TrendPerceptor: A property-function based technology intelligence system for identifying technology trends from patents

Technology intelligence systems are vital components for planning of technology development and formulation of technology strategies. Although such systems provide computation supports for technology analysis, much effort and intervention of experts, who may be expensive or unavailable, is required in gathering processes of information for analysis. As a remedy, this paper proposes TrendPerceptor, a system that uses a property-function based approach. The proposed system assists experts (1) to identify trends in invention concepts from patents, and (2) to perform evolution trend analysis of patents for technology forecasting. For this purpose, a module of the system uses grammatical analysis of textual information to automatically extract properties and functions, which show innovation directions in a given technology. Using the identified properties and functions, a module for invention concept analysis based on network analysis and a module for evolution trend analysis based on TRIZ (Russian acronym of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) trends are suggested. This paper describes the architecture of a system composed of these three modules, and illustrates two case studies using the system.     

Assessment of cross-type optical particle separation system

This paper describes the optical and hydrodynamic characteristics of particle motion in a cross-type optical particle separator. The retention distance modulated by the optical force on a particle was measured in three dimensions for various vertical and horizontal positions via ??-defocusing digital particle image velocimetry. The experimental data showed that the actual retention distance was smaller than the predicted retention distance under the assumption that the approaching velocity was constant through the cross-section of a microfluidic channel. The retention distance was shown to increase as the injection position of the particle shifted toward the channel side wall at a given vertical position due to a higher residence time within the region of influence of the laser beam. In contrast, the retention distance decreased as the injection position shifted toward the channel top/bottom walls at a given horizontal position. A theoretical modeling study was conducted to support and interpret the experimental measurements. The resolution of the particle separation procedure, which did not require adjusting the flow rate, laser power, or working fluid properties, was studied.     

Thermo-compression bonding of electrodes between FPCB and RPCB by using Pb-free solders

In this study, electrodes on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and rigid PCB (RPCB) were bonded by a thermo-compression bonding. The surface finishes on the Cu electrodes of the FPCB and RPCB were organic-solderability-preservative and electroless Ni/immersion Au (ENIG), respectively. Pb-free Sn-3.0 Ag and Sn-3.0 Ag-0.5 Cu solders were used as interlayers. In order to determine the optimum bonding conditions, such as bonding force, time, and temperature, a 90° peel test of the FPCB-RPCB joint was conducted. The relationships between the bonding conditions and peel strength were investigated. We successfully accomplished the thermo-compression bonding of reliable FPCB-RPCB joints by using Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu interlayers. The thermo-compression bonding method is a stable and well-controlled process and can produce robust and reliable connections.     

Characterization of the field-effect conductivity distribution in pentacene thin-film transistors by a near-field scanning microwave microscope

Direct probing of the conductivity distribution in organic materials is motivated by the need to obtain a deeper understanding of carrier behavior in organic thin-film transistors (OTFT), organic electro-luminescent devices, organic photoconductors, and organic biosensors. Here we used a near-field scanning microwave microscope to visualize conductivity profiles in OTFT channel. Applying this technique to pentacene field-effect transistors has revealed changes of the conductivity distribution in the channel arising from the development and exhaustion of an accumulated charge region. The electric field profiles, the complementary image of conductivity profiles, which are visualized by using an optical second harmonic generation method, support the results. We anticipate that direct observation by this microwave method will find wide application in measurement of carrier conductivity in organic and nonorganic materials.     

A study on the flow characteristics of butterfly valve with baffles

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - In the industry, globe valves, which are commonly used to precise control the flow rate along with opening and closing flow in pipes, are technically...     

Fatigue life analysis of wheels on guideway vehicle using multibody dynamics

A guideway vehicle is used in automobile, semiconductor and LCD manufacturing industries to transport products efficiently. Since the operating speed of the guideway vehicle should be increased for maximum productivity, the weight of the vehicle has to be reduced, and this weight reduction may cause a failure of a part in the system. Therefore, the estimation of the fatigue life of the parts becomes an important problem. In this study, the fatigue life of the wheels in the guideway vehicle is estimated using an S-N curve. To obtain the fatigue life of a part, the S-N curve, the dynamic stress time history applied to the part, and the material property of the part are required. The S-N curve of the driving wheel is obtained from the fatigue experiment on wheels. To obtain the material properties of the driving wheel, which is composed of aluminum with urethane coating, the result of a compression hardware test and static analysis of the wheel’s FE model are used. The dynamic stress time history influencing the driving wheel can be obtained from linear superposition of the dynamic load time history and the static stress. The dynamic load time history is estimated by multibody dynamic analysis, and the static stress is obtained by finite element analysis.     

Recent advances in finite element modeling of the human cervical spine

The human cervical spine is a complex structure that is the most frequently injured site among all spinal injuries. Therefore, understanding of the cervical spine injury and dysfunction, and also biomechanical response to external stimuli is important. Finite element (FE) modeling can help researchers to access the internal stresses and strains in the bones, ligaments and soft tissues more realistically, and it has been widely adopted for spine biomechanics research. Although in recent years numerous techniques have been developed, there are no recent literature reviews on FE models of the cervical spine. Our objective was to present recent advances in FE modeling of the human cervical spine in terms of component modeling, material properties, and validation procedures. Model applications and further development are also discussed. The integration of new technologies will allow us to generate more accurate and comprehensive model of the cervical spine, which can increase efficiency and model applicability. Finally, the FE modeling can help to facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention technologies for cervical spine injuries.     

Determination of Johnson-Cook constitutive equation for Inconel 601

Due to their superior thermal and mechanical properties, super alloys widely used in the aerospace industry have been well-documented in terms of AdvantEdge-based analysis of cutting characteristics rather than experimental methods. However, the well-known super alloy Inconel 601 does not have any database of its material properties in AdvantEdge, which underscores the urgency to build such a database. Hence, the current study uses the Johnson-Cook equation to build a database of Inconel 601’s material properties in AdvantEdge. To that end, drawing on a room temperature tensile test, elevated temperature tensile test and orthogonal cutting test, the current study determines the Johnson-Cook constitutive equation for Inconel 601, and verifies the reliability of the determined Johnson-Cook constitutive equation by comparing the experimental values with the analytical values.