Vessels, or housings, and covers therefor are detailed herein. Loads and load-bearing surfaces exist principally at the periphery of the covers, by contrast with centralized loading utilized in other designs. In some versions of the vessels, a cover is sandwiched, at its periphery, between a cap assembly formed of both a jack ring and an upper component or cap and thus carried on and off the associated vessel when the cap is placed onto or removed from the vessel, respectively.

Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,802 to Archer, et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, discloses multiple embodiments of water purification equipment. Included as parts of the equipment are housings, or vessels, having both fluid inlets and outlets. Pressurized fluid (water) flows through an inlet into a body housing, typically, a purification unit, with at least some of the fluid contacting material within the purification unit for treatment.
As noted in the Archer patent:                The water inlet and water outlet are incorporated into a body to which is connected a cover that houses the purification unit. This cover is removable for replacement of the purification unit . . .See Archer, col. 2, 11. 17–20. In at least some embodiments of the vessels disclosed in the Archer patent, the cover "is typically threaded and . . . includes several ridges that provide gripping surfaces that ease [its] attachment . . . to the body." See id., col. 3, 11. 63–65 (numeral omitted).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,753 to Davidson discusses a two-chambered chemical feeder assembly having an inlet, an outlet, and a housing. Included as part of the housing is a cap having                an outer annular shoulder, a threaded outer cover and an open, flanged, internally threaded tube in the center of the cap. The outer cover threadedly engages the internally threaded tube, thereby compressing an o-ring effecting a fluid-tight seal between the outer cover and the cap.See Davidson, col. 3, 11. 46–51 (numerals omitted).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,117 to Messinger, et al. details another assembly for pressurized fluids incorporating an inlet, an outlet, and a housing. According to the Messinger patent, the assembly includes "a cover removably attached to the housing in a manner that allows jacking of the cover into and away from sealing engagement with the housing." See Messinger, Abstract, 11. 2–4. A central boss extends outwardly from the cover and has an external cylindrical wall functioning as a bearing surface. The assembly additionally includes a jack ring whose center embraces the external wall of the boss. As noted in the Messinger patent:                when [a] top cover is threaded onto the housing, it engages the removable cover both at its central position adjacent the central aperture of the ring, in the region of the boss on the removable cover, and also at the external periphery thereof, at the ledge of the top cover bearing against [a] flange [of the removable cover]. The jack ring thus carries the removable cover into tight sealing engagement with the housing, closing off the fluid chamber when it has been fully threaded onto the housing.See id., col. 5, 11. 36–45.


A hand-held electronic device and a display method are described. The hand-held electronic device of the invention includes an image processing unit configured to provide a first image; a first display unit configured to display the first image; a first optical system configured to receive light emitted from the first display unit and conduct a light path conversion on it to form a first magnified virtual image, wherein a length of a light path between the first optical system and the first display unit is less than a focal distance of first optical system; and a first window disposed on a first external surface of the hand-held electronic device to allow a viewer to watch the first magnified virtual image through the first optical system when the viewer is close to the first external surface.

The present invention relates to a hand-held electronic device and a display method for hand-held electronic device.
Presently, hand-held electronic devices with a big screen, such as smart phone or the like, are more and more popular with users. However, the size of screen of hand-held electronic device is limited by portable characteristics after all, which is not beyond 4 inches or 5 inches generally. However with the development of the technology, the processing capacity of processor is enhanced, thus functions provided by the portable electronic device to the users are increased continuously such that the screen size of the existing hand-held device can no longer meet the users' requirements which are more and more diverse. For example, the image size of the existing hand-held electronic device display is small and the resolution of the display screen is low, the user would have a worse experience when watching a video through hand-held electronic device. Accordingly, it is desired that a portable electronic device provide a user bigger visual experience while ensuring the portability of the electronic device is provided.

Hand-held electronic device and display method


Measurement and/or control units located within a borehole are inductively coupled to a flat three phase power cable segment without piercing the armor around the cable. For drawing power from the cable, C-shaped, L-shaped or straight core(s) with winding(s) around at least a portion thereof are positioned proximate to one or both end conductors, outside the armor, with significantly overlapping the center conductor. For impressing or detecting signals on the cable, straight core(s) with winding(s) around at least a portion thereof are disposed on one or both sides of the cable, outside the armor, across all three conductors with the core oriented transverse to the cable conductors.

In borehole production systems that employ artificial lift equipment such as electrical submersible pumps (ESPs), a three phase power cable transmits power downhole to the motor and pump. In addition, various schemes have been proposed for transmitting data measurement and control signals over the three phase power cable, including transmission of such data measurement and control signals concurrently with the three phase power.
Current systems for transmitting measurement and control signals over the power cable and/or powering downhole electronics from the three phase power to the pump motor typically require direct connection to the cable conductors. Such direct connection requires piercing the cable armor, creating a point at which the cable might become susceptible to attack by hostile conditions downhole.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for indirectly coupling to power cable conductors, without piercing the cable armor, in order to draw power or transmit signals.

Armored flat cable signalling and instrument power acquisition


Wellbore apparatus including an elongated tubular adapted for disposal within the wellbore. The tubular having an elongated recess formed on its exterior surface along the longitudinal axis. The recess is adapted to accept and house a component therein. A shield disposed within the recess and adapted to slide to a selected position therein, covering a housed component. The sliding shield and housed component are retained within the recess by a retainer system using minimal fasteners.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to tubulars. More particularly, this invention relates to improved housing and mounting configurations for components used in tubulars for subsurface applications.
2. Background Art
In the oil and gas industry, subsurface formations are typically probed by well logging instruments to determine the formation characteristics. Among these instruments, sonic tools have been found to provide valuable information regarding subsurface acoustic properties, which may be used to produce images or derive related characteristics for the formations.
Acoustic waves are periodic vibrational disturbances resulting from acoustic energy that propagates through a medium, such as a subsurface formation. Acoustic waves are typically characterized in terms of their frequency, amplitude, and speed of propagation. Acoustic properties of interest for formations may include compressional wave speed, shear wave speed, borehole modes, and formation slowness. Additionally, acoustic images may be used to depict borehole wall conditions and other geological features away from the borehole. These acoustic measurements have applications in seismic correlation, petrophysics, rock mechanics and other areas.
Recordings of acoustic properties as functions of depth are known as acoustic logs. Information obtained from acoustic logs may be useful in a variety of applications, including well to well correlation, porosity determination, determination of mechanical or elastic rock parameters to give an indication of lithology, detection of over-pressured formation zones, and the conversion of seismic time traces to depth traces based on the measured speed of sound in the formation.
Sonic logging of earth formations entails lowering an acoustic logging instrument or tool into a borehole traversing the formation. The instrument typically includes one or more acoustic sources (i.e., a transmitter) for emitting acoustic energy into the subsurface formations and one or more acoustic sensors or receivers for receiving acoustic energy. The transmitter is periodically actuated to emit pulses of acoustic energy into the borehole, which travel through the borehole and into the formation. After propagating through the borehole and formation, some of the acoustic energy travels to the receivers, where it is detected. Various attributes of the detected acoustic energy are subsequently related to subsurface or tool properties of interest.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional downhole sonic tool. The tool 10 is shown disposed in a borehole 12 traversing an earth formation 20. The borehole 12 is typically filled with a drilling fluid 14 ("mud") that is used during the drilling of the borehole. The tool 10 is generally implemented in a tubular 13 support, which in the case of a drill collar includes an internal passage 13A for drilling fluid 14 to reach a mud motor and/or a drill bit at the bottom of a drill string (not shown) as known in the art. The logging tool 10 includes one or more acoustic transmitters 16 and a plurality of acoustic receivers 18 disposed on the tubular 13. The receivers 18 are shown spaced apart from each other, along the longitudinal axis of the tool 10, at a selected distance h. One of the receivers 18 closest to the transmitter 16 is axially spaced there from by a selected distance a. The tool 10 also houses one or more conventional computer modules 21 including microprocessors, memory, and software to process waveform signal data as known in the art. As also known in the art, the computer module(s) 21 can be disposed within the instrument, at the earth surface, or combined between the two as shown in FIG. 1. Acoustic energy waves 22 are shown propagating in the borehole. Conventional sonic downhole tools are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,852,587, 4,543,648, 5,510,582, 4,594,691, 5,594,706, 6,082,484 6,631,327, 6,474,439, 6,494,288, 5,796,677, 5,309,404, 5,521,882, 5,753,812, RE34,975 and 6,466,513.
Conventional acoustic tools are equipped with acoustic transducer elements, such as piezoelectric elements. In general, an acoustic transducer converts energy between electric and acoustic forms and can be adapted to act as a source or a sensor. Acoustic transducers are typically mounted on the body of the logging tool as shown in FIG. 1. Conventional sonic sources and sensors used in downhole tools are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,466,513, 5,852,587, 5,886,303, 5,796,677, 5,469,736 and 6,084,826. For various reasons, including space constraints, these transducers typically have multiple components compacted into a package mounted on the tool with the front-end electronics and circuitry disposed remotely from the transducer elements.
Acoustic transducer devices have also been incorporated in configurations using printed circuit boards (PCBs). U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,211 describes an ultra-sonic transducer implemented in a PCB for attachment to bolt heads. The proposed transducers are coupled to a remote computer for identification of the bolts using the transducer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,644 describes mechanisms using piezoelectric devices located next to PCB connection pads to increase engagement forces between the connection pads and connectors. EP 1467060 A1 describes flexible piezoelectric transducers for use with downhole tools to telemeter acoustic signals through the tools. Drawbacks of these conventional acoustic transducer systems include poor sensitivity and a need for bulky electronics packages (e.g., large preamplifier stages) disposed elsewhere.
As known in the art, myriad types of sources and sensors (e.g., radiation-type, electromagnetic-type, NMR-type, gravity-type) are used to perform subsurface measurements using downhole tools. Other such components used in the art include instrumentation, electronics, connectors, computing means, and telemetry means, which are also mounted on the downhole tools. Various means for mounting these items on the downhole tools are known in the art. It is desirable to have improved techniques for disposing such components on downhole tools without sacrificing performance and reliability.


