Methods and apparatus for peer-to-peer services are disclosed. The apparatus and methods may include presenting at the client a link pointing to a file that resides at a first location represented by the link, receiving an indication that the link has been selected and receiving a representation of the first location. The methods and apparatus may also include determining if a second location stores a copy of the file stored at the first location, receiving a representation of the second location if the copy is stored in the second location, in response to receiving the representation of the second location, requesting download of the copy from the second location and if the copy is not stored in the second location, requesting download of the file from the first location.

Many companies are adopting the use of networks for sharing information. The Internet and Intranets are examples of such networks. This information may be shared within a company, university, local group, or to users around the world, etc.
As the information shared becomes richer in content, such as streaming video, etc., it may place more demands on servers, which may lower available bandwidth, and slow down access to the information on, for example, a Wide Area Network (WAN), etc. One approach to improving performance is to "widen the pipe" or bandwidth that the WAN may handle. This may be a very expensive approach particularly where peak or spikes in traffic may be a limiting factor. This may present a problem.


Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed that provide flexible input/output device communications in a process control system. In one example, a process control system controls a plurality of field devices. The process control system includes a control device and a communications protocol component. The communications protocol component has at least one communications channel that is selectively configurable to use at least a first or second communications protocol and to communicate with at least one of the field devices.

Process control systems are widely used in factories and/or plants in which products are manufactured or processes are controlled (e.g., chemical manufacturing, power plant control, etc.) Process control systems are also used in the harvesting of natural resources such as, for example, oil and gas drilling and handling processes, etc. Virtually any manufacturing process, resource harvesting process, etc. can be automated through the application of one or more process control systems.
The manner in which process control systems are implemented has evolved over the years. Older generations of process control systems were typically implemented using dedicated, centralized hardware. However, modern process control systems are typically implemented using a highly distributed network of workstations, intelligent controllers, smart field devices, and the like, some or all of which may perform a portion of an overall process control strategy or scheme. In particular, most modern process control systems include smart field devices and other process control components that are communicatively coupled to each other and/or to one or more controllers via one or more digital data busses. Of course, many of these modern process control systems may also include non-smart field devices such as, for example, 4-20 milliamp (mA) devices, 0-10 volts direct current (VDC) devices, etc., which are typically coupled directly to controllers as opposed to a shared digital data bus or the like.
In any event, field devices include, for example, input devices (e.g., devices such as sensors that provide status signals that are indicative of process control parameters such as, for example, temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.), as well as control operators or actuators that perform actions in response to commands received from controllers and/or other field devices. For example, a controller may send signals to a valve to increase pressure or flow, to a heater or chiller to change a temperature, to a mixer to agitate ingredients in a process control system, etc.
One particularly important aspect of process control system design involves the manner in which field devices are communicatively coupled to each other, controllers and other systems or devices within a process control system. In general, the various communication channels, links and paths that enable the field devices to function within the process control system are commonly collectively referred to as an input/output ("I/O") communication network.
Traditionally, many communication protocols and busses have been used to interface smart field devices to a controller or other control device. The control device (e.g., a controller) typically includes or is coupled to an I/O device having a communications protocol component, often termed the "master," which activates and exchanges data with the smart field devices, often termed "slave" devices. In these known systems, the master must be configured to conform to the device specifications of the field devices (e.g., the particular communications protocol used by the field device). Consequently, there was a requirement for the user to always choose a particular protocol or set of devices supported by the manufacturer of the I/O device and/or to use different I/O devices or cards for each of the specific communication protocols needed to communicate with the various field devices used.

Flexible input/output devices for use in process control systems


A system and method for electrically testing electrical circuits in which electromagnetic values that are to be sensed by an array of sensors are forecast or simulated, for use as a reference, by calculation using computer files corresponding to a board under test and to an array of sensors.

The following invention generally relates to systems and methods employed in the electrical testing of printed circuit boards and more particularly to systems and methods for generating a map of electrical signals that correspond to electrical signals to be received by sensors during the electrical testing of printed circuit boards.
It is well known to test printed circuit boards and various other electrical circuit substrates for electrical defects.
The following U.S. patents describe systems and methods for non-contact electrical testing of printed circuit boards: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,517,110, 5,218,294, 5,424,633 and 6,201,398, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The following published PCT patent application describes additional systems and methods for non-contact electrical testing of printed circuit boards: WO 99/65287, corresponding to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/719,753, incorporated herein by reference.
In systems for the inspection and/or testing of printed circuit boards a reference is employed to assist in determining whether a tested printed circuit board has been fabricated with a defect.
Various software tools for simulating electromagnetic fields are commercially available. These tools include, for example, packages available from Vector Fields Ltd. of Oxford, England and from Ansoft Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pa. These commercially available tools offer methodologies which are highly accurate when simulating electromagnetic fields and signals for small systems. However these commercially available tools are not suited for preparing references that are readily usable to perform non-contact electrical testing of complicated printed circuit boards, inter alia because they do not produce results that are readily usable in electrical testing systems and because they are much too resource intensive to be used for simulating electromagnetic fields on an entire printed circuit board during inspection.
The present invention seeks to provide systems and methods useful for simulating sensed electromagnetic values, such as an electrical current at a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to an electro-magnetically stimulated article. These simulated electromagnetic values are compared with corresponding electromagnetic values sensed during electrical testing in order to detect defects. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for forecasting electro-magnetic values that are usable in the testing of electrically stimulated printed circuit boards. The sensors may be positioned in a fixed array relative to a board under test (BUT), or scanned across the BUT, in order to generate a collection of values representative of the BUT.
As used in this description, the term BUT means any suitable article to be tested, including, but not limited to, printed circuit boards, multi-chip modules, hybrid circuits, flat panel displays and semiconductor devices.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, a reference of forecast electromagnetic values are calculated using computer files employed during the manufacture of the PCBs or other devices. The computer files include files that correspond, respectively, to a BUT and to an array of sensors employed to electrically test the BUT. Alternatively and additionally, a first portion of the forecast values are calculated using computer files containing information that corresponds to a first spatial orientation between a BUT and the sensors, and a second portion of the forecast values are calculated using the computer files containing information that corresponds to a second spatial orientation between a BUT and the sensors. A sequential change in relative orientations between the computer files may be used to simulate scanning.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, a capacitance matrix is calculated, from computer files for (1) a BUT, (2) a sensor board including an array of sensors, and (3) other testing system parts arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to the BUT. Charge and/or current at various sensors on the sensor board is derived from the capacitance matrix. Sequential calculations are performed to account for changing respective orientations of the BUT, sensor board and other testing parts, which occur, for example during scanning. These calculations facilitate simulating the scanning of a BUT by an array of sensors.
In accordance with another particular embodiment of the invention, a capacitance matrix is calculated in reliance on an assumption that charge density is distributed in a given manner over an entire conductive element. A net forming part of an electrical circuit pattern may include several conductive elements, such as a pad, annular ring, via, trace and the like. Charge density however may be, and typically is, different for each conductive element on the BUT (including conductive elements on the same net) and in the testing system and thus needs to be calculated for each conductive element. The inventors have found, however, that by treating each conductive element as a unit, calculation of simulated signals at an array of sensors is significantly simplified. Surprisingly such assumptions render a reasonable approximation of the signals output by sensors when compared to actual measurements or computation using conventional methods, which rely on calculating an actual charge density at a multiplicity of elemental regions of an article.
In accordance with another particular embodiment of the invention it is assumed that the charge density over an entire conductive element is uniformly distributed on that conductive element. Optionally, it may be assumed that the charge density is distributed over a conductive element in accordance with a predetermined function, for example a function indicating that there is a charge density fall-off at some parts of a conductive elements, such as those conductive elements or parts which are located close to the end of a net.
In accordance with another particular embodiment of the invention, current at sensors is computed for an electro-magnetically stimulated BUT by determining a voltage at various nets, and then computing current as a function of plate capacitance. Nets typically include several conductive elements. Moreover, some of the nets are located on the BUT and some of the nets are in the testing system.
In another particular embodiment of the invention, in addition to nets which are vertically aligned, the contribution to current of non-vertically aligned nets, and/or the contribution to current of fringe fields between stimulators and sensors optionally are taken into consideration.
Fringe fields are affected, inter alia, by the geometry of nets on a BUT. In a particular embodiment of the invention comprising a scanning testing system, the geometry of nets affecting fringe fields changes due to the change of the relative position between a BUT and the testing system. Thus, the contribution of fringe fields as a result of these dynamic changes in geometry is factored into the calculation of current at sensors in the testing system.
In accordance with another particular embodiment of the invention, charge, voltage, current, or other electro-magnetic characteristic, is calculated for a sequence of mutual orientations between a printed circuit board under test on the one hand, and the sensor board and other system parts on the other hand. The sequence of orientations corresponds to sampling intervals during transportation of a BUT through an electrical testing system. Optionally, transportation of the BUT may be accounted for, and calculated, parametrically. The calculated values are collected into a map of values which can be used as a reference in an electrical testing system.

