An RF driver circuit and an orthogonal antenna assembly/configuration, are disclosed as part of a method and system for generating high density plasma. The antenna assembly is an orthogonal antenna system that may be driven by any RF generator/circuitry with suitable impedance matching to present a low impedance. The disclosed RF driver circuit uses switching type amplifier elements and presents a low output impedance. The disclosed low-output impedance RF driver circuits eliminate the need for a matching circuit for interfacing with the inherent impedance variations associated with plasma. Also disclosed is the choice for capacitance or an inductance value to provide tuning for the RF plasma source.

Plasma is generally considered to be a fourth state of matter, the others being solid, liquid and gas states. In the plasma state the elementary constituents of a substance are substantially in an ionized form rendering them useful for many applications due to, inter alia, their enhanced reactivity, energy, and suitability for the formation of directed beams.
Plasma generators are routinely used in the manufacture of electronic components, integrated circuits, and medical equipment, and in the operation of a variety of goods and machines. For example, plasma is extensively used to deposit layers of a desired substance, for instance following a chemical reaction or sputtering from a source, to etch material with high precision, and to sterilize objects by the free radicals in the plasma or induced by the plasma or to modify surface properties of materials.
Plasma generators based on radio frequency ("RF") power supplies are often used in experimental and industrial settings since they provide a ready plasma source, and are often portable and easy to relocate. Such plasma is generated by coupling the RF radiation to a gas, typically at reduced pressure (and density), causing the gas to ionize. In any RF plasma production system, the plasma represents a variable load at the antenna terminals as the process conditions changes. Among other process control factors, changes in working gas and pressure affect the amount of loading seen at the antenna terminals. In addition, the amplitude of the RF drive waveform itself affects the plasma temperature and density, which in turn also affects the antenna loading. Thus the antenna/plasma combination represents a non-constant and nonlinear load for the RF power source to drive.
A typical RF source has a 50 ohm output impedance, and requires a load that presents a matching 50 ohm impedance in order for the RF source to couple to the load most efficiently. Because of the often unpredictable changes in the plasma self inductance, effective resistance, and mutual inductance to the antenna, provision for impedance matching is made by retuning some circuit elements and possibly the plasma to obtain satisfactory energy transfer from the RF source to the generated plasma. To achieve this, an adjustable impedance matching network, or "matching box" is typically used to compensate for the variation in load impedance due to changes in plasma conditions. The matching box typically contains two independent tunable components, one that adjusts the series impedance and the other that adjusts the shunt impedance. These components must be adjusted in tandem with each other in order to achieve the optimum power transfer to the plasma. Not surprisingly, accurate tuning of these components is often a difficult process. Typically, retuning requires manual/mechanical operations/actuators to adjust one or more component values and generally sophisticated feedback circuitry for the rather limited degree of automation possible.
It is well known that the application of a sufficiently large electric field to a gas separates electrons from the positively charged nuclei within the gas atoms, thus ionizing the gas and forming the electrically conductive fluid-like substance known as plasma. Coupling radio frequency electric and magnetic fields to the gas generates, via an antenna, induces currents within this ionized gas. This, in turn, causes the gas to further ionize, and thereby increasing its electrical conductivity, which then increases the efficiency with which the antenna fields couple to the charged particles within the gas. This leads to an increase in the induced currents, resulting in the electrical breakdown and substantial ionization of the gas by various mechanisms. The effectiveness of the RF coupling is dependent upon the particular RF fields and/or waves that are used. Some types of waves that are suitable for the efficient production of large volumes of plasma are described next.
Whistler waves are right-hand-circularly-polarized electromagnetic waves (sometimes referred to as R-waves) that can propagate in an infinite plasma that is immersed in a static magnetic field Bo. If these waves are generated in a finite plasma, such as a cylinder, the existence of boundary conditions—i.e. the fact that the system is not infinite—cause a left-hand-circularly-polarized mode (L-wave) to exist simultaneously, together with an electrostatic contribution to the total wave field. These "bounded Whistler" are known as Helicon waves. See Boswell, R. W., Plasma Phys. 26,1147 (1981). Their interesting and useful qualities include: (1) production and sustenance of a relatively high-density plasma with an efficiency greater than that of other RF plasma production techniques, (2) plasma densities of up to Np˜1014 particles per cubic centimeter in relatively small devices with only a few kW of RF input power, (3) stable and relatively quiescent plasmas in most cases, (4) high degree of plasma uniformity, and (5) plasma production over a wide pressure range, from a fraction of a mTorr to many tens of mTorr. Significant plasma enhancement associated with helicon mode excitation is observed at relatively low Bo-fields, which are easily and economically produced using inexpensive components.
Significant plasma density (Np) enhancement and uniformity may be achieved by excitation of a low-field m=+1 helicon R-wave in a relatively compact chamber with Bo<150 G. This may be achieved, for instance, through the use of an antenna whose field pattern resembles, and thus couples to, one or more helicon modes that occupy the same volume as the antenna field. The appropriate set of combined conditions include the applied magnetic field Bo, RF frequency (FRF),), the density Np itself, and physical dimensions.
Some antenna designs for coupling RF power to a plasma are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,792,732, 6,264,812 and 6,304,036. However, these designs are relatively complex often requiring custom components that increase the cost of system acquisition and maintenance. Moreover, not all of the designs are suitable for efficient generation of the helicon mode, which is a preferred mode disclosed herein.
RF power sources typically receive an external RF signal as input or include an RF signal generating circuit. In many processing applications, this RF signal is at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, although this invention is not limited to operation at this frequency. This signal is amplified by a power output stage and then coupled via an antenna to a gas/plasma in a plasma generator for the production of plasma. Amplifiers are conventionally divided into various classes based on their performance characteristics such as efficiency, linearity, amplification, impedance, and the like, and intended applications. In power amplification, an important concern is the amount of power wasted as heat, since heat sinks must be provided to dissipate the heat and, in turn, increase the size of devices using an inefficient amplifier. A classification of interest is the output impedance presented by an amplifier since it sets inherent limitations on the power wasted by an amplifier.
Typical RF amplifiers are designed to present a standard output impedance of 50 Ohms. Since, the voltage across and current through the output terminals of such an amplifier are both non-zero, their product provides an estimate of the power dissipated by the amplifier. In contrast to such amplifiers, a switch presents two states: it is either ON, corresponding to a short circuit, i.e., low impedance, or OFF, corresponding to an open circuit, i.e., infinite (or at least a vary large) impedance. In switched mode amplifiers, the amplifier element acts as a switch under the control of the signal to be amplified. By suitably shaping the signals, for instance with a matching load network, it is possible to introduce a phase difference between the current and the voltage such that they are out of phase to minimize the power dissipation in the switch element. In other words, if the current is high, the voltage is low or even zero and vice versa. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,919,656 and 5,187,580 disclose various voltage/current relationships for reducing or even minimizing the power dissipated in a switched mode amplifier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,935 discloses switched mode RF amplifiers and matching load networks in which the impedance presented at the desired frequency is high while harmonics of the fundamental are short circuited to better stabilize the RF power source in view of plasma impedance variations. These matching networks add to the complexity for operation with a switched mode power supply rather than eliminate the dynamic matching network.
The problems faced in efficient plasma generator design include the need for a low maintenance and easily configured antenna, the elimination of expensive and limited matching networks to couple the RF power source to the non-linear dynamic impedance presented by a plasma, and efficient RF power sources.

Plasma production device and method and RF driver circuit


In a magnetic disk apparatus, a head positioning signal is written on a magnetic disk, the written positioning signal is read out, the read positioning signal is demodulated to produce a position signal, and a data write/read head is positioned to a predetermined track in responses to the produced position signal. A head positioning signal is written into write tracks adjacent to each other along a radial direction of the magnetic head, the positioning signal is read out by tracing a read track bridging the write tracks, and a positioning error of the head positioning signal is generated from a shift of the read positioning signal with respect to the read track. Furthermore, the position signal is over-written by actuating the write head in the radial direction according to the positioning error.

