This invention discloses an AC-type vertical light emitting element and fabrication method thereof, which achieves polarity reversal of two LEDs via regional laser stripping and die bonding. The two LEDs are placed on a conductive substrate (e.g. Si substrate); therefore, the bonding pads of the two LEDs are on the back of the conductive substrate and the light emitting surfaces of the two LEDs, thus overcoming such problems of low light emitting efficiency and high thermal resistance of the traditional lateral structure.

Light emitting diode (LED) is a kind of semiconductor diode that can transfer electric energy into light energy and emits visible light in yellow, green, blue and the like as well as infrared and ultraviolet invisible light. LED is characterized by low working voltage and current, high reliability, long service life and ease of luminance regulation, etc.
The traditional LED chip is driven by the direct current (DC). Therefore, to ensure normal operation of the LED, a rectifier transformer is required for AC/DC transformation when the supply power is alternating current (AC). In addition, power saving performance is of great importance to LED applications. However, the traditional LED's efficiency is still unsatisfactory since AC/DC transformation may consume as high as 15%-30% power; under this background, an LED directly driven by AC comes into being.
FIGS. 1-3 show a current AC-type LED. According to FIGS. 1-3, two LED units 210 and 220 are arranged on a substrate in the same direction. Strip-current extended electrodes 410 and 420 and a bonding pad connect an n-type layer of a first LED unit 210 to a p-type layer of a second LED unit 220 and connect a p-type layer of the first LED unit 210 to an n-type layer of the second LED unit 220, thus constituting an AC-type light emitting element. However, the single LED unit of the AC light emitting element has a lateral structure, while the lateral structure LED chip cannot be driven by high current density owing to low light emitting efficiency, current blockage, high thermal resistance, etc.

Alternating current vertical light emitting element and manufacturing method thereof

XIAMEN SANAN OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An improved receiver circuit for making compatible data signals between semiconductor devices operating at different voltage levels is provided which is less prone to failure from electrostatic discharge (ESD) surges. The receiver comprises a half-latch keeper which is prevented from forward biasing during ESD surges thereby suppressing the establishment of harmful current paths which would otherwise pass through and damage receiver components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to receiver circuits for making compatible semiconductor devices having different voltage requirements and, more particularly, to receiver circuits which are less prone to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD).
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a multitude of integrated semiconductor devices such as metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) memories and transistor-transistor logic (TTL) devices which are designed to operate at higher voltages, typically 5V. As technology progresses, and higher density integration is realized, individual devices are becoming smaller. These smaller devices are more prone to so called hot electron effects and other deleterious effects at higher voltages. Hence, the trend is to design modern devices to operate at lower voltages. There are many advantages to using lower voltages. Switching times are typically faster since the voltage swing between logic states is not as great. Also, lower voltage devices consume less power and therefore conserve energy and generate less heat.
In a single system, such as a computer containing a microprocessor, memory, and various peripheral chips, there may be devices and families of devices present which operate at different voltages such as, for example, 5V, 3.3V, 2.5V, and 1.8V. Therefore, data signals communicating from one device to another must first be passed through a receiver circuit in order to be made compatible.
Dielectric over-voltage is an increasing concern in mixed voltage receiver circuit applications. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a simple receiver which may be used, for example, to interface 5.0 V with a 2.5 V technology, 3.3 V with a 2.5 V technology, 3.3 V with a 1.8 V technology, or perhaps 2.5 V with a 1.8 V technology. An N-channel field effect transistor (NFET) pass transistor 10 may be used to lower the voltage on the receiver dielectric to avoid electrical overstress. The addition of the NFET pass transistor provides the advantage of noise filtration for signals presented at the input pad 12. Unfortunately, the NFET pass transistor 10 also introduces a voltage drop between an input pad 12 and the receiver 14 which may degrade the signal to an undeterminable level at the inverter portion 14 of the receiver.
Referring to FIG. 2, a solution to this voltage drop is shown employing a half-latch "keeper" circuit comprising a feedback FET 16 that pulls and "keeps" the node N at the input of the inverter 14 to a full Vdd power supply voltage as long as the output of a subsequent inverter 14 remains low. In this half-latch keeper circuit, the pad 12 is connected to an NFET pass transistor 10. The NFET pass transistor 10 is followed by an inverter comprising p-channel and n-channel MOSFETs (NFET 18 and PFET 20, respectively) connected between first and second voltage supplies. The center or output node M of the inverter 14 is fed back to the gate of the PFET 16. The PFET 16 source is connected to Vdd and the drain is connected to the inverter input node N.
Unfortunately, the addition of the PFET half-latch keeper transistor 16 is susceptible to electrostatic discharge (ESD) and tends to fail at relatively low ESD levels. For example, in certain semiconductor chips where all pins are at an ESD level over 8K V, the pins employing a half-latch keeper circuit tend to fail at only 2.5K V, thus indicating that this circuit is not ESD robust.
The primary reason for this ESD failure is that when the Vdd power supply is grounded, the PFET keeper's 16 source and well (body) are also grounded. When a positive polarity ESD impulse is applied to the input pad 12, a current path is established from the input pad 12, though the NFET pass transistor 10 to the p+ diode of the PFET 16 to ground (i.e., the PFET 16 becomes forward biased). The resulting current path which is established leads to failure of the PFET 16, and the NFET pass transistor 10. This is especially a concern with technologies that have a small channel length, a mixed voltage I/O circuit, or an ESD network with a late turn-on voltage. The failure mechanism results because when the PFET 16 diode establishes a ground potential, a single pass transistor exists. In this case, MOSFET snap-back occurs followed by MOSFET secondary breakdown, leading to a low ESD tolerance and device failure.

Modified keeper half-latch receiver circuit

International Business Machines Corporation


A music box timepiece A having a clock body 10 with a disc music box instrument 20 to which a music box disc 1 is fitted, characterized in that a space 11 in which a spare music box disc 1' can be housed is formed within the clock body, and when the spare music box disc 1' is stored, at least a part of the spare music box disc can be seen from the front.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a music box timepiece which has a disc music box instrument on a clock body, wherein a spare music box disc can be housed in the clock body so as to be seen from the front.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally known sounding means used for a time signal of a timepiece or the like includes a sounding circuit and a loud speaker.
Relatively large ones among desktop and wall clocks these years are often provided with a so-called tricky device that a decoration member such as a puppet operates on the hour, and a music is played in electronic sounds when the decoration member operates on the hour. And, music box sounds are often used for playing.
A timepiece which has electronic sounds to play a music box may be called a music box timepiece (hereinafter referred to as the pseudo-music box timepiece). But, generally, a timepiece which is provided with a mechanical music box instrument is called the music box timepiece, which is known from way back. This music box timepiece plays a predetermined music number and comprises sounding prongs in a strip shape with a plurality of sounding parts corresponding to the musical intervals, a barrel which is disposed to oppose the sounding prongs and provided with pins protruded to pluck the sounding parts of the sounding prongs with predetermined playing timing, and a drive unit for rotating the barrel at a predetermined speed.
As described above, the music box timepiece uses the barrel, needing a breadth for the barrel. Therefore, the timepiece becomes large.
On the other hand, the pseudo-music box timepiece does not have such a disadvantage, but lacks in realism or presence of the music box play. However, there is proposed to rotate a circular plate formed like a music box disc or to dispose a miniature of the music box, thereby creating an atmosphere of the music box timepiece.
In connection with the music box instrument itself, there is proposed a music box which can play a given music number by configuring to use a circular music box disc having the pattern for a predetermined music number and to change such a music box disc.
This music box disc is formed into a circular plate, one surface of the disc is divided into a plurality of tracks corresponding to music box petals of a music box sounding member, and engaging parts for playing are formed at positions in the circumferential direction corresponding to the timing of playing musical scales shared by the respective tracks. And, these engaging parts for playing are made of projections protruded from one surface of the music box disc or holes having a predetermined diameter. And, predetermined parts of the sounding member are plucked by these engaging parts for playing.
This type of disc music box is easy to handle the music box disc, so that the disc can be easily fitted or removed and changed in a short time. Therefore, when a plurality of music box discs for different music numbers are provided in advance, a desired music number is selected from these music box discs and the music box disc is changed, so that a music number to be played by the music box can be changed quickly and with ease. Thus, the disc music box is easy to mount a desired music box disc by selecting from a plurality of music box discs as compared with the music box provided with a stationary barrel for a single music only. It has an advantage that music numbers can be changed flexibly and easily.
Accordingly, the inventor studied a music box timepiece having a timepiece provided with a disc music box instrument. And, there was a problem of where the music box disc are stored.
Specifically, the music box using a disc has an advantage that the music box disc can be changed as described above. Therefore, the music box timepiece is also advantageous to use a plurality of music box discs.
For example, equipment such as a CD (compact disc) player which has a plurality of discs used exchangeably stores often the discs in a separately disposed storage. But, the music box timepiece uses a few music box discs and is rare to use dozens of them. Therefore, a special storage is not disposed, but an appropriate cabinet is used for storing them. And, it is apprehended that the stored music box discs are forgotten where they were stored and not used after all.


