A photographic flash lamp having a closed, at least partially transparent capsule. A combustible material within an enclosed region of the capsule generates a flash upon ignition. Ignition is provided by a frictionally ignited composition within the enclosed region and an ignitor to frictionally engage with the composition. A frictional ignitor assembly extends between an interior and exterior of the enclosed region and carries one of the composition or ignitor. Movement of an exterior end of the ignitor assembly causes the frictional ignitor and frictionally ignited composition to frictionally engage one another resulting in flash generation. Particularly with a sliding piston arrangement for engaging the ignitor and frictionally ignited composition, ignition can be accomplished with very low cost components such as a spring while at the same time, combustion gases are trapped within the closed envelope.

The use of various means to produce a flash during exposure of a photographic image, is well known. Currently, electronic flash units using xenon or the like, flash tubes, are typically used. While such electronic flash units are reliable and produce many flashes during their lifetime, they represent a substantial fixed cost component of the camera. For most cameras, this is not a problem since, compared to the rest of the camera components, the fixed cost of an electronic flash unit is relatively low and so does not influence the price of the camera much.
In recent years though, so called "single use cameras" (sometimes referred to as "film with lens" or similar terms) have become available. These cameras are sold to the end user with film pre-loaded in them, and are provided with an associated indication (usually in express written instructions on them) that the entire camera is to be returned to a processor for processing of the film. At the processor, the film is removed for processing but the camera is not returned to the user (often they are repaired as necessary and re-loaded with film for sale as a single use camera again). It is necessary in such camera to keep component cost as low as possible. In such single use cameras or other low cost cameras, the fixed cost of an electronic flash unit represents a substantial proportion of the overall camera cost which it would be desirable to reduce.
Combustion flash units which produce a flash by rapid combustion of a suitable material, were well known historically. Ignition of the combustible material was timed to occur close to the opening of a camera shutter to expose a photographic film. Many such devices used a percussion ignition source which would be ignited by a blow to the ignition source, and would in turn ignite the combustible material which produced the flash. An example of such a combustion flash is disclosed, for example, in GB 1,446,658. A difficulty with percussion ignitors is that a striker and some relatively complex activation mechanism for rapidly moving the striker, must be provided. While this may not normally appear to be an expensive proposition, in the context of single use cameras where costs must be minimized, costs of a striker and activation mechanism are a concern. Complex devices, in which openly exposed flash powder is ignited by a match, have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 684,499 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,330,149. However, such devices are clearly inappropriate for use with single-use cameras and also can release considerable noxious gasses and smoke during ignition.
It would be desirable then to provide a combustion flash unit, suitable for use with single-use cameras in particular, in which combustion can be initiated without the use of relatively mechanically complex percussion ignitor devices and which can allow little or no undesirable combustion gases to escape to the surrounding atmosphere.

Enclosed frictionally ignited photographic flash lamp


Disclosed is a mobile display module capable of displaying optimal still images or moving pictures depending on characteristics of images to be displayed. The mobile display module includes a graphic memory for storing image data, a data latch unit for latching the image data outputted from the graphic memory, a driver for applying the image data to a liquid crystal panel, a data discrimination unit for determining whether the image data inputted into the graphic memory is still image data or moving picture data, and a gamma voltage generating unit receiving control signals to output first gamma voltage adaptable for the moving picture data to the driver if the image data are the moving picture data and to output second gamma voltage adaptable for the still image data to the driver if the image data are the still image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display module, and more particularly to a mobile display module capable of displaying images depending on characteristics of images to be displayed by supplying first gamma voltage adaptable for still images or second gamma voltage adaptable for moving pictures when displaying the still images or moving pictures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As information and communication technologies have been developed, markets for portable mobile phones have been rapidly grown, so a user may not only make communication with other users, but also access to an Internet and process a great amount of data by using the portable mobile phone. Accordingly, markets for LCDs of portable mobile phones have been significantly changed in order to improve quality of images displayed in an LCD while economizing power consumption.
As shown in FIG. 1, a data processing section of a conventional mobile display module mainly includes a driver 1 for applying image data to a liquid crystal panel, a graphic RAM 3 for receiving images from an exterior and storing such images therein, a data latch unit 5 for latching image data outputted from the graphic RAM 3 and outputting such image data to the driver 1, and a gamma voltage generating unit 7 for outputting gamma voltage to the driver 1.
According to the conventional mobile display module having the above-mentioned construction, the gamma voltage generating unit 7 outputs gamma voltage, which is programmed as a fixed value regardless of image data (still image data or moving picture data) stored in the graphic RAM 3, to the driver 1.
Upon receiving the gamma voltage from the gamma voltage generating unit 7, the driver 1 applies image data inputted thereto from the data latch unit 5 to the liquid crystal panel so that an image is displayed in the liquid crystal panel.
However, the characteristics of data to be displayed are not considered in the conventional mobile display module. That is, the conventional mobile display module displays images regardless of characteristics of still image data or moving picture data, even though it is necessary to deal with the still images discriminately from the moving pictures in order to display optimal images.
Conventionally, still images are mainly displayed in the mobile display module. However, as mobile phone technology has been developed, mobile phones may display moving pictures in addition to still images. Nevertheless, a conventional mobile display module may apply gamma voltage having a fixed value to the driver regardless of characteristics of still image data or moving picture data to be displayed in the liquid crystal panel, so it is impossible to display optimal still images or moving pictures.


A circuit generates a reference voltage that is independent of temperature. The circuit is built on a substrate according to a CMOS technology, and includes a first stage for generating a first current proportional to temperature and a second stage for generating a second current inversely proportional to temperature. These first and second currents are summed in a resistor connected to a voltage distinct from the ground of the first and second stages and formed by the voltage of the substrate on which the circuit is built.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to voltage references and relates, more particularly, to a circuit for generating such a reference voltage.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Accurate and stable reference voltages, in other words mostly independent of temperature, but also power supply voltages, are essential circuits for analog integrated circuits. In fact, the operational characteristics of active analog circuits are determined by the values of the reference voltages that they use. This is particularly the case for analog-digital or digital-analog conversion circuits whose resolution is directly linked to the stability of the reference voltage used in performing the conversion.
Today, various techniques exist for generating a stable reference voltage. As an example, reference could be made to the reference voltage generation circuits based on the principle of the bandgap energy, commonly denoted by those skilled in the art as bandgap reference circuits.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, which shows the general principle of such a circuit, the independence of the reference voltage with respect to temperature variations is based on the use of two diodes D1 and D2 which have different active areas and through which the same current flows. The cathode C of each diode is connected to the substrate Sub. The two diodes D1 and D2 are installed in two respective branches B1 and B2 of the circuit. These two branches are supplied by a voltage Vdd via an MOS transistor M1. A first branch, namely the branch denoted by the reference B1, has two resistors R1 and R3 placed in series between the source of the MOS transistor M1 and the anode of the diode D1. The second branch B2 has a resistor R2 identical to the resistor R1. An operational amplifier A imposes an identical voltage level between a first node N1 situated between the resistors R1 and R3 of the first branch B1 and a node N2 of the second branch B2 situated between the resistor R2 and the anode of the diode D2.
The resistors R1 and R2 are identical. As previously indicated, and by reason of the presence of the operational amplifier A, the currents flowing in the branches B1 and B2 are identical. The voltage equality between the nodes N1 and N2 imposes that:
                                                        I              ⨯              R                                                                                3                    +                                    KT              q                                    ln                                                                                I                              IS                                                                                1                                                    =                              KT            q                              ln                                                                          I                          IS                                                                                2                                                          (        1        )            in which:                K denotes Boltzmann's constant        q is the charge on an electron        T is the operating temperature of the circuit in degrees K, and        IS1 and IS2 respectively denote the saturation currents of the diodes D1 and D2.
This equation implies that:
                    I        =                                            1                              R                                                                                3                                      ⨯                          KT              q                                          ln                                                              α                                    (        2        )            in which α is the ratio of the areas of the diodes D1 and D2.
The reference voltage delivered by this circuit is therefore given by the equation:
                    Vref        =                                                                              R                                                                                2                                                  R                                                                                3                                            ⨯                              KT                q                                                  ln                                                                          α                    +                      Vd                                                                          2                                              (        3        )            where Vd2 denotes the voltage across the terminals of the diode D2.
This equation (3) shows that the reference voltage may be considered as made up of the sum of two terms. One is proportional to temperature, whereas the diode voltage Vd2 is inversely proportional to it. By judiciously choosing the ratio R2/R3, a reference voltage that is virtually independent of temperature can be obtained.
However, as is known, in CMOS technology, diodes are fabricated using a base-emitter junction of a bipolar transistor. Such a transistor has a low gain. In addition, the collector is referenced to the circuit substrate. Thus, it will be understood that this type of circuit exhibits a certain number of major drawbacks, notably owing to the fact that, in the case where the substrate is affected by low- or high-frequency stray currents, these stray currents can propagate as far as the output of the circuit and affect the reference voltage level. In any case, the reference voltage is defined with respect to the substrate voltage, such that any voltage variation within the substrate results in a corresponding variation in the reference voltage.
This drawback can be redhibitory when it is desired to control a display screen of the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) type in which the analog signals of the red, green and blue inputs are transformed into digital signals which are subsequently processed by algorithms designed for addressing the LCD matrices. The synchronization is effected using line synchronization pulses, either on a rising edge or on a falling edge. This pulse is relatively distorted, but the synchronization triggering must occur on very reproducible levels, whatever the temperature or the variations in power supply voltage. Moreover, the digital CMOS circuits used to control the LCD display screen tend to generate significant switching noise on the substrate. The synchronization is therefore effected by using hysteresis comparators with thresholds that are as independent as possible both of temperature and of the supply voltages.
In view of the above, there is a need to provide a reference voltage that is independent of temperature, but also of the voltage of the substrate on which the reference voltage generation circuit is built.

