A non-volatile memory device includes a vertical state transistor disposed in a semiconductor substrate, where the vertical state transistor is configured to trap charges in a dielectric interface between a semiconductor well and a control gate. A vertical selection transistor is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. The vertical selection transistor is disposed under the state transistor, and configured to select the state transistor.

Non-volatile memory cells of the type for trapping charges in a dielectric interface, better known to a person skilled in the art as "SONOS" or even "MONOS" depending on the material used for the control gate, typically comprise a control gate separated from the well by a dielectric interface configured to trap electric charges.
Generally, such an interface comprises a layer for storing charges, for example, of silicon dioxide located on a tunnel dielectric layer, for example, formed by silicon dioxide, and under a blocking dielectric layer, for example, also formed by silicon dioxide.
If the control gate is made of polycrystalline silicon, then reference is made to a "SONOS" (silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon) device, whereas if the control gate is at least partially metal, then reference is made to a device of the "MONOS" (metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon) type.
The patent application filed in the U.S. Ser. No. 15/810,979 (US Patent Publication 2018-0151584) discloses examples of memory cells of the type for trapping charges in a dielectric interface, in which an overlap, by the charge trapping dielectric area and by the control gate, of the common embedded selection gate with two twin memory cells allows the memory device to be rendered more compact.

Non-volatile memory device with vertical state transistor and vertical selection transistor


Apparatus is disclosed herein for reducing engine nitrogen oxide emissions by mixing hydrogen prepared from a portion of engine fuel within a simple burner. The apparatus includes a burner having an internal combustion chamber for receiving either a portion of gaseous fuel or liquid fuel for mixture with air and subsequent ignition by a spark plug. A mixing chamber is included having a series of baffles against which injected air and fuel vapor impinge causing thorough and complete air/fuel blending into a mixture subsequently ignited and burned, and then discharged into the combustion chamber of the engine itself. A preheating arrangement is provided for raising the temperature of the air/fuel mixture via a heat exchanging process with the combusted gases in the combustion chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of reducing nitrogen oxide emission from internal combustion engines and turbines, and more particularly to a novel means of adding hydrogen prepared by means of a novel burner from a portion or part of the main engine fuel whether it be gaseous or liquid.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) form at the high temperatures normally associated with combustion processes and that operating an engine at lean conditions with excess air lowers temperature and, therefore, decreases NO.sub.x. However, decades of engine and turbine studies have shown that lean combustion limits for all fuels are above those where NO.sub.x emissions are below specified goals. Natural gas and gasoline are examples where lean combustion has been pushed to its limit and where it has been found that hydrogen addition increases this limit to where NO.sub.x output is acceptably low. However, means to obtain hydrogen for this purpose are beset with problems.
Problems and difficulties have been encountered when the supply of hydrogen is provided by materials carried in a separate tank which can be extremely heavy and requires pressurization. As examples, methanol, hydrogen or ammonium nitrate can produce hydrogen when added to an engine combustor.
However, these add to the fuel and so reduce the volumetric storage capacity which lowers overall performance, and results in complications through use of secondary materials. Hydrogen stored in the pressurized container which holds methane (Hythane) can also be used, but this causes about 75 percent reduced engine range for each percent hydrogen used because of its very low energy content on a volumetric basis, and also requires special means to enable safe storage of hydrogen.
A more favorable method to obtain hydrogen is by properly treating a portion of the main engine fuel itself. This does not require storing and using a new expendable and can be accomplished with little or no loss of fuel energy. Hydrogen may be produced from fuels by high-temperature decomposition, such as those listed in Greiner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,133. The actual patent discloses a fuel burner and decomposer combination on which hot gases produced from the burner heat a secondary flow of fuel within a heat exchanger to temperatures where it decomposes to form hydrogen. It is intended for use with methanol as fuel, which can uniquely decompose without formation of solid carbon "soot" which can harm the engine process. The burner of the aforementioned patent cannot efficiently combust when fuel rich, where otherwise hydrogen is produced. Hydrogen can also be produced by reacting the fuel with water to produce hydrogen through a "reforming", process. Such a process, however, requires involved catalytic means to bring about the water-fuel reaction, a heat input for its endothermic reaction, stored water or means to obtain it from the engine exhaust, etc. In addition, it often is difficult to obtain rapid and accurate flow response Because of such factors, the reformer process does not lend itself to an engine process.
The fuel may also be reacted with a deficiency of air to produce hydrogen. Doing, so, however, is challenging because the excess fuel is not highly reactive and therefore difficult to involve in the reaction. For this reason, such previous processes relied on on catalysts and complex hardware, which tended to make the process virtually unusable. Thus, Houssman, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,133 teaches the use of special high temperature catalyst coupled with intensive preheat of the reactants to combust fuel with air to produce hydrogen. Such catalytic devices, by their nature, are complex, difficult to control, and require undesirably long start-up times. Thus, they do not lend themselves to an engine process.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a novel apparatus and means for accomplishing a technology breakthrough for a simple means of producing hydrogen from fuel in a simple burner without the catalyst or special pressurized hydrogen or related storage means normally considered.

Apparatus and method for decreasing nitrogen oxide emissions from internal combustion power sources


A system for plant illumination that may be installed in or made as part of a planting pot. The system employs a string of illuminable fixtures each having an illumination source. The fixtures may be operated on low voltage that steps down through a transformer and may employ an ambient light sensor. The system may incorporate light globes that protect the illumination sources and may incorporate a transparent color to provide colored light. Light shields may be employed to direct the light from each illumination source. A splashguard may be employed and placed between the illumination source and its respective socket to prevent water from entering the socket. The container may be formed with two walls to protect the wiring being disposed there between.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to illumination devices, and, more specifically, to an illumination system for decorative lighting of plants and/or planting pots.
In one form, the present invention incorporates a string of illumination devices each consisting of an anchor, light, light globe and shield. The string of illumination devices is operated on low voltage that steps down through a transformer. A photo sensor provides means for illuminating said elements based on ambient light. An additional dimmer switch allows the user to set the desired illumination effect.
When energized and placed inside around the perimeter of the potting container, the illuminated lights cast shadows on the surrounding area. The globe shield allows the user to direct the cast of shadows by simply rotating the base unit to a desired position.
In another form of the present invention, the light system is integral to the potting container. The light base is molded on the inner perimeter wall of the container slightly above the soil line. The electrical wiring is protected by being molded within the inner and outer wall of said container.
Each of the aforementioned forms of the present invention may include an additional element comprised of a splashguard. The splashguard provides means to reduce the chance of splashing water into the electrical connection between the bulb and the base. The splashguard may be comprised of an independent shield installed between the bulb and base, or may be molded into the base itself.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other illuminating devices and systems. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,652 issued to Meyer on Aug. 2, 1955.
Another patent was issued to Moore on Jun. 25, 1957 as U.S. Pat. No. 2,797,310. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,015,720 was issued to Silverman on Jan. 2, 1962 and still yet another was issued on May 2, 1989 to Maddock as U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,448.
Another patent was issued to Lovett on Feb. 26, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,636. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,447 was issued to Taylor on Jul. 30, 1991. Another was issued to Hall, et al. on Mar. 22, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,013 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 21, 1998 to Lehmann, et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,061. Another patent was issued to Sanford, Jr. on Mar. 9, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,071. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,940 was issued to Sanford, Jr. on Jun. 20, 2000.
Internationally, a United Kingdom patent application was published to Hall on Oct. 31, 1990 as GB2230684. Yet another United Kingdom patent application GB2299658 was published to Plichta on Jun. 23, 1995. A patent in France was issued to Fraysse on Jun. 17, 1988 as Patent No. FR2608010. Another patent in France was issued to Berthelon on May 26, 1989 as Patent No. FR2623599.


