A first p+-type region on a surface of a photodiode unit is formed over a region from a surface of the photodiode unit through a surface of a signal charge read-out unit until reaching the charge transfer unit. Also, the following structure is adapted: the structure in which a boundary between the first p+-type region and a p++-type region is not on a same plane with a boundary of an n-type impurity region which forms the photodiode unit on a side of the signal charge read-out unit. Further, a second p+-type region is formed between the first p+-type region and the p++-type region on the surface of the photodiode unit. The second p+-type region has an impurity concentration between the impurity concentrations of the first p+-type region and the p++-type region.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a solid-state image sensor for a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), in particular to a solid-state image sensor with high pixel density or a solid-state image sensor having miniaturized chips.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Hereafter, a conventional solid-state image sensor is described. FIG. 1A is a cross-section diagram of a conventional interline-type solid-state image sensor. As shown in FIG. 1A, the solid-state image sensor is made up of an n-type silicon substrate 1, a p−−-type well region 2, an n-type charge storage region 3, a p++-type region 4 formed on the n-type charge storage region 3, a p+-type region 5 formed on the n-type charge storage region 3 so as to horizontally surround the p++-type region 4, an n-type buried channel region 7, a p−-type region 6 formed under the n-type buried channel region 7, a read-out gate electrode 8 formed by a polysilicon film and the like, a p+-type signal charge read-out region 9, a p-type region 10, and a light-shielding film 11 such as an aluminum film.
A portion of the p−−-type well region 2 under the n-type charge storage region 3 and the n-type charge storage region 3 form a photodiode unit (photoelectric conversion unit). The p++-type region 4 and the p+-type region 5 restrain dark current. The p−-type region 6 controls smear. The n-type buried channel region 7 forms a charge transfer unit for transferring signal charge which is obtained through photoelectric conversion performed by the photodiode unit. The read-out gate electrode 8 reads out signal charge from the n-type charge storage region 3 to the n-type buried channel region 7 by applying voltage. The p+-type signal charge read-out region 9 controls a read-out voltage. The p+-type region 10 forms a channel stopper. The above is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-142696 and in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-50976.
In general, due to an increase of intensity of an electric field of a read-out path following a development of micro-pixel size, and an increase of intensity of an electric field between a silicon substrate and a gate insulating film following a development of thinner gate insulating film, hot carriers generated at the time of reading are injected in the gate insulating film causing an increase of the threshold voltage. Consequently, higher read-out voltage is needed with the light irradiation. Therefore, all of the charge is not read with normal voltage and remaining charge is generated. Accordingly, such reliability loss is caused.
In the mentioned conventional solid-state image sensor, in order to prevent the threshold voltage from increasing, an offset (not to be adjacent to each other) is formed between the P+-type region 5 and the n-type buried channel region 7. However, in order to prevent the threshold voltage from increasing with the light irradiation, if the impurity concentration of the P+-type signal charge read-out region 9 is decreased and the read-out voltage is reduced, the surface of the substrate on the top of the p+-type signal charge read-out region 9 which is the offset region is depleted, and dark current is increased in the charge transfer unit.
FIG. 1B shows a potential profile for electrons between X–X′ on the cross-section of the solid-state image sensor shown in FIG. 1A. In the range of X–X′, the section a is a section between the p+-type region 5 and the n-type buried channel region 7, and the section b and c respectively correspond to the p+-type region 5 and the P++-type region 4. As shown in FIG. 1A, in the conventional solid-state image sensor, a boundary (A) of the p+-type region 5 on the side of a signal charge read-out unit matches a boundary (B) of the n-type charge storage region 3 on the side of the signal charge read-out unit. Herein, as shown in the potential profile of FIG. 1B, a potential barrier against the electrons on the impurity concentration boundary (indicating boundary (A) and (B)) d and the remaining charge q is generated. In order to completely read out the remaining charge, it is necessary to increase the read-out voltage.
As a result, the conventional structure cannot simultaneously prevent degradation of image luminance by the remaining charge and generation of noise on the image by the generation of dark current.

Solid-state image sensor with photoelectric conversion units each having a first conductive-type impurity region boundary non-coplanar with second conductive-type impurity region boundaries

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention is directed to a conveying device for flat printed products. Exemplary embodiments include a transport device for transporting signatures. A plurality of arms, each having a seizing device, are assigned to the transport device for seizing signatures emerging from the transport device. Upon rotational movement of the arms, the seizing devices dive into non-raised portions of a transporting element of the transporting device for seizing a leading edge of respective signatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for conveying flat printed products, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for conveying flat printed products with respect to a rotary printing press.
2. State of the Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,403 discloses a sheet transfer apparatus for a printing press. Sheets are moved from a supply to a continuously rotating receiver drum in a printing press by a transfer drum having at least two angularly spaced grippers. The transfer drum carrying the grippers is rotated at a relatively slow speed, and each of the grippers can be angularly displaced on the transfer drum and relative to the other gripper. Thus, each gripper is accelerated after it picks up a sheet at the pick-up station, so that when the gripper reaches a transfer station where it passes the sheet onto the receiver drum, it is moving at the same speed as the receiver drum. Thereafter, each gripper is uniformly decelerated, so that when it has returned to the pick-up station it is moving at the same speed as the sheet thereat.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,595 shows a rotatable advance or forward gripper drum. A continuously rotatable advance gripper drum assembly for sheet-fed rotary printing presses has an advance gripper drum and a gripper bridge movable relative to the drum. Furthermore, it includes a crank-driven linkage transmission device disposed on and rotatable with the drum and operatively connected to the gripper bridge for moving the gripper bridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,175 discloses a method and an apparatus for the stream-fed delivery of sheet products. Sheet-like products coming from a folder are first transported some distance before being caused to overlap. In order to slow down the products to cause the overlapping to take place and to arrange the products in a perfectly regular feed stream without being damaged, the products are engaged by grippers that are moved along a preferably arcuate path on a support in the course of which the products are slowed down by the grippers to the speed of a delivery belt on which the products are then deposited.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,112 discloses a folded copy product transfer and transport apparatus. To transport folded copy products without engaging an arm between the creased or folded sheets of a folded copy product, a sprocket chain has grippers secured thereto which have gripper arms at their remote end. The gripper elements are guided in an arcuate path at a transfer position or station, the folded copy product being pushed between a counter surface and a movable tongue of the gripper elements which then close due to the pressure of a spring. The gripper elements can open and close under the control of a cam to receive the copy products. The copy products can be transported in imbricated or shingled formation to a reception or delivery station.
Existing pinless folder designs have encountered the technical problem that a signature transfer from the cutting cylinders to a tape system involves a velocity differential between the cutting cylinders' surface and the driving surface of the tapes of the tape system. Through this velocity differential, a gap between adjacent signatures can be created. Consequently, the signatures can be transferred to a slowdown device.
To create and to maintain this gap between adjacent signatures, the tapes of the tape system must travel at higher velocity than the cutting cylinder surfaces. This results in a relative movement between the tape surfaces and the surface of the signature, until the signature is severed from the web by a transversal cut between the cutting cylinders. Consequently, the signatures are subjected to considerable mechanical stress which can result in signature damage or marking.

Method and apparatus for conveying flat printed products


An optical instrument for magnifying printed or written material on three dimensional round or oval containers or objects. The instrument is an arced convex lens which provides distortion free magnification of multiple lines of text inscribed around the circumference or perimeter of vials, bottles, or other curved objects, while staying self affixed. The instrument is simply slid up or down, if required, to magnify the chosen text.

Millions of people take prescriptions and over-the-counter medications every day to improve or maintain their health. Tragically medication errors occur when the wrong medication, the wrong dosage, or an incompatible combination of medications is taken. The print on prescription labels and medication bottles frequently is small and difficult to read.
In 1960, F. S. Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,961,108 addressed the problem when he invented a magnifying cap for medicine bottles. However, this required action and effort by the user to hold it over the print since it was not self affixed, nor did it match the contour of the bottle. Distortion results due to the motion involved and inconsistent distance between container and magnifier. Hand held magnifiers are also unsuitable for the same reasons.
Previous inventors: Kirk, Brayton, Wader and Oulehen Ser. No. 307,775, 1884; W. G. Laird U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,367,879, 1921; R. Stegeman 2,389,282, 1945; J. Prisament 2,787,937, 1957; and A. Sonni 3,052,158, 1962; created affixed magnifiers for burettes, thermometers, insulin syringes and like but none of these magnifiers go beyond the planar two dimensional realm. None of them match the contour of the item in need of enlargement nor are they suitable for magnification of text written around the circumference or perimeter of containers or other curved objects.
Prior art is limited to magnification of flat material. In none of the prior art reviewed is there a magnifier which goes beyond the linear scope and is suitable for use with inscription which wraps around curved objects.
Applicant wishes to make of record the following U.S. patents as the closest known prior art which utilize plano convex lenses Hoogesteger, Brighton, and Pitchford Des. Ser. No. 194,995, 1963; and Anglin U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,863, 1979.