The exhaust manifold has a plurality of individual pipes each having an inlet which is detachably connected to an exhaust gas outlet of an internal combustion engine. Each individual pipe has a catalytic converter section which makes an angle with the inlet, defines a catalytic converter axis and contains catalyst means for the catalytic treatment of the exhaust gas. In a cross-section at right angles to the catalytic converter axis, the catalyst means have a cross-sectional area which is greater than the inlet orifice area of the inlet so that the catalyst means cause only a relatively low resistance to flow when exhaust gas is passed through.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to an exhaust manifold.
The exhaust manifold may form part of an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The internal combustion engine consists, for example, of a gasoline engine and has, for example, a plurality of cylindrical combustion chambers in which a piston which can be moved back and forth is arranged. However, the engine might instead be in the form of a rotary piston engine and have combustion chambers containing a rotary piston. Each combustion chamber is connected to an exhaust outlet of the internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the prior art
An exhaust manifold disclosed in German Utility Model 295 05 660 has a plurality of individual pipes which are formed from straight pipe sections and whose inlets can be connected to the exhaust outlets of the internal combustion engine and whose ends facing away from the inlets enter a horizontal collecting pipe at right angles to their axes. Each pipe section contains catalyst means not described in detail. The cross-sectional areas of the catalyst means present in the pipe sections or individual pipes are evidently at most about the same size as the cross-sectional areas of the inlet orifices of the pipe sections. The catalyst means therefore give rise to a large resistance to flow and a large pressure drop or opposite pressure which reduces the effective power of the engine. Moreover, the collecting pipe also contains catalyst means which further increase the resistance to flow and the opposite pressure. Since the exhaust outlets of the engines generally have approximately horizontal axes and are often arranged fairly high up on the engine and relatively high above the vehicle bottom, for space reasons it is often inexpedient to connect the exhaust outlets of the engine to a horizontal collecting pipe by straight pipe sections.
FIGS. 7 to 10 of French Publication 2 179 689 show exhaust manifolds having a plurality of pipes which are connected to exhaust outlets of an internal combustion engine and contain catalyst means. However, the catalyst means of this exhaust manifold also have only small cross-sectional areas transverse to the direction of flow of the exhaust gases flowing through them or require a plurality of sharp deflections of the exhaust gas and the passage of the exhaust gas through cavities having small cross-sectional areas. The catalyst means and/or the gas passage from and to the catalyst means therefore give rise to high resistances to flow and opposite pressures in these known exhaust manifolds too and, particularly in the case of the variants according to FIGS. 9 and 10, inhomogeneous flow distributions in the catalyst means.
German Publication 42 36 893 discloses an exhaust pipe connected to an exhaust outlet of an internal combustion engine. A curved section of this contains catalyst means having a stack of plates. These catalyst means have the disadvantages that their cross-sectional areas are at most approximately the same as those of the passage of the remaining pipe and that their exhaust gas passages are of different lengths depending on the radius of curvature, so that the exhaust gas is purified to different extents in the various passages. Furthermore, the production of such catalyst means is difficult and expensive.
U.S. Pat. Ser. 5 330 728 discloses catalytic converters whose housing has an inlet, a catalytic converter section containing catalyst means and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are offset relative to one another and have axes parallel to one another, while the axis of the catalytic converter section and the passages of the catalyst means are inclined relative to these axes. The exhaust gas entry surface and the exhaust gas exit surface of the catalyst means are flat and parallel to the axes of the inlet and outlet. These catalytic converters are apparently intended to be arranged below the vehicle bottom and not to be arranged in the individual pipes of an exhaust manifold. For space reasons, it would also not be expedient to install such catalytic converters in an exhaust manifold. Furthermore, the exhaust gas is greatly deflected immediately after the catalyst means, the housing having, on one side of the exhaust gas exit surface of the catalyst means, a wall which is directly adjacent to said surface and which makes a fairly acute angle with the exhaust gas exit surface. During operation, a pressure gradient therefore forms over the exhaust gas exit surface and influences the exhaust gas flow in the catalyst means and makes it inhomogeneous. This impairs the efficiency of the catalyst means.

Scambia Industrial Developments Aktiengesellschaft


A method for reducing target surface features in continuously cast articles is described. The method can remove a target surface feature, such as a compositional variation or casting defect, from the continuously cast article by removing, before cold rolling, material from the continuously cast article surface.

Aluminum is a light weight metal having great strength and controlled energy absorption for its weight. Aluminum alloys are extremely workable, weldable and formable. After being worked and formed, aluminum has class-A surface quality. Moreover, aluminum alloys have a high degree of corrosion resistance. For these reasons, aluminum is an excellent choice for car bodies, in particular for automotive panels, side walls, doors, hoods, trucks, wings, spoilers and fins.
In certain applications, objects fabricated from aluminum sheet require a low incidence of target surface features, such as surface deposits (e.g., an oxide layer formed during casting and cooling), defects (e.g., casting defects), and other surface irregularities. In the automotive industry, for example, objects, such as door panels, hoods, trunk lids, and the like, are formed from aluminum alloys. Superior surface quality is required for aesthetics.
Due to the demanding surface quality requirements, aluminum sheet for such applications is more expensive and can be made by fewer processes with semi-continuous direct-chill (DC) casting processes being typically employed to fabricate cylindrical billets or rectangular ingots/blooms for further processing by extrusion, rolling, and/or forging. With reference to FIG. 10, a typical direct-chill casting process 1000 operates by pouring molten metal 1004 continuously into a water-cooled mold 1008 via a trough and vertical downspout (nozzle). The mold 1008 is generally a short mold (e.g., 7.5-15 cm deep) that has holes at the bottom. Water jets flowing from the holes onto the surface of the emerging ingot provide its direct chilling and solidification. Only an outer layer of metal typically solidifies within the water-cooled mold, forming a solid shell of the ingot containing a pool of liquid metal. After leaving the closed mold, the solid shell is further cooled directly by water in a secondary cooling zone, continuing the solidification of the ingot 1012 until complete. Only about 20% of the heat of the molten metal is removed through the mold wall, with the secondary cooling (Direct Chill) contributing the majority of cooling.
To remove target surface features, a scalper 1016, which is typically a rotating circular saw moving in the direction shown, removes approximately 0.25 inches from each of the upper and lower surfaces of the ingot 1012. The scalped ingot 1020 is subsequently preheated and further processed 1024 by a reversing mill (not shown) and hot and cold mills (not shown) to form the aluminum alloy sheet.
Less expensive continuous casting processes are generally not employed due to an unacceptably high incidence of target surface features formed during casting.

Method for reducing target surface features in continuous casting


A control system with a serial interface is provided. The control system includes a programmable database, a first driver, at least one second driver, and a controller. A data is written into the programmable database through a programming method. The first driver is coupled to the programmable database via the serial interface. The at least one second driver is coupled with the first driver. The controller is coupled with the serial interface and accordingly coupled to the programmable database and the first driver via the serial interface. The controller captures the data from the programmable database through the serial interface and adjusts parameters of the first driver and the at least one second driver according to the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a control system, and more particularly, to a control system with a serial interface.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the development of technologies, imaging devices have become one of the most common products in our daily life. Particularly, displays are one of the most indispensable components in these imaging devices. A user reads messages or even indirectly controls the operation of an imaging device through a display. Additionally, the rapid advancement of semiconductor technology makes it possible to gradually replace the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays with flat panel displays (FPD). Among different types of FPDs, liquid crystal display (LCD) has become the mainstream product thanks to its many advantages, such as low operating voltage, no radiation, light weight, and small volume.
A LCD usually includes a timing controller and a LCD driver. Many signal lines are usually disposed between the timing controller and the LCD driver for transmitting different control signals and data. However, a conventional timing controller cannot directly adjust the internal function of a LCD driver, and the adjustment of internal function of a LCD driver can only be carried out through pins of the LCD driver. Thus, the internal function of a LCD driver cannot be changed once the hardware design is completed, which may affect the data transmission rate and the display quality of the LCD or may even result in unnecessary power consumption.


