A multi-layer cover for an electronic device having one or more of a sensor panel, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a display device can include an outer hardcoat, a structural layer, an IR transmissive ink layer, a mask layer, and a backside hardcoat. The backside hardcoat can reduce cover warpage, enable full surface lamination of the cover to the sensor panel, prevent bubbles from forming in transparent windows in the cover, enable a wider range of functional inks to be applied in various layering orders to allow certain types of light to pass through while blocking others, and hide the sensors to provide a seamless, uncluttered visual appearance.

Many types of input devices are presently available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, touch panels, joysticks, touch screens and the like. Touch screens, in particular, are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility of operation as well as their declining price. Touch screens can include a touch panel, which can be a clear panel with a touch-sensitive surface. The touch panel can be positioned in front of a display screen so that the touch-sensitive surface covers the viewable area of the display screen. Touch screens can allow a user to make selections and move a cursor by simply touching the display screen via a finger or stylus. In general, the touch screen can recognize the touch and position of the touch on the display screen, and the computing system can interpret the touch and thereafter perform an action based on the touch event.
Touch panels can include an array of touch sensors capable of detecting touch events (the touching of fingers or other objects upon a touch-sensitive surface). Future panels may be able to detect multiple touches (the touching of fingers or other objects upon a touch-sensitive surface at distinct locations at about the same time) and near touches (fingers or other objects within the near-field detection capabilities of their touch sensors), and identify and track their locations. Examples of multi-touch panels are described in Applicant's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/842,862 entitled "Multipoint Touchscreen," filed on May 6, 2004 and published as U.S. Published Application No. 2006/0097991 on May 11, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Proximity sensors are another type of input device capable of detecting hover events (the no-touch, close proximity hovering of fingers or other objects above a surface but outside the near-field detection capabilities of touch sensors) as well as touch events. Proximity sensors can be employed singly or in a few important locations in a computing system, or can be arranged in panels. Proximity sensor panels may be able to detect multiple instances of hovering referred to herein as multi-hover events (the hovering of fingers or other objects above a surface at distinct locations at about the same time). Examples of a proximity sensor, a proximity sensor panel, a multi-hover panel and a computing system using both a multi-touch panel and proximity sensors are described in Applicant's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/649,998 entitled "Proximity and Multi-Touch Sensor Detection and Demodulation," published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0158172, filed on Jan. 3, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Ambient light sensors are yet another type of input device capable of detecting various levels of ambient light. Ambient light sensors can be employed singly or in a few strategic locations in a housing of a computing system.
Proximity sensors, proximity sensor panels, and ambient light sensors can be employed either alone or in combination with multi-touch sensor panels as input devices for computing systems. In addition, as mentioned above, a display screen can be located beneath the sensor panel. A user interface (UI) algorithm can generate a virtual keypad or other virtual input interface beneath the sensor panel that can include virtual buttons, pull-down menus and the like. By detecting touch or hover events at locations defined by the virtual buttons, the UI algorithm can determine that a virtual button has been "pushed." The magnitude of the analog channel output values, indicating the "degree" of touch or hover, can be used by the UI algorithm to determine whether there was a sufficient amount of touch or hover to trigger the pushing of the virtual button.
Because the proximity sensors, proximity sensor panels, ambient light sensors, and display screens all require some access to the outside world to detect fingers or objects, or pass IR light or visible light, any housing incorporating one or more of these devices must provide apertures for such access. Often, openings are formed in an outer cover of the housing to provide this access. However, because these openings represent discontinuities in the otherwise uniform surface of the cover, assembly difficulties can arise. Furthermore, these openings and discontinuities can cause the outer surface to look "busy" or overly complicated, and detract from the aesthetic appearance of the computing device.


A photoalignment method includes photoaligning a first liquid crystal cell and using the photoaligned first liquid crystal cell as a mask in the photoalignment of a second liquid crystal cell. The method may increase spatial dynamic range or decrease pitch.

The present disclosure relates to a photoalignment method for increasing spatial dynamic range or decreasing pitch.
Photoalignment is a known technology for producing a desired alignment of liquid crystals (LCs) on substrates by irradiating a linearly polarized UV light on a photo-sensitive surface coating. This technique is gaining increasing popularity in the liquid crystal industry to replace the obsolete rubbing technology as a cleaner, non-contact alternative. Beyond uniform alignment, photoalignment allows fabrication of orientational surface patterns with micrometer spatial resolution. Microscopic orientation patterns of liquid crystals find a wide range of novel applications of liquid crystals from transparent LCDs to tunable micro-optics. One of the most serious technical difficulties in upgrading the micro-patterned LC devices from a laboratory prototype to commercial products is the poor productivity of the photoalignment processes due to the fine spatial resolutions required. For one micrometer resolution pattern, a centimeter device requires a patterning process covering four orders of magnitude linear spatial dynamic range.
It has been customary to employ the step-and-repeat scheme as in the semiconductor lithography. But it is technically demanding to ensure the continuity of the pattern across the boundary between neighboring shots, and it is also time consuming. A conventional alternative, in patterned photoalignment, is holographic patterning using a coherent laser light with a sufficient intensity. But the holographic technique becomes impractical when the target pattern becomes complicated beyond a simple grating or a Fresnel lens, and must be customized from one pattern to another.
Using conventional methods of pattern formation, for a given finest pattern size, there is a limit to the maximum size of the area of the substrate that is photoaligned in a single shot light exposure. In maskless photoalignment patterning based on a spatial light modulator such as the digital micromirror device (DMD), the maximum area is typically 1000 times the finest feature of the pattern. Holographic exposure using laser beams allows for processing of much larger areas, but it is only feasible for simple patterns like a linear or 2D gratings and concentric Fresnel lens patterns. Focused beam scanning is an alternative technique, but it takes a long time to process a large area with fine features.
It would be desirable to develop new methods for forming orientational patterns on alignment surfaces for liquid crystal devices.


The preset invention relates to a system for integrated connectivity of devices to provide dynamic control and real-time routing of a vehicle for item transfer and vehicle performance. The system is configured for constructing a dynamic item file comprising one or more items associated with a user. The system is configured to identify an item collection initiation trigger and transmit an order placement control signal to an entity system of an item entity to initiate item transfer of the one or more items at a predetermined time interval. The system is configured to direct the vehicle to a first parking location associated with the geographic location parameter of the item entity. In addition, using a sensor device of the vehicle such as a weight sensor, an RFID sensor and/or a visual capture device, the system is structured to identify that the one or more items are located in the vehicle.

Vehicles are commonly used by individuals to perform a variety of activities. However, despite the proliferation of vehicles, vehicles operate disparate from smart devices, appliances and other home receivers. Moreover, vehicles typically operate unconnected from particulars of the user activities associated with the user, which may adversely affect vehicle performance such as causing increased fuel consumption. Moreover, vehicles are typically not configured allow integration of item files associated with the user, vehicle operation and entity systems and devices, seamlessly and with ease, across various channels. A needs exists for systems and methods for seamless integration of vehicles, item files associated with the user, other user devices and entity systems for performing item transfers via a vehicle without adversely affecting vehicle performance and for improving the functionality and connectivity of vehicles.
The present invention addresses the foregoing needs and also provides improvement to technology by providing integrated connectivity of vehicles, smart devices, other user appliances, and entity systems. Moreover, the present invention provides dynamic control and real-time routing of a vehicle for affiliating item transfers with increased, speed, security and without adversely affecting vehicle performance.

Integrated connectivity of devices for resource transmission


Summarization of video content including soccer.

