume of space.
GB 2514175 discloses an apparatus for converting motion and a building assembly comprising the same.
An expandable building assembly comprising a rotating roof portion, operated by way of an assembly for converting motion, is disclosed in GB 2505676.
WO 2013/182834 discloses an assembly for converting motion. The assembly comprises a plurality of arms, in particular a first arm rotatable at a first position thereon about a first fixed pivot; a second arm rotatable at a first position thereon about a second fixed pivot, the second fixed pivot spaced apart from the first fixed pivot; a third arm pivotably connected at a first position thereon to the second arm at a second position on the second arm, the second position spaced apart from the first position on the second arm; a first connecting arm extending between the first arm and the third arm, the first connecting arm pivotably connected to a second position on the first arm spaced apart from the first position and pivotably connected to the third arm at a second position thereon spaced apart from the first position thereon; and a second connecting arm extending between the first arm and the second arm, the second connecting arm pivotably connected to a third position on the first arm disposed between the first and second positions thereon and pivotably connected to a third position on the second arm at a third position thereon. The assembly finds use in a range of applications, for example supporting and moving components of a building. In one embodiment described and shown in WO 2013/182834, the assembly is employed in deploying a solar panel array.
A modification to the assembly of WO 2013/182834 has now been found. This new assembly is also for converting a rotary motion into a straight line motion and relies upon an assembly of levers or arms having pivoted connections therebetween. However, the new assembly provides increased rigidity and stability of the assembly of WO 2013/182834, in turn increasing the range of uses of the assembly, thereby significantly increasing the utility of the earlier assembly.


According to the present invention, wirings, electrodes or the like formed from two films (an ITO film and an aluminum film) which are incompatible with each other are connected, and low power consumption is realized even if a display screen size is increased in an active matrix display device. A three-layer structure or a two-layer structure is employed to obtain a favorable ohmic contact with ITO. The structure of a wiring or an electrode includes a layer having an aluminum carbon alloy which does not react with ITO. The wiring or an electrode is contacted with ITO.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a circuit including a thin film transistor (hereinafter, TFT) and a manufacturing method thereof. For example, the present invention relates to an electronic device having, as a component part, an electro-optic device typified by a liquid crystal display panel or a light-emitting display device with an organic light-emitting element.
Note that a semiconductor device in this specification means a generic device which can operate with use of semi-conductive characteristics and includes all types devices such as an electro-optic device, a semiconductor circuit and an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a technology for forming a thin film transistor (TFT) using a semiconductor thin film (a thickness of around several nanometers to several hundred nanometers) formed over a substrate having an insulating surface has been attracting attention. Thin film transistors are broadly applied to electronic devices such as an IC or an electro-optic device, and are particularly developed as switching elements for image display devices at a rapid rate.
Conventionally, in an active matrix type liquid crystal display device with TFT driving, a plurality of scanning lines and data lines are arranged vertically and horizontally on a substrate and a large number of TFTs are provided at intersections of the lines. A gate wiring, a source electrode and a drain electrode of each TFT are electrically connected to the scanning line, the data line and a pixel electrode, respectively.
In a transmissive liquid crystal display device, a transparent conductive film typified by ITO is used as the pixel electrode. The pixel electrode formed of a transparent conductive film is provided over an interlayer insulating film for insulating it from wirings such as a data line or a scanning line. Therefore, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the drain electrode through a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating film.
Specifically, there is a problem of a signal delay due to wiring resistance in manufacturing a display device for large-size display. Therefore, a material having low electric resistance, typically aluminum, is used as the material for wirings or electrodes.
Aluminum used as a material of wirings or electrodes is incompatible with ITO used as a material of a pixel electrode in the junction, and thus there is a problem in that an electric corrosion is caused when the both are directly contacted.
When an aluminum film and an ITO film are directly contacted, aluminum is oxidized and ITO is reduced at the contact surface, and thus contact resistance is varied. It is known that this is a phenomenon of an electrochemical reaction caused due to differences in the electrode potentials of aluminum and ITO.
There is proposed a technique of preventing an electric corrosion with ITO by providing a high-melting point metal film (such as a titanium film), a high-melting metal compound film (such as a titanium nitride film) or the like between an aluminum wiring (or electrode) and the ITO, when connecting wirings or electrodes formed using the both films, which are incompatible with each other.
References 1, 2, and 3 describe that the connection between a drain of a thin film transistor and ITO as a pixel electrode is made by stacking a titanium film, an aluminum film, and a titanium film (Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H9-45927, Reference 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-32202, and Reference 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H6-232129).
Reference 4 describes that the connection between a drain of a thin film transistor and ITO as a pixel electrode is made by stacking a titanium film and an aluminum film, and Reference 5 describes that the connection between a drain of a thin film transistor and ITO as a pixel electrode is made by stacking a titanium nitride film and an aluminum film (Reference 4: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-6974 and Reference 5: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H8-330600).
However, when a titanium film or a titanium nitride film is formed between an aluminum wiring (or electrode) and ITO, wiring resistance is increased and power consumption is also increased if the size of a display screen is made larger. The wiring resistance can be decreased by enlarging the cross sectional area of a metal film to serve as a wiring; however, if the film thickness is made thicker and the cross sectional area is increased, a step between a surface of a substrate and a surface of a wiring having the thick film thickness is produced, which is a cause of an orientation failure of a liquid crystal.
In an active matrix type light-emitting device with TFT driving, there is a case where a transparent conductive film is used as an anode (or cathode) of a light-emitting element. Similarly, the anode formed of a transparent conductive film is formed over an interlayer insulating film for insulating it from various types of wirings. Therefore, the above described electric corrosion is similarly generated when ITO is used as an anode and connected to an electrode (aluminum) of a TFT.

Semiconductor device having a wiring including an aluminum carbon alloy and titanium or molybdenum

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Predicting maintenance needs and analyzing preventative maintenance requirements in electrically powered turbomachinery with multi-parameter sensors and power quality sensors, both of the Fog-type, providing time domain output data and transforming data samples into the frequency domain to detect a root cause of failure of the machinery.

