Data characterizing signal propagation times between a mobile user and a plurality of base stations can be received. A dominant signal propagation path between the mobile user and at least one of the plurality of base stations is via a repeater. A valid mobile user position solution is determined by searching a domain of possible mobile user position solutions using the received data and a predetermined repeater time delay. The valid mobile user position solution can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Wireless networks often must be able to determine the location of mobile users (UE's or mobile devices) on demand. For instance, sometime wireless networks must determine location to support various functionalities such as providing user location to emergency services, such as for Enhanced-911. Enhanced-911 or E-911 is a system used in North America that links emergency callers with the appropriate public resources. E-911 tries to automatically associate a location with the origin of the call. This location may be a physical address or other geographic reference information such as X/Y map coordinates. The caller's telephone number can be used in various ways to derive a location that can be used to dispatch police, fire, emergency medical and other response resources. Automatic location of the emergency makes it quicker to locate the required resources during fires, break-ins, kidnappings, and other events where communicating one's location is difficult or impossible. In addition to E-911, other location services can include location-aware advertising and family-member-location services. Various conventional methods exist to perform such location determination, including:                Proximity sensing and/or Cell-ID based methods;        Angulation, where the angle of arrival of a UE signal at multiple base stations are used to determine the UE position;        Circular lateration, where a Round-Trip-Time (RTT) of signals from at least 3 base stations are used to determine a UE's position;        Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), is a system that can under certain conditions improve the startup performance, or time-to-first-fix (TTFF), of a GPS satellite-based positioning system; and        Enhanced Observed Time Difference of Arrival (E-OTDA) techniques where hyperbolic lateration can be used to locate a UE based on measurements of time difference in arrival of signals to a UE from at least three base stations.
However, techniques that rely on the flight time of a signal to perform the location determination are subject to errors when a repeater is part of the network deployment.

Determining the location of a mobile terminal in the presence of a repeater


A method and system for programming a magnetic memory is disclosed. The method and system further include turning on a word line current and turning on a bit line current. The word line current is for generating at least one hard axis field. The bit line current is for generating at least one easy axis field. In one aspect, the method and system further include turning off the word line current and the bit line current such that a state of the at least one magnetic memory cell is repeatably obtained. In another aspect, the word line current is turned off after the bit line current is turned off.

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional magnetic element 10 used in conventional magnetic memories, such as magnetic random access memories (MRAM). The conventional magnetic element 10 includes a conventional pinned layer 12, a conventional tunneling barrier 14, and a conventional free layer 16. Other layers (not shown), such as antiferromagnetic pinning, seed, and/or capping layers may also be used. The conventional pinned layer 12 and the conventional free layer 18 are ferromagnetic. Thus, the conventional free layer 16 is depicted as having a changeable magnetization 17. The conventional spacer layer 14 is a nonmagnetic tunneling barrier layer. The magnetization 13 of the pinned layer 12 is pinned in a particular direction. The magnetization 17 of the free layer 16 is free to rotate, typically in response to an external magnetic field.
The geometry of the conventional magnetic element 10 is such that the magnetization 17 of the conventional free layer 16 is stable parallel or antiparallel to the magnetization 13 of the conventional pinned layer 12. Depending upon the orientations of the magnetization 17 of the conventional free layer 16 and the magnetization 13 of the conventional pinned layer 12, the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10 changes. When the magnetization 17 of the conventional free layer 16 is parallel to the magnetization 13 of the conventional pinned layer 12, the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10 is low and, in general, the magnetic element 10 is in a "0" state. When the magnetization 17 of the conventional free layer 16 is antiparallel to the magnetization 13 of the conventional pinned layer 12, the resistance of the conventional magnetic element 10 is high and the conventional magnetic element 10 is in a "1" state.
In order to write to the conventional magnetic element 10, two currents, or equivalently, two fields are typically used. One field is typically perpendicular to the final, equilibrium direction of the magnetization 17 of the conventional free layer 16. This field is known as the hard axis field and is typically generated by a word line current driven in a corresponding word line. The other field is typically parallel or antiparallel to the magnetization 13 of the conventional pinned layer 12. This field is known as the easy axis field and is typically generated by a bit line current driven in a corresponding bit line. Depending on the direction of the bit line current (e.g. positive or negative with respect to a particular defined current direction), the magnetization 17 of the conventional free layer 16 is aligned generally parallel or generally antiparallel to the magnetization 13 of the conventional pinned layer 12.
FIG. 1B depicts a conventional method 50 for programming the conventional magnetic element 10. FIG. 1C depicts a graph indicating the word line current and bit line current corresponding to the conventional method 50. At some time, the word line current I1 is turned on, via step 52. Consequently, a hard axis field corresponding to I1 is generated. After some later time, t1, the bit line current I2 (or −I2) is turned on, via step 54. Thus, an easy axis field in the appropriate direction is generated. Both currents remain on for some time, t2. The word line current is then turned off, via step 56. After some time, t3, after the word line current has been completely turned off, the bit line current is turned off, via step 58.
Although the conventional method 50 allows the conventional magnetic element 10 to be programmed, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize that there are drawbacks to such programming. FIGS. 2A–2C depict the free layer 60, 60′ and 60″ of the conventional magnetic element 10 after the conventional method 50 has been used. The same currents were used in steps 52 and 54 for the free layer 60, 60′ and 60″. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A–2C, the majority of the magnetic moments for each of the free layers 60, 60′ and 60″ are aligned in the same direction. However, due to the demagnetization field at the ends of the free layers 60, 60′, and 60″, the magnetization near the left and right ends of the free layers 60, 60′, and 60″, respectively, are not perpendicular to the surfaces at the ends of the free layers 60, 60′, and 60″, respectively. Instead, the magnetic moments 62 and 64, 62′ and 64′, and 62″ and 64″ may have different orientations. The free layer 60 has the magnetic moments 62 and 64 parallel. The magnetic moments 62′ and 64′ of the free layer 60′ are not parallel. Although the magnetic moment 62′ is in the same direction as the magnetic moment 62, the magnetic moment 64′ is in a different direction. Similarly, the magnetic moments 62″ and 64″ of the free layer 60″ are not parallel. Although the magnetic moment 64′ is in the same direction as the magnetic moment 64, the magnetic moment 62″ is in a different direction.
The differences in the magnetic moments 62 and 64, 62′ and 64′, and 62″ and 64″ cause the free layers 60, 60′, and 60″, respectively, to be switched at different fields and, therefore, programming failures. Stated differently, even when programmed in the same way using the conventional method 50, the magnetic moments 62 and 64, 62′ and 64′, and 62″ and 64″ may differ. Consequently, the fields required to switch the magnetizations may differ. As a result, the bit line currents and word line currents required to program the free layers 60, 60′, and 60″ differ. When the switching field increases, the currents actually used may not be sufficient to program the free layer 60, 60′, or 60″. Conversely, when the switching field decreases, the currents actually used may cause inadvertent programming of the free layer 60, 60′, or 60″.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for more reliably programming elements in a magnetic memory. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for performing more consistent switching of magnetic elements in a magnetic memory


A grounding cap module includes a main body, a frame portion, and a cap portion. The main body includes a first opening penetrating the main body and a grounding portion disposed on a periphery of the main body and configured to be electrically grounded. The frame portion is disposed on the main body and includes a second opening aligned with the first opening. The cap portion is disposed on the frame portion and covers the second opening, wherein the first opening, the second opening and the cap portion define a receiving cavity. A gas injection device and an etching apparatus using the same are also provided.

A photomask is used during the manufacture of an integrated circuit (IC) to transfer the design of each chip layer onto a semiconductor substrate. Since a photomask contains the pattern for a single layer of the chip, a set of 15 to 30 photomasks is typically used in the construction of a chip. Photomasks are reusable and typically comprise a substrate, a reflective layer, and an absorber layer.
Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is a promising new patterning technology for producing very small (i.e. 14 nm) chips. EUV lithography, like optical lithography, uses a set of photomasks that reflect EUV light to form a patterned photoresist on a semiconductor substrate.
Photomasks for EUV lithography are generally manufactured by etching the chip layer pattern into the photomask. This process has a low tolerance for error, since any defects in the photomask will be transferred to the semiconductor substrate during EUV lithography. To manufacture a photomask, a substrate (e.g., quartz) is typically etched in an etching chamber wherein a photomask can be exposed to various process gasses and plasmas.
Dry etching processes, also referred to as plasma etching processes, are carried out to etch various films at various stages of the semiconductor manufacturing operation and produce various device features. Multiple plasma etching operations are generally required to form a semiconductor device. One shortcoming of such plasma etching operations is the generation of polymers as etch by-products within the etching chamber. The polymers can adhere to various surfaces within the etch chamber and become dislodged, contaminating the chamber.