The present invention primarily relates to summarization of video content including soccer
The amount of video content is expanding at an ever increasing rate, some of which includes sporting events. Simultaneously, the available time for viewers to consume or otherwise view all of the desirable video content is decreasing. With the increased amount of video content coupled with the decreasing time available to view the video content, it becomes increasingly problematic for viewers to view all of the potentially desirable content in its entirety. Accordingly, viewers are increasingly selective regarding the video content that they select to view. To accommodate viewer demands, techniques have been developed to provide a summarization of the video representative in some manner of the entire video. Video summarization likewise facilitates additional features including browsing, filtering, indexing, retrieval, etc. The typical purpose for creating a video summarization is to obtain a compact representation of the original video for subsequent viewing.
There are two major approaches to video summarization. The first approach for video summarization is key frame detection Key frame detection includes mechanisms that process low level characteristics of the video, such as its color distribution, to determine those particular isolated frames that are most representative of particular portions of the video. For example, a key frame summarization of a video may contain only a few isolated key frames which potentially highlight the most important events in the video. Thus some limited information about the video can be inferred from the selection of key frames. Key frame techniques are especially suitable for indexing video content but are not especially suitable for summarizing sporting content
The second approach for video summarization is directed at detecting events that are important for the particular video content. Such techniques normally include a definition and model of anticipated events of particular importance for a particular type of content. The video summarization may consist of many video segments, each of which is a continuous portion in the original video, allowing some detailed information from the video to be viewed by the user in a time effective manner. Such techniques are especially suitable for the efficient consumption of the content of a video by browsing only its summary. Such approaches facilitate what is sometimes referred to as "semantic summaries"
There are several proposed techniques for the summarization of a soccer game based on fully parsing the structure of the whole soccer game For example, Gong et al. propose to classify the frames in a soccer game into various play categories, such as a shot at left goal, top-left corer kick, play in right penalty area, in midfield, etc., based on a model with four components, the soccer field, the ball, the players, and the motion vectors. See, Y. Gong, L. T Sin, C. H. Chuan, H.-J. Zhang, M Sakauchi, "Automatic parsing of TV soccer programs," IEEE conference on Multimedia systems and computing, pp 167-174, 1995.
Yow et al propose to construct a panoramic view of selected events by recognizing the soccer field, tracking of the ball, and recognizing the camera movement. See, D. Yow, B.-L Yeo, M. Yeung, B. Liu, "Analysis and presentation of soccer highlights from digital video," Second Asian conference on computer vision, 1995
Choi et al, propose to construct panoramic view of certain events by recognizing the soccer field by color information, tracking players by template matching and Kalman filtering, and processing occlusion by color histogram back-projection The panoramic view is based on a model for the soccer field and all frames in the video are transformed into the views in the model. See, S. Choi, Y. Seo, H. Kim, K-S Hong, "Where are the ball and players? Soccer game analysis with color-based tracking and image mosaic", International conference on image analysis and Pro, Florence, Italy, pp. 196-203, September, 1997.
Leonardi et al propose to use both audio and visual features of a multimedia document and a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) as a bottom-up semantic framework and a finite-state machine as a top-down semantic framework. Broadcast soccer is one example of their general method. The video features are "lack of motion", "camera operations" and "presence of shot cuts." The audio features are Mel-Cepstrum coefficients and zero crossing rates and are categorized into music, silence, speech, and music See, R. Leonardi, P. Migliorati, "Semantic indexing of multimedia documents," IEEE Multimedia, pp.44-51, April-June, 2002
Xie et al., propose using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) as the framework to segment a soccer video into "play/break." The features used by Xie et al. are visual dominant-color ratio and motion intensity. See, L. Xie, S.-F. Chang, "Structure analysis of soccer video with hidden Markov models," ICASSP 2002. Xu et al propose a similar framework without using the hidden Markov models. See, P. Xu, S.-F. Chang, "Algorithms and system for high-level structure analysis and event detection in soccer video," ADVENT-Technical report #111, Columbia University, June 2001.
Xie, proposes using a framework that is entirely based on audio features. The approach segments the whole sound track into commentary and crowd noise and then picks up the excited/unusual parts in crowd noise. L. Xie, "Segmentation and event detection in soccer audio," EE 6820 Project, May 2001.
Babaguchi et al. propose a technique to link live and replay scenes in American football broadcast video. The replay scenes are detected by (1) a video caption detection or (2) the sandwiching of digital video effects on either side of the replay segment. Babaguchi et al. note that it is impossible to design a general detector applicable to any DVEs, because there are a considerable number of DVE patterns that appear in everyday broadcasts. The DVE effect taught by Babaguchi et al. is a gradual shot change operation related to spatial aspects. The linking of live and replay scenes is performed based upon the dominant color of the key frame and the ratio of the number of vertical lines to that of horizontal lines on the field, which is representative of the camera angle. This technique for linking using the technique taught by Babaguchi et al., namely using the ratio, is suitable for the intended application, namely, American Football. However, this technique is not applicable to soccer.
What is desired, therefore, is a video summarization technique suitable for video content that includes soccer.


A mobile communication system is provided in which a base station commands a mobile station (or field monitor) to measure the field strength for a specific channel. The mobile station reports the measured results to the base station. The measured results are used in conjunction with base station identification codes to obtain a single representative value which is used to determine what channels can be selected and used by the system. This enables an existing cellular system to be utilized as a first mobile communication system, and makes it possible to construct a second mobile communication system in the same area as the service area of the first system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mobile communication system which forms a micro-cell in the same area as the service area of a cellular system, and which selects, from the same frequency band that is allocated to the cellular system, channels that do not give rise to interference problems, and then shares their frequencies within the micro-cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication system which forms a micro-cell in the same area as the service area of an already constructed cellular system, and which shares the same frequency band, has been considered. Prior art examples of this sort are illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of base stations, with an existing cellular system (hereinafter, termed "system A") forming service area 102 from a plurality of radio zones centering on base stations 101. The radio band allocated to this system is divided into a plurality of channel groups, and these are re-used in radio zones separated by a prescribed distance. Also deployed in service area 102 is base station 103 of a different system from system A, or of a system which, although the same as system A, can operate independently (hereinafter, termed "system B"). Base station 103 forms service area 104 and can select, from the same frequency band that is allocated to system A, channels that do not give rise to mutual interference problems, and can then re-use these channels.
FIG. 2 serves to explain mutual interference. Mutual interference has to be taken into account when base station 103 selects channels. There are four kinds of mutual interference relating to base station 101 of system A, mobile station 105 of system A, base station 103 of system B and mobile station 106 of system B. Namely:
(a) uplink interference from mobile station 106 of system B, affecting base station 101 of system A; PA1 (b) downlink interference from base station 103 of system B, affecting mobile station 105 of system A; PA1 (c) uplink interference from mobile station 105 of system A, affecting base station 103 of system B; PA1 (d) downlink interference from base station 101 of system A, affecting mobile station 106 of system B.
The four kinds of mutual interference noted above have to be taken into account in order to select channels that do not give rise to mutual interference problems. Hitherto, however, the following simplified method has been used. Namely, field monitors are disposed in the service area of system B and these measure the level of downlink interference from base stations 101 of system A on mobile station 106 of system B, i.e., the interference level in case (d) above. According to this simplified method, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of field monitors 107 are set up in service area 104 of system B, these field monitors 107 being capable of measuring the received level from base stations 101 of system A. On the basis of instructions from base station 103 of system B, these field monitors 107 measure the received level at all frequencies (channels) used by system A and report the results of these measurements to base station 103. Having received these reports from field monitors 107, base station 103 takes into account differences in transmitted power, differences in feeder loss, etc. between the uplink and the downlink, and estimates, from the measured downlink levels, the interference level in case (a) above, i.e., the level of uplink interference from mobile station 106 of system B on base stations 101 of system A. Then, on the basis of this result, base station 103 selects channels that can be used.
FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of base station 103 and field monitor 107. Base station 103 has transceiver 111 for communicating with mobile stations, and base station controller 112. Field monitor 107 has field monitoring receiver 113 and received level detector 114 for measuring the received level from base stations of system A, plus controller 115 which decides from the received levels which channels can be used. Controller 115 measures the received level at all frequencies (channels) used by system A, and from these values estimates the levels of uplink interference on base stations of system A. It then compares these with a predetermined level threshold, and if an estimated interference level does not exceed a threshold, controller 115 decides that it does not cause interference at a corresponding base station of system A. Controller 115 then notifies base station controller 112 that it can use that channel. Base station controller 112 sets the channel to be used by transceiver 111 to the one notified by controller 115.
However, a drawback of this method is that in order to measure the downlink interference level accurately, it is necessary to deploy a large number of field monitors so as to ensure complete coverage of the area, with the result that setup costs are very high. Restricting the number of field monitors by deploying them at essential locations only, e.g., within the base station, has been considered, but the drawback here is that, conversely, it becomes difficult to select suitable deployment positions.
The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system which overcomes this problem and significantly increases the accuracy of interference level measurement, without the need for special field monitors for measuring the level of downlink interference from the base stations of an existing system.

Channel allocation for co-located systems based on interferring channel groups


An integrated circuit includes a power-on reset (POR) circuit and a digital logic circuit. The POR has first and second control outputs. The POR circuit is configured to generate a first control signal on the first control output responsive to a supply voltage on the supply voltage node exceeding a first threshold voltage and is configured to generate a second control signal on the second control output responsive to the supply voltage exceeding a second threshold voltage. The digital logic circuit has a first control input coupled to the first control output of the POR circuit and has a second control input coupled to the second control output of the POR circuit. The digital logic circuit is configured to initiate a first read transaction responsive to assertion of the first control signal and to initiate a second read transaction responsive to assertion of the second control signal.

A power-on reset (POR) circuit causes a logic circuit to remain in a reset state following a power cycle until the power supply voltage has increased to a safe operating voltage. A logic circuit attempting to operate from a supply voltage below its pre-designated safe operating voltage may cause the logic circuit to operate in an unpredictable manner.


A photographic processing apparatus having magnetic heads for reading magnetic record data stored in the magnetic recording tracks of a film and writing desired record data onto the same. The apparatus includes a hold-down mechanism for pressing the magnetic head against the film at an appropriate strength.