A pivotal mounting bracket for positioning overhanging components includes a positive registration mechanism which ensures that the component is exactly positioned upon return to its working position after being pivoted to allow access to an underlying component. The registration system uses a spring to bias the base of the pivoting bracket into a conformantly shaped receiving recess in the main bracket base. The shape of the base of the pivotal bracket and the receiving recess in the main bracket base is selected to provide only a single position within a given range of possible positions in which the geometry's of the base of the pivotal bracket exactly line up with the geometry's of the main base bracket receiving recess.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a component mounting bracket and, more specifically, to an overhanging component positioner for precisely positioning a first component, such as a sensing device, over another component, where the first component can be temporarily pivoted out of the way of access to the second component and then easily and precisely repositioned back over the first component.
2. Background of the Invention
Automated manufacturing and packaging techniques often require the tracking of articles of manufacture as they progress through the manufacturing and packaging processes. This can be accomplished using optical transducers such as a photodiode emitter and receiver pair using the articles of manufacture as a reflector or diffuser to make or break the optical circuit. The range of these optics can be extended using fiber optic waveguides to position the sensing point at remote locations and in crowded environments. Lenses are also employed to focus and/or collimate the light for more accurate detection. One of the most difficult problems one faces when employing these kinds of position sensors is the accurate positioning and calibration of the sensors. Retooling and maintenance of the manufacturing line has meant that the sensors had to be removed to allow access to the underlying tooling and then repositioned and calibrated, if necessary, once the changes or maintenance was completed. Additionally, retooling to accommodate different package sizes has traditionally meant moving a substantial portion of each sensor from one location to another.
A particularly acute example of this problem occurs in an automated semiconductor chip marking device. One of the most effective chip marking devices uses a laser beam to mark the surface of the chip package. Unlike ink stamping, laser marking is fast, requires no curing time, and produces a consistently high-quality mark with minimal set-up time. In these devices, the laser beam burns a mark into the surface of the article of manufacture to produce a permanent mark, in contrast to inked marks, which may smear, degrade, fade or wear off. In the case of a packaged chip, the laser marking creates a different reflectivity from the rest of the package surface. Thus, by holding the chip at an angle to a light source, the information inscribed on the chip by the laser can easily be read.
Various machines and methods have been developed for marking a chip or other article of manufacture with a laser. As illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,077 to Tsuruta, a plurality of semiconductor devices are placed in a tubular holder and transported by a coextensive group of conveyor belts to a laser for marking. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,144 to Latta, Jr., electronic parts in the form of strips of lead frame supported components are conveyed to a laser marking station in magazines, unloaded, laser marked, and then reloaded into magazines. Likewise in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,025 to Carlson, a strip of electronic components is conveyed by drive wheels to and from a position where a laser beam inscribes various characters or other information on the component surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,542 to Mills et al. discloses a laser marking apparatus for marking a cable. The apparatus sequentially moves laterally adjacent cables along a marking platen and selectively positions and operates a laterally translatable laser to mark a stationary cable portion while another cable portion is being moved.
These devices require accurate indexing and positioning of the individual manufactured parts and the laser itself. The laser marking apparatus described and shown in the "Detailed Description of the Invention" section which follows, is capable of marking two separate rows of several individual parts at a time. Accordingly, the marking apparatus must count, position and track many parts. Additionally, the marking device uses gravity channels or tracks to guide the chips into position for marking and reloading into the chip carrying tubes. These tracks must be changed out for different sized chip packages which means that any other components which obstruct the removal and replacement of the tracks, such as the optical sensors, must be removed and reinstalled, often in a different location to accommodate the different package size, each time a different sized package is processed. The sensors often obstruct the removal and replacement of the tracks because it is desirable to position sensors, especially optical sensors, as close to the objects to be sensed as possible. Also, because the sensors must rely on a nearly perpendicular reflective surface, they are usually installed directly above the path in which the packages flow since mounting the sensors in the tracks is impractical and interferes with track integrity. Unfortunately, this often results in the sensors interfering with other subsystems such as machine vision systems and the write path of the laser in the case of marking machines and the part pick apparatus in the case of pick and place machines. The same sort of problems exist in other automated manufacturing machines in which these sensors are employed.
It would therefore be desirable to have a sensor mounting apparatus which allows a sensor to be pivoted out of the way to allow for removal, replacement and/or maintenance of the underlying tooling and then subsequently pivoted back into position having the sensor in close proximity to the underlying tooling and accurately positioned to prevent the need for recalibration. Additionally, it would be desirable to have a sensor mounting apparatus which positions the sensor in a position other than either directly above the part path or directly to the side of the part path.


Scalable biomaterial-based bioreactors are described. In one embodiment, the bioreactor may comprise perforated plates stacked such that the assembled bioreactor has the necessary manifolds and chambers to transport gas and liquids to a biomaterial contained within the bioreactor, and to remove the reaction products. In another embodiment, single use bioreactors are described. Methods of operating the bioreactors are also described.

CO2 is produced in many commercial processes. Excessive emission of CO2 is damaging to the atmosphere. Thus, it would be desirable to capture and use at least some of the CO2 produced in commercial processes, if only to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
One potential use for the CO2 produced in commercial processes is in the production of short and medium-length alkanols for, e.g., fuel. For example, ethanol and butanol may be used as fuel in an internal combustion engine. Butanol's longer hydrocarbon chain causes it to be fairly non-polar and, thus, butanol is more similar to gasoline than ethanol is. In fact, butanol has been demonstrated to work in vehicles designed for use with gasoline without modification.
Toward this end, bioreactors are being investigated to produce products, including fuels, from CO2, H2, and O2. Two basic methods appear promising: One involves biomaterials that use sunlight to convert CO2, such as phototrophic bacteria or algae; and another involves biomaterials that can use H2 directly and do not require sunlight, such as some types of bacteria.
However, there are a number of practical problems in developing bioreactors. One problem relates to the biological aspect of the bioreactors, e.g., what biomaterial to use (bacteria or algae, and what type), and how and whether to modify the biomaterial. Another problem involves the design of the bioreactor. For example, supply of H2 and O2 to the biomaterial involves significant safety issues because of the potentially explosive nature of the mixture of the gases.
What is needed is a safe, scalable bioreactor that efficiently converts CO2, H2, and O2, and perhaps other hydrocarbons or other carbon/hydrogen-rich compounds (in gas or liquid form) into useful products, including, but not limited to, fuels.


A steering device includes a main body that attaches to a tow rope, inline between a towing vessel and a personal watercraft. The main body, which is positioned just forward of the personal watercraft, accommodates an extendable rudder that moves between a normally retracted position within the main body, and a lowered, operable position to exert a steering force on the main body and the personal watercraft. An elongate tiller extends between the rudder and a handle that is optimally positioned for grasping by the rider of the personal watercraft. In accordance with several embodiments, movement of the rudder from the relaxed, retracted position to the lowered, operable position is achieved by exerting a particular directional force on the handle (e.g., pulling, pushing forward, or lifting). Moving the handle to the left or the right achieves the desired steering action. Upon release of the handle by the rider, the rudder returns to the normally retracted position, thereby removing the steering influence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to steering mechanisms for personal watercraft and, more particularly, to a steering device that attaches between a towing vessel and a towed personal watercraft, and wherein the steering device includes a deployable rudder for steering the personal watercraft.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Towing a personal watercraft, carrying one or more riders, behind a motor powered vessel is a popular recreational boating activity. Examples of towable personal watercraft include inflated crafts such as tubes, as well as surfboards, kneeboards and other buoyant unpowered structures. The personal watercraft is pulled by a tow rope, often referred to as a ski rope, that attaches at one end at or near the stern of the towing vessel. For activities such as water skiing, kneeboarding and wakeboarding, the opposite end of the ski rope is normally held by the skier/rider, and steering can be accomplished by leaning and turning into the desired direction of movement. Other activities, such as towing an inflated tube (often referred to as "tubing"), require the opposite end of the tow rope be attached to the forward end of the towed personal watercraft. In this instance, the rider(s) has very little control over the directional movement of the towed personal watercraft and is essentially at the mercy of the steering direction of the towing vessel. Specifically, as the towing vessel turns in one direction (i.e., left or right) the towed personal watercraft will swing naturally outwards away from the turning direction of the towing vessel. This outward whipping action results in a sudden acceleration of the personal watercraft across the surface of the water that often causes the towed watercraft to flip over in a rather violent action. Moreover, outward movement of the watercraft, beyond the wake of the towing vessel, can expose the towed personal watercraft to hazards, such as fixed structures (e.g., docks, pilings, anchored boats, bridge structures and shoreline obstacles) as well as boats that are underway and possibly moving at high speeds. Accordingly, the inability to steer the towed personal watercraft exposes the rider(s) to potential serious injury or death. On the other hand, providing the rider of the towed personal watercraft with the ability to steer the watercraft allows for a safer and more enjoyable experience.
Considering the foregoing, there remains an urgent need for a simple, relatively inexpensive and easy to operate steering device for use with towed personal watercraft to allow the rider of the personal watercraft to steer in a desired direction and out harms way.

Steering device for a towed personal watercraft


A heater assembly and method of controlling the heater assembly is provided. The heater assembly includes a resistive heater and a substrate, and the resistive heater comprises a plurality of heating zones disposed along a perimeter of the substrate. Each of the plurality of heating zones are independently controllable such that azimuthal temperature control of the heater assembly is provided. The plurality of resistive heating elements may be connected in series and have a common ground electrical lead. In the alternative, the plurality of resistive heating elements may each have a ground electrical lead and be isolated from each other.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Pedestals are known in semiconductor processing to support and heat a wafer disposed thereon. A pedestal generally includes a substrate for supporting a wafer and a shaft member attached to a bottom side of the plate member. A heater may be embedded in the substrate, or otherwise attached to the substrate, to provide the required heating to the wafer. Other devices such as showerheads are also used in semiconductor processing, which distribute process gases (e.g. reactants) across the wafer during processing.
During various wafer processing steps such as plasma enhanced film deposition, or etching, the substrate needs to be uniformly heated or cooled to reduce processing variations within the wafer. However, maintaining uniform azimuthal heating of a perimeter of the substrate may be difficult due to non-uniform heat loss along the perimeter.
The present disclosure addresses the issues related to the uniform azimuthal heating of a substrate, in a variety of applications, among other issues related to heating of a substrate.


