Abstract: A system and method for addressing the paradoxes and problems associated with the Knowledge Economy, and the transition to it. The system and method of the present invention create a unified experience of work that scales from individual thought processes to the building and using of a global system of commerce. Described in several levels of recursion, the system and method of the present invention integrate, into a single system and method several discrete Sub-Systems and methods that comprise a myriad of now unintegrated tools and processes that are conducted across contradictory and non-collaborative environments.

Abstract: An inertia charge intake manifold is associated with an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The intake manifold includes a plurality of elongated separate branch pipes each corresponding to a respective one of the cylinders. The intake manifold also includes a common flange for connecting a first end of each branch pipe to the internal combustion engine. The common flange has a first surface attached to the internal combustion engine. Further, the intake manifold includes a surge tank to which a second end of each branch pipe is connected. The common flange, the surge tank and each branch pipe are made of a hard thermoplastic synthetic resin. The common flange is integrally connected to the surge tank.

Abstract: An engaging and disengaging gear for a bicycle includes an axle rotatably mounted in a five-way tube on the bicycle to connect to two pedal cranks, a thimble fixedly connected to one end of the five-way tube, an internally threaded transmission bevel gear received in the thimble, a chain wheel mounted on the axle between the thimble and a collar of the axle, and a ring spring fixed to outer surface of the transmission gear. The axle has an externally threaded section between the thimble and the chain wheel for extending through and engaging with the internally threaded transmission gear. An outer periphery of the ring spring slightly contacts with inner wall of the thimble to provide a resistance to a maximum static friction force between the transmission gear and the axle that are screwed together. When the axle is caused to turn forward, the transmission gear moves along the axle toward the chain wheel and engages with the latter, causing the chain wheel to rotate forward, too.

Abstract: A thermal printhead according to the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of heating elements formed on the substrate, at least one drive IC for driving the heating elements, and a sealing portion for sealing the drive IC. The sealing portion contains a resin material and a granular filler having an average grain size not greater than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for cleaning exhaust gas includes a heat-resistant support, and a catalytic coating formed on the heat-resistant support. The catalytic coating contains Pd-carrying particles of a cerium complex oxide, Pt & Rh-carrying particles of zirconium complex oxide, and particles of a heat-resistant inorganic oxide.

Abstract: A surface mounting type electronic component such as a solid electrolytic capacitor is provided which comprises an electronic element, a safety fuse wire having a base end electrically connected to the electronic element, and a resin package enclosing the electronic element together with the fuse wire. The fuse wire also has a tip end which is exposed at a face of the resin package, and the face of the resin package is formed with a layer-like terminal in electrical connection with the tip end of the fuse wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that produces shaped and laminate articles and recovers the excess material or flash as a part of the manufacturing process. The apparatus uses a combination of rotary die and anvil roller assemblies in successive multiple stations to cut and separate each raw material into final product portions and recyclable flash portions as each raw material enters the apparatus. The apparatus separately reclaims each raw material flash portion and delivers the flash of each material in a recyclable form to an auxiliary recycling operation. In recovering the flash, the apparatus does not adversely affect the speed or quality of production of the final shaped or laminated product. To ease removal of the flash, the apparatus applies lubricant to the blades of the rotary die. To avoid damage to web material, the apparatus uses vacuum belts to convey the web material and web product through the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus provides a charging battery for variable currents. The apparatus comprises a first current sensor which transforms a current into a first signal; a controller which depends on the first signal to transform a power into a current in order to supply the variable currents to charge; a second current sensor which transforms the variable currents into second signals and passes the variable currents to charge up the charging battery; a detector which relies on the second signal and a third signal in response to the charging battery to trigger the controller to decide whether to disable from the controller or not.

Abstract: A custom CMOS imager with integrated motion computation is described. The architecture is centered around a compact mixed-mode pixel with digital asynchronous self-signaling capabilities. An address-event communication channel with an external time-stamp protocol is used to compute image features velocities. The motion sensor could be used in applications such as self-guided vehicles, mobile robotics and smart surveillance systems.

Abstract: A rotary impacting apparatus is provided which comprises a housing, a rotor rotatably accommodated in the housing, a driving source for rotating the rotor about a rotation axis, a main reciprocative implement reciprocatively held by the housing, and an impact member eccentrically held by the rotor. The impact member exerts an impacting force for pressing the main reciprocative implement when the main reciprocative implement is advanced relative to the rotation axis. The main reciprocative implement is provided with a diametrically smaller portion and a diametrically greater portion connected to the diametrically smaller portion.

