A method and arrangement for processing negotiable instruments (20) such as banknotes or monetary payment forms in an automatic banking machine (10), having the features:

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for processing negotiable instruments.
It is a desire to be able to deliver relatively large amounts of money, for example the daily income of a trading house, which contains both cash and monetary payment forms such as checks or credit notes, at a financial institute, even after the end of business. This has previously been done in the deposit process, as it is called, in which cash and monetary payment forms are put into a deposit envelope or a strong box and this container is thrown into a deposit slot belonging to the financial institute. Although this provides safe keeping of the amount of money, it does not provide its recording in terms of value and credit to an account belonging to the depositor. This normally takes place only on the next working day of the financial institute, and the depositor in the worst case suffers a loss of interest of a number of days.
WO 97/13225 A1 discloses an automatic money receiving and dispensing machine, into which banknotes can be put and, following authenticity checking and determination of the value, can be kept safe. The automatic banking machine contains, inter alia, a banknote receiving point and a transport device for banknotes, a banknote checking and recognition device, a temporary store and a multiplicity of storage units for the safe keeping of the banknotes. The known automatic banking machine is suitable only for recording and depositing banknotes.
EP 0 606 959 A2 describes a device for the deposition of deposit envelopes and individual documents, which is equipped with an input slot, a printing device for deposit information, a magnetic scanner apparatus for scanning encoded information on individual documents, a plurality of storage units for the storage of deposit envelopes and individual documents and also an imaging apparatus for producing an image of an individual document. This device is not envisaged for the acceptance of banknotes. It is also disadvantageous that only a single document can be input at a time. Depositing a larger number of payment forms, for example the daily income of a trading house, would therefore last much too long. Being present for a long time at an automatic banking machine is already undesirable, for safety reasons. Furthermore, in order to input cash, an automatic banking machine suitable for the purpose additionally has to be found.
It is an object of the invention to specify a method which permits processing of banknotes and monetary payment forms, and to propose an arrangement for implementing this method.
The part of the object based on the method is achieved by the features of claim 1, and the part based on the arrangement is achieved by the features of claim 10.
The invention makes the processing of negotiable instruments of different types, that is to say both banknotes and monetary payment forms xe2x80x94for example checks or credit notes xe2x80x94possible in a single automatic banking machine equipped with an deposit function. The delivery of a relatively large number of banknotes and payment forms, for example the daily income of a trading house, can therefore be carried out with one input operation if the automatic banking machine is designed to process mixed stacks of negotiable instruments, or otherwise in two successive input operations for banknotes and payment forms. By means of a closure flap in front of the input compartment, the negotiable instruments placed therein are removed from access, so that the security expectations of the depositor are fulfilled.
The method according to the invention therefore begins with the insertion of negotiable instruments in the input compartment. They may be both a single example or a stack of banknotes or monetary payment forms. Since banknotes and monetary payment forms are treated differently, as will be described further below, the setting of a control criterion for an electronic processing device is carried out on the basis of the type of negotiable instruments to be processed. In the simplest case, this setting can be carried out by actuating a selection switch before the removal of the first negotiable instrument from the input compartment.
According to an alternative expression of the method, the setting of the control criterion is carried out after the removal of a negotiable instrument from the input compartment, and with the aid of a sensor which is able to distinguish at least between banknotes and other sheet materials.
The negotiable instruments are therefore taken one after another from the input compartment and transported through a negotiable instrument recording device into a temporary store, banknotes being checked for authenticity in a banknote checking and recognition device and their nominal value being recorded and the latter stored in a value store. Payment forms, on the other hand, are depicted in an image recording station, and the data representing the depiction is stored in an image store. The negotiable instruments are transported from the temporary store into at least one secure deposit store at the latest after a deposit operation has been completed.
According to a preferred embodiment of the method, each payment form depicted during the input operation is displayed on a visual display unit. According to a first development of this method step, with the aid of a character recognition method, information printed and/or written on the payment form is converted into DP-processable information and the latter is indicated in plain text in a subarea of the visual display unit. According to an alternative development of the aforementioned method step, with the aid of keyboard inputs, the information printed and/or written on the payment form is transferred by the visual display unit into the aforementioned subarea of the visual display unit and depicted there. The plain-text information recorded in accordance with one of the alternative developments and depicted in plain text in the subarea can, if appropriate, be corrected with the aid of keyboard inputs, and then its agreement with the information printed and/or written on the payment form can be confirmed.
Since the amount mentioned on the payment forms can be checked, corrected if necessary and confirmed as correct by the depositor, it can immediately be credited to the account of the depositor. At the same time, it is of course possible that the credit will be made only after the clearance of the monetary payment form. This is in any case conventional when depositing, for example, checks at the bank counter. The number of the benefiting account was made known to the automatic banking machine at the beginning of the deposit operation in a known way by inserting a chip card or magnetic-strip card into a card reader belonging to the automatic banking machine. The financial institute is protected against error and attempted fraud by the knowledge of the account of the depositor and his confirmation. In order additionally to provide the depositor with security with respect to the financial institute, in an additional method step, the depiction of each payment form, on its own or together with the information depicted in the subarea of the visual display unit, can be printed onto an deposit receipt, and the latter can be made available to the depositor.
After the accounting operation, the payment forms are conveyed into a secure storage unit. Before or during the transport of the payment form to said unit, according to a development of the invention, it is printed with an item of canceling information, so that it cannot be presented again unnoticed.
An arrangement suitable for implementing the method comprises an input compartment which can be closed by a closure flap and has a following transport path for negotiable instruments, a banknote checking and recognition device arranged on the transport path, an image recording station, arranged on the transport path, with a video camera for recording the image of payment forms, an image store for storing the video image data about a payment form, a temporary store for negotiable instruments, arranged downstream of the banknote checking and recognition device and the image recording station, at least one deposit store for negotiable instruments, a generator for a control criterion representing a type of negotiable instrument, and a value store, at least for the nominal value of a recognized banknote.
According to a preferred development of the arrangement, a diverter is arranged on the transport path and, in a first position, connects the temporary store to the input compartment or an output compartment and, in a second position, connects the temporary store to the at least one deposit store. In its first position, the diverter permits the introduction of the negotiable instruments taken from the input compartment into the temporary store and their transport back, for example following the abortion of an deposit operation, into the input or the additional output compartment. In the second position of the diverter, after a deposit operation has been concluded, the temporarily stored negotiable instruments are deflected into the deposit store or stores, where they are kept safe.
Corresponding to a development of the arrangement, the banknote checking and recognition device is arranged upstream of the image recording station, and a negative banknote recognition signal, that is to say a signal with the content xe2x80x9cthe sheet materials passing through are not a banknotexe2x80x9d serves as an activation signal for the image recording station.
According to an alternative development of the arrangement, the video camera is arranged in the banknote checking and recognition device. It produces a depiction of each negotiable instrument passing through said device. The video image data about a depicted negotiable instrument is stored in the image store only in the case of a negative banknote recognition signal. Since it is already established, after the scanning has advanced by a few millimeters relative to the sheet materials, whether the latter is a banknote in this case, the storage of the relevant part of the image data can be carried out in real time.
According to another development of the arrangement, the latter is equipped with a visual display unit for displaying a payment form by using the video image data and a keyboard for registering or correcting and confirming the correctness of information taken from the display of the payment form on the visual display unit. In addition, the arrangement may comprise a keyboard and/or a card reader for the input of an account number into a computer managing accounts.
The image recording station comprises a video camera. This can be designed as a full image camera. However, since the payment form is moved through the image recording station, the video camera can also be designed as a line-scan camera without, for this purpose, additional outlay arising for advancing the payment form line by line relative to the video camera.

Method and arrangement for processing negotiable instruments

Abstract: Inserting the negotiable instruments (20) into an input compartment (18), setting a control criterion on the basis of the type of negotiable instruments (20) to be processed, transporting the negotiable instruments (20) one after the other from the input compartment (18) and through a negotiable instrument recording device (24, 26) into a temporary store (30); the nominal value of banknotes is stored in a value store, payment forms are depicted and the image data stored in an image store; depositing the negotiable instruments (20) from the temporary store (30) in at least one secure store (34, 36) after completion of a deposit operation.


In order to reduce variations in pressing force of a printing nip to make the printing pressure uniform, an apparatus that performs printing on a substrate using a roll-to-roll method according to an aspect of the present application includes: an ink supply member that supplies a printing ink; a blanket cylinder (30) that transfers part of the ink, which has been supplied from the ink supply member and applied on a surface of the blanket cylinder, onto the substrate; a roller mold (40) that removes part of the ink applied on the surface of the blanket cylinder (30); a base (46) on which the blanket cylinder (30) is fixed; a slider (44) that supports the roller mold (40) and moves on the base (46); a moving resistance reduction device (80) that reduces a moving resistance of the slider (44) relative to the base (46); and a roller mold nip device (42) that applies, to the roller mold (40), a nip pressure against the blanket cylinder (30).