A resilient pure chocolate coating composition for coating novelty ice cream items is provided. The coating composition is anhydrous, having a melting point above 0xc2x0 C. and below 20xc2x0 C. It comprises 15% to 50% of chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, 15% to 40% of sugar, and 15% to 50% of butter fat. The coating composition may also further comprise up to 30% whole milk solids, as a milk chocolate coating. The chocolate coating composition is a eutectic composition comprising a cocoa butter fat system and a butter fat system. It provides a coating for ice cream novelty items which is somewhat resilient, less brittle and fragile, and has better mouth sense and organoleptic properties with greater flavor release than chocolate coating compositions that employ vegetable oils as a major constituent.

This invention relates to coatings for ice cream novelty items, and particularly relates to coatings for novelty ice cream items where the coating exhibits resiliency. Typically, the novelty ice cream items are in the form of an ice cream bar on a stick.
Coated ice cream novelty items have been known for many years. Such coated ice cream novelty items are typically chocolate coated, although other flavored, sugar and fat based coatings can be used.
The present invention is particularly directed to chocolate coated ice cream novelties; and is particularly directed to so-called xe2x80x9cpremiumxe2x80x9d ice cream novelty items. By that, it is meant that the present invention is directed toward high quality ice cream novelty items that sell at a relatively high price in the market and which are comprised of high quality, top grade materials. Such items are generally found in the form of ice cream bars having a stick placed in the middle thereof, but other forms and variations of ice cream items may be found in the market to which the present application is equally relevant.
Typically, lower priced ice cream novelty items may have as much as 30% to 40% of their volume comprised of airxe2x80x94the ice cream being a high over-run product. Moreover, such low priced ice cream novelty items are very often made from ice cream or, indeed, ice milk, which has a low fat content. While such products may be favored by certain sectors of the market because of their low caloric content, they are also less attractive because they have less flavor, or artificially enhanced flavors. Premium novelty ice cream items, on the other hand, generally have less than about 30% volume by air, and have a much higher fat content in the ice cream.
In either event, however, if the novelty ice cream item is coated with a chocolate coating, the chocolate coating may be almost the same. While such coatings are called xe2x80x9cchocolatexe2x80x9d coatings, in fact they are not pure chocolate coatings. At least in North America, dispensations have been received from Governmental agencies responsibility for the quality and labelling of food items to label the coating as being xe2x80x9cchocolatexe2x80x9d, even though the coating may comprise a high percentage by weight of vegetable oil.
Indeed, coatings that are used on ice cream novelty items must contain, until now, a high percentage by weight of vegetable oil because otherwise their melting point would be far too high. The melting point of chocolate is very high, being well above room temperature; and, in some instances, above mouth temperature. Thus, in order to make the coating composition for the coating on the ice cream to be such that it will not be exceedingly hard and brittle, and have high snap, at temperatures below 0xc2x0 C., it is necessary to depress the melting point of chocolate. Even the melting point of milk chocolate is very high. Accordingly, manufacturers of ice cream novelty products having chocolate coatings thereon have been awarded the right, in Canada and the United States, to label their products as having a xe2x80x9cchocolatexe2x80x9d coating even though the melting point of the chocolate or milk chocolate has been depressed by the addition of a vegetable oil thereto. Such vegetable oils are typically cottonseed oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and other long chain oils.
Quite surprisingly, the present inventor has determined that it is possible to lower the melting point of chocolate or milk chocolate to an acceptable level for use as a coating composition for ice cream novelty items, by the addition of butter fat to the chocolate composition. In other words, the present invention comprises a composition that has two fat systemsxe2x80x94the chocolate fat system and the butter fat systemxe2x80x94and which has a melting point or characteristic SFI curve that is depressed.
Moreover, by the addition of butter fat in keeping with the present invention, the chocolate coating composition will exhibit a noticeable resiliency. That means, that the chocolate coating compositions in keeping with the present invention have a more controlled and gentle snap, are less brittle, and exhibit a less flaky characteristic when first bitten into. This resiliency also has a further advantage in that handling of the products is more easily accommodated with less danger of breaking or cracking the coating on the ice cream bar or other novelty item.
Of course, it is recognized that the cost of adding a butter fat constituent to a coating for ice cream novelty products, as opposed to depressing the melting point thereof by the use of vegetable oil, may significantly increase the costs of the chocolate coating composition. Nonetheless, when the chocolate coating composition is used in association with premium quality ice cream to produce high quality, high priced ice cream novelty items, then the added cost to the coating composition when viewed in relation to the price of the product, may be less significant than it would otherwise appear.
Still further, an advantage of employing a resilient chocolate coating composition in keeping with the present invention is such that the manufacturer of the ice cream novelty product can label and advertise the product as comprising pure chocolate.
In other words, the labelling can provide a list of constituents for the chocolate coating such that it may recite only chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, sugar, and butter fat; and, optionally but usually, whole milk solids. Other trace constituents such as vanilla or other flavoring, or lecithin, might also be employed, as described hereafter.
As employed herein, the term xe2x80x9cchocolate coatingxe2x80x9d may mean a dark chocolate coating or it may mean a milk chocolate coatingxe2x80x94one which includes whole milk solids.
The resilient pure chocolate coating composition of the present invention provides a eutectic composition in the truest sense of the word. The composition is such that the two fat systems, the chocolate fat system and the butter fat system, and indistinguishable one from the other. Moreover, the mouth feel or organoleptic release of flavor of the chocolate coating is different from chocolate coatings as they are presently found in the market because the tongue senses a smoother, softer, less crispy chocolate film or coating, having a softer or less pronounced snap, together with a more complete and more rapid release of flavour.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,474 issued Jan. 7, 1997, the inventor herein has provided a method of preparation of chocolate crumb. In that patent, the present inventor teaches an anhydrous chocolate crumb where anhydrous butter fat may be added to a dried mix so as to provide a final analysis for the total amount of dried milks and anhydrous butter fat up to specified amounts.
In another U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,373 issued Sep. 30, 1997, the present inventor has provided a method of producing anhydrous whole milk powder having full fat recovery for further use. There, the anhydrous milk powder is added back to dried skim milk in designated quantities, and blended so as to have the same constituent make-up of ordinary dry whole milk, but wherein all of the fat constituent is recoverable as fat. That anhydrous milk powder is particularly intended for use by the chocolate industry, in the manufacture of milk chocolate; although it may also be used in the manufacture of dry baking mixes or other prepared foods where dried milk powder is not to be re-hydrated.
WARKENTIN U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,516 issued May 25, 1976 teaches a classic method for producing a solid chocolate composition which is suitable for coating ice cream. Here, cocoa powder is milled, with or without an additional chocolate liquor, but together with sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil, salt, lecithin, and optionally whey powder or low fat milk powder. The purpose is to provide wafers of chocolate which have a softening point of about 100xc2x0 F., which solid chocolate wafers are easily handled. When a chocolate coating for ice cream is intended to be made, the wafers are stirred into warm vegetable oil, having a temperature of about 110xc2x0 to 130xc2x0 F., in the ratio of approximately 50% by weight of solid chocolate wafers and about 50% by weight of warm vegetable oil. Obviously, the chocolate coating composition which is thus prepared has a very high vegetable oil constituent. Thus, while the chocolate coating is referred to as such, it is not, in fact, pure chocolate.
CAIN et al., in U.S. Pat. No.5,858,427 issued Jan. 12, 1999, teach a flexible ice cream coating composition which is intended to be used, for example, in coating an ice cream cone into which ice cream will later be placed. The coating may have a high unsaturated fat constituency, but it is in any event made from oils such as palm oil, shea, lillipe, together with cocoa butter or factions thereof, along with sunflower oil, maize oil, soyabean oil, olive oil, safflower oil, or canola oils.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,659 issued Sep. 17, 1996 to DePEDRO et al. teaches a reduced-calorie coated frozen confectionery. Here, the coating is a water-in-oil emulsion which contains up to 55% by weight of water.
Published Japanese patent application No. 62113800, published Nov. 16, 1988, in the name of FUJII et al. teaches a coating composition for a frozen dessert that employs an edible oil, cocoa butter, skim milk powder, sweetener, emulsifying agent, and water.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resilient pure chocolate coating composition for coating novelty ice cream items, which coating composition is anhydrous, and has a melting point above 0xc2x0 C. and below 20xc2x0 C. The composition comprises:
As a milk chocolate coating, the present invention provides a resilient milk chocolate coating having the composition described above, but further comprising up to 30% whole milk solids.
The anhydrous chocolate coating composition of the present invention may further comprise up to 1% vanilla flavoring. It may also comprise up to 1% lecithin.
Representative SFI characteristics for various cocoa butter: butter fat eutectic mixtures are as follows, it being understood that the figures indicated below are exemplary and not limiting. Specifically, the SFI characteristics may vary as a consequence of a number of facts, including but limited to: the source of the cocoa butter (Brazil, Malaysia, etc.); whether the butter fat is winter or summer fat, the breed or variety of cattle, whether they were range fed or stabled, and so on. Nonetheless, typical SFI characteristics of cocoa butter: butter fat eutectic mixtures are as follows:
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an ice cream novelty item which comprises an ice cream core, and a chocolate coating on the ice cream core, as described above.
Typically, the thickness of the chocolate coating on the ice cream core is in the range of from 0.8 mm to 3.0 mm.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of making an anhydrous resilient pure chocolate coating composition for coating ice cream novelty items, where the composition is as noted above. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) mixing the chocolate liquor and cocoa butter constituent together with the sugar constituent;
(b) drying the mixture of step (a) to form a powder;
(c) adding anhydrous butter fat to the powder; and
(d) conching the mixture of step (c).
Where the pure chocolate coating composition is a milk chocolate, it will comprise up to 30% whole milk solids. The whole milk solids are added in either step (a) or step (c).
Still further, the present invention provides a method of making an ice cream novelty item where the method of making the ice cream novelty item comprises the steps of:
(a) preparing the ice cream core and cooling the same to a temperature below xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C.;
(b) preparing the anhydrous resilient pure chocolate coating or milk chocolate coating;
(c) heating the anhydrous resilient pure chocolate coating or milk chocolate coating to a temperature above 38xc2x0 C.;
(d) applying the heated pure chocolate coating or milk chocolate coating to the ice cream core, and permitting the coating to harden; and
(e) packaging the coated ice cream novelty of step (d).