Recently there has been increased commercial as well as academic interest in the area of so called "condition based" machine maintenance.1,2,3 Effective solutions to machine maintenance can eliminate causes of machine downtime caused by abrupt failures of components. Predictive maintenance can, to some extent, eliminate abrupt downtimes but, unless the root cause of the failure is discovered and eliminated, predictive maintenance does not adequately address the failure of machine replacement parts, which fail randomly. 1 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENERGY CONVERSION, VOL. 20, NO. 4, DECEMBER 2005 719 Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis of Electrical Motors—A Review2 Signal Processing, Communication, Power and Embedded System (SCOPES), 2016 International Conference: Condition monitoring of induction motors:—A review3 U.S. Pat. No. 6,738,748 B2
It is generally accepted that there are two major root causes of early machine failures. One of these causes is improper operation, for example, operating a machine without changing an oil or air filter, oil, lubricating grease, and the like, which may lead to abnormal vibration. Similarly, bad operation embraces instances where a machine is made to work beyond its specified maximum speed or loading, or in temperatures above those for which the machine was designed to operate, or with voltage or current outside of the machine's design requirements.
A second major cause of early machine failure is poor quality of incoming electrical power. In the case of three-phase electrical power, such poor quality can be manifested by high phase imbalance of both current and voltage, presence of higher harmonics of both current and voltage, and low noise ratio typically due to poor grounding. Any such poor quality parameters present in the power provided to a machine accelerates failure of motor stators and rotor bearings due to excessive thermal and electrical stresses.
Some investigators have endeavored to understand the predictive nature of machine failures, especially for turbomachinery, namely machinery having rotating elements, such as vacuum pumps, jet engines, electrical generators, electric motors, and the like.
Elimination of the root cause of failures of these machines using predictive engines, built from predictive, preventive, and root cause discovery of vibration and power analysis, using machine wearable sensors, has not been effectively developed heretofore.4,5,6 There has been some study of root cause of failures caused by poor electrical power quality. The effect of higher harmonics and phase imbalance of both current and voltage on machine health has been subject to some academic and commercial research, but actively correlating the root causes of machine degradation, namely bearing or shaft misalignment in a turbomachine, with power quality, has not been effectively studied and is not widely understood. 7,8,9 4 Harmonics and Quality of Power, 2000. Proceedings. Ninth International Conference on: Induction motors loss of life due to voltage imbalance and harmonics: a preliminary study5 Electrical Machines (ICEM), 2014 International Conference: Evolution of high order fault harmonics during a bar breakage with compensation6 Systems, Signal Processing and their Applications (WoSSPA), 2013 8th International Workshop: Fault detection and diagnosis in rotating machinery by vibration monitoring using FFT and Wavelet techniques7 Harmonics and Quality of Power, 2000. Proceedings. Ninth International Conference on: Induction motors loss of life due to voltage imbalance and harmonics: a preliminary study8 Electrical Machines (ICEM), 2014 International Conference: Evolution of high order fault harmonics during a bar breakage with compensation9 Systems, Signal Processing and their Applications (WoSSPA), 2013 8th International Workshop: Fault detection and diagnosis in rotating machinery by vibration monitoring using FFT and Wavelet techniques
In factories, direct current and vector current drives generate alarming levels of high harmonics throughout the electrical power distribution line unless filtered by isolators or harmonic filters.10 Even if an Internet of Things based predictive or condition based maintenance system is present in a factory with turbomachinery, motors continue to degrade at an accelerated pace until the root cause of the harmonics is found and eliminated. Predictive maintenance can, at best, help to avoid abrupt breakdowns but cannot address the issue of reduced lifespan of turbomachines resulting from faster degeneration of motor cores burned by higher harmonics generated from DC and vector current voltage drives. 10 Protective Relay Engineers, 2013 66th Annual Conference: Challenges and solutions of protecting variable speed drive motors
Since electrical line issues tend to be local and transient, and effect only the machines connected to the same line or to the same electrical distribution panel, it is important that predictive maintenance data obtained from a machine and electrical line conditions be correlated in a local server so that latency in receiving them does not hamper effective and quick decision making. For this reason, effective computation is done in an edge device, sometimes also called a fog device and in an edge cloud, which is a mini-server connected to the same net as a fog device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Preventive maintenance and failure cause determinations in turbomachinery


A sense amplifier for a static memory includes two pull-up transistors. The gate of each transistor is coupled to the drain of the other transistor. A circuitry is provided for precharging the drains of both pull-up transistors to a selected voltage such that by the start of the tracking stage of the amplifier, both pull-up transistors are off. If the tracking stage is long enough, one pull-up transistor turns on while the other one remains off, so that before the start of the sensing stage both pull-up transistors reach their final ON/OFF states. Hence the amplifier is fast and power efficient. The memory bit lines are precharged to VCC before the tracking stage, improving the read-disturb immunity and hence allowing a wider range of voltages on the bit lines and the sense amplifier inputs. The noise immunity and tolerance to temperature process variations are improved as a result. The high noise immunity make the amplifier and the memory suitable for integration with noisy circuits such as CPUs. High speed, high power efficiency, high noise immunity, high tolerance to temperature and process variations and high permissible range of bit line voltages make the memory and the amplifier suitable for low-voltage power supplies such as VCC=3.0 V supplies used in lap-top, notebook, sub-note book, and hand-held computers.

