A method and apparatus for controlling the flight direction of a blimp. The blimp includes an elongate fuselage for containing a lighter-than-air gas, a movable rudder located toward a tail end of the fuselage, and at least one propeller mounted on a side of the fuselage. The propeller is attached to the blimp by a connection that provides two axes of movement. The propeller connection can be rotated or pivoted (1) about a first axis which is a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to a direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongate fuselage, and/or (2) about a second axis which is a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuselage.

The present application relates to blimps and more particularly to an improved system for controlling the flight direction of a blimp.
Blimps continue to be used in the present day. In addition to continuing to be a mode of transportation, blimps nowadays serve an important use for advertising purposes. Advertising messages are displayed on the sides of airborne blimps that fly over locations or events where large crowds of people gather, for example, at stadiums, beaches, etc. Blimps may be manned, i.e. include a pilot and/or passengers or un-manned. Unmanned blimps are operated remotely from the ground by radio-control. Radio-controlled blimps can be made smaller since they do not have to carry human passengers.
Blimps generally use one or more motor driven propellers for propulsion. A conventional method for controlling the flight direction of a blimp is to provide a movable rudder located on a bottom side of the blimp fuselage near the tail end of the blimp. It is also conventional to provide that the propellers can be pivoted vertically, i.e. about a horizontal axis, to assist in climbing and descent. Other methods for controlling flight direction of blimps have been disclosed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,656, a miniblimp has a propeller connected to one motor that can turn it left or right and another motor to tilt the propeller up or down. The miniblimp has a fixed rudder, however, and positions the propeller at either the front or rear of the miniblimp.
There continues to be a need for a flight direction control system for lighter-than-air aircraft, such as blimps, that provides improved control and responsiveness under a variety of climatological conditions.

Flight direction control system for blimps


A method for correcting spatially variable electron flux in a true random number generator (TRNG) is presented. The TRNG comprises a radioactive source and an array of detectors, and the method comprises: (a) segmenting the array of detectors into a plurality of groups; (b) for each group: (1) detecting via multiple detectors an electron signal from the decay of the radioactive source; (2) determining a number of detections based on the detection of step (b)(1); (3) determining a group median count based on the number of detections; (4) comparing the group median count to either (A) a detection count from a single detector within the group, or (B) a detection count from multiple detectors within the group; (5) based on the comparison, assigning a value to a string of values; and (c) determining a true random number based on the string of values. A TRNG implementing the method is also disclosed.

As opposed to pseudo-random number generators based on numerical algorithms, there are true random number generator (TRNG) devices that depend on natural random processes: multiple bipolar switches, thermal noise, light scattering by dichroic mirrors, chaotic systems, and decay of radioactive nuclei. Some of these TRNGs are listed in the provisional applications to which the present application claims priority, and those references are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The decay of radioactive nuclei is considered to be the most independent from environmental influences like temperature, pressure, or acceleration. However, typical nuclear-based TRNGs require a large size or number of detectors to enable the registration of particles emitted as a result of radioactive decay. Also, many nuclei used in such devices are highly radioactive and poisonous, hence dangerous to humans if a device is broken.
In previous disclosures by the present inventor, a TRNG is disclosed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,901,695 entitled "Apparatus, systems, and methods for beta decay based true random number generator", an array of detectors was employed, and a method of adjusting counts by changing the read-out time was described. The contents of that patent are incorporated herein by reference. The source of entropy in the '695 patent was a thin layer of Nickel-63 attached to the inner surface of the metallic cover of the package of the integrated circuit (IC). Likewise, in U.S. Pat. No. 11,281,432 entitled "Method and apparatus for true random number generator based on nuclear radiation", an array of detectors was employed to detect electrons (i.e., entropy) from the radiation source. Further, the '432 patent disclosed a method of adjusting the counting rates of these detectors based on the varying diameter of their surface. The disclosed method is very effective in compensating for the limited (finite area) radiation source. However, designing and manufacturing such a detector array is complicated because the typical electrical parameters of a single diode vary considerably with the area. The contents of both the '695 and '432 patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Another solution is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/861,014 titled "Method and Apparatus for Highly Effective On-chip Quantum Random Number Generator" filed on Jul. 8, 2022, which discloses a true random number generator that includes a CMOS matrix detector with a top surface. A shell is positioned over the top surface, and the shell includes a radiation source and a luminophore or scintillator constructed to emit photons towards the top surface when the luminophore or scintillator is struck by electrons from the radioactive decay of the source of the radiation. The CMOS or SPAD detector matrix is constructed to detect the photons emitted from the luminophore or scintillator and to produce a signal for the detected photons. The signal is communicated to a processor that produces true random numbers based on the signal from the detected photons.
The previous solutions, however, may require unique radiation source structures, or variable detector sizes, which increase manufacturing complexity, costs, and failure rates. Therefore, a cost-effective method for making a TRNG without these limitations would be advantageous. Such a TRNG can then be used in compact personal devices or high throughput apparatus designed for network devices like servers.

Method and apparatus for highly effective on-chip quantum random number generator


A security tag includes a combination of a resonant frequency circuit with an adjacent amplification shield for enhancing output signal amplitude. The amplification shield is located adjacent to the resonant frequency circuit and is preferably in the same or substantially the same plane as the resonant frequency circuit or is in a close, generally parallel plane. In an exemplary embodiment, the resonant frequency circuit includes an inductor electrically coupled to a capacitor. The resonant frequency circuit has a center frequency and is arranged to resonate in response to exposure to electromagnetic energy at or near the center frequency, providing an output signal having an amplitude. The amplification shield is arranged to direct a portion of the electromagnetic energy to the resonant frequency circuit to amplify the amplitude of the output signal from the resonant frequency circuit.

The use of inductor capacitor (LC) resonant frequency circuits is well known for applications which include electronic article surveillance (EAS), chip based radio frequency identification (RFID), chipless RFID and other such applications. In such applications there are three key circuit parameters, which are typically employed for quantifying the electrical performance of the circuit, and, in particular, the antenna portion of the circuit. The three parameters are (1) the center frequency of the resonant circuit, (2) the quality factor (Q factor) of the resonant circuit, and (3) the relative output signal amplitude of the resonant circuit. With such circuits, the bandwidth is defined as the difference between an upper frequency and a lower frequency (F2) of the circuit at which the output amplitude response is 3 dB below the passband response. The output signal amplitude is a measured height of response of the circuit based on a fixed position and a fixed incident magnetic field strength. The quality or Q factor is the ratio of the center frequency of the resonant circuit divided by the bandwidth output signal of the circuit.
LC resonant frequency circuits are well known in the art. When used for EAS, such circuits are formed into labels or tags which are applied to goods to be protected. As an example, a tag may be formed of a dielectric substrate having first and second generally parallel planar surfaces on opposite sides thereof. A first side of the substrate includes a first conductive pattern in the form of a coil (forming the inductor of the circuit), a first end of which terminates in a generally square or rectangular plate forming a first electrode of the capacitor portion of the circuit. The second surface of the substrate includes a second generally square or rectangular plate forming the second electrode of the capacitor portion of the circuit and a conductive trace extending away from the capacitor plate to a point proximate an edge of the substrate. The distal end of the conductive trace is electrically connected by a weld through or around the edge of the substrate to the second end of the coil to thereby complete the parallel LC circuit. When a tag of this type is exposed to electromagnetic energy at or near the center frequency of the tag, as determined by the values of the inductor and capacitor in accordance with a known formula, the circuit resonates.
FIG. 1 shows four typical output signals resulting from the resonance of four respective typical LC tag circuits. A first one of the output signals 2 shown in FIG. 1 is marked to show the center frequency (Fc), the upper frequency (F1) and the lower frequency (F2) of the respective LC tag having the output signal. Of course, the difference between the upper frequency and the lower frequency establishes the bandwidth. A second one of the output signals 4 shown in FIG. 1 is also marked to show the amplitude (A1) of the respective output signal from the tag described above.
The present invention seeks to improve the performance of a typical LC resonant circuit. In particular, the present invention is aimed at enhancing or amplifying the output signal amplitude response from an LC resonant circuit.