A cigarette mouthpiece is described. Embodiments of the cigarette mouthpiece include cigarette mouthpiece made from a strip of flexible material having a varying width. A width of the strip of flexible material can help determine a length of a user engagement portion and a cigarette engagement portion of the cigarette mouthpiece. The cigarette mouthpiece can have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and a diameter of the cigarette mouthpiece can be adjustable. Typically, an outside diameter of the cigarette engagement portion can be altered to fit into differently sized rolled cigarettes.

Smokers who roll their own cigarettes and use a mouthpiece often have a difficult time getting the mouthpiece to stay securely attached to a cigarette. The cigarette has to be rolled just the right diameter to match with the diameter of the mouthpiece to create enough frictional force to prevent it from falling out, or the adhesive from the rolling paper has to be utilized to glue a mouthpiece to the cigarette. Both of these methods are cumbersome and inexact, taking away time and pleasure from the smoking experience.
A cigarette mouthpiece that allows the smoker to roll cigarettes without having to match the diameter of the cigarette to the diameter of the mouthpiece is needed. More specifically, a cigarette mouthpiece with an adjustable diameter configured to adjust to an internal diameter of a rolled cigarette and expand enough to lock in place is needed.


A synchronous semiconductor memory device having a wave pipelining control structure and a method of outputting data therefrom. A register for storing the data output from a memory cell is controlled by a control signal in response to first and second external clock signals. The level transition of the control signal derived from the first clock is delayed, so that data output malfunctioning is prevented even though manufacturing process conditions are changed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a synchronous semiconductor memory device having a wave pipelining control structure, and a method for outputting data using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a synchronous semiconductor memory device differs from a conventional memory device in that data input and output operations are performed in synchronization with a memory system clock. In the synchronous semiconductor memory device, all input and output operations are normally synchronized with a rising edge of an external clock signal. Such operation reduces memory access time and allows a system designer to design a simple interface.
A conventional memory device performs a sensing operation after selecting a word line. It is impossible to select another word line during a precharge operation for the selected word line. However, a synchronous semiconductor memory device includes two or more memory array banks each having a separate row control circuit. There is no limitation as in the conventional DRAM between word lines located in different memory array banks. Word lines in different banks can be continuously accessed, thereby increasing the amount of accessible data and the speed of data access as compared with the conventional DRAM.
The synchronous semiconductor memory device is characterized by a "read latency" which represents the delay time until the first data is output. After the read latency, data is read out according to an internal data access clock, and is not dependent on a critical path within the memory device.
Generally, the synchronous semiconductor memory device adopts a multi-stage pipelining control structure as its data output structure. The multi-stage pipelining control structure includes data latches along a data path from the memory cell to a data output pad, and a transmission gate-type switch between latches. The switch is synchronized with a clock, and controlled by pulse signals.
However, the multi-stage pipelining control structure requires more data latching steps as a clock frequency increases and as the number of latching steps increases, the read latency increases.
A wave pipelining control structure is a data output control structure that minimizes such increase in read latency. In the wave pipelining control structure, a plurality of parallel latches are controlled by a control signal which is delayed in synchronization with a clock signal. The wave pipelining control structure does not increase the read latency even if the frequency of the clock signal increases.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a semiconductor memory device having a conventional wave pipelining control structure. During a read operation, data is read from a cell designated by an external address via a bit line BL and an input/output (I/O) line. The read data is amplified by a sense amplifier 101. A controller 103 detects a rising edge of an external clock signal to generate a control signal ODL0. A register 105 stores the signal amplified by the sense amplifier 101 under the control of the control signal ODL0.
According to the conventional wave pipelining control structure, a control signal ODL0 that controls the data of the first clock prevents the data from being stored in the register 105 and the control signal ODL0 is controlled by the controller 103 to delay only the first clock signal by a predetermined time.
However, the above-described conventional wave pipelining control structure suffers the following drawbacks. As the integration density of the memory device increases, the data output rate from a memory cell region becomes more sensitive to variations resulting from the manufacturing process. However, the data control signal ODL0 is generated in a periphery circuit portion such that its sensitivity to any fluctuations in manufacturing process conditions becomes relatively small. When implementing the conventional wave pipelining control structure, the control signal ODL0 is delayed by a predetermined time. If delay occurs on a data path due to variations resulting from the manufacturing process, the memory device malfunctions because before the accessed data reaches the register 105 on the data path, level transition of the control signal may occur, and block the input. In this case, even though the memory device is operating at a low frequency, since the control signal derived from the first clock is delayed by a predetermined time, the malfunction of the memory device persists.

Synchronous semiconductor memory device having wave pipelining control structure and method for outputting data using the same


A showerhead (20) has a spray head (32) having a plurality of spray outlets (36, 38,42,44) on different faces is mounted for manual rotation about a single pivot axis both to select a spray outlet and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray outlet. The showerhead can be configured so that flow of water is uninterrupted during changeover between spray modes. Alternative versions of the showerhead are disclosed in which the spray head is mounted for powered rotation, for example by a motor, allowing remote operation of the showerhead.

