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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signal processing methods and apparatuses, signal processing programs, and recording media, and in particular, to a signal processing method and apparatus for evaluating similarity between different sections of at least one audio signal which include identical or similar audio signal components, a signal processing program used therewith, and a recording medium containing the signal processing program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an audio signal consists of a plurality of signal components which are simultaneously or consecutively superimposed on one another. However, even different audio signals may include identical or similar signal components. For example, in television and radio broadcasting, there are many cases in which, in even different conversations or narrations, common background music is superimposed on the sound.
Also, in many cases, at the start or end of a program broadcasted in series, a voice, music, or sound effect is used in common. Moreover, in some commercials provided by a single company, by using common audio-signal components for advertisements for different products, customers can be informed that the products are produced by the single company.
As described above, in many cases, between scenes (sections of a video/audio signal) related to each other, common audio-signal components are used in the background. Therefore, if a partially identical or similar portion of the audio signal can be detected, it is possible to perform high speed retrieval of a scene related to another, such as a similar audio-signal portion, a video-signal portion accompanying it, a related scene in a program, a scene in a series of programs, or a commercial of a single company.
Technologies that compare an input signal with a prerecorded signal and determine whether the signals are identical include, for example, a technology using correlation between an audio signal and its spectrum, and the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-312343.
In the above technology using correlation, when a plurality of audio signals or different components between the spectra of the signals are sufficiently weak, two signals are correlated with each other while the time between the signals is being shifted, and a correlation at maximum shifted time is used to evaluate similarity. However, when the different components are not sufficiently weak, appropriate evaluation of similarity cannot be performed.
Also, in the technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-312343, only an audio signal identical to that recorded can be detected regardless of a difference caused by some noise.
Accordingly, it is impossible for the above technologies to detect music which is used as background music of a program, or audio-signal components used in different commercials of a single company, as described above.
In order to determine whether an input signal is identical to a prerecorded signal by comparing both signals, a common method of the related art correlates the signals with each other while shifting their time domains, and evaluates similarity based on a correlative value at the time that the maximum correlation is obtained. This method has a problem in that it cannot perform accurate similarity when a plurality of audio signals, and different components between the spectra of the signals are not sufficiently weak. The following is a specific description.
The short-time spectrum distributions (so-called “spectrograms”) of three audio signals (signal A, signal B, and signal C) are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, respectively. These distributions are obtained from the last two seconds of actually broadcast commercials. Signal A and signal B represent commercials for different products of a single company, and signal C represents a commercial of another company.
As FIGS. 1 and 2 shows, signal A and signal B include acoustically similar components which give an idea of the company, but the signal C in FIG. 3 does not include such a component. From the comparison between the signal-A spectrum distribution and the signal-B spectrum distribution, similar components and superimposition of different components are observed, though both distributions have a temporal shift.
Regarding the three audio signals, the results of correlative calculation on the spectrum of signal B and the spectrum of signal C, which are obtained with sections of the spectrum of signal A used as templates, are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The templates are 0.5-second sections that start at the 0-second position, 0.25-second position, 0.5-second position, 0.75-second position, 1-second position, 1.25-second position, and 1.5-second position of signal A.
FIG. 4A shows the result of correlative detection on the signal-B spectrum. This is obtained by using the template starting at the 1.5-second position of the signal-A spectrum. FIG. 4B shows the result of correlative detection on the signal-C spectrum. This is obtained by using the template starting at the 0.75-second position of the signal-A spectrum.
The maximum correlation between signal A and signal B is 0.657, while the maximum correlation between signal A and signal C is 0.642, which are indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 4A and 4B, so that both have almost no difference. This is not because signal A and signal C are similar to each other, but because different components between signal A and signal B are not weak since both have only a maximum correlation of approximately 0.65.
As described above, the correlation method is not always suitable for detection, classification, and retrieval of similar scenes.
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The present invention relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to a computer with a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator.
RFID is a technology that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person. With RFID, the electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the RF (radio frequency) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is used to transmit signals. A typical RFID system includes an antenna and a transceiver, which reads the radio frequency and transfers the information to a processing device (reader) and a transponder, or RF tag, which contains the RF circuitry and information to be transmitted. The antenna enables the integrated circuit to transmit its information to the reader that converts the radio waves reflected back from the RFID tag into digital information that can then be passed on to computers that can analyze the data.
Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims.
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The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supporting verification of software internationalization.
Internationalization of software has been developing in these years. Internationalization of software means that software usable only in a specific monolingual environment is so adjusted that it can be used in other language environments. For example, it means that software capable of using only English is so improved that it can use languages other than English (for example, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, Russian, etc.). In the internationalization of software, the following is done to adapt to other language environments: Translating messages and menus on a user interface; Changing data description formats such as time and date, numeric, currency, etc. (i.e., the year-month-day order, symbols used as the decimal point and thousands separator); Changing comparison and sorting algorithms for character strings; and Changing fonts and character sets used for display purposes
The internationalization of software requires testing whether there is a problem in the behavior of software in a new language environment. Such testing is called “globalization testing.” Globalization testing is to verify whether a system to be tested correctly handles the above region- or culture-dependent information.
It is desired that this globalization testing be done by a native of the target region, culture, and language, or a person well-versed therein. However, the actual situation today is that this test is often done centrally in some regions. For example, test on languages across Asia is often done in China. Further, in many cases, software is developed based on a primary language (normally English), so that verification in other languages often involves checking in comparison with the results in the primary language.
Under such circumstances, difficulty in doing the test increases, causing problems of test imperfection due to overlooked data errors. Specifically, the following problems can occur:
(1) A person in charge of testing focuses only on seemingly apparent items, such as whether the display is provided correctly and whether the characters are not garbled, without knowing points to be noted in testing whether region- or culture-dependent data is displayed correctly.
(2) When viewing a correct display in a language familiar with the person, the person overlooks the possibility that the display may not be appropriate in a test target region.
(3) When characters are displayed in a language-dependent format such as the time and date or currency, the person cannot determine whether the characters are placed in a correct format.
(4) The person is not aware that two or more languages co-exist in information displayed using the same type of alphabet such as western languages.
(5) The person cannot find a missing portion in another language even when it is displayed in the primary language.
Conventionally, there have been some proposals for internationalization of software. In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-188693, a master scorecard, in which data to indicate a main category of internationalization topics to be investigated by the user is listed, is generated to calculate a prescribed statistic to indicate preparations for internationalization of software products regarding the main category of topics listed in this master scorecard. In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-065794, multiple fonts obtained by associating letter forms, using different association rules, with a group of multiple character codes to be tested and a group of other multiple character codes are prepared for each font, and output information from internationalization software for performing processing with reference to a pseudo-translated test resource file is displayed using one of the multiple fonts so that the character codes to be tested and the other character codes will be identifiable in displaying the output information using each font.
Thus, there are conventional techniques for internationalization of software. However, the technique of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-188693 is to assess and improve internationalization readiness of software, and not to support verification work as the most important part of the internationalization of software. Further, the technique of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-065794 is to address attention to the above-mentioned problem (1) in testing internationalization software, and not to cover the above-mentioned problems (2) to (5).
It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency and reliability of verification of a character string described in a language-dependent format.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an external amplifier, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for removing noise that is generated in an external amplifier when the audio output mode of a digital receiver is changed.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A digital receiver, such as a digital television (DTV) or set-top box (STB), has a Sony Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) output for digital audio transmission, which is connected to an external amplifier so as to be reproduced.
When audio is reproduced in the external amplifier, it is possible to obtain sound of higher quality, more channels, more various sound field effects, higher power, etc. than output sound from the digital receiver. Therefore, the user can enjoy a more realistic digital broadcast.
At present, the digital receiver can receive an analog broadcast, as well as a digital broadcast. Particularly, the digital television may receive an SPDIF input from an external digital device, such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, decode it and then provide the decoded result again as an SPDIF output, or may receive an analog L/R signal from an external analog device, such as a video cassette recorder (VCR), and provide it as an SPDIF output of a pulse code modulation (PCM) mode.
The SPDIF output mode is generally contained in an audio menu of the digital receiver, and is selected to suit the user's situation or automatically changed by the digital receiver according to a given broadcast or an external input source.
Audio transmitted when the user views a digital broadcast through the digital receiver, is an Encoded audio stream. The Encoded audio stream can be defined by various standards, such as AC3, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). At present, the audio standard is AC3 in Korean and North American digital broadcastings.
In this digital audio environment, the user can select a desired one of an Encoded mode or PCM mode as the SPDIF output mode. For example, provided that the user has an amplifier capable of decoding an SPDIF output of the Encoded mode, he/she will generally select the SPDIF output of the Encoded mode to enjoy multichannel, high-quality sound.
In contrast, provided that the user has an amplifier incapable of decoding an SPDIF output of the Encoded mode, or an amplifier capable of receiving audio of an L/R 2 channel and providing a specific sound field effect, he/she will select an SPDIF output of the PCM mode. Similarly, for a digital television that receives an input from an external digital device such as a DVD player, the user can also select the SPDIF output mode.
On the other hand, in the case where the user views an analog broadcast through the digital receiver or an analog video from an external analog device connected with the digital receiver, the digital receiver analog/digital (A/D)—converts an analog L/R signal from the external analog device and provides the resulting signal as an SPDIF output of the PCM mode. In this case, even though the user selects the Encoded mode as the SPDIF output mode, the digital receiver automatically provides the SPDIF output in the PCM mode.
Accordingly, the user can change the SPDIF output mode from the PCM mode to the Encoded mode in the audio menu while viewing a digital broadcast, or the change of the SPDIF output mode from the PCM mode to the Encoded mode can be made upon a channel change from an analog channel to a digital channel, a source change from an analog channel to an external digital device, a source change from an external analog device to a digital broadcast, and a source change from an external analog device to an external digital device.
For a distinction between the Encoded mode and PCM mode of the SPDIF output, SPDIF channel status information is generally used, as will hereinafter be described with reference to the annexed drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates the SPDIF channel status information.
As shown in FIG. 1, the channel status information includes various information for proper decoding of the SPDIF output by an external amplifier, in which the first bit of byte 0 indicates whether the SPDIF output mode is the PCM mode or Encoded mode.
That is, the first bit indicates the PCM mode if it is 0 and the Encoded mode if it is 1. This bit is also referred to as an Audio/Non Audio bit.
Therefore, the external amplifier determines whether the SPDIF output inputted thereto is in the Encoded mode or PCM mode, by periodically checking the first bit of byte 0 of the channel status information, and sets a decoder IC therein for proper decoding of the SPDIF output according to the determination result.
On the other hand, in this process of determining whether the SPDIF output is in the PCM mode or Encoded mode and processing the SPDIF output according to the determination result, noise is generated in the external amplifier when the SPDIF output mode is changed from the PCM mode to the Encoded mode, as will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 illustrates a process of noise generation in a conventional external amplifier when the SPDIF output mode is changed from the PCM mode to the Encoded mode.
When the SPDIF output mode of the digital receiver is changed from the PCM mode to the Encoded mode, the SPDIF data is changed from a PCM bit stream to an Encoded bit stream and, at the same time, the Audio/Non Audio bit of the channel status information is changed from the PCM mode (‘0’) to the Encoded mode (‘1’).
However, the external amplifier cannot immediately recognize the change of the SPDIF output mode from the PCM mode to the Encoded mode. For this reason, the external amplifier outputs an SPDIF input with an Encoded bit stream as sound of the PCM mode until it recognizes the mode change, causing noise.
In other words, the external amplifier has mode change check times T1, T2 and T4 at intervals of typically 100 ms or 200 ms, as shown in FIG. 2. In the case where the mode change is made at a time T3 between the check times, noise is generated for a period from the time T3 to the next check time T4.
In this case, the noise may be serious and the speaker may be subject to damage resulting from an abrupt sound variation.
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Vehicle powertrains may include transmissions to transfer power and torque from an engine to the vehicle output (axles or wheels). Hybrid powertrains may include multiple primary movers, including internal combustion engines or alternative power sources, such as one or more electric machines coupled with an energy storage device. When the powertrain is equipped with an additional primary mover, such as an electric machine, the transmission may also transfer torque and power from the electric machine to provide traction for the vehicle. Fixed gears or speed ratios of the transmission allow the engine to operate within a narrow range of speeds while providing a wide range of output speeds to the powertrain.
Different gears or operating modes of the transmission provide different, selectable speed ratios or gear ratios, and also different levels of torque multiplication. Changing the speed ratio of the transmission generally changes the ratio of input speed to the output speed and changes the torque multiplication between the input and the output. Selection of speed ratios may occur through actuation of hydraulic components controlled by one or more hydraulic valves. The hydraulic pressure and flow regulated or provided by these valves selects the requested speed ratio.
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The present invention relates to niobium and oxides thereof and more particularly relates to niobium oxides and methods to at least partially reduce niobium oxide and further relates to oxygen reduced niobium.
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and described herein, the present invention relates to a method to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide which includes the steps of heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material for a sufficient time and temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide.
The present invention also relates to oxygen reduced niobium oxides which preferably have beneficial properties, especially when formed into an electrolytic capacitor anode. For instance, a capacitor made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxide of the present invention can have a capacitance of up to about 200,000 CV/g or more. Further, electrolytic capacitor anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides of the present invention can have a low DC leakage. For instance, such a capacitor can have a DC leakage of from about 0.5 nA/CV to about 5.0 nA/CV.
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to methods to increase capacitance and reduce DC leakage in capacitors made from niobium oxides, which involves partially reducing a niobium oxide by heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, for a sufficient time and temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide, which when formed into a capacitor anode, has reduced DC leakage and/or increased capacitance.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention, as claimed.
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Metal resistivity has been known to increase in narrow trenches due to electron scattering from the surfaces in the trenches (also referred to as “surface scattering). As lines continue to narrow, the effects of electron scattering from surfaces significantly increase.
Beyond the 7 nm node, resistivity will be dominated by surface scattering over grain boundary and phonon scattering. For example, it is known that surface scattering can account for about 66% of the resistivity for 10 nm wide lines. As dimensions shrink, surface scattering will compose the majority of the wire resistivity. In other words, smaller dimensions will lead to increased surface scattering, which in turn will lead to increased resistance.
Accordingly, there is a need for viable methods to reduce surface scattering.
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Previously proposed packet data switches would appear to be burdened with one or more of the disadvantages set forth below.
It has been a problem with transferring a data packet from an incoming data link to several outgoing data links, so-called broadcasting or multicasting. In certain cases this has only been achieved using relatively complicated special arrangements, e.g. so-called copying networks for copying data packets. It has not always been possible to assign a data packet different channel numbers on different outgoing data links when a data packet is transferred to several outgoing data links. However, it is an advantage if it is possible to assign such a data packet different channel numbers on different outgoing links, since it is not certain that one channel number which is utilized for a data packet on an incoming link can also be utilized for the same data packet on all outgoing links.
With previously proposed packet data switches, it has not always been possible to maintain the chronological order between several incoming data packets.
A design with a common control memory for several data links results in that a time multiplex method must be applied. A prerequisite for this is that the control memory must be able to work very rapidly if the selector is to be able to handle high data speeds.
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There is known a hybrid vehicle which has at least one electric motor in addition to an engine such as an internal combustion engine, which functions as a vehicle drive power source. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of such a hybrid vehicle, which is provided with an internal combustion engine, a first electric motor and a second electric motor. This hybrid vehicle is further provided with a brake which is configured to fix an output shaft of the above-described internal combustion engine to a stationary member, and an operating state of which is controlled according to a running condition of the hybrid vehicle, so as to improve energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle and to permit the hybrid vehicle to run according to a requirement by an operator of the hybrid vehicle.
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The invention relates to a microcontroller comprising a command decoder.
Single-chip microcomputers which are generally used for controlling apparatuses and in which CPU, memories and ports are integrated on a chip are understood to be microcontrollers. The CPU comprises in known manner a command decoder which decodes the loaded commands and performs a run-off control in order that the commands are carried out by the computer.
Microcontrollers are programmed in a machine-dependent assembler language. In the known assembler languages, all assembler commands, with the exception of the conditional program steps, are executed independently of data. When different operations must be performed in dependence upon given data, this is possible in conventional microcontrollers only with a considerable programming effort. The condition to be realized must then be extensively encoded in the assembler. When, for example, generic pointers in a high-level language compiler are to be programmed by means of different assembler commands dependent on the addressed memory, this requires a high programming effort or, by substitution, a considerable number of hardware components for reconfiguring the memory.
Based on this background, it is an object of the present invention to improve a microcontroller of the type described in the opening paragraph as regards its functionality and to simplify the programming.
This object is achieved by a microcontroller as defined in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
The microcontroller comprises a command decoder as well as at least one memory to which the command decoder has direct access. The command decoder is adapted to decode at least one conditional command, the result of the decoding of the conditional command depending on the contents of the memory to which the decoder has access. When the command decoder thus loads a conditional command, it checks the contents of the memory to which it has access and, in dependence upon the result of this check, it supplies a machine command from a series of possible machine commands, which are associated with the loaded conditional command, to the computer. The memory, to which the microcontroller has access, may be particularly a register which is present on the microcontroller.
Due to its mode of operation, the microcontroller according to the invention allows a considerably greater flexibility in its use and in programming without extensive changes in the structure of the hardware being necessary. A conditional command can be used for programming in the same way as conventional assembler commands. When executing the program code, it ensures a greater flexibility because the actually performed instruction depends on the data which are present at the instant of forming this instruction in the memory to which the command decoder has access.
The memory, to which the command decoder has access, is preferably adapted in such a way that it can comprise input data of the microcontroller. Input data of the microcontroller may be particularly digital or digitized information supplied by a connected apparatus.
In accordance with a special embodiment of the invention, the command decoder is adapted in such a way that, dependent on the contents of the memory to which the command decoder has access, the conditional command is decoded as an access command for the computer to different memory types. The access to different memory types, starting from the same conditional command, is a frequently occurring situation of use in which the embodiment of the microcontroller according to the invention is particularly advantageous. Numerous microcontrollers have different assembler commands for access to different memories. For example, the microcontroller 80C51 has the command xe2x80x9cmovxe2x80x9d for moving data memory data and the command xe2x80x9cmovcxe2x80x9d for code memory data. A generic pointer (for example in the high-level language C) which has address-controlled access to the overall implemented memory is possible for such microcontrollers with either considerable assembler code effort or with additional hardware-supported memory configurations (memory mapping). In contrast, the implementation of a data-controlled, conditional command with a single program command allows access to all implemented data memories, because the relevant desired instruction is decoded in dependence upon the data, for example, dependent on the contents of a processor register as a pointer. This operation has the external effect of access to a linear memory. It is therefore a great advantage that, for example, memory management units which are provided can be used without any change in spite of virtual reconfiguration of the memory.
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Many solid-state devices require for their implementation the availability of thin layers of semiconductor of closely controlled thickness. A widely used method of obtaining such layers is that of epitaxial growth whereby single crystal material is deposited from either the liquid phase or vapor phase onto a suitable substrate. Examples of such devices are transferred electron diodes and Schottky gate Field Effect Transistors (FET) fabricated on epitaxial layers of GaAs. There exists a problem of thickness control during growth as well as that of maintaining a uniform thickness over the entire slice, which is essential if high device yields and uniformity of response are obtained. This problem is illustrated by considering the case of the FET which requires for optimum performance doping n.about.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3 and layers only .about. 0.2 .mu.m in thickness.
An alternative to growing epitaxial layers of the required thickness is to grow an overly thick layer which is subsequently thinned. However, such techniques at best usually remove material uniformly so that initial nonuniformities in thickness are amplified when considered as a percentage of the final layer thickness. In addition, ambiguities resulting from difficulties in measuring thin layer thicknesses always exist.
Anodic thinning is one technique of thinning epitaxial material. Specifically it provides for automatic thinning to a thickness which is required for Schottky gate FET applications despite variations in layer thickness and substrate topography.
Devices prepared by this technique are not uniform over the entire surface but instead have hillocks or isolated regions of greater thickness dispersed randomly over the sample.
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The acrylic rubber-metal composite prepared from a metal and an acrylic rubber by vulcanization bonding can be used in the production of parts requiring an oil resistance, a heat resistance, etc. Recently, a water resistance has been required in addition to the afore-mentioned characteristics in view of possible contamination of oil with water, depending on contacting service positions.
To improve chemical and physical bonding forces in the vulcanization bonding between the metal and acrylic rubber, a method for coating a zinc phosphate treated metal with a phenol resin-based adhesive is generally used. However, the zinc phosphate-based treating agent generally has a high crystallinity and the surface roughness of the metal treated with such an agent is so high as to cause a abrasion of mating materials when brought into contact with rubber-unbaked parts as a problem.
When a metal and an acrylic rubber are bonded to each other through only one layer of the adhesive without any surface treatment, on the other hand, a peeling problem occurs at the boundary surface between the metal and the adhesive in some tests of contamination of oil with water. To obtain the water resistance, it has been proposed to bond a metal to a rubber, using an undercoating adhesive and an overcoating adhesive, where the application of two layers of the adhesive has not any performance-wise problem, but a low productivity problem, because two units of adhesive applicators must be used.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-10-121020
Patent Document 2: JP-A-11-001672
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2000-017247
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1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to high pressure fluid conductors and more particularly to a valve interposed in a high pressure fluid line between the source of fluid pressure and downstream distribution lines.
In moving high pressure fluid from a source to a point of usage or for processing, it is desirable, from an economic view point, to utilize distribution line conductors capable of containing the flow of fluid under pressure but incapable of withstanding the pressures generated in the event of a malfunction of equipment or someone inadvertently closing a valve in the downstream end portion of the distribution line or lines. Such malfunction or inadvertent closing of a valve results in the distribution line rupturing and creating a dangerous situation for equipment or personnel.
This invention provides an emergency shutoff valve to be interposed in fluid conductors between the source of fluid under high pressure and a downstream distribution line or lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In industrial situations such, as described hereinabove, it has been common practice to install a pressure relief valve or valves in fluid conductor lines which, in the event of increase of pressure above a safe predetermined level, the relief valve opens to vent the fluid. However, this is undesirable where the high pressure fluid is toxic or is a valuable asset or may be environmentally unacceptable.
This invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a valve device which is interposed in a fluid conductor between the source and its connection with a distribution line so that in the event of downstream flow stoppage this valve immediately stops the fluid from entering the distribution line in response to a buildup of fluid pressure above a predetermined value.
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1. Statement of the Technical Field
The present invention relates to the security of confidential information, and more particularly to the security of a credential store with a lockbox.
2. Description of the Related Art
Security of confidential information remains a vital concern for any entity that stores sensitive information or transmits it across both secure and insecure networks alike. Many systems employ a credential store to identify and authenticate specific users of a system and control that specific user's access to certain applications, files and other sensitive data.
One way to secure confidential information, such as credential files, is through cryptography. The purpose of cryptography is to make data storage and transmission secure. Security is achieved by means of encryption, that is, converting a clear-text message (plain text) into a data stream that looks like a meaningless and random sequence of bits (cipher text). A cryptographic algorithm, also known as cipher, is a mathematical function that uses plain text as the input and produces cipher text as the output (and vice versa). All modern ciphers use keys together with plain text as the input to produce cipher text. A key is a value that works with a cryptographic algorithm to produce a specific cipher text. The same or a different key is supplied to the decryption function to recover plain text from cipher text.
There are a number of techniques used to encrypt and decrypt credential stores with passwords. The most common approach for symmetric encryption involves the one-way hashing of a known password (possibly with or without a “salt”). In general, hashing is the process of producing hash values for accessing data or for security. A hash value (or simply hash), also called a message digest, is a number of a fixed length that is generated from a string of text of arbitrary length. Typically, the hash is substantially smaller than the text itself. A “salted” hash can add greater security to a credential store by attaching a random value—the so called salt—to each password and only then computing the hash over the password and salt.
As mentioned above, credential store security and confidentially are normally provided through the use of cryptology, where an encryption key is derived from a password via a Password Based Key Derivation Function (PBKDF). In some environments, the same password is also used for other purposes, such as authentication to other services unrelated to the credential store, and a mechanism can be used to synchronize all of these disparate passwords with a single value.
Unfortunately, if a system administrator changes the “master” password and tells that password to the user, the user will be unable to access his credential store with the new password, since the credential store is still encrypted using a key derived from the old password. A common practice today is to prompt the user to enter the old password, but this level of user interaction is unacceptable in some environments.
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The present invention relates to methods of treating cancer using antibodies directed against p53 mutant proteins.
The tumor suppressor gene p53 inhibits tumor growth primarily via induction of apoptosis. Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are the most common genetic alterations and occur in more than half of all human tumors. Approximately 90% of these alterations are missense mutations in the DNA-binding core domain responsible for sequence-specific binding of wild-type p53 protein to target genes. Many of these mutations cause a common conformational change in the p53 protein, which results in the exposure of an epitope that is otherwise hidden inside the wild type p53 molecule.
The involvement of p53 mutants in cancer progression was suggested to be associated either with trans-dominant suppression of wild-type p53 or a wild-type p53-independent oncogenic “gain of function”. As wild-type p53 forms a tetramer to exert its tumor suppressor activity, it is generally accepted that heteromerization of mutant p53 with wild-type p53 drives the wild-type protein into a mutant or otherwise inactive conformation which leads to the trans-dominant suppression phenomenon. The “gain of function” of mutant p53 may be attributed to two mutually possible mechanisms. One is the abrogation of the tumor suppressor activity of p53 family members, p63 and p73, that were found to physically interact with mutant p53, but not with the wild-type p53 protein, and to interfere with their activity. The second involves the ability of mutant p53 to trans-activate or repress specific genes that mediate the various oncogenic activities of these mutants. Core domain p53 mutants were found to trans-activate genes, such as multiple drug resistance (MDR-1), c-myc, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and early growth receptor (EGR-1), these genes being different from those reactivated by wild type p53.
Given the active role of p53 mutants in promoting tumorigenicity, efforts have been made to inactivate their function or to revert them into a wild-type phenotype. These include the introduction of second site suppressor mutations (e.g., N239Y, N268D and H168R) that can at least partially restore specific DNA binding to mutant p53. In addition, synthetic peptides derived from the C-terminus of the p53 protein, or the CDB3, a p53-binding protein (p53BP2) derived compound, were found to restore DNA binding followed by transcriptional trans-activation, as well as induction of p53 dependent apoptosis to tumor cells. Moreover, low molecular weight compounds, such as CP-31398 and PRIMA-1, were shown to restore wild type conformation, transcriptional trans-activation and to induce apoptosis in cells and in human tumor xenografts carrying mutant p53. However, such peptides and compounds lack the ability to distinguish between the wild-type and mutant form of p53, a property crucial for targeted treatment.
Thus, novel anti cancer treatment modalities which specifically target a broad range of p53 mutants and not wild-type p53 proteins are desired
More than 90% of the mutations found in the p53 protein produce a conformational change in the p53 protein which results in the exposure of an epitope, which is otherwise hidden in the hydrophobic core of the molecule. Such an epitope was localized to amino acids 212-217 of the human p53 protein (GenBank Accession No. NP—000537) or amino acids 209-214 of the mouse p53 protein (GenBank Accession No. NP—035770) and has a sequence of FRHSVV (SEQ ID NO:1). Prior studies describe the isolation of a single-chain scFv mouse antibody prepared from a mouse immunized with SEQ ID NO:1. This antibody (named ME1), was found to be expressed in the cytosol of mammalian cells and to bind mutant p53 protein but not the wild-type p53 protein with an affinity of 10−7 M (Govorko D, Cohen G and Solomon B., 2001, J. Immunol. Methods. 258: 169-81). However, although this antibody presents a useful tool for clarifying the role of mutant p53 in tumor transformation, due to its mouse origin and its moderate affinity towards the mutated p53, its therapeutic application is limited.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a human derived antibody capable of specifically targeting with high affinity mutant p53 proteins.
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Some well bores, for example some oil and gas wells, are lined with a casing. The cemented casing stabilizes the sides of the well bore, prevents fluids (liquids or gases) in the well bore from entering the surrounding earth formations, and/or prevents fluids from zones other than the producing zones from entering the well bore.
In a typical cementing operation, cement is introduced down the well bore and into an annular space between the casing and the surrounding earth. The cement secures the casing in the well bore, and prevents fluids from flowing vertically in the annulus between the casing and the surrounding earth.
Different cement formulations are designed for a variety of well bore conditions, which may be above or below ambient temperature and/or above ambient pressure. In designing a cement formulation, a number of potential mixtures may be evaluated to determine their mechanical properties under various conditions.
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{
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The conventional Rubik's Cube is a 3×3×3 cube, and it is developed into a 4×4×4 cube and a 5×5×5 cube. However, the playing methods of these conventional RUBIK'S CUBE puzzles do not beyond the scope of disordering the originally integrated color or pattern before finding a way to recover this originally integrated color or pattern design.
However, these conventional RUBIK'S CUBE puzzles are boring and lack of innovation. In view of the drawbacks of the conventional RUBIK'S CUBE puzzles, the present invention discloses a whole new three-dimensional DIY assembly intelligence structure, which integrates a jigsaw puzzle, a puzzle box, a RUBIK'S CUBE puzzle and a pet egg into a unity.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air conditioners, and more particularly, to an air conditioner which provides well-being indices with reference to a room temperature and/or room humidity for management of health of a user and room environment.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Well-being is a word which emphasis on a ‘quality of life’ in a sense of living a healthy life.
Recently, there are increasing numbers of people who take a balanced life as an index of happiness of life in which mental and physical health is maintained, rather than a life only running forward for getting materialistic value or fame.
Such a well-being culture is known as a style of life taken place as people accept naturalism, new age culture, and the like against a highly developed civilization following improvement of a living standard.
While interest on health of individual is emphasized the most than any other times, for effective management of personal health and room environment, it is required to provide information required for activity and life of a person in the room.
Of the information, a food poisoning index, a discomfort index, a putrefaction index, and so on is required, which is sensitive to a temperature, and humidity.
At first, the food positioning index will be reviewed.
In general, the food poisoning is an acute or chronic health hazard taking place as a person takes food containing naturally occurring poison or harmful substance (microbes or toxic substance causing the food poisoning).
The fool poisoning index is a ratio of a time period the food poison occurs at a specific temperature to a time period the food poison occurs at an optimum temperature.
The discomfort index is a numeral for expressing a level of discomfort of a person feels according to weather by combining a temperature and humidity. That is, the discomfort index is a numeral expressing a degree of sense of a temperature and humidity, also called as a temperature humidity index.
The discomfort index is the higher as the temperature and humidity is the higher, and, if the temperature is the same, the discomfort index is the higher as the humidity is the higher.
The putrefaction index is a numeral for expressing a level of putrefaction by combining the temperature and the humidity.
Because the putrefaction of substance is dependent on a very complicate chemical and biological process, though it is difficult to find out the real truth of the putrefaction of substance only with weather merely, of the factors that give influence to the putrefaction, the influence of the temperature and humidity is the greatest.
That is, a rate of the putrefaction is dependent on the temperature and humidity, and by expressing which with a numeral, the putrefaction index can be expressed.
However, the present home appliances used domestically only perform specified functions, but unable to provide the food poisoning index, the discomfort index, and the putrefaction index, failing to satisfy a code of healthy life the user desires.
Accordingly, an immediate development of a device for calculating well-being indices, such as the food poisoning index, the discomfort index, and the putrefaction index, and visibly providing the indices to the user.
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A crane is conventionally provided with a winch device for performing hoisting operations (crane operations). A winch device is provided with a winch drum that rotates by being driven by a motor, and performs hoisting or lowering of an object by means of this winch drum. The hoisting or lowering of the object is instructed by an operator operating an operation lever. In the winch device, the motor performs hoisting or lowering of the object by causing the winch drum to rotate in a hoisting direction or lowering direction, in accordance with the operation of the operation lever.
Furthermore, the winch device is provided with a negative brake. The negative brake holds the winch drum so that the winch drum cannot rotate by applying a braking action to the winch drum, when the operation lever is disposed in a neutral position, and releases the braking action applied to the winch drum when the operation lever is operated from the neutral position. However, in a winch device of this kind, there is a possibility that the timing at which the negative brake releases the braking action applied to the winch drum may diverge from the timing at which the motor starts rotation of the winch drum. If the timing of the release of the braking action applied to the winch drum is earlier than the timing of the start of rotation of the winch drum, then a slipping-down phenomenon occurs in which the object drops momentarily. If the timing of the release of the braking action applied to the winch drum is later than the timing of the start of rotation of the winch drum, then a pull-up effect occurs in which the winch drum performs a hoisting operation of the object while the braking action is still applied to the winch drum by the brake.
The following Patent Documents disclose technology for preventing the occurrence of phenomena such as the foregoing.
Patent Document 1 describes a winch braking device provided with a pilot valve that generates a pilot pressure corresponding to the operation of an operation lever from a hydraulic pressure supplied from a pilot hydraulic pressure pump, a direction control valve that controls the direction of rotation of a hydraulic motor in accordance with the generated pilot pressure, and a hydraulic brake which applies a braking action to the winch drum. A switching valve and a brake value are arranged in series between the pilot hydraulic pressure pump and the hydraulic brake. The switching valve is switched to a state for supplying hydraulic pressure from the pilot hydraulic pressure pump to the brake valve, by the pilot pressure generated by the pilot valve in accordance with the operation of the operation lever. The brake valve is switched to a state of supplying hydraulic pressure from the switching valve to the hydraulic brake in accordance with hydraulic pressure supplied from the direction control valve to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic brake applies a braking action to the winch drum when no hydraulic pressure is supplied from the brake valve, and releases the braking action on the winch drum when hydraulic pressure is supplied from the brake valve. Consequently, when the hydraulic motor starts rotation of the winch drum due to hydraulic pressure being supplied from the direction switching valve to the hydraulic motor, then the braking action of the hydraulic brake on the winch drum is released simultaneously due to hydraulic pressure being supplied from the brake valve to the hydraulic brake. As a result of this, the slipping-down phenomenon and the pull-up phenomenon described above are prevented.
Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, a counterbalance valve is provided in the piping that supplies hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic motor. A pressure sensor for detecting the holding pressure inside the piping is provided in the piping between the counterbalance valve and the hydraulic motor. When the operation lever is in the neutral position, a braking action is applied to the winch drum by the brake device. When the operation lever is operated to the hoisting side, then the brake device is controlled so as to gradually reduce the braking force on the winch drum, until the holding pressure detected by the pressure sensor reaches a target holding pressure required in order to hold the suspended load. Therefore, sudden release of the holding of the suspended load, and the subsequent occurrence of a slipping-down phenomenon, is prevented. Furthermore, when the holding pressure detected by the pressure sensor has risen to the target holding pressure, then the brake device is controlled in such a manner that the braking force on the winch drum immediately becomes zero. Therefore, the occurrence of a pull-up phenomenon of the brake is prevented.