System and method for non-contact electrical testing employing a CAM derived reference


A magnetic recording disk having a substrate, a magnetic layer formed on the substrate, a protective layer formed on the magnetic layer and a lubricant layer formed on the protective layer, the lubricant layer containing a perfluoropolyether compound having an end moiety containing a phosphazene ring and a perfluoropolyether compound having an end moiety containing a hydroxyl group, or the lubricant layer containing a perfluoropolyether compound having an end moiety containing a hydroxyl group on the protective layer side and a perfluoropolyether compound having an end moiety containing a phosphazene ring on the other surface side, and a process for manufacturing each of these magnetic recording disks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording disk and a process for the manufacture thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic recording disk which has a highly adhesive lubricant layer having so that it not only permits a stable operation without any difficulty at an extremely low level of flying height, for example, of 12 nm or less but also prevents migration even at a high-speed rotation, for example, of 5,400 rpm or more and which is to be mounted on a magnetic recording disk unit such as a hard disk drive unit (HDD), and a process for manufacture thereof.
2. Statement of Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic recording disk unit employs a CSS (Contact Start and Stop) method in which a magnetic head is kept in contact with a contact start and stop region (CSS region) formed in an inner-circumferential region at a stop time, the magnetic head is allowed to come up slightly at a starting time while it was allowed to contact-slide in the CSS region, and writing and reading are performed in the surface of a write-read disk region formed outside the CSS region. When the operation is ended, the magnetic head is brought back to the CSS region from the write-read disk region and then allowed to land while it was allowed to contact-slide in the CSS region, and the magnetic head is stopped. The starting operation and ending operation which involve the contact-sliding in the above CSS method will be called a CSS operation.
In a magnetic recording disk for use in the above CSS method, it is required to form both a CSS region and a write-read region on the disk surface. For preventing the attachment (stiction) of the magnetic head and the magnetic recording disk when they are in contact, further, it is required to form a roughened form having a predetermined surface roughness called a texture on the magnetic recording disk surface. For alleviating damage caused by the contact-sliding of the magnetic head and the magnetic recording disk during the CSS operation, there are known, for example, a magnetic recording medium (e.g., JP-A-62-66417) having a coating formed of a perfluoroalkylpolyether having the structural formula,HOCH2—CF2O—(C2F4O)p—(CF2O)q—CH2OHand a lubricant containing a phosphazene compound as a main component and being to be applied to a hard magnetic recording disk (e.g., JP-A-11-224419).
Recently, the above CSS method is being replaced with a magnetic recording disk according to a load unload method. The load unload method will be called "LUL method" hereinafter. In the LUL method, a magnetic head is kept on a sloping seat called a ramp positioned outside a magnetic recording disk at a stop time, and at a starting time, the magnetic head is allowed to slide from the above ramp onto the magnetic recording disk after the magnetic recording disk starts turning, followed by writing and reading. The above series of operations will be called "LUL operation". The LUL method is preferred for increasing the information capacity since a wider writing and reading region on the magnetic recording disk can be secured. Further, since it is not required to form the texture for CSS on the magnetic recording disk surface, the magnetic recording disk surface can be smoothened to a great extent, and the flying height of the magnetic head can be further decreased, so that a higher S/N ratio of recording signals can be attained. The LUL method is therefore suitable.
As the flying height of the magnetic head is further decreasing due to the introduction of the above LUL method, it is required to attain stable operation of the magnetic head even at an extremely low level of a flying height of 12 nm or less. However, when the magnetic head is allowed to fly above a magnetic recording disk surface at such a very low flying height level, there is caused a problem that fly sticking and head corrosion problems frequently take place.
The fly sticking problem refers to a problem that a magnetic head is caused to have a fluctuation in flying position and a flying height level during its flying. The problem involves irregular fluctuations in reproduction output, and a magnetic head comes into contact with a magnetic recording disk to cause a head clash in some cases, and the magnetic recording disk may be destroyed.
The corrosion problem refers to a problem that the element portion of a magnetic head is corroded to cause difficulties in reproducing written data, and in some cases, the reproduction may be no longer possible, or the corroded element may expand to cause damage on the magnetic recording disk surface during the flying of the magnetic head.
Further, it is recent practice to increase the turning rate of a magnetic recording disk for enhancing the response of a magnetic recording disk drive unit. Conventionally, the small 2.5-inch magnetic recording disk drive unit suitable for mobile devices has a turning rate of approximately 4,200 rpm, while it is recent practice to turn a magnetic recording disk at a high rate of 5,400 rpm or more for increasing the response capability. When a magnetic recording disk is turned at such a high rate, a lubricant layer moves (migrates) due to a centrifugal force caused by the turning, and there comes to clearly appear a phenomenon in which the lubricant layer comes to have a non-uniform thickness in the magnetic recording disk surface. When the thickness of the lubricant layer increases on the outer-circumferential side of the disk, a fly sticking problem or a head clash problem is liable to take place at the time of LUL. When the thickness of the lubricant layer decreases on the inner-circumferential side of the disk, the lubricity performance decreases, and a head clash problem is liable to take place.
When a conventional lubricant described in JP-A-62-66417 or a conventional lubricant described in JP-A-11-224419 is used, the above problems take place highly frequently, and it is difficult to satisfy the reliability that magnetic recording disks are recently required to have. It is therefore made difficult to attain higher capacity of a magnetic recording disk, a higher S/N ratio and faster response.
Under the circumstances, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording disk that permits a stable operation without any hindrance at an extremely low level of flying height, for example, of 12 nm or less, and which has a highly adhesive lubricant layer whose migration can be prevented at a turning rate, for example, of 5,400 rpm or more, and a process for the manufacture thereof. Particularly, the present invention aims at providing a magnetic recording disk suitable for the LUL method and a process for the manufacture thereof.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Magnetic recording disk and process for manufacture thereof


Rubber compositions are disclosed which exhibit enhanced dynamic modulus and tensile strength characteristics. A selected type of carbon black, resorcinsol and/or its precondensate and hexamethoxymethyl melamine are combined in specified amounts with a selected class of starting rubbers. The carbon black has specified nitrogen adsorption surface area, dibutyl phthalate adsorptivity and Dst mode of diameter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rubber compositions suitable for use particularly in automobile tires.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Rubber compositions of a high degree of hardness are in common use for belt and bead filler portions of automotive tires. To attain improved hardness, attempts have been made to blend a given starting rubber with large amounts of carbon black. Too much carbon black, say greater than 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the starting rubber, however, will in most cases render the finished composition mechanically weak for example with respect to tensile strength on break. As is generally known in the art, this problem can be alleviated to some extent by the use of a low structure carbon black not abundant in dibutyl phthalate adsorptivity. To this end, N326 is oftentimes employed which is a carbon black of a lower structure type than a standard N330 type among high abrasion furnace blacks (HAF). Various N326 carbon blacks have been proposed as disclosed for instance in Japanese Laid-Open Publication Nos. 50-60904, 59-89339 and 60-4540.
Prior high-hardness rubber compositions leave their mechanical strength characteristics unsolved. These compositions when formulated to provide a dynamic modulus greater than 6.0 MPa involve too small tensile strength to meet the commercial requirements.

