text
stringlengths 2
806k
| meta
dict |
|---|---|
1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a display device manufacturing method using a thin film encapsulation manufacturing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, mobile electronic devices have become widely used. In addition to compact electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet personal computers (PCs) have also recently become widely used as mobile electronic devices.
In order to provide various functions, the mobile electronic devices include a display apparatus to provide visual information, such as images, to users. Recently, because components for driving a display device have become compact, a proportion of the display device that occupies electronic devices is gradually increasing. A display device which is bendable up to an angle (e.g., up to a predetermined angle) from a planar state has also been developed.
In particular, a light emitting unit of a flexible display device may be encapsulated using multiple thin films to increase the lifetime or lifespan of the display device. In this case, research into encapsulation thin films formed during the encapsulation is currently being conducted. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub roses, said new variety originating as a single seedling resulting from a definite effort to produce an improvement in this class of rose. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Laboratory procedures in biotechnology frequently include the detection, identification, and quantitation of individual proteins. Certain procedures also however require the quantitation of entire mixtures of proteins aside from the individual proteins in each mixture, and with or without separating or differentiating the individual proteins from each other. Such total protein quantitation is of value, for example, when comparing protein amounts from different samples, including samples from different subjects, different organisms, and different species, or from the same species or subjects at different stages of development or different stages of disease or disease conditions. Total protein determinations in these cases can reveal quantitative changes in gene expression, which can be of value of diagnosis, treatment, and the testing of therapeutic agents. Total protein determinations can also be used to check sample loadings and protein transfers in analytical systems. When loading samples into individual wells of a microplate or individual lanes of an electrophoresis gel, for example, a uniform and consistent loading among the various wells or lanes is needed to assure that proper comparisons can be made in any of the separations or other procedures that might be performed on the samples. Protein transfers arise in Western blots, for example, which are also an area of concern, since total protein quantitations can indicate whether a blot has been performed correctly or an incomplete transfer has occurred.
Protein detections and quantitations using conventional stains such as COOMASSIE™ Brilliant Blue (BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, Germany), Ponceau S (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., USA), and SYPRO RUBY™ (Sigma-Aldrich) are well known. A stain-free technique is disclosed by Edwards et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,103 B2 (Aug. 4, 2009) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,007,646 B2 (Aug. 30, 2011), citing the UV light-induced reaction between the indole moiety of tryptophan and any of various halo-substituted organic compounds, with specific mention of chloroform, trichloroethanol, and trichloroacetic acid, to produce a fluorescent compound with emissions at wavelengths in the visible range. The technique thus entails treating the proteins, or the gels in which the proteins reside, with the halogen-containing reagent, exposing the proteins or gels to UV light, and detecting and quantifying the resulting emission for individual protein bands.
Tryptophan is relatively rare in proteins, and the proportion of tryptophan residues to total amino acid residues within each protein varies widely from one protein to the next. For this reason, recognition of the usefulness of the stain-free technique to date has been limited. The technique is thus known to be useful for comparing different samples of the same protein, for example, by comparing the intensity of a single band of the same molecular weight protein in each sample. Comparisons between different protein bands in different samples would not be useful, since the different proteins are most likely to have different tryptophan contents and thus cannot be expected to produce the same signal intensities when present in the same amounts. The tryptophan variances do not necessarily limit the usefulness of the technique to the comparison of individual proteins, however. Total protein determinations are valid when performed on samples from the same source. The technique can be used in a blotting experiment for example for comparing the stain-free signal in a gel before and after blotting to determine if any protein has remained in the gel. The technique can also be used for absolute quantitation by creating a standard curve using a range of known concentrations of a protein and evaluating a sample containing an unknown amount of the same protein provided that the amount of the protein the sample is within the range of the standard curve. Nevertheless, in all cases the comparisons are direct comparisons either between the same sample before and after some form of manipulation, or of the same individual protein in different samples. In neither of these cases would any differences in tryptophan contents between different proteins negate the validity of the result.
When investigating an individual protein of interest a sample, it is sometimes beneficial to normalize the amount of that protein with respect to one or more other proteins in the sample, or with respect to all proteins in the sample. Normalization is a means to correct experimental data to accommodate for differences in sample dilution, sample loading, or protein transfer inconsistencies. For example, if two different cell cultures are used as samples it is likely that each culture contains different numbers of cells. If each cell in both samples has the same amount of a particular protein then the culture with more cells will have more of the protein. Without knowing that one sample contained more cells than the other one would incorrectly conclude that an average cell in one culture had more of the protein than an average cell in the other culture. One uses normalization to correct for this type of difference.
The most common normalization method is the use of housekeeping proteins (HKPs). In order to be considered a HKP a protein must be present in approximately the same quantity in all samples. Tubulin, GAPDH, and actin are frequently chosen as HKPs due to their general lack of variability associated with changes in experimental conditions. As a number of publications have shown, however, caution should be used when selecting HKPs since not all HKPs are constant under changes in experimental conditions or sample types. For this reason, it is often recommended that results are validated using multiple HKPs, adding time and complexity to western blot experiments.
The process of using HKPs for blot normalization can be daunting. Two frequently used techniques are “strip and reprobe” and multiplex fluorescent detection. Regardless of the method used, HKP-based normalization with GAPDH, actin or tubulin needs to be optimized for linear range of detection, antibody dilutions, incubation times and imaging settings.
Using the strip and reprobe method, the protein of interest is probed and detected. Antibodies and detection chemistries are then stripped from the membrane using some combination of heat, detergent, or reducing agent. The blot may then be re-probed with HKP specific antibody and re-detected. Not only is the process time consuming, but inevitably, the stripping process will remove some level of antigen, thereby compromising downstream results.
Multiplex fluorescent western blotting is a more elegant solution, whereby multiple antigens can be simultaneously probed and detected using multiple fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Multiplex Western blotting requires the same optimizations as noted above, but has other challenges like antibody cross-reactivity, and should have an optimization process in place that validates the detection of each antigen separately, before attempting a multiplex detection.
If one wishes to avoid the challenges associated with the use of HKPs by stripping and reprobing, or with optimization of multiplex fluorescent blot detection, one can instead use a technique called total protein normalization (TPN). There are three commonly used methods for perform TPN. The first is to perform a protein assay on the samples prior to analysis and then to dilute them to the same concentration for the analysis. This is commonly done using a Bradford dye assay, a bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay, or other similar methods. Unfortunately this method assumes that there is no variability within the process and this is not always the case. Any pipetting variation as samples are prepared and loaded onto the gel is not accounted for nor does this method account for variations in the blotting efficiency between the gel and the membrane. Another method of performing TPN is to stain the gel after it is run. This can be done using reversible stains such as zinc or copper based stains that bind to the proteins within the gel for detection yet can be washed away so as not to interfere with the blotting process and subsequent immunodetection. Although this method accounts for variations in the sample preparation and gel loading it does not account for blotting efficiency and it adds time and complexity to the process. The third method for performing TPN is to use colored or fluorescent stains on the membrane such as SYPRO Ruby, Ponceau S, and Amido Black. This method accounts for variability in sample preparation and transfer efficiency but it still adds time and complexity to the process.
The present invention provides a new and easier method, one that performs TPN by use of stain-free technology, thereby avoiding the difficulties associated with HKP and eliminating the drawbacks with existing TPN methods. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Liquid crystal display (LCD), having advantages of low radiation and low power consumption, has gradually become a mainstream display product. In a liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal panel includes a pixel array, formed by a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit basically includes a thin-film-transistor (TFT) used as a switch, a storage capacitor (Cs) and a liquid crystal capacitor. Types of the storage capacitor include Cs-on-Gate type storage capacitor and Cs-on-Common type storage capacitor.
In the liquid crystal panel using the Cs-on-Common type storage capacitor, the Cs-on-Common storage capacitor is coupled between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. When the scan line is turned on, the cross-voltage of the Cs-on-Common storage capacitor is about +5V. Thus, due to the insufficient intensity of the electrical field, it is difficult to achieve liquid crystal stabilizing alignment by the common electrode in the multi-domain mode.
In the liquid crystal panel using the Cs-on-Gate type storage capacitor, the Cs-on-Gate storage capacitor is coupled between the pixel electrode and the next scan line. When the scan line is turned on, the cross-voltage of the Cs-on-Gate storage capacitor is about +15V. Thus, the electrical field has sufficient intensity. But, toggle of the common voltage may cause toggle of the voltage of the pixel electrode. The toggle of the voltage of the pixel electrode may negatively affect the next scan line through the storage capacitor and make the logic low voltage of the next scan line unstable, and mal-discharge or other negative effect may occur to the corresponding TFT of the next scan line. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates generally to an inertial navigation system (INS), and more specifically, to methods and systems which utilize a true airspeed to improve the vertical accuracy of an INS.
An inertial navigation system (INS), for example, an INS within an aircraft, provides a pilot and other systems within the aircraft with positional data. At least one known INS includes a vertical channel, which provides both a vertical velocity and a vertical position along a vertical axis. The vertical axis is defined as an axis that is perpendicular to the local level plane. Such an INS employs a triad of gyroscopes and accelerometers. These gyroscopes and accelerometers are mounted in an orthogonal manner with respect to one another, either physically or mathematically, such that a center of percussion and a center of rotation coincide as closely as possible.
The gyroscopes provide the ability to measure an angular rate to stabilize the platform (e.g., the aircraft) in inertial space, and the accelerometers provide a measurement of linear acceleration. The angular rate and acceleration information is provided to a navigation computer which, as part of the INS, provides a position, a velocity, and an attitude of the aircraft. The INS provides an independent navigation solution (e.g., the positional data) by measuring the dynamics (based on the signals received from the gyroscopes and accelerometers) of a flight from which such navigation parameters are produced.
However, the vertical channel of these inertial navigation systems are by nature unstable. This instability is caused by errors in the measurement of vertical acceleration. The vertical acceleration is measured utilizing the above described gyroscopes and accelerometers, and then integrated to provide vertical velocity, and then integrated again to provide a position. There are typically errors related to such inertial instruments, for example, manufacturing flaws, electronic noise, temperature sensitivities, and other sources of error. These errors are compounded as the navigation computer performs the calculations which result in the determination of the vertical acceleration, velocity, and position.
It is known to utilize a control circuit in conjunction with the vertical channel of the INS. The control circuit utilizes data from a barometric altimeter, which is common to many aircraft. The barometric altimeter provides an independent measurement of vertical position which can be used to constrain the position errors from the navigation computer and improve accuracy of the computed Vertical velocity. However, compensation utilizing barometric altimeter data has drawbacks, one of which is that computations originating from the barometric altimeter have a latency of several seconds. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The automation of the vehicle operation, even for passenger cars and other motor vehicles used in road traffic, is an increasingly occurring equipment feature. For example, driver assistance systems are already known, which can take over the parking process for a driver and the like. It was proposed to have a motor vehicle parked fully automatically and driverlessly into a target parking space in other areas, such as dedicated parking environments, in particular a parking garage.
An essential component of vehicle systems that are designed to fully automatically guide motor vehicles, in particular in the absence of the driver, is the classification of objects detected by environmental sensors of the motor vehicle as an obstacle or not an obstacle in order to be able to plan the further trajectory of the automatic operation. Environmental sensors, such as cameras, radar sensors, Lidar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and the like, therefore deliver sensor data that describe objects in the environment of the motor vehicle and that can be evaluated within the framework of a sensor fusion to different object information for the individual objects or individual segments of the environment. It is known in this context to use classifiers, in particular as algorithms implemented by software, in order to determine whether an object poses a danger or whether it can be driven over or under in the respective current driving situation. It is known, for example, to use environmental models of the motor vehicle, which models use layout maps and/or are object-based and which models contain the fused and possibly already at least partially evaluated sensor data, which can be differentiated by objects and thus can allow an appropriate classification of objects as an obstacle or not an obstacle. In the process, classifiers may also naturally be used, which allow for a further, more accurate classification of objects so that traffic signs, bollards, curbstones, and the like can, for example, be identified automatically, wherein it is however at least attempted by means of the classifier to determine whether or not the object is an obstacle for the motor vehicle, wherein the classification as an obstacle or not an obstacle can also depend on the current driving situation.
It is however in many cases not trivial to determine whether or not an object constitutes an obstacle. For example, the case can occur that an object is unknown in the classifiers used and thus cannot be assigned at all or cannot be assigned with sufficient certainty. Problems can also occur if a kind of “sensor deception” occurs, i.e. if, for example, an object appearing to be solid is not solid or a color change is not a three-dimensional object. Typical examples for such objects that are hard to identify or can be erroneously classified as an obstacle, for example, are leaves, boxes made of cardboard or paper, darker spots on the road that could be classified as a hole, and the like.
It may in particular occur in the automatic operation of motor vehicles that a current target position or a current destination cannot be reached because on object was erroneously classified as an obstacle or danger. Such problems can occur in the current prior art since an ability to generically and unambiguously interpret general objects cannot as of yet be completely technically realized by the environmental sensor system of the motor vehicle. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Nonwoven fabrics which contain fibers having different melting temperatures are well known in the field of the nonwoven fabrics. The fibers with the lower melting point act as an adhesive agent which bonds the higher melting-point fibers to each other. Fibers containing polyethylene and polypropylene are often used to manufacture nonwoven fabrics because of their desirable characteristics such as comparatively low melting point, a strong bond between fibers and a good hand of the fibers. However, since polyethylene is difficult to be spun into filaments at high speed, it has not been easy to produce polyethylene/polypropylene containing nonwovens in accordance with a spunbonding process comprising continuous spinning and web forming operations. Low-density and high-density polyethylenes have been used as polyethylene fibers. It has recently been proposed that a linear low-density polyethylene (hereinafter abbreviated as LLDPE) prepared by copolymerizing ethylene and an .alpha.-olefin having 3 to 12 carbon atoms as described in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 209010/85 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") or a blend of specified proportions of low-density polyethylene and crystalline polypropylene (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,861) are used in the production of polyolefin fibers. A growing need for spinning at higher speeds exists today not only in the art of making spunbonded nonwoven fabrics but also for the purpose of reducing the production cost of multi-filaments. However, the LLDPE shown in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 209010/85 which is specified to have a density and a melt index (hereinafter referred to as MI value) within certain ranges is difficult to spin at high speed and its spinnability is also unsatisfactory. Fibers of fine denier can be spun at high speed by employing a spinning temperature that is much higher than the melting point of LLDPE, but at the same time, the surface of spinneret tends to be soiled over time, thereby inducing such troubles as kneeling and filament breakage.
As regards the blend of low-density polyethylene and polypropylene, U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,861 discloses a process for producing blend fiber and nonwoven fabric by the following procedures: melt-spinning the blend to form a first group of filaments; quenching the first group of filaments; bringing the first group of filaments together with a second group of filaments which have a higher melting point than the polyethylene component of the first group of filaments; forming a composite web of the two groups of filaments; and bonding the web by compressing the web while heating it to a temperature above the melting point of the polyethylene component. Although the low-density polyethylene specified in this patent has a melting point of less than 107.degree. C., the melt spinning of the blend is performed at a temperature in the range of 205 to 265.degree. C., preferably between 230.degree. C. and 260.degree. C. This should increase the chance of the surface of spinneret of becoming soiled over time, thereby inducing such troubles as kneeling and filament breakage. Furthermore, the highest spinning speed that could be attained was only 4,600 m/min for a given blend ratio at a spinning temperature of 260.degree. C.
In the production of nonwoven fabrics, fiber-to-fiber bonds are introduced by interlacing fibers as in the case of needle punch method or by employing a variety of adhesive agents as binders. In applications such as inner cover-stock for disposable diapers and sanitary napkins the demand for which has increased rapidly these days, the nonwoven fabrics are required to satisfy various properties such as soft hand (comfortable touch to the skin), lightweightness (light weight) and high tensile strength. In order to satisfy these requirements as much as possible, the binder method has been employed as a common technique for producing nonwoven fabrics. The principal approach of binding has been to deposit a solution of adhesive agent on webs but this suffers from such disadvantages as the extra need for energy in order to remove the solvent used in the solution of adhesive agent and the fouling of a working environment due to solvent stripping.
With a view to solving these problems, it has been proposed that a first group of fibers constituting a web is bonded together by incorporating in the web a binder in the form of a second group of fibers having a lower melting point than the first group of fibers, with the web being then subjected to a heat treatment. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 10583/86 proposes that a bicomponent fiber made of fiber-forming polymers having different melting points is used as a binder for nonwoven fabrics having high strength and good hand. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are commonly used as the bicomponent fiber-forming polymers but nonwoven fabrics produced using these polyethylenes are unsatisfactory in that they have rigid hand and fail to offer a soft feel. In order to eliminate this defect, it has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 209010/85 and 194113/85 that LLDPE fibers prepared by copolymerizing ethylene with octene-1 be used as a binder for nonwoven fabrics because they offer soft hand and have a low melting point. However, staple fibers made by using LLDPE as a binder are only insufficiently crimped to provide a desired degree of bulkiness. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Ablative compounds are designed to protect an article from a heat source (usually a source of extreme heat) by being coated on the article and being burned away while exposed to that heat source. The ablative compound is sacrificed to protect the article.
For example, in solid fuel rocket engines, the solid fuel is contained within a body (usually a closed tube with a nozzle, the tube being made of metal or composite material). Between the solid fuel and the body is an ablative compound. The ablative compound protects the shell from the heat generated during the solid fuel burn. The ablative compound sheds layers as it is burned off, increasing the time it takes the heat to reach the body. Typically, the protection needs to last no more than a few minutes. If there was no ablative compound, the heat of the burning solid fuel would likely burst the shell.
Such ablative compounds, typically, are rubber based. Rubbers include natural and synthetic rubbers. Synthetic rubbers include: EPDM, EPM, nitrile, etc. These compounds are filled with various natural and synthetic materials (fibers and particulates). These fillers include asbestos, mica. Examples of ablative compounds and their components may be found in the following representative, but not exhaustive, list of U.S. Pat. Nos.: 6,953,823; 6,933,334; 6,566,420; 6,265,330; 5,821,284; 5,703,178; 5,212,944; 4,732,804; 4,001,475, which are incorporated herein by reference.
The use of nanoparticles in ablative compounds for rocket engines is known. See: J. H. Koo, Polymer Nanostructured Materials for High-Temperature Applications: Fabrication, Characterization & Performance, Presentation at The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahasse, Fla., Mar. 23-24, 2004 ([email protected]). The nanoparticles discussed in this presentation were limited to: montmorillonite clays, carbon nanofibers, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes, carbon nanotubes, nanosilica, others (TiO2, Al2O3, etc.). Ibid., page 9.
Accordingly, there is a need for new ablative compounds that have greater high temperature performance capabilities at lesser weights. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Patent Document 1 discloses a semiconductor device that includes a gate pad a gate connection wiring made of polysilicon, and a gate metal wiring that is formed on the gate connection wiring and that is continuous integrally with the gate pad. When a voltage is applied to the gate pad, electric power is supplied to a MOSFET formed in an active region through the gate metal wiring and the gate connection wiring. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a clamp for securing a grounding connector to a structural member, such as a beam. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beam clamp having one or more of the following features: (1) a split mount; (2) alternate mounting locations; (3) lug locators; and (4) reinforcing ribs.
Currently available clamps include a single mounting section and a plurality of mounting fasteners for securing the clamp to the beam. However, because of the single mounting section, the mounting fasteners counteract each other when tightened. That is, tightening one mounting fastener loosens the other mounting fasteners, establishing a relatively weak mechanical connection to the beam. To establish an adequate mechanical connection, the mounting fasteners may be tightened incrementally in an alternating pattern, adding time and complexity to the installation process.
Additionally, the grounding connector is connected to the outside of the clamp. That is, the grounding connector is not in direct contact with the beam, establishing a weak electrical connection to the beam, as well as adding time and complexity to the installation process. To establish an adequate electrical connection, the clamp may be made of a conductive material, which is typically more expensive than a comparable non-conductive material.
Therefore, there is a need for a clamp that is capable of establishing a strong mechanical connection with the structural member and a strong electrical connection with the grounding connector. Additionally, there is a need for a clamp that is capable of being installed quickly and easily. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
It is known to transport substances in pipelines. For example, natural gas such as methane is transported in pipelines from its origin to areas of high natural gas demand. Leaks can occur in such pipelines. For example, welded joints between adjacent tubes of the pipeline can fail due to corrosion or falling objects. Accordingly, systems and methods exist to monitor the pipeline to detect when a leak occurs. Once a leak has been detected, the leak can be managed, for example, by shutting-off supply of the substance carried by the pipeline to reduce loss of the substance and potential environmental damage. Also, repair of the leak can be initiated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Computers are well known for their ability to perform mathematical functions at a high rate of speed. In order to achieve such speed, computers use various techniques to perform mathematical functions on given operands. Limitations in the representation of numbers and in numerical calculations within the computer lead to computed results that are only accurate to within some known or estimated error term. The ability to perform basic functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to a consistent accuracy in a timely manner is a consideration in computational performance of the computer system.
One technique for implementing a mathematical function is to implement the function in hardware. Math functions including addition and subtraction might be accomplished by performing the steps of 1) loading registers with the operands; 2) executing the operational code ("opcode") for the desired function; and then, 3) retrieving the result from one or more registers. The opcode is simply a command to perform the function implemented in hardware.
One disadvantage of this prior art technique is that some functions, such as division, typically require several cycles for completion which in turn tends to adversely affect system performance.
An alternative method of computing other results, such as reciprocals ##EQU1##
often involves looking the result up in a table. For example, the steps for computing a reciprocal might include 1) scaling or normalizing an operand; 2) looking up a reciprocal value corresponding to the normalized value in a lookup "seed" table; and 3) scaling or denormalizing the looked up value to reflect the reciprocal of the denormalized operand. The lookup table is typically stored in a read only memory (ROM). The error associated with this technique is controlled to a great extent by the "height" and "width" or the precision of the entry in the lookup table.
One disadvantage of the conventional lookup approach is that the area required to store the lookup table on the integrated circuit may prevent the lookup approach from being a cost effective technique for given precision requirements.
A cost effective way of implementing mathematical functions such as reciprocal or division to within a consistent error margin in a given time frame is a desirable feature of a computer system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
As the amount of information to be stored and transmitted by computer systems or other electronic devices has dramatically increased, techniques have been developed to allow for more efficient data storage and processing. In some cases, chunking algorithms have been used to achieve improved efficiency and speed. Chunking algorithms partition one or more data objects into non-overlapping chunks. By dividing one or more data objects into chunks, a system is able to identify chunks that are shared by more than one data object or occur multiple times in the same data object, such that these shared chunks are stored just once to avoid or reduce the likelihood of storing duplicate data.
One type of chunking algorithm is a landmark chunking algorithm, which performs partitioning of one or more data objects by first locating landmarks present in the one or more data objects. The landmarks are short predefined patterns of data whose locations are used in determining chunk boundaries. By convention, each landmark is considered to occur at a single position, often the position immediately following that landmark's data.
The landmark chunking algorithm then determines chunk boundaries from the landmark locations. The simplest landmark chunking algorithm places a chunk boundary at each landmark. More complicated landmark chunking algorithms take into account the distance between landmarks in order to, for example, avoid too small or too large chunks. Note that for such algorithms, not all landmarks will be designated chunk boundaries and not all chunk boundaries are located at landmark positions. In one example, a landmark may be considered to be located at any position in a data stream immediately following a new line character (the pattern). Landmark chunking a text file using the new line character as the landmark definition would partition the text file into a sequence of chunks, where lines of the text file may be separate chunks. Landmark definitions that are actually used in practice tend to be more complicated to enable proper handling of file types other than text files. For example, a position in a data stream can be defined as a landmark location if the immediately preceding 48 bytes of data has a particular calculated value, such as a Rabin fingerprint equal to −1 mod a predefined number related to the average desired chunk size.
A benefit of landmark chunking algorithms is that local changes are likely to disturb only a small number of chunks. For example, in a text file, adding a word to one line in the middle of the document only disturbs that line (chunk). In contrast, if a text file were to be simply divided into fixed-size 80-character records, an added word in the text file would cause every record after the added word to be changed, which leads to increased computer processing.
Conventional landmark chunking algorithms that are applied to large input data can be very computing-intensive. For example, in the data backup or archiving context, relatively large amounts of data are processed during the backup or archiving operation. If the landmark chunking algorithm is not performed efficiently, then the backup or archiving operation may take a long time to complete. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to an alarm buzzer device, and more particularly to an alarm buzzer device which incorporates an electric power source for actuating a buzzer element therein. The device is especially applicable as a stationary alarm fixed to bicycles and the like or as a portable alarm for emergency call and the like.
For such type alarm buzzer devices, it is generally and basically required to have a simple structure for facilitating repairs and to arrange structural elements or members therefor so as to ensure a reliable operation. A conventional alarm buzzer device for bicycles has, however, a disadvantage in that its operation is not always reliable for the following reason. The conventional device has an actuating push button of a comparatively small size, for instance, a push botton as small as the tip of a rider's finger. With such a small push button, a user is apt to fail in actuating the buzzer device when an alarm sound is necessary, because he has to locate the small actuating button by feeling without seeing it while concentrating his attention on road conditions.
In order to fulfill the requirements as referred to I have proposed an improved alarm buzzer device for bicycles having a pivoted actuating knob as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3 521 275. The knob for the device as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. has a configuration of a substantially triangular ridge-like ring mounted on a part of a lid for the device, so that, when a part of the ring-like knob is pressed downwardly by a finger of the bicycle rider, the ring swings to depress a flexible movable contact toward a stationary contact for completing a circuit with the aid of a pin fixed to the triangular knob at a portion near one of the three vertexes thereof and a leaf spring fixed to the pin. The device as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Patent has an advantage in providing a larger operating area than that of the conventional push button for the alarm buzzer device as referred to, but there still exists the possibility that the rider may push not the knob but the lid in haste. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A circuit-breaker is a switching device capable of switching on, loading and switching off current under normal circuit conditions, and capable of switching on, loading and switching off current within a specified time under abnormal circuit conditions.
Arc is a gas discharge phenomenon, and is a transient spark produced by current via certain insulating media, such as air. An arc not only has a great destructive effect on contacts, but also prolongs the time of switching off a circuit.
At present, various circuit-breakers have been applied widely in real life. In conventional techniques, circuit-breakers can switch off and insulate quickly under abnormal circuit conditions, the circuit-breakers generally use the air as a medium for insulation, contact separation must reach a long distance to achieve enough degree of insulation, moreover, an arc which is produced during contact separation may easily continue to burn in the air between contacts, and as a result, the contacts are damaged. In general, the circuit-breakers of the conventional techniques have the defects of poor insulation, low arc breaking speed, poor isolation and sealing, and poor arc distinguishing effect. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Technical Field
The invention generally relates to transducers. More particularly, the invention relates to an audio transducer capable of reproducing a sound wave and having the benefits of planar and cone-type transducers.
2. Related Art
Various types of transducers are used to reproduce sound. Audio transducers may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, such as the acoustical output from an audio loudspeaker. Audio transducers also may convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, such as the current output from a microphone. In the voice coil of a loudspeaker's transducer, an electrical audio signal from an amplifier interacts with a magnetic field of a stationary magnet to vibrate a diaphragm. If the vibration frequency is in the audible range, a sound is produced. In general, there are two types of transducers: cone-type (or dome-type) transducers and planar transducers.
Cone-type transducers have a cone usually made from paper, polymer, metal, or a combination of these materials. In a cone-type transducer, a cone is used to excite sound waves in a fluid such as air. The cone may be connected at its outer perimeter to a frame (usually of metal), by a pliable surround—a surrounding support of pliable material. The pliable surround is typically made of foam, rubber, or doped cloth. The inner perimeter of the cone may be connected to a tube structure (usually referred to as a former), which may be wrapped at the end opposite the cone with insulated wire to form a voice coil. Similarly, dome-type transducers use dome-shaped structures (instead of cone-shaped transducers) to excite sound waves. The voice coils of dome-type transducers, however, are typically produced using designs and techniques similar to those used with cone-type transducers.
For cone-type (and dome-type) transducers, the voice coil typically resides in a magnetic gap—a region where the stationary magnet produces a magnetic field. In cone-type transducers, the magnetic gap is generally constructed as a space inside the body of a stationary magnet structure, with the stationary magnets' field oriented orthogonal to the flow of current in the voice coil. The voice coil may be held so that the voice coil does not contact the walls of the stationary magnet.
The magnetic gap in a cone-type transducer is generally configured as a space that separates a magnetic north pole only slightly from a magnetic south pole. Thus, a voice coil placed within this space may be immersed in a relatively strong magnetic field. This relatively strong magnetic field enhances the efficiency of the transducer, better allowing the transducer to convert the power from an electrical signal into the mechanical power of a vibrating diaphragm.
When an electric current is applied through the wire windings of the voice coil in cone-type transducers, the current's interaction with the magnetic field generates a force on the voice coil that is perpendicular both to the magnetic field and to the direction of the current. Depending on the polarity of the electric potential applied to the voice coil, this force may move the voice coil deeper into or further out of the magnetic gap. This in and out movement of the cone causes the cone to vibrate and produce a sound wave.
In other words, when a time-varying electrical current corresponding to a sound wave is driven through a voice coil of a cone-type transducer, the current interacts with the field of the stationary magnet to vibrate the diaphragm. Thus, the diaphragm vibrates in response to the input electric potential. In this manner, the cone-type transducer can reproduce a sound wave that corresponds to the time-varying electrical current.
The distance that the cone moves into and out of the magnetic gap is referred to as excursion. Longer excursion lengths are helpful for providing a lower frequency response for the transducer and a greater acoustic output. Because the voice coil of a cone-type transducer moves in the magnetic gap, the stationary magnet structure subjects the voice coil to a substantially homogenous magnetic field throughout the excursion length. This benefit of a transducer design is described as “magnetic linearity.”
Cone-type transducers are typically characterized by a relatively high cone and coil mass, which limits the ability of the cone to vibrate at high frequencies. Some designs reduce the mass of the cone, but may do so at the cost of rigidity of the cone. Cones that are less rigid may suffer from distortion caused when a cone flexes instead of imparting pressure to the adjacent air. Flexing of the cone leads to “break-up”—a failure of the cone to properly reproduce a sound wave. Break-up may occur when the force applied to a cone excites a mechanical flexing mode of the cone instead of a motion that transmits the force into the adjacent air. While there is always some frequency at which a particular transducer cone will break up, a greater ability of the cone to resist flexing generally leads to a wider range over which the transducer may be used without distortion.
Planar transducers are different from cone-type transducers, both magnetically and mechanically. In a planar transducer, a planar diaphragm surface is used to excite sound waves in a fluid. Two common types of planar transducers are electrostatic and planar-magnetic transducers, which use electrical and electromagnetic forces, respectively, to vibrate a diaphragm.
In a planar-magnetic transducer, a diaphragm may be connected at two or more portions of its outer perimeter to a frame. The connection is typically made with an adhesive, but may also be made by fasteners or other mechanical connections. Unlike in a cone-type transducer where a pliable surround connects the diaphragm to the frame, a rigid attachment (usually by adhesive) is generally preferred in a planar transducer. This allows the diaphragm to be held under tension to prevent the diaphragm from sagging and contacting other components during operation.
The diaphragm generally has one or more voice coils integrated onto its planar surface, which are in the same plane as the diaphragm. Multiple stationary magnets are offset to the voice coils, with one or more of their poles generally directed toward the plane of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm of a planar transducer, which serves the same air-movement function as the cone of a cone-type transducer, is generally flat in comparison with the cone of a cone transducer. In a planar transducer, the break-up point of the diaphragm may be determined by the rigidity of the diaphragm material, the tension applied to the diaphragm, and the uniformity of the force applied to the back of the diaphragm. In a cone-type transducer, the break-up point depends on the rigidity of the cone material and the angle of the cone. Thus, with identical material rigidity, the breakup frequency of a cone-type transducer may be determined by cone angle while the breakup frequency for a planar transducer may be determined by diaphragm tension and by how evenly the movement force is applied to the diaphragm.