The present invention generally relates to a method for writing a magnetic head positioning signal into a magnetic disk, and also to an apparatus capable of writing a magnetic head positioning signal to a magnetic disk. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method for writing a magnetic head positioning signal, to a writing apparatus thereof, and to a positioning-signal write head, and furthermore to a magnetic disk apparatus (HDA) containing a magnetic disk manufactured by the above-described method, which are suitable for canceling a positioning error caused by an unequal thickness of a magnetic film of a magnetic disk, and also by an unbalanced distribution of magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film.
A conventional apparatus for writing a magnetic head positioning signal employed in a conventional magnetic disk apparatus utilizes a laser length measuring machine or the like as a position detector and also utilizes a positioning control system in which a voice coil motor (hereinafter referred to as a "VCM") is used as a drive source. Thus, a positioning-signal write/ read head is positioned to a predetermined position on a radius of the magnetic disk, and then the positioning signals are then sequentially written on the respective tracks of the magnetic disk in a unit of one track from an outer diameter side thereof As a consequence, the positioning errors are contained in the positioning signal, which are synchronized with rotations of the magnetic disk and caused by an unequal (uneven) thickness of a magnetic film due to a surface shape of a magnetic disk substrate, and by an unequal distribution of magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film.
A description will now be made of the above-described positioning error contained in the positioning signal in more detail FIG. 1 represents a magnetic disk plane for writing a positioning signal. The positioning signal is over-written into write tracks W(n-1), W(n), W(n+1), W(n+2) and so on by the positioning-signal write unit 4g (see FIG. 6) of the head slider part of the magnetic head. Subsequently, the positioning-signal read unit 4f of the head slider part of the magnetic head is sequentially positioned onto read tracks R(n-2), R(n-1), R(n), R(n+1) and R(n+2), whereby the positioning signals written on the magnetic disk in a coaxial form are sequentially read out. It should be noted, as shown in FIG. 1, that the write tracks W(n-1), W(n), W(n+1) and W(n+2) are positionally and mutually shifted with respect to the read tracks R(n-2), R(n-1), R(n), R(n+1) and R(n+2) by 1/2 track pitch
As a result, assuming now that the positioning-signal read unit 4f is positioned to the read track Rn, this positioning-signal read unit 4f reads out the positioning signals which have been written on both of the write track Wn and the write track W(n+1), a position signal proportional to a difference in the signals output from both of these write tracks, is formed by a demodulator (not shown), and then a plurality of magnetic heads (not shown) are positioned to predetermined tracks in response to this position signal
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the magnetic disk plane shown in FIG. 1, taken along a line II--II illustrated in FIG. 1. As represented in the drawing, the positioning-signal read unit 4f is floated on the write tracks Wn and W(n+1) (on the read track R(n)) this is. Since the positioning signals written into the write tracks W(n) and W(n+1) are brought into a saturation writing state, the outputs thereof are directly proportional to both a thickness of a magnetic film at the write tracks W(n) and W(n+1) under the positioning-signal read unit 4f, and the amount of magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film. It should be noted that the thickness of the magnetic film 2d is varied in accordance with surface machining precision of the magnetic disk substrate 2c, whereas the amount of magnetic powder (indicated by a dot in FIG. 2) is changed, depending upon the unequal distribution.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a description will be made of adverse influences caused by the unequal thickness of the magnetic film and also the unequal distribution of the magnetic powder, and also given to the positioning signals It should be noted that FIG. 3 only represents the vibration components of the position signals in synchronism with the rotation of the magnetic disk. In FIG. 3, an ordinate is indicated by a value which is obtained by converting the vibration component of the position signal into the positioning error amount, whereas an abscissa is indicated by a rotation angle of the magnetic disk It should be understood that the position signal shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the output of the position signal when the positioning-signal read unit 4 is positioned over the read track R(n) shown in FIG. 1, and the vibrations of the position signal corresponding to the head travel distance of about 3 .mu.m happen to occur, due to the unequal thickness of the magnetic film and the unequal distribution of the magnetic powder contained therein Since the vibrations of the position signal are caused by the unequal thickness of the magnetic film of the magnetic disk and also the unequal distribution of the magnetic powder contained therein, the vibrations are synchronized with the rotation of the magnetic disk.
With respect to such vibrations of the position signal caused by the uneven distribution of the magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film, the conventional writing apparatus employs the following measurement. That is to say, after the positioning signals have been written into the entire plane of the magnetic disk, the positioning signals are read out by the read head and demodulated to obtain position signals Then, amplitudes of the vibrations of the position signals are measured, and also the track pitches are measured If the measurement results exceed the specification values, the positioning signals are rewritten in the same manner, or the present magnetic disk is replaced by a new magnetic disk for rewriting the positioning signals thereto Also, various improvements have been performed in the surface machining precision of the magnetic disk substrate so that the thickness of the magnetic film could be uniformly made and the distribution of the magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film could be equally made, whereby the vibrations of the position signals could be improved
Heretofore, the positioning errors which are caused by the unequal distribution of the magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film and also are synchronized with the rotation of the magnetic disk, are smaller than the track pitch for recording the data Also the adverse influences by these positioning errors and given to the positioning precision on the data write/read (R/W) head, are relatively low. However, there is a problem in the adjustments or corrections of the positioning errors which are synchronized with the rotation of the magnetic disk, since the track pitches become narrower due to high data recording density.
The above-described conventional positioning-signal write method and apparatus are known from, for example, JP-A-64-48276, which describes a measurement for preventing the vibrations of the magnetic disk caused by the mechanical rotation vibrations of the rotating mechanism for rotating the magnetic disk.
As previously described in the prior art, no care is taken into the positioning errors which are caused by the unequal thickness of the magnetic film of the magnetic disk substrate and the unequal distribution of the magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film and also are synchronized with the rotation of the magnetic disk As a consequence, when the data recording track pitches are narrowed in accordance with an increased recording capacity of the magnetic disk recording apparatus, the above-described positioning errors synchronized with the magnetic disk may cause a large adverse influence to the positioning precision of the data write/read head, and therefore may impede the high data recording density.
Moreover, the above-explained conventional improvements in achieving the uniform thickness of the magnetic film and also the uniform distribution of the magnetic powder contained in the magnetic film, due to the surface machining precision of the magnetic disk substrate, will induce a high cost. Additionally, since there is a limitation in the surface machining precision of the magnetic disk substrate, such a conventional surface machining precision does not improve the positioning precision required for the high data recording density.

Method and apparatus for writing magnetic head positioning signal


A method of heating an adhesive including the steps of placing a dielectrically heatable adhesive between first and second members. A high frequency electric field is applied between the first and second members sufficient to dielectrically heat the adhesive. The surface temperature of the first member is measured in the vicinity near the adhesive. The electric field is removed after the measured temperature reaches a predefined amount. The invention anticipates measuring the infrared radiation emitted from the surface of the first member and is measured with an infrared detector. A controller receives the measured infrared radiation and compares it to stored values. After the measured temperature reaches a predefined value or values, the controller sends a signal to an RF generator to remove the electric fields.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of dielectrically heating an adhesive. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of monitoring the state of cure in a dielectrically heatable adhesive.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to dielectrically heat an adhesive between two electrodes. A radio frequency (RF) electric field is created by an RF generator. The RF field causes polar and ionic molecules within the adhesive to oscillate and create heat within the adhesive. The method of dielectrically heating an adhesive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,737, and is incorporated herein by reference. Heretofore, the amount of dielectric heating has either been analytically calculated based on known formulas and properties of the materials being heated, or determined by experimentation. Process variables, including the exact composition of the dielectrically heatable adhesive, thickness of the adhesive layer, the dielectric constant of the members being joined, and environmental factors such as ambient temperature and humidity all influence the rate of dielectric heating. These process variables have not been accounted for in prior devices.
The amount of dielectric heating is directly related to the state of cure of the adhesive. This state of cure determines the amount of dielectric heating required to achieve a desired bond strength. It has previously been known to measure the plate current between the two electrodes to estimate the state of cure of the adhesive. The plate current measurement is an estimation of the average state of cure of the entire bond line. It does not measure the state of cure of a particular area. Sections that have less adhesive, or that are more susceptible to dielectric heating are averaged into the plate current measurement. These areas may experience over or under heating.
It is also known to embed a fiber optic temperature sensor within the adhesive to continuously monitor its temperature. Contact temperature measurements such as the photo optic method described require access to the adhesive through an apature in the part and very expensive and delicate instruments. This temperature measurement process is generally only suitable for experimental or developmental purposes. The temperature sensor often is damaged or trapped in the adhesive.
It is desirable to measure the adhesive temperature without contacting the adhesive or the members to be bonded. It is further desirable to measure the temperature at any point along the mating surfaces between the members. These and other advantages, features and objects of the present invention will be more fully described in the following specifications with reference to the attached drawing.

Method for dielectrically heating an adhesive


Methods and apparatus for prompting a user to enter currency of a first country including at least one of notes and coins into a foreign exchange kiosk; applying one or more currency exchange rates to a total of the entered currency to compute a converted currency amount of a second country; and conducting a money transfer with a third party based on the converted currency amount.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for facilitating a currency exchange transaction.
An international traveler, such as a tourist, a businessman, etc., may arrive in a foreign country and obtain local currency with which to conduct purchasing transactions, such as buying food, traveling, paying for hotel accommodations, etc. After completing their business and/or pleasure activities, the international traveler may arrive at the airport, railway station, and/or seaport and wish to exchange the local currency remaining from their visit, particularly coins.
Unfortunately, the international traveler's options to exchange the local currency into his or her native currency are limited. Indeed, long lines and inconvenient locations associated with manual currency exchange booths are commonplace. Further, the international traveler is often prohibited from exchanging coins. Still further, the traveler is limited in the type of currency he or she receives, i.e., cash.
Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new methods and apparatus for facilitating currency exchanges that are more convenient, permit the exchange of coins, and/or permit the traveler to select the type of currency he or she receives.