Rubber compositions containing carbon blacks of specified physical characteristics


A system and method of controlling a clutch fill command based on the hydraulic state of an oncoming clutch is provided. A vehicle includes a hydraulically-actuated oncoming clutch that is configured to engage during a shift event from one operating mode of the vehicle to another. A controller is configured to generate a clutch fill command at an initial time such that completion of the clutch fill command is synchronized with an identified speed profile of the oncoming clutch. The oncoming clutch defines a real-time hydraulic state when the clutch fill command is generated. The controller is configured to generate a real-time acceptable speed margin for the oncoming clutch based at least partially on the real-time hydraulic state of the oncoming clutch. The controller is configured to cancel the clutch fill command if a real-time speed of the oncoming clutch is outside the generated real-time acceptable speed margin.

Vehicles generally include one or more clutches for performing various functions. A clutch generally uses friction to rotatably couple two different elements, for example, rotatably coupling an input shaft to an output shaft. Clutches that are designed to operate synchronously (or without slip) require substantially zero relative velocity when reactive torque is transmitted through the clutch. Clutch slip refers to the difference between the rotational speeds of the coupled elements, for example, the input and output shafts. Any pressure applied on a slipping clutch may result in heat being generated on the friction material in the clutch. This may result in wear and eventual degradation of the friction material.

Control of clutch fill command based on hydraulic state of oncoming clutch


A semiconductor device manufacturing method with high productivity is disclosed with improved trade-off relationship between auto-doping and breakdown in alignment mark form. First to sixth epitaxial layers are grown sequentially on Si {100} main surface of an arsenic doped substrate using multilayer epitaxial technology. Epitaxial growth conditions of the first to sixth epitaxial layers are growth at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 1,150° C. to 1,180° C., with epitaxial growth rate of 2.2 to 2.6 μm/minute. An alignment mark of depressed form whose bottom surface is the Si {100} plane is formed in the arsenic doped substrate. Every time one of the first to sixth epitaxial layers is grown on the main surface of the arsenic doped substrate, an alignment mark of depressed form is formed in the outermost epitaxial layer by a portion above the alignment mark of the layer below being transformed.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing method.
B. Description of the Related Art
To date, trench filling epitaxial technology has been known as a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (hereafter referred to as a super junction semiconductor device) wherein the drift layer is a parallel p-n layer in which an n-type region with an increased impurity concentration and a p-type region are disposed alternately. Trench filling epitaxial technology is such that an n-type epitaxial film is formed on an n+ type silicon substrate, and a trench is formed in the n-type epitaxial film. A p-type epitaxial film is deposited on the n-type epitaxial film, including the inside of the trench, thus filling the trench with the p-type epitaxial film (for example, refer to JP-A-2007-096138).
Also, multilayer epitaxial technology is known as another method of forming a parallel p-n layer. Multilayer epitaxial technology is such that a parallel p-n layer is formed by epitaxial growth of an n-type semiconductor layer for forming an n-type drift region and selective ion implantation of a p-type impurity for forming a p-type region being repeatedly carried out (for example, refer to JP-A-2012-089736). Controllability of the impurity ratio (hereafter referred to as the p/n ratio) between the p-type region (p-type semiconductor layer) and n-type semiconductor layer of the parallel p-n layer is higher with the multilayer epitaxial technology than with the trench filling epitaxial technology.
A super junction MOSFET (insulated-gate field-effect transistor) is such that a parallel p-n layer is formed on a low resistance n+ type silicon substrate doped with arsenic (As) or antimony (Sb) (hereafter referred to as an arsenic doped substrate). As the arsenic doped substrate can be doped with an n-type impurity to a high concentration, it is possible to omit back surface processes, such as an implantation of ions into the substrate back surface and an annealing process in order to obtain an ohmic contact, and thus possible to reduce the number of steps.
However, when forming a parallel p-n layer by growing an epitaxial layer on the front surface of the arsenic doped substrate, so-called auto-doping, wherein arsenic in the arsenic doped substrate diffuses outward from the substrate back surface to the gas atmosphere and is taken into the epitaxial layer during growth, is likely to occur. As it is important to accurately control the parallel p-n layer p/n ratio when manufacturing a super junction MOSFET, there is a problem in that controllability of the parallel p-n layer p/n ratio decreases when auto-doping occurs.
A method whereby a silicon epitaxial layer is grown by low pressure chemical vapor deposition on the main surface of an underlying silicon wafer to which a dopant of arsenic, phosphorus, or boron is added to a concentration of 1.0×1019/cm3 or more, with the growth temperature in a range of 1,000 to 1,100 C, and moreover, with the pressure in a reaction chamber of a growth gas including SiH4 gas in a range of 1,999.83 Pa (15 Torr) to 2,666.44 Pa (20 Torr), has been proposed as a method of preventing auto-doping (for example, refer to JP-A-2009-176784).
By carrying out epitaxial growth at a low temperature of 1,100 C or less, as in JP-A-2009-176784, the impurity amount of arsenic diffusing outward from the arsenic doped substrate into the gas atmosphere is reduced. Also, by carrying out epitaxial growth in a low pressure atmosphere, as in JP-A-2009-176784, the flow of gas inside the chamber increases in speed, and arsenic diffusing outward from the arsenic doped substrate into the gas atmosphere is discharged to the exterior of the chamber before being taken into the epitaxial layer.
Also, a method whereby, as an aspect of a method of manufacturing an epitaxial wafer having a buried ion implanted layer, ion implantation such that a pre-implantation oxidation process is eliminated is realized by carrying out heat treatment for post-ion implantation crystal recovery in a hydrogen atmosphere, and as a result of an active oxide film formation process including pre-implantation oxidation carried out on an epitaxial layer being eliminated, the number of times heat is applied to the buried ion implanted layer decreases, and lateral diffusion is effectively suppressed, has been proposed as another method of preventing auto-doping (for example, refer to JP-A-2006-210934).

Semiconductor device manufacturing method


The invention relates to a contact system for establishing an electric connection between a vehicle and a power supply having a first pole and a second pole for charging the vehicle, secondary contact surfaces being mounted such that they surround a second insulating surface, wherein the second insulating surface has at least one minimum width which is greater than the peripheral size of one of the contacted primary contact surfaces in the same direction (X, Y, Z).

Such a contacting system is known, for example, from the document U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,967 B2, which discloses a vehicle with a secondary transmission element and a primary transmission element embedded in the road surface of a parking space. When the vehicle, driven by an electric motor, is parked in the parking space, a mechanism then lowers the secondary transmission element onto the primary transmission element, whereby electric current can flow in order to charge the vehicle's power supply via contact surfaces of the transmission elements.
The primary transmission element embedded in the road surface of the parking space is formed by two rows of round primary contact surfaces, electrically insulated from each other, arranged in the shape of a rectangle or grid. Control means are assigned to the primary transmission element, which means are connected, on the one hand, to each of the primary contact surfaces and, on the other hand, to a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a low-voltage power source in the range of from 12 to 24 volts. By means of the control means, each of the primary contact surfaces, which are for the time being switched potential-free, can be connected to the positive terminal or to the negative terminal.
The secondary transmission element on the vehicle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,967 B2 has a row of square secondary contact surfaces, wherein the sizes of the contact surfaces have been selected such that no short circuits of the contact surfaces of a transmission element can result through contact surfaces of the other transmission element. After the mechanical lowering of the secondary transmission element onto the primary transmission element, the control means determine which primary and secondary contact surfaces are in electrical contact and then connect the appropriate primary contact surfaces of the primary transmission element to the positive terminal, and the appropriate secondary contact surfaces of the secondary transmission element to the negative terminal of the low-voltage source, so that the vehicle's power supply is charged.
In the case of the known contacting system, it has proved to be disadvantageous that, with the low-voltage source, the charging processes last a relatively long time which is why, in the case of a parking duration of, for example, only an hour, the vehicle's power supply is not completely charged. For safety reasons, the use of voltages lying above the low-voltage range between positive terminal and negative terminal is not feasible, as otherwise electrifications can result if for example a person reaches under the vehicle and onto the contact surfaces during the charging process.