Both cone-type and conventional planar transducers present users with various disadvantages. For example, even though planar transducers can be significantly thinner than cone-type, planar transducers are unsuitable for many applications where their thinner structure would be a significant benefit. For example, planar transducers may require an impedance-matched transformer to match the impedance of the transducer to the amplifier.
While cone-type transducers may in some cases be more efficient and less complex than planar transducers, they are generally much thicker than planar transducers. Some cone-type transducer designs reduce the depth of the transducer, resulting typically in reduced performance. Some designs use a “cone” that is largely flat, thus reducing the depth of the overall structure. However, as the cone loses its angular orientation between its outer and inner perimeters, it looses structural rigidity. As the angle between the outer and inner perimeters of the cone approaches flat, the rigidity of the cone material must increase markedly. Other designs move the former, voice coil, and magnet to the interior or mouth of the cone. While this reduces the depth of the overall structure, distortion occurs as the sound wave generated by the vibrating cone deflects off the surfaces of the former, magnet, and frame structure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device for controlling a battery to be charged with a sine curve charger, and to a rechargeable power supply unit to be charged with a sine curve charger.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, portable electronic devices have been widely used. The electronic devices operate using a battery. In a case where the battery does not operate normally, a user cannot use the electronic device at a destination or an unexpected accident may occur in some cases. Accordingly, charge and discharge of the battery is monitored (for example, see JP 2001-178011 A).
During the charge of the battery, when a voltage of the battery becomes equal to or higher than an overcharge detection voltage which is used in a case of detecting an overcharge state, after the elapse of an overcharge determination time necessary for determining the overcharge state, the overcharge state of the battery is determined and the charge of the battery is inhibited.
During the discharge of the battery, when the voltage of the battery becomes lower than an overdischarge detection voltage which is used in a case of detecting an overdischarge state, after the elapse of an overdischarge determination time necessary for determining the overdischarge state, the overdischarge state of the battery is determined and the discharge of the battery is inhibited. After that, operation of part of circuits provided in are chargeable power supply unit is stopped, which results in lowering power consumption of the rechargeable power supply unit. Such a state is referred to as a power-down state. The rechargeable power supply unit has a VM terminal for monitoring whether or not the state of the rechargeable power supply unit is to be shifted to the power-down state. When a voltage at the VM terminal becomes equal to or higher than a power-down voltage, the state of the rechargeable power supply unit shifts to the power-down state. When the voltage at the VM terminal becomes lower than the power-down voltage, the power-down state of the rechargeable power supply unit is cancelled.
Further, when a charger is connected to the battery in the power-down state, the power-down state is cancelled, to thereby start the charge of the battery. When the voltage of the battery becomes equal to or higher than the overdischarge detection voltage, after the elapse of a delay time for cancellation of the overdischarge state, which is necessary for determining the cancellation of the overdischarge state, a normal state of the battery is determined. When the battery is further charged, the voltage of the battery becomes equal to or higher than the overcharge detection voltage. Then, after the elapse of the overcharge determination time, the overcharge state of the battery is determined.
In this case, it is assumed that the charger for charging the battery is a sine wave charger and the delay time for cancellation of the overdischarge state is longer than a ½ cycle of a charging voltage of the sine wave charger. At this time, in a case where the state of the rechargeable power supply unit has been shifted to the power-down state and the battery is charged with the sine wave charger, even when the voltage of the battery exceeds the overdischarge detection voltage, a time period during which the voltage of the battery exceeds the overdischarge detection voltage is shorter than the delay time for cancellation of the overdischarge state. As a result, the delay time for cancellation of the overdischarge state never elapses. Accordingly, the overdischarge state of the battery is not cancelled, and the overcharge state is not detected even in a case where the charge cannot be stopped. Note that, in this case, shift and cancellation of the power-down state are repeated as shown in FIG. 3. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Refineries often use an available refinery fuel gas stream as part of the feedstock for an SMR, with the balance typically being natural gas. Some of these refinery fuel gas streams contain olefins such as ethylene, propylene, butenes, pantenes, etc. The concentration of the olefins in the fuel gas varies due to various changes in refinery operations. The concentration of the olefins in the feedstock can also increase if the natural gas feedstock is reduced relative to the refinery fuel gas stream.
Typically, these olefins are hydrogenated upstream of the SMR. The hydrogenation of olefins is an exothermic reaction. Due to the limitations on the hydrogenation catalyst, there is a limit on the allowable temperature rise within the hydrogenator. This limits the amount of olefins that may be allowable in the feed stream. This limit is typically between about 4% and about 6% by volume. For streams that contain higher concentrations of olefins, a recycle loop is usually used around the hydrogenator. This adds operational complexity, plus the capital and operating expenses relating to the addition of a recycle gas compressor and a recycle gas cooler. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Polyantha Rose. It has as its seed parent the variety known as ‘MORredfar’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,150) and as its pollen parent the variety known as ‘FRYtrooper’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,211). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Many of the cigarettes currently distributed in the marketplace are manufactured by method called an “American Blend” method. This manufacturing method adds a large quantity of casing flavor to burley leaves as raw material, dries the leaves with a multiple-chamber dryer, and blends them with other raw materials. The process of adding the casing flavor to burley leaves and the subsequent drying process are called special processing treatment, which creates distinctive sweet odor and taste. The sweet odor and taste serve as chief aroma and flavor of “American Blend-type” cigarettes.
The special processing treatment, however, requires fairly large-scale equipment including the multiple-chamber dryer used for the drying process. The setup of an installation space and a large equipment investment are therefore necessary. The special processing treatment also requires high running costs. In addition, tobacco factories with no equipment for the special processing treatment have to entrust the treatment to other tobacco factories, leading to a deterioration in productivity.
International Publication WO 2004/107885 discloses a tobacco mixture having a reduced percentage of nitrosamine (TSNA) that is contained in leaf tobacco using burley leaves, and also discloses a cigarette containing this mixture. The tobacco mixture and the cigarette (leaf tobacco) containing this mixture are for producing American Blend-type leaf tobacco by preparing an absorbing agent for absorbing TSNA, and using 50 percent or more of the reconstituted tobacco flakes previously contacted to the absorbing agent. In result, leaf tobacco containing reduced TSNA is supposed be produced. However, since International Publication WO 2004/107885 adopts the American Blend method for manufacturing leaf tobacco, the special processing treatment is applied to manufacture the leaf tobacco. There still remains the problem that the special processing treatment is required. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates generally to the field of disc drive data storage devices and, more particularly, to an assembly of spindle motor and disc stack.
Disc drive data storage devices, known as "Winchester" type disc drives, are well known in the industry. In a Winchester disc drive, digital data are written to and read from a thin layer of magnetizable material on the surface of rotating discs. Write and read operations are performed through a transducer which is carried in a slider body. The slider and transducer are sometimes collectively referred to as a head, and typically a single head is associated with each disc surface. The heads are selectively moved under the control of electronic circuitry to any one of a plurality of circular, concentric data tracks on the disc surface by an actuator device. Each slider body includes a self-acting hydrodynamic air bearing surface. As the disc rotates, the disc drags air beneath the air bearing surface, which develops a lifting force that causes the slider to lift and fly several microinches above the disc surface.
In the current generation of disc drive products, the most commonly used type of actuator is a rotary moving coil actuator. The discs themselves are typically mounted in a "stack" on the hub structure of a brushless DC spindle motor. For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,922 issued to Steven P. LeClair and assigned to Seagate Technology, Inc., discloses a disc drive motor spindle hub for holding a disc and spacer stack firmly in place, the teachings of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. This patent teaches an improved disc flange design which accommodates for the bending of the disc flange, yet allowing for maximum clamp force to be applied to the disc stack away from the cylindrical hub.
The prior art disc flange and disc spacers are machined parts, with a roughness of the order of 30-40 microinches. The discs are typically made up of aluminum substrates and have a stamped circular inner hole to accommodate the spindle hub. Due to the stamping process, the disc surface in the vicinity of the inner hole will have uneven projections. Any residual distortion of the disc inside diameter that may exist after the stamping process can adversely affect the surface condition of the entire disc after clamping into a disc and spacer stack as that surface is forced down against another component like the disc flange or the disc spacers or clamp washer.
The disc spacers are typically made up of aluminum alloy and are continuously dinged, nicked and scratched due to handling after manufacture and prior to assembly in a disc and spacer stack. Similarly, the metallic clamp washers are also susceptible for handling damages prior to assembly.
As the flying height of the slider above the disc continues to come down, there is a need to minimize the inherent roughness of components that makeup a disc stack so that the heads can be safely flown across the disc surface while reducing the flying height.
There is also a need to minimize the impact of roughness imparted due to the stamping of the circular inner hole of the disc.
There is also a need to use a disc flange whose surface roughness is significantly less than 30-40 microinches and resists bending due to clamp force. There is also a need to apply majority of the clamping force away from the disc inner diameter.
There is also a need to use various components that make up a spindle motor and disc stack assembly like, hub flange, disc spacers and clamp washers whose surface roughness is significantly less than 30-40 microinches and whose change in surface roughness due to handling damages do not adversely impact the disc stack. Also, there is a need to consider alternate non-metallic materials like ceramic for these components while overcoming any adverse effects like electrostatic charge buildup. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a semiconductor chip and, more particularly, to a semiconductor chip having first and second operation modes of different consumption currents.
There is a semiconductor chip having a first operation mode in which first current is consumed and a second operation mode in which second current larger than the first current is consumed (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-211640).
The semiconductor chip has a reference voltage generating circuit for generating reference voltage, first and second regulators for generating power supply voltage on the basis of the reference voltage, and an internal circuit which is driven by the power supply voltage generated by the first and second regulators and executes first and second operation modes.
The first regulator has first current drive capability, and the second regulator has second current drive capability higher than the first current drive capability. In the first and second operation modes, the first and second regulators are activated, respectively, thereby reducing the consumption current. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In spark ignited internal combustion engines, the combustion process normally exhibits cycle-to-cycle variability. This variability is known to result in such undesirable effects as engine roughness at idle and reduced engine efficiency at higher loads. Efficiency is reduced when peak combustion chamber pressure occurs at varying rotational locations on the crank circle.
Ignition delay variability is a major cause of cycle-to-cycle variations in combustion processes. Ignition delay is the time period between spark discharge and a measurable increase in combustion chamber pressure attributable to combustion. This time period varies because of chaotic processes within the combustion chamber within the vicinity of the spark plug. These chaotic variations result from small scale mixture turbulence as well as small scale variations in mixture composition. As a result, from one combustion cycle to the next, the speed at which the combustion proceeds will appreciably vary, because variations in the turbulence and mixture composition near the spark plug gap will alter the speed with which the spark ignited flame kernel grows to a size which can influence the combustion chamber pressure.
One way to reduce variability in ignition delay is to increase the size of the spark. A larger spark will encompass a larger portion of the turbulent mixture and will tend to counteract some of the cycle-to-cycle mixture variability. The overall time of ignition delay will also be reduced with a larger spark. Since a conventional spark is commonly 0.030 to 0.040 inches long (e.g., the size of the spark plug gap), the initial flame kernel ignited by this spark is quite small. The surface area of this generally spherical flame kernel will grow as the square of the diameter of the sphere. Thus, the surface area of the kernel will start out small but will begin to grow rapidly in an exponential fashion as its diameter increases. It follows that if the initial flame kernel is significantly larger, then the time it takes for the flame kernel to measurably affect combustion pressure will be reduced, and the total ignition delay time will be shortened. In sum, variability in ignition delay can be reduced by a larger spark because small scale variations in fuel mixture composition will have less of an effect on a larger initial flame kernel, and overall ignition delay time will be reduced. A larger initial spark will result in a smoother running engine and will increase engine efficiency because peak combustion chamber pressure will occur at more consistent locations on the crank circle.
Various ways of increasing the size of the spark are known. Simply increasing the size of the spark plug gap is one method. However, the ignition system must be capable of providing sufficient voltage to fire the larger gap. Thus, if the spark gap is simply increased in a conventional ignition system the increased voltage requirement may cause the engine to miss, especially at high rpms.
Another method of increasing the size of the spark is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,960. That invention teaches a magnetic field which moves the spark outward into the air/fuel mixture. This configuration utilizes the circuit comprising two parallel electrodes and the spark itself as a single turn solenoid or coil which produces a magnetic field. The spark will move to a lower energy condition, enlarging the area within the coil, to slightly reduce the flux density within the single turn loop. As a result, the length of the spark is increased from the linear distance between the two electrodes, to an arc shaped spark connecting the two electrodes. The effect on the flame kernel size, however, will be minimal. Based on the shape and strength of the magnetic field produced in this manner, it can be expected that the length of this spark will probably increase by less than a factor of two. Thus, simply bending the spark by means of a magnetic field will not have a major effect on the size of the spark and ultimately the cycle-to-cycle variability of ignition delay.
The present invention provides a spark plug which significantly increases the mixture volume traversed by the spark and thereby reduces cycle-to-cycle variability in ignition delay. It does this by incorporating a multiple turn coil or solenoid into the spark plug near the area of the spark gap. This solenoid creates a magnetic field which causes the spark to bend outward and also to rotate about the center electrode. As the rotating spark sweeps around in a circular path, the resulting spark will traverse a volume of the mixture which is perhaps an order of magnitude greater than the spark in a conventional spark plug.
The actual surface area of the resulting spark path will be a function of the strength of the magnetic field, the angular speed with which the spark rotates about the center electrode and the current and duration of the spark discharge. A number of embodiments of the present invention are herein disclosed which provide various means for maximizing parameters and which result in an increase in the effective size of the spark. This has the effect of reducing cycle-to-cycle variability in ignition delay. Further, the more consistent location of peak combustion pressure on the crank circuit results in more efficient engine operation. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the engine will be able to run on leaner mixtures because the greater mixture volume traversed by the spark has an increased probability of comprising a combustible mixture among the small scale mixture nonuniformities.
In one form of this invention, a spark plug has a center high voltage electrode and an annular ground electrode concentric with, and surrounding the high voltage electrode. Also, an axial multiple turn solenoid surrounds the high voltage electrode near the spark gap. This solenoid carries current from the annular ground electrode to a conventional steel spark plug shell which is an electrical connection to ground. The solenoid creates a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the spark gap. This magnetic field has a steep intensity gradient that causes the spark to be bent outward from the gap plane. This happens because the spark is itself a current carrying conductor and will tend to move to a lower energy condition which is in the direction of the lesser intensity of the magnetic field. In addition, the magnetic force acting upon the spark will cause the spark to rotate about the high voltage electrode similar to the rotation of the spoke of a wheel. In completing one revolution, the spark will trace a shape similar to that of half of a circular torus, or donut, which has been sliced in the middle in a horizontal plane. Assuming one complete revolution, the total surface area of the half torus spark will be approximately S=pi.sup.2 RD; where D is the distance between the two electrodes and R equals the radius of the high voltage electrode plus 1/2D.
In another exemplary spark plug according to the present invention, a further enhancement of the magnetic field strength is achieved by the addition of a second coil or solenoid attached on one end to the high voltage electrode. The other end of the second solenoid is attached to the ignition wire. Consequently, ignition current passes through the second solenoid before it reaches the high voltage electrode. The magnetic field created by the second coil adds to the field produced by the first solenoid. As a result, the bending and the rotation of the spark is enhanced. The second coil connected to the high voltage electrode may be employed with or without the first coil connected to the ground electrode.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the gap plane formed by the exposed surfaces of the high voltage and the ground electrodes is angled rather than perpendicular to the axis of the high voltage electrode. In this configuration, the gap distance is shorter on one side of the ground electrode than on the opposite side, due to the incline of the gap plane in the conical insulator section. As a result, the spark will initiate at the side with the shortest gap distance. This permits a lower sparking voltage to be utilized because the gap is smaller. Because of the well-known nonlinear impedance characteristic of a spark gap, once the spark has been initiated across the narrower portion, a lower voltage can sustain the spark across a wider portion of the gap as the spark is rotated by the magnetic field. The angled gap thus has the advantage of requiring a lower ignition voltage.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a magnetic core may be inserted within the second coil. This magnetic core may be composed of a rod of magnetic material such as ferrite which is coated with an insulator. The purpose of the core is to further increase the strength of the magnetic field which is acting upon the spark.
In another embodiment of this invention, a capacitor is integrated into the spark plug. This capacitor is connected electrically between the high voltage electrode and ground. This capacitor has the effect of increasing the intensity of the initial spark discharge to thereby produce a larger initial flame kernel. Ignition systems employing a capacitor for this purpose are sometimes known as "blast wave" systems and are described in S.A.E. papers Nos. 850076 and 880224. Prior systems, however, employ a capacitor mounted externally to the spark plug. The present invention provides a capacitor which is monolithically built into the spark plug and the closer proximity of the capacitor to the spark increases the speed and initial intensity of its discharge.
Each of the above embodiments presents manufacturing difficulties that have not been overcome using conventional techniques for manufacturing spark plugs. To effectively utilize the various electrical components, such as coils and capacitors, required by these embodiments, involves more than merely attaching these components to a conventional spark plug. This is because these components must be in close proximity to the spark to be effective and therefore they are preferably integrated into the spark plug itself. To achieve this integration, techniques are taught for manufacturing these electrical components and the spark plug insulator as a single monolithic unit.
Generally, according to the present invention, the technique employed for integrating electrical components into a spark plug comprises a method for establishing electrically conductive monolithic paths through a solid by the use of a conductive ink. In particular, the method utilizes a cermet ink for creating conductive paths inside a solid insulating material such as a ceramic. The cermet ink is applied to the ceramic material at an early manufacturing stage when the ceramic is in a "green" state. This permits the ceramic insulator material to be co-fired with the cermet ink.
The cermet ink can be applied in patterns as desired depending on the desired electrical function. For example, to create a solenoid, a band of ink may be applied in a helical pattern around a cylindrical shaped portion of a green ceramic base. Additional layers of ceramic may then be applied over the coil to provide electrical insulation. To create a capacitor, a surface of cermet is first applied to a ceramic base. Insulating ceramic then may be applied over the first surface and a second surface of cermet may be applied which is parallel to the first. The resulting device, whether a capacitor or coil, may then be connected electrically to another component or wire by providing an inked surface at the terminal ends of the pattern which are suitable for such connections. In the context of this invention, the words "cermet ink" may mean any suitable fluid having an electrically conductive constituent and which is capable of forming an electrical conductor through a solid insulator materials. In one example according to the present invention, the cermet ink comprises a ceramic and a metal suspended in a solvent.
These methods may also be successfully employed to manufacture spark plug electrodes. To manufacture the high voltage electrode, the cermet or other suitable ink is applied to a thin metal wire or spindle. This cermet coated spindle is then inserted into granulated ceramic material contained in a conventional rubber mold, such as the type used in the manufacturing of ceramic spark plug insulators and pressure is applied to the exterior of the mold. Because of the porous nature of the ceramic, the applied pressure causes the cermet ink coating the spindle to bond to the ceramic with a much stronger bond than the adhesive bond which initially held the ink to the spindle.
The spindle may then be carefully withdrawn from the ceramic material. As the spindle is withdrawn, the ink slides off the spindle and the hole left below the point of the spindle is filled in as the ink and ceramic material collapse due to the compressive forces maintained on the rubber mold. After the spindle is withdrawn, additional pressure is applied to further compact the ceramic body and the embedded cermet ink. This results in a strand of cermet ink running through the ceramic insulator which creates an electrically conductive path integrated into the insulator itself. The upper portion of the solid, high voltage electrode thus formed may then make direct contact with an ignition wire, preferably in a counterbore built into the upper insulator for receiving the wire. A small lower portion of the high voltage electrode may be coated with a platinum cermet which itself forms the high voltage electrode sparking surface.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for creating a ground electrode is disclosed which is similar to the above methods except that the conductive ink may be applied by dipping a small conical portion of the ceramic spark plug insulator tip into the ink. This method is particularly well suited to creating an annularly shaped ground electrode, such as the one which may be used in some of the above embodiments of this invention. In this method, the conical pointed lower tip of a ceramic insulator having an axial cermet high voltage electrode, in the "green" stage, is dipped into the cermet ink. After the insulator is fired, the tip of the cone is ground away by pressing it vertically on a horizontal grinding surface. This results in exposing an annularly shaped spark gap and ground electrode surface surrounding the high voltage electrode in the gap plane. Given a particular high voltage electrode, the gap distance will depend on the diameter of the insulator at the surface of the gap plane. By using an insulator with a small conical lower portion, the gap distance can be easily adjusted during manufacturing by varying the amount of material ground away from the insulator tip. The ground electrode may then be connected electrically to a conventional steel spark plug shell and hence to electrical ground, by means of a path of inked cermet connected to the ground electrode and to the spark plug shell bottom gasket.
The above method of forming conductive paths through solid materials has the advantages of being relatively simple and cost effective to perform, and is readily adapted to mass production techniques. Moreover, by creating conductive paths which are integral with the solid, the overall reliability of the resulting device is improved because one integrated mass is employed rather than a set of discrete components. As a result, such a device can withstand large temperature extremes because there are fewer separate components having different coefficients of expansion. With respect to the manufacture of spark plugs, a further advantage of the above techniques is that they make it possible to integrate various electrical components, such a conductors, coils and capacitors, into the spark plug itself. This greatly facilitates the creation of a spark plug having a magnetic field in the area of the spark gap, as is requided by some of the embodiments of the present invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a composite for a temperature sensor, and a method of manufacturing the same.
(b) Background Art
As the number of vehicles being used around the world has increased, the consumption of fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, liquid natural gas (LNG), and liquid propane gas (LPG) has also increased. At the same time the limited supply of these fossil fuels has been gradually depleted, the price of oil has sharply risen. Thus, there is a need to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles.
Also, as a result of the accumulation of greenhouse gases, the environmental standards applied to the regulation of exhaust gas have been tightened; consequently, various apparatuses for reducing vehicle emissions that arise during the combustion of a fossil fuel are required.
In particular, the environmental regulations that control the release of dust, NOx, etc., that result from the combustion of diesel fuel have been highly tightened. Thus, there is a need for a post-exhaust apparatus for the re-combustion of such environmental pollutants/gas, or the conversion of such gas into a non-harmful/non-polluting gas.
This type of post-exhaust apparatus shows optimum efficiency when operated at the proper temperature. Consequently, such an apparatus requires a high precision/high durability temperature sensor.
In other words, the temperature sensor of such a post-exhaust apparatus for vehicles can be used at a high temperature of, for example, 500° C. or more. Furthermore, such a temperature sensor must be able to withstand frequent, extreme variations in temperature that may range from room temperature or below, to an operating temperature of 500° C. or above. Additionally, such a temperature sensor must be able to withstand the high vibration that results from the normal operation of a vehicle.
Temperature sensors are typically made of a metal or a metal oxide. If the temperature sensor is to be used at a high temperature, then a metal oxide temperature sensor is generally used. To manufacture a metal oxide temperature sensor according to the conventional art, a test piece of a transition metal oxide such as Fe2O3—NiO—Cr2O3—MnO2 is initially manufactured by a ceramic process of mixing, calcining, and sintering. After the test piece is manufactured, an electrode is printed or plated on the test piece surface. Then, an electrode wire (lead wire) made of Ni, Pt, Au, Cu, or the like, is bonded on the electrode so as to manufacture the temperature sensor. Disadvantageously, the use of transition metals alone to manufacture such a metal oxide temperature sensor, results in a sensor that cannot accurately measure a resistance at temperatures of 500° C. or more because the resistance is very low (e.g., about several ohms (Ω)). Thus, there is a significant problem with this type of temperature sensor in high temperature applications because the measurement error is large.
Additionally, since the manufacturing process involves printing the test piece surface with an electrode made of Ag, Au, Pt, or the like, which is then attached with an electrode wire or pin, the electrode wire or pin is a connection point that is sensitive to temperature and vibration. For example, the electrode may become detached from the device surface under conditions of high temperature and/or high vibration, as is typically found during the operation of a vehicle. Accordingly, another disadvantage of this type of sensor is that it is prone to failure with normal vehicle use, and subject to frequent replacement. Accordingly, there is a need for a temperature sensor that provides accurate readings at high operating temperatures, and is durable under the high temperature and high vibration conditions that are normally associated with operation of a vehicle. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Ice packs for single patient use are generally of two types: large general purpose ice packs designed for application to large areas of the body and small, specialized ice packs designed for cold application at particular points.
Impaction injuries to the face, in the jaw and cheek areas, for example, require an ice pack application to chill the affected area in order to reduce swelling and to prevent pain and further tissue damage. Because the human head is generally spherical in shape, it is therefore one of the most difficult body parts on which to apply medical dressings such as ice packs. Accordingly, a need has arisen to provide for an ice pack which can be secured to the head to apply a cold application directly to an injured facial area.
Because of the proximity of the injured area to the eyes, nose and mouth, it is important that the ice pack application does not interfere with their functions, such as sight, respiration, speech and eating. Accordingly, it is further desirable to provide for an ice pack which may be fastened to the head securely and yet in an unobstructive manner.
The present invention provides for a facial ice pack and is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Copper rods are used to manufacture copper wire. Molten copper is poured into a casting wheel to allow for continuous copper rod production. To protect the casting wheel soot is deposited onto the wheel's surface. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Identity and access management (IAM) refers to the processes, technologies, and policies for managing digital identities and controlling how those identities can be used to access resources. For large business entities having thousands of employees and complex computer systems, IAM can be a challenge.
As personnel join, leave, and move throughout the enterprise, access rights to various computing resources may need to be updated, e.g., to add, remove, or modify access rights. Furthermore, periodic access reviews may need to be performed to ensure that access rights for personnel do not exceed the scope of their authority. In other words, access reviews may be used to determine whether employees can access only those resources necessary to perform their job duties. Moreover, it may also be important to ensure personnel are not provided with incompatible access rights—combinations of access rights that would allow personnel to carry out incompatible tasks.
These aspects of IAM may be difficult in current implementations of IAM systems. In particular, current IAM systems may require business personnel to request changes to access rights in terms of the technical infrastructure underlying the enterprise computer system. Furthermore, provisioning access rights in conventional systems may be a manual process, which can lead to mistakes and inconsistencies in provisioned access rights. Erroneously provisioned access rights may lead to users having access to computing resources outside the scope of their authority. Additionally, current IAM systems may require business personnel to perform access reviews also in technical terms. Business personnel, however, may not be familiar nor concerned with the technical details of the enterprise computer system. As a result, business personnel may have difficulty requesting changes to access rights and conducting access reviews. Therefore, a need exists for improved approaches to submitting access requests and conducting access reviews. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic device comprising the same.
Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device is widely used for a display screen of various devices such as television, notebook computer, monitor, camera, camcorder, or home appliances with display as well as mobile electronic devices such as a smart phone, a smart watch, a watch phone, a wearable device, a tablet personal computer (PC), and a mobile communication terminal.
According as an electronic device with LCD device, for example, a smart phone has been widely used, various requirements for new functions of the smart phone are increasing.
Recently, a smart phone having a sub screen provided in a predetermined part of a main display screen without a physical screen division has been introduced. In case of this smart phone, time information and various application icons are displayed on the sub screen for a standby mode or a normal driving mode. Thus, time information may be displayed on the sub screen regardless of standby mode or normal driving mode, and the various applications may be rapidly executed for the standby mode or normal driving mode.
However, in case of the smart phone having the sub screen, even though an image is displayed only on the sub screen defined in the predetermined part of the main display screen, all light sources of a backlight unit are driven at the same time, which causes a problem of high power consumption for the driving of the sub screen. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, object recognition technology which can be utilized for production, management, or the like by assigning IDs (identification numbers) to individual objects to reveal data thereon such as the history, has attracted much attention. Above all, semiconductor devices that can send and receive data without contact have been in development. As such semiconductor devices, RFIDs (Radio Frequency Identification) (also referred to as ID tags, IC tags, IC chips, RF (Radio Frequency) tags, wireless tags, electronic tags, and wireless chips) and the like are beginning to be adopted in companies, markets, and the like.
Many of these semiconductor devices each include an antenna, and a circuit (hereinafter also referred to as an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip) using a semiconductor substrate of silicon (Si) or the like, and the IC chip is made of a memory circuit (hereinafter also referred to as a memory), a control circuit, and the like. Further, the development of organic thin film transistors (hereinafter also referred to as TFTs), organic memories and the like using organic compounds in their control circuits, memory circuits and the like, is actively pursued (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H7-22669).
However, in a memory circuit using an organic compound, in which a memory element is formed by providing an organic compound between a pair of electrodes, in the case where the organic compound layer is thick, the rise in a writing voltage becomes a problem depending on the size of the memory circuit. On the other hand, in the case where the size of the element is small and the organic compound layer is thin, the element is easily affected by dust or a projection and a depression on the surface of the electrode layers, which leads to a problem such as variations in properties of a memory (a writing voltage or the like) or abnormal writing. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image projectors and, more specifically but not exclusively, to image projectors employing speckle-reducing laser sources.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the invention(s). Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
A projector is a device that integrates a light source, optics, electronics, and a light-modulating element for the purpose of projecting an image or a sequence of images, e.g., from a computer or video input, onto a wall or screen for large-image viewing. There are many projectors available in the market, and they are differentiated by their size, resolution, performance, and other features. Some projectors employ laser light sources because the use of lasers enables creation of vibrant images with extensive color coverage that might be difficult to achieve with other (non-laser) light sources. However, one significant obstacle to laser image projection is the speckle phenomenon that tends to superimpose a granular structure on the perceived image. Since speckle both degrades the image sharpness and annoys the viewer, speckle reduction is highly desirable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to a fluid treatment system, more particularly, an ultraviolet radiation water treatment system. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a method for treating a fluid, more particularly a method for irradiating water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fluid treatment systems are generally known in the art. More particularly, ultraviolet (UV) radiation fluid treatment systems are generally known in the art. Early treatment systems comprised a fully enclosed chamber design containing one or more radiation (preferably UV) lamps. Certain problems existed with these earlier designs. These problems were manifested particularly when applied to large open flow treatment systems which are typical of larger scale municipal waste water or potable water treatment plants. Thus, these types of reactors had associated with them the following problems: relatively high capital cost of reactor; difficult accessibility to submerged reactor and/or wetted equipment (lamps, sleeve cleaners, etc); difficulties associated with removal of fouling materials from fluid treatment equipment; relatively low fluid disinfection efficiency, and/or full redundancy of equipment was required for maintenance of wetted components (sleeves, lamps and the like).
The shortcomings in conventional closed reactors led to the development of the so-called “open channel” reactors.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,482,809, 4,872,980 and 5,006,244 (all in the name of Maarschalkerweerd and all assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereinafter referred to as the Maarschalkerweerd #1 patents) all describe gravity fed fluid treatment systems which employ ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Such systems include an array of UV lamp modules (e.g., frames) which include several UV lamps each of which are mounted within sleeves which extend between and are supported by a pair of legs which are attached to a cross-piece. The so-supported sleeves (containing the UV lamps) are immersed into a fluid to be treated which is then irradiated as required. The amount of radiation to which the fluid is exposed is determined by the proximity of the fluid to the lamps, the output wattage of the lamps and the flow rate of the fluid past the lamps. Typically, one or more UV sensors may be employed to monitor the UV output of the lamps and the fluid level is typically controlled, to some extent, downstream of the treatment device by means of level gates or the like.