The present invention relates to electric devices, and more particularly to memories and amplifiers.
The popularity of battery-powered electronic devices such as laptop, notebook, sub-notebook and hand-held computers increased the need for circuitry that operates efficiently at lower power supply voltages. A typical laptop computer is powered by a 3.0 V power supply as compared to 5.0 V power supplies used in some older non-portable computers. Older memories and sense amplifiers developed for use with the 5.0 V power supplies are often inadequate for use with lower voltage power supplies as illustrated by the following example.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of one column of an array of four-transistor memory cells of a prior art static random access memory ("SRAM"). Such a memory is described in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/709,924. For simplicity, only two memory cells 110A and 110B are shown in FIG. 1, and only the cell 110A is shown in detail. Memory cell 110A includes pull-down transistors 116, 122, pass transistors 130, 134, and load resistors 136, 138. The memory cell is powered by voltage VCC=5.0 V. Voltage VSS is ground (0.0 V). The voltages at nodes N, N at the drains of respective pull-down transistors 116, 122 determine the state of the memory cell (binary 0 or 1). In one state, the voltage at node N is high (near VCC) and the voltage at node N is low (near 0.0 V). i In the other state, node N is high and node N is low.
When memory cell 110A is being read, word line WL-A is driven high to turn on pass transistors 130, 134 and thereby to connect nodes N, N to respective bit lines BL, BL. Line 140 is driven high to turn on Y-decode transistors 142, 144 and thus to connect bit lines BL, BL to respective inputs 150a, 150b of sense amplifier 150. Sense amplifier 150 tracks the bit line voltages. Word line WL-A and line 140 remain high during tracking. Sense amplifier 150 produces on output lead 170 a signal indicative of the difference between the voltages on bit lines BL, BL and hence indicative of the state of memory cell 110A.
Equalizing transistor 180 resistively shorts bit lines BL and BL to each other to prevent the difference between the bit line voltages from exceeding a predetermined value, 0.3 V in some embodiments. This is done to prevent accidental toggling (and hence overwriting) of the memory cells as explained more fully in the aforementioned patent application Ser. No. 07/709,924.
Bit lines BL, BL are charged statically by respective transistors 172, 174. Between reading operations, transistors 172 and 174 bias the respective bit lines at about VCC/2=2.5 V. When memory cell 110A is being read, transistors 172, 174 remain on preventing the bit line voltages from decreasing below a predetermined value, 2.2 V in some embodiments. This is done to prevent accidental toggling of the memory cell. Namely, during reading, the memory cell pulls down both bit lines BL and BL and not only the bit line connected to the low voltage node N or N, because equalizing transistor 180 resistively shorts the bit lines as described above. In addition, both bit lines are pulled down by charge leakage. If the voltages on both bit lines become low, below 2.2 V in some embodiments, the conductance of pull-down transistors 116, 122 becomes so low that the memory cell may toggle (i.e. switch states). By remaining on during reading, transistors 172, 174 prevent such toggling. Between reading operations, transistors 172, 174 keep the bit lines at 2.5 V in order to ensure the 2.5 V bit line voltage at the start of each reading operation and thus to prevent a low voltage caused by the previous operation or by the charge leakage from toggling a memory cell.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of sense amplifier 150 which is powered by voltage VCC=5.0 V. Matched pull-up PMOS transistors 202, 203, connected as a current mirror, provide current to respective nodes 204, 205. Matched pull-down NMOS transistors 206, 207 sink current from respective nodes 204, 205. NMOS transistor 208, whose gate is connected to a constant voltage VREF, is a current source which sets the total current passing through transistors 206, 207.
Inputs 150a, 150b of amplifier 150 are connected to the gates of respective transistors 206, 207 so as to control the currents through the transistors. The balance of the currents through transistors 206, 207 determines the output voltage DOUT on the output lead 170 which is connected to node 205. If inputs 150a, 150b are at equal voltages, the currents through transistors 206, 207 are equal, and the voltages at nodes 204, 205 are also equal. If the voltage on input 150a is higher than the voltage on input 150b, transistor 206 sinks more current than transistor 207. The voltage on node 204 goes down, the voltage on node 205 goes up, and increased DOUT indicates that the voltage on input 150a is above the voltage on input 150b.
Similarly, if input 150a is lower than input 150b, transistor 207 sinks more current than transistor 206. Node 205 is pulled down, and decreased DOUT indicates that the voltage on input 150b is above the voltage on input 150a.
If VCC is reduced to 3.0 V as in laptop computers, the currents through transistors 206, 207 decrease, and sense amplifier 150 becomes slower since it takes longer to pull down node 204 or 205. The speed of the sense amplifier could be increased by increasing the power consumption, but increased power consumption is undesirable in general and especially so in battery-powered laptop computers.
Further, as is known in the art, transistors 206, 207 must be in saturation to maximize the gain of the sense amplifier. The saturation requirement restricts the range of permissible voltages on inputs 150a, 150b. When VCC decreases to 3.0 V, the range of permissible voltages becomes restricted further. The difference between the currents at nodes 204, 205 becomes therefore smaller, and the sense amplifier becomes slower because it takes longer to transform the smaller current difference into an output level DOUT indicative of the state of the memory cell. Further, the smaller difference between the voltages on inputs 150a, 150b is easier to upset by noise and by temperature and process variations. In particular, temperature and process variations may affect the memory so as to further reduce the difference between the voltages on inputs 150a, 105b causing the voltage difference to be unnoticeable to sense amplifier 150 at VCC=3.0 V. Process variations may also affect sense amplifier 150 by, for example, causing a mismatch of transistors 206, 207 so that sense amplifier 150 would pull down a wrong one of nodes 204, 205 when the voltage difference between inputs 150a, 150b is small as it is at VCC=3.0 V. Thus the noise immunity of the sense amplifier and the tolerance to temperature and process variations are inadequate for 3.0 V power supply systems.
There is a need therefore for faster and more power-efficient memories and sense amplifiers which have improved noise immunity and improved tolerance to temperature and process variations and which can operate at low power supply voltages such as used in laptop, notebook, sub-notebook and hand-held computers.

Memories and amplifiers suitable for low voltage power supplies


The authentication system includes a plurality of user terminals that are used by the same user, and a server capable of communicating with the plurality of user terminals. A user terminal transmits, to the server, an identification ID of the user terminal, a first code that is used in common in the plurality of user terminals, and a second code that was encrypted using the first code. The server is configured to decrypt the encrypted second code using the first code, and perform authentication of the user terminal using the identification ID and the decrypted second code. The server, upon receiving a second code that is not encrypted from one of the plurality of user terminals, transmits the second code that was encrypted using the first code to the one of the user terminals.

A system is known that acquires data held in an external device other than a device that the system accessed first when displaying a web page. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which an applet of a web page accesses an advertisement server device via a proxy of a host device and displays an advertisement. Patent Document 2 discloses a system that uses a Java applet incorporated in a first browser window to access an HTTP server device and display a second browser window. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a system that uses a Java applet to acquire a second set of HTML data and embed it in a display area of a first set of HTML data to display the second set of HTML data.
Meanwhile, a system is known that performs user authentication using an identification ID and a password. For example, Patent Document 4 discloses a system that performs user authentication for purchase via a television shopping service, using a personal ID that is preset in a television and a password entered by a user. Patent Document 5 discloses a system that performs user authentication, using authentication information generated based on a user ID and a password that are entered by the user. Further, Patent Document 6 discloses a system that, upon receiving a user ID and a password from a user, performs authentication of the user based on the user ID that is encrypted or decrypted using the password.    Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 7,475,404    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 7,580,990    Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,024    Patent Document 4: JP H9-163346A    Patent Document 5: JP2004-21591A    Patent Document 6: JP2003-528484A

Authentication system, information registration system, server, program, and authentication method

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A method of validating an e-ticket includes the step of sending the e-ticket from an initial receiving server Si to a plurality of servers including Si. Each server returns an answer indicative of whether that server previously answered an inquiry for the e-ticket. A conflict mode of validation is selected if at least one selected server of a majority of servers answered a previous inquiry for the e-ticket. A conflict-free mode of validation is selected if none of the majority of servers has answered any previous inquiry for the e-ticket.