Script view a curved convex magnifying device


A 3D image display device includes a display panel and a viewpoint divider. The display panel includes pixels arranged in a matrix shape and respectively representing one color among primary colors and light blockers provided between the pixels. The viewpoint divider divides an image displayed by the display panel into at least two viewpoints, the viewpoint divider including viewpoint dividing units. The viewpoint dividing units are located in parallel with respect to a column direction of the display panel. A number NP of pixels at a unit view region satisfies NP=2(3n+1)+1, a number NL of viewpoint dividing units satisfies NL=3n+1, and a number NV of viewpoints satisfies NV=2(3n+1)+1 when a width ratio of the pixels in a row direction and the light blockers in the row direction is 3n:1. The NP pixels are located to correspond to the NL viewpoint dividing units.

(a) Field The present application relates to a 3D image display device.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Recently, as a display device technique has been developed, a display device capable of displaying a 3-dimensional (3D) image has attracted attention, and various 3D image displaying methods have been researched.
In general, in a 3D image display technology, stereoscopic perception of an object is represented by using binocular parallax as the largest factor for recognizing stereoscopic perception at a near distance. That is, when different 2D images are reflected in a left eye and a right eye, respectively, and the image reflected in the left eye (hereinafter referred to as a "left eye image") and the image reflected in the right eye (hereinafter referred to as a "right eye image") are transferred to a brain, the left eye image and the right eye image are combined in the brain to be recognized as the 3D image having depth perception or stereoscopic perception.
The 3D image display device capable of displaying the 3D image uses the binocular parallax, and includes a stereoscopic type of 3D image display device using glasses such as shutter glasses, polarized glasses, or the like, and an autostereoscopic type of 3D image display device in which an optical system such as a lenticular lens, a parallax barrier, or the like is disposed in a display device without using glasses.
As the autostereoscopic type, the display device using the lenticular lens, which has been most frequently used and developed in recent years, realizes a 3D image by dividing the 3D image into several viewpoints with the lenticular lens and displaying it.
In such a 3D image display device using the lenticular lens, color filters and black matrixes between the color filters are recognized as spots due to non-uniform luminance. Since the black matrixes are repeatedly formed, a moiré phenomenon is generated in the 3D display device, and the moiré phenomenon deteriorates the image quality.
An attempt was made to employ a lens-inclining structure to remove the moiré phenomenon. If the lens-inclining structure is employed, the material cost is increased, the process becomes difficult, and a diffraction efficiency asymmetry phenomenon is generated in left and right lenses.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


Signal probing systems are provided. One such signal probing system includes: a socket configured to be electrically coupled to a processor, a printed circuit board (PCB), a separation layer that is located between the socket and the PCB, compensation circuits that each include a resistor and a capacitor coupled in parallel, and an adapter that is attached to the PCB and that is configured to be electrically coupled to a motherboard, wherein the PCB is configured to route respective probed signals through the compensation circuits, the respective probed signals being responsive to respective signals traveling between the processor and the motherboard. Methods and other systems are disclosed.

One way for testing a processor is to connect the processor to a probing device that is then electrically coupled to a logic analyzer. One problem with such a probing device is that it may not be capable of accurately probing processors operating above a certain frequency (e.g., over 1 GHz). Based on the foregoing, it should be understood that there is a need for systems and methods that address this and/or other perceived shortcomings of the prior art.

Systems and methods for probing processor signals


The present invention provides a new and improved fishing lure in which the main features of the fishing lure comprises a substantially flat one-piece body portion from the leading front end to the back end. The intermediate portion of the body portion extends to the leading front in a taper providing a decreasing width to a pointed front end and extends to the opposing back end in a taper providing a decreasing width to a circular rear end which contains a hole to include the attachment of a rotatable hook device such as a split ring or snap device to which a fishing line is attached. The leading front portion of the body frame device includes a vertical side portion which extends upwardly and about the top edge portion of the leading front portion of the body device with a hole in the front portion adapted to receive the shank portion of the hook which is attached to the forward portion of the body frame. The construction of the fishing lure of the present invention provides movement very similar to that of fish when swimming and thereby provides an effective lure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing lures of those types or kinds employed in trolling and more particularly to a new and improved fishing lure.
2. Description Of Prior Art
There are numerous prior art fishing lures which glide in water away from a fisherman.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,883 discloses a fishing lure made of a soft, non-rigid material shaped and weighted to glide in water. Weights precisely balance the lure to produce the glide and to stabilize deflection of the lure caused by any tendency of the soft, non-rigid material to deflect. A hook for catching fish is attached to the lure and provides the means for connecting the lure to a fishing line controlled by a fisherman.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,096 discloses a fishing lure in the form of an elongate spoon-shaped body having a substantially flat intermediate portion. The intermediate portion extends at one end into a weighted tapered leading portion and extends at the other end into an upwardly inclined, substantially flat and relatively thin trailing portion. Each end portion is adapted to be attached to a hook or a fishing line.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,450,546 discloses a trolling spoon having lateral reaction surfaces at each side of its rear end increasing in width rearwardly and a laterally extending reaction surface connecting the rear ends of said lateral reaction surfaces, the body of the spoon forwardly of said lateral reaction surfaces being bent to give it a slight curvature in a lengthwise direction and also having a trough-like rib extending from between said reaction surfaces forwardly through the central section of its length.
The following U.S. Patents are also believed to exemplify the present state of the art with respect to fishing lures: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,238,660; 2,908,104; 2,889,657; 2,629,961; 2,481,710; and 1,803,056.
While such prior art devices provide improvement in the areas intended, there still exists a need for a new and improved gliding fishing lure device which has a unique but simple construction which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art while providing utility features which provide new and useful advantages and improvements not heretofore disclosed.
Accordingly a principle desirable object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fishing lure which overcomes some or all of the disadvantages of the prior art devices.
Another desirable object of the present invention is to provide a fishing lure construction which will provide and secure a type of action which will be attractive to fish.
Another desirable object of the present invention is to provide a construction and configuration resulting in a streamlined aerodynamic fishing lure that has very little resistance as it travels through the water along a diagonal forward glide path.
A still further desirable object of the present invention is to achieve the above desirable objects with an essentially simple structure, lending itself to inexpensive massproduction.
These and other desirable objects of the invention will in part appear hereinafter and will in part become apparent after consideration of the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings and the claims.


A brake (10) for applying a braking force to a shaft includes a housing (11) which defines a chamber (17). The housing (11) includes a plurality of depressions (19) circumferentially spaced around an axis (22). A rotatable actuator (40) is received in the chamber (17) and includes a plurality of depressions (43) circumferentially spaced around the axis (22). The housing depressions (19) face the rotatable actuator depressions (43) and each matching pair of depressions receive a ball (23) therebetween. A spring (50) under compression is positioned centrally about the axis (22). A bearing (56) is interposed between the rotatable actuator (40) and disc assembly (70) which minimizes frictional effects and rotational feedback during brake actuation. When the rotatable actuator (40) is rotated, the balls (23) roll along the depressions (19, 43) to gradually shallower portions thereof. This moves the rotatable actuator (40) axially away from the housing (11), thereby applying a braking force to the shaft. The spring (50) compressively opposes the axial movement of the rotatable actuator (40) away from the housing (11).

Ball ramp caliper brakes are a useful and convenient means of providing a braking force. Generally such brakes include a rotatable actuator and a stationary actuator, each of which have depressions which are circumferentially spaced around an axis. Steel balls are held within these depressions, and when the rotatable actuator is caused to rotate, the balls roll gradually along the depressions. This in turn causes the rotatable actuator to move axially away from the stationary actuator thereby applying a braking force to a disc assembly. These brakes are relatively simple in design because they do not require complex hydraulic mechanisms. Thus, the brakes are relatively dependable and easy to service and operate. Still some deficiencies exist in prior art ball ramp brakes.
One such deficiency is the undue complexity and inadequacies in the return mechanism. Such return mechanisms are provided to return the brake to an unactuated state after the rotatable actuator is rotated. Prior art return mechanisms typically include a plurality of springs which are coupled to the rotatable actuator and pre-tensioned to pull the rotatable actuator toward the stationary actuator. These springs are circumferentially spaced around the axis of rotation and resist the outward axial movement of the rotatable actuator. This orientation is unduly complex primarily due to difficulties in the construction and pre-tensioning of the springs. Further, because a plurality of outwardly spaced springs are used, the return force may be uneven resulting in undue wear and reduced performance. Still further, such designs typically require an additional spring positioned on the actuating cable which rotates the rotatable actuator. Thus, multiple springs are required to provide adequate return forces. This added complexity can cause increased cost, difficulty in construction and added maintenance concerns.
Yet another deficiency in prior art ball ramp brakes is found at the interface of the rotatable actuator and disc assembly. Typically, the disc assembly includes a plurality of rotatable discs which are slidably coupled to a rotatable shaft and a plurality of stationary discs located at the ends of the disc assembly and interposed between the rotatable discs. The stationary discs fit over, but do not engage, the rotating shaft, and are slidably coupled to the housing via a plurality of pins. Thus, the rotatable discs rotate with the shaft and the stationary discs are prevented from rotating relative to the housing. The entire disc assembly is free to slide axially so that when an axial force is applied to the disc assembly via the rotatable actuator, the discs are clamped together and the rotatable discs urge the stationary discs to rotate. Because the stationary discs are coupled to the housing, they are prevented from relative rotation, and a braking torque is applied to the rotating shaft. Yet because of the relative tolerances and the nature of the engagement between the stationary discs and the pins, a certain amount of clearance is necessary between the pin and stationary discs, and this clearance allows for a small degree of rotation. Thus, when the rotatable and stationary discs are caused to engage each other, the stationary discs will rotate slightly, until they fully engage the pin, which restricts any further rotation. Additionally, because the stationary discs are typically metallic, some degree of "flex" occurs when a rotational torque is applied by the rotatable discs. The result of these combined effects is that the stationary disc which engages the rotatable actuator will apply a slight feedback rotation to the rotatable actuator as the disc assembly is axially compressed. This feedback rotation can greatly affect the resulting braking torque depending upon the direction of shaft rotation. For example, if the shaft rotates in the same direction as the rotatable actuator, the feedback rotation will supplement the rotation of the rotatable actuator, resulting in a greater net braking torque. If the shaft rotates in the opposite direction as the rotatable actuator, the feedback rotation will oppose the rotation of the rotatable actuator, resulting in a reduced net braking torque. This variation in braking force, referred to as a directional bias, is undesirable in many applications.
Further, prior art brakes of this design are inefficient because, as the rotatable actuator is rotated, friction is created between the rotatable actuator and the stationary disc proximate thereto. Thus, much of the force applied by the rotatable actuator is absorbed due to the friction, causing a loss in braking efficiency.
In view of these problems, it is evident that the need exists for a ball ramp brake which provides a return mechanism with a reduced number of axially aligned springs and which eliminates the brake torque directional bias.