The Maarschalkerweerd #1 patents teach fluid treatment systems which were characterized by improved ability to extract the equipment from a wetted or submerged state without the need for full equipment redundancy. These designs compartmentalized the lamp arrays into rows and/or columns and were characterized by having the top of the reactor open to provide free-surface flow of fluid in a “top open” channel.
The fluid treatment system taught in the Maarschalkerweerd #1 patents is characterized by having a free-surface flow of fluid (typically the top fluid surface was not purposely controlled or constrained). Thus, the systems would typically follow the behaviour of open channel hydraulics. Since the design of the system inherently comprised a free-surface flow of fluid, there were constraints on the maximum flow each lamp or lamp array could handle before either one or other hydraulically adjoined arrays would be adversely affected by changes in water elevation. At higher flows or significant changes in the flow, the unrestrained or free-surface flow of fluid would be allowed to change the treatment volume and cross-sectional shape of the fluid flow, thereby rendering the reactor relatively ineffective. Provided that the power to each lamp in the array was relatively low, the subsequent fluid flow per lamp would be relatively low. The concept of a fully open channel fluid treatment system would suffice in these lower lamp power and subsequently lower hydraulically loaded treatment systems. The problem here was that, with less powerful lamps, a relatively large number of lamps was required to treat the same volume of fluid flow. Thus, the inherent cost of the system would be unduly large and/or not competitive with the additional features of automatic lamp sleeve cleaning and large fluid volume treatment systems.
This led to the so-called “semi-enclosed” fluid treatment systems.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,418,370, 5,539,210 and Re 36,896 (all in the name of Maarschalkerweerd and all assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereinafter referred to as the Maarschalkerweerd #2 patents) all describe an improved radiation source module for use in gravity fed fluid treatment systems which employ UV radiation. Generally, the improved radiation source module comprises a radiation source assembly (typically comprising a radiation source and a protective (e.g., quartz) sleeve) sealingly cantilevered from a support member. The support member may further comprise appropriate means to secure the radiation source module in the gravity fed fluid treatment system.
Thus, in order to address the problem of having a large number of lamps and the incremental high cost of cleaning associated with each lamp, higher output lamps were applied for UV fluid treatment. The result was that the number of lamps and subsequent length of each lamp was dramatically reduced. This led to commercial affordability of automatic lamp sleeve cleaning equipment, reduced space requirements for the treatment system and other benefits. In order to use the more powerful lamps (e.g. medium pressure UV lamps), the hydraulic loading per lamp during use of the system would be increased to an extent that the treatment volume/cross-sectional area of the fluid in the reactor would significantly change if the reactor surface was not confined on all surfaces, and hence such a system would be rendered relatively ineffective. Thus, the Maarschalkerweerd #2 patents are characterized by having a closed surface confining the fluid being treated in the treatment area of the reactor. This closed treatment system had open ends which, in effect, were disposed in an open channel. The submerged or wetted equipment (UV lamps, cleaners and the like) could be extracted using pivoted hinges, sliders and various other devices allowing removal of equipment from the semi-enclosed reactor to the free surfaces.
The fluid treatment system described in the Maarschalkerweerd #2 patents was typically characterized by relatively short length lamps which were cantilevered to a substantially vertical support arm (i.e., the lamps were supported at one end only). This allowed for pivoting or other extraction of the lamp from the semi-enclosed reactor. These significantly shorter and more powerful lamps inherently are characterized by being less efficient in converting electrical energy to UV energy. The cost associated with the equipment necessary to physically access and support these lamps was significant.
Practical implementation of known fluid treatment systems of the type described above have been such that the longitudinal axis of the radiation source is: (i) parallel to the direction of fluid flow through the fluid treatment system, or (ii) orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow through the fluid treatment system. Further, in arrangement (ii), it has been common to place the lamps in an array such that, from an upstream end to a downstream end of the fluid treatment system, a downstream radiation source is placed directly behind an upstream radiation source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,663 [Blatchley, III et al. (Blatchley)] teaches an apparatus for applying ultraviolet radiation dosage to fluids in an open channel. With particular reference to FIG. 12 in Blatchley, there is shown a fluid treatment channel containing a module having a series of vertically disposed lamps (14). Disposed on the sidewalls of the fluid channel are a series of fluid diverters (27). As shown, the arrangement of fluid diverters (27) is such that each fluid diverter (27) projects to the fluid treatment channel to the same extent.
As will be described in more detail hereinbelow, one of the problems with an arrangement of vertically disposed lamps (14) such as that shown in Blatchley is that the unconfined surface of the flow of fluid will be at a different level from an upstream to a downstream direction in the array of lamps (14). This leads to one of two problems: (i) water near the top of the lamps does not receive full radiation exposure; or (ii) some of the lamps (14) will be partially exposed to atmosphere disposing in wasted radiation.
Thus, despite the advances made in the art described above, there is still room for improvement. Specifically, it is desirable to have a fluid treatment system utilizing arrangement (ii) described above which obviates or mitigates the occurrence of either of the two problems discussed herein with respect to the Blatchley system. Additionally, it would be highly advantageous to have a fluid treatment system adopting arrangement (ii) which allowed for convenient storage of a cleaning system for the radiation source assemblies, together with ready access of that system and other dependent and independent systems (e.g., ballasts, radiation sensors, fluid level systems and the like) for servicing and related needs without affecting the flow of fluid through and/or treatment thereof in the fluid treatment system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a titanium alloy part such as a titanium alloy spring, and a method for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As compared to iron, titanium excels in physical properties which are important to any structural or functional part (or member) of a mechanical apparatus. Specifically, titanium has a lower density than that of iron, and has high strengths (e.g., tensile strength) relative to its specific gravity. Moreover, titanium has a Young's modulus which is about half of that of iron, and thus shows excellent elastic characteristics. Therefore, a structural or functional part which has a light weight, a high strength, and a good elasticity can be formed from titanium. A titanium alloy which is composed by adding various elements to titanium can have further improved characteristics.
In spite of such advantages, structural or functional parts composed of titanium or titanium alloys have only been used for specific applications such as aircraft or golf club shafts. The reason is that, conventionally, titanium and titanium alloys can only be produced at a higher cost than that of iron.
In recent years, however, methods for producing titanium alloys at lower costs have been developed, so that cost-related constraints on using titanium alloys as structural or functional parts are being relaxed. Therefore, studies have been directed to using titanium alloys in products in various fields by taking advantage of the aforementioned superior characteristics of titanium.
In particular, when a spring is composed of a titanium alloy (hereinafter, such a spring will be referred to as a “titanium alloy spring”), the weight per unit length of wire material composing the spring can be reduced due to the low density of titanium. The small Young's modulus makes it possible to reduce the number of turns made in the spring, and reduce the spring height and the total length of the wire material for the spring which are necessary for obtaining a given amount of contraction and expansion. Therefore, a titanium alloy spring can have a weight which is reduced by about 60% from that of a steel spring which has similar levels of functionalities. By using such light-weight springs for suspensions of a vehicle, the total weight of the vehicle can be reduced, and vibrations can be dampened quickly, whereby the vehicle running properties can be enhanced.
Conventionally, when producing a steel spring, objects (called “shot medium”) such as cut wires of steel or cast steel balls are shot against the surface of the spring to cause plastic deformation of the surface, thus creating a compressive stress in the interior of the spring near the surface, whereby the durability of the spring is improved. This treatment is called “shot peening”. In the case where a compressive stress has been created near the surface of the spring, even if a flaw is formed in the surface, the compressive stress will act in a direction which does not allow the flaw to expand. As a result, the flaw is prevented from expanding and causing destruction of the spring.
Also when producing a spring composed of a titanium alloy, shot peening is known to realize an improved durability, as is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-195175 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-112857.
However, a study conducted by the inventors of the present invention has shown that the shot peening conditions which are disclosed in the aforementioned publications do not actually guarantee that a spring having a sufficient durability, especially a sufficient fatigue strength, will be obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a method for defining a boundary between a solid object model and a fluid model for computational fluid dynamics simulations, more particularly to a high speed algorithm for separating a coordinate system mesh into a fluid region and a solid region.
In recent years, computational fluid dynamics simulations are utilized in various fields in order to analyze various flow types such as: flow of air around a golf ball, flow of rubber out of an extruder, and flow of composite materials in a mixing device for the purpose of developing the dimples capable of improving flying characteristics of the golf ball, the extruder having a reduced resistance to extrusion, and the mixing device capable of improving the property of the composite for example.
In the computational fluid dynamics simulations, usually, grid points are arranged in a region of three-dimensional space in a basic coordinate system, and
a fluid model is defined by the grid points at which physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, velocity and the like of the fluid are defined.
On the other hand, a solid object model is defined by finite elements having node points.
For example in case of immersed boundary method or Chimera method, where the solid object model overlaps with the grid points which are arranged in the three-dimensional space to define the fluid model, it is necessary to know which of the grid points are positioned inside the solid object model, and which of the grid points are positioned outside the solid object model, and it is very important to quickly define the boundary between the fluid region and solid region on the grid points.
In order to define the boundary on the grid points, the most commonly employed method is such that, for each of the node points positioned at the surface of the solid object model, the grid points are searched for a point nearest to the node point under consideration.
This type of search is known as Nearest neighbor search.
The approaches to accelerate Nearest neighbor search heretofore proposed can be classified into two types:
1) narrowing candidates of nearest neighbors, and
2) pruning of distance computation.
In such accelerated Nearest Neighbor search, however, when the number of the grid points and node points is increased, the computing time becomes still long.
Even in the recently developed Nearest neighbor search algorithms such as ANN and kd-Tree, the same type of problems arise.
Therefore, in such fluid dynamics simulations that the solid object model is moved and/or deformed, the search and definition of boundary points have to be made iteratively, therefore, hitherto known inefficient slow Nearest Neighbor search algorithms involve enormous computing time. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Post-harvest chemicals are applied to fruit in environmentally sealed storage rooms. Air and treatment chemicals are applied in the form of a chemical fog mixture. The fog mixture is introduced into the storage room using a device such as an electro-thermofogger gun. The introduction of the externally supplied air in the fog mixture increases the internal pressure of the environmentally sealed storage rooms. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polycrystalline semiconductor material suitable for acquiring a large carrier mobility, its manufacture method, semiconductor devices using such material, and its evaluation method.
Amorphous silicon has been used as a material of a channel layer of a thin film transistor (TFT) used for active matrix type liquid crystal display panels. If amorphous silicon is replaced by polysilicon, carrier mobility in the channel can be made high. As the carrier mobility becomes higher, the maximum drive current of a transistor becomes large. It is therefore possible to reduce the area occupied by TFT in each pixel area of a liquid crystal display panel and make the aperture ratio high. It is also possible to increase the number of pixels per unit area of a substrate and to realize a high precision liquid crystal display panel.
b) Description of the Related Art
A polysilicon layer contains grain boundaries and grain defects which form localized states (localized level). These localized states lower carrier mobility or increase leakage current so that the performance of a semiconductor device is degraded. It is known that if hydrogen atoms are doped in a polysilicon layer, grain boundaries and grain defects are made electrically inactive and the performance of the semiconductor device is improved (JP-A-62-84562).
Known methods of doping hydrogen atoms into a polysilicon layer include exposing the polysilicon layer to hydrogen plasma (JP-A-63-46775), forming an SiO2 film or SiN film containing hydrogen atoms on the polysilicon layer and heating it (JP-A-6-314697, JP-A-8-32077), and heating the polysilicon layer in hydrogen gas (JP-A-63-200571).
Although these conventional methods can increase carrier mobility in a polycrystalline semiconductor layer to some degree, technologies of forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer having a much larger carrier mobility have been long desired.
It is an object of the present invention to provide polycrystalline semiconductor material capable of increasing carrier mobility, its manufacture method, semiconductor devices using such material, and its evaluation method.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a polycrystalline semiconductor material essentially comprising Si, Ge or SiGe, wherein the material contains H atoms and the number of monohydride structures of couplings between Si or Ge, and H is larger than the number of higher-order hydride structures.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a polycrystalline semiconductor material essentially comprising Si, Ge or SiGe, wherein the material contains H atoms and a peak intensity of a monohydride structure in a local vibrator mode measured by a Raman spectral analysis is higher than a peak intensity of a higher-order hydride structure.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer, comprising the steps of: forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer essentially comprising Si, Ge or SiGe, on a support substrate; and adding hydrogen to the polycrystalline semiconductor layer so that the number of monohydride structures of couplings between Si or Ge, and H is larger than the number of higher-order hydride structures.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer, comprising the steps of: forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer essentially comprising Si, Ge or SiGe, on a support substrate; adding hydrogen to the polycrystalline semiconductor layer; and dissociating hydrogen in the polycrystalline semiconductor layer added with hydrogen by heating the polycrystalline semiconductor layer so that the number of monohydride structures of couplings between Si or Ge, and H is larger than the number of higher-order hydride structures.
With the structures described above, a polycrystalline semiconductor layer having a high carrier mobility can be formed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device comprising: a support substrate having an insulating surface; a polycrystalline semiconductor layer formed on the insulating surface of the support substrate, the polycrystalline semiconductor material essentially comprising Si, Ge or SiGe, wherein the material contains H atoms and the number of monohydride structures of couplings between Si or Ge, and H is larger than the number of higher-order hydride structures; a gate insulating film formed on a local surface area of the polycrystalline semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a source electrode and a drain electrode in ohmic contact with the polycrystalline semiconductor layer on both sides of the gate insulating film respectively.
With this structure, a TFT having a high electric field mobility can be formed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of evaluating a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: irradiating a laser beam to a channel region of a thin film transistor formed on the surface of a transparent substrate, the channel region essentially comprising Si, Ge or SiGe; and comparing a peak intensity of a monohydride structure of couplings between Si or Ge, and H with a peak intensity of a higher-order hydride structure, through observation of spectra of light scattered from the channel region.
By comparing a peak intensity of the monohydride structure with a peak intensity of the higher-order hydride structure, carrier mobility in the channel region can be estimated.
As described above, carrier mobility can be made high by controlling the addition of hydrogen to a polycrystalline semiconductor material. By forming a TFT using such polycrystalline semiconductor material, TFT having a high electric field mobility can be realized with improved off-current characteristics, threshold value and the like. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a yarn winder, more particularly, to a yarn winder which enables a stable take-up of synthetic filament yarn spun from a spinning apparatus at a high speed while avoiding serious spindle vibration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an increase in the speed of a synthetic fiber manufacturing process has been made to improve the productivity of the process and the quality of a yarn thus produced. Particularly, in a novel process, a full oriented yarn (FOY) having good mechanical properties durable in practical use is obtained directly from a spinning apparatus by continuously connecting the spinning and drawing processes, in which the yarn is taken up at a rate in a range of from 5,000 m/min to 6,000 m/min. This means that a high speed take-up winder is now in practical use.
Along with the increased speed of the winder, a winder provided with a longer spindle compared to a standard spindle having a total length of, for example, 600 mm for carrying four bobbins having a length of 150 mm, or 1,200 mm for carrying eight bobbins, is desirable in order to improve the productivity and to decrease the cost of production of the yarn. Moreover, there is also a strong need to minimize the number of operators necessary for the threading operation and decrease the amount of waste accompanying this operation.
Under these circumstances, it has become very important to develop a yarn winder provided with a long spindle rotatable at a high speed while carrying a multiple of bobbins thereon, particularly with an automatic yarn transfer device.
In considering the vibrations encountered in a spindle the term "critical speed of a spindle" is a generic term encompassing all of the first, second and third critical speeds all of which produce violent lateral vibrations of the spindle as its speed of rotation increases above zero. Specific critical speeds are defined as follows:
The first critical speed, sometimes called the primary critical speed, is the critical speed of the spindle which first occurs as the speed of rotation is increased from zero.
The second critical speed is the critical speed of rotation of the spindle which occurs secondly as the speed of rotation is increased above the first critical speed. It arises mainly from the vibration of the tubular supporting member.
The third critical speed of the spindle is another of the critical speeds of the spindle and is the third to occur as the speed of rotation is further increased above the second critical speed. It arises mainly from the vibration of the rearward cylindrical hollow body of the bobbin holding portion of the spindle.
One of the most serious problems arising when a winder with the long spindle is put into practice, is vibration of the spindle when rotating at a high speed. There are two ways to minimize the vibration; one is to increase the stiffness of the spindle and use the same in a rotational range beneath the first critical speed of the spindle which is one of the critical speeds of the spindle at each of which a violent lateral vibration of the spindle occurs, and which appears firstly during increasing of rotational speed of the spindle from zero, hereinafter referred to as the first critical speed. This, however, is almost impossible in practice, because it is very difficult to increase the stiffness of the spindle due to the longer size thereof. Accordingly, the other way is more frequently adopted, which is disclosed in, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,182 granted to E. Lenk, Nov. 4, 1975, or Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 57-34187 of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., July 21, 1982, and utilizes a spindle having a flexible structure able to withstand a rotation above the first critical speed.
For example, to obtain a good yarn package by taking up a yarn on a bobbin having a length of 150 mm and a diameter of 110 mm mounted on a spindle, at a linear speed of 6,000 m/min, there must not be any critical speeds of the spindle, hereinafter referred to as the critical speed, in a wide working range of the spindle rotation of from 17,360 rpm at the starting stage to 4,550 rpm at the final stage of a full package.
Therefore, various factors affecting the stiffness of the spindle, such as a diameter of a shaft of the spindle, or a position of a bearing means rotatably supporting the shaft, should be determined to exclude the critical speed from the working range of the rotation of the spindle.
In practice, it is very difficult to take up a yarn in a stable condition only by excluding the critical speed from the working range, and generally, it is very difficult to machine a long spindle with a sufficient accuracy to eliminate bending of the shaft and eccentricity between the inner and outer diameters of the spindle, which results in a considerable unbalance in the spindle.
Accordingly, even though the respective parts, such as a shaft of a spindle or an element of a bobbin holding mechanism, are accurately balance-corrected with a balancing device in a low speed range, a complete elimination of unbalance is impossible and a satisfactory balance can not be achieved.
Moreover, during assembly of the spindle and incorporation of the same into a winder, a new unbalance may be added due to disordance between the axes of a spindle and a mechanism for holding a bobbin on the spindle and the eccentricity of bearing means for mounting the spindle.
When the spindle is driven to rotate in such circumstances, a centrifugal force is generated in the first critical speed area due to the above unbalance, which causes a large vibration and noise at the winder. In such a case, the bearing means is subjected to an excessive force, which lowers the life of the bearing means, and in an extreme case, damages the spindle shaft. Also, this vibration degrades the quality of a yarn package formed on the spindle, and deteriorates the labour environment.
Accordingly, it is necessary to remove the residual unbalance from the completed spindle assembly by the balance-correcting operation, referred to as "field balancing".
The present inventors tried to correct a dynamic unbalance of a spindle for holding bobbins thereon, having a considerable residual unbalance therein due to its longer size, by field-balancing only in two correcting planes defined at the opposite extremities of the spindle. It was, however, impossible to remove the mass unbalance continuously distributed on the spindle along the length thereof only by correcting the dynamic unbalance in the planes of the opposite ends, and the vibration of the spindle was not decreased not only when passing the critical speed but also while normally winding a yarn at a working speed of the spindle. This is because the unbalance non-uniformly distributed in the spindle has a complicated influence on the first critical speed, and the respective vibration levels in the area of the working rotation can not be corrected by a simple field-balancing in only the two end planes.
Further, it was found that if the vibration of the spindle is restricted to a lower level when the spindle speed passes the first critical speed, the vibration in a range of the working rotation of the spindle becomes larger, and vice versa, and thus the vibrations occurring when passing the first critical speed and in the working rotation area could not be simultaneously suppressed. In general, since the vibration in the working rotation area is limited to a lower level, the other vibration when the spindle passes the first critical speed must reach the higher level.
The spindle necessarily passes the first critical speed twice during the cycle of starting, acceleration, deceleration, and stop of the winder, whereby a bearing means for rotatably supporting the spindle suffers from an excessive force originated from the vibration and the life thereof is lowered, which vibration is transmitted to a machine frame and may loosen screw connections in the machine, causing an unsafe condition therein.
The abovesaid drawbacks are particularly significant in a winder with an automatic yarn transfer device. In the winder of this kind, a yarn package is formed on a bobbin or bobbins mounted on a first spindle and pressed thereon at a predetermined pressure by means of a touch roll through the transverse reciprocation of a yarn by a traversing device, which package must be doffed from the first spindle when the same is full. Before the first spindle is stopped, a second spindle mounting fresh bobbins thereon is accelerated from a stationary state to a working speed, during which acceleration the second spindle must pass the first critical speed and the vibration thereof becomes very large. This vibration is transmitted to the first spindle, the touch roll, and a lifting box supporting the traversing device through the machine frame, and finally causes the lifting box to vibrate. Because of this disturbance, the yarn package being formed on the first spindle becomes unstable, causing deformation of the appearance and damage to the as-wound yarn by the periodic change of the pressure between the touch roll and the yarn package. In an extreme case, the yarn package jumps from the touch roll, whereby the yarn is released from the traversing device and a failure of the take-up operation occurs.
Further problems occur in the manufacture of a long spindle. In general, a bobbin carrying portion of such a long spindle is a single hollow cylinder, and a tubular member for holding the bearing means of a spindle shaft is projected from a machine frame and inserted into the interior of the hollow cylinder, as disclosed in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,182 and Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 60-5508. To obtain such a spindle structure, a long hollow portion must be drilled in the spindle. In the case of a standard spindle, having a length of, for example, 600 mm, for mounting four bobbins thereon, the above boring may be carried out correctly. In the case of a longer spindle having a length exceeding, for example, 1,000 mm, length, however, it is very difficult to support the spindle without eccentricity during the boring of the long hollow portion. In addition, the drill bit must be supported at a tip end of a long and narrow shank having less rigidity, whereby the drill bit may be bent and deviated from the correct axis during the operation and provide an eccentric boring. Accordingly, a significant difference in a wall thickness may exist along the length of the spindle, which inevitably causes the vibration, and in an extreme condition, the spindle speed cannot exceed the first critical speed.
In addition, the eccentricity of bobbins relative to the spindle mounting the same also causes the above dynamic unbalance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field
One or more exemplary embodiments relate to a foldable display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical foldable display devices are portable and have a relatively large-sized screen for the display device size. Foldable display devices are applied not only to mobile devices such as mobile phones, portable multimedia players (“PMPs”), navigation systems, ultra mobile personal computers (“UMPCs”), electronic books, electronic newspapers, etc. but also to televisions and monitors.
However, one of the problems of foldable display devices is the reliability of folding portions thereof, e.g., the sections of the display device which are subjected to folding stresses. To address this problem, a flexible substrate formed of plastic or metal foil is typically used as a substrate of the foldable display devices. However, due to the physical limits of flexible substrates and the need to protect thin film transistors (“TFT”), it is difficult to reduce the radius of curvature in the folding portions of the foldable display devices. Accordingly, since a large radius of curvature is to be provided in the folding portions of foldable display devices of the related art, the typical foldable display devices may only have correspondingly large thicknesses.
In addition, in order to realize a driving unit including a TFT on a substrate formed of a plastic material or a metal foil, an organic TFT or a low temperature process Si TFT is typically used due to the process of manufacturing foldable display devices. However, organic TFTs and low temperature process Si TFTs have low yields compared to amorphous Si TFTs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Nowadays, the liquid crystal display (LCD) has become the mainstream product on market because of its excellent performance and mature technology. The liquid crystal panel is a key component in a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal panel is mainly composed of a color film substrate and an array substrate, and the liquid crystal is filled between the color film substrate and the array substrate to constitute a liquid crystal cell. The liquid crystal panel can be classified into a transmissive type, a reflective type and a transflective type (also known as a semi-transmissive/semi-reflection type) according to the type of light source. A transmissive liquid crystal panel mainly uses a backlight as the light source, and the backlight is provided behind the liquid crystal panel. The pixel electrodes on the array substrate are transparent electrodes and are used as a transmission area, which may facilitate light of the backlight to transmit through the liquid crystal layer to display an image. A reflective liquid crystal panel mainly uses a frontlight or a natural light as the light source, and the array substrate thereof uses metal or other reflection electrodes with materials having good reflection properties as a reflection area, which is suitable for reflecting the light of the frontlight or the natural light source. A transflective liquid crystal display panel can be regarded as a combination of the transmissive and reflective liquid crystal display panels, and the array substrate is provided with both a reflection area and a transmission area, which can use the backlight and the frontlight or an external light source at the same time for displaying an image.
The advantage of the reflective liquid crystal panel lies in its capability of using the external light source, and its relatively low power consumption. As shown in FIG. 1, the existing reflective liquid crystal panel includes an array substrate 1, a liquid crystal layer 2 and a color film substrate 3. The liquid crystal layer 2 is arranged between the color film substrate 3 and the array substrate 1, the color film substrate 3 is provided with a polarizing plate 4 thereon, and the array substrate 1 is provided with a reflection layer 5 thereon. Normally, the array substrate 1 is further provided with structures such as thin film transistors, pixel electrodes, gate lines, data lines, etc. (not shown in FIG. 1), and generally, the color film substrate 3 is further provided with structures such as a color photoresist, a black matrix, etc. (not shown in FIG. 1). The liquid crystal panel realizes display through the following procedures: first, an ambient light passes through the polarizing plate 4, the color film substrate 3 and the liquid crystal layer 2 to reach the reflection layer 5; and then the light is reflected by the reflection layer 5, and passes through the liquid crystal layer 2, the color film substrate 3 and the polarizing plate 4 again to achieve the purpose of display.
In the liquid crystal panel, the light loss in the color film substrate 3 is relatively large, and in the above display process, the ambient light should pass through the color film substrate 3 for two times. It can be understood that, only a small portion of the ambient light can pass through the color film substrate 3 for two times to realize the display, hence utilization rate of the ambient light is relatively low, causing insufficient brightness and relatively low contrast of the image displayed by the liquid crystal panel. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In a speech-enabled environment, such as a home or automobile, a user may access information or control various functions using voice input. The information and functions may be personalized for a given user. In multiple user environments, it may be advantageous to identify a given speaker from among a group of speakers. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Most conventional sales systems have been implemented in a limited manner and are typically directed solely to a particular event, task or small subset of tasks in the sales process. Such systems are constructed by examining a particular sales event and by developing an automated tool to assist the salesperson confronted by the particular event. Such systems are individually developed without regard for other events occurring in the overall sales process in which the salesperson is engaged. As a result, conventional systems fail to provide full support for the salesperson.
Conventional lead management systems have been developed, for example, to assist sales personnel in developing customer leads into potential customers. Such systems may use a letter library for producing mail merges to a list of leads. Such systems are developed for independent action and do not consider other events in sales process. For example, no consideration is given to events occurring during the order management stage of the sales process where a purchased item or service purchased by the customer is actually being ordered, processed, built, manufactured, delivered, etc.
Using conventional systems, a salesperson may use the lead management system to prepare a mass mailing directed to specific types of customers having a particular need for a product. As a result of this mailing, a certain number of customers may be attracted to the salesperson's product. If one of these customers purchases the item from the salesperson, an order for the item must be generated and the salesperson must manage the order to insure proper delivery. Typically, a separately developed order processing package is used by the salesperson to generate the order. The order processing package does not take into consideration information which may have been generated or available in the system during the initial mass mailing stage of the process. Even within the order management phase of the sales process, different processing packages are often used to monitor the order process to ensure proper delivery is made.
Such conventional sales automation systems are often developed by separate vendors and, as described above, the vendors develop the systems in consideration of only that portion of the overall sales process in which the sales automation system is to be used. As a result, the different systems are oftentimes incompatible with one another. This leads to an inefficient overall process and in many instances requires redundant information to be stored in multiple locations for use by the various systems. The use of multiple, often incompatible sales tools throughout the sales process increases the costs associated with making the sale and lessens the likelihood of making the sale by diminishing the impact of the sales presentation and by failing to effectively use all of the information available to the salesperson.
Conventional attempts to couple different sales tools together have also failed to appreciate the overall sales process. Such multiple task systems typically take different conventional sales tools and tie them into a single system. However, sales tools tied together in this manner still fail to appreciate the overall sales process and do not use valuable information obtained during the sales process as it is relevant to other phases of the sales process. Typically, the individual tools of such systems are developed in consideration of only the particular event in the sales process for which the tool will be used.
Like the individual systems, typical prior art multiple task sales tools are also developed without an appreciation for the complete sales process. Due to the lack of appreciation for the entire sales process, such conventional systems do not use much of the information made available to the system upon occurrence of an event in the sales process. For example, no consideration is given to how one event in the sales process relates to other tasks and events in the sales process. While a particular event occurring in one phase of the sales process may be relevant to tasks or events in another phase of the process, conventional systems have failed to recognize the significance of the event or to use the information consistently throughout the sales process. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In general, a circular knitting machine having a needle arranged movably upward on a peripheral surface of a tubular cylinder is used for forming a tubular knitting, for example, socks, gloves and sweaters. The tubular knitting is formed through feeding yarn while controlling the lifting operation of the needle on the peripheral surface of the cylinder.
With the use of the circular knitting machine for producing a tubular knitted fabric, the numbers of wale and the peripheral length are defined by the number of needles and the diameter of the cylinder. In order to form the tubular knitting with different numbers of wale and the peripheral length, the circular knitting machine equipped with various cylinders for the variation is required.
In order to form the tubular knitting with the long peripheral length, the diameter of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine is increased, thus enlarging the entire size of such machine.
The weft-knitting machine having a pair of longitudinally arranged front and rear needle beds with ends of the needles confronting each other, which is allowed to produce tubular knitted fabric of different diameters has been disclosed by the applicant of the present invention.
With the weft-knitting machine, when the carriage reciprocally movable on the needle bed is in the forward stroke, the yarn is fed to the needle of the needle bed to form the fabric at one side, and in the return stroke, the yarn is fed to the needle of the other needle bed such that the yarn for forming the fabric at one side is continued to form the fabric at the other side as shown in FIG. 5. The aforementioned fabric-forming course is repeatedly performed alternately to produce a tubular knitted fabric having both ends connected.
In the aforementioned case, upon transition from one needle bed to the other, the direction of the tension applied to the fed yarn changes as shown in FIG. 5. The needle of the needle bed at the edge of the fabric is likely to be pulled out. Once the needle is pulled out, the resultant loop becomes small.
The small loop may deteriorate quality of the tubular knitted product.
In order to cope with the aforementioned problem, the applicant of the present invention has proposed the art for producing a tubular knitted fabric using the weft-knitting machine equipped with a pair of needle beds arranged longitudinally, which allows the carriage to reciprocally move to connect both end portions of the fabric with the needle of the respective needle beds for producing the tubular knitted fabric. When the carriage is in the forward stroke where the needle is controlled to advance by the control cam for forming the knitted fabric, the needle advance preventing unit provided at both ends and/or closed to both ends is released to allow the needle to advance. When the carriage is in the return stroke, the needle advance preventing unit is enabled to allow the needle at both ends and/or close to both ends of the fabric to only retract (Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1: Laid open Japanese Patent Application (Unexamined) Publication No. 86561/1993 | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Power factor correction (PFC) circuits have been widely adopted for performing AC-DC power conversion. Conventional PFC converters comprise a full-wave diode bridge rectifier connected to a boost circuit. Along the power delivery path (i.e., the path of current flow) from the AC power supply to the DC power supply, the current passes through two diodes while flowing through the bridge rectifier at the input stage and through another in the boost stage. Power loss associated with the diode voltage drop and current flowing through the diode is incurred for each of these three diodes, which sets a hard limit on the overall system efficiency. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle. apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known is an in-vehicle apparatus such as a car audio system and a car navigation system, which apparatus includes an apparatus body installed in a compartment and a front panel arranged in front of the apparatus body and having operation members for operating the apparatus body (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-166786).