Methods and apparatus for facilitating a currency exchange transaction


A power steering control system is provided with a road surface reaction torque detector in which a motor inertia torque is subtracted from a value obtained by adding steering torque and motor torque, and the value is passed through two stages of primary filters to obtain a road surface reaction torque. In such a computation, the inertia term of the steering wheel manipulation force does not depend on frequency and high frequency components do not bring about any unusually large steering wheel return force. Therefore, a driver can drive without difficulty in adapting to the power steering.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an improvement in an electric power steering control system in which an electric motor generates torque for assisting steering torque generated by driver""s steering wheel manipulation.
2. Background Art
A power steering control system is used as a system in which driving force of another power source (such as a hydraulic pump or an electric motor) assists driver""s steering wheel manipulation to reduce driver""s force necessary for manipulation of the steering wheel and facilitate manipulation of the steering wheel. In the following description, a system in which an electric motor is used as the foregoing another power source is referred to as an electric power steering control system in order to distinguish the system from other systems.
An example of an electric power steering control system, FIG. 10 shows a construction of a system described in Japanese Patent Application No. 016026/2000 previously filed by the applicant. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 is an electric motor (hereinafter simply referred to as motor) for driving the steering system (not shown). Numeral 1 is a steering torque detector (which is referred to as steering torque detecting means) for detecting a steering torque generated by driver""s steering wheel manipulation (not shown) and outputs a steering torque signal. Numeral 2 is a steering torque controller (which is referred to as steering assist controlling means) for computing a steering assist torque signal on the basis of the steering torque signal. Numeral 17 is a return torque compensator which outputs a steering wheel return assist torque signal for generating a torque of the motor 10 in the direction of returning the steering wheel to a starting point on the basis of a road surface reaction torque signal which is an output of a road surface reaction torque detector 15. Numeral 5 is a motor speed detector, numeral 3 is a damping compensator which receives a motor speed signal and compensates its damping, numeral 4 is an inertia compensator, numeral 6 is a motor acceleration detector, numeral 7 is a motor current determiner, numeral 9 is a motor drive, numeral 11 is a motor current detector, numeral 12 is a first adder, numeral 13 is a second adder, and numeral 14 is a speed detector.
Numeral 15S is a road surface reaction torque detector provided with a low-pass filter. The road surface reaction torque detector 15S computes a road surface reaction torque signal on a S/W of a microcomputer on the basis of a steering torque signal which is an output of the steering torque detector 1, a motor acceleration signal which is an output of the motor acceleration detector 6, and a motor current value outputted by the motor current detector 11. Then, the road surface reaction torque detector 15S outputs the road surface reaction torque signal. FIG. 12 shows a diagram for explaining the processing operation of the road surface reaction torque detector 15S in the computation, and the computation is described later in detail.
Operation of the electric power steering control system of FIG. 12 is described below with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 11.
First, in Step S301, a steering torque signal detected by the steering torque detector 1 is read and stored in a memory. Next, in Step S302, a motor speed signal detected by the motor speed detector 5 is read and stored in the memory. In Step S303, the motor acceleration detector 6 differentiates the motor speed signal, and a motor acceleration signal is obtained and stored in the memory. In Step S304, a motor current signal is read and stored in the memory.
Then, in Steps S305 to S306, the following computation is conducted in the road surface reaction torque detector 15S, and a road surface reaction torque signal is obtained.
First, in Step S305, a stationary reaction force signal Txe2x80x2rea-est is obtained from the fogoing Equation (1) using a steering torque signal Tsens, a motor acceleration signal dxcfx89 equivalent to a rotational acceleration of the steering shaft, and a motor current signal Imtr.
Txe2x80x2rea-est=Tsens+Ktxc2x7Imtrxe2x88x92Jxc2x7dxcfx89xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where:
Kt: torque constant of the motor (computed in terms of steering shaft)
J: moment of inertia of the steering mechanism
Next, in Step 306, the low-pass filter arranged in the road surface reaction torque detector 15S conducts a primary filter computation as shown in the following Equation (2) to obtain a road surface reaction torque signal Trea-est, and this road surface reaction torque signal Trea-est is stored in the memory.
dTrea-est/dt=xe2x88x92Trea-est/T1+Txe2x80x2rea-est/T1 xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
where: T1 is a time constant of a primary filter in Equation (2), and is established so that a cutoff frequency fc=1/(2xcfx80xc2x7T1) may be in the range of 0.05 Hz to 1.0 Hz.
Next, in Steps S307 to S308, in the steering torque controller 2, the steering torque signal is passed through a phase compensator and phase-compensated, mapping operation is conducted with respect to the phase-compensated steering torque signal, and a steering assist torque signal is obtained and stored in the memory.
In Step S309, in the return torque compensator 17, mapping operation is conducted for the foregoing road surface reaction torque signal Trea-est, and a steering wheel return assist torque signal is obtained and stored in the memory.
In Step S310, in the damping compensator 3, a damping compensation signal is obtained by multiplying the motor speed signal and the proportional gain and the product is stored in the memory.
In Step S311, in the inertia compensator 4, an inertia compensation signal is obtained by multiplying the motor acceleration signal and the proportional gain and is stored in the memory.
Next, advancing to Step S312, the first adder 12 adds the steering assist torque signal, steering wheel return assist torque signal, damping compensation signal, and inertia compensation signal obtained in the foregoing Steps S308 to S311, thus a target torque is obtained and stored in the memory.
In Step S313, in the motor current determiner 7, a target current is obtained by multiplying the target torque obtained in the foregoing step S312 by a gain, and the target current is stored in the memory. The gain obtained at this time is an inverse (reciprocal) of the torque constant of the motor 10 computed in terms of steering shaft.
The foregoing Steps S301 to S313 are repeated.
Described below is the reason why it is possible to detect the road surface reaction torque from the foregoing Equation (1) and Equation (2).
The equation of motion of the steering mechanism is expressed by the following Equation (3).
Jxc2x7dxcfx89s/dt=Thdl+Tmtrxe2x88x92Tfricxe2x88x92Treactxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
where:
dxcfx89s/dt: rotational acceleration of the steering shaft
Thdl: steering torque
Tmtr: motor output torque (computed in terms of steering shaft)
Tfric: friction torque in the steering mechanism
Treact: road surface reaction torque (computed in terms of steering shaft)
When solving the foregoing Equation (3) for the road surface reaction torque Treact, the following Equation (4) is obtained.
Treact=Thdl+Tmtrxe2x88x92Jxc2x7dxcfx89s/dtxe2x88x92Tfricxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
Accordingly, the road surface reaction torque Treact is obtained by using the respective values of the steering torque, motor output torque, rotational acceleration of the steering shaft, and friction torque in the steering mechanism. In this respect, it is possible to use the steering torque signal Tsens as the steering torque Thdl, and it is possible to use a value obtained by multiplying the motor current signal Imtr by the torque constant Kt as the motor output torque Tmtr. It is also possible to use the motor acceleration signal dxcfx89 as the rotational acceleration of the steering shaft (d xcfx89s/dt). After all, it becomes possible to detect the road surface reaction torque excluding influence of the friction torque Tfric in the steering mechanism from the foregoing Equation (1).
On the other hand, the friction torque Tfric acts as a relay on the speed of revolution of the steering mechanism. It is well known that the relay can be equivalently expressed in the form of gain and phase by equivalent linearization method in the field of control engineering. Accordingly, when the gain and phase of the stationary reaction force signal Txe2x80x2rea-est detected in the foregoing Equation (1) are regulated by the primary filter in the foregoing Equation (2), the road surface reaction torque signal Txe2x80x2rea-est is obtained.
That is to say, the primary filter (low-pass filter) is used as the most popular method for regulating the gain and phase as shown in FIG. 12. The range in which the gain and phase can be regulated by the primary filter is a frequency range not lower than the cutoff frequency. When establishing the cutoff frequency in the range of 0.5 to 1 times the frequency to be regulated, the gain can be regulated within the range of approximately 1 to 0.5 times and the phase can be regulated within the range of 0 to 20 deg. Thus, the influence of the friction torque can be cancelled in most cases. The steering frequency generally used in vehicles is in the range of approximately 0.1 to 1 Hz. That is, when establishing the cutoff frequency in the range of 0.5 to 1 times the foregoing steering frequency, i.e., approximately 0.05 Hz to 1 Hz, it is possible to cancel the influence of the friction torque. In addition, the specific cutoff frequency is established aiming toward a steering frequency, on which control based on the detected road surface reaction torque signal is desired, that works most effectively.
As described above, in the power steering system of FIG. 12, the influence of the term (Jxc2x7dxcfx89s/dt) which is equivalent to the inertia of the motor, increases in proportion to square of the frequency, while the primary filter is used as the low-pass filter of the road surface reaction torque detector. As a result, the influence of the inertia of the motor increases in proportion to the frequency components of the force of manipulating the steering wheel as shown in the following Equation (5):
Jxc2x7f2/(T1xc2x7f+1)≈Jxc2x7f/T1 xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
Therefore, an error in the term which is equivalent to the inertia of the motor due to detection error of the rotational acceleration of the steering shaft (dxcfx89s/dt) or estimation error of the moment of inertia (J) of the steering mechanism increases in proportion to the steering wheel manipulation. As a result, a problem exists in that when manipulating the steering wheel in a quick cycle which includes a lot of high frequency components (hereinafter referred to as high frequency steering), the motor generates unnatural steering wheel return torque and the steering wheel becomes unusually heavy.
The present invention was made to resolve the above-discussed problems and has an object of providing a power steering system in which any unnatural steering wheel return torque is not generated and the steering wheel does not become unusually heavy even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation under high-frequency.
An electric power steering control system according to the invention comprises:
an electric motor which generates a torque for assisting a steering torque generated by driver""s steering wheel manipulation;
steering torque detecting means for detecting the steering torque;
motor current detecting means for detecting a current flowing in the motor; and
first road surface reaction torque means for obtaining a road surface reaction torque detection value by passing a value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current through filters formed by plural stages of primary low-pass filters connected in series.
As a result of such construction, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
Another electric power steering control system according to the invention comprises:
an electric motor which generates a torque for assisting a steering torque;
steering torque detecting means for detecting the steering torque;
motor current detecting means for detecting a current flowing in the motor;
rotational acceleration detecting means for detecting a rotational acceleration of the electric motor; and
second road surface reaction torque detecting means for obtaining a road surface reaction torque detection value by passing a value obtained by subtracting a motor inertia torque computed in terms of steering shaft from an output of the rotational acceleration detecting means from a value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current through filters formed by plural stages of primary low-pass filters connected in series.
As a result of such construction, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
It is preferable that the electric power steering control system is provided with a limiter for limiting the value obtained by subtracting the motor inertia torque computed in terms of steering shaft from an output of the rotational acceleration detecting means from the value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current not to exceed a predetermined value.
As a result of such construction, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
It is preferable that the plural stages of primary low-pass filters include at least one filter whose time constant is not less than 0.05 Hz and not more than 1 Hz and at least one filter whose time constant is not less than 1 Hz and not more than 3 Hz.
As a result, the driver can drive without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
A further electric power steering control system according to the invention comprises:
an electric motor which generates a torque for assisting a steering torque;
steering torque detecting means for detecting the steering torque;
motor current detecting means for detecting a current flowing in the motor;
a limiter for limiting the value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current not to exceed a predetermined value; and
third road surface torque detecting means for obtaining a road surface reaction torque value by passing the mentioned value through a low-pass filter.
As a result of such construction, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
A still further electric power steering control system according to the invention comprises:
an electric motor which generates a torque for assisting a steering torque;
steering torque detecting means for detecting the steering torque;
motor current detecting means for detecting a current flowing in the motor;
rotational acceleration detecting means for detecting a rotational acceleration of the electric motor;
a limiter for limiting a value obtained by subtracting a motor inertia torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the rotational acceleration from a value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque of the electric motor computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current not to exceed a predetermined value; and
fourth road surface reaction torque detecting means for obtaining a road surface reaction torque detection value by passing the mentioned value through a low-pass filter.
As a result of such construction, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
A method for controlling an electric power steering control system according to the invention comprises the steps of:
detecting a steering torque generated by steering wheel manipulation;
detecting a current of an electric motor which generates a torque for assisting the steering torque;
detecting a rotational acceleration of the electric motor; and
detecting a road surface reaction torque for obtaining a road surface reaction torque detection value by passing a value obtained by subtracting a motor inertia torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the rotational acceleration from a value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current through primary low-pass filters formed by plural stages of primary low-pass filters connected in series.
As a result of such control method, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
Another method for controlling an electric power steering control system according to the invention comprises the steps of:
detecting a steering torque generated by steering wheel manipulation;
detecting a current of an electric motor which generates a torque for assisting the steering torque;
detecting a rotational acceleration of the electric motor;
limiting a value obtained by subtracting a motor inertia torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the rotational acceleration from a value obtained by adding the steering torque and a motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current not to exceed a predetermined value; and
detecting a road surface reaction torque for obtaining a road surface reaction torque detection value by passing the mentioned value through a low-pass filter.
As a result of such control method, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.
It is also preferable that the electric power steering control system is provided with a limiter for limiting the value obtained by adding the steering torque and the motor torque computed in terms of steering shaft from the motor current not to exceed a predetermined value.
As a result of such construction, even when conducting a steering wheel manipulation containing high frequency components, any unusually large steering wheel return torque is not generated. Thus, it is possible to achieve a power steering control system by which a driver can drive his vehicle without feeling something like difficulty in adapting himself to the power steering.

