An ink jet printer for printing colored printed matter on printing paper, in which amounts of ink per one dot for each of a single color representation and mixed color representation are adapted to be equal to each other so as to provide dots of generally the same size for both representations, thus presenting very beautiful color printing through natural combinations of the single color and mixed color.

The present invention generally relates to a method of printing printed material through employment of an ink-jet printing apparatus and more particularly, to a method of representing gradation in printed matter.
Conventionally, in the case where color printing is to be effected with the use of an ink-jet printing apparatus as referred to above, it is so arranged that, for a single color display or representation by either one of yellow, magenta, cyan or black, ink particles or drops in an amount equivalent to one dot are discharged onto one dot position for adhesion thereto as shown by hatched lines in FIG. 11(a), while, for a mixed color display or representation, ink drops in different colors are continuously caused to adhere onto the same dot position each by an amount equivalent to one dot as shown by intersecting hatched lines in FIG. 12(a).
A conventional ink-jet printing apparatus is adapted to effect printing by causing the ink drops discharged from its nozzle to fly onto the surface of printing paper, and therefore, the size of one dot to be displayed on the printing paper is determined by the amount of ink in the drops thus discharged. Accordingly, the amount of ink to be discharged from the nozzle is set to such a predetermined amount as will not show any gaps between dots when a solid printing is performed. Therefore, in the case of the mixed color display, ink drops in different colors are discharged onto the same dot position each by the amount equivalent to one dot, resulting in adhesion thereto of an ink amount equivalent to two dots. Thus, as shown in FIG. 12(b), more ink is soaked into the printing paper to show a larger dot display as compared with a single color dot display in FIG. 11(b). With a difference in sizes of the dots as described above, when the solid printing is effected, the larger size of the display area for the mixed color display B becomes conspicuous as compared with the size of the display area for the single color display A, and in the printing of vertical lines also, the mixed color displays B' thick in comparison with the single color displays A' as shown in FIG. 13. Accordingly, there has been such a disadvantage that the resultant color print is very unnatural due to the difference between the single color display and the mixed color display as described so far.
Meanwhile, with respect to conventional methods of representing gradations in the ink-jet printing apparatus, as illustrated in FIGS. 15(a), 15(b), 15(c) and 15(d) showing four gradations, and also in FIGS. 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(d), 14(e), 14(f), 14(g), 14(h) and 14(i), there are available an area gradation representing method (1) in which the number of dots per unit area is adapted to be variable according to the degrees of gradations, and another method (2) employed for an on-demand type printer, etc. and so arranged that, by controlling a driving voltage for the ink discharging or width of pulses according to the gradations, with the number of dots held constant, the size of the dot is varied to correspond to the gradation through variation of the amount of ink for one dot.
However, in the above method (1), if it is intended to suppress the dot density to be the same degree as in the case of a non-gradation, the numbers of dots in the longitudinal direction and vertical direction must be doubled respectively for the four gradations, and in this case, in order to print the same area as compared with that during the non-gradation over the same period of time, it is necessary double the running speed of a head, and also to increase the ink discharge driving frequency by a factor of four. Although it is possible to increase the driving frequency by a factor of four, there are various problems related to the doubling of the head running speed, such as a violent movement of ink within an ink tank, an increased size of the head driving motor, etc. Furthermore, as is seen from FIGS. 14 and 15, due to non-uniformity in the distribution of dots, the gradation linearity can not be regarded as favorable, resulting in an unnatural representation of gradations.
Meanwhile, according to the above conventional method (2), although the gradation linearity is better than in method (1), there are problems with respect to the performance of the nozzle, discharged ink particles, and stability of the nozzle in functioning, owing to the fact that the amount of ink continuously discharged from the nozzle is increased per one jetting as the degree of gradation increases, with a simultaneous prolongation of the ink discharging time, and thus, method (2) has not been put into actual application as yet, since there is a limit to the gradation representation in multi-stages (FIG. 16).


The invention relates to a hydraulic power-assisted steering system comprising a steering gear and a hydraulic actuator for assisting actuation of the steering wheel by the driver of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an electric motor which is coupled to the steering column and used as an additional torque actuator for actively applying an additional steering torque, also consisting of an electronic control and regulating unit (ECU), which includes a determination unit for determining a steering torque and an evaluating and selecting circuit, by means of which a total value for applying the additional steering torque is determined in consideration of the determined steering torque or a quantity derived therefrom and a selected basic characteristic curve of steering (basic characteristic curve), with the total value of the additional steering torque to be applied including a driver-dependent component and a driver-independent component.

Up-to-date motor vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, are generally equipped with hydraulic or electrohydraulic power-assisted steering systems, hereinbelow referred to as 'hydraulic servo steering systems'. The servo assistance is devised such that actuators, e.g. hydraulic cylinders, are arranged in the mid-portion of the steering mechanism. A force generated by the actuators assists in the actuation of the steering mechanism in response to the turning of the steering wheel (torque assistance). This reduces the torque that must be generated for steering the vehicle, and the driver is relieved in the steering activity.
It is known in the art to devise the torque assistance or the boosting of the steering system in response to speed. At low vehicle speeds as they are typical of pulling in or out of a parking space, easy-running steering with a high torque assistance is preferred, while heavy steering with a lower torque assistance is desirable when driving fast.

Hydraulic power-assisted steering system


A hanger pin removal tool has a first tubular body having a cut-out at a distal end thereof with a second tubular body slidably secured therewithin. The second tubular body has a channel and port cut within the first tubular body which is aligned with the cut-out of the first tubular body. The tool is configured to permit insertion into the mouth of a recently manufactured glass bottle, secure to the hanger pin positioned within the bottle and extract the same.

As anyone who performs a lot of mechanical work will attest, nothing beats having the proper tool for a job. The proper tool can save time, save money, produce a higher quality job, reduce damage to equipment, and provide for the increased safety of the worker. Each field of mechanical work has its own type of specialty tools, each performing a specialized task. One (1) field where there has been a need for such a specialized tool is in the removal of molding hangers on glass bottle molding machines. Such hangers are held in place with pins. Unfortunately, these hangers run in extremely hot conditions and often seize up in the hanger.
Current methods of removal are extremely time consuming as well as posing a risk of damage to the pin, the hanger, or the molding machine itself. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which retaining pins used on molding hangers used on glass bottle molding machines can be easily removed without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the mold hanger pin removal tool fulfills this need.


A grinder for dry waste materials includes a vertically-oriented, cylindrically-shaped housing having an opening at its upper end for receiving materials to be comminuted. The shredder element has upwardly-extending impeller blades disposed on its upper surface. The outer perimeter of the shredder element is separated from the inner wall of the housing sufficiently to provide a gap through which comminuted materials can drop from the upper chamber to the lower chamber of the housing. The interior of the upper portion of the housing is provided around its circumference with diverget blades that are angled downwardly in the direction of rotation of the shredder element. The lower housing has a closed bottom and a tangentially oriented discharge element for discharge from the lower housing of comminuted materials. The shredder element has downwardly-extending paddles on its lower surface that extend downwardly into the lower housing and are adapted to sweep the lower housing, act as an air blower and expel comminuted materials therefrom. Optionally the shredder element is flattened on opposite sides, to provide enlarged openings for movement of comminuted materials from the upper chamber into the lower chamber. The upwardly-extending impeller blades may optionally be Z-shaped.

Food waste disposers in sinks and other types of waste grinding devices are commonly used with a supply of flushing water that transports the ground material through a drainage pipe into a waste disposal system. Because of clogging problems, such disposers have generally not been operated without water. However, many wastes can more efficiently be recovered, recycled, or disposed of if they are maintained in a dry state. For example, in the case of food waste converted to use as animal feed, it is desirable to eliminate the need for energy consuming drying processes. A need has, thus, existed for devices that are capable of conserving water and providing a disposal means that results in a dry waste material that does not have to be flushed through a sanitary waste treatment system.


A washing machine driving apparatus includes: an outer shaft connected with a washing tub; an inner shaft rotatably arranged inside the outer shaft and connected with a pulsator; an inner rotor connected with the outer shaft; an outer rotor connected to the inner shaft; and a stator disposed with an air gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor, The stator comprises: stator cores; a bobbin wrapped on the outer surface of each of the stator cores; a first coil wound on one side of each of the stator cores; and a second coil wound on the other side of each of the stator cores A first bearing and a second bearing are disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer shaft. The first bearing and the second bearing are mounted in a first bearing housing and a second bearing housing fixed to an outer tub.