The in-vehicle apparatus is built in a portion of a vehicle body such as a dashboard or a center console panel in the condition that the front panel is oriented to the rear side of the vehicle body.
Accordingly, in the case that the in-vehicle apparatus is located so as to face either a driver seat or a passenger seat, a user sitting in any one of the driver seat and the passenger seat can easily operate the operation members of the front panel, but it is difficult for another user sitting in the other seat to operate the operation members of the front panel.
In many cases, such an in-vehicle apparatus is built in the center console panel located at the middle position between the driver seat and the passenger seat, and the front panel is oriented to the rear side of the vehicle body. Accordingly, none of the users sitting in the driver seat and the passenger seat can easily operate the operation members of the front panel. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Spiro(indolino)oxazine compounds have been found to be useful for imparting photochromic properties to a polymeric host material. Examples of spirooxazine and their use in photochromic lenses have been reviewed by Crano et al. in Applied Photochromic Polymer Systems (C. B. McArdle, Ed.) Blackie & Sons, Glasgow, London, 1992, pp. 31-76. As a rule, the unsubstituted spiroindolinonaphthoxazines give a rather low optical density of the blue color on exposure to light.
Several U.S. patents describe spiro(indoline)naphtho(2,1-b)(1,4)oxazine compounds (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,471 (Melzig), 4,913,544, 5,446,149, 5,446,150, 5,446,151 (Rickwood et al.), 5,186,867 (Castaldi et al.), 5,405,958 (Van Gemert), 5,936,016 (Lareginie et al.), 6,004,486 and 6,030,555 (You-Ping Chan)) that are said to give enhanced optical density on exposure to sunlight. The enhancement of the photoinduced optical density was achieved mainly by introducing electron-donor or -acceptor substituents in the naphthalene moiety of the molecule, while the absorption maximum of the colored form remains in the region of 570-630 nm.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,851,530 and 5,833,885 (Rickwood et al) describe spirooxazines showing substantial change in the kinetic and spectral properties of spirooxazines by modification of the 1-position in the indoline ring with the absorption maxima of the photoactivated form shorter than 570 nm (mainly red). PCT Publication No. WO 99/20630 describe photochromic spiro (indoline)naphtho( 1,2-b)(1,4)oxazine compounds.
The present invention relates to novel spiro(indoline)naphtho(2,1-b) (1,4)oxazine and spiro(indoline)naphtho(1,2-b)(1,4)oxazine compounds that have particular substituents on the indoline and/or on the naphthalene part of the molecule. None of the publications mentioned above describe the compounds of the present invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to telephone subscriber instruments; and more particularly, it relates to speakerphone instruments.
Speakerphone instruments are well known, e.g., the Bell 4A unit. This type of communication instrument, while providing hands-free telephonic communication capability to a user, suffers from poor quality in the voice transmission. Specifically, the voice transmission from such units carries an echo which is particularly discernible to the listener. The echo results because of the many paths over which the acoustic energy of the user's speech travels in reaching the microphone.
In an effort to improve the quality of voice transmission in speakerphone instruments, several approaches to solving the echo problem have been tried. These approaches include the use of elaborate acoustic and electronic echo-cancelling techniques, such as those developed for satellite communications. The cost of implementing such techniques in a telephone subscriber instrument are prohibitively expensive.
The most effective solution to the echo problem has been to merely place the microphone in close proximity to the user during talking. In order to place the microphone in proximity to the user, it has been suggested to use a boom-mounted microphone or to use a long microphone cord. Both approaches suffer apparent disadvantages. Another suggestion has been to use a wireless microphone.
Wireless microphones can be implemented using either a radio frequency (RF) transmission link or a diffuse optical radiation transmission link, i.e., an infrared (IR) link. An RF link is unsuitable because of the inability to maintain privacy in communications due to the difficulty to restrict the spread of an RF transmission. Additionally, an RF link is susceptible to interference. An IR link is preferable to an RF link in the aspects of privacy and interference problems, but the power consumption is substantially greater. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The subject matter of the present application may be related to subject matter disclosed in: U.S. Pub. No. 2003/0162846 entitled “Process and apparatus for the production of synthesis gas” published Aug. 28, 2003 in the names of Wang et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2004/00031731 entitled “Process for the microwave treatment of oil sands and shale oils” published Feb. 19, 2004 in the names of Honeycutt et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0209303 entitled “Methods and compositions for directed microwave chemistry” published Oct. 21, 2004 in the name of Martin; U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0004809 entitled “Production of synthesis gas blends for conversion to methanol or Fischer-Tropsch liquids” published Jan. 4, 2007 in the names of Lattner et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0205254 entitled “Method And System For Converting A Methane Gas To A Liquid Fuel” published Aug. 20, 2009 in the names of Zhu et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0005720 entitled “Gasifier” published Jan. 14, 2010 in the names of Stadler et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0219107 entitled “Radio frequency heating of petroleum ore by particle susceptors” published Jan. 14, 2010 in the name of Parsche; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0055851 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels from coal” published Mar. 8, 2012 in the name of Kyle; U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0024843 entitled “Thermal treatment of carbonaceous materials” published Feb. 2, 2012 in the names of Lissiaski et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0197288 entitled “Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to olefins” published Aug. 1, 2013 in the names of Schafer et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0213795 entitled “Heavy Fossil Hydrocarbon Conversion And Upgrading Using Radio-Frequency or Microwave Energy” published Aug. 22, 2013 in the names of Strohm et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0303637 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels from coal” published Nov. 14, 2013 in the name of Kyle; U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0051775 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels” published Feb. 20, 2014 in the name of Kyle; U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0066526 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels” published Mar. 6, 2014 in the name of Kyle; U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0163120 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels” published Jun. 12, 2014 in the name of Kyle; U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0346030 entitled “Methods and apparatus for liquefaction of organic solids” published Nov. 27, 2014 in the name of Livneh; U.S. Pub. No. 2015/0246337 entitled “Plasma dry reforming apparatus” published Sep. 3, 2015 in the names of Hong et al; U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0222300 entitled “Process and apparatus for converting greenhouse gases into synthetic fuels” published Aug. 4, 2016 in the name of Livneh; U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0333281 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels” published Nov. 17, 2016 in the name of Kyle; U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,204 entitled “Direct conversion of carbonaceous material to hydrocarbons” issued Apr. 7, 1970 to Hoffman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,654 entitled “Conversion of hydrogen and carbon monoxide into C1-C4 range hydrocarbons” issued Mar. 17, 1981 to Schlinger et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,940 entitled “Coal-oil slurry preparation” issued Jul. 12, 1983 to Tao; U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,374 entitled “Method of producing carbon monoxide and hydrogen by gasification of solid carbonaceous material involving microwave irradiation” issued Mar. 6, 1984 to Helm; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,912 entitled “Conversion of methane using pulsed microwave radiation” issued Apr. 27, 1993 to Murphy; U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,175 entitled “Conversion of methane, carbon dioxide and water using microwave radiation” issued Nov. 30, 1993 to Murphy; U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,175 entitled “Catalytic microwave conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons” issued Oct. 26, 1999 to Tanner et al; U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,694 entitled “Methods of sequestering CO2” issued Feb. 15, 2011 to Constantz et al; U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,013 entitled “Process and apparatus for converting greenhouse gases into synthetic fuels” issued Jul. 15, 2014 to Livneh; U.S. Pat. No. 9,238,214 entitled “Process and apparatus for converting greenhouse gases into synthetic fuels” issued Jan. 19, 2016 to Livneh; U.S. Pat. No. 9,353,323 entitled “Method and apparatus for producing liquid hydrocarbon fuels” issued May 31, 2016 to Kyle; WO 2008/009644 published Jan. 24, 2008 in the names of O'Connor et al; Fidalgo et al; “Microwave-assisted dry reforming of methane”; Intl. J. Hydrogen Energy Vol 22 p 4337 (2008); Fidalgo et al; “Syngas Production by CO2 Reforming of CH4 under Microwave Heating—Challenges and Opportunities”; Syngas: Production, Application and Environmental Impact, Indarto and Palguandi Eds. p 121 (2013); Hunt et al; Microwave-Specific Enhancement of the Carbon-Carbon Dioxide (Boudouard) Reaction”; J. Phys. Chem. C Vol 111 No 5 p 26871 (2013); and Lavoie; “Review on dry reforming of methane, a potentially more environmentally-friendly approach to the increasing natural gas exploitation”; Frontiers in Chem. Vol 2 Article 81 (2014).Each one of those patents, publications, and references is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, frame structures respectively applicable to a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode and to a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, in the frame structure applicable to the FDD mode, each radio frame is 10 ms long and consists of 20 slots of length 0.5 ms, numbered from 0 to 19. A subframe i of length 1 ms consists of two consecutive slots 2i and 2i+1, where 0≦i≦9. In the frame structure applicable to the TDD mode, each radio frame of length 10 ms consists of two half-frames of length 5 ms each. Each half-frame consists of five subframes of length 1 ms. Each subframe i is defined as two slots, 2i and 2i+1, of length 0.5 ms in each subframe, where 0≦i≦9.
In the above frame structures, when a Normal Cyclic Prefix (Normal CP) is employed, seven symbols are included in a slot, and when an Extended Cyclic Prefix (Extended CP) is employed, six symbols are included in a slot.
In the LTE system, uplink power control may be performed to control transmit power of uplink physical channels, so as to compensate for channel path loss and shadow fading and suppress inter-cell interference. Uplink physical channels on which power control is performed include Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). In the LTE system, the uplink power control is performed in a manner of combining open loop control with closed loop control.
In the LTE system, the transmit power (in dBm) of a User Equipment (UE) in a PUCCH of subframe i is defined as equation (1):PPUCCH(i)=min{PCMAX,PO—PUCCH+PL+h(nCQI,nHARQ)+ΔF—PUCCH(F)+g(i)} (1)
In equation (1), PCMAX indicates UE Configured Maximum UE Output Power, with a range depending on multiple parameters, including Maximum UE Power depending on UE Power Class, System Configured Maximum Configuration power (IE P-Max), Maximum Configuration Output Power Tolerance (PCMAX Tolerance), Maximum Power Reduction (MPR), and Additional Maximum Power Reduction (A-MPR), etc.
In equation (1), PO—PUCCH is an open loop power control parameter, which is a sum of a cell specific value PO—NOMINAL—PUCCH and a UE specific value PO—UE—PUCCH.
In equation (1), PL is a Downlink Pathloss Estimate measured and calculated by the UE.
In equation (1), ΔF—PUCCH(F) is a power offset associated with PUCCH format (F). In the LTE system, 6 PUCCH formats are defined, i.e., PUCCH format 1/1a/1b/2/2a/2b. ΔF—PUCCH(F) is defined by taking PUCCH format 1a as a reference format. The power offset of the reference format, which configured by functionality at a high level, is 0. As shown in table 1,
TABLE 1PUCCH format (F)ΔF—PUCCH (F)1 [−2, 0, 2]1b [1, 3, 5]2 [−2, 0, 1, 2]2a[−2, 0, 2]2b[−2, 0, 2]
In equation (1), h(nCQI,nHARQ) is a value based on the PUCCH format F, where nCQI indicates the number of bits of a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI), nHARQ indicates the number of bits of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).
For PUCCH format 1/1a/1b, h(nCQI,nHARQ)=0.
For PUCCH format 2/2a/2b with normal CP,
h ( n CQI , n HARQ ) = { 10 log 10 ( n CQI 4 ) if n CQI ≥ 4 0 otherwise .
For PUCCH format 2 with expended CP,
h ( n CQI , n HARQ ) = { 10 log 10 ( n CQI + n HARQ 4 ) if n CQI + n HARQ ≥ 4 0 otherwise .
In equation (1), g(i) indicates a current PUCCH power control adjustment state. As shown in equation (2),
g ( i ) = g ( i - 1 ) + ∑ m = 0 M - 1 δ PUCCH ( i - k m ) ( 2 )
In equation (2), for the FDD system, M=1, k0=4. That is, for the FDD system, the current PUCCH power control adjustment state g(i) in subframe i is an accumulated value of the power control adjustment state g(i−1) in subframe i−1 and an eNodeB-indicated transmit power control (TPC) command δPUCCH in subframe i−4. For the TDD system, the values of M and km are related to system uplink-downlink configurations. That is, for the TDD system, the PUCCH power control adjustment state g(i) in subframe i is an accumulated value of the power control adjustment state g(i−1) in subframe i−1 and a sum of a plurality of eNodeB-indicated transmit power control (TPC) commands δPUCCH in subframes i−k0, i−k1, . . . , i−kM-1. For the TDD system, if subframe i is not an uplink subframe, g(i)=g(i−1).
In equation (2), the transmit power control command δPUCCH is a UE specific closed loop modified value, which is transmitted by the eNodeB to a target UE in a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). If the UE does not detect a TPC command in a subframe, δPUCCH=0 dB.
The PUCCH is used to bear uplink control information (UCI), including scheduling request (SR), positive acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) of physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and downlink channel state information (CSI) feedback by the UE. There are three forms of CSI, channel quality indication (CQI), pre-coding matrix indicator (PMI) and rank indication (RI).
A LTE-Advanced system is a next generation evolution system of the LTE system. In order to support greater system bandwidth and become backward compatible with the current LTE standard, a carrier aggregation technology is introduced. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the implementation of carrier aggregation in the LTE-A system. As shown in FIG. 2, each aggregated carrier is referred to as a component carrier (CC) or a serving cell. The plurality of CCs may be continuous or discontinuous. In FIG. 2, for discontinuous CCs, there is a component carrier gap between the CCs, each CC may be in a same operating band or different operating bands, and may include a plurality of sub-carriers.
In order to transmit large load ACK/NACK response information, a new PUCCH format is introduced in the LTE-A system, which is referred to as PUCCH format 3. As specified in the prior art, in a FDD system, the ACK/NACK response information to be feedback includes 10 bits at most, and in a TDD system, the ACK/NACK response information to be feedback includes 20 bits at most. When the ACK/NACK response information to be feedback has more than 20 bits, a spatial bundling operation is performed on all ACK/NACK response information corresponding to PDSCHs including 2 codeword streams. That is, a logical AND operation is performed on the corresponding ACK/NACK response information. When the PUCCH format 3 transmission is employed, in the case that the number of feedback bits is less than or equal to 11, a Reed-Muller (RM) encoding scheme is employed; when the number of feedback bits is greater than 11, a dual RM encoding scheme is employed, the ACK/NACK response information to be feedback is divided into two parts, which are encoded by using the RM encoding scheme respectively and then cascaded-interleaved for transmission. However, regarding how to divide the ACK/NACK response information, no specific solution has been proposed in the prior art.
As specified in the prior art, in the LTE-A system, the UE may concurrently receive a plurality of PDSCHs in multiple configured or activated serving cells. The ACK/NACK response information of the plurality of PDSCHs is transmitted in a single PUCCH on a UE specific CC. The UE specific CC is referred to as primary component carrier (PCC), or Primary cell (Pcell).
For the LTE-A system, the PUCCH power control is performed according to equation (3). The transmit power of PUCCH format 3 in subframe i is represented by PPUCCH(i),PPUCCH(i)=min{PCMAX,c(i),P0—PUCCH+PLc+h(nCQI,nHARQ,nSR)+ΔF—PUCCH(F)+ΔTxD(F′)+g(i)} (3)
where PCMAX,c(i) indicates the maximum transmit power of the serving cell c in subframe i, PO—PUCCH indicates an open loop power control parameter, ΔF—PUCCH(F) indicates a power offset associated with PUCCH format F, PLc indicates a downlink path loss estimate of the serving cell c measured and calculated by the UE, ΔTxD(F′) indicates a transmission diversity power compensation set according to a different PUCCH format F, with a value in a set of {0, −1, −2, −3} dB but not limited to this data set, h(nCQI,nHARQ,nSR) is a value based on the PUCCH format; as specified in the prior art, if single RM encoded PUCCH format 3 is employed and no transmission diversity is configured,
h ( n CQI , n HARQ , n SR ) = n HARQ + n SR - 1 2 ,if the single RM encoded PUCCH format 3 is employed and transmission diversity is configured, or if dual RM encoded PUCCH format 3 is employed,
h ( n CQI , n HARQ , n SR ) = n HARQ + n SR - 1 3 ,where nSR=1 if the current subframe is configured as an SR transmission subframe, otherwise, nSR=0, and nCQI is the number of bits of the channel quality indicator.
For the FDD system, nHARQ indicates the number of received transmission blocks. However, for the TDD system, a method for determining the nHARQ has not ever been proposed in the prior art, and thus there is no way to perform PUCCH format 3 power control according to equation (3). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing polymer solid electrolyte which comprises a non-crystalline fluorine-containing polymer having nonionic functional group and a side chain having structural units derived from a specific fluorine-containing ether, an electrolytic compound and further a solvent as case demands.
The fluorine-containing polymer solid electrolyte is useful as an electrolyte for electrochemical devices, particularly various batteries, capacitors, solid display devices and sensors.
So far ion conductors in the form of solution or paste have been used as an electrolyte for electrochemical devices such as batteries, capacitors and sensors from the viewpoint of good ion-conducting property. However electrolytes of such forms have problems with safety such as damage of a device due to leakage of solution and occurrence of fire. Also it is pointed out that there are problems that since scattering of solution arises at a sealing part of a housing case of a device, a high technique for sealing is required, and further a separator for impregnation of an electrolytic solution is necessary and therefore there is a limit in downsizing of devices and making devices thin.
On the other hand, there are proposed solid electrolytes of inorganic crystalline substances, inorganic glass, organic polymeric substances and the like. Representative examples of inorganic materials are ceramics such as β-Al2O3. However since those ceramics exhibit ion-conducting property only at high temperatures of not less than 300° C., they cannot be applied to batteries for use at ordinary temperature, and applications thereof are limited. Also ceramics are very fragile and have disadvantages that breakage occurs when assembling or using devices and molding thereof is difficult. Therefore ceramics are not practicable.
Organic polymeric substances are generally excellent in processability and moldability, and obtained solid electrolytes have flexibility and processability in bending. Therefore, a degree of freedom in device design is increased, and development thereof is expected. At present, there is available a complex of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and inorganic salt as a representative organic solid polymer having ion-conducting property, which however, has low ion-conducting property when an electrolytic solution is not contained therein, and is not practicable. Therefore an amorphous polypropylene oxide (PPO) and a PEO derivative having an oligoethylene oxide chain in its side chain are studied, but ion-conducting property thereof is still insufficient (for example, JP8-113496A, JP8-173435A, JP8-183186A, etc.).
Also there is a trial of enhancing ion-conducting property by adding, to a PEO/inorganic salt complex, a proper amount of plasticizer such as an organic solvent. However since the mixture has flowability and cannot maintain a solid state, there are disadvantages that assembling work of device becomes difficult, fire arises more easily and strength is low.
Heretofore polymers having anionic functional group such as —SO3− or —COOC− at an end of a side chain thereof have been primarily studied as an ion-conducting material of fluorine-containing polymeric substance. Those fluorine-containing polymers act as a polymeric anion and since the polymers function as a single ion conductor for conduction of a cation only, application thereof is limited and applications mainly to an electrolyte for fuel cells and ion exchange membrane have been studied (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,875, Journal of Power Sources, No. 29, p. 399 (1990), Journal of Electrochemical Society, No. 135, p. 2209 (1988), etc.).
With respect to an ion-conducting material which is prepared from a fluorine-containing polymeric substance having no ionic functional group, there have been widely studied, as a gel electrolyte for lithium battery, a compound comprising polyvinylidene fluoride and electrolytic solution and a compound comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropene copolymer and electrolytic solution (for example, Polymer Bulletin, Vol. 7, pp. 271-275 (1982), U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,318, etc.). A polymer battery obtained from polyvinylidene fluoride is electrochemically stable and has a characteristic that the polymer itself is difficult to burn since fluorine atom is contained therein, but has a disadvantage that when temperature is raised, the electrolytic solution oozes from the polymer. For the purpose to improve an ability of holding an electrolytic solution, a polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropene copolymer is used, but since the polymer itself has no ion-conducting property, it cannot be used for a solid electrolyte, and also even when it is used as a gel electrolyte, a large amount of electrolytic solution need be contained in order to obtain sufficient ion-conducting property. As a result, there remain problems with safety such as damage of device due to leakage of solution and occurrence of fire, and a high technique for sealing is required to prevent scattering of solution at a sealing part of a housing case of a device.
On the other hand, a PPO derivative prepared by converting methyl group of PPO to trifluoromethyl has been studied mainly as an electrolyte for lithium battery (for example, JP6-103764A, JP8-217872A, JP8-222270A, JP9-48832A, etc.). However there are disadvantages that when an electrolytic solution is not contained, ion-conducting property is low, oxidation resistance and heat resistance are not sufficient and a mechanical strength is low as well as a disadvantage that the PPO derivative subjected to crosslinking with an acrylic crosslinking agent is electrochemically unstable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Within the prior art, it is well known to convert visual status of station-specific telephony functions (here after referred to as call status information) to audio information so that visually impaired people can receive the call status information. Station-specific telephony functions include but are not limited to the following: call operations, telephony terminal states, messaging systems' information for a telephony terminal, etc. The prior art has provided the audio information for call status information by utilizing special hardware to perform voice synthesis. This hardware was designed specifically for visually impaired users, and consequently, was expensive. In addition, the use as special hardware limited the visually impaired users to a few specific telecommunication terminals.
In addition, the use of specialized equipment resulted in the fact that the users of this equipment were given little if any ability to determine when the audio call status information would be presented and at what frequency. Whereas, the specialized equipment could be modified via programming to provide custom features for individual users; the cost of such provisioning was prohibitive plus the delay normally would be in terms of many months for such customization to be performed by the manufacturer. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The recent stream of telecommunication has led to IP (Internet Protocol) standardization on audio communication systems representative of telephone networks. The 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), which is the working group on the standardization of mobile communications, drafted the specification for the standardization of the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) serving as the platform for providing multimedia services such as audio services on the IP network. Recently, assessments have been carried out with respect to the fixed-type IP standardization on the next generation network (NGN).
Electronic mailing services have suffered from social problems such as Spam and unsolicited (or junk) mails, which are unwanted mails unilaterally sent to recipients by senders. Unsolicited communications occur due to various factors derived from the popularization of the Internet, such as significant decreases of communication costs and advanced capabilities of network access terminals (such as personal computers purchasable by common users) transmitting numerous electronic mails to unspecified persons or sites.
The above problem (already occurring in electronic mailing services) seems to occur in the IMS due to its popularization. The 3GPP specification has initiated the protection against unsolicited communication for EMS (simply referred to as “PUCI”) to protect users from Spam over the IP telephony (SPIT). In this connection, Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile network system having IMS entities.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-527633
The 3GPP just started the assessment on the PUCI for the IMS. Subscriber originating calls are each subjected to testing by way of PUCI applications, which in turn evaluate calls with unsolicited rating scores. Unsolicited calls are rejected (or declined) but calls which are not regarded as unsolicited calls are forwarded to the user equipment. Herein, the problem is how the IMS involves the PUCI application for checking scores. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Dental mirrors are utilized to permit a dentist to view obscure work areas within the mouth of a patient with minimum discomfort to the patient.
During dental procedures, e.g., drilling, scaling, and the like, particulate and/or fluid materials are often deposited upon the reflective surface of the mirror thereby interfering with the view of the work area. This interference can result in an improper performance of the procedure which can be harmful to the patient.
Dental mirrors are currently cleared of the materials by removing the mirror from the patient's mouth and wiping or rinsing the mirror. Requiring the removal of the mirror from the mouth is undesirable because a dentist must stop working, lose sight of the work area and relocate the work area before continuing to work, all of which increase the time required to treat the patient and thereby increase the length of time the patient suffers.
A powerful, distant light source positioned behind the dentist is often utilized to provide adequate lighting to the work area. The dentist must maneuver to prevent the shadow from being cast upon the work area. Also, the light undesirably shines into the eyes of the patient.
Materials that accumulate in the mouth during dental procedures are often removed by spitting them out or sectioning them off. Spitting out of the materials interrupts the work. Sectioning off the materials requires the placement of a dedicated tube in the mouth which can already be crowded with other dental instruments.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a dental mirror system that would improve the view of the work area by clearing materials from the reflective surface of the mirror without requiring the mirror be removed from the patient's mouth and possibly also provide a local light source and/or fluid removal capability. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having an insulated gate type transistor and an insulated gate type capacitance and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a transistor having a gate length of a subquarter micron or less, a pocket injecting process for forming a pocket region is executed in order to suppress a short channel effect. The pocket injection is also referred to as NUDC (Non Uniformly Doped Channel).
FIG. 52 is a sectional view showing the pocket injecting process. As shown in FIG. 52, in the formation of a CMOS transistor, an NMOS formation region A11 and a PMOS formation region A12 are isolated from each other through an isolating film 102 provided in an upper layer portion of a semiconductor substrate 101.
In the NMOS formation region A11, a gate oxide film 112 and a gate electrode 113 are formed on a surface of a P well region 111 and a P-type impurity ion 103 is implanted and diffused by using the gate electrode 113 as a mask. Consequently, a P-type impurity implantation region 119 to be a pocket region of an NMOS transistor is formed.
In the PMOS formation region A12, similarly, a gate oxide film 122 and a gate electrode 123 are formed on a surface of an N well region 121 and an N-type impurity ion 104 is implanted and diffused by using the gate electrode 123 as a mask. Consequently, an N-type impurity implantation region 129 to be a pocket region of a PMOS transistor is formed.
More specifically, in the pocket injecting process, an impurity of the same conductivity type as that of a channel region of each MOS transistor is implanted into each of the NMOS formation region A11 and the PMOS formation region A12. In the pocket injecting process, the distribution of an impurity in a direction of a channel length becomes nonuniform and an effective channel impurity concentration is increased when a gate length becomes smaller. As a result, it is possible to suppress the short channel effect.
FIG. 53 is a sectional view showing a state in which a CMOS transistor is finished after the pocket injecting process.
As shown in FIG. 53, in the NMOS formation region A11, N+ source-drain regions 114 and 114 are formed to interpose therebetween a channel region provided under the gate electrode 113 and tip regions opposed to each other between the N+ source-drain regions 114 and 114 are extension portions 114e, respectively.
In a vicinal region of the extension portion 114e, the P-type impurity implantation region 119 remains as a P− pocket region 117 from the extension portion 114e to a part of the channel region. Moreover, side walls 116 and 116 are formed on both side surfaces of the gate electrode 113, respectively.
Thus, an NMOS transistor Q11 is formed by the gate oxide film 112, the gate electrode 113, the N+ source-drain region 114, the side wall 116 and the P− pocket region 117.
In the PMOS formation region A12, P+ source-drain regions 124 and 124 are formed to interpose therebetween a channel region provided under the gate electrode 123 and tip regions opposed to each other between the P+ source-drain regions 124 and 124 are extension portions 124e, respectively.
In a vicinal region of the extension portion 124e, the N-type impurity implantation region 129 remains as an N− pocket region 127 from the extension portion 124e to a part of the channel region. Moreover, side walls 126 and 126 are formed on both side surfaces of the gate electrode 123, respectively.
Thus, a PMOS transistor Q12 is formed by the gate oxide film 122, the gate electrode 123, the P+ source-drain region 124, the side wall 126 and the N− pocket region 127.
On the other hand, in a high-frequency analog circuit or a high-speed digital circuit, it is necessary to manufacture an LC type VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) by using an inductor (L) and a variable capacitance (C).
In the case in which the variable capacitance to be an insulated gate type capacitance which has a small loss is to be obtained by utilizing the structure of the MOS transistor, it is necessary to generate an accumulation type variable capacitance in which impurities in a substrate (a body region) and a fetch electrode portion have the same conductivity type.
FIG. 54 is a sectional view showing a structure of the accumulation type variable capacitance. As shown in FIG. 54, in the formation of the accumulation type variable capacitance, a P-type variable capacitance formation region A13 and an N-type variable capacitance formation region A14 are isolated from each other through an isolating film 102 provided in an upper layer portion of a semiconductor substrate 101.
In the P-type variable capacitance formation region A13, P+ fetch electrode regions 134 and 134 are formed to interpose therebetween a channel region provided under a gate electrode 133 and tip regions opposed to each other between the P+ fetch electrode regions 134 and 134 are extension portions 134e, respectively.
In a vicinal region of the extension portion 134e, an N− pocket region 137 is formed from the extension portion 134e to a part of the channel region. Moreover, side walls 136 and 136 are formed on both side surfaces of the gate electrode 133, respectively.
Thus, a P-type variable capacitance C11 is formed by a gate oxide film 132, the gate electrode 133, the P+ fetch electrode region 134, the side wall 136 and the N− pocket region 137. In other words, the P-type variable capacitance C11 acts as an insulated gate type capacitance in which the P+ fetch electrode region 134 is set to one of electrodes, the gate electrode 133 is set to the other electrode and the gate oxide film 132 is set to an interelectrode insulating film.
In the N-type variable capacitance formation region A14, N+ fetch electrode regions 144 and 144 are formed to interpose therebetween a channel region provided under a gate electrode 143 and tip regions opposed to each other between the N+ fetch electrode regions 144 and 144 are extension portions 144e, respectively.
In a vicinal region of the extension portion 144e, a P− pocket region 147 is formed from the extension portion 144e to a part of the channel region. Moreover, side walls 146 and 146 are formed on both side surfaces of the gate electrode 143, respectively.
Thus, an N-type variable capacitance C12 is formed by a gate oxide film 142, the gate electrode 143, the N+ fetch electrode region 144, the side wall 146 and the P− pocket region 147. In other words, the N-type variable capacitance C12 acts as an insulated gate type capacitance in which the N+ fetch electrode region 144 is set to one of electrodes, the gate electrode 143 is set to the other electrode and the gate oxide film 142 is set to an interelectrode insulating film.
FIGS. 55 and 56 are views illustrating a degree of a change in a capacitance value of the N-type variable capacitance C12. In the case in which a gate voltage VG to be applied to the gate electrode 143 is lower than 0 V, a depletion layer 148 is extended downward in an N well region 121 provided under the gate electrode 143 as shown in FIG. 55 so that a capacitance value of the N-type variable capacitance C12 is decreased. On the other hand, in the case in which the gate voltage VG is higher than 0 V, the depletion layer 148 is reduced in the N well region 121 provided under the gate electrode 143 as shown in FIG. 56 so that the capacitance value of the N-type variable capacitance C12 is increased. Thus, it is possible to variably set the capacitance value of the N-type variable capacitance C12 based on the gate voltage VG to be applied to the gate electrode 143. Also in the P-type variable capacitance C11, similarly, it is possible to change the capacitance value based on the gate voltage to be applied to the gate electrode 133.
However, when the pocket injecting process shown in FIG. 52 is executed in order to enhance a short channel characteristic (to suppress the short channel effect), a pocket region of a reverse conductivity type to that of the body region is formed with the accumulation type variable capacitance in a fetch electrode region and the body region to be a region of the semiconductor substrate 101 which is provided just below the gate electrode. Therefore, there has been a problem in that a series resistance is increased.
FIG. 57 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the variable capacitance in FIG. 54. As shown in FIG. 57, the variable capacitance is equivalently represented by a series connection of a capacitance component C10 and a resistance component R10.
On the other hand, an index representing an electrical characteristic of the variable capacitance includes a Q-factor (Q-value). The Q-value is expressed in the following equation (1), wherein Q represents a Q-value, co represents an angular frequency, C represents a capacitance value of the capacitance component C10 and R represents a resistance value of the resistance component R10.