Provided is a holding stage structure which holds a substrate and disposed in a process chamber that is vacuum-evacuatable and allows a predetermined process to be performed on the substrate therein. The holding stage structure includes: a holding stage body on which the substrate is placed; an elevation pin mechanism lowering the substrate on the holding stage body or raising the substrate from the holding stage body; and a stepped portion formed on the holding stage body so that a peripheral portion of a rear surface of the substrate placed on the holding stage body is exposed to a processing gas supplied into the process chamber.

Plasma processing apparatuses for thin film deposition, etching, and ashing have recently been used in the fabrication process of highly integrated semiconductor products. In particular, plasma processing apparatuses using microwaves or high frequency waves are frequently used because high density plasma can be stably generated even at a relatively low pressure (high vacuum state) of about 0.1 mTorr (13.3 mPa) to several 100 mTorr (several 10 Pa). Such plasma processing apparatuses are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 through 5 listed below.
A conventional plasma processing apparatus using microwaves will now be explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional plasma processing apparatus 2 using microwaves. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of conventional holding stage structure in another plasma processing process.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional plasma processing apparatus 2 includes the holding stage structure 6 disposed in a process chamber 4 that can be vacuumed, and allowing a semiconductor wafer W (hereinafter referred to as a wafer W) to be placed thereon. The conventional holding stage structure 6 includes a supporting post 8 extending upright from the bottom of the process chamber 4, and a holding stage body 10 supported on an upper end of the supporting post 8. The wafer W is placed on a top surface of the holding stage body 10. A resistance heater 12, a heating unit, is buried in the holding stage body 10, and an electrostatic chuck 14 for holding the wafer W using an electrostatic force is formed near the top surface of the holding stage body 10.
A guide ring 15 having a quasi-L-shaped cross-section is attached around the periphery of the top surface of the holding stage body 10 on which the wafer W is placed. The inner diameter of the guide ring 15 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the wafer W, so that the wafer W is prevented from laterally sliding and from being displaced from a proper position. A top plate 16 is hermetically installed on the process chamber 4 to face this holding stage structure 6. The top plate 16 has a disk shape and is formed of aluminum nitride or quartz through which microwaves pass. Also, a gas nozzle 18, which is a gas introducing unit for introducing a predetermined gas into the process chamber 4, is formed in a sidewall of the process chamber 4.
A planar antenna member 18 that is disk-shaped and has a thickness of several millimeters (mm), and a wavelength-shortening member 20 formed of, for example, a dielectric material are installed on a top surface of the top plate 16. The wavelength-shortening member 20 is used to shorten the wavelength of microwaves in a radial direction of the planar antenna member 18. A plurality of slots 22, which are through-holes having narrow and long shape, are formed in the planar antenna member 18. An inner conductor 26 of a coaxial waveguide 24 is connected to the center of the planar antenna member 18. Accordingly, microwaves of, for example, 2.45 GHz generated by a microwave generator 28 are converted into a vibration mode by a mode converter 30, and then guided to the planar antenna member 18. The microwaves guided to the planar antenna member 18 are propagated in the radial direction of the planar antenna member 18, radiated through the slots 22 of the planar antenna member 18, passed through the top plate 16, and introduced into the process chamber 4. Plasma is generated in a processing space S of the process chamber 4 due to the microwaves, and a predetermined plasma process, such as etching or thin film forming, is performed on the wafer W.
The conventional holding stage structure of FIG. 2 may include, instead of the guide ring 15, a circular receiving recession 32 having a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the wafer W, and formed in the center of the top surface of the holding stage body 10 on which the wafer W is placed. The position of the wafer W is determined by a sidewall 34 of the receiving recession 32.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. hei 3-191073
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. hei 5-343334
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. hei 9-181052
[Patent Document 4] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-332326
[Patent Document 5] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-142529

Placing bed structure, treating apparatus using the structure, and method for using the apparatus


A perpendicular spin transfer torque memory (pSTTM) device incorporates a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device having a free magnetic stack and a fixed magnetic stack separated by a dielectric tunneling layer. The free magnetic stack includes an uppermost magnetic layer that is at least partially covered by a cap layer. The cap layer is at least partially covered by a protective layer containing at least one of: ruthenium (Ru); cobalt/iron/boron (CoFeB); molybdenum (Mo); cobalt (Co); tungsten (W); or platinum (Pt). The protective layer is at least partially covered by a cap metal layer which may form a portion of MTJ electrode. The protective layer minimizes the occurrence of physical and/or chemical attack of the cap layer by the materials used in the cap metal layer, beneficially improving the interface anisotropy of the MTJ free magnetic layer.

Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) is an evolving area of storage devices in which data is not stored as an electric charge or current flow, but instead in the form of magnetic storage elements. In MRAM elements are formed using two magnetic elements separated by a dielectric layer, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The MTJ includes a fixed (pinned) magnetic element set to a particular polarity and a free magnetic element having a switchable magnetic field that may be changed between two binary states by passage of a current through the MTJ. A memory device may be formed using a number of these individual, MTJ-based storage "cells." Spin transfer torque (STT) uses a current formed from spin-aligned or polarized electrons to develop a torque that is transferred to the free magnetic element to change the magnetic state of the free magnetic element.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Perpendicular STTM free layer including protective cap


A high frequency signal transmission apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting received signals from a signal source as a modulated signal on a high frequency 900 MHz carrier to a remote receiver. The remote receiver converts the high frequency carrier in at least one conversion step to a lower frequency carrier signal. The lower frequency carrier signal carrying the modulated signal is then converted to an audio output or to another carrier signal and retransmitted as a modulated second signal to another remote receiver capable of demodulating the signal and broadcasting the audio sounds or video images. The oscillators in the transmitter and receiver are selectable to operate at discrete frequencies. Automatic fine tuning control is provided in the receiver to accommodate drift of the oscillator in the receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to wireless signal transmission systems and apparatus and, specifically, to wireless transmission system capable of transmitting audio or video signals in either analog or digital format via high frequency carrier signals in the 900 MHz or higher range.
2. Description of the Art
Various wireless audio and video signal transmission systems have been devised which transmit audio and/or video signals, such as television signals, radio signals, etc., by a wireless link from a signal source to a signal receiver or output device capable of converting the received signals to audio and/or video sounds.
Local wireless television transmission systems which transmit television or radio signals from a local source, such as a television, VCR, radio set or radio stereo receiver, frequently transmit such signals within a frequency band above 900 MHz and, preferably, within a frequency band of 902 MHz to 928 MHz. This frequency band is desirable because at higher carrier frequencies, the bandwidth of the transmitted signal occupies a smaller region of the transmission bandwidth than at lower carrier frequencies. This leaves more channels available for use and results in decreased RF interference and noise as well as greater flexibility in channel selection.
Many televisions and radio stations now include stereo audio signals in their transmissions. Thus, a wireless signal transmission apparatus must have a capability of transmitting stereo audio signals. Conventionally, stereo audio signals are transmitted by adding the right and left audio channels to form a first signal and subtracting the right and left channels to form a second signal which is modulated on a subcarrier of 38 KHz. The subcarrier is suppressed and the combination of the first signal, the subcarrier modulated second signal, and a 19 KHz pilot signal form a multiplexed stereo signal which modulates a carrier for transmission to a remote receiver. Conventional integrated circuits for producing such multiplexed stereo signals, known as stereo encoder circuits, are available commercially.
Such high frequency wireless transmission systems conventionally include a transmitter which is capable of transmitting television or radio mono or stereo signals to a remote receiver, both having appropriate antennas for transmitting and receiving the source signals as a modulated high frequency carrier. Heretofore, the remote receiver has been mounted in close proximity to or formed as a part of a signal output device, such as an AM/FM stereo receiver, television, for example. The distance or separation between the remote receiver antenna and the output device is relatively limited due to the low power level signals transmitted at the high carrier frequency. This small transmission range limits the use of additional speakers or an additional receiver and speakers which may not be located in the same general area as the first transmitter and the output device.
Audio and video signals are now available through the Internet typically in the form of streaming broadcast of radio or television programs, recorded music, etc. The audio and/or video signals are downloaded from the Internet signal source by a user's Internet service provider and input through a modem to the user's computer. The computer generates signals to an audio and/or video output card which then transmits analog output signals to speakers coupled to the computer or to a monitor for broadcast of the signals.
Frequently, however, the audio system or the monitor employed with a computer is not as sophisticated as the user's home stereo system or television. Further, a user's computer may not be located in the same room or area of a home as the multi-component stereo system or television.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a wireless signal transmission apparatus which is capable of retransmitting high frequency audio and/or video signals modulated on a high frequency carrier by a first transmitter and transmitted wirelessly via the high frequency carrier to a remote receiver over an expanded transmission range as compared to previously devised high frequency transmission systems. It would also be desirable to provide a wireless high frequency signal transmission system which is capable of transmitting streaming broadcast signals from the Internet or any other audio and/or video source to a remote receiver.