The advent of Internet commerce has increased the prevalence of e-tickets. E-tickets permit consumers to reserve goods and services in advance of the consumption of those goods or services. During an Internet session, for example, a user may visit a web site to make travel arrangements including flight and car reservations. The user is provided with a unique confirmation key or e-ticket for the reserved goods or services. Subsequently, the user must present the e-ticket in order to utilize or obtain the reserved services or goods. A validation protocol is used to determine whether the submitted e-ticket is valid based on a number of requirements. Once the e-ticket is determined to be valid, the e-ticket can be accepted so that the goods or services may be provided to the user.
Typically, the e-ticket is only valid for a single use. One validation protocol simply assumes that the user will not attempt to use the e-ticket more than once. Such protocols are susceptible to abuse by malicious users. Unlike paper tickets, e-tickets need not be relinquished when submitted. Copies are readily and inexpensively made. Thus a user may intentionally or unintentionally resubmit the same e-ticket or even distribute the e-ticket for submission by others.
Another validation protocol relies on a centralized server to ensure the issuance of unique e-tickets and to ensure that a valid e-ticket is accepted only once. One disadvantage of this approach is that the entire protocol has a single point of failure. If the centralized server crashes, valid e-tickets cannot be accepted. Thus this approach is not sufficiently robust to withstand a failure in the centralized server.
A failure detection mechanism can be introduced to support failovers to backup servers when the centralized server crashes. One disadvantage of this approach is the reliance upon perfect failure detection. Mistakes in failure detection result in unexpected behavior.
The failure detection mechanisms may determine that a server has crashed based on a period of non-responsiveness. The length of time that the failure detection mechanism must wait when determining non-responsiveness necessarily trades off false positive diagnosis for false negative diagnosis at least for a period of time. If the server has crashed, the failure detection mechanism may not indicate such until after the expiration of a pre-determined time period during which a false negative condition is effectively occurring. Similarly, if the server has not crashed but is very busy, the failure detection mechanism may indicate that the server has crashed when in fact the server is simply too busy during the pre-determined time period to respond. Either of these conditions may lead to unexpected or undesired behavior.
For example, multiple acceptance could occur if a backup server takes over when the centralized server was non-responsive due to workload as opposed to an actual crash (i.e., false positive). Alternatively, no acceptance might occur if the backup server fails to take over when the centralized server has crashed (false negative).

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Provided herein is an electrode device comprising an interface comprising at least one magnetic contact. The interface can be adaptable to be in communication with an electronic member, wherein the magnetic contact on the interface is adaptable to align and position the electronic member with respect to the interface. The interface can be further adaptable to remain affixed to a patient while an electronic member is removed and/or inserted from the interface. Further provided herein are methods of using the electrode device and kits.

When long-term monitoring—from a few hours to multiple months—of human-generated signals (such as electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG)) is required, currently available devices fall short of adequately meeting the requirements of both the clinician and patient. A medical patch is typically a thin, adhesive-coated flexible material applied to the skin, in this case, for medical monitoring or therapy (drug, electric stimulus, etc.) delivery. A patch may additionally be comprised of one part attached to the skin and a second part that includes electronics circuitry, a radio and a battery, which is in turn attached to the first (skin) part. For long-term monitoring applications, it may be important to leave the skin-contacting portion of the patch attached for the entire monitoring period. Not only will this yield the most consistent signals, but the patient's skin will experience less trauma resulting from the patch. Adhesives commonly used for attaching ambulatory electrodes or patches typically remove one or two layers of skin when they are pulled off, and repeated removals at the same body site can cause skin trauma and a painful rash. Reapplying a patch to a different site avoids the skin irritation, but is unlikely to produce identical signals in monitoring applications.
To accommodate leaving the electrodes in place for extended periods, a method for removing and replacing the electronics, radio and battery is needed. Replaceability of the electrodes/electronics is desirable for the following reasons including: replacing batteries, preventing damage to the electronics during swimming or bathing, replacing malfunctioning electronics, radios or battery, reducing discomfort during certain physical activities, eliminating interference while undergoing medical scanning procedures, and/or removing a battery or capacitor power supply for recharging.
It would be desirable to develop a wireless patch for long-term monitoring, including the ability to change out or swap the electronics circuitry, radio and battery, either as a single unit or in separate modules, without having to remove the electrodes contacting the patient's skin.

Multi-electrode sensing patch for long-term physiological monitoring with swappable electronics, radio and battery, and methods of use


A multi-rate charging circuit includes charging electronics adapted to condition power received from a power source according to operational settings for one or more charge parameters. A plurality of user-selectable charge sets each include settings for one or more of the charge parameters and one of the charge sets is designated as the current default charge set. The charging electronics assume the settings of the default charge set upon power-up, thereafter the user may select an alternative charge set if so desired. A trigger monitor, such as a current level sensor, monitors for the occurrence of a trigger event, such as low current flow associated with the removal of a battery pack, and generates a reset signal in response thereto. The reset signal causes the charging electronics to automatically assume the settings represented by the current default charge set for its operational settings. Thus, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the charging electronics reverts to (or continues, as appropriate) the default charge set settings. Accordingly, the charging circuit automatically charges each battery pack according to the default settings unless the governing charge set is changed by the user after that battery pack is connected to the charging electronics.

Most high performance portable electronic devices rely on rechargeable battery packs to supply the power required for portable operation. The variety of battery packs has increased over time and continues to grow; for instance, numerous different battery cell chemistries have been employed such as Lithium, Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Alkaline. These battery cells are typically assembled into battery packs having various numbers of cells and overall capacities. Different battery pack types typically have different charge capacities and optimum charging profiles. Attempting to recharge a battery pack using a different profile may not only diminish battery life and efficiency, but may also create a hazard due to overcharging and overheating.
Several approaches have been taken to allow a single battery pack charger to be able to safely charge a variety of battery pack types. First, the battery chargers may have their charge parameters set to the lowest common denominator for all the possible battery packs that may be attached to the charger; however, this approach leads to less than optimum charging in most situations. Second, the battery chargers may be equipped with expensive control circuitry to identify the battery pack type and set the charge parameters accordingly. However, this approach does not easily allow the use multiple charge profiles for the same battery pack type, such as a fast recharge and a slow recharge. Third, some battery chargers are equipped with a manual switch that a user can use to select the appropriate charge settings. However, these manual switches remain in the selected position until changed by the user; this may lead to unsafe charging when the user forgets to change the selection when changing battery pack types.
Thus, none of the prior art approaches have proven completely satisfactory and there remains a need for a battery charger which can provide multiple types of charges in a safe manner.