Contact system for establishing an electric connection between a vehicle and a power supply


The invention provides a fastener stringer for a concealed slide fastener in which right and left fastener tapes respectively include a tape body portion, a tape bend portion bent into a U-shape and an element mounting portion, a hollow weave portion is formed at each fastener tape, and a film body is accommodated in the hollow weave portion in a state of being sewn together with a fastener element as one side edge thereof being located to the tape bend portion side from a sewing thread. Accordingly, since stiffness of the hollow weave portion is improved by the film body, a closely-contacted state between the right and left tape bend portions is stably maintained and concealing characteristics of the concealed slide fastener can be improved.

In general, slide fasteners are roughly classified into two representative types which are a slide fastener of a normal type in which coupled right and left element rows are exposed as being disposed at a tape top face side of fastener tapes and a slide fastener of a concealed type (i.e., a so-called concealed slide fastener) capable of concealing coupled right and left element rows not to be viewable from the outside. Such a concealed slide fastener is preferably used for products such as various clothing and shoes, and recently, has been used for products such as seat covers for seats of automobiles or trains as taking advantage not to worsen product design owing to the concealing characteristics.
An example of such a concealed slide fastener is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 51-4826 (Patent Document 1).
A concealed slide fastener 80 disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a right-and-left pair of fastener stringers 81 and a slider 82 capable of opening and closing the right and left fastener stringers 81, as illustrated in FIG. 13.
Each fastener stringer 81 of the right and left includes a woven fastener tape 83 and a continuously-shaped fastener element 84 which is sewn to the fastener tape 83. Each fastener tape 83 includes a tape body portion 83a, a tape bend portion 83b bent into a U-shape as extending from one side edge of the tape body portion 83a in the tape width direction, and an element mounting portion 83c to which a fastener element is sewn as further extending from the tape bend portion 83b. Further, a hardened portion 83d hardened by being impregnated with synthetic resin liquid is disposed to the element mounting portion 83c and a part of the tape bend portion 83b at the element mounting portion 83c side.
The fastener element 84 includes a coupling head 84a, upper and lower leg portions 84b, 84c extending from the coupling head 84a, and a connecting portion 84d which connects the mutually adjacent fastener elements 84. Further, a recess 84e to which the fastener tape 83 is inserted is formed at the upper face of the upper leg portion 84b which is contacted to the fastener tape 83.
In the concealed slide fastener 80 of Patent Document 1, the fastener element 84 is sewn to the hardened element mounting portion 83c of the fastener tape 83 with a sewing thread 85 in a state that the hardened portion 83d of the fastener tape 83 is fitted to the recess 84e which is formed at the fastener element 84.
According to the concealed slide fastener 80 of Patent Document 1, since the element mounting portion 83c and a part of the tape bend portion 83b of the fastener tape 83 are hardened, a closely-contacted state between the tape bend portions 83b of the right and left fastener tapes 83 can be stably maintained when the right and left fastener elements 84 are coupled.
Accordingly, even if lateral tension force to laterally open the fastener tapes 83 is applied in a state that the right and left fastener elements 84 are coupled, for example, clearance-forming between the right and left tape bend portions 83b can be prevented by preventing the tape bend portions 83b which are closely contacted to each other from moving in a separating direction. Thus, the right and left fastener elements 84 in a coupled state can be stably concealed not to be viewable from an exposure face side of the concealed slide fastener 80.
Further, in Patent Document 1, a concealed slide fastener in which hardening is performed by fixing a synthetic-resin-made film body to one face (i.e., a tape outer face) of a partial area of a fastener tape instead of hardening a partial area by impregnating with synthetic resin liquid is disclosed as a modified example of the concealed slide fastener. It is possible to harden a partial area of a fastener tape also by fixing a synthetic-resin-made film body to the partial area of the fastener tape as described above. Thus, a closely-contacted state between the tape bend portions of the right and left fastener tapes can be stably maintained also by fixing the film body in a state that the right and left fastener elements are coupled. In this manner, the fastener elements can be stably concealed.

Fastener stringer for concealed slide fastener


An example of an information processing device obtains control data for a panoramic video. The control data includes a time condition and a direction condition. The information processing device displays, on a display device, an image of the panoramic video in a viewing range corresponding to a viewing direction determined based on an input on a predetermined input device. It is determined whether the time condition included in the control data is satisfied for a playback time point of the panoramic video being played on the display device. It is also determined whether the direction condition included in the control data is satisfied for the viewing direction determined based on an input. Based on a determination result for the time condition and the direction condition the information processing device performs a predetermined information process.

There are conventional techniques for producing and displaying a panoramic image on a display device.
Conventional techniques merely display a panoramic image, and it has been desired to provide various information together with the panoramic image.
Thus, the present disclosure provides a storage medium storing an information processing program, an information processing device, an information processing system, a panoramic video display method, and a storage medium storing control data capable of presenting more information to the user when displaying a panoramic image.
(1)
An example of a storage medium described in the present specification is a computer-readable and non-transitory storage medium storing an information processing program to be executed by a computer of an information processing device for displaying a partial area of a panoramic video on a display device. The information processing program instructs the computer to execute: an obtaining process, a display control process, a time condition determination process, a direction condition determination process, and an execution process.
That is, the computer obtains control data including a time condition relating to time on a playback time axis of the panoramic video and a direction condition relating to a viewing direction corresponding to an area of the panoramic video to be displayed. The computer displays, on the display device, an image of the panoramic video in a viewing range corresponding to a viewing direction determined based on an input on a predetermined input device. The computer determines whether the time condition included in the control data is satisfied for a playback time point of the panoramic video being played on the display device. The computer determines whether the direction condition included in the control data is satisfied for the viewing direction determined based on an input. The computer performs a predetermined information process relating to making an output to a user in sync with the panoramic video being played based on a determination result for the time condition and the direction condition.
With configuration (1) above, the information processing device obtains control data including a time condition and a direction condition, and performs a predetermined information process relating to outputting an image and/or a sound together with the panoramic video being played based on a determination result for the time condition and the direction condition. Thus, it is possible to present, to the user, addition information together with the panoramic video, and it is possible to present more information to the user when displaying a panoramic image. Moreover, by setting the time condition and the direction condition using the control data, it is possible to easily set the condition and the point in time for presenting the information.
(2)
The time condition may be that a playback time point of the panoramic video being played be included within a period specified in the time condition.
With configuration (2) above, it is possible to perform a control such that information is output over a period specified in the time condition, of the period over which the panoramic video is played.
(3)
The direction condition may be that the viewing direction determined based on an input be included within a range specified in the direction condition.
With configuration (3) above, it is possible to perform a control such that information is output when the viewing direction controlled by the user is included within the range specified in the direction condition.
(4)
The range specified in the direction condition may be smaller than a viewing range of the panoramic video displayed on the display device. Then, where a playback time point of the panoramic video being played is within a period specified in the time condition, the predetermined information process may be started in response to inclusion of the viewing direction determined based on an input within the range specified in the direction condition.
With configuration (4) above, the information process is performed at a point in time when the direction condition is satisfied during a period in which the time condition is satisfied, whereby information is output together with the panoramic video. That is, information starts to be presented at a point in time when the viewing direction faces the direction of the object or at a point in time when the object is included within the display range, for example, rather than automatically presenting the information when a point in time has been reached. Therefore, with configuration (4) above, it is possible to output additional information with appropriate timing for the user.
(5)
The direction condition may be that the viewing direction determined based on an input be not included within a range specified in the direction condition.
With configuration (5) above, it is possible to perform a control such that information is output when the viewing direction controlled by the user is not included within the range specified in the direction condition.
(6)
It may be determined whether the direction condition is satisfied based on whether or not a display range on the display device determined by the viewing direction overlaps a range specified in the direction condition included in the control data.
With configuration (6) above, it is possible to determine the direction condition based on the relationship between the display range determined by the viewing direction controlled by the user and the range specified in the direction condition. For example, this allows for a control such as to turn on and off the output of information (e.g., a comment) based on whether the object corresponding to the direction condition (e.g., the object to which a comment is added) is included within the display range.
(7)
The control data may be data in which the time condition, the direction condition, and an information process to be performed when the time condition and the direction condition are satisfied are associated together.
With configuration (7) above, information relating to an information process to be performed during the playback of the panoramic video and information relating to a condition for performing the information process can be presented as one piece of control data, thus making it easy to handle such information.
(8)
The control data may further include an execution condition indicating whether the information process is to be performed when the time condition is satisfied and the direction condition is satisfied, or the information process is to be performed when the time condition is satisfied and the direction condition is not satisfied.
With configuration (8) above, it is possible using the execution condition to change the range (regarding the viewing direction) specified in the direction condition, and it is therefore possible to easily set or change the contents of the direction condition.
(9)
The control data may further include display position information which specifies a position at which an image is displayed by the predetermined information process. An information process of displaying an image at a position specified by the display position information included in the control data may be performed.
With configuration (9) above, where an image is displayed by the information process, it is possible by using the control data to easily specify a position at which the image is displayed.
(10)
The process of making an output to the user in sync with the panoramic video being played may be started in response to satisfaction of the time condition and the direction condition.
With configuration (10) above, it is possible to present information at a point in time when the direction condition and the time condition are satisfied, and it is therefore possible to present the information to the user at an appropriate point in time.
(11)
Additional control data including the time condition and not including the direction condition may be further obtained for a panoramic video to be played on the display device. Determination may be further made for a time condition included in the additional control data for a playback time point of the panoramic video being played. A predetermined information process relating to making an output to a user in sync with the panoramic video being played may be performed based on a determination result for the time condition included in the additional control data.
With configuration (11) above, it is possible by using the additional control data to output information independently of the viewing direction controlled by the user. That is, by using the additional control data in addition to the control data, it is possible to control the output of information by a wider variety of methods.
Note that the present specification discloses an information processing device and an information processing system having units equivalent to those realized by executing the information processing program of (1) to (11) above. The present specification also discloses an information presenting method to be carried out in (1) to (11) above. The present specification also discloses a storage medium storing the control data described above.
With the storage medium storing an information processing program, the information processing device, the information processing system, the panoramic video display method, and the storage medium storing control data described above, it is possible to output information together with the panoramic video using the control data, and it is possible to present more information to a user when displaying a panoramic image.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Storage medium storing information processing program, information processing device, information processing system, panoramic video display method, and storage medium storing control data