In recent years, there have been demands for electrification of winch devices used in cranes. In an electric winch device, a winch drum is caused to rotate by using an electric motor instead of a hydraulic motor, and an object is hoisted by the winch drum, but an electric winch device of this kind also has the problems of slipping-down and pull-up phenomena described above. However, in order to prevent the occurrence of these phenomena in an electric winch device, it is difficult to apply the technologies disclosed in the Patent Documents indicated above. More specifically, the technologies in the Patent Documents indicated above use hydraulic pressure which is supplied to a hydraulic motor in order to control a brake releasing operation, and cannot be applied to an electric winch device which does not have hydraulic pressure of this kind.
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Hand held rotary tools are widely used by many people including professionals, craftspeople, homeowners, and artists. These rotary tools typically include an outer housing designed to be easily held within a human hand. The housing retains an electric motor which is operable to drive a rotatable chuck of the rotary tool. The widespread use of hand held rotary tools is a result, in part, of the wide variety of accessories that may be used with the tools. The accessories include cut-off wheels, polishing wheels, grinding wheels, sanding discs, routing bits and other cutting bits.
The accessories may be removably coupled with the rotary tool using a collet. By way of example, a prior art hand-held rotary power or cutting tool 20 is shown generally in FIGS. 1-3A. The rotary cutting tool 10 includes a motor housing 12 to which a detachable handle 14 is attached. An electric motor (not shown) is enclosed within the motor housing 12. The motor receives electrical power through an electrical cord 16 (only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1). The electric motor is turned on and off by a power on/off switch 18 mounted on the motor housing 12.
An end of the motor shaft extends from one end of the motor housing 12. Attached to the end of the motor shaft is a collet bit attachment structure 20 for removably securing an accessory, such as those identified above, to the motor shaft. The collet bit attachment structure 20 includes a collet nut 22 and a collet 24 centered axially within a central aperture of the collet nut 22. The collet nut 22 is mounted on a threaded end of the motor shaft. To secure a bit to the motor shaft, a shank of the bit is inserted into a central aperture 26 of the collet 24. The collet nut 22 is then tightened, first by hand and then with a wrench 28, until the bit is held securely. To remove the bit from the motor shaft, the collet nut 22 is loosened, using the wrench 28, until the bit can be removed easily from the central aperture 26 of the collet 24.
The use of a wrench to tighten a collet bit attachment structure allows for accessories to be securely coupled with a tool. So as to ensure the proper wrench is available to a user, some devices provide a storage compartment within the rotary tool. For example, the wrench 28 for tightening the collet nut 24 may be stored in the compartment 30 formed inside the handle 14. The size of the compartment 30 is such that the wrench 28 is frictionally held therein to prevent it from sliding out during operation of the tool 10.
While the system of FIGS. 1-3A provides a convenient manner of storing a wrench that is used with a collet bit attachment structure, some users prefer a storage system that provides a more obvious indication that the wrench is firmly held within the storage compartment. Typically, a positive indication of proper insertion may be provided by a configuration that suddenly reduces the resistance to insertion of a component into a tool once the component is properly inserted into the tool. The sudden lessening of resistance provides positive feedback to the user that the component has been inserted into the tool.
Positive feedback may be provided in various ways. By way of example, FIG. 3A shows a housing 34 that includes a compartment 36. A coil spring 38 is positioned partially within the compartment 36. Accordingly, as the wrench 28 is inserted into the compartment 36, the wrench 28 compresses the coil spring 38. As a cavity 40 in the wrench 28 is positioned adjacent to the coil spring 38, the coil spring expands into the cavity 40. Positive feedback is thus provided to the user as the user feels the expansion of the coil spring 38 into the cavity 40.
While providing advantages, the use of a coil spring 38 tends to generate scratches on the wrench 28. Additionally, positioning the coil spring 28 within the housing 34 requires modification to both halves of the housing 34. Moreover, because the coil spring 38 is positioned within both halves of the housing 34, assembly of the device requires the coil spring 38 to be positioned within one half of the housing 34, with a portion of the coil spring 38 extending out of the half of the housing 34. Thus, the spring coil 38 may become misaligned during assembly of the housing 34.
While the provision of positive feedback is desired by some users, the manner in which a tool is configured in order to provide such feedback is also important to the users. For example, if the resistance is completely removed, the component is likely to move and rattle within the tool. Many users, however, interpret excessive movement and rattling of the components of a tool as an indicator of an inferior product, even if the movement and noise has no bearing upon the quality of the tool.
Moreover, other components in rotary tools require some amount of movement in order to provide the requisite operability. By way of example, the on/off switch is generally moved between a first position wherein power is applied to the internal motor and a second position wherein power is not applied to the internal power. Thus, some movement must be allowed. The allowance of movement is accomplished by designing the various components to be mismatched in size. While the mismatch in size allows for operation of the component, the resultant looseness may cause undesired noise as the tool is operated leading to the belief that the tool is an inferior device.
What is needed is a power hand tool which provides a positive indication that a tool such as a wrench is securely held therein. It would be beneficial to provide this benefit while minimizing the number of components needed to manufacture the tool.
What is further needed is a power hand tool which reduces noise and looseness of components. It would be beneficial to provide this benefit while minimizing the number of different components needed to manufacture the tool.
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The present invention relates generally to power converters. More particularly, this invention pertains to bidirectional power converters.
Designing circuits and laying out printed circuit boards is a time consuming and expensive process. Further, having multiple circuits and boards requires tracking multiple revisions of multiple circuits and printed circuit boards, which adds layers of complexity. However, in current power transfer circuit design techniques, circuit and board layouts are created for one specific purpose. Having multiple circuits and board layouts, each with multiple revisions is therefore heretofore unavoidable.
Wireless charging systems are limited by, inter alia, size, space, and transmitter/receiver orientation limitations. That is, wireless charging systems for batteries have wireless chargers, but the batteries directly physically contact the circuits of the device powered by the battery. The battery is not fully wireless which can be advantageous in wet or sterile environments. Further, wireless charging systems are currently limited by distance and/or orientation. That is, in some systems a transmitter coil must nearly be in contact with a receiver coil (e.g., laying a cell phone equipped with wireless charging capabilities on a wireless charging pad). In these systems, the Z directional differential between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil is therefore near zero while the X and Y directional variations are within a margin of error (e.g., the cell phone and its power receiving coil are within a specified diameter of a transmitting coil or antenna of the charging pad). In other systems, the Z directional differential between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil may be substantial, but the transmitter coil and the receiver coil must be located on the same axis (i.e., almost no variation in the X and Y directions between the coils and no variation in pitch). If the pitch or X-Y translation is not accurate, the transmitter may be damaged, requiring replacement of the transmitter circuit board. Thus, wireless charging systems that cannot compensate for variations in transmitter and receiver coil relative locations are difficult to manage and repair, and they are not practical for many uses in the field.
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This application relates to magnetic disc drives and more particularly to an apparatus for increasing operational wind force on a latching device for latching a disc drive actuator mechanism in a parked position when the drive is de-energized.
Disc drives are data storage devices that store digital data in magnetic form on a rotating storage medium on a disc. Modern disc drives comprise one or more rigid discs that are coated with a magnetizable medium and mounted on the hub of a spindle motor for rotation at a constant high speed. Information is stored on the discs in a plurality of concentric circular tracks typically by an array of transducers (xe2x80x9cheadsxe2x80x9d) mounted to a radial actuator for movement of the heads relative to the discs. Each of the concentric tracks is generally divided into a plurality of separately addressable data sectors. The read/write transducer, e.g. a magnetoresistive read/write head, is used to transfer data between a desired track and an external environment. During a write operation, data is written onto the disc track and during a read operation the head senses the data previously written on the disc track and transfers the information to the external environment. Critical to both of these operations is the accurate locating of the head over the center of the desired track.
The heads are mounted via flexures at the ends of a plurality of actuator arms that project radially outward from the actuator body. The actuator body pivots about a shaft mounted to the disc drive housing at a position closely adjacent the outer extreme of the discs. The pivot shaft is parallel with the axis of rotation of the spindle motor and the discs, so that the heads move in a plane parallel with the surfaces of the discs.
Typically, such radial actuators employ a voice coil motor to position the heads with respect to the disc surfaces. The actuator voice coil motor includes a coil mounted on the side of the actuator body opposite the head arms so as to be immersed in the magnetic field of a magnetic circuit comprising one or more permanent magnets and magnetically permeable pole pieces. When controlled direct current (DC) is passed through the coil, an electromagnetic field is set up which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit to cause the coil to move in accordance with the well-known Lorentz relationship. As the coil moves, the actuator body pivots about the pivot shaft and the heads move across the disc surfaces. The actuator thus allows the head to move back and forth in an arcuate fashion between an inner radius and an outer radius of the discs.
When the drive is de-energized or shut down, the drive motor stops spinning and the actuator is rotated, for example, counterclockwise to position the heads at an inner diameter landing zone location and latch the actuator in this position. Often a magnetic latch is used to maintain the actuator in this position with the heads in the landing zone. When a magnetic latch is used, an inadvertent external shock load, such as the drive being dropped, may cause sufficient rotational force to be applied to the actuator arms to overcome the magnetic attraction and thus the actuator arm may rotate from the landing zone to the data region of the discs without the discs spinning at all. This could destroy the stored data and could destroy the heads themselves. Consequently there is a need for a latch mechanism that ensures that the actuator stays in the parked position any time that the disc drive motor is de-energized and, more importantly, the discs are not spinning.
This de-energized latching has been traditionally accomplished by a wind operated latching mechanism which utilizes wind generated by the spinning discs while the drive motor is energized to push against a pivoting air filter member positioned adjacent the outer margin of the discs. This air filter member has a pivot portion, an air filter portion, and an elongated air vane which extends outward from the air filter portion over the top disc in the disc stack. The air vane is directly in the path of air drawn along the surface of the disc by the rotating disc. This moving air is a wind which pushes against the air vane, tending to rotate the air filter member about its pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed from above. Extending from the opposite side of the pivot portion of the air filter member is an elongated latch arm and a tab portion which carries a steel ball therein. The steel ball in the tab portion is positioned in the magnetic field generated by the VCM magnets and thus biases the latch on a counterclockwise direction such that the latch arm interferes with rotational movement of the actuator arm off of the magnetic latch when the drive is de-energized.
The operation of this conventional latch mechanism is completely automatic, driven only by the VCM magnet magnetic field bias and the force exerted by wind against the air filter and the air vane when the discs are spinning at normal speed. The size and placement of the steel ball on the tab portion are dictated by the requirement that the latch be disengaged when the discs are operating at full speed and engaged when the discs are turning at less than full operating speed with the actuator arm moved into the parked position.
The conventional air vane design has worked well for drives with three or four or more operating discs in the head disc assembly (HDA). However, in the case of drives designed for four discs and having only one or two discs installed, there have been cases where the air vane latches failed to move to the disengaged position when the drive is energized, thus preventing actuator movement and appearing to the user by the software as a disc crash or disc drive failure. In these cases, the failures appear to have occurred at high altitudes. Accordingly, there is a need for a magnetic wind operated latching apparatus for use in disc drives having only one or two discs which automatically disengages the actuator arm when the disc drive motor spins the discs at operating speed and engages the actuator arm when the disc or discs spin at less than operating speed and the actuator arm is in the parked position in a head disc assembly (HDA) designed to accommodate up to four or more discs.
Against this backdrop the present invention has been developed. The present invention is a stationary air vane member adapted to be fastened to a disc drive baseplate beneath a single spinning disc in a HDA designed to carry two or more discs on the drive motor spindle. The air vane member acts to accelerate wind which is generated by the rotating disc in the HDA and direct it to a pivoting air filter which typically has an air vane which extends over the upper surface of a top disc on the disc drive motor. This arrangement provides an additional moment arm on the pivoting air filter when only one disc is located on the drive motor in the HDA. This stationary air vane provides a narrowing channel beneath the spinning disc directing wind generated by the spinning disc toward the air filter portion of the latch member thus capturing additional air flow and thus providing an additional moment arm on the air filter latch when the drive is utilized at high elevations where the air is thinner. This stationary air vane member may also permit a larger steel ball to be utilized in the conventional latch apparatus thereby ensuring more positive latch and unlatch operations of the apparatus.
These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings.
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The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, more particularly to an arrangement of grooves and blocks formed in the tread shoulder regions capable of improving drainage performance without sacrificing steering stability and uneven wear resistance.
Pneumatic tires having a block-type tread pattern comprising a plurality of blocks formed in the tread portion are widely used. In order to improve the drainage performance of such a pneumatic tire, water existing between the tread surface and road surface has to be smoothly discharged outside the ground contacting patch from the tread edges.
In order to smoothen the discharge of water from the tread edges, a heretofore widely employed technique is to increase the volume of shoulder lateral grooves opened at the tread edges.
This technique however, inevitably decreases the rigidity of shoulder blocks formed in the tread shoulder regions, therefore, there is a problem such that the steering stability and uneven wear resistance are liable to deteriorate.
Thus, the drainage and the blocks rigidity have an antinomic relationship, and it was difficult to achieve both at the same time.
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{
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With the growing popularity of computing devices, there is an increasing demand for applications, or apps, to run on such devices. These devices may include smartphones, tablet computers, televisions, set-top boxes, in-vehicle computer systems, home entertainment systems, and so forth. To satisfy this demand, programmers are constantly building, testing, and maintaining applications. Testing of these applications is useful for quality assurance to find and correct errors.
Certain implementations and embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which various aspects are shown. However, various aspects may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical connector adapters and, more particularly, to optical connector adapters having latch inserts.
2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments
Optical connector adapters are used generally for end to end mating of optical connectors. Optical connectors intended to be mated to each other are inserted into the adapter. The adapter aligns and positions the connectors relative to each other to effect a connection. The adapters include receptacles into which the connectors are inserted, and it is the receptacles that accurately position the connectors relative to each other. Also, the receptacles may have locking features which lock the connectors to the adapter, and hence, to each other. Conventional adapters are made in pieces. For example, the conventional adapter may have an outer frame with features, such as flanges, for mounting the adapter to printed circuit boards (PCBs) or the chassis of electronic devices. The inner receptacles of the adapter may be molded separately from the outer frame. Having the receptacles made apart from the outer frame allows the receptacles to be shaped more accurately to better interface with the connector inserted therein, and also simplifies manufacture of both the outer frame and the inner receptacles. This in turn reduces manufacturing costs. However, the outer frame of the adapter is sectioned in order to facilitate installation of the inner receptacles into the outer frame. For example, the adapter frame may be sectioned into halves. The receptacle may be inserted into each half, such as by press fitting the receptacle into the appropriate half frame. Then, the half frames, with the receptacles therein may be bonded to each other by means such as ultrasonic bonding. This method is likely to result in misalignment between the receptacles in the adapter. This may be caused by small differences in the positioning of the receptacles in the frame halves, which are compounded when the position of one receptacle is related to the adjoining receptacles. Also, some misalignment between receptacles may be introduced when the adapter halves are mated and then bonded. The misalignment between receptacles in turn causes misalignment between mating connectors inside the adapter thereby degrading the connection between connectors. One example of an optical connector adapter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,663, which provides an adapter for holding coaxially aligned connectors. The adapter here has a main body with a side opening for installing a inner housing into the main body. The opening in the main body is covered with a panel. The large opening reduces the rigidity of the main body in this adapter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,971 discloses another example of a conventional optical adapter comprising first and second receptacle members and separate alignment sleeves located in the receptacle members. U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,611 discloses still another example of a conventional adapter comprising an outer part and an inner part fixedly held in the outer part. The inner part is one molding which may be difficult and costly to produce especially in the case of larger multi-fiber optical connectors. The present invention overcomes the problems of conventional adapters for all connector types (i.e. SC, LP, MTP, or MPO connectors).
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Recent advances in the use of composting at waste treatment facilities has enabled the world to deal with their waste in a much more environmentally beneficial and cost effective manner. Composting allows the breakdown of organic materials back to environmentally beneficial byproducts in a more time efficient and controlled manner. Additionally, composting can reduce the volume of material required to be land filled by up to 80%.
Covering the composting pile with a textile type substance has shown many advantages. The cover allows the pile to generate a more uniform level of heat, keeps unwanted vermin and scavengers from entering the pile, helps to maintain consolidation of the material, and allows for better moisture control of the compost pile. The use of plastic film has been used for many years and can in many states qualify the composting material for “in vessel” consideration. One issue with plastic covers, and even some textile covers, is the buildup of volatile organic compounds within the pile, as well as the inability of the composting material to properly degenerate in an aerobic environment.
Thus, there is a need for a cover which is capable of providing the positive aspects above, and also helps to control the emission of volatile substances. More particularly a cover which can control odorous fumes and pathogens developed during decomposition of the waste; and also provides appropriate gaseous exchange and water vapor transmission to provide an optimal aerobic environment. The optimal cover will provide operational reliability, product quality, minimum investment, and operating cost.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to stackable pallets. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for stacking packaged goods on a pallet and moving the same such that during transit, tipping and spillage of the packaged goods off the pallet is substantially reduced or eliminated.
2. Background Art
Consumers in the U.S., as is well known, purchase products for personal and home use from a variety of locations. These products include many different types of pre-packaged food items with significant shelf lives (breakfast cereals, cake mixes, snack foods, snack beverages, among many other items), personal care items (deodorants, toothpaste, shampoos, among many other items), as well home-use items such as paper towels, light bulbs, cleaning supplies (dishwashing detergents, washing machines detergent), among many other types. The types of stores where people purchase these items varies, and large nationally operated chain grocery stores (Shoppers®, Giant®, among others), nationally operated retail warehouse shopping stores (Wal-Mart®, Costco®, BJ's®, among others), and smaller convenience stores (7-11®, Wawa®, ExxonMart®, among others).
Even though a great variety of stores exist, consumers have become accustomed to purchasing whatever they want from wherever they want. That is, a consumer knows he or she can purchase, for example, beverage products (soft drinks), at any of the stores, the differentiation being perhaps price and size of containers. Manufacturers ship their goods to all these different types of stores, and they are generally shipped the same way: in cardboard boxes, loaded onto pallets.
The pallets used to ship all these different types of goods are loaded in central distribution warehouses. The loaded pallets are then placed into delivery vehicles, usually large wheel tractor trailers, and hauled to the different stores. Sometimes the entire loaded pallet is dropped off at the store, and the store's employees unload the pallets and stack the items onto shelves. Sometimes the drivers are responsible for unloading pallets and stacking shelves. Some items are not loaded onto pallets, but are loaded onto delivery vehicles, and then off-loaded from the delivery vehicle and stocked on shelves or point-of-purchase displays.
In the distribution chain described above, significant amounts of time and energy are devoted to the loading and subsequent unloading of pallets. Still further time and energy are devoted to the stocking of shelves of the shipped product. Although distribution of different products will vary, overall, it is about the same. The loading, unloading and shelving, or stacking of products costs hundred of millions of dollars each year through wages, and even worse, hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars in lost employee time and workers' compensation claims due to back and repetitive stress injuries. Back and repetitive stress injuries cost significant money and negatively impairs employees' lives. Thus, the current mechanisms and methods for distribution of product (which can also extend in some instances to raw materials for manufacturing) has significant shortcomings that take a personal and economic toll on the lives of many people.
A particular example of a product that is distributed as described above are consumer soft drink beverages. People throughout the world consume vast quantities of beverages, commonly referred to as “soft drinks”, and thus the soft drink industry is an extremely large one, wherein several billion dollars are spent annually. A significant portion of the people purchase soft drinks from restaurants of all different types, and others obtain their beverages from large retail stores, such as grocery stores or large discount stores (such as BJs®, Wal-Mart®, among others), yet a significant portion of the retail market also obtains their soft drink beverages from convenience stores.
FIG. 1 illustrates a type of device, commonly referred to as a dolly, that is used to transport many different types of products, including soft drinks. When soft drink product is distributed to grocery and convenience stores (retail location), it is generally placed on the distribution or delivery vehicle onto racks. The drivers or operators of the vehicles then unload the soft drink product at the retail location onto a dolly as shown in FIG. 1. Then, the operator transports the loaded dolly, which can weigh about 250 lbs., into the retail location. Often times the parking lot is a gravel or dirt parking lot, or is paved, but the asphalt has large cracks and/or “potholes”. The gravel, cracks, and/or potholes can cause operators to lose control of the loaded dolly, or make it difficult to keep control of the loaded dolly, which can lead to tipping and/or spillage of the product. Generally, the operator must also lift the loaded pallet up a curb from the parking lot to the sidewalk or entrance to the retail location. All these actions—loading, unloading, transport, lifting, and then shelving or stacking the product, consumes significant amounts of energy and time, and leads to the back and repetitive stress injuries discussed above.
Thus, a need exists for a pallet that transport and displays packaged goods that substantially eliminates or reduces the material and physical costs of distribution of product, and furthermore, substantially prevents or eliminates tipping and spillage of product while being shipped and transported.
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The pressure bulkhead comprises a sandwich structure which defines a central axis and which extends between, i.e. is surrounded by, a circumferential border area which is configured for being mounted to a fuselage shell of an associated aircraft fuselage. The central axis preferably extends in parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of an associated aircraft fuselage, or approximately in parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis.
The sandwich structure comprises an inner face sheet, an outer face sheet opposite the inner face sheet, and a core assembly which is sandwiched between the inner and outer face sheets. Both, the inner face sheet and the outer face sheet extend transverse, preferably perpendicular, with respect to the central axis. Preferably, the pressure bulkhead is installed or can be installed in an associated aircraft fuselage in such a manner that the inner face sheet faces the cabin and the outer face sheet faces away from the cabin. The core assembly connects the inner face sheet to the outer face sheet.
Similar pressure bulkheads are known from the prior art. DE 10 2012 005 451 A1 discloses a pressure bulkhead for an aircraft fuselage, comprising a sandwich structure including an inner face sheet, an outer face sheet and a foam core sandwiched between the face sheets. The sandwich structure has a lenticular cross section, wherein the thickness increases continuously from a border area to a central axis. However, such a lenticular cross section is optimized for pressure bulkheads which are under a uniform loading, i.e. a loading which results merely from the pressure difference between both sides of the pressure bulkhead. When also loads other than the pressure loads shall be absorbed and transferred by the pressure bulkhead, which can be desired in various cases, this cross sectional shape does not necessarily form an optimum with regard to stress distribution and required weight.
DE 10 2007 044 388 B4 discloses a pressure bulkhead for an aircraft fuselage formed as a sandwich structure having an inner face sheet, an outer face sheet, and a core sandwiched between the face sheets. The inner face sheet has an even cross section while the outer face sheet has a cross section which is flexed so that the distance between the outer face sheet and the inner face sheet gradually increases from the border area to a central axis. In the border area, where the sandwich structure is mounted to a fuselage shell, the distance between the outer and inner face sheets is constant up to a kink in the outer face sheet, from where on the outer face sheet extends away from the inner face sheet so that their distance increases linearly, when viewed from the border area to the central line. This linear increase runs until a second kink in the outer face sheet, from where on the outer and inner face sheets are in parallel again having a constant distance to one another, when viewed from the border area to the central line.
Such a cross section of the pressure bulkhead provides good strength characteristics for a uniform loading and a simple construction, while an integration and connection of cabin arrangements to the pressure bulkhead is facilitated. However, when loads other than pressure loads are to be received and transferred, this cross section is not always ideal.
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The present invention relates to a method for heat transfer such as cooling method for a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a cooling method of using a metal sherbet, consisting of metal being in the state of a mixed phase or two-phase mixture of a liquid phase and a solid phase, as a heat conducting body disposed between a cooling unit and the heat source for transferring heat generated by the device to the cooling unit in high cooling efficiency.
Recently, to improve processing ability of an information processing system, respective sizes of the transistor devices used in the system have become extremely miniaturized. Accordingly, the size of each element of the semiconductor device is extremely miniaturized. In other words, a number of electronic elements mounted on the semiconductor device is tremendously increased as seen in an advanced semiconductor device such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration) device and a VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) device. However, realizing a further reduction in size of the semiconductor device. In other words, realizing a higher packing density of the semiconductor device results in generating a large amount of heat from the semiconductor device. Accordingly, it has become impossible to keep an operating temperature of the semiconductor device in a maximum allowable in use, as long as a conventional air cooling method is used for cooling the semiconductor device. For example, the heating value per second of an LSI device is about 4 watts even in a maximum, and it increases up to as much as 10 watts in the case of a VLSI device. Therefore, to cool the semiconductor device, it has become necessary to employ a liquid cooling method in place of the conventional air cooling method.
Many kinds of liquid cooling units or structure have been practically used. For instance, FIG. 1 is a liquid cooling unit used for a flat package type semiconductor device, and FIG. 2 is liquid cooling structure used for a flip chip type semiconductor device. These liquid cooling unit and structure may be applied to any other types of semiconductor devices.
FIG. 1 indicates a mounting state of a liquid cooling unit 6 onto a flat package type semiconductor device 2 through an elastic heat conducing body 4 and a heat transferring plate 3 (made of, for example, alumina) equipped with the flat package type semiconductor device 2. The liquid cooling unit 6 comprises a cooling body 1, a bellows 5 made of metal or plastic, a heat conducting plate 9 connected to the bellows 5, a nozzle 7 and a water drain port 8. The heat conducting plate 9 is thermally connected with the heat transferring plate 3 through the elastic heat conducting body 4.
In FIG. 1, the nozzle 7 injects cooling water into a chamber formed by the bellows 5 for cooling the heat conducting plate 9 so that heat generated by the flat package type semiconductor device 2 is transferred to the cooling body 1, then the cooling water flows out from the water drain port 8 transferring heat from the heat conducting plate 9. Usually, the cooling temperature can be controlled by changing the temperature of the cooling water.
The elastic heat conducting body 4 is made of silicon rubber, in which a ceramic powder is mixed, for making the elastic heat conducting body 4 have an excellent heat conducting characteristic and good contact with both the heat conducting plate 9 and the heat transferring plate 3, using a pressure due to the elasticity of the bellows 5.
FIG. 2 indicates the structure for cooling a flip chip type semiconductor device 10 by utilizing a metal block (made of, for example, aluminum) 11 cooled by a cooling unit 13 which is also cooled by coolant flowing through a plurality of pipes 12 passing through the cooling unit 13. The cooing unit 13 has a recessed portion into which the metal block 11 is inserted pushing a coil spring 14. The metal block 11 has high heat conductivity and a smooth surface for making good contact with an inner wall surface of the recessed portion. The coil spring 14 is used to allow the metal block 11 to be placed in sufficient contact with the semiconductor device 10, with uniform pressure. The heat generated by the semiconductor device 10 is transferred to the cooling unit 13 through the metal block 11 The heat resistance appearing in gaps between the semiconductor device 10 and metal block 11 and between the metal block 11 and inner wall surface of the cooling unit 13 is reduced by using gas, such as helium, having good heat conduction, filled in the gaps and a space 20.
Many kinds of liquid cooling units have been used elsewhere, however considerably high heat resistance appears between the semiconductor device and the liquid cooing unit. Accordingly, in the prior art, the following methods have been proposed to lower the heat resistance:
1) depositing a soft metal (for example, indium or an indium alloy) into a contact portion intended to be thermally contacted, with pressure;
2) providing a liquid metal (for example, mercury) to the contact portion; and
3) soldering the contact portion.
However, in method 1), high thermal conductivity is difficult to achieve because the air layer always exists at a gap appearing in the contact portion. In method 2), there is always the danger of a short-circuit caused by flow of the liquid metal, because the liquid metal has low viscosity. In method 3), stress due to the difference in thermal expansion between the solder, the semiconductor device and the liquid cooling unit occurs, so that connecting structure around the contact portion is easily cracked when in operation and cooling is frequently performed.
Thus, the liquid cooling method is effective for cooling the semiconductor device, compared with the air cooling method. However, there is still a problem that a sufficient cooling effect is hard to be obtained because of large heat resistance appearing between the semiconductor device and the cooling unit, which has been a problem in the prior art.
A satellite flying in space is in a high vacuum, so that the temperature at the side of the satellite, facing the sun and that not facing the sun are quite different from each other. Therefore, making the temperature in the satellite uniform is very important for making components mounted in the satellite operate stably. As a result, the heat generated at the side facing the sun must be transferred to another side away from the sun. Furthermore, the components themselves generate heat respectively, so that such heat must be transferred to other places for keeping the temperatures of the components within allowable values. Usually, the heat of the components is transferred within the satellite and radiated into space, not directed toward the sun and the earth.
The satellite is fabricated by combining many structures, so that there are many fixed and rotatable mechanical joints in the construction of the structure. In these mechanical joints, the heat transfer which is carried out through these mechanical joints is very important, because the heat transferred through the structure is lost mostly at these mechanical joints. Therefore, how to reduce the heat transfer loss at the mechanical joints is a big problem in the manufacturing and operating of the satellite. To reduce the heat transfer loss at the mechanical joints, an organic material, such as silicon grease, optionally including metal and ceramic powder has been used. However, the organic material has the defect of being easily evaporated and changed in quality in a high vacuum so that the heat transfer loss of the material itself and at the contact to the mechanical structure increases.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a label printer for printing labels, such as self-adhesive labels. Such a printer can have a pressure roller and, corresponding to the pressure roller, a print head which has printing elements for printing on the label material. The print head can be mounted on a support which can be biased towards the pressure roller to engage the pressure roller, by means of a compression spring mounted on a base plate and engaging the print head support. At least the spring base plate is mounted so that it can rotate on a bearing shaft which is preferably parallel to the pressure roller. In addition, there can also be a locking element which can be non-rotationally connected to the bearing shaft, which locking element can be moved into a locking position in a latching locator of the spring base plate to maintain the spring base plate from turning on the bearing shaft.
2. Background Information
A similar printer of the type described above and invented by the present applicant is disclosed in German Patent No. 41 39 891A1. The thermal print head disclosed therein is fastened on a support, which support is mounted rotationally on a bearing shaft which runs parallel to the counterpressure roller. The application force of the print head against the counterpressure roller is defined by a compression spring, wherein the opposite end of which the spring is in contact with a spring base plate. The spring base plate is also rotationally mounted on the bearing shaft. The spring base plate is stopped by a hinged block, or key, which is non-rotationally connected to the bearing shaft and is oriented parallel to the bearing shaft. The spring base plate is pivoted on the bearing shaft when it is necessary to replace the print head with a new or different print head, or when it is necessary to replace the medium which is being printed because it has run out, or when it is necessary to replace the medium being printed with another type of medium.
One disadvantage of such a configuration is that the key is on one hand relatively complex, time-consuming and expensive to manufacture, and on the other hand, on account of its orientation is undesirably deformed as soon as significant azimuthal shear forces are exerted on the plate.
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This specification generally relates to detecting profile changes based on device behavior.
In corporate and other networks, devices on a network may be managed by a mobile device management (MDM) platform. The MDM platform may apply profiles, which may include various network settings, to various devices on the network. In some cases, the network settings specified by a profile may include one or more policies governing how the device accesses the network, proxy server configuration settings governing how the device accesses external networks, and/or other local network configuration settings for the particular device.
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This invention relates to security devices, and more particularly to security locks for use on devices such as snowboards and the like.
Snowboarding and snow skiing are all extremely popular sports today. Snowboarding, like skateboarding, is one of the fastest growing sports today. One out of every four persons who regularly visits ski resorts owns or rides a snowboard. Snowboarding is increasing globally both as a competitive sport as well as an alternative to conventional skiing. Snow skiing is still the most popular wintertime sport in the world today, but snowboarding is gaining.
Snowboards are relatively expensive. The need for protecting snowboards in today""s increasingly crowded ski resorts is a must. As more and more people turn to snowboarding, the risk of theft is a growing concern.
Some people make use of steel cables with locks which can be used to secure these types of sporting equipment to some fixed object such as a secure pole. Unfortunately, these types of cable-lock devices must be carried by the person using the sporting equipment; for example, a snowboarder at the slopes has to physically carry the locking device, and the locking devices usually are bulky.
Ski resorts frequently have racks for skis, but which normally are not provided with any type of locking system, and such resorts generally have not yet addressed some type of rack for snowboards. As more and more people turn snowboarding, the risk of theft is a growing concern.
Therefore, there is a need for a reliable locking device. Some forms of locking devices have been devised as is evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,773,239, 5,179,847, 5,177,986, 5,706,680. However, these devices either involve locking devices that must be carried on the person while the sporting equipment is in use, such as a separable lock device, or they involve relatively bulky or complicated devices.
A suitable locking device would allow the snowboarder protection against theft. The locking devices of the present invention offer the snowboarder the opportunity for protection.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple locking device or system for sports equipment like snowboards.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for sports equipment, such as snowboards and the like, which does not require the person to carry a lock, cable or other separate locking device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved security device for sports equipment.
The locking devices of the present invention will help deter a would-be thief from stealing snowboards and the like while the user has lunch, goes to the lodge, car, or any other situation would involve leaving their equipment behind for any length of time. The present locking concepts can provide the snowboarder the extra piece of mind by knowing their equipment is secure.
According to the present invention, a relatively simple and compact locking device is provided for snowboards and the like. In one embodiment, the device comprises a compact cable lock which can be mounted adjacent to the bindings attachment of a snowboard so as to be securely affixed to the sports item. A lock can include a releasable cable which is normally wrapped around a textured pad forming a xe2x80x9cstomp pad,xe2x80x9d but which can be extended to lock around a fixed pole or other fixed or stationary object so as to secure the snowboard thereto. Other embodiments have different forms of cable lock assemblies. Same use key locks and some have combination locks.
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The need for sensitive magnetic microscopes with a high degree of spatial resolution is felt in many industries. For example, IC engineers and designers can use such a microscope to carry out non-invasive and non-destructive measurements of electrical current distributions within an IC chip, and they may survey the operation of tiny devices—pinpointing electrical and structural defects down to the smallest unit (transistor, diode, interconnects, vias, etc.). They may also study electro-migration of interconnects to develop even finer conducting lines. In another application, a data-storage professional can image ultrafine domain structures of future recording media with a magnetic microscope of sufficient sensitivity and resolution. These media will have an increasingly small domain size, eventually approaching the adverse superparamagnetic limit. Furthermore, the magnetic microscope is also applicable to a range of basic research areas, such as flux line structure investigation.
Many physical objects generate magnetic fields (H) near the objects' surfaces, and the magnetic microscope can obtain images of the magnetic fields by scanning a magnetic sensor on the surface of the object of interest. Such images can be spatially microscopic and weak in field strength. Nevertheless, these images reveal important signatures of inherent electrical and magnetic processes within the objects. For example, the magnetic image of a magnetic thin film discloses its internal magnetic domain structure (spatial electron-spin configuration). The electrical currents within an integrated circuit (IC) chip generate external magnetic images, which not only contain information of current-distribution, but also the frequencies with which various components on a chip are operating. A type II superconductor also creates an image of threading magnetic flux lines, whose structure and dynamics are fundamental properties. Researchers have confirmed the d-wave symmetry in high-Tc superconductors by studying the flux line images in a uniquely designed sample.