A method of preparing an organic sol of particles is provided. Steps include:                a) providing a suspension of particles in an aqueous medium;        b) adding an organic liquid to form an admixture where the concentration of particles in the admixture is less than or equal to 40 percent by weight;        c) maintaining the admixture at a temperature and pressure and for a time sufficient to reduce the water content to less than 30 percent by weight while simultaneously adding a water-compatible organic liquid at a rate sufficient to maintain a concentration of particles in the admixture at less than or equal to 50 percent by weight; and        d) adding at least one polymer while maintaining the admixture at a temperature and pressure and for a time sufficient to provide an organic sol of particles comprising 1 percent by weight or less of water.

The use of colloidal dispersions is well known in the art of coatings technology. Such dispersions, when incorporated into coatings, are known to improve mar and scratch resistance. They are also known to improve the storage stability of the coating compositions, to assist in rheology control of coatings during application to a substrate, and to improve orientation of pigment particles in coatings containing metallic and other effect pigments.
The favorable effects of the colloidal particles are due in large part to the very small size of the dispersed particles, which is less than the wavelength of visible light. This very small particle size prevents the particles from scattering light, thereby preventing haziness and adverse color effects that can occur from light scattering in an applied coating. The small particle size also promotes stability of the colloidal dispersions as well as the stability of the coating compositions that contain such dispersions. Ambient forces in the suspension such as electrostatic repulsion and Brownian motion of the suspending medium are sufficient to overcome the effects of gravity on the particles. The particles can remain in suspension indefinitely under normal . conditions.
It is well known in the art that very small particles, in particular silica particles, can associate with one another, forming agglomerates. In coatings, these agglomerates act essentially as large particles, and therefore, the above-mentioned benefits of the small particle size may be lost. This tendency to agglomerate is believed to be due to the presence of polar moieties on the surface of the particles, for example Si—O—H moieties on silica particles, which can associate with the surfaces of adjacent particles. One way of preventing this interaction of polar groups on adjacent particles is to form the particles, or later suspend the particles, in an aqueous carrier. Water molecules in an aqueous carrier successfully compete with the neighboring particles for interaction with the polar groups. Although the stability of the suspension can be affected by factors such as pH and the presence of cations, particularly polyvalent cations, the incorporation of aqueous dispersions into aqueous. coating compositions is relatively straightforward. However, in organic coatings or coatings with a high level of non-polar components, the particles have an increased tendency to agglomerate. Since many coating compositions are solventborne, it is desirable to provide a means of incorporating these colloidal dispersions of particles without agglomeration of the particles.
A number of approaches to preventing this agglomeration are known in the art. One approach is the reaction of the silica surface with silanes or silylating agents to yield silica powders dispersible in organic media. Also known is a method in which a non-polar organic solvent, cationic surface active agent, and an organic group-substituted silane are added to an aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica and the water removed by azeotropic distillation.
Another approach involves association of the polar groups of the silica particles with other polar or functional groups to prevent interaction of polar groups on adjacent silica particles. Such approaches include associating the polar moieties on the surface of the silica particles with low molecular weight alcohols such as methanol or propanol. The association may be through polar attraction or hydrogen bonding, or through the formation of chemical bonds.
Preparation of colloidal silica dispersions in solvents such as dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether is known. In this method, a colloidal dispersion of silica particles is added slowly to the solvent while water is distilled off under vacuum at relatively low temperatures. A disadvantage of stabilization of silica particles by solvent alone is that when the colloidal silica is added to a coating composition and the coating composition is subsequently applied to a substrate and dried, some or all of the stabilizing solvent is evaporated. This may lead to destabilization of the silica suspension, haziness, and loss of other coating properties such as optimal appearance and mar resistance. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method to stabilize colloidal particles in such a way that they remain stably dispersed throughout the drying and curing of a coating.

Colloidal particle sols and methods for preparing the same


Holding device for inductive heating of billets of metal alloys having thixotropic properties, and for holding and transporting the billets until casting. The holding device is a dish and the dish exhibits a body in the shape of a tub and a wall at each end, at least the body being out of a high melting point metal, for example steel.

The present invention relates to a holding device for inductive heating of billets of metal alloys having thixotropic properties, and for holding and transporting the billets until casting, The invention also relates to the use of the holding device.
Known are e.g. billets or preforms of metal alloys that are manufactured by melting and continuously casting a metal alloy. The melted alloy is processed e.g. by strong stirring at controlled temperature to a semi-solid alloy state in which the partially melted dendritic primary, solid particles are surrounded by a matrix of liquid metal. This semi-solid alloy mix is cast into elongated ingots, under the influence of stirring, and cooled. The ingots may be processed further in this form, worked into preforms or divided into billets. Processing the ingots, preforms or, in particular, billets may take place for example by e.g. heating a billet such that it reaches a semi-solid, in particular thixotropic, state and then working the billet into a shaped form. This shaping process may be in the form of extrusion, forging or casting. Technologies of this kind are known e.g. from the German patent document DE-PS 22 29 453; technical refinements to this are recorded e.g. in DE-PS 30 06 618. The patent document EP 0 131 175 describes a process for continuous production of metal shapes. To manufacture metal shapes, free-standing metal preforms are heated until reaching a semisolid state i.e. the preforms stand free and the temperature is maintained at a level at which the preform is partially solid. The preforms are transferred by a carrying facility to the shaping facility, said transfer taking place without any significant deformation of the preform and without any significant variation in the semi-solid fraction within the preform. The transfer takes place in particular by means of mechanical gripping. Described in EP A 0 513 523 is another casting process in which the metallic melt is brought into a semi-solid state by means of a static mixer and cooled. The billets produced in this manner are heated e.g. in a stainless steel container and fed into the casting chamber of a casting machine.
During the heating up stage it is decisive that various requirements are satisfied in order for the best quality of billet and end product to be achieved. This concerns e.g. uniformity with respect to maintaining the shape of the semi-solid billet and a uniform distribution of temperature in the billet. Also desired is low metal loss e.g. due to metal dripping off the billet, rapid heating up, in order that no grain growth takes place and an exact and reproducible condition at temperature.