[ Equation 1 ] Q = 1 ω CR ( 1 )
When the Q-value is increased, an energy efficiency of the capacitance is enhanced. There has been a problem in that the resistance value R of the resistance component R10 is increased by the presence of the pocket region so that the Q-value is decreased in accordance with the equation (1). In addition, there has been a problem in that an insulated gate type capacitance generally has a small Q-value. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow control valve in which channels are switched by varying an applied current, and thus a flow rate is controlled.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, a linear motion-type electromagnetic proportional flow control valve, in which a spool slides axially in proportion to an applied current value, has been proposed as one type of electromagnetic flow control valve for controlling a flow rate of fluid according to an applied current value. Another flow control value is of the rotary motion type, wherein a valve is installed in a housing and a flow rate is controlled by rotating the valve with a motor.
The foregoing linear motion-type electromagnetic flow control value has an advantage that a flow rate can be controlled in proportion to an applied current. When mounted in an automobile, however, the flow control valve is likely to operate incorrectly because of the axial oscillation of the spool, and cannot control a flow rate with precision.
In contrast, the conventional rotary motion-type flow control value is unaffected by the above oscillation. However, since a large drive motor is needed, the control valve itself is large in size. The adoption of a structure, in which a reduction gear is employed to increase a rotary torque, enables the use of a small motor. However, the deceleration decreases response speed, disabling high-speed flow control.
When the above motor is used, a torque variation in a direction defined by a rotation angle, which is attributable to the non-uniform distribution of magnetic fields in the direction defined by a rotation angle of the motor, leads to poor linearity of the rotation angle relative to an applied current and eventually to the poor proportionality of a flow rate of controlled liquid relative to the applied current. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
During a shooting or launching stage of a nail gun among conventional power tools, a firing pin passes dynamic energy to a nail such that the nail is stuck into a workpiece from the surface of the workpiece. After completed in shooting, the firing pin has to be moved back to a start position and waits for a next shooting. However, in the process of retracting the firing pin as known in conventional nail guns, the firing pin often cannot be moved right back to the start position due to inappropriate internal structural design or suffering from external forces. Such nail guns often cannot achieve expected power and effect on the next shooting and thus the operation of nail shooting is affected.
It has been disclosed a conventional nail driving tool in Taiwan Patent Publication No. 200932442. The nail driving tool includes a lifter member, a latch member, and a driver member. The driver member has a first protrusion and a second protrusion disposed at two opposite sides thereof. The lifter member and the latch member are arranged corresponding to the two sides of the driver member, respectively. The first protrusion is driven by the lifter member such that the driver member is moved from a shooting position to a preparing position. During the lifter member moves the driver member, the second protrusion at the opposite side is captured by the latch member.
As for mechanical element design, the driver member has uneven overall thickness duo to the protrusions fabricated at the two sides thereof, and thus is weak in strength, easy to be damaged, and high in manufacturing cost. As for operational performance, the driver member may suffer from a great deal of deformation during the heating process and this may probably result in size mismatches between various components, thereby leading the operations to be more unstable. As for lifetime, the lifter member is directly driven by an electric motor, and the electric motor may have a short lifetime since the loading in activating the electric motor is large. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a laser beam printer, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.
2. Related Background Art
Heretofore, in general, in an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic or an electrostatic recording system such as a copying machine which uses a two-component developer mainly composed of a toner and a carrier, when the toner is consumed and a developer density inside an developing apparatus, that is, a mixture ratio of the toner to the carrier (hereinafter referred to as “TD ratio”) changes, so that an image of a low image ratio is continuously reproduced, the imbedding of an external additive externally added for giving fluidity to the toner as well as adherence of the toner and the external additive to the carrier surface have often changed developing property and transferring property, thereby remarkably deteriorating these properties.
Hence, to maintain the TD ratio which is a toner density in the developer and the density of a formed image constant, a technique for accurately detecting this TD and the image density becomes important.
The image forming apparatus adapting the two-component developer system is provided with a replenishment developer container (replenishment container) connected to a developer container for replenishing a consumed toner included in the developer inside the developer container which is a developer containing portion of a developing apparatus. The replenishment developer container contains a replenishment toner as a developer cartridge, and is usually detachably attachable so as to be replaced when an inner toner is consumed. A toner replenishing control is proposed and put to a practical use, which decides a toner amount to be replenished to the developing apparatus by the replenishment container so that a detection value by an image density detection and the TD ratio detection of the developer inside the developer container (hereinafter referred to as “developer density detection”) is always maintained constant.
In other words, according to the above described toner replenishing control, a lowering of toner charge amount over a long period of time during image formation is avoided by adequately lowering the toner density of the two component developer of the developing container, and the image density during image formation is maintained constant over a long period of time.
The toner replenishing control is executed at a pre-rotation time which is a non image time of the image formation, and when an image density lowering is detected by image density detecting means (image density sensor) in an density detection developed image (patch), the toner of the developer inside the developing apparatus is replenished. In case a replenishing amount from the replenishment container to the developing apparatus based on this image density detection result becomes excessive, a signal of the replenishing amount to be excessive is sent out by developer density detection inside the developing apparatus, and a control of replenishing amount as well as a control of stopping the replenishment are performed.
In general, the developer density detection is performed by developer density detecting means such as a light sensor or a magnetic permeability detection sensor and the like provided in the developing apparatus where the developer is contained. In the case of the light sensor, by irradiating a light, the carrier is attracted because of its ordinary black color, and the TD ratio is discriminated by detecting a change in the toner amount, that is, the reflected light amount corresponding to the TD ratio. The magnetic permeability detection sensor discriminates the TD ratio by detecting an apparent magnetic permeability change in the developer, which lowers when the TD ratio rises.
In the meantime, the detection of the image density which is a toner bearing amount in the image portion of an image to be formed, in the case of the image forming apparatus of the electrophotographic system already charged, forms a density detection electrostatic latent image (patch latent image) by a predetermined latent image contrast on an image bearing member such as a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum), and develops this patch latent image by the two-component developer contained in the developing apparatus, and takes it as the density detection developed image (patch). On this patch image, a light is irradiated by the light sensor as the image density sensor, and the detection is performed depending on various magnitudes of the reflected light.
While the electrostatic latent image is formed by changing a surface potential in the image portion of the uniformly charged image bearing member, the difference of the surface potential between the non-image portion and the image portion is the latent image contrast. In the image forming apparatus of the electrophotographic system, since the image bearing member is a photosensitive drum, in the toner replenishing control, the charged potential and the exposed light amount are adjusted so as to become a predetermined latent image contrast on this photosensitive drum, thereby forming a patch latent image.
Incidentally, at the installing time of the image forming apparatus and at the replacing time of the developer, though a new developer is filled in the developing apparatus, the developer right after being transferred to the developing apparatus inside the image forming apparatus from a container to be used and hermetically sealed at the time of shipment is in a state of being moisture conditioned to a moisture amount inside the container before the transfer, and the developer is gradually exposed to the outside air inside the developing apparatus, and is moisture conditioned to the moisture amount detected by environmental detecting means (environmental sensor) provided inside the image forming apparatus. During this moisture conditioning, a tribo-electrostatic charge (tribo) in the developer also is changed from a value inside the replenishment container to a value corresponding to the moisture amount detected by the environmental sensor.
Here, to correspond to the change of endurance and environment, a patch is periodically formed by a predetermined density, and by detecting an output value of the image density, a density signal from the apparatus control portion is corrected, and based on that information, the latent image contrast, which is a latent image forming condition to form a patch latent image by the toner replenishing control, is changed. In this manner, the toner replenishing control can be performed by the latent image contrast corresponding to the environment at that time. Further, at this time, a gradation control is also executed, and by finding the latent image contrast in each gradation, a control to maintain a desired gradation characteristic can be performed.
Here, when a periodic control for deciding the latent image contrast according to this environment is performed by the patch of the maximum image density in the predetermined density, that is, the maximum image density developed image, a scope of the detection density is broadened out and becomes preferable, and thus, the periodic control is often executed as a so-called maximum image density control (Dmax control). Since the Dmax control takes a time to execute in a pre-rotation for every image formation, at the rising time of the apparatus and after having risen the apparatus, the Dmax control is executed at periodically determined intervals depending on the number of image formation sheets and time.
That is, at the drastically changed time of an apparatus environment or at the initial density setting time by the developer inside the developing apparatus or at the rise time of the apparatus after replenishment or replacement of the developer from the outside, the-maximum image density control is executed, so that the latent image contrast set up by such maximum image density control according to the detection value of the environmental sensor by the subsequent toner replenishing control is used and controlled so as to become a reference density for the entire environment.
However, in recent years, because of a trend toward a high image quality, the toner and carrier inside the developer come to become small in diameter, and a superficial area as the developer becomes large, and a moisture conditioning time of the developer tends to be long.
Hence, in case the installing environment of the apparatus drastically changes, the developer is not sufficiently moisture-conditioned, and before the tribo becomes a value corresponding to a moisture amount detected by the environmental sensor, a so-called environmental mismatch state, in which a patch image detection timing in the maximum image density control is invited, occurs. That is, in this maximum image density control, a situation where the environment and the latent image are set in a mismatched state occurs. Particularly, at the installing time of the image forming apparatus, and at the initial setting time of the patch image detection right after the replacement of the developer, this environmental mismatch state tends to occur.
To be specific, when the developer is filled in the developing container of the developing apparatus at the setting time of the apparatus and at the replacing time of the developer, and the like, a moisture amount (water mass contained in the air of 1 m3) inside the developing container depends on the environment at the filling time, and in general, the amount fluctuates from 1 g to 20 g. In the meantime, similarly, since the inside of the replenishment container installed in the image forming apparatus is hermetically sealed, the moisture amount inside the container is hardly changed for a long period of time.
For example, in a state in which the moisture amount inside the replenishment container is 20 g, and in the initial period, when the toner is filled in an empty developer container from this container, in case the detection moisture amount of the environmental sensor is 1 g, though the latent image contrast is outputted at a value corresponding to the moisture amount of 1 g which is the detection value of the environmental sensor, since an actual frictional charging amount of the developer is a value corresponding to the moisture amount of 20 g inside the replenishment container, a phenomenon that the patch image density is sharply deviated from the reference density occurs.
As a result, the initial density setting is incapacitated, and even when the density setting is attempted, since it is deviated from the reference density, it is small in sensitivity, and a desired image density is not achieved by the latent image contrast set at the maximum image density control time.
Hence, in the course of the developer being moisture conditioned, a problem arises because of a non-moisture conditioned developer. For example, the patch density is detected thin by the change of the tribo, and the toner density of the developer is set high, so that the problems such as a fogging, a toner flying, and in the worst case, a spilling out of the toner from the developing apparatus are brought about.
Hence, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-83115, a proposal is made in which a state quantity regarding developing characteristics, for example, the maximum toner adhering amount capable of image formation, a developing starting voltage, and the like are calculated, so that at least one of the processing such as agitation of the developer of the developing means, the toner replenishment, and the toner consumption is executed, thereby executing a developer aging so as to adjust a developer state.
However, in the developer aging executing time, every time the image formation is executed, the toner density is required to be changed until it becomes a desired developing characteristic, and further, for such setting, it requires a long period of time, so that there arises a problem of the rising time becoming long.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-194837, a proposal is made in which, at the initial density setting time of the patch image, regardless of the moisture amount detected by the environmental sensor, the patch image is formed by developing the patch latent image formed by the predetermined latent image contrast, and based on this image density, an image density output setting is made. In this method, there is outwardly no problem of the developer being non-moisture conditioned.
However, according to this method, though a patch image is formed by a constant latent image contrast, the predetermined value thereof is set regardless of a degree of the moisture conditioning in the developer, and though there occurs a mismatch with an ideal latent image contrast shown by the environmental sensor, there is no mention made of a counter measure to meet such a mismatch.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S63-177177, a proposal is made in which a hysteresis of the outputs of the detecting means in a plurality of timings within the past predetermined period of times is stored, and for example, in the case of the installation time of the developing apparatus into the image forming apparatus and the total replacement time of the developer inside the developing apparatus according to the stored plurality of data, a moisture absorption state of the developer is presumed according to the similar state of the data, and the image forming condition is controlled according to the moisture absorption state.
However, in an environmental fluctuation from beneath low moisture to beneath high moisture and the environmental fluctuation from beneath high moisture to beneath low moisture, there is a difference between an ejecting velocity of the moisture and the moisture absorption velocity in the developer, which is difficult to control.
Hence, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-6684, a proposal is made in which a plurality of patch images are formed, and the latent image contrast (Dmax control) as well as a γ-LUT (Dhalf control) are corrected.
However, in the above described control, there is a problem that no mention is made of means of guaranteeing a developer characteristic change based on a tribo change of the developer at the stage in which the developer is moisture conditioned.
Describing more in detail, in case the developing apparatus is transferred under low temperature low moisture environment (NL) in a moisture conditioned state under high temperature high moisture (HH) environment, at that point, the environmental sensor estimates that the tribo of the developer is high since the apparatus is under the NL, and determines that a high latent image contrast is required. Nevertheless, as described above, since the developer is not yet sufficiently moisture conditioned, the tribo is low, and the developing property is in a high state. Consequently, in the latent image contrast presumed from the environmental sensor, a situation occurs in which the density is outputted thick. Hence, by executing the Dmax control, the latent image contrast actually used is set to a low value again, so that the density can be set constant. However, when the developer is gradually moisture conditioned to the tribo under the NL, since the tribo rises up and the developing property lowers, an output is not made in the maximum image density by the Dmax control previously performed with a result that a replenishment excessive signal is transmitted. As a result, the TD ratio is increased and a fogging phenomenon sometimes occurs.
That is, instead of the latent image contrast becoming large because of becoming a high tribo under the NL, the tribo of the developer is in a low tribo state by the developer of the high toner density, and as a result, the control often ends up becoming inconsistent by being controlled in a low state of the latent image contrast. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to the field of integrated electronic circuits of the variety wherein a plurality of different circuit types are received on a semiconductor carrier substrate and interconnected by metal conductors received on the carrier substrate.
Frequently in the design of a complex electronic system, such as a flight control computer or a radar for a modern day aircraft, there is a need to collect a variety of differing types of electronic circuitry into a single system. This need is often combined with the need for circuits that are as small and lightweight as possible and are also free of "pinout" and other conventional circuit interconnection limitations. Frequently, the circuits to be collected into one of these complex systems are of such diversity as being of both the analog and digital signal processing types, functioning with signal levels of differing amplitudes, functioning at significantly different operating speeds or operating frequencies, and in more recent systems, operating via the combination of optically and electrically coded signal types.
Often in such systems, it is therefore common to encounter individual integrated circuit die which are fabricated in accordance with a diversity of different processing technologies including, for example, die materials operating with oppositely charged carrier types, that is, p-type and N-type semiconductor materials, circuits of drastically different active device categorization, MOS and bipolar transistor types, for example, and circuits fabricated according to different design rules, circuits with three micron geometry features, for example, in combination with circuits possessing submicron geometry features.
Clearly, the prospect for combining circuits of this large variety on a single large scale integration wafer by using conventional circuit fabrication techniques are nearly if not totally impossible. Any one of the above cited circuit difference examples would in all reality frustrate even the best of the present day large scale integration circuit design teams in an attempt at single wafer integration.
The well known practice of mounting integrated circuit die in multiply pinned packages which are then soldered or otherwise attached to a printed circuit board has been used as a means to package combinations of diverse circuit die on a common substrate. Circuitry packaged in this manner is severely limited with respect to packaging density due to inductive and capacitive electrical coupling effects--a result of long interconnecting conductors; susceptibility to thermal and physical stressing events; weight penalties and "pinout" limitations.
Workers who have recognized these difficulties have attempted to combine a plurality of different circuit types on a single wafer by extending the concept of an integrated circuit package into the realm of plural diverse circuit die received on a single large wafer. By regarding the wafer as a packaging device and connecting individual die to the package using conventional techniques, these workers arrived at a form of wafer scale integration. A number of problems, including difficulties with the wire bonding used to electrically connect die and wafer, and difficulties in achieving permanent attachment between die and wafer have precluded the achievement of notable success in these efforts. Notwithstanding these difficulties with both the wafer integration and printed circuit approaches, the need for maximum flexibility in combining a variety of circuit types, increases in modern electronic systems, particularly in military and other state of the art systems.
The present invention provides an advancement in the state of this die and wafer combination art, that is the wafer scale integration art, to a level enabling its practical use in even military and other critical circuit applications. By way of incorporating a plurality of improvements in previously attempted die to wafer combinations, the present invention accomplishes these combinations at modest cost and with desirable reliability and manufacturing ease.
The combination of silicon circuit die with a silicon substrate member, notwithstanding the previously encountered practical difficulties, is herein shown to offer desirable real life advantages including minimum size and weight penalties, significant heat conduction away from the die by the silicon or other material of a wafer, ability to control substrate electrical characteristics via substrate doping, substantially identical thermal coefficients of expansion between die and supporting substrate, and the ability to elect employed substrate properties through the selection of optimum Miller index crystal orientation in the substrate.
An arrangement wherein an integrated circuit chip is mounted on a ceramic carrier by embedding or encapsulating the chip in an epoxy resin is shown in the patent of B.M. Hargis, U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,810. The use of solderable connections and several layers of ceramic material, distinguish the present invention from the teachings of the Hargis patent.
Another integrated circuit mounting arrangement wherein the integrated circuit die are enclosed by an epoxy encapsulant is shown in the patent of F.A. Perrino, U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,724. In the Perrino mounting arrangement, sets of leads are formed on a flexible tape carrier with the leads penetrating through holes in the tape and terminating in contacts which are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the contact pattern of the integrated circuit die. A tape carrier distinguishes the present invention from the perrino arrangement.
The patent of Honn et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,342 discloses an integrated circuit chip carrier arrangement in which a carrier and a semiconductor material with similar thermal expansion coefficients are employed. The use of solder technology to interconnect various portions of the Honn et al apparatus distinguishes the present invention from the teachings of Honn et al.
The patent art also indicates that the mounting of integrated circuit die in a receptacle well portion of a semiconductor wafer has been attempted by several workers in the art. Included in these efforts is the work of K. L. Tai which is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,770. In the Tai invention, the beveled sides of an isotropically etched receptacle well are mated with similarly beveled sides of the integrated circuit die being mounted using metallic conductor members received on both the receptacle well walls and the die surface. Preferably the Tai conductors are of solder wettable material. The use of conductor elements in a die to wafer retention capacity and the use of solder based materials in the Tai invention are distinguished from the arrangements described in the present invention.
A surface mounting arrangement for integrated circuit die is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,030 of J. Reyes. In the Reyes invention, surface mounting of the integrated circuit die is shown together with thick film interconnection and resistor patterns that are disposed on an insulating substrate. The Reyes invention contemplates the use of low pressure chemical vapor deposition for the conductors together with soldering of interconnecting terminals. The Reyes deposited metal is selected from the group of manganese, chromium, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, and alloys of these metals. The die surface mounting, metallic bonding of die to wafer, use of quartz or alumina wafers, and selected conductor materials are all points of contrast between the instant invention and the Reyes patent.
The patent of R. Percival, U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,657 disclosed an integrated circuit interconnecting arrangement which uses an electrically conducting film containing standardized openings and a prearranged raster configuration. Selected portions of the Percival raster are subsequently removed by a laser, for example, in order to achieve a desired circuit configuration. The Percival invention also employs the laser for exposure of a photo sensitive film used in producing the isolated conductive areas of the conductive film in a photo etching process.
An integrated circuit die mounting arrangement of the inverted die and mesa interface type is shown in the patent of A. N. Patraw, U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,870. In the Patraw invention, a mesa interface member is joined to the face of the integrated circuit die and through an internal conductor carrier member. Although the patraw die mounting arrangement considerably shortens the length of the bonding wires that join the integrated circuit chip with electrical conductors residing on the chip carrier, it is notable that such bonding wires are nevertheless a necessary portion of the circuit arrangement.
The patent of D. F. Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,929 concerns a printed circuit board arrangement for circuit mounting in which the conductors are provided with photopolymer formed U-shaped cross sections. The printed circuit board nature of the Sullivan invention and the conductor arrangement espoused by Sullivan readily distinguish the teachings of the Sullivan patent from the present invention.
As is suggested by these patents and the preceding discussion, the electronic art continues to need a more satisfactory wafer scale integration arrangement, an arrangement which especially achieves the ability to receive integrated circuit die of differing process technology as well as different electrical function in a common and small sized physical package that also provides a flexible interconnection arrangement. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The use of formaldehyde based resins has been fundamental in the manufacture of many wood and textile products for many years. In the wood products industry urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin has been in prevalent use as an adhesive in particle board manufacture with phenolic resins and isocyanate used to a lesser extent. Low cost and ease of use of UF resins have been the driving forces for their acceptance. Resins used in the textile industry are a different type than those used in wood products and have generally been used as chemical finishing agents to impart durable press or shrink resistant properties to cellulosic based fabrics such as shirting and knit materials. In the resin finishing of cellulosic fiber fabrics, nitrogen containing methylol compounds have been preferred because of their ease of application and low cost. The resin most extensively used in recent years for durable press finishes has been dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) or a modified version thereof.
Associated with products that contain UF and DMDHEU resins is the release of formaldehyde. Such is measured by large chamber test method FTM-2 for wood products and by AATCC Test Method 112-1984 for textile products.
Formaldehyde was first prepared by A. M. Butlerov in 1859 as a by-product of the synthesis of methylene glycol. It was known to have a pungent odor and to be extremely irritating to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat. Because it was a severe irritant even in small amounts, research and development over the years was devoted to developing resins, particularly in the textile industry in order to minimize this form of toxicity. Within the last few years formaldehyde has come under scrutiny as a potential carcinogen. This has served to increase pressure by governmental agencies to reduce or eliminate formaldehyde evolution from wood and textile products.
The chemical industry has responded to the concern over formaldehyde by modifying some of the present formaldehyde based resin systems and by developing formaldehyde resins. Unfortunately, the non-formaldehyde resin systems have been costly to produce. Modified formaldehyde based resins have proven more successful in reducing the level of released formaldehyde from wood and textile products. For example, UF resins used in particle board manufacture have been modified by changing the mole ratio of formaldehyde to urea in the resin system. High fuming resins with mole ratios of 1.5 to have been modified to low fuming resins of 1.1 to 1 mole ratios. This has resulted in a significant reduction in released formaldehyde from particle board. In the durable press finishing of fabrics the pendant N-methylol group (N--CH.sub.2 -OH) in DMDHEU has been restructured by "capping" with a polyol to form N--CH.sub.2 --OR where R is traditionally a methoxy of a diethylene glycol ether group. This chemical restructuring stabilizes the resin molecule to hydrolysis thereby reducing the liberation of free formaldehyde from fabrics treated with such modified resins.
In addition to the foregoing there are methods described in the literature other than resin modification that have had some success at reducing the levels of released formaldehyde. Most of these methods have involved additional production processes such as after-washing or post spraying. These are generally considered costly, although effective, alternatives. A method more acceptable to manufacturing has been the use of additive chemicals called formaldehyde scavengers that can suppress or reduce the liberation of free formaldehyde from wood or textile products containing formaldehyde based resins.
Development of formaldehyde scavengers has been more prevalent in textiles than in wood products and dates back some twenty years. Generally, in textiles a formaldehyde scavenger is added to a resin mixture. The mixture is applied to cellulosic based materials in manufacturing processes to produce a product characterized by a reduced level of residual formaldehyde over that of non-treated products. Articles that discuss formaldehyde scavenger development in textile durable press finish of fabrics include R. S. Perry et al, Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 12, No. 12, Dec. 1980, p. 311, Northern Piedmont Section, AATCC, Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 13, No. 1, Jan. 1981, p. 17; C. Tomasino and M. B. Taylor II, Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 16, No. 12, Dec. 1984, p. 259; and Perry, R. S., U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,382. Some of the compounds discussed in these articles have indeed been found to be effective as formaldehyde scavengers per se. For example, urea and other urea compounds such as ethylene urea and carbohydrazide significantly reduce formaldehyde release from fabrics but suffer themselves from odor formation, fabric discoloration, chlorine retention and buffering of the cure. Nitrogen containing aromatic hetercyclics such as pyrrole, indole and triazoles are also effective scavengers but tend to yellow fabrics at the application levels needed to reduce formaldehyde release to current standards. Non-aromatic alcohols have proven to be effective as formaldehyde scavengers without imparting detrimental physical properties to the fabric. Sorbitol, methoxy glucoside and diethylene glycol are scavengers presently being used to reduce formaldehyde levels.
Although alcohols when used as an additive scavenger can reduce formaldehyde levels of, for example, DMDHEU, their effectiveness depends on the form of the resin. For example, it is not unreasonable for DEG or sorbitol at 3 to 4% on bath weight to reduce the level of a DMDHEU resin which is 800 ppm odor formaldehyde on control fabric to 300 ppm on test fabric for a 63% formaldehyde reduction. Fabric finished with a modified DMDHEU resin may only have 100 ppm odor formaldehyde on the control fabric. The addition of polyols in the durable press finishing formulation as a scavenger may not reduce the formaldehyde level in the test fabric to any significant extent, at least not at reasonable usage levels. In this case polyols can be ineffective as additive formaldehyde scavengers.
It thus is seen that at present there is not a commercially viable formaldehyde scavenger available to reduce odor formaldehyde of a DMDHEU or modified DMDHEU resin as measured by AATCC test method 112-1984 to 25 ppm or less. Chemicals that have been reported to be able to reduce formaldehyde levels on fabrics to very low levels are carbohydrazide and dimethyl-1, 3-acetonedicarboxylate. However, the former adversely affects fabric properties and the latter is water insoluble and costly.
In wood products, particularly particle board, urea has been the scavenger that has received the greatest attention. Other chemical systems such as resorcinol, peroxides, and ammonia treatment have proven marginal in results and expensive. The usage of urea does not pose problems with particle board as it does in textile fabrics, however it must be carefully used or it will adversely affect physical properties of the particle board itself.
In general, urea is not added to the resin mix but is sprayed in a 40% solution as a separate application on the wood particles after resin application. The application level is approximately 0.3% based on the total board weight. This is generally the upper limit of usage on low fuming resins before board properties are affected. At present, the effectiveness of urea as a formaldehyde scavenger in particle board, as well as in other composition board products, is rather variable depending on manufacturing conditions and resin type. Only the low cost of urea accounts for its continued usage. As long as the wood products industry uses UF resins, and as long as formaldehyde reduction remains a governmental priority, there will be a need to develop a more effective scavenger. It is to the provision of such therefore, that the present invention is primarily directed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device capable of displaying an image recorded, for example, on a developed film.
2. Description of Related Art
Known display devices such as film viewers have been arranged in general to convert a negative image into an electrical signal by using a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera and, after that, to display an image carried by the electrical signal on a CRT (cathode ray tube) display or on a liquid crystal display. Some of the known display devices are arranged to optically project on a screen a positive image recorded on a positive film. The known display devices also include various electronic image display devices arranged to display motion pictures on a CRT display or on a liquid crystal display, for example, by changing still images from one over to another at a television rate.
Meanwhile, spatial light modulators (SLMs) have been developed for display devices which are capable of inputting, storing, reading and erasing two-dimensional signals. The spatial light modulators are either of a photo-address type arranged to have a light image signal as an input or an electric-address type arranged to have time-serial electric signals as an input. The photo-address type spatial light modulators include a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, which is composed of a liquid crystal layer arranged to modulate a light signal and a light transmission layer arranged to transmit writing light energy to the liquid crystal layer. In a case where the photo-address type spatial light modulator is used for a liquid crystal projector, for example, a light image is displayed on a small-sized CRT display. The liquid crystal spatial light modulator having the light transmission layer and the liquid crystal layer arranged one after another is provided over the whole surface of the small-sized CRT display. The light image of the CRT display is radiated to the surface of a photoconductor, such as a CdS (cadmium sulfide) member. The impedance of the photoconductor drops at its part illuminated with the light to cause a higher voltage to be applied thereto than other parts not illuminated with the light. As a result, voltages are applied to the liquid crystal according to a distribution of intensity of the input light image. The transmissive light quantity of the liquid crystal is thus caused to vary by a hybrid field effect thereof. The image obtained on the small-sized CRT display is displayed on a screen, with the quantity of light transmitted through the liquid crystal projected on the screen in an enlarged state. The light transmission layer of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator is selected from among photoconductive materials such as CdS, ZnSe, a-Si (amorphous silicon), etc., photo-refractive crystals such as BSO (bismuth silicon oxide), BGO (bismuth germanium oxide), TBO, etc., and compound semiconductors of the III-V group or the II-VI group. The light transmission layer must have a high degree of detection sensitivity, a high resolution and a quick response. For the converting function of the liquid crystal layer which is required to have a quick response and a high contrast-giving power, a material for the layer is selected from among a group of materials including a twisted nematic liquid crystal, an electro-optic crystal such as LiNbO.sub.3 (lithium niobate), BSO, etc., or an organic non-optical crystal, etc. Spatial light modulators of high performance thus have been developed.
However, in the above-stated display device using a CCD camera, the density of picture elements of the CCD which is an image pickup device and that of a display are coarse. For example, the face of a person on display is hardly discernible. The display device of such a kind is thus not suited for displaying silver-halide photographs.
As for the display device using a positive film, the positive film itself has narrow latitude (exposure tolerance) for photographing and is not popularly used by people as it necessitates taking heed to photo-taking conditions. The positive films also necessitate a greater amount of time and labor than negative films in developing them and in printing some of frames after they are developed.
In a case where a negative film is used, it is necessary to take into consideration the question of quantity of light. A rate of light transmissible through developed negative films carrying images of ordinary scenes is less than 10% on the average. Projection of the image in an enlarged state needs an excessively large quantity of light and thus requires use of a large device. Therefore, it is difficult to prepare a compact and handy film viewer for negative films.
Further, all the display devices mentioned above are arranged mainly for showing moving images. Therefore, the number of picture elements used for them is extremely insufficient, in terms of resolution, for showing still images. There has been no electronic display device arranged to be capable of showing images with such a high quality that is well compared to the quality of a silver-halide print. A display device developed for a high-definition TV is close to such an electronic display device. Although the display device of that kind shows some improvement over a normal TV system in respect to the number of picture elements, its driving rate either still remains unchanged from an ordinary TV rate or at about 60 Hz which is only twice as much as the ordinary TV rate. Therefore, when a somewhat bright still image is displayed, the image on display shows some flickers to the human eye and is not adequately viewable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention is directed to bicycle components and, more particularly, to an apparatus to assist mounting a bicycle component.
Some bicycle components are designed to be mounted together using a fastener such as a bolt. Of course, it is desirable to prevent the fastener from undesirably loosening over time. To accomplish this goal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,870 discloses the use of a locking plate with two openings, wherein each opening receives a hex-head fastener therethrough. Locking tabs at opposite ends of the locking plate are bent upwardly to contact flat surfaces of the fastener head and thereby inhibit the fastener from rotating in the loosening direction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,275 discloses the use of a locking plate with two openings, wherein each opening receives a triangular-head fastener therethrough. Upwardly extending arcuate portions of the locking plate are bent radially inwardly and flattened to contact corresponding flat sides of the fastener head and thereby inhibit the fastener from rotating in the loosening direction. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to block aromatic polyoxyalkylene amidoamide condensation product. More particularly, this invention relates to novel block aromatic polyoxyalkylene amidoamines condensation products derived from a polyoxyalkylene polyamine component and an aromatic polycarboxylic acid component. Still more particularly, this invention relates to novel block aromatic polyoxyalkylene amidoamide condensation products prepared by reacting an aromatic carboxylic acid component, as hereafter defined, with an amount of a polyoxyalkylene polyamine component, which is suitably a polyoxypropylene diamine or triamine, a polyoxyethylene diamine or a polyoxyethylene/oxypropylene diamine, as hereinafter defined, sufficient to react each carboxyl group of the carboxylic acid component with one mole of the polyoxyalkylene polyamine component to thereby couple, through a condensation reaction, each carboxyl group of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid component to the polyoxyalkylene polyamine component through the formation of an amide linkage. The reaction is preferably conducted at a temperature within the range of about 150.degree. to about 250.degree. C.