Resilient pure chocolate coating composition for novelty ice cream items


A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include receiving a first request to access a digital representation that is assigned to an asset of an industrial automation system and includes code specific to operating, maintaining, or diagnosing the asset. The operations also include verifying a security access for the first request, providing the computing device access to the digital representation, receiving an input to modify the code from the computing device and, performing one or more simulations based on the modified code by utilizing the digital representation. Additionally, the operations include sending one or more simulation results to the computing device, receiving, from the computing device, a second request for pushing the modified code to the asset, and in response to receiving the second request, causing the modified code to be sent to the asset.

The present disclosure generally relates to asset-related data management with code optimization and servicing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for enabling users to have secure access to certain data (e.g., code) associated with various assets within an industrial automation system and optimizing the code by utilizing virtual instances (e.g., Digital Twins) of the assets and simulations.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to help provide the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Service technicians that provide various services associated with an industrial automation system owned or operating by one entity may be employed by a separate entity, such as a company that provides maintenance services, diagnostic services, security services, or other services to the entity that operates that industrial automation system. Because the service technicians may work for a separate entity, information associated with various components of the industrial automation system, as well as other information (e.g., code, firmware), may not be accessible to the service technicians. Accordingly, maintaining an accurate list or version of information (e.g., code, firmware) related to equipment or different components in the industrial automation system may assist technicians in effectively servicing the related equipment or components. However, even if the information is available to the service technicians, the information may not provide sufficient context to enable the technicians to resolve or diagnose errors or potential errors associated with the components or information (e.g., errors in code).

Systems and methods for data lifecycle management with code content optimization and servicing


An ATM cell interface for dispatching an ATM cell comprising N input ports, where N.gtoreq.1 and is an integer. A table lookup mechanism directs a cell from an input port to any desired destination. The table lookup mechanism has entries which identify desired destination for corresponding cells. The number of possible entries in the table lookup mechanism is less than a total number of entries supported by the ATM cell header. The table lookup mechanism preferably includes a first table which produces a first signal based on the value of the VPI field and a second level table which produces a second signal based on the value of the VCI field. The first and second signals are used to route the cell from an input port to a desired destination. A method for dispatching an ATM cell comprising the steps of locating a table entry in a first level table corresponding to a value of a VPI field of the cell. Then there is the step of producing a first signal corresponding to the table entry. Next, there is the step of locating a connection entry in a second level table corresponding to a value of a VCI field of the cell and the first signal. Then there is the step of producing a second signal corresponding to the connection entry. Next there is the step of directing a cell to a desired destination corresponding to the second signal.

The telecommunications industry has developed a new international standard called Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) that will be the basis of the forthcoming Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (BISDN). The ATM standard allows transmission of intermixed audio, video, and data over high-speed links. As well as being used in wide-area networks, the ATM standard can be used for local-area networks to support multimedia applications.
The unit of transmission used in the ATM standard is a cell. An ATM cell contains 53 bytes of information and has the basic format shown in FIG. 1. The four-byte header field contains virtual path and virtual channel identifiers which are used for routing the cell through the ATM network. The HEC byte contains a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) value to check the correctness of the cell header and to allow correction of single-bit errors if desired.
The ATM header uniquely determines the parameters associated with a given connection. Within an end user interface such as a computer multiple connections can be going on at the same time; therefore, there is a need to dispatch these cells to their correct destination based on a given state of the connection, as established during call setup.
Within a switch each ATM cell is switched based on the information contained in its header; more specifically based on its Virtual Path Identifier (VPI) and its Virtual Channel Identifier (VCI) shown in FIG. 1. A combination of VCI and VPI bits are used to index lookup tables that contain the routing information.
In order to support all possible header entries at any network interface a very large table (i.e. 2 28 or about 64 million entries) would be required. However, in most cases, only a few VCI entries are defined for a given VPI and direct addressing is therefore quite wasteful of memory space. Coupled with the fact that a switch supports many input ports, each one with access to its own dedicated address space, there would be required unpractical large size memories to support every possible correction. Existing implementations typically require to `bit-stip` (or ignore some of the bits in order to reduced the table size) some of the VCI or VPI fields in order to reduce table sizes. (T1S1 Technical Sub-Committee. Broadband Aspects of ISDN, Baseline Document, August 1990. Chief Editor: Rajeev Sinha, incorporated by reference).

ATM cell interface and method for dispatching an ATM cell


A harvesting header for use with a crop harvesting machine has a feederhouse interface and a header frame providing structural support for the harvesting header. A pivotable connection between the feederhouse interface and the header frame enable the header frame to pivot with respect to the feederhouse interface. At least one hydraulic ram connects between the feederhouse interface and the header frame to pivot the harvesting header on the feederhouse interface. A hydraulic supply provides pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic ram. An accumulator assembly fluidically connects between the hydraulic supply and the at least one hydraulic ram. The accumulator assembly has a precharge fluid/gas interface between a gas chamber and the hydraulic supply, and a working fluid/gas interface between the gas chamber and the at least one hydraulic ram.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a pivotable harvesting header for a combine harvester, and more particularly, to a pivotable header with a hydraulic accumulator that can be adjusted for differing field conditions.
2. Description of Related Art
Agricultural harvesters such as combines are typically equipped with a harvesting header. For example, corn headers are specifically designed to pick corn and vary in size from two-row units to twelve-row units or more. As the harvester moves through the field, each row-unit passes between rows of corn. Corn header row units typically use gathering chains to covey crop material and ears rearward toward a cross auger. A set of driven snap rolls, which rotate based on the speed of the harvester, grabs the corn stalks and forces them downward between stripper plates. The ears of corn are snapped free of the stalk and the cross auger passes the ears to the feeder housing of the harvester.
The height of the harvesting header typically may be adjusted by pivoting or rotating the feederhouse upwardly and downwardly about a rotational axis adjacent a rearward end thereof. However, corn headers are typically fixed on the feederhouse at a selected fore and aft angle. It would also be desirable to adjust the fore/aft pitch of the header on the feederhouse to optimize crop cutting and feeding into the combine.