An two-stroke internal combustion engine includes a cooling circuit having at least one passageway on the exhaust side of the engine for cooling the exhaust side of the engine and at least one passageway on the intake side of the engine for cooling at least a portion of the intake side of the cylinder. The engine also includes at least one cooling channel traversing the engine located in the vicinity of one of the bearings supporting the crankshaft for cooling the bearings.

Two-stroke internal combustion engines in recreational vehicles are typically liquid-cooled or air-cooled. Sometimes, in an air-cooled two-stroke engines, the exhaust side of the engine is positioned facing the front of the vehicle such that the hot exhaust side of the engine faces into the wind and is provided with the maximum amount of air flow. The intake side of the engine is typically cooler than the exhaust side since the intake port of the engine is exposed to the relatively cool fuel-air mixture entering the combustion chamber. For this reason, the cooling of the intake side of the engine has been considered unnecessary. In an air-cooled two-stroke engine, the intake side of the engine can face the rear of the vehicle and therefore has no direct airflow. Nonetheless, relatively small indirect airflow actually reaches the intake side of the engine and it has always been considered adequate since a large portion of the heat generated in the combustion chamber is carried outside the engine by the exhaust gases through the exhaust port and/or transferred to the cylinder head and the exhaust side of the cylinder.
In a liquid-cooled two-stroke engine, cooling fluid is circulated into the cylinder block and cylinder head through a cooling circuit. A water pump, usually positioned on the exhaust side of the engine, pumps cooling fluid under pressure into the crankcase of the engine and the cooling fluid circulates upward through a cylinder jacket at least partially surrounding the cylinder(s) and through passageways in the cylinder head before exiting the engine through a water outlet typically equipped with a thermostat. The now hot cooling fluid is delivered to a radiator which cools the cooling fluid before routing it back into the engine in a continuous cycle.
However, conventional cooling circuit for two-stroke engine may adversely affect the performance of the engine by cooling only portions of the engine. Areas of the engine may not be adequately cooled inducing distortions of the cylinder block which can shorten the life of the engine and reduce its performance. Also, critical components of the engine, such as bearings, may not be adequately cooled which can also shorten the life of the engine and reduce its performance.
Thus, there is a need for a cooling circuit for a two-stroke engine that alleviates some of the drawbacks of prior cooling circuits and preferably improves the performance and reliability of the two-stroke engine.

Cooling circuit of internal combustion engine


A process includes dissolving a styrene/acrylate resin in an organic solvent to form a first solution, dissolving at least one polyester resin in the first solution to form a second solution, neutralizing the second solution with a base to provide a neutralized solution, and adding a sufficient amount of water to the neutralized solution to form an emulsion. A latex particle includes a polyester resin and a styrene/acrylate resin dispersed within the latex particle, the surface of the latex particle is substantially the polyester resin. A toner includes a plurality of toner particles prepared from a latex, the particles of the latex including a polyester resin and a styrene/acrylate resin dispersed within each latex particle, the surface of each latex particle is substantially the polyester resin.

The present disclosure relates to latex compositions and methods of their preparation. In particular, the present disclosure relates to hybrid latexes comprising at least two different polymer resins, the hybrid latexes being useful in the manufacture of toner particles.
Latexes employed in toner particle production via emulsion/aggregation-coalescence processes have employed two main classes of polymer resin. Early systems employed polystyrene-acrylate based resins with relatively higher melting temperature and low associated material costs. Later resins included polyester based systems with relatively lower melting temperature, but higher associated material costs.
Latex emulsions of polyester resins are currently produced using phase inversion emulsification (PIE) process in which the resins are dissolved in dual solvents (MEK and IPA), neutralized with an appropriate base, and mixed with water to create a homogeneous water-in-oil (W/O) dispersion (water droplets disperse in continuous oil). Subsequently, additional water is added to invert this dispersion into self-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) latex.