LC resonant circuit with amplification device


Systems and methods for determining whether there is a correlation between arrhythmias and myocardial ischemic episodes are provided. An implantable system (e.g., a monitor, pacemaker or ICD) is used to monitor for arrhythmias and to monitor for myocardial ischemic episodes. When such events are detected by the implantable system, the implantable system stores (e.g., in its memory) data indicative of the detected arrhythmias and data indicative of the detected myocardial ischemic episodes. Then, for each detected arrhythmia, a determination is made based on the data, whether there was a myocardial ischemic episode detected within a specified temporal proximity of (e.g., within a specified amount of time of) the arrhythmia. Where a myocardial ischemic episode occurred within the specified temporal proximity of an arrhythmia, data for the two events can be linked. Additionally, when a log of arrhythmias is displayed, for each arrhythmia there is an indication of whether a myocardial ischemic episode was detected within the specified temporal proximity of the arrhythmia. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Implantable cardiac stimulation devices are currently being used to treat various types of arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Such devices are capable of detecting the occurrence of an arrhythmia, and automatically applying an appropriate electrical stimulation or shock therapy to the heart aimed at terminating the detected arrhythmia. In addition to providing automatic stimulation, such devices often include a data acquisition system that is configured to acquire intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals, convert the raw analog data into digital signals, and store the digital signals for later processing and/or telemetric transmission to an external device.
Recently, there been increased interest in adding myocardial ischemia detection capabilities to implantable cardiac devices. Myocardial ischemia, which involves oxygen starvation of the myocardium, can lead to myocardial infarction (MI) and/or the onset of malignant arrhythmias if the oxygen starvation is not alleviated. Although myocardial ischemia is sometimes associated with the symptom of angina pectoris (i.e., chest pain), may episodes of myocardial ischemia are asymptomatic or "silent." The inclusion of myocardial ischemia detection capabilities within an implantable device can provide a physician with information about a patient's ischemic burden, which is especially useful when the patient is suffering from silent ischemia.
While trending of ongoing ischemia burden is of interest, it has so far been unclear how to make such information actionable by a physician for things other than detection of risk of an acute myocardial infarction (MI). In other words, it is still generally unclear when a patient's chronic ischemic condition has grown bad enough to warrant pharmacologic therapy, or an angioplasty or coronary artery bypass procedure. Currently, it is likely that the physician will have to rely as much or more on patient symptomatology as on implantable device diagnostics to make such a determination. However, if it could be demonstrated that transient ischemic episodes were precipitating an increase in potentially lethal arrhythmias, a physician might deem such information as sufficient reason to intervene, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms such as chest pain. Accordingly, there is a desire to provide physicians with information that will allow them to readily identify correlations between ischemic episodes and arrhythmias.

Methods and systems to correlate arrhythmic and ischemic events


The invention relates to a device for the insertion of a cannula into a bone of a patient, which comprises: (a) an activator assembly for activating the device; (b) needle assembly which comprises a stylet and cannula; (c) barrel assembly for containing said stylet and cannula in a loaded state prior to the device activation; and (d) a setting assembly for adjusting the penetration depth of said cannula into the patient's bone.

Intraosseous injection devices (IID) for causing a cannula and at least a portion of stylet (hereinafter the pair of cannula and stylet are also referred to as "trocar needle") to penetrate into a bone are well known in the art. Such devices are typically used in life saving cases where the injection of drugs to the blood circuitry is required, while it is difficult for the medical staff to locate the patient's vein within a reasonable time. This device is also used for the extraction of a sample from a patient's bone marrow.
US 2010/0160868, US 2003/0225344, US 2010/0298831, US 2008/0208136, US 2006/0015066, US 2010/0160867, US 2010/0152616, US 2010/0137740, US 2006/0052790, US 2005/0171504, US 2003/0225411, and US 2010/0312246, all describe some sorts of intraosseous devices.
It has been found, however, that such devices suffer from safety problems and from improper of operation problems. For example, there are known cases in which the doctor has activated the device in the opposite direction, causing a portion of the trocar needle to penetrate the doctor's body instead of the patient's body. In other cases, devices have been early activated, before positioning the device at the exact point over the patient's body.
Furthermore, prior art devices do not provide a very stable support to the cannula, after causing its penetration into the patient's bone.
All the above drawbacks endanger both the patient's life and the device operator, as they involve injury to the operator, loss of the whole device or components thereof (most of such devices are designed for one-time use, and the operator may not have a spare device), or a loss of precious time. Moreover, even if the trocar needle has successfully inserted into the bone, the administration of the drugs into the bone may not succeed due to instability of the cannula, after the penetration operation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an intraosseous device which is safer both to the operator and to the patient. More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a device whose various known types of erroneous operation are eliminated, or at least minimized.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which is more reliable in operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device provides support to the cannula over the patient's body, after activation and disconnection of the device from the cannula.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Intraosseous device for inserting a cannula into a bone


An improved combination ion-selective electrode has a thin ion-sensing body extending from an outer reference body. The exposed portion of the ion-sensing body is encompassed by a sleeve which effectively forms an extension of the reference body and also provides mechanical stability to the ion-sensing body. One or more fluid channels are formed interior to the sleeve to provide an electrically conductive path from the reference solution within the reference body to the tip of the electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to ion-selective electrodes and, specifically, to the structure and manufacture of an ion-specific electrode of compact size, yet including both sensing and reference electrodes.
2. Background Information
Ion-selective electrodes of various types are used to measure the concentration of ions in solution. Particularly useful electrodes are those which include both a sensing electrode and a reference electrode in a single unit; this type of electrode is commonly referred to as a "combination electrode". An example of such an electrode is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,787, issued Sep. 21, 2004 to Moshe Hirshberg et al.
With the advent of large-scale testing of biological samples in very small sample vessels, a need has arisen for ion-selective electrodes which can be accommodated in such vessels. For example, one type of frequently-used sample vessel has 96 wells of dimensions 8 mm (millimeters) by 10 mm. The accommodation of ion-specific electrodes to such small volumes is challenging.

Micro PH electrode (reference electrode)


A glide assembly is adapted to be removably mounted to the free end of a leg of a piece of furniture. The glide assembly includes a body defining a bore extending partially through the body to define an interior surface and an opened end of the body. An insert is removably mountable about the free end of the leg and disposed within the bore of the body so as to fixedly secure the body about the free end of the leg.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to a glide that is mountable to a leg of a piece of furniture and, in particular, to a glide assembly fixedly securable about a leg of a chair or desk.
2. Description of the Related Art
The free end of each leg of a piece of furniture often includes a cap, foot, or glide to allow easy sliding of the piece of furniture over the surface on which it is supported, such as a floor. More specifically, the feet, for example, of a chair or desk are designed to increase the amount of surface-area contact and reduce the amount of frictional contact between the respective legs and the floor.
One type of foot commonly employed in the related art generally includes an attachment portion and a gliding portion. The attachment portion is adapted to be fixedly secured to the free end of a leg, and the gliding portion is operatively connected to the end of the attachment portion opposite the leg. The gliding portion has a flat surface made of a hard, durable material, such as metal or nylon, and is adapted to be in operative contact with the floor.
However, this type of foot suffers from the disadvantage that when the chair or desk is moved along the floor, frictional contact between the foot and the floor produces a perceptible noise. In a classroom setting, especially in an elementary school where many relatively young students can be moving or "scooting" their respective chairs and desks at any one time, this noise can be multiplied to a very significant level. Also, this type of foot suffers from the disadvantage that the flat surface collects sand, dirt, and other debris. Furthermore, this type of foot suffers from the disadvantage that the flat surface can produce rust marks on the floor. In addition, a tool is often required to fixedly secure/remove this type of foot to/from the respective leg. Moreover, this type of foot suffers from the disadvantage that the angle at which the flat surface of the gliding portion operatively contacts the floor may be different from leg to leg and/or chair to chair, for instance, depending upon the relationship of each leg of the chair with the floor. As such, only an insufficient portion of the flat surface may actually operatively contact the floor.
To overcome these disadvantages in the related art, educators and maintenance personnel have sometimes employed tennis balls as makeshift glides for respective legs of chairs and desks. More specifically, an opened-ended hole is cut in a tennis ball to accommodate the free end of a leg. While ingenious, this approach has been deemed objectionable as unsightly and unprofessional. Also, this type and other similarly shaped types of glide suffer from the disadvantage that they cannot be fixedly secured to the free end of the leg. As a result, when the chair or desk is moved along the floor, the amount of frictional contact between the glide and the free end of the leg may not be sufficient to retain the glide in place about the leg. In fact, as the chair or desk is moved, the glide can slide down the free end of the leg such that the glide can even slide off the leg. Furthermore, in a classroom setting, especially in an elementary school, the relatively young students can manually remove the glides. In either event, at least one glide missing from a chair or desk can cause the chair or desk to wobble and, thus, be functionally inferior. In addition, glides of any type made of a hard, durable rubber can grind into and, thus, mar the floor over which the chair or desk is slid.
The caps, feet, and glides of the related art suffer also from the disadvantage that only few, if any, of them are designed to be employed with a leg defining a substantially rectangular cross-section. More specifically, most of them are designed to be employed with only a leg defining a circular cross-section. However, about twenty percent of existing chairs and desks and those being manufactured have legs each defining a substantially rectangular cross-section. As such, there is a significant number of chairs and desks having a particular need that is not being sufficiently met.
Thus, there is a need in the related art for a glide that can be fixedly secured to the free end of a leg of a piece of furniture such that it can be retained to the leg when the piece of furniture is moved along a floor while maintaining sufficient contact with the floor. Similarly, there remains a need in the related art for a glide that cannot be manually removed from the leg by relatively young students in a classroom setting, especially in an elementary school. There is also a need in the related art for a glide that does not mar the floor or produce a perceptible noise or rust marks on the floor when the piece of furniture is moved along the floor. There is also a need in the related art for a glide that does not require a tool to fixedly secure/remove the glide to/from the leg. There is also a need in the related art for a glide that is sightly and professional. There is also a need in the related art for a glide that does not collect sand, dirt, and other debris. There is also a need in the related art for a glide a sufficient portion of which operatively contacts the floor. There is also a need in the related art for a glide that is designed to be employed with a leg defining a substantially rectangular cross-section.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Electronic devices may include time-of-flight image pixels. A time-of-flight image pixel may include first and second charge storage regions coupled to a photosensor and a transfer transistor with a gate terminal coupled to the first storage region. An electronic device may further include a light pulse emitter configured to emit pulses of light to be reflected by objects in a scene. Reflected portions of the emitted pulses of light may be captured along with background light by the time-of-flight image pixels. Time-of-flight image pixels may be configured sense the time-of-flight of the reflected portions of the emitted pulses. The electronic device may include processing circuitry configured to use the sensed time-of-flight of the reflected portions to generate depth images of a scene. Depth images may include depth-image pixel values that contain information corresponding to the distance of the objects in the scene from the electronic device.

