In an embodiment of the invention, a technique for indexing data is disclosed. The technique comprises receiving packets; counting the received packets; determining whether there is a pattern associated with the received packets; and using a first algorithm if it is determined that there is a pattern.

Computers are now typically backed up on a regular basis. There can be many situations where it may be desirable to recover a specific file or a set of files that is less than the entire directory. A situation may also arise where it may be desirable to recover something that is less than the whole of what is stored in the backup storage medium. In such cases, an index identifying the contents of a particular storage medium can be used to assist in the recovery of a portion of what has been backed up.
A problem with the use of such indexes is the time that it can take to process and create the index. As the amount of backed up information becomes larger, the time it takes to create and process an associated index can grow exponentially. It would be desirable to have a more efficient technique for indexing the backed up information.


A computer implemented method and system for detecting a profanity level of a 140-character textual post generated by a user within one or more communities includes: identifying all words present in the 140-character textual post; assigning a weight to each identified word based on whether or not each identified word occurs in one or more databases; calculating a net profanity factor for each identified word based on the assigned weight; calculating a sum of net profanity factors of all the identified words; and publishing or not publishing the 140-character textual post based on the sum of net profanity factors.

Most traditional social media applications such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ primarily focus on sharing content and posting comments within the specified social distance of a specific user's network and also facilitate connecting to individuals. As such, today's social applications freely allow users to express and publish content in various formats. However, the challenge remains with regards to how to identify profanity in the textual and visual content at the time a user is authoring the content so the system can alert and make an appropriate decision on whether or not such content is appropriate for publishing within a given social context or a setting.


A method and system for casting a thermoset layer over a golf ball precursor product is disclosed herein. The system includes multiple stations connected by a conveyor system. The thermoset flowable material is dispensed into a plurality of cavities on each of the mold halves. A plurality of golf ball precursor products are then centered and inserted into the first mold half cavities. The mold halves are mated, heated and cooled. Then, at a de-molding station, the mold halves are separated and the thermoset layered golf balls are removed from the second mold half. A preferred thermoset material is a thermoset polyurethane.

[Not Applicable]
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a golf ball cover layer. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a thermoset polyurethane cover on a golf ball core.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf balls may comprise one-piece constructions or they may include several layers including a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover that surrounds any intermediate layer and the core. In multi-component golf balls, there exists an inner core. Often, this core is made by winding a band of elastomeric material about a spherical elastomeric or liquid-filled center. Alternatively, the core may be a unitary spherical core made of a suitable solid elastomeric material. One such material that is conventionally used for the core of golf balls is a base rubber, such as polybutadiene, which is cross-linked with a metal acrylate, such as zinc diacrylate.
In the construction of some multi-component golf balls, an intermediate boundary layer is provided outside and surrounding the core. This intermediate boundary layer is thus disposed between the core and the outer cover of the golf ball.
Located outwardly of the core and any intermediate boundary layer is a cover. The cover is typically made from any number of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, including thermoplastic resins such as ionomeric, polyester, polyetherester or polyetheramide resins; thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethanes; natural or synthetic rubbers such as balata (natural or synthetic) or polybutadiene; or some combination of the above.
Golf balls are typically manufactured by various molding processes, whether one-component or multicomponent balls. Generally, the core of the golf ball is formed by casting, compression molding, injection molding or the like. If an intermediate boundary layer is desired, one or more intermediate boundary layers are added over the core by any number of molding operations, including casting, compression molding, and/or injection molding. The cover is then formed over the core and intermediate boundary layers, if present, through casting, compression molding, and/or injection molding.
One example of a conventional golf ball manufacturing process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,522, issued on Dec. 18, 1962 (the xe2x80x3522 patent). The manufacturing process disclosed in the xe2x80x3522 patent uses a molding press having upper and lower die portions that surround a golf ball core. A retractable seat contacts the golf ball core to place the same in the desired orientation within the die cavity. The cover material is then injected into the die cavity to form the cover of the ball. The xe2x80x3522 patent further discloses that the timing of the retraction of the retractable seat is critical and depends, in part, on the flow rate of the cover material into the mold cavity. In order to prevent the retardation of the flow rate or pre-hardening of the injected coating material, the xe2x80x3522 patent teaches that in some instances, it may be necessary to heat the molding dies and pre-heat the golf ball core to a temperature slightly above ambient temperature.
Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,191 (the xe2x80x3191 patent), issued Mar. 16, 1993 discloses a method of preparing thread-wound golf balls. In the xe2x80x3191 patent, a rubber thread or material is wound around a frozen core of material to form a core. Immediately thereafter, the core undergoes microwave heating to rapidly thaw the frozen core without heating the rubber thread layer and without moisture condensation taking place on the surface of the core. The method of the xe2x80x3191 patent allegedly reduces the core thawing time and eliminates the need for a drying step.
These and other current golf ball manufacturing processes continue to suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, when the outer cover of the golf ball is made from a thermoset material, e.g., thermoset polyurethane, the core and any intermediate boundary layer(s) tend to undergo thermal expansion during the casting of the outer cover, as heat is generated by the exothermic reaction of the thermoset processes used in the formation of the cover. As the cover forms, and before the cover develops sufficient green strength, the thermal expansion of the core and any intermediate boundary layer, in turn, may cause the outer cover of the golf ball to fracture or crack. Although this problem is particularly relevant to covers that are formed of thermoset polyurethane, it is not believed to be limited thereto. Similar problems may arise with other materials and processes.
Cracking is not the only problem with the current conventional methods of manufacturing golf balls. Since a temperature gradient exists between the core, intermediate layer, if any, and the outer cover, the central portion of the ball acts as a heat sink that absorbs heat given off during the cover-making process. In this regard, the reaction that takes place to cure the outer cover takes longer given the cooler temperature in the inner core of the ball. Production cycle times are thus adversely increased.
Consequently, there remains a need for methods of manufacturing golf balls that do not suffer from the above disadvantages. Moreover, a system and method that permits precision centering of a core in relation to a cover is greatly desired.
The present invention provides a method and system for automatically casting a thermoset layer over a golf ball precursor product, such as a core with a boundary layer. The present invention allows for a plurality of golf ball precursor products to be simultaneously cast molded within a plurality of cavities containing the thermoset material. A preferred thermoset material is a thermoset polyurethane material.
One aspect of the present invention is a method for casting a thermoset layer on each of a plurality of golf ball precursor products. The method includes dispensing a flowable material from a stationary dispenser into each of a plurality of cavities disposed on a first mold half and a second mold half. The flowable material is a thermoset polymer material, precursor thermoset polymer materials, or a mixture thereof. Next, each of the plurality of golf ball precursor products is inserted into a corresponding cavity of the plurality of cavities of the first mold half.
Next, the first mold half is inverted and mated with the second mold half to form a mold assembly to enclose each of the plurality of golf ball precursor products within a spherical cavity to form a thermoset layer on each of the plurality of golf ball precursor products. Next, the mold assembly is heated to cure the thermoset layer on each of the golf ball precursor products. After curing, the mold assembly is separated into the first mold half and the second mold half to expose each the plurality of golf ball precursor products with a thermoset layer thereon for removal from the second mold half.
Another aspect of the present invention is a system for casting a thermoset layer on a golf ball precursor product. The system includes a mold assembly having first and second mold halves with each having a plurality of hemispherical cavities therein. The system also includes a dispensing mechanism having a stationary dispenser and an X-Y gantry. The stationary dispenser dispenses a flowable material into each of the plurality of cavities while the X-Y gantry moves each of the mold halves in a figure eight pattern below it. The system also includes an insertion mechanism having a plurality of vacuum cups for suctioning a plurality of golf ball precursor products from a platen and moving downward along a longitudinal pathway. The insertion mechanism also has a lifter for lifting the first mold half upward along the longitudinal pathway toward the vacuum cups. The system also includes a mold assembly mechanism for inverting the first mold half and mating it with the second mold half. The system also includes a conveyor for transferring the mold assembly along the system, and a heating oven for curing a thermoset layer on each of the golf ball precursor products. Finally, the system includes a de-molding mechanism for separating the first mold half from the second mold half, and removing each of the thermoset layered golf balls from the first mold half.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