Systems and methods are provided for controlling vapor recovery in a pressurized system. A first vessel is configured to receive gas or condensate from a station at a first pressure, the first vessel including a first output for outputting vapor to a liquid cooled compressor. A second vessel is configured to receive condensate from the first vessel, the second vessel being controlled to maintain a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, the second vessel including a first output for outputting vapor to the first vessel, the second vessel including a second output for outputting condensate to a storage container. A second compressor is configured to maintain the second pressure at the second vessel, and a pumping network is configured to transport liquid from the compressor to the first vessel and the second vessel to increase temperatures at the first vessel and the second vessel.

Gas and condensate extracted from a well, such as a natural gas well, include a variety of volatiles including light-weight volatiles (e.g., methane, ethane, propane, and butane) that are prone to boil off to atmosphere. For example, when stored in a storage tank (e.g., an API storage tank) at atmospheric pressure, such light-weight volatiles can be lost to atmosphere, resulting in a greenhouse gas emission and a loss of product that could otherwise be sold. Systems and methods as described herein can, in certain embodiments, provide a number of benefits including reduction of such emissions and improvement in a quality of product (e.g., gas, condensate) made available for transport, processing, sale, and use.

Systems and methods for greenhouse gas reduction and condensate treatment

Targa Pipeline Mid-Continent Holdings LLC


An initialization arrangement is disclosed that allows call services defined in service profiles stored in a switching system to be enabled for individual terminals in a multipoint configuration without requiring assignment of terminal endpoint identifiers or virtual channel identifiers at subscription time. The call services are enabled for a terminal when the terminal transmits two identifiers to the switching system, one identifier defining the terminal and the other identifier defining a service profile. The switching system includes the identifier of the service profile in broadcast messages to address terminals with features defined by that service profile. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed, one applicable in a narrowband integrated service digital network (ISDN) and the other applicable in a broadband ISDN (BISDN).

Multiple terminals are connectable to a single digital subscriber line with an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) multipoint interface, defined in Recommendation I.430 of the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT). The multipoint interface allows a customer to add terminals without providing additional wiring to the customer premises. In the past, switching systems stored data defining the call services for a terminal based on an equipment number associated with the line connecting the terminal to the switching system. Per-line service definition is ineffective, however, in a multipoint arrangement because it requires all terminals on a given digital subscriber line to have identical services. A customer, however, may need services to be defined individually for the terminals, requiring for example, differing feature button definitions for terminals on the same digital subscriber line.
One approach to the provision of individually defined services for terminals on a multipoint interface is to assign fixed terminal endpoint identifiers and store service data in the switching system based on these terminal endpoint identifiers. Requiring assignment of fixed terminal endpoint identifiers at subscription time, however, increases the administrative overhead for adding new terminals or moving existing terminals to new locations. In such an arrangement, moving a terminal between digital subscriber lines requires a service order to update the data stored in the switching system. Thus, before adding or moving terminals, a customer submits a service order request and then waits, possibly several days, until the request is processed and the data are updated. Furthermore, since unique terminal endpoint identifiers are required for each terminal, adding terminals, even terminals configured with the same services as another of the customer's terminals, requires a service order.
Moreover, in an arrangement having subscribed-to terminal endpoint identifiers, the switching system is unable to selectively address terminals in a message broadcast to all terminals on a digital subscriber line. CCITT Recommendation Q.931 requires broadcasting of certain messages such as messages offering incoming calls. If a customer requires a terminal to audibly alert for incoming calls to a particular directory number while another terminal on the same digital subscriber line silently alerts for calls to that directory number, conflicting call setup messages are required. The switching system needs a mechanism to address each message to the appropriate terminals while still broadcasting the messages to all terminals on the digital subscriber line. When broadcasting on a digital subscriber line, the switching system must use a global terminal endpoint identifier rather than the individual terminal endpoint identifiers of each terminal. Thus, even when the service information specifies conflicting terminating treatment for different terminals, the switching system is unable to address messages to the appropriate terminals.
In view of the foregoing, a recognized problem in the art is the difficulty of providing conflicting call services for terminals in a multipoint configuration and allowing broadcast messages to contain address information specifying particular terminals based on the services enabled for each terminal while limiting the administrative overhead for adding and moving terminals.


Vest panels are constructed with outwardly exposed Velcro material (hook and loop) panels and 1″ interval sewn webbing to create an attachment system (MOLLE) that allows items to be attached to the outside of the front and back piece plate holders. The closure flap holding the hard armor plate inserts are lined with “SPECTRA” ballistic fabric which resists wearing on the flap from the inside, making it more secure. Hook and loop fastening is used to secure the top and bottom of the armor plate insert flap assembly for secure closure. The front and back sections of the vest are attached one to the other at the shoulder with adjustable straps using hook and loop overlapped lengths to form a “clam shell” unit. Protective soft gear is placed in the inwardly oriented mesh pocket of the vest, and armor plate is placed in the outside pocket. Front and back sections are further secured one to the other with a “side plate holding” system which is constructed to hold a side armor plate as well as to secure the front and back sections to the user with hook and loop material connected with elastic webbing elements to provide for resilient but comfortable movement of the wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a vest for carrying armor plates and ballistic panels. Specifically, this invention relates to a light weight multi-layered vest garment with internally and externally accessible pockets for carrying and retaining armor plate and ballistic panels. The vest is adjustable to be form fitting allowing users to experience greater mobility and ease of wearing features.
2. Background
Personally worn armor plate and ballistic panels have become common place for special purpose police assignments, i.e., SWAT Teams, ATF, and also on the battlefield for soldiers of all types. While effective in their role of offering protection, currently available vest garments for carrying armor and ballistic panels are heavy and cumbersome to use. Most vests on the market are made with two to three times the mass of material, as compared to the vest described herein, in addition they have heavy zippers and release methods that are slow or unable to operate smoothly. Many units use a heavy plastic-coated metal cable to hold portions of the vest in place, as a rapid release option, which often times becomes bound up and unable to operate smoothly. Many other vests use a wrap around waist securing system, using cord and metal cable to attach to the unit, all of which is heavy and restricts the ability of the user to operate smoothly and without excessive chafing over time.