Grounding cap module, gas injection device and etching apparatus

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method of facilitating a chemical reaction includes raising a temperature of a protective layer covering a catalyst in the presence of a chemical solution.

During the past several years, the popularity and viability of fuel cells for producing large and small amounts of electricity has increased significantly. Fuel cells conduct an electrochemical reaction with chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and heat. Fuel cells are similar to batteries, but they can be "recharged" while providing power, and are much cooler and cleaner than devices that combust hydrocarbons.
Fuel cells provide a DC (direct current) voltage that may be used to power motors, lights, computers, or any number of electrical appliances. There are several different types of fuel cells, each using a different chemistry. Fuel cells are usually classified by the type of electrolyte used. The fuel cell types are generally categorized into one of five groups: proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, alkaline fuel cells (AFC), phosphoric-acid fuel cells (PAFC), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC).
Each of the fuel cells mentioned above uses oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity. The oxygen for a fuel cell is usually supplied by the ambient air. In fact, for the PEM fuel cell, ordinary air may be pumped into the cathode. However, hydrogen is not as readily available as oxygen. Hydrogen is difficult to generate, store and distribute.
One common method for producing hydrogen for fuel cells is the use of a reformer. A reformer produces hydrogen from hydrocarbons or alcohol fuels. The hydrogen can then be fed to the fuel cell. However, if the hydrocarbon fuel is gasoline or some of the other common hydrocarbons, undesirable byproducts are produced, such as SOx, NOx and others. These byproducts are not only pollutants, but can damage the reformer. Sulfur, in particular, must be removed from the reformer or may damage the electrode catalyst. Additionally, reformers usually operate at high temperatures and consume significant energy.
Alternatively hydrogen can be generated from a precursor at ambient temperature using a catalyst. However, such chemical reactions for producing hydrogen may require a pump to move the precursor, a hydrogen-bearing chemical mixture, into a reaction chamber filled with a catalytic agent. As soon as the chemical mixture is exposed to a catalyst, the reaction rate is accelerated. Thus, the chemical mixture and catalyst must be separated until hydrogen production is to start. Consequently, a pump is needed to selectively move the chemical mixture from storage to the reaction chamber.
Further, for portable fuel cell applications, it is difficult to miniaturize the fuel cell and hydrogen-producing system, and still produce hydrogen on demand. Once a chemical reaction in the presence of a catalyst has begun, the reaction is difficult to stop and/or restart. The electrical demands of portable electronics may vary widely, therefore a fuel cell providing power to portable electronics must be equipped to efficiently provide varying amounts of hydrogen on-demand to produce the electricity needed.
One solution to produce hydrogen on-demand is to use micro-pumps to deliver a certain amount sodium borohydride (hydrogen-bearing solution) to a catalyst bed. However, a by-product of the sodium borohydride, sodium metaborate, tends to absorb water and gel when allowed to cool. This hinders access to the catalyst and renders the water needed for the reaction unavailable.
Another solution is to heat the sodium borohydride, which increases the rate of hydrogen production. However, using heat to increase hydrogen production on-demand results in higher parasitic losses.

Method and apparatus for facilitating a chemical reaction

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel nozzle has a common axis, a body portion disposed about the common axis, a barrel portion located radially outward from the body portion. The fuel nozzle also has at least one swirler vane disposed between the body portion and the barrel portion and a liquid fuel jet disposed within the at least one swirler vane. The at least one swirler vane is configured to radially redirect an axial flow of air. The liquid fuel jet is configured to inject liquid fuel in a radial direction relative to the common axis.

Internal combustion engines, including diesel engines, gaseous-fueled engines, and other engines known in the art, may exhaust a complex mixture of air pollutants. The air pollutants may be composed of gaseous compounds, which may include nitrous oxides (NOx). Due to increased attention on the environment, exhaust emission standards have become more stringent, and the amount of NOx emitted to the atmosphere from an engine may be regulated depending on the type of engine, size of engine, and/or class of engine.
One method that has been implemented by turbine engine manufacturers to comply with the regulation of these emissions while maintaining high engine efficiency has been to design and produce turbine engines that generate an evenly distributed flame having a low flame temperature. One such method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,145 (the '145 patent) issued to Boardman on Dec. 2, 2003. The '145 patent describes a turbine engine having a fuel nozzle with a center body. A barrel portion is positioned radially distal from the center body. At least one swirler vane is positioned between the center body and the barrel portion to radially redirect incoming compressed air. A liquid fuel passage passes through the swirler vane, and a liquid fuel jet located on a surface of the swirler vane fluidly communicates with the passage to inject fuel axially into a combustion chamber of the turbine engine. As the compressed air flows through the swirler, the air mixes with the injected liquid fuel to produce a substantially homogenous air/fuel mixture that, when ignited, produces an evenly distributed flame having a low flame temperature.
Although the fuel nozzle of the '145 patent may improve air/fuel mixing and flame distribution, it may be insufficient and problematic. In particular, because the liquid fuel is axially injected, the radially-redirected air may transport some of the liquid fuel outward toward and onto the barrel portion before the liquid fuel is properly mixed and entrained within the compressed air. As a result, some of the fuel may collect on the barrel portion, form large droplets of fuel, and, when ignited, create high-temperature pockets of NOx-enriched exhaust. It is also possible for the fuel collected on the barrel to coke and create obstructions or blockages that reduce functionality of the fuel nozzle. In addition, this improper distribution and combustion of the liquid fuel could reduce operational efficiency of the turbine engine.
The disclosed fuel nozzle is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Fuel nozzle having swirler-integrated radial fuel jet


A method of increasing positional awareness of a pilot of an aircraft during a landing approach of the aircraft. First data from a navigational aid is received. The first data is analyzed to determine a first position of the aircraft at a predetermined time. Second data is received. The second data is independent of the first data. The second data is analyzed to determine a second position of the aircraft at the predetermined time. The first position of the aircraft and the second position of the aircraft are compared, and the pilot is alerted to a difference between the first position of the aircraft and the second position of the aircraft. The second data may be displayed in a form that is convenient for the pilot to view during landing.

The process of landing an aircraft on an airport runway requires a good degree of skill as well as knowledge of the aircraft's position with respect to the runway. A pilot must be aware of the aircraft's speed, direction, and angle of descent (known as the glideslope) with respect to the desired touchdown location on the runway. Improper landings may occur if inclement weather or poor visibility, for instance, impedes the pilot's awareness of one or more of these factors.
Because of the possible difficulties that may occur during landing, various systems have been devised to assist the pilot. One such system is known as the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which in its most basic form comprises a VHF localizer signal and a UHF glide slope signal that are transmitted from different positions adjacent the runway. A receiver onboard an airplane receives the signals, and the signals are converted into data usable to determine the position of the airplane with respect to the runway centerline as well as the glide path of the airplane. The ILS signals, which combined may be termed an ILS beam, thereby provide the pilot with critical information that may be used during a landing, even in low-visibility situations.
Many airports cannot afford the equipment necessary to fully implement the ILS system so that it may be used in all weather and visibility categories of approved landing approaches. Some of these airports have deployed a less expensive ILS system that emits a lower-quality beam known as a Type I ILS beam. A Type I ILS beam may be suitable for assisting pilots to land in relatively clear weather, but lacks the integrity necessary to be used in the lowest visibility and weather conditions. Because a Type I ILS beam is unverified, it is possible that the beam may transmit incorrect data, and reliance on the incorrect data in poor visibility may cause an unsafe landing if the pilot cannot otherwise verify the data given to him by the ILS beam. For this reason, a Type I ILS beam may not normally be used to direct a pilot during a CAT II (defined as requiring a runway visual range of >1200 feet and a decision height of 100 feet) or a CAT IIIa (defined as requiring a runway visual range of >700 feet and a decision height of 50 feet) approach. What is needed is some way of increasing the integrity of a Type I ILS beam so that the beam may be used in low visibility conditions such as a CAT IIIa approach.
Global positioning systems, which use a constellation of satellites to provide location coordinates of an object, show significant potential to improve some avionics functions. In the future, some airports may use GPS-based landing aids to provide ILS-like lateral and vertical deviations from a desired approach path. An independent means to verify the GPS-derived path is needed to improve the overall integrity of the system.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a system that increases the integrity of a navigational aid such as an ILS beam or a GPS-based landing system.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system that independently verifies data derived from a navigational aid.
One feature of the invention is the use of data from an imaging system to independently verify data from a navigational aid.
Another feature of the invention is the creation of a geometric construct, representing geometries sensed by an imaging sensor, and the derivation of an aircraft's glideslope and position relative to a centerline of an airport runway.
An advantage of the invention is that low-visibility CAT IIIa approaches may be performed at airports having Type I ILS systems.
Another advantage of the invention is that unsafe landings are significantly reduced.