A circuit that determines the remainder of a modulo 2 polynomial division in just one clock cycle. Specifically, each term of the remainder is determined in parallel with each other term of the remainder. The circuit includes a network of XOR devices to determine H(X)=P(X) mod G(X), where P(X) is a first binary polynomial, of a form: a.sub.m X.sup.m +a.sub.m-1 X.sup.m-1 30 . . . +a.sub.0, where a={0,1} and X={0,1}; G(X) is a second binary polynomial, of a form: a.sub.n X.sup.n +a.sub.n-1 X.sup.n-1 +. . . +a.sub.0, where a={0,1} and X={0,1}, and m>n; and H(X) is a third binary polynomial, of a form: b.sub.p X.sup.p +b.sub.p-1 X.sup.p-1 + . . . +.sub.0. The configuration of the network of XOR devices is determined by reducing terms of the first binary polynomial to have only terms having less than the degree of the second binary polynomial. Then, for each term of the third binary polynomial (i.e., the remainder), it is determined which reduced terms of the first binary polynomial affect it. From this determination, the configuration of sub-networks of XOR devices is determined.

Division of binary polynomials has application in transmits data via ISDN, in particular, for generating header error codes from input code vectors. Specifically, section 4.3 ("Header error control") of ITU-T Recommendation 1.432 discusses that an input code vector consisting of ones and zeros can be represented by a polynomial. For example, the code vector 1000000100001 can be represented by the polynomial EQU P(x)=x.sup.12 +x.sup.5 +1.
According to the ITU-T Recommendation, the header control (HEC) field "shall be the remainder of the division (modulo 2) by the generator polynomial EQU x.sup.8 +x.sup.2 +x+1
of the product x.sup.8 multiplied by the content of the header excluding the HEC field."
Conventionally, in order to determine the remainder of the above-mentioned modulo 2 division, a linear switching circuit is employed. Such linear switching circuits are well-known in the art and are described, for example, in Chapter 7 (pp. 170-178) of Error-Correcting Codes (Second Edition), published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972, and authored by W. Wesley Peterson and E. J. Weldon. A disadvantage of using linear switching circuits for polynomial division is that these linear switching circuits require as many clock cycles to complete the division as the degree of the polynomial divisor.

Circuit for determining, in parallel, the terms of a remainder that results from dividing two binary polynomials


A hybrid cord 1 for rubber reinforcement comprises a strand 2 having higher elastic modulus, made of PBO fiber or the like, which is disposed at the center of the cord, and strands 3 having lower elastic modulus, made of glass fiber or the like, which are disposed therearound. The hybrid cord has enough strength and is excellent in flexural fatigue resistance, adhesion property relative to rubber, and dimensional stability. A rubber product employs this hybrid cord 1 for rubber reinforcement.

It is a common way that reinforcement members are embedded into rubber products including a rubber belt and a rubber tire, in order to improve the strength and the durability of the rubber products.
Specific examples of the reinforcement members include glass fiber, polyvinyl alcohol fiber as typified by vinylon fiber, polyester fiber, aliphatic polyamide fiber such as nylon and, aromatic polyamide fiber such as polyparaphenylene terephthalamide (hereinafter, called as "aramid"). Among these, the glass fiber and the aramide fiber are widely used.
Since a rubber product such as a rubber belt is repeatedly subjected to bending stress, flexural fatigue easily occurs so as to lower its performance. In addition, delamination between reinforcement fibers and rubber matrix may be caused and the reinforcement fiber may be worn so that the strength of the rubber product is easily lowered. A toothed belt used for driving a cam shaft in an internal combustion engine for automobiles requires high level of dimensional stability in order to provide suitable valve timing. Recently, since the toothed belt is used not only for driving the cam shaft but also for subsidiarily driving an injection pump and the like, high strength and high elastic force are required to withstand high load.
While high-strength glass fiber and aramide fiber have been mainly used as the fiber used for reinforcement of the belt, carbon fiber and polyparaphenylene benzo bis oxazole (hereinafter, abbreviated to "PBO") fiber have been recently proposed as new materials. Carbon fiber as used in belt tensile body for a toothed belt has been proposed in JPA H08-174708, and PBO fiber has been proposed in JPA H11-336847.
Any of conventional cords for rubber reinforcement made of the aforementioned reinforcement fiber is a cord formed by twisting strands of reinforcement fiber of one kind.
In the conventional cord for rubber reinforcement made of reinforcement fiber of one kind, it is difficult to balance the strength and the flexibility. For example, a cord employing PBO fiber has high tensile strength, but has a problem of being poor in flexibility because of poor compressive fatigue resistance. The PBO fiber can not provide enough adhesion property between the cord and the rubber as matrix. There is a desire for improved adhesion property. A cord employing glass fiber has excellent dimensional stability, but its strength retention is not enough when subjected to bending for a long time.

Hybrid cord for rubber reinforcement and rubber product employing the same


A stator module for driving a rotor of an electrical planar-drive system comprises a power module, a stator assembly arranged on a top surface of the power module, and a connector. The power module is embodied to provide drive currents for driving the rotor. The stator assembly comprises coil conductors electrically connected to the power module via the connector for charging with the drive currents. The power module and the stator assembly each have a plate-shaped embodiment. The power module is mechanically fastened to the stator assembly by the connector. The stator assembly comprises a contact structure with contact holes arranged side by side, and the power module comprises a connecting arrangement with further contact holes arranged side by side. The connector comprises contact pins arranged side by side to engage in the further contact holes of the connecting arrangement, and in the contact holes of the contact structure.

Planar-drive systems may be used, inter alia, in automation technology, in particular in production engineering, handling technology and process engineering. Planar-drive systems may be used to move or position a moving element of a plant or machine in at least two linearly independent directions. Planar-drive systems may comprise a permanently energized electromagnetic planar motor having a planar stator and a rotor movable in at least two directions on the stator.
In a permanently energized electromagnetic planar motor, a driving force is exerted onto the rotor by current-carrying conductors magnetically interacting with drive magnets of a magnet arrangement. In Planar-drive systems the drive magnets of an electric planar motor may be arranged at the rotor and the current-carrying conductors of the planar motor may be arranged in a stationary planar stator.
In such a drive system, the rotor comprises at least a first magnet unit for driving the rotor in a first direction and a second magnet unit for driving the rotor in a second direction which is linearly independent from the first direction, for example in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The planar stator comprises at least a group of first energizable conductors which magnetically interact with the magnets of the first magnet unit to drive the rotor in the first direction, and a group of second energizable conductors which magnetically interact with the magnets of the second magnet unit to drive the rotor in the second direction. The first and the second group of conductors are generally independently energizable to allow for independent movement of the rotor in the first and second direction. If the conductors of the first and second group may themselves be energized independently from each other at least in part, several rotors may be moved independently from each other on one stator at the same time.
The stator of such planar-drive systems may in particular have a modular embodiment and comprise several stator modules arranged next to each other. Within the stator modules, the current-carrying conductors of the stator may be arranged in a stator assembly. The drive currents required to drive the rotor may be generated by power-generating units which are respectively arranged at the bottom sides of the stator assemblies opposite to the rotor. The power-generating units are then electrically connected to the conductors of the stator assembly in a conductive manner in order to feed the drive currents generated by the power-generating units into the conductors of the stator assembly. In order to be able to transmit sufficient force to the rotor, high-power drive currents have to be generated at times. This may lead to high resistance losses in the current-carrying conductors and thus result in a strong heating of the stator.
The publications WO 2013/059934 A1, WO 2015/017933 A1, WO 2015/179962 A1, WO 2015/184553 A1, WO 2015/188281 A1, WO 2017/004716 A1 each disclose planar-drive systems (displacement devices) which comprise an electromagnetic planar motor with a permanently energized rotor and a stator comprising several energizable conductors.