System for forming a thermoset golf ball cover


A low-noise, low-distortion clamping scheme includes a bootstrapped voltage clamp and an R.sub.gm current clamp that provide superior overdrive protection when used together in a Class-AB feedback amplifier. The bootstrapped voltage clamp includes a transistor that is connected to a circuit node to be clamped. The transistor's base is bootstrapped to the node to maintain a constant V.sub.be when not clamping, to reduce the adverse effects of the junction capacitance C.sub.je which would normally vary with the node voltage and distort the signal at the node. Two such clamps provide positive and negative voltage limiting. The R.sub.gm current clamp is used in the input stage of a Class-AB feedback amplifier to limit the current through the resistor R.sub.gm that interconnects the current inputs of two transconductance amplifiers whenever the voltage drop across R.sub.gm increases to an unacceptable level. The clamp uses a dependent current source whose output current increases with the magnitude of the current flowing through R.sub.gm and prevents that current from exceeding a predetermined limit. When not clamping, the clamp has a very small effect on the amplifier's input stage. Two R.sub.gm current clamps are typically used to limit current flowing in either direction through R.sub.gm.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of voltage and current clamps, and particularly to clamping schemes to prevent feedback amplifiers from being overdriven.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many electronic circuit applications in which it is necessary to prevent the voltage at a circuit node or the current through a circuit component from exceeding a particular value, i.e., to "clamp" the voltage or current at a certain level. Many clamp circuits exist to perform this function.
The need for a clamp circuit often arises when designing an amplifier, to prevent the amplifier from being "overdriven". When overdriven by an excessive input voltage, an amplifier's output no longer varies linearly with changes at its input, which typically happens when the amplifier's output stage becomes saturated. A voltage clamp can be connected to limit the voltage presented at either the input to an amplifier or to the amplifier's output stage, to prevent the amplifier from being overdriven.
When an amplifier is operating in its linear region, a clamp circuit connected to a circuit node ideally will not introduce noise or distortion into the signal at that node. Previous clamp designs have fallen short of this ideal. A simple clamp design is shown in FIG. 1, comprising zener diodes Z1 and Z2 connected to the input of an amplifier A1, to respectively limit the maximum positive and negative voltages that can be presented to A1. Unfortunately, this clamp scheme often affects the performance of the amplifier due to parasitic effects. Since the clamp is connected to the input of the amplifier, it may also have an adverse effect on the circuit driving the input. In addition, the clamp must dissipate large amounts of current when one of the zener diodes is conducting.
Another clamp scheme is depicted in FIG. 2, shown connected to a circuit node 10 at the interconnection of the input stage 12 and output stage 14 of a Class A feedback amplifier. At this location the clamp does not directly affect the circuitry driving or being driven by the amplifier. The emitters of an npn transistor 16 and a pnp transistor 18 are both connected to the circuit node. The bases of the npn and pnp devices are connected respectively to negative and positive reference voltages V.sub.REFN and V.sub.REFP. The base-emitter junction of the npn transistor 16 becomes forward-biased when the node drops to a voltage equal to V.sub.REFN -V.sub.be, where V.sub.be is the base-emitter threshold voltage for conduction, typically about 0.7 volts. This turns on the transistor 16 and thereby prevents the node voltage from going any more negative, thus clamping the voltage at V.sub.REFN -V.sub.be. The pnp transistor 18 operates similarly, clamping the node at a maximum positive voltage of V.sub.REFP +.vertline.V.sub.be .vertline..
There is an inherent problem with the clamp circuit of FIG. 2, however. Each transistor 16, 18 has a respective parasitic capacitance C.sub.je1, C.sub.je2 across its base-emitter junction. This capacitance varies non-linearly with the base-emitter voltage, as follows: ##EQU1## where C.sub.j0 is the zero-biased base-emitter depletion capacitance, V.sub.BI is the built-in potential of the base-emitter junction and m=1/2 for uniform doping and 1/3 for linear doping. A varying voltage at the circuit node 10 modulates each transistor's base-emitter voltage, which results in a C.sub.je1 and C.sub.je2 that vary non-linearly with the voltage at the circuit node 10. This non-linear capacitive effect is a source of distortion that degrades the amplifier's performance. The adverse effects of C.sub.je are made worse when the clamp is connected to a high impedance node as is typically found between the input and output stages of an amplifier, due to the longer RC time constant that results from the high impedance in combination with C.sub.je. C.sub.je and its effects are discussed, for example, in G. Neudeck, The Bipolar Junction Transistor, Volume III, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., (1989), pp. 80-81.
Other problems can arise when using a clamp circuit to prevent the signal presented to the output stage of a feedback amplifier from exceeding certain limits. FIG. 3 shows a known Class-AB feedback amplifier having an input stage 20 that is connected to an output stage 22 at a high impedance circuit node 24. The input stage includes transconductance amplifiers 26 and 28, respective high impedance voltage inputs 30 and 32, low impedance current inputs 34 and 36, and push-pull current outputs 38 and 40. A resistor R.sub.gm interconnects the two current inputs 34 and 36. The input voltage V.sub.in is connected to the voltage input 30 of one transconductance amplifier 26. The output stage 22 includes an output amplifier 41 that produces an output voltage V.sub.out which is fed back via a voltage divider comprised of resistors R1 and R2 to the voltage input 32 of transconductance amplifier 28. An amplifier of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,274 to Birdsall et al. A clamp circuit 42 is connected to the node 24 to prevent positive and negative excursions of the signal feeding the output stage 22 from exceeding positive and negative clamp voltage limits, designated V.sub.CLAMP+ and V.sub.CLAMP-, respectively, to prevent the output stage from being overdriven.
When operating in its linear region, the amplifier's output voltage V.sub.out is equal to V.sub.in .times.(1+(R1/R2)). Due to the action of the feedback loop, the voltage at voltage input 32 is about equal to V.sub.in, making the voltage across R.sub.gm small. A problem arises when the signal at node 24 reaches either V.sub.CLAMP+ or V.sub.CLAMP-, so that the clamp circuit 42 prevents the voltage fed to the output stage 22 from increasing or decreasing further. This breaks the amplifier's feedback loop and causes the voltage at voltage input 32 to be held at the clamp voltage multiplied by R2/(R1+R2). Any further increase in V.sub.in causes the voltage drop across R.sub.gm to increase, thereby generating a current through R.sub.gm which can become significantly large since R.sub.gm is typically small in a Class-AB amplifier. R.sub.gm can become damaged if the current through it becomes too large, as can components connected to R.sub.gm. Therefore, a need exists for a clamping circuit that will limit the current through a resistor interconnecting two transconductance amplifiers in a Class-AB feedback amplifier.

Overdrive protection clamp scheme for feedback amplifiers


For power-optimised radio relay communication between in particular a station (11) which is operating at low level and navigating at high speed and which is fixed to a missile and a remote ground station (12) the apparatus and time expenditure for antenna tracking from the missile station (11) to the relay station (13) is reduced by the conventional production of an item of tracking direction information (17) on board the missile by direction-finding being replaced by computation of the directional information (17) from a comparison of the current locational data (15, 15') of the navigating station (11) and the relay station (13). If the position of the relay station (13) is variable its locational information (15') is also up-dated with satellite support, for example for correction of a reference position stored there it is transmitted to the missile station (11). In the interests of even more precise orientation of the electronically pivotable array antenna (21) satellite navigational errors can be ascertained from the stationary ground station (12) and transmitted to the cooperative stations (13-11) thereof for additionally taking same into account when computing the directional information (17) for antenna orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the wireless exchange of items of information between a first station which, in particular is fixed to a missile, and a second station, particularly a stationary station, through the intermediary of a relay station by way of a directionally-optimizable antenna.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Such arrangements are known from DE 33 13 648 A1, in such a form that a submunition is moved by means of a carrier into a position over a piece of territory to be reconnoitred and after release from the carrier still uses same as a relay station for the transmission of information to a remote ground station. As the period of time between the missile station (submunition) being released and the relay station (carrier) crashing, due to the system conditions involved, is very short, there are also no long radio distances that have to be bridged across between those two stations. For that reason that publication does not mention any considerations relating to optimisation, in terms of power, of the radio communication or traffic during that short operating period.
For reliable transmission of information, DE 29 10 956 C2 proposes not using a satellite or an aircraft for the relay function, but storing the information to be communicated in a further missile which transmits it towards the ground station again only after launch of the reconnaissance aircraft.
It is generally known from the art of wireless signal transmission that under comparable circumstances the transmission energy requirement is reduced if the radiation characteristic (the so-called lobe) of the transmission antenna is directed with good focussing effect onto the receiving antenna. For suitable antenna tracking between moving systems, it is known at the receiver end to provide for direction-finding in relation to the origin of the received high-frequency energy. For that purpose however the transmitter of the other station must be operating. The expenditure in terms of circuitry and in particular in terms of signal processing circuitry, for direction-finding, with a control parameter which is to be derived therefrom for pivotal movement of the receiving antenna, is very high in comparative terms, in spite of a restricted dynamic, even if the system does not involve mechanical pivotal movement of the antenna but the directional characteristic thereof is electronically pivoted by way of phase-controlled antenna elements (see DE 37 20 173 A1 or GB 2 144 008 A). Therefore tracking of the main antenna lobe, which is derived from such direction-finding, is a failure when dealing with stations which are manoeuvring at very high speed such as for example transmitting or receiving devices on board an aircraft operating at a low height above the ground.
In consideration of those factors the present invention is based on the technical problem of so developing the method and apparatus of the general kind set forth that even a station operating with fast changes in location, in the interests of advantageous radio transmission conditions, operates with antenna tracking which is always at its optimum.