Abstract: A color image signal generator is provided for generating red, green and blue analog image signals based on first red, green and blue image data and on first brightness data. Each of the first red, green and blue image data has a predetermined first bit number, while the first brightness data has a predetermined second bit number. The color image signal generator includes a brightness data modifier for providing second brightness data based on the first brightness data, so that the second brightness data has a predetermined third bit number which is greater than the second bit number. The color image signal generator also includes a data multiplier arranged to multiply the second brightness data with the first red, green and blue image data. As a result of multiplication, second red, green and blue image data are output, so that each of the second image data has a fourth bit number which is greater than the first and the third bit numbers.

Abstract: A puncturing device according to the invention comprises a sleeve (1), a push element (2) mounted at one end of the sleeve (1), a piston (5) having a puncturing tip (7) slidably mounted in the sleeve (1), a drive spring (9) positioned between the face end of the push element (2) and the piston (5) and a return spring (10) positioned inside the said sleeve (1) between its bottom (3) with an opening (4) for the puncturing tip (7) and the said piston (5) characterized in that the sleeve (1) has wings (11) directed inwardly and the projection (12) of the piston (5) rests on the said wings (11).

Abstract: A protective cover (9) is provided which is used for a thermal printhead including a heat sink plate (1) formed with a plurality of fixing holes (10), a head substrate (2), and a circuit board (3). The heat sink plate (1) is formed with a groove (1a) which divides the upper surface of the heat sink plate (1) into a first region (1b) and a second region (1c). The head substrate (2) is provided with a heating resistor (4) and drive ICs (5). The drive ICs (5) are covered with a coating resin layer (6). The circuit board (3) is formed with through-holes (11). The protective cover (9) includes a main body (9a) having an obverse surface and a reverse surface, and a plurality of pins (12) extending from the reverse surface. Each of the pins (12) is formed with a slit (12a), which facilitates press-fitting of the pin (12) into a respective one of the fixing holes (10).

Abstract: The characterization of this spout is that its body has a support and fixing base connected to the appliance with a spindle connected to the fluid power supply that ends in the interior of a top cap that rests on this base and provides the sleeve of the said spout, delimiting between both pieces an intercommunication chamber of the spindle with this sleeve that enables the incorporation of an assembly-head of an obturator of fluid passage control, including retention elements of both pieces between them with respective hermetic means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to one-step oxidation process for preparation of cyclohexane to adipic acid, using molecular oxygen, in liquid phase, in the presence of catalyst, containing either cobalt or cobalt and iron. The catalyst is activated outside the reactor and molecular oxygen is used as an oxidant. The use of molecular oxygen as oxidant along with preactivated catalyst in the reactor and also by restricting the conversion of cyclohexane between 20-30% with catalyst in the reactor results in enhanced selectivity to adipic acid. The reaction mixture of cyclohexane and preactivated catalyst is subjected to oxidation by bubbling pure molecular oxygen while stirring the homogenous mixture while bubbling the oxygen at a predetermined temperature, pressure and space velocity conditions. The product selectivity to form adipic acid is found to be at least 5% better than the maximum attainable using the conventional processes.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic compositions for high-frequency ceramic inductors. The ceramic compositions comprise a mixture of finely divided particles consisting of 20-80% by weight of borosilicate glass and 80-20% by weight of an oxide filler, which can be densified up to 95% at temperatures between 800-1000° C. The ceramic compositions can be processed with organic solvent, polymeric binder and plasticizer to produce green sheets that are co-firable with highly conductive metal such as gold, silver, silver-palladium and copper.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a LOCOS isolation in accordance with the present invention, involves first forming a masking layer on the active region of a silicon substrate. Next, the masking layer is used as the etching mask and the silicon substrate is etched to form a recess. Then, a thin nitride layer is formed on the masking layer and the recess. Afterwards, a polysilicon layer is deposited on the thin nitride layer. Then, an etching process is applied to etch back the polysilicon and the thin nitride layer, thereby exposing the upper surface of the masking layer. Next, a LOCOS isolation is grown above the recess.