There are currently a number of techniques for imaging magnetic fields at surfaces.
Electron holography and SEMPA (scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis) require high vacuum operation and delicate sample preparation. Both techniques offer static field images with good spatial resolution. However, these instruments are expensive and demand great technical skill to operate.
The magneto-optical microscope is a relatively simple system and is suitable for time-resolved imaging. However its field sensitivity and spatial resolution are poor.
The conventional scanning magnetic microscope has a microscopic field sensor, typically a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), a Hall probe, or simply a magnetic tip. This type of microscope scans the magnetic sensor relative to a sample to obtain a local field image. Though very sensitive, a SQUID probe is poor in resolution (˜5 μm), and requires cryogenics (77K). A Hall probe can operate under ambient conditions, but its sensitivity in the prior art is low. The magnetic microscope equipped with a magnetic tip can only measure the gradient of the magnetic field, and cannot sense a high frequency signal (e.g. MHz-GHz).
Prior to this invention the conventional magnetic imaging systems, such as the conventional scanning magnetic microscope, suffered from at least one of an inadequate sensitivity or an inadequate spatial resolution, resulting in the generation of magnetic field images that were less than optimum.
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In a conventional power MOSFET, the source is often shorted to the body to prevent the parasitic bipolar transistor, consisting of the source, body and drain diffusions, from turning on as the MOSFET is operated. Bipolar turn-on is undesirable since it may result in a loss of voltage blocking capability (i.e., snapback), negative resistance which can cause oscillations, current crowding, hot spots and device destruction.
The source-body short is normally created by depositing a metal layer over both the source and body diffusions. As a result, an "antiparallel diode", represented by the junction of the body and drain, is formed in parallel with the channel of the MOSFET. This prevents the MOSFET from blocking current in the direction from the source to the drain, since such current would flow through the forward-biased antiparallel diode. Thus, to provide a bidirectional current blocking capability, two back-to-back MOSFETs are normally used. This back-to-back series arrangement doubles both the on-resistance and chip area of the device, resulting in a 4X penalty.
In trench-type MOSFETs, the source, body and drain regions are formed along the side of a trench which extends into the semiconductor material and which contains the gate. The current flows vertically through a channel adjacent to a wall of the trench. This offers the potential of a greater cell density and a lower resistance when the device is turned on. In trench MOSFETs, the source-body short is typically created by allowing the body diffusion to extend to the surface adjacent the source and depositing a metal layer over both diffusions.
Trench MOSFETs have suffered from the problem of excessive electric fields at the corners of the trenches, which can cause avalanche breakdown and thereby damage or rupture the gate oxide layer at these locations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,266 teaches the use of a deep body diffusion at the center of the cell to reduce the field strength at the gate oxide layer.
Both the need to create a source-body short at the surface of the device and the creation of a deep body diffusion tend to limit the cell density and consequently increase the on-resistance of the MOSFET.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bidirectional current blocking power MOSFET in which the gate oxide layer is protected against damage from electric field stress in a manner which does not limit the cell density of the device.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wind turbines, and more specifically, to a wind flow estimator for a wind turbine having a rotor driven by wind applying power to turn rotor blades.
2. Description of Related Art
Most existing wind turbines operate at constant speed. The rotor drives a generator, such as an induction generator, at a constant rotational speed. Constant speed operation is required for a direct link with a constant frequency electrical utility grid. Other more modern wind turbines operate at variable speed to produce DC power, which a converter changes to AC power synchronous with the attached power grid.
Constant speed turbines adapt to increasing wind speed by detecting an increase in rotor rotation rate and then increasing the power generated. This increases the load torque on the rotor and keeps it from speeding up. If this is insufficient, or causes unacceptable power fluctuations, the pitch of the rotor blades is changed to reduce the rotor torque provided by the wind. If the rotor speed is not in sync with the grid, power is not generated.
Variable speed turbines generate power at all wind speeds, but have favored operating points at each wind speed that generate optimal power without over-stressing the components. Striving to follow the operating points as wind speed increases, these turbines also sense rotor speed and use load torque and rotor blade pitch for control.
Control strategies based on detecting changes in rotor speed are limited in their effectiveness due to the substantial time lag between wind changes and rotor speed changes. Direct knowledge of wind flow is central to better control of the wind turbine and a means to estimate wind flow and track it over time provides for improved control. Current patents in this field include those of Holley (U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,375 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,041) in which the rotor rotation rate, blade pitch angle, wind torque and generator torque are combined to estimate wind flow.
To accurately track wind flow, it is necessary to determine the average wind flow over the area swept by the rotor blades of the wind turbine. Anemometers installed near to the area swept by the blades cannot accurately measure the average wind speed because they measure wind speed at a single location, whereas wind speed may vary over the area swept by the blades. Further, the blades after the wind pattern and remove energy from the wind, and a sensor behind the blade will not reflect the wind in front.
A rough estimate of the wind speed can be obtained by measuring rotor speed and electrical output power. Since forces other than the wind influence these parameters, this method is not sufficiently accurate.
In addition to controlling the turbine, it is desirable to damp the oscillations of the tower. The tower moves in response to the wind on its structure and on the rotor blades. Tower motion is inherently lightly damped and can oscillate substantially. Tower life is shortened by the associated mechanical flexing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,647, to Harner, et al discloses tower-mounted wind turbine powered electric generating system, having a control to modulate rotor blade angle to maintain rated torque or power in turbulent wind. The control provides a blade angle command component, which adjusts the turbine rotor blade angle in a manner to provide aerodynamic damping of the tower primary resonant frequency in response to a predicted motion signal. The predicted motion signal is indicative of analytically anticipated longitudinal motion of the tower parallel to the rotor axis, as a filtered function of the blade angle reference signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,692, to Kos, et al discloses an accelerometer disposed on the support tower of a wind turbine electric generating system in the vicinity of the rotor. The accelerometer provides a motion signal indicative of acceleration of the tower in the direction of the rotor rotational axis. The signal is passed through a band-pass filter. A torque/power controlled blade pitch angle reference signal is generated for constant torque/power in response to wind turbulence. The band-pass filtered accelerometer signal is added to the blade reference signal and used to control the pitch angle of the rotor blades through a pitch change mechanism. This provides additional, positive aerodynamic damping to the tower by modulating the blade angle chosen for constant torque/power in response to wind turbulence.
The Holley patents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,375 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,041) estimate wind speed but not from tower measurements.
The Kos, et al and Harner, et al patents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,692 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,647) are concerned only with tower damping using measured acceleration through a bandpass or other simple filter. No attempt is made to estimate wind flow from tower measurements.
It is desirable to provide a turbine control system including a wind or water flow estimator that estimates and tracks wind or water flow using the motion of the turbine support structure, such as a tower or underwater tether, as it moves in response to the flow. The flow estimator results are then used in the turbine control system to properly adjust its operating point, to tune the controller, to control the rotor rotation rate, and to damp support structure oscillations.
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Three-dimensional structures with micron-scale features have many potential applications, for example as photonic band gap materials, tissue engineering scaffolds, biosensors, and drug delivery systems. Consequently, several assembly techniques for fabricating complex three-dimensional structures with features smaller than 100 microns have been developed, such as microfabrication, holographic lithography, two-photon polymerization and colloidal self assembly. However, all these techniques have limitations that reduce their utility.
Two-photon polymerization is capable of creating three-dimensional structures with sub-micron features, but from precursors that are not biocompatible. Many techniques have been developed to fabricate three-dimensional photonic crystals, but they rely on expensive, complicated equipment or time-consuming procedures. Colloidal self-assembly has also been utilized to make three-dimensional periodic structures, but controlling the formation of defects is difficult.
One fabrication technique relies on the deposition of viscoelastic colloidal inks, usually by a robotic apparatus. These inks flow through a deposition nozzle because the applied pressure shears the interparticle bonds, inducing a breakdown in the elastic modulus. The modulus recovers immediately after leaving the nozzle, and the ink solidifies to maintain its shape and span unsupported regions. The particles in the ink have a mean diameter of about 1 micron, meaning that it would be impossible for the ink to flow through a 1 micron diameter deposition nozzle without clogging or jamming. In practice, nanoparticle inks (mean diameter˜60 nm) also tend to jam nozzles smaller than 30 microns, limiting the applicability of viscoelastic colloidal inks to this length scale.
Polymeric solutions are used in nature to fabricate thin filaments. Spiders, for example, derive their silk fibers from a concentrated protein biopolymer solution that solidifies as it is drawn to form an extremely strong filament. The extensional flow of the solution aligns liquid crystal sheets in the polymer, and the solution gels by adding ions as it leaves the spinneret. This process was artificially recreated by the deposition of the recombinant spider silk biopolymer into a polar “deposition bath” to produce filament fibers with comparable properties.
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This invention relates generally to the automated machine tool art, and more specifically to the interconnection of various individual automation components for effecting linear motion such as base slides, lift tables, thruster slides, rotary motion devices and grippers or end effactor devices into various configurations for the purpose of performing test or assembly applications of a repetitive nature.
Heretofore, industrial engineers and machine designers choose from the variety of basic individual available automation components and connected them together using adaptor plates to form the require configuration or combination for performing a particular machined function, which are generally of a repetitive nature in accordance with a predetermined program. Each such application or orientation heretofore was customized to suit the particular requirements of the work or machine operation to be performed by the use of adaptor plates. Currently, individual components such as slides, rotary actuators, and grippers are designed with mounting patterns that are specific to their basic shape, size or design; and no consideration is taken into account that they can or must be attached to other automation components to be useful. As a result, such components were utilized individually and comprised only a limited part of the overall use to which such components could otherwise be utilized. In the present state of the art, a machine designer or engineer had to either design or choose from a manufacturer""s catalog of adaptor plates, a specific adaptor plate to connect together the desired components to effect the desired machine function or operation. Such adaptor plates have the capability of only interconnecting two components, and usually in only one orientation. Most manufacturers only offer such adaptor plates for effecting the interconnection of their more popular combinations. However, the number of possible combinations for such machine components is considerably larger than that contemplated by the individual manufacture. To effect those combinations which are not standard, the machine designer or engineer had to resort to designing and building a given adaptor plate not offered by the manufacturer. Thus, many manufacturers in the automatic tool machine art devote entire sections of their catalogs and/or have separate catalogs just for listing the available adaptor plate designs limited to the many standard combinations only.
It has been known that a xe2x80x9ctxe2x80x9d nut and slot connection have been used to effect a connection between certain linear motion devices. There is also the NUMATE type of connection which connects a certain style component to another of the same style in a limited range of sizes. Otherwise, there are no other known means to directly interconnect various types of machine components, or various styles within a given product type, or various sizes between type and styles of machine components to form the various possible combinations to achieve the desired orientations without the need of the many varied and different adaptor plates to achieve the desired orientation.
The present invention provides a universal system for coupling two or more machine components together in a desired orientation. The system includes at least two machine components each including a base and a movable member coupled to the base, the movable member being configured to operate in response to commands from a controller. The base and the movable member on each component defining a mounting surface such that the each of the mounting surfaces on one of the components is configured to mate with each of the mounting surfaces on another of the components in a plurality of desired orientations.
Thus, the invention provides a universal system for coupling two or more machine components together in various orientations for providing motion for automation applications. The system of the invention eliminates the need for adapter plates for coupling two or more machine components together.
This invention is directed to machine components such as base slides, lift tables, thruster slides, rotary actuators and grippers or the like that utilize a simple set of matching and mating pattern of holes that include through bolt holes, tapped holes and dowel pin holes, the latter providing for locational accuracy, and not necessarily required for effecting the direct interconnection of adjacent components. The hole patterns can be of any size based on the size of the machine component, and the component may carry several hole patterns of different sizes to accommodate the direct interconnection of units of different sizes. The respective components each have a base pattern and an output pattern of holes. The base pattern allows the component to be attached to a machine base or to another component output pattern. The base pattern of any given component is the mounting pattern closest to the machine base in the assembly or combination of attached components.
Essentially, the hole pattern is divided into two sexes, viz. male holes which form clearance through holes for receiving the interconnecting bolts or screws and female holes which are threaded or tapped holes. The holes of a given pattern are arranged in two basic hole configurations within the given pattern, viz. a square configuration and a rectangular configuration. A machine component may have more than one hole pattern for use in interconnecting components of varying sizes. Both configurations, i.e. the square and rectangular configurations making up the hole pattern are centered on the mounting surface of the components which allows for the square configuration to have four possible mounted orientations and two orientations for the rectangular configuration. The arrangement is such that two components can be directly interconnected by using the opposed complementary sex mounting configurations, e.g. male to female. There is also a logic as to what can be normally connected to what, as far as the component types are concerned. For reasons of accuracy, dowel pin holes may be included with the hole pattern.
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This invention relates to processes and apparatus for sugar extraction from cane, and more particularly to an efficient diffusion extraction process.
In present day sugar diffusion processes, the entire cane is usually subjected first to a cutting or shredding process by which the cane sugar cells in the pith and rind are ruptured open, or at least in which a substantial number of such cells are ruptured. The finely divided cane is then subjected to diffusion, where the refined pulp material is applied to one of a number of different diffusers at a relatively high consistency, such as about 8%-12% solids or higher. Heated water or steam is applied and juices and liquids are extracted in a tank or on a conveyor belt. In some instances, the extracted material flows in a countercurrent manner against the direction of travel of the refined cane material. Extraction in such diffusers is by gravity combined, in some cases, with mechanical pressing.
The term xe2x80x9cdiffusionxe2x80x9d has been applied to various apparatus and methods by which a shredded, sliced, ground or refined cane or, in some instances, bagasse, is subjected to extraction by contact with heated fluid. In a true diffusion process, the plant cell is not ruptured and advantage is taken of the property of the dissolved crystals passing through the cell wall when water or other solution is more dilute than that in the cell. Following such diffusion, all solutions in contact with cells tend to achieve equal concentrations with the fluid in the cell.
Current refining practice has been to treat the cane in such a manner that, to a large extent, the cells are ruptured, and the sugar removal more nearly resembles a washing process called lixiviation. Apparently, both diffusion and lixiviation occur at the same time, but the term xe2x80x9cdiffusionxe2x80x9d has become generically applied to such extraction processes and equipment quite apart from the fact that limited actual diffusion may be taking place.
While a great deal of attention has been paid to the construction and operation of diffusion equipment, this equipment still operates principally upon through-flow arrangements which depend upon gravitational drainage, at relatively high consistency, and therefore the efficiency and production rates are accordingly limited.
Although the diffusion process has been used, it is not believed to be practiced currently to a considerable extent, having been replaced in deference to the xe2x80x9ctandemxe2x80x9d process of running the cane between sets of high pressure rolls, such as six such sets, to crush the cane under the extreme pressure of the rolls, which may exert forces of 1,000 to 4,000 pounds per square inch. The roller crushers or xe2x80x9ctandemsxe2x80x9d as they are known in the trade require a substantial power to drive, typically with the equivalent of approximately 1,500 horsepower each, and are known to present high maintenance problems.
Substantially improved production rates and efficiency can be obtained by adapting certain processing equipment that has already been developed and used in the preparation of papermakers"" pulp. The cane is xe2x80x9crefinedxe2x80x9d or macerated in a tub type pulper known in the industry as a hydrapulper. In a hydrapulper, material to be pulped is placed in a tub in which a specially designed impeller or rotor is mounted at the tub bottom above a perforated bedplate. Heated dilution water is added as necessary to achieve a desired consistency, and the pulped material is extracted through the bedplate after a sufficient period of residence time has elapsed. The pulper, or pulpers may be made according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,725,007 and 4,109,872, incorporated herein by reference. The impeller or rotor is preferably a xe2x80x9cMidConxe2x80x9d rotor of Thermo Black Clawson, Inc. according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,007 incorporated herein by reference. The hydrapulper is highly efficient in reducing the fibrous content of the cane and breaking open the cell structure, permitting release of the sugar juices into the slurry.
The pulping takes place at relatively high consistencies (approximately 8%-10%) and uses recycled filtrate from the countercurrent washer""s formation and first stage wash zones. The pulping will continue until a major portion of the sugar content is dissolved in the liquid content, such as up to 30 minutes or more to each pulper preferably at an elevated temperature, such as about 50-75xc2x0 C., so that about 70%-99% and preferably up to 98% or more of the sugar content has been extracted into the liquid phase.
When the pulping is completed, the slurry is extracted through the perforated pulper bedplate of the final pulping stage diluted to a lower consistency, and it is applied through a headbox onto the top side of the continuously moving belt of a flat bed fordrinier type countercurrent displacement type extractor. Such an extractor employs an endless foraminous belt, (often called a xe2x80x9cwirexe2x80x9d), a headbox which delivers the suspension to the on-running or upstream end of the horizontally traveling upper run of the belt while at the relatively low consistency of about 2%-4% solids at an elevated temperature. The pulped material is thus deposited on the upstream end of the run of the belt where a mat is formed as the sugar-rich liquid drains through the belt and is withdrawn for further processing.
The belt runs downstream from the formation zone and is divided into a series of displacement zones to which liquid is supplied as from showers from above for drainage through the mat and through the belt and into receptacles below the belt. Fresh washing liquid or heated water is applied at the last of these zones at the downstream end of the belt run, and the liquid drained from the last zone is collected and delivered to the zone immediately upstream from the last zone, and these steps are repeated for each of the other zones to affect countercurrent extraction from the pulp.
The entire apparatus is enclosed in a hood. A series of receptacles are positioned below the upper run of the belt in sealed relation with the hood. Suction or vacuum is applied to these receptacles. The vacuum from below and the air pressure above augment the action of gravity in forcing the liquor to flow through the pulped mass on the wire. A particular feature of the apparatus is that of recycling the gases and vapors drawn through the belt back to the hood to increase the pressure differential across the belt. The above-described apparatus is more fully described in the patents of Ericsson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,644, issued May 15, 1979 and Parks et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,894, issued Nov. 29, 1994, which patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Preferably, immediately downstream of the final extraction stage, the pulp mass is subjected to pressure extraction by pressing one or more rolls above the belt against rolls within the belt loop, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,894. This provides mechanical extraction of liquid from the mat on the belt so that the pulp or bagasse remainder exits the apparatus having given up most of its liquid content, to the range of about 40% consistency. Thus, in the pressing stage, more than 70% of the liquid remaining in the pulp is expressed therefrom and captured. If desired, lime or other agents may be added to the pulp and liquid within the countercurrent extraction equipment.
A principal advantage of the use of the combination of the hydrapulper and countercurrent extraction washer resides in the fact that the hydrapulper releases 70% or more of the sugar content of the cane into the liquid content within the hydrapulper. When this is extracted through the hydrapulper bedplate with the pulped cane and applied to the headbox of the belt type extractor, the suspension is at about 2%-4% solids. On the belt, it increases from 2%-4% up to about 15% solids before final pressing. This extraction is of high efficiency by reason of the fact that it is accomplished with a pressure differential including a negative pressure head or vacuum below the belt. This translates into a high degree of extraction coupled with a high processing rate compared to that of diffusion extractors dependent upon gravity alone for separation. Since the pulp slurry applied to the belt is at low consistency and in a thin layer (2xe2x80x3 or less in thickness), the sugar remaining in the mat after draining is much less than in conventional extraction systems where the consistency is 12%-15% and the fiber depth is measured in feet. Accordingly, there remains much less sugar to be extracted at this point, as compared to conventional systems.
A further aspect of the invention resides in the employment of a pair of pulpers arranged in tandem so that they can operate on a continuous basis as distinguished from a batch basis. Where a single pulper is used, or a pair of pulpers in parallel relation, it is necessary to operate essentially each of the pulpers for a sufficient period of time, preferably alternatively, in order to provide the necessary residence time of the chopped cane in the pulper. When pulpers are arranged in tandem, each pulper may be optimized for pulping and breaking down the cane, by controlling the size of the openings in the bedplates (extraction plates). Thus, a first pulper can receive the cane in larger pieces, and it can be optimized by using an extraction plate with relatively larger openings, while a second pulper, which receives the high consistency pulp form the first pulper, can have an extraction plate with substantially smaller openings.
In either case of the pulpers operating in tandem or by the batch, it is preferred to chop the cane initially into relatively small pieces, such as by running the cane through a conventional wood yard type log chipper, such as is used for chipping limbs from trees that have been removed by road workers, power line and telephone workers, or as used in logging operations for chipping and shredding brush and branches up to 6 to 8 inches in diameter, as an example.
The chipper and pulpers entirely eliminate the first operation in a sugar cane process, namely, the conventional roller milling operation.
The apparatus and process of this invention substantially reduces the energy, i.e., horsepower, that is presently used by the sugar industry to operate the present usual arrangements of tandem presses used to extract sugar from the cane. Since the chippers and pulpers as preferably employed by this invention have few moving parts as compared to typical tandem three roll presses, maintenance problems are reduced.
It is therefore an object of the invention to extract a sugar rich liquor from sugar cane including the steps of pulping the sugar cane in sugar filtrate or water in a tub type pulper with a rotating impeller at an elevated temperature to reduce the cane to a pulp and fracture the cells to release the sugar content into the liquid phase, extracting the contents of the pulper through an extraction bedplate, applying said extracted material to the headbox of a moving belt type displacement extractor and applying said suspension onto a foraminous belt, applying a relatively negative air pressure below said belt (and/or a positive pressure on the belt) to augment the extraction of liquid content from said pulp through the belt, leaving a mat of pulp on the belt at a substantially higher consistency, and subjecting the mat to repeated zones of separation in which liquid is applied to the mat from a region above the mat and extracting liquid at the corresponding zone below the mat.
A further object of the invention includes carrying the mat through a plurality of extraction zones in which the liquid extracted from the last of said zones is applied to preceding zones in a countercurrent manner.
Another object of the present invention is to cut the sugar cane into small pieces and apply the small pieces to a tank type pulper in which a rotor at the bottom of the pulper tank is positioned to run against a perforated bedplate, adding sugar filtrate or water at an elevated temperature to said tank while operating the pulper to achieve a consistency of solid contents to liquid of about 8%-10%, continuing to operate the pulper rotor until at least about 70% or more up to about 98% of the sugar content of the cane is dissolved in the liquid phase, and draining the pulper through the bedplate and separating the liquid phase from the non-liquid phase.
A more particular object is to provide a sugar cane pulping process in which the sugar filtrate or water is added to achieve an elevated pulp temperature. The content of the pulped cane in the pulper tank is diluted to a consistency of about 2%-4% and is applied to the headbox of a moving perforated or wire belt type displacement extractor onto an on-running end of a moving wire, of applying a negative air pressure below the wire to augment the extraction of liquid content through the wire such that the consistency of the mat of pulp formed on the wire increases from about 2%-4% at the on-running end to about 15% at the off-running end, while subjecting the mat to repeated zones of separation in which liquid is applied to the fiber mat from a region above the mat and extracted from extraction zones below the mat. The mat on the wire may then be pressed between rollers at the off-running end of the wire for a final pressure extraction of liquid from the mat leaving a bagasse mat on the wire having a consistency of about 40% to about 50% or higher.
A still further object of the invention is the use of two or more pulpers in tandem, that may be operated on a continuous basis, having progressively smaller extraction plates, for higher efficiency of rupture of the sugar containing cells of the can providing for extraction of the sugar content.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a pulping method with displacement extraction, in which the cane is prepared for pulping by chipping in a wood yard type log chipper.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
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In an automotive vehicle, the seatbelt buckle is generally disposed on a seatbelt mount that is fixed in length in relation to a vehicle seat. The seatbelt buckle can be coupled to a vehicle floor or may be coupled to a frame portion of a vehicle seat. The fixed length buckle in current seatbelt restraint systems may be difficult to locate when a vehicle seat is moved about on a vehicle seat track. Particularly, if the vehicle seat is moved upward and/or forward, a buckle having a fixed length may be difficult to locate and latch to by the vehicle occupant. Thus, the present invention seeks to provide a seatbelt restraint system that can deliver more value than traditional seatbelt restraint system designs have done in the past.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a seatbelt assembly 1 of the prior art is shown having seatbelt webbing portions 2a-2c which is configured to wind up within a retractor 4 disposed within a vehicle pillar trim 3. The seatbelt assembly 1 is shown with a vehicle seat 5 which is most likely a passenger seat in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. A fixed length mount 6 includes a buckle 7 disposed at a distal end thereof. A tongue member 8 is operably coupled to the seatbelt webbing 2a and is configured to be received in the buckle 7 to secure a vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat 5. Referring now to FIG. 2, a similar vehicle seat 5a is shown with the seatbelt assembly 1 for use on the driver side of a vehicle. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the seatbelt assembly 1 includes a standard tongue 8 and buckle 7 for restraining a vehicle occupant within the vehicle seat 5a. In both the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tongue 8 is releasably latched to the buckle 7 and is generally retained therein until the tongue 8 is released by the vehicle occupant unlatching the tongue 8 from the buckle 7 using a release button 9 disposed on the buckle 7 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As further shown in FIG. 2, a retractor 4 is positioned near the vehicle seat 5a and may be enclosed within a pillar trim, or may be external to the pillar trim. Seatbelt webbing portion 2c is shown coupled to an anchor 4a, however, in certain known assemblies, this anchor 4a may be replaced with a second retractor, thereby providing a dual retractor system which is generally used with a fixed tongue assembly that is coupled to separate seatbelt webbings. In order to provide more value and utility from a seatbelt system, the present invention is designed to provide features that help facilitate a vehicle occupant in fastening or latching the seatbelt assembly, wherein the buckle and tongue are reversed from there general configuration within a seatbelt assembly, and each are provided with convenience features designed to enhance the experience of the vehicle occupant.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spoken dialog systems and more specifically to a system and method of detecting, summarizing and reporting information from automated dialog systems.
2. Introduction
Spoken language dialog systems are becoming more popular and affordable for many companies. These systems provide users and customers with a voice interface to a company wherein the user can speak in a natural manner to provide and receive information. As these spoken dialog systems become more common, much information about their operation becomes available from their system logs. AT&T's VoiceTone® service is an example of a voice dialog system that can be developed for a particular company or purpose. Since these systems are automated, they can provide a huge amount of data on system operation which has application for a number of different audiences.
The basic components of a spoken dialog service include an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module, a spoken language understanding (SLU) module, a dialog manager (DM), a language generation (LG) module and a text-to-speech (TTS) module. These components work together to provide the spoken dialog interaction with the user. These are shown in FIG. 1 and the features associated with the invention are explained more fully below. A spoken dialog system enables a service provider to hear the speech provided by the user, convert the speech to text and understand the meaning or user's intended message in the speech, and to generate an appropriate response.
As a spoken dialog service is deployed, a large quantity of data regarding the user conversations may be logged to obtain information about the behavior of the system and how people interact with the system. This data can provide important details about trends and developments in the area of customer relations management. One of the downfalls of such a system, however, is that human agents are no longer involved in the interactive process and it becomes more difficult to gauge the user experience with the automated system. The automated system has a more difficult time distinguishing the level of user dissatisfaction or satisfaction with the system without engaging in a dialog to request that information.
Further, as companies deploy more automated systems for handling interactions (telephone calls, e-mails, instant-messaging (IM) sessions, chats, etc.) with their customers, the opportunities for human agents to track customer satisfaction decrease. Much of the current analysis of spoken dialog systems focuses on how to deploy and tune the system, which information does not provide helpful business-related data. Therefore, what is needed in the art is a system for obtaining information about user satisfaction and other business-related data from an automated spoken dialog service.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display screen equipped with control circuits for the screen pixels. More specifically, it relates to a liquid crystal display or LCD screens, to electroluminescent screens, to plasma screens, and to micropoint screens, also known as "field emission display" screens. Even more specifically, the invention relates to a process and an installation for assembling the control circuits for their subsequent connection to the screen.
2. Description of Related Art
A pixel screen is formed by a matrix of pixels controlled by means of a grid of perpendicular wires called a control grid. A screen of this type is also called a flat panel screen, as opposed to a curved screen in which the pixels are exited by a beam scanning the screen, such as a television screen.
Screen pixels are ordinarily controlled by a display card located outside the screen. The card is connected to the control grid by control circuits (drivers) formed by integrated circuits and ordinarily disposed on the rear periphery of the screen. The input-output terminals of the integrated circuits are connected to respective wires of the grid. Because of the large number of wires in the grid, some integrated circuits are disposed side by side along one edge of the rear side of the screen for the connection of the horizontal wires, and other integrated circuits are disposed in the same way on an adjacent edge for the connection of the vertical wires. The integrated circuits have input terminals which receive signals from the display card and output terminals connected to corresponding wires of the screen. The integrated circuits determine and control, based on signals they receive from the card, the state of the corresponding wires of the grid in order to control the associated pixels. In order for the space occupied by the integrated circuits on an edge to be minimal, their output terminals must have substantially the same pitch as the wires. Moreover, the integrated circuits must be separated from one another so as to be electrically insulated. In order to compensate for the space required for their insulation, it is necessary for the output terminals of the integrated circuits to be at a pitch smaller than the pitch of the screen wires.
The continually increasing miniaturization of pixels makes it possible to increase their density and to improve the quality of the image. At the present time, the pitch of grid wires can fall below 100 .mu.m, for example between 70 and 90 .mu.m. The pitch of the output terminals of the integrated circuits must be even smaller than the pitch of the wires. The problem under these conditions is to connect the grid wires to the output terminals of the integrated circuits by means of a process that provides good connection reliability, a practically null failure rate, and mass production at low cost.
One solution consists of alternating the side from which the wires of the grid are excited. Thus, one of every two wires is connected to an integrated circuit placed on one side of the screen, the other wire of each pair being connected to an integrated circuit placed on the opposite side. This makes it possible to divide the connection density in half. However, the edges of the screen must also carry other accessories, so at best, only one additional side can be occupied by the integrated circuits. Hence, the problem remains on one side.
Conceivable solutions to the problem include those for connecting the output terminals of an integrated circuit to the connection pads of the corresponding wires of the grid. The wire connection, according to the technology better known as "wire bonding," consists of soldering the end of a connecting wire to a pad, then to the corresponding output terminal, and of cutting the wire. Given the large number of connections of this type, this technology takes too long. A process adapted to low-cost mass production must make it possible to connect a group of output terminals to a corresponding group of pads (gang bonding).
From this point of view, a first conceivable solution consists of directly connecting the terminals of the integrated circuit to the connection pads of the grid wires. This arrangement places the integrated circuit in a position inverse to the one used ordinarily and is therefore called an inverted assembly, or "flip chip" assembly. The connection can be made by soldering or bonding by means of an electrically conductive adhesive. The extremely small pitch of the output terminals already poses a difficult problem in making this connection. But the major drawback of this solution is that it does not allow complete testing of the assembly of each integrated circuit, and consequently the screen is rejected if an integrated circuit is found to be defective. This is unacceptable.
A second conceivable solution is to mount the integrated circuit on a support according to the technology better known as TAB (Tape Automated Bonding). The support is ordinarily made of a flexible organic material provided with a central opening for housing an integrated circuit. One side of the support carries a group of leads having inner ends that extend into the opening and are disposed in correspondence with the respective terminals of an integrated circuit in order to be soldered to them. The soldering is an operation, commonly called an ILB (Inner Lead Bonding) operation, that can be carried out simultaneously on all or some of the terminals of the integrated circuit, either by means of balls (bumps) placed on the regions, or without balls (bumpless). The outer ends of the corresponding leads are then connected to the pads of the grid wires, by an anisotropic adhesive, for example. The conductors must therefore extend along the support at substantially the same pitch as the wires and have inner ends with a pitch smaller than that of the wires. At such a small pitch, the ILB operation poses a major problem. A grouped soldering of all the output terminals to the ends of the leads becomes impossible or can no longer be considered reliable.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for producing a lithium manganese oxide which is suitable for use as a positive electrode or a cathode material of a non-aqueous electrolyte (organic electrolyte) lithium ion secondary or rechargeable battery. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for producing a lithium manganese oxide with a spinel structure which is suitable for use as a cathode material of a lithium ion secondary battery having a 4-V high energy density and excellent cycle performance by a simple process using less costly starting materials.
2. Prior Art
A lithium cobalt oxide, LiCoO2 so far has been used as a high performance cathode material of a non-aqueous electrolyte lithium ion secondary battery. However, since the amount of cobalt from natural sources is small and it is expensive, a lithium manganese oxide with a spinel structure, namely, spinel LiMn2O4, has attracted attention as a cathode material of a non-aqueous electrolyte lithium ion secondary battery in the next generation.
In the non-aqueous electrolyte lithium ion secondary battery in which the spinel LiMn2O4 is used as a cathode material, lithium ions can be doped in the crystal lattice or removed therefrom in the charge or discharge process, with the result that the charge or the discharge stably can be conducted without greatly destroying the structure of the crystal lattice. Thus, the study for practical use of the spinel LiMn2O4 in the non-aqueous electrolyte lithium ion secondary battery has been conducted.
In a known dry method for producing spinel LiMn2O4, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai)No. 4-198028, a powder of manganese dioxide and a powder of a lithium compound are mechanically dry-mixed directly, and the resulting powder mixture is calcined at a high temperature.
However, it is difficult to obtain a uniform powder mixture having a particle diameter of a submicron level by mechanically mixing manganese dioxide with a lithium compound, while the thermal conductivity of these metal oxides is quite low. Accordingly, in order to obtain spinel LiMn2O4 by calcining such a powder mixture, it is required that as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 7-78611 the powder mixture is calcined at high temperatures over a long period of from 10 to 100 hours and the calcination at such high temperatures is repeated. Besides, the initial charge-discharge capacity of the thus obtained cathode material falls far short of the theoretical value (148 mAh/g). When the charge-discharge process of the non-aqueous electrolyte lithium ion secondary battery which uses such a spinel LiMn2O4 as a cathode material therein is repeated, the charge-discharge capacity of the battery is notably deteriorated.
Meanwhile, a process which comprises dissolving manganese acetate and lithium acetate in ethylene glycol by heating, then removing the solvent to form a gel-like mixture, and calcining the mixture to provide spinel LiMn2O4 is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 6-203834. In this process, however, the starting materials used are costly, and it can hardly be employed as an industrial process for producing spinel LiMn2O4.
In general, a solid state reaction using two solid powders as reactants is carried out by heating the solid powders at high temperatures capable of moving ions or atoms constituting the reactants, and mutually diffusing the ions or the atoms between the solid phases of these two solid powders. Since the two solid powders cannot be mixed uniformly at the molecular level in this solid state reaction, the solid state reaction starts where the solid phases are brought into contact, and the reaction product is formed in the boundary therebetween. In order that the reaction product is formed in the boundary between the two solid phases and the reaction further proceeds, it is necessary to conduct the movement of the materials in which the ions or the atoms in at least one of the two solid phases pass through the layer of the reaction product and are diffused into the other solid phase. Accordingly, the smaller the particle diameter, the shorter the diffusion distance and the larger the diffusion surface. Thus, a dense product having a uniform composition easily can be obtained.