Airborne system and method for improving the integrity of electronic landing aids


An Internet terminal comprising: a communication unit that sends a local packet generated by a packet generation unit and receives a response local packet from a server apparatus; an encryption processing unit that encrypts the local packet to be sent out and decrypts the received response local packet; the packet generation unit that generates the local packet; a polling information storage unit that holds a terminal ID and a password used for identifying the internet terminal; a polling interval adjustment unit that identifies a polling interval at which the local packet is periodically sent to the router; and a control unit that sends control information to a terminal apparatus to be controlled and controls such terminal apparatus accordingly.

Recently, access networks such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), optical fiber network and the like which are broadband capable of handling a large amount of communication data and which are accessible at all times have been widespread at an accelerated rate even among ordinary homes. At the same time, many kinds of home networks for organically connecting home appliances at home with one another are under standardization. Under these circumstances, it is expected that a user of these home appliances will be able to operate them from an outside location by remotely operating his/her mobile terminal which can be connected to the Internet and by transmitting control information to such home appliances via the Internet and a home network.
When a connection is made between external and home networks in a conventional method: (i) a plurality of home internet terminals assigned with local addresses are connected, via a home network, to a router connected to an internet network; (ii) the router is connected to the internet network via an internet service provider (ISP) using a communication line; and (iii) the internet service provider (ISP) assigns a global address to the router.
When an external server apparatus makes a control request to an Internet terminal at home by the use of a global address, the following conventional methods are used: a router is set to perform static IP masquerading (e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-341337) and an Internet terminal performs polling (e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 08-204704).
In static IP masquerading, a router, when receiving packet data in which a specific port number is described as a destination port number, converts the destination address into the local address of an internet terminal, and then routes the packet data to the internet terminal, with a global address and local addresses being registered in a conversion table as fixed addresses in advance. Therefore, it is possible in static IP masquerading to commence a session not only from the local side but also from the global side.
In the method in which an Internet terminal performs polling, on the other hand, a router receives, from an internet terminal, a local packet to be sent to a server apparatus, and sends such packet to the server apparatus after converting the sender's address included in the packet into the global address of the router and converting the sender's port number included in the packet into a port number which can be used by the router. When this is done, a set of information including the local address of the internet terminal, the global address of the router, the sender's port number of the Internet terminal, and the sender's port number of the router is to be stored in the conversion table for a specified period of time. Then, when receiving a response global packet that includes the details of a control intended for the Internet terminal from the server apparatus, the router specifies the destination on the local network by converting the destination address and the destination port number included in the response global packet into the local address of the Internet terminal and the destination port number of the internet terminal with reference to the conversion table, and routes the packet to the internet terminal.
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of packet data to be sent for controlling a terminal apparatus at home in accordance with the conventional polling method.
The communication system is comprised of a server apparatus 1301 for sending a remote control request from a user in an outside location to a terminal apparatus at home, a router 1302 for making a conversion between global and local addresses and routing packet data between external and home networks, and an internet terminal 1303 for controlling a home appliance and the like according to the control request.
The internet terminal 1303 sends a local packet 1304 to the server apparatus 1301 in order to check whether there is any control request or not. When there is a control request from the user of a mobile terminal device, the server apparatus 1301 sends, to the internet terminal 1303, a response global packet 1306 as a response in which control information, the terminal ID of a terminal to be controlled, sender information, destination information such as the global address of the router 1302 are attached. Then, the internet terminal 1303 receives a response local packet 1307 that includes the control request, and a target terminal will be controlled accordingly. Note that a connectionless UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is used as a communication protocol.
In a communication using UDP, the router stores a relationship between local and global addresses for a certain period of time. Therefore, when the router 1302 receives the response global packet 1306 that includes the control information at an interval corresponding to the above period of time, it is possible to send the response local packet 1307 that includes the control request to the internet terminal 1303 by specifying the local address of a terminal to be controlled, with reference to a corresponding relationship table.

Home terminal apparatus and communication system


A heater and a vaporization device using the same are provided. The heater comprises an end for insertion into a cartridge, a body having a sidewall and at least one opening on the sidewall, and a chamber inside the body. The end has an outlet. The chamber and the opening provide an airflow path for an aerosol to be vented outside the heater through the outlet. The aerosol is generated from the vaporizable material when the body is heated.

A vaporization device, such as an electronic cigarette or e-cigarette, has become a popular alternative to a traditional tobacco cigarette in recent years, partly for the reason that a majority of toxicants commonly found in tobacco smoke do not exist in vapor inhaled by user of the vaporization device. In addition, a vaporization device is more entertaining than tobacco as the e-liquid, a liquid mixture vaporized by the device, has thousands of flavors for user to choose from.
Since its inception in early 2000s, a modern electronic vaporization device ("EVD") has continuously evolved in its design. The basic design of the device has a tank holding the e-liquid and a heating element inside the tank that vaporizes the e-liquid. The heating element is often in the shape of a coil and has to be discarded along with the tank after the e-liquid is consumed or the tank becomes dysfunctional, even though the heating element might still be in a good working condition. This brings the problems of unnecessary waste of components, higher cost of a replacement tank, and increased weight of the tank. The increased cost and weight further make it harder for a frequent user of these devices to purchase and carry a large number of the replacement tanks, and also hampers his or her desire to share and enjoy the electronic vaporization device with others on business and recreational occasions.
In light of the above, there is a need to re-design the vaporization device to reduce its costs and weight.

Heater, cartridge, and vaporization device using the same


The present invention provides a method of converting a brominated hydrocarbon to a chlorinated hydrocarbon that involves contacting together the brominated hydrocarbon and a chlorinated ion exchange resin that has a water content of less than or equal to 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the chlorinated ion exchange resin and the water. The brominated hydrocarbon includes at least one replaceable bromo group, where each replaceable bromo group is independently covalently bonded to an sp3 hybridized carbon. Contact between the brominated hydrocarbon and the chlorinated ion exchange resin results in replacement of at least one replaceable bromo group of the brominated hydrocarbon with a chloro group, and correspondingly conversion of at least a portion of the brominated hydrocarbon to the chlorinated hydrocarbon.

Sources of chlorine are often contaminated with some bromine. The use of such bromine contaminated sources of chlorine in the preparation of chlorinated hydrocarbons typically results in the formation of undesirable co-product hydrocarbons that include bromo groups or a combination of both bromo groups and chloro groups bonded thereto. It can be difficult to separate the brominated hydrocarbon co-products from the target chlorinated hydrocarbon products. The brominated hydrocarbon co-products can, in some instances, be separated/isolated by distillation methods, such as fractional distillation. Further use or modification of the brominated hydrocarbon co-products is not usually feasible. Typically, the isolated brominated hydrocarbon co-products are incinerated. As a result, chlorine, such as in the form of hydrogen chloride, recovered from the incineration process is often contaminated with bromine materials, such as hydrogen bromide.
It would be desirable to develop new methods of reducing or eliminating the amount of brominated hydrocarbon co-products that are present with target chlorinated hydrocarbon products. It would be further desirable that such newly developed methods involve converting the brominated hydrocarbon co-products to chlorinated hydrocarbon products. It would be additionally desirable that the conversion of brominated hydrocarbon co-products to chlorinated hydrocarbon products have reduced or minimized waste streams associated therewith, and be economically reasonable to implement and conduct.

Method of converting a brominated hydrocarbon to a chlorinated hydrocarbon


They consist in the arrangement, as bottom of the cask (1), of a pluri-grooved sheet (7) which defines a plurality of cylindrical grooves, laterally adjacent and with coplanar mouths, the width of said grooves (7), being at a level with its mouth, corresponding with the spacing between the beams (3) which constitute the supporting structure for the false grated bottom (2), permitting that said supporting structure (3) be outside the receptacle (1), abutting in the first place, on the upper edge of the beams (3) which constitute the same, flat facets (8) of the pluri-grooved sheet (7) which separate the different grooves (7-7') of the same, and immediately on said facets, the marginal zones of the grated modules (2) . In this manner, the structure (3), which supports the bottom and the false bottom, is not affected by the soaking or germination processes produced in the inside of the cask, and the cleaning of the chambers (9-9') defined between the bottom (7) and the false bottom (2) becomes comfortable and simple, specifically by the provision of water through the tubes (10) which longitudinally runs through the chambers (9), in sensibly centered arrangement and which counts with radial nozzles for the spraying of the water.