Circuit for generating a floating reference voltage, in CMOS technology


A golf training aid is provided that teaches a golfer the proper motion of the lead knee during a backswing by providing the golfer with a positive feedback alert. A motion sensor detects a predetermined optimal position of the lead knee and a positive feedback alert is produced when the predetermined optimal position is achieve. The positive feedback alert may be an audible, visual, and/or tactile alert to notify a user that the predetermined optimal position is achieved.

It is generally accepted that a proper backswing begins with a golfer gripping a golf club and placing the club directly behind the golf ball or "target." The golfer is now positioned at "address," i.e., in a ready and balanced stance with both knees slightly flexed and with the golfer's weight evenly distributed between the balls of both feet. The golf club then is taken away in a slow, continuous movement where the arms and shoulders move the golf club first away from the ball and then up and around the axis of the spine. As the shoulders rotate, they pull on the hips to rotate, away from the target.
Also during the backswing, the golfer's lead knee (left knee for a right-handed golfer) flexes, and moves slightly forward and then moves downward toward the trailing foot (right foot for a right-handed golfer). However, few modern day golf instructors concentrate on the importance of the correct movement of the lead knee during medium to full swings of a golf club. In the "Five Lessons: The Fundamentals of Golf," for example, Ben Hogan devotes only three short sentences about the movement of the lead knee during the backswing. The lead knee position at the end of the golfer's backswing, if done properly, results in an optimal upper body rotation around a stable trailing leg (right leg for a right-handed golfer). A powerful and controlled backswing, precise golf ball compression, and an accurate golf shot may be achieved. Conversely, abnormal lead knee motion during the backswing can result in injury and many serious errors that produce errant golf shots and frustration.
Prior solutions to train golfers have claimed to teach the correct backswing during medium and full swings of the golf club. These devices claim to teach prevention of reverse pivoting, excessive dipping of the knees, lateral swaying, over rotation of the spine, and the straightening of the knees during the backswing, each by means of a negative feedback alert.
However, the present inventor has recognized that previous training devices are deficient. There remains a need for improved training devices.


We disclose a process to produce carbon nanotubes from microalgae. Microalgae is been utilized for biodiesel production. The algal membrane resulted from oil extraction of microalgae is used here to produce carbon nanotubes. The process utilized for the conversion is composed of two steps, in the first step the algal membrane is converted to carbon black through a pyrolysis process in inert atmosphere, in the second step the resulted carbon black is converted to carbon nanotubes by mixing the carbon black with a fluid with known self ignition condition and subjecting the mix to said self ignition condition.

Photosynthetic organisms such as microalgae are being utilized to produce biodiesel by converting organic molecules to lipids that can then be converted to biodiesel. These photosynthetic organisms are far from monolithic. Biologists have categorized microalgae in a variety of classes, mainly distinguished by their pigmentation, life cycle and basic cellular structure. The four most important (at least in terms of abundance) are: The diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), green algae (Chlorophyceae), blue-green algae (Cyanophyceae) and the golden algae (Chrysophyceae).
Microalgae are a primitive form of plants. Microalgae grow in aquatic environments. Microalgae, like higher plants, produce storage lipids in the form of triacyglycerols (TAGs). Although TAGs could be used to produce of a wide variety of chemicals, in here we will focus on the production of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), which can be used as a substitute for fossil-derived diesel fuel. This fuel, known as biodiesel, can be synthesized from TAGs via a simple transesterification reaction in the presence of acid or base and methanol. Biodiesel can be used in unmodified diesel engines, and has advantages over conventional diesel fuel in that it is renewable, biodegradable, and produces less SOx and particulate emissions when burned.
The algal membrane resulted from the extraction of lipids has been proposed for different uses such as animal feed or plant nutrients. When unconventional algal feed such as sewage are used for the microalgae growth, the membrane cannot be easily utilized as animal feed without further treatment.
This invention is disclosing a process to convert the algae membrane to carbon nanotubes. Conventional methods for production of carbon nanotubes include chemical vapor deposition, laser ablation and arc discharge methods. All of these methods require pure carbon source for the production of carbon nanotubes (see Graham et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,867 and Liu et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,544)
This invention utilizes the algae membrane as a source for nanotubes production.

Process to produce carbon nanotubes from microalgae


A method and system for semiconductor wafer inspection is disclosed. Each of a plurality of dies on a wafer may be probed with a probe tool to produce probe data. The probe data may be used to generate one or more non-repeating care areas. An inspection tool may use the non-repeating care areas to perform an inspection of the semiconductor wafer.

An important step in semiconductor device fabrication is electrical probe testing after some point in device fabrication has been reached. Typically, an electrical probe tester makes electrical contact with a particular die on a wafer at multiple test points. The electrical performance of the device structures may then be tested and probe data may be generated. Generally, probe data is utilized to calculate yields, fail rates, defect density, etc. Such data may be used to help improve device yield. Prior art methods include performing wafer probe testing and utilizing that data in traditional yield analysis techniques such as BITMAP, FIB, and yield modeling.
In addition to probe testing, semiconductor wafers may undergo inspection at various stages of device fabrication. Such inspection may be performed with optical or electron beam tools. Prior art methods inspection methods typically utilize die-based care area generation. In such methods, wafer inspection is performed on wafers in a repeating manner, such that a given care area for inspection is defined and then repeated uniformly by die across the given wafer. Prior art methods of wafer inspection include defining fixed care areas which repeat by die across the wafer with no prior knowledge of known bad areas. Each die is then inspected for defects at the repeating care areas.
Unfortunately, defects may not necessarily repeat from die to die. Therefore, prior art methods are often inefficient due to inspecting more area than required. In addition, prior art yield improvement techniques often operate without all possible data (such as defect images which would result from wafer inspection).
It is within this context that embodiments of the present invention arise.

Intelligent inspection based on test chip probe failure maps


A method and apparatus for a coherence mechanism that supports a distributed memory programming model in which processors each maintain their own memory area, and communicate data between them. A hierarchical programming model is supported, which uses distributed memory semantics on top of shared memory nodes. Coherence is maintained globally, but caching is restricted to a local region of the machine (a “node” or “caching domain”). A directory cache is held in an on-chip cache and is multi-banked, allowing very high transaction throughput. Directory associativity allows the directory cache to map contents of all caches concurrently. References off node are converted to non-allocating references, allowing the same access mechanism (a regular load or store) to be used for both for intra-node and extra-node references. Stores (Puts) to remote caches automatically update the caches instead of invalidating the caches, allowing producer/consumer data sharing to occur through cache instead of through main memory.

Computers read, store, and manipulate data in memory. Ideally, a computer would have a singular, indefinitely large and very fast memory, in which any particular data would be immediately available to the computer. In practice, this is not practical because memory that is very fast is also very expensive.
Thus, computers typically have a hierarchy (or levels) of memory, each level of which has greater capacity than the preceding level, but which is also slower with a less expensive per-unit cost. Keeping frequently-needed data in a small but fast level of memory and infrequently-needed data in a slow level of memory can substantially increase the performance of a computer.
Another way to increase performance is to use multiple processors executing simultaneously, each with their own cache (fast level of memory) but sharing data. The caching of shared data among multiple processors introduces a new problem: cache coherence, that is if multiple processors each have a cached copy of data from a shared memory location, all of those cached copies need to be the same.
To ensure cache coherence, multi-processors systems use a technique called a cache coherence protocol. In a conventional coherence protocol, a write from a first processor's memory to a second processors's memory would go through the following steps: first processor performs a write, which results in a miss in a cache local to the first processor. A request is sent to a node of a second processor, which consults a directory. A controller for the send processor reads the target line from either from memory or from a cache local to the second processor and sends the line to the first processor, where the line is saved in the first processor's cache, modified, and marked as dirty. Later, the second processor reads the memory location written by the first processor, misses in the second processor's local cache, and consults the second processor's directory, which forwards the request to the first processor, which reads the dirty line from the first processor's cache. The line is sent to the second processor where it is written into the second processor's cache, and optionally into the second processor's memory.
Thus, in this scenario, four network traversals are performed, and the entire line is copied first from the second processor to the first processor, and then from the first processor back to the second processor. This is very inefficient, especially if the first processor merely wanted to send the second processor a single word.