Electric power steering control system and method for controlling electric power steering control system


The present invention relates to a device for controlling a brake (11) of a wheeled walking frame (10) provided with a handle (12), including a control device (25) movably connected to the brake (11) via a connector (24) for controlling the braking effect using hand power, the control device (25) being displaceable between an idle position without braking effect and at least one braking position for braking effect. The control device (25) is movably connected to a cover (23) of the handle (12), which cover (23) is designed for receiving and partially encasing the control device (25), the control device (25) being, in the idle position, at least partially retracted into the cover (23) so that the cover (23) and the control device (25) form the handle (25). Furthermore, the control device (25) is displaceable from the idle position further into the cover (23) to the braking position while effecting the connector (24). The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a brake (11) of a wheeled walking frame (10) provided with a handle (12).

There are several different types of devices for controlling brakes of wheeled walking frames in the prior art. Such a type of device is shown and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,065. U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,065 shows and describes a hand-brake system for a wheeled walking frame, which hand-brake system includes a control device arranged at a handle of the walking frame for controlling the brake of the walking frame. The control device is connected to the brake via a steel wire, the brake being activated by the effect of the steel wire. The control device is designed in the form of a rotatable and closed loop, in which a user can insert the hand and turn the control device in the direction towards the handle for controlling the driving brake effect. Furthermore, the control device co-operates with a locking mechanism so that the control device can be rotated away from the handle to a parking-brake position and be locked there.
A problem with such prior-art devices for controlling brakes of wheeled walking frames is that the design may entail difficulties for a user when braking. For example, it may be difficult for a person with weak hands or impaired ability of the hands to use the brake. In the worst case, this leads to a user not being able to use the walking frame, which deprives the user of the possibility of walking with the aid thereof.
A disadvantage of prior-art wheeled walking frames with a device for controlling the brake is that they are unsafe for the user, which results in increased risk of accidents.

Device and method for controlling the brake of a walking frame


There is provided a method and apparatus for output pulse width modulation in a digital amplifier including: a determining step of adding or subtracting a value corresponding to a predetermined offset to or from an input audio signal alternately according to a period of the input audio signal, thereby determining a sign of a resulting value of adding or subtracting; a switching step of outputting the input audio signal to a first port based on the determined sign, or outputting the input audio signal to a second port after inverting the input audio signal into a positive number; an adjusting step of adding a value of a predetermined switching time to the audio signals output from the first port and the second port, and outputting a resulting value of adding; and a modulating step of performing pulse width modulation on the audio signals output from the adjusting step and outputting a first modulation signal and a second modulation signal.