This invention relates to spray fittings and has particular, but not exclusive, application to spray fittings for showering. The invention is described hereinafter applied to showerheads although it will be understood that the invention has wider application and the term "showerhead" is to be construed accordingly.
A common showerhead comprises a handset having a spray head that is adjustable to allow selection of one or more of a number of different spray modes. In a typical arrangement, the handset is mounted on a support bracket that is moveable along a riser rail to adjust the height of the spray head, and the handset is pivotal relative to the support bracket to adjust the direction of the spray for a selected spray mode. With this arrangement, two separate means of adjustment are required, one to change the spray mode and another to change the direction of the spray.
In this known arrangement, the sprays for different spray modes are provided by arrays of spray nozzles in one spray plate, typically concentric annular arrays of spray nozzles. With this arrangement, each array of nozzles is restricted to a specific area of the spray plate with the result that the spray coverage can vary, when changing from one array of nozzles to another.
The present invention seeks to alleviate one or more of the problems and disadvantages of existing showerheads.
It is a preferred object of the invention to provide a showerhead in which the spray mode and the direction of the spray for a selected spray mode can be changed in one operation.
It is another preferred object of the invention to provide a showerhead in which water flow can be maintained when changing the spray mode to alter the spray.
It is yet another preferred object of the invention to provide a showerhead in which a full spray can be maintained while changing the direction of the spray for a selected spray mode.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention are generally achieved according to the invention by a showerhead having a spray head mounted for rotation about a pivot axis both to select a spray mode and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray mode.
By this invention, both the spray mode and the direction of the spray for the selected spray mode can be changed by rotation of the spray head in one operation. Such a showerhead provides improved ease of use and may allow enhanced styling.
Preferably, flow of water is uninterrupted during changeover between spray modes. Uninterrupted flow of the water from the showerhead enables the showerhead to be used in applications where a continuous flow of water is required, for example where the showerhead is supplied with water from an instantaneous water heater or from a combination boiler.
In one arrangement, uninterrupted flow can be achieved by providing an overlap between adjacent spray modes so that, when changing from one spray mode to another spray mode, flow of water is provided through both spray modes. Alternatively, or additionally, uninterrupted flow can be achieved by providing the showerhead with an outlet that is connected to the water supply at least during changeover between spray modes. In this arrangement, flow of water from the spray head can be interrupted during changeover between spray modes of the spray head while maintaining flow of water from the showerhead.
Preferably, the spray head is mounted for rotation about a single pivot axis to select any one of a plurality of spray modes angularly spaced apart in the direction of rotation. Preferably, each spray mode has associated spray discharge means, and the spray head can be rotated for discharging water through the spray discharge means of a selected spray mode and for adjusting the direction of the spray for the selected spray mode. Preferably, the direction of the spray from the spray discharge means in each mode is transverse to the pivot axis of the spray head.
In at least one preferred embodiment, the spray head has two spray modes. The spray discharge means of the two spray modes may be arranged on opposite sides of the spray head. In this arrangement, the spray head may be rotatable through 180° (degrees) to select either one of the two spray modes. Alternatively, the spray discharge means of one of the spray modes may be arranged on one side of the spray head and the spray discharge means of the other spray mode may be arranged on a side edge of the spray head. In this arrangement the spray head may be rotatable through less than 180° (degrees) to select either one of the two spray modes, for example 90° (degrees)
In at least one preferred embodiment, the spray head has three spray modes. The spray discharge means of two of the spray modes may be arranged on opposite sides of the spray head and the spray discharge means of the third spray mode may be arranged on a side edge of the spray head. Alternatively, the spray discharge means of two of the spray modes may be arranged on opposite side edges of the spray head and the spray discharge means of the third spray mode may be arranged on one side of the spray head. In both arrangements, the spray head may be rotatable through 180° (degrees) to select either one of first and second spray modes and through less than 180° (degrees), for example 90° (degrees), from either the first or second spray modes to select the third spray mode.
In at least one preferred embodiment, the spray head has four spray modes. The spray discharge means of two of the spray modes may be arranged on opposite sides of the spray head and the spray discharge means of the other two spray modes may be arranged on opposite side edges of the spray head. In this arrangement, the spray head may be rotatable through 90° (degrees) between adjacent spray modes.
By reducing the angular spacing between adjacent spray modes in the direction of rotation of the spray head, changeover from one spray mode to the next spray mode can be effected without interrupting the water flow and the spray can be confined within a desired spray area. In this way, the spray head is prevented from spraying in all directions in an uncontrolled manner during the changeover between the spray modes. Preferably, the angular spacing between adjacent spray modes without interrupting the flow is in the range 60° (degrees) to 120° (degrees), more preferably 75° (degrees) to 105° (degrees) with approximately 90° (degrees) most preferred. If the angular spacing is lower than 60° (degrees), rotation of the spray head to change the direction of the spray for the selected spray mode may be restricted. On the other hand, if the angular spacing is higher than 120° (degrees), rotation of the spray head to changeover between spray modes may cause spraying outside a desired spray area.
Preferably, the spray head includes a spray selection module responsive to rotation of the spray head for directing water flow to the spray discharge means of the selected spray mode. The spray selection module preferably allows each spray discharge means to be supplied in sequence by rotation of the spray head around the pivot axis.
In at least one preferred embodiment, the spray head includes at least one mode with spray discharge means comprising a plurality of holes in a spray plate. In at least one preferred embodiment, the spray head includes at least with mode with spray discharge means comprising a single opening. Preferably, the spray head includes at least one mode provided by a detachable spray cartridge.
Preferably, the spray head is rotatable through 360° (degrees). The spray head may be rotatable in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction. Rotation of the spray head may be manual or powered. For example, the spray head may rotated by a motor, preferably a stepper motor.
Preferably, the spray head is angularly adjustable in each spray mode through an arc including a center position of the spray head to change the spray direction in the selected spray mode. The spray head may be angularly adjustable to either side of the center position in each spray mode. The angular adjustment to one side of the center position may be larger than the angular adjustment to the other side. The angular adjustment below the center position may be larger than the angular adjustment above the center position. Preferably, the range of angular adjustment in each spray mode is the same. The range of angular adjustment in each spray mode may be 50° (degrees) to 80° (degrees).
Preferably, the water flow in the selected spray mode is for the most part unchanged by angular adjustment of the spray head within the range of angular movement. As a result, the spray is largely unaffected and a full spray is obtained throughout substantially the whole range of angular movement of the spray head in the selected spray mode.
Preferably the showerhead includes a support for the spray head. The support may extend around a marginal edge of the spray head. The support may be provided with an outlet that provides uninterrupted flow of water on changing from one spray mode to another spray mode. Flow of water may be provided through the outlet in at least one spray mode. In at least one embodiment, flow of water is provided through the outlet in all positions of the spray head. The outlet may comprise a plurality of holes spaced apart in the support around the marginal edge of the spray head. The support may be configured to confine spray from the spray head within a spray area. The support may be provided by a hollow body through which water is delivered to the spray head.
In at least one embodiment, the showerhead comprises a handset. The handset may be mounted on a bracket and may be detachable from the bracket. The bracket may be fixed to a wall or similar support surface. Alternatively the bracket may be mounted on a riser rail and slidable along the rail.
In at least one embodiment, the showerhead comprises a spray unit for mounting in an opening in a wall, ceiling or similar support surface. The unit may include a spray head rotatably mounted in a support frame that is mounted in the opening so that the spray head is substantially flush with the surrounding surface, for example a tiled surface. The spray head may be manually rotatable or may be rotatable by drive means, for example a motor, especially a stepper motor.
The spray discharge means may be of any suitable type such as one or more holes or slots or a combination thereof. Holes or slots may be arranged randomly or uniformly, for example an annular array. In a preferred arrangement, the spray discharge means of each mode is arranged symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis. In this way, water flow through the discharge means does not exert a rotational force on the spray head such as may cause the spray head to move from its set position.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a showerhead having a spray head mounted for rotation about a single pivot axis both to select any one of a plurality of spray modes angularly spaced apart in the direction of rotation and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray mode, wherein flow of water is uninterrupted during changeover between spray modes.
Preferably, the spray head includes at least two spray modes having spray outlets disposed substantially perpendicular to each other and to the pivot axis of the spray head. More preferably, the spray head has four spray modes with outlets of adjacent spray modes disposed substantially perpendicular to each other and to the pivot axis. In a preferred arrangement, the outlets of two of the spray modes are arranged on opposite sides of the spray head and the outlets of the other two spray modes are arranged on opposite side edges of the spray head.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a showerhead having a spray head mounted for rotation about a single pivot axis both to select any one of a plurality of spray modes angularly spaced apart in the direction of rotation and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray mode, wherein adjacent spray modes in the direction of rotation have outlets arranged at an angle of less than 180° (degrees) to each other.
Preferably, the outlets of adjacent spray modes are arranged at an angle in the range of 45° (degrees) to 135° (degrees) to each other, more preferably 60° (degrees) to 120° (degrees) with a range of 75° (degrees) to 105° (degrees), more preferably approximately 90° (degrees) being especially preferred. In a preferred arrangement, the flow of water is uninterrupted during changeover between the spray modes. A particularly preferred arrangement has four spray modes.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a showerhead having a spray head with first and second spray outlets arranged substantially normal to each other wherein the spray head is mounted for rotation about a pivot axis substantially normal to each of the first and second spray outlets, wherein the spray head is rotatable both to select either the first spray outlet or the second spray outlet and to adjust the direction of the spray for the selected spray outlet.
By this arrangement of the first and second spray outlets, changeover from one spray outlet to the other spray, outlet can be effected without interrupting the water flow and the spray can be confined within a desired spray area. In this way, the spray head is prevented from spraying in all directions during the changeover between the spray outlets.
Preferably, the direction of the spray is adjustable over a range of angular movement of the spray head and a full spray is obtained throughout substantially the whole range of angular movement. By this feature, the water flow to the selected spray outlet is for the most part unchanged by angular adjustment of the spray head with the range of angular movement and the spray from the spray outlet is largely unaffected.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a spray head comprising a water inlet, two or more spray discharge means, and a spray selection mechanism responsive to rotation of the spray head about an axis for directing flow to a selected one of the spray discharge means, wherein the spray head is rotatable for changing the selected spray discharge means and varying the angular direction of flow from the selected spray discharge means.
The spray head may be incorporated in an ablutionary fitting such as a showerhead, for example a handset.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A signal conditioning circuit which converts multiple analog signals received from an encoder into a multi-bit digital signal, corresponding to the angular position of a rotary object, which is independent of any common mode disturbances such as temperature, humidity, ambient light and aging. At any given time, at least one of the analog signals is at a maximum voltage and at least one of the analog signals is at a minimum voltage. At no time are all of the analog signals simultaneously at a maximum or simultaneously at a minimum. The signal conditioning circuit continuously detects the maximum and minimum values of the analog signals. A midpoint of the maximum and minimum values is determined and compared with the original analog signals. For all values of the analog signals greater than the midpoint value, a binary logic level of 1 is outputted. For all values of the analog signals less than the midpoint value, a binary logic level of 0 is outputted. There is one comparator and corresponding binary output for each analog signal. In combination, the comparators form the necessary multi-bit digital signal.

An encoder converts the angular position of a rotary object into multiple analog signals. Encoder devices comprise sensory elements which have properties that vary with the intensity of light (optoelectric) or magnetic fields (Hall Effect or Magnetoresistive). The encoder/rotary object combination is constructed whereby the encoder elements are subjected to a light or magnetic field intensity which varies with the angular position of the rotary object. Each encoder sensory element converts the varying light or magnetic field intensity into a separate proportional electrical analog signal.
The analog signals are fed into a conditioning circuit which converts them into binary logic level signals (1 or 0) for use by digital equipment such as computers and-microprocessor-based controllers. The conversion process involves comparing each analog signal with a constant threshold voltage, ideally equal to the midvalue (bias) of that analog signal's maximum and minimum extremes. All analog signal voltages greater than the threshold voltage results in a binary value of 1. All analog signal voltages less than the threshold voltage results in a binary value of 0.
Unfortunately, encoder elements are also sensitive to variations in temperature, humidity, ambient light, aging, etc., often referred to as disturbances. When each of the encoder elements is subject to the same disturbance, it is termed a common mode disturbance.
Common mode disturbances will affect an analog signal's maximum-to-minimum (peak-to-peak) voltage as well as its bias voltage. Failure to compensate the threshold voltage for variations in bias voltage may produce faulty logic level signals and result in incorrect position detection.

Multi-bit encoder signal conditioning circuit having common mode disturbance compensation


Cosmetic skin care compositions containing succinate compounds and cosmetic method of improving the appearance of wrinkled, lined, dry, flaky, aged or photodamaged skin and improving skin thickness, elasticity, flexibility, radiance, glow and plumpness.