This relates generally to imaging devices, and more particularly, to imaging devices that measure the flight time of reflected light pulses.
Image sensors are commonly used in electronic devices such as cellular telephones, cameras, and computers to capture images. In a typical arrangement, an electronic device is provided with an image sensor and a corresponding lens. Some electronic devices use arrays of image sensors and corresponding lenses to gather image data. This type of system, which is sometimes referred to as an array camera, may be used to capture depth information from a scene using a parallax effect based on a known physical offset between image sensors.
Depth information such as information about the distance of an object from an electronic device is also commonly captured using a dedicated range finder such as a radar system. In a typical range finder, light of a known frequency is emitted from the range finder in the direction of an object and is reflected off of the object in the direction of the range finder. Range finders typically have a light sensor that detects the reflected light. Distance information is then determined based on the time-of-flight of the light between the emission and detection of the light and the known speed of light.
Time-of-flight distance information is also sometimes extracted by a range finder from an emitted and reflected pulse of light by synchronizing the emission and the detection of the light. The light sensor is often configured to collect light for a predetermined amount of time after the emission of the light. Light reflected from a far away object may not return during the light collection period while light reflected from a nearby object may return and be collected during the light collection period. This is because the light reflected from the far away object travels a longer distance and therefore has a longer time-of-flight. Closer objects therefore appear brighter than relatively further objects. Distance information is therefore extracted from the brightness of an object.
Range finding systems of this type may capture depth information to a relatively larger distance than can be determined using a typical array camera. However, range finding systems of this type typically collect distance information for a single point, not a collection of points as in an image. In addition, range finding systems that determine depth information based on the brightness of reflected light may be confused by the presence of differences in the intrinsic brightness of objects in a typical real-world scene. Difficulties that arise in separating background intensity from reflected light pulse intensity can therefore be problematic when capturing images with depth information.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved imaging devices for capturing depth images.

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


The present invention relates to a block partitioning structure from among the video coding schemes and to a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding the block partitioning structure, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring block partitioning data; partitioning a block by means of the acquired block partitioning data; and encoding and decoding by means of the partitioned block. The encoding and decoding method and apparatus according to the present invention has the benefit of improving encoding efficiency with respect to the existing video compression schemes.

As the demand for high-resolution, high-definition video increases, the need for high-efficiency video compression technology for next-generation video services has emerged. Based on this need, the standardized MPEG and VCEG jointly established the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of the video compression standardization of H.264/AVC, and completed the standardization for HEVC, which is the latest international video compression standard established January 2013.
In the video compression technique, a block partitioning structure refers to a unit in which encoding and decoding are performed, and a unit to which main encoding and decoding techniques such as prediction and transform are applied. As the video compression technology develops, the magnitude of blocks for performing encoding and decoding is gradually increasing, and in terms of partitioning type of blocks, more various partitioning forms are supported. In addition, the video compression is performed using units subdivided according to roles of blocks as well as units for performing encoding and decoding. In the HEVC standard, video coding and decoding are performed using unit blocks subdivided according to a block partitioning structure of quad-tree type and roles of prediction and transform. In addition, various forms of block partitioning structures such as a Quad-Tree plus Binary-Tree (QTBT) which is a form of a combination of a quad-tree and a binary-tree, a block partitioning structure of any form, and the like have been proposed for improving video encoding efficiency.

Video coding method and apparatus utilizing combination of diverse block partitioning structures


A double-mass type dynamic damper mounted on a rod-shaped oscillating member, which includes a first damper system and a second damper system that are tuned to two different frequency ranges. Each of the damper systems includes a cylindrical mass member disposed radially outwardly of the oscillating member, and an elastic support member for elastically supporting the mass member with respect to the oscillating member. The elastic support members of the two damper systems are disposed in series and connected to each other in the axial direction. The dynamic damper further includes an elastic connector formed by adjacent parts of the two elastic support members, for elastically connecting axially opposed faces of the two mass members. The two elastic support members have respective spring constants as measured in the radial directions, which spring constants are both larger than a shearing spring constant of the elastic connector that is subjected to shearing stresses upon relative displacement of the mass members in the radial directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a double-mass type dynamic damper having two secondary vibration systems which are tuned to different frequency ranges, and to a drive shaft equipped with such a double-mass type dynamic damper.
2. Discussion of Related Art
As a type of vibration damping device for reducing vibrations of a rod-shaped oscillating member, such as a shaft, arm or a conduit for forming a fluid passage, used in various mechanical apparatus, there is known a dynamic damper as disclosed in JP-A-2-62442 or JP-A-2-190641, which has a cylindrical mass member disposed radially outwardly of the oscillating member, and an elastic support member for elastically supporting the mass member for connection thereof with the oscillating member.
The dynamic damper of this type exhibits an excellent damping effect with respect to vibrations in a frequency range corresponding to the natural vibration frequency of the damper. To achieve a desired vibration damping effect, therefore, the mass of the mass member and the spring constant of the elastic support member are controlled so that the natural vibration frequency of the dynamic damper is tuned with high accuracy, depending upon the frequency range of the vibrations of the the oscillating member, which are to be damped by this damper.
However, the natural vibration frequency is tuned to a single frequency range, and the dynamic damper is only able to effectively damp vibrations in a narrow or limited frequency range corresponding to the natural vibration frequency. It is thus difficult for the known dynamic damper to provide high damping effects with respect to a plurality of kinds of vibrations applied to the dynamic damper.
When the vibration acceleration of the oscillating member varies, in such a case where the oscillating member in the form of a drive shaft of an automobile generates greatly varying oscillating forces depending upon the running condition of the automobile, for example, the amplitude of the oscillating mass member of the dynamic damper is varied, and the spring constant of the elastic support member is accordingly changed. Consequently, the natural vibration frequency of the dynamic damper is shifted or changed, resulting in reduced damping effects with respect to the vibrations to be damped by the damper.

Double-mass type dynamic damper having two damper systems


A mobile phone lens, including in the direction from an object being imaged to an imaging plane: a first lens group, a diaphragm, a second lens group, a third lens group, and a filter. The first lens group and the third lens group are stationary. The second lens group is adapted to move along an optical axis. The first lens group includes a first lens. The second lens group includes in the direction from the object being imaged to the imaging plane: a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens. The third lens group includes in the direction from the object being imaged to the imaging plane: a fifth lens, and a six lens.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a mobile phone lens.
Description of the Related Art
Typically, a mobile phone lens has a small imaging plane and no internal focusing, the brightness of the imaging plane is non-uniform, and a clear image can be obtained only at a fixed object distance.