Methods and apparatuses are provided for fractional-N frequency synthesis using a phase-locked loop (PLL). A phase detector (PD) of the PLL determines a phase difference between a clock and a feedback clock (CLKFB). A low-pass loop filter of the PLL detects a control voltage based on the phase difference. A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) of the PLL generates a periodic signal based on the control voltage. A sigma-delta modulator (SDM) of the PLL generates a division sequence ratio and a selection control signal based on a frequency command word. A multi-modulus divider (MMDIV) generates a first CLKFB and a second CLKFB based on the division sequence ratio and differential inputs of the periodic signal. The MMDIV outputs one of the first CLKFB and the second CLKFB as the CLKFB to the PD based on the selection control signal.

A sigma-delta modulator (SDM or ΣΔM) is commonly used to control a multi-modulus divider (MMDIV) in a PLL for fractional-N frequency synthesis. Referring initially to FIG. 1, a diagram illustrates a fractional-N PLL. An MMDIV 102 driven by an SDM 104 is used in a feedback path for fractional-N frequency synthesis. The SDM 104 receives a frequency command word (FCW) and outputs a division ratio sequence (NDIV) to the drive the MMDIV 102. An output clock of the MMDIV 102, which is also referred to as a feedback clock (CLKFB) is fed to a phase detector (PD), which is embodied as a phase frequency detector (PFD) 106 and a charge pump 108. The PFD 106 receives the CLKFB along with a reference clock (CLKREF). The PFD 106 provides a signal proportional to a phase difference between the received clock signals, and the charge pump 108 is used to sink and source current to a low-pass loop filter 110 based on the output from the PFD 106. The low-pass loop filter 110 filters the received signal and outputs a control voltage Vctrk that controls a frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 112, which outputs a periodic signal CLKVCO to the MMDIV 102.
The SDM 104 introduces a QE in the CLKFB of the MMDIV 102. This QE degrades PLL performance in several aspects. First, the QE contributes to PLL in-band phase noise (PN). Secondly, the QE increases the required linear operation range of the PD after locking, making PD design difficult.
Various techniques have been proposed to reduce the QE. One such technique employs a high performance PD capable of handling a large QE. The PD can be embodied as the PFD 106 and the charge pump 108 in an analog PLL, or as a time-to-digital converter (TDC) in a digital PLL. The charge pump 108 and the TDC are challenging sub-blocks in a fractional-N PLL.
Another technique for reducing the QE, adds a digital-to-time converter (DTC) in the CLKREF path in order to cancel out the QE in the CLKFB. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a fractional-N PLL using a DTC to compensate for QE. The PLL of FIG. 2 includes an MMDIV 202, an SDM 204, a PD 206, a low-pass loop filter 210, and a VCO 212, which operate in a manner similar that which is described with respect to FIG. 1. The SDM 204 provides the QE (or <E(n)) to a multiplier 214 to be combined with DTC gain. A DTC control word is output from the multiplier 214 and provided to a DTC 216, which uses the DTC control word to adjust the CLKREF to CLKDTC. The CLKDTC is fed to the PD 206 with the CLKFB from the MMDIV 202, such that the QE may be canceled out from the CLKFB.
This technique attempts to prevent the PD from seeing the QE. The DTC range is required to be sufficient to cover the entire range of the QE. For a given order of SDM, the QE in the CLKFB is proportional to a MMDIV input clock period, which is a VCO period in a given PLL (TVCO). The QE also increases rapidly with the order of SDM. For a 1st order SDM, the QE is within 1 TVCO. For a 2nd order SDM, the QE doubles to 2*TVCO, and for a 3rd order SDM, the QE becomes 4*TVCO. Generally, a 2nd or 3rd order SDM is required in a fractional-N PLL to randomize the sequence, which results in lower fractional spurs to meet the requirement for communication systems.
Thus, a QE canceller circuit, such as, for example, the DTC 216, needs to cover a delay range larger than 4*TVCO for a 3rd order SDM. For example, if the VCO frequency is 4 GHz, the required DTC range is 1 nanosecond (ns). It is challenging to design a DTC with a larger delay range (DR) while achieving low integral nonlinearity (INL), which is critical for lower fractional spur levels. Moreover, DTC thermal noise increases proportionally to the square of the delay, which contributes additional in-band PN in a PLL.

Sigma-delta modulation quantization error reduction technique for fractional-N phase-locked loop (PLL)


A roll control system for a vehicle suspension system and a method for controlling said control system, the suspension system including support means, the roll control system including: wheel cylinders each including first and second chambers; and first and second fluid circuits, each said fluid circuit providing fluid communication between the said first chambers on one side of the vehicle and the second chambers on the opposite side of the vehicle by fluid conduits to thereby provide roll support decoupled from a warp mode of the vehicle suspension system by providing a roll stiffness about a level roll attitude whilst simultaneously providing substantially zero warp stiffness; and the method including bypassing fluid flow from at least a substantial portion of the conduits during predetermined wheel inputs to the control system to thereby minimize line damping and/or fluid inertia effects on the damping of the control system.

The desire for improved ride control in motor vehicles has: lead to the development of "active" vehicle suspension systems. Such systems typically use sensors to sense the various ride characteristics of the vehicle, the sensors providing signals to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The sensors sense any excessive roll, pitch, four wheel bounce and warp motions of the vehicle and its wheels, and the ECU seeks to actively compensate for this motion by controlling the supply of high pressure fluid from a fluid pump to different actuators acting within the vehicle suspension system, or by controlling the return of high pressure fluid from the actuators to a fluid reservoir. (The warp mode of a suspension system, also known as cross axle articulation, is defined as when one pair of diagonally spaced wheels together move in the opposite vertical direction to the other pair of diagonally spaced wheels with respect to the vehicle body). Active suspension systems which attempt to control all the above-noted ride characteristics are very expensive and complicated and have therefore not proven to be commercially viable. Simpler active systems which only seek to actively control excessive roll motions of the vehicle have therefore also been developed. Similarly, adaptive damping systems are becoming popular as they can be used to influence vehicle motions such as roll, pitch and whole body bounce by changing the damping rates at each wheel without the need for a pump.
All the known active suspension systems however have a number of problems which have prevented commercial acceptance of such systems except in luxury vehicles. The number of components required for such systems have lead to packaging difficulties, with the limited space available for such systems under existing motor vehicles. The complexity of active suspension systems and the high stresses applied to certain components of the system lead to ongoing reliability issues. Furthermore, active systems typically require a large number of components, some of which are specially produced components that can handle high mechanical stresses leading to high manufacturing costs. Also, expensive high pressure and high speed components are typically used in such systems, resulting in relatively higher manufacturing and running costs for active systems when compared with conventional suspension systems. Another disadvantage of active systems is the poor response times generally associated with production feasible versions of such systems. Valves are generally used to control the fluid flow in the system. There is always a certain delay before a valve can be actuated to allow or prevent fluid flow. This delay, together with other delays caused by inadequately defined algorithms controlling the system, can lead to unacceptably poor response times for the active suspension system. Active roll control systems typically respond too slowly when undergoing a quick slalom test for example, the control system being unable to provide adequate control under large changes of inertia.
The Applicant has developed a number of different vehicle system systems which seek to avoid at least some of the problems associated with active suspension systems while providing substantial improvements in the ride of a vehicle. These systems are "passive" and do not require sensors, ECUs or fluid pumps to operate. Such systems are described in Australian Patents 670034, 694762, 671592 and 699388 and International Application No. PCT/AU97/00870, details of which are incorporated herein by reference. These systems do however generally rely on components adapted to handle high pressure fluid.
Adaptive damping systems have been developed specifically to improve the damping function of a vehicle suspension system. These damping systems only require relatively low pressure components when compared with those required in the previously described systems, but provide substantially no roll stiffness. They generally have electrically variable or switchable orifices and preloads which are controlled to provide more appropriate damper forces in a range of predefined conditions to avoid the compromises of a single setting to suit all conditions.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,486,018 and 5,584,498 (Yamaha), there are described interconnected damper systems where the top chamber of at least one pair of laterally or longitudinally adjacent dampers, commonly known as Oshock absorbers' are connected by a conduit. A number of arrangements are disclosed, providing a range of damping effects. However, none of the arrangements are designed to provide a roll stiffness for the suspension.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,551 (Alfa), there is described an arrangement having dampers, each having an upper and lower chamber. At least one pair of laterally or longitudinally adjacent dampers are connected by conduits respectively connecting the upper chamber of one damper with the lower chamber of the other chamber. A number of damper valves are provided in the connecting conduits to provide various damping effects. No electronic control is required, nor can the arrangement provide a roll stiffness for the suspension.
Although each of the above described adaptive and interconnected damping systems provide an improved damping function over conventional damper arrangements, they do not provide any or only provide minimal control of other ride characteristics of the vehicle. For example, none of the above adaptive or interconnected damping systems provide roll support for the vehicle as they do not have any roll stiffness to enable a degree of roll control for the vehicle, only roll damping. These systems can therefore not be used to provide roll control for the vehicle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Passive ride control for a vehicle suspension system


A tape automated bonding (TAB) structure which includes a flex tape having a conductive lead pattern formed thereon. The conductive lead pattern includes a plurality of leads configured to form an inner lead bond (ILB) portion of the TAB structure. At least one of the plurality of leads is internally routed and has a contact exposed interior to the ILB portion of the TAB structure.

