A display device includes a deformable mirror device wherein grey scales are displayed using a time division modulation process in which the times or sub-frame periods for which each mirror within the deformable mirror array is switched on. The device includes a selection means for ordering selected sub-frame periods or divided sub-frame periods such that the light directed from each mirror is substantially temporally balanced during each frame period of the display device and/or between consecutive frame periods.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to display devices. In particular the invention relates to display devices including an array of switchable elements, each switchable element being switchable between at least two states, the form of the image displayed by the display device being dependent on which state each switchable element is in.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such switchable elements may take the form of light modulators which control the passage of light from a light source to the displayed image. Examples of light modulators include deflectable mirror devices as for example described in "Deformable Mirror Spatial Light Modulators" by Hornbeck, published in the Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 1150, August 1989. Such deflectable or "deformable" mirror display devices include an array of deflectable mirror devices, each mirror device being mounted on a torsion element over a control electrode. Applying an electric field between each mirror device and the electrode causes the mirror device to pivot, thus changing the direction of light reflected from the mirror device.
Another example of a light modulator is a liquid crystal device.
Alternatively, the array of switchable elements may take the form of an array of light sources which themselves can be switched either on or off, for example, an array of light emitting diodes.
Generally such display devices are digital devices, that is each switchable element of the device is effective to switch the light passing from the element to the displayed image either "on" or "off" so as to produce either "white" or "black" pixels on the displayed image. It is, however., possible to display grey scale images by controlling the time for which each switchable element of the device is in a state such that light from the element arrives at the displayed image, and using the integrating response of the human eye of an observer who will perceive a grey scale image from the element.
An example of such an arrangement is described in GB 2014822 which discloses a display device incorporating an X-Y array of energizable light emitting devices. The display device described in GB 2014822 takes data in binary digital forms, for example via an 8 bit signal, the device being driven a line at a time in a number of periods during which the modulators may be "on" or "off". The "on"/"off" state of each pixel during each time period is determined by the state of the corresponding bit of the digital input data.
Display devices incorporating light modulators in the form of deformable mirror devices operate in an analogous manner. In deformable mirror devices, however, the entire pixel array is driven simultaneously in sympathy with the video source vertical scan rate.
The eight time periods within each display frame period are of different lengths. The length of the time period corresponding to the least significant bit (LSB) in the input signal for any particular frame is set at a predetermined value, the duration of the time period corresponding to the next to the least significant bit being twice as long as that corresponding to the least significant bit, and so on. Thus, the length of the time period corresponding to the most significant bit (MSB) for such an eight bit input signal is 128 times that corresponding to the least significant bit (LSB). Provided that all the time periods are included within a display frame period of less than around 20 msecs duration, the human eye will integrate the periods and respond as if to a single period having a level of brightness corresponding to the binary signal value. At the end of each sub-frame period corresponding to a single bit of the input signal, a resetting signal is supplied to all the elements of the array in order to switch the elements into a rest position in some systems, or into the state determined by the next bit signal.
Such display systems, using time division multiplex addressing of the switching elements at least partially to display grey scales, are used in large screen projectors. It is found however that where such large screen projectors are used to display motion video signals, there are formed bands of twinkling pixels at certain mid-grey brightness levels. Furthermore, for the same mid-grey brightness levels, the displayed image can break up into "chunky" pixels if a viewer blinks his eyes, moves his head, or waves his fingers in front of his eyes or in front of the projection lens. These effects are sometimes known as "dynamic contouring".

Display device using time division modulation to display grey scale


A fryer includes: a housing; an oil vat; a combusting and heating unit; an operational panel provided at a front face of the housing; and an exhaust pipe provided at a rear of the oil vat. A cooling path is defined at a rear of the operational panel in the housing. An external pipe is provided at a rear of the housing to surround the exhaust pipe and has an exhaust port of which the sectional opening area is narrowed at an upper end of the exhaust pipe. An air passage is defined by the housing and through which the cooling path and the external pipe are connected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fryer which heats oil stored in an oil vat with a combusting and heating unit such as a pulse burner, and puts foods into the oil vat thereby to cook the foods by heating.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fryer is describe in JP-A-2002-223953 and JP-A-2002-85268. Such a fryer includes an oil vat for storing cooking oil therein and a combusting and heating unit such as a pulse burner for heating the oil in this oil vat, which are provided at the upper portion in a housing. The oil in the oil vat is heated by the combusting and heating unit at a predetermined temperature before foods is put into the oil vat, whereby the foods can be cooked by heating. The fryer further includes a cooking controller (operational panel) provided at the front upper portion of the housing including operation buttons and a display portion for setting a cooking mode, a temperature keeping mode and a cooking temperature.
In such the fryer, as the temperature of the oil vat increases by heat-cooking, the temperature of the operational panel near the oil vat also increases and becomes easily high. Accordingly, when an operator operates the operational panel, the increase in temperature of the operational panel gives him discomfort, and may cause poor operation of the operational panel. Therefore, JP-A-2002-223953 describes providing a dedicated fan for cooling the operational panel, or locating the operational panel apart from the oil vat. However, the provision of the fan causes unnecessary increase of cost, and the installation of the operational panel apart from the oil vat causes inconvenience because the operational position becomes far from a cooker.


A method for halting malware includes: monitoring plural file system events with a system driver to detect an occurrence of a file system event having a predetermined file type and log event type; triggering a listening engine for file system event stream data of a file associated with the detection of the file system event, the file system event stream data indicating data manipulation associated with the file due to execution of a process; obtaining one or more feature values for each of plural different feature combinations of plural features of the file based on the file system event stream data; inputting one or more feature values into a data analytics model to predict a target label value based on the one or more feature values of the plural different feature combinations and agnostic to the process; and performing a predetermined operation based on the target label value.

Malware is any software used to disrupt normal operation of a programmable device, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private systems or networks. Ransomware is malware that employs asymmetric encryption to hold a victim's information at ransom. Asymmetric (public-private) encryption is cryptography that uses a pair of keys to encrypt and decrypt a file. The public-private pair of keys is uniquely generated by the attacker for the victim, with the private key to decrypt the files stored on the attacker's server. The attacker makes the private key available to the victim only after the ransom is paid, though that is not always the case—as seen in recent ransomware campaigns. Without access to the private key, it is nearly impossible to decrypt the files that are being held for ransom. Majority of the most serious endpoint security incidences or compromises occur due to ransomware attacks. In recent years, the number of ransomware attacks worldwide has increased significantly and continues to increase at an alarming rate. Costs incurred by enterprises worldwide due to crypto-malware and ransomware continue to rise. All market segments have been victimized by ransomware, and cyber thieves have been estimated to gross significant profits.
Currently, identifying ransomware is typically performed as a family classification alone, using if/then or yes/no differentiators, decision trees with no correlation coefficients, or simply detecting an encrypted file. Often, these are too late in the process, and ransom must be paid. A better technique for detecting ransomware prior to a file being malignantly (permanently) changed (e.g., unauthorized encryption) with a high degree of accuracy would be desirable.

Model development and application to identify and halt malware


A motorized conveyor has a plurality of rollers spaced longitudinally, the rollers being driven in rotation to move the flow of harvest on the rollers in a longitudinal direction between upstream and downstream transverse axes, each roller having a surface of revolution comprising grooves that extend transversely and continuously over its entire length, so as to enable transverse routing of the flow of harvest while it is being conveyed.

Such fruit is conventionally harvested by a shaker system that straddles a row of plants to detach the harvest. The flow of harvest obtained is then conveyed in the machine to be stored in at least one hopper provided for this purpose or in an ancillary trailer.
However, by virtue of the action of shaker system, the flow of harvest comprises, in addition to the detached fruit, notably juice, leaves, stalks, particles of wood, bunches of fruit of varied sizes.
To eliminate components other than fruit, in particular leaves and pieces of wood, harvesting machines comprise a cleaning system that is provided to eliminate said components from the flow by suction before storage.
Harvesting machines may also carry a sorting device that notably enables separation of the harvested flow as a function of the size of the components of said flow. Thus by providing for such sorting prior to cleaning, it is possible to expose to suction only the portion comprising components of large size, in particular to prevent the elimination by suction of detached fruit.
To this end, the sorting device may comprise a motorised conveyor for moving the flow of harvest and a system for separating the components of said flow of harvest that is fed by said conveyor.
In particular, as the search for quality in the field of vinification requires the maximum elimination of green residue, notably leaf stalks, contained in the flow of harvest, the sorting device may be operable to enable such elimination. The harvesting machine may further comprise a destemming device enabling separation of the fruit attached to the bunch stalks in the flow of harvest.
For optimum sorting of the flow of harvest, the separation system of the sorting device must be fed as homogeneously as possible by the conveyor and with the best distribution. However, prior art conveyors are unable to provide such a feed in a satisfactory manner.