The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus, a film hold-down mechanism in a photographic processing apparatus, and a method of reading and writing magnetic record data on a photographic film.
In a common photographic processing apparatus, a photographic film is accessed for reading a magnetic record data stored thereon or writing such a data thereto while the film is being securely pressed against a magnetic head by a hold-down means. To facilitate the reading and writing at a high accuracy, it is necessary to have the film held as closely as possible to the magnetic head.
In the prior art it is known that a film A, while passing beside a magnetic head b, is pressed against the magnetic head b by a hold-down member c which is made of a felt material and located opposite to the magnetic head b, as shown in FIG. 8.
Unfortunately, the felt hold-down member c tends to block and store considerable amounts of dirt and dust which are carried on the film A.
Accordingly, the film itself may be injured by the dirt and dust on the hold-down member. Also, if the hold-down member c is pressed against the magnetic head b by a high pressing force for optimum tightness, it may be difficult to advance the film between the magnetic head b and the hold-down member c or the film may become trapped therebetween.
It is an object of the present invention, in view of the foregoing direction, to provide improvements in a photographic processing apparatus, a film hold-down mechanism in a photographic processing apparatus, and a method of reading and writing magnetic record data on a photographic film. This improvements are characterized in that a magnetic head is free from blocking and storing of amounts of dirt and dust, that a photographic film to be transferred is prevented from being injured, that a record data can be accurately be read from and written onto the film, that the film can easily be inserted between the magnetic head and a hold-down because the pressing of the hold-down mechanism the magnetic head is controllable, and that a magnetic record data can be read from and written onto the film with ease.

Photography processing equipment, and device which keeps a film in place in the photography processing equipment and a method for reading/writing information magnetically recorded in film


The present invention relates to a vehicle radiation heater being configured to perform heating by directly emitting radiant heat toward a passenger at an early stage of starting of a vehicle in winter. The vehicle radiation heater according to the present invention can be simple in structure, thereby being easy to manufacture, can quickly emit high-temperature radiant heat over the entire area of the heater, thereby enhancing rapid and comforting heating effects, and can maintain a constant temperature, thereby preventing a risk of overheating.

As well known in the art, since cooling water cannot be heated sufficiently at an early stage of starting of a vehicle in winter, the interior of the vehicle cannot be heated quickly. Accordingly, a vehicle radiation heater emitting radiant heat can be mounted in the interior of the vehicle to emit radiant heat directly toward a passenger such that a comfort heating effect is enhanced.
Such a vehicle radiation heater is mounted in the interior of the vehicle at a position of the lower side of a dashboard, a steering column of a driver's seat side, a glove box of a passenger seat side, or a backrest of a front seat, etc., and emits radiant heat directly toward legs of a passenger, thereby performing quick heating in the interior of the vehicle.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a conventional vehicle radiation heater 1 is configured such that the vehicle radiation heater is mounted on a lower surface of a steering column 13 connected to a steering wheel 14 of a vehicle driver's seat, and emits radiant heat toward legs 12 of a driver sitting on a seat 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle radiation heater 1 has a structure in which a substrate 2, and a radiating portion 3, a heating portion 4, and a terminal 7 are provided on a substrate 2.
However, the conventional vehicle radiation heater is problematic in that the heat-resistant temperature of a material constituting the heater is limited, and the temperature of the surface of the heater cannot be sufficiently increased due to a concern of burns occurring upon contact with the body when the surface temperature is excessively increased. Accordingly, a rapid heating effect is deteriorated, and thus a passenger cannot feel sufficient warmth.
In addition, the conventional vehicle radiation heater is still problematic in that the heating portion is widely distributed such that concentration of the heat density is suppressed in order to prevent burns, leading to a complicated structure and thus it is difficult to manufacture. Moreover, there is a risk of overheating and fire due to malfunction or abnormal operation of the heater.


A method for positioning a device includes the steps of: estimating an absolute distance between a reference point and the device at each of a current time point and a number (N) of consecutive previous time points, where N is a integer smaller than n, n is a non-negative integer indicating a total number of time points since the device starting to move, and the current time point is defined as the (n)th time point; estimating a unit vector of a movement direction of the device in each of (n−N+1)th to (n)th time periods; and estimating a coordinate of a location of the device at (n)th time point based on the absolute distance(s), the unit vector(s), and a coordinate of a location of the device at each of the number (N) of the consecutive previous time points.

A conventional positioning method such as Global Positioning System (GPS) is useful in determining an object's location based on a distance between the object and each of at least three reference points, i.e., satellites. A triangulation positioning method is then implemented to obtain the object's location. However, when a GPS receiver is disposed indoors, satellite signals received by the GPS receiver may be weak, which results in difficulty in positioning the object.

Method for positioning a to-be-positioned device


An apparatus and method for measuring a person's biometric data as well as associated data and for using that data to determine the person's talents and well-being state, as well as predicting an optimal career path for the person. Biometric data is measured using a sensor, a memory configured to store the biometric signals, a database configured to store and retrieve profiles, and a processor configured to compare biometric data as well as associated data with anonymous profiles stored in the database and create a profile for the person.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to biofeedback methods and devices, and more particularly to systems and methods for career consulting and management using biometric information such as heart rate variability data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, career-based consulting and management is based on either a given employee's performance ratings (e.g., measured by client satisfaction surveys, 360° peer or manager surveys), or on the results of questionnaires or interviews answered by the given employee. Both of these fundamental source types have their limitations. Job performance results can be highly influenced by elements such as interpersonal relationships between the given employee and others, e.g., their manager, or job location. Answers to questionnaires or interviews are limited in that the given answers are in one extreme either wholly true (perhaps due to a given employee's modesty), or at the other extreme greatly exaggerated (if the interviewee is trying to inflate his or her capabilities and/or accomplishments). The process of interviewing employees can also be costly and time consuming, and bears the risk that only part of all potential talents are discovered and monitored.

System and method to provide career counseling and management using biofeedback

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A vane actuated drive mode sensor is generally composed of two primary components, including a drive mode sensor array and an actuator. The sensor array can be provided as a housing composed of a plurality of Hall Effect (HE) sensors, magnets and the electronics associated with the sensors. The actuator, also referred to as a vane, can be provided as a plate constructed from a magnetic material, such as, for example, ferrous steel, and can be provided with holes punched thereon at different places depending on the requirement of a user. The actuator can be connected to a user's driver and can slide on and/or within the housing.

Drive mode sensors are utilized in a variety of sensing applications, such as, automatic transmission, and measuring drive mode. Such devices are typically utilized to convey the desired transmission gear position to the transmission control unit (TCU) (i.e. P-R-N-D-5-4 . . . ) in automotive application.
Various methods and systems are currently employed to accomplish this task, including mechanical and magnetic solutions. Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors, for example, are particularly beneficial for engine compartment (e.g., camshaft and crankshaft position sensing) and powertrain applications (e.g., transmission and transfer case gear speed sensing).
As vehicles become more complex, however, the controller requires more supportive information, such as, for example, information that instructs the TCU that the gearshift is between two positions (i.e. between reverse and neutral). Complex sensor-target (i.e., actuator) arrangements have also been devised to ensure that the vehicle will not start unless the sensor indicates that the vehicle is in park or neutral. Such devices also ensure that the TCU is not dependent simply upon one sensor signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,286, entitled "Safety Restraint Sensor System," which issued to Bruce Figi, et al on Jun. 22, 2005 discloses an example of a safety restraint sensor application. U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,286, which is assigned to Honeywell International Inc. and is incorporated herein by reference, generally includes a safety restraint sensor system for detecting a latched position and/or an unlatched position of a latch and a buckle. A vane projects from the latch that is movably mounted with respect to the housing. A magnet and a Hall element are mounted with respect to the housing. When the buckle engages the latch, the vane and the buckle move within the magnetic field of the magnet. The magnetic field is distributed through the Hall element by way of the buckle and the vane. The Hall element sends a signal indicating the latched position to an appropriate receptor such as a safety restraint.
Other devices rely on magnetic angle attack configurations, such as, for example, a magnetic angle of attack sensor. Such a device typically includes a rotating vane that is sensitive to airflow direction mounted on a rotary shaft that is mounted on the housing. The housing can be supported on an aircraft, and includes a non-contact magnetic sensing assembly for sensing the rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.
The prior art suggests that an actuator consisting of an encoded magnet is a standard solution. The encoded magnet driven by the transmission manual valve has 4 magnetized 'tracks', each of which slides over a Hall sensor. The output of the TCU is a 4-bit code in which each position is indicated by a different code. Thus, only one sensor switches states with any magnet positional change and the system is not reliant on a single output.
The problem with Hall sensor/encoded magnet solutions, however, is two fold. First, desired accuracies are difficult to achieve (accuracy is 'linear switch point accuracy'). Tolerances must be tightly held not only within the encoded magnetization pattern, but they also need to be held tightly regarding the magnet size, shape, the senor housing size and shape, and the placement of the Hall effect (HE) sensor. Second, the cost of such a solution is high due to the difficult nature of holding tolerances and the large size of the magnet required. A point to note is that mechanical solutions are not considered as the designs typically wear; reliability is considered superior in the electronic/magnetic solutions.
Variable reluctance (VR) sensors offer low cost, do not require power, and are easy to connect to the ECU (electronic control unit), but the amplitude of its output signal is proportional to rotational speed, thus making it inaccurate at low speeds and/or high noise. While, the differential magnetic comparator (DMC) configuration, which uses two closely spaced HE sensors and compares the difference in the signals allows for detecting zero speed (which cannot be detected using single Hall sensors) are relatively more costly.
The magnetoresistive (MR) sensors use a sophisticated mirrored target, a ferromagnetic disc with two tracks. The resulting signal, which is a large signal, can be used to accurately detect position and speed (including zero speed) with repeatability, and good tolerance for mechanical variation. However, mirrored targets are relatively more expensive than gear or vane sensor/target configurations.
Hence, there is an apparent need for an inexpensive and easily manufactured drive mode sensor system to address the aforementioned problems effectively.

