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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to an assembly fixture, and in particular to an improved fixture for assembling pivot bearing assemblies for disk drives. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a self-aligning fixture for pre-loading and aligning pivot bearing assemblies for disk drives.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic drawing of an information storage system comprising a magnetic hard disk file or drive 11 for a computer system is shown. Drive 11 has a base 13 containing magnetic disks 15 that are rotated about a hub 17. A set of actuator arms 21 are pivotally mounted to base 13 on a pivot assembly 23. A controller 19 is mounted to base 13 for selectively moving arms 21 relative to disks 15. Each arm 21 comprises a mounting support 25, a suspension 27, and a head gimbal assembly 29 having a magnetic read/write head secured to each suspension 27 for reading data from and writing data to disks 15. A conventional voice coil motor 26 is also mounted to pivot assembly 23 opposite head gimbal assemblies 29. Movement of an actuator driver 28 (indicated by arrow 30) moves head gimbal assemblies 29 radially across the disks 15 until the heads settle on the target tracks.
As shown in FIG. 2, pivot assembly 23 contains ball bearings 31, a shaft 33, and a sleeve 35. The naturally-occurring, micron scale, machine tolerance inaccuracies in these components and in the tolerances of a conventional fixture 37 used to pre-load pivot 23 (shown greatly exaggerated for clarity) accumulate during the assembly of pivot 23. The lower end of shaft 33 mounts in a hole 41 in base 43 of fixture 37. Sleeve 35 is suspended above the upper surface of base 43 as a tubular anvil or rod 45 exerts axial force on the upper face 46 of the inner ring 47 to pre-load pivot 23. Bearing pre-load is controlled to maintain sufficient stiffness of the pivot assembly. Fixture 37 only has one degree of freedom (up and down) to apply the pre-load to face 46 of inner ring 47.
The tolerance stack-up of pivot 23 and fixture 37 causes significant angular misalignment between inner and outer rings 47, 49. This misalignment or xe2x80x9cring face out-of-parallelismxe2x80x9d creates a moment on one side of inner ring 47, thereby producing a greater localized pre-load force on the ball compliment. The term xe2x80x9cball complimentxe2x80x9d is used to describe the array of spaced-apart balls within a bearing. Unfortunately, because fixture 37 is non-compliant, it is unable to compensate for ring face out-of-parallelism, raceway wobble and groove wobble. When a non-uniform, pre-load force is exerted on the ball compliment, one side is pinched tight by the raceways while the opposite side is loose. As pivot 23 rotates, the balls are compressed as they pass through the tight zone, thereby causing torque ripple. This phenomena is an excellent indicator that the actuator itself is dynamically unstable. Torque ripple must be compensated by the servo controller by varying the coil current. This non-uniform, pre-load force around the circumference of the bearing corresponds to a non-uniform stiffness around the circumference. Stiffness variation from pivot to pivot or circumferentially within one pivot can affect the frequencies and gains of the structural resonances of the actuator.
The problem of angular misalignment of the raceways can be prevented by increasing the radial clearance or gap between the shaft and the inner diameter of the bearing. A larger gap allows more compliance between the parts. Unfortunately, this solution creates the problem of increased outgassing arising from the additional adhesive required to fill the larger gap between the bearing and the shaft. Thus, an improved solution for pre-loading pivot assemblies is needed.
A fixture for pre-loading a pivot assembly has a stationary base and a tool that is axially movable relative to the base. The tool has a platen with a pre-load mass and a cylindrical enclosure. A sphere is suspended within the enclosure but is free to roll and move laterally along three degrees of freedom. The pivot assembly has an external sleeve with a coaxial shaft mounted on bearings. Each ball bearing has an inner ring, an outer ring, and balls in between. The rings are adhesively bonded to the shaft and sleeve.
The pivot is placed on the base of the fixture and the tool is lowered. The sphere is free to xe2x80x9cfloatxe2x80x9d within the enclosure until it makes contact with the inner ring of the upper bearing in the pivot. Upon contact, the compliant, rolling sphere automatically self-aligns with the pivot. The pre-load mass applies the desired force against the pivot until the adhesive cures. The sphere ensures that the pre-load force is uniform around the ball compliment circumference of the bearings such that the inner and outer rings of the bearings float and their raceways self-align under the pre-load force. After the adhesive cures, the pivots have negligible torque ripple and consistent dynamic response.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. | {
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The present invention relates generally to the use of chemically modified electrodes. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved treatment system and method for automatically controlling the chemical feed of dithiocarbamates ("DTC") in fluids, for example wastewater, containing metal ions so as to produce metal ion precipitation.
As a result of the continual contamination of rivers, waterways and the like by wastewater from industrial sources, the Environmental Protection Agency has enacted strict regulations in an attempt to stop such contamination. For instance, a mandatory requirement exists to control metals in wastewater below certain prescribed concentrations. Particularly stringent regulations have been established for heavy metals harmful to humans, such as mercury, cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, nickel and silver.
Due to the harmful effects caused by these metals, the EPA continually lowers the permissible discharge levels of metals in process wastewater streams. While many industries producing metal bearing liquid effluents still illegally discharge untreated waste effluents into streams and sewers, the stepped-up enforcement of such EPA standards coupled with excessive fines have persuaded those in the industry to finally cope with the problem of water contamination. The two major methods for complying with metal discharge regulations are the storage and transport of untreated, unconcentrated waste to hazardous waste disposal sites, or, alternatively, on-site treatment. Storage and transport of waste is very expensive for all but the very small volume waste producers. Thus, the only economical alternative for the majority of the industry is on-site treatment.
On-site treatment is an effective means for ensuring compliance with disposal regulations. The most viable chemical techniques for on-site treatment of metal bearing effluents include electrolytic deposition, metallic replacement, ion exchange, chemical reduction and chemical precipitation. While electrolytic deposition, metallic replacement, ion exchange and chemical reduction are all reasonably effective means, chemical precipitation is believed to be the most effective method for removal of metals from wastewater effluents.
Chemical precipitation involves the addition of a precipitant into the wastewater causing metal ion precipitation. Naturally, a treatment scheme that supplies an appropriate amount of the precipitant to the wastewater will be an effective on-site treatment. However, without the use of some type of control feed system, over-feeding of the precipitant can easily occur. Such over-feeding is one of the major problems the industry must face when utilizing a chemical precipitation system.
Oxidation reduction potential ("ORP") electrodes and ion-selective electrodes are both known for assisting in automating chemical feed control and continuous metal ion precipitation processes by monitoring the electrochemical potential therein. Although these electrodes have provided a means to control precipitant feed, disadvantages exist with both types of electrodes.
Oxidation reduction potential electrodes are disadvantageous for at least two reasons. First, ORP probes are non-specific. ORP electrodes are typically made from gold or platinum and measure a voltage difference (potential) between itself and a reference electrode. They respond to the presence of metal ions, but also respond to a multitude of electrochemically-active components that may be present in the wastewater. Such components may include hydrated or chelated metal ions, oxidants (hypochlorite), or reducing agents (bisulfite). These components contribute to an observed cumulative potential, thereby making the monitoring of a single component, such as the disappearance of a particular metal ion, impractical.
Second, ORP probe measurements are sensitive to pH fluctuations in process streams. This sensitivity occurs because hydromium ions (H.sup.+) are often involved in the oxidation or reduction reactions occurring in aqueous systems. Moreover, the lack of knowledge of the actual reactions occurring at the electrode surface makes it impossible to predict the effect of pH on the measured potentials.
Although ion-selective electrodes provide an alternative to oxidation reduction electrodes, these electrodes possess similar problems as those associated with the ORP probes. An ion-selective electrode often used in the treatment of wastewater is a sulfide electrode. While the sulfide electrode provides a means to control precipitant feed, a system incorporating such a sulfide electrode is only responsive to the presence of excess sulfide that does not always allow for accurate detection in resulting precipitant feed. Such ion-specific electrodes are known to plateau under precipitant over-feed conditions. Thus, similar to the oxidation reduction electrode, precipitant over-feed may occur without viable detection.
Still further, ion-selective electrodes, similar to the oxidation reduction electrodes, are potentiometric detection methods. A potentiometric mode measures a cumulative potential based upon components within a solution. Since these electrodes measure a cumulative potential, a variety of common interferents to these electrodes, such as metal sulfide complexes, will obstruct the detection of a particular precipitant.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved selective controlling device, as well as system incorporating same, for optimizing the control of metal precipitant feed in wastewater streams. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a treatment device used for performing a treatment, such as cutting, on a living tissue.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a treatment portion of a treatment device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-170070 is capable of cutting a held living tissue by moving a cutter along an axial direction in a state where the living tissue is held. | {
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Digital music players are becoming more popular as personal entertainment devices. The attractiveness of digital music players is in their capability of storing and playing large amounts of music and their ability to play music without skipping. These attributes make digital music players ideal for use in different environments including automobile environments. However for automobile use, it is desirable to use a mounting device to secure the digital music player within the car. Otherwise, the jostling caused by the car's movement can damage the digital music player. Also beneficial is a mounting device capable of managing the length of the cable used to connect the player to the car's audio system. This is especially beneficial when lengthy cables can be messy and cause a hazard in which passengers can get their feet entangled. Specialized mounting devices are required to secure the digital music players since most automobiles do not come with digital device holders.
However, specialized mounting devices are difficult to install because special parts are typically required to attach the devices to car interiors. Also, specialized mounting devices usually cannot manage the length of cables. Therefore, in view of the foregoing, an electronic device holder that easily adapts to automobile interiors and which can manage the length of interconnecting cables would be desirable. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stationery tool, and more particularly to a stationery tool having a rubber holding device for adjusting an extension length of a rubber and having an ease rubber changing capability.
2. Description of Related Art
Rubbers are mostly block or stick shaped individual objects enabling a user holding the rubber with one hand to wipe pencil writing marks out. To keep a rubber clean, Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. 336548, entitled “Rotation Typed Stick Object Dispenser” is provided. The dispenser of the '548 patent comprises a tubular body containing a stick typed rubber inside, and the rubber can be pushed out of or retracted into the tubular body in a rotation manner. However, the dispenser of the '548 patent is an individual object from other stationery tools, such as pencils or pens, so a user has to alternately use a pencil, a pen, a rubber or a correction tape for writing or drawing. To alternately use different stationery tools is inconvenient; to prepare, carry and store different kinds of stationery tools takes a large space and is also inconvenient.
In addition, Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. 323995, entitled “Dual Purpose Correction Tape”, with reference to FIG. 20, discloses a rubber 52 mounted securely on a correction tape body 50. The body 50 has a recess 51 defined in a rear end of the body 50, and the rubber 52 is pressed securely into the recess 51. A cap 53 is detachably mounted on the rear end of the body 50 to hold the rubber 52 inside to prevent the rubber 52 from being dirtied. In use, the correction tape and the rubber 52 can be selectively used by turning the body 50 upside down for convenient usage of the correction tape and the rubber 52.
However, since the rubber 52 is mounted securely on the body 50, as long as deformation of the rubber occurs, the rubber 52 is easily detached from the body 50 when wiping pencil marks out. In addition, the extension length of the rubber 52 cannot be adjusted relative to the body 50 and the rubber 52 cannot be retracted into the body 50, and this is not versatile in use. Furthermore, when the rubber 52 is used up or damaged, the used rubber 52 cannot easily be removed from the body 50 and replaced with a new one.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a stationery tool to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. | {
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Batteries are frequently used in electronic systems as either a primary source of power, or as a backup source of power, such as in an uninterruptible power supply system. Although a single battery can be employed to power some systems, it is not uncommon for an electronic device to require a battery pack containing as few as two batteries or as many as twelve batteries. Generally, batteries contained in a battery pack are lead acid batteries bonded together. The battery pack is manually connected to the electronic system by an assembler, who may have to remove from the connector the leads of the used battery, and thereafter attach to the connector the leads of the new battery. To avoid injury to the user and damage to the system from a faulty battery or from potentially live battery leads, great care must be taken in connecting or replacing a battery in an electronic device, since battery leads often require manual release and reconnection. This often requires that the system be powered down for a substantial amount of time so that the battery leads are appropriately connected. In an uninterruptible power supply, substantial downtime is undesirable.
Connector systems that do not require manual intervention to replace the battery are known. Components for battery connector systems are available for connecting battery packs to electronic devices. These systems are often useful in high-end battery packs containing between four and twelve batteries, as the connector systems are expensive. | {
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As the semiconductor industry has progressed into nanometer technology process nodes in pursuit of higher device density, higher performance, and lower costs, challenges from both fabrication and design issues have motivated circuit designers to look to novel structures to deliver improved performance. One avenue of inquiry is the development of three-dimensional designs, such as a fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET). A FinFET can be thought of as a typical planar device extruded out of a substrate and into the gate. A typical FinFET is fabricated on a thin “fin” (or fin structure) extending upwards from the body from the substrate, and may be formed by depositing fin material on the substrate, etching, non-fin areas of the substrate, or a combination thereof. The channel of the FET is formed in this vertical fin, and a gate is provided over (e.g., wrapping) the fin. Wrapping the gate around the fin increases the contact area between the channel region and the gate and allows the gate to control the channel from both sides. This may result in higher current flow, a reduction in short channel effect, and other advantages.
Because of the complexity inherent in FinFETs and other nonplanar devices, a number of techniques used in manufacturing planar transistors are not available in manufacturing nonplanar devices. As merely one example, buried insulator layers are used to isolate devices and to lower parasitic capacitance. However, many conventional techniques for forming a semiconductor substrate with a buried insulator layer are not well suited for use with FinFET devices. Therefore, while existing fabrication techniques have been generally adequate for planar devices, in order to continue to meet ever-increasing design requirements, further advances are needed. | {
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The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector having a retention system for facilitating mounting of the electrical connector to a printed circuit board.
It is well known to provide an electrical connector mountable to a printed circuit board (hereinafter PCB), in which the connector has terminals electrically engaging with respective electrical circuit traces on the PCB. The terminals may have solder tails projecting from the connector and inserted into holes in the PCB, or leg portions extending generally parallel to the PCB for surface mounting to circuit traces on the PCB. Such a connector has a problem that the electrical connections between the terminals and the circuit traces of the PCB often are subjected to external stresses, which sometimes will cause the solder tails or the leg portions of the connector separating electrically connects with the PCB. To resolve this problem, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,622,519, 5,217,381, 5,230,633, 5,178,557 and 4,679,883 disclose the use of board locks and posts to retain the connectors to the printed circuit boards.
However, with the ever-increasing miniaturization of electronic circuit, along with the consequent reduction in sizes of the connector and terminals, the board locks are often impractical and neither cost nor space effective.
Regarding the posts, which extend vertically from the dielectric housing of the electrical connector for insertion into the printed circuit board, the posts result in a difficulty in molding the housing. Because the housing has generally a mating port extending along a horizontal direction, a mold open direction of the mold for forming the housing His in a horizontal direction. To form the vertically extending posts, slide structure is necessary in the mold. The slide structure increases the cost and operating complication of the mold. Furthermore, for a board edge mounting electrical connector, a mating/unmating force of the connector will cause the connector to rotate, whereby the connections of the tails of the connector and the PCB are insecure. Hence, an improvement to resolve the problems of the prior art is required.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for facilitating mounting of the electrical connector onto a PCB.
In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector includes an insulative housing for being mounted to an edge of a printed circuit board and a plurality of contacts received in recesses defined in the insulative housing. The insulative housing has an elongated body portion, a mating portion projecting forwardly from the body portion and a pair of guide portions formed on a pair of lateral sides of the body portion. A pair of first retainers and a second retainer respectively extends rearwardly from the body portion. The first retainers are adjacent to the guide portions and the second retainer locates between both first retainers. Each retainer respectively comprises a top latch and a bottom latch, and a receiving slot is defined between the top and bottom latches. A plurality of locking tabs is formed on the bottom latch and extending into the receiving slot. The latches of the retainers can fix the PCB tightly and keep the PCB and the electrical connector steadily assemble together.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to receivers for demodulating broadcast signals having both amplitude and angle modulation components. Specifically, an apparatus is provided to minimize the distortion resulting from angle demodulating broadcast signals having marginal amplitude levels.
Recent interest has developed in generating stereophonic broadcast signals in the low frequency radio spectrum now reserved for amplitude modulation. Several proposals have been submitted to the FCC which suggest a new stereophonic broadcast service in that portion of the broadcast radio spectrum which utilizes amplitude modulation. The Magnavox Consumer Electronics Company has proposed a system for generating a broadcast signal which is amplitude modulated with the summation of two stereophonic related signals and linearly phase modulated with a difference signal produced by subtracting the stereophonic related signals. Specifics for this and other proposals for stereophonic broadcasting are to be found in FCC Docket 21313, "In The Matter of AM Stereophonic Broadcasting".
Difficulty in receiving and demodulating broadcast signals having both amplitude and angle modulation components is encountered during periods of high negative amplitude modulation of the broadcast signal. The angle demodulation process suffers from a loss of signal as the instantaneous amplitude level of the broadcast signal approaches zero. Under these conditions, conventional limiters and angle demodulators produced noise when demodulating a signal having a marginal amplitude. Therefore, the reception of such stereophonic broadcasts suffers during those periods of time that the negative amplitude modulation approaches 100% corresponding to a zero carrier level. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active matrix device which incorporates two-dimensional matrix pixels arranged to be operated by an active matrix method, and more particularly to an active matrix device which enables a switching operation to be performed without use of a MOS semiconductor switch section and which are arranged for use in a two-dimensional image pickup device, a light modulating device, an exposing device and a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An active matrix device is known which incorporates two-dimensional matrix pixels which are operated by the active matrix method. The active matrix device is used in, for example, a MOS 2D image pickup device, an LCD, a thin-film EL device and an organic EL device.
An active matrix device of a type for use in the MOS 2D image pickup device incorporates a photodetecting device and a MOS transistor for switching the photodetecting device, provided for each pixel section. In the foregoing case, the active matrix device causes the photodetecting device of each pixel to photoelectrically convert light of the image so as to accumulate charges. The charges are scanned through the MOS transistors in a row-sequential manner so that the accumulated charges are extracted. Thus, serial electric signals are extracted to the outside.
The active matrix device is, as described above, used in the light modulating device, the exposing device and the display device for the LCD, the thin-film EL device and the organic EL device. FIG. 30 shows an example of the active matrix LCD. As shown in FIG. 30, the active matrix device incorporates a light function device 1, such as the light modulating device, the exposure device or the display device, and a MOS transistor 3 which are provided for each of pixels disposed in a matrix configuration. In the foregoing case, the active matrix device applies scanning pulse voltages Vg in the row-sequential manner to simultaneously turn the connected MOS transistors 3 on. In synchronization with this, data signal voltages Vb are applied to the image electrodes in the column direction. Thus, scanning is performed through the MOS transistor 3 so that charges are accumulated in the static capacitor of each pixel. After scanning of one row has been completed, the MOS transistors 3 are turned off. Thus, the charges accumulated in the capacitors are maintained. In response to data signals based on the accumulated charges, the light function devices 1 are operated so that modulation of light, exposure or display is performed.
The conventional active matrix devices is not substantially affected by the number of rows (the number of scanning lines) and capable of moving precise image with an excellent quality.
However, the active matrix device incorporating the conventional MOS semiconductor transistor of a type made of a-Si:H (amorphous silicon), poly-Si (polycrystalline silicon) or c-Si (crystal silicon) has the foregoing problems.
That is, a large number of patterning processes must be performed. Moreover, a film forming process and a process for doping impurities peculiar to the process for manufacturing the semiconductor regions must be performed. Therefore, a severe design condition has been required. As a result, the throughput and manufacturing yield deteriorate. Thus, enlargement of a device formation area cannot easily be realized with a low cost.
An attempt has been made that the patterning step is completed by a (screen) printing process in order to enlarge the device formation area and reduce the producing cost. However, the accuracy and quality under present circumstances are not sufficient. Therefore, the printing process has not been realized yet.
A TFT incorporating a glass substrate on which a-Si:H or poly-Si is formed easily encounters dispersion of electrons and positive holes which move in the semiconductor owning to lattice defects (impurities, vacancies and dislocations). Therefore, only a poor carrier mobility is permitted. Thus, a display device in the form of a precise and large-area structure which must respond at higher response suffers from reduction in the speed of response. Although use of c-Si free from considerable dispersion enables the speed of response to be raised, c-Si cannot easily be formed on the glass substrate which is a low cost substrate.
It is required to form the semiconductor films, while maintaining severe process conditions. Espetially on forming a junction, the impurity densities of both semiconductor films between which the junction is formed, must severely administered.
Since the TFT is a semiconductor device, there arises a problem in that a malfunction occurs owning to incidence of light and introduction of water, oxygen, ions and an organic material from outside. To prevent the malfunction, a light shielding film and/or a protective layer must be formed. Therefore, the design conditions and processing conditions are furthermore limited.
The following mechanically-conductive switch has been disclosed in the following document:
(1) Micromechanical Membrane Switches on Silicon, IBM J, RES. DEVELOP., VOL. 23, No. 4, JULY 1979, pp. 376-385.
In the foregoing document, as shown in FIG. 31 which is a plan view showing a matrix device and FIG. 32 which is a cross sectional view taken along line Exe2x80x94E, a mechanical switch has been suggested. That is, the matrix device operating switches comprising the transistors and non-linear devices which are replaced by plate springs are employed. Each plate spring has either end which is secured is displaced by static electric force. Thus, contact/separation of the contact point provided for the leading end of the plate spring is used. In the foregoing structure, the plate spring is formed by a thin SiO2 film formed on a silicon substrate. The contact portion is made of a metal material such as gold.
Also a matrix type display device has been disclosed in the foregoing document. When a required data signal is written on a pixel electrode, a voltage is applied between a scanning-signal electrode and a P+ silicon layer disposed below the scanning-signal electrode. Thus, the contact electrode, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are made electrical contact with one another. As a result, a required potential is applied from the data-signal electrode to the pixel electrode. When the voltage between the scanning-signal electrode and the P+ silicon layer is made to be zero, the contact of the foregoing electrode is separated. Thus, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are made to be non-contact with each other. As a result, the potential of the pixel electrode can be maintained.
However, the mechanical switch, which has the above-mentioned structure in which either end is secured and, therefore, a cantilever spring structure is realized, has a possibility that mechanical bounds occur when contact/separation is performed. To prevent this, the structure and the operating voltage must delicately be adjusted. Therefore, the design freedom of the device is restrained.
As can be understood from the plan view, the plate spring requires a great area. Therefore, the rate of opening is reduced. To raise the speed of response by lowering the voltage for operating the switch, the length of the plate spring must be elongated. In this case, the foregoing problems become more critical.
Since the structure disclosed in the foregoing document incorporates the Si substrate, the structure is made to be an opaque structure with respect to visible light. Therefore, the foregoing structure is not suitable to serve as a transmission-type light modulating device. Moreover, enlargement of the area cannot easily be realized.
In addition, only the reflecting-type light modulating device has been disclosed. No description has been performed about the light-transmission-type modulating device and the light emitting device.
Another mechanically-conductive switch has been disclosed in the following patent.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,403
In the foregoing patent, a switch for operating a matrix device has been disclosed which has a structure that a plate spring having an end which is secured or a plate spring having two ends which are secured is made of an electro-optical material, such as liquid crystal or an electrophoretic material.
FIG. 33 is a plan view showing the matrix device disclosed in the foregoing patent. FIG. 34 is a cross sectional view taken along line Fxe2x80x94F shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 35 is an equivalent circuit.
When the foregoing switch for operating the matrix device disclosed in the foregoing U.S. patent is operated to write a required data signal on a pixel electrode, a voltage is applied between each scanning-signal electrode and each data-signal electrode having the plate spring structure. As a result, the plate springs of the data-signal electrode are deflected so that the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are brought into electrical contact with each other. Thus, a required potential is supplied from the data-signal electrode to the pixel electrode. When the voltage between the scanning-signal electrode and the data-signal electrode is made to be zero, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are brought to a non-contact state. As a result, the potential of the pixel electrode can be maintained.
The structure of the device disclosed in the foregoing U.S. patent incorporates the electro-optical material between two support substrates. Moreover, the foregoing switch is provided for either of the two substrates. In the foregoing case, introduction of fluid, such as liquid crystal, into the space between the two substrates sometimes causes a malfunction of the switch to occur. Moreover, the orientation of the liquid crystal is sometimes disordered. Although provision of a cover for fully covering the switch has been suggested, there arises a problem in that the process becomes too complicated and the area of the switch portion is undesirable enlarged owning to the provision of the cover.
The structure disclosed in the foregoing patent has the structure that the plate spring is electrically connected to the data-signal electrode. Therefore, a voltage must be applied to the position between the scanning-signal electrode and the data-signal electrode so as to operate the switch. Since the data-signal electrode is supplied with a required potential, the voltage which is supplied to the scanning-signal electrode must have an allowance. When the switch is made to be non-conductive or when scanning is not being performed, the structure of the switch and the voltage which must be applied must be considered to prevent a fact that the switch is made to be conductive regardless of the voltage of the data-signal electrode. The foregoing limitations excessively restrict the overall design freedom of the matrix device.
The static electric force for operating the switch depends on an electric field which is formed in a region in which the scanning-signal electrode and the data-signal electrode overlap. Therefore, satisfactory enlargement of the area of the region in which the two electrodes overlap for the purpose of enlarging the static electric force cannot easily be performed.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an active matrix device having a structure from which a semiconductor switch portion requiring a large number of patterning processes and severe design conditions and processing conditions is omitted so as to permit enlargement of the area and high-speed response and a light emitting device, a light modulating device, a photodetecting device, an exposing device and a display apparatus incorporating the foregoing active matrix device.
To achieve the foregoing object, a first aspect of a device is an active matrix device of the present invention, which comprises: a transparent substrate on which first scanning-signal electrode lines and data-signal electrode lines are allowed to intersect one another to one or two dimensionally dispose electrodes and structured such that at least one matrix operating means and a light function device are provided for each intersection, wherein the matrix operating means is a mechanically-conductive switch which is operated by static electric force.
The foregoing active matrix device has the structure that the light function device formed on the transparent substrate is operated by the mechanically-conductive switch having the mechanical structure. Thus, the light transmittance and the reflectance can be changed. Moreover, the manufacturing process and the structural materials can be simplified.
A second aspect of a device is an active matrix device according to the first aspect, wherein the mechanically-conductive switch has a thin flexible film which is moved by dint of a voltage which is applied between the first scanning-signal electrode and a second scanning-signal electrode disposed opposite to the first scanning-signal electrode to bring the data-signal electrode and a pixel electrode of the light function device into contact with each other.
In the foregoing active matrix device, the deflection of the thin flexible film is controlled in accordance with the voltage applied between the first and second scanning-signal electrodes so that the state of the switch is selectively set. A state of conduction between the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode is determined for each pixel so that the state of each light function device is determined.
A third aspect of a device is an active matrix device for operating light function devices disposed one or two dimensionally by mechanically-conductive switches which are operated by static electric force, the active matrix device comprising: a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes formed on a substrate; a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to the first scanning-signal electrodes and formed at least at intersections with the first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers; common electrodes for pixel portions, light function devices and pixel electrodes which are sequentially laminated in a region on the substrate surrounded by the first scanning-signal electrodes and the data-signal electrodes; a plurality of support portions formed on the upper surfaces of the first scanning-signal electrodes; and thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to the first scanning-signal electrodes and laminated to be supported at the top ends of the support portions; and conductive films which are disposed opposite to the data-signal electrodes and the pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps and which are provided for the thin flexible films.
In the foregoing active matrix device, when the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode is the same as that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is not supplied with the static electric force. Thus, the thin flexible film is not deflected. Therefore, the resistance between the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode is infinitely large. Thus, the non-conductive state can be maintained. When the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode is different from that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is deflected by the static electric force. As a result, the conductive film is brought into electrical contact with the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode disposed below the thin flexible film in the direction of the deflection of the thin flexible film. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are conducted to each other. When the voltage of each of the scanning-signal electrode is made to be zero, the thin flexible film is moved to the original position owning to the elastic force. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are again brought to the non-conductive state.
A fourth aspect of a device is an active matrix device for operating light function devices disposed one or two dimensionally by mechanically-conductive switches which are operated by static electric force, the active matrix device comprising: a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes formed on a substrate; a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to the first scanning-signal electrodes and formed at least at intersections with the first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers such that the first scanning-signal electrodes are extended to substantially the overall region on the substrate surrounded by the first scanning-signal electrodes and the data-signal electrodes so that light function devices and pixel electrodes are sequentially laminated on the extended first scanning-signal electrodes; and a plurality of support portions formed on the insulating layers; and thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to the first scanning-signal electrodes and laminated to be supported at the top ends of the support portions; and conductive films which are disposed opposite to the data-signal electrodes and the pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps and which are provided for the thin flexible films.
In the foregoing active matrix device, when the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode has the same potential as that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is not supplied with the static electric force. Thus, the thin flexible film is not deflected. Therefore, the resistance between the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode is infinitely large. Thus, the non-conductive state can be maintained. When the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode is different from that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is deflected by the static electric force. As a result, the conductive film is brought into electrical contact with the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode disposed below the thin flexible film in the direction of the deflection of the thin flexible film. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are conducted to each other. When the voltage of each of the scanning-signal electrode is made to be zero, the thin flexible film is moved to the original position owning to the elastic force. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are again brought to the non-conductive state. Moreover, the common electrodes for the light function devices are the first scanning-signal electrode so that simplification of the process and cost reduction are permitted.
A fifth aspect of a device is an active matrix device for operating light function devices disposed one or two dimensionally by mechanically-conductive switches which are operated by static electric force, the active matrix device comprising: a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes formed on a substrate; a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to the first scanning-signal electrodes and formed at least at intersections with the first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers; pixel electrodes, light function devices and common electrodes for pixel portions which are sequentially laminated in a region on the substrate surrounded by the first scanning-signal electrodes and the data-signal electrodes; a plurality of support portions formed on the insulating layers; and thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to the first scanning-signal electrodes and laminated to be supported at the top ends of the support portions; and conductive films which are disposed opposite to the data-signal electrodes and the pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps and which are provided for the thin flexible films.
In the foregoing active matrix device, when the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode has the same potential as that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is not supplied with the static electric force. Thus, the thin flexible film is not deflected. Therefore, the resistance between the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode is infinitely large. Thus, the non-conductive state can be maintained. When the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode is different from that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is deflected by the static electric force. As a result, the conductive film is brought into electrical contact with the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode disposed below the thin flexible film in the direction of the deflection of the thin flexible film. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are conducted to each other. When the voltage of each of the scanning-signal electrode is made to be zero, the thin flexible film is moved to the original position owning to the elastic force. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are again brought to the non-conductive state. Thus, the active matrix device can be realized by a structure in which the pixel electrode is provided for the substrate and the common electrodes for pixels are disposed in the upper portion.
A sixth aspect of a device is an active matrix device according to the fifth aspect, which further comprises an upper substrate disposed opposite to the substrate, structured to hold the thin flexible films and the signal electrodes disposed on the substrate and joined to the upper surfaces of the common electrodes for the pixel portions.
In the foregoing active matrix device, when the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode has the same potential as that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is not supplied with the static electric force. Thus, the thin flexible film is not deflected. Therefore, the resistance between the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode is infinitely large. Thus, the non-conductive state can be maintained. When the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode is different from that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is deflected by the static electric force. As a result, the conductive film is brought into electrical contact with the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode disposed below the thin flexible film in the direction of the deflection of the thin flexible film. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are conducted to each other. When the voltage of each of the scanning-signal electrode is made to be zero, the thin flexible film is moved to the original position owning to the elastic force. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are again brought to the non-conductive state. Thus, the structure of the active matrix device can be realized in which the pixel electrode is provided for the lower substrate and the common electrodes for pixels are provided for the upper substrate such that the two substrates are positioned opposite to each other.
A seventh aspect of a device is an active matrix device, which comprises: light function devices disposed one or two dimensionally and arranged to be operated by mechanically-conductive switches which are operated by static electric force, wherein the thin flexible film switches and the light function devices are formed on individual surfaces and the mechanically-conductive switches and the light function devices are electrically connected to one another.
The foregoing active matrix device can be structured such that the mechanically-conductive switch is formed on either side of the substrate and the light function device is provided for another side. As a result, the utilization easiness and extensibility can be improved.
An eighth aspect of a device is an active matrix device which has a structure that a plurality of parallel first scanning-signal electrodes in the form of stripes are formed on the right side of a first substrate, a plurality of parallel data-signal electrodes in the form of stripes disposed perpendicular to the first scanning-signal electrodes are formed at least at intersections with the first scanning-signal electrodes through insulating layers, pixel electrodes, light function devices and common electrodes for pixel portions are sequentially laminated in a reverse side region of the first substrate surrounded by the first scanning-signal electrodes and the data-signal electrodes, a second substrate is, through a color filter, joined to the surface of the light function device opposite to the first substrate such that the second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate, a plurality of support portions are formed on the insulating layers of the first substrate, thin flexible films and second scanning-signal electrodes disposed opposite to the first scanning-signal electrodes are laminated to be supported at the top ends of the support portions, the right and reverse sides of the first substrate are conducted to each other to extend the pixel electrodes of the light function devices to positions adjacent to the data-signal electrodes, and conductive films disposed opposite to the data-signal electrodes and the pixel electrodes such that contact is permitted through gaps are provided for the thin flexible films.
In the foregoing active matrix device, when the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode has the same potential as that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is not supplied with the static electric force. Thus, the thin flexible film is not deflected. Therefore, the resistance between the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode is infinitely large. Thus, the non-conductive state can be maintained. When the potential of the second scanning-signal electrode is different from that of the first scanning-signal electrode, the thin flexible film is deflected by the static electric force. As a result, the conductive film is brought into electrical contact with the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode disposed below the thin flexible film in the direction of the deflection of the thin flexible film. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are conducted to each other. When the voltage of each of the scanning-signal electrode is made to be zero, the thin flexible film is moved to the original position owning to the elastic force. As a result, the data-signal electrode and the pixel electrode are again brought to the non-conductive state. When the pixel electrodes are conducted to the reverse side of the substrate by the through holes, the light function devices can be formed on-the reverse side of the substrate opposite to the mechanically-conductive switch. Since the second substrate is joined to the opposite surface of the substrate adjacent to the light modulating device, a space between the substrates is formed. Thus, a light modulating material can be introduced into the space. As a result, a low-cost and precise active matrix device having a large screen can be constituted.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 9 is characterized by a structure that the two ends of the thin flexible film are supported.
The foregoing active matrix device incorporates the thin flexible film which has the supported two ends. Therefore, a stable switching operation is permitted. As a result, occurrence of a mechanical bound can be prevented without a necessity of finely adjusting the operating voltage.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 10 is characterized by a structure that the thin flexible film having a length substantially corresponding to the length of one pixel is provided for each pixel.
The foregoing active matrix device is able to furthermore enlarge the area of the electrode. Thus, the static electric force can maximally be used and, therefore, the required operating voltage can be lowered.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 11 is characterized by a structure that the conductive film is made of metal.
Since the foregoing active matrix device incorporates the conductive film made of metal, the mobility of carriers can be enhanced and the speed of response can considerably be raised as compared with a conventional active matrix device incorporating a-Si:H, poly-Si or c-Si.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 12 is characterized by a structure that a plurality of the mechanically-conductive switches are provided for one pixel.
The foregoing active matrix device enables a normal switching operation to be performed if any one of the switches suffers a breakdown. Therefore, the stability of the operation can furthermore be improved.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 13 is characterized by a structure that the plural mechanically-conductive switches are connected in series.
If either switch encounters short circuit, the foregoing active matrix device can be operated by another switch.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 14 is characterized in that the plural mechanically-conductive switches are connected in parallel.
If either switch encounters a defect in the contact operation thereof, another switch enables the operation of the foregoing active matrix device to be performed.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 15 is characterized by a structure that the mechanically-conductive switch is sealed in a rare gas atmosphere.
The foregoing active matrix device is able to effectively prevent switching discharge.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 16 is characterized by a structure that the mechanically-conductive switch incorporates a resistor for preventing switching discharge.
The foregoing active matrix device incorporating the resistor for preventing switching discharge is able to easily prevent switching discharge with a low cost.
An active matrix device according to the aspect 17 is characterized by a structure that the mechanically-conductive switch is supplied with a cleaning electric current at predetermined intervals of time.
The foregoing active matrix device is able to easily break and remove the oxide film on the contact portion of the mechanically-conductive switch.
A light emitting device according to the aspect 18 comprises a light function device of the active matrix device according to any one of aspects 1 to 17, wherein the light function device serves as the light emitting device.
The foregoing light emitting device causes display to be realized with light emitted from the light emitting device so that high speed display by dint of light is realized.
A light modulating device according to the aspect 19 comprises: a light function device of the active matrix device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the light function device serves as the light modulating device.
The foregoing light modulating device is able to selectively set a transmission/non-transmission state by the operation of the light modulating device.
A light modulating device according to the aspect 20 is characterized by a structure that the light modulating device is liquid crystal.
The foregoing light modulating device has the structure that the light modulating device is liquid crystal. Therefore, the light modulating device can be constituted by using a conventional technique.
A light modulating device according to the aspect 21 is characterized by a structure that the light modulating device is a device for modulating light by deforming a thin flexible film with static electric force.
The light modulating device has the structure that the thin flexible film is deflected by static electric force. Therefore, a mechanically-conductive switch using the static electric force can be realized by a simple structure. In the foregoing case, all of the operation portions can be realized by mechanical structures. Therefore, the manufacturing process and the materials can be simplified. Moreover, an electro-mechanical light modulating device can be realized in which the movable portions are moved by static electric force to change the light transmittance.
A light modulating device according to the aspect 22 is characterized by a structure that the light function device performs light modulation by applying an electric field between each of the pixel electrodes and each of the electrodes disposed opposite to the pixel electrodes to deflect the thin flexible films provided for the light function devices so as to generate an optical interference effect of a multilayered film.
In the foregoing light modulating device, the thin flexible film interrupts the optical path if no voltage is applied between the electrodes. If a voltage is applied between the electrodes, the thin flexible film is deflected to change the optical lengths of the two films. As a result, an optical interference effect of the multilayered film is generated. As a result, light modulation is permitted.
According to another aspect according to the aspect 23, there is provided a photodetecting device comprising: a light function device of the active matrix device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the light function device serves as the photodetecting device.
The foregoing photodetecting device has the structure that light of an image is photoelectrically converted by the photodetecting device of each pixel to accumulate charges. Then, the accumulated charges are scanned through the mechanically-conductive switch in the row-sequential manner to extract the accumulated charges. Thus, light of the image can be converted into a serial electric signal.
According to another aspect according to the aspect 24, there is provided an exposing device comprising: a light function device of the active matrix device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the light function device serves as the exposing device.
The foregoing exposing device is able to modulate ultraviolet rays emitted from, for example, a plane light source to expose an ultraviolet-ray sensitive material.