Motorized conveyor for moving a flow of harvest from a fruit harvesting machine


A vibratory gyro including a tuning-fork vibrator having a piezoelectric member and a supporting member supporting the tuning-fork vibrator. The tuning-fork vibrator has a driving-side vibration mode and a detection-side vibration mode. The tuning-fork vibrator resonates in the driving-side vibration mode, and the tuning-fork vibrator and the supporting member resonate as a whole in the detection-side vibration mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to tuning-fork type vibratory gyros, and more particularly a tuning-fork type vibratory gyro having a piezoelectric substance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A gyroscope has been used to determine the current position of a vehicle such as an airplane, ship or a satellite. Recently, a gyroscope has been applied to devices for personal use, such as car navigation and vibration detection in video cameras and still cameras.
A conventional coma gyro detects an angular velocity by utilizing a principle such that a coma (disk) which is rotating continues to rotate without any change of the attitude thereof while keeping the rotation axis even when a device equipped with the coma gyro is tilted. Recently, an optical type gyro or a piezoelectric type gyro has been developed and has come into practical use. The principles of the piezoelectric type gyro were proposed around 1950. Various piezoelectric type gyros having, for example, a tuning-fork, a cylinder or a semi-spherical member have been proposed. Recently, a vibratory gyro having a piezoelectric member has been in practical use. Such a vibratory gyro has less measurement sensitivity and precision than those of the coma gyro and the optical gyro, but has advantages in terms of size, weight and cost.
A conventional vibratory gyro having a piezoelectric substance utilizes the fact that the Coriolis force takes place in a direction perpendicular to a vibration of an object when an angular velocity is applied to the vibrating object. The principle of such a piezoelectric type vibratory gyro can be analyzed as a dynamic model (see, for example, ELASTIC WAVE DEVICE HANDBOOK, Ohmu Sha, pp. 491-497). Various types of piezoelectric type vibratory gyros have been proposed. For example, the above handbook shows a Sperry tuning-fork gyro, a Watson turning-fork gyro, a vibrating reed gyro and a cylinder type vibratory gyro.
Yet another type of a piezoelectric type gyro using a vibrating reed (flexural mode vibrator) made of a single crystal of LiTaO.sub.3 has been proposed (see, for example, Konno et al., "EXPERIMENTS ON ANGULAR RATE SENSOR USING LiTaO.sub.3 FLEXURAL MODE VIBRATOR", 1986 Autumn National Convention Record, The institute of Electronics and Communication engineers of Japan, P1-79). Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-294311 discloses a tuning-fork type gyro using piezoelectric ceramics. The gyro proposed in the above application uses a vibrator having two arms respectively having different polarizations so as to function as a driving arm and a detection arm, respectively.
The above piezoelectric type gyro having the LiTaO.sub.3 single crystal has a little loss and good temperature performance. However, this gyro has a symmetrical structure and has almost the same mechanical Q values of the two orthogonal modes. The response performance as a sensor depends on the mechanical Q value of a piezoelectric element. Hence, it is not desirable that the piezoelectric element be driven with a high Q value. If the piezoelectric element is driven with a high Q value, the response performance will be degraded, while a vibration due to the Coriolis force to be detected has a high Q value. For example, it is required that a piezoelectric gyro applied to a vibration in hand-carried devices respond to frequencies of tens of heltz. For this requirement, there is an upper limit of the mechanical Q. Further, as a problem encountered when mounting the gyro to a supporting element, it is very difficult to hold the steady point (which corresponds to a node of vibration) of the piezoelectric element with a high precision.
The above-mentioned tuning-fork gyro having piezoelectric ceramic needs a polarizing process having a number of steps for producing the different polarizations, and is therefore expensive. The above-mentioned Laid-Open Japanese application does not provide any useful considerations regarding the gyro mounting method, frequency adjusting and setting of the mechanical Q values of the driving-side and detection-side vibrations.

Tuning-fork vibratory gyro and sensor system using the same


A method of manufacturing a cathode plate (1) that is used in the electrolytic cleaning and recovery of metals, the cathode plate being at least partly manufactured of stainless steel and the surface of the cathode plate being treated in at least one stage, whereby the cathode plate is formed by cutting it from a solid plate-like material (2), whereby, essentially before cutting (4) the cathode plate to shape, at least part of the surface constituting the cathode plate is subjected to a mechanical treatment (3) to improve the adhesion properties of the surface. The invention also relates to the cathode plate.

In the electrolytic cleaning and recovery of metals, the surface quality of the cathode plate is important. By affecting the adhesion properties of the surface, a cathode plate of a better quality is obtained. In the electrolytic cleaning of copper, the copper that is dissolved in the electrolyte from copper anodes precipitates as pure copper, by means of an electric current, on the surface of the cathode plate, from where it is typically removed mechanically in the form of a copper plate. In the recovery of copper, copper precipitates on the cathodes directly from the electrolytic solution. The cathodes are generally called permanent cathodes, because they can be re-used subsequently. It is well-known to use stainless steal as the material of the cathode plate. Generally, acid-proof steel 316 L is used, having a surface quality of 2B, whereby the Ra value describing the roughness of the surface is within a range of 0.3-0.6 μm. Typically, the surface mentioned above is obtained, when the steel plate working as the cathode is cold-rolled, annealed, etched in an acid bath, and subjected to dressing. In etching and dressing, the grain boundaries of the steel open, whereby microscopic grooves and canyons are formed on the surface of the steel plate, and the electrolytically coated metal is able to grow in and attach to these grooves and canyons. In use, however, the surface of the steel plate undergoes wear, contamination and changes, whereby the surface must be treated by brushing and grinding. In terms of process technology, manufacturing the surface of the cathode plate by etching and dressing is quite challenging, and an unacceptably short etching time can easily destroy the quality of the surface so as to become unsuitable for the electrolytic coating.
Publication FI 68430 B, for example, discloses the use of stainless steel as material for cathodes. Regarding the material, the publication describes in detail the AISI 316L steel, which has a surface treatment known as Standard 2B. The publication mentioned above states that the material in question is advantageous, as a sufficient fixing adhesion is provided between the steel plate and the copper so that the copper does not detach of its own accord before the actual releasing phase. The use of stainless steel as the material for cathodes is also disclosed in publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,621 B. Publication US 2006/0201586 A1 discloses a permanent cathode that is used in the electrolytic refining of metals, consisting of duplex steel containing a small content of nickel, or of steel grade "304". The publication goes on to describe that the surface of the cathode plate is treated to improve its adhesion properties. The publication presents a surface treatment for improving the adhesion properties of the cathode surface, such as a mechanical treatment, e.g. grinding, to change the hardness of the surface, and etching. Furthermore, the publication suggests that the cathode surface be slotted to improve the above-mentioned properties.

Method of manufacturing a cathode plate, and a cathode plate


A turbocharger includes an open-and-close mechanism which opens and closes a circulation hole through which an exhaust gas flows into a turbine housing or the exhaust gas flows out of the turbine housing. The open-and-close mechanism includes: a valve; and an attachment plate one end of which is fixed to the valve, and the other end of which is provided with an insertion hole through which a stem turnably supported by the turbine housing is inserted, and an exposure hole which communicates with the insertion hole to expose part of an outer peripheral surface of the stem. The diameter of the insertion hole is gradually smaller in a direction of insertion of the stem. The stem includes a tapered portion whose diameter is gradually smaller toward its tip end in the direction of insertion into the insertion hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turbocharger including a valve configured to open and close a circulation hole for an exhaust gas to or from a turbine housing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Turbochargers have been conventionally known in which a turbine shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing housing with a turbine impeller provided to one end of the turbine shaft, and with a compressor impeller provided to the other end of the turbine shaft. This turbocharger is connected to an engine. The turbine impeller is rotated by an exhaust gas discharged from the engine. The rotation of the turbine impeller is transmitted to the compressor impeller via the turbine shaft, and the compressor impeller is thus rotated. Thereby, the turbocharger compresses air with the rotation of the compressor impeller, and supercharges the engine with the compressed air.
A turbocharger described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-044219 (Patent Document 1) includes a wastegate valve. The wastegate valve allows part of an exhaust gas guided into a turbine housing to reach a downstream side of the turbine impeller by bypassing a turbine scroll passage which communicates with the turbine impeller. The wastegate valve is formed from: a stem pivotally supported by a bearing placed in the turbine housing; an attachment plate having an insertion hole into which the stem is to be inserted; and a valve body attached to the attachment plate.
Along with a turn of the stem, the wastegate valve is closed with a contact surface of a valve body coming into contact with a seat surface which is provided with the circulation hole of the bypass passage in the turbine housing. For this reason, if the contact surface of the valve body comes into contact with the seat surface in an inclined manner due to dimensional errors and the like, the valve cannot be closed completely. With this taken into consideration, the wastegate valve is designed to absorb the influence of the errors by providing a clearance between the valve and the attachment plate to provide the valve with a movable range in an inclination angle with respect to the attachment plate. To put it concretely, a projecting portion jutting out from an opposite side of the valve body from the contact surface is inserted through a through-hole provided in the attachment plate, and a part of the projecting portion which sticks out from the insertion hole is fixed by a nut with a clearance left between the valve body and the attachment plate. In this case, the inclination is made variable so that the contact surface of the valve body is located parallel to the seat surface even if the contact surface of the valve body comes into contact with the seat surface in an inclined manner.