Vane actuated magnetic drive mode sensor


Cooling system for electrodes (11) in D.C. electric arc furnaces, the electrodes (11) comprising a part (11a) subjected to the hot environment of the furnace, this part being made of graphite in the case of a cathode and of copper in the case of an anode, the part (11a) being associated with a metallic part (11b) by means of a joint (13) which includes inside itself a hollow (14), comprising at least in correspondence with the metallic part (11b) a cooling circuit (20) with at least a delivery channel (15), a return channel (16) and a heat exchanger (18), the circuit (20) using liquid metal as a cooling fluid, there also being included means for the forced circulation of the cooling fluid consisting of a hydromagnetic pump (17).

This invention concerns a cooling system for electrodes in D.C. electric arc furnaces.
The invention is applied to cool electrodes in D.C. electric arc furnaces used to melt metal alloys.
Although the cooling system can be applied both to the electrodes associated with the crown of the furnace (cathodes) and to the electrodes at the bottom of the furnace (anodes), in the following description, for reasons of practicality, we shall refer to the application of the system to an electrode functioning as a cathode.
At present, electrodes in electric arc furnaces, when they are functioning as a cathode, are generally composed of two main parts: a lower part made of graphite and an upper part made of metallic material, which also has a bearing function, associated with the electrode-bearing arm of the furnace.
When the electrode is functioning as an anode, the graphite part is replaced by a copper part, but the following description can be applied in the same way, with the appropriate transpositions and adaptations.
The two parts of the cathode are constrained together by an intermediate joint, normally threaded, made of an electricity-conducting material so as to allow the passage of electric current.
During the melting cycle the graphite part reaches very high temperatures and is progressively consumed so from time to time new segments of graphite are added. These temperatures cause a flow of heat from the graphite part to the metallic part of the electrode which can cause damage to its structure, apart from causing dispersion of the heat which is useful in the melting process being carried out.
Moreover, excessive over-heating of the intermediate joint can compromise the mechanical stability of the connection between the two parts of the electrode.
For this reason, the electrode needs a cooling system which acts in correspondence with the metallic part and which is able to remove a great part of the heat which migrates from the graphite part towards the metallic part.
This cooling system however must be achieved in such a way that the following three results are obtained concurrently:
uniformity and control of the temperature of the metallic connection, so as not to subject it to mechanical stresses which make it unstable; PA1 a good electrical contact which reduces the Joule effect to a minimum; PA1 an increase in the heat resistence in order to diminish energy losses and to reduce the temperature of the mechanical connection.
These results are obtained all together if the cooling system in its entirety, either because of the material used or because of the structure or because of the dynamics of its functioning, makes it possible to obtain a low heat conductivity and at the same time a high electric conductivity.

Cooling system for electrodes in D.C. electric arc furnaces


It is an object to provide an information processing apparatus and a memory management method, which realize highly reliable writing and reading of data into/from a serial flash memory, and reduce the execution time of a CPU by booting at power-on. An information processing apparatus is composed of a memory management unit for storing files, and an information processing unit for performing processing on the basis of a program file supplied from the memory management unit, and the memory management unit is composed of a file flash for storing files, a file management unit for managing the files stored in the file flash, a work memory as a work area of the information processing unit, a flash I/F 12 for making access from the file management unit to the file flash, and a boot flash for storing a boot program.

A digital household electrical appliance such as a DVD has a storage unit using a flash memory for the purposes of holding a program for operating the equipment, storing processed data, and the like.
Flash memories are classified into serial flash memories such as NAND type flash memories and AND type flash memories, and NOR type flash memories, depending on the constructions of storage elements.
Among these flash memories, the NOR type flash memory is a highly reliable memory which has a low probability of defects occurring in writing or reading operation. Further, it can be directly accessed by a CPU, resulting in high reading speed and suitability for random access, and accordingly, it is often used as a memory for holding a program.
On the other hand, a serial flash memory has a relatively small size of a memory cell, i.e., about one-third of that of the NOR type flash memory. Further, it is highly integrated as well as has high erasing and writing speeds, i.e., it has an erasing time about one-hundredth of that of the NOR type flash memory and a writing time about one-twentieth of that of the NOR type flash memory.
However, a serial flash memory cannot be directly accessed by a CPU, and it has a relatively high probability of defects occurring in writing or reading operation. Therefore, such serial flash memory is utilized when storing data for which highly precise reading and writing are not required, as in cases when storing stream data having temporal continuity such as moving picture data and audio data.
From these functions and characteristics, in a conventional information processing apparatus for controlling the operations of conventional digital household electrical appliances, the NOR type flash memory is employed as a memory for holding a program. An information processing apparatus with a NOR type flash memory generally has a construction shown in FIG. 28. Hereinafter, the construction and operation will be described with reference to FIG. 28.
With reference to FIG. 28, a conventional information processing apparatus 100d has an information processing unit 30, a work memory 14 for holding variables, a NOR type flash 21 for holding a program, and an information saving unit 22 for saving information during power-down.
The work memory 14 is implemented by a SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory).
The NOR type flash 21 supplies stored data to the information processing unit 30 in response to an access from the information processing unit 30. Further, in response to an access from the information processing unit 30, it performs erasing of the stored data or storage of supplied data.
The information saving unit 22 is implemented by a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) for holding management information such as operating states or disk writing addresses, which are supplied from the information processing unit 30. Because the SRAM has a relatively low power consumption, it can prevent the data stored in the SRAM from being erased even when the power is turned off, by using a backup battery. The information saving unit 22 holds the data without giving changes thereto until an erase/rewrite command is supplied from the information processing unit 30.
Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 100d constructed as above will be described.
When power is applied to the information processing apparatus 100d, the information processing unit 30 reads out a variable stored in the information saving unit 22, and transmits the variable to the work memory 14. Then, the information processing unit 30 reads the program stored in the NOR type flash 21 for every step, and successively executes processing according to a command described in the program. When the variable varies, the information processing unit 30 rewrites the variable in the work memory 14. Further, the information processing unit 30 periodically performs, while executing the processing, back-up of the variable by storing the variable to the information saving unit 22. At turning off the power, the information processing unit 30 writes the status immediately before the turning-off of the power into the information saving unit 22.
However, because the memory capacity of the NOR type flash is about 32 Mbit at the maximum, it is becoming harder to store a program of a digital household electrical appliance in a single memory as the size of the program increases. On the other hand, providing plural NOR type flashes leads to an increase in the number of parts, resulting in an increased footprint as well as an increased manufacturing cost.
Further, the SRAM needs a backup power supply in order to retain the management information and the data immediately before turning off the power, even after the power is turned off. Therefore, the conventional digital household electrical appliances have circuits for continuously supplying power to the SRAM by a commercially available coin-shaped lithium battery or a rechargeable battery that is charged during power-on, resulting in a further increase in footprint. Moreover, since the SRAM itself is expensive, back up of management information that does not employ a SRAM is desired.
Furthermore, in the conventional information processing apparatus 100d, the information processing unit 30 reads a program from the NOR type flash 21, for every step, to execute processing, resulting in an extended execution time.
The present invention is made to solve the above-described problems and has for its object to provide an information processing apparatus, a memory management apparatus, a memory management method, and an information processing method, which can perform writing or reading of data into/from a serial flash memory having a large capacity with occurring no defects, and can reduce the CPU execution time by performing booting at power-on.

Information processing apparatus, memory management apparatus, memory management method, and information processing method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for backside metallization and reinforcement of glass substrates to provide support and protection during handling and processing of the glass substrates. A sacrificial substrate is removeably attached to a glass substrate comprising through-holes, backside metallized pads, and under-bump metallization (UBM) pads enclosing the backside metallized pads. The sacrificial substrate comprises a sacrificial layer, an opaque film, and an adhesive. The sacrificial substrate protects the backside metallized pads and UBM pads, and reinforces the glass substrate.

Semiconductor devices are constantly responding to the market demand for faster, smaller, higher data and less expensive devices. Devices are expected to deliver more functionality at greater speeds in smaller dimensions and with capabilities of electrical and optical signals. This requires a new packaging scheme that can integrate heterogeneous devices such as logic, memory, power, graphics, sensors and other integrated circuits and components in a single package where improved electrical performance is also achieved by having these devices in close proximity.
An example of such packaging scheme is thin glass interposers or through-glass via (TGV) wafers. Thin glass interposers have microscopic through-holes filled with materials that are usually metallized, and can act as connectors between the top and bottom surface of the glass substrate to transfer electronic signals and currents to semiconductor or other devices. These interposers are also very thin, having thicknesses in the micrometer range. The thinness of the thin glass interposers can make them difficult to handle and process, especially when users lack the proper mechanisms to do so.
Applying circuit metallization to one or both side of thin glass interposers is a challenging process. Typically, a sacrificial wafer is attached to a first surface of the thin glass interposer, then the opposing surface is metallized and patterned. Next, the sacrificial wafer is removed and the first surface is processed by metallization, patterning, assembly, etc. This process prolongs the manufacturing time, thereby increasing production costs.
The present invention resolves the above-stated issues by providing a simple, low cost, and potentially reusable method that will allow users to work on the thin glass interposers and similar glass substrates without damaging them. A sacrificial wafer is attached to a first surface that is already metallized, which allows for the opposing surface to be processed while the sacrificial wafer protects the metallized first surface and reinforces the thin glass interposer.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

System and method for metallization and reinforcement of glass substrates


A temporary protective coating composition for providing a temporary protection to a substrate surface in need thereof. The temporary protective coating composition comprises an aqueous-soluble or alkaline-soluble polymer matrix, one or more compressible fillers, and one or more non-compressible fillers. The disclosure also provides a method for providing a temporary protective coating onto a substrate surface in need thereof for providing indentation and scratch resistance thereto.