An electronic ticket providing system capable of distributing and browsing the information relating to a ticket can be realized while maintaining the security and transferability of an IC card. The electronic ticket information is divided into formal ticket data and provisional ticket data. The formal ticket data includes authentication information for admission, ticket notation information, and authentication information for acquisition of information for a ticket owner. The provisional ticket data includes the ticket notation information, and authentication information for acquisition of information for a ticket purchase requester. The electronic ticket information is distributed from an electronic ticket vending server to a mobile telephone over a communications network. In the mobile telephone, the formal ticket data is stored in a removable storage medium such as an IC card, etc. having high security and transferability, and the provisional ticket data is stored in the internal memory. In the electronic ticket vending server, ticket related information is transmitted if it is confirmed that the provisional ticket data is stored according to the authentication information for acquisition of information for a ticket purchase requester in the provisional ticket data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic ticket providing system and its method, an electronic ticket vending apparatus, a mobile telephone, and an operation program for use with them. In particular, the present invention relates to an electronic ticket providing system adapted to distribute electronic tickets to user's mobile telephone over a communications network.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic ticket system in which an IC card is used instead of a paper ticket when the ticket information is actually used has been proposed (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-113238, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-351623). In this system, the ticket information about admission and seat reservation for various events such as a concert, a play, etc., a boarding pass, a transportation ticket, etc. for transportation, etc. is electronically obtained on the IC card using a mobile telephone from the server of a ticket issuing center over a communications network. There is also a system proposed for storing ticket information on internal memory of a mobile telephone without an IC card (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-189933).
In the method for storing electronic ticket information on an IC card, it is possible to satisfy the security requirements against the tampering of data, copy of data, etc. However, if an electronic ticket is a ticket of an event, it is difficult to obtain various related information such as the traffic information to the event hall, the notification of related events, the refund information in case of cancel of the event, etc.
In the method for storing electronic ticket information on an IC card, it is possible to satisfy the security requirements against the tampering of data, copy of data, etc. However, if an electronic ticket is a ticket of an event, it is difficult to obtain various related information such as the traffic information to the event hall, the notification of related events, the refund information in case of cancelation of the event, etc.
Furthermore, there may be also a method for storing various related information together with electronic ticket information on an IC card. However, this method also has a disadvantage that the information cannot be checked unless an IC card and an IC card reader/writer are incorporated together.

System and method for providing electronic ticket, and electronic ticket vending apparatus and mobile telephone therefor


A cover for a surface mounted electrical box in which are placed one of a selected group of receptacles each having different electrical plug blade contact arrangements, sizes and shapes. The partial cover has a cut-out and receives therein a selectable modular insert which contains apertures which correspond to the plug prong contacts of the receptacle. The modular insert locks in the cut-out and fits flush with the remainder of the partial cover. Thus, the cover is assembled to match the receptacle within the box.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a cover for an electrical receptacle housing and more particularly to a universal cover which can be adapted to particular receptacles within such housing by the use of interchangeable modular inserts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrical receptacles for receiving the plug of a cable connected to an electric stove or other high current loads and connected to a source of power have long been known. Such electrical receptacles can be mounted in a wall or panel mounted to the surface of a wall, table, etc. Typically, these electrical receptacles take the form of a housing having an integral cover or face plate. The electrical circuitry and components in the housing are appropriate for the electrical rating of the load device and the type of service expected. To avoid loads being connected to inappropriate power sources the shape and placement of the plug blade contacts and corresponding apertures in the housing have been standardized. Thus, a great number of housings must be manufactured, stocked and carried by an electrician and user. The problem is multiplied where different housing materials must be selected for different ratings. Also, different materials for different parts of the cover cannot be used, the cover is made of the same material as the housing.
Further, tooling costs for making housings having plug blade contact apertures for all possible electrical contact arrangements are significant. There is, thus, a need for providing housings for electrical receptacles which are less expensive to tool.