Apparatus for loading and unloading objects including a base (10, 30); a gantry (20, 40) mounted on the base (10,30) and projecting upwardly therefrom; a first carriage (12,32) mounted on the base (10,30); a drive mechanism for moving the first carriage (12,32) back and forth in a straight line on the base (10,30) between a first position and a second position: a second carriage (16,36) mounted on the gantry (20,40); a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage (16,36) back and forth between a first position that is at least substantially identical to the second position of the first carriage (12,32) and a second position that is at least substantially vertically spaced from the first position of the first carriage (12,32); and a mechanism for interrelating the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism such that, when the first carriage (12,32) is in its first position, the second carriage (16,36) is in its first position; as the first carriage (12,32) moves from its first position to its second position, the second carriage (16,36) moves from its first position to its second position; when the first carriage (12,32) is in its second position, the second carriage (16,36) is in its second position; and, as the first carriage (12,32) moves from its second position to its first position, the second carriage (16,36) moves from its second position to its first position.

Palletized loads are often loaded and unloaded using a plurality of carriages that alternate between two positions on a continuous looped track, which may be either on a horizontal plane (like a race track) or in a vertical plane (like a ferris wheel). While both these layouts are relatively simple mechanically, they consume relatively large amount of floor space. Accordingly, a need has been apparent for apparatus for alternating a plurality of carriages between two positions that would consume less floor space, even at the cost of some increase in the complexity of the mechanisms involved.
An important solution to this problem was provided by the apparatus disclosed in my previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,382, issued Jun. 4, 1991. Since that invention is related to the present invention, the disclosure of that patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The invention disclosed in my previous patent interchanges the positions of two carriages. That is, if two carriages A and B start off in the positions X and Y, respectively, after one sequence of operations the carriage A has moved to the position Y and the carriage B has moved to the position X. Then, after another sequence of operations, the carriage A returns to the position X, and the carriage B returns the position Y. If the position X is, for instance, an off loading position, and the position Y is an on loading position, that is entirely satisfactory in many (probably most) situations.
However, it is sometimes desired to have both of the carriages alternately occupy a single position during a first stage of operations, but each carriage occupy a different, vertically spaced position at a second stage of operations. That is, if the two carriages A and B start off in the positions X and Y, respectively, after one sequence of operations the carriage A has moved to the position Y, and the carriage B has moved to the position X.sup.1, which is vertically spaced relative to the position X. Then, after another sequence of operations, the carriage A returns the position X, and the carriage B returns to the position Y. The positions X and X.sup.1 can be either off loading positions or on loading positions, depending on the desired use of the apparatus.


A cooling and/or heating device (10, 60) for use in the cooling and/or heating of one or more units (8a to 8c) includes a conduit network containing flow and return conduits (14, 16; 68, 70), with several circuits (12a to 12c; 32 to 38, 74 to 78) connected to the flow and return conduits (14, 16; 68, 70). Valves (28, 88, 96) are located in each circuit and used to regulate or control the volumetric flow through the circuits (12a to 12c; 32 to 38; 74 to 78). A heat transfer medium or coolant circulates through the conduit network, with at least one consuming device disposed in each circuit. Sensors (38) are provided in each circuit (12a-12c; 32-38; 74-78), the sensors (38) sending signals to a control unit and forming part of a control circuit. The control unit adjusts the valves (28, 88, 96) of each circuit as a function of the signals transmitted from the sensors (38) so as to hydraulically balance the individual circuits.

The invention pertains to a cooling and/or heating device of the type described in the preamble of claim 1.
Such a cooling and/or heating device is known, for example, from EP 1 207 355 A2 and features a conduit network for at least one building with a main supply line. The main supply line is provided with a main flow conduit and a main return conduit. A fluid serves as the heat transfer medium or coolant in the conduit network. A heating circuit, a domestic water circuit and a ventilating circuit are connected to a distribution unit and feature heating/cooling sections with at least one valve each and at least one consuming device, e.g., a radiator/heat sink, a heat exchanger or the like. The distribution unit with the circuits connected thereto forms a supply unit. A valve arranged upstream or downstream of the supply unit is controlled as a function of the differential pressure between the supply conduit and return conduit. This differential pressure valve stabilizes the differential pressure between the supply conduit and return conduit of the supply unit such that the pressure in the supply unit can be maintained nearly constant and the supply units are uniformly supplied.
The individual circuits in the supply unit form so-called hydraulic circuits that can be either identical or configured differently.
EP 1 116 921 A2 also discloses a room air-conditioning system for buildings that comprises a device for heating and/or cooling a heat transfer medium and/or a coolant, several heat exchangers that release the heat of the medium into the surroundings and/or absorb the heat of the surroundings into the coolant, pipelines connecting the heat exchangers and the heating/cooling device to one another in order to transport the medium, and valves that are assigned to the heat exchangers and serve for adjusting the volumetric flow of the medium through the heat exchangers. A device for adjusting the medium pressure is also provided in order to vary the pressure of the medium. In addition, pressure sensors are assigned to the valves and actuators are provided for adjusting the valves. The device for adjusting the medium pressure makes it possible to obtain a central setpoint setting, for example, in order to centrally control a nighttime setback. Signals that switch the valves between nighttime setback and daytime settings are transmitted to pressure sensors in the form of predetermined pressure fluctuations. For this purpose, each pressure sensor features a sensor element that is moved as a function of the pressure of the medium, wherein said sensor element is mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically coupled to the actuator of the valve and acts thereupon to adjust the valves. The valves are in this case provided in the form of thermostatic valves. This is intended to make it possible to switch the valve, for example, between nighttime setback and daytime settings independently of signal lines by means of the medium, such that the temperature setpoint is centrally adjusted.
Furthermore, DE 100 57 416 A1 discloses a central heating system for rooms to be heated in one or more buildings, wherein this system comprises a conduit network featuring flow and return conduits. Several heating sections are connected by means of supply and return conduits and are respectively provided with a valve for regulating/controlling the room temperature and at least one consuming device in the form of a radiator. In this case, each heating section features a flow restrictor that is arranged in the supply or return conduit of the heating section. This is intended to ensure a constant pressure level at the valves of each heating section.
The adjustment of a constant pressure level at the valves is referred to as hydraulic balancing. Hydraulic balancing makes it possible to ensure a sufficient water distribution in the conduit network under varying operating conditions without exceeding permissible noise levels. The utilization of section control valves, flow regulators, differential pressure regulators and a controlled circulating pump makes it possible to ensure an economical water distribution in the system by means of hydraulic balancing in accordance with the publication "IKZ-Haustechnik", Vol. 13, p. 48 ff., 1999. Due to these measures, the required energy is made available to all consuming devices, namely radiators, heat exchangers and the like, at all times in the form of a uniform volumetric flow at the same setting, for example, of the thermostatic valves. If no hydraulic balancing takes place, the following problems arise in addition to increased energy consumption: the rooms do not reach the desired temperature, system components are heated only with a certain time delay, the room temperature also fluctuates in the part load mode, and noise develops at the valves.
A radiator/heat sink can only perform its function if it receives the optimal volumetric flow of the heat transfer medium or coolant. An excessively low volumetric flow results in a reduced heating/cooling capacity. However, excessive quantities of fluid delivered to a radiator/heat sink do not result in a proportional increase of the heating capacity, but rather only in slightly higher heat emission.
It is known to pre-adjust valves, i.e., to define the through-opening of the valves in order to provide hydraulic balancing. In this case, the valves act as throttles such that the pressure level upstream of all valves is also identical in the full load mode when all the valves of all heating/cooling sections are completely open.
However, known solutions for realizing hydraulic balancing are costly because they require additional construction measures. Furthermore, the volumetric flow is also limited by the valves, section gates or flow restrictors in the part load mode, for example, when no hydraulic balancing is required.


A portable bucket for carrying baseball equipment (such as bases, gloves, balls) that is attached to a pitching target. The bucket, a bottom mounting bracket, a top mounting bracket and an extendable frame provide support for the pitching target. The pitching target can be folded and snapped to the lower mounting bracket when the invention is being carried. The target is positioned for play by fully extending the frame, unsnapping the pitching target from the lower mounting bracket, rotating it, unfolding it, and then fastening it to the extendable frame. Also attached to the bucket could be tubes for carrying baseball bats or holding a tee for tee-ball, or wheels to assist in transport.