Patients prone to irregular and sometimes life threatening heart rhythms sometimes have miniature defibrillators, cardioverters, and pacemakers implanted in their bodies, typically in the upper chest area above their hearts. These devices detect onset of abnormal heart rhythms and automatically apply corrective electrical therapy, specifically one or more bursts of electric current, to hearts. When the bursts of electric current are properly sized and timed, they restore normal heart function without human intervention, sparing patients considerable discomfort and often saving their lives.
The devices include a set of electrical leads, which extend from a housing into a heart after implantation. Within the housing, among other components, is electronic circuitry for detecting abnormal heart rhythms and for controlling the bursts of electric current through the leads to the heart. The electronic circuitry includes integrated circuits (ICs) which are mounted to a circuit board and connected to various other discrete electrical components by electrically conductive conduits between input/outputs (I/O's) of the IC and the various discrete electrical components.
One method of mounting the IC to the circuit board and providing the interconnections between the IC and the discrete components includes tape automated bonding (TAB). In TAB, interconnection leads are patterned on a flex tape. The tape is positioned above the bare IC chip so that the metal tracks on the tape correspond to I/O bonding sites on the perimeter of the chip. An outer portion of the TAB leads are then connected to contacts on the circuit board. The circuit board includes leads running from the contacts to the discrete electrical components. Since the implantable devices are typically implanted in the left region of the chest or in the abdomen, a smaller size device, which is still capable of performing complex cardiac rhythm management schemes, is desirable.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a compact implantable device which is capable of performing complex cardiac rhythm management schemes. Furthermore, there is a need to provide methods of manufacturing devices and assembling structures such as the ICs within the implantable devices that provide more efficient and thus less expensive manufacturing.

Method and system of tape automated bonding


The present invention is directed to a low cost, high performance electrode for energy storage devices and energy storage systems and a method for making same is disclosed, where a flexible binder is mixed with partial active and conductive materials in the electrode formulation and activated by mixing with a minimum amount of solvent it is then mixed with the remaining active and conductive materials and the binder is uniformly deposited on to the active and conductive particles by high speed mixing. The active and conductive particles deposited with activated binder particles are then pressed together to form free standing electrode film. High performance and low cost products, such as free standing electrode films, laminated electrodes, ultracapacitors, lithium-ion capacitors, batteries, fuel cells and hybrid cells which are the combination of the above devices, and the energy storage system or the system blocks, such as modules, can be manufactured using this process.

Although different types of energy storage devices are made by different electrodes, electrolytes and other materials, thus with different energy storage mechanisms, the basic constitutions and the fundamentals of the devices are more or less the same. One example is that every type of energy storage device, including ultracapacitors, lithium ion capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells and hybrid cells which are the combination of the above devices, need electrodes. Another example is that, in all of these devices, if an electrode is made thicker, it will store more energy but with less power. Another example is that, among all the critical components, electrode is one of the most important components in the energy storage devices. It plays a major role in determining the performance, the reliability or the field life, as well as the cost of the devices.
Energy density and power density are the most important performance characteristics for energy storage devices. In order to have high energy densities, electrodes need to be made with the highest amount of active materials per surface area or per volume. In the example of an ultracapacitor electrode, the more activated carbon is packed in the electrode, the higher capacitance the device will have, the higher energy density the device will provide. Therefore, a higher density electrode, i.e., with more active materials, is preferred. With a higher density electrode, it also promotes the direct and more contacts between the active material particles, the conductive material and active material particles, thus promoting the potential for greater electrical passes inside the electrode, thus improving the electrical conductivity and the power density of the electrode.
On the other hand, non-functional materials, such as binders and conductive carbon, do not add any capacitance or the energy to the electrode, thus should be used as minimum as possible. Due to the non-conductive nature of a binder, excessive usage of binders in the electrode will cause high electrical resistance in the device, thus lower the power density. Therefore, improving electrode packing density, and reducing nom functional material usage, are the most important ways to improve energy and power density of the electrodes.
Ultracapacitors store electrostatic energy in an electrode/electrolyte interface layer. At the electrode and electrolyte interface, a layer of ions is formed to balance the electrical charge on the electrode. The charge and discharge process is a pure physical process, there is no chemical reaction associated with the process and more importantly, to alter or degrade the materials. Therefore, the lives of the devices in the applications are theoretically supposed to be forever. However, in reality, there are always some undesired impurities in the device that cause chemical reactions during application, thus harm the device reliability and shorten the field life. The typical impurity in an Ultracapacitor is residue solvent in the electrode, or the impurities in the raw materials, especially in the activated carbon due to the excellent absorbing ability of the activated carbon.
Cost of an electrode is determined by the combination of the cost of the materials and the cost of manufacture. Less usage and cheaper raw materials, fewer manufacturing steps, less energy used in the manufacture process, high production through put and high yield of the manufacturing process are the main means to achieve a low cost energy storage product.
To make an electrode by a coating process, a solvent or an aqueous solution or both, is used to dissolve binders, followed by mixing the binder solutions with other powder materials to form slurry. The most widely used solvent in the battery, lithium-ion capacitor, Ultracapacitor and hybrid cell electrode manufacture process is N-methylpyrrolidine, also known as NMP. The typical percentage of solids in the slurry is 15-20%. And the typical binder content in the total powder content is 3-6% and up to 15% to get the strong electrodes. The slurry is then coated onto a treated or non-treated current collector by a cylindrical roller. The current collector along with the coating layer is passed through a long dryer, where the solvent is dried and removed from the electrode.
The problems associated with the coated electrodes are: Problem #1—since the binder is dissolved in a solution and it flows into active materials to block the active material surfaces, this reduces the active materials functionality and also increases the devices resistivity, thus resulting in reduced device energy and power density; and Problem #2—there is always a residue from the solvent in the coated electrode due to large amount of solvent soaked in the electrode materials during the manufacturing process. Solvent such as NMP is very difficult to be dried and removed. Therefore, an electrode made by a conventional coating method does not provide a long life energy storage device.
Other related problems include: Problem #3—solvent added to the electrode formulation needs to be removed. And, there is large amount of energy needed to dry and remove the solvent, which adds an additional cost to the manufacture of the product.
Finally, yet another problem that exists is: Problem #4—since the binder used is dissolvable in solvents by nature, the binder will be dissolved into the electrolyte chemically or electrochemically sooner or later, the particles in the electrode eventually lose contact to each other or to the current collector, and this inevitably leads to early energy storage device failure.
To make an electrode by an extrusion process, a solvent, normally with high lubricating quality, is added to a powder mixture, followed by an extensive mixing using a screw extruder or some other extruder. During the mixing and forward pushing process, large shear force is applied to the powder mixture, where the binder is fibrilized and it connects the other particles together. The typical percentage range of solids in the extrusion electrode formulation is 40%-60%. And the typical binder content in the total powder content is 10-15%. The extruder forced well mixed materials out from the exit and an electrode film is formed by a calendar or multiple calendar stations to the required thickness. The film passes through a long dryer to dry and remove the solvent.
The extrusion process for making an electrode does not have problems #1 where the binder flows into active materials to block the active material surfaces as much, and Problem #4 where binder will be dissolved into the electrolyte chemically or electrochemically sooner or later, as listed and outlined above in coating process, but maintains the problems associated with Problem #2 where there is always a residue from the solvent, since the lubricating solvents are normally very difficult to be dried out, and Problem #3 that a large amount of energy is needed to dry out the added solvent. In addition, new problems occur in the extrusion process. Problem #5, a high capital investment. The extrusion equipment along with the calendars followed by long dry ovens is very expensive and the manufacture process is very complicated, therefore, the cost to make an extruded electrode is very high.
Another new problem, problem #6, that is, a higher percentage of the binder has to be used to make a strong enough electrode film which associates two new problems: Problem 6A—less active materials can be added to the electrode formulation, thus lower energy density of the device; and Problem 6B—this larger amount of binder blocks the surface area of the active materials, further lowering the energy density of the device, and Problem 6C—this larger amount of binder blocks the electrical flow between the active material particles, thus increased resistance and reduced power density for the device.
To make an electrode by a dry process, powders were dry mixed and subjected to an extensive mixing, where the binder is fibrilized and forming a matrix to support the other particles to form an electrode film. The dry process solved all four problems associated with the coating process, and the problem #5 in the extrusion process however, it carried over extrusion process's problem #6, which is it needs a large quantity of the binder to support and to make a strong enough electrode film with adequate film density.
Aiming to make a high performance electrode for energy storage device and energy storage system, in U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 13/780,365 a binder activation method is proposed. Powders, including active materials, conductive materials and binder are mixed together. Certain types of solvent or solvent mixture is added and slowly mixed with the powder mixtures, where the binder is activated by the solvent or solvent mixture. The binder is then deposited on to the active and conductive materials by a high speed mixer. A free standing electrode sheet or film can be made by pressing the mixed materials and an electrode can be made by laminating the sheet or film on to a treated/or non-treated current.
This binder activation method reduces the binder usage more than half comparing to extrusion and dry process methods. The activated binder is more effective, provides higher binding forces for the active materials and promotes higher adhesion for the electrode materials. Thus less binder is needed in the electrode formulation.
Significant binder usage reduction largely improves electrode capacitance, dramatically reduces electrical resistance, thus improves both energy and power density.
Although a high performance electrode is made by the binder activation method, a considerable amount of solvent is needed in order to activate the binder, where the binder is mixed with all the active materials and the conductive materials, thus the total cost to make the electrode is comparable to the electrode that is made by dry method, although only less than half amount of binder is used in the binder activation method. In U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 13/780,365 an alternative method was proposed, where the binder is activated first before mixing with the active materials, therefore, minimum amount of solvent is needed. However, there exists a potential technical problem in this alternate method. That is, since the solvent is added directly to the binder, binder may be over soaked by the solvent forming binder agglomerates during the binder activation and deposition process, which leads to a non-uniform binder distribution within the electrode film.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Low cost high performance electrode for energy storage devices and systems and method of making same