Optimized high bandwidth cache coherence mechanism


Disclosed is a unit dose laundry detergent product containing an in-vitro, delayed onset fluid gel detergent composition and a water soluble film pouch for enclosing the detergent composition. The composition includes a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate and/or an alcohol ethoxy sulfate having a C8-C20 backbone that is ethoxylated with from about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide, and a non-ionic surfactant comprising an alkoxylated alcohol, in an amount from 20 to 70 wt %, water in an amount from about 10 to about 30 wt %, free fatty acids in an amount from about 2 to 12 wt %, a magnesium cation in an amount of from 0.15 to 1 wt %, and colloidal particles such as an encapsulated fragrance. The composition is opacified and structured yet free of a structuring agent or an opacifying agent. Also disclosed is a method of making such product.

In laundry detergents, a detergent composition may be structured in order to suspend particles therein. Such particles may include colloidal materials (e.g., encapsulated fragrances).
Encapsulated fragrances in liquid laundry detergent are significantly more effective at keeping laundered textiles (clothes) more fragrant than unencapsulated oil. It is possible for encapsulated fragrances to keep laundered textiles scented for over 1 to 3 months, whereas unencapsulated oils may only keep laundered textiles scented for 1 to 10 days. During the washing of textiles with the liquid laundry detergent, encapsulated fragrances can adhere to or become entangled in the fibers of textiles. After drying the encapsulates become brittle and when the textiles are worn, the rubbing of the textile ruptures the dried encapsulate and it releases fragrance that was encapuslated.
However, due the density differences, it is typically not possible to properly suspend fragrances in a liquid detergent composition without use of a structurant. Fragrance oils generally have a density of approximately 0.9 grams/mL, which is lighter than that of detergent liquids (1.01 to 1.10 g/mL). Once they are encapsulated with shells, the density of the encapsulated fragrances may be greater than that of the detergent. Without a structurant, the encapsulated fragrance is only gravitationally stable if the encapsulate's density matches the exact density of the liquid detergent. Otherwise, it will be unstable and the encapsulates will cream upwards if the density is less than the detergent liquid or they will sedimentate if the encapsulate's density is greater than the detergent liquid.
To structure detergents, pre-mixed materials are typically added to the liquid. These pre-mixes usually require a heating and homogenization step, which can create complexity to the manufacturing process. One embodiment of known art uses crystallized hydrogenated castor oil (HCO), surfactants and non-amino functional alcohols to structure the detergent, as described in US 2014/0094397 (Guida et al.) and US 2018/0037854 (Somerville Roberts et al.). To structure a liquid detergent using the methods described in US 2014/0094397 and US 2018/0037854, an external structuring system (ESS) must first be created.
As described in WO 2011/031940 (Boutique et al.), a mixture of anionic surfactant, water, organic non-aminofunctional alcohols, alkanolamines and HCO are heated to 50 to 150 C, emulsified, cooled and then sheared. Afterwards, the ESS is ready to be added to the detergent liquid to structure it.
Therefore, there is a continuous need in the industry to provide a novel, stable structured detergent composition to ubiquitously suspend particles therein throughout the shelf-life of the product. Preferably, the detergent composition can be structured, as the last step in the manufacturing process, i.e., after a masterbatch (but for the structuring agent), all in liquid form, has been prepared, to simplify the manufacturing process and optimize its efficiency. When it comes to preparing unit dose laundry detergent products, it is further preferred that the detergent composition becomes structured shortly after the entire composition has been enclosed is a pouch (i.e., after filling); even more preferably, the structured detergent composition is in the form of a fluid gel so as to provide aesthetically pleasing to the consumer who can easily observe it through a transparent pouch film.

Delayed onset fluid gels for use in unit dose laundry detergents containing colloidal particles


This invention provides a method for suitably using a method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage in collective housing. In this method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage to a plurality of users, a distribution control part for collectively receiving power and distributing the power at a low voltage includes a server 12 and a control device 131 for controlling information on power consumed by the users. The control device 131 and the server are connected via a network. The server 12 grasps a maximum current capacity necessary for each user, determines a contracted current depending on the grasped maximum current capacity, and distributes power to each user.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to a method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage, and collective housing using the same, which is capable of suitably distributing power by considering power consumption changes in each household.
2. Description of Prior Art
In collective housing such as apartments, generally each household makes a usage based electricity contract with an electric power company and is supplied low voltage electricity (for example 200 V, 100 V). This is referred as a method for individually receiving at a low voltage. On the other hand, there is a method for receiving electricity at a high voltage by an electricity contract for industry (for example 6000 V) and distributing and supplying electricity at a low voltage (for example 200 V, 100 V) to each household. It is referred as a method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage. Following is a difference between the method for individually receiving at a low voltage and the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an example of power supply to a detached house. Power at a low voltage (100 V or 200 V) is distributed from an electric power company through a power system 200 to a household 201 via a current limiter (referred as a breaker hereinafter).
Power is distributed not through a breaker in some contracts. However, it depends on an electric power company whether a breaker is equipped or not. Following explanation is in the case that the breaker is equipped.
A contract for supplying electricity to a detached house at a low voltage is referred as an electricity contract. In this case, a voltage is constantly 100 V, and a contracted power capacity is expressed by a current value, referred as a contracted current. The contracted current is determined on the basis of a maximum demanded current.
The maximum demanded current is a maximum volume of a demanded current consumed in a certain period in a certain area. In the example of FIG. 1, it is determined by a total current necessary for using loads (such as a television, air conditioner, rice cooker, washing machine, and refrigerator) in a household simultaneously. The household makes a contract of a contracted current, which satisfies a maximum demanded electric current, with an electric power company, and a breaker for controlling the contracted current is provided by the electric power company. A maximum current capacity is a maximum value of power enabling the household to use under the contract within a range of the contracted electric current, and is equivalent to a contracted electric current in the above mentioned electricity contract.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an example of power distribution by using the method of collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage in collective housing such as apartments or a group of detached houses. Power at a high voltage for example 6000 V is collectively received by a power distribution device 300 from an electric power company, and is distributed from the power distribution device 300 to each household 13a . . . at a low voltage for example 100 or 200 V. A base rate is determined on the basis of the contracted current in a usage-based electricity contract. On the other hand, a base rate in a power contract for industry is determined on the basis of a contracted power. The contracted power is determined on the basis of a maximum demanded power which a user can consume at one time under a contract (referred as a maximum power capacity hereinafter). In an actual case, the maximum demanded power in the past twelve months is a contracted power.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an example of an electrical structure of the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage. The power distribution device 300 includes a high voltage trance 300a, a high voltage ac load switch 300b and so on. The power distribution device 300 distributes power at a low voltage (100 or 200 V) to each household 13a . . . through a breaker 130. A total contracted capacity of such the collective housing is not always equal to a value obtained by multiplying a maximum capacity per household by the number of households, because it is not likely that all the households use electricity at maximum at the same time. Thus, a concept of a demand factor is employed. A total contracted power of the collective housing using the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage can be expressed as follow.
Contracted power of all the households in the collective housing (W)=maximum current capacity per household (for example 30A)×100 V×the number of households×demand factor(%)
The demand factor can be obtained from;
Demand factor (%)=maximum demanded power (kW)/rated capacity of equipment Σ(kW)×100
The above demand factor is assumed to be 40% in the collective housing having more than 20 households from an empirical rule.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for comparing an amount of power used in a month and an electricity bill per household in introducing the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and receiving at a low voltage and the method for individually receiving at a low voltage to the collective housing of 50 households in an area of the electric power company employing an ampere bill system (for example a bill system adopted by Tokyo Electric Power Company and Tohoku Electric Power Company). As shown in FIG. 4, a minimum charge in the method for individually receiving at a low voltage is smaller than the base rate in the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and receiving at a low voltage. A base rate in the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and receiving at a low voltage becomes small as a contracted current is small. In the cases 1 and 2 in FIG. 4, the base rates are approximately 2000 yen and 1300 yen respectively.
An electricity bill in total is a sum of a base rate (or a minimum charge) and usage based charge in both cases. It is noted that a unit charge per kWh in the usage based charge is larger in the method for individually receiving at a low voltage. In addition, in the bill system of the method for individually receiving at a low voltage, a unit charge in the usage-based charge system increases when an amount of power consumed exceeds a certain level.
In the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage, a unit charge per kWh is smaller than that in the method for individually receiving at a low voltage, and even when a consumed power amount increases, a unit charge does not change as not like in the case of the method for individually receiving at a low voltage.
As shown in FIG. 4, electricity bills per household in the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage (Case 1) and the method for individually receiving at a low voltage are coincident at the A point, which is a breakeven point. A amount of electricity consumed in an average household is on the B point, at which an electricity bill increases in the method for individually receiving at a low voltage, rather than the A point, thus the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage is more economical. In the case 1, a difference in bills is 1,231 yen.
Then, the contracted current per household in the method for collectively receiving at a high voltage and receiving at a low voltage reduces from 30 A (the Case 1) to 20 A (Case 2). The breakeven point shifts from the A point to the A′ point. Because the B point does not change, a difference in bill between these methods further increases.
As described above, as long as the amount of power consumed in a month is not smaller than an amount at the breakeven point, an electricity bill charged in the method for collectively received at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage is more economical than the method for individually receiving at a low voltage. Therefore, in the collective housing, the method for collectively received at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage has an advantage in terms of an electricity bill than the method for individually receiving at a low voltage.
In addition, the electricity bill can be reduced when a contracted electric current is smaller in the method for collectively received at a high voltage and distributing at a low voltage.
In the collective housing, however, a situation in using electricity and an amount of consumed power are different from each household. Thus, if a contracted current is made small for all the households, some of the households may have troubles in using electricity. Accordingly, a power contract with a sufficient contracted current is inevitable in an actual situation.