For amplifying an audio signal, an analog amplification system and a digital amplification system are used. The analog amplification system converts a pulse code modulation (PCM) audio signal into an analog signal and performs current amplification and voltage amplification having an intermediate voltage stage, so amplification efficiency decreases. On the other hand, the digital amplification system performs pulse width modulation on the PCM audio signal and also performs switching amplification by repeating ON/OFF, and the PCM audio signal is output through an analog filter. Therefore, the digital amplification system has amplification efficiency greater than that of the analog amplification system. In addition, the amplification circuit of the digital amplification system can be embodied in a small size and has low power consumption. There are many kinds of the digital amplification systems. In a digital differential drive system used in the digital amplification system, there are also many kinds of systems including an AD drive system and BD drive system.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a pulse width modulation circuit in a conventional AD drive system;
Referring to FIG. 1, a PCM audio signal is input to a (+) port of a comparator 100, and a carrier signal is input to a (−) port of the comparator 100. The carrier signal, for example, has a triangle waveform. The comparator 100 outputs a value of +1 or −1 according to a result of comparing the two signals input to the (+) port and the (−) port. For example, if a value of the PCM audio signal input to the (+) port is larger than a value of the carrier signal input to the (−) port, a value of +1 is output, otherwise, −1 is output. Accordingly, output waveform of a PWM+ signal, which is a positive PWM signal, is a pulse width modulation signal having a different pulse width according to a value of the input PCM audio signal. A PWM− signal, which is a negative PWM signal, is the inverted PWM+ signal by an inverter 102.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a pulse width modulation circuit in a conventional BD drive system;
In the BD drive system, two comparators 110 and 112 are used, a PCM signal input to a (+) port of the comparator 110 is inverted by an inverter 114 and input to a (+) port of the other comparator 112. The same Triangle waveforms are used for carrier signals in both comparators 110 and 112. Therefore, a PWM+ signal, which is a positive PCM signal, and a PWM− signal, which is a negative signal, are output.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a pulse width modulation output signal according to the conventional BD drive system;
The PCM audio signal 200 is input to the (+) port of the comparator 110, and the carrier signal 210 is input to the (−) port of the comparator 110. The comparator 110 outputs a value of +1 or −1 according to a result of comparing the two signals input to the (+) port and the (−) port, so that the PWM+ signal 220 which is a positive PWM signal is output. The inverted PCM audio signal 200 is input to the (+) port of the other comparator 112, so the PWM− signal 230 which is a negative PWM signal is output. Referring to FIG. 3, modulated pulse widths of the PWM+ and the PWM− signals 220 and 230 vary according to a value of the PCM audio signal.
When the PWM+ and the PWM− signals 220 and 230 are connected to both terminals of load, a differential output 240 subtracting the PWM− signal 230 from the PWM+ signal 220 is applied to the load. A waveform of the differential output 240 is the same as the output waveform denoted by reference numeral 240 shown in FIG. 3.
According to the conventional method of pulse width modulation, when the input PCM audio signal is 0, bias currents of the load connected to the differential output can be controlled. However, residual noises due to switching exist in each of the PWM+ and the PWM− signals. Further, some currents flow through a common ground, and unnecessary heat is generated. Thus, amplification efficiency decreases, and pop noises, which may damage a speaker and offend a user's ear, are generated when the amplifier operates.

Method and apparatus for pulse width modulation in a switching amplifier


Provided herein are photoresist compositions and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices using the same. A photoresist composition may include an organometallic material, a fluorine-containing material, and an organic solvent.

Semiconductor devices have been highly integrated. Thus, finer and more precise patterning is needed in preparing semiconductor devices. Accordingly, an exposure process using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) having a wavelength of 13.4 nm as a light source has been utilized. The EUV is absorbed entirely in a conventional photoresist film due to a very short wavelength thereof, which makes forming a precise pattern difficult. Therefore, in a photolithography process using EUV as a light source, a new photoresist material capable of transmitting the EUV may be useful to allow for precise and fine patterning.

Photoresist compositions and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices using the same


A cargo power drive unit (PDU) includes a housing, and a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing. The shaft has a longitudinal axis, an end, and a spindle outwardly extending from the end. The spindle is radially offset from the longitudinal axis. The PDU further includes a lift roller having a center axis, and having an opening that is radially offset from the center axis. The spindle is non-rotatably received in the opening of the lift roller. When the shaft rotates in the housing and the lift roller contacts a stationary support beneath the housing, at least a portion of the housing is lifted away from the stationary support by the roller.

Items that are shipped by air typically are loaded first onto specially configured pallets or into specially configured containers. In the airfreight industry, these various pallets and containers commonly are referred to as Unit Load Devices ("ULDs"). ULDs are available in various sizes, shapes and capacities.
A ULD typically is loaded with cargo at a location other than the immediate vicinity of an aircraft. Once a ULD is loaded with cargo items, the ULD is weighed, transferred to the aircraft, and is loaded onto an aircraft through a doorway or hatch using a conveyor ramp, scissor lift, or the like. Once inside the aircraft, a ULD is moved within the cargo compartment o its final stowage position. Multiple ULDs are brought onboard the aircraft, and each is placed in its respective stowed position. Once the aircraft reaches its destination, the ULDs are unloaded from the aircraft in a manner that is the reverse of the loading procedure.
To facilitate movement of a ULD within an aircraft cargo compartment as the ULD is loaded, stowed, and unloaded, the deck of an aircraft cargo compartment typically includes a number of raised roller elements. These roller elements often include elongated roller trays that extend longitudinally along the length of the cargo deck, ball transfer units, and the like. For example, roller trays typically include elongated rows of cylindrical rollers that extend in a fore and aft direction. Ball transfer units include plates with upwardly protruding spherical balls. The ULDs sit atop these roller elements, and the roller elements facilitate rolling movement of the ULDs within the cargo compartment. Cargo decks also commonly are equipped with a plurality of power drive units (PDUs). PDUs are electrically powered rollers that can be selectively energized to propel or drive a ULD in a desired direction over a cargo deck's roller elements.
Generally, PDUs can be one of two basic types. A first type of PDU is secured to a cargo deck structure or cargo system such that the rotating axis of the powered drive roller is fixed, and the drive roller can only rotate in two opposed directions within a cargo hold. Such a "fixed" PDU typically is installed within a cargo roller tray, a ball panel, or another aircraft structure such that the PDU's drive roller protrudes above a plane defined by the uppermost portions of adjacent roller elements when the drive roller is in an active position. The drive roller can be either an inflated tire or a rigid roller having a rubber or polymer rim. The rotating tire or roller contacts and grips the bottom of an overlying ULD such that the ULD is driven in a desired direction by traction between the roller and the underside of the ULD. Such stationary PDUs often are configured such that the drive roller can be selectively moved between an active raised position, and a retracted inactive or stowed position. The lifting of the drive roller from the retracted position can be actuated by self-lifting springs, by an electrically powered lift mechanism, or the like. Such fixed PDU's typically are installed at cargo deck locations where a ULD's movement is substantially limited to two opposed directions.
A second type of PDU is known as a "steerable PDU". In a typical steerable PDU, the drive roller is mounted to a rotatable frame or turntable that can be selectively oriented to align the drive roller in a desired direction within a cargo hold. Like the fixed PDUs described above, a steerable PDU can be configured to lift and retract the drive roller between its active raised position and its inactive retracted position. Steerable PDUs usually are installed at cargo deck locations that are proximate to an aircraft's side cargo door, where a ULD may require movement in a direction other than the fore or aft directions as the ULD is being loaded and/or unloaded.
One type of known lift mechanism 10 used in a fixed retractable PDU 60 is schematically shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. As shown in FIG. 1A, the PDU 60 includes a rigid housing 16 and drive rollers 40. The drive rollers 40 are rotatably mounted in one end of the housing 16, and are driven by a motor disposed within the housing 16 (not shown in FIG. 1A). The opposite end of the housing 16 is pivotally mounted to an aircraft structure by hinge pins 42 that outwardly extend from the sides of the housing 16. In the PDU 60 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the lift mechanism 10 includes a lift roller 30 on each side of the housing. As described in detail below, the lift rollers 30 are rotatably mounted on each end of an eccentric shaft 12. In the retracted position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1A, each of the lift rollers 30 rests upon a top surface of a stationary reaction plate 70. In this position, the lift rollers 30 support the housing 16 and drive rollers 40 such that the tops of the drive rollers 40 are below the cargo plane 80. When the eccentric shaft 12 is rotated ninety degrees, the lift rollers 30 move downward with respect to the housing 16 and the drive rollers 40, thereby lifting the free end of the housing 16 and the drive rollers 40 to the lifted/active position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1A. In this lifted/active position, the tops of the drive rollers 40 are above the cargo plane 80.
Details of the lift mechanism 10 are shown in FIG. 1B, which shows the mechanism 10 in a retracted position on the left side of the figure, and shows the mechanism 10 in the raised position. Each end of the shaft 12 outwardly extends from a side of the housing 16, and includes an offset roller spindle 20. As shown in FIG. 1B, each roller spindle 20 has a central axis 24 that is offset from the longitudinal axis 11 of the body of shaft 12 by a distance "a". Circular lift rollers 30 are rotatably mounted on the spindles 20, and can include bearings 32. The lift rollers 30 have spindle receiving openings 34 at their centers, and each has an outer circumference 38 with a radius "r".
In the retracted position shown on the left side of FIG. 1B, the shaft 12 is oriented rotationally such that the offset roller spindles 20 and lift rollers 30 are at an upward-most position relative to the housing 16. The lift rollers 30 sit atop the reaction plate 70, thereby supporting the movable end of the housing 16 at a lowermost position. Accordingly, the drive rollers 40 also are at a lowermost position, and the top surfaces of the rollers 40 are substantially below the cargo plane 80.
In the raised position shown on the right side of FIG. 1B, the shaft 12 is rotated such that the offset roller spindles 20 and lift rollers 30 move toward a lowermost position relative to the housing 16. As the shaft rotates, the lift rollers 30 bear upon the reaction plate 70, thus pushing the movable end of the housing 16 and the drive rollers 40 toward their highest position. Once the shaft 12 has rotated 180 degrees from the lowered position, the top surfaces of the rollers 40 are at or slightly above the cargo plane 80. Accordingly, the drive rollers 40 can be selectively raised and lowered by selectively rotating the shaft 12 between the raised and retracted positions with an electrical motor or other actuator (not shown in the Figs.). As indicated in FIG. 1B, the top surfaces of the drive rollers 40 are lifted a distance "H" by the lift rollers 30. The lift height "H" is a function of the degree of offset "a" between the axes 24 of the roller spindles 20 and the longitudinal axis 11 of the shaft 12.
Though the lift mechanism 10 described above is effective to selectively raise and lower the drive rollers 40, the lift mechanism 10 can have at least one shortcoming. In order to provide a sufficiently large lift height "H", the roller spindle offset distance "a" also must be sufficiently large. Unfortunately, as the roller spindle offset distance "a" increases, the diameter "D" of the body of the shaft 12 also increases, thus also increasing the shaft's weight. The weight of a PDU's shaft 12 substantially contributes to the total weight of the PDU. Because substantial numbers of retractable PDUs often are permanently installed in cargo aircraft, and because total aircraft weight should be minimized, the total weight of each retractable PDU also should be minimized. Accordingly, a desirable property of a retractable PDU is a relatively low total weight, and more particularly, a relatively low lift-shaft weight. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the weight of a PDU like that shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B by minimizing the diameter and weight of the shaft 12. In addition, because the space available for a PDU on an aircraft is limited, another desirable property of a retractable PDU is a relatively compact size. Therefore, it also is desirable to minimize the diameter of the shaft 12 in order to minimize the overall size of the PDU 60.
Thus there is a need for a relatively lightweight and compact retractable PDU, and more particularly, a need for a retractable PDU having a lift system that includes a shaft having a minimal diameter and a minimal weight.