Form fitting vest for carrying armor plates and ballistic panels


A multilayer ceramic device includes an external electrode disposed on a piezoelectric ceramic body including internal electrodes. The external electrode is a sintered body in which an Ag grid is integrally embedded in a coating film primarily composed of Ag. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a multilayer ceramic device having outstanding properties, such as durability and moisture resistance, without leading to poor electrical continuity and a decrease in conductivity even when a continuous operation is performed for a prolonged period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to thick film electrodes and multilayer ceramic electronic devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a thick film electrode disposed on a surface of any one of various electronic devices, such as multilayer ceramic electronic devices, and a multilayer ceramic electronic device, such as a multilayer piezoelectric device including the thick film electrode as an external electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional multilayer ceramic electronic device, such as a multilayer piezoelectric device, thick-film external electrodes primarily composed of a conductive material, such as Ag, are disposed at both end surfaces of a multilayer piezoelectric component in which an internal electrode is embedded.
In general, the external electrodes are formed by printing or applying a conductive paste on the multilayer piezoelectric component and then performing firing. The conductive paste is formed by kneading a conductive powder, such as Ag, a glass frit, an organic resin, and an organic solvent.
However, in such a multilayer ceramic electronic device, repeated expansion and contraction of the ceramic laminate during polarization treatment or in the subsequent operation for a prolonged period causes the ceramic laminate to fatigue, thus resulting in a crack. Then, the crack extends to the external electrode, thereby fracturing the external electrode. As a result, the multilayer ceramic electronic device does not function as an electronic device.
Accordingly, a known multilayer ceramic capacitor-type electrostrictive device has been proposed, the device being produced by bringing a conductive component, such as a metal plate, steel wool, or a conductive rubber, into contact with the side surface of an external electrode, covering the conductive component with a heat-shrinkable tube, and shrinking the heat-shrinkable tube with a hot blast (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-218519).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-218519 attempts to ensure the electrical connection by bonding the conductive component to the external electrode, even if a crack occurs in the laminate or the external electrode.
In another known technique, a multilayer piezoelectric actuator device has been proposed, the device including a pair of conductive members and a pair of external electrodes. Each conductive member is spaced from and facing the corresponding side surface, and each conductive member is connected to the corresponding external electrode (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-9356).
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-9356, one end of the conductive member in the width direction is bonded to the external electrode by brazing, and the other end of the conductive member in the width direction is a free end. Even if a crack occurs in the laminate or the external electrode, this structure avoids the extension of the crack to ensure the continuity of the conductive member, thereby preventing a deterioration in function.
However, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-218519 has the following problems: as shown in FIG. 7, the conductive member 53 is merely bonded to the external electrode 52 with the heat-shrinkable tube 51. That is, the conductive member 53 is not integrally formed with the external electrode 51, which results in discontinuous adhesion at a bonded surface 54. Thus, when a crack 56 occurs in a ceramic laminate 55 because of, for example, a continuous operation for a prolonged period, a tensile stress acts in the directions of Arrows a and a′. As a result, the external electrode 52 may be ruptured, thus leading to poor electrical continuity.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-218519 has further problems as described below: the external electrode 52 is bonded to the conductive member 53 as described above. That is, the contact between the external electrode 52 and the conductive member 53 establishes the continuity. Thus, if the device is subjected to high temperature and high humidity for a prolonged period of time, the conductivity disadvantageously decreases.
Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-9356 has the following problems: since the external electrode is not integrally formed with the conductive member, the device has low mechanical strength. Thus, similarly to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-218519, the occurrence of a crack in the laminate or the external electrode results in continuity failure. Moreover, if the device is subjected to high temperature and high humidity for a prolonged period of time, the conductivity disadvantageously decreases.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-9356 has further problems as follows: since the external electrode is bonded to the conductive member by brazing, stress is concentrated on the interface between the external electrode and the conductive member. Thus, detachment is likely to occur at the interface.

Thick film electrode and multilayer ceramic electronic device


Solid state light emitting devices include one or more light affecting elements (e.g., of one or more light-transmissive, light-absorptive, light-reflective, and/or lumiphoric materials) formed on, over, or around at least one solid state light emitter, with the light affecting elements including multiple fused elements embodying plurality of dots, rods, or layers such as may be formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing. At least one electrically conductive path in electrical communication with a solid state light emitter may be formed by selective material deposition such as 3D printing. Light affecting elements may be individually tailored to individual solid state light emitters, such as to yield different optical distributions for interactions between each specific emitter and its corresponding light affecting element.

Electrically activated emitters such as LEDs or lasers may be utilized to provide white light (e.g., perceived as being white or near-white), and have been investigated as potential replacements for incandescent, fluorescent, and metal halide high intensity discharge lamps. Solid state emitters may have associated filters that alter the color of the light and/or include lumiphoric materials (e.g., phosphors, scintillators, or lumiphoric inks/fluorescent dyes) that absorb a portion of emissions having a first peak wavelength emitted by the emitter and re-emit light having a second peak wavelength that differs from the first peak wavelength. Light perceived as white or near-white may be generated by a combination of red, green, and blue ("RGB") emitters, or, alternatively, by combined emissions of a blue light emitting diode ("LED") and a lumiphor such as a yellow phosphor. In the latter case, a portion of the blue LED emissions pass through the phosphor, while another portion of the blue LED emissions is converted to yellow, and the blue and yellow light in combination provide light that is perceived as white. Another approach for producing white light is to stimulate lumiphors of multiple colors with a violet or ultraviolet LED source.
LEDs are commercially available as bare LED chips, or as single-chip or multi-chip LED packages. A LED package may include a substrate or submount and at least one LED chip arranged over the substrate or submount. A LED package may further include one or more of the following features: electrical contacts, protective material such as an encapsulant, a reflector, and a lens or diffuser. Fabrication of a conventional LED package typically entails multiple steps such as formation of a leadframe, molding a package body around the leadframe, adding a reflective material to the package body, mounting LED chips to the leadframe, establishing electrical connections between the leadframe and the LED chips (e.g., by forming wirebonds), providing encapsulant material, lumiphoric material, and/or light dispersing material over the LEDs, and adding or forming a lens. LED chips or LED packages may be used in fabricating lighting devices that often include further reflectors, lenses, and the like.
LED chips and/or LED packages are typically performance tested and "binned" (i.e., sorted) according to ranges of dominant wavelength and brightness. Such binning permits intensity and/or color matching between various LED chips or LED packages for use in a particular product or product line. Performance characteristics of LED chips or LED packages may affect their economic value and/or utilization in saleable products. It would be desirable to reduce differences in performance between different LED chips or LED packages after binning is complete, but it has been impractical to do so.
Potential benefits associated with solid state emitters relative to other light emitting device technologies include increased efficiency, longer service life (with concomitant reduction in maintenance costs), reduced waste heat emissions, reduced size/form factor, and mercury-free construction. Numerous end use applications exist for solid state lighting devices, including (but not limited to) interior and exterior lighting for residential/commercial/industrial/entertainment structures and facilities, interior and exterior lighting for vehicles (including but not limited to automobiles), and street lighting (including lighting for roadways and parking areas). Street lighting represents a particularly desirable end use for solid state lighting technology, since it is difficult and expensive to periodically replace light-emitting components of street lights, and long life of solid state lighting devices dramatically reduces the frequency with which light-emitting components need to be changed relative to emitters embodying other lighting technologies.
In typical street light applications, it is desirable to provide sufficiently even light distribution to meet recommended street light uniformity levels while minimizing spillover of light in undesired directions (i.e., wasted light) and minimizing hot spots that may lead to undesirable visibility, safety, and/or glare problems. A traditional filament-based lamp emits light from a single source (i.e., a bulb), and utilizes shields, reflectors, and/or lenses to point an emitted beam in one or more desired directions. In contrast, when solid state (e.g., LED) lamps are used for street lighting applications, an array of packaged LEDs may be placed (e.g., at different angles) in a luminaire, with light affecting elements such as reflectors, shields, and/or secondary optics typically arranged to direct light emitted by the packaged LEDs to desired locations. The use of multiple light affecting elements for individual LEDs (or groups of LEDs) provides enhanced flexibility in controlling properties (e.g., shape, direction, overlap, etc.) of multiple output beams; however, it can be cumbersome and labor-intensive to provide a large number of light affecting elements in a single luminaire and to match individual light affecting elements to individual solid state emitters. Moreover, the use of primary optics associated with LED packages in conjunction with secondary optics associated such luminaires tends to result in optical losses that slightly reduce light output.
The art continues to seek improved lighting devices and lighting device fabrication methods that address one or more limitations inherent to conventional devices and methods.