An electron beam lithography apparatus for providing one-to-one or x-to-one projection of a pattern includes a pyroelectric emitter, which is disposed a predetermined distance apart from a substrate holder, the pyroelectric emitter including a pyroelectric plate having a dielectric plate on a surface thereof and a patterned semiconductor thin film on the dielectric plate facing the substrate holder, a heating source for heating the pyroelectric emitter, and either a pair of magnets disposed beyond the pyroelectric emitter and the substrate holder, respectively, or a deflection unit disposed between the pyroelectric emitter and the substrate holder, to control paths of electrons emitted by the pyroelectric emitter. In operation, when the pyroelectric emitter is heated in a vacuum, electrons are emitted from portions of the pyroelectric plate that are not covered by the patterned semiconductor thin film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron beam lithography apparatus using a patterned emitter and a method of fabricating the patterned emitter. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electron beam lithography apparatus using a pyroelectric plate as an electron beam source, the pyroelectric plate using a dielectric plate as a mask, the dielectric plate having a patterned semiconductor thin film formed thereon, and a method of fabricating a patterned emitter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional large-area electron projection lithography apparatuses include two types: a thermionic electron lithography apparatus and a photocathode electron projection apparatus. The thermionic electron lithography apparatus controls electron beams using electric and magnetic fields. However, to attain a large-area electron source, it is necessary to provide a separate apparatus having a complex structure to maintain spirally dispersing electron beams in a parallel relation. The photocathode electron projection apparatus is extremely sensitive to airborne contamination, which makes it quite difficult to commercialize.
Recently, a conventional projection apparatus using an electron beam source wherein electrons are emitted from a portion of an emitter exposed by a mask formed on a pyroelectric plate has been developed. In such a conventional arrangement, however, a metal film, which is relatively difficult to etch, is used to shield electron beams. Disadvantageously, the pyroelectric plate may be contaminated by photoresist during patterning of the metal film formed on the pyroelectric plate. Moreover, the metal film is prone to thermal damage during heating.

Electron beam lithography apparatus using a patterned emitter and method of fabricating the patterned emitter


This switching device has a contact arrangement which is equipped with erosion-resistant contacts and comprises at least one contact which moves along a central axis (2) and at least one mating contact which is provided for receiving the moving contact. One of the two contacts has a finger cage (25) which is provided with individual, sprung contact fingers (13) which are spaced apart from one another by radial slots (26) extended in the direction of the central axis (2). Means are provided which prevent the side edges (29) of the contact fingers (13) being able to touch in the region of the contact surfaces (27) in the front part of the contact fingers (13) when said contact fingers (13) are drawn together in the direction of the central axis (2) , such that welding of the edges (29) of the contact fingers (13) cannot occur.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is based on an electrical switching device according to the preamble of claim 1.
2. Discussion of Background
The short-circuit currents which occur in high-voltage switchboards in the event of a fault and must be coped with by switching devices, in particular by quick-action grounding devices as well, are becoming ever larger, so that attention must increasingly be paid to increasing the life of the contact arrangements in these switching devices. Contact arrangements are known which are provided with finger cages. The individual contact fingers are subject to electrodynamic forces which are becoming ever larger as the rating of the high-voltage switchboards increases. If in addition to these electrodynamic forces, stresses also arise from arc effects, so that it is possible for welding to occur between the adjacent contact fingers in the finger cage. Such welding prevents the insertion of the mating contact into the finger cage, that is to say the switching device drive has to be equipped with considerable power reserves which make it possible to break these welds in all circumstances. Such a drive, which is equipped with a power reserve as a precautionary measure, is comparatively expensive.


An I/Q demodulator optimized with a minimum amount of hardware. First and second multiplexers generate I and Q signals with respect to an input data signal; and first and second 2-decimation units decimate the I and Q signals generated by the first and second multiplexers, to output effective I and Q signals. A filtering unit filters the effective I and Q signals. As a result, a size of the hardware is reduced, and an operation frequency of the filter is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a demodulator for digital communication, and more particularly, to an In-phase/Quadrature-phase (I/Q) demodulator having an optimized hardware design, and a method of generating an I/Q signal using the optimized hardware.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional I/Q demodulator which processes an input signal having a median frequency of f0. When a sampling frequency output from an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 10 is
      f    S    =            1      T        ,  , the signal after the A/D converter 10 may be expressed by Equation 1. In Equation 1, T is an inverse number of the sampling frequency.s(nT)=I(nT)cos(nf0T)+Q(nT)sin(nf0T)  (1)
Multipliers 20 and 30 multiply the cos and sin to separate the signal, which is output from the A/D converter 10 and expressed by the Equation 1, into I/Q signals. The median frequency f0 of the signal s(nT) falls to the baseband.
The signal generated by multiplying the Equation 1 by cos is expressed by Equation 2, and the signal generated by multiplying the Equation 1 by sin is expressed by Equation 3:
                                          1            2                                          I                                      (              nT              )                                      +                              1            2                                          I                                      (              nT              )                                                      cos                                      (                              2                                                  nf                  0                                                T                            )                                      +                              1            2                                          Q                                      (              nT              )                                                      sin                                      (                              2                                                  nf                  0                                                T                            )                                                          (        2        )                                                      1            2                                          Q                                      (              nT              )                                      -                              1            2                                          Q                                      (              nT              )                                                      cos                                      (                              2                                                  nf                  0                                                T                            )                                      +                              1            2                                          I                                      (              nT              )                                                      sin                                      (                              2                                                  nf                  0                                                T                            )                                                          (        3        )
Each of the I and Q signals, obtainable by the Equations 2 and 3, passes through low pass filters (LPF) 23 and 33, respectively, for an elimination of a double frequency component 2nf0T. When the sampling frequency fs is 4 times as high as the median frequency f0 of the input signal, the Equation 4 is substituted into Equation 2, deriving Equations 5a and 5b:
                              f          S                =                              4            ×                          f              0                                =                      1            T                                              (        4        )            cos(2nf0/f0T)=cos(nπ/2)=1,0−1,0, . . . n=0,1,2,3,  (5a)sin(2nf0/f0T)=sin(nπ/2)=1,0−1,0, . . . n=0,1,2,3,  (5b)
In Equation 5a, the cos-function is converted into 1, 0, −1, 0, . . . , and in Equation 5b the sin-function is converted into 0, 1, 0, −1, . . . . Accordingly, there is no need to use an NCO 40 for generating a sin value and a cos value, and the multipliers are useable as a mutiplexer.
FIG. 2 shows an example of an I/Q demodulator which uses a multiplexer instead of the multiplier to separate the I and Q signals. The multiplexer is useable where the sampling frequency fs is 4 times as high as the median frequency f0 of the input signal.
The I signal and the Q signal are derived as the input signal is digitalized by the A/D converter 10 and passed through first and second multiplexers 21 and 31, respectively and first and second LPFs 23 and 33, respectively. The multiplexer separates the digitalized signal from the A/D converter 10 into an inphase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal. The first multiplexer 21 obtains the I signal, and the second multiplexer 31 obtains the Q signal.
The first multiplexer 21 multiplies the input data signal sequentially by 1, 0, −1, 0 and thereby outputs the I signal, while the second multiplexer 31 multiplies the input data signal sequentially by 0, 1, 0, −1 and outputs the Q signal. The I and Q signals, which are output from first and second multiplexers 21 and 31, respectively, are filtered through the first and second LPFs 25 and 35, respectively, to eliminate the double frequency component from the I and Q signals. The filtered I and Q signals are 2-decimated by 2-decimation units 25 and 35, respectively.
As described above, output from the A/D converter 10 is divided and input to the I signal area and Q signal area, and the input data signals are multiplied respectively by cos- and sin, generating I and Q signals. LPFs 23, 33 are also provided to eliminate the double frequency component of I and Q signals.
FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a conventional resampling unit. The conventional resampling unit 30 includes an L-upsampling unit 22, an LPF 23, an M-down sampling unit 24 and a 2-decimation unit 25.
The L-upsampling unit 22 and the M-downsampling unit 24 sample the input data signals to obtain a certain form of signals. For example, input data signals of data (0), data (1), data (2), data (3), . . . are upsampled with an upsampling coefficient of L=3 to data (0), 0, 0, data (1), 0, 0, data (2), 0, 0, data (3), . . . and down sampled with a downsampling coefficient of M=3 to data (0), data (1), data (2), data (3), . . . . The up and down sampled signal is 2-decimated by the 2-decimation unit 25. An output signal from the resampling unit 30, L×f_in/M, is the input signal f_in which has been sampled by the L-upsampling unit 22 and the M-down sampling unit 24 and 2-decimated by the 2-decimation unit 25.
FIG. 3B is a block diagram of an I/Q demodulator comprising a resampling unit 100 which incorporates two of the resampling units 30.
Resampling unit 100 generates I and Q signals by the multiplication by first and second multiplexers 21 and 31, respectively, of the data signals output from the A/D converter 10 by cos and sin, respectively.
For the I and Q signals generated as described above with reference to FIG. 1, LPFs 23, 33 are provided to eliminate the signals generated at the double frequency.