According to another aspect according to the aspect 25, there is provided a display apparatus comprising: a light function device of the active matrix device according to any one of aspects 1 to 17, wherein the light function device serves as the light modulating device, and the light modulating device modulates light emitted from a plane light source to cause a fluorescent member to emit light with modulated light.
In foregoing display apparatus, the fluorescent member is caused to emit light for display by emitted light so that high-speed display with light is realized.
A display apparatus according to the aspect 26 is characterized by a structure that the plane light source emits ultraviolet rays.
The foregoing display apparatus is permitted to use a relatively low-cost and low-pressure mercury lamp or the like. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Document WO 2004/061721 shows prior art in the field of the invention. That document describes the creation of a digital model of a patient, that is customized both in geometrical terms and in mechanical terms, for subsequent use in a method of simulating operating strategy, so that prior to an operation, the predictable result can be visualized, thus giving the surgeon the means to assess the effects of a surgical act on the final equilibrium of the patient and on the internal stresses both in the implant and in the anatomical structures.
In the step of constructing the model of the subject, there exists a stage of creating a three-dimensional model as a function of calibrated radiographs of the subject, i.e. radiographs compared with a known point of reference, or a tomographic image of the subject, or any other datum suitable for three-dimensionally reconstituting a customized set of bones. This stage is finished by allocating various general mechanical characteristics to the geometrical reconstitution, which characteristics result from known models forming a kind of standard database applicable to all reconstructed geometries.
The above-mentioned document proposes a method of customizing the mechanical characteristics of the model that is already geometrically customized.
Based on a series of clinical tests carried out on the patient by the surgeon, real geometries are acquired (e.g. by radiography) and the observed displacements relative to a normal posture are interpreted to deduce therefrom mathematical functions governing the behavior of the joint spaces (intervertebral bodies) that satisfy the acquired geometries and do so for each connection between two adjacent vertebrae. That method of proceeding quickly comes up against computation blocks or unsolvable situations because for a vertebral column, there are 17 successive connections between pairs of vertebral bodies to be treated. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circle drawing method for drawing a circle at high speed by a personal computer or the like on an output device such as a display, a printing device or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been proposed a method for graphically outputting a circle by a personal computer or the like (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 4-52776). In the method disclosed in the above-identified publication, a one-eighth fraction of a circle is drawn by a minimum axial distance method. In the minimum axial distance method, a function expressed by the following equation (1) is defined with respect to a known or determined point P.sub.i-1 (X.sub.i-1, Y.sub.i-1) on the circle. EQU f(Z.sub.i)=R.sup.2 {(X.sub.i-1 1/2).sup.2 +(Y.sub.i-1 +1).sup.2 } (1) EQU .DELTA.Y.sub.i-1 =2Y.sub.i-1 +1 (2) EQU .DELTA.X.sub.i-1 =2X.sub.i-1 +1 (3)
Then, depending upon the sign of the function f(Z.sub.i), coordinates of points to be plotted are determined for progressing drawing of a circle. For example, when, assuming a coordinate of a start point of drawing of a circle is (R, 0), a one-eighth fraction of the circle to the intersection with a straight line Y=X is to be drawn with increase of the Y coordinate, if the function f(Z.sub.i) is positive, the X coordinate is not reduced, and if the function f(Z.sub.i) is not positive, the X coordinate is reduced. When f(Z.sub.i)>0 is established, the following equations (4) to (6) are established, and when f(Z.sub.i).ltoreq.0 is established, the following equations (7) to (9) are established. EQU f(Z.sub.i+1)=f(Z.sub.i)-.DELTA.Y.sub.i-1 (4) EQU .DELTA.Y.sub.i =.DELTA.Y.sub.i-1 +2 (5) EQU .DELTA.X.sub.i =.DELTA..sub.i-1 (6) EQU f(Z.sub.i+1)=f(Z.sub.i)-.DELTA.Y.sub.i+1 .DELTA.X.sub.i-1 (7) EQU .DELTA.Y.sub.i =.DELTA.Y.sub.i-1 +2 (8) EQU .DELTA.X.sub.i =.DELTA.X.sub.i-1 -2 (9)
Next, discussion will be given for the circle drawing method disclosed in the above-identified publication with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A to 1C are flowcharts illustrating a circle drawing method disclosed in the foregoing Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 4-52776. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a coordinate of the center and a radius R of a circle to be drawn are input (step 101). Then, the input coordinate of the center is stored in a center coordinate storage means (step 102). Then, P.sub.1 (R, 0) as a drawing start point is determined. At this time, f(Z.sub.2)=R-5/4 is established. However, in order to avoid operation of fraction, the foregoing equations (1) to (9) are used as multiplied by four, in practice. Then, the drawing start point P.sub.1 (R, 0) is stored in a first storage means, and f(Z.sub.2)=4R-5 is stored in a f(Z.sub.i) value storage means. Furthermore, .DELTA.Y.sub.1 =4 is stored in a .DELTA.Y.sub.1. value storage means, and .DELTA.X.sub.1 =8R+4 is stored in a X.sub.i value storage means (step 103).
Next, the coordinate (R, 0) stored in the first storage means is transferred to a (Y=X) axis symmetric coordinate generating means (step 104). Then, a coordinate (0, R) symmetric to the coordinate (R, 0) with respect to the (Y=X) axis is derived. The coordinate (0, R) thus derived is stored in a second storage means (step 105). Next, the coordinate (R, 0) stored in the first storage means is transferred to an X-axis symmetric coordinate generating means (step 106). Then, a coordinate (R, 0) symmetric to the coordinate (R, 0) with respect to the X-axis is derived. The coordinate (R, 0) thus derived is stored in a third storage means (step 107). Furthermore, the coordinate (0, R) stored in the second storage means is transferred to the X-axis symmetric coordinate generating means (step 108). Then, a coordinate (0, -R) symmetric to the coordinate (0, R) with respect to the X-axis is derived. This coordinate (0, -R) is stored in a fourth storage means (step 109).
Next, the coordinate (R, 0) stored in the first storage means is transferred to a Y-axis symmetric coordinate generating means (step 110). Then, the coordinate (-R, 0) symmetric to the coordinate (R, 0) with respect to the Y-axis is derived. This coordinate (-R, 0) is stored in a fifth storage means (step 111). Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, the coordinate (0, R) stored in the second storage means is transferred to the Y-axis symmetric coordinate generating means (step 112). Then, the coordinate (0, R) symmetric to the coordinate (0, R) with respect to the Y-axis is derived. This coordinate (0, R) is stored in a sixth storage means (step 113). Furthermore, the coordinate (R, 0) stored in the third storage means is transferred to the Y-axis symmetric generating means (step 114). Then, the coordinate (-R, 0) symmetric to the coordinate (R, 0) with respect to the Y-axis is derived. The coordinate (-R, 0) thus derived is stored in a seventh storage means (step 115). Next, the coordinate (0, -R) stored in the fourth storage means is transferred to the Y-axis symmetric coordinate generating means (step 116). Then, the coordinate (0, -R) symmetric to the coordinate (0, -R) with respect to the Y-axis is derived. This coordinate (0, -R) is stored in an eighth storage means (step 117). These coordinates stored in the first to eighth storage means are plotted in a memory via a dot plotting means (step 118).
Next, as shown in FIG. 1C, the sign of f(Z.sub.2) is checked (step 119). If the sing of f(Z.sub.2) is positive, P.sub.2 (X.sub.1, Y.sub.1 +1)=(R, 1) is stored in the first storage means as the next coordinate (step 120). Then, f(Z.sub.3) for the next coordinate is calculated (step 121). Next, f(Z.sub.3) is stored in the (Z.sub.i) value storage means (step 122). Also, .DELTA.Y.sub.2 is calculated and stored in the .DELTA.Y.sub.i value storage means (step 123). Then, .DELTA.X.sub.2 is calculated and stored in the .DELTA.X.sub.i value storage means (step 124). Next, X.sub.i value and Y.sub.i value are compared for checking whether drawing of the one-eighth fraction of the circle is completed or not in the next coordinate. If not X.sub.i>Y.sub.i, the operation is terminated as completed. If X.sub.i >Y.sub.i, the process returned to the step 104 in FIG. 1A (step 130).
On the other hand, if f(Z.sub.2) is not positive as checked at the step 119, P.sub.2 (X.sub.1 -1, Y.sub.1 +1)=(R-1, 1) is stored in the first storage means (step 125). Then, the processes up to the comparison of X.sub.i value and Y.sub.i value are performed similarly to the case where the f(Z.sub.2) is positive (steps 126 to 130).
Next, discussion will be given for a method for deriving coordinate values to be stored in the first storage means until the one-eighth fraction of the circle is drawn. FIGS. 2A to 2G are diagrammatic illustrations showing points stored in the first storage means in sequential order. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a point 201 has been determined as the drawing start point (R, 0). Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the coordinate of the next point 202 is determined in response to the sign of f(Z.sub.2). In this case, since the sign of f(Z.sub.2) is positive, the Y coordinate is increased by one from the point 201 and the X coordinate is held unchanged. Next, f(Z.sub.3) is derived from f(Z.sub.2), .DELTA.X.sub.1 and .DELTA.Y.sub.1. The coordinate of the next point 203 is determined in response to the sign of f(Z.sub.3). In this case, as shown in FIG. 2C, since the sign of f(Z.sub.3) is positive, the Y coordinate is increased by one from the point 202, and the X coordinate is held unchanged. Furthermore, f(Z.sub.4) is derived from f(Z.sub.3), .DELTA.X.sub.2 and .DELTA.Y.sub.2, and the coordinate of the next point 204 is determined in response to the sign of f(Z.sub.4). In this case, as shown in FIG. 2D, since the sign of f(Z.sub.4) is not positive, the Y coordinate is increased by one and the X coordinate is decreased by one from the point 203.
Similarly, f(Z.sub.5) is derived. Depending upon the sign of f(Z.sub.5), the coordinate of the next point 205 is determined. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2E, since the sign of f(Z.sub.5) is positive, the Y coordinate is increased by one from the point 204, and the X coordinate is held unchanged. Then, f(Z.sub.6) is derived, and the coordinate of the next point 6 is determined in response to the sign of f(Z.sub.6). In this case, as shown in FIG. 2F, since the sign of f(Z.sub.6) is not positive, the Y coordinate is increased by one and the X coordinate is decreased by one from the point 205. Furthermore, f(Z.sub.7) is derived, and the coordinate of the next point 7 is determined in response to the sign of f(Z.sub.7). In this case, as shown in FIG. 2G, since the sign of f (Z.sub.7) is not positive, the Y coordinate is increased by one and the X coordinate is decreased by one from the point 206. Then, since X=Y is established at the coordinate of the point 7, calculation of the coordinates of the one-eighth fraction of the circle is completed. It should be noted that, while not illustrated, points symmetric to respective points 201 to 207 with respect to the (Y=X) axis, the X-axis and/or the Y-axis are derived sequentially.
By the circle drawing method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 4-52776, a full circle is drawn by calculating a one-eighth fraction by the minimum axial direction method. Therefore, a circle can be drawn at high speed.
However, in the foregoing conventional circle drawing method, all of f(Z.sub.i), .DELTA.X.sub.i and .DELTA.Y.sub.i have to be calculated for calculating each coordinate point. When a radius of a circle to be drawn becomes large, a circumferential length becomes long to increase number of points to be calculated. Therefore, when large amount of calculation has to be performed for deriving each coordinate point as the foregoing conventional method, number of process steps increases significantly according to increasing of radius. Thus, process period becomes significantly long. On the other hand, since respective points calculated are stored in respective of the first to eighth storage means at every occasion, memory region for these points is necessary. Thus, large memory region used for drawing a circle becomes required. | {
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The use of cable ties to bundle a plurality of wires or similar articles has long been known. Basic cable tie construction includes an elongate cable tie strap having a tail at one end and a head at the other end. The head includes a central passage or aperture therethrough for accommodating a tail in an insertable fashion. The head supports a locking device adjacent the head aperture to securely lock the cable tie body within the aperture of the head to provide securement of the cable tie about the bundle of wires. In one type of cable tie construction, the locking device is a flexibly supported integrally formed pawl having plastic teeth which engage corresponding teeth on a cable tie body to provide locking engagement therebetween. As is typical of most cable ties, the tail of the cable tie is inserted into the head aperture uniquely in one direction. However, the art has also seen the use of bi-directional, or symmetrically-formed, cable ties which permit the cable tie tail to be inserted through the aperture in the head in either direction.
One such bi-directional cable tie is shown and described in co-pending commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 08/689,466, filed Aug. 9, 1996, entitled "A Self-Locking Cable Tie Strap With Symmetrical Structure", issued on Mar. 23,1999, as U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,367 which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. The cable tie of such construction may be particularly used with an automatic cable tie installing device where a plurality of cable ties held together in a reel. A cable tie from the reel may be fed from a dispenser to a cable tie installing gun for installation about a plurality of wires. The symmetrical construction of the cable tie permits the cable tie to be easily dispensed and aligned within the installation gun. As may be appreciated, in order to accommodate insertion of the cable tie tail from either direction, the pawl or locking device of the symmetrical cable tie must be sufficiently flexible to permit deflection in either direction. Such flexibility assures that the cable tie tail may be easily inserted through the aperture in the head in either direction.
While such flexible construction permits easy insertion, it has been found that in certain circumstances such cable ties may not exhibit sufficiently high resistance to withdrawal forces as may be required in certain applications. Additionally, the art has uniformly provided bi-directional cable ties having symmetrical withdrawal-resistance characteristics while ignoring circumstances where it may be desirable to provide a bi-directional cable tie exhibiting discretely selectable, or non-symmetrical, withdrawal-resistance characteristics depending upon which direction the cable tie strap is inserted through the head.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a cable tie having a self-locking feature in a symmetrical structure which exhibits ease of insertion of the cable tie strap into the aperture in either direction and yet provides suitably high resistance to withdrawal forces in order to maintain a self-locking configuration. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a self-locking feature in an asymmetrical structure which offers discretely-selectable resistance to withdrawal forces according to the direction of strap insertion. | {
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Radio transmitters and receivers require filters to remove or suppress unwanted frequencies from being transmitted or received. The transmitter portion of the radio may generate frequencies which will interfere with the radio system, or which may be prohibited by the radio frequency spectrum governing body. The receiver may need to suppress unwanted signals at different frequencies generated by the transmitter, or received from an external source, which would adversely affect the performance of the receiver.
At millimetre-wave frequencies, sources of unwanted frequencies include the local oscillator frequency, image frequencies from the mixer, and the transmitter frequencies in the case of the receiver. The frequencies generated by the mixer and the local oscillator are functions of the selected radio architecture. The closer the oscillator frequency (or its harmonics) is to the transmitter frequencies, the more difficult it is to remove the undesired frequency. However, to operate at wider spaced frequencies may require more complex circuitry, resulting in a more expensive radio implementation. A small separation between the transmit and receive frequencies can result in unwanted high power transmit frequencies leaking into the receiver. The separation between the transmit and receive frequencies is usually specified by the licensing bodies and the system operators. The radio designer may not have control over this specification.
To suppress the unwanted frequencies below an acceptable power level, a filter element is required in the signal path. The filter element discriminates between the desired and undesired frequencies based on the wavelengths of the signals. A common millimetre-wave filter is based on the metal waveguide.
Waveguide filters are used at microwave frequencies due to their low loss characteristics. Low loss in the resonant sections corresponds to a higher-Q, faster rolloff outside the passband and lower transmission loss in the passband. A typical waveguide filter consists of multiple coupled resonators, where the volume of a resonator is proportional to the frequency of operation.
An example of a conventional waveguide filter comprises a housing containing a series of resonator cavities arranged in a straight line, where adjacent resonator cavities are separated by an apertured partition which forms a coupler. The resonator cavities are typically rectangular or cylindrical and have a length corresponding to one half wavelength or multiples of one half wavelength of the centre frequency.
Another implementation of a waveguide filter is the E-plane filter, an example of which is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the waveguide filter 1 includes a filter housing 2 which forms an elongate channel 4. The housing is split into two parts 6, 8 along the length of the channel to receive an apertured thin metal sheet 10 therebetween. The apertured metal sheet 10 is called a septum.
The rectangular apertures 12 formed in the thin metal sheet 10 each define a resonator and the metal strips 14 remaining between the resonators function as couplers and are known as coupling sections. Each coupling section of the septum effectively divides the waveguide into two halt waveguides having a reduced width of less than half the center frequency wavelength so that the reduced size waveguide does not permit propagation of the electromagnetic wave.
In microwave communications at moderately high frequencies, for example carrier frequencies in the range of 24 to 31 GHz, the frequency band for each of the receive and transmit channels may have a width of only one percent of the center frequency and the center frequencies may be separated by a frequency band of similar width. Thus, a waveguide filter suitable for such an application must provide a relatively narrow pass band with a sharp roll-off, and therefore such a filter requires a relatively large number of resonator cavities and coupling sections. One problem in conventional filter design is that as the number of resonators and coupling sections increases, the waveguide becomes longer and therefore requires a larger housing which adds to the cost and makes it difficult to integrate with other system components.
Various designs for a resonator cavity-type waveguide filter have been proposed to accommodate the resonators and couplers into a smaller space. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 57041702, Publication No. JP-A-58161403 and Japanese Patent Application No. 57070942, Publication No. JP-A-58187001 each discloses a band pass filter having a series of coupled cylindrical resonator cavities, each centered at the corner of a square. This design takes advantage of the cylindrical symmetry of the resonators to permit the output coupler of each resonator to be oriented at 90° with respect to its input coupler.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,224 (Glinder) describes a resonator cavity-type waveguide filter having a series of resonator cavities interconnected by coupler channels in which opposite sides of the coupler channels are the same length, but opposite sides of the resonator cavities have different lengths, so that the input of each resonator cavity is angled relative to its output. In one example, a number of similar resonator cavities having dissimilar length sides are arranged to form an S-shaped waveguide which is accommodated in a space whose length is shorter than that needed for a linear waveguide having similar characteristics. The mechanical length of a resonator cavity having dissimilar length sides which determines the pass center frequency is based on the length of the arcuate center line through the resonator cavity between the input and output couplers. Due to the shape of the resonator cavity, the length of the curved center line is different from that of a linear resonator cavity and is calculated by first calculating the required mechanical length of a linear resonator cavity and then applying a correction factor to the mechanical length. The correction factor is calculated based on the guide wavelength for a linear resonator, the desired pass center wavelength for the non-linear cavity, the width of the waveguide and the radius of curvature of the center line. Although the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,224 allows the length of a waveguide filter to be reduced, it may be difficult to implement a high-Q, narrow pass band filter using this design since the required dimensions of the filter become more difficult to calculate as the number of cavities increases. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for storing and using tickets with smart cards, and more particularly to the secure storage and usage of "open" tickets in smart cards, i.e tickets of which the particular date and/or time of use is left open when issuing the ticket. More specifically, the present invention relates to the secure storage, usage, validation and/or verification of tickets using smart cards, and to smart cards and a payment system arranged for use of the smart cards.
2. Discussion of Background
In recent years, smart cards have been used in many applications, such as an electronic purse, or in other applications requiring access rights to goods and/or services, such as identification (user verification), storing important data (e.g., medical data), and/or collecting loyalty credits. In addition, various types of tickets are used today, for example, tickets issued containing all relevant data, such as airline tickets, wherein the company (airline) involved, the price, the day of travel, the place and time of departure, and the place and time of arrival is provided and as such the tickets are ready for use. Another type of ticket is a ticket that is not ready for use, for example, a ticket where the day of travel needs to be filled in after the issuance of the ticket. Such an "open" ticket needs to be validated before it can be used, for example, by filling in the day of travel and possibly other data. Such an "open" ticket may be suitable for multiple use if it can be validated more than once.
Examples of tickets stored on smart cards are known and, for example, Dutch patent application NL 93 01902, discloses a method of obtaining a right to a service by means of a smart card (IC card), wherein the smart card is used for both payment and registration. That is, the smart card is used to store proof of payment of the service paid for, thus replacing paper tickets. The use of multiple tickets, i.e. tickets which may be used more than once, is also mentioned in the above patent application.
In the method of the above-described Dutch patent application, a ticket is stored on a card by registering on the card an access code, optionally in combination with a card identification code. At the terminal of, for example, a theater the access code and (optionally) the identification code are checked, whereupon the access code is erased from the card. However, in the above-mentioned Dutch patent application, the way in which multiple tickets are implemented and/or used is not disclosed, and a specific method for securely storing tickets on smart cards, especially tickets which may be validated after their issuance, is not provided.
European patent application EP 0 658 862 discloses a method and system for employing multi-functional smart cards by means of a communication system, for example, to allow airline tickets to be stored on the smart cards. The specific manner in which the tickets are stored is however not disclosed.
European patent application EP 0 380 377 discloses a system for electronic payment of transport and services by means of smart cards, wherein a ticket is disclosed having fields for stamping the ticket on a certain date at a certain time, and fields for storing data indicating that the ticket has been checked. However, the particulars of the way in which the ticket data is stored are not disclosed.
However, conventional electronic tickets are susceptible to fraud in that ticket data can untraceably be altered. Whereas fraudulent manipulations of paper tickets are often visible, or must be carried out very skillfully so as not to be visible, the alteration of bits on a smart card typically leaves no traces. Especially in the case of open tickets, where various stations "stamp" the ticket in order to perform a validation or verification, the possibility of fraud exists. | {
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Conducting structures integrated into semiconductor devices needs to be electrically insulated from other parts of the device to ensure reliable functioning of the semiconductor device. Examples of such conducting structures are field electrodes and gate electrodes which are insulated from the semiconductor substrate by insulation layers such as oxide layers. In trench MOSFETs the gate electrodes and source electrodes are usually formed of doped polysilicon. Despite high doping, the resistivity of the electrodes can become very high for small lateral dimensions. The high resistivity may limit the shrink of the trench and cell pitch, and especially for low voltage MOSFETs the RDS(on) reduction
As switching of a potential applied to the conducting structures at high frequency may occur, it may be desirable to form the conducting structures or at least some of the conducting structures of a material having a low resistivity. However, use of a material having a low resistivity may reduce a thermal budget for subsequent processing steps. This may be especially disadvantageous for a field electrode made of metal, since the field electrode is usually formed before forming the gate oxide. The gate oxidation usually has a temperature budget, which is not compatible with the metal electrode being formed before.
In view of the above, there is a need for improvement. | {
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When patients implanted with deep brain stimulation (DBS) or cardiac pacing (CP) lead systems are exposed to external Radio Frequency (RF) fields, local tissue damage around the electrodes of these leads can occur as has bees reported by various researchers. See, e.g., Baker et al., Neurostimulation systems: assessment of magnetic field interactions associated with 1.5- and 3-Tesla MR systems, J Magn Reson Imaging 2005;21(1):72-77; Bhidayasiri et al., Bilateral neurostimulation systems used for deep brain stimulation: in vitro study of MRI-related heating at 1.5 T and implications for clinical imaging of the brain; Magn Reson Imaging 2005;23(4):549-555; Rezai et al., Neurostimulators: potential for excessive heating of deep brain stimulation electrodes during magnetic resonance imaging, J Magn Reson Imaging 2001;14(4):488-489; Chou et al., RF heating of implanted spinal fusion stimulator during magnetic resonance imaging, IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 1997;44(5):367-373; and Luechinger et al., In vivo heating of pacemaker leads during magnetic resonance imaging, Eur Heart J 2005;26(4):376-383; discussion 325-377.
There are several external RF sources such as, for example, RF exposure during MRI or during RF diathermy. Local tissue damage during RF diathermy procedures in patients with implanted deep brain stimulator lead systems has also been reported. RF/microwave diathermy treatments can use leads that employ an alternating current to cauterize tissue. The diathermy alternating current delivered during the therapy can be in the range of between about 1 KHz-350 MHz (believed to be typically at about 27.5 MHz). In certain situations, the lead system may undesirably act as an antenna, receiving and depositing current in localised tissue where the leads are exposed, thereby potentially increasing the specific absorption rate (SAR) (a way of measuring the quantity of radiofrequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body).
RF heating of tissue in close proximity to long conductors (such as metallic wires) in an MRI environment has also been reported in literature. Local tissue damage can be caused by RF deposition in the tissue that is in close proximity to the linear conductors or electrodes of the lead system, when patients with implanted leads or interventional devices are placed in an external RF field. This RF heating mechanism may be explained as follows. During an MRI scan, the transmit RF field creates a voltage along the long linear conductors (individual or part of any interventional device) or the conductors/filers of the DBS and cardiac pacing lead systems. Currents are then created through the conductors and into the surrounding tissue. Where the current emerges from the distal tip of the device (or adjacent to the electrode in the case of an implantable lead), it can be concentrated and can cause heating and subsequent tissue damage.
In view of the foregoing, there remains a need for alternative medical lead configurations. | {
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The telephone has greatly facilitated communications between parties, especially when great distances separate the parties. Metropolitan cities and suburbs typically have sufficient access to a public switched telecommunications/telephone network (PSTN), as well as cellular networks. As access to PSTN and cellular networks has increased, a single subscriber may have several telephony devices, including plain old telephone system (POTS) devices and cellular telephones, available for use by any number of persons in the home. As a result of having multiple telephony devices in the home, many subscribers now find it difficult to simultaneously monitor the use and or location of each telephony device, especially when the subscriber is outside of the home. For example, a babysitter may often find it easy to access one or more telephony devices when the subscriber is away from the home. Thus, subscribers without the ability to restrict the use and access to telephony devices are often confronted with the undesired movement and/or the unauthorized use of these devices. | {
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An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method has been adopted as a transmission method for digital terrestrial broadcasting, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and the like. With the OFDM method, a plurality of carriers are closely arrayed while remaining orthogonal to each other. Therefore, the OFDM method enables efficient use of frequency. Furthermore, as the OFDM method allows setting long symbol lengths, the OFDM method is robust against Inter-Symbol Interference caused by a plurality of incoming waves.
Also, a guard interval technique is commonly used in the OFDM method. According to the guard interval technique, a portion of the end of a useful symbol is inserted in front of the useful symbol as a guard interval. With this structure, the guard interval technique makes it possible to perform the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) while avoiding interference components pertaining to Inter-Symbol Interference caused by a delayed wave in a case where the delayed wave is delayed from the dominant wave by a delay period not greater than the duration of the guard interval. As a result, the receiver becomes able to demodulate the received OFDM transmission signals without deterioration.
However, when the delay time of a delayed wave exceeds the duration of the guard interval, Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) and Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) occur, and as a result, the receiver is unlikely to be able to demodulate the received OFDM transmission signals accurately, causing deterioration in reception quality.
Single Frequency Network (SFN) has been adopted for a terrestrial digital broadcasting method, and transmission stations are installed such that the delay times of delayed waves are within the duration of the guard interval. However, in some environment, the delay times of delayed waves exceed the duration of the guard interval due to reflection off mountains, building, etc. In such an environment, it is difficult for the receiver to demodulate the received OFDM transmission signals accurately due to ISI and ICI, and the reception quality significantly deteriorates as a result.
Accordingly, accurate demodulation of the OFDM transmission signals in the above-described environment requires a technology to remove, from the OFDM transmission signals, interference components pertaining to ISI and ICI due to delayed waves. For example, Patent Literature 1 suggests the following method.
Demodulated data in a frequency domain is calculated by performing an FFT on the OFDM transmission signal in a time domain; channel response data in the frequency domain is estimated based on the demodulated data; and channel response signals in the time domain are calculated by performing an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) on the channel response data in the frequency domain. Waveform equalization is performed on the OFDM transmission signals in the time domain based on the channel response signals in the time domain; interference components pertaining to ISI and ICI are estimated; and the interference components are removed from the OFDM transmission signals.
Note that Patent Literature 2 discloses another method. According to this method, however, interference components pertaining to ISI and ICI due to preceding waves which arrive at the receiver earlier than the dominant wave cannot be estimated and removed. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a recording paper useful for ink jet recording, particularly to a recording paper excellent in aqueous-ink absorptivity, resolution of image and color forming characteristic and also to an ink jet recording method by use thereof.
2. Related Background Art
In the prior art, paper for ink jet recording, there have been known:
(1) a recording paper which is prepared by making a paper in general composed mainly of pulp into a sheet with a low sizing degree such as filter paper, blotting paper, etc.;
(2) a recording paper prepared by use of a paper subjected to considerable sizing as the substrate paper, having an ink absorption layer provided thereon by coating of a filler which is porous and large in oil absorption such as silica or zeolite;
(3) a recording paper having a coating layer provided on a substrate paper with low sizing degree as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Applications Nos. 53012/1977, 11829/1980 and 38087/1984 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,910, etc.
In the recording paper (1), although it is excellent in ink absorptivity, ink is penetrates deep into the fibrous layer of the paper and therefore the color forming characteristic of ink is poor. Since the ink is also absorbed along the fibers on the paper surface, there occurs the phenomenon called feathering, whereby there is the drawback that dots become staggered so resolution is lowered to preclude images of good quality.
In the recording paper (2), since the ink absorbing layer is porous and uniform, good dot shapes and resolution can be obtained. However, for imparting sufficient ink absorptivity, the ink absorbing layer must be made thick, and therefore there is also the problem that one coating is insufficient and a plural coatings required.
Further, if the ratio of the pigment to the binder (P/B) in the ink absorbing layer is made too great in order to improve ink absorptivity, the so called powder drop-off by dropping of the pigment may occur, whereby there are involved the drawbacks such that the rollers for paper delivery may slip or that clogging of the ink jet nozzle may occur.
In the recording paper (3), even when a relatively thin coating layer may be provided, there is the advantage that a recording medium with good ink absorptivity and excellent color forming characteristic of the colorant can be obtained as compared with the recording paper (2). However, as a recording system with higher resolution and attachment density of ink is demanded, the ink absorptivity may be sufficient when the recording paper (3) is applied for such a system, but a large amount of ink will penetrate into the substrate paper, whereby color forming characteristic of the colorant and resolution will be lowered. Thus, it is difficult to satisfy both ink absorptivity and these characteristics.
Further, problems called cockling in which pulp fibers are swelled with ink and the printing portion is deformed in wavy form or the so called back-through in which ink reaches the back surface of the paper not only impair quality of recorded image, but cockling will give rise to scraping between the recording paper and the head to impair images, and also back-through may cause back transfer when a recording paper is superposed on another recording paper.
These phenomena are problems inherent in the recording paper (3) which as a whole receives ink, and have appeared particularly as the image with high resolution by ink jet recording is demanded. However, although the above problems are inherent in the recording paper (3), no detailed investigation has been made thereabout. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanner using a rotary polygon mirror.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an optical scanner, a parallel light beam from a light source device is deflected on a rotary polygon mirror and is converged as a light spot on a scanned face by an image forming lens system to perform an optical scanning operation. The optical scanner is widely known in association with an optical printer, a digital copying machine, etc.
Recently, a high quality of an image in an image outputting device using such an optical scanner is strongly required. Further, there are various kinds of proposals for stabilizing a diameter of the light spot scanning the scanned face in the optical scanner.
The diameter of the light spot is mainly varied by a shift between the scanned face and an image forming position of the light spot caused by field curvature. Therefore, stabilization of the spot diameter depends on how to preferably correct field curvature in the image forming lens system. A so-called face inclination is caused as a problem when the rotary polygon mirror is used as an optical deflector. To solve this problem, the image forming lens system is constructed by an anamorphic optical system having different refracting powers in a main scan-corresponding direction and a cross scan-corresponding direction. In this case, the main scan-corresponding direction is a direction parallel to a main scanning direction and corresponding to this main scanning direction on a virtual optical path provided by linearly developing an optical path from a light source to the scanned face along an optical axis of the optical system. The cross scan-corresponding direction is a direction parallel to a cross scanning direction and corresponding to this cross scanning direction on this virtual optical path. The image forming lens system may have an f.theta. function to perform the optical scanning operation using the light spot at an equal speed. However, it is difficult to preferably satisfy both field curvatures in the main scanning direction and the cross scanning direction while requirements for various kinds of optical performances such as the anamorphic optical system, the f.theta. function, etc. are satisfied.
An optical scanning optical system considering such a situation is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No. 3-54513. In this optical system, a linear image extending in the main scan-corresponding direction is formed in the vicinity of a deflecting reflecting face of the rotary polygon mirror. An image forming optical system for converging a light beam deflected on the deflecting reflecting face onto the scanned face is constructed by a spherical lens system and a cylindrical mirror. A radius of curvature of the cylindrical mirror in the cross scan-corresponding direction is changed in the main scan-corresponding direction so that field curvature in the cross scanning direction is corrected.
With respect to the rotary polygon mirror, no rotating axis of the deflecting reflecting face is in conformity with an axis of the deflecting reflecting face. Therefore, the relation in position between the deflecting reflecting face and a linear image extending in the main scan-corresponding direction is asymmetrically changed with respect to an image height 0 of the light spot as the deflecting reflecting face is rotated. This problem is called sag.
No problem of sag is considered in the optical scanning optical system shown in the above Japanese Patent Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No. 3-54513. Therefore, field curvature can be preferably corrected on one main scanning side with respect to the image height 0 of the light spot, but is increased on the other main scanning side. | {
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A typical data storage system stores and retrieves data for external hosts. FIG. 1 shows a high-level block diagram of a conventional data storage system 20. The data storage system 20 includes front-end circuitry 22, a cache 24, back-end circuitry 26 and a set of disk drives 28-A, 28-B (collectively, disk drives 28). The cache 24 operates as a buffer for data exchanged between external hosts 30 and the disk drives 28. The front-end circuitry 22 operates as an interface between the hosts 30 and the cache 24. Similarly, the back-end circuitry 26 operates as an interface between the cache 24 and the disk drives 28.
FIG. 1 further shows a particular implementation 32 of the data storage system 20. In the implementation 32, the front-end circuitry 22 includes multiple front-end circuit boards 34. Each front-end circuit board 34 includes a pair of front-end directors 36-A, 36-B. Each front-end director 36 (e.g., the front-end director 36-A of the front-end circuit board 34-1) is interconnected between a particular host 30 (e.g., the host 30-A) and a set of M buses 38 that lead to the cache 24 (M being a positive integer), and operates as an interface between that particular host 30 and the cache 24.
Similarly, the back-end circuitry 26 includes multiple back-end circuit boards 40. Each back-end circuit board 40 includes a pair of back-end directors 42-A, 42-B. Each back-end director 42 is interconnected between a particular disk drive 28 and the M buses 38 leading to the cache 24, and operates as an interface between that disk drive 28 and the cache 24.
Each disk drive 28 has multiple connections 44, 46 to the cache 24. For example, the disk drive 28-A has a first connection 44-A that leads to the cache 24 through the back-end director 42-A of the back-end circuit board 40-1, and a second connection 46-A that leads to the cache 24 through another back-end director of another back-end circuit board 40 (e.g., a back-end director of the back-end circuit board 40-2). An explanation of how the implementation 32 of the data storage system 20 retrieves a block of data (e.g., 512 bytes) for a host 30 will now be provided.
Suppose that the host 30-A submits, to the front-end director 36-A of the front-end circuit board 34-1, a request for a block of data stored on the disk drive 28-A. In response to the request, the front-end director 36-A looks for the block in the cache 24. If the front-end director 36-A finds the block in the cache 24 (i.e., a cache hit), the front-end director 36-A simply transfers a copy of the block from the cache 24 through one of the M buses 38 to the host 30-A. This operation is called a cached read since the front-end director 36-A was able to read a cached block (a block previously existing in the cache 24) on its first attempt.
However, if the front-end director 36-A does not find the block in the cache 24 (i.e., a cache miss), the front-end director 36-A performs a non-cached read operation. Here, the front-end director 36-A places a read message in the cache 24 through one of the M buses 38. The read message directs the back-end director 42-A of the back-end circuit board 40-1 to copy the block from the disk drive 28-A to the cache 24. The back-end director 42-A, which periodically polls the cache 24 for such messages, eventually detects the read message from the front-end director 36-A. In response to such detection, the back-end director 42-A transfers a copy of the block from the disk drive 28-A through one of the M buses 38 to the cache 24. The back-end director 42-A then places a notification message into the cache 24 through one of the M buses 38. The notification message notifies the front-end director 36-A that the requested block now resides in the cache 24. The front-end director 36-A, which periodically polls the cache 24 for such notification messages and for the requested block, eventually detects the notification message or the presence of the requested block in the cache 24. In response to such detection, the front-end director 36-A transfers the copy of the block from the cache 24 through one of the buses 38 to the host 30-A.
As described above, the non-cached read operation requires more time to fulfill than the above-described cached read operation. In particular, the extra step of putting the data block into the cache 24, and then reading the data block from the cache 24 takes unnecessary time and adds to the latency of the overall operation, thus reducing performance.
It should be understood that the implementation 32 of the data storage system 20 can handle a subsequent request from a host 30 for the block of data by simply transferring the copy of the block residing in the cache 24 to the host 30 (i.e., a cache hit) without having to re-read the block from a disk drive 28. Such operation significantly reduces the block retrieval latency particularly since retrieval time for a block of data from a disk drive is typically an order of magnitude higher than retrieval time for a block of data from cache memory.
It should be further understood that the redundant features of the data storage system implementation 32 (e.g., the redundant front-end directors 36, the redundant back-end directors 42, the M buses 38, the multiple disk drive connections 44, 46, etc.) provide fault-tolerant and load balancing capabilities for the data storage system implementation 32. For example, if the back-end director 42-A fails and is thus unable to retrieve a data block from the disk drive 28-A in response to a request from the host 30-A, another back-end director 42 (e.g., a back-end director 42 residing on the circuit board 40-2) can respond to the request by retrieving the requested block through a redundant path to the disk drive 28-A (see the connection 46-A of FIG. 1).
Unfortunately, there are deficiencies to the above-described conventional implementation 32 of the data storage system 20 of FIG. 1. For example, for transactions requiring many non-cached read operations such as media streaming, there is a heavy amount of traffic through the connection infrastructure between the front-end directors 36 and the back-end directors 38 (i.e., the cache 24 and the M buses 38). For such non-cached read operations, the exchanging of data blocks, read messages and notification messages, as well as the polling for such messages tends to clog this connection infrastructure.
Additionally, there are delays associated with using the M buses 38. In particular, each director 36, 42 must arbitrate for use of the buses 38. A bus controller (not shown) typically grants the directors 36, 42 access to the buses 38 in accordance with a fair arbitration scheme (e.g., a round-robin arbitration) to guarantee that none of the directors 36, 42 becomes starved for bus access. Accordingly, some directors 36, 42 may have to wait until it is their turn to use the buses 38, and such waiting is a source of latency. Particularly, in times of heavy traffic, some directors 36, 42 may have to wait extended amounts of time before obtaining access to the cache 24 through one of the buses 38 thus significantly increasing data retrieval latencies.
In contrast to the above-described conventional data storage system implementation 32, the invention is directed to techniques for accessing data within a data storage system having a circuit board that includes both a front-end circuit for interfacing with a host and a back-end circuit for interfacing with a storage device. To move data between the host and the storage device, an exchange of data between the front-end circuit and the back-end circuit can occur within the circuit board thus circumventing the cache of the data storage system. Such operation not only reduces traffic through the cache, but also shortens data transfer latency.