Cosmetic products which improve the appearance of skin are increasingly popular with consumers. These products aim to alleviate or delay the signs of aged or photoaged skin, such as fine lines and wrinkles, dry and sagging skin. Although the marketplace offers a variety of products, the cosmetic manufacturers continue the quest for alternative actives, in order to provide a consumer with a choice of products.
Several patents disclose cosmetic compositions incorporating succinate derivatives, but the disclosed compounds differ structurally from the succcinate compounds included in the present invention. See for instance Kalopissis (U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,781), Kopolow (U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,622), Shapiro et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,147), and Weil (U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,166). Gutierrez et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,288) discloses oxydisuccinate in detergent compositions.
Cosmetic compositions containing succinic acid are known. Unfortunately, succinic acid has limited solubility in water and is therefore hard to formulate in cosmetic compositions such as water-in-oil emulsions at sufficiently high levels. For ease of formulation, it is advantageous to have a more water-soluble active.
The present invention is based at least in part on the discovery that specific highly water-soluble succinate compounds increase glycosaminoglycan and collagen synthesis in the skin cells.


A logging system comprising counting logic adapted to generate a raw timestamp. The system further comprises encoding logic coupled to the counting logic and adapted to insert a group of bits of the raw timestamp into a predetermined timestamp template to produce an encoded timestamp. The template is selected based on a position of a most significant bit of the raw timestamp.

When testing computer hardware or software, developers will often embed testing logic onto an integrated circuit (IC). The testing logic logs data (e.g., generated by the IC or logic external to the IC) and timestamps associated with the data to a memory in the testing logic. The developers analyze the timestamps and associated data to evaluate hardware and software performance. Testing logic contains a finite amount of memory and, at times, unfortunately not enough memory to meet the needs of a developer.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


This disclosure relates to a system and methodology for dynamically adjusting a game based on predictions made during game account creation in accordance with one or more implementations. The system may be configured to receive user information included in platform level accounts which were previously created by users on an online platform and assign one or more user types to the user based on that user information. The system may be configured such that game adjustments associated with one or more user types for future play by users associated with that user type may be modified over time based on historical and ongoing game activities undertaken by users associated with one or more user types.

Many online games are provided through an online gaming platform like Facebook.com, Kabam.com, Zynga.com, BigPoint Games, Steam, etc. The individual games accessed through an online gaming platform automatically create user accounts that are "linked" to an over-arching platform account for the users. For example, a single platform account may be linked to a host of individual game-level accounts for the user. This enables users to "log in" through the platform, and then experience all of their games in an integrated manner.
It is known that within online games, users tend to participate in various aspects of the game and eschew others. These aspects include, for example, a collection/harvesting mechanic in which resources are collected, cultivated, manufactured, etc. Another aspect includes Player versus Player ("PvP") gameplay in which users seek to engage in competing directly with (e.g., battling) other players within the game. Yet another aspect includes Player versus Environment ("PvE") gameplay in which users seek to complete "quests" or other tasks within the game to gain points, virtual items, and/or other rewards.
Typically, users of an online game are not "classified" (e.g., into a player type) until after they have begun playing the game and have a large enough sample of use for classifications and/or predictions about future activities to be made. Users sometimes have difficulty "finding" the activities and/or features in an online game that will make them consistent users.

System and method for predicting in-game activity at account creation


Provided are a non-volatile memory device and a method of operating the non-volatile memory device. The non-volatile memory device includes a switching device and a storage node connected to the switching device, wherein the storage node comprises: a first electrode connected to the switching device; a chalcogenide material layer formed on the first electrode; and a second electrode formed on the chalcogenide material layer, and one of the first and second electrodes comprises an electrode contact layer formed adjacent to a limited region of the chalcogenide material layer, and a property of the electrode region adjacent to the chalcogenide material layer is changed reversibly according to the direction in which a current is applied, thereby changing between a high resistance state and a low resistance state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device and a method of operating the non-volatile memory device, and more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device using a change in resistance in a junction portion between a metal electrode and a chalcogenide material layer, and a method of operating the non-volatile memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Examples of non-volatile memory devices using a change in resistance in a junction portion between a metal electrode and a chalcogenide material layer are a phase change random access memory (PRAM) and a conducting bridge memory (CBRAM).
A CBRAM stores information by repeatedly forming and removing a conductive path in the chalcogenide material. The conductive path is formed by diffusing a metal electrode material diffused into a chalcogenide material.
In the PRAM, a chalcogenide material contacting a conductive electrode creates phase changes between crystalline and amorphous phases.
However, the problem of the PRAM is that the amorphous phase storing information is crystallized at a high temperature, and the problem of the CBRAM is that a conductive bridge is destroyed at a high temperature due to activated movement of atoms. Thus the PRAM and CBRAM have low reliability at high temperatures.

Non-volatile memory device and method of operating the same


In implementations of image content snapping guidelines, a guidelines segmentation system includes modules, such as an image pre-processing module to reduce the image size of a digital image if the image size exceeds an image size threshold. An object segmentation module segments objects depicted in the digital image and identifies each object by a bounding border that delineates an object region boundary. An edge detection module receives a segmented object and determines object external edges and object feature edges from the segmented object, and identifies object corners of the object. A snapping guidelines module determines image content snapping guidelines of an object depicted in the digital image, the image content snapping guidelines for an object determined based on the bounding border of the object region boundary, the object external edges, the object feature edges, and projected snapping guidelines that extend from the object corners of the object.

Generally, graphic designers or other similar computer users utilize computer-based image editing and graphics design software applications to develop many different types of digital artworks, such as images that are designed for posters, magazine pages, flyers, book pages, advertisements, and any other type of design documents. Text and other image objects are often incorporated over the images of the digital artworks. For example, text may be added to an image to enhance the image and/or to add more context to the visual content of the image. Further, text added to an image may not be added in just a horizontal or vertical alignment, but rather, a designer may want to align the text along the edges of an object depicted in a digital image, where the edges of the object align with any angle between parallel (0 degrees) and perpendicular (90 degrees).
However, positioning and aligning text or other image objects with the objects depicted in a digital artwork can be difficult for a designer to place in accurate alignment. Notably, a graphic designer can incur significant development time and effort to align text with the edge lines of an object depicted in a digital artwork, particularly when the edge lines of the object do not appear parallel or perpendicular in the digital artwork. Some conventional techniques will take into account an outer bounding box of a digital image that is formatted as a vector-based image. However, many graphic designers work with digital images that are formatted as raster-based graphics, and there are no techniques to determine text and/or object alignment guidelines as related to objects depicted in raster-based graphics and digital images.


When a control device of a motor controller simultaneously rotates a first DC motor and a second DC motor by controlling a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit, the second circuit is shared. Further, the control device controls each of switch elements of the shared second circuit by using pulse-width modulation. Accordingly, the drive of the first DC motor and the second DC motor can be controlled with high accuracy by the change of a duty ratio of each of the switch elements of the shared second circuit.

Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an electric motor drive circuit for driving doors of an air conditioning apparatus is simplified.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a servo motor controller controlling a servo motor so that the servo motor decelerates when a deviation between a target value and a present value is not larger than a deceleration-start reference value. Specifically, when the deviation is not larger than the deceleration-start reference value, a high-side metal-oxide semiconductor (abbreviated as MOS) or a low-side MOS of an electric motor is driven using pulse-width modulation (abbreviated as PWM) with a duty ratio set according to the deviation, so that the electric motor decelerates. Accordingly, stopping accuracy is improved and noise at the time of stopping is reduced.


This invention is a bimetallic catalyst comprising tungsten oxide and platinum in critical amounts on a mostly .gamma.-alumina support material. It is particularly optimal for use in lean-burn engine exhaust systems, including gasoline and diesel, where it efficiently reduces NOx in the exhaust gas.

A number of catalysts have been suggested to convert engine exhaust gas components like carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC's), and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) into other gases. The first two are desirably oxidized to H.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2 while the nitrogen oxides present in the exhaust gas, generally nitric oxide, are desirably reduced to N.sub.2. These so called "three-way" catalysts achieve simultaneous efficient (conversion >80%) removal of CO, HC, and NO.sub.x when the fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine is slightly "rich" in fuel, i.e., in a narrow A/F ratio range between about 14.7 and 14.4, and the exhaust gas is slightly reducing. Such three-way catalysts are not efficient, however, in the reduction of NO.sub.x when engines are operated on the lean (reduced fuel) side where the A/F ratio is greater than 14.7, generally 19-35, and the exhaust gas is richer in oxygen. It is desirable, however, to operate engines on the lean side to realize a benefit in fuel economy, estimated to be in the range of 6-10%.
It would be desirable to have a catalyst system which would be effective in reducing nitric oxide emissions and also provide high conversions for hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide under lean-burn conditions (oxygen rich exhaust situations). Such a system would allow for improved fuel economy. In lean burn situations, considerable success has been achieved in the catalytic oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons (HC's) and carbon monoxide, (CO) but the reduction of the nitrogen oxides has proven to be a much more difficult problem. This is because the reducing substance (such as HC, CO or H.sub.2) tend to react more quickly with the oxygen present in the exhaust gas than with the oxygen associated with nitrogen in NO.sub.x.
Two-stage conversion systems have been proposed for treating lean-burn exhausts and involve an initial contacting zone directed to removal of NOx and a second contacting zone directed to removal of CO and HC's. For example, Subramanian et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,324, commonly assigned with this invention, disclose a catalyst system for lean burn engines in which the exhaust flows over a first stage reducing catalyst of tungsten (0.1 to 3 weight percent) and then over a second stage oxidizing catalyst of, e.g., platinum. The two-stages as provided allow the tungsten to utilize HC in the exhaust to first reduce the NO.sub.x and then the resultant exhaust gas is oxidized over platinum to convert the HC and CO. One drawback of this system is that it is less than commercially desirable to use two-stage systems.