Method and apparatus for the wireless exchange of information between stations


One embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery pack and a method of controlling the battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack receiving a charging current from a power generation module and a method of controlling the battery pack. In the battery pack, when an output voltage of the power generation module is higher than a rated voltage of a main battery and a rated voltage of a sub-battery is higher than the rated voltage of the main battery, an energy loss may be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery pack and a method of controlling the battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack receiving a charging current from a power generation module and a method of controlling the battery pack so as to decrease a loss of electric energy that is supplied from the power generation module to the battery pack.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged and discharged, a secondary battery can be charged and discharged. A secondary battery may be used as an energy source of mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), and the like. In accordance with the type of an external device using a secondary battery, a secondary battery may be used in the form of a single battery or in the form of a battery module formed by grouping a plurality of secondary batteries.
A lead-acid battery may be used as a power supply device to start an engine. Recently, in order to improve fuel efficiency, an idle stop & go (ISG) system is used and has become widespread. Regardless of a high output characteristic of an engine startup and a high frequency of the engine startup attempts, a power supply device that supports an ISG system, that is, an engine idling prevention system, must well maintain its charging and discharging characteristics and have a guaranteed lifetime. Due to frequent and repetitive engine stop and re-startup in an ISG system, however, charging and discharging characteristics of an existing lead-acid battery may deteriorate.

Battery pack and method of controlling the same


An in-vehicle battery charging system adaptable to a wide variety of objects to be charged. A charging system 1 includes a battery charger 3 with a built-in primary coil 2 used to charge an object 7 with a secondary coil 5 and a rechargeable battery 6. By allowing the battery charger 3 and the object 7 to come close to each other, the rechargeable battery 6 is charged through an electromagnetic inductive action between the coils. The battery charger 3, provided in a vehicle instrumental panel 4, includes a slider assembly 23 for adjusting a position of the secondary coil 5 of the object 7 with respect to the primary coil 2 of the battery charger 3. This slider assembly 23 enables a positional relationship between the coils to be properly adjusted, enabling a proper charge condition to be maintained for a variety of objects to be charged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle battery charging system used to charge an object to be charged that includes an energy receiving unit and a rechargeable battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, as this sort of contactless charging system, there has been disclosed a battery charging system comprising: a battery charger with a built-in primary coil; and an object to be charged including a secondary coil and a rechargeable battery, in which the battery charger and the object to be charged are allowed to come close to each other to charge the rechargeable battery through an electromagnetic inductive action between both the coils. This battery charging system includes a holding unit for performing at least two-stage adjustment of a battery charging distance between the battery charger and the object to be charged, and thus due to its ability to adjust a charging current to a specific value and then to feed the same, only one battery charger of this type suffices to charge even a plurality of objects to be charged that are different in charging current, as disclosed in, e.g., Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2000-139033.
According to the foregoing battery charging system, however, in order to let a stick-like holder hold the object to be charged, the object needs to be provided with a portion to engage with the holder. Further, the publication No. 2000-139033 also discloses that a support portion is provided on a battery charger placing surface in a manner extending obliquely upwards, while this placing surface is partly formed with a tilted surface arranged orthogonal to an inclined face of the support portion, whereby when the object to be charged is placed on the tilted surface so as to be inclined along the support portion, the object to be charged is held inclined to thereby widen a battery charging distance, thereby effecting a low-rate charge, whereas when vertically placed, the object to be charged and the battery charger get close to each other to narrow the battery charging distance, thereby effecting a quick charge. This charging system, however, is not suitable for in-vehicle use, as it is difficult to charge the object with the object being vertically placed in a moving vehicle.
Further, as another charging system for simplifying an efficient charge, there has been proposed an inductive charging pad with a placement indicator, as disclosed in e.g., Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2006-94699. In the publication No. 2006-94699, it is proposed that a graphic representation of an electric device is disposed on a charging surface of a battery charger to indicate a position of a primary coil disposed within a boundary of the graphic representation. When the electric device is placed on the graphic representation, the electric device is aligned with the graphic representation, and thus the primary coil of the battery charger becomes aligned with a secondary coil of the electric device, whereby positioning the electric device within the boundary of the graphic representation facilitates efficient inductive power transfer. According to this technique, however, if the electric device itself is changed or replaced with that of another type, the graphic representation also needs to be changed accordingly, thus leading to inconvenience.
On the other hand, there has been proposed yet another contactless battery charging system, as disclosed in e.g., Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2008-301554. According to this battery charging system, communication with a device to be charged placed on a placing portion enables information on the device to be charged to be imported, and then based on the information thus imported, a placing position (an outer frame) of the device to be charged and a position of a primary transmission coil are displayed on a liquid crystal display section provided on the placing portion to thereby guide the device to be charged to a precise position on the placing portion, thus enabling the device to be charged to be easily placed thereon. According to this contactless charging system, information about placing position specific to respective specific devices to be charged is retrieved from a database so that a display means is controlled in such a way that the placing position of the device to be charged is displayed based on the placing position information thus retrieved. In this manner, this contactless charging system can be adapted to a plurality of devices, yet there remains a problem that it cannot be used for devices not registered in the database.


A tile saw includes a saw unit having a motor and a saw blade driven by the motor, a table through which the saw blade at least partially protrudes, and a pan positioned underneath the table and including a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the saw blade. The channel extends along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a rotational axis of the saw blade such that fluid moves through the channel in a first direction in response to rotation of the saw blade. An interior wall is positioned adjacent the channel. The interior wall is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the channel to redirect the fluid in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Conventional tile saws include a rotating saw blade that is capable of cutting through tile. During cutting, the saw blade can become overheated. Therefore, a cooling fluid is often used to cool the saw blade while the saw blade is cutting the tile. The cooling fluid can be held in a pan positioned below a table. In this configuration, the saw blade extends into the pan and rotates through the cooling fluid in the pan as it cuts. Cooling fluid can also be sprayed directly onto the saw blade. In this configuration, the cooling fluid is contained by a shield partially surrounding the saw blade.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited


The present invention provides an airfoil 110 with the squealer tip cooling system 50 for a turbine blade 100 at the blade tip 113, wherein the squealer tip cooling system 50 comprises a cooling passage 170 arranged within a squealer tip 117, wherein the cooling passage 170 at least partly extends toward a terminal end 74 of the squealer tip 117, and a pocket 172 at a lateral surface 75, 76 of the squealer tip 117, open externally and extending inwardly at least partly across the cooling passage 170. The pocket 172 intersects the cooling passage 170 and the pocket 172 comprises an impingement surface 70 facing the cooling passage 170, on which a cooling medium expelled through the cooling passage 170 impinges before being discharged externally through the pocket 172.

Airfoils of turbine blades—particularly blade tips—are exposed to high temperature during operation. Therefore, blade tips comprise cooling holes which lead cooling air from a blade cavity in direction to the blade tip or more precisely to a squealer tip to reduce its temperature.
Since the squealer tip may be continuously in contact with hot combustion products, such as hot gases, a cooling of the squealer tip is desired at the suction side surface and/or the pressure side surface of the airfoil. However, since the squealer tip is disposed to face a stator surface very closely, an undesired event of contact between the squealer tip and the facing stator surface may occur during operation of the gas turbine—known as rub event. Consequently, the cooling air cannot exit the cooling hole in a radially outward direction of the squealer tip.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an airfoil with a squealer tip cooling system which may provide an efficient cooling of the squealer tip of a turbine blade even in case of a rub event.

Airfoil with a squealer tip cooling system for a turbine blade, a turbine blade, a turbine blade assembly, a gas turbine and a manufacturing method


A foam spacer which is usable as a cork substitute in the base cushion layer of a glass spacer. The spacer, which is adapted to replace natural cork spacers is preferably laminated to a tack layer or otherwise adhered to a surface. The spacer is formed from a plasticized foamable resin which includes a quantity of incorporated reinforcing agents.

Object spacers are common useful items which are typically positioned between glass panes or others objects to protect the objects during shipment. Typical spacers utilized cork, neoprene or semi-rigid plastic layers which were adhered to the shipped object by surface adhesives or, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,404, by a foam tack layer. The cork (polyethylene and other semi-rigid materials have also been used) provides support for the glass panels during shipment and also has recovery properties which provide for cushioning of the glass much like a shock absorber.
Phenolic resin-based products have previously been used as wood substitutes by adding fibrous materials to a phenolic resin mixture and then spraying or otherwise applying the reinforced material to a substrate. Such a process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,710. Other reinforced plastics are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,749,625; 4,097,423; 4,097,422; 4,764,420; and 4,036,673. These prior reinforced foams all lacked the desired properties above-mentioned and are not usable as a replacement or substitute for natural cork.