As is known, the casks for performing the soaking or germination operations in malthouses, generally adopt a cylindrical configuration, with vertical axis, provided with a false perforated bottom, on which the grain is placed, specifically, barley, in the hollow of which, a series of turning elements act, as for example, lead screws, establishing between said false grated bottom and the real bottom of the cask, a lower chamber in which, on the one hand, the supporting structure of the grating modules are located, whilst, on the other hand it acts as chamber through which, on occasions water, and on other occasions air, etc, is provided to the mass of the product.
Though the false grated bottom does not permit the grains to penetrate to the lower chamber, residues of organic material undoubtedly penetrate, which in a propitious environment existing in said chamber, facilitate the proliferation of bacteria and micro-organisms which are capable of being dragged towards the mass of the product and which are substantially detrimental to the latter, transmitting bad smells, among other possible problems.
This supposes, that said lower chamber of the soaking and germination casks must be periodically subjected to an appropriate cleaning to prevent the described problem.
Up to now, the cleaning operations were conducted manually, lifting the grating which constitutes the false bottom of the cask and acting directly on the real bottom and on all the interior supporting structure of the grating, which involves a complex and hard task, especially considering the large dimensions of said casks which might well have diameters over 15 meters and in which the gratings are intended to support very important loads, due to which they must be structurally robust and consequently heavy.
Additionally, the structure supporting said gratings is permanently subjected to an environment which is detrimental to the metallic materials from which the same are obtained, creating maintenance problems and shortening their service life.


A toy gun construction, comprising a gun housing, a reciprocating assembly and a latch member. The reciprocating assembly has a sliding curve plate and a first elastic unit. The latch member is assembled with a connecting rod, an engaging portion, an extension portion and a second elastic member. The sliding curve plate moves from a dynamic position to a static position, and when the sliding curve plate is at dynamic position the engaging portion is stuck in the indention. By pushing the extension portion the latch member moves toward the sliding curve plate to release the engaging portion from the indention and the sliding curve plate is pulled back to the static position by the first elastic member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toy gun and more specifically to a toy gun that provides a trajectory adjustment assembly to adjust projection and incorporates a special effect simulating the operation of a real gun.
2. Description of Related Art
Taiwan patent TW-M3163825 describes a toy gun construction which includes a pull handle, bolt portion, latch unit and a trajectory adjustment assembly. The pull handle can pull the bolt portion to the rear of the barrel, and expose the trajectory adjustment assembly from the shell window for adjusting the projection. A latch unit is formed inside the sliding plate corresponding to the bolt portion. A bolt releasing latch is connected to the extended portion of the latch unit to cause the bolt portion to be released back to the fixing position, thus traveling back and forth in the bolt chamber of the gun body. The toy gun can simulate the motion effects of real guns, so that the simulation of the toy gun is improved.
The problem with the prior art toy gun products, which although they provide a diversity of special effects in operation, is that they require relatively complex and bulky mechanisms to enable the achievement of each of the separate and combined effects. Thus, only a few effects have been incorporated in the prior art constructions. Due to the inherent inefficiencies of production and the accompanying costs of incorporating these special effects into the prior art toy gun products as well as the bulky dimensions, a multiplicity of special effects have not been effectively incorporated into such products. Since the prior art toy gun must accommodate a projection adjustment member and also operate to reciprocate back and forth on the side wall of the gun housing, the construction and mode of operation of the gun is complicated, costly and not easy to repair.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists in the art for an improved toy gun construction. In addition, a need exists for such a toy gun having its own reciprocating mechanism, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.


A compact clutch assist device has an assist mechanism operating between a clutch operating lever and a transmission clutch. The clutch assist device is interposed between a first clutch wire connected to the clutch operating lever and a second clutch wire connected to the transmission clutch. The clutch assist device selectively urges the clutch wires in such a direction as to assist disengaging the transmission clutch. The clutch assist mechanism has a case and a rotatable member that is housed in the case. The rotatable member receives an urging force of an auxiliary force member. In one embodiment, the auxiliary force member is coupled to the rotatable member through a cam mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clutch assist device which can reduce the force necessary to operate a friction clutch to engage and disengage a transmission of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
An engine unit of a vehicle, for example a motorcycle, is often equipped with a friction clutch that operates to engage and disengage a transmission. With the clutch engages, the transmission transfers torque from the engine crankshaft to one or more wheels of the motorcycle and, with the clutch disengaged, the transmission is decoupled from the engine so as not transfer a driving torque to the wheel(s). The friction clutch typically has friction plates and clutch plates laid alternately next to one another. A clutch spring presses the friction plates against the clutch plates and biases the friction plates into this state so as to transmit torque.
The clutch has a clutch release mechanism. The clutch release mechanism, which is used to release the pressure against the friction plates caused by the clutch spring, is coupled to a clutch operating lever via a clutch wire. A Bowden-wire cable is often used as the clutch wire and includes an inner wire that slides relative to an outer sheath. The clutch operating lever is usually disposed on the handlebars of the motorcycle. When the rider squeezes the clutch operating lever, the friction plates are separated from the clutch plates, against the urging force of the clutch spring, to disengage the clutch and, hence, the transmission from the engine.
With a friction clutch used in a high-power, high-revolution engine, it is desired to set the biasing load of the clutch spring to a high value to increase the torque capacity of the clutch. However, since the clutch operating lever is operated manually, it often is difficult for at least some riders to operate the clutch operating lever when the biasing load of the clutch spring is increased.
A clutch assist mechanism has been previously proposed to reduce the force necessary to actuate the clutch operating lever. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,928. The clutch assist device disclosed in the '928 patent is installed at an intermediate point of a clutch wire that connects a clutch operating lever and a clutch lever of a friction clutch.
The clutch assist mechanism of the '928 patent has an elongated frame secured to the vehicle body. The frame has wire through holes at its longitudinal ends through which the inner wire of the clutch wire extends. The frame has openings on both sides thereof.
A pair of plate springs is attached to the frame. The base ends of the plate springs are secured to the sides of a first end of the frame. The distal ends of the plate springs protrude from the first end of the frame and face the openings of the frame. The clutch assist mechanism also has a pair of linking rods and a clamp bracket. The clamp bracket is secured to the wire extending through the frame and is movable together with the wire. Each linking rod has one end connected to the clamp bracket and the other end connected to the distal end of its corresponding plate spring.
In the operation clutch assist mechanism, when the clutch operating lever is squeezed to disengage the friction clutch, the clamp bracket is pulled toward the first end of the frame, which causes the linking rods to tilt and the plate springs to deform. Then, when the linking rods pass the point where they are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the frame, the resultant of the restoring forces of the plate springs acts in the same direction as the direction in which the inner wire is pulled by the clutch operating lever, and the clamp bracket is urged together with the inner wire. As a result, the urging force acts to assist the clutch operating lever to spread the friction plates from the clutch plates against the bias of the clutch spring. Consequently, the manual force required to operate the clutch is reduced.
While the clutch assist mechanism disclosed in the '928 patents reduces the manual force required to operate the clutch operating lever, the mechanism is necessarily long and, thus, requires a frame having a long linear portion. The long length of the clutch assist mechanism is dictated by its structure: the clamp bracket must move in the frame from one end toward the other to generate an assist force. Accordingly, it is difficult to reduce the size of the mechanism, which in turn limits design options for the vehicle (e.g., the motorcycle) on which it is used.
Also, because a long frame must be disposed at an intermediate point of the clutch wire, a relatively long linear space must be additionally formed at an intermediate part of the clutch wire. As a result, another section or sections of the clutch wire must be curved into an arc with a large radius of curvature to transition from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation as the wire is routed from the clutch operating lever (which usually resides on the handlebars) to the clutch (which usually resides near or below the engine and remote to the handlebars).
In general, when the clutch wire is curved sharply, the inner wire rubs against the outer sheath at the curve and a large sliding resistance is applied to the inner wire when the clutch lever is operated. Such friction increases the operating force required to disengage the clutch. Thus, the assisting function of the clutch assist mechanism is reduced or canceled. Consequently, the some riders may find the clutch operating lever hard to actuate.
A need therefore exists for a compact clutch assist device that assists the operation of a clutch lever and that can be easily mounted on a vehicle with improved convenience.