Current temporary protective coatings (hereinafter "TPC") for example, are spray-applied to articles such as aluminum panels or body section prior to full assembly. This TPC protects against environmental damage, and resists some damage from tools used during drilling of holes for lap joints, insertion of temporary and permanent fasteners, and other work being done in the manufacture and assembly of the aircraft. Indentations, and in particular, scratches in aluminum sheet or forms require complex rework and documentation/reporting during manufacture of certain transportation vehicles.
Current temporary coatings, however, can be scratched or compromised by workers and/or machinery during assembly steps. The current temporary coating may be compromised at up to several hundred points during the assembly process. Current temporary coatings are moderately soft and typically offer little protection against scratches from tooling, for example, being dragged across the surface, or compression/indentation marks from tools or other solid objects being pushed against the surface, for example during drilling and fastener insertion.
As current TPCs are not durable and scratch resistant, aesthetic and more involved rework of the part which the TPC is supposed to protect is sometimes required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Temporary protective coatings and methods


Ferrierite is prepared by a method that provides extremely pure crystalline material. The method consists of preparing a mixture of silica, alumina, alkali metal and pyridine of a certain composition and heating said mixture to form the crystals. The SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and OH.sup.- /SiO.sub.2 are controlled to insure preparation of high SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio, high surface area and high purity ferrierite. An improved olefin skeletal isomerization catalyst is prepared from a high silica to alumina ratio, high surface area and high purity ferrierite.

Ferrierite is a crystalline aluminosilicate that has been found useful as an adsorbent, catalyst or catalyst support. The syntheses of ferrierite and ferrierite-type materials such as ZSM-35 are well known. See Journal of Catalysis, Vol. 35, 256-272 (1974) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,933,974; 3,966,883; 3,992,466; 4,016,245; 4,088,739; 4,107,195 and 4,251,499, among others.
Ferrierite can be prepared by heating aqueous mixtures of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal, alumina and silica. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,933,974, 3,966,883; 4,017,590 and 4,088,739.
These synthesis methods have several disadvantages. Typically, these synthesis methods require long periods of time and require elevated temperatures for synthesis. The high temperatures that promote crystallization require pressure vessels. The SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mole ratio of the product is relatively low, usually less than about 30 and the products exhibit surface areas of less than 350 m.sup.2 /g.
The use of organonitrogen compounds commonly called templates partially overcomes some of these difficulties. Shorter crystallization times and lower synthesis temperature result from using a variety of such templates. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,000,248; 4,107,195; 4,251,499; and 4,795,623, among others. Even these methods do not provide ferrierite of high SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio and purity that is desirable for many catalytic uses.
Many of the organic nitrogen compounds suggested as templates are expensive and are difficult to store and use. Many organic nitrogen compounds used in ferrierite synthesis have pKa values between 7-12 such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,053. Pyridine which has a pKa of 5.29 (See "Introduction to Organic Chemistry" by Andrew Streitweiser and Clayton H. Heathcock, published by Macmillan, New York, 1976). The use of pyridine in zeolite synthesis appears to be somewhat complicated. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,266 indicates that a preparation involving pyridine provides a mixture of zeolite ZSM-5 and ferrierite. U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,488 indicates use of pyridine or a derivative results in a novel aluminum silicate not ferrierite. U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,259 discloses the formation of "ISI-6" (an isotypic framework of ferrierite, See the Atlas of Zeolite Structure Types, by W. M. Meier and D. H. Olson, published by Butterworths-Heinemann, third revised edition, 1992, page 98) with the use of pyridine and "non-pyridine" nitrogen containing compounds or with pyridine and an oxygen containing compounds. According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,259, the use of pyridine alone does not result in the formation of ferrierite.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,499 teaches the use of piperidine and alkyl-substituted piperidines as a template. As a comparative example, the use of pyridine as a template in example 12 led to a product which contained 50% ferrierite, 30% other zeolitic material and 20% amorphous material.
EP-501,577-A1 relates to using a ferrierite catalyst in an olefin isomerization process. In example 2, it discloses a ferrierite catalyst having a molar silica to alumina of 72:1 prepared from a reaction gel with a molar composition of 93.5 SiO.sub.2 /1.0 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /7.4 Na.sub.2 O/19.6 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 /30.0 pyridine/1938 H.sub.2 O. In this example, the molar OH.sup.- /SiO.sub.2 ratio in the reaction gel was 0.16.
EP-523,838-A2 relates to using a ferrierite catalyst in an olefin isomerization process. In example 4, a ferrierite catalyst with a molar silica to alumina ratio of 87:1 having a surface area of 326 m.sup.2 /g is disclosed.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process for the preparation of highly pure high molar silica to alumina ratio ferrierites having high surface areas which exhibit excellent catalytic performance when used in skeletal olefin isomerization.


The invention relates to an automobile metal plate for identifying a vehicle, said plate comprising a metal base, a reflective material, an encapsulated hologram that can be hot- or cold-stamped, and a laminating material which forms a single integral body comprising the reflective material, the hologram and the actual laminate. The structure of said vehicle identification plate prevents the encapsulated hologram from being modified in any way. The encapsulated hologram cannot be detached or erased or altered by any physical or chemical means.

The present utility model refers to the field of inviolable security elements protection and more specifically, to the application of a stamped-encapsulated hologram between a substrate and a protective laminating material, used in the vehicle identification plates manufacture; the stamped-encapsulated hologram cannot be altered, modified or extracted from the plate without damaging permanently the plate and the stamped-encapsulated hologram.
For a very long time, it has been desirable to obtain a product that avoids the vehicle identification plates be forged or altered. In such attempts, it is desirable to evidence any purpose for altering the plate whether by means of the total or partial destruction of the plate and/or the sample of the violation attempt to the vehicle identification plate.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,370,763 and 5,595,624 refer to methods to manufacture informative articles with violation evidence. These patents disclose an article covered with a writing-resistant transparent tape, such as silicone resin. In the present invention, the articles formed and the method to produce such articles do not use a silicone resin; instead, to encapsulate the stamped hologram, using a material made of transparent polyester film or a varnish, or alike; that may be elongated and that no deformations are suffered in the vehicle identification plates manufacturing steps (cut of plates, embossing, dyeing and furnace-cooking process of alpha-numerical characters, etc.). U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,555 describes a forgery-proof vehicle validation of the type that is inserted in a hole of a vehicle identification plate. As a consequence of the differential adhesive properties provided between the layers of the article, any effort to separate them produces the integral destruction of the information included. An additional embodiment related to vehicles sales is described in the U.S. application Ser. No. 08/854,717. Unlike the present invention, there is no series of layers on the stamped hologram that is desirable to be protected.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,052 refers to an article that provides information and to an associated method to such article that has a separation control material placed on a portion of the article surface; where the article surface may be a metal. Also comprises a layer on which the information is placed that is placed on at least a portion of the separation control material and besides a portion of the surface. The layer receiving the information is adapted to receive information thereon. A transparent adhesive tape is bonded to the layer receiving information and which already contains said information. The transparent tape solidly adheres to the information-containing layer, that the layer receiving the information does to the separation control material. As a result thereof, withdrawal of the information-receiving layer of the article withdraws so much the information-receiving layer as well as the information that is found on the separation control material, in this manner forgery to the article will be visible easily. The present invention does not use a peeling-off transparent tape and neither allows the separation of any layer, neither adhesive exists in the manufactured article.
From the above, there is a need of a vehicle identification plate or similar articles that avoids forgery and/or alteration of the contained information therein, such information to be protected is found in a stamped-encapsulated hologram adhered to this plate.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an article which contains information, through the stamped-encapsulated hologram, that be forgery-proof, and cannot be modified or altered in any way.
An additional object of the present invention, is to provide a vehicle identification plate that comprises a stamped-encapsulated hologram with contained information therein, where the stamped hologram is encapsulated through a protective laminator, of the film-type or varnish.

Forgery-proof vehicle identification plate with a stamped/encapsulated hologram


The present invention provides a multi-band, multi-mode RFID tag that uses a single antenna structure and integrated circuit to provide asset location information at any stage of a supply chain. The unified tag design operates at multiple frequencies (or bands) using the antenna structure, for example, 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, and 2.45 GHz, and preferably operates electrostatically (at lower frequencies) and electromagnetically (ay higher frequencies). An on-chip frequency monitor in the integrated circuit automatically determines which frequency is present and derives a local clock for the tag's integrated circuit, which can vary in accordance with the frequency or which can be constant. Alternatively, a phase locked loop circuit can be used to derive a local clock signal modulated into the interrogation signal. On-chip matching and power extraction circuits derive power for the tag from the interrogation signal, which is preferably passive. Additionally, a receiver can receive data from the interrogation signal.