Electrical receptacle cover with modular inserts


There are provided a printing method and an ink jet printer which are capable of attaining the energy saving and reduced installation space as well as implementing high speed printing, and a tape cartridge for use with the ink jet printer. Printing is sequentially carried out on a printing tape having a printing area whose width is sufficiently larger than a length of nozzle arrays of an ink jet head, along the width of the printing tape by the nozzle arrays extending in the direction of the width of the printing tape. The printing tape is fed such that it is reciprocatingly moved, and at the same time the ink jet head facing the printing tape is intermittently moved in a direction orthogonal to the direction of feed of the printing tape, thereby printing on the printing tape by the ink jet head.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a printing method and an ink jet printer which are capable of printing on a printing medium by using an ink jet head, as well as a tape cartridge for use with the ink jet printer.
2. Prior Art
FIG. 15 shows a conventional printing method using an ink jet head. As shown in the figure, in the conventional printing method, an ink jet head H installed on a carriage is caused to reciprocate (for main scanning), and in synchronism with this reciprocation of the ink jet head H, a printing paper (printing medium) P is intermittently fed (for sub scanning) in a direction orthogonal to the direction of reciprocation of the ink jet head H, whereby printing is carried out.
As described above, in the conventional printing method, in order to increase printing speed, it is required to cause the ink jet head to reciprocate at an increased speed and with higher accuracy. In other words, the ink jet head which is relatively heavy in weight is required to be moved at a higher speed, and hence it is necessary to use a motor having a higher output power as a drive source. This results in increased power consumption. Further, since the ink jet head is moved at a high speed, fixed regions for acceleration and deceleration are required when the ink jet head undergoes transition from a standing state to a state moving at a constant speed, and transition from the latter to the former, which make it necessary to secure spaces for acceleration and deceleration of the ink jet head.
It is an object of the invention to provide a printing method and an ink jet printer which are capable of attaining the energy saving and reduced installation space as well as implementing high speed printing, and a tape cartridge for use with the ink jet printer.
To attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of sequentially printing on a printing medium having a printing area whose width is sufficiently larger than a length of nozzle arrays of a print head, along a width of the printing medium, by the nozzle arrays extending in a direction of the width of the printing medium.
The method according to the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the printing on the printing medium is carried out while feeding the printing medium such that the printing medium is reciprocatingly moved, and at the same time intermittently moving the print head facing the printing medium in the direction of the width of the printing medium, the direction being orthogonal to a direction of feed of the printing medium.
According to this method, the printing medium is caused to reciprocate, and the print head is intermittently moved. That is, by setting the direction of reciprocation of the printing medium to the direction of main scanning, and the direction of intermittent movement of the print head to the direction of sub scanning, printing is sequentially carried out in the direction of the width of the printing area, so that the printing speed mainly depends on the reciprocating speed of the printing medium. The printing medium is lighter in weight and more flexible than the print head, whereby it is possible to save power consumption and shorten acceleration/deceleration distances required in the reciprocating motion, thereby attaining the saving of energy and printing space. Further, even if a simple construction (using rollers, for instance) is employed, it is possible to cause the printing medium to reciprocate at a high speed.
Preferably, the printing by using the print head is carried out not only when the printing medium is moved forward but also when the printing medium is moved rearward.
According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to prevent a wasteful motion of the printing medium, thereby causing the same to reciprocate efficiently.
Preferably, the print head is caused to reciprocate over the printing area, and the printing is carried out not only when the print head is moved forward but also when the print head is moved rearward.
According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to prevent a wasteful motion of the printing medium which is relatively heavy in weight, thereby moving the same efficiently.
Preferably, the printing medium is a printing tape which is stored in a form of a roll and rolled out for the printing.
According to this preferred embodiment, especially when a printing tape having a small width is used, the whole distance over which the print head is intermittently moved can be reduced, and by increasing the speed of the reciprocation of the printing tape while providing means for preventing jamming of the tape, it is possible to increase the printing speed with ease.
To attain the above object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink jet printer comprising:
a printing medium feed mechanism for feeding a printing medium having a printing area upon which printing is carried out, such that the recording medium is reciprocatingly moved;
a print head having nozzle arrays extending in a direction of a width of the printing medium, and being brought to the printing medium whose width is sufficiently larger than a length of the nozzle arrays, for sequentially printing thereon along the width of the printing medium, by the nozzle arrays; and
a head-moving mechanism for intermittently moving the print head in the direction of the width of the printing medium, the direction being orthogonal to a direction of feed of the printing medium,
wherein the printing is carried out by causing the printing medium to be reciprocatingly moved and at the same time causing the print head to be intermittently moved.
According to this ink jet printer, the recording medium is caused to reciprocate by the recording medium feed mechanism, and the print head is driven (for ejecting ink droplets) while being intermittently moved by the head-moving mechanism, whereby printing on the printing tape is carried out as desired. That is, by setting the direction of reciprocation of the printing medium to the direction of main scanning, and the direction of intermittent movement of the print head to the direction of sub scanning, printing is sequentially carried out in the direction of the width of the printing area, so that the printing speed mainly depends on the reciprocating speed of the printing medium. The printing medium is lighter in weight and more flexible than the print head, whereby it is possible to save power consumption and shorten acceleration/deceleration distances required in the reciprocating motion, thereby attaining the saving of energy and printing space. Further, even if a simple construction (using rollers, for instance) is employed, it is possible to cause the printing medium to reciprocate at a high speed.
Preferably, the printing medium feed mechanism includes forward feed roller means and rearward feed roller means arranged at respective downstream and upstream locations in the direction of feed of the printing medium with respect to the print head, and the forward feed roller means is configured such that the forward feed roller means rotates slightly faster than the rearward feed roller means, and is permitted to perform slip rotation when the printing medium is moved forward, and at the same time to perform free rotation when the printing medium is moved rearward.
According to this preferred embodiment, the distance over which the printing medium reciprocates and the speed at which the same moves for reciprocation is controlled by the rearward feed roller means. When the printing medium is moved forward, the forward feed roller means cooperates with the rearward feed roller means to feed the printing medium forward, and performs slight slip rotation for giving a constant tension to the printing medium. On the other hand, when the printing medium is moved rearward, the forward feed roller means rotates freely while the rearward feed roller means rotates reversely. This enables excellent printing operation and smooth reciprocation of the printing medium.
More preferably, the rearward feed roller means includes a drive roller and a driven roller opposed to each other with the printing medium positioned therebetween, and out of the drive roller and the driven roller, one roller positioned on a recording surface side of the printing medium has a pair of roller bodies which are located outside the printing area, and brought into direct contact with the printing medium.
According to this preferred embodiment, in the rearward feed roller means having a drive roller and a driven roller for feeding the printing medium such that the recording medium is reciprocatingly moved, one of the rollers positioned on the recording surface side of the printing medium has a pair of roller bodies which are located outside the printing area. Therefore, the pair of roller bodies are not brought into contact with a printed portion of the printing medium when the printing medium is fed such that it is reciprocatingly moved. That is, the rearward feed roller means for causing the printing medium to reciprocate is prevented from being brought into contact with a portion having ink droplets ejected thereon, of the printing medium. This makes it possible to prevent the rearward feed roller means from being stained by ink, and at the same time prevent ink from being attached to the printing medium via the rearward feed roller means. Further, there is no need to reduce the printing speed in view of drying of ink.
Further preferably, the ink jet printer further includes a longitudinally-cutting cutter for cutting the printing medium for which the printing has been completed, at a location inward of a portion of the printing medium with which the pair of roller bodies are brought into rolling contact, along the direction of feed of the printing medium.
According to this preferred embodiment, a printing medium having a predetermined width can be used for producing a printing medium having a printed portion and a desired width. This makes it unnecessary to provide an ink jet printer which is capable of receiving a plurality of kinds of printing mediums having difference widths. Further, after the printing medium is printed with predetermined background colors, if the printing medium is cut to have a slightly smaller width than the printing width, it is possible to obtain a cut-off strip of the printing medium having a background painted all over.
Still more preferably, the longitudinally-cutting cutter has a pair of cutter blades, the pair of cutter blades being constructed such that a distance therebetween can be adjusted.
According to this preferred embodiment, each printing medium can be freely cut to have a desired width. Further, it is possible to automatically set a cutting width relative to a printing width by taking margins into account.
Still more preferably, the printing medium has an adhesive layer coated on a reverse side surface opposite to the recording surface and a peel-off paper provided on the adhesive layer, wherein the longitudinally-cutting cutter performs half-cutting of the printing medium such that the peel-off paper is left uncut.
According to this preferred embodiment, a printed portion of the printing medium, which has the same width as its original width, is sent out of the ink jet printer in a manner held by the peel-off paper. The printed portion cut to have a desired width is peeled off the peel-off paper. This makes it easy to deal with a printed portion of the printing medium.
Preferably, the print head is installed on a carriage, and the head-moving mechanism has a screw shaft in screw engagement with the carriage, a guide shaft in slidable engagement with the carriage, and a motor for rotating the screw shaft.
According to this preferred embodiment, the motor as a drive source and a screw mechanism formed between the screw shaft and an engagement portion of the carriage are used to intermittently move the print head, so that the head-moving mechanism having a compact and simple construction can intermittently move the print head with accuracy.
Preferably, the ink jet printer further includes a buffer for receiving a returned portion of the printing medium when the printing medium is moved rearward.
According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to suitably protect the returned portion of the printing medium, and at the same time effectively prevent the returned portion from causing jamming or the like inconveniences.
Preferably, the printing medium is a printing tape which is stored in a form of a roll and rolled out for the printing.
According to this preferred embodiment, especially when a printing tape having a small width is used, the whole distance over which the print head is intermittently moved can be reduced, and by increasing the speed of the reciprocation of the printing tape while providing means for preventing jamming of the tape, it is possible to increase the printing speed with ease.
Preferably, the ink jet printer further includes a tape cartridge containing the printing tape, the tape cartridge being removably mounted in the ink jet printer.
According to this preferred embodiment, the printing tape in the form of a roll can be easily handled.
To attain the above object, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a tape cartridge removably mounted in an ink jet printer that carries out printing by feeding a printing tape such that the printing tape is reciprocatingly moved, and at the same time by intermittently moving a print head facing the printing tape in a direction orthogonal to a direction of reciprocation of the printing tape,
the tape cartridge comprising a cartridge casing accommodating the printing tape in a form of a roll.
Preferably, the cartridge casing is formed with an opening for allowing a returned portion of the printing tape to escape from within the cartridge casing when the printing tape is moved rearward.
According to this preferred embodiment, the printing tape is fed such that it is reciprocatingly moved, and at the same time the print head is intermittently moved, whereby it is possible to carry out printing by an ink jet printing method in which the printing tape is moved for main scanning, and the print head is moved for sub scanning. Further, the printing tape is contained in the cartridge casing to facilitate handling of the printing tape, and the cartridge casing is formed with an opening for allowing a portion of the printing tape being printed and returned by a rearward movement of the printing tape to be suitably escape out of the cartridge casing. This makes it unnecessary to take up the returned portion of the printing tape within the cartridge casing, so that the construction of a tape core or the like can be simplified, and the jamming of the printing tape in the cartridge casing can be prevented.
Preferably, the cartridge casing is provided with a guide member for guiding the returned portion of the printing tape out of the cartridge casing through the opening.
According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to smoothly guide the returned portion of the printing tape out of the cartridge casing through the opening, thereby inhibiting the returned portion from returning toward the tape core.
Preferably, the printing tape is fed such that the printing tape is reciprocatingly moved by tape feed roller means having a drive roller and a driven roller, and the cartridge casing contains the driven roller.
According to this preferred embodiment, when the tape cartridge itself is mounted in the ink jet printer, the printing tape can be automatically held between the drive roller and the driven roller, thereby enabling and maintaining a feed wait state of the printing tape.
More preferably, the tape feed roller means comprises forward feed roller means and rearward feed roller means arranged at respective downstream and upstream locations in a direction of feed of the printing tape with respect to the print head, the forward feed roller means and the rearward feed roller means each comprising the drive roller and the driven roller arranged in a manner opposed to each other with the printing tape sandwiched therebetween.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Printing method, ink jet printer and tape cartridge for use with ink jet printer


The invention provides an activated silica enriched mazzite having a chemical formula in the anhydrous state, expressed in molar ratios of:. a M.sub.2/n O; Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; b SiO.sub.2 ;. with a variation from 0 to 0.5, M being an alkaline cation of valency n and b being greater than 7, and which has an acid strength corresponding to an amount of heat measured by ammonia absorption microcalorimetry, greater than 190 KJ/mol, and a pore volume, measured by cyclohexane adsorption, greater than 0.09 ml/g. The activated mazzites are useful in the conversion of hydrocarbons, in particular, the isomerization of C.sub.4 to C.sub.8 paraffin, and as molecular sieves in processes for the separation of hydrocarbons.