Method for collectively receiving at high voltage and distributing at low voltage, and collective housing using same


An electrical contact (1) include a retention portion (11), a solder portion (12) bending from a bottom edge of the retention portion (11), a head portion (13) extending upwardly from the retention portion (11), a spring arm (14) extending from a sidewall of the head portion (12) and a contact portion (144) formed at a topmost end of the spring arm (14). The spring arm (14) includes a body section (141) connecting with the head portion (13) and a stretching section (143) adjacent the contact portion (144), an extending portion (142) connecting the body portion (141) and the stretching portion (143). The stretching section (143) defines an elongate channel (1430), which makes the contact (1) have a preferred flexibility and an improved capability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical contacts, and more particularly to an electrical contact able to transmitting more current capability during the same time.
2. Background of the Invention
Electrical contacts are widely used in electrical socket connector to electrically bridge two electrical interfaces such as an electrical substrate, e.g. a PCB and an integrated circuit (IC) package, e.g. a central processing unit (CPU).
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical electrical contact 1′ includes a main body 11′, a solder tail 12′, an upright head portion 13′ and a spring arm 14′ extends from a top end of the main body 11′, and a resilient arm 141′ formed at a free end of the spring arm 14′, wherein the head portion 13′ and the spring arm 14′ are situated at two opposite sides of the central line of the main body 11′, offsetting the central line a distance, respectively. A spacing is defined between the spring arm 14′ and the head 13′. However, the resilient arm 141′ generally has a wider width, which limits the current capacity through. In addition, Such a kind contact 1′ may have inferior a typical problem of inferior flexibility, which can not need the deformation required for fitting in with the change of situation.
What is needed, thereby, is a new electrical contact able to provide a preferred current capability and a good flexibility.

Electrical contact used in an electrical socket


The expandable rack bushing has a tubular portion with front slots and rear slots. An axial overlap between the front and rear slots permits expansion and retraction of the tubular portion. Retainer blocks on the tubular portion are received in a radial groove in a rack and pinion housing to axially fix the rack bushing. When the steering rack is positioned in the rack bushing, the retainer blocks cannot be removed from the radial groove. Radial forces on the steering rack expand the rack bushing and move the steering rack toward one side of the rack housing bore. Spring fingers absorb energy as the rack bushing is expanded. These spring fingers continuously urge the steering rack toward the housing bore center.

The expandable rack bushing guides, cushions and dampens the rack of a rack and pinion vehicle steering system.
The rack of a rack and pinion vehicle steering system is slidably mounted in a rack and pinion housing secured to a vehicle frame. A rack bushing is provided in the rack and pinion housing to guide one end of the rack as it moves parallel to the rack axis. The other end of the rack is supported and guided by rack and pinion engaging teeth. A tie rod assembly is connected to a first end of the rack and to wheel steering arm. A second tie rod assembly is connected to a second end of the rack and to another wheel steering arm.
Wheel steering arms are connected to steered wheels and move with the steered wheels to which they are attached. Since the steered wheels of most vehicles are connected to a vehicle frame by a suspension system there is a substantial range of movement between a wheel steering arm and the steering rack of a rack and pinion steering assembly. To accommodate the movement between a steering arm and a steering rack, a tie rod with ball connectors transmits force between the steering rack and a steering arm. The direction in which force is transmitted to the tie rod by the steering rack is usually at an angle relative to the steering rod axis. Bending loads are therefore applied to the steering rack when the steering rack is moved to change the direction of movement of a vehicle.
Forces are transmitted from road surfaces to tires and wheels, steering arms, tire rods and a steering rack. These forces, that are transmitted to the steering rack, are seldom if ever parallel to the rack axis. The bending loads on a steering rack, that are induced by road surfaces, are variable in both magnitude and direction. The result of the steering rack bending loads is vibrations, noise, gear teeth damage and bushing failures.
Bushings employed with some steering racks tend to slide with the steering rack relative to a rack and pinion housing. The movement of the bushings relative to the housing generates noise, increases wear and eventually results in bushings being forced out of the rack and pinion housing.
The bushings that have been used to support steering racks in rack and pinion housings in the past tend to wipe lubricant from the rack. After lubricant is removed from bushings and bushing contact surfaces on a steering rack, friction forces increase and it takes more effort and strength to turn the steered wheels of a vehicle. A critical side effect of poor lubrication is wear on the rack bushing. Severe wear creates excessive radial clearance, which is a main cause of noise.
The expandable rack bushing has a generally tubular portion with a bushing axis, an outer end and an inner end. A plurality of front slots, in the generally tubular portion, each extend from the outer end toward the inner end and to a front slot end wall. A plurality of rear slots, in the generally tubular portion, each extend from the inner end toward the outer end and to a rear slot end wall. At least some of the rear slot end walls are axially positioned between some of the front slot end walls and the outer end. The slots permit the diameter of the expandable rack bushing to increase. A plurality of spring members on the generally tubular portion absorb forces expanding the generally tubular portion and bias the generally tubular portion toward a non-expanded condition.
A plurality of retainer blocks on the generally tubular portion of the expandable rack bushing extend radially outward from the generally tubular portion. These retainer blocks are received in a groove in a rack housing bore to axially position and retain the rack bushing.


A new detail tape for use with elongate sticks and rods for detailing and polishing hard to reach areas on objects, such as vehicles. The inventive device includes an elongate polishing strip member having a polishing layer, and an adhesive. The polishing layer has front and back faces and comprises a cloth material for polishing a surface. An adhesive is provided on the back face of the polishing layer and is designed for adhering to an object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polishing and detailing accessories and more particularly pertains to a new detail tape for use with elongate sticks and rods for detailing and polishing hard to reach areas on objects, such as vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of polishing and detailing accessories is known in the prior art. More specifically, polishing and detailing accessories heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art polishing and detailing accessories include U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,604; U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,225; U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,320; U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,331; U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,249; and U.S. Patent No. Des. 312,174.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new detail tape. The inventive device includes an elongate polishing strip member having a polishing layer, and an adhesive. The polishing layer has front and back faces and comprises a cloth material for polishing a surface. An adhesive is provided on the back face of the polishing layer and is designed for adhering to an object.
In these respects, the detail tape according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of use with elongate sticks and rods for detailing and polishing hard to reach areas on objects, such as vehicles.