A display arranged over a fingerprint sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a cover glass, a display panel arranged below the cover glass, a first driver that applies a signal to a first pixel group arranged in a first area corresponding to the fingerprint sensor on the display panel, a second driver that applies a signal to a second pixel group arranged in a second area that does not overlap the first area on the display panel, and a controller that causes the first driver to apply an enable signal to the first pixel group to enable the first driver to emit light when a finger touches a fingerprint sensing area corresponding to the fingerprint sensor on the cover glass.

With the development of technology for recognizing biometric information, electronic devices including biometric sensors such as fingerprint sensors, iris sensors, and the like have been widely spread. The electronic device may obtain biometric information of a user by using the above-described biometric sensor and store the biometric information therein.
The fingerprint sensor may obtain the fingerprint information of a user based on the light that is reflected by a finger of the user after being emitted from the display. In an electronic device such as a smart phone, the fingerprint sensor may be placed with physical buttons of the display. Recently, a technique of mounting the fingerprint sensor on a display area and obtaining fingerprint information by using the light emitted from the display has been developed.

Display for sensing input including a fingerprint and electronic device including display


A heat pump equipped with an extraction heat exchanger includes a compressor sucking low-temperature-and-low-pressure liquid refrigerant, and compressing and discharging the low-temperature-and-low-pressure liquid refrigerant into high-temperature-and-high-pressure liquid refrigerant, a condenser in which air passing therethrough absorbs heat from the liquid refrigerant to liquefy the liquid refrigerant, an evaporator in which refrigerant absorbs heat from indoor air and is evaporated to cool indoor air, a main electronic expansion valve connected between the condenser and the evaporator to decompress the liquid refrigerant liquefied in the condenser such that the decompressed refrigerant is easily evaporated in the evaporator and flows at a predetermined flow rate; and the extraction heat exchanger branching a part of the high-temperature-and-high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and performing and bypassing heat exchange between high-temperature-and-high-pressure super-cooled liquid refrigerant and high-temperature-and-high-pressure refrigerant passing through a heat exchanging refrigerant tube between the condenser and the main electronic expansion valve to an accumulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat pump equipped with an extraction heat exchanger for guaranteeing operational stability and enhancing power efficiency in the cooling mode and for supplementing a heat source in the heating mode such that the coefficient of performance is enhanced and performance in cold climates is improved, using two electronic expansion valves for controlling superheating in the heating mode, for guaranteeing a low temperature heat source, for guiding any increase in evaporation efficiency, a cycle control of the extraction heat exchanger, and relates to the structure of the extraction heat exchanger capable of being applied to the heat pump by considering uniform distribution of refrigerant and pressure decrease to change the number of tubules according to an increase in capacity of the heat pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since, according to the conventional art, it is very difficult to guarantee a heat source at a low-temperature side in cold climates, it is difficult to operate the heat pump due to driving loss caused by a high compression ratio and frosting, and an increase in dryness caused by the flashing of refrigerant. Generally, there are various solutions, i.e. in order to overcome the above-described problem, capacity is adjusted by an inverter, an electric heater is equipped, or insufficient heat is supplemented, and in order to overcome the high compression ratio, a two-stage compression structure is employed, or a compressor is non-conventionally machined such that a sub-cooled refrigerant is injected to an intermediate pressure zone in the compressor, and various heat exchangers are employed to improve the operational characteristics in cold climates. However, since the above methods have disadvantages of high costs and complex structure, recently, inverters and electronic expansion valves are employed to precisely adjust superheat imbalances and to increase capacity.
Moreover, although, in the case of employing the inverter, insufficient heat obtained from the low temperature heat source, i.e. short heating capacity is supplemented by increasing the frequency of the inverter in the heating mode, system efficiency is decreased.
In addition, in the heating mode, in the case of supplementing the insufficient heat via the electric heater and the overload operation by the inverter, the efficiency is decreased and a capacity changing device such as the inverter is employed so that manufacturing costs are increased. Moreover, in a conventional economizer, due to inconsistent capacity adjustment, there is the risk of vapor induction and that the superheat unbalance exceeds a predetermined valve so that the compressor may catch fire.
In particular, in a two-stage compression cycle, although two compressors are employed, or one compressor is non-conventionally machined so that the extracted refrigerant undergoes heat exchange and is injected into an intermediate pressure zone between a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the mass production of the non-conventional machining compressor cannot be achieved due to the non-conventional machining. Moreover, since, due to tubules, the distribution of the flow rate is not uniform, and generally precise control is very difficult when a solenoid valve is used, it is difficult to maintain uniform operation.

Heat pump and structure of extraction heat exchanger thereof


A seat locker assembly having an integrally formed base unit with a vented storage locker formed therein which is open at the top, an integrally formed unit including a seat, backrest and armrests pivotally connected to the front of the base unit for opening and closing thereover, and with fluid drain openings formed at the juncture of the seat and backrest for draining fluid from the seat downwardly for discharge at the rear of the backrest and over a rear lip of the base unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to a combination apparatus which acts as a portable seat bench and storage locker. More specifically, the present invention includes an integrally formed rectangular storage locker having an open top, but which open top is normally sealingly closed by an integrally formed seat bench pivotally attached to the front of the locker, and movable between a closed position relative to the locker and an open position relative thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portable coolers, insulated storage chests, combined seats and containers are commonly known for storing and insulating items of food, beverage or the like; however, such products normally contain numerous, interworking parts requiring constant maintenance and such products do not provide a comfortable seat bench with provisions for storage below the seat.


Disclosed is an improvement in a cam assembly for use in a pressing machine having a lower cam to be fixed to the base of the pressing machine, a spring-biased sliding cam whose front surface is allotted to fix a machining tool and a cam holder to be fixed to the upper frame of the pressing machine. The sliding cam is operatively combined with the lower cam to slide on the inclined surface of the lower cam synchronously with the rising and descending of the upper frame of the pressing machine, whereas the cam holder and the sliding cam is so combined as to leave a predetermined space defined therebetween, thereby permitting the sliding cam to be slidably held in the cam holder. The cam assembly further has a spacer to be inserted in the predetermined space and detachable fastening means to fix the sliding cam to the cam holder as if the slider were like with the upper frame of the pressing machine staying at its lower dead end. A required machining to be effected on the tool mount of the sliding cam for changing the machining tool can be advantageously effected in situ without disassembling the cam assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cam assembly for use in a pressing machine to permit a piercing punch or any other machining tool to effect a required pressing or machining on a workpiece, which cam assembly can reciprocate the metal mold or machining tool laterally or obliquely in synchronous with the rising and descending of the upper frame of the pressing machine.
2. Description of Related Art
A certain pressing machine is capable of conducting different workings such as bending, cutting and boring in a single pressing step, and such a pressing machine is equipped with a cam mechanism to permit a selected machining tool to reciprocate laterally or obliquely in synchronous with the rising and descending of the upper frame of the pressing machine. Referring to FIG. 4, the pressing machine has a lower metal mold 2a fixed to its stationary base 1 and an upper metal mold 2b fixed to its rising-and-lowering frame 3, and it has a cam assembly "C" arranged adjacent to the metal mold 2 for converting the rising-and-lowering movement of the frame 3 to the oblique movement to be given to the machining tool.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, such a cam assembly "P"comprises a lower cam 4 to be fixed to the stationary base 1 of the pressing machine (see FIG. 4), a sliding cam 5 slidably coupled to the lower cam 4 and a cam holder 6 slidably coupled to the sliding cam 5 to slidably hold the same. The lower cam 4 has an inclined surface 4a formed on its top. As shown in FIG. 5, the inclined surface 4a has a plurality of recesses made thereon and filled with solid lubricant material to provide an oilless-lubricated surface. The sliding cam 5 has a machining tool (not shown) to be mounted to its front surface, and it has a slider 7 fixed on its rear inclined surface. The slider 7 has a plurality of recesses made thereon and filled with solid lubricant material to provide oilless-lubricated surfaces, thereby assuring that the sliding cam 5 can slide smoothly in the cam holder 6. As seen from FIG. 6, the slider 7 has two longitudinal recesses opening at its upper side, and two coiled springs 8 are inserted in these longitudinal recesses, thereby biasing the sliding cam 5 obliquely downward to the initial stress-free position as shown in FIG. 6.
The cam holder 6 is fixed to the upper frame of the pressing machine, and the cam holder 6 and the sliding cam 5 are so combined as to leave a predetermined space defined therebetween, thereby permitting the sliding cam 5 to be movably held in the cam holder 6. The sliding cam 5 is operatively combined with the lower cam 4 to reciprocate on the inclined surface 4a of the lower cam 4 synchronously with the rising and descending of the upper frame 3 of the pressing machine. Thus, the rising and descending of the upper frame 3 of the pressing machine is converted to the oblique reciprocation of the sliding cam 5 on the lower cam 4.
The sliding cam 5 has a machining tool such as a piercing punch mounted to its front surface 5a as seen from FIG. 4. Such a machining tool can be reciprocatingly moved to and from a workpiece on the pressing stage to effect a required machining such as bending or boring on the workpiece. In pressing, first the upper frame 3 of the pressing machine is lowered along with the cam holder 6 and the associated sliding cam 5, and when the sliding cam 5 abuts on the inclined surface 4a of the lower stationary cam 4, the sliding cam 5 is made to start from the initial stress-free position, moving the predetermined space obliquely upward in the cam holder 6 while compressing the coiled springs 8, which are placed between the cam holder 6 and the slider 7. Then, the sliding cam 5 moves obliquely downward on the inclined surface 4a of the lower cam 4 so that the machining tool may be put in working position relative to the workpiece to effect a required machining such as bending or boring.
Here, it should be noted that the front surface 5a of the sliding cam 5 must be subjected to a required machining to permit the mounting of a selected machining tool thereto (for instances, tapped holes or knock-out pin holes must be made in the front surface 5a of the sliding cam 5). The front surface 5a of the sliding cam 5, therefore, must be subjected to such a machining every time the machining tool is changed.
Disadvantageously such a required machining cannot be effected without disassembling and separating the sliding cam 5 from the cam assembly. If such a required machining is effected on the front surface 5a of the sliding cam 5 in situ, it would move under the resilient influence exerted by the springs 8 when a machining force is applied thereto. The tool-mounting surface 5a, therefore, is too unstable in position to permit the machining thereon. Thus, the required machining is, in fact, effected on the sliding cam 5 after removing it from the cam assembly. This, however, is a tedious, time-consuming work: disassembling the cam assembly to remove the sliding cam 5; machining the sliding cam 5; assembling the so machined sliding cam 5 and associated parts into a cam assembly; setting the cam assembly in position in the pressing machine; and making fine adjustments or trimmings on the machined areas of the tool-mounting surface 5a. The sliding cam 3 is heavy, for instance, 20 kilograms in weight, and the springs 8 when compressed exert a relatively strong force, for instance, beyond 60 or more kilograms. The weight and the counter force make the work still more difficult.