In one arrangement, a data storage system includes a cache, a first front-end circuit that operates as an interface between the cache and a first host, a second front-end circuit that operates as an interface between the cache and a second host, a first storage device (e.g., a disk drive, tape drive, CDROM drive, etc.), a second storage device, a first back-end circuit that operates as an interface between the cache and the first storage device, and a second back-end circuit that operates as an interface between the cache and the second storage device. The first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit reside on a first circuit board. Similarly, the second front-end circuit and the second back-end circuit reside on a second circuit board. Accordingly, data transfer between the first host and the first storage device can occur through the first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit (both of which are on the first circuit board) and circumvent the cache. Likewise, data transfer between the second host and the second storage device can occur through the second front-end circuit and the second back-end circuit (both of which are on the second circuit board) and circumvent the cache. Such data transfers decrease traffic through the cache and reduce data retrieval latencies for non-cached read operations as well as lighten the load on the structure to increase performance of operations not able to use this mechanism.
In one arrangement, the data storage system further includes a buffer circuit that (i) is interconnected between the first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit and (ii) resides on the first circuit board. The buffer circuit provides a direct data pathway between the first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit that circumvents the cache. The buffer circuit is capable of retaining copies of data elements (e.g., blocks of data) transferred from the first storage device to the first host for possible subsequent access by the first host or another host. Accordingly, a host (e.g., the first host) can acquire the data element from the buffer circuit without requiring first back-end circuit to re-transfer another copy of the data element from the first storage device.
In one arrangement, the buffer circuit includes multi-ported random access memory (RAM). The multi-ported RAM includes memory locations, a first port coupled to the first front-end circuit, and a second port coupled to the first back-end circuit. The first port enables the first front-end circuit to access the memory locations. The second port enables the first back-end circuit to access the memory locations. The multiple ports prevent accesses of the first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit from interfering with each other through a single port.
In one arrangement, data can travel to multiple locations within the data storage system at substantially the same time. For example, the first back-end circuit can simultaneously place data from a read operation (e.g., a bicast disk read) in the cache (through a bypass) and the buffer circuit. As another example, the first back-end circuit can provide data directly to the cache and the first front-end circuit at substantially the same time (another bicast operation).
In another arrangement, the data storage system operates in a traditional manner in some situations. That is, the cache provides a data pathway between the first front-end circuit and the second back-end circuit, and the second storage device stores another data element. Here, the first front-end circuit and the second back-end circuit are configured to respond to a request, from the first host, for the other data element resulting in a cache miss by transferring a copy of the other data element from the second storage device to the first host through the data pathway between the first front-end circuit and the second back-end circuit. Accordingly, in situations that require use of a front-end circuit and a back-end circuit on different circuit boards, the data element can be transferred through the cache in a traditional manner.
In one arrangement, the multi-ported RAM further includes a third port coupled to the cache. The third port enables circuitry other than the first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit to move data elements between the memory locations and the cache. The availability of the third port enables data exchanges between the buffer circuit and the cache, and prevents such data exchanges from interfering with accesses by the first front-end circuit and the first back-end circuit through a single port.
The features of the invention, as described above, may be employed in data storage systems, devices and methods, as well as in other computer-related mechanisms such as those manufactured by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and in particular, a technology effective for being applied to an in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Unlike a self-emitting display device, for example a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display device is a non-self-emitting display device that displays a video or an image by regulating a transmitted amount of light from a light source or a reflected amount of external light, or the amounts of both the light.
Further, the liquid crystal display device has features such as thinness, light weight, and lower power consumption, and, in recent years, has been used widely in a liquid crystal display for a liquid crystal television or a personal computer, a liquid crystal display for a portable electronic appliance such as a portable telephone terminal, and the like.
The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel has a configuration in which a liquid crystal material is sealed between a pair of substrates, and has a display region formed of a large number of pixels. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer, and the transmitted light amount or the reflected light amount, or the amounts of both the light are regulated by varying the alignment of a liquid crystal layer (liquid crystal molecules) with a potential difference between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Further, the arrangement of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode is roughly classified into the case where the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are placed on different substrates and the case where the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are placed on the same substrate.
A liquid crystal display panel in which the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are placed on the same substrate is generally called an IPS system, and an effective optical axis is rotated in a plane by rotating liquid crystal molecules in an in-plane direction, to thereby regulate the transmitted light amount or the reflected light amount, or the amounts of both the light. In the liquid crystal display device having an IPS liquid crystal display panel, an alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer is substantially horizontal, and hence, a change in retardation of the liquid crystal layer due to a change in a viewing angle is small. Therefore, it is known that the IPS liquid crystal display device can achieve a wide viewing angle.
The arrangement of pixel electrodes and a common electrode in the IPS liquid crystal display panel is roughly classified into the arrangement in which the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are opposed to each other on a same side of an insulating layer and the arrangement in which the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are laminated separately via an insulating layer. In the case where the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are placed on the same side of the insulating layer, the plane shape of each of the pixel electrodes and the plane shape of the common electrode are rendered interdigital, and the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are arranged, for example, in such a manner that tooth portions of the pixel electrodes and tooth portions of the common electrode are placed alternately. On the other hand, in the method of laminating the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, for example, the plane shape of electrodes closer to the liquid crystal layer is formed in an interdigital shape and the plane shape of the other electrodes is formed in a flat plate shape.
In a liquid crystal display device such as a liquid crystal television or a liquid crystal display, generally, the sign of a potential difference between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode varies ever frame period or every predetermined number frame periods. Therefore, in a conventional liquid crystal display device, an in-plane distribution of a transmittance varies, for example, between the case where a positive voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes and the case where a negative voltage is applied thereto, and thus, a phenomenon called flicker occurs. Here, the positive voltage refers to the case where the potential of the pixel electrodes is higher than that of the common electrode, and the negative voltage refers to the case where the potential of the pixel electrodes is lower than that of the common electrode.
One of factors for the occurrence of flicker is as follows: when a thin film transistor (TFT) element is switched from on to off, an abnormal voltage is applied to the potential of the pixel electrode due to parasitic capacitance of the TFT, and a direct current voltage component (DC voltage component) is generated in the potential of the pixel electrode. Therefore, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, a fluctuation portion of the potential of the pixel electrode generated due to parasitic capacitance, i.e., a component for canceling a DC voltage component (hereinafter, referred to as a “DC offset voltage”) is applied to a gray level voltage to be applied to the pixel electrode, to thereby suppress flicker (see, for example, JP 07-020440 A). | {
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The present invention relates to detecting potential changed objects in images.
Various techniques for detecting changed objects in pairs of images are known. Such techniques have associated advantages and disadvantages when compared to each other and their performance can vary depending on the nature (e.g. light conditions) of the images being processed. | {
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The invention relates to a thermoelectrical arrangement with improved efficiency for the purpose of converting heat into electrical energy and for the purpose of reversible electrical pumping of heat.
As is known, thermocouple elements as electrical generators for converting heat only reach efficiencies of a few percent. In addition, thermocouple elements have until today only been competitive as electrical heat pumps in very specific applications. This is chiefly because combining thermal and electrical properties of material, which limits the maximum efficiency possible of thermocouple elements, is still too bad in all the thermocouples available today. Even with the best thermoelectrical materials, which we know today (say doped Si.sub.70 Ge.sub.30 crystals for generators or Bi.sub.2 Te.sub.3 for heat pumps), the so-called "efficiency" (the quotient of the square of the thermoelectrical force divided by the ratio of thermal and electrical conductivity) only reaches the numerical value 1 when multiplied by the average operating temperature. This is the main reason for the fact that, at best, 10 to 20% of the Carnot efficiency may be reached with thermocouple elements. A very substantial increase in the efficiency would be necessary for the thermoelectrical effects to be used in large-scale technology.
A substantial increase in the thermoelectrical efficiency would scarcely be achieved by an improvement of known thermoelectrical materials given the present state of the art. Greater success is promised by exploiting and cultivating new physical effects in thermoelectrical arrangements.
New physical effects, either by means of an increase in the electrical conductivity or an increase in the thermoelectrical force or a reduction in the heat conductivity of thermoelectrical materials, could contribute to an increase in efficiency. An increase in the electrical conductivity is possible for example in very thin semiconductor and insulating layers by means of the tunnel effect relating to wave mechanics. An increase in the thermoelectrical force may take place as a result of electrons being "pulled along" by phonons in temperature gradients under special conditions (phone-drag effect), and a reduction in the thermal conductivity takes place with inelastic scattering of electrons at the lattice. | {
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Commonly employed security systems, such as used in museums, art galleries, shops, safe deposit vaults, banks or the like, do not protect each of the objects of value therein as such objects are generally too numerous or too small or cannot be altered to provide the necessary supports for the attachment of security devices. The usual security system solves this problem by concentrating a protection on the case in which the object is displayed, the room in which objects are stored, or the room or building in which the objects are contained. In addition, common security devices are far too expensive for the protection of individual objects, except in instances where only a small number of objects are being protected, or in instances wherein the objects are extremely valuable.
The commonly known type of security system has certain disadvantages. To begin with, the object is specifically what should be protected from thieves or vandals and not the case, room or building in which the object is accommodated. Moreover, false alarms arise too frequently due to occurrences which are not attempts to steal or damage the protected objects, but which are instead accidents, negligence or other occurrences involving the case, room or building accommodating the object. Such occurrences include accidental breaking of windows and the like that should, of course, be investigated by security personnel, but which do not constitute a true alarm situation or alert because of the lack of threat to the object being protected.
Another disadvantage of commonly used security systems is their failure to protect objects which are not located within cases and are accessible to the public during some part of the day. To distinguish between touching and stealing is almost impossible, or in most cases, prohibitively expensive. Touching, while not allowed, is a commonplace occurrence but does not constitute an act which requires setting off an alarm. On the other hand, stealing a painting hung on a wall requires the removal of the same and frame or the cutting of the painting out of the frame leaving the frame mounted on its supporting wall as before. Known systems cannot protect such an object while allowing access to the object for reasons of viewing and appreciation.
U.S. Pat. No. 666,737 shows a burglar alarm system in which is employed the combination of a vault or other like structure, the walls of which are impervious to waves of radiant energy, there being a sensitive electrical device arranged within the vault or other such structure, and adapted to operate upon the admission of such radiant energy through an opening or entrance in such walls, and an electrical signal appliance controlled by such sensitive device. Herein, as distinguished from the invention to be disclosed hereinafter, the protection while ultimately afforded to the object or objects themselves is predicated upon the interference with radiant energy of the walls of the structure surrounding the object to be protected.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,351 provides a photo-responsive means in an interface circuit, which photo-responsive means is positioned to receive light signals for developing electrical output signals as a function of the received light energy. A first differential amplifier is connected to receive the electrical output signals as a first input, and a known fixed reference as a second input. The first differential amplifier generates first and second output signals having a differential therebetween as a function of the differential between its received inputs. First and second unidirectional current paths connect the first and second output signals of the first differential amplifier as inputs to a second differential amplifier. Although the circuit disclosed employs a comparison with a fixed reference, this is unlike the comparison employed in accordance with various embodiments of the invention as will become apparent hereinafter.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,540 relates to a circuit for optically sensing coded data on a record medium and including a photosensitive transducing means. In order to render the circuit independent of background brightness variations, provision is made of load impedance, particularly arranged so that the voltage drop is proportional to the natural logarithm of current flowing through the transducing element. The voltage difference resulting from sensing contrasting marks on the record medium depends only on the contrast in reflected light and not on the absolute value of current on the transducing element. This particular disclosure relates generalized features which may be employed in accordance with the invention, but does not use these features for security systems as will be discussed hereinafter. | {
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Growth factors are important mediators of intercellular communication. These molecules are generally released by one cell type and influence proliferation of other cell types. Interest in growth factors has been heightened by evidence of their involvement in neoplasia. For instance, the v-sis transforming gene of simian sarcoma virus encodes a protein that is homologous to the .beta. chain of platelet-derived growth factor. In addition, a number of oncogenes are homologues of genes encoding growth factor receptors. Thus, increased understanding of growth factors and their receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways provides insights into mechanisms of both normal and malignant cell growth.
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family affects growth of a wide variety of cells including connective tissue cells and includes acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFBF), and the related products of the hst and int-2 oncogenes. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is also a member of this family but is unique in that its activity is restricted to cells of epithelial origin. Biochemical characterization of the KGF receptor (KGFR) suggests that it possesses a high affinity site for KGF and aFGF binding, to which bFGF also binds with much lower affinity. Bottaro et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 12767-70 (1990). Isolation of the KGFR cDNA has revealed that it is structurally identical to FGF receptor-2 (FGFR-2), except for a stretch of 49 amino acids. In contrast to the KGFR, FGFR-2 binds aFGF and bFGF with high affinity, but exhibits no detectable binding of KGF.
The prior art, however, fails to identify particular regions in KGFR which bind KGF. Without this knowledge, identification of highly specific antagonists of this interaction is difficult. It is widely recognized that the vast majority of human malignancies are derived from epithelial tissues. Thus, identification of compounds which modulate the effect of KGF is important in the treatment of carcinomas as well as other conditions in which ligand-dependent proliferation, mediated by KGFR, contributes to the pathological disorder. The present invention addresses these and other needs. | {
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The conversion of ethers to their corresponding alkenes and alkanols is an important reaction in a number of commercial processes. Thus, for example, this reaction is used to remove ethers, such as isopropyl ether, produced as the by-products of other processes, such as the hydration of propylene to produce isopropanol. In addition, an important route for the production of tertiary olefins involves reaction of mixed olefins with an alcohol over an acid catalyst to selectively produce a tertiary alkyl ether, separation of the ether from the remaining olefin stream, and then decomposition of the ether to the desired tertiary olefin. This latter process relies on the fact that tertiary olefins react with alcohols more rapidly than either secondary or primary olefins and hence provides an effective method for extracting tertiary olefins, such as isobutene and isoamylene, from a mixed olefin stream. For the purposes of this invention, a tertiary olefin or isoolefin will be understood to be an olefin containing at least one carbon atom that is covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms.
One commercial process for the selective decomposition of ethers, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,073 and employs a fluoride-treated clay, such as hydrofluoric acid (HF) treated attapulgite (HFA), as the catalyst. The process is typically operated at a starting temperature of about 340° F. (170° C.) but, since the catalyst loses its activity rapidly, run times are normally very short and the temperature has to be increased during the run to a final value of about 380° F. (193° C.) in order to maintain a constant MTBE conversion, typically around 90%. In fact, the cycle length of the HFA catalyst normally ranges from only a few weeks to 30+ days, which is a major disadvantage in that the loss of catalyst activity results in considerable losses in production time and leads to high catalyst replacement and disposal costs. Moreover, the relatively high temperatures required by the HFA catalyst tends to increase the concentration of impurities such as dimethyl ether (DME) and isobutane in the product, as well as promoting side reactions, for example, diisobutylene dehydrocyclization and isobutene oligomerization and polymerization, that lead to fouling of the catalyst.
Other solid acids have been proposed for the selective decomposition of tert-alkyl ethers to tertiary olefins. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,290 describes the use of solid acids such as SiO2/Al2O3, WO3/Al2O3, H2SO4-treated clay and acidic ion-exchange resins as catalysts for the decomposition of tert-alkyl ether alkanols. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,320,232 and 4,521,638, phosphoric acid on various supports is described as a catalyst suitable for the decomposition of tert-butyl alkyl ethers to isobutene and alcohols. The use of silica supported aluminum compounds as catalysts for the decomposition of alkyl tert-alkyl ethers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,051, whereas intermediate pore zeolites, such as ZSM-5 are employed for this purpose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,147.
An extensive discussion of catalysts for, and the mechanism of, the conversion of MTBE to isobutene is provided in an article entitled “Production D'Isobutene de Haute Puretépar Décomposition du MTBE” by P. B. Meunier et al. in Revue de L'Institut Francais du Petrole, vol. 46, No. 3, May 19991, pages 361 to 387. This document mentions the use of sulfonic resins, supported phosphoric acid, zeolites, silico-aluminas and modified silico-aluminas as catalysts for MTBE decomposition. According to this document, side-reactions can be limited by controlling the surface of the catalyst, its activity and the presence of impurities that can increase or decrease the catalyst acidity.
It is also known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,785, to employ calcium-exchanged zeolite Y as a catalyst in the conversion of dialkyl ethers to olefins. However, although pilot plant studies indicated that this catalyst would have a significantly lower aging rate than the HFA catalyst, the improved performance of the Ca—Y catalyst has to date never been achievable on a commercial scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,301 describes a two-step method for separating isobutylene from a C4 hydrocarbon fraction comprising (a) contacting the C4 fraction containing isobutylene with a glycol in the presence of a catalyst comprising a heteropoly acid on an inert support at a temperature of about 60° C. to 160° C. thereby reacting the isobutylene with the glycol to yield a glycol mono-t-butyl ether, and subsequently (b) reacting the glycol mono-t-butyl ether over the heteropoly acid on an inert support at a temperature of 150° C. to 220° C. to produce the separated isobutylene. Suitable heteropoly acids include 12-tungstophosphoric acid, 12-molybdophosphoric acid, molybdosilicic acid and 12-tungstosilicic acid on an inert support, such as silica, alumina, titania and zirconia.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,920 describes a process for obtaining a tertiary olefin, e.g. isobutylene, by decomposing the corresponding ether, e.g. methyl tert-butyl ether, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a silica support modified by the addition of at least one element or selected from the group constituted by rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, gallium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and uranium and optionally by the addition of at least one element selected from the group constituted by aluminum, titanium and zirconium. Modification of the silica support is effected by impregnating the support with at least one aqueous solution (or a solution in at least one appropriate solvent) containing the modifying element or elements it is desired to introduce.
Japanese Published Patent Application No. JP-A-06072904, published Mar. 15, 1994, describes a process for obtaining a tertiary olefin by decomposing the corresponding alkyl tert-alkyl ether over a catalyst composition having the formula SiaAlbZrcXdOe where X is an element selected from sodium, potassium, cesium, cerium, zinc, magnesium and calcium; a, b, c, d and e are the atomic ratios of their respective elements and when a is 1, b is 0.01–1, c is 0.001–1, d is 0.001–1 and e designates the number of oxygen atoms necessary to satisfy the valence of the other components.
In addition, Japanese Published Patent Application No. JP-A-59010528, published Jan. 20, 1984, describes a process for thermally decomposing a tertiary ether to a tertiary olefin in the presence of a titanium or zirconium oxide catalyst containing 0.1 to 20 wt % of SO4 groups. The catalyst activity is said to be high even at low temperatures thereby allowing co-production of the corresponding alcohol with negligible etherification.
It has now been found that certain mixed metal oxides comprising at least one metal from Group 4 of the Periodic Table of Elements, at least one metal from Group 3 (including the Lanthanides and Actinides) and Group 6 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and optionally at least one metal from Groups 7, 8, and 11 of the Periodic Table of Elements exhibit both high selectivity and long catalyst lifetime when used as ether decomposition catalysts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,892 discloses a zirconium/cerium mixed oxide having a specific surface area of greater than 10 m2/g. The mixed oxide is produced by intimately admixing a zirconium sol with a cerium sol, wherein the ratio of the mean diameter r1 of the particles of the zirconium sol to the mean diameter r2 of the particles of the cerium sol is at least 5, adding a precipitating amount of a base, such as aqueous ammonia, sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide to the mixture, recovering the precipitate thus formed and calcining the precipitate at a temperature of 700 to 1,000° C. The mixed oxide is said to be useful as a catalyst or catalyst support for carrying out a variety of reactions, such as dehydration, hydrosulfurization, hydrodenitrification, desulfurization, hydrodesulfurization, dehydrohalogenation, reforming, steam reforming, cracking, hydrocracking, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, isomerization, dismutation, oxychlorination, dehydrocyclization of hydrocarbons or other organic compounds, oxidation and/or reduction reactions, the Claus reaction, treatment of exhaust gases emanating from internal combustion engines, demetallation, methanation or shift conversion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,299 discloses a cerium- and zirconium-based mixed oxide containing sulfur, which is said to be active as an exhaust gas purification catalyst and which comprises 50 to 79% by weight cerium oxide, 20 to 49% by weight zirconium oxide and 1 to 5% by weight sulfate (SO4). In Example 1, the mixed oxide was produced by dispersing cerous sodium sulfate double salt (containing 75 g as cerium oxide) in 1,000 g of water and adding an aqueous solution of zirconium nitrate (containing 25 g as zirconium oxide). Then, an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide was added until the pH of the mixture became 13.5, whereby a precipitate was obtained. This precipitate was separated from the mixture and heated in the air at 600° C. for 5 hours. Analysis showed the resultant mixed oxide to contain 73.9% by weight cerium oxide, 24.1% by weight zirconium oxide and 2.0% by weight sulfate.
International Patent Publication No. WO 03/37506, published May 8, 2003, discloses a promoter or catalyst support for an automobile exhaust gas system comprising a zirconium-cerium-based mixed oxide produced by reacting an alkali with an aqueous solution of a zirconium salt containing 0.42–0.7 mole of sulfate anion per mole of zirconium cation at a temperature not greater than 50° C. in the presence of a cerium salt to form a mixed cerium-zirconium hydroxide and then calcining the hydroxide at a temperature of 500 to 1000° C., such as 650 to 850° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,232 discloses a tungsten-modified zirconia catalyst produced by coprecipitating zirconia with an anion or oxyanion of tungsten in the presence of ammonium sulfate to obtain a sulfate-containing product, steaming the sulfate-containing product; recovering the sulfate-containing product by filtration, washing the product with water in order to remove the sulfate ions and calcining the product to produce a catalyst that is essentially free of sulfate ions. The catalyst is said to be active in the isomerization of paraffins.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,757 discloses a synthesis of a solid acid containing zirconium, in addition to a rare earth element, such as cerium, useful for isomerization of paraffins, ring opening of cyclics, hydrocracking, alkylation, hydrogenation of polynuclear aromatics, selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen peroxides, and oligomerization of light olefins.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,406 discloses a process for producing phenol and acetone from cumene hydroperoxide, in which cumene hydroperoxide is contact with a solid acid catalyst comprising a mixed oxide of cerium and a Group IVB metal. | {
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Thermoplastics can be used to fabricate a wide array of products. When preparing semicrystalline thermoplastics for processing, it is often desirable to add a nucleant to the semicrystalline thermoplastic to manipulate the rate at which the thermoplastic crystallizes. By manipulating the crystallization rate, the rate at which the thermoplastic loses tackiness, as well as the mechanical strength of the finished thermoplastic, can be controlled. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatus and a system for magnetically treating fluids.
2. Background
It is well known that magnetism has an effect on fluids such as gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and water. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,145, which issued on Feb. 25, 1986 to the present applicants for Magnetic Fuel Line Device, teaches the use of a magnetic structure which is positioned adjacent a fuel line for creating a magnetic influence on the fuel conveyed therethrough to a fuel consuming apparatus.
Other such patents which relate to the treatment of fluids with magnetism include:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Patentee Issue Date ______________________________________ 3,349,354 Mijata October 24, 1967 3,923,660 Kottmeier December 2, 1975 4,146,479 Brown March 27, 1979 4,216,092 Shalhook et al. August 5, 1980 4,265,754 Minold May 5, 1981 4,278,549 Abrams et al. July 14, 1981 4,366,053 Findler December 28, 1982 ______________________________________
It is also known that magnets will lose their magnetic strength as the temperature increases. Tests have shown that for every degree Centigrade (C) increase over 20.degree. C., there is a 0.15% decrease in magnetic strength. At 450.degree. C., sometimes referred to as the Curie point, a permanent magnet loses substantially all of its magnetic strength. Much of this strength, however, is regained as the magnet cools. In some environments, such as in the engine compartment of an automobile or truck or in a boiler or steam generator, the temperature of the surrounding environment or atmosphere may rise to as much as 150.degree. C. Such rise in temperature results in a loss of magnetic field energy or activity equal to: ##EQU1##
It will thus be appreciated that such loss of magnetic strength oftentimes severely limits the effectiveness of such magnetic devices. | {
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High density integrated circuits including monolithic circuits and ultra high-speed digital circuits are produced by forming a plurality of integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers. Prior to subdividing the semiconductor wafer into individual circuit chips, die or devices, each chip/die/device should be functionally tested to identify defective circuits. In testing integrated circuits, one objective is the attainment of an accurate representation of the circuit parameters and performance under operational conditions. Ideally, the apparatus and method should be conducive to high frequency/high speed testing, simple to fabricate, durable and require minimal packaging and fixturing for testing.
To ensure an accurate representation of individual element parameters and performance of the interconnected circuit elements, an effective probe system engages the contact elements of the IC chip to be tested, which lie in approximately the same plane, to ensure proper engagement therebetween for reliable and repeatable electrical test signal propagation. A planarized probe system with mirror-imaged contact elements ensures an acceptable level of engagement force between the probe system contact elements and the contact elements of the IC chips, one wherein physical damage to the contact pads and/or the underlying semiconductor substrate is minimized and deformation of the wafer probe elements is effectively eliminated.
A semiconductor wafer testing scheme typically used in the industry is exemplified in FIG. 1. Individual integrated circuits, i.e., chips, die or devices, are multiply formed on semiconductor wafers at the first stage. The individual integrated circuits are DC tested for electrical integrity at the second stage. The individual integrated circuits are then packaged in a usable configuration, e.g., mounted in flatpacks or dual in-line packages, in the third stage. The mounted integrated circuits are then performance tested in the final stage. Individual integrated circuits which are defective are rejected at either the second or final stage. Typically, approximately 60-80% of the integrated circuits are acceptable at the second stage and approximately 85% of the packaged integrated circuits are acceptable at the final stage.
It will be appreciated that the above-described wafer testing scheme has several inherent disadvantages. The greatest cost is incurred in packaging integrated circuits at the third stage. As a consequence, packaged integrated circuits rejected at the final stage represent a significant expense. The overall time period for the illustrated testing scheme may run up to twelve weeks. If final stage performance testing reveals that the integrated circuits are being fabricated in a defective manner, feedback to modify the wafer fabrication process at the first stage will be untimely, resulting in the fabrication of semiconductor wafers which must be discarded.
One prior art method employs a plurality of probe needles having tips which physically engage the terminal contact pads of the IC chips to be tested. Representative examples of such prior art are disclosed and illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,382,228, 4,518,914, 4,523,144, 4,567,433 and 4,593,243. While needle probe systems are generally an effective means of determining the parameters of low density IC chips, there are several drawbacks which decrease their utility for testing high density IC chips.
First, to ensure that the plurality of needle tips lie in approximately the same plane, the probe needles may require mechanical finishing by sanding or filing to bring the needle tips within the required tolerance range, i.e., degree of planarization. As well as being a time consuming and expensive process, needle tip finishing may also result in damage to the probe assembly itself.
Needle-type probes physically engage contact pads of the IC chips and thus present a likelihood that damage may be sustained by the pads such as by gouging during initial engagement. Further, unevenly applied pressures exerted against the engaged needles and pads may result in contact pressures being transmitted through the pads to the underlying wafer structure, resulting in damage thereto.
Another problem with needle-type probe assemblies is the degree of care, both in terms of time and skill, which must be exercised to ensure that the needles are properly connected to the probe assembly. Additionally, lower limits as to the degree of miniaturization possible in probe needle systems limit the utility of needle-type probes for testing high density IC chips. Further, at high frequencies (1 MHz or greater) it is difficult to control the characteristic impedance between the needles and the line conductors connecting the needles to external test equipment.
Another method for compensating for nonplanarization between devices to be electrically interconnected is to form metallic conducting buttons on one of two arrays of registered contact pads, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,453,795 and 4,125,310. The registered arrays of contact pads are electrically interconnected by being forced together under pressure. Deviations in planarity among the contact pads are compensated for by corresponding deformations of the metallic buttons and deformation of a compression pad.
One disadvantage of these interconnects is that the contact pads and resilient metallic buttons are formed on rigid substrates. Since the substrates are forced together under pressure by means of external pressure plates, excessive forces may be transmitted by the metallic buttons against the unbuttoned contact pads to cause damage thereto or to the underlying rigid substrate. Additionally, plastic deformation of the metallic buttons can result in electrical discontinuities at the deformation sites, which in a probe system would result in the loss of parameter and/or performance information. | {
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Hitherto, there is known a pressure change measuring apparatus for detecting a minute pressure change, which has structure including an inner chamber (pressure chamber), a differential pressure gauge (diaphragm or the like) configured to detect a differential pressure between a pressure of the inner chamber (pressure chamber) and a pressure to be measured, and a pressure through hole configured to allow flowing of a pressure transmission medium for transmitting pressure to be measured into and out of the inner chamber (pressure chamber) (see, for example, PTLs 1 to 3). The pressure through hole has extremely small structure, and restricts the flowing of the pressure transmission medium into the inner chamber (pressure chamber). Further, the pressure within the inner chamber (pressure chamber) changes depending on an amount of the pressure transmission medium flowing into and out of the inner chamber (pressure chamber), and hence the pressure within the inner chamber (pressure chamber) follows the change in the pressure to be measured with a delay. Therefore, the differential pressure between the pressure of the inner chamber (pressure chamber) and the pressure to be measured is detected, to thereby be able to extract and detect only the pressure change to be measured. Such a pressure change measuring apparatus has a feature that a minute pressure change can be detected with high sensitivity irrespective of a ratio of the pressure change to the pressure (absolute pressure) to be measured. | {
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The present invention relates to a robot system having a function to hold an object and to move the object to a predetermined position, and in particular, to a robot system of a type in which a force (torque) sensor is employed to effect a control determining a location of the object to be moved.
In the case where an assembling work is achieved by means of a robot system, the positioning accuracy of an operation to hold an object to be moved and to move the object to a target position becomes to be important. Particularly, in the case of a work where a shaft is inserted into a hole with a strict fitting tolerance, the assembling success rate is considerably lowered if there exists unevenness or variations in the positioning accuracy.
Conventionally, as one of the means for controlling the positioning with a high precision or accuracy, there has been used a position control method in which a force (torque) sensor is disposed on a wrist of a robot hand or gripper so as to sense the magnitude and the direction of the force and torque applied in the proximity of a target position on the object to be moved (the force and torque appearing when an interference occurs between the shaft and the hole in the example above), thereby moving the object to a direction in which the force and the torque are reduced. The control method of this kind has been described, for example, in Sugimoto, et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,332 and in "Virtual Compliance Control of Multiple Degree of Freedom Robot", Digests of the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers, Japanese issue Vol 22, No. 3 (March, 1986), pp. 343-349.
As represented by Equation (1) in page 344 of the paper above, the movement of the robot gripper is expressed as follows. ##EQU1## where, q: External force applied on gripper (f F.sub.r)
v: Velocity of gripper (v) PA1 .DELTA.x: Deviation of gripper from target position (x-x.sub.r) PA1 [M]: Virtual mass PA1 [K]: Virtual spring constant PA1 [C]: Virtual coefficient of viscosity
In the example of a fitting operation between the shaft and the hole, v, dvdt and fr are respectively almost 0 and hence, when these factors are neglected, the Equation (1) can be reduced as follows. EQU q=[K].DELTA.x
Consequently, when the value of [K] is appropriately selected and the external force q is sensed by use of a force (torque) sensor, the deviation .DELTA.x of the position can be computed. Using the result of the computation, the fitting operation by the robot is successfully accomplished.
In the prior art technology, the value sensed by the force (torque) sensor is assumed to be equal to the external force applied to the robot q in Equation (1) when the positional deviation is computed.
However, it is quite difficult to sense the force q purely applied to the robot gripper. This is because the sense value Q obtained by the force (torque) sensor is expressed as follows; ##EQU2## where [m] is the total mass of the object and the gripper. Namely, the resultant value Q includes the inertia force (acceleration) applied to the gripper.
In ordinary cases, as the mass [m] is small, the inertia force exerted on the robot gripper can be neglected as in the above mentioned literature. However, in the case where the value of [m] is quite large or in the case of operation in an outer space, the inertia force exerted on the gripper cannot be neglected and hence the accurate positioning control cannot be accomplished. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Electronic techniques have been widely applied in various kinds of fields including not only the electric or communication fields of telephones, televisions, computers (including personal computers), lights and controlling devices utilized in various kinds of manufacturing industries, but also other fields including automobiles, office electronic supplies, cameras, toys, and the like. At the same time, the techniques have required high performance and high accuracy. Thus, in the fields of printed circuit boards, circuit patterns formed on the board have rapidly become more minute, as well as high density and multi-layered. As a result, the width of each circuit pattern and the distance therebetween have become narrower. Especially, in printed circuit boards of a through hole type, the holes have become smaller in diameter, and the number of holes has been increased. Further, the positions of holes have required high accuracy.
In drilling holes through a multilayered board, drilling small holes each having a diameter of 0.3-0.4 mm has been conventionally conducted. Recently, drilling much smaller holes each having a diameter of 0.1-0.3 mm has been practically conducted, and such demands as drilling smaller holes and increasing the number of holes with higher accuracy of drilling to position will be further required.
In drilling such small holes, as shown in FIG. 4, it has been known that placing an entry board 1 on a printed circuit board 5 enables easy introduction of a drill 8 which in turn improves accuracy of the drilling positions of a hole 9 drilled on the printed circuit board 5 and also enables drilling holes without causing burrs, or the like, around the holes. There have been several proposals concerning such entry boards.
Japanese Patent Publication 61-61921 (hereinafter referred to as JP 61-61921) discloses a method for drilling through a printed circuit board by using an entry board. The entry board comprises a base plate made of wood pulp and glass fiber and aluminum foils or the like covering both surfaces of the base plate. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication SHO 62-214000 (hereinafter referred to as JP 62-214000) discloses a method for drilling a printed is circuit board by using an entry board which comprises a base plate made of aluminum foils and papers covering both surfaces of the base plate. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication SHO 63-11207 (hereinafter referred to as JP 63-11207) discloses a method for drilling through a printed circuit board by placing an entry board made of metallic foil on the printed circuit board and by way of an adhesive layer formed on one surface of the metallic foil.
However, in the method disclosed in JP 61-61921, because hard materials such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) 3003-H19 homogenized aluminum alloy as the aluminum foils are used as a surface layer of an entry board, a drill tends to slip on the aluminum foil, resulting in decreased drill positioning accuracy. Further, in such a case that adhesive layers are used to connect the aluminum foils to the base plate, the entry board becomes a five-layered structure, resulting in an increased manufacturing cost. In the disclosure of JP 62-214000, the paper thereof lacks heat-resistance ability and paper dust is generated during drilling, resulting in problems in the following procedures such as a plating procedure. Further, in the method disclosed in JP 63-11207, it is unavoidable to have the sticking of chips produced when drilling to the adhesive layers.
As mentioned above, in the conventional methods, there have still been problems in drilling small holes. Further, as the pattern formed on the printed circuit board reduces in size, the size of each hole to be drilled becomes smaller and the number of the holes increases, the rotation speed of the drill becomes higher and the diameter of the drill becomes smaller which results in rotational deflection of the drill. Furthermore, there have been more strict demands for improving accuracy of the drilling position and decreasing the allowable height of burrs. In spite of such demands, as the above mentioned conventional entry boards are still being used, accuracy of the drilling position has not been improved and drill breakages occur when it is attempted to improve the accuracy of the drilling position and to decrease the generation of burrs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image-reading apparatuses such as optical scanners.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical scanners serving as image reading apparatuses include those of the so-called contact image sensor (CIS) type using unit-magnification optical systems and those of the so-called charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor type using reduction optical systems. The scanners of the CCD-sensor type read original images using reading units including CCD line sensors and reduction optical systems by raster scanning of the sensors, convert signals from each pixel into image data, and output the data. The scanners read two-dimensional images by a combination of the raster scanning of the line sensors in a main scanning direction and relative scanning of the line sensors to originals in a sub-scanning direction. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-244717, for example, describes a scanner of this type.
In order to reduce the size of the scanners of the CCD-sensor type, the reduction optical systems embedded in the scanners are desirably made more compact. However, as the optical path lengths of the optical systems are reduced for the compact optical systems, various aberrations such as distortion and chromatic aberration of the optical systems are increased in degree due to lack of margins in optical design.
Increases in the degrees of aberrations cause the following problems. First, scaling factors of images formed on the line sensors in central portions and those in peripheral portions differ from each other due to distortion. Accordingly, the resolutions of the read image data in the central portions and those in the peripheral portions differ from each other. Furthermore, differences in the resolutions between the central portions and the peripheral portions vary in terms of color due to chromatic aberration. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A vehicle, such as a car, truck, sports-utility vehicle, van, and the like typically include one or more seating assemblies. Such seating assemblies typically include a headrest. An occupant of the seating assembly including the headrest may desire to recline a seatback of the seating assembly, in order to rest. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Human cytomegalovirus ("HCMV") is a ubiquitous pathogen that is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant and AIDS patients, as well as a leading cause of congenital birth defects (Britt et al., in Fields Virology, pp. 2493-2523 (Fields et al., eds. 1996)). HCMV is also associated with the development of atherosclerosis, restenosis after coronary angioplasty, chronic rejection in organ transplant patients (Grattan et al., Jama 261:3561-3566 (1989); Melnick et al., Bioessays 17:899-903 (1995); Zhou et al., NEJM 335:624-630 (1996)) and chronic graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplant patients (Lonnqvist et al., Transplantation 38:465-468 (1984); Soderberg et al., Transplantation 61:600-609 (1996)). Most individuals become infected with HCMV early in life, and depending on the geographic location, between 60-100% of adults are carriers of the virus (Britt et al., in Fields Virology pp. 2493-2523 (Fields et al., eds. 1996)).
Similar to other herpesviruses, HCMV establishes life-long latency in the host after a primary infection, which is characterized by persistence of the viral genome without the production of infectious virus. The respective sites of latency for other herpesviruses such as Epstein Barr and herpes simplex viruses are B cells and neurons (Kieff, in Fields Virology pp. 2343-2396 (Fields et al., eds. 1996); Roizman et al., in Fields Virology pp. 2231-2296 (Fields et al., eds. 1996)). However, although transmission of latent HCMV has been shown to occur through transfusion of blood products, bone marrow grafts, and solid organs (Britt et al., in Fields Virology pp. 2493-2523 (Fields et al., eds. 1996); Chou, NEJM 314:1418-1423 (1986); Meyers, Am. J. Med. 81:27-38 (1986); Tegtmeier, Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 113:236-245 (1989)), the identity of cells harboring latent or persistent virus is unknown. In addition to HCMV, the identity of cells harboring other viruses is unclear, and methods of culturing such viruses are unknown.