In recent years, developments have been made in techniques for manufacturing electronic devices using printing processes. Among such techniques, a reverse (reverse offset) printing method, which is a technique for printing electronic devices with a high resolution of, for example, 10 microns or less, has been studied and developments in printing apparatuses have been promoted.
In order to perform high precision printing using a printing apparatus, printing pressure needs to be made uniform. Conventionally, printing pressure may be made uniform by employing a constant pressing amount of a printing nip (which conveys the meaning of "pressing" and will be simply referred to as an "NIP" in some contexts in this specification and in the drawings) (see, for example, patent documents 1 to 3).


An image display device displays an identical image based on display data output from a display control circuit on its own display panel and an external display unit connected to the device through an interface. The device can erase and freeze an image on the external display unit in an erase mode and a freeze mode, respectively, while the display panel displays different images. In order to do so, this device has a frame memory circuit for storing and outputting display data received from the display control circuit toward the external display unit and a disable circuit for stopping data received from the frame memory circuit from being output and instead outputting monochromatic or single-color data to the external display unit. The frame memory circuit inhibits data stored in its memory from being rewritten during the freeze mode. The disable circuit outputs the monochromatic data in the erase mode. During the freeze mode and the erase mode, the display panel can display a freeze sign and an erase sign, respectively, along with an image, by means of a sign pattern generator and a synthesize circuit. The sign pattern generator, the synthesize circuit, the frame memory circuit and the disable circuit are controlled by a control circuit which is also controlled by a CPU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display device which displays an identical image both on its own display screen such as a display panel and on an external display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) at the same time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, the following image display device has been put into practice. This image display device is incorporated in a portable computer such as a lap-top computer having a built-in display panel which is part of the image display device. The image display device is provided with a means for connecting an external display unit such as CRT thereto. Thus, when the external display unit is connected, the image display device can display an identical image both on its own display panel and on the external display unit at the same time.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the above image display device. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display device is essentially constituted from a CPU 1, a display control circuit 2, a panel interface 3, an external interface 5, and the display panel 4. An external display unit 6 such as CRT is connected to the external interface 5.
The display control circuit 2 has a display controller and a video random access memory (V-RAM). This circuit outputs display data to the panel interface 3 and the external interface 5. The display data essentially consists of a digital video signal and a synchronous signal for driving the interfaces 3 and 5, the display panel 4 and the external display unit 6. The display data are generated from image information read out from the V-RAM by the display controller.
The panel interface 3 converts the display data output from the display control circuit 2 to data adapted to the display panel 4 (this data will be referred to as panel display data below). Based on the panel display data, the corresponding image is displayed on the panel display 4. On the other hand, the external interface 5 converts the display data output from the display control circuit 2 to data adapted to the external display unit 6 (this data will be referred to as external display data below). Displaying of an image on the external display unit is performed based on the external display data. In this way, the same image is displayed on the display panel 4 and the external display unit 6 at the same time.
The above image display device having a function of displaying an identical image on its display panel and the external display unit at the same time offers a lot of advantages. Especially, the image display device is useful if used as an auxiliary instrument for lectures, presentation, etc., because it is possible to present pictures by means of the external display unit 6 to a lot of people at the same time. However, unfortunately, this device does not have a function of erasing or halting a picture on a screen of the external display unit 6 when required. Therefore, even when one operates the image display device in order to search for a desired image, for example, images on the display panel 4, which are not necessarily required to be presented to an audience, are also displayed on the external display unit 6. In short, the image display device cannot control display conditions of the external display unit.

Image display device for displaying an identical image on its display panel and an external display unit, but capable of freezing and erasing an image on the latter


A lava lamp display device comprising: a frame having a permeable vision window at a front surface thereof, and a lamp base and a projection light at a bottom of inner side thereof; a film-coated glass mounted on the vision window; a support bracket having at least one positioning hole thereon; a transparent bottle arranged in the positioning holes; and two reflection mirrors having a center serving as a reference to define the two symmetrical reflection mirrors, and both sides thereof inclined forward to form an angle θ being not parallel with the film-coated glass with 180° angle. After the filler of the transparent bottle is reflected repeatedly by the two reflection mirrors, the vision window shows shapes in an inward serial arrangement in the middle and unlimited extension on both sides, having effects of an illumination lamp device, an art decoration, and special visual in one unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lava lamp display device, and more particularly to a filler of a transparent bottle forms shapes being in an inward serial arrangement in the middle and unlimited extension and diffusion on both sides after the non-parallel reflection surfaces are reflected repeatedly.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,156 discloses a lava lamp display device 80 comprising: a glass vessel 81 having a bottom 82 arranged in a hollow conical metallic seating 83 and located on an electric light bulb 84. Moreover, the glass vessel 81 has two immiscible components such as liquid 85 and a paraffin 86 which has a higher density than the liquid 85 at room temperature and a lower density than the liquid 85 after heating. After the electric light bulb 84 is turned on, the paraffin 86 in the bottom 82 of the glass vessel 81 is heated and flows in the liquid 85. At the same time, the electric light bulb 84 projects the light in the glass vessel 81, forming a lighting effect and becoming decorations at home and office.
The lava lamp display device 80 has lighting effect only in a single glass 81. As a decoration, it seems too monotonous and lack of visual effects. Therefore, there is room for improvement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A laminated electronic device comprises two or more wiring layers including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer, an insulating layer interposed between the first wiring layer and second wiring layer, and a through conductor extending through the insulating layer for electrically connecting a first conductor disposed on the first wiring layer to a second conductor disposed on the second wiring layer. The through conductor includes divergent sections at both ends, which have a diameter gradually increased toward the first conductor or second conductor.

The present invention relates to laminated electronic devices and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to the structure of through conductors (throughhole conductors) which are suitable for application to laminated electronic devices including resonators such as filters.
A variety of laminated electronic devices have been provided. Such laminated electronic devices have a variety of functions implemented by circuits formed of internal conductors of laminates which include a plurality of wiring layers. For example, a laminated filter which comprises a resonator in an internal wiring layer of a ceramic laminate performs functions of selecting a frequency and removing unwanted waves in high-frequency radio communication systems such as a mobile phone, a wireless LAN, Bluetooth®, WiMAX™, and the like, and constitutes one of main components in these communication systems.
Laminates may be implemented, for example, by ceramic laminates which are advantageous in achieving a smaller size and a higher integration. In manufacturing a laminate, conductor patterns are formed on surfaces of a plurality of ceramic green sheets, which are then stacked one on another and bonded with one another with heat and pressure. The resulting product is next cut into chips which are then sintered, thus completing laminates. Here, through conductors (throughhole conductors) extending vertically (in the laminating direction) through insulating layers are generally employed for electrically interconnecting electrodes which are arranged on different wiring layers within a laminate.
Such throughhole conductors are disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2-134889 and JP-A-4-105393.

Laminated electronic devices with conical vias


A natural herbicide for selectively removing weeds from desirable grass/turf, the active components of the natural herbcide being sodium bicarbonate, cinnamon, and wheat flour, with a color indicator included to identify the natural herbicide coverage area.