Cam assembly for use in a pressing machine


An object is to provide a laser light irradiation apparatus and a laser light irradiation method which reduce errors of an irradiation position of laser light to an irradiated object and allow irradiation with laser light of any size when the irradiated object is irradiated with the laser light through a beam expander optical system. One feature of a laser light irradiation apparatus of the present invention is to include a laser oscillator; a beam expander optical system having a zoom function; and a correction lens disposed to conjugate the laser oscillator and the beam expander optical system including at least a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens in order in a traveling direction of the laser light, wherein the second lens and the third lens are cooperated with each other in accordance with the magnification of the laser light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser light irradiation apparatus and a laser light irradiation method, and particularly relates to a laser light irradiation apparatus and a laser light irradiation method using a beam expander optical system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a technique for manufacturing a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT) over a substrate has been drastically advanced and developed for being applied to an active matrix display device. In particular, a TFT using a polycrystalline semiconductor film has a higher electron field-effect mobility (also referred to as a mobility) than a conventional TFT using an amorphous semiconductor film, so that high-speed operation is possible. Therefore, the control can be carried out by a driver circuit which is formed over the same substrate on which a pixel portion is formed, although the control of a pixel portion has been conventionally carried out by a driver circuit which is provided outside a substrate on which the pixel portion is formed.
As a substrate used for a semiconductor device, a glass substrate is expected more than a quartz substrate and a single-crystalline semiconductor substrate in terms of cost. However, the glass substrate has poor heat resistance and is easily deformed by heat. Therefore, when a semiconductor film is crystallized in order to form a TFT using a polycrystalline semiconductor film over a glass substrate, a method for crystallizing a semiconductor film by laser light irradiation is often used to avoid thermal deformation of the glass substrate.
Features of the crystallization of a semiconductor film by laser light are that, compared with an annealing method utilizing radiation heating or conductive heating, processing time can be drastically reduced, and a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor film over a substrate is selectively or locally heated so that the substrate is hardly thermal-damaged, for example.
Generally, laser light (also referred to as a laser beam) oscillated from a laser oscillator has a Gaussian spatial intensity distribution. Therefore, in the case where an irradiated object is directly irradiated with laser light oscillated from a laser oscillator, the energy distribution varies in an irradiated region. For example, when crystallization or improvement of film quality is conducted by irradiating a semiconductor film including silicon or the like with laser light, if the semiconductor film is directly irradiated with laser light having a Gaussian spatial intensity distribution, the energy distribution is different in a central portion and an edge portion of an irradiated region, so that melt time of the semiconductor film varies. Consequently, crystallinity of the semiconductor film is nonuniform, and a semiconductor film having a desired characteristic cannot be obtained.
Accordingly, in general, after the spatial intensity distribution of laser light oscillated from a laser oscillator is uniformed by using some kind of laser light shaping means, an irradiated object is irradiated with the laser light. For example, as the laser light shaping means, a beam expander optical system is widely used (for example, see Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. H741845)
A conventional beam expander optical system is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, composed of two lenses 1102a and 1102b, which are disposed so that an optical distance from lens 1102a to lens 1102b is f1+f2 when the focal length of lens 1102a and 1102b are f1 and f2, respectively. Accordingly, laser light 1105 emitted from a laser oscillator 1101 passes through a beam expander optical system 1102 to be expanded to f2/f1 times and projected onto an irradiated surface. At this time, for example, a diffractive optical element 1104 is disposed behind the beam expander optical system 1102, so that a desired shaped laser light can be obtained.
Since a diffractive optical element is generally an element which has a minute and complicated structure, it is necessary to make laser light enter the extremely proper position at the diffractive optical element. Reduction in a diameter of a diffractive optical element is extremely difficult at present; therefore a method in which laser light is propagated to the diffractive optical element after the laser light is expanded by the beam expander optical system or the like as described above is employed.

Laser light irradiation apparatus and laser light irradiation method

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


This is directed to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing circuitry that can be used to control multiple solar cells to generate power for a portable electronic device. For example, in response to determining that one or more of the solar cells is generating a reduce voltage output (e.g., due to a partial obstruction of one or more of the solar cells), the connections among the solar cells can be configured to generate a constant preset voltage, as long as a subset of the solar cells is operating. The voltage generated by the solar cells can then be boosted to a value suitable for powering the portable electronic device and/or any of its individual components. As another example, the connections among the solar cells can be configured to generate a startup voltage to directly power the portable electronic device and/or any of its components.

Portable electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, media players (e.g., music, video and/or audio players), and hybrid devices that combine telephone and media playing functionality are known. These devices are sometimes powered by rechargeable batteries such as nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, and rechargeable alkaline batteries.
The batteries of such devices are often recharged using standard recharging means and methods. For example, the battery of a device can be recharged by plugging a charger into the device and into a conventional alternating current (AC) outlet. As another example, the battery of a device can be charged by plugging the device into another electronic device using a universal serial bus (USB) connection (such as a USB cable or docking station). However, it may be inconvenient for the user to charge the batteries when, for example, the user is on the road. In addition, a typical recharge will power the battery for only a limited amount of run time (e.g., 10 to 24 hours). After the battery has been drained, the user must recharge or replace the battery to continue using the portable electronic device.
Some portable electronic devices (e.g., calculators) may use solar cells to power the device. Because of the small size of these portable electronic devices, however, the number of solar cells that can be placed on the device is limited. Consequently, while the voltage generated by the solar cells may be enough to power less energy demanding devices, the voltage may be insufficient for portable electronic devices that demand more power.
Furthermore, as an increasing number of advanced features are packed into these portable electronic devices, larger power sources (e.g., larger batteries and more solar cells) are required to power the devices. Thus, there are competing interests between the portability of these devices and the amount of available power.

Power management circuitry and solar cells


An engine ECU executes a program including: the step of increasing a determination value by a correction amount if the number of knock intensities not lower than the determination value is not smaller than a threshold value among knock intensities of a plurality of predetermined number of continuous ignition cycles; and the step of increasing the determination value by a correction amount if the number of knock intensities not smaller than the determination value is not smaller than a threshold value, among knock intensities of a plurality of ignition cycles satisfying the condition that a coefficient of correlation calculated by comparing a vibration waveform and a knock waveform model is not smaller than a threshold value, of the knock intensities of a plurality of predetermined continuous ignition cycles.