A wireless telephone system capable of servicing a roaming wireless telephone user includes a satellite communications system consisting of one or more orbiting satellites, each carrying a database of users, destination codes and call codes, within a satellite service area, a satellite control center, and a plurality of terrestrial communications links. The system operates by effecting communication between a terrestrial wireless telephone end user transceiver apparatus and a terrestrial communications link via a single relay through a single satellite or a succession of satellites wherein the relay station may be in motion relative to the end user transceiver apparatus and the terrestrial communications link, wherein the orbiting relay station effects the ultimate decision on linking based on stored on-board information and on-board processing, and wherein the end user transceiver apparatus, the orbiting satellite and the terrestrial communications link are operative in cooperation with the on-board database to effect hand-off from a first orbiting satellite to a second orbiting satellite. The satellite system is a single satellite or preferably a constellation of satellites orbiting near the earth, all of which are capable receiving requests for calls and participating in the call routing and call setup on an autonomous basis. The satellites are capable of decoding the calls, switching, handing off of calls to other satellites, and updating databases of users based on information provided by network control.

This invention relates to a wireless telephone system for employing one or a plurality of orbiting satellites to allow wireless telephone users (subscribers) communication access to a terrestrial telephone system (whether private, government or common carrier), and particularly to a wireless telephone system, such as a cellular system, which permits subscriber access to terrestrial telephone networks while the subscriber is roaming in areas that do not have cellular telephone services.
There is a need to provide personal communications anywhere on the earth. Current communications systems, for example, cellular telephone systems, require terrestrial cellular relay stations to intercept and link a cellular radiotelephone transmission with conventional switched telephone users and with other cellular telephone users.
Cellular telephone systems have been proposed which account for roamers, i.e., cellular telephone users which roam outside a normal service area. The American Telephone and Telegraph Corp. (AT&T) has proposed an inter-cellular data network for interconnecting terrestrial cellular telephone service areas using a terrestrial packet-switched network that has nodes at the participating cellular telephone service areas wherein packet-switched network data is accumulated in a database of roaming cellular telephone users. The database therein proposed would keep track of roamers and allow terrestrial interconnection of the roamer to the telephone system when the roamer is located in a cellular telephone service area that is remote from a designated home cell. Certain data is collected which would allow routing of calls to the roaming user, allow issuance of billing information, and allow collection of other system operation data. The operation of the system is proposed as follows: A database of roaming users is notified via the user when the user desires to accept or make telephone calls while roaming. The user notifies the system of intention to roam via a digital signal from the cellular telephone. The roaming user is then logged into the database via a terrestrial or other packet-switched network. Upon entering a participating remote cellular telephone service area, the mobile transceiver apparatus would transmit a (burst) digital signal to the cellular telephone operator in the remote service area. The database of roaming users would then be updated to show the user's current service area. Incoming calls normally directed to the user home cell are thus routed to the proper service and switched to the user. Call screening and other features would allow the user to control the expenses. For outgoing calls, connections are made from the mobile transceiver apparatus to the current service area, which in turn handles connections to the public switched telephone system in the normal manner of cellular telephones. Means may be provided to provide for billing of the user via his home cell due to the database information provided by the packet switched data network.
Efforts are under way to utilize satellite technology in cellular communications. Satellite delivered telephone services to mobile users has been proposed as the Mobile Satellite System (MSS) in the USA. This system is now being implemented by the American Mobile Satellite Corp. (AMSC). It utilizes transceivers in the mobile unit (automobile for example) operating in the L-band (1530-1560 MHz and 1646.5-1660.5 MHz) that communicate to a satellite at geosynchronous orbit. In addition to significant expense to the end user for the transceiver apparatus, the system is subject to noticeable relay delay due to transmission of the signals to and from geosynchronous orbit. Furthermore, the cellular telephone service providers must nevertheless implement a costly additional inter-system network to direct calls to the mobile transceiver apparatus. The current system as envisaged does not have a method for locating the roaming user and directing the call to the user.
A search of U.S. Patent office records uncovered U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,456, assigned to GTE MobileNet, which discloses a cellular telephone "satellite" roaming system that uses a satellite system to permit access to the cellular telephone system when a user is located in areas outside of cellular telephone system coverage. This system does not contemplate overhead orbiting satellites, but rather the system would employ subsidiary cell sites in a terrestrial-based cellular communications system.
Other patents uncovered relate to general information on cellular telephone roaming systems which permit a user of one cellular system to use another cellular system while traveling in areas outside a home cellular system. These patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,901,340; 4,972,460; and 4,833,701.
Motorola, Inc. announced on Jun. 27, 1990 a proposed crosslinked satellite network under the name IRIDIUM. The IRIDIUM system is believed to be described in European Patent Publication EP 365,885, published May 2, 1990, and corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 263,849 filed Oct. 28, 1988. The IRIDIUM system envisions a rigid constellation of seventy-seven low-earth orbiting satellites in seven circular polar orbits for supporting cellular telephone communications on the earth's surface. In the IRIDIUM system, all handoff and relays of communications traffic are handled in space directly between satellites, so that the terrestrial telephone network is bypassed. However, ground signal processing is required to set up and place calls. Calls originating from outside the satellite service areas must interrogate the home location of the user in order to identify the user. The system requires that all satellites be linked constantly to one another. Each of eleven evenly-spaced satellites sharing an orbit is contemplated to project thirty-seven communications cells on the earth's surface. Due to cost and channel limitation, it may be presumed that the IRIDIUM system will not compete with the services provided by terrestrial-based cellular communications systems. A technical description of this invention is believed to be contained under U.S. patent application Ser. No. 263,849 filed Oct. 28, 1988 in the names of Bertiger, Leopold and Peterson.
By a document dated Nov. 2, 1990, Ellipsat Corporation made application to the Federal Communications Commission for authority to construct an elliptical orbit satellite system to support, among other things, mobile voice services in the United States through a constellation of six satellites. The service has been presented as complementary of and not competitive with existing and future (terrestrial) cellular telephone services. The system contemplates the use by end users of dual-mode transceivers using Carrier Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modulation to effect communications with earth satellites in extended-coverage elliptical orbit.
Current technology in the cellular telephone industry uses analog transmission at 30 kHz FM with many customer features such as autodial, portable operation etc. The next generation of equipment will be Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) digital transceivers, due to be introduced in late 1990. Future generations of Cellular Telephones will use Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and spread spectrum modulation for solutions to communications traffic saturation of terrestrial cellular systems. Finally, a roaming network is being developed for the purpose of allowing cellular telephone customers the ability to roam from cell system to cell system in the USA (and other regions).
In the development of commercial terrestrial-based cellular telephone systems, it is expected that dual mode radios will be produced that will be able to access both analog and digital systems. With digital radios, additional services are expected to appear such as car to mobile facsimile (car fax), data transmission, computer interconnections and position location services.
Some high usage cellular systems, such as PACTEL's Los Angeles system, are expected to saturate in 1991. PACTEL and other cellular systems are looking toward Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) as a step toward satisfying future needs. However, the system operators see even more capacity demands and have funded development of a CDMA-based technology. QUALCOMM in San Diego, Calif., has been funded by NYNEX and others to develop CDMA technology for cellular services. QUALCOMM has demonstrated a 9.6 KBPS voice codec with "toll quality" performance using CDMA technology. CDMA may become an industry standard since it is expected to relieve the "capacity" problem and is inherently less expensive as cell site equipment, particularly for rural service areas (RSAs).
CDMA may be used in connection with implementations of the present invention, but the use of other modulation schemes is not precluded.

Wireless telephone/satellite roaming method


A vehicle includes a transformable vehicle body having a first body configuration and a second body configuration. The first body configuration resembles a wagon-style vehicle that includes a fully enclosed passenger space and cargo area. The second body configuration resembles a pickup truck that includes a contracted enclosed passenger space and an open cargo area behind the contracted enclosed passenger space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transformable vehicle that can be transformed to provide a number of different body configurations.
2. Background Art
Historically, vehicles have been designed to accommodate specific types of uses. For example, a work vehicle might be designed as a truck with a large flatbed, easily accessible from outside the vehicle, and configured to accommodate large or heavy payloads. Similarly, a family vehicle might be designed as a minivan, large enough to carry more than 5 passengers, yet still able to accommodate a reasonable amount of cargo. Another type of vehicle, the sedan, might be designed with elegant styling, and configured to provide quiet and comfort to the vehicle occupants.
Recently, a new breed of vehicle, the sport utility vehicle (SUV), has emerged, in part, to provide greater driving freedom. For example, some SUV's have off-road capability and a large cargo area that may make them useful as work vehicles. Similarly, the passenger compartment of many SUV's is large enough to comfortably accommodate five or more passengers. In addition, some SUV's today are elegantly designed, and are configured to provide the quiet and comfort previously only found in high-end sedans.
Despite their attempt to meet the disparate needs of many different uses, an SUV may not provide some users with sufficient flexibility. For example, although an SUV may include a large cargo area, it may not be as easily accessible as the cargo area of a flatbed truck. Hence, there still exists a need for a vehicle that can carry the passengers and cargo of a family vehicle, provide the large, easily accessible cargo area of an open flatbed truck, and yet still provide the styling of an elegant sedan.