The tilt control apparatus of the invention controls to minimize an error in an orthogonal relationship between an optical disk and an optical axis of a light beam irradiated onto the optical disk. The tilt control apparatus includes: an optical pickup for irradiating the light beam onto the optical disk, thereby reproducing information recorded on the optical disk; an orthogonality error detector for outputting an orthogonality error signal corresponding to the error in the orthogonal relationship between the optical disk and the optical axis; a tilting mechanism for tilting the optical axis; a tilt controller for controlling such that the optical disk falls at right angles with the optical axis by driving the tilting mechanism in response to the orthogonality error signal; a pulse width variation detector for outputting a pulse width variation signal corresponding to a variation in a pulse width of an information reproduced signal obtained from the optical pickup; and a target value variable circuit for varying a control target value of the tilt controller based on the pulse width variation signal.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an optical recording and reproducing apparatus for optically recording a signal on a recording medium and/or reproducing the signal which has been recorded on the recording medium by using a light source such as a laser. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tilt control apparatus having a tilt servo system for maintaining an orthogonal relationship between the optical axis of a light beam used for recording and reproducing information and the information recording surface of a recording medium (or disk).
2. Description of the Related Art:
A conventional tilt control apparatus is known from Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-51630 (optical head apparatus), for example. As disclosed in this patent publication, a conventional tilt control apparatus detects an error in the orthogonal relationship between a disk and the optical axis of a light beam irradiated onto the disk (the "orthogonal relationship" herein refers to the state where the disk falls at right angles with the optical axis of the light beam irradiated on the disk) by using a sensor exclusively used for detecting the error, i.e., a tilt sensor, thereby maintaining the orthogonal relationship based on an orthogonality error signal detected by the sensor.
Hereinafter, a conventional tilt control apparatus will be described.
FIG. 41 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration for a conventional tilt control apparatus. In FIG. 41, an optical disk 101 is placed on a rotation axis of a spindle motor 111. An optical pickup 102 includes: a light-emitting element such as a laser; an objective lens; and an objective lens actuator and irradiates a condensed light beam onto the optical disk 101. A light-receiving element is further provided for the optical pickup 102, thereby detecting an information reproduced signal RF and a servo signal including a focusing error signal FE and a tracking error signal. A signal corresponding to the recorded information, i.e., an information reproduced signal RF is obtained by converting the light reflected by the optical disk 101 into an electric signal. A focusing error signal FE is an electric signal corresponding to the distance between the focal point of the condensed light beam and the information recording surface of the optical disk 101. This focusing error signal FE is fed back to the objective lens actuator of the optical pickup 102 via a focusing controller (not shown), so that the focusing error signal FE is controlled to be approximately zero.
In the state where the above-described focusing control has been performed, a tracking control (not shown) is performed so that the optical pickup 102 traces the tracks on the optical disk 101. Then, the information recorded on the optical disk 101 can be read out based on the reproduced signal RF.
However, if an error is caused in the orthogonal relationship between the optical disk 101 and the optical axis of the light beam 103 irradiated onto the optical disk 101, then the reproduced signal RF is erroneously identified more frequently. Therefore, a tilt servo operation is required to be performed for controlling so that the orthogonal relationship between the optical disk 101 and the optical axis of the light beam 103 irradiated onto the optical disk 101 is maintained.
Next, the tilt servo operation will be described. A tilt sensor 107 for detecting the orthogonal relationship between the optical disk 101 and the optical axis of the light beam 103 irradiated onto the optical disk 101 is mounted on the optical pickup 102. The tilt sensor 107 includes a light source such as a light-emitting diode for emitting light toward the optical disk 101 and a light-receiving element for receiving the light reflected by the optical disk 101. A signal output from the tilt sensor 107 is input to an orthogonality error detector 108, so that an orthogonality error signal is generated therefrom. The optical pickup 102 is mounted on a tilting mechanism 110. A tilt controller 109 makes the tilting mechanism 110 vary the tilt angle of the light beam to be irradiated onto the optical disk 101 with respect to the optical disk 101 based on the orthogonality error signal, thereby controlling so that the error in the orthogonal relationship becomes zero.
However, the conventional tilt control apparatus described above has the following problems. Specifically, in the case of performing a tilt servo operation using the tilt sensor 107, an error is adversely caused in the orthogonal relationship between the optical disk 101 and the optical axis of the light beam 103 irradiated onto the optical disk 101 in spite of the tilt servo operation if the characteristics of the tilt sensor 107 are varied because of the variation in the solid state properties thereof or if an error has been caused in assembling the devices.
That is to say, since an offset has been generated, a normal orthogonal relationship cannot be maintained even if the orthogonality error signal is zero. The offset of the orthogonality error signal must be adjusted to be a predetermined value or less for the respective devices during the assembly process, so that the production cost is disadvantageously increased.
In addition, if an output from the tilt sensor 107 is varied because of the degradation in the characteristics of the tilt sensor 107 with the passage of time or the variation in the temperature, an offset is caused in the orthogonality error signal. As a result, an error is adversely caused in the orthogonal relationship between the optical disk 101 and the optical axis of the light beam 103 irradiated onto the optical disk 101 even if the tilt servo operation has been performed. As described above, if an error is caused in the orthogonal relationship, then the reproduced signal RF is erroneously identified more frequently, so that the recording and reproduction operations cannot be performed under optimal conditions any longer.

Tilt control apparatus with tilt target value based on bit error rate signal

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A control device for a hybrid vehicle, which can inhibit damage to an exhaust purification catalyst and also suppress deterioration of drivability, is provided. The control device exercises catalyst protective control, which inhibits operation of an engine and drives a traction motor, if a state where an exhaust air-fuel ratio detected by an exhaust air-fuel ratio detection unit is lean continues for a first predetermined time or longer.

An engine loaded on a vehicle is generally subjected to feedback control so that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust becomes a target air-fuel ratio, based on the results of detection by an exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor (for example, an O2 sensor or a linear air-fuel ratio sensor (LAFS)) provided in an exhaust pipe.
However, if the amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank is small, for example, fuel supply may be insufficient, and the exhaust air-fuel ratio may continue to be lean. If such a lean state of the exhaust air-fuel ratio persists, there is a possibility that the exhaust air-fuel ratio sensor will be erroneously judged to be abnormal, and the engine cannot be controlled appropriately.
A solution to the above-mentioned problems is a technology comprising switching judgment conditions for judging an abnormality in a system according to the amount of fuel remaining within a fuel tank, thereby preventing a temporary abnormal phenomenon, which occurs owing to a decrease in the remaining amount of fuel, from being erroneously judged to be an abnormality in the system (see Patent Document 1).

MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA


A safety barrier for a sump pit is disclosed. The safety barrier cooperates corrugations or discontinuities in the sump pit to support the safety barrier within the sump pit. The safety barrier includes a planar platform and at least two extendible legs that are attached to the planar platform. The extendable legs are used to contact or engage corrugations or discontinuities in the sump pit. The extension of extendable legs from the planar platform traps the device within the recessed surface of one of the corrugations or discontinuities of the sump pit.

(a) Field of the Invention
This application relates to a device and system for preventing people, and particularly children, from falling into plumbing or drainage pits, and particularly access pits that are lined with corrugated pipe, such as metal or HDPE plastic type pipe.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
Sump pumps are typically housed within sump pits in the manner show in U.S. Pat. No. 8,500,412 to Williams et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As can be appreciated by the installation shown in the Williams et al. disclosure, many systems and connections used to operate the sump pump. These systems and connections extend into the sump pit, which is typically made from corrugated plastic material, such as HDPE (high density polyethylene). The sump pit is typically installed with a lid that has one or more cutouts that allow tubing and electrical systems that are connected to the pump to extend from the pit.
An important problem associated with these pump pit and lid arrangements is that the lid is often easily removed. This is particularly true of systems made from corrugated plastic, where the lid is also made of plastic, and thus any mechanisms used to secure the lid to the pit are also plastic. The drawback to these lids is that the rigidity and strength of the lids facilitates easy removal by children, and do not resist a great amount weight. Thus, there exists a danger of unintended removal of the lid, or of re-installing of the lid in a manner that the lid cannot resist the weight of a child, much less the weight of an adult.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a device that acts as a backup safety mechanism that limits the possibility of people stepping into the pit, either because the lid was left off of the pit or because the lid was improperly engaged and the weight of the person allow the person to fall into the pit.
Therefore, a review of known devices reveals that there remains a need for a simple device that can be used to reduce the risk of stepping into a sump pit. Still further, there remains a need for a simple device that serves as a second tier of protection in preventing children from falling into sump pits, and for reducing the possibility of injury to an adult who inadvertently steps into the sump pit.
Still further, there remains a need for a safety device that is easy to install within a sump pit, and which impedes falls into the sump pit while accommodating space for the routing of tubing and electrical systems that are used with the sump pump.


