Provided are a three-dimensional flash memory using a fringing effect and a method of manufacturing the same. A through hole is formed through a plurality of gate electrodes vertically stacked on a substrate, and the interior of the through hole is filled with a tunneling insulating layer or an active region. Therefore, a charge storage layer is not formed in the through hole, but is formed outside of the through hole. The charge storage layer is formed in an intercell insulating layer filling a gap between the gate electrodes. When a fringing electric field is applied, the electric charges of the active region are trapped in the charge storage layer through the intercell insulating layer.

A non-volatile memory device, a representative example of which is a flash memory, has a characteristic capable of retaining stored data even when a power supply is removed. Particularly, due to recent developments in semiconductor process technology, design rules are continuously becoming narrower, and storage capacities are increasing.
Due to this increasing capacity, flash memories are being widely used as storage memories in mobile devices, digital cameras, etc., and at the time of filing of this specification, mass production of 32 Gbit products with a scale of about 30 nm is being predicted. The scale is also predicted to decrease to between 10 nm and 20 nm due to processing technology of floating gates, which are elements storing electric charges in flash memories. Various efforts in search of structures other than a two-dimensional planar cell structure that maximize the storage capacity are continuously being attempted. As an example, to overcome limits of integration in a two-dimensional structure, studies on three-dimensional structures are actively proceeding.
Particularly, there is less of a burden in adding a contact in a flash memory, in which an element storing data is formed in the cell transistor, than in other memory devices. Accordingly, it is easy to form a string structure connecting individual memory cells in series, and there is a merit in that the memory cell can be implemented in a vertical type. One recent example of a three-dimensional NAND flash memory structure is a BiCS (Bit Cost Scalable) structure.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a three-dimensional NAND flash memory structure according to a related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a disclosed structure shows a conventional BiCS structure. That is, control gates 100 which are alternately stacked on a substrate (not illustrated) in a vertical direction are formed, and a charge storage region 110 and a channel layer 120 are formed in an internal space. That is, a region that passes through a center of the control gates 100 consists of a blocking insulating layer 115, a charge trap layer 113 and a tunneling insulating layer 111 for storing electric charges. An internal space in contact with the tunneling insulating layer 111 is filled with the channel layer 120 formed of a polycrystalline silicon material, and a gap between the control gates 100 is filled with an insulating material 130.
In the above-described structure, the charge storage region 110 usually has an ONO structure. That is, an oxide-nitride-oxide stacked structure forms the tunneling insulating layer 111—the charge trap layer 113—the blocking insulating layer 115. The ONO structure should be set to have a thickness of 10 nm to 20 nm in an actual manufacturing process. A polycrystalline silicon layer in contact with the ONO structure should be filled in the structure having a high aspect ratio. Particularly, when a conventional deposition process such as CVD or ALD is used for the ONO structure, it is difficult to form a uniform thickness in a hole passing through the control gates 100. That is, because a depth to which a deposited material should penetrate is great, a thickness of the ONO tends to be smaller at lower portions and relatively increase toward upper portions.
When the thickness of the ONO is not constant in the hole passing through the control gates 100, there is a problem in that the channel layer 120 including the polycrystalline silicon material which ultimately fills the internal space is not formed easily. Also, because of a high aspect ratio, there is a limit to adding a plurality of cell transistors to the string structure.
The above-described problem is due to a unique structure of the charge storage region 110. That is, since the charge storage region 110 has the ONO structure, a plurality of heterogeneous films are stacked. Therefore, at least two deposition processes are performed in order to form the charge storage region 110. The repetition of deposition processes causes problems such as a reduction in uniformity of heterogeneous films, and a reduction in uniformity of a threshold voltage among cell transistors in one string.

Three-dimensional flash memory using fringing effect and method for manufacturing

INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY


A system and method of processing bone is disclosed. A tissue separator is utilized to separate tissue comprising at least one of muscle, periosteum and connective tissue from bone in a safe, sterile and efficient manner. In one aspect, the particle reducer can include an impeller positioned with respect to a cutting surface on a drum. At least one of the impeller and the drum is rotated by a power source such that harvested tissue frictionally engages the cutting surface. In another aspect, a source of pressurized fluid can be directed at tissue to separate bone from non-bone tissue.

Morselized bone particles are used in various medical and surgical procedures. For example, finely morselized bone particles can be used for spinal fusion, to repair defects caused by trauma, transplant surgery, or tissue banking. In order to process bone for use in a medical or surgical procedure, several bone processing steps are taken. In one example procedure, a tissue sample including bone is surgically removed (i.e., harvested) from a patient. After removal of the bone from the patient, non-bone tissue (e.g., muscle, periosteum, connective tissue) is removed from the bone in order to prepare the bone for morselizing. Current bone processing approaches to remove the non-bone tissue can be time consuming, labor intensive and hazardous to healthcare personnel (e.g., cutting through gloves). In one example, a technician uses a scalpel to remove non-bone tissue from bone by hand. Hand removal of the non-bone tissue using a scalpel lasts approximately 45 minutes and is prone to operator fatigue and possible injury. Once non-bone tissue is removed from the bone, denuded bone can further be processed by a bone mill to produce morselized bone particles. In any event, it is important for bone processing in a medical environment to be performed in a sterile manner. Additionally, it is important for bone processing steps to be performed efficiently and in a safe, reliable manner.


Systems and methods for a trading interface with advanced features are provided. Along with providing the benchmark issue and non-benchmark issues, the trading application may also provide the trader with the ability to obtain trading information (e.g., another quad) for each of the related U.S. Treasury swaps (“T-swaps”), off-the-runs, yield curve T-swaps, and basis. In some embodiments, the trader may be provided with a customized keyboard to navigate through the trading interface. The keyboard preferably includes keys that allow the trader to quickly and efficiently switch between multiple issues in a quad. Using the keyboard, the trader may also be provided with price improvement functionality and direct dealing functionality. In some embodiments, the trading application may simultaneously display a DD ticker along with the trading quadrant that provides the trader with the progression of the direct dealings of the selected issue.

This invention relates to trading application program interfaces. More particularly, this invention relates to a trading interface having advanced features.
Electronically based trading systems have gained widespread popularity in recent years. Such trading systems are frequently used for trading items ranging from financial instruments (such as stocks, bonds, currency, futures contracts, etc.) to household goods (such as old records, antiques, wines, etc.). In many of these trading systems, bid/offer-hit/take processes are used to negotiate a sale of a given item. In connection with such processes, bids and/or offers for items are entered into a trading system and a hit or take is submitted in response to a bid or an offer, respectively, to agree to a sale.
Today, these trading systems are being developed with advanced processing circuitry and sufficient memory to support new types of software applications not previously envisioned. A challenge created by the new types of software applications is the ability to offer advanced features consistent with users' expectations of a trading interface environment.
Many implementations of electronic trading, while generally accurate, lack in desired speed mainly because traders are forced to use both a standard keyboard and a mouse to execute a trade. This dual process causes much delay for traders because the traders must follow several steps prior to executing a trade. For example, many traders using typical trading systems are required to click on an issue of choice, click on a buy or a sell button, and use the keyboard to enter a price and size for the trade.
The benefit of using a keyboard to execute a trade is that a trader may execute a trade with a great deal more speed than with a mouse. Specifically, with a keyboard, the trader may use all ten fingers, while with a mouse the trader may use two fingers at most.
Despite the drawbacks associated with using a mouse, many traders continue to use a mouse because it is considered easy to use, and thus traders feel that they are less likely to make unwarranted trading mistakes with a mouse. Because trading professionals frequently have large amounts of money at stake when trading, many professionals prefer to forgo speed and efficiency for peace of mind.
While mouse-based interfaces have existed for years, these interfaces have put traders using them at a disadvantage when competing with full-time keyboard traders. One reason the existing mouse-based interfaces place those traders at a disadvantage is that those traders are forced to physically move a mouse pointer from an indicator for a desired instrument, that is at some given point on a trading screen, to some other point on the screen where bidding/offering and buying/selling commands can be entered. This approach is very time-consuming and additionally distracts traders from focusing on market movements and other trades while they attempt to execute their trades.
Furthermore, traders may be interested in Treasuries other than the most recently issued Treasuries (i.e., the benchmark issue). The most recently issued Treasuries are said to be on-the-run. Other Treasuries are said to be off-the-run (i.e., non-benchmark issues). Because off-the-run Treasuries may lack liquidity, they routinely trade at spreads over comparable on-the-run Treasuries. Consequently, off-the-run Treasuries trade at slightly lower prices and higher yields.
Trading systems vary in the type and scope of features that they provide. Typical trading systems allow traders to trade on a benchmark or a non-benchmark issue by selecting the issue of choice, using a mouse to select a buy or a sell button, and using the keyboard to enter a price and size for the trade. One drawback of these trading systems is that non-benchmark issues are not easily accessible from the related benchmark issue.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide enhanced features and applications for a trading interface environment that enables a trader to execute trades on benchmark issues and non-benchmark issues quickly, efficiently, and accurately without the use of a pointing device.