A multiplexing system for ISDN circuits. Multiplexers in the system include data terminals, voice interfaces having voice trunks, high speed digital circuits and ISDN circuits, together with a control channel interface which connects trunking circuits by controlling calls on the control channel. When an outgoing voice call originates, data information from data terminals voice is multiplexed with compressed information from a voice interface and transmitted to trunking circuits. When calls originate, the control channel controls calls and connects them with trunking circuits. When using ISDN circuits, after setting up a communication channel for the circuits, a CPU controls calls to multiplex ISDN circuits on the control channel. By this structure decreasing the multiplexing ratio due to voice multiplexing call control on ISDN circuits can be eliminated when linking multiplexers with communication channels having high speed digital circuits and ISDN circuits.

This invention relates to an ISDN circuit multiplexing system using a multiplexer in which high speed digital and ISDN circuits are installed, and specifically relates to an ISDN circuit multiplexing system in which incoming calls and call control connections are made through the aforementioned ISDN circuit.
Call control data on an ISDN circuit control channel (D-channel) include the call control data for only the channel on the ISDN circuit. No call control data are included for multiplexing ISDN circuit channels. Therefore, when one tries to dynamically use ISDN circuits by allocating a needed band width for outgoing calls from terminals, it is not possible to multiplex a plurality of outgoing calls for transmission (for example, to have a 64 Kbps band transmit four 16 Kbps of compressed voice data). When using a multiplexed ISDN circuit, one has had to install a dedicated control channel within the ISDN circuits independent from the control channel to control calls based on one's unique data; or one has had to allocate a fixed band for the fixed use of ISDN circuit communication channels.
In the related technology, when one attempts multiplexed use of ISDN circuits by manipulating calls from terminals, a special control channel must be installed, consequently increasing the number of pieces of equipment required for controlling control channels. In addition, an additional band for the aforementioned control channel is required within the ISDN circuits, decreasing operational efficiency; This also complicates multiplex processing with respect to send/receive data control in the control channel.


Protein formulations and methods for reducing the viscosity of a protein formulation are provided. The method for reducing the viscosity of a protein formulation comprises adding a viscosity reducing agent, such as calcium chloride or magnesium chloride to the protein formulation.

It is estimated that more than 371 new biotechnology-based medicines are in the industry pipeline. Such biotechnology-based medicines include therapeutic proteins such as enzymes, soluble receptors, ligands, blood proteins, and monoclonal antibodies. Protein-based therapy, especially monoclonal antibody-based therapy, has become an important method for treating diseases such as cancer, allergic diseases, asthma, and organ transplantation. At the end of 2003 fourteen antibody-based therapies had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat different human diseases.
Antibody-based therapy is usually administered on a regular basis and requires several mg/kg dosing by injection. Subcutaneous injection is a typical route of administration of these therapies. Because of the small volumes used for subcutaneous injection (usually 1.0 mL-1.2 mL), for high dose antibody therapies, this route of administration requires high concentration protein formulations (e.g., 50 mg/ml-300 mg/ml).
High protein concentrations pose challenges relating to the physical and chemical stability of the protein, and difficulty with manufacture, storage, and delivery of the protein formulation. One problem is the tendency of proteins to form particulates during processing and/or storage, which make manipulation during further processing difficult. To attempt to obviate this problem, surfactants and/or sugars have been added to protein formulations. Although surfactants and sugars may reduce the degree of particulate formation of proteins, they do not address another problem associated with manipulating and administering concentrated protein formulations, i.e., increased viscosity. In fact, sugars may enhance the intermolecular interactions within a protein or between proteins and increase the viscosity of the protein formulation.
Increased viscosity of protein formulations has negative ramifications from processing through drug delivery to the patient. Accordingly, there is a need in the art to develop relatively high concentration protein formulations with suitably low viscosities that are suitable for manufacture, storage, and administration.

Protein formulations with reduced viscosity and uses thereof


A multi-step shock limiter in a disk drive suspension assembly has a load beam and a flexure, with a plurality of limiting pairs. A first limiting pair has a clearance less than that of any other limiting pair, and is flexible. During a shock condition, vertical movement of the flexure with respect to the load beam causes the first limiting pair to engage and absorb shock. Further movement engages at least one additional pair, redistributing the shock thereamong until all pairs engage, thereby substantially anchoring the flexure to the load beam and limiting further movement of the flexure. The limiters may comprise a double tee shape having two legs and a cross member, with the first limiter defined by the cross member between the legs, and two additional limiters defined by the ends of the cross member that extend beyond the legs. The limiters engage corresponding tabs or tongues.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to suspension systems for shock absorption. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods to for limiting shock in a disk drive head suspension assembly employing a multi-step shock limiter.
2. Related Art
A disk drive head suspension, or head gimbal assembly typically comprises a load beam and a flexure, the load beam extending longitudinally from a base plate, and the flexure moveably coupled to the load beam. A read/write head is typically mounted at or near the distal end of the flexure. The read/write head performs the functions of reading data from and writing data onto a disk surface. The minimum distance between the read/write head and the disk surface, also known as lift clearance, affects the operation of the read/write head and is therefore an important design parameter. Thus, disk drive suspensions are preloaded to maintain lift clearance at a desired distance. However, during a shock condition, vertical movement of the flexure may occur, causing the read/write head to impact the disk surface. This action may cause damage to the read/write head, load beam, or flexure, and permanently alter the lift clearance. In severe cases, the impact may damage the disk surface, causing loss of stored data. Shock conditions may result from normal operation, for example, during loading or unloading of a disk. Other sources of shock include non-operational phenomena such as shipping, handling, or installation that cause external jarring or impact to the system.
The current state of the art provides a limiter disposed between the flexure and the load beam to protect the flexure in the event of shock. Under shock conditions, the limiter contacts an engagement surface to dampen shock and prevent excessive damage to the suspension assembly components. However, the limiter itself is generally made of a metal such as stainless steel, and may also be made thinner than the engagement surface. Limiter rigidity is therefore a design concern, especially for short duration shock on the order of 0.5 milliseconds, which can fracture or otherwise deform the limiter. Consequently, the determining factor in the shock rating of the suspension system may depend entirely on the design of the limiter.
In view of the foregoing, there is an ongoing need to improve the performance of limiters in disk drive suspension systems.

Multi-step shock limiter for head gimbal assembly


A fan shroud includes a faceplate having slots. Spacer panels and a top plate extend from the faceplate. Hook-like locking features extend from the spacer panels and locking flanges extend from the top plate. To secure a fan in place, the fan shroud is mounted to a rack of a computer system using the hook-like locking features and the locking flanges. The faceplate of the fan shroud is adjacent to and secures the fan in place.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cooling of electronic components in electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to the removable attachment of a fan to a rack of an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the art moves towards higher power integrated circuits and components, hereinafter referred to as heat emitting components, heat transfer from the heat emitting components becomes increasingly difficult and more important. One conventional technique to remove heat from a heat emitting component was to employ a fan to pass air over the heat emitting component. In this manner, heat generated by the heat emitting component was transferred to the passing air and then dissipated to the ambient environment.
The electronic components were mounted within a rack. For example, the electronic components were mounted to CPU boards and these CPU boards were mounted within the rack. The fan was mounted at one end of the rack and passed air along the length of the rack and between the CPU boards.
Depending upon the thermal requirements of the heat emitting components, different thickness fans were often used. Disadvantageously, since the fans were bolted directly to the rack, the rack had to be specifically designed for each thickness fan. This required the manufacture to stock a wide variety of different racks to accommodate the different thickness fans. As should be readily apparent, stocking a wide variety of different racks increased the cost of the electronic device, e.g., computer system, and was thus undesirable.
In accordance with the present invention, a fan shroud includes a faceplate having slots. First and second spacer panels are connected to and extend from the faceplate. First and second hook-like locking features are connected to and extend from the first and second spacer panels, respectively.
The fan shroud further includes a top plate connected to and extending from the faceplate. First and second locking flanges are connected to and extend from the top plate, the first and second locking flanges including first and second mounting apertures, respectively.
In one embodiment, an electronic device such as a computer system employing the fan shroud includes a rack. The rack has a fan plate and first and second panels perpendicular to the fan plate.
The first and second hook-like locking features of the fan shroud are coupled to the fan plate of the rack. Further, the first and second locking flanges of the fan shroud are coupled to the first and second panels of the rack. In this manner, the fan shroud is mounted to the rack.
The fan shroud is used to mount a fan to the rack. More particularly, the rack includes a fan support block, and the faceplate of the fan shroud keeps the fan in place and mounted within the fan support block.
The fan shroud is easily removed allowing the fan to be readily repaired or replaced. Advantageously, a new thicker fan is easily installed to the rack without making any modifications to the rack itself. More particularly, by using a fan shroud having appropriate dimensions for the particular thickness fan, a wide variety of different thickness fans can be accommodated. The fan shroud in accordance with the present invention allows a single rack to be used without modification with a wide variety of different thickness fans.
During use, the fan moves air through the slots of the faceplate of the fan shroud. Advantageously, the slots have an area sufficient to prevent obstruction of this air. Further, the fan shroud prevents objects, e.g., wires, debris, or fingers, from getting entangled with the fan.
Also in accordance with the present invention, a method of mounting a fan includes inserting the fan within a central aperture of a fan support block of a rack. A faceplate of a fan shroud is moved adjacent to the fan. The fan shroud is coupled to the rack thus securing the fan within the fan support block.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the detailed description set forth below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A shaped chitin body containing a high content of a physiologically active substance, such as a drug to be used for the cure or prevention of disease, is prepared by incorporating said physiologically active substance into a dope comprising (a) a water-insoluble chitin, (b) lithium chloride, and (c) N-methylpyrrolidone and/or dimethylacetamide, with the amount of said physiologically active substance incorporated being 0.5 wt. % or more with respect to the amount of the chitin contained in said dope, and thereafter coagulating the resulting mixture with a coagulant to obtain a shaped body.. The high content of the physiologically active substance thus incorporated in the shaped chitin can be slowly released therefrom over a long period of time. The shaped-chitin of the present invention is characterized by long duration of the physiological activity of the active substance contained therein.