The present invention relates to a natural herbicide for weed removal, and more particularly, pertains to a natural herbicide made from non-toxic and environmentally safe components that selectively kills and controls crabgrass, chickweed, clover, and basket grass.
The use of herbicides to kill and control a broad spectrum of weeds is known in the prior art. More specifically, chemical herbicides heretofore devised and utilized are the main products used for the purpose of weed control for ornamental and agricultural plants. Control of weeds is very beneficial when it permits the selective control of such plants without concurrent injury to desirable vegetation.
Chemical herbicides are classified according to the type of activity they possess. A given compound may have more than one type of activity depending upon its mode of application and the rate at which it is applied. In addition, natural herbicides are usually classified as selective or non-selective pre-emergents or post-emergents. An effective pre-emergence herbicide is one, which is selective in its nature. This means that the compound can kill the seed and germinated seedlings of undesirable plants without harm to the seed and germinated seedlings of the desirable plant; there will not be any problem of over penetration of the soil by the herbicide. Post-emergence herbicides are applied after the plant and weed have reached a substantial height. In general, a compound found to have post-emergence activity would not be selective. Herbicide types include defoliants, desiccants, eradicants, systemics and selective herbicide, and related plant growth regulants.
One of the oldest and most successful selective herbicide is 2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid commonly known as 2,4-D, is a member of the phenoxy family of natural herbicides, which was the first widely used organic natural herbicide. The phenoxy herbicides were so effective and economical for selectively controlling broadleaf weeds in grass corps that they put selective weed control in the public spotlight worldwide. Since 1945, phenoxy herbicides have provided very economical, selective, postemergence control of broadleaf weeds in grass corps and noncropland. According to the National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, it was reported that the phenoxy herbicides have been used for approximately 51 years with little or no acute or chronic toxicity to humans. Yet, still there is indication that the National Cancer Institute and naturalists are not satisfied with studies that have findings showing no relationship between cancer and the use of phenoxy family of herbicides, specifically, 2-4 D.
Other commonly known chemical herbicides are as follows. Arsenical herbicides include cacodylic acid and the salts of monomethylarsinic acid and dimethylarsinic acid. Cacodylic acid is a defoliating or desiccating contact herbicide. Arsenic acid salts have lower contact toxicity and act through absorption.
Carbamate and thiocarbamate herbicides include Belanal, Betanex, Sutan, Eptam, and similar trademark products. These herbicides usually are applied to the soil and are taken up through the root systems.
Carboxylic acid herbicides are illustrated by commercial products such as Banvel, Garlon and 2,4-D. Various of these herbicides can be applied to the soil or to foliage, and are effective against broad leaf weeds.
Dinitroaniline herbicides include Balan and Treflan commercial products, which are applied to the soil to inhibit root growth and shoot growth, and exhibit low translocation.
Heterocyclic nitrogen-containing herbicides are illustrated by Aatrex, Basagran, Sencor and Velpar, which are applied to the soil for pre-emergent control.
Organophosphate compounds are useful as plant growth regulators and herbicides. This type of organic biocide structure is illustrated by Bensulide and Betasan.
Urea herbicides are nonselective and usually are soil applied. Urea-type commercial products include Lorox and Tupersan.
Quaternary herbicides include commercial products such as Avenge, Diquat and Paraquat, which have utility as contact foliars.
Finally, other commercially available herbicides include Atrazine, Bentazon, Bromacil, Casoron, Chloroamben, Delapon, Diuron, Fluometuron, Glphosate, Linuron, Picloram, Trifluralin, and the like.
Crabgrass/crows foot/goose grass is a coarse grass with a cluster of tillers that arise from a central part of the plant and has flattened stems. It belongs to the grass family poaceae and is reproduced primarily by seeds. Large crabgrass can be reproduced by long, rooting tillers. Most persons see crabgrass as a major weed that infests home lawns. Crabgrass has tremendous survival reproductive capabilities.
Crabgrass can be controlled by pre-emergence natural herbicides or post-emergence natural herbicides. Generally, the natural herbicide is chosen according to the type of turf grass desired. Popular pre-emergence herbicides used to control crabgrass are: benefin, DCPA, napropamide, bdnsulide, oryzaline, pendimethalin, dithiopyr, proiamine, atrazine, oxadiaxon, atrazine, and isoxaben. Commonly known post-emergence herbicides for control of crabgrass are: asulam, sethoxydim, MSMA and CMA.
Chickweed is low-growing, has bright green leaves and a small white flower with a star shape. Chickweed is part of the pink family Caryophyllaceae. Chickweed can be controlled by pre-emergence or post-emergence herbicides. Basket grass/Indian basket grass belongs to the lily family Liliaceae and is controlled by pre-emergence or post-emergence herbicides. Popular pre-emergence herbicides used to control chickweed, and basket grass are: benefin, DCPA, napropamide, bdnsulide, oryzaline, pendimethalin, dithiopyr, prolamine, atrazine, oxadiaxon, atrazine, and isocaben. Commonly known postemergence herbicides for control of chickweed and basket grass are: asulam, sethoxydim, MSMA and CMA.
Clover is another weed that is considered to be a nuisance. Clover is a perennial low-growing weed with a whitish flower. Clover spreads by seeds and generally has 3 dark green leaflets to a leaf. Clover belongs to the family Papilionaceae. The best way to control clover is with selective post-emergence herbicide.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,153 disclosed a method for controlling vegetation using herbicidal composition containing carboxylic or phoshonic acid salt. One of the vegatations being controlled is crabgrass. The carboxylic or phosphonic acid salt is an alkali salt of at least one acid selected from an aminopoycarboxylic acid, an aliphatic carboxylic acid, a hydroxycarboxylic acid, an amino acid, an ether polycarboxylic acid, a phosphonic acid and a polyposphonic acid.
There are at least four ways to control crabgrass without chemicals: 1) adjust the mowing height of your lawn mower so that the desired grass, tall grass, which requires a lot of nutrients to thrive; and as such, starves out the crabgrass; 2) fertilize more because the higher and healthier the desired grass grows, the more nutrients it steals from the crabgrass; 3) take black mulching paper of black plastic and cover the entire infested area for about ten days, this will kill the crabgrass; or 4) irrigate deeply and frequently, then do not water again until there is the first sign of drought stress. Researchers have found these chemical-free methods to be just as effective, though maybe not as quick, in eliminating these weeds.
Many of the four methods listed above can also be used to control chickweed, basket grass, and clover.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a non-toxic product that contains compounds that have been determined to be non-carcinogenic by the EPA, specifically, not having a rating in Class A, xe2x80x9cknown carcinogens,xe2x80x9d Class B, xe2x80x9cprobable carcinogens,xe2x80x9d or Class C, xe2x80x9cPossible carcinogens.xe2x80x9d In this regard, the present invention fulfills this need.
The present invention is a natural herbicide for weed removal that can be safely used by lawn care professionals or anyone desiring to control such weeds as crabgrass, chickweed, basket grass, and clover.
In light of the foregoing disadvantages revealed under the prior art, the present invention provides safe and easy use methods of selectively killing crabgrass, chickweed, basket grass, and clover, without harming the desired turf.
After the removal of Asulox(copyright) crabgrass killer from the market place, there remained no really effective and safe product for control of crabgrass in commercial and residential lawns. As such, the Applicant began experimenting with various inert products that are known to be safe; to determine which products or combination thereof would yield the desired results, killing crabgrass.
Accordingly, a primary function of the natural herbicide is selective crabgrass removal that is sate and quick, solving the problems inherent with the prior art references in use today. In testing the natural herbicide, Applicant discovered that the natural herbicide was effective at selective control of chickweed, basket grass, and clover. As such, the general purpose of the present invention will be described subsequently in detail.
To attain this, the present invention essentially consists of a natural herbicide, which has an effective amount of a composition comprising sodium bicarbonate, cinnamon, wheat flour, corn flour and Amarillo for color. The weeds may be killed by applying the composition when the weeds are on wet.
The composition of the invention acts as a selective natural herbicide. The composition may be mixed with a liquid carrying agent such as water to be sprayed onto the crabgrass. Since the mode of action appears to be through the blades of the crabgrass, there is little, if any, residual herbicidal effect in the ground. Further, all of the components of the composition are minimal risk inerts as termed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, it is to grow the desired turf adjacent, within, and around the treated area.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter, and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the development of other compounds, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a powdered natural herbicide for selective weed removal.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a powdered natural herbicide for selective crabgrass removal.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a powdered natural herbicide for selective chickweed removal.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a powdered natural herbicide for selective basket grass removal.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a powdered natural herbicide for selective clover removal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid slurry of the natural herbicide composition which can be easily applied to the weed and have the same effectiveness as the powdered form of the natural herbicide.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a natural herbicide for removal of such weeds as crabgrass, chickweed, basket grass and clover, which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such natural herbicide economically available to the buying public.
These, together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention.
Unwanted weeds, such as crabgrass, chickweed, basket grass and clover, may be killed by covering the blades of the weeds with powdered or liquid slurry of a composition containing sodium bicarbonate cinnamon and wheat flour. To aid as an application indicator after application, a mixture of corn flour and Amarillo coloring is added to the composition.
More specifically, the present invention includes the active compounds of sodium bicarbonate and cinnamon. Through experimentation, Applicant found that 100% of sodium bicarbonate would kill grass, including crabgrass and other weeds. Further, sodium bicarbonate was light in weight or fine in composition, and alone was difficult to apply and would not adhere to the crabgrass. Furthermore, Sodium bicarbonate in its dry state was easily washed away or blown away without achieving effective results, killing the weeds.
Since the Applicant""s intent was to kill crabgrass, the Applicant needed to decrease the strength of the sodium bicarbonate that is applied to the turf/grass. Additionally, the Applicant needed to find a way to get the sodium bicarbonate to adhere to the blades of the crabgrass. With continued experimentation, Applicant found that cinnamon and wheat flour, when added in combination with the sodium bicarbonate, formed a composition yielding the desired results, selective crabgrass killing. Cinnamon eliminated the harmful effects of the sodium bicarbonate on the desirable turf and aided in making the product more selective. Wheat flour allows the sodium bicarbonate and cinnamon to be easily dispersed and ensured that the powder compound adhered to the crabgrass blades. It is important to note that the addition of wheat flour and cinnamon allowed Applicant""s composition to have the herbicidal effectiveness of a chemical natural herbicide without the toxic affects.
Applicant was desirous of having an indicator that would notify the natural herbicide user that the natural herbicide had been thoroughly and properly applied to the crabgrass. With even further experimentation, Applicant was able to increase the user friendliness of the product and discovered a means for indicating when the natural herbicide completely covered the crabgrass. Applicant experimented with various food colorings combined with the active compounds and applied the product to the crabgrass, without achieving the desired results. Continuing to test for the best indicators to show complete application of the natural herbicide, Applicant tested the food colorings in combination with other inert products such as bone meal, citrus meal, corn flour, corn meal, rye flour, soy flour, sugar, sand, grits, pepper, and rice flour. The test results showed that the combination of corn flour and. Amarillo, when added to the composition containing sodium bicarbonate, wheat flour, and cinnamon helped the user know when the crabgrass had. been completely covered. Specifically, in use, the composition is applied to wet/moist crabgrass; the area that is completely covered by the composition turns bright yellow, indicating complete coverage.
The experimentation resulted in the findings that the most effective active components of the composition are usually contained in an amount 20% to 80% by weight sodium bicarbonate, 1.85% to 0.95% by weight cinnamon, 78.15% to 19.05% by weight wheat flour, of the total composition. Preferably, when including the color indicator, the components of the composition is usually in an amount 20% to 80% by weight sodium bicarbonate, 1.85% to 0.95% by weight cinnamon, 77.63% to 17.5% by weight wheat flour, and 0.50% to 2.0% by weight corn flour and Amarillo coloring, of the total composition. In the preferred embodiment, the composition is 75.83% to 76% sodium bicarbonate, 22% to 22.75% wheat flour, and 0.95% cinnamon, with 0.47% to 1.05%, the balance of the composition, being corn flour and Amarillo.
In an effort to further ease application of the product, Applicant combined the above solid composition with a liquid carrier. Preferably, the liquid carrier is water. The composition, as set out above, is relatively insoluble in water; therefore, the composition with water is more a slurry. The slurry can be applied using various applicators. In the slurry form, the effective amount natural herbicide composition contained in the liquid carrier, is 20% to 98% by weight of the total composition of the slurry. Preferably, the effective of natural herbicide composition in the slurry form is 20% to 55% by weight of the slurry-with the liquid carrier being 80% to 45% by weight of the total composition of the slurry.
In experiments preformed with the powdered form and the liquid from of the herbicide were conducted at temperatures between 50 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit.