Variable precharge accumulator for agricultural header


Control apparatus for internal combustion engine in which alcohol fuel can be used includes: acquisition unit for acquiring alcohol concentration of fuel; electric motor for driving internal combustion engine; and a control unit configured to control the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The control unit is configured, when the running time from a low-temperature start to the stoppage of the internal combustion engine or a parameter increasing with an increase of the running time is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, to cause, after the stoppage of the internal combustion engine, the electric motor to subject the internal combustion engine to motoring and to set the motoring time of the motoring to be shorter when a fuel alcohol concentration acquired by the acquisition unit is relatively high compared to when a fuel alcohol concentration acquired by the acquisition unit relatively is low.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine. In particular, the invention relates to the control apparatus for the internal combustion engine that can use alcohol fuel.
Description of the Related Art
Known internal combustion engines for vehicles or automobiles include a bifuel-type internal combustion engine that can use alcohol fuel as substitute fuel. A vehicle including such an internal combustion engine is called an FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicle). In the internal combustion engine as described above, alcohol fuel such as methanol or ethanol as well as hydrocarbon fuel such as gasoline can be used individually or can be mixed together.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-47071 discloses a hybrid vehicle including a bifuel-type internal combustion engine in which the stoppage of an internal combustion engine is followed by the cranking of an internal combustion engine by a motor/generator to remove the residual moisture in an exhaust pipe by scavenging. The purpose of this is to exclude the adverse effect by the residual moisture due to the fact that the residual moisture causes a deteriorated catalyst warming performance during the restart of the internal combustion engine after the stoppage.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-256919 discloses a hybrid vehicle including a general internal combustion engine that is not the bifuel-type one. In this hybrid vehicle, during the fuel cutting in deceleration, a motor and a power generator are used to drive an engine to remove the residual exhaust gas in a range from the intake pipe to the catalyst by scavenging.
By the way, when the low-temperature start of the internal combustion engine is followed by the running for a relatively-short time (i.e. short trip), this generally causes, after the stoppage of the running, the condensation of water in the exhaust, thereby causing a large amount of aqueous droplets attached to the inner wall of an exhaust passage. When the internal combustion engine is the bifuel-type one in particular, the above tendency is remarkable because the combustion of alcohol fuel causes a higher amount of water when compared with the case of hydrocarbon fuel such as gasoline.
In such a case, the aqueous droplets attached to the inner wall of the exhaust passage may flow down and may be collected and frozen in a relatively-small space between an exhaust valve and a valve sheet. The ice due to this freezing is disadvantageous in that this ice is continuously attached to at least one of the exhaust valve and the valve sheet even after the subsequent restart of the internal combustion engine, thereby resulting in a defective opening of the exhaust valve.
According to one solution to this problem as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-47071, the stoppage of the internal combustion engine is followed by the cranking (or motoring) of the internal combustion engine by another motor to remove aqueous droplets attached to the inner wall of the exhaust passage by scavenging.
However, on the other hand, the motoring requires power consumption, thus requiring the motoring time of the motoring to be optimally set to the minimum required time.
With regard to this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-47071 discloses, from the viewpoint that an increase of the fuel alcohol concentration causes an increase of the residual moisture in the exhaust pipe is, to set a longer cranking period in accordance with the increase of the fuel alcohol concentration.
However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-47071 does not intend to solve the problem specific to the invention of this application as described above (i.e., the freezing due to the running for a relatively-shot time after the low-temperature start of the internal combustion engine and thus the defective opening of the exhaust valve after the restart due to this). Thus, even the application of the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-47071 cannot provide an optimal setting of the motoring time after the stoppage of the internal combustion engine.
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation. It is an objective of the invention to provide a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can optimally set the motoring time after the stoppage thereof in an internal combustion engine in which alcohol fuel can be used.


An analog-to-digital converting method for converting an analog signal into a digital signal is provided, wherein the analog-to-digital converting method includes a measuring step of measuring a frequency characteristic of each of analog-to-digital converters in advance, a sampling step of sampling the analog signal, a Fourier transformation step of performing Fourier transformation on the data sampled by the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and generating a plurality of frequency domain signals, a correcting step of converting each of the frequency domain signals into a signal to be acquired in case that the frequency characteristic of corresponding analog-to-digital converter is ideal, by multiplying each of the frequency domain signals by a correction coefficient determined on the basis of the frequency characteristics of all the analog-to-digital converters, and a synthesizing step of synthesizing each of the frequency domain signals acquired at the correcting step and generating a frequency spectrum of the digital signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for converting A/D and an A/D converting apparatus for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. The present application claims the benefit of, and priority to, Japanese patent application No. 2004-163704 filed on Jun. 1, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in order to increase an apparent sampling rate in case of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, a N-way interleave a method for converting A/D using N analog-to-digital converters (hereinafter, referred to "ADC") was known (For example, see Japanese Laid-open patent application 2000-346913).
However, for the above mentioned interleave a method for converting A/D, if there are errors in the phase of a sampling clock applied to each ADC and the frequency characteristic of each ADC, it is impossible to acquire a frequency spectrum of the digital signal precisely.
For example, although the phase of each sampling clock applied to each ADC needs to be different by a predetermined phase from each other, it is difficult to shift the phase of each sampling clock by the predetermined phase precisely. Further, even when a sampling clock is applied to each ADC with a correct phase, if the frequency characteristic of the ADC is not ideal, fluctuations occur in the sampling timing and gain of each ADC and it is difficult to acquire the frequency spectrum of the digital signal precisely.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an interleave AD converting method and an interleave AD converting apparatus, which are capable of overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the conventional art. The above object can be achieved by combinations described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present invention.

Method for converting A/D, and an A/D converting apparatus


A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of non-volatile semiconductor memory cells, an interface making data exchange with an external device to write/read data with respect to the non-volatile semiconductor memory cells, and a control circuit for controlling the non-volatile semiconductor memory cells, wherein the interface and the control circuit include a first read mode initialized via a first bootstrap to read data from the non-volatile semiconductor memory cells for continuously outputting (N+M)-byte (N is the n-th power of 2, n is positive integers) data via the interface, and a second read mode initialized via a second bootstrap to read data from the non-volatile semiconductor memory cells for continuously outputting K-byte (K is the k-th power of 2, k is positive integers) data via the interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory device, to an electronic card using the same and to an electronic apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to read/write control with respect to memory cell arrays formed of the non-volatile semiconductor devices, and is applied to NAND type flash memories, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
Of electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, a batch erasable flash memory stores data by varying an amount of charges injected in a floating gate of a memory cell transistor to change the threshold voltage thereof at the data erase/write operation. For example, when electrons are ejected from the floating gate to make negative the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor, data "0" is stored, while the electrons are injected to make positive the threshold voltage, thereby storing data "1". Electron ejection/injection is carried out between a floating gate and a semiconductor substrate via a tunnel oxide film. For this reason, the tunnel oxide film is degraded with an increase of the number of data rewriting times. When the tunnel oxide film is degraded, electrons injected to the floating gate leaks through the tunnel oxide film. As a result, it is difficult to hold the written data in the memory cell transistor. In most of flash memories, the number of rewritable times is one hundred thousand to one million times per memory cell transistor.
Recently, many control systems using the flash memory employ error correction system to take suitable steps for the case where data is broken down to cause data error. During the data error is corrected by using the error correction system, many data rewriting is performed. For example, even if one bit of 528-byte memory cell array has an error, the error correction system corrects the one-byterror through many data rewriting operations. Conventionally, the error correction system has been included in an exclusive controller chip designed to have specialized operations in order to reduce the cost of the flash memory and making error corrections at high speed.
On the other hand, in the control system of an electronic apparatus using the flash memory, a processor unit fetches boot programs for booting the system at the start-up (boot) time. The boot programs include data for controlling the flash memory and error correction programs.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system using a conventional NAND flash memory.
In the figure, a microprocessor (MPU) 103 is connected to a ROM 104, an SRAM 102 and a NAND flash memory 105 via a system I/O bus line. The MPU 103 reads the system boot programs from the ROM 104 when the system starts up, and controls the SRAM 102 and the NAND flash memory 105. The system boot programs include codes for making error corrections on data of the NAND flash memory 105. The NAND flash memory 105 is used as a file storage in a similar manner as a magnetic disk, and also, is used as an image memory in a digital camera and the like.
The technique of providing the error correction system to the flash memory is disclosed in the following documents.
Japanese Patent No. 3272903 specification
Jpn. Pat. Aplln. KOAKI Publication No. 2001-14888
T. Tanzawa et al., "A Compact On-chip ECC for Low Cost Flash Memories", 1996 symposium on VLSI circuits Digest of Technical Papers
As described above, the system using the conventional flash memory requires additional devices such as a controller chip for making error corrections and a ROM for storing boot programs. For this reason, there is a problem that many constituent devices are needed to compose the control system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, electronic card using the same and electronic apparatus


Described herein are methods for synchronizing ovulation in a herd, inducing superovulation in a single animal, and improving frequency of successful implantation and development of fertilized ova.