1) Field of the Invention
The subject of the present invention is a silica-enriched activated mazzite obtained by a crystallization gel containing zeolite crystals. The present invention also relates to its process of preparation and to its application as reaction catalyst for the conversion of hydrocarbons, in particular by isomerization, or as molecular sieves.
2) Background Art
Obtained for the first time by a synthetic route in 1966 under the name of zeolite omega by Flanigen and Kellberg (U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,036), mazzite was identified in 1972 in basaltic rocks from Mont Semiol, near Montbrison, Loire, France. Its crystalline structure was resolved by Galli (Cryst. Structure Comm., 3, 339, 1974) and Rinaldi et al. (Acta Cryst., B31, 1603, 1974). From its structure, of hexagonal symmetry, it belongs to the category of highly acidic zeolites with broad pores and unidirectional porosity, which makes it particularly advantageous for applications in catalysis, in particular for the conversion of hydrocarbons.
The omega claimed by Flanigen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,036) is characterized by an X-ray spectrum common to all the types of mazzites prepared subsequently, such as ZSM-4, LZ 202 or MZ-34. However, these mazzites, although identical in structure, are distinguished from one another by their specific synthetic route and different physical characteristics, such as the Si/Al ratio, their specific surface and their porosity.
In order to obtain a mazzite, so-called crystallization gels, containing a trivalent aluminium source, a silicon source, at least one alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation in the hydroxide form, water and optionally an organic structuring agent, can be formed. However, from these constituents, by varying the stoichiometry of the gel or the conditions of the subsequent hydrothermal treatment necessary for the crystallization, it is possible to obtain zeolites which are very different from mazzite, such as offretite (OFF) or zeolite L (LTL) (S. Ernst and J. Weitkamp, Catalysis Today, 19, 1994, 27-60).
In order to improve the physical characteristics of these mazzites, silica gels, colloidal silicas, precipitated silicas, silicates or hydrolyzable silicic esters have been introduced into the synthesis or crystallization gel, as silicon source, and aluminates, alumina hydroxides, alumina in the pure or commercial form or amorphous aluminosilicates have been introduced into the synthesis or crystallization gel as trivalent aluminium sources. These aluminium sources were subsequently replaced by natural or synthetic crystalline aluminosilicates, mainly natural clays. Such a substitution has made it possible to obtain homogeneous growth of the crystals, due to the slow and even dissolution of these aluminosilicates in the synthesis medium (Dwyer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,007; Fajula, U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,200).
Other methods have been developed for synthesizing a novel mazzite from seeds of mazzite or of another zeolite in the presence or in the absence of organic structuring agent containing alkylammonium ions (Cannan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,779, Di Renzo, FR 2,651,221 and FR 2,698,862).
Thus, by varying the crystallization temperature to between 90.degree. C. and 150.degree. C. and the content of sodium cations and of organic structuring agent, such as tetramethylammonium, choline or p-dioxane, in the crystallization gels, it has been possible to obtain the various known types of mazzite called omega, ZSM-4, LZ 202 or MZ-34 (cf W. M. Meier and D. H. Olson, "Atlas of Zeolite Structure Types", Third Revised Edition, Butterworth, London 1992).
However, whatever the method of synthesis employed above, it has been impossible to synthesize a mazzite exhibiting an Si/Al ratio in the precursors or alternatively crude synthetic products greater than 5, these ratios generally being between 2.5 and 5, which corresponds to a molar aluminium concentration varying between 0.166 and 0.285. Now, the combination of a high aluminium content and of a unidirectional porosity does not favour the application of such an unactivated mazzite in catalysis, because the desired optimum Si/Al ratio is frequently greater than 10 for such an application, which can only be obtained by dealumination during an activation phase.
Activation phase is usually understood to mean the combined individual stages carried out after the synthesis of a zeolite and which are targeted at rendering it active in catalysis and in adsorption. These individual stages, generally preceded by a stage of calcination of the crude synthetic zeolite precursor, comprise an ion exchange, then a hydrothermal treatment and an acidic washing.
These treatments are known to induce profound textural and structural modifications in zeolites, and mazzites in particular, which affect their porosity and their acidity. Thus, the calcination stage, intended to decompose the organic structuring agent occluded within the pores of the mazzite precursor, causes partial degradation of the structure and the formation of amorphous residues which remain trapped in the pores and which obstruct the channels of the mazzite. The lower the Si/Al ratio in the precursor, the greater the loss in crystallinity and the greater the amount of amorphous residues. This limits the catalytic efficiency of the mazzite and the effectiveness of the subsequent activation treatments. In addition, the hydrothermal treatment and acidic washing stages result in the formation of non-bridging bonds, creating silanol defects which decrease the strength and the number of acid centres, reducing the long-distance order in the zeolite lattice.
The aim of the present invention is to avoid the problems encountered by mazzites with an excessively low Si/Al ratio, which, after activation, contain amorphous residues and lattice defects which reduce the catalytic performances, and the present invention is targeted at the production of a silica-enriched activated mazzite with improved properties and with a limited number of silanol defects in the lattice which exhibits a larger number of available acid sites and in particular an increased acid strength.
The subject of the present invention is a silica-enriched activated mazzite with a chemical formula, in the anhydrous state, expressed as molar ratio, of EQU aM.sub.2/n O.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.bSiO.sub.2
with a varying from 0 to 0.5, M denoting an alkaline cation of valency n and b being greater than 7, characterized in that it exhibits an acid strength, expressed as amount of heat of adsorption of ammonia, greater than 190 kJ/mol and a pore volume, measured by adsorption of cyclohexane, greater than 0.09 ml/g.
According to the present invention, the acid strength of the activated mazzite corresponds to the amount of initial heat of adsorption of ammonia; it is measured by microcalorimetry. The measurement consists in adsorbing gaseous ammonia on the activated mazzite at 150.degree. C. and in measuring the amount of heat released. The activated mazzite according to the invention exhibits a particularly significant acid strength because, until now, whatever the method of synthesis known and employed by a person skilled in the art, it has never been possible to obtain as high a value of the amount of heat of adsorption of ammonia on an activated mazzite.
These measurements of acidity of the mazzite from the amounts of heat of absorption of ammonia are fully described in the article entitled "A multitechnique characterization of the acidity of dealuminated mazzite" by D. McQueen, B. H. Chiche, F. Fajula, A. Auroux, C. Guimon, F. Fitoussi and Ph. Schulz, J. Catal., 1996, 161.
In order to obtain such an acid strength, the activated mazzite according to the invention is obtained from a zeolite precursor itself synthesized from a crystallization gel containing faujasite X, with an Si/Al ratio of less than 1.5, the said precursor subsequently being subjected to an activation treatment.
The Applicant Company had already synthesized mazzite from grains of faujasite Y with an Si/Al ratio of greater than 1.5, as is described in Patent FR 2,698,862. However, in contrast to what it had recommended, the molar composition of the crystallization gel is completely different; in fact, the molar ratios vary
from 5 to 15 for SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 PA1 from 1 to 2 for SiO.sub.2 /TMA.sub.2 O PA1 from 0.03 to 0.25 for TMA.sub.2 O/Na.sub.2 O PA1 and from 30 to 150 for H.sub.2 O/Na.sub.2 O PA1 from 5 to 15 for SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 PA1 from 1 to 2 for SiO.sub.2 /TMA.sub.2 O PA1 from 0.03 to 0.25 for TMA.sub.2 O/Na.sub.2 O PA1 and from 30 to 150 for H.sub.2 O/Na.sub.2 O
with TMA.sub.2 O, the organic structuring agent, chosen from tetraalkylammonium ions, each alkyl group comprising from 1 to 4 carbons and preferably denoting the tetramethylammonium ion. The sodium is introduced partly by the addition of sodium hydroxide used to adjust the alkalinity of the gel and the tetravalent silicon and trivalent aluminium sources originate partly from the group composed of silicates, solid or colloidal silicas, gels and xerogels, hydrolyzable silicic esters and diatomites and, on the other hand, from faujasite X. In the gel, it is possible, however, to have therein a mixture of alkaline ions, it being possible for the latter in particular to be introduced by faujasite X.
The use of commercially available faujasite X has made it possible to reduce both the cost of the starting materials and the cost of manufacture of the zeolite of mazzite type. This is because it is no longer necessary to form grains with a specific configuration which are delimited solely by rounded surfaces, the synthesis of which is expensive, in particular in time (10 to 12 days of crystallization at 50.degree. C., with or without stirring), as was described in Patent FR 2,698,862.

Activated silica enriched mazzite, production method and application thereof


A boost converter for converting an input voltage received at an input thereof into first and second output voltages provided at first and second outputs thereof, respectively, and a method of operating the boost converter. In one embodiment, the boost converter includes: (1) a first switching circuit coupled to a first rail of the input and having a first switch and a first capacitor coupled in parallel, (2) a second switching circuit coupled to a second rail of the input and having a second switch and a second capacitor coupled in parallel, (3) a contactor, coupled between the first and second switching circuits and the first and second rails, that is controllable to achieve alternative first and second states in which: (3a) in the first state, the first and second switching circuits are coupled in series across the source of AC power and (3b) in the second state, the first and second switching circuits are coupled in parallel across the source of AC power to reduce an overall loss associated with the first and second switches and (4) a boost inductor, coupled in series with first and second switching circuits, that provides a conductive path for the input DC voltage to flow through the first and second switching circuits to charge the first and second capacitors, respectively.