A battery holding device includes a battery holding member and a plate. The plate houses the battery holding member. The battery holding member includes a fastener and a battery holder. The fastener is fixed to the plate. The battery holder holds a battery, and is arranged at a position where the battery holder does not contact the plate.

The technical field relates to a battery holding device and a timepiece.
As disclosed in JP 2017-181176 A, in a device such as a timepiece, a battery that supplies electric power is housed in a battery case.
For example, in a watch, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, a battery case 50 made of resin has a concave battery compartment 50a, and a battery 60 is housed therein. The battery 60 is supported by a bottom plate 50b of the battery case 50 via a cushion 51. Between the bottom plate 50b of the battery case 50 and the battery 60, a terminal plate 52 made of metal is provided. The terminal plate 52 is fixed to the battery case 50 by a screw(s) 54, together with a circuit board 53.
However, in the above conventional structure, because the battery case 50 (bottom plate 50b) made of resin supports the battery 60, the bottom plate 50b needs to be formed to have a thickness equal to or greater than a predetermined value in preparation for an impact applied to the bottom plate 50b via the battery 60. This hinders reduction in thickness of the battery case 50 and size of the device as a whole.


Provided is a stretchable display including an elastic body, a light emitting unit on the elastic body, and a wiring unit on the elastic body, wherein the light emitting unit includes a first substrate unit on the elastic body, a buffer layer on the first substrate unit, and a light emitting element on the buffer layer, the wiring unit includes a second substrate unit on the elastic body, a driving element configured to control the light emitting element, a wiring configured to electrically connect the driving element and the light emitting element, and an insulation layer configured to cover the driving element and the wiring, the light emitting unit and the wiring unit have respective corrugation structures, a thickness of the light emitting unit is larger than that of the wiring unit, a modulus of elasticity of the buffer layer is larger than that of the insulation layer, and a modulus of elasticity of the elastic body is smaller than that of the insulation layer.

The present disclosure herein relates to a stretchable display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a stretchable display in which a period of corrugation of a light emitting unit is larger than that of a wiring unit.
An electronic element, in particular, a display element is required to be stretchable in order to be applied to a 3-dimensionally curved (convex or concave) surface. Most of an insulation film, a conductive material, and a semiconductor film configuring an electronic element do not have stretchability, and thus a scheme for improving the shape of the electronic element to implement the stretchability is being proposed.
As one of the schemes for improving the shape of the electronic device to implement the stretchability, there is a scheme for making the electronic element very thin to form a corrugation structure. Such an electronic element may be elongated until the corrugation is completely stretched.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


An underwater vacuum including a housing having an opening which is positioned adjacent the surface to be cleaned. The housing also supports a rotatable brush powered by a turbine energized by water flow through the vacuum. The housing has a water outlet which communicates with a pump at the surface of the water. The inlet to the turbine has a trap which collects large debris that could damage the turbine blades. The vacuum has two rear wheels that are adjustably attached to the interior of the housing, and two front wheels that are adjustably attached to the exterior of the housing. The underwater vacuum can remove sediment from a water storage reservoir without causing turbidity in the water column. A second handheld embodiment is used for cleaning sloping berms, and has rear wheels that are also powered by the turbine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an underwater vacuum. More particularly, the invention relates to an underwater vacuum specifically designed for removing bacterial film from large drinking water reservoirs.
2. Background and Description of the Related Art
Protection of the public's health requires that potable water supplies be free of microorganisms that can cause health effects in humans. Also, supplies of potable water must be free from other contaminants that may taint the water and/or negatively impact its acceptability by the consumer, i.e. the members of the public. To ensure consistent and acceptable water quality, rules and regulations regarding testing, maintenance, and maximum tolerable levels of contaminants for potable water reservoirs have been established. Disinfectant chemicals are used to destroy microorganisms in the water. However, it has been shown that sediment which characteristically accumulates at the bottom of potable water reservoirs insulates biological contaminants from the disinfection chemicals. Inspection of water storage tanks is recommended at least every five years. Many municipalities, which are charged with ensuring the quality of the water, opt to clean and inspect their reservoirs every year.
This annual cleaning and inspection has traditionally been done by first draining the reservoir and then having teams of men physically enter the reservoir to clean and inspect it. This approach has many drawbacks, and some examples of these drawbacks are listed below. First, the procedure is wasteful of natural resources and is very costly. Second, the draining and filling of the reservoir can disturb the sediment, releasing biological contaminants into the pipes in the water distribution area served by that reservoir. Third, draining and filling a reservoir causes mechanical stress to the structure of the reservoir, which can lead to cracks in the reservoir structure. Fourth, the men entering the reservoir with their tools can cause damage to the protective finish on the walls of the reservoir. Fifth, when a reservoir is drained there will usually not be an adequate supply of water to fight a major fire in the water distribution area served by the reservoir.
To avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, the underwater vacuum system of the present invention has been proposed. The underwater vacuum of the present is particularly adapted to ensure that the vacuum can remove sediment from the reservoir without causing turbidity in the water and thus avoiding the attendant introduction of biological contaminants into the water. The underwater vacuum of the present invention allows a team of divers to accomplish the cleaning of a potable water reservoir without the drawbacks associated with the periodic emptying and filling of the reservoir.
Although many underwater vacuum systems have been proposed in the art, none are seen to be specially adapted for the removal of sediment from potable water reservoirs while keeping any turbidity or biological contamination introduced into the water within the exacting requirements for potable water reservoirs.
The following patents and other documents illustrate some examples of underwater vacuums that have been proposed in the underwater vacuum art.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,027, issued to Albert W. Lindberg, Jr. on Mar. 5, 1974, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,206, issued to Heinz W. Braukmann on Feb. 12, 1985, show underwater vacuums having fixed brush bristles for cleaning swimming pools.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,607, issued to Pavel Sebor on Apr. 11, 1995, shows a self-propelled underwater vacuum for cleaning swimming pools. The Sebor device uses one or more pivotally mounted oscillators, that are caused to oscillate by the flow of water through the vacuum, to cause the vacuum to move in a random path along the bottom of the swimming pool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,826, issued to Dennis A. Raubenheimer on May 9, 1995, shows a self-propelled underwater vacuum for cleaning swimming pools. The Raubenheimer device uses a turbine driven by the flow of water through the suction cleaner to power a pair of wheels that propel the vacuum.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,600, issued to Ercole Frattini on Apr. 8, 1997, shows a self-propelled underwater vacuum for cleaning swimming pools. The Frattini device uses a submersible electric motor to drive a pump impeller to create suction and to drive a set of rollers to propel the underwater vacuum.
United Kingdom Complete Patent Specification Number 1,092,133, By Russell Edward Winn, published on Nov. 22, 1967, shows an underwater vacuum for cleaning the hulls of ships or inside storage tanks. The Winn device is a self propelled vacuum with a steerable wheel and a pump for creating suction. The Winn device also has two rotating brushes that rotate about axes perpendicular to the surface being cleaned. The Winn device is not concerned with the introduction of contaminants into the surrounding water column.
European Patent Application Number 468,876, By Michael John Chandler et al., published on Jan. 29, 1992, shows a self-propelled underwater vacuum which uses a turbine to power the drive wheels of the vacuum. The device of chandler et al. has fixed brush bristles.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. In particular, none of the above inventions and patents disclose a turbine powered brush having an axis of rotation parallel to the surface being cleaned and/or the unique structure of the suction head of the present invention which allows vacuuming sediment without introducing turbidity, and the attendant biological contaminants, into potable water supplies.