As disclosed in Korean Patent Registration Publication No. 10-0548310 (Jan. 24, 2006), the conventional washing machine includes: an outer case forming an outer shape; an outer tub which is supported on an inside of the outer case for receiving wash water therein; an inner tub which is rotatably accommodated in an inside of the outer tub and is used for both washing and dehydrating; a pulsator which is mounted in an inside of the inner tub relatively rotatably, to form a washing water flow; a drive motor for generating a driving force for rotating the inner tub and the pulsator; an inner tub rotating shaft which receives the driving force of the drive motor for rotating the inner tub; a pulsator rotating shaft which receives the driving force of the drive motor for rotating the pulsator; a sun gear which is connected to the drive motor and is connected to the pulsator rotating shaft; a plurality of planetary gears which are simultaneously engaged with the sun gear and a ring gear; a carrier supporting the planetary gears so as to be rotated and revolved; and a clutch spring for controlling the rotation of the inner tub and the pulsator during washing or dehydrating.
The conventional washing machine has a planetary gear set including the sun gear, the ring gear, the planetary gears and the carrier, and reduces the rotating force of the drive motor, to then be transferred to the pulsator and the inner tub, and operates a clutch spring to selectively transmit power to the pulsator and the inner tub, to thus rotate only the pulsator or both the pulsator and the inner tub simultaneously.
However, the conventional washing machine needs the planetary gear set and the clutch spring in order to selectively rotate the pulsator and the inner tub, to accordingly cause the configuration of the conventional washing machine to be complicated and the production cost thereof to increase.
Further, since the conventional washing machine is configured to have the planetary gear set and the clutch spring between the drive motor and the outer tub, the space occupied in the height direction of the washing machine is increased and thus the height of the washing machine increases. Otherwise, since the height of the inner tub should be reduced in an identical height of the washing machine, there is a problem that a washing capacity is reduced.
In addition, since the conventional washing machine enables the pulsator and the inner tub to be rotated in an identical direction, but not to be rotated in opposite directions to each other, there is a problem that the washing machine performance is lowered.

Washing machine driving apparatus and washing machine comprising same


A system for selectively covering and uncovering an opening of a trailer for trucks, comprising at least two tracks mounted to the trailer, at least two roller assemblies, each mounted for rolling movement along one of the tracks between a covered position and an uncovered position, an elongate roller bar extending between and supported by the at least two roller assemblies, and a drive mechanism operatively connected to the roller bar to rotate the roller bar about its elongate axis. The roller bar is adapted to receive a cover in a rolled configuration in which the opening of the trailer is not covered by the cover, when the roller assemblies are in the uncovered position. The roller bar is further adapted to receive the cover in an unrolled configuration in which the cover covers the opening, when the roller assemblies are in the covered position.

Various means for covering and uncovering trailers for trucks, and openings thereto, are known in the art. Several of such means utilize tarpaulins for covering and uncovering access points (which can vary in size from a few square feet to openings comprising the entire side of a trailer) by selectively rolling the tarpaulin up about a rod or spindle, to uncover the access point, or unrolling the tarpaulin from the rod or spindle, to cover the access point. Many of such tarpaulin systems require additional arms that slide, retract, telescope or elongate in order to create a controlled means for the tarp to roll or unroll either vertically or horizontally about the truck body.

Rolling tarpaulin system for selectively covering and uncovering trailers for trucks


A pod drive installation and hull configurations for mounting a pod drive unit to a hull which includes a horizontally disposed pod drive platform for supporting a rotational pod drive mount for mounting the pod drive unit with a vertically oriented steering axis. The pod drive platform is mounted to the hull, outward of the keel of the vessel, such that the pod drive platform intersects a plane defined by a bottom hull surface tilted from the horizontal along a contour of intersection, between an outboard boundary of the pod drive platform and an inboard boundary of the pod drive platform, and is connected to the bottom hull surface by at least one of an outboard sidewall and an inboard sidewall.

Pod drive systems, for propelling and steering marine vessels, typically comprise of one or more pod drive units wherein, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each pod drive unit 2A of a pod drive system 2 typically includes an inboard engine 2B which drives a drive shaft 2C that, in turn, drives an inboard transmission unit 2D that is connected to and drives an underwater steerable gearcase 2E that is rotatably mounted through the hull 2F and supports and drives a propeller 2G. As generally indicated in FIG. 1, engine torque is transmitted from a generally horizontal drive shaft 2C, through a first bevel gear assembly 2H, to a generally vertical arranged intermediate drive shaft 2I extending downwardly through inboard transmission unit 2D to the steerable gearcase 2E. The engine torque of the vertical intermediate drive shaft 2I is, in turn, transmitted through a second bevel gear assembly 2J to a propeller shaft 2K which, in turn, supports and drives a propeller 2G. The pod drive unit 2A allows the propeller 2G to be rotated in the generally horizontal plane, about a steering axis 2L, and through an angular range of, for example, up to 360°, so that the pod drive unit 2A combines and forms both the vessel propulsion function as well as the steering function. The selection of the appropriate maximum starboard and port steering angles will depend on the desired steering performances and design constraints and choices, such as the type of vessel, the design and characteristics of the vessel hull and the desired manoeuvring characteristics.
Pod drive systems, also referred to as azimuthing propulsion systems or azimuth thrusters, have become popular and common in vessels of all sizes for a number of real and perceived advantages. For example, pod drive systems are typically more compact than and offer greater manoeuverability than systems having inboard engines or non-steerable propellers and rudders and are better protected from damage and offer greater manoeuverability than outboard drive systems and many propeller and rudder systems.
However, pod drive systems present a number of problems. Pod drive systems, of various configurations, are used in a wide range of marine vessels ranging from small pleasure craft to large work vessels, such as commercial fishing vessels, and even large ships, such as cruise liners. The common problems of installing and using pod drive systems in pleasure craft are illustrative, however, to a greater or lesser degree, of the typically problems associated with using pod drive systems in all types of vessels and will be discussed below as examples of these problems.
FIGS. 2 through 6 are illustrations of various pod drive systems of the prior art as installed in a vessel having a V-bottomed planing hull with twin pod drive units mounted through the hull, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, at symmetrical positions on either side of the hull keel or centerline. Those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize, however, that such V-bottom hulls, and variations thereof, are commonly used on a variety of other vessels, including commercial and work craft, and vessels having rounded or curved bottoms will present similar problems because the pod drive units must be mounted on sections of the hull that are at an angle to both the vertical plane and the horizontal plane. It will also be recognized that at least some of the same or similar problems appear with flat bottomed hulls as well as will be apparent from the following discussion.
Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, a tunnel pod drive system 2 is shown therein as adopted, for example, by the Brunswick Corporation of Lake Forest, Ill. and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,371,140 and 7,188,581 issued to Richard A. Davis for a Protective Marine Vessel and Drive and in European Patent Application Serial No. 1 777 154 A2 filed on Sep. 26, 2006 and published on Apr. 25, 2007.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but not in FIG. 4, the installation of twin pod drive units 2A in the V-bottom hull 4H requires the formation of corresponding open bottomed "tunnels" 4T, or canyons, on either side of the keel 4K with each pod drive unit 2A extending into a corresponding tunnel 4T through the top 4O of the tunnel 4T with underwater steerable gearcases 2E extending vertically below the tunnel top 4O and residing largely within the tunnels 4T. The propellers 2G are located partially within or extend largely below the bottom 4B of hull 4H and the steering axes 2L are generally oriented vertically. The forward ends of tunnels 4B are typically closed by a forward end wall 4F, for structural reasons, such as reducing the interior volume of hull 4H occupied by the tunnels 4T, while the aft ends 4R of tunnels 4T are open to permit the flow of water through the tunnels 4T and around the steerable gearcases 2E and the propellers 2G.
A primary advantage of a tunnel pod drive system 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is that pod drive units 2A, and in particular steerable gearcases 2E and to a certain extent the propellers 2G, are better protected because pod drive units 2A are raised or recessed vertically, relative to the keel 4K, thereby at least partially protecting pod drive units 2A from striking an underwater object(s). Other possible advantages are that the navigational draft of the vessel is typically reduced allowing more water areas to be safely navigated by the vessel, and that steering by the thrust generating elements, that is the propellers 2G, generally allows greater manoeuverability and improved vessel handling characteristics.
However, a major disadvantage of a tunnel pod drive system 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is the effect on hull characteristics caused by modifications to the hull to accommodate the tunnels 4T, particularly when an existing hull is modified for tunnel mounting of pod drive units 2. For example, the installation or provision of tunnels 4T not only results in significant structural changes to the hull but also reduces the amount of buoyancy of the vessel, toward the stern end thereof, thus reducing and/or redistributing the buoyancy of the vessel. The tunnels 4T have also been found to reduce the planing surface at the stern, thereby causing a "squatting" or "sinking" effect of the stern of the vessel that has been found to increase further in the event that the depth of tunnels 4T within the vessel is increased.
Other disadvantages are that the "wetted surface area" of the hull 4H is increased by the tunnels 4T, thereby increasing the frictional drag of hull 4H and correspondingly reducing the vessel speed while also increasing fuel consumption. The tunnels 4T have also been found to cause redirection of the flow of water around hull 4H, thereby further increasing the drag of the hull 4H. It has been found that the tunnels 4T may channel the flow of water, generated by the propellers 2G, thereby creating low pressure fields that result in a downward force, on the aft region of the hull, that may adversely effect vessel trim angles.
An alternate method for mounting pod drive units in twin engine V-bottom vessels is the slanted steering axis system 4 that has been adopted, for example, by the Volvo Penta system of Volvo Corporation of Greensboro, N.C. which is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,234 issued to Arvidsson for Watercraft Swivel Drives and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,605 issued to Asberg for a Propeller Drive Unit, and in International Patent Applications WO96/00682 and WO96/00683.
As shown in isometric view in FIG. 4, the pod drive units 2A are mounted directly to hull 4H, in a slanted steering axis pod drive system 4, so that the steering axis 2L of each pod drive unit 2A is normal to the port and the starboard surfaces 4P and 4S of the hull 4H and is thereby at an angle to the vertical axis of the vessel.
A major advantage of the slanted steering axis pod drive system 4 is that the system does not require any tunnels 4T to adapt the pod drive units 2A to the hull 4H. The slanted axis system 4 thereby does not require any significant modification(s) to the shape or the structure of the hull 4H, does not effect or alter the buoyancy or distribution of the buoyancy or the trim of the hull, the fluid flow around the hull, the wetted surface area or the drag of the hull or some of the handling characteristics of the hull and, for example, does not result in low pressure areas in the aft regions of the hull with consequent "squatting" or "sinking" effects.
The pod drive units of FIG. 4 are, however, more exposed to damage in the slanted axis pod drive system 4, and the system typically results in the pod drive units, and thus the vessel, having an increased draft as compared to a tunnel mount system. Yet another aspect of the slanted steering axis pod drive system 4 is that, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the tilt of steering axes 2L—relative to a substantially vertical axis—results in each pod drive unit 2A producing a vertical component of thrust from the propeller 2G in addition to the horizontal component of thrust. The magnitude and direction of the vertical component of thrust, that is, either upward or downward, depends upon the direction and angle at which the propeller 2G is rotated and the slanted steering axis pod drive systems may be used, for example, to trim the running position of the vessel. That is, the pod drive units 2A may be rotated in opposite directions by an angle of rotation selected so that the horizontal components of the thrusts generated by the two pod units 2A cancel each other while the vertical components of the thrust, generated by each unit, is added to exert an upward or downward force on the stern of the vessel and to thereby adjust the fore/aft trim of the vessel to a desired setting or value. The rotations of the two pod drive units may be dynamically adjusted, in this way, to control the fore/aft trim of the vessel for various speeds or loading conditions, and may be used, for example, to adjust the fore/aft trim of the vessel during a transitory period, such as assisting the vessel over the planing threshold when transitioning from the displacement mode to the planing mode.
The generation of an upward or downward force on the vessel by a slanted steering axis drive system when the pod drive units are rotated is disadvantageous, however, because this effect often generates a "rolling" force and effect on the vessel during turns. That is, during a left or a right turn for example, the propellers 2G, of both pod drive units 2A, rotate about their steering axes 2L toward the left or right hand turn so that both pod drive units 2A exert a horizontal thrust component toward the inside of the turn, thereby forcing the stern toward the outside of the turn and forcing the vessel to turn in the desired direction. The rotation of the pod drive units 2A toward the inside of the turn, however, results in the vertical thrust generated by the inside pod drive unit 2A, that is, the pod drive unit 2A toward the inside of the turn, being directed downward while the vertical thrust component generated by the outside drive pod 2A is directed upward.
The combined vertical thrust components from the drive pod units 2A, in a slanted steering drive system 4 according to FIG. 4, thereby may exert a force during a turn that causes the vessel to have an unwanted rolling motion toward the inside of the turn. It has been found that this unwanted effect increases with the deadrise of the hull, that is, the angle of rise of the port and the starboard halves of the hull on either side of the keel. The rolling effect also places addition constraints on the center of gravity of the vessel because the center of gravity must be kept as low as possible to reduce excessive roll angles, during turns, and in the design of the transom because the height of the transom must be sufficient to accommodate the shift in the waterlines as the vessel rolls during turns.
Lastly, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate yet further embodiments of the pod drive systems. FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a single tunnel pod drive unit 2A installed in a tunnel 47 extending along the aft keel 4K of the hull 4H. It should be noted that, in FIG. 5, the pod drive unit 2A shown therein is a "tractor" propulsion unit. That is, the blade pitch of the propeller 2G and the orientation of the steerable gearcase 2E are reversed, with respect to the propellers 2G and the gearcases 2E illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, so the propeller 2G accordingly exerts a "pulling or traction" force on the vessel rather than the "pushing" force exerted by the propellers 2G and the gearcases 2E of the pod drive units 2A shown in FIGS. 2 through 4.
FIG. 6, in turn, is a rear view of the single tunnel pod drive system of FIG. 5 combined with the dual slanted steering axis pod drive system 4 of FIG. 4 to provide a triple pod drive system. It will be noted that in the illustrated combined pod drive system, the gearcase 2E and the propeller 2G are implemented as "pushing" units as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, rather than a "tractor" or "pulling" unit as illustrated in FIG. 5. It will be understood, without further any discussion, that the system of FIG. 5 could also be combined with the system of FIGS. 2 and 3 to provide an alternate implementation comprising a triple tunnel pod drive system, providing either a pushing or a pulling force. It will be appreciated, however, that all such approaches to the problems of the pod drive systems of the prior art will generally have the same disadvantages as the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4.
The present invention is directed at addressing and overcoming the above noted problems as well as other problems associated with the known prior art systems.