When spinel LiMn2O4 is produced by the dry method, it is necessary to mix manganese dioxide and a lithium compound as starting materials. In this case, manganese dioxide has a particle diameter of from several microns to tens of microns. Meanwhile, lithium hydroxide has a particle diameter which is approximately 100 times larger For this reason, it is impossible to mix these two compounds uniformly. Further, as noted above, metal oxides such as manganese dioxide and lithium manganate have a low thermal conductivity; when these compounds are heated to hundreds of degrees Celsius, it takes a few hours to make uniform the temperatures of the sample from the surface to the inner portion.
Thus, when the calcination temperature and time are inappropriate in the calcination of the mixture of the solid powders as starting materials at a high temperature to produce spinel LiMn2O4 by the conventional dry method, there arise temperature differences in the mixture, and the elements are locally concentrated. Consequently, products other than final spinel LiMn2O4 are formed. In particular, when the calcination temperature is too high, not only does the crystallization of the resulting lithium manganese oxide proceed excessively, but also undesirable by-products are formed, with the result that the performane of the resultant cell is adversely affected.
That is, in the formation of spinel LiMn2O4, it is important that the starting solid powders are uniformly mixed and that the mixture of the solid powders is uniformly heated at a high temperature to proceed rapidly with the desired solid state reaction.
Under these circumstances, the present inventors have assiduously conducted the formation of spinel LiMn2O4, and have consequently found that a gel-like uniform mixture of manganese dioxide and lithium compound can easily be obtained by mixing manganese dioxide with a lithium compound selected from lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, preferably lithium hydroxide, in a solvent which is selected from water, an alcohol and a mixture thereof, preferably either an alcohol or a mixture of the alcohol and water, to dissolve the lithium compound in the solvent, and diffusing the resulting lithium ions into pores of porous particles of manganese dioxide. This mixture is calcined preferably through combination of heating with microwave and with an electric furnace, making it possible to obtain desired spinel LiMn2O4 easily and efficiently. This finding has led to the completion of this invention.
As set forth above, this invention has been made to solve the problems in the conventional production of spinel LiMn2O4. It is an object of the invention to provide a process for producing a lithium manganese oxide with a spinel structure which is suitable for use as a cathode material having a high energy density and excellent cycle performance at high efficiency by a simple process using less costly starting materials. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a process in which a uniform gel-like mixture of manganese dioxide and a lithium compound easily can be obtained and spinel LiMn2O4 having excellent performace easily can be obtained by calcination of the gel-like mixture for a short period of time.
A first process for producing a lithium manganese oxide with a spinel structure according to the invention comprises mixing at least one lithium compound selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate with manganese dioxide in a solvent consisting essentially of water or an aliphatic lower alcohol having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a mixture of these, allowing the resutant mixture to form a gel-like mixture, drying the gel-like mixture as required, and calcining the resulting product.
A second process according to the invention comprises mixing at least one lithium compound selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate with manganese dioxide in a solvent consisting essentially of water or an aliphatic lower alcohol having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a mixture of these, in the presence of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of formic acid and acetic acid, allowing the resutant mixture to form a gel-like mixture, drying the gel-like mixture as required, and calcining the resulting product.
Futher according to the invention, in both of the first and second processes, it is advantageous that at least a part of heating for drying and calcining of the gel-like mixture is conducted through a combination of heating with microwave and heating with an electric furnace so that spinel LiMn2O4 suitable for use as a cathode material of a lithium ion secondary battery having excellent cycle performance can be produced readily at high efficiency.
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Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a display device and a method of driving the same.
Description of Related Art
In response to the growth of the information society, there is an increasing demand for various types of image display devices. Currently, various display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs) and organic light-emitting diode displays (OLEDs) are used.
Display devices such as LCDs and OLEDs drive a panel at a fixed drive frequency regardless of the type of input image. Therefore, although an input image may be almost still, as in a document, power consumption constantly occurs due to voltage transition or data transition.
An LCD is a device which includes an array substrate including thin-film transistors (TFTs), an upper substrate including, for example, a color filter and/or black matrix, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates. The LCD displays an image by adjusting the orientation of the liquid crystal layer in response to an electric field applied between two electrodes in a pixel area and thus controlling the transmittance of light.
The LCD is driven by inversion driving in which polarity inversion occurs between adjacent liquid crystal cells and by a frame period in order to reduce direct current (DC) offset components and suppress the deterioration of the liquid crystal. Here, the LCD is constantly driven by the same inversion driving regardless of the type of image signals.
Display devices such as LCDs and OLEDs always operate in the same mode regardless of the types of images, sometimes causing waste during power consumption. In particular, although the inversion driving and the driving speed are main reasons for power consumption in LCDs, they are always constant regardless of the types of image signals, thereby sometimes causing waste during power consumption.
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The present invention relates to polymers comprising polyether chains having a hydrophobic side chain which are linked by urethane and/or amide groups and their use as xe2x80x9cAssociation Thickenersxe2x80x9d in polar media such as paints and inks, including inks for non-contact printing processes such as Drop-on-Demand inkjet printing. Many of these polymers are believed to function according to xe2x80x9cMicellar Bridgingxe2x80x9d theory.
The terms xe2x80x9cAssociation Thickenerxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cMicellar Bridgingxe2x80x9d theory are explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,485 and refer to the manner in which the hydrophobic parts (hereinafter hydrophobe) of a water-soluble thickener are absorbed by a solute particle such as a latex particle to provide a network of low molecular weight thickener molecules giving good flow and levelling characteristics to water-borne coatings and latex systems under high shear conditions.
Association Thickeners are thickeners which function by Micellar Bridging theory and generally contain hydrophobes which are spaced either randomly or in clusters along a hydrophilic, especially water-soluble, polymer backbone. Polyester Association Thickeners have been proposed which are obtained by polymerising a polyethylene glycol chain attached to a moiety containing a hydrophobe but these can exhibit storage deficiencies when used in strongly alkaline latices and/or latices which contain primary amines. It has now been found that improved storage properties can be obtained where the repeat units are connected via urethane and/or amide groups.
According to the invention there is provided a polymer comprising the addition reaction product of a polyisocyanate having a functionality of from 2 to 10 and a succinyl polyether having a C6-30-alk(en)yl group and at least one group which is capable of reacting with the polyisocyanate.
The polyisocyanate may be aliphatic, cyclo-aliphatic or aromatic, including mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable polyisocyanates are 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-diisocyanatohexane, 1,10-decamethylenediisocyanate, 1,4-cyclohexylenediisocyanate, 4,41-methylenebis (isocyanatocyclohexane), 1-isocyanato-3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexane, m- and p-phenylenediisocyanate, 2,6-and 2,4-tolylenediisocyanate (TDI), xylenediisocyanate, 4-chloro-1,3-phenylenediisocyanate, 4,41-biphenyleneisocyanate, 4,41-methylenediphenylisocyanate(MDI), isophorone diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate, 1,5-tetrahydronaphthylene diisocyanate; polymethylene polyphenylisocyanates sold under the brand name xe2x80x9cPAPIxe2x80x9d such as xe2x80x9cPAPI 135xe2x80x9d (equivalent weight of 133.5 and average isocyanate functionality of 2.7) and xe2x80x9cPAPI 901xe2x80x9d (equivalent weight of 133 and average isocyanate functionality of 2.3); aromatic triisocyanate adduct of trimethylolpropane and TDI sold under the trade name xe2x80x9cMondur CB-75xe2x80x9d aliphatic tri-isocyanates such as the hydrolytic trimerisation product of 1,6-hexamethylenediisocyanate sold as xe2x80x9cDesmodur Nxe2x80x9d; and C36-dimer acid diisocyanate sold as xe2x80x9cDDIxe2x80x9d as disclosed in J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 51,522 (1974).
Other polyfunctional polyisocyanates are those obtainable by the addition reaction of diisocyanates and polyols such as
or those obtainable from di-isocyanates by the biuret reaction, such as
OCNxe2x80x94(CH2)6xe2x80x94Nxe2x80x94(CONH(CH2)6NCO)2
or polyisocyanates obtainable by the cyclisation of di-isocyanates such as
Trade product: Desmodur HL (registered Trade Mark)
Trade product: Desmodur IL (registered Trade Mark)
Trade product: Polurene KC (registered Trade Mark)
Trade product: Polurene HR (registered Trade Mark)
Tolylene diisocyanate-isophorone diisocyanate-isocyanurate Company: SAPICI)
Trimeric isophoronediisocyanate (isocyanurate-T1890 of Chemische Werke Huls)
Further examples of polyisocyanates available as commercial products include Desmodur VL (polyisocyanate based on diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) from Bayer), Desmodur A 4370 (polyisocyanate based on isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) from Bayer), Polurene KD (polyisocyanate based on toluene diisocyanate (TDI) from SAPICI), Uronal RA.50 (polyisocyanate based on TDI from Galstaff), Polurene A (polyisocyanate based on TDI-trimethylol propane (TMP) from SAPICI), Polurene MC (polyisocyanate based on TMP-IPDI from SAPICI), Polurene MD.70 (polyisocyanate based on TMP-TDI-MDI from SAPICI.
Many of the polyisocyanates are commercially available as mixtures. The term xe2x80x9caverage functionalityxe2x80x9d means the statistical average number of free isocyanate groups in the polyisocyanate and is the ratio of average molecular weight of the polyisocyanate and the isocyanate equivalent weight taking into account the number of isocyanate groups.
Preferably, the polyisocyanate has a functionality of from 2 to 6.
The succinyl polyether is obtainable by reacting a polyether having at least one amino or hydroxy group with a C6-30-alk(en)ylsuccinic anhydride.
The polyether is preferably derivable from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide or it may be derivable from polymerised tetrahydrofuran, including mixtures thereof. It is, however, preferred that the polyether is derivable from ethylene oxide and/or propyleneoxide. Polyethers derivable from ethylene oxide are much preferred. The number of recurring alkyleneoxy groups in the succinyl polyether is preferably from 4 to 800, more preferably from 4 to 500 and especially from 4 to 300.
The polyether may be a polyalkyleneglycol, a polyalkyleneglycol mono alkyl ether, a polyalkyleneglycol mono amine, a polyalkyleneglycol mono alkyl ether mono amine or a polyalkyleneglycol diamine.
When the polyether is a mono alkyl ether, the alkyl group preferably contains not greater than 30 carbon atoms, more preferably not greater than 20 carbon atoms, even more preferably not greater than 10 carbon atoms and especially not greater than 6 carbon atoms. The alkyl group may be linear or branched. Useful thickeners have been obtained when the polyether is a mono methyl ether.
It is much preferred that the polyether is difunctional. Examples of difunctional polyethers are polyalkyleneglycols, more preferably polyalkyleneglycol mono amines and especially polyalkyleneglycol diamines.
Examples of polyalkyleneglycols are polyethyleneglycols such as PEG 200, PEG 1500, PEG 2000, PEG 3000, PEG 4000, PEG 6000, PEG 8000, PEG 10000, PEG 12000 and PEG 35000, wherein the numbers indicate the approximate number average molecular weight.
Examples of mixed chain polyalkyleneglycols are the EO/PO/EO block copolymers such as those which are commercially available as Synperonic polymers from Uniqema and the PO/EO/PO block co polymers which are available as Pluronic polymers from BASF.
Examples of polyalkylene glycol mono alkyl ethers are MeO PEG 350, 550, 750, 2000 and 5000 (ex Aldrich) and nBuO PPG 340, 1000, 1200, 2500, and 4000 (ex Aldrich).
Other examples of polyalkyleneglycol mono alkyl ethers are Brij 35 (EO (23) end-capped by dodecanol), Brij 97 (EO(10) end-capped by oleyl alcohol), Brij 78 (EO(20) end-capped by stearyl alcohol) and Brij 700 (EO(100) end-capped by stearyl alcohol). The Brij surfactants are available from ICI Inc.
Examples of polyalkyleneglycol mono alkyl mono amines are the so called Jeffamine M series of polyethers available from Huntsman Corporation. Specific examples are Jeffamine M-1000 (MeO EO (19) PO (3) amine), M-600 (MeO EO (1) PO (9) amine), M-2070 (MeO EO (32) PO (10)amine), M-2005 (MeO EO (6) PO(39) and M-3003 (MeO EO (49) PO (8) amine). MeO represents a methoxy terminated polyether, EO represents repeat ethylene oxide units and PO represents repeat propyleneoxide units and the numbers in parentheses represent the approximate number of repeat units.
Examples of polyalkyleneglycol diamines are the so-called Jeffamine D-series of polyether diamines which are amine terminated polypropyleneglycols of formula
Specified examples are Jeffamine D-230 (x=2-3), D-400(x=5-6), D-2000 (x=33 average) and D-4000 (x=68 average).
Other examples of polyalkyleneglycol diamines are the Jeffamine ED-series of polyether diamines which are based predominantly on a polyethyleneoxide backbone and of formula
Specific examples are Jeffamine ED 600 (b=8.5, a+c=2.5), ED-900 (b=15.5, a+c=2.5), ED 2001 (b=40.5, a+c=2.5) ED-400 (b=86, a+c=2.5).
The succinyl polyether having a C6-30-alk(en)yl group is obtainable by reacting an alk(en)yl succinic anhydride (hereinafter ASA) with a polyether having at least one hydroxy or amino group. Examples of suitable succinic anhydrides are 2-octenyl, n-octadecenyl, n-decyl, n-decenyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl, dodecenyl and polyisobutylene succinic anhydrides.
It is preferred that the alk(en)yl group contains not less than 8 and especially not less than 12 carbon atoms and preferably not greater than 24 and especially not greater than 20 carbon atoms.
Preferably the succinyl polyester contains a C6-30-alkyl group.
When the succinyl derivative is reacted with a polyether containing one or more hydroxy functional groups, the succinyl moiety is attached to the polyether via an ester group(s). When the succinyl derivative is attached to the polyether having one or more amino functional groups, the succinyl moiety is attached to the polyester via an amide or cyclic amide group(s) depending on the reaction conditions.
When the succinyl polyether is derived from a difunctional polyether such as a polyalkyleneglycol, a polyalkyleneglycol mono amine or a polyalkyeneglycol diamine the terminal carboxylic acid group of the succinyl polyether may be further reacted with an aliphatic alcohol or aliphatic amine. Preferably the aliphatic amine or alcohol contains a C6-30-alkyl group, more preferably a C8-24-alkyl group and especially a C8-20-alkyl group. The alkyl group may be linear or branched.
Examples of suitable aliphatic amines and alcohols are propylamine, n-butylamine, tert-butylamine, n-octylamine, tert-octylamine, n-decylamine, n-dodecylamine, n-octadecylaine and the polyalkylene glycol monoalkyl monoamines disclosed hereinbefore; n-propanol, tert-butanol, n-octanol, n-decanol, n-dodecanol, stearyl alcohol, the so-called Guerbet alcohols such as Isofol 12, 14T, 16, 18T, 18E, 20, 24, 28, 32, 32T and 36 (ex Condea GmbH); and polyalkyleneglycol mono alkyl monoamines and polyalkylene glycol diamines as disclosed hereinbefore.
The succinyl polyether having a terminal carboxy or isocyanate group may also be reacted with diols, diamines and/or hydroxy amines. The diol, diamine or hydroxyamine may react with the succinyl polyether to provide an Association Thickener having a free amine or hydroxy group or it may react with the two different succinyl polyether chains as a cross-linking agent. Examples of suitable diols, diamines and hydroxyamines are ethyleneglycol, polyalkylene glycols and polyalkylene glycol diamines as disclosed hereinbefore.
When the polyether is monofunctional, the ASA and polyether are preferably reacted together in stoichiometrical amounts. However, when the polyether is difunctional the ASA and polyether may be reacted together in a ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2 depending whether a succinyl polyether is required having two carboxylic acid functional groups or whether a succinyl polyether is required having two amino or two hydroxy groups. It is, however, preferred to react the ASA and difunctional polyether together in a stoichiometric ratio so that the resultant succinyl polyether contains both a carboxylic acid group and an amino or hydroxy group.
The reaction between the ASA and polyether is generally carried out in an inert atmosphere and at a temperature of from 100 to 250xc2x0 C. and preferably in the presence of a catalyst such as 4-N,N-dimethylamino pyridine. The inert atmosphere may be provided by any of the inert gases of Group VIII of the Periodic Table but is preferably nitrogen.
When it is desirable to esterify or amidate a carboxy functional group of a succinyl polyether the reaction involving an aliphatic amine or aliphatic alcohol may be carried out under similar conditions to those employed when reacting the ASA with the polyether. The esterification of a carboxy functional group of a succinyl polyether is preferably carried out in the presence of an esterification catalyst such as zirconium n-butylate.
The polymers according to the invention are obtainable by reacting one or more polyisocyanates having a functionality of from 2 to 10 with one or more succinyl polyethers which may be the same or different.
When the succinyl polyether is monofunctional it is preferred that the polyisocyanate has a functionality of not less than 3 and especially not less than 4.
However, as noted hereinbefore it is preferred that the succinyl polyether is difunctional so that the resultant polymer contains repeat segments of a succinyl polyether carrying an alk(en)yl hydrophobe connected together by polyisocyanate groups.
In one preferred aspect of the invention, the difunctional succinyl polyether is reacted in stoichiometric equivalent amounts based on the number of isocyanate groups in the polyisocyanate.
However, it will be readily appreciated that a less than equivalent amount of succinyl polyethers may be employed and residual isocyanate groups may be reacted with bifunctional cross-linking agents such as diols, diamines and hydroxyamines to give a polymer containing xe2x80x9cclusteredxe2x80x9d segments of succinyl polyether groups carrying the hydrophobe. The diols, diamines and hydroxy amines are preferably polyethers as defined hereinbefore.
Polymers containing xe2x80x9cclusteredxe2x80x9d segments of succinyl polyether groups carrying the hydrophobe are also obtainable where the polymer formed by the addition reaction of the succinyl polyether and polyisocyanate contains unreacted hydroxy and/or amino groups since these may also be reacted with additional diols, diamines and hydroxy amines in the presence of polyisocyanate.
Polymers containing xe2x80x9cclusteredxe2x80x9d segments of succinyl polyether groups carrying the hydrophobe are also obtainable where the polymer formed by the addition reaction of the succinyl polyether and polyisocyanate contains unreacted carboxylic acid groups since these may be reacted with additional diols and diamines optionally in the presence of polyisocyanate. Preferred diols and diamines are C2-10-alkylene diols and diamines and polyalkylene glycols and polyalkylene glycol diamines.
The reaction between the succinylpolyether and the polyisocyanate may be affected by any means known to the art such as heating the reactants together at a temperature from 40xc2x0 C. to 100xc2x0 C. in an inert atmosphere optionally in the presence of an organic liquid and preferably in the presence of a catalyst. Preferred catalysts are organo-tin complexes such as dibutyltindilaurate. Preferably the inert atmosphere is provided by the inert gases of the Periodic Table or preferably by nitrogen.
The organic liquid may be polar or non-polar, including mixtures thereof. Preferred non-polar organic liquids are aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene and esters such as ethylacetate.
For maximum Association Thickening effect in aqueous latices it is preferred that the number average molecular weight of the polymer is from 10,000 to 100,000. Preferably the molecular weight is not less than 20,000 and especially not less than 30,000. It is also preferred that the molecular weight is not greater than 60,000 and especially not greater than 50,000.
Any unreacted isocyanate groups which remain in the final polymer are removed by reaction with a lower aliphatic alcohol such as propan-2-ol or n-butanol.
As disclosed hereinbefore, the polymers according to the invention have utility as Association Thickeners in polar media, and especially in aqueous systems. They may be used to thicken aqueous dispersions or emulsions of latices, especially acrylic latices. They may also be used to thicken aqueous dispersions of particulate solids, millbases, paints and inks, including inks for non-contact printing such as ink jet printing. The amount of thickener in the dispersion, emulsion, paint or ink is generally less that 5%, preferably less than 3% and especially less than 1% based on the total amount of the formulation.
The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples wherein all references are to parts by weight unless expressed to the contrary.
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The present invention relates generally to the field of electronics, and more particularly, to field emitters used in M-type microwave devices.
Well known are microwave devices such as that disclosed in Russian Patent N 2007777, which have field emission cathodes having interfaces for the purpose of preventing of thermal diffusion of corrosively active materials. These interfaces are shaped as discs made of thicker material which are placed on both sides of field emitter operating film made of foil of 0.5 to 5 xcexc thick. One of the drawbacks of Russian Patent ""777 is a limitation of the thickness of the foil used as the field emitter. It is just impossible to assemble such emitter at a definite thickness of the foil. Besides, non-uniform thermal contact between the operating film and protective discs along the circumference does not allow heat to be effectively carried off from the field emitter during its operation. This may lead to damage of the field emitter because of overheating and melting.
Also known are other types of microwave devices such as that disclosed in Russian Patent N 1780444 where a two-layer structure, consisting of the field emitter operating film applied on the foil substrate, is used as a field emitter. The basic drawback of Russian Patent ""444 is that one side of the operating film is not protected from mechanical and diffusion processes effecting the film both during assembly and operation of device. This reduces its mechanical strength and reliability as well as lifetime of the whole field emitter.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a field emitter having lower built-in mechanical stress than prior art field emitters.
The present invention relates to electronics and particularly to field emitters used in M-type microwave devices. The design of a multi-layer field emitter is proposed which has at least one operating film and supporting films, providing mechanical strength and preventing penetration of corrosion materials into the operating film at high operating temperatures. The supporting films could be produced from the same material or material with linear expansion coefficients equal or close to that of the operating film material. Built-in mechanical stress can cause not only deformation but also a break of the film during its exploitation in a wide range of temperatures. In the inventive structure the thermal stresses in the operating film during an emission from its surface are lower due to good thermal contact with supporting films.
General advantages of the field emitter of the present invention compared to the prior art is that the present invention is mechanically stronger and more reliable which makes the cathode assembly easier. The present invention has a minimum of mechanical tensions which provides safe operation in a wide temperature range. The present invention provides operation at the contact with corrosively active materials under high temperature.
The operating film of the field emitter of the present invention could be as thin as a few angstroms which provides using this design in a variety of devices. At the same time, supporting films have a direct contact with the operating film which allows carrying off heat effectively from the emitter during its operation.
Production of the described field emitters is based on well developed technological processes used in mass production of thin film circuits and allows to make on their base inexpensive mono- and multi-emitter systems.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method of manufacturing a field emitter for a magnetron including depositing three layers of film on a substrate, placing at least one protective mask on an uppermost layer of three layers, etching the three layers not protected by the at least one protective mask, exposing horizontal and vertical portions of the first and third layers of the remaining three layers, and removing the protective mask and the substrate leaving at least one field emitter.
The foregoing objects of the present invention are achieved by a method of manufacturing a field emitter for a magnetron including depositing three layers of film on a substrate, placing at least one protective mask on an uppermost layer of the three layers, etching the three layers not protected by the at least one protective mask, depositing an additional film layer, partially etching the first of the three layers of film, removing the layers of film and photoresist above the partially etched layer, depositing a layer of film on the remaining partially etched layer and the additional layer, removing the partially etched layer and the layer of film above the partially etched layer, sputtering additional areas corresponding in shape to the remaining etched layer, and building up an additional layer depositing an additional layer on the sputtered areas.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description thereof are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to connectors for allowing electrical connection to be made between two sets of conductors.
2. Description of Related Information
In the field of borehole logging, it is necessary to relay electrical signals from sensing devices back to the surface for analysis. The sensing devices used need to be cased robustly to survive the hostile conditions downhole and there have been difficulties in providing consistently accurate electrical connectors to provide external electrical connections for the sensing devices. Often, in connectors used hitherto, when connector alignment has been inaccurate, total connector failure has been caused when the outer case has been connected to, for example, another tool or a wireline.
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This invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly that includes a spacer that provides a mechanical barrier to an injected thermoplastic or rubber material.
Connector assemblies are utilized to provide an electrical connection to various electronic devices found throughout a vehicle. Typically, a connector assembly and a cable jacket that houses electrical conductors are overmolded in thermoplastic or rubber by an injection mold to provide a barrier against moisture ingress. The connector assembly is assembled by crimping a pair of terminals onto the electrical conductors. The electrical conductors (including the crimped terminals) are then inserted into a plastic housing. Cable seals provide a moisture seal between the housing and the electrical conductors. The connector assembly is placed into an injection mold where a thermoplastic or rubber material is injected around and over the housing to complete the overmolded connector assembly.
The pressures during the overmolding process can be overpowering such that an amount of the thermoplastic or rubber material passes by the cable seals and enters the housing. Disadvantageously, thermoplastic or rubber material that passes through the cable seals and enters the terminal area may interfere with proper connection and function of the connector assembly.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved electrical connector assembly that is easy to assemble and that blocks injected thermoplastic or rubber material from interfering with terminal connections.
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The invention relates to curable mixtures of glycidyl compounds and aminic hardeners, which comprise heterocyclic tertiary amines as cure accelerators and which, while having a long potlife, still have a rapid full cure rate.
Curable mixtures based on glycidyl compounds and aminic hardeners are widely used in industry for coating and improving the quality of metallic and mineral surfaces.
The amines used are especially aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic compounds, and also polyaminoamides, based on mono- or poly-basic acids, which may or may not contain imidazoline groups, as well as adducts thereof with epoxy resins.
Such compounds are described in Lee and Neville, Handbook of Epoxy Resins, 1967, Chapters 6/1 to 10/19.
Although the curable mixtures based on epoxy resins and such amine compounds usually have an adequately long potlife, once they have been applied to the various substrates their curing rate is for many fields of use too slow.
In addition, the viscosity of many compounds, especially the viscosity of the higher epoxy resin adducts and of the polyaminoamides or adducts thereof, is relatively high, especially in the low temperature range.
The curing rate can be increased by the addition of suitable cure accelerators.
For that purpose, in some systems Mannich bases of tertiary amines, such as, for example tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DMP30), are used.
A disadvantage of such compounds, however, is that they cannot be used for a large number of applications because of their strong tendency to yellow and their relatively high viscosity and also, especially, their substantially curtailed potlife.
For that reason, in some applications phenol-free accelerators that contain at least one tertiary amine group are employed. A typical representative of that class is dimethylaminopropylamine. Although some of the above-mentioned problems, such as, for example, the tendency to yellow, are not so pronounced, such accelerators likewise have the disadvantage that, while the curing rate is appreciably increased, the pottife is substantially shortened.
The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to make available curable mixtures, based on epoxy resins and amines, that have a comparatively low viscosity and in which the accelerators do not have a tendency to yellow, that are toxicologically harmless and, while having comparably long or prolonged potlives, have an appreciably faster curing rate than the non-accelerated mixtures, and of which the physical, mechanical and optical properties remain at a high level.
This problem is solved by curable mixtures based on epoxy resins and conventional aminic hardeners that comprise as cure accelerators heterocyclic amines which can be prepared by the reaction of formaldehyde with amines, each of which contains a primary and a tertiary amine group.
The invention accordingly relates to curable mixtures based on epoxy resins and aminic hardeners, where appropriate with the concomitant use of solvents, plasticisers, UV stabilisers, dyes, pigments, fillers, wherein there is used as cure accelerator from 1 to 20% by weight, based on epoxy resin, of at least one heterocyclic compound of the general formula (I)
wherein R1, R2 and R3, which may be the same or different, are
xe2x80x94(CH2)axe2x80x94Nxe2x80x94[(CH2)bxe2x80x94CH3]2
radicals in which a=2 or especially 3 and b=1 or especially 0.
The invention relates also to curable mixtures consisting of:
a) from 30 to 70% by weight, based on epoxy resin+hardeners, of epoxy resin having an EP value of from 0.4 to 0.56
b) from 25 to 70% by weight, based on epoxy resin+hardeners, of aminic hardeners
c) from 1 to 10% by weight, based on epoxy resin, of cure accelerator of the general formula (I).
Further subjects of the invention are characterised by the claims.
The heterocyclic amines used in accordance with the invention can be prepared by the reaction of formaldehyde with amines of the general formula (II)
H2Nxe2x80x94(CH2)axe2x80x94N[(CH2)bxe2x80x94CH3]2 xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
wherein a and b are as defined above, in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to amine of from 0.9:1 to, preferably, 1:1.
The preparation is generally carried out by introducing the amine into a reaction vessel and adding formaldehyde, preferably paraformaldehyde, thereto in portions. The reaction proceeds exothermically. The addition of the aldehyde is therefore controlled in such a manner that a reaction temperature of approximately 100xc2x0 C. is not exceeded. According to the invention, the reaction is carried out preferably at a temperature of approximately from 30xc2x0 to 80xc2x0 C. The water of reaction formed is removed from the reaction mixture after the whole amount of the formaldehyde has been added, its removal being effected by increasing the temperature to approximately 130xc2x0 C. and, if necessary, applying reduced pressure. The residue which remains can be used as cure accelerator without further purification.
The epoxide compounds used in accordance with the invention are customary commercial products having more than one epoxy group per molecule that are derived from mono- or/and poly-hydric, mono- or/and poly-nuclear phenols, especially bisphenols, and novolaks. A comprehensive list of such di- or poly-phenols may be found in the handbook xe2x80x9cEpoxidverbindungen und Epoxidharzexe2x80x9d by A. M. Paquin, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1958, Chapter IV, and Lee and Neville xe2x80x9cHandbook of Epoxy Resinsxe2x80x9d, 1967, Chapter 2.
It is also possible to use mixtures of two or more of the epoxy resins. Preference is given to glycidyl compounds based on bisphenol A (4,4xe2x80x2-dihydroxy-diphenylpropane-2,2) having epoxy values of from 0.4 to 0.56.
It is also possible to use mixtures of the epoxy resins with so-called reactive diluents, such as, for example, monoglycidyl ethers of phenols or mono- or di-functional aliphatic or cycloaliphatic alcohols. Such reactive diluents are used especially to reduce viscosity and should be employed only in small amounts since they have an adverse effect on the final properties of the duromer.
The epoxy resins mentioned by way of example can be used both for the curable combinations and for the preparation of the hardener/epoxide adducts that are likewise suitable for use in the process according to the invention.
The hardeners used in accordance with the invention are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic amines, aminoamides, which may or may not contain imidazoline groups, and adducts thereof with glycidyl compounds, containing more than two reactive amine hydrogen atoms per molecule. Those compounds form part of the general state of the art and are described, for example, in Lee and Neville, xe2x80x9cHandbook of Epoxy Resinsxe2x80x9d, McGraw Hill Book Company, 1967, Chapters 6 to 10.
For the purpose of coating metal or mineral substrates, preference is given to the use of cycloaliphatic amines or polyaminoamides based on mono- or poly-basic carboxylic acids and polyalkylenepolyamines, and also adducts thereof with glycidyl compounds.
Such hardeners are customary commercial products and are marketed, for example, by Witco GmbH under the trade mark EUREDUR(copyright), especially EUREDUR (ED) 43, ED 46, ED 350.
Hardeners and epoxide compounds are used in the process according to the invention preferably in approximately equivalent amounts, that is, based on active amine hydrogen atoms and reactive epoxy groups. It is, however, also possible to use hardeners or glycidyl components in excess or in less than the stoichiometric amount. The amounts of each are generally in the range of approximately from 10 to 200% by weight based on glycidyl compounds, and are governed by the desired final properties of the reaction product. Conventional catalytic hardeners for epoxy resins can be used alongside the cure accelerators, according to the invention.
Generally, the cure accelerators according to the invention and the conventional catalytic or reactive hardeners can be added in the desired ratio to the epoxide compound separately or in the form of a mixture.
The mixing ratio of glycidyl compound to the cure accelerators of formula I used in accordance with the invention is governed by the particular compound being used and the desired final properties of the cured end products.
When liquid glycidyl ethers based on bisphenol A or bisphenol F having epoxy values from approximately 0.50 to approximately 0.56 are used, the amount of accelerator employed will generally be from 1 to 20% by weight, based on glycidyl ether; preferred according to the invention is an amount of approximately from 3 to 10% by weight.
The particular advantage of the curable mixtures according to the invention is their excellent curing behaviour at temperatures of from 10 to 40xc2x0 C. and at high relative humidity values of up to approximately 95%.
Depending, on the field of use and the intended purpose, inorganic and/or organic additives may be added to the epoxy resin/hardener mixtures according to the invention, such as finely particulate sands, talc, silicic acid, clay, metals or metal compounds in the form of filings or powder, thixotropic agents, fibrous substances, such as, for example, asbestos and glass staple fibres, pigments, flame-retardant materials, solvents, dyes, plasticisers, bitumen and mineral oils.
The curable mixtures according to the invention can be used for coating absorbent or non-absorbent substrates, such as, for example, natural stones, marble, concrete, metals, glass.
Analytical Methods
Viscosity
Measured using, a Haake rotary viscometer RV 20 according to the manufacturer""s instructions.
Colour number
Measured according to DIN 53 995 using a Lovibond colour-measuring apparatus (Hazen Farbzahl, APHA).
Amine number
Measured according to DIN 16 945
Tecam value
Value for the gelling time, measured using a Tecam Gelation Timer GT3 from Techne, Cambridge, GB, at 23xc2x0 C. and 50% relative humidity. Specimen mixture of resin and hardener and accelerator=250 g.
Shore D Hardness
Measured with an apparatus of the type 38009 from Karl Frank GmbH after 1, 2, 3 and 7 days using test specimens having a diameter of 30 mm and a thickness of 6 mm.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoconductive composition and a display device adopting a photoconductive layer made of the composition, and more particularly, to a photoconductive composition for a photoconductive layer by an electrophotographic technique and a display device adopting a photoconductive layer made of the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
A phosphor screen of a color cathode ray tube (CRT) is formed by a slurry coating method or an electrophotographic process.
According to the slurry coating method, a panel is cleaned, and then slurries of primary colors (i.e., red, green and blue) emitting phosphors are respectively coated on the panel. Each phosphor slurry contains polyvinylalcohol, one of the red-, green- and blue-emitting phosphors, and ammonium dichromate. After exposing a predetermined portion of the panel to light using a shadow mask, a developing process is performed to form a phosphor screen in a dotted or striped pattern.
However, the slurry coating method has the following problems.
First, the phosphor remains at an unexposed portion after the exposing and developing processes, so that the remaining phosphor is mixed with a phosphor to be coated later.
Second, a coloring substance is generated by the reaction between the hydroxy group of polyvinylalcohol and ammonium dichromate which are contained in the phosphor slurry, thereby lowering purity in color.