This invention is apparatus for playing a form of baseball. More particularly, it refers to a readily portable bucket for holding baseball equipment attached to a foldable pitching target best suited for use with a light-weight ball, rather than a regulation baseball.
A number of types of devices have been developed to act as a target for thrown balls to improve a pitcher's skills for pitching or batting practice. Some of these use netting with a tubular supports such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,115 to McLain, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,841 to Daskoski, or netting in a collapsible assembly for compact transport such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,905 to Bidelman. Other target may be resilient when struck with a balls such as the pitching target with an adjustable target taught by Mahien in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,188, or may consist of an array panels wherein an electric circuit is completed when a panel is struck.

Baseball equipment bucket and pitching target


An image sending system including a server and a plurality of image sending apparatuses. The server (i) receives sending method specification information specified by a receiver and indicating a sending method for image data addressed to the receiver, (ii) records the sending method specification information and an identifier of the receiver in association with each other, (iii) and receives updated sending method specification information and rewrites the recorded sending method specification information with the updated sending method specification information. Each image sending apparatus (i) receives a selection of an identifier of a receiver of image data to be sent, (ii) obtains from the server the recorded sending method specification information and identification of the receiver, and (iii) when the identifier of receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of receiver, sends the image data 505 by the sending method indicated by the obtained sending method specification information.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sending apparatus for sending a scanned and input image or the like to another apparatus connected via a network, in particular to a technology for optimizing a method of such sending.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, image sending apparatuses have been in widespread use that send image data input thereto to a destination via a network by a sending method preferred by the user (e-mail, fax, FTP, internet fax or the like).
In addition, along with the improvement of a network environment, various networks have been available as methods of sending image data.
Under such circumstances, in the case where a sender sends the above image data to the destination, he/she selects an appropriate one from available multiple sending methods.
As technologies of selecting a sending method on such an image sending apparatus, a technology (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-12414) is disclosed which lets the sender to choose an appropriate sending method from a list of sending methods for a destination that have in advance been registered to the image sending apparatus.
Herewith, using the image sending apparatus, the sender can readily and quickly select a sending method to send image data to the destination.
However, this conventional technology involves an issue in which, since the sending method is selected by the sender, the image data may be sent by a method that does not suit the receiver's needs.
The problem could be that, for example, the image data sent by a sending method that has been registered in the image sending apparatus cannot be received because the receiver has been reassigned to another department or to another office and then his/her receiving equipment has been changed. Another problem would be that the receiver is temporarily visiting a different office on business and therefore cannot receive, at the visiting office, image data sent by a registered sending method.

Image sending apparatus, image sending system and image sending method

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An axially displaceable gun stock recoil system (10) centered around an elongated axial shaft member (20) mounted for reciprocation relative to a butt plate member (30) having a threaded distal end (23) disposed within an elongated recess (101) in the butt of a gun stock (100) wherein, a pair of spring biasing elements (40) (50) of the butt plate member (30) and the main spring biasing element (40) is operatively disposed between the butt plate member (30) and a bearing plate member (60) that is received within a recoil pad (200).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of gun stock recoil systems in general, and in particular to an axially displaced gun stock recoil system that prevents binding engagement between the recoil pad and the butt of a gun stock.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,795,998; 6,481,143; 5,375,360; and, 3,707,797, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse gun stock recoil arrangements.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical gun stock recoil system that is axially displaceable along a single shaft that is mounted for reciprocation relative to the butt of a gun stock.
Virtually all of the aforementioned prior art gun stock recoil systems employ a plurality of laterally spaced spring biasing elements most of which are associated with shaft members that extend rearwardly from the butt portion of a gun stock and are operatively associated with a recoil pad or the like in a telescoping or quasi-telescoping relationship.
Unfortunately, the large number of operating components and the telescoping relationship of the recoil pad and gun stock represent a number of potential drawbacks, such as the cost of manufacture and likelihood of repair, as well as, the possibility that the telescoping components can become fouled with dirt and/or debris limiting, if not rendering useless, the desired operation of the recoil system.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need among gun owners for a new and improved axially displaced gun stock recoil system that is relatively inexpensive and easy to install and repair due to its single axis design which physically spaces the recoil pad from the gun stock butt, and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.

Axially displaced gun stock recoil system


A feedback noise-shaper of an order of at least three implements a first pole set defining a signal transfer function of a selected corner frequency and a second pole set having at least one pole at a frequency at least twice the selected corner frequency defining a noise transfer function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to delta sigma modulators and in particular to delta sigma modulators with integral low-pass filtering.
2. Description of the Related Art
Delta-sigma modulators are particularly useful in digital to analog and analog to digital converters (DACs and ADCs). Using oversampling, the delta-sigma modulator spreads the quantization noise power across the oversampling frequency band, which is typically much greater than the input signal bandwidth. Additionally, the delta sigma modulator performs noise shaping by acting as a lowpass filter to the input signal and a highpass filter to the noise; most of the quantization noise power is thereby shifted out of the signal band.
The typical delta sigma modulator-based DAC includes a summer summing the input signal with negative feedback, a linear filter, a quantizer which driving the feedback loop, and a DAC generating the analog signal from the quantizer output. In a first order modulator, the linear filter comprises a single integrator stage while the linear filter in a higher order modulator comprises a cascade of a corresponding number of integrator stages. The quantizer can be either a one-bit or a multiple-bit quantizer. Higher-order modulators have improved quantization noise transfer characteristics over those of lower order modulators, although stability becomes a critical factor as the order increases.
Some applications, such as Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) one-bit audio, are subject to significant out-of-band noise and therefore require either an external analog filter at the modulator output or an internal digital decimation filter. The analog filtering approach is expensive to implement with high accuracy and adds complexity to the overall design. Among other things, expensive precision components are required to obtain the Q factor defining the required flatness of the filter response in the proximity of the corner frequency. Digital filtering eliminates the problems of designing and building analog filters, but at the expense of significantly increased computational intensity.
Hence, some other technique is required if cost and simplicity are target design goals for delta sigma modulator data converters for use in applications with significant out-of-band noise.

Delta-sigma modulators with integral digital low-pass filtering


A chip scale marker including a laser system, a wafer holder supporting a wafer to be processed, and a camera moving above the wafer holder by being connected to an X-Y stage and monitoring the wafer supported on a center hole of the wafer holder, the chip scale marker includes a unit detachably arranged on a laser beam path from the laser system and reducing power density of a laser beam, and a screen arranged on a center hole of the wafer holder and indicating a position where a laser beam from the laser system is irradiated.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-83202 filed Dec. 24, 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of calibrating the marking position of a chip scale marker, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method of calibrating the marking position of a chip scale marker which marks a character on a wafer chip using a laser beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Several thousands or tens of thousands of chips are formed on a wafer used in a semiconductor process. To classify the chips according to production lots, characters and/or numbers are marked on a surface of each chip. A chip scale marker using a laser beam is used as an equipment for marking.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a constitution of a typical chip scale marker. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a constitution of the laser system of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wafer w is placed on a wafer holder 20 and a laser system 30 is arranged under the wafer holder 20. A laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator 31 of the laser system 30 is magnified by a beam expander 32 and input to a Galvano scanner 33. The laser beam input to the Galvano scanner 33 is irradiated onto chips on the wafer w through an f-θ lens 34 so that characters are recorded on a surface of the chips. The above laser system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. H9-248692.
A camera 40 monitoring the wafer w being supported by the wafer holder 20 is arranged above the wafer holder 20. The camera 40 is moved by being connected to an X-Y stage 50.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating that a marking shape is distorted by the Galvano scanner. The Galvano scanner 33 includes an x mirror 33a and a y mirror 33b. The x mirror 33a controls movement of a laser beam in a direction x by an x drive (not shown) rotating a shaft 33c at one end of the x mirror 33a. The y mirror 33b controls movement of a laser beam output from the x mirror 33a in a direction y by a y drive (not shown) rotating a shaft 33d at one end of the y mirror 33b. Thus, an optical path in the direction x is longer than that in the direction y. Accordingly, when a signal to mark a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 4A is transmitted, a distortion like a pin cushion as shown in FIG. 4B is generated. Also, a positional error is generated due to a tiny difference in position between center lines of rotation shafts 33c and 33d of the x and y mirrors 33a and 33b and surfaces of the x and y mirrors 33a and 33b.
In the meantime, as the beam having passed through the Galvano scanner 33 passes through the f-θ lens 34, the beam is curved so that a barrel distortion is generated. To improve the distortion phenomenon of the marking, marking calibration should be periodically performed to control the rotation of the x and y mirrors 33a and 33b of the Galvano scanner 33.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a conventional method of measuring a marking error. According to the conventional method, a laser beam is irradiated onto a plate 70 having a shape and size corresponding to a wafer and a plurality of small holes 70a having a diameter of 0.3 mm formed in the plate 70 at a predetermined interval, and the position of the laser beam passing through each of the holes 70a is observed by the camera 40 and compared with a target position of the laser beam. Next, a degree of an error in the irradiation position of a laser beam is recognized and a path along which the laser beam is irradiated is corrected.
However, in the conventional method, since the laser beam passing through the holes 70a is observed through a glass portion 42 in front of the camera 40, a laser beam inclined with respect to the holes 70a, as indicated by a dotted line of FIG. 5, is refracted by the glass portion 42 of the camera 40. Thus, an accurate position on the plate 70 where the laser beam is irradiated is difficult to recognize and it takes some time for the camera 40 to move above the holes 70a to be measured. Also, the plate 70 may be damaged by power of the laser beam.