Power drive unit with eccentric roller lift system


A carton dispensing container having a bottom, side back and front walls which define an open-topped cavity which may receive emptied shipping cartons. The bottom and walls may each be formed as rigid peripheral frames with a support lattice mounted thereon to reduce weight and allow viewing the cartons. The bottom may mount wheels to allow the container to be easily moved. The front wall is formed of a front bottom wall and a front top wall which are spaced from each other to form an access opening in the front wall into the cavity. The access opening is sized such that the carton will not readily fall from the opening, yet may be easily removed via the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to dispensing devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a container for the dispensing of empty shipping cartons to secondary users.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known for many years that retail vendors, such as grocery stores, typically receive their stock in cartons which are useful for many other purposes, and may thus extend their useful life. These cartons typically take the form of cardboard boxes which may be used, after they are emptied, for the storage or transport of many items, which helps to save resources which would be spent on first-use packaging material. Such items may even include the items purchased from the retailer, where these items are too heavy for standard sacks or bags. While the utility of such cartons for their intended and secondary uses have been recognized, there have been many obstacles to the distribution, after unpacking, of such cartons for their secondary use.
In most retail establishments such cartons, containing their initial contents, are received from a back entrance and are emptied at, or returned after emptying to, a centralized location which allows inventory control. This location is typically concealed from the average purchasing consumer. This in itself poses an obstacle to distribution to secondary users. Such centralized locations also usually employ equipment for transport of the cartons which could cause injury to untrained persons, prompting restricted access to such areas to avoid liability for injury. Placing the cartons in an area accessible to customers uses valuable floor space which could be used for sales and increases labor costs due to moving the cartons to such area and stacking them in a stable configuration. Such a stack is unsightly and poses a danger of falling, which could subject the store owner to liability.


Disclosed herein is a monitoring method and apparatus for an ARINC 653-based operating system. In the monitoring method for an ARINC 653-based operating system according to the present invention, a client system transfers information about a breakpoint to a target system. The breakpoint information is set in the target system. A Micro Controller Unit (MCU) reads a Program Counter (PC). If the breakpoint information matches the PC, an interrupt is caused. A function contained in the breakpoint information matching the PC is executed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a monitoring method and apparatus for an Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) 653-based operating system and, more particularly, to technology for debugging and monitoring avionics software (SW) which complies with an ARINC 653 standard among system software components used for aircraft systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software used for aircraft systems requires high reliability and productivity. Due to these requirements, research into an operating system suitable for a special situation in which high reliability and safety are regarded as the most important thing is being conducted.
In particular, the concept of Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) has appeared and a large amount of research into IMA has been conducted. IMA has been applied to avionics software standards, such as ARINC 653.
ARINC is an acronym for Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated, which is a non-profit organization owned by the United States, and has five fields (aviation, airports, national defense, government, transportation) as principal business areas. ARINC has first applied computer networks to police cars and railroad cars, and has defined standard specifications for communication services and avionics standards between ground stations and aircraft.
IMA is an acronym for Integrated Modular Avionics, and is composed of a large number of applications having different safety levels in the case of aircraft. IMA was introduced as technology for the safety and efficiency of these applications, so that applications and hardware are prevented from being mutually influenced by each other when the applications and hardware are developed or executed, thus reducing development costs of hardware or applications.
ARINC 653 is an interface between a system core and an application implemented for IMA, and is a technical standard for defining the real-time operating system of digital avionics systems defined by ARINC and application programs executed on the operating system.
A large-scale system, such as aircraft, is composed of a large number of application programs and processes. In ARINC 653, the concept of partitions is used so as to perform spatial partitioning and temporal partitioning of each application program. Spatial partitioning means that each separate partition does not influence physical memory resources of other partitions. Temporal partitioning means that temporal resources allocated to each partition cannot be interfered with by other partitions. Such a concept of partitions may prevent an error in one application program from negatively influencing the entire system in an environment in which an important duty is performed, such as that of an avionics system, thus providing high reliability.
Aircraft systems have evolved from various conventional computing environments that are independently configured (federated systems) into IMA structures for integration into a single system. Accordingly, the ARINC 653 standard has been established as system software (SW) for IMA in international aviation industries, but there is a limitation in that a monitoring model for avionics system software complying with the ARINC 653 standard has not yet been developed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,980 discloses a display monitor for avionics systems, but technology disclosed in this U.S. patent merely presents technology related to an interface and an interface card between a Personal Computer (PC) and the buses of an aircraft system from the standpoint of the data buses of the aircraft system, but has a limitation in that technology for monitoring and debugging ARINC 653 standard-based software (SW) is not provided.

Monitoring method and apparatus for ARINC 653-based operating system

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An object of the present invention is to provide a high-expansion gypsum composition in which the expansion coefficient of a general purpose dental gypsum material or the like is simply and effectively improved to such an extent that has never been achieved with conventional technologies without using any special material by adding an inexpensive additive even in a small addition amount, and furthermore another object of the present invention is to provide a high-expansion gypsum composition the setting expansion coefficient of which is appropriately controlled so that the contraction of a resin to be used can be precisely dealt with, the high-expansion gypsum composition being useful for manufacturing a reproduction model to be used in manufacturing a “non-clasp denture” having no problem in, for example, occlusion (adaptability). The objects of the present invention are achieved by means of a method for producing a high-expansion gypsum composition, the method producing a gypsum composition having an enhanced setting expansion coefficient by copulverizing in a dry system a powdered gypsum composition containing calcined gypsum as a main component and dihydrate gypsum.