Electronic systems and methods for providing a trading interface with advanced features


A structure for fixing a deflection yoke and a focus magnet on the periphery of a projection cathode ray tube. A fixing part of the focus magnet and a fixing part of the deflection yoke are overlapped and these two fixing parts are fixed on the periphery of the tube by one common clamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for fixation of a deflection yoke and a focus magnet used in a projection cathode ray tube CRT and, more particularly, to the fixation structure of the deflection yoke and the focus magnet capable of improving resolution of the projection CRT by lessening the magnification of a magnetic lens formed by the focus magnet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the projection CRT, electron beams emitted from an electron gun mounted within the neck portion thereof form a considerably strong image on a screen of the tube. This image is enlarged through an optical system to be projected on a viewing screen.
The projection CRT has the size of normally about 5 to 7 inches and small size as compared with an ordinary CRT, but needs high brightness and resolution.
FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a conventional projection CRT. AS shown in this figure, a focus magnet 30 for focusing electron beams injected from the electron gun is mounted on the periphery of neck portion 50 of a tube. A deflection yoke 20 for deflecting the electron beams is mounted on the periphery of the funnel portion 12 of the tube. The focus magnet 30 and the deflection yoke 20 are fixed on the outside surface of the tube by clamps 34, 24, respectively.
A method of fixing the focus magnet and the deflection yoke by separate clamps 34, 24 shows low precision. In particular, misalignment between the central axes of the electron beams and that of the focus magnet 30 and the deflection yoke 20 can occur. At that time, a beam spot cannot be accurately formed on the screen.
In the meantime, in case that R.sub.d indicates the beam diameter, M indicates the magnetic lens magnification, and X indicates the virtual crossover by the electron gun, EQU R.sub.d =M.times.X.
As the diameter of the electron beam gets smaller, the picture resolution gets better.
In the projection CRT, the focusing characteristic is theoretically the best when the dimensional ratio of a crossover and an image. The is because, in the case of constant distances in the crossover, the lens and the image, to enlarge the magnification ratio of the lens, the lens thickness should be thickened, resulting in an increased spherical aberration.
As shown in FIG. 3, in case that a indicates the distance from the virtual crossover 46 of the electron gun to the center of the magnetic lens 36 formed by the focus magnet 30 and b indicates the distance from the lens center to the screen, the lens magnification M is shown as: M = b/a. Thus, if a = b, M = 1. At that time, the optimum resolution can be obtained.
Thus, it can be seen that, in the projection CRT, the focus magnet 30 is disposed nearer to the screen to obtain a better resolution.
A conventional method for disposing the focus magnet 30 near the screen 10 is to lengthen the overall length of the neck portion 50. However, this method goes against the tendency of the compact projection CRT and also, there is difficulty in the manufacturing process of the tubes, which results in increased production costs.

Fixation structure of deflection yoke and focus magnet for projection cathode ray tube


A memory device according to an embodiment includes a first interconnect, a second interconnect, a first variable resistance member, a third interconnect, a second variable resistance member, a fourth interconnect, a fifth interconnect and a third variable resistance member. The first interconnect, the third interconnect and the fourth interconnect extend in a first direction. The second interconnect and the fifth interconnect extend in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first variable resistance member is connected between the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The second variable resistance member is connected between the second interconnect and the third interconnect. The third variable resistance member is connected between the fourth interconnect and the fifth interconnect. The fourth interconnect is insulated from the third interconnect.

In recent years, a memory device has been proposed in which a material having two resistance states is utilized. A three-dimensional cross-point structure has been proposed as a structure for integrating memory cells in such a memory device in which the memory cells are disposed at the crossing points between word lines and bit lines. The memory device having the three-dimensional cross-point structure is advantageous for higher integration; but the stability of the operations is a problem.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a memory device according to a comparative example;
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are circuit diagrams showing the memory device according to the comparative example;
As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the memory device 101 according to the comparative example is a so-called three-dimensional cross-point structure. In the memory device 101, the bit line interconnect layers BLL and the word line interconnect layers WLL are stacked alternately; and the variable resistance members RC are connected between the bit lines BL and the word lines WL.
In the memory device 101 according to the modification as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the bit line interconnect layer BLL or the word line interconnect layer WLL is shared between the mutually-adjacent memory cell layers ML. Therefore, when applying the set potential Vset to the selected bit line connected to the selected cell MCs, the set potential Vset is applied also to one of the memory cell layers ML positioned adjacently on two sides of the memory cell layer ML to which the selected cell MCs belongs. Also, when applying the reference potential Vs to the selected word line WLs connected to the selected cell MCs, the reference potential Vs is applied also to the other of the memory cell layers ML positioned adjacently on the two sides. At this time, the interaction with the selected cell MCs is large because the memory cell layer ML to which the set potential Vset is applied and the memory cell layer ML to which the reference potential Vs is applied are disposed adjacent to the memory cell layer ML to which the selected cell MCs belongs. Therefore, the likelihood that misoperations may occur is high.
To relax the voltage between the interconnects in the adjacent memory cell layers ML to which the set potential Vset or the reference potential Vs is applied, it also may be considered to apply an appropriate potential to the other interconnects. However, in the memory device 101, because the memory cell layers ML are arranged to be continuous while sharing the bit line interconnect layer BLL or the word line interconnect layer WLL, when applying a potential to one memory cell layer ML, it is necessary to apply potentials also to the memory cell layers ML adjacent to the one memory cell layer ML to reduce the effects; and the driving is exceedingly complex.

Resistive random access memory device with three-dimensional cross-point structure and method of operating the same


A method for improving multiple-input multiple-output MIMO downlink transmissions includes obtaining a channel state information CSI report including preferred matrix index PMI for precoding, channel quality index CQI and rank index RI at a base station from user terminals through a channel feedback; applying selectively a signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio SINR offset to a SINR of said CSI report; applying selectively a rate matching responsive to SINR offset or the CSI report; and controlling or adjusting the SINR offset.

The present invention relates to wireless communication, and, more particularly, to a method for improving multiuser MIMO downlink transmission.
In the multi-input multi-output (MIMO) broadcast channel, also referred to as the downlink (DL) multiuser MIMO (MU-MIMO) channel, different data streams can be transmitted via transmit antenna arrays to multiple receivers through the same channel resources. The sum throughput can be significantly increased due to the multiuser diversity. It has been shown that the capacity of multiuser broadcast channel can be achieved with dirty paper coding (DPC). However, although DPC can be implemented based on vector quantizers and powerful channel codes (e.g., low-density parity-check codes or turbo codes), the extremely high complexity makes it infeasible to be implemented in practical cellular systems. Therefore, the suboptimal linear transmit precoding techniques are of great interests for DL MU-MIMO due to their much lower complexity compared with DPC. It is shown that when perfect channel state information (CSI) is available at the base station, the linear transmit precoding performs very close to DPC for MIMO broadcast channel. Hence, the MU-MIMO with low-complexity linear precoding has been included in the new cellular standards, e.g., the emerging 3GPP Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) and IEEE 802.16m.
However, in practical FDD cellular systems, only the quantized channel information can be reported from each active user to the serving base station. Such imperfect channel information causes severe performance degradation when MU-MIMO is dynamically scheduled as a transmission mode at the base station. For instance, in the 3GPP LTE-A standard, each active user reports a preferred matrix index (PMI) to the base station, which is an index that identifies either a particular vector in a codebook of unit norm vectors or a particular matrix in a codebook of semi-unitary matrices. The codebooks are known in advance to the base station as well as all users. Each user also reports one or more channel quality indices (CQIs) (per sub-band) which are its quantized estimates of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios (SINRs). Since these CQIs can be directly mapped by the base station to certain SINRs via look-up-tables, we will refer to the latter SINRs as the SINRs contained in the user's CSI report or as SINRs of the CSI report. The reported PMIs and CQIs are then employed by the base station to determine a suitable set of scheduled users, their transmit precoders and assigned rates. In 3GPP LTE standard, the reported PMIs and CQIs are based on the assumption of the single user (SU) MIMO transmissions. While such quantized SU channel reports are sufficient for the link adaptation in SU-MIMO transmission, for MU-MIMO transmissions, such SU report results in a large mismatch between the channel SINR feedback and the actual SINR that the user sees after being scheduled. To alleviate this problem, the quantized channel feedback assuming MU-MIMO is proposed in to mitigate the SINR mismatch and enhance the performance of MU-MIMO. Other similar schemes aiming to improve the CQI accuracy for MU-MIMO have been actively investigated in the 3GPP LTE-A standards.
On the other hand, in a cellular system, users are usually asymmetric due to their different locations in a cell, i.e., different distances from the base station. Some user's channel can be much stronger than that of another user's, thus allowing it to enjoy a higher average throughput. To exploit multiuser diversity gains while achieving fair resource allocation among all serviced users, the proportional fair (PF) scheduling is a preferred approach which uses the sum of the normalized (or weighted) instantaneous user rates as the scheduling metric. However, for MU-MIMO such weighted sum rate metric brings some problems since the PF scheduling itself is sensitive to the accuracy of the available CSI and hence exacerbates the SINR mismatch problem, particularly when a user with a low average SNR is scheduled in a MU-MIMO transmission mode.
Among prior art techniques, there has been disclosed a method whereby an outer loop link adaptation (OLLA) is employed based on the transmission acknowledgement (ACK/NACK based) to improve the rate matching accuracy.
Applicants consider a downlink (DL) multiuser (MU) multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) channel with linear procoding where the base station schedules several user terminals on the same frequency sub-band the imperfect channel state information at the base station, e.g., the quantized channel feedback report. Among two types of channel state information (CSI) reports from user terminals, i.e., the CSI report that assumes the single-user (SU) MIMO transmissions and the enhanced CSI feedback that assumes the MU-MIMO transmissions. A large SINR mismatch is observed between the SINR feedback and the actual SNR that the user sees after being scheduled if MU-MIMO is scheduled with only the SU CSI report available or the SU-MIMO is scheduled with only the MU CSI report available at the base station. The SINR mismatch affects the rate matching accuracy which degrades overall system throughput. On the other hand, the MU-MIMO gain over SU-MIMO is only significant in the high SNR region. However, with the proportional fair (PF) scheduling which is commonly used in the commercial cellular system, the user with low SINR can be scheduled for MU-MIMO transmissions which not only reduce the MU-MIMO performance gain but also could hurt the overall system performance when SINR mismatch is involved.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved multiuser MIMO downlink transmission.