A power converter is a power processing circuit that converts an input voltage or current source into a specified output voltage or current. In off-line applications wherein power factor correction, total harmonic distortion (THD) reduction and a stable, regulated voltage are desired, the converter often employs a boost converter.
The converter generally includes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter, coupled to a source of alternating current (AC) power. A rectifier bridge, coupling the EMI filter to the boost converter, rectifies the AC power to produce an unregulated DC voltage. The boost converter receives the unregulated DC voltage and generates therefrom a controlled DC voltage. A DC/DC converter, coupled to the boost converter, then converts the high DC voltage (e.g., 400 VDC or 800 VDC) to a lower voltage (e.g., 48 VDC or 24 VDC).
A conventional boost converter generally includes an inductor, coupled between an input voltage (e.g., the unregulated DC voltage from the rectifier bridge) and a power switch. The power switch is then coupled in parallel with a rectifying diode and an output capacitor. The output capacitor is usually large to ensure a constant output voltage to a load (e.g., a DC/DC converter). The output voltage (measured at the load) of the boost converter is always greater than the input voltage.
The boost converter operates as follows. When the power switch is conducting, the rectifying diode is reverse-biased, isolating the output capacitor and, therefore, the load. During this period, the input voltage supplies energy to charge the inductor and an inductor current rises. A stored charge in the output capacitor powers the load. When the power switch is not conducting, the inductor current decreases, as energy from both the inductor and the input flows forward through the rectifying diode, charging the output capacitor and powering the load. The output voltage of the boost converter can thus be controlled by varying a duty cycle of the power switch.
For high AC input voltages, in conjunction with the output voltage of the boost converter being greater than the input DC voltage, the output of the conventional boost converter may be too high for commonly available semiconductor devices. A so-called "three-level" boost converter that provides two equal output voltages has been suggested to accommodate semiconductor devices rated for approximately half the total output voltage. The three-level boost converter generally consists of an inductor and two switching circuits (each having a power switch, rectifying diode and output capacitor) coupled in series. By dividing the total output voltage between two outputs, the three-level boost converter reduces maximum voltage stresses across the semiconductor devices. Separate DC/DC converters may then be used with each output. If two DC/DC converters are used, only half of the total output voltage is applied to each DC/DC converter. Switching devices in the DC/DC converters, therefore, can also be rated at half of the total output voltage.
For high input voltages, the three-level boost converter allows the use of lower voltage switching devices and a smaller boost inductor, thus providing better performance than the conventional boost converter. For wide input applications, however, the conversion efficiency of the three-level boost converter is quite poor at a low end of the input range, since the input current must flow through multiple switching devices.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a boost converter topology that obtains an improved conversion efficiency over a wide input range.

Dual-output boost converter having enhanced input operating range


An improved three-dimensional imaging system for imaging an object having a number of resolvable elements including: an amplitude modulated radiation source for transmitting radiation to the object; at least one photoelectric image detector; a gating circuit for synchronously enabling at least one of the detectors during at least three portions of the period of the modulated radiation source for detecting radiation reflected from the object; and a 3-dimensional image computer having a first routine for calculating the phase angle between the transmitted radiation and the reflected radiation and a second routine, responsive to the calculated phase angle, for calculating the range of the number of elements of the object with respect to each other.

Visible and infrared imaging systems are useful in many applications such as, for example, in military applications to provide essential information relative to surveillance, remote observations, night vision, and guided weapons control as well as commercial applications for industrial, transportation, space and environmental use. Conventional imaging systems, however, generally provide only two-dimensional imaging, and many of the above military and commercial applications, require three-dimensional imaging. For these and other applications laser range finders have been used to augment conventional two-dimensional imagers by providing single-point ranging. However, the usefulness of these systems is limited, in that they are incapable of imaging multiple objects within a scene.
Scanning lidar systems are capable of imaging and ranging multiple objects within an image scene, but their response time is slow and is limited by the time it takes to rasterscan the full scene. Thus, these systems do not provide real time three-dimensional imaging. Other three-dimensional imaging systems utilize a stereoscopic technique which requires multiple cameras at multiple observation sights. These systems require a significant amount of hardware and are very costly. Yet another type of three-dimensional imaging system illuminates a scene to be imaged and uses the returned light intensity data to accomplish ranging of objects within the scene. However, variations in scene illumination are a major problem. Also since many objects have variations in reflectivity over their surfaces and different objects have different reflectivities, inaccuracies in ranging are common.


The invention relates to a method for producing a matrix of electronic components, comprising a step of producing an active layer on a substrate, and a step of individualizing the components by forming trenches in the active layer at least until the substrate emerges. The method comprises steps of depositing a layer of functional material on the active layer, depositing a photosensitive resin on the layer of material in such a way as to fill said trenches and to form a thin film on the upper face of the components, at least partially exposing the resin to radiation while underexposing the portion of resin in the trenches, developing the resin in such a way as to remove the properly exposed portion thereof, removing the functional material layer portion that shows through after the development step, and removing the remaining portion of resin.

In an electronic matrix device, such as a matrix detector for example, the unitary elements forming the matrix, or "pixels" by analogy with the field of imaging, are individualized by trenches in order to define independent local behaviours. For example, in the case of a matrix detector, an individual component allows incident radiation thereon to be measured independently of the other components, thereby allowing in the end an image of distinct dots to be formed.
The inter-component space so defined is generally perceived as a drawback, not only because it restricts the degree of component integration per surface unit, but also because this volume is considered to be difficult to use with common techniques without damaging the behaviour of adjacent components or inducing a high failure rate.
By way of example, electrical connections between adjacent components have been made using electric wires welded onto the upper faces of the components. A welded wire however is fragile by virtue of the weld employed, and in addition uses a portion of the working surface of the components.
The purpose of this invention is to resolve the aforementioned problem by proposing a matrix of individual components and a method for the production thereof, wherein the inter-component space is used optimally, for example in order to provide reliable electrical connections between adjacent pixels, to absorb relative displacements between adjacent pixels or to increase pixel density by reducing the surfaces occupied by the interconnections.
It will be noted that the invention applies to the field of the manufacture of matrices of electronic components, whereof some dimensions, particularly those relating to the space separating the components, are less than about ten micrometers. As is known, the manufacture of such components is subject to specific problems which require the implementation of techniques specific to these orders of magnitude, such as photolithography for example.

Method for producing a matrix of individual electronic components and matrix produced thereby


An illumination pen includes a hollow pen holder having a receiving cavity and a lower light transmissible body, a writer device and an actuator. The writer device includes a pen core, an illumination device including a battery and an illuminator. The actuator includes a rotor rotatably provided on the pen holder, and a driving member including a conductive arm and a pushing arm. When the rotor is rotated at a clockwise direction, the conductive arm is driven to electrically connect with the illuminator so as to light it up, when the rotor is rotated at a counter-clockwise direction, the pushing arm is driven towards the illuminator to move the writing tip of the pen core out of the bottom opening of the pen holder.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a pen, and more particularly to an illumination pen which are actuated by rotation of a rotor mounted on a pen holder to selectively switch on illumination device for providing a light effect.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional pen typically comprises a pen body and a pen core having a main portion received in the pen body, and a pen pointer downwardly extended out therefrom to controllably release ink for writing. A more sophisticated embodiment of conventional pens is that the pen further comprises an actuation device for selectively and slidably pushing the pen core out from the pen body for writing, and pulling the pen core to normally receive into the pen body while it is not in use.
There exist a handful of conventional illumination pens which can provide illumination while the user is writing. This feature is absolutely advantageous, in that in some circumstances, the user may still write in a generally dark environment, such as taking an urgent note while watching a movie.
Conventional pens with such as illumination function usually require two separate actions for turning on the illumination and for actuating the pen for writing respectively. Thus, it is not difficult to imagine that those pens, though useful in function, is inconvenient to operate in practice.
As an attempt to avoid this inconvenience, there exists another category of illumination pens in which the user is simply required to press one single button for actuating either or both of the illumination function and for writing. While this category of illumination pens reduce a certain degree of inconvenience as compared with the above-mentioned category, unfortunately, this more recent development creates other inconvenience, the most obvious being the difficulty in ascertaining what would happen when the user presses to actuate the pen because it usually adopts a sequential operation approach for the actuation of the illumination function.
For instances, an operation of the pen may be as follows: when the user first presses to actuate the pen, the pen core would be pushed out of the pen body for writing without illumination thereof. The second time the user presses the pen, the pen core would be pulled back to receive in the pen body. When the user presses the pen the third time, the illumination would be turned on and that the pen core would be pushed out again for writing. Finally, when the user finishes writing, he/she needs to press the pen for the fourth time and the illumination would be turned off, and that the pen core would be pulled back to normally receive in the pen body.
One can immediately appreciate that if the user wants writing with illumination, he/she may have to press the pen for three times. But the user never knows, since it is when he/she has pressed the pen then he/she could know that in which stage or status the pen are. As a result, in practice, this more recent development of illumination pens is still far from satisfactory.