LiquiVision Technology Inc., P.O. Box 5277


The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of dementia or Alzheimer""s disease in which the active therapeutical agent is donepezil hydrochloride in an amorphous state.

The present invention relates to stable, amorphous, donepezil hydrochloride and to pharmaceutical compositions containing it.
Donepezil hydrochloride was found as an efficient drug for the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer""s disease. Its cholinergic enhancement property is considered to be the reason for the alleviation of symptoms in patients. The drug, formulated as 5 and 10 mg film coated tablets is given once daily to the patients.
The crystalline state of the active ingredient in a solid state pharmaceutical preparation may play a significant role in the behavior of the drug, once taken orally, and may influence its therapeutical effect. The crystalline state may modify the dissolution and thus influence absorption and the therapeutic effect of the drug.
Donepezil hydrochloride shows polymorphism. U.S. Pat Nos. 5,985,864 and 6,140,321 describe no less than five different crystalline forms of donepezil hydrochloride (including hydrates). In such a case it is very important that the formulation of donepezil hydrochloride will contain the same crystalline form in order to ensure the same therapeutical activity of the drug on the patients.
This, however, is not a simple goal to achieve. Reading the examples. presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,864 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,321 one learns that the same procedures are liable to give different crystalline forms of donepezil hydrochloride. These patents claim that aging the reaction suspension prior to filtration for a specific time can control the type of crystalline form obtained. However, the same documents contain phrases cautioning the reader that these times can vary, and one cannot be sure which crystalline form will result from the crystallization process.
One way to alleviate the problem and to obtain a reproducible solid form of donepezil is to use the non-crystalline form of donepezil hydrochloride. On the one hand the problem of having a variety of crystalline forms does not exist, while on the other hand, non-crystalline amorphous solids are known to have a better solubility. As a result one can expect a good, consistent availability of the active ingredient.
Amorphous donepezil hydrochloride is mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,864 and U.S. Pat No. 6,140,321. However, it is claimed that this form is chemically unstable and develops impurities on standing. Thus, it is described that at 40xc2x0 C. the content of the impurities of crystalline donepezil hydrochloride (forms I to IV) did not change during a 12 week period, whereas the impurity content in amorphous donepezil hydrochloride changed from an initial value of 0.1% to 0.2% after 4 weeks and to 0.4% after 12 weeks. At higher temperatures even more extensive decomposition was reported. Therefore, these patents recommend the use of crystalline forms of donepezil hydrochloride only.
It has now been surprisingly found that amorphous donepezil hydrochloride is stable for an extended period of time. Thus, there was no change in the impurity content of the amorphous material stored at 40xc2x0 C. After 3 and 6 months storage at 40xc2x0 C. at 75% relative humidity, the highest impurity level was 0.1% with a total impurities level of 0.4%. These levels were exactly the initial values. There was no indication of a chemical degradation of amorphous donepezil hydrochloride produced according to the present invention. An aqueous solution of donepezil hydrochloride was lyophilized and a solid amorphous material was obtained.
Thus, it has now been surprisingly found that wet granulation of donepezil, hydrochloride yields, after drying and milling, a stable granulate that uniformly contains donepezil hydrochloride amorphous. This was shown by X-ray diffraction study.
Thus, there is now provided according to the present invention a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of dementia or Alzheimer""s disease in which the active therapeutical agent is donepezil hydrochloride in an amorphous state.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention there are provided pharmaceutical compositions as defined in which the amount of donepezil hydrochloride amorphous is between 1 to 30 mg.
The present invention also provides stable donepezil hydrochloride amorphous.
Testing the tablets by X-ray diffraction in order to evaluate the crystalline properties of the active material is not a simple task. Most of the donepezil tablet is inactive ingredients. Being crystalline compounds they do have X-ray diffraction pattern. This pattern has to be subtracted from the total pattern in order to see the peaks that originate from donepezil hydrochloride. The fact that donepezil hydrochloride itself is only a small part of the formulation makes it even harder. We managed to get more meaningful results measuring the X-ray diffraction of 30 mg tablets, and using a peak enhancement technique.
FIG. 1 is the X-ray diffraction pattern of donepezil hydrochloride having crystalline form I (top trace) and of a placebo (bottom trace). The placebo tablets were prepared from the same ingredients used to prepare our tablets and commercial Aricept(copyright) (donepezil hydrochloride) tablets.
FIG. 2 is the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained from (top to bottom) donepezil hydrochloride, donepezil hydrochloride tablets prepared by wet granulation, 30 mg), donepezil hydrochloride tablets prepared by dry granulation (30 mg) and. Aricept(copyright) tablets.
FIG. 3 is the X-ray diffraction pattern of (top to bottom) donepezil hydrochloride with crystalline form I, donepezil hydrochloride tablets prepared by wet granulation, (30 mg) after signal enhancement and donepezil hydrochloride tablets prepared by dry granulation (30 mg) after signal enhancement.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing donepezil hydrochloride


A method, system and computer program product for matching an entry of a list to data. The method includes the steps of: generating source code which matches at least a part of said list with said data; compiling said source code into binary code; and determining a match between said list and said data using said compiled binary code wherein at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device.

The present invention generally relates to telecommunications applications which look up phone number prefixes (caller and callee) from the call data records (CDR). More particularly, the present invention matches an entry of a list with CDR data.
Currently, these lists are stored in the form of generic data structures. Generic implementation programs are used to process these generic data structures in order to match them with data such as CDR.
The drawback of the current approach is that the use of generic data structures adds overhead in terms of processing time and memory footprint.

International Business Machines Corporation


A vehicle is provided for skidding timber. Conventional skidders are generally large tracked or rubber tired vehicles having a fixed frame to which a towing cable is attached. The cable load applied to such skidders is rearward of the rear wheels tending to reduce the load on the front wheels and increase the load on the rear wheels. A vehicle in accordance with the invention includes a frame pivotally mounted upon the vehicle's chassis. A cable sheave is mounted upon the outer end of the frame and a towing cable reeved over the sheave with a cable winch attached to the forward end of the cable. Attachment means secure logs to the end of the cable. Abutment means connected to the outer end of the frame engage the attachment means as the cable and log are drawn forwardly by the winch. When the attachment and abutment means engage further winching in of the cable rotates the frame from a rearward position to a forward position. In the rearward position, the cable sheave is rearward of the vehicle's rear wheels. In the forward position, the cable sheave is forward of the vehicle's rear wheels. The load applied by the cable to the vehicle in the forward position is more evenly distributed between the forward and rearward wheels thereby improving vehicular traction, reducing rutting of roadways and lessening the tendency of the front wheels to lift from the roadway. Therefore the method and vehicle ensure that the forest may be renewed in perpetuity providing parkland, wildlife habitat and other benefits of nature while also providing employment and forest products in an economically viable quantity.