Several animal models have been established to understand mechanisms involved in latency and reactivation of CMV (Bruning et al., Transplantation 41:695-698 (1986); Hamilton et al., Transplantation 39:290-296 (1985); Reddehase et al., J. Exp. Med. 179:185-193 (1994); Yagyu et al., Transpl. Proc. 25:1152-1154 (1993)). In murine organ transplant models, reactivation of murine cytomegalovirus ("MCMV") was shown to be influenced by the state of imrnmunosuppression and histoincompatibility between the donor and the recipient (Bruning et al., Transplantation 41:695-698 (1986); Hamilton et al., Transplantation 39:290-296 (1985); Reddehase et al., J. Exp. Med. 179:185-93 (1994); Yagyu et al., Transpl. Proc. 25:1152-1154 (1993)). In MCMV latently-infected mice, the spleen, kidneys, and bone marrow were shown to be important sources of virus (Jordan et al., J. Clin. Invest. 70:762-768 (1982); Mercer et al., J. Virol. 62:987-997 (1988); Olding et al., J. Exp. Med. 141:561-572 (1975)). Activation of virus in latently infected animals has been shown to occur through either intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate (Pollock et al., Virology 227:168-179 (1997)) or allogeneic stimulation (Schmader et al., J. Inf. Dis. 166:1403-1407 (1992)). The peripheral blood of latently infected animals was also demonstrated to be a reservoir of virus since allogeneic stimulation resulted in the activation of MCMV replication (Schmader et al., J. Inf. Dis. 166:1403-1407 (1992); Olding et al., J. Exp. Med. 141:561-572 (1975); Jordan et al., J. Clin. Invest. 70:762-876 (1982); Mercer, et al., J. Virol. 62:987-997 (1988); Koffron et al., Scand. J. Inf. Dis.-Suppl. 99:612 (1995); Stoddart et al., J. Virol. 68:6243-6253 (1994); Pollock et al., Virology 227:168-179(1997)).
In humans, examination of organ tissues and peripheral blood obtained from patients with HCMV disease has suggested that PBMC are a viral reservoir of HCMV (Chou, NEJM 314:1418-1423 (1986); Meyers, Am. J. Med. 81:27-38 (1986); Taylor-Wiedeman, et al., J. Gen. Virol. 72:2059-2064 (1991); Tegtmeier, Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 113:236-245 (1989); Gnann et al., Am. J. Pathol. 132:239-248 (1988)). Further analyses of separated PBMC populations obtained from HCMV-seropositive donors have identified monocytes as the predominant infected cell type (Taylor-Wiedeman et al., J. Gen. Virol. 72:2059-2064 (1991)). While viral replication in monocytes is restricted to early events of gene expression (Ibanez et al., J. Virol. 65:6581-6588 (1991)), examination of organ tissues early in HCMV disease has demonstrated extensive viral gene expression in tissue macrophages (Gnann et al., Am. J. Pathol. 132:239-248 (1988); Sinzger et al., J. lnf. Dis. 173:240-245 (1996)).
CD14.sup.+ monocytes in the peripheral blood are terminally differentiated cells derived from myeloid/granulocyte precursors. In vivo, stimulation of monocytes by contact with T and B cells during antigen processing events induces differentiation of monocytes into macrophages for function as immune effector cells. A variety of tissue culture protocols have been established to mimic the in vivo development of monocyte-derived macrophages ("MDM"), which includes treatment of monocytes with cytokines, mitogens, corticosteroids, or lipopolysaccharide ("LPS") (reviewed by Adams et al., in The Macrophage pp. 77-115 (Lewis et al., eds. 1992)). Caux et al. report, using FACS sorting, that a transient population of CD14.sup.+, CD1a.sup.+ cells represent a developmental phase in MDM differentiation (Caux et al., J. Exp. Med. 184:695-706 (1996)). MDM derived by these methods have been used for the in vitro propagation of certain macrophage-tropic viruses (Gendelman et al. J. Exp. Med. 167:1428-1441 (1988); Matloubian et al., J. Virol. 67:7340-7349 (1993); Schrier et al., J. Virol. 64:3280-3288 (1990)). Rettig et al. identify endogenous CD68.sup.+, CD83.sup.+ bone marrow stromal cells that are infected with HHV8 (Rettig et al., Science 276:1851-1854 (1997)). However, culture of HCMV in MDM has proven to be difficult, often resulting in abortive infection (Rice et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 81:6134-6138 (1984); Taylor-Wiedeman et al., J. Virol. 68:1597-1604 (1994)).
MDM differentiation systems have also been developed that rely on the mitogenic stimulation of PBMC to generate HCMV permissive macrophages (Ibanez et al., J. Virol. 65:6581-6588 (1991)). Although macrophages differentiated by this method are susceptible to in vitro, exogenous HCMV infection, attempts to reactivate HCMV from PBMC obtained from latently infected individuals have been unsuccessful using this method or others (Taylor-Wiedeman et al., J. Virol. 68:1597-1604 (1994)). Thus, there is a need to identify the specific cellular reservoir of latent HCMV infection, to isolate cultures of such cells, and to establish methods of culturing cells in which HCMV replicates, where the cells are latently infected with HCMV and/or additional viruses, or can be infected in vitro. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A voltage regulator power supply is typically used to ensure that the electrical power supplied to an electronic device is maintained at a relatively constant voltage while providing the (variable) current needed for the proper functioning of the electronic device. There are several types, or topologies, of voltage regulators, each with different advantages and disadvantages. Design considerations for selecting the type of voltage regulator to use in a given situation often involve tradeoffs between parameters such as conversion efficiency and output voltage noise. The efficiency generally refers to the amount of power that can be provided by the regulator with a given input power. The noise generally refers to any fluctuation, including “ripple”, exhibited by the output voltage, usually during steady state operating conditions, but also when changes occur in either the available input line voltage or the output load current draw.
A linear regulator is a type of voltage regulator that provides an output voltage with relatively low noise. A low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator, for instance, may be capable of as little as a 500 microvolt ripple in a 5-Volt output, i.e. about 0.01% noise. The efficiency of such regulators, however, is typically relatively low, since they ineffectively convert input power to output power, the wasted energy being dissipated as heat. For instance, a linear regulator with a high input voltage (e.g. Vin about 12 Volts) and a low output voltage (e.g. Vout about 5 Volts) is typically less than 50% efficient.
A switching power supply (e.g. a buck converter, a step-down DC to DC converter, a switched-mode power supply, etc.), on the other hand, is typically very efficient, usually 90-95% (or higher) efficient. The noise, however, can be quite significant. A switching power supply that produces 5 Volts, for example, may exhibit a total peak-to-peak ripple of anywhere from 5 to 200 millivolts, i.e. 0.1 to 4% noise.
FIG. 1 shows a simple example of a prior art switching power supply (buck converter 100) that converts a given input voltage Vin to an appropriate output voltage Vout for an output load 101. The buck converter 100 generally includes a switch 102, a diode 103, an inductor 104 and a capacitor 105 configured as shown. An appropriate control component (not shown) typically controls the switch 102, based on feedback of the output voltage Vout. When the switch 102 is closed, the input power (at voltage Vin) provides current to the inductor 104, so the current in the inductor 104 increases. When the switch 102 is open, the current to the inductor 104 (provided through the diode 103) decreases. A graph 106 illustrating this increasing and decreasing (ripple) of the current in the inductor 104 is shown in FIG. 2. In this example, the current in the inductor 104 fluctuates about 200 milliamps around 1.5 Amps. As a consequence of the current ripple in the inductor 104, the output voltage Vout ripples accordingly, as shown in a graph 107 in FIG. 3. The output voltage Vout fluctuates about 8 millivolts around about 3.29 Volts, which calculates to about 0.24% noise.
A more complicated intermediary solution to improve both efficiency and noise reduction involves a combination of a switching power supply and an LDO regulator. The switching power supply generally takes an input voltage down to a lower intermediate voltage with a relatively high efficiency, but with an undesirably high noise level. The LDO regulator then takes the lower intermediate voltage and produces the desired low noise output voltage. Since the LDO regulator starts with a lower voltage, the loss in the LDO regulator is smaller than in solutions that use only the LDO regulator. Thus, the end result of this combination has a greater efficiency (about 75% or less) than an LDO regulator alone and a lower noise level than a switching power supply alone. A disadvantage is, however, that a device manufacturer often must use two components (the switching power supply and the LDO regulator) instead of one, thus increasing the size, complexity and cost of the resulting device.
A continuing trend in the electronics industry is the need for ever greater conversion efficiency combined with ever lower operating voltage noise levels in addition to ever smaller device/component sizes and costs. Current technology is reaching the limits of the efficiency and noise capabilities of the available power supply topologies. A new topology is needed.
It is with respect to these and other background considerations that the present invention has evolved. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to a paper composite for realizing three-dimensional packages for possibly solidifiable products in the liquid state, or for granular or powder products, a method for realizing such packages and a package obtained through the method.
Methods for packaging in metered quantities possibly solidifiable liquid products or granular or powder products for consumption are known. In one of these methods, half-casings of substantially rigid plastics material for example polypropylene are thermoformed and joined together along their edges to form a cavity, which can then be filled by a traditional filling machine. If the product is to be used in the liquid state, granular state or powder state the package obtained in this manner is ready for marketing after sealing. If however the product is to be used in the solid state (for example ice-creams), after the filling operation the filled with the liquid product and sealed package is refrigerated and preserved under refrigerated conditions until its consumption.
Independently of the nature of the packaged material, these known packages have the advantage of being formable in practically any shape, but also have certain drawbacks, and in particular:
a considerable cost, related to the cost of the plastics material used,
practically no ecological merits, given the non-biodegradable nature of the plastics used,
a certain weight, with consequent transport costs,
a space requirement after use, in that the used package cannot be substantially reduced in volume compared with the full package.
It is also known to package generally liquid products using a continuous tubular element of polyethylene-coated cardboard which is filled in portions separated by transverse welds, transverse cuts then being made through said welds. The package is generally of tetrahedral, parallelpiped or cylindrical shape, depending on the manner in which the transverse welds are made and on the folding operations to which the package may be subjected after its separation from the continuous tubular element.
This known method considerably accelerates the packaging operations but has certain limitations both in terms of obtainable shapes, and of overall dimensions, of the package after its use, and of costs.
An object of the invention is to eliminate such drawbacks and to realize a composite for forming metered packages, practically of any shape, for products in the liquid, granular or powder state, which has a low cost.
A further object of the invention is to realize very light packages, such as to minimize packing and transport costs.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method which enables the package to be reduced to minimum volume after use.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method which enables traditional commercially available packaging equipment to be used.
All these objects are attained according to the invention through a paper composite for realizing packages in three-dimensional form having a layer of yieldable paper with a degree of yieldingness in any direction not less than 10% and impermeablilizing film having a yieldingness compatible with yieldable paper.
The invention also foresees a method for realizing packages where a leaf of composite is faced to a cavity of at least a mould, the leaf being bounded in correspondence of a continuous edge of the cavity, and subsequently tangentially stretching the leaf of composite to adhere to an inner surface of the cavity to obtain a concave valve. The valve has the shape of the cavity.
The package so obtained a concave container having a closure film applied to the filling, and may have two concave valves joined together along the facing edges. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to mutant ob receptor proteins, to nucleotides encoding them, and to assays using the mutant receptor proteins.
Recently the identification of mutations in several genes involved in the onset of obesity in rodents have been identified. Of particular interest are mutations discovered in the peptide hormone, leptin, which is a component of a novel signal transduction pathway that regulates body weight (Zhang et al. 1994, Nature 372:425-432; Chen et al. 1996, Cell 84:491-495). Leptin was initially discovered by the positional cloning of the obesity gene, ob, in mice. Two different ob alleles have been identified: one mutation causes the premature termination of the leptin peptide resulting in a truncated protein, and the other mutation changes the transcriptional activity of the obesity (ob) gene, resulting in a reduced amount of circulating leptin.
There is a correlation between a decrease in the levels of biologically active leptin and the overt obese phenotype observed in ob/ob mice. Recombinant leptin has been shown to induce weight loss in the ob/ob mouse but not in the diabetic phenotype db/db mouse (Campfield et al. 1995, Science 269: 546-549; Halaas et al. 1995, Science 269: 543-546; Pellymounter et al. 1995, Science 269:540-543; Rentsch et al. 1995, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 214:131-136; and Weigle et al. 1995, J. Clin. Invest. 96:2065-2070).
Although the synthesis of leptin occurs in the adipocyte, its ability to decrease food intake and increase metabolic rate appears to be mediated centrally by the hypothalamus. Injection of recombinant leptin into the third ventricle of the brain elicits a similar response as peripheral administration of leptin. Furthermore, the recent cloning of the human receptor for the leptin, the ob-receptor (OB-R), reveals that it is transcribed in the hypothalamus (Tartaglia et al. 1995, Cell 83:1263-1271; Stephens et al. 1995, Nature 377: 530-532). In addition, a mutation that results in premature termination of the long-form of the mouse OB-R, which is preferentially expressed in the hypothalamus, appears to be responsible for the obese phenotype of the db/db mouse (Lee et al. 1996, Nature 379:632-635; Chua et al. 1996, Science 271:994-996; and Chen et al. 1996, Cell 84:491-495).
It would be desirable to clone and produce mutant ob receptor proteins to use in assays for the identification of ligands which may be useful in understanding obesity and for its prevention and treatment.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to mutant ob receptors (xe2x80x9cOB-Rsxe2x80x9d), also referred to as xe2x80x9cleptin receptorsxe2x80x9d which differ from wild type receptors by having a mutation selected from the group consisting of:
a) lacking a functional first CK-F3 module;
b) lacking a functional second CK-F3 module; and
c) lacking a functional intracellular domain.
The expression xe2x80x9clack a functionalxe2x80x9d module or domain means that the receptor no longer has biological function associated with structural portion of the receptor molecule. This may be accomplished by deletion of the module or domain, or by substitutions the amino acids which make up one domain by other amino acids such that function is lost.
This invention also relates to mutant ob receptors, which are selected from the group consisting of:
a) receptors which contain a deletion of amino acid residues which comprise all or substantially all of the first CK-F3 module;
b) receptors which contain a substitution of all or substantially all of a F3 domain for a CK domain in a second CK-F3 module, resulting in a F3-F3 module; and
c) receptors which have a deletion of all or substantially all of the intracellular domain.
Another aspect of this invention is to nucleic acids which encode a mutant OB-R of this invention. Preferably, the nucleic acid is DNA.
This invention also includes vectors containing a mutant OB-R gene, host cells containing the vectors, and methods of making mutant OB-R protein comprising the steps of introducing a vector comprising a mutant OB-R gene into a host cell, and cultivating the host cell under appropriate conditions such that mutant OB-R is produced. The mutant OB-R so produced may be harvested from the host cells in conventional ways.
Yet another aspect of this invention are assays which employ a mutant OB-R. In these assays, various molecules, suspected of being wild-type OB-R ligands are contacted with a mutant OB-R, and their binding is detected. A particularly preferred type of assay is a transactivation assay, wherein the binding of the ligand to a mutant OB-R initiates a cascade of intracellular events, resulting in transcription and/or translation of a reporter gene which can be detected. Using the assays of this invention, agonists, antagonists, and ligand mimetics may be identified. A further aspect of this invention are the ligands so indentified.
Still another aspect of this invention is the use of the mutant receptors of this invention in gene therapy. Genes encoding the mutant receptors may be transferred into an animal in need of treatment, and the regulation of weight gain may be influenced. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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With the growth of the electricity demand, utilities have been upgrading their systems continuously for higher power transfer capability and consequently, for higher fault current handling capability. There are growing instances in utility distribution and transmission systems wherein the fault current levels are exceeding the interrupting capability of existing substation circuit breakers. This increase in fault current level either requires the replacement of a large number of substation breakers or the development of some means to limit the fault current. Also, many mechanical circuit breakers are operating beyond the capacity originally intended in applications such as capacitor switching. This continual use of mechanical breakers requires intensive maintenance to be performed or periodic replacement of the whole breaker. Also the process of replacing circuit breakers of adequately high fault current interruption capability can become an expensive exercise. Environmental concerns with the use of both Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) gas and oil within mechanical breakers may pose long term problems for many utilities. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In the process of moving meat producing animals from the production facility to the packing plant, animals are removed from the holding area (coop, pen, barnyard, etc.), moved down a narrow alleyway, and driven through a loading chute onto a livestock trailer. Animals are then transported for a variable number of hours to a packing facility where they are unloaded from the livestock trailer. The meat producing animals then are moved to a scale, weighed, often tattooed or branded, and moved to a holding area (coop, pen, barnyard, etc.). After a rest period of a variable number of hours, the meat producing animals then are moved into the slaughter area. This process of moving meat producing animals usually is quite stressful to them. Many stressed meat producing animals walk slowly, thus getting in the way of other meat producing animals, while some of the stressed meat producing animals exhibit extreme responses resulting in their inability to move or even death.
Moreover, the sensory qualities of the meat from meat producing animals that were stressed prior to slaughter are not as high as they would otherwise have been, all other factors being equal. Typically this is because more of the animal's muscle glycogen is broken down to glucose than with an unstressed animal. Subsequent metabolism of the glucose results in the formation of lactic acid. Lactic acid formation causes the pH of the muscle cell to drop. In living animals, the lactic acid is metabolized, thus causing the pH to return to normal, higher levels. If the excess lactic acid is not removed from the muscle cells, for example because the animal has been slaughtered, or if the bloodstream is not able to handle the excess lactic acid, a generalized acidosis may occur. If severe, acidosis may lead to death of a living animal.
In animals that already are dead (whether of natural causes, stress-induced reactions, or humane slaughter), an excess of lactic acid, if not removed from the cells, will cause the muscle pH to drop, thus causing the meat to taste and look less desirable. The industry-wide average pH of slaughtered meat producing animals is approximately 5.75 after 24 hours ("ultimate pH"). The pH of animals that have experienced a stress reaction shortly before death is typically in the range of 5.3-5.4 or even lower. Many researchers have attempted to increase the pH of animal meat by various methods, and some have used epinephrine.
It is well known in the art that hormones from the adrenal gland can have a strong influence on animal metabolism and homeostasis. Adrenal hormones help animals to cope with stress through a series of reactions that increase circulation and help provide energy to the muscles. Epinephrine is one of the major adrenal hormones. The natural release of epinephrine readies the animal for stressful situations. Epinephrine binds to the muscle cell, and stimulates the breakdown of glycogen into energy rich compounds, allowing the animal's normal metabolism to dissipate the lactic acid before the animal is slaughtered.
No one previously has been able to acclimate a meat producing animal headed for slaughter in an easy, economical, and efficient manner such that the group of animals so acclimated include fewer slow-walkers and prematurely dead animals, and the animals from a group that have been so acclimated yield meat that is consistently of high quality in terms of taste and appearance. No one previously has been able to produce animal meat with a pH consistently higher than 6.3. In an un-treated group of pigs, for example, very few will have a pH higher than 6.3, while many will have a pH in the 5.5 range.
Accordingly, there has been a long-felt need for a solution to this problem. No one has yet developed a commercially viable solution that can be used by farmers and slaughterers. Moreover, the federal Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved the regular use of epinephrine or epinephrine-like drugs in meat producing animals to reduce stress.
An additional benefit of acclimating the meat producing animals prior to the stress-inducing event is that often stress causes livestock (such as pigs, cattle, and poultry, for example) to shed salmonella. By avoiding the stress reaction, the meat produced by the claimed method will be less contaminated with salmonella. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In a majority of telecommunication systems it is an advantage to have means for configuring spectral characteristics of a signal, in order to be adapted to future regulations or regulations in force in different countries and to characteristics of a channel. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a process for preparation of a lithiated or overlithiated transition metal oxide, this lithiated or overlithiated oxide beneficially being usable as an active electrode material and more particularly for a positive electrode.
The invention also relates to the electrode, and particularly the positive electrode containing this material.
Finally, the invention relates to lithium batteries with a metallic or composite negative electrode using the said positive electrode.
The technical domain of the invention may generally be considered as being rechargeable Secondary Lithium Cells or Secondary Lithium Batteries.
A historical overview of the development of rechargeable secondary lithium batteries is given in the document by K. BRANDT xe2x80x9cHistorical Development of Secondary Lithium Batteriesxe2x80x9d, Solid State Ionics 69 (1994), 173-183.
The operating principle of all lithium battery systems is the same: each time that the battery is charged or discharged, lithium in ionic form (Li+) is exchanged between the positive and negative electrodes. The quantity of energy exchanged during each charge or discharge (supplied by the battery during discharge or supplied to the battery during charge) is exactly proportional to the quantity of lithium that can be exchanged during the electrochemical reaction.
This xe2x80x9cexchangeablexe2x80x9d lithium must be supplied by a lithium xe2x80x9csourcexe2x80x9d. This source is the negative electrode in the case of systems using a lithium metal negative electrode. For systems using a carbon based negative electrode which in principle does not contain any lithium by construction, the lithium source must be contained in the positive electrode. In this case, the active material in the positive electrode acts as the lithium source. Therefore, it can be seen that it becomes necessary to include the largest possible quantity of lithium in the active material of the positive electrode during its synthesis, in order to provide a sufficient reserve of lithium to obtain interesting electrochemical performances.
A cell is characterized by its operating voltage, which is determined by the potential difference between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The absolute potential (non-measurable) of the negative electrode made of lithium metal is constant, since it is a pure metal.
Therefore, the voltage of a cell with a lithium metal negative electrode depends entirely on the potential of the positive electrode, which depends on the crystallographic structure of the active material in the positive electrode, and which changes as a function of the quantity of the lithium contained in it. As the cell discharges, the lithium enters the crystalline structure of this active material in which the potential drops regularly. The cell voltage drops. This is the reverse of what occurs during charging.
Active materials all have a different variation of their potential (with respect to Li/Li+) with time depending on the quantity of lithium contained in them; thus each active material has a characteristic xe2x80x9celectrochemical signaturexe2x80x9d. In some, lithium is inserted at between 3.5 and 4.5 Volts, for example as in the case of cobalt oxides for which the potential (with respect to Li/Li+) varies between 3.5 V (for LiCoO2) and 4.5 Volts (for Li1xe2x88x92xCoO2, where x≈0.7 after the cell has been charged).
As another example, the potential (with respect to Li/Li+) of manganese oxides with a composition similar to Li0.3MnO2 used by TADIRAN Batteries Ltd. for batteries made using the technology described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,068 at which lithium is inserted is between 3.4 Volts (the composition of the active material in the positive electrode is then close to Li0.3MnO2) and 2 Volts (the composition of the active material in the positive electrode is then close to LiMnO2). This is the xe2x80x9c3 Volts Lithium-metal liquid electrolytexe2x80x9d system.
Other materials based on manganese oxides are more versatile; thus manganese oxides with a spinel structure usually have two operating potential xe2x80x9cplateausxe2x80x9d. For example for the compound with a spinel structure and formula LiMn2O4, most of the lithium is extracted from this structure at between about 3.2 Volts and 4.4 Volts (with respect to Li/Li+) (the composition of the active material in the positive electrode after the charge to 4.4 Volts is then close to Mn2O4), whereas lithium can be inserted between about 3.2 Volts and 1.8 Volts in the LiMn2O4 structure (the composition of the active material in the positive electrode at the end of the discharge of the cell to 1.8 Volts is then close to Li2Mn2O4).
Therefore, it can be seen that it is possible and even necessary to choose the active compound in the positive electrode to optimize the global performances of the system.
Lithium cells may be classified in different categories or systems, the first of these systems being the xe2x80x9c3 Voltsxe2x80x9d lithium metal liquid electrolyte system.
Chronologically, the first lithium cells developed about 20 years ago used a lithium metal negative electrode.
Although these batteries provide high energy densities due to the large reserve of lithium contained in the negative electrode, this system was abandoned by most battery manufacturers due to the poor reconstitution of the metal surface at the negative electrode/electrolyte interface during charging and discharging cycles, resulting in inadequate lives (xcx9c200 cycles). Experience showed that dendritic growth phenomena (in the form of needles) appeared gradually during reconstitution of the lithium metal, during successive charging/discharging cycles. These needles eventually filled in the space between the negative electrode and the positive electrode after about 200 cycles, which caused internal short circuits.
However, some battery manufacturers have successfully limited this phenomenon. For example, the document by E. MENGERITSKY, P. DAN, I. WEISSMAN, A. ZABAN; D. AURBACH, xe2x80x9cSafety and Performances of TADIRAN TLR-7103 Rechargeable Batteriesxe2x80x9d, J. Electrochem, Soc, Vol. 143, No. 7, July 1996 describes a battery operating at between 2 and 3.4 volts with a lithium metal negative electrode and with a liquid electrolyte with an interesting life due to a new electrolyte formulation, but the life is nevertheless limited to about 500 charging/discharging cycles.
An additional improvement may be achieved by the use of a positive electrode material containing a larger quantity of lithium.
A different system called the 4 Volt xe2x80x9cLithium-ionxe2x80x9d system was suggested at the beginning of the 1980s in order to overcome the difficulty caused by dendritic growth.
This system consists of substituting a carbon based lithium insertion compound to replace the lithium metal negative electrode.
In this case, the lithium metal negative electrode is replaced by an electrode containing a carbon based lithium insertion compound in which lithium is reversibly inserted during successive cycles, in exactly the same way as it does in the positive electrode insertion compound. This is the xe2x80x9c4 Volt lithium-IONxe2x80x9d system.
However, due to this choice:
the negative electrode is no longer capable of acting as a reservoir for the lithium necessary for the electrochemical reaction, which makes it essential to use a positive electrode compound containing lithium by construction.
part of the lithium originating from the positive electrode is irreversibly consumed by the carbon negative electrode the first time that the cell is charged (corresponding to the first time that lithium is inserted in the carbonated negative electrode) which results in an equivalent loss of capacity of the cell.
These limitations confirm that it would be useful to be able to synthesize a positive electrode active material containing the largest possible amount of lithium.
For example, up to now, the compounds based on manganese oxide with the best electrochemical characteristics in the xe2x80x9c4 Volt lithium-IONxe2x80x9d system described above, are products with a spinel structure and a composition similar to LiMn2O4. They enable electrochemical cycling between 3.2 and 4.4 Volts (with respect to Li/Li+).
It can be seen that in this case some of the lithium contained in LiMn2O4 is irreversibly consumed by the negative electrode during the first charge. The usefulness of including an additional quantity of lithium by construction in the spinel structure of the compound LiMn2O4 can be seen, to provide an additional reserve of lithium.
Despite many attempts throughout the world, for example as described in the document by TARASCON J. M., GUYOMARD D., J. Electrochem.Soc, Vol 138, No. 10, 2804-2868, 1991, it has not been possible up to now to synthesize a compound with a spinel structure with formulation Li1xe2x88x92xMnO2O4, where 0 less than xxe2x89xa61 using an economic and easily industrializable process.
This is why the use of materials based on manganese oxide as the active materials for positive electrodes has been severely limited in xe2x80x9c4 Volt lithium-IONxe2x80x9d cells.
This also explains that compounds selected for this xe2x80x9c4-Volt Li-IONxe2x80x9d system were essentially mixed oxides of lithium and cobalt (LiCoO2) or nickel (LiNiO2).
These compounds do have the advantage that they can easily be synthesized by heat treatment of appropriate precursors while maintaining an acceptable energy density exceeding 100 Wh/kg. In this case, the relatively low quantity of lithium stored in the positive electrode (proportional to the I.t capacity) is compensated by the high operating voltage U close to 4 Volts (energy=U.I.t).
Since the end of the 1980s, most cell manufacturers have been developing this four Volt Lithium Ion Cell (4-Volts Li-ION) which associates a positive electrode compound of the cobalt oxide LiCoO2 or nickel oxide LiNio2 type operating between 3.5 and 4.5 Volts (with respect to Li/Li+) and special carbonated negative electrode materials limiting the loss of capacity in the first cycle. These developments are described in the document by K.BRANDT mentioned above.
These systems confirm the energy densities of about 110 to 120 Wh/kg corresponding to an endurance of 170 to 200 km for an electrical vehicle, and with a life of close to 800 cycles.
The disadvantages of this type of battery are the high cost of cobalt and nickel oxides, and their energy density that, despite everything, remains low (compared with systems using a lithium metal negative electrode).
Therefore, in all cases (systems with a lithium metal or carbon based negative electrode), it appears that the use of a highly lithiated positive electrode active compound would be a significant factor towards improving the performances of the cell.
The existence of highly lithiated transition metal oxides has been demonstrated since in discharging cells, this type of compound is naturally introduced by the electrochemical insertion of the lithium ion in the positive electrode material.
The search for xe2x80x9cartificialxe2x80x9d synthesis processes has already explored several options.
The first of these options is synthesis in the solid phase making use of the reaction at different temperatures between salts or powders of transition metal oxides and lithium salts, but products with the required stocheometry and structure have never been obtained using this process.
The second of these options is synthesis by reaction using a reduction agent in solution. For example, this reduction agent could be lithium n-butyl or lithium iodide.
Reduction by lithium n-butyl was described by David W. I. F., Thackeray M. M., Picciotto L. A., Goodenough J. B., J. of Solid State Chemistry, 67, 316-323, 1987.
In this case, the lithiation reaction of manganese oxides by lithium n-butyl is very slow. It takes several days and uses a reagent, namely lithium n-butyl that is very expensive and dangerous since it is unstable in air.
The stoichiometry of the compounds obtained is difficult to control. The quantity of lithium n-butyl used must be close to the required stoichiometry. An excess of this reagent will result in excessive reduction of the transition metal oxide. Therefore, the reaction cannot be accelerated in this way.
The compounds obtained have a crystallographic structure approximately identical to the structure of compounds formed when lithium is inserted in the positive electrode compound when a cell is discharging, but they are not stable in air.
The reduction by lithium iodide was described by Tarascon J. M., Guyomard D., J. Of Electrochem. Soc, vol. 138, No. 10, 2864-2868, 1991.
The lithiation reaction of manganese oxides by lithium iodide is also fairly slow, since it takes about 24 hours and requires good control of the stocheometry of the reagents. However, the reaction can result in compounds stable in air with the required crystallographic structure, in other words similar to the structure obtained in a cell during discharge. Furthermore, lithium iodide is very expensive.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,880 describes the production of lithiated vanadium oxides starting from a lithium alkoxide prepared by reaction between lithine and a light alcohol such as ethanol or methanol. The final lithiated product is then difficult or even impossible to obtain since it becomes delithiated very quickly. The use of heavier alcohols results in extremely long reaction times.
Therefore, there is a need for a process for the preparation of a xe2x80x9clithiated or overlithiatedxe2x80x9d transition metal oxide that does not have the disadvantages and limitations of processes according to prior art, particularly concerning the reaction rate and the cost.
The purpose of the invention is to provide a process for the preparation of xe2x80x9clithiated or overlithiatedxe2x80x9d transition metal oxides that satisfies these and other requirements, and which overcomes the problems that occur with processes according to prior art.
This and other purposes are achieved according to the invention by a process for the preparation of a xe2x80x9clithiated or overlithiatedxe2x80x9d transition metal oxide comprising the following three steps, carried out successively or in a simultaneous manner:
Preparation of a solution of lithium alkoxide (alcoolate) by dissolving lithium metal in the corresponding alcohol, the said alcohol being chosen among the alcohols originating from linear or ramified alkanes comprising at least three carbon atoms, the alcohols originating from unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbides, and mixtures of them;
Addition of a transition metal oxide powder to the said lithium alkoxide solution to obtain a dispersion;
Controlled reduction of the said transition metal oxide by the said alkoxide to obtain a xe2x80x9clithiated or overlithiatedxe2x80x9d transition metal oxide with a defined (required) Li:Metal stoichiometry; this stoichiometry is dependent of the composition and structure of the initial transition metal oxide;
Evaporation of the residual alcohol,
Rinsing of the powder thus obtained,
Drying of the powder.
xe2x80x9cOverlithiationxe2x80x9d means insertion of lithium in the structure of a commercial transition metal oxide before it is used in the positive electrode; the characteristics (chemical, crystallographic, electrochemical) of the xe2x80x9coverlithiatedxe2x80x9d compound thus formed are similar to the characteristics of the product obtained by inserting lithium in the initial commercial oxide as it is generated during an infinitely slow discharge of the cell down to a voltage between the voltage (with respect to Li/Li+) at which this initial oxide is abandoned and 1.0 Volt (with respect to Li/Li+).
Lithiation, or a lithiated product, means any intermediate step between the initial product and the overlithiation corresponding to the overlithiated product defined above.
The process according to the invention is fundamentally different from processes according to prior art for the preparation of xe2x80x9clithiated or overlithiatedxe2x80x9d transition metal oxides in that it uses lithium alkoxides as reactional intermediaries, that according to an essential characteristic of the invention are obtained by dissolving lithium metal in a corresponding alcohol, this alcohol being derived from a linear or ramified alkane with at least three carbon atoms or an alcohol originating from an unsatruated aliphatic hydrocarbide. Obviously, any mixture of these alcohols in any proportions could be used.
The use of lithium alkoxides in the preparation of positive electrode compounds for lithium cells has certainly been mentioned before, but only for the preparation of lithiated vanadium oxides (Patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,880).
However, the process used in this document uses lithine LiOH and an alcohol as alkoxide preparation precursors, such that due to constants of the chemical equilibrium between LIOH and alcohols, the solution obtained cannot contain appreciable quantities of alkoxide unless the alcohol used is a light alcohol (essentially methanol or ethanol).
This document discourages the use of heavier alcohols and specifically recommends that methanol or ethanol should be used, as is the case in the single example given in this document.
The use of a heavier alcohol such as pentanol-1 in particular, under the conditions of the process according to this document starting from lithine, leads to the formation of very low concentrations of alkoxides in the solution, and therefore very low reaction rates.
The process according to this application demonstrates the need to use an alkoxide derived from the reaction between lithium and an alcohol produced by a linear or ramified alkane containing at least three carbon atoms or an alcohol derived from an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbide.
In general, it has been demonstrated that lithiated or overlithiated transition metal oxides are delithiated in ethanol, thus for example, we were able to demonstrate that an LiMn2O4 spinel lithiated by the process according to the invention in pentanol-1 becomes quickly delithiated during its residence in pure ethanol.
This confirms the predominance of the stability of lithium ethoxide compared with transition metal oxides lithiated or overlithiated by our process, and therefore conversely the impossibility of obtaining these same lithiated or overlithiated compounds in dispersion in a light alcohol solution such as ethanol or methanol.
Surprisingly, the preparation of alkoxide from lithium metal according to the first step of the process according to the invention, can result in concentrated solutions of lithium alkoxide even with alcohols containing three or more atoms of carbon, contrary to what is described in document U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,880.
Consequently, the rate of lithiation of transition metal oxide is faster, or is even instantaneous, and the efficiency is close to 1 due to the stronger reduction power of heavy alkoxides (originating from alcohols derived from linear or ramified alkanes with at least three atoms of carbon or alcohols derived from unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons), compared with light alkoxides.
The process according to the invention does not form part of the same domain as xe2x80x9cmildxe2x80x9d chemistry performed in solution and at low temperature.
The process according to the invention provides a solution to the problems that arise with processes according to prior art.
It only uses standard, inexpensive and easily available reagents that do not introduce any particular risks.
Unlike processes according to prior art, the process according to the invention also takes place quickly and there are few intermediate steps since the essential step in the process is the controlled reduction of the transition metal oxide.
The process according to the invention is sufficiently xe2x80x9cmildxe2x80x9d and precise so that the required stoichiometry can be achieved.
The reaction stops at a Li:metal stoichiometry that is perfectly defined by the choice of the alcohol, even in the presence of a large excess of alkoxide, and that depends on the composition and crystallographic structure of the initial transition metal oxide.
A perfectly defined stocheometry usually means an Li:metal ratio greater than or equal to 0.5, and preferably between 0.5 and 2.
The process according to the invention also has the advantage that it is significantly less expensive than the first other two processes according to prior art described above.
Thus, based on costs estimated by comparing prices per mole of lithiation reagents (mole of lithium), it was estimated that the cost of the process according to the invention would be about 18 times less than the cost of the process using lithium iodide and the reaction time would be about 20 times less, and the cost would be about 3 times less than the process using lithium n-butyl and the reaction time would be divided by at least 100.
The process according to the invention has the advantage that it can be carried out at low temperature; a low temperature usually means that the various steps can be carried out at ambient temperature (usually about 20xc2x0 C.), as is the case for the preparation of the lithium alkoxide solution, the addition of metal oxide powder to the lithium alkoxide solution or rinsing of the powder obtained, or at a low temperature as in the case of controlled reduction which is usually carried out at a temperature of 50 or 70 to 260xc2x0 C., which is approximately equal to the boiling temperature of the alcohol used (heated to reflux) or drying temperature which is usually 80 to 150xc2x0 C.
Obviously, these temperature ranges may be lowered to ambient temperature or even lower, if the operations are carried out at low pressure instead of at atmospheric pressure.
The use of low temperatures makes it easy to obtain an electrochemically reversible compound with a perfectly defined Li:metal stoichiometry. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A significant shortcoming in current radio systems and in those that are being developed is the limited amount of radio resources available. The number of radio frequencies is restricted and they are distributed among various systems and operators. Numerous different solutions have been created to solve this problem.
Previously developed radio systems meant for public use are based on circuit-switched technology. In systems implemented according to this technology, a specific channel is reserved for the connection between the devices involved, the connection being available to the devices for the entire duration of the connection, irrespective of whether there is traffic on the channel all the time or not. This solution has been sufficient for systems relaying primarily speech. However, with increasing telecommunications needs, transmission connections are used for transmitting data. The traffic relayed on data connections is often highly bursty, i.e., at times data is transferred in large amounts and a lot of transmission capacity is needed on the channel, whereas occasionally the traffic load on the channel is low. From the point of view of capacity deployment, packet-switched transmissions are an extremely good solution for these connections. In packet-switched connections, the channel is not allocated to the terminals for the entire duration of the connection, but the channel is only allocated when data needs to be transferred. Consequently, diverse radio systems employing packet-switched service have been developed, at least some of the connections between the terminals being established using a packet protocol. Among these systems are GPRS (General Packet Radio System) and its enhanced version EGPRS (Enhanced General Packet Radio System).
Since various data services are available and they have differing data transmission needs, many systems include the possibility to establish connections of varying capacity. Moreover, many systems involve diverse terminals which may be provided with highly varying data transmission properties and capability to deploy the resources of the system. For example, different equipment and data transfer capacity is needed for transferring speech, written communications or video. In addition, there may be devices that can only use specific frequency ranges and others that can utilize all the frequencies reserved for the network. Consequently, when a radio connection is to be established, the system should know the type of the terminal that needs the connection and the data transmission capacity. There are also networks that may have different packet system protocols available, such as the GPRS and EGPRS, and, depending on its characteristics, the terminal can use one or the other.
In prior art solutions a terminal that needs to transmit data in packet format contacts the network and informs that it wishes to establish a connection and, at the same time, it informs what kind of a terminal it is, i.e., the radio path characteristics it has. These characteristics include for example the frequencies the device needs for communication, and the transfer modes of different capacities that the terminal can utilize. A prior art signalling for connection establishment is illustrated in FIG. 1. The Figure shows the essential parts of messages sent by different devices. The messages sent by the network part are marked with DL (downlink). A terminal sends a CR (Channel Request) 100 to the network part of the system. The network part allocates one radio block to the terminal and responds by sending the terminal an IA (Immediate Assignment) 102. The terminal uses the allocated radio block to send a PRR (Packet Resource Request) 104. This request comprises information about the terminal's radio path characteristics. The network part allocates one or more channels to the terminal and responds by sending a new response 106 where the reserved channels are informed to the terminal. The terminal then starts to send data 108. In the example of FIG. 1, the terminal uses three parallel 110–114 channels.