The efficiencies afforded by radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are becoming apparent in many supply chain management applications. Having timely electronic access to information concerning an item's progress through a supply chain is valuable for inventory management, controlling costs, theft prevention, shipping and labor scheduling, and many other aspects of supply chain operations. RFID is already utilized in some warehouse and shipping applications, where typically Ultra High Frequency (UHF) (e.g., 902-928 MHz) tags are used on a per-pallet basis because of their long read range performance. However, lower frequencies (e.g., 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz) are considered by many to be more appropriate for inventory or shelving applications. Lower frequency tags have an advantage over higher frequency tags in that they do not exhibit carrier signal reflection issues observed in tags operating at higher frequencies, but are shorter in range. It is generally accepted in the industry that no single frequency is most appropriate for monitoring all stages of the supply chain (i.e., shipping, inventory, shelving, etc.).
The following U.S. patents, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, provide further details regarding RFID tag technology, and the manner in which such technology is made and used: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,754,190, 6,246,327; 6,107,920; 6,265,977; 6,094,138; 6,091,332; 6,018,299; and 6,611,199.
Unfortunately, a multi-frequency approach presently means that an item needs to have multiple tags affixed to it, so that it can be successfully accounted for at each stage in the supply chain. The associated costs of not only the tags and readers but also the system operating logistics are impeding industry acceptance of multi-frequency applications, despite their benefits. Therefore, an industry need exists for a single tag that operates over multiple frequencies.

Method and apparatus for multiple frequency RFID tag architecture


An intake manifold includes plural intake pipes, a distribution portion connecting to the plural intake pipes and guiding fluid at an inside of the distribution portion to the plural intake pipes and a first protruding portion providing at least a same number of the plural intake pipes at the inside of the distribution portion, the first protruding portion being directed to the corresponding intake pipes.

A known intake manifold is disclosed in JP2010-65575A (hereinafter referred to as Patent reference 1). The known intake manifold, for example, disclosed in Patent reference 1 is provided with plural intake pipes corresponding to each air cylinder in an internal combustion engine and a blow-by gas distribution part connected to the intake pipes. At least one of inlet paths communicating the blow-by gas distribution part with intake pipes is positioned at a bottom portion of the blow-by gas distribution part while at least one of the inlet paths is positioned at an upper portion than the bottom portion of the blow-by gas distribution part (see, for example, Patent reference 1).
A known intake manifold, for example, disclosed in JP2010-84640A (hereinafter referred to as Patent reference 2) is provided with plural intake pipes corresponding to each air cylinder in an internal combustion engine and a blow-by gas distribution part connected to the intake pipes. The known intake manifold includes inlet paths communicating the blow-by gas distribution part with intake pipes and a lower surface of the inlet paths declines from the blow-by gas distribution part to the intake pipes while a lowermost end surface of the blow-by gas distribution part is positioned higher than a lowermost end surface of the inlet paths (see, for example, Patent reference 2)
According to the intake manifold disclosed in Reference 1, an inflow of liquid including water and oil generated from blow-by gas from the inlet paths positioned at the bottom portion of the blow-by gas distribution part to a part of the intake pipes may cause engine misfire and torque fluctuation in which output torque in each air cylinder of an engine differs from one another.
According to the intake manifold disclosed in Reference 2, an inflow of liquid including water and oil generated from blow-by gas from the inlet paths positioned at the blow-by gas distribution part to a part of the intake pipes may cause engine misfire and torque fluctuation.
A need thus exists for an intake manifold which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


An image signal magnifying apparatus is provided with a subtitle processing circuit capable of automatically detecting subtitles and moving the detected subtitle to a lower portion of a picture screen of an image display unit, when an image signal of a movie or the like, displayed on a picture screen having an aspect ratio of 4 to 3, is magnified to a picture screen having an aspect ratio of 16 to 9. Improvement of image quality of the characters of the subtitles after magnification of the image and simplification of the subtitle processing operation are attained. An output of a subtitle processing circuit 6 and an output of a number-of-scanning-line conversion circuit 9 are combined by a combining circuit 8. The image signal magnified by the number-of-scanning-line conversion circuit 9 and a subtitle processing signal, which is not subjected to conversion of the number of scanning lines are combined, so that the image quality of the characters of the subtitle, in the case where the image is magnified, can be improved. Further, a control signal establishing circuit 7, for automatically generating control signals required for the subtitle processing operation is provided, so that simplification of the subtitle processing operation can be attained.

The present invention relates to an image signal magnifying apparatus capable of detecting missing subtitle which are lost when an image signal of letter box type, vista size, cinema size or the like, having missing upper and lower pictures, is magnified and displayed with an image display apparatus having an aspect ratio of 16 to 9 and the position of the subtitles is changed.
Recently, television receivers having large picture size are prevalent and it is also being considered to change the a picture screen of televisions to have a wide aspect ratio.
Further, video softwares (specifically, movie software) are sufficiently provided and an image magnifying apparatus which magnifies an image signal of letter box type, vista size, cinema size or the like, having missing upper and lower pictures, to a size corresponding to a picture screen with a wide aspect ratio (of 16 to 9, for example) to display the magnified image signal is commercially available. At this time, in a movie, after a subtitle processing has been made in which the subtitle is moved to an imaging unit to combine it with an image signal since the subtitle is lost, the image signal is magnified.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, an example of an image magnifying apparatus provided with subtitle processing function used heretofore is described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an image magnifying apparatus provided with conventional subtitle processing function. In FIG. 11, numeral 13 denotes an input terminal for a current signal which is one output signal of a scanning line interpolation circuit 5 (refer to FIG. 1), 14 an input terminal for an interpolation signal which is the other output signal of the scanning line interpolation circuit 5, 6 a subtitle processing circuit, 41 an input terminal for a subtitle start line, 42 an input terminal for a subtitle end line, 43 an input terminal for the number of moving lines of the subtitle, 8 a combining circuit, 10 a double speed conversion circuit, 11 a D/A converter, 39 a image display unit, 40 a deflection pulse control circuit, 44 a horizontal synchronizing signal input terminal, and 45 a vertical synchronizing signal input terminal.
Operation of the image magnifying apparatus constructed above will now be described.
The subtitle processing circuit 6 detects a subtitle portion from the inputted current signal and the interpolation signal and moves the detected subtitle portion to a position determined by a user to combine the subtitle with an image signal. In this position, the subtitle signals detected from the current signal and the interpolation signal and the input image signal are combined in the combining circuit 8. The combined signal is converted at double speed and further converted from a digital signal into an analog signal. In the conventional method, the combined image signal is magnified by controlling a deflection pulse to display the image on the display unit 39.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the subtitle processing circuit 6. In FIG. 9, numeral 16 denotes an input terminal for the current signal, 17 an input terminal for the interpolation signal, 21 an input terminal of the subtitle start line, 22 an input terminal for the subtitle end line, 23 an input terminal of the number of moving lines of the subtitle, 18 a memory control signal generating circuit, 19 a field memory, 20 a gate circuit, 25 an output signal of a subtitle processing signal of the current signal, and 26 an output terminal of the subtitle processing signal of the interpolation signal. Operation of the circuit of FIG. 9 will now be described. The memory control signal generating circuit 18 generates a write enable pulse (WE signal) and a write reset pulse (RSTW signal) which are write control pulses for the field memory 19, on the basis of the start line and the end line for the subtitle inputted by the user. Then, the memory control signal generating circuit 18 generates a read enable pulse (RE signal) and a read reset pulse (RSTR signal), which are read pulses of the field memory 19, on the basis of the number of moving lines of the subtitle inputted by the user. Only the subtitle portions of the current signal and the interpolation signal are written in the field memory 19 and only the subtitle portions of the current signal and the interpolation signal are read from the field memory after delay of the number of moving lines designated by the user. The gate circuit 20 gates the output signals of the field memory 19 with the RE signal to nullify all of the signals to zero except the subtitle portion, so that the subtitle processing signals for the current signal and the interpolation signal are produced from the output terminals 25 and 26, respectively.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the combining circuit 8. In FIG. 10, numeral 27 denotes an input terminal of current line signal, 28 an input terminal of current line subtitle processing signal, 30 an input terminal of interpolation line signal, 31 an input terminal of interpolation line subtitle processing signal, 29 an input terminal of character detection pattern, 32 and 33 comparators, 34 and 35 switches, 36 an output terminal of current signal subtitle combining signal and 37 an output signal of interpolation signal subtitle processing signal. Operation of the circuit of FIG. 10 is now described.
The comparators 32 and 33 compare the subtitle processing signals and the character detection pattern to examine the magnitudes thereof. When the subtitle processing signals are larger than the character detection pattern, the comparators 32 and 33 produce O. When the subtitle processing signals are smaller, the comparators produce 1. The switches 34 and 35 effect switching of the image signal and the subtitle processing signal in response to the output signals of the comparators 32 and 33, to produce the subtitle combined signals of the current signal and the interpolation signal from the output terminals 36 and 37, respectively.
With the above configuration, however, there is a problem that since the magnification of image is made by controlling the deflection pulse, the density of scanning lines is coarse and characters of the subtitle are visually cut horizontally in a portion having no scanning line. Further, there is a problem in operability that the parameters required for the subtitle processing must be inputted by the user.