Conventionally, various methods of detecting knocking (knock) of an internal combustion engine have been known. By way of example, a technique has been known which determines that knock has occurred when vibration intensity of an internal combustion engine is above a threshold value. It is possible, however, that noise such as vibration experienced when an intake valve or an exhaust valve is closed has intensity higher than the threshold value, while knocking does not occur. This may leads to an erroneous determination that knock has occurred, though knock has not occurred. Therefore, techniques for determining presence/absence of knocking based on vibration waveform to take into consideration characteristics other than the intensity, such as crank angle at which vibration occurs or attenuation factor have been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-021032 discloses a knock control device for an internal combustion engine, including a knock sensor for detecting knocking of the internal combustion engine, a statistical processing unit for statistically processing an output signal detected by the knock sensor, a first temporary determining unit for determining knock occurrence based on the result of processing by the statistical processing unit, a second temporary determining unit for determining knock occurrence based on the waveform of the output signal detected by the knock sensor, and a final knock determining unit for finally determining knock occurrence based on the temporary knock determination by the first temporary determining unit and the temporary knock determination by the second temporary determining unit. The final knock determining unit finally determines that knock has occurred, if both the first and second temporary determining units determined that knock has occurred. In the first temporary determining unit, whether knock has occurred or not is determined by comparing the maximum value of the output signal detected by the knock sensor with a knock determination level (determination value) calculated based on the result of processing by the statistical processing unit. Based on the frequency of knock occurrence, the determination value is corrected to a value obtained by subtracting a set value ΔV from the determination value, or to a value obtained by adding a product of a value A larger than "1" and the set value ΔV to the determination value.
Now, as in the knock control device described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-021032, if vibration caused by knocking and noise are used not distinguished from each other in correcting the determination value used for determining presence/absence of knocking, the determination value would possibly be corrected inappropriately, as the noise intensity is comparable to the vibration intensity caused by knocking. Correction of the determination value with the noise removed may be possible. If the determination value were corrected with noise removed, however, data necessary for correcting the determination value would be insufficient. This possibly leads to delayed correction of the determination value.

Internal combustion engine knock determination device and knock determination method


To provide a lithium secondary battery which has high capacity while maintaining excellent charge-discharge characteristic, and to provide a cathode of the lithium secondary battery and a plate-like particle for cathode active material to be contained in the cathode. The plate-like particle of cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention has a layered rock salt structure, a thickness of 5 μm or more and less than 30 μm, 2 or less of [003]/[104] which is a ratio of intensity of X-ray diffraction by the (003) plane to intensity of X-ray diffraction by the (104) plane, a mean pore size of 0.1 to 5 μm, and a voidage of 3% or more and less than 15%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plate-like particle of cathode active material for lithium secondary battery, a cathode of a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cathode active material for lithium secondary battery (may be referred to as a lithium ion secondary cell) using a plate-like particle of a lithium composite oxide (lithium transition metal oxide) having a layered rock salt structure is well-known (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. Hei 5-226004).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Plate-like particle of cathode active material for lithium secondary battery, cathode of the lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery


Systems and methods for imaging a dental occlusal registration impression; developing a digital 3D surface contour model of the occlusal registration impression from the image data; electronically transferring the data representing the digital 3D surface contour model of the occlusal registration impression; fabricating a physical replicate of the occlusal registration impression; correlating features on upper and lower jaw dental models with features on the replicate occlusal registration impression model; and determining occlusal alignment of the upper and lower jaw dental models using the replicate occlusal registration impression model.

In many dental applications, a working model of a patient's teeth is needed that faithfully reproduces the patient's teeth and other dental structures, including the jaw structure. The model is typically created by first taking an impression of both the upper and lower jaws using an impression material such as alginate or polyvinylsiloxane (PVS). Once the impressions have set, a plaster or stone compound is poured into each of the impression trays to create the dental models for both the upper and lower jaws. Because the physical models are generally made using a separate impression tray for the upper and lower jaw impressions there is not an absolute way of determining the complete jaw alignment using only the cast upper and lower jaw models.
Conventionally, to determine the proper occlusal relationship between the teeth on the upper and lower jaws, a wax bite registration impression is taken. In determining bite registration a common approach typically conforms a sheet of wax to an arch shape and positions the wax intra-orally between a patient's upper and lower dental arches. For example, a wax bite can be obtained by inserting a thin sheet of wax into the patient's mouth and having them bite down on the wax thus leaving a bite mark on both sides of the wax sheet.
As an alternative to wax sheets a material such as a quick setting impression paste may be applied to both sides of a thin mesh and the coated mesh then placed into the patient's month whereupon the patient is asked to bite down on the coated mesh. Once the coating material becomes firm, the coated mesh with the bite registration impression is removed from the month.
The dentist or dental laboratory can then use the bite registration impression to align the cast of the upper jaw dental model into its bite impression marks while also aligning the cast of the lower jaw dental model into its corresponding bite impression marks on the opposing side of bite registration impression. With both cast jaw dental models aligned in their corresponding bite impression marks, the dentist or dental laboratory technician can directly view the correct full occlusion position of the jaws and teeth.
This alignment technique may be used to place corresponding marks or surfaces on the upper and lower jaw models to facilitate viewing the aligned models at a future time without the need to re-align with the bite registration impression. Alternatively, the alignment technique using the bite registration impression may also be used to position the upper and lower jaw castings for mounting in an articulator jig. After installation in the articulator jig, the proper alignment of the upper and lower jaw models may be rechecked using the bite registration impression.
While wax sheets or impression material coated meshes are commonly used for bite registration impressions, potential problems with these bite impressions includes the propensity for the impressions to warp, bend, distort and/or become brittle, depending on how the impression is handled, stored, and used. If the bite impression is compromised or lost, the patient's dentist or dental provider may need to retake the entire set of measurement and the patient's treatment may need to be completely revised based on the retake. In addition, the bite impression must be shipped to the dental laboratory for use in aligning the upper and lower jaw dental model castings. This requirement to ship the relatively fragile bite impression adds cost and time to the treatment process and increases the risk that the bite impression may be damaged or lost.
Systems which focus on taking occlusion measurements electronically have been developed to provide a diagnostic tool for occlusal analysis. U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,489 titled MULTIPLE CELLED PRESSURE SENSITIVE DENTAL DEVICE FOR MEASURING RELATIVE OCCLUSAL PRESSURES by John Shackelford discloses a pressure sensitive device adapted to be positioned between the teeth of a patient with flanges which engage the lingual and buccal sides of the teeth to aid in placing the and holding the device during a test bite. During a test bite, the pressure sensor output may be read from a meter that indicates the relative location of the patient's dental occlusions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,326 titled OCCLUSION PRESSURE IMAGE SYSTEM by Michiaki Okano et. al. discloses an occlusion pressure sensor and an image display system that provides a visual display of occlusal pressure in the form of a black-and-white or color brilliance image on a CRT display.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,186 titled SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE FIRST PREMATURITY CONTACT OF DENTAL OCCLUSION by Harold Wodlinger et. al. discloses a system for determining the first dental occlusion prematurity. The disclosed system is comprised of an intra-oral sensor with embedded electrical contacts and a liquid crystal display that indicates the location of the occlusion prematurity relative to the edges of the intra-oral sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,993 titled PRESSURE AND CONTACT SENSOR SYSTEM FOR MEASURING DENTAL OCCLUSION by William L. Maness et. al. discloses a method and apparatus for using a contact sensor for measuring the force between dental contact points as the jaw is closed on the sensor surface A commercial system is available that uses this technology to measure both biting time profiles and forces and thereby provides a graphical indication of the patient's occlusal force deviation from a "normal" occlusal force balance.
The electronics based dental occlusion measuring systems disclosed in the above U.S. patents are limited for use in aligning the physical jaw dental models in that while they do provide a visual indication of the two-dimensional occlusion contact points, this information is not readily usable by a dentist or dental laboratory technician to quickly orient and align the contact surfaces of the three-dimensional upper and lower jaw dental models. Further, the displayed visual information on the occlusal contacts is generally not available at the dental laboratory where the jaw models are fabricated and the occlusion alignment of the jaw dental models is performed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,660B1 titled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMAGING AND MODELING DENTAL STRUCTURES by Durbin et. al discloses a method and apparatus for mapping the structure and topography of dental formations such as periodontium and teeth, both intact and prepared, for diagnosis and dental prosthetics and bridgework by using an intra-oral image scanning technique. When digital three-dimensional (3D) models of the upper and lower jaws are created, by utilizing such an intra oral scanning system, the bite registration of the upper and lower jaws is not measured since the scanning takes place with the jaws partially open. A method of obtaining a digital representation of the occlusal bite registration that can be transferred to a dental laboratory for use in fabricating a replicate bite registration impression model for determining the occlusal alignment of the upper and lower jaw dental models is now addressed.