Pod drive installation and hull configuration for a marine vessel


An impact-resistant shutter does not fracture upon impact from debris. The shutter includes a decorative panel and a support panel. The decorative panel has an outer surface and an inner surface and includes a first chemical composition. The support panel has a first surface and a second surface and includes a fiber composition. The fiber composition is incompatible with the first chemical composition. A second chemical composition is integrated into the support panel at the first surface. The second chemical composition is compatible with the first chemical composition. Due to this second chemical composition present at the first surface, the fiber composition in the support panel can be bonded to the inner surface of the decorative panel. The fiber composition provides impact resistance to the decorative panel to prevent fracturing of the decorative panel upon impact from debris.

As is known in the art, shutters are used for both aesthetic and functional purposes on a dwelling, such as a residential or commercial building. Aesthetically, shutters are utilized to add décor and character to the dwelling. Although these decorative types of shutters typically remain in an open position on the dwelling, they create an appearance of being a functional shutter.
On the other hand, in a closed position, the shutters are used for functional purposes. These functional shutters typically include a decorative panel and a support panel backing, or supporting, the decorative panel. These functional shutters pivot from the open position to the closed position and operate to protect windows, doors, and other openings of the dwelling during inclement weather, such as precipitation storms, wind storms, and hurricanes.
However, the shutters of the prior art are deficient. More specifically, because the decorative shutters are not intended for functional purposes, they are manufactured from raw materials that do not provide adequate protection to dwellings. The functional shutters of the prior art, even in the closed position, are deficient in that they do not satisfy ASTM Standard Specifications for "Storm Shutters" as required according to the International Building Code (IBC). These shutters are not impact-resistant. Instead, these shutters fracture upon impact from debris, such as windborne debris that is particularly active during the inclement weather. Ultimately, the conventional shutters do not adequately protect the windows, doors, and other openings of the dwelling during the inclement weather.
Some shutters have attempted to incorporate certain compositions into the decorative panel and the support panel to bolster the impact resistance provided by the shutter. However, these attempts have not compatibilized the compositions between the decorative panel and the support panel. As a result, the support panel may not be adequately bonded to the decorative panel such that the support panel does not adequately back, or support, the decorative panel, and the decorative panel frequently fractures independent of the support panel.
Due to the deficiencies in the shutters of the prior art, including those described above, it is desirable to provide a novel shutter assembly that satisfies the ASTM Standard Specifications as required by the IBC such that the shutter assembly is impact-resistant and does not fracture upon impact from debris.


The invention relates to a filter plate for a plate filter press with at least one press diaphragm (6) covered with filter fabric, in which the filter plate (2) and the press diaphragm (6) have at least one shared passage aperture (4), whereby the edge of the aperture (4) of the press diaphragm (6) has a circumferential edge bead (9) which is held in a groove (10) at the edge of the aperture (4) of the filter plate (2) by means of an annular securing component so as to create a seal. In order to ensure that the press diaphragm (6) can reliably withstand high pressures in this region it is proposed that the aperture (4) of the filter plate (2) be conically shaped towards the central plane of the filter plate (2) on the side bearing the press diaphragm (6), that the groove (10) taking the edge bead (9) of the press diaphragm (6) be arranged in the conical region (13 ) and that the securing component for the edge bead (9) of the press diaphragm (6) be formed by a conically shaped clamping ring (15) on the outer periphery and stretched over the filter plate (3).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filter plate for a plate filter press including at least one press membrane covered by a filter cloth, wherein the filter plate and the press membrane have at least one common passage opening. The edge of the passage opening of the press membrane is provided with a continuous edge bead that is sealingly held in a groove along the edge of the passage opening of the filter plate by means of an annular fastening element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such filter plates including a press membrane are known in principle in practice. A problem in connection with these plates is the connection between the press membrane and the plate body because during the pressing process a pressure medium is introduced between the plate body and the press membrane such that the press membrane is lifted away from the plate body. While the closing pressure also holds the press membrane itself against the filter plate in the edge region of the filter plate, the fixing in the region of the passage opening, particularly in the region of the slurry channel, poses a problem. In practice, the fastening in this region has in the past always been effected, for example, by simple gluing or vulcanizing of the edges of the press membrane to the plate body. However, gluing is not very reliable because extensive shear forces are generated during the pressing process which may cause the adhesive connection to come loose, particularly since, in contrast to fastening the membrane edges to the outer plate edge, the press membrane and the plate body are not supported by the press closing force in the region of the slurry entrance so that the adhesive connection in this region is subjected to great stress.
German Patent 2,324,876 discloses the provision of a continuous groove in the region of the filter plate center plane for the passage bore of the filter plate that is provided with press membranes. The edge bead of the press membrane is inserted into this continuous groove and a slotted spring ring is pushed over it. This spring ring is then held by engagement with a closed ring as the supporting ring. Such a fastening does not permit very high compressive forces. These can be realized, if instead of the supporting ring, a fastening is provided as it is known as a so-called cloth screw fastening. The screw-in flanges screwed against one another by a screwed-in threaded sleeve, which thus also clamp in the filter cloth, have been found acceptable in practice but have the drawback that filter presses equipped in this manner, can be used only within limits to process aggressive slurries. Charging the press membrane with a compressive pressure of up to 3 bar is possible. If higher pressures are employed there again exists the danger that the press membrane will be pulled out of its anchorage.