Bimetallic tungsten/platinum catalysts for lean-burn emissions


The invention discloses a method for moving a wireless terminal in a mobility management serving node pool comprising at least a source mobility management serving node and a target mobility management serving node, comprising: initiating, from the source mobility management serving node, a first subscriber context procedure to inform the target mobility management serving node of a move action for the wireless terminal; launching, from the target mobility management serving node, a second subscriber context procedure to obtain a subscriber context for the wireless terminal from the source mobility management serving node, in response to the informing; and establishing a connection between a radio access node for the wireless terminal and a session management gateway node via the target mobility management serving node. An apparatus and a system are also disclosed for the same. With the solution, control plane and user plane traffic for the wireless terminal may be moved with a minimum of payload loss.

The mobility management serving node pool, such as a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) pool, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) pool, is to provide network redundancy for failure handling, planned maintenance without service downtime, easy network expansion, reduced network signaling load, a higher capacity usage ratio and load re-distribution within the pool.
When re-balancing a pool, e.g. in order to (re)-populate a node taken into service, it is necessary to get an even distribution of moved subscribers with respect to end-user behavior. This is essential not to create a skewed distribution within the pool and as a consequence subscribers running payload should be possible to move. The load re-balancing may off-load part of or all the subscribers.
During moving operations, the pool node (such as a SGSN in the SGSN pool, or a MME in the MME pool) may offload its subscribers with minimal impacts on the network and users, e.g., the pool node should avoid offloading only the low activity users while retaining the high activity subscribers. Gradual rather than sudden off-loading should be performed as a sudden re-balance of a large number of subscribers may overload other pool nodes in the pool. With minimal impact on network and the user's experience, the pool node should be off-loaded as soon as possible.
Conventionally moving subscribers within the mobility management serving node pool (SGSN or MME pool) is only possible by using a detach/reattach procedure (with a reattach flag) or by using the Routing Area Update (RAU)/Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure which is stipulated by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
Nonetheless, this results in a drawback for the end-user that significant interruption/loss of payload would possibly happen.
Additionally, eNodeBs may have their load balancing parameters adjusted beforehand (e.g. the Weight Factor is set to zero if all subscribers are to be removed from one MME, then new entrants into the pool area will be routed to other MMEs). The MME initiates a S1 Release procedure with a release cause "load balancing TAU required". The S1 and RRC connections are released and the UE initiates a TAU but does not provide registered MME information to eNodeB in the RRC establishment, thus the eNodeB has to select an MME based on the Weight Factors of the MMEs in the pool.
This causes another problem that when re-balancing the MME pool, the re-balance is still dependant of eNodeB Load Balancing factor. It can not secure that the re-balance result is what is intended to achieve.
To this end, an improved procedure of moving subscribers within a mobility management serving node pool for addressing at least one of the above problems, such as without significant service interruption/loss and/or securing the re-balance effect, is therefore highly desired.

Method, apparatus and system for moving wireless terminals in mobility management serving node pool


Techniques are described for control of a robot system, wherein the robot system includes a plurality of individual wheeled robot modules interconnected by at least one compliant member. The technique includes developing a kinematic control model of the robot system from a combination of the kinematic characteristics of the individual wheeled robot modules and the stiffness properties of the compliant member. Development of the kinematic control model for a reconfigurable robot system is enhanced by the scalable nature of the technique.

Space exploration and the military require robots that are mobile, maneuverable, and can perform a large number of different tasks while taking up minimum space and weight during transport. Reconfigurable modular robotic systems have been of keen interest due to their improved ability to overcome obstacles and perform more tasks using a single hardware platform.
Toward this goal, researchers have investigated homogenous robotic modules for reconfigurable manipulation, mobility, or combinations therein. Homogeneity can reduce maintenance, offer increase robustness through redundancy, provide compact and ordered storage, and increase adaptability. Modularity can suit the system to compact and ordered storage, which can be critical for military and space deployment.
The use of compliant frame modules can further increase a modular robot's usefulness. Compliant frames allow a robotic system to change its shape by deflecting the frame module to achieve a near infinite number of different steering and maneuverability strategies. Likewise, the compliant frame modules allow the axles to deflect in order to accommodate terrain variations.
A robotic modular wheeled robot with a compliant frame may be reconfigured to perform tasks such as reconnaissance, transporting of goods, and search and rescue. Using the compliant frame, the robot can overcome unexpected terrain challenges and accomplish its mission. Such a robot may be used on an extraterrestrial mission to Mars or one of Jupiter's moons, where modularity would allow the robot to replace modules that cease to function properly.
Although the flexibility of the compliant frame system can enhance the capability of the robot, it provides a significant additional complexity in the control of the robot. Previous control functions derived for rigid robotic systems can fail to properly control modular robotic systems with compliant frames.
An additional challenge is presented in controlling a reconfigurable modular robot. As the configuration of the robot is changed, different ways in which the robot may move are provided. Control functions must be adapted whenever the configuration of the robotic system is changed, adding an additional level of difficulty.

System and method for controlling modular robots


Magnetic mail notification apparatus. Apparatus for use with a mailbox having a door pivotably attached to a mail receptacle includes an indicator assembly including an indicator arm positionable in one position when the door is closed, and a magnetic coupling between the door and the indicator arm, the magnetic coupling displacing the indicator arm to another position when the door is opened. Another apparatus includes the indicator arm positionable in one position when the door is closed and in another position when the door is opened, and a magnet holding the indicator arm in the first position until the door is opened, and causing the indicator arm to displace to the second position when the door is opened. Another apparatus includes a base assembly securable to the mail receptacle, an indicator assembly pivotably attached to the base assembly, and a magnetic coupling between the base assembly and the indicator arm.

The present invention relates generally to mail notification systems and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a magnetic mail notification apparatus.
Everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, people check their mailboxes unsure of whether or not they will find a delivery or an empty box. Until the moment the mail has been delivered, multiple trips to the mailbox can result in wasted time and energy.
In addition to wasted time, hazards may arise while checking the mail, particularly during inclement weather. When slippery conditions exist, such as due to the presence ice or rain, injuries may be incurred en route to retrieve mail from the mailbox. The effects of these hazards can severely impact a person's lifestyle, especially for the elderly and handicapped. The loss of time and exposure to danger can be compounded in rural areas where the mailbox is typically located beside a road with no sidewalk access, a far distance away from the home.
Unfortunately, the typical mail alert device is difficult to install and may include battery operation and spring loads that must be continuously set and reset manually. These devices are expensive and include complicated operation and installation methods.
Therefore it may be seen that improvements are needed in the art of mail notification. It is among the objects of the present invention to provide such improvements.


A display and a driving control method for the display are provided. The display includes a display panel, a driving control module and a power-saving control module. The display panel is configured to display a plurality of frames. The driving control module is coupled to the display panel for providing a driving signal of each frame to the display panel. The power saving control module is coupled to the driving control module. The displaying period of each frame includes a first period and a second period. During the first period, the display enters a displaying mode. During the second period, the power-saving control module adjusts the operating parameters of the driving control module such that the display enters a power-saving mode. As a result, the power consumption of the display can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display driving control technology, and more particularly, to a driving control technology with power-saving function.
2. Description of Related Art
With the development of technology, displays have been very widely used. Based on the persistence of vision, when the display consecutively updates the images of the display panel such that more than twenty-four frames are presented per second, the human eye will be given an illusion that the displayed images are animated images. The time for the display to present one frame is usually referred to as one frame time, which is about 16.6 ms. The operation of the display to display the frames is further described below.
FIG. 1 illustrates conventional frame times in relation to the displaying control mode of a liquid crystal display (LCD). FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of a conventional LCD. Operation of the LCD 10 to display frames is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the image information of the frame 100 is transmitted from a timing controller 20 to a display data memory 30 according to timing. Then, the image information of the frame 100 stored in the display data memory 30 is converted into an analog voltage by a digital to analog converter 40. The analog voltage is then transmitted to corresponding transistors (not shown) of a display panel 60 by a source buffer 50.
During the period of displaying the frame 100 by the LCD 10, the timing controller 20 may also output a timing control signal to a gate buffer 70 to enable the gate buffer 70 to timely turn on the corresponding transistors (not shown) of the display panel 60. In addition, the timing controller 20 may also output a timing control signal to a common electrode buffer 80 to enable the common electrode buffer 80 to provide positive or negative common electrode voltage to the display panel 60. Operation of the LCD 10 to display other frames (i.e., frame 101 or the like) may be substantially the same as those described above and is therefore not repeated herein.
It should be noted that, during the period of displaying each frame, the LCD 10 is constantly in a displaying mode. In the displaying mode, all of the memory voltage VSRAM, digital to analog converting voltage VDAC, source voltage VSP, common electrode high voltage VCOMH, common electrode low voltage VCOML, gate high voltage VGH and gate low voltage VGL are maintained at a fixed value. Furthermore, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator (not shown) inside the timing controller 20 is maintained at a fixed value. In other words, the conventional LCD 10 does not have a power-saving function during the displaying period of each frame.