Method for improving multiuser MIMO downlink transmissions


A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium of the present invention includes a magnetic layer forming step in which a drying process is performed. The drying process includes: a pre-heating stage in which a magnetic coating film is heated until the surface temperature of the magnetic coating film stops rising and reaches a substantially constant temperature; a constant rate drying stage that is performed after the pre-heating stage in which the surface temperature of the magnetic coating film is held substantially constant; and a falling rate drying stage that is performed after the constant rate drying stage in which the surface temperature of the magnetic coating film is increased to be higher than the surface temperature during the constant rate drying stage to harden the magnetic coating film. The constant rate drying period in which the constant rate drying stage is performed is 0.2 seconds or more. The first solvent is made of one solvent or two or more solvents having different boiling points, and the difference (Tb−Ts) between the boiling point Tb of the solvent having the lowest boiling point among the solvents contained in the first solvent and the surface temperature Ts of the magnetic coating film during the constant rate drying period is 1 to 50° C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic recording, media include a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a magnetic card and the like. A magnetic tape, which is one of the media, is used for various applications such as audio applications, video applications and computer applications. As for a data backup tape for computers, with an increase in capacity of hard disks to be backed up, magnetic tapes having a recording capacity of several hundred gigabytes (GB) per single tape are commercialized. However, with a further increase in capacity of hard disks, an increase in demand for backup tapes having a large capacity exceeding 1 terabyte (TB) is inevitable. Accordingly, a further increase in capacity of magnetic tapes is crucial.
There are two approaches for increasing the capacity of a magnetic tape: an approach to recording/reproducing apparatuses and an approach to recording media.
The approach to recording/reproducing apparatuses involves, for example, shortening the wavelength of recording signals and narrowing track pitch. This approach reduces the leakage flux from a magnetic tape, so an MR head, which can yield a high output even with a very small flux, is often used as a reproducing head.
The approach to recording medium involves, for example, micronization of a magnetic powder and improvement of magnetic characteristics of a magnetic powder.
Conventionally, as the magnetic powder for forming data backup tape for computers, the same magnetic powders as that used for audio tape or for video tape for household use (e.g., magnetic powders composed of ferromagnetic iron oxide, Co-modified ferromagnetic iron oxide, chromium oxide, etc.) have been used. Currently, the use of an acicular metal powder of ferromagnetic iron having a particle size of about 25 to 65 nm is proposed.
An acicular magnetic powder exhibits magnetic characteristics by its magnetic shape anisotropy. Accordingly, when the particle size is decreased, the coercive force (Hc) decreases, and short wavelength recording characteristics tends to be low. However, a hexagonal Ba-ferrite magnetic powder, an iron nitride magnetic powder, and the like (fine magnetic powders) having a plate or granular shape, which exhibit magnetic characteristics by the crystal magnetic anisotropy even when the particle size is as small as about 5 to 30 nm, are proposed as materials for magnetic recording media.
However, even with use of any of the acicular, granular and plate magnetic powders, if the filling property in a magnetic layer is not increased while reducing the pore size of the magnetic layer, a sufficiently large capacity cannot be achieved. At the same time, in order to allow them to be used in an MR head, which is an approach from recording/reproducing apparatuses as described above, it is necessary to reduce the surface roughness of a magnetic layer to make a smooth surface. To this end, as an approach from production techniques, an improvement of a drying step in which a magnetic coating film is converted into a magnetic layer by removal of solvent is proposed in various documents (see, for example, JP H10-124866A, JP 2004-19958A, JP S63-42030A, JP H4-229415A, etc.).
JP H10-124866A discloses, an apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium including a plurality of orientation devices equipped with orientation magnets and driers. In this manufacturing apparatus, the temperature and flow rate of the hot air supplied from each drier can be controlled for each orientation device. Also, in this manufacturing apparatus, setting is performed such that the flow rate of the hot air supplied from the plurality of orientation devices increases sequentially along the proceeding direction of a non-magnetic support.
JP 2004-19958A discloses a drying device including not less than two dry zones. In this drying device, a low temperature dry zone is arranged most upstream, and a high temperature dry zone is arranged on a more downstream side than this low temperature dry zone. In the low temperature dry zone, low temperature gas ejection nozzles capable of ejecting a gas having a low temperature and a low humidity are arranged. In the high temperature dry zone, high temperature gas ejection nozzles capable of ejecting a gas having a temperature higher than that of the gas ejected from the low temperature gas ejection nozzles are arranged.
JP S63-42030A discloses an example of a method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium. According to this manufacturing method, a solvent having a boiling point of not less than 130° C. is contained in a magnetic coating material. Moreover, during a drying process including a constant rate drying stage and a falling rate drying stage, the atmospheric temperature after the falling rate drying stage is set to 40 to 80° C. In JP S63-42030A, the atmospheric temperature of the constant rate drying stage is usually higher than that of the falling rate drying stage. Accordingly, in the method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium described in JP S63-42030A, there is a moment at which the drying rate (the amount of solvent removed in a unit time) is constant, but constant rate drying is not performed actively. During a constant rate drying stage, the drying rate is constant, whereas in a falling rate drying stage, the drying rate decreases as the amount of the solvent contained in a coating film decreases.
JP H4-229415A discloses a magnetic recording medium and a method for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium. The amount of the solvent remained in the magnetic layer of this magnetic recording medium is 5 mg/m2. JP H4-229415A discloses that the drying rate in the constant rate drying stage of the drying process is set to 1 to 20 kg/m2·hr. However, JP H4-229415A does not disclose that the constant rate drying period is set to 0.2 seconds or more.
As described above, in any of the above-described manufacturing apparatuses and manufacturing methods, the falling rate drying stage is performed without passing through a relatively long constant rate drying stage. This is because if a constant rate drying stage is performed for a longer time, disadvantages will arise such as an increase in size of drying equipment and orientation equipment, and a decrease in production speed.
Moreover, according to the methods described in the above documents, the filling ratio of the magnetic powder in the magnetic layer cannot be increased sufficiently, resulting in insufficient smoothness.
In view of the above, the present invention provides a magnetic recording medium in which the filling ratio of the magnetic powder in the magnetic layer is high and great smoothness is achieved, and a method for manufacturing the magnetic recording medium.

Magnetic recording medium and method for manufacturing the same


A laser scanning microscope produces molecular excitation in a target material by simultaneous absorption of two photons to thereby provide intrinsic three-dimensional resolution. Fluorophores having single photon absorption in the short (ultraviolet or visible) wavelength range are excited by a stream of strongly focused subpicosecond pulses of laser light of relatively long (red or infrared) wavelength range. The fluorophores absorb at about one half the laser wavelength to produce fluorescent images of living cells and other microscopic objects. The fluorescent emission from the fluorophores increases quadratically with the excitation intensity so that by strongly focusing the laser light, fluorescence as well as photobleaching are confined to the vicinity of the focal plane. This feature provides depth of field resolution comparable to that produced by confocal laser scanning microscopes, and in addition reduces photobleaching. Scanning of the laser beam, by a laser scanning microscope, allows construction of images by collecting two- photon excited fluorescence from each point in the scanned object while still satisfying the requirement for very high excitation intensity obtained by focusing the laser beam and by pulse time compressing the beam. The focused pulses also provide three-dimensional spatially resolved photochemistry which is particularly useful in photolytic release of caged effector molecules.. This invention was made with Government support under Grant Nos. P41RR04224 awarded by the National Institute of Health; NSF-BBS-8714069 awarded by the National Science Foundation, and NSF-DMB-8609084 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The Government has certain rights in the invention.