Eberhard Hoesch & Sohne GmbH Verfahrens-und Anlagentechnik


A circular piezoelectric apparatus includes an electrode assembly which has an independent electrode located on a perimeter side wall of the circular piezoelectric apparatus and two separated electrodes located respectively at two opposite surfaces of the circular piezoelectric apparatus, a first structure located between the two separated electrodes that has a polarized direction coincided with a first axial direction directing from one electrode of the two separated electrodes to the other electrode thereof, and a second structure surrounding the first structure about the first axial direction and having a polarized direction coincided with a radial direction of the perimeter. One of the three electrodes is electrically connected a ground electrode to provide a voltage source for supplying an input voltage and a load through at least a conductive wire, and another electrode is electrically connected to an input electrode of the voltage source through another conductive wire.

Piezoelectricity basically is a phenomenon of energy transformation between mechanical energy and electrical energy. As electric charges and strain have a cause-effect relationship, for material capable of generating piezoelectricity there is a crystal structure which can generate electron dipole moment when subject to an external force, a transformation phenomenon between mechanical energy and electrical energy takes places. This phenomenon is the source of piezoelectricity.
Generation of electron dipole moment is caused by a special arrangement between positive ions and negative ions in a crystal. Different crystal lattice systems in materials generate different electron dipole moments. The basic condition is the asymmetrical center of the crystal lattice. If there is a symmetrical center in the crystal lattice, the positive ions and negative ions are neutralized, then there is no electron dipole moment. And there is also no transformation between the mechanical energy and electrical energy. There are generally three types of transformation between the mechanical energy and electrical energy: 1. transforming mechanical energy to kinetic energy; 2. transforming electrical energy to mechanical energy; and 3. transforming electrical energy to mechanical energy, then to electrical energy again to be output. Piezoelectric ceramics have piezoelectric characteristic to perform mutual transformation between mechanical energy and electrical energy, thus are widely used in many types of applications, such as sensors to detect pressure, accelerometers, micromotors and the like. Moreover, piezoelectric films fit very well to the prevailing trend of slim and light of electronic products, and can be used on electronic elements for bio-detection and communication, thus receive a lot of attention in academics and industries.
The conventional piezoelectric structure adopts the principle of "unipoled PZT" discovered by Berlincourt in 1973. The principle is: alter the thickness relationship of the output/input area and the polarized area of a corresponding piezoelectric structure, a polarization process can be generated to change the step-up and step-down ratios of the piezoelectric structure. However, the conventional practice generally adopts a piezoelectric structure with a fixed distance between input/output electrodes and a ground electrode, and changeable polarized areas of the input/output electrodes to alter the step-up and step-down ratios. Such an approach creates a problem, namely to alter the step-up and step-down ratios, the polarized areas of input and output electrodes have to be changed, and the size of the piezoelectric structure also has to increase or decrease. This greatly affects the manufacturing techniques and installation space of the piezoelectric structure in the applications of industries.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,235 discloses an annular piezoelectric structure which includes a first portion and a second portion that generate vibration through an AC power supply and other portions to transform the piezoelectric structure. Its polarized direction is vertical to the perimeter surface of the annular body. It uses different shapes of the piezoelectric structure to generate different step-up and step-down ratios. The different shapes cause fabrication difficulty. R.O.C. patent No. I253772 discloses a piezoelectric structure to provide an improvement. It has an output electrode and an input electrode spaced from a ground electrode at different distances. By changing the distance of the input electrode or output electrode relative to the ground electrode the step-up and step-down ratios of the piezoelectric structure can be altered. But its polarized direction is limited to the thickness direction, and the output/input voltage is determined by different thickness of the piezoelectric structure of the output/input electrodes. To get a greater output/input voltage ratio, the thickness difference also is greater. Hence the heights of the inner and outer rings of the circular piezoelectric sheets are uneven. Moreover, when the thickness is excessive it takes too much space of the already constrained internal space of electronic equipments. Hence how to improve the piezoelectric structure is a big issue remained to be overcome in the industry.


The present disclosure discloses a multi-component valve system for use in pumps such as fracking pumps for use in subterranean resource production. The assembly includes a retaining pin having a retaining cap on its upper end. Located on the retaining pin are an insert retainer, an insert beneath the insert retainer, a valve beneath the insert, and a guide beneath the valve. The guide has a generally truncated pyramid shape, and a central portion on its upper end. The central portion is centered on the retaining pin. The retaining pin has an expanded lower end to secure the valve assembly together.

Valves have been the subject of engineering design efforts for many years, and millions of them have been used. The engineering development of valves has stagnated in this crowded and mature field of technology. Improvements have been elusive in recent years, even as the cost of materials and manufacturing has continued to climb.
The basic valve structure is present in several U.S. patent publications. Some of these describe conventional methods of building a valve, and others describe methods that have been rejected by industry. Fewer disclosures teach multiple component valves, as valves having multiple components have heretofore been disfavored for a number of reasons. Primarily, they are viewed as more costly to manufacture. Multiple components require multiple manufacturing steps, assembly steps, and fit-tolerances requirements that valves having fewer parts do not have. Secondly, each assembly and connection is deemed a potential failure point, so these valves are, again, disfavored.
Fracking valves are a particular valve used to pump hard material into a production wellbore for the purpose of fracturing the reservoir containing formations to increase fluid flow into the wellbore. Such pumps are reciprocating, positive displacement pumps in which the valves are held closed by springs and open and close by differential pressure. The pumps deliver clear fluids or slurries through simple poppet valves that are activated (opened and closed) by the fluid pressure differential generated when the mechanical energy of the pump is converted into fluid pressure.
In oil and gas exploration, there are two common reciprocating, positive displacement applications; mud pumps and well service pumps. The disclosed design is also appropriate in both of these categories as well as other, general industrial reciprocating, positive displacement applications. Pump valves in these applications must be guided as they move back and forth about an axis parallel to the fluid flow. The guides may be "stems" or "wings" and these may be on either side or both sides of the valve. They must remain an inseparable part of the pump valve during its useful life.
Due to the hardness of the material being pumped, valves include a soft seating material, such as a urethane insert, such that a seal can be obtained. The softer insert component necessitates at least some assembly in frack valves. Other than the inclusion of the insert, conventional manufacturing practice has been to minimize the number of components in a valve assembly.
Conventional pump valves are thus made from a pair of near net shape pieces of low carbon alloy steel that are welded together and then carburized to produce a hard, wear resistant surface. The process of manufacturing such near net shapes is expensive. Alternatively, pump valves are made from high carbon, low alloy steels of one expensive piece that requires detailed finishing, as these alloys are generally not welded.
One form of convention valve manufacturing includes making the components of the valve of high alloy steel such as 8620 or 4130. These are expensive grades of steel for manufacturing a limited life product. Additionally, conventional manufacturing techniques generate material waste.
Conventional valve guides are manufactured by investment casting. It is common practice to forge a one-piece valve and top stem of low carbon alloy steel. The two pieces are welded together and carburized as a single piece.
An alternative known method of making valves is to make a single investment casting of the entire valve for assembly with only the insert. As with the other method, the entire part is then carburized to harden it.
An alternative known method of making valves is to make a single piece forging from a high carbon alloy steel. Areas that require hardened surfaces are induction or flame hardened. However, the only areas of the valve that require hardened surfaces are relatively small and include the face of the valve and the outer edges of the guides.
The disclosed design replaces expensive raw material forms with a combination of inexpensive pieces and allows the most productive selective hardening processes to be used.


A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) converts a digital signal into an analog signal. The DAC comprises a first capacitor network, a second capacitor network, a first amplifier, and a second amplifier. The first capacitor network includes at least one capacitor that has a weighted capacitance value. Similarly, the second capacitor network includes at least one capacitor that has a weighted capacitance value. The first amplifier has an input that couples to the first capacitor network. The first amplifier also has an output that couples to, and drives, the second capacitor network. The second amplifier has an input that couples to the second capacitor network. The output of the second amplifier constitutes the analog signal.