In dental treatment, dental prostheses each having a complicated shape that is adaptable to each patient have been used, and among the dental prostheses, dentures have widely been used. Among the dentures, a so-called partial denture (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "denture") has metal attachments called as clasps and has a structure by which the clasps are fixed to health teeth in such a way that the clasps are hooked to the health teeth. Therefore, there has been an irrational problem that a part of each health tooth to be a grounding surface of the clasps usually has to be cut in order to wear the partial denture. Furthermore, there has also been a problem that the health of the teeth that would be healthy is liable to be impaired because of cutting the teeth or hooking the clasps to the teeth. Moreover, there has been another problem about aesthetic quality that a clasp part is seen by a conversational partner or the like to be found that a person in question wears a denture. The problem about the aesthetic quality is an important problem that should be taken seriously to a person who has to use a denture because the problem can lead to mental illness.
In order to solve these problems once for all, a denture without a clasp which is called a "non-clasp denture" and is excellent in aesthetic quality, the denture being supported by a "fixing part" that substitutes for the clasps and is manufactured from the same material (synthetic resin) as has been used for manufacturing gums for conventional dentures has been developed in recent years, and dentists who handles the "non-clasp denture" have been increasing.
As description will be made later about an outline of manufacturing the "non-clasp denture", when the "non-clasp denture" is manufactured, it is necessary that the denture be manufactured with which a problem of adaptability or occlusion does not arise by manufacturing the "fixing part" that can substitute for the conventional clasps with a synthetic resin. Since the denture chews various kinds of foods with strong force and is used in oral cavity where there is a possibility that the denture is exposed to a gastric acid, polycarbonate resins or the like that are excellent in various properties such as shock resistance have been used as a synthetic resin for manufacturing the fixing part. In the "non-clasp denture", the "fixing part" of the denture is manufactured using a gypsum mold with a polycarbonate resin or the like, and the synthetic resins have a property that contraction occurs during setting (polymerization). Therefore, a teeth model having dimensions for which the contraction of the synthetic resins that occurs during polymerization is taken into consideration in advance is considered to be required in order to manufacture the "non-clasp denture" that is excellent in dimensional accuracy and has no problem in occlusion. Specifically, a reproduction model the size of which is adjusted to somewhat larger than the size of a teeth model which is made of gypsum and is manufactured faithfully based on an impression of teeth taken from a patient in a dentist's office has been manufactured.
For example, the polycarbonate resin that has been used in manufacturing the "non-clasp denture" as a material for manufacturing a gum part including the "fixing part" that substitutes for the clasps is a material in which a large heat contraction (about 0.4 to about 0.7%) occurs during polymerization. Therefore, when the "non-clasp denture" is manufactured using a teeth model made of gypsum as it is, the teeth model manufactured based on an impression actually taken from a patient, the "non-clasp denture" becomes too small and the adaptability becomes poor. The "adaptability" is directly linked to the "occlusion" that is an extremely important element among the properties of the denture to be set and used in oral cavity having keen senses. Furthermore, when the "non-clasp denture" is too small, it is impossible to repair it and it is necessary to remake another one because the "non-clasp denture" has a fatal defect. Therefore, in manufacturing the "non-clasp denture", it is an extremely important matter how to manufacture the aforementioned teeth model in a precise size, the teeth model (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "reproduction model") reproduced so that the size is adjusted to somewhat larger than the size of the teeth model which is made of gypsum and is manufactured using an impression of teeth taken from a patient with the contraction of the resin taken into consideration.
The reproduction model is manufactured by using a high-expansion gypsum composition exhibiting the expansion coefficient higher than that of a gypsum material for manufacturing a usual gypsum model. In addition, use of the gypsum composition having such a large expansion coefficient is not only limited to the case where the above-described "non-clasp denture" is manufactured, but also, for example, the gypsum composition having such a large expansion coefficient is used for manufacturing a so-called full denture (hereinafter, referred to as "artificial teeth") in which a dental plate is manufactured using a resin, and the gypsum composition is widely used for preparing gypsum molds. In the present invention, description is made by taking a case where the "non-clasp denture" is manufactured as a representative example. The reason is that, in this case, since a higher adaptability is required in a sense that the delicate occlusion is required, it becomes necessary to more precisely control the expansion coefficient of the high-expansion gypsum composition particularly according to the contraction of a resin to be used in manufacturing the above-described reproduction model.
Under the above-described circumstances, various high-expansion gypsum compositions in which the expansion coefficient in usual gypsum materials is enhanced in order to deal with the contraction of a resin have so far been proposed. For example, as the gypsum for making an artificial tooth, there has been a proposal (see, Patent Literature 1) on high-expansion gypsum in which the expansion coefficient is enhanced utilizing heat expansion of a resin by adding a granular resin to the gypsum, and there has also been a proposal (see, Patent Literature 2), as a composition that can be used as a material for a dental purpose model, in which a high expansion coefficient with a linear expansion of at least 0.5% can be realized during coagulation or setting by adding a silicate such as silica sol as an inorganic additive to gypsum plaster.

Process for manufacturing high-expansion gypsum plaster composition and high-expansion gypsum plaster composition obtained by said process


One or more words at a specified location in an electronic document can be identified. The identified one or more words can be analyzed to determine one or more semantic meanings associated with the words. An audio clip (i.e., audio file, audio element) associated with or corresponding to (the semantic meaning(s) of) the one or more words can be searched for in an audio database. The search for the audio clip associated with the one or more words can utilize an index that specifies the associations between words and audio clips. In some embodiments, the audio clip can be played when an estimated location of where the user is reading is at or near the specified location of the one or more words. In some embodiments, the audio clip can be played when it is calculated that the user is reading the one or more words at the specified location.

Computing devices are often used for reading purposes. Computing devices are commonly used to view electronic documents, such as electronic books, word processing files, slideshow files, and electronic messages and documents. Reading typically only requires the reader's visual perception; in other words, a reader typically only needs to see the words in a document to be able to read them. As such, a reader's auditory perception is left alone. However, because the reader's auditory perception is available, when reading a document he/she can sometimes be distracted by background noise, such as when there is construction noise outside a library or traffic noise outside a home. Sometimes, the user may choose to listen to music while he/she reads in order to try to reduce the distraction caused by background noise. Other times, a reader and/or audience may find that conventional approaches to reading are not engaging or entertaining enough. For example, some children do not find reading by looking at words to be entertaining, only tolerating a book if it is read to them. Moreover, some readers may find it more entertaining, interactive, and fun if their auditory perception was engaged as well. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide auditory enhancements to reading experiences.

Auditory enhancement using word analysis


A system and method for occluding contour detection using a fully convolutional neural network is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving an input image; producing a feature map from the input image by semantic segmentation; learning an array of upscaling filters to upscale the feature map into a final dense feature map of a desired size; applying the array of upscaling filters to the feature map to produce contour information of objects and object instances detected in the input image; and applying the contour information onto the input image.

Semantic segmentation aims to assign a categorical label to every pixel in an image, which plays an important role in image analysis and self-driving systems. Conventional systems use processes including: Decoding of Feature Representation and Dilated Convolution. In the pixel-wise semantic segmentation task with a decoding of feature representation, the output label map typically has the same size as the input image. Because of the operation of max-pooling or strided convolution in convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the size of feature maps of the last few layers of the network are inevitably downsampled. Multiple approaches have been proposed to decode accurate information from the downsampled feature map to label maps. Bilinear interpolation is commonly used as it is fast and memory efficient. Another popular method is called deconvolution, in which the unpooling operation, using stored pooling switches from the pooling step, recovers the information necessary for image reconstruction and feature visualization. In some implementations, a single deconvolutional layer is added in the decoding stage to produce the prediction result using stacked feature maps from intermediate layers. In other implementations, multiple deconvolutional layers are applied to generate chairs, tables, or cars from several attributes. Several studies employ deconvolutional layers as a mirrored version of convolutional layers by using stored pooled location in unpooling step. Other studies show that coarse-to-fine object structures, which are crucial to recover fine-detailed information, can be reconstructed along the propagation of the deconvolutional layers. Other systems use a similar mirrored structure, but combine information from multiple deconvolutional layers and perform upsampling to make the final prediction. Some systems predict the label map by applying a classifier on a per-pixel basis, as it is more statistically efficient.
Dilated Convolution (or Atrous convolution) was originally developed for wavelet decomposition. The main idea of dilated convolution is to insert "holes" (zeros) between pixels in convolutional kernels to increase image resolution, thus enabling dense feature extraction in deep CNNs. In the semantic segmentation framework, dilated convolution is also used to enlarge the field of convolutional kernels. Some prior systems use serialized layers with increasing rates of dilation to enable context aggregation, while designing an "atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP)" scheme to capture multi-scale objects and context information by placing multiple dilated convolution layers in parallel. More recently, dilated convolution has been applied to a broader range of tasks, such as object detection optical flow, visual question answering, and audio generation. However, these conventional systems can cause a "gridding issue" produced by the standard dilated convolution operation. Other conventional systems lose information in the downsampling process and thus fail to enable identification of important objects in the input image.
Object contour detection is a fundamental problem for numerous vision tasks, including image segmentation, object detection, semantic instance segmentation, and occlusion reasoning. Detecting all objects in a traffic environment, such as cars, buses, pedestrians, and bicycles, is crucial for building an autonomous driving system. Failure to detect an object (e.g., a car or a person) may lead to malfunction of the motion planning module of an autonomous driving car, thus resulting in a catastrophic accident. The semantic segmentation framework provides pixel-level categorical labeling, but no single object-level instance can be discovered. Current object detection frameworks, although useful, cannot recover the shape of the object or deal with the occluded object detection problem. This is mainly because of the limits of the bounding box merging process in the conventional framework. In particular, problems occur when nearby bounding boxes that may belong to different objects get merged together to reduce a false positive rate, thus making the occluded object undetected, especially when the occluded region is large.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for occluding contour detection


A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone may include a threaded body, a head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of eyelets that extend though the anchor head and that are each configured to receive a suture. The eyelets are offset from one another along an axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the suture anchor. Each eyelet may have a desired shape and cross section. Surgical kits including one or more suture anchors and one or more surgical tools are also described.