As Another method for manufacturing the phosphor screen for CRT, a method using an electrophotographic technique is known, The method is simple in process compared with the above-described slurry coating method, and can provide a color CRT having excellent luminescent characteristic.
In this method, a conductive layer is first formed on a CRT panel which has been cleaned, and a photoconductive layer is formed thereon.
Then, the photoconductive layer is electrified using a corona charger, and a predetermined portion thereof is then exposed through a shadow mask. After neutralizing electric charge of the exposed portion, one of red, green and blue phosphor compositions is adhered to the exposed portion thereof and then fixed to the inner surface of the panel. Then, by repeating the above steps, the remaining phosphor compositions are fixed on the inner surface of CRT panel, respectively, thereby completing a phosphor layer pattern
On the other hand, a plasma display device is for displaying an image using a gas discharge phenomenon. Since the plasma display device are excellent in display capacity, luminance. contrast an viewing angle properties, the plasma display device has been highlighted as a display device capable of replacing the CRT. In the plasma display device, gas discharging occurs between the electrodes by a DC or AC voltage applied to the electrodes, and the phosphor is excited by the accompanying ultraviolet rays' emission, thereby emitting light.
The plasma display device is classified into two types according to a discharging mechanism: alternative current (AC) type and direct current (DC) type.
FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the structure of a conventional AC type plasma display device.
Referring to FIG. 1, a first electrode 13a as a display electrode, and a second electrode as an address electrode are formed between a front substrate 11 and a rear substrate 12. Here, a plurality of first electrodes 13a and a plurality of second electrodes 13b are formed on the inner surfaces of the front substrate 11 and the rear substrate 12, respectively, with a stripped shape, crossing each other at a right angle.
A dielectric layer 14 and a passivation layer 15 are formed in sequence on the front substrate 11 having the first electrodes 13a. Also, a dielectric layer 14' is formed on the rear substrate 12 having the second electrode 13b, and a plurality of barrier wall 17 are formed on the dielectric layer 14.
A plurality of cells 19 are formed between the barrier walls 17, and the cells 19 are filled with an inert gas such as argon (Ar). Also, a phosphor screen 18 is formed at a predetermined portion of the cells 19.
In the above-described plasma display device, the barrier wall 17 is formed by a printing method where a material paste for the barrier wall is repeatedly deposited on the dielectric layer 14 formed on the rear substrate 12 using a blade coater. However, forming the barrier wall by the printing method causes the following problems.
First, the printing process of the barrier wall materials using the blade coater must be repeated so as to obtain a barrier wall having a predetermined thickness. That is, it takes a long time, lowering productivity.
Second, when coating the paste on the dielectric layer formed on the rear substrate and pressing the resultant structure using the blade coater, a screen mesh attached on the substrate is deformed by the pressure applied by the blade coater. If the screen mesh is deformed, it is impossible to form the barrier walls according to the designed pattern. That is, the shape of the completed barrier walls is distorted, thereby lowering quality of the image.
According to a method using an electrophotographic technique, as another method of forming the barrier walls of a plasma display device, a dielectric layer is formed on a rear substrate having address electrodes, and then a conductive layer and a photoconductive layer are formed on the dielectric layer in sequence.
After electrifying the surface of the photoconductive layer, a predetermined portion of the photoconductive layer is exposed to ultraviolet rays, thereby forming an electrostatic image.
By attaching composition for the barrier wall, i.e., toner composition, to the electrostatic image of the photosensitive film, the photoconductive layer is developed. During the developing process, the toner composition attached to the electrostatic image is dried, and the toner composition remaining the portion other than the electrostatic image is removed.
After repeating the steps of electrifying and developing the photoconductive layer, the rear substrate is sintered, completing the barrier walls.
A photoconductor as the major component of the photoconductive layer is roughly classified into an inorganic photoconductor and an organic photoconductor.
Generally, the inorganic photoconductor is toxic as well as poor in sensitivity, thermal stability, hygroresistance and durability. Also, the inorganic pnotoconductor results in much residue after the sintering process. In order to solve the problems, research into the organic photoconductor has been actively conducted. The organic photoconductor is lightweight, transparent and easy to sinter. Thus, the organic photoconductor has been mainly used when forming a fluorescent film of a CRT or barrier walls of a plasma display device using the electrophotographic technique.
However, the organic photoconductor has a low electrification potential, and poor charge generating and transmission abilities. Also, after sintering the organic photoconductor, residues also remain, thereby lowering image quality of a display device.
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The nasal passages and nasal mucosa serve as body entry points for a wide variety of noxious and toxic substances. The body's immune system responds with certain relatively harmless irritants to the nasal passages and airways with reflex responses such as coughing and sneezing. This merely re-introduces the irritants into the environment. However, when the irritant comprises microorganisms, especially those that reproduce within the body and that are transmitted by coughing and sneezing, others may become infected. When a person feels a cough or a sneeze coming on, he merely covers his nose and mouth. However, if that person is contagious, this action does little to prevent others from also becoming infected. Furthermore, the use of a tissue or handkerchief for this purpose is extremely inefficient. This limits the protection of an individual from becoming infected or infecting others.
Other means of dealing with preventing inhalation of harmful or irritating substances or of infections agents include wearing facemasks to filter out these irritants. An example of this is the simple dust mask, typically found in the hardware store or medical supply store. However, even these are inadequate and inefficient. In many localities, during flu season, one can see a large number of people wearing these dust masks in public places. The dust masks are now known to be ineffective. Another example of this preventative method is the gas mask, which is more efficient than the dust mask. Yet, even gas masks are not highly efficient with respect to microscopic and sub-microscopic microorganisms. Furthermore, they are extremely cumbersome and cannot generally be used during normal day-to-day activities.
Patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,844,005 describe electrostatically charged compositions that may be applied externally in the vicinity of the nostril and attract oppositely charged materials that would otherwise be inhaled. However, those compositions simply create an electrostatic field that helps to filter out oppositely charged materials. While this action may offer suitable protection against particles that are inhaled passively, they suffer from the fact that they cannot completely deal with particulates that have their own internal means of overcoming the electrostatic forces, such as microorganisms that are motile within the air stream. Furthermore, actions by the person having those electrostatic compositions in the vicinity of the nostrils can sufficiently displace the offending particles or organisms, especially in such instances as blowing or wiping the nose, so that particles that were held captive by the former compositions could become dislodged, again set free, and be inhaled.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a glass support member and particularly to a glass support member that is used for fixing a glass plate to a window frame part of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a glass plate is mounted to a window frame part of a front window, a side window, or a rear window of a vehicle such as an automobile, for example. Such a window frame part is usually formed by adjoining the glass plate to a body flange of the vehicle with adhesive. However, because some time is required to cure the adhesive, a member for supporting and fixing the glass plate in place needs to be used to prevent the glass plate from being displaced with respect to the body flange during such curing time.
For example, a support clip is conventionally used as such a fixing member (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-105038). The support clip includes a base to be fixed to the glass plate and a column that projects towards the body flange from the base. Also, the body flange includes a through hole for accommodating the column. Thus, when the glass plate and the body flange are brought close together to face each other, the column of the support clip is inserted into the through hole of the body flange, and in this way, the glass plate may be (temporarily) fixed to the body flange.
As described above, in the process of manufacturing a window frame part of a vehicle, a support clip has typically been used as a member for temporarily fixing the glass plate in place (hereinafter, referred to as “temporary fixing member”).
Note that in some cases, a glass plate that is quite large and heavy may be mounted to the window frame part of a vehicle. In the case of supporting such a large glass plate, at least two (usually four or more) temporary fixing members have to be arranged at predetermined positions of the glass plate.
However, in the case of using support clips as temporary fixing members, because the columns of the support clips have to be inserted into corresponding through holes of the body flange, the position of the glass plate with respect to the body flange may be restricted. As the number of support clips having columns inserted into corresponding through holes of the body flange increases, greater restrictions may be imposed on the positioning of the glass plate and the body flange. That is, as the number of the support clips increases, freedom and flexibility in positioning the glass plate with respect to the body flange is restricted. Thus, it may be difficult to insert all the columns of the support clips into their corresponding through holes of the body flange unless the positions of the columns of the support clips and the positions of corresponding through holes of the body flange are properly aligned.
As one measure to address such a problem, the support clips may be used in combination with hook-and-loop fasteners as temporary fixing members. For example, two support clips may be arranged at two locations on a lower side of the glass plate (lower side of window frame part) and corresponding through holes may be formed at two locations of the body flange. In addition, two hook/loop fasteners may be arranged at two locations on an upper side of the glass plate (upper side of window frame part) and corresponding hook/loop fasteners may be arranged at two locations of the body flange.
In such a case, in a first step, the columns of the two support clips may be inserted into the corresponding through holes of the body flange to fix the lower side of the glass plate in place with respect to the body flange, and then, in a second step, the corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners may be fastened to each other to fix the upper side of the glass plate in place with respect to the body flange. In the above case, because the second step involves fastening the hook-and-loop fasteners to each other rather than inserting the columns of the support clips into the corresponding through holes of the body flange as in the case where all of the temporary fixing members constitute support clips, the problem of not being able to insert the columns into the corresponding through holes of the body flange in the second step and thereby not being able to mount the glass plate to the body flange may be avoided, for example.
However, in such a case, the hook/loop fasteners have to be arranged at both the body flange and the glass plate. Thus, the number of components required for manufacturing the window frame part may be increased, and the manufacturing process may become complicated. As a result, production efficiency may decrease and manufacturing costs may increase, for example.
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The present invention generally relates to the field of data converters, and particularly to multi-bit, high performance analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion.
Delta-sigma modular architectures for analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) based on continuous-time and switched capacitor integration are well known in the art. These architectures typically are for one bit or more modulators, one bit being the most common since the quantizers and DACs in the modulators are inherently more linear for one bit. The one bit minimizes the major sources of distortion generation in the modulator and therefore allows for high levels of spurious free dynamic range. However, a high-performance modulator of order two or more integrator stages is only conditionally stable and must incorporate substantial performance loss to maintain stability. This is especially true for the one bit modulator, since the two state output cannot instantaneously track the continuous, band limited (filtered) input signal. It is only over the band limited longer term that the output tracks the input precisely. If, on the other hand, multi-bit modulators are used, the output quantization noise level is lower to begin with, and the instantaneous output is able to more closely track with the input. This closer tracking equates to less performance loss that must be incorporated into multi-stage modulators to maintain stability. In fact, most two stage multi-bit modulators do not have to purposely add loss in order to achieve stability since sufficient loss in the actual circuit is already present. Therefore, multi-bit modulators would be the best approach for high-performance ADCs and DACs were it not for the difficulty in maintaining linearity so as to maintain the desired high level of spurious free dynamic range. Since multi-bit modulators are much more efficient in suppressing in-band noise, the oversampling ratio (sampling rate divided by twice the resolution bandwidth) can be lower, which generally equates to lower power required and/or less costly parts. It would therefore be highly desirable to provide a high-performance, multi-bit ADC or DAC modulator that provides good linearity and high spurious free dynamic range.
The present invention provides a means for acquiring and maintaining linearity in high-performance ADCs and DACs. Thus, the present invention is directed to an analog-to-digital converter. In one embodiment, the delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter modulator includes a means for modulating an analog input signal, a means for quantizing an output received from the modulating means to a three state digital code, a means for mapping an output of the quantizing means from a three state digital code to a two state digital code, a means for delaying and reordering the two state digital code output by a predetermined or random means, a means for inverse mapping the reordered two state digital code to a three state digital code, and a means for converting the resultant three state digital code to an analog signal which is connected back to the modulating means. The analog-to-digital converter thus formed is capable of converting an analog input signal to a two state digital output code with a predetermined number of bits of resolution.
The present invention is further directed to a digital-to-analog converter. In one embodiment, the delta-sigma digital-to-analog converter modulator includes a means for modulating a digital input signal being represented by a predetermined number of bits, a means for mapping an output of the modulating means from a two state signal to a three state digital code, one means per bit of the three state digital code output for converting each bit to an analog signal, and a combiner and reconstruction filter means for combining the analog signals. The digital-to-analog converter thus formed is capable of converting a digital input signal to an analog output signal at the output of the reconstruction filter means.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
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X-rays usually are produced in a vacuum, but for many purposes it is desirable to apply them in air. For soft X-rays, especially those having photon energies of less than about 5 keV, a problem arises in bringing the X-rays from the vacuum into air, because a window that is thick enough and strong enough to withstand the pressure difference between the vacuum and the air is opaque to the X-rays, except in very small windows. The problem is especially serious in X-ray lithography, where it is desirable to illuminate large areas.
The present invention provides simple, inexpensive, convenient means for overcoming the problem.
It is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,486, Nov. 15, 1977, of P. J. Mallozzi, H. M. Epstein, R. G. Jung, D. C. Applebaum, B. P. Fairand, and W. J. Gallagher, for Producing X-rays, that an intense point source of X-rays can be generated by focusing a laser beam onto a solid target. Neodymium laser light focused onto a solid slab target has been converted into X-rays with an efficiency greater than 25 percent, with several tens of joules of X-rays emanating from an essentially point source (about 100 microns diameter) in a nanosecond. The X-ray pattern produced with iron targets irradiated with about 100-joule laser pulses at a 45 degree angle of incidence is substantially omnidirectional. The conversion efficiency of greater than 25 percent refers to X-rays which are radiated away from the slab and pass perpendicularly through 3000 Angstroms of plastic (paraline) coated with 2000 Angstroms of aluminum. This conversion efficiency is thus a lower bound and refers only to the portion of the spectrum above about 300 electron volts. Most of the observed X-rays lie between about 0.3 and 1.5 keV, with a small but useful fraction having energies as high as 10 to 100 keV. In a densitometer tracing of a bent crystal spectrograph taken with a KAP crystal, the radiation appears to be mostly lines in the spectral interval of about 0.7 to 1.2 keV. The unusual sharpness of the spectral detail is due to the tiny dimensions of the source. This novel point source of X-rays provides a spectrum tuneable throughout a range of about 0.1 to 100 keV.
Apparatus according to the present invention typically employs X-ray producing means of the type described above. It may, however, use other somewhat similar means, such as equipment that uses an electron beam, rather than a laser beam, for producing the X-rays.
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Often when analyzing process streams using mass spectroscopy or other analysis techniques, the sampling system is the most important part of generating meaningful data. A properly functioning sampling system must withdraw a small amount of material from a process stream, and deliver it to an analysis instrument in a substantially intact condition.
In some process streams, for example acrylonitrile streams, there are small amounts of materials that boil at very high temperatures. Those components of the sample may condense out of the streams and plug the sampling lines. One frequently-used solution to that problem is to heat the sample stream to extremely high temperatures (180 degrees C.) to keep those components in the gas phase. That technique requires large amounts of energy and considerable expense. In some cases, the temperatures required are so high they cannot be reached using available equipment. Further, there may be materials present in the stream that decompose at such high temperatures, making such a solution impractical.
One example of a mass spectrometry sampling system that is heated to avoid condensation is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,824 to Chagney et al. That system samples gaseous compounds from a main process line, and includes a sampling line that is traced with steam to assure that no condensates reach the mass spectrometer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,608 to Taylor et al. discloses a gas sampling system for sampling hazardous process gasses for analysis in an instrument that is remote from the process line. The technique uses a small-diameter capillary to transport a sample from the process stream to a mass spectrometer chamber. The capillary tube is open at one end to the high vacuum environment of the mass spectrometer chamber, and at the other end to the process stream. The capillary tube diameter is chosen based on the pressures in the sample stream and the mass spectrometer. A capillary tube heater is provided to maintain the sample in the capillary tube above boiling point.
It is known to control the temperature and pressure of a desolvation chamber when preparing a liquid sample for introduction into a mass spectrometer chamber. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,147 to Melera et al., a jet stream of liquid droplets is sprayed through a probe into a low pressure, high temperature chamber for evaporation before entering the mass spectroscopy chamber.
There is therefore presently a need to provide a method and apparatus for sampling a process stream containing high-boiling-point gaseous components for analysis in a test instrument such as a mass spectrometer. Particularly, there is a need for a technique that can prevent condensation of the high-boiling-point components in the sampling system without excessively heating the sample. To the inventors' knowledge, no such technique is currently available.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a programmable logic device in which the configuration of hardware can be changed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Unlike a normal integrated circuit in which all circuits are fixed at the time of manufacture, a programmable logic device (PLD) is a device that can function with an intended circuit structure set by a user at the time of actual use after shipment. Examples of such devices that are programmable by users are a small-scale programmable array logic (PAL) and generic array logic (GAL) and a large-scale complex programmable logic device (CPLD) and field programmable gate array (FPGA); in this specification, such devices are collectively called a programmable logic device (hereinafter referred to as PLD).
PLDs have advantages such as a short development period and flexibility in changing design specifications over conventional application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and gate arrays. Thus, the use of PLDs for semiconductor devices has been promoted in recent years.
The PLD includes, for example, a plurality of logic elements (also referred to as logic blocks, and hereinafter referred to as LEs) arranged in an array and wirings between the LEs. A function of the PLD can be changed by changing a function of the LE. Moreover, a function of the PLD can be changed by changing a connection of wirings between the LEs.
The LE is composed of a multiplexer and a lookup table, for example. A function of the LE can be specified by setting a given value in a memory element that stores information on selection of signals input to the multiplexer. A function of the LE can be specified by setting a given value in a memory element that stores data of the lookup table.
The wirings between the LEs are constituted using, for example, a connection switch capable of controlling connections between plural LEs and plural LEs. The connection relation of the wirings between the LEs can be specified by setting a given value in a memory element that stores data on the on/off state of the connection switch.
The aforementioned information including the information on selection of signals input to a multiplexer, the data of a lookup table, and the data on the on/off state of a connection switch is referred to as configuration data, for example. A memory element storing configuration data is referred to as a configuration memory. Setting configuration data in a configuration memory is called “configuration”. In particular, setting new configuration data (updating configuration data) in a configuration memory is called “reconfiguration”. The circuit structure of the PLD can be changed into a circuit structure suitable for a user's request by producing (programming) desired configuration data and performing the configuration with the use of the configuration data.
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The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a sewing machine equipped with an illuminating device and a computer-readable medium storing a control program that is executable in the sewing machine.
Conventionally, a sewing machine equipped with an illuminating device mounted with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is known. The LED may illuminate a needle hole (needle drop position), which is formed in a needle plate and through which a sewing needle can be inserted, and the vicinity of the needle hole (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-317187). Another type of sewing machine equipped with an illuminating device mounted with a light emitting device is also known. The light emitting device may emit light upward from the lower side of a folded cloth when a user raises a presser foot, in order to enable the user to visually recognize an edge of the cloth folded underneath (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-320188).
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a torsion-axle type rear suspension for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been known a torsion-axle type rear suspension as disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model publication No. 58(1983)-58906. As shown in prior art FIGS. 21 and 22 of the present application, the torsion-axle type rear suspension generally comprises left and right wheel supports 2a and 2b for supporting left and right rear wheels 1a and 1b for rotation, a cross member 3 which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and is connected to the wheel supports 2a and 2b at opposite ends, left and right trailing arms 5a and 5b which are fixed to the cross member 3 at the rear ends and connected to the vehicle body 4 at the front ends by way of elastic members 6a and 6b for vertical swinging motion and longitudinal displacement and a lateral rod 8 which is connected to the cross member 3 at one end by way of one elastic member 7 and to the vehicle body 4 at the other end by way of another elastic member 7. The lower ends of shock absorbers 9 which are connected to the vehicle body at the upper ends are connected to the respective junctions of the trailing arms 5a and 5b to the cross member 3. A torsion bar 10 extends inside the cross member 3.
It is generally preferred in order to improve running performance of the vehicle that the toe of the rear wheels in addition to turn of the front wheels in response to turn of the steering wheel. For example, when the steering wheel is turned by a slight angle while the vehicle runs straight, it is preferred that the outer (with respect to the turning direction) rear wheel be caused to toe in to generate understeer tendency, thereby improving running stability of the vehicle. On the other hand, during hard cornering, it is preferred that the outer rear wheel be caused to toe out to weaken strong understeer tendency especially in the case of a front-engine front-drive type vehicle in which understeer tendency is stronger. In another aspect, it is generally preferred that when the steering wheel is turned while the vehicle runs at a low speed, the outer rear wheel be caused to toe out to improve heading performance of the vehicle. On the other hand, during hard cornering or lane change at a high speed, it is preferred that the outer rear wheel be caused to toe in to ensure running stability.
Such behavior of the outer rear wheel can be obtained by controlling the toe of the rear wheel according to the side force that is generated by change of centripetal acceleration and acts on the rear wheel when the steering wheel is turned. However, in the case of the conventional torsion-axle type rear suspension, when side force acts on the rear wheel, the rear wheel is merely caused to toe in or toe out depending on whether the lateral rod is mounted on the vehicle body on the front side or the rear side of the line of action of the side force. That is, when a side force G acts on the rear wheels 1a and 1b in FIG. 22, a rightward rotating moment is generated since the lateral rod 8 is mounted on the vehicle body 4 on the rear side of the line of action of the side force G, and accordingly, the right trailing arm 5b is displaced rearward under deformation of the elastic member 6b while the left trailing arm 5a is displaced forward under deformation of the elastic member 6a, whereby the rear wheels 1a and 1b are turned rightward and the left rear wheel 1a toes in. Though the elastic members 7 on the ends of the lateral rod 8 are also deformed by the side force G, this deformation only displaces the cross member in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and does not affect the toe of the left rear wheel 1a since the trailing arms 5a and 5b are parallel to each other. When the lateral rod 8 is on the front side of the line of action of the side force G, the left rear wheel 1a is caused to toe out as can be understood from the description above. At any rate, the rear wheel only toes out or in when the side force G acts thereon and increase of the side force G with increase in the centripetal acceleration only increases the degree of the toe-in or toe-out.
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This invention relates to a toe clip for bicycle pedals, the improved structure of which allows ready and simple adjustment and thus results in considerable functional advantages and particularly comfortable use by cyclists.
Toe clips are simple known devices used on racing and competition bicycles, to secure the cyclist's feet to the bicycle pedals in the most suitable position.
They consist substantially of a flexible metal plate which starts from one of the long sides of the pedal body and extends firstly forwards in an outward direction and is then bent rearwards to enclose the toe of the shoe against which it is tightened, at the level of the instep, by means of a transverse strap.
Toe clips of different dimensions are available commercially, to fit different sizes of cyclist's shoes. In contrast, the toe clip described in the present invention can, as a single type, be properly adpted to all sizes as it can be adjusted not only longitudinally (by means of a slot which enables the toe clip to the fixed to the pedal body in the most suitable position) but also in height by means of an improved rapid fixing device which enables the position of the eyelet through which the strap is passed to be adjusted.
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In custom ICs such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or the like, improvement in an operating speed is realized by transistor finer geometries. A gate delay time t is formulated as shown in the following expression (1), using a capacitance C, a voltage V, and a current I. That is, the gate delay time is proportional to a value obtained by dividing electric charge accumulated in the capacitance (=the capacitance C×the voltage V) by the current I.t∝C·V/I (1)
When finer device geometries are achieved (e.g. when a channel length or a gate oxidization film thickness is reduced), each parameter of the capacitance, voltage, or current is reduced to 1/K according to a scaling rule (a proportional reduction rule). Thus, likewise, the gate delay time t can also be reduced to 1/K.
On the other hand, SRAMs (static random access memories) cannot reduce the delay time to 1/K just by achieving the finer device geometries. The following is a description about this.
A bit line delay time tb1, which constitutes a lot in the delay time of the SRAM can be formulated as in the following expression (2) using a bit line capacitance Cb1, a potential difference between a bit line pair ΔVb1, and a cell current Icell.tb1=Cb1·ΔVb1/Icell (2)
With achievement of the finer geometries, the capacitance Cb1 and the cell current Icell can be reduced to 1/K according to the scaling rule (proportional reduction rule). On contrast therewith, the potential difference between a bit line pair ΔVb1 is a parameter determined by an offset voltage of a sense amplifier, and cannot be reduced with achievement of the finer geometries. Accordingly, the bit line delay time tb1 cannot be reduced to 1/K with achievement of the finer geometries.
As described above, a higher-speed operation of the SRAM cannot be performed just by achieving the transistor finer geometries. For this reason, in the conventional SRAM, by changing a memory configuration, the higher speed is achieved (refer to Non-patent Document 1, for example). When the number of cells per bit line is reduced to a half, the bit line capacitance Cb1 is also almost halved. As a result, according to the above expression (2), the bit line delay time tb1 is also likewise almost halved.
However, this design method increases the number of banks and the number of sensing circuits.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a typical configuration example of a conventional sensing circuit. Referring to FIG. 8, a memory cell array 801 includes memory cells arranged at intersections between a plurality of word lines not shown and a plurality of bit line pairs. A memory cell includes a flip-flop and two pass transistors (also referred to as “access transistors”). The flip-flop is constituted by cross-connecting inputs and outputs of two inverters. The two pass transistors are connected between a connecting node of the inputs and the outputs of the two inverters and respective bit lines of a bit line pair. Gates of the two pass transistors are connected in common to a word line.
Referring to FIG. 8, a bit line pair selection circuit 802 includes a pMOS transistor P101 with a source thereof connected to a power supply VDD and a drain thereof connected to a bit line BLT, a PMOS transistor P102 connected between a pair of the bit line BLT and a bit line BLN, and a PMOS transistor P103 with a source thereof connected to the power supply VDD and a drain thereof connected to the bit line BLN. Gates of the pMOS transistors P101, P102, and P103 are connected in common to a pre-charge control signal PC.
The bit line pair selection circuit 802 further includes an nMOS transistor N101, an nMOS transistor N102, an NOR circuit 811, a pMOS transistor P104, and a pMOS transistor P105. The nMOS transistor N101 is connected between the bit line BLT and a write data signal line WDT, which is one of a pair of the write data signal line WDT and a write data signal line WDN. The nMOS transistor N102 is connected between the other write data signal line WDN of the write data signal line pair and the bit line BLN. Two input terminals of the NOR circuit 811 are connected to a write control signal (write enable signal)/WE and a bit line pair selection signal /YS (also referred to as a “column selection signal”), and an output terminal of the NOR circuit 811 is connected in common to gates of the nMOS transistors N101 and N102. The pMOS transistor P104 is connected between a node SAT of a sense amplifier 803 and the bit line BLT. The pMOS transistor P105 is connected between a node SAN of the sense amplifier 803 and the bit line BLN. Gates of the pMOS transistors P104 and P105 are connected in common to the bit line pair selection signal /YS. The write control signal /WE and the bit line pair selection signal /YS become active at low levels thereof (of a ground potential GND). The bit line pair selection signal /YS is output from a column decoder not shown (for decoding a column address and selecting a bit line pair corresponding to the address).
Referring to FIG. 8, the sense amplifier 803 includes a pMOS transistor P204 with a source thereof connected to the power supply VDD and a drain thereof connected to the node SAT, a pMOS transistor P205 with a source thereof connected to the power supply VDD and a drain thereof connected to the node SAN, and a pMOS transistor P203 connected between the nodes SAT and SAN. Gates of the pMOS transistors P203, P204, and P205 are connected in common to a control signal RSE. Before or after read and write operations, the control signal RSE is driven low, and the nodes SAT and SAN are both set to the power supply voltage VDD. The sense amplifier 803 includes a pMOS transistor P201 with a source thereof connected to the power supply VDD and a drain thereof connected to the node SAT, a pMOS transistor P202 with a source thereof connected to the power supply VDD and a drain thereof connected to the node SAN, and nMOS transistors N201 and N202 with drains thereof connected to the node SAT and the node SAN, respectively, and sources thereof connected in common. Gates of the pMOS transistor P201 and the nMOS transistor N201 are connected in common to the node SAN. The gates of the pMOS transistor P201 and the nMOS transistor N201 are connected in common to the node SAN.
The sense amplifier 803 further includes an nMOS transistor N203 with a drain thereof connected to a common connecting node between the sources of the nMOS transistors N201 and N202 and an nMOS transistor N204 with a drain thereof connected to a source of the nMOS transistor N203, and a source thereof connected to the potential GND of a substrate. A gate of the nMOS transistor N203 is connected to a sense amplifier activation signal SAE (that is set to the power-supply potential of the power supply VDD when the sense amplifier 803 is activated). A gate of the nMOS transistor N204 is connected to the control signal RSE. The node SAT is connected to an input terminal of an inverter 812. An output terminal of the inverter 812 is connected to a gate of an nMOS transistor N205 with a drain thereof connected to a data output line DL and a source thereof grounded (or set to the substrate potential GND). The node SAN is connected to an input terminal of an inverter 813. When the sense amplifier activation signal SAE is set to the power supply voltage VDD and when the sense amplifier 803 is activated, the pMOS transistors P201 and P202, nMOS transistors N201 and N202 constitute a latch circuit. Then, an amplification operation as follows is performed: through an on-state transistor of the pMOS transistors P201 and 202 (the transistor with a gate thereof connected to one of the nodes SAT and SAN on a lower voltage side), the node on a higher voltage side is charged to the power supply voltage VDD. Through an on-state transistor of the nMOS transistors N201 and N202 (the transistor with a gate thereof connected to one of the nodes SAT and SAN on the higher voltage side), the node on the lower voltage side is discharged to the substrate potential GND.
When a read operation is performed, data stored in a selected memory cell (not shown) in the memory cell array 801 is output to a bit line pair BLT and BLN to which the selected memory cell is connected, and the potential difference ΔVb1 is generated between the bit line pair BLT and BLN after a certain time. In the bit line pair selection circuit 802, the bit line pair selection signal /YS is set to a low level (or the substrate potential GND), the pMOS transistors P104 and P105 are turned on, and the potential difference ΔVb1 between the selected the bit line pair BLT and BLN is transferred to the nodes SAT and SAN in the sense amplifier 803.
When the sense amplifier activation signal SAE is set to a high level (or the power supply voltage VDD), the sense amplifier 803 amplifies the potential difference ΔVb1 between the nodes SAT and SAN and outputs read data to the data output line DL. When the node SAT is at the substrate potential GND, an nMOS transistor N205 that receives an output of the inverter 812 (at the power supply voltage VDD) is turned on. Then, the data output line DL is set to the substrate potential from the power supply voltage VDD. On the other hand, when the node SAT is at the power supply voltage VDD, the output of the inverter 812 is set to the substrate potential VDD. Then, the nMOS transistor N205 is turned off, so that the data output line DL is held at the power supply voltage VDD.
When a write operation is performed, the write control signal /WE is set to the low level (or the substrate potential GND). Then, in the bit line pair selection circuit 802, values of the write data signal lines WDT and WDN are output to the bit line pair BLT and BLN selected by the bit line pair selection signal /YS that is in an active state. That is, when the bit line pair selection signal /YS is at a low level and the write control signal /WE is at a low level, an output of the NOR circuit 811 becomes the high level (or the power supply voltage VDD). The nMOS transistors N101 and N102 that receive the output of the NOR circuit 811 are both turned on. Then, signal levels of a pair of the complementary write data signal lines WDT and WDN are transferred to the bit line pair BLT and BLN, respectively.
When the read operation or the write operation is completed, the pre-charge control signal PC is set to the low level. The pMOS transistors P101 to P103 are then turned on, and the bit line pair BLT and BLN is charged to the power supply voltage VDD.
Non-patent Document 1:
“A 2-GHz cycle, 430-ps access time 34-kb L1 directory SRAM in 1.5 V, 0.18-um CMOS bulk technology”, R. V. Joshi, 2000 Symposia on VLSI circuit, pp. 222-225
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This invention relates to triiodized carboxylic acid anilides and to processes for their preparation and use.
Compounds suitable for use as radiodiagnostic agents, especially for intravenous uro-, angio- and cholegraphy, must meet very high requirements with respect to vascular system compatibility and pharmacological inertness.
The use of radioactively labeled compounds as auxilliary agents for the observation and explanation of biochemical processes has been known for a long time: For example, for the development of medicines and for diagnostic purposes; i.e., for the liver function test, tetrachlorotetraiodofluorescein-I.sup.131, bromthalein-I.sup.131, and gold colloid Au.sup.198 have been employed. However, these compounds all exhibit various disadvantages.
In the case of tetrachlorotetraiodofluorescein-I.sup.131, it is difficult to produce a uniform unlabeled substance; moreover, during the labeling, radioactive by-products are formed having varying activity contents.
In the case of bromthalein-I.sup.131, as with tetrachlorotetraiodofluorescein-I.sup.131, the maximum accumulation in the liver and the elimination from the liver take place after a longer period of time, requiring longer examination times and a higher exposure to radiation.
Gold colloid Au.sup.198 is only suitable for representing the liver by scintigraphy and does not provide a direct functional diagnosis.
In contrast thereto, it has now been found that dicarboxylic acid anilides, containing radioactive iodine, of this invention, as well as the salts thereof with physiologically compatible bases, do not exhibit these disadvantages. After being labeled with a radioactive iodine isotope, they represent excellent agents for the functional conductance of diagnostics on the hepatic cells themselves.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a mounting assembly for mounting a mirror to a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Background Art
Side view mirrors which are used on buses and trucks are evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,395,883, 4,368,868, 4,500,063, 4,512,634, 5,106,049 and 5,316,257, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Detachable mirrors are also known, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,883. This mounting utilizes a clamp that engages around the lip of the wheel well of the vehicle and feet that contact the inner face of the fender edge forming the engine compartment. The feet are held in place by tension generated by a rubber element that extends between the feet at the engine compartment and the clamp at the wheel well. The problem with this type of device is that it is easily removed and is thus subject to theft. Furthermore, since the mounting arms are mounted to the body panel there is also the problem of vibrations being amplified by the mounting arms.
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{
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Lately, the electronic devices having the contact detection unit such as a touch sensor have been increasingly used for mobile terminals such as mobile phones. As a method to detect a contact by an operator, there are known variety of types, such as a resistive film type, a capacitive type, an optical type and the like. Those types detect the contact by a contact object such as an operator's finger, a stylus pen and the like. As the electronic device having the contact detection unit, a touch panel having the contact detection unit and a display unit laminated to each other has been known. In the touch panel, the display unit is disposed on a rear face of the contact detection unit and displays graphical images of characters and buttons (objects) of buttons and the like. When the operator presses the object displayed on the display unit, the contact detection unit detects a contact at a pushed position. A technique to provide a tactile sensation to the operator in response to pressing with a predetermined pressure load or higher has also been known.
Incidentally, there are electronic devices that execute predetermined operations based on the pressure loads. Japanese Patent Laid-Open JP11-119882A, for example, discloses a key input apparatus enabling selection of a plurality of characters assigned to one key based on the pressure load.