This patent application relates generally to digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and, more particularly, to DACs with reduced parasitics.
DACs have increasingly proliferated in many areas of technology, such as signal processing and control applications. DACs allow system designers to capitalize on the increasing use of digital and signal processing circuitry, such as microcontrollers and microprocessors.
Many control systems accept analog signals as inputs (say, from sensors), and generate analog control outputs. Within the system, however, designers often seek to use digital circuitry and signal processing blocks to take advantage of the flexibility, reliability, standard fabrication, and low cost of such circuitry. DACs allow a control system that uses digital signal and data processing to interface with an analog world, for example, the device that the system seeks to control.
Conventional DACs typically fall into two categories: xe2x80x9cR-2Rxe2x80x9d DACs and weighted-capacitor DACs. R-2R DACs use a resistor ladder as part of their circuitry. The resistor ladder can occupy a relatively large area of the integrated circuitry (IC) within which the DAC resides. Thus, R-2R DACs result in increased area usage within the IC die and, hence, use of additional materials that results in higher costs.
Weighted-capacitor DACs overcome the area penalty of R-2R DACs by using a number of capacitors, rather than resistors. By using capacitors, weighted-capacitor DACs use less area than do R-2R DACs. Some weighted capacitor DACs, however, use a relatively large amount of total capacitance in their capacitor arrays. Consequently, they consume relatively large areas within the ICs in which they reside, thus increasing the cost of the integrated circuit. Furthermore, the weighted capacitors tend to have relatively small values. Consequently, parasitic capacitors (layout parasitic capacitors) within the IC may overwhelm the capacitors and adversely affect the performance of weighted-capacitor DACs. A need exists for weighted-capacitor DACs that are independent of the deleterious effects of layout parasitic capacitances.
This invention relates to DACs with reduced parasitics and to circuitry that include such DACs. One aspect of the invention relates to apparatus for DACs with reduced parasitics. In one embodiment, a DAC according to the invention includes a first capacitor network and a second capacitor network. Each of the first and second capacitor networks has at least one capacitor that has a weighted capacitance value. The DAC also includes a first amplifier and a second amplifier. An input of the first amplifier couples to the first capacitor network. An output of the first amplifier couples to the second capacitor network. An input of the second amplifier also couples to the second capacitor network.
In another embodiment, a DAC according to the invention includes a first capacitor network and a second capacitor network. Each of the first and second capacitor networks has at least one capacitor that has a weighted capacitance value. The DAC also includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a third amplifier. The first amplifier has an input that couples to the first capacitor network, and an output that couples to an input of the second amplifier. An output of the second amplifier and an input of the third amplifier couple to the second capacitor network.
In another embodiment, a control system according to the invention includes an electrical apparatus and a controller that includes a DAC. The electrical apparatus is configured to be controllable in response to an electrical signal. The controller is configured to supply the electrical signal to the electrical apparatus. The DAC includes a first capacitor network, a second capacitor network, a first amplifier, and a second amplifier. An input of the first amplifier couples to the first capacitor network, whereas an output of the first amplifier couples to the second capacitor network. An input of the second amplifier couples to the second capacitor network. An output of the second amplifier provides the electrical signal to the electrical apparatus.
Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of converting digital signals to analog signals. In one embodiment, a method according to the invention of converting a digital signal to an analog signal includes coupling selectively at least one capacitor in a first capacitor network to one of two voltages in response to a corresponding first set of at least one bit in the digital signal. The method further includes amplifying a signal provided by the first capacitor network to generate an amplified signal, and amplifying the amplified signal to generate a second amplified signal. The method also includes supplying the second amplified signal to a second capacitor network that has at least one capacitor. The method further includes coupling selectively the at least one capacitor in the second capacitor network to one of the two voltages in response to a corresponding second set of at least one bit in the digital signal, and amplifying a second signal provided by the second capacitor network to generate the analog signal.
In another embodiment, a method according to the invention of controlling an electrical apparatus in a control system, where the electrical apparatus is configured to be controllable in response to an electrical signal. The method includes coupling selectively at least one capacitor in a first capacitor network to one of a first voltage and a second voltage in response to a corresponding first set of at least one bit in a digital signal, and amplifying a signal provided by the first capacitor network to generate an amplified signal. The method also includes supplying the amplified signal to a second capacitor network that has at least one capacitor. The method further includes coupling selectively the at least one capacitor in the second capacitor network to one of a second voltage and a third voltage in response to a corresponding second set of at least one bit in the digital, signal. The method also includes amplifying a signal provided by the second capacitor network to generate the electrical signal, and supplying the electrical signal to the electrical apparatus.

Digital-to-analog converters with reduced parasitics and associated methods


A helmet assembly and helmet fastening system that uses a spring loaded female fastener attached to the chinstrap and a matching male fastener attached to a helmet that makes it easy to attach the chinstrap to the helmet and difficult to detach the chinstrap from the helmet unless the plunger is intentionally pulled back (i.e., released or disengaged). This positive connection takes a tremendous amount of force to disengage unless the plunger is pulled back, thereby keeping the chinstrap attached to the helmet and the helmet in place.

Helmets worn by participants in recreational, amateur, and professional sports (e.g., football, baseball, racing (auto, horse, etc.), lacrosse, hockey, etc.) provide important protection against head injuries, but can only provide such protection when the helmet is in place on the participant's head. Such helmets typically use chinstraps to help keep the helmet in place. However, such helmets using chinstraps are coming off participants' heads at an alarming rate, thereby negating any potential protection and exposing the participant to a significantly increased risk of head injury.
In helmets currently in use, the chinstrap is attached to the helmet using two to four standard "snap" type fastener (see, e.g., http://www.schuttsports.com/aspx/Sport/ProductCatalog.aspx?id=523) that each comprises a male piece attached to the helmet and a female piece attached to the chinstrap. The chinstrap is fastened to the helmet by pressing the female piece onto the corresponding male piece such that the pieces snap together. The chinstrap is unfastened by pulling on the chinstrap to disconnect the female piece from the male piece.
Very little force is required to disconnect the female piece from the male piece. As a result of this very small amount of force required, current chinstraps disconnect easily upon impact (such as occurs when two football players collide during play). When this happens the helmet can easily come off exposing the wearer to potential danger and possible head or brain injury, such as concussions which unfortunately occur quite frequently in football.

Helmet assembly and helmet fastening system


A novel monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) but does not cross-react with structurally similar phospholipid antigens is advantageous for PIP3-specific immunoassay. The gene in the variable regions of the monoclonal antibody has been identified, which enables producing recombinant antibodies.

The basic system for survival of multicellular organisms, including humans, includes a "cellular signal transduction system," in which an extracellular signal is transferred to the inside of the cell to induce a necessary cell response. It is becoming clear that abnormality in this system causes pathological conditions attributed to an inadequate cell response, such as neoplastic transformation of cells. Phosphatidylinositol (hereinafter abbreviated as PI), which is a phospholipid present in various biomembranes, changes the phosphorylated state of the inositol ring by the action of enzymes activated by extracellular stimulation to transduce an extracellular signal into cells. Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate with a phosphorylated inositol group at the 3-position has been shown, inter alia, to be produced from phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate (hereinafter abbreviated as PI-4,5-P2) by the action of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-kinase (hereinafter abbreviated as PI3K) activated by stimulating various proliferation or differentiation factors and to participate not only in signal transduction into the cell nucleus but also in versatile and fundamental cell responses such as construction of cell backbone and vesicular transport of substances (Fukui, Y. et al., J. Biochem., 124, 1-7, 1998). Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate used herein is abbreviated PIP3; if it is necessary to specify the phosphorylated position, the triphosphate is designated PI-3,4,5-P3. The structure of PIP3 is schematically shown below.

Studies on the kinetics of PIP3 both in cells and in living organisms help clarify the fundamental cellular signal transduction and shed light on pathological conditions of various diseases. The role of PIP3 in cells has been explored so far mainly by indirect means of using P13K inhibitors or modifiers such as activated or inactivated PI3K. As a direct approach, a quantitative assay has been established for PIP3. However, the known assay for PIP3 requires using a radioisotope, which necessitates special facilities for the assay. Moreover, the assay itself is time-consuming due to complicated operations including extraction and chromatography in many steps. Therefore, a simple assay technique has been desired.
For instance, antibodies that can recognize PIP3 will be important tools for further investigations. These antibodies will be useful for purification and immunoassay of PIP3 or as inhibitors against PIP3. However, phospholipid antigens are generally known to have a poor antigenicity. It is thus difficult to obtain antibodies to the antigens. PIP3 has an additional problem in that it is difficult to produce in large quantities. Though attempts to produce the antibodies using elaborated adjuvants were reportedly successful, most of the antibodies produced have a poor ability to recognize the phosphorylated state of PI. In most cases, it is difficult to distinguish PIP3 from PI or PI-4,5-P2 due to their cross-reactivity.
It has been reported that a rabbit was immunized to produce a polyclonal antibody to PI-4,5-P2 (Molec. Immun., 16, 193-196, 1979). The polyclonal antibody exhibited cross-reactivity with other phospholipid antigens such as phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (hereinafter abbreviated as PI-4-P) or cardiolipin (hereinafter abbreviated as CL). A monoclonal antibody to PI-4-P was obtained by immunization with liposomes (Molec. Immun., 21, 863-868, 1984). However, it was confirmed that the antibody was also cross-reactive with other phospholipids, that is, the cross-reactivity with PI-4,5-P2 was observed by the complement-dependent liposome lysis assay.
A monoclonal antibody to PI-4,5-P2 was produced using as an immunogen a suspension of PI-4,5-P2 together with phosphatidylcholine or methylated BSA (Proc. Japan Acad., 59, 28-32, 1983). The thus-produced monoclonal antibody has been verified to be cross-reactive with an acidic phospholipid such as PI-4-P or PI. Furthermore, a monoclonal antibody specific to PI-4,5-P2 and showing a low cross-reactivity with other phospholipids was obtained using a Salmonella cell as an adjuvant (Miyazawa A., Molec. Immun., 26, 1025-1031, 1988). However, there has been no report of an antibody highly specific to PIP3 and non-cross-reactive with other phospholipid antigens being obtained. For this reason, no immunoassay technique for PIP3 has been found yet. Immunoassay is an excellent technique that can achieve a high sensitivity and accuracy in a simple operation. Accordingly, an immunological assay for PIP3 is strongly desired for further studies on cellular signal transduction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Monoclonal antibody recognizing phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate

Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd.