During logging operations, trees are felled, lateral branches trimmed and the top portions removed to produce logs of desired size. A rubber tired or tracked skidder vehicle having a cable winch is used to assemble logs into a bundle and to drag the bundle to a loading area. The logs are attached to a cable generally by chokers looped about the logs or tree trunk and engaged on a sliding bell hook at the rearward end of the main line cable. A cable winch at the forward end of the cable draws the logs forwardly to an area adjacent the rear of the skidder. Bundles are assembled and dragged behind the skidder to a landing area where the logs are loaded upon trucks for transport to a saw-mill or paper mill.
An ecologically destructive method of logging known as "clear-cut logging" is generally used in the belief that it is economically preferable to other methods. In clear-cut logging, all trees in a forest are felled regardless of size but only trees of a desired size and type are actually used to produce logs. Undersized or defective trees which do not meet the desired criterion are felled solely to remove obstacles to the logging operation and are left to rot on the former forest floor.
Conventional skidders are often earth moving vehicles converted for logging operations by installing a cable winch and a fixed frame with a cable sheave on the rear portion of the skidder. Such skidders are large heavy machines which require relatively wide access paths and open areas in which to turn and manoeuvre. A common practice in operating such skidders is to attach chokers to a number of tree stems or logs and then simultaneously draw all the logs toward the skidder with a single cable. Each choker is attached to a sliding bell hook at the end of the main line cable and all logs are drawn together from their individual positions in a fan-like configuration which is called a gathering operation. Such operations require that obstacles be removed in the path of the logs as they are drawn and slide along the forest floor toward the skidder. To reduce handling costs therefore clear cutting is used. Logs are removed from where they have fallen and drawn into a bundle for dragging to a loading area in a single operation. It is generally believed by those practicing clear cut logging that clear cut logging is the most profitable method of harvesting mature trees. Such an approach is becoming increasingly unacceptable due to long term or permanent ecological damage.
Use of such large and heavy conventional skidders is necessary when large numbers of logs are both drawn and dragged by a single skidder. In addition to requiring open areas to operate, conventional skidders tend to cause deep ruts in the forest floor due to excessive machine and load weight. The ruts speed erosion by providing channels for runoff water.
Since logs are dragged behind such skidders, the frictional force of the logs dragging on the forest floor increases the tractive effort required. In most cases, conventional skidders have a fixed arch frame which extends rearward of the skidder's rear axle and wheels. The arch frame supports a cable sheave upon which the cable is reeved. The tensile force exerted by the cable upon the arch frame creates a turning moment which tends to increase the bearing load pressure upon the rear wheels while decreasing the bearing load upon the front wheels. The turning moment may lift the front wheels from the forest floor in many cases reducing operator control and subjecting the skidder to damage. The rear wheels under such heavy loads may form deep ruts and may bog down in soft soil. Spinning wheels when traction is inadequate results in further rutting.
Ecologically clear cut logging has catastrophic consequences. A clear cut area quickly erodes since the forest cover no longer protects the soil and root structures from rain and wind erosion nor from drying in the sun. The rutting caused by conventional skidders creates channels for pooling and runoff of water further aiding erosion. Many forest trees and plants require full or partial shade especially in their early stages of growth. Clear cutting exposes such immature trees to direct sunlight thereby impeding their growth and encouraging other types of vegetation such as scrub to grow. The nature of the forest is immediately and radically altered removing wildlife habitat and imposing a harsh environment which delays or prevents forest regeneration. Streams and rivers having increased silt and particle concentrations from soil erosion become inhospitable to wildlife whose numbers decrease as a result.
Efforts at reforestation have met with limited success for a number of reasons. Clear cutting removes the optimal environment for growth of immature trees which require partial shade and protection from wind. The erosion due to clear cutting is so rapid that critical top soil may be lost before replanted trees develop root structures adequate to maintain the soil's integrity. Reforestation requires extensive organization and capital expenditures since it is labour intensive in remote areas. Governments have generally not demonstrated an unwavering commitment to impose mandatory reforestation since maintaining employment in areas dependent upon the forestry industry is a major political concern.
In days long past, individuals trees were harvested as they matured. Horses were used to skid logs from the dense forest to a river, landing, portable saw-mills, or an access road cut through the forest. Logs were loaded upon sleds or trucks, or floated down rivers to sawmills. Although such methods result in less ecological damage and a sustainable renewable forest resource, modern clear cutting methods are preferred since it is widely believed that no other methods or equipment can produce logs in a cost efficient and profitable manner.
Such short term approaches ignore the cost of ecological damage and the benefits of a renewable forest resource. Clear cutting forces logging operations to continually seek new territories to exploit and to abandon the clear-cut logged area for an indeterminate period until the area is naturally regenerated or is reforested by man.
The invention addresses the foregoing disadvantages of conventional methods and vehicles for skidding timber through the use of a selective tree harvesting method and a novel vehicle.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is proposed wherein only trees of a selected size are felled and removed from the forest as logs. The surrounding trees which are too immature to be harvested or are defective in some manner or not of a desired species are left standing. A sustainable renewable forest resource is maintained since only access paths and roads of a minimal width need be cut through the forest in order to gain access to the selected trees. As trees mature, they may be harvested using the same paths and roads previously cut.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a compact vehicle is proposed for skidding timber. The compact vehicle may be constructed in practice to be of weight no more than 4 tons (3600 kg.), with a maximum velocity capability of 10 m.p.h. (16 kph) and a naturally aspirated diesel engine of under 45 h.p. This vehicle is relatively small in comparison to conventional skidders as described above and is capable of weaving along a narrow path through the forest. As a result of the novel design of the vehicle, a relatively narrow path may be cut which winds around immature trees, thereby avoiding the necessity of cutting down any more trees than is absolutely necessary for access, and transport of the logs. The vehicle is used therefore, to drag logs out of the dense forest to access roads where conventional larger skidders then operate in conventional manner dragging logs to truck transport. The major portion of the forest is left relatively undisturbed as a result therefore, and may remain as a renewable forest in perpetuity.


Technologies for secure enumeration of USB devices include a computing device having a USB controller and a trusted execution environment (TEE). The TEE may be a secure enclave protected secure enclave support of the processor. In response to a USB device connecting to the USB controller, the TEE sends a secure command to the USB controller to protect a device descriptor for the USB device. The secure command may be sent over a secure channel to a static USB device. A driver sends a get device descriptor request to the USB device, and the USB device responds with the device descriptor. The USB controller redirects the device descriptor to a secure memory buffer, which may be located in a trusted I/O processor reserved memory region. The TEE retrieves and validates the device descriptor. If validated, the TEE may enable the USB device for use. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Current processors may provide support for a trusted execution environment such as a secure enclave. Secure enclaves include segments of memory (including code and/or data) protected by the processor from unauthorized access including unauthorized reads and writes. In particular, certain processors may include Intel® Software Guard Extensions (SGX) to provide secure enclave support. In particular, SGX provides confidentiality, integrity, and replay-protection to the secure enclave data while the data is resident in the platform memory and thus provides protection against both software and hardware attacks. The on-chip boundary forms a natural security boundary, where data and code may be stored in plaintext and assumed to be secure. Intel® SGX does not protect I/O data that moves across the on-chip boundary.
Trusted I/O (TIO) technology enables an application to send and/or receive I/O data securely to/from a device. In addition to the hardware that produces or consumes the I/O data, several software and firmware components in the I/O pipeline might also process the data. HCTIO (Hardware Cryptography-based Trusted I/O) is a technology that provides cryptographic protection of DMA data via an inline Crypto Engine (CE) in the system-on-a-chip (SoC). Channel ID, an identifier, uniquely identifies a DMA channel on the platform, and the CE filters DMA traffic and encrypts select I/O transactions upon a match with the Channel ID programmed in the CE. Certain devices may provide trusted I/O using an inline Channel ID filter in the SoC and a processor-based Crypto Engine (e.g., using microcode or other processor resources).
Many current computing devices include universal serial bus (USB) support, which allows peripheral devices to be connected to and disconnected from the computing device during operation (hotplugged). Typically, an operating system detects hotplug events, enumerates the connected devices, and loads corresponding device drivers.


A wafer-level process for fabricating a plurality of photoelectric modules is provided. The wafer-level process includes at least following procedures. Firstly, a wafer including a plurality of chips arranged in an array is provided. Next, a plurality of photoelectric devices are mounted on the chips. Next, a cover plate including a plurality of covering units arranged in an array is provided. Next, a plurality of light guiding mediums are formed over the cover plate. Next, the cover plate is bonded with the wafer by an adhesive, wherein each of the covering units covers and bonds with one of the chips, and the light guiding mediums are sandwiched between the cover plate and the wafer. Then, the wafer and the cover plate are diced to obtain the plurality of photoelectric modules.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a fabricating process for fabricating photoelectric modules. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wafer-level fabricating process for fabricating photoelectric modules.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, with great advance in the photoelectric products development, semiconductor process is now widely used in fabricating all kinds of photoelectric modules. Its advancement is also towards smaller size, higher integrity and multiple functions. The photoelectric modules having been fabricated using semiconductor process include Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), CMOS Image Sensor (CIS), Solar Cell, Bio-Chip or other similar devices.
In order to transmit light between light guide device such as fiber, waveguide, etc. and photoelectric devices such as laser, light emitting diode (LED), photodiode, etc., the light guide devices and the photoelectric devices of the photoelectric modules need to be aligned precisely so as to perform the follow-up packaging process. Currently, the process for fabricating photoelectric modules is performed on each die and the alignment of photoelectric modules is performed under microscopes with specific fixtures. The manufacturing process is inefficient and wasteful in production capacity.

Wafer-level process for fabricating photoelectric modules


A device and method for minimally invasive tendon sheath release is presented herein. The device and method enables a surgeon to cut (“open”) a pulley that is obstructing a nodule and keeping a tendon from sliding smoothly. A guide probe of the device is inserted through a small incision and is used to find the edge of the pulley. Once found, the probe is guided to an end of the pulley. After proper position is assured, a hemi-cannula is moved over the guide probe to isolate the pulley from the surrounding tissue. A cutting blade is then used to sever the pulley. A dilation device may be inserted prior to the insertion of the ball tipped guide probe to dilate the area.

Tendons that move fingers are held in place on bones by a series of ligaments called pulleys (or sheath). These ligaments form an arch on a bone surface that creates a fibrous tunnel through which the tendon extends along the extent of the bone. Triggering is usually the result of a thickening in the tendon that forms a nodule, or knob. The pulley ligament may thicken as well. The constant irritation from the tendon repeatedly sliding through the pulley causes the tendon to swell in this area and create the nodule.
The symptoms of trigger finger include pain and a painful clicking sensation when the finger is bent. Pain usually occurs when the finger is bent and straightened. Tenderness usually occurs over the area of the nodule. The clicking sensation occurs when the nodule moves through the tunnel formed by the pulley ligaments. With the finger straight, the nodule is at the far edge of the surrounding ligament. When the finger is flexed, the nodule passes under the ligament and causes the clicking sensation. If the nodule becomes too large it may pass under the ligament and become stuck at the near edge. The nodule cannot move back through the tunnel causing the finger to lock in the flexed trigger position. Surgery may be required to release the trigger finger.
Trigger finger and tendon sheath surgery are common procedures that are usually performed in the operating room. A traditional tendon sheath release procedure is performed in an operating room at a hospital or surgery center under conscious sedation—which involves risk to the patient—and using a local anesthetic. The traditional open operation uses a conventional scalpel device and a 1.5 to 2.0 cm incision that disrupts all tissue and skin above the pulley and requires two or three stitches.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/896,088, incorporated herein by reference, Applicants disclosed a device and method for tendon sheath surgery that allows the operation to be performed in a surgeon's office safely, quickly, and in a less costly manner than going to the operating room. The current invention is an improvement upon the device disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/896,088 to ensure that other tissue is not damaged while the pulley is severed.