Method and system for dental model occlusal determination using a replicate bite registration impression


A toner for electrophotography comprising a colorant and a binder resin, wherein the toner further contains an image reinforcing agent, is disclosed. The reinforcing agent is preferably a high melt viscosity resin whose weight average molecular weight is 300 to 3000 and whose melt viscosity .eta. at 140.degree. C. is 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.6 (Pa.multidot.s). A developer for electrophotography containing a carrier and a toner comprising of a colorant and a binder resin, wherein the toner contains an image reinforcing agent, is also disclosed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for electrophotography also capable of being applied to an electrostatic recording method, a developer for electrophotography employed to develop an electrostatic latent image, and a method for forming an image employing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In electrophotography, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor is developed using a toner containing a binder resin and a colorant, and a toner image thus obtained is transferred onto a transfer paper and fixed using a heating roll to obtain an image. A dry type developer employed in electrophotography can broadly be grouped into a one-component developer containing only toner, which is a colorant dispersed in a binder resin, or a two-component developer containing such toner together admixed with a carrier.
In late 1980's, a more compact device having higher performance was in demand in the electrophotography market, especially with regard to full color image quality where the quality equivalent to that of art printing or silver chloride photography is desired. Digital conversion is essential to achieve such high image quality, and it allows complicated image processing to be done rapidly. Digital conversion enables control of a character that is independent of a graphic image, and provides substantial improvement in image reproducibility when compared with analog technology. Especially with regard to a photographic image, it is very valuable that gradation correction and color correction are possible, and gradation characteristics, minute line reproducibility, sharpness, color reproducibility and graininess are also advantageous when compared with an analog image.
Recently, electrophotography began to also be employed in office printing, especially in DTP (desktop publishing) as a result of the advanced technology described above. In such case, on demand printing system is an advantageous property. However, such systems require a developer to give a correct output of a latent image originally formed in an optical system, which leads to the employment of a toner having a smaller particle size, which then gives rise to increased significance of improved basic characteristics in development, transfer and fixing.
A thermoplastic resin has conventionally been employed as a toner for electrophotography. For the purpose of achieving both low energy fixing and proper particulate blocking characteristics, the rheology and the glass transition point (hereinafter abbreviated as Tg) of a resin used as a toner is optimized as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-37586 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-225967 and No. 2-235069. Among such optimized resins, one having a lower Tg is usually employed for toner for the office printing system described above because rapid fixing can be achieved.
However, an image formed using a toner obtained by the method described above undergoes melting of the resin component in the image region when subjected to heat at a temperature close to Tg or higher, resulting in adhesion of the resin onto the reverse side of a copy or onto another printing material, whereby causing a blank area in the image. In addition, in office printing, where two-sided printing is frequent, the image regions are in contact with each other, resulting in more frequent formation of blanks in the image when compared with one-sided printing.
For the purpose of office printing such as DTP as described above, the form of a printed material, which has frequently been subjected to two-sided printing and then bound into a book, makes the stability of the print quality over a prolonged storage period and during shipping very important.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-186368, which is intended to avoid offset upon fixing, describes a method wherein a thermosetting resin is added externally to a toner and allowed to undergo a curing reaction with a polyester binder resin, whereby attempting to avoid offset upon fixing and attempting to improve low temperature fixing and OHP transparency. In this method, the polyester resin is melted upon fixing and the melted polyester undergoes crosslinking with a microparticle of an epoxy resin or a melamine resin to increase the internal cohesive force of a toner layer, whereby preventing offset upon fixing. By this method, it is actually possible to prevent offset as a result of increased internal cohesive force of the toner due to the partial crosslinking of the resin. However, in view of stability over a prolonged storage period and during shipping no sufficient print quality can be obtained. In addition, this method involves the problems of irregular image surface due to the partial increase in the pile height of the print image since the thermosetting resin microparticles undergo crosslinking between the thermosetting resin particles instead of crosslinking with a toner binder resin. Furthermore, this process also involves the problem of a blanked image due to the release of the crosslinked thermosetting resin microparticles from the image surface over a prolonged period of storage of the printed material, suggesting that it is not suitable to the office printing application.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-101477 discloses a method in which the surface of a toner is cured with a polyurethane resin and an adhesiveness-imparting resin is contained internally together with a binder resin to achieve both anti-offset capability and low temperature fixing ability. In this method, the surface of an image becomes disadvantageously irregular due to curing of the toner surface. Accordingly no satisfactory print quality, in terms of stability over a prolonged storage period and during shipping, can be obtained.
The present invention is established in view of the current technical circumstance described above.

Toners for electrophotography, developers for electrophotography and methods for forming images using the same


The disclosure relates to a radio transceiver, comprising: a precoder configured to precode a data signal for transmission to a plurality of multi-stream terminals based on a plurality of precoding weight matrices; and a processor configured to generate for each terminal in an iterative manner a precoding weight matrix and a transformed channel matrix, wherein the transformed channel matrix indicates a channel gain between the radio transceiver and the respective terminal transformed by a receive filter matrix of the respective terminal, wherein the generation of the precoding weight matrix and the transformed channel matrix in a current iteration is based on the transformed channel matrix generated from a previous iteration.

In future cellular networks (like 4.5G, 5G and onward), the application of massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, which is characterized by the utilization of a large number of antennas and transceivers can greatly increase system capacity, extend cell coverage and reduce interference level. As shown in FIG. 1, the downlink signals 111, 112, 121, 122 from base station (BS) 130 are sent to multiple users 110, 120 by dedicated beamforming with spatial multiplexing, which is called MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO).
Due to a growing number of users of such networks 100, there is a need to further increase the spectrum efficiency and system throughput.

Methods and devices for processing a data signal for transmission to multi-stream terminals


Aspects for achieving efficient file transfer and traffic management in a digital media distributor system are presented. The aspects include a central site server, at least one local traffic system, and an Internet file server (IFS) coupled between the central site server and the at least one local traffic system. The IFS acts as an intermediary between the central site and the at least one local traffic system, wherein the IFS supports file transfer in both directions between the central site and the at least one local traffic system.

Although broadcasters have sophisticated systems for inserting national commercials into a program stream, including integrated traffic and billing systems, there are numerous obstacles to implementing a system to insert local commercials at small markets into a national program feed distributed by satellite. Until now, such local spot insertion advertising was the responsibility of the local broadcaster or cable operator.
Inserting local advertising poses several nontrivial technical, logistical and business challenges. First, literally hundreds of widely distributed local operators (or affiliates) would need to receive the commercials; ad agencies would have to ship analog tapes to hundreds of organizations, with different traffic and billing systems. These tapes would need to be tested for quality assurance, tracked, and stored until needed. They would then have to be distributed to video tape recorders and readied for computer controlled playout (analog) at the proper time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Such infrastructure generally exists at well-funded affiliates in major markets but is nonexistent and prohibitively expensive for smaller operators or affiliates in small markets.
Managing such tapes with ads for local commercials and inserting them properly into the program feed is a complex undertaking not well-suited for the smaller operators, especially for channels with smaller audiences in smaller markets. A quality broadcast involves more than excellent program material; it must provide seamless insertion of national and local advertisements, promotions, and station identifications.
Equally important is the ability to maintain the integrity of the national television programming. Centralized control of the channel's programming (playout) is required to prevent local affiliates from tampering with the programming.
A need exists for efficient communication between a local traffic system and a central site of a digital media distributor system. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for efficient file transfer to/from a local traffic system with a DMD system

International Business Machines Corporation


In various example embodiments, a system and method for computing a query feature score that can be used by a machine learning algorithm to rank search results is described. A query is received. The assigned probabilities for the arbitrary query is retrieved. The assigned probabilities is based on a probability model for a query feature. A score is computed for the query feature based on the assigned probabilities for the arbitrary query.

Searching e-commerce sites, as well as other searching performed on the Internet, is often performed by receiving queries from users. A query refers to a request for information from one or more databases. In various embodiments, the query parameters, also referred to as search terms, are provided by the user by typing in one or more search terms. In some embodiments, the query parameters may be chosen from a menu.
The relevance of e-commerce searching can directly and measurable impacts sales. For example, presenting items to a user that are most relevant to that user is more likely to lead to a sale of an item by that user. Locating the most relevant items for purchase is generally done by searching the databases.
The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used.

System and method for computing features that apply to infrequent queries


A new and improved mail sorting system, which is able to dramatically increase the throughput sorting volume of mail pieces or articles, comprises the incorporation of a plurality of cross-circulation path (CCP) conveyors within a conventional looped or folded conveyor belt system whereby, in effect, mail pieces or articles can be effectively removed from primary conveyor flow path sections so as to create gaps or spaces upon the primary conveyor flow path sections into which additional mail pieces or articles can be introduced through means of a second input or infeed port. In addition, a plurality of the new and improved mail sorting systems can be integrated together into a multi-system mail sorting system wherein off-shoot or auxiliary outfeed conveyor belt sections can feed pieces or articles of mail from any particular one of the mail sorting systems to the second input or infeed ports of the other mail sorting systems so as to render the overall system still more efficient.