An improved end-seal carrier assembly for supporting a seal in a seal-type continuous dampener. The seal is supported by a backing plate and pressed against the ends of the dampener's rollers. A carrier shaft is fixedly mounted to the backing plate. A shaft housing is mounted to the sideframe and has a hole extending longitudinally there through into which the shaft is mounted so to rotationally and longitudinally translate with respect to the sideframe. A coil spring is wound about a portion of the carrier shaft and has a first spring end operatively engaging the backing plate and a second spring end operatively engaging the shaft housing. The coil spring is configured to induce both a compressive and torsional bias between the backing plate and the sideframe. The shaft housing is rotatable for winding the coil spring and thereby establishing the torsional bias.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates generally to dampeners on offset lithographic printing presses, and, more particularly, to improved end-seal carriers on seal-type continuous dampeners.
2. Background of the Related Art
On a printing press utilizing the off-set lithographic method of printing there is typically required a dampener for applying dampening solution to a printing plate carried on a plate cylinder to ensure that the non-image area of the plate, and consequently the non-image area of the printed sheet, is kept clear of ink. An example of a dampener used on such printing presses is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,938 (the '938 patent) to J. Loudon entitled DAMPENING APPARATUS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC PRESS, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Dampeners represented by the '938 patent are described generally in the art as seal-type continuous dampeners.
The dampener apparatus described in the '938 patent essentially includes a form roller, a metering roller positioned parallel to and in contact with the form roller, and a set of side frames between which the rollers are rotationally supported. A V-shaped gap is formed above the line of contact between the form roller and metering roller. During printing operations the form roller is urged against the printing plate so as to apply dampening solution thereto.
Mounted to each side frame is an end-seal carrier. Each end-seal carrier is positioned proximate the point of contact between the form roller and metering roller for urging a pair of TEFLON end-seals against each end face of the form roller and against the outer surface each metering roller. In this position the seals `cap` the ends of the V-shaped gap forming a reservoir for the storage of fountain solution. As the rollers rotate, the seals wear so as to conform to the contour of the rollers that they contact, thereby creating a leak-proof fit between the seals and the rollers. Each end-seal carrier functions identically to, but is symmetrically opposite the other end-seal carrier to accommodate the rollers' configuration.
Considering only one end-seal carrier assembly, to properly urge a seal against the end of the form roller and the outside diameter of the metering roller, the end-seal carrier includes a backing plate which supports the seal. Three springs work in conjunction to apply the proper resultant force vector to urge the seal against the rollers. A compression spring is oriented normally to the backing plate and fits between the sideframe and backing plate. The compression spring biases the seal against the end face of the form roller. A torsion spring is attached to the backing plate just above the seal and urges the seal downward against a bend in the backing plate and the outside diameter of the metering roller. An extension spring is attached between a lower portion of the backing plate and a tab protruding from the side frame to under the metering roller, thereby urging the bottom portion of the seal toward the line of contact between the form roller and the metering roller. Because of the construction and spring arrangement of the prior art end-seal carrier described herein above, it is not readily removable from the sideframe of the dampener. In fact, the entire dampener must be disassembled from the printing press in order to remove the prior art end-seal carrier.
Although the above described end-seal carrier assembly has been found to function satisfactorily for the dampener disclosed in the '938 patent, there are a number of disadvantages associated with it that have, for example, limited further advancements in seal-type continuous dampeners. One such disadvantage is the necessity in the prior art configuration to include a lower extension spring to urge the lower portion of the backing plate, and consequently the lower portion of the seal, toward the line of contact between the form roller and the metering roller.
Further disadvantages include the need to continually clean the extension spring since its location assures that it is constantly subjected to becoming fouled by ink, paper dust, and offset powder. In addition, since the end-seal carrier cannot be readily removed from the dampener, it is particularly difficult to configure a dampener based on the '938 patent to fit a large printing press in that such a press requires removable rollers and the end-seal carriers obstruct such roller removal. Yet another disadvantage of the prior art end-seal carrier is the lack of flexibility in configuring the profile of the sideframes of the dampener since the spring tabs must be attached to the sideframes and located immediately beneath the metering roller.


Device for converting kinetic energy contained in a fluid, into mechanical energy, coupled to an either gaseous or liquid fluid mass outlet secondary conduit, constituted by a fixed main conduit receptor of said fluid mass and a movable conduit coaxially attached to an axial flow rotor and associated to an outer supporting frame, including this assembly a flange abutting with said fixed conduit; both conduits are assembled by a fitting device comprising a lid, sealing washers, bearings and retaining ring acting on spacing sleeves and a locking nut; the movable conduit attached to the rotor rotates along its axis and coaxial to said fixed conduit without a major axial displacement; within said rotor it is lodged a hub and a deflector capable of directing the fluid's flow toward passages within the hollow blades and their corresponding exits at the end of each blade, constituting each one of said exit outlets an ejector means for the fluid, thereby achieving the rotational movement of the rotor on its axis; attached to said rotor there is a driven shaft with coupling means to the shaft of the driven means, such as an electrical generator.

There are known in the art several published patents teaching devices, mechanisms or the like which are introduced herewith as prior art of this instant invention, owing their importance to their capability of generating driving power (either mechanical or electrical), according to the following mentions:                U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,98581 teaches a turbine and an electrical generator coupled to the former and placed at the outlet of an air conditioning equipment, taking the mass of outgoing air from said air conditioner as its mass of air input producing the rotating movement of said turbine.        U.K. Patent GB 2.173.260 shows a radial flow turbine and associated devices applied to the outlet of the exhaust of a vehicle's engine.        Spanish Patent ES 2.100.363 teaches a device converting the energy of an oscillating water head or column by making use of a turbine of a particular design for the generation of mechanical power.        The published European application EP 1,108,890, teaches an aeolian energy generator applicable to motor vehicles. This generator is formed by plurality of rotating bodies provided with radial blades attached to a single transversal shaft, placed into a broad and flattened conduit lying longitudinally between the lateral wheels of the vehicle and under its body or coach-work. This transversal shaft is rotably mounted by means of bearings coplanar to the upper surface of this conduit in such a manner that the upper part of the rotating bodies with their corresponding blades are showing over the upper surface and facing an horizontal opening therein provided. When the motor vehicle begins its displacement or travel, it creates under its body an air current oriented backward by said conduit. The bodies lodged within said conduit provided with the blades begins to rotate, thereby rotating the axis of an electrical generator attached to their shaft, thus converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy.        Other pertinent documents worth to mention are U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,390; U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,138; U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,850; U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,788; U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,104; ES-2,000,521. These documents divulge diverse constructions of devices, apparatus or mechanisms capable of converting the energy contained in a fluid's flow into work or mechanical energy.


Disclosed is a separation device of an ejector motor for a portable missile, capable of being separated from a missile without any additional separation devices after ejecting the missile. An ejection rocket motor and a separation device are integrally formed. Ejection is performed by a thrust generated while the ejection rocket motor is combusted, and separation is performed by cutting off shearing bolts with using a force generated from a separation cylinder when the combustion of the ejection rocket motor has been completed. This operation and configuration may minimize a weight and a space occupied by a general ejection and separation device in a missile system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a separable ejection device, and particularly, to a separation device of an ejector motor for a portable missile.
2. Background of the Invention
In general, a tactical missile is mounted inside a lunch tube and comes out of it according to a firing signal. Especially in a man-portable missile, exhaust plume of a rocket motor can hurt a gunner during the firing process, due to a short distance between the man-portable missile and the gunner. To eliminate the possibility, it is conventional to ignite the rocket motor after the missile is ejected and moved to a fixed distance away from the launch tube. The recent trend is to use a small rocket motor for this purpose since it is the simplest method to reduce a recoil force by ejection. The ejection rocket motor should be firmly attached to the missile before the missile is fired. However, it is desirable from the missile weight point of view to separate the ejection rocket motor from the missile after the ejection is completed.
It is a usual way to employ separate devices for the purpose of separation o the ejection system from the missile. The PAD (Propellant Actuated Device) is a typical example of the separation system. The device moves the separation piston using high pressure gas generated by burning a gunpowder or propellant. This device is not only expensive due to its very complicated structure, but also needs separate (additional) gunpowder and ignition system. There is another example of separation device which uses mechanical components. This kind of separation device consists of several components which joins the missile and the ejection system together. There components have the missile separate from the ejection system by mechanically interfering with the launch tube. This method is very simple in a structure, but can give a gunner an excessive impulsive shock.

Separation device of ejector motor for portable missile


A system for calculating control pulse duration for optimal stepper motor performance. Duration of control pulses to a stepper motor is increased until stepper motor function begins. The duration of control pulses continues to be increased. It is determined whether stepper motor failure is detected. In response to detecting a failure, the duration of control pulses at the time of the failure is recorded. The duration of control pulses is decreased until stepper motor function is restored. The duration of control pulses continues to be decreased. It is determined whether a second failure is detected. In response to detecting a second failure, the duration of control pulses at the time of the second failure is recorded. A control pulse duration is calculated that optimizes performance of the stepper motor using recorded control pulse duration data. The calculated control pulse duration is applied to the stepper motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and more specifically to a computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code for automatically determining control pulse duration to optimally drive a stepper motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stepper motor is a brushless, synchronous electric motor that divides a full motor rotation into a number of steps. Generally, a stepper motor is used in a variety of paper handling equipment, such as, printers, because the stepper motor is controllable by a digital signal, is capable of controlling a wide range of speed, is capable of highly accurate positioning, and is capable of changing rotating direction. As a result, one or more stepper motors may be used in a printer to move, for example, the print head and paper in the printing mechanism to produce highly accurate print jobs.
In printers, various driving data is prepared beforehand for each stepper motor. The driving data is stored, for example, in memory in the printer. A control unit, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor, executes firmware that utilizes the driving data to drive the stepper motor. The CPU outputs a control signal, which is usually a pulse signal, to control the operation of the stepper motor.