Device for minimally invasive tendon sheath release


Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for performing convolution operation on folded feature data. The method comprises: reading the folded feature data provided to a convolution layer and an original convolution kernel from a dynamic random access memory (DRAM); pre-processing the folded feature data and the original convolution kernel; storing the pre-processed folded feature data into a static random-access memory (SRAM); folding the pre-processed original convolution kernel in at least one dimension of width or height according to a folding manner of the folded feature data to generate one or more folded convolution kernels corresponding to the original convolution kernel; storing the one or more folded convolution kernels in the SRAM; and reading the pre-processed folded feature data and the one or more folded convolution kernels from the SRAM into a calculation unit for convolving the pre-processed folded feature data with the one or more folded convolution kernels.

Deep learning technologies based on convolutional neural network have been widely used in various fields such as image recognition, video analysis, natural language processing, autonomous driving and the like. The convolutional neural network is usually operation intensive, and it is desirable to perform operations in the convolutional neural network efficiently by using hardware such as a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated accelerator.

Method and apparatus for performing convolution operation on folded feature data

Nanjing Horizon Robotics Technology Co., Ltd.


A branching filter includes a receiving surface acoustic wave filter and a transmitting surface acoustic wave filter, which are provided on a multilayer ceramic substrate. The branching filter further includes at least one matching element and a low pass filter, which are provided within the multilayer ceramic substrate. The matching element is connected to the receiving surface acoustic wave filter and the low pass filter is connected to the transmitting surface acoustic wave filter. The ground of the low pass filter is separated within the multilayer ceramic substrate from the grounds of the other circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a branching filter in which surface acoustic wave filters are arranged on a multilayer ceramic substrate, which defines a package, and to a communication apparatus including such a branching filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
A branching filter is an electrical component that is connected between an antenna and a transmitting power amplifier in a portable telephone or other suitable apparatus. Since the branching filter can be increasingly miniaturized as the passband thereof becomes higher, a branching filter using a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter is known. The branching filter requires a transmitting-side spurious characteristic, i.e., a capability of removing second and third harmonic signals, which are unwanted signals generated by a power amplifier, and the demand for this requirement is increasingly stronger.
Under this circumstance, in order to improve the spurious characteristic, some inventions have been proposed in which a filter that is constituted by LC elements is connected to a transmitting SAW filter for use in a branching filter. Examples include a duplexer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H6-90128 (patent document 1) and a branching filter disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H9-98046 (patent document 2).
Meanwhile, an approach that is commonly used for realizing a high-frequency analog circuit is discussed in xe2x80x9cTransistor Gijutsuxe2x80x9d (Transistor Technology), June 1987, (CQ Publishing Co. Ltd.; non-patent document 1). In this approach, a ground layer that is called a xe2x80x9cground planexe2x80x9d having a large area and stable potential is provided in a circuit and the grounds of circuit elements are all connected to the ground plane.
This approach holds true for the case of branching filters and is commonly applied to branching filters. Thus, the grounds of SAW filters, a matching filter, and a filter constituted by LC elements are connected to a ground layer provided within a multilayer ceramic substrate.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H6-90128 (Data of Publication; Mar. 29, 1994)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H9-98046 (Data of Publication; Apr. 8, 1997)
Non-Patent Document 1: Transistor Gijutsu, Jun. 1987 issue
Conventionally, for an improvement in transmitting a side spurious characteristic, optimum design conditions are determined by adjusting the characteristics of SAW filters, a matching element, and a filter constituted by LC elements.
When a further improvement is necessary, however, in reality, an approach by which characteristics in the passband of a transmitting SAW filter or a receiving SAW filter are sacrificed must be taken, which leads to a problem in that an improvement in the transmitting-side spurious characteristic is limited.
For improving the spurious characteristic, the following two possible approaches have been available. The first approach is to improve the spurious characteristic by increasing a capacitance ratio, i.e., the ratio of the motional capacitance to the shunt capacitance of the IDT in the transmitting SAW filter. With this approach, however, naturally, the passband characteristic of the transmitting SAW filter is also affected. To achieve impedance matching in the passband, it is also necessary to ensure that the capacitance ratio is within a certain range, and to increase the capacitance ratio, however, causes the passband to become capacitive, thus adversely affecting the VSWR loss. The second approach is to increase the attenuation in second and third harmonics by increasing the shunt capacitance of a low pass filter. With this approach, however, the gain of the low pass filter is deteriorated in the passband of a transmitting SAW filter, thereby resulting in increased loss in the transmitting SAW filter.
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a branching filter that significantly improves a transmitting-side spurious characteristic and a communication apparatus including such a novel branching filter.
According to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a branching filter includes a receiving SAW filter, a transmitting SAW filter, and at least one matching element connected to the receiving SAW filter. The branching filter further includes a filter having at least one of an inductance element and a capacitance element. The filter is also connected to the transmitting SAW filter. The ground of the filter is provided separately from the grounds of the other circuit elements.
With this arrangement, since the branching filter includes the receiving SAW filter, the transmitting SAW filter, and the at least one matching element connected to the receiving SAW filter, the branching filter according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention can have a branching-filter function. Additionally, since the ground of the filter having at least one of an inductance element and a capacitance element is provided separately from the grounds of the other circuit elements, this branching filter greatly improves the transmitting-side spurious characteristic without deteriorating the in-band characteristics of the transmitting SAW filter or the receiving SAW filter.
In addition, since the branching filter includes the filter connected to the transmitting SAW filter, this arrangement significantly improves the transmitting-side spurious characteristic. Furthermore, completely separating the ground of the filter from the grounds of the other circuit elements and providing an external terminal that is used only for the ground of the filter further improves the transmitting-side spurious characteristic.
As a result, with this arrangement, it is possible to provide a branching filter having an improved transmitting-side spurious characteristic without affecting the receiving- and transmitting-side band characteristics.
Preferably, the filter having at least one of an inductance element and a capacitance element is a low pass filter having a xcfx80-type circuit. In the xcfx80-type circuit, capacitance elements are connected to corresponding opposite ends of inductance elements, the inductance elements are connected in series with each other, and the capacitance elements are each connected to ground, and another capacitance element is connected in parallel with the inductance elements.
Alternatively, the filter having at least one of an inductance element and a capacitance element may be a low pass filter including two inductance elements that are connected in series with each other, a series circuit in which a capacitance element and an inductance element are connected in series with each other, and one end of the series circuit is connected between the two inductance elements.
When the low pass filter having one of the above-described configurations is used, the low pass filter can be configured to have a ripple in the filter characteristic, and matching the ripple to the passband of the transmitting SAW filter so as to prevent deterioration in the bandpass characteristic of the transmitting SAW filter.
Preferably, the receiving SAW filter and the transmitting SAW filter are provided on a ceramic substrate. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a branching filter that is superior in robustness and that is very easy to handle.
Preferably, the ceramic substrate has a multilayer structure. With this arrangement, the matching element and the filter, which may be the low pass filter, can be provided within the multilayer substrate, thereby allowing for miniaturization of the branching filter.
Preferably, the filter, which may be the low pass filter, is provided within the multilayer ceramic substrate. This arrangement can make it easier to manufacture the branching filter than in the case in which the filter is externally provided. In addition, the transmitting SAW filter and the filter, which may be the low pass filter, can be arranged in close proximity to each other, thereby contributing to an improvement in the transmitting-side spurious characteristic.
Preferably, the ground of the receiving SAW filter and the ground of the transmitting SAW filter are separated from each other.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a communication apparatus including the branching filter described above. Since the communication apparatus according to this preferred embodiment of the present invention has a branching filter with an improved transmitting-side spurious characteristic, the communication characteristic is greatly improved.
Other features, elements, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Branching filter and communication apparatus


A use of an inoculum of a geldanamycin-producing strain able to survive in a plant rhizosphere as a biocontrol of common scab affecting the plant and a method for biocontrolling common scab comprising the use of such strain. A biologically pure culture of a Streptomyces strain deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Accession number BAA-668, or a variant thereof.