A test circuit is incorporated in an IC without an increase in a chip area. The IC includes a plurality of pins, a plurality of current sensing circuits, and a current generation circuit. The plurality of current sensing circuits process currents flowing through the plurality of pins in parallel and generates digital data, for example. The current generation circuit includes a capacitor and generates a reference current corresponding to the amount of electric charge of the capacitor. The amount of electric charge can be controlled by a voltage input to the capacitor, and thus the range of output currents for current generation can be made wide. The reference current is used for testing the plurality of current sensing circuits. The IC is used for a source driver IC of a display panel, for example. In this case, currents flowing through pixels in the display panel can be sensed by the plurality of current sensing circuits.

In order to meet demands for a larger number of gray levels and higher resolution of a display device or the like, a dedicated IC (driver IC) is used in a driver circuit of a display device, particularly in a source driver circuit where a data signal is generated from a video signal (Non-Patent Document 1, for example).

IC, driver IC, display system, and electronic device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A conversion assembly for converting a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle in which the rear wheel fork of the motorcycle has been removed. The conversion assembly includes a sub-frame for attachment to the frame of the motorcycle and a pair of rear forks operatively connected to the frame. An axle is mounted on each fork and a wheel hub is operatively mounted on the axle for supporting a rear wheel. One of the wheel hubs and its wheel is free wheeling. The other hub and its wheel is operatively connected to the drive members of the motorcycle by a drive connector. More specifically, the drive connector includes a drive shaft which is drivenly connected to the drive elements of the motor cycle and the coupler for fixing one end of the drive shaft with one of the wheel hubs.

The present invention is directed to a three-wheel motorcycle and a conversion assembly for converting a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle.
Motorcycles provide simple economical transportation. They are also a source of recreation. A two-wheel motorcycle is inherently less stable and more hazardous than three or four-wheeled vehicles. For most people who enjoy, or prefer to ride motorcycles, the two-wheel motorcycle is preferred by a wide margin. It is more economical, simpler, easier to maneuver and to negotiate in traffic. However, for a sizable class of people who would like to drive a motorcycle, the two-wheel motorcycle is too difficult or too dangerous. Included in this class of people are elderly individuals who lack the strength or athleticism to drive the motorcycle with safety, as well as handicapped individuals.
Three-wheel motorcycles have been marketed in the past. The three-wheel motorcycle is substantially more expensive than its two-wheel counterpart, thereby off-setting the advantage of a motorcycle. The three-wheel motorcycle takes one of two forms. One type of three-wheel motorcycle maintains the basic construction of a two-wheel motorcycle, wherein one rear wheel is directly behind the single front wheel and a second rear wheel is located to one side of the normal front to rear wheel line of alignment. The second rear wheel typically supports a "sidecar" for storage purposes, or for supporting a passenger or individual other than the driver.
A second type of three-wheel motorcycle represents a more radical change from the standard two-wheel motorcycle. This second type has two spaced rear wheels which are on opposite sides of the line of alignment of the front wheel. Both rear wheels are driven through a differential. The differential is a rigid assembly, without shock suspension.
Conversion kits have also been developed and marketed for converting a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle. These kits are relatively complicated and expensive and require someone with a fair degree of mechanical ability to make the conversion. The hiring of a mechanic to make the conversion represents an additional cost for the customer. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art three-wheel motorcycles have been obviated by the present invention.
It is, therefor, a principal object of the invention to provide a conversion kit or assembly for converting a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle which is simple in construction and relatively easy to install.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a conversion kit for converting a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle which utilizes the conventional drive elements of the motorcycle for driving one of the rear wheels.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a motorcycle which has been converted from a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle, wherein one of the two rear wheels is driven by the conventional drive elements of the motorcycle.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of a conversion kit for converting a two-wheel motorcycle to a three-wheel motorcycle which includes a unique drive connector for drivingly connecting the hub of one of the rear wheels to the convention drive elements of the motorcycle.
With these and other object in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.


A drive system for a self-propelled harvesting machine includes a drive engine designed as an internal combustion engine, a first driven pulley driven by the drive engine that at least one drive pulley of a working mechanism via a drive belt. The drive system also includes at least one first and one second hydraulic unit. The drive belt is drivably connected to a pulley that is enclosed in sections by housing elements. The housing elements are disposed opposite one another and are fixed relative to the pulley. The first hydraulic unit and the second hydraulic unit are disposed on the housing elements and, the first hydraulic unit and the second hydraulic unit are drivably connected to a shaft that extends through the pulley.

The present invention broadly relates to a drive system for a self-propelled harvesting machine. Such drive systems comprise a drive engine, such as an internal combustion engine, a transfer gearbox, which is driven by the drive engine and has a first driven pulley, the first driven pulley disposed on a drive shaft to drive, via a belt, at least one first drive pulley of a working mechanism, such as a cutting cylinder. The drive system also comprises at least one first and one second hydraulic unit, designed as a hydraulic pump, for driving other working mechanisms, e.g., of a front attachment and an intake conveyor mechanism of the self-propelled harvesting machine.
In such a drive system, the first and the second hydraulic pumps are each driven, e.g., by toothed gearing operatively connected to the transfer gearbox or using a drive pulley driven by the belt.
Alternatively, the two hydraulic pumps are driven by an intermediate drive shaft that is integrated into the drive system or by an additional drive pulley. The intermediate drive shaft and the drive pulley drive the first hydraulic pump. The first and the second hydraulic pumps are interconnected by the toothed gearing or are disposed one behind the other such that the first hydraulic pump drives through to the second hydraulic pump, which is disposed downstream of the first hydraulic pump.
A disadvantage of these known drive systems is that, in an arrangement of the hydraulic pumps disposed one behind the other, in which the first hydraulic pump drives through to the second hydraulic pump, the selection of hydraulic pumps that can be used is limited by manufacturer specifications for this operating arrangement.
According to the alternative embodiment of a drive system, in which the drive power for the particular hydraulic pump is drawn separately from the drive train, additional components are required, such as a V-belt pulley, toothed gearing, an intermediate drive, an intermediate drive shaft and the like.

Drive system for a self-propelled harvesting machine

CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH


A method for treating an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer to improve a mechanical strength and/or repair plasma etching damage including providing a low-K silicon oxide containing dielectric insulating layer; and carrying out a super critical fluid treatment of the low-K dielectric insulating layer including supercritical CO2 and a solvent including a silicon bond forming substituent having a bonding energy greater than a Si—H to replace at least a portion of the Si—H bonds with the silicon bond forming substituent.

The escalating requirements for high density and performance associated with ultra large scale integration semiconductor wiring require increasingly sophisticated interconnection technology. As device sizes decrease it has been increasingly difficult to provide interconnection technology that satisfies the requirements of low resistance and low capacitance (e.g., low dielectric constant) interconnect properties.
In particular, in forming multi-level wiring in forming a semiconductor device, the formation of wiring interconnects requires several different steps including etching, ashing and wet cleaning. For example in the formation a dual damascene at least two separate etching and ashing steps are required. For example, silicon oxide based low-K dielectric insulating layers have exhibited a tendency to interact with oxygen containing plasmas in the ashing and dry etching steps to contaminate and detrimentally affect the low-K dielectric insulating layers.
Subsequent processes in the prior art including separate wet cleaning steps to remove contaminants such as fluorine from the surface and baking steps to remove adsorbed water from the low-K dielectric insulating layer have been required to improve degraded dielectric constants caused by plasma processes. In addition, other etching species can react with the low-K dielectric insulating layer contaminating it as well as making it more susceptible to moisture absorption during subsequent processing steps.
Approaches in the prior art to overcome moisture absorption and contamination of low-K silicon oxide based dielectric insulating layers have included wet cleaning processes followed by time-consuming baking processes to drive the absorbed moisture out of the low-K dielectric insulating layer. However, baking the dielectric insulating layer does not repair plasma processing damage such as the formation of dangling or coordinatively unsaturated silicon bonds or silanol bonds formed by interaction of the dielectric insulating layer with plasma species. Plasma treatments to repair plasma damage have met with limited success due to the tendency to form additional plasma damage to the dielectric insulating layer, as well as any repair being limited to very near surface regions.
There is therefore a need in the semiconductor processing art to develop a silicon oxide based low-K dielectric insulating layer treatment to repair plasma processing damage.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a silicon oxide based low-K dielectric insulating layer treatment to repair plasma processing damage, in addition to overcoming other shortcomings and deficiencies in the prior art.