Apparatus for providing proper placement and sizing of subtitles given the conversion of the image to that of a wider aspect ratio

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A surface treatment composition and method for removing Si and reduced metal salt produced during etching of an aluminum die cast material (“ALDC material”) without generation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) or hydrogen fluoride (HF). In surface treatment of an ALDC material containing Si, Fe, Cu, Mn, Mg, Zn and Ni, the surface treatment composition for removing Si and reduced metal salt from the surface of the ALDC material after etching comprises hydrogen peroxide 300 to 950 g/l, fluorine ion-containing inorganic salt 1 to 300 g/l and balance water. The surface treatment method for removing Si and reduced metal salt from the surface of an ALDC material after etching comprises the step of dipping the ALDC material into the above described surface treatment composition. The aforementioned surface treatment composition effectively removes the Si and reduces metal salt impurities from the surface of the ALDC material without any problems such as NOx or HF gas which is harmful to the human and waste water treatment. Further, residue oil is also removed from the ALDC material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a composition and method in use for surface treatment of parts made of Al Die Casting material (hereinafter will be referred to as "ALDC material"). In particular, the invention pertains to a surface treatment composition and method without generation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) for removing Si and reduced metal salt produced during etching of the ALDC material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An ALDC material generally contains Al and other ingredients such as Si, Fe, Cu, Mn, Mg, Zn and Ni. Such ALDC material requires surface treatment such as plating, painting and anodizing in order to improve corrosion resistance, and appearance. In general, the ALDC material undergoes a surface treatment including plating, process which is carried out in the order of degreasing, etching, desmutting, zincating and plating, and painting process which is carried out in the order of degreasing, etching, desmutting, drying and painting.
In the above processes, etching is generally carried out in a NaOH aqueous solution. Etching for the ALDC plating is performed at a temperature ranging from a room temperature to 50° C. in an about 5 to 20% NaOH aqueous solution in order to remove any oxide layer and/or oil from the surface of the ALDC, and closely related to formation of surface roughness for plating.ALDC (1)→ALDC (2)+Al dissolution {3NaOH+Al→Al(OH)3+H2↑} (NaOH aqueous solution, etching)
In the above process, components such as Si, Fe, Cu, In, Mg, Zn and Ni contained in ALDC (1) appear on the surface of the ALDC (2) as Al, that is the main component of the ALDC, are dissolved during etching, in which those components such as Si, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni are not dissolved into the NaOH aqueous solution and accordingly remain in the surface of ALDC (2).
Tables 1A and 1B and FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively represent results of EDAX analysis about the components in the surface of ALDC (2) which has been dipped for 10 minutes in a 10% NaOH aqueous solution, in which the ALDC materials are analyzed based upon ALDC-7 and ALDC-8.
TABLE 1AAnalysis of Surface Component in ALDC-7 (2)Result of Quantitative AnalysisComponentWeight %Atomic %O14.9126.00Cu7.963.49Na1.782.16Mg0.000.00Al6.636.85Si54.9954.63Fe13.756.87
TABLE 1BAnalysis of Surface Component in ALDC-8 (2)Result of Quantitative AnalysisComponentWeight %Atomic %O17.0530.11Cu4.832.15Na2.513.09Mg1.772.06Al20.8521.83Si27.9198.08Fe25.0712.68
As can be seen in Tables 1A and 1B, those components such as Si, Fe and Cu are the most prominent components after etching of the ALDC material. Those components should be necessarily removed from the surface of the materials since they influence coherence and uniformity during final plating, painting and anodizing.
In an aqueous solution, generally each of the metal components is reduced and deposits to the surface of an aluminum material such as Al or Al alloy (Al 2024, Al 5083) so as to form reduced metal salts during oxidation reaction, in which the etched Al or Al alloy material is mainly dipped into a HNO3 aqueous solution according to a conventional method for removing the reduced metal salts.
When the ALDC material is dipped into the HNO3 aqueous solution, the metal components such as Cu, Fe and Ni are dissolved and ionized in the HNO3 aqueous solution as follows:Cu→Cu2++2e-;Fe→Fe2++2e-; andNi→Ni2++2e-.
On the other hand, a mixed acid solution of HNO3 and HF has been conventionally used to remove the metal and Si components formed on the material during NaOH etching of the ALDC material. This has a reaction mechanism as follows:    (1) Reaction mechanism of metal components except for Si contained in ALDC with HNO3:Me (Fe, Cu. Mn, Mg, Zn, Ni)+HNO3+H2O→MeO+HNO2+H2O→MeO+H++NO2↑+H2O (First Reaction)→MeO+2HNO3+H2O→Me(NO3)2+H2O (Second Reaction)
In the first reaction, HNO2 is gasified into H+ and NO2 in the aqueous solution and thus emits toxic NOx gas, which is harmful to humans and the environment.
(2) Reaction mechanism of SiO2 with HF:SiO2+4HF→SiF4+2H2O+H2↑ (First Reaction)2HF+SiF4→H2SiF6 (Second Reaction)
In the first reaction, HF gas is emitted owing to generation of H2 gas.
Although a chemical treatment method of the ALDC material using HNO3 and HF has been performed for a long time, this method produces a large amount of NOx and HF gases and thus fatally acts to human bodies and facilities.
FIG.2 illustrates HF and NOx gases which are produced from the ALDC material treatment with a mixed acid of HNO3 and HF, and Table 2 represents measured amounts of the HF and NOx gases. As can be seen in Table 2, mixed acid of HNO3 and HF emits the NOx and HF gases by a large amount thereby representing a severe obstacle against substitution of the ALDC for Al.
TABLE 2Quantity of HF and NOx Emission during ALDC material Treatment inMixed Acid of HNO3 and HFNOxHFQuantity of Gas Generation10,722.223,840.53(ppm)
Also as known in the conventional art, methods have been used to clean foreign materials from semiconductor board by using compositions each composed of an inorganic substance containing hydrogen peroxide and fluorine ion as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. H08-250461 and H10-298589. However, the compositions show poor oxidizing power owing to very small value of peroxide content. The above substrate-cleaning agents may partially remove Si from the surface of the ALDC material during etching but fails to simultaneously remove the reduced metal components such as Fe, Cu, Mn, Mg, Zn and Ni from the same.

Surface treatment composition and method for removing Si component and reduced metal salt produced on the aluminum die cast material in etching process


Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1 is a cycloalkylsulphonyl group, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful in the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of hyperglycemia and diabetes.

The present invention is directed to tri(cyclo) substituted amide compounds. In particular, the present invention is directed to amide compounds substituted i) at the carbonyl carbon with an ethyl/ethenyl attached to a phenyl ring and a carbocyclic ring, and ii) at the amino with a nitrogen bearing heteroaryl or unsaturated heterocyclyl ring, which are modulators of glucokinase and are useful in the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of hyperglycemia and diabetes, particularly type II diabetes.
Glucokinase ("GK") is believed to be important in the body's regulation of its plasma glucose level. GK, found principally in the liver and pancreas, is one of four hexokinases that catalyze the initial metabolism of glucose. The GK pathway is saturated at higher glucose levels than the other hexokinase pathways (see R. L. Printz et al., Annu. Rev. Nutr., 13:463-496 (1993)). GK is critical to maintaining the glucose balance in mammals. Animals that do not express GK die soon after birth with diabetes, while animals that overexpress GK have improved glucose tolerance. Activation of GK can lead to hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (see, for example, H. B. T. Christesen et al., Diabetes, 51:1240-1246 (2002)). Additionally, type II maturity-onset diabetes of the young is caused by the loss of function mutations in the GK gene, suggesting that GK operates as a glucose sensor in humans (Y. Liang et al., Biochem. J., 309:167-173 (1995)). Thus, compounds that activate GK increase the sensitivity of the GK sensory system and would be useful in the treatment of hyperglycemia—particularly the hyperglycemia associated with type II diabetes. It is therefore desirable to provide novel compounds that activate GK to treat diabetes.
International Patent Publication No. WO2001/044216 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,111 describe (E)-2,3-disubstituted-N-heteroarylacrylamides as GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2002/014312 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,369,232, 6,388,088, and 6,441,180 describe tetrazolylphenylacetamide GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2000/058293, European Patent Application No. EP 1169312 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,050 describe arylcycloalkylpropionamide GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2002/008209 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,184 describe alpha-acyl and alpha-heteroatom-substituted benzene acetamide GK activators as anti-diabetic agents. International Patent Publication No. WO2001/083478 describes hydantoin-containing GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2001/083465 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,071 describe alkynylphenyl heteroaromatic GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2001/085707 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,485 describe para-amine substituted phenylamide GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2002/046173 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,433,188, 6,441,184, and 6,448,399 describe fused heteroaromatic GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2002/048106 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,951 describe isoindolin-1-one GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2001/085706 describes substituted phenylacetamide GK activators for treating type II diabetes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,220 describes para-aryl or heteroaryl substituted phenyl GK activators. French Patent No. 2,834,295 describes methods for the purification and crystal structure of human GK. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/095438 describes N-heteroaryl phenylacetamides and related compounds as GK activators for the treatment of type II diabetes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,846 describes the preparation of cycloalkylheteroaryl propionamides as GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/000262 describes vinyl phenyl GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/000267 describes aminonicotinate derivatives as GK modulators. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/015774 describes compounds as GK modulators. International Patent Publication No. WO2003047626 describes the use of a GK activator in combination with a glucagon antagonist for treating type II diabetes. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/055482 describes amide derivatives as GK activators. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/080585 describes aminobenzamide derivatives with GK activity for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. International Patent Publication No. WO2003/097824 describes human liver GK crystals and their used for structure-based drug design. International Patent Publication No. WO2004/002481 discloses arylcarbonyl derivatives as GK activators. International Patent Publication Nos. WO2004/072031 and WO2004/072066 (published after the priority date of the present application) disclose tri(cyclo) substituted amide compounds as GK activators.