Common scab is a disease widely distributed in potato-growing areas. Superficial or deep corky lesions on potato tubers characterise the disease. Streptomyces scabies (Lambert and Loria, 1989) is the main causal agent of the disease (Goyer et al., 1996). Methods used to control common scab include chemical treatments of seed potato tubers (Davis et al., 1976), irrigation (Adams and Lapwood, 1978), soil amendments (Weinhold and Brown, 1968), cultivar choice (Bouchek-Mechiche et al., 2000) and rotation strategies (Li et al., 1999).
Biological control of potato scab by nonpathogenic streptomycetes was also reported (Doumbou et al., 2001b; Doumbou et al., 1998; Liu et al., 1995a; Ryan and Kinkel, 1997). For example, introduction into an infested soil of some Streptomyces diastatochromogenes and S. albogriseolus strains isolated from suppressive soils decreased common scab symptoms on potato tubers (Eckwall and Schottel, 1997; Liu et al., 1995a; Lorang et al., 1995). Common scab severity was also decreased by an amendment of an antibiotic biofertilizer produced from swine feces containing S. albidoflavus strain CH-33 (Hayashida et al., 1989). These strains are not known to produce geldanamycin.
Geldanamycin is known to inhibit the growth of several plant pathogenic fungi (Toussaint et al., 1997) and geldanamycin-producing streptomycetes were shown to protect crops against several fungal diseases (Rothrock and Gottlieb, 1984; Valois et al., 1996). This antibiotic is also active against some Gram-positive bacteria (Toussaint et al., 1997) such as S. scabies (Agbessi, 2002) but the efficiency of this bioagent to control common scab has not yet been determined. It cannot be predicted whether a strain known to be antagonistic against a microbiological pathogen will be able to compete in the rhizosphere against this pathogen and against other soil microbiological pathogens. It cannot therefore be predicted whether this strain would be effective in controlling a plant disease caused by this microbiological pathogen.
Certain references have shown that specific chitin waste-based composts suppress common scab (Côté et al., 2001; Vruggink (1970)). It was never demonstrated however whether the little amount of chitosan contained in these wastes participated in controlling the disease. Some success of biocontrol have been reported by the combined use of a biocontrol agent and of chitosan without however demonstrating the role played by chitosan itself (Cuero et al., 1991; Singh et al., 1999). Chitosan is known to be toxic against most microorganisms. There thus remains a need to demonstrate whether chitosan may help control common scab and whether it may be used in combination with microorganisms antagonistic to common scab.
There thus remains a need for new effective biocontrols of common scab.

Geldanamycin-producing strains, uses thereof and methods of producing same


Thermoplastic elastomer composition dynamically vulcanized with a 50 to 95% gelation rate has superior heat resistance, durability, and air permeation prevention, is flexible and usable as a pneumatic tire air permeation preventive layer. A composition having reduced domain rubber particle size is produced from a high rubber ratio material by mixing composition (C) under melt viscosities ratio of rubber composition (A)/resin (B) of 0.8 to 1.2 and formula (φA/φB)×(ηB/ηA)<1.0 under melt viscosities ratio of rubber composition (D)/composition (C) of 0.8 to 1.2 and formula (φD/φC)×(ηC/ηD)<1.0, wherein φA, φB, φC and φD are volume fractions of rubber composition (A) and resin (B), composition (C) and rubber composition (D), respectively, ηA ηB, ηC, and ηD are melt viscosities of rubber composition (A), resin (B), composition (C), and rubber composition (D), respectively. The thermoplastic elastomer composition may have an elastomer composition (A) dispersion phase and a thermoplastic resin composition (B) matrix.

Compositions having a low gas permeation performance (gas barrier performance) composed of thermoplastic resin/thermoplastic resin-based blends such as a high density polyethylene resin and nylon 6 or nylon 66 (HDPE/PA6.66), a polyethylene terephthalate and aromatic nylon (PET/MXD6), a polyethylene terephthalate and vinyl alcohol-ethylene copolymer (PET/EVOH), where one thermoplastic resin is layered over the other layer to form plural layers by molding, and processes for producing the same, are already known from Isao Hata: Kobunshi (Polymers), 40 (4), p. 244 (1991) etc. Further, an application regarding the use of such a composition as the inner layer of a tire has been already filed by the present assignee (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-55929). However, since these materials are thermoplastic resin/thermoplastic resin blends, while they are superior in gas barrier property, they lack flexibility, and therefore, such films are liable to break when the tire is in running.
Further, there are also examples of use of a thermoplastic elastomer composed of a rubber and a thermoplastic resin for the inner liner or a tire (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-183683), but in general a flexible material superior in durability has a low heat resistance. With a thermoplastic elastomer using a thermoplastic resin having a melting point less-than the tire vulcanization temperature as a matrix, when the vulcanization bladder is released at the end of the vulcanization of the tire, the tire inside surface is liable to become poor in appearance due to the thermoplastic resin sticking to the bladder, rubbing with the bladder, etc.
Research directed to the difference in viscosities at the time of processing in mixing of rubbers and resins has been known in the past. Among these, the capability of reducing the domain dispersion particle size the most in the state where the ratio of melt viscosities of the rubber/resin is brought close to 1 (that is, no difference in viscosities) has been reported in S. Wu, Polym. Eng. Sci., 27(5), 1987. If using these technologies to fabricate a thermoplastic elastomer having more flexibility, larger strength and elongation, and superior durability by raising the rubber ratio, while keeping the ratio of melt viscosities of the rubber/resin at 1, the rubber becomes the matrix and thermoplasticity is no longer exhibited.
In a laminate in which dynamic fatigue resistance is required such as tire, hose, when using a gas permeation preventive thermoplastic elastomer composition composed of rubber/resin dispersed therein, it is known to obtain a balance between the flexibility and gas permeation preventive property by making joint use of a flexible N11- or N12-nylon and superior gas permeation preventive property N6- or N66-nylon. Further, the present inventors have proposed to define the volume fraction and melt viscosity using the equation of α:(φd/φm)×(ηm/ηd)<1.0wherein the volume fractions of the continuous phase component and dispersion phase component in the thermoplastic elastomer composition are φm and φd and the melt viscosities of the components are ηm and ηd and further to bring the ratio of viscosities ηm/ηd close to 1 to reduce the rubber dispersed particle size of the domain to improve the durability (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-193545, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-175150, and Japanese Patent Application No. 10-235386). However, the durability at low temperatures was insufficient by just reducing the rubber particle size.

Thermoplastic elastomer composition and process for producing the same and pneumatic tire and hose using the same


[Object]

In recent years, an HDMI has been and is being popularized as a communication interface which transmits a digital image signal, that is, a non-compressed (baseband) image signal (hereinafter referred to as "image data") and a digital sound signal (hereinafter referred to as "sound data") associated with the image signal at a high speed, for example, from a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder, a set top box or some other AV source (Audio Visual source) to a television receiver, a projector or some other display apparatus (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).
As regards the HDMI, a TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) channel for transmitting image data and sound data at a high speed unidirectionally from an HDMI source (HDMI Source) to an HDMI sink (HDMI Sink), a CEC line (Consumer Electronics Control Line) for carrying out bidirectional communication between an HDMI source and an HDMI sink and so forth are prescribed. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-319503

Communication system, transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus and reception method

Abstract: [Object]

Abstract: To make it possible for the reception side to carry out an optimum process for an image signal (image data) depending upon the type of a content.

Abstract: [Solving Means]

Abstract: An AV system 40 composed of an HD recorder 41 and a display unit 42 uses a communication interface of the HDMI. An HDMI source 53 of the HD recorder 41 transmits image data (image signal) in the form of differential signals to an HDMI sink 61 of the display unit 42 through three TMDS channels. The HDMI source 53 inserts content identification information for the identification of the type of a content of image data to be transmitted into an AVI InfoFrame packet placed in a blanking period. A control section 64 of the display unit 42 controls operation of a display processing section 62 which carries out a process for displaying for the image data based on the content identification information (ITC, CT1 and CT0) received by the HDMI sink 61 and a display section 63 for displaying an image.


A cooling device for a battery that is mounted in a vehicle includes: a cooling fan that is configured to suck air in a vehicle interior, and to blow the sucked air to the battery; an intake air temperature sensor that is configured to detect a temperature of the air sucked by the cooling fan; and an electronic control unit that is configured (i) to control the cooling fan, and (ii) to prohibit the cooling fan from being operated when a detected value of the intake air temperature sensor is lower than a first temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cooling device for a battery, and more particularly, to a cooling device for a battery that is mounted in a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A vehicle that is equipped with a battery and a cooling fan that blows the air in a vehicle interior to the battery is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,743. In the case where the battery is at a high temperature, the cooling fan is operated. Thus, the battery is cooled.
In general, the cooling fan is provided with a bearing portion that supports a rotary shaft for rotating the fan. An oil film of lubricating oil is formed between the rotary shaft and the bearing portion. This oil film prevents the rotary shaft and the bearing portion from coming into contact (metal touch) with each other, thus protecting the bearing portion.
However, with the periphery of (the atmosphere around) the cooling fan at an extremely low temperature, the lubricating oil in the cooling fan exhibits high viscosity, so a sufficient amount of lubricating oil may not be supplied to the bearing portion of the cooling fan. When the cooling fan is operated in this state, the oil film protecting the bearing portion of the cooling fan breaks, and the bearing portion is chipped off through metal touch. As a result, the cooling fan may undergo a failure.

Cooling device for battery including an intake air temperature sensor