Various methods have heretofore been proposed for the purpose of prolonging the effective life of physiologically active substances, where a physiologically active substance is contained in a carrier of a polymeric substance. In particular, a natural polymeric substance such as a cellulose or a starch is proposed as being preferable as a carrier in such case in a form wherein the physiologically active substance-containing carrier is used as found in nature and therefore must be safe. Such natural polymeric substances include a chitin of an amino-polysaccharide. In this connection, U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,098, corresponding to Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 123815/75 (The term "OPI" as used herein refers to a "published unexamined Japanese patent application".) discloses a drug-releasing instrument, where a drug is incorporated in a chitin solution and the resulting mixture is shaped to form a shaped body which may slowly release the effective ingredient of the incorporated drug. This prior art technique, however, has some problems, in that the chitin component used therein is a water-soluble chitin derivative, and therefore, when said drug-releasing instrument is used in the presence of water, the carrier itself is dissolved and the effect of the physiologically active substance contained therein does not last for a long period of time.
The present inventors have conducted extensive studies to overcome the above-mentioned problem and to obtain a biolytic drug-releasing body comprising a water-insoluble chitin as a carrier, and as a result, previously proposed a method where a physiologically active substance is incorporated in a swelled body of a water-insoluble chitin, as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 637,191, filed Feb. 8, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,268, corresponding to Japanese Patent Application No. 145428/83). However, this prior art process still involves a problem in that a physiologically active substance can generally not be incorporated in the carrier at a desirably high concentration.
A shaped chitin body containing a physiologically active substance at a high concentration is disclosed in Chem. Pharm. Bull., Vol. 29, pp. 3067-3069 (1981), where a chitin is dissolved in hexafluoro-2-propanol, and a drug is added thereto in an amount of 200 wt. % with respect to the amount of the chitin, and thereafter the solvent is evaporated to obtain drug-containing chitin-tablets. However, the solvent used in this method is extremely specific and expensive, and is highly toxic. In addition, the retention percentage of the physiologically active substance in the formed tablets is 25% or less, and the duration for releasing the active substance is almost within 24 hours.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,457 discloses a method for preparing a shaped chitin body, wherein a chitin is dissolved in a lithium chloride-containing dimethylacetamide solution or in a lithium chloride-containing N-methylpyrrolidone solution, and the resulting chitin-dope is coagulated with a coagulant to obtain a shaped chitin body. However, there is no disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,457 with respect to a method where a physiologically active substance is incorporated in a chitin-dope.

Method for preparation of a shaped chitin body containing a physiologically active substance


A camera having an in-exposure zooming mechanism includes a shutter speed calculation unit for, when an in-exposure zooming mode is set, calculating a shutter speed suitable for the in-exposure zooming mode on the basis of an output from a luminance measurement unit for measuring a luminance of an object. A timer unit outputs a timing signal when the shutter speed elapses. When the timing signal is output, a judgment unit judges whether or not the in-exposure zooming mode is set. A drive control unit drives a motor to change a focal length of a zooming lens when it is determined that the in-exposure zooming mode is set. A shutter closing unit executes a shutter closing operation upon completion of the zooming operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera having an in-exposure zooming mechanism for driving a zooming lens during exposure of a film.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in order to obtain a special photographing effect, an in-exposure zooming photographing operation for performing a zooming operation during exposure of a film using a camera attached with a zooming lens is known. However, since a zooming operation during exposure requires a skill, it is a high-level photographing technique for general photographers.
Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 61-228426 discloses a technique for zooming a zooming lens by an electric motor to perform an in-exposure zooming photographing operation.
Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 63-318531 discloses the following technique. That is, when an in-exposure zooming photographing operation is performed in a state wherein a principal object is present with a dark background, a zooming operation is started after the background image is exposed for a predetermined period of time, and the magnification of the principal object is fixed at an emission timing of a flash device, thereby attaining proper exposure.
When a zooming operation is performed after exposure is performed for a predetermined period of time by combining the in-exposure zooming operation and a flash photographing operation, an emission timing of a flash device is preferably closer to the end of exposure as much as possible. When the principal object is a person, he or she may mistake the flash emission timing as the end of a photographing operation, and may move although exposure is still being executed, resulting in an undesired photograph.
A rear-curtain synchro photographing operation described in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 63-318531 described above is effective in solving this problem. However, the following problem is left unsolved.
That is, a principal object image cannot have a desired magnification depending on a zooming start timing, and a flash emission timing. More specifically, according to Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 63-318531 described above, when the rear-curtain synchro photographing operation is combined with the in-exposure zooming operation, since a flash device emits light during a zooming operation, the magnification is unknown until a corresponding photograph is developed.
When a zooming lens causes movement of a focal point during zooming, the principal object image is photographed in an out-of-focus state. More specifically, a zooming operation is started in an in-focus state for the principal object, and when the flash device emits light during zooming, a principal object image is photographed by the light emission in an out-of-focus state since the focal point of the lens is moved during zooming.

Camera having in-exposure zooming mechanism


A molding apparatus for molding an optical component comprises first and second mold sections (20-26, 34) forming opposite sides of a mold cavity (40). The mold cavity has a peripheral edge (43) contacting the optical component during the molding process which is made to reduce the transfer of heat through the peripheral edge (43). In one embodiment of the invention, the peripheral edge is made from a titanium alloy (56) having thermal conductivity approximately 50% of a thermal conductivity of stainless steel. In another embodiment of the invention, the peripheral edge of the mold is made from a porous titanium material (56a) having a density substantially less than the solid titanium alloy. In a further embodiment of the invention, the peripheral edge of the mold is made from a polyimide (70) having oxygen atoms implanted in its surface. In a still further embodiment of the invention, the peripheral edge of the mold is the stainless steel (84) normally used in the mold, however, an annular ring of a polyimide (82) is disposed behind the peripheral edge of the mold cavity. All of the above embodiments provide insulating properties at the peripheral edge (43) of the mold to reduce birefringence but maintain the wear resistance properties of a steel mold to provide long life.