According to the technique disclosed in JP11-119882A, however, when the operator, for example, presses down a key assigned Japanese characters in an “A” row by mistake despite an intention to operate a key assigned Japanese characters in a “KA” row, the operator needs to remove the finger from the key assigned the “A” row and press another key such as a “cancel key” to correct an input character. Therefore, the number of times to touch the key is increased and thus operability is deteriorated. Accordingly, it has been desired to improve the operability in an erroneous operation when a predetermined operation is executed based on the pressure load.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spread code generation device for spread spectrum communication and, more particularly, to a spread code generation device applicable to a mobile radio terminal device (hereinafter simply called as a mobile station) or a base station which are effectively utilized in a mobile communication system employing Code Distribution Multiple Access (CDMA) operations such as a personal communication system (PCS), a digital cellular, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A CDMA communication method, one of the spread spectrum communication methods, has been disclosed, for example, in "Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System" TIA/EIA/IS-95, July 1993 as a TIA/EIA Interim Standard. According to a device disclosed in the above document, a mobile station and a base station respectively generate three kinds of spread codes for communication constituted of I-phase and Q-phase spread code generators for a spread Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), and a code generator for cryptographic scrambling. By transmitting data from an interleaving coder in parallel with I-phase and Q-phase respectively by employing the spread QPSK, an SN ratio of the transmitted signal can be improved by approximately 3 [dB].
The communication device employing the spread QPSK disclosed in the above document, however, unifies two series of data path from the interleaving coder by time dividing with a switch, spreads these data series respectively through spread code generators which are disposed in each I-phase and Q-phase, and transmits them concurrently. Accordingly, the conventional technology requires each of independent code generators for I-phase and Q-phase, which necessitates a hardware design to satisfy the above conditions and further causes a problem that a scale of the device is inevitably enlarged. Also, since a length of the code series generated is inevitably restricted depending upon the series employed in the system, the length can not be determined voluntarily or optionally. Therefore, there also arises a problem that the design of the communication method and system must be done with big restrictions.
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{
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1. Technical Field
The invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). More particularly, the invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing SLE, diagnosing severe SLE, and assessing a mammal's susceptibility to develop severe SLE.
2. Background Information
SLE is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies having specificity for a wide range of self-antigens. SLE autoantibodies mediate organ damage by directly binding to host tissues and by forming immune complexes that deposit in vascular tissues and activate immune cells. Organs targeted in SLE include the skin, kidneys, vasculature, joints, various blood elements, and the central nervous system (CNS). The severity of disease, the spectrum of clinical involvement, and the response to therapy vary widely among patients. This clinical heterogeneity makes it challenging to diagnose and manage lupus.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Field
The present disclosure generally relates to the design of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a PIC that includes an optical modulator based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) that uses light slowed by a lattice-shifted photonic crystal optical waveguide to enhance a semiconductor-oxide-semiconductor diode.
Related Art
Optical interconnects or links based on silicon photonics have the potential to alleviate inter-chip communication bottlenecks in high-performance computing systems that include a large number of processor chips and memory chips. This is because, relative to electrical interconnects, optical interconnects offer significantly improved: bandwidth, density, power consumption, latency, and range.
A high-speed optical modulator is an important component in a silicon photonic link. The function of an optical modulator is to convert a high-speed electrical data signal into optical form. The basic requirements of such an optical modulator are: high speed, low power consumption, low optical loss, a high on/off extinction ratio (ER), and compact size. To date, most of the reported high-speed optical modulators implemented using silicon are based on the free-carrier plasma dispersion effect, i.e., the index of refraction of silicon decreases as densities of electrons and holes (i.e., free carriers) increase. In order to use the free-carrier plasma dispersion effect for data modulation, the carrier densities in an optical waveguide need to be modulated. Thus, the index of refraction is modulated, and the optical phase of propagating laser light is modulated. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the phase modulation can then be converted into optical intensity modulation (i.e., on/off switching) by building the phase-modulation optical waveguide into a ring-resonator modulator or a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI).
Ring-resonator modulators typically use strong resonances for modulation. Consequently, they can achieve a large ER even with weak phase modulation. However, ring-resonator modulators usually require precise and dynamic tuning to align the resonance with the laser wavelength. This tuning can consume a large amount of electrical power and may require a large area for control circuits, which can significantly increase the cost of the ring-resonator modulators. Alternatively, MZIs usually do not require precise and dynamic tuning. However, they usually need much stronger phase modulation in order to achieve a large ER. An ideal modulator would be an MZI having a short length with strong phase modulation in the optical waveguide.
A variety of techniques are currently used to electrically modulate the carrier densities in the phase-modulation optical waveguides, including: carrier injection, carrier depletion and carrier accumulation. In carrier-injection phase modulation, high densities of free carriers are injected into the intrinsic region of a forward-biased PIN diode using a relatively small voltage (approximately, 1V). While this modulation technique is very efficient, its speed is typically limited to around 1 Gb/s by minority-carrier diffusion.
In carrier-depletion phase modulation, the carrier-depletion region of a reverse-biased PN diode is modulated. Because this modulation technique does not involve minority-carrier diffusion, it can be very fast. However, carrier-depletion modulation is often inefficient because it is hard to deplete a lot of charge. Consequently, for efficient modulation, carrier-depletion modulation is typically implemented in a ring-resonator modulator or an MZI having a long length. Therefore, phase modulation based on carrier injection or carrier depletion usually cannot simultaneously produce a high-speed (greater than 10 Gb/s), very short MZI (less than 0.3 mm) with a reasonably large ER (greater than 5 dB) under small voltage modulation (less than 2V).
Carrier-accumulation phase modulation attempts to combine the advantages of carrier-injection phase modulation and carrier-depletion phase modulation. In this technique, a diode with a forward-biased PN junction having a very thin (less than 10 nm) oxide barrier layer (which prevents minority-carrier diffusion) is used. Under forward-biased voltage, the diode operates in an accumulation mode, in which large densities of carriers accumulate at the two sides of the oxide layer. This approach is usually much more efficient than carrier-depletion phase modulation, but is typically less efficient than carrier-injection phase modulation. Using carrier-accumulation phase modulation, it is possible to build a short MZI (around 0.5 mm) with high carrier-mobility and low voltage operation. However, the diode typically has much higher optical loss (greater than 100 dB/cm) than the PN diodes (less than 10 dB/cm) because of polycrystalline-silicon scattering and absorption. Consequently, the resulting modulator may have higher optical loss even though its length is much shorter (approximately 6×). In addition, the diode typically has a very high unit capacitance, which prohibits traveling-wave design and limits modulation speed (because of RC limits associated with the MZI and driver). In order to achieve greater than 10 Gb/s with a lumped-element design, it is important to lower the capacitance of the MZI to less than 0.5 pF, while maintaining high efficiency.
Hence, what is needed is an optical modulator without the problems described above.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to circuitry, and more specifically to circuitry that senses a current.
2. Background
Portable electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular in the marketplace. Such portable devices often include a low power switch regulator, which includes power conversion circuitry and other mixed-signal circuitry. A variety of techniques have been employed to improve the performance of conventional switch regulators. A trend in the industry is to integrate the power conversion circuitry and the other mixed signal circuitry on the same substrate to improve efficiency. Current sensing is another technique that may be used to improve the performance of a switch regulator. For example, an integrated switch-mode converter of the switch regulator may be configured to sense a current of the portable electronic device. Several conventional current sensing techniques are available. However, each of these techniques has problems that may render the respective techniques inadequate and/or undesirable for at least some applications.
Many conventional techniques sense current by incorporating a serial resistor in the path of the current. For instance, a first conventional technique uses an off-chip resistor coupled in series with an inductor to sense the current of the inductor. However, this technique requires the entire current of the inductor to flow through the resistor. For this and other reasons, the first conventional technique is characterized by a relatively high power dissipation. Moreover, additional input/output (I/O) pins and board routing are needed for implementation of this technique.
In a second conventional technique, a resistor is coupled in series with a main power switch. The drain current of the main power switch flows through the resistor, enabling the drain current to be sensed. However, this technique is characterized by relatively low efficiency. For example, the resistor used in the second conventional technique needs to be large enough to provide sufficient swing for further analog signal processing.
What is needed is a system and method that addresses one or more of the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional current sensing techniques.
In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
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{
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This invention relates generally to the design of multi-function digital devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a technique for profiling disparate communications and signal processing standards and services to facilitate the development of an application-specific processor.
Signal processing protocols and standards have proliferated with advances in wireless communications devices and services. Current communications protocols include Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). The United States, Europe, Japan and Korea have all developed their own standards for each communications protocol. TDMA standards include Interim Standard-136 (IS-136), Global System for Mobile (GSM), and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). CDMA standards include Global Positioning System (GPS), Interim Standard-95 (IS-95) and Wide Band CDMA (WCDMA). Wireless communications services include paging, voice and data applications.
Until recently wireless communications devices supported a single communications standard. In theory, a wireless communications device can be designed using a general purpose Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that would be programmed to realize a set of functional blocks specifying the minimum performance requirements for the application. To achieve these minimum performance requirements, system designers design algorithms (sequences of arithmetic, trigonometric, logic, control, memory access, indexing operations, and the like) to encode, transmit, and decode signals. These algorithms are typically specified in software. The set of algorithms which achieve the target performance-specification is collectively referred to as the executable specification. This executable specification can then be compiled and run on the DSP, typically via the use of a compiler. Despite the increasing computational power and speeds of general purpose DSPs and decreasing memory cost and size, designers have not been able to satisfy cost, power and speed requirements simply by programming a general purpose DSP with the executable specification for a standard-specific application.
Additional dedicated high-speed processing is required, a need which has traditionally been met using an application-specific processor. As used herein, an application-specific processor is a processor that excels in the efficient execution (power, area, flexibility) of a set of algorithms tailored to the application. An application-specific processor fares extremely poorly for algorithms outside the intended application space. In other words, the improved speed and power efficiency of application-specific-processors comes at the cost of function flexibility.
Demand is now growing for wireless communications devices that support multiple applications and varying grades of services over multiple standards. Today""s solution to this problem is to essentially connect multiple application-specific processors together to obtain multi-standard operation, thereby adding cost in terms of design resources, design time, and silicon area. FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, a wireless communications device designed with this approach. FIG. 1 includes a micro-controller core 20 and a DSP 22 having access to a memory 24. The wireless communications device also includes a set of application-specific fixed function circuits 26A-26D, including an AMPS circuit 26A, a CDMA circuit 26B, an IS-136 circuit 26C, and a GSM circuit 26D.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to eliminate application-specific communications and signal processors by providing a technique for profiling disparate communications and signal processing standards to facilitate the implementation of a single processor to support the disparate communications and signal processing standards in a cost, area and power efficient fashion.
The method of the present invention profiles disparate communications and signal processing standards to define a programmable processor that may be programmed to execute any of the disparate communications and signal processing standards. The method includes the steps of selecting a set of communications and signal processing standards for analysis and identifying functions common to the selected set of communications and signal processing standards. Thereafter, the common functions are ranked according to computational intensity. Using this ranking, a set of high computational intensity functions are selected for implementation as kernels, the set of kernels forming a programmable processor with which any one of the set of communications and signal processing standards can be implemented.
The invention enables the identification of optimum datapaths and control state-machines for use in the design of application-specific processors. The methodology can be used to identify functions that are poorly executed by existing microprocessors and digital signal processors. The technique can also define new datapaths and state-machines required to efficiently implement functions. The methodology of the invention offers a systematic way to analyze functions across many applications or standards, thereby reducing the time to define a processor architecture and increasing the amount of design reuse possible in the design of new processors for digital signal processing of multi-standard applications.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical disk reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for discriminating between disks having different recording formats, for use in an optical disk reproducing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Among conventional disk reproducing apparatuses, discrimination of disk types is typically performed between CD (Compact Disc) and LD (Laser Disc). The discrimination between CD and LD is possible by using different diameters of the CD and LD. More specifically, a pickup is first moved to a position outside the area of a CD and inside the area of a LD, the loaded optical disk is then rotated and determination is made as to whether or not the focus servo system locks. If it locks, the loaded disk is determined to be a LD, and if it does not lock, the disk is determined to be a CD.
On the other hand, in recent years there exists a strong demand for the increase of the recording capacity and the broadening of the compatibility among devices. To meet these demands, disks of the same size having different recording formats such as DVD (Digital Versatile Disk, or Digital Video Disk) are being developed.
A DVD has the same diameter as a CD, and its recording capacity is more than 4 gigabytes, which is far greater than the 640 megabyte CD recording capacity. The pit size and track pitch of a DVD are smaller than those of a CD because information is recorded at high density.
When attempting to reproduce a DVD in a player for CD reproduction, the reproduction of a DVD having high recording density is not possible because the diameter of the beam spot of the pickup is too large to read the pits on the DVD.
Furthermore, when locking of the focus servo system is tried when reproducing a DVD, that operation may cause a loss of control of the pickup moving mechanism because the tracking error signal is not properly produced when closing of the tracking servo system is attempted.
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{
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This invention relates to sodium vapor lamps and in particular to a low pressure sodium vapor lamp for use as a xerographic exposure lamp.
Low pressure sodium vapor lamps have several desirable properties for application as exposure lamps in xerographic photocopiers. The spectral output of sodium lamps is almost monochromatic, emitting essentially at 589.0 and 589.6 nanometers, this in the yellow portion of the spectrum. As has been pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,205, this yellow radiation is particularly desirable for creating object contrast for copying of most documents and the paper work in general use. Furthermore, the efficiency of low pressure sodium lamps is relatively high and compares favorably with other linear light sources.
For xerographic application, there are certain characteristics of sodium lamps that present problems to be overcome. Excess metallic sodium is generally present within the lamp discharge tube to control the vapor pressure within the tube. This metallic sodium is opaque and absorbs some of the radiation from the sodium vapor discharge and to that extent lowers the lamp efficiency. Also, for most xerographic applications, it is desirable to direct the light emission from the exposure lamps onto a rectangular slit to minimize stray light.
In the prior art, as for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,198 to Van der Wal et al, the coating of a sodium vapor lamp tube with tin oxide for the purpose of visible transmission and infrared reflection, for the purpose of heat conservation, is known.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sodium vapor discharge lamp with a combination light reflector, defining a light aperture to provide desired directionality of visible light emission, and heat sink to define and locate the lamp "cold spot" where excess sodium is condensed.
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{
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Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States. Studies indicate that 30-45% of patients with clinically localized disease are found with Stage T3. These patients have extra-capsular extension, where prostate cancer cells have extended into or beyond the outer lining of the prostate gland. In these patients, cancer may relapse and metastasize after local therapy.
In fact, a large percentage of androgen-independent prostatic carcinomas metastasize to bone. These metastases are difficult to treat and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality, with a median survival of approximately a year after diagnosis.
Despite the effectiveness of hormone therapy, most patients with metastatic disease eventually progress to an androgen-independent state at which time the disease is incurable with a median survival rate of 1 year. Overall, the 5-year survival rate for metastatic prostate cancer is only 34%. New diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches are clearly needed for the treatment of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer.
One approach is antibody therapy. However, the antibodies currently available for detection and treatment of prostate cancers are limited. The MAb 7E11-05.3, which binds to Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA), has been developed for clinical trials. The ProstaScint® scan (Cytogen, Princeton, N.J.), based on Indium-111 labeled 7E11-05.3, appears superior to the conventional imaging methods for soft-tissue disease, but has limitations because it binds to the intracellular domain on PSMA. In addition, PMSA is not expressed in certain advanced, androgen-independent tumor cells such as PC3 and Du145, and therefore this antibody is not useful for imaging bone metastases. Recent studies show that the anti-prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) MAb1G8 can inhibit tumor growth of androgen-dependent tumor xenografts. However, anti-PSCA MAbs are ineffective against androgen-independent PC3 tumors, which do not express PSCA. An analysis of prostate cancer tissue sections demonstrated that PSCA is absent in about 20% of specimens. Therefore, defining new prostate specific markers is important in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer.
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{
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Currently water stop valves are being used in the plumbing industry that have an “L” shaped device with a turn valve at the end. The turn valve has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe to which it is attached. This stop valve is not installed until after the cabinets and vanities or other fixtures have been installed—during the trim out. When new construction is involved, the normal course of events are as follows: After the building is framed and in the dry, the plumber is called in to install the copper water pipes and drains—“rough-in.” The plumber Ts off the main three-quarter inch water lines that are placed in the walls and basement/crawl space with half-inch copper Ts or Ls (the half-inch pipe and main three-quarter inch water line form a “T” shaped assembly or a 90° copper “L” shaped assembly) every place where a toilet, sink, ice maker, washing machine and or other fixtures requiring water will be placed. The plumber stubs out the half-inch copper pipe about two inches from the stud wall at every T and solders a half-inch copper end piece. The plumber then does a pressure check on the whole system and waits to be called back to finish the project. When the plumber is called back to finish, after all the sheet rock has been hung and kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities have been installed, the plumber shuts off the water for the entire building and drains the pipes. The plumber will then go to each T and cut the end piece off. He has to make sure the copper is completely dry to receive the solder that will hold the “L” shaped water shut-off valve in place. The plumber then solders the “L” shaped water shut-off valves in place. These “L” shaped valves are not installed during the rough-in due to their size and configuration. The sheetrock, cabinet and vanity installers would have to cut a large hole in the back of their sheetrock and cabinets to accommodate the “L” shaped valves. This is inconvenient and is not esthetically pleasing for the sheetrock, cabinets or vanities to have such large holes, so the “L” shaped valve is added after installation of the fixtures. The water for the building is then cut on and again pressure checked for leaks.
Therefore, it is understood that under the current system, a plumber must make multiple trips to the construction site during the construction of the building and installation of the “L” shaped valves requiring multiple time consuming labor and steps including the removal of the end piece and checking of the pressurized system and turning the main water supply on and off multiple times. A valve assembly and water shut-off valve and system of assembly therefor that would eliminate such protracted installation steps would save time and expense and would be desirable.
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The present invention relates to integrated circuit production. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for testing and packaging of integrated MEMS circuits having CMOS and MEMS devices.
The inventors have discovered that when the integrated MEMS devices are equal to or smaller than about 1.6 mm×1.6 mm, such 1.1 mm×1.1 mm, or the like, handing of them using conventional methods is difficult and can be damaging to the parts. For instance, the inventors have discovered that electrostatic forces make it difficult to separate, properly orient, and package MEMS devices at such small scales. Further, the inventors have discovered that pick and place machines, air puffs and sorting units can impart high forces upon the devices and physically damage the MEMS devices at such scales.
What is desired are improved methods and apparatus for handling MEMS with reduced drawbacks.
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Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) occur when there is a malfunction in the electrical impulses to the heart that coordinate how the heart beats. During arrhythmia, a heart may beat too fast, too slowly or irregularly. Catheter ablation is a widely used therapy for treating arrhythmias and involves threading a catheter through blood vessels of a patient and into the heart. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) energy may be applied through the catheter tip to destroy abnormal heart tissue causing the arrhythmia. In other embodiments a catheter tip may be configured to cryogenically ablate heart tissue.
Guiding the placement of a catheter during ablation therapy within the heart is important. Conventional catheter ablation procedures are conducted using X-ray and/or ultrasound imaging technology to facilitate catheter guidance and ablation of heart tissue. Conventional Cardiac EP (ElectroPhysiology) Systems are X-ray based systems which use electroanatomical maps. Electroanatomical maps are virtual representations of the heart showing sensed electrical activity. Examples of such systems include the Carto® electroanatomic mapping system from Biosense Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, Calif., and the EnSite NavX® system from Endocardial Solutions Inc., St. Paul, Minn.
However, there remains a need for MRI-guided systems that can use MRI to obtain details of tissue not provided by X-ray based systems and/or to reduce patient exposure to radiation associated with interventional (diagnostic and/or therapeutic) procedures.
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Cellular radio networks employ a variety of radio devices, covering physical areas (e.g., of land) called cells, to interfaces between user equipment (UE) and a data (e.g., packets, voice, etc.) network. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a standards body that has standards for cellular networks. 3GPP release 8 is also known as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and release 10 and beyond is also known as LTE advanced (LTE-A).
Some 3GPP implementations consider very dense deployments of low-power LTE base stations that have smaller transmission ranges than the traditional transmission ranges of macro cells (e.g., a traditional cell). These low-power cells may be called Small Cells. Small Cells may overlay (e.g., overlap, be found within, etc.) existing macro cell deployment. In generally, each cell includes an eNodeB (e.g., eNB, E-UTRAN Node B, Evolved Node B, etc.) that controls the radio Air Interface with UEs, and may include some control functionality. The Xn interface is used to communicate between eNodeBs.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light wavelength conversion module. More precisely, the present invention relates to a light wavelength conversion module which includes a semiconductor laser having an external resonator provided with a wavelength selecting element, and a light wavelength conversion element for converting a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser to a second harmonic wave or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various types of light wavelength conversion devices which convert a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser to a second harmonic wave or the like have been proposed, and have been used as a blue laser light source and/or a green laser light source. For example, a light wavelength conversion module is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-254001. The light wavelength conversion module illustrated in FIG. 9 in this publication (JP-A No. 10-254001) includes a semiconductor laser which is provided with an external resonator and a wavelength selecting element such as a narrow band-pass filter or the like provided in the external resonator, and a light wavelength conversion element which is composed of a waveguide type second harmonic generation (SHG) element having a periodic domain reversing structure, wherein the semiconductor laser and the light wavelength conversion element are optically coupled directly with each other. In the light wavelength conversion module, a wavelength can be locked to a central transmitted wavelength of the narrow band-pass filter provided in the external resonator, and an oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser can be locked to a certain wavelength corresponding to a rotation angle of the narrow band-pass filter by rotating the filter.
A general semiconductor laser can oscillate a laser beam even without an external resonator since it has a resonator structure provided in an element thereof. However, the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser prior to the locking of the wavelength fluctuates within a range of a few nanometers, and shifts toward the longer wavelength side as the driving current increases. For example, in a case in which the electric current is changed from 50 to 200 mA when a semiconductor laser having several longitudinal modes at intervals of about 0.2 nm is used, the central oscillation wavelength shifts about 5 nm toward the longer wavelength side due to heat generation of the semiconductor laser itself, as shown in FIG. 9 of the present application.
Therefore, when a semiconductor laser is optically coupled with an SHG element without locking the wavelength, the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser does not coincide with a wavelength at which the wavelength conversion efficiency of the SHG element is maximized, i.e., does not coincide with a wavelength which phase-matches with the SHG element. The output light amount of the second harmonic wave fluctuates, resulting in almost no output of second harmonic waves. In order to solve this problem, in the light wavelength conversion module disclosed in JP-A No. 10-254001, an external resonator is provided, and an oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser is locked to a wavelength which phase-matches with the SHG element to thereby stabilize the outputted light amount of the second harmonic wave light.
However, even if the above-described locking of the wavelength is carried out, there still exists the following problem. The output light amount of the semiconductor laser itself increases linearly as the driving current of the semiconductor laser increases as shown in FIG. 10A when a threshold current (Iop) is exceeded. In contrast, the output light amount of the SHG element does not increase monotonically as the driving current of the semiconductor laser increases, but increases while repeatedly increasing and decreasing as shown in FIG. 10B, when the same semiconductor laser and SHG element are optically coupled to generate a second harmonic wave. That is, the IL characteristic (current vs. output characteristic) which expresses the relationship between the driving current of the semiconductor laser and the output light amount of the SHG element repeatedly increases and decreases.
When such increasing and decreasing of the output light amount occurs, there is a problem in that automatic power control (APC) for stabilizing the output light amount of the SHG element cannot be carried out properly when used. Moreover, there is another problem in that it is difficult to control the output light amount to a desirable amount when the output light of the SHG element is modulated by increasing and decreasing the driving current, since the output light amount of the SHG element does not increase monotonically as the driving current of the semiconductor laser increases.
The present invention is provided so as to solve the aforementioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light wavelength conversion module in which the output light amount of a light wavelength conversion element increases monotonically as the driving current of a semiconductor laser increases.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module including: (a) a light wavelength conversion element having a wavelength band, which when the light wavelength conversion element receives light within the wavelength band, emits light having a different wavelength; and (b) a semiconductor laser having an external resonator provided with a wavelength selecting element, the semiconductor laser being disposed for communicating light to the light wavelength conversion element and operable for producing light of a fundamental wavelength including a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra within the wavelength band of the light wavelength conversion element.
A second aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module including: (a) a light wavelength conversion element having a wavelength band, which when the light wavelength conversion element receives light within the wavelength band, emits light having a different wavelength; and (b) a semiconductor laser having opposite emitting end surfaces and an external resonator, the semiconductor laser being operable for producing light of a fundamental wavelength including a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra within the wavelength band of the light wavelength conversion element, which is disposed for receiving light from one emitting end surface of the semiconductor laser, and the external resonator being disposed for receiving light from the other emitting end surface, the external resonator including a wavelength selecting element and a reflecting member disposed on an optical path for receiving the light, with the reflecting member disposed on the optical path opposite the wavelength selecting element from the semiconductor laser.
A third aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the wavelength band has a length xcex94xcex, and a wavelength interval of the longitudinal mode spectra of the semiconductor laser is xcex94xcexm, and the number of the longitudinal mode spectra is Nmax, which is an integer part of the quotient of xcex94xcex/xcex94xcexm or less.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the light wavelength conversion element and the semiconductor laser are optically coupled directly to each other.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the light wavelength conversion element is a quasi-phase matching type light wavelength conversion element which performs wavelength conversion by quasi-phase matching.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, further including a driving device for driving the semiconductor laser in a modulated state according to a modulation signal.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, further including a driving device for driving the semiconductor laser at high frequency.
An eighth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to the seventh aspect, further including another driving device for driving the semiconductor laser in a modulated state at a frequency less than the high frequency.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the wavelength selecting element has a light transmission half-width through which the plurality of longitudinal mode spectra of the light of the fundamental wavelength is transmissible.
A tenth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to the ninth aspect, wherein the half-width of the wavelength selecting element is 0.5 nm or more.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the semiconductor laser has opposite ends, and a reflection reducing coating having a reflectance of 20% or more is provided on at least one end surface of the semiconductor laser.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the light wavelength conversion element includes a light waveguide formed by a proton exchange annealing process.
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a light wavelength conversion module according to either of the first and second aspects, wherein the light wavelength conversion element includes an optical crystal base formed of LiNbO3 doped with MgO or ZnO, or formed of LiTaO3 doped with MgO or ZnO.
In order to investigate the causes of the above-described increase and decrease in the output light amount of the SHG element, the present inventors utilized the optical system, which is shown in FIG. 11 and is formed by a semiconductor laser provided with an external resonator for locking wavelengths, and let an oscillation spectrum of the semiconductor laser 110, in a state in which the wavelength thereof was locked, pass through an optical fiber 112 and magnified the range by an optical spectrum analyzer 114 to observe the oscillation spectrum of the semiconductor laser 110. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 116 indicates an external mirror which forms the external resonator, reference numerals 118, 120 and 122 indicate lenses, and reference numeral 124 indicates a band-pass filter. A semiconductor laser, which had an oscillation wavelength of 950 nm and had a light output of 70 mW when the laser was driven by a 200 mA current, and in which the external resonator had a length of 750 xcexcm and the input and output end surfaces had a reflectance of 20 to 30%, was used as the semiconductor laser 110. A dielectric multi-layer film reflecting mirror having a reflectance of 99% was used as the mirror 116. Lenses having a numerical aperture of 0.5 were used as the lenses 118, 120 and 122. A band-pass filter having a half-width of transmitted light of 0.5 nm and a transmittance of the central wavelength of 80% was used as the band-pass filter 124.
According to the observations of the present inventors, the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser repeatedly fluctuated within a width of about 0.2 nm in the vicinity of a central wavelength of waves transmitted through the band-pass filter. More precisely, as shown in FIG. 12, as the driving current increases, the oscillation wavelength gradually moves within a range of transmitted wavelengths of the band-pass filter from a shorter wavelength side to a longer wavelength side, and when it reaches the right end (the longer wavelength side), the oscillation wavelength hops to the left end (the shorter wavelength side). This hopping of the oscillation wavelength is repeated. It is assumed that when a second harmonic wave is generated by optically coupling the semiconductor laser with the SHG element, the IL characteristic repeatedly increases and decreases due to this wavelength hop.
According to the studies of the present inventors, it is believed that the aforementioned wavelength hop is caused by the following phenomena. In a semiconductor laser, the both end surfaces of the laser element oscillate a laser beam as a resonator, so that several spectra of the oscillation wavelength are observed. This oscillation is oscillation in the Fabry-Pxc3xa9rot mode (FP mode) of the semiconductor laser, and oscillation with two or more spectra is referred to as oscillation in which the so-called longitudinal mode is a multi-mode. In a case in which the longitudinal mode is a multi-mode, when locking of the wavelength is carried out by using the above-described external resonator, laser oscillation occurs only when the oscillation wavelength by the FP mode coincides with a central transmitted wavelength having the highest transmittance of the band-pass filter, thereby locking the wavelength.
On the other hand, the FP mode of the semiconductor laser shifts gradually toward the longer wavelength side due to the generated heat as the driving current increases. Therefore, even in the wavelength locked state, the FP mode of the semiconductor laser shifts minutely within the range of transmitted wavelengths of the band-pass filter. When a single FP mode moves toward the longer wavelength side as described above and the transmittance of the band-pass filter with respect to the single FP mode deteriorates such that the oscillation mode is stopped, the next FP mode adjacent to the previous FP mode at the shorter wavelength side thereof enters into the range of transmitted wavelengths of the band-pass filter and this FP mode oscillates the laser beam. Accordingly, it seems that, as the driving current increases and decreases, the oscillation wavelength repeats hopping with an interval (0.2 nm in the above-described example) coinciding with the FP mode interval of the semiconductor laser.
In accordance with the present invention, a semiconductor laser, which includes an external resonator provided with a wavelength selecting element, emits a fundamental wave including a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra within a range of an acceptable wavelength band of a light wavelength conversion element. Thus, even if a wavelength hop occurs in any oscillation spectrum, a wavelength hop does not occur in other oscillation spectra, thereby enabling oscillation with a relatively stable wavelength. Accordingly, when a wavelength conversion to a second harmonic wave or the like is carried out by optically coupling the semiconductor laser and the light wavelength conversion element such as an SHG element, the IL characteristic varies monotonically. That is, the output light amount of the light wavelength conversion element increases monotonically as the driving current of the semiconductor laser increases.
Moreover, the number of the longitudinal mode spectra is determined such that the spectra exist within the acceptable wavelength band of the wavelength conversion element. However, as the number increases, the power of the wavelength-converted wave such as the second harmonic wave deteriorates. Thus, the number of the longitudinal mode spectra is preferably at most Nmax, which is the integer part of the quotient of xcex94xcex/xcex94xcexm, where xcex94xcex is the acceptable wavelength band of the light wavelength conversion element and xcex94xcexm is the wavelength interval of the longitudinal mode spectra of the semiconductor laser. In the formula, xcex94xcex is a wavelength band in which the output of the light whose wavelength has been converted by the light wavelength conversion element is one-half of the maximum value, i.e., a half-width.
For example, in a case in which a module is formed by optically coupling a semiconductor laser of 950 nm with an SHG element having a periodic domain reversing structure with a period of 4.7 xcexcm, an acceptable wavelength band xcex94xcex of the SHG element varies depending on a periodic reversal length Lc of the SHG element. When Lc is 10 mm, xcex94xcex is 0.11 nm, and when Lc is 1 mm, xcex94xcex is 1.2 nm. However, in order to obtain a practical output light amount (0.1 mW or more) of the SHG element, the periodic reversal length Lc of the SHG element needs to be 1 mm or more, and the maximum value of xcex94xcex at this time is 1.2 nm. Assuming that a wavelength interval xcex94xcexm of the longitudinal mode spectra of the semiconductor laser is 0.2 nm, Nmax is 6. That is, in this case, up to six longitudinal mode spectra are acceptable. In this way, the value of xcex94xcex can be determined by the target output light amount of the SHG element, and the value of Nmax can be obtained properly in accordance with the determined value of xcex94xcex.
There are several methods for causing a semiconductor laser having an external resonator provided with a wavelength selecting element to emit a fundamental wave including a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra within an acceptable wavelength band of a light wavelength conversion element. Such methods include, for example, 1) driving the semiconductor laser at a high frequency; 2) setting the half-width of transmitted light of the wavelength selecting element to a width through which a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra included in the fundamental wave emitted from the semiconductor laser can be transmitted; and 3) providing a reflection reducing coating having a reflectance of 20% or more on at least one of end surfaces of the semiconductor laser.
The longitudinal mode spectrum in accordance with the present invention means a spectrum which can be decomposed when it is measured by an optical spectrum analyzer having a resolving power of about 0.1 nm.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting leads to lead frames, etc. and more particularly to an apparatus for bonding external leads of solid-state devices punched out from a film carrier to lead frames, substrates, etc.
2. Prior Art
An apparatus which connects external leads to lead frames, substrates, etc. works basically as follows: First, a solid-state device 2 (shown in FIG. 11) supported by external leads 2a on a film carrier 1 having sprocket holes 1a on both sides thereof is first punched out. The thus punched-out solid-state device 2 is positioned so that the leads 2a are aligned with lead connecting parts 3a or 4a of a lead frame 3 (shown in FIG. 12) or substrates 4 (shown in FIG. 13), respectively. The leads 2a are then bonded to the lead connecting parts 3a or 4a (as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15) to complete the entire connecting process.
Throughout the specification, the term "lead frames" refers not only to lead frames 3 but also to substrates 4.
Conventional apparatuses for connecting external leads can generally be divided into two types.
In the first type, a film carrier and lead frames are positioned so that the lead frames are laid over the film carrier. The solid-state devices on the film carrier are punched out, and at the same time, the thus punched-out solid-devices are bonded by heat and pressure to lead frames located overhead.
In the second type of apparatus, the film carrier and lead frames are positioned side by side. The solid-state devices on the film carrier are punched out, picked up by vacuum suction adhesion and then transferred to the lead frames. In this apparatus, bonding is accomplished by a separate bonding apparatus.
The above-described apparatus (the first type) is mainly for handling solid-state devices which have a small number of leads. If the solid-device device has a great number of leads, a higher degree of precision is required to position the leads exactly on the solid-state device and the lead frame. Accordingly, the positioning of this apparatus in which the lead frames are merely superimposed on the film carrier causes frequent positioning errors and the yield drops conspicuously. Furthermore, it is difficult to monitor the lead frames and film carrier separately. Thus, the precision of positioning tends to be poor.
On the other hand, in the second type of apparatus, a difficult question rises as to how the solid-state devices (which are punched out of the film carrier) are to be fixed in place on the lead frames. To solve this problem, several different methods are employed. For example, in one method, the solid-state device is temporarily held and set in the proper position on the corresponding lead frame. Then, the leads on each side of the solid-state device are bonded in separate steps via a bonding tool that is arranged so as not to interfere the temporary positioning of the solid-state device.