Solid state lighting devices and fabrication methods including deposited light-affecting elements


Provided is an excimer lamp light source device that achieves low cost and avoids the occurrence of narrowly-defined contracted discharge by adopting a lamp bulb having a simple structure and of the type in which a discharge current is passed in a tube axis direction.

Regarding the excimer lamp light source device, for example, as described, in JP-B2-2854250, JP-B2-3296284, JP-B2-3353684, JP-B2-3355976, JP-B2-3521731 and the like, by the applicant of the present invention, technological development has been carried out to strongly drive excimer lamps and obtain UV emission with high efficiency to the utmost limit. The motive thereof is made in consideration for application in commercial equipment that can be used in factories and the like.
As described in (a) and (c) of FIG. 1 of JP-B2-3355976, tubular excimer lamps in which a current passes in a direction perpendicular to a tube axis (that is, in a diameter direction or radial direction of a tube) are the mainstream.
On the other hand, in contrast to these, the UV light sources used for UV sterilization, UV deodorization or the like, in ordinary households are relatively small-scale light source devices, and therefore, high efficiency to the utmost limit is not required. Instead, the devices may be required to be commercialized at the lowest possible cost, and for such applications, the techniques described in the above-described documents have not always been optimal.
In the case of a lamp such as an excimer lamp that uses external electrodes, the lamp that can be commercialized at the lowest cost is the one of a type in which a simple cylindrical glass tubular body is filled with a discharge medium and both tube ends are hermetically sealed to form a lamp bulb, external electrodes composed of ring-shaped or cap-shaped conductors are provided near both of the sealed tube ends, and a discharge current is passed in a direction of a tube axis of the glass tube (hereinafter, "a type in which a discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction" refers to this type).
The reason for why this type of lamp can be manufactured at low cost is that the structure of the lamp bulb is simple. Therefore, a large number of this type of lamp have been proposed since past time.
Although there are technologies described in, for example, JP-A-2003-100482, JP-A-2004-022209, JP-A-2004-079270, JP-A-2004-146351, JP-A-2004-179059, JP-A-2005-011710, JP-A-2005-267908, JP-A-2006-019100, JP-A-2006-085983, JP-A-2007-053117, and others, almost all of these types practically contain mercury as a discharge medium (some of techniques do not exclude those that do not contain mercury, but only those that contain mercury are listed in the examples).
There is a reason that most of this type of lamps are mercury lamps. The reason is that lamps that allow the discharge current to flow in the tube axis direction of the glass tube tends to have a longer discharge path than lamps that allow the discharge current to flow in the direction perpendicular to the tube axis. By having mercury vapor in the glass tube to make the current flow easily (Penning effect), a required level of applied voltage can be kept within the practical range.
However, it is not appropriate to use a light source containing harmful mercury for household appliances that are used with food, beverages, clothing or the like, as described above.
On the other hand, in the excimer lamp, a rare gas or mixed gas of the rare gas and halogen is used as the discharge gas and the content of mercury can be avoided. Because of this, in attempting to actualize the lamp of the type in which a discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction, while the required length as a lamp bulb suitable for the application is provided and the applied voltage is suppressed within a practical range, the pressure of the gas to be filled needs to be very low. Therefore, this causes a problem that the efficiency of UV emission is lowered.
However, as described above, in the assumption of being used in the devices, such as in the household appliances which does not require high efficiency to the utmost limit and whose size is relatively small or length of the lamp bulb can be made relatively short, practicality can also be found in the excimer lamp of the type in which the discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction.
Therefore, the inventors of the present invention created an excimer lamp of the type in which the discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction and having a lamp bulb structure as described in JP-A-2005-267908 (however, a phosphor film, a magnesium oxide film, and mercury described in JP-A-2005-267908 were not contained) as a preliminary test lamp.
The configuration is as shown in FIG. 14, which is a schematic diagram of a concept related to a technique of an excimer lamp light source device of the present invention.
The excimer lamp (Y′) was created by filling a discharge space (Yg′), being surrounded by a lamp bulb (Yt′) and a hermetically sealed part (Ys′) at both ends, with xenon gas at an appropriate pressure, and by arranging external electrodes (Ye1′, Ye2′) each formed by winding a strip-shaped metal plate.
However, as described in JP-B2-3149780, based on the finding that it is possible to reduce the applied voltage for starting the discharge by arranging a conductive substance on a part of the inner surface of the lamp bulb, a carbon paste film forming region as an easily dischargeable substance layer was formed on the inner surface of one end of the lamp bulb.
In FIG. 14, the carbon paste film forming region is not shown in order to prevent the drawing elements from overlapping and becoming difficult to see.
Then, when an inverter that generates a high-voltage alternating current (AC) was connected to the external electrodes (Ye1′, Ye2′), the preliminary test lamp was turned on, and an intensity of the generated UV light was measured, it has been found that the intensity was far from the expected practical intensity, and the UV emission efficiency with respect to the input power to the lamp was extremely low.
As a result of observation of the discharge state of the preliminary test lamp in order to investigate the cause, the initial prediction was that a diffused discharge (Gd′) would be generated, which is a discharge generated in the discharge space in the lamp bulb in a uniform manner over a space surrounded by the two ring-shaped external electrodes and the entire volume located therebetween as shown in (a) of FIG. 14. However, a narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) being a thin linear discharge as shown in (b) of FIG. 14 was generated. Note that this term "narrowly-defined contracted discharge" is described later.
Because this lamp is intended for UV application and not for general lighting, there is no problem in that the linear narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) is generated.
However, if there is a causal relationship between this narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) and the extremely low UV emission efficiency, the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) needs to be avoided and the diffused discharge (Gd′) needs to be surely generated.
Additionally, the shape of the discharge path of the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) was various, in some cases wound and in some cases close to a straight line, but the shape was mainly recognized as a single bright line.
When the narrowly-defined contracted discharge was generated, the diffused discharge was generated in a partial space whose outer side is surrounded by the external electrodes (Ye1′, Ye2′) within the inner region of the lamp bulb (Yt′).
Although boundary points defining a range of the discharge path of the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) are not always clear, the ends of the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) appeared to be almost in contact with the inner surface of the lamp bulb (Yt′) facing the portions whose outer side is surrounded by the external electrodes (Ye1′, Ye2′).
In the discharge space (Yg′) between the external electrodes (Ye1′, Ye2′) on both sides, the discharge path of the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) is not in contact with the inner surface of the lamp bulb (Yt′) in many cases. Therefore, the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) is not due to creeping discharge.
Now, the term "narrowly-defined contracted discharge" is described.
The expression "contracted discharge" also appears in many of the prior art documents described below, but the characteristics thereof in the prior art are different from those of the thin linear discharge described here.
Therefore, for the purpose of avoiding confusion, the thin linear discharge described here is called the narrowly-defined contracted discharge to distinguish the term from those in the prior art.
In the present description, the "narrowly-defined contracted discharge" is defined to indicate discharge,
in an excimer lamp of a type in which a lamp bulb has both ends of a tubular body being hermetically sealed and has an easily dischargeable substance layer formed on a surface in contact with a discharge space, and which does not have an internal electrode, passes a discharge current in the tube axis direction, and has a pair of external electrodes, the discharge being a discharge that mainly has a form consisting of one linear discharge path that extends from the vicinity of an inner surface portion of the lamp bulb facing a portion of the lamp bulb which one of the external electrodes is close to or in contact with, to the vicinity of the inner surface portion of the lamp bulb facing a portion of the lamp bulb which the other of the external electrodes is close to or in contact with.
Note that the reason why it is described as "mainly" is that, in addition to the discharge having the form consisting of one linear discharge path described above, although it is very rare, there may be the case in which the discharge has a plurality of linear discharge paths from one to the other of the external electrode-facing inner surface portions (the vicinity of the inner surface portions of the lamp bulb facing the portions of the lamp bulb which the external electrodes are close to or in contact with, as described above is hereinafter abbreviated as this term), in which the discharge extends in the discharge space as linear discharge paths from two distant locations of one of the external electrode-facing inner surface portions and the two linear discharge paths join into one in the middle to form a Y-shape in entirety, or still further, in which the linear discharge path appears from one of the external electrode-facing inner surface portion to the portion in the middle of the discharge space and becomes diffused discharge from that point to the other of the external electrode-facing inner surface portion.
In the present invention, the discharge having the rare appearing linear discharge paths as such are also referred to as the narrowly-defined contracted discharge.
As documents referring to contracted discharge in an excimer lamp, WO 2005/057611, JP-A-2005-174632, JP-A-2006-351541, JP-A-2008-243521, and JP-A-2008-262805 describe a dielectric barrier discharge fluorescent lamp having internal and external electrodes and using a rare gas such as xenon as a discharge medium. The documents propose a technique of, while the contracted discharge is allowed to be generated near the internal electrode, fixing the contracted discharge in order to prevent flicker of the brightness of the lamp (harmful as a fluorescent lamp for illumination) caused by temporal change of the position where the contracted discharge is generated.
JP-A-2006-079830 describes a dielectric barrier discharge fluorescent lamp having internal and external electrodes and using a rare gas such as xenon as a discharge medium, in which a technique to suppress the generation of contracted discharge by dividing the electrode into a plurality of pieces is proposed.
WO 2008/038527 describes a dielectric barrier discharge fluorescent lamp having internal and external electrodes and using a rare gas mainly composed of xenon as a discharge medium, in which there is a description that when the applied voltage is increased, the contracted discharge state occurs in the vicinity of the internal electrode.
JP-A-2005-327659 describes a dielectric barrier discharge fluorescent lamp having internal and external electrodes and using a rare gas mainly composed of xenon as a discharge medium, in which there is a description that the contracted discharge is more likely to be generated as the current increases.
JP-A-2006-338897 describes a dielectric barrier discharge fluorescent lamp having internal and external electrodes and using a rare gas mainly composed of xenon as a discharge medium, in which there is a description that when the applied voltage is increased, the state shifts to the contracted discharge state near the internal electrode, and that as the operating frequency of an inverter decreases, the contracted discharge is less likely to be generated near the internal electrode.
JP-A-2000-223079 describes a dielectric barrier discharge fluorescent lamp of a type in which the current is passed in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis, which has a pair of strip-shaped external electrodes extending in the longitudinal direction of a tubular lamp bulb or has a linear internal electrode located at the central axis of the tubular lamp bulb and a strip-shaped external electrode, rather than the type in which the discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction, and using a rare gas mainly composed of xenon as a discharge medium. The document describes that when the gas pressure of xenon gas is increased, a phenomenon occurs in which the discharge contracts, and this contraction causes innumerable whisker-like discharges.
JP-A-2014-030763 describes an excimer lamp of a type in which the current is passed in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis, which has a pair of strip-shaped external electrodes extending in the longitudinal direction of a tubular lamp bulb, rather than the type in which the discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction, and using xenon and iodine as discharge media. The document describes that when the xenon partial pressure is increased while the iodine partial pressure is kept constant, the diffused discharge is generated in a low voltage region lower than 12 kV, but a plurality of filament discharges are generated when the pressure becomes higher than the region.
Most of the documents referring to the contracted discharge in the excimer lamps mentioned above are for the lamps of the type having internal and external electrodes, and all the documents describing the position where the contracted discharge is generated describes that the contracted discharge is generated near the internal electrode. Further, there is no information on the number of lines of contracted discharge; therefore, these cases do not apply to the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) whose number of lines of discharge is mainly one, in the excimer lamp (Y′) not having the internal electrode.
Regarding the lamp having no internal electrode and only the external electrode, there is information available only for the lamp of the type in which the current is passed orthogonal to the tube axis direction, rather than the type in which the discharge current is passed in the tube axis direction. Besides, there is only description of "innumerable whisker-like discharges are generated" or "plurality of filament discharges are generated", which does not apply to the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) whose number of lines of discharge is mainly one, in the excimer lamp (Y′).
Therefore, there is no information on the contracted discharge corresponding to the narrowly-defined contracted discharge (Gs′) in the excimer lamp of the type having only the external electrode and passing the discharge current in the tube axis direction, which is of interest in the present invention.
Further, as described above, there is information available only on the lamp that contains mercury, in the type of lamp having only the external electrode and passing the discharge current in the tube axis direction.