A control system for controlled exercise controls a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system which applies electrical signals to muscle groups of a user such as a user having a disability; the user exercises on a motor driven exercise machine such that substantially isokinetic exercise during a movement is obtained as the user's body part moves with a motor driven displaceable element of the machine. This element provides resistance to applied displacement load from the user's stimulated muscles. A feedback control system receives signals indicative of the user's performance and a control arrangement controls electrical stimulation to the user's muscles to achieve a desired exercise regime.

FES systems have been published in the prior art literature such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,900 (Petrofsky et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,272 (Lieber). One system that has been commercially developed and relates to the Petrofsky teachings is that marketed by Electrologic of America Inc, with a system known as StimMaster Orion, which uses FES as a form of therapeutic treatment. Controlled electrical stimulation currents are passed through electrodes to initiate muscle contractions, for example in the lower extremities of a paralysed patient, thereby causing pedalling of an exercise cycle. The Petrofsky system uses position sensors to measure the position of pedals and these signals are used to control the generation of stimulation signals to the user's electrodes. The aim of these systems is to elicit a constant pre-set velocity of pedalling as a therapeutic treatment for disabled persons, such as paraplegics. In the event that the velocity of cycling does not achieve the desired pedal cadence (preset to 50 rev·min−1), then the apparatus will increase or decrease the stimulation amplitude delivered to muscles to change the speed back to the desired pedal cadence.
Such prior art systems rely solely upon applied stimulation to the limbs to initiate and control the exercise being undertaken. Therefore, should the individual wish to exercise at a greater level or intensity, the amount of stimulation applied to the limbs must be increased to this level to achieve such intensity. The likelihood of over-stimulation of the muscles is therefore greatly increased and the potential of such systems to cause permanent damage to the recipient is high. For this reason such exercise systems have not been widely accepted as therapeutic devices.
The Lieber U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,272 discloses adaptive closed loop electrical stimulation of muscles by a technique including applying electrical stimulation signals to selected muscles at a predetermined frequency, pulse width and amplitude. The work output achieved by the muscles in response to stimulation signals is determined over a period of time, and can be compared with target values. The amount of electrical energy delivered to the muscles by stimulation signals is varied in response to the results in order to maximise the work output of the muscles during a treatment period, this being accomplished by adjusting the frequency or pulse width during stimulation treatment in response to the work output measured.
Such a system also has the problem that should the individual wish to perform high intensity exercise then they are solely reliant on increasing the amount of electrical energy delivered to the muscles. Such an increase can therefore cause over stimulation of the muscles and risks causing permanent damage in much the same manner as the systems described above.
Another known class of exercise machine for therapy purposes, particularly for paraplegics having minimal or no muscle function, is one in which the user is passive and the machine such as a cycle exerciser is motor driven to drive at a selected speed whereby the user's limbs follow and are thus exercised. Such systems, whilst reducing the risk of over stimulation of the muscles and permanent damage associated therewith, are limited in the amount of benefit they can provide with regard to muscle strength and/or cardiorespiratory exercise training.
Further publications related to the present field are U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,842 (Charters), EP 103490 (Wright State University), U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,709 (Jacques et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,315 (Paterson et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,510 A (Glaser et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,479 A (Maurer).


The present invention relates to a hybrid movable coil plate and a flat panel speaker, and more particularly, to a hybrid movable coil plate and a flat panel speaker which have improved acoustic pressure of the speaker by attaching a coil pattern printed on one surface of the movable coil plate and a copper wire coil wound on the other surface to increase inductive electromotive force. A hybrid movable coil plate for a flat panel speaker is characterized by including a spirally wound copper wire coil attached on one surface thereof and a PCB coil pattern-printed on the other surface thereof, wherein the copper wire coil and the PCB coil are formed in track shapes, a pair of lead wire connection ends are formed, and copper foils are formed in one or more via holes for electrical connection between the copper wire coil and the PCB coil, and in the vicinity of at least one among the one or more via holes.

A movable coil plate used for flat panel speakers is spirally wound or pattern-printed on a single surface or both surfaces of a plate-like coil base.
In the movable coil plate, when current flows through a movable coil, the current flowing at that time generates a magnetic field, which expands and shrinks at the same frequency as an audio signal, around the movable coil, and since the movable coil is subjected to the magnetic field generated by a magnet inside a speaker unit, the movable coil plate moves vertically while interacting with the magnetic field generated at the movable coil corresponding to the magnetic field, and since the movable coil plate is connected to a vibration plate of the speaker unit, the vibration plate push out air while moving vertically and generates a sound by the vibration of the air.
These flat panel speakers tend to be developed to have increased output capacity, gradually decreasing sizes, and long structures, and in order to increase the output capacity of the flat panel speakers, development of a flat panel speaker having a structure in which a plurality of magnetic circuits are coupled has emerged as an important issue.
In order to implement a flat panel speaker, a movable coil plate functioning as a bobbin for the movable coil is manufactured in a plate shape, and the movable coil is formed on both surfaces of the plate-like movable coil plate.
The movable coil has a shape in which a track-like coil wound around a bobbin is attached to a movable coil plate (Korean Patent No 10-0576268) or a shape in which a movable coil is pattern-printed like a PCB movable coil plate (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0104325).
Spirally wound copper wire movable coils each start at the outer periphery of a coil track and end at the inside of the coil track, so that positive and negative lead wires are very hardly connected to each other, and when a single thread of copper wire is wound, the number of turns of the rack should be increased to increase an "L" value, but there is a limitation in that impedance increases while the number of turns increases. In order to increase the number of turns while maintaining impedance, a thick copper wire should be wound, but in this case, inversely proportional correlation inconsistency occurs in that the thickness and weight of the entire movable coil increases while the number of turns increases.
In addition, in case of the pattern-printed PCB movable coil, two layers have to be connected in series in a two-layer structure coil track, and only with the serial connection, impedance proportionally increases by an amount of increase in the number of turns of the coil track. Thus, this is inefficient for impedance control.
Furthermore, when a planar coil track is printed on a PCB having a multilayer of four layers or more, it is possible to enhance efficiency by increasing the number of turns using a PCB fine process technique to increase an "L" value and enhance the efficiency by a serial or parallel combination between layers. However, a very wide distribution is formed in an aspect of impedance management due to the PCB fine process and the multilayer structure PCB, mass production efficiency is degraded and the cost for movable coil using the multilayer PCB increases, and thus, it is difficult to dramatically improve the component cost, and the process of precisely designing the PCB pattern-printed track and redesigning after modifying and improving the design result becomes complicated and requires much costs.

Hybrid movable coil plate and flat plate-type speaker using same


A non-interference control method and device in which an object to be controlled, which is controlled by a plurality of operation quantities and at least one control quantity, is divided into a plurality of partial control systems so that each of the partial control systems has at least one operation quantity and at least one partial control system has more than two operation or control quantities, wherein to the operation quantity in one partial control system is added a compensating element which annuls influences exerted by other partial control systems on said one partial control system, said object to be controlled being controlled on the basis of the relevant compensated operation quantity.