In a display device, clock supplying transistors turn on and off in response to a digital image signal retained in capacitance elements fed from drain signal lines through pixel element selection transistors. The image signal is applied to capacitance electrodes through the clock supplying transistors. Voltages change at the pixel element electrodes according to the value of the digital image signal. Therefore, a DA conversion is possible at the pixel element portion, leading to simplification of the peripheral circuit configuration around pixel element portions and the reduction of the framing area of the panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display device, especially to a display device with a DA converter that converts the digital image signal to an analog image signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a great demand on the market for portable devices with a display such as a portable TV and a portable telephone. All these devices need a small, lightweight and low-power consumption display device, and development efforts have been made accordingly.
FIG. 14 shows a circuit diagram of a display pixel element of a conventional liquid crystal display device (LCD). On an insulating substrate (not shown) a gate signal line 51 is disposed in one direction and a drain signal line 61 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the gate signal line 51. A pixel element selection thin film transistor 72 connected to both signal lines 51, 61 is formed near the crossing of the signal lines, 51, 61. The thin film transistor will be referred to as the TFT hereinafter. A source 11s of the pixel element selection TFT 72 is connected to a display electrode 80 of a liquid crystal 21.
Also, a storage capacitance element 85 for holding the voltage of the display electrode 80 for one field period is formed. One terminal 86 of the storage capacitance element 85 is connected to the source 11 s of the TFT 72, and the other terminal 87 is provided with a voltage commonly used among the pixel elements.
When a scanning signal (H level) is applied to the gate signal line 51, the pixel element selection TFT 72 turns on and an analog image signal is transmitted to the display electrode 80 through the drain signal line 61 and retained in the storage capacitance element 85. The image signal voltage applied to the display electrode 80 is then applied to the liquid crystal 21. Based on the voltage applied, the liquid crystal aligns itself for providing a liquid crystal display image.
The analog image signal applied to the drain signal line 61 is obtained by converting an input digital image signal through a digital to analog conversion by a DA converter. In a conventional liquid crystal display device having a DA converter in a display panel, the DA converter is formed near driver circuits in the peripheral area of pixel elements.
However, since the DA converter is formed near the driver circuits of such a conventional device, the design flexibility of the circuits surrounding the pixel elements is restricted. This also results in a larger framing area of a display panel. Especially, when gradation is required of a display device, the number of terminals for gradation voltages increase in accordance with the depth of the display.
Also, in order to write an analog signal converted by the DA converter into a pixel element portion through the pixel element TFT 72, a voltage higher than a threshold voltage, Vth, should be supplied as the scanning signal. Here, the threshold voltage Vth is the threshold voltage of the pixel element selection TFT 72. Therefore, reducing the applied voltage and the power consumption of the liquid crystal display device is difficult.


In a merchandising system of the type utilizing a pegboard, slatboard, or wire grid, a wire rack is provided which includes hook brackets for suspending the wire rack on the display panel, and the wire rack includes several collars formed thereon for receiving a reusable container wherein the container includes bulk products for sale and is provided with a flange or rim extending from the top of the container adjacent the opening therein. The collar on the wire rack is of such a size as to receive the container and support the container by its flange. A large circular bar extends along the front of the wire rack to which identification clips can be mounted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to merchandising systems, and more particularly, to the type comprising a display panel, such as a pegboard, slatboard, wire grid, or the like, and improved display devices for mounting thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Merchandising units of the type involving pegboard display panels or the like are well known. Such panels are easy to use since any number of shelves or hanging arms can be accommodated without the use of fasteners or having to mount such displays permanently to a wall. Hook-type brackets are provided which can be mounted, without fasteners, at almost any desired location on a vertical panel. Examples of such brackets and display devices are described in many prior art patents of which the following are but a few examples: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,812,852, Samuels, 1957; 4,322,006, Marschak, 1982; 4,511,047, Elinsky, 1985; 4,560,062, Valiulis, 1985; 4,905,846, Calvert, 1990; and Canadian Patent 1,230,105, Hoefkes, 1987. All of these patents have in common a display panel of the type including pegboards, slatboards, wire grids or the like, a tray, a wire rack or shelf with brackets for suspending it from the display panel, and a container or the actual product.
When the product is held directly by the wire rack or arm, it is usually in the form of a blister pack or other prepackaged product. Paint brushes and other hangable items can be readily suspended as well. Because of ecological concerns and the desire to reduce the amount of disposable packaging, more small item products are now shipped in bulk containers, in the form of trays or other easily accessible packages and supported on a wire rack or shelf. Such a solution is an improvement, as far as conservation is concerned, but the tray or package must be sturdy and have a relatively low profile in order to remain balanced on the shelf or wire rack, while customers retrieve products from such containers. Most such containers rest on the shelf or wire rack without other forms of support, save for side wall supports sometimes built on the rack.


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a money-operated, low-powered, vending and dispensing apparatus which is solely battery-powered and which can be utilized in the vending or dispensing of products or services. The present invention comprises at least one battery, a control system housed on a control board, money sensing and validating devices, circuitry to perform a battery power test and to indicate a low battery power condition, circuitry and devices to determine the acceptability of various types of money, or its equivalent, which could be accepted by the apparatus, and circuitry and devices to indicate such acceptability. The present invention further comprises a product delivery circuit and device, circuitry to indicate the activation, or lack thereof, of the product delivery device, and circuitry and a device to indicate when the apparatus is being serviced. The present invention utilizes many power saving components and devices, as well as power saving design and operational techniques, so as to facilitate low-powered operation. While the present invention is described, in its preferred embodiment, for use in an apparatus for the vending or dispensing of newspapers or other printed matter, it may find countless applications in other apparatus utilized in the vending or dispensing of products or services.

Vending and dispensing machines play an important role in the distribution of numerous products and services to consumers in today's society. The types of items distributed in this manner include, but are not limited to, newspapers, food and drink items, cigarettes, stamps, transportation tickets and tokens, prophylactics, health-care items, toiletries, toys, and even video cassettes. The types of services which may be provided by these machines may include the allowance of entry to paying customers or users such as by turnstiles, etc. Such machines may include coin validation mechanisms for lower priced items and also currency validators for higher priced items.
One of the most prevalent vending and dispensing machines is the newspaper "honor box". To obtain a newspaper, the user inserts into the coin mechanism the amount of money (usually in coins) required to purchase the newspaper. If the coins are accepted, a door latch is released, the user takes a newspaper, and the door snaps back under a bias pressure and the door latch returns the door to its locked position.
Mechanical vending apparatus, such as conventional newspaper vending machines, have the disadvantage that they do not have sophisticated coin discrimination and validation means and, therefore, can be easily fooled by slugs and counterfeit coins. There is difficulty in providing mechanical devices which allow for the acceptance of a variety of coins and provide change to the customer or user. The typical mechanical coin mechanism requires exact change to be inserted using specific coins. Further, providing such a device which can accommodate price changing by day or by issue requires a considerable effort. Also, the ability to provide other special functions is severely limited in mechanical vending systems. Further, mechanical vending apparatus have no provisions for accepting or handling bills, other paper currency, or other money alternatives.
Electrically powered vending machines, which are powered from conventional or special AC outlets, allow for the use of sophisticated coin validation mechanisms and paper currency validators under the control of microprocessors. An example of such a coin validation mechanism is the Intellitrac.TM. Series mechanism sold by Mars Electronics, a subsidiary of the assignee of the present invention.
Electrically powered vending machines, although superior to mechanical vending machines in a number of ways, still have significant disadvantages. For example, if numerous electrically powered machines are placed closely adjacent to one another, there may not be sufficient access to the electrical power outlet(s) for all of the machines. Also, the power cords for the machines may become entangled or frayed, if the machines are moved or jostled. Also, electrically powered vending machines are totally unsuitable from a safety point of view for use in exposed, outdoor areas and also at many indoor locations.
Finally, electrically powered vending machines have the distinct disadvantage of requiring an AC voltage source. Clearly, AC outlets are not available in many places where such a vending machine would be located. This is particularly true with regard to newspaper vending machines, which are often placed at remote locations such as street corners, travel and subway platforms, and the like.
There remains a need for a vending and dispensing apparatus combining the flexibility and simplicity of mechanical devices and the sophistication and special features of an electrically powered device. Preferably such an apparatus would be battery powered and would consume a minimum amount of power and be able to operate for extended periods of time without the need for replacing, or recharging, the batteries. Such a machine must effectively perform the necessary vending and validation functions, including accepting both coins and paper currency.

Method and apparatus for a low-power, battery-powered vending and dispensing apparatus


In general, the invention is directed to techniques for using an external defibrillator to detect a presence of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a patient, and providing therapy to the patient through communication between the external defibrillator and the IMD. An external defibrillator provides prompts to a user of the external defibrillator to determine the presence of an IMD implanted within the patient. For example, the external defibrillator may prompt the user to visually inspect the patient's chest for signs that an IMD was implanted, such as a scar or raised portion of skin near the patient's clavicles. As another example, the external defibrillator may prompt the user to place a detection device on the patient's chest. The detection device may be coupled to the external defibrillator, and may employ a magnet to initiate telemetry by the IMD to detect the presence of the IMD.

An external defibrillator delivers energy to a heart of a patient via electrodes placed upon the patient's chest. External defibrillators are used to deliver energy in the form of a defibrillation shock to a heart that is undergoing ventricular fibrillation and has lost its ability to contract. Ventricular fibrillation is particularly life threatening because activity within the ventricles of the heart is so uncoordinated that virtually no pumping of blood takes place. If untreated, a patient suffering from fibrillation may die within a matter of minutes.
An electric shock delivered to a fibrillating heart may depolarize the heart and cause it to reestablish a normal sinus rhythm. In some cases, the patient may need multiple shocks, and the external defibrillator may deliver different quantities of energy with each defibrillation shock. Further, the defibrillator may provide additional or alternative therapies to the patient, such as cardioversion or pacing therapy. As examples, the external defibrillator may be an automated external defibrillator (AED) used by a first responder or bystander to treat the patient, or a more fully-featured defibrillator/monitor used by paramedics.