Reproduction in cattle can be inefficient, owing to a variety of factors including herd size and that cows in estrus are not always observed.
Previous artificial insemination (AI) protocols have been attempted, using multiple drug substances. Examples of previously attempted AI protocols are as follows:
Number ofinterventions*Name of Protocolincluding AINumber of Drugs Used**7 day CO-Synch327 day CO-Synch + CIDR337 day OV-Synch + CIDR435 day OV-Synch + CIDR43MGA-Select437-11 Synch53*Refers to the number of separate occasions on which the cows must be handledIn some protocols, more than one dose of a drug is administered.
However, AI programs remain inefficient. Such inefficiencies result in lower insemination frequencies, which reduces economic efficiencies. This is a significant problem in cattle reproduction.
Among the strategies used to control ovarian function in cattle, treatment with estrogen in combination with progesterone has been very effective for synchronizing follicle wave emergence and ovulation [1, 2]. Steroid-induced wave synchronization is brought about by regression of the dominant follicle followed by resurgence in circulating FSH and subsequent emergence of a new follicular wave at a consistent interval post-treatment. Steroid-induced regression of the dominant follicle is a result of a systemic alteration in feedback of estradiol and progesterone on pituitary release of LH and FSH [3]. Estradiol suppresses FSH release [4], and decreases LH pulse amplitude in sheep [5] and cattle [6]. Progesterone decreases LH pulse frequency and suppresses growth of the dominant follicle in a dose-dependent manner in cattle [7-12]. After metabolic clearance of exogenous estradiol, endogenous FSH surges therefore resulting in the emergence of a new wave of follicular development approximately 4 days after estradiol/progesterone treatment regardless of the stage of development of the dominant follicle at the time of treatment [1, 2, 13].
The use of natural or synthetic estrogens in food producing animals, however, has been the subject of considerable controversy (reviewed in [18]). Increasing concern regarding the toxicity of hormonal preparations used as growth promotants in cattle and the potential carcinogenic effects of steroid hormone residues in meat or milk [19-21] has led to a prohibition of the use of estradiol and other steroid hormones as growth promotants in animals designated for human consumption in all the member states of the European Union as of Jan. 1, 1989 [22]. Furthermore, the use of estradiol-1713 and its ester derivatives for purposes of reproductive management was prohibited in the European Union on Oct. 14, 2006 [23]. These actions in Europe led to the subsequence prohibition of the use of estradiol esters in lactating dairy animals in New Zealand and Australia in 2007 [24]. Although the use of estradiol and zeranol (an estrogen-like compound) as growth promotants is still permitted in the United States [25] and Canada [26], they cannot be used for the purpose of estrus synchronization except by prescription and custom-compounding. However, veterinary compounding of pharmaceuticals for food-producing animals has recently come under scrutiny in the US and is discouraged [27, 28]. This situation negatively impacts the implementation of reproductive technologies in cattle production systems, limiting potential reproductive efficiency and genetic improvement provided by the use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer [24].
In this context, the development of alternative methods for controlling ovarian function in cattle is needed.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should it be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Methods of administering an aromatase inhibitor, prostaglandin and GnRH for regulating ovulation in cattle


A system and method for managing storage of a digital stream including writing data of the stream to a network storage device, while monitoring availability of the network storage device, switching to writing additional data of the stream to a standby storage device while continuing monitoring the availability of the network storage device, if the network storage device becomes unavailable, switching back to writing additional data of the stream to the network storage device while continuing monitoring the availability of the network storage device, when the network storage device becomes available, and writing to the network storage device the additional data that was written to the standby storage device while the network storage device was unavailable, concurrently with the writing of the additional data of the stream to the network storage device.

Some applications require video recordings from a plurality of cameras 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The continuous video recording needs to be performed in real time. This may require the use of mass storage capacity and managing capabilities to gain the most efficient, uninterrupted and reliable recording process.
For example, organizations that utilize large numbers of surveillance cameras, such as casinos, airports, large banks or secured government institutions, are required to handle thousand of hours of real time video recordings. Reliability of video recording is a critical issue for surveillance systems. Video recordings of surveillance systems may be used for the investigation of various events and in some situation may be used in the court of law as evidence. Thus, the video recording should be continuous with no substantial gaps that may disable reliable interpretation of the video. Failure to record segments of the captured video may void an end-user contract or regulation requirement of the recording system.
Contemporary mass storage devices for large and medium enterprises utilize networking technologies to connect to the users. Such storage devices may be Storage Area Network (SAN), a Network Attached Storage (NAS), a cloud storage device, or the like. The real time characteristic of the system requires uninterrupted and stable performance of these storage devices over long periods of time. Networked storage devices provide many advantages such as huge memory capacities at reduced cost, outsourcing options and flexibility. However, these storage devices may suffer from disconnections or unstable performance because of networking problems or because of congestions that may occur when many users try to access the same storage device at the same time.

Storage device as buffer for unreliable storage


An initial value θ0 of a vehicle deflection angle θ and an initial value L0 of a distance L are set, a normalized coefficient R is determined from the ratio of the vehicle deflection angle θ or the distance L to the initial value θ0 or the initial value L0 when vehicle stop control is started, and the target speed VREF of a body speed VL is determined by that coefficient R. Since the body speed V of the vehicle VL is very low when the vehicle VL arrives at a target parking position, the vehicle VL can be stopped precisely at the target parking position.

Parking support control apparatuses, such as the one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-11760, capable of controlling a parking support control operation so that a driver can efficiently stop a vehicle at a desired position when parking the vehicle have already been proposed. Such parking support control apparatuses are configured to generate a braking force by means of an automatic brake when stopping a vehicle.
However, Patent Document mentioned above, for example, merely describes that a vehicle stop operation initiated by the parking support control apparatus is achieved by means of an automatic brake, without any description of a specific method for stopping the vehicle at a desired position with high accuracy.