One of the drawbacks of the above method is that it is not possible to know whether the terminal needs GPRS (General Packet Radio System) or EGPRS (Enhanced General Packet Radio System) resources. Another problem is that one allocated block is sufficient for sending one control message, but one control message is not always enough for relaying the radio characteristics of the terminal. Consequently, a terminal having diversified characteristics does not necessarily receive appropriate resources.
The signalling that takes place before data transmission is a multi-step process, i.e., it comprises a plural number of steps depending on the amount of data to be transferred and the amount resources available. When GPRS is used, the signalling can take place either on a PCCCH (Packet Common Control Channel) or a CCCH (Common Control Channel), but with EGPRS only PCCCH can provide efficient signalling. This causes delay in the transmission of the signal and yet the data transmission is not necessarily carried out in an optimal way due to insufficient signalling capacity. | {
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The disclosure relates to a clock data recovery (CDR) circuit having a function of reproducing a clock signal from data having a clock signal embedded in a data row, and relates to, for example, a technique effective in a case of application to a data input interface circuit using a CDR circuit in which a specific data pattern is used for frequency lock.
In a display driving device that performs display driving of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, the speeds required of a data input interface circuit have increased corresponding to increases in the high definition of the display. A CDR circuit can be used as part of a clock-embedded data input interface for high-speed transmission.
In one example, JP-A-2012-44446 discloses a clock data recovery circuit that generates and outputs a clock signal for extracting data from a data signal transmitted in a serial manner, and that includes a frequency-locked loop for locking the clock signal to a desired frequency using a predetermined reference clock signal, and a phase-locked loop for phase-synchronizing the clock signal with the data signal in the locked state of the clock signal. Frequency comparison of the reference clock signal with the clock signal is performed during an operation of the frequency-locked loop, a clock signal is generated having a frequency according to the comparison result, and the phases of the generated clock signal and data are synchronized by bringing the phase-locked loop into operation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Paper machine clothings are long, wide belts that serve to shape and transport the paper web in a paper machine. They are endless, and circulate in the paper machine over rollers. The outer flat side constitutes the paper side, since the paper web is transported on it. The inner flat side is referred to as the machine side, since it runs over the rollers of the paper machine.
A paper machine has substantially three parts, also called sections. In the first section—the sheet-forming section—forming wires are used as the paper machine clothing. These are generally made of fabrics that are produced from monofilaments. The purpose of the forming wires is to form the paper web and to dewater the paper web through the forming wire. In the next section—the press section—the paper web is subjected to high pressure for purposes of additional dewatering. The press section uses, in particular, press felts that comprise a woven or knitted support and a nonwoven fabric needle-felted thereonto (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,476). In the subsequent dryer section, the paper web is thermally dewatered, being guided over heated rollers by means of dryer felts. Dryer felts exist in numerous embodiments, principally as woven fabrics (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,663) although knitted fabrics have also been proposed, or as so-called wire element belts (cf. DE 24 19 751 C3, U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,749, U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,333). These wire element belts are made up of coils, extending transversely to the machine direction, that are coupled to one another via coupling wires. In addition, there are also proposals to assemble a paper machine clothing from a plurality of planar element rods, extending transversely to the machine direction, that are connected to one another via coupling wires (cf. DE 37 35 709 C2; EP 1 035 251 A1). Also known are paper machine clothings which are made of plastic layers that are porous or provided with openings (cf. EP 0 817 886 B1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,895; WO 92/17643).
In addition to the aforesaid paper machine clothings, there also exist auxiliary belts, such as transfer belts for transferring the paper web from one section to another, and shoe press belts. These, like the aforesaid paper machine clothings, are adapted to the respective purpose in terms of their surface conformation and structure.
Leaving aside felted materials as paper machine clothings, the surfaces of such paper machine clothings are constituted by plastic elements. In the case of woven and knitted fabrics, these are yarns, in particular monofilaments. In the case of wire element belts (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,749) the surfaces are constituted by the coils. The same applies to paper machine clothings made up of planar element rods or extruded segments (cf. DE 37 35 709 C2; EP 1 036 251 A1). Paper machine clothings that have a plastic layer or are made up of such a layer on at least one side (usually the paper side) have very smooth surfaces (cf. EP 0 817 886 B1).
The problem exists in this context that contaminants in the form of small particles settle on the paper sides of the paper machine clothings, and build up to form larger dirt deposits. They derive from the raw material of paper production. The source of the particles is, in particular, waste paper. At certain times of year, however, cellulose also contributes sticky contaminants. The range of contaminants extends from tree resins, oils, and adhesives to printing inks, etc. The contaminants interfere with production of the paper web and necessitate cleaning or even premature replacement of the paper machine clothing in the paper machine.
Complex and expensive efforts have been made to remove these contaminants from the paper raw material, or mask them, before production of the paper web. Deposits of dirt on the paper machine clothing nevertheless continue to occur. Attempts have therefore been made to equip the plastic elements constituting the flat side of the paper machine clothings with an anti-adhesive coating, made for example of fluorocarbons or silicone compounds. The dirt particles adhere much less effectively to such coatings than to the material from which the plastic elements are produced. The effect of anti-adhesive coatings is only brief, however, since they are rubbed off the surface of the paper machine clothing by abrasion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,895 discloses a paper machine clothing that is constructed from a plurality of layers provided with openings. It is proposed in this context to shape depressions into the paper-side layer and to incorporate detergents into these depressions. During operation of the paper machine clothing, the detergent is slowly delivered out of the depressions to a washing bath, and is intended thereby to achieve a self-cleaning effect. Contaminants of the kind described above cannot, however, be removed with such detergents. They are moreover effective only in an aqueous environment, and then tend to foam. The washing effect ends as soon as the detergent is consumed by continuous delivery.
WO 01/21884 A1 proposes to impart to those plastic elements that constitute the surface facing the paper web (paper side) a roughness having a depth of between 5 μm and 100 μm, and thereby to prevent the deposition of contaminants. This is based on the idea of not offering to the dirt particles any large continuous contact regions that might serve as adhesion surfaces. This is intended to achieve considerably improved detachment of the dirt particle agglomerations, and to prevent the growth of such agglomerations to sizes that cause quality losses in the paper web. The effect of this action is not satisfactory, however, in particular with deposits in the form of dust and powder. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to wheel location techniques used on certain vehicles whose wheels are fitted with detection and transmission modules.
Such modules take measurements on the wheels and transmit a signal across a wireless link (usually radio) to a reception module installed on board the vehicle to report the measurements or specific conditions detected from the measurements.
The most common application is for measuring tire pressure. However, other parameters may also be measured, for example temperature. The purpose of taking such measurements is to alert the vehicle driver to any abnormal conditions which might occur or simply to make him aware of the measured parameters. For this, it is necessary to give him an indication as to which wheel is concerned.
To this end, a known approach is to incorporate an identifier, characteristic of the wheel, in the signal transmitted by the module mounted on that wheel.
One problem which may arise is that the vehicle wheels can be switched in various repair or maintenance operations, which means that the identifier will no longer enable the driver to locate a wheel on the vehicle.
European patent 0 626 911 describes a device for monitoring the tire pressure of vehicle wheels, in which the receiver is also able to operate in a matching mode in which it establishes a link between each identifier incorporated in the signal by a module and a wheel position. It is necessary to switch to matching mode at least whenever a wheel has been changed. The process is relatively laborious: having manually switched the receiver to matching mode, the operator must deflate or re-inflate a tire in order to determine the detection signal whose measurements reflect the change in pressure; the operator indicates the position of the tire he has deflated or re-inflated and a link is stored in memory between this wheel position and the identifier picked up from the determined detection signal. To avoid these operations, which can not generally be performed by the driver but require a mechanic, the number of receivers can be increased, one being positioned facing each wheel: the position of the receiver which picks up a signal carrying a given identifier with the strongest intensity then provides the information about the corresponding wheel position. However, compared with a single receiver, this solution has the disadvantage of increasing the number of circuits required by the system.
In European patent 0 861 159, it has been proposed to take into account the intensities of the signals received from the wheels in order to eliminate any signals which might have been picked up from another vehicle. It is also proposed that any fluctuations in the intensity of the received signal be examined in order to distinguish between the spare wheel or wheels of the vehicle, which give rise to a constant intensity because they are immobile, and the axle-mounted wheels, from which the intensity varies due to the wheel rotation.
French patent 2 774 118 describes a method in which the processing circuits co-operating with the receiver analyse a signature of the received detection signal in order to allocate the signal to a specific wheel position. Typically, this signature is an intensity profile of the received signal, which differs depending on the position at which the wheel is mounted on the vehicle due to the different obstacles to propagation of the waves. Therefore, a pattern recognition associates a signal with a wheel position. This may be performed from time to time to update or validate the link between an identifier and a wheel position, the distinction then being made on the basis of the detected identifier. An initial learning phase, performed on the actual vehicle or on another vehicle of the same model, is used to determine a reference waveform for each wheel position. The signature observed during the recognition phase is then compared with the different reference waveforms in order to estimate the position of the wheel from which the signal was transmitted.
This pattern recognition process is relatively difficult since the detected signals contain noise and are not in phase with the reference waveforms and they exhibit fluctuations depending on the speed of the vehicle upon transmission of the detection signal, which speed may be different from that at which the reference waveforms were learned. This learning process therefore requires a relatively powerful signal processor, which is detrimental to the cost of the device.
An object of the present invention is to propose a signal processing method that will enable the requisite operations to be simplified, thereby making it possible, in particular, to use relatively simple and economic processing circuits.
Accordingly, the invention proposes a method of processing a signal sensed by a receiver installed on board a vehicle having a plurality of wheels fitted with respective detection and transmission modules, each detection and transmission module being capable of transmitting a detection signal including an indication of a state of the wheel fitted with said module, wherein the sensed signal is compared with a plurality of waveforms respectively stored in association with wheel positions to select a wheel position for which the stored waveform matches the sensed signal. According to the invention, after pre-processing the sensed signal and identifying extrema of the pre-processed signal, the comparison of the sensed signal with a waveform comprises applying a time transform to the pre-processed signal to align first and second extrema of the pre-processed signal with first and second extrema of said waveform and computing a distance between the transformed signal and said waveform. The wheel position for which the computed distance is minimum is then selected.
The time transform applied to the signal is determined from a limited number of simple parameters, relating to the extrema of the signal and the stored waveforms. The waveform can then be reliably recognised in a relatively limited number of operations.
There are various possible ways of further limiting this number of operations. For example, the position in time and the type (maximum or minimum) of each identified extremum of the pre-processed signal may be ascertained so that the time transform to be applied to align first and second extrema of the pre-processed signal with first and second extrema of a stored waveform is not determined unless the first extrema are of the same type as well as the second extrema.
The waveforms being stored for a reference speed of the vehicle, it is also possible to obtain an indication of the speed of the vehicle at the time the sensed signal is received, ascertain the position in time of each identified extremum of the pre-processed signal and then determine the time transform to be applied to align first and second extrema of the pre-processed signal with first and second extrema of a stored waveform only if the difference in time between the first and second extrema of the pre-processed signal and that between the first and second extrema of said waveform is compatible with the reference speed and the obtained speed indication according to a predetermined compatibility criterion.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for processing a signal sensed by a receiver installed on board a vehicle having several wheels fitted with respective detection and transmission modules, each detection and transmission module being capable of transmitting a detection signal including an indication of a state of the wheel fitted with said module. The device comprises means for pre-processing the sensed signal, means for identifying extrema of the pre-processed signal, and means for comparing the sensed signal with a plurality of waveforms respectively stored in association with wheel positions to select a wheel position for which the stored waveform matches the sensed signal. The means for comparing the sensed signal with a waveform comprise means for applying a time transform to the pre-processed signal to align first and second extrema of the pre-processed signal with first and second extrema of said waveform and means for computing a distance between the transformed signal and said waveform, the wheel position being selected by minimising the computed distance.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of learning waveforms for a device for processing a signal sensed by a receiver installed on board a vehicle having several wheels fitted with respective detection and transmission modules, each detection and transmission module being capable of transmitting a detection signal including an indication of a state of the wheel fitted with said module. This method comprises the following steps for each of said vehicle wheels:
recording a substantially periodic reference signal from a detection and transmission module;
determining the period of the reference signal after a pre-processing;
re-sampling a period of the pre-processed reference signal over N points, N being a predetermined number, and storing the re-sampled signal period;
additionally storing the position in time and the type (maximum or minimum) of each extremum within the stored signal period.
The waveforms thus learned are suitable for implementing the signal processing method applied in the recognition phase. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A variety of techniques are used to stack packaged integrated circuits. Some methods require special packages, while other techniques stack conventional packages. In some stacks, the leads of the packaged integrated circuits are used to create a stack, while in other systems, added structures such as rails provide all or part of the interconnection between packages. In still other techniques, flexible conductors with certain characteristics are used to selectively interconnect packaged integrated circuits.
The predominant package configuration employed during the past decade has encapsulated an integrated circuit (IC) in a plastic surround typically having a rectangular configuration. The enveloped integrated circuit is connected to the application environment through leads emergent from the edge periphery of the plastic encapsulation. Such “leaded packages” have been the constituent elements most commonly employed by techniques for stacking packaged integrated circuits.
Leaded packages play an important role in electronics, but efforts to miniaturize electronic components and assemblies have driven development of technologies that preserve circuit board surface area. Because leaded packages have leads emergent from peripheral sides of the package, leaded packages occupy more than a minimal amount of circuit board surface area. Consequently, alternatives to leaded packages have recently gained market share.
One family of alternative packages is identified generally by the term “chip scale packaging” or CSP. CSP refers generally to packages that provide connection to an integrated circuit through a set of contacts (often embodied as “bumps” or “balls”) arrayed across a major surface of the package. Instead of leads emergent from a peripheral side of the package, contacts are placed on a major surface and typically emerge from the planar bottom surface of the package.
The goal of CSP is to occupy as little area as possible and, preferably, approximately the area of the encapsulated IC. Therefore, CSP leads or contacts do not typically extend beyond the outline perimeter of the package. The absence of “leads” on package sides renders most stacking techniques devised for leaded packages inapplicable for CSP stacking.
CSP has enabled reductions in size and weight parameters for many applications. For example, micro ball grid array (μBGA) for flash and SRAM and wirebond on tape or rigid laminate CSPs for SRAM or EEPROM have been employed in a variety of applications. CSP is a broad category including a variety of packages from near chip scale to die-sized packages such as the die sized ball grid array (DSBGA) recently described in proposed JEDEC standard 95-1 for DSBGA.
There are several known techniques for stacking packages articulated in chip scale technology. The assignee of the present invention has developed previous systems for aggregating μBGA packages in space saving topologies. The assignee of the present invention has systems for stacking BGA packages on a DIMM in a RAMBUS environment.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,654 B1 owned by the assignee of the present invention, a system for stacking ball grid array packages that employs lead carriers to extend connectable points out from the packages is described. Other known techniques add structures to a stack of BGA-packaged ICs. Still others aggregate CSPs on a DIMM with angular placement of the packages. Such techniques provide alternatives, but require topologies of added cost and complexity.
The previous known methods for stacking CSPs apparently have various deficiencies including complex structural arrangements and thermal or high frequency performance issues.
Thermal performance is a characteristic of importance in CSP stacks. To increase dissipation of heat generated by constituent CSPs, the thermal gradient between the lower CSP and upper CSP in a CSP stack or module should be minimized. Prior art solutions to CSP stacking do not, however, address thermal gradient minimization in disclosed constructions.
What is needed, therefore, is a technique and system for stacking integrated circuits packaged in chip scale technology packaging that provides a thermally efficient, reliable structure that performs well at higher frequencies but does not add excessive height to the stack yet allows production at reasonable cost with readily understood and managed materials and methods. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD) represent the most frequent neuromuscular diseases in human, occurring in one of 3,500 to one in 6,000 live male births depending on the population studied (Bushby et al. (2010)). DMD and BMD are allelic disorders resulting from mutations in the dystrophin gene. In DMD, functioning dystrophin is completely absent from muscle, while in BMD there is some dystrophin present, although not in sufficient amounts for normal muscle function. In addition to skeletal muscle weakness, dystrophin deficiency in the myocardium results in a progressive cardiomyopathy.
Currently there are no approved therapies specific to the treatment of DMD/BMD. High dose corticosteroids are often used to treat muscle weakness and to maintain ambulation as long as possible, but these are associated with unacceptable side effects and/or suboptimal responses. It is also uncertain whether these therapeutics help or hinder cardiac function. Additional therapeutic approaches are needed to treat both the skeletal and cardiac abnormalities of muscular dystrophies. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The use of specialized ink formulations to form thick films having various functions on suitable substrates in the construction of multilayer integrated circuit structures is well known in the art. Such technology is of increasing interest in the fabrication of very dense multilayer circuit patterns on various substrates for a wide variety of applications in the electronics industry.
Significantly improved substrates for the fabrication of such circuits are disclosed and claimed in Hang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,796, issued Mar. 17, 1981, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Hang et al. substrates are metal coated with an improved porcelain composition comprised of a mixture, based on its oxide content, of magnesium oxide (MgO) or mixtures of magnesium oxide and certain other oxides, barium oxide (BaO), boron trioxide (B.sub.2 O.sub.3) and silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2). The preferred metal is steel, particularly low carbon steel, which may be coated with various other metals such as, for example, copper. The porcelain compositions are applied to the metal core and fired to provide a partially devitrified porcelain coating on the metal core. The coating has a very low viscosity at its initial fusion point and then almost instantaneously obtains a high viscosity due to devitrification. The fired coatings which are preferred for hybrid circuit applications have a deformation temperature of at least 700.degree. C. and a high coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 110.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C.
While the porcelain coated metal substrates of Hang et al. represent a significant improvement over previously known substrate materials, they are disadvantageous only in being incompatible or poorly compatible with commercially available thick-film inks. In addition to the need to develop improved inks which would be compatible with the Hang et al. substrates, there exists a generally recognized need for a means of controlling the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) which moves rapidly away from zero or optimum as resistor values increase.
In accordance with this invention, a means is provided whereby the TCR of indium oxide resistors can be controlled within acceptable limits, i.e., within about 350 ppm/.degree.C. plus or minus, even for high value resistors. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct Coreopsis and given the cultivar name ‘Lightning Bug’. Coreopsis is in the family Asteraceae. This new cultivar originated from a controlled breeding program to produce hardy compact Coreopsis. The new cultivar originated from planned cross of two proprietary unnamed Coreopsis verticillata hybrid seedlings. The new cultivar of Coreopsis is an herbaceous perennial to be grown for landscape and container use in a sunny site.
Compared to the seed parent the new cultivar has a different flower color.
Compared to Coreopsis ‘Firefly’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,295, the new cultivar has flowers that are gold and red rather than yellow with a small red eye.
Compared to Coreopsis ‘Cosmic Eye’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,601, the new cultivar has ray florets that are a gold and red rather than yellow and deep purple. The new cultivar is more dense and compact, with more stems from the crown, and has smaller inflorescences. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field
The present specification generally relates to glass articles and, more specifically, to glass articles with infrared reflectivity and methods for making the same.
2. Technical Background
Infrared electromagnetic radiation received from the sun is responsible for as much as 49% of the irradiative heating of the earth. When such radiation is incident on an object, such as a vehicle and/or a building, the radiation heats the object which, in turn, necessitates the consumption of energy to maintain the object at a lower desired temperature. For example, infrared electromagnetic radiation incident on a vehicle on a summer day considerably raises the temperature in the passenger compartment of the vehicle thereby necessitating operation of the air conditioning to maintain the passenger compartment at a comfortable temperature for vehicle occupants. However, operating the air conditioning requires the consumption of energy thereby decreasing the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle.
In order to minimize the thermal effects of infrared radiation on objects such as vehicles and/or buildings, various surface coatings have been utilized on the glazings. These coatings increase the infrared reflectivity of the glazing while, at the same time, having some degree of transparency to wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum. However, because these coatings are applied to the surface of the glazing, the coatings are subject to damage through physical contact and/or degradation by exposure to the elements.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative glazing which at least partially reflects infrared electromagnetic radiation, is at least partially transparent to visible electromagnetic radiation and has improved durability. | {
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The invention relates to a control device for a vehicular occupant restraint system.
Safe and reliable functioning of such a control device is vital to the effectiveness of the restraint systems, such as belt tensioner and air bag connected thereto. The housing of such a control device has therefore to ensure safe protection against any interference that may affect the functioning of the electronic module. In addition, however, the housing rigidly bolted to the vehicle body is required to transfer the deceleration actions occurring an impact of the vehicle as directly as possible to the acceleration sensor of the electronic module. Therefore, solid metal housings, in particular heavy diecast housings made of aluminium, are used. Instead of metal housings, plastic housings have already been proposed provided at the attachment locations with metal fastening bushes embedded in an injection molded plastic material, since plastic materials fail to withstand the bolting pressure. However, the stiffness and rigidity of such a housing design is only just satisfactory.
This is achieved in a control device for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprising a housing with a metallic baseplate and an electronic module including an acceleration sensor and being mounted on a circuit board. The electronic module is insertable into the housing that is formed as a composite of an injection-molded plastic body and the metallic baseplate part of which is embedded in an injection molded wall of plastic.
The housing of the control device combines the mechanical advantages of a metal design with the production engineering and cost advantages of a plastic design. According to the invention the metallic baseplate ensures a rigid coupling to the vehicle body. Since the circuit on which the acceleration sensor is mounted is arranged directly above the baseplate a direct momentum transfer from the baseplate to the acceleration sensor is assured. In addition, due to the baseplate being metallic the fastening points are precisely defined unlike a plastic design of the housing with fastening bushes embedded in the injection molded plastic material, the distances between which vary due to shrinkage of the plastic material. As compared to a design including fastening bushes embedded in the injection molded plastic material the solution in accordance with the invention has furthermore the advantage of facilitated fabrication since inserting the metallic baseplate in the plastic mold can be carried out much easier than correctly locating individual fastening bushes.
In the preferred embodiment the metallic baseplate is electrically connected to the ground of the circuit board. Serving this purpose is an electrically conducting link which may be provided in differing variants and which leads from the baseplate to a contact pin or contact tag on a plug socket and from there to the circuit board.
In one advantageous embodiment a mechanically solid and rigid connection between the metallic baseplate and the plastic body of the housing is achieved by providing a plurality of through-holes in the baseplate which are filled in a form-fitting manner by the plastic compound. As an alternative or in addition thereto the baseplate comprises a plurality of projected stamped tabs embedded in the plastic material. In the preferred embodiment the baseplate is furthermore flush with the outer bottom surface area of the housing, but is covered on the inside by a film of plastic so that the baseplate is ultimately inset in the bottom wall of the housing body.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the metallic baseplate takes up only part of the bottom surface area of the housing, more particularly half of the bottom surface area of the housing as defined by a diagonal line. It has been discovered that even in such a material and weight-saving design of the housing a sufficiently rigid connection and good mechanical coupling between the baseplate and acceleration sensor are assured. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a well known method for depositing and forming a protective coating on substrates. Typically, the substrates are loaded into a reaction furnace (reactor), heated to a suitable reaction temperature, and exposed in the reactor to one or more elevated temperature gaseous reactants that react with the substrate surfaces to deposit a coating or layer thereon. The CVD deposited coating or layer can be reacted with the substrate by suitable heating in the reactor to form a protective diffusion coating thereon; e.g., a high temperature oxidation and corrosion resistant nickel or cobalt aluminide coating on nickel or cobalt base superalloy substrates as described in the Gauje U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,927.
As illustrated in that patent, the gaseous reactant may be formed in-situ inside the reactor for reaction with the substrates. Alternately, the gaseous reactant may be formed outside the reactor in a heated reactant generator and continuously introduced into the reactor via a carrier gas, such as a reducing or inert gas, so as to pass over the substrates. After passing over the substrates, the carrier gas and any excess, unreacted gaseous reactant are exhausted from the reactor to maintain a continuous reactant flow therethrough over the substrates. In one particular CVD coating apparatus, a plurality of substrates to be coated are positioned about a gas distribution conduit network within the reactor, and the gaseous reactant, such as a metal chloride or fluoride gas in a reducing or inert carrier gas, is formed external of the reactor in a reactant generator and is metered into the reactor via the conduit network for contact with exterior surfaces of the substrates. A separate gaseous reactant generator external of the reactor and separate distribution conduit network can be provided to supply and meter the same or different gaseous reactant into the reactor for contacting interior surfaces of the substrates if they are hollow. Both external and internal coatings can thereby be concurrently formed on hollow substrates, such as hollow gas turbine engine blades, using the CVD apparatus.
Typically, the gaseous reactant is supplied to the reactor in excess of the stoichiometric amount required for coating the substrates so as to insure that CVD coatings are formed on all of the substrates to be coated. As a result, the spent reaction gases that have passed over the substrates usually contain some excess, unreacted reactant that can condense at sufficiently cool locations in the reactor exhaust conduit and eventually plug or clog the exhaust conduit.
The problem of exhaust clogging or plugging is especially severe when aluminum subchlorides (e.g., AlCl.sub.2 and AlCl) and aluminum trifluoride and subfluorides thereof are used as the gaseous reactant and thus are present in the spent gas.
Plugging of the reactor exhaust conduit can adversely affect flow of the gaseous reactant through the reactor and even result in shut-down of the CVD apparatus in the event the exhaust conduit becomes completely plugged.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved CVD apparatus and method wherein the spent reaction gases are treated in a manner to condense any excess, unreacted gaseous reactant within the reactor prior to exhausting therefrom to avoid plugging or clogging of the reactor exhaust conduit.
It is another of the invention to provide an improved CVD apparatus and method system wherein the excess gaseous reactant condensed in the reactor is collected in a manner to avoid damage to CVD coated products in the reactor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device, a bias voltage control method for the image forming device, and a computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming device, with the aim of achieving reduction in the cost of a high-voltage power supply board, a technology is known in which an imaging sequence and an output constraint are set and a common transformer is used for charging and developing purposes; or a technology is known in which a constant-voltage element is configured in between outputs, and the output bias potential difference is maintained at a constant level so as to reduce the terminals of a high-voltage output unit.
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-53350, a technology is disclosed in which, with the aim of achieving reduction in the cost of a high-voltage power supply, a common transformer is used for a charging grid and a developing output. Moreover, a technology is disclosed in which constant-voltage elements are connected in between a regulation output and a developing output of a developing device, and the potential; difference between those outputs is maintained at a constant level. With that, in a high-voltage output unit, it becomes possible to use the same terminal for the regulation output and the developing output without making the circuitry complex (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 3507571).
However, in the conventional technologies mentioned above, in the case in which developing of reverse polarity to the polarity of charging is to be output for the purpose of cleaning a photosensitive member, it is not possible to obtain the desired potential difference between the constant-voltage elements. Hence, it is not possible to perform photosensitive member cleaning in a stable manner.
In view of the issues mentioned above, there is a need to enable cleaning of a photosensitive member in a stable manner without making the circuitry complex. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates generally to software development and more specifically to various aspects of language development within any of various programming languages, such as a platform-independent, object-oriented programming language, as one example.
In various programming languages, parametric polymorphism (e.g., generics) may be considered as a way to make a language more expressive, while still maintaining full static type-safety. Parametric polymorphism may allow a function or a data type to be written in a generic fashion such that it can handle various data types in the same manner regardless of their different types. Such functions and data types may be called generic functions and generic datatypes. For example, a generic list class may be written List<T>, which means that it can be a list of elements of any type T, where T is specified separately from the specification of List.
Frequently, when using object oriented languages that do not provide a single type which can be a supertype for all other types, one cannot generify over primitive certain types without using particular conversion operations, such as boxing (e.g., automatically converting a value of a primitive type, like int, into an object of a corresponding wrapper class like Integer). For example, traditionally the Java™ language does not allow generics over both objects and primitives.
Parametric polymorphism (generics) may also involve a tradeoff between code size, generation costs and type specificity. For example, a programming language may support primitive-specialized generics, but may generates specialized classes statically, thereby at potentially increased cost to code footprint and compilation cost. Another programming language may generate a specialized instantiation of templates for each instantiation used by the program, which may result in a large static footprint. Yet a third language may use a templatized bytecode format, only performing specialization to runtime, which may require an additional step before using a generic class file, thereby potentially harming runtime performance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present embodiments relate to deblending of blended data.
Conventional seismic surveys require that the time interval between two source shots (e.g., dynamite or vibrators on land, and air guns in marine survey) is sufficiently long to avoid interference between these shots. This makes seismic data acquisition time consuming. To reduce survey time, the number of shots is restricted to an acceptable minimum. The spatial domain, however, is poorly sampled.
Simultaneous sources/blended acquisition refers to having a plurality of sources in a single shot gather. Such a data acquisition scheme may reduce time in field surveys and efficiently provide versatile illumination and dense sampling geometry, thus offering cost saving and better seismic image quality.
Methods to deblend blended data may lead to unsatisfactory results if source interference is not adequately removed or diminished.
Accordingly, new and improved methods and systems to deblend blended data are to be provided. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to a system which monitors the viscosity of the lubricant in a compressor and takes corrective action should that viscosity fall below a desired level.
Compressors as typically utilized to compress a refrigerant such as in an air conditioning system are typically sealed in a housing. A suction refrigerant passing to the compressor will often pass within the interior of the housing and over the compressor motor through a suction port in a compressor pump unit. The refrigerant is compressed and driven through an outlet port to a downstream location such as a condenser. Compressors are often provided with a passage which selectively connects the discharge passage back to the suction passage. A valve typically closes the connecting passage, but may be selectively opened under certain system conditions. This valve is typically known as an unloader valve.
A motor is typically housed within the sealed housing, and drives the compressor pump unit. A series of bearings supports a shaft driven by the motor to drive the compressor pump unit. These bearings are typically provided with a lubricant which is received in a sump in the housing, and which is driven throughout the housing during operation of the compressor. The lubricant serves to cool and lubricate the bearings.
As system conditions change, the viscosity of the lubricant can change. In particular, as the lubricant heats its viscosity will change. Moreover, the necessary or minimum viscosity which would be desirable at the bearings will also vary as the operating conditions of the compressor change. As an example, should the speed of the motor or the load on the compressor pump unit increase, a desired minimum viscosity of lubricant will also change. In the prior art, the viscosity of the lubricating oil has sometimes become too low to adequately lubricate the bearings. Bearing damage and subsequent failure has sometimes resulted.
Another factor effecting the viscosity of the lubricant is that in the basic type of compressor described above, refrigerant also circulates with the lubricating oil. The oil can sometimes be diluted by liquid refrigerant, which can also lower the viscosity of the mixture.
The viscosity relates to a minimum oil thickness at the bearings. The compressor bearings, which are typically journal bearings, depend on a hydro-dynamic oil film to prevent metal-to-metal contact. The necessary oil film thickness is dependent on a number of factors including the dimension of the bearings, the speed of the shaft rotation, the viscosity of the oil and the load on the bearing. The several variables which interact as described above have sometimes resulted in the viscosity of the oil being insufficient to adequately protect a bearing. The present invention is directed to addressing the situation when the viscosity of the lubricant in a sealed compressor becomes too low.
In the disclosed embodiment of this invention, a control monitors the viscosity of the oil. The control is provided with a minimum viscosity for the particular compressor. If the detected viscosity drops below the minimum required viscosity, some corrective action is taken by the control. In a preferred embodiment, an unloader valve is opened. When the unloader valve is opened, the load on the compressor significantly decreases. This thus reduces the required viscosity and reduces the likelihood of any bearing damage due to the low viscosity. Also, unloaded operation may allow the viscosity to increase.
In a method according to the present invention, the viscosity of the oil in a compressor is periodically measured. The measured viscosity is compared to a minimum viscosity value. If the detected viscosity is above the minimum value, sensing simply continues. If however the viscosity is below a safe limit, then a corrective action is taken. While the corrective action can be as simple as stopping operation of the motor, in a preferred embodiment an unloader valve is opened. After the unloader valve is opened, the viscosity continues to be measured. Once the viscosity again increases above a safe limit, the unloader valve may be closed and the system can return to normal monitoring operation.
In a most preferred embodiment of this invention, the control also monitors aspects of the operation of the compressor such as the speed, etc. to define the minimum viscosity value. Moreover, the controller will typically be designed for each individual compressor such that the controller and its minimum viscosity values take into account the specific geometry etc. of the bearings utilized in the particular compressor.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a skyline logging carriage for yarding logs in a logging operation.
2. Prior Art Relating to the Disclosure
Aerial cable logging systems utilizing skyline carriages are used for logging operations in the Pacific Northwest area of the United States. Skyline carriages generally include a winch drum which may be powered by a diesel engine mounted on the frame of the carriage. The engine drives the winch drum through a clutch or direct mechanical connection. U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,839, for example, employs a centrifugal clutch to transmit power between the engine and the winch drum, effective only at accelerated speeds of the engine. U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,747 employs disc clutches, with the driving members of the clutches directly powered through a gear case by the engine. Skyline carriages, such as those disclosed in the above patents, pose severe maintenance problems. Additionally, such mechanical drives limit the location of the winch drum on the carriage frame. This presents problems of locating the fairlead in relation to the winch drum to obtain proper level winding of the cable about the winch drum. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data updating system for updating sets of data internally managed by an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a data updating system which can recover a data element for a current data when an error is generated during the updating of the data element.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an information processing system includes a data updating system having a function for updating a data internally and a function for recovering an original data using a back-up data when a data error is generated during the updating process. Such a data updating system is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional data updating system includes a data processing section 102 having a current data storage unit 140, and an external back-up data storage unit 150. The data processing section 102 includes a main controller 114. The main controller 114 is connected to an interface circuit 112, a back-up controller 116, an update controller 122 and a read section 130. The back-up controller 116 is connected to a current data back-up section 118 and a current data recover section 120. The update controller 122 is connected to a data element update section 126.
The main controller 114 includes a timer and issues a back-up instruction to the back-up controller 116 for every predetermined period of time. Also, the main controller 114 issues a recover instruction to the back-up controller 116 when a data error is found. The back-up controller 116 issues a current data back-up instruction to the current data back-up section 118. The back-up section 118 reads all the current data stored in the storage unit 140 in response to the instruction to write in the back-up data storage unit 150. The back-up controller 116 issues a current data recover instruction to the current data recover section 120. The recover section 120 reads all the back-up data stored in the storage unit 150 in response to the instruction to write in the current data storage unit 140 to recover the current data. When receiving a connection information setting request from the user by the interface circuit 112, the main controller 114 issues an update instruction to the update controller 122. The update controller 122 issues a data element back-up instruction to the data element update section 126. The data element update section 126 updates the current data stored in the storage unit 140 with new data elements designated by the data element update instruction in response to the instruction. If any data error is generated during the update processing, the data element update section 126 informs it to the main controller 114 through the update controller 122. The main controller 114 issues the recover instruction to the back-up controller 116, as described above.
In this manner, in the conventional data updating system, the whole current data needs to be recovered even if the data error is generated only in a part of the current data. Therefore, it takes a long time to recover the current data.
Further, when the data error is generated immediately before the back-up instruction is issued from the main controller 114, the recovered current data is occasionally different from the current data before the data error is generated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rechargeable battery system having a plurality of electrodes in an electrolyte space filled with electrolytes and tapped with the aid of an electrical tap, in which at least one of the electrodes is constructed as a substantially insoluble electrode of the second type and in which at least the substantially insoluble electrode of the second type has a separator arrangement, through which it is possible to reduce at least the structural and/or shape changes of the electrode during cyclic charging and discharging linked with the sinking of mechanically unstable discharge products; to a rechargeable battery system having a plurality of electrodes in an electrolyte space filled with electrolytes and tapped with the aid of an electrical tap, in which at least one of the electrodes is constructed as a substantially insoluble electrode of the second type and in which at least the substantially insoluble electrode of the second type has an electrochemically active coating provided with a surface profile or relief having a plurality of depressions and/or elevations, through which it is possible to reduce at least the structural and/or shape changes of the electrode during cyclic charging and discharging linked with the sinking of mechanically unstable discharge products; and to the use of one of the preceding battery systems in a rechargeable metal/air depolarized battery, and in particular in a zinc/air depolarized battery.-Page
2. Related Art
Batteries and battery systems are becoming increasingly important for primary and secondary energy supply. This increasing relevance is more particularly due to the ever increasing demands made with regards to environmental compatibility of energy supply systems in the sense of emission protection and reusability or recyclability of raw materials and energy.
This firstly relates to the end user and consequently private households and secondly public installations, particularly the infrastructure and traffic which are being equipped with more environmentally compatible energy sources. Already mobile devices, such as e.g. portable micro-devices and also vehicles, particularly road, rail or water vehicles, are being equipped with environmentally friendly, reusable or rechargeable energy supports in. the form of accumulators or batteries. Such energy supports in the form of battery systems are also being increasingly used in immobile devices, such as stand-alone devices and as emergency power supplies.
In conjunction with the private end user, as well as public installations, use is being increasingly made of metal/air depolarized batteries as rechargeable primary batteries, e.g. in hearing aids or heart pacemakers, as well as in telecommunications engineering and in signal installations.
Such metal/air depolarized batteries are more particularly suitable due to their high energy density and their cost-effective, environmentally compatible active materials as decentralized and rechargeable power sources. It is particularly appropriate to use zinc as the material for a metal electrode. This is due to the low equivalence mass and the high hydrogen overpotential of zinc, which prevents a spontaneous dissolving of the Zn electrode in an aqueous and in particular alkaline electrolyte and simultaneously permits recharging with a high current efficiency.
In the case of rechargeable accumulators or battery systems, the problem is known that during recharging structural and shape changes occur at the metal electrodes or electrochemically active coatings. This problem has also been observed in the case of zinc/air depolarized batteries. The shape change of the metal electrode with an increasing number of recharging cycles, in certain circumstances and in a secondary manner, leads to internal short-circuits of the electrode or to passivation phenomena. Thus, with an increasing number of recharging cycles the electrode capacity drops, so that the life of the battery or battery system is drastically shortened.
The prior art has evolved numerous methods in order to reduce the harmful influences of structural and shape changes to the metal electrode or electrochemically active coatings of the actual shape change.
It is e.g. known to perform the recharging of the electrodes externally and a discharged battery to virtually renew from the beginning by a mechanical replacement of the spent electrodes by new electrodes.
Admittedly this enables a discharged battery after "recharging" with a new electrode to have the original battery capacity, but a rapid, flexible electrical recharging by the customer in suit is impossible. Thus, in the prior art manufacturing and marketing organizations for such battery systems have had to simultaneously offer a service for the reprocessing of discharged electrodes.
The prior art also discloses so-called magazine systems for receiving electrode configurations with a mechanically unstable, gel-like or pulverulent electrochemically active coating, which surrounds the corresponding electrode configurations and is intended to mechanically stabilize the coating. However, this mechanical stabilization relates to the electrode material as such, if it is e.g. a gel or a powder and is intended to facilitate the handling of the electrode configuration during change and incorporation. The structural and shape change of the electrodes during recharging, however, takes place on the microscopic and mesoscopic size scale and is not prevented in the known magazine systems.