Chip scale marker and method of calibrating marking position


A digital camera according to the present invention includes a device to set up a plurality of exposure conditions, a device to obtain a plurality of imaging data imaged in accordance with the plurality of exposure conditions set by the plurality exposure conditions set up device, and a device to compare a sharpness based on the plurality of imaging data obtained by the plurality of imaging data obtaining device, and a shake of the camera or a blur of a subject is determined corresponding to the comparison result of the sharpness comparison device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera corresponding a blur, and more particularly to a digital camera corresponding the blur that is capable of determining an exposure condition in response to respective causes such as a shake of the camera and a blur of a subject without using a sensor for detecting the blur.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been increased in a recent digital camera having a large magnification of a photographic lens. With this large magnification, there have been seen many blurred photographic images by handshake. As means for preventing the blurred photographic image by such handshake, the following various means have been proposed.
As means for detecting a camera shake, there has been proposed means for detecting a blur amount of the camera by installing an angular speed detecting sensor in the camera (see JP0357752, Page 2 in the specification, FIG. 2)
Moreover, there has been proposed means for protecting the blur by changing an exposure condition with speed for depressing a shutter release button (JP03063801, FIG. 1).
Furthermore, there has been proposed means for changing an exposure condition by detecting the motion of the photographed subject from two images obtained by the twice exposure (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open 2001-103366, FIG. 1).
However, the invention disclosed in JP0357752 requires another sensor, so that a cost is increased. The invention disclosed in JP03063801 adopts the means for depressing a shutter release bottom as an alternative characteristic of blur, so that it is hard to say that the blur is precisely detected.
When the shake of camera or a blur of a subject is detected, it is preferable to adjust an exposure condition corresponding to respective causes; however, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent-Laid Open 2001-103366 treats the camera shake and the subject blur as the same blur, and can not distinguish the camera shake and the subject blur.


In accordance with embodiments, there are provided techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system. These techniques for implementing batch processing in a multi-tenant database system may enable embodiments to provide great flexibility to a tenant of the architecture to perform desired functions on content of the database while allowing the owner of the architecture schedule the processing of the functions on the content.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In conventional database systems, users access their data resources in one logical database. A user of such a conventional system typically retrieves data from and stores data on the system using the user's own systems. A user system might remotely access one of a plurality of server systems that might in turn access the database system. Data retrieval from the system might include the issuance of a query from the user system to the database system. The database system might process the request for information received in the query and send to the user system information relevant to the request. The efficient retrieval of accurate information and subsequent delivery of this information to the user system has been and continues to be a goal of administrators of database systems.
Unfortunately, conventional database approaches might become inefficient if, for example, updating applications in the presence of complex data structures. A database system may also process a query relatively slowly if, for example, a relatively large number of users substantially concurrently access the database system. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide techniques enabling an owner of the database system to improve the ease of use of the database system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Techniques for implementing batch processing in a database system


An object is to provide an integrated-inverter electric compressor that can enhance assembly and vibration resistance of power semiconductor switching devices and control substrates thereof constituting the inverter device. The integrated-inverter electric compressor, in which an inverter device is installed in an inverter container provided on an outer circumference of a housing, includes a plurality of IGBTs constituting the inverter device and a guide member having a plurality of guide holes for passing terminals of the IGBTs provided between the control substrate and the IGBTs. The guide member is provided with at least one first positioning pin, fitted in positioning holes provided in a mounting surface of the IGBT, in one side surface facing the IGBT, and at least one second positioning pin, fitted in positioning holes provided in the control substrate, in another side surface facing the control substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated-inverter electric compressor that is particularly suitable for use in an air-conditioning apparatus of a vehicle.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-049868, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, the automobile industry has been rapidly promoting the development and commercialization of electrically driven vehicles, such as hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and fuel-cell-powered vehicles, to improve energy efficiency.
These vehicles employ air-conditioning apparatuses that, unlike conventional air-conditioning apparatuses, are provided with electric compressors driven by electrically powered motors.
These electric compressors are sealed electric compressors having a compressor and an electric motor in a housing and convert DC power from the power supply into three-phase AC power via an inverter device to supply the three-phase AC power to the electric motor so that the rotational speed of the compressor can be variably controlled according to the air-conditioning load.
For such an inverter-driven electric compressor, many integrated-inverter electric compressors that integrate inverter devices with housings thereof have been proposed.
An inverter device that has been proposed as the above-described integrated-inverter electric compressor has a structure in which six power MOS transistor modules (power semiconductor switching devices) constituting upper-arm switching devices and lower-arm switching devices for the three-phase inverter are disposed on a flat base surface of the outer circumferential surface of a motor housing; a printed-circuit board or the like, on which a plate with built-in busbars and an inverter control circuit are mounted, is disposed thereabove; and three terminals bent upward and extending from a side surface of each power MOS transistor module are fitted in connecting holes of the plate with built-in busbars by soldering (for example, see the Publication of Japanese Patent No. 3760887).
However, with the inverter device of the integrated-inverter electric compressor disclosed in the Publication of Japanese Patent No. 3760887, when assembling and mounting the power MOS transistor modules, the terminals bent upward and extending from the side surface thereof are easily misaligned. Because the number of terminals to be mounted is large (a total of 18 terminals are to be mounted, three terminals being mounted on each of the six power MOS transistor modules), assembly is difficult when fitting them in connecting holes provided in a plate with built-in busbar.
In addition, vertical vibrations are transmitted to the inverter device from the vehicle via the housing of the electric compressor. These vibrations are also transmitted to the power MOS transistor modules, and, in particular, when an excessive force due to these vibrations is applied to the terminals in the bending direction, the terminals may break, which is problematic in terms of vibration resistance.


A rapid and linear scanning optical delay line was attained by the use of a helicoid reflecting mirror which was spun by a DC servo motor for bringing about a periodic change in the optical path length of the reflected light beam. The double-pass scanning range of the delay time as large as 80 picosecond was attained by the scanning optical delay line having a helicoid reflecting mirror having 12 mm in pitch distance. The scanning optical delay line was used in an optical second-harmonic generation autocorrelator, which was thus capable of scanning successfully a picosecond optical pulse train. A real-time scanning of the picosecond laser pulse of a mode-locked Titanium:Sapphire was verified.

The fast and large-scale scanning optical delay device was employed in the noncollinear autocorrelator by Wang and Pan in 1995. Chi-Luen Wang and Ci-Ling Pan, Opt. Lett., 20, 1292 (1995)!. Similarly, it was employed in the pump probe experiment by Ganikhanov, et. el. in 1995. Feruz Ganikhanov, Gong-Ru Lin, Wen-Chungg Chen, C-S Chang, and Ci-Ling Pan, 67, 3465 (1995)!. The current application of the scanning optical delay device involves the incorporation of a shaker R. F.
Fork and F. A. Beissoer, Appl. Opt. 3534 (1978)! or a pair of rotatable parallel mirrors Z. A. Yasa and N. M. Amer, Opt. Commun. 36, 406 (1981)! into an autocorrelator for displaying the autocorrelation signals of laser pulses by an oscilloscope. In addition, the optical delay of scanning speed as high as several hundred Hertz can be attained by a combination of optical grating, lens and vibrating mirror. For more details, please refer to Z. A. Yasa and N. M. Amer, Opt. Commun. 36, 406 (1981). Such devices as described above are limited in design in that they are capable of attaining the scanning range of the delay time for only a few picosecond, and that they can not be applied to a pump probe experiment in which the scanning of the wider laser pulse or the longer responsive time is called for. Moreover, the photoelectric measurement of the S parameter of ransistor requires a longer optical delay time so as to attain with precision a low frequency response of the element, as shown by K. F. Kwong, D. Yankelevich, K. C. Chu, J. P. Heritage, and A. Dienes, Opt. Lett. 18, 558 (1993). The combination of a cam and a slide rail is capable of generating a scanning optical delay of 300 picosecond, as shown by D. C. Edelstein, R. B. Romney, and M. Scheuermann, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 579 (1991). By using the combination of rotatable prisms, a fast scanning autocorrelator capable of a scanning range of the delay time as high as one nanosecond is attainable, as shown by G. Xinan, M. Lambsdorff, J. Kuhl, and E. Biachang, Rev. Sci. lnstrum. 59, 2088 (1988).