In a system in which there exist a plurality of variables (called control quantities) necessary for controlling an object to be controlled, when quantities used to operate the object to be controlled (called operation quantities) are regulated in various manners in order to determine a control quantity, other control quantities may be influenced thereby. This phenomenon is called in general "interference of control quantities" and decreases the precision and the stability of the control.
For example, in a control system for a rolling mill, supposing that control quantities are the plate outlet thickness of the rolled material and the forward tension and operation quantities are a roller position reference or instruction and a rolling speed instruction of the rolling mill, when an operation is carried out according to the roller position instruction and the rolling speed instruction in order to control the plate outlet thickness to be a predetermined value, the forward tension, which is the other control quantity, may be interfered with, thereby being varied.
Heretofore, in order to prevent such an interference, a method has been proposed (JP-A-59-17920, JP-A-59-202108) by which mutual interference between different control quantities is compensated for in advance by varying inputs in a multiple variable control system having three inputs (operation quantities) and three outputs (control quantities) (a control system for a rolling mill). In these prior art techniques, mutual interference between control quantities is eliminated so as to achieve the relation of 1-input-1-output.
Apart therefrom, JP-A-58-207103, JP-A-59-226903. JP-A-61-131103 and JP-A-62-144811 can be cited as prior art techniques relating to this invention.
According to the prior art examples described above, mutual interference is eliminated for all the control quantities. According to such methods, in the case where the scale of the object to be controlled is enlarged, i.e. in the case where the number of control quantities increases, the amount of operations necessary for eliminating the interference becomes enormous. For example, if the number of lines or rows is multiplied by in a matrix operation carried out in the process for eliminating the interference, the number of calculations required for each matrix operation is multiplied by n.sup.2. This gives rise to disadvantages that the device necessary for the control is enlarged, that delay in the control time takes place, which makes it impossible to effect control in real time, etc.
Further, since particular characteristics of the object to be controlled were not taken into account and the elimination of the interference was effected equally for all the control quantities, there was a problem that it was difficult to effect the control without performing useless operations and with a high efficiency.
Further, the prior art examples described above had another problem that they consist exclusively in decomposing an n-input-n-output system into 1-input-1-output systems and therefore they are incapable of coping with an n-input-m-output (nm) system.
Furthermore, in the prior art examples, there is disposed, apart from a driving system control device, another device, called a compensation operating device, having a function different from that of the driving system control device in order to eliminate mutual interference among the plate thickness control, one shape control and the tension control of the rolled material. It was found that, in the case where it is tried to control a same object to be controlled by means of a plurality of control means having different functions in this way, an undesirable interference reaction takes place mutually among these control means, which gives rise to an inconvenience that the desired object may not be achieved satisfactorily.
That is, taking as an example a case where a plurality of control means having different functions are non-interference control means and operation quantity control means as in the prior art example, state quantities are varied by performing certain operations on the state quantities of the object to be controlled by means of the non-interference control means in order to eliminate interference among control quantities. After that, when operation quantities are calculated by means of the operation quantity control means (e.g. optimum control means) on the basis of the state quantities thus varied, the varied state quantities, which have been varied to eliminate the interference, are regarded as control deviations, and the operation quantity control means are operated so as to annul these deviations. In other words, the control is effected so as to reduce the deviations without distinguishing between state quantities which have been varied by external perturbations, and state quantities which have been varied by the non-interference control. Here, control deviation means the difference between the final target value of the control and the actual value of the control.
As a result, the desired control object is not achieved because working points of the operation quantity control means vary, unexpected control is effected, etc.

Non-interference control method and device


The invention relates to a cosmetic process for treating keratin fibers, preferably the hair, comprising at least the steps consisting in:                a) applying to said keratin fibers a composition containing at least one substance chosen from fatty substances, non-silicone polymers and surfactants,        b) applying a mechanical tension to said keratin fibers, and        c) exposing said keratin fibers under mechanical tension to microwaves, at a pressure ranging from 50,000 to 250,000 Pa, in the presence of at least one solvent in vapor form on contact with the keratin fibers and without there being complete drying of the keratin fibers throughout the entire exposure to the microwaves,        the solvent(s) in vapor form being entirely generated by evaporating at least one compound present, before emission of the microwaves, on contact with the keratin fibers,        step a) taking place prior to step c).

Cosmetic treatments for long-lasting shaping of the hair are mainly performed using chemical products.
Two techniques, both based on cleavage of the —S—S— disulfide bonds present in keratin (cystine) are generally used for obtaining permanent reshaping of the hair,
The first technique includes a first step that consists in opening the disulfide bonds using a composition comprising a reducing agent, for example of thioglycolic acid type. This first reduction step is generally performed at a pH of between 8 and 9.
This first technique then involves, preferably after rinsing the hair, a second step that consists in reconstituting the disulfide bonds by applying to the hair an oxidizing composition known as a fixer. The hair may, prior to the application of the reducing composition, be placed under tension by suitable devices such as curlers, or be straightened out. The oxidation step may in particular be performed at a pH of about 3 with hydrogen peroxide and may facilitate the formation of new disulfide bridges enabling the head of hair to be held in the desired shape.
The second technique involves a step of lanthionization using a composition comprising a base belonging to the family of hydroxides. The lanthionization step is generally performed at a basic pH of about 13. Lanthionization is the conversion of the disulfide bridges into monosulfide bridges. This type of treatment is mainly used for shaping naturally frizzy hair.
In order to obtain satisfactory performance in terms of durability of shaping, the compositions used in the treatments known in the prior art may comprise relatively high concentrations of chemical active agents (for example reducing agents or hydroxide compounds). Thus, thioglycolic acid may, for example, be used in certain compositions, at mass concentrations of between 6% and 11%, and sodium hydroxide at 2%.
Products comprising thioglycolic acid have an unpleasant odor, which may be present during the application and may also persist on the hair once the treatment has been performed.
In addition, the treatments described above may lead to irreversible degradation of the hair induced by changes in the intrinsic properties of the hair fiber.
These treatments may also irritate the scalp due to their relatively high concentration of chemical active agents.
It is moreover known practice to supply heat during the treatment in order to activate the processes. These techniques may effectively make it possible to improve the cosmetic performance qualities, but always involve high concentrations of chemical active agents and may thus have the same drawbacks as the treatments described above.
Documents WO 2002/051281, US 2006/0,042,649, US 2004/0,250,830, WO 2002/100210, US 2000/680432, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,079,422, 5,988,182, 5,819,763, 5,773,802, 5676,871, JP 09075125, JP 09051813, AU 9664467, U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,598, EP 197 824, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,710,609, 4,743,726, 4,952,360, 5,030,820 and 5,286,949 describe objects, for example curlers, which may be heated in a household microwave oven and used on wet hair for drying and hairsetting.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,340 describes a process for the rapid drying of wigs using air heated by microwave radiation.
Patent application US 2007/0,056,960 describes a shaping tool for curling, straightening and drying locks of wet hair using microwaves.
Patent DE 3148538 describes a cylindrical tool, protected with a wall, around which a lock of hair is wound. The lock is dried and set using microwaves applied in the space between the cylinder and the wall.
FR 2 178 049 discloses devices for releasing electromagnetic energy in various materials.
Moreover, processes for heating and drying the hair using electromagnetic radiation are known from FR 2 114 540 and FR 2 118 945.
Patent application FR 2 959 917 describes a hair treatment process in which a mechanical tension is applied to the hair, which is then exposed to microwaves.
There is a need for novel processes, which are more efficient and less aggressive, for permanently reshaping the hair.
There is especially interest in providing processes for obtaining improved lasting shaping performance, while at the same time minimizing the impact of chemical products on the hair and the scalp.
There is also a need to benefit from novel devices for lasting shaping of the hair.
The present invention is directed toward meeting all or some of the abovementioned needs.
According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a cosmetic process for treating keratin fibers, preferably the hair, comprising at least the steps consisting in:                a) applying to said keratin fibers a composition containing at least one substance chosen from fatty substances, non-silicone polymers and surfactants,        b) applying a mechanical tension to said keratin fibers, and        c) exposing said keratin fibers under mechanical tension to microwaves, at a pressure ranging from 50 000 to 250 000 Pa, in the presence of at least one solvent in vapor form on contact with the keratin fibers and without there being complete drying of the keratin fibers throughout the entire exposure to the microwaves,
the solvent(s) in vapor form being entirely generated by evaporating at least one compound present, before emission of the microwaves, on contact with the keratin fibers,
step a) taking place prior to step c).
In the present text, the term "solvent" is used without preference to denote a single solvent or a mixture of solvents.
The process according to the present invention may be performed in order to lead to a durable shaping treatment that is less aggressive to the scalp and the hair. This is because the process according to the invention dispenses with the use of compounds that are aggressive to the scalp.
In addition, application to the hair of a composition containing at least one substance chosen from fatty substances, non-silicone polymers and surfactants, preferably prior to the application of a mechanical tension, in the presence of microwaves and of a solvent in vapor form, makes it possible to obtain durable and improved shaping of the hair without it being necessary to use reducing agents or alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal hydroxides.
In particular, the process according to the invention may use in step a) a composition containing at least one fatty substance or a composition containing at least one non-silicone polymer or a composition containing at least one surfactant.
Thus, according to one embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a cosmetic process for treating keratin fibers, preferably the hair, comprising at least the steps consisting in:                a) applying to said keratin fibers a composition containing at least one fatty substance,        b) applying a mechanical tension to said keratin fibers, and        c) exposing said keratin fibers under mechanical tension to microwaves, at a pressure ranging from 50 000 to 250 000 Pa, in the presence of at least one solvent in vapor form on contact with the keratin fibers and without there being complete drying of the keratin fibers throughout the entire exposure to the microwaves,
the solvent(s) in vapor form being entirely generated by evaporating at least one compound present, before emission of the microwaves, on contact with the keratin fibers,
step a) taking place prior to step c).
According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a cosmetic process for treating keratin fibers, preferably the hair, comprising at least the steps consisting in:                a) applying to said keratin fibers a composition containing at least one non-silicone polymer,        b) applying a mechanical tension to said keratin fibers, and        c) exposing said keratin fibers under mechanical tension to microwaves, at a pressure ranging from 50 000 to 250 000 Pa, in the presence of at least one solvent in vapor form on contact with the keratin fibers and without there being complete drying of the keratin fibers throughout the entire exposure to the microwaves,
the solvent(s) in vapor form being entirely generated by evaporating at least one compound present, before emission of the microwaves, on contact with the keratin fibers,
step a) taking place prior to step c).
According to yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a cosmetic process for treating keratin fibers, preferably the hair, comprising at least the steps consisting in:                a) applying to said keratin fibers a composition containing at least one surfactant,        b) applying a mechanical tension to said keratin fibers, and        c) exposing said keratin fibers under mechanical tension to microwaves, at a pressure ranging from 50 000 to 250 000 Pa, in the presence of at least one solvent in vapor form on contact with the keratin fibers and without there being complete drying of the keratin fibers throughout the entire exposure to the microwaves,
the solvent(s) in vapor form being entirely generated by evaporating at least one compound present, before emission of the microwaves, on contact with the keratin fibers,
step a) taking place prior to step c).
In one particular variant of the invention, the process according to the invention does not comprise a step of applying to the keratin fibers any composition(s) comprising alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal hydroxides at a pH above 12 or reducing agents for cleaving the disulfide bonds.
The process according to the invention allows a production of the desired shaping: curling or straightening. The effect is obtained durably for several weeks. When the process according to the invention is performed for obtaining curling, the curling obtained is uniform. A gain in the volume of the head of hair is also observed.
The terms "including a", "comprising a" and "containing a" should be understood as meaning "including at least one", "comprising at least one" and "containing at least one".
The term "at least one" is equivalent to the term "one or more".
The term "between" should be understood as being limits inclusive.