Parking support control apparatus and parking support control system


The cap to a reverse osmosis (R.O.) system membrane cartridge housing integrates both (i) a system automatic shut-off valve, and (ii) an improved check valve of such enlarged area and low pressure drop as typically gains 2-4 gallons per day in purified water output. The housing both reduces, typically from seven ports to five ports, and simplifies with hand-tightened quick fittings, the plumbing requirements of the R.O system. The housing fits a new and larger, typically 100+ gallon per hour, high-flow-rate R.O. membrane cartridge as well as myriad universal standard cartridges. A pressure gauge is optionally integrated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally concerns the (i) membrane housings, (ii) automatic shut-off valves, (iii) check valves, and (iv) reverse osmosis membrane cartridges, as are all within cartridge-type reverse osmosis systems that are primarily used in water purification.
The present invention particularly concerns improvements to a reverse osmosis membrane housing in order that it should integrally incorporate (i) both a check valve of a new, wide-area, construction and also a shut-off valve, and (ii) an optional pressure gauge, and in order that it should accommodate a new (iii) full-volume high-flow membrane cartridge, all the while that it is (iv) quickly and easily connected within a reverse osmosis system by a (net) reduced number of plumbed connections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
2.1 General Status of Prior Art Reverse Osmosis System Components, Specifically Including the Reverse Osmosis Membrane Housing
The present invention will be seen to be embodied in a reverse osmosis membrane housing. Perhaps because these housings are presently (circa 1997) competitively produced by many sources--and have thus often been manufactured with such extreme economies of design, material and workmanship as have led to premature failure by bursting, and the subsequent demise of many manufacturers--the reverse osmosis industry has not heretofore shown much progress in perfecting this part. Although many dozens of different housing designs all accommodating the same universally-sized R.O. membrane cartridges exist and, indeed, have been collected for study by the inventor, these housings look, and function, very much the same. They are mostly simple cylindrical containers with screw caps that serve to house R.O. membrane cartridges, and to which plumbed connections may be made.
Meanwhile, another component of a reverse osmosis system--an automatic shut-off valve that prevents feed water from being fed to the R.O. membrane when no more product, purified, water is presently required (such as occurs, most commonly, when a storage tank of purified water is full)--has existed apart from the reverse osmosis membrane housing. The automatic shut-off valve requires four (4) plumbed connections.
Yet another valve--a check valve that prevents that the reverse osmosis membrane should be ruptured by an abnormal back-pressure in the product, purified, water line--has previously been incorporated within a reverse osmosis membrane housing.
Other R.O. system components--such as an occasional input line pressure gauge by which the correct operation or, alternatively, the failure, of the R.O. cartridge may be assessed--have also existed apart from the reverse osmosis membrane housing. They have required their own plumbed connections, normally two (2) such connections for an in-line pressure gauge.
Finally, because every manufacturer's R.O. membrane housing unit has needed to accommodate the vast supply of universal R.O. membrane cartridges having a standard form, it has been easy to push responsibility for the perpetually-desired higher purification rates onto the membrane manufacturers, and to ignore any possible complicity of the housing in limiting purification rates.
It is the premise of the present invention that major improvements can be realized in the reverse osmosis membrane housing of a reverse osmosis system. These improvements will be seen to concern (i) an higher degree of integration, reducing net plumbing requirements for the overall R.O. system (although plumbing requirements to the reverse osmosis membrane housing itself will be seen to be slightly increased), (ii) a new, larger, better-performing, check valve, (iii) accommodation of new and larger, high-flow-rate R.O. membrane cartridges in the same housing that otherwise fits universal standard cartridges, (iv) optional integration of useful gauges with the reverse osmosis membrane housing, and (v) easier, faster, hook-up.
2.1 Specific Prior Art Reverse Osmosis System Components, Including the Reverse Osmosis Membrane Housing
The reverse osmosis membrane housing of the present invention will be seen to incorporate an automatic shut-off valve. A previous shut-off valve for an R.O. system--but not the reverse osmosis membrane housing of the system--that is based on the weight of the purified water is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,074 to Bray for an APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF A REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM, assigned to Desalination Systems, Inc. (Escondido, Calif.). The Bray system concerns a reverse osmosis system having a tank for storing purified water and a valve in a pipe which introduces feed water into a module containing a semipermeable membrane that produces the purified water. The valve shuts off or turns on introduction of feed water into the module in response to the weight of purified water in the storage tank.
Another automatic valve is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,537 to Tondreau, et. al. for a WATER STORAGE CONTROL FOR REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM, assigned to Desalination Systems, Inc. (Escondido, Calif.). Therein reverse osmosis system employs a tank for storing permeate under a pressure which is a portion of the pressure of feed water introduced into a pressure resistant container housing a semipermeable membrane cartridge. A control mechanism such as an automatic valve, preferably of the double diaphragm type, located in the line introducing feed water into the pressure resistant container closes to shut off feed water flow when the pressure in the permeate storage tank reaches a first predetermined value, less than the feed water pressure, and re-opens to re-establish feed water flow at a second predetermined pressure lower than the first or shut-off pressure. A constricted passageway device such as a venturi in the pipe or connection between a dispensing device such as a faucet and the permeate storage tank has its throat communicating with the sensing conduit for actuating the feed water control valve. When the dispensing faucet is opened, flow of permeate through the venturi creates an amplified and drastically reduced pressure in the sensing conduit, and applies a servo or magnified actuation force to the valve in the re-open end of its control range.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,625 to Hart, Jr. for a REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER PURIFYING SYSTEM concerns a reverse osmosis (R.O.) water purification system that collects and stores pure water at low pressure and dispenses it at high pressure. Impurities left behind when the water passes through a R.O. module are disposed of by two methods: the fast flush method and the slow flush method. In the fast flush method, water entering a R.O. module may take two paths to escape therefrom. The first path constrains it to travel through a semi-permeable membrane in the module which filters out undissolved solids and which restrains the passage of dissolved liquids. The second path allows it to travel through the R.O. module, without passing through the membrane, thereby carrying out those impurities left behind by the water passing through the membrane. The purified water is directed to one side of a compartmented storage tank and the waste water from the module is directed to a control valve. From the control valve, the waste water may be directed through a restriction to a drain or it may be directed to the other compartment of the storage tank where the purified water is held. In the slow flush method, water enters a control valve, travels to the R.O. module, and has two paths of escape therefrom. The first path constrains it to go through the semi-permeable membrane in the R.O. module, and through a check valve to storage or outlet. The second path allows the water to escape through the R.O. module, thereby carrying to a drain the impurities left behind.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,744 to Burrows for a REVERSE OSMOSIS ASSEMBLY OPERATING VALVE concerns a single control valve and associated conduits for operating a reverse osmosis assembly that includes a reverse osmosis cartridge, a reservoir that has a movable barrier therein that subdivides the interior into first and second confined spaces of variable volume, and a manually operated purified water dispensing valve, so that as the first confined space approaches a filled condition with purified water, the single control valve throttles the flow of pressurized feed water to the cartridge to minimize the use of feed water in the operation thereof, with the maximum backpressure to which purified water is subjected in discharging from the cartridge being that due to the weight of reject water in the second confined space, and a membrane in the reverse osmosis cartridge being fast-flushed with feed water to remove foreign material therefrom when the purified water dispensing valve is discharging purified water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,873 for a COMBINED REVERSE OSMOSIS UNIT AND WATER INFLOW CONTROL VALVE FOR A WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM to Burrows concerns an improved reverse osmosis unit for use in a water purification system. The reverse osmosis unit includes an integral control valve for regulating water inflow in response to system demand for purified water. The reverse osmosis unit includes a feed water inlet receiving a supply of ordinary tap water or the like for flow through a reverse osmosis cartridge having a membrane for separating the water inflow into a relatively pure water supply and a reject water supply with impurities concentrated therein. The pure water supply is coupled through a pure outlet port for collection within an appropriate storage vessel to await dispensing through a faucet valve or the like, whereas the reject water supply flows through a reject outlet port for discharge to a drain. When the storage vessel reaches a predetermined or substantially filled condition, the fluid pressure within the storage vessel acts against a control piston to displace the reverse osmosis cartridge and an integrated inflow control valve carried thereby toward a position closing or throttling the incoming feed water flow.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,002 to Marshall, et. al. for a REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER PURIFICATION UNIT, assigned to Schlumberger Industries, Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.), concerns a domestic reverse osmosis water purification system. Few parts in the controller valve mechanism reportedly enhance reliability and economic feasibility. All surfaces of the controller valve mechanism in contact with water are non-metallic and are constructed of FDA approved materials. In addition to its normal function of metering the reject water flow, the controller valve mechanism allows the homeowner to easily rinse the reverse osmosis membrane and conserves water by automatically stopping influent water flow when the product storage tank is full.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,668 for a HOUSING CONTAINING A PENETRABLE MEMBRANE SEALING AN EVACUATION OUTLET to Spranger, assigned to Gambro Dialysatoren GmbH & Co. KG (Federal Republic of Germany) concerns a diffusion and/or filtration apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing consisting of a cylindrical open-ended main part closed by two end caps and being provided with an inlet and outlet for a first fluid and at least one outlet for a second fluid having a penetrable membrane, said first fluid being adapted to flow through the fibers of a bundle of semipermeable hollow fibers arranged between two end walls within the housing and said second fluid being adapted to be removed from the space outside the fibers through said at least one outlet for the second fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,735 to Vinas, et. al. for a MEMBRANE FILTRATION SYSTEM WITH CONTROL VALVES FOR OPTIMIZING FLOW RATES, assigned to Water Factory Systems (Irvine, Calif.), concerns a liquid purification system. In this system water is pumped into a filter cartridge. A reverse osmosis filter membrane in the filter cartridge removes impurities from the water, but not all of the water passes through the membrane. Water passing through the membrane exits the filter cartridge through a first outlet port, and is sent to a storage tank. Water not passing through the filter membrane exits the filter cartridge through a second outlet port. This water then passes through a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve can be adjusted to vary the water pressure and flow rates in the system. Some of the water exiting the pressure relief valve passes through a flow restrictor valve and then to drain. The flow restrictor maintains a constant flow rate at variable pressures. In this system, the flow restrictor is operable to maintain the same flow rate through it to drain and through the first filter outlet port. The match of these two flow rates results in a preferred 50% recovery rate of filtered water. Water that does not pass through the flow control restrictor is returned to the pump inlet for recycling through the system. An automatic flush system and various control functions for operation of the system are also discussed.

Reverse osmosis membrane housing with integral wide-area check valve and shut-off valve, optional pressure gauge, and optional large-volume high-flow membrane cartridge


A measurement sensor for determining a physical property of a measurement gas, e.g., the concentration of a gas component or the temperature of a measurement gas, in particular of the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, has a housing and a sensor element accommodated in the housing. The sensor element has an end segment at the measurement gas side that protrudes from the housing and a connection-side end segment that bears at least one contact surface. The sensor element also has at least one conductor element that contacts the at least one contact surface. In order to achieve low transition resistances at the electrical contacting and a decoupling from mechanical stress, the contact surface and the conductor element are connected to one another by welding, and are embedded in a ceramic compound at least in the area of the welded connection.

In a known gas measurement sensor described, for example, in published German patent document DE 101 32 828, the contacting between the at least one contact surface and the at least one conductor element is created by a contact holder that uses a spring element to press the at least one conductor element onto the contact surface. The at least one conductor element is connected via a crimp connection to a connecting line with which the sensor element can be connected to an electronic control device, as described, for example, in published German patent document DE 195 42 650.