Although the principle of a flying spot scanner has been known for many years, its application in microscopy has prospered only in the last few years as the necessary technology has been developed. Stable laser light sources and fast electronic image acquisition and storage technology are necessary ingredients for a scanning microscope. While the imaging properties of a non-confocal scanning microscope are very similar to those of conventional microscopes, a new domain is opened by confocal scanning microscopes. The resolution provided by such devices is only moderately increased, but the vastly improved depth discrimination they provide allows the generation of three dimensional images without complicated deconvolution algorithms. The depth discrimination reduces background, and this, together with the use of a single high quality detector such as a photomultiplier, allows quantitative studies with high spatial resolution.
The resolution along the optical axis of a confocal scanning microscope provides useful discrimination against background scattering or fluorescence arising above and below the plane of focus in a transparent object. It is also very helpful in constructing three dimensional fluorescent images from a series of sections and for the use of quantitative fluorescence indicators or for mapping of fluorescent markers of cell surface receptors on non-planar surfaces. Such devices provide slightly better lateral resolution, much better depth field discrimination, and orders of magnitude better background discrimination under ideal conditions than was available with prior devices, under ideal conditions.
Scanning can be carried out either by moving the specimen stage under a stationary beam or by precisely synchronized optical scanning of both the illumination and the fluorescent response signals. Although the moving stage solution is preferable from an optical point of view, it puts limits on sample access and mounting, the use of environmental chambers, and electrical recording with microelectrodes. Accordingly, the moving spot approach is often favored. Such a moving spot may be produced by the use of mirrors mounted on galvonometer scanners, although this limits the obtainable frame frequency. The use of accousto-optical deflectors interferes with the confocal spatial filtering in fluorescence microscopy because of their strong dispersion. Although polygonal mirrors are faster than galvonometer scanners, one alone does not allow a vector mode of operation.
A conventional arc light source can be used for many applications of a confocal scanning microscope which utilizes a rotating disc illuminator, but apparently inescapable intensity modulations limit its use for quantitative applications. In such devices, the image is formed either through a dual set of confocal pin holes in the disc, or, in recent versions, through the illumination pinholes themselves.
Confocal scanning microscopes in which a single point illuminated by a laser is scanned across the moving object work quite well at slow scanning speeds, and good laser scanning micrographs have been obtained using fluorescence markers that absorb and emit visible light. However, confocal scanning images with fluorophores and fluorescent chemical indicators that are excited by the ultraviolet part of the spectrum have not been available, largely because of the lack of suitable microscope lenses, which must be chromatically corrected and transparent for both absorption and emission wavelengths, but also because of the damage done to living cells by ultraviolet light. Furthermore, the limitations of ultraviolet lasers have inhibited such usage.
Fluorescence microscopy is further limited, in all of its manifestations, by the photobleaching of fluorophores in the target material, for the exciting light slowly photobleaches the fluorophores while it is exciting fluorescence. Even in laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy, essentially the same photobleaching is incurred as happens in wide field microscopy, because the focused exciting light still illuminates the full depth of the target specimen uniformly, in a time average, as it scans the plane of focus. Photobleaching is particularly troublesome in a three-dimensional image reconstruction because many two-dimensional images are required for this purpose, and the acquisition of each two-dimensional image produces photobleaching throughout the specimen.


A knee brace for control of ligament instability in all planes having thigh and shin cuffs, a polycentric hinge on the lateral side of the knee, and a pivoting articulation plate on the medial side of the knee. The cuffs are attached to the leg by non-stretchable straps and provide anterior-posterior stability. The medial pivot plate stabilizes the brace on the medial side of the knee and in combination with the lateral hinge and a lateral plate provides medial-lateral stability. In another embodiment the cuff is replaced by thigh plates with adjustable connecting means to accommodate different sized thighs. The thigh plates, medial plate and shin cuff are shaped to permit interchangeable use on left and right knee braces. Adjustable front and rear straps connect the medial pivot plate and shin cuff for providing ligament stability and adjustability as to various knee widths.

This invention concerns a knee brace for controlling ligament instability, and more particularly to a knee brace having thigh and shin cuffs joined by a polycentric hinge on the lateral side of the brace and a pivotal articulation plate at the medial side of the knee.
In a further embodiment, the invention concerns a knee brace including a plurality of separate thigh plates adjustably connected together, a medial articulation plate, and a shin cuff, all of which components are modular and can be used on either a left or right knee brace.
When the ligaments surrounding the knee have been traumatized by injury or by surgery, a supporting brace is used to provide stability while still allowing movement of the knee. The brace should provide stability when forces are applied to the knee in the medial and lateral (side) planes and in the anterior (front) and posterior (rear) planes. In addition, the brace should provide rotational stability so as to prevent excessive axial rotation of the tibia with respect to the femur. The brace should also prevent forward movement of the tibia with respect to the femur, a function provided in the normal knee by the anterior cruciate ligament.
A knee brace for control of ligament instability is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,867 to Kausek et al. That brace includes a thigh cuff, a shin plate, and a rear calf cuff. In that brace two polycentric hinges are provided at the medial and lateral sides of the brace. While use of polycentric hinges on both sides of the knee provides good ligament control, the movement of the knee is somewhat restricted.
Knee braces having a lateral hinge, but no medial hinge, are often worn by football players to prevent injury. They may also be used for rehabilitation or to support a knee which exhibits chronic instability. The lateral hinge, which may be monocentric or polycentric, has upper and lower lateral plates which are either taped to the leg or inserted in a wrap-around neoprene sleeve by VELCRO attachment straps with closures. This brace provides greater support when taped to the leg, but taping is uncomfortable and not practical for daily use. The brace provides less support when attached via the neoprene sleeve.
It would thus be desirable to provide a knee brace which provides good ligament control while allowing a natural range of movement of the knee, and which is comfortable to wear and easily removable for daily use. It would also be desirable to provide a brace which offers some adjustability as to size and thus can be sold as an of-the-shelf item. It would also be cost-desirable to provide a brace with modular components which can be used on both left and right knee braces. These and other features are provided by the knee brace of the present invention.

Modular knee brace for control of ligament instability


A light source with radiating plasma sustained in the gas-filled chamber by a focused beam of CW laser. The gas is inert gas with a purity of at least 99.99%. The chamber contains a metal housing with at least one window made of MgF2 for outputting a plasma radiation. Each window is located in a hole of the housing on the end of a sleeve and is soldered to the sleeve by means of glass cement, and each sleeve is welded to the hole of the metal housing on the outside seam. The sleeves and the housing are made of an alloy with a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE), matched with the CLTE of the MgF2 crystal in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the MgF2 crystal. The technical result consists in expanding the radiation spectrum of the light source into the VUV region.