Optical components, for example, optical discs, are generally produced by a molding process, for example, injection molding. The injection molding process utilizes a movable mold that is closed under high pressure against a stationary mold to form a mold cavity therebetween having a shape approximately equal to the shape of the desired molded product. In molding optical components, for example, audio compact discs or memory compact discs, a thermoplastic disc material, for example, a polycarbonate resin, is heated to a molten phase and injected into the mold cavity. The molten material is injected into the center of the mold cavity, and the molten material flows radially to the peripheral boundary of the mold cavity. The molds are generally made of a metal material, for example, a stainless steel, and have a high thermal conductivity, thereby facilitating the rapid cooling of the molten disc material. After the molded disc in the cavity has cooled to a solid phase, the movable mold is withdrawn to open the mold and permit the molded disc to be removed therefrom.
As with any production process, the above molding process is continuously reexamined and optimized to shorten the molding cycle time, thereby providing a greater number of molded parts per operating shift. However, attempts to shorten the molding cycle time, especially in the process of making optical components, often results in an unacceptable degradation of the optical characteristics of the molded component.
One measure of the optical quality of a molded optical component is birefringence. Birefringence is the characteristic of having two indices of refraction with different values causing separation of a light beam passing through the material into two diverging beams. An unpredictable separation of a light beam in a molded optical component, such as an optical disc or lens, can cause errors and inaccuracies in the process of reading data from or writing data to the disc or through the lens. Further, it has been found that birefringence is directly proportional to orientation stresses existing within the molded component. Thus, in the injection molding process, birefringence is directly proportional to both flow induced orientation stress and stress caused by rapid cooling through the glass transition temperature with a large temperature gradient.
The literature suggests methods for reducing birefringence in molding discs normally used for optical components. For example, one method suggests molding components with predetermined magnitudes of stress present in the discs after molding, and those stresses are then subsequently removed by a post molding process, for example, an annealing process. Other methods utilize different temperature profiles across the mold during the injecting and cooling periods. Still other methods utilize insulating mechanisms within the mold to control the heat transfer and cooling of the injected resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,818 discloses an insulating insert that is placed within the mold to reduce residual stress and orientation in the molding process, thereby producing more uniform birefringence. The insert may be a single layer of insulating film or may have an outer skin layer bonded to the insulating layer. Preferably, the outer skin layer has a metallic layer, for example, electroless nickel and an intermediate bonding layer comprised of a porous matrix of metal particles to facilitate bonding of the hard, metallic skin layer with the insulating material. The metallic outer skin has a different coefficient of expansion than the intermediate porous layer or the insulating layer. Consequently, the heating and cooling cycles experienced with each of the tens of thousands of expected molding machine cycles will create a tendency for the metallic outer skin to separate from the insulating layer. In addition, the nickel outer skin is substantially softer than the stainless steel of the mold. Therefore, while there may be an improvement in birefringence, a mold with the above insulating insert has a disadvantage; namely, it is less durable and will have a shorter life than a stainless steel mold.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,473 discloses the use of one or more nonmetallic, thermal flow control, insulator elements that form the mold cavity surfaces. The insulator elements preferably have a thermal conductivity, density, and specific heat that is substantially less than the same properties of tool steel from which the mold components are made. Such materials are selected from the group consisting of quartz glass, "PYREX" glass, sapphire, and polyimide thermoplastic. Insulator elements comprise opposed, generally circular mold cavity side surfaces in the opposed mold halves; and ring shaped insulator elements located around the peripheral edge of the mold cavity, thereby defining a cylindrical wall of the mold cavity. The materials chosen for the edge elements have lower mathematical products of thermal conductivity, specific heat, and density than the materials chosen for the side surface insulator elements. The side surface elements have greater surface areas per volume of resin from which to transfer heat than do the narrow edge regions. The edge insulator elements provide reduced heat flow at the cylindrical corners of the cavity to slow heat transfer from the edges. Therefore, the edges have a heat transfer rate that is similar to that of the walls, thus preventing the corners of the molded article from solidifying much before the side surfaces and the cylindrical wall.
While the above non-metallic insulating inserts improve the thermal characteristics and consistency of the molded part, thereby substantially reducing birefringence, the nonmetallic inserts have two significant disadvantages. First, the nonmetallic inserts are softer than the steel molds and, do not have the strength and durability of the tool steel molds over tens of thousands of molding cycles. Therefore, the nonmetallic inserts have a shorter life than the steel molds and have the disadvantage of requiring more frequent replacement. Further, due to the general chemical similarity between the nonmetallic insulating inserts and the disc resin material being molded, the molded part may occasionally stick to the insulating insert after cooling, thereby making ejection of the molded part from the mold more difficult.
Due to differences in properties of insulative materials vis-a-vis the tool steel of traditional molds, trade-offs are encountered when insulators are used in the mold to reduce birefringence in the molded product. Insulators, while exhibiting lower thermal conductivity, specific heat and density than tool steel, which tend to reduce birefringence in the molded product, are generally softer than tool steel, causing greater wear, and hence require more frequent replacement, then molds made of only steel.
Consequently, there is a need for a mold system that improves on the disadvantages of the above described systems.

Boundary apparatus for optical component molding


An aerosol is produced by flowing a liquid sample through a gas-assisted nebulizer. The liquid exits from an outlet into a coaxial flow of gas. The outlet includes a sharp edge that inhibits or prevents accumulation of precipitates from the liquid, thereby reducing or eliminating clogging, which is particularly useful for a samples containing high concentrations of dissolved particles. The aerosol may be introduced into a plasma such that molecules are broken into atoms. The atomization may be followed by an analysis such as by optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry.

Certain analytical instruments require that a liquid sample be nebulized (vaporized), i.e., converted to an aerosol (a fine spray or mist), and then broken down to atoms in preparation for analysis. Thus, a nebulizer (typically pneumatically assisted) is often part of the sample introduction system of an optical emission spectrometer (OES, also termed an atomic emission spectrometer or AES) or a mass spectrometer (MS). The aerosol from the nebulizer is directed into a plasma plume generated by a plasma source, which is often configured as a flow-through torch. The plasma is typically inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or microwave induced plasma (MIP). Exposure to plasma breaks the sample molecules down to atoms.
In the plasma, the sample atoms repeatedly lose electrons (are ionized) and recombine with electrons. During this process, the atoms emit electromagnetic radiation (light) at wavelengths characteristic of their elemental identities. In an OES, this light is collected and focused by optics and directed to an analyzer, which may include, for example, a diffraction grating. The analyzer spectrally resolves the light into its component wavelengths, enabling the intensity of the light at each wavelength (respective abundances of the wavelengths) to be measured by an optical detector. The OES system then presents the data so acquired as a spectrum of atomic emission lines. The intensity of each line is indicative of the concentration (abundance) of the corresponding element of the sample.
In an MS, ions of the sample atoms are extracted from the plasma source and directed as an ion beam into a mass analyzer. The mass analyzer applies a time-varying electrical field, or a combination of electrical and magnetic fields, to spectrally resolve different types of ions on the basis of their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios, enabling an ion detector to count each type of ion of a given m/z ratio. The MS system then presents the data so acquired as a spectrum of mass (m/z ratio) peaks (respective abundances of the m/z ratios). The intensity of each peak is indicative of the concentration (abundance) of the corresponding element of the sample.
Generally, the structures and operations of various types of analytical nebulizers, plasma sources, OES instruments, and MS instruments are known to persons skilled in the art, and accordingly are only briefly described herein as necessary for understanding the subject matter being disclosed.
In addition to the analytes (the sample atoms or ions for which data is sought), the liquid sample may contain a high concentration of dissolved salts (e.g., metal salts, such as in a sample of seawater) or total dissolved solids (TDS). During the process of converting the liquid sample to liquid drops in a gas-assisted nebulizer, the salt or dissolved solids may precipitate out of the solution and accumulate at any orifice of the nebulizer through which the sample material flows, such as the exit of the nebulizer. Over time, more precipitates form and eventually clog the exit or other orifice and the nebulizer stops working, consequently disrupting the operation of the associated analytical system. Upon detecting the clog, the operator of the system must shut the system down and remove the nebulizer for cleaning.
As an example, a gas-assisted nebulizer often has a concentric configuration in which the bulk liquid sample flows through a central tube (or capillary) and the nebulizing gas (e.g., argon, nitrogen, etc.) flows through an outer tube surrounding the central tube. A meniscus is formed at the outlet of the central tube from which the bulk liquid sample exits. When the meniscus becomes large enough, the surface of the meniscus is exposed to the gas flowing by the outlet of the central tube. A liquid drop is pulled from the meniscus when the force of the gas is strong enough and the surface of the meniscus large enough to overcome the surface tension of the liquid. Conventional nebulizers such as this type have features that present locations where the liquid is stagnant and not exposed to the gas flowing by the central tube outlet. Over time, the concentration of the salt or dissolved solid in the liquid can increase to the point where the salt or dissolved solids will precipitate out of solution. One this process begins, the precipitate formation increases and eventually a clog will occur.
One way to minimize clogging is to dilute the liquid sample and thereby lower the salt or solid concentration as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,671,329, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. However, dilution may lower the measurement signals acquired and reduce the sensitivity of the spectrometer or other analytical instrument.
Therefore, there is a need for an analytical nebulizer, sample atomizer, and associated system in which clogging is minimized in a manner that does not require dilution of a liquid sample.

Sample atomization with reduced clogging for analytical instruments


A light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting device, fixedly situated at a first position, to emit light at a wavelength, a first phosphor, fixedly situated at a second position, to radiate light with a first spectral characteristic out of the light emitting apparatus in response to irradiation by the light at the wavelength, and a second phosphor, fixedly situated at a third position, to radiate light with a second spectral characteristic out of the light emitting apparatus in response to irradiation by the light at the wavelength. An optical coupling mechanism is included to optically couple the light emitting device to the first phosphor and to optically decouple the light emitting device from the second phosphor in a first operating mode, and optically couple the light emitting device to the second phosphor in a second operating mode.