Substituted phenylacetamides and their use as glucokinase activators


A method for acquiring data from voxels in a contour of tissue includes positioning the tissue in a magnetic field. For the present method, a z-gradient is imposed on the contour tissue to spread the spectrum of all of the voxels over a same range of Larmor frequencies. Additionally, voxels in the contour tissue are selectively encoded with different x-gradients and y-gradients to distinguish the various voxels from each other. In the presence of the z-gradient, nuclei of the encoded voxel are tilted and then refocused at a rate proportional to the z-gradient. Due to this refocusing, spin echo signals are generated which are useful for acquiring data from the tissue. The intravoxel z-gradient used for the present invention is the same for all voxels and is greater than either the x-gradient or the y-gradient which are used for encoding. The z-gradient may be substantially constant. Importantly, the z-gradient is sufficiently extensive to spread the spectrum of the spin echo signals for suppression of exogenous noise and make the signals immune to static field perturbations.

Magnetic resonance imaging is a well known and widely used method for obtaining medical images for both diagnostic and research purposes. In order to conduct a typical MRI procedure a volume of tissue is first placed in a static magnetic field. The tissue is then irradiated with radio frequency energy to tilt the nuclear magnetic moments within the tissue. Spin echo signals, which are characteristic of the irradiated tissue, are then recorded from the tilted nuclear magnetic moments. By using imaging techniques well known in the art, the signal contributions of individual volume elements (voxels) in the tissue are distinguished from each other. These voxels are ultimately displayed on a computer monitor or film for use by the physician or researcher.
For any system which relies on nuclear magnetic resonance techniques for acquiring data, one very important design consideration is the system's static magnetic field. For purposes of discussing the static magnetic field, consider an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system. With the origin of this coordinate system at any point in the magnetic field, the magnetic field at that particular point can be characterized by the respective x, y and z components of the field and by spatial derivatives of the field strength. Specifically, the x, y and z components of the field magnetic vector, B.sub.0, are designated B.sub.x, B.sub.y and B.sub.z. The magnetic field can then be further characterized by the gradients which are the rate of change (first derivatives) of the field strength in the x, y and z directions. The field gradients are designated G.sub.x, G.sub.y and G.sub.z. It is to be appreciated that higher order derivatives may, and most likely are, present. For purposes of discussing the present invention, however, only the field gradients G.sub.x, G.sub.y and G.sub.z need be considered.
In a very general sense, a homogeneous magnetic field exists in a small neighborhood of a point where all of the field gradients, i.e. G.sub.x, G.sub.y and G.sub.z, are zero.
To by-pass the difficulties encountered with the manufacture of homogeneous MRI systems, recent efforts have been made to effectively use the more commonplace and more cost effectively established nonhomogeneous magnetic field. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,930 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which issued to Crowley et al. for an invention entitled "Remotely Positioned MRl System" (hereinafter the '930 patent) discloses a device and method for magnetic resonance imaging with a nonhomogeneous magnetic field. As clearly disclosed in the '930 patent, a nonhomogeneous field is a field that has a non-zero gradient G.sub.z. Regardless whether the magnetic field is homogeneous or nonhomogeneous, in order to perform an MRI procedure it is necessary to distinguish various voxels within the tissue to be imaged. To do this, the tissue is typically encoded with spatial patterns.
One widely recognized encoding procedure for imparting spatial patterns in the tissue volume to be imaged involves the application of gradient magnetic fields. These so-called gradient magnetic fields consist of an additional range of field values, denoted by .DELTA. B.sub.o, that are superimposed on the static field. At this point it should be noted that the x and y spatial variations of .DELTA. B.sub.o are determined by the respective x and y gradients, G.sub.x and G.sub.y, of the superimposed field values. Through the Larmor constant, a range of Larmor frequencies determined by the expression EQU .DELTA.f=.lambda..DELTA.B.sub.o
exists during the application of the gradient, either G.sub.x or G.sub.y or both. The effect of this range of Larmor frequencies is a spatial pattern of phase accumulation in the magnetic moments across the tissue of interest. For the purposes of the present invention, the key point is that the range of Larmor frequencies associated with a gradient field (G.sub.x or G.sub.y) spatially distinguish one voxel from another in the respective x and y directions. With a suitable number of gradient encodings, which are each followed by a measurement of spin echo signals, data is obtained that can be reconstructed into an image of the array of voxels.
Due to the fact the present invention contemplates an MRI operation with a z-gradient (G.sub.z), several consequences which involve data acquisition and the suppression of exogenous noise are pertinent. First, the data acquisition techniques in the presence of a z-gradient are quite different from those used for conventional MR1 in a homogeneous magnetic field. This data acquisition aspect has been fully considered and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,930, which has been cited above and which is incorporated herein by reference. Second, the suppression of exogenous noise is accomplished by imposing a z-gradient, G.sub.z, which is greater than either the x or y encoding gradients (G.sub.x and G.sub.y). An additional benefit from this relationship between the gradients is the fact that the system is less sensitive to static field perturbations.
Spread spectrum techniques are widely used in the communications industry to avoid the corruption of transmitted signals by interfering noise sources. The method is particularly effective in the presence of a discrete set of noise sources that occupy narrow frequency bands. Conventional radio or television signals fall into this category.
The basic idea in spread spectrum techniques is to send and receive signals that occupy a range of frequencies that is significantly wider than that of the individual interfering noise sources. In this manner, the effects of the individual noise sources are minimized.
The use of such techniques is not conventionally taught in the art since, as mentioned above, most magnetic resonance equipment can be shielded from the effect of external noise by enclosing the system in an r.f. shielded room (Faraday cage). However, the present invention recognizes there are benefits to systems that are not enclosed in shielded rooms, especially for cost of operation and smaller portable systems.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide methods for acquiring data from voxeis in a contour of tissue which is accomplished using a z-gradient, G.sub.z. It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for acquiring data from voxels in a contour of tissue which uses an extensive z-gradient, G.sub.z, to suppress exogenous noise making the data less sensitive to static field perturbations. Still another object of the present invention is to provide methods for MRI which are relatively easy to accomplish and comparatively cost effective.


A system is provided for straddle mounting an electrical connector having an elongated housing with opposite ends to a printed circuit board. A generally U-shaped mounting clip is provided having a pair of legs joined by a bight portion, the mounting clip having teeth thereon for relatively fixing the mounting clip to the housing. The legs are juxtaposed against the opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board for connection to appropriate mounting pads thereon, and the bight portion embraces a portion of the housing. The printed circuit board has an edge and opposite surfaces, with circuit traces on the opposite surfaces of the board near the edge. The electrical connector is adapted for straddle mounting to the printed circuit board at the edge thereof, with terminals on the housing and including tail portions for connection to the circuit traces on the opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board.

In the electronics industry, electrical connectors often are mounted to printed circuit boards for electrical connection to circuit traces on the boards. Typically, the electrical connectors are positioned on the printed circuit boards, and electrical terminals are soldered to circuits on the boards. The connectors usually include some form of locking or retention means to hold the connectors to the boards. The locking or retention means can vary from mounting posts molded integrally with the connector housings to separate mounting clips which engage the connector housings to hold the connectors to the board. The integral mounting posts or the separate clips usually are inserted into holes in the printed circuit board.
Providing locking or retention means as described above becomes more difficult when electrical connectors are mounted at the edge of a printed circuit board, such as in a cutout in the edge of the board. The locking or retention means becomes still more difficult to design when the electrical connectors are straddle mounted to the edge of the board. In other words, the connector may include terminals which are solder connected to both opposite sides or surfaces of the board.
Electrical connectors which are straddle mounted to the edge of a printed circuit board, as described above, often are more prone to become damaged during handling than connectors which are mounted on a surface of the board inwardly of the peripheral edges thereof. Without a secure locking or retention means, the housings of straddle mounted electrical connectors literally can be torn away from the retention clips and the connector terminals secured to opposite sides of the board.
The present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing a new and improved locking or retention means or system to hold straddle mounted connectors to the edge of a printed circuit board.

Board straddle mounted electrical connector