Scanning optical delay device having a helicoid reflecting mirror


A switching circuit constructed according to the invention includes an input node, an output node, a reference node, a switch, and a feedback control circuit for cycling the switch in a series of cycles of variable switch duty ratio in order to produce a chopped signal at the output node. One form of the feedback control circuit integrates the chopped signal during each cycle in order to produce a feedback signal indicative of the average value of the chopped signal during each cycle. A comparator circuit produces a control signal indicative of an occurrence of a condition in which the level of the feedback signal equals the level of the reference signal, and a switch control circuit varies the switch duty ratio according to the occurrence of that condition in order to maintain the average value of the chopped signal linearly related to the reference signal. Another form of the feedback control circuit produces a feedback signal indicative of the difference between the time-integrated value of the chopped signal and the time-integrated value of a reference signal coupled to the reference node during each cycle. A comparator circuit produces a control signal indicative of an occurrence of a condition in which the difference between the time-integrated value of the chopped signal and the time-integrated value of the reference signal is zero, and a switch control circuit varies the switch duty ratio according to the occurrence of that condition without integrator reset.

1. Technical Field.
This invention relates generally to switching circuitry for power and signal processing applications. More particularly, it concerns a one-cycle controlled switching circuit that renders the average value of the switched signal independent of disturbances. It also concerns a feedback control circuit that overcomes integrator reset problems in a way adaptable to constant frequency, constant ON-time, constant OFF-time, or variable switching circuits.
2. Background Information
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 752,068 filed Aug. 29, 1991 (the parent application) describes a one-cycle controlled switching circuit for power and signal processing applications. It effectively renders the output independent of disturbances such as input perturbations, load changes, and switching non-linearities. It does so by controlling the switch duty ratio for each cycle to significantly enhance switching circuit operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,057 to Contartese et al. also describes a switching circuit that controls the switch duty ratio. During each switch closure, the Contartese circuit multiplies the input voltage by the input current, integrates the product, extracts the square root, and then opens the switch when the square root exceeds a reference voltage. Doing so maintains the energy independent of input disturbances.
However, the Contartese circuit fails to render the chopped output signal independent of input perturbations and load changes because the output signal recovers only after many cycles. Further, the Contartese circuit does not produce a linear relation between the control reference signal and the switch output signal. The one-cycle switching circuit of this invention overcomes those drawbacks by integrating the chopped output signal y(t) during each switching cycle to produce a feedback signal v.sub.int indicative of the average value of the chopped signal during the cycle. Then, a comparator-and-switch-control circuit responds to the feedback signal v.sub.int and a reference signal v.sub.ref by varying the switch duty ratio as necessary to maintain the average value of the chopped signal at the indicated level during each cycle.
As a result, the average value of the chopped signal during any cycle is independent of disturbances. Input pertubations and load changes may affect the instantaneous value of the switch output signal during a cycle, but will not affect the average value because recover from a disturbance is completed in one cycle. Further, one-cycle control produces a linear relation between the control signal and the switch output signal. So, one-cycle feedback control based upon integration of the chopped output signal significantly enhances switching circuit operation.
In addition, the Contartese circuit integrates from the beginning of each cycle until the switching condition exists. It then resets the integrator to zero to await the beginning of the next cycle. In doing so, it does not maintain the energy constant in the discontinous current operation. Furthermore, resetting that way does not work with constant-on-time, constant-off-time, or variable switching circuits.
Recall that a constant-frequency switch is one in which the sum of the time the switch in the ON state and the time the switch is in the OFF state remains constant from one cycle to the next. So, integrating from the beginning of the ON state and resetting before the next cycle would appear to be a logical technique. A constant-on-time switch, however, is one in which the time the switch is in the ON state remains constant from one cycle to the next (i.e., the time it is in the OFF state is varied). A constant-off-time switch is one in which the time the switch is in the OFF state is constant from one cycle to the next (i.e, the time the switch is in the ON state is varied). A variable switch is one in which both the time the switch is in the ON state and the time it is in the OFF state may vary from one cycle to the next. Integrating from the beginning of the ON state and resetting to zero before the next cycle does not cause the average value of the chopped output signal to follow the control reference signal in each cycle for those switches. Thus, the one-cycle control technique described in the parent application needs feedback control circuitry that will work with all types of switches.


A convertible charge-pump circuit includes: a charging circuit having a plurality of charging capacitors and a pumping circuit having an output port coupled to a pumping capacitor. The charging circuit is configured for charging the charging capacitors to store a plurality of potential differences, respectively, when the convertible charge-pump circuit is in a charging phase. The pumping circuit is configured for selecting at least one charging capacitor from the charging capacitors charged in the charging phase to generate an output voltage level at the output port according to a potential difference stored in the selected charging capacitor when the convertible charge-pump circuit is in a pumping phase.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charge-pump circuit, and more particularly, to a charge-pump circuit having a convertible discharging path.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A charge-pump circuit is utilized for generating a required output voltage, and is one of the most important elements in a displaying apparatus. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional charge-pump circuit 100. The charge-pump circuit 100 includes a first input switch SW1, a second input switch SW2, a first output switch SW3, a second output switch SW4, a charging capacitor C1, and a pumping capacitor C2. A node N1 of the first input switch SW1 receives the input voltage Vi, and a node N2 of the second input switch SW2 is coupled to a first ground reference voltage Vg1. The charging capacitor C1 is coupled between nodes N3 and N4, and the pumping capacitor C2 is coupled between nodes N5 and N6, in which the node N5 is utilized for outputting the output voltage Vo and the node N6 is coupled to a second ground reference voltage Vg2. Furthermore, the first output switch SW3 is coupled between the nodes N3 and N5, and the second output switch SW4 is coupled between the nodes N4 and N6.
According to the conventional charge-pump circuit 100, when the first input switch SW1 and the second input switch SW2 are switched on, the electric charge corresponding to the voltage difference between the input voltage Vi and the first ground reference voltage Vg1 is charged to the charging capacitor C1. Meanwhile, the first output switch SW3 and the second output switch SW4 are switched off. Then, the first output switch SW3 and the second output switch SW4 are switched on to pump the electric charge to the pumping capacitor C2. By appropriately setting the second ground reference voltage Vg2, the output voltage Vo that is required in the displaying circuit can be generated.
In general, each charge-pump circuit is only able to generate a specific output voltage. When different output voltages are required in the displaying apparatus, a plurality of charge-pump circuits are needed. The charging capacitor C1 and the pumping capacitor C2 in the charge-pump circuit occupy a large area and significantly increase the cost of the charge-pump circuit. Therefore, lowering the occupied area and cost of each charge-pump circuit is an urgent problem in this field.

Convertible charge-pump circuit for generating output voltage level according to voltage level selected from predetermined voltage and potential difference stored in charging capacitor and method thereof


A system for controlling saturation of a magnetic core of a transformer includes a transformer control circuit, a Hall sensor, and a processor. The transformer control circuit is configured to provide cycles of bidirectional excitation to the transformer at a first frequency and a first duty cycle. The Hall sensor is configured to output a first field value of the magnetic core during a first half-cycle of each of the cycles of bidirectional excitation and a second field value during a second half-cycle of each of the cycles of bidirectional excitation. The processor is configured to increase the first duty cycle to a second duty cycle in response to a magnitude of the first field value exceeding a first threshold magnitude. The processor is further configured to increase the first frequency to a second frequency in response to both the magnitude of the first field value exceeding the first threshold magnitude and the magnitude of the second field value exceeding a second threshold magnitude.

The present invention relates generally to transformers, and in particular to a system and method of controlling saturation of magnetic cores of bi-directionally driven transformers.
Transformers, such as those utilized in DC-DC converters for switching power supplies, often include magnetic cores. These magnetic cores store a magnetic field based upon the field generated by current flowing through the primary winding(s) of the transformer. The generated field is dependent upon the number of turns and the core cross-sectional area of the transformer, as well as the magnitude of current flowing through the transformer. Magnetic saturation may occur within the core when the generated field is no longer capable of further increasing the magnetization of the core. This results in the output voltage of the transformer falling to zero, as well as overheating of the transformer.
In systems such as DC-DC converters, bi-directional current is often provided to excite the transformer. In past systems, saturation of the magnetic core has been detected by sensing the primary current of the transformer and comparing the sensed current with a saturation threshold. However, the use of a current sensor or sense resistor is limited in that it is only capable of detecting a transformer output indicative of saturation based upon a perceived saturation threshold.
Operating regions of magnetic cores, as illustrated in hysteresis charts ("BH loops"), include both linear and non-linear regions. Magnetic cores operate in the linear region up until a "knee-point" of the BH loop for the magnetic core. Following the "knee-point," magnetization of the core changes at a non-linear rate and moves into saturation. Due to temperature effects on permeability, core volume (tolerances of core size), variation in manufacturing and other external tolerances (i.e., tolerances of a current sensor), a saturation threshold has been selected conservatively to ensure it remains within the linear range. Because the output current level of the transformer is not indicative of an operating point of the magnetic core, controls implemented based upon the current sensor may lead to problems such as, for example, direct current offsets within the magnetic core which reduce the operating range of the transformer.