1. Technical Field
The present subject matter relates to generating light using phosphors. More specifically it related to LED devices utilizing phosphors.
2. Description of Related Art
Current multi-colored light sources that utilize LEDs use multiple LEDs. In the simplest case, a dual color LED is comprised of two LEDs, each of which emits a different color of light. They can be packaged together in one package with connections that may be separate or shared. A more capable multi-colored light source utilizing LEDs may be built using a plurality of LEDs of a variety of colors, commonly some number each of red, green and blue LEDs. A controller may be included that can individually control the intensity of each color of LED or even control the intensity of each individual LED. This allows the controller to generate a wide variety of colors.
A conventional LED die generally emits light in a narrow band of wavelengths. If that wavelength is in the visible range, this gives the LED a distinct color to a human eye. To generate a broader spectrum of light, such as needed to generate a light perceived as "white" by the human eye, a technique may be used where a narrow range of wavelengths generated by a single LED die irradiates and excites a phosphor material to produce visible light, referred to herein as a phosphor LED (or PLED). The phosphor can comprise a mixture or combination of distinct phosphor materials, and the light emitted by the phosphor can include a plurality of narrow emission lines distributed over the visible wavelength range such that the emitted light appears substantially white to the human eye.
One example of a phosphor LED is a blue LED illuminating a phosphor that converts blue to both red and green wavelengths. A portion of the blue excitation light is not absorbed by the phosphor, and the residual blue excitation light is combined with the red and green light emitted by the phosphor. Another example of a phosphor LED is an ultraviolet (UV) LED illuminating a phosphor that absorbs and converts UV light to red, green, and blue light.
Different combinations of distinct phosphor materials may give off subtle variations of spectra to emit "white" light at different color temperatures. The correlated color temperature (simply referred to as color temperature herein) of a light source is the temperature of an ideal black-body radiator that radiates light that is perceived by the human eye to be of a comparable hue to that light source. The temperature is conventionally stated in units of absolute temperature, kelvin (K). Higher color temperatures (5000K or more) are called cool colors (blueish white); lower color temperatures (2700-3000K) are called warm colors (yellowish white through red). While light with a wide range of color temperatures may still be called "white", in reality a white light at 6000K (similar to typical daylight) is actually a different color than a white light at 3000K (similar to an incandescent bulb) or a white light at 9000K (similar to a computer CRT screen). Thus an application needing to adjust the color temperature of a light source may actually require a multi-color light source.
Many applications today would like to be able to adjust the color of the light source or the color temperature of a white light source for its artistic or psychological effects. For non-LED based lighting sources, this has often been done with filters or gels placed over conventional lights. With a variety of filters, a wide variety of different colors (including different color temperatures) can be realized from a conventional lamp. Multi-colored LED light sources utilizing several different colors of LEDs have become popular due to the wide range and fine control that can be achieved using the controller. But if a limited range of finely controlled colors is required, a full set of LEDs with their associated controller may be too expensive and bulky for many applications and even then, the limited spectral content available from LEDs may not provide the ability to create subtle differences in perceived color such as slight variations in color temperature.


A method for manufacturing shallow trench isolation comprising the steps of providing a substrate, then forming a pad oxide layer over a substrate using a thermal oxidation process. After that, a silicon nitride layer is formed over the pad oxide layer using a low pressure chemical vapor deposition method. Next, using conventional photolithographic and etching processes, the silicon nitride layer is patterned to form an opening exposing the pad oxide layer. In a subsequent step, the pad oxide layer exposed by the opening and the substrate below the opening is etched to form a deep trench. Thereafter, portions of the silicon nitride layer and the pad oxide layer are etched away using hot phosphoric acid solution to expose portions of the substrate. Finally, a liner oxide layer is formed over the interior surface of the trench. The characteristic of this invention includes the formation of a smooth upper trench corners and a liner oxide layer thicker than the pad oxide layer. Therefore, the problem of current leaking from devices due to subthreshold kink effect can be avoided.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing shallow trench isolation (STI).
2. Description of Related Art
A complete integrated circuit is generally made from tens of thousands of transistors. To prevent the short-circuiting of any two neighboring transistors, an insulating layer is normally formed between the transistors for isolating the devices. For example, shallow trench isolation is formed by etching a trench in the substrate and then filling the trench with an insulating material to define an active device area.
FIGS. 1A through 1C are cross-sections showing the progression of manufacturing steps in the production of conventional shallow trench isolation. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a substrate 10 is provided. Then, a pad oxide layer 11 is formed over the substrate 10 using a thermal oxidation process. The pad oxide layer can be, for example, a silicon dioxide layer. Thereafter, a silicon nitride layer 12 (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) is formed over the pad oxide layer 11 using a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, a photoresist layer 13 is formed over the silicon nitride layer 12, and then a photolithographic process is used to form a pattern on the silicon nitride layer 12. Then, the silicon nitride layer 12 is anisotropically etched to exposed portions of the pad oxide layer using a dry etching method. Similarly, using a photoresist layer 13 and photolithographic processing again, a pattern is formed on the pad oxide layer 11 and the substrate 10. Then, the exposed pad oxide layer 11 is anisotropically etched using a dry etching method. Etching continues down into the substrate 10, and finally forming a trench 14 having interior surfaces 15 that exposes portions of the substrate 10.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1C, the photoresist layer 13 is removed to expose the silicon nitride layer 12.
FIG. 2 is a magnified view showing the features at the corner within the dash circle of FIG. 1C. As shown in FIG. 2, the exposed substrate surface at the upper corner of the trench 14 is rather small. Furthermore, subsequently formed liner oxide layer will have a rather steep gradient along the trench corner location.
Thereafter, a liner oxide layer is formed at a high temperature using a thermal oxidation process. The liner oxide layer covers the interior surfaces 15 of the trench 14, and has contact with the pad oxide layer 11 at the upper corner of the trench 14.
Finally, conventional processes are performed to complete the structural formation of shallow trench isolation. For example, the trench 14 is filled using an insulating material such as silicon dioxide. Other subsequent processes are known to those skill in the art, therefore detail description is omitted here.
In the conventional method, the exposed substrate area at the upper trench corners is very small. Moreover, one side of the upper corner is the substrate, while the other side is the pad oxide layer. Therefore, the subsequently formed gate oxide layer will be thinner, thereby leading to a lowering of its reliability. Another consequence of a thin gate oxide layer is that there is an increase in the electric field strength at the upper corner locations. Furthermore, the upper corner fabricated by a conventional method is not too smooth either.
Moreover, due to the over-exposure of the substrate at the upper corner of the trench in a subsequent pad oxide layer removing process, kink effect is easily produced at the upper corner locations. Hence, sub-threshold current will be generated in the device, thereby leading to a current leakage problem.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art to improve the method for manufacturing shallow trench isolation.

Method for manufacturing shallow trench isolation


The invention discloses an electronic apparatus and a fan module thereof. The fan module includes a base, an impeller, a liquid container, an atomizing device and a cover. The impeller is provided in the base. The liquid container is placed at the center of the impeller, and the liquid container contains a liquid. The atomizing device is disposed on the liquid container, and the atomizing device can atomize the liquid to form a mist to spray in order to absorb the heat in the electronic apparatus. The cover covers the base and forms an air outlet with the base. Furthermore, the cover has an air inlet. When the impeller rotates, the blade of the impeller drives airflow mixed the heated mist to enter into the base through the air inlet of the cover, and to exit from the base through the air outlet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fan module and, more particularly, to an electronic apparatus and a fan module thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the development of the electronic technology, electronic components are developed towards the trend of miniaturization and high-density. The heat produced during the operation of electronic components, such as the CPU of a computer, the chipset and so on, increases when they run. If the heat cannot be dissipated timely, the temperature of the electronic apparatus rises, which seriously affects the normal operation of the electronic components. At present, generally heat sinks or heat pipes are disposed on the electronic components to assist heat dissipation, and fans are disposed on the heat sinks to form heat-dissipating devices. The heat produced by the electronic components is removed by rapidly dissipating the heat of the heat sink through the airflow generated by the fan.
FIG. 1 is an outside view of a fan module 1 in the prior art. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fan module 1 in FIG. 1. The conventional fan module 1 includes a base 10, an impeller 12 and a cover 14. The impeller 12 includes a hub 120 and several blades 122. A holding base 100 is placed at the centre of the base 10, and the hub 120 of the impeller 12 is placed at the holding base 100. The cover 14 has an air inlet 140, and the cover 14 forms an air outlet 16 with the base 10. Generally, the hub 120 includes a motor (not shown) for driving the impeller 12 to rotate.
FIG. 3 is an outside view of a heat sink 30 placed with the fan module 1 in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the heat sink 30 is connected with a heat pipe 32. The heat sink 30 has several fins 300. An electronic component (not shown) is placed at a holding base 4 on the heat pipe 32. The heat produced by the electronic component during operation is conducted to the heat sink 30 through the heat pipe 32.
During the operation of the fan module 1, the motor (not shown) drives the impeller 12 to rotate. The blade 122 drives airflow to enter into the base 10 through the air inlet 140 and to exit from the base 10 through the air outlet 16. Therefore, the heat of the heat sink 30 is removed.
However, as for the electronic apparatus which performance increases continuously, the heat dissipating method above cannot meet the requirement of heat dissipation gradually. Therefore, the problem of overheating of electronic apparatus occurs more frequently.

Electronic apparatus and fan module thereof