The aromatic amidoamine condensation products of the present invention are liquids or amorphous solids, depending upon the starting materials, and can be used as raw materials for a wide variety of purposes such as, for example, as chain extenders for epoxy resins, curing agents for epoxy resins, as raw materials for the manufacture of polyureas, thickening agents, etc. The condensation products may also be used as raw materials for the preparation of fuel and lubricant additives, for textile and fiber treating agents, for the preparation of adhesives, for use in the manufacture of polyureas, for use in encapsulation and molding applications, etc.
2. Prior Art
It is known, as exemplified by Yeakey U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,370 to prepare polyoxyalkylene polyamines by the reductive amination of a polyoxyalkylene polyol. The reductive amination is conducted catalytically in the presence of hydrogen and ammonia and an appropriate reductive amination catalyst, such as a nickel, copper and chromia catalyst. The polyoxyalkylene polyamines that are prepared in this fashion are stable articles of commerce having a wide variety of uses such as those mentioned above. In particular, they have found utility as curing agents for epoxy resins, as plasticizers, as cross linking agents and binders for textiles, and as intermediates in the preparation of polyureas. In general, polyoxyalkylene polyamines having molecular weights ranging from about 200 to about 5,000 can be prepared by the Yeakey process.
Kwang U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,342 is directed to epoxy resins that are cured with a polyamidodiamine prepared by reacting about two molar equivalents of a polyoxyalkylenediamine with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid.
Klein U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,803 is directed to the preparation of novel thermoplastic adhesive compositions having melting points between 20.degree. and 180.degree. C. prepared by reacting a polyoxypropylene diamine or triamine with an aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acid, ester or anhydride thereof. In his working examples, Klein used approximately equimolar amounts of carboxylic acid and polyamine. However, he states that the molar ratio of the polyoxypropylene diamine or triamine to the dicarboxylic acid may range from about 0.25:1 to about 4.0:1. The thermoplastic adhesives of Klein are made by reacting the polyoxypropylene diamine or triamine with the dicarboxylic acid at about 175.degree. to about 275.degree. C. for about 1 to 12 hours.
The preparation of thermoplastic adhesives is disclosed in Schulze U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,615. The adhesives are prepared by a two-step process. In the first step, about 1 to 4 moles of oxalic acid is reacted with a polyoxyalkylene diamine or triamine, the preferred ratio being a mole ratio of about 1 to 2 moles of oxalic acid per mole of polyoxyalkylene diamine or triamine. This results in the formation of a so-called liquid prepolymer which is then reacted with an alkylene diamine such as ethylene diamine which contain 2 to 18 carbon atoms to provide the resinous polyoxyamide thermoplastic adhesive composition.
Mains et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,819 is directed to polyamide polyblends wherein one component is a high molecular weight thermoplastic polyamide and the other is a minor amount of a polyamide derived from a high molecular weight dibasic acid. The second component is prepared by reacting a dicarboxylic acid such as "dimer acids" with an aliphatic polyalkylene diamine such as ethylene diamine.
Rieder U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,635 (reissued as Re.30,885) is directed to lubricants modified by the inclusion of diamides. The diamides are carboxylic acid terminated reaction products of an excess of a dicarboxylic acid with a polyoxyalkylene diamine. L Rasmussen U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,351 discloses impact resistant thermoplastic polyamides which are suitable for use as hot melt adhesives and which contain, as a component, a minor amount of an amorphous amide-forming oligomer which is described as a polyoxyalkylene diamine having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 900 to about 5000.
Mitchell, et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,820 discloses copolyamides derived from a mixture of a polymeric fatty acid and a short chain dibasic acid with a mixture of amines composed of a polyoxyalkylene diamine and a short chain diamine such as ethylenediamine.
Rieder U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,635 is directed to aqueous metal working fluids containing a carboxylic acid group terminated polyoxyalkylene diamine on the alkali metal, ammonium or organic amine salts of the diamides. The diamide is prepared by reacting a dicarboxylic acid with a polyoxyalkylenediamine in a 2:1 mole ratio.
Chang U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,783 relates to heat curable compositions containing polyhydroxyethyl carbonates which are prepared by reacting an amidoamine with an organic carbonate. The block copolymer amidoamines are prepared by reacting a polyester with an equivalent excess of a polyamine, for example, by reacting two moles of isophorone diamine with one mole of dimethylcyclohexane dicarboxylate.
Bently U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,255 is directed to polymeric polyamines prepared by reacting a polycarboxylic acid or an ester thereof with a stoichiometric excess of a polyamine having terminal aminopropoxy groups to provide polymeric polyamines containing 2 to 4 primary amine groups per molecule. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink set and an ink jet recording method using the ink set.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, inks containing pigments as coloring materials (pigment inks) have been widely used in order to record images having higher toughness including gas resistance and light resistance, as the inks used for an ink jet recording method. The pigments are particulate, and thus images recorded with the pigment inks on a recording medium having a glossy surface (what is called glossy papers) unfortunately have insufficient gloss clarity as compared with images recorded with dye inks in which dyes are dissolved in an aqueous medium. The “gloss clarity” is one of the characteristics indicating the sharpness of an image recorded on the surface of a recording medium. For example, an image having low gloss clarity has a blurred appearance, whereas an image having high gloss clarity has a clear appearance. The gloss clarity can be evaluated by a haze value, for example. Specifically, a lower haze value indicates higher gloss clarity.
In addition, images recorded with the pigment ink cause what is called a bronzing phenomenon that light having a different color from that of incident light is reflected. For example, images recorded with a cyan ink containing phthalocyanine may cause a reddish bronzing phenomenon, and images recorded with an ink containing carbon black may cause a yellowish bronzing phenomenon.
To solve these problems, various techniques have been studied. For example, in order to improve the glossiness and to suppress the bronzing phenomenon of images recorded with a pigment ink, an ink set including a clear ink containing a water-soluble resin has been disclosed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-197211). Separately, an ink set including a clear ink containing a urethane resin has been disclosed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-064082 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-520324). The ink set improves the anti-scratching properties or the glossiness of images recorded with a pigment ink.
The inventors of the present invention have used the conventional clear inks described in Patent Documents to study the gloss clarity and the bronzing resistance of images recorded with a pigment ink. The result has revealed that the effects of improving the gloss clarity and the bronzing resistance of images are not achieved at high levels by using any of the clear inks. In addition, a new problem commonly caused when conventional clear inks are used has been found during the above study. Specifically, the newly found problem is that when a clear ink is applied onto the image recorded with a pigment ink, reflected light coloring that differs from the bronzing phenomenon is caused, or glossiness is changed, and “unevenness” is caused in some areas in the image. The “unevenness” is caused by the following mechanism. That is, light is reflected by both the surface of a “pigment layer” constituting an image and the surface of a “resin layer” formed on the “pigment layer” by a resin particle in a clear ink to generate two kinds of reflected light, and the two kinds of reflected light cause an “fringe phenomenon”. Hereinafter, the unevenness caused by the above “fringe phenomenon” is called “fringe unevenness”.
The problem of “fringe unevenness” caused by using conventional clear inks has not been recognized in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-197211, 2013-064082 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-520324. In other words, the “fringe unevenness” has not been considered and is a new problem. When the ink sets disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-197211 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-064082 are used, the suppressive effect of the bronzing phenomenon is slightly observed, but the improvement effect of the gloss clarity of images or the suppressive effect of the fringe unevenness cannot be achieved. When the ink set disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-520324 is used, the improvement effect of the gloss clarity of images and the suppressive effect of the bronzing phenomenon are slightly observed, but the suppressive effect of the fringe unevenness cannot be achieved.
An object of the present invention is thus to provide an ink set enabling the recording of images that have excellent gloss clarity and bronzing resistance and have suppressed an occurrence of fringe unevenness when a clear ink and a pigment ink are used in combination. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method using the ink set. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In the mounting of fans and ceiling fixtures it is typically desired to install the front face of the electrical box substantially flush with the ceiling. Conventional electrical boxes are typically fastened to a joist before the drywall is installed thereto. As drywall is supplied in various thicknesses or at times is doubled up to form a thicker ceiling, it is difficult for the installer to initially position the electrical box at the ideal level for the box to be flush with the eventual ceiling surface.
Although some adjustable electrical boxes have been proposed for adjusting the depth of a box at initial installation, there is no accommodation for later adjustment of the box after the initial installation. After initial installation of these prior art boxes, there is no mechanism to enable easy adjustment of the box with respect to the ceiling surface.
Accordingly, what is needed therefore is an adjustable electrical box that is capable of being securely fastened to a joist but which enables later adjustment of the depth of the box with respect to the ceiling surface. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for use in vehicle suspension. Particular embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus useful for variable spring rate and/or variable damping rate vehicle suspension.
Description of the Related Art
Vehicle suspension systems typically include a spring component or components and a damping component or components. Frequently those discrete components are separately mounted on a vehicle. Traditionally, mechanical springs, such as metal leaf or helical springs, have been used in conjunction with some type of viscous fluid based damping mechanism mounted functionally in parallel. More recently, compressed gas acting over a piston area has replaced mechanical springs as the spring component in some contemporary suspension systems. While compressed gas springs are usually lighter and more compact than their mechanical counterparts, the compression and expansion curve and corresponding spring rate, are not linear and become particularly exponential beyond a mid range of gas compression.
As such, the force (corresponding to pressure acting on a given piston area) versus the linear travel or displacement of the air spring is not linear. While a gas spring force curve approximates linearity during an initial portion of travel, the last portion of travel is exponential. The shock absorber is therefore increasingly more rigid in the last portion of its stroke.
Accordingly, there is a need for a shock absorber that uses a multiple volume gas spring under a variety of loads and/or under a variety of travel settings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Soybeans are a major grain crop valued for the high levels of oil and protein found in soybean seed. Soybean breeding has resulted in significant improvements in yield potential, stability of yield, adaptation of the species to mechanical harvest, and yield protection through improved disease resistance.
Due to the nature of plant science agriculture, broadly defined as a manipulation of available plant resources to meet the needs of the growing human population, the environment in which plants are grown for agricultural production continuously offers new obstacles to agricultural production. Each new cultivar or variety released to agricultural production is selected for the purpose of increasing yield resulting from increased disease resistance to prevalent diseases, or from direct or indirect improvement in yield potential or efficiency of production. Development of stable, high yielding cultivars with superior characteristics is an ongoing goal of soybean breeders.
There is a need in the art for a novel, superior soybean cultivar and soybean seed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
An unmanned vehicle generally refers to a type of vehicle that is configured to operate without an onboard pilot or driver. Control of the unmanned vehicle may be provided by a remotely configured vehicle control system that transmits commands to the unmanned vehicle for manipulating the unmanned vehicle's operation. The vehicle control system may receive visual or various types of telemetry information from the unmanned vehicle to enable responsive actions from the vehicle control system by a human user. Unmanned vehicles that travel through the air are generally referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and those that travel over the ground or water are generally referred to unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Laser-marking systems are now in common use for marking materials such as metals, glass, wood, and plastic. Lasers used in such marking systems include diode-pumped solid-state lasers, fiber-lasers, and carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers. Typically a beam from whatever laser is used in the system is steered by a two-axis galvanometer and focused by f-theta optics onto a surface of an object being marked.
Special materials have been developed, and are commercially available, for accepting laser-radiation to allow high-speed, high-volume, writing of labels with a laser marking system. One such material is “Laser Markable Label Material 7847” available from 3M Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This material is a three-layer polymer material having an outer layer of a black material to facilitate absorption of laser-radiation. Beneath the black material is a layer of white material which is exposed when the black material is ablated away by laser-radiation. The black and white material layers are backed by an adhesive layer. These three layers are supported on a carrier from which an adhesive backed label can be peeled when complete. The white material can be laser-cut to define the bounds of the label and allow such peeling. Other materials include black-anodized metal (aluminum) foil, organic materials used in electronics packaging and printed circuit boards, and white paper impregnated with a dye having an absorption band in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum for absorbing NIR laser-radiation. These materials are conveniently supplied in the form of rolls of tape, so that large numbers of separate labels can be generated without having to reload material in the label maker.
Even the least expensive laser-marking system designed for these label materials has a cost at least about two orders of magnitude greater than a computer peripheral paper-label printer such as an inkjet printer. Because of this, such a system is beyond the means of the majority of smaller industrial or commercial users. This is somewhat unfortunate, as these laser-markable materials have significant advantages over inkjet-printed labels in terms of ruggedness and durability. Accordingly, there is a need for a significant reduction in the cost of systems for printing such laser-markable materials. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A substance whose real and mirror images cannot overlap is referred to as a “chiral” substance and a property thereof is referred to as “chirality”. Many organic molecules and substances having helical structures have chirality due to their asymmetric steric structures, and isomers which are mirror images to each other exist therein.
Note that many of naturally-occurring polymers such as a protein, a sugar, and a nucleic acid consist of one of the isomers and carry out a function and a role which are essential for maintaining vital activities. Note also that enzymes which catalyze in-vivo reactions and main bodies of receptors which sense smell or taste are also proteins having chirality. In a case where a chiral substance for such a protein reacts instead of the protein, different biological activities will occur depending on which kind isomer the chiral substance is. However, in normal chemical synthesis, a chiral product is almost always synthesized as a racemate, and it is therefore important to selectively obtain one of the isomers from the viewpoints of pharmaceutical development, chemical industry, and the like.
In order to obtain only one of the isomers, activation energy produced in a reaction, a molecular mechanical kineticism, an intermolecular distance, and the like serve as important factors. In order to obtain only one of the isomers, it is conceivable to (a) control any of factors or (b) selectively apply power only to one of the isomers in a certain method so that the one of the isomers is transported to and extracted at a destination. However, it is difficult to control a molecule, which is frequently nanoscale.
On the other hand, there is a technique referred to as an optical manipulation for carrying out non-contact control with respect to a mechanical kineticism and a spatial arrangement of a micro substance by use of a radiation force (an emission force or a light pressure) caused by irradiating a substance with laser light. Note that this technique has conventionally been employed only for fields dealing with substances which have extremely different sizes such as laser cooling of an atom and research using optical tweezers for a substance existing in a trap or a micrometer range.
However, theoretical research has recently shown a new principle of the optical manipulation which allows selection of a nano substance whose size is intermediate between such extremely different sizes (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). This optical manipulation of the new principle utilizes a variation in radiation force caused by irradiating the nanosubstance with electronically resonant light. Such variation of the radiation force reflects a quantum mechanical characteristic of the nanosubstance which quantum mechanical characteristic depends on a size, a form, an internal structure, and the like of the nanosubstance, individually. Particularly a recent study based on the theoretical suggestion tried manipulation in superfluid helium 4 by use of laser light which can induce electronic (excitonic) resonance to semiconductor particles. The study successfully obtained experimental data that suggests that the manipulation could transport an approximately several dozen nanometer particle for a macro distance of an order of several dozen centimeters (refer to Patent Literature 2 and Reference 1, for example). Inspired by the theoretical research, another group has also delivered an experimental report that by utilizing a gradient power caused by a focused beam that could induce near resonance, nano-sized organic polymers dispersed in a liquid at room temperature could stay longer in the vicinity of a focal point of a near-resonance-inducible light beam than in a case of non-resonance. This supports that a radiation force induced under resonant light irradiation is useful for a mechanical manipulation of a nanosubstance.
Note here that isomers are frequently substantially identical in physical and chemical property, except optical property. In particular, there can be found no difference in property between enantiomers for which only two kinds of isomers exist, except a difference in optical property such as optical rotatory power and circular dichroism. This makes it extremely difficult to selectively obtain only one of the enantiomers.
However, as described earlier, it is important to obtain only one of the enantiomers from pharmaceutical and chemical viewpoints, and thus a variety of methods for this purpose have been developed so far. Typical examples of the methods include: (i) an asymmetric synthesis method such that only one of the useful isomers is selectively synthesized by use of a chiral catalyst, (ii) an optical resolution method such that a racemate is produced and thereafter separated into the isomers, and (iii) a chiral pool method such that one of the isomers which is easy to obtain in a pure form is a starting material and is led to another chiral compound by a chemical conversion.
However, the asymmetric synthesis method which has been industrially employed as the most effective method these days faces such problems that: (i) no catalyst meeting requirements for the method has been found, (ii) a catalyst to be used is toxic and/or expensive, (iii) it is frequently technically difficult to separate a reaction product and a catalyst, or (iv) the like. Examples of the asymmetric synthesis method which has no such problem include an asymmetric autocatalytic reaction and an absolute asymmetric synthesis whose chiral source is circularly polarized light (refer to Patent Literature 3, for example). However, both these examples are limited in use. Further, the optical resolution method such as a crystallization method, a method employing a chemical chromatography, or an enzymatic method also has a problem such that: (i) it is difficult to establish the optical resolution method because the method varies depending on an object substance, (ii) an artificial manipulation such as a selection by use of a loupe and tweezers may be required, and (iii) the like. The chiral pool method also has a problem such that: (i) it is necessary to obtain a suitable starting material, (ii) the number of steps may increase, and (iii) the like.
Broadly speaking, all the methods above are similarly disadvantaged in (i) poor versatility and (ii) operational complexity. In view of the above circumstances, it is necessary to develop a new highly versatile method for separating enantiomers which makes it possible to concurrently (i) separate isomers from an isomeric mixture which is prepared in a simple manipulation by normal chemical synthesis or the like and (ii) evaluate a biological activity and the like of a chiral substance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Systems for accomplishing business transactions electronically are becoming increasingly widespread, partly because of the advent of global computer networks such as the Internet, and partly because of the evolution and maturity of public key cryptography, which enhances the security of such commerce. The application of public key cryptography to electronic commerce has been heretofore envisioned in documents such as Recommendation X.509 of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, formerly CCITT).
To use secure electronic commerce according to the conventional methods, each user has a pair of related keys, namely a private key and a public key. A public key is simply a value (generally a number), and has no intrinsic association with anyone, including the person whose message it is to authenticate. Widespread, commercial use of digital signatures requires reliable information associating public keys with identified persons. Messages of those identified persons can then be authenticated using the keys.
Digital signature certificates meet this need. These certificates are generally issued by trusted third parties known as certification authorities (CAs) and they certify (1) that the issuing certification authority has identified the subject of the certificate (often according to specifications delineated in a certification practice statement), and (2) that a specified public key (in the certificate) corresponds to the a private key held by the subject of the certificate. A structure for public-key certificates is included in the X.509 standard cited earlier. The content of a certificate is often specified in a statute or regulation. A typical X.509 certificate has the format:
X.509 CertificateVersion NumberCertificate Serial NumberAlgorithm IdentifierCertificate IssuerValidity PeriodSubscriberSubscriber's public keyinformationSignature of Issuer
Generally, a valid term is specified in the certificate. The certificates become invalid for its expiration. In addition, the invalid certificates may include any certificate which: (1) has been revoked (i.e., have been declared permanently invalid by the certification authority which issued the certificate); and (2) is suspended at the time of reliance (i.e. has been declared temporarily invalid by the certification authority which issued the certificate).
Suspending and/or revoking certificates are an important means of minimizing the consequences of errors by the certification authority or subscriber. Depending on applicable legal rules, a certification authority may avert further loss due to inaccuracy in the certificate by revoking it. A subscriber can revoke a certificate to prevent reliance on forged digital signatures created using a compromised, e.g., lost or stolen, private key. Certificates which become invalid by revocation are generally listed in a certificate revocation list (CRL), according to ITU X.509. Suspension, or temporary invalidation, was not contemplated in ITU X.509, and may or may not be included in the CRL. Certificates which become invalid by virtue of their age need not be listed in a CRL because each certificate contains its own expiration date.
As a practical matter, the conventional CRL-based system works as follows. Before a subscriber can create a verifiable digital signature, the signer must arrange for a certification authority to issue a certificate identifying the subscriber with the subscriber's public key. The subscriber receives back and accepts the issued certificate, and then creates digital signatures and attaches a copy of the certificate to each of them. When the other party to a transaction receives such a digital signature, the other party must check with the certification authority, generally via its on-line database, to determine whether the certificate is currently valid. If so, and if the digital signature can be verified by the public key in the certificate, the party is usually in a strong position to rely on the digital signature.
Modern e-business typically work or will work on the open Internet and need to access CRLs from multiple CAs as users may use any existing CAs of their choice. But different CAs may use different CRL distribution mechanisms, some of which are very complicated. This demands that the application developers have rich knowledge of these CRL distribution mechanisms. In addition, some CAs may change their CRL distribution mechanisms from time to time, which may impose significant change on the way in which applications can access their CRL.
Further, CRL online distribution, such as via a directory server, is adopted by some CAs. An application can down load these CRLs when needed. But real time access to CRL may be very expensive and not necessary for most application. In addition, the CRLs downloaded and parsed by one application can't be shared by others, which is also a waste of system resources. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In recent years, various configurations have been adopted to a suspension system of a vehicle such as a four-wheeled automobile. Among these configurations, a bilateral pair of cylindrical trailing arms that extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body and connects the vehicle body with corresponding wheels has been adopted for the rear suspension system of a four-wheeled automobile.
Because the wheels need to be attached to the trailing arms, it is necessary to provide a member for attaching the wheels in the trailing arms. As the member for attaching the wheels in the trailing arms, there is provided an end plate being a plate-like metal member.
The end plate being a plate-like metal member is a trailing-arm side member attached to a rear end of the cylindrical trailing arm so as to block a rear-end opening. Therefore, it is necessary that the end plate is fixedly provided in the trailing arm reliably and is reliably attached with a wheel-side member for attaching the wheels, while ensuring required mechanical strength and stiffness of the end plate. Further, because the end plate is a trailing arm-side member of a suspension system, weight saving so as not to degrade the required mechanical strength and stiffness of the end plate is desired.
Under such circumstances, Patent Literature 1 relates to a torsion beam suspension and a manufacturing method thereof, and discloses a configuration in which a wheel attaching flange 2 is welded to a pipe-like side arm 1, and a protruded surface 3 is formed on the wheel attaching flange 2 on the side facing the pipe-like side arm 1. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Dish racks are commonly positioned next to a kitchen sink for drying tableware after hand washing. The water from washed plates, bowls, cups and utensils will typically drip onto a base mat, into a storage basin, or sometimes be directed into the sink with a spout.
An example of a typical wire basket dish rack is U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,695 teaching a dish rack with water drainage ramp out the front of the dish rack. This dish rack requires that it be located very near the sink so that the water flowing out the front of the dish rack flows into a discharge basin and not all over the counter. It provides no bar separate from the dish drain area for tidy dish towel storage and drying. It provides no means for sliding the dish rack to another location. It provides no splash guard against used dish water splashing on clean plates. And finally, it cannot be disassembled for ease of cleaning.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,184 that teaches a dish rack and drain tray assembly beneath the entire dish rack. The drain tray collects water and may be used as a lid once removed from underneath the dish rack. However, this typical dish rack does not make it easy to remove drain water because the rack must be first removed from the drain tray. It provides no splash guard against used dish water splashing on clean plates. It also cannot be disassembled for ease of cleaning.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,898 that discloses an inclined drying rack for dishes and tableware. While suffering from many of the same deficiencies as described above, this inclined rack or grate assists in drainage, but it makes it difficult for a person to move or carry the dish rack to a new location without upsetting the items being dried. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for efficiently scanning an image in an image processing apparatus including an image scanning unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently multifunction printers (MFPS) including scanner units and printer units are widely available as image processing apparatuses. The scanner head of a scanner unit in an MFP includes an image sensor such as a CCD and a CIS (contact image sensor). The printer unit of an MFP includes an inkjet printer or a laser printer.
An image processing circuit or the CPU of an MFP performs image processing on digital image data having been generated by scanning an image through the scanner unit of the MFP, and a printer unit prints the image using the processed digital image data. The MFP thus realizes a copy function.
An MFP generally includes memory in which three areas are allocated as an input buffer for storing digital image data, an image processing memory for image processing, and an output buffer for storing output data for printing.
Currently MFPs including inkjet printers as printer units have rapidly become widespread because MFPs are relatively small in size with low noise and can perform color copying, printing, and scanning at low cost. In recent years, MFPs have rapidly advanced in image quality and speed and thus an A4-sized image can be copied in about one minute with quality equivalent to a photograph.
However, the users and so on have demanded MFPs enabling high-speed and high-quality scanning of images. In response to the need, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-41256 discloses a technique enabling high-speed processing which is achieved by omitting image processing on a white area of a scanned image.
A color image processing apparatus of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-42156 includes white area determining means which determines a white area of an image represented by image data and image processing means for performing different image processing between on an area which has been determined as the white area by the white area determining means and on an area other than the white area. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus includes printing means for printing an image based on image data having been processed by the image processing means. The printing means performs printing while skipping the white area.
For example, the image processing means further omits a change of luminance/density and masking on an area determined as a white area.
For example, when the density level is zero as a result of density correction, the image processing means further omits scaling processing, error-diffusion processing, and masking processing on a white area.
Moreover, according to the color image processing apparatus of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-41256, most color image processing is performed by software. Thus it is possible to reduce the number of components, the size and cost of the apparatus, and an amount of processing of color image information to be processed.
However, according to the color image processing apparatus and method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-41256, most image processing is performed, as described above, by software in order to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus.
Although the omission of image processing on a white area of a scanned image is considered, motor control for moving a scanner head so as to skip the white area at high speed is not considered. For this reason, also in a scan of an image including many white areas, the traveling speed of the scanner head results in a bottleneck, so that the speed of processing cannot be expected to dramatically increase.
For these reasons, the prior art cannot to respond to the need for even higher scanning speed.
The present invention is designed in view of such circumstances. A feature of the present invention is to provide a technique for scanning an image at higher speed.
The image includes a text image unless otherwise specified. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Material processing apparatus, such as plasma arc torches and lasers are widely used in the cutting and marking of metallic materials known as workpieces. A plasma arc torch generally includes a torch body, an electrode mounted within the body, a nozzle with a central exit orifice, electrical connections, passages for cooling and arc control fluids, a swirl ring to control the fluid flow patterns, and a power supply. Gases used in the torch can be non-reactive (e.g., argon or nitrogen), or reactive (e.g., oxygen or air). The torch produces a plasma arc, which is a constricted ionized jet of a plasma gas with high temperature and high momentum.
One method for producing a plasma arc in a plasma arc torch is the contact start method. The contact start method involves establishing physical contact and electrical communication between the electrode and the nozzle to create a current path between them. The electrode and the nozzle can cooperate to create a plasma chamber within the torch body. An electrical current is provided to the electrode and the nozzle, and a gas is introduced to the plasma chamber. Gas pressure builds up until the pressure is sufficient to separate the electrode and the nozzle. The separation causes an arc to be formed between the electrode and the nozzle in the plasma chamber. The arc ionizes the introduced gas to produce a plasma jet that can be transferred to the workpiece for material processing. In some applications, the power supply is adapted to provide a first electrical current known as a pilot current during generation of the arc and a second current known as a transferred arc current when the plasma jet has been transferred to the workpiece.
Various configurations are possible for generating the arc. For example, the electrode can move within the torch body away from the stationary nozzle. Such a configuration is referred to as the “blow-back” contact start method because the gas pressure causes the electrode to move away from the workpiece. In another configuration, the nozzle can move away from the relatively stationary electrode. Such a configuration is referred to as the “blow-forward” contact start method because the gas pressure causes the nozzle to move toward the workpiece. In still another configuration, other torch components (e.g., the swirl ring) can be moved between the stationary electrode and nozzle.
Certain components of the material processing apparatus deteriorate over time from use. These “consumable” components include, in the case of a plasma arc torch, the electrode, swirl ring, nozzle, and shield. Furthermore, in the process of starting the torch using the contact start method, various consumable components can become misaligned, which reduces the useful life of the components as well as the accuracy and repeatability of plasma jet location. Ideally, these components are easily replaceable in the field. Nevertheless, replacing consumable components can result in down time and reduced productivity.
In the blow-back method of contact starting a plasma arc torch, the electrode is moved away from the nozzle to initiate a pilot arc between the electrode and the nozzle. A proximal end of the electrode (e.g., remote from the workpiece) engages a power contact that forms a part of the torch body. Movement of the electrode away from the nozzle also moves the power contact. Repeated use of the torch results in wear on both the power contact and on the electrode. Replacing the electrode is routine in plasma arc torch operation and the process is routinely performed. However, replacing the power contact involves disassembling the torch body and can be time-consuming and expensive because the power contact is not designed to be a consumable component. Some blow-back torches involve moving the power contact with respect to the relatively stationary torch body. Movement of such a power contact and the effectiveness of the torch can be affected by the stiffness or rigidity of the power cable that connects the power contact to the power supply.
For example, FIG. 1 is a cross section of a known contact start plasma arc torch. The system 100 includes a power supply (not shown) in electrical communication over a current-carrying cable 104 with a power contact 108 that provides current to the torch 112. The torch 112 includes a cathode block 116 electrically insulated from and surrounding the power contact 108. The power contact 108 abuts a proximal end 120 of an electrically conductive electrode 124. A spring 128 disposed within the cathode block 116 reacts against a surface 132 of the cathode block 116 to urge the power contact 108 and electrode 124 toward an electrically conductive nozzle 136. The electrode 124 is urged into contact with the nozzle 136 by the spring prior to initiation of an arc for processing a workpiece (not shown).
A current path is established from the cable 104 to the power contact 108, the electrode 124, and the nozzle 136. Electrical current can be passed along the current path. The electrode 124 cooperates with the nozzle 136 to form a portion of a plasma chamber 140. A plasma gas can be supplied to the plasma chamber 140 to increase pressure within the plasma chamber 140 and overcome the force provided by the spring 128. The pressure forces the electrode 124 and the power contact 108 away from the nozzle 136. A potential difference develops between the electrode 124 (e.g., the cathode) and the nozzle 136 (e.g., the anode) as the gap 144 between the electrode 124 and the nozzle 136 increases. An arc (not shown) ionizes gas particles and is initiated across the gap 144 for workpiece processing.
One drawback of the system 100 is that the power contact 108 is required to move as the electrode 124 moves to initiate an arc. As the current carrying capacity of the cable 104 increases, the size of the cable 104 increases, but the flexibility of the cable 104 decreases. The decreased flexibility of the cable 104 reduces the versatility and maneuverability of the torch 112. Additionally, the power contact 108 and the cathode block 116 require relatively tight tolerances (e.g., with relatively small clearance between the power contact 108 and the cathode block 116). The relatively tight tolerances position and guide the power contact 108 during motion of the power contact 108, for example, during initiation of a pilot arc. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The invention relates to a holder for workpieces during treatment.
In many processes, workpieces are treated, for example, by coating, spraying, etching, ion implantation, etc., in a manner which undesirably heats the workpiece. Maintaining the workpiece relatively cool, i.e., below temperatures where damage can occur to the workpieces or masking materials is a particular problem in treating semiconductor wafers in vacuum.
Typically, workpieces such as semiconductor wafers are mounted on individual cylindrical holders and transported in a treatment area in which vacuum is maintained so that each workpiece is uniformly treated. During treatment, heat is produced and must be efficiently and effectively transferred away from the workpieces.