The prior art also discloses so-called small-pored separators, which are substantially in contact with the electrode and in the case of certain electrode types reduces the extent of the structural and shape change on the electrodes during recharging caused by so-called electroosmosis. This procedure is possible with substantially soluble electrodes of the first type.
In the case of the latter, as a result of such a small-pored separator, the formation of electroosmotically driven convection currents and therefore the occurence of certain concentration gradients can be reduced, so that there can also be a reduction in the structural and shape changes of the electrode configuration during cyclic recharging.
However, in all these known measures and configurations according to the prior art, a considerable proportion of the structural and shape changes of the electrode configuration during cyclic recharging is not covered, so that only a very small number of recharging cycles is left for the user of a rechargeable battery system until the latter and in particular the electrodes contained therein have to undergo a fundamental renewal, which leads to not inconsiderable costs. | {
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The following description relates to a lock for an adjustable steering column, and in particular, a rake and/or telescope lock in an adjustable steering column.
Steering columns in vehicles may be adjustable in a rake direction and a telescope direction. The adjustable steering column may be unlocked in order to be adjusted to a desired position. Once the desired position is reached, the steering column may be locked in place to resist movement from the desired position.
A traditional adjustable steering column may include a column jacket, a compression bracket fixed to and movable with the column jacket and a mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle. The column jacket and compression bracket are movable relative to the mounting bracket. The adjustable steering column may further include a locking lever, a rake lock and a telescope lock.
The locking lever is rotatable between a locked position where adjustment of the steering column is resisted and an unlocked position where adjustment of the steering column is permitted. The locking lever rotates a lock bolt that extends through the mounting bracket and compression bracket. Rotation of the lock bolt may actuate the rake lock and telescope lock between respective locked and unlocked positions.
The rake lock typically includes a rake lock body and a rake slot formed in one of the compression bracket or mounting bracket. The rake lock body includes a plurality of rake lock teeth formed thereon and the rake slot includes a corresponding plurality of rake slot teeth. In the unlocked position the rake lock teeth are disengaged from the rake slot teeth with a clearance between peaks of the rake lock teeth and peaks of the rake slot teeth. In this position, the steering column may be adjusted in the rake direction. When a desired position of the steering column is reached, the locking lever may be rotated from the unlocked position to the locked position. During rotation of the locking lever from the unlocked position to the locked position, the rake lock body moves toward the rake slot such that the rake lock teeth move toward engagement with the rake slot teeth. In the locked position, the rake lock teeth and the rake slot teeth are engaged such that adjustment of the steering column in the rake direction is resisted.
The telescope lock may include a telescope lock body and a telescope slot formed in one of the compression bracket or mounting bracket. The telescope lock body includes a plurality of telescope lock teeth and the telescope slot includes a corresponding plurality of telescope slot teeth. Similar to the rake lock arrangement described above, the telescope lock teeth and disengaged and separated from the telescope slot teeth when in the unlocked position. Accordingly, the steering column may be adjusted in the telescope direction with the telescope lock in the unlocked position. Rotation of the locking lever toward the locked position moves the telescope lock body with the telescope lock teeth toward engagement with the telescope slot teeth. In the locked position, the telescope lock teeth and the telescope slot teeth are engaged such that adjustment of the steering column in the telescope direction is limited.
One drawback to the arrangement above is that when the locking lever is rotated from an unlocked position to a locked position, peak areas of the lock teeth on the rake body and/or telescope body may come into contact with peak areas of the lock teeth within the respective rake and/or telescope slot. The peak-to-peak contact between the respective teeth prevents the rake and telescope locks from becoming engaged. Thus, adjustment in the rake and/or telescope direction is not resisted, even with the locking lever in a locked position. That is, peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth of the rake lock body and/or telescope lock body and the lock teeth of the respective rake slot and/or telescope slot prevent the lock teeth of the rake body and/or telescope body from engaging between the lock teeth of the respective rake slot and/or telescope slot. Further, there are only a finite number of adjustment positions available in the rake and telescope directions, limited by the number of corresponding lock teeth between the rake body and telescope body and the respective slots.
In another typical adjustable steering column, in a locked condition, a force may be applied to a plurality of friction plates, which in turn apply a compressive force to at least one of the mounting bracket, compression bracket and column jacket. The force may be applied from a cam mechanism connected to a rotatable locking lever that is configured to apply an axial compressive force in response to rotation of the locking lever in one direction. The compressive force applied to the column jacket acts to hold the adjustable steering column against adjustment.
The steering column may be unlocked by rotating the locking lever in an opposite direction. Rotation of the locking lever in the opposite direction causes the cam to release the axial compressive force from the friction plates. Accordingly, the compressive force is released from the column jacket and the steering column may be adjusted. Drawbacks to the friction plate configuration include complexity of design and the associated costs.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an adjustable steering column lock which may ensure engagement between oppositely positioned locking teeth. | {
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Conventionally, an administrator performs administrative functions (i.e., network updates, maintenance, etc.) by establishing connections to one agent at a time to perform such functions. The communication session setup and teardown process across a data network may be used to establish a connection with a single agent to perform the administrative functions, such as execute commands remotely from an administrative client interface. It would be optimal to establish a single client session by the administrator and execute commands simultaneously with multiple agents from the single client session. | {
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It is known in the prior art to use mobile devices for security surveillance, as well as to analyze image and video content for surveillance purposes. While the prior art discloses individual aspects as the present invention, very few, if any, teach the ability to authenticate and analyze captured inputs from un-registered user-devices. The present invention permits remote servers to accept captured inputs from a variety of mobile devices, authenticate metadata from the inputs, and analyze the inputs to provide surveillance information.
The proliferation of wireless, mobile devices having image and video functions is widespread and use of these device-functions continues to increase. Sporting events, social gatherings, dissident events, and emergency situations are typically captured on a multitude of devices operated by differing users. Nowhere in the prior art is provided social surveillance or security system that allows for uploading of these captured inputs, authentication of such inputs, and cloud-based analysis of the inputs in order to provide real- or near real-time surveillance of a target environment. Prior art documents teach that camera and video input devices may be equipped with a time-stamp function that embeds a date and time into an image or video for later authentication. Also, it is known in the prior art to provide authentication of users and/or devices through the evaluation of uploaded content, including stenographic techniques such as digital fingerprinting and watermarking, or user-verification techniques such as login or CAPTCHA technologies and biometric scanning.
Notably, most of the prior art security surveillance systems disclose the use of fixed devices, rather than the use of mobile devices. For example, content-based analytics is widely used in CCTV settings and when verifying that digital content has been unaltered or authenticating a content's source (e.g., copyrighted music, images and videos). Additionally, similar technology has been deployed in military and law enforcement units, although these technologies typically require specialized pre-registered devices, as opposed to incorporating distributed, unknown devices.
By way of example, prior art documents include:
U.S. Pat. No. 8,559,914 for “Interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system” by inventor Jones filed Jan. 16, 2009, describes an interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system for users carrying wireless communication devices. The system allows users carrying these devices to automatically capture surveillance information, have the information sent to one or more automated and remotely located surveillance (RLS) systems, and establish interactivity for the verification of determining secure or dangerous environments, encounters, logging events, or other encounters or observations. This IPSS is describes to enhance security and surveillance by determining a user's activities, including (a.) the user travel method (car, bus, motorcycle, bike, snow skiing, skate boarding, etc.); (b.) the user motion (walking, running, climbing, falling, standing, lying down, etc.); and (c.) the user location and the time of day or time allowance of an activity. When user submits uploaded (or directly sent) surveillance information to the public server, the surveillance videos, images and/or audio includes at least one or more of these searchable areas, location, address, date and time, event name or category, and/or name describing video.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,983 for “Correlated media for distributed sources” by inventor Guzik filed Dec. 14, 2009 (related to U.S. Publications 2010/0274816, 2011/0018998, 2013/0027552 and 2013/0039542) discloses method embodiments associating an identifier along with correlating metadata such as date/timestamp and location. The identifier may then be used to associate data assets that are related to a particular incident. The identifier may be used as a group identifier on a web service or equivalent to promote sharing of related data assets. Additional metadata may be provided along with commentary and annotations. The data assets may be further edited and post processed. Correlation can be based on multiple metadata values. For example, multiple still photos might be stored not only with date/time stamp metadata, but also with location metadata, possibly from a global positioning satellite (GPS) stamp. A software tool that collects all stored still photos taken within a window of time, for example during a security or police response to a crime incident, and close to the scene of a crime, may combine the photos of the incident into a sequence of pictures with which for investigation purposes. Here the correlation is both by time and location, and the presentation is a non-composite simultaneous display of different data assets. Correlating metadata can be based on a set of custom fields. For example, a set of video clips may be tagged with an incident name. Consider three field police officers each in a different city and in a different time zone, recording videos and taking pictures at exactly at midnight on New Year's Day 2013. As a default, a group may be identified to include all users with data files with the same Event ID. A group may also be either a predefined or a self-selecting group, for example a set belonging to a security agency, or a set of all police officers belonging to the homicide division, or even a set of officers seeking to share data regardless of if they are bellowing to an organized or unorganized group.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,379,879 for “Incident reporting system and method” by inventor Sloo filed Feb. 26, 1999, describes a computer-based method of collecting and processing incident reports received from witnesses who observe incidents such as criminal acts and legal violations. The method automates the collection and processing of the incident reports and automatically sends the incident reports to the appropriate authority so that the observed incidents can be acted on in an appropriate manner. For example, a witness may be equipped with a video input system such as a personal surveillance camera and a display. When the witness encounters an incident such as a suspect committing a crime, the video input system would automatically recognize the suspect from the video input and could then display records for the suspect on the witness's hand held readout without revealing the suspect's identity. The witness would not need to know the identity of the suspect to observe the incident relating to the suspect. Such a system may overcome some of the problems associated with publicly revealing personal data.
U.S. Publication 2009/0087161 for “Synthesizing a presentation of a multimedia event” by inventors Roberts, et al. filed Sep. 26, 2008, discloses a media synchronization system includes a media ingestion module to access a plurality of media clips received from a plurality of client devices, a media analysis module to determine a temporal relation between a first media clip from the plurality of media clips and a second media clip from the plurality of media clips, and a content creation module to align the first media clip and the second media clip based on the temporal relation, and to combine the first media clip and the second media clip to generate the presentation. Each user who submits content may be assigned an identity (ID). Users may upload their movie clips to an ID assignment server, attaching metadata to the clips as they upload them, or later as desired. This metadata may, for example, include the following: Event Name, Subject, Location, Date, Timestamp, Camera ID, and Settings. In some example embodiments, additional processing may be applied as well (e.g., by the recognition server and/or the content analysis sub-module). Examples of such additional processing may include, but are not limited to, the following: Face, instrument, or other image or sound recognition; Image analysis for bulk features like brightness, contrast, color histogram, motion level, edge level, sharpness, etc.; Measurement of (and possible compensation for) camera motion and shake.
U.S. Publication 2012/0282884 for “System and method for the emergency voice and image e-mail transmitter device” by inventor Sun filed May 5, 2011, describes a voice and image e-mail transmitter device with an external camera attachment that is designed for emergency and surveillance purposes is disclosed. The device converts voice signals and photo images into digital format, which are transmitted to the nearest voice-image message receiving station from where the digital signal strings are parsed and converted into voice, image, or video message files which are attached to an e-mail and delivered to user pre-defined destination e-mail addresses and a 911 rescue team. The e-mail also includes the caller's voice and personal information, photo images of a security threat, device serial number, and a GPS location map of the caller's location. When the PSU device is initially used, the user needs to pre-register personal information and whenever a digital signal string is transmitted out from the PSU device it will include these personal information data plus a time code of the message being sent, the PSU device's unique serial number, and the GPS generated location code, etc. which will all be imbedded in the PSU e-mail.
U.S. Publication 2012/0262576 for “Method and system for a network of multiple live video sources” by inventors Sechrist, et al. filed Mar. 15, 2012, discloses a system and a method that operate a network of multiple live video sources. In one embodiment, the system includes (i) a device server for communicating with one or more of the video sources each providing a video stream; (ii) an application server to allow controlled access of the network by qualified web clients; and (iii) a streaming server which, under direction of the application server, routes the video streams from the one or more video sources to the qualified web clients.
Geo-location information and contemporaneous timestamps may be embedded in the video stream together with a signature of the encoder, providing a mechanism for self-authentication of the video stream. A signature that is difficult to falsify (e.g., digitally signed using an identification code embedded in the hardware of the encoder) provides assurance of the trustworthiness of the geo-location information and timestamps, thereby establishing reliable time and space records for the recorded events. In general, data included in the database may be roughly classified into three categories: (i) automatically collected data; (ii) curated data; and (iii) derivative data. Automatically collected data includes, for example, such data as reading from environmental sensors and system operating parameters, which are collected as a matter of course automatically. Curated data are data that are collected from examination of the automatically collected data or from other sources and include, for example, content-based categorization of the video streams. For example, detection of a significant amount of motion at speeds typical of automobiles may suggest that the content is “traffic.” Derivative data includes any data resulting from analysis of the automatically collected data, the curated data, or any combination of such data. For example, the database may maintain a ranking of video source based on viewership or a surge in viewership over recent time period. Derivative data may be generated automatically or upon demand.
None of the prior art provides solutions for cloud-based analytics of distributed input devices for secure social surveillance as provided by the present invention. | {
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Titanium aluminide alloys are the subject of numerous patents and publications including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,842,819; 4,917,858; 5,232,661; 5,348,702; 5,350,466; 5,370,839; 5,429,796; 5,503,794; 5,634,992; and 5,746,846, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 63-171862; 1-259139; and 142539; European Patent Publication No. 365174 and articles by V. R. Ryabov et al entitled "Properties of the Intermetallic Compounds of the System Iron-Alminum" published in Metal Metalloved, 27, No.4, 668673, 1969; S. M. Barinov et al entitled "Deformation and Failure in Titanium Aluminide" published in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR Metally, No. 3, 164-168, 1984; W. Wunderlich et al entitled "Enhanced Plasticity by Deformation Twinning of Ti-Al-Base Alloys with Cr and S" published in Z. Metallkunde, 802-808, 11/1990; T. Tsujimoto entitled "Research, Development, and Prospects of TiAl Intermetallic Compound Alloys" published in Titanium and Zirconium, Vol. 33, No. 3, 19 pages, 7/1985; N. Maeda entitled "High Temperature Plasticity of Intermetallic Compound TiAl" presented at Material of 53.sup.rd Meeting of Superplasticity, 13 pages, 1/30/1990; N. Maeda et al entitled "Improvement in Ductility of Intermetallic Compound through Grain Super-refinement" presented at Autumn Symposium of the Japan Institute of Metals, 14 pages, 1989; S. Noda et al entiitled "Mechanical Properties of TiAl Intermetallic Compound" presented at Autumn Symposium of the Japan Institute of Metals, 3 pages, 1988; H. A. Lipsitt entitled "Titanium Aluminides--An Overview" published in Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 39, 351-364, 1985; P. L. Martin et al entitled "The Effects of Alloying on the Microstructure and Properties of Ti.sub.3 Al and TiAl" published by ASM in Titanium 80, Vol. 2, 1245-1254, 1980; S. H. Whang et al entitled "Effect of Rapid Solidification in L1.sub.0 TiAl Compound Alloys" ASM Symposium Proceedings on Enhanced Properties in Structural Metals Via Rapid Solidification, Materials Week, 7 pages, 1986; and D. Vujic et al entitled "Effect of Rapid Solidification and Alloying Addition on Lattice Distortion and Atomic Ordering in L1.sub.0 TiAl Alloys and Their Ternary Alloys" published in Metallurgical Transactions A, Vol. 19A, 2445-2455, 10/1988.
Methods by which TiAl aluminides can be processed to achieve desirable properties are disclosed in numerous patents and publications such as those mentioned above. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,411 discloses a powder metallurgical technique for preparing titanium aluminide foil by plasma spraying a coilable strip, heat treating the strip to relieve residual stresses, placing the rough sides of two such strips together and squeezing the strips together between pressure bonding rolls, followed by solution annealing, cold rolling and intermediate anneals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,858 discloses a powder metallurgical technique for making titanium aluminide foil using elemental titanium, aluminum and other alloying elements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,992 discloses a method of processing a gamma titanium aluminide by consolidating a casting and heat treating the consolidated casting above the eutectoid to form gamma grains plus lamellar colonies of alpha and gamma phase, heat treating below the eutectoid to grow gamma grains within the colony structure and heat treating below the alpha tansus to reform any remaining colony structure a structure having % laths within gamma grains.
Still, in view of the extensive efforts to improve properties of titanium aluminides, there is a need for improved alloy compositions and economical processing routes.
According to a first embodiment, the invention provides a two-phase titanium aluminum alloy having a lamellar microstructure controlled by colony size. The alloy can be provided in various forms such as in the as-cast, hot extruded, cold and hot worked, or heat treated condition. As an end product, the alloy can be fabricated into an electrical resistance heating element having a resistivity of 60 to 200 .mu..OMEGA.-cm. The alloy can include additional elements which provide fine particles such as second-phase or boride particles at colony boundaries. The alloy can include grain-boundary equiaxed structures. The additional alloying elements can include, for example, up to 10 at % W, Nb and/or Mo. The alloy can be processed into a thin sheet having a yield strength of more than 80 ksi (560 MPa), an ultimate tensile strength of more than 90 ksi (630 MPa), and/or tensile elongation of at least 1.5%. The aluminum can be present in an amount of 40 to 50 at %, preferably about 46 at %. The titanium can be present in the amount of at least 45 at %, preferably at least 50 at %. As an example, the alloy can include 45 to 55 at % Ti, 40 to 50 at % Al, 1 to 5 at % Nb, 0.5 to 2 at % W, and 0.1 to 0.3 at % B. The alloy is preferably free of Cr, V, Mn and/or Ni. | {
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Large scale flip dot displays are operated utilizing a matrix of rotatable pixels, each pixel having a permanent magnet. Current passes through an underlying electromagnet and generates a magnetic field that rotates the pixel up to 180 degrees to display one of two sides. Disadvantages of this type of display technology have prevented its usage much beyond large, outdoor signage. For example, flip dot displays require high voltage to actuate rotation of a pixel, usually not less than 18-32 volts with corresponding significant current consumption. Flip dot displays are also quite expensive per pixel, and has only been commercialized in very large segment sizes. Due to these power, size, and cost limitations the prior art and industrial applications of flip dot displays have focused solely on large, outdoor signage applications. Furthermore, present flip dot displays typically have a standard industrial look featuring a green, yellow, or white painted coating on one side of the pixel representing its “ON” optical state. The “ON” optical state has a high contrast and visibility against the matte black painted background or opposing side of the pixel representing the “OFF” optical state.
In a variety of consumer electronics products ranging from digital watches, clocks, and mobile phones the dull black-on-grey liquid crystal display (LCD) is predominant. Many manufacturers find that their target price points suffer in higher-end products due to the perceived lower value and design limitations of this dull looking display. In product categories such as watches, function has become less of a differentiator. Design manufacturers instead rely on the use of differing materials to convey value. A colored plastic band or watch case may be used in a low-end watch, while a metal case and leather band would be found in higher priced watches. | {
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Synchronous baseband digital optical communication systems require low-pass electronic filters within transmitters for spectral shaping, and within receivers for limitation of noise bandwidth. Low pass filters having Gaussian characteristics would be desirable for these applications because they provide amplitude and phase response characteristics which minimize the distortion imparted to a pulse code modulated signal. Additionally, high bit rate SONET systems employing duobinary coding of optical phase, for example, systems employing the OC-192 protocol, may require a band-limiting filter within the duobinary encoder. Such a filter should exhibit Gaussian characteristics to minimize pulse distortion, low loss to enhance efficiency, and low reflection since the signal bandwidth entering the filter is typically twice the cut-off frequency.
Conventional low pass Gaussian filters are unable to meet the specifications dictated by the above applications because they suffer from a high voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), i.e., high reflection. When transmission bit rates extend into microwave frequencies, reflections and the resulting standing waves generate distortion which can severely impair the communication system.
Conventional low pass, low reflection (absorptive) microwave filters are also unable to meet the specifications dictated by the above applications. Conventional low pass, low reflection microwave filters are constructed of singly terminated lossless low pass and high pass networks connected to form a diplexer. FIG. 1 illustrates the generic form of such a filter. As shown in FIG. 1, the load is connected to port 2-2' and the source is connected to port 1-1', each of which has a 50.OMEGA. real internal impedance. The high pass network absorbs power in the stop band of the low pass network to minimize reflection at the driven port 1-1'. The frequency response of the filter is determined by the frequency responses of the low pass and high pass networks. For maximally flat attenuation and Tchebyscheff filter classes, the low pass and high pass networks can be implemented using standard synthesis techniques.
It is not possible to implement Gaussian filters having maximally flat time-delay using diplexer structures because phase ripple at the crossover frequency between the low pass and high pass networks generates signal distortion. Diplexer configurations also have the disadvantage of being nonreciprocal. That is, exchanging the source and load ports does not yield the same transfer characteristic from source to load. In addition, the reflection coefficient at port 2-2' is significantly greater than that at port 1-1' since port 2-2' is not diplexed. This yields a transfer characteristic that is highly sensitive to load matching at port 2-2'. Diplexing port 2-2' would alleviate this problem, but at the expense of severely impacting the transfer characteristic.
Accordingly, conventional filter technology does not enable the implementation of a low pass filter exhibiting low loss, low reflection, and Gaussian frequency response characteristics at microwave and radio frequencies. | {
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In analog integrated circuit (IC) design, it is important to use matched devices, that is, devices designed to have the same electrical properties, to achieve highly accurate circuit performance. Thus, a critical design challenge involves the variability of the individual devices built on the IC. Sources of mismatch include variation in geometrical shapes, poor layout and non-informalities in fabrication process and operating environment. Fabrication processing non-uniformity may be introduced by, for example, mask misalignment and non-uniform etching.
Certain types of devices are very sensitive to neighboring devices. Neighbor interactions can contribute significantly to device mismatch as well. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a special process for producing suppositories by compression, and the process of the invention is characterized by producing a suppository mixture granulate containing a considerably greater amount of active drug than ordinary suppositories as well as 20-50% by weight of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of at least 4000, and producing the suppositories in the same manner as tablets, i.e. by compression, instead of by moulding. The invention moreover concerns the suppositories obtained by the process which have a considerably higher percentual content of active drug than ordinary suppositories.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As will be known, suppositories are drugs intended for insertion into the rectum. They contain the active drug in a dosed amount and are produced by pressing, moulding or compression. They can also be produced in the form of capsules for controlled release of the active substance.
Ordinarily suppositories are produced by moulding, the produced mass being melted using the least possible amount of heat, and then the liquid mass is poured into moulds having the desired nominal capacity.
The suppositories produced by moulding are oblong and smooth, and they have a uniform appearance. Melting is intended to provide a uniform distribution of the drug in the basic mass, which, however, can be difficult to obtain because of sedimentation during hardening.
However, traditional moulding is a time-consuming and slow process which involves considerable costs. Moulded suppositories also have the drawback that too strong heating of certain suppository basic masses result in unstable modifications with a considerably reduced solidification point.
It is well-known to use polyethylene glycols having average molecular weights of 4000-6000 or above as the main component in the basic mass for suppositories produced by traditional melting and moulding. Thus, the DE Offenle-gungsschrift 2 248 777 describes melt-moulded indomethacin suppositories whose basic mass contains such polyethylene glycols.
It has previously been attempted to produce suppositories by compression or pressing, i.e. by traditional tabletting methods. However, these suppositories tend to form irregular rough surfaces, which makes them unpleasant to use for the patient. Moreover, in such a production method it has been found impossible to dose the drug in so high doses as is often desirable owing to the prescribed treatment.
Thus, the EP publication 111 137 describes suppositories containing the drug indomethacin in a base consisting of polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of up to 35,000. It is stated that the content of the active drug may be up to 50% by weight, but preferably the content is 2-40% by weight and in particular 2-26% by weight. All the examples in the publication concern rectal tablets having a content of indomethacin of 2.8-5.8% by weight and rectal capsules having a content of indomethacin of 5.25-10.5% by weight, i.e. rather low concentrations. Further, the suppositories thus known contain quite high amounts of polyethylene glycols, typically 1600-1730 mg per unit, which is a drawback, because it has been found that a content of polyethylene glycols in suppositories of 1-1.5 g per unit may cause bowel disorders. | {
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Polycarbonates, copolyestercarbonates, and polysiloxane copolycarbonates are high polymers produced by the condensation or intercondensation of a dihydroxy compound and a diacid or reactive derivative thereof such as an acid halide. When the dihydroxy compound is bisphenol-A and the acid derivative is phosgene, a simple polycarbonate (PC) polymer results. Similarly terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol intercondense to form polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Since these polymers are polyesters of bifunctional precursor monomers, it is theoretically possible for the reaction mixture to go entirely to completion and create one entire reaction vessel filling molecule. In practice, of course, this does not occur because as the polymerization increases the average chain length of the polymer increases, the viscosity of the reaction medium increases and the reaction probability decreases because there are progressively fewer complementary reactive species in a unit volume of the reaction vessel. Thus the reaction slows and eventually terminates on the basis of the statistics of reaction probability and the statistics of the polymer chain conformation because a reactive acid-derived terminus is statistically unlikely to find and react with a reactive hydroxyl terminus.
In producing these types of polyester polymers, endcapping or chain terminating agents are employed. In order to effectively terminate the growing end of a polymer molecule, these chain terminating or endcapping species must be monofunctional such that when reaction occurs with the growing end of the polymer molecule, further growth in the chain length of the particular polymer molecule is terminated. Thus depending on the statistical mechanics of polymer growth, there should be at least a rough correlation between the quantity of chain terminating agent, on a molar basis, and the average molecular weight of the polymer. Indeed, one function of endcapping agents, aside from the elimination of reactive ends, is to regulate the average molecular weight of the polymer being synthesized.
Typical endcapping agents have been monofunctional compounds of low molecular weight, high reactivity, readily available and cheap. Additionally such compounds have been monofunctional analogs of one or the other bifunctional monomers being polymerized. Thus in the case of polycarbonates, typical endcapping agents are various phenols such as phenol, tertiary-butyl-phenol, and para-cumyl-phenol. Other endcapping agents have been disclosed such as chromanyl in U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,481 to Bialous et al. herewith incorporated by reference. In general, aromatic polycarbonates and polycarbonate copolymers may be produced by various methods such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,635,895 and 4,001,184, herewith incorporated by reference.
Variations in the mole ratio between the chain terminating compounds, such as phenol, and the chain growing compounds, such as bisphenol-A and phosgene, lead to the ability to control the molecular weight of the resulting polymer. Higher levels of chain terminating agents in the reaction mixture tend to lead to lower average molecular weights or shorter average polymer chain length. Conversely, lower levels of chain terminating agents in the reaction mixture tend to lead to higher average molecular weights or longer average chain length.
Frequently there are additional considerations or advantages associated with the choice of a particular chain terminating agent. Being esters, polymers such as polyesters, copolyestercarbonates, polycarbonates, polysiloxane copolycarbonates and the like are susceptible to hydrolysis and trans-esterification. A chain terminating agent that reduces the susceptibility of these polymers to hydrolysis or trans-esterification can impart improved properties to the polymer as well as functioning as a polymer chain length regulator during synthesis.
When put to use, these polymers may be alloyed with other polymers and/or compounded with various stabilizing and functionalizing additives. The additive compounds or mixtures of additive compounds are typically incorporated to prohibit undesired reactions of the polymer to the physical or chemical challenges experienced either during the process of converting the polymer to a useful article of manufacture or during the useful life of the manufactured article containing the stabilized polymer. These physical and chemical challenges include among others, slow oxidation, rapid oxidation (combustion), photolytic degradation, thermal degradation, and hydrolytic degradation. Consequently, depending on a particular polymer, there are to be found various stabilizer compounds available commercially either singly or in combination that improve or render more stable one or more of the physical or chemical properties of the polymer.
A particular problem associated with the polycarbonate family of polymers is stability to photolytic degradation, especially that caused by ultraviolet radiation. There are accordingly a large variety of stabilizer compounds useful to impart an improved resistance to the effects of ultraviolet radiation upon polycarbonate polymers. Among these stabilizer compounds are the phenolically substituted benzotriazole compounds. At low levels of addition to the polymer formulation, below about 0.5 to about 1.0 weight percent, the benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers generally disperse or dissolve in the polymer matrix in a satisfactory fashion and generally impart the desired ultraviolet resistance to the polymer. At higher levels, above about 2 to about 3 weight percent, the benzotriazole stabilizers have a tendency to undergo migration, phase separation, and plate out. This is a significant problem for certain extruded, laminated or layered sheet formulations where the function of the sheet is to provide a protective function for structural or glazing sheet thereunder, because when the stabilizer compound undergoes a phase separation the effective quantity of stabilizer compound present in the polymer matrix is reduced. Additionally, the stabilizer that migrates form the polymer matrix coats and/or plugs the manufacturing process equipment, causing surface defects and other quality problems in the articles being manufactured. This results in increased downtime of the manufacturing equipment for cleaning.
A previous approach exemplified by the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,780 (the '780 patent) where phenolically substituted benzotriazoles, active for imparting ultraviolet resistance to polymers, are chemically bound as an endcapping agent to the polycarbonate polymer through the phenolic hydroxyl moiety. This approach incorporates the phenolically substituted benzotriazole as a chain stopping agent into the polymeric molecule. However, by the formation of a covalent chemical bond between the phenolic oxygen of the substituted benzotriazole and the terminal chloroformate group of the growing polycarbonate polymer, the ability of the phenolically substituted benzotriazole to function as an ultraviolet stabilizer is greatly reduced or altogether destroyed. Apparently, the phenol hydroxyl group of the phenolically substituted benzotriazole must be capable of forming a hydrogen bond in order for the molecule to function as an inhibitor for the degradative effects of ultraviolet radiation. While Applicant subscribes to this view as a matter of information and belief as however, the operability of Applicant's invention does not depend on this particular theoretical mechanism. While the incorporation of the benzotriazoles as taught in the '780 patent may render polycarbonates somewhat more stable to ultraviolet radiation, on a comparative basis the addition of an equivalent amount of free, as opposed to polymer bound, benzotriazole stabilizer compound to polycarbonates generally produces a better stabilizing effect in the polymers being treated therewith. Consequently, the benefit that might be achievable by chemical incorporation of the stabilizer molecule into the polymer is more than offset by a loss in efficacy caused by the changes in chemical bonding forced upon the stabilizer molecule when the stabilizer molecule is incorporated into the polymer.
Typically the stabilizer compounds are of a significantly lower molecular weight by comparison to the polymer being stabilized. This large difference in molecular weight leads to problems that are generally categorized as compatibility problems, i.e. the stabilizer may not be soluble in the polymer or because of its low molecular weight, the stabilizer has a tendency to volatilize or migrate out of the polymer matrix. A stabilizer that will not dissolve or disperse in the polymer to be stabilized does not impart any useful benefit to the polymer. Likewise a stabilizer that volatilizes or migrates out of the polymer matrix also does not impart any useful benefits to the polymer, and causes problems during manufacturing. The famous so-called "new car" smell is due to the migration and/or volatilization of various polymer stabilizing additives and plasticizers from the polymeric formulations widely employed in the manufacture of automobiles. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The field of invention relates generally to micro-fabrication of structures. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a polymerization technique suited for use in imprint lithography.
Micro-fabrication involves the fabrication of very small structures, e.g., having features on the order of micro-meters or smaller. One area in which micro-fabrication has had a sizeable impact is in the processing of integrated circuits. As the semiconductor processing industry continues to strive for larger production yields while increasing the circuits per unit area formed on a substrate, micro-fabrication becomes increasingly important. Micro-fabrication provides greater process control while allowing increased reduction of the minimum feature dimension of the structures formed. Other areas of development in which micro-fabrication has been employed include biotechnology, optical technology, mechanical systems and the like.
An exemplary micro-fabrication technique is commonly referred to as imprint lithography and is described in detail in numerous publications, such as United States published patent applications no. 2004/0065976 entitled METHOD AND A MOLD TO ARRANGE FEATURES ON A SUBSTRATE TO REPLICATE FEATURES HAVING MINIMAL DIMENSIONAL VARIABILITY; no. 2004/0065252, entitled METHOD OF FORMING A LAYER ON A SUBSTRATE TO FACILITATE FABRICATION OF METROLOGY STANDARDS; and No. 2004/0046271, entitled METHOD AND A MOLD TO ARRANGE FEATURES ON A SUBSTRATE TO REPLICATE FEATURES HAVING MINIMAL DIMENSIONAL VARIABILITY, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The fundamental imprint lithography technique as shown in each of the aforementioned published patent applications includes formation of a relief pattern in a polymerizable layer and transferring the relief image into an underlying substrate forming a relief image in a structure. To that end, a template is employed spaced-apart from a substrate, with a formable liquid present between the template and the substrate. The liquid is solidified forming a solidified layer that has a pattern recorded therein that is conforming to a shape of the surface of the template in contact with the liquid. The substrate and the solidified layer are then subjected to processes to transfer, into the substrate, a relief structure that corresponds to the pattern in the solidified layer.
One manner in which the polymerizable liquid is located between the template and the substrate is by depositing a plurality of droplets of liquid on the substrate. Thereafter, contact is made with the polymerizable liquid by the template to spread the polymerizable liquid over the surface of the substrate and subsequently record a pattern therein. It is highly desirable to avoid trapping of gases, such as air, when the polymerizable liquid spreads over the substrate.
It is desired, therefore, to provide a method for forming a fluid layer on a substrate while minimizing the trapping of gases therein. | {
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The present invention relates to an amphiphilic polyimide precursor and processor for the preparation thereof, and more particularly to an amphiphilic polyimide precursor modified to form a film by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.
In the 1930s, it was found by Langmuir and Blodgett that a fatty acid having 16 to 22 carbon atoms could form a monolayer (monomolecular film) on the surface of water and the monolayers could be built up on a substrate to form a multilayer film. In recent years, various studies have been made on the applications of the built-up films, namely Langmuir-Blodgett films (hereinafter referred to as "LB film"). The LB films of the straight-chain saturated fatty acids are poor in heat resistance and mechanical strength and are not suitable for practical uses. In order to solve the above problem, there are proposed, for instance, polymerizing films formed from unsaturated fatty acids such as .omega.-tricosenoic acid, .omega.-heptadecenoic acid and .alpha.-octadecylacrylic acid, or unsaturated fatty acid esters such as vinyl stearate and octadecyl acrylate. However, these films are insufficient in heat resistance and other properties.
On the other hand, it is well known that films of polyimide have excellent heat resistance. The thickness of the films prepared, for instance, by spin coating is at least 1,000 .ANG., usually 1 .mu.m or more. It is very difficult to form a heat resistant polyimide film with a thickness of less than 1,000 .ANG. and with no pin-hole.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an LB film having improved heat resistance, chemical resistance, mechanical properties such as adhesion and good insulation properties.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a material capable of providing a heat resistant ultrathin film.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an ultrathin film of polyimides.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereafter. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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An image forming device always has a toner cartridge for supplying a toner to a developing device. The toner cartridge is detachably mounted on the image forming device, and when the toner in the toner cartridge is used up, the user can replace it by himself. In order to prevent a toner container from not being mounted at the right position in the image forming device (i.e., the so-called half-inserted state), an engagement mechanism is provided on the side of the body of the image forming device, for the engagement of the toner cartridge.
However, the above mentioned mechanism for preventing half-insertion of the toner container has a defect that, the engagement mechanism must be released one by one when it is necessary to remove the toner cartridge from the body of the image forming device. | {
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1. Statement of the Technical Field
The invention concerns a display system. More particularly, the invention concerns a system and method for visualizing a multi-screen workspace on a single display screen.
2. Background
There are many types of industrial plant control systems (IPCS) known in the art for controlling industrial equipment and processes. One such conventional IPCS 100 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the IPCS 100 includes a first computing system (FCS) 102, a second computing system (SCS) 110, a server 104, a plant control system (PCS) 106, and industrial equipment 108. The PCS 106 typically has a distributed network configuration, i.e., there are application specific modules connected to each other, industrial equipment 108, and operator interfaces (not shown) via a local control network (not shown).
The computing systems (CSs) 102, 110 are configured to enable the control of the industrial equipment 108 by an operator (not shown). As such, each of the CSs 102, 110 includes a respective user interface 130, 120 and processing device 132, 122. The user interface 120 of the SCS 110 typically comprises a workspace including a single display screen (DS) 124 having a particular resolution (e.g., 1600 columns of pixels by 1200 rows of pixels). The DS 124 and processing device 122 collectively provide a means to display one or more display windows (e.g., DSWs 150′, . . . , 156′) to the operator (not shown). The phrase “display window” as used herein refers to a visual area of a display screen configured to display content. The content generally includes one or more of text, graphs, charts, real-time images, digital images, and graphical user interfaces.
In contrast, the user interface 130 of the FCS 102 typically comprises a multi-screen workspace including a plurality of DSs 134, . . . , 140 with particular resolutions (e.g., 1600 columns of pixels by 1200 rows of pixels). The DSs 134, . . . , 140 and the processing device 132 collectively provide a means to display a set of DSWs 150, . . . , 172 to a user (not shown). The user (not shown) is typically an engineer, a supervisor, a manager, and/or an operator.
The DSs 134, . . . , 140 often include different numbers of DSWs 150, . . . , 172 having particular resolutions and relative placement patterns. For example, the DSs 134, 140 include four (4) respective DSWs 150, . . . , 156, 166, . . . , 172 having the same resolution (e.g., 400 columns of pixels by 300 rows of pixels). The relative placement pattern of the DSWs 150, . . . , 156, 166, . . . , 172 can be generally defined by the following expressions: (a) top left DSW150, top right DSW152, bottom left DSW154, bottom right DSW156; and (b) top left DSW166, top right DSW168, bottom left DSW170, bottom right DSW172. The DSs 136, 138 include (2) respective DSWs 158, . . . , 164. The relative placement pattern of the DSWs 158, 160 can be defined by the following expression: top DSW158, bottom DSW160. The relative placement pattern of the DSWs 162, 164 can be defined by the following expression: left DSW162, right DSW164.
Despite the advantages of such a conventional IPCS 100, it suffers from certain drawbacks. For example, a user (not shown) of the SCS 110 can only view a portion (e.g., 25%) of the content displayed in the multi-screen workspace of the FCS 102 on the single DS 124. One can appreciate that this viewing limitation has disadvantageous affects on the results of certain events.