Saturation control of magnetic cores of bidirectional devices


The present invention relates to a device for supporting, stacking and transporting kiln run, in particular, when firing ceramic products, comprising an assembly from supports and support beams, in particular carrier beams, cross beams, large plates or similar, on which, in particular, one or several supports for placing kiln run are provided. The device comprises at least one substantially rectangular sleeve, in particular disposed on a kiln cart. In this sleeve a substantially rectangular support of the support assembly is disposed, wherein the sleeve has at least one adjustment means, which is supported in the sleeve, and which can be pressed against the support, wherein the sleeve additionally comprises at least one pressure means, formed from at least one elastic element, which is preloaded through the impact of the adjustment devices, so that it builds up reversal forces against the support.

In order to be able to manufacture ceramic products, they have to be fired in a kiln. For importing and exporting into and from the oven, these ceramic products are advantageously supported on a device, which can be moved into the oven and removed again. In the state of the art, respective kiln carts are known, having fire resistant superstructures (kiln cart superstructures), comprising support assemblies, in which respective holders or support systems for ceramic products or the kiln run in general are formed from several supports, support carriers, like carrier beams, cross beams, large plates or similar.
According to a known embodiment, the supports are connected to the kiln cart through steel receivers. Such steel receiver comprises pairs of vertical threaded bolts, disposed on all sides, on top of each other, which are vertically and centrally aligned with the support, which is typically provided as a rectangular tube. The support is thus clamped tight on all sides and can be aligned through counteracting adjustment of the respective opposite pairs of threaded bolts.
This conventional system for fixating and adjusting the support of a kiln cart superstructure, however, has various disadvantages. Thus it is very difficult to align the support in particular in vertical direction, since hereby two respective pairs of threaded bolts have to be adjusted in a precisely counteracting manner, and all bolt pairs, thus eight bolts, have to be loosened. Thereby, it is e.g. difficult in particular to align several supports of a kiln cart superstructure with each other. Furthermore, the bolts can become loose already after few kiln cycles, since these kiln cycles cause thermal expansions in the support, in the steel receiver, and in the bolts through heating and cooling, which in turn can loosen the fixation of the support. These expansions can furthermore damage the support, which is typically made from ceramic material, e.g. Al2O3, RSiC, SiSiC, NSiC or Mullite. Furthermore, on the one hand, during the transportation of the kiln cart, on the other hand, through collisions of two kiln carts, shocks can occur at the kiln cart. Such shocks to the kiln cart are transmitted to the superstructure of the kiln cart without attenuation, and thereby to the kiln run, located thereon, in particular, to sensitive ceramic products. Not only the kiln run, but also the entire kiln cart superstructure, made from ceramic material, is sensitive with respect to such shocks, since these ceramic materials are known to be sensitive with respect to tension and/or bending loads.
Thus it is the object of the present invention to provide a device for holding and supporting, or stacking and transporting kiln run, in particular kiln run for firing ceramic products, which avoids the disadvantages of the above described state of the art. In particular, a device shall be provided, which allows a simple alignment of a support. Thereby, the device shall attenuate shocks to the kiln cart, relative to the kiln cart superstructure, and a loosening of the fixation of the support shall also be avoided over several kiln cycles. Furthermore, this device shall be simple to manufacture.

Supporting device for articles to be fired that has an elastic support fixing

Saint-Gobain Industriekeramik Rodental GmbH


Dynamic radiation beam shaping methods and systems, comprising: providing a radiation source for delivering an input radiation beam; disposing a first optical element substantially adjacent to the radiation source; disposing a second optical element substantially adjacent to the first optical element; and moving one or more of the first optical element and the second optical element relative to one another such that either an output radiation beam has a variable predetermined shape or the output radiation beam maintains a predetermined shape when the input radiation beam is varied. Optionally, the first optical element and the second optical element each comprise a freeform shape and predetermined diffractive characteristics, refractive characteristics, reflective characteristics, hybrid characteristics, gradient index materials, metamaterials, metasurfaces, subwavelength structures, and/or plasmonics. The one or more of the first optical element and the second optical element are one or more of translated laterally with respect to an optic axis, rotated about the optic axis, tilted with respect to the optic axis, and separated along the optic axis.

In the past, a variety of optical systems have been designed that have the capability of dynamically varying some of their optical functions—notably including the Alvarez lens. An Alvarez lens is a lens that includes two complimentary cubic surfaces separated by a negligible gap. When these cubic surfaces are translated laterally with respect to one another, either a convex or a converging spherical lens is created and the focal length of the lens changes. This system is illustrated in FIG. 1. Others have designed similar systems.
To date, what has not been provided is an optical system that is capable of dynamically shaping a laser beam using multiple relatively moving optical components. The dynamic laser beam shaping methods and systems of the present invention are based upon the premise that light transmitted through multiple optical surfaces in close proximity experiences wavefront modification from the combination of surfaces, and that controlled relative movement between these surfaces enables dynamic changes in the resulting optical functions, including beam shape.

Dynamic laser beam shaping methods and systems

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte


The automatic generation of multiple sets of directions for navigating geographically to a specific destination without specification of an origin. Based on the destination, candidate roads or other transportation conduits are selected for analysis. Candidate meta-departure points are analyzed and selected along the roads based on distribution about the destination, cardinal directions relative to the destination, road metadata, distance to the destination, driving time, and other factors. The number of departure points generated to represent routes to the destination from the several logical cardinal directions is minimized. The generated departure points also represent routes that a majority of people would likely take to the destination. Additionally, the generated departure points originate from places that users are likely to be familiar with and can get to without additional guidance. The final instruction sets for navigating to the destination are presented along with a map that identified the departure points.

The Internet has made available myriad of services and information. When customers search and find the desired information, it is becoming commonplace for the associated vendor website to provide an address to a local store and a link to a mapping service will show locations of businesses that sell the products or services locally. Additionally, the user can select to obtain directions from the user location to one of the local business locations using the mapping service.
Existing solutions such as these are functional but require more time and effort on the part of the user because of the conventional need of the mapping service have the starting location (or origin address). In many situations, the user is somewhat familiar with at least a part of the route; thus, detailed instructions for directions for the entire route to the destination are not necessary.
Another shortcoming of conventional mapping systems involves the situation where the origin (or starting point) is unknown or cannot be precisely determined. An example of this is an invitation to a business party in a city that the user is visiting. In many cases, the user may not readily know the originating address (e.g., if stopping in a cyber café). Thus, existing solutions require the manual crafting of a multi-approach map, which is resource consuming and cannot be readily scaled.

Multiple directions to a destination without providing a specific origin


An apparatus and method for the production of a multicomponent yarn which is composed of several multifilament strands with differing characteristics, such as color. The individual strands are drawn in parallel and simultaneously by a pair of godets following spinning, and then crimped by compression in an air jet crimping device. According to the invention, the individual strands are spread apart from one another prior to run-off from the drawing godet in such a way that the distance in the axial direction between the run-off points of the individual strands on the godet surface is increased. This spreading of the strands assures that the strands do not intermix prior to entering the air jet crimping device.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the production of a multicomponent yarn.
In the production of multicomponent yarns, particularly multicolored multicomponent yarns which are produced by the mixing of several individual strands of different colors, the individual strands are mixed in a texturing jet. In such case, the individual strands are crimped in a compression chamber by means of air jets which impinge upon the strands at an angle as they pass through. The problem in this case is that of achieving a mixing of the individual strands which does not result in either a predominance of an individual strand or an incomplete mixing of the individual strands in the resulting multicomponent yarn. The objective of the compression crimping is to achieve a good crimping with a uniform and reproducible color pattern of the multicomponent yarn.
To solve the problem, it has been proposed, in DE 42 02 896, to subject the individual strands to a false twist before they are fed into the texturing jet. There is, however, a risk in this case of the individual strands being too evident in the multicomponent yarn and, furthermore, of the crimping effect being reduced.
EP 0 133 198 discloses a method in which, prior to their entry into the texturing jet, the individual strands are routed back and forth in order to change their positions relative to each other. In this case, the filaments of the individual strands undergo a high degree of intermixing. Consequently, the multicomponent yarn is frequently of a mixed color rather than being truly multicolored.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to improve the method of the type initially referred to in such a way that the multicomponent yarn has a uniform and reproducible color pattern without reduction of the quality of the crimping.