A dielectric ceramic composition is provided which exhibits a high unloaded quality factor (Qu) and permits regulation of the relative dielectric constant (εr) and the temperature coefficient (τf) of resonance frequency (fo) within specific ranges in accordance with use or application of the composition. A dielectric resonator is also provided which includes a resonator main body formed from the composition. The dielectric ceramic composition contains, as metallic components, Ba, Zn, Nb, Ta, and Sb, and the amounts of the metallic components, as reduced to their oxides, satisfy the following relations expressed in mol %: 57.5≦BaO≦62.6; 16.0≦ZnO≦22.2; 0<Nb2O5≦20.6; 0<Ta2O5≦20.6; and 0<Sb2O3≦5.9.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric ceramic composition and to a dielectric resonator, and, more particularly, to a dielectric ceramic composition which, when employed in a high-frequency setting, exhibits a high unloaded quality factor (Qu) and permits regulation or variation of the relative dielectric constant (εr) and the temperature coefficient (τf) of resonance frequency (fo) within specific ranges in accordance with the particular use or application of the composition. The invention also relates to a dielectric resonator comprising a resonator main body formed from the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some conventional dielectric ceramic compositions are known to be useful in devices operating in high-frequency regions such as the microwave region. Such compositions are suitable for use in a variety of products including dielectric resonators, dielectric antennas, dielectric waveguides, dielectric substrates for microwave integrated circuits (MICs), and multi-layer ceramic capacitors.
In order to be employed in high-frequency operating regions such dielectric ceramic compositions must satisfy the following three basic requirements in accordance with the use or application thereof: (1) the unloaded quality factor (Qu) must be high; (2) the relative dielectric constant (εr) must be large and still must be capable of being regulated or varied over a range of values; and (3) the absolute value of the temperature coefficient (τf) of the resonance frequency (fo) of the composition must be small, and this temperature coefficient must be capable of being regulated or varied over a small range.
Previously proposed dielectric ceramic compositions for use in high-frequency operating regions include a dielectric ceramic composition containing Ba, Nb, Sb, and O2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 62-190608), and a dielectric ceramic composition containing Ba, Zn, Ta, and K (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 11-71173).
Although such conventional dielectric ceramic compositions have a relatively high unloaded quality factor (Qu), there are difficulties with the composition in varying or regulating the relative dielectric constant (εr) and the temperature coefficient (τf) of the resonance frequency (fo) thereof, in use of the composition in, for example, a dielectric resonator, a dielectric antenna, a dielectric waveguide, a dielectric substrate for a microwave integrated circuit (MIC), or a multi-layer ceramic capacitor. Therefore, when the dielectric ceramic composition is produced, an appropriate metallic component must be selected based on the specific use of the composition and as a consequence, production of the dielectric ceramic composition is an intricate process.

Dielectric ceramic composition and dielectric resonator made from the composition


In at least some implementations, a carburetor has a metering system that controls fuel flow from a fuel source to an air-fuel passage. The metering system includes a metering diaphragm sealed to a body of the carburetor to at least partly define a metering chamber between the metering diaphragm and the body, and the metering diaphragm has a continuous layer and a discontinuous layer. The continuous layer is responsive to fluid pressure within the metering chamber and moves against the discontinuous layer to open a metering valve to allow fuel flow from the fuel source and into the metering chamber when said fluid pressure is below a reference pressure.

Carburetors are devices that can be used to mix fuel with air to power combustion engines. A carburetor may include a fuel metering system that helps control the amount of fuel supplied to air flowing through the carburetor for mixing. Some metering systems employ a diaphragm that oscillates during operation to open and close a metering valve. The high number of cycles experienced by such diaphragms, when combined with physical interaction with other metering system components and continuous exposure to solvent-containing fuels, can result in a harsh operating environment that causes wear and degradation of the diaphragm.


Drift generated at the time of photographing a TEM image is corrected simultaneously with photographing, so that a TEM image free form influence of drift is photographed. While the TEM image is recorded, drift in the place out of the view field subjected to recording is measured from moment to moment by another TV camera or a position sensitive detector. Drift is corrected by the movement of the specimen due to a specimen holder or by the movement of the image due to an image shift coil.

The present invention relates to a transmission electron microscope and an image observation method using it and particularly relates to a transmission electron microscope capable of observation of an image not affected by drift and an image observation method using the transmission electron microscope.
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) is an apparatus using electron beams for directly observing a fine structure of a specimen and has far higher resolving power than that of an optical microscope so that the TEM can perform atomic-level structure analysis. The TEM is an apparatus indispensable nowadays for the medical and biological field and the metallic and semiconductor material field. Because a technique for observing a specimen while heating/cooling it has been developed, the TEM has been highly recognized to be not only an observation apparatus but also an on-site experimental apparatus.
To perform atomic-level structure analysis, an image is recorded with such magnifying power that a structure can be recorded on an atomic level. Image drift is an issue on this occasion. If an image is recorded in the condition that image drift occurs, the image flows in a drift direction to restrict structure analysis remarkably. Particularly when the specimen is observed while heated/cooled, the influence of image drift becomes remarkable.
A chief cause of image drift is thermal, mechanical and electrical stability. A factor of thermal instability is shape distortion due to temperature changes of a mirror body, a specimen holder and a specimen itself. Causes of the temperature change of the mirror body are change in electric current applied to an electron lens, change in temperature of lens-cooling water, change in room temperature, change in air-conditioning wind direction, and so on. Causes of the temperature change of the specimen holder are deformation at the time of observing the specimen while heating/cooling the specimen, and so on. Causes of the temperature change of the specimen itself are deformation, damage, and so on, due to change in density of applied electron beams.
Factors of mechanical instability are relaxation of stress confined in a specimen manipulation mechanism, and mechanical variation. In the former, stress is high just after movement of the specimen but is relaxed slowly. The latter occurs in such a manner that force for suppressing the specimen manipulation mechanism under atmospheric pressure out of a vacuum changes when air pressure around the apparatus varies. In addition, when floor vibration has a frequency (usually about 1–2 Hz) of resonance with the mirror body, the mechanical variation appears as vibration of the image.
A factor of electrical instability is electrical variation. When the intensity of magnetic field around the mirror body changes, electron beams are deflected so that the image moves.
To suppress image drift, a lot of know-how has been accumulated until now. The simplest and effective know-how is to wait for termination of drift. To perform observation/photographing particularly hating image drift, a measure to supply the apparatus with electricity continuously from the previous day to pay attention to thermal and mechanical stability is generally performed. High-precision equipment is often installed so that the temperature change of an air-conditioner or cooling water becomes as small as possible. The wind from the air-conditioner must be provided so as not to be blown against the mirror body directly. A method of reducing heat change due to current change of the electron lens has been disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,585,833. This is a method in which the circumference of an excitation coil is evacuated to a vacuum to thereby reduce heat conduction. An example for suppressing thermal deformation of the specimen holder has been disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,314,422. This is a method in which parts high and low in thermal expansion coefficient are combined to cancel the expansion and contraction of the specimen holder. Reduction in applied current density or fixation of the applied region is effective in preventing deformation and damage of the specimen itself.
To reduce mechanical variation, there is the case where an antivibration pedestal is set. Antivibration pedestals are classified into active antivibration pedestals and passive antivibration pedestals. The former detects mechanical variation and gives antiphase variation to a rack on which the apparatus is set. The latter shifts a resonance point with the mirror body to make it difficult to transmit floor vibration directly. A method in which the drift amount of a specimen manipulation mechanism due to change in air pressure is measured in advance so that a piezoelectric element incorporated in the specimen manipulation mechanism is used for canceling variation has been disclosed in JP-A-2004-55300. To reduce electrical variation, there is the case where a magnetic field canceller is set. This detects variation in magnetic field and gives antiphase variation to the mechanism.
To shorten the photographing time as extremely as possible is also effective. While the photographing time is suppressed to be short, the density of the electron beam applied onto the specimen is increased or the developing time is elongated instead.
A method of performing photographing while correcting drift has been proposed. In a method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,454,052, because element distribution images are accumulated in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) for a long time, difference between STEM images output at the same time is detected and a primary electron beam is deflected from moment to moment to thereby correct drift. As another method, there has been proposed a method in which drift speed is measured in advance so that a specimen is moved at a constant speed by a piezoelectric element attached to a specimen stage to thereby cancel drift. A method in which an image shift coil is controlled to cancel drift generated at the time of through-focusing has been proposed in Ultramicroscopy, Vol. 54, pp. 250–260 (1994). In this paper, there has been also proposed a method in which a TEM image is recorded in a video recorder in advance so that each frame is converted into a digital image and that drift is corrected as image data. A method in which view field difference between a plurality of TEM images is calculated to thereby correct specimen drift has been described in JP-A 2001-118535. A method in which a TEM image is picked up by a TV camera disposed above a fluorescent screen so that drift is detected and corrected has been described in JP-A-7-272665.
The simplest method is to wait for termination of specimen drift but a long time is taken and it is inconvenient to wait for termination of drift whenever the position of the specimen is changed. If preparation cannot be made from the previous day, a considerably long time is required for termination of drift. The magnetic field canceller, the high-precision air-conditioner and the cooling water equipment are expressive. The manipulation mechanism using the piezoelectric element for correcting change in air pressure cannot be fit to drift caused by other factors. If photographing is performed in a short time and development is performed for a long time, the negative film becomes so "hard" that the image becomes rough. Even in a slow scan CCD (SSCCD), signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is lowered because of shortage of signal amount. If a high-luminance electron gun is mounted in order to obtain sufficient degree of darkness, there is the possibility that the specimen may be damaged because of high applied electron beam density. Drift correction of the element distribution image obtained in the STEM cannot be applied to the TEM image. The method of correcting drift by the manipulation mechanism using the piezoelectric element is not effective for drift out of uniform rate. The method of correcting drift due to through-focusing by the image shift coil cannot be applied to general drift. The method of photographing the TEM image as a video image cannot be applied to the photographic film as well as much labor is taken for correction. The method of calculating view field difference between the plurality of TEM images and correcting specimen drift cannot correct drift generated while each TEM image is photographed. The method of taking the TEM image in by the TV camera disposed above the fluorescent screen and detecting and correcting drift cannot detect drift because the TEM image does not appear above the fluorescent screen when the TEM image is recorded.