A stationary gas discharge sustained by laser radiation in pre-created relatively dense plasma is known as continuous optical discharge (COD).
A COD, sustained in the gas-filled chamber by a focused beam of a continuous wave (CW) laser, is realized in various gases, in particular, in Xe at a high gas pressure of up to 200 atm (Carlhoff et al., "Continuous Optical Discharges at Very High Pressure," Physica 103C, 1981, pp. 439-447). COD-based light sources with a plasma temperature of about 20,000 K (Raizer, "Optical discharges" Sov. Phys. Usp. 23 (11), November 1980, pp. 789-806) are among the highest brightness continuous light sources in a wide spectral range from the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) to the near-infrared.
One of the challenges related to creation of high-brightness COD-based light sources relates to increasing the output of vacuum ultraviolet radiation which, in particular, results in special requirements to short-wave boundary λb and to transparency of optical materials used for outputting the COD plasma broadband radiation from the chamber.
As known from patent application JP2006010675, published on Dec. 1, 2006, a high optical output in the VUV range is achieved in an optical discharge when the purity of inert gas in the chamber is at least 99.99%. At the same time, the short-wave boundary of the light source radiation spectrum is determined by the material of the chamber exit window, for which lithium fluoride (LiF), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), calcium fluoride (CaF2), sapphire (Al2O3) or quartz (SiO2) can be used.
Among these materials, LiF  MgF2 have the shortest-wave boundary of transparency, around 110 nm. Further, among the latter two, MgF2 is the material with better mechanical and thermal properties, as well as producibility, therefore its use is preferable for expanding the radiation spectrum as far as 100 nm in the VUV range.
The device described in patent application JP2006010675 used pulsed-mode excitation of the optical discharge, therefore the drawbacks of the device consisted in low average power and brightness of the light source. In pulsed mode of optical discharge excitation, the optimum pressure in the chamber is around 1 atm, while the chamber temperature is close to room temperature, which eliminates the issues with sealing the exit window made of any of the above-mentioned optical materials. However, the situation is radically different for high-brightness plasma radiation sources with continuous optical discharge.                As known, for example, from patent U.S. Ser. No. 10/964,523, published on Mar. 30, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference, the optimum continuous generation of COD plasma radiation, characterized by a spectral brightness of over 50 mW/(mm2 nm sr) and a relative brightness instability σ of less than 0.1%, is achieved by preferably having the highest possible operating temperature of the chamber internal surface, 600 to 900 K or higher, at an optimum gas pressure in the chamber above 50 atm or higher, while the chamber walls are located from the region of radiating plasma at a distance of less than 5 mm, preferably no more than 3 mm. The sealed-off bulbs made of fused quartz and used as the chamber meet these criteria at least partially.
However, the transparency boundary of quartz, λb≈170 nm, is inferior to other optical materials mentioned above, in particular, MgF2 (λb≈110 nm). At the same time, the option of replacing the bulb material with MgF2 is challenging due to its mechanical properties, while using MgF2 windows is also problematic due to the difficulty of their sealing at high temperatures and pressures.
To raise the chamber's operating temperature, in patent U.S. Pat. No. 10,109,473, published on Oct. 23, 2018, it was proposed to mechanically seal the chamber windows using C-rings made of an elastic metal such as steel.
However, this solution mainly relates to using sapphire windows with λb≈145 nm. The application of MgF2 windows with this type of seal is problematic due to their insufficient mechanical strength.
In U.S. Pat. No. 10,609,804 published on May 31, 2020 the laser-pumped plasma light source comprises a gas-filled chamber with a metal column-shaped housing which consists of two housing parts and with coaxial inlet and exit windows sealingly installed on the housing ends. Each window, whose side cylindrical surface is nickel-plated, is positioned inside a circular nickel-plated kovar sleeve and soldered to the sleeve's internal surface using Ag solder. Further, each circular sleeve with the window soldered to it is soldered or welded to one of the housing parts on the outside seam. After the internal chamber parts (an ellipsoid mirror and a laser radiation blocker) are installed, the housing parts with the mounted windows are welded together. After welding, the housing is vacuumed and filled with gas through a nozzle which is welded or sealed under pressure. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of the kovar sleeve which the window is soldered to, is matched with the CLTE of sapphire, hence the chamber suggests using sapphire windows.
As compared to typically used quartz bulbs (λb≈170 nm), the said light source is characterized by a broader spectrum of radiation in the VUV range, if sapphire windows are used (λb≈145 nm). Besides, it features a stronger chamber which allows to increase the power of laser pumping and, consequently, raise the power of output radiation, including in the UV and VUV ranges.                However, in the plasma light source of this type, further expansion of the VUV spectrum is limited due to the difficulty of applying MgF2 windows therein. The CLTE of an MgF2 crystal is significantly different in the optical axis direction and in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and equals, correspondingly, to 13·7·10−6/ and 8·48·10−6/. Consequently, the seal of the connection between the isotropic metal circular sleeve and the anisotropic MgF2 crystal soldered in it is unreliable when the chamber is heated to 600-900 K, which is necessary for optimally generating radiation from continuous optical discharge plasma. The unreliability of this sealing comes from the fact that the CLTE of metal solders (˜20·10−6/) is also significantly different from the CLTE of MgF2. Also, the pressure of gas on the window contributes to the shift and rupture of the sealed joint, thereby decreasing its reliability. Expanding the spectrum of similar plasma light sources in the VUV range produces little effect also due to the fact that the plasma radiation beam is formed only by reflection of the plasma radiation by the metal mirror inside the chamber. The coefficient of reflection for a metal mirror is low in the VUV range (˜20% at the wavelength of 110 nm for aluminum). The presence of an intrachamber mirror results in locating the lens focusing the CW laser beam outside the chamber housing. This limits the focusing sharpness of the CW laser beam and reduces the light source brightness. Also, the presence of a mirror does not allow for minimizing the dimensions of intrachamber space to suppress convective flows which results in instability of the exiting radiation power. A drawback of the said design also consists in the propagation of the laser radiation beam in the exit window direction, which requires taking special measures for its blocking.

Broadband laser-pumped plasma light source


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improved apparatus and methods for cleaning swimming pools or similar bodies of water. The apparatus includes a device selectively engageable with an elongated pole, which can be disengaged from the pole and thrown into the pool water where it will dispense surfactant during the cleaning process.

A number of factors and elements are involved in maintaining and servicing bodies of water, and many of them are interrelated. Examples of such factors include the economics of those efforts (costs of materials and equipment, labor costs, etc.), the degree of cleanliness desired, the location of the water with respect to trees and leaves and/or other contaminants, and others.
In many situations, it can be important for personnel to be quick and efficient in performing such service duties. Several factors can affect that speed and efficiency. Examples such as surface action and water clarity can be an issue when trying to gather and remove accumulated debris. Other factors can obscure the user's visibility through the water surface down to the location of the debris, and thus impair the user's service efforts or make them less efficient. Other examples of these factors include the tools used, the presence of wind, the presence of surface action, and other turbidity. Typically any of these can adversely affect the time required to clean and service a given body of water.
Most users, even professional servicemen, need or at least benefit from more clear water conditions to do a good job of cleaning. If water conditions are unfavorable many attempt, just prior to vacuuming, to influence water clarity by scrubbing the pool waterline (on the sidewalls of the pool) with tile soap. This produces soap bubbles or at least releases some soap/surfactants onto the water surface, which increases the water's surface tension and correspondingly reduces any ripples or other disturbances on the surface. This reaction tends to arrest some motion of the water and generally stills the water surface, improving viewing into the water by the serviceman standing on the pool deck or other surface adjacent the body of water.
Typically, however, to maintain that desired surface tension and visibility through the duration of the cleaning process, service personnel have to reapply soap-type solutions. Such personnel commonly use any of a range or combinations of multiple varieties and concentrations of soap or other surfactants. Commonly, service personnel use any bulk tile soap solution, and especially because it is a bulk solution, it can be easy for them to apply it in inappropriate concentrations or in inconsistent ways. Among other things, these products typically have corresponding multiple varieties of containers/bottles and opening tops, leading to further inconsistent applications and/or use of the soap. In addition, to avoid the need to frequently refill those containers, servicemen sometimes use larger, heavier bottles, but those frequently are so cumbersome that the user sets it down with his other tools as he is moving around the pool (standing on the deck or otherwise above the waterline), and thus has to make multiple trips back to get that container in order to reapply the solution to tools or the water surface at intervals during the cleaning process.
Servicemen frequently carry a separate bottle in one hand, and apply soap to a pole mounted scrubber in the other hand. Scrubbing is a two hand job and trying to carry a container while scrubbing does not allow the user to grip the pole well. Cooler weather can also affect solution density or viscosity. Substandard solutions and containers widely vary and become difficult to apply under these circumstances. Certain additives even obscure visibility when improperly applied. Excesses often fall into solution, sink to bottom surfaces or are unsafely spilled on slippery decks and surrounding surfaces. All of these and other problems with prior art systems and apparatus slow the user's efficiency in cleaning the pool or other body of water.
Thus, the present inventions are directed to improvements for the apparatus and methods of cleaning pools or similar bodies of water, including sequestering floating oils/light debris, controlling surface action and visibility, and provide apparatus and methods to safely and efficiently apply and maintain surfactants and/or other formulas in and on water surfaces, for cleaning or other purposes. Preferably, the inventions enhance surface visibility and speed the service and maintenance of bodies of water.

Apparatus and related methods for cleaning and using swimming pools and other water


The attenuation and phase shift properties of an embedded attenuated phase shift mask (EAPSM) may be independently selected. After or during plowing of regions of an embedded phase shift layer, exposed regions of a substrate are etched to a predetermined depth. Additional regions of the embedded phase sift layer are then exposed and trimmed to a predetermined thickness for providing the desired amount of attenuation, with the final etched depth of the substrate compensating for the change of relative phase shift caused by trimming of the phase shift layer. A matrix test device having a plurality of cells with different levels of attenuation and/or phase shift may then be fabricated on a single EAPSM blank.