In another method, each punched-out solid-state device is placed on the lead frame without it being temporarily held, and the leads on the respective sides of the solid-state device are all bonded at the same time.
However, these methods have their drawbacks in that if the bonding process is divided into several steps, working efficiency becomes poor. On the other hand, the precision of the position doing the bonding tends to decrease if the bonding is performed without the solid-state devices being held temporarily.
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The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing various properties of envelopes.
The envelope manufacturing industry involves the production of an extremely large number of units at a very high-speed production rate and a minimal material cost per unit. During envelope production, several key criteria, such as the consistency of the application of adhesive along the front seal and the strength of the bond along the side and back seams, are critical to the manufacture of an acceptable envelope. The industry is continuously striving to maximize the output of units and minimize return and waste units, many of which are caused by failures in the above key criteria. The industry""s profits and sales are based upon the minimization of failures in the envelopes.
A number of obstacles have arisen in recent years which have resulted in decreased sales and profits for the industry. One cause is the increase in alternative means of communication, such as the Internet, that do not require the use of envelopes. Further, the tragic events of Sep. 11, 2001 and subsequent anthrax scare have placed an increased focus on safety and security within the industry. A separate issue has been created by the increased use of recycled paper in that such recycled paper does not always bond as neatly as non-recycled paper.
Accordingly, the envelope manufacturing industry is in need of a system for inspecting envelopes in order to ensure that envelopes are structurally sound before they are shipped to customers. It would be advantageous if such a system could inspect key features of the envelope, such as the consistency of the adhesive along the front seal and the strength of the bond along the side and back seams. Such a system would provide distinct competitive and economic advantages to an envelope manufacturer.
The present invention discloses a unit for evaluating various properties of a paper envelope. The unit is capable of examining an envelope and determining key features of the envelope, such as the amount of front seal adhesive present, the tear strength of the side seams and the presence of properly printed graphics. The unit comprises a) a housing having either a touch screen video display unit or another source df data entry; b) a front seal control portion that contains linear encoders to determine the amount of adhesive on the seal; c) a side strength control portion that contains blades used to measure the force needed to burst the sides of the envelope; and d) a print design quality feature that is utilized to confirm the quality and location of any printing on the envelope.
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The present invention relates generally to optoelectronic devices, and, more particularly, to a multiple quantum well optoelectronic devices for emission and modulation of light.
Optical networks require increasingly sophisticated function in the optical domain. Additionally, self-sustained microwave-frequency oscillation is also required to serve as a subcarrier for signals generated and distributed over optical fibers. The present invention addresses limitations in the rate at which higher bandwidth modulation of an optical signal may be achieved by accomplishing the coupling of electronic and optical functions within a single device, thereby circumventing the limiting parasitic effects of external circuitry.
Various mechanisms are believed to impede interwell transport of carriers among the layers of a stack of multiple quantum wells, with carriers of each conductivity type distinctly affected. The result of the mechanisms is a nonuniformity in the distribution of carriers among the various quantum wells of a stack. Carrier density nonuniformity has been seen as limiting device performance.
Other quantum-well-based optical devices, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,140, rely on the modulation of refraction or of absorption and thus require an external light source. Further examples of quantum-well based optoelectronic devices are provided by Meyer et al., Electronics Letters, vol. 32, pp. 45-46, (1996), Shen et al., IEEE Electron Device Letters, vol. 16, pp. 178-180 (1995), and Yang et al., Applied Physics Letters., vol. 59, pp. 181-182, (1991), all of which references are incorporated herein by reference. The modulation of an active light-emitting device, however, requires the modulation of a positive gain which has not been known to be possible, and is addressed for the first time in the teachings of the present invention.
Devices known to exhibit tunneling phenomena are currently limited either to those exhibiting tunneling from one band to another, in the manner of Esaki diodes, or else are restricted to unipolar devices to which carriers of only a single type exhibit intraband tunneling behavior. Such devices are exemplified by those described in Brown et al., xe2x80x9cOscillations up to 420 GHz in GaAs/AlAs resonant tunneling diodes,xe2x80x9d Applied Physics Letters vol. 55, p. 777 (1989).
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an optical semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a stack of a plurality of layers of semiconducting material. Within the plurality of layers, at least one quantum well is bounded on each of two sides by an energy barrier with respect to transport of a charge carrier between the at least one quantum well and adjoining material on each of two sides, and the quantum well having at least two bound quantum states with respect to a trapped charge carrier. The device also has an optically active zone including the at least one quantum well, with the optically active zone characterized by an optical gain under forward operation of the device. The device has a first carrier injector for forward-injecting carriers of a first conductivity type into the at least one quantum well and a second carrier injector for forward-injecting carriers of a second conductivity type into the optically active zone at in such a way as to vary the optical gain of the optically active zone.
In accordance with alternate embodiments of the invention, the quantum well may be bounded by two barriers with respect to the transport of holes or with respect to the transport of electrons, or both. One of the barriers may be approximately triangular, so as to enable field-emission through the at least one barrier. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, thermionic transport of at least one carrier type into the at least one quantum well is precluded at a specified operating temperature and transport of at least one carrier type into the at least one quantum well is by means of resonant tunneling or field-emission tunneling.
In accordance with yet further embodiments of the invention, a non-linear optical semiconductor device is provided that has a a stack of a plurality of layers of semiconducting material having at least one quantum well bounded on each of two sides by an energy barrier with respect to transport of a charge carrier between the at least one quantum well and adjoining material on each of two sides. Electrical current through the stack is a nonmonotonic function of an applied electrical potential across the stack. The device has an associated circuit for modulating an optical gain of a region of the stack by virtue of the nonlinear function of current versus applied electrical potential.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to small, hand-held or otherwise portable devices employed to clean golf balls, and more particularly relates to a golf ball washer made from flexible materials and functioning as a putter head cover.
2. Background of the Invention
Golfers find it advantageous during play to frequently remove surface stains, dirt and/or debris from their golf balls. Golfers clean their golf balls because extraneous materials on the surface of a golf ball may cause the ball to veer from a true line when putted or struck with a club, and because clean golf balls can be maintained in playable condition for longer periods.
Although some golf courses provide stationary golf ball cleaning equipment at various fixed, specific locations throughout the field of play, not all courses do. Some courses which make equipment available do not place equipment at each hole. Golf ball cleaning equipment provided on the golf course are typically placed in the general areas of the teeing grounds, and is frequently not located conveniently for all golfers due to the use of multiple teeing grounds for a single hole.
Conventional freestanding golf ball cleaning equipment is not normally located near greens because such equipment is prone to be struck with approach shots in such locations, thereby presenting an undesirable element of randomness, or luck, to the game of golf. Despite the general unavailability of golf ball cleaning equipment in locations proximate to the greens, it is exactly in these locations where a golf ball that has been dirtied from play on a golf hole would desirably be cleaned. Golfers strongly desire a clean ball during the intricate, and precise, putting strokes.
Even when course-provided equipment is conveniently located on each hole, it may not be in proper working order. The cleaning equipment may either be mechanically inoperative, or simply nonfunctional due to an absence of cleaning solution.
Although various portable golf ball washer designs exist, most require a golfer to use a separate towel for the purpose of drying a ball after washing. Portable golf ball washers which do not require the use of a separate towel generally require the use of dangerous, expensive, and typically flammable drying agents. Also heretofore, portable ball washers have frequently leaked or dripped on hands, gloves, clothing and equipment during routine use. Most portable ball washers are intended to be attached to golf bags or golf carts. Consequently, they cannot be conveniently carried in the golfer's pockets, or easily taken onto the greens where they are critically needed.
Most recreational golfers having a dirty golf ball in play on a green will attempt to clean the ball by wetting it with saliva and wiping the wetted ball on clothing or on the grass, or will replace the dirty ball with a clean ball in violation of the rules of golf. Although such methods of cleaning are either unsanitary or unsportsmanlike, it is scarcely more desirable to putt with a dirty ball. Short of enjoying the attentions of a caddy to clean the ball by wetting and wiping it with separate towels, there is no favorable alternative to having and using a ball washer on the green.
Still further heretofore, portable golf ball washers could not themselves be washed and maintained without messy and laborious manual cleaning.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a portable golf ball washer having a washing chamber that is highly effective to remove stains, dirt, mud or other debris from the surface of a golf ball wheresoever the golf ball is located. Such a portable golf ball washer would desirably be easily manually operated independently of the availability, location or condition of stationary ball washing equipment, sources of water, etc. on golf courses.
It is further desirable to provide a golf ball washer having either a washing chamber extended or expanded into regions which would be suitable for drying a washed golf ball, or else having a region of additional material exterior to the washing chamber that would be suitable for drying a washed golf ball, or having both such regions. Such a golf ball washer would therefore not require golfers to carry a separate drying towel.
It is still further desirable to provide a soft, flexible, and lightweight golf ball washer which, when not employed for washing golf balls, could easily and comfortably be carried in a golfer's pocket while he or she was on a green or anywhere throughout the field of play. Despite such easy portability, the golf ball washer should not require replacement or replenishment of cleaning fluid during routine use. It should never leak on the golfer's hands, clothing or equipment.
It is still further desirable to provide a golf ball washer which, by virtue of its flexibility, could serve an alternative purpose, such as, for example, providing a protective and decorative covering for the head of a putter or other golf club. Such a dual purpose cleaner and cover would necessarily accommodate various sizes and styles of putter heads. As such a dual purpose item, a portable golf ball washer could particularly easily, and routinely, be carried onto golf course greens in conjunction with the golfer's putter where it could be used to wash the golfer's golf ball prior to the putting stroke(s).
It is still further desirable to provide a golf ball washer which could be easily cleaned and maintained in good working order by means of conventional machine washing and machine tumble drying along with other ordinary laundry items.
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In recent years, piezoelectric elements which each include a film (simply referred to as a piezoelectric film below) partially including, for example, polyvinylidene fluoride as piezoelectric resin and sandwiched between electrodes are known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-216422 discloses a piezoelectric element formed by disposing piezoelectric films made of polyvinylidene fluoride on opposite principal surfaces of electrodes, disposing two other electrodes on an outermost layer, and sandwiching each of the piezoelectric films between the electrodes.
Each piezoelectric film produces charges when the piezoelectric element is distorted, for example by being stretched and contracted in a predetermined direction. As each piezoelectric film produces charges, a potential difference is produced between the electrodes which sandwich each piezoelectric film. A voltage detection circuit detects the potential difference between the electrodes which sandwich each piezoelectric film thereby making it possible to detect that the piezoelectric element has been distorted. The potential difference between the electrodes which sandwich each piezoelectric film will be referred to simply as a voltage of the piezoelectric element below.
A piezoelectric resin has a relatively low dielectric constant ε (F/m) compared to that of piezoelectric ceramics and produces a low capacitance. When the piezoelectric element disclosed in the foregoing application is directly connected to a voltage detection circuit, the causes following problems to occur.
First, a voltage produced in the piezoelectric element becomes too high, and when, for example, it exceeds a drive voltage of the voltage detection circuit, it is difficult to precisely detect an output voltage from the piezoelectric element. Second, because a capacitance of the piezoelectric element is low, the voltage of the piezoelectric element is significantly influenced by noise superimposed on the charges generated by the piezoelectric film. Third, because the capacitance of the piezoelectric element is low, a time constant becomes low and the charges quickly dissipate from the piezoelectric element. When the charges quickly dissipate from the piezoelectric element, a time period during which the voltage detection circuit can detect a voltage of the piezoelectric element shortens.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a piezoelectric element which increases a capacitance and includes a film partially including a piezoelectric resin and sandwiched between electrodes.
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Generally, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the volume of toner for use in forming toner images on a recording paper during color printing is greater than the volume of toner during monochrome printing. Therefore, in color printing, for realization of an excellent fixing of toner images on the recording paper, there is a demand for a fixing device for use in a color image forming apparatus, enhancing a property of releasing a toner from a fixing roller and a property of peeling a recording paper, or a property of melting color toners.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3084692 (registered on Jul. 7, 2000) discloses a belt nip fixing device including a fixing roll which provides a nip portion by coming into contact with an endless belt rotatably laying in a tensioned state across the supporting rolls, the fixing device having an arrangement which enhances a property of peeling the recording paper. In the fixing device described in the publication, a pressure roll which presses the fixing roller via the endless belt is provided at an exit of the nip portion. This pressure roll, at the exit of the nip portion, causes a micro slip in an interface between a toner on the recording paper and the fixing roll, so that it is possible to peel the recording paper even in color printing, without using a peeling device.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 42676/2001 (Tokukai 2001-42676; published on Feb. 16, 2001) and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 92296/2001 (Tokukai 2001-92296; published on Apr. 6, 2001) disclose fixing devices each having a plurality of nip portions provided when a fixing roller (heat roller) comes into contact with pressure rollers. These fixing devices have a plurality of nip portions, thereby sufficiently giving a recording material the amount of heat required for fixing, without decreasing a speed of a recording-material heating process. With this arrangement, even in color printing, toner images are melted and firmly adhered on the recording paper, thus forming fixing images in an excellent manner.
Further, in a fixing device described in the above-mentioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 42676/2001, the rollers, which provide a plurality of nip portions, are made different in harness between each other, so that no paper jam occurs when the recording paper goes into a second nip portion downstream in the transport direction of the recording paper after the recording paper passes through a first nip portion upstream in the transport direction of the recording paper. That is, in a fixing device described in the above-mentioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 42676/2001, when a pressure is applied to the rollers mutually different in hardness, a roller having a low hardness deforms along the shape of a roller having a high hardness. Therefore, when the recording paper passes between the rotated rollers in a state where the roller having a low hardness deforms, the recording paper is transported along the roller having a high hardness. Paying attention to this property, the above-mentioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 42676/2001 sets degrees of hardness for the respective rollers so that the recording paper having passed through the first nip portion reliably enters the second nip portion, thus decreasing the occurrence of a paper jam.
Still further, in the fixing device described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 92296/2001, a pressure applied to the recording paper at a nip portion upstream in the transport direction of the recording paper is lower than a pressure applied to the recording paper at a nip portion downstream in the transport direction of the recording paper. Therefore, a pressure to be applied to a recording material is lowered at an earlier stage of a heating process, and the pressure to be applied to a recording material is increased at a later stage of the heating process so that the occurrence of heat bumps in toners is suppressed, thus realizing an excellent fixing of toner images.
Yet further, a fixing device including a plurality of nip portions is also described in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63795/1993 (Tokukouhei 5-63795; published on Sep. 13, 1993). The fixing device described in this publication is provided with one fixing roller and a plurality of contact rollers: primary contact roller and secondary contact roller, to perform recording on a supporting body, such as an envelope that is a combination of plural pieces of paper, without causing the supporting body to become crinkled. First, using the secondary contact roller, the supporting body is winded around the fixing roller. Then, by controlling a rotation speed of the secondary contact roller, the supporting body is transported between the fixing roller and the primary contact roller. Thus, provision of the secondary contact roller enhances a property of bringing the supporting body into intimate contact with the fixing roller, and enhances a property of fixing toner images.
In recent years, there is a demand for an image forming apparatus with reduced power requirements and reduced size. With this, there is a demand for a fixing device with reduced power requirements and reduced size, included in an image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is desired that the fixing device achieves reduced power requirements and reduced size while ensuring an excellent property of fixing toner images onto the recording paper. Especially, in recent years, a full-color printing using an image forming apparatus including a fixing device has been increasingly performed, and there is also a demand for an image forming apparatus capable of monochrome printing and full-color printing, with reduced power requirements and reduced size. To respond to such a demand, the conventional fixing device still has a further room for improvement.
For example, conventionally, in order to realize reduced power requirements of a fixing device, the fixing roller is made thin so that a heat capacity of the fixing roller can be reduced. However, the thin-walled fixing roller is susceptible to deformation caused by contact of the pressure roller with the fixing roller. Therefore, in order to prevent damage to the fixing device due to deformation of the fixing roller, it is necessary to control a nip pressure when the pressure roller comes into contact with the fixing roller.
However, under the condition where the volume of toner fixed on the recording paper is large in full-color printing and the like printing, the use of the thin-walled fixing roller does not ensure a sufficient nip pressure, causing the difficulty in ensuring an excellent property of fixing toner images. Therefore, conventionally, the thin-walled fixing roller was not suitable for full-color printing.
In addition, the conventional fixing device do enhances a property of bringing the recording paper into intimate contact with the fixing roller in an area between a first nip portion and a second nip portion (between the nips), but there is no element for pushing the recording paper to the fixing roller in the area between the nips. Therefore, there is the possibility that the recording paper could be transported without intimate contact with the fixing roller in the area between the nips.
For example, in the fixing device described in the above-mentioned Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63795/1993 (Tokukouhei 5-63795; published on Sep. 13, 1993), when the recording paper is transported without intimate contact with the fixing roller in the area between the nips, a leading end part of the recording paper having passed through the first nip portion which is provided by the fixing roller and the secondary contact roller comes into contact with the main contact roller. This could cause a paper jam.
Therefore, the conventional fixing device having two nip portions still has a further room for improvement that brings an excellent transport of the recording paper in the area between the nips.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fixing mechanisms, and more particularly, to a fixing mechanism for fixing a functional extension card to a mechanical frame, without using any screws or tools.
2. Description of Related Art
As computer systems have become more common in the workplace and in the home, there has become a need to make these computer systems more adaptable and interchangeable to allow the customization of a computer system to a particular user's needs. Also, it has become necessary to enable the user to change functions or to add new functions to the computer system. When a new hardware function is added to a computer system, the electronics for implementing this function are often contained in a self-contained, pluggable, option card. The option card contains a circuit card mounted with a variety of electronic components that implement the required electronic function. For example, the option card may provide a 3-D drawing card, a sound card, a processor, expanded memory, an I/O card, a network adaptor, or a video card or other functions or combinations of functions. The circuit card having an electronics package constructed is easily configured in a computer system by inserting the package into a provided slot of the computer system.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional method of fastening a functional extension card to the mechanical frame of the computer system. As shown, an functional extension card 6 is fixed on a bayonet board 5, the golden fingers of the extension card 6 are inserted into the provided slot, and then the bayonet bard 5 is fastened onto the mechanical frame 3 by a screw 7, thereby fastening the bayonet board 5 in order to fix the extension card 6 on the mechanical frame 3.
However, the foregoing method of fastening an option card has gradually failed to meet the demands of function varieties. In compliance with the operation of normal service servers, there have been increasingly numbers of functional extension cards being designed to have hot-pluggable ability on booting the system for the purpose of switching and replacing the damaged functional extension card. Thus, using screws to fasten an extension card can be disastrous because an inadvertent loose of the screw may cause short circuits and serious damages to the electrical components, which in turn may bring to a stop of a service server of a network engaging in a financial trading, causing significant damages that cannot be compensated by replacing a server unit or its peripheral components.
Moreover, the contact of the functional extension card with the extension slot also needs to be considered besides inserting the card into the slot. If a functional extension card is not securely fastened to the mechanical frame, it may easily come off due to the vibrations and thus lose the electronic function or result in bad contacts or even cause damages to the system.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop a novel mechanism that can improve on the drawbacks of prior art techniques by avoiding the use of screws or tools for assembly, and is also user-friendly.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) package and a method of manufacturing the same, and more specifically, an LED package, which can minimize a deviation of the color coordinate and can be reduced in size, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, LEDs generate minority carriers (electrons and holes) injected by using a p-n junction structure of semiconductor and then recombine them to emit light. That is, when a forward voltage is applied to a semiconductor of a specific element, electrons and holes are recombined through migration in a positive-negative junction. Then, energy level is dropped, thereby emitting light.
Since the LEDs can irradiate high-efficiency light using a low voltage, the LEDs can be used in home appliances, remote controls, electric signs, displays, various automated equipments and the like.
In particular, as information communication devices are reduced in size and are slimmed, various parts of the devices such as resistors, condensers, noise filters and the like are further reduced in size. Recently, the LEDs are produced in the form of surface mount devices (SMDs) to be directly mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB).
LED packages manufactured in the form of SMD are divided into top-view type and side-view type LED packages, depending on the use thereof.
Hereinafter, a conventional LED package will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional LED package.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional LED package includes a lead frame 50 composed of a pair of lead terminals, a package 10 formed of synthetic resin so as to house portions of the lead frame 50 therein, an LED chip 30 mounted on the lead frame 50 positioned inside the package 10, an electrode connection portion 40 for electrically connecting the LED chip 30 and the lead frame 50, and a molding material 20 which is filled in the package 10 so as to protect the LED chip 30 and the electrode connection portion 40, the molding material including phosphor.
Meanwhile, general standards for determining the characteristics of an LED chip are a color, luminance, an intensity range of luminance and so on. Such characteristics of the LED chip are primarily determined by a material of a compound semiconductor used in the LED chip, and are secondarily affected by the structure of a package for mounting the LED chip and a molding material including phosphor filled in the package. In particular, the phosphor of the molding material filled in such an LED package has a great effect upon luminance of the LED chip and luminance distribution.
In the conventional LED package, a voluminous space for filling the molding material is constant. Therefore, an amount of coated phosphor can be constantly maintained so as to minimize a deviation of the color coordinate. As a result, it is possible to implement high luminance.
Recently, as a demand for high luminance of a screen and reduction in thickness of an LCD panel increases, the reduction in size and thickness of an LED package is considered to be an urgent problem.
In the above-described LED package, however, there is a limit in minimizing the height of the package for securing the space required for filling the molding material including phosphor. Therefore, there are difficulties in reducing the size and thickness of the LED package.
That is, although the deviation of the color coordinate can be minimized, there are difficulties in reducing the size and thickness of the LED package.
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At present, more mobile devices (such as a mobile phone and a tablet computer) use a touchscreen, and when using these mobile devices to view content such as an image, or a map, people often need to zoom-in or zoom-out the content to facilitate viewing. When people need a mobile device to perform a zoom-in or zoom-out function, a method generally used is placing two fingers on a touch-control touchscreen, so that the mobile device simultaneously receives signals from two touch points; zooming in or zooming out content displayed on the touchscreen according to changes in signal movement directions of the two touch points; and controlling zoom-in or zoom-out times using a signal movement distance of the two touch points.
The prior art has at least the following disadvantages. In the foregoing solution, using changes of the simultaneously received signals of the two touch points, the mobile device controls to zoom-in or zoom-out the content displayed on the touchscreen and the zoom in or zoom out times. However, when controlling to zoom-in or zoom-out the content displayed on the touchscreen, the mobile device needs to simultaneously receive the signals from the two touch points and detect change status of the two signals, and a processing process is complex, which reduces working efficiency of the mobile device.
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Single faced corrugated paperboard webs are made on a single facer machine. A liner is attached to the crests of the corrugations to form double faced corrugated paperboard at a glue machine. At the glue machine, the web passes between an adhesive applicator roll and a rider roll. The amount by which the rider roll compresses the corrugations establishes the amount of adhesive applied. Accordingly, the rider roll must be ballasted to apply either a constant predetermined pressure or to maintain a constant predetermined gap between itself and the adhesive applicator roll.
The effective pressure can be maintained either by a pressure control arrangement as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,876,734 or by monitoring the gap between the rider roll and the adhesive applicator roll. To maintain a uniform gap so that slight compression of the single face occurs as it passes between the rolls, the thickness of the web must be sensed. Thus, there is need for sensing apparatus capable of acting on the corrugated side of the web for measuring the thickness of the web as the web is moving at high speed so that appropriate adjustments and/or stopping of the web can be attained. The flexibility, the ease of deformation and the undulated nature of the corrugated side of the web complicate the problems in designing suitable sensing apparatus.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vitreous silica crucible which is used for pulling single-crystal silicon, and more particularly, a vitreous silica crucible which is suitable for repeatedly pulling several times (multi-pulling) and is capable of suppressing erosion of the inner surface of the crucible at the time of pulling such that brown rings and the like are unlikely to be peeled from the inner surface of the crucible.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-339345, filed Dec. 28, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
The pulling of single-crystal silicon is generally performed by the Czochralski method (CZ method) for pulling single-crystal silicon from a silicon melt fed into a vitreous silica crucible. In a process of pulling single-crystal silicon by the CZ method, as shown in FIG. 5, in an upper end of a portion in which a liquid level D of a silicon melt B in the vitreous silica crucible A is in contact with the inner surface of the crucible, an upper edge E of the liquid level D is in contact with the inner surface of the crucible in a state of slightly rising along the inner surface of the crucible A due to the surface tension of the silicon melt B. The rising portion of the liquid level D of the silicon melt is a three-phase interface portion E (meniscus portion) in which the glass surface of the crucible A, the silicon melt B and atmosphere gas C are adjacent to one another.
Generally, the inner surface of the crucible A which is in contact with the silicon melt B is eroded by reaction with the silicon melt B such that SiO is generated. Since the silicon melt B is thin in the three-phase interface portion E, the generated SiO is susceptible to be discharged to the atmosphere gas C. Accordingly, the three-phase interface portion E is eroded faster than that of the portion in which the inner surface of the crucible and the silicon melt B are in contact with each other at the lower portion of the liquid level D.
Since the inner surface of the crucible is susceptible to be eroded in the three-phase interface portion E, the concentration of the oxygen in a solution in the three-phase interface portion E becomes higher than other portions. Accordingly, if the volume of the three-phase interface portion E is large, the amount of oxygen introduced into the silicon melt is increased. Accordingly, the present applicant suggests a vitreous silica crucible capable of suppressing the amount of oxygen introduced into a silicon melt by increasing a contact angle between the liquid level of the silicon melt and the inner surface of a crucible and decreasing the volume of a three-phase interface portion (JP-A No. 2005-67910).
However, recently, in order to improve pulling efficiency of single-crystal silicon, a multi-pulling method of pulling the single-crystal silicon using a crucible a plurality of times is performed. In this method, a silicon melt is repeatedly charged in the crucible and the single-crystal silicon is pulled a plurality of times. In this pulling method, since the level of the silicon melt is vertically moved on the inner surface of the crucible according to the number of times of pulling and the three-phase interface portion is repeatedly moved on the inner surface of the crucible, the erosion amount of the inner surface of the crucible is increased although the total pulling amount is the same, compared with a method of pulling a long single-crystal silicon using one crucible.
Since the pulling is performed at a high temperature, brown rings (ring-shaped crystallization portions) which occur due to the reaction of vitreous silica and silicon or spots which occur due to the crystallization of the vitreous silica exist on the inner surface of the crucible at the time of pulling. If the three-phase interface portion of the liquid level of the silicon melt passes through the portion in which the brown rings or the crystal spots exist, the brown rings or the crystal spots are susceptible to be peeled from the inner surface of the crucible by the erosion of the inner surface of the crucible. If the brown rings or the crystal spots are peeled and mixed into the silicon melt, the yield of the single crystallization deteriorates.
The present invention provides a vitreous silica crucible and a vitreous silica crucible suitable for multi-pulling, in which brown rings or crystal spots are unlikely to be peeled from the inner surface of the crucible although a three-phase interface portion of a liquid level of a silicon melt is repeatedly moved along the inner surface of the crucible.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bearing assembly. Particularly, it relates to a seal device for a bearing assembly suited for journalling the rolls of a rolling mill or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various seal devices for bearings have heretofore been developed. For example, the seal device for the bearings mounted on the roll neck of a rolling mill which uses a great quantity of water for cooling the roll and journalling and carrying the roll has been variously contrived (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 21368/1969). However, these known devices are complicated in construction, and they have required a number of special steps for the manufacture of parts, and tended toward increased sizes of the devices.
Also, these known devices can not discharge inadvertently incoming water and dust therefrom to prevent such foreign materials from entering into the bearing mechanism.
In the bearing industry, a great variety of bearings having high accuracy are required and the manufacturer of bearings must accurately meet such wide range of demand. In this context, the construction of bearings must be as simple as possible and of low cost of manufacture as well as of high reliability. Thus, the simplification of the construction of the seal device and enhanced function thereof must be achieved. The present invention chiefly overcomes such problems.
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{
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The number of digital photographs and videos taken with mobile wireless devices is increasingly outnumbering photographs taken with dedicated digital and film-based cameras. Thus, there are growing needs to improve the experience associated with mobile wireless digital photography and videography.
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The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric which has been impregnated with a liquid glass cleaning composition.
The patent literature describes numerous wipes for both body cleaning and cleaning of hard surfaces but none describe the instant glass cleaning wipes which have improved cleaning characteristics in the minimization of streaking and residue.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,756,612; 5,763,332; 5,908,707; 5,914,177; 5,980,922 and 6,168,852 teach cleaning compositions which are inverse emulsions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,183,315 and 6,183,763 teach cleaning compositions containing a proton donating agent and having an acidic pH.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,863,663; 5,952,043; 6,063,746 and 6,121,165 teaches cleaning compositions which are out in water emulsions.
A glass cleaning wipe comprising a nonwoven fabric containing wood pulp fibers, wherein is the nonwoven fabric is impregnated with a liquid glass cleaning composition containing an anionic surfactant, a cosurfactant, an alkanol, a quaternary alkylol amine salt and water, wherein the liquid glass cleaning composition is not an emulsion and does not contain proteins, metallic salts, enzymes, amides, sodium hypochlorite, dimethicone, a proton donating agent, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, monoalkyl phosphate or silicon based sulfosuccinate.
The present invention relates to a glass cleaning wipe which comprises approximately:
(a) 30 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a nonwoven fabric consisting of 60 wt. % to 95 wt. % of wood pulp fibers, 2.5 wt. % to 10 wt. % of viscose fibers and 2.5 wt. % to 10 wt. % of polyester fibers; and
(b) 60 wt. % to 70 wt. % of a liquid glass cleaning composition being impregnated in said nonwoven fabric, wherein said liquid glass cleaning composition comprises:
(i) 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %, 0.25 wt. % to 4 wt. % of an anionic surfactant;
(ii) 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. %, more preferably 1 wt. % to 6 wt. % of a C1-C4 alkanol;
(iii) 0.5 wt. % to 8 wt. %, more preferably 1 wt. % to 5 wt. % of a cosurfactant;
(iv) 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. %, more preferably 0.2 wt. % to 0.8 wt. % of an antirain or antidust agent, a cationic quaternary alkylolamine salt, or choline chloride;
(v) 0 to 0.25 wt. %, more preferably 0.01 wt. % to 0.1 wt. % of a perfume;
(vi) 0 to 0.1 wt. %, more preferably 0.01 wt. % to 0.1 wt. % of a preservative such as iodo propynyl butyl carbanate; and
(vii) the balance being water, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7 to about 9.5, more preferably about 7.5 to about 8.5.
The anionic surfactant used in the instant invention are selected from the group consisting of sulfate anionic surfactants and sulfonate anionic surfactants, wherein the preferred anionic surfactant is a C8-C18 ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant.
The anionic sulfonate surfactants which may be used in the detergent of this invention are water soluble and include the sodium, potassium, ammonium and ethanolammonium salts of linear C8-C16 alkyl benzene sulfonates; C10-C20 paraffin sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonates containing about 10-24 carbon atoms and C8-C18 ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfates and mixtures thereof. The preferred anionic sulfonate surfactant is a C12-18 paraffin sulfonate.
The paraffin sulfonates may be monosulfonates or di-sulfonates and usually are mixtures thereof, obtained by sulfonating paraffins of 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferred paraffin sulfonates are those of C12-18 carbon atoms chains, and more preferably they are of C14-17 chains. Paraffin sulfonates that have the sulfonate group(s) distributed along the paraffin chain are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,503,280; 2,507,088; 3,260,744; and 3,372,188; and also in German Patent 735,096. Such compounds may be made to specifications and desirably the content of paraffin sulfonates outside the C14-17 range will be minor and will be minimized, as will be any contents of di- or poly-sulfonates.
Examples of suitable other sulfonated anionic detergents are the well known higher alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulfonates, such as the higher alkylbenzene sulfonates containing 9 to 18 or preferably 9 to 16 carbon atoms in the higher alkyl group in a straight or branched chain, or C8-15 alkyl toluene sulfonates. A preferred alkylbenzene sulfonate is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate having a higher content of 3-phenyl (or higher) isomers and a correspondingly lower content (well below 50%) of 2-phenyl (or lower) isomers, such as those sulfonates wherein the benzene ring is attached mostly at the 3 or higher (for example 4, 5, 6 or 7) position of the alkyl group and the content of the isomers in which the benzene ring is attached in the 2 or 1 position is correspondingly low. Preferred materials are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,174, especially those in which the alkyls are of 10 to 13 carbon atoms.
The C8-18 ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactants have the structure
Rxe2x80x94(OCHCH2)nOSO3xe2x88x92M+
wherein n is about 1 to about 22 more preferably 1 to 3 and R is an alkyl group having about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 15 and natural cuts, for example, C12-14 or C12-16 and M is an ammonium cation or a metal cation, most preferably sodium.
The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate may be made by sulfating the condensation product of ethylene oxide and C8-10 alkanol, and neutralizing the resultant product. The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfates differ from one another in the number of carbon atoms in the alcohols and in the number of moles of ethylene oxide reacted with one mole of such alcohol. Preferred ethoxylated alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfates contain 12 to 15 carbon atoms in the alcohols and in the alkyl groups thereof, e.g., sodium myristyl (3 EO) sulfate.
Ethoxylated C8-18 alkylphenyl ether sulfates containing from 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide in the molecule are also suitable for use in the invention compositions. These detergents can be prepared by reacting an alkyl phenol with 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide and sulfating and neutralizing the resultant ethoxylated alkylphenol.
As used herein and in the appended claims the term xe2x80x9cperfumexe2x80x9d is used in its ordinary sense to refer to and include any non-water soluble fragrant substance or mixture of substances including natural (i.e., obtained by extraction of flower, herb, blossom or plant), artificial (i.e., mixture of natural oils or oil constituents) and synthetically produced substance) odoriferous substances. Typically, perfumes are complex mixtures of blends of various organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, aromatic compounds and varying amounts of essential oils (e.g., terpenes) such as from 0% to 80%, usually from 10% to 70% by weight, the essential oils themselves being volatile odoriferous compounds and also serving to dissolve the other components of the perfume.
In the present invention the precise composition of the perfume is of no particular consequence to cleaning performance so long as it meets the criteria of water immiscibility and having a pleasing odor. Naturally, of course, especially for cleaning compositions intended for use in the home, the perfume, as well as all other ingredients, should be cosmetically acceptable, i.e., non-toxic, hypoallergenic, etc. The instant compositions show a marked improvement in ecotoxocity as compared to existing commercial products.
The cosurfactants in the instant compositions are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene glycol of the formula HO(CH3CHCH2O)nH wherein n is a number from 1 to 18, and mono and di C1-C6 alkyl ethers and esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having the structural formulas R(X)nOH, R1(X)nOH, R(X)nOR and R1(X)nOR1 wherein R is C1-C6 alkyl group, R1 is C2-C4 acyl group, X is (OCH2CH2) or (OCH2(CH3)CH) and n is a number from 1 to 4, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, an alkyl lactate, wherein the alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, 1methoxy-2-propanol, 1methoxy-3-propanol, and 1methoxy 2-, 3- or 4-butanol.