For example, if an error summary is displayed in a lower right corner of a display screen to a first engineer (not shown) of the FCS 102, then the first engineer (not shown) contacts a second engineer present at a different geographic location to determine what actions are necessary to resolve the error or relocate the error summary to an upper left corner of the display screen. However, the second engineer only has access to a single-screen workspace. The single-screen workspace is configured to display a portion (e.g., 25%) of the content (e.g., DSWs 150, . . . , 156) displayed on the multi-screen workspace (as shown in FIG. 1). As a result, the second engineer is unable to easily visualize the multi-screen workspace for understanding its DSW layout, commenting on its DSW layout, determining how to resolve the error in a time efficient manner, and determining how to relocate the error summary. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved IPCS configured to enable the visualization of substantially all of the content of a multi-screen workspace on a single display screen. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combination of a bottom of a pan and a heating means.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrates a conventional electric rice cooker comprising an inner pan 1xe2x80x2 that is generally formed by means of aluminum extrusion. A thermo-sensitive plate 2xe2x80x2, an electric heating member 3xe2x80x2, and a thermostatic circuit 4xe2x80x2 are mounted to a bottom of the inner pan 1xe2x80x2. When in use, the thermo-sensitive plate 2xe2x80x2 is deformed when it is heated and thus switches the power supply circuit from the electric heating member 3xe2x80x2 to the thermostatic circuit 4xe2x80x2. When cooking is required, a lever 5xe2x80x2 is pushed to move the thermo-sensitive plate 2xe2x80x2 to connect with the electric heating member 3xe2x80x2, thereby proceeding with cooking of rice in the inner pan 1xe2x80x2. However, cooking in the aluminum inner pan 1xe2x80x2 is apt to produce toxic substances. The assembly procedure is troublesome and the overall cost is relatively high, as there are many complicated elements in the heat-sensing mechanism. In addition, the electric heating member is not integrally formed with the bottom of the inner pan and thus could not provide uniform heat conduction.
An object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a bottom of a pan and a heating means. The combination comprises a pan, an aluminum alloy plate and an electric heating member welded to a bottom of the pan by means of instantaneous welding, a thermostatic circuit fixed to the bottom of the pan for keeping the pan at a constant temperature when energized, a mounting plate integrally formed with the aluminum alloy plate, and a temperature-control switch fixed to the mounting plate. A switch is mounted to a rear of the temperature-control switch to thereby switch the temperature-control switch between the electric heating member and the thermostatic circuit. An activating member is operably connected to the switch in a manner that the electric heating member is turned on when the activating member is manually activated and that the electric heating member is turned off and the thermostatic circuit is energized when a food in the pan is well cooked or heated to a predetermined temperature.
In an embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate extends along a horizontal plane, and the activating member is a push button. In another embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate extends along a plane orthogonal to the bottom of the pan, and the activating member is a lever.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a radar system having a stabilized display presentation. The invention is particularly useful in marine radar systems having digitized video signals with processing thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Marine radar systems of the prior art have generally operated in the PPI mode using pulsed operation. The repetition rate of the pulses, termed the PRF (pulse repetition frequency), was determined in accordance with an internal oscillator. One PRF triggering pulse was produced for each radar return time or radial scan line.
In the display presentation of the returned radar signals, the sweep starting out from the radar center was commenced by the same PRF triggering pulse or at a fixed time delay thereafter. Unfortunately, a problem arose in that the actual time elapsed between the commencement of the PRF triggering pulse and the emission of a pulse from the radar antenna was subject to variation by a number of factors. As the range of display was changed, the pulse width and average power from the transmitter ouput stage also changed causing the final output tube to fire at different times after the commencement of the PRF pulse depending upon the range chosen by the operator. The problem has been found to be particularly acute when solid state modulators are used. Also, aging of the final output tube or other components in the tramsmitting circuitry caused unwanted variations. Variations could appear between adjacent pulse times as well as between complete sweeps or between ranges.
Because of these variations, an uneven display of received signals was made. The target would tend to appear jagged or be presented out of position upon succeeding sweeps. The jagged edge problem was particularly apparent if digital processing of received signals was employed.
Accordingly, it is object of the present invention to provide a radar system in which the display of received signals is stabilized and synchronized to the actual transmission of radar pulses.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a system having a stabilized presentation and further employing digital processing of received radar signals. | {
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Known internal combustion engines typically comprise cylinder blocks containing individual cylinders that are closed at one end by an engine cylinder head that is attached to the engine block. In a spark-ignition engine, the cylinder head contains threaded spark plug holes, each of which is open to a respective cylinder. A respective spark plug is threaded into the respective hole to close the hole. Each spark plug includes a central electric terminal that is available for electric connection with a mating terminal of an ignition coil assembly or module.
One general category of ignition coils are individual coils inserted in substantially inside the spark plug insertion hole in the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. These assemblies have been variously called a pencil coil, a stick coil, a plug hole coil and cigar coil. Generally, such ignition coil assemblies comprise both a wound primary coil and a wound secondary coil concentrically aligned with a ferromagnetic core. Some ignition coil assemblies place the primary coil inside the secondary coil, while others place the secondary coil inside the primary coil, both of which are suitable for use with the present invention.
In operation, an electric current flows through the primary coil creating a large magnetic field. At the proper time in the engine operating cycle for firing a particular spark plug, the electric current is abruptly interrupted, and the rapid change in the magnetic field induces a voltage in the secondary coil sufficiently high to create a spark across gapped electrodes of the spark plug.
Most known pencil coils incorporate electrical, mechanical and thermal isolation between the magnetic core and the closest coil. Typically, the coil is formed on an insulative bobbin, however additional isolation is provided. One known method is the application of heat-shrink tubing around the ferromagnetic core. Another method is a direct casting of rubber or other material inside the bobbin and outside the ferromagnetic core. Unfortunately, both of these methods and their structures have drawbacks.
For example, the bobbin containing the coil typically has a round or cylindrical interior wall. However, the ferromagnetic core may be frustoconical shaped or oval-shaped in its cross-section, and that shape is continued after the plastic sleeve has been heat-shrinked to the ferromagnetic core, resulting in a mis-match of shapes. With direct casting of rubber into the space between the bobbin and ferromagnetic core, the process is very messy. Further, the process of pouring a viscous gel into a tightly constricted space is extremely slow, and also requires significant time and heat for curing. Additionally, this process can result in the trapping of air within the assembly, thereby forming poorly insulated points. In both cases, precise control over the exterior shape of the ferromagnetic core and isolation layer is extremely difficult and potentially expensive.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an ignition coil assembly having electrical and thermal isolation between the magnetic core and the bobbin in which the exterior shape is precisely controlled as well as permitting unique and various shapes, while providing a faster, cleaner and more efficient method of manufacturing the ignition coil assembly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle drive system, and more particularly to system starting of a hybrid vehicle.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
There is known a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, and (b) an electrically controlled differential portion having an input shaft connected to the engine, an output shaft, a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and the operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state of rotating speeds of the input and output shafts. JP-2003-63258 A discloses an example of such a hybrid vehicle drive system. In hybrid drive systems as disclosed in the above-identified publication, a hybrid vehicle is generally driven by the vehicle drive electric motor with the engine held at rest in a running condition of the hybrid vehicle in which the operating efficiency of the engine is relatively low. In a running condition of the hybrid vehicle in which the engine is operated at a comparatively low speed to produce a comparatively small torque, for example, during starting of the hybrid vehicle, the vehicle drive electric motor is operated to drive the vehicle with the engine held at rest in view of a comparatively low operating efficiency of the engine
The rotary elements of the differential mechanism or other rotary members are required to be lubricated even while the hybrid vehicle can be driven by a drive force produced by the vehicle drive electric motor with the engine held at rest. The above-identified publication proposes the use of a mechanical oil pump which is operated by the engine to lubricate the rotary members. When it is determined that the rotary members is required to be lubricated, an electricity generating electric motor provided as an electric generator is operated to operate the engine for a predetermined time for operating the mechanical oil pump, so that a lubricant is supplied to the rotary members.
In recently developed hybrid vehicle drive systems, the above-indicated electrically controlled differential portion is connected to a hydraulically operated automatic transmission portion. To start the hybrid vehicle equipped with such a hybrid vehicle drive system including such an automatic transmission portion, hydraulically operated coupling devices incorporated in the automatic transmission portion to establish a desired operating position thereof must be selectively supplied with a pressurized working fluid. To this end, the mechanical oil pump is operated by the engine driven by the electricity generating electric motor, to supply the pressurized working fluid to the relevant hydraulically operated coupling devices of the automatic transmission portion, upon starting of the hybrid vehicle with the vehicle drive electric motor with the engine held at rest. In this condition, however, the engine is operated with a low operating efficiency, leading to a risk of deterioration of fuel economy of the vehicle. In view of this drawback, it is considered to use an electric oil pump which is provided in addition to the mechanical oil pump and which is electrically driven to actuate the desired hydraulically operated coupling devices of the automatic transmission portion while the engine is at rest.
The use of those two oil pumps makes it possible to reduce the risk of deterioration of the fuel economy of the hybrid vehicle, owing to the operation of the electric oil pump rather than the engine in the running condition of the vehicle in which the operating efficiency of the engine is relatively low. It is generally required to start the hybrid vehicle drive system before starting of the hybrid vehicle. The starting of the hybrid vehicle drive system requires a predetermined length of time before the drive system becomes ready to start. In this respect, it is noted, for example, that the hybrid vehicle drive system is provided with a high-voltage electric system for driving the vehicle drive electric motor. To start this high-voltage electric system, it is required to effect a diagnosis of the high-voltage electric system for circuit protection, which requires a predetermined length of time. Where the hybrid vehicle drive system includes the automatic transmission portion operated under the control of a hydraulic control unit, this hydraulic control unit is required to be supplied with the pressurized working fluid to permit running of the hybrid vehicle, as a part of the starting procedure of the hybrid vehicle drive system. Where the supply of the pressurized working fluid to the hydraulic control unit is achieved by the electric oil pump, the supply of the fluid requires a further time since the electric oil pump becomes operable only after a high voltage of the high-voltage electric system has been lowered to a suitable level by a DCDC converter after the high-voltage electric system is started. Thus, the hybrid vehicle drive system provided with the automatic transmission portion requires a relatively long time for starting thereof, which may give the operator of the hybrid vehicle a discomfort associated with slow or delayed starting of the hybrid vehicle. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to chip assembly and packaging, and more particularly, to a base substrate for chip scale packaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional chip scale packaging, as shown in FIG. 1, generally has a base board 1 made of glass fibers mixed with epoxy resin. Base board 1 has a center through opening 2 and an upper circuit side 3 with a plurality of bond pads 4. A chip 5 has an active side 7 attached to a bottom side 6 of base board 1. Active side 7 of chip 5 has a plurality of bond pads 8 disposed on the centre portion thereof. Bond pads 8 are interconnected to bond pads 4 via connecting bond wires 9 passing though opening 2.
The packaging mentioned above has a chief defect. It is that for being made of hard materials, base board 1 is always deformed or destroyed during punching or drilling used to form through opening 2.
To eliminate this defect, U.S. Pat. No. 6,717,276 discloses a base substrate constructed by an upper metal layer, a bottom metal layer and an organic tape layer attached therebetween. For needing not to punch or drill, such a base substrate is capable of eliminating the defect of the prior art base board mentioned above. However, it needs a plurality of vias disposed on the organic tape layer, and a plurality of openings disposed on the bottom metal layer to provide a series of electrical interconnects between the upper metal layer and the bottom metal layer. The vias and openings are formed generally by etching methods which are expensive and time-consuming.
Thus, there is desired an improved base substrate for chip scale packaging which can effectively eliminate these and other defects in prior art base substrates mentioned above. | {
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This invention relates to leak detection methods and systems, and more particularly, to automotive fuel leak detection using a pressure switch, a temperature differential and statistics.
In a vapor handling system for a vehicle, fuel vapor that escapes from a fuel tank is stored in a canister. If there is a leak in the fuel tank, the canister, or any other component of the vapor handling system, fuel vapor could exit through the leak to escape into the atmosphere.
Vapor leakage may be detected through evaporative monitoring. This evaporative monitoring may be performed while an engine is running, where pressure decrease may be analyzed. This type of evaporative monitoring may detect 1 mm and larger leaks, however, it is believed that many parameters influence the accuracy of the diagnosis. Therefore, it is believed that evaporative monitoring when the engine is off is more reliable.
The present invention provides a method of leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle, wherein an engine is shut off. The method includes obtaining a start temperature, providing an evaluation temperature, calculating a temperature differential between the start temperature and the evaluation temperature, evaluating whether a pressure switch is closed if the temperature differential is greater than a temperature control value, incrementing a time counter if the pressure switch is not closed, and comparing the time counter to a time control value if the pressure switch is not closed.
The present invention also provides another method of leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle, wherein an engine is shut off. This method includes determining whether the engine is off, closing a shut off valve, providing a pressure switch, a temperature sensing element, and an engine management system to receive pressure and temperature signals from the pressure switch and temperature sensing element, obtaining a start temperature and providing an evaluation temperature, calculating a temperature differential between the start temperature and the evaluation temperature, comparing the temperature differential to a temperature control value, evaluating whether the pressure switch is closed when the temperature differential is greater than a temperature control value, determining a no leak condition if the pressure switch is closed, incrementing a time counter if the pressure switch is not closed, comparing the time counter to a time control value if the pressure switch is not closed, determining a leak condition if the time counter is greater than the time control value, and determining a diagnosis not performed condition if the time counter is not greater than the time control value.
The present invention also provides an automotive evaporative leak detection system. The system includes a pressure switch, a temperature sensing element, and a processor operatively coupled to the pressure switch and the temperature sensing element and receiving, respectively, pressure and temperature signals therefrom. The processor calculates a temperature differential between a start temperature and an evaluation temperature, evaluates whether a pressure switch is closed, increments a time counter, and compares the time counter to a time control value.
The present invention further provides another automotive evaporative leak detection system. This system includes a pressure switch located on a conduit between a fuel tank and a canister, a temperature sensor mounted on the fuel tank, a shut off valve located between the canister and an atmosphere, a control valve located between the canister and an engine, and a processor operatively coupled to the pressure switch and the temperature sensor and receiving, respectively, pressure and temperature signals therefrom. The canister communicates with the engine and the atmosphere, the fuel tank communicates with the engine and the processor opens and closes the shut off valve and the control valve. The processor also calculates a temperature differential between a start temperature and an evaluation temperature, evaluates whether a pressure switch is closed, increments a time counter, and compares the time counter to a time control value. | {
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The present invention relates generally to hypodermic syringes, and more particularly for apparatus for sterilization of hypodermic syringe needles.
In veterinary medicine, large quantities of livestock, such as sheep, cattle or horses, have to be innoculated for the prevention of disease or for the cure of a disease through the use of a hypodermic syringe. During such innoculations, very unsanitary and dirty conditions are encountered out in the fields, and generally extensive sterilization standards which are cautiously followed when innoculating humans are not followed when innoculating livestock. Hundreds of livestock are innoculated at one period of time with the same hypodermic syringe in rapid succession. The needle generally is not sterilized between innoculations, and the result is that many infections are created simply as a result of the innoculation, a result of which is that some of the livestock is lost by death through the infection contracted through the innoculation.
The syringes utilized generally consist of a pistol-grip rubber or plastic plunger type syringe which meters out a predetermined quantity of innoculation serum with each actuation of the pistol-grip actuated plunger. Thus, one syringe is capable of holding a sufficient quantity of innoculation serum to innoculate a plurality of livestock. Due to this fact and further due to the fact that such large quantities of livestock have to be innoculated, it is not practical to replace the needle with a sterile needle after every innoculation, or to sterilize the needle between innoculations.
It is a principal object of the present invention to eliminate these foregoing problems and to provide a hypodermic syringe which automatically sterilizes the same needle after each innoculation while still permitting rapid successive uses of the same syringe. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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European Patent No. 0 337 528 discloses a safety cap for a container containing steam under pressure, comprising a closure member screwed onto the mouth of the container, an external knob which the user can turn to screw the closure member on and off, and an internal diaphragm which is moved by the action of the pressure of the steam. When the pressure of steam in the container is zero or low, the diaphragm is in a rest position, and the closure member and knob are coupled in rotation to allow the cap to be unscrewed. As the pressure of the steam rises, the diaphragm moves into an operating position and uncouples the knob from the closure member to prevent the closure member from being unscrewed.
This safety cap therefore prevents the container from being opened when there is high steam pressure inside it and prevents the pressurized steam from escaping violently and injuring the user.
This safety cap finds advantageous application in, for example, the boilers of steam generators for domestic use, e.g. for supplying steam irons, cleaning equipment, etc. Its virtue is that the domestic user is often technically unskilled and therefore lacks the necessary awareness and understanding to handle a pressure boiler.
It is precisely because of the great danger represented by a container of steam under pressure, and the inexperience of those who usually use it, that it is so important to improve the closure cap of the container in such a way as to lower the risk margin, and hence the likelihood of accidents, towards zero. | {
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} |
The present invention relates to wrapping devices for use with large round balers for wrapping bales formed in the baling chambers of these balers.
Conventionally, large round balers are known which are equipped with wrapping devices that include feed rolls for pulling a length of material, such as plastic sheeting or net formed into a web, from a supply roll, and routing it to the baling chamber where the material is wrapped about the bale. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,368 granted to Anstey et al. on Jan. 20, 1993. Because the supply roll of material may become depleted at a location quite a distance from where additional supply rolls are kept, it is desirable to carry a spare supply roll on the baler. However available space for mounting a holder for the spare roll in an easily accessible area without increasing the width of the baler is not easily found and, when found, are often inconveniently located relative to where the active supply roll is mounted. For example one known baler has its active roll located at the rear of the baler, such as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, while the spare supply roll is mounted at the front of the baler. | {
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This invention relates generally to glass processing equipment and more particularly pertains to a forehearth furnace for use in glass processing for the purpose of delivering a flow of molten glass from a melting furnace to a spout and thence to subsequent forming equipment.
The typical forehearth furnace comprises an elongated trough for supporting a bed of molten glass. Above the trough is an elaborate roof structure which, in combination with the trough, defines a longitudinal tunnel for processing the molten glass through the forehearth. Such a forehearth includes means for generating heat energy to the molten glass which may comprise a series of gas burners and/or electrodes along the length of the tunnel to directly heat the molten glass in the trough. Such a forehearth further includes a means for removing heat from the molten glass. It is through the appropriate disposition and control of the heating and cooling means that temperature gradients in the molten glass are reduced whereby the desired viscosity and other desired physical and chemical properties of the glass are maintained.
The existence of an extreme temperature gradient between the molten glass along the center line of the forehearth and its outer edges has long been recognized. For well over fifty years the glass industry has been aware that the capability to induce heat energy along the opposite sides and to remove heat energy from the longitudinal center portion of the molten glass in a forehearth is critical in obtaining improved temperature uniformity. U.S. Pat. No. 1,893,061, issued in 1933, teaches the provision of improved means for cooling glass in the longitudinal median portion of a forehearth while applying heat along the side portions of the glass. The foregoing concept was expanded upon in U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,310, issued in 1971, wherein a heating means is arranged longitudinally along the two side portions of the glass, and the glass along the center line of the forehearth is cooled by removing heat radiated upwardly to a roof structure component which is cooled from above by a transverse pressurized air flow. This patent also teaches the concept of heat removal on the underside of the trough by means of a longitudinally-extending duct supporting a flow of pressurized cooling air therethrough.
An improved forehearth construction was thereafter developed, particularly as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,972, issued in 1976, wherein the general tunnel area above the molten glass in the forehearth was separated into a substantially large cooling area directly above the longitudinal center of the glass and oppositely-disposed longitudinally-extending firing chambers or heating areas directly above the side portions of the glass adjacent the longitudinally-extending trough edges. Representative of more recent attempts to further improve the efficiency of heat removal from the longitudinal central portion of the molten glass in a forehearth is the structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,579, issued in 1985. In this patent, the desirability of eliminating direct contact of the overhead cooling air with the glass stream therebelow is recognized, and provision is made for improved heat-conductive structure between the central cooling area directly above the glass and the longitudinal cooling channel in the roof structure which carries a continuous flow of cooling pressurized air for removing the heat energy and exhausting it to the atmosphere.
Despite the significant advancements introduced by developments in the structure of forehearths, such as those to be found in the aforementioned patents, there remains a need for improving both the efficiency and control of heat energy generation into, and heat energy removal from, the molten glass in a forehearth.
In the current state of the art of glass processing forehearths, operational efficiency has been enhanced by structural compartmentalization which prevents heat-removing air flow from intermixing with the by-products of combustion in the area immediately above the molten glass, and significant efforts have been made to improve the heat transfer from the cooling area immediately above the longitudinal central portion of the glass to an overhead longitudinal air flow cavity.
Insufficient attention, however, has thus far been given to the tendency of known forehearth structures to inherently preheat the air flow which moves through roof cavities to perform its cooling function. Whether the flow of air is longitudinal or transverse, the various components of the entire roof structure are so hot during operation of the forehearth that the incoming pressurized air, meant to pick up heat primarily from the central overhead partition above the molten glass, is preheated from roof component contact. The ability of any given volume of air to accept the transfer of heat energy from the central area is greatly diminished by the already increased temperature of the air volume arriving at the central area.
A collateral heat-conducting problem also exists in current forehearth constructions with regard to the means of generating heat energy into the molten glass at the oppositely-disposed longitudinal trough sides or edges. As with the roof structure, the entire trough and its support structure, regardless of composition, acts as a gigantic heat sink, and much of the heat which passes from the heating means to the molten glass, immediately downwardly adjacent the oppositely-disposed longitudinally-extending firing chambers is immediately dissipated into the trough sidewalls. This is particularly disadvantageous since the goal is to increase, not decrease, the temperature of the side portions of the glass. Improved homogeneity of the temperature of the molten glass can only be attained by cooling the molten glass along the hearth center line and increasing the temperature of the side portions. | {
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In many electronic systems, it is desirable to be able to measure the current drawn by one or more components or subsystems. Current drawn is related to the overall energy consumption of the system. If the current drawn by all devices of interest is accurately sensed, an accurate computation of energy being consumed by the system may be performed. If current measurements are not accurate, the accuracy of the overall energy calculation is reduced. Most motorized vehicles (for example, cars, buses and the like) include electronic systems that are subject to adverse conditions that may impact the accuracy of current measurements because of the location of the electronic systems in or on the vehicle. A significant factor that may affect current measurement accuracy is that automotive batteries are typically subject to wide swings in output voltage. Battery voltage swings result from many factors, including loading and state of battery charge. Another factor that is likely to affect measurement accuracy is a wide variation in temperature at the location where current is being measured. For example, an automotive engine compartment is subject to wide temperature variation depending on such factors as operating conditions and seasonal temperature change.
In addition, it may be desirable to provide short circuit protection for a load while the current flow to the load is measured. Another complicating factor is the desire to obtain an accurate current measurement in a manner that utilizes as little battery voltage as possible. In systems in which it is desirable to provide a digital value corresponding current drawn by a load, still another factor complicating current measurement is the desirability of protecting an analog-to-digital converter adapted to produce the digital value from being damaged by an over-voltage condition. For these reasons, it is a challenging problem to obtain accurate current draw measurements for devices and electronic systems that are powered by a battery in a motor vehicle. | {
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This invention relates generally to systems and methods for reducing vehicle-collision injuries and damage and concerns more specifically such systems and methods that are particularly suitable for use with large vehicles, such as truck trailers, for preventing smaller vehicle from under-riding them.
Deployable interior airbags have been effective for protecting passengers inside vehicles and have, therefore, become mandatory equipment for vehicles. As an extension of this, it has been suggested to place deployable airbags on exteriors of vehicles for absorbing impact energy of colliding vehicles and thereby reducing damage to the vehicles. For example, each of U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,751 to Wesley; U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,265 to Baber; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,038 to Dreher describes a system for reducing collision damage by deploying an airbag on an exterior of a vehicle. The airbag system of Baber is mentioned as being particularly suitable for use with trucks and truck trailers. This system involves placing an airbag on a truck, which is depicted in FIG. 7. The airbag is inflated when a possible collision is perceived, by radar for example. This patent mentions that the invention described therein particularly helps a vehicle colliding with the principal truck on which the airbag is mounted, since an airbag inflates to cushion the colliding vehicle. The patent mentions both side and rear collisions and mentions that this system reduces liability claims for trucks.
Although the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,265 and the other prior-art patents mentioned above have advantages, they also present some difficulties. One such difficulty involves sensing that a collision is about to take place with enough certainty and lead time that an airbag has time to deploy in time to do some good. Several of the above-described prior-art patents suggest using radar or sonar (see U.S. Pat. 6,106,038 to Dreher and U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,265 to Baber), presumably to sense that a collision is imminent and trigger deployment of the airbag in time to provide a useful cushion. However, as can be imagined, such non-con tact and imprecise sensing can be risky, sometimes triggering an expensive, unnecessary and dangerous airbag deployment.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an airbag system, method and vehicle with such an airbag system, that provides a precise, reliable sensing of an imminent collision, while at the same time providing sufficient lead time for allowing an airbag enough time to inflate and cushion the impact of the colliding vehicle.
Large vehicles, such as truck cabs and trailers, pose a particular problem for motorists of smaller vehicles because the smaller vehicles, such as normal-size cars, can under-ride the larger vehicles. Such under-ride collisions are particularly dangerous for the occupants of the smaller vehicles because they can be thereby, decapitated, even though they may be wearing seat belts and are not driving at high speeds. To prevent such under-riding, some trucks have installed under-ride guards, or bumpers, mounted at their sides and back. These under-ride guards can have various shapes and forms, but quite often are simply rigid vertical and horizontal bars extending downwardly from the bottoms of truck trailers. Again, such under-ride guards can be at sides and backs of truck trailers. Although under-ride guards tend to reduce under-ride injuries, they are often not sufficiently strong to prevent under-ride during high-speed collisions. Another problem is that the under-ride guards themselves cause damage to smaller cars, because they, by their nature, are formed as rigid protrusions. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an under-ride protection system that has added strength while also cushioning the impact of a collision.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,907,353 to Dinitz suggests using adjustable bumpers on vehicles having elevated bodies, with the adjustable bumpers including energy absorbers, or dissipaters. A disadvantage of such a system is that the adjustable bumper is unduly complicated and the dissipaters make it unduly bulky. Further, in order to make the bumper adjustable, one must make compromises between strength and functionality. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an under-ride protection system that is not unduly complicated, bulky, non-functional or weak.
According to principles of this invention, an external vehicle airbag system for being mounted on a road-traveling principal vehicle includes an airbag to be inflated for absorbing the energy of a colliding vehicle and preventing the colliding vehicle from under-riding the principle vehicle. In this regard, the vehicle airbag system includes an airbag mount for mounting the airbag at a bottom side of the principal vehicle, substantially laterally inwardly spaced from a lateral-side periphery of the principal vehicle. The airbag system further includes a sensor for being mounted on the principal vehicle at a position more laterally outward, in the direction of the lateral-side periphery, than is the airbag. The sensor senses an imminent impact of the principal vehicle with the colliding vehicle and, in response thereto, inflates the airbag. Thus, as the colliding vehicle impacts the principle vehicle laterally, the airbag inflates below the principal vehicle, along the bottom thereof toward the lateral periphery, to thereby counter and absorb energy from the colliding vehicle to prevent its under-riding. In one embodiment, the sensor is positioned about at the lateral-side periphery and includes a rigid under-ride guard. | {
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As is generally known, the prior art connectors are made up of a male terminal fitted into a female terminal. One of the drawbacks of the prior art connectors is that they require multiple different components, since the male terminal components are all structurally different from the female terminal components. This entails higher costs, due to the variety of components, a higher need for manufacturing tools, a longer manufacturing and assembly time and doubled quantities in stock due to the use of male and female connectors.
Another drawback is that, after some time of usage, gaps arise between the components of both terminals, which causes a poor contact in the connector and, as a consequence, a momentary interruption in the electric power supply. Depending on the equipment being powered, such as a computer, for example, the interruption in the electric current may have very negative consequences. | {
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Synthetically produced precipitated silicas play an important role as an ingredient in many of today's toothpaste formulations. In addition to their cleaning ability, they are also relatively safe, nontoxic, and compatible with other toothpaste ingredients, including glycerin, sorbitol (or xylitol), thickening agents, detergents coloring and fragrance materials and, optionally, fluoride containing compositions.
Synthetic precipitated silicas are prepared by admixing alkaline silicate solutions with acids, stirring and then filtering out the precipitated silica. The resulting precipitate is next washed, dried and comminuted to desired size. When preparing synthetic precipitated silicas, the objective is to obtain silicas which provide maximal cleaning with minimal damage to oral tissue. Dental researchers are continually concerned with identifying precipitated silicas meeting these objectives.
Examples of precipitated silicas include U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,161 to Wason, Oct. 24, 1978, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,992,251 and 5,035,879 to Alderoff et al., Feb. 12, 1991 and Jul. 30, 1991 respectively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,695 to Newton et at., Mar. 24, 1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,815 to Wason et al., Jan. 18, 1994.
Moreover, various combinations of silicas have also been described in the art. Silica combinations involving compositions of differing particle sizes and specific surface areas are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,521 to Karlheinz Scheller et al., May 4, 1971 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,488 to Maeyama et al., Oct. 21, 1986, respectively. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,110,574 to Reinhardt et al., May 5, 1992 discloses combining thickener and polishing silicas to form silica compositions having oil absorption values of at least 200. Further examples of silica combinations include U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,143 to Muhlemann, Jun. 23, 1992 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,826 to Ploger et al., Dec. 30, 1986.
In spite of the many disclosures relating to compositions for oral cleaning and antiplaque activity, there is still a need for additional compositions providing improved pellicle cleaning with minimal abrasion. The present inventor has discovered that abrasive compositions comprising silicas having particles of differing hardness values provide improved dental cleaning with minimal abrasion.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide precipitated silica compositions exhibiting improved pellicle cleaning without a corresponding increase in dentin or enamel abrasion. Another object of the present invention is to provide an effective method for the prevention or removal tooth stains. A further object of the present invention is to provide an effective method for the prevention or removal of plaque. These and other objects will become readily apparent from the disclosure which follows. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates in general to sewing machines and in particular to a new and useful device for sensing the thickness of the material being sewn at a stitching point.
German Pat. No. 33 23 214 discloses a sewing machine that has an optoelectronic sensing device to detect changes in the position of the material. All that the prior art solution does is to give off a switching pulse when there is a transition in material positions, and it cannot determine the actual height differential of the approaching difference in thickness. | {
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This invention relates to apparatus for accurate placement of a chalk line, and more particularly to a chalk line and laser assembly that provides a means for precise positioning of a chalk line that can be applied by a single operator.
Lasers have become very useful to surveyors. They generally employ a laser emitter at one point that can be accurately positioned by a first operator and a receiver positioned by a second operator at a second point located to intercept the beam. In construction and related industry, it is common practice to mark a line on a surface with a chalk line. It would be useful to be able to position that line very accurately with the aid of a laser, especially if a single operator could use it..
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a laser chalk line assembly that is operable by a single person that would enable the chalk line to be positioned with great accuracy. It is another object that the apparatus be easy to use and inexpensive to produce. The apparatus of the invention comprises a laser pivotally mounted on a base. The laser may be adjusted to be level and rotated about a pivot to a preset angle relative to the base. A special chalk line reel has a chalk cord whose free end is removably attached to the base. The reel has a laser target that enables the operator to position the cord and reel in line with the light beam. The operator then snaps the cord onto the surface to be marked.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when the detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements are designated by like reference characters in the various drawing figures. | {
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Fluorescence imaging is a powerful technique for the analysis of biological samples. In the simplest case, an imaging system such as an epifluorescence microscope equipped with an excitation lamp and a filter-cube is used to illuminate the sample at one wavelength while imaging it at another.
However, significantly more information can be obtained from the same sample if the more advanced techniques of Hyper-Spectral Imaging (HSI) or Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) are employed. In a HSI setup the complete fluorescence spectrum is acquired for every point of the object. It is a particularly useful method to clearly discriminate different structural features within a sample when multiple fluorescent dyes are employed whose spectra overlap (T. Zimmermann, “Spectral imaging and linear unmixing in light microscopy,” Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biotechnol. 95, 245-265 (2005)). Rather than measuring (spectral) intensity, FLIM involves the mapping of the decay times of fluorescence (J. R. Lakowicz, Principles of fluorescence spectroscopy (Kluwer Academics, 1999)), which can vary depending on the local environment of exogenous or endogenous fluorophores. Such a functional imaging approach is well suited to the study of biochemical and biophysical processes in tissues and cells, often in a non-destructive manner (D. Elson, J. Requejo-Isidro, I. Munro et al. “Time domain fluorescence lifetime imaging applied to biological tissue,” Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 3, 795-801 (2004)).
Wide-field spectral imaging is usually performed using a set of optical emission filters mounted on a filter wheel or rotary filter-cube holder. This approach is straightforward and relatively cheap, but is usually rather slow and cumbersome due to the mechanical switching of the filters. Typically only a limited number of spectral bands can be acquired which allows only partial separation of overlapping fluorescence spectra. More versatile HSI systems employ electro-optic devices such as Liquid Crystal Tunable Filters (LCTF), Linearly Variable band-pass Dielectric Filters (LVDF) or Acousto-Optical Tunable Filters (AOTF) (M. Bouhifd, M. P. Whelan, M. Aprahamian, “Fluorescence imaging spectroscopy utilizing acouto-optic tuneable filter”, 5826A-23 (OptoIreland, 2005)). The LCTF solution offers approximately 30% of passband transmission efficiency, which is often unacceptable for low light-level applications. The LVDF resolution is roughly 15 nm, its spectral range covers 400-700 nm, and its transmission efficiency is around 40%. While these parameters are good enough for static imaging, using a LCTF for HSI to study dynamic behavior in low-light level conditions can be problematic. The AOTF is an electronically controllable, variable bandwidth optical filter, which provides significant versatility and performance in comparison to other tunable filters. It supports random access to any transmission-band or continuous spectral tuning and thus is very suitable for HSI when combined with a sensitive camera. However, all these wide-field HSI systems based on tunable filters can suffer from relatively poor image quality due to the scattering present in most biological samples. This can result in a decrease in image contrast and the loss of quantitative information, such as the concentration of a fluorophore.
As an alternative, reconstruction of a fluorescence map by making point-by-point measurements has proven to deliver images of superior quality (B. W. Pogue, S. L. Gibbs, B. Chen, M. Savellano, “Fluorescence Imaging in Vivo: Raster Scanned Point Source Imaging Provides More accurate Quantification then Broad Beam Geometries” Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment 3, 15-21 (2004)), which reveal more accurately the localization and concentration of fluorescent markers. However, since this approach usually requires raster scanning carried out by intricate electro-mechanical systems it is difficult and costly to implement.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging in the time-domain can generally be approached in two ways, namely wide-field fluorescence lifetime imaging or point-by-point raster scanning. Wide-field (or broad beam) imaging systems employ a Gated and Optical Intensified (GOI) camera in combination with a high-power pulsed laser. Typically, excitation light is irradiated on the area to be detected and fluorescence from the area is captured all at once by a CCD array sensor to thereby obtain fluorescence information of a two-dimensional region. Such a FLIM system is fast (J. Requejo-Isidro, J. McGinty, I. Munro, D. S. Elson et al. “High-speed wide-field time-gated endoscopic fluorescence-lifetime imaging,” Optics Letters 29, 2249-2251 (2004)) but demonstrates lower temporal and spatial resolution in comparison to scanning measurements. The high cost and lack of portability are also issues, which have limited its uptake. On the other hand the successful demonstration of GOI-based FLIM using picosecond laser diodes has helped matters somewhat (D. S. Elson et. al., “Fluorescence lifetime system for microscopy and multiwell plate imaging with blue picosecond diode laser,” Optics Letters 12, 1409-1411 (2002)).
Still with respect to wide-field imaging, since the fluorescence information of the image-taken area is detected as a whole at the same time—problems of image blurring due to light scattering may arise. Indeed, since the image pickup area is illuminated as a whole by a light source, detection and separation of weak fluorescence is difficult where there are multiple fluorescence spots around the weak point, because fluorescence light is scattered over the neighbourhood area, increasing background noise and overlapping the fluorescence to be measured. To avoid these problems, excitation light pattern generating devices have been developed that permit to irradiate different intensities and locations on a sample in sequence at relatively high frame rate. A fluorescence detecting apparatus using such excitation light pattern generating device, based on a digital micromirror device (DMD) or reflection-type liquid crystal device, is e.g. described in US 2006/0226375.
The second approach (scan-type) to time-domain FLIM exploits Time Correlated Single Photon Spectroscopy (TCSPS) method combined with point-by-point scanning (Y. Zhang, S. A. Soper, L. R. Middendorf, J. A. Wurm, R. Erdmann, M. Wahl, “Simple Near-Infrared Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting Instrument with a Pulsed Diode Laser and Avalanche Photodiode for Time-Resolved Measurements in Scanning Applications,” Applied Spectroscopy 53, 497-504 (1999)) or laser confocal scanning (M. Kress, T. Meier, R. Steiner, F. Dolp, R. Erdmann, U. Ortmann, A. Rück, “Time-resolved microspectrofluorometry and fluorescence lifetime imaging of photosensitizers using picosecond pulsed diode lasers in laser scanning microscopes,” Journal of Biomedical Optics 8, 26-32 (2003)). Typically a punctual light beam of excitation light irradiates the sample so that the fluorescence from the irradiated spot is detected by e.g. a Photo-Multiplier Tube (PMT), and this irradiation and detection scanning throughout the object to be observed allows to obtain fluorescence information of a two-dimensional area. Picosecond laser diodes are the most popular excitation source because of their compactness and reasonable cost, while a PMT or an Avalanche Photo-Diode (APD) may be used to detect the emitted fluorescence photons. With respect to wide-field FLIM, scanning-TCSPS is more straightforward and less expensive to implement. It also offers higher temporal resolution, but at the price of much slower imaging rates. To obtain FLIM images, either the sample is moved on a translation stage under the excitation light spot or the sample is held steady while the excitation spot is raster-scanned using galvano-mirrors. Although a number of attractive commercial solutions exist based on both scanning methods, the disadvantages of point scanning in general are its low imaging rate and the lack of flexibility in how an image is formed. Normally a minimum sampling time of 100 μs required per measurement point (pixel), thus leading to a duration of several seconds to tens of minutes to acquire a complete image. The actual duration depends on a number of factors including the strength of the fluorescence signal and the desired field of view, temporal and spatial resolution. Most scanning systems are analogue by nature and thus neither offer random access to any point or region of interest on the sample, nor the possibility to bin or combine the photons emitted from different locations.