Defibrillator with implantable medical device detection


A screening test for identifying individuals having a predisposition to develop ovarian cancer. The test involves measuring the phenotypic expression of the CA125 antigen in overtly normal ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) cells propagated in vitro. The OSE cells are preferably passaged repeatedly prior to measuring for the expression of the CA125 antigen. The test is based on the finding that OSE cells obtained from individuals having a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer retain sub-populations of CA125 expressing cells for longer time periods in vitro than OSE cells derived from individuals not having a such a family history. The test provides an alternative means of identifying and monitoring women at risk of developing ovarian cancer, including women with hereditary ovarian cancer syndromes and women likely to develop sporadic (non-familial) ovarian cancer.

The effective diagnosis and treatment of cancer at an early stage in its development ordinarily improves the prospects for a successful clinical outcome. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect in its early stages.
Over 85% of human ovarian carcinomas are thought to arise from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). OSE-derived carcinomas are the fifth or sixth most frequent malignancy in American women and the five year survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer is no better than 37%.
In recent years, the availability of several tumor markers has improved the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in the management of ovarian carcinomas. Serous cystadenocarcinoma ovarian tumor associated antigen CA125 is currently the serum marker of choice for monitoring the progression of OSE carcinomas. Elevated serum levels of CA125 antigen are detectable in approximately 80-90% of ovarian cancer patients. The presence of CA125 is typically detected by radioimmunoassays employing monoclonal antibodies such as OC125 which bind specifically to the CA125 antigenic determinant.
Various United States patents have previously issued pertaining to the use of monoclonal antibodies to detect the presence of CA125 in sera. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,866, Xu et al., issued 22 Nov., 1994, relates to a method of diagnosing and monitoring the progression of ovarian and endometrial cancers using monoclonal antibodies reactive with CA125 present in sera, blood plasma or other biological fluids.
While measurement of serum CA125 levels is an effective tool for monitoring the progression of ovarian cancers, it is not reliable as a predictive marker for identifying healthy women at increased risk for ovarian cancer, or for detection of very early stages of the disease. Some women who are at an increased risk to develop ovarian cancer can be identified on the basis of family histories of ovarian, breast, or other related cancers and by genetic analysis. Numerous cytogenetic studies and loss of heterozygosity investigations have begun to suggest some genes or chromosomal regions involved in ovarian cancer initiation and progression (Pejovic et al., Genes Chromosomes Cancer, 1992; 4:58-68; Testa et al., Cancer Res., 1994; 54:2778-2784: Yang-Feng et al., Int. J. Cancer, 1993; 54:546-551). In situations where linkage analysis is feasible and linkage of affected family members can be shown through the only currently known locus, BRCA-1, family members predisposed to develop ovarian and/or breast cancer can be identified with good accuracy (Futreal et al., Science, 1994; 266:120-122). There are, however, individuals in families that may be linked through some yet to be identified locus or where linkage testing is not feasible. Such individuals could benefit from an alternative identification-of-risk strategy. Not all women in currently recognized risk categories will develop ovarian cancers, and additional contributing factors are poorly defined. The majority of ovarian cancers arise "sporadically" (i.e. in women without family histories).
One alternative strategy is to identify preneoplastic phenotypic changes in the OSE which could signal a predisposition to development of ovarian tumors. Unfortunately, little progress has been made thus far in the early detection of such preneoplastic tissue changes and no reliable tumor-associated tissue markers have yet been identified. This lack of information about early changes in the OSE poses a particular problem for women with hereditary ovarian cancer syndromes, where there is a need to define more reliable criteria for prevention and surveillance.
The need has therefore arisen for a new screening test for identifying and monitoring women at risk of developing OSE-derived carcinomas.

Method of testing expression of CA125 antigen in cultured ovarian surface epithelial cells to identify and monitor individuals having a predisposition to develop ovarian cancer


In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for a universal remote control system for controlling entertainment-related functions, includes: a remote control device configured to transmit a control signal with a command; a computer configured to translate the command into a modified command and to transmit the modified command in a modified control signal; and an electronic device configured to perform a device function, in response to the modified command. In another embodiment of the invention, a method for a universal remote control system for controlling entertainment-related functions, includes: transmitting a control signal with a command from a remote control device; translating, by a computer, the command into a modified command and transmitting, by the computer, the modified command in a modified control signal to an electronic device; and performing a device function by the electronic device, in response to the modified command.

There is currently no available single remote control device for controlling the computer functions and non-computer functions (e.g., entertainment functions such as DVD (digital video disk) playback, compact disk operations, and game functions) in an integrated product such as a computer that is configured to provide home entertainment functions. One example of such an integrated product is a personal computer that can provide home entertainment functions.
As these integrated products with computer functionality and home entertainment functionality become more prevalent, it is important that the consumer is not subjected to a complicated and confusing experience in controlling these integrated products. The consumer would typically expect that these integrated products are as easy to operate and control as the current conventional consumer electronic devices with home entertainment functions.
To operate any conventional remote control device, typically a button or a key is depressed by the consumer. A depressed key or button translates into a control signal (e.g. an infrared light signal or radio frequency signal or other types of control signals) that is received by a remote host device, such as a television or a computer. A remote control device for a computer is not able to control the operations of a consumer electronic devices, such as televisions, radio/stereo devices, compact disk (CD) players, digital video disc (DVD) disk players, video cassette recorders (VCR), set-top boxes, and/or other types of consumer electronic devices. Similarly, a remote control device for a consumer electronic device is not able to control a computer. Currently, it is typical for the consumer to accumulate three or more remote control devices in order to operate and control an integrated product such as a computer with home entertainment functions. This multiple number of remote control devices is an inconvenience for the consumer.
Therefore, the current technology is limited in its capabilities and suffers from at least the above constraints and deficiencies.

Universal remote control device for controlling entertainment-related functions

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A detachable liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal module and a cradle. The liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel; an optical sheet provided on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel; an interface disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal panel; a power receiver disposed on the rear surface of the liquid crystal panel; a memory card; and a timing controller for receiving second image data from external devices and permitting the first image data stored in the memory card to be displayed in the liquid crystal panel. The cradle includes a lamp emitting light; an inverter for supplying alternating current to the lamp; a connector for receiving third image data from external equipment; and an interface converter for applying the third image data to the interface of the liquid crystal module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a portable liquid crystal module.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, flat panel display devices are thin, light weight, and have low power consumption. Thus their application in portable devices is increasing. Among the various types of flat panel display devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are widely used for laptop computers, televisions and desktop monitors because of their superiority in resolution, color image display, and display quality.
LCD devices make use of optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules to generate a desired image. In particular, liquid crystal molecules can be aligned in a specific orientation by controlling the application of an electric field across the liquid crystal molecules. Due to optical anisotropy, incident light is refracted according to the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, thereby generating the desired image.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display device according to related art. In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel 10, a backlight assembly 20, a top case 31 and a rear case 32. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel 10 includes two substrates with a liquid crystal layer disposed between them. The backlight assembly 20 is positioned under the liquid crystal panel 10 and functions to supply light to the liquid crystal panel 10. The top and rear cases 31 and 32 accommodate and fix the liquid crystal panel 10 to the backlight assembly 20.
There are two types of backlight assemblies 20, an edge type and a direct type, based on the arrangement of the light source within the liquid crystal display device. In particular, an edge type backlight device has a light source installed at one or both side portions of the light crystal panel 10, and a direct type backlight device has a light source installed underneath the liquid crystal panel 10. Usually, laptop computers adopt the edge type backlight assembly in order to reduce their size and thickness. However, televisions and computer monitors adopt the direct type where the light guide plate and some prism sheets are omitted for the purpose of raising the brightness thereof. For example, the 26-inch television includes sixteen cold cathode fluorescent (CCF) lamps, as the direct type. The backlight assembly 20 further includes functional optical films, e.g., diffusions sheets, as well as lamp(s).
FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram illustrating an edge type backlight assembly according to related art. In FIG. 2, light emitted from a lamp 21 passes through a light guide plate 22. The light guide plate 22 guides the incident light toward a diffusion sheet 25 and other optical sheets 27. The linear light emitted from the lamp 21 is converted into surface light by passing through the light guide plate 22, the diffusion sheet 25 and optical sheet 27. The backlight assembly includes a reflector 24 provided underneath the light guide plate 22 to reflect the light upwardly, and the light guide plate 22 includes a plurality of micro-patterns 22a for increasing the reflective efficiency.
However, since the liquid crystal display device includes both the liquid crystal panel and the backlight assembly together, the liquid crystal panel may be damaged by heat emitted from the lamp of the backlight assembly. For example, the circuits of the liquid crystal panel may become broken, and the inverter may malfunction.
Additionally, when the light guide plate is formed to be thin for the purpose of obtaining a thin LCD device, the lamp is also formed to have a small diameter with reduced capacity. Therefore, the optical sheets need to have a good quality of improved light-passing efficiency and may be high in price.