One way in which this can be done is to mount the workpiece holder in contact with a plate and to slide the workpiece holders along the plate while a cooling fluid is circulated underneath or through the plate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,801 issued Feb. 12, 1980 describes an apparatus of this type. While this approach is effective, it necessitates a relatively complex transporting system in which the workpiece holders must be slid and maintained in contact with the plate. Another approach to maintaining the workpieces cool is to mount them on an elastomeric disc which is in turn mounted on a workpiece holder. Preferably, the disc has a number of holes in it which are communicated to a vacuum source so that the workpiece is drawn to and held tightly on the elastomeric disc. U.S. Application, Ser. No. 953,214, filed Oct. 20, 1978 describes a workpiece holder of this type, and the patent to Jones U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,051 describes a similar holder.
The present invention relates to a unique workpiece holder particularly effective for cooling semiconductor workpieces during treatment in which a casing which is preferably substantially cylindrical and resembles a "hockey puck" includes a hollow interior space filled with a composition which absorbs heat from the workpiece during treatment, thus maintaining the workpiece relatively and satisfactorily cool. The workpieces are mounted on an upper surface of the holder with a bore preferably extending between the upper and lower surfaces for applying a vacuum to that upper surface to hold a workpiece thereon. Alternatively, an overpressure can be applied on top of the wafer to insure contact between the workpiece and holder.
Any of a number of different compositions including Glauber's salt (sodium sulfate decahydrate), and calcium chloride hexahydrate provide satisfactory heat absorbing characteristics. A circular groove is preferably provided in the peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces so that the holder can be readily transported on rails which enter into the groove and rotated or oscillated during treatment. The upper surface is preferably thick enough to prevent bowing of that surface when vacuum is applied or with changes in ambient pressure. Other means of pressure relief such as a bellows port can alternatively be used.
In a first embodiment, a plurality of curved, generally radially extending vanes can be provided within the interior space to promote generally radial flow during rotation or oscillation and thus good heat distribution within the interior space. After treatment, the holder must be cooled and this can be accomplished by rotating or oscillating in a refrigerated environment, the radial flow promoted by the vanes cooling all of the areas of the interior space at substantially the same time.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the "hockey puck" is formed with top and bottom portions which are threaded together with an O-ring to provide a satisfactory seal which is maintained under treatment conditions. Further, the surface on which the elastomeric disc and the semiconductive wafer are retained is preferably provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves, each of which is connected by a downwardly extending bore to a manifold which extends radially to a nipple at the side of the workpiece holder to which a vacuum source can be coupled. Thus, no bore is provided through the space in which the heat conducting material is contained. This makes the structure mechanically simpler and, in addition, the workpiece holder does not have to be moved in order to be attached to a vacuum source. A flexure plate is preferably utilized in a recess in the peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces for latching the top to a clamp.
Other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for controlling the supercharge pressure of a turbocharger in which an excessive overshoot condition by the actual supercharge pressure is prevented.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A turbocharger is constructed in such a manner that an exhaust gas turbine is rotated by exhaust gas, which is at a high temperature and at a high pressure energy so that the pressure within the intake manifold can be increased above atmospheric pressure as the number of rotations or rotational speed of a compressor in the turbocharger increases. As a result, the supply of a large quantity of intake air flow to the engine becomes possible by the supercharge pressure thus obtained, with the result that high torque, high output power and improvement of fuel consumption can be obtained.
Now, in a car engine having a wide range of engine speeds, it is possible to sufficiently secure the supercharge pressure in the middle and high speed operating zones in view of the characteristics of the turbocharger. In the low speed operating zone, however, as it is difficult to obtain a sufficient exhaust pressure, the number of rotations or rotational speed of the exhaust gas turbine can not be increased. As a result, the supercharge pressure is lowered and the torque at low speed will tend to be insufficient. In this case, it is known that the drive efficiency of the exhaust gas turbine is determined in accordance with the ratio of A/R, where A indicates the cross-sectional area of a scroll of the turbine, which is an inlet portion of the exhaust gas entering into the turbine, and R indicates the radius from the center of the scroll.
To this end, a turbocharger of the variable capacity type which has capacity changing means, with the ratio A/R of the turbine being variable, has already been proposed by the same applicant of this application (see, for instance, Japanese Patent Application S.N. 58-162918) in which a supercharge pressure can be obtained even when the turbocharger of the variable capacity type is operated in the low speed operating zone.
The capacity changing means for either increasing or decreasing the opening of the exhaust gas inlet portion to the exhaust gas turbine is driven by an actuator, the working pressure of which is supercharge pressure produced downstream of a compressor. In order to regulate the working pressure, an electromagnetic valve is provided and part of the working pressure is released by the electromagnetic valve to the atmosphere, so as to regulate the pressure. To this end, an electronic control unit including a microprocessor is used and the operation of the electromagnetic valve is controlled by the control unit in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine.
The electromagnetic valve to be utilized in this case, is normally an ON/OFF type electromagnetic valve which operates at a predetermined frequency and its opening time ratio is controlled in accordance with the duty value. For instance, when the duty value representative of the opening time of the valve is 100 percent, it indicates that it is fully opened and the cross-sectional area A is made minimum in this case by means of the actuator and the capacity changing means, so as to increase the rotational speed of the exhaust gas turbine.
On the other hand, when the duty value is zero, it indicates that the electromagnetic valve is fully closed, with the result that the cross-sectional area A is made maximum and the rotational speed of the turbine is suppressed. In actual control of the engine, in order to increase the accuracy of the control, the supercharge pressure is feedback-controlled in accordance with the deviation between the target supercharge pressure and the actual supercharge pressure so as to achieve agreement of the actual supercharge pressure with the target value.
Although a sufficient supercharge pressure can be obtained by the capacity changing means in the low speed operating zone of the engine having a low exhaust gas flow rate, the flow speed of the exhaust gas turbine can not be decreased in a high speed, high load operating zone where the exhaust gas flow rate increases, even when the cross-sectional area A of the scroll is made maximum. As a result, the rotational speed of the exhaust gas turbine increases rapidly and it follows that the rotational speed exceeds its allowable upper limit for the supercharge pressure.
To this end, when the supercharge pressure approaches the upper limit, part of the exhaust gas is bypassed from the upstream of the exhaust gas turbine to the downstream by the provision of an exhaust bypass valve which suppresses the supercharge pressure. Accordingly, when the exhaust bypass valve is opened, the exhaust gas flow into the exhaust gas turbine is decreased, so that the rotational speed of the turbine is also decreased, thus preventing the supercharge pressure from exceeding the upper limit.
In the supercharge pressure control apparatus already proposed by the same applicant of this application, the exhaust bypass valve is also feedback-controlled by detecting actual supercharge pressure as in the case of the capacity changing means, so as to improve the control accuracy of the supercharge pressure. In this case, however, when the capacity changing means and the exhaust bypass valve are both feedback-controlled, it often results in a zone where mutual interference occurs, and the valve of the capacity changing means and the exhaust bypass valve often deviate from their essential optimum valve positions.
For instance, when the supercharge pressure approaches the upper limit in the high speed operating zone of the engine, the capacity changing means is normally fully-opened and there is no reduction in the flow of the exhaust gas, while if the opening of the exhaust bypass valve is adjusted in accordance with the supercharge pressure, the exhaust gas flow is also not increased. As a result, optimum supercharge pressure control can be performed, with the efficiency of the engine operation being maintained in a preferable condition, theoretically. In practice, however, even when the exhaust gas flow speed is increased by reducing the opening of the capacity changing means and the exhaust bypass valve is additionally opened, the same supercharge pressure condition can not be maintained. The reason is that an exhaust gas flow path tends to be unnecessarily reduced by the capacity changing means and this in turn causes the exhaust gas pressure to be increased accordingly, thus lowering the exhaust gas efficiency and lowering the output efficiency as well.
Accordingly, when a feedback control is performed by the capacity changing means and the exhaust bypass valve, a zone to be feedback-controlled is set up in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine. In this case, when any one of the capacity changing means and the exhaust bypass valve is carrying out the feedback control, while the other is maintained constant, any problems occuring from the control interference between the two can be avoided.
Now, in order to increase the acceleration performance of the engine, an over-boost control has already been proposed in which target supercharge pressure is temporarily increased in the accelerated condition so as to keep track of the target supercharge pressure. For the purpose of performing the over-boost control, there are two operations to be carried out in practice; one is to increase the target supercharge pressure when beginning to open the exhaust bypass valve and the other is to increase the flow speed of the exhaust gas by reducing the opening of the capacity changing means at the same time. In the former case, since the rotational speed of the exhaust gas turbine is increased after an increase in the exhaust gas flow rate during engine acceleration, the response for increasing the supercharge pressure is low. On the other hand, in the latter case, the actual supercharge pressure control can promptly be performed as the exhaust gas speed into the exhaust gas turbine is increased.
In this case, however, when the target value of supercharge pressure is increased during acceleration and at the same time when the over-boost control is performed by the capacity changing means so as to rapidly increase the rotational speed of the exhaust gas turbine, the actual supercharge pressure is suddenly increased. However, when the actual supercharge pressure now exceeds the target value, even if an attempt has been made to lower the rotational speed of the turbine, the overshoot phenomena would occur during which the actual supercharge pressure temporarily exceeds the target value largely due to the delay in the operation response of an actuator for driving the capacity changing means.
Accordingly, if the actual supercharge pressure exceeds the upper limit of the target value even if temporarily, excessive air mixed with fuel is supplied into the engine because the target supercharge pressure has been set up at a higher value in the acceleration condition than the normal condition, thus causing a detrimental effect on the durability of the engine due to the excessive load condition.
In order to increase the response described above, when the control gain for the feedback control is increased, a hunting in the control tends to be produced and the control stability lowers. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A prior art method as defined in the opening paragraph is disclosed in International Patent Application WO-A-98/03014. The watermark is detected by computing the correlation of the suspect information signal with an applied watermark pattern, and comparing the correlation with a predetermined threshold. If the correlation is larger than the threshold, the watermark is said to be present, otherwise it is said to be absent. The larger the correlation is, the more reliable the detection is and the more processing is allowed until the watermark can not be detected anymore. As disclosed in WO-A-98/03014, the information signal and/or the watermark pattern may be subjected to matched filtering before the correlation is computed. The reliability of the watermark detection is drastically improved thereby.
A problem of the prior art watermark detection method is that the (temporal or spatial) position of the watermark pattern with respect to the information signal is not absolutely known. If the position of the watermark applied to the detector differs from the location during embedding, the correlation will be small and the watermark can erroneously detected to be absent. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In wireless communications networks, a base station is a network element providing an air interface between the radio units of mobile subscribers and the networks infrastructure (sometimes referred to as Switching and Management Infrastructure, SwMI). The base station is responsible for radio transmission and reception to and from wireless subscriber stations over the air interface. An example of a basic architecture of a base station receiver is shown schematically in FIG. 1. RF parts 11 amplify radio frequency (RF) signals received from an antenna 10, provide selectivity and mix the received carrier to a lower intermediate frequency (IF), which is then delivered to the baseband sections, such as the synchronization block 12, diversity combining 13 and the detector 14. If the diversity reception is employed, the baseband signals can be combined in the diversity-combining block 14. This improves the bit error rate considerably. A base station receiver may also include modulation detection that is used for detecting whether or not the received signal is modulated according to the modulation method used in the specific radio system. The base station may further include jamming detection. The jamming detection is a base station feature indicating whether the base station is receiving a jamming signal, i.e. an interference signal, over the radio interface, usually from a mobile station, with the possible aim of causing network malfunction. These functionalities are only examples of different functionalities a base station may include. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
There has been considerable skepticism regarding the viability of massive parallelism. The skepticism centers around Amdahl's law, an argument put forth by Gene Amdahl in 1967 ("Validity of the Single Processor Approach to Achieving Large-Scale Capabilities," AFIPS Conference Proceedings 30, 483-485) that for a program with serial work fraction s, the maximum parallel speedup obtainable is bounded by 1/s. This law has led to the assertion that the serial fraction will dominate execution time for any large parallel ensemble of processors, limiting the advantages of the parallel approach.
In the operation of programs, many sequential steps in addition to those in their kernel algorithms are used. These include the steps to obtain parameters, set up the computation, load the program into the machine, gather the result, and create displays. In a parallel system, steps are also included for sending and receiving messages between the processors. The total time of these communications between the processors adds to the communication time of the program. Although kernel algorithms can be sped up proportionately with more processors, prior to the present invention, there has not been a parallel computing system or method in which such programs systems could be used in a manner permitting significant speedup. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to circuit interrupters and, more particularly, to contact arm assemblies for electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The invention also relates to crossbar assemblies having a movable contact arm assembly. The invention further relates to electrical switching apparatus having a crossbar assembly and a movable contact arm assembly.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, provide protection for electrical systems from electrical fault conditions such as, for example, current overloads, short circuits, and other fault conditions. Typically, circuit breakers include a spring powered operating mechanism which opens electrical contacts to interrupt the current through the conductors of an electrical system in response to abnormal conditions.
The electrical contacts generally comprise one or more movable contacts and one or more corresponding stationary contacts. Each pair of separable contacts is electrically connected, in series, between corresponding line and load terminals which are typically positioned at opposite ends of the circuit breaker. More specifically, each movable contact is disposed at or about a first end of a corresponding movable contact arm, which is part of a movable contact assembly. The movable contact arm is pivotably coupled, at or about its second end, to a crossbar of the operating mechanism. A suitable shunt (e.g., without limitation, flexible conductor) electrically connects the movable contact assembly to a load conductor, for example, by way of a clinch joint. The operating mechanism controls the movable contact arm to pivot the movable contact into and out of electrical contact with the corresponding stationary contact. The crossbar carries the movable contact arms for all of the poles of the circuit breaker, and allows for simultaneous opening and closing of the contacts in all of the poles.
Contact pressure between the stationary and movable contacts is typically achieved through the use of compression springs which can commonly attract or be damaged by heat and molten debris produced when each pair of separable contacts is separated and a resulting arc is formed.
As such, there exists a need for improved movable contact arm assemblies and crossbar assemblies for use in electrical switching apparatus. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a shredding apparatus, and more particularly to an automatically starting shredding apparatus.
A shredding machine is an essential machine in an office. Generally, two types of shredding apparatus are used. The first type results in elongated shredded paper, and the second type results in even smaller segmental shredded paper. FIG. 1 is a schematic top plane view of the first type of shredding apparatus. When paper to be shredded enters a channel 20, a trigger 22 disposed in the channel 20 in space between two cutters 211 is actuated to start the shredding operation, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,215. On the other hand, for the second type of shredding apparatus as shown in FIG. 2, the space between the two cutters 311 are filled with a spacer 32. In other words, there is no vacancy between the cutters 311 for the disposition of the trigger. Therefore, the trigger of the second type of shredding apparatus has to be arranged above the cutters in the channel.
FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating partial structures of a conventional shredding machine having an automatic paper-shredding start mechanism. As shown in FIG. 1, the shredding machine includes a first and second series of cutters 111 which are sleeved on a first shaft 11 and a second shaft 11xe2x80x2, respectively, a trigger 12, a carrying bar 13, an elastic plate 14, a gear set 15, a delay cam 151, a switch 16 and a motor 17. When paper passes through a channel 10 formed between the first and second shafts 11, 11xe2x80x2 and is cut by the cutters 111, the trigger 12 is simultaneously pushed by the paper and further carries the carrying bar 13 to rotate. Thus, a portion 131 of the carrying bar 13 is under a lifting position for being against the elastic plate 14 to turn on the switch 16, which starts the motor 17. Further, the first and second shafts 11, 11xe2x80x2 are driven to rotate by the motor 17 and enables the cutters 111 to cut the paper. The gear set 15 and the delay cam 151 are also driven to rotate by the motor 17. Thus, when the whole paper passes through the trigger 12 causing the trigger 12 not to be against by the paper, and not to further keep the portion 131 of the carrying bar 13 at the lifting position, the existence of the delay cam 151 allows the carrying bar to remain continuously against the elastic plate 14 for a while so as to keep the switch 16 on. Thus, the motor 17 can continuously operate for a delay time to assure that the paper is fully cut before the motor 17 stops.
For this automatic start mechanism, a long carrying bar is used for power transmission from the trigger to the switch via the elastic plate. As known, the carrying bar, once deformed, cannot lift the elastic plate normally to conduct the switch when paper is passing through the channel. Thus, the automatic start paper shredding function is invalid.
Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to develop a shredding apparatus having an improved automatic start mechanism to deal with the above situations encountered in the prior art.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shredding apparatus which has a relatively small power transmission distance between the trigger and the switch so as to minimize the deformation effect of the carrying bar on the conduction of the switch.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shredding apparatus having an automatic start mechanism. The shredding apparatus includes a channel for a paper to enter the shredding apparatus, a shredding mechanism for cutting the paper when the paper passes through the channel, a power source for providing a motive power for the shredding mechanism, a trigger disposed in the channel for arising a move in response to a sustaining force of the paper against the trigger, a delay unit driven by the power source for delaying the sustaining force for a particular time, a lever connected between the trigger and the delay unit and transmitted by the trigger and the delay unit, and a switch electrically connected to the power source and optionally connected to a first portion of the lever depending on a moving status of the lever to be switched between an ON condition and an OFF condition, wherein a distance between the first portion of the lever and the trigger is smaller than a distance between the delay unit and the trigger.
For example, the power source is an electric motor.
Preferably, the shredding mechanism includes a first shaft carried to rotate by the power source, a second shaft disposed with the first shaft in parallel and carried to rotate by the power source, a plurality of cutters staggeredly sleeved and fixed on the first and second shafts and transmitted to rotate by the first and second shaft, respectively, for cutting the paper when the paper passes through the channel, wherein a space is existent between every two adjacent cutters on the same shaft, and a plurality of guiding plates, each of which is disposed in one the space, and movably sleeved on one of the first and the second shafts.
Preferably, the channel includes an entrance end for putting the paper thereinto. The trigger preferably includes a protruding element fixed on the lever, disposed at the entrance of the channel, and against by the paper when the paper passes through the channel to carry the lever to rotate.
Preferably, the delay unit includes a delay gear set connected to the power source and carried by the power source to rotate, and a delay cam connected to the delay gear set and the lever and carried by the delay gear set to rotate for delaying the sustaining force for the particular time.
Preferably, the first portion of the lever is a protrusion optionally connected with the switch for switching the switch between the ON condition and OFF condition depending on a connection status between the protrusion and the switch.
The present invention may best be understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The invention relates to musical cymbals, and more particularly to a strap clip for securing a handle strap to musical cymbals.
With hand held musical cymbals, hand straps are attached to the cymbals for the user's convenience. The straps are secured by feeding the straps through an opening in the cymbal and tying the ends of the straps beneath the underside of the cymbal. The knots, however, can be difficult to tie properly and can often loosen during playing. Further, if the knot contacts the cymbal, the strap interferes with the sound of cymbal. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Many persons try to maintain a healthy life style by exercising regularly and/or following a regular diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, in our fast-paced culture there are often times when the availability of fruits and vegetables is relatively limited. This can be particularly true on occasions where meals are purchased at quick service restaurants.
Although such establishments have shown an increasing willingness to accommodate health conscious patrons, that willingness often seems limited to the supplying of salads, or low sodium products. For example, a patron of a quick service hamburger restaurant would not typically expect to order a whole fruit or vegetable to go with a sandwich, rather than the traditional French fries. The offering of whole fruits and vegetables is atypical because quick service restaurants have become immensely successful at preparing and presenting certain food items in a ready-to-eat condition. However, these restaurants have not yet been able to accomplish the same feat with respect to whole fruits or vegetables, such as apples or oranges.
A small percentage of quick service restaurants have begun offering pre-packaged go bags of fruit slices in children's meals. However, these fruit slices are typically cut and sealed in the bags days before consumption by the patron, at an off-site location, and then shipped to the quick service restaurant. This requires the use of an off-site food distribution center to prepare and package these fruit slices, and complex machinery to do the off-site preparing and packaging. Thereafter, the prepared fruit slices must be shipped in refrigerated trucks and then kept in storage coolers at the quick service restaurant, to stay preserved at all times leading up to sale and consumption. This requires additional storage space, refrigeration, and shipping, all of which increase the cost and decrease the convenience of serving consumable pieces of fruit to a patron.
In addition, with this off-site approach the fruit slices must be packaged with a significant amount of preservative to maintain their edible state during storage. The need to use a preservative adds to the overall cost. Moreover, depending on the quantity and condition of the preservative, the resulting fruit slices may not be particularly appealing to the consumer, as a healthy option.
A different approach may involve the quick service restaurants supplying whole fruits and/or vegetables on demand, by hand-cutting them at the point of sale. However, this approach would take more time, and would likely be too slow for the typical speeds associated with quick service restaurants. Also, the need to cut the fruit and/or vegetable by hand would introduce several other potential problems, in addition to excessive time. First, the quick service restaurant would need to provide and have ready at all times a suitable sharp knife for making the cuts. The sharp knife presents a potential hazard to the employees of the quick service restaurants.
Also, the person using the knife would need to wash his or her hands prior to cutting, to ensure cleanliness. Even then, the fruit pieces delivered to the customer would have been handled directly by the hands of the worker at the quick service restaurant, before delivery to the consumer. Some patrons may find such handling of the fruit pieces to be unappetizing.
Still further, depending on the person using the knife, the fruit pieces may be inconsistent in size and shape. Patrons of quick service restaurants have become accustomed to consistency. But achieving such consistency with cut pieces of fruit would be difficult. And this consideration becomes more acute with an increase in the number of types of fruit.
There is a need to increase the availability of fresh fruit at quick service restaurants. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Service Provider Networks (SPNs)
It is increasingly common for people to use client-side devices to communicate with other devices via cellular wireless communication systems operated by wireless-service providers (i.e., service provider networks (SPNs)), whether those devices are directly connected to the same SPN or to another system (such as another SPN or a transport network, as examples) to which that SPN directly or indirectly provides access. These client-side devices are generally referred to in this disclosure as mobile devices, though this term is intended to broadly encompass various devices known by terms such as mobile stations, access terminals, user equipment, cellphones, smartphones, wireless-communication devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablets, laptops, air cards, Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices, and/or any other device(s) capable of functioning as a mobile device according to this disclosure. Via the SPN, mobile devices generally engage in communications such as voice calls, packet-data sessions, text messaging (e.g., Short Message Service (SMS) messaging), and the like.
Furthermore, the wireless communication between the SPN and a given mobile device is typically bidirectional in nature. The component of that communication that is sent from the SPN to the mobile device is described as being sent on what is known as the forward link, while the component that is sent from the mobile device to the SPN is described as being sent on what is known as the reverse link. On both links, the wireless communications are typically formatted in accordance with a wireless-communication protocol, one example type of which is code division multiple access (CDMA), where CDMA networks that operate according to industry specifications (IS) such as IS 95 and IS 2000 are often referred to as 1xRTT (or “1x”) networks, where 1xRTT stands for Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology.
Some SPNs operate in accordance with a particular type of CDMA protocol known as Evolution Data Optimized (EV DO). These SPNs are generally configured to operate according to one or more versions of IS 856, and are designed to provide high-rate packet-data service to access terminals using a technique on the forward link known as time-division multiplexing (TDM) and using what is essentially 1x technology on the reverse link. More generally, SPNs can be arranged to operate according to any of numerous other protocols, some examples of which are Long Term Evolution (LTE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), time division multiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wi Fi (IEEE 802.11), and the like. And certainly some SPNs are arranged to provide service in accordance with multiple protocols.
In typical SPNs, the entities with which mobile devices communicate over the air interface are known by terms such as base station and access node, terms that are used at different times in different ways to refer to different entities. For example, the term base station is sometimes used to refer simply to a device also known as a base transceiver station (BTS), which contains the hardware, antennas, and other components that cooperate to actually conduct the over-the-air communication with the mobile devices on behalf of the SPN. In LTE networks, a BTS is typically referred to as an eNodeB, which stands for Evolved Node B, named as being an evolved version of a Node B in a UMTS Terrestrial RAN (UTRAN). At times, however, the term base station or access node is used to refer in combination to (i) one or more BTSs and (ii) a device known as a base station controller (BSC) (or radio network controller (RNC)), which controls the BTS(s) and connects it (them) to the rest of the network and beyond.
The base stations for these networks are typically not associated with any subscriber or small group of subscribers in particular; rather, they are placed in publicly-accessible locations and are used by the provider's customers generally. These base stations collectively blanket large geographic areas with coverage; as such, they are referred to generally and herein as “macro-network base stations” or “macro base stations” and the network they collectively form, or to which they collectively belong, is referred to generally and herein as the “macro network.”
Mobile devices and macro base stations conduct communication sessions (e.g. voice calls and data sessions) over what are known as carrier frequencies. Furthermore, macro base stations may provide service in a given coverage area on one carrier frequency, or on more than one carrier frequency. Mobile devices in the coverage area are configured to wirelessly communicate with the macro base station—and thus with the SPN—by tuning to at least one of the carrier frequencies on which the SPN provides service in the coverage area.
Procedures for initiating and managing wireless communication between macro base stations and mobile devices vary depending on the network architecture employed. Generally, coverage areas in the SPN emit pilot or reference signals to enable mobile devices to connect to such coverage areas. Mobile devices in the SPN regularly scan for such signals to identify coverage areas with which to connect, or to which to hand off. Thus, a mobile device may measure signal strengths of detected pilot signals and send a message that includes an indication of the measured signal strengths. The message may be received by a base station, and the SPN may then determine how to manage communication with the mobile device, such as whether to initiate a communication link, whether to instruct the mobile device and base stations to hand off an ongoing call, and so on. Such management determinations can be made by a centralized controller, such as an RNC in a CDMA system, or by distributed network controllers co-located with the base stations, such in an LTE system.
2. Femtocells
To address gaps in macro-network coverage (e.g., in buildings) and for other reasons, macro-network service providers may also offer devices referred to herein as femtocells. A typical femtocell may be approximately the size of a desktop phone or Wi-Fi access point, and is functionally a low-power, low-capacity version of a macro base station. A typical femtocell uses a normal power outlet, perhaps with a transformer providing a DC power supply. The femtocell may have a wired (e.g., Ethernet) or wireless (e.g. Wi-Fi) connection with the user's router, and would thus have connectivity to the Internet and/or one or more other packet-data networks. A femtocell may establish a virtual-private-network (VPN) connection over the Internet with an entity (e.g., a VPN terminator) on the macro-network provider's core network. The femtocell can then securely communicate with the VPN terminator and thereby communicate with other entities of the macro network.
A typical femtocell also has a wireless-communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with mobile devices according to wireless protocols such as CDMA, LTE, and the like. The femtocell may act as a micro base station to provide local wireless coverage on the macro-network provider's network via the user's Internet connection. Typically, a femtocell will provide service on a single carrier frequency (or on a single carrier frequency per technology, where multiple technologies, such as CDMA and EV-DO, are supported). The femtocell will typically also transmit a pilot beacon, which includes administrative messages and parameters that mobile devices can use to connect with the femtocell. The pilot beacon may include information to facilitate a handoff of a mobile device from a macro base station to the femtocell. To inform mobile devices of the femtocell, the pilot beacon may be transmitted on one or more of the macro-network carrier frequencies on which the SPN provides service in that area. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was first isolated from the ovaries of the puffer fish. Since then, it has been commercially extracted and purified for many years. However, the extraction rate of TTX is extremely low, about 1 g TTX per 100 Kg of ovaries, thus making it one of the highest priced natural neurotoxins. Further, the industry is subject to slow down as stocks of puffer fish have been falling due to over production.
In light of these negatives, many researchers continue to propose new synthesis methodologies. The synthesis of tetrodotoxin presents a significant challenge to the organic chemist (Huang, “Synthetic Approaches to Tetrodotoxin”). For example, some methods include stereoselective methods used to incorporate the guanidine nitrogen at C8a position. Other approaches focus on novel rearrangements. But because of the continued complexity, it is still more economical to extract tetrodotoxin directly from puffer fish ovaries.
The drive to find more economical routes for TTX production is because of its potential as a novel pharmaceutical drug, being possibly useful in aiding cancer patients and potential use as a withdrawal formulation for heroin addicts. It is estimated that 1200 g of TTX will be required by 2 million cancer patients in a one-month treatment course, whilst 400 g of TTX will be required by another 2 million drug addicts every 10 days.
It is an object of the present system to overcome the disadvantages and problems in the prior art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In many computer network environments, requests sent by a computer-based client application to an application server, such as requests to access a software application, require that the request be authenticated before the request is authorized. Such requests and their attendant responses are conveyed in accordance with a transport protocol, such as the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP). The requests themselves are typically received at a request interceptor, whose job it is to receive requests, assist in request authentication and authorization, and forward authenticated and authorized requests to the requested applications. With the emergence of new protocols, such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), the request interceptor must be adapted to support them, or new, protocol-specific request interceptors must be provided. Techniques for efficiently handling multi-protocol authentication and authorization in computer network environments would be advantageous, as would be techniques that take advantage of multi-protocol requests to provide new authentication and authorization paradigms. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a timing controller capable of removing a surge signal and a display apparatus including the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
The display resolution of a display apparatus typically refers to the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. As the size of the display apparatus increases, the resolution may increase accordingly. To display a high quality image, the resolution may be increased by increasing the integrity of pixels in the display apparatus.
The display apparatus may include a timing controller that outputs a data enable signal indicating the effective period of input video data. During the effective period, the input video is valid and can be displayed. However, the data enable signal may be distorted by a surge signal, thereby resulting in a reduction in the display quality.
Thus, there is a need for a timing controller that is capable of removing the surge signal from the data enable signal and a display apparatus including the same. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In recent years, due to the continuous reduction of petroleum and coal resource and the increasingly serious environmental pollution problems, the polymer materials industry which greatly depends on petroleum chemical industry is facing serious challenges. It is the most effective way to study green and renewable biomass material to replace petrochemical raw materials.
Biomass has the advantage of renewable, large annual production and wide distribution, but so far its utilization is very inefficient. How to efficiently convert renewable biomass resources into useful polymer materials has attracted great attention and interest from the whole world. Up to now, some biomass-based thermoplastics, such as polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate and the like, have been successfully synthesized and commercialized. However, there are few studies on biomass thermosetting resins compared to the rapid development of biomass thermoplastics.
Thermosetting resin is a kind of crosslinked polymer material with network structure, which has outstanding advantages such as superior strength, high heat resistance, good chemical resistance and excellent processability. It is widely used in coating, adhesives, electronic information and high performance composites and other fields.
Among the existing thermosetting resins, epoxy resin is widely used due to its excellent performance and low cost, accounting for about 70% of the thermosetting resin market, among which more than 90% is bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA). The monomer of DGEBA is synthesized by bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin, both of which are based on petroleum and coal resources, under the condition of sodium hydroxide. Bisphenol A has a similar structure with estrogen, which reduces the fertility and is closely related to the increased risks of diseases and cancers. The US Federal Drug Administration has banned bisphenol A-based materials for packaging infant formula. Although the effects of bisphenol A on the endocrine system are still under study, the potential risks have led to the demand for bisphenol A-free products. At the same time, as bisphenol A is derived from petroleum and coal resources, under the premise of the continuous reduction of petroleum and coal resources, it is an urgent need for green renewable biomass epoxy resin raw materials to reduce the dependence of epoxy resin production on petroleum and coal resources.
In recent years, the literature reports on some biomass materials that replace DGEBA, such as vegetable oil, cardanol, itaconic acid, lignin and its derivatives. However, the biomass content of the synthesized epoxy resin cannot reach 100%, while there are shortcomings such as low reactivity of the epoxy resin system, poor mechanical properties of cured products, low glass transition temperature (Tg) and poor processability. Therefore, it is of great value to find an epoxy resin with high biomass content as well as excellent performance and its synthesis method.