Method of making hybrid latex via phase inversion emulsification


In a high-voltage generator including a CW circuit (high-voltage circuit), where the CW circuit generates a high voltage through booster circuits that are provided for boosting an input voltage and connected to one another in multiple stages, a conductive shielding member for shielding electric circuit parts used for the CW circuit from an electrical discharge that occurs outside or inside the high-voltage generator is provided between the electrical circuit parts. Accordingly, the electric circuit parts are prevented from being damaged and/or burnt by the electrical discharge and the high-voltage generator is miniaturized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-voltage generator for generating a high voltage transmitted to an accelerator for accelerating a charged particle, such as an ion and an electron, for example. Particularly, the present invention relates to a high-voltage generator that can prevent electrical circuit parts used therefor from being damaged by an electrical discharge and that can be reduced in size. The present invention further relates to an accelerator using the above-described high-voltage generator.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known high-voltage generators used for the accelerator for accelerating the charged particles, such as the ion and the electron, metal hoops (conductive annular members) disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-176891, for example, are provided outside a high-voltage circuit including a capacitor, a diode (rectifier element), and so forth. The use of the metal hoops allows for reducing the nonuniformity of an electric field formed by the high-voltage circuit, thereby reducing the occurrence of an electrical discharge.
In general, a Cockcroft-Walton circuit (hereinafter referred to as a CW circuit) is used in the known high-voltage generators. FIG. 5 shows a high-voltage generator 50 using a CW circuit 51. The CW circuit 51 includes a plurality of booster circuits 54 connected to each other in multiple stages, whereby a double-voltage circuit is formed. In this drawing, six booster circuits are provided in the CW circuit 51. Each of the booster circuit 54 includes diodes 52, capacitors 53, and so forth. As an input voltage is sequentially transmitted from the low-voltage side (the external-voltage input side) to the high-voltage side (an upward direction in FIG. 5), the input voltage is gradually boosted. Subsequently, a large potential difference is generated between a low-voltage part 56 and a high-voltage part 57 of the CW circuit 51, which makes an electric field around the CW circuit 51 non-uniform. Further, because of the non-uniform electric field, peripheral elements or the like around the CW circuit 51 are easily charged, which increases the possibility of the electrical-discharge occurrence between the peripheral elements, or the peripheral elements and electric circuit parts including the diodes 52, the capacitors 53, and so forth. For reducing the electrical-charge occurrence, a plurality of substantially annular metal hoops 58 is provided outside and around the CW circuit 51. The metal hoops 58 are provided at predetermined positions, so as to correspond to the booster circuits 54 with predetermined distances therebetween. Subsequently, the electric field around the CW circuit 51 becomes substantially uniform, which reduces the electrical-discharge occurrence caused by the non-uniform electric field. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the known high-voltage generator including the metal hoops 58 and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII—VII.
In the case of a high-voltage power supply disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-312300, substrates connected to multistage booster circuits of a CW circuit are molded of a flexible insulation resin. Subsequently, the occurrence of an electrical discharge in the CW circuit reduces. Further, each of distances between the substrates decreases, whereby the high-voltage power supply is miniaturized.
In the known accelerators for accelerating the ion or the electron, a high-voltage circuit for transmitting a high voltage to an acceleration unit is provided outside an acceleration tube, which reduces spaces between the elements of the accelerator. However, since a predetermined distance must be provided between the acceleration tube and a high-voltage power supply for reducing the electrical-discharge occurrence, the proximity of the acceleration tube and the high-voltage power supply decreases, which hampers miniaturization of the high-voltage power supply.
More specifically, the above-described Cockcroft-Walton circuit, that is, a Cockcroft-Walton high-voltage power supply is often used, as the high-voltage circuit of the above-described accelerator. Usually, both the voltage of the Cockcroft-Walton high-voltage power supply and that of the acceleration tube for accelerating an ion and/or an electron by distributing the boosted potential are high. Further, an electrical discharge is likely to occur, where the proximity of the Cockcroft-Walton high-voltage power supply and the acceleration tube is increased without suitable preparation. Therefore, the high-voltage power supply and the acceleration power supply must be provided with a predetermined distance therebetween, which hampers miniaturization of the entire accelerator.
Although the known metal hoops disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-176891 can reduce the electrical discharge in the high-voltage circuit, such as the above-described CW circuit or the like, they are not sufficient enough for completely eliminating the electrical discharge. Accordingly, it was not possible to completely prevent the electric circuit parts used for the high-voltage circuit from being damaged or burnt by the electrical discharge. However, where distances between the electric circuit parts, or the peripheral elements and the electric circuit parts are increased, the insulation effect is enhanced and the electrical-discharge occurrence decreases. In that case, though the electrical circuit parts are prevented from being damaged and/or burnt, the high-voltage generator increases in size. Further, since voltages transmitted to the accelerator or the like have become increasingly high in recent years, so as to increase the energy of a charged particle such as an ion, the above-described electric circuit parts have become more likely to be damaged and/or burnt by an electrical discharge.
Where each of the substrates on which the booster circuits are formed is molded of the flexible resin, as in the case of the high-voltage power supply disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-312300, the substrates are prevented from being damaged and/or burnt by an electrical discharge. However, the cost and time required for the molding is so high that the use of the above-described high-voltage power supply is not economical.

High-voltage generator and accelerator using same


A nestable truck body is provided, having dimensions of height and width which increase from the front of the truck body to the back of the truck body do that the majority of the truck body is able to be nested within another empty truck body of similar construction, thereby enabling the storage of more than one truck body in little more space than is required to store one truck body. When this structure is combined with techniques for piggyback towing of bodiless trucks, a method for the simultaneous transportation of a plurality of trucks and bodies therefor is achieved, which may be further improved by reversal of the orientation of the last truck so that the bodies nested therein are carried more securely.