Representative members of the polypropylene glycol include dipropylene glycol and polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 150 to 1000, e.g., polypropylene glycol 400. Satisfactory glycol ethers are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl cellosolve), diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tri propylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol tertiary butyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monopentyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monopropyl ether, triethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono, di tripropylene glycol monopropyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monopentyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol mono methyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monopropyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monopentyl ether and mono, di, tributylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monoacetate and dipropylene glycol propionate. While all of the aforementioned glycol ether compounds provide the described stability, the most preferred cosurfactant is propylene glycol N-butyl ether.
The preferred C1-C4 alkanols are ethanol or isopropanol and mixtures thereof
The final essential ingredient in the instant is water. The proportion of water in the compositions generally is in the range of 70 wt. % to 98.5 wt. %.
The liquid glass cleaning composition of this invention may, if desired, also contain other components either to provide additional effect or to make the product more attractive to the consumer. The following are mentioned by way of example: Colors or dyes in amounts up to 0.5% by weight; preservatives or antioxidizing agents, such as formalin, 5-bromo-5-nitro-dioxan-1,3; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothaliazolin-3-one, 2,6-di-tert.butyl-p-cresol, etc., in amounts up to 2% by weight; and pH adjusting agents, such as sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide, as needed.
The liquid glass cleaning compositions are prepared by simple batch mixing at 25xc2x0 C.-30xc2x0 C. The nonwoven fabric is impregnated with the liquid glass cleaning composition by means of a positive impregnation process. The liquid is positively fed into the nonwoven fabric through a controlled gear pump and injection bar at a ratio of about 2 grams of liquid glass cleaning composition to about 1 gram of the nonwoven fabric.
The nonwoven fabric which is manufactured by Dexter Corporation under the name Hydraspun comprises about 60% to 95% of wood pulp fabrics, 2.5 wt. % to 20 wt. % of viscose fibers and 2.5 wt. % to 20 wt. % of polyester fibers. Excluded as substrates for the wipes are any nonwoven fabric substitute that does not contain at least 50 wt. % of wood pulp fibers such as Spunlace nonwoven fabric substrate.
The following examples illustrate liquid cleaning compositions of the described invention. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are by weight. The exemplified compositions are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the proportions in the examples and elsewhere in the specification are by weight.
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1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a composition for forming molded metal containing articles using a molding feedstock having improved stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Injection molding is a well known process for forming thermoplastic molded articles, such as plastic bottles or containers. Other types of useful injection molded articles are formed from ceramic powder (ceramic injection molding, or "CIM") or metal powder (metal injection molding, or "MIM"), rather than a thermoplastic material. Powder injection molding generally involves injecting a moldable fluid composition, comprising a combination of a ceramic or metal powder, a gel forming binder and a solvent into a mold of a predetermined shape under conditions sufficient to form a shaped article, referred to as a "green body." For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,957 which teaches a process for forming ceramic and/or metal articles from a composition comprising a ceramic and/or metal powder, a polysaccharide binder and a gel strength enhancing agent. After forming a green body, it is most typically required to sinter the article to densify the article so that it may have useful strength and other physical and mechanical properties.
There are various reasons for which metal or metal containing, ceramic molded articles may be desirable. For example, a metal article may be highly conductive, or a metal component may impart superior strength or durability to an article. Generally, metal injection molded articles may be formed from any pure metal or metal alloy in powder form. Powder injection molding applications typically use wax or polymeric binders, or a water-based binder and solvent for a variety of metals, for example stainless steels or nickel based superalloys. However, it is well known that certain metals and metal compounds oxidize when contacted with water. For example, iron reacts with water to formiron oxide, or rust, and copper reacts with water to form copper oxide. Therefore, it has been a problem in the art to form metal containing compositions using a water based binder while preventing oxidation of the some metals.
To illustrate, U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,723 teaches a composition for injection molding an article incorporating a fatty acid metal salt lubricant. This lubricant is used to inhibit the formation of rust when iron containing compounds are incorporated within the composition. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,813 teaches a composition for injection molding an article incorporating an antioxidant additive. This antioxidant is used to inhibit the formation of rust when iron containing compounds are incorporated within the composition. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,428 provides a method of preserving an article wherein the article and an oxygen absorbent composition are sealed inside a container. The oxygen absorbent composition serves to prevent rusting of the article.
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A commonly encountered situation in genetic analysis entails the need to identify a low percent of variant DNA sequences (‘target sequences’) in the presence of a large excess of non-variant sequences (‘reference sequences’). Examples for such situations include: (a) identification and sequencing of a few mutated alleles in the presence of a large excess of normal alleles; (b) identification of a few methylated alleles in the presence of a large excess of unmethylated alleles (or vice versa) in epigenetic analysis; (c) detection of low levels of heteroplasmy in mitochondrial DNA; (d) detection of drug-resistant quasi-species in viral infections and (e) identification of tumor-circulating DNA in blood of cancer patients (where people are suspected of having cancer, to track the success of cancer treatment or to detect relapse) in the presence of a large excess of wild-type alleles.
The inventor of the present application has previously described COLD-PCR methods for enriching the concentration of low abundance alleles in a sample PCR reaction mixture; see published patent PCT application entitled “Enrichment of a Target Sequence”, International Application No. PCT/US2008/009248, now U.S. Ser. No. 12/671,295, by Gerassimos Makrigiorgos and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The described COLD-PCR enrichment methods are based on a modified nucleic acid amplification protocol which incubates the reaction mixture at a critical denaturing temperature “Tc”. The prior patent application discloses two formats of COLD-PCR, namely full COLD-PCR and fast COLD-PCR.
In full COLD-PCR, the reaction mixture is subjected to a first denaturation temperature (e.g., 94° C.) which is chosen well above the melting temperature for the reference (e.g., wild-type) and target (e.g., mutant) sequences similar to conventional PCR. Then, the mixture is cooled slowly to facilitate the formation of reference-target heteroduplexes by hybridization. Steady lowering of the temperature in a controlled manner from 94° C. to 70° C. over an 8 minute time period is typical to assure proper hybridization. Alternatively, the temperature is rapidly lowered to 70° C. and retained at this temperature for 8 min to assure proper hybridization. Once cooled, the reaction mixture contains not only reference-target heteroduplexes but also reference-reference homoduplexes (and to a lesser extent target-target homoduplexes). When the target sequence and reference sequence cross hybridize, minor sequence differences of one or more single nucleotide mismatches or insertions or deletions anywhere along a short (e.g., <200 bp) double stranded DNA sequence will generate a small but predictable change in the melting temperature (Tm) for that sequence (Lipsky, R. H., et al. (2001) Clin Chem, 47, 635-644; Liew, M., et al. (2004) Clin Chem, 50, 1156-1164). Depending on the exact sequence context and position of the mismatch, melting temperature changes of 0.1-20° C., are contemplated. Full COLD-PCR, as described in the above referred patent application, is premised on the difference in melting temperature between the double stranded reference sequence and the hybridized reference-target heteroduplexes. After cooling down to form reference-target heteroduplexes, the reaction mixture is incubated at a critical denaturing temperature (Tc), which is chosen to be less than the melting temperature for the double stranded reference sequence and higher than the lower melting temperature of the reference-target heteroduplexes, thereby preferentially denaturing the cross hybridized target-reference heteroduplexes over the reference-reference homoduplexes.
The critical denaturing temperature (Tc) is a temperature below which PCR efficiency drops abruptly for the reference nucleic acid sequence (yet sufficient to facilitate denaturation of the reference-target heteroduplexes). For example, a 167 bp p53 sequence amplifies well if the PCR denaturing temperature is set at 87° C., amplifies modestly at 86.5° C. and yields no detectable product if PCR denaturation is set at 86° C. or less. Therefore, in this example Tc˜86.5° C. After intermediate incubation at the critical denaturing temperature (Tc), the primers are annealed to the denatured target and reference strands from the denatured heteroduplexes and extended by a polymerase, thus enriching the concentration of the target sequence relative to the reference sequence. One of the advantages of full COLD-PCR is that the same primer pair is used for both target and reference sequences.
Fast COLD-PCR, as described in the above referred patent application, is premised on there being a difference in melting temperature between the double stranded reference sequence (e.g., wild-type sequence) and the double stranded target sequence mutant sequence). In particular, the melting temperature of the target sequence must be lower than the reference sequence. The critical denaturing temperature (Tc) in fast COLD-PCR is a temperature below which PCR efficiency drops abruptly for the double stranded reference nucleic acid sequence, yet is still sufficient to facilitate denaturation of the double stranded target sequence. During the fast COLD-PCR enrichment cycle, the reaction mixture is not subjected to denaturation at a temperature (e.g., 94° C.) above the melting temperature of the reference sequence as in the first step of the full COLD-PCR cycle. Rather, the reaction mixture is incubated at a critical denaturing temperature (e.g., Tc=83.5° C.), which is chosen either (a) to be less than the melting temperature for the double stranded reference sequence and higher than the lower melting temperature of the double stranded target sequence, or; (b) to be lower than the Tm of both reference and target sequences, whilst still creating a differential between the degree of denaturation of reference and target sequences. After incubation at the critical denaturing temperature (Tc), the primers are annealed to the denatured target strands and extended by a polymerase, thus enriching the concentration of the target sequence relative to the reference sequence. Again, the same primer pair is used for both target and reference sequences.
Enrichment via full COLD-PCR has been found to be relatively inefficient, and time consuming, compared to enrichment via fast COLD-PCR. However, the use of fast COLD-PCR is limited to applications in which the melting temperature of the double stranded target sequence is suitably less than the melting temperature for the double stranded reference sequence. For example, mutations will not be detectable in sequencing data for a sample with a low abundance of mutant sequences that has been subjected to fast COLD-PCR if the melting temperature of the mutant sequence is the same or higher than the melting temperature of the wild-type sequence. Therefore, it is desired to improve the efficacy and rate of the full COLD-PCR cycle.
It is believed that the relative inefficiency of full COLD-PCR is due primarily to the paucity of heteroduplexes formed particularly during the early cycles of full COLD-PCR. Even if slow cool down during the hybridization step is optimized (e.g., steadily cool down for 8 minutes from 94° C. to 70° C.), the very low concentration of target (e.g. mutant) strands especially during early cycles reduces the ability to form heteroduplexes. Increasing the time for hybridization cool down is not desired, and in any event has not been found to be particularly effective to improve enrichment. Another reason that full COLD-PCR may be relatively less efficient than fast COLD-PCR is that the amplicons during later cycles of full COLD-PCR have a propensity to reform their homoduplexes rather than form heteroduplexes.
One object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of heteroduplex formation in the early cycles of full COLD-PCR. Another object is to decrease the overall cycle time for full COLD-PCR.
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A double data rate (DDR) memory controller can be implemented in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device. As the DDR memory is advanced to provide higher data throughput, e.g., up to 1 Gbs, a timing budget left for the FPGA is substantially reduced. The DDR memory interface is defined to transmit a data strobe signal in conjunction with a group of data signals for data capture in the receiver side, i.e., at the memory controller of the FPGA. All skew and jitter among the various data signals and the data strobe signal is treated as uncertainty and is subtracted from the valid data sampling window. Thus, uncertainty associated with signal skew limits the rate at which the memory controller can process incoming and outgoing data transmissions. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce skew among the data signals and data strobe signal. In view of the foregoing, a solution is needed to accurately quantify skew between signals and accurately compensate for the quantified skew to enhance device performance.
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Semiconductor devices are used in a variety of electronic applications, such as personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment. Semiconductor devices are typically fabricated by sequentially depositing insulating or dielectric layers, conductive layers, and semiconductive layers of material over a semiconductor substrate, and patterning the various material layers using lithography to form circuit components and elements thereon.
The semiconductor industry continues to improve the integration density of various electronic components (e.g., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.) by continual reductions in minimum feature size, which allow more components to be integrated into a given area.
Dozens or hundreds of integrated circuits are typically manufactured on a single semiconductor wafer. The individual dies are singulated by sawing the integrated circuits along scribe lines. The individual dies may then be used in an end application or packaged separately, in multi-chip modules, or in other types of packaging.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a direct fuel-injection engine having a cavity recessed in a central part of the top face of a piston, and a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the cavity. The fuel injector carries out main injection along a fuel-injection axis oriented toward an inner wall face of the cavity when the piston is in the vicinity of top dead center, and carries out secondary injection along the same fuel-injection axis when the piston is positioned further from top dead center than during main injection.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-324661 (JP '661) discloses a direct fuel-injection diesel engine in which a fuel injector is provided with a first injection hole for pilot injection and a second injection hole for main injection. JP '661 teaches that when fuel is subjected to pilot injection (secondary injection) from the fuel injector before a piston reaches top dead center, and fuel is subjected to main injection from the fuel injector when the piston has reached top dead center, fuel is made to collide at an appropriate position within a cavity by setting a small cone angle for fuel that is subjected to pilot injection and a large cone angle for fuel that is subjected to main injection.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-227345 (JP '345) discloses a direct fuel-injection diesel engine that carries out main and secondary injections along the same fuel-injection axis, wherein the direction of the fuel-injection axis when carrying out secondary injection is oriented toward the open end of a cavity of a piston.
Incidentally, the arrangement disclosed by JP '661 requires the structural arrangement of the fuel injector to be rather complex since it is necessary to provide the fuel injector with the first injection hole for pilot injection and the second injection hole for main injection, thus causing an increase in manufacturing cost.
Furthermore, the arrangement disclosed by JP '345 poses a problem wherein unused air could possibly remain in an upper part of the cavity since the direction of the fuel-injection axis when carrying out secondary injection is oriented toward a high position (open end) of the cavity, the direction of the fuel-injection axis when carrying out main injection is also oriented toward a relatively high position of the cavity, and fuel that has collided with an inner wall face of the cavity, which enlarges in a downward facing direction, is not directed to the open end side of the cavity but is directed to a bottom wall side.
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This invention relates to fuel additives and more particularly to diesel fuel additives which inhibit the polymerization of fuel components, the growth of bacteria in stored fuel, and corrosion inside the fuel tank.
With the increasing prevalence of standby power generation equipment for essential services, including hospitals, communication equipment and the like, it has become increasingly important to protect the fuel from degradation when stored for long periods of time. More recently, many of these standby motor generator systems have employed diesel engines making the stability of stored fuel an even more important consideration. Distillate fuels in general and diesel fuel in particular are prone with prolonged storage to form polymerizates which agglomerate into what is referred to as sludge which can clog fuel lines and fuel injectors preventing the reliable operation of the engine. In addition, water in the fuel and in the form of condensates in a partially filled storage tank will attack the metal of the tank forming rust which also promotes the polymerization of components in the fuel.
In addition, new regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency have recognized the problem of rusting tanks and require measures to prevent contamination of ground water which can occur from fuel leaking underground from rust perforated tanks.
Likewise, sludge formation can be accelerated by the growth of bacteria in the fuel.
Therefore, modern inhibitors should have the following characteristics in use.
The material should be a sludge dispersant. It is known that the deterioration of fuel oils involves polymerization reactions resulting in the agglomeration of macroscopic polymerizates into sludge. Although this reaction may be initiated by oxygen, additives containing antioxidants, such as hindered phenols or diamines of the types used in gasolines as gum inhibitors, are not totally effective for the purpose of preventing the polymerization mechanisms. The additive materials should also have rust-preventive properties. The additive materials should also be effective when the fuels are stored in the presence of metals and water and rust. The additive materials should also inhibit the propagation of bacteria.
The kinds of bacteria that grow in stored fuels thrive on nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, as well as iron, generally in the form of its oxides. Bacterial growth can be reduced, if not eliminated, by employing the following preventive measures. A biocide should be employed. Of course, the elimination of materials in the fuel tank that contain nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus would be helpful. Since the latter measure is practically impossible, these materials must be considered in the formulation of any additive. In addition, it is important to keep the fuel tanks clean and dry, in order to reduce or eliminate rust formation in the tanks.
Two standard test methods have been used as the best yardstick of an inhibitor's usefulness in prolonging fuel storage life. The first test is a variation of the color-stability test in Federal Specification VV-K-211 Kerosene. In addition to observing the color change, the amount of filterable sludge and sediment is also measured. The second test is a prolonged version of the Gulf Oil Company's Fuel Corrosion of Steel Test. The Bell Laboratories' version of these tests have been correlated against fuels actually stored in a stand-by power fuel tank. The first test is run at 210.degree. F. until an observable amount of sludge has formed. This test is essentially an accelerated heat-stability test and is run in the absence of water. The second test is run at 120.degree. F. over water in the presence of 1020 steel strip. This test is concluded after 12 weeks or when an observable quantity of rust and sludge has been deposited.
The accelerated heat-stability test is comparatively quick and useful for screening out the poorer additives; but because water is absent from this test, it is not capable of differentiating between those additives that are either ineffective rust inhibitors, or incapable of protecting the fuels when stored in contact with water and steel, and those that are effective under such storage conditions. It is precisely these conditions that are of importance since stand-by fuels are frequently in contact with metal and condensate water, and rusting may be often as severe a problem as sludge formation. A 12-week stability-and-rust test was designed to evaluate these effects.
Because of the importance of stabilizing the fuels for extended periods of up to 10 years with the fuels in contact with metal and water, it is also important that the additive exhibit properties which would enable it to be used as a reinhibitor and depolymerizer during its repeated use over prolonged periods of time.
The major oil companies and chemical manufacturers have provided a wide variety of inhibitors. Exemplary of the types of materials available are the following:
(1) nitrogen-containing, surface-active polymers such as duPont FOA-11 and duPont FOA-208.
(2) organic-soluble, surface-active, oxygenated amine such as Enjay Paradyne HO4. This product may also contain a minor amount of a polymeric dispersant.
(3) anionic fuel additives such as Apollo SDI-2R, a proprietary sludge inhibitor and dispersant as well as rust preventive, manufactured by Apollo Chemical Corporation.
(4) chelating-type metal deactivator such as an 80% solution of N,N'disalicylidene-1-2propanediamine in aromatic solvents.
(5) A film-forming metal deactivator such as Vanlube 601, R. T. Vanderbilt Company.
(6) an antioxidant such as 2,6 ditertiarybutyle-4-methylphenol provided in Enjay Parabar 441, and also, duPont A029.
To varying degrees, these materials alone or in various combinations have in the past provided some measure of protection for stored fuel with respect to some of the major properties required.
For very long term storage however, it is essential that the inhibitor employed be capable of being employed during routine maintenance to depolymerize and disperse the sludge that is inevitably formed.
It is also important that attempts to eliminate the problem of injector clogging at low temperature by the build up of hydrocarbon waxes in the fuel does not compound injector scoring problems by reducing or eliminating the lubricity of the fuel. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a diesel fuel additive which inhibits the formation of sludge, and bacteria, in the fuel during long periods of storage. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a fuel additive which inhibits the formation of rust in diesel fuel storage tanks.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a fuel additive composition which is capable of depolymerizing and dispersing sludge and sludge forming polymers in diesel fuel and kerosene stored for long periods of time.
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The present invention relates to a dynamic synchronization mechanism, provided between security agents or between security appliances, to share a load and capability of information, particularly to generating a packet inspection policy for each policy enforcement point in a centralized management environment according to data of a network topology in a network infrastructure and capability of each policy enforcement point; and a method, an appliance, and a computer program product which dynamically adjusts the packet inspection policy of each policy enforcement point according to the capability of each policy enforcement point, metadata, and running status of each policy enforcement point.
Network security operation has been an important issue in the field of network technology, such as Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Inspection, Firewall (FW), Malware detection, intrusion detection system (IDS) or intrusion prevention system (IPS), but it is known to those skilled in the art that the technology is not limited thereto. Security technology generally involves inspection of a traffic packet, and the packet inspection is usually very dependent on resources.
For appliances with relatively low computing ability, a comprehensive packet inspection represents a resource hog. Therefore, only critical inspections are performed on such appliances. For appliances which cannot perform packet inspection (e.g. mobile appliance), packet inspection can only be performed by devices set on packet routes, e.g. performed by a network security device on a packet route. However, there may not be only one network security device on the packet route. Thus, packets may be inspected repeatedly, and the system performance is impacted.
FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram of a conventional network infrastructure. In an uncontrolled zone 103 the user of external end-points 101 via the extranet 102 enters a network coupling device 106 served as a demilitarized zone (DMZ) 105 of an intranet. The network coupling device 106 may be a device capable of controlling the flow of network packets, such as a switch, a bridge, or a router. The demilitarized zone (DMZ) 105 is also provided as a buffer between an uncontrolled zone and the intranet. Access control can be deployed in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) 105 to control and monitor the resources of the other controlled zone (e.g. intranet resources 107 used as the resources of the intranet) or restricted zone 109.
The restricted zone 109 supports the function of strict access control. In general, the restricted zone cannot be directly accessed by an uncontrolled zone, and can substantially be bounded by one or more firewalls (FW) which filters input and output traffic. For example, the restricted zone may comprise a hypervisor, such as a VMware ESX hypervisor, with a virtual server protection (VSP) generally installed, e.g. IBM ISS VSP, to protect the virtual machine being executed.
The access to the secured zone 111 is tightly controlled. The zone can only be accessed by a small number of authorized users. For example, the zone may comprise an IBM Security SiteProtector™ System which is a centralized management system providing a consistent management and analysis of servers, appliances, and security agents in the network infrastructure. More information about the SiteProtector™, can found within the IBM Security SiteProtector™ System V3.1.0 documentation at IBM's Knowledge Center website.
More information related to the network infrastructure may be referred to IBM Redbooks Web site Enterprise, “Security Architecture using IBM Tivoli Security Solutions, SG24-6014”.
The architecture of the network coupling device 106 may be referred to Cisco's switch product, Cisco Catalyst 3550 Series Switch. The intranet resources 107 are not limited to specific appliances or servers, and each of the intranet resources 107 may contain an unlimited number of appliance or server or a combination thereof For example, the intranet resources 107 may represent a local area network (LAN). Such appliances, also commonly known as Internet appliances, are devices with network capability and certain specific functions. Contrary to the general-purpose computer apparatus, the appliances have relatively higher performance since they are generally designed in accordance with specific purposes or specific services for a particular transaction.
The intranet resources 107 may be a virtual local area network (VLAN). For the internal resources of the business or organization, through a virtual LAN technology, different physical LAN devices can be logically grouped by administrator, and more complete information security can be provided.
In another aspect, to ensure the security of internal data, the general corporation or organization may use the virtual private network (VPN) and thus provide a VPN server in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) 105 for users to access internal resources from external connections. Examples can be referred to the technical documents published on the applicant's official website, WebSphere Everyplace Connection Manager: increasing mobile security, reducing wireless costs. The VPN server is coupled to a network coupling device 106. The user of the external end-point 101 has to register on the virtual private network server. After authentication and authorization, the network coupling device 106 can be connected through the VPN. It should be noted that, the VPN server may not be necessary in some embodiments. That is, the user of external end-points 101 does not have to connect the network coupling device 106 and the intranet resources 107 through the virtual private network VPN. It should be noted that although not illustrated, any other hardware and software component (e.g. an additional computer system, router, firewall (FW)) may be configured in the Internet 103 between the VPN server (or the network coupling device 106) and the external end-points 101.
More information may be referred to technical documents published by Andrew Jones et al. on the applicant's official website, IBM SmartCloud Enterprise tip: Build multiple VPNs and VLANs: VPN and VLAN features and capabilities in IBM SmartCloud Enterprise 2.0 and IBM SmartCloud Enterprise tip: Span virtual local area networks Provision and configure an instance that spans a public and private VLAN.
Administrators are normally unable to determine whether a traffic packet from another network segment has been inspected or not, and unknowing whether the other security agent or security appliance has capability, like decryption of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) required by HTTPS protocol, to inspect the received traffic packet or not. In general corporations or organizations, to ensure the security of network communications and internal data, the intranet network security policies are provided on the internal end-points linked to intranet. Such intranet network security policies are security agents like firewall (FW), anti-virus software, intrusion detection system (IDS) or intrusion prevention system (IPS). The internal end-point may be a host computer (e.g. a router, workstation, or server), or a data circuit-terminal equipment (DCE) (e.g. a bridge or a switch). In practical, normally for the sake of security, to install a security agent, such as PSL (Linux), PSU (UNIX), and PSW (Windows), on a machine is required no matter the machine is physical or virtual.
In addition, sometimes a security agent may not be installed on each machine. Therefore, in view of network security, to set up security appliances at an edge of each zone in the network infrastructure is necessary. In the network infrastructure as shown in FIG. 1(a), a plurality of network security appliances 113-116 (e.g. firewall (FW), intrusion detection system (IDS), or intrusion prevention system (IPS)) are usually deployed at the junction of each zone, i.e. the edge of each zone.
In the network infrastructure as shown in FIG. 1(a), the packet route may involve repeated operations for packet inspection in connection to multiple security agents or security appliances, such as the intranet file sharing service as shown in FIG. 1(b) and the public internet access from intranet operation as shown in FIG. 1(c).
In the intranet file sharing service as shown in FIG. 1(b), the administrator sets a virtual machine to perform file sharing services at VMA within the restricted zone 109. When the end-point B in the intranet needs to access the file sharing services, the packet sent by the end-point B will be inspected five times, that is: 1. Inspected by a security agent installed at the end-point B; 2. Inspected by the intrusion prevention system (IPS) 114 in an edge of the intranet resources 107; 3. Inspected by the intrusion prevention system (IPS) 115 in an edge of the restricted zone 109; 4. Inspected by a virtual server protection (VSP) installed in a hypervisor, e.g. VMware ESX hypervisor to protect a virtual machine; and 5. Inspected by a security agent executed in the VMA.
In the public internet access from intranet operation as shown in FIG. 1(c), the administrator sets a proxy server in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) 105. When an end-point C in the intranet needs to download a file from Dropbox in the uncontrolled zone 103, the packet sent by the Dropbox to the end-point C will be inspected four times, that is: 1. Inspected by the intrusion prevention system (IPS) 113 in an edge of the uncontrolled zone 103; 2. Inspected by the security agent in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) 105, which protects the proxy server; 3. Inspected by the intrusion prevention system (IPS) 114 in an edge of the intranet resources 107; and 4. Inspected by the security agent installed at the end-point C.
As seen from the aforementioned embodiments, each security agent or security appliance in the physical network usually repeatedly inspects packets due to incapability to share the load and the capability of information, for example, lacking of the previous processing status about the received traffic packet that has been inspected and sent by a security agent or a security appliance within other network segments, and/or lacking of the capability to inspect the received traffic packet. Thus the system resources are wasted, resulting in the deterioration of the overall performance of the network infrastructure. The security agent or security appliance can be referred as a policy enforcement point.
In addition, each policy enforcement point is usually in a predetermined static configuration to provide a packet inspection policy for each policy enforcement point. The policy enforcement point in static configuration fails to dynamically adjust its configuration (i.e. packet inspection policies) in response to the load changes of each policy enforcement point in the network infrastructure for optimizing the overall performance of the network infrastructure.
Therefore, it is advantageous to provide a dynamic synchronization mechanism between each policy enforcement point (security agent or security appliance) to share information of load and capability, and overcome the conventional shortcomings of repeatedly inspecting packets and incapability to dynamically adjust the configuration of each policy enforcement point.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
}
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The present invention relates generally to computer systems, and more particularly to a distribution of instructions and tasks among a main processor and processing elements.
Computer systems are continually evolving with new technology leading to increased performance and complexity in the computer systems. In particular, increased capabilities of computer hardware provide improved performance and user experience. For example, computer systems may include accelerators in addition to one or more main processors, where the main processors offload specific tasks to accelerators configured to perform these specific tasks. As accelerators become more sophisticated, the size of tasks offloaded to the accelerators may also increase. In some cases, the increased task size may cause delays and inefficiencies in execution of a program, where the accelerator performing the large task is utilized while other resources in the computer system are underutilized.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
}
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Turbo charged engines utilize a Charge Air Cooler (CAC) to cool compressed air from the turbocharger, before it enters the engine. Ambient air from outside the vehicle travels across the CAC to cool intake air passing through the inside of the CAC. Condensate may form in the CAC when the ambient air temperature decreases, or during humid or rainy weather conditions, where the intake air is cooled below the water dew point. When the intake air includes recirculated exhaust gasses, the condensate can become acidic and corrode the CAC housing. The corrosion can lead to leaks between the air charge, the atmosphere, and possibly the coolant in the case of water-to-air coolers. Condensate may accumulate in the CAC, and then be drawn into the engine at once during times of increased air mass flow, increasing the chance of engine misfire. Some CACs may have a self-cleanse mode which is activated during threshold levels of air mass flow that do not cause misfire. However, if the vehicle is not driven such that it reaches this threshold level, condensate may accumulate and then cause misfire by being drawn into the engine too quickly when downshifting from a higher to a lower transmission gear at wide open throttle. Air mass flow may increase to higher levels, increasing the chance of engine misfire, during multiple gear downshifts.
Other attempts to address engine misfire due to condensate ingestion involve avoiding condensate build-up. However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such methods. Specifically, while some methods may reduce or slow condensate formation in the CAC, condensate may still build up over time. If this build-up cannot be stopped, ingestion of the condensate during downshifting, specifically during downshifts that skip one or more intermediate gears, may increase the chance of engine misfire.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method for performing a multiple gear downshift in stages, controlling the increase in air mass flow and condensate purging from the CAC. Specifically, a transmission gear may be downshifted from a higher gear to a lower gear by transiently operating in an intermediate gear before shifting to the lower gear. In this way, condensate may be purged from the CAC at a lower air mass flow, while in the intermediate gear. Thus, when finally downshifting to the lower gear, engine misfire may not occur due to increased air mass flow.
As one example, in response to a multiple gear downshift request, a transmission gear may be downshifted from a higher gear to a lower gear. If the requested downshift increases air mass flow above a threshold level, engine misfire may occur if the amount of boost or amount condensate in the CAC have reached threshold levels. The CAC may self-cleanse (purge condensate) when air mass flow reaches a threshold range. However, if air mass flow remains below the threshold range for a threshold duration, condensate may accumulate in the CAC and the threshold boost level and/or threshold level of condensate may be reached. Once these conditions have been reached, misfire may be reduced by controlling the execution of a requested multiple gear downshift. For example, in response to a multiple gear downshift request that will increase air mass flow over a threshold level, when air mass flow is less than a threshold range for a threshold duration, the transmission gear may be downshifted from a higher gear to an intermediate gear, and then to the requested lower gear. By holding the transmission gear at the intermediate gear for a duration, condensate may be blown off the CAC and into the engine at a slower rate. Then, when shifting to the lower gear, the increase in air mass flow may not cause engine misfire since stored condensate has already been purged from the CAC. In this way, engine misfire may be reduced during multiple gear downshifts by utilizing an intermediate gear to control the increase in air mass flow and resulting condensate purging from the CAC.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
}
|
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to determining a meeting location, and in particular, to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for suggesting an interesting location for a group of persons to meet using a computer application.
2. Description of the Related Art
An intriguing problem in wireless consumer applications is to suggest an interesting location for a group of friends to meet (i.e., to compute a meeting/rendezvous location). When computing a meeting location, various factors should be taken into consideration. For example, the current location of all the members of the group should be taken into account. Additionally, it may be useful to consider travel distance/time for members of the group to reach the meeting location and/or the activity preference or inclinations of each/all the members of the group (e.g. do the members prefer outdoor sports like golf, or if they prefer to meet in a mall). Further, convergence or an acknowledgement of a significant divergence of interests within subgroups is useful.
Some of these same considerations apply when suggesting a blind date venue for two people who are meeting say for the first time, or to suggest an activity for a single user based on a previous activity profile.
The prior art methodology used by applications is for either the meeting coordinator, some meeting participants, and/or all of the meeting participants to examine the local yellow pages. Each individual then picks a favorite location. An n-squared (n2) communication then occurs between group members to establish a consensus and an agreed upon location.
Such a prior art method has significant limitations. For example, large amounts of data are transmitted over low bandwidth networks (e.g., via telephone calls) to each user in the group. Further, each user is required to manually navigate through the yellow pages categories and subcategories, and pick a favorite location. To eventually extract a labored consensus of the meeting location, an n-squared communication is required. Additionally, there is a high cost to the users in terms of performance, time, and also dollar cost for wireless airtime, service usage, etc.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
}
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A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the impregnation of a metal product with a surface comprising a hard wear-resistant material.
B) Wear-Resistant Surface Layers in Iron
A wide variety of techniques are known for the impregnation of metals, e.g., iron, with a hard wear-resistant surface. Such techniques include flame spray coating and plasma spray coating. However, each of these spray coating techniques suffer from problems associated with the spalling of surface layers during the coating process and during service as well as the particularly large expense associated with the use of this technique.
Cast-in-carbides are also known in which carbide particulates are placed in a mold and molten iron is then cast. See, for example, the discussion within U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,459 to Eckmar et al. It is difficult, however, with such castings to accurately maintain the carbide particles in the desired location and in a regular distribution pattern during casting.
In addition, certain cast-on hard surfacing techniques for use with polystyrene patterns are also known in the art. See, for example, the discussion in Hansen et al., "Application of Cast-On Ferrochrome-Based Hard Surfacing to Polystyrene Pattern Castings," Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 8942, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1985.
However, this process suffers from problems associated with the low reliability of the bond formed between the wear-resistant layer, e.g., tungsten carbide, and the foam pattern. Also when thick powder layers are used, the iron may not penetrate the layer before the iron solidifies. Due to these reasons, instead of impregnating the iron, the carbide spalls off the product.
The inventor of the present invention has also been involved in inventing other processes in an attempt to more effectively impregnate the surface of a metal, e.g., iron, with hard phases during the casting process. For example, attention is directed toward U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,878 to Revankar et al which relates to the carbide impregnation of cast iron using evaporative pattern castings (EPC) as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,190,091 and 5,190,092, which relate to the impregnation of cast iron and aluminum alloy castings with carbides using sand cores.
However, despite their effectiveness, these methods also have certain drawbacks. For example, the EPC method may involve the installation of special equipment in a conventional foundry. Furthermore, castings produced by this process can suffer from distortion due to the distortion of the plastic foam replicas. On the other hand, the above sand core methods of casting carbides can involve the preparation of carbide spheres which adds to the cost of the process. The cost can be further increased if a substantially flat wear-resistant surface is desired because in such a case, a surface layer equal in thickness to approximately half the sphere diameter will need to be machined off.
Accordingly, the need still exists for a method of impregnating metal surfaces, and in particular iron surfaces with a hard wear-resistant material which is capable of overcoming the problems associated with known techniques.
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{
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
}
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