Hair shaping process using fatty substances, non-silicone polymers or surfactants


A semiconductor memory device comprises planes each configured to comprise flag cells storing data about program methods of memory cells of the plane, page buffer units configured to sense the data of the flag cells, a flag cell data detection circuit configured to make a determination of program methods of the planes on the basis of a result, obtained by comparing the sensed data of the flag cells of the planes, and the sensed data of the flag cells, and a microcontroller configured to control the page buffer units, wherein the page buffer units read least significant bit (LSB) data of the planes or both the least significant bit (LSB) data and most significant bit (MSB) data on the basis of the determination of the flag cell data detection circuit.

Exemplary embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory device and a method of reading data from the same and, more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of planes programmed by using different program methods and a method of reading the semiconductor memory device.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the distributions of threshold voltages of planes programmed by using different program methods.
Referring to FIG. 1, a plane programmed using only a single bit program method (that is, the least significant bit (LSB) program method) has two threshold voltage distributions; a threshold voltage distribution corresponding to data '1' and a threshold voltage distribution corresponding to data '0'. Here, data '11', indicating that the single bit program operation has been performed, is programmed into the flag cell of the plane.
On the other hand, a plane programmed using a multi-bit program method (that is, the least significant bit (LSB) program and the most significant bit (MSB) program) has three or more threshold voltage distributions. For example, in case where data of 2 bits is programmed into one memory cell, a plane has threshold voltage distributions A, B, C, and D, as shown in the drawing. Here, data '10', indicating that the multi-bit program operation has been performed, is programmed into the flag cell of the plane.
FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating a data read method for the least significant bit (LSB) page of a semiconductor memory device.
The read method of the semiconductor memory device including first and second planes is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2A.
Data of the memory cells and the flag cells of the first and second planes is sensed by performing a first read operation using a read voltage RD2 at step L11. It is determined whether the least significant bit (LSB) data of the sensed flag cells is '1' at step L12. Here, if the flag cells of the first and second planes have different data, the data of a flag cell of the second plane is first selected, and a subsequent operation is performed on the second plane. If, as a result of the determination, the least significant bit (LSB) data of the sensed flag cells is determined not to be '1' (that is, determined to be '0'), the first and second planes are determined to have been programmed using a multi-bit program method. Next, data of the memory cells of the first and second planes, read by the first read operation, is outputted at step L13.
Meanwhile, if, as a result of the determination at step L12, the least significant bit (LSB) data of the sensed flag cells is determined to be '1', the first and second planes are determined to have been programmed using a single bit program method. Thus, the least significant bit (LSB) data of the memory cells of the first and second planes is sensed by performing a second read operation using a read voltage RD1 at step L14. Next, data of the memory cells of the first and second planes, read by the second read operation, is outputted at step L13.
FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating a data read method for the most significant bit (MSB) page of a semiconductor memory device.
The read method of the semiconductor memory device including first and second planes is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2B.
Data of the memory cells and the flag cells of the first and second planes is sensed by performing a first read operation using a read voltage RD2 at step M11. It is determined whether the least significant bit (LSB) data of the sensed flag cells is '1' at step M12. Here, if the flag cells of the first and second planes have different data, the data of a flag cell of the second plane is first selected, and a subsequent operation is performed on the second plane. If, as a result of the determination, the least significant bit (LSB) data of the sensed flag cells is determined not to be '1' (that is, '0'), the first and second planes are determined to have been programmed using a multi-bit program method. Accordingly, the data of the memory cells of the first and second planes is read by performing a second read operation using a read voltage RD1 at step M13. Next, data of the memory cells of the first and second planes is read by performing a third read operation using a read voltage RD3 at step M14. The data of the first to third read operations is combined, and multi-bit data of the memory cells of the first and second planes is outputted at step M15.
Meanwhile, if, as a result of the determination at step M12, the least significant bit (LSB) data of the sensed flag cells is determined to be '1', the first and second planes are determined to have been programmed using a single bit program method. Both the data of memory cells of the first and second planes, read by the first read operation, is changed to '1' at step M16. Next, step M15 is performed.
In the above-described known read method of the semiconductor memory device, in case where the first and second planes have been programmed by using different program methods, a read algorithm is determined according to the data of a flag cell of the second plane. Here, the data of a plane programmed using a single bit program method is read by using a multi-bit read algorithm or the data of a plane programmed using a multi-bit program method is read by using a single bit read algorithm.

Semiconductor memory device and method of reading the same


There are provided an outer member, an inner member connected to the outer member, door components including a door glass provided between the outer member and the inner member, and a reinforcement outer member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at an upper end portion of the inner member which is positioned on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the door glass. The outer member includes an outer panel and an annular frame member which is joined to an outer peripheral portion of the outer panel by a hemming method, the reinforcement outer member is connected to the inner member at its front and rear end portions, and a seal outer member to seal a gap between the outer member and the door glass is attached to an upper frame portion fastened to the reinforcement outer member.

The present invention relates to a side door structure and a side door manufacturing method of a vehicle which comprises a beltline-reinforcement outer member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at an upper end portion of an inner member and a beltline-seal outer member supported at the beltline-reinforcement outer member.
Conventionally, a side door structure which comprises an outer panel forming a design surface portion, an inner panel joined to an outer peripheral portion of the outer panel by a hemming method, and door components (accessories), such as a door glass, attached to the inner panel is known. Further, a beltline-seal outer member (hereafter, referred to as a seal outer member, simply) and a beltline-seal inner member which slide on the door glass with a specified contact pressure, respectively, are arranged at a beltline portion of a side door in order to prevent water, noise, outside air, or the like from coming into a cabin.
The seal outer member generally comprises a synthetic-resin-made base portion having a core material embedded therein and plural rubber-made seal lips (hereafter, referred to as lip portions, simply) provided to protrude from the base portion. The base portion is attached to an outer end portion of the outer panel from an upper side by caulking or the like. Accordingly, since the seal outer member is exposed to an outside of the outer panel as a whole, the base portion becomes visible, in addition to the lip portions, from the outside, thereby causing deterioration of appearance. Therefore, technologies to prevent visibility of the seal outer member from the outside have been proposed.
A beltline molding (seal outer member) for an automobile disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H09-123766 comprises a downward flange which is configured such that an upper end portion of an outer panel is bent and extends downwardly, a hard-synthetic-resin-made molding body (base portion), and a soft-synthetic-resin-made drainer (lip portion) which extends obliquely inwardly-and-upwardly from the molding body, wherein plural fastener holes are formed at the downward flange and plural fastener portions which are provided to integrally protrude outwardly from the molding body are fit into these plural fastener holes, respectively.
The beltline molding for the automobile disclosed in the above-described patent document is configured such that the base portion of the seal outer member is arranged at an inner-peripheral side lower portion which is located below the upper end portion of the outer panel and the lip portion is arranged at an outer-peripheral side upper portion which is located above the upper end portion of the outer panel. Thereby, the visibility of the base portion of the seal outer member from the outside is prevented. However, according to the technology of the above-described patent document, the seal outer member is supported at the downward flange of the outer panel which is made of a thin plate and has the low rigidity via the fastener portions, that is, the structure of this technology constitutes a cantilever supporting structure. Accordingly, there is a concern that the appropriate seal performance may not be secured.
Since the lip portion of the seal outer member contacts the door glass with the specified contact pressure all the time, a reaction force applied from the door glass is transmitted to the base portion while the door glass moves vertically. In a case where the seal outer member is cantilever-supported, since the attachment rigidity of the base portion is low, an attachment position of the base portion is displaced according to the vertical movement of the door glass, so that the contact pressure of the lip portion against the door glass cannot be maintained at a necessary pressure. Consequently, there is a concern that the seal performance may be deteriorated. That is, it is not easy to compatibly attain improvement of the appearance and securement of the seal performance.

Side door structure and side door manufacturing method of vehicle