Transmission electron microscope and image observation method using it


Phosphorus-sulfur compounds have flame retardant activity in organic polymer systems. The phosphorus-sulfur compounds can be represented by the structure:

The present invention relates to flame retardant additives for organic polymers, and in particular phosphorus-sulfur flame suppressant additives.
Flame suppressant additives are commonly added to polymer products used in construction, automotive, electronic, electrical laminate, wire and cable, textile and other applications. FR additives increase the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of polymer systems, allowing articles made from those polymer systems to pass standard fire tests. Various low molecular weight (<˜1500 g/mol) brominated compounds are used as FR additives for organic polymers. Many of these, such as hexabromocyclododecane and polybrominated diphenylethers, are under regulatory and public pressure that may lead to restrictions on their use, and there is an incentive to find a replacement for them.
Various phosphorus compounds have been used as FR additives. These include organic phosphates, phosphonates and phosphoramides, some of which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,070,336 and 4,086,205, as well as in "The Chemistry and Use of Flame Retardants", J. W. Lyons, Chapter 2: Chemistry of Fire Retardants Based on Phosphorous p. 29-74 (1987). Another commercially available FR additive is 2,2′-oxybis[5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane 2,2′-disulfide], which has the structure:
These compounds tend to provide moderate ignition resistance, and are generally not as effective as hexabromocyclododecane or other brominated FR additives.
It is desirable to provide an alternative FR additive for organic polymers, and for foamed polymers in particular. The FR additive should be capable of raising the LOI of the polymer system when incorporated into the polymer at reasonably low levels. Similarly, the FR additive should be capable of conferring good fire extinguishing properties to the polymer system, again when present at reasonably small levels. Because in many cases the FR additive is most conveniently added to a melt of the organic polymer, or else (or in addition) is present in subsequent melt processing operations, the FR additive should be thermally stable at the temperature of the molten polymer. This is typically in the range of 150° C. or higher, and is often above 220° C. It is preferable that the FR additive has low toxicity.

Phosphorus-sulfur FR additives and polymer systems containing same

Abstract: wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, T is a covalent bond, oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, provided that at least one of X and T is sulfur, each X′ is independently oxygen or sulfur, each m is independently zero or 1 when X′ is oxygen and zero, 1 or 2 when X′ is sulfur, n is at least 1 and preferably at least 2, each R is independently an unsubstituted or inertly substituted hydrocarbyl group or the R groups together form an unsubstituted or inertly substituted divalent organic group and A is an organic linking group.


An improved breath coordinated inhaler is provided for administering medication to a patient in aerosol form for respiratory inhalation therapy. The improved inhaler comprises a compact housing adapted to receive and support a medication cannister including a valve assembly actuatable to deliver a dosage of the medication in aerosol form. The housing includes a plunger mounted at a first end thereof for displacing the cannister against a spray nozzle located at a second end of the housing to actuate the valve assembly and deliver the medication through a mouthpiece to the patient. The plunger is associated with a seal arrangement for venting the housing when the plunger is depressed to allow the patient to draw in air in timed relation to the medication delivery, and to substantially re-seal the housing against ingress of contaminants when the plunger is released.

This invention relates generally to respiratory inhalers of the type used to deliver a selected medication in aerosol form to a patient, wherein the medication is drawn by inhalation directly into the lungs of the patient. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved inhaler of relatively compact and simplified construction, wherein the inhaler is vented for breath coordinated inhalation of air and medication in a regulated timed manner, but further wherein entry of contaminants into the inhaler between uses is substantially prevented.
Respiratory inhaler devices are generally known in the art for administering a selected medication typically in aerosol form directly into the lungs of a patient to treat a wide variety of medical conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, and the like, and also for treating other nonrespiratory conditions wherein the lungs represent the site-of-delivery for a selected medication. In one common form, the inhaler comprises a compact hand-held housing for receiving and supporting a cannister containing the selected medication in liquid form under pressure. The cannister is equipped with a reciprocal valve assembly adapted for depression to deliver a single metered dose of the medication through a spray nozzle which propels the medication in aerosol form through a mouthpiece for direct inhalation by the patient. In use, the patient places the mouthpiece in his or her mouth and attempts to inhale in timed relation to manipulation of the cannister and housing to depress the valve assembly, in an effort to draw a substantial portion of the medication deeply into the lungs.
To enhance the delivery of the medication to the patient's lungs, breath coordinated inhalers have been developed wherein air is drawn by the patient through the inhaler housing in synchronized relation to the delivery of the medication. That is, by allowing air to flow through the housing and to be inhaled as the medication is sprayed, the medication can be entrained within a substantial volume of air for better ingestion into the lungs and resultant better administration of the medication. However, the provision of an air pathway through the inhaler housing also provides an open housing construction that is highly susceptible to entry of dirt and other contaminants between uses to administer the medication. In this regard, between uses, the inhaler is often carried about by the patient in a pocket or purse where at undesired entry of contaminants into the inhaler housing is likely to occur.
Attempts to reconfigure the inhaler housing to accommodate breath coordinated inhalation yet reduce or eliminate undesired entry of contaminants between uses has met with limited success. Vented inhaler housings designed to restrict ingress of contaminants between uses have been relatively complex and thus relatively costly in construction, and further have typically resulted in a substantial increase in the overall size and shape of the inhaler housing. Moreover, absent a substantial increase in the size and shape of the inhaler housing, such vented housings have not provided a simple and reliable way to provide a uniform stroke length for the cannister valve assembly to correspondingly provide uniform doses of the medication, notwithstanding cannister dimension and tolerance variations which occur during normal manufacture.
There exists, therefore, a continuing need for further improvements in breath coordinated inhalers, particularly with respect to providing a relatively simple and compact and cost effective inhaler housing construction that is substantially closed to entry of contaminants between uses, and further wherein the compact inhaler housing is designed to accommodate dimensional variations in the medication-containing cannister. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.


One or more operating conditions of an LED device is sensed, and the sensed condition is communicated to an LED driver by modulating a load thereof.

LEDs represent an attractive alternative to incandescent light bulbs in illumination devices due to their smaller form factor, lower energy consumption, longer operational lifetime, and enhanced mechanical robustness. To provide the aforementioned advantages, LEDs must be controlled and driven properly. In particular, in contrast to incandescent bulbs, the operating conditions (e.g., temperature) to which an LED is subjected used greatly affect the performance (e.g., luminous intensity) thereof. The operating conditions are controlled by an LED driver, typically by regulating the current flowing through the LEDs; the LED driver, however, is typically designed as general-purpose circuitry for use with a wide variety of LEDs. Accordingly, LEDs having different load characteristics may experience substantially varying operating conditions and performance despite using the same driver. In addition, because the input load characteristics of an LED do not remain constant over the LED's lifetime, but instead change with age and environmental conditions, the compatibility between an LED and its driver may erode over time, thereby causing unstable LED performance.
Conventionally, the load characteristics or operating conditions of LEDs are monitored by external circuitry that communicates the monitored information over an external data path to the LED driver. Upon detecting changes in the load characteristics or operating conditions of LEDs, for example, the external circuitry transmits a feedback signal to the LED driver to change the output load impedance or signal frequency to compensate for the changes. The external circuitry may involve, for example, a temperature-sensitive element (e.g., thermistor, thermocouple, etc.) positioned near the LEDs and a discrete data channel to communicate the sensed temperature. Such complex and specialized circuit designs can be expensive and inconveniently implemented, especially when the sensing system is far from the driver. Additionally, various schemes for communicating the LED performance information may interrupt normal operation of the LEDs.
Consequently, there is a need for circuitry that can reliably monitor the operating conditions of the LEDs without interrupting normal operation, vary the output of the LED driver to optimize the performance of the LEDs, and is conveniently deployed in a luminaire or other LED-based device.

Systems and methods for data communication from an LED device to the driver system