Most of the biomass materials widely existed in nature is aliphatic compounds, which have poor thermal property. Therefore, eugenol and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid stand out for their excellent thermal stability owing to their aromatic structure. 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid is listed as the top ten green chemical substances by U.S. Department of Energy. It is obtained by oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which can be obtained by dehydration of biomass-based C6 carbohydrates such as glucose, starch, cellulose and the like. Eugenol, accounting for about 80% of clove oil, is a renewable, low-toxic and relatively low-cost biomass material. Zhang et al. reported an epoxy resin based on eugenol with a biomass content of 62.7% (Ref: Jianglei Qin, Hongzhi Liu, Pei Zhang, Michael Wolcott and Jinwen Zhang. Polymer International, 2014, 63, 760-765). The cured product, prepared by using hexahydrophthalic anhydride as an epoxy curing agent, obtains a glass transition temperature (Tg) of only 114° C. Liu et al. reported an epoxy resin based on 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (Ref: Jun Deng, Xiaoqing Liu, Chao Li, Yanhua Jiang and Jin Zhu. RSC advance, 2015, 5, 15930-15939), the cured product, taking hexahydrophthalic anhydride as a curing agent, has a Tg value of 152° C., but its biomass content is only 65.2%. These studies indicate that the existing study on the use of biobased materials to synthesize epoxy resins cannot simultaneously have the properties of full biomass (100%), high thermal performance and high mechanical properties. This is because the raw materials for synthesizing epoxy resin in the prior art are not all biomass materials, resulting in that the biomass content of the synthetic resin is not high, and the selected materials do not have good thermal properties and the like. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to large aperture lightweight antennas. Such antennas are especially suited for use on lighter than air platforms. More particularly, this invention is especially well suited to provide inflatable and collapsible transreflector antennas.
2. Related Art
Lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles such as manned airships (blimps), unmanned airships, or tethered aerostats have been used as platforms for radar and radio communication relays. However, since LTA lift capacity is reduced as the vehicle operates at higher altitudes, LTA vehicles require extremely lightweight antenna systems to function in this role at very high altitudes. Adding to the complexity of such antenna installations is the requirement for ballonets, or buoyancy control systems, to control the lifting force and allow controlled ascent and descent of the LTA vehicle. As the maximum altitude of the LTA increases, these ballonets occupy a larger fraction of the total volume within the LTA envelope. Ideally, the antenna would be collapsed or folded when the LTA is at low altitude (ballonets fully expanded) and the antenna would be fully deployed when the LTA is at high altitude (ballonets fully collapsed).
Scanning antennas utilizing transreflectors of spherical, parabolic, elliptical, or other toric sections are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,890—Bittner, U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,746—Ramsay, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,248—Cronson et al. However, these antennas are not designed to be collapsible, are fabricated from thick metal rods or wires, or are comprised of multiple singly curved, reflective/transmissive surfaces. An inflatable spherical reflector is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,053—Hotine but it is not collapsible nor capable of 360 degree scanning. A planar inflatable/collapsible antenna is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,699—Rupp.
Although no published documentation is presently in hand, it is also believed others have previously recognized that an RF reflective conductive surface can have a thickness less than one RF skin depth.
A collection of possibly relevant prior art documents are identified below: [1] K. S. Kelleher and H. H. Hibbs, “A New Microwave Reflector,” NRL Report 4141, May 1953. [2] J. D. Barab, J. G. Marangoni, and W. G. Scott, “The Parabolic Dome Antenna: A Large Aperture, 360 Degree, Rapid Scan Antenna, Toroidal Microwave Reflector,” IRE National Convention Record, Part 1,1956. [3] J. Ruze, “Lateral-Feed Displacement in a Paraboloid,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-13, Sep. 1965, pp. 660–665. [4] A. V. Mrstik, “Scan Limits of Off-Axis Fed Parabolic Reflectors,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-27, September 1979, pp. 647–650. [5] T. Li, “A Study of Spherical Reflectors as Wide-Angle Scanning Antennas,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-7, July 1959, pp. 223–226. [6] G. Peeler and D. Archer, “A Toroidal Microwave Reflector,” IRE National Convention Record, 1954, pp. 242–247. [7] C. J. Sletten, Reflector and Lens Antennas, Massachusetts, Artech House, 1988. [8] M. Gilbert and N. Williams, “A Hybrid Antenna System Incorporating a Parabolic Torus, “Proceedings of the IEE Conference on Antennas and Propagation, 1985, pp. 146–150. [9] D. Paolina,” Reflector Antennas Analysis Notes,” NWC Technical Memorandum 5352, August 1985. [10] A. W. Love, Antenna Engineering Handbook, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1984, Artech House, 1988. [11] S. P. Applebaum, “Adaptive Arrays,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-24, September 1976, pp. 585–598. [12] S. Silver, Microwave Antenna Theory and Design, London, Peter Peregrinus Ltd., 1984. [13] U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,248—Cronson et al. [14] U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,890—Bittner. [15] U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,746—Ramsay. [16] U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,053—Hotine. [17] U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,699—Rupp et al. [18] K. S. Kelleher and H. H. Hibbs, “A New Microwave Reflector,” NRL Report 4141, May 1953. [19] J. D. Barab, J. G. Marangoni, and W. G. Scott, “The Parabolic Dome Antenna: A Large Aperture, 360 Degree, Rapid Scan Antenna, Toroidal Microwave Reflector,” IRE National Convention Record, Part 1, 1956. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to apparatus for producing helical coils of metallic wire, plastic wire or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing helical wire coils which can be subdivided (for example, immediately downstream of the location of making) into discrete spiral binders of the type normally used to hold together the sheets of a steno pad, exercise book, album or an analogous stationery product by extending through perforations provided in one marginal portion of a stack of superimposed sheets consisting of paper, foil, cardboard and/or the like.
Apparatus of the above outlined character normally employ a coiling tool in the form of a driven mandrel having a conical external surface adjacent to stationary guide means which define a helical path for a length of wire that is supplied or steered into the inlet of such path by a preferably adjustable feeding device. The lead of the helical path which is defined by the guide means corresponds to or approximates the desired lead of the wire coil, and the wire advances in a direction from the smaller-diameter end toward the larger-diameter end of the mandrel. Since the guide means is stationary, it pushes successively formed convolutions axially of the rotating mandrel, i.e., toward and beyond the larger-diameter end of the conical peripheral surface.
Apparatus of the above outlined type are disclosed in a large number of patents and other printed publications. Reference may be had to German Pat. Nos. 337,096, 362,058 and 1,944,371. German Offenlegungsschriften Nos. 2,234,633 and 2,835,511 as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,101,750, 3,378,045, 3,520,334 and 3,568,728. All of these apparatus share the feature that the mandrel has an elongated conical peripheral surface, i.e., that the entire coiling station is adjacent to a surface diverging in the direction of axial movement of the developing coil. The helical path along which the wire advances in the region of the conical external surface of the mandrel is defined by stationary guide means in the form of a sleeve having a helical internal groove or in the form of several rows of pin-shaped guide elements which are staggered with reference to each other to define a helical path of desired lead. It is also known to employ guide means in the form of or including ball bearings. As the wire advances along the helical path, it is expanded by the conical surface of the rotating mandrel and thus undergoes permanent deformation as a result of stretching action upon the material of the wire. In order to reduce friction between the expanding wire and the surface of the mandrel, the apparatus normally comprises means for spraying boring liquid or another suitable lubricant onto the external surface of the wire in a region immediately upstream of the locus of initial contact between successive increments of the wire and the conical surface of the mandrel. It has been found that such lubrication is of little help or to no avail at all because the friction-induced heat is often so pronounced that the lubricant evaporates on contact with the conical surface. Frictional engagement between the wire and the mandrel then entails a deterioration of the external surface of the coiled product.
Another drawback of presently known apparatus is that the convolutions of the freshly finished coil do not remain in axial alignment with the mandrel. In other words, the axes of those convolutions which advance beyond the larger-diameter end of the mandrel are likely to be inclined with reference to the axis of the mandrel so that it is difficult to properly guide the coil in a machine which forms spiral binders and threads the binders into the perforations of successively supplied stacks of paper sheets or the like. The absence of axial alignment between the mandrel and the convolutions which have advanced beyond the larger-diameter end of the mandrel is attributable to the tendency of such convolutions to contract as soon as they leave the conical surface. The inclination of that portion of the coil which has advanced beyond the mandrel with reference to the axis of the mandrel depends on the lead of the coil, i.e., it varies from one type of coil to another type so that it is necessary to carry out prolonged adjustments whenever the apparatus is converted from the making of one type of coil to the production of a different type of coils. As a rule, accurate adjustment (e.g., so that the coil can be threaded into the rows of perforations in successive stacks or piles of sheets) is achieved only after several attempts, i.e., each adjustment takes up a substantial amount of time and must be carried out by skilled, experienced and careful attendants. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers for holding drill bits and the like.
While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.
2. Description of the Related Art
Certain applications require a large number of tools that are difficult to maintain in a secure yet orderly arrangement due to the small size thereof. Dentistry is one example, circuit board manufacture is another. In the manufacture of circuit boards, a number of holes are drilled in each board to facilitate the alignment and mounting thereof on a chassis or frame. The number of holes may vary from 10 to several hundred. Generally, these bits are very expensive, small (on the order of 1/8th of an inch in diameter) and made of a high strength material (e.g., carbide).
As the bits generally wear or break after a number of holes have been drilled, it is important to keep an adequate supply of bits on hand. Several tool boxes have been developed over the years to retain such drill bits when the bits are not being used. One such box includes an array of apertures sized to retain the bits in an upright position. A layer of foam was placed over the bits to hold them in place. Unfortunately, the bits often became stuck in the foam and were inadvertently extracted whenever the foam was lifted to remove a single bit. This caused a number of bits to become displaced and, in some cases, led to bits being dropped, broken and/or lost.
A second approach replaced the foam with a plastic retainer having a matching array of apertures for holding the bits in place. However, this design was found to be bulky and awkward to reassemble.
A third approach involved the use of an array of apertures which held the bits by supporting an identifying ring disposed on the bit. Ribs under the cover of the container pressed on the rings or the taper of the bits and thereby held the bits in place. Unfortunately, since this approach required a `top hold-down`, it required a number of parts and was therefore expensive and bulky.
The top hold-down approach was used in various configurations all of which suffered from the cost, complexity and bulkiness associated with a top hold-down structure.
Thus, a need remains in the art for a simple, inexpensive yet effective receptacle for drill bits and other tools that retains the tools in a secure and orderly fashion. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine system having the turbocharger which improves output in a low-speed section using a turbocharger, and improves combustion efficiency and quality of exhaust gas.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, it is known that a diesel engine consumes less fuel and has excellent efficiency in comparison with a gasoline engine. Typically, the diesel engine exhibits efficiency of about 40%, which results from a high compression ratio of the diesel engine.
The recent engine additionally has a turbocharger, an intercooler, and the like in order to obtain higher output.
The engine to which the turbocharger is applied as described above sucks and compresses exhaust gas or external air using a compressor of the turbocharger, and supplies supercharged air (high-temperature compressed air), which is generated by the turbocharger, to an engine side.
However, the air, which is rapidly compressed, absorbs heat from the turbocharger and heat that is generated during a compression process, such that density of the air is decreased, and as a result, charging efficiency in a combustion chamber of the engine deteriorates.
Therefore, high density may be obtained by cooling the supercharged air using the intercooler, and as a result, a larger amount of air may be sucked in the combustion chamber of the engine, thereby obtaining high output.
Meanwhile, the intercooler is mounted in the middle of an intake line, and the intake line, which is formed from the intercooler to an intake manifold, is increased such that responsiveness may deteriorate, and efficiency of the intercooler may deteriorate. Moreover, since the intercooler is mounted together with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler, a cooling load is increased such that overall cooling efficiency and performance may deteriorate.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an engine having an intercooler. Referring to the FIG. 9, an inlet duct 900 is connected to one side of an intercooler 135, and an outlet duct 905 is connected to the other side of the intercooler 135.
Intake air passes the inlet duct 900, the intercooler 135, and the outlet duct 905 to be supplied to a combustion chamber of an engine, the intake air is cooled by outside air that passes the intercooler 135. Meanwhile, the intake air is cooled by the outside air, the cooling performance can be deteriorated.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pet grooming devices and more particularly to ion generators.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the art that ion generators can produce flow of an ionizable fluid media, such as air, without the aid of moving parts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,394, issued to Thomas Townsend Brown on Jan. 23, 1962, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,550, issued to Thomas Townsend Brown on Aug. 16, 1960 disclose that when suitable voltages are applied to electrodes the medium such as air is caused to move with respect to the electrodes. Another example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,801, issued to Lee on Dec. 6, 1988, which describes electro-kinetic transducers for applications including loudspeakers, and ion generators.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,637, issued to Weinberg on Mar. 28, 2000 describes a corona discharge device for destruction of airborne microbes, chemical toxins, and allergens. A miniature air purifier applies a high voltage to an emitter electrode located about ¼-inch from an 80% open mesh metallic grid held at ground potential. A corona discharge surrounds the emitter point and produces ionized air as well as destroying pathogens and pollutants with ozone and direct electron impact decomposition. The grid attracts ionized air molecules, thereby creating a mass flow of purified air out of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,315, issued to Taylor on Jan. 6, 2004, describes an ion emitting brush for removing lint, hair, and the like from clothing. The ion emitting brush is used to brush away lint, hair, etc. from clothing and other material and also provides a measure of cleaning and/or conditioning as well for the material.
Common pet brushes are well known in the art. Since pets vary, pet brushes are specifically designed for the particular type of pet. For example, dog brushes are significantly different than a brush used for a cat and definitely different than a horse grooming brush. This is primarily due to the different textures and lengths of the coats on these animals. There have been attempts at improving basic pet brushes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,428, issued to Locke on Jan. 8, 2002, describes a vacuum pet brush for collecting debris loosened by a grooming brush or comb. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,090 issued to Larson on Sep. 28, 1999, which describes a device for removing dirt, loose hair, dander, etc. from household pets. An electrostatic generator is connected a high voltage capacitor. When a pet is brought in close proximity to its surface the electrostatic force pulls dirt and loose hairs off the pet.
These pet brushes may serve their purpose; however, they do not promote the destruction of microbes, chemical toxins, and allergens that may be present on a pet. House pets are in many environments during a typical day. They are typically outside the house in the yard and when there can pick up on their coats many substances that are undesirable. Then when let into a house they bring these substances with them. Other pets such as horses are never in a house; however, they need constant grooming as they are exposed to a barnyard type environment.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for pet groomer that can be used with different pets and destroy microbes, chemical toxins, and allergens that a pet is exposed to on a daily basis. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The global economy utilizes millions of tons per year of synthetic crystalline microporous inorganic zeolites for applications such as petrochemical cracking, ion-exchange for water softening and purification and in gas separations. Synthetic inorganic zeolites typically consist of oxide anions that link tetrahedral aluminum or silicon cations (nodes) in a 2:1 ratio.2 The key to the existence of microporosity in zeolites is that the oxide linkers are angular (M-O-M angles typically range from 140° to 165°, thereby facilitating the generation of a wide range of topologies that are based upon rings, fused rings and polyhedral cages. Which particular topology exists for a given chemical composition is typically controlled by reaction conditions, counterions and/or structure directing agents3 (SDAs). The absence of counterions, SDAs or the use of a linear linker more typically manifests the tetrahedral node in the form of a diamondoid (dia) net4,5 that, unlike most zeolitic topologies, can interpenetrate to mitigate the creation of free space.
The ground rules for generating zeolitic and/or diamondoid networks are therefore self-evident and they have been validated across a remarkably diverse range of tetrahedral nodes (e.g., phosphates,6 transition metal cations,7-9 metal clusters10) and linkers (including purely organic ligands that form coordination bonds11 or hydrogen bonds12-14). Coordination polymers that exploit the diversity of tetrahedral moieties and angular or linear organic ligands have recently afforded new levels of scale that includes new classes of zeolitic structures with hitherto unattainable levels of porosity. Such zeolitic metal-organic materials are exemplified by zeolitic imidazolate frameworks15-17 (ZIFs), boron imidazolate frameworks18 (BIFs) and zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks19 (ZMOFs). ZIFs are based upon imidazolate ligands that subtend an angle of ca. 145° whereas the prototypal ZMOFs use 4,5-imidazole-dicarboxylate20 and pyrimidine-based ligands21,22 in the presence of SDAs to coordinate to 8-coordinate metals such as In and Cd. BIFs are inherently of low density because they are based upon tetrahedral boron atoms. That low density is a desirable property means that lithium, the lightest metal in the periodic table, is a particularly attractive target to serve as a tetrahedral node in either zeolitic or dia networks. Furthermore, lithium forms many air and water stable coordination environments and not all existing zeolitic metal-organic materials are water-stable. In this context, a prototypal structure was reported by Pinkerton et al., who isolated a lithium-based zeolitic ABW network with hexachlorotantalum anion embedded in what was described as a three-dimensional Li—Cl-dioxane network.23 However, this compound is extremely moisture sensitive. Bu and coworkers addressed the challenge elegantly in BIFs by employing both lithium and boron with imidazolates in BIF-9-Li, a compound with RHO topology.24 Other approaches to low density porous materials based upon lithium include the following: Robson et al. reported a microporous lithium isonicotinate with square channels;25 Henderson and coworkers isolated a pillared bilayer and a diamondoid net with solvated lithium aryloxides;26 Parise et al. reported a MOF based on lithium and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid that loses porosity upon solvent removal.27 | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
It is necessary to absorb movement in structures that need to be adapted to water movement. Such is the case of jetties or other platforms, either passing-through or support platforms, built with independent elements that must be kept together by means of couplings which can buffer the joining thereof.
Moreover, breeding molluscs at ria mouths, in rough waters of large lakes or in the open sea where waves can be considerable, requires farming structures to resist the battering of the sea and the force of underwater currents during storms, or the efforts derived from tugging said structures to their place of use, or both situations at the same time. In addition, in known designs of mollusc farming structures, the breeding ropes hanging from the structures endure abrupt movements, thus causing the detachment of part of the culture.
The stiffness of these structures, together with the heavy loads they support, prevent proper adjustment to the marine environment and, as a better adjustment to the environment is required in the facilities and devices for mollusc farming than in those designed for fish breeding, it has become necessary to design structures intended for this specific type of farming having elongated hollow members or at least with hollow ends interconnected with intermediate flexible modules, as disclosed in document ES2145727.
Document WO8703170, though not intended for mollusc breeding, discloses a floating breeding device for fish and the like including at least one breeding bag which is carried by a cage equipped with floating bodies, which cage consists of a three-dimensional frame consisting of a number of rods composed to polygons, which rods and foreseen interconnecting struts are elastically interconnected between at least some of the joints.
Document EP0358421 discloses the use of a flexible coupling to join frame members into a fence structure for fish breeding, the coupling including first and second mounting means for mounting to respective frame members adjoining in the structure and a flexible body between said first and second mounting means. The rotational and translational movement between adjoining frame members is determined by the material of the flexible body and by two mechanical stops. The coupling includes a mechanical connection between the mounting means in case the flexible body fails. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates generally to processes for manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits.
Copper seed layers are generally deposited on Cu diffusion barrier materials to enable those materials to receive copper electroplating. However, as silicon processes move to ever smaller features, the ability to deposit copper seed layers, for example using physical vapor deposition techniques, with minimal overhang and asymmetry, adequate sidewall coverage and a sufficient field thickness for gap fill is increasingly in doubt.
Physical vapor deposition of barrier materials has associated overhang, asymmetry, and sidewall coverage issues prior to copper electroplating. Physical vapor deposition of copper seed layers may further reduce the plating budget within a given feature. Alternatively, a wafer may be immersed in a palladium solution to chemically activate the surface prior to electroless plating of a copper or a copper diffusion barrier. However, this involves an additional chemical expense, process step and bath recycle requirements prior to electroless barrier deposition.
In general there is a need for better ways to form materials on dielectric materials. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to testing and test apparatus and more specifically a test apparatus for railway wheels. These wheels are generally utilized on all types of railway vehicles including passenger cars, locomotives and freight cars. The majority of the wheels are utilized on freight cars and application of a quick and reliable analytical apparatus for these wheels is desired to expedite their evaluation prior to shipment for use. The reasons for the quick and reliable evaluation is not just the desire to increase productivity for shipment, but even more to evaluate wheel quality for expediting reworking, to minimize inventory, and to provide rapid evaluation of the manufacturing process for corrective measures.
Railway wheels must meet the specifications promulgated by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), which generally serves as the rail industry standard setter. The railway wheels must have the correct physical characteristics for use for their intended purpose. The AAR has defined specifications for wheel chemical composition, wheel hardness based on a Brinnell hardness test and finally the wheel must meet the specifications for various physical dimensions and parameters, such as rotundity, eccentricity and dimensional tolerance.
As in most gears, shafts and other rotating components, railway wheel specifications normally required that the wheel is round at its periphery; its axle bore is aligned with the wheel central longitudinal axis; it is flat on its front and rear faces; and, it must have a proper tread diameter, as well as proper thickness and proper tread face taper. All of these physical characteristic standards, and others, must be met to provide a railway wheel that is acceptable to the purchaser and meets the above-noted AAR specifications. The testing of these wheels with conventional jigs, fixtures and gages is time consuming and awkward, as each wheel typically weighs in excess of 600 pounds. As a consequence, handling of the wheels is difficult and the degree of accuracy may in some measure be dependent upon the skill of the inspector or the quality of an inspection tool for measuring a particular dimension or characteristic. However, there is no presently known apparatus that will measure a plurality of dimensions and characteristics of a railway wheel, with or without contact of the wheel, and provide all the necessary parametric tests of the wheel for evaluation against the standards of the AAR. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Self-powered electrical sensors are used to detect and monitor one or more characteristics of an electrical signal in a conductor. As such, self-powered electrical sensors can be used in systems to monitor current levels, voltage levels, power levels, or other aspects of an electrical system. Monitoring one or more electrical signals in an electrical system provides information on the operating conditions of the system, a subsystem, or one or more components in the system. For example, a self-powered current sensor may be used in control systems in manufacturing and industrial applications. In such applications, a self-powered current sensor may be used to monitor equipment status, to detect process variations, and to ensure safety of personnel. In addition, a self-powered current sensor may be used to control pumps, compressors, heaters, conveyors, and other electrically powered devices.
Some self-powered current sensors are equipped with an alarm that is activated upon a current in a conductor reaching a certain magnitude. The alarm trip point is set based on an adjustment. Deriving power from the electrical signal that the self-powered current sensor is monitoring prevents present self-powered current sensors from including certain functionality. For example, present self-powered current sensors include an adjustment to set a trip-point value for an alarm with a non-linear response over the range of the adjustment. Because the adjustment has a non-linear response the exact value of the adjustment cannot be easily determined. As such, an installer must set a trip point using the non-linear adjustment and then test the current sensor to ensure the trip point is set at the correct value.
So, once the self-powered current sensor has been manually adjusted, the present self-powered current sensors must be tested. The testing requires shutting a system down to adjust the sensor manually and turning the system back on to verify that the sensor had been adjusted to the proper setting. This is repeated until the self-powered current sensor is properly configured. Alternatively, the self-powered current sensor can be calibrated off site but the system still must be shut down to reinstall the current sensor and must again be verified that it is configured properly, which includes turning the system back on and if necessary shutting it down again to reconfigure the electrical sensor. Such a process of adjusting and testing present self-powered current sensors creates extended down time for a system and adds to the cost of running the system.
The correct trip-point value must be set appropriately to ensure that the alarm on a self-powered current sensor trips at a desired value to ensure equipment or a process is operating as required. Failure of an alarm to trip at the right value can result in damage to equipment, injury to personnel, or inefficiencies in a process. Any of these would result in negative consequences and add significant costs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing slider-operated flexible zippers for use in reclosable pouches, bags or other packages of the type in which material, such as foodstuff and detergent, are stored.
Reclosable bags are finding ever-growing acceptance as primary packaging, particularly as packaging for foodstuffs such as cereal, fresh vegetables, snacks and the like. Such bags provide the consumer with the ability to readily store, in a closed, if not sealed, package any unused portion of the packaged product even after the package is initially opened. To gain acceptance as a primary package for foodstuffs, it is virtually mandatory that the package exhibit some form of tamper evidence to protect the consumer and maintain the wholesomeness of the contained product. In addition, in many cases it is necessary that food product be hermetically packaged.
Reclosable fastener assemblies are useful for sealing thermoplastic pouches or bags. Such fastener assemblies often include a plastic zipper and a slider. Typically, the plastic zippers include a pair of interlockable profiled members that form a closure. As the slider moves across the profiles, the profiles are opened or closed. The profiles in plastic zippers can take on various configurations, e.g. interlocking rib and groove elements having so-called male and female profiles, interlocking alternating hook-shaped closure members, etc. Reclosable bags having slider-operated zippers are generally more desirable to consumers than bags having zippers without sliders because the slider eliminates the need for the consumer to align the interlockable zipper profiles before causing those profiles to engage.
In one type of slider-operated zipper assembly, the slider straddles the zipper and has a separating finger at one end that is inserted between the profiles to force them apart as the slider is moved along the zipper in an opening direction. The other end of the slider is sufficiently narrow to force the profiles into engagement and close the zipper when the slider is moved along the zipper in a closing direction. Other types of slider-operated zipper assemblies avoid the use of a separating finger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,450 discloses a zipper comprising a pair of mutually interlockable profiled structures, portions of which form a fulcrum about which the profiled structures may be pivoted out of engagement when lower edges of the bases are forced towards each other.
One of the important features of such reclosable fastener assemblies is the end stop, which prevents the slider from falling off when the slider reaches the end of the fastener. A slider end stop is provided on each end of the zipper. End stops have taken on various configurations, such as, for example, riveted end clamps such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,208 and 5,161,286; transverse end stops made from molten material of the fastener strips, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,971; reciprocating anvils, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,121; tubular end stops, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,478; a window structure combined with sealed zipper ends, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,837; or plastic end clips fused to the zipper as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,807.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,285 discloses a reclosable bag having end stops designed to prevent a slider from being pulled off the end of the zipper. The end stops are formed from the material of the zipper profiles and “rise vertically” from the zipper for the purpose of blocking further movement of the slider. The end stops are formed by first aligning together the opposing profiles at an end stop area proximate to an end of the bag, and then fusing the zipper profiles at the end stop area to provide a vertical structure, while at the same time keeping the base of the profiles intact so that the slider cannot lift off of the zipper in the parked position. Preferably, the profiles are fused by directing ultrasonic energy to the end stop areas.
A slider end stop must be designed to withstand the force applied by a consumer during normal use. More specifically, as the consumer pulls the slider to either end of the zipper, the end stop should not bend, fold, collapse or otherwise lose its ability to stop the slider when the slider is pressed against the end stop with the pulling force being exerted by the consumer. Preferably a slider end stop has relatively high slider pull-off resistance.
There is a need for improvements in the manufacture and construction of slider end stops for slider-operated zippers. In particular, there is a need for an improved, yet economical method of making a slider end stop having high slider pull-off resistance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a method and a device for printing films housed in cartridges.
A conventional device for printing images on a film onto printing paper has a scanner unit and a printing/exposure means arranged along a film feed unit for feeding films in a straight line. The scanner unit reads printing conditions such as image density from a film before printing it. Based on the data thus obtained, the light from a light source is adjusted with a light adjusting filter and the thus adjusted light is used to print film images onto printing paper.
To print films with this type of printers, films have to be pulled out of and detached from cartridges. The films are then fed into the film feed unit as it is or after splicing them in a roll form.
With the conventional device, while the scanner unit is reading image density and other printing data of one film, the printing/exposure unit cannot print another film. While the latter is printing one film, the former cannot read printing data of another film. In other words, these units cannot be driven concurrently, so that the processing speed was insufficient. In order to increase the processing speed, it was proposed to drive the above two units independently of each other and to provide a loop guide therebetween to adjust the film feed rate.
When printing developed films, they may be fed in strips or in a roll after separating them from cartridges. Otherwise, they may be processed without separating them from cartridges. But in order to process films without detaching them from cartridges, a separate driving unit is needed to unwind and rewind films from and into cartridges.
An object of this invention is to provide a method and device for printing films which can print one film in a printing/exposure unit while reading image data in a scanner unit by using a rotary table, which need no separate driving means for opening and closing doors of cartridges mounted on the rotary table and no wire connecting work. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital image processing methods and more particularly to improved methods for image rotation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The following are systems representative of the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,020 teaches a method for rotating image data which recognizes and takes advantage of the fact that large areas of most images are background color such as white and that digital representations of the pels in these background areas need not be rotated since an all zeros 8.times.8 bit block of pels is the same in any 90 degree rotation of the block. However, the patent does not teach nor suggest the simplified method for rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block according to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,982 shows a method of rotation of an image by 90 degree among other functions performed. However, the patent does not show a method for rotating an image by 90 degrees which includes rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,475 shows a digital processor for extracting data from a binary image in which the image is divided into an array of sample areas each sample area containing an array of binary data spaces. Although the patent demonstrates image rotation by any one of a number of predetermined angles, the patent does not show a method for rotating an image by 90 degrees either clockwise or counterclockwise including rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,699 relates to an image processing system wherein video data is stored in a matrix having n rows and n columns. The image is rotated 90 degrees in a piece-meal fashion by vertically accessing word by word video data previously stored as horizontal words. However, the method and apparatus of the patent do not include rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,488 shows hardware for image rotation of a word organized image buffer where the buffer is divided into a number of square sections each storing a portion of the full image. Although the patent shows apparatus for image rotation through an angle of 90 degrees, the patent does not show a method which includes rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,929 relates to a code converter including means for rotating an image about a center point. The patent does not include rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,476 relates to apparatus for rotating horizontal scan format images into vertical scan format images for printing or other processing. The patented apparatus divides the image into a number of sections and then rotates each section in sequence. The patent does not show a method including rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,448 relates to an image rotation control circuit for controlling printing of an image on a printer. The published control circuit does not store the entire display but merely a single line at a time which is converted from a horizontal line to a vertical line or vice versa for printing. The publication does not show a method for rotating an image by 90 degrees including rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
An article in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 18, No. 8, January 1976, p. 2640 shows a method for rotation of images using contour compressed data. However, the article does not include rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
An article in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 13, No. 11, April 1971, p. 3267 shows a method for performing a fast transformation of axes on two dimensional binary images. The artcile does not include rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
An article in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 18, No. 8, January 1976 at page 2633 shows a shift register system for image orientation which among other functions rotates an image in 4.times.4 array of characters. The articles does not include rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
A letter by J.O. Eklundh entitled "A Fast Computer Method for Matrix Transposing." in the IEEE Transactions on Computers, July 1972 at Page 801, presents a method for transporting n X n data matrices having some similarity to the transposition algorithm used with the method of the present invention. However, the article does not show a method for rotation of n X n bit blocks including transposing bits within the block and flipping the block.
The prior art discussed above does not teach nor suggest the present invention as disclosed and claimed herein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Prior art on zinc alloys as described in Ser. No. 07/314,950 filed Feb. 23, 1989 utilized the concept of fluxing to induce intermetallic bonding between reinforcing shots and zinc alloy matrix. The elimination of flux will reduce the fabrication cost of zinc alloys when the reinforcing shots are cheap and readily available like chilled iron shots. The goal of the present invention is to develop such economic method of manufacturing zinc-based alloys while maintaining comparable mechanical/physicochemical properties of conventional zinc alloys such as ZAMAK 3, ZAMAK 5, ZA 8, or ZA 12. These alloys have been used in zinc die casting industry to manufacture decorative, functional, and structural parts. The primary aim of the present invention is to replace part of zinc element used in producing such parts with cheap iron shots such that the cost of final parts can be reduced without any serious adverse effect on manufacturing and performance behavior. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.