Method for improving low-K dielectrics by supercritical fluid treatments

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A method for forming a high aspect ratio magnetic structure in a magnetic write head using a combination of chemical mechanical polishing and reactive ion etching.

Computer systems generally utilize auxiliary memory storage devices having media on which data can be written and from which data can be read for later use. A direct access storage device (DASD) such as a disk drive incorporating a rotating magnetic disks is commonly used for storing data in magnetic form on the disk surfaces. Data is recorded on concentric, radially spaced tracks on the disk surfaces, and magnetic heads are used to write the data to and read the data from the tracks on the disk surfaces.
Data is written onto a disk by a write head that includes a magnetic yoke having a coil, passing there through. When current flows through the coil, a magnetic flux is induced in the yoke, which causes a magnetic field to fringe out at a write gap in a pole tip region. It is this magnetic field that writes data, in the form of magnetic transitions, onto the disk. Currently, such heads are thin film magnetic heads, constructed using material deposition techniques such as sputtering and electroplating, along with photolithographic techniques that include the use of photoresist masks.
Examples of such thin film heads include a first magnetic pole, formed of a material such as NiFe which might be plated onto a substrate after sputter depositing an electrically conductive seed layer. Opposite the pole tip region, at a back end of the magnetic pole, a magnetic back gap can be formed. A back gap is the term generally used to describe a magnetic structure that magnetically connects first and second poles to form a completed magnetic yoke as will be described.
One or more electrically conductive coils can be formed over the first pole, between the pedestal and the back gap and can be electrically isolated from the pole and yoke by an insulation layer, which could be alumina (Al2O3) or hard baked photoresist.
A P2 pedestal is often formed above the first pole in the pole tip region, and is separated from the first pole by a non-magnetic write gap layer. This P2 pedestal extends to the ABS of the head and defines the track width of the head. This pedestal is also used to define the width of a self aligned notch, or pedestal, on the first pole. This is achieved by using the P2 pedestal as a mask and then ion milling through the write gap layer and into a portion of the first pole. An angled ion milling operation can then be performed to removed redeposited material from the sides of the notch or pedestal formed on the first pole. A second pole formed over the P2 pedestal completes the magnetic yoke, being magnetically connected with the first pole by the write gap and stitched to the P2 pedestal.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the P2 pole or pedestal is a critical element of the write head. This is because it defines the track width. Also it must be constructed of a material that has high saturation, and low coercivity. It must have a high aspect ratio so that it will be narrow enough to provide the necessary small track width while being tall enough (in the track width direction) to provide sufficient overwrite performance. This P2 pedestal becomes the focal point for the magnetic flux in the write head.
Traditionally, such P2 pedestals have been constructed by forming a photoresist frame having a trench in which the P2 pedestal is plated. The photoresist frame use to form the P2 pedestal has currently been constructed using Deep U.V. photolithography. Deep U.V. lithography provides better resolution and would provide better track width control, but have some limitation to pattern very thick photoresist frame.
With reference to FIG. 1A, using Deep U.V. photolithography, a photoresist frame 101 is constructed that has a trench 102 in which the P2 pedestal 104 can be plated. Due to the nature of the photolithographic process used, the trench has a relatively constant width (low sigma) at its lower and center portions, but widens significantly at its upper portion, forming a flare 106. Magnetic material 108 is plated into the trench 104, and forms a bulb 110 at its top due to the flare 106 of the trench and due to the height to which the magnetic material 110 must be plated. It should be pointed out, that due to the chemical mechanical polishing process used, the magnetic material, must be plated much higher than would otherwise be necessary, for example 0.8 microns higher than the height of the finished P2. After, the magnetic material 110 has been deposited, the photoresist frame 102 can be lifted off.
With reference now to FIG. 1B, an alumina fill 112 is deposited to completely cover the magnetic material 108. A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process 114 is performed to remove the alumina opening up the top of the P2 pedestal, and bringing the magnetic material 110 down to the desired level 116 of the finished P2 pedestal. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that processes such as electroplating and chemical mechanical polishing non-uniformity across a wafer. Therefore, in order to assure that all P2 pedestals on a wafer are opened up by the CMP process, about 0.8 microns of additional P2 height must be plated just so that it may be then removed by the CMP. This additional P2 pole material, which must be removed by CMP significantly decreases throughput time. Plating time alone is increases by 25%, just to plate the additional 0.8 microns of P2 material, and the increased CMP requirement further increasing process time.
More importantly, the P2 height required by the CMP process prevent the use of Deep U.V. photolithography. If the additional P2 height were not necessary, the photoresist frame height would be shallow enough to allow the use of Deep U.V. lithography, which would result in tighter sigma (ie width variation) and a higher aspect ratio of the P2 pole, and a better track width definition.
Therefore, there is a strong felt need for a process for removing alumina material to open up a magnetic structure without necessitating the removal of a significant amount of the magnetic structure itself. Such a process would virtually eliminate the need to overplate the structure, would increase throughput time by decreasing process time, and would allow the use of more precise higher resolution lithographic techniques, resulting better defined, higher aspect ratio magnetic structures on write heads.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An exhaust aftertreatment system includes a cross-flow selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The cross-flow selective catalytic reduction catalyst includes a housing and a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly includes a plurality of first substrate layers defining a plurality of first flow channels and a plurality of second substrate layers defining a plurality of second flow channels. The exhaust aftertreatment system includes a passive NOx adsorber. The passive NOx adsorber includes a housing. The housing includes an inlet in exhaust gas receiving communication with the plurality of first flow channels of the cross-flow selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The housing includes an outlet in exhaust gas providing communication with the plurality of second flow channels of the cross-flow selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The passive NOx adsorber includes a substrate positioned in the housing. The substrate includes a passive NOx adsorber washcoat.

In general, regulated emissions for internal combustion ("IC") engines include carbon monoxide ("CO"), hydrocarbons ("HC"), nitrogen oxides ("NOx"), and particulates. However, such regulations have become more stringent over recent years. For example, the regulated emissions of NOx and particulates from diesel-powered IC engines are low enough that, in many cases, the emissions levels cannot be met with improved combustion technologies alone. To that end, exhaust aftertreatment systems are increasingly utilized to reduce the levels of harmful exhaust emissions present in exhaust gas.
Conventional exhaust gas aftertreatment systems include any of several different components to reduce the levels of harmful exhaust emissions present in exhaust gas. For example, certain exhaust aftertreatment systems for diesel-powered IC engines include various components, such as a diesel oxidation catalyst ("DOC"), a selective catalytic reduction ("SCR") catalyst, a diesel particulate filter ("DPF"), an SCR on filter, a passive NOx adsorber ("PNA"), and/or an ammonia slip catalyst ("ASC") (also referred to as an ammonia oxidation catalyst ("AMOX")). Each of the DOC, SCR catalyst, DPF, SCR on filter, PNA, and/or the ASC components is configured to perform a particular exhaust emissions treatment operation on the exhaust gas passing through or over the respective components.


Given a use-oriented billing of interactive video services, the method enables the guaranteeing of the anonymity of the service user in relation to the service operator. For this purpose, an authorization server is used that knows the identity of the customer but has no information concerning the consumption behavior in the video service.

Electronic information services, such as for example what are called online information services, interactive video services, etc., are rapidly increasing in importance. The users of services of this sort have an interest in the observance of their rights of data protection, in particular their anonymity in relation to the operators of such information services. The protection of these user interests is very important, particularly in the area of electronic information services, since here there is an increased risk of abuse of user data due to particular technological possibilities.
To simplify the presentation of the present invention, the following discussion is mostly limited to interactive video services in broadband networks, although it is known without further teachings to one skilled in the art that the present invention can be used analogously in connection with arbitrary electronic information services and arbitrary communication networks.
Access to interactive video services is enabled for a subscriber by means of what is called a set-top box (STB), i.e. a communication terminal apparatus, arranged between the network terminal and the television apparatus. The set-top box (STB) (generally, the communication terminal apparatus) creates a connection to storage units for video information (what is known as a video server, generally, information server) via a broadband data transmission network (generally, a communication network), and controls the selection and reproduction thereof, dependent on inputs from the subscriber (user).
The retrieval of video and multimedia information from the video servers is subject to a fee in most cases, whereby a broad offering of private operators of such apparatus becomes possible. For this reason, these costs to the user of the services must be taken into account. The importance of the protection of data and of personal rights is also to be taken into account.
In the existing testing grounds for interactive video services, as well as in the previously available software for video servers, the identity of a user is checked at the video server. For this purpose the following data must be known to the video server: name, address or bank affiliation, secret number or password. By this means the operator of the video service can in principle associate the name of the user with his consumption behavior (e.g., films requested or film categories; frequency of use). Protection against the abuse of such information, e.g. for advertising purposes, can ensue exclusively via contractual regulations, but not through technological means.

Method for using electronic information services with guarantee of the anonymity of users in relation to the operators of such services