Optical lithography is the predominate process for making integrated circuits. Integrated circuits are built as a series of layers, sometimes 15 or more. To form each layer of an integrated circuit, the wafer is coated with a photosensitive polymer, called a photoresist. The layer of photoresist is exposed to a pattern of light. Depending on the type of photoresist, certain areas of the photoresist are soluable following exposure and are rinsed with a solvent. The remaining photoresist, which is insoluable, delineates a pattern on the surface of the wafer that is protected from the next processing step, which could be, for example, etching, dielectric or metal deposition, or ion implantation. The regions delineated by the boundaries of the remaining photoresist correspond to physical elements, such as parts of transistors and connections between them, to be reproduced on each integrated circuit.
To form the pattern of light on the wafer, an "illuminator" is used to create a coherent, uniform beam of light that is projected through a photomask (or "mask") or reticle. A mask is typically a plate made of quartz or other translucent material, and the pattern on the mask is formed with chrome or other opaque material disposed on the surface on the plate. This chrome layer may also be covered with an anti-reflective layer of chrome oxide. A lens system collects the light transmitted through the mask and focuses it on a small area of a semiconductor wafer, thereby creating a scaled-down image on the photoresist. The exposure is repeated across and down the wafer by incrementally moving the wafer using a "stepper" machine, thereby an array of side-by-side images on the photoresist covering the wafer.
As the size of features of integrated circuits shrink, the wavelength of light illuminating the masks must also decrease. However, quartz lenses that are used in the illuminator and lens systems absorb wavelengths of light shorter than 193 nm and therefore cannot be used for smaller wavelengths of light. Although equipment has been proposed that is capable of using a shorter wavelength of light, there exist several resolution enhancement techniques that permit the same wavelength of light to resolve smaller features. For example, using known resolution enhancement techniques, 193 nm light can be used to resolve features as small as 100 nm or less.
One of type of resolution enhancement technique is to improve contrast between the light and dark areas of the pattern projected onto the wafer using destructive interference. Phase shifting may be accomplished several different ways. One is by very precisely etching part of the substrate. Such a mask is sometimes referred to as a Levenson phase shift mask (PSM) or alternating aperture PSM (AAPSM). A different approach is the use of an embedded layer that both shifts the phase of the light and attenuates it. This type of mask is called an attenuating phase shift mask (EAPSM). It too sets up destructive interference along the border of a feature region. However, unlike a AAPSM, an EAPSM is considered to be a weak phase shifter due to relatively high degree of attenuation of the light. Typically only of 6% of the incident radiation is transmitted. An opaque film of material—for example a material comprised or based of molybdenum silicide (MoSi)—is applied to the substrate. This material shifts phase of the light that passes through it by 180 degrees and substantially attenuates it. The resulting image becomes sharper at the feature region borders as a result of the small amount of 180 degree phase shifted light destructively interfering with the unshifted light passing through the adjacent opening. The transmission and phase shift provided by the phase shift layer depend on radiation wavelength and the intrinsic properties of the phase shift layer material (e.g., its absorption coefficient and index of refraction). Thus, for a particular radiation wavelength, the transmission and phase shift of the radiation incident on the phase shift layer of a mask become a function of the thickness of the phase shift layer.

Embedded attenuated phase shift mask with tunable transmission


A stator of a vehicle AC generator including a stator core having a plurality of slots and a stator winding disposed in the slot. The stator winding includes a plurality of conductor segments having an in-slot portion disposed in one of a plurality of radially aligned slot-layers of one of the slots and an inclined coil-end portion extending from the in-slot portion having a connection-end positioned in one of a plurality of circular layers corresponding to the slot layers formed at an end of the stator core. The connection-end in one of the circular layers is connected to another connection-end in adjacent one of the circular layers to form a junction radially and circumferentially spaced apart from other junctions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle AC generator stator, and particularly a stator winding arrangement.
2. Description of the Related Art
PCT application WO92/06527 discloses a stator winding arrangement, which is composed of U-shaped conductor segments welded to one another at their connection ends. The connection ends are disposed in a circular layer at one end of the stator core at equal intervals. Each U-shaped conductor segment has two in-slot portions inserted into a pair of slots, and four in-slot portions are disposed in each slot. Accordingly, four connection ends extend from each slot to be welded to form a stator winding. Because all the connection ends are aligned in the circular layer, the interval between welded junctions of the connection ends becomes so small that insulation between the junctions becomes difficult, and that cooling air can not pass therethrough very well.


Apparatus and methods are provided for ensuring predetermined lengthwise registration of interstacked form parts forming a unitary form. The form includes a continuous web comprised of longitudinally adjacent forms, each having a pair of transversely adjacent form parts. Each form part has a registration mark identifying the form parts as parts of a first form. Each registration mark has discrete portions including a count portion which specifically identifies the form parts as part of a predetermined form of a predetermined plurality of forms. When the form parts are interstacked, the registration marks are sensed to determine the accurate transverse alignment of the interstacked form parts and provide an error signal in response to a sensed lack of registration of the corresponding form parts.

The present invention relates to a multi-part business form having form parts which may be interstacked (one form part overlapping another) and more specifically, to apparatus and methods for verifying registration of the form parts and to the forms therefor.
Presently, there is a need for a business form which is capable of being processed through a non-impact printer so that information can be printed on various, selected parts of the form, but which uses image transfer techniques for the addition of still further information to the form by an impact printer, or by manual means, such as a typewriter, etc. A business form of that type is described and illustrated in co-pending application Ser. No. 07/331,302, filed Mar. 31, 1989, entitled "Multiple Part Form for Non-Impact Printer and Related Process," of common assignee herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The form of that invention can be processed through a non-impact printer, without activating the image transfer means, and thereafter rearranged so that cooperating pressure or impact responsive image transfer means are in position to transfer information applied to one sheet onto an underlying sheet.
More particularly, in that invention, a continuous web is divided into successive forms in a conventional manner by longitudinally spaced, transverse lines of perforations. A first longitudinally extending line of perforations is provided substantially centrally of the web (or to one or the other side of center, depending on desired form configuration) to define a stub portion when the web is subsequently slit longitudinally along a parallel indicator line, to thereby separate the web into first and second, transversely adjacent form parts. In accordance with that invention, the lower surface of the first form part is provided with a coating of carbonless microcapsules containing a liquid fill comprising a chemically reactive color-forming precursor, referred to as a CB (coated back) coating. At the same time, the upper surface of the adjacent or second form part is provided with a dry co-reactant resin coating referred to therein as a CF (coated front) coating. The CB and CF coatings comprise carbonless image transfer means of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,174.
Longitudinally extending feed holes are also provided along each marginal edge of the continuous web so that the web may be engaged by a conventional tractor drive mechanism for feeding the web through one or more processing stations. A third intermediate and longitudinally extending line of feed holes is provided adjacent the first longitudinal perforation line. In addition, a longitudinally extending glue line, for example, a heat seal type adhesive, is provided along, and inside, one marginal line of feed holes, but outside a second longitudinally extending perforation line, which defines a marginal stub portion. This type of form permits variable information to be applied to one or both form parts in a non-impact printer as the form passes therethrough in a two-wide (side-by-side), single-ply configuration. Subsequently, as briefly mentioned above, the web may be engaged by a conventional slitting mechanism which separates the form parts along the slit indicator line, a line adjacent the third, intermediate line of feed holes, but on the opposite side thereof, vis-a-vis the first longitudinal perforation line. Thus, two webs are formed with the form parts in each web remaining connected one to the other in the direction of web travel and with the form parts of each form lying transversely adjacent one another.
The separated parts are then interstacked by a conventional interstacking device, such that the first, and now upper, form part overlies the second, and now lower, form part so that the third intermediate (now marginal) line of feed holes of the lower form part are vertically aligned with the marginal feed holes of the upper form part. In that configuration, the CB coating on the back of the upper form part is in full surface engagement with the CF coating on the front of the lower form part so that, subsequently, information applied to the upper form part will be imaged onto the lower form part, through the interaction of the CB and CF coatings. After the form parts are interstacked and aligned, the heat-seal adhesive is activated to secure the respective form parts together.
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods relating to registration marks applied to the form for ensuring that the corresponding transversely adjacent form parts, when the webs and hence form parts are interstacked, lie in lengthwise registration with one another. The present invention also relates to the form on which the registration marks are applied. For purposes of this application, the form parts are in registration or registry with one another when the form parts are properly interstacked with appropriate perforation lines and tractor pin openings in alignment, and when the registration marks are aligned. Thus, the apparatus and methods, as well as the form, hereof are provided to ensure that when the form is slit lengthwise and the webs overlapped, both form parts of a form set lie in a predetermined lengthwise registration one with the other, i.e., are not misaligned in the lengthwise direction. In this application, lengthwise means the direction of the movement of the forms or form parts during manufacture including printing.
To accomplish the foregoing, a set of registration marks are provided on each of the form parts, preferably adjacent the left and right marginal edges of the form. The registration marks are applied to the form in transverse or lateral alignment with one another. The marks may be pre-printed on-line by a press or by an off-line printer. Each registration mark is comprised of discrete portions including a window mark portion and a count mark portion spaced lengthwise one from the other. Each of a predetermined sequentially arranged number of forms has a different set of registration marks, including a different number of counts in the count portion of the mark, such that a repeat of the count portion of the registration mark does not occur until several sets of marks and, hence, forms are moved past a sensing station, to be described. For example, the first set of registration marks in one form may have two counts in its count portion, with the succeeding marks in the next forms having three and four counts in their count portions, respectively, before the next set of two-count registration marks in the next form constitutes a repeat.
Preferably, by design the registration marks of each set thereof are complementary to one another. For example, one registration mark along one marginal edge of the form may have its window portion leading a trailing count portion while the other registration mark along the opposite marginal edge of the form may have its count portion leading a trailing window portion. In this manner, the forms can be run in opposite directions and the sensing apparatus hereof senses the marks when the forms are run in either direction. Additionally, there is a finite gap between the end of the leading window portion of the registration mark and the beginning of the window portion of the other registration mark of that set. Furthermore, the count portion of each set falls totally within the length of the window portion of the other registration mark of that set.
The apparatus for ensuring proper interstacking of the form parts includes a form conveyor having a plurality of tractor pins along its opposite sides for engaging the pin feed holes along one side of the form and the overlapped registering pin feed holes adjacent the other side of the interstacked form. An optical sensor is provided overlying the path of travel of each of the registration marks along the conveyor for detecting the registration marks. An encoder is provided to sense the rate, displacement and direction of travel of the conveyor and a microprocessor (CPU) is provided to compare the sensed registration marks and also to correlate them with the signals from the encoder in a manner set forth hereinafter.
The optical sensors are disposed to scan the path of travel of the registration marks when the interstacked form parts are located on the conveyor. When the first mark in a set appears under either sensor, its length is monitored. If the length is determined by the CPU to be longer than a predetermined length, it is taken as a window mark. Simultaneously, the opposite sensor scans the other registration mark of the set, particularly the count mark portion, and the count is stored by the CPU. Upon further movement of the form, the count mark portion of the first registration mark of that set is then sensed and the number of counts is stored in the CPU. Simultaneously, the window area of the second registration mark of that set is likewise sensed. After the second window mark passes the sensor, the two counts are compared. If the counts are the same, the form parts must lie in lengthwise registry. If they differ, an error signal is generated by the CPU and the conveyor is stopped. The CPU is programmed such that various error conditions may be noted and the conveyor stopped. For example, when no marks are sensed within the maximum length of the interstacked form, an error signal is generated which stops the conveyor. When the counts from the two form parts do not compare or are not equal, the CPU generates an error signal to stop the conveyor. Additionally, when the second window mark is not sensed within a predetermined distance of the end of the first window mark, an error signal is generated to likewise stop the conveyor.
In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided a method for ensuring predetermined lengthwise registration of at least partially superposed form parts forming a form, comprising the steps of providing first and second form parts, each having a registration mark identifying the first and second form parts as parts of a first form, overlapping portions of the first and second form parts and sensing the registration marks of the overlapped first and second form parts to determine a characteristic thereof and providing output signals responsive thereto. Predetermined criteria are established for comparing the sensed characteristics of the registration marks. The output signals are compared and an error signal is provided in response to a comparison of the sensed characteristics of the registration marks in the event the sensed characteristics do not compare according to the predetermined criteria, thereby indicating a lack of registration of the first and second form parts.
In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided a form for use in interstacking form parts thereof comprising first and second form parts attached to one another and severable one from the other to provide discrete form parts for interstacking one with the other. Each form part carries a registration mark for ensuring predetermined lengthwise registration of the interposed form parts, with each registration mark including a pair of discrete mark portions spaced one from the other in the lengthwise direction, the registration mark on one of the form parts being the complement of the registration mark on the other of the form parts.
In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for interstacking form parts of a continuous form web and ensuring predetermined lengthwise registration of at least the partially superposed form parts forming a form comprising means for conveying a form web in a predetermined direction of travel, the form web having a plurality of forms spaced one from the other in the direction of web travel, with each form having a pair of transversely spaced first and second form parts. Means are provided for separating and interstacking the form parts and for sensing a registration mark on each of the first and second form parts identifying the first and second form parts as parts of a specified form to determine a characteristic thereof and providing an output signal in response thereto. Means are also provided for establishing a predetermined criteria for comparing the sensed characteristics of the registration marks. Finally, means for comparing the output signals and providing an error signal in response to a comparison of the sensed characteristics of the registration marks in the event the sensed characteristics do not compare according to the predetermined criteria are also provided, thereby indicating a lack of registration of the first and second form parts.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide novel and improved apparatus and methods for verifying registration of interstacked form parts and the forms therefor.
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, appended claims and drawings.