In recent times, environmental concerns have significantly focused on automotive transportation. Vehicle pollution and its detrimental affects on the atmosphere have led to federal and state regulations directed to vehicle pollution control devices. More particularly, the automotive industry has been compelled by federal and state regulations to comply with increasingly restrictive vehicle emission requirements.
Concerns relating to automotive use are not limited to their impact on the environment. The ever increasing costs of manpower, insurance, and petroleum products such as fuel and oil are also or paramount concern.
Solutions directed to these concerns may be mandated by federal and state regulation, or may be initiated by the automotive industry as evidenced by the downsizing of engines by car manufacturers during the gasoline shortage of the late seventies. Additionally, individuals and business have attempted to devise and utilize methods to minimize the use of petroleum products, such as taxi sharing, carpooling, and the like. However, the fact remains that reducing the consumption of. petroleum based products has become a national, if not, global concern.
Minimizing the unnecessary use and or operation of vehicles is one approach, and when that approach is utilized by industries or very large companies where automotive use is integral to their operation, substantial financial savings and decreased adverse affect on the environment may be realized. Furthermore, when these approaches are directed to trucks, the financial benefits and decreased adverse affects are even greater. This is because trucks are generally equipped with very large displacement engines designed to pull the heavy loads associated with the anticipated fully loaded conditions that trucks experience during their service lives. Accordingly, they emit more emissions than cars, are less fuel efficient than cars and consequently cost more to operate. They are particularly inefficient when carrying a light load, such as when being transported without a body or cargo therein. Thus, individuals, businesses, and industries that utilize trucks have additional incentive to employ means and measures that reduce their overall usage, especially when such usage is unnecessary.
Perhaps the simplest method for transporting a plurality of vehicles while driving only one is via a ball hitch arrangement, which consists of a ball assembly mounted on the rear of the towing vehicle and receptacle assembly mounted on the front of the item to be towed. In such an arrangement, the receptacle is first raised and then dropped over the ball to achieve coupling. The ball may then be secured in the receptacle by additional securing means such as a pin, chain, padlock, or other manner. This and other similar arrangements achieve what is commonly known as flat towing.
The ball and receptacle type arrangement is not without deficiency. The arrangement provides a pivot point between the two trucks, e.g., at the ball hitch, which diminishes the control of both vehicles. Furthermore, since all the wheels of the towed vehicle are in contact with the ground in such an arrangement, steering control is further diminished, and front tire wire of the towed vehicle accelerated greatly. In general, towing arrangements which do not require all the wheels of the towed vehicle to be on the ground provide more steering control than contrary arrangements.
Truck cabin, drivetrain and frame assemblies are commonly sent from their manufacturers to a truck body company that installs the truck body and the auxiliary and optional equipment, paints the vehicle, and takes any other steps required to arrive at a complete vehicle ready for use. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity the terms cab or truck as used in appropriate context herein, may refer to the cabin, drivetrain and frame assembly of an otherwise complete and functional truck, but for the installation of the body. Truck manufacturers shipping such cab assemblies to dealerships and or end users have utilized a method to transport these items that enables the transportation of a plurality of such incomplete trucks while requiring only one truck to be operational, i.e., a lead truck which tows the remaining trucks in piggyback fashion.
This piggyback method of towing involves frontal structure of the truck to be towed being raised and coupled to rearward structure of the leading vehicle. Most commonly, the system employs a fifth wheel hitch, gooseneck or other type of receiver of the towing or lead vehicle to be coupled to the front axle of the vehicle to be towed, such front axle typically being known as a "dead" or beam type axle. The coupling may be accomplished via a depending pin assembly which is mounted to the front axle for receipt by the aperture of the fifth wheel hitch or by some other receiver on the towing or lead vehicle. In the case of a twin drive axle tractor, the fifth wheel hitch is located between the two parallel pairs of drive wheels at the rear of the truck, since this central location over the two wheel axles provides the adequate support for the truck's rated load. Placing the fifth wheel hitch rearward of the drive wheels could cause the lead vehicle to "pop a wheelie" under such a load, although this would not be the case under the load of the cab of the piggyback truck, which should be substantial less than the rated load. Using this towing location, the front wheel of the towed vehicle must be removed prior to coupling since they interfere with the rotation of the two parallel pairs of drive wheels. Thus, while a plurality of trucks may be towed in such an arrangement, the front wheels of all the trucks to be towed must first be removed.
These methods may also be used for smaller trucks which have only one axle of drive wheels. Similarly, the fifth wheel hitch is located near the single pair of drive wheels in order to adequately support either a truck or truck body, and likewise requires removal of the front wheels of the vehicle to be towed.
An improved method over those previously described is delineated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,468, incorporated herein by reference, as if more fully set forth. Therein, Paul, et. al., teaches an improved method which dispatches with the need for the front wheels to first be removed from the trucks that are to be towed. This feature is achieved by the mounting of a decking bar on the truck to be towed, across the chassis transverse to the longitudinal axis, in front of and above axle of its front wheel assembly. This decking bar is then engaged and supported by a saddle arrangement mounted to the towing truck's chassis, rearward of the fifth wheel hitch. Since the decking bar is located forward of the front axle of the vehicle to be towed and the saddle arrangement is located rearward of the fifth wheel hitch of the towing vehicle, the front wheels of the vehicle to be towed are now placed behind the two parallel pairs of drive wheels. This rearward location of the front wheels eliminates interference with the drive wheels and thus allows for the front wheels to remain on the towed vehicle. Unfortunately, patent '468 is limited to the towing of incomplete trucks.
While the above mentioned systems and methods allow a plurality of trucks to be towed, they do not aid in the transportation of multiple truck bodies. Nor can the benefits of such systems be exploited once truck bodies are associated with the trucks to be transported therewith. To the extent that a plurality of truck bodies can be transported simultaneously, present methods simply allow for a truck and truck body to be coupled to another truck body in tandem flat towing fashion. Therefore, the number of truck bodies that can be transported is limited to two truck bodies per lead or towing vehicle. Additionally, in such a configuration, the overall length of the entire configuration may present space, vehicle control, and insurance problems.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an apparatus and method which allows a plurality of trucks with bodies to be transported simultaneously. It would further be desirable to have an apparatus or method which allows for the transportation of a plurality of truck bodies in little more space than is required for a single truck body.
The benefits of such an apparatus relate to the gained efficiency in being able to transport a plurality of truck bodies simultaneously. For example, significant savings in fuel and manpower cost associated with transporting truck bodies individually or in pairs may be realized by implementation of the present invention. Moreover, vehicle wear such as brake, transmission, and engine wear, is limited to a single lead or towing vehicle, with the exception being the tires of the vehicles being towed which are in contact with the ground. Furthermore, implementation of the present invention allows for drastic reductions in automotive emissions associated with transporting truck bodies individually or in pairs, in as much as a single engine is used in a situation more closely approximating its rated load, thereby improving its efficiency.
With the advent of truck rental companies, a need exists to be able to transport not only multiple trucks but also the multiple truck bodies therefor, since very often people rent complete trucks to go from a first location to a second location and then return the complete truck at an office of the truck rental company located at the second location. These arrangements are commonly referred to as one-way rentals. Eventually, the truck rental company will likely desire that the truck be returned to the first location. For example, a person may rent a truck in New York to transport items to Pennsylvania and may consequently drop the truck off at the rental company's Pennsylvania location. At some point, the rental company may need to get several such empty trucks back to New York.
Alternately, a truck manufacturer may simply wish to transport a plurality of new trucks, both trucks and truck bodies, from the point of manufacture to a dealership or end user.
Furthermore, shipping companies, as well as any other type of business which utilizes multiple trucks, may desire that their trucks be moved from one location to another. For instance, several trucks may be needed to deliver goods to a "single" location but then the empty trucks may have to return to a base location. It would be uneconomical and environmentally unsound to have the several trucks drive back to the base station separately when they could be coupled together and transported by a single lead or tow vehicle.
Furthermore, another possible concern of truck rental companies or other industries or companies which utilize a plurality of trucks is the space required to store these trucks when they are not in operation on a regular basis. The cost of real estate can be a significant factor in the operation of a business, and since the current trend of big business are toward downsizing and maximizing efficiency, the efficient use of real estate can play a vital role in these goals.
Indeed, the storage of trucks may conceivably require a great deal of real estate. Therefore, the ability to nest truck bodies within each other offers the option of drastically reducing land use requirements with respect to truck storage.
Nestable containers are also well known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,073, incorporated herein by reference as if more fully set forth, provides an Apparatus for the Transport and Management of Liquid Bearing Waste. Therein, Gesuale provides an apparatus which allows for the storage and transport of a plurality of such containers when they are empty. The invention comprises an open top bulk material bin which tapers in dimension from top to bottom so as to enable a number of empty bins of similar construction to be nested vertically within one another, in little more space than is required for the storage of a single such container.
Consequently, a need exists for a variation upon a combination of the above described devices and methods, having trucks and bodies constructed to facilitate the more efficient storage and transportation of a plurality of such truck bodies simultaneously than enabled by devices and methods heretofore known. Furthermore, it is desired that storage and or transportation of a plurality of truck bodies require little more space than is required for a single truck body.