An important issue in FLIM/HIS imaging is of course also the accuracy of data analysis. To reduce the acquisition time and full image frame reconstruction, data acquisition time per single pixel is typically reduced, which in turn reduces signal to noise ratio and further decreases the accuracy and reliability of data processing. By the extreme or complex nature of the phenomena observed the data analysis itself is also complex and time consuming. Namely, to adjust phenomenological parameters in the photo-physical model to reach; satisfying agreement between experimental dataset and the model, one needs to perform iterative data fitting. To keep high spectral/temporal resolution of measurements, large dataset/pixel are produced and large number of pixels; need to be analysed to reconstruct the FLIM/HSI image. Thus the fitting algorithm is extremely time consuming. Number of methods has been proposed to decrease the computational time, which are based on the so-called “Global Analysis Approach”. Most commonly the fluorescence signals from all the pixels are post-processed by summing all together to increase S/N ratio. The result, i.e. the phenomenological parameters of the model are then used as initial parameters for data analysis algorithm performed off-line (i.e. after fluorescence data acquisition) for every single spatial location on the sample. Modifications of the Global Analysis include dataset summation from quarters of the image or from manually chosen regions based on white light anatomical image of the sample [S. Pelet, M. J. R. Previte, L. H. Laiho, P. T. C. So, “A fast global fitting algorithm for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy based on image segmentation”, Biophysical Jourlan, vol. 87, 2807-2817 (2004)]. These methods suffer however either from loosing details (weak signal and its impact to the overall fluorescence is weak) or the need for high experience in manual marking the desired regions of interest and their use is limited to specific cases. Moreover the data analysis is performed off-line, having the dataset per every pixel already acquired.
JP 2006 171024 A describes a multi-point fluorescence spectrophotometry method using a DMD, wherein a sample is illuminated to excite its fluorescence and an image thereof is acquired; image segmentation is based on the existence of fluorescence (e.g. using a luminance threshold); and the fluorescence of each Region of Interest is acquired one by one. | {
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The present invention is related to a system and method of preheating a vehicle during non-use of the vehicle.
Year after year, the automotive industry continues to provide improved vehicle performances. Vehicle engine and engine performance continue to be developed and improved by vehicle manufacturers and designers. For instance, vehicle manufacturers are continuously challenged in improving engine startup performances. At startup temperatures, fuel for a vehicle engine is injected therein by spraying, but typically is in liquid or droplet phase when initially contacting a cylinder wall of the vehicle engine. Since liquid gasoline does not readily vaporize, this makes it difficult to start the engine properly. Once the engine is started, unvaporized fuel does not easily burn. This happens since the liquid fuel will typically cascade across a combustion chamber once an intake valve is opened, and contact the cold cylinder wall without participating in the combustion event. Thus, this may allow undesirable emissions to escape through the system and into the atmosphere. This may provide difficulty in starting the vehicle and may compromise fuel efficiency thereof. Moreover, at startup temperatures, engine oil may have relatively high viscosity. This may provide difficulty in lubricating bearing surfaces of the vehicle engine. Furthermore, at startup temperatures, the vehicle compartments may be undesirably cold for a driver, and windows may need defrosting.
The present invention provides a vehicle heating system and method of preheating a vehicle engine and compartment during non-use of the vehicle. The present invention includes a vehicle heating system having a powertrain control module (PCM) with a microprocessor programmed to activate the vehicle heating system when the engine temperature falls below a predetermined temperature. The PCM activates the vehicle heating system to heat the engine and compartment. The PCM is in electrical communication with a driver interface for programming a desired in-cabin temperature of the vehicle compartment. The PCM is also in electrical communication with fluid heater for preheating the vehicle engine and compartment. The present invention preheats the engine by pumping and heating engine oil and engine coolant through the engine by the fluid heater. When the coolant reaches a desired temperature, the coolant is passed through a heater core. Air is blown across the heater core toward the air/defroster ducts so that heat may be exchanged and provided in the vehicle compartment.
Further aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to endoscopic instruments and, more particularly, to endoscopic instruments including selectively removable shaft assemblies.
2. Background of Related Art
Endoscopic instruments are well known in the medical arts. For example, an electrosurgical endoscopic forceps (a closed forceps) is utilized in surgical procedures, e.g., laparoscopic surgical procedure, where access to tissue is accomplished through a cannula or other suitable device positioned in an opening on a patient. The endoscopic forceps, typically, includes a housing, a handle assembly including a movable handle, a shaft and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes jaw members configured to manipulate tissue, e.g., grasp and seal tissues. The endoscopic instrument may be configured to utilize one or more types of energies including, but not limited to, RF energy, microwave energy, ultra sound to treat tissue.
Another type of endoscopic instrument that may be utilized in laparoscopic surgical procedures is an ultrasonic endoscopic forceps. The ultrasonic endoscopic forceps is similar in configuration to the electrosurgical endoscopic forceps. Unlike the electrosurgical endoscopic forceps, however, the ultrasonic endoscopic forceps utilizes ultrasonic energy to treat tissue.
As is conventional with both of the above endoscopic instruments, the shaft of these instruments is, typically, rigidly attached to the endoscopic instrument, i.e., the shaft is non-removable from the housings of the respective instruments. Having an endoscopic instrument with a non-removable shaft may prove problematic during the operative life cycle of the endoscopic instrument. For example, if the endoscopic instrument is to be re-used, the entire device is, typically, sterilized via an autoclaving process or the like. As can be appreciated, sterilizing an endoscopic instrument with the shaft including the end effector attached may prove difficult. In particular, it may prove difficult to sterilize between small spaces of the shaft, e.g., spaces at a distal end of the shaft adjacent the end effector. | {
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The invention relates to a method for executing a source program on a processing unit comprising a predetermined microcontroller core for executing native instructions from a predetermined set of micro-controller specific instructions; the method comprising:
a pre-processing step of expressing program statements of the source program in a sequence of instructions comprising virtual machine instructions; and storing the sequence of instructions in an instruction memory; and PA1 an execution step of fetching instructions from the instruction memory; using conversion means of the processing unit to convert virtual instructions fetched from the instruction memory into native instructions; and feeding the native instructions to the microcontroller core for execution. PA1 a predetermined microcontroller core for executing native instructions from a predetermined set of micro-controller specific instructions; the native instructions being different from the virtual machine instructions; PA1 an instruction memory for storing instructions including at least one of the virtual machine instructions; PA1 a converter comprising conversion means for converting a virtual machine instruction fetched from the instruction memory into at least one native instruction for execution by the microcontroller core. PA1 defining for the program-specific virtual machine an associated conversion means for converting virtual machine instructions of the program-specific virtual machine into native instructions of the microcontroller core; and PA1 representing the associated conversion means in the processing unit. According to the invention, a program-specific virtual machine is defined for a program such that the program can be expressed in a form which is more compact than if the program was expressed in native instructions of the core. Also an associated conversion means is defined. The conversion means may for instance be implemented using a conversion table or microcode stored in ROM or dedicated logic, such as a PLD. The defined conversion means is represented in the processing unit. In this way, fast execution of the program is maintained, whereas at the same time a compact representation is achieved. This method is particularly suitable for use with embedded applications. In this case, the source program relates to all program statements initially represented in the embedded system (for instance, the program present in the system when the user purchases the system). The program may be stored in a permanent memory, such as ROM, or stored in a reprogrammable memory, such as EEPROM. For embedded applications it is highly desired that the code used to represent the embedded application program is compact and that the performance in executing the code is good. Typically, processing units used for embedded applications are based on a family concept, where for a specific application a processing unit is created from a given microcontroller core and I/O or storage components required for the application. It is desired to make no or at least no significant modifications to the core or the components in order to reduce costs. According to the invention, on the one hand virtual machine instructions are defined specifically for the program, giving full flexibility in achieving code compaction, whereas on the other hand an off-the-shelf core is used for executing the program. The required conversion from virtual machine instructions to native instructions is performed by a conversion means, which can be seen as a kind of pre-processor.
The invention further relates to a processing unit for executing instructions of a virtual machine, the instructions being referred to as virtual machine instructions; the processing unit comprising:
Increasingly, source programs are expressed in (compiled to) instructions of a virtual machine instead of native instructions of a microcontroller core on which the program is to be executed. A main reason for using a virtual machine is portability of programs between different machines (platforms). A program expressed in the virtual machine instructions of the virtual machine can be executed relatively easily on several concrete machines, using suitable interpreters operating on those machines. At this moment a driving force for using portable programs is Java, where Java programs are exchanged via Internet and can be executed on different native machines using processors with different instruction sets. Using a compiler, Java programs are expressed in Java byte codes (JBCs), which form the instructions of the Java Virtual Machine. The resulting code is usually referred to as a Java applet.
Conventionally, programs expressed in virtual machine instructions are executed by means of software interpretation. The processor (CPU) executes a special interpreter program, where in a loop the processor fetches a virtual machine instruction, decodes it into a sequence of native instructions of the microcontroller core of the processor and executes each native instruction. This technique is slow and requires an additional interpreter program, which can be relatively large. To improve the execution speed, the so-called Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation technique is used. Just before starting execution of software module expressed in virtual machine instructions, the module is compiled to native code (i.e., expressed in native machine instructions). In this way, the module needs to be stored twice in addition to the code for the compiler. The additional storage requirements of software interpretation are not desired for embedded systems. To avoid performance and storage overhead, it is preferred to use a hardware interpreter. In itself a hardware interpreter is known in the form of a Prolog pre-processor for Warren's abstract instruction set. In the paper "A Prolog pre-processor for Warren's abstract instruction set" by B. Knodler and W. Rosenstiel, Microprocessing and Microprogramming 18 (1986) pages 71-81, a pre-processor is described for interpreting programs written in the Prolog programming language on a Motorola 68000 processor (MC68000). A compiler is used to translate the Prolog source program into instructions, which have been defined by Mr. Warren and which are generally used for executing Prolog programs. The set of Warren instructions forms a virtual machine designed for executing Prolog programs. The sequence of Warren instructions resulting from the compilation are loaded into RAM and executed by the MC68000 with the aid of the pre-processor. After power-on, the MC68000 first performs a booting procedure by executing native MC68000 instructions. At the end of the booting procedure, the MC68000 is ready to initiate the execution of a Prolog program. This is started by jumping to a predetermined address range. The pre-processor is a memory-mapped device, which is mapped to this range. When the pre-processor is addressed it reads a Warren instruction (of the translated Prolog program) from its own RAM, adaptively synthesizes a sequence of MC68000 instructions and constants and sends these directly to the CPU for execution. The MC68000 instructions for each Warren instruction are stored in ROM of the pre-processor. In general, the pre-processor translates one Warren instruction into a sequence of MC68000 instructions. The pre-processor contains its own RAM controller and ROM controller, which generate the addresses for the RAM and ROM of the pre-processor. The RAM controller manages the RAM instruction pointer. Each successive read operation of the MC68000 results in the pre-processor sending the next instruction (and optional constants) of the sequence to the CPU. If the sequence has been completed, a next read operation results in the first instruction of the sequence corresponding to the next Warren instruction of the program being send to the CPU. The known pre-processor supports one virtual machine (the Warren machine). | {
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The invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, and especially to a semiconductor device in which a bare chip is coated with protective resin and prevented from being cracked and a method for fabricating the same.
Since a bare chip is provided with plural bumps serving as electrodes on an obverse surface thereof and not coated with protective resin, a space necessary for mounting it is small. Accordingly, the bare chip is suited for an electronic instrument in which the space for accommodating parts is limited, such as a portable telephone.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional semiconductor device (a bare chip).
An insulating layer 102 is provided for an obverse surface of a LSI chip 1, and a wiring layer 104 having LSI electrodes 103 thereon is formed on the insulating layer 102. Plural bumps 105 serving as external electrodes are mounted on leading ends of the LSI electrodes 103 formed on a circuit area 106.
FIG. 2 shows the steps of a process for fabricating the conventional semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3A shows a plan view of the wafer, which is not yet diced into the bare chips. FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the bare chip. FIG. 3A corresponds to a prior treatment of the step 201. The steps of the fabrication process ranging from dicing to mounting will be explained referring to FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B. xe2x80x9cSxe2x80x9d in FIG. 2 means the step.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the wafer is diced along boundary lines (broken lines) between the LSI chips 101, and the individuated semiconductor devices (the bare chips) 100 are obtained. After the wafer is diced into the semiconductor device 100 (S201), the semiconductor devices of a predetermined number are transferred to a tray (S202). Each semiconductor device 100 in the tray is supported by a jig on the inside of a crack permissible areas 107 so that circuit surfaces and the bumps 105 are not brought into contact with the tray, wherein the crack permissible area means a frame-shaped region ranging from edges of the LSI chip 101 to exterior electrodes on the same, and a width thereof is about 50 xcexcm. The tray is carried to the step of inspecting the semiconductor devices by means of a transportation jig for exclusive use (S203). After the step of inspecting the semiconductor devices 100 is over (S204), the semiconductor devices 100 are again transferred to the tray (S205), carried to the step of packing the semiconductor devices 100, and packed up (S206). Thereafter, the package is transported to the user (S207). The user opens the package delivered in this way (S208), transfers the semiconductor devices to a transportation jig (S209), mounts the semiconductor devices 100 on a printed circuit board by means of a pickup tool, and connects the bumps 105 with wirings by reflow soldering (S210).
However, according to the aforementioned semiconductor devices, since the individuated semiconductor devices are transferred to the tray and transported in condition that they are contained therein, there is a possibility that a shock may exert on the semiconductor devices, particularly in cases where they are brought into contact with the tray at the time of transportation or the jig at the time of inspection. In such a case, the semiconductor device is apt to be cracked or broken off, and the electrodes or the circuit area may be damaged. Especially, the edges of the chip are apt to be cracked and broken off. This leads to a deterioration of the yield rate of the products and or quality of the transported semiconductor devices.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, in which a semiconductor device is prevented from being cracked, yield rate thereof is improved, and quality of forwarded products is guaranteed.
According to the first feature of the invention, the semiconductor device comprises:
a bare chip fabricated as a large scale integrated circuit,
plural bumps provided for an obverse surface of the bare chip, and
protective members formed on at least side surfaces of the bare chip.
According to the aforementioned structure, a protective member provided for at least side surfaces of a bare chip reduces an external force exerted on a chip, and especially prevents corners of a chip from being cracked or broken off. As a result, defects occurring at the time of transportation or mounting, imperfections in joints occurring at the time of mounting, etc. are reduced, hence the semiconductor device can be small-sized and reliability thereof can be heightened.
According to the second feature of the invention, a method for fabricating the semiconductor device comprises the steps of:
sticking a wafer on which plural bumps are formed to an adhesive sheet,
dicing the wafer into individuated chips so as not to dice the adhesive sheet,
forming spacings having predetermined widths between the individuated chips stuck to the adhesive sheet,
coating the spacings formed between the individuated chips with resin,
hardening the resin to unify the individuated chips like a wafer, and
providing separate chips by dicing the unified chips along boundary lines between the individuated chips.
According to the aforementioned method, since the wafer on which plural bumps are formed is stuck to the adhesive sheet, it becomes possible to expand the adhesive sheet after the wafer is diced, and thereby the spacings between the chips which are wide enough to be coated with resin can be formed. When resin is hardened after the spacings are coated with resin, the chips unified like a wafer can be formed. The individuated chips, each of which is coated with resin at the side surfaces thereof, can be obtained by dicing the unified chips along the boundary lines between the chips. Accordingly, since the separated chips do not through the fabrication process, the steps of handling the chips can be eliminated, the number of the steps of using jigs and tools is reduced, and a metallic mold used in the step of molding resin becomes unnecessary. Then, the method for fabricating the semiconductor device is simplified. Moreover, since the LSI chip is prevented from being cracked by providing protective resin for the side surfaces thereof, reliability and yield rate of the products can be heightened. Stillmore, since the specific character of the bare chip is maintained, the number of parts does not increase, the semiconductor device can be small-sized, and cost thereof can be cut down.
According to the third feature of the invention, a method for fabricating the semiconductor device comprises the steps of:
sticking a wafer on which intermediate electrodes for mounting bumps thereon are arranged in accordance with a circuit pattern to an adhesive sheet,
dicing the wafer into individuated chips so as not to dice the adhesive sheet,
forming spacings between the individuated chips stuck to the adhesive sheet,
coating the spacings formed between the individuated chips and a surface of the wafer on which the intermediated electrodes are arranged with resin,
hardening the resin to unify the individuated chips like a wafer,
grinding an obverse surface of the unified chips to expose the intermediate electrodes, and
providing separate chips by dicing the unified chips along boundary lines between the individuated chips.
According to the aforementioned method, the intermediate electrodes formed on a circuit pattern on the wafer have function of adjusting the height of the bumps above the chip surface and relaxing external forces exerting on the semiconductor device. Since the wafer on which the intermediate electrodes are formed is stuck to the adhesive sheet, the adhesive sheet can be expanded after the wafer is diced, and the spacings, which are wide enough to be coated with protective resin, can be formed between the individuated chips. If the spacings are coated with protective resin which is hardened thereafter, the chip are unified like a wafer. After the bumps are respectively mounted on the intermediate electrodes formed on the chips, the unified chips are diced along the boundary lines between the respective chips, and the separate LSI chips are completed. As mentioned in the above, since the separate chips do not pass through the fabrication process, the steps of handling the chips can be eliminated, the number of the steps of using jigs and tools is reduced, and the metallic mold used in the step of molding becomes unnecessary. Then, the fabrication process of the semiconductor device is simplified. Moreover, since the LSI chip is prevented from being cracked by providing protective resin for the side surfaces and the obverse surface of the LSI chip, reliability and yield rate of the products can be heightened. Stillmore, since the specific character of the bare chip is maintained, the number of parts does not increase, the semiconductor device can be small-sized, and cost thereof can be cut down. | {
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The preparation of photographic emulsions begins with the formulation of a dispersion of microcrystals of silver halide in a protective dispersing medium. Subsequent to or concurrent with the formation of these microcrystals, a silver halide solvent is introduced to permit dissolution, recrystallization, and growth of individual silver halide particles to a desired crystal (grain) size. This process is known as physical ripening and is typically carried out to increase the size of the silver halide crystals, because photographic sensitivity increases with increasing grain size. A wide variety of chemical substances function as solvents for silver halides; many are listed in T. H. James, ed., The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th ed., Macmillan, New York, 1977, p. 9. Silver halide solvents are also known as Ostwald ripeners, ripening agents, crystal growth modifiers, fixing agents, and growth accelerators.
In addition to enhancing silver halide crystal size, recrystallization reactions by ripening agents at apparently fixed crystal dimensions are also known to modify silver halide morphology, to alter the concentration of crystal defects and to promote the incorporation in the silver halide crystal lattice of sensitizing species such as silver or silver sulfide clusters. These ripener-induced changes tend to increase the photographic sensitivity of silver halide emulsions, and since all these changes involve recrystallization phenomena which also participate in silver halide growth, these phenomena are included hereafter in the discussion and claim regarding silver halide growth.
Among the substances reported to be effective ripening agents are excess halide ion and ammonia, as described in G. F. Duffin, Photographic Emulsion Chemistry, Focal Press Ltd., London, 1966, pp. 60-62, and thiocyanate ion, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,069 to Illingsworth. Many organic compounds have also been reported to function as ripeners. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,271,157 to McBride and 3,574,628 to Jones disclose the use of thioether compounds as ripening agents for silver halide photographic materials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,013 to Herz et al. discloses the use of macrocyclic ether compounds containing oxygen, sulfur, and selenium atoms for this purpose.
Silver halide solvents or ripening agents are generally ligands for Ag.sup.+ ions that combine with Ag.sup.+ ions to form soluble Ag.sup.+ adducts or complex ions. Although ripening agents are very useful for controlling the size, dispersity, and morphology of silver halide grains and for determining the location of specific halide components in mixed silver halide compositions, they also cause problems in emulsions during keeping or storage. Specifically, ripeners that are retained in an emulsion after formation and growth of the silver halide grains can change the rates of chemical sensitization, interfere with spectral sensitization, and promote fog formation during storage of emulsions, particularly those coated on a support.
To avoid these undesirable effects, efforts have been made to remove organic ripeners from emulsions after formation and growth of silver halide grains by purification procedures such as washing. However these ripening agents cannot be completely removed from emulsions even by extensive wash procedures, most likely because of their relatively low aqueous solubility and their affinity for silver halide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,017 to Mifune et al., proposes to circumvent this difficulty by deactivating residual ripeners through an oxidation process. This approach, however, has the disadvantage that gelatin in the emulsion also undergoes irreversible changes on oxidation. Furthermore, some ripening agents, e.g., thiourea compounds, upon oxidation yield products of increased activity with respect to desensitization and fog formation.
Another approach to countering the undesirable effect of residual silver halide solvent is the addition of emulsion stabilizers and antifoggants. However, such additives tend to interfere with spectral sensitization and can lead to loss of emulsion sensitivity.
Organic silver halide solvents or ripening agents can be classified into two types: neutral and acid-substituted. A neutral ripening agent is a compound which either is uncharged or carries an equal number of positive and negative ionic charges, i.e., a zwitterionic compound. An acid-substituted ripening agent is a compound that incorporates a covalently bonded acidic function which, upon deprotonation at about pH 7 or below, confers a negative charge on the molecule. These two classes of ripening agents are exemplified by the neutral compound ethanolamine and its acid-substituted analog, glycine. Both compounds yield Ag.sup.+ complexes of similar stability and are capable of ripening AgBr emulsions. However in dilute alkaline solution, where its acidic function is deprotonated, glycine dissolves AgBr much more slowly than does the neutral ethanolamine (D. Shiao, L. Fortmiller, and A. Herz, J. Phys. Chem., 1975, 79, 816).
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,646 to Herz et al. discloses that N,N,N',N'-tetramethylthiourea accelerates silver halide grain growth, as measured by equivalent circular diameter, more than its N,N'-dicarboxymethyl-N,N'-dimethylsubstituted analog. On the other hand, the high level of storage fog induced by tetramethylthiourea is somewhat diminished when it is replaced by its N,N'-dicarboxyethyl-N,N'-dimethyl analog.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,695,535 to Bryan, et al., and 4,865,965 to Friour et al., also disclose acid-substituted ripening agents. The ripeners disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,535 are acyclic thioether compounds containing carboxy substituents; the acid-substituted ripening agents disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,965 are cyclic ethers.
The cited art makes it apparent that, when coated under a conventional condition at pH values above about 4.6, acid-substituted ripeners interfere less with dye sensitization and cause less storage fog than their neutral analogs. However, under such pH conditions the acid-substituted ripeners exist substantially in their anionic state and often suffer from the distinct disadvantage of exhibiting low activities as accelerators of silver halide growth. Hence, it is the major purpose of the present invention to overcome this barrier for the convenient application of acid-substituted ripeners in photographic systems as useful promoters of silver halide dissolution, recrystallization and growth by using them in combination with a relatively low level of a neutral organic ripener. | {
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This invention relates to strain buffers, and more particularly to structured copper strain buffers for achieving electrical and thermal connection to a semiconductor device without generating a stress at the place of connection to the device. | {
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The brake system serves to decelerate the motor vehicle and thus it also provides a braking force that is acting on at least one wheel of the motor vehicle. The braking force is applied to the wheel by means of the wheel brake. When the vehicle has several wheels, the brake system pressure is preferably applied to several of these wheels, or to all of these wheels to which brake pressure or actual brake pressure is supplied. In this respect, the brake system is provided as a service brake of motor vehicle, or it forms at least a component of the brake system.
The brake system is preferably provided with a main brake cylinder in which a main brake piston is arranged in a displaceable manner. The main brake piston delimits together with the main brake cylinder the volume of the brake fluid, which is variable, while its amount depends on the position of the main brake system. The main brake piston is coupled to an operating element, which is provided for example in the form of a brake pedal. The driver of the motor vehicle can set a desired braking force by means of the operating element, which is then designated for a predetermined braking force and preferably has a fixed correlation to a predetermined brake pressure.
The brake system is preferably provided as an electro-hydraulic brake system. This means that in at least one operating mode of the brake system, the available volume of the brake fluid does not provide the actual braking pressure immediately upon the actuation of the wheel brake, or provides only a part thereof. Instead, a desired brake pressure is determined during the actuation of the operating element, which can be realized with the aid of at least one sensor that is associated with the operating element and/or with main brake piston and/or with the main brake cylinder and/or with a simulator cylinder at which a simulator piston is arranged or to which it is assigned in a displaceable manner.
The sensor can be for example designed as a displacement sensor or as a pressure sensor. In the first case, the actuating distance of the operating element is determined by means of the sensor, so that the operating element is displaced during its actuation. In addition or as an alternative, it is of course also possible to determine the pressure that is present in the main braking cylinder by means of the sensor. The desired pressure is then determined from the variables that are measured by the sensors, which is to say for example the path and/or the pressure. Subsequently, an actual pressure is applied or set to the wheel brake which corresponds to the desired brake pressure.
The desired brake pressure is provided by the brake pressure source, which is present for example in the form of a pump, in particular a pump that is operated electrically. According to the operating mode described above, the brake system is not connected to the wheel brake, or at least it is not connected directly, or it is fluidly connected. In order to nevertheless provide a haptic feedback for the driver of the motor vehicle during the actuation of the operating element, it is preferred when and optional brake force simulator is associated with the main brake cylinder. This simulator is provided with the simulator piston, which is arranged in a displaceable manner in a simulator cylinder and supported via a spring element on a wall of the simulator cylinder and in this respect subjected to filtering force.
The simulator piston delimits together with the simulator cylinder a simulator cylinder fluid volume, which is variable similarly to the brake fluid volume, wherein the amount of the simulator fluid volume depends on the position of the simulator piston. The simulator fluid volume is fluidically connected with the brake fluid volume. When the operating element is actuated, the brake fluid volume is reduced and the brake fluid that is contained to the brake fluid volume is supplied to the simulator fluid volume. Accordingly, the simulator fluid volume is increased, whereby the simulator piston is deflected in response to the spring force.
Depending on the spring force, which can in turn depend on the deflection of the simulator piston, a counter-force acts in the operating mode described above as a result of the fluidic connection between the simulator fluid volume and the brake fluid volume on the operating element, which is oriented in the opposite direction to the operating force that is applied to the operating element. As a result, the driver receives a haptic signal via the operating element, which is essentially dependent on the deflection of the operating element from its starting position or rest position.
In order to provide a rebound plane in the event of a defect of the brake system, for example in the event of a defect of the brake pressure source, a direct fluidic connection is preferably provided between the main brake cylinder and the wheel brake. The actual pressure can thus be rebuilt in this manner on the wheel brake in case of a defect of the brake system when the operating element is actuated. For this purpose, however, the driver must apply a substantially greater operating force to the operating element than is customary.
The brake pressure source is provided with the pressure cylinder and the pressure piston, wherein the pressure piston is linearly arranged in a displaceable manner in the pressure cylinder. The arrangement of the pressure piston inside the pressure cylinder is accomplished by means of the engine, which is preferably provided as an electric engine. However, it goes without saying that another design of the engine can be also realized. The engine or the drive shaft of the engine is coupled via the transmission to the pressure piston. The transmission in this case serves for converting a rotary movement of the drive shaft to a linear displacement of the pressure piston. The transmission can be thus also referred to a as a translatory gear.
In particular with an autonomous driving operation, which is to a partially autonomous or a fully autonomous driving operation of the motor vehicle, it must be ensured that the actual brake pressure can be built up on the wheel brake by means of the brake pressure source because under some circumstances the driver may not be able to provide the rebound plane described above, for example because he is not on the board of the motor vehicle but instead he may be outside of the vehicle, or he may be present on the board of the vehicle but not in a position in which to actuate the operating element. | {
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This invention is a new simplified design of crash sensors for use with vehicle passive restraint systems such as air bags. In the above cross referenced patent applications, it is disclosed that a crash sensor can be constructed with a configuration of a square or rectangular flapper swinging inside a closed passage. It is also disclosed that such sensors can be made of plastic by a molding process. This present invention provides further simplifications and improvements on the previous designs and in particular with regard to undamped spring mass sensors for mounting in the passenger compartment and their use in a sensor system. This invention is also an improvement of above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,810 of Thuen and the entire contents of that patent are hereby included herein by reference. This patent disclosed an all mechanical air bag system using an air damped sensor. The present invention solves certain newly discovered problems of this all mechanical air bag system as explained below.
During a crash and in particular at the time that a crash sensor must decide whether to trigger the deployment of a passive restraint system such as an air bag, a vehicle can be divided into two parts; the crush zone which is that portion of the vehicle which has substantially changed its velocity and the non-crush zone which is the remainder of the vehicle. In a typical 30 MPH barrier crash, for example, the crash sensor must trigger deployment of the air bag in about 20 milliseconds for a typical full size American car. At this time the vehicle has typically crushed about 10 to 12 inches measured from the point on the vehicle which first contacted the barrier. A sensor designed to sense a crash in the crush zone will typically require a velocity change of about 10 MPH to trigger while non-crush zone mounted sensors must typically trigger on a 2 to 4 MPH velocity change in a 30 MPH barrier crash.
Crush zone sensors are typically mounted on the radiator support while non-crush zone sensors are typically mounted in the passenger compartment on the firewall, under the seat, or on the transmission tunnel, for example. In particular, crush zone sensors are usually mounted on the front surface of the radiator support and are actuated when struck by crushed materials which are forced rearward in the crash by the object being struck. For this reason, a crush zone sensor must be sufficiently large so that it will be struck by the crushed material with a high probability. A very small sensor, such as disclosed in this invention, could not be used in the crush zone since folds, wrinkles and voids in the crushed material could span the sensor delaying its functioning. Crush zone sensors typically project as much as 2 inches in front of the radiator which increases the response time of the sensor by about 4 milliseconds in a 30 MPH barrier crash. Since the radiator is frequently on the border of the crush zone for many crashes, this forward projection and resulting faster response time sometimes becomes important. If the sensor were small and were projected forward on a special bracket, for example, it would run the risk of being missed by the crushed material or of being rotated if not hit squarely. A prime advantage of spring mass sensors, particularly of the cantilevered and hinged mass type, is that they can be made very small which is of no value for crush zone applications but very useful for non-crush zone or passenger compartment mounting locations. Also, since the non-crush zone mounted sensor will not be impacted during the crash, it does not have to be protected by a metal can. It can be mounted on a printed circuit board for example and the sealing requirements are much less severe. For a more detailed discussion of the differences in crush zone and non-crush zone sensing, refer to Breed, D. S. and Castelli, V., Problems in Design and Engineering of Air Bag Systems, SAE Paper No. 880724 which is included herein by reference.
Crash sensors can be divided into three categories depending on their mounting location and intended function. Crush zone and non-crush zone mounted discriminating sensors determine that the vehicle is in a crash and that the restraint system should be deployed. Usually a sensor system also has an arming or safing sensor which functions to validate that the whole vehicle is decelerating at a rate in excess of that which accompanies braking. This is to prevent a momentary hammer blow on the crush zone sensor, for example, from deploying the air bag.
Spring mass sensors have been designed for use both in the crush zone and in the non-crush zone. However, for a variety of reasons arising out of the severe vibration environment, spring mass sensors have not proven successful for crush zone locations whereas they have had some limited success for non-crush zone locations particularly for arming or safing sensor applications where the sensor accuracy is not critical. Spring mass sensors of the flat spring cantilevered type, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,046, have been designed for the crush zone but not for the non-crush zone where round spring cantilevered sensors have been attempted. One reason that spring mass sensors are seldom used as discriminating sensors in the non-crush zone is that if they are not carefully designed, they can trigger late particularly in soft crashes. A more important reason, which has not been appreciated until now, is that most spring mass sensors, and particularly the cantilevered type, are sensitive to cross-axis vibrations which has now been shown to have a significant effect on the calibration of most electro-mechanical sensors. The focus of this invention is to provide both non-crush zone mounted spring mass discriminating and arming sensors of the hinged mass type which are insensitive to cross axis vibrations and which are primarily used in conjunction with crush zone mounted discriminating sensors.
The all mechanical air bag system (AMS) as disclosed in above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,810 uses an air damped ball-in-tube sensor which has recently also found to be significantly affected by cross axis vibrations. This sensitivity to cross axis vibrations was one factor causing a major automobile manufacturer to use an self contained air bag system employing an electronic sensor instead of the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,810. Another focus of this invention, therefore, is to eliminate this sensitivity to cross axis vibration for AMS systems.
Current non-crush zone or passenger compartment mounted crash sensors can be classified into three categories: spring-mass, electronic, and damped. This invention is in primarily in the first category, however some aspects may be applicable to damped sensors as well. A sensing mass in the shape of a flapper is disclosed in the aforementioned cross referenced patent applications. The flapper, which is described below, is coupled with and arranged to move in a housing. The flapper is biased by a spring or magnet toward a first position in the housing. When the sensor is installed at an appropriate location on a vehicle and a crash occurs, the flapper moves toward a second position in the housing. If the crash pulse is of enough magnitude and duration, an electrical circuit is closed to initiate deployment of the protection apparatus associated with the sensing device. During the motion of the flapper, gas is forced to flow through the gap between the flapper and the housing which imparts a damping force on the motion of the sensing mass. This damping results in a fast acting sensor which is exceeded in response time only by some electronic sensors. In many applications, especially when the vehicle occupants are wearing seat belts or where the sensor serves as a backup to crush zone crash sensors, a slight delay in triggering can be tolerated and the damping disclosed in the previous patent applications can be eliminated resulting in a sensor which is simpler and less expensive to manufacture and where the sensing mass no longer must have a planar shape.
The configuration of some of the sensors disclosed in the above referenced patent applications consists of a rectangular flapper in a rectangular housing. A flapper, which is the mass for sensing the acceleration of the crash, is a planar member having a thickness in the sensing direction which is much less than its width or height and is arranged to rotate relative to the housing. The flapper is coupled with the housing by a thin hinge on the edge of the flapper, by a knife edge support or other means. The axis of the housing is parallel to or aligned with the desired crash detecting direction. For example, if the sensor is to be used for frontal impact sensing, the sensor should be installed to have the axis of the housing approximately parallel to the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The flapper is arranged to rotate along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the housing.
The electro-mechanical version of the sensor (EMS) of the present invention differs from the prior art in that the damping has been eliminated. The sensing mass is biased by, but not supported by, a cantilevered beam contact and does not necessarily have the flat rectangular or circular shape of the previous inventions. In this manner the simplest configuration results. In the preferred configuration, it is supported by a rod, interlocking hinge or by pivots. The all mechanical version (AMS) is similar except the biasing spring is not a contact and a firing pin is released in response to a rotation of the sensing mass.
Some previous designs of simple spring mass sensors as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,177 of Paxton et al, have used a wire for the mass support with the result that the sensing mass was responsive to cross-axis accelerations. The sensor disclosed in Paxton is also sensitive to lateral velocity changes which can result in an air bag deployment even though the longitudinal velocity change is below the deployment threshold. This event could happen, for example, in a side impact when the struck car exhibits a small forward velocity change. Such a deployment could result in the air bag not being available for protecting the occupant in a subsequent accident. Air bags are designed to cushion the forward impact of an occupant with the passenger compartment and the decision to deploy the air bag should not be affected by lateral accelerations or velocity changes.
Cross-axis accelerations are those accelerations perpendicular to the preferred motion of the sensing mass. For example, for a vehicle crash sensor for sensing frontal crashes, cross-axis accelerations would be in the vertical and lateral directions. One implementation of the present invention uses a flat beam or other construction as the first contact and to bias a pivoted sensing mass. This construction is superior to all other spring mass sensors except the flapper designs disclosed in the above referenced patent applications, in resistance to cross axis vibrations. The importance of cross axis vibrations has not been appreciated by those designing spring mass sensors and partially explains why the flapper design has not been used for passenger compartment mounted sensors. Particular attention must be paid to the support of the mass to render motion of the mass insensitive to cross axis vibrations which is a key feature of the flapper sensors and of the sensors of this invention.
Recent studies have shown that cross axis vibrations with magnitudes up to 80 to 90 G's are common in marginal crashes in the crush zone and up to 40 to 50 g's in the passenger compartment. For these marginal crashes, the average longitudinal acceleration in the crush zone is three to four times the value in the passenger compartment. Thus, cross axis vibrations are relatively more significant in the passenger compartment and the sensor design must take this environment into account to prevent performance deterioration.
The particular effect of cross axis vibrations on electro-mechanical sensors depends on the sensor type. These vibrations cause the ball in ball-in-tube sensors, such as disclosed in Breed U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,549 and Thuen U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,810, to orbit around inside the tube which can prevent the ball from rolling down the tube and result in sliding friction which can decrease the sensitivity of the sensor by 20% or more. This increases the risk of a late air bag deployment and injury to an occupant who has become out-of-position due to the crash, or of no deployment when an air bag is required. Also, these sensors have been shown to trigger on cross axis vibrations alone even in the absence of a longitudinal pulse.
Other sensors which have sliding masses similarly can be significantly influenced by increased friction forces. Still other sensors have masses which exhibit complicated vibratory motions when subjected to cross axis vibrations which can result in a late deployment or intermittent contact closures causing either an unwanted or a late deployment. For a further discussion of cross axis vibrations, refer to Breed, D. S. and Castelli, V., Are Barrier Crashes Sufficient for Evaluating Air Bag Sensor Performance, SAE Paper No. 900548, and Breed, D. S. and Castelli, V. A New Automobile Crash Sensor Tester, SAE paper No. 910655, which are included herein by reference.
Other attempts have been made to construct a spring mass sensor using a cantilevered beam. Representative of such efforts is a sensor construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,046 of Livers et al, which describes a crush zone mounted sensor which, as discussed above, is required to be large in order to interact with the crushed material in the crush zone; This sensor differs from this invention in that it is intended for mounting in the crush zone; it is thus considerably larger and more complicated; the mass is not separately supported but is attached to the cantilevered beam rendering it sensitive to cross axis vibrations; and, the secondary contact is constructed in such a manner as to also render it sensitive to both cross axis and longitudinal shocks and vibrations. The sensors of this invention are intended for non-crush zone mounting; the sensor is very small; the sensing mass is separately supported; and, the design of the secondary contact, for the EMS case, is such as to also render it insensitive to cross axis vibrations. The motion of the secondary contact is also limited so that it cannot contact with the first contact when the sensor is subjected to shock and vibration unless the first contact moves the required distance.
The fact that cantilevered mass sensors are particularly sensitive to cross axis vibrations was not understood until the recent development of testing equipment which can simultaneously subject a sensor to both longitudinal accelerations and cross axis vibrations of the magnitudes found in crashes. During tests on an optimized cantilevered mass sensor, the unbalance in the mass relative to the cantilever mounting caused severe torsional vibrations which, in some cases, even caused the sensor to trigger from cross axis vibrations alone. This occurred even though that sensor was particularly designed to minimize this sensor unbalance and thus to minimize this effect.
The parts of the EMS sensor ofthis invention can be manufactured by the plastic injection molding processes in which both contact assemblies are insert molded into the housing in a single operation. A near hermetic seal is obtained using the metal treatment process disclosed in the above referenced patent applications and below.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,810, it is mentioned that the placement of the sensor outside of the inflator housing results in a larger and heavier sensor due to the requirement that the sensor housing must be sufficiently strong to withstand the pressures of the burning propellant. This problem can be solved, as mentioned in that patent, by placing the entire sensor within the inflator housing. It can also be solved by placing the primer within the inflator which is impacted by the firing pin through a small hole. The small amount of propellant which leaks back through the firing pin hole can be made insignificant through the choice of hole size and firing pin spring.
It has also been found that the AMS sensor need not be mounted on the steering wheel axis, as taught in the above referenced patent, as long as the sensor is so mounted that vibrations caused by impacts to the steering wheel rim are weekly coupled to the sensor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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