Apparatus and methods for verifying registration of form parts and forms therefor


A post-disaster conditions monitoring system. The system may include a device processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions executable by the device processor to perform the following steps: receiving information from one or more pre-existing networks; determining conditions in a geographic region based on the information received from the one or more pre-existing networks; and preparing a map indicating the conditions within the geographic region.

Following disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc., it can be difficult to assess the conditions in a disaster area. Disaster response can be better tailored to the conditions if the conditions are known.
There is a need in the art for a system and method that addresses the shortcomings discussed above. In particular, there is a need in the art for a disaster condition monitoring system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Post-disaster conditions monitoring based on pre-existing networks

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


An aromatic amine compound is represented by general formula [I]:

The present disclosure relates to an aromatic amine compound useful for an electron transport material, a hole transport material, or a luminescent material of an organic electroluminescent element, an organic electroluminescent element including the aromatic amine compound, and a display device including the organic electroluminescent element.
Recently, organic electroluminescent elements (EL elements) have attracted attention as one of flat panel displays that are self-luminous, that have a high response speed, and that do not have angle-dependent visibility, and thus interests in organic materials constituting such organic electroluminescent elements have been increasing. In particular, among such organic materials, there are few materials that can form a stable blue-light-emitting layer, which is an important problem to be solved in order to realize a full-color organic electroluminescent element.
In order to realize a high luminance and a high efficiency of an organic electroluminescent element, a doping method has been employed in which a light-emitting layer is constituted by a host compound and a guest compound (dopant). By selecting a host compound having a high energy transfer efficiency from the host compound to the dopant compound, the luminous efficiency of the organic electroluminescent element can be increased. For example, it is known that 9,10-diphenylanthracene compounds can be used as an electron-transporting host or a hole-transporting host.
Aromatic amines have been actively studied as a photosensitive material for electrophotography. Subsequently, it has been reported that aromatic amines exhibit excellent characteristics as a hole transport material of an organic electroluminescent element. Consequently, a large number of such compounds have been reported. Recently, the use of an aromatic amine as a light-emitting layer has also been proposed.
An organic layer constituting an organic electroluminescent element is formed by using various organic materials as described below.
Japanese Patent No. 3506281 (paragraphs 0006 to 0010, 0079, and 0085) titled "organic electroluminescence element" discloses an organic electroluminescent element including an organic compound layer having at least a recombination region where a hole and an electron are recombined and a light-emitting region that emits light in response to the recombination, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the organic compound layer, in which the recombination region and/or the light-emitting region contains an aromatic amine as a fluorescent dopant and a distyryl arylene compound as a luminescent material (host material). According to the organic electroluminescent element described in Japanese Patent No. 3506281, at least one of the recombination region where a hole and an electron are recombined and the light-emitting region that emits light in response to the recombination contains a fluorescent dopant having a specific structure. For example, the luminescent color is not significantly changed even after this organic electroluminescent element is driven for a long time, and thus the organic electroluminescent element has a long life time. In addition, the organic electroluminescent element has a high luminous efficiency. Accordingly, the organic electroluminescent element is suitably used as, for example, a display of a device used in the information industry.
Japanese Patent No. 3104223 (paragraphs 0006 to 0008 and 0123) titled "organic electroluminescent element" describes that when a perylene compound is used as a mixture with an aromatic amine compound, aromatic diamine compound, or aromatic triamine compound having a specific aromatic hydrocarbon or aromatic heterocyclic ring as a substituent, a red-light-emitting organic EL element having particularly good characteristics can be obtained.
Japanese Patent No. 3011165 (paragraphs 0008 to 0010 and 0196) titled "organic electroluminescent element" describes that when a 5-cyanopyrromethene-BF2 complex is used as a mixture with an aromatic amine compound, aromatic diamine compound, or aromatic triamine compound having a specific aromatic hydrocarbon or aromatic heterocyclic ring as a substituent, a red-light-emitting organic EL element having particularly good characteristics can be obtained.
Japanese Patent No. 3092584 (paragraphs 0008 to 0010 and 0142) titled "organic electroluminescence element" describes that bis-2,5-(2-benzazoyl)hydroquinone compound is used as a mixture with an aromatic amine compound, aromatic diamine compound, or aromatic triamine compound having a specific aromatic hydrocarbon or aromatic heterocyclic ring as a substituent, a red-light-emitting organic EL element having particularly good characteristics can be obtained.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-257074 (paragraphs 0004 to 0006 and 0017) titled "hydrocarbon compound and organic electroluminescent element" discloses an organic electroluminescent element including a pair of electrodes and at least one layer containing at least one 9,10-di(3′-fluoranthenyl)anthracene derivative and disposed between the electrodes.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-69044 (paragraphs 0004 and 0011) titled "organic electroluminescence element" describes that by adding a novel hydrocarbon compound in which an aryl structure is bonded to a fluoranthene structure to an organic compound film, heat resistance of an organic electroluminescence element is improved, and furthermore, a hole-transporting property and an electron-transporting property are improved to realize a high luminous efficiency.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-182776 (paragraphs 0008 to 0013) titled "organic multilayer electroluminescence element" discloses an anthracene derivative as a typical example of a material of a hole-transporting layer.
Japanese Patent No. 3838816 (paragraphs 0009 to 0012) titled "compound for organic EL element" discloses a phenylanthracene derivative used as a compound for an organic EL element.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-335516 (paragraphs 0004 to 0014) titled "organic electroluminescence element" discloses a compound having a diphenylanthracene structure in the center thereof and a specific structure substituted with aryl groups in the terminals thereof.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-260861 (paragraphs 0004, 0005, and 0013) titled "organic light-emitting device" discloses benzenoid compounds which include a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a combination of two or more PAHs (including benzene, naphthalene, and anthracene) and which are suitable for a host component of a light-emitting layer of an organic light-emitting device.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 4041816 (paragraphs 0004 to 0006, and 0021) titled "organic electroluminescence element and anthracene derivative" discloses an anthracene derivative for realizing an organic EL element.
In Japanese Patent No. 3092584, red-light emission is realized by forming a light-emitting layer composed of a mixed layer of bis-2,5-(2-benzazoyl)hydroquinone compound and an aromatic amine compound. In Japanese Patent No. 3011165, red-light emission is realized by forming a light-emitting layer composed of a mixed layer of 5-cyanopyrromethene-BF2 complex and an aromatic amine compound. In Japanese Patent No. 3104223, red-light emission is realized by forming a light-emitting layer composed of a mixed layer of a perylene compound and an aromatic amine compound. However, the emission luminance obtained by these techniques is low, and thus the red-light emission is not sufficient for practical use.
In the development of an organic electroluminescent element, selection of a light-emitting material is the most important factor for ensuring the reliability of the element. Among materials that can be used as a red-light-emitting material, there are few materials which have good color purity and a high fluorescence quantum efficiency, and which can be formed into a stable amorphous thin film. Furthermore, the realization of a red-light-emitting element that has a high luminance, that is stable, and that has high color purity has been desired.
It is desirable to provide an aromatic amine compound that can be suitably used for forming an organic layer constituting an organic electroluminescent element and that can emit red light with a high fluorescence quantum efficiency, an organic electroluminescent element including the aromatic amine compound, and a display device including the organic electroluminescent element.