When biological soft tissue, such as a ligament, tendon, or cartilage, becomes separated from related bone, surgical procedures are commonly employed for reattachment of the soft tissue. Various devices, including sutures, screws, staples, wedges, and plugs have been used to secure soft tissue to bone. Additionally, structures known as suture anchors have been developed for this purpose.
Some suture anchors are designed to be inserted into a pre-drilled hole, while other suture anchors are threaded and self-tapping. Some suture anchors include an eyelet for receiving a suture, while other anchors are cylindrical and adapted for holding a knotted piece of suture, while still other anchors include a strand of suture insert molded in the anchor. Certain suture anchors having one or more generally parabolic eyelets are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,080 to Morgan, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The Morgan patent describes suture anchor arrangements having multiple eyelets for securing two or more sutures to a desired location on a bone, but these arrangements may be susceptible to breakage or structural failure around the eyelets under certain conditions.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved suture anchor capable of securing multiple sutures for reattachment of soft tissue to bone. What are also needed are kits including such suture anchors and arthroscopic apparatus for surgery using such anchors.


An envelope is disclosed which includes a back panel hingedly coupled with a front panel, where side panels foldably coupled with the back panel are folded over the front panel. The side panels are partially secured to the front panel each having a portion which is unsecured to the front panel. A closure panel is hingedly coupled with the back panel and has at least one closure tab coupled therewith. The closure tabs are adapted to be engaged by the side panels and the front panel, where the closure tabs are disposed between the front panel and the side panels where the side panels are unsecured with the front panel. A cassette holder is also incorporated and can be coupled with the closure panel of the front panel.

Folders for holding photo prints are currently produced from a relatively flimsy or flexible paper material having a single print pocket. The print pockets are sometimes expandable along the side edges but not the bottom edge of the folder. Some folders also include an expandable bottom end as well. Additionally, some folders have an extra pocket in front of the print pocket for holding the photo print negatives.
Conventional paper folders do not provide a sturdy, long-term storage container for photographs and negatives. The paper is generally flexible and flimsy and does not provide protection for the prints and negatives held within the folder. Additionally, the conventional paper material is not sturdy enough for a rigorous process of imprinting sophisticated promotional and advertising information on the folders which is necessary in today's competitive market.
The release of the Advanced Photo System (APS) has presented additional issues relating to packaging, handling, and ordering prints. The APS allows a user to choose from different types of prints, having differing sizes, including classic, HDTV, and panoramic. With APS, the film is provided in the form of a cartridge or a cassette. The film processing machines remove the film from the cassette and automatically replaces the film back in the cassette after processing. During the printing process, a printer automatically removes the film, prints, and replaces the film back in the cassette. After the film is processed, an index print is provided which displays all of the photos of the film. When ordering re-prints, the consumer must provide the negative to the photo processor, which film is in the form of the cassette.
One approach in providing a folder for the APS is an envelope having expandable sides, a single pocket, and a cassette holder is formed next to the pocket as part of the expandable side. One drawback is that the length of the envelope is extended by the size of the cassette, thereby rendering the envelope incompatible with conventional equipment of the photo industry. Another disadvantage is that the cassette is freely disposed within the cassette holder, and can become easily misplaced from the index print and/or the order card if the cassette is expelled from the cassette holder.
For larger prints, a larger and more sturdy envelope must be provided since they are more vulnerable to damage. One approach in providing a larger folder for enlargements using the APS is an envelope having a cassette holder coupled with a back panel of the folder. Tabs for closing the envelope are provided on a closure panel which are insertable into slits on a front panel of the envelope, where the tabs come into direct contact with prints inserted into the envelope. One drawback is that the closure tabs can damage the prints and/or other documents which are contained within the envelope, particularly if the tabs are repeatedly inserted, removed, and again inserted. An extra panel is sometimes provided with the front panel to prevent contact of the tabs with the photos, however, this adds extra material and extra cost to the fabrication of the blank.
Accordingly, what is needed is a print folder produced from a single unitary material and which is readily substituted for a conventional paper folder and compatible with existing automatic photo processing machines. What is further needed is a better way to provide storage, handling of prints and re-prints for the APS. What is still further needed is a print folder which may be produced from a relatively sturdy material such as paperboard suitable for long-term storage of objects therein, printing of sophisticated promotional material thereon, and is biodegradable and recyclable.

Envelope with tab locks and cassette holder


Disclosed are methods for differentiating fertile and sterile plant lines by detecting markers in chloroplast DNA from plants that have not yet flowered as well as from plant seeds. The method may be applied in selecting a seed lot based on the level of contamination of normal fertile plant line seeds being below a predetermined threshold, e.g., below 1% or 0.1%.

This technology is directed to a method for differentiating fertile and sterile plant lines at the DNA level, by detecting polymorphisms in chloroplast DNA.
Hybrid vigor in crop plants has been recognized as a widespread and powerful tool to increase yields. Commercial hybrids are used extensively in many crops, including corn, sorghum, sugarbeet, colza, wheat, and sunflower.
Commercial hybrids have the greatest potential for crops when the hybrid seed can be produced reliably and economically. The three biological requirements for successful hybrid seed production are: (a) the presence of hybrid vigor; (b) elimination of fertile pollen in the inbred line that will act as female parent; and (c) adequate pollination by the inbred line that will act as male parent. If these biological requirements are met for a particular species, a practical program of seed production on a large scale may be developed to produce hybrids for use by farmers.
The second of the aforementioned requirements—the elimination of fertile pollen in a line that will act as female parent of the hybrid—has led scientists to endeavor to understand the biological mechanisms of obtaining male sterility in a hermaphrodite species. Accordingly, several procedures or systems were developed to obtain male sterility, including genetic male sterility, cytoplasmic male sterility, and nuclear-cytoplasmic male sterility. Nuclear-cytoplasmic male sterility, in particular, is widely used for commercial seed production of hybrid seed in hermaphrodite crop species (Wright, 1980).
Three types of inbred lines must be developed and maintained when employing a cytoplasmic-genetic system to produce hybrids, as in the case of hybrid corn, sorghum, pearl millet, sunflower, and other species. In this system, the female parent harbors factors in the cytoplasm of cells, which render it male-sterile in the absence of appropriate restorer genes in the nucleus. The cytoplasm of the female gamete, but not that of the male, is transmitted to the offspring, thereby making it possible to produce female populations which are free of any male-fertile individuals (Forsberg & Smith, 1980).
The female parent in the cytoplasmic genetic system must have two different, but phenotypically identical forms. One form is male sterile, with sterile cytoplasm (S) and with nonrestoring genes (rfrf) in the nucleus. The other form is male fertile, with normal, fertile, cytoplasm (N) and also with nonrestorer genes in the nucleus (rfrf). The male sterile version is referred to as the cytoplasmic male sterile (cms) line, the A line, or the sterile line. The normal male fertile version is called the maintainer line or the B line. Generally, the cms line is developed by crossing a normal male fertile line, as male, to a male sterile female with sterile cytoplasm and nonrestoring genes, followed by repeated backcrossing to the normal male fertile line. After the cms line has been developed, a cms line seed is produced for line maintenance by crossing the sterile cms line (S, rfrf) with the normal male fertile line (N, rfrf). All offspring from the cross will be male-sterile. The normal male fertile lines (or maintainer lines or B lines) are maintained by a routine selfing, sibbing, or open pollination in isolation.
The third type of inbred line in the cytoplasmic-genetic system is the restorer male parent. Accordingly, it must have the homozygous dominant genotype for fertility restoration (RfRf). These restorer lines, or R lines, can be developed by using a line with restorer genes as the donor parent and the genotype (line) desired for use as a restorer line as the recurrent parent in a series of backcrosses. It is very convenient if a donor parent also has sterile cytoplasm (S, RfRf) and is used as the female, because the presence of the restorer allele in segregating populations after each backcross is phenotypically apparent. The restorer male parent lines are fertile and are maintained by routine selfing, sibbing or open pollination in isolation.
For hybrid seed production, rows of the cms line are interplanted with rows of the fertility restorer line in ratios from 2:1 to 6:1. Hybrid seeds from the cross cms×restorer, are then harvested on the cms line.

Method for differentiating fertile and sterile plant lines by detection of polymorphic markers in chloroplast DNA