Automatically determining optimal pulse duration for a stepper motor

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a device to remove moisture from a side view mirror and adjacent side window of a vehicle. The device increases mirror clarity and can be installed on a side view mirror housing at the factory or as an after factory installation. The device prevents moisture from interfering with the operator's visual use of the mirror by utilizing the cleansing effects of existing air flow about the mirror housing during vehicle movement when it redirects the air flow past the mirror surface. The device also uses the air flow to prevent the build up of moisture on the adjacent side window of the vehicle. The device can be adapted to accommodate any existing vehicle mirror design that is incorporated into the door frame or in close proximity. The device is a semi-rigid mirror attachment that mounts on the mirror housing without obstructing the operator's field of vision. The device allows for easy installation, minimal change to vehicle appearance and requires no control by operator to perform the function of removing moisture from the mirror and window.

There have been many attempts to provide an apparatus for side view mirrors of a vehicle that remove moisture from the mirror surface due to interference with the operator's visual use of the mirror. Some of the attempts have been encumbered by the need for blower systems throughout the vehicle, where the blower system needs to be designed into the vehicle or mirror housing. Other attempts utilize mechanical components such as a wiper blade or wiper arm. Both of these mentioned attempts are relatively expensive and do not allow for the easy addition of such a device to an existing mirror already mounted to a vehicle. Still other attempts have produce devices which come between the vehicle operator and a usable portion of the mirror. This type of device provides viewing problems, whereby even if the device is transparent, it is prone to fogging due to environmental conditions.
It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, easily installed device to keep side view mirrors and front side windows free of moisture. Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is easy to manufacture which requires minimal maintenance by the operator. A further object of the invention is to channel or redirect air flowing over a mirror housing and onto the mirror and window surfaces, thereby preventing accumulation of moisture on the mirror and window surfaces without the operator being required to initiate, control or maintain this action. Yet another object of the invention is to perform the above objectives without obscuring the operator's field of vision.

Vehicle side view mirror clearing device


A network device can process a payload in an Interest packet. During operation, the network device can receive an Interest packet that includes a name or a name prefix associated with one or more target entities for the Interest. If the network device determines that the Interest packet includes a payload, the network node can analyze the Interest's name and/or payload to determine an operation to perform for processing the payload. The network device then proceeds to process the payload by performing the determined operation.

1. Field
This disclosure is generally related to computer networks. More specifically, this disclosure is related to an Interest packet that includes a name and a payload.
2. Related Art
The proliferation of mobile computing and cellular networks is making digital content more mobile than ever before. People can use their smartphones to generate content, to consume content, or even to provide Internet access to other computing devices that generate or consume content. Oftentimes, a device's network location can change as a person takes this device to a new physical location. This can make it difficult to communicate with this device under a traditional computer network (e.g., the Internet) when the device's new network location is not known.
To solve this problem, information-centric network architectures have been designed to facilitate accessing digital content based on its name, regardless of the content's physical or network location. These architectures allow a network device to obtain data from a content producer, regardless of the content producer's physical or network location, or from any other device that has cached the same piece of content. Content-centric Networking (CCN) or named-data networking is an example of an Information-centric networking architecture.
In CCN, Interests do not include a payload. Each Interest encodes the information necessary for reaching a content producer in the Interest's name. Some client devices attach additional information into an Interest's name to provide this information to the content producer. Unfortunately, there is a limit to the amount information that can be attached to the Interest's name. A name that is too large can cause routers to drop the Interest packet when the name does not fit into a pending interest table (PIT), or when the name does not match an entry in a forwarding information base (FIB).

Interest messages with a payload for a named data network


Digital signal processing generates IF modulated digital data which is then converted to analog using a high sample rate digital-to-analog converter (DAC) without first producing a baseband signal that is to be upconverted to IF. The digital data has a high sample rate that is a whole multiple of a specified IF signal. A DAC converts the digital data into a continuous waveform IF signal that is produced to a feed-forward filter that eliminates spectral copies of the signal. The sample rate is selected so that harmonic signals do not appear in specified signal bands. Various embodiments include sample rates of 104 and 338 MHz (GSM application). The 26 MHz IF filtered signal produced by the feed-forward filter is then produced to a translational loop that produces a corresponding output oscillation (RF transmit signal).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to wireless communications and, more particularly, wideband wireless communication systems.
2. Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards, including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.
Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, etc., communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels e.g., one of a plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connection between the wireless communication devices, the associated base stations and/or associated access points communicate with each other directly, via a system controller, via a public switch telephone network (PSTN), via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
Each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The data modulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifies the RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.
As is also known, the receiver is coupled to the antenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage (de-modulator). The low noise amplifier receives an inbound RF signal via the antenna and amplifies it. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the amplified RF signal with one or more local oscillations to convert the amplified RF signal into a baseband signal or an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. As used herein, the term "low IF" refers to both baseband and intermediate frequency signals. A filtering stage filters the low IF signals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce a filtered signal. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filtered signal in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard. Alternate designs being pursued at this time further include direct conversion radios that produce a direct frequency conversion often in a plurality of mixing steps or stages.
Phase locked loops (PLLs) are becoming increasingly popular in integrated wireless transceivers as components for frequency generation and modulation. PLLs are typically used for one of a variety of functions, including frequency translation to up-convert a baseband (BB) frequency to an intermediate frequency (IF) or to one of a BB frequency or IF to RF prior to amplification by a power amplifier and transmission (propagation). PLLs allow for a high degree of integration and, when implemented with the appropriate amount of programmability, can form a main building block for modulators that operate over a wide range of frequencies. Typically, a baseband processor produces a baseband digital data that is converted to a continuous waveform signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The continuous waveform signal is a BB frequency signal that requires up-converting to IF and then RF.
A class of PLL based transmitters, known as translational loops, have become particularly popular. Briefly, in a translational loop, the desired modulated spectrum is generated as some low IF or baseband signal and then is translated to the desired RF using a PLL. In applications with non-constant envelope modulation, a parallel path for amplitude variation modulates the output power amplifier to generate the desired amplitude variation.
FIG. 1 illustrates a translational loop transmitter in accordance with some current designs for use in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network. The example shows a so-called "quad" band transmitter, where four transmission bands are supported. Specifically, these bands are located in the 1900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 Mhz, and 800 MHz range. Generally, the transmitter of FIG. 1 includes a baseband processor that produces a low frequency digital signal that is converted by a DAC and is low-pass filtered to create a low frequency continuous waveform signal. A translational loop is then used to up-convert the low frequency continuous waveform signal to the desired transmission frequency for transmission from a power amplifier. Because this transmitter is utilized in a GSM network in which the information is conveyed in a phase-modulated carrier, the digital processor of the transmitter of FIG. 1 phase modulates the digital data.
More specifically, the transmitter of FIG. 1 includes a digital baseband processor, in-phase and quadrature digital-to-analog converters (DACs), corresponding low-pass re-construction filters, and analog baseband mixers. A summing node combines the mixer outputs, which are followed by low-pass filtering. The remaining components of the transmitter are a phase and frequency detector (PFD), a 26 MHz crystal reference, a charge pump, a loop low-pass filter (Loop Filter), a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a divide-by-2 module, a pair of offset mixers, as well as corresponding low-pass filters (LPFs). Radio frequency channel selection is achieved by employing a fractional-n (FRAC-N) frequency synthesizer.
A qualitative description of the operation of the translational loop is as follows. The sum of the mixing products of the baseband I & Q components with down-converted RF output I & Q components are low-pass filtered to generate a 26 MHz sinusoid whose excess phase component equals the difference between the desired baseband phase signal and the RF output phase signal. The 26 MHz IF is extracted by the PFD whose output is the phase error signal. As in any other properly designed PLL, the closed loop action of the loop causes the error signal to approach zero; hence, the phase of the RF output tracks the phase of the baseband signal, as desired.
FIG. 2A is a diagram that illustrates a power spectrum density (PSD) measured in decibels relative to the carrier (dBc) versus frequency measured in Mega-Hertz for the digital baseband processor of the radio transmitter of FIG. 1. As indicated, the sample rate of the digital processor for the GSM radio transmitter of FIG. 1 is 13 MHz. FIG. 2B illustrates the modulation error of a GSM translational loop transmitter as a function of baseband DC offset in % relative to full scale signal. FIG. 2C illustrates the modulation error of the example GSM translational loop transmitter as a function of baseband gain mismatch in % relative to full scale signal. Finally, FIG. 2D illustrates the modulation error of the example GSM translational loop transmitter as a function of RF phase imbalance in degrees.
The modulation performance of the translational loop architecture of FIG. 1 often degrades significantly in the presence of baseband DC offset as well as I/Q imbalances on the baseband side and the RF feedback path as may be seen in FIGS. 2A-2D. The negative impact of DC offset is particularly troublesome in low-voltage CMOS processes where it may constitute a significant fraction of the full-scale signal amplitude. In applications where relatively high modulation performance is required, such as in GSM cellular telephony, the modulation error introduced by DC offset and I/Q imbalances may exceed the permissible level even with application of careful analog design and calibration techniques intended to minimize these effects. For GSM cellular telephony, the root-mean-square (RMS) transmitter modulation error performance must be better than 5° and the peak modulation error must be better than 20°. It follows from FIGS. 2A-2D that for the transmitter of FIG. 1, baseband DC offsets should be limited to less-than 1% of the full scale signal, and the gain mismatch should be limited to less-than 3% for the transmitter to satisfy the modulation accuracy requirements. In particular, limiting DC offset to less than 1% of the full-scale signal is impractical or impossible in a low-voltage CMOS process, thus making it difficult to obtain these performance requirements.
Thus, a need exists for a modified translational loop RF transmitter architecture in which DC offset and I/Q imbalances do not pose limitations on transmitter modulation performance.