Aromatic amine compound, organic electroluminescent element including the same, and display device including organic electroluminescent element

Abstract: wherein X1 and X2 each represent a group selected from an alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an alkoxy group, and an aryloxy group, X1 and X2 may be the same or different, Ar1 and Ar2 each represent an arylene group, n≧1, at least one of substituents Y is a substituent selected from a trifluoromethyl group, a cyano group, and a halogen group, and other substituents Y are groups each selected from a hydro group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an alkoxy group, and an aryloxy group.


A ram baler (20) having a platen (28) coupled to a plunger (26). A first cutting edge (32) is attached to platen (28) and a second cutting edge (30) attached to baler (20). Platen (28) includes a top assembly (27) for attachment of the first cutting edge (32). A bottom plate assembly (46) is included for forming a lower surface of platen (28). Top assembly (27) is vertically moveable with respect to bottom plate assembly (46). Platen (28) houses an adjuster assembly (110) for varying the distance between top assembly (27) and bottom plate assembly (46).

Balers, specifically two ram balers, are commonly used to compress recyclable or waste material such as aluminum cans and the like into bales and then to strap the bales in order to facilitate transportation of the materials. Examples of such two ram balers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,337, entitled "Oversize Bale Release Mechanism For Waste Material Baler" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,922, entitled "Device for Controlling the Discharge of a Bale from a Solid Waste Baling Machine." These balers generally comprise a hopper for storing and feeding the material to be baled and a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. A main compression ram comprising a hydraulic plunger and platen is operated within the chamber to compress the material into the shape of the bale, and a smaller ram ejects the bale into the strapping device. Two knives or cutting edges are often used in order to separate the material in the hopper from the material in the baling chamber. One such cutting edge, the top cutting edge, is fixed to the top edge of the baling chamber where the material enters from the hopper. The other cutting edge, the bottom cutting edge, is attached to the top edge of the platen. As the hydraulic plunger extends, the top edge of the platen moves underneath the top of the baling chamber. Consequently, the two cutting edges meet in a scissor-type action to cut and separate material in the hopper from material in the baling chamber.
A problem arises as the bottom surface of the platen, which rides on the baling chamber floor, wears out, and the distance between the two cutting edges increases. As the distance increases, the cutting efficiency is reduced, much like the cutting efficiency of scissors is reduced if the connecting rivet loosens. As the cutting efficiency is reduced, total separation of the material is not accomplished. Damage to the baler may also occur.
This problem has been previously solved in one of two ways. The first technique is an adjustable top for the ceiling of the baling chamber. The top of the baling chamber is placed on shims and secured with bolts. As the bottom surface of the platen wears out, thus increasing the distance between the two cutting edges, the top of the baling chamber is removed. A number of shims are removed and the top of the chamber is reinstalled. The second method is to install shims underneath the floor of the baling chamber. As the bottom of the platen wears out, the number of shims is increased, thereby raising the platen and the lower cutting edge to the optimal level.
A problem with both of the above methods is that it takes substantial time and effort to remove the proper part at the proper time, change the number of shims, and then reinstall the removed part of the baler.
Another problem with the prior methods is that the baler operator is often not qualified to perform the adjustment. Professional service help must then be called in, resulting in more down time for the baler. Even where the operators are qualified to perform the adjustment, the time and effort required often results in the operator neglecting to correct the cutting edge distance when necessary. This neglect may result in inefficient baling or damage to the baler.

Method and apparatus for adjusting ram baler platen


The present disclosure discloses a structural capacitor, a connector comprising the structural capacitor and a communication apparatus using the connector. The structural capacitor comprises a rod and a holder. The rod comprises a first section and a second section connected with the first section, and the holder comprises a through hole. The first section and the second section are fitted into the through hole to accomplish the connection between the first section and the second section in an axial direction. The connector of the present disclosure features a simple structure, a convenient manufacturing process and a low cost. The communication apparatus of the present disclosure has advantages such as a simple manufacturing process, parameters that can be easily guaranteed, a low processing cost and a stable product performance.

Connectors are used in electronic apparatuses for inputting/outputting electric power or signals. In communication apparatuses, connectors are mostly used as signal interfaces for inputting or outputting signals. A connector comprises a joint and a rod. The joint is adapted to connect with a communication cable, and the rod extends into the communication apparatus through a chamber hole in a chamber of the communication apparatus and is connected with a signal input or output component.
Currently, in a communication apparatus 1′ in FIG. 1 having lightning protection requirements, a rod 110′ of a connector is usually of a two-section type, and a structural capacitor 100′ is additionally provided between the two sections of the rod 110′. The so-called structural capacitor 100′ is a mechanical structure in a particular form which replaces a capacitive device to deliver the same function as the capacitive device.
For the existing connector 10′ having the lightning protection function, the structural capacitor 100′ thereof is variable; i.e., the two sections of the rod 110′ are movably connected with each other and have a variable distance therebetween, and an insulative medium is disposed between the two sections of the rod 110′. Therefore, in order to make parameters of the communication apparatus 1′ stable, the structural capacitor 100′ must have an invariable capacitance; i.e., the two sections of the rod 110′ must be fixed with respect to each other. Typically, an annular groove is disposed on the movable section of the rod 110′, and then a snap ring 130′ is inserted over the annular groove, with a diameter of the snap ring 130′ matching a diameter of a chamber hole 21′ of a chamber 20′. In addition, the chamber hole 21′ is formed with a stepped side adjacent to the inside of the communication apparatus 1′, i.e., the chamber hole 21′ has a neck 22′ (see FIG. 1), and the snap ring 130′ abuts against the neck 22′ to position the section of the rod 110′ in an axial direction. Thus, the rod 110′ is positioned in the axial direction through an interface of the connector 10′ and the aforesaid neck 22′, and the capacitance of the structural capacitor 100′ becomes invariable so that the parameters of the communication apparatus 1′ are stable.
In the process of researching on and practicing the prior art, the inventor of the present disclosure found that: the chamber hole 21′ is required to have a very accurate length in the aforesaid structure; and otherwise, it will be impossible to install the connector 10′ if the rod 110′ is too long, or axial displacement will occur if the rod 110′ is too short, which makes indices of the communication apparatus 1′ unstable and causes deterioration in the performance. In addition, the process of processing the chamber hole 21′ into a stepped hole is complex and it is difficult to ensure various dimensions and to carry out surface treatment, which leads to a low production efficiency and a high production cost.

Structural capacitor, connector and communication apparatus using the connector