Abstract: The excimer lamp light source device includes: an excimer lamp that has a pair of external electrodes configured to induce an electric discharge in a discharge space of a lamp bulb and to cause a discharge current to flow in a tube axis direction of the lamp bulb, and that generates UV light in the discharge space by the discharge; and an inverter having a transformer equipped with a secondary winding to which the external electrodes are connected in order to apply a high-voltage alternating current to the excimer lamp, the inverter supplying power lower than power that causes a linear discharge.


Dilatation catheters for use in administering treatments to relieve stenotic regions within a body lumen while maintaining blood flow past the dilatation balloons are described. According to the present invention, perfusion ports are provided in both a guidewire lumen and in a bypass lumen in several alternative embodiments in order to provide increased blood flow past the dilatation balloon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of catheters. More specifically, the present invention relates to dilatation catheters for use in administering treatments to relieve stenotic regions or to widen tubular passage, such as the coronary artery, as well as other vessels.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A stenosis is a region of a blood vessel which has been narrowed to such a degree that blood flow is restricted. If the stenosis is sufficiently severe, treatment is required to restore adequate blood flow.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), a procedure for treating a patient having a stenosis or constricted blood region in a coronary artery, has become a widely accepted therapeutic alternative to coronary arterial bypass surgery for many patients. PTCA increases the lumen by radial expansion. The main advantage of PTCA rests in the avoidance of the immediate post-operative discomforts associated with coronary bypass surgery, and certainly in the reduction of morbidity by use of this procedure.
Performing a coronary angioplasty involves inserting a balloon catheter into the desired coronary artery, locating the balloon at the arterial stenosis and injecting a suitable fluid into tile balloon to expand the balloon, and therefore the stenosis, radially outwardly. Some balloon catheters are too flexible for direct insertion into the patient's coronary artery. Accordingly, the standard angioplasty process begins with the insertion of a guiding catheter, or sleeve into the obstructed vessel, under local anesthesia. To facilitate the introduction of the guiding catheter, and to avoid damage to the body lumen at the puncture site, a guidewire is typically used in the insertion of the guiding catheter. The guiding catheter is designed to provide a conduit through which a balloon catheter is passed.
A lesion may be approached with a guidewire by advancing the catheter and guidewire as a unit, or by advancing the guidewire first. Steering the tip of the wire is done by the surgeon or by an assistant.
Ordinary balloon catheters have a balloon fastened around the exterior of a hollow catheter tube or catheter shaft. A thin tube provides a means for connecting the balloon to a suitable fluid supply for inflating the balloon.
A continuing problem with balloon dilatation catheters is the occlusion or reduction of blood flow while the balloon is expanded in an artery. Prior balloon dilatation catheters that allow blood to flow past the balloon to the distal portion of the artery are known and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,581,017, 5,090,958, and 5,160,321, all issued to Harvinder Sahota, the present applicant. Each of these patents provides an apparatus for the perfusion of blood past the dilatation balloon. As catheter shaft sizes decrease, a continued need arises to maximize the flow of blood past the balloon.