Detachable liquid crystal display device


A system for continuously processing items using supercritical fluid wherein the main process vessel in which the items are cleaned or extracted is continuously pressurized with supercritical fluid. The continuous pressurization of the main process vessel is achieved by using an entry airlock to initially pressurize the item to be processed prior to transport into the main process vessel. An exit airlock is provided to depressurize the item after cleaning or extraction in the main process vessel. The system also provides for pretreatment of the items in the entry airlock prior to processing in the main vessel. Post-treatment may also be provided in the exit airlock when desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the use of supercritical fluids in cleaning or extraction processes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a continuous or semi-continuous process wherein the main cleaning or extraction chamber used in the process is continuously pressurized with supercritical fluid during the cleaning or extraction process.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional solvent-aided cleaning and extraction processes are currently being re-evaluated due to problems with air pollution and ozone depletion. In addition, recent environmental legislation mandates that many of the organic solvents used in these processes be banned or their use severely limited. The use of supercritical fluids for cleaning or extracting a wide variety of materials has been under investigation as an alternative to the above-mentioned solvent based processes. A supercritical fluid is a dense phase gas which has been compressed to either supercritical or subcritical conditions to achieve liquid-like densities. Unlike organic solvents, such as hexane or 1,1,1-trichloroethane, supercritical fluids exhibit unique physical properties such as low surface tension, low viscosity, high diffusivity, and variable solute carrying capacity.
The solvent properties of compressed gases are well known, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,040, assigned to the present assignee. In the late 1800's, Hannay and Hogarth found that inorganic salts could be dissolved in supercritical ethanol and ether (J. B. Hannay and H. Hogarth, J. Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), 29, p. 324, 1897). By the early 1900's, Buchner discovered that the solubility of organics such as naphthalene and phenols in supercritical carbon dioxide increased with pressure (E. A. Buchner, Z. Physik Chem., 54, p. 665, 1906). Within forty years Francis had established a large solubility database for liquified carbon dioxide which showed that many organic compounds were completely miscible. (A. W. Francis, J. Phys. Chem., 58, p. 1099, 1954).
In the 1960's there was much research and use of dense phase gases in the area of chromatography. Supercritical fluids (SCF) were used as the mobile phase in separating non volatile chemicals (S. R. Springston and M. Novotny, "Kinetic Optimization of Capillary Supercritical Chromatography using Carbon Dioxide as the Mobile Phase", CHROMATOGRAPHIA, Vol. 14, No. 12, p. 679, December 1981). Today the environmental risks and costs associated with conventional solvent aided separation processes require industry to develop safer and more cost-effective alternatives. The volume of current literature on solvent-aided separation processes using dense carbon dioxide as a solvent is evidence of the extent of industrial research and development in the field. Documented industrial applications utilizing dense fluids include extraction of oil from soybeans (J. P. Friedrich and G. R. List and A. J. Heakin, "Petroleum Free Extracts of Oil from Soybeans", JAOCS, Vol. 59, No. 7, July 1982), decaffination of coffee (C. Grimmett, Chem. Ind., Vol. 6, p. 228, 1981), extraction of pyridines from coal (T. G. Squires, et al., "Super-critical Solvents. Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Retained Pyridine from Pyridine Extracts of Coal", FUEL, Vol. 61, November 1982), extraction of flavorants from hops (R. Vollbrecht, "Extraction of Hops with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide", Chemistry and Industry, 19 Jun. 1982), and regenerating absorbents (activated carbon) (M. Modell, "Process for Regenerating Absorbents with Supercritical Fluids", U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,528, Nov. 7, 1978).
Examples of processes utilizing supercritical fluids are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,366 and 5,068,044 which issued on May 7, 1991 and Nov. 26, 1991 respectively, and are assigned to the present assignee. The contents of these two patents is hereby incorporated by reference. The processes described in the two patents are typical of accepted batch type processing wherein the substrate, sample or other material to be processed is loaded into a processing vessel which is unpressurized. The vessel is subsequently sealed and then pressurized with supercritical fluid. After completion of the cleaning or extraction process, the vessel is depressurized and opened for sample unloading. While useful for precision cleaning of various substrates, this type of batch processing is labor intensive and requires long pressurization and depressurization times. In addition, the pressurization vessels used in batch-type processes must be relatively large in order to achieve even moderate volumetric throughput. These large pressurization vessels are expensive.
It would be desirable to provide a supercritical fluid processing system which is more efficient, quicker and less labor intensive than the above-described batch-type processes. Further, it would be desirable to decrease the size of the pressurization vessel in order to decrease the cost and improve the efficiency of supercritical fluid processing where large volumetric throughput is required.

Continuous operation supercritical fluid treatment process and system


The present invention is directed to a scrim comprised of a plurality of warp and weft tapes, and more specifically to a woven scrim comprised of warp tapes and weft tapes, wherein the warp tapes are positioned in first and second planes to increase the warp coverage by at least 150% such that the resulting scrim material is impervious to light and further deters bunching of the warp tapes.

Woven scrims of polyolefin tapes are known in the art and utilized as protective covers or tarpaulins so as to shield various goods from the deleterious effects of the environment, such as rain, snow, and sun. Conventional woven scrim materials comprise a plurality of intersecting warp and weft tapes that inherently create spaces between the tapes that allow for the penetration of light, causing a defect known as "window paning" or "star lighting" to occur. A common solution to this problem is to cover the scrim with an opaque layer of polymer, which is often a blend of carbon black and polyolefin. Such a solution adds to the manufacturing time, as well as the cost of the product. Further, in attempt to deflect light, tapes are often pigmented with dark hues rather than light hues, which are known to not block light as effectively.
Attempts have been made by the prior art to increase the overall strength of woven scrims by stacking tapes or filaments and using alternative weave patterns; however the scrims taught in the prior art fail to address the deleterious effects of sunlight and still allow light to pass through the interstices formed by the warp and weft tapes. In addition, stacking tapes and filaments can result in the tapes bunching or bending affecting the planarity of the scrim. A need remains for a cost efficient, light colored, consistently planar, woven scrim that deters the bunching of tapes and is impervious to light, without requiring the need for additional polyolefin layers.


A vehicle article carrier system having a pair of swingable cross bars. The cross bars can be placed in a first configuration in which they extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. They can easily be released and re-secured in a different configuration wherein they take the form of low profile side rails. A particular advantage is that when the cross bars are moved into their positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of the cross bars is raised to an elevated position. This provides additional clearance above the outer body surface for articles being supported on the cross bars.

Vehicle article carriers are used in a wide variety of applications to support and transport various forms of articles and cargo above an outer body surface of a vehicle. Vehicle article carriers are presently in wide use in connection with automobiles, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), vans and even pick up trucks.
A vehicle article carrier often includes two pairs of support feet positioned laterally across from one another and secured fixedly to the outer body surface of the vehicle. Typically a first side rail (often termed a "support rail") is secured to one pair of support feet, and a second side rail is secured to the other pair of support feet, such that the two side rails extend parallel to one another along a major longitudinal length of the vehicle. Often one or two cross bars are secured to the side rails. One of the cross bars may be fixedly secured so as to be non-movable, while the other is movable. Alternatively, both of the cross bars may include mechanisms that enable them to be moved along the side rails and locked in place at a desired position on the side rails.
With present day vehicle article carrier systems as described above, the cross bars, when in their operative positions extending between the two side rails, can often create a slight amount of wind noise that is perceptible by occupants within the vehicle. Because of this, when the cross bars of the vehicle article carrier system are not needed, some users prefer to remove them entirely from the side rails. As can be appreciated, the task of removing the side rails can be somewhat inconvenient. In addition, the side rails need to be stored once removed from the support feet of the vehicle article carrier system. If the cross bars need to be stored within the vehicle, this takes up otherwise useable cargo capacity within the vehicle. In some instances, tools such as screwdrivers or wrenches may be required to disassemble the cross bars from the side rails.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to provide a vehicle article carrier system which includes a pair of cross bars that can be quickly and easily configured as side rails, when there is no need to support articles above the outer surface of the vehicle, and then quickly and easily moved into place to act as cross bars when the need arises to support articles and various types of cargo. It would be further highly desirable if the operation of moving the cross bars into their positions as side rails could be accomplished without the need for any external tools being required for this operation. It would further be highly desirable if such a vehicle article carrier system could enable at least one of the cross bars to be adjustably positioned along the outer body surface of the vehicle, and locked at a desired position. This would enable the cross bars, when they are each in their operative positions, to be positioned to best suit the needs for carrying specific types of articles and cargo. Such a vehicle article carrier system would also eliminate the need to completely remove the cross bars from the remainder of the vehicle article carrier system, instead enabling the cross bars to be moved into positions parallel to one another along the major longitudinal length of the vehicle to thus be positioned to function as side rails.

