Abstract:
A method for fabricating a multi-domain liquid crystal display wherein adjacent areas of the display are oriented in different direction by coating the substrate with a polymer and exposing a first set of areas to ultraviolet light from a source polarized in a first direction and then exposing a second set of areas to ultraviolet light from a source polarized in a second direction.
Abstract:
An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) for exchanging indoor air with outdoor air. The ERV (1) having a housing including first, and second input ports (11, 12) and, first and second exhaust ports (13, 14), and a heat exchanger core (60). The ERV (1) further having a first blower (22) for drawing indoor air into the ERV (1), through the first input port (11), through the heat exchanger core (60) and out the first exhaust port (13), and a second blower (21) for drawing outdoor air into the ERV (1), through the second input port (12), through the heat exchanger core (60) and out the second exhaust port (14). A means for defrosting the ERV (1) is taught having a first bypass (48) from the first exhaust port (13) to the first input port (11) and second bypass from the second exhaust port (14) to the second input port (12). Dampers (42, 43) close the first exhaust port (13) and the second exhaust port (14) when defrost of the heat exchanger core (60) is needed. To defrost the heat exchanger core (60), the dampers (42, 43) close, closing the first and second exhaust ports (13, 14), air passes through the bypasses and recirculates through the heat exchanger core (60), upon the heat exchanger core (60) being defrosted the dampers (42, 43) open. While defrosting the blowers (21, 22) are set to high speed to increase the waste heat from the blower motors and to increase air circulation. A re-humidifier (51) is incorporated to transfer the moisture to the dry outside air being provided to the building. As the heat exchanger core (60) is defrosted, moisture from the heat exchanger core (60) is collected by the re-humidifier (51), the re-humidifier (51) converts the moisture to steam and provides the steam to the second input port (12).
Abstract:
A peak current detecting and non-volatile storage device (10) has a substrate (12) having a hole (18). Individual magnetic field detecting elements (23-25) are located on the substrate and are radially displaced from the hole. A conductor (30) extends through the hole. The magnetic field detecting elements are magnetized to a predetermined state. Current carried by the conductor creates a magnetic field around the conductor which alters the predetermined state of magnetization of the magnetic field detecting devices. Various readout techniques may be used to determine the altered state of magnetization which is representative of the magnetic field and may be easily related to the current.
Abstract:
A control system for an active hand controller, for example, uses a control stick connected to and controlled by a motor. Electronics are provided to control the motor to eliminate oscillations due to motor torque and high gain due to breakout at the control stick when the control stick is at about its null position. Both hardware as well as software implementations can provide position dependent dampening to the control sticks such that when the control stick is located about a null position, a higher rate of dampening is provided than when the control stick is located outside the null position, when a lower rate of dampening is provided. The system provides a stable active hand controller control stick without degraded force and feel characteristics of the system.
Abstract:
An active hand controller system is provided wherein a feedback loop detects the position of a control stick to control a motor driving the control stick to thereby provide certain force feel characteristics to the control stick. The feedback loop includes a detector for detecting force exerted for the control stick to generate a signal indicative of the force or torque being applied to the control stick. In a more specific aspect, the invention includes the use of variable reluctance transformers, preferably in a push/pull configuration to detect the forces being exerted on the control stick.
Abstract:
An electronic interface for converting an interlaced video signal (101) to a non-interlaced video signal suitable for an LCD flat panel (127). An analog interpolator scheme is used in which the information available in an incoming video scan line is delayed and sampled (129), and output signals are created by interpolation between the sampled input and actual and interpolated scan line signals (131). The output signals are then converted into an integrated, sequential non-interlaced output signal (125) having a frequency corresponding to the horizontal resolution of a scan line of the flat panel.
Abstract:
A high aspect ratio, backlit liquid crystal display in which light from opposing rows of light emitting diodes (14) is projected into the ends of a thin optical cavity (25). The optical cavity (25) is bounded by one major wall (26) of which the interior surface (27) is specularly reflective and an opposing major wall (24) including a layer of transparent material (22) having an interior surface formed with an array of regularly spaced, fine, triangular prisms which tend to collimate light received from the cavity (25) and project it outwardly perpendicular to the major wall (24). A diffusion layer (21) overlays the layer of transparent material (22), and a brightness enhancing film (20) overlays the diffusion layer (21) and functions to convert diffuse illumination received through the diffusion layer (21) into directed illumination predominantly falling within a viewing space bounded by predetermined angles.
Abstract:
Synthetic friction force algorithms provide simulated static friction forces as well as dynamic friction forces. On either side of a hand-control element reference position a small static friction zone is established. As long as the hand-control element is within this static friction zone, the reference position remains constant and the control element drive motor generates a centering force proportional to the distance of the hand-control element from the reference position; a force urging the hand-control element toward the reference position. When the relative position of the hand-control element reaches or exceeds an edge of the static friction zone, it enters the dynamic friction zone. The motor applies a constant dynamic friction force, urging the hand-control element toward the reference position and the reference position is translated so that the edge of the static friction zone is translated to the current hand-control element position.
Abstract:
A resonant strain gauge includes a silicon substrate, a polysilicon flexure beam fixed at both ends relative to the substrate, and a polysilicon rigid cover cooperating with the substrate to enclose the flexure beam within a sealed vacuum chamber. An upper bias electrode is formed on the cover, and a lower bias electrode is formed at the bottom of a trough in the substrate directly beneath the flexure beam. A drive electrode and a piezoresistive element are supported by the beam, formed over a silicon nitride thin film layer deposited onto the top surface of the flexure beam. A second silicon nitride layer covers the drive electrode and piezoresistor, cooperating with the first silicon nitride layer to dielectrically encapsulate the drive electrode and piezoresistor. The silicon nitride further extends outwardly of the beam to a location between the polysilicon layer that contains the beam, and the cover, to isolate the cover from the flexure beam. A polysilicon film is applied over the upper silicon nitride layer as a passivation layer to protect the silicon nitride during gauge fabrication. The process for fabricating the gauge includes a sequence of applying the various polysilicon and silicon nitride layers by low pressure chemical vapor deposition, in combination with selective etching to define the flexure beam, electric circuit components and vacuum chamber.
Abstract:
A method of measuring the position and orientation of an object is disclosed in conjunction with an apparatus to achieve this method. The method and apparatus reduce the metal effects caused by metal objects which are in close proximity to a magnetic field generator. The metal effects are reduced by utilizing a magnetic field generator which creates a rotating magnetic field vector and then measuring the time required for that magnetic field vector to travel between a known reference point and the sensor whose position is being measured. By keeping the frequency of the rotating magnetic field vector constant and measuring the time required for this magnetic field vector to travel the previously mentioned distance, an angle between a reference axis and a vector directed toward the sensor can be determined. Once appropriate angles are measured, calculations can be undergone to determine the position of the sensor. Furthermore, by utilizing a plurality of sensors the orientation of the sensors with respect to one another can be determined.