I/Q demodulator and I/Q signal sampling method thereof


In one embodiment, battery separator for a lead acid battery includes a gel impregnated nonwoven. The nonwoven includes an acid dissolvable fiber and a non-acid dissolvable fiber. The gel may have a basis weight in a range of about 20-160% of the nonwoven's basis weight. In another embodiment, battery separator for a lead acid battery includes a microporous membrane with the gel impregnated nonwoven adhered thereto.

Lead acid batteries have evolved, over time, as the demands for a source of mobile electric power have grown. This technology is getting ready to evolve once again with the rising popularity of the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or 'micro HEV.' The demands on the battery for the HEV are different from those of the conventional gasoline powered vehicle. For example, the HEV's battery will operate in a partial state of charge (PSoC), approximately 50 to 80% charge. As such, the battery will undergo shallow charge/recharge cycles, and will not undergo overcharge where dissociation of water evolves hydrogen and oxygen that mixes stratified acid within the cell. Additionally, retention of active material is also an issue that must be addressed.
Accordingly, there is a need for new separator technology to meet and overcome the new challenges arising with the advent of the HEVs.

Battery separator with gel impregnated nonwoven for lead acid battery


A structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (a) a substrate, (b) a semiconductor fin region on top of the substrate, (c) a gate dielectric region on side walls of the semiconductor fin region, and (d) a gate electrode region on top and on side walls of the semiconductor fin region. The gate dielectric region (i) is sandwiched between and (ii) electrically insulates the gate electrode region and the semiconductor fin region. The structure further includes a first spacer region on a first side wall of the gate electrode region. A first side wall of the semiconductor fin region is exposed to a surrounding ambient. A top surface of the first spacer region is coplanar with a top surface of the gate electrode region.

In a conventional fabrication process of a FinFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor), it is desirable to form spacers on side walls of the gate electrode region of the FinFET while keeping the side walls of the fin region exposed to the surrounding ambient. Therefore, there is a need for a method for forming spacers on side walls of the gate electrode region while keeping the side walls of the fin region exposed to the surrounding ambient.

Formation of spacers for FinFETs (Field Effect Transistors)

International Business Machines Corporation


A new and distinct variety of Taxodium distichum plant named xe2x80x98Sofinexe2x80x99, characterized by its uniform growth habit, foliage size, and foliage color.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Taxodium, botanically known as Taxodium distichum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name xe2x80x98Sofinexe2x80x99. This new Taxodium variety was discovered by James Bryan Berry in November, 1991 as an openly pollinated seedling in a group of unnamed, unpatented Taxodium distichum plants at Plant Development Services Inc. in Loxley, Ala. The value of this new cultivar lies in its uniform growth habit, foliage size, and foliage color. The new variety has retained many of the outstanding attributes of its parent species, in particular its tolerance of insects and disease, which makes it adaptable to culture in the Sunbelt states.
Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Mr. Berry""s direction at the same location. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations. The plant cannot be reproduced true from seed.
The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Loxley, Ala.
1. A uniformly dense, upright and pyramidal growth habit 50 to 70xe2x80x2 high and 20 to 30xe2x80x2 wide.
2. Uniformly shaped foliage.
3. Attractive bright yellow-green immature foliage in the spring darkens to a soft green and finally a golden-brown fall color.
4. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.
5. Easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring through the summer.
6. Tolerates full sun to light shade.
7. Good specimen plant.
8. Very adaptable to wet, dry and well-drained soil conditions.
9. Effectively used in groupings around lakes and rivers.
10. Attractive reddish-brown bark.
11. Exceptionally wind firm.
12. Hardy to Zone 5.


A class of design topologies in the field of nonlinear networks (NLN) or nonlinear transmission lines (NLTL) that re-utilize direct current (DC) and low-frequency (LF) signal content reflected from a load or an output filter to yield increased pulse to radio frequency conversion efficiency and increased overall system efficiency. A nonlinear transmission line topology comprises a plurality of series inductive elements and a plurality of nonlinear capacitive elements. The inductive elements and the capacitive elements are arranged in a periodic structure forming a nonlinear network. An output coupling circuit connected across an output of the nonlinear network is configured to transmit high-frequency content to a load and to reflect back direct current and low-frequency content into the nonlinear network.

Radio frequency (RF) generation systems comprise elements that transfer and/or convert electrical-to-electrical or electrical-to-electromagnetic energy. The system efficiency of a radio frequency generation system is the product of conversion efficiencies within each component and at each system interface. Basic component categories of an RF generating system are: (a) electrical driver, which accelerates charge within an antenna; and (b) electromagnetic radiator, which converts and transforms energy and impedance. The ability to generate high-power microwave (HPM) frequency energy is of great interest and has multiple applications. The efficiency of the HPM generation system is critical.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,666,198 discloses high-frequency electromagnetic radiation generation using a device that includes a high voltage input, a nonlinear transmission line, an antenna, and a pulse recirculating circuit. The disclosed design, however, has a very long nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) and reported maximum efficiency of approximately 12%.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,900,203 discloses the use of nonlinear modules for generating high power pulses including means for lowering the direct current (DC) content of the generated signal. But such disclosure is limited to the use of photoconductive semiconductor switches and the modules generate out-of-band, lower frequency content with spectral magnitude that is several times higher than that of the higher frequency content.

Multi-pass nonlinear network for microwave generation

The Curators of the University of Missouri


A mounting configuration is provided for mounting an ABS unit on a base model motorcycle which permits a relatively large-sized and heavy ABS unit to be easily mounted on a vehicle body frame. A V-shaped engine is longitudinally mounted on the frame, and a rear wheel is supported on a rear swing arm which is pivotally supported on the frame by a pivot shaft, the rear wheel driven via a drive shaft. An ABS unit is arranged on one side of the vehicle body in a space below and to one side of the pivot shaft so as to avoid interference with the rear swing arm or the like, thus it is possible to easily mount the ABS unit on a base model. Further, by arranging exhaust pipe system parts on another side of the vehicle body, it is possible to obtain a proper lateral balance of the vehicle body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a brake control device for a motorcycle, and more particularly, to a mounting configuration of an anti-lock brake control unit (hereinafter referred to as ABS unit) on a motorcycle frame.
2. Description of the Background Art
An ABS unit is a known device which automatically controls hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic brake mechanism, in order to prevent a wheel from being locked during vehicle braking. The ABS unit is also referred to as an ABS modulator, and is primarily made up of an integral body including a hydraulic circuit, a pump and a valve. The ABS unit is a relatively large and heavy part.
In the prior art, in a vehicle body frame which includes left and right seat frame portions for supporting a seat thereon, it has been known to arrange an ABS unit below the seat and between the right and left seat frame members. Such a mounting configuration is disclosed, for example, in JP-A-10-175534.
A motorcycle is manufactured having a large number of parts, such as the above-mentioned seat frame members, mounted inside of the vehicle body frame. In order to provide a brake control device such as an ABS unit arranged on the base model motorcycle, it has been necessary to carry out a large design change to ensure a space for arranging the brake control device. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting configuration for an anti-lock brake unit which does not require a large design change when mounting such a brake control device on a base model motorcycle.