Vehicle article carrier having swing in place cross bars


A method for video processing. A first video sequence (VS) is received. The first VS is processed to generate a second VS in a first resolution. The second VS is adjusted to a third VS in a second resolution. It is determined whether the difference between the first VS and the third VS is lower than a predetermined bias level. The second VS is encoded and output if the difference between the first VS and the third VS is lower than the predetermined bias level.

The present invention relates to video encoding technology; and particularly to apparatuses and methods for video processing and recording.
Video compression is an important part of video storage and transmission. Digital video contains spatial and temporal redundancies, which may be encoded without significant sacrifice. Spatial redundancy is based on the similarity in color values shared by adjacent pixels. Video encoding employs intra-frame spatial encoding on redundant color values using DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) and quantization. Temporal redundancy refers to identical temporal motion between video frames, providing smooth, realistic motion in video. Video encoding relies on prediction, more precisely, motion-compensated prediction, of temporal encoding between frames. Video encoding utilizes, to create temporal encoding, I-Frames, B-frames and P-frames. An I-frame is an intra-coded frame, a single image heading a sequence, with no reference to previous or subsequent frames. It encodes only within the frame with no reference to previous or subsequent frames. P-frames are forward-predictive frames, encoded with reference to a previous I- or P-frame, with pointers to information in a previous frame. B-frames are encoded with reference to a previous reference frame, a subsequent reference frame, or both. Motion vectors employed may be forward, backward, or both. Video encoding quantizes the coefficients produced by applying a DCT to 8×8 blocks of pixels in an image and through motion compensation. Quantization is basically division of the DCT coefficient by a quantization scale related to quality level, with higher indices for greater encoding but lower quality, and lower indices for the reverse.
Video recorders (e.g. MPEG recorders), however, in the beginning, reduced resolution of original video data to encode due to its process capability, resulting in poor output quality.
Home recording apparatuses, such as VCD or DVD recorders, are unable to record video data in high resolution due to storage capacity. The resolution of the recorded data is much lower than the resolution of large-size displayer For example, the resolution of DVD recoding data is in 720×480. But the resolution of displayer is up to 1920×1440. FIG. 1 is a diagram of the architecture of a conventional video data processing system. Video apparatus 10 acquires and processes video data, and outputs the processed data to a displayer 20. After receiving original video data 30, video encoding device 100 encodes the original video data 30 in a predetermined resolution and stores it in storage device 200, such as VCD, DVD-RW or hard drive. To generate high quality video data, video decoding device 300 reads video data from the storage device and decodes it contingent upon the required resolution of a displayer 20, for example, the decoded data may be scaled up by a scaling device 400 or 401 in the displayer 20 to bring the decoded data to the required resolution. In conventional video data, serious distortion occurs during scaling up because the original video data 30 is encoded in the lower predetermined resolution by the video encoding device 100.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of conventional MPEG-2 single layer video encoding. The original video data 30 is input to the video encoding device 100 and frames therein are encoded according to frame type. I-frame directly undergoes DCT. Conversely, P- or B-frame first undergoes ME (Motion Estimation) to generate MV (Motion Vector), and MC (Motion Compensation), differential measurement between the original video data 30 and re-constructed video data 31 is calculated, and spatial data converted into frequency data by DCT. The converted frequency data is quantized by a relevant quantization matrix corresponding to the frame type to reduce complexity. The quantized two-dimensional data is converted to one-dimensional data and undergoes VLC to generate encoded data. Note that the original video data 30 and re-constructed video data 31 are generated in a predetermined resolution. When resolution of displayer 20 exceeds the predetermined resolution, serious distortion occurs.

Video processing and recording apparatuses and methods


A sheet feeding device having a tray on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, includes a feeder for feeding the stacked sheets through contact therewith, a separator provided downstream in the feeding direction of the feeder for separating sheets one by one from the stack of sheets and at least a pair of conveyance rollers provided downstream of the separator for conveying the separated sheet. A detector detects the size of the stacked sheets. A pressing device presses the sheets, and a contact pressure between the feeder and the sheets is adjustable. A sheet edge detector provided downstream of the separator detects an edge of each of the separated sheet, and respective drivers drive the feeder, the pressing device and the conveyance rollers. A controller controls the driver. A table in which a plurality of variable and selectable pressure forces appliable by the pressing device are set according to a detected sheet size. The controller controls the driver according to a set value of the table.

The present invention relates to a recording sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus such as a copier, facsimile and printer, and more particularly relates to improvements in document conveyance in an automatic document feeder and recording sheet conveyance accommodated in a cassette or intermediate tray.
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, facsimile and printer, a paper feed unit is provided that is operated in the following manner: the uppermost or lowermost sheet of a stack on a tray, cassette, or stacker is taken out, and the following sheets are taken out one by one.
For example, in order to timely transfer a toner image from a photoreceptor onto a transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is conveyed as follows: the transfer sheet is conveyed out from a paper feed cassette through a pickup roller and feed roller; the transfer sheet collides with a registration roller and is stopped at the registration roller under the condition that slack is provided to the sheet; the registration roller is driven synchronously with the start of a scanning operation of an optical system that reads document information; and then the transfer sheet is held by the registration roller so that it can be conveyed to the transfer region. In the case of a paper conveyance device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Open to Public Inspection No. 73374/1975, the paper conveyance speed is controlled in the following manner: a vacuum feeder is provided in the device; a thickness detection lever and pressure detection lever that are displaced in accordance with the thickness and pressure of papers are provided to detect the thickness and pressure; and a motor to convey the papers is driven according to the results of the detection.
In a recording paper refeed device provided in an intermediate tray in the case of two-side recording or multirecording, recording papers are supplied and conveyed in the same manner as described above.
In an automatic document feeder, document sheets (referred to as a document, hereinafter) are conveyed out from a stack tray by a sheet feed device one by one; the document is conveyed onto a platen by a conveyance belt; the document is exposed by an exposure lamp; and then the document is conveyed onto a document discharge tray. According to a bottom sheet separation and conveyance device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Open to Public Inspection No. 36248/1985, compressed air generated by an air injection means is supplied between the sheets in order to separate them. In this device, the air flow amount is controlled according to the amount of stacked sheets.
In a high speed copier that can copy at a high speed of not less than 50 sheets per minute, it is necessary to provide an automatic document feeder that can quickly and positively convey a document onto a platen glass, and further it is necessary to provide a recording paper feed device that can send a transfer sheet from a paper cassette or an intermediate tray at high speed. In the aforementioned automatic document feeder and recording sheet feed device, a large number of documents and recording sheets stacked on a tray must be positively conveyed at high speed without failure. Conveyance conditions are different according to the size and amount of documents or recording sheets to be conveyed. Therefore, conveyance tends to become unstable.
In order to prevent the aforementioned problems, a paper feed device provided with a vacuum belt or a vacuum feeder has been proposed. However, the mechanism of the aforementioned device is complicated and large-scale, and further noises are caused by the device. In the case of the aforementioned paper conveyance device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Open to Public Inspection No. 73374/1975, the sheet pressing force can be changed only in 2 stages, therefore the device is not suitable for the complicated conveyance operation described above.


A method is described for preparing a nanorods assembly. The method comprises providing a mixture comprising at least a liquid crystal and nanorods and depositing said mixture on the surface of at least substrate. The method further comprises aligning said nanorods with their long axis of the nanorods along a preferred direction on said substrate resulting in a nanorods and liquid crystal assembly, said aligning being performed by applying an external alternating current electrical field.

Nanorods are anisotropic nanocrystals having a long axis and a short axis. The nanorod's structural anisotropy gives rise to anisotropic physical characteristics, displaying polarized optical, electronic, magnetic, and electric properties at the nanometer scale. An ability to assemble these nanorods into ordered assemblies with sizes that range from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale is critical for development of devices and applications based on the anisotropic physical properties. The dimensions of the ordered nanorods assemblies limit the size of nanorod-based devices. The degree of order or alignment in a nanorods assembly further determines the overall quality of a device. These nanorods-based devices include solar cells, photodetectors, lasers, thermoelectric applications and polarized light emitting devices (LED). Specifically, polarized LEDs permit decreased energy requirements and improved contrast, particularly during daytime use, when used in display applications. Moreover, the construction of nanorod-based LEDs requires lateral alignment of nanorods on a larger area surface.
In prior art several techniques have been described which have been used to laterally align nanorods, like for stretching a polymer composite filled with nanorods. However, these techniques have not resulted in large-sized nanorods assemblies with a high degree of order, but only those with dimensions of only a few micrometers.
Hence there remains a need to achieve nanorods assemblies that can be prepared with large dimensions and have good lateral alignment of the nanorods.

Planar aligned nanorods and liquid crystal assemblies