Considered from a structural or architectural point of view, high-speed, high-volume, mail sorting systems conventionally comprise two primary sections. A first section, which may be designated as the transportation section, conventionally comprises an input hopper and a singulation mechanism which causes individual envelopes to be inducted onto a continuous transportation pathway. Various devices or mechanisms, such as, for example, multi-line optical character readers (OCRs), that scan, read, and interpret printed or written addresses, or alternatively, bar code readers (BCRs), that scan, read, and interpret previously applied bar code indicia which are representative of a delivery point zip code or postal code, are conventionally disposed or positioned along the transportation pathway so as to determine how the individual mail pieces are to be sorted, that is, the various readers will identify the number of a particular storage bin into which all mail pieces, that are to be delivered to the same next stage of the delivery pathway, such as, for example, a particular destination post office, will be deposited. Such a storage bin determination will of course be made in connection with each mail piece prior to the particular mail piece reaching the termination point or exit of the transportation pathway.
The second section of the mail sorting system, which may be designated the stacker section, comprises the plurality of storage bins which respectively represent the plurality of next stage sorting points. The stacker section receives the singulated, continuous flow of mail pieces from the first transportation section, and will convey the mail pieces to a particular one of its storage bins by means of its conveyor mechanism and a plurality of diverter mechanisms which are disposed along the conveyor path and are respectively operatively associated with each one of the storage bins. More particularly, as a result of electronically associating or correlating each scanned mail piece with a particularly numbered destination storage bin, which represents, in effect, a desired mail piece sorting destination which, in turn, is part of an overall, pre-existing logistical plan or path of addressing information by means of which, or along which, the sorted mail pieces can be routed to their final or ultimate destinations, the stacker section will deposit each incoming mail piece into the particularly identified storage bin. The plurality of storage bins of the stacker section are arranged contiguously along the length of the stacker section conveyor mechanism, and each storage bin has an electro-mechanical diverter mechanism operatively associated therewith. Each diverter mechanism is adapted to extract a particular mail piece from the stacker section conveyor mechanism or pathway and divert the same into the particular storage bin with which the diverted mechanism is operatively associated. Appropriate, timer-controlled activation of the particular diverted mechanism therefore causes a particular mail piece intended or destined for that particular storage bin to be physically diverted from the conveyor mechanism or pathway so as to be stacked within the particular storage bin.
A typical conventional PRIOR ART mail sorting system is schematically illustrated within FIG. 1 and is generally indicated by the reference character 10. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the conventional PRIOR ART mail sorting system 10 is seen to comprise a first transportation section 12 from which singulated mail is conveyed downstream into a second stacker section 13 by means of a primary conveyor mechanism 14. It is to be noted in conjunction with such PRIOR ART system 10 that the transportation section 12 is only minimally or generally illustrated, while the stacker section 13 is illustrated in greater detail, in view of the fact that the present invention is concerned with, or directed toward, a new and improved stacker section that departs significantly from the PRIOR ART stacker section 13 as will become more readily apparent hereinafter. It is noted still further that PRIOR ART stacker sections may comprise various different embodiments, or minor design variations, such as, for example, having storage bins disposed upon one or both sides of the conveyor mechanism, multiple levels of storage bins, and many variations directed toward the design details or operational properties of the diverter mechanisms, or toward the geometrical structures or configurations of the storage bins per se. The particular PRIOR ART stacker section 13 illustrated within FIG. 1 has been selected so as to clearly demonstrate both the similarities and significant differences which exist between such PRIOR ART stacker section 13 and the stacker section of the new and improved present invention, as will also become more apparent hereinafter.
More particularly, it is seen that the primary conveyor mechanism 14 comprises a suitable conveyor belt system and is illustrated as being of the "folded" type comprising, in effect, the routing of the conveyor belt system 14 along a flow path which effectively reverses itself 180°. A plurality of mail storage bins 16, comprising the stacker section 13, are disposed along the flow path of the conveyor belt system 14, and it is seen that the mail storage bins 16 are schematically illustrated as being arranged within four storage bin sections, with each storage bin section comprising six storage bins 16, and that the storage bins 16 have also been designated as Bins 1-24. It is of course to be noted that while the conveyor belt system 14 may be of the linear type, as opposed to being of the "folded" type, the present patent application is particularly concerned with a "folded" type conveyor belt system. In addition, it is noted that while the storage bins 16 are disclosed as being arranged within four storage bin sections, with each storage bin section comprising six storage bins 16, for a total number of twenty-four storage bins 16, the particular arrangement of the storage bins 16 is not necessarily limited to the illustrated arrangement, nor is the number of storage bins 16 necessarily limited to twenty-four.
It is noted still further that all of the storage bins 16 are disposed upon the left side of the conveyor belt system 14, as considered in the downstream flow direction of the conveyor belt system 14, as schematically indicated by means of the arrowheads upon the conveyor belt system 14, and a mail piece, solenoid-controlled diverter mechanism 18 is operatively associated with each one of the mail storage bins 16. In this manner, a particular mail piece diverter 18 can divert a particular piece of mail from the conveyor belt system 14 into a particular one of the storage bins 16 when the particular mail piece diverter 18 is actuated in response to receiving a command signal from, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or programmable logic controller (PLC) 20 which designates the particular storage bin number in response to scanned-address information conveyed to the central processing unit (CPU) 20 by means of the reader mechanisms 21 incorporated within the transportation section 12. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that a predetermined volume of mail can be processed by means of the typical conventional PRIOR ART mail sorting system 10 within a predetermined period of time depending upon the predetermined spacing defined between individual mail pieces disposed upon the conveyor belt system 14, as well as upon the conveyance speed of the conveyor belt system 14.
While the aforenoted conventional PRIOR ART mail sorting system 10 has been operationally satisfactory and commercially successful, it has been realized that the operational efficiency of a system such as that comprising the conventional PRIOR ART mail sorting system 10 is not particularly high, is certainly not as high as is desirable, and is certainly not as high as the operational efficiency of a similar mail sorting system could be. More particularly, it has been realized that when mail pieces are serially conveyed in the downstream direction by means of the conveyor belt system 14 and toward the storage bins 16 for deposition within particular or predetermined ones of the storage bins 16 as predetermined by means of the reader mechanisms 21 of the transportation section 12, the central processing unit (CPU) or programmable logic controller (PLC) 20, and particular ones of the diverter mechanisms 18, if one was to consider the entire incoming batch of mail pieces in a purely random manner, then approximately the same volume of mail would be deposited within each one of the storage Bins 1-24. Accordingly, when the mail pieces are being conveyed by means of conveyor belt system 14 toward the various storage Bins 1-24, approximately one-half of the mail pieces that were originally present upon the conveyor belt system 14 at an initial START position upstream of storage Bin 1 would have been deposited within storage Bins 1-12 by the time that portion of the conveyor belt system 14, originally disposed at the START position immediately upstream of storage Bin 1, reaches the turnaround section 22 of the conveyor belt system 14 just upstream of storage Bin 13. Therefore, only approximately one-half or fifty percent (50%) of the total conveyance space, which is available upon the conveyor belt system 14 for transporting the mail pieces to their storage bin destinations, is at this point in time occupied or actually being used for mail transportation or conveyance purposes. Furthermore, as the remaining mail pieces get delivered to successive ones of the storage Bins 13-24, the percentage of the conveyor belt system 14, which is occupied or actually being used for mail transportation or conveyance purposes, as compared to the total conveyance space which is available upon the entire conveyor belt system 14 for transporting the mail pieces to their storage bin destinations, becomes progressively less. It can therefore be readily appreciated that the spatial utilization efficiency of such a conveyor belt system 14, in connection with the conveyance or transportation of the mail pieces along the entire conveyor belt system flow path extending from Bin 1 to Bin 24, is relatively low.
It has accordingly been proposed that, in order to allegedly or supposedly enhance the operational efficiency or throughput volume of such conventional PRIOR ART systems, either the operational speed of the system be increased, or alternatively, the spatial distance defined between successive mail pieces, as the mail pieces are deposited onto the conveyor belt system 14, be reduced, thereby allegedly or supposedly increasing the spatial utilization efficiency or percentage, or in other words, the amount or percentage of conveyor belt space actually occupied by, and being used to convey, mail pieces. It has been further determined however that neither one of these proposals is truly viable. A reduction in the spacing defined between successive mail pieces poses an operational problem in view of the fact that predetermined gap or spatial minimums must be adhered to in order to viably achieve the downstream gating or diversion of particular mail pieces into their predetermined storage bins 16. A substantial increase in conveyor belt speed likewise poses an operational problem for effectively or properly arresting the movement of each mail piece during its deposition or insertion into a particular one of the storage bins 16. It has also been proposed to simply increase the number of storage bins 16 along the conveyor belt system 14, however, this proposal does not positively or effectively address or increase the spatial utilization efficiency of the system 10, and furthermore, the employment of additional storage bins simply increases the cost of the overall system 10 with little gain in operational efficiency.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved mail sorting system, and a method of operating the same, which will in fact be able to achieve enhanced spatial utilization efficiency and greater mail piece throughput volume without requiring an increase in the operational speed of the conveyor belt system, without having to reduce the spatial distance, defined between successive mail pieces, below viably workable minimums in connection with the desired or required diversion or gating of the mail pieces into their desired storage bins, and without increasing the number of storage bins utilized within the overall mail sorting system so as not to unnecessarily inflate the construction cost of the mail sorting system without improving the performance and efficiency of the system.

Cross circulation mail sorter stacker design with dual ported input, and method of operating the same