Mounting configuration for a brake control device on a motorcycle, and motorcycle including same


An apparatus and method are disclosed for securely storing items of media. The apparatus includes a storage bag body having an open mouth region and a sealing collar extending around at least a portion of the mouth region. The collar includes a first and second elongate side bar, each having a first and second end and a first pair of hinged end bars disposed in an end-to-end configuration between respective first ends of the side bars and a second pair of hinged end bars disposed in an end-to-end configuration between the respective second ends of the side bars. At least one side bar and at least one end bar in each pair of end bars comprises at least one securing element for irreversibly sealing the mouth region of the storage bag body closed.

Media depositories are used to receive media items from a customer. One common type of media depository is a sheet media depository for receiving items of media in sheet form. For example, such items of media can be currency notes, checks, tickets, giros or the like.
Sheet media depositories are used in automated teller machines (ATMs) and other self-service terminals. Other such self-service terminals are vending machines, change machines or the like. The sheet media depositories are used to identify, validate and store or return deposited sheets.
Some sheet depositories are capable of receiving a bunch of sheets in a loading area and then picking individual sheets from the bunch so that each sheet can then be identified and validated individually prior to storage of the validated sheet within a depository or returned to a customer. These depositories are sometimes referred to as bunch sheet depositories. Bunch sheet depositories may transport the bunch from a loading area to a picking area or the picking area may be adjacent to the loading area. The depositories are also sometimes referred to as deposit modules.
During use, users deposit currency notes as single items or as a bunch and these are selectively retained within the self-service terminal. Over a period of time a considerable quantity of currency notes and thus a relatively high value of items may be stored and retained in secure containers within the terminal. From time to time it is necessary for personnel to visit the terminal to empty the storage containers. Security as well as speed of service is an issue when such collection occurs. It is desirable for a storage bag to be easy to install or remove. Also, it should be impossible for items stored in a bag to be removed without destruction of the storage bag. Such removal might otherwise be attempted by personnel collecting the bag who might attempt to temporarily open the bag so as to access currency notes therewithin.
Various storage techniques have been suggested. However, these are prone to undetected tampering and/or require multiple personnel to attend the terminal to supervise secure removal and/or are difficult to install and thus costly in terms of service requirements.


A method and apparatus is provided for transcoding content communicated in a network. The method features the step of transcoding the content based on permissible transcoding operations authorized by a content creator. The permissible transcoding operations include any transformation, alteration or manipulation of the content. The permissible transcoding operations include: a resolution reduction for reducing a resulting resolution of the content; an aspect ratio modification for specifying a maximum deformation that can be applied to the content when modifying its resolution; a color and bits per pixel modification for specifying if an image can be converted to gray scale or not, and minimum bits per pixel (bpp) or number of colors (or levels) that can be used; cropping for specifying a region of an original picture that must be preserved; and a quality reduction for allowing the content to be further modified by adding some distortions to an image. The content may be images, graphics, video or audio.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to information browsing, pervasive computing and telecommunications of messaging and multimedia content delivery of a content creator.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, information content is communicated on many different types of networks. (Content is created and/or provided by a content creator or author, which are used herein interchangeably.) Content provided in a certain form on one type of support terminal may be presented in a different form on another type of support terminal. For example, content provided on a large personal computer monitor or display of a desk top computer may have to be provided in a different form (different format, resolution of image, amount of data associated with the content, etc.) on a much smaller liquid crystal diode display of a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone. In order to support terminals with very different characteristics and capabilities (e.g. audio and visual), the content has to be transcoded from one form into another form. In effect, the intrinsic characteristic of the content may have to be changed to better suit the characteristics of a client terminal receiving the content and the capabilities of the network used for transmission of the content. There are two main transcoding approaches used in the prior art—either blind transcoding or content selection.
The first approach uses on-the-fly transcoding. This approach transforms existing content, namely images, to fit specific terminal characteristics by performing scaling, format conversion and color depth reduction, etc. However, since the transformations are blindly (i.e. by universal arbitrary policies) applied to the content (i.e. by arbitrary policies independent of author control), they are not guaranteed to provide acceptable results. For instance, the images may be scaled down to a point where they are unusable (e.g., important text may be unreadable, faces unrecognizable, objects too small to be visible). It may also be inappropriate to transform some color images to gray scale. Finally, content creators want to have control over the content that is distributed and don't want such "out of their control" alteration of the content to occur. For instance, the logo of a company may be altered in a manner that would not be acceptable to the company.
Alternatively, there exists another approach to overcome the problems associated with such blind manipulation. The second approach is based on the selection of content (smart content selection) for which multiple versions of content are created. The versions represent the same information (e.g., a photo) at different resolution, color depth, etc. A selection process chooses, based on the specific characteristics of each terminal, the most appropriate version to deliver. This provides full control to the content creators over the delivered content. However, storing a high number of versions requires a lot of storage space. On the other side, if not enough versions are created then the granularity of the content may not be small enough. For instance, suppose that an image should occupy the whole screen. Then if versions at resolutions of 64×64, 128×128 and 256×256 are created, they would not be optimal for a terminal supporting 100×100 without scrolling (since the 64×64 version may be selected and occupy only a small part of the screen).
In particular, WO 98/43177 discloses a system for dynamically transcoding data transmitted between computers. The system includes a network environment having a remote transcoding server arranged between a network client and the internet. The remote transcoding server has a transcoder with transcode service providers that transcode content based on predetermined selection criteria, such as content provider preferences, including: (1) the degree of alteration desired for its content, (2) the prioritization for download and display of different content types, (3) cache restriction or prioritization parameters such as update frequency or replacement preferences, (4) the types of users to target, (5) rules or programs to run for customizing content (for example, news or advertising, custom language translation software) based on user or client characteristics, (6) desire for receiving certain types of user or group data collected (for example, demographics or access patterns), and (7) the type of payment/reward offered in exchange for such information. The degree of alteration desired for its content gives content providers the capability to override any potentially content-altering service—for example, by using a pass-through technique triggered by a special tag embedded within the content. The network client may also have transcode service providers to transcode content before it is rendered to a user or to perform a counterpart transcoding function performed by a corresponding transcode service provider of the transcoding server. The subject matter of WO 98/43177, as well as any applications it claims benefit to, are incorporated by reference herein.

Method and apparatus for transcoding content with permissible operations authorized by content creator


A handheld pull tension archery release includes a handle containing a finger opening having an axis arranged normal to a plane containing the handle, a ring sear assembly arranged in the handle, and a bail connected with the handle for rotation about an axis parallel to the opening axis. The bail is configured to grip a bowstring. When the ring sear assembly is actuated, a ring sear arranged in the housing rotates about the finger opening axis from a hold position engaging the bail to a release position releasing the bail to free the bowstring and fire an arrow. Rotation of the ring sear is in response to pull tension on the bowstring and actuation of a thumb trigger connected with the handle. A locking lever is connected with the handle and operable between a locking position wherein said locking lever engages said ring sear assembly to retain said ring sear assembly in the hold position and a release position wherein said locking lever is disengaged from said ring sear assembly.

The present invention relates to an archery release, and more particularly to a handheld pull tension archery release for a bowstring suitable for use with multiple shooting styles.
Release devices are used in archery to assist the archer in pulling a bowstring to a fully drawn position and then releasing the bowstring to fire an arrow. Some release devices use grippers for engaging the bowstring or a nock mounted on the bowstring. Other release devices use a rope looped about the bowstring. The present invention relates to a new release which is activated via a thumb trigger and utilizes pull through tension exceeding bow let-off poundage.


The present invention provides a means for accurately discriminating whether an onion is an onion with no pungent taste and/or tear-inducing property. The present invention relates to a method of discriminating traits of an onion, comprising a first determination step of determining presence of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 corresponding to alliinase gene 1 in a nucleic acid derived from the onion, and a second determination step of determining presence of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 corresponding to alliinase gene 2, wherein the onion is discriminated to be an onion with no pungent taste and/or tear-inducing property if the presence of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 is not determined in the first determination step and the presence of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 is determined in the second determination step.

Patent Literature 1 discloses that 29 types of alliinases, which are enzymes involved in production of lachrymatory factor (LF), a component causing a pungent taste, are expressed in an onion; that, among them, a specific alliinase consisting of an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 in Patent Literature 1 is the primary alliinase associated with a pungent taste and a tear-inducing property of an onion; and that two lines of tearless and non-pungent onions were produced in which the activity of the specific alliinase was suppressed.
Non Patent Literature 1 also discloses that tearless and non-pungent onions were produced in which the activity of the alliinase was suppressed, as in Patent Literature 1.
Non Patent Literature 2 discloses an amino acid sequence of an alliinase that has a high sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of the specific alliinase disclosed in Patent Literature 1. However, Non Patent Literature 2 does not show the magnitude of contribution of this alliinase to a pungent taste or a tear-inducing property or does not suggest the presence of other alliinases.
Non Patent Literatures 3 to 6 suggest the presence of onion alliinases other than the specific alliinase disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2. However, these literatures disclose neither sequence information of these other alliinases nor explanation of whether they are associated with a pungent taste and a tear-inducing property.