An installation for coating the surface of a web of material with a paste. A printing screen has a doctor blade lying within for applying the print paste through holes in the printing screen onto the web. A counter roll cooperates with an electromagnet to producing a controllable level of contact pressure of the doctor blade against the printing screen. The roll body of the counter roll is provided with a coating that has piezoelectric elements and is divided into sections specific to the width, each section being individually controllable. This permits dynamic control of the application of paste over the width of the web.

Such installations are generally known, for example, in the manufacturing related arts. A web of material whose surface area is to be coated is passed between a printing screen and a counter roll that has been provided with an elastic cover. The paste is applied on the surface of the web through holes in the printing screen, which has a doctor blade lying within. Electromagnets are arranged in the counter roll to produce a level of contact pressure of the doctor blade against the printing screen.
The mass application of paste on the surface of the web can be controlled by way of the contact pressure of the doctor blade, at least within certain limits. The mass application in the transverse direction can be influenced by the doctor blade itself, given the use of a plurality of separately driven electromagnets.
However, there remains a need to provide finer control over the application of paste to the surface of a web in the transverse direction during the printing operation itself, so as to enhance the quality and efficiency of the production process.

Installation for coating the surface of a web with a paste


Some embodiments include a particle source, an RF power source, an accelerator waveguide, and an imaging device. The particle source is to generate a first injector current and a second injector current, the first injector current being less than the second injector current. The RF power source is to generate first RF power at a first pulse rate and second RF power at a second pulse rate, the first pulse rate being greater than the second pulse rate. The accelerator waveguide is to accelerate a first electron beam based on the first injector current and the first RF power and to accelerate a second electron beam based on the second injector current and the second RF power, and the imaging device is to acquire an image based on the first electron beam. The second electron beam may be used to deliver treatment radiation to a patient.

1. Field
The embodiments described herein relate generally to particle accelerators. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to particle accelerators used for treatment and/or imaging.
2. Description
A particle accelerator produces charged particles having particular energies. In one common application, a particle accelerator produces a radiation beam used for medical radiation treatment. The beam may be directed toward a target area of a patient in order to destroy cells within the target area by causing ionizations within the cells or other radiation-induced cell damage.
A conventional particle accelerator includes a particle source, an accelerator waveguide, an RF (radio-frequency) power source, and a bending magnet. The particle source may comprise an electron gun that generates and transmits electrons to the waveguide. The RF power source, which may comprise a magnetron or a klystron/RF driver, delivers an electromagnetic wave to a window built into the waveguide. The electromagnetic wave enters the waveguide through the window and oscillates within the waveguide. The oscillations accelerate the transmitted electrons through the waveguide. Finally, the bending magnet receives the accelerated electrons, filters them according to their energies, and emits them toward a target area.
Radiation treatment plans are designed to maximize radiation delivered to a target while minimizing radiation delivered to healthy tissue. However, designers of a treatment plan assume that relevant portions of a patient will be in a particular position relative to a particle accelerator during delivery of the treatment radiation. If the relevant portions are not positioned exactly as required by the treatment plan, the goals of maximizing target radiation and minimizing healthy tissue radiation may not be achieved. More specifically, errors in positioning the patient can cause the delivery of low radiation doses to tumors and high radiation doses to sensitive healthy tissue. The potential for misdelivery increases with increased positioning errors.
Conventional imaging systems may be used to determine a patient position prior to treatment according to a particular radiation treatment plan. For example, a radiation beam is emitted by a particle accelerator, passes through a volume of the patient and is received by an imaging system. The imaging system generates a two-dimensional portal image of the patient volume, which can be used to determine whether the patient is in a position dictated by the particular treatment plan.
A radiation beam used for imaging as described above delivers a radiation dose to the patient volume. The dose is preferably significantly less than a dose rate used for radiation treatment, but suitable to produce a satisfactory portal image. Low dose rates are particularly desirable if cone beam imaging is used to produce a three-dimensional image of the patient, since such imaging requires the acquisition of several two-dimensional portal images.
Conventional particle accelerators are unable to efficiently generate a radiation beam that provides a dose rate suitable for imaging at a given energy. Attempts have been made to output a radiation beam during beam formation for imaging purposes. These attempts are based on the low dose rates provided by a radiation beam while the beam is formed within an accelerator waveguide. For example, dose rates may be sufficiently low for imaging during a period while a beam forms within an accelerator waveguide. However, the dose rate over time is unstable and non-linear during the beam formation period. These characteristics are caused at least in part by beam loading and thermal deformation of the accelerator waveguide, both of which unpredictably change the resonant frequency of the waveguide during beam formation. Generation of a low-dose radiation beam can therefore be both difficult and unpredictable.


Apparatus and methods for applying fasteners during endoscopic surgery are provided. The apparatus generally comprises a handle portion, a triggering mechanism and a fastener applicator. One embodiment of the invention forms the fastener around a single focal point on an anvil. Another embodiment vertically stacks the fasteners in a fastener applicator which is readily detachable from the handle portion by virtue of a rotational locking system and which may be replaced with a new fastener applicator having a fresh load of vertically stacked fasteners. The various embodiments may be variously combined together in a single device. The methods generally include the following steps: forming a fastener by placing it over a single focal point anvil and pressing the fastener against the single focal point anvil using a slide.

During some surgical procedures, most notably hernia repair procedures, it is considered desirable by many practitioners to reinforce the muscle tear or other defect with a piece of surgically implantable mesh. Physicians most often use an open-weave, sintered mesh made of polypropylene and hold it in place by a type of permanent fixation method. One common method of fixation uses metallic fasteners, such as staples, which remain in the body permanently after the hernia repair. Medical device designers have created a number of larger-size devices to fasten tissue and/or surgical materials to tissue during minimally invasive surgery. According to these designs, the devices typically contemplate a 10-mm or wider application tool used to deploy a fastener. For example, Green et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,064, col. 21, ll. 34-53, describes a device for deployment through a 12 mm trocar guide tube wherein the device stacks a set of staples at roughly a forty-five degree angle to the axis of the device to provide greater visibility. See Green et al. FIG. 18.
However, these tools are being judged too large for deployment according to the current minimally invasive techniques which are bringing the size of the surgical instruments and access ports down to a 5 mm diameter. Moreover, Green et al. cannot be readily scaled down because of physical limitations caused by the generally transverse stacking of fasteners. See Green et al., FIG. 18. In. addition, the design of Green et al. cannot be effectively scaled down because the fastener discharged by the application tool must be of sufficient scale to securely span across the defect and/or strands of surgical mesh and efficaciously engage sufficient tissue area for adequate gripping strength. Green et al. employs a fastener forming system which unduly reduces the finished span or width of the fastener relative to its initial width. See Green et al., FIG. 20-21, col. 22, ll. 38-48. Thus, reduction in Green et al.'s tool diameter would result in an unsatisfactory gripping area for the finished fastener.
In addition to reducing fastener-gripping strength, smaller diameter tools have other problems. For example, miniaturization of the surgical fastening tool increases the likelihood of jamming, a common problem for minimally invasive surgical fastener tools, because the critical tolerances for the device's moving parts would be reduced along with the size of the instrument.
Accordingly, slight changes in deployment stress and temperature can effect the mobility of the moving tool parts. The Origin Tacker, though of 5 mm diameter, employs a rotational actuation mechanism to deploy a helical fastener. Rotation increases the complexity needed for the actuation mechanism, and creates greater need to ensure reliable translation of trigger action.
What is needed is a space-efficient surgical fastening tool that minimizes its, outer diameter while maximizing the gripping area and strength of the fastener. The fastening mechanism of the desired surgical fastening tool must not be complicated and should be limited to a few actuated parts to reduce the probability of jamming during minimally invasive surgery. The device should be designed to avoid double firing and incomplete firing. The device should also permit for the easy reloading of additional fasteners during extensive surgical procedures. The prior art devices are inadequate to meet these objectives.

Apparatus and method for surgical fastening