Apparatus and method for the production of a multicomponent yarn


A valve pin (4) for controlling an injection amount of molten resin is inserted into a cavity (13), and then the molten resin is injected by way of a gate (10) along the surface of the valve pin (4) into the cavity (13) to be dropped therein, and tip ends of this dropping molten resin merges at a bottom (13a) of the cavity (13) to form a hollow portion (S) between the valve pin (4) and the dropped molten resin. Then, air is blown into the hollow portion (S) from the tip end of the valve pin (4), inflates the hollow portion (S), brings it into contact with the inner surface of the cavity (13), and cools and solidifies this molten resin, so as to attain a hollow molded product (40).

Before now, various types of injection molding methods and apparatuses have been proposed as injection molding methods and apparatuses to attain comparatively precise molded products from synthetic resin, such as plastic.
In particular, in recent years, an injection molding method and apparatus of valve gate type, has been proposed as one of the injection molding methods and apparatuses, in order to reduce the molding cycle time for a molded product.
This valve gate-type injection molding method and apparatus comprises a valve for temporarily holding molten resin to which prepressure is applied, and a valve pin extendably and retractably placed within the valve, wherein by releasing a gate formed in the mold by the valve pin, molten resin, to which prepressure was applied, fills the cavity in the mold at a high speed, and the gate is closed again by the valve pin after the filling of the molten resin.
This type of valve gate-type injection molding method and apparatus has the effect of eliminating the time wasted by the compression of the molten resin before its injection, and therefore shortening the molding cycle time for a molded product, because molten resin within the valve is compressed in advance during the opening of the mold to take out the molded product.
In the case of molding a molded product having a hollow portion with the conventional valve gate-type injection molding method and apparatus discussed above, a large number of mold parts having complex forms are prepared in the portion of the mold for forming the hollow portion, in view of releasing that portion of the mold, and an operation of removing the large number of mold parts having complex forms in a proper order is performed when removing a molded product having a hollow portion from the mold.
For this reason, in the case of molding a molded product having a hollow portion with the conventional valve gate-type injection molding method and apparatus discussed above, disadvantages are that the parts of the mold are complex and great in number, and therefore costs for producing the entire valve gate-type injection molding apparatus is increased, and also efficiency for producing hollow molded products is lowered due to the complex releasing operation for the hollow portion.
Moreover, in the case of molding a hollow product, such as a bottle with a small mouth, it is impossible to release the portion of the mold for forming the hollow portion. Therefore, conventional valve gate-type injection molding methods and apparatuses cannot be used to form a hollow molded product of such a type as a bottle with a small mouth.
With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve gate-type injection molding method and apparatus capable of improving as much as possible the production efficiency for a hollow molded product, while reducing the number of parts of the entire apparatus and the number of manufacturing processes.

Valve gate-type injection molding method and apparatus therefor


A carrier for gene detection as a means for prediction before treatment whether interferon therapy is valid or not for a patient, a method for detection of interferon therapy for an individual, an apparatus for gene detection, and a kit for detection of validity of interferon therapy.

The present invention relates to a carrier for gene detection, a method for detecting validity of interferon therapy on individuals, a gene detecting apparatus for detecting validity of interferon therapy on individuals, and a gene detection kit for detecting validity of interferon therapy.
In recent years, patients infected with hepatitis C viruses (to be called HCV hereafter) have rapidly increased, leading to a great social problem.
Although interferon therapy has been revealed to have a certain effect on hepatitis C as well as on other viral illnesses, interferon therapy is not effective to all the infected patients, and there are not a few patients who has no sensitivity to interferon and cannot benefit from interferon therapy. Continuation of interferon therapy to such patients who exhibit no sensitivity to interferon would not only cause side effects such as fever and anemia to the patients but also delay initiation of other expected therapies.
Therefore, there has been longed for a method of predicting whether interferon therapy is effective or not to an HCV-infected patient to be treated, but such prediction has not at all been possible.

Carrier for gene detection and its use for detecting validity of interferon therapy


A vehicle battery charging system includes a battery charger for charging a battery module of a vehicle. A first coolant circuit conveys a first cooling fluid therethrough. The first coolant circuit includes a chiller unit separate from the vehicle. The chiller unit and the first cooling fluid exchange heat therebetween. A second coolant circuit conveys a second cooling fluid therethrough. The second coolant circuit includes a battery module. The battery module and the second cooling fluid exchange heat therebetween. A heat exchanger exchanges heat between the first cooling fluid and the second cooling fluid.

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly more prevalent. Electric vehicles include hybrid electric vehicles, such as the extended range electric vehicles (EREV), that combine a battery and a main power source, such as an internal combustion engine, fuel cell systems, etc., and electric only vehicles, such as the battery electric vehicles (BEV). The battery or batteries in the electric vehicles can be different battery types, such as lithium-ion, nickel metal hydride, lead-acid, etc. A typical high voltage battery system for an electric vehicle may include several battery cells or battery modules to provide the vehicle with power and energy requirements, where each battery module may include a certain number of battery cells, such as twelve battery cells, for example.
Hybrid electrical vehicles employ the main power source in combination with the battery to allow the vehicle to travel further distances than electric only vehicles. Electric only vehicles have a certain driving range or possible total distance the vehicle can travel corresponding to a full battery charge. Therefore, in order to accommodate vehicle trips requiring travel beyond the driving range of the vehicle, a battery charging station infrastructure with a battery charger is required to allow travelers to charge the batteries of their vehicles when needed. These charging stations need to include fast battery chargers so that the vehicle batteries can be recharged in a reasonable and convenient amount of time. Such charging stations may employ direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) charging capabilities depending on a type of charging system and batteries being employed in the vehicle.
During fast charging of an electric vehicle battery there is a significant amount of heat that is generated in the battery. The amount of heat generated is the result of increased power being used that needs to be removed from the battery to prevent the battery from being damaged, which can reduce battery life. Control circuitry is typically employed on the vehicle to monitor the temperature of the battery and reduce or stop the charging of the battery if the battery reaches an undesirable temperature. A conventional approach to address the excessive heat is to cool the battery during battery charging by circulating a cooling fluid through flow channels in the battery and then removing the heat from the cooling fluid using the vehicle's cooling and air conditioning system. Since the vehicle is not moving during battery charging, the vehicle fan needs to be operated at a high speed to cool the cooling fluid after it has been heated, which generates significant undesired noise and power and energy waste. Additionally, the cooling fluid flowing to the battery creates an undesirably large coolant circuit flowing from a coolant source, wherein the coolant must flow an undesirably further distance making the cooling of the battery less efficient than having the coolant flow from the coolant source along a shorter distance.
As the need for ever faster battery charging increases, the amount of power being transferred from the battery charging system to the battery is increasing due to an increase in size of the battery or increase in voltage or current. The increase in the amount of power results in the increased amount of heat to the battery. With the increased amount of heat, removal of the increased amounts of heat is required from the battery to keep the battery within safe operating conditions. The ability for the vehicle cooling and air conditioning system to remove the increasingly higher amounts of heat is being challenged. When the cooling and air conditioning system is unable to remove the increased amounts of heat, the rate at which the battery is charged will be de-rated to protect the battery and the longevity thereof. As a result, longer undesired time intervals for charging the battery may occur. Additionally, employing the fan of the air conditioning system creates undesired levels of noise, which can be particularly a nuisance in residential locations.
The amount of current required for fast charging the battery over the desired time interval is directly proportional to the size or diameter of a charging cable of the charging system. The certain size or diameter of the cable is required to accommodate the current passing there through so the cable does not melt. As the size of the cable increases in response to the reduced charging time and the increased current, the cable becomes less manageable and inconvenient to handle. Therefore, it is desired to cool the cable using a cooling fluid flowing around the cable. It would be particularly advantageous to employ a cooling fluid at the charging stations to cool the battery as well. To do so, cross-contamination of the cooling fluid with fluids already in the battery system may be needed to be avoided. Additionally, it would be undesired to leave undesired amounts of fluids from the charging stations in the vehicle after charging. A coolant circuit conveying the cooling fluid from the charging station must not be too long as an incomplete coolant fill may result which could affect the amount of air traps formed in the coolant circuit. Air traps or air trapped in the coolant circuit can result in thermal transfer inefficiency or overheating of the coolant fluid circuit system.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a vehicle battery charging system vehicle that includes a chiller of a charging station and a vehicle heat exchanger to transfer heat between a first coolant circuit including the chiller and a second coolant circuit including a battery of a vehicle. It is desired the system militates against cross-contamination of battery system fluids, maximizes efficiency of fast charging the battery, and minimizes noise, cost and vehicle packaging space.

Electric vehicle fast charging and battery cooling system using a charger cooled fluid-to-battery cooled fluid heat exchange device