Translational loop RF transmitter architecture for GSM radio


A compact pedal exercise apparatus having a stand, a swing mechanism, pedal swing rods, cylinders, and motion link, to form an exercise apparatus with ease of operation. The pedal swing rods are pivotally attached to the stand and each swing rod has a cylinder damper between it and the stand. A movable height adjusting mechanism is interposed between the stand and the pedal swing rods so that a user may easily adjust the amount of movement of each pedal swing rod relative to the stand.

The progress of recent times along with the development of business, have resulted in an increased living standard throughout society. All the basic requirements, such as food, clothing, residence, and transportation are not only fulfilled, but are also comfortable. Most people enjoy the taste of delicious foods and the convenience of vehicles, so that they tend to eat too much and get insufficient exercise. Therefore people become overweight, and suffer other pathological changes due to lack of exercise. Some don`t have free time to exercise because of busy work; and some because the scarcity of sporting fields. Various exercise apparatus have been introduced into the market. The types and purposes of these apparatus are typically imitations of sport items or of general activities.

7F, No. 164, Nanking East Road, Section 4


A communications system incorporating a plurality of vehicle mounted web cams that collect video information and transmit the video information together with other local information via a wireless network to a server. The video streams from the web cams and associated information are available to users on a internet web page. Each camera has a specific identifier to permit users to access the video of specific individual cameras. Optimization software permits users to take virtual trips along predetermined routes. The system also permits sequential access to multiple video feeds from desired locations. Multiple alternative one way and two way video communication methods taking advantage of the network of mobile web cams are described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed toward web cameras and, more particularly, toward a communications system incorporating a series of mobile web cameras.
2. Description of Related Art
Cameras that collect video information and transmit streaming, video signals over the internet are well known in the art. Such cameras are referred to as web cams and are typically disposed at a fixed location. Depending upon the video information being transmitted, the servers and/or software associated with the web cams permit a specific audience or the general public to view the video feed. For example, the web cam may be mounted adjacent a video monitor and transmit the image of one computer user to only one other computer user. Systems incorporating such cameras are typically dedicated or linked for two-way video/audio communication, and require passwords or the like in order to access the video transmissions. As such, these systems are intended to serve as video telephones.
Other web cams are mounted in a fixed public place and are intended to provide the public with video information that is of general interest. For example, web cams have been used for remotely viewing the weather and traffic conditions.
Web cams are conventionally mounted at a fixed location to permit access to data transmission lines, thereby drastically limiting the application of web cam technology. Moreover, the systems known in the art do not permit a user or viewer of video transmissions to search multiple video transmissions from a network of web cams to identify a particular video transmission of interest.

Automobile web cam and communications system incorporating a network of automobile web cams


Fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a gate trench in an epitaxial layer overlaying a semiconductor substrate; depositing gate material in the gate trench; forming a body; forming a source; forming an active region contact trench that extends through the source and the body into a drain; forming a Schottky barrier controlling layer in the epitaxial layer in bottom region of the active region contact trench; and disposing a contact electrode within the active region contact trench. The Schottky barrier controlling layer controls Schottky barrier height of a Schottky diode formed by the contact electrode and the drain.

Power MOS devices are commonly used in electronic circuits. Depending on the application, different device characteristics may be desirable. One example application is a DC-DC converter, which includes a power MOS device as a synchronous rectifier (also referred to as the low side FET) and another power MOS device as a control switch (also referred to as the high side FET). The low side FET typically requires a small on-resistance to achieve good power switch efficiency. The high side FET typically requires a small gate capacitance for fast switching and good performance.
The value of a transistor's on-resistance (Rdson) is typically proportional to the channel length (L) and inversely proportional to the number of active cells per unit area (W). When choosing a value for Rdson, consideration should be given to the tradeoff between performance and breakdown voltage. To reduce the value of Rdson, the channel length can be reduced by using shallower source and body, and the number of cells per unit area can be increased by reducing the cell size. However, the channel length L is typically limited because of the punch-through phenomenon. The number of cells per unit area is limited by manufacturing technology and by the need to make a good contact to both the source and body regions of the cell. As the channel length and the cell density increase, gate capacitance also increases. Lower device capacitance is preferred for reduced switching losses. In some applications such as synchronous rectification, the stored charge and forward drop of the body diode also result in efficiency loss. These factors together tend to limit the performance of DMOS power devices.
It would be desirable if the on-resistance and the gate capacitance of DMOS power devices could be reduced from the levels currently achievable, so that the reliability and power consumption of the power switch could be improved. It would also be useful to develop a practical process that could reliably manufacture the improved DMOS power devices.

Fabrication of MOS device with schottky barrier controlling layer


An overwritable optical disk apparatus in which a finite conjugate optical system is employed. The apparatus comprises an optical head for converging diffused light from a light source onto an optical disk for performing data write/read operation, a driving unit for rotating the disk and a beam splitter for guiding the light reflected from the optical disk to a photodetector for detecting light reflected from the optical disk. Influence of disk displacement occurring in accompanying the rotation of the disk and disk eccentricity are suppressed to a minimum by encasing rotatably the optical disk within a credit card size casing which is adapted to be loaded and held stationarily in the optical disk apparatus. Thin structure of the optical head and miniaturization of the optical disk apparatus are realized with light utilization efficiency for data write/read operation being increased.

The present invention relates to an optical disk apparatus in which an optical head constituted by a finite conjugate optical system is employed. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an overwritable optical disk apparatus.
As a hitherto known optical disk system or apparatus equipped with an optical head in which a finite conjugate optical system is made use of, there can be mentioned an optical disk system which is designed only for reproduction or reading of data from a compact disk (known as CD for short) or the like.
Concerning the optical head which is based on the finite conjugate optical system and destined for use in reproduction of the CD, there has already proposed for practical applications an optical system of a simplified structure such as described, for example, in Sigeo Kubota: "HIKARI DISUKU YOU NO PIKKU APPU NO KOCATA, KEIRYOU, KANSOKA (IMPLEMENTATION OF PICK-UP FOR OPTICAL DISK IN MINIATURIZED AND SIMPLIFIED STRUCTURE OF LIGHT WEIGHT), KOUGAKU (OPTICS)", Vol. 16, No. 8 (1987). A light beam emitted from a light source constituted by a semiconductor laser such as typified by a laser diode is guided to an objective lens through the medium of a half mirror, whereby the light beam is converged into a light spot on an optical disk. The light reflected from the optical disk is picked up by an objective lens and directed to a photodetector by way of the abovementioned half mirror. The light beam traveling along the optical path extending between the laser diode and the objective lens is not collimated. This optical system of this type is therefore referred to as the finite conjugate optical system.
In the optical disk system or apparatus, there take place unavoidably disk displacement or disk fluttering as well as eccentricity in the course of rotation of the optical disk. Under the circumstances, there are required a focusing control mechanism for causing a point of light convergence or focused light spot to lie always on a recording surface of the optical disk and a tracking control mechanism for controlling the light spot so that it follows one and the same track. Such focusing and the tracking control can be realized by moving correspondingly the objective lens in two axial directions by means of a two-dimensional actuator. The signal for this control has to be derived from the light reflected from the optical disk.
In conjunction with the focusing and tracking control mentioned above, the finite conjugate optical system suffers a problem that because the lens is moved in the atmosphere of the diffused light flux, the focusing and the tracking are accompanied with appearance of aberration, making it impossible or at least difficult to condense or converge the light beam satisfactorily, resulting unwantedly in deformation of the light spot produced by converging the light. Besides, the finite conjugate optical system suffers such difficulty that efficiency of utilization of light energy (hereinafter also referred to as light utilization efficiency) undergoes fluctuation to thereby bring about undesirable variation in the light energy level on the disk recording surface. For these reasons, it is generally considered that the finite conjugate optical system can not find application in the optical disk apparatus of the write-once and rewritable types in which